US08983795B2
A work piece is measured by at least one point of a surface of the work piece being sampled by a feeler. The feeler exerts a probing force on the surface and the feeler is deflected relative to a mounting of the feeler. On the basis of the deflection, a position of the point of the surface is determined. A directional dependence of a flexibility of the feeler is determined and/or is known. The feeler and the work piece are positioned and/or oriented relative to each other, while taking into consideration the directional dependence, such that during sampling of the point of the surface unintentional slipping of the feeler on the surface does not occur, or occurs only with low probability, or an unintentional deviation of the feeler from an intended path on the surface does not occur, or occurs only with low probability.
US08983793B2
Techniques for data gathering in large-scale wireless sensor networks are described. A data collection device receives aggregate data from at least one sensor node of a group of N sensor nodes. The aggregate data includes M weighted sums. Each of the M weighted sums includes a respective sum of N products each of which being a product of a respective coefficient and a sensor reading from a respective one of the N sensor nodes. M and N are positive integers and M is less than N. Computation is performed on the aggregate data to recover sensor readings from the N sensor nodes.
US08983784B2
This disclosure relates to systems, devices, protocols, and processes for retrieving, accessing, and presenting information of energy usage using a distributed storage process and distributed logical services to provide a user with real-time energy usage information and visualization.
US08983781B2
Aspects of the disclosure relate generally to detecting road weather conditions. Vehicle sensors including a laser, precipitation sensors, and/or camera may be used to detect information such as the brightness of the road, variations in the brightness of the road, brightness of the world, current precipitation, as well as the detected height of the road. Information received from other sources such as networked based weather information (forecasts, radar, precipitation reports, etc.) may also be considered. The combination of the received and detected information may be used to estimate the probability of precipitation such as water, snow or ice in the roadway. This information may then be used to maneuver an autonomous vehicle (for steering, accelerating, or braking) or identify dangerous situations.
US08983780B2
An unmanned drifting substance monitoring buoy (10) is thrown into a water area where a drifting substance is present, thereby tracking and monitoring the drifting substance. The unmanned drifting substance monitoring buoy (10) detects, by a detecting section, a relative location of the drifting substance on the water surface with respect to the unmanned drifting substance monitoring buoy (10), and measures, by a measuring section, directions and strengths of a wind and a tidal current. Then, the unmanned drifting substance monitoring buoy (10) tracks the drifting substance by adjusting, based on the relative location of the drifting substance detected by the detecting section and on the directions and the strengths of the wind and the tidal current measured by the measuring section, a surface area and a direction of a sail (13) by an adjusting section. This achieves an unmanned drifting substance monitoring buoy capable of tracking a drifting substance with small energy even when not only a tidal current but also a flow caused by a wind at the sea surface is large.
US08983778B2
Some embodiments provide a method for generating intersection data for paths in a map region. The method receives a set of junctions at which paths intersect in the map region. For a particular junction of at least two paths, the method automatically determines whether any of the other junctions in the map region satisfy criteria to be part of a single intersection with the particular junction. When at least one of the other junctions satisfies the criteria, the method automatically combines the other junctions that satisfy the criteria with the particular junction into a single intersection for use in performing mapping operations.
US08983772B2
A method for displaying a navigation route, a navigation apparatus, and a recording medium are provided. In the method, a current location of a mobile device is detected. Next, a start point and an end point are received and a navigation route is planned accordingly. Then, an electronic map database is accessed and a navigation map is rendered on a screen of the mobile device according to the electronic map database, wherein only the map information associated with the navigation route in the electronic map database is displayed on the navigation map and the displayed map information comprises the road names of a current road and a next road associated with the current location of the mobile device in the navigation route.
US08983766B2
To provide useful information to a user of a personal navigation device (PND) related to their current mode of transportation the PND receives a plurality of satellite navigation signals, utilizes the plurality of satellite navigation signals to determine position of the PND, determines a plurality of data based on the plurality of satellite navigation signals, utilizing the plurality of data as inputs to a statistical model to determine the mode of transportation, determines the information corresponding to the mode of transportation, and displays the information corresponding to the mode of transportation.
US08983765B2
A system for lane centering control for a vehicle having a user-operable steering device is disclosed. The system includes a set of sensors for sensing the vehicle speed, yaw rate, and steering device angle, a target path tracker configured for tracking the target path of the vehicle, a processor responsive to the set of sensors for predicting the path of the vehicle, a controller responsive to the set of sensors, the target path tracker, and the processor, and productive of a lane centering control signal, and an active front steering actuator responsive to the control signal and productive of steering assistance to the steering device. The controller includes a processing circuit responsive to executable instructions for producing the steering assistance to the steering device to reduce a difference between the predicted path and the target path, thereby serving to maintain lane centering of the vehicle.
US08983764B2
A mobile device associated with a mobile asset (and a method operating on such a mobile device) determines the location of the mobile asset and reports the location to a tracking server. To conserve power and bandwidth resources, the mobile device reports the current location and movement data of the mobile asset initially and then upon determination of the existence of one or more conditions. Potential conditions that could cause the mobile device to send an update to the server are a change from one road to another, a change in velocity or direction greater than a predetermined threshold, a deviation from an assigned or predicted route, or a difference between a current location and a predicted location.
US08983761B2
Disclosed herein are system, method, and computer program product embodiments for an audio monitoring and event-conflict signaling system. An embodiment operates by receiving airport audio communication originating from an airport control tower (ATCT) of an airport with one or more runways or a flight deck of an aircraft. The system determines one or more keywords corresponding to a runway event affecting operations of a particular runway of the airport. The system detects, within the airport audio communication, a conflict comprising a correspondence between the airport audio communication and one or more of the keywords, and notifies the ACT of the conflict.
US08983756B2
An internal combustion engine has a cylinder, a cylinder head mounted to the cylinder, a piston disposed in the cylinder, and a fuel injection valve. A combustion chamber is defined by the piston, the cylinder head and the cylinder. The fuel injection valve has a plurality of injection holes that injects fuel directly inside the cylinder from a side of the combustion chamber. The injection holes inject fuel in a spray shape with an overall shape, which is formed by a plurality of sprays being injected from the injection holes. The overall shape expands toward the cylinder head and forms one part of a conical shape that is dented near the piston. Central axes of some of the injection holes are oriented toward a boundary portion near the exhaust valve formed at a crown surface of the piston and an inner wall of the cylinder when fuel is injected.
US08983754B2
An apparatus for controlling an air-fuel ratio of an internal-combustion engine includes an air-fuel ratio detector, a fluctuation signal generating device, an air-fuel ratio fluctuation device, a 0.5th-order frequency component strength calculator, a fluctuation frequency component strength calculator, a reference component strength calculator, and an imbalance fault determining device. The reference component strength calculator is configured to calculate strength of a reference component in accordance with strength of a first frequency component and strength of a second frequency component. The imbalance fault determining device is configured to make a determination of an imbalance fault in which air-fuel ratios of a plurality of cylinders vary beyond a tolerance limit on a basis of a relative relationship between strength of the 0.5th-order frequency component and the strength of the reference component.
US08983751B2
Provided are a control system and method for stopping a vehicle, which reduce jerk when a vehicle controlled by an SCC system is stopped by the SCC system without a driver's manipulation. A desired target stop distance between a controlled vehicle and a front vehicle is set. Proposed is a formula for calculating a target acceleration in which a jerk is not caused when the target stop distance is maintained and then the controlled vehicle stops. By controlling the stop of the controlled vehicle according to the acceleration that has been calculated with the formula, the controlled vehicle is stopped without the occurrence of a jerk.
US08983750B2
There is provided a driving support apparatus for a vehicle. When a speed limit that is not equal to a set vehicle speed is detected by a stereo image recognition device, a cruise control unit temporarily performs a standby mode in which a value of the set vehicle speed can be switched to the speed limit, and displays the set vehicle speed and the speed limit so that the speeds can be compared with each other and selectively maintains the set vehicle speed or switches the set vehicle speed to the speed limit based on an operation state by a driver during the standby mode.
US08983749B1
A road friction coefficient estimation system and method uses tire load estimation sensors attached to a vehicle's tires. Tire load and slip angle for each tire are estimated from sensor data. From vehicle CAN bus sensors, vehicle acceleration and yaw rate operational parameters are obtained and a dynamic observer model calculates lateral and longitudinal force estimates on each of the tires. An individual wheel force estimation is calculated on each tire from the lateral and longitudinal force estimates for each tire. From the dynamic slip angle estimation on each tire and the individual wheel force estimation on each of the tires, a model-based friction estimation is made.
US08983745B2
A method of executing a double transition shift in a transmission includes determining via a controller that one of four clutches involved in the shift has a clutch slip direction relative to input member rotation direction in one of the current gear and the commanded gear and an opposite clutch torque direction relative to input member torque direction in the other of the current gear and the commanded gear. The controller then calculates clutch torques for at least some of the offgoing clutches and at least some of the oncoming clutches, and controls torque at the offgoing clutches and the oncoming clutches during the shift according to the calculated clutch torques to ensure that the clutch with the opposite slip and torque directions does not provide reaction torque during the shift unless clutch slip across said one of the four clutches is zero or in the clutch torque direction.
US08983744B2
An automatic shift apparatus includes a rotation shaft, a dog clutch gear shift mechanism, and a control unit. The control unit controls first moving speed to be faster than second moving speed on moving a sleeve in an engaged state engaged with one of a first clutch ring and a second clutch ring to a neutral position defined at a position between the first clutch ring and the second clutch ring where the first moving speed is a speed of moving the sleeve in the engaged state to a target position defined between the neutral position and the mentioned one of the first clutch ring and the second clutch ring the sleeve is engaged with and where the second moving speed is a speed of moving the sleeve from the target position to the neutral position.
US08983731B2
A power-steering device and method for controlling a device for a motor vehicle including a stop and start system, the device including an electric pump unit including at least one electric motor and one processor. The method includes a stage in which the electric pump unit is switched to a standby mode by reducing rotation speed of the electric motor, this stage implemented by the processor following receipt of a control signal sent by the stop and start system to the processor, the signal representing an automatic switching of a heat engine into a stop mode. The method enables the power-steering device to be kept in operation during an automatic stopping phase of the heat engine, without resulting in unwanted noise or excessive electricity draw.
US08983716B2
A slip angle estimation includes a tire having one or more first and second strain sensor(s) affixed to opposite respective first and second tire sidewalls. The sensors measure a tire strain in their respective sidewalls and generate a sidewall strain signal indicative of strain present within the tire sidewalls. A slip angle estimation is made by estimating the difference in the signal slope of the sensors in the opposite sidewalls. A load estimation is further made for the tire from the inner and outer sidewall strain signals and the load estimation is used in the slip angle estimation.
US08983707B2
A control system for use at a dump location having a plurality of dump sites is disclosed. The control system may have a control module associated with a mobile machine and a worksite controller. The worksite controller may be configured to receive a signal from the control module indicative of the mobile machine crossing a boundary at a dump location, and assign a travel route for the mobile machine based on the signal. The travel route may include a travel segment on a common entrance row, a first single-use path from the common entrance row to a particular one of the plurality of dump sites, a second single-use path from the particular one of the plurality of dump sites to a common exit row, and a travel segment on the common exit row. The worksite controller may be further configured to communicate the travel route to the control module as the mobile machine moves toward the dump location.
US08983705B2
Methods and systems for detecting weather conditions including fog using vehicle onboard sensors are provided. An example method includes receiving laser data collected from scans of an environment of a vehicle, and associating, by a computing device, laser data points of with one or more objects in the environment. The method also includes comparing laser data points that are unassociated with the one or more objects in the environment with stored laser data points representative of a pattern due to fog, and based on the comparison, identifying by the computing device an indication that a weather condition of the environment of the vehicle includes fog.
US08983704B2
The disclosure herein provides systems for a versatile electric bicycle that is configured to be easily adapted to accommodate various needs and requirements. In certain embodiments, the foregoing may provide features and/or models that are configured to be easily adapted to accommodate parts of varying dimensions, different seating configurations, and/or particular laws and regulations of different jurisdictions.
US08983702B2
A control unit 2 includes a standard control map Map1 in which an EV driving permitting region is set according to the SOC of a battery 3 and a substitute control map Map2 in which the EV driving permitting region of the standard control map Map1 is narrowed, whereby when an air conditioning compressor 112A, 112B is actuated to operate, the driving is controlled by selecting the substitute control map Map2 to be referred to in place of the standard control map Map1.
US08983699B2
A vehicle provided with a motor generator as a driving source includes an engine and a catalyst for purifying gas exhausted from the engine. The engine is controlled in one control mode of a CS mode and a CD mode in which opportunity for operation of the engine is limited compared to in the CS mode. In the CS mode, the temperature of the catalyst is increased to be equal to or higher than a prescribed activating temperature. The temperature of the catalyst is increased to be higher than the activating temperature before the control mode is changed from the CS mode to the CD mode.
US08983686B2
The invention relates to a device aboard an aircraft comprising output means configured to restore information relating to the aircraft status from aircraft systems, the device including a module providing interface between said output means and said aircraft systems, said module being configured to synthesize information from aircraft systems depending on predetermined behavior rules and to transmit said information thus synthesized to said output means.
US08983681B2
A system and method for communicating between a vehicle having a vehicle telematics unit and a central facility includes establishing a virtual private network (VPN) connection between a vehicle and a central facility; constructing a data message for communication between the vehicle and the central facility using the VPN; transmitting the data message via the VPN using an unreliable transmission protocol; and determining if the transmitted data message arrived at its destination.
US08983680B2
A system for incorporation into a manually controlled vehicle to provide unmanned operational capability to the vehicle, comprises a quantity of subsystem controllers. The subsystem controllers include: a throttle controller, integratable with an existing throttle system of the vehicle; a brake controller, integratable with an existing brake system of the vehicle; and a steering controller, integratable with an existing steering system of the vehicle. An actuator control system is operably coupleable to each of the subsystem controllers, and the actuator control system is capable of enabling remote or automated control of each of the subsystem controllers. An interrupt device is operably coupled to the actuator control system, the interrupt device providing selective: i) actuation of the actuator control system to provide remote or automated control of the subsystem controllers; and ii) deactivation of the actuator control system to return the subsystem controllers to a manually controlled state.
US08983673B2
Methods and apparatus for implementing power management systems using a peak demand factor are described and disclosed herein. An exemplary method includes gathering load samples from a site, generating a plurality of peak demand factors based on the load samples, performing an analysis to determine feasible demand reduction based on the peak demand factors, such as by plotting the demand reduction against the peak demand factors and finding one or more points at which demand reduction is particularly advantageous, selecting a maximum percentage of peak reduction matched with a peak demand factor, and implementing a power management system corresponding to the selected peak demand factor. Embodiments disclosed may quickly determine a superior peak demand reduction strategy or configuration for a site, thereby reducing the time and labor costs of excessive experimentation presently used to implement demand management systems.
US08983663B2
The present invention provides a medical diagnostic device with an automatic moving mechanism. The device comprises an input interface for receiving instructions from an operator or from a remote device. A motion controller is coupled to the input interface for controlling movements of the diagnostic device based on the instructions received through the input interface. A moving assembly is coupled to the motion controller for moving the diagnostic device under control of the motion controller. In an embodiment, a method of guiding a portable imaging system through various locations in a hospital is disclosed. Also the invention discloses a self-guided portable imaging system.
US08983635B2
A method and system for examining, auditing, and safely evaluating process systems, including fluid pressure systems and nuclear plant systems, to aid overpressure design and/or sizing of overpressure equipment. The system includes a server subsystem, a storage subsystem, an assessment subsystem, and optionally a report generation subsystem, including computer hardware and application software for supporting these subsystems.
US08983629B2
Devices, systems and methods are disclosed for treating bronchial constriction related to asthma, anaphylaxis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), exercise-induced bronchospasm and post-operative bronchospasm. The treatment comprises transmitting impulses of energy non-invasively to selected nerve fibers that activate neural pathways to reduce the release of acetycholine from airway-related vagal preganglionic neurons within the brain of the patient. The transmitted energy impulses, comprising magnetic and/or electrical energy, stimulate the selected nerve fibers to produce the bronchodilation.
US08983627B2
A probe system for electro-stimulation and bio-feedback training of muscles in the pelvic floor region, in particular for pelvic floor physiotherapy and diagnosis, includes a probe having a probe body which is insertable into a vagina or a rectum, and a plurality of electrodes which are positioned at several locations along the length and around the circumference on the outer surface of the probe, the probe system further includes a control unit, operationally coupled to the probe, adapted for receiving EMG signals from each of the electrodes and for processing each of the signals for mapping the response of the muscles in the pelvic floor region.
US08983619B2
A system and method are described for testing communication through a patient during implantation using telemetry coupling electrodes on a delivery catheter. In one example, at least two telemetry coupling electrodes may be placed on or within a delivery catheter to test conductive communication with external body electrodes during implantation. In some instances, the telemetry coupling electrodes of the delivery catheter may approximate the spacing of telemetry electrodes on an IMD. In this manner, testing conductively coupled communication with telemetry coupling electrodes of the catheter may be used to mimic the telemetry electrodes on the IMD and determine a target position and/or orientation of an electrode or electrodes of the IMD for successful conductive communication through the body.
US08983614B2
A method of blocking signal transmission through a nerve with reduced onset activity includes applying an HFAC to an axon of a nerve to block the transmission of signals through the axon. The method may also include applying a direct current (DC) to the axon, increasing the amplitude of the DC over time to a predetermined amplitude, applying the HFAC, and then decreasing the DC. The method may also include temporarily reducing the amplitude of the HFAC to permit the transmission of signals through the axon and subsequently increasing the amplitude to block transmission without triggering an onset response. The method may also include temporarily applying an unbalanced charge to the nerve and then balancing the charge over time.
US08983610B2
A hybrid method is provided for modulating upper airway function in a subject. The method includes applying first and second therapy signals to the subject to modulate at least one extrinsic laryngeal muscle and at least one intrinsic laryngeal muscle to synergistically control laryngeal motion and vocal fold movement, respectively.
US08983609B2
An apparatus for positioning at a target site and for treating a pulmonary condition in a subject includes a fluid exchange catheter for insertion into a tracheo-bronchial tree and an inflatable balloon coupled to the fluid exchange catheter. At least a portion of the inflatable balloon is for engaging a luminal wall of the tracheo-bronchial tree at the target site. The apparatus further includes an energy delivery mechanism operably coupled to the inflatable balloon. The energy delivery mechanism includes at least one energy delivery member for delivering electrical energy to the target site.
US08983602B2
Approaches for selecting an electrode combination of multi-electrode pacing devices are described. Electrode combination parameters that support cardiac function consistent with a prescribed therapy are evaluated for each of a plurality of electrode combinations. Electrode combination parameters that do not support cardiac function are evaluated for each of the plurality of electrode combinations. An order is determined for the electrode combinations based on the parameter evaluations. An electrode combination is selected based on the order, and therapy is delivered using the selected electrode combination.
US08983589B2
A method for localizing ischemia in segments of a heart in a patient under test includes attaching a plurality of electrodes to the patient to form a plurality of leads, capturing electric signals at each of the leads, determining a normalized vector magnitude for each lead as is inherent in a normal heart, calculating an output for each cardiac segment as a percentage of the left ventricle (LV) by adding up the contributions for all of the leads in the direction of each segment at the J point based on the normalized vector magnitudes and a correct calibration factor for conversion to the percent of LV and taking a dot product of each lead vector and each segment vector to identify a normalized response for each lead at each segment center and using the dot products to multiply the ST J-point signal for each lead.
US08983586B2
A medical device and associated method for classifying an unknown cardiac signal that includes sensing a cardiac signal over a plurality of cardiac cycles, determining a template of a known cardiac signal in response to the cardiac signal sensed over the plurality of cardiac cycles, sensing an unknown cardiac signal over an unknown cardiac cycle, determining a fourth order difference signal, determining a template alignment point and an unknown cardiac signal alignment point in response to the fourth order difference signal; determining an R-wave onset and an R-wave offset in response to the fourth order difference signal of the unknown cardiac cycle signal, determining an R-wave width as the difference between the R-wave onset and the R-wave offset, determining a morphology analysis window in response to the R-wave width, and determining a first morphology match metric across the morphology analysis window.
