US08346932B1
Embodiments of the use case-based management system enable non-technical users to manage devices, resources, and services that are remote to the premises where their integrated system management devices, applications, or appliances are located. This permits users to subscribe to remote voice, data, and other services without having to first configure their local equipment to ensure proper acceptance of these services. The users can simply select the desired remote services in the use case-based management system, enter a minimum amount of non-technical information such as account information provided by the service provider, and enable the service. The use case-based management system automatically creates generalized system management requests and passes them externally to the proper remote service, resource, or device managers, which then translate and broker these requests into proper low-level commands. Example remote services that can be managed include domain and sub-domain registration services, email seconding services, and Internet telephony services.
US08346925B2
A network security apparatus adapted to provide for secure communications across data networks, including untrusted networks. In one embodiment, the security apparatus comprises one or more components disposed within the software stack of a computerized device, the components including an association process adapted to establish security associations between devices on the network, and an encryption key generation process adapted to generate one or more encryption keys. In one variant, the keys are specifically for use with temporary or ad hoc security associations. The one or more keys are exchanged according to a key exchange protocol after the device is authenticated or authenticates another device. In one implementation, the device comprises a portable device such as a laptop computer.
US08346910B2
Methods for controlling online session inactivity timeouts between a user terminal and a server involves the server polling the user's local terminal to determine whether the user presence at the terminal can be confirmed if there is a period of inactivity within the session. If so, or if the server can otherwise confirm that the terminal is secured from use by other users, then the user session is maintained. Otherwise, the user session is allowed to timeout due to inactivity. The server may issue an alert to the user whenever a timeout is imminent, and may restore any information entered by the user prior to the timeout, if the user later returns and validates his identification.
US08346907B2
A “velvet rope” mechanism that enables customers of a shared distributed network (such as a content delivery network) needing to control their costs to control the amount of traffic that is served via the shared network. A given server in the distributed network identifies when a customer is about to exceed a bandwidth quota as a rate (bursting) or for a given billing period (e.g., total megabytes (MB) served for a given period) and provides a means for taking a given action based on this information. Typically, the action taken would result in a reduction in traffic served so that the customer can constrain its usage of the shared network to a given budget value.
US08346903B2
A print server, a mobile computing device, a method of printing, and a system for printing using a mobile computing device. The print server includes a submission processor, an orchestration processor, and a positioning processor. The print server is configured to track the global position of a mobile computing device and determine a print location and/or print time based upon the global position of the mobile computing device. The method involves tracking the global position of the mobile computing device and determining the print location and/or print time based upon the global position of the mobile computing device.
US08346897B2
A method and system for software deployment or maintenance where procedures for software installation or maintenance are defined by a skilled individual; site-specific or confidential information is separated from operating system native commands; parameterized commands referencing a hierarchy of variables are acquired by another individual; site-specific or confidential information of the other individual is combined with parameterized commands; new operating system native commands are generated; and, the new operating system native commands are execute on a computing system to reproduce the procedures for software installation or maintenance originally defined by the skilled individual.The software deployment or maintenance procedures originally defined by the skilled individual may be applied to any number of computing systems maintained by any number of other individuals without the skilled individual's further involvement in the process. The site-specific or confidential information belonging to the other individuals is not shared with the skilled individual.
US08346893B2
A mobile wireless communications device includes a processor cooperating with a wireless transceiver for displaying on a display a linking web page including a plurality of introductory content portions of linked web articles having hyperlinks associated therewith. User selection of a corresponding hyperlink for a given linked web article is permitted via at least one input device. Content of the given linked web article is searched to determine a remaining content portion after the introductory content portion. At least part of the remaining content portion is displayed on the display.
US08346892B2
Disclosed is a communication network system in a bus network structure, the system including: a broker processing a message routing; a connector; and a plurality of services connected to the broker via the connector, wherein: the service is a communicable terminal node and each of the plurality of services is connected to the broker via one connector, the connector is a module for mediating a connection between the service and the broker, each connector connected to only one broker, and the broker is a module for setting up a routing path or the connection with the connector, and to process the message routing, all brokers connected to each other in a full mesh topology.
US08346889B1
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for event-driven module loading. In one aspect, a method includes obtaining a mapping for a resource, wherein the mapping identifies one or more events that, upon occurrence, will trigger a dynamic loading of one or more code modules that are referenced by the resource, determining that an event has occurred, identifying one or more of the code modules that are associated with the event, based on the mapping, and dynamically loading the identified code modules.
US08346884B2
A shared network interface controller (NIC) interfaces a plurality of operating system domains as part of the load-store architecture of the operating system domains. A bus interface couples the NIC to a load-store domain bus (such as PCI-Express), using header information to associate data on the bus with an originating operating system domain. Transmit/receive logic connects the NIC to the network. Association logic allows the NIC to designate, and later lookup, which destination MAC address (on the Ethernet side) is associated with which operating system domain. Descriptor register files and Control Status Registers (CSR's) specific to an operating system domain are duplicated and made available for each domain. Several direct memory access (DMA) engines are provided to improve throughput. Packet replication logic, filters (perfect and hash) and VLAN tables are used for looping back packets originating from one operating system domains to another and other operations.
US08346881B1
The subject matter of this disclosure can be implemented in, among other things, a method performed by a computing device. In these examples, the method includes determining an identity of an originator of an incoming communication using an originating address of the incoming communication, and applying a first set of rules to the identity of the originator of the incoming communication to determine an importance of the incoming communication. The first set of rules includes rules generated based at least on information about the originator included in a directory of the computing device. The method may also include applying a second set of rules to the identity of the originator. The second set of rules includes rules generated based at least on previous interactions between the computing device and the originator.
US08346875B2
Embodiments of ranking emails within an email system are disclosed. One method of ranking emails within an email system includes monitoring actions of a plurality of email users of the email system, and ranking a plurality of emails sent or received by at least one of the email users based on the monitored actions of the plurality of email users.
US08346869B2
Embodiments are provided for the granular data synchronization of multiple data objects. A three-tiered cache may be automatically generated by an application program. A server data object may be stored in a first tier and may include a first set of properties for a current state of data stored on a server. A client data object may be stored in a second tier and may include a second set of properties including one or more properties in the first set and/or un-persisted edits made to the first set. A view data object may be stored in a third tier and may include a third set of properties including un-persisted and unsaved edits made to the first or second set which are being viewed on a client. The server and client data objects may be synchronized to determine edits made to the data stored on the server.
US08346866B2
Special interest subgroups are formed by a group of participants by establishing a profile for each participant. The profile defines contribution attributes dealing with contributions the profiled participant might make to a subgroup and attribution attributes dealing with benefits the profile participant might receive from participating in the subgroup. For each possible pairing of participants in the group, an overall contribution score and an overall benefit score is calculated for each participant. A mutual benefit score is calculated by combining the benefit scores for both participants in the pair. Participants are assigned to subgroups as a function of participant contribution and mutual benefit scores.
US08346864B1
Computer-based systems and methods provide additional management options for members of social networks whereby the members can define and participate in conferences, with the extent of the participation and messaging within such conferences based on the structure of the underlying social network(s). Metadata sent by participants includes one or more distribution parameters, with the parameter(s) specifying the extent to which a message is distributed within a conference and/or the extent of participation in the conference. In some embodiments, replies to messages cannot extend beyond the original recipient list, but may be further limited. Embodiments of a client interface for use in social networking conference systems are disclosed, and may include threaded chat areas and content sharing areas.
US08346863B2
A method of initiating contact based upon automatically shared profile data can include a step of automatically and wirelessly exchanging profile information between at least two computing devices. A determination can be made as to whether a contact opportunity exists by comparing received profile information with a set of previously established contact rules. A notification of a contract opportunity can be automatically presented upon one of the computing devices, depending upon whether the profile information favorably compares with the contact rules.
US08346862B2
The present invention relates to methods for sending and receiving sound based messages in an efficient way between one or several mobile communication terminals, a mobile communication terminal, a computer program, and a system and method for handling an audio messaging service (AMS) chat session between mobile communication apparatuses. The methods for sending and receiving comprises steps for handling AMS chat sessions in the mobile communication apparatus. The mobile communication comprises means for handling AMS chat sessions. The system comprises means for handling AMS in a network; a server; and mobile communication apparatuses accessing the server, wherein the mobile communication apparatuses are adapted to send a request for participating in an AMS chat session to the server, and the server is arranged to provide an AMS message for the mobile communication apparatuses, to update the AMS message from the mobile communication apparatuses, and to transmit the updated AMS message to the mobile communication apparatuses participating in the chat session. The method for handling an audio messaging service AMS chat session between mobile communication apparatuses comprises steps for handling AMS chat sessions in the system.
US08346852B2
An information processing apparatus includes a Web-page display unit configured to receive a Web page from a Web page server unit to display the received Web page on a display device, an update request wait unit configured to wait for receipt of an update request to update the displayed Web page, and an update request reporting unit configured to report the update request to the Web page display unit in response to receipt of the update request by the update request wait unit from the Web server unit, wherein the Web page display unit is further configured to send a Web page transmission request to the Web server unit based on a definition provided in the displayed Web page in response to the reported update request, and to display on the display device the Web page returned from the Web server unit in response to the Web page transmission request.
US08346842B2
Automatically reformatting rerouted production requests so that a production request directed to one production device can be rerouted to another device with little if any user intervention. A method embodying the present invention includes queuing a production request formatted for a primary production service. Upon detection of a redirection event for the primary production service, an available secondary production service is identified. The production request is reverted and then reformatted specifically for the secondary production service.
US08346841B2
A sub-circuit for facilitating the synchronization of event-based samples of signals in a cross-correlation circuit utilizing event-based sampling is provided. The sub-circuit alternatively integrates one of the signals to be cross-correlated and alternates between the signals in response to the output of a hysteretic comparator. The invention extends to a method of manipulating the input signals to a cross-correlation circuit utilizing event-based sampling so-as to facilitate the synchronization of the event-based samples of the signals.
US08346836B2
An apparatus and method for area and speed efficient fast Fourier transform (FFT) processing comprising mapping a one-dimensional DFT to a multi-dimensional representation; re-indexing the multi-dimensional representation as a radix 23 decimation architecture; simplifying the radix 23 decimation architecture to obtain a nested butterfly architecture; acquiring N samples of a finite duration time-sampled signal; and inputting the acquired N samples into the nested butterfly architecture to obtain a N-point fast Fourier transform (FFT) output.
US08346831B1
Mathematical functions are computed using a single hardware pipeline that performs polynomial approximation of second degree or higher. The single hardware pipeline includes multiple stages. Several data tables are used on the computations. The data tables are associated with a reciprocal, square root, exponential, or logarithm function. The data tables include data associated with implementing the associated function. The single hardware pipeline computes at least one of the functions associated with the data tables.
US08346819B2
An enhanced data conversion framework, in which a data record in each of first and second data sources is populated with manually selected, representative sample data, the first and second data sources using different data storage schemas to store the representative sample data as instance values of instance elements. Parameters for a CONCATENATE function or an EXTRACT function are automatically determined based on a selected succession graph, and non-sample data is converted between the different data storage schemas of the first and second data sources, using the CONCATENATE function or the EXTRACT function.
US08346816B2
Disclosed is a method for dynamically mapping a physical/logical relationship between resources. The method for physical/logical relationship mapping between resources includes: abstracting heterogeneous environments of physical resources; expressing the physical resources by a resource instance of a predetermined format to generate logical resources which are grouped and managed in accordance with types of the resources; and analyzing the physical/logical relationship between the resources to generate a relation map.
US08346808B2
An exemplary method of accessing resources in a computer network may include (a) receiving into a networking device, from a first client device of a plurality of client devices, a request for a given resource (e.g., a file, directory, or metadata) assigned to a given file service (e.g., a file share service, file sync service, or file search service), (b) verifying that the first client device is allowed to access the given file service, (c) in response to verifying that the first client device is allowed to access the given file service, identifying a second client device having at least one stored resource assigned to the given file service, and (d) sending to the second client device an updated request for the given resource that includes a unique identifier of the at least one stored resource assigned to the given file service.
US08346807B1
A method and system for registering and activating content are described. Ownership of instances of content is registered in a registry of accounts associated with various users. Responsive to a user selecting an instance of content from a content distributor, the user's account is updated by adding therein an identifier uniquely associated therewith. Responsive to the user requesting access to an instance of content, the identity of the user is authenticated. The request conveys a unique identifier of the instance of content and a key for activating the content. The content activating key is compared with the registry to identify the user's ownership level in the instance of content. Upon associating the user identity with the user's ownership level, the instance of content is activated to allow the user to access the instance of content according to the corresponding ownership level.
US08346803B2
Target file generation systems and methods are described, which are optionally for use by ordinary computer users enable those users to readily generate target files without the requirement that they know the internal layout structures of the target files. A user is enabled to select a template file from a plurality of template files via a user interface configured to be displayed on a computer display to the user, wherein the template files include changeable fields associated with corresponding field delimiters and prompting labels. An incomplete software program file containing variable name locations is accessed from memory. The program file is parsed to locate the variable name locations. The label names obtained from the template file selected by the user are inserted into the variable name locations to further complete the software program file. The software program file is stored in computer memory.
US08346801B2
Embodiments of the invention relate to a method for video retrieval by providing a first audio video file, determining a first identifier of a first piece of music in the first audio video file, looking up for the first identifier first meta data in a music database, in which said first meta data are associated with said first identifier, providing second meta data of a second piece of music from the music database. The second piece of music is included in a second audio video file. Further the method is conducted by determining a similarity measure by comparing the first and second meta data, and providing the second audio video file or an identifier thereof depending on the similarity measure. Further embodiments relate to a server, a user device and a system and a computer program product for video retrieval.
US08346800B2
Content-based information retrieval is described. In an example, a query item such as an image, document, email or other item is presented and items with similar content are retrieved from a database of items. In an example, each time a query is presented, a classifier is formed based on that query and using a training set of items. For example, the classifier is formed in real-time and is formed in such a way that a limit on the proportion of the items in the database that will be retrieved is set. In an embodiment, the query item is analyzed to identify tokens in that item and subsets of those tokens are selected to form the classifier. For example, the subsets of tokens are combined using Boolean operators in a manner which is efficient for searching on particular types of database.
US08346799B1
A search facility may optimize search result ranking by applying inverted decay transformations to history-dependent ranking components. Ranking scores for content in a content collection may be based on a set of ranking components including history-dependent ranking components. History-dependent ranking components may be based on historical behavioral data such as historical searches, actions taken with respect to content such as viewing content and content-related purchases. Content recently added to the content collection may be disadvantaged relative to content with an established history. Inverted decay transformations may correspond to simulations of additional historical behavioral data.
US08346793B1
In an illustrative embodiment, an apparatus, computer-readable medium, or method may be configured to suggest correct identifiers. Expected identifiers may be created and their frequencies of occurrence may be calculated. Unrecognized identifiers may be detected. First numerical scores indicating that the unrecognized identifiers were provided in place of one or more expected identifiers may be calculated. Second numerical scores indicating that the unrecognized identifiers were intended to include expected identifiers may also be calculated. The second numerical scores may be calculated using the first numerical scores and the frequencies of occurrence of the expected identifiers. The system may select one or more expected identifiers based on the second set of numerical scores.
US08346784B1
A system can be provided for dynamically serving a content file. A content object request function can receive a request for a webpage defined by the content file, the content file including a plurality of embedded or referenced content objects, at least one of the plurality of content objects including a Javascript. A content-file modifier can modify the content file to include instructions to generate reports comprising information relating to invocation of stubs. A report receiver can receive reports from the end user system, and an object usage analyzer quantifes usage of each of the stubs. An object prioritizor can prioritize the plurality of content objects based on the analysis, the prioritization including an identification of at least one high-priority content object. An object injector can modify the content file such that the high-priority content object automatically loads upon rendering of the content file.
US08346778B2
Techniques for compressing branch nodes in an index are provided. The branch nodes may be part of a main index of a multi-level index that also includes one or more journal indexes. A Bloom filter may be generated and associated with, e.g., a branch node in the main index. The Bloom filter is used to determine whether, without accessing any leaf blocks, a particular key value exists, e.g., in leaf blocks associated with the branch node.
US08346770B2
A system forms search results clustered by address or telephone number. When clustering by address, the system may receive a search query and identify a geographical area of interest based, at least in part, on the search query. The system may identify documents that are associated with addresses located within the geographical area of interest, group the identified documents into clusters based, at least in part, on the addresses located within the geographical area of interest, and present the clusters as the search results. When clustering by telephone number, the system may receive a search query that includes at least one portion of a telephone number and identify documents that are associated with telephone numbers that match the at least one portion of the telephone number. The system may group the identified documents into clusters based on the telephone numbers included in the identified documents and present the clusters as the search results.
US08346764B1
The present inventors devised, among other things, systems, methods, and software for enhancing the relevancy of content presented to users in response to queries in an online information retrieval system. One exemplary system refines a user input query by making suggestions of alternatives queries. A switchboard module converts the refined query, administers one or more searches, and collects search results from one or more search engines based on the refined query. And, a post-processor module refines the collected search results by, for example, modifying the order of the results, removing inappropriate or undesirable content from the results, and/or applying historical performance analysis, based for example on social feedback.
US08346752B2
In a computer system that has no single place to discover all installed software applications, a software title discovery technique uses a combination of techniques to discover installed software. One of the combined techniques is an operating system predefined interface for obtaining information about installed software application; other techniques that may be employed include searching a repository of uninstall information, searching for executable files in a portion of a filesystem for the computer, and searching for executable files pointed to by other files in the filesystem of the computer system. A client/server configuration may be employed to allow collection of the software application information across a network of computers in an enterprise by a server computer system, allowing the server system to provide reports regard installed software applications.
US08346745B2
According to an aspect of the invention, a computer readable medium stores a program causing a computer to execute a process for retrieving information. The process includes an extracting process, an executing process, a first creating process, a second creating process, a determining process. The extracting process extracts, from a first composition that is an object to be searched for and that includes first sentence elements and a second composition that indicates a retrieval condition and that includes second sentence elements, the first sentence elements, the second sentence elements, and sentence element relations indicating relations between the first sentence elements and relations between the second sentence elements.
US08346735B1
A method is used in controlling multi-step storage management operations. From a specification of a desired configuration of a data storage system, a description of a multi-step transaction for producing the desired configuration is derived. The description includes directions for reacting to results of an intermediate step within the multi-step transaction. Management operations are invoked based on the description.
US08346732B1
A method and apparatus for providing high availability of a database. A first front end server is coupled to a first back end server, and a second front end server is coupled to a second back end server. The second front end server provides redundancy to the first front end server and the second back end server provides redundancy to the first back end server. The front end servers function as a gateway into the database and comprise protocol services for processing input/output requests to the gateway. The back end servers comprise database protocol services and interface directly to the gateway to retrieve information requested by the processed database requests received from the front end servers.
US08346730B2
Deduplication of data on disk devices based on a threshold number (THN) of sequential blocks is described herein, the threshold number being two or greater. Deduplication may be performed when a series of THN or more received blocks (THN series) match a sequence of THN or more stored blocks (THN sequence), whereby a sequence comprises blocks stored on the same track of a disk device. Deduplication may be performed using a block-comparison mechanism comprising metadata entries of stored blocks and a mapping mechanism containing mappings of deduplicated blocks to their matching blocks. The mapping mechanism may be used to perform later read requests received for the deduplicated blocks. The deduplication described herein may reduce the read latency as the number of seeks between tracks may be reduced. Also, when a seek to a different track is performed, the seek time cost is spread over THN or more blocks.
US08346724B2
Techniques are described for providing information about a context that is modeled with multiple context attributes. In some situations, at least some of the context attributes have values used by modules for generating values of other context attributes, and the providing includes determining that a first module is generating a first value of a first of the context attributes of the modeled context and determining that a circular reference exists when it is determined that a module is to generate another value of the first context attribute such that the generating of the another value is caused by the generating of the first value of the first context attribute.
US08346722B2
Methods and systems are described that involve replica placement strategy for distributed systems. At the time of index creation, initial index replica placement is decided. The first index replica is placed locally on the current processing server node. This server node operates as a master host for the first replica. The other index replicas are placed on different hosts depending on the index type, split index or non-split index, and a set of criteria. For non-split indexes, the set of criteria includes: a number of recently created replicas per host, resource usage per host, and a total number of replicas per host. For split indexes, the set of criteria includes: a number of replicas of any split index part per host and a number of local first replicas of split index parts. If all criteria are equal, the first host in alphanumeric ordering receives a next replica.
US08346717B1
A path request is generated by a secondary platform application, such as a word processor, and is received by invention. The path request may contain the location of a library required for the application to function, or a document saved previously by a user. The path request comprises a complete path for the requested file. The complete path is formatted for a file system and file structure for expected by the application. The elements of the path request, such as directories, disks, filenames, file types, etc. are analyzed by the invention in order to provide another complete path. The path provided by the invention is formatted for a different file system and file structure. The file pointed to by the path provided for the invention enables the secondary platform application to find and use the requested file.
US08346713B2
A method and a system for recognizing power consumption behaviors of electric appliances in a loop are provided. When a variation value of a power consumption information of the loop exceeds a threshold, a current value of the power consumption information is served as a main loop factor value of the loop, and a similar combinative factor value close to the main loop factor value is looked up in a behavior-factor mapping table. If the similar combinative factor value is not found, the main loop factor value corresponding to a new power consumption behavior is obtained according to the variation value of the power consumption information to reconstruct the behavior-factor mapping table. After obtaining the similar combinative factor value from the behavior-factor mapping table, a current electric appliance power consumption behavior of the loop is determined according to a power consumption behavior combination corresponding to the similar combinative factor value.
US08346708B2
Systems and methods are disclosed to analyze a social network by generating a data tensor from social networking data; applying a non-negative tensor factorization (NTF) with user prior knowledge and preferences to generate a core tensor and facet matrices; and rendering information to social networking users based on the core tensor and facet matrices.
US08346706B2
A device is arranged to carry out a method for identifying traffic-relevant information in a moving vehicle, wherein image data of a visual sensor and map data of a navigation system are each pre-evaluated for the identification and the results of the pre-evaluation are combined and interpreted. The image and map data is scanned for traffic-relevant information and compacted to relevant image and map data in a first and second scene interpretations, and the relevant image and map data is supplied to a rule engine and to a state machine for interpreting the image and map data. The rule engine evaluates the image and map data and transmits an action to be executed to the state machine which carries out a transition in its state space including pre-defined states and outputs information which is assigned to the state or to the transition.
US08346691B1
Computer-implemented systems and methods for determining a subset of unknown targets to investigate. For example, a method can be configured to receive a target data set, wherein the target data set includes known targets and unknown targets. A supervised model such as a neural network model is generated using the known targets. The unknown targets are used with the neural network model to generate values for the unknown targets. Analysis with an unsupervised model is performed using the target data set in order to determine which of the unknown targets are outliers. A comparison of list of outlier unknown targets is performed with the values for the unknown targets that were generated by the neural network model. The subset of unknown targets to investigate is determined based upon the comparison.
US08346689B2
The present invention solves problems of cold start, first rater, sparsity and scalability for recommendation. A recommendation system according to the present invention finds association rules through data mining. Then, the recommendation system integrates a rough-set algorithm and a statistical analysis prediction for recommendation. The recommendation is dynamically made from a result of the rough-set algorithm and a result of the statistical analysis prediction by setting a standard deviation as a threshold.
US08346681B2
Embodiments of the present invention use a construct referred to herein as a “choicebox” to support choice-making within a conceptual choicespace. The choicebox allows the identification of one or more options, one or more factors, and one or more perspectives for a particular choice. Each choice is associated with one or more categories. The options, factors, and perspectives are logically mapped to imagined x, y, and z axes and can be envisioned and graphically represented as a three-dimensional assessment matrix or box. Within the context of the present invention, choiceboxing is the activity of deliberating about a choice using such matrices. Choiceboxes are built and manipulated using software that renders their data into visual and interactive form. They serve as shareable places for collaborative deliberation.
US08346680B2
Some embodiments of the present invention provide a system that executes an application. During operation, the system physiologically monitors a user of the application with a set of sensors as the application executes. Next, the system assesses a mental state of the user based on physiological data collected from the sensors. Finally, the system changes the behavior of the application based on the assessed mental state to facilitate use of the application by the user.
US08346668B2
An electronic money system is directed to avoid unauthorized use of certificate-type electronic money. The electronic money system is provided with a management server, a verification sever, a remittance terminal, and a receptor terminal. In response to a request from the remittance terminal, the management server issues an inactive electronic certificate including a certificate ID and notifies the verification server of the certificate ID. The remittance terminal gives a group signature to the inactive electronic certificate to generate an active electronic certificate. The reception terminal verifies the active electronic certificate obtained from the remittance terminal on the basis of the group signature. The verification server matches the certificate ID notified from the management server with the certificate ID included in the active electronic certificate verified by the reception terminal to verify availability of the active electronic certificate.
US08346656B2
A system and method are provided for displaying a trading screen and placing an order in an electronic trading environment. The system and method may be used to assist a trader in selecting an item of interest, such as the inside market (best bid and best ask) to be displayed relative to a user configured location on the trading screen, such as the center of the trading screen. In a preferred embodiment, the inside market will stay located relative to center of the trading screen and the price levels associated to the inside market will move as the market conditions fluctuate. Other features and advantages are described herein.
US08346649B2
Provided are methods and computer software applications for generating a stock portfolio, and/or enhanced stock index, through using a plurality of growth factors and a plurality of value factors to rank stocks, and for constructing investment vehicles based on the stock portfolio. The method, software application, or computer apparatus of the present technology employs a novel stock selection strategy to select stocks from a pre-selected universe of securities such as a commercially available stock market index in order to create a stock portfolio, and/or enhanced stock index, and a fund based thereon that can generate positive alpha as compared to a fund based on the pre-selected universe of securities.
US08346633B2
A computer-implemented method for re-calculating low level codes for a plurality of bill of materials that receives a list of a plurality of materials connected by a first set of edges that represent a component subcomponent relationship and a second set of edges that represent a co-product relationship. The same low level code may be assigned to each material connected by the second set of edges, the assigning includes forming at least one equal group. Each equal group may include the number of nodes in the equal group, a list of nodes in the at least one equal group that have been processed, and the low level code for the equal group. The results of the low level code assignment may be displayed to allow the user to receive the materials in the equal group at the same time.
US08346632B2
A medical item recall system for medical items at one or more medical facilities at which the medical items are consumed and/or distributed to patients provides each of the medical items has stand-off readable tags, such as RFID tags. The system comprises medical facilities storage devices at the one or more medical facilities containing medical items, the medical items being identified via the stand-off readable tags and associated with individual medical facilities storage devices. The system further comprises an inventory management system that receives recall information for the medical items, receives content information concerning the medical items contained in each of the medical facilities storage devices, and issues reports for locations of medical items matching the recall information.
US08346630B1
A method and apparatus to efficiently verify inventory includes a process for verifying inventory in sub-sets using trigger parameters whereby priority status triggers are defined which indicate that an inventory item is particularly susceptible to inaccuracies/discrepancies between physical inventory and inventory as calculated by a computing system implemented financial management system. In one embodiment, transactions and/or events associated with units of the inventory item, or inventory item class, are then monitored for occurrence of any of the priority status triggers. In one embodiment, if one or more priority status triggers occur associated with the given inventory item, or inventory item class, the inventory item, or inventory item class, is given priority verify status indicating that the inventory item, or inventory item class, should be physically inventoried on a priority basis.
US08346626B2
An online Gift Registry Service provides registration of information for a gift registrant and allows access to the registry by potential gift giver users over a distributed public network, such as the World Wide Web. In addition, users tag items of interest at participating Service Provider sites and the Service Provider sites register these items with the Gift Registry Service on the user's behalf. A reminder service is provided to notify individuals automatically upon the trigger of certain events, such as important dates or product sales from online merchants. In addition, there are various occasion planning services available so that users can perform all the planning for the event online in the comfort of their home or office. Service Providers register system notification messages to be triggered on pre-determined events. In addition, Service Providers obtain marketing information to tailor their products and services.
US08346625B2
A method, system, and computer-readable medium is described that provides automated gift registry functionality to assist a user in purchasing an item for a recipient. In particular, the system may track various information about a series of item purchases from one or more services through which items can be purchased. When such information about past item purchases is available, the system can then use the information to provide various automated gift registry functionality for users that want to purchase items for various recipients. Types of automated gift registry functionality provided by the system include making recommendations of items that are appropriate to be purchased for a specified recipient, assisting in preventing recipients from receiving inappropriate gift items by monitoring item gift purchases and item self-purchases, and responding to user requests to determine whether a specified gift would be appropriate for a recipient. In addition to information about past item purchases (e.g., whether a recipient has already received a copy of an item), the system can also use other information when determining whether a purchase of an item for the recipient is appropriate such as demographic information about the recipient or explicitly specified recipient preferences. Thus, for each type of gift registry functionality provided by the AGR system, a variety of types of tracked or retrieved information can be used when determining whether an item is appropriate for a recipient.
US08346623B2
Computer-implemented systems, methods, and computer-readable media for facilitating user navigation of a collection of editorial content associated with products include displaying a first user interface including a first editorial content related to a first product previously viewed by a user, a second editorial content relating to a product navigated to by the user from the first editorial content, and a first plurality of editorial content relating to a first plurality of products; receiving a selection from the user; and navigation to editorial content in accordance with the user's selection.
US08346621B2
Methods and systems by which a consumer may select or specify coordinated features of an absorbent paper product and its packaging, such as a facial tissue or paper towel product, and then receive an absorbent paper product and packaging having the coordinated features selected or specified by the consumer.
US08346618B2
A smart-card based system and methods to control access to a plurality of attractions within a geographical area. The system may include one or more reward terminals that are located at attractions and are configured to read smart cards presented to them and, assuming the card is valid for that location, allow the card holder to access the attraction. Each smart card may be programmed with a product code that defines the attractions at which the card may be used. Product codes may be stored in a central database along with a list of the attractions associated with the each product code. The list of attractions may be updated as desired, thereby updating and changing the attractions at which any given card may be used.
US08346604B2
Techniques are described for facilitating bidding on images. The techniques may include receiving bids includes presenting a first image and a bid associated with the first image. The first image is similar to a second image for which a bid is to be submitted for presenting sponsored content based on the second image. A bid is received for presenting a sponsored-content item based on the second image. The received bid is stored in association with second image and a sponsored-content item based to be presented based on the bid and the second image.
US08346597B2
Embodiments of the invention relate to systems, methods, and computer program products for client/customer-centric macro (e.g., business-wide) monitoring of business performance and determination of business-wide customer impact trends associated with the client's/customer's composite relationship with the business. Additionally, embodiments provide for determining customer impact trends at other levels of the business relationship, such as at business unit/line of business levels, product/service levels and the like. Based on the determined customer impact trends, further determinations may be made regarding whether alerts are warranted based on the trends, and generating and communicating the alerts if warranted. Determining business-wide customer impact trends provides for the business to identify problems or potential problems that may adversely impact the global relationship between the overall client entity and the business implementing the performance monitoring system.
US08346596B2
Disclosed is a system and method for managing operations of a system. The method includes partitioning the system into a plurality of subsystems. The method further includes, for each subsystem, creating an agent to associate with the subsystem, providing to the agent one or more goals for the subsystem, and providing to the agent an overall objective function for the system. The method also includes using an optimization algorithm involving the agents to manage system operation based on the goals and the overall objective function. The system includes an agent module for providing a set of agents associated with the subsystems, a throughput target module for providing a throughput target for each agent, an objective module for providing, for each agent, a common production throughput objective.
