US08494426B2
In a fixing device, the surface of the recording paper carrying belt passes through a position satisfying a relation: f
US08494424B2
A fixing device for thermally fixing a developing agent image to a sheet fed in a sheet feeding direction includes: a tubular flexible member; a nip member; a heater; a reflection member; a backup member; and a temperature sensor. The tubular flexible member has an inner peripheral surface defining an internal space. The nip member is disposed in the internal space and has one surface and opposite surface. The inner peripheral surface is in contact with the one surface. The heater is disposed in the internal space and confronts the nip member in a confronting direction. The reflection member is configured to reflect a radiant heat from the heater toward the nip member. The backup member is configured to provide a nip region in cooperation with the nip member for nipping the tubular flexible member between the backup member and the nip member. The temperature sensor is disposed in the internal space and is configured to detect a temperature of the nip member. The temperature sensor is positioned outside of the reflection member and in confrontation with the opposite surface.
US08494420B2
A development agent supply device is provided, which includes a development agent holding member configured to rotate around an axis parallel to a first direction such that a development agent holding surface, which faces an intended device to be supplied with development agent in a first position, moves in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, a transfer board configured to charge and transfer development agent thereon to a second position to face the development agent holding surface, and a facing member disposed to face the development agent holding surface in a position between the first position and the second position in the second direction, the facing member being configured to charge development agent held on the development agent holding surface under an alternating electric field generated between the facing member and the development agent holding member.
US08494412B2
Systems and a method for image forming systems to skip over the non-printing photoreceptor area in order to not skip a label position on a continuous print web medium. A vacuum assembly is coupled to a controller that controls different vacuum pressures at each vacuum roller therein. The vacuum rollers provide drag and drive forces to skip a seam of the photoreceptor and a residual length based on the number and size of images on the photoreceptor.
US08494393B2
An information processing apparatus includes: a display unit that displays a screen including at least one operation target item constituting a target of an operation; a recording unit that records pieces of information depicting operations performed by a user on operation target items displayed on the display unit as pieces of operation history information; and a screen reproducing unit that reproduces screens displayed at points in time at which the respective operations were performed on the basis of the pieces of operation history information recoded in the recording unit.
US08494392B2
An image forming system including first and second image forming apparatuses that includes a first image forming unit configured to form an image on a first surface of recording paper, a discharging unit configured to discharge the recording paper on which the image is formed by the first image forming unit to the second image forming apparatus, a second image forming unit configured to form an image on a second surface of the recording paper discharged by the discharging unit from the first image forming apparatus, and a correction unit configured to correct adjustment timing of the image forming system as a whole so that first adjustment timing for performing an adjustment operation of an output image formed by the first image forming unit and second adjustment timing for performing an adjustment operation of an output image formed by the second image forming unit accord with each other.
US08494389B2
A fixing apparatus that conveys a printing medium to a fixing nip portion formed by rotating members, and fixes an image onto the printing medium by heat from heating elements. The fixing apparatus also includes a safety element, a rotation detection circuit, and a limiting circuit. The safety element is in a power supply path to supply electrical power to the heating elements and to shut off the path in response with an abnormal temperature. The rotation detection circuit detects a rotation state of the rotating members. The limiting circuit limits a drive of a second driving circuit per a rotation detection circuit output. A first driving circuit detects that the circuit drives a first heating element per a control signal, regardless of the rotating members rotation state, and the second driving circuit drives a second heating element per a control signal and the output from the rotation detection circuit.
US08494388B2
Provided is an image forming apparatus, including: a heating section; a coil that is opposed to the heating section, for heating the heating section; a core that has a circumferential surface covered with a magnetic shielding plate having different lengths in an axis direction in a plurality of steps according to a position in a circumferential direction; a rotary section for causing the core to rotate; a plurality of temperature sensing elements for sensing temperatures of the heating section; and a control section for controlling a heating width by controlling the rotary section to control a rotation angle of the core, setting the heating width corresponding to a size of a paper sheet at a start of a print job, and setting the heating width wider than at the start of the print job midway through the print job.
US08494384B2
An image forming apparatus includes a forming section that forms an image on a side of paper; a fixing section that applies heat to fix the image onto the side of the paper; a paper reversing section that reverses a front and back of the paper having the image fixed onto a first side in the fixing section; a first measuring section that is provided between a registration roller and the forming section to measure a first moisture content of the paper before an image is formed on the first side, and a second moisture content of the paper before an image is formed on a second side, after the image is fixed on the first side; and a calculating section that calculates amount of change of the size of the paper on the basis of the difference between the first moisture content and the second moisture content.
US08494380B2
A developer storage unit includes first and second rotary members. The first rotary member includes: first contacting portion capable of contacting with the second rotary member, first non-contacting portion not in contact with the second rotary member, and first stopper portion offset from the first contacting portion in an axial direction of the first rotary member. The second rotary member includes: second contacting portion capable of contacting with the first rotary member, second non-contacting portion not in contact with the first rotary member, second stopper portion offset from the second contacting portion in an axial direction of the second rotary member, and detected portion detected by detector. The second stopper portion comes into contact with the first stopper portion when the detected portion is moved from used product detecting position to new product detecting position while the first non-contacting portion is positioned to face the second rotary member.
US08494372B2
The invention pertains to optical fiber transmission systems, and is particularly relevant to transmission of large volumes of data over long distances at high rates. An improved method and system for transmitting optical data over long distances using filtered return-to-zero (RZ) modulation format is disclosed. In particular, the improvement teaches the proper optical and electrical filtering of the optical signal at the receiver module.
US08494370B2
Embodiments of the invention include systems and method for determining the location of components in a data center. In one embodiment, a component locating system includes a lattice formed of interconnected hubs and rods. Each hub in the lattice computes its address relative to the address of a reference location, such as the location of an adjacent hub or of an origin hub defining the origin of a reference coordinate system. A plurality of optical transmitters is distributed along the lattice to transmit location information. Optical receivers mounted on top of the racks receive the location information and communicate the location information to rack-mounted components. The racks and rack-mounted components determine their locations from the location information and optionally transmit the location information to a central management server.
US08494362B2
A network comprising at least one host device having an interface card connected to a backplane of said host device, wherein said interface card comprises at least one cage for receiving a pluggable module wherein the pluggable module comprises Time Division Multiplexing (TDM) between an optical network interface and an electrical host interface.
US08494343B2
Various embodiments of apparatus and/or methods are described for presenting text data (e.g., closed captioning data) during trick play mode presentation of a video stream. An analyzed file of the text data is provided on a digital video recorder (DVR), and during trick play mode, text data corresponding to video frames of a video stream is retrieved from the analyzed file and outputted for presentation by the presentation device.
US08494339B2
A method of generating a file at a header metadata creator apparatus, the method including: generating, at the header metadata creator apparatus, a file, the file including: a file header, a file body, and a file footer, wherein the file header includes at least KLV encoded header metadata, the KLV encoded header metadata including at least a universal label, length data and variable length data, the variable length data including a plurality of KLV encoded metadata sets, each one of the KLV encoded metadata sets includes a predetermined universal label, essence length data and a plurality of KLV encoded metadata items, and each KLV encoded metadata item includes at least an item universal label, variable item length data and item value data.
US08494332B2
A tray assembly for a fiber optic enclosure includes a mounting bracket having a first bracket, a second bracket and a divider panel. The first bracket is configured for mounting to a fiber optic enclosure. The first bracket defines a pivot axis. The second bracket is engaged to the first bracket and is adapted to pivot about the pivot axis between a closed position and an open position. The divider panel is engaged to the first bracket and is adapted to pivot about the pivot axis between a closed position and an open position. The tray assembly further includes a first set of trays engaged to the second bracket and a second set of trays engaged to the divider panel. The divider panel is disposed between the first and second sets of trays.
US08494324B2
A wire or optical fiber cable configured for electronic devices, including at least one wire or optical fiber; at least one inner layer surrounding a portion of the at least one wire or optical fiber; at least one outer layer surrounding a portion of the at least one inner layer; and at least one internal sipe separating at least a part of one outer layer and at least a part of one inner layer. The internal sipe is formed by at least a portion of an inner surface of the outer layer and at least a portion of an outer surface of the inner layer; and the inner and outer surface portions forming the internal sipe oppose each other and can move relative to each other in a sliding motion.
US08494320B2
An optical device includes: an optical waveguide; and a plurality of diffraction grating layers, provided along the optical waveguide, each including a diffraction grating defined by a discontinuous first semiconductor layer and a second semiconductor layer having a refractive index different from a refractive index of the first semiconductor layer and burying the first semiconductor layer, one diffraction grating layer of the plurality of diffraction grating layers including a third semiconductor layer being continuous with the diffraction grating and made from a material different from materials of the first and the second semiconductor layers.
US08494311B1
Optical waveguides can extend alongside one another in sufficient proximity such that light couples between or among them as crosstalk. The electromagnetic field associated with light flowing in one optical waveguide can extend to an adjacent optical waveguide and induce unwanted light flow. The optical waveguide receiving the crosstalk can comprise a phase shifting capability, such as a longitudinal variation in refractive index, situated between two waveguide lengths. Crosstalk coupled onto the first waveguide length can flow through the refractive index variation, be phase shifted, and then flow onto the second waveguide length. The phase shifted crosstalk flowing on the second waveguide can meet other crosstalk that has coupled directly onto the second waveguide segment. The phase difference between the two crosstalks can suppress crosstalk via destructive interference. Destructive interference can also result from disposing a phase shifting provision in a crosstalk coupling path located between two optical waveguides.
US08494299B2
A digital image acquisition system includes a portable apparatus for capturing digital images and a digital processing component for detecting, analyzing and informing the photographer regarding motion blur, and for reducing camera motion blur in an image captured by the apparatus. The digital processing component operates by comparing the image with at least one other image, for example a preview image, of nominally the same scene taken outside the exposure period of the main image. In one embodiment the digital processing component identifies at least one feature in a single preview image which is relatively less blurred than the corresponding feature in the main image, calculates a point spread function (PSF) in respect of such feature, and de-convolves the main image using the PSF. In another embodiment, the digital processing component calculates a trajectory of at least one feature in a plurality of preview images, extrapolates such feature on to the main image, calculates a PSF in respect of the feature, and de-convolves the main image using the PSF. In another embodiment the digital processing unit after determining the degree of blur notifies the photographer of the existing blur or automatically invokes consecutive captures.
US08494285B2
Systems, methods, and apparatus are described that that increase computer vision analysis in the field of semantic segmentation. With images accompanied by scan data, both two-dimensional and three-dimensional image information is employed for joint segmentation. Through the established correspondence between image data and scan data, two-dimensional and three-dimensional information respectively associated therewith is integrated. Using trained random forest classifiers, the probability of each pixel in images belonging to different object classes is predicted. With the predicted probability, optimization of the labeling of images and scan data is performed by integrating multiples cues in the markov random field.
US08494283B2
Methods and systems for image quality assessment are disclosed. A method includes accessing an image, identifying features of the image, assessing the features and generating subjective scores for the features based upon a mapping of the features to the subjective scores and based on the subjective scores, generating an image quality score. Access is provided to the image quality score.
US08494282B2
A method and apparatus for removing blur in an image is disclosed. The blur in the image is caused by relative motion between the imaging device and the object being imaged. A set of differences between the pixel values in the image is calculated. The set of differences in pixel values are divided into two groups, wherein the first group of differences in pixel values corresponds to differences in pixel values due to noise, and the second group of differences in pixel values corresponds to differences in pixel values due to noise and motion. An estimate of the motion blur is determined using the second group of differences in pixel values. The estimate of the blur is then used to remove the blur from an image.
US08494280B2
An automated method for extracting highlighted regions in a scanned text documents includes color masking of highlight regions, extracting text from highlighted regions, recognizing the characters in extracted text optically and inserting the recognized characters to new document in order to easily identify highlighted text in scanned images. Using a two-layer multi-mask compression technology configured in a scanned export image path, edges and text regions can be extracted and together with the use of mask coordinates and associated mask colors, all highlighted texts can be easily identified and extracted. Optical Character Recognition (OCR) can then be utilized to appropriate summarization of different extracted highlighted texts.
US08494278B2
A method and computer program product for recognizing handwriting. A handwritten character is captured as an image of black pixels and white pixels. The image is partitioned into segments, each of which having a pixel ratio of a total number of black pixels in the segment to a total number of black pixels in the image. A reference character has segments corresponding to the image segments. Each reference character segment has a value range of a pixel ratio of a total number of black pixels in the segment of the reference character to a total number of black pixels in the reference character. It is ascertained that the pixel ratio of more than a predetermined number of segments in the image are within the value range of the pixel ratio of the corresponding segments of the reference character, from which, the handwritten character is recognized as the reference character.
US08494277B2
A system for recognizing handwriting. A handwritten character is captured as an image of black pixels and white pixels. The image is partitioned into segments, each of which having a pixel ratio of a total number of black pixels in the segment to a total number of black pixels in the image. A reference character has segments corresponding to the image segments. Each reference character segment has a value range of a pixel ratio of a total number of black pixels in the segment of the reference character to a total number of black pixels in the reference character. It is ascertained that the pixel ratio of more than a predetermined number of segments in the image are within the value range of the pixel ratio of the corresponding segments of the reference character, from which, the handwritten character is recognized as the reference character.
US08494273B2
A computer implemented method for adaptive optical character recognition on a document with distorted characters includes performing a distortion-correction transformation on a segmented character of the document assuming the segmented character to be a candidate character. The method further includes comparing the transformed segmented character to the candidate character by calculating a comparison score. If the calculated score is within a predetermined range, the segmented character is identified with the candidate character. The method may be implemented in either of computer hardware configured to perform the method, or in computer software embodied in a non-transitory, tangible, computer-readable storage medium. Also disclosed are corresponding computer program product and data processing system.
US08494272B2
An image processing device including: an image acceptance unit accepting a first image and a second image; a perimeter measurement unit measuring a perimeter of an object image within the first image or an object image within the second image; an area measurement unit measuring an area of the object image within the first image or the object image within the second image; a first reference area generation unit generating a first reference area based on the perimeter and area measured; a datum point extraction unit extracting datum points from the first image and the second image; and a first match judgment unit making the datum points coincide with each other, and judging whether or not the object image within the first image and the object image within the second image are matched, based on densities of the first and second image within the first reference area.
US08494260B2
An image processing device includes: a coordinate conversion unit (142) which calculates a corresponding sampling coordinate on a color mosaic image corresponding to a pixel position of a color image when a deformation process is performed, according to the pixel position of the color image; a sampling unit (143); a sampling unit (143) which interpolates-generates a pixel value in a sampling coordinate for each of color planes obtained by decomposing the color mosaic image; and a color generation unit (144) which generates a color image by synthesizing interpolation values of the respective color planes. Each pixel value of a color image subjected to a deformation process is obtained as a pixel value of the sampling coordinate from the color mosaic image by interpolation calculation, thereby realizing the color interpolation process for generating a color image from the color mosaic image and a deformation process of the color image by one interpolation calculation.
US08494259B2
A computer vision system provides a universal scene descriptor (USD) framework and methodology for using the USD framework to extract multi-level semantic metadata from scenes. The computer vision system adopts the human vision system principles of saliency, hierarchical feature extraction and hierarchical classification to systematically extract scene information at multiple semantic levels.
US08494258B2
A learning apparatus includes an image generator, a feature point extractor, a feature value calculator, and a classifier generator. The image generator generates, from an input image, images having differing scale coefficients. The feature point extractor extracts feature points from each image generated by the image generator. The feature value calculator calculates feature values for the feature points by filtering the feature points using a predetermined filter. The classifier generator generates one or more classifiers for detecting a predetermined target object from an image by means of statistical learning using the feature values.
US08494256B2
The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and method, a learning apparatus and method, and a program which allow reliable evaluation of whether or not the subject appears sharp.A subject extraction unit 21 uses an input image to generate a subject map representing a region including the subject in the input image, and supplies the subject map to a determination unit 22. The determination unit 22 uses the input image and the subject map from the subject extraction unit 21 to determine the blur extent of the region of the subject on the input image, and calculates the score of the input image on the basis of the blur extent. This score is regarded as an index for evaluating the degree to which the subject appears sharp in the input image. The present invention can be applied to an image capture apparatus.
US08494255B2
A system and method are described for selecting and identifying a unique object or feature in the system user's three-dimensional (“3-D”) environment in a two-dimensional (“2-D”) virtual representation of the same object or feature in a virtual environment. The system and method may be incorporated in a mobile device that includes position and orientation sensors to determine the pointing device's position and pointing direction. The mobile device incorporating the present invention may be adapted for wireless communication with a computer-based system that represents static and dynamic objects and features that exist or are present in the system user's 3-D environment. The mobile device incorporating the present invention will also have the capability to process information regarding a system user's environment and calculating specific measures for pointing accuracy and reliability.
US08494249B2
A paper sheet recognition apparatus recognizes a type of a paper sheet in an input image by matching the input image of the paper sheet with reference images of a plurality of paper sheets. The apparatus includes a candidate selecting unit that selects a predetermined number of candidate types of the paper sheet based on a density feature and direction features of each block acquired by uniformly dividing the input image and the reference images; and a detailed judgment unit that adaptively divides the input image into blocks according to features of a reference image corresponding to each type of paper sheets selected by the candidate selecting unit, and performs a detailed judgment based on matching values between corresponding blocks of the divided input image and each of the reference images.
US08494247B2
A radiographic imaging apparatus performs imaging based on an examination order including a plurality of imaging protocols, executes image processing for the captured image based on the imaging protocol used at the time of the imaging, designates a change source imaging protocol and a change destination imaging protocol from the examination order based on an instruction of an operator, and changes the imaging protocol corresponding to the image captured based on the change source imaging protocol from the change source imaging protocol to the change destination imaging protocol. When the change of protocol is made, the apparatus executes image processing based on the change destination imaging protocol for the image before the image processing which is captured based on the change source imaging protocol.
US08494246B2
A navigation system for use in a luminal network of a patient, such as the airways, that is able to analyze a three-dimensional model of the luminal network and automatically determine a pathway from an entry point to a designated target. The system further automatically assigns waypoints along the determined pathway in order to assist a physician in navigating a probe to the designated target.
US08494244B2
A system and method for dual energy CT spectral imaging that provides for accurate blood vessel stenosis visualization and quantification is disclosed. The CT system includes an x-ray source configured to project x-rays toward a region-of-interest of a patient that includes a blood vessel in a stenosed condition and having a plaque material therein. The CT system also includes an x-ray detector to receive x-rays emitted by the x-ray source and attenuated by the region-of-interest, a data acquisition system (DAS) operably connected to the x-ray detector, and a computer programmed to obtain a first set of CT image data for the region-of-interest at a first chromatic energy level, obtain a second set of CT image data for the region-of-interest at a second chromatic energy level that is higher than the first chromatic energy level, and identify plaque material in the region-of-interest by analyzing the second set of CT image data.
US08494239B2
A second order partial derivative matrix and at least one first order partial derivative value of a pixel value at each pixel position in an image are calculated. Based on values of the calculated second order partial derivative matrix, an evaluation value of a likelihood of being a line-like structure and/or an evaluation value of a likelihood of being a plate-like structure for the pixel position are calculated, such that the larger the first order partial derivative value, the smaller the evaluation values.
US08494229B2
An eye tracker device (200) comprises a diffractive beam expander (207) to provide two substantially collimated illuminating light beams (B11, B12). The collimated light beams (B11, B12) provide two reflection spots (G1, G2) appearing in the image of the eye. The gaze direction (GZD) is calculated from the positions of the reflection spots (G1, G2) with respect to the pupil (P) of the eye (E1). The two illuminating beams (B11, B12) are provided by splitting an infrared laser beam (B4) into two in-coupled beams (B5, B6), which propagate in different directions in the substrate (7) of the beams expander. The in-coupled beams (B5, B6) are expanded and their light is subsequently coupled out of the substrate (7) by an out-coupling grating (230) to illuminate the eye (E1). The same substrate (7) may also be used to implement a virtual display device (100) for displaying virtual images to said eye (E1).
US08494228B2
In a personal authentication method using the subcutaneous bloodstream measurement where an expanded laser beam is irradiated onto a finger pad, light reflected from a subcutaneous blood vessel layer is imaged on an image sensor as a laser speckle using an optical system, a quantity that represents the rate of change with respect to time of the amount of light received for each pixel of the laser speckle is calculated, the values are used as a two-dimensional map to obtain a map showing the bloodstream of the finger pad, and the bloodstream map is comparison-checked against pre-registered data of individuals, the laser speckle is imaged on the image sensor using a region separate from a region irradiated by the laser beam as an observation region of the image sensor. A device for use in the method is also provided. Relating to a method and device for authentication using, e.g., a finger print pattern on the basis of the laser speckle, an improved technique capable of extracting, e.g., the finger print pattern accurately is provided.
US08494216B2
An image processing device includes a tracking unit to track a predetermined point on an image as a tracking point, to correspond with a first operation. The image processing device also includes a display control unit to display tracking point candidates, which are greater in number than objects on the image and fewer than the number of pixels of the image, on the image, at an equidistant spacing. Further the image processing device includes a setting unit to set one of the tracking point candidates as a tracking point on a next frame of the tracking unit, in response to an instruction of the one of the tracking point candidates during a display of the tracking point candidates at the equidistant spacing.
US08494215B2
The claimed subject matter relates to an architecture that can employ vision-monitoring techniques to enhance an experience associated with elements of a local environment. In particular, the architecture can establish gaze- or eye-tracking attributes in connection with a user. In addition, a location and a head or face-based perspective of the user can also be obtained. By aggregating this information, the architecture can identify a current field of view of the user, and then map that field of view to a modeled view in connection with a geospatial model of the environment. In addition, the architecture can select additional content that relates to an entity in the view or a modeled entity in the modeled view, and further present the additional content to the user.