US08983581B2
A method and system for medical imaging employs an excitation source configured to cause an object having a plurality of cells to at least one of emit, reflect, and fluoresce light. An optical receptor is employed that is configured to receive the light from the object. A filter assembly receives the light from the optical receptor and filters the light. An image processor having a field of view (FOV) substantially greater than a diameter of a cell of the object and an analysis resolution substantially matched to the diameter of a cell of the object that receives the filtered light from the filter and analyzes the filtered light corresponding to each cell in the FOV. A feedback system is provided that is configured to provide an indication of a state of each cell in the FOV and a location of a cell in the FOV meeting a predetermined condition.
US08983563B2
The invention relates to a high temperature superconducting tape conductor having a flexible metal substrate that comprises at least one intermediate layer disposed on the flexible metal substrate and comprising terraces on the side opposite the flexible metal substrate, wherein a mean width of the terraces is less than 1 μm and a mean height of the terraces is more than 20 nm, and that comprises at least one high temperature superconducting layer disposed on the intermediate layer, which is disposed on the at least one intermediate layer and comprises a layer thickness of more than 3 μm. The ampacity of the high temperature superconducting tape conductor relative to the conductor width is more than 600 A/cm at 77 K.
US08983555B2
Wireless communication techniques are described. In one or more implementations, techniques are described that involve active power control such that a device may bypass use of a power amplifier to communicate wirelessly. In one or more additional implementations, wireless communication techniques are described in which multiple bands may be leveraged to provide wireless communication. In one or more further implementations, wireless communication techniques are described in which a frame buffer on a receiving device is leveraged by a sending device. Yet further, in one or more implementations wireless communication techniques are described in which a sending device employs codec adaptation. Still yet further, in one or more implementations, wireless communication techniques are described which may be used to change characteristics of a channel used to communicate data. Yet further again, in one or more implementations, a receiving device is configured to adjust a display based on wireless communications received from a plurality of devices, such as to leverage a display by multiple wireless sources.
US08983551B2
Methods and apparatus for wearable notification are disclosed. In one example embodiment, a method includes communicating a trigger data to a wearable device when processing an incoming signal, automatically generating a response on the wearable devise based on the trigger data, and remotely programming at least one parameter associated with the wearable notification devise. The method may be in a form of a machine-readable medium embodying a set of instructions that, when executed by a machine, cause the machine to perform the method. The wearable device may be physically coupled to a biological external tissue of the human body. The processing of the incoming signal may be performed on a mircroprocessor in a housing detachably attached to a telephone, and may be based on a parameter value of a kitchen appliance having a timer, or a state change of a doorbell.
US08983546B2
Systems, apparatus, methods, and manufactures for conserving power in a communications system such as a communications service cell site or cell site. The methods include adjusting the RF coverage of the cell site antenna, selective control of the RF output transmit power, selective control of the communications bit rate, transfer of communications to other cell sites, adjustment of indicators such that mobile devices transfer communications to other cell sites, and reallocation of logical slots between radios in the cell site. In some examples, the cell site employs a power controller. The power controller may utilize a switching circuit to produce two different voltages from a single battery string during a commercial power failure with improved conversion efficiencies. In another example, a power controller may manage multiple rectifiers so that the rectifiers operate more efficiently, such as with approximately equal runtime and with regular testing.
US08983535B2
Medical device that scans medical parameters and communicates via a cell phone. The cell phone can communicate the parameters to a remote location and/or or can analyze them. The medical device can be powered by the cell phone or can be wireless. A relatively large area for a pad that forms the surface area that determines the medical information can thus be obtained.
US08983533B2
A method for enabling a MIMO operation mode in a multimode communication terminal includes switching a first channel module to have parameter characteristics consistent with those of a second channel module, so that the multimode communication terminal enables the MIMO operation mode by using the first channel module and the second channel module at the same time. The method also includes extracting corresponding parameters from the second channel module and configuring the first channel module to be switched with the extracted parameters, such that the first channel module and second channel module enable the multimode communication terminal to perform MIMO communication. The method further includes issuing, upon determination of a switch, notification instructions to means in channel switch layer means and changing a data channel associated with the first channel module, such that the first channel module and second channel module can be adapted to the MIMO operation mode.
US08983530B2
Embodiments disclosed herein provide systems and methods to provide data session continuity between wireless networks. In a particular embodiment, a method provides receiving a request to create a data session for a wireless communication device exchanging communications with a wireless local area network via a wireless access point. The method further provides determining an access point identifier for the wireless access point and selecting a control system for a cellular communication network of a plurality of cellular communication networks based on the access point identifier. The method further provides anchoring the data session to the control system.
US08983523B2
A host device may be enabled to support a plurality of wireless interfaces, wherein some of these interfaces may be utilized to support human interface device (HID) based communication. The host device may be enabled to monitor activity of HID devices based on communications via HID capable wireless interfaces, may predict future use of the HID devices based on the monitoring, and may manage sniff communication that is utilized to track and/or detect activities in the HID devices. The management of the sniff communication may comprise adjusting characteristics of the sniff communication to enable improving throughput of other wireless interfaces available via the host device that may be affected by the sniff communication. The adjustment of the characteristics of sniff communication may comprise adjusting, statically and/or dynamically, length of sniff intervals and/or designating of sniff packets as high priority requests.
US08983509B2
The present invention is a system and method by which past SMS messages generated or received by a user or a user-application are stored in the telecommunications network, and retrieved by the user at any time using a client application. The system allows the user to access this database using a graphical user interface over the public Internet using a mobile or fixed client to search and view past SMS messages. This system can be used for the user to respond to or resend past SMS messages to his/her or other recipient's mobile terminals as well.
US08983508B2
Methods and apparatus for enabling short message service (SMS) and supplementary services (SS) in a long term evolution (LTE) network via evolved packet system (EPS) mobility management (EMM) over the LTE control plane are described. In one embodiment, the radio resource control (RRC) connection signaling radio bearer (SRB) is used for SMS and SS transport over the LTE control plane between a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) and a mobility management entity (MME). EMM interfaces and primitives are defined for actions towards SMS and SS entities for enabling SMS and SS services in LTE via the LTE control plane media. Message formats for SMS and SS message transport are also disclosed for sending SMS and SS messages within EMM uplink (UL) non-access stratum (NAS) transport and downlink (DL) NAS transport messages.
US08983506B2
A system, method and computer-readable medium for enforcing user telecommunication privileges on a per-schedule basis are provided. Enterprise members may have a schedule associated therewith that defines scheduled locations of the users. Telecommunication service privileges may be coordinated with the users' schedules such that communication services are disabled at particular times based on the users' schedules. In other implementations, particular users may have telecommunication services disabled by an administrator in the event of a catastrophe or emergency. By this mechanism, users that are not proximate to a particular catastrophe or emergency area according to the users' schedule may have services disabled while other users that are located more proximate to the emergency may have their telecommunication services enabled. In this manner, the demand on a cellular network may be alleviated thereby increasing the likelihood that users directly impacted by the emergency may receive and place calls or access data services.
US08983500B2
A method of mapping a location of an event that is scheduled in a calendar application includes steps of identifying a contact associated with the event, determining address information associated with the contact, obtaining map data for the address information, and generating a map of the location associated with the contact based on the map data. Meeting or event locations can thus be mapped even if there is no event location or address information specified directly in the meeting request or appointment.
US08983495B2
An apparatus, method and system for geographical tracking entry and/or exiting of an asset into and/or out of a defined geographical boundary and reporting the same. Entry and exit tests compare position fixes with various thresholds and parameters to determine if the asset has entered or exited the geographical boundary. Tests are sequenced such that tests having lower levels of complexity (lower order) are performed before tests having higher levels of complexity (higher order). In this way, most position fixes are processed using computations having a lower order of mathematical complexity than conventionally implemented.
US08983494B1
A system for processing location information is disclosed. The location information is received from a mobile device. One or more polygons associated with the received location information are determined. A representation of the mobile device is stored based at least in part on the determined one or more polygons associated with the received location information.
US08983493B2
A method of providing a relevant subset of information to a client device is based in part on scanning for Wi-Fi access points within range of the client device, using a Wi-Fi database that covers a large target region to retrieve information about these access points, using this information to estimate the position of the mobile client device, selecting a limited region in the vicinity of the estimated location of the client device, and providing information about Wi-Fi access points within this limited region to the client. For efficient transfer and maintenance of data, the target region may be divided into a hierarchy of fixed geographical tiles.
US08983490B2
One or more techniques and/or systems are disclosed for identifying a location of a mobile device (e.g., with user consent). A set of one or more indications of received signal strength (RSS) may be received, comprising a first RSS from a first access point (AP). The set of RSS indications may be used to identify a grid area, comprising a first grid space. An expected distance between the first grid space and the first AP may be identified using the first RSS. The expected distance can be combined with a first known distance between the first grid space and the first AP to determine a first grid score for the first grid space. A second grid score may be determined for a second grid space (e.g., and a third, fourth, etc.), and the grid space comprising a desired grid score (e.g., highest) may be selected as the mobile device location.
US08983488B2
Embodiments of the disclosed invention include a system and a method for providing location-based services to consumers of a shopping facility. In one embodiment, a consumer creates a user account, user profile, and registers one or mobile devices. The system monitors for the presence of the registered mobile devices within one or more shopping facilities. The system transmits advertising material corresponding to the user created profile to a detected registered mobile device in response to the registered mobile device being within a specified range of a store associated with the user created profile.
US08983487B2
The present invention relates to an adaptive transmitting device using limited feedback information in a mobile communication system, and a method thereof. According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, when the base station transmits a pilot signal to the terminal, the terminal generates channel information by using the pilot signal, generates additional channel information from the channel information, and transmits the channel information and the additional channel information to the base station. The base station determines band allocation, power allocation, and modulation methods for each use by using received feedback information, and transmits modulated traffic data to the terminal according to the determined methods.
US08983483B2
Disclosed is a method of managing resources to allow networks or devices coexist. To this end, a neighbor discovering method of an apparatus including a coexistence manager (CM) includes: receiving, by the CM, a request from a television band device (TVBD) network or device served by the CM; obtaining, by the CM, neighbor information of the TVBD network or device in response to the request; and transmitting, by the CM, the obtained neighbor information to the TVBD network or device, wherein the neighbor information includes an identifier of a neighbor TVBD network or device interfering the TVBD network or device.
US08983479B2
Provided are a method of transmitting a dedicated reference signal (DRS), a method of receiving a DRS, and a feedback method of a terminal. The method of transmitting a DRS includes determining a DRS transmitting resource for at least one terminal which is a target of transmission, and transmitting the DRS using the determined transmission resource and notifying the terminal of information about layer used by the terminal. The method of receiving a DRS includes determining a DRS receiving resource, receiving information about layer used by a terminal from a serving cell base station, and receiving the DRS for the terminal using the determined reception resource and the information about layer. Accordingly, a terminal can find the position and sequence of its DRS. In particular, in the case of multi-user multiple input multiple output (MU-MIMO) or joint scheduling, it is possible to prevent or remove signal interference using the DRS of another terminal.
US08983472B2
A method and system supporting handoff of a multimedia call session using background network scanning is disclosed. A mobile multimedia handset may engage in the exchange of a multimedia information stream via a first wireless network, and may sniff a portion of radio frequency spectrum for a second wireless network. Information about available services and network quality of service for the second network may be received by querying the second wireless network or from advertising by the second wireless network. Hand-off between the two networks may be based upon the results of the comparison and one or more user-defined criteria, and the handoff may be synchronized according to predefined events in the stream of multimedia information.
US08983471B2
The disclosure relates to a Complex Intermediate Frequency (CIF)-based receiver adapted to process a received signal comprising a signal component at a desired frequency and a signal component as an image frequency. The CIF-based receiver determines the power of the received signal by calibrating the receiver to minimize the power of the signal component at the image frequency that interferes with the signal component at the desired frequency, introduces signal leakage from the image frequency to intentionally degrade the quality of the signal component at the desired frequency, and determines the power of the signal component at the image frequency based on the amount of degradation.
US08983469B2
A method and system for managing neighbor cell information are disclosed in the present invention. A user equipment is reselected into a current Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (UTRA) cell from a former resident cell belonging to other system, and finds out that the former resident cell is not in a neighbor cell list of the current UTRA cell and the user equipment itself supports a neighbor cell relation maintenance function, and/or after receiving an indication notified by a network side that the user equipment can report neighbor cell relation, the user equipment reports an air interface signaling message carrying cell information of the former resident cell to a Radio Network Controller (RNC); the RNC receives and decodes the air interface signaling message, acquires the cell information of the former resident cell, and updates inter-system neighbor cell information according to the cell information of the former resident cell.
US08983461B1
Range indicators for sectors in a wireless network may be determined by measuring, in a plurality of test locations, signal strengths of pilot signals transmitted by the sectors. Each sector's determined range indicator may be stored as a predefined range indicator for the sector in association with a list of predefined neighbors for the sector. When a candidate sector is added to a mobile station's active set, a neighbor list may be constructed for the mobile station, by taking into account the predefined range indicator for the candidate sector. If the predefined range indicator indicates that the candidate sector has a standard range, then the candidate sector's predefined neighbors may be added to the neighbor list. If the predefined range indicator indicates that the candidate sector has a non-standard range (e.g., indicating a “boomer”), then the candidate sector's predefined neighbors may be omitted from the neighbor list.
US08983458B2
A mobile communication device maintains a stored list of a plurality of carrier identifications, where each carrier identification is stored in association with one of a plurality of country codes. The mobile device is also associated with a home wireless carrier that is identifiable by a home carrier identification stored in its memory. The mobile device reads the home carrier identification from the memory, and selects one of the plurality of country codes that is stored in association with the home carrier identification. During operation, the mobile device reads a specified domain name in response to a user-initiated request made via a Web browser or search application. Then, the mobile device produces a Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) request with a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) corresponding to a specified domain name and a country code parameter which includes the selected country code. The HTTP request with the URL is submitted via the wireless communication network. Advantageously, consistency in accessing web sites, information, and/or search results may be achieved regardless of location of the mobile station.
US08983457B2
A policy control architecture for handling policies in communication networks. An independent Identity Provider (IDP) generates IDP user terminal entries for policy control information. Policy controllers are logically divided into separate policy control units. Of these, a User Policy Controller (UPC) generates UPC user terminal entries for service subscriptions, and a Business Policy Controller (BPC) applies related policies on the services.
US08983454B2
Interference comprising a passive intermodulation (PIM) product of at least a first signal and a second signal is detected in a wireless network, by generating, on the basis of at least the first signal and the second signal, at least one interference signal comprising a simulated intermodulation product and correlating the at least one interference signal with a waveform received in the wireless system to produce data representing a correlation. The presence of an intermodulation product of at least the first signal and the second signal is detected in the interference in dependence on the data representative of the correlation.
US08983449B1
User controlled temporary mobile phone and/or data service device swapping systems and methods including particular implementations and embodiments comprising a plurality of mobile phone user control accounts at least a first telephone number or other registration number registered with each of the plurality of phone service or cellular service user control accounts, and at least two different phone devices registered with each of the plurality of user control accounts, and a mobile phone user interface configured to receive input from the mobile phone user to indicate which of the at least two different mobile phone or cellular devices associated with the mobile phone user control account is to be associated and to transmit data indicating the association to a phone number or other service access number registry.
US08983447B2
Methods, devices and systems enable the dynamic updating of home public land mobile network (HPLMN) information stored on a subscriber identification module (SIM) to avoid a roaming indication, without requiring any modifications to the mobile device modem, SIM application programming interface (API), the modem software, or the mobile device operating system. A mobile device may scan available public land mobile networks (PLMNs) to identify a participating PLMN to which the mobile device may connect, and receive network values having a mobile country code (MCC) value and a mobile network code (MNC) value from the identified PLMN. The mobile device may overwrite an existing HPLMN value and/or one or more IMSI values on the SIM with the receive network values.
US08983446B2
A method of detecting a transmitting device within a facility is disclosed. The method involves detecting the transmitting device of a wireless transmission detection facility; communicating signal information relating to the detected transmitting device to a central unit where the detected transmitting device is identified; determining whether the detected transmitting device is allowed within the facility and providing instruction to a transmitting device to interfere with the detected transmitting device when the detected transmitting device is not allowed in the facility and providing instructions and methodologies when the detected transmitting device is allowed in the facility.
US08983444B2
A method of controlling a portable device having a humidity sensor is provided. The method includes measuring a humidity level around the portable device using the humidity sensor when a call event occurs, comparing the measured humidity level with a preset threshold value, and controlling on/off of a display unit of the portable device according to a comparison outcome.
US08983442B2
An apparatus may include a sensor, a processor circuit, and an adaptive scanning component for execution on the processor circuit to receive sensor data from the sensor, to determine activity state based upon the received sensor data, and to adjust a wireless network scanning procedure in accordance with the received sensor data. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08983440B1
Call handling options are selected for calls using social network data that is descriptive of the relationship of a caller to a call recipient in a social networking platform. An identifier for a calling device is used to access social network data that is descriptive of a relationship of the caller to the call recipient in the social networking platform. A call handling option for a call is selected, from among multiple, different call handling options, based on the social network data that is descriptive of the relationship of the caller to the call recipient in the social networking platform.
US08983436B2
A method of handling a mobility management back-off timer for a mobile device in a wireless communication system comprises performing a mobility management procedure in response to a paging signaling transmitted by a network of the wireless communication system; and stopping the mobility management back-off timer after performing an authentication procedure in the mobility management procedure successfully.
US08983421B2
In an organic memory which is included in a radio chip formed from a thin film, data are written to the organic memory by a signal inputted with a wired connection, and the data is read with a signal by radio transmission. A bit line and a word line which form the organic memory are each selected by a signal which specifies an address generated based on the signal inputted with a wired connection. A voltage is applied to a selected memory element. Thus writing is performed. Reading is performed by a clock signal or the like which are generated from a radio signal.
US08983419B2
An integrated receiver includes a first signal processing path, a second signal processing path, and a controller. The first signal processing path has an input and an output for providing a first processed signal, and comprises a first tracking bandpass filter having a first integrated inductor formed with windings in a first number of metal layers of the integrated receiver. The second signal processing path has an input and an output for providing a second processed signal, and comprises a second tracking bandpass filter having a second integrated inductor formed with windings in a second number of metal layers of the integrated receiver. The second number of windings is lower than the first number. The controller enables one of the first and second signal processing paths corresponding to a selected channel of a radio frequency (RF) input signal to provide an output signal.
US08983413B2
Some embodiments of the present disclosure relate to multiband receivers that include at least one divider unit having a divisor that is other-than-two. For example, in some embodiments the divisor is an odd integer (e.g., three). Such divisors allow oscillators for respective receiver subunits in a multi-band receiver to have frequencies that are sufficiently different from one another so as to limit cross-talk interference there between, even when the receiver subunits are concurrently receiving data on adjacent channels. To facilitate this other-than-two divisor, a phase error compensation block is often used to compensate for the effects of using the other-than-two divisor.
US08983407B2
Radio frequency (RF) power amplifier (PA) circuitry, which transmits RF signals is disclosed. The RF PA circuitry includes a final stage, a final stage current digital-to-analog converter (IDAC), and a final stage temperature compensation circuit. A final stage current reference circuit may provide an uncompensated final stage reference current to the final stage temperature compensation circuit, which receives and temperature compensates the uncompensated final stage reference current to provide a final stage reference current. The final stage IDAC uses the final stage reference current in a digital-to-analog conversion to provide a final stage bias signal to bias the final stage. The temperature compensation provided by the final stage temperature compensation circuit is selectable.
US08983397B2
A communication system comprises evolved base nodes (eNBs) communicating via an over-the-air (OTA) link with low mobility user equipment (UE). A network can utilize the eNBs for cooperative beam shaping for interference nulling based upon a number of factors UE (e.g., coordinated multi-point (CoMP) optimization for feedback, quality of service (QoS), fairness, etc.). The UE advantageously transmits multiple description coding (MDC) that supports a determination by the eNBs that coherent channel conditions (e.g., frequency and/or time invariance) exists for combining feedback reports to realize reduced quantization error. In addition, the MDC feedback reports still support incoherent channel states in which each report can be used individually for interference nulling/beamforming. MDC can be performed with one codebook or a plurality of codebooks.