US08346590B2
A method and system for scheduling or re-scheduling calendar events is described. One aspect of the invention involves: receiving a calendar search request to schedule a calendar event including at least one participant and a time of meeting constraint; obtaining information identifying one or more preferences associated with the at least one participant, at least one of the preferences based on the at least one participant's historical calendar activity over a predetermined period of time; searching one or more databases in a calendaring system to obtain a set of candidate calendar events that meet at least a subset of the plurality of constraints; ranking the set of candidate calendar events based on the plurality of constraints and the one or more preferences; and preparing for presentation at least a subset of the ranked set of candidate calendar events, each candidate calendar event including a specified start time.
US08346584B2
Method and apparatus for determining design modification effects on a computerized engineering model
An engineering simulation tool uses boundary regions of proposed design modifications to a finite design element to assess the impact of those proposed design modifications. This tool allows a designer to incorporate a new design feature into a proposed model and generate simulated performance results for the proposed design without re-execution of finite element method.
US08346576B2
A guaranteed minimum accumulated benefit (GMAB) variable annuity contract management apparatus stores contract data on GMAB variable annuity contracts having a predetermined contract duration. The apparatus also stores fund data on amounts paid to purchase the contracts. The apparatus computes a portion of the amounts paid that is to be allocated to a bond fund. The apparatus stores data on the portion of the amounts paid to be allocated to the bond fund. A substantial portion, or all, of the bond fund is invested in bonds that have a maturity date that matches the contract duration of the GMAB variable annuity contracts.
US08346572B2
Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for providing clinical information to clinicians are provided. In embodiments, a patient's electronic health record is accessed to identify that a first clinician has requested a consult with a second clinician. Each clinician is associated with a clinician identifier that is identified by a plurality of sensors. A location for both the first and second clinician is received from the plurality of sensors. A determination is made whether the first and second clinicians are near one another. Upon determining that the first and second clinicians are near one another, a notification is presented to the first clinician. Such tracking of clinician location helps avoid missed opportunities and provides efficient communication among clinicians.
US08346566B2
The present invention proposes a new method for improving the performance of a real-valued filterbank based spectral envelope adjuster. By adaptively locking the gain values for adjacent channels dependent on the sign of the channels, as defined in the application, reduced aliasing is achieved. Furthermore, the grouping of the channels during gain-calculation, gives an improved energy estimate of the real valued subband signals in the filterbank.
US08346562B2
A system and methods for voice controlled operation of a media player are provided. In one embodiment, a method includes detecting user positioning of a microphone power switch to an off position, detecting user positioning of the microphone power switch to an on position within a predetermined period of time and entering a voice recognition mode, by the media player, based on the user positioning of the microphone power switch to the on position within the predetermined period of time. The method may further include detecting one or more output signals of the microphone, detecting a voice command based on the one or more output signals of the microphone, and controlling operation of the media player based on the voice command, wherein the media player outputs a graphical display associated with the voice command.
US08346559B2
Disclosed are various systems, methods, and programs embodied in a computer-readable medium for sound analysis. The sound analysis involves transforming a sound print into a frequency domain in a memory to generate a frequency spectrum. A plurality of signatures are identified in the frequency spectrum. Also, a plurality of frequency ranges associated with the signatures are identified in the sound print. The frequencies associated with a physiological profile are cross-referenced with the frequency ranges to determine if the physiological profile is applicable to the sound print.
US08346558B2
An information processing apparatus which allows a user to select programs that are interesting to the user and are current topics of conversation.The information processing apparatus includes: a first setting section for extracting a keyword from article information described in an RSS format and being delivered to the user, and giving a ranking to the extracted keyword; and a second setting section for acquiring at least one of program information on a program being received and program information on a recorded program, and giving a ranking to the program including, in the program information, the same keyword as a keyword having as far as a predetermined ranking among the keywords having rankings given by the first setting section.
US08346557B2
Disclosed are techniques and systems to provide a narration of a text in multiple different voices. In some aspects, systems and methods described herein can include receiving a user-based selection of a first portion of words in a document where the document has a pre-associated first voice model and overwriting the association of the first voice model, by the one or more computers, with a second voice model for the first portion of words.
US08346555B2
The present invention discloses a speech processing solution that utilizes an original speech recognition grammar in a speech recognition system to perform speech recognition operations for multiple recognition instances. Instance data associated with the recognition operations can be stored. A replacement grammar can be automatically generated from the stored instance data, where the replacement grammar is a statistical language model grammar. The original speech recognition grammar, which can be a grammar-based language model grammar or a statistical language model grammar, can be selectively replaced with the replacement grammar. For example when tested performance for the replacement grammar is better than that for the original grammar, the replacement grammar can replace the original grammar.
US08346529B2
Aspects of the present invention are directed to improving the speed of event-driven simulation by manipulating delta delays in a system model to reduce delta cycle executions. The manipulation is performed in a manner that preserves delta cycle accurate timing on selected signals of the system, which may be of interest to a designer. Methods and systems are provided for identifying the signals of interest, and for determining portions of the design that may have delta delays retimed. Preserving the timing on the signals of interest ensures that race conditions and glitches present in the design on the signals of interest are still viewable by the designer. To reduce simulation time, delta delays may be moved from high activity signals to low activity signals, the total number of delta delays may be reduced, or a number of processes executed may be reduced.
US08346527B2
A method for simulating an operation of a digital circuit (01) is described. The method utilizes cycle simulation, wherein in a cycle based simulation model (34) of the digital circuit (01) components (02, 03, 04, 05) of the digital circuit (01) are clocked synchronously every cycle (19) of a functional clock (Clk). According to the invention, real digital circuit (01), i.e. chip or combinatorial logic (01), timing information is included in the cycle simulation by inserting delay latches (15, 16, 17) into the cycle based simulation model (34) of the digital circuit (01), wherein a non-functional clock (Sim clock) is used to clock the delay latches (15, 16, 17), so that each delay latch (15, 16, 17) delays the propagation of a signal (I, J, K) by a cycle (20) of the non-functional clock (Sim clock).
US08346516B2
Predictive modeling, in which a first simulation model that simulates a first policy for managing a set of data is determined based on a pattern representative of the set of data and first operating variables for the first policy. The first simulation model is optimized and first prediction data that estimates performance of the first policy is computed using the optimized first simulation model. A second simulation model that simulates a second policy for managing the set of data is determined based on the pattern and second operating variables for the second policy. The second simulation model is optimized and second prediction data that estimates performance of the second policy is computed using the optimized second simulation model. The first prediction data is compared with the second prediction data, and a determination of whether the first policy is better than the second policy is made.
US08346514B2
A method and system is provided for calculating a number of wedges for a slot in a dynamoelectric machine. The method includes the steps of providing a computer that is programmed to perform a method for calculating, which includes the steps of acquiring a length of the slot, acquiring a length of one or more wedges, and calculating a number of wedges required for the slot. The number of wedges required for the slot is displayed on a display device.
US08346512B2
Systems and methods for reducing the probability of a collision between a first object, whose trajectory is substantially controlled by an operator input command, and a second object. In one embodiment such a method includes receiving an operator input command indicative of first control data; generating model data indicative of a virtual construct of the physical environment proximal to the first object; processing the first control data to predict future dynamics of the first object in the environment; determining whether, on the basis of the predicted dynamics and the model data, the first object is predicted to collide with a second object in the environment; defining second control data for which the first object is not predicted to collide with the second object in the environment; and providing the second control data to a controller coupled to the first object such that the first object is controlled in accordance with the second control data for substantially avoiding the collision of the first object with the second object.
US08346504B2
Sensor (3) and method for the detection of the movement of an encoder to be monitored with at least two sensor elements (6, 7), which are arranged in a way offset relative to each other in the direction of movement of the encoder, and with a processing circuit (10, 14, 15), which converts the element output signals (S1, S2) at the outlets of the sensor element (6, 7) to a sensor output signal (S5) that describes the movement of the encoder, with the processing circuit (10, 14, 15) including a test circuit (14), which monitors the element output signals (S1, S2) at least indirectly and disables or corrects the sensor output signal (S5) when errors of the element output signals (6, 7) are detected.
US08346503B2
A method enables linear web velocities generated with reference to angular velocity signals generated by encoders at different rollers in a double reflex printing registration system to be equalized. The method includes identifying a low frequency component of a first linear velocity of a moving web, identifying a high frequency component of a second linear velocity of the moving web, and computing a linear velocity for the moving web at a roller in a print zone with reference to the identified high frequency component of the second linear velocity and the identified low frequency component of the first linear velocity.
US08346490B2
There is provided a sensor equipped wheel support bearing assembly including an outer member having an inner periphery formed with a plurality of rolling surfaces defined therein, an inner member having an outer periphery formed with rolling surfaces opposed to those rolling surfaces and a plurality of rows of rolling elements interposed between those rolling surfaces. One of the outer and inner members serving as a stationary member is provided with a strain amplifying mechanism for amplifying a strain in the stationary member, which occurs when the rolling elements pass by. A strain sensor element is provided for detecting the strain amplified by the strain amplifying mechanism. A calculator is provided for calculating from an output of the strain sensor element, the load acting on the bearing assembly or the load acting between the vehicle wheel and the road surface.
US08346487B2
There is provided a method of automatically identifying and characterizing spectral peaks of a spectrum generated by an analytical apparatus and reporting information relating to the spectral peaks to a user, comprising the steps of receiving the spectrum generated by the analytical apparatus; automatically subtracting a baseline from the spectrum so as to generate a baseline-corrected spectrum; automatically detecting and characterizing the spectral peaks in the baseline-corrected spectrum; and reporting at least one item of information relating to each detected and characterized spectral peak to a user. In embodiments, baseline model curve parameters or peak model curve parameters are neither input by nor exposed to the user prior to the reporting step.
US08346484B2
Chemical compositions may be selectively or preferentially excited by the application of scores comprising a series of energy inputs. A method of characterizing such compositions includes identifying a group of resonant structures where one structure has a resonant frequency that is shiftable by exciting another resonant frequency, determining the necessary frequencies to shift the resonant structure, and applying the set of frequencies to the environment of the target composition.
US08346478B2
A system and method for populating a map database for a vehicle navigation system with the location and type of wireless access points that can be used to update or service wireless systems on the vehicle. The map database can be initially populated with the known wireless access points at the time of manufacture of the vehicle, and then the vehicle communications system can detect new wireless access points as the vehicle travels, which can be stored on the map database. By storing the location and type of the access points in the map database, the vehicle will know the direction of the access point relative to the vehicle, and can compensate for the Doppler shift as a result of the relative movement of the vehicle to the access point.
US08346477B2
A method of contextually displaying points of interest (POIs) on a personal navigation device according to a user's travel purpose includes storing a plurality of POIs into a memory of the personal navigation device, the POIs having corresponding POI category labels, entering a destination location into the personal navigation device and providing navigational instructions for a trip to the destination location, associating a travel category with the trip to the destination location, and displaying POIs whose corresponding POI category labels are included in the travel category associated with the trip to the destination location.
US08346472B2
Systems and methods are described for enabling the monitoring and navigation of a complex of known rooms or facilities having known objects, attributes and/or people associated therewith, wherein different locations of the objects, attributes and/or people within the facilities are related and accessible over known, well-defined alternate paths. Sensor information may be used to facilitate the monitoring and navigation of the facility. At least some systems and methods may be used to enable the navigation of a building or a set of buildings by displaying an interactive graphical map of the building on a display device carried by a user.
US08346468B2
A method and apparatus for avoiding collisions of moving vehicles in an environment that utilizes a position and rotational orientation system to track vehicle locations within a preconfigured operational zone, the method comprising using position tracking data to calculate a predicted trajectory and safety zone of each vehicle for a predetermined prediction time period and determining potential areas of intersection with vehicles to predict collisions.
US08346466B2
Systems and methods for determining heading of a traveling vehicle are provided. The systems and methods employ an image system to capture and match multiple distinctive features of an image area at a first and second point in time and to determine unit-vectors associated with the multiple distinctive features. A global positioning system (GPS) provides a translation vector for the first and second point and time and a coupled processor employs the unit-vectors and the translation vector to provide a corrected heading.
US08346462B2
A determination is made more simply as to a malfunction of a low pressure EGR device that supplies an EGR gas from a low pressure EGR passage connecting between an exhaust passage at a location downstream of a turbine and an intake passage. Provision is made for a high pressure EGR device that connects between the exhaust passage at a location upstream of the turbine and the intake passage, the low pressure EGR device that connects between the exhaust passage at a location downstream of the turbine and the intake passage, and a detection unit that detects a malfunction of the low pressure EGR device from the degree of opening of a high pressure EGR valve at the time when the EGR gas is supplied from both the high pressure EGR device and the low pressure EGR device, and at the time when the high pressure EGR valve of the high pressure EGR device is controlled in a feedback manner so as to direct an amount of EGR gas in a cylinder toward a target range of the amount of EGR gas, while carrying out open loop control of a low pressure EGR valve of the low pressure EGR device.
US08346459B2
An oil flow control system has a flow control device and an oil accumulator controller. The flow control device includes a body, a passage extending through the body, and a flow control portion configured for selectively controlling flow through the passage. The oil accumulator controller is coupled to an actuation portion of the flow control device and is configured for receiving an engine oil pressure indicating signal from an engine oil pressure sensor, for receiving Minimum Engine Lubrication Oil Pressure (MELOP) threshold computing information for an engine comprising the engine oil pressure sensor, and for causing the actuation portion to manipulate the flow control portion in a manner resulting in the flow control portion affecting flow through the passage. Causing the actuation portion to manipulate the flow control portion is performed dependent upon the engine oil pressure indicating signal and a MELOP threshold computed using said MELOP threshold computing information.
US08346449B2
A method for controlling a powertrain system includes determining a current transmission operating range state and engine state, determining at least one potential transmission operating range state and engine state, providing at least one operator torque request, determining preferability factors associated with the current transmission operating range state and engine state, and potential transmission operating range states and engine states, wherein determining preferability factors associated with potential transmission operating range states includes assigning biasing costs to operator torque requests which reside within a pre-determined range of possible operator torque requests for at least two of the potential transmission operating range states, preferentially weighting the preferability factors for the current transmission operating range state and engine state, and selectively commanding changing the transmission operating range state and engine state based upon stheaid preferability factors and the operator torque request.
US08346443B2
A method and system for managing the turning of a vehicle comprises establishing a boundary of a work area. A location-determining receiver determines an observed position and velocity of the vehicle in the work area. An estimator estimates a first duration from an observed time when the vehicle will intercept the boundary based on determined position and velocity of the vehicle. An alert generator generates an alert during a second duration from the observed time. The second duration is less than or approximately equal to the first duration. An operator interface allows an operator to enter a command to control a path of the vehicle prior to or at the boundary.
US08346442B2
An agricultural implement is provided that includes a ground engaging tool configured to engage soil in a working position and to disengage the soil in a non-working position. The agricultural implement also includes an actuating cylinder coupled to the ground engaging tool and configured to transition the ground engaging tool between the working position and the non-working position based on a flow of fluid from a fluid supply system. In addition, the agricultural implement includes at least one sensor configured to output a signal indicative of a fluid pressure within the fluid supply system, and a controller configured to determine whether the ground engaging tool is in the working position or the non-working position based on the signal.
US08346441B2
A motor vehicle has a body, a wheel rotatably supported and coaxially disposed on the body, and an occupant riding portion supported by the body. The motor vehicle is provided with a body attitude detector for detecting an attitude of the body and a body attitude controller for controlling the body attitude detected by the body attitude detector, wherein, in response to an inertial force or a centrifugal force generated by acceleration, deceleration or a turning motion of the motor vehicle, the occupant riding portion is moved so as to balance the inertial force or the centrifugal force. The motor vehicle further includes an occupant attitude controller for controlling an attitude of the occupant riding portion in accordance with a detection value detected by the body attitude detector.
US08346438B2
Method and system for deploying an occupant restraint device in a vehicle includes arranging a sensor to detect a rear impact and deploying the occupant restraint device when the sensor detects the rear impact of sufficient magnitude to require deployment of the occupant restraint device to prevent injury to the occupant. The sensor may be a crush sensor which preferably extends across a major portion of the rear of the vehicle, an inertial sensor and/or an anticipatory sensor.
US08346425B2
A modular surface inspecting device is provided. A modular surface inspecting device comprises a computing layer having a processing unit in which a modular service-oriented software is installed; a detecting layer having a plurality of sensors obtaining a plurality of surrounding information; and a dynamic layer carrying the computing layer and the detecting layer and controlled by a controlling command generated by the computing layer according to the plurality of surrounding information.
US08346424B2
A method of monitoring an onboard diagnostic system for a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle includes incrementing the denominator of an N/D ratio for the onboard diagnostic system only when a total time criteria, a vehicle speed criteria and an idle criteria are satisfied after an internal combustion engine of the vehicle has been fueled. The diagnostic system performance is summarized into a single N/D ratio. When an underperforming ratio is identified, the system controls the engine to provide more engine operation and subsequent diagnostic observability. The denominator of the N/D ratio is compared to a verification denominator to identify vehicles that are typically operated in a manner such that an engine-on cycle does not begin, or is not identified, until very near the end of the drive cycle, thereby preventing the denominator and a numerator of the N/D ratio from incrementing, and thereby providing a false passing performance ratio.
US08346423B2
To prevent damage of a cord set used to charge a plug-in electric vehicle when the vehicle is driven away while the cord set is attached, an interlock can be provided to disable the vehicle. Such interlock may be based on a protective door over the charging receptacle being open or detection that a cord set is plugged in. However, in the event that the vehicle is in an activated state, the interlock is prevented from disabling the vehicle according to an embodiment of the disclosure. That is, undesirable disabling of the vehicle is prevented when either there is no indication of a cord set being coupled to the vehicle or the vehicle is in an activated state.
US08346412B2
The inventive flight control assisting device comprises first means (4) for determining the actual aircraft flight conditions, second means (5) for determining, with the aid of said actual flight conditions and a predetermined pattern, a minimum approaching distance corresponding to a minimum distance between projections on the horizontal plane of the aircraft actual position and a touch-down point when said aircraft moves downwards and decelerates according to an optimised approach in such a way that stabilised approaching conditions are attained, and display means (7) for displaying at least said minimum approaching distance on a navigation screen (9) in the form of a first circular arc focused on a position relative to the aircraft which displays the touch-down position.
US08346411B1
An integrated system for providing a reporting point journey log display in an aircraft and for providing the automatic transfer and installation of a reporting point journey log in a ground retention application. The integrated system includes means for procuring and aggregating reporting point on-board aircraft data from aircraft systems. Means are provided for generating a reporting point cockpit message and readback script from the aggregated reporting point onboard aircraft data. The aggregated reporting point onboard aircraft data is automatically transmitted to a receiving ground application for assembling the data into the form of a reporting point journey log. The reporting point journey log is installed into a ground storage application.
US08346407B2
A method for assigning a first motor vehicle to a second motor vehicle by exchanging electromagnetic signals. The electromagnetic signals are transmitted from the first motor vehicle in a predetermined temporal signal pattern and received by the second motor vehicle, where they are compared as to whether the received electromagnetic signals correspond to a signal pattern stored in the second motor vehicle. The first motor vehicle then is assigned as a function of the comparison. This method is particularly suited to assigning trailers to a towing vehicle.
US08346404B2
A Substation Automation (SA) system in high or medium voltage power networks is provided for determining a bus bar voltage at a first node. The disclosure replaces a ‘real’ voltage transformer with an intelligent electronic device (IED) and/or a ‘virtual’ voltage transformer (VT), which determines the bus bar voltage at the first node from a first bay connected to the first node. The IED receives network message from a second IED of the SA system, indicating the bay voltage of the first bay connected to the first node. The IED also receives switch status of the switching device arranged between the first bay and the first node, from a third IED. Depending upon the switch status, the IED establishes the bay voltage as the bus bar voltage at the first node.
US08346397B2
Controllers for controlling heating, ventilating, air conditioning, and cooling (HVAC) systems are provided. The controllers include graphical user interfaces for user adjustment of system settings. The graphical user interfaces also may be designed to present information that facilitates user understanding of system operations. In certain embodiments, the controllers may allow users to adjust airflow values within a wide range of values. In these embodiments, the graphical user interfaces may include slide bars for adjusting the airflow values.
US08346393B2
A grasping method of a multi-finger hand including calculating positions of tips of plural actual fingers; calculating positions of tips of plural virtual fingers using the calculated positions of the tips of the plural actual fingers; judging that a central position among the calculated positions of the tips of the plural virtual fingers is a central position of a virtual object based on the calculated positions of the tips of the plural virtual fingers; and controlling joint torques of the respective actual fingers corresponding to the tips of the virtual fingers such that motions of the tips of the plural virtual fingers are carried out while uniformly maintaining the relative positional relationships of the tips of the plural virtual fingers based on the central position of the virtual object.
US08346381B2
A computer-implemented method for recommending one or more materials used in designing and manufacturing parts may include receiving data from at least three data sources. The data sources may include a sourcing, manufacturing, and design data source. The data source data may be standardized to obtain a collection of data including a dataset of materials for consideration in recommending one or more materials for use in one or more parts. The method may also include receiving optimization metrics and constraints for the dataset of materials. Optimization values for each material based on the dataset of materials and the one or more optimization metrics may be determined. An optimization algorithm on each material may be performed based at least on the optimization values and the constraints to obtain one or more recommended materials from the dataset of materials for use in a design of one or more parts.
US08346366B2
A system for transferring spinal cord signals comprises a superior electrode and an inferior electrode. The superior electrode interfaces with a first portion of a spinal cord of a human body; and the inferior electrode interfaces with a second portion of the spinal cord. The superior electrode has at least one superior contact for receiving signals from the first portion of the spinal cord to transmit to the inferior electrode; and the inferior electrode has at least one inferior contact for transmitting signals received from the superior electrode to the second portion of the spinal cord.
US08346365B2
Methods and apparatus for improving cognitive function within a human. The invention utilizes an implanted device, such as an implantable signal generator or an implantable pump, to affect tissue elements within a Papez circuit of the human brain as well as tissue upstream or downstream from the Papez circuit. The implanted device delivers treatment therapy to thereby improve cognitive function by the human. A sensor may be used to detect various symptoms of the cognitive disorder. A microprocessor algorithm may then analyze the output from the sensor to regulate delivery of the stimulation and/or drug therapy.
US08346362B2
A header assembly for connecting an implantable medical device to at least one conductor lead terminating within a patient intended to be assisted by the medical device is provided. The implantable medical device is comprised of numerous feedthrough wires in a dense, non-linear, scattered format extending from the control circuitry and through a wall of the housing. The header assembly is comprised of an insulative body that is mountable on the housing of the medical device. The insulative body supports at least one conductor subassembly comprising a terminal that is directly connectable to the conductor lead, an intermediate conductor wire comprising a distal end connected to the terminal and a proximal end connected to a connector sleeve. Methods for making the header assembly and for connecting the header assembly to the implantable medical device are also disclosed.
US08346358B2
A pacemaker is disclosed which reestablishes or keeps the physiological electric conduction of the heart and a method of application. The pacemaker is a pulse generator, it has a ventricular output including at least two superimposed monopolar pulsewaves of reversed polarity between each other, with programmable configuration, with respect to a neutral which can be the pacemaker's metallic box or a third electrode in the case of a tripolar catheter. The catheter can have a deflectable sheath, with an electrode on its distal tip. The invention consists of a new pacemaker, and a method of application in the right ventricular septum, being able to use in order to facilitate the implantation and to avoid the connection and the disconnection, a sheath to check a proper place and then screw the catheter in said place. This method and the pacemaker are the responsible of reestablishing or preserving the physiological electrical conduction of the heart due to the creation of an alternative electric circuit and to the creation of a virtual electrode.
US08346356B2
An implantable system which includes a gene/protein delivery device and a pulse generator, as well as method of preparing the gene/protein delivery device and using the system, are provided. In one embodiment, the implantable system detects a predetermined condition or event and, in response, delivers gene(s) and/or protein(s) in conjunction with delivering pacing and/or defibrillation pulses.
US08346353B2
An implantable medical system for detecting incipient edema has an implantable medical lead including an optical sensor having a light source and a light detector. The medical system further has an edema detection circuit that activates the light source to emit light, the light being directed into lung tissue of a patient and that obtains a light intensity value corresponding to an intensity of light received by the light detector, and that evaluates the light intensity value to detect a consistency with incipient edema.
US08346347B2
The present invention is generally directed to dermatological devices and methods in which one or more skin characteristics, such as the melanin index, are determined by analyzing radiation backscattered from a skin region illuminated by at least one, and preferably, two or more wavelengths, e.g., in a range of about 600 nm to about 900 nm. In many embodiments, the radiation is coupled to the skin via a waveguide, and an optical sensor is employed to ascertain contact between the waveguide (e.g., a waveguide surface adapted for contact with the skin) and the skin.
US08346342B2
A method of determining at least one patient physiological parameter from an imaging procedure includes at least the steps of measuring time enhancement outputs for at least two different regions of interest, and determining at least one difference between the time enhancement outputs to provide a measure of the at least one patient physiological parameter. The physiological parameter can be a parameter of the cardiopulmonary system. It can also be the cardiac output, the blood volume in a region, a rate transfer term or a transit delay. A first time enhancement output may be measured in the ascending aorta or the descending aorta and a second time enhancement output may be measured in the pulmonary artery trunk.
US08346338B2
Systems and methods for minimizing or eliminating transient non-glucose related signal noise due to non-glucose rate limiting phenomenon such as ischemia, pH changes, temperatures changes, and the like. The system monitors a data stream from a glucose sensor and detects signal artifacts that have higher amplitude than electronic or diffusion-related system noise. The system replaces some or the entire data stream continually or intermittently including signal estimation methods that particularly address transient signal artifacts. The system is also capable of detecting the severity of the signal artifacts and selectively applying one or more signal estimation algorithm factors responsive to the severity of the signal artifacts, which includes selectively applying distinct sets of parameters to a signal estimation algorithm or selectively applying distinct signal estimation algorithms.
US08346336B2
An analyte monitor includes a sensor, a sensor control unit, and a display unit. The sensor has, for example, a substrate, a recessed channel formed in the substrate, and conductive material disposed in the recessed channel to form a working electrode. The sensor control unit typically has a housing adapted for placement on skin and is adapted to receive a portion of an electrochemical sensor. The sensor control unit also includes two or more conductive contacts disposed on the housing and configured for coupling to two or more contact pads on the sensor. A transmitter is disposed in the housing and coupled to the plurality of conductive contacts for transmitting data obtained using the sensor. The display unit has a receiver for receiving data transmitted by the transmitter of the sensor control unit and a display coupled to the receiver for displaying an indication of a level of an analyte. The analyte monitor may also be part of a drug delivery system to alter the level of the analyte based on the data obtained using the sensor.
US08346330B2
A reflection-detector sensor position indicator comprises emitters that transmit light having a plurality of wavelengths. A detector outputs a sensor signal. At least one reflection detector outputs at least one sensor position signal. An attachment assembly attaches the emitters, the detector and the reflection detector onto a tissue site. A sensor-on condition indicates that the attachment assembly has positioned the emitters generally centered over a fingernail, the detector on a fingertip opposite the fingernail and the reflection detector over the fingernail. The sensor signal, in the sensor-on condition, is at least substantially responsive to the emitter transmitted light after attenuation by pulsatile blood flow perfused within a fingernail bed underneath the fingernail. The sensor position signal, in the sensor-on condition, is at least substantially responsive to the emitter transmitted light after reflection off of the fingernail.
US08346328B2
Embodiments disclosed may include a sensor which may be adapted to provide information related to its position on a patient's tissue. A sensor may be provided with tissue contact sensors which may relay a signal related to the sensor's proper placement adjacent a patient's tissue. Such a sensor may be useful for providing information to a clinician about the status of a sensor, such as if a sensor may be located more closely to the tissue in order to provide improved measurements.
US08346324B2
A holster for use with a handheld device and a peripheral device is disclosed herein. The holster provides a mating structure for holding a peripheral device so that a mobile device charges the peripheral device. The holster removes the inconvenience of having to charge a peripheral off a battery charger at work or home by permitting the peripheral to charge off the handheld device. The holster can be used with any handheld device and peripheral device, such as a cellular phone and a wireless headset.
US08346322B2
A terminal may include a first body, a second body connected to the first body, and a sliding apparatus to operate the first body and the second body between a first position in which the second body is disposed on the first body, and a second position in which the second body is inclined with respect to the first body. The sliding apparatus may include a connection body having a first end connected to the first body and a second end connected to the second body, and an operator to semi-automatically operate the second body relative to the first body between the first position and the second position.
US08346314B2
The slot cycle index is currently negotiated by a mobile handset and a base station. However, if the slot cycle index could be selected dynamically a mobile handset that operates more efficiently for the user would result. Talk time could be maximized when the battery, or other mobile power source is low, while connect time for a mobile call could be minimized when the battery is near fully charged or at times when the user is likely to make a mobile call. Additionally, location could be used to determine the likelihood that the user will make a mobile call. However, current network usage would typically need to be considered when determining if the slot cycle index should be changed. Mobile handset users could also charged for quicker response times, or mobile handset users on more expensive plans could be given typically faster response times. Many different things can be considered in determining when to adjust slot cycle index, such as, for example, battery power, time of day, or system loading. Additionally, combinations of factors can be considered to determine when to adjust slot cycle index.
US08346312B2
A mobile communication device is capable of communicating with a battery authorization server. Determining an authorization status of a smart battery currently powering the mobile communication device involves an initial authorization process and a subsequent authorization process. The initial authorization process is conducted between the mobile communication device and the smart battery. If the initial authorization process is successful, it is followed by a subsequent authorization process between the mobile communication device and the battery authorization server.
US08346311B2
An audio signal processing apparatus includes a band signal component extraction unit for extracting signal components in a predetermined frequency band from an audio signal input by an audio collection unit for collecting at least an outgoing call audio upon an audio phone call, a stationary signal component extraction unit for extracting a stationary signal component from the signal components, a signal adjustment unit having a level adjustment function of adjusting an output signal level with respect to an input signal level and an input and output characteristics change function of changing input and output characteristics upon level adjustment in the level adjustment function through a control signal and configured to set an incoming call audio signal upon the audio phone call as the input signal, and a control signal generation unit for generating the control signal for changing the input and output characteristics by using the stationary signal component.
US08346303B1
The communication device comprising a voice communicating implementer, a bold formatting implementer, an italic formatting implementer, and a multiple language mode implementer.
US08346302B2
A portable electronic device having one or more proximity sensors. The portable electronic device comprises a housing, one or more signal emitters to direct source signal(s) based on the orientation of the housing, and one or more signal receivers to receive return signals corresponding to the source signal(s). The device may include multiple signal emitters and a sensor to identify an orientation of the housing. The appropriate signal emitter may be selected based on the orientation of the housing as identified by the sensor.
US08346297B2
There is provided a multi-tap keyboard user interface with auditory feedback. In one embodiment, there is provided a method for controlling operation of a mobile device having a plurality of input devices, comprising associating groups of one or more keys of the input devices to define at least one input region and in response to an input received from said input devices, performing an associated action for operating the device, responding equally to any input from a same input region. A repeated input (multi-tap) to a same input region cycles through a plurality of actions associated with the input region. Auditory feedback comprising a vocalized description of the action is provided. The multi-tap keyboard user interface with auditory feedback may adapt a mobile device (e.g. PDA or smart phone) for use by visually impaired users.
US08346290B2
Techniques are described that can be used to determine a transmitter power level of a mobile station at cell edge. To determine transmitter power level, the technique considers at least a balance of power transmitted by mobile stations near cell edge and power transmitted by mobile stations closer to cell center, target mean received power by the base station from mobile stations near center cell, target mean power transmitted from cell edge mobile stations, signal-to-interference-power ratio between signals transmitted from base stations of different cells to the mobile station at cell edge, and channel gain.