US08494208B2
An inertial vibration exciter having a magnet assembly defining an annular gap, a coil assembly disposed in the annular gap, suspension means mounting the coil assembly for reciprocating movement in the gap, means coupling the coil assembly to a member to be vibrated, and a hermetically sealed housing in which the magnet assembly, the coil assembly, the suspension means and the coupling means are disposed. The housing may comprise a heat sink thermally coupled to the magnet assembly and the heat sink may be resiliently coupled to the housing. The coupling means may comprise a plate-like member to which the coil is rigidly attached and of a size substantially greater than the diameter of the coil. The plate-like member may be resiliently coupled to the housing. Mounting means such as a pressure-sensitive adhesive member may be positioned centrally on the plate-like coupling means and adapted to mount the inertial vibration exciter to the member to be vibrated, the mounting means being of a substantially smaller size than the coupling means to leave the periphery of the coupling means free to move.
US08494207B2
Improved approaches for providing a speaker within a housing of a portable electronic device are disclosed. The housing of the portable electronic device can be compact, such as a low profile housing. In one embodiment, an acoustic chamber for a speaker can be formed internal to a housing for a portable electronic device using non-dedicated space. In another embodiment, irregular surfaces can be sealed so that an acoustic chamber for a speaker can be formed internal to a housing for a portable electronic device.
US08494204B2
An audio device includes a microphone, a sound canal allowing sound to pass from the surroundings to the microphone, a signal path from the microphone to a receiver, and a current source, such that sounds received at the microphone may be enhanced and presented at the ear level of the user. A protection screen is provided at the sound canal, and includes a first surface which faces the surroundings and a second surface which faces the sound canal, and defines a slit-formed opening between the first surface and the second surface. The curvature between the first surface and the slit-formed opening is smooth and gradual, and a sharp edge is located at the transition between the second surface and the slit-formed opening.
US08494199B2
A hearing aid includes an input transducer for provision of an input signal, a high pass filter configured for providing a high pass filtered part of the input signal, a low pass filter configured for providing a low pass filtered part of the input signal, a synthesizing unit configured for generating a synthetic signal from the high pass filtered part using a model based on a periodic function, wherein a phase of the synthetic signal is at least in part randomized, a combiner configured for combining the low pass filtered part with the synthetic signal for provision of a combined signal, a hearing loss processor configured for processing the combined signal for provision of a processed signal, and a receiver coupled to the hearing loss processor, wherein the receiver is configured for converting an audio output signal into an output sound signal.
US08494186B2
Provided are a sound plate and an electronic device employing the same. The sound plate includes at least one speaker unit disposed within a plate that is configured as a stand of the electronic device. Sound output by the at least one speaker is emitted through at least slit provided in a side surface of the plate.
US08494182B2
The invention relates to a compressor and method for amplifying an input signal with a controlled gain. An output signal representing the input signal is amplified by an initial gain and a signal level of the input signal or of the output signal is compared with a threshold level. If the signal level is below the threshold level, the initial gain value is updated using an adaptive control characteristic, and if the signal level is above the threshold level, the initial gain value is updated using a fixed control characteristic or an adaptive control characteristic respectively. The adaptive control characteristic is dependent on the signal level and the fixed control characteristic is independent from the signal level.
US08494180B2
Systems and methods provided herein decrease an idle channel noise floor and reduce power during an idle channel input for low power audio devices that include a digital pulse width modulation (PWM) amplifier having a noise shaper. An audio data signal is monitored for an idle channel condition. The noise shaper performs quantization of the audio data signal and uses noise shaper filter coefficients to shape noise resulting from the quantization. Predetermined values for the noise shaper filter coefficients are used to shape the noise resulting from quantization while the idle channel condition is not being detected. The values of the noise shaper filter coefficients are reduced so that the values move toward zeros, and the reduced values of the noise shaper filter coefficients are used to attenuate noise resulting from quantization, while the idle channel condition is being detected. The noise shaper filter coefficients are returned to the predetermined values when the idle channel condition is no longer detected. Alternative embodiments are also provided.
US08494179B2
A noise reduction system includes multiple transducers that generate time domain signals. A transforming device transforms the time domain signals into frequency domain signals. A signal mixing device mixes the frequency domain signals according to a mixing ratio. Frequency domain signals are rotated in phase to generate phase rotated signals. A post-processing device attenuates portions of the output based on coherency levels of the signals.
US08494177B2
A dual omnidirectional microphone array noise suppression is described. Compared to conventional arrays and algorithms, which seek to reduce noise by nulling out noise sources, the array of an embodiment is used to form two distinct virtual directional microphones which are configured to have very similar noise responses and very dissimilar speech responses. The only null formed is one used to remove the speech of the user from V2. The two virtual microphones may be paired with an adaptive filter algorithm and VAD algorithm to significantly reduce the noise without distorting the speech, significantly improving the SNR of the desired speech over conventional noise suppression systems.
US08494176B2
A novel information providing system for providing various information to a terminal is proposed. The information providing system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a transmitter 10 for transmitting various information as information on sound pressure vibration, a portable telephone 20 serving as a terminal for receiving various information, and a server 50 connected through the Internet 40 to the transmitter 10. The configuration is characterized in that various information is transmitted as sound through the air serving as a medium from the transmitter 10 to the portable telephone 20.
US08494175B2
A noise reduction device is disclosed, in which noise reduction device, a controlling sound generator outputs a white noise generated by a white-noise generator, and this white noise is sensed by an error sensor for identifying an acoustic transmission function covering a path from the controlling sound generator to the error sensor. At this time, an identification controller prompts the white noise generator to generate a white noise for identifying the acoustic transmission function provided that an ambient noise level sensed by the error sensor is not greater than a given threshold.
US08494168B1
Example embodiments provide various techniques for locating cryptographic keys stored in a cache. The cryptographic keys are temporarily stored in the cache until retrieved for use in a cryptographic operation. The cryptographic key may be located or found through reference to its cryptographic key identifier. In an example, a particular cryptographic key may be needed for a cryptographic operation. The cache is first searched to locate this cryptographic key. To locate the cryptographic key, the cryptographic key identifier that is associated with this cryptographic key is provided. In turn, the cryptographic key identifier may be used as an address into the cache. The address identifies a location of the cryptographic key within the cache. The cryptographic key may then be retrieved from the cache at the identified address and then used in the cryptographic operation.
US08494163B2
An example of the present invention is a method of transmitting encrypted user data to a mobile terminal in a wireless telecommunications network. The method comprises sending to the mobile terminal a data packet. The data packet comprises both an identifier of encryption information to used in recovering encrypted user data, and user data encrypted using said encryption information.
US08494158B2
Provided is a method of downloading, by a digital broadcast receiver, a software for upgrade through broadcast signals. According to the method, existence of a receiver software to be downloaded is checked, and a reservation time for downloading of the software is set. After that, a download and upgrade of the software are performed at the set reservation time.
US08494149B2
It is possible to efficiently evaluate utterance while ensuring the effectiveness of the result of the evaluation. A selection unit 4 selects recognition data, which is used in agent evaluation from a data storage unit 7, from recognition data generated by a voice recognition unit 6 on the basis of voice data of utterance by applying a selection operation corresponding to evaluation viewpoint information with reference to an evaluation viewpoint management table 2 through an evaluation viewpoint management unit 3. An evaluation unit 5 displays recognition data and plays the voice data by an evaluation viewpoint management unit 3 by applying an output operation corresponding to evaluation viewpoint information with reference to an evaluation viewpoint management table 2.
US08494146B2
A ringback replacement insertion system for customizing a communication network is disclosed. The system includes a first communication station associated with a first network service provider and a second communication station associated with a second network service provider. A network gateway is provided for connecting a call placed from the first communication station to the second communication station. The first network service provider receives information regarding a proximity location of the first communication station. The storage device transmits at least a portion of the at least one announcement to the first communication station that is related to information within a predefined geographical distance from the first communication station, where at least a portion of the at least one announcement is delivered as a call signal after establishing contact with a communication network.
US08494141B2
Rules-based teleconferencing that may include receiving criteria regarding invitees to a teleconference call, generating rules based on the criteria, and generating a notification regarding the invitees to the teleconference call based on the rules. The criteria may include a quorum of a minimum number of invitees that must be in attendance at the teleconference call or a list of specific invitees required to be in attendance at the teleconference call. A processing device may include a network interface, one or more second interfaces configured to establish a connection between at least three telephones, and a controller configured to establish a teleconference call between the at least three telephones, receive criteria regarding invitees to the teleconference call, generate rules based on the criteria, and generate a notification regarding the invitees to the teleconference call based on the rules.
US08494140B2
A system and method for provisioning communications services. A remote device controlled by a user is linked with a provisioning system. A verbal selection of a menu associated with a library is received for performing one or more actions within the provisioning system. One or more verbal commands associated with the menu are received. A determination is made of an action within the library associated with the one or more verbal commands. The action associated with the one or more verbal commands is performed in the provisioning system to provision the communications services.
US08494137B2
A system and method for playing pre-call messages. User input is received to record a pre-call message for one or more intended recipients in anticipation of an incoming call from the one or more intended recipient. The pre-call message is associated with an identifier of the one or more intended recipients. The pre-call message is played to the one or more intended recipients during the ring back period in response to determining the incoming call is from the one or more intended recipients using the identifier. The pre-call message is deleted in response to determining the one or more intended recipients have received the entire pre-call message.
US08494131B2
The present invention relates to a data communication method and apparatus comprising a noise information memory for storing noise information to indicate a degree of noise on a current communication line and capable of performing communications in a plurality of communication modes. The method and apparatus further comprising a mode memory for storing the plurality of communication modes in response to the degree of noise, and a mode change control unit for reading current noise information from the noise information memory and selecting the communication mode corresponding to the current degree of noise from the mode memory, and changing the current communication mode into the selected communication mode. The present invention provides an apparatus and a method for highly reliable data communication with simplified construction.
US08494129B2
A communication apparatus repeatedly outputs a first multi-carrier signal SS during predetermined periods T1, T2, T3, . . . , and outputs a second multi-carrier signal RS whose phase vector is different from that of the first multi-carrier signal SS, at a predetermined timing based on the first multi-carrier signal SS. The communication apparatus further detects the second multi-carrier signal RS output from another communication apparatus, which uses a different communication method from the communication apparatus. Accordingly, both communication apparatuses can differentiate the first multi-carrier signal SS from the second multi-carrier signal RS without performing relatively cumbersome modulation and other processes.
US08494119B2
A radiation window membrane and for covering an opening in an X-ray device is presented, as well a method for its manufacturing. Said openings are such through which X-rays are to pass. The membrane comprises a window base layer and a pinhole-blocking layer on a surface of said window base layer. Said pinhole-blocking layer comprises graphene.
US08494094B2
An apparatus and method begin creation and storage of correlation sums to be demodulated (“early-collected sums”) prior to determination of a location of a bit of data in a wireless signal relative to a local clock. Such early storage allows demodulation of these early-collected sums at a later time, specifically on determination of the data's location in the wireless signal, thereby to yield early-collected data bits. Additionally, after determination of the data bit's location in the wireless signal, additional data bits are further generated in the normal manner, by demodulating the wireless signal, thereby to yield normally-collected data bits. Use of early-collected data bits in generating navigation data reduces the time to start data demodulation, and enables fewer normally-collected data bits to be used to generate navigation data, in several aspects of the invention.
US08494089B2
A wireless device, method, and signal for use in communication of a wireless packet between transmitting device and a wireless receiving device via a plurality of antennas, wherein a signal generator generates wireless packet including a short-preamble sequence used for a first automatic gain control (AGC), a first long-preamble sequence, a signal field used for conveying a length of the wireless packet, an AGC preamble sequence used for a second AGC to be performed after the first AGC, a second long-preamble sequence, and a data field conveying data. The AGC preamble sequence is transmitted in parallel by the plurality of antennas.
US08494085B2
Aspects of a method and system for bandwidth calibration for a phase locked loop are presented. Aspects of the method may include generating one or more carrier signals based on one or more corresponding calibration signals. A pre-distortion function may be computed based on the generated one or more carrier signals for the phase locked loop circuit. An output radio frequency (RF) synthesized signal generated by the phase locked loop circuit may be modified based on the computed pre-distortion function and a subsequent output RF synthesized signal generated based on the modified output RF synthesized signal.
US08494074B2
A multiple input multiple output (MIMO) communication system using an explicit feedback is provided. In the MIMO communication system using the explicit feedback, a receiver may generate an explicit feedback vector by calculating an explicit channel matrix, and by vectorizing the explicit channel matrix or an explicit channel matrix processed using a predefined function. Feedback information generated based on the explicit feedback vector may be provided to a transmitter. The transmitter may reconfigure the explicit channel matrix or the processed explicit channel matrix based on the feedback information. The transmitter and the receiver may share the explicit channel matrix or the processed explicit channel matrix using an adaptively transformed codebook.
US08494064B2
When performing data communication with a second wireless communication apparatus having a plurality of antennas by using a plurality of transmission channels formed by spatial multiplexing, a first wireless communication apparatus having a plurality of antennas determines whether the second wireless communication apparatus is capable of communication using the plurality of transmission channels, and, on the basis of the determination result, executes a calibration process of forming the plurality of transmission channels with respect to the second wireless communication apparatus.
US08494056B2
A method and system for an efficient transcoding of a sequence of input images in a first format to a sequence of output images in a second format are described. The method utilizes the encoding block mode, the motion vectors and the residual information extracted during the decoding of the input image that are effectively reused to select an optimal transcoding block mode and to perform selective refinement of motion vectors. A corresponding system for video transcoding is also provided.
US08494048B2
A signal adaptive filtering method for reducing blocking effect and ringing noise, a signal adaptive filter, and a computer readable medium. The signal adaptive filtering method capable of reducing blocking effect and ringing noise of image data when a frame is composed of blocks of a predetermined size includes the steps of: (a) generating blocking information for reducing the blocking effect and ringing information for reducing the ringing noise, from coefficients of predetermined pixels of the upper and left boundary regions of the data block when a frame obtained by deconstructing a bitstream image data for inverse quantization is an intraframe; and (b) adaptively filtering the image data passed through inverse quantization and inverse discrete cosine transform according to the generated blocking information and ringing information. Therefore, the blocking effect and ringing noise can be eliminated from the image restored from the block-based image, thereby enhancing the image restored from compression.
US08494046B2
A method for recovering transmission errors, comprising: receiving a data packet comprising an error detection code associated to data contained in the packet, wherein the data associated to the error detection code comprises primary data and secondary data, checking the error detection code of the received packet to detect an erroneous state of the associated data, when the erroneous state is detected, determining a finite set of candidate values for the primary data and, for each values of the set: determining a marginal likelihood of the candidate value as a function of the error detection code of the received packet, determining a first correlation between the primary data of the received packet and the candidate value, and selecting a corrected value for the primary data among the set of candidate values as a function of said marginal likelihoods and said first correlations.
US08494045B2
A coding apparatus for hierarchically (layering) coding top field data and bottom field data divided from each of a plurality of picture data composing a moving picture image has a first coding unit configured to encode one field data between two field data of the top field data and the bottom field data divided from the picture data, a conversion unit configured to interpolate first predicted image data generated by the first coding unit encoding above one field data and generate a second predicted image data of a scanning position of the other field data between the two field data, and a second coding unit configured to encode the other field data between the two field data based on the second predicted image data generated by the conversion unit.
US08494039B2
The present invention provides a method and apparatus reporting a channel quality indicator of a communication system, including: detecting a first measurement reflecting a first communication quality of the communication system; providing a series of thresholds and mapping functions, each mapping functions in association with a bin defined by two adjacent thresholds, so the first measurement is mapped to the channel quality indicator by the mapping function in association with the bin which matches the first measurement; and updating at least one of the thresholds according to a second measurement which reflects a second communication quality of the communication system.
US08494036B2
Streaming environments typically dictate incomplete or approximate algorithm execution, in order to cope with sudden surges in the data rate. Such limitations are even more accentuated in mobile environments (such as sensor networks) where computational and memory resources are typically limited. Introduced herein is a novel “resource adaptive” algorithm for spectrum and periodicity estimation on a continuous stream of data. The formulation is based on the derivation of a closed-form incremental computation of the spectrum, augmented by an intelligent load-shedding scheme that can adapt to available CPU resources. Experimentation indicates that the proposed technique can be a viable and resource efficient solution for real-time spectrum estimation.
US08494034B2
A communication device includes: a reception unit that receives a signal transmitted from another communication device via a transmission path; a transmission unit that transmits a signal to the another communication device via the transmission path; an error rate measurement unit that measures an error rate representing a probability of occurrence of errors in a signal received by the reception unit in a case where a bi-directional communication with the another communication device is performed; and a phase adjustment unit that adjusts a phase of a signal transmitted from the transmission unit to the another communication device based on an error rate measured by the error rate measurement unit.
US08494033B2
Data may be transmitted from a first communications device using multiple antennas to a second communications device based on precoder feedback defining a grid of transmission beams. A first precoder index may be received from the second communications device, and a second precoder index may be received from the second communications device. At least one symbol stream may be processed based at least in part on the first and second precoder indices to generate antenna signals for respective antenna elements of the multiple antennas, and the antenna signals may be transmitted over the multiple antennas to the communications device. Related base stations and user equipment are also discussed.
US08494019B2
Within a semiconductor laser device, mounting a semiconductor laser element array of multi-beam structure on a sub-mount, the semiconductor laser element array of multi-beam structure comprises one piece of a semiconductor substrate 11; a common electrode 1, which is formed on a first surface of the semiconductor substrate; a semiconductor layer 2, which is formed on the other surface of the semiconductor substrate, and has a plural number of light emitting portions 7 within an inside thereof; a plural number of anode electrodes 3 of a second conductivity type, which are formed above the plural number of light emitting portions, respectively; and a supporting portion 25, which is provided outside a region of forming the light emitting portions, wherein on one surface of the sub-mount is connected an electrode 3 of the semiconductor laser element array through a solder 4, and that solder 4 is formed to cover a supporting portion and an electrode neighboring thereto, and further on the electrode 3 is formed a groove portion 9 between the supporting portion 25 neighboring and the light emitting portions 7.
US08494014B2
A laser apparatus for producing mode locked pulses includes a closed optical system adapted to connect to a fiber grain medium to form a laser cavity. The fiber gain medium is adapted to receive pulses characterized by a first state and to output pulses characterized by a second state. The closed optical system is adapted to receive the pulses in the second state and output pulses in a state similar to the first state.
US08494011B2
An apparatus and method are described for compensating for frequency and phase variations of electronic components by processing packet delay values. In one embodiment, a packet delay determination module determines packet delay values based on time values associated with a first and a second electronic component. A packet delay selection module selects a subset of the packet delay values based on the maximum frequency drift of the first electronic component. A statistical parameter determination module evaluates a first and a second parameter based on portions of the subset of packet delay values. A validation module validates the parameters when each portion the subset of packet delay values includes a minimum of at least two packet delay values. An adjustment module compensates for at least one of a frequency variation and a phase variation of the first electronic component based on the parameters if the parameters are both validated.
US08494007B2
Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate identifying peers based upon encoded signals during peer discovery in a peer to peer network. For example, direct signaling that partitions a time-frequency resource into a number of segments can be utilized to communicate an identifier within a peer discovery interval; thus, a particular segment selected for transmission can signal a portion of the identifier, while a remainder can be signaled based upon tones communicated within the selected segment. Moreover, a subset of symbols within the resource can be reserved (e.g., unused) to enable identifying and/or correcting timing offset. Further, signaling can be effectuated over a plurality of peer discovery intervals such that partial identifiers communicated during each of the peer discovery intervals can be linked (e.g., based upon overlapping bits and/or bloom filter information).
US08494004B2
A system for resource allocation in peer to peer streaming includes steps of: inferring global properties of a neighborhood made up of peer nodes, wherein the global properties are inferred from a summarization of information obtained locally at each peer node; allocating resources for each peer node to its neighbor nodes in accordance with propagated dependency information; and periodically updating the target rates as peer nodes join and leave the neighborhood.
US08493998B2
In a 3G CDMA2000 network, permanent virtual pipes of different data rates (153.6 kbps, 76.8 kbps, 38.4 kbps and 19.2 kbps, for example) are provisioned at a base station on the Forward Supplemental Channel (F-SCH) for the transmission of data bursts to requesting mobile terminals by allocating and grouping together a set of resources (i.e., contiguous Walsh codes, contiguous ASIC real estate, etc.). Data bursts arriving from the network are scheduled onto timeslots on all the pipes in a manner such that at least one burst segment of each active burst is scheduled into a timeslot on the highest data rate pipe. The other burst segments of a burst are scheduled onto all the pipes so they migrate through the various rate pipes in order to give all bursts opportunities on the higher rate pipes.
US08493985B2
A method of transforming messages for communication via a network includes receiving a message from an application being executed at a processor. The message is received at a connection object, which transforms the received message based on characteristics of the connection object. The characteristics can be determined via a negotiation between the source and target of the message. The connection object provides the transformed message to a protocol layer, which forms packets based on the message. The connection object thus transforms each message independent of the transmission protocol used to communicate the message to the target, thereby improving communication bandwidth and efficiency.
US08493975B2
A communication system is provided with a plurality of FlexRay network nodes (FRK) by which respective data packets are provided in an IP data packet format or an Ethernet data packet format, and a FlexRay bus system (FRB), by whose physical layer, data are transmitted between the FlexRay network nodes (FRK). The IP data packet format or the Ethernet data packet format each has a plurality of bit positions. The FlexRay network nodes (FRK) each include a media access layer (MAC) which is set up such that the data packets provided in an IP data packet format or Ethernet data packet format are converted into a preset media-independent data format (MII), and an adaptation layer (ANP) which is set up such that the data provided in the media-independent data format (MII) are converted onto corresponding signals of the physical layer of the FlexRay bus system (FRB).