US08983393B2
A process, device and computer-readable storage medium that incorporate teachings of the subject disclosure may include, for example, identifying a wireless device that is unable to distinguish between a non-reduced power subframe and a reduced-power, subframe of a communications protocol including a frame having a pre-defined arrangement of non-reduced power subframes and reduced-power subframes. First and second instructions are sent to the wireless device to respectively perform a first channel quality assessment of a non-reduced power subframe and a second channel quality assessment of a reduced-power subframe. The first and second instructions respectively identify the non-reduced power subframes and the reduced-power subframes within which the first and second channel quality assessments are to be performed. After receiving the first and second channel quality assessments, it is determined whether the channel quality assessment performed by the wireless device includes instantaneous measurements. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US08983390B2
The various embodiments of the present disclosure relate generally to power-conscious self-healing transceiver systems and methods. An embodiment of the present invention provides a method of power-consciously self-healing a transceiver system. The method comprises providing a transceiver device having a plurality of tuning elements configured to control a plurality of specifications of the device, determining initial values for the plurality of tuning elements, and performing a hardware-iterative gradient search to obtain values for each tuning element such that the plurality of specifications are within a tolerated range.
US08983374B2
Exemplary embodiments are directed to a coexistence of NFC and wireless power functionalities. A device may include an antenna configured to receive a signal. The device may further include a communication circuit configured to selectively couple to the antenna in a default mode of operation. The device may further include a wireless power circuit configured to selectively couple to the antenna in response to detecting that the signal is provided to power or charge a load.
US08983371B2
A mobile wireless communications device may include a portable housing and a near-field communication (NFC) circuit carried by the portable housing and being switchable between first NFC mode and a second NFC mode. The mobile wireless communications device may further include a processor carried by the portable housing and coupled to the NFC circuit and configured to switch the NFC circuit between the first NFC mode and the second NFC mode at a first frequency based upon a first triggering event, and switch the NFC circuit between the first NFC mode and the second NFC mode at a second frequency lower than the first frequency based upon a second triggering event different than the first triggering event.
US08983360B2
A printing system including: a first printer that forms an image on continuous-form printing paper, and includes a pre-heating unit that preliminarily heats the continuous-form printing paper prior to fixation and a fixing unit that performs the fixation; and a second printer that forms an image on the continuous-form printing paper fed from the first printer. The second printer includes a jam detecting unit that detects, at a detection position upstream of a position where the second printer forms the image on the continuous-form printing paper, and a control unit that controls the jam detecting unit such that the jam detection is not performed for a period of time, over which a deformed portion of the continuous-form printing paper which has been at rest at the pre-heating unit of the first printer passes through the detection position of the jam detecting unit.
US08983343B2
An image forming apparatus includes a toner case and an installed part. The toner case includes a discharge port discharging a toner. To the installed part, the toner case is detachably installed. On the circumference of the toner case, a locking piece is provided. The installed part includes a locking member covering at least a part of the circumference of the toner case. The locking member has an insertion depression, an engaging piece and a biasing member. The insertion depression is arranged along an installing direction of the toner case and is capable of insertion of the locking piece. The engaging piece moves between a protrusive position protruded to the insertion depression at predetermined length and a withdrawn position withdrawn further than the protrusive position from the insertion depression in intersecting directions with the installing direction. The biasing member biases the engaging piece to the protrusive position side.
US08983340B2
An image forming apparatus includes a main body; at least one developer including an image carrier unit having an image carrier and a charged body charging the image carrier, a developing unit installed to swing at a predetermined angle with respect to the image carrier unit and having a developing roller, and a pressing member pressing the developing unit so that the developing roller comes in contact with the image carrier, and separably installed in the main body; a nip separation unit installed in the main body on one side of the developer to swing the developing unit so that the developing unit is in a position that is separated from the image carrier; and a control unit controlling the developer and the nip separation unit according to a print command.
US08983339B2
A developing cartridge includes a photoconductive body, a charging unit which charges a surface of the photoconductive body and a developing unit which forms a toner image. The charging unit includes a shaft which applies a charging voltage and which has a central axis parallel to a rotating axis of the photoconductive body, a tubular member of a conductive material which surrounds the shaft, a current carrying member which applies an electric current to the shaft and the tubular member, and a damping member which is disposed between the shaft and the current carrying member. The shaft has a middle portion which is thicker than opposite end portions in a longitudinal direction along the central axis.
US08983335B2
A process cartridge for an image forming apparatus includes a first frame supporting the photosensitive drum; a developing roller; a process member actable on the developing roller; a second frame supporting the developing roller and the process member, the second frame being movable between a contact position where the developing roller contacts the drum and a spacing position where the developing roller is spaced from the drum; a developing device contact; and a process member contact, wherein when the second frame is moved between the contact position and the spacing position, a movement path of the developing device contact overlaps a movement path of process member contact, as seen along the axial direction.
US08983332B2
An image forming apparatus has an outline surrounded by a casing. The casing has an opening. The image forming apparatus includes a fixing unit configured to fix an image formed on a recording medium, and a control unit. The fixing unit includes a heating fixing member. The control unit is configured to control an opening degree of the opening based on temperature of a surface of or in the vicinity of the heating fixing member, so as to prevent emission of a substance by an air current to outside of the casing through the opening, during an image forming operation.
US08983331B2
An electronic apparatus includes a functional unit, an electric circuit board, a pivotable support member, an outer cover, and wiring. The functional unit is disposed inside the electronic apparatus. The electric circuit board is configured to control the functional unit. The pivotable support member is shaped rectangular having a vertical length that is shorter than a horizontal length thereof and is pivotally movable about a pivoting axis defined to extend along one horizontally extending side of the pivotable support member between a closed position in which the pivotable support member covers the functional unit and an open position in which the functional unit is exposed. The outer cover is disposed more outwardly than the pivotable support member. The wiring passes through a pivoting axis side of the pivotable support member to connect the functional unit to the electric circuit board.
US08983329B2
A high-voltage power supply device includes: a piezoelectric transformer; a driving unit of the piezoelectric transformer; a detection unit configured to detect an output of the piezoelectric transformer; and a control unit configured to control the output of the piezoelectric transformer by giving a driving signal to the driving unit so that the output detected by the detection unit reaches a target value, wherein the control unit changes a frequency of the driving signal without changing a duty of the driving signal so as to set the frequency of the driving signal such that the output detected by the detection unit falls within a predetermined range including the target value, and after setting the frequency for the driving signal such that the output detected by the detection unit falls within the predetermined range, changes the duty of the driving signal so that the output detected by the detection unit reaches the target value.
US08983323B2
Provided is a color image forming apparatus that includes: image carriers that form toner image of black and other colors; an intermediate transfer body that makes contact with the image carriers; and transfer units that transfer the toner images on the image carriers to the intermediate transfer body. A line velocity difference is set between the image carriers and the intermediate transfer body. An accelerated cohesion degree of toner is equal to or larger than 54%. A linear velocity difference X1 between the image carrier for black and the intermediate transfer body satisfies a relation of 0
US08983316B2
A fixing device includes a fixing device including rollers which form a nip therebetween to fix a toner image on a sheet; a reciprocating mechanism, including a motor, for reciprocating the fixing device within a predetermined range by moving the fixing device in a longitudinal direction thereof for each passages of a predetermined number of sheets through the nip; and a controller for controlling the motor so that a drive time of the motor per the predetermined number of the sheets is longer in a first range including a point at which a moving direction of the fixing device reverses than in a second range in which the moving direction of the fixing device does not reverse.
US08983310B2
An image forming apparatus, comprising: a charge voltage application circuit configured to be connected to a plurality of chargers in a process cartridge and to apply a voltage to the plurality of chargers; a current detection unit configured to detect a current flowing through each of the plurality of chargers; and a controller. The controller judges that the process cartridge is not attached to the image forming apparatus when the current smaller than a first threshold is detected by the current detection unit in a state where the charge voltage application circuit generates a predetermined voltage.
US08983308B2
In general, this disclosure relates to optical network devices with support for multiple physical layer transport standards. An optical network device may include an optical receiver that can be adaptively configured to support different physical layer transport standards. For example, the optical receiver may include a photodiode and a control unit to adjust a characteristic of the photodiode to support different optical physical layer transport standards on an adaptive basis. For example, the control unit may adjust the photodiode characteristic to prevent an overload condition when an optical signal is received according to the physical layer access standard.
US08983305B2
The present invention provides a method and an apparatus for controlling a phase delay offset point of a modulator. The method comprises: acquiring backlight detection current signals output from a modulator in different working states, and determining harmonic amplitude values of the backlight detection current signals corresponding to the different working states; determining a detection value of a phase delay offset point corresponding to the modulator according to the determined harmonic amplitude values; comparing the detection value with a set target value of the phase delay offset point, and controlling a position of the phase delay offset point corresponding to the modulator according to the comparison result. The accuracy of controlling the position of the phase delay offset point of the modulator and the performance of the Differential Quadrature Phase Shift Keying (DQPSK) modulation system are improved through the technical solution.
US08983296B2
An optical modulator combines and inputs a signal light propagating through the optical network and a control light having information concerning the optical network to a nonlinear optical medium. The optical modulator modulates the signal light according to changes in intensity of the control light, in the nonlinear optical medium.
US08983294B2
An optical transport system that transmits data using relatively short FEC-encoded data frames. The corresponding modulated optical signals are decoded at an optical receiver using frame-based maximum likelihood sequence estimation that relies on data redundancy present in each FEC-encoded data frame for the determination of its source bits. In some embodiments, the modulated optical signals carrying the FEC-encoded data frames are generated using a polarization-division-multiplexed constellation. The FEC-coding rate and frame length can be adjusted without changing the constellation, which advantageously enables the optical transport system to dynamically adapt its transmission format to the changing link conditions in a manner that results in better overall receiver sensitivity than that achieved with comparable bit-rate-adaptation methods that rely on a constellation change rather than on a change of the FEC-coding rate.
US08983289B2
A method of recovering frequency and phase associated with an optical carrier signal in an optical communication system includes determining an estimated frequency offset based on a starting training sequence, determining a current frequency offset based on the estimated frequency offset and a current phase during steady-state operation of the optical communication system, determining a current frequency based on the current frequency offset, determining an estimated phase using training symbols inserted into the optical carrier signal, and determining the current phase associated with the optical carrier signal based on the estimated phase and a blind phase search algorithm. A corresponding systems and computer-readable device are also disclosed.
US08983288B2
A system and method for measuring latency of an optical transport network includes generating a time stamp, transmitting the time stamp in an optical transport network, and processing the time stamp to measure latency of the optical transport network.
US08983283B2
A control system for an electric water heater having an upper heating element and a lower heating element is disclosed. The control system includes a control module that controls operation of the electric water heater by selectively toggling the upper and lower heating elements between an ON state and an OFF state and a consumer interface module that allows a consumer to input a set point temperature and select an energy savings mode for the electric water heater. The control module regularly monitors hot water usage and adjusts the set point temperature by a predetermined setback amount until a capacity of the water heater matches consumer usage.
US08983282B2
Electric heat for generating smoke from tobacco or the like in a hookah type smoking pipe. Electric heat is obtained from an electrically powered heating element which may be placed proximate the tobacco. The heating element may be contained within a housing which in turn may be placed above the smoking chamber of the hookah. The housing may have adjustably damped holes disposed to pass air over the heating element. Electrical circuitry serving the heating element may comprise a step down transformer and a voltage adjusting switch. The heating element may be integral with the hookah, may take the form of a separate component which is mountable over the smoking chamber of the hookah, or may comprise a free standing assembly which may be placed to stand adjacent to the hookah.
US08983276B2
An apparatus and a method for temporary storage of image-encoding data are provided. The apparatus for temporary storage of image-encoding data is utilized for high-resolution image encoding, wherein the apparatus includes an image sensing unit, a storage unit, and an encoding unit. The image sensing unit creates a plurality of frame data in successive order. Each frame data is composed of a plurality of macroblock row data. The storage unit includes a first storage portion and a second storage portion. The capacities of the first storage portion and the second storage portion are both a positive integral multiple of the size of the macroblock row data. The storage unit receives the macroblock row data from the image sensing unit and writes the macroblock row data into one of the first storage portion and the second storage portion. When the encoding unit reads the written macroblock row data from one of the first storage portion and the second storage portion, the storage unit simultaneously receives new macroblock row data from the image sensing unit and writes the new macroblock row data to the other one of the first storage portion and the second storage portion. The design of the first storage portion and the second storage portion is utilized to conserve storage space.
US08983275B2
Systems, methods, and apparatus for recording time delayed broadband content are provided. Desired content to be recorded may be identified by a programming processing component configured to receive broadband content output by a service provider. A channel associated with the desired content and an amount of delay associated with the channel may be determined. Based at least in part upon the determined amount of delay, the recording of the desired content may be scheduled by the programming processing component.
US08983274B2
A method for recording multimedia content. The method includes providing instructions to record a plurality of segments of multimedia content, each of the plurality of segments having a recording start time and a recording end time associated therewith. The method further includes providing instructions regarding recording settings for one or more first segments of multimedia content to be recorded. The method also includes comparing modified start time and/or modified end times with the recording start times and/or the recording end times associated with the plurality of segments of multimedia content and determining, based at least in part on the comparison, whether to record the one or more first segments with the modified start time and/or the modified end time.
US08983269B2
In a recording medium on which is recorded a multiplexed stream including a plurality of first packets (V_main) constituting a first I-picture in a first video stream and a plurality of second packets (V_sub) constituting a second I-picture in a second video stream, information for identifying the first I-picture and information for identifying the second I-picture are recorded on the medium. A recording medium can thereby be obtained that enables the rapid detection, from a small amount of information, of a particular picture included in a stream such as a TS in which multiple content streams are multiplexed.
US08983257B2
An optical delivery apparatus is disclosed including: an optical fiber extending between a distal end having a distal end face and a proximal end having a proximal end face, an optical element positioned to receive the light emitted from the distal end face and direct the light to an illumination region; and a non-metallic housing containing the optical fiber and the optical element and maintaining the relative position of the optical fiber and the optical element.
US08983253B2
A hybrid cable has optical conductors and electrical conductors. The electrical conductors are selected to have varying resistances per unit length, depending upon the distance from a power source at which the conductor is expected to terminate. The use of varying resistance conductors can be used to balance the power supplied to external devices and to lower cable cost, size, and weight.
US08983250B2
A wavelength interrogator is coupled to a circulator which couples optical energy from a broadband source to an optical fiber having a plurality of sensors, each sensor reflecting optical energy at a unique wavelength and directing the reflected optical energy to an AWG. The AWG has a detector coupled to each output, and the reflected optical energy from each grating is coupled to the skirt edge response of the AWG such that the adjacent channel responses form a complementary pair response. The complementary pair response is used to convert an AWG skirt response to a wavelength.
US08983249B2
An optical fiber combiner 1 has: a plurality of input optical fibers 20; a plurality of divergence angle reducing members 50 which lights emitted from the respective input optical fibers 20 enter and which emits the lights from the input optical fibers 20 at divergence angles made lower than divergence angles upon entrance; a bridge fiber 30 which the lights emitted from the respective divergence angle reducing members 50 enter and which has a tapered portion 34 which has a portion in which the lights propagate and a diameter of which is gradually reduced apart from a divergence angle reducing member 50 side; and an output optical fiber 40 which a light emitted from a side of the bridge fiber 30 opposite to the divergence angle reducing member 50 side enters.
US08983248B2
A computing system includes an optical transmission media to propagate a single-mode signal and a multimode signal, and support mode matching with the single-mode signal and multimode signal. A lowest-order mode of the optical transmission media is to couple the single-mode signal, and at least one higher-order mode of the optical transmission media is to couple the multimode signal. The optical transmission media is to enable extraction of the single-mode signal from the optical transmission media independently of the multimode signal.
US08983238B2
An optical resonator configured to be tuned using piezoelectric actuation, includes a core, the core being configured to transmit light; a piezoelectric layer; a first electrode and a second electrode. The piezoelectric layer is interposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. A voltage difference across the first and second electrodes alters a geometric dimension of the piezoelectric layer such that physical force is applied to the core and a resonant optical frequency of the resonator is changed. A method of utilizing mechanical stress to tune an optical resonator includes applying physical force to the resonator by subjecting a piezoelectric material to an electric field, the physical force changing a resonant frequency of the resonator.
US08983231B2
A method for reading a physical characteristic on an object includes: a step (240, 315, 405) of capturing a first image of at least a portion of the object with a first resolution; a step (245, 320, 415, 420) of determining the position of an area of the object to be processed, according to the first image; a step (255, 330, 430) of capturing a second image of the area of the object to be processed, with a second resolution higher than the first resolution; and a step (260, 335, 440) of determining the physical characteristic based on the second image. In some embodiments, there is, in addition, a step of marking the object with a mark bearing information representative of at least a portion of the physical characteristic.
US08983230B2
An image mosaicking method includes performing pairwise registration of a plurality of tiles (101), determining absolute homographies for each of the plurality of tiles according to the pairwise registration (102B), and performing a blending of the plurality of tiles to obtain a stitched image according to the absolute homographies (103).
US08983226B2
A face area is detected from an image captured by an image pickup device, pixel values of the image are adjusted based on information concerning the detected face area, a person area is detected from the adjusted image, and the detected face area is integrated with the detected person area. With this configuration, it is possible to accurately detect an object even in a case, for example, where the brightness is varied.
US08983224B1
A program is implemented on a processor for executing the following steps: receiving images of a scene comprising successive frames from a camera, each frame including an array of pixels; filtering intensities of the array of pixels in a respective frame by using a Bessel Filter to compute a constant value for the respective frame; and summing a predetermined number of respective frames from the camera to determine rapid motion in the scene. The filter includes a Bessel filter, which is an n-pole recursive digital filter, where n is a positive integer.
US08983222B2
A computer-implemented method for automatically retrieving information regarding optical properties of a scattering medium including receiving a first digital image and a first image quality value associated with the first digital image and sharpness of an edge of the first digital image, producing an optimized image, transforming the optimized image into an optimized optical transfer function, receiving a second digital image and a second image quality value associated with the second digital image and sharpness of an edge of the second digital image, identifying either the first or second digital image as an optimized digital image, and transforming the optimized optical transfer function into an optimized value of the optical parameter.
US08983221B2
An image processing apparatus which estimates a point spread function (PSF) of at least one input image, and the image processing apparatus includes: an S/N ratio estimation unit which estimates an S/N ratio of the input image at each spatial frequency; a restricted range calculation unit which calculates a restricted range that is a range of the spatial frequency in which the frequency component of the input images are restricted and that more likely includes a spatial frequency in which the S/N ratio is lower; a frequency restriction unit which generates a restricted image by restricting a frequency component of the input image within the restricted range; and a PSF estimation unit which estimates the PSF of the input image, using the restricted image.
US08983219B2
An image processing apparatus which re-encodes encoded data, encoded with a pixel block having a predetermined number of pixels as a coding unit, while suppressing degradation of image quality, with a higher compressibility. For this purpose, when an encoded-image-data input unit inputs JPEG encoded data with an 8×8 pixel block as a coding unit, a redundancy estimation unit performs encoding on the encoded data, and sets an encoded data amount obtained by the coding, as a target code amount for a recompressor to perform coding in accordance with JPEG 2000 coding. The inputted encoded data is decompressed by a decompressor, and the recompressor generates encoded data in the previously-determined target code amount. The code amount control is performed by deleting the encoded data in bit planes in an order from a least significant bit plane toward a high-order bit plane.
US08983216B2
Systems and methods for processing image signals are described. One method comprises obtaining a generator signal based on an image signal and determining relative latencies associated with two or more pulses in a pulsed signal using a function of the generator signal that can comprise a logarithmic function. The function of the generator signal can be the absolute value of its argument. Information can be encoded in the pattern of relative latencies. Latencies can be determined using a scaling parameter that is calculated from a history of the image signal. The pulsed signal is typically received from a plurality of channels and the scaling parameter corresponds to at least one of the channels. The scaling parameter may be adaptively calculated such that the latency of the next pulse falls within one or more of a desired interval and an optimal interval.
US08983210B2
A social network application may identify images having common links between a first user's image collection and a second user's image collection. The common links may be identified through metadata or similar portions of the images. Using the first user's image collection, elements of interest may be identified and compared to a second user's image collection to find matches. When matches are found, the results may be selected from groups of results to show a diverse set of matches. The user may be presented with options to select and add matched images to the user's collection, as well as to browse more images that match one or more of the groups.
US08983207B1
A technique for authenticating a user is described. During this authentication technique, an electronic device (such as a cellular telephone) captures multiple images of the user while the user moves the electronic device in a pre-defined manner (for example, along a path in 3-dimensional space), and determines positions of the electronic device when the multiple images were captured. Then, the electronic device compares the images at the positions with corresponding pre-existing images of the user captured at different points of view. If the comparisons achieve a match condition, the electronic device authenticates the user. In this way, the authentication technique may be used to prevent successful replay attacks.