US08346289B2
A base transceiver station (200) that transmits same data through a common channel shared by a transmission path includes a cell total transmit power detector (41) that detects, with respect to each of a plurality of cells, a total amount of the transmit power for transmitting the data to mobile stations (300) located inside each of the cells, a relative value information receiver (42) that receives relative value information for relatively correcting the total transmit power, from the base transceiver station controller, and a weight adjustment and power determination unit (43) that corrects the total transmit power for transmitting the data with respect to each cell, based on the relative value information received by the relative value information receiver and the total transmit power detected by the cell total transmit power detector, and determines a modified total transmit power.
US08346280B2
A method including receiving a geographic area value limit that segments a geographic region associated with a network into geographic areas; receiving a geographic area-level evolved Node B (eNB) value limit that indicates a maximum number of eNBs to reside in each geographic area; calculating eNB identifiers based on the geographic area value limit and the geographic area-level eNB value limit; assigning the eNB identifiers to eNBs associated with the network; receiving a tracking region value limit that segments the geographic region associated with the network into the geographic areas; receiving a tracking area value limit that indicates a maximum number of tracking areas within each geographic area; calculating tracking area codes based on the tracking region value limit and the tracking area value limit; and assigning the tracking area codes to the tracking areas within each geographic area.
US08346279B1
A mobile station, and related methods, provide navigational assistance. The mobile station executes a local navigation application and can transition between network assisted navigation and stand-alone navigation that utilizes the local navigation application. Various events can cause the transition between the operational states.
US08346276B2
A local radio network controller (RNC) includes one or more stage buffers, with each stage buffer including a database configured to receive and index service measurement data, and a plurality of service measurement data (SM) buffers configured to store the service measurement according to the index of the database, and to send at least one of the stored service measurement data to a next stage of processing at least one of during the receiving of the service measurement data by the stage buffer and before the stage buffer has completed receiving the service measurement data. A depth and number of the SM buffers and a buffer serving time are allocated such that the one or more stage buffers are scalable to support a service node of increasing size by supporting a diverse number of service measurement pegging and appearing virtually infinite in size to applications pegging the service measurement data.
US08346273B2
A wireless network with multiple subscriber systems in a lobe pool may operate by determining a state of the wireless network, identifying a new condition, the new condition including a new demand condition or a new network health condition, determining whether the new condition has a threshold impact on operations of the wireless network or component subscriber systems of the wireless network, and if the threshold impact exists, reconfiguring the wireless network to accommodate the new condition.
US08346260B2
The present invention relates to supporting a handover of a mobile terminal. Preferably, the present invention performs a scan of a neighboring network different from a current network of the mobile terminal to determine the presence of an accessible link of the neighboring network for performing a handover, wherein the mobile terminal comprises a heterogeneous network handover module that is configured to provide convergence of information from at least one network interface module associated with one of a homogeneous and heterogeneous network into a unified presentation. An information message is then received from the neighboring network, wherein the information message comprises an information element associated with whether the neighboring network is capable of communicating with the heterogeneous network handover module of the mobile terminal.
US08346257B2
Method in a user equipment for selecting a cell associated with a radio access technology. The method comprises the steps of obtaining an instruction to select a cell to be used among cells using a radio access technology being associated with a specific service class. Also comprising receiving a broadcast, which broadcast uses a radio access technology being associated with a respective service class and being associated with a respective priority level within that service class. Also comprising selecting a cell, which cell is using a radio access technology being associated with the specific service class in accordance with the obtained instruction and which cell is associated with the highest priority level. An arrangement in a user equipment, a method in a base station, an arrangement in a base station, a method in a core network node and an arrangement in a core network node is also provided.
US08346256B2
A method of provisioning multicast services is provided. In an example, the method includes forming a plurality of multicast groups, each of the plurality of multicast groups associated with one of a plurality of first channel quality ranges. A request for a multicast service and an indicator (e.g., a channel quality indicator (CQI)) indicating a channel quality of a mobile unit are received from the mobile unit. The mobile unit is assigned to one of the plurality of multicast groups based on the indicated channel quality and the plurality of first channel quality ranges.
US08346253B2
The present invention discloses a method for realizing user identity association, the method comprising: setting an equivalent behavior user identifier in a Home Subscription Server (HSS); associating IMS Public User Identities (IMPUs) with the equivalent behavior through the set equivalent behavior user identifier. The present invention also discloses a system and a device realizing user identity association. According to the embodiments of the present invention, the association of the IMPUs with the set equivalent behavior is realized, which improves the user experiences.
US08346249B2
A method for establishing a media for communications in association with a location information service provided in association with a communication system is disclosed. In the method a user equipment is provided with information enabling the user equipment to communicate on a user plane connection with at least one location service entity when the user equipment is visiting a communication network other than a home network of the user equipment. This information may then be used for establishment of a user plane connection in the visited communication network between the user equipment and a location service entity.
US08346246B2
A location registration control unit stores PSC used in a roaming prohibition cell in a prohibition cell list storage area. After that, if the reselection of cells is required for the reason that the receiving conditions become worse or other reasons, a reselection control unit detects PSC of neighbor cells, creates a list of the detected PSC regarded as candidates, stores the list in a candidate cell list storage area, receives notification information from the cell using the PSC other than the roaming prohibition cell in the list, and executes reselection.
US08346225B2
Quality of Service (QoS) for Device Assisted Services (DAS) are provided. In some embodiments, QoS for DAS includes providing a wireless communications device configures to determine a QoS request for a service over a wireless network; and verifying the QoS request for the service over the wireless network using one or more verification techniques.
US08346223B1
A method of delivering a user specific customized service to a mobile user device is disclosed. User specific customized service information is received over a first channel. An identifier for the user specific customized service is generated. A link is sent that includes the identifier of the user specific customized service over a second channel. The user specific customized service identifier is received. The user specific customized service over a third channel is sent.
US08346216B2
A system, method, and computer readable medium for abbreviated dialing in a femtocell network is provided. A user having authorized access to the femtocell network may dial another authorized user using an abbreviated code. On receipt of the call request, a femtocell system may evaluate the destination number to determine if it is an abbreviated code. If the dialed number is not an abbreviated code, the femtocell system may direct the call request to the telecommunication core network for processing thereby. If the dialed number is evaluated by the femtocell system as an abbreviated code, the femtocell system may direct the call request to an on-site PBX for call handling. If the abbreviated code is a valid code and the dialed user equipment is currently in the femtocell network service area, the PBX may then complete the call setup within the femtocell network.
US08346196B2
Methods and systems for coexistence in a multiband, multistandard communication system utilizing a plurality of phase locked loops (PLLs) are disclosed. Aspects may include determining one or more desired frequencies of operation of a transceiver, determining a frequency of unwanted signals such as spurs, intermodulation, and/or mixing product signals, and configuring the PLLs to operate at a multiple of the desired frequencies while avoiding the unwanted signals. The desired frequencies may be generated utilizing integer, which may include multi-modulus dividers. The wireless standards may include LTE, GSM, EDGE, GPS, Bluetooth, WiFi, and/or WCDMA, for example. The frequencies may be configured to mitigate interference. PLLs may be shared when operating in TDD mode, and used separately operating in FDD mode. One or more digital interface signals, zero exceptions on a transmitter spur emission mask, and sampling clocks for ADCs and/or DACs in the transceiver may be generated utilizing the PLLs.
US08346192B2
A transmitter includes a detection element to determine when a current power requirement of a communication link is less than the standard transmit power. The current power requirement may be determined by a current operation condition of the communication link, for instance. The transmit power of the transmitter may be set to be less than the standard power in any of a variety of ways. For example, a center tap voltage of the transmitter may be reduced. In another example, a class of operation of the transmitter may be changed. In yet another example, the transmitter may include a current mirror having a plurality of diode-connected transistors coupled in parallel, thereby reducing the current at output terminals of the transmitter. Reducing the current at the output terminals decreases the output power of the transmitter, which may reduce the power consumed by the transmitter.
US08346190B2
This disclosure describes to techniques to compensate for distortions introduced into received signals by one or more receiver components that have undesirable electrical responses, such as nonlinear phase response, sloped (or non-flat) amplitude response or both. An external device or other device with more power resources than an IMD filters signals to be transmitted to the IMD to pre-compensate for distortions introduced by the undesired electrical responses of the one or more receiver components of the IMD. In this manner, at least a portion of the burden of digital processing to compensate for undesired electrical responses of the receiver components is shifted from the IMD to the external device, which is better equipped to perform such heavy computationally complex functions.
US08346188B2
A nonlinearity calibration system and method for a frequency modulation (FM) transmitter. A nonlinearity calibration system for a FM transmitter includes a digitally controlled oscillator (DCO) with a variable capacitor array. The DCO receives a calibrated fine code for tuning the variable capacitor array to modulate a digitally encoded audio signal transmitted by the FM transmitter to a modulation frequency. The nonlinearity calibration system also includes a nonlinearity estimator for generating an approximation of an integral nonlinearity associated with processing of a fine code to tune the variable capacitor array. The nonlinearity calibration system further includes a subtractor for subtracting the approximation of the integral nonlinearity from the fine code to generate the calibrated fine code.
US08346180B2
A transceiver includes an oscillator and a plurality of communication blocks. Each of the communication blocks includes frequency dividers and mixers. Frequency dividing number of the frequency divider included in one communication block is set to an even-numbered integer, and transmission local signals supplied from the frequency dividers to the mixer become quadrature signals having a phase difference of 90 degrees. The frequency dividing number of another frequency divider in the another communication block is set to a non-integer, and communication local signals supplied from the frequency divider to the mixers become non-quadrature signals having a phase difference at a predetermined offset angle from 90 degrees. The transceiver further includes a converting unit for giving a compensation offset amount having almost the same absolute value and having a polarity opposite to that of the offset angle to communication analog signals related to the mixer of the another communication block.
US08346177B2
A method for noise rise estimation in a wireless communications system is presented, which comprises measuring of samples of at least received total wideband power. From the measured samples of at least received total wideband power, a probability distribution for a first power quantity is estimated. This first power quantity can be the received total wideband power itself. The probability distribution for the first power quantity is used for computing a conditional probability distribution of a noise floor measure. This computing is performed recursively. A value of a noise rise measure is finally calculated based on the conditional probability distribution for the noise floor measure. A node of a wireless communications system having the above functionality is also presented. Typically, the node is a RNC.
US08346174B2
A system including a sampling module that generates samples of RF signals on a first channel during first, second, and third periods, which do not overlap. A difference module determines a first difference between i) a first count of polarity reversals during the first period and ii) a second count of polarity reversals during the second period; a second difference between i) the second count and ii) a third count of polarity reversals during the third period; and a third difference between the first and second differences. A third module determines a frequency of the RF signals based on at least one of the first and second counts, determines a frequency variation of the RF signals based on the first and second counts, and identifies a radar type of the RF signals based on at least one of the third difference and the frequency variation.
US08346166B2
An adaptive inductive ballast is provided with the capability to communicate with a remote device powered by the ballast. To improve the operation of the ballast, the ballast changes its operating characteristics based upon information received from the remote device. Further, the ballast may provide a path for the remote device to communicate with device other than the adaptive inductive ballast.
US08346162B1
A system and method of reducing VSAT apertures via satellite MIMO is disclosed. The system and method comprise a first hub antenna configured to receive a first return signal from and to transmit a first forward signal to a first adjacent satellite, a second hub antenna configured to receive a second return signal from and to transmit a second forward signal to a second adjacent satellite, and a hub station configured to determine time delay and frequency shift between the first return signal and the second return signal after they are received by the first hub antenna and the second hub antenna, and to apply the determined time delay and frequency shift to one of the first forward signal and the second forward signal prior to transmitting them so the first forward signal and the second forward signal are time- and frequency-aligned when received at the remote ground terminal via the first adjacent satellite and the second adjacent satellite, wherein the first return signal and the second return signal are transmitted from the remote ground terminal to the first hub antenna and the second hub antenna via the first adjacent satellite and the second adjacent satellite. Similar time- and frequency-aligning can be achieved at the remote ground terminal using polarized signals transmitted from the remote ground terminal.
US08346160B2
A signal repeating system for a wireless network includes an antenna configured for transceiving signals between a base station and a user equipment device. Repeating circuitry is coupled to the antenna and defines an uplink path for signals from the user equipment device to the base station and a downlink path for signals from the base station to the user equipment device. The repeating circuitry includes gain circuitry and gain control circuitry that is coupled to the gain circuitry. The gain control circuitry is operable for varying the gain of the repeating circuitry according to a waveform. Measurement circuitry measures the receive power in the uplink path over time from the user equipment device. Processing circuitry cross-correlates the inverted gain variation waveform with the measured receive power for determining the existence of traffic from user equipment devices in the uplink path.
US08346153B2
An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit including an image carrier carrying a developer image to form an image by transferring the developer image onto a recording sheet at an image forming position, a recording sheet accommodating unit, a feeding path, a conveyance roller provided in the feeding path for conveying the recording sheet to the image forming position, a discharge path that guides the recording sheet to an outside, a discharge roller being rotatable normally and reversely and discharging the recording sheet to the outside by rotating normally, and a reverse feeding path, by which the recording sheet is guided when the discharge roller reversely rotates, and which reverses the recording sheet so as to guide the recording sheet to be joined again with the feeding path. The reverse feeding path is joined with the feeding path between the image carrier and the conveyance roller.
US08346150B2
In a fixing device, an opposing member contacts a heating member to form a fixing nip between the heating member and the opposing member. A driver rotatively drives at least one of the heating member and the opposing member. A sheet supplier supplies and conveys a sheet to the fixing nip. A recording medium bearing an unfixed toner image is conveyed through a gap between the sheet and the opposing member at the fixing nip with a side of the recording medium bearing the unfixed toner image facing the sheet. At least one of the rotating heating member and the rotating opposing member applies a driving force to the sheet supplied to the fixing nip while the sheet contacts the sheet supplier to apply tension to the sheet at a position upstream from the fixing nip in a sheet conveyance direction.
US08346148B2
A fixing device thermally fixes an unfixed image on a recording sheet by passing the recording sheet through a fixing nip. The fixing device has: a heat-generating endless belt; a first pressure member inside a running path of the endless belt; a second pressure member pressing the endless belt against the first pressure member from outside the running path to form the fixing nip, and a pair of power feeders. The endless belt includes: a circumferential resistive heat layer that generates heat upon receiving electric current; and a first electrode and a second electrode flanking a sheet passing area of the circumferential surface of the endless belt. Each electrode is composed of a pair of electrode layers, one on the inner and another on the outer circumferential surface of the resistive heat layer. Each power feeder is in contact with both the electrode layers of a different electrode.
US08346143B2
A fixing device includes a rotatable first nip formation member, a rotatable second nip formation member, and an oil applier. The second nip formation member is provided under the first nip formation member to contact the first nip formation member. The oil applier includes an oil pan, an oil receiver, and an oil filter. The oil pan is provided under the second nip formation member to contain oil in which the second nip formation member is dipped. The oil receiver holds the oil pan. The oil filter is provided between the oil pan and the oil receiver to filter oil overflowing the oil pan.
US08346142B2
An image forming apparatus includes an air ejecting portion that ejects air toward a gap between the top end of a sheet having passed through a nip of the heating roller and a pressure roller, and the circumference of the heating roller. The air ejecting portion includes a plurality of air nozzles and a plurality of electromagnetic valves being respectively connected thereto and ejects air selectively from a plurality of air ejection positions arranged in the width direction perpendicular to the sheet conveying direction.
US08346141B2
An image forming apparatus includes: an image carrier; a transfer roller that has a gripping member that grips a transfer medium; and a transfer medium transport section that has a transfer medium transport surface that sucks the transfer medium upward in a vertical direction and a contact member that contact with the transfer medium, wherein a first position where the transfer medium starts to be sucked, a second position where the transfer medium is released from the gripping member, and a third position where the transfer medium is separated from the image carrier are disposed at positions having the relationship of L
US08346134B2
A developing device that can discharge developer by an amount of developer in the developing device increased by a carrier supplemented into the developing device includes a supply transport screw and a receiving transport screw in a top and bottom positional relationship, the rotational axes of the supply transport screw and the receiving transport screw are mutually parallel in relation to an image support member. The developing device also includes an inclined transport screw arranged at an incline between one end of the supply transport screw and an other end of the receiving transport screw. The developing device also includes a supply unit for supplying new carrier into a casing and a discharge port and discharge unit for discharging part of the developer housed in the casing to the outside, the discharge port provided on a part of the casing corresponding to an upper part of the inclined transport screw.
US08346127B2
A process cartridge comprises a photosensitive drum and a developing roller. A coupling member is provided adjacent to one axial end of the developing roller. The coupling member includes a driven portion, and an intermediary portion configured and positioned to engage with the driven portion. The intermediary portion is also configured to be movable relative to the driven portion in a direction crossing the axis of the developing roller while maintaining engagement with the driven portion. The coupling member further includes a driving portion configured and positioned to receive a driving force for rotating the developing roller. The driving portion is also configured to engage with the intermediary portion, and to be movable relative to the intermediary portion in a direction crossing the axis of the developing roller while maintaining engagement with the intermediary portion.
US08346126B2
An image forming apparatus includes a drum unit which holds plural photosensitive drums, a developing cartridge which is provided for each photosensitive drum, a translation member which is provided to be movable linearly, and a movable member for each developing cartridge. The movable member includes a main body rotatably supported by the supporting shaft at one end portion thereof, an input portion provided at the other end portion thereof and to which a pressing force is input by the translation member with the linear movement thereof; an abutting portion which is provided between the one and other end portions of the main body, and abuts the drum unit while the movable member rotates about the supporting shaft; and an operating portion which applies to the supporting shaft a force for moving the developing cartridge as the movable member is rotated with the middle portion as a fulcrum.
US08346123B2
An image forming apparatus is described. The image forming apparatus may include an image forming apparatus body and a photosensitive unit detachably mountable to the image forming apparatus body. The photosensitive unit includes: a frame; photosensitive bodies supported by the frame; cartridges including a developer carrier and detachably mountable to the frame; and a pressing portion provided on the frame for pressing the cartridges to direct the developer carrier toward the corresponding photosensitive body. Each cartridge can shift in the frame to a first attitude pressed by the pressing portion, and a second attitude released from the press of the pressing portion and detachable from the frame. The image forming apparatus body is provided with an abutment portion abutting the cartridge in the second attitude thereby bringing the cartridge into the first attitude when the photosensitive unit is mounted to the image forming apparatus body.
US08346110B2
The image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive drum capable of bearing an electrostatic image, a development device having a developing sleeve capable of bearing a developer and a developer container capable of storing a magnetic toner, and a CPU controlling operation to discharge a developer having polarity opposite to a normally charged polarity to the photosensitive drum by enlarging a restoration electric field to force the developer having a normally charged polarity from the photosensitive drum to the development sleeve during image forming is not performed compared to that during normal image forming is performed, based on a weighted value (p×K) on an edge portion pixel number p of an edge portion of an output image.
US08346109B2
An image forming apparatus includes an image supporting member; a developer supporting member for attaching developer to a static latent image formed on a surface of the image supporting member; a developer layer forming member for forming a developer layer on the developer supporting member; a developer supply member for supplying developer to the developer supporting member; a developer supporting member voltage applying unit for applying a voltage to the developer supporting member; a developer supplying member voltage applying unit for applying a voltage to the developer supplying member; and a reset operation processing unit for setting a reset mode over a specific period of time, so that a bias difference in the reset mode between the voltage applied with the developer supporting member voltage applying unit and the voltage applied with the developer supplying member voltage applying unit becomes smaller than that in a printing mode.
US08346107B2
An image forming apparatus including an image forming unit to form an image, a user switch unit to output a user operation signal to switch between a power-on state and a power-off state of the image forming apparatus, a main controller to control the image forming unit and to output a power control signal based on the user operation signal, a power switching unit to selectively supply operation power to the main controller based on the user operation signal and the power control signal, and an auxiliary controller to control the power switching unit such that the operation power is not supplied to the main controller when the power control signal is changed in a power-off state.
US08346092B2
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 connected to a radio remote unit (RRU) or a macro base station through a feeder. 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 optical fiber interface connected to the BPU. The optical fiber interface is connected to a baseband unit (BBU) through an optical fiber. Therefore, after the existing passive antenna is replaced by the provided antenna device, the RRU or macro base station in the original network can still be used, which reduces waste of resources.
US08346089B2
A reconfigurable optical add-drop multiplexer (ROADM) transport network comprising a plurality of optical fan-out devices and a first plurality and a second plurality of demultiplexers for locally dropping selected wavelengths; and first plurality and a second plurality of multiplexers for locally adding selected wavelengths, the first and second plurality disposed in a cascaded relationship to enable selective coupling between network degrees.
US08346088B2
The inventions relate to a method for operating a controllable selective optical add/drop channel for fiber-optic communication system provided with 2N of wavelength-division multiplexing channels, whose optical frequencies are retunable at a constant frequency separations Δv between adjacent channels, with the aid of the inventive controllable optical add/drop multiplexers (70, 80, 90) that comprise multi-stage structures of optical filters ({75-i}, {85-i}, {95-i}), that are connected in different manner and provided with devices, for example electro-optical and thermo-optical phase shift devices, for controllable tuning the transmissions characteristics thereof. The optical filters are embodied in the form of single-stage (20), two-stage (40) and/or multi-stage (60) asymmetric Mach-Zehnder interferometers. The controllable optical add/drop multiplexer can be produced according to integrated optic technique in the form of monolithic solid-state device.
US08346080B2
A system and method for handling accesses by nodes connected to a ring network, using time division multiplexing (TDM). The system includes: nodes capable of receiving only an optical signal of a wavelength or positional space allocated to the node, and of transmitting optical signals of wavelengths allocated to other nodes; and a ring network that performs TDM transmission of optical signals. The ring network has slots for transmitting optical signals of individual wavelengths. Information indicates whether an optical signal to be transmitted exists in each of the slots. Nodes include means for updating the information indicating that the optical signal exists and determining means for updating the information and determining, on the basis of the information, whether to transmit the optical signal.
US08346079B2
An apparatus comprising a path computation element (PCE) configured for at least partial impairment aware routing and wavelength assignment (RWA) and to communicate with a path computation client (PCC) based on a PCE protocol (PCEP) that supports path routing, wavelength assignment (WA), and impairment validation (IV). The PCEP comprises at least one operation selected from the group consisting of a new RWA path request operation and a path re-optimization request operation. Also disclosed is a network component comprising at least one processor configured to implement a method comprising establishing a PCEP session with a PCC, receiving path computation information comprising RWA information and constraints from the PCC, and establishing impairment aware RWA (IA-RWA) based on the path computation information and a private impairment information for a vendor's equipment.
US08346077B1
Systems and techniques for regulating the security of information flow can include multiple information receiving/transmitting domains where a device failure in one or more domains would not comprise the security of the systems. The systems and techniques may be implemented using a multi-domain checking approach in which the respective device operation status in each receiving/transmitting domain is independently monitored. The systems and techniques can advantageously prevent sensitive information from being inadvertently transferred to an untrusted or unauthorized entity.
US08346073B2
According to an aspect of the present invention, once the mode setting device sets the person photographing mode, and the face zooming instruction device instructs zooming to the face of the person, the detection device detects the size of the face of the person captured by the image pickup device. The zooming device is then controlled so as to capture the face of the person in a certain size based on the detection result. Subsequently, the photographer instructs zooming in the telephoto direction or the wide direction using the zooming instruction device as necessary to thereby allow fine adjustment of the composition. This enables to easily and quickly photograph an image in a user's desired composition.
US08346068B2
Disclosed is a substrate rotating and oscillating apparatus for a rapid thermal process (RTP), that oscillates an oscillation plate using an oscillation motor moved by an elevating unit. Rotational shafts of the oscillation motor comprise lower and upper center rotational shafts mounted on a central axis of the motor, and an eccentric shaft mounted between the lower and the upper center rotational shafts as deviated from the central axis. An oscillation cam is mounted to the eccentric cam. The oscillation plate has an oscillation hole for inserting the oscillation cam therein. A bearing is mounted between the oscillation cam and the eccentric shaft such that the oscillation cam rotates independently from the eccentric shaft. The oscillation plate supports the whole multipole-magnetized magnetic motor or maglev motor. Accordingly, the substrate can be uniformly heated by both rotating and all-directionally oscillating the substrate.
US08346064B2
On a recording medium, there are recorded content files and an index file. The index file is constituted by attribute information of the content files (title text data, thumbnail-image data or the like). In the case of changing (recording or deleting) the content file, the index file is updated after the change. A computer sets up, in a nonvolatile memory, status information indicative of being in a predetermined process stage, during the predetermined process stage from a start of changing the content file to a termination of updating the index file. The computer, at turning on power, determines the matching/mismatching between the content and index files recorded on the recording medium utilizing the status information, thus repairing the index file as required.
US08346055B2
Provided are a method of storing status information in a first content reproducing device, and a method of allowing content to be automatically reproduced in a second content reproducing device based on the status information stored in the first content reproducing device. The method of storing status information includes: monitoring an operation of the first content reproducing device; generating status information about the monitored operation; and storing the status information in the first content reproducing device. The method of allowing content to be automatically reproduced includes: checking if the first and second content reproducing devices are connected to each other; reading a log file recording the status information from the first content reproducing device if the first and second content reproducing devices are connected to each other; interpreting the status information; and selectively performing an operation according to a result of the interpreting.
US08346053B2
A contents recording system and a contents recording method reducing a time taken for recording and editing of video content and other video contents. An optical disk device for recording video content and a computer are connected via a network. The computer is supplied with low resolution proxy AV data from the optical disk device, streaming reproduces it as live video and, at the same time, introduces essence marks as meta-data to any positions of the proxy AV data, and describes them in a meta-data file. The optical disk device transmits a header including a recording period of a captured clip to the computer after the end of the capture of the clip.
US08346051B2
A recording and reproducing apparatus (100) can record information on a recording memory (111) having a recording region where a smallest unit for erasing recorded information is a block, on a unit of a cluster that is a unit smaller than the block. The recording and reproducing apparatus (100) includes: an input unit (130) that receives a request for starting or ending recording a file; and a system control unit (101) that records a header section of the file and a data section following the header section, from the beginning of the block in the recording region, when the request for starting recording is received; and updates the header section and records the updated header section on another cluster different from the cluster on which the header section before update is recorded when the request for ending recording is received. The system control unit (101) further corrects management information indicating a connection order of information recorded on each of the clusters included by the recording medium so that the updated header section is followed by the data section, when the updated header section is recorded on the other cluster.
US08346048B2
A illumination device comprises a light guide having a first end for receiving light and configured to support propagation of light along the length of the light guide. A turning microstructure is disposed on a first side of the light guide configured to turn light incident on the first side and to direct the light out a second opposite side of the light guide, wherein the turning microstructure comprises a plurality of indentations. A cover is physically coupled to the light guide and disposed over the turning microstructure. An interlayer is between the cover and the light guide, wherein the interlayer physically couples the cover to the light guide. A plurality of open regions is between the interlayer and the plurality of indentations. Various embodiments include methods of coupling the cover to the light guide while preserving open regions between the cover and plurality of indentations.
US08346043B2
A fiber tray for routing and packaging an optical fiber is disclosed. The fiber tray includes a generally round central section, a lead-in section, and a lead-out section. All three sections are integrally formed out of a thin sheet of a material and coated with a tacky adhesive material for fiber retention. The adhesive allows for fiber removal and rerouting if required. The tray includes guiding walls, which establish the path of the optical fiber on the tray. The optical fiber is routed in a single layer on the tacky surface of the fiber tray. The optical fiber is supported and immobilized essentially along its entire length, including the length of the optical fiber routed on the lead-in and the lead-out sections.
US08346037B2
An optical assembly includes a combination of laser sources emitting radiation, focused by a combination of lenses into optical waveguides. The optical waveguide and the laser source are permanently attached to a common carrier, while at least one of the lenses is attached to a holder that is an integral part of the carrier, but is free to move initially. Micromechanical techniques are used to adjust the position of the lens and holder, and then fix the holder it into place permanently using integrated heaters with solder.
US08346029B2
A multicomponent glass fiber having a doping concentration of 55%-85% (wt./wt.) of a rare-earth oxide is presented. The rare-earth oxide is selected from the group comprising: Pr2O3, Nd2O3, Pm2O3, Sm2O3, Eu2O3, Gd2O3, Tb2O3, Dy2O3, Ho2O3; Er2O3, Tm2O3, Yb2O3, La2O3, Ga2O3, Ce2O3, and Lu2O3. Additionally, an all-fiber isolator using highly rare-earth oxide doped fibers is disclosed.
US08346020B2
The process and method for generating a 3D model from a set of 2D drawings is described herein. Traditionally, many structural components (objects) are communicated through a series of 2D drawings, wherein each drawing describes the components that are visible in a user-selected view direction. No machine-readable information in the drawings define a relationship between the drawings developed from various view directions or the objects' locations in 3D space. Considerable human effort and intervention is required to place objects defined in the 2D drawings into 3D space. With the ability to provide information in each drawing defining a relationship with the other drawings as well as its place in 3D space, the objects defined in 2D drawings can self-assemble in 3D space, thereby reducing a substantial amount of required human effort.
US08346012B2
An image processing apparatus includes a plurality of addition means and an image processing means. The addition means performs addition processing of adding pixels of a differential image at a second resolution representing a difference between an inputted image at a first resolution and an image at the second resolution higher than the first resolution as pixels of an inputted image at the second resolution. The image processing means is configured to perform second and subsequent addition processing, and generate an image of the second resolution as a processing result by performing the addition processing for a predetermined number of times. The addition processing is performed with inputs of an image at the first resolution and an image at the second resolution obtained by an immediately preceding addition processing, which are different from each other.
US08346003B2
An image processing device for converting an input image into an output image whose blur is reduced. The image processing device includes a first image extracting section that extracts a plurality of pixels composed of a pixel of the input image corresponding to a pixel of interest in the output image and predetermined pixels surrounding the pixel of the input image. A first feature quantity calculating section calculates a first feature quantity from the plurality of pixels extracted by the first image extracting section. A second pixel extracting section extracts a plurality of pixels composed of the pixel of interest and predetermined pixels surrounding the pixel of interest from the input image. A predicting section then generates a pixel value of the pixel of interest.
US08346001B2
This invention is directed to efficiently compressing data used in an image process for an unprocessed line adjacent to a process line in an image data process for each line, and reducing the memory band. To accomplish this, processed image data is compressed, and it is determined whether the process direction of image data of the next line is the first direction or the second direction opposite to the first direction. The data organization of the compressed image data is changed in accordance with the determination result. A memory stores the compressed image data whose data organization has been changed. The compressed image data stored in the memory is read out and decompressed. An image process is performed using the decompressed image data and image data of a line adjacent to the line of the processed image data.
US08345998B2
Disclosed is a processor-implemented method for processing image data comprising a plurality of pixels and system for performing the method. The method includes the following acts: determining at least one type of data represented by the plurality of pixels, determining, for each type of data, a number of pixels from the image data representing that type of data in the image data, and determining a compression scheme for compressing the image data based on a relative or absolute amount of each type of data in accordance with a predetermined scheme. The type of data may be determined by received input (e.g., user selected type and compression quality) or by analyzing its pixels and comparing it to thresholds. Basing the compression technique on the data type allows for better selection of a compression technique (e.g., MRC or JPEG), and thus greater image quality, compression ratios, and file size.