US08493973B2
A method of processing a digital broadcasting signal includes generating a transport stream including a plurality of transport packets; selecting one of the transport packets as a starting packet to be mapped into a first data segment of an encoded data frame; and constructing deterministic data frames in the transport stream beginning with the starting packet; wherein at least one of the 52 transport packets does not have an adaptation field; wherein all remaining ones of the 52 transport packets do have an adaptation field; and wherein the at least one transport packet that does not have an adaptation field is provided at a fixed location in each of the slices.
US08493970B2
A system includes an event notification system coupled to a communication network element and to a subscription database. In response to a subscribe message for a party received from the communication network element, the event notification system determines at least one service from a plurality of services for the party from the subscription database, sends a service subscribe message to a device associated with a service for each service of the at least one service, determines a notification value for the party based on service pushed values received in response to each sent service subscribe message, and sends the notification value to the communication network element. The notification value is used by the communication network element to determine whether to invoke an internet protocol multimedia subsystem service for an incoming call to a communication address associated with the party.
US08493969B2
A system and method for automatically answering a call from a calling party to a called party that originates via the Internet, includes and involves a data storage system and processor that is coupled to the data storage system. The processor is operative to initiate an automated call answering service in response to an Internet telephony call from the calling party which is intended to be received by the called party, to receive a message from the calling party via the Internet in accordance with the automated call answering service, and to store the message in the data storage system for processing by the processor in accordance with the automated call answering service.
US08493958B2
An access terminal (AT) and a data-optimized cellular communication radio network (RN) negotiate a set of packet sizes for use on a reverse link between the AT and the RN. The negotiated set of packet sizes may differ from the default set of packet sizes defined in an existing standard, such as 1xEV-DO Revisions A and B. The packet sizes in the negotiated set may be tailored to provide a good fit with an application transmitting data on the reverse link, such as a voice encoder of a voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) application. The AT and the RN communicate using the negotiated set of packet sizes. The packet sizes of the negotiated set may be mapped to the same reverse rate indicator (RRI) channel codewords as are defined in systems operating under the standard. Packing efficiency is thus increased, and higher capacity for delay-sensitive applications is achieved.
US08493948B2
A method of exchanging messages at a device in a wireless network comprises transmitting a change request message for requesting a change of a beacon position among configuration parameters of the wireless network to a coordinator; and receiving a response message in response to the request message from the coordinator.
US08493946B2
Network devices in a multi-network wireless mesh network environment identify themselves as members of the network by receiving a broadcast message from a first mesh network device that has joined the wireless mesh network, and identifying that the broadcast transmission has been received such as by actuating a light, playing a sound, or sending an identifying reply message back to a broadcasting mesh network device.
US08493938B2
The present invention discloses for the ability for processing circuit switched (CS) services in an evolved packet network. For example, embodiments provide a method that includes: by a mobility management entity (MME), receiving a mobile terminated (MT) service indication from a mobile switching center (MSC); sending the MT service indication to user equipment (UE); and receiving an MT service response returned by the UE and performing subsequent operations according to the MT service response. In the method of the present invention, when an MT service arrives, the MME does not trigger the evolved NodeB (eNodeB) to hand over the packet switched (PS) services of the UE but notifies the UE of the MT service and performs subsequent operations according to the MT service response returned by the UE, thus avoiding the waste of network resources caused by a meaningless handover of PS services.
US08493936B2
The present invention relates to mobile communication technologies, and discloses a method and a device for handover between User Equipment (UE) in a process of sending a message to enable the after-handover UE receive messages accurately. The method includes: receiving a UE handover request sent by a before-handover UE, wherein the UE handover request carries an identifier of an after-handover UE and indication parameters for sending a message; and sending the message to the after-handover UE according to the identifier of the after-handover UE and the indication parameters for sending the message. The embodiments of the present invention are applied to handover between UEs in the process of sending a message.
US08493932B2
A bearer processing method is disclosed. The method includes these steps: a system border node receives a Packet Data Protocol (PDP) Context Request initiated by a universal mobile telecommunication system (UMTS); the system border node adjusts a Request Bearer Resource Allocation message of a system architecture evolution (SAE) system or the PDP Context Request of the UMTS according to the received PDP Context Request to map the Bearer Resource Allocation procedure of the SAE system and the Bearer Resource Allocation procedure of the UMTS. The present invention can map the Bearer Resource Allocation procedure of the SAE system and the Bearer Resource Allocation procedure of the UMTS.
US08493931B1
Methods and systems are provided for efficient handover of a media session between heterogeneous Internet Protocol (IP) networks. A mobile device with Internet access can operate a software program to communicate with a corresponding node. The corresponding node may access the Internet through a firewall which may include Network Address Translation (NAT)-routing functionality. The mobile device establishes a media session with a corresponding node via the transmission of a first media stream and receipt of a second media stream, and a media-control channel can optionally be implemented. The mobile device can acquire Internet access through a second IP address, and packets routed between the second IP address and the Internet may traverse a firewall. The mobile device can evaluate a set of network parameters at the second IP address from a stored Local Area Network (LAN) profile. A software routine can (i) evaluate that handover of the media session from the first IP address to the second IP address is preferred and (ii) select an efficient handover procedure according to handover procedure rules.
US08493928B2
Disclosed herewith is a wireless system capable of reducing packet sending delay occurrence and packet sending delay jittering at the time of hand-over processing executed therein. In the wireless system, upon estimating occurrence of a hand-over event, a subject mobile station and its base station extend the packet buffering period respectively and furthermore, the base station changes the current burst scheduling method for another. The base station and the mobile station then exchanges messages required to execute the hand-over procedure in a period between when sending of a burst ends and when sending of the next burst begins.
US08493925B2
The present invention relates to a method for communicating in a network, comprising a) a secondary station preparing the transmission to a primary station of a message comprising at least a data field for containing data in an allocated resource, said resource comprising a plurality of resource blocks, and b) if the size of the allocated resource is bigger than required for the size of the message, the secondary station dividing the allocated resource in a first portion and a second portion, each portion comprising at least one resource block, c) the secondary station transmitting the message to the primary station in the first portion of the resource, d) the secondary station preventing from transmitting in the second portion of the resource.
US08493924B2
A method for generating a preamble for a random access in a wireless communication system is provided. The method includes: dividing a preamble sequence into sequence subsets each corresponding to each of a plurality of antennas; and generating a preamble by using the sequence subsets corresponding to each of the plurality of antennas. A method for generating a preamble for a random access supporting multiple antennas in a wireless system can be provided.
US08493912B2
A method of transmitting and receiving a signal and an apparatus for transmitting and receiving a signal are disclosed. The method includes receiving the signal of a first frequency band, obtaining, layer-1 information from a preamble of the first time-frequency slicing (TFS) signal frame of the received signal, said layer-1 information including an index of a current radio frequency (RF) channel within time-frequency slicing (TFS) signal frame, and a radio frequency (RF) channel identifier of a first TFS signal frame including a physical layer pipe (PLP) in a super frame of TFS structure, parsing the TFS signal frame using the layer-1 information and obtaining the PLP of the TFS signal frame, and converting the PLP to a service stream.
US08493907B2
A technique to provide frequency offset estimation for packets transmitted during a service period allocated strictly for designated source and destination devices. The destination device obtains coarse and fine frequency offset estimation from the short and long preambles. A residual frequency offset is tracked for the data blocks and combined with the coarse and fine frequency offset to obtain a total frequency offset to apply to the data blocks. The total frequency offset value at the end of the first packet is saved and, instead of again estimating the coarse and fine frequency offset values with the short and long preambles of the second packet, the saved total frequency offset value is used as the initialization value to add to the residual frequency offset in the second packet. The saved offset value at the end of each packet becomes the initialization value for the subsequent packet.
US08493897B2
A wireless communications system for categorized channel reservation is provided with a first wireless communications module and a second wireless communications module. The first wireless communications module transmits or receives a plurality of first wireless signals. The second wireless communications module transmits a first control packet according to an activity schedule of the first wireless communications module to disable a plurality of wireless communications stations from data transmissions, and transmit a second control packet to enable a predetermined number of the wireless communications stations to perform the data transmissions.
US08493896B2
Method and system for switching a network application operating in a first communication mode to a second mode within a wireless local area network, comprising: judging whether mobile nodes are neighboring according to location information; when nodes are neighboring inquiring whether mobile nodes want to switch to second mode to run network applications; when all mobile nodes agree to switch to second mode, downloading and installing network application provided by the application server to one of the mobile nodes; configuring each of the mobile nodes with the communication parameters under the second mode; and switching all mobile nodes to the second communication mode to continue the previous network application. The invention dynamically switches between Infrastructure mode and Ad-hoc mode to balance system resources, improve QoS, reduce the communication traffic, waiting time and the cost of the users, and increase the income of the provider of the network service.
US08493890B2
Transmitting nodes broadcast chirped signals on a wireless network. The transmitting nodes are time-synchronized with each other and location of the transmitting nodes is known. A receiver node detects beat frequencies created by pairs of chirped signals from different pairs of transmitting nodes. Time delay differences between chirped signals in respective beat frequency pairs are determined. The receiver node's location is determined in view of the time delay differences.
US08493885B2
A system and method for distributed processing in an Internet Protocol network is provided. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, an application server can have a controller element to receive a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) INVITE message from a communication device, establish a Real Time Protocol (RTP) channel between the communication device and the application server responsive to the SIP INVITE message, and submit a SIP SUBSCRIBE message to an intermediate communication node (ICN) directing the ICN to engage one or more Digital Signal Processing (DSP) resources for processing signals in the RTP channel. Additional embodiments are disclosed.
US08493884B2
A system and method is disclosed for routing a stream between several nodes, Ni, forming a network. The stream is transmitted by a source and is intended for one or more destinations taking account of the mobility requirements of the users and of the network nodes. The network nodes have the following characteristics: a node, Ni, of the network comprises a service module, xSVi, one or more transfer gateways, xTGi, a function LOC suitable for generating for each service a routing table used at the request of the service modules, xSVi. A server LOC is connected, for a given service, via a service node, SNGi, to the other routing modules LOCi.
US08493868B2
A node may assist in the management of upstream network traffic in part by managing a contention window used by the node. The node may maintain a list of size(s) of contention window(s) of parent node(s) of the node. The node may set its own contention window to be longer (i.e., a longer period of time) than that of upstream neighbor nodes. With a longer contention window than that of its parent node(s), the node will refrain from using an RF channel needed by a parent node. Accordingly, upstream nodes are better able to transmit any backlog of data before receiving additional data from downstream nodes. This may better distribute data over the network, and may better manage data flow.
US08493856B2
A system and method of rate adaptation is disclosed for energy efficiency. The system and method of rate adaptation for energy efficiency provides for parsing a heterogeneous network into rate-adaptation domains that are fully isolated with respect to the control of their operating states. The system and method is particularly useful for creating the conditions for the incremental introduction of rate-adaptive devices in existing networks; combining the best properties of sleep-state exploitation and rate scaling techniques by defining a class of state-setting policies for rate adaptation schemes that enforce tight deterministic bounds on the extra delay that the schemes may cause to network traffic at every node where they are deployed.
US08493852B2
A system includes logic to store multiple descriptors, each of the multiple descriptors to be associated with a different set of multiple Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) packets received by the network controller, each of the multiple descriptors including a count of the number of packets in the set of multiple packets associated with a respective descriptor. For each of the respective receive packets, the system determines a one of the multiple descriptors based on the network source address, network destination address, source port, and destination port of the respective packet; includes the respective packet in the set of multiple packets associated with the determine one of the multiple descriptors; and updates the one of the multiple descriptors by incrementing the count of the number of packets in the set of multiple packets; and provides data from within the packets to the host.
US08493850B2
A communication apparatus is connected to a network and identifies a flow of a frame input thereto and outputs the frame to a port. The communication apparatus includes: a flow identifying unit that obtains a flow identifier of the flow to which the frame belongs, and that obtains, based on the flow identifier, a hash rule corresponding to the flow identifier; a transfer destination controller that obtains by calculation a hash value of the frame by making use of the hash rule obtained by the flow identifying unit and that decides on an output port for the frame based on combination of the flow identifier and the hash value; and a frame output unit that outputs the frame to the output port decided by the transfer destination controller.
US08493847B1
A system for regulating traffic in a computer network comprises a plurality of rate buckets associated with a network interface ingress port. The system includes at least two rate buckets, related hierarchically, assigned to a specific ingress port on a network equipment device. At least one traffic parameter is associated with each rate bucket. Each rate bucket monitors traffic based on individual user-defined traffic parameters. At least one packet threshold parameter is associated with each rate bucket. Packets exceeding a rate bucket's packet threshold parameter are sent to subsequent rate buckets within the hierarchy based on an aggregate information rate assigned to the port. Each hierarchical rate bucket assigned to a specific port evaluates each packet prior to discarding a packet.
US08493846B2
A method and system for multicasting IPTV channels includes using both a designated and a redundant network routing device. When the designated routing device detects that an MCDN network connection to an IPTV multicast source is unavailable, the designated routing device reduces its designation priority to a lower value. A message is sent to the redundant routing device with an instruction to increase its designation priority to a higher value. After the designation priorities have been modified, the designated routing device may serve as a new redundant routing device, while the redundant routing device may serve as a new designated routing device. The routing devices may remain in the new configuration, even after interrupted network connections are restored.
US08493836B2
A method for transmitting and receiving uplink signals using an optimized rank 3 codebook is disclosed. The optimized rank 3 codebook includes 12 precoding matrix groups, which are consisted of 6 Tx antenna power balanced precoding matrix groups and 6 layer power balanced precoding matrix groups. Preferably, the optimized 4Tx rank 3 codebook has 20 precoding matrix, two precoding matrixes are selected from each the 6 Tx antenna power balanced precoding matrix groups, considering chordal distance and the number of precoding matrix. And then 8 precoding matrices are selected from the layer balanced precoding matrix groups.
US08493830B2
Disclosed is an optical information reproducing apparatus that has a light path difference between two lights easily adjusted, has a high effect on the amplification of a signal, and detects an optical information signal of an interfering type. The optical information reproducing apparatus splits a luminous flux emitted from a laser source into a first luminous flux as a signal light and a second luminous flux as a reference light not collected on an optical information recoding medium, makes the signal light optically interfere with the reference light in a state in which the signal light and the reference light are different from each other in a phase relationship to thereby produce interfering lights, and detects the interfering lights.
US08493825B2
An information processing apparatus including a display input device in which an image display unit and an operation input unit are integrally formed includes reproduction means for reproducing data recorded on a recording medium, storage means for storing defining data reproduced from the recording medium and defining an operation of the display input device, display control means for controlling the image display unit to display an operator in accordance with the defining data stored in the storage means, determining means for determining an operator for which an operation is input in accordance with an input content input from the operation input unit and a display content displayed on the image display unit, and operation content reading means for reading an operation content of the information processing apparatus stored in the storage means and defined for each operator in accordance with a determination result of the determining means.
US08493821B1
A thermally-assisted magnetic recording head includes: a main pole having an end face located in a medium facing surface; a waveguide; a plasmon generator having a near-field light generating part located in the medium facing surface; and a shield located on the rear side in the direction of travel of a recording medium with respect to the main pole. The shield has an end face located in the medium facing surface and lying on the rear side in the direction of travel of the recording medium with respect to the end face of the main pole. The end face of the main pole and the end face of the shield are at a distance of 50 to 300 nm from each other. The near-field light generating part is located between the end face of the main pole and the end face of the shield in the medium facing surface.
US08493820B1
A thermally compensated fluid dynamic bearing motor includes a stationary member and a rotatable member rotatable about the stationary member. A hub is coupled with the rotatable member and includes ceramic material with a first coefficient of thermal expansion, wherein the hub is operable to be coupled with a data storage disk. Further the first coefficient of thermal expansion is substantially equal to a second coefficient of thermal expansion of the data storage disk.
US08493818B2
A thermally-assisted magnetic recording head, includes: a pole that generates a writing magnetic field from an end surface that forms a portion of an air bearing surface opposing a magnetic recording medium; a waveguide through which light for exciting a surface plasmon propagates; a plasmon generator that couples to the light in a surface plasmon mode and generates near-field light from a near-field light generating portion on a near-field light generating end surface that forms the portion of the air bearing surface; and magnetic field focusing parts that are able to focus the writing magnetic field generated from the pole and that are disposed on both sides of the pole in a track width direction from a perspective of the air bearing surface side.
US08493814B2
A semiconductor memory device has a memory cell array, a first transistor of a first conductivity type, a second transistor of a second conductivity type and a third transistor of the first conductivity type. A source or drain of the first transistor is connected to each of word lines. A drain of the second transistor is connected to a gate of the first transistor. A source of the third transistor is connected to the gate of the first transistor. The gates of the second transistor and the third transistor are not connected, a source of the second transistor is not connected to a drain of the third transistor, and the gate of the second transistor and the drain of the third transistor have different voltage levels corresponding to opposite logic levels each other.
US08493809B2
A refresh control circuit is capable of activating a plurality of bank selection signals in response to a refresh command signal. Each of the plurality of bank selection signals is assigned to one of a plurality of bank groups. The refresh control circuit is configured to activate the plurality of bank selection signals when a refresh cycle selection signal is deactivated, and activate a part of the plurality of bank selection signals when the refresh cycle selection signal is activated.
US08493808B2
A system includes a memory controller and a plurality of memory devices connected in-series that communicate with the memory controller. Each of the memory devices has multiple independent serial ports for receiving and transmitting data. The memory controller a device address (DA) or ID number for designating a device that executes a command. Data contained in the command sent by the memory controller is captured by an individual link control circuit, in response to internally generated clock with appropriate latencies. The captured data is written into a corresponding memory bank. The data stored in one of a plurality of memory banks of one memory device is read in accordance with the addresses issued by the memory controller. The read data is propagated from the memory device through the series-connected memory devices to the memory controller.
US08493803B2
An auto-precharge signal generation circuit comprises a signal generator, a set signal generator, and an auto-precharge signal generator. The signal generator is configured to generating a control signal and a precharge control signal in response to receiving a first column address strobe signal and an auto-precharge flag signal. The set signal generator is configured to generating a set signal in response to receiving the control signal and the precharge control signal. The auto-precharge signal generator is configured to generate an auto-precharge signal in response to receiving the set signal and a period set signal.
US08493801B2
A method and apparatus for determining correct timing for receiving, in a host in a memory system, of a normal toggle transmitted by an addressed memory chip on a bidirectional data strobe. An offset in the data strobe is established, either by commanding the addressed memory chip, in a training period, to drive the data strobe to a known state, except during transmission of a normal toggle, or by providing a voltage offset between a true and a complement phase in the data strobe, or by providing a circuit bias in a differential receiver on the host the receives the data strobe. A series of read commands are transmitted by the host to the addressed memory chip, which responds by transmitting the normal toggle. Timing of reception of the normal toggle as received by the host chip is adjusted until the normal toggle is correctly received.
US08493800B2
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor storage device includes a three-dimensional memory cell array, write drivers, and a program voltage control circuit. In the three-dimensional memory cell array, memory cells are three-dimensionally arranged. The write drivers are arranged to be distributed under the three-dimensional memory cell array and apply a program voltage to the memory cells during writing in the memory cells. The program voltage control circuit is arranged around the three-dimensional memory cell array and performs control for making the write drivers to generate the program voltage.
US08493799B2
A semiconductor memory device, a semiconductor memory module, and a semiconductor memory system including the same, the semiconductor memory device including a command/address input buffer that receives a command/address signal and a command/address reference voltage signal, wherein the command/address input buffer is configured to amplify a difference between the command/address signal and the command/address reference voltage signal, and is further configured to output the amplified difference between the command/address signal and the command/address reference voltage signal, and a chip selection input buffer that receives a chip selection signal and a chip selection reference voltage signal, wherein the chip selection input buffer is configured to amplify a difference between the chip selection signal and the chip selection reference voltage signal, and is further configured to output the amplified difference between the chip selection signal and the chip selection reference voltage signal, wherein a voltage level of the command/address reference voltage signal is different from a voltage level of the chip selection reference voltage signal.
US08493796B2
A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a memory cell array having a plurality of memory cells arranged therein, each of the memory cells having a charge storage layer and a control electrode; and a control unit configured to execute a write cycle multiple times, the write cycle including a write operation and a write verify operation, the write operation being an operation for applying a write pulse voltage multiple times to the control electrode selected for data write, and the write verify operation being an operation for determining whether data write is completed or not. During one time of the write operation, the control unit makes a voltage value of a finally applied write pulse voltage larger than a voltage value of an initially applied write pulse voltage.
US08493794B2
A non-volatile memory cell and methods for programming, erasing and reading thereof are provided. A non-volatile memory cell includes a well region having a first conductive type. A first transistor and a second transistor having a second conductive type are disposed on the well region, wherein a first gate of the first transistor is coupled to a second gate of the second transistor. The first transistor and the second transistor share a drain region, coupling to a bit line. A first source region of the first transistor and a second region of the second transistor are coupled to a first select line and a second line, respectively. A bit is stored in the first and second gates by controlling the first select line and the second line. A bit stored in the first and second gates is erased by controlling the first select line or the second line.
US08493790B2
Methods of programming, reading and erasing memory cells are disclosed. In at least one embodiment, program, sense, and erase operations in a memory are performed with back biased operation, such as to improve high voltage device isolation and cutoff in string drivers and bit line drivers, and no nodes of the circuitry are biased at zero volts.
US08493786B2
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a first voltage generator, a second voltage generator, a first MOS transistor, and a controller. The first voltage generator outputs a first voltage to a first node. The second voltage generator outputs a second voltage to a second node. The first MOS transistor is capable of short-circuiting the first node and second node. The controller performs a control operation to short-circuit the first node and second node by turning on the first MOS transistor. The controller controls a period in which the first MOS transistor is kept in an on state based on time.