US08983189B2
A method for error correction for segmented three dimensional image data. The method includes receiving segmented three dimensional image data, the segmented three dimensional image data being divided into a plurality of slices; correcting at least one contour of the segmented three dimensional image data on at least one slice according to a command from a user to form a corrected contour; and automatically interpolating a correction represented by the corrected contour to a plurality of slices of the segmented three dimensional image data.
US08983167B2
A variation of a method for estimating a quantity of a blood component in a fluid canister includes: within an image of a canister, identifying a reference marker on the canister; selecting an area of the image based on the reference marker; correlating a portion of the selected area with a fluid level within the canister; estimating a volume of fluid within the canister based on the fluid level; extracting a feature from the selected area; correlating the extracted featured with a concentration of a blood component within the canister; and estimating a quantity of the blood component within the canister based on the estimated volume and the concentration of the blood component within the canister.
US08983160B2
A medical image diagnostic apparatus provided with an image acquisition unit configured to acquire in-vivo information about an object to be examined as a medical image, a display unit configured to display the medical image, a setting unit configured to set a target region of volume measurement in the medial image displayed on the display unit, a calculation unit configured to perform calculation to split the target region into a plurality of volume elements, calculate the moving distance of the vertices of the volume elements when the target region of the acquired medical image moves, calculate the volumes of the volume elements after the movement using the calculated moving distance of the vertices, totalizing the calculated volumes of the volume elements after the movement and using the total volume as the volume of the target region, and a control unit configured to display the volume of the target region on the display unit.
US08983154B2
A method of formatting data for identifying colon polyps in a Computed Tomography Colonography (CTC) dataset comprising the steps of: extracting colon surface data, from the CTC dataset, within a sub-volume centered on a candidate polyp (CP) seed point; identifying individual sets of points corresponding to the CP's body and CP's base within the sub-volume; selecting the points corresponding to the body; re-formatting the candidate polyp by projecting the selected points corresponding to the body on to a tangent plane; and generating a series of cutting planes based on the reformatted candidate polyp.
US08983146B2
A multimodal biometric identification system captures and processes images of both the iris and the retina for biometric identification. Another multimodal ocular system captures and processes images of the iris and/or the from both eyes of a subject. Biometrics based on data provided by these systems are more accurate and robust than using biometrics that include data from only the iris or only the retina from a single eye. An exemplary embodiment emits photons to the iris and the retina of both eyes, an iris image sensor that captures an image of the iris when the iris reflects the emitted light, a retina image sensor that captures an image of the retina when the retina reflects the emitted light, and a controller that controls the iris and the retina illumination sources, where the captured image of the iris and the captured image of the retina contain biometric data.
US08983137B2
Methods and apparatuses are provided to deliver advertisements personalized for customers proximate a point of sale unit, e.g., a fuel dispenser. A visual information capturing unit captures visual information of an object, e.g., an image, a shape, etc., disposed in a specified range of the point of sale unit, e.g., within 6 feet of the point of sale unit. A processor determines a visually perceptible characteristic of the object based on the visual information, selects an advertisement based on the determined characteristic, and outputs the selected advertisement from an advertisement unit proximate the point of sale unit.
US08983127B2
Systems and method of compensating for tracking motion of an object are disclosed. One such method includes receiving a series of images captured by each of a plurality of image capture devices. The image capture devices are arranged in an orthogonal configuration of two opposing pairs. The method further includes computing a series of positions of the object and orientations of the object, by processing the images captured by each of the plurality of image capture devices.
US08983124B2
A moving body positioning device includes a sensor group that outputs a motion velocity vector of a moving body, a motion velocity vector estimation processing device that measures a motion velocity vector and outputs an output sequence of the motion velocity vector together with a measured time, a monitoring camera, an image analysis processing device that analyzes the image of the monitoring camera to measure a position of feet of the moving body measures a motion velocity vector at the position of the feet, and outputs an output sequence of the motion velocity vector with a measured time, and a motion velocity vector collation processing device that collates the output sequence of the motion velocity vector estimation processing device with the output sequence of the image analysis processing device and outputs its collation result as a TRUE or a FALSE signal.
US08983118B2
The present disclosure relates generally to cell phones and cameras, and to shadow analysis in imagery captured by such cell phones and cameras. One claim recites a method comprising: identifying a shadow cast by a cell phone on a subject being imaged by a camera included in the cell phone; and using a programmed electronic processor, determining proximity to the subject based on an analysis of the shadow. Another claim recites a mobile phone comprising: a camera for capturing images and video; memory; and one or more processors programmed for: identifying a shadow cast by a cell phone on a subject being imaged by said imager; and determining proximity to the subject based on an analysis of the shadow. Of course, other claims and combinations are provided too.
US08983111B2
A speaker of the present invention is used for converting audio electrical signals to audible sounds. The multi-magnetic circuit speaker includes a box with a sound hole, at least one magnetic circuit having at least two magnetic gaps, at least two vibrating units corresponding to the magnetic gaps, respectively, at least two pair of pads embedded in the box to electrically connecting with the two vibrating units, a terminal board engaged with the box and pressing on the two pads for conducting electrical signals to the two vibrating units. The terminal board includes a first portion, a second portion extending from the second portion and a third portion extending from the second portion.
US08983109B2
A wireless ear-hook headset includes a flexible tube, a receiver and a transceiver. The flexible tube has a cable, a first fixing binder fixed on one end of the cable, a second fixing binder fixed on the other end of the cable, and an outer layer. The cable has at least one shapeable metallic wire, a plurality of signal wires and an insulating cover layer. The outer layer has two ends which are fixedly connected with the first and second fixing binders respectively and fully covering the cable. The receiver is connected to the first fixing binder of the flexible tube. The transceiver is connected to the second fixing binder of the flexible tube. The present invention also discloses the flexible tube structure and a method for manufacturing the flexible tube.
US08983098B2
A parametric speaker comprises a generally planate radiating element, suitable for radiating ultrasonic vibrations into a fluid medium, and an emitter, having an ultrasonic output and/or resonant frequency, the emitter being intimately coupled to the radiating element. The radiating element is physically configured to have a mechanical resonance that substantially matches the output and/or resonant frequency of the emitter.
US08983096B2
A personal audio device has a bone conduction pickup transducer, having a housing of which a rigid outer wall has an opening formed therein. A volume of yielding material fills the opening in the rigid outer wall. An electronic vibration sensing element is embedded in the volume of yielding material. The housing is shaped, and the opening is located, so that the volume of yielding material comes into contact with an ear or cheek of a user who is using the personal audio device. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
US08983090B2
An MEMS microphone is provided which includes a reference voltage/current generator configured to generate a DC reference voltage and a reference current; a first noise filter configured to remove a noise of the DC reference voltage; a voltage booster configured to generate a sensor bias voltage using the DC reference voltage the noise of which is removed; a microphone sensor configured to receive the sensor bias voltage and to generate an output value based on a variation in a sound pressure; a bias circuit configured to receive the reference current to generate a bias voltage; and a signal amplification unit configured to receive the bias voltage and the output value of the microphone sensor to amplify the output value. The first noise filter comprises an impedance circuit; a capacitor circuit connected to a output node of the impedance circuit; and a switch connected to both ends of the impedance circuit.
US08983080B2
For protecting a speaker, an input signal is received and filtered into component signals. A sum of the component signals is approximately equal to the input signal. The component signals include at least first and second component signals. A perceived loudness to a human from the speaker is more sensitive to the first component signal than to the second component signal. A temperature of the speaker is estimated. In response to the estimated temperature, the second component signal is scaled. An output signal is output to the speaker in response to the first component signal and the scaled second component signal.
US08983076B2
A key delivery mechanism that delivers keys to an OS platform (e.g., iOS platform) devices for decrypting encrypted HTTP live streaming data. An HTTPS URL for a stateless HTTPS service is included in the manifest for an encrypted HTTP live stream obtained by an application (e.g., a browser) on an OS platform device. The URL includes an encrypted key, for example as a query parameter value. The application passes the manifest to the OS. The OS contacts the HTTPS service to obtain the key using the URL indicated in the manifest. Since the encrypted key is a parameter of the URL, the encrypted key is provided to the HTTPS service along with information identifying the content. The HTTPS service decrypts the encrypted key and returns the decrypted key to the OS over HTTPS, thus eliminating the need for a database lookup at the HTTPS service.
US08983075B2
Methods, systems and apparatuses for a custodian securing a secret are disclosed. One method includes receiving, by a custodian server of a first custodian, encrypted shares, wherein the encrypted share are generated based on a secret of the user, a policy, and a plurality of public keys, comprising generating a plurality of shares from the secret, and encrypting each share utilizing a corresponding one of the plurality of public keys. The method further includes verifying, by the custodian server, that the encrypted shares can be used to reconstitute the secret upon receiving the encrypted shares, comprising leveraging, by the first custodian, one-way cryptographic functions, wherein the first custodian can reconstruct the secret, but cannot obtain access to the secret or any of the shares.
US08983071B2
A key management, user registration and deregistration for a digital rights management (DRM) system in a home network, using a hierarchical node topology. In the key management, node information is generated by allocating a pair of keys (a public key and a private key) to each node. A node tree is made by generating link information using the pair of keys and a content key. The link information is delivered from an upper node to a lower node using the node tree. The link information is obtained by encrypting a private key of a ‘TO’ node using a public key of a ‘FROM’ node. Accordingly, it is possible to realize a DRM system that protects content and easily accomplishes a binding mechanism and a revocation mechanism.
US08983061B2
A method and apparatus cryptographically process data including a plurality of data segments. The cryptographic process includes (a) receiving a plurality of data segments, (b) selecting, for each data segment, a set of encryption information based on data contained in a predetermined portion of the data segment to be encrypted, and (c) encrypting each data segment using the set of encryption information selected for the data segment. At least one of an encryption algorithm, an encryption key, and an encryption parameter may be changed for each data segment based on the data contained in the predetermined portion. The predetermined portion may include a first predetermined portion for selecting a first set of encryption information, and a second predetermined portion for selecting a second set of encryption information, the encryption information including an encryption algorithm, an encryption key, and optionally an encryption parameter.
US08983060B2
A method and arrangement is proposed for adaptively generating a target noise margin for use on a DSL transmission line. The method includes determining a first quantity representing a current noise power on the line using line parameter data relating to the transmission performance of the line, determining a second quantity representing a worst-case noise power on said line using previously obtained values of the line parameter data, calculating the difference between the first and second quantities to generate a difference value, setting a target noise margin as at least equal to said difference value, and providing the target noise margin for use on the line upon initialisation of the line. In a preferred embodiment, the line parameter data is the bit loading on the line and the first and second quantities are values of the average signal-to-noise ratio on the line derived from the bit loading data.
US08983055B1
A user of a personal computing device may identify an item of interest provided by a network-based service for which additional information is desired. Customer service agents (CSAs) of the network-based service may be contacted by the user to respond to queries. To assess the quality of a contact, a contact review service may record the contact between the CSA and the user and edit the contact to reduce its length for ease of review. The edited contact may be submitted to one or more reviewers to obtain reviews characterizing the contact quality. Reviewers may include CSAs not participating in the contact or other human reviewers. The reviewers may return their reviews to the contact review service, which generates a composite review from the returned reviews. The composite review may be employed for CSA evaluation and/or training purposes, amongst others.
US08983045B1
A computer-implemented method of using vendor credits to achieve load balancing in a communications network is described. Network traffic operating under a first carrier of the communications network is monitored. Initial load balancing triggers are set, by which network traffic of the first carrier is offloaded to a second carrier. It is determined whether the initial load balancing triggers have been met. It is also determined whether a vendor credit of the first carrier is available when the initial load balancing triggers have been met. One or more devices of the first carrier are offloaded to the second carrier when a vendor credit of the first carrier is available.
US08983036B2
Embodiments of methods/apparatus can transition a DR detector imaging array to low power photosensor mode where a first voltage is applied across the photosensors. Embodiments of methods/apparatus can provide an area radiographic imaging array including a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix at the imaging array where each pixel can include at least one electrically chargeable photosensor and at least one transistor, row address circuits, signal sensing circuits, and photosensor power control circuitry to maintain a first voltage across photosensors of the portion of the imaging array when the detector is between imaging operations. In one embodiment, photosensor power control circuitry can maintain the first voltage across the photosensors when a power consumption of the signal sensing circuits is less than 1% of the power consumption of the signal sensing circuits during readout of a signal from the portion of the imaging array.
US08983034B2
A technique for use in security screening and detection contexts employs an X-ray explosive imager that acquires images from backscattered RF modulated X-ray signals on which a time series analysis is performed to detect image change across the time series of images that represent pixels changing at the rate of the difference frequency of the RF frequency and the a priori NQR signature frequencies.
US08983027B2
A system for the non-destructive inspection of a conveyor belt which includes a cover on the carrying side, a cover on the backing side, each cover being made of elastomeric material, and embedded tension members. While the conveyor belt is moving, a radiation source emits rays to the belt surface which are of such high energy that the rays pass through the belt within a region free of material disposed on the belt. A sensor detects the rays passing through the belt. A processor is operatively connected to the sensor and evaluates the result of the radiographic check. The radiation source and the sensor are accommodated in a housing, wherein, between the radiation source and the sensor, there are two housing openings through which the moving belt runs without contact.
US08983026B2
An X-ray tube and an X-ray detector are arranged opposing one another. X-rays are irradiated from the X-ray tube by revolving around the subject. An X-ray image is obtained based on the X-rays that penetrate the subject and are detected by the X-ray detector. The high voltage generator has an inverter that supplies a voltage to the X-ray tube by switching to a predetermined operating frequency during revolution of the X-ray tube. Regarding the frequency adjustable part, the operating frequency of the inverter is adjustable such that it is a multiple of the collection rate, which is the number of X-ray images obtained per one revolution of the X-ray tube. The timing generator may adjust the voltage supplied to the X-ray tube at a timing synchronized with the operating frequency of the inverter.
US08983025B2
An X-ray CT apparatus is configured capable of properly calculating a radiation dosed amount more approximating to an actually exposed radiation dose that includes scattering rays of an examined object from data measured at the scanning time.A function or table showing a relationship between data obtained on the basis of the measured data of the object detected by an X-ray detector at the scanning time and the radiation dosed amount is stored in advance; and the X-ray CT apparatus calculates the radiation dosed amount of the object in accordance with the data obtained on the function or table showing the relationship between the data obtained on the basis of the measured data of the object stored in advance and the radiation dosed amount.
US08983019B2
Textured surface for increasing Leidenfrost temperature. The texture comprises of surface features over multiple length scales—from micro to nanoscale—wherein the features at each length scale have a size, aspect ratio, and spacing selected to increase the Leidenfrost temperature. The structure includes an array of microscale structures disposed on the surface, the structure having size, aspect ratio and spacing selected to increase Leidenfrost temperature. The microscale structures may also include nanoscale structures on their surface to create a hierarchical structure. The structures result in an increased Leidenfrost temperature.
US08983017B2
Systems and methods for operating an accelerator driven sub-critical core. In one embodiment, a fission power generator includes a sub-critical core and a plurality of proton beam generators. Each of the proton beam generators is configured to concurrently provide a proton beam into a different area of the sub-critical core. Each proton beam scatters neutrons within the sub-critical core. The plurality of proton beam generators provides aggregate power to the sub-critical core, via the proton beams, to scatter neutrons sufficient to initiate fission in the sub-critical core.
US08983011B2
In one aspect, a method for mitigating an effect of an interfering radio signal at a multiple antenna receiver includes forming an estimate of a relationship of the interfering signal among signals received from the multiple antennas. In general, the interfering signal does not share the same communication technology as a desired signal. The signals received from the multiple antennas filtered and combined according to the estimate of the relationship of the interfering channels to reduce an effect of the interfering signal. Desired data present in the desired signal represented in the filtered and combined signals is decoded and the estimate of the relationship of the interfering signals is updated according to the decoding of the desired signal.
US08983004B2
A receiver is an ATSC (Advanced Television Systems Committee)-receiver and comprises a phase lock loop (PLL) for performing carrier tracking of a carrier in a received signal. The PLL includes a detector (160) comprising two pseudo-Hilbert filters (205, 215). The detector uses energy from both band edges of the received ATSC signal for driving the PLL.
US08983003B2
The present invention discloses a method and system for adaptively identifying signal bandwidth. The method includes: performing digitizing intermediate frequency processing to the received signal and outputting in-phase/quadrature (I/Q) signals; identifying signal bandwidth of the I/Q signals according to at least two signal identification templates and outputting the synchronized signal flows after a successful identification. A system for adaptively identifying signal bandwidth is also disclosed. The present invention can be compatible with at least two bandwidth modes, and the software can automatically perform identification and switch of the modulation bandwidth, when manual invention is not necessary and the operation is simple.
US08983000B2
A receiver circuit includes a unit configured to determine filter coefficients based on a sampling time error of a received signal and a phase error of the received signal, as well as a filter configured to filter a signal, which is based on the received signal, based on the filter coefficients.
US08982999B2
An embodiment of the invention includes a receiver with reduced error terms and incoming jitter tracking that improves jitter tolerance. An embodiment provides these benefits based on a voltage integrator that recovers data and clock information from incoming signals without use of a PLL, PI, CDR, and the like. An embodiment provides these benefits based on a time integrator that recovers, using digital logic, data and clock information from incoming signals without use of a PLL, PI, CDR, and the like. Other embodiments are described herein.
US08982996B2
A cognitive radio communication system using a multiple input multiple output (MIMO) communication technology is provided. A cognitive radio base station includes a plurality of antennas, a group setting unit to set at least one sensing terminal group that includes at least one sensing terminal among a plurality of terminals, and a signal generator to generate a transmission signal to transmit the transmission signal using channels formed between the plurality antennas and the plurality of terminals, so that the at least one sensing terminal is accorded a sensing time.
US08982995B1
A method of multipath compensation for digital pre-distortion (DPD) linearization suppresses linear distortion caused by reflected signals and distortion in transmitting and receiving paths. Reflection suppression suppresses effects of the linear distortion on the transmitting and receiving paths.
US08982993B2
A method for compensating mismatches of an in-phase signal and a quadrature signal of a transmitter/receiver is provided. The method includes: receiving a plurality of test signals to generate two groups of factors, respectively, where each group of factors is applied to two multipliers utilized for compensating a gain mismatch and a phase mismatch of the in-phase signal and the quadrature signal of the transmitter/receiver; then calculating a delay mismatch of the in-phase signal and the quadrature signal according to the two groups of factors.
US08982989B2
In a process variable transmitter, a sensor signal is sampled, using a clock signal, at a sensor sampling frequency. Interference is also sampled at the sensor sampling frequency. A comparison is made to determine whether the interference at the sensor sampling frequency or harmonics of the sensor sampling frequency exceed a threshold level. If so, the clock signal is changed to adjust the sensor sampling frequency away from the frequency of the interference.
US08982979B2
Method and system for decomposing a complex channel matrix at MIMO receiver is disclosed. The method comprises determining a real channel matrix from the complex channel matrix, wherein the number of rows and columns of the real channel matrix depends on a number of transmitting chains and a number of receiving chains. Thereafter, the below mentioned steps repeated predetermined number of times: A pre-Householder vector is determined based on the real channel matrix. A Householder vector is determined based on the pre-Householder vector. Thereafter a Householder matrix is determined based on the Householder vector and a transpose of the Householder vector without performing division operation. Finally, an orthogonal matrix and an upper triangular matrix are determined based on the Householder matrix, wherein the upper triangular matrix comprises a predetermined number of zeros in an upper triangle.
US08982975B2
A method for signal estimation and compensation and an apparatus using the same, adapted for estimating and compensating an imbalance effect between an in-phase path and a quadrature path of an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) communication system are provided. The method includes the following steps: receiving a signal, and using a plurality of symbols in a plurality of time frame to generate a plurality of balance coefficient groups, wherein every balance coefficient group includes a plurality of balance coefficient candidates; deriving a balance coefficient according to the balance coefficient set; and compensating the signal according to the balance coefficient.