US08345995B2
A method and apparatus for coding a chrominance component of an intra-image using spatial predictive coding and a method and apparatus for decoding the coded chrominance component are provided. The coding apparatus includes a variation calculator, which calculates a vertical variation and a horizontal variation with respect to a current block to be predictively coded among blocks having a predetermined size, into which a chrominance component of an input image is divided, using pixel values in an upper reference block adjacent to the current block and pixel values in a side reference block adjacent to the current block; a hybrid predictor, which divides the current block into a predetermined number of regions according to the vertical and horizontal variations and generates a prediction value of each pixel in each region using a pixel value in the upper reference block or a pixel value in the side reference block; a differential value generator, which generates a differential value between the prediction value and a corresponding real pixel value in the current block and codes the differential value using a predetermined coding method.
US08345990B2
A method is provided that creates a lecture video capsule containing highlights of an original instructional video based on visual quality and content. The method includes segmenting and recognizing activities in the instructional video using a hidden Markov model (HMM). The activities are classified into three categories: talking head, writing hand and slideshow. The talking head frames are classified as non-content frames, while the writing hand and slideshows are classified as content frames. A non-reference based objective quality assessment of the non-content frames may be performed to detect high quality frames. Statistical parameters of an intensity histogram and a horizontal projection profile (HPP) of the content frames may be used to derive an objective quality measure of the content frames that is used to extract high quality content frames. The selected high quality non-content and content frames form a video clip or capsule, which is a temporally compressed representation of the video.
US08345988B2
A method and apparatus for recognizing an object, comprising providing a set of scene features from a scene, pruning a set of model features, generating a set of hypotheses associated with the pruned set of model features for the set of scene features, pruning the set of hypotheses, and verifying the set of pruned hypotheses is provided.
US08345986B2
There is provided an image processing apparatus. The image processing apparatus includes: an obtaining unit configured to obtain an image; a generating unit configured to generate a plurality of feature maps for a plurality of features of the image, wherein each of the feature maps corresponds to one of the features of the image; an imaging situation determining unit configured to determine an imaging situation of the image; a weighting unit configured to weight the feature maps in accordance with the imaging situation; and a detector configured to detect a region of interest from the image based on feature distributions of the weighted feature maps.
US08345979B2
A method is disclosed for finding a deformed pattern in an image using a plurality of sub-patterns. By advantageously restricting sub-pattern search ranges, search speed is improved, and the incidence of spurious matches is reduced. The method also quickly decides which sub-pattern result, of several potential candidates, is most likely to be the correct match for a deformed sub-pattern. Also, a method is provided for characterizing a deformed pattern in an image by using results from feature-based search tools to create a mapping that models the deformation of the pattern. A transform, selectable by a user, is fit to the results from the search tools to create a global deformation mapping. This transformation is fit only to feature points derived from matches resulting from successful sub-pattern search, without including data from areas of the pattern that were blank, not matched, or otherwise didn't contain information about the pattern's distorted location.
US08345975B2
A method of segmenting regions of an image wherein a number of partitions are determined based on a range of an image histogram in a logarithmic luminance domain. Regions are defined by the partitions. A mean value of each region is calculated by K-means clustering wherein the clustering is initialized, data is assigned and centroids are updated. Anchor points are determined based on the centroids and a weight of each pixel is computed based on the anchor points.
US08345967B2
A method and apparatus for processing an image to create a grayscale image are provided. The method includes converting, in a color image consisting of a plurality of pixels, a pixel value of each pixel in a RGB color space into a pixel value in a new color space through color space conversion, extracting color information using the pixel value in the new color space, calculating a luminance change amount of each pixel using the extracted color information, calculating a luminance value for the grayscale image by combining an original luminance value of each pixel and the luminance change amount, and creating the grayscale image according to the calculated luminance value. In converting color image into grayscale image and representing the grayscale image, the luminance change amount is set according to a property of each color perceived by humans and added to original luminance value, thereby explicitly discriminating among objects.
US08345964B2
An image generation method, image generation device, and image synthesis device include generating at least two images at different exposure times. Intensities of pixels in the images at different exposure times are respectively obtained. Reliabilities of the pixels in the images at different exposure times are respectively obtained. The intensities of the corresponding pixels in the images at different exposure times are respectively multiplied by the corresponding reliabilities, and then the products are summed, so as to obtain intensities of pixels in a synthesized image and thus generate the synthesized image. By using the technical schemes of the present disclosure, an image with abundant details can be generated in real time.
US08345961B2
The present invention relates to an image processing technology, and discloses an image stitching method and apparatus to solve the problem of severe ghosting of an image stitched in the prior art. In the embodiments of the present invention, the overlap region of two images is found, a depth image of the overlap region is obtained, and the two images are stitched together according to the depth image. In the stitching process, the 3-dimensional information of the images is obtained by using the depth image to deghost the image. The method and apparatus under the present invention are applicable to multi-scene videoconferences and the occasions of making wide-view images or videos.
US08345957B2
An example of the present invention is a data processing apparatus including, a saving part configured to save three-dimensional data of a subject, a two-dimensional image display part configured to display three-dimensional data of the subject as a two-dimensional image, a designation part configured to designate coordinate information associated with a specific coordinate point on the two-dimensional image, a specifying part configured to specify, based on the coordinate information designated on the two-dimensional image, coordinate information on the corresponding three-dimensional data, and a calculation part configured to calculate a view angle of the subject on the basis of the coordinate information on the three-dimensional data.
US08345954B2
This invention relates to a method and an apparatus for the three-dimensional digitization of objects with a 3D sensor, which comprises a projector and one or more cameras, in which a pattern is projected onto the object by means of the projector, and the pattern is detected with the one or more cameras. In accordance with the invention, the method and the apparatus are characterized in that at least three reference marks and/or a reference raster are projected onto the object with the 3D sensor and are detected with two or more external, calibrated digital cameras.
US08345951B2
A binarizing method for binarizing an original image of an electrode pad on a substrate. The method includes the steps of processing an electrode image to generate a binary image of the electrode by binarzing the original image with a first threshold value, calculating a contact trace area to calculate the contact trace area including a portion that is predicted to be a trace of an object that contacted the electrode from the binary image of the electrode, processing a contact trace image to generate the contact trace area binary image by binarizing the original image of the area extracted by the contact trace area extracting unit with a second threshold value different from the first threshold value, and synthesizing the images to synthesize the binary image of the electrode and the contact trace area binary image by taking a logical sum on a corresponding pixel to pixel basis.
US08345942B2
A method for obtaining an image of tooth tissue directs incident light toward a tooth, wherein the incident light excites a fluorescent emission from the tooth tissue. Fluorescence image data is obtained from the fluorescent emission. Back-scattered reflectance image data is obtained from back-scattered light from the tooth tissue. The fluorescence and back-scattered reflectance image data are combined to form an enhanced image of the tooth tissue for caries detection.
US08345937B2
A person is detected as a subject from an image obtained by image capture, and information, for example, the number of such subjects, is obtained as subject-related information. Then, the greater the number of subjects, the more a setting of a condition that the subjects should satisfy is relaxed. As a result, in an image processing apparatus having a function that identifies a subject state, the usability of that function that identifies the subjects can be improved even in a case in which multiple subjects are present.
US08345935B2
Detecting behavioral deviations in members of a cohort group is provided. A member of a cohort group is identified. Each member of the cohort group shares a common characteristic. Ocular metadata associated with the member of the cohort group is generated in real-time. The ocular metadata describes movements of an eye of the member of the cohort group. The ocular metadata is analyzed to identify patterns of ocular movements. In response to the patterns of ocular movements indicating behavioral deviations in the member of the cohort group, the member of the cohort group is identified as a person of interest. A person of interest may be subjected to an increased level of monitoring and/or other security measures.
US08345930B2
A computer-implemented method for estimating a volume of at least one food item on a food plate is disclosed. A first and second plurality of images are received from different positions above a food plate, wherein angular spacing between the positions of the first plurality of images is greater than angular spacing between the positions of the second plurality of images. A first set of poses of each of the first plurality of images is estimated. A second set of poses of each of the second plurality of images is estimated based on at least the first set of poses. A pair of images taken from each of the first and second plurality of images is rectified based on at least the first and second set of poses. A 3D point cloud is reconstructed based on at least the rectified pair of images. At least one surface of the at least one food item above the food plate is estimated based on at least the reconstructed 3D point cloud. The volume of the at least one food item is estimated based on the at least one surface.
US08345924B2
An electronic device with a water level monitoring system monitors a buoy to determine if a water level is acceptable. The device separates level markers of the containment facility and the buoy floating therein. The device traces a trace of the movement of the buoy and compares the trace and security lines to determine if the water level is acceptable or not. If the water level is unacceptable, the device sends an alarm to an alarm mainframe to display a warning on a monitor array.
US08345921B1
Embodiments of this invention relate to detecting and blurring images. In an embodiment, a system detects objects in a photographic image. The system includes an object detector module configured to detect regions of the photographic image that include objects of a particular type at least based on the content of the photographic image. The system further includes a false positive detector module configured to determine whether each region detected by the object detector module includes an object of the particular type at least based on information about the context in which the photographic image was taken.
US08345914B2
A loudspeaker includes a frame, a magnetic circuit, a voice coil bobbin, and a voice coil. The frame is mounted on a side of the magnetic circuit. The magnetic circuit defines a magnetic gap. The voice coil bobbin is disposed in the magnetic gap. The voice coil is wound around the voice coil bobbin. The voice coil bobbin includes a carbon nanotube layer structure. The carbon nanotube layer structure includes a plurality of carbon nanotubes.
US08345912B2
An earphone having an under hanger reduces movement of the earphone from vibrations that occur while a user is typically in motion. The earphone preferably includes: a housing for housing a speaker therein; a protector installed in a front surface of the housing and having a mesh for delivering a sound from the speaker; and an under hanger provided at a lower part of the housing to closely contact along a lower part of the rear side of an earflap of a user. The provision of an under hanger in a lower part of the earphone prevents from being easily separated from a user's ear. Further, by providing an under hanger made of a soft material, as the earphone closely contacts with the user's ear, a sound quality is improved and a wearing feeling of the earphone is improved.
US08345909B2
A loudspeaker assembly comprises a base supporting at least one electro-acoustic transducer and at least one waveguide segment detachably supported by the base.
US08345900B2
There is provided a method for providing hearing assistance to a user (101, 301), comprising: capturing audio signals by a microphone arrangement (26) comprising at least two spaced apart microphones (M1, M2); estimating the total energy contained in the voice spectrum of the audio signals captured at least one of the microphones; estimating the value of the direction of arrival of the captured audio signals by comparing the audio signals captured by at least two of the spaced apart microphones; judging whether a voice is present close to microphone arrangement by taking into account the estimated total energy contained in the voice spectrum of the captured audio signals and the estimated value of the direction of arrival of the captured audio signals; outputting a signal representative of said judgement; processing said captured audio signals according to said signal representative of said judgement; and stimulating the user's hearing, by stimulating means worn at or in at least one of the user's ears (39), according to the processed audio signals.
US08345893B2
A sound volume controller includes a level adjustment section that adjusts a level of an input audio signal and outputs the adjusted input audio signal as an output audio signal, a level detection section that detects the level of the input audio signal, a volume value detection section that detects a volume value set by a user, a coefficient table storage section that stores a coefficient table which describes a relation between levels of the output audio signal and levels of the input audio signal, a coefficient table change section that changes the coefficient table stored in the coefficient table storage section in accordance with the volume value detected by the volume value detection section, and a setting section that sets an amount of level adjustment of the level adjustment section in accordance with the level of the input audio signal detected by the level detection section and the coefficient table.
US08345888B2
In an ANR circuit of a personal ANR device, a digital filter is structured to introduce one or more zeros to add gain to introduce positive phase in the provision of feedback-based ANR, wherein the gain follows a frequency-dependent “ski-slope” gain curve with little gain added at lower audible frequencies, with increasing gain that increases with frequency added at higher audible frequencies, and with the increasing gain flattening at frequencies above audible frequencies.
US08345882B2
To safeguard data transmission, a first terminal communicates in a first network with the aid of at least one session key and a second terminal communicates in a second network with the aid of at least one session key. The first terminal is connected to the second terminal through a local interface. In the first terminal, at least one first session key is determined and at least one second session key is derived from the first session keys. At least one second session key is transmitted to the second terminal through the local interface by a safety protocol. The second terminal is authenticated to the second network by at least one second session key or by the key derived from the second session key(s) through an authentication protocol.
US08345875B2
A method of encrypting broadcast and multicast data communicated between two or more parties, each party having knowledge of a shared key, is provided. The key is calculated using values, some of which are communicated between the parties, so that the shared key is not itself transferred. Avoiding the transfer of the key offers several advantages over existing encryption methods.
US08345872B2
The local digital network comprises: access devices (1), for receiving data originating from outside the network and transmitting them at a point of the network; and presentation devices (2,3) for receiving the data flowing in the network and presenting them at a point of the network. The data flow in the network in encrypted form and all the devices of the network use a single key, the local key of the network, for the encryption and decryption of the data. Preferably, the local key of the network is formed by a pair of public and private keys. The purpose of this network is to make it possible to copy data in the local network whilst preventing pirate copies destined for other local networks.
US08345864B1
An improved technique involves dynamic generation of at least a portion of an acceleration table for use in elliptic curve cryptography. Such dynamic generation is capable of providing savings with regard to carrying out elliptic curve cryptography without an acceleration table. Furthermore, once the portion of the acceleration table is dynamically generated and stored (e.g., in a high speed cache), the portion of the acceleration table is capable of being used on subsequent elliptic curve cryptography operations as well thus enabling the cost of dynamically generating the acceleration table to be amortized across multiple elliptic curve cryptography operations.
US08345859B2
A XDSL line card including an allocator for allocating power to the multi-tone modulated communications on each of the subscriber lines, and for selecting control parameters sufficient to effect communications on each of the subscriber lines at a power level proximate to an allocated power level therefore. The line card also includes configurable components coupled to one another to form a transmit path and a receive path to couple to the digital subscriber lines. The configurable components are responsive to the control parameters selected by the allocator to initialize multi-tone communications over each of the plurality of subscriber lines at a power level proximate the allocated power level.
US08345855B2
The optimum number of agents necessary for contact-center jobs is dynamically calculated in accordance with actual operations. A method of making the same controllable and a computer program to realize such calculation and method are provided. A necessary number-of-people calculating means (4) theoretically calculates the necessary number of people in response to the number of calls varying from time to time and average handling time (“AHT”) for agents by using the well known Erlang C equation. Further, an operation-rate adjusting means (6) adjusts such theoretically calculated data of the necessary number of people by using a predicted operation data based on managers' practically experienced data and a control means (9) provides the calculated result to an output means (7).
US08345853B2
A method for processing an incoming call, includes: an accessing call mark being preset in a called terminal; the called terminal, on receiving a call initiated by a calling party, determining whether the call contains the accessing call mark of the called terminal; if the call contains the accessing call mark of the called terminal, the called terminal putting through the call; otherwise, the called terminal terminating the call. The invention may solve the problems caused by various methods used in the prior art to avoid being disturbed by phone calls, such as missing important calls, extra service fee, partial protection against harassing telephone calls, and etc. The solution may ensure that the called user will not be disturbed by unimportant calls or harassing calls when the called user does not want to be disturbed, while ensuring that the called user will not miss any important call.
US08345830B2
An audio indication of a recipient for a message is received, the message to be sent by a user to the recipient. An electronic database is searched for the recipient. When the recipient is found in the electronic database, information is determined from the electronic database concerning the recipient. An audio prompt is formed including at least some of the information concerning the recipient that was obtained from the electronic database.
US08345826B2
A method includes receiving multiple alarm messages, each being associated with a failure associated with a service feature available within a telecommunication network. A failure rate for a type of failure having a common set of service feature failure characteristics is determined from the alarm messages received. When the failure rate exceeds a threshold, a maintenance ticket is generated automatically.
US08345824B2
An X-ray waveform is generated by validating detection data corresponding to when an X-ray (4) is generated at a collision point (9) among X-ray detection data and invalidating other data. For example, when laser light (3) is pulse laser light and an electron beam (1) is a continuous electron beam or a pulse-like electron beam having a pulse width equal to or greater than that of the pulse laser light, the X-ray waveform is generated by detecting the laser light (3) and multiplying the X-ray detection data by laser light detection data after making time axes coincident with respect to the collision point (9).
US08345819B2
A system and method for inspecting a vehicle by means of one or more sources and detectors of penetrating radiation. The source(s) and detector(s) are carried on a mobile conveyance and deployed at a point of operation. One source swings away from the conveyance on a deployable member, such as a boom, such that the source can irradiate a vehicle from above or below. A detector deploys outwardly from the mobile conveyance, remaining mechanically coupled to the mobile conveyance in a position in a horizontal plane, such that the detector intercepts penetrating radiation from the source positioned above the inspected vehicle, which penetrating radiation has interacted with the inspected vehicle. A ramp may be provided to allow the inspected vehicle to be driven to a position between the vertically irradiating source and a transmission detector.
US08345806B2
An apparatus and a method are provided for detecting N number of TX signals in a MIMO wireless communication system. The apparatus includes an RF processor, a channel estimator, and a signal detector. The RF processor converts signals, received through multiple antennas, into baseband signals. The channel estimator estimates channel information of the respective antennas by using the received signals. The signal detector arranges the baseband signals of the respective antennas on the basis of the channel information, calculates a threshold value of each stage, and selects symbols with a cumulative metric smaller than or equal to the threshold value as candidates at each stage, to detect a TX signal vector with N number of symbols.
US08345803B2
Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate dynamically allocating demodulation resources of a wideband receiver to provide improved demodulation of simultaneously received signals. Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and/or packet error rate (PER) can be measured for the plurality of carriers to determine which demodulators related to the carriers require more resources than others to demodulate signals at a specified signal quality. Where the SNR of a related carrier is high and/or PER is low, the demodulator can require fewer resources than where the SNR of a related carrier is low and/or PER is high. In this regard, the resources are dynamically allocated among the demodulators and reallocated where SNR/PER changes and/or additional resources are made available.
US08345794B2
Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate interleaving encoded control channel information for transmission over an uplink channel. The encoded control channel information, for example, can include encoded Channel Quality Indicator (CQI) information, encoded Precoding Matrix Indicator (PMI) information, and/or Rank Indicator (RI) information. CQI information, PMI information, and/or RI information can be encoded at an access terminal, for instance, by applying a punctured Reed Muller block code to generate a sequence of encoded bits. The encoded bits can be interleaved to reorder the sequence utilizing one or more interleaving approaches. Examples of interleaving approaches that can be leveraged include prime number based interleaving, generalized bit reversal interleaving, column-row interleaving with column bit reversal, and/or M-sequence based interleaving. Further, the reordered sequence of encoded bits can be transmitted to a base station over an uplink channel.
US08345791B2
A method is provided for receiving a received signal corresponding to a multicarrier signal transmitted by at least one transmitter via a transmission channel, the multicarrier signal being formed by a temporal succession of symbols including of a set of data elements with real values, including informative data elements, and reference data elements called pilots for at least some of the symbols. The reception method includes step of first estimation of the transmission channel. Due to at least one of the pilots being an isolated pilot in transmission, the reception method further includes a step of extracting the isolated pilot, and a step of locally refining the first estimation.
US08345789B2
In a communication system, such as a Multiple Input Multiple Output system operating in a spatial multiplexing mode, for use, e.g., in a WLAN or HSPDA device, a plurality of information flows are received via a set of receive antennas by deriving from at least some, and possibly all, of the receive antennas, respective RF signals, and producing from the RF signals thus derived, a plurality of receive signals, each receive signal to be demodulated to recover one of the information flows transmitted. The receive signals are produced as combinations of the RF signals having applied thereto relative RF phase shift weights.
US08345788B2
In a method for detecting a signal in a multi-input multi-output wireless communication system that receives signals transmitted through a plurality of transmission antennas by using a plurality of reception antennas, a detection order for detecting the transmission signals received through the reception antennas is determined on the basis of a cofactor determinant of components constituting a channel matrix representing characteristics of channels between the transmission antennas and the reception antennas. In addition, the transmission signal is detected from the signals received through the reception antennas in accordance with the determined detection order.
US08345787B2
A method and apparatus for transmitting signals in a multi-hop wireless communication system are provided. A first BS transmits a signal including a first common information codeword and a first private information codeword. A second BS transmits a signal including a second common information codeword and a second private information codeword. A first RS joint-decodes the first common information codeword and the second common information codeword and decodes the first private information codeword. A second RS joint-decodes the first common information codeword and the second common information codeword and decodes the second private information codeword.
US08345782B2
The invention relates to DVB-T system, and in particular, to a channel estimation method for OFDM symbols. A plurality of symbols are received to generate a pilot response. A finite impulse response is generated from the pilot response. A coefficient table is selected based on the characteristics of the finite impulse response. The channel is estimated by interpolating the pilot response based on the coefficient table.
US08345775B2
A technique is provided for processing decoded video data to mask visual compression artifacts resulting from video compression. In accordance with this technique, a hardware block is provided for generating and adding random noise to the decoded video stream. In one embodiment, a random number is generated for each pixel of the decoded video data and compared against one or more threshold values to determine a threshold range. In such an embodiment, a noise addend value is selected based upon the threshold comparison and summed with the current pixel. While the present technique may not eliminate the compression artifacts, the addition of random noise renders the compression artifacts less noticeable to the human eye and, therefore, more aesthetically pleasing to a viewer.
US08345771B2
An image coding method and apparatus considering human visual characteristics are provided. The image coding method comprises (a) modeling image quality distribution of an input image in units of scenes such that the quality of an image input in units of scenes is gradually lowered from a region of interest to a background region, (b) determining a quantization parameter of each region constituting one scene according to the result of modeling of image quality distribution, (c) quantizing image data in accordance with the quantization parameter, and (d) coding entropy of the quantized image data.
US08345768B1
The present invention provides a method of encoding and transmitting a block of visual data within a visual data stream. First, image information updates are acquired for the block of visual data that includes pixel data and is associated with a change history of pixel data. Next, stored block information is retrieved for the block of visual data, including a recent change history for the block of visual data. Next, a determination is made from the retrieved block information and the image information updates that the block of visual data is a video image type. Available network bandwidth is then determined. Encoding parameters for the block of visual data from the retrieved block information, the image information updates and the available network bandwidth are determined. The block of visual data is encoded and transmitted across a computer network.
US08345744B2
An apparatus and method to preferentially select code quantity from DPCM path in a manner to satisfy the target code quantity thereby preventing deterioration of image quality. Code quantities obtained by a first compression system of quantizing an input image signal by quantization steps different from each other, or code quantities obtained by a second compression system which has compression factor and loss which are lower than those of the first compression system are added on an encoding system selection basis to calculate a total code quantity of equi-length unit. A calculated total code quantity and a target code quantity in the equi-length unit are compared to determine quantization step in the first compression system in accordance with the comparison result to select, on the encoding system selection basis, the first compression system or the second compression system of performing quantization by the determined quantization step.
US08345741B2
A receiving apparatus is disclosed. A digital tuner section selects a modulation signal having a predetermined frequency from a radio wave of a digital television broadcast, demodulates the modulation signal, and outputs a resultant transport stream. A separation section separates the transport stream into a video stream and an additional stream. A decoder decodes the video stream and outputs a picture signal. The picture processing section performs a predetermined picture process for the picture signal. A control section obtains program information containing information about a picture signal type of a program that is broadcast from the additional data and creates a program information database based on the program information. A storage section stores the program information database. The control section controls the picture process based on the picture signal type obtained with reference to the program information database in parallel with processes of the digital tuner section and the separation section.
US08345735B2
There is provided a communication method using a human body as a medium. A modulation apparatus using a frequency selective baseband according to an aspect of the invention may include: a serial-to-parallel conversion unit converting serial data supplied from an upper layer into parallel data consisting of M+1 number of data input bits; and a frequency selective spreader selecting one subgroup among a plurality of subgroups obtained by dividing 2N number (where N is a positive integer) of spreading codes used for frequency spreading by 2M (where M is a positive integer, and M
US08345734B2
The invention relates to a method and a system for estimating a symbol time error in a broadband transmission system, comprising: - determination a timing error signal of an input-signal of a discrete Fourier-transformation block (5) in a data symbol stream on the basis of intersymbol correlation using a predetermined period in each received symbol, - selecting as a predetermined period a number of samples of different useful data parts of a symbol, - determining the time error value (ε) based on the intersymbol interference of the selected samples of the different parts of said symbol.
US08345732B2
A method for feeding back transmitter beamforming information from a receiving wireless communication device to a transmitting wireless communication device includes a receiving wireless communication device receiving a preamble sequence from the transmitting wireless device. The receiving wireless device estimates a channel response based upon the preamble sequence and then determines an estimated transmitter beamforming unitary matrix based upon the channel response and a receiver beamforming unitary matrix. The receiving wireless device then decomposes the estimated transmitter beamforming unitary matrix to produce the transmitter beamforming information and then wirelessly sends the transmitter beamforming information to the transmitting wireless device.
US08345730B2
A method and receiver for reducing a signal (B) interfering with a broadband spread-spectrum signal (A) reaching a receiver (100), the receiver (100) including an interference signal (B) reduction system (20) incorporating an automatic gain controller (21), said method characterized in that the controller (21) continuously carries out a normalization (B′) of an instantaneous peak amplitude of the signal (B), wherein said instantaneous peak amplitude is constant in time for the signal thus normalized (B′).
US08345728B2
The present invention describes a spread spectrum communication system wherein the frequency of carriers and the code channels of the carriers or both for transmission to a given remote station user vary in time. This provides for a direct sequence spectrum communications system which changes frequency or code channel according to a predetermined pattern. The code channels and frequencies can be determined in accordance with a deterministic function or based upon a subset of the data to be transmitted. A receiver structure is also described for receiving the same.
US08345726B1
A method of receiving a plurality of simultaneously transmitted data streams is disclosed. Each data stream is divided into portions and transmitted at predetermined frequencies and times according to a frequency-hopping pattern. The portions are received using a plurality of receivers. Each receiver is configured to receive portions transmitted on one of the predetermined frequencies. The received portions are temporarily stored in a memory such that the received portions are stored as a function of receiver and time. The stored portions are compared to the frequency-hopping pattern. It is determined if any combination of the stored portions corresponds to the predetermined frequencies and times of the frequency-hopping pattern.
US08345724B2
A laser system includes a first source and a second source for generating a first laser beam and a second laser beam, respectively, and a mirror arrangement including a first interleaving laser mirror with a high reflecting area configured to reflect the first laser beam and a first high transmitting area configured to transmit the second laser beam.
US08345721B2
A method to control an LD (laser diode) is disclosed. The method compares the operating temperature of the LD with a transition temperature. When the former temperature exceeds the latter, the modulation current is set based on the bias current, which is independently determined by the APC loop. On the other hand, the operating temperature is less than the transition temperature; the modulation current is determined by the operating temperature.
US08345719B2
A semiconductor laser device comprising a laser diode with an integrated photodiode, wherein one of the components of the laser diode with the integrated photodiode is also used for heating the laser diode. A simpler design of a wavelength-controlled semiconductor laser is thus obtained.
US08345718B2
A pulse shaper for compensating group runtime effects is provided. The pulse shaper comprising a first and a second dispersive element. An optical pulse can be coupled to the pulse shaper along a coupling direction such that said pulse exits from the pulse shaper after passing through the first and the second dispersive element along an exit direction. The first and the second dispersive element are formed and arranged to be movable relative to each other such that the path length to be traversed by the optical pulse through the first and the second dispersive element after coupling to the pulse shaper can be adjusted without any change in an offset between the coupling direction and the exit direction. The first and the second dispersive element are arranged in such a way that the shape of the optical pulse experiences a change as the pulse travels through the pulse shaper.
US08345710B2
A Field Device Tool (FDT)-based application is provided. The FDT-based application includes at least one communication Device Type Manager (communication DTM) and a router Device Type Manager (DTM). The communication DTM corresponds with a type of communication protocol that an at least one plant asset follows. The communication DTM is configured to provide an interface for communication between the FDT-based application and the communication protocol that the plant asset follows. The router DTM is coupleable to an asset optimization device manager that includes electronic device description language (EDDL), the router DTM is configured to transfer data from the asset optimization device manager to the at least one communication DTM for communication with the plant asset.
US08345704B2
Aspects of a method and system for multi-radio coexistence and a collaborative interface may include exchanging information between a plurality of radio transceivers integrated within a single device to enable coexistence, and coordinating sharing of transmit and receive resources between the plurality of radio transceivers by controlling access to the transmit and receive resources, where any one of the plurality of radio transceivers may be enabled to be selected to control the access based on the exchanged information. Selecting one of the radio transceivers for the controlling of the access band may be based on processing capability or priority of communication. The resources may comprise frequency bands, time slots, and antenna access. The information may be exchanged via a serial bus between the plurality of radio transceivers, where the serial bus may conform to an I2C (I-square-C) multi-master serial bus. Each of the radio transceivers may conform to one or more radio frequency technology.
US08345699B2
A system and method which enables a provider network to run a loop detection protocol in a customer network communicably coupled to it. The provider network runs a loop detection protocol and the customer network either runs a different protocol or none. The provider network determines its root bridge, or designated customer bridge, which is used to control loop detection decisions for the customer network. A BPDU or other protocol packet received from the customer network is tunneled through the provider network to the designated customer bridge. The designated customer network then processes the received BPDU in accordance with a loop detection instance for the customer network. The designated customer bridge then produces control messages in response to the processing and forwards those messages to the customer network. The control messages may include port state controls for ports in the customer network.
US08345698B2
Systems and methods are disclosed which provide wireless communication systems implementing subsystems adapted for flexible deployment configurations and to resist the introduction of interference. Preferred embodiments of the present invention provide a wireless communication system configuration in which an ODU subsystem is coupled to an IDU subsystem using a fiber optic link. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, an ODU subsystem is adapted to provide conversion between digital and analog to thereby facilitate the use of a digital link between the ODU subsystem and a corresponding IDU subsystem. Embodiments of the present invention utilize a plurality of ODU subsystems configured according to the present invention to provide wireless communication coverage of a service area, such as to provide a wireless application termination system (WATS) hub for use in providing wireless communication links with respect to a plurality of subscriber units.
US08345696B2
A router controlling a route of packets. The router includes a counter counting an amount of received control packets on a user-identifier-by-user-identifier basis, the control packets being used for managing a network, a discard determining unit comparing a counter value of the counter with a threshold value, and a control packet discarding unit discarding a control packet including a user identifier for which the discard determining unit determines that the counter value exceeds the threshold value.
US08345695B1
A system has a plurality of communications devices within a geographic area. Each device is capable of communicating from within the geographic area with any other device proximate the device, and is also capable of communicating from within the geographic area with a communications service having access to an area external to the geographic area if such communications service is operational and available to the device. At least one of the devices is a gateway device that communicates from within the geographic area with the communications service, and at least some of the devices are non-gateway devices that communicate from within the geographic area with the gateway device. Each non-gateway device communicates from within the geographic area with the area external thereto by way of the gateway device and the communications service communicated with by the gateway device.
US08345690B2
An apparatus and method for performing duplicate avoidance of broadcast data packets in a (UE). The includes receiving a broadcast data packet from a plurality of cells; storing, if a sequence number of the received broadcast data packet does not fall within a reception window, the broadcast data packet in a buffer and updating the reception window based on the sequence number; determining, if the sequence number of the received broadcast data packet falls within the reception window, whether a broadcast data packet having the sequence number has previously been stored in the buffer; discarding the broadcast data packet, if the broadcast data packet has previously been stored in the buffer; and storing the broadcast data packet in the buffer, if the broadcast data packet has not previously been stored in the buffer.