US08493777B2
A non-volatile current-switching magnetic memory element includes a bottom electrode, a pinning layer formed on top of the bottom electrode, and a fixed layer formed on top of the pinning layer. The non-volatile current-switching magnetic memory element further includes a tunnel layer formed on top of the pinning layer, a first free layer with a perpendicular anisotropy that is formed on top of the tunnel layer, a granular film layer formed on top of the free layer, a second free layer formed on top of the granular film layer, a cap layer formed on top of the second layer, and a top electrode formed on top of the cap layer.
US08493767B2
According to one embodiment, a one-time programmable (OTP) device having a lateral diffused metal-oxide-semiconductor (LDMOS) structure comprises a pass gate including a pass gate electrode and a pass gate dielectric, and a programming gate including a programming gate electrode and a programming gate dielectric. The programming gate is spaced from the pass gate by a drain extension region of the LDMOS structure. The LDMOS structure provides protection for the pass gate when a programming voltage for rupturing the programming gate dielectric is applied to the programming gate electrode. A method for producing such an OTP device comprises forming a drain extension region, fabricating a pass gate over a first portion of the drain extension region, and fabricating a programming gate over a second portion of the drain extension region.
US08493766B2
The number of wirings per unit memory cell is reduced by sharing a bit line by a writing transistor and a reading transistor. Data is written by turning on the writing transistor so that a potential of the bit line is supplied to a node where one of a source electrode and a drain electrode of the writing transistor and a gate electrode of the reading transistor are electrically connected, and then turning off the writing transistor so that a predetermined amount of charge is held in the node. Data is read by using a reading signal line connected to one of a source electrode and a drain electrode of the reading transistor so that a predetermined reading potential is supplied to the reading signal line, and then detecting a potential of the bit line.
US08493763B1
A CAM array includes a plurality of regular rows and a reference row. Each regular row is partitioned into a plurality of row segments, with each row segment including a number of CAM cells coupled to a corresponding match line segment. The reference row generates self-timed control signals for corresponding segments of the regular rows. Control circuits selectively enable a respective row segment in response to a logical combination of match results in a previous row segment and an associated one of the self-timed control signals.
US08493762B2
A power semiconductor module includes semiconductor elements of a first system constituting each of arms in a circuit of the first system, semiconductor elements of a second system constituting each of arms in a circuit of the second system, a plurality of DC electrode conductors including a common DC electrode conductor joined to the semiconductor elements of the first and second systems, and a plurality of AC electrode conductors joined to the respective semiconductor elements of the first and second systems. Each of the semiconductor elements of the first and second systems is interposed between the DC electrode conductor and AC electrode conductor.
US08493760B2
Electric circuit for converting direct into alternating current specially designed for photovoltaic systems connected to the electrical grid without a transformer, and enabling the earthing of one of the input terminals (2) of the photovoltaic generator, thereby working with a wide range of input voltages and having a high efficiency.
US08493759B2
A two-level or multi-level inverter are supplied with a positive auxiliary voltage (Ug+) and a negative auxiliary voltage (Ug−). A bootstrap technique provides a first positive auxiliary voltage and a first negative auxiliary voltage from the supplied potentials. The bootstrap technique provides at least one additional negative auxiliary voltage to a switch driver of at least one semiconductor switch from the first negative auxiliary voltage. At the start up of an inverter, the inverter can perform a startup sequence to provide auxiliary voltages to the respective auxiliary voltage inputs of the switch drivers by turning the power semiconductors sequentially on and off.
US08493757B2
Disclosed is a power converter including a power factor corrector and a DC/DC converter and a power conversion method.
US08493754B1
A converter can include at least two power stages. Each power stage can include a power factor control circuit. An active shared control circuit for a three power stage system receives at least three sense signals. Each of the sense signals is associated with a parameter of the respective one of the power stages. The control circuit provides at least three control signals. Each of the control signals being associated with the respective power factor control circuit of the power stages. The active share control circuit balances the current supplied by the power stages via the control signals.
US08493751B2
A power converter nearly losslessly delivers energy and recovers energy from capacitors associated with controlled rectifiers in a secondary winding circuit, each controlled rectifier having a parallel uncontrolled rectifier. First and second primary switches in series with first and second primary windings, respectively, are turned on for a fixed duty cycle, each for approximately one half of the switching cycle. Switched transition times are short relative to the on-state and off-state times of the controlled rectifiers. The control inputs to the controlled rectifiers are cross-coupled from opposite secondary transformer windings.
US08493750B2
Disclosed is a piezoelectric power supply converter, wherein, a piezoelectric element is utilized to replace a conventional capacitor, due to characteristic of mechanical resonance of said piezoelectric element, said piezoelectric element may contain higher capacitance than said conventional capacitor, and a parasitic resistance of said piezoelectric element is smaller that that of an ordinary capacitor. Through a resonance between an externally added inductive element and a piezoelectric-capacitor and said resonance of said piezoelectric element itself, said piezoelectric element is capable of transmitting electrical energy efficiently, thus achieving large output power. Therefore, said piezoelectric-capacitor is capable of improving shortcomings of said conventional capacitors of low voltage endurance, large leakage current, and small output power.
US08493747B2
A flex-rigid wiring board including an insulative substrate, a flexible wiring board positioned beside the insulative substrate, an insulation layer positioned over the insulative substrate and the flexible wiring board and exposing a portion of the flexible wiring board, and a wiring layer made of a conductor and formed on the insulation layer. The insulation layer has a tapered portion which becomes thinner toward an end surface of the insulation layer in the direction of the portion of the flexible wiring board exposed by the insulation layer. The wiring layer has a sloping portion formed on the tapered portion of the insulation layer.
US08493746B2
In one embodiment of the present invention, inert nano-sized particles having dimensions from 1 nm to 1,000 nm are added into a solder ball. The inert nano-sized particles may comprise metal oxides, metal nitrides, metal carbides, metal borides, etc. The inert nano-sized particles may be a single compound, or may be a metallic material having a coating of a different material. In another embodiment of the present invention, a small quantity of at least one elemental metal that forms stable high melting intermetallic compound with tin is added to a solder ball. The added at least one elemental metal forms precipitates of intermetallic compounds with tin, which are dispersed as fine particles in the solder.
US08493743B2
A handheld device includes a body, a back cover and a latch mechanism. The body has a back portion. The back cover coves the back portion. The latch mechanism is disposed between the body and the back portion to lock the back portion to the body. Reliving the lock connection between the body and the back cover performed by the latch mechanism causes the back cover is able to depart from the body.
US08493742B2
An electronic device includes a casing, a PCB, a push-button switch assembly, and a protective member. The push-button switch includes a push-button disposed on the casing and a switch disposed on the PCB. When pressed, a main body of the push-button moves towards the PCB to actuate the switch. The protective member is disposed between the main body and the PCB for restricting further movement of the main body as the switch is actuated.
US08493739B2
A lightweight radio/CD player for vehicular application is virtually “fastenerless” and includes a case and frontal interface formed of polymer based material that is molded to provide details to accept audio devices such as playback mechanisms (if desired) and radio receivers, as well as the circuit boards required for electrical control and display. The case and frontal interface are of composite structure, including an insert molded electrically conductive wire mesh screen that has been pre-formed to contour with the molding operation. The wire mesh provides EMC, RFI, BCI and ESD shielding and grounding of the circuit boards via exposed wire mesh pads and adjacent ground clips. The PCB architecture is bifurcated into a first board carrying common circuit components in a surface mount configuration suitable for high volume production, and a second board carrying application specific circuit components in a wave soldered stick mount configuration. The major components and subassemblies are self-fixturing during the final assembly process, eliminating the need for dedicated tools, fixtures and assembly equipment. The major components and subassemblies self-interconnect by integral guide and connection features effecting “slide lock” and “snap lock” self-interconnection. The radio architecture includes improved push buttons employing 4-bar living hinge linkage and front loaded decorative trim buttons.
US08493729B2
A computer chassis is provided. The computer chassis includes a housing, an elastic element, a scissor structure fixed to the housing, and two hard disk drawers slidably connected to the housing and capable of being drawn out from the housing. The scissor is set between the two hard disk drawers. When both of the two hard disk drawers are not drawn out, the scissor structure is sandwiched between the two adjacent hard disk drawers, and the elastic element is deformed. When one of the two hard disk drawer is drawn out, the scissor structure engages the hard disk drawer being not drawn out under the elastic force generated by the elastic element.
US08493723B2
A display device of the present invention includes a body stand unit; a display displaying unit; and an arm unit, arranged upright from the body stand unit, for supporting the display displaying unit; where the arm unit is arranged on either left or right end side from a center in a horizontal direction of the display displaying unit, and supports the display displaying unit in a cantilever state.
US08493715B1
An apparatus for holding a flight data recorder in an aircraft includes a housing that defines a compartment enclosing the flight data recorder and a flotation device attached to the flight data recorder. If the aircraft crashes into a body of water and become submerged, one or more releasable fasteners holding the compartment's cover in place are triggered thereby removing the cover over an opening in the compartment and ejecting the flotation device and the flight data recorder out of the compartment. The floatation device then floats the flight data recorder to the surface of the water where it can be located by the rescuers.
US08493711B2
An electrode material is created by forming a thin conformal coating of metal oxide on a highly porous monolithic carbon structure. The highly porous carbon structure performs a role in the synthesis of the oxide coating and in providing a three-dimensional, electronically conductive substrate supporting the thin coating of metal oxide. The metal oxide includes one or more metal oxides. The electrode material, a process for producing said electrode material, an electrochemical capacitor and an electrochemical secondary (rechargeable) battery using said electrode material is disclosed.
US08493709B2
In a capacitor structure and method of forming the same, a first electrode, a second electrode, and a first insulation layer are sequentially formed on a substrate. The first and second electrodes and the first insulation layer are covered with a second insulation layer on the substrate. A first plug is in contact with the second electrode through the second insulation layer. A second plug is in contact with the first electrode through the first and second insulation layer. A third insulation layer is formed on the second insulation layer. Third and fourth comb-shaped electrodes are formed in the third insulation layer. The third electrode is contact with the first plug and the fourth electrode is contact with the second plug while facing the third electrode. Thus, the teeth of the comb-shaped electrodes are alternately arranged and spaced apart in the third insulation layer.
US08493707B2
A shaft grounding apparatus including a grounding rope in electrical contact with ground, and an adjustable rope guide configured to guide the grounding rope on an electrically conductive surface of a rotating shaft of an electric machine. The adjustable rope guide includes a plurality of articulating segments configured to provide the adjustable rope guide with a variable radius of curvature to closely follow a radius of curvature of the rotating shaft.
US08493704B2
In one embodiment, a circuit protection device includes a common mode noise filter having a plurality of sheets, each of the sheets being formed to optionally include a coil pattern, an internal electrode, a hole filled with a conductive material, and a hole filled with a magnetic material; and an electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection device having a plurality of sheets, each of the sheets being formed to optionally include an internal electrode and a hole filled with an ESD protection material.
US08493695B1
A method and system for providing a magnetic read transducer is described. The magnetic read transducer includes a magnetoresistive sensor a shield, and a spin pumping barrier layer. The magnetoresistive sensor includes a pinned layer, a spacer layer, and a free layer. The spacer layer is nonmagnetic and resides between the pinned layer and the free layer. The free layer is between the pinned layer and the shield. The spin pumping barrier layer is between the shield and the free layer.
US08493693B1
A magnetic sensor is configured to reside in proximity to a recording medium during use. The sensor includes a magnetic top shield and a magnetic bottom shield. A top sensor stack is under the magnetic top shield and includes magnetic sensing layers. A bottom sensor stack is between the magnetic bottom shield and the top sensor stack. The bottom sensor stack includes a magnetic seed stack above the bottom shield, an insertion stack above the magnetic seed stack, and an antiferromagnetic (AFM) layer on and in contact with the insertion stack. A pinned layer is above the AFM layer. An AFM coupling layer is above the pinned layer. In some aspects the insertion stack may include at least one of Ti, Hf, Zr, and Ta. In some aspect, the insertion stack includes a layer of elemental Ti. In other aspects, the insertion stack includes multilayer structures.
US08493671B2
A three-piece optical lens system comprises, in order from the object side to the image side: a first lens element with a positive refractive power having a convex object-side surface, one of the object-side surface and an image-side surface being aspheric; a stop, a second lens element with a positive refractive power having a concave object-side surface, one of the object-side surface and an image-side surface being aspheric; a third lens element with a negative refractive power having a concave image-side surface, one of an object-side surface and the image-side surface being aspheric. A refractive index of the third lens element is N3, an Abbe number of the third lens element is V3, and they satisfy the relations: N3>1.57; V3<40. Such arrangements can reduce the volume of the three-piece optical lens system and improve the image quality of the periphery of the image.
US08493670B2
A unit magnification projection optical system includes, listed in order along a system axis, a mirror, a lens group having negative power and a lens group having positive power. The optical system is a symmetric system, with an object plane on one side of the system axis and an object plane on an opposite side of the system axis. The object and image planes are spaced apart from the positive lens group by a working distance greater than 100 millimeters.
US08493664B2
Providing a close-up lens with superb optical performance capable of focusing from infinity to a close distance allowing a life-size magnification by an internal focusing system with small moving amounts of focusing lens groups, an imaging apparatus, and a method for focusing a close-up lens. The close-up lens includes four lens groups, and is able to focus an object with an imaging magnification from β=0 through at least β=−0.5, wherein upon focusing, a first lens group and a fourth lens group are fixed with respect to an image plane, and a second lens group and a third lens group are moved along an optical axis.
US08493661B2
The present disclosure provides a contiguous microlens array, which consists of a plurality of touching microlenses, wherein the adjacent microlenses are connected to each other to form a contiguous microlens array and curvatures of every angle cross section of each microlens are the same. The shape of the curved surface of a microlens in the microlens array is selectively adjusted according to its position in the array and the incident angle of light incident thereto.
US08493653B2
The present invention relates to an optical fiber amplifying module equipped with a structure for stably attaining a high gain even when amplifying light having a low duty cycle. The optical fiber amplifying module comprises at least three amplification optical fibers successively arranged from an input connector to an output collimator. A bandpass filter is arranged between the first- and second-stage amplification optical fibers. Control means having a structure constituted by optically passive components alone or a feedback structure functions so as to render an upper limit to a gain for input light in the first-stage amplification optical fiber, thereby preventing the deterioration in performances such as destruction of the bandpass filter from occurring in optical components positioned on the upstream side of the final-stage amplification optical fiber.
US08493650B2
A method and apparatus for suppression of four-wave mixing using polarization control with a high power polarization maintaining fiber amplifier system. The apparatus includes a master oscillator (MO) that generates a beam; a polarization controller that receives the beam from the MO and transmits the beam with a desired polarization; a pre-amplifier that receives the beam from the polarization controller, pre-amplifies the beam, and transmits the beam; a high power fiber amplifier that receives the beam from the pre-amplifier, amplifies the beam, and transmits an output beam; and a polarization detector that detects the polarization of the output beam. The polarization detector transmits feedback to the polarization controller to ensure that the output beam components aligned with the principal birefringent axes of the high power fiber amplifier have approximately equal power.
US08493646B2
An electrochromic device includes a first electrochromic region interconnected with a second electrochromic region by a plurality of conductive links disposed between sides of a substrate on which the material layers of the electrochromic device are formed. The plurality of conductive links interconnects a first isolated conductive region of the first electrochromic region with a first isolated conductive region of the second electrochromic region. A sequence of a counter electrode layer, an ion conductor layer and an electrochromic layer is sandwiched between the first conductive regions of the first and second electrochromic regions and respective second isolated conductive regions of the first and second electrochromic regions. The second conductive regions of the first and second electrochromic regions are connected to respective first and second bus bars which are for connection to a low voltage electrical source.
US08493637B2
An image forming optical element is provided, in which a first lens, a second lens, and a light guiding unit that leads the light input from the first lens, to the second lens, the light guiding unit has a curved shape of a first curve portion and a second curve portion from the first lens to the second lens, a first reflection face that reflects the light input from the first lens, to the second curve portion, is formed on an outer peripheral face of the first curve portion, a second reflection face that reflects the reflected light to the second lens is formed on an outer peripheral face of the second curve portion, the light input to the first lens travels in the transparent medium until reading the second lens, is output from the second lens, and then forms an image at magnification of erection equal-magnification.
US08493635B2
Unintended image inversion is prevented when an optical reading device processes images captured by an optical reading device that uses a linear image sensor having the photodetectors arrayed in a line. An optical reading unit has a linear image sensor with photodetectors arrayed perpendicularly to the transportation direction of the recording medium S to be scanned, optically reads the conveyed recording medium by means of the linear image sensor, and sequentially outputs the detection values of the photodetectors from an end of the linear image sensor. A gate array and CPU generate scanned image data based on the detection values read by the optical reading unit, add thereto information describing the relationship between the scanning sequence of the photodetectors of the linear image sensor and the pixel order of the scanned image data, and output to another device.
US08493626B2
In the present invention, tetragons are generated, each of the tetragons being formed of four points of a point A(c, 1), a point B(a+c, b+1), a point C(0, d+1), and a point D(a, b+d+1) specified with arbitrary parameters satisfying the specified number of pixels n=2(ad+bc). From among the generated tetragons, a tetragon having an angle closest to a specified angle is selected, and two of the selected tetragons are placed adjacently to each other to generate the basic pattern. A lighting order is determined so that, continuously from a lighting order of pixels forming a first tetragon of the tetragons of the basic pattern in order of increasing distance from a specific point of the first tetragon, pixels are lit in order of decreasing distance from the specific point, and a rectangular pattern functioning as a binarization-use pattern is generated.
US08493624B2
A method for forming a halftone image on recording media includes providing a recording head comprising a plurality of individually addressable recording channels. The recording head forms a plurality of image swaths, with each swath formed during a separate scan. A plurality of locations is identified within a representative unit cell of the halftone image. A quantified value for each location is determined based on a sub-scan misalignment associated with a proposed merging of two image swaths at the location corresponding to the quantified value. A merge location is selected from the plurality of locations, corresponding to a desired quantified values. The recording head forms the halftone image on the recording media while merging a first image swath and a second image swath at the selected merge location within a first unit cell of the halftone image.
US08493614B2
At least certain embodiments of the disclosures relate to methods and data processing systems for matching a source profile to a destination profile. In one embodiment, a method includes providing a destination test chart and a corresponding first source test chart with each test chart having color patches. The method includes adjusting the source profile to substantially match a known or an unknown destination profile in response to receiving an input for visually matching an adjustable white color patch of the first source test chart to a corresponding white color patch of the destination test chart. The method includes progressively generating a second source test chart having modified at least some and possibly all color patches compared to the first displayed test chart based on applying a first transformation to the source profile in response to visually matching the white color patch.
US08493612B2
A method and system for predicting expansion difficulty and an expansion time required to perform print-time imaging operations. A print-ready compressed file may be generated by raster image processing of a job description file associated with a rendering job provided by a digital front end. The expansion time with respect to one or more expansion processes may be predicted by a linear equation during assembly of the compressed file. The linear equation may be formulated based on measured compression statistics that relate to profile data within the compressed file. The total expansion time with respect to the rendering job may be then computed by summing the results of the linear equations. The expansion time to perform the print-time imaging operations may be compared with an available time based on an image output terminal speed to improve performance of raster image processing.
US08493610B2
This invention is made to solve the problem that the conventional method cannot correctly determine whether an original is a halftone. To solve this, a method according to this invention detects, from an original, first and second feature pixels respectively exhibiting first and second features. A first feature pixel to first feature pixel distance and second feature pixel to second feature pixel distance are calculated from neighboring first feature pixels and neighboring second feature pixels, respectively. The average of the first feature pixel to first feature pixel distance and the neighboring second feature pixel to second feature pixel distance is calculated as a feature pixel to feature pixel distance. A histogram is generated by the appearance count of only a feature pixel to feature pixel distance for which the same value successively appears. Whether the read original is a halftone is discriminated based on this histogram.
US08493603B2
A job processing method in a printing system having a printing apparatus which can accept a plurality of kinds of print jobs, wherein a print stop request of a print job which is to be printed by the printing apparatus is enabled by a user via a user interface section; and if a print job which is an object of a print stop is a print job which requires printing for a plurality of copies, the print stop processing of the print job is enabled by the printing apparatus in the print stop processing method based on a request from a user inputted via said user interface section in a plurality of kinds of print stop processing methods which can be executed in the printing apparatus.
US08493602B2
A management system includes an image forming apparatus and a monitoring apparatus. The monitoring apparatus includes a determination unit configured to determine whether the image forming apparatus has a transmission control function for performing change of a transmission destination of collected operational information, a transmission unit configured to transmit to the image forming apparatus having the transmission control function, a command for setting the monitoring apparatus as a transmission destination of the operational information, and transmission setting in which a scheme for acquiring counter information related to charging is set, and a scheme for acquiring failure information is set, and a verification unit configured to verify matching in the counter information. The image forming apparatus is configured to perform transmission of the operational information to the monitoring apparatus in accordance with the command and the transmission setting.
US08493599B2
A printing apparatus includes a generation unit configured to generate first print data and second print data based on input print data, a printing unit configured to generate first image data by executing image processing on the first print data generated by the generation unit and to print the generated first image data on a sheet, a transmission unit configured to transmit the second print data generated by the generation unit to another printing apparatus connected to the printing apparatus, and a conveyance unit configured, in order to print the second print data transmitted by the transmission unit, to convey the sheet having the first image data printed thereon by the printing unit to the another printing apparatus.
US08493595B2
Each page in document images is divided into regions. Attribute information is assigned to each divided region. Character recognition is performed for a region having a caption attribute, thereby obtaining character information. Metadata of an object is extracted from a region containing an expression synonymous with the character information. Even when the object and metadata exist in different pages, the metadata is associated with the object. The document image is transmitted for each page. Finally, the metadata is transmitted.