US08982973B2
The present invention provides a correlation-matrix feedback method and system for an antenna array. The method comprises steps of: selecting, at a receiving end, a codeword from a predetermined correlation-matrix codebook comprising a plurality of codewords according to a predetermined criterion to represent a correlation matrix to be fed back (300); and feeding back an index of the selected codeword in the predetermined correlation-matrix codebook to a transmitting end (302); wherein each codeword is a codeword matrix for approximating a correlation matrix of an antenna array at the transmitting end. According to the present invention, it is possible to take good advantage of the characteristics of closely-spaced ULA antennas and spatial correlation thereof, design a corresponding codebook for quantization and feedback, and reduce feedback overhead and computational complexity so as to improve the system performance of a spatial correlation aided system, such as a MIMO system.
US08982962B2
Provided are a method and apparatus of encoding a video by compensating for a pixel value and a method and apparatus of decoding a video by compensating for a pixel value. The method of encoding the video includes: encoding image data; decoding the encoded image data and generating a restored image by performing loop filtering on the decoded image data; determining a compensation value corresponding to errors between a predetermined group restored pixels in the restored image and corresponding original pixels, and a pixel group including a restored pixel to be compensated for by using the compensation value; and encoding the compensation value and transmitting the encoded compensation value and a bitstream of the encoded image data.
US08982958B2
A method for representing a video sequence including a time sequence of input video frames, the input video frames including some common scene content that is common to all of the input video frames and some dynamic scene content that changes between at least some of the input video frames. Affine transform are determined to align the common scene content in the input video frames. A common video frame including the common scene content is determined by forming a sparse combination of a first basis functions. A dynamic video frame is determined for each input video frame by forming a sparse combination of a second basis functions, wherein the dynamic video frames can be combined with the respective affine transforms and the common video frame to provide reconstructed video frames.
US08982956B2
In a first inter-image prediction mode in which information on a motion vector is used, a first mode detection unit constructs a first candidate list from a plurality of reference block candidates based on a first predetermined order, assigns indices for designating reference block candidates added in the first candidate list, and outputs the indices of the plurality of reference candidate blocks. In a second inter-image prediction mode in which is used a motion vector difference between a motion vector predictor based on information on a motion vector, and a motion vector of a coding target block, a second mode detection unit constructs a second candidate list from a plurality of reference block candidates based on a second predetermined order, assigns indices for designating reference block candidates added in the second candidate list, and outputs the indices of the plurality of reference block candidates and motion vector differences.
US08982955B2
In one embodiment, the method includes determining a motion vector of a current image block equal to a motion vector of an image block based on a reference picture index indicating a reference picture for the image block. For example, the motion vector of the current image block may be equal to the motion vector of the image block if the reference picture index indicates a long-term reference picture for the image block.
US08982954B2
In one embodiment, the method includes determining a motion vector of a current image block equal to a motion vector of an image block based on a reference picture index indicating a reference picture for the image block. For example, the motion vector of the current image block may be equal to the motion vector of the image block if the reference picture index indicates a long-term reference picture for the image block.
US08982949B2
A decoding method decodes a bit stream in an image decoding apparatus. The method includes receiving a weight parameter that is added to a luma quantization parameter as the bit stream. The method also includes decoding, in a decoding unit in the image decoding apparatus, the bit stream, and generating a luma component of quantized coefficients and a chroma component of quantized coefficients. Further, the method includes performing, in a dequantization unit in the image decoding apparatus, dequantization on the luma component of quantized coefficients using the luma quantization parameter and the chroma component of quantized coefficients using a chroma quantization parameter calculated on the basis of the luma quantization parameter weighted by an add operation of the weight parameter. In addition, the method includes performing, in a transform unit in the image decoding apparatus, an inverse orthogonal transform.
US08982944B2
A method includes compressing digital data of video images to a second resolution level and storing the digital data at a plurality of resolution levels. The plurality of resolution levels include a first resolution level and the second resolution level. The first resolution level is greater than the second resolution level. The method also includes receiving a category selection, responsive to the received category selection, determining whether the digital data stored at least the first resolution level is needed, responsive to a determination that the digital data stored at least the first resolution level is not needed, performing one of the following: discarding the digital data determined to not be needed; and flagging the digital data determined to not be needed to be discarded later.
US08982943B2
A data processor according to the present invention plays back video and audio from a data stream including video data and audio data, each of which is provided with time information representing its presentation time. The processor includes: a stream acquiring section for acquiring a first data stream and a second data stream continuously; an inserting section for inserting boundary-setting dummy data between the data streams; an analyzing section, which detects the dummy data and associates identification information with the video and audio data of each data stream; a control section for controlling the respective output timings of video data and audio data by reference to the time information of the video data and the time information of the audio data that are associated with the same piece of identification information; and an output section.
US08982937B1
Navigation satellite receivers have a large number of channels, where phase discriminators and loop filter of a PLL operate in phase with data bits and control of numerically controlled oscillator (NCO) carried out simultaneously on all channels. Since symbol boundaries for different satellites do not match, there is a variable time delay between the generation of control signals and NCO control time. This delay may be measured by counting a number of samples in the delay interval. A proposed system measures non-energy parameters of the BPSK-signal carrier received in additive mixture with noise when a digital loop filter of PLL controls NCO with a constant or changing in time delay. A control unit controls bandwidth and a LF order by changing transfer coefficients based on analyzing estimated signal parameters and phase tracking error at a PD output.
US08982936B2
A system employing vector signal generator (VSG) and vector signal analyzer (VSA) modules or cards that are configured to test multiple devices under test simultaneously. Each VSG is configured to generate multiple RF test signals and send them to multiple devices under test simultaneously. Similarly, each VSA is configured with multiple signal receiving modules connected to a single controller or memory. Each signal receiving module receives an RF signal from a device under test, converts it to a baseband digital signal, and transmits this digital signal to the VSA's memory. A single RF testing system can employ multiple such VSGs and VSAs, each capable of evaluating multiple devices under test. Each VSG/VSA can further be tuned for operation in discrete or defined frequency bands, which are narrower than those for conventional RF testers, and which can correspond to various wireless standards.
US08982933B2
A communications system includes a target receiver having a passband and configured to receive an intended signal within the passband. The communications system also includes a jammer configured to jam the target receiver from receiving the intended signal. The jammer has at least one antenna, a jammer receiver coupled to the at least one antenna, a jammer transmitter coupled to the at least one antenna, and a controller configured to cooperate with the jammer receiver. The controller is configured to detect the intended signal and to generate an interfering signal comprising a continuous phase modulation (CPM) waveform having a constant envelope so that the interfering signal at least partially overlaps the passband of the target receiver.
US08982918B2
A light source system for delivery of light including a light source having an output arranged to emit light in an output path, the output path including an unguided section and an at least partially transmissive optical component wherein the optical component provides at least one residual reflection when the system is in use and a detector system is arranged to detect said residual reflection. The detector is in one embodiment arranged to produce at least one feedback response arranged to stabilize the optical output of the light source system. Hereby a feedback may be implemented with little or no reduction of performance.
US08982913B2
A communication system comprises a first multiplexer card having a first plurality of TDM ports and a first differential signaling interface, the first multiplexer card operable to map timeslots from the TDM ports to a first combined signal transmitted via the first differential signaling interface; a first unit coupled to the first differential signaling interface and configured to map timeslots extracted from the first combined signal to a DSL frame; a second unit coupled to the first unit via the a DSL link, the second unit having a third differential signaling interface and operable to map timeslots extracted from the DSL frame to a second combined signal; and a second multiplexer card having a second plurality of TDM ports and a fourth differential signaling interface, the second multiplexer card operable to map each of the timeslots from the second combined signal to one of the second plurality of TDM ports.
US08982911B2
The present invention relates to a method for generating a downlink frame including generating a first short sequence and a second short sequence indicating cell group information, generating a first scrambling sequence determined by the first synchronization signal, generating a second scrambling sequence determined by the first short sequence, scrambling the first short sequence with the first scrambling sequence, scrambling the second short sequence with at least the second scrambling sequence, and mapping a second synchronization signal including the scrambled first short sequence and the scrambled second short sequence in the frequency domain.
US08982909B2
A system for transmitting and receiving data includes a physical adaptation block configured to separate the data into a plurality of frequency bands. Each of the frequency bands has an associated symbol time, and each of the associated symbol times is a whole multiple of one half of a smallest symbol time of all of the frequency bands. An analog front end is configured to provide the data in the plurality of frequency bands to a transmission medium.
US08982907B2
Method for collecting information from other radio transmitters and/or receivers for the purpose of coordinating and controlling the interference between transmitters and receivers. The method comprises discovering other radio transmitters and receivers in a network. Peer-to-peer communication is used over the Internet when determining relevant neighboring nodes for own communication and performing resource management for the set of radio transmitters and receivers.
US08982903B2
A local area network (60) within a residence or other building, including both wired (5) and non-wired segments (53). The wired segments are based on new or existing wires (5a, 5b, 5c, 5d, 5e) in the building, wherein access to the wires is provided by outlets (61a, 61d), such as a telephone system, electrical power distribution system, or cable television wiring system. The non-wired segments are based on communication using propagated waves such as radio, sound, or light (e.g. infrared). The wired and non-wired segments interface in the outlet, using a module (50) that serves as mediator between the segments. The module can be integrated into the outlet, partially housed in the outlet, or attached externally to the outlet. Such a network allows for integrated communication of data units (24b) connected by wires and data units (24a, 24d) connected without wires.
US08982899B2
An apparatus comprises a number of sub-systems and a control interface operably coupled to sub-systems for routing data therebetween. A strobe generation function is operably coupled to the control interface and configured to generate a plurality of different strobe signals to differentiate between different intended receiving devices. Thus, different strobe signals may be multiplexed onto a single control interface link, based on a pulse width or voltage magnitude characteristics of the respective strobe signals. A strobe decoder function is operably coupled to the control interface and configured to decode a plurality of different strobe signals to differentiate between triggering sub-systems on receiving devices.
US08982897B2
A data block output apparatus includes a first queue that stores data blocks of first traffic; a second queue that stores data blocks of second traffic and is read preferentially over the first queue; a monitoring unit that monitors for occurrence of data blocks read out of the second queue after reading of a data block from the first queue is completed; and a control unit that controls a data block interval between completion of reading of one data block in the first traffic and a start of reading of a next data block in the first traffic when occurrence frequency of the data blocks read out of the second queue after the reading of one data block from the first queue is completed is equal to or higher than a predetermined value.
US08982888B2
A system includes: a packet processing function and a packet modification function. The packet processing function receives a packet generated by a sending application function and destined for a receiving application function. The packet includes first identifier information, and the packet processing function adds second identifier information thereto. The packet modification function: receives the packet; alters it in a way that prevents use of the first identifier information by a 3GPP conforming service data flow detection process to map the packet to a first service data flow for the sending application function; and provides the packet to a packet routing function with the second identifier information positioned in the packet to enable the packet routing function to use the second identifier information in the 3GPP conforming service data flow detection process to map the packet to the first service data flow and to a bearer for transporting the packet.
US08982884B2
Disclosed are various embodiments that provide serial replication of multicast packets by performing a first data fetch to fetch first data from a memory buffer, the first data comprising a first packet pointer representing a first packet and a replication number indication a number of times the first packet is to be replicated. Furthermore, various embodiments are directed to performing a second data fetch to fetch second data from a memory buffer, the second data comprising a first packet pointer representing a second packet and serially replicating the first packet and the second packet based at least in part upon the replication number and a predetermined threshold value.
US08982873B2
Aspects of a method and system for preserving content timing across femtocell interfaces via timestamp insertion are provided. In this regard, a femtocell may receive a first time-stamped packet via a first interface and transcode the time-stamped packet. The femtocell may buffer the transcoded packet based on a time-stamp recovered from the packet and may transmit the buffered transcoded packet via a second interface. One of the first interface and the second interface may utilize the Internet Protocol. One of the first interface and the second interface may be a non-cellular interface and the other interface may be a cellular interface. The femtocell may be operable to generate a timestamp corresponding to a time instant at which a time-stamped packet arrived via the first interface or the second interface. The timestamp may be referenced to a clock within a cellular enabled communication devices communicatively coupled to the femtocell.
US08982872B2
A transmitting method and device for scheduling information, wherein the method includes: scheduling information of the MBMS controlling signaling is borne in a designated system information block to be transmitted, wherein the designated system information block is a system information block 2, a system information block 3, or a new added system information block.
US08982869B2
A digital broadcasting system which is robust against an error when mobile service data is transmitted and a method of processing data are disclosed. The mobile service data is subjected to an additional coding process and the coded mobile service data is transmitted. Accordingly, it is possible to cope with a serious channel variation while applying robustness to the mobile service data.
US08982853B2
Methods and apparatus for controlling interference with regard to important control signals, e.g., synchronization signals and broadcast channel signals, are described. A configurable base station monitors for and receives signals from other base stations in its local vicinity and determines the implemented frame timings corresponding to the other deployed base stations. If possible, the configurable base station selects to use a frame timing offset which is different from the frame timing offsets being used by the other base stations. In some embodiments, symbol level and subframe level synchronization are maintained between the base stations; however, frame level synchronization may, and sometimes does vary. Different adjacent base stations may, and sometimes do, intentionally offset their frame boundaries by multiples of a subframe.
US08982851B2
Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate providing high reuse for transmitting reference signals, such as positioning reference signals (PRS) and cell-specific reference signals (CRS), to improve hearability thereof for applications such as trilateration and/or the like. In particular, PRSs can be transmitted in designated or selected positioning subframes. Resource elements within the positioning subframe can be selected for transmitting the PRSs and can avoid conflict with designated control regions, resource elements used for transmitting cell-specific reference signals, and/or the like. Resource elements for transmitting PRSs can be selected according to a planned or pseudo-random reuse scheme. In addition, a transmit diversity scheme can be applied to the PRSs to minimize impact of introducing the PRSs to legacy devices. Moreover, portions of a subframe not designated for PRS transmission can be utilized for user plane data transmission.
US08982850B2
A system including a stream generator module to generate a plurality of streams to be transmitted in a packet. The packet is to be transmitted to a plurality of client stations. First streams are designated for a first client station and include a plurality of training fields. Second streams are designated for a second client station and include the plurality of training fields. A cyclic shift delay module applies a plurality of cyclic shift delay values to the plurality of streams. First values from the plurality of cyclic shift delay values are respectively applied to the first streams. Second values from the plurality of cyclic shift delay values are respectively applied to the second streams. A mapping module spatially maps the plurality of streams subsequent to the cyclic shift delay module applying the cyclic shift delay values to the plurality of streams.
US08982848B2
The present invention relates to transmitting a downlink reference signal in a wireless communication system. A method for a base station to transmit a downlink signal by using two or more layers includes multiplexing and transmitting a reference signal for the two or more layers on the basis of a reference signal pattern on a data region of a downlink subframe and transmitting data for the two or more layers on the data region of the downlink subframe, wherein the reference signal for the two or more layers is a dedicated reference signal that is used to demodulate the data for the two or more layers on a receiving end, and in the multiplexing of the reference signal, the reference signal for the two or more layers is code-division-multiplexed by an orthogonal code having a length of at least 2.
US08982833B2
A scheduling processor allocates a time slot of a communication protocol to a user equipment for data transmission based on received control data of the same or another user equipment in a current time slot and received user data of the same or another user equipment in a preceding time slot, while ignoring user data of the same or any other user equipment received in the current time slot. The scheduling processor also allocates a frequency resource to the user equipment. A control channel managing processor allocates signaling resources on a control channel for the submission of control information to the user equipment, which informs of the time slot allocated by the time domain scheduling processor as well as of the frequency resource allocated by the frequency domain scheduling processor.
US08982804B2
A method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving uplink control information in a wireless communication system are disclosed. A method for receiving uplink control information from a base station in a wireless communication system includes the steps of allocating resources for transmitting uplink control information, transmitting resource allocation information of the resources, and receiving uplink control information from at least one user equipment through the resources. Herein, the resources are multiplexed so that a single PUCCH format can be used by a plurality of user equipments, a plurality of information, or a plurality of random access opportunities by enabling the plurality of user equipments, the plurality of information, or the plurality of random access opportunities to use different constellations each other.
US08982796B2
The present invention relates to a method for allowing a terminal to transmit uplink data through an HARQ method in a wireless communication system that supports MIMO transmission comprises the steps of: transmitting a plurality of data blocks to a base station on the basis of an uplink grant; receiving, from the base station, control information which indicates a NACK for some data blocks among the plurality of data blocks; selecting, according to a predetermined rule shared in the terminal and the base station, a precoding matrix which is to be applied to the data blocks for which the NACK is indicated; and retransmitting the data blocks, for which the NACK is indicated, to the base station by applying the selected precoding matrix.
US08982792B2
In a method for generating a data unit for transmission in a wireless network, a physical layer (PHY) preamble is generated. A field to indicate whether an acknowledgment data unit is intended to follow the data unit is generated and included in the PHY preamble. A media access control layer (MAC) header is generated, and the data unit is generated to include the PHY preamble and the MAC header. The data unit is transmitted.
US08982782B1
While a first entity and a second entity are engaging in a communication session on multiple wireless links, the first entity may adjust the power level at which to send power control commands (PCCs) directed to the second entity based on a respective channel quality at which each wireless link is carrying the communication session. For example, the first entity may identify which wireless link is carrying the communication session at a best channel quality and then cause an increase of a transmission power at which to send PCCs directed to the second entity on the identified wireless link. As another example, the first entity may determine that a respective channel quality of each wireless link satisfies a given condition and then cause an adjustment of a respective transmission power at which to send PCCs directed to the second entity on each wireless link.
US08982778B2
The claimed subject matter relates to performing routing in a wireless communications system. In more detail, each device associated with a wireless packet-switched network may not be aware of an identity and/or address of a particular point of attachment with respect to a wireless terminal. A data packet that should be provided to a particular point of attachment can be initially directed to a wireless terminal or a one-hop multicast address, for instance. Thereafter, the data packet can be encapsulated in a frame format and identity of the particular point of attachment can be provided in such frame. The frame can thereafter be routed to the point of attachment.
US08982774B2
A network based positioning (NBP) system is disclosed that allows any of its access points (APs) to initiate ranging operations with a station device (STA), regardless of whether the STA is in power save mode and regardless of whether a particular AP is currently associated with the STA. For example, to initiate ranging operations with the STA from a non-associated AP, the non-associated AP obtains the TSF timer of the associated AP, and then uses the obtained TSF timer to derive the associated AP's beacon transmission schedule and thereby determine when the STA's corresponding wake-up periods occur. Thereafter, the non-associated AP can initiate ranging operations with the STA during the STA wake-up periods, thereby ensuring that probes sent from the non-associated AP will arrive at the STA while the STA is awake from power save mode.
US08982752B2
The present invention provides a search space configuration that is suitable for a communication system in which a plurality of fundamental frequency blocks are grouped together into a wide band. A base station apparatus (20) has a selection section (302) that selects a system band in fundamental frequency block units, a downlink control information generation section (306) that generates downlink control information for demodulating the data channels that are sent separately in the selected fundamental frequency blocks, and arranges, in the downlink control channel of a specific fundamental frequency block among a plurality of fundamental frequency blocks, a search space in which downlink control information for the plurality of fundamental frequency blocks is contained, and a transmission section (203) that transmits the downlink control channel in which the search space with the downlink control information is arranged.
US08982744B2
Methods and systems for a subband acoustic echo canceller with integrated voice activity detection are disclosed and may include adjusting transmit and/or receive powers of wirelessly communicated audio signals based on voice activity detection via subband analysis of the wirelessly communicated audio signals. The receive power may be adjusted by utilizing a reduced duty cycle, or by conveying voice activity detection information via an asynchronous control channel in a Bluetooth application. A plurality of subbands may be generated utilizing a fast Fourier transform, and a first subset of the subbands corresponding to voice activity may be selected and a second subset of the subbands may be selected that corresponds to background noise. The processing of the subsets may be dynamically adjusted due to variations in the voice activity or background noise. Comfort noise may be generated and transmitted at a reduced bandwidth utilizing the second subset of the subbands.
US08982743B2
Certain aspects of the present disclosure relate to techniques for indicating downlink assignments to a user equipment (UE). According to certain aspects, the techniques generally involve generating a downlink assignment index (DAI) indicating a number of assigned downlink transmissions for a user equipment (UE) configured to communicate using multiple component carriers and transmitting a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) containing the DAI to the user equipment (UE) in a frequency division duplexing (FDD) subframe in which uplink and downlink transmissions may take place at the same time on different carrier frequencies.