US08345685B2
A device and a method for processing a data packet. The method includes: receiving a key, applying multiple hash functions to provide multiple hashed values; accessing a group of hash tables using the multiple hashed values; associating between the key and an accessed vacant entry of an hash table out of the group of has tables. The device includes a communication controller connected to at least one memory bank; wherein the communication controller is adapted to receive a key associated with a data packet, apply multiple hash functions to provide multiple hashed values; access a group of hash tables stored within the at least one memory bank, using the multiple hashed values; and determine a data packet processing operation in response to a content of accessed entries of the multiple hash tables.
US08345679B2
An embodiment provides a user equipment that includes a processor configured to receive a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) NOTIFY message transmitted by a network component as a result of a registration event. The SIP NOTIFY message contains at least a portion of information included in a first SIP message sent between a first user equipment and the network component. Another embodiment provides method and apparatus for a network node to determine whether filter criteria include one or more indicators that specify the need for information, and including in a second SIP message the information specified by the one or more indicators.
US08345674B2
An audio network system that performs transport of audio signals between nodes by cascading a plurality of nodes each including two sets of transmission I/Fs and reception I/Fs, and circulating among the nodes in each fixed period an audio transport frame generated by a master node, the audio transport frame including a plurality of storage regions for audio signals, is configured such that when the configuration of the system is changed, loopback of the audio transport frame in each node and release thereof are automatically controlled to automatically loop back the transport of the audio transport frame at nodes at both ends and not loop back it at the other nodes to thereby form a loop transmission route among the nodes.
US08345667B2
A connection is established in a communications network responsive to receiving a Dual Tone Multi-Frequency (DTMF) signal at a port having an assigned sequence associated therewith. A dialed sequence corresponding to the received DTMF signal is identified. If the dialed sequence is associated with a request for a specified service, first and second fields of a packet-switched signaling protocol message are populated with the assigned sequence associated with the port. The populated packet-switched signaling protocol message is transmitted over a packet-switched network to request the specified service, and a connection is established to provide the specified service through the port. Related systems and devices are also discussed.
US08345665B2
A method includes providing a user interface, at a mobile communication device, that includes a first area to receive text input and a second area to receive an identifier associated with an addressee device. The text input and the identifier are received via the user interface. A short message service (SMS) message including the text input is transmitted to a Text to Speech (TTS) server for conversion into an audio message and for transmission of the audio message to the addressee device associated with the identifier. An acknowledge message transmitted from the TTS server permits the addressee device to allow delivery of the audio message or to decline delivery of the audio message. The TTS server transmits the audio message in response to the addressee device allowing delivery of the audio message. A confirmation message is received from the TTS server that indicates that a reply voice message has been received from the addressee device in response to the audio message.
US08345658B2
The present invention is to provide a mobile communication terminal with a GPS function capable of further varying the positioning performance of each positioning mode preinstalled in the terminal. A GPS positioning section of the mobile communication terminal with the GPS function can perform positioning in a plurality of positioning modes using the A-GPS system. When a GPS control section of the mobile communication terminal with the GPS function causes the GPS positioning section to perform positioning, the GPS control section sets a positioning mode in the GPS positioning section, varies an allowable error of a communication synchronizing clock established between the terminal and a base station as a parameter relating to the positioning performance of GPS positioning based on the A-GPS system in which a fixed value has been conventionally used, and sets the allowable error in GPS positioning means.
US08345653B2
Embodiments of the present invention include a wireless access point that acquires and processes radio frequency identification (RFID) information. The wireless access point may be coupled to a network of RFID readers over a wireless network. The RFID readers may read a plurality of RFID tags and transmit information to one or more readers. The readers may, in turn, transmit the RFID information to a wireless access point. The wireless access point may include a middleware layer for performing a variety of RFID data processing functions. In one embodiment, the wireless RFID reader network may be used to improve positioning of readers and tags, and may include a GPS system or position assisted GPS system at the reader and/or tag level.
US08345650B2
Systems, methods, and apparatus for providing end-to-end L2 connectivity, are described. The system includes satellites configured to transmit data packets. The system further includes a first non-autonomous gateway in communication with the satellites. The first non-autonomous gateway is configured to receive the data packets from the satellites at L1, generate virtual tagging tuples within L2 packet headers of the data packets, and transmit the data packets each including a virtual tagging tuple. The system further includes a L2 switch in communication with the first non-autonomous gateway. The L2 switch is configured to receive the virtually tagged data packets and transmit the virtually tagged data packets. Further, the system includes a second non-autonomous gateway in communication with the L2 switch. The second non-autonomous gateway configured to receive the virtually tagged data packets and transmit the virtually tagged data packets to an entity based on the virtual tagging tuple associated with each of the virtually tagged packets.
US08345637B2
A wireless communications adapts its mode of operation between spatial multiplexing and non-spatial multiplexing in response to transmission-specific variables. An embodiment of a wireless communications system for transmitting information between a base transceiver station and a subscriber unit includes mode determination logic. The mode determination logic is in communication with the base transceiver station and the subscriber unit. The mode determination logic determines, in response to a received signal, if a subscriber data stream should be transmitted between the base transceiver station and the subscriber unit utilizing spatial multiplexing or non-spatial multiplexing.
US08345635B2
An access control method, an access control apparatus and a communication system are disclosed, and a mechanism for processing Emergency Call (EMC) services is disclosed, and such mechanism ensures continuity of the EMC service while implementing the access control under a Closed Subscriber Group (CSG) mechanism. The access control method includes: obtaining CSG area information of a target area; and controlling the access of a User Equipment (UE) to the target area according to the CSG area information of the target area and/or whether an EMC service exists on the UE. The present invention is applicable to the scenario in which the UE accesses a network.
US08345623B2
A unified synchronous ranging channel is provided. The unified synchronous ranging channel has a ranging cyclic prefix length that is the same as a cyclic prefix length of a data channel. The unified synchronous ranging channel is used for one of initial ranging, handover ranging, and periodic ranging between a mobile station and a femto base station. In one embodiment, the synchronous ranging channel spans over a two-dimensional radio resource region having a first number of subcarriers along frequency domain, a second number of OFDM symbols along time domain, and a third number of time-domain repetition. At the transmit side, a ranging code sequence is generated by applying a fixed time-domain cyclic shift per OFDM symbol to a root sequence. At the receive side, the ranging code sequence is decoded by using a summation module, a likelihood-combining module, and a modified peak test module that normalizes a peak value.
US08345618B2
A transmitter includes a plurality of transmit antennas, a processor configured to process user data, and a single carrier frequency division multiple access (SC-FDMA) signal generator configured to receive the user data and generate SC-FDMA symbols transmitted through the plurality of transmit antennas. The SC-FDMA signal generator independently performs inverse fast Fourier transform (IFFT) for each transmit antenna, and each of the plurality of transmit antennas is associated with each of a plurality of carriers.
US08345613B2
The present invention relates to a method for grant violation detection in an enhanced uplink (UL) telecommunication system. According to the method a radio network controller (RNC) establishes a first enhanced UL transport channel (E-DCH) which enables uplink data traffic with a certain data rate from a user terminal UE at least to a first base station. At least a first downlink transmission is performed to the user terminal UE including a first E-DCH. A Node B NB detects the scheduled data rate on which the user terminal UE transmits and further controls if the scheduled data rate detected is higher than the maximum data rate defined by the first E-DCH channel scheduled grant. If this is the case the Node B NB performs at least a second following downlink transmission including the first E-DCH channel scheduled grant.
US08345609B2
An embodiment of the invention involves a method for selecting an infrastructure mode wireless channel for a tier-2 wireless node of a plurality of wireless nodes forming a wireless mesh network. The method comprises a first operation of receiving information from at least one neighboring node. Then, the first wireless node determines if a collision has occurred with the at least one neighboring node, where the collision is an overlapping of wireless channels selected by the first node and the at least one neighboring node. If a collision has occurred, the first wireless node compares its network degree, iterative count, and MAC address (progressively in that order) with that of its neighboring node to determine which of the first wireless node or the at least one neighboring node is responsible for re-selecting a different wireless channel from a set of non-overlapping wireless channels that are available to the wireless mesh network. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08345606B2
Apparatus for and methods of enabling a gateway node of a first packet-switched data network to select a first channel for transferring a data packet to a destination packet data protocol address of a correspondent node provided service in the first network are disclosed. The gateway node is configured to select the first channel from a plurality of channels configured to transfer data packets to the destination packet data protocol address of the correspondent node, wherein the data packet is sent from a mobile node of a second packet-switched data network external to the first network, and wherein the mobile node has been in a communication session with the correspondent node while provided service in a third packet-switched data network different to the second network.
US08345599B2
The present application describes, inter alia, novel techniques to perform pre-evaluations of multiple Wi-Fi Access Points (AP) and Access Networks (AN). A pre-evaluation determines whether or not an AP is connected to the Internet and measures the path performance that the AN, via that particular AP, can offer between the mobile device and a pre-specified Internet host. In addition, the invention also discloses methods to determine whether the AN requires a user to actively authenticate themselves through a redirect log-on page.
US08345589B2
Provided is a method and apparatus for determining timing for initial ranging of user equipment by using ranging of adjacent pieces of user equipment in a multi-hop mobile relay (MMR) system, and more particularly, a method and apparatus for determining timing for initial ranging of user equipment in which a power value and a timing value for periodic ranging of adjacent pieces of user equipment are measured so as to minimize an uplink timing error of a base station. In the MMR system, user equipment transmits an initial ranging code to the base station with irregular timing while not knowing an exact start point of an uplink of the base station. In particular, if the user equipment attempts the initial ranging at the same time as when adjacent pieces of user equipment attempt the periodic ranging and the handover ranging, an error occurs between transmission timing of the initial ranging and uplink timing, thereby acting as an inter-symbol interference (ISI) and inter-channel interference (ICI) of different ranging. As a result, the initial ranging acts as an interference signal in a ranging process of adjacent pieces of user equipment. However, the apparatus and method can minimize a timing error of the initial ranging code of user equipment by avoiding the initial ranging acting as the interference signal.
US08345583B2
A method for enhancing Ethernet channel impairment comprises the steps of sending a sequence to a receiver in a slave transceiver by a master transceiver, and training cancellation filter coefficients of an echo canceller and a near-end cross talk canceller in the master transceiver before the receiver of the slave transceiver converges.
US08345582B2
A base station apparatus used for a FDD mobile communications system which uses at least a predetermined frequency bandwidth is disclosed. The base station apparatus includes a control unit which provides an instruction signal which at least indicates a frequency band used in wireless communications; and a unit which wirelessly communicates with a user apparatus according to the instruction signal, wherein, if the base station apparatus belongs to a predetermined border area between mobile communications systems, an instruction signal which indicates that use of one part of the predetermined frequency band is permitted, but use of another part is prohibited is provided by the control unit, and, if the base station apparatus belongs to a predetermined non-border area, an instruction signal which indicates that use of one part and use of the other part are permitted.
US08345570B2
The invention is directed to providing a system and method for monitoring a clock synchronization metric in a timing-over-packet system to provide a metric for service-level agreements (SLA), by providing a measure of the stability of the packet transfer delay relative to a representative statistic such as a median or minimum.
US08345568B2
A method may include provisioning a first virtual connection between a first device and a second device, and provisioning a second virtual connection between the first device and the second device. A data flow is received and duplicated at the first device to generate duplicated data flows. The duplicated data flows are transmitted to the second device via the first virtual connection and the second virtual connection. The duplicated data flows are received at the second device via the first virtual connection and the second virtual connection. A performance characteristic of the data flow received via the first virtual connection is determined. The performance characteristic of the data flow received via the second virtual connection is determined. The data flow received via the first virtual connection or the data flow received via the second virtual connection is selected for forwarding based on the performance characteristics of the data flow received via the first virtual connection and the performance characteristic of the data flow received via the second virtual connection. The selected data flow is forwarded.
US08345567B2
A route data collection method includes: a transmission source apparatus transmitting a request packet to request at least layer-2 apparatuses on a route to a destination apparatus to reply a response packet including predetermined setting data of the layer-2 apparatus to the transmission source apparatus; upon receiving the request packet, the layer-2 apparatus that can respond to the request packet, reading out the predetermined setting data stored in a storage device of the layer-2 apparatus, transmitting the response packet including the predetermined setting data to the transmission source apparatus, and outputting the request packet to the destination apparatus; and upon receiving the response packet, the transmission source apparatus displaying the predetermined setting data included in the response packet on a display device.
US08345558B2
A router may be tested using a packet-based testing technique in which the test packets are generated by the router. In one implementation, a forwarding plane in a router may include a first component to process header information of packets to determine forwarding information, and a memory component to store payload data for the packets. A control plane of the router may generate test packets, insert the test packets into the forwarding plane, receive a second set of packets from the forwarding plane, analyze the second set of packets to determine whether the second set of packets correspond to the inserted plurality of test packets, and output, based on the analysis, test results, relating to the operation of the routing device.
US08345556B2
In an edge region between an access network for connection to an IP communication terminal of a subscriber via a gateway and a core network for providing the subscriber with an IP telephone service, a service edge node and a guidance server are disposed. The service edge node controls a call initiation request received from the subscriber based on a congested state of the core network and a priority given to the subscriber. The guidance server transmits guidance to the subscriber without the intermediation of the core network.
US08345552B2
Virtual connection route selection apparatus and techniques are disclosed. At a communication traffic routing apparatus, metric information associated with multiple different routes for a virtual connection, such as a PseudoWire, toward a destination is collected. The metric information may be collected from one or more remote route computation elements capable of computing routes for virtual connections between the routing apparatus and other routing apparatus over an underlying communication system, or during actual establishment of the virtual connections, for example. An initial or re-optimized route for a virtual connection can then be selected at the routing apparatus based on the collected metric information. In some embodiments, although the virtual connection routes are paths computed by Path Computation Elements (PCEs), actual path selection decisions are distributed to routers.
US08345550B2
A coaxial network communication node receives multimedia content with one or more other nodes in a Multimedia over Coax Alliance (MoCA®) coaxial network. The node determines a delay-spread of a coaxial channel based on a probe received from a transmitting node during a link-maintenance operation (LMO) cycle. The probe is stored and reused during the LMO until the channel-shortening TEQ filter converges. The node configures a channel-shortening time-domain equalizer (TEQ) filter to effectively shorten the channel and instructs the transmitting node to shorten a length of a cyclic prefix for subsequent packet-based transmissions.
US08345549B2
Various embodiments are disclosed for techniques to perform channel access decisions and to select a transmit queue. These decisions may be performed, for example, based upon the age and number of packets in a queue. These techniques may allow a node to improve the length of data bursts transmitted by the node, although the invention is not limited thereto.
US08345548B2
An example of a method comprises the steps of generating at a local node where a congestion emerges a first congestion information; sending the first congestion information to at least one upstream node; responsive to one received first congestion information comparing the content of the received first congestion information with a present local status based on a set of predefined rules in order to identify at least one packet stream causing the congestion, and generating a second congestion information comprising the identified at least one packet stream causing the congestion; and sending the second congestion information to at least one further upstream node from where the identified at least one packet stream was received.
US08345535B2
A method and apparatus of generating a ranging preamble code in a wireless communication system is provided. A mobile station (MS) generates one of a plurality of ranging preamble codes, wherein the plurality of ranging preamble codes are based on a padded Zadoff-Chu (ZC) sequence to which a cyclic shift is applied in a unit of NCS, where NCS is a function of a cyclic prefix (CP) length in a time domain.
US08345533B1
Frame synchronization techniques are described. In an implementation, a method implemented by a device includes using an objective function to form a list of values for a plurality of time trials, the time trials taken from a scan of a wireless signal having a plurality of channels. A single one of the values is selected for each of the plurality of channels to detect a preamble of a frame in the wireless signal. If the preamble is not detected as a result of the selecting, at least one additional value is chosen from the list for a respective channel to detect the preamble of the frame in the wireless signal.
US08345530B2
Disclosed is an objective lens that favorably focuses multiple laser beams having different wavelengths on information recording layers of optical discs, and an optical pickup apparatus including the lens. The objective lens of the invention is provided with a first region for focusing laser beams of the BD, DVD and CD standards. The first region is provided with an annular zone step having a height calculated on the basis of a wavelength of the laser beam of the BD standard, and thus causes chromatic aberration of the laser beam of the DVD standard. This chromatic aberration corrects spherical aberration occurring due to a difference in thickness between coating layers of optical discs. In the invention, the curve surface shape of the first region is adjusted so that the BD and DVD standards can share the aberration for reducing the aberration of the laser beam of the DVD standard.
US08345527B2
An optical phase controller includes an optical phase control element so that a phase of incident light applied to the optical phase control element is controlled. The optical phase control element includes a metal structure having anisotropy in a first direction and a second direction perpendicular to the first direction within an electric-field vibration plane of the incident light, the wavelength of the incident light includes a plasmon resonance wavelength possessed by the metal structure, and the incident light is linearly polarized light or elliptically polarized light simultaneously having polarized components in the first direction and the second direction perpendicular to the first direction.
US08345514B2
A radio-controlled timepiece in which its reception sensitivity is further enhanced. The radio-controlled timepiece includes: an antenna core 11 made of a magnetic material and formed as a single integrated body including a coiled portion (11a) wound with a coil 19 and extension portions 11b and 11c which are located respectively on the end-portion sides; additional cores 15 and 16 made of a magnetic material; magnetism-collection members 17 and 18 made of a magnetic material; a main plate 31 (timepiece substrate) made of a non-magnetic material; a guide member 33 made of a non-magnetic material; and a liquid-crystal-panel supporting frame 32 (magnetism-collection-member supporting members, pressing member) made of a non-magnetic material and having protrusions 32a and 32b (pressing members) formed thereon. When the main plate 31, the guide member 33, and the liquid-crystal-panel supporting frame 32 are assembled together, the protrusions 32a and 32b press the magnetism-collection members, respectively. Thus, the magnetism-collection members 17 and 18 come into contact respectively with the additional cores 15 and 16, and, at the same time, the additional cores 15 and 16 come into contact respectively with the extension portions 11b and 11c of the antenna core 11. Accordingly an antenna-core body with a large single body is formed, which enhances the reception performance.
US08345513B2
Implementations include a capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducer (CMUT) having an additional transducing device overlaid in a vertically stacked relationship. In some implementations the additional transducing device is a second CMUT configured to operate at a different frequency from the first CMUT.
US08345511B1
A broadband blazed array has a plurality of elements. The elements are arranged side-by-side in a non-parallel spaced apart fashion with center-to-center spacing between adjacent elements being identical along cross-sections of the array that are aligned with the array's endfire directions.
US08345507B2
A storage device includes a nonvolatile storage section; and a control section that controls the nonvolatile storage section, wherein the control section includes an access control section that outputs a clock for access control for performing access control of a read/write of the nonvolatile storage section, and performs access control of the read/write to the nonvolatile storage section, and a masking process section that performs the masking process of a reset signal on the basis of the clock for access control from the access control section, and supplies the reset signal after the masking process to the access control section.
US08345505B2
A memory integrated circuit has control circuitry that accesses memory cells of the memory integrated circuit. The control circuitry is responsive to commands including a first command and a second command. The first command specifies a high order set of address bits. The second command specifies a low order set of address bits. The high order set of address bits and the low order set of address bits constitute a complete access address of the memory integrated circuit. The first command and the second command have different in command codes.
US08345495B2
A test circuit of a nonvolatile semiconductor memory apparatus includes a first switching unit, a second switching unit, and a third switching unit. The first switching unit is configured to selectively interrupt application of a pumping voltage for a sense amplifier to a sense amplifier input node. The second switching unit is configured to selectively decouple the sense amplifier input node and a sub input/output node. The sub input/output node is coupled with a data storage region. The third switching unit is configured to selectively connect a voltage applying pad and the sense amplifier input node.
US08345494B2
A semiconductor memory device includes a plurality of memory cell mats each comprising a plurality of normal memory cell arrays; and a redundancy memory cell array configured to replace a defective memory cell with a plurality of redundancy memory cells corresponding to a redundancy word line when the redundancy word line corresponding to one or more redundancy memory cell arrays is activated in response to an address corresponding to the defective memory cell among the plurality of normal memory cell arrays.
US08345487B2
A method setting a read voltage to minimize data read errors in a semiconductor memory device including multi-bit memory cells. In the method, a read voltage associated with a minimal number of read data error is set based on a statistic value of a voltage distribution corresponding to each one of a plurality of voltage states.
US08345486B2
Methods for programming a memory array, memory devices, and memory systems are disclosed. In one such method, the target reliability of the data to be programmed is determined. The relative reliability of different groups of memory cells of the memory array is determined. The data is programmed into the group of memory cells of the array having a relative reliability corresponding to the target reliability.
US08345483B2
Methods and systems for addressing threshold voltage shifts of memory cells. A method includes reading a pattern of data from a first plurality of memory cells, comparing the read of the pattern of data with a known pattern of data using a reference, and if the read of the pattern of data and the known pattern of data do not match, adjusting the reference to find a reference level that results in a matching of a read of the pattern of data and the known pattern of data. Thereafter, trim sector data is read into a second plurality of memory cells using the adjusted reference level.
US08345482B2
Methods for segmented programming, program verify, and memory devices are disclosed. One such method for programming includes biasing memory cells with a programming voltage and program verifying the memory cells with a plurality of ramped voltage signal segments, wherein each ramped voltage signal segment has a different start voltage and a different end voltage than the other ramped voltage signal segments.
US08345479B2
A three dimensional stacked nonvolatile semiconductor memory according to an example of the present invention includes a memory cell array comprised of first and second blocks disposed side by side in a first direction, and a driver disposed on one end of the memory cell array in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. First select gate lines in the first block and first select gate lines in the second block are connected to the driver after they are commonly connected in one end in the second direction of the memory cell array in a relation of one to one.
US08345478B2
Memory devices and methods of operating memory devices are provided, such as those that involve a memory architecture that replaces typical static and/or dynamic components with emerging non-volatile memory (NV) elements. The emerging NV memory elements can replace conventional latches, can serve as a high speed interface between a flash memory array and external devices and can also be used as high performance cache memory for a flash memory array.
US08345476B2
A method of storing data in a multi-level charge-trapping memory array is described. An incidence-of-occurrence (i.e., frequency) analysis is performed on data to be programmed to identify data words combining a high programming voltage with a high frequency of occurrence. Those words are reassigned in order to reduce programming time.
US08345473B2
The present invention uses a ferromagnetic thin wire having a domain wall inside, with the magnetic moment at the center thereof being perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the thin wire. With the domain wall being fixed by a domain wall fixation device (e.g. antiferromagnetic thin wires) so that the domain wall is prevented from moving in the ferromagnetic thin wire, when a direct current is supplied, the magnetic moment rotates in the immobilized domain wall. This rotation of the moment can be detected by a TMR element or the like. This configuration of the ferromagnetic thin wire element can be directly used to create a microwave oscillator or magnetic memory.
US08345469B2
A method is for reading a first bit cell of a static random access memory in which the static random access memory has a first plurality of bit cells including the first bit cell. Each bit cell of the first plurality of bit cells includes a cross coupled pair of inverters for storing a logic state, optimized for being written, and powered by a read voltage during a read of the first plurality of bit cells. Each bit cell of the first plurality of bit cells is coupled to a true read bit line and a true write bit line, and a second plurality of bit cells is coupled to a complementary read bit line and a complementary write bit line. The true and complementary read bit lines are precharged to a precharge voltage of about half the read voltage. The true read bit line is predisposed to a logic low condition. One of a group consisting of a high impedance from the first bit cell to indicate that the logic state is a logic low and a signal voltage greater than the intermediate voltage to indicate that the logic state is a logic high is output from the first bit cell to the true read bit line.
US08345459B2
A method includes generating, from a representation of a first integrated circuit, a representation of a second integrated circuit. The representation of the first integrated circuit includes a plurality of representations of operative memory channel interfaces including a representation of a first operative memory channel physical interface. The representation of the second integrated circuit includes a representation of a pseudo-memory channel physical interface and at least a representation of a second operative memory channel physical interface. The generating includes replacing an instantiation of a first circuit of the representation of the first operative memory channel physical interface with an instantiation of a second circuit. The instantiation of the second circuit is a representation of a circuit that is logically equivalent to a first circuit represented by the instantiation of the first circuit.
US08345452B2
Methods and systems for transforming electric power between two or more portals. Any or all portals can be DC, single phase AC, or multi-phase AC. Conversion is accomplished by a plurality of bi-directional conducting and blocking semiconductor switches which alternately connect an inductor and parallel capacitor between said portals, such that energy is transferred into the inductor from one or more input portals and/or phases, then the energy is transferred out of the inductor to one or more output portals and/or phases, with said parallel capacitor facilitating “soft” turn-off, and with any excess inductor energy being returned back to the input. Soft turn-on and reverse recovery is also facilitated. Said bi-directional switches allow for two power transfers per inductor/capacitor cycle, thereby maximizing inductor/capacitor utilization as well as providing for optimum converter operation with high input/output voltage ratios. Control means coordinate the switches to accomplish the desired power transfers.
US08345451B2
A method and apparatus for converting DC electricity to AC electricity, the AC electricity having a sine wave shape. DC electricity is supplied to a pulse width modulator. A pulse width modulated signal is formed from the DC electricity, the pulse width modulated signal comprising a plurality of pulses, each pulse having a duration representing an amplitude of the sine wave during an interval of the sine wave represented by the pulse, the pulse width modulated signal comprising a plurality of pulses (or a pulse train) during one sine wave period. The sine wave is generated from the pulse width modulated signal, values of the sine wave during successive sine wave intervals responsive to the duration of the pulse that represents the sine wave interval.
US08345450B2
The configurations of a DC/DC resonant converter and a controlling method thereof are provided. The proposed converter includes an over-current protection apparatus including a first switch element having a first and a second terminals, and a first voltage element having a negative terminal coupled to a positive terminal of a DC input voltage source and a positive terminal coupled to the second terminal of the first switch element.
US08345448B2
A mobile terminal includes a noise shielding structure for an electronic circuit board for shielding noise generated from the at least one electronic part. The mobile terminal includes a lower case and an upper case slidably moving on the lower case. The mobile station also includes an electronic circuit board installed in the lower case and having at least one electronic part mounted on its front surface. The noise shielding structure includes a front cover installed on the front surface of the electronic circuit board and formed with an opening for receiving the at least one electronic part and a sliding hinge installed between the upper case and the lower case. A shielding wall installed between the rear surface of the front cover and the front surface of the electronic circuit board and elongated around at least a part of a periphery of the opening.
US08345446B2
A portable electronic device includes a housing, a cover, and a member positioned between the housing and the cover. The housing includes at least one hook. The cover is attached to the housing and includes at least one positioning pin. The member defines at least one locking hole. The hook passes through the locking hole to lock the member to the housing. The positioning pin is positioned adjacent to the hook to prevent the hook from disengaging from the locking hole.
US08345444B2
A structure with electronic component mounted therein includes a wiring board on which an electronic component is mounted at least on its first face, resin provided at least between the electronic component and the wiring board, and a plurality of holes formed in the wiring board at region corresponding to a mounting position of the electronic component. The holes are filled with the resin. This suppresses warpage of the structure with electronic component mounted therein, and also improves reliability by reducing a stress applied to a bonding section between the wiring board and the electronic component.
US08345436B2
A printed wiring board having an insulating base material; a wiring formed on at least one surface of the insulating base material, the wiring forming a predetermined circuit pattern; a first connection terminal portion formed on the surface and electrically connected to the wiring, the first connection terminal portion having a first width; a second connection terminal portion formed on the surface and electrically connected to the wiring, the second connection terminal portion having a second width; and a cover layer configured to cover the wiring and expose the first and the second connection terminal portion.
US08345431B2
A multichip module comprises a flexible circuit having conductive patterns on its surface(s) to which microelectronic device(s) are attached. The flexible circuit is enclosed and supported by two rigid frames, which may further be provided with protective heat spreading covers. Contact pads on the rigid frame(s) may be configured to engage a mating socket or they may be solderable to a printed circuit board.
US08345421B2
A removable cover assembly for sealing an opening of a housing includes a case, a latch, and an elastic member. The latch is movably disposed in the case, and includes a connection portion, a push portion, and a latching portion. The connection portion is disposed along a moving axis. The push portion is disposed at one end of the connection portion and exposed out of the case through an operation hole. The latching portion is disposed at the other end of the connection portion, and has a first position to protrude out of the case through an aperture and a second position to be retracted in the case. The elastic member is disposed in the interior space for pushing the latch along the moving axis, such that the latching portion protrudes out of the case consciously, thereby fixing the removable cover assembly to the housing and sealing the opening.
US08345419B2
A server assembly includes a first server and a first airflow guiding pipe. The first server comprises a front wall. An input hole is defined in the front wall. A first input opening and a first output opening are defined in the first airflow duct. The first output opening corresponds to the input hole so as to guide airflow into the inner of the first server to dissipate heat generated by the first server. The first airflow guiding pipe is connected to the first input opening of the first airflow duct, the first airflow guiding pipe is configured to receive and guide airflow into the first airflow duct.
US08345414B2
In an example embodiment, a computing module includes a case, an optical display subsystem coupled to the case, a circuit element assembly, a power cell and an interface connector. The case includes a bottom portion and multiple lateral sidewalls. The case defines an enclosure. The circuit element assembly is positioned within the enclosure and is coupled to the optical display subsystem. The power cell is coupled to the circuit element assembly. The interface connector is defined in the case and includes multiple side openings, multiple bottom openings and multiple connector pads. The side openings are defined in at least one of the lateral sidewalls. The bottom openings are defined in the bottom portion of the case. The connector pads include multiple side pads coupled to the case and in communication with the side openings and multiple bottom pads coupled to the case and in communication with the bottom openings.
US08345402B2
Generation of an intense magnetic field to erase high coercivity magnetic media uses delivery of energy to a degaussing cavity. To conserve energy storage and delivery requirements and to obtain a desired magnetic strength generally uniformly within the cavity, strategic placement of supplemental turns at ends of the magnetic field generating coil wound around the cavity can promote uniformity. Construction of at least cavity ends from an adequate quantity of magnetically soft ferrous material can also promote uniformity. A combination of both approaches is possible.
US08345396B2
An RC delay circuit for providing electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection is described. The circuit employs an NMOS transistor and a PMOS transistor to produce a large effective resistance using a relatively small circuit layout area.
US08345387B1
Described herein is a disk drive having an actuator arm constrained layer damper, for reducing, during use, vibration of the actuator arm. The damper can include a first substantially planar portion that is configured to be positioned on and coupled to a top surface of an actuator arm. The damper can also include a second substantially planar portion extending in a plane transverse to the first planar portion and configured to be coupled to at least one of a side surface of the actuator arm or a surface of an adjacent actuator body.
US08345372B2
A tape drive apparatus is for a tape medium having a magnetic segment for magnetically transducing information and an identification segment carrying a medium identification pattern and a segment identification pattern. The tape drive apparatus has a data transfer apparatus configured to transfer data between the tape medium and the tape drive apparatus, a reader configured to read a signal representative of the identification segment, a detector configured to detect the segment identification pattern in the signal, and a decoder configured to decode the medium identification pattern in response to the detection of the segment identification pattern.
US08345371B2
An information storing device and an information processing device having a memory for registering a plurality of working modes at recording/reproduction and a switching circuit for selecting one of the plurality of working modes, which select the optimum working mode automatically or by an instruction of an operator according to power supply capacity of a device of higher rank to effect recording/reproduction.