US08493589B2
Disclosed is an image forming system including: a plurality of image forming apparatuses provided in a series so that each of the plurality of image forming apparatuses form an image on a sheet of paper, wherein the plurality of image forming apparatuses each include: an image forming section; and a control section which, when a predetermined adjustment condition occurs, stops an image forming operation, performs a predetermined adjustment, resumes the image forming operation after the adjustment is complete, and performs a notification that the adjustment is performed to the other image forming apparatus when the adjustment is performed, and when there is a notification that the adjustment is performed from the other image forming apparatus, the control section stops the driving of the image forming section and puts the image forming section in a driving stopped state while the adjustment is performed in the other image forming apparatus.
US08493587B2
A printing device includes a control device configured to receive a cancellation request instruction, receive a confirmation instruction for confirming each printing job to be cancelled or not, set the printing job in the queue to be in a stop condition if receiving the cancellation request instruction, and delete from the queue the printing job if receiving the confirmation instruction for the printing job. The control device further determines whether the job receiving device receives another new printing job during an instruction waiting period from a time when receiving confirmation instruction, and controls the printing device to print the other new printing job prior to printing of the printing job registered in the queue, if the job receiving device receives the other new printing job.
US08493584B2
An information processing apparatus configured to transmit print data to a printing apparatus to perform printing includes a determination unit configured to determine whether a selected complex print setting including a plurality of setting values requires resolution of a conflict of setting values, and an execution unit configured to execute print processing using the setting values without performing conflict resolution of the setting values, if the determination unit determines that the complex setting does not require the conflict resolution of the setting values, and execute print processing using the setting values that have undergone the conflict resolution of the setting values, if the determination unit determines that the complex setting requires the conflict resolution of the setting values.
US08493581B2
A method of creating an electronic document is disclosed that is able to maintain confidentiality and prevent leakage (unauthorized disclosure) of contents of the electronic document. The method includes the steps of sustaining plural combinations of first data sets and second data sets respectively corresponding to the first data sets in advance; obtaining a first data set and a second data set via a verification data input field provided on a predetermined page of a document opened and displayed in response to an instruction input from in input unit for opening the document; and performing, when the first data set and the second data set are in agreement with one of the combinations, at least one of an operation of not displaying a first object in which content of the document is shielded, an operation of displaying a second object which includes the content of the document, and an operation of loading the input first data set into a third object able to display the first data set, and displaying the third object.
US08493571B2
A laser-optical position detecting module with a laser as a light source is disclosed, which includes a laser mode conversing assembly, having a laser source capable of emitting a time-modulated laser beam; a laser mode conversing unit, used to expand the time-modulated laser beam to a two-dimension sensing plane; a drive control unit, adopted for driving the laser source to emit the time-modulated laser beam; and a detector matrix. The laser mode conversing unit has a phase delay device and a passive optical device capable of reflecting the light; so that, through the laser mode conversing unit, the laser-optical position detecting module can expand the light emitted by the laser source to the two-dimension sensing plane without using any other mechanical scanning.
US08493568B2
The present invention relates to an optical imaging apparatus and a method, and more particularly to an optical imaging apparatus and a method with short coherence length optical source. The apparatus comprises an optical source with a plurality of outputs for providing a reference light and a sample light; a sample probe module for leading the sample light to a sample, and leading an information light out; an interference module for leading the reference light to a photo detector, and leading the information light to the photo detector; and a signal processing unit electrically coupled to the photo detector; wherein the reference light and the information light are superimposed on the photo detector, an interference light pattern is detected by the photo detector, and a signal that represents the interference light pattern is transmitted to said signal processing unit for analyzing the spatial information of the sample.
US08493565B1
A small internal volume cell having fluid entry, and exit ports wherein at least one bubble trap is present in a fluid pathway which is continuous with the fluid exit port. There further being present an input/output aperture, for entering and exiting electromagnetic radiation, positioned to allow causing an input beam of electromagnetic radiation to impinge on a sample substrate at a location thereon at which, during use, fluid contacts; and a mirror for directing electromagnetic radiation which reflects from said sample substrate, toward and out of said input/output aperture; as well as methodology of its use.
US08493562B2
Optical device with superimposed photonic circuits, for coupling to an optical waveguide.Said device comprises a substrate (44) and, on said substrate, an integrated photonic circuit (46) adapted to be coupled to at least one optical waveguide (48) which transmits a light signal (50) and for processing said signal. According to the invention, the circuit comprises two superimposed elementary integrated photonic circuits (52, 54), each of which is adapted to be coupled to a given polarization state of the signal and to process this state. The invention applies particularly to optical telecommunications.
US08493561B2
A device for on-site measurement of concentration of uranium in high temperature molten salts is provided. More particularly, this device can be directly applied to a pyroprocess for reusing spent nuclear fuel and determine concentration of uranium 3+ and 4+ chemical species using ultraviolet-visible light absorption spectrometry. The device includes first and second optical waveguides submerged in molten salts including uranium through a port formed at an upper side of a pyrochemical process apparatus; a lengthwise driver installed at the port to be operated to adjust a distance between the optical waveguides; a light source for supplying light to the second optical waveguide as any one of the optical waveguides; and a spectrometer connected to the first optical waveguide as the other one of the optical waveguides to analyze the light emitted from the second optical waveguide and introduced through the first optical waveguide via the molten salts.
US08493560B2
A sensor for determining the presence or concentration of a target entity in a medium is described, and includes (a) an optical waveguide; (b) a microresonator optically coupled with the optical waveguide such that light within the optical waveguide induces a resonant mode within the microresonator at an equator region (or a mode volume); and (c) at least one plasmonic nanoparticle adsorbed onto a surface area of the microresonator within the equator region (or the mode volume) such that light inducing a resonant mode within the microresonator also causes a plasmonic resonance in the at least one plasmonic nanoparticle. Detection methods for using such sensors are also described. Finally, methods, involving the use of carousel forces, for fabricating such sensors are also described.
US08493555B2
A distributed Brillouin optical fiber sensing system employs a sensing optical fiber that supports two or more (i.e., few) guided modes. Pump light supported by one of the guided modes is used to form a dynamic Brillouin grating (DBG). Probe light supported by at least one of the other guided modes interacts with the DBG to form reflected probe light that is received and analyzed to determine a Brillouin frequency shift and a reflection location, which in turn allows for making a measurement of at least one condition along the sensing optical fiber. Supporting the pump and probe light in different guided modes results in the optical fiber sensing system having a higher spatial resolution than sensing systems where the pump light and probe light share a common guided mode.
US08493544B2
Digital cinema exhibition facilities make use of a show play list (SPL) specifying a time sequence of the events to occur during the presentation of digital cinema content. One or more cues in the show play list trigger certain activities, such as displacing the screen curtain and dimming the house lights. To achieve an aesthetic, showman-like presentation, the cues in the show play undergo re-cuing. For each cue, a determination is made automatically of the prefire interval, that is, the interval by which the cue should be advanced. The execution the cue to trigger a corresponding activity is advanced by the automatically determined pre-fire interval.
US08493538B2
A flat display panel comprises a plurality of driver ICs and one or more flexible printed circuit, a plurality of common wires formed on the substrate to electrically connect the ICs to the one or more flexible printed circuit, and at least one anisotropic conductive film that connects respective connecting terminals of the driver ICs and flexible printed circuit to terminals pads of the common wires. The anisotropic conductive film is laminated over the substrate to cover the terminal pads. The driver ICs and flexible printed circuit are aligned and attached on the anisotropic conductive layer by thermocompression bonding.
US08493534B2
A liquid crystal display device including first and second substrates and a liquid crystal layer therebetween. The device also includes a plurality of gate bus lines, and a plurality of drain bus lines that intersect the gate bus lines, as well as a plurality of pixel regions defined by the gate and drain bus lines. Additionally, the device includes a thin film transistor and a resin color filter layer formed in each of the pixel regions. There is a pixel electrode formed in each of the pixel regions on the resin color filter layer that includes a slit extending in parallel with an edge of the pixel region and a plurality of finer slits diagonally extending from the slit. Finally, the device includes a common electrode formed on the second substrate, and a vertical alignment film applied to each of surfaces of the substrates.
US08493531B2
A display device is provided which includes a base body having a pixel area in which pixels are disposed in a matrix, an organic planarizing film composed of an organic film and provided on the base body, a dry-etched film provided on the organic planarizing film and formed by dry etching, a conductive film provided on the dry-etched film, and an organic film-removed area in which the organic planarizing film is removed outside the periphery of the pixel area. In the above display device, the dry-etched film or a film provided before the dry-etched film is formed is terminated in the organic film-removed area.
US08493528B2
A liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal cell including a liquid crystal layer twist-aligned at 90° sandwiched between a pair of substrates, first and second polarizing layers arranged to sandwich the liquid crystal cell therebetween so that their absorption axes set to parallel with directions crossing aligning treatment directions of the substrates at 45°, and viewing angle compensating plates respectively arranged between the polarizing layers and the liquid crystal cell. A total value of retardations in a thickness direction, defined as a value of a product of a phase difference within a plane perpendicular to substrate surfaces of the liquid crystal cell and a layer thickness, of optical layers present between the polarizing layers is set to a value that substantially cancels out a retardation in a liquid crystal layer thickness direction when a saturation voltage is applied to the liquid crystal layer.
US08493527B2
The liquid crystal panel according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a liquid crystal cell, a first polarizing plate placed on one side of the liquid crystal cell, a second polarizing plate and a third polarizing plate placed on the other side of the liquid crystal cell in an order starting from a side of the liquid crystal cell, and a retardation plate (A) placed between the liquid crystal cell and the second polarizing plate, wherein a refractive index ellipsoid of the retardation plate (A) has a relationship of nx≧ny>nz, a difference (ΔT2−1=T2−T1) between a transmittance (T2) of the second polarizing plate and a transmittance (T1) of the first polarizing plate is larger than 0%, a difference (ΔT3−2=T3−T2) between a transmittance (T3) of the third polarizing plate and a transmittance (T2) of the second polarizing plate is 4.0% to 7.5%, and the third polarizing plate is a linearly polarized light separation type reflective polarizing plate.
US08493525B2
A thin film transistor array panel includes: a substrate; a gate line and a storage electrode that are disposed on the substrate; a data line that crosses the gate line and storage electrode line; a thin film transistor that is connected with the gate line and data line; and a pixel electrode that is connected to the thin film transistor. The storage electrode includes a first storage electrode that is parallel to the gate line, second storage electrodes that extend on opposing sides of the data line from the first storage electrode, a connection part that crosses the data line and connects pairs of the second storage electrodes, and a connection bridge that crosses the gate line and connects a second storage electrode to a second storage electrode of an adjacent pixel.
US08493518B2
An LCD with an integrated touch panel that prevents sensor malfunction by eliminating coupling noises includes an insulating substrate, a plurality of gate lines formed on the insulating substrate so as to extend in a first direction, a plurality of data lines formed in a second direction so as to intersect the plurality of gate lines, a plurality of thin film transistors (TFTs), each formed at an area defined by the gate lines and the data lines, a plurality of sensor lines formed in the same directions as the gate lines and the data lines, and a plurality of dummy lines formed in the same directions as the sensor lines.
US08493515B2
A television adapter includes first and second conversion circuits, a switch unit, and a high definition television (HDTV) interface. The first conversion circuit includes a digital to analog (D/A) converter and a coupler. The second conversion circuit includes an analog to digital (A/D) converter and a decoupler. When the switch unit connects the first conversion circuit to the HDTV interface, the D/A converter converts a first digital signal from the HDTV interface into a first analog form data. The coupler couples the first analog form data to a first alternating current (AC) voltage. When the switch unit connects the second conversion circuit to the HDTV interface, the decoupler decouples and separates a second AC voltage into a second analog form data. The A/D converter converts the second analog form data into a second digital signal, and outputs the second digital signal to the HDTV interface.
US08493513B2
Techniques and tools for high accuracy position calculation for picture resizing in applications such as spatially-scalable video coding and decoding are described. In one aspect, resampling of a video picture is performed according to a resampling scale factor. The resampling comprises computation of a sample value at a position i, j in a resampled array. The computation includes computing a derived horizontal or vertical sub-sample position x or y in a manner that involves approximating a value in part by multiplying a 2n value by an inverse (approximate or exact) of the upsampling scale factor. The approximating can be a rounding or some other kind of approximating, such as a ceiling or floor function that approximates to a nearby integer. The sample value is interpolated using a filter.
US08493512B2
In a television display state, a television image is displayed on the whole of a screen. In an intermediate display state, an intermediate launcher image is displayed on the screen. The intermediate launcher image includes an intermediate frame having a perspective shape of the screen. A television image the vertical and horizontal sizes of which are reduced is displayed in the intermediate frame. In a launcher display state, a last launcher image is displayed on the screen. The last launcher image includes a display frame having a perspective shape of the screen. A television image having further reduced vertical and horizontal sizes is displayed in the display frame.
US08493506B2
An imaging device unit completely removing dust attached to an optical device and an imaging apparatus. The imaging device includes: an imaging device including an imaging surface on which an optical image of a subject is formed and converting the optical image into an electric signal; a low pass filter (LPF) disposed between the imaging device and the subject; a plate mounted on a peripheral portion of the LPF and including arm units extending in a direction parallel to the plate; a piezoelectric device mounted on the plate and vibrating the plate and the LPF; and a support frame that surface-contacts with the arm units of the plate and supports the plate in the direction parallel to the one surface of the plate.
US08493503B2
An imaging apparatus includes a photoelectric conversion element package, a chassis member arranged at a position opposite a rear surface of the photoelectric conversion element package, a wiring member electrically connected to the photoelectric conversion element package. The wiring member has an opening that exposes the rear surface of the photoelectric conversion element package. The wiring member is arranged between the rear surface of the photoelectric conversion element package and the chassis member. The imaging apparatus further includes a heat conduction member configured to contact the rear surface of the photoelectric conversion element package, exposed by the opening, and the chassis member.
US08493501B2
A scene-aware auto-exposure control process stabilizes changes in a camera's auto-exposure settings so as to reduce lighting and color flicker during image capture operations. A metric, referred to as the Modified Adjusted Luminance (MAL) metric, is defined to remain relatively constant as long as the lighting of the scene being captured remains relatively constant. Thus, scene changes such as an object moving into, out of, or around in a scene do not significantly affect the MAL metric's value and do not, therefore, trigger an exposure adjustment. Once the MAL metric indicates a scene's lighting is stable, the camera's auto-exposure operation may be suppressed. As long as incoming frames indicate a stable lighting condition (based on the MAL metric), auto-exposure operation may remain suppressed. When incoming frames result in a substantially different MAL over a specified number of frames, auto-exposure operation may be restored.
US08493499B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide a video encoding system in which a video coding engine establishes coding quality metrics that govern its own operation as well as the operation of a camera and/or a pre-processor. An imaging system may include an image acquisition system, a pre-processor and a coding engine. The coding engine may output a quality indicator identifying, for each portion of a video sequence currently being coded, a relatively level of coding quality that is being achieved. The imaging system further may include an image acquisition controller and a pre-processor controller that impose respective operating parameters upon the image acquisition system and the pre-processor in response to these quality indicators. In this manner, overall performance of the imaging system may be improved.
US08493491B2
Charge packets are transferred from a pixel array in an image sensor to a horizontal shift register. Each charge packet is shifted to a non-destructive sense node. Each charge packet is non-destructively sensed and a signal representative of a number of charge carriers in the charge packet is produced. Respective charge packets are directed to a charge multiplying output channel when the signal representative of the number of charge carriers in each charge packet indicates the charge packet will not saturate the charge multiplying horizontal shift register. Respective charge packets are directed to a charge bypass output channel or an amplifier when the signal representative of the number of charge carriers in each charge packet indicates the charge packet will saturate the charge multiplying horizontal shift register.
US08493489B2
Disclosed herein is a solid-state imaging device, including: a pixel array unit configured to be formed by two-dimensionally arranging unit pixels each having a photoelectric converter, a charge-voltage converter, a reset transistor to set the charge-voltage converter to a predetermined potential, and an amplification transistor to read out a signal converted by the charge-voltage converter; a signal processor configured to process a signal output from the unit pixel by using a reference voltage; and a setter configured to set a reset level obtained from a second unit pixel from which a signal level has been already read out as the reference voltage of the signal processor before readout of a signal level based on a signal charge accumulated or retained in the charge-voltage converter from a first unit pixel.
US08493487B2
In a photoelectric conversion apparatus having a plurality of unit cells, wherein each of the unit cells has a photoelectric conversion element, a transfer transistor and a floating diffusion region, a light shielding portion arranged on an upper portion of the floating diffusion region is included. The respective light shielding portions are separated from one another, and are in a floating state without being electrically connected to the floating diffusion region.
US08493483B2
An image sensor includes a plurality of pixels, a plurality of sense circuits, and a count circuit. Each sense circuit is configured to read out electrical signals from at least one pixel associated with the sense circuit in order to generate data representing whether or not photons have been received by the sense circuit. The count circuit is in communication with a sense circuit selected from the plurality of sense circuits. The count circuit is configured to provide integration results for the pixels associated with the sense circuits based on the data received from the sense circuits.
US08493482B2
Various techniques are provided for processing image data acquired using a digital image sensor. In accordance with aspects of the present disclosure, one such technique may relate to the processing of image data in a system that supports multiple image sensors. In one embodiment, the image processing system may include control circuitry configured to determine whether a device is operating in a single sensor mode (one active sensor) or a dual sensor mode (two active sensors). When operating in the single sensor mode, data may be provided directly to a front-end pixel processing unit from the sensor interface of the active sensor. When operating in a dual sensor mode, the image frames from the first and second sensors are provided to the front-end pixel processing unit in an interleaved manner. For instance, in one embodiment, the image frames from the first and second sensors are written to a memory, and then read out to the front-end pixel processing unit in an interleaved manner.
US08493480B2
A signal conversion apparatus which converts an input signal x from an image sensor into an output signal y by a function relation represented by Expression 1: y = f ( x ) = ∫ b x [ 1 / r ( ξ ) ] ⅆ ξ ( 1 ) where b is a predetermined constant, ξ is an integration variable corresponding to a value of the input signal x, and r(ξ) is a quantization step function before removal of a noise of the input signal x, which determines an increment of the input signal x to an increment of the output signal y.
US08493474B2
An image sensor IC may have a non-volatile memory for several functions. The functions may include storing control parameters for a camera autofocus module, part tracking data, and data for defect correction or color science. The non-volatile memory can in particular be an antifuse non-volatile memory, which may not need special light shielding.
US08493473B2
An automated RAW image processing method and system are disclosed. A RAW image and metadata related to the RAW image are obtained from a digital camera or other source. The RAW image and the related metadata are automatically processed using an Operating System service of a processing device to produce a resulting image in an absolute color space. The resulting image is then made available to an application program executing on the processing device through an application program interface with the Operating System service.
US08493463B2
A spectral characteristic correction apparatus correcting a spectral characteristic characterizing a color signal including a plurality of chrominance signals includes: a correction coefficient calculating unit calculating, on the basis of a basic color signal corresponding to each of a plurality of basic colors calculated from a color signal obtained by photographing a plurality of color patches, for example, and on a predetermined reference color signal corresponding to the basic color signal, a correction coefficient for performing correction for approximating the basic color signal to the reference color signal; and a spectral characteristic correcting unit correcting a spectral characteristic characterizing the basic color signal by using the correction coefficient calculated by the correction coefficient calculating unit.
US08493462B2
In an image processing apparatus, a still image immediately before a moving image is photographed is divisionally encoded in correspondence to a slice area of the moving image, and a compression table of the slice area in one frame of the moving image is determined based on a compressed data amount of corresponding divisional encoding of the still image. Thus, the image processing apparatus determines the compression table for each slice area of the moving image so that constant compressed data amount for one entire frame of the moving image is attained without performing a trial compression.
US08493461B2
A precision motion platform carrying an imaging device under a large-field-coverage lens enables capture of high resolution imagery over the full field in an instantaneous telephoto mode and wide-angle coverage through temporal integration. The device permits automated tracking and scanning without movement of a camera body or lens. Coupled use of two or more devices enables automated range computation without the need for subsequent epipolar rectification. The imager motion enables sample integration for resolution enhancement. The control methods for imager positioning enable decreasing the blur caused by both the motion of the moving imager or the motion of an object's image that the imager is intended to capture.
US08493450B2
The invention provides a system capable of printing in a simple manner by detecting the connection of a printer and shifting to a print mode in response to the detection of the printer.
US08493446B2
A system and method for intelligently controlling headlights receive a multiplicity of images that represent frames of a video sequence of an external environment of a vehicle. At least one bright spot, or blob, is found that stands out from a dark background of the external environment within each frame of the multiplicity of images. A multiplicity of features is extracted from a found blob. A type is recognized of a found blob that is selected from a multiplicity of types of blobs. A determination is then made whether to turn on a high beam light or a low beam light based at least on the recognized type of the found blob and a set of rules. Finally, an action based on such decision is performed.
US08493444B2
Embodiments include systems and methods of detecting a blocked aperture in an image device. In certain embodiments, the system and method is used in mail processing of letters and flats. In certain embodiments, the image sensor captures an image of the front of an item. If the aperture of the image sensor is obstructed, a void will appear on the image of the item. The system can detect the void and increment an alarm count until a pre-defined threshold is reached wherein the system signals an alarm so that the blockage can be removed and the affected items can be re-introduced for correct processing. In another embodiment, images obtained when the aperture is expected to be clear of any items.