US08982740B2
In a wireless communication device, in a correction value calculating mode, a control unit flips switches to the “a” sides, a modulation processing unit generates a CW signal as an I channel signal, a DAC converts the digital CW signal into an analog CW signal, an LPF eliminates the high-frequency component from the CW signal, a mixer functions as an up-converter for up-converting the CW signal, a PA amplifies the RF power of the CW signal, a mixer functions as a down-converter for down-converting the CW signal, an ADC converts the analog CW signal into a digital CW signal, a level detecting unit detects the voltage level of the CW signal, a correction value calculating unit calculates a correction value based on the detected voltage level, and a correction value storing unit stores the calculated correction value.
US08982733B2
A method is provided in one example embodiment and includes receiving a spanning tree protocol topology change notification (STP TCN) in a network; removing topology data for a first plurality of gateways associated with a first network segment ID that is shared by a particular gateway that communicated the STP TCN; and communicating an edge TCN to a second plurality of gateways associated with a second network segment ID and for which topology data has not been removed based on the STP TCN.
US08982725B2
A method of collecting and providing traffic statistics in a cellular network in accordance is proposed. A UE establishes an RRC connection with a base station. The UE starts to collect traffic statistics that comprises a CDF curve or a PDF diagram for packet inter-arrival time. The UE may receive a measurement configuration from the base station for the traffic statistics collection. The UE then reports a representation of the traffic statistics to the base station for RRC reconfiguration. The UE may also receive a reporting request from the base station that specifies a representation format. The representation format includes one or more probability values at corresponding inter-arrival time points, at least one slope of the CDF, one or more steep events in the CDF, or a PDF range.
US08982716B2
For supporting the use of positioning assistance data, the positioning assistance data is broadcast in a plurality of different logical sub-channels. The positioning assistance data is distributed to the plurality of different logical sub-channels depending on its content.
US08982713B2
Techniques to configure quality of service (QoS) for communication are described. An access terminal configures a first QoS profile prior to a call. This QoS profile is for a set of QoS parameters that provides certain QoS. The access terminal thereafter establishes (e.g., originates or terminates) a call with an access network. If the first QoS profile is appropriate for the call, then QoS is not reconfigured. However, the access terminal may determine that a second QoS profile is to be used for the call, e.g., based on a format or a rate set supported by a remote/other terminal for the call. The access terminal would then configure the second QoS profile during the call. The access terminal may exchange data in accordance with (a) the first QoS profile before the second QoS profile is configured and activated and (b) the second QoS profile after it is configured and activated.
US08982709B2
Service nodes in a service overlay network are selected to provide a service path for a requested service by determining a reduced search space of service nodes in the service overlay network that are operable to provide service components for the requested service. From the reduced search space of service nodes, service nodes are selected to form a service path that satisfies all quality of service constraints for the service.
US08982706B2
To prevent the self-interference of an inband relay node, a base station transmits a transmission indication on the downlink of a Un interface. Only when the base station receives an ACKnowledgment (ACK) signal in response to the transmission indication from the relay node, the base station transmits a Un interface downlink signal to the relay node in a specific time area. The time area allocated by the transmission indication may be a time area added to a statically allocated time area.
US08982699B2
According to one embodiment, a method may include receiving a plurality of flows, the plurality of flows comprising a working group of flows received via a working path and a protection group of flows received via a protection path, marking each flow in the working group with a first class marker, marking each flow in the protection group with a second class marker, determining whether each of the working group and the protection group is an active group or an inactive group, determining whether each of the plurality of flows is in the active group or in the inactive group based on whether each of the plurality of flows is marked with the first class marker or the second class marker, dropping each flow in the inactive group, and passing each flow in the active group.
US08982692B2
A system and method for link failure handling includes detecting a failure in a first network connection between a first network switching unit and a second network switching unit, where the first network connection is associated with a first communication port of the first network switching unit; suspending the first communication port from a link aggregation group (LAG), where the first communication port is associated with the LAG; and associating one or more first inter-chassis link (ICL) ports with the LAG. The first ICL ports are associated with a first ICL coupling the first network switching unit to a third network switching unit. The first network switching unit and the third network switching unit are peers.
US08982691B2
A method for providing a Backup Label Switched Path for a specified Bypass Label Switch Path is disclosed. The method for providing a Backup Label Switched Path for a specified Bypass Label Switch Path includes establishing a Bypass LSP having an end-to-end path; obtaining the nodes traversed by the end-to-end path; generating a request to a path calculator which using the nodes provided on the end-to-end path calculates a path disjoint to those nodes; and signaling the calculated disjoint path as a Backup LSP for the Bypass LSP. The method for providing a Backup Label Switched Path for a specified Bypass Label Switch Path provides protection advantages over systems known in the art by providing capability for handling double failure scenarios.
US08982687B2
The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for eliminating I/Q offset in a receiver of a SC-FDMA system which improves performance of the system by accurate measurement and cancellation of I/Q offset in a receiver of a SC-FDMA system operating in a 3GPP LTE uplink. An apparatus for eliminating I/Q offset in a receiver of the SC-FDMA system constituting the receiver of the SC-FDMA system includes: a linear interpolation channel estimation unit for estimating channel using demodulation reference symbol (DMRS) that is a training sequence (X) corresponding to the discrete Fourier transformed signal (Y) that has passed through frame sync acquisition, frequency compensation and cyclic prefix elimination; a signal regeneration/cancellation unit for calculating I/Q offset (D=Y−Y′) by subtracting the discrete Fourier transformed signal (Y) from the ideal discrete Fourier transformed signal (Y′=H′X) generated by using channel coefficient (H′), that is an output of the linear interpolation channel estimation unit, and the DMRS that is the training sequence (X); and an I/Q offset measurement/cancellation unit for generating VQ offset-free signal (YNoDC=Y−D′) by subtracting I/Q offset (D′) having corrected phase and power of the VQ offset (D=Y−Y′) from the discrete Fourier transformed signal (Y).
US08982682B2
An information storage device has small compartments for storing information in a solid body and can be used as a memory medium. The solid body can have at least one pair of parallel planar portions on its surface. The information is divided into bits and stored in discrete minute areas that are distributed three-dimensionally inside the memory medium. The data can be converted into a digital format for storage to regulate the number of ‘1s’ recorded in a direction of the memory medium.
US08982672B2
An animal medicine reminder tag that is non-toxic, water resistant, and shock resistant, wherein the tag is automatically activated when attached to the companion animal and cannot be reset or turned off by the companion animal's caregiver. The tag is designed to be minimally harmful if accidentally swallowed by the companion animal.
US08982670B1
Systems and methods to determine and ascertain the occurrence of an event are provided. The event can manifest its presence through transient signatures that alter short or long term background sensor registered signals. The system can include multiple sensors, one or more data recorders and data reporting devices. Event data from each sensor is collected, recorded and reported. Data from the various sensors is correlated to triangulate or otherwise localize the occurrence of an event. The sensors can be incorporated on a single device or can be a distributed set of independent sensors on separate devices that share their information with the data collection system.
US08982669B2
In a method for detecting objects, at least one sensor emits a transmitting pulse as a wave, particularly as an acoustic or an electromagnetic wave, which wave is reflected at least partially by objects in the propagation space, and the reflected wave being detected by at least one receiver as a received signal. The received signal of the reflected wave is divided up into segments, and from the individual segments, data are gathered that are drawn upon for the determination of an object hypothesis.
US08982662B2
A multi-component sensor of a fluid-borne acoustic wave that senses pressure and up to three orthogonal particle motion components. The sensor is unresponsive to motion of the sensor mount. Furthermore, the sensor is substantially unresponsive to the turbulent flow of the acoustic medium past the sensor.
US08982661B2
A shared-signaling multi-device memory system is capable of changing between addressing modes without the multi-device memory being required to undergo a power cycle. First and second registers of a memory device are set to both contain first address-identification information in response a first address-assignment command that is received a power cycle. The first register is set to contain second address-identification information in response a second address-assignment command that is received subsequently to the first address assignment command. Depending on the value of the second address-identification information, the memory device is configured in an individual-device-addressing mode or a parallel addressing mode without a power cycle. The first register can be reset to the first address-identification information contained in the second register in response to an address-restore command without a power cycle. A corresponding method is also disclosed.
US08982660B2
The invention discloses a semiconductor memory device and a method for word line decoding and routing. The present invention relates generally to semiconductor memory field, Problems solved by the invention is that, to improve the quality of word line signals results in routing congestion. Embodiments of the invention provide the program as follows: a semiconductor memory device and a method for word line decoding and routing, dividing memory array of the semiconductor memory device into a plurality of smaller memory arrays, on a first metal layer routing first decoded row address, on a second metal layer below the first metal layer routing second decoded row address, and the output word line after decoding drives the plurality of smaller memory arrays. Embodiments of the invention are suitable for various semiconductor memory designs, including: on-chip cache, translation look-aside buffer, content addressable memory, ROM, EEPROM, and SRAM and so on.
US08982656B2
Provided is a semiconductor non-volatile memory device capable of improving the accuracy of trimming by creating a written state before data is written into a non-volatile memory element. The semiconductor non-volatile memory device includes: a written data transmission circuit for transmitting written data to a non-volatile memory element; a first switch connected between the non-volatile memory element and a data output terminal; a third switch connected to an output terminal of the written data transmission circuit; and a control circuit for controlling the respective switches. When a test mode signal is input, the control circuit turns on only the first switch and the third switch so as to control the written data to be output to the data output terminal before data is written into the non-volatile memory element.
US08982655B1
An apparatus is contemplated for storing and providing configuration data to a microprocessor. The apparatus has a core, disposed on a die, and a fuse array, disposed on the die and coupled to the core, where the fuse array comprises a plurality of semiconductor fuses programmed with compressed configuration data for the core, where the compressed configuration data is generated by compression of data within a virtual fuse array that corresponds to the core, and where the core accesses and decompresses the compressed configuration data upon power-up/reset, for initialization of elements within the core.
US08982641B2
A memory erasing method and a driving circuit thereof are introduced, when cells are selected to be erased, the method includes setting gates of cells which are not selected to be erased and are located at a selected block, drains of all the cells in a selected bank, and the gate of the unselected cells to be floating; supplying a positive voltage to all the sources in a selected bank and their shared P well and N well; and supplying a negative voltage to the gates of the cells located in a selected block and selected to be erased. Accordingly, a positive coupling voltage from P wells is received whenever gates are floating, so as to inhibit erasure of unselected blocks and thereby streamline decoding, thus making it easy to attain further expansion of blocks or banks with a small layout area and partition of sectors in the blocks.
US08982637B1
Techniques are provided for sensing memory cells in a 3D stacked non-volatile memory device in a way which reduces read disturb, by using read pass voltages which are adjusted based on variations in a memory hole diameter. The memory cells are in NAND strings which extend in the memory holes. A larger read pass voltage is used for memory cells which are adjacent to wider portions of the memory holes, and a smaller read pass voltage is used for memory cells which are adjacent to narrower portions of the memory holes. This approach reduces the worst-case read disturb. Further, an overall resistance in the NAND string channel may be substantially unchanged so that a reference current used during sensing may be unchanged. The read pass voltage may be set based on a program voltage trim value, which is indicative of programming speed and memory hole diameter.
US08982635B2
A writing method of a semiconductor memory device includes applying a plurality of program voltages sequentially generated to a selected word line, and applying any one of a plurality of source selection line voltages to a source selection line when each of the plurality of program voltages is applied.
US08982634B2
The present invention provides a flash memory including a memory cell, a current limiter and a program voltage generator. The memory cell is programmed in response to a program current and a program voltage. The current limiter reflects amount of the program current by a data-line signal, e.g., a data-line voltage. The program voltage generator generates and controls the program voltage in response to the data-line voltage, such that the program current can track to a constant reference current.
US08982631B2
Memory devices and programming methods for memories are disclosed, such as those adapted to program a memory using an increasing channel voltage for a first portion of programming, and an increasing but reduced channel voltage for a second portion of programming.
US08982626B2
Techniques are provided for programming and reading memory cells in a 3D stacked non-volatile memory device by compensating for variations in a memory hole diameter. The memory hole diameter is smaller at the bottom of the stack, resulting in more severe read disturb. To compensate, programming of memory cells at the lower word line layers is modified. In one approach, threshold voltage (Vth) distributions of one or more data states are narrowed during programming so that a lower read pass voltage can be used in a subsequent sensing operation. A sufficient spacing is maintained between the read pass voltage and the upper tail of the highest data state. The Vth distributions can be downshifted as well. In another approach, the read pass voltage is not lowered, but the lowest programmed state is upshifted to provide spacing from the upper tail of the erased state.
US08982618B2
A nonvolatile memory device comprises a nonvolatile memory chip comprising a static latch, first and second dynamic latches that receive the data stored in the static latch through a floating node, and a memory cell configured to store multi-bit data. The nonvolatile memory device performs a refresh operation on the first dynamic latch where externally supplied first single bit data is stored in the first dynamic latch, performs a refresh operation on the second dynamic latch where externally supplied second single bit data is stored in the second dynamic latch, and programs the memory cell using the data stored in the first and second dynamic latches after the first and second single bit data are stored in the respective first and second dynamic latches.
US08982617B1
A data storage device includes a controller and a non-volatile memory that includes a three-dimensional (3D) memory. A method includes initiating a write operation to write first data to a first word line of a multi-level cell (MLC) block of the non-volatile memory. The method further includes compensating, in response to an event that interrupts programming at the first word line, for incompletion of a write disturb effect at the MLC block due to the event by copying second data from a second word line of the MLC block to a second block of the non-volatile memory or by writing dummy data to the second word line.
US08982613B2
A magnetic device includes a pinned polarizing magnetic layer having a magnetic vector parallel to a plane of the pinned polarizing magnetic layer. The magnetic device also includes a free layer, separated from the polarizing magnetic layer by a first non-magnetic layer, having a magnetization vector with a changeable magnetization direction. The changeable magnetization vector is configured to change to a first state upon application of a first current of a first polarity and to change to a second state upon application of a second current of a second, opposite polarity. The magnetic device also has a reference layer having a magnetic vector perpendicular to the plane of the reference layer and separated from the free layer by a second non-magnetic layer.
US08982611B2
A magnetic memory element includes a first magnetic layer, a second magnetic layer, a first intermediate layer, a first magnetic wire, a first input unit, and a first detection unit. The first magnetic layer has magnetization fixed. The second magnetic layer has magnetization which is variable. The first intermediate layer is between the first magnetic layer and the second magnetic layer. The first magnetic wire extends in a first direction perpendicular to a direction connecting from the first magnetic layer to the second magnetic layer and is adjacent to the second magnetic layer. In addition, write-in is performed by propagating a first spin wave through the first magnetic wire and by passing a first current from the first magnetic layer toward the second magnetic layer. Read-out is performed by passing a second current from the first magnetic layer toward the second magnetic layer.
US08982610B2
A bit line driver for a static random access memory (SRAM) cell including: a first voltage supply for supplying a first voltage; a second voltage supply for supplying a second voltage that is less than the first voltage; a write circuit to drive a bit line and an inverse bit line when writing to the SRAM cell; and a pre-charge circuit to pre-charge the bit line and the inverse bit line before reading the content of the SRAM cell. The bit line driver supplies a voltage less than the first voltage by a threshold voltage of one transistor to the bit line or the inverse bit line when the bit line driver drives the bit line or the inverse bit line to a high state.
US08982605B2
A phase change memory device having a multi-level and a method of driving the same are presented. The disclosed phase change memory device includes variable resistors and shifting units. The variable resistors are interchanged into set and reset states in response to an applied current. The shifting units, which are connected to the variable resistors, shift resistance distribution in the set and reset state of the variable resistors by a predetermined level.
US08982604B2
A resistive memory device operable with low power consumption and a memory apparatus and data processing system including the same are provided. The resistive memory includes a chalcogenide compound containing 10 to 60 wt % (atomic weight) of selenium (Se) or tellurium (Te).
US08982601B2
A switchable junction (600) having an intrinsic diode (634) formed with a voltage dependent resistor (640) is disclosed. The switchable junction comprises a first electrode (618), a second electrode (622), and a memristive matrix (620) configured to form an electrical interface (626) with the first electrode (618). The electrical interface has a programmable conductance. The voltage dependent resistor (640) is in electrical contact with the memristive matrix (620). The voltage dependent resistor is configured to form a rectifying diode interface (628) with the second electrode (622).
US08982596B1
A CAM device includes a CAM array that can implement column redundancy in which a defective column segment in a selected block can be functionally replaced by a selected column segment of the same block, and/or by a spare column segment of the same block.
US08982594B2
A circuit for controlling a switch in series with a capacitive element. A circuit may include a bidirectional switch and a diode in parallel with first and second conduction terminals of the switch. The switch may be configured to control a capacitive element adapted to be coupled to an A.C. voltage. The switch includes first and second conduction terminals configured to conduct a same current when the switch is activated.
US08982593B2
Cascade H-Bridge inverters and carrier-based level shift pulse width modulation techniques are presented for generating inverter stage switching control signals, in which carrier waveform levels are selectively shifted to control THD and to mitigate power distribution imbalances within multilevel inverter elements using either complementary carrier or complementary reference modulation techniques.
US08982588B2
A method and apparatus for controlling the output voltage of a boost converter including a number n of bridge devices connected in series, each bridge device including plural switches and a capacitor. The method and apparatus provide control of the switches according to a selected periodical matrix pattern including a number N of time intervals, N being a positive integer greater than 2, and in that in each time interval, the voltage between the input and the output of each ith bridge device with i from one to n, is equal to one of a null value, a number ki times a positive value, and minus the number ki times the positive value, the positive value being the result of the division of the output voltage of the boost converter including the n bridge devices by the number of time intervals N of the periodical matrix pattern.
US08982586B2
A method of regulating temperature of a transistor-based component of a power system is disclosed. The method may include operating the power system to supply electric power to the transistor-based component and converting the electric power from direct current to alternating current, or alternating current to direct current, using the transistor-based component, thereby creating heat in the transistor-based component. The method may include outputting the electric power from the transistor-based component and supplying the electric power to an electrically-powered component to perform an output operation. The method may include controlling, during a predetermined system operating condition, one or more operations of a component associated with the power system to actively generate heat to thereby maintain the temperature of the transistor-based component higher than from the conversion of electric power that is performed to produce the electric power used to perform the output operation during the predetermined system operating condition.
US08982584B2
A controller of a switching power converter employs a dynamically adaptive power supply regulation approach that improves low-load and no-load regulation to achieve ultra-low standby power in a switching power converter. Under ultra-low load conditions when a deep-deep pulse width modulation (DDPWM) is applied, the controller decreases the actual on-time of the power switch of the switching power converter by decreasing the “on” duration of the control signal used to turn on or off the power switch, until the “on” duration of the control signal reaches a minimum value. To further reduce the on-time of the power switch, the controller reduces the power applied to the power switch to turn on the switch more slowly, while maintaining the “on” duration of the control signal at a minimum value. The minimum value of the “on” duration of the control signal and the minimum power applied to the switch are dynamically controlled.
US08982581B2
Electro-static discharge (“ESD”) protection for a die of a multi-chip module is described. A contact has an externally exposed surface after formation of the die and prior to assembly of the multi-chip module. The contact is for a die-to-die interconnect of the multi-chip module. The contact is for an internal node of the multi-chip module after the assembly of the multi-chip module. A driver circuit is coupled to the contact and has a first input impedance. A discharge circuit is coupled to the contact for electrostatic discharge protection of the driver circuit and has a first forward bias impedance associated with a first discharge path. The first forward bias impedance is a fraction of the first input impedance.
US08982576B2
Provided is a printed wiring board including a power source, a plurality of LSIs, and a planar power supply wiring for supplying power from the power source to the LSIs. A plurality of partial wiring patterns each forming a current path from the power source to the LSIs are provided by forming gaps in the power supply wiring.
US08982569B2
An exemplary power conversion circuit is to convert a voltage from one voltage level to another. The circuit includes an input port, an output port, a main body circuit, a first solder bridge, and a second solder bridge. The input port of the power conversion circuit is an output port of one power conversion circuit previous in sequence to the power conversion circuit, the output port of the power conversion circuit is an input port of one power conversion circuit next in sequence to the power conversion circuit. The first solder bridge is arranged between the input port of the power conversion circuit and the main body circuit of the power conversion circuit. The second solder bridge is arranged between the output port of the power conversion circuit and the main body circuit of the power conversion circuit.