US08345370B2
According to one embodiment, a magnetic disk drive includes a grouping module and a refresh controller. The grouping module partitions a set of tracks on a disk into a plurality of groups. Each of the plurality of groups includes a plurality of tracks including at least two tracks with nonconsecutive physical positions. The refresh controller controls refresh process for each of the plurality of groups.
US08345369B2
Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for identifying a reproducible location on a storage medium. As an example, a circuit is discussed that includes a data storage circuit, a pattern comparison circuit, and a threshold comparison circuit. The data storage circuit is operable to store a first set of data samples corresponding to a region of interest. The pattern comparison circuit is operable to compare a subset of the first set of data samples with a subset of a second set of data samples corresponding to the region of interest. The pattern comparison circuit is operable to yield a match value corresponding to a degree of similarity between the first set of data samples with the subset of a second set of data samples. The threshold comparison circuit is operable to indicate an anchor point based at least in part on the magnitude of the match value relative to a threshold value.
US08345366B2
A storage system is configured to determine a redundancy group configuration for a plurality of storage drives by grouping storage drives with a similar performance group designation together. When a storage drive is inserted, the storage system tests the performance of the storage drive. The storage drive may comprise a serial ATA (advanced technology attachment) (SATA) hard drive and/or a solid state drive. The storage system stores the result in a database. The storage system assigns the storage drive a performance group designation based on the result and groups the storage drive into a redundancy group. The storage system then displays the redundancy group configuration for the plurality of storage drives so that a storage administrator may configure the redundancy groupings of the storage drives of the storage system based on the redundancy group configuration displayed.
US08345360B2
A camera unit is provided, including a camera lens and a macro lens coupled with the camera lens module along an optical axis. The macro lens comprises a plane substrate and a plano-convex lens structure formed on the plane substrate by wafer level processing, wherein the effective focal length of the macro lens is between 80-150 mm.
US08345354B2
A negative first lens having a concave surface facing the reduction side of a lens for projection, a positive second lens having a convex surface facing the magnification side of the lens for projection, a negative third lens having a concave surface facing the magnification side, a positive fourth lens having a convex surface facing the reduction side, a positive fifth lens, and a positive sixth lens are arranged in this order from the magnification side, and the reduction side of the optical system is telecentric. Further, the following formula (A) is satisfied: 1.2≦Bf/f≦2.5 (A), where Bf: back focus in air of the entire lens system of the lens for projection, and f: focal length of the entire lens system.
US08345351B2
A microscope system which can improve the ease of use and the observation environment when a sample is observed using a microscope formed of a stand and a main body which is removable from the stand. A microscope is formed of a main body and a stand, and the main body is removable from the stand. The main body includes an objective lens, an image optical system, a CCD, a compact monitor and a battery, so that the main body, when removed from the stand, can function independently as a microscope. If the main body is mechanically connected to the stand, the main body and the stand are electrically connected via connectors, and an observation image captured by the CCD is supplied from the main body to the stand via the connectors, and is displayed on a monitor.
US08345345B2
An electrochromic device including: (a) a first substantially transparent substrate having an electrically conductive material associated therewith; (b) a second substrate having an electrically conductive material associated therewith; (c) an electrochromic medium contained within a chamber positioned between the first and second substrates which includes: (1) a solvent; (2) an anodic material; and (3) a cathodic material, wherein both of the anodic and cathodic materials are electroactive and at least one of the anodic and cathodic materials is electrochromic; (d) wherein a seal member, the first substrate, the second substrate, and/or the chamber includes a plug associated with a fill port; and (e) wherein the plug is at least partially cured with an antimonate photo initiator and/or is a one- or two-part plug which comprises a resin or mixture of resins that are substantially insoluble and/or substantially immiscible with an associated electrochromic medium while in the uncured state.
US08345338B2
Disclosed is a method for evaluating the qualities of the user's color vision by means of the FM chromaticity test or directly measuring the defective factors of the user causing the color blindness. Thus it modifies the color composition of a video displaying apparatus according to a numerical analysis of the color and degree of color blindness specific to each dichromatic individual, so that he may perceive the same colors as the normal person. Also discloses is an apparatus for performing the method steps described herein.
US08345333B2
Provided are a displacement/distortion measuring method and a displacement/distortion measuring apparatus for easily and highly accurately measuring displacement or distortion of an object. An image of the surface of the measuring object is picked up by a line scanner apparatus adhered or brought close to the surface of the measuring object. The image is taken, displacement or distortion is measured by image analysis of the image of the measuring object surface prior to time lapse and that after time lapse, and displacement or distortion measuring results are outputted.
US08345328B2
The present invention relates to a scanner with auto document feeder including a housing, an auto document feeder and a connecting mechanism for connecting the housing and the auto document feeder. The connecting mechanism includes a first connecting structure and a second connecting structure. The first connecting structure let the auto document feeder rotates with respect to the housing to a first angle and the second connecting structure let the auto document feeder rotates with respect to the housing to a second angle. The second connecting structure makes the auto document feeder stop at any angle within the second angle.
US08345323B2
Provided is a fast image reading lens system capable of achieving compactness and satisfactorily correcting various aberrations. The image reading lens system includes, in order from an object side: a positive first lens of which a convex surface faces toward the object side; a second lens formed as a biconcave lens; a third lens formed as a biconvex lens; a positive fourth lens of which a convex surface faces toward an image side; and a negative fifth lens of which a convex surface faces toward the image side. Assuming that a focal length of the whole lens system is f, a focal length of the fourth lens is f4, and a space between an image side surface of the fourth lens and an object side surface of the fifth lens on an optical axis is D8, the lens system satisfies the following conditional expressions: 0.06
US08345322B2
A scanning apparatus having dual power mode is described. The scanning apparatus includes a detection module, a switch unit, and a power controller. The detection module detects a first voltage signal and a second voltage signal for generating a detecting signal. The switch unit receives the commands from the power controller for outputting the first voltage signal and/or the second voltage signal to the image acquiring device of the scanning apparatus. The power controller determines whether the first voltage signal is detected according to the detecting signal. While the first voltage signal is detected, the power controller controls the switch unit to output the first voltage signal and/or the second voltage signal to the image acquiring device. While the first voltage signal is not exist, the power controller controls the switch unit to output the second voltage signal to the image acquiring device.
US08345313B2
There is described an image forming apparatus, which make it possible to appropriately print each of a valid print object and an invalid print object. The apparatus includes: a printing section to conduct a printing operation based on the print data, so as to create the print product; and a control section to determine whether the digital signature is valid or invalid so as to control the printing operation, based on the determined result. When the plurality of print objects includes both a valid print object for which the digital signature is determined as valid and an invalid print object for which the digital signature is determined as invalid, the control section controls the printing operation, so as to enable the valid print object to be printed, based on the print data, while disable the invalid print object to be printed, based on the print data.
US08345309B2
An image processing apparatus forming an image with color toners used for full color printing and a particular toner is provided. The apparatus comprises a storage storing image data and attribute information indicating an attribute of each pixel in the data; a compression component compressing the information; a change component changing attribute information except particular toner information for forming an image with the particular toner of the attribute information, so that a data amount of the compressed attribute information does not exceed the storage capacity, when a data amount of the compressed attribute information exceeds the storage capacity; a component storing the attribute information changed by the change component into the storage; and a component forming a full color image and a particular toner image by image processing using the attribute information in the storage for the image data in the storage.
US08345306B1
Systems, apparatuses, and methods for a handheld image translation device including an image capture device are described herein. The handheld image translation device may include an image capture device configured to capture an image, one or more navigation sensors configured to capture a plurality of navigational measurements, and a print head configured to deposit a printing substance on a first medium. The image translation device may also include a control block configured to determine a position of the apparatus relative to a reference point based at least in part on the plurality of navigational measurements, and to control the print head to deposit the printing substance based at least in part on the image captured by the image capture device and the determined position of the apparatus. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
US08345291B2
An apparatus includes a connection unit configured to connect to a network, a switching unit configured to switch a communication speed when data communication is performed via the connection unit, and a limitation unit configured to limit switching of the communication speed to set a fixed communication speed when a connection form of the network is a specific connection form.
US08345290B2
In a facsimile machine having the function of authorization by the authorizer, an authorizer determining apparatus that can alleviate workload on the authorizers is provided, and a facsimile machine having such an authorizer determining apparatus is also provided. The authorizer determining apparatus for the facsimile machine includes a candidate selecting unit selecting, based on a sum of condition values of a plurality of attributes (such as sender, destination, and format of document to be transmitted) selected in advance for a facsimile transmission, a set of authorizer candidates consisting of possible authorizers having condition values not smaller than the sum, and an authorizer determining unit for determining an authorizer candidate having the lowest condition value among the set of authorizer candidates.
US08345288B2
An image forming apparatus includes a data storage device that stores list data, and a simple object access protocol (SOAP) processor. When a partial-list-data-request message is received from a client apparatus by a communication processor, the SOAP processor generates a response message including a partial list data items that have not been sent among the plurality of partial list data items that are generated by dividing the list data, and causes the communication processor to send the response message to the client apparatus. The client apparatus includes a SOAP processor that causes a communication processor to send the partial-list-data-request message to the image forming apparatus, and that, when the response message including the partial list data item is received from the image forming apparatus by the communication processor, extracts the partial list data item from the response message.
US08345286B2
A printing system includes an information processing apparatus, an image forming apparatus, and a printer driver storage device. The information processing includes a first printer driver to operate during preparation of general print data, the image forming apparatus prints based on print data, and the printer driver storage device stores a second printer driver to operate during preparation of specific print data having an instruction specialized for the image forming apparatus. The information processing apparatus includes a printer driver acquisition unit acquiring the second printer driver, a printer connection detection unit, and a print data preparation unit preparing the print data using one of the printer drivers. The printer connection detection unit allows a user to select whether to acquire the second printer driver, allows the printer driver acquisition unit to acquire the second printer driver, and allows one of the printer drivers to correspond to the image forming apparatus.
US08345283B2
A communication system may be provided with a first communication device and a second communication device. The first communication device may send the identification information stored in a first storage device to the second communication device. The first communication device may output status information included in combination information sent from the first communication device, and update the stored contents of the first storage device such that identification information included in the combination information is stored in the first storage device. The second communication device may obtain status information concerning a status of the second communication device, and update the stored contents of a second storage device such that the latest combination data including the latest status information and new identification information is stored in the second storage device. The second communication device may send the latest combination information to the first communication device in a case where the received identification information is not identical to the identification information included in the latest combination information, and prohibit the sending of combination information to the first communication device in a case where the received identification information is identical to the identification information included in the latest combination information.
US08345277B2
A print server receives a transmission request and a printer ID from a client device, acquires print function information corresponding to the printer ID from print-function information DBs, and acquires function restriction information from a function-restriction information DB of a printer control server. The print server then generates setting screen information based on the print function information and the function restriction information, and transmits the setting screen information to the client device. The client device receives the setting screen information, and creates and displays a setting screen by using the setting screen information.
US08345272B2
Embodiments of the present invention comprise systems and methods for third-party control of remote imaging jobs.
US08345267B2
An apparatus (10) for microlithographic projection exposure, which includes: an optical system (18) for imaging mask structures (16) onto a surface (21) of a substrate (20) by projecting the mask structures (16) with imaging radiation (13), the optical system (18) being configured to operate in the EUV and/or higher frequency wavelength range, and various structure defining a measurement beam path (36) for guiding measurement radiation (34), the measurement beam path (36) extending within the optical system (18) such that the measurement radiation (34) only partially passes through the optical system (18) during operation of the apparatus (10).
US08345257B2
A method and apparatus are provided for a swept source optical coherence tomography (OCT) system utilizing a fast scanning mechanism in the sample arm and a slowly swept light source. The position data is collected rapidly while the wavelength of the source is swept slowly. The system reduces the sweep speed requirements of the light source enabling higher power, greater imaging range, and linear sweeps of the source frequency. The OCT components (or most of them) may be implemented within a hand held imaging probe. In operation, a triangulation scan may be used to orient the imaging probe with respect to a fixed coordinate system; preferably, OCT data captured by the device is then transformed to that same orientation with respect to the fixed coordinate system to improve the scanning results.
US08345254B2
A method of imaging an optically thin sample is described wherein a collimated beam is directed through the sample and then reflected back through the sample one or more times. The beam is then directed toward a detector which collects and analyzes the spatial and spectral composition of the beam. In some embodiments, the detector is a focal plane array with a large number of detector elements. In other embodiments the relative position of a single detector or a small detector array and the sample is altered and the process is repeated, thereby tracing out a large virtual detector array. In either case, the spectral information received by the detector elements can be related, by methods which are elaborated below, to information about the spatial distribution of absorption in the sample.
US08345253B2
A system and method for molecule detection uses a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) system with detection spots having fixed nanostructures. An SPR assembly may be combined with a digital microfluidic control system such as an electrowetting-on-dielectric (EWOD) chip. The microfluidic system individually directs sample droplets to different detection spots of the SPR assembly, thus allowing the SPR examination of different samples or sample reactions on the same surface. The nanostructures at the detection spots enhance the sensitivity of the SPR signals.
US08345245B2
A lithographic apparatus has a plurality of different alignment arrangements that are used to perform an alignment measurement on the same mark(s) by: detecting a first alignment mark located on an object and producing a first alignment signal by a first detector; detecting the first mark and producing a second alignment signal by a second detector using a different alignment measurement than the first detector; receiving the first alignment signal from the first detector; calculating a first position of the at least first mark based on the first alignment signal; receiving the second alignment signal from the second detector; calculating a further first position of the at least first mark based on the second alignment signal.
US08345244B2
An exposure apparatus includes a controller configured to calculate a position of an alignment mark detected by a detector, to approximate a deformation of a substrate by using an approximation equation, to calculate a correction amount of each of the plurality of shots, and to control driving of a stage in exposing each shot based on a correction amount that is calculated. The approximation equation is defined as a sum of a first term representative of a deformation of the entire substrate, and at least one of a second term representative of a distortion of a shot arrangement and a third term representative of a shot shape.
US08345242B2
Imprint lithography benefits from precise alignment between a template and a substrate during imprinting. A moiré signal resulting from indicia on the template and the substrate are acquired by a system comprising a line-scan camera and a digital micromirror device (DMD) which provides a high bandwidth, low-latency signal. Once acquired, the moiré signal may be used directly to align the template and the substrate without need for discrete position/angle encoders.
US08345236B2
A method and an apparatus for determining the particle content of a particle stream using a source of light and two receivers arranged offset from one another in the flow direction of the particle stream. The receivers provide an electrical signal to an evaluation unit as a function of the radiation intensity which they receive, and this signal makes possible a determination of the flow velocity and particle size. Coincident passage of two particles is indicated by a pulse occurring in the signal due to a “roof collapse” in the pulse caused by a weakening of the radiation intensity as the particles pass a receiver.
US08345231B2
Method of determining defects in a substrate, the method comprising: scanning a scan range of the substrate with a sensor, the sensor projecting a beam of radiation on the substrate; measuring the fraction of the intensity of the radiation reflected from different substrate areas along the scan range; determining the variations of the measured fraction across the scan range; determining from the variations whether any defects are present in the substrate.
US08345212B2
Provided are an LCD device and a method for manufacturing the same. The LCD device includes a first substrate, a second substrate, a spacer interposed between the first substrate and the second substrate, and a barrier. The barrier is disposed at least one of the first substrate and the second substrate to control the movement of the spacer. In the method, the first substrate is formed. The second substrate is formed. The barrier is formed on at least one of the first substrate and the second substrate. The spacer is disposed within the barrier. Since the LCD device controls the movement of the spacer, a high aperture ratio is realized.
US08345208B2
In a display substrate and a vertical alignment display panel having the same, the display panel includes an array substrate and an opposite substrate. A plurality of first slit portions are arranged through a pixel area of a common electrode on the array substrate, and the first slit portions extend in a slanted direction. A plurality of grooves and a plurality of protruding portions are alternately arranged at edges facing each other on the first slit portion, so that the first slit portions are patterned. A positive singular point is generated on a side surface of a protruding portion, and a negative singular point is generated between the positive singular points.
US08345205B2
A liquid crystal display includes a first substrate and a second substrate with a liquid crystal layer therebetween, the first substrate having a plurality of drain signal lines and a plurality of gate signal lines, and a plurality of pixel regions defined by the drain signal lines and the gate signal lines. The pixel regions include a first electrode having a plurality of linear shapes, a second electrode having a planer shape, the second electrode being overlapped with the first electrode through an insulation film, and a thin film transistor having a video signal supplied thereto from the drain signal line. The first electrode is connected with the thin film transistor so that an electric potential of the video signal is supplied thereto, and a standard electric potential is supplied to the second electrode. A third electrode is arranged between the drain signal line and the liquid crystal layer.
US08345203B2
A display device includes: a substrate; a plurality of pixels which are mounted on the substrate, each pixel including a pixel electrode; and switching elements which are mounted on the substrate, each switching element being connected to the pixel electrode. The substrate includes: a flexible insulation substrate; a first insulation layer which is formed over the insulation substrate and includes a plurality of insulation films which are spaced apart from each other, and the switching element is formed on any one of the respective insulation films. The display device can enhance flexibility thereof while forming relatively hard background films thereon.
US08345201B2
An alignment film material according to the present invention includes: a precursor of a first polyimide (p1); a second polyimide (p2) and a precursor thereof; and a vinyl-type monomer. The vinyl-type monomer is represented by general formula (1) P1-A1-(Z1-A2)n-P2 (in general formula (1), P1 and P2 are, independently, acrylate, methacrylate, acrylamide or methacrylamide; A1 and A2 represent, independently, 1,4-phenylene, 1,4-cyclohexane or 2,5-thiophene, or naphthalene-2,6-diyl or anthracene-2,7-diyl; at least one of A1 and A2 is substituted by at least one fluorine group; and Z1 is a —COO— group, a —OCO— group, a —O— group, a —CONH— group or a single bond, where n is 0 or 1).
US08345199B2
There is provided a liquid crystal display device of high image quality, which has high brightness and excellent viewing angle characteristics.A liquid crystal display device of the present invention includes a pair of polarizing plates, a first electrode, a second electrode provided so as to oppose the first electrode, and a liquid crystal layer interposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. Each of a plurality of pixels includes a first region and a second region which are separated by a line parallel to or perpendicular to the directions of the transmission axes of the pair of polarizing plates. The first electrode includes, in each of the first region and the second region, a plurality of first branch portions extending in a first direction and a plurality of second branch portions extending in a second direction that is different from the first direction. Each of the plurality of first branch portions in the first region has a first width. Each of the plurality of first branch portions in the second region has a second width that is different from the first width.
US08345193B2
An electronic device including: a thin-film substrate having a front surface being formed with electronic circuits; an adhesive layer comprising an adhesive material applied to a back surface of the thin-film substrate, the adhesive material having an elasticity modulus being in a range of 1.0×103 to 2.1×104 Pa at 80° C.; and a flexible substrate having a front surface being bonded to the back surface of the thin-film substrate with the adhesive layer.
US08345190B2
A polarization optical system includes a first polarization plate, arranged at the light incident side of a liquid-crystal light valve, for transmitting first polarized light (s-polarized light) included in light incident on the liquid-crystal light valve from an illumination optical system and a second polarization plate, arranged at the light exit side of the liquid-crystal light valve, for transmitting second polarized light (p-polarized light), different from the first polarized light (s-polarized light), included in imaging light emitted from the liquid-crystal light valve to a projection optical system, in which the second polarization plate is configured in such a way that its light-incident face is concave toward the liquid-crystal light valve.
US08345188B2
A backlight (illumination device) of this invention includes a plurality of light source units (12) each including (i) at least one light source (5) and (ii) a light guide body (7) for surface-emitting light which has come from the at least one light source. In the light source unit (12), the light source is disposed at one end portion of the light guide body (7), and another end portion of the light guide body (7), opposite to the one end portion, has a thickness from 0.05 mm to 0.15 mm. As a result, it is possible to further improve luminance uniformity in an illumination device including a plurality of light guide bodies.
US08345184B2
A light guide plate (63) includes a light introducing section (65), which is at a position facing a point light source (62), for confining light from the point light source, and a light guide plate main body (64), which has a thickness smaller than a thickness at an end of the light introducing section on the point light source side, for outputting the confined light to an outside from a light outputting surface by light outputting means (70). The light introducing section (65) has an inclined surface (67), which is inclined from a surface of the light introducing section towards a surface of the light guide plate main body (64). The inclined surface (67) has a directivity converting pattern (68) for converting a directivity expansion in a thickness direction of the light guide plate of the light entered to the light introducing section (65) to directivity characteristics tilted towards a direction parallel to a surface direction of the light guide plate. The directivity converting pattern (68) has a structure in which a plurality of V-shaped groove structures (68a) are lined.
US08345178B2
A liquid crystal display includes a plurality of data lines and a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix, wherein the plurality of pixels include a first pixel and a second pixel, and each of the first pixel and the second pixel includes a first subpixel electrode and a second subpixel electrode, a first switching element, a second switching element, a third switching element, and a voltage-changing capacitor, wherein a first source electrode on the first switching element and a second source electrode on the second switching element from the first pixel are connected to a data line, the first source electrode and the second source electrode of the second pixel are disconnected from the plurality of data lines, and the two terminals of the voltage-changing capacitor of the second pixel are shorted to each other.
US08345173B2
A display substrate includes a first sensor line substantially parallel with the gate line or the data line, a first protrusion portion protruded from the first sensor line, and a first sensor electrode electrically connected to the first protrusion portion. The first sensor electrode includes a malleable metal. The malleable metal can overcome pressure and elastic deformation. Thus, the sensor electrode made from the malleable metal is not easily damaged by pressing the sensor electrode repeatedly.
US08345169B2
In a signal transmitter and a signal receiver, a multiplexing part multiplexes a video signal and a time-base-compressed audio signal on the basis of a multiplexing control signal to transmit the multiplexed signal through a data line in the signal transmitter. Further, a demultiplexing part demultiplexes a video/audio multiplexed signal received through the data line into the original video signal and audio signal by a demultiplexing control signal in the signal receiver. According to the so-configured signal transmitter and signal receiver, it is possible to realize a signal transmission system compliant with the DVI standard, in which the audio signal as well as the video signal can be transmitted.
US08345164B2
A video switching apparatus has a plurality of slots each for mounting any of a first input module capable of inputting any one of a plurality of predetermined types of video signals and performing processing, content of which varies depending on the type of input video signal and a second input module capable of inputting only predetermined one type of video signal. The video switching apparatus switches and outputs video signals of a plurality of channels input to the input modules mounted to the plurality of slots. The video switching apparatus includes an input setup data memory processor, a detector, and an input setup changer.
US08345156B2
According to one embodiment, a progressive scanning conversion apparatus comprising: a motion detecting unit that detects a motion during one frame for each pixel and that outputs an output value between a still image determination value and a moving image determination value; a still image interpolation pixel generating unit that generates still image interpolation pixels from at least one of a preceding field signal and a following field signal; a moving image interpolation pixel generating unit that generates moving image interpolation pixels from at least one of a current field signal, the preceding field signal and the following field signal; an interpolation pixel mixing generating unit that mixes the still image interpolation pixels to the moving image interpolation pixels at an adjustable mixing ratio; an inter-field zero vector correlation detecting unit that detects correlation of corresponding small regions in a current field and a preceding field or in the current field and a following field, the corresponding small regions occupying the same area in an entire screen; and a motion detection correcting unit that corrects the output value to be closer to the moving image determination value when the correlation detected by the inter-field zero vector correlation detecting unit is lower; wherein, when the corrected output value is closer to the still image determination value, the interpolation pixel mixing generating unit increases the adjustable mixing ratio; and wherein, when the corrected output value is closer to the moving image determination value, the interpolation pixel mixing generating unit decreases the adjustable mixing ratio.
US08345154B2
An accessory connecting shelf for video and camera includes a horizontal orientated connecting plate (1) having double-step connecting pieces. A screwed connecting through hole (3) is provided in the higher connecting piece (2) at the inside end of the connecting plate for connecting a video and camera apparatus, and a chute (5) is provided in the lower connecting fpiece (4) at its outside end. An arc support (6) is connected to the chute, wherein the lower end of the arc support is connected with the lower connecting piece by a connecting screw (7) passing through the chute, and the upper end of the arc support is provided with an arc chute (9). Hot shoe holders (10) are provided within the arc chute for connecting accessories. The present invention not only enables several hot shoe holders to be installed simultaneously to connect several accessories, but also can flexibly adjust various orientations to meet the requirements of different shooting angles.
US08345150B2
An imaging apparatus includes an imaging unit operable to capture a subject image via an optical system and generate image data, a regulating unit operable to regulate an exposure amount for the imaging unit; a shake detector operable to detect a shake of the imaging apparatus; an operation unit capable of being in a first operating state and a second operating state; and a controller operable to control the recording unit to record the image data generated by the imaging unit in the recording medium, when the operation unit is in the first operating state. The controller determines whether or not the operation unit is in the second operating state before the first operating state, and regulates an exposure time of the regulating unit based on the determination result and the shake of the imaging apparatus detected by the shake detector.
US08345145B2
The present invention relates to a mobile communication terminal and a focusing method using the same. The mobile communication terminal includes an input unit for generating one or more input signals, a camera unit for capturing an image of a subject, a display unit having the image of the subject displayed thereon and having a screen divided into one or more regions in order to focus specific regions of the image, wherein a focusing region indicator to indicate the specific region is displayed on the screen, but region demarcation lines to demarcate the regions are not displayed on the screen, a controller for controlling each of the regions to be divided in response to the input signals in order to select the specific region, and the specific regions corresponding to the generated input signals to be focused, so that another images corresponding to the specific regions are generated, a communication module for selectively transmitting the generated images to the outside.
US08345141B2
An imaging device that is able to display an image with an aperture value at the time when actually photographing on a liquid crystal display monitor for displaying an image, in a single-lens reflex digital camera is provided. In a depth-of-field preview mode, a quick return mirror (4) is retracted from an optical path and light is incident on an imaging sensor (11). Then, an imaging optical system is controlled to be in an actual aperture state, and by displaying an image data obtained at the imaging sensor (11) on the liquid crystal display monitor (16) for displaying an image, a plurality of images with aperture values at the time of actually photographing, in other words, actual aperture live view images, can be concurrently displayed simultaneously on the liquid crystal display monitor (16) for displaying an image. By doing so, it is possible to easily compare images with different depths of field, and it is possible to simultaneously photograph images with different depths of field.
US08345139B2
An eyepiece lens includes, in order from an image display surface side to an observer side, a positive first lens, a negative second lens, and a positive third lens. A surface on the image display surface side of the positive first lens has a refractive power stronger than a refractive power of an opposite surface thereof. The negative second lens has a meniscus shape, and a surface on the image display surface side of the negative second lens has a convex shape. Both surfaces of the positive third lens have a convex shape. In the eyepiece lens, during diopter adjustment, the first through the third lenses move along an optical axis. A focal length (f) of the entire eyepiece lens and a diagonal length (H) of the image display surface satisfy the following conditions: 0.45
US08345135B2
A solid state imaging device with an electron multiplying function includes an imaging region VR formed of a plurality of vertical shift registers, a horizontal shift register HR that transfers electrons from the imaging region VR, a multiplication register EM that multiplies the electrons from the horizontal shift register HR, and an electron injecting electrode 11A provided at an end portion of a starting side of the imaging region VR in an electron transfer direction. A specific vertical shift register (channel CH1) into which the electrons are injected by the electron injecting electrode 11A is disposed in a thick part of a semiconductor substrate, and is set in such a way as to be blocked from incident light.
US08345131B2
An image pickup apparatus and method is disclosed by which moving pictures of a high frame rate can be displayed. The image pickup apparatus for picking up moving pictures, includes: a distribution section for distributing light incoming through an optical lens to n directions; n image pickup elements for converting the light distributed by the distribution section into signals at time intervals of 1/m second to pick up images; and a control section for controlling timings at which the light is to be converted into the signals by the image pickup elements; the control section controlling the n image pickup elements to convert the light into the signals at timings successively displaced by 1/m×n second to pick up images.
US08345121B2
An image processing apparatus, including a region setting unit for setting regions on a processing target image in which each pixel of the image is included according to a level of each pixel, a low frequency image generation unit for generating a low frequency image of the processing target image, a gain calculation unit for calculating a gain for each pixel of the processing target image such that the lower the level the greater the gain, wherein the unit calculates the gain such that pixels in each of the regions in which each pixel of the processing target image is included have substantially the same gain based on a region setting result and a level of each pixel of the low frequency image, and a processing unit for generating a processed image by performing dynamic range compression on the processing target image based on the gain.
US08345112B2
An image pickup apparatus has a pixel array including a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements arranged in column and row directions, a first output unit configured to be driven by a first driving signal and to output first signals fed from at least some of the photoelectric conversion elements in the pixel array, and a second output unit configured to be driven by a second driving signal and to output second signals fed from at least some of the photoelectric conversion elements in the pixel array. The first driving signal and the second driving signal are asynchronous.
US08345106B2
Embodiments of camera-based scanning are described. In various embodiments, scanned documents can be created using images captured by a camera associated with a device. An image captured by the camera is processed to identify portions within the image that correspond to rectangular objects such as paper, business cards, whiteboards, screens, and so forth. One or more of these portions can be selected for scanning automatically based on a scoring scheme and/or semi-automatically with the aid of input from a user. One or more scanned documents are created from the selected portions by un-warping the selected portions to remove effects of perspective (e.g., rectify the portions to rectangles) and applying various image enhancements to improve appearance.
US08345102B2
An image processing method can be performed on a video image that includes an initial frame and a plurality of subsequent frames. An object is located within the initial frame of the video image and a histogram related to the object is generated. A foreground map that includes the object is also generated. For each subsequent frame, a mean shift iteration is performed to adjust the location of the object within the current frame. The histogram related to the object and the foreground map can then be updated.
US08345099B2
A railroad track inspection system and method for facilitating inspection of a rail component while traveling on the railroad track. The railroad track inspection system includes an optical path protection device for a protective window for optical sensors of an optical inspection system when it becomes contaminated with dirt, dust, mud, grease, and other contaminants that block or obscure an optical path of the sensors. The optical path protection device eliminates the need for a human operator to perform the periodic cleaning of the protective window by using a clear film with an automated advancement mechanism for providing clean film, as needed, for keeping the optical path of the optical sensors unobstructed and clear.
US08345091B2
An endoscope system includes: an actuator having an SMA wire and driving a moving member for moving a lens; an output control circuit; a detection circuit; and a CPU. The CPU outputs a driving signal to the output control circuit, on a basis of an instruction to move the lens, and on the basis of a position of the moving member corresponding to a resistance value detected by the detection circuit. In response to a moving instruction to move the lens from a far-point position to a near-point position, the CPU outputs the driving signal so that a current for moving the moving member from the far-point position to a position beyond the near-point position is passed through the SMA wire to heat the SMA wire. The CPU then performs preheating control, holding constant current transition control, and reheating control.
US08345085B2
An apparatus for generating a file comprises a file obtaining means, image composing means and a file generating means. The file obtaining means obtains a main image file in which a main stereographic image is recorded and a sub-image file in which a sub-image is recorded. The image composing means generates a first synthetic stereographic image by synthesizing a sub-stereographic image reconstructed to conform to a main stereographic image with the main stereographic image and generates a second synthetic stereographic image by synthesizing a main stereographic image reconstructed to conform to a sub-stereographic image with the sub-stereographic image. The file generating means generates a file of a predetermined format including the synthetic first and second stereographic images.