US08493434B2
A system configured to support video formatting without a priori knowledge of video formatting requirements of a display device. The system relies on video information transmitted from the display device to a source device to facilitate determining the video formatting requirements of the display device. The system can be used within any television network, gaming network, and content sourcing network where it may be advantageous to deploy a source device that can support formatting requirements for a plurality of different display types.
US08493424B2
A printer includes a platen roller, a motor configured to rotate the platen roller, and a frame configured to rotatably support the platen roller, the motor being mounted to the frame, wherein the motor has a shaft and a face that is in contact with the frame, and the face has a flange at a periphery thereof and a boss around the shaft, wherein the frame has a U-letter-shape opening into which the boss of the motor is insertable in a direction perpendicular to an axis of the shaft, and also has a fitting part in which the flange of the motor is engaged, and wherein the motor is fixedly positioned by the boss being inserted into the U-letter-shape opening of the frame and by the flange being engaged in the fitting part.
US08493423B2
[Problem] There are provided a thermal recording head capable of making proper operation of a converter, and a thermal recording apparatus including the same.[Solution] A thermal recording head (10) of the invention is driven on a basis of a first control signal and includes a head substrate (20) including heat generating elements (23a), a wiring substrate (30) including, on its surface, a wiring pattern (312) for transmission of the first control signal, and a mount substrate (40) disposed facing a back surface of the head substrate (20) and a back surface of the wiring substrate (30) and configured to mount the head substrate (20) and the wiring substrate (30). On the surface of the head substrate (20) is placed a control element (27) electrically connected to the heat generating elements (23a) and configured to control driving of the heat generating elements (23a). On the surface of the wiring substrate (30) is placed a converter (323) electrically connected to the wiring pattern (312) and configured to convert the first control signal into a second control signal. The mount substrate (41) is spaced away from a corresponding region at the back surface of the wiring substrate (30) that corresponds to a fourth placement area (40d) bearing the converter (323) on the surface of the wiring substrate (30).
US08493421B2
Packages are manufactured in a digitally controlled process. A digital printing machine (101) produces printed workpieces and a cutting machine (104) cuts packaging blanks (105) from them. A conveyor line (107) transfers the printed work-pieces automatically from the digital printing machine (101) to the cutting machine (104). A digital control system (109) exchanges digital control information with at least the digital printing machine (101) and the cutting machine (104).
US08493416B2
An image processor includes an image accepting unit, an image moving amount accepting unit, an initial estimated image generating unit, an estimated image moving and reducing unit, a unit extracting a difference between an image processed by the moving and reducing unit and the images accepted by the image accepting unit, a unit moving and enlarging, in the opposite direction of the moving and reducing unit, an image processed by the difference extracting unit, a unit adding and accumulating an image processed by the moving and enlarging unit, a unit multiplying a given coefficient by an image processed by the accumulative adding unit, and an iterating unit iterating processing by the moving and reducing unit, the difference extracting unit, the moving and enlarging unit, the accumulative adding unit and the coefficient multiplying unit according to a given condition.
US08493414B2
In a terminal device, when application screens of a plurality of types of applications are being displayed individually and the display directions thereof differ from each other, a control section selects any one of the plurality of types of applications as a reference for display control, and orients the display direction of an application that is not the control reference to the display direction of an application that is the control reference. That is, when the display direction of an application displayed on one display section is changed from a vertical direction to a horizontal direction, the display direction of an application displayed on another display section is changed from the vertical direction to the horizontal direction so as to follow the foregoing change.
US08493410B2
A simulation method and system. A computing system receives a first audio and/or video data stream. The first audio and/or video data stream includes data associated with a first person. The computing system monitors the first audio and/or video data stream. The computing system identifies emotional attributes comprised by the first audio and/or video data stream. The computing system generates a second audio and/or video data stream associated with the first audio and/or video data stream. The second audio and/or video data stream includes the data without the emotional attributes. The computing system stores the second audio and/or video data stream.
US08493406B2
The rendering on a user interface of a potentially complex computerized scene generation system. The user interface includes visual item(s) that have associated data. In addition, another set of visual items may be driven by data provided to input parameters, and may represent elements in the scene. Through user gestures, a user may correlate data items in the data source visual items with the element visual items to thereby automatically populate the element visual items with data, affecting the rendering of the data-driven element visual items. The element visual items might be linked, once again, perhaps through user gestures, to a parent visual item. In so doing, properties of the parent visual item might change and/or input parameters of the element visual items might change. Accordingly, complex visual scenes may be created through potentially quite simple user gestures.
US08493404B2
This disclosure describes techniques for rendering pixels on a display. A processing unit may receive pixel values for surface pixels of each surface of a plurality of surface. The processing unit may also receive an order of the plurality of surfaces. Based on at least the location and order of the plurality surfaces, the processing unit may blend pixel values for co-located surface pixels. The processing unit may also accumulate opaqueness values for co-located surface pixels and/or opaqueness values for surfaces with co-located surface pixels.
US08493403B2
Color transformation sample point identification is described. A subset of points from a superset of points representing a colorimetric relationship is identified. The subset of points defines an initial n-simplex with (n+1) points representing an approximation of the colorimetric relationship, where n represents a number of dimensions. An additional point from the superset of points is selected and added to the subset of points to replace the n-simplex with a set of at least two n-simplices. The additional point is selected such that a volume of an (n+1)-simplex formed by the (n+1) points of the initial n-simplex and the additional point is increased. An error value for the approximation is determined by calculating an error volume between the (n+1)-simplex and the superset of points.
US08493390B2
Methods and systems for adapting a display screen output based on a display user's attention. Gaze direction tracking is employed to determine a sub-region of a display screen area to which a user is attending. Display of the attended sub-region is modified relative to the remainder of the display screen, for example, by changing the quantity of data representing an object displayed within the attended sub-region relative to an object displayed in an unattended sub-region of the display screen.
US08493389B2
The invention relates to a system (100) for determining a feedback on a three-dimensional location of a pointer in a three-dimensional region of image data, the system comprising: a display unit (110) for computing a view of the three-dimensional region for displaying on a display; a pointer unit (115) for computing a two-dimensional location of the pointer on the view of the three-dimensional region, based on a pointer location input; a location unit (120) for computing a three-dimensional location in the three-dimensional region, based on a two-dimensional location on the view of the three-dimensional region; and a shadow unit (125) for determining a set of two-dimensional locations for displaying a shadow on the view of the three-dimensional region, wherein the set of two-dimensional locations for displaying the shadow comprises the two-dimensional location of the pointer on the view of the three-dimensional region, and wherein a set of three-dimensional locations, computed based on the set of two-dimensional locations for displaying the shadow, is connected. Typically, the connected set of candidate three-dimensional locations comprising the three-dimensional location of the pointer is comprised in a structure indicated by the pointer. Therefore, the determined feedback on a three-dimensional pointer location on a view of the three-dimensional region of the image data improves clarity and decreases ambiguity of indicating a 3D location on the structure.
US08493386B2
Systems and methods of virtual world interaction, operation, implementation, instantiation, creation, and other functions related to virtual worlds (note that where the term “virtual world” is used herein, it is to be understood as referring to virtual world systems, virtual environments reflecting real, simulated, fantasy, or other structures, and includes information systems that utilize interaction within a 3D environment). Various embodiments facilitate interoperation between and within virtual worlds, and may provide consistent structures for operating virtual worlds. The disclosed embodiments may further enable individuals to build new virtual worlds within a framework, and allow third party users to better interact with those worlds.
US08493378B2
In general, the invention relates to a method for performing polygon dissections in a geographic information system. The method includes receiving a notification of a spatial update for a number of polygons, where each of the number of polygons overlaps at least one of a number of previously dissected polygons, determining that a dissection is required based on the spatial update, and obtaining an updated polygon, associated with the spatial update, and related polygons of the number of polygons, where each of the related polygons overlaps the updated polygon. The method further includes dissecting the updated polygon and the related polygons to obtain a number of dissected polygons and replacing at least one of the number of previously dissected polygons with the number of dissected polygons, where the at least one of the number of previously dissected polygons is invalid based on the spatial update.
US08493374B2
A method and system for a software driver of a graphics controller to work with a display codec. The software driver may be configured to work with different display codecs at different periods of time while using a default configuration. Other embodiments are also described.
US08493372B2
An image display apparatus includes: a circuit board integrally formed with a driving element for driving a display element and a light receiving sensor for receiving light; a light change structure provided in a region of the circuit board, in which the light receiving sensor is formed, and includes a light change material that selectively changes a light receiving amount of the light receiving sensor by moving by itself according to an attitude with respect to a direction of gravitational force; and an attitude determining unit that determines the attitude based on the light receiving amount of the light receiving sensor.
US08493361B2
A touch type display device includes: a flat panel display module; a plurality of infrared light emitting units disposed on a portion or on the entirety of the edge of the flat panel display module; an infrared camera disposed on at least two corners of the flat panel display module; and a band pass filter allowing light of a certain wavelength band in light emitted from the infrared light emitting units to pass therethrough so as to be supplied to the infrared camera.
US08493360B2
A system comprises a processing device, a signal generator to generate a first signal and a single receiver to receive a second signal from a capacitive sense array. The single receiver is configured to process the second signal for stylus sensing of a stylus proximate to the capacitive sense array in a first mode of operation and to process the second signal for touch sensing of a passive touch object proximate to the capacitive sense array in a second mode of operation. The second signal is unsynchronized with the first signal.
US08493359B2
A system comprising a sensing device and a capacitive sense array configured to track the position of a stylus and synchronize the capacitive sense array to the stylus transmit signal. The system is configured to track the position of both a stylus and a passive touch object. The system is further configured to track the position of the stylus using self capacitance sensing and track the position of the passive touch object using mutual capacitance sensing. The system further configured to modulate the stylus transmit signal to include additional data to support additional stylus functions.
US08493346B2
Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to touch interfaces and provide a novel and non-obvious method, system and computer program product for generating touch interface displays. In one embodiment of the invention, a computer-implemented method for generating touch interface displays at a communication device with a touch interface includes initiating a set of calibration exercises, providing a set of instructions to a user of the communication device, receiving calibration data at the touch interface, analyzing the received calibration data to determine if the calibration is complete, repeating said providing and receiving steps until the calibration is complete and generating a touch interface display based on the received calibration data. The computer-implemented method can further include receiving use data for each key touch of the touch interface, defining a set of averages over time for finger skin touch area, finger size data and finger position and automatically resizing, reshaping and repositioning at least one key of the touch interface display based on the defined set of averages.
US08493343B2
A method for reducing noise of a touch panel includes: generating a detection signal including at least one contact region; generating a combination noise region including at least a portion of the at least one contact region; and generating a final detection signal. The generating the final detection signal includes removing the combination noise region from the detection signal.
US08493333B2
A method of displaying information in a mobile terminal having a touch screen is provided. The method includes determining whether a touch input is generated by a touch screen, determining whether a touch area moves, calculating a movement direction of the touch area by extracting a value of the touch area movement, determining a current mode according to the calculated movement direction of the touch area, executing a function of the current mode corresponding to the extracted value of the touch area movement, and displaying, while executing the function of the current mode, at least one of a displacement value generated by executing the function of the current mode and a current mode icon indicating the current mode. Accordingly, when displaying information according to a touch input, changes of information may be displayed distinctively, and thereby user convenience may be improved.
US08493325B2
A reconfigurable user input device for use with an electronic video apparatus, such as a video game console, educational console or computer suitable for use by both left and right handed users. The multifunction user device further includes a base housing, a first input device and a second input device separated by a rotatable arm member mounted upon the base housing. A rotation mechanism is affixed between the rotatable arm member and the base housing permitting the arm member to rotate about a center axis to, in turn, permit the first input device and second input device to be respectively located alternatively to the left side or the right side of the housing.
US08493315B2
A display assembly comprising a backlight unit having at least two optical waveguide elements lying alongside one another, and configured such that light is emitted with a greater brightness in a boundary region of the optical waveguide elements than outside the boundary regions, a display unit arranged such that during operation of the display assembly light emitted by the backlight unit impinges on a rear side of the display unit, a diffuser layer arranged between the backlight unit and the display unit, and a control unit that compensates for a greater brightness in the boundary regions by adapted driving of the display unit.
US08493308B2
A source driver includes a plurality of first data channel pairs, a plurality of second data channel pairs, a first switch group, a second switch group, a third switch group, and a fourth switch group. Each of the first data channel pairs includes a first odd channel and a first even channel. The channels outputting voltages having the same polarity are short circuited together through the switch groups during a charge sharing period. As a result, the swings of the voltages of data lines coupled the corresponding channel are reduced, and further power consumption in the source driver could be reduced as compared with the related art.
US08493307B2
To realize a random number generating circuit that is optimum for a liquid crystal display device that is used in a terminal device that includes a display/input component. A liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal display panel, a control circuit and a random number generating circuit, the random number generating circuit comprises plural shift registers, an output circuit and a register that stores an initial value, and the random number generating circuit is equipped with plural initial values, whereby the randomness of the random numbers is improved. Further, it becomes possible to increase and output frequencies by the output circuit because it is possible to output respectively different random numbers from the plural shift registers.
US08493305B2
An image processing unit (2 in FIG. 1) discards a high gray level side of input image data (RiGiBi) in accordance with a chroma coefficient (Csc), thereby to generate a signal of lowered chroma, and it expands the signal into output image data (RoGoBo) of full scale. Besides, the image processing unit (2) generates an image adjustment parameter (Th) and performs a control so as to reduce power of backlight (6), in interlocking with the full-scale expansion.
US08493303B2
A control driver for a liquid crystal display panel includes: an operation circuit, an LUT (Look-up Table), and a linear interpolation D/A converter. The operation circuit performs a certain operation on input image data to generate operation data, and outputs higher order bit data and lower order bit data of the operation data. The LUT includes a V-T (Voltage-Transmittance) characteristic of the liquid crystal display panel, and outputs first output data and second output data as display data based on the higher order bit data and the V-T characteristic. The linear interpolation D/A converter performs an linear interpolation operation and D/A conversion to generate output voltage supplied to the liquid crystal display panel in response to the first output data, the second output data and the lower order bit data.
US08493301B2
To reduce flickers generated in a liquid crystal display device for allowing the use of a liquid crystal material exhibiting a high response speed so as to improve the light utilizing efficiency of a field sequential type liquid crystal display device. A liquid crystal display device includes: a display panel including a pixel matrix in which pixels each including a switching element and a pixel electrode are arranged in matrix near intersection of data lines and gate lines, and a counter electrode arranged to oppose the pixel matrix; and a control part which divides a period for displaying a color image of one frame into a plurality of sub-frame periods, and lights up light sources of different colors for each of the sub-frame periods to display images on the display panel. A shield electrode layer separated by an insulating film is disposed between the pixel electrode and the data lines.
US08493300B2
The present invention involves an electrical system in which an analog signal channel passes through various integrated circuit chips (ICs). The channel can carry one or more analog signals. Each IC can modify the signal(s) passing through it and pass it on to another IC or system component. The channel can be programmable. Each IC can include a comparator or a multiplexor to receive the channel signal from another IC or system component and to modify the received signal before transmitting it to another IC or system component. The comparator or the multiplexor can be programmable and can be selectively configured to compare the incoming signal from the channel with a variety of other signals and thresholds, or to simply act as a flow through gate and allow the signal to pass without any modification. The comparison can determine the output of the comparator. The operation and programming of the comparators, the multiplexors and the channel can be centrally controlled by a system controller, can be independently controlled by the ICs, or a combination thereof.
US08493298B2
A video display system includes an image processing unit receives continuously an input video signal including input frame signals for generating an output video signal including output frame signals having a higher frame rate than the input frame signals; and a display unit for displaying a video image in accordance with the output frame signals, wherein each of the input frame signals has 2^M gray scale levels for each pixel, the image processing unit further generates the output frame signals including at least a first output frame signal having 2^N gray scale levels with N
US08493289B2
Scanning mirror based display system and method. A method comprises sampling a scanned light provided by a scanning mirror, converting the sampled scanned light into an electrical signal, analyzing the electrical signal to determine a position of the scanned light, and controlling the light source or the scanning mirror based on the analyzed electrical signal. The electrical signal based on the sampled scanned light may be used to ensure proper operation of the scanning mirror display system, such as determining failure of the scanning mirror, proper rendering of colors, determining whether the scanned light is following a desired scan path at a desired scan rate, and so forth.
US08493287B2
To improve a small image display device of the type to be attached to glasses so that positioning thereof can be made easily during use.An image display device 100 comprises a body assembly 110 which can be fixed to a temple 210 of glasses 200, and an image display section 120 adapted to move from a standby position that is located close to the body assembly 110 to a service position just in front of lenses 220. The service position for the image display section 120 is previously determined, and the image display section 120 is automatically moved from the standby position to the service position. This allows the image display section 120 to be positioned at a proper position. The image display section 120 contains a display 125 and a free curved surface prism 126 therein. A user can view images enlarged from the images produced on the display 125 when the image display section 120 is at the service position.
US08493279B2
A microwave system comprises an antenna, antenna feed, a radio transceiver, and appropriate cabling among the aforementioned. Cost, performance and reliability improvements are achieved with further integration of these elements and with design improvements in the antenna feed. One improvement is the integration of the radio transceiver with the antenna feed. This improvement has many benefits including the to elimination of RF cables and connectors. Another improvement is the incorporation of parasitic radiators and sub-reflectors as part to of the antenna feed. The entire antenna, including the feed design is optimized with 3D finite element method (FEM) software and numerical optimization software. Another improvement is the utilization of the digital cable to power the integrated radio transceiver and a center fed parabolic reflector.
US08493273B2
An antenna array comprises two or more antenna elements. Each of the two or more antenna elements is configured to scan within a field of view. Each of the two or more antenna elements is further configured to transmit or receive a signal. The antenna array also comprises a metamaterial lens coupled to the two or more antenna elements. The metamaterial lens is configured to distribute the signal according to a sinc-like distribution over an aperture of the antenna array.
US08493270B2
A wireless device, including an antenna different from another antenna included in one of two casings, in a joint part where the two casings are joined together, is capable of reducing deterioration in properties of the antenna included in the joint part. The wireless device (1) of the present invention includes: an upper casing (10), housing a casing antenna (11) that resonates with a first frequency; a lower casing (20), housing a matching circuit (23) of the casing antenna (11); a hinge part (31), joining the upper casing (10) with the lower casing (20), including a built-in antenna (32) that resonates with a second frequency different from the first frequency, and including feeding sections (33) and (34) for coupling the matching circuit (23) to the casing antenna (11); and transmission elements (12) and (22), being disposed on at least any one of a signal path that connects the casing antenna (11) and the feeding section (33) and a signal path that connects the matching circuit (23) and the feeding section (34), the transmission elements (12) and (22) (i) giving passage to a signal having the first frequency and (ii) blocking a signal having the second frequency.
US08493267B2
A method and system for assisting mobile stations to locate a satellite use an efficient messaging format. A server computes a correction between coarse orbit data of a satellite and precise orbit data of the satellite. A coordinate system is chosen such that variation of the correction is substantially smooth over time. The server further approximates the correction with mathematical functions to reduce the number of bits necessary for transmission to a mobile station. The mobile station, upon receiving the coefficients, evaluates the mathematical functions using the coefficients and a time of applicability (e.g., the current time), converts the evaluated result to a standard coordinate system, and applies the conversion result to the coarse orbit data to obtain the precise orbit data.
US08493264B2
In the case where radar image data obtained from a radar device equipped in a flying body and optical image data of a district taken by the radar device are synthesized to produce a terrestrial object information judging image, the radar image data are approximated to a black and white panchromatic image character. The radar image data approximated to the black and white panchromatic character and the optical image data are aligned in position and then synthesized. As a suitable embodiment, in an approximation processing of the radar image data to the black and white panchromatic image character, histogram conversion processing is carried out in accordance with a histogram characteristic of the radar image data.
US08493262B2
A saturated input signal acquired by a synthetic aperture radar (SAR) system is processed by estimating a reconstruction that generated the input signal, reproducing an input signal from an estimated reconstruction to generate a reproduced signal, comparing the reproduced signal with the input signal; adjusting an estimated reconstruction based on the comparison; and iterating from the reproducing step until a termination condition is reached.
US08493245B2
Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for determining long binary sequences having low autocorrelation functions using evolutionary processes are disclosed. Biphase sequences are found with low peak sidelobe values meeting a predetermined criterion, e.g., threshold low auto-correlation function, including application of semidefinite programming in connection with determining an initial population, and evolving the population with an evolutionary algorithm to bits of the biphase sequences including bit flipping. The found biphase sequences can be communicated to a variety of applications, including wireless communications technologies.
US08493238B2
The invention relates to the detection of wheel axles of a vehicle on a roadway by means of a sensor, which operates according to the light-section procedure and emits at least one fan of light from a first location along the roadway to project a line of light onto the roadway and a vehicle possibly located thereon, and records this line of light from a second location along the same side of the roadway and detects a wheel axle as soon as the recorded line of light exhibits, in its course emanating from the said side of the roadway, a shift-free change in direction differing from its course when the roadway is empty.
US08493230B2
Provided is an elevator evacuation supporting system which can appropriately guide people living in a building to the hall of an elevator in the case of occurrence of a disaster. For this purpose, the elevator evacuation supporting system includes an elevator provided in a building, an evacuation operation device which, in the case of occurrence of a disaster in the building, selects service floors of the elevator from floors of the building according to the disaster condition of the building, and causes the elevator to perform an evacuation operation for ascent and descent between the service floors, a passage indication device provided in a passage leading to a hall of the elevator, and an escape routes display device which, during the evacuation operation of the elevator, causes the passage indication device provided in a passage leading to a hall of the elevator of the service floor to indicate escape routes to the hall of the elevator of the service floor according to the disaster condition of the service floor.