US08982568B2
A battery cover latching structure is used to latch a battery cover to a housing of an electronic device. The battery cover includes a latching portion. The housing defines a receiving portion and a latching slot communicating to the receiving portion. The battery cover latching structure includes an urging member and a spring member elastically connected between the urging member and the housing. The urging member is rotatably connected to the housing. The urging member includes an urging portion extending into the latching slot. To close the battery cover, the latching portion is positioned on the receiving portion of the housing, and then the battery cover is pushed to allow the latching portion slide into the latching slot to engage with the urging portion to latch the batter cover to the housing.
US08982567B2
Example embodiments are directed to circuit boards, connectors, cases, circuit board assemblies, case assemblies, devices and methods of manufacturing the same, which are common to at least two different form factors. According to example embodiments, a solid state device (SSD) may include a circuit board, a connector, and a case. The circuit board may include a unibody board common to at least a first and a second form factor, first circuit board connection terminals of the first form factor on a front side of the board, and second circuit board connection terminals of the second form factor on a back side of the board. The connector may include connector connection terminals, where only one of the first circuit board connection terminals and the second circuit board connection terminals are connected to the connector connection terminals.
US08982552B2
An embodiment of a system and method disaggregate I/O resources from a server's compute resources, such as CPU and memory, by moving the server's local I/O devices to a remote location apart from the server's compute resources. An embodiment uses optical technology to accomplish the fast communication speeds needed between the compute resources and the remotely located I/O resources. Specifically, an embodiment uses fiber-optic cables and electrical-to-optical conversion to facilitate communication between the compute resources and the I/O resources. The compute resources and the remotely located I/O resources can be designed differently to allow conductive liquid cooling for the compute resources and air cooling for the I/O resources.
US08982548B2
An apparatus opening and closing mechanism includes: a slide mechanism by which a first casing and a second casing are slidably connected to each other and which effects transition of position state of the first casing and the second casing between a closed state and an open state; and a hinge mechanism by which the first casing and the second casing are rotatably connected to each other. The slide mechanism includes: a first holder fixed to the first casing; a second holder which is fixed to the second casing and by which the first slider is supported so as to be movable in the sliding direction; and an elastic member which has one end fixed to the first holder and the other end fixed to the second holder and which extends and contracts according to movement of the first casing and the second casing at the time of sliding.
US08982536B2
A capacitor with improved ESR and improved volumetric efficiency. The capacitor has an anode body wherein the anode body comprises a face and an inward offset which is inset from the face by a distance. An anode wire extends from a front side of the anode body wherein the front side is adjacent the face. A dielectric is on the anode body and a conductive cathode layer is on the dielectric. A cathode lead is in the inward offset and in electrical contact with the conductive cathode layer wherein the conductive cathode layer is between the cathode lead and the inward offset.
US08982534B2
There is provided a multilayer ceramic electronic component including: a ceramic main body including a dielectric layer and internal electrodes disposed to face each other, while having the dielectric layer interposed therebetween; and external electrodes electrically connected to the internal electrodes, wherein the external electrodes include first external electrodes formed on outer surfaces of the ceramic main body and second external electrodes formed outwardly of the first external electrodes, and protective layers including one or more of an oxide layer and a glass layer are formed between the first external electrodes and the second external electrodes.
US08982532B2
A system and method for sealing a capacitor bottom in a filtered feedthrough. The feedthrough comprises a ferrule, a capacitor, at least one terminal pin and a support structure. The support structure includes at least one projection that extends into an aperture of the capacitor. The projection includes an opening through which the at least one terminal pin extends such that, in an assembled state, the terminal pin extends through the opening of the projection and the aperture of the capacitor.
US08982531B2
An electrostatic device or system includes electrode(s) adapted to produce an electrostatic attraction force and a base surface adapted to facilitate the application of the electrostatic attraction force and also a physical attraction force separate therefrom. The electrostatic and physical attraction forces can maintain a position of the electrostatic device relative to a foreign object via electroadhesion and/or via an additional manner that is separate from the electroadhesion. The physical attraction force can be a vacuum, van der Waals, and/or adhesive force, can be applied at less than all locations across the base surface, and may involve a one-time permanent attachment. The base surface can include a deformable surface portion that moves closer to the foreign object when the electrostatic or physical attraction force is applied. The physical attraction force can be sufficient to adhere the device to the object when the electrostatic attraction force is removed.
US08982513B1
A disk drive head gimbal assembly includes a laminated flexure with a tongue having an actuated portion that rotates about an axis of rotation by expansion of a first adhered piezoelectric element relative to a second adhered piezoelectric element. A non-actuated portion of the tongue adjoins and forms a bridge between two outrigger beams, with a dimple contact location that is in contact with a dimple of the load beam and through which the axis of rotation passes. A read head is adhered, closer to its leading end than to its trailing end, to the actuated portion of the tongue. Each of the first and second piezoelectric elements has an anchored end that is adhered to the bridge, closer to the trailing end of the read head, and an opposing actuated end adhered to the actuated portion of the tongue, closer to the leading end of the read head.
US08982509B2
An electrically isolated tape guide that includes a tape roller having spaced apart flanges extending out from the tape roller for passing magnetic tape between the flanges, and an electrically non-conductive pin having a first end coupled to a center opening of the tape roller to allow the tape roller to rotate about the pin and a second end for coupling to a chassis of a tape drive.
US08982503B1
A disk drive is disclosed comprising a disk comprising tracks defined by servo sectors, a head, and control circuitry comprising a servo control system operable to actuate the head over the disk in response to the servo sectors. After seeking the head to a first track, a position error signal (PES) is generated representing a difference between a target location for the head and a measured location for the head. A sinusoidal control signal is generated in response to the servo sectors, and a third point of the sinusoidal control signal is generated based on a first point and second point of the sinusoidal control signal and independent of the PES, wherein the first, second and third points correspond to respective servo sectors. A feed-forward compensation value is generated based on the third point of the sinusoidal control signal using a feed-forward compensator.
US08982496B1
According to one embodiment, switching takes place between a first control in which a first read head is assigned as a master head for reading data from a magnetic disk on which a sequential write direction is reversed at a switching position where a skew angle of a write head becomes 0 and between an outer periphery and an inner periphery in shingled write recording, and a second read head is assigned as a slave head for reducing inter-track interference during reading of the data and noise by virtue of an effect of waveform averaging with respect to the master head, and a second control in which the second read head is assigned as the master head and the first read head is assigned as the slave head.
US08982489B1
A system including a first transmission line, a second transmission line, a first element, a second element and a differential amplifier. The first element is configured to read a storage media to generate a read signal, where the first element is connected to the first transmission line. The second element is configured to detect interference and generate an interference signal, where the second element is connected to the second transmission line. The differential amplifier includes a first input and a second input, where the first input of the differential amplifier is connected to a the first transmission line and receives the read signal, and where the second input of the differential amplifier is connected to the second transmission line and receives the interference signal.
US08982488B2
Various embodiments are generally directed recurringly cycling the driving of a platter media of a hard drive with a motor, allowing rotation of the platter media to slow only to a threshold rotational speed to balance power conservation with delays in accessing data. A method comprises driving platter media of a hard drive to rotate at a selected normal rotational speed, retrieving data stored on the platter media when the platter media rotates at the normal rotational speed, ceasing to drive the platter media to rotate to allow the platter media to rotate under rotational inertia imparted to the platter media, monitoring a current rotational speed of the platter media, and resuming driving the platter media to rotate based on the current rotational speed falling to a lower threshold rotational speed selected to be less than the normal rotational speed. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08982487B2
A lens assembling device is configured to assemble lenses into a lens barrel. The lens assembling device includes a hollow external barrel, a hollow internal barrel, and a pushing element. The external barrel includes a first hollow chamber and a second hollow chamber coaxial with the first hollow chamber. The first hollow chamber is configured to partly receive the lens barrel. The internal barrel is connected to the push element and is received in the second hollow chamber, and is configured to receive a lens. The pushing element is configured to push the lens from the internal barrel into the lens barrel.
US08982486B2
An image pickup lens unit, in which a holder body and a cover can be easily connected together, without additional components and a resin flow path for the connection. A lens 10 is positioned in a first holder member 20 which remains in a mold. A second holder member 30 for preventing the lens 10 from falling off is molded such that it is welded to the first holder member having the lens 10 positioned therein. This facilitates molding of the second holder member 30 and joining of the second holder member 30 to the first holder member 20 at the same time. Since there is no need to provide a resin flow path for joining the first holder member 20 and the second holder member 30 together, the image pickup lens unit can be made small in size.
US08982467B2
Lighting devices and methods for providing daylight to the interior of a structure are disclosed. Some embodiments disclosed herein provide a daylighting device including a tube having a sidewall with a reflective interior surface, a light collecting structure, and a light reflector positioned to reflect daylight into the light collector. In some embodiments, the light collector is associated with one or more light-turning and/or light reflecting structures configured to increase the amount of light captured by the daylighting device. Optical elements may allow for the absorption and/or selective transmission of infrared light away from an interior of the daylighting device.
US08982458B2
This disclosure is directed to apparatuses, systems, and methods associated with an improved optical architecture. An optical telescope having a longitudinal axis is configured to allow a beam having a first wavelength to laterally transverse a telescope barrel along a first axis. An optical module directs and corrects the beam from the first axis to a second and third axis, and to a beam expander. The beam expander transmits a beam having a second wavelength through the optical telescope along the longitudinal axis. The optical architecture may be incorporated onto an on-gimbal component that is side-mounted to a gimbaled system, as a method of minimizing the operational burdens on the gimbaled system.
US08982447B2
A display panel includes a first substrate, a second substrate and a plurality of pixel units. The pixel units are disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate, and each of the pixel units includes a reflective electrode disposed on the first substrate, a plurality of colored charged particles located between the reflective electrode and the second substrate and a lateral electrode disposed on the first substrate and extended towards the second substrate. When a first voltage is applied to the reflective electrode, the charged particles are repelled to the second substrate to display the color of the charged particles due to the affection of a first electric field, when a second voltage is applied to the lateral electrode, the charged particles are attracted to the lateral electrode due to the affection of a second electric field. Further, a driving method of a display panel is also provided.
US08982444B2
The present inventive concept relates to an electrowetting display device including a lyophobic colloid material and a polymer resin such as an organic layer or a polyimide (PI), and a lyophobic layer including a supporting layer supporting the lyophobic colloid material and using a photoreactive fluorine-based surfactant for a fluorine-based material to be positioned above and for a hardened photoreactive material layer to be positioned below through exposure in a single step without separately performing a hydrophilic treatment and then a water-repellent treatment, thereby reducing the number of processes, the manufacturing time, and the cost.
US08982436B2
A carriage motor which is a heat generating device is arranged next to a CIS in a scanner unit. The carriage motor drives respective transport rollers of an ADF unit via a gear system as well. The scanner unit makes a white reference board be read so as to obtain white reference data, and obtains black reference data more frequently than the white reference data, e.g., in a continuous process for reading a document. As a CIS module continues a reading process, the black reference data changes as being affected by a change in temperature in the CIS module, etc. The scanner unit deals with such a change in the black reference data by obtaining the black reference data more frequently.
US08982422B2
An image forming apparatus for forming an image in accordance with light to be emitted from a light source includes: a digital half-toning unit configured to convert a uniform-pixel-value region of image data to a parallel-line pattern formed with a plurality of parallel lines extending obliquely with respect to a direction, in which pixels are arrayed, thereby expressing each gray level of the image data as an area percentage; a modulated-signal generating unit configured to generate a modulated signal by modulating the converted image data with a clock signal; a light-source driving unit configured to drive the light source according to the modulated signal; and an edge control unit configured to narrow a to-be-illuminated region, which is to be illuminated by the light from the light source, in each of edge neighborhoods of the lines constituting the parallel-line pattern, while increasing intensity of the light.
US08982419B1
Some of the embodiments provide a method for processing a continuous tone image, wherein each pixel of a plurality of pixels of the continuous tone image is associated with a corresponding value that represents a tone of the pixel, the method comprising for each pixel of the plurality of pixels of the continuous tone image, determining the corresponding value of the pixel that represents the tone of the pixel, wherein each pixel of a first subset of the plurality of pixels of the continuous tone image has a corresponding value that is within a first range; and generating a halftone image from the continuous tone image such that for each pixel of the first subset of the plurality of pixels of the continuous tone image, a corresponding pixel of the halftone image is generated to have a value that represents a zero optical density or a first optical density.
US08982418B2
A printing system includes a host computer with an application and an image forming apparatus. The host computer includes a color space setting unit and print data creating unit. The color space setting unit sets a color space that can create grayscale images. The print data creating unit performs color conversion on a print object created by the application to create print data, the color conversion being appropriate for the color space. The image forming apparatus includes a grayscale image creating unit and printing unit. The grayscale image creating unit performs color conversion on the print object, which is included in the print data, to create a grayscale image, the color conversion being appropriate for the color space of the print object. The printing unit performs printing according to the grayscale image.
US08982416B2
To generate a proof of a printable item, a data structure is provided that maps a set of spot colors into a respective set of color values based on measurement data provided by a measurement device of colors printed by a printing system from the spot colors.
US08982414B2
A method, non-transitory computer readable medium, and apparatus for updating a prose attribute entry based upon one or more print job parameters of a print job order are disclosed. For example, the method detects a mismatch between the one or more print job parameters of the print job order and a prose attribute field of a print job request, presents an option to update the prose attribute entry in the prose attribute field corresponding to the one or more print job parameters of the print job order that are mismatched, receives a confirmation to update the prose attribute entry in the prose attribute field and updates the prose attribute entry to include the one or more print job parameters that were mismatched.
US08982412B2
Systems and methods are provided for facilitating reproduction of arbitrary colors in a workflow by identifying color reproduction processes in the workflow and characterizing the color reproduction processes by determining a statistical variance (e.g., as characterized by a probability density function). Systems and methods are provided for simulating possible output colors for a color reproduction process that involve identifying a desired color for reproduction and determining possible output colors for the color reproduction process based on a predetermined statistical variance. Systems and methods are provided for mapping out-of-gamut-colors for a color reproduction process are provided that involve providing an out-of-gamut color, consulting a database of characterized artistic adjustments, selecting a first adjusted color by applying an artistic adjustment from the database to the out-of gamut color, determining if the first adjusted color is out-of-gamut, and, if out-of-gamut, selecting a second adjusted color by adjusting a magnitude of the vector.
US08982408B2
An image capturing unit includes: a sensor unit that captures an image of a predetermined area including an image capture object; a reference chart portion that is disposed in the predetermined area and an image of which is captured together with an image of the image capture object by the sensor unit; an illumination light source that illuminates the image capture object and the reference chart portion; and a specular reflection preventing member that prevents that specular reflection light of light emitted from the illumination light source enters the sensor unit.
US08982407B2
The prior art has such a problem that image quality degrades because dots are conspicuous in the case where the size of each dot is not so small and the black or white dots are regularly aligned, in particular, in a bright part close to white or in a dark part close to black. It is determined whether a black or white pixel exists at a point-symmetric position with respect to a notice pixel using pattern matching for a binarized image and in the case where a pixel exists at the point-symmetric position, the notice pixel is replaced with a specific output pattern.
US08982402B2
An image forming system includes an upstream apparatus for forming an image on a sheet, a downstream apparatus for applying sheet processing to the sheet on which the image is formed by the upstream apparatus, an exclusive communication path for communicating information which is necessary only for an operation of each apparatus in a state in which a communication partner is fixed between the upstream apparatus and the downstream apparatus, and a general-purpose communication path for communicating information in a state in which a communication partner is selectable between the upstream apparatus and the downstream apparatus. The exclusive communication path and the general-purpose communication path communicate information which respective paths can handle by sharing the information with each other.
US08982401B2
An image recording system includes a mobile terminal and an image recording apparatus. The mobile terminal successively stores signals representative of its position at least from establishment of first wireless communication between the mobile terminal and the image recording apparatus. When information produced based on the signals coincides with at least one of sets of reference information which respectively correspond to image recording conditions, the mobile terminal determines at least one command for commanding at least one image recording condition respectively corresponding to the at least one set of reference information. The mobile terminal transmits the at least one command to the image recording apparatus over the first wireless communication or second wireless communication and transmits image data to the image recording apparatus over the second wireless communication. The image recording apparatus uses at least one image recording condition to record an image based on the image data.
US08982396B2
An image forming apparatus for displaying a tally window of print histories, comprises: a tally unit which tallies the print histories; a receiving unit which receives a condition used to determine whether to display the tally window, and a setting corresponding to the condition and used to generate the tally window; a determination unit which determines, based on a total result by the tally unit and the condition received by the receiving unit, whether to display the tally window; a generation unit which, if the determination unit determines that the tally window is to be displayed because the condition received by the receiving unit is satisfied, generates the tally window using the setting corresponding to the condition; and a display unit which displays the tally window generated by the generation unit.
US08982395B2
An information processing apparatus, which issues a print instruction when a dragged file is dropped on a print object, the apparatus comprises: a layout unit configured to lay out the print object at a first position; and a display control unit configured to display, when the file is dragged, the print object at a second position which is closer to the dragged file than the first position by moving the print object from the first position.
US08982392B2
When a plurality of image forming apparatuses are found on a network, it is difficult to identify an image forming apparatus to be used by the user from the plurality of found image forming apparatuses. When the user presses a button on an image forming apparatus, a name of the image forming apparatus included in a search response is changed for a predetermined time period, and the changed name is displayed as a search result.
US08982383B2
A method and program for a universal Job Description Format (JDF) printer driver. The universal JDF printer driver computer software program product has a computer readable program code embedded in a computer usable storage medium for controlling a data processing apparatus, where the program code is configured to cause the data processing apparatus to execute a process for generating a JDF job ticket for printing documents by a JDF compatible printing device. The process implemented by the universal JDF printer driver has the steps of obtaining device capabilities information from the JDF compatible printing device and creating a baseline JDF job ticket based on the device capabilities information, providing a graphical user interface to allow a user to modify the baseline JDF job ticket interactively, and generating a syntactically and semantically correct final JDF job ticket compatible with the device capabilities of the JDF compatible printing device.
US08982382B2
The present invention relates to an image formation apparatus that discards a job on elapse of an auto clear time. In the case a job is interrupted due to an insufficient balance to pay the fee for the job, the image formation apparatus judges whether the cause of the interruption can be eliminated in a short time or it takes a long time to be eliminated. If the cause takes a long time to be eliminated, the image formation apparatus extends the auto clear time to prevent the job from being discarded for the reason that the user does not have enough time to pay an additional fee.
US08982374B2
A multifunction peripheral (MFP) transmits read data (user identification information) obtained by a reader to a user-manager server device via a network. The user-manager server device specifies a data format of the read data, converts the data format into another data format to specify a user ID corresponding to the read data, performs a user authentication using the user ID, and transmits authorization information corresponding to a logged-in user. Further, the MFP receives the identification information corresponding to the logged-in user by a user authentication method specified by authentication setting data, and transmits the identification information to the user-manager server device. The authentication setting data is updated by the master authentication data stored in the user-manager server device. The user-manager server device performs the user authentication using the identification information, and transmits the authorization information corresponding to the logged-in user.
US08982373B2
A computer-implemented method is provided that includes creating a virtual device object when an application accepts an instruction for creating the virtual device object by using a driver corresponding to an image processing device by a user; displaying the created virtual device object; extracting the driver selected in the instruction registering so as to register the driver with the virtual device object; and outputting a file by using the driver which the registering has registered with the virtual device object when the user selects the virtual device object by using the file.
US08982369B2
Methods, systems and processor-readable media for automatically detecting movement of a device in a managed service environment. A device management software module can be configured to monitor a number of devices and retrieve traps from the device. A new Internet Protocol (IP) address with respect to the device on a subnet can be automatically updated by the device management software module if the device has changed location to ensure continual monitoring of the device. A notification indicative of the new IP address with respect to the device that has changed location can be sent to an administrator if the device management software module is not permitted to contact the new IP address. A notification indicative of a new device can also be sent to the administrator to determine if the device should be managed and monitored.
US08982353B2
A surface plasmon resonance instrument and measuring method, in which a lens collimates light into a light beam, a prism propagates the collimated light beam at a single propagation angle and with internal reflection on a face of the prism, and an analyzer processes the collimated light beam from the prism. The face of the prism is configured to receive a surface plasmon resonance sensor and at least the first lens and the prism are aligned on a single optical axis.