US08345079B2
A camera service port has an automatic termination for connecting to a near-side monitor. The camera service includes an audio jack and a phone jack. The audio jack includes first and second terminals for receiving signals from a camera and connecting to the near-side monitor. The phone jack includes a first connector coupled to the camera, an equivalent resistor coupled to the first connector, and a second connector coupled to the camera. The second connector is flexible to connect to the first terminal without being connected to an equivalent resistor. When the audio jack is plugged into the phone jack, the first terminal is coupled to the second connector and the second terminal is coupled to the first connector for receiving the signal from the camera. When the audio jack is not plugged into the phone jack, the equivalent resistor is coupled between the second connector and the first connector.
US08345073B1
Layers of a touch sensor array used by electronic devices may be incorporated into other components, such that a touch sensor array is formed upon assembly of the other components. This touch sensor array may then be used as an input device by a user. For example, one layer of a touch sensor array may be integrated into the back of a display component, forming a first integrated package. Similarly, a second layer of the touch sensor array may be integrated into the front of a battery, forming a second integrated package. Upon assembly of the display atop the battery, the touch sensor array is formed. Such integration results in simpler and less expensive assembly, reduces the count of discrete parts during assembly, and minimizes the electronic device's physical profile.
US08345070B2
A method for frame rate up conversion. The method is executed by a frame rate up-converter. The frame rate up-converter receives a plurality of consecutive input video frames and detects luminance information for a current frame. The frame rate up-converter generates a first output frame according to the luminance information for the current frame and a preceding frame before the current frame and generates a second output frame according to the luminance information for the current frame and a succeeding frame after the current frame, wherein the second output frame is outputted after the first output frame.
US08345065B2
Systems and methods that provide graphics using a graphical engine are provided. In one example, a system may provide layered graphics in a video environment. The system may include a bus, a graphical engine and a graphical pipeline. The graphical engine may be coupled to the bus and may be adapted to composite a plurality of graphical layers into a composite graphical layer. The graphical engine may include a memory that stores the composite graphical layer. The graphical pipeline may be coupled to the bus and may be adapted to transport the composite graphical layer.
US08345062B2
The present invention generates a color template design to format a presentation. According to one aspect, a plurality of template designs are provided on a visual display. A selection of one of the plurality of template designs is received from a user. A plurality of source images that are separate from the plurality of template designs are provided on the visual display. A selection of a color from one of the plurality of source images is received from the user. Colors of the selected template design are automatically adjusted to match the selected the color from the source image. The selected template design may include framing, mat, background, and foreground portions, at least one of which is adjusted. After automatically adjusting the colors, the selected template design may be displayed and/or stored for use as a template.
US08345061B1
A method, system, and media are provided for enhancing viewability of information presented on a mobile device. The media includes presenting a user interface on a mobile device that includes foreground information that overlaps a background image. The background image may be converted into a first set of color values and the foreground information into a second set of color values. A dominant color may be determined for the background image and foreground information. The dominant colors may be used to calculate a contrast ratio that may be compared to a threshold value. At least a portion of the color values may be modified when the contrast ratio is less than the threshold value. A set of modified color values may then be derived and a modified presentation may be presented to the user that includes the modified color values.
US08345054B2
A method is provided for updating a data-rendering device connected to a communications network by an intermediate device. A specific electronic address is assigned to the data-rendering device. The method includes associating at least one identifier, preliminarily assigned to the intermediate device, with the electronic address. The at least one identifier belongs to the group including at least: one dynamic connection identifier of the intermediate device and one user account identifier (AID).
US08345051B2
A graphic rendering pipeline has a number of different rendering units and receives fragments for rendering. A renderer stated word cache is used to store rendering state data to be used to configure the rendering units when they render a fragment. Each rendering unit includes a functional block which carries out a rendering operation on a received fragment and a renderer state word interface that can be used to look up the required rendering state data from the renderer state word cache. Each fragment is provided to the rendering pipeline with fragment data that indicates, inter alia, a fragment index, a renderer state word index, and other fragment data that is necessary to render the fragment. When a rendering unit of the rendering pipeline receives a fragment to be rendered, it firstly uses the renderer state word index associated with the fragment to look-up, using its renderer state word interface, the relevant rendering state data from the renderer state word cache. It then uses that rendering state data to configure its functional block, and then renders the fragment.
US08345050B2
Techniques are provided for managing Presentation Time in a digital rendering system for presentation of temporally-ordered data when the digital rendering system includes a Variable Rate Presentation capability. In one embodiment, Presentation Time is converted to Data Time, and Data Time is reported instead of Presentation Time when only one time can be reported. In another embodiment, a predetermined one of Presentation Time and Data Time is returned in response to a request for a Current Time.
US08345041B2
A three-dimensional image display device includes a three-dimensional image generator and a display panel. The three-dimensional image generator includes a memory part, a control part, and an output buffer part. The memory part has a lookup table storing pixel-shift data corresponding to a plurality of viewpoints and depths. The control part stores image data and depth data in an internal memory, and outputs shifted image data based on the pixel-shift data. The output buffer part outputs three-dimensional image data based on the shifted image data. The display panel displays the three-dimensional image data.
US08345036B2
When there is a circuit that has to wait for one frame cycle to switch LCD resolution, a user feels uncomfortable because the resolution is switched while the screen is temporarily turned off and blackened or while the screen does keep display but causes flickers. When the user switches to an application that will display in QVGA mode on the LCD while the LCD is displaying in VGA mode, a synchronization signal, etc. are stopped from being output from an LCD controller within a vertical blank period (step S2). Then, a pseudo vertical synchronization signal whose cycle falls within the vertical blank period is generated by the LCD controller to trigger a circuit in a par/ser converting circuit triggered by a vertical synchronization signal (steps S3 to S5), and to realize resolution switching (steps S6 to S8). This prevents blackening/flickering of the screen when the resolution is switched.
US08345021B2
A touch screen panel provided in an image display device. The touch screen panel includes a transparent substrate; a plurality of first sensing patterns on the transparent substrate and coupled to each other along a first direction; a first insulating film on the first sensing patterns; and a plurality of second sensing patterns on the first insulating film and coupled to each other along a second direction crossing the first direction, the second sensing patterns being alternately arranged with the first sensing patterns to not overlap with the first sensing patterns.
US08345020B2
The touch screen panel of the present invention includes first sensing patterns formed on a transparent substrate, a first insulating film formed on the first sensing patterns, second sensing patterns formed on the first insulating film, a plurality of metal patterns disposed on edge regions of the first and second sensing patterns, and a plurality of auxiliary metal patterns formed in the same layer as the metal patterns. Each of the first and second sensing patterns has sensing cells and coupling lines. Each of the coupling lines connects two of the sensing cells. Each of the metal patterns is coupled to the first sensing pattern or to the second sensing pattern, and each of the auxiliary metal patterns being formed on one of the first coupling lines or on one of the second coupling lines.
US08345019B2
A resistive touchscreen system comprises a substrate, a coversheet and a controller. The coversheet comprises a first conductive coating and the substrate comprises a second conductive coating. The substrate and coversheet are positioned proximate each other such that the first conductive coating faces the second conductive coating, and the substrate and coversheet are electrically disconnected with respect to each other in the absence of a touch. The controller is configured to (a) identify a multiple touch state when the substrate and coversheet are electrically connected with respect to each other at at least two touch locations, (b) to detect, over time, a plurality of apparent touch coordinates, (c) identify two possible X coordinates and two possible Y coordinates associated with at least one of the apparent touch coordinates, and (d) identify coordinate locations of two touches based on the apparent touch coordinates and the two possible X and Y coordinates.
US08345014B2
A high dimensional touchpad (HDTP) controls a variety of computer windows systems and applications by detecting a user's finger movement in the left-right, forward-backward, roll, pitch, yaw, and downward pressure directions. One or more of the detected finger movements are then used to control specific computer applications including focusing a user's attention to one of several web pages, gesture recognition, magnification control, 3D-polyhedral menu selection, Internet browsers, navigation applications, games, media players, spreadsheets, and controlling the functions of mobile devices.
US08345013B2
A method and device for generating haptic feedback over a touch surface using plasma actuation are disclosed. A haptic device includes a touch surface, plasma, and a substrate. In one embodiment, the touch surface, which can be made of flexible and/or deformable materials, is capable of sensing one or more events. The substrate is situated adjacent to the touch surface with a separation gap, which physically separates the substrate from the touch surface. The substrate provides haptic feedback in response to the event(s). The plasma is capable of accumulating at one or more pockets located in the separation gap, and configured to facilitate the haptic feedback via energy transfer.
US08345012B2
An interface device includes at least one programmable device and a display portion coupled to the at least one programmable device. The display portion is configured to convey a hierarchical relationship of a plurality of screen images that at least partially overlap each other. The hierarchical relationship includes the plurality of screen images defined in a series of logically related, ordered, and ranked groupings.
US08345006B2
A deformable computer mouse for easy storage and portability. The mouse housing includes a flat top layer having at least two splitable pieces and an intermediate layer sliding mounted underneath. By pulling the two splitable pieces upward, the intermediate layer slides out and forms an arced surface together with the two splitable pieces, thus forming a full sized computer mouse.
US08345005B2
The invention relates to a mini joystick including a handle which can be moved in relation to a body, in rotation along at least two axes of rotation.According to the invention, such a mini-joystick includes a Hall effect movement detection set including at least one first element interdependent in rotation with said handle and at least one second element fixed in relation to said body, said elements belonging to the group including the sensors and the magnets, delivering at least one item of information regarding the position of said handle, and detection means for detecting at least one push applied onto an upper part of said handle, able to deliver at least one item of control information when a push is applied, whatever the position of said handle in relation to said body.
US08344994B2
A method of improved reduced energy let through (RELT) mode selection in a switching apparatus includes receiving a request to disable a RELT mode of the switching apparatus, and, if the RELT mode of the switching apparatus is active, increasing a current threshold of the switching apparatus after a configurable amount of time has elapsed from the receipt of the request to disable the RELT mode.
US08344992B2
An inexpensive display device, as well as an electrical apparatus employing the same, can be provided. In the display device in which a pixel section and a driver circuit are included on one and the same insulating surface, the driver circuit includes a decoder 100 and a buffer section 101. The decoder 100 includes a plurality of NAND circuits each including p-channel TFTs 104 to 106 connected to each other in parallel and other p-channel TFTs 107 to 109 connected to each other in series. The buffer section 101 includes a plurality of buffers each including three p-channel TFTs 114 to 116.
US08344988B2
A signal output circuit of one embodiment of the present invention is provided in a unit stage of a shift register. The signal output circuit includes a set-reset flip-flop, and a signal generation circuit for generating an output signal by loading or blocking a clock signal in accordance with a signal inputted thereto. The signal output circuit is arranged such that: the signal generation circuit receives a signal outputted from the flip-flop and the output signal fed back to the signal generating circuit; and the output signal is fed back to a reset input of the flip-flop. This makes it possible to achieve a reduction in the area of the circuit and a simplification of the circuit.
US08344987B2
The LCD device allows the three demultiplex signal lines to connect the center portion of the data driver with the center portion of the demultiplexer.
US08344977B2
A liquid crystal display comprising: a receiver for receiving power and differential signal; a backlight power supply which supplies the power to a backlight unit; a power-off sensor which senses power-off of the backlight power supply and distorts one of the differential signals; and a controller which senses the distortion of the differential signal and generates an after-image removing gray-scale signal.
US08344960B2
A compact antenna for transmitting or receiving a radio frequency signal includes a metal wire extending from a first location to a second location, an insulation layer extending from the first location to a third location, for covering a portion of the metal wire from the first location to the third location, a metal weave extending from the first location to a fourth location, for covering a portion of the insulation layer from the first location to the fourth location, and a grounding metal tube extending from a fifth location to the third location, for covering a portion of the metal weave from the fifth location to the fourth location, and covering a portion of the insulation layer from the fourth location to the third location.
US08344955B2
A first printed wiring board PWB includes a core and a power layer and a ground layer. A second PWB includes a flexible portion that is partially embedded within an end section of the first printed wiring board and abutting the core. The flexible portion includes a first layer having an antenna feed coupled to the power layer of the core, and a second layer. In a particular embodiment, the second PWB also includes a rigid section in which an opposed end of the flexible portion is also partially embedded.
US08344954B2
An antenna is disclosed, which comprises: a substrate with a first surface and a second surface; a first radiation unit, disposed on the first surface; an insulating unit, disposed on the first surface on top of the first radiation unit; a first feed point, formed on the second surface and electrically connected to the first radiation unit; a grounding unit, disposed coplanar and connected with the first radiation unit; a first gap, formed between the first radiation unit and the grounding unit; and a second feed point, formed on the second surface and electrically connected to the grounding unit; wherein, as the second surface with the two feed points disposed thereon is adjacent to at least a metallic component and the radiation units are disposed on the first surface, the radiation units do not directly face the metallic component and thus prevent the same from being interfered by metallic shielding.
US08344946B2
A method and apparatus for directly estimating depleted ionosphere delay in a GPS receiver and using the estimate for improved navigation precision in satellite based augmentation systems.
US08344936B2
Embodiments of the present invention disclose systems and methods for providing an avionics overlay data link. Through embodiments of the present invention, existing ATC (or other) modulated signals using existing frequencies (or other frequencies) may be utilized to transmit (e.g., from an aircraft transponder) additional information in a manner that does not render the transmitted signal unrecognizable by legacy ATC equipment. In various embodiments, legacy equipment may demodulate and decode information that was encoded in the transmitted signal in accordance with preexisting standard modulation formats, and updated equipment can also extract the additional information that was overlaid on transmitted signals.
US08344928B2
A capacitance-to-digital converter for an extended range of capacitances includes a reference capacitor and one or more offset capacitors. Electrical charge accumulated in the offset capacitors is used to at least partially cancel the charge accumulated in a sensed capacitance to facilitate matching with a charge accumulated in the reference capacitor. The residual charge is passed to an integrator, the output from which is quantized and used to control switching of the capacitors. Immunity to tonal external noises and improved conversion speed are achieved by controlling the capacitor switching with a spread spectrum clock. The capacitance-to-digital converter may be used, for example, for sensing of the capacitances of capacitive elements in touch and proximity displays or other user interfaces.
US08344924B2
An approach to converting an analog value based on a partition of an input range produces probabilities that the input is found within each of the regions based, for example, on a noisy version of the input. In some examples, iterative and/or pipelined application of comparison circuitry is used to accumulate a set of analog representations of the output probabilities. The circuitry can be adapted or configured according to the characteristics of the degradation (e.g., according to the variance of an additive noise) and/or prior information about the distribution of the clean input (e.g., a distribution over a discrete set of exemplar values, uniformly distributed etc.).
US08344911B1
Present novel and non-trivial system, module, and method for generating non-linearly spaced graduations for a symbolic linear scale are disclosed. Symbology data representative of a scale having non-linear graduations is generated as a function of a graduation reference assigned to each graduation, navigation reference data provided from an appropriate source, and a constant. Navigation reference data comprises pitch attitude data and/or aircraft heading data, from which a symbolic pitch attitude scale and/or heading scale is generated. Current attitude and/or heading may be used as a central reference from which spacing is measured, and the value of the constant is dependent on the size of the scale occupied on the screen of a display unit. Each symbolic linear scale may be merged with data representative of the scene outside the aircraft and presented on the screen along with a flight path predictor mapped to the non-linear scale.
US08344902B2
A cup assembly with circuit actuating capability comprises: a cup body having a bottom recess that is defined by a recess-defining wall and that has an open end, the recess-defining wall being provided with a threaded structure; a module support having a base part that covers the open end of the bottom recess, and a threaded confining part that is connected to the base part, that is received in the bottom recess, that defines an accommodating space, and that engages threadedly with the threaded structure; and a signal producing module mounted on the base part, received in the accommodating space, and including a signal producing member and a first switch that is coupled to the signal producing member and that is operable to enable and disable the signal producing member.
US08344900B2
A communications patching system includes a patch panel having a plurality of connector ports on a side thereof, and a sensor module secured to the patch panel side. The sensor module includes a plurality of pairs of IR emitters and sensors, with each emitter/sensor pair located adjacent to a respective one of the connector ports. Each emitter/sensor pair is configured to detect insertion and removal of a patch cord connector from a respective connector port. The sensor module includes a housing and a printed circuit board (PCB) secured to the housing. The IR emitters and sensors are electrically connected to the PCB, and the PCB includes a processor and memory for controlling the IR emitters and sensors.
US08344898B2
A liquid level sensing device for sensing liquid in a container. The liquid level sensor has a housing with a power source and an alarm. A first reference surface is positioned on the housing and cooperates with a top surface of a container when the liquid level sensor is initially positioned on the container. A sensor extends from the first reference surface. A positioning member is provided on the liquid level sensing device and cooperates with the container to provide a reference to allow the liquid level sensing device to be accurately moved from the initial position to other predetermined positions relative to the container to allow a user to fill the container with one or more liquids to the desired level. A reservoir portion may be provided on the liquid level sensing device for storing and dispensing a liquid.
US08344894B2
A substantially transparent windscreen head up display of a vehicle includes a display having one of light emitting particles or microstructures over a predefined region of the windscreen permitting luminescent display while permitting vision through the windscreen. A method to alert a drowsy driver condition upon a substantially transparent windscreen head up display includes monitoring a sensor configured to observe an operator of the vehicle, determining the drowsy driver condition based upon the monitoring the sensor, and alerting the drowsy driver condition upon the substantially transparent windscreen head up display based upon the determining the drowsy driver condition. Alerting the drowsy driver condition includes displaying a graphic selected to attract attention of the operator and the substantially transparent windscreen head up display.
US08344890B2
In the embodiments described herein, a RFID enabled license plate is constructed by using the license plate, or a retro-reflective layer formed thereon as part of the resonator configured to transmit signals generated by and RFID chip integrated with the license plate. Such an RFID enabled license plate can include a metal license plate with a slot formed in the metal license plate, and a RFID tag module positioned in the slot. The RFID tag module can include a chip and a loop, and the loop can be coupled with the metal license plate, e.g., via inductive or conductive coupling. In this manner, the metal license plate can be configured to act as a resonator providing increased performance.
US08344888B2
The semiconductor device includes a signal processing circuit, an antenna circuit that is connected to the signal processing circuit, and a storage means that supplies electric power to the signal processing circuit. The signal processing circuit receives and transmits information through the antenna circuit, generates a direct current voltage from signals received by the antenna circuit, and stores the direct current voltage in the storage means. Furthermore, the antenna circuit has an antenna portion that receives signals by an electromagnetic induction method and an antenna portion that receives signals by a microwave method so that signals of frequencies from a wide band can be received. Because signals from a wide band can be received, the environment in which the storage means can be charged is widened.
US08344878B2
A manner of creating an electronic device directory containing the identity of electronic devices that registered in an area associated with a plurality of events, which events are similar in certain respects. The directory is useful, for example, investigating criminal cases. When such an event occurs, an application server is notified and generates one or more device registration capture requests to determine which electronic devices are registered in the area and at approximately the same time at which the event occurs. The device registration capture associated with this event is compared with other device registration captures associated with other, similar events to create the electronic device directory. The electronic device directory entries are preferable filtered to select the devices most likely to be associated with the actual events in question.
US08344873B2
A method of verifying alerts received from alerting devices associated with a user. The method includes: verifying the received alerts from the user by applying a specified procedure to the user; analyzing the received alert in respect to specified temporal characteristics of the received alerts; classifying each received alert as either a false alarm or as a valid alarm according to the verifying and the analyzing; and reporting the valid alarms to a service center. Double checking the received alerts both by the verifying and the analyzing enhances alarm reliability.
US08344869B2
A vehicle system that can overcome at least some of the aforementioned shortcomings includes tire sensors mounted in, on or adjacent respective tires of the vehicle, LF antennas including a door-mounted antenna on a door of the vehicle, a receiver mounted on the vehicle, a door switch associated with the door having the door-mounted antenna mounted thereto, and an ECU in communication with the antennas, the receiver and the door switch. Each tire sensor is configured to transmit a signal and to detect an LF field. Each LF antenna is configured to transmit an LF tire sensor wake up field to wake up respective tire sensors. The receiver is configured to receive signals transmitted from the tire sensors. The door switch is configured for determining whether the door is open. The ECU is configured to receive identification signals from the respective tire sensors via the RF receiver. The ECU is further configured to determine locations of the respective tire sensors based on which antenna woke up the tire sensor transmitting the respective identification signal and whether the respective identification signal matches other received identification signals. The ECU is further configured to: (1) disregard signals from the tire sensors woken up by the door-mounted antenna when the door was open or (2) inhibit the door-mounted LF antenna from transmitting the LF field to wake up the tire sensors when the door is open.
US08344855B2
A radio frequency identification (RFID) interrogator for determining a bandwidth of a backscattering signal to be backscattered by an RFID tag and a method of operating the same are provided. The RFID interrogator senses a predetermined frequency band to determine whether the predetermined frequency band has been occupied and determines a sensing result. The RFID interrogator further controls the bandwidth of the backscattering signal in response to the sensing result.
US08344854B2
An inter-office communication management system can include an inter-office communication item such as an inter-office mail envelope or routing slip. The inter-office communication item can be a transient document. An inter-office communication identifier placement module can affix an inter-office communication identifier to the first inter-office communication label. The inter-office communication label can be attached to the inter-office communication item. An inter-office communication tracking module can be used to track the inter-office communication item based on the inter-office communication identifier affixed to the inter-office communication label.
US08344853B1
The present invention relates to a system and method for providing security in an RFID system and provides a secure active RFID architecture that uses a combination of passive and active RFID circuitry and employs authentication and encryption techniques in the processing of data, at rest and over the air. In the method of communicating securely in an RFID system of the present invention, a random number is generated with the passive RFID circuitry. The random number is forwarded to a reader. The reader is authenticated by comparing a first hash value determined from a hash function of the random number generated at the RFID tag and an Authenticated Facility Group ID stored on the RFID tag with a second hash value determined from the hash function of the forwarded random number and an Authenticated Facility Group ID stored in the reader such that if the first hash value matches the second hash value the reader is authenticated. After the reader is authenticated, the tag ID stored at the RFID tag can be revealed. After authentication of the reader, a second layer of security using encryption is provided with the active RFID circuitry.
US08344844B2
Fuse state indicators for use with disconnect devices having a fuse are provided. Fuse state indicators include a housing having circuitry, a detecting means for detecting an open circuit condition, conductors adapted for electrical connection to a disconnect device so as to complete a circuit connecting the detecting means with a fuse of the disconnect device, and a signal transmitting means The detecting means is configured to transmit a signal to the signal transmitting means for determining an operational state of the fuse. The signal transmitting means, in turn, is configured to transmit a signal to a remote device the state of the fuse.
US08344840B2
A transformer is provided with at least one core leg on which three windings are arranged side by side, whose discharges are designed to be mutually insulated. Each winding is formed by a near-core low-voltage winding, which are each wound by an associated high-voltage winding, and the discharges of the low-voltage windings are axially designed, so that the lateral spacing of the windings to each other is minimized.
US08344835B1
The method of winding superconducting wire comprises a winding method comprising: winding the superconducting wire from the source reel onto the first lane of the first bobbin a first number of times in a first direction; fixing the first bobbin and the second bobbin to each other; winding the superconducting wire from the source reel onto the third lane of the second bobbin a second number of times in the first direction; separating the first bobbin and the second bobbin from each other; and winding the superconducting wire from the first lane of the first bobbin onto the fourth lane of the second bobbin a third number of times in a second direction which is different from the first direction while winding the superconducting wire from the third lane of the second bobbin onto the source reel the third number of times in the second direction.
US08344822B2
A switchable integrated electronic device includes at least three elements r1 . . . r14, s1 . . . s14 series coupled in a chain between a first port and a second port and includes a node between successive elements r1 . . . r14, s1 . . . s14 of the chain. There is a switch means for coupling a selectable one of the nodes to a third port. If successive elements r1 . . . r14, s1 . . . s14 in the chain are denoted ri, i=1 to N, and if adjacent positions occupied by the elements are numbered consecutively 1 to N, then element ri occupies position ⌊ N + 1 2 ⌋ + ( - 1 ) i · 2 · ⌊ i 2 ⌋ for i = 1 to ⌊ N 2 ⌋ and position ⌊ N + 1 2 ⌋ + ( - 1 ) i · ( 2 · ⌊ N - i 2 ⌋ + 1 ) for i = ⌊ N 2 ⌋ + 1 to N .
US08344819B2
Methods, systems, and apparatuses for circuit boards are provided herein. An electrically insulating material is formed over one or more traces on a circuit board. One or more further electrically conductive features are present on the circuit board. A layer of an electrically conductive material is formed over the one or more traces that is electrically isolated from the one or more traces by the electrically insulating material, and is in electrical contact with the one or more further electrically conductive features. The electrically conductive material confines magnetic and electric fields produced when the one or more traces conduct an alternating current. By confining the magnetic and electric field distributions in this manner, problems of interference and/or crosstalk with adjacent signal traces are reduced or eliminated.
US08344818B1
A single sideband mixer is constructed with digital logic elements such as T-type flip-flops and inverters and with FETs, and the resulting mixer circuit simultaneously improves control over the frequency resolution, noise floor and operating frequency range. The use of this group of elements also allows the mixer circuit to be easily realized in an integrated circuit.
US08344812B2
A phase-locked loop includes a loop filter and a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO). The VCO includes multiple transistors, each transistor having a smaller transconductance (gm) than if a single transistor were used while maintaining the same loop bandwidth and drain-to-source current through the transistor. As a result of a smaller transconductance in the VCO, a larger resistor can be used in the loop filter without increasing the noise. With a larger resistor, a smaller capacitor can be used in the loop filter as well. Alternatively, the transconductance can be reduced by a certain factor and the resistance value can be increased by the same factor to maintain a constant loop bandwidth but with a reduction in the amplitude of the noise. Thus, a smaller loop filter capacitor can be achieved albeit with the same noise level, or a lower noise level with the same size capacitor for the loop filter.
US08344795B2
An exemplary filter includes N (≧2) unity gain amplifiers, each with a pair of differential input terminals and a pair of differential output terminals; a pair of filter differential input terminals; a first pair of variable resistances coupling the pair of filter differential input terminals to the pair of differential input terminals of the first unity gain amplifier; N−1 pairs of variable resistances coupling the pairs of differential output terminals of each of the N unity gain amplifiers, other than the last one, to the pairs of differential input terminals of its downstream neighbor; N−1 pairs of variable capacitances coupling the pairs of differential input terminals of each of the N unity gain amplifiers, other than the last one, to the pairs of differential output terminals of its downstream neighbor; and a variable capacitance coupling the pair of differential input terminals of the last unity gain amplifier to each other.
US08344794B2
A signal filter includes a node, a first terminal, a second terminal, and energy storage circuitry coupled to the node and the first and second terminals. The node receives an input signal and a reference signal selectively. The first terminal provides an output signal determined by the input signal and the reference signal. The second terminal receives a feedback signal indicative of the output signal. The energy storage circuitry generates the output signal at the first terminal according to the input signal and the reference signal. The energy storage circuitry also receives the input signal via the node and the feedback signal via the second terminal in alternating fashion. A dominant pole of the signal filter is controlled by the frequency at which the input signal and the feedback signal alternate.
US08344789B2
A body control apparatus for an analog switch for minimizing leakage current and keeping PN junctions reverse-biased. The analog switch has first and second switch device clusters coupled between input and output nodes and controlled by a control input, each having a corresponding body junction. The body control apparatus includes body control devices each controlled by one of the input and output nodes for coupling a body junction to the opposite one of the input and output nodes. Each switch device cluster may include a main switch and body devices which keep the body junction of the main switch at a voltage level between the input and output nodes when the analog switch is on. When the analog switch is off, the body control apparatus activates when voltage across the input and output nodes rises to keep the body junctions at desired voltage levels.
US08344786B2
A semiconductor integrated circuit includes a level shift circuit which is located so that a second IO cell region is interposed between the level shift circuit and a first IO cell region, and converts a signal output from an IO cell of the first IO cell region into a signal having an amplitude of a second voltage and outputs the resultant signal, and an internal circuit which is operated using the signal having the amplitude of the second voltage output from the level shift circuit. A signal interconnect via which the signal output from the IO cell of the first IO cell region is input to the level shift circuit is provided between the IO cell of the first IO cell region and the level shift circuit, extending over or in an IO cell of the second IO cell region.
US08344779B2
A comparator has a first input, a second input, an output, a control electrode of a first hysteresis transistor coupled to the output, and a control electrode of a second hysteresis transistor coupled to the output. A method for testing the comparator includes: reconfiguring the comparator to be an amplifier with unity gain feedback; providing an input voltage to the input; providing a first voltage to the first hysteresis transistor to provide a first offset voltage; measuring a first output voltage at the output; removing the first voltage from the first hysteresis transistor; providing the first voltage to the second hysteresis transistor; and measuring a second output voltage at the output.
US08344772B2
An all digital phase-locked loop (ADPLL) includes: a phase counter accumulating a frequency setting word value and the phase of a digitally controlled oscillator (DCO) clock and detecting a fine phase difference between a reference clock and a retimed clock; a phase detector detecting a digital phase error value compensating for a phase difference between the frequency setting word value and the DCO clock according to the fine phase difference to detect a digital phase error value; a digital loop filter filtering the digital phase error value and controlling PLL operational characteristics; a lock detector generating a lock indication signal according an output of the digital loop filter; a digitally controlled oscillator varying the frequency of the DCO clock according to the output from the digital loop filter; and a retimed clock generator generating the retimed clock by retiming the DCO clock at a low frequency.
US08344768B2
A display device includes a skew compensating type data receiving unit for delaying clocks received in response to a program signal, comparing the clocks delayed thus to compensating clocks, setting an internal delay amount according to a result of the comparison, and delaying and forwarding a low voltage differential signals according to the delay amount set thus, a clock receiving unit for delaying the clock received thus by a fixed delay amount and forwarding the clock delayed thus as a compensating clock, a clock generating unit for generating a data restoring clock by using the clock delayed thus, and a data restoring logic for restoring the low voltage differential signal delayed at the data receiving unit in synchronization with the data restoring clock, thereby compensating for an internal skew taking place at the data channel which receives a low voltage differential signal.
US08344764B2
A circuit arrangement comprising a first semiconductor switching element, which has a load path and a drive terminal. A voltage supply circuit, is provided including an inductance connected in series with the load path of the first semiconductor switching element, and a capacitive charge storage arrangement, which is connected in parallel with the inductance and which has a first and a second output terminal for providing a supply voltage.
US08344751B2
An impedance code generation circuit includes a first code generation unit configured to compare a voltage of a calibration node with a reference voltage and generate a first impedance code, a code modification unit configured to generate a modified impedance code by performing an operation on the first impedance code according to a setting value, and a second code generation unit configured to generate a second impedance code based on the modified impedance code.
US08344743B2
A testing system for a PSU includes a test chamber and a control device. The test chamber includes a first partition with the PSU accommodated therein and a second partition with an electric load accommodated therein. The PSU is electrically connected to the electric load. The control device includes a microcontroller unit (MCU). The MCU is connected to a setting circuit and a temperature sensing circuit. The setting circuit is configured to set one of predetermined parameters. The temperature sensing circuit is capable of sensing temperature in the test chamber. The MCU is capable of automatically controlling a predetermined temperature in the test chamber and presetting a test time for testing the PSU.
US08344739B2
A capacitive sensor array includes a sensor electrode, a shielding electrode and a background electrode which are surrounded by insulator materials and connected to a control and evaluation circuit. The sensor electrode detects the entry of an object into a space ahead of the sensor electrode. The control and evaluation circuit detects a capacity change of the sensor electrode as compared to a reference potential. The shielding electrode is connected to the sensor electrode via the control and evaluation circuit in such a manner that its potential follows. The three electrodes are arranged behind each other. The insulating materials are arrayed between the sensor electrode and the detection zone and include at least one plastic layer that directly surrounds the sensor electrode and a plastic layer.