US08493229B2
Verbal warning labels and other audible warning systems for use with different devices, containers, products and other things in various environments are disclosed herein. An audible warning system configured in accordance with an embodiment of the invention includes a device having a standardized textual warning associated therewith, and a sound playback system operably coupled to the device. The sound playback device can be configured to audibly output a verbal warning corresponding to the textual warning. The verbal warning can be provided by at least one of a manufacturer, supplier, distributor or retail vendor of the device, and the verbal warning can supplement or replace the standardized textual warning.
US08493227B2
A system and method for providing a visual indicator for optimizing the position of a mobile device when the mobile device is being used in a hands free mode. One or more position components in the mobile device can determine the position of the mobile device. The position of the mobile device can be compared to ideal or predetermined positions for improved performance quality. A visual indicator can be provided to provide an indication on whether the mobile device is in an optimal position. The visual indicator can take several forms including an illustration showing how the mobile device should be moved, an animation showing how the mobile device should be moved, colors providing an indication whether the position is acceptable, or any combination thereof.
US08493224B2
A system for clamping a flexible tube containing medical fluids includes a cable assembly coupled to a remote driver and a slidable clamp that imparts a clamping force to the flexible tube. An electrical continuity detector is included to measure the wear of an internal insulating layer of the cable between a sliding inner wire and a cable casing member. An indication of the wear to the cable is generated in response to a comparison of the electrical integrity of the insulating layer with a threshold. The wear indication enables the cable to be repaired or replaced prior to a malfunction of the overall tube clamp system.
US08493216B2
A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer program product for generating deportment and comportment cohorts. Digital sensor data associated with an individual is received. The digital sensor data comprises event metadata describing a set of events associated with the individual. The set of events comprises at least one of body language, facial expressions, vocalizations, and social interactions of the individual. In response to determining description data for the individual is available, the description data is retrieved. The description data comprises at least one of identification information, past history information, and current status information for the individual. A set of conduct analysis models based on the event metadata and the available description data is selected. The set of conduct analysis models process the event metadata describing the set of events associated with the individual to identify and interpret the set of events. The event metadata and the description data is analyzed in the set of conduct analysis models to form a deportment and comportment cohort. The deportment and comportment cohort comprises attributes identifying a demeanor and manner of the individual.
US08493206B2
Augmented reality and location determination methods and apparatus are disclosed according to some aspects of the description. In one aspect, a location determination method includes accessing first location information regarding a location of a user interaction device in a physical world, wherein the user interaction device is configured to generate an augmented reality representation with respect to the physical world, using the first location information, identifying a marker which is proximately located with respect to the location of the user interaction device, accessing an image generated by the user interaction device which includes the marker, and processing the image to determine second location information regarding the location of the user interaction device, and wherein the second location information has increased accuracy with respect to the location of the user interaction device in the physical world compared with the first location information.
US08493204B2
Example methods and systems for displaying one or more indications that indicate (i) the direction of a source of sound and (ii) the intensity level of the sound are disclosed. A method may involve receiving audio data corresponding to sound detected by a wearable computing system. Further, the method may involve analyzing the audio data to determine both (i) a direction from the wearable computing system of a source of the sound and (ii) an intensity level of the sound. Still further, the method may involve causing the wearable computing system to display one or more indications that indicate (i) the direction of the source of the sound and (ii) the intensity level of the sound.
US08493200B2
A vehicle velocity detector 15 is provided, velocity V is detected from position data of the vehicle calculated by using signal from satellites, which is received by a GPS receiver 11 installed to a vehicle body, wheel rotation velocity Vw0 detected by a wheel velocity sensor 12 is corrected in accordance with tire inner pressure detected by a pressure sensor 13 so as to obtain wheel rotation velocity (correction value) Vw, velocity ratio R=(Vw/V), which is ratio of the corrected wheel rotation velocity Vw and the detected wheel velocity V, is calculated and tire wear amount is estimated in accordance with velocity ratio R so that tire wear amount can be measured precisely without processing the tire tread portion.
US08493199B2
A device for approving automatic guidance of a vehicle, having an interface to a monitoring apparatus for at least partially monitoring a vehicle driver located in the vehicle, having an interface to an apparatus for automatically guiding the vehicle and for ascertaining a travel direction of the vehicle when automatic guidance is to be performed, and having an analysis unit for comparing a field of vision of the driver, which is determined from the monitoring of the driver, to the travel direction of the vehicle during the automatic guidance, automatic guidance only being approved if the travel direction of the vehicle during the automatic guidance is in the field of vision of the driver.
US08493198B1
A computer-implemented method includes monitoring an environment external to a vehicle via a sensor of the vehicle or a mobile device. The monitoring includes recording audio or video signals based on an output of the sensor. Audio or image recognition is performed via the mobile device based on the audio or video signals. Based on results of the audio or image recognition, objects in an area through which the vehicle is to pass are detected. The method includes determining which ones of the detected objects satisfy a predetermined criteria. The predetermined criteria includes object features that are indiscernible or marginally discernible to a vehicle operator with a perception deficiency. Selected ones of the detected objects that satisfy the predetermined criteria are monitored. The vehicle operator is alerted of the selected ones of the detected objects with an alert predetermined to be discernible to the vehicle operator.
US08493195B2
A method is used for detecting the environment of a vehicle and utilizes a number of sensors, the sensors having different detection ranges, and a transition of an object between two detection ranges is bridged by prediction by using a handover algorithm.
US08493183B2
The wireless tag includes an antenna conductor; a first power-supply conductor which is electromagnetic-inductively coupled with the antenna conductor; and a second power-supply conductor which is loop-shaped and which is electrically coupled with the first power-supply conductor.
US08493182B2
A method and apparatus for phase ranging the distance an RFID tag is from an RFID location system antenna along the interrogation signal beam, based upon the phase readings included in data sets obtained from monitoring reply signals corresponding to interrogation signals at multiple frequencies and a common interrogation signal beam direction; by comparison of measured phase and frequency data sets with theoretical phases calculated with respect to the same frequencies over a range of positions corresponding to a beam extent of the interrogation signal.
US08493170B2
The invention relates to an overvoltage protection device having one or more parallel-connected voltage-limiting elements which are located in one physical unit, such as varistors, diodes or means of this type configured in the form of a disc, comprising a shell apparatus in order to electrically disconnect the overvoltage-limiting elements when they are thermally overloaded, and means for indication and/or signalling of the fault state which then occurs, wherein the switching apparatus is connected via a means which can be released thermally, such as adhesive or a solder, to a connecting contact of the at least one overvoltage-limiting element, and/or to an external terminal contact or plug contact. According to the invention, the switching apparatus is in the form of a solid U-shaped switching fork, the fork tines of which run essentially parallel to the side surfaces of the overvoltage-limiting element, holding the latter in the space between the tines. At least one of the fork tines rests on the at least one connecting contact and is fixed there via the means which can be released thermally wherein, when disconnection occurs, the disconnection slide is moved with the switching fork being driven and, in the process, the connection point between the fork tines and the connecting contact represents a fulcrum for the switching fork movement.
US08493160B2
The present invention relates to an electromagnetic signal power limiter and its design method. The power limiter for an electromagnetic signal includes at least one transmission line for the signal. The transmission line is made up of a number of passive micro-diodes with ballistic electron transport. The micro-diodes are distributed on the transmission line, and are implemented in a controlled atmosphere. The invention applies notably to radiofrequency or hyperfrequency waves received by detection and communication devices.
US08493152B2
A power amplifier comprises a plurality of primary inductors provided on a substrate in a circular geometry as a whole; a plurality of amplifier pairs; a secondary inductor; and a connection wiring. Each amplifier pair is coupled to two ends of a corresponding primary inductor, and amplifies and output to the corresponding primary inductor a pair of first and second signals given as differential input signals, respectively. The secondary inductor is provided adjacent to the primary inductors in a circular geometry, further combines and outputs signals made by combining first and second signals in each primary inductor. The connection wiring is provided inside the primary inductors on the substrate and electrically couples middle points of respective primary inductors with each other.
US08493140B2
First and second channel bridge amplifiers are dynamically configured to drive either speakers or headphones. The first channel bridge amplifier includes a first amplifier driving one end of a first speaker through a mechanical switch in a headphone-jack, and a second amplifier driving another end of the first speaker. The second channel bridge amplifier includes third and fourth amplifiers driving respective ends of a second speaker. To suppress click and pop, an amplifier control circuit maintains certain amplifiers (depending on headphone or speaker mode) tri-stated until input coupling capacitors have fully charged and an input signal exceeding a predetermined amount is detected.
US08493139B2
An amplifier may include a low noise auto-zero circuit with auto-zero capacitors and switch-controlled auxiliary capacitors that function as switched-capacitor low-pass filters. In an acquisition phase of the auto-zero operation, the inputs of an amplifier may be shorted to a common voltage, and a representation of the offset voltage may be acquired by the auto-zero capacitors. In a hold phase of the auto-zero operation, the auto-zero capacitors may be connected to the auxiliary capacitors, and the resulting voltages may be applied to the circuit such that the original offset voltage is cancelled. Moreover, the switched-capacitor filters may reduce the effective sampling noise while maintaining high acquisition bandwidth.
US08493137B2
Devices and circuits for voltage reference architectures that can increase the PSRR parameter by improving the saturation margin for an output transistor. For example, a device can include a current source coupled between a first power supply line and a circuit node, a voltage production circuit coupled between the circuit node and a second power supply line to produce a plurality of voltages respectively at voltage nodes thereof, a multiplexer coupled to the voltage nodes of the voltage production circuit and the output node and configured to select and output one of the voltages to the output node, and a control circuit configured to supply the one of the voltages to the circuit node.
US08493118B2
A scannable latch circuit is disclosed. In one embodiment, the scannable latch circuit includes a master latch, a slave latch, and a gating circuit coupled between the master latch and the slave latch. The slave latch may be implemented to support scan-shifting for test operations. Scan data received by the master latch may be provided to the slave latch through the gating circuit. The gating circuit may enable data to be transferred from the master latch to the slave latch when a scan enable signal is asserted. When the scan enable signal is deasserted, the gating circuit may cause the slave latch to output a constant (i.e. unchanging) state, regardless of the state of data stored in the master latch. This may result in power savings by inhibiting the slave latch from making state changes when scan-shifting operations are not in progress.
US08493114B2
A temperature compensation circuit includes: a sensing circuit arranged to sense a temperature to generate a sensing signal; an operational circuit arranged to sample the sensing signal to generate a sample signal during a first phase, and arranged to generate an output signal according to the sensing signal and the sample signal during a second phase; and a capacitive circuit arranged to provide a capacitance adjusted by the output signal.
US08493093B1
A limited switch dynamic logic (LSDL) circuit includes a dynamic logic circuit and a static logic circuit. The dynamic logic circuit includes a precharge device configured to precharge a dynamic node during a precharge phase of a first evaluation clock signal and a second evaluation clock signal. A first evaluation tree is configured to evaluate the dynamic node to a first logic value in response to one or more first input signals during an evaluation phase of the first evaluation clock signal. A second evaluation tree is configured to evaluate the dynamic node to a second logic value in response to one or more second input signals during an evaluation phase of the second evaluation clock signal. A static logic circuit is configured to provide an output of the LSDL circuit in response to the dynamic node according to an output latch clock signal.
US08493084B2
A voltage compensation assembly adapted for apparatus having a prober for contacting the electronic elements on a substrate is described. The voltage compensation assembly includes a controller connected to the prober and adapted for active voltage compensation, and a voltage measuring unit connected to the controller and for measuring a voltage on the substrate.
US08493080B2
A test system for testing a capacitive touch sensor is provided. The test system includes a resistor, a signal generator and a micro controller. A first end of the resistor is electrically connected to a sensing port of the capacitive touch sensor. The signal generator provides a test voltage to a second end of the resistor according to control information. In this way, the resistor generates a test current according to the test voltage, and the capacitive touch sensor provides a voltage difference to the sensing port according to a plurality of switching signals, and converts the test current into test information. The micro controller generates the control information according to a test table, and compares the test information according to the test table, so as to determine whether an operation of the capacitive touch sensor is normal.
US08493073B2
An insulation resistance detecting apparatus is provided to detect an insulation resistance of a load circuit. The insulation resistance detecting apparatus includes a coupling capacitor of which a first end is connected to the load circuit; a periodic waveform output section which is connected to a second end of the coupling capacitor, and outputs a periodic waveform to the second end; a waveform shaping section which extracts and amplifies a part of the periodic waveform including a peak point; and an arithmetic operation section which determines the insulation resistance of the load circuit on the basis of a first wave height as a wave height value of a waveform outputted from the waveform shaping section and a second wave height value as a wave height value of the periodic waveform.
US08493067B2
In a magnetic resonance apparatus and method to generate an image data set by means of a radial scanning of a raw data set, at least one calibration measurement is implemented for at least one predetermined spoke of the radial scan, and a gradient moment difference between an assumed gradient moment and an actually applied gradient moment is determined along the at least one predetermined spoke. Readout of all spokes of the predetermined raw data set ensues by activating multiple magnetic field gradients in spatial directions in order to respectively read out scan points of a respective spoke. The position of each scan point of each spoke is corrected depending on the gradient moment difference, by the position of the respective scan point that is assumed based on the respective activated magnetic field gradients being shifted by the gradient moment difference.
US08493061B2
An example cycle meter adjusting device includes a circuit configured to provide voltage pulses and an adjustable potentiometer configured to vary the frequency of the voltage pulses provided by the circuit. A coupling interface is configured to selectively communicate the voltage pulses provided by the circuit to a cycle meter having a display. The voltage pulses adjust a number of cycles shown on the display. Another example cycle meter adjuster includes a circuit configured to provide voltage pulses. A controller is configured to selectively adjust a frequency of the voltage pulses. A connection interface is configured to communicate the voltage pulses to a cycle meter.
US08493060B1
An electrical circuit tester including a resistive load and a testing station for detecting the variable load. The testing station includes at least one electrical current transducer capable of detecting the variable load in an adjacent electrical power circuit. The detection of the variable load is communicated to the testing station and a variable load detection function.
US08493056B2
A voltage measurement circuit is operative to measure a high voltage AC signal and includes a capacitive divider circuit and a compensator circuit. The capacitive divider circuit includes first and second inputs, across which, in use, is received a high voltage AC signal and also includes second and third capacitors. First and second plates of each of the first, second and third capacitors are defined by conductive layers of a printed circuit board and the dielectric of each of the first, second and third capacitors being defined by a non-conducting part of the printed circuit board. A compensator circuit has a configurable transfer function and includes an input connected across the first and second plates of the third capacitor and an output. The compensator circuit is operative to change a voltage received at its input in accordance with the transfer function and to provide the changed voltage at its output.
US08493052B2
The primary of a transformer is driven at low voltages to provide high-voltage dynamic drive from the secondary to a load. A high-current source is placed in series with both the transformer secondary and load. At least secondary inductance of the transformer, hence impedance, is controlled through core saturation to transition secondary output to the load between high-voltage dynamic drive inductively coupled from the primary, and high-current drive serially connected through the secondary. Switching between high voltage and high current output is accomplished through the transformer; no additional switching devices need exist in the high-voltage path. Broad voltage and current capabilities of the configuration inexpensively improve transient drive of highly reactive loads.
US08493049B2
A power converter constituted of: a reference source; a clock generator exhibiting a variable frequency output, the value of the frequency of the variable frequency output responsive to an external resistor value; and an error amplifier in communication with the reference source, the error amplifier exhibiting a gain whose value is responsive to the external resistor value. Preferably the error amplifier is a transconductance amplifier. In one embodiment the power converter further exhibits a current squarer, arranged to produce a squared value of a current whose value is responsive to the external resistor and provide the squared value to the transconductance amplifier.
US08493043B2
Voltage regulator circuitry is provided. The voltage regulator circuitry may contain a drive transistor that is controlled by the output of an operational amplifier. The drive transistor may supply a regulated voltage to a load. The operational amplifier may compare a reference voltage and a feedback signal at its inputs. The operational amplifier may include first and second stages. An adjustable resistor may be provided between the first and second stages. Control circuitry may control the resistance of the adjustable resistor based on the amount of current flowing through the load to ensure stable operation of the voltage regulator circuitry. Overshoot and undershoot detection and compensation circuitry may compensate for overshoot and undershoot in the regulated voltage. Voltage ramp control circuitry may be used to control the ramp rate of the regulated voltage.
US08493036B2
Mobile devices have limited power sources. In some cases, such as camera flash operations in cell phones or digital cameras, the power required to provide bright illumination is significant and exceeding the battery voltage level. In order to supply burst power or continuous high power to light sources, such as white LEDs (light emitting diodes), mobile devices typically employ charge storage functioning as energy reservoir that can supply the required power. One such charge storage is a supercapacitor that can supply the needed power repeatedly by discharging and recharging. Various embodiments of the present invention include devices and methods for providing the charge energy and controlling the charge and discharge operations.
US08493033B2
Apparatuses, systems, and methods for providing battery-backed power to movable partitions are disclosed. A power converter generates a DC output from an AC input. The DC output may be selectively decoupled from an enabled DC output such that the DC output can be monitored for acceptable operation in-situ. The enabled DC output may be selectively coupled to a battery output terminal. A charge current may be sensed between the enabled DC output and the battery output to control charging of the battery with a pulse-width modulation operation by controlling the selective coupling of the enabled DC output to the battery output. The enabled DC output and the battery output are coupled in a logical-OR configuration to generate a supply output providing current from the enabled DC output and the battery. The supply output may drive a movable partition controller and a motor configured for opening and closing a movable partition.
US08493022B2
An automotive vehicle electrical system diagnostic apparatus includes first and second electrical connections configured to electrically couple to an electrical system of an automotive vehicle which includes a battery. Digital samples are obtained during operation of the vehicle which are related to the system. The digital samples are stored in memory.
US08493003B2
A light emitting diode (LED) system implements a power management technique. The LED system includes a plurality of LED drivers connected in series, each LED driver configured to regulate the current flowing through a corresponding subset of a plurality of LED strings. Each LED driver determines the tail voltages of the one or more LED strings of the corresponding subset. Each LED driver, except for the first LED driver in the series, also receives a voltage representative of the minimum tail voltage of the other subsets regulated by the upstream LED drivers. Each LED driver then provides the lowest of the voltage received from the upstream LED driver and the one or more tail voltages of the corresponding subset to the downstream LED driver. In this manner a voltage representative of the minimum tail voltage of the plurality of LED strings is cascaded through the series. A feedback controller monitors the minimum tail voltage represented by this cascaded voltage and accordingly adjusts an output voltage provided to the head ends of the plurality of LED strings.
US08493002B2
A driver (100; 200) for driving a dimmable load (L) is powered from phase-cut mains (U1) and determines the dimming state of the load on the basis of the phase of the cutting of the mains. The driver comprises: a load current generating device (130; 230) generating load current; a controllable auxiliary load (170; 270) connected to an input (131; 231) of the load current generating device; a control device (140; 240) controlling the auxiliary load. The control device has an input (141; 241) receiving a signal indicating the momentary voltage at the driver input. The load current generating device generates interrupted current pulses, so that the average output current corresponds to the dim command reflected by the phase cutting angle of the input mains. The control device switches the auxiliary load on during those time periods when the output current generated by the load current generating device is zero.
US08493001B2
A control circuit applied in a light emitting diode (LED) driver includes a counter, a sample circuit, and a signal source. The counter counts a parameter indicating the duty cycle width of a dimming signal in response to a front edge of the dimming signal. The sample circuit obtains a sample signal by means of sampling the most significant bit (MSB) of the parameter in response to the rear edge of the dimming signal. The duty cycle width is determined to be greater than a threshold value and smaller than that when the sample signal corresponds with a terminal value and an initial value, respectively. The signal source provides a reference voltage corresponding to first level and that corresponding to second level, higher than the first level, to drive a boost converter of the LED driver in response to the terminal value and the initial value, respectively.
US08492996B2
A dimmer switch has a user adjustable high-end trim. The dimmer switch includes a bidirectional semiconductor switch, such as a triac, for controlling the amount of power delivered from a source of alternating current power to a lighting load, such as an electric lamp. A user-adjustable timing circuit controls the conduction time of the triac from a minimum time to a maximum time to control the power delivered to the load between a low-end trim and a high-end trim. The timing circuit includes a user-accessible switch that allows a user to reduce the high-end trim from a first nominal level to a second reduced level, lower than the first level, without substantially affecting the low-end trim. The dimmer switch advantageously uses less energy and the lifetime of the lamp is extended when the second reduced level of the high-end trim is selected.
US08492994B2
A method for making a lamp wattage available for operating at least one gas discharge lamp depending on a dimming signal which is input into a wattage factor correction circuit, having a switch element that is switched on clocked by a switch-on time, wherein the wattage factor correction circuit emits an intermediate circuit voltage which in turn is input into a converter that makes the lamp wattage available, comprising the steps of: in an operating phase in which the dimming signal has no phase leading edge and no phase trailing edge, the wattage factor correction circuit and the converter are regulated independently of each other using a separate regulating circuit in each case; and in an operating phase in which the dimming signal has a phase leading edge or a phase trailing edge, the two independent regulating circuits are coupled to each other via a higher-order third regulating circuit such that the lamp wattage of the converter is adjusted such that the switch-on time of the switch element in the wattage factor correction circuit corresponds to a predetermined time.
US08492990B2
A series connected light string using LEDs connected to an AC power source is disclosed. In order to make some or all of the lights color change, twinkle, and/or flash, controllers are provided in series with all or some of the LEDs. Because the supply source AC, but the active elements are essentially rectifiers, the circuit becomes a half wave DC circuit. Half wave DC will cause unpredictable behavior in DC circuit components. This will cause the controller to shut down during the zero voltage portion of the pulsating DC cycle. To prevent this a current supplying element is placed in parallel with the controller.