US08344723B2
A phase difference type resolver is adapted such that a calculator calculates an angle from a phase difference at a detection-signal zero cross point, determines a velocity at the angle based on an angle calculated from a phase difference at a previous detection-signal zero cross point, calculates an estimated angle at a next detection-signal zero cross point based on the velocity, divides a difference between the estimated angle and the angle into predetermined minimum detection angles, and outputs a real-time signal based on the minimum detection angles in a range after the angle but before the estimated angle.
US08344714B2
A linear voltage regulator circuit includes first and second voltage input terminals to receive a first or second external voltage, a voltage output terminal, a voltage regulator unit, a voltage switch unit, and a voltage detecting unit. The voltage regulator unit selectively receives the first or second external voltage controlled by the voltage switch unit. The voltage detecting unit outputs a first control signal to control the voltage switch unit to output the first external voltage to the voltage regulator unit, in response to an output voltage of the voltage output terminal being less than or equal to a predetermined value. The voltage detecting unit outputs a second control signal to control the voltage switch unit to output the second external voltage to the voltage regulator unit in response to the output voltage being greater than the predetermined value.
US08344711B2
A power supply device including a converter having a switch circuit to which an input voltage is supplied and a coil coupled between the switch circuit and an output end from which an output voltage is output; and a control circuit comparing between a feedback voltage and a reference voltage, and on/off controls the switch circuit according to a comparison result; wherein, the control circuit includes a current gradient detection circuit performs detection of a gradient of a coil current flows thorough the coil during an off period of the switch circuit and generates a slope voltage according to a result of the detection; and an adder circuit performs one of generating the feedback voltage by adding the slope voltage to a voltage according to the output voltage and generating the reference voltage by adding the slope voltage to a standard voltage that is set according to the output voltage.
US08344709B2
In one embodiment, the present invention includes a circuit having a voltage estimation circuit to receive a first voltage and generate an estimation of an output voltage of a power conversion circuit based on the first voltage. The first voltage is from a circuit node between a first terminal of a switch and a first terminal of an inductor. The circuit further comprises a current estimation circuit to receive a first current and generate an estimation of an output current of the power conversion circuit based on the first current. The first current is a current through the switch. The circuit further includes a pulse width modulation circuit to produce a pulse width modulated signal based on the estimation of an output voltage and the estimation of an output current.
US08344697B2
A method and system for controlling temperature in an electric vehicle battery pack such that battery pack longevity is preserved, while vehicle driving range is maximized. A controller prescribes a maximum allowable temperature in the battery pack as a function of state of charge, reflecting evidence that lithium-ion battery pack temperatures can be allowed to increase as state of charge decreases, without having a detrimental effect on battery pack life. During vehicle driving, battery pack temperature is allowed to increase with decreasing state of charge, and a cooling system is only used as necessary to maintain temperature beneath the increasing maximum level. The decreased usage of the cooling system reduces energy consumption and increases vehicle driving range. During charging operations, the cooling system must remove enough heat from the battery pack to maintain temperatures below a decreasing maximum, but this has no impact on driving range.
US08344680B2
A control apparatus of an alternating-current motor includes an inverter which is connected to a direct-current source and outputs three-phase alternating currents to the alternating-current motor, a current detector which detects a current of the alternating-current motor, a voltage command/PWM signal generation unit which calculates an output voltage command of the inverter based on a signal from the current detector and generates a pulse width modulation signal to control a switching element arranged in the inverter based on the output voltage command, and a motor current imbalance compensation unit which generates a motor current imbalance compensation amount based on the current detected by the current detector. The pulse width modulation signal is directly or indirectly adjusted at the voltage command/PWM signal generation unit based on the motor current imbalance compensation amount in accordance with a driving state of the inverter.
US08344677B2
Power conversion equipment includes an electric power converting section that converts DC electric power to multiphase AC electric power and feeds the converted multiphase AC electric power to a multiphase AC motor. A first short-circuit section includes a first switch disposed between a first DC power supply and the electric power converting section. A second short-circuit section includes a second switch disposed between at least one of an electric power feeding section and the electric power input section in the first DC power supply, or between a multiphase AC output point of the electric power converting section and the multiphase AC motor. A switch control section controls the first switch and the second switch such that the first and second switches are prevented from being brought into the closed-state simultaneously.
US08344676B2
Detection of, among other things, seal leakage(s) and/or seal oil contamination for a gas cooled generator are provided. Detectors according to some embodiments of the invention provide mechanisms of early detection of cooling gas, e.g., hydrogen, leakage through leakage sources as well as low purity and high cooling gas consumption problems in a gas cooled generator.
US08344667B1
A circuit for enabling the use of timing characterization data in a configurable light timer is described. The circuit comprises a connector adapted to receive a portable memory device having timing characterization data; a control circuit coupled to receive the timing characterization data; and a switch coupled between a reference voltage and an output terminal of the configurable light timer, wherein the switch is controlled by the control circuit to disconnect the reference voltage from the output terminal according to the timing characterization data. A method of enabling the use of timing characterization data in a configurable light timer is also disclosed.
US08344665B2
A controller for controlling a plurality of devices configured for wireless communications in a facility includes a data communications interface communicating with at least one of the devices. The controller further includes a control module configured to provide a control signal to the data communications interface for communicating to a transceiver associated with the device and for turning off the device according to an algorithm wherein the control signal is provided based on a time of day and/or a sensed condition relating to use of the facility. The transceiver reports device data to the control module to quantify a reduction in power obtained by controlling the devices according to the algorithm.
US08344650B2
A backlight driving system driving a plurality of lamp groups comprises a phase controller, a pulse width module (PWM) controller, a plurality of power stages, a plurality of transformers and a plurality of switch circuits. The phase controller generates a plurality of phase signals. The PWM controller generates PWM signals. The power stages receive and convert direct current (DC) signals from an external power source to alternative current (AC) signals under the control of the PWM signals. The transformers receive and boost up the AC signals from the power stages to drive the lamp groups. The switch circuits alternatively transmit the DC power signals from the external power source and the PWM signals from the PWM controller to the power stages so as to control outputs of the power stages.
US08344635B2
A method of driving regulation for bipolar transistors in electronic ballast is provided. The method may include: sensing voltage at midpoint of half bridge of the transistors; producing a reference time signal according to a sync signal from a timer; producing actual time interval in this cycle by comparing rising edge of the voltage at midpoint of the half bridge of the transistors with rising edge of a driving signal for the transistors in upper bridge arm in each switching cycle; comparing the actual time interval with the reference time signal to determine pulse width of the driving signal; regulating, in which the driving signal in this switching cycle is prolonged relative to the driving signal in previous switching cycle if the actual time interval is larger than the reference time signal, while the driving signal in this switching cycle is shortened relative to the driving signal in previous switching cycle if the actual time interval is smaller than the reference time signal.
US08344631B2
A method for driving a plasma display panel in which a plurality of first and second electrodes are arranged adjacently each other, a plurality of third electrodes are arranged to cross the first and second electrodes, the plasma display panel having a reset period, an address period, and a sustain discharge period is provided. The method includes in the reset period, applying to the second electrodes a first waveform voltage, whose applied potential increases with time, then applying to the second electrodes a second waveform voltage, whose applied potential decreases with time. The method includes when applying the first waveform voltage, a first constant voltage is applied to the first electrodes, and a second constant voltage higher than the first constant voltage is applied to the third electrodes and when applying the second waveform voltage, a third constant voltage is applied to the first electrodes, and a fourth constant voltage lower than the third constant voltage is applied to the third electrodes.
US08344625B2
A plasma lamp apparatus that includes an improved bulb support assembly to increase the lumens per watt output of the apparatus. The bulb support assembly includes a support structure that forms a cavity for receiving the bulb. The bulb is supported within the cavity though a protrusion that extends out from the support structure in a curved manner. By created a curved protrusion, the electric field within the resonating structure of the lamp apparatus is lowered. Lowering the electric field leads to lower resonating frequencies of the resonating structure. In lowering the resonating frequency, the resonating structure is driven to resonate at lower power levels, thereby increasing the lumens per watt output of the lamp apparatus.
US08344610B2
This specification describes phosphor compositions used in fluorescent layers for scanning beam displays. In general, one aspect of the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in a display device having a fluorescent layer that absorbs an excitation light at a single wavelength and emits visible light. The fluorescent layer includes a plurality of parallel fluorescent stripes. At least three adjacent fluorescent stripes are made of three different fluorescent materials, which include a first fluorescent material that absorbs the excitation light and emits light of a first color, a second fluorescent material that absorbs the excitation light and emits light of a second color, and a third fluorescent material that absorbs the excitation light and emits light of a third color.
US08344602B2
A light emitting diode (LED) includes an LED chip, a casting, two metallic electrodes and a heat sink. The casting includes a first surface, a second surface and an outer peripheral side surface interconnecting the first and second surfaces. The casting defines a receiving space concaved inwardly from the first surface for receiving the LED chip therein. A through hole is defined in the casting and extends from the receiving space to the second surface. The metallic electrodes are separated from each other. Each metallic electrode includes a first terminal electrically connecting with the LED chip, and a second terminal disposed at the outer peripheral side surface of the casting. The heat sink is filled in the through hole and thermally contacts the LED chip. The heat sink is thermally and electrically insulated from the metallic electrodes by the casting.
US08344598B2
A small-sized piezoelectric power generation device is provided which can generate electric power even with vibrations at low frequencies. The piezoelectric power generation device includes a piezoelectric element formed in a spiral shape and having a center-side end fixed to a first fixing member and an outer-side end fixed to a second fixing member. The piezoelectric element includes a first piezoelectric body formed in a spiral shape and polarized in a radial direction of the piezoelectric element from one side toward the other side. The first and second fixing members are arranged such that the second fixing member is displaceable relative to the first fixing member in a tangential direction x, whereas the second fixing member is restricted from displacing relative to the first fixing member in a perpendicular direction y.
US08344595B2
An ultrasonic transducer is configured to transmit and receive ultrasonic waves. The ultrasonic transducer includes a vibrating member and a piezoelectric member coupled to the vibrating member. The piezoelectric member includes a first piezoelectric part configured and arranged to be deformed by applied voltage to vibrate the vibrating member or configured and arranged to be deformed by vibration of the vibrating member to produce a potential difference, and a second piezoelectric part configured and arranged to be deformed by applied voltage to statically deflect the vibrating member.
US08344590B2
An acoustic wave device includes a main resonator and a sub resonator each having a substrate, a lower electrode provided on the substrate, a piezoelectric film provided on the lower electrode, and an upper electrode provided on an upper side of the piezoelectric film. The sub resonator has a mass addition film on the upper electrode in a resonance area in which the upper electrode and the lower electrode face each other. At least one of the main resonator and the sub resonator is provided with a frequency control film on an upper side of the resonance area, and the frequency control film has a weight per unit area smaller than a weight of the mass addition film per unit area.
US08344586B2
An illustrative embodiment of a temperature-activated voltage generator includes a generator housing having a housing interior; a flexible, temperature-sensitive bimetallic element disposed in the housing interior; and a piezoelectric element carried by the generator housing. The bimetallic element is positional between a first position wherein the bimetallic element disengages the piezoelectric element and a second position wherein the bimetallic element engages the piezoelectric element. Electrical voltage output leads are electrically connected to the piezoelectric element. A voltage-generating method is also disclosed.
US08344578B1
A motor rotor has an outer casing, multiple silicon-steel sheets, multiple copper sheets and multiple copper bars. The silicon-steel sheets are stacked and mounted in the outer casing and each has multiple through holes formed through the silicon-steel sheet at intervals. The copper sheets are mounted in the through holes, extend out of the silicon-steel sheets and each has two side faces. Each side face of the copper sheet has a flat inner end and an outer end. The flat inner end of the side face of the copper sheet is flat to enable a distance between the outer ends of two adjacent copper sheets to be smaller than a distance between the flat inner ends of the adjacent copper sheets. The copper bars are inserted into the copper sheets from the flat inner ends to the outer ends of the side faces of the copper sheets.
US08344563B2
A rotating electrical machine includes a flange provided at one end of a substantially rectangular, hollow frame in an axial direction; a lid provided at the other end of the frame in the axial direction; a rotor including a shaft, the shaft being rotatably supported by the flange and the lid; a stator fixed to an inner section of the frame, the stator surrounding the rotor; and a plurality of fans provided on opposite side surfaces of the frame in a plan view of the frame as viewed in the axial direction.
US08344559B2
Improved power distribution architectures for the uniform delivery of single frequency RF power to plasma chambers are disclosed. The architectures include feeding into multiple points across a single large-area electrode, multiple electrodes driving a common plasma discharge as well as multiple coils driving a common plasma discharge. The time-averaged electromagnetic field distribution may be controlled using an array of generator and match (delivery) systems, one of which may be capable of absorbing net power and presenting controlled impedance to the plasma load. In variations, an M+N port network (with M the number of generators and N the number of feed points on the electrode) may be implemented to level the power required from each generator while maintaining a desired field strength distribution.
US08344556B2
Embodiments of the invention provide a foam proportioning system powered by a battery, with the system including a pump, a pump motor, and a solid state contactor. The solid state contactor includes a battery terminal connected to the battery, a load terminal connected to the pump motor, and an enable switch. The enable switch selectively connects the battery terminal and the load terminal in order to form a power line carrying a current from the battery to the pump motor. A state of the enable switch is based on the current being drawn through the power line by the pump motor. The enable switch is closed in order for the solid state contactor to provide power to the pump motor when the current through the power line is between about zero amps and about 80 amps.
US08344552B2
Optimizing a wireless power system by separately optimizing received power and efficiency. Either one or both of received power and/or efficiency can be optimized in a way that maintains the values to maximize transferred power.
US08344551B2
A 3-phase uninterruptible power supply (UPS) including first, second, and third AC/DC converters, a DC/DC converter, and at least one DC/AC converter coupled to multiple electrical buses. The first, second, and third AC/DC converters each being configured to receive AC power and to provide multiple DC signals to the multiple electrical buses. The DC/DC converter being configured to convert DC voltages present on the multiple electrical buses to a DC voltage that can be used to charge a battery. The DC/AC converter being configured to receive DC power from the multiple electrical buses and to provide an AC output. The 3-phase UPS being configured such that when suitable AC power is provided to the AC/DC converters, the DC/DC converter is configured to charge a battery, and when suitable AC power is not provided to the AC/DC converters, the DC/DC converter is configured to provide DC power to the multiple electrical buses using power provided by the battery.
US08344540B2
A wind and water power generator ship. A waterpower generation unit generates electricity using a difference between the ebb and the flow of the tides, and is provided with a buoyant body that produces buoyancy, which enables the waterpower generation unit to float on water. A center shaft is mounted on a base on an upper end of the waterpower generation unit, and is rotatably supported by a bearing. A wind power generation unit generates electricity using wind power, is provided on an upper end of the center shaft, and is rotatable depending on a direction of wind. The distance from a front end of the wind power generation unit to the center shaft is shorter than the distance from the center shaft to a rear end of the wind power generation unit.
US08344536B1
The sewer electrical generation apparatus provides a generator removably affixed to an existing sewer pipe with a communicating turbine disposed within the pipe. The turbine is turned by sewer flow to power the generator. The turbine blades are reversible so that the turbine is self-cleaning, an important design function, as sewage debris removal would otherwise require turbine removal.
US08344532B2
A wind turbine includes a rotor having adjustable rotor blades for driving a generator and an adjusting device for the rotor blades provided with an actuator that comprises at least an excitation winding. The adjusting device includes a torque-reducing device that automatically reduces drag torque of the actuator. The torque-reducing device includes a current divider that switches the current through the excitation winding in such a manner that the current flows completely through the excitation coil when the motor is in operation and the current only partly flows through the excitation coil when coasting (slip operation). As a result, when coasting, the magnetization of the excitation winding is reduced about the adjusting device, whereby the increase of the speed torque characteristic curve can be determined, thus improving the ratio of the adjusting device when coasting.
US08344517B2
An integrated circuit device includes first and second conductive structures spaced apart from one another on a substrate along a first direction. The first and second conductive structures extend in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction. A contact plug is interposed between the first and second conductive structures and is separated therefrom along the first direction by respective air gaps on opposite sides of the contact plug. The air gaps define first and second air spacers that electrically insulate the contact plug from the first and second conductive structures, respectively. An upper insulation layer covers the first and second air spacers and the first and second conductive structures. The air spacers may sufficiently reduce the loading capacitance between the conductive structures. Related fabrication methods are also discussed.
US08344514B2
A conductive via of a semiconductor device includes a relatively small diameter portion extending into an active surface of a fabrication substrate and a corresponding, relatively large diameter portion that extends into a back side of the fabrication substrate. This type of conductive via may be fabricated by forming the relatively small diameter portion before or during BEOL processing, while the large diameter portion of each conductive via may be fabricated after BEOL processing is complete. Electronic devices that include one or more semiconductor devices with such conductive vias are also disclosed.
US08344506B2
An integrated circuit device is disclosed. An exemplary integrated circuit device includes a first copper layer, a second copper layer, and an interface between the first and second copper layers. The interface includes a flat zone interface region and an intergrowth interface region, wherein the flat zone interface region is less than or equal to 50% of the interface.
US08344495B2
A method of manufacture of an integrated circuit packaging system includes: providing a substrate external layer having an opening; forming a convex interconnect within the opening with the convex interconnect having a protrusion and a horizontal flange substantially horizontally coplanar with the substrate external layer; forming an insulation layer over the substrate external layer and the convex interconnect; forming a horizontal conductive pathway on the insulation layer; forming a single interlayer conductive connector from the horizontal conductive pathway to the convex interconnect; and connecting an integrated circuit and the horizontal conductive pathway.
US08344493B2
A through substrate via (TSV) die includes a substrate including a topside semiconductor surface having active circuitry. The die includes a plurality of TSVs that each include an inner metal core that extend from the topside semiconductor surface to protruding TSV tips that extend out from the bottomside surface. A metal cap is on the protruding TSV tips that includes at least one metal layer that has a metal that is not in the inner metal core. A plurality of protruding warpage control features are on the bottomside surface lateral to the protruding TSV tips, wherein the plurality of protruding warpage control features do not have the protruding TSV tips thereunder. The plurality of protruding warpage control features can include the same metal layer(s) used for the metal cap.
US08344491B2
A multi-die building block for a stacked-die package is described. The multi-die building block includes a flex tape having a first surface and a second surface, each surface including a plurality of electrical traces. A first die is coupled, through a first plurality of interconnects, to the plurality of electrical traces of the first surface of the flex tape. A second die is coupled, through a second plurality of interconnects, to the plurality of electrical traces of the second surface of the flex tape.
US08344481B2
By providing a novel bipolar device design implementation, a standard CMOS process can be used unchanged to fabricate useful bipolar transistors and other bipolar devices having adjustable properties by partially blocking the P or N well doping used for the transistor base. This provides a hump-shaped base region with an adjustable base width, thereby achieving, for example, higher gain than can be obtained with the unmodified CMOS process alone. By further partially blocking the source/drain doping step used to form the emitter of the bipolar transistor, the emitter shape and effective base width can be further varied to provide additional control over the bipolar device properties. The embodiments thus include prescribed modifications to the masks associated with the bipolar device that are configured to obtain desired device properties. The CMOS process steps and flow are otherwise unaltered and no additional process steps are required.
US08344475B2
In a system having a memory device, an event is detected during system operation. The memory device is heated to reverse use-incurred degradation of the memory device in response to detecting the event. In another system, the memory device is heated to reverse use-incurred degradation concurrently with execution of a data access operation within another memory device of the system. In another system having a memory controller coupled to first and second memory devices, data is evacuated from the first memory device to the second memory device in response to determining that a maintenance operation is needed within the first memory device.
US08344459B2
The present invention enhances voltage conversion efficiency of a semiconductor device. In a non-isolated DC-DC converter that includes a high-side switch power MOSFET and a low-side switch power MOSFET, which are series-connected, the high-side switch power MOSFET and driver circuits for driving the high-side and low-side switch power MOSFETs are formed within one semiconductor chip, whereas the low-side switch power MOSFET is formed in another semiconductor chip. The two semiconductor chips are sealed in a single package.
US08344457B2
Channel regions continuous with transistor cells are disposed also below a gate pad electrode. The channel region below the gate pad electrode is fixed to a source potential. Thus, a predetermined reverse breakdown voltage between a drain and a source is secured without forming a p+ type impurity region below the entire lower surface of the gate pad electrode. Furthermore, a protection diode is formed in a conductive layer disposed at the outer periphery of an operation region.
US08344454B2
An object of the invention is to provide a semiconductor device having improved performance, high reliability, and a reduced chip size, in particular, to provide a semiconductor device having an MOSFET over an SOI substrate capable of maintaining its reliability while controlling the potential of a well below a gate electrode and preventing generation of parasitic capacitance. Generation of parasitic capacitance is prevented by controlling the potential of a well below a gate electrode by using a well contact plug passing through a hole portion formed in a gate electrode wiring. Generation of defects in a gate insulating film is prevented by making use of a gettering effect produced by causing an element isolation region to extend along the gate electrode.
US08344448B2
A semiconductor device having a semiconductor body comprising an active area and a termination structure surrounding the active area, and a method for the manufacture thereof. The invention particularly concerns a termination structure for such devices having trenched electrodes in the active area. The termination structure comprises a plurality of lateral trench-gate transistor devices connected in series and extending from the active area towards a peripheral edge of the semiconductor body. The lateral devices are arranged such that a voltage difference between the active area and the peripheral edge is distributed across the lateral devices. The termination structure is compact and features of the structure are susceptible for formation in the same process steps as features of the active area.
US08344447B2
A composite semiconductor structure and method of forming the same are provided. The composite semiconductor structure includes a first silicon-containing compound layer comprising an element selected from the group consisting essentially of germanium and carbon; a silicon layer on the first silicon-containing compound layer, wherein the silicon layer comprises substantially pure silicon; and a second silicon-containing compound layer comprising the element on the silicon layer. The first and the second silicon-containing compound layers have substantially lower silicon concentrations than the silicon layer. The composite semiconductor structure may be formed as source/drain regions of metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) devices.
US08344437B2
A semiconductor memory device includes a semiconductor substrate, a semiconductor pillar extending from the semiconductor substrate, the semiconductor pillar comprising a first region, a second region, and a third region, the second region positioned between the first region and the third region, the third region positioned between the second region and the semiconductor substrate, immediately adjacent regions having different conductivity types, a first gate pattern disposed on the second region with a first insulating layer therebetween, and a second gate pattern disposed on the third region, wherein the second region is ohmically connected to the substrate by the second gate pattern.
US08344434B2
The present invention provides a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, including the steps of: forming a first ferroelectric film on a first conductive film by a film-forming method including at least a step of forming a film by a sol-gel method; forming a second ferroelectric film on the first ferroelectric film by a sputtering method; forming a second conductive film on the second ferroelectric film; and forming a capacitor provided with a lower electrode, a capacitor dielectric film and an upper electrode by patterning the first conductive film, the first and second ferroelectric films and the second conductive film.
US08344429B2
Embodiments of the invention describe compact memory arrays. In one embodiment, the memory cell array includes first, second, and third gate lines disposed over a substrate, the second gate lines are disposed between the first and the third gate lines. The first, the second, and the third gate lines form adjacent gate lines of the memory cell array. The memory cell array further includes first metal lines disposed over the first gate lines, the first metal lines coupled to the first gate lines; second metal lines disposed over the second gate lines, the second metal lines coupled to the second gate lines; and third metal lines disposed over the third gate lines, the third metal lines coupled to the third gate lines. The first metal lines, the second metal lines and the third metal lines are disposed in different metallization levels.
US08344427B2
The chip area of a semiconductor device having a plurality of standard cells is to be made smaller. A semiconductor device includes first and second standard cells. The first standard cell includes a diffusion region, a functional device region opposed to the diffusion region, and a metal layer. The second standard cell includes another diffusion region continuous with the diffusion region, another functional device region opposed to the other diffusion region, and further another diffusion region formed between the other diffusion region and the other functional device region. The metal layer and the other functional device region are coupled together electrically through the diffusion regions.
US08344424B2
Enhancement mode III-nitride devices are described. The 2DEG is depleted in the gate region so that the device is unable to conduct current when no bias is applied at the gate. Both gallium face and nitride face devices formed as enhancement mode devices.
US08344411B2
A light emitting diode package includes a mount, a plurality of LED chips, and a first and a second sealants made of different materials. The mount has an accommodation space and at least one partition member to divide the accommodation space into a plurality of separate cavities. The LED chips are placed in the cavities, and emitting beams of the LED chips exiting through the cavities include a first emission with a first wavelength band and a second emission with a second wavelength band, and the second wavelength band is different to the first one. The first and the second sealants are respectively used for sealing at least one of the LED chips placed in at least one of the cavities through which the first or the second emission exits. The first and the second sealants are separate from each other by the partition member.
US08344410B2
Discrete flexible pixel elements are hermetically sealed from the environment and comprise unitary, self-contained replaceable modules which enable efficient, economical production of large scale, free-form electronic displays, signs and lighting effects for outdoor use. The method and means for producing hermetically sealed discrete flexible pixel elements include encapsulation means, exterior casement means, and cable connector means.
US08344404B2
To provide a wavelength conversion member having good surface accuracy and dimensional accuracy even when processed in various shapes, and a method for manufacturing the same. A method for manufacturing a wavelength conversion member, including the steps of: subjecting a preform made of a powder mixture containing a glass powder and an inorganic phosphor powder to heat treatment, thereby obtaining a sintered powder product; and re-press molding the sintered powder product with a die.
US08344402B2
A semiconductor light emitting device including a substrate, an electrode and a light emitting region is provided. The substrate may have protruding portions formed in a repeating pattern on substantially an entire surface of the substrate while the rest of the surface may be substantially flat. The cross sections of the protruding portions taken along planes orthogonal to the surface of the substrate may be semi-circular in shape. The cross sections of the protruding portions may in alternative be convex in shape. A buffer layer and a GaN layer may be formed on the substrate.
US08344400B2
Embodiments relate to a light emitting device package. The light emitting device package comprises: a body comprising a multilayer cavity; a light emitting device in the cavity; a first phosphor layer sealing the light emitting device and comprising a first phosphor; and a second phosphor layer comprising a second phosphor on the first phosphor layer, the second phosphor and the first phosphor having a difference in the specific gravity.
US08344399B2
There is provided an LED package including: a body unit; an LED chip mounted onto the body unit; lead frames mounted onto the body unit and electrically connected to the LED chip; and a reflection unit having a cavity to receive the LED chip therein and reflecting light emitted from the LED chip to the outside. Here, the reflection unit has a curved cross-section.
US08344398B2
A method of making a diode begins by depositing an AlxGa1-xN nucleation layer on a SiC substrate, then depositing an n+ GaN buffer layer, an n− GaN layer, an AlxGa1-xN barrier layer, and an SiO2 dielectric layer. A portion of the dielectric layer is removed and a Schottky metal deposited in the void. The dielectric layer is affixed to the support layer with a metal bonding layer using an Au—Sn utectic wafer bonding process, the substrate is removed using reactive ion etching to expose the n+ layer, selected portions of the n+, n−, and barrier layers are removed to form a mesa diode structure on the dielectric layer over the Schottky metal, and an ohmic contact is deposited on the n+ layer.
US08344397B2
Solid state light sheet having wide support substrate and narrow strips enclosing LED dies in series
A solid state light sheet and method of fabricating the sheet are disclosed. In one embodiment, bare LED chips have top and bottom electrodes, where the bottom electrode is a large reflective electrode. The bottom electrodes of an array of LEDs (e.g., 500 LEDs) are bonded to an array of electrodes formed on a flexible bottom substrate. Conductive traces are formed on the bottom substrate connected to the electrodes. A transparent top substrate is then formed over the bottom substrate. Various ways to connect the LEDs in series are described along with many embodiments. In one method, the top substrate contains a conductor pattern that connects to LED electrodes and conductors on the bottom substrate.
US08344395B2
A method for manufacturing a light-emitting diode includes the steps of: growing a light-emitting diode structure-forming semiconductor layer of a compound semiconductor having a zincblende crystal structure on a first substrate formed of a compound semiconductor having a zincblende crystal structure and that has a principal surface tilted in a [110] direction with respect to a (001) plane; bonding the first substrate to a second substrate on the side of the semiconductor layer; removing the first substrate so as to expose the semiconductor layer; forming an etching mask on the exposed surface of the semiconductor layer in a rectangular planar shape so that a longer side extends in a [110] or [−1-10] direction, and that a shorter side extends in a [−110] or [1-10] direction; and patterning the semiconductor layer by wet etching using the etching mask.
US08344391B2
An integrated circuit including a substrate of a semiconductor material and first metal portions of a first metallization level or of a first via level defining pixels of an image. The pixels are distributed in first pixels, for each of which the first metal portion is connected to the substrate, and in second pixels, for each of which the first metal portion is separated from the substrate by at least one insulating portion.
US08344383B2
An active matrix substrate includes: a plurality of pixel electrodes arranged in a matrix pattern and each forming a pixel; a plurality of gate lines each provided between the corresponding pixel electrodes and extending in parallel with each other; a plurality of first source lines each provided between the corresponding pixel electrodes and extending in a direction crossing an extending direction of the gate lines; a plurality of TFTs provided corresponding to the respective pixel electrodes and connected to the respective pixel electrodes, the respective gate lines, and the respective first source lines; a plurality of capacitor lines each provided between the corresponding gate lines and extending in parallel with each other; and a plurality of second source lines each provided between the corresponding pixel electrodes and extending in parallel with the first source lines.
US08344381B2
A UV sensor comprises a silicon-rich dielectric layer with a refractive index in a range of about 1.7 to about 2.5 for serving as the light sensing material of the UV sensor. The fabrication method of the UV sensor can be integrated with the fabrication process of semiconductor devices or flat display panels.
US08344379B2
A plurality of wires and electrodes are formed by forming a first conductive film, selectively forming a resist over the first conductive film, forming a second conductive film over the first conductive film and the resist, removing the second conductive film formed over the resist by removing the resist, forming a third conductive film so as to cover the second conductive film formed over the first conductive film, and selectively etching the first conductive film and the third conductive film. Thus, wires using a low resistance material can be formed in a large-sized panel, and thus, a problem of signal delay can be solved.
US08344377B2
Optical filter functionality is incorporated into a substrate of a display element thereby decreasing the need for a separate thin film filter and, accordingly, reducing a total thickness of a filtered display element. Filter functionality may be provided by any filter material, such as pigment materials, photoluminescent materials, and opaque material, for example. The filter material may be incorporated in the substrate at the time of creating the substrate or may be selectively diffused in the substrate through a process of masking the substrate, exposing the substrate to the filter material, and heating the substrate in order to diffuse the filter material in the substrate.
US08344373B2
To achieve, in an oxide semiconductor thin layer transistor, both the stability of threshold voltage against electric stress and suppression of variation in the threshold voltage in a transfer characteristic. A thin film transistor includes an oxide semiconductor layer and a gate insulating layer disposed so as to be in contact with the oxide semiconductor layer, wherein the oxide semiconductor layer contains hydrogen atoms and includes at least two regions that function as active layers of the oxide semiconductor and have different average hydrogen concentrations in the layer thickness direction; and when the regions functioning as the active layers of the oxide semiconductor are sequentially defined as, from the side of the gate insulating layer, a first region and a second region, the average hydrogen concentration of the first region is lower than the average hydrogen concentration of the second region.