US08492988B2
A configurable light-emitting diode (LED) driver is adapted to control a plurality of different LED light sources, which may be rated to operate using different load control techniques, different dimming techniques, and different magnitudes of load current and voltage. The LED driver comprises a power converter circuit for generating a DC bus voltage, and an LED drive circuit for receiving the bus voltage and adjusting either the magnitude of the current conducted through the LED light source or the magnitude of the voltage across the LED light source. The LED driver is operable to dim the LED light source using either a pulse-width modulation technique or a constant current reduction technique, and may be configured using a programming device and a personal computer.
US08492981B2
The present disclosure discloses a lighting apparatus using a PN junction light-emitting element, the apparatus including: a power transmitting substrate having a plurality of boundaries defined thereon; a plurality of PN junction light-emitting elements positioned within each boundary and divided into a plurality of groups; and a first switch provided on the power transmitting substrate, wherein the first switch goes into the ON state by a supplied AC having a first voltage to cause PN junction light-emitting elements of a first group positioned within each boundary to emit light, and the first switch is in the OFF state when PN junction light-emitting elements of a second group, which is positioned within each boundary and connected in series to the first group, emit light by a supplied AC having a second voltage higher than the first voltage.
US08492976B2
A high pressure discharge lamp includes a light emission section in which a pair of electrodes is arranged, sealing portions formed from both ends of the light emission section, external leads, and a trigger wire provided near the light emission section. The trigger wire includes a first coil portion, which is wound from a vicinity of a boundary between the light emission section and one of the sealing portions towards an outer end of the one of sealing portions, and a linear stretch-across portion, which extends from the first coil portion near the light emission section towards the external lead extending from an outer end of the other sealing portion and is fixed to the external lead. A second coil portion is formed around the other sealing portion. The wire, which forms the stretch-across portion, is held between the second coil portion and the other sealing portion.
US08492960B2
A lamp includes a heat sink and a lamp cover mounted on the heat sink. The lamp cover includes a connecting portion. The heat sink includes a plurality of clamping portions. The plurality of clamping portions surrounds the lamp cover and is spaced apart from each other along a circumferential direction. The plurality of clamping portions each defines a recess facing the lamp cover. The recesses communicate with each other along the circumferential direction whereby an annular engaging groove is defined in the heat sink by the recesses. The connecting portion is engaged in the engaging groove whereby the lamp cover is connected with the heat sink.
US08492957B2
An apparatus for generating electric energy comprises a vibration plate, a supporting board, at least one side-wall unit and at least one piezoelectric substrate having a first- and a second end surfaces covered with a first- and a second electrodes, respectively. They all together form at least one cavity resonator. If a sound pressure from the outside arrives at the vibration plate, an acoustic vibration is excited in the vibration plate, and thereby a resonance vibration is induced in the cavity resonator. In this time, the piezoelectric substrate responds collectively to the resonance vibration. Thus, a resonance energy occurred in the cavity resonator is converted into an electric energy, which is delivered through the first- and second electrodes.
US08492954B2
Disclosed herein is an ultrasonic sensor including: an epoxy molding part: a piezoelectric ceramic stacked on an upper portion of the epoxy molding part; a sound absorbing material contacting sides of the piezoelectric ceramic and spaced apart from an upper portion of the piezoelectric ceramic to thereby enclose the piezoelectric ceramic and absorbing vibration; a case spaced apart from sides and a lower surface of the sound absorbing material to thereby enclose the sound absorbing material and having a shape in which a bottom surface including the epoxy molding part stacked thereon protrudes upwardly; and a molding material filled on an upper surface of the sound absorbing material and between the sides and the lower surface of the sound absorbing material and the case.
US08492952B2
Embodiments of the invention provide an electric machine module including an electric machine with a stator assembly. The stator assembly includes a plurality of stator laminations and the plurality of stator laminations include a plurality of different outer diameters. The plurality of stator laminations are positioned relative to one another to form radially-extending fins. At least one circumferential coolant channel is defined along the circumference of the stator assembly by the plurality of stator laminations at least partially between the radially-extending fins.
US08492948B2
An example end cap of a stator segment is provided for use in locating wires in a segmented stator assembly in desired positions. The end cap generally includes a body and an inboard wall. An identifier is defined by the inboard wall of the end cap for use in determining wire sizes to be used with the end cap. Terminal pockets are provided in the body for receiving the wires and making desired electrical connections, and steps located in the terminal pockets help secure the connectors in the terminal pockets. Plateaus, and troughs defined in the plateaus, are located outside the terminal pockets for use in trimming wires received in the terminal pockets as desired. And, retaining structures are located around the end cap to help with locating the wires in the desired positions.
US08492947B2
A terminal module includes a ring-shaped rail having a groove extending in a circumferential direction, a bus bar fitted into the groove, and a connector portion having a connector terminal connecting the bus bar with an external wire. The rail has a phase determining hole for determining a phase of rotation of the rail about an axial direction.
US08492936B1
A rotational energy harvesting apparatus includes a rotor of magnets and a ring of linear-based kinetic energy harvesters. The rotor of magnets is fixed to a rotational source and is caused to sweep past the linear-based kinetic energy harvesters. The rotating magnets compel kinetic energy to be induced in the linear-based kinetic energy harvesters. The kinetic energy is converted into electrical energy.
US08492916B2
There is disclosed a switching apparatus for a starter comprising a resistor for suppressing a startup current of a motor when an engine is started, an electromagnetic relay for bypassing the resistor to energize the motor after the motor is started, a function for pushing a pinion of the starter toward a ring gear, an electromagnetic switch for opening and closing a main contact of the motor circuit. The resistor, the electromagnetic relay, and the electromagnetic switch are integrally accommodated inside a housing formed of a metallic bottomed frame and a contact cover, and are connected to the motor circuit via two external connection terminals fixed to the contact cover. The apparatus can facilitate connectivity to the vehicle side by reducing the number of cables and can enhance an installation property.
US08492915B2
The present invention relates in to a device for supplying mechanical power to start at least one engine, with a power supply device for supplying electrical power with an alternating voltage and constant frequency; and with a number, N1, of conversion devices for the conversion of the supplied electrical power to a respective mechanical power for a respective engine, wherein a respective conversion device has a cascade starter generator for direct conversion of the supplied electrical power to mechanical power, wherein the cascade starter generator has a first stator, a second stator, a first rotor and a second rotor, the first stator being integrally formed with the second stator and the first rotor being integrally formed with the second rotor. The present invention further relates to an aircraft comprising such a power distribution network and a method for supplying mechanical power to start at least one engine in an aircraft.
US08492908B2
Power amplifiers and methods of coating a protective film of alumina (Al2O3) on the power amplifiers are disclosed herein. The protective film is applied through an atomic layer deposition (ALD) process. The ALD process can deposit very thin layers of alumina on the surface of the power amplifier in a precisely controlled manner. Thus, the ALD process can form a uniform film that is substantially free of free of pin-holes and voids.
US08492893B1
A semiconductor device is disclosed. A conductive pillar for electrically connecting a semiconductor die to a circuit board may be gradually slimmed from the semiconductor die to the circuit board. A dummy conductive layer may be disposed between the semiconductor die and the conductive pillar. A width of an opening for opening a pattern of the circuit board may range from about 50% to 90% of the width of the lower end of the conductive pillar. Accordingly, a mechanical stress is prevented from being transmitted from the conductive pillar to the semiconductor die, or is absorbed by the dummy conductive layer, and thus, preventing cracks of the semiconductor die and a dielectric layer having a low dielectric constant.
US08492891B2
A copper pillar bump has a sidewall protection layer formed of an electrolytic metal layer. The electrolytic metal layer is an electrolytic nickel layer, an electrolytic gold layer, and electrolytic copper layer, or an electrolytic silver layer.
US08492884B2
A stacked leadframe assembly is disclosed. The stacked leadframe assembly includes a first die having a surface that defines a mounting plane, a first leadframe stacked over and attached to the first die, a second die stacked over and attached to the first leadframe; and a second leadframe stacked over and attached to the second die. The leadframes have die paddles with extended side panels that have attachment surfaces in the mounting plane.
US08492874B2
Higher capacitance density is achieved by increasing a surface area of a capacitor. A larger surface area may be obtained by forming isotropic ball shapes (a concave surface) in the trenches on the semiconductor die. The concave surfaces are fabricated by depositing bilayers of amorphous-silicon and silicon oxide. Openings are patterned in the silicon oxide hard mask for trenches. The openings are transferred to the amorphous-silicon layers through isotropic etching to form concave surfaces. Conducting, insulating, and conducting layers are deposited on the concave surfaces of the trenches by atomic layer deposition.
US08492872B2
A semiconductor structure for providing isolations for on-chip inductors comprises a semiconductor substrate, one or more on-chip inductors formed above the first semiconductor substrate, a plurality of through-silicon-vias formed through the first semiconductor substrate in a vicinity of the one or more on-chip inductors, and one or more conductors coupling at least one of the plurality of through-silicon-vias to a ground, wherein the plurality of through-silicon-vias provide isolations for the one or more on-chip inductors.
US08492870B2
A chip package comprising a glass substrate, wherein a first opening in the glass substrate passes vertically through the glass substrate, a semiconductor chip, a wiring structure comprising a first portion in the first opening and a second portion over the glass substrate, wherein the first portion is connected to the semiconductor chip, wherein the wiring structure comprises a passive device, wherein the wiring structure comprises copper, and a dielectric layer over the glass substrate and on the wiring structure, wherein a second opening in the dielectric layer is over a contact point of the wiring structure, and the contact point is at a bottom of the second opening.
US08492866B1
Disclosed is a Zener diode having a scalable reverse-bias breakdown voltage (Vb) as a function of the position of a cathode contact region relative to the interface between adjacent cathode and anode well regions. Specifically, cathode and anode contact regions are positioned adjacent to corresponding cathode and anode well regions and are further separated by an isolation region. However, while the anode contact region is contained entirely within the anode well region, one end of the cathode contact region extends laterally into the anode well region. The length of this end can be predetermined in order to selectively adjust the Vb of the diode (e.g., increasing the length reduces Vb of the diode and vice versa). Also disclosed are an integrated circuit, incorporating multiple instances of the diode with different reverse-bias breakdown voltages, a method of forming the diode and a design structure for the diode.
US08492853B2
An object is to provide a structure with which the off-state current of a field effect transistor including a conductor-semiconductor junction can be reduced. A semiconductor layer is provided in contact with a first conductor electrode and a second conductor electrode which include a material with a work function that is at the same level as or lower than the electron affinity of the semiconductor layer. A third conductor electrode is formed using a material whose work function is higher than the electron affinity of the semiconductor layer to be in contact with a surface of the semiconductor layer opposite to a surface provided with a gate and to cross the semiconductor layer, so that a Schottky barrier junction is formed in the semiconductor layer. The carrier concentration of the portion including the Schottky barrier junction is extremely low; thus, the off-state current can be reduced.
US08492844B2
The present invention relates to a method for the manufacture of a semiconductor device by providing a first substrate; providing a doped layer in a surface region of the first substrate; providing a buried oxide layer on the doped layer; providing a semiconductor layer on the buried oxide layer to obtain a semiconductor-on-insulator (SeOI) wafer; removing the buried oxide layer and the semiconductor layer from a first region of the SeOI wafer while maintaining the buried oxide layer and the semiconductor layer in a second region of the SeOI water; providing an upper transistor in the second region by forming a back gate in or by the doped layer; and providing a lower transistor in the first region by forming source and drain regions in or by the doped layer.
US08492840B2
An object is to provide a semiconductor device including an oxide semiconductor, which maintains favorable characteristics and achieves miniaturization. The semiconductor device includes an oxide semiconductor layer, a source electrode and a drain electrode in contact with the oxide semiconductor layer, a gate electrode overlapping with the oxide semiconductor layer, and a gate insulating layer provided between the oxide semiconductor layer and the gate electrode, in which the source electrode and the drain electrode each include a first conductive layer, and a second conductive layer having a region which extends in a channel length direction from an end portion of the first conductive layer.
US08492839B2
In one exemplary embodiment, a semiconductor structure includes: a semiconductor-on-insulator substrate with a top semiconductor layer overlying an insulation layer and the insulation layer overlies a bottom substrate layer; at least one first device at least partially overlying and disposed upon a first portion of the top semiconductor layer, where the first portion has a first thickness, a first width and a first depth; and at least one second device at least partially overlying and disposed upon a second portion of the top semiconductor layer, where the second portion has a second thickness, a second width and a second depth, where at least one of the following holds: the first thickness is greater than the second thickness, the first width is greater than the second width and the first depth is greater than the second depth.
US08492836B2
In a semiconductor device according to the present invention, a p-type well region disposed in an outer peripheral portion of the power semiconductor device is divided into two parts, that is, an inside and an outside, and a field oxide film having a greater film thickness than the gate insulating film is provided on a well region at the outside to an inside of an inner periphery of the well region. Therefore, it is possible to prevent, in the gate insulating film, a dielectric breakdown due to the voltage generated by the flow of the displacement current in switching.
US08492834B2
An electrostatic discharge protection device comprises a substrate with a first conductivity, a gate, a drain structure and a source structure. The gate is disposed on a surface of the substrate. The drain structure with a second conductivity type comprises a first doping region with a first doping concentration disposed adjacent to the gate and extending into the substrate from the surface of the substrate, a second doping region extending into and stooped at the first doping region from the surface of the substrate and having a second doping concentration substantially greater than the first doping concentration, and a third doping region disposed in the substrate beneath the second doping region and having a third doping concentration substantially greater than the first doping concentration. The source structure with the second conductivity is disposed in the substrate and adjacent to the gate electrode.
US08492831B2
A vertical non-volatile memory device is structured/fabricated to include a substrate, groups of memory cell strings each having a plurality of memory transistors distributed vertically so that the memory throughout multiple layers on the substrate, integrated word lines coupled to sets of the memory transistors, respectively, and stacks of word select lines. The memory transistors of each set are those transistors, of one group of the memory cell strings, which are disposed in the same layer above the substrate. The word select lines are respectively connected to the integrated word lines.
US08492829B2
Provided are a semiconductor device which can shorten reverse recovery time without increasing leakage current between the drain and the source, and a fabrication method for such semiconductor device.The semiconductor device includes: a first base layer (12); a drain layer (10) disposed on the back side surface of the first base layer (12); a second base layer (16) formed on the surface of the first base layer (12); a source layer (18) formed on the surface of the second base layer (16); a gate insulating film (20) disposed on the surface of both the source layer (18) and the second base layer (16); a gate electrode (22) disposed on the gate insulating film (20); a column layer (14) formed in the first base layer (12) of the lower part of both the second base layer (16) and the source layer (18) by opposing the drain layer (10); a drain electrode (28) disposed in the drain layer (10); and a source electrode (26) disposed on both the source layer and the second base layer, wherein heavy particle irradiation is performed to the column layer (14) to form a trap level locally.
US08492827B2
Silicon carbide metal-oxide semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETs) may include an n-type silicon carbide drift layer, a first p-type silicon carbide region adjacent the drift layer and having a first n-type silicon carbide region therein, an oxide layer on the drift layer, and an n-type silicon carbide limiting region disposed between the drift layer and a portion of the first p-type region. The limiting region may have a carrier concentration that is greater than the carrier concentration of the drift layer.
US08492822B2
A method for manufacturing an LC circuit, including forming a first conductive layer pattern serving as a lower electrode of a capacitor on a first interlayer insulating layer, forming a dielectric layer pattern storing electric charges on the first conductive layer pattern, forming a second conductive layer pattern serving as an upper electrode of the capacitor on the dielectric layer pattern, forming a second interlayer insulating layer on the second conductive layer pattern, forming a contact via exposing one of the first or second conductive layer pattern in the second interlayer insulating layer, and filling the contact via with a contact plug, and forming a third conductive layer pattern on the second interlayer insulating layer having the contact plug, wherein the third conductive layer pattern is electrically connected to the contact plug, and is etched in a metal interconnection type layer and functions as an inductor.
US08492821B2
An integrated circuit including a trench capacitor has a semiconductor region in which a material composition varies in a quantity of at least one component therein such that the quantity alternates with depth a plurality of times between at least two different values. For example, a concentration of a dopant or a weight percentage of a second semiconductor material, such as germanium, in a semiconductor alloy can alternate between with depth a plurality of times between higher and lower values. The trench capacitor has an undulating capacitor dielectric layer, wherein the undulations of the capacitor dielectric layer are at least partly determined by the undulating interior surface of the trench. Such trench capacitor can provide enhanced capacitance, and can be incorporated in a memory cell such as a dynamic random access memory (“DRAM”) cell, for example.
US08492815B2
A semiconductor memory includes a DRAM having, as seen in planar view, a first bit line and a second bit line formed on a first active area, a first cell contact formed on the first active area, and a first capacitor contact formed on the first cell contact and which is connected to a capacitor. As seen in planar view, the first cell contact is positioned closer to the second bit line than to the first bit line, and the first capacitor contact is formed offset in a direction approaching the first bit line with respect to the first cell contact.
US08492813B2
A semiconductor device including a semiconductor substrate having a logic formation region where a logic device is formed; a first impurity region formed in an upper surface of the semiconductor substrate in the logic formation region; a second impurity region formed in an upper surface of the semiconductor substrate in the logic formation region; a third impurity region formed in an upper surface of the first impurity region and having a conductivity type different from that of the second impurity region; a fourth region formed in an upper surface of the second impurity region and having a conductivity type different from that of the second impurity region; a first silicide film formed in an upper surface of the third impurity region; a second silicide film formed in an upper surface of the fourth impurity region and having a larger thickness than the first silicide film.
US08492800B2
Methods and apparatus relating to very large scale FET arrays for analyte measurements. ChemFET (e.g., ISFET) arrays may be fabricated using conventional CMOS processing techniques based on improved FET pixel and array designs that increase measurement sensitivity and accuracy, and at the same time facilitate significantly small pixel sizes and dense arrays. Improved array control techniques provide for rapid data acquisition from large and dense arrays. Such arrays may be employed to detect a presence and/or concentration changes of various analyte types in a wide variety of chemical and/or biological processes. In one example, chemFET arrays facilitate DNA sequencing techniques based on monitoring changes in hydrogen ion concentration (pH), changes in other analyte concentration, and/or binding events associated with chemical processes relating to DNA synthesis.
US08492795B1
An integrated circuit (IC) including a core area containing active devices and at least one input/output (I/O) cell configured to transfer signals into and out of the core area. The at least one I/O cell includes a gate orientation, a pre-driver module, and at least one post-driver module. The pre-driver module and the at least one post-driver module are offset from each other by an angle between zero and ninety degrees with respect to the gate orientation. The gate orientation for every one of the at least one I/O cell is substantially the same.
US08492784B2
A semiconductor device includes: a semiconductor chip including a nitride semiconductor layered structure including a carrier transit layer and a carrier supply layer; a first resin layer on the semiconductor chip, the first resin layer including a coupling agent; a second resin layer on the first resin layer, the second resin layer including a surfactant; and a sealing resin layer to seal the semiconductor chip with the first resin layer and the second resin layer.
US08492781B2
The present invention relates to a light emitting device (1) comprising a stack of a light emitting diode (LED) structure (10) and a light permeable device (20). The light permeable device (20) comprises at least a first and a second section (21, 22), color of light from said first and second section (21, 22) being different from each other. Further, the LED structure (10) comprises at least a first and a second region (11, 12) being individually controllable. The first and second region (11, 12) are associated with the first and second section (21, 22), respectively. The stack further comprises an at least partially reflecting layer (30) arranged such that light from the light permeable device (20), generated in the first and second region (11, 12), is to be mixed within the light emitting device (1).
US08492776B2
A semiconductor light emitting device (10) is provided with a base substrate (12) and three LED chips (14A, 14B, and 14C) disposed on the base substrate (12). Each LED chip (14A, 14B, and 14C) includes a semiconductor multilayer structure (20) and has a rhombus shape with interior angles of approximately 60° and approximately 120° in plan view. Each semiconductor multilayer structure (20) has an HCP single crystal structure and includes a light emission layer (24). The LED chips (14A, 14B, and 14C) are arranged on the base substrate (12) so as to face one another at a vertex forming the larger interior angle in plan view. With this arrangement, the LED chips (14A, 14B, and 14C) as a whole form a substantially regular hexagonal shape.
US08492771B2
A semiconductor device includes a first semiconductor substrate of a first band-gap material and a second semiconductor substrate of a second band-gap material. The second band-gap material has a lower band-gap than the first band-gap material. A heterojunction is formed between the first semiconductor substrate and the second semiconductor substrate substantially in a first plane. The semiconductor device further includes, in a cross-section which is perpendicular to the first plane, a first semiconductor region of a first conductivity type and a second semiconductor region of the first conductivity type both of which extend from the second semiconductor substrate at least partially into the first semiconductor substrate. The first and second semiconductor regions are spaced in the first semiconductor substrate from each other in a direction parallel to the first plane by a first distance which is arranged in an area proximate to the heterojunction and which is larger than a second distance which is arranged in an area distal to the heterojunction.
US08492769B2
A transistor includes a substrate. A first electrically conductive material layer is positioned on the substrate. A second electrically conductive material layer is in contact with and positioned on the first electrically conductive material layer. A third electrically conductive material layer is in contact with and positioned on the second electrically conductive material layer. The third electrically conductive material layer overhangs the second electrically conductive material layer.
US08492767B2
A thin film transistor (TFT) substrate and a manufacturing method thereof are disclosed. The manufacturing method comprises: after a first metallic layer is formed on the TFT substrate, annealing the TFT substrate so that lattices of the first metallic layer are re-arranged to prevent occurrences of grain boundary defects in the first metallic layer. According to the present disclosure, after the first metallic layer is formed on the TFT substrate, the TFT substrate is annealed in sequence to re-arrange lattices of the first metallic layer. This effectively prevents occurrences of grain boundary defects and, consequently, metal protrusions in the first metallic layer.