US08982349B2
In a measuring probe (40) according to the present invention, measuring light is split into a two or more through a split optical system (12), and, when each split light is received by a light-receiving sensor (13B, 13B, 15B) through an interference filter (13A, 14A, 15A) serving as a color filter, the split light is introduced into the interference filter (13A, 14A, 15A) through a collecting lens group (123C, 14C, 15C) formed as a substantially bilateral telecentric system. The interference filter (13A, 14A, 15A) is formed to obtain a transmittance characteristic corresponding to a measurement parameter, depending on a condition of an intensity distribution with respect to incidents angles of light incident on the interference filter (13A, 14A, 15A). Thus, the measuring probe (40) according to the present invention can reduce an influence of a deviation in the transmittance characteristic due to incident angles, even using the interference filter (13A, 14A, 15A).
US08982347B2
A method is used to estimate a value representative for a level of alignment mark deformation on a processed substrate using an alignment system. The alignment sensor system is able to emit light at different measuring frequencies to reflect from an alignment mark on the substrate and to detect a diffraction pattern in the reflected light in order to measure an alignment position of the alignment mark. The two or more measuring frequencies are used to measure an alignment position deviation per alignment mark associated with each of the two or more measuring frequencies relative to an expected predetermined alignment position of the alignment mark. A value is determined representative for the spread in the determined alignment position deviations per alignment mark in order to estimate the level of alignment mark deformation.
US08982345B2
In an apparatus for measuring an optical characteristic of a sample, one object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus capable of measuring hemispherical total reflectance, hemispherical total transmittance, and light distribution, and to achieve a reduction in measurement time and an improvement in precision of the quantitative analysis of hemispherical total reflectance (transmittance). In a double ellipsoidal optical system which is an optical system in which one focal points of two ellipsoidal mirrors are positioned as a common focal point, and three focal points are aligned in a straight line, the double ellipsoidal optical system is composed of a partial ellipsoidal mirror 2, such as a quarter ellipsoidal mirror, and a belt-shape ellipsoidal mirror 1. By disposing, on a position of a focal point of the partial ellipsoidal mirror, a hemispherical detection optical system having a hemispherical lens or a rotational parabolic mirror, light scattered by an object, reflected by the partial ellipsoidal mirror, and focused on the point is photographed by for example a CCD camera 6 via a hemispherical lens and a taper fiber 5 so as to measure an optical characteristic of the object.
US08982339B2
A material-working device with working beams of a beam generator and with in-situ measurement of a working distance between the beam generator and a workpiece, the material-working device including a working laser; a laser scanner for the working laser, the laser scanner including a two-dimensional deflecting device with scanner mirrors and a variable refocusing device at varying working distances; and a sensor device including a spectrometer and at least one sensor light source, wherein measuring beams together scan a working area of the workpiece by the laser scanner and an objective lens while gathering the working distance, and the measuring beams of at least two of the light sources of the sensor device being linearly polarized and being coupled into a working beam path of the laser scanner of the material-working device by an optical coupling element in a collimated state with crossed polarization directions.
US08982335B2
Apparatus for marking and/or scanning (m/s) an object comprising a m/s head (20) having a plurality of receiving spaces (24) for m/s devices (40), a driving mechanism for moving the object, a measuring device (50) for measuring the object speed comprising a transmitter having a transmitting fibre (56) for transmitting light to the object, a receiver having first and second light receiving fibres (57, 58) for receiving light reflected from the object forming light signals, and processor means (70) for determining a time shift between the light signals to provide a speed value of the object, all the fibres are arranged in a common first ferrule (52), the m/s devices include second ferrules, the first and second ferrules have corresponding connector sections and are variably connected to the receiving spaces of the scanning head, and the speed measuring device is arranged in one of the receiving spaces. The invention further relates to a method for measuring the object speed with the m/s apparatus.
US08982329B2
End of line effect can occur during manufacture of components using a lithographic apparatus. These end of line effects can result in line end shortening of the features being manufactured. Such line end shortening may have an adverse impact on the component being manufactured. It is therefore desirable to predict and/or monitor the line end shortening. A test pattern is provided that has two separate areas such that, as designed, when the two areas are illuminated with radiation (for example from an angle-resolved scatterometer) they result in diffused radiation with asymmetry that is equal in sign to each other, but opposite in magnitude. When the test pattern is actually manufactured, line end shortening occurs, and so the asymmetry of the two areas are not equal and opposite. From the measured asymmetry of the manufactured test pattern, the amount of line end shortening that has occurred can be estimated.
US08982328B2
A method of measurement of at-resolution overlay offset may be implemented in a scatterometer. At least three targets are provided on a wafer, each target comprising a first marker grating and a second interleaved marker grating and each target having a different overlay bias between its first and second marker. The first and second markers are provided by subsequent lithography steps in a double patterning lithographic process. The targets are measured with a scatterometer and for each target a measured CD of at least one of the markers is determined using reconstruction. The CD of the first marker may be fixed in the reconstruction. The measured CDs and at least one of the overlay biases is used to determine an overlay result corresponding to a minimum measured CD. The overlay result may be determined by fitting a function such as a parabola to the measured CDs and the overlay biases and determining the overlay at the minimum of the fitted function.
US08982314B2
A photolithographic apparatus for use with a photo-resist comprises a first component that generates a first chemical substance and produces a chemical amplification action and a second component that generates a second chemical substance. The photolithographic apparatus comprises a first exposure subsystem for selectively illuminating a surface of the photo-resist using a light of a first wavelength band such that the first component generates the first chemical substance and a second exposure subsystem for uniformly illuminating the surface using a light of a second wavelength band such that the second component generates the second chemical substance. The second chemical substance reacts with the first chemical substance to reduce the mass concentration of the first chemical substance in the photo-resist and improves the contrast of a latent image of the first chemical substance formed in the photo-resist.
US08982312B2
The present invention provides a liquid crystal lenticular lens including a first substrate, a second substrate, a liquid crystal layer, two first electrodes, two second electrodes, and a common electrode. The second substrate and the first substrate are disposed opposite to each other. The liquid crystal layer is disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate, and the liquid crystal layer has an ordinary refractive index and an extraordinary refractive index. The first electrodes and the second electrodes are disposed between the first substrate and the liquid crystal layer, and the second electrodes are disposed between the first electrodes. The common electrode is disposed between the second substrate and the liquid crystal layer.
US08982311B2
A pixel electrode is formed on a TFT substrate, and a gate insulating film, an inorganic passivation film, a common electrode, and an alignment film are formed in this order thereover. A columnar spacer is formed to the counter substrate and is adapted to define a gap between the TFT substrate and the counter substrate. A through hole is formed in the gate insulating film of the TFT substrate, and the columnar spacer is disposed so as to cover a concave portion formed by the through hole. Since the area of contact between the columnar spacer and the TFT substrate is decreased, it is possible to suppress scraping of the alignment film and thus to prevent occurrence of bright spots.
US08982309B2
A liquid crystal display device includes a substrate, a thin film transistor disposed on the substrate, a plurality of color filters disposed on the substrate, a light blocking member disposed between the plurality of color filters and on the thin film transistor, and a pixel electrode disposed on at least one of the plurality of color filters. The pixel electrode comprises a planar shape electrode and a plurality of minute branches extending from the planar shape electrode. The at least one of the plurality of color filters or the light blocking member comprises a step forming portion overlapped by the planar shape electrode.
US08982303B2
A transflective type liquid crystal display comprises a first substrate with a reflective region and a transmission region. A gate region, an insulation layer and a semiconductor layer are sequentially formed on the first substrate. The semiconductor layer has a source region, a drain region and a channel region. A first dielectric layer is disposed on the semiconductor layer and has a through hole to expose a part of the drain region. A first common electrode is disposed on the first dielectric layer and the through hole to cover the exposed part of the drain region. A reflective electrode is disposed on the first dielectric layer located in the reflective region. A second dielectric layer is disposed on the first common electrode and the reflective electrode. A pixel electrode is disposed on the second dielectric layer and connected to the drain region via the through hole.
US08982296B2
The present invention provides a liquid crystal display device, backlight module and back plate component thereof. The backlight module includes optical member, and the back plate element includes first splicing element and second splicing element. First splicing element is disposed with first accommodation trench to accommodate first side of optical member. One end of second splicing element is coupled with one end of first splicing element, and second splicing element is disposed with second accommodation trench to accommodate second side of optical member. Before assembly, first splicing element and second splicing element can rotate around coupled end, and first splicing element can be rotated to inside of second accommodation trench or second splicing element can be rotated to inside of first accommodation trench. The back plate element of the present invention can be folded for transport before assembly to reduce transport cost.
US08982294B2
The present invention provides a liquid crystal display panel containing an array substrate and a color filter substrate opposing the array substrate. The array substrate has a first pixel electrode and a storage electrode with the storage electrode configured below the first pixel electrode. The color filter substrate has a second pixel electrode. The first and second pixel electrodes cross each other laterally; and at least one of the first and second pixel electrodes has a number of ITO slits of unequal lengths at a location corresponding to an edge of the storage electrode. By configuring ITO slits of different lengths on the pixel electrodes corresponding to the edge of storage electrode can enhance the electric field pattern, effectively overcome the interference from lateral electric field, and avoid the abnormal display, resulted from the abnormal metal taper, thereby achieving enhanced display quality.
US08982289B2
A projection display device includes a first display panel (23a), a second display panel (23b), a PBS (Polarization Beam Splitter) (22) with a first surface (22a) and a second surface (22b) opposite each other, a light recycling device (25a, 25b and 23b), and a projection lens (24). The PBS (22) transmits a first type parallel polarized light and reflects a second type parallel polarized light. The light recycling device (25a, 25b and 23b) transforms the first type parallel polarized light transmitted by the PBS (22) into the second type parallel polarized light which carries a second image information, then reversely transmits the second type parallel polarized light to the second surface (22b) of the PBS (22). The projection display device improves the light utilization efficiency and can be used for 3D display.
US08982288B2
The invention provides a process capable of fabricating a cholesteric liquid crystal medium having a volume hologram with efficiency yet without recourse to complicated steps such as an alignment step. This is achievable as follows. A volume hologram layer is formed on a substrate, and a cholesteric liquid crystal layer is then formed on another substrate. The volume hologram layer and the cholesteric liquid crystal layer are laminated together via a bonding layer. Further, a bonding for lamination onto an application member is formed on either the volume hologram layer side or the cholesteric liquid crystal layer side to obtain a cholesteric liquid crystal medium having a volume hologram.
US08982247B2
A focus lens is moved to a position within a range of focus lens positions. A video frame is captured with the focus lens at that position. The magnification of the first video frame is altered according to a maximum magnification threshold associated with the range of focus lens positions.
US08982233B2
An imaging apparatus according to an implementation of the present invention includes: an imaging device unit which converts light coming from an object into an image signal, the light being illuminating light reflected off an object; a light pattern detecting unit which detects a light-dark pattern from the image signal so as to detect information overlaid on the illuminating light, the image signal being converted from the light by the imaging device unit; a comparing unit which compares detection information with predetermined determination information, the detection information being the information detected by the light pattern detecting unit; and a display unit which displays a specific image, depending on a result of the comparison by the comparing unit.
US08982227B2
A digital image processing apparatus, which displays a setting item designated by a user and a setting status of a setting value for the setting item together on a portion of a setting menu that is most visible to user's eyes to allow the user to efficiently set items necessary for a photographing operation and/or other operations, and a method of controlling the apparatus. The apparatus includes a body; and a display unit on the body where setting information is displayed, wherein a display screen displayed on the display unit includes a selection region where at least one setting item is displayed and an adjustment region where a currently set current setting value is displayed together with candidate setting values that can be set for at least one of the at least one setting item. The current setting value and the candidate setting values can be displayed on the adjustment region for a selection item selected from display items displayed on the selection region, and the selection item can be in a central part of the selection region.
US08982226B2
An imaging apparatus includes: an imaging unit that repeatedly captures images of a subject to obtain image information; a recording unit that records timing information indicative of a given point in time during an imaging period of the image information; and a display unit that displays an image corresponding to the timing information, which is extracted from the image information, in response to an end of the imaging period.
US08982220B2
User imaging terminals (such as mobile phones with camera or video functionality) may be used to take images that are used to create an image stream of an event. In one example, a device may receive the images and transmit the images to one or more second users. The device may receive indications, from second devices associated with the second users, of whether the images are approved by the second users for incorporation into an image stream; and perform facial detection of the images to detect faces within the images. The device may generate the image stream, based on the images that are approved by the second users and based on results of the facial detection of the images; and transmit the image stream to one or more display devices.
US08982216B2
A portable movement capture device is described. The portable movement capture device includes one or more cameras that capture high-speed video or still images of a player performing a sports activity. In one embodiment, the sports activity is a golf swing of a golfer. The portable movement capture device is arranged in a housing with one or more cameras and may optionally include a number of additional components to assist with capturing information associated with a player performing a sports activity. The captured information is analyzed using a method of finite element analysis to isolate a portion of the captured information. With this arrangement, specific regions of a player are analyzed, individually, or relatively with other regions, for a particular movement associated with the sports activity. A handheld motion capture device is also described that combines components of a portable movement capture device with an integrated display.
US08982214B2
Tracking use of a destination location is disclosed. Based on a first vehicle image showing a first vehicle, a first unique identifier of the first vehicle is determined. Next, based on a first location of the first vehicle received based on a sensor located within the first vehicle, it is determined that the first vehicle is occupying the destination location at a second time. Next, based on a second location of the first vehicle received based on the sensor located within the first vehicle, it is determined that the first vehicle has left the destination location at a third time. Finally, it is indicated that the first vehicle began use of the destination location at the second time and that the first vehicle completed use of the destination location at the third time.
US08982213B2
Tracking use of a destination location is disclosed. Based on a first vehicle image showing a first vehicle at a first location and on the first location of the first vehicle received based on a sensor located within the first vehicle, it is determined that the first vehicle is occupying the destination location at the first time. Next, based on a second vehicle image showing the first vehicle at a second location and on the second location of the first vehicle received based on the sensor located within the first vehicle, it is determined that the first vehicle has left the destination location at the second time. Finally, it is indicated that the first vehicle began use of the destination location at the first time and that the first vehicle completed use of the destination location at the second time.
US08982211B2
A security system and method for mass transit and mass transportation whereby high capacity mobile vehicles such as ships, buses, planes, trains and subways transporting large numbers of passengers or cargo, are continuously monitored and secured. Sensors are utilized to detect and alert the presence of radioactive or explosive materials on board as well as within close proximity of the vehicle. Sensors are also used to identify and track cargo and people, such as drivers, operators, employees, crew, and passengers, and provide continuous location and tracking thereof from the point of initial entry to the final point of exit. Additionally, a global positioning system (GPS) provides location data, and wireless data and telecommunications link provides two-way data and voice communication with any designated remote location by using one of several modes of wireless telecommunication. Cameras provide visual observation within designated viewable areas, and may be activated by any detection of motion, and are infrared or night vision capable allowing viewing even in extremely poor light conditions. DVR recording allow a huge amount of video content from the cameras to be digitally recorded, then played back later for further analysis. Finally, the Security System may optionally have an Internet Protocol (IP) address thereby allowing authorized persons to access the system from secured Internet connection.
US08982199B2
A network based surgical system including a first medical device having a first network interface, a second medical device having a second network interface, a communications network over which the first medical device, through the first network interface, and the second medical device, through the second network interface, are communicable, wherein the first network interface and the second network interface employ the same network protocol for communicating over the communications network, and wherein the first network interface has a maximum throughput greater than a maximum throughput of the second network interface.
US08982197B2
An optical filter for stereoscopic image display device and a stereoscopic image display device may be provided. In one embodiment, the optical filter for stereoscopic image display device may include a plastic substrate; an alignment layer; and a retardation layer, and the stereoscopic image display device may include the optical filter.
US08982195B2
A method and system for acquiring and transmitting video image data with parameter data superimposed thereon is provided. The design includes an input device configured to receive said video image data and separately receiving said parameter data, the input device configured to transmit the video image data and parameter data as separate data streams. The design further includes a computing device comprising a computer based utility configured to receive the separate data streams, store the separate data streams, edit at least one data stream, and generate combined video data. Combined video data represents combined video image data and parameter data. The design also includes a display device configured to present the combined video data.
US08982189B2
A stereoscopic video reproduction device comprising a first acquisition unit; a second acquisition unit; a decision unit; a parallax correction unit configured to correct a parallax when the binocular fusion is impossible, such that the binocular fusion becomes possible in the stereoscopic video in a predetermined interval in which the binocular fusion is decided to be impossible; and an output unit configured to: when outputting the acquired stereoscopic video to the stereoscopic display, output, to the stereoscopic display, the stereoscopic video in which the parallax is corrected in the stereoscopic video by the parallax correction unit in the predetermined interval in which the binocular fusion is decided to be impossible in a case where the decision unit decides that the binocular fusion is impossible; and output the acquired stereoscopic video as is to the stereoscopic display in a case where the decision unit decides that the binocular fusion is possible.
US08982185B1
Systems and methods can facilitate identifying 2D content in media that is suitable for conversion into 3D content, and converting the suitable 2D content into 3D content. The identifying can be based on quality criteria applied to the 2D content. For 2D content converted into 3D content, a user can be offered a choice between viewing the content in its original 2D form, or viewing the content in its converted, 3D form. The systems and methods can thereby provide users with greater choice of content and an enhanced viewing experience.
US08982176B2
A federated media server system. The federated media server system may include a plurality of media servers. A first media server may be coupled to a second media server over a network. The first media server may also be coupled to a third media server over the network. Additionally, the second and third media servers may be coupled to a plurality of respective clients. The first media server may be configured to record video, e.g., videoconferences, and stream recordings to clients and/or the second and third media servers. The second and third media servers may assist in performing video recording, transcoding, storage of recordings, multicasting, etc.
US08982174B2
A video telephony system and a control method thereof are provided. The video telephony system includes a first mobile communication terminal and a second mobile communication terminal, wherein, during a video telephone call connection, the first mobile communication terminal receives a command from a user and sends the received command to the second mobile communication terminal and wherein the second mobile communication terminal executes the command received from the first mobile communication terminal and reconfigures multi-media data transmitted to the first mobile communication terminal.
US08982173B1
Methods, systems and program products for efficient communication of data between conference servers
One embodiment of the invention is a videoconference system in which multiple users communicate video and audio data to one another over a data network. The example system comprises a first conference server linking a plurality of first users to one another to allow each of the first users to communicate at least one video data stream and at least one audio data stream to others of the first users whereby the first users are in real-time two way audio and video communication with one another. The example system further comprises a second conference server linking a plurality of second users to one another to allow each of the second users to communicate at least one video data stream and at least one audio data stream to others of the second users whereby the second users are in real-time two way audio and video communication with one another.
US08982172B2
The oscillation element according to the present invention includes a torsion bar mounted on a base, and an oscillating member having a light reflection surface for reflecting light from a light source, which is fixed on the torsion bar protruding from the base. The oscillating member oscillates about a longitudinal axis of the torsion bar with an elastic deformation of the torsion bar, thereby deflecting the light that reflects at the light reflection surface in a direction intersecting the longitudinal axis. The oscillating member has two plates that are joined together so as to sandwich the torsion bar. On joining surfaces of the plates are provided with grooves for receiving the torsion bar, respectively. The plates have a symmetrical shape that the longitudinal axis serves as the axis of symmetry.
US08982154B2
A panorama viewer is disclosed which facilitates navigation from within the panorama of a larger, structured system such as a map. The panorama viewer presents a viewport on a portion of a panoramic image, the viewport including a three-dimensional overlay rendered with the panoramic image. As the orientation of the viewport within the panoramic image changes, the three-dimensional overlay's orientation in three-dimensional space also changes as it is rendered with the panoramic image in a manner that matches the change in orientation of the viewport.
US08982153B2
When rendering a graphic according to the locus of an input position, it is determined whether a region which has been preset for the graphic to be rendered, and has the start position of the continuous input as a reference overlaps a region preset for an already rendered graphic by a predetermined amount or more. If it is determined that the regions do not overlap each other by the predetermined amount or more, a graphic is rendered according to the locus of the input position. Alternatively, if it is determined that the regions overlap each other by the predetermined amount or more, control is switched to remove the already rendered graphic according to the locus of the input position.
US08982149B2
Various embodiments are disclosed for generating an image from a Compositional Pattern Producing Network (CPPN). One such method includes receiving, in the CPPN, a series of polar coordinates {r,θ}; outputting, by the CPPN, a series of pixel values, each of the pixel values corresponding to one of the polar coordinates; and displaying the pixel values at the corresponding polar coordinates to produce the image.
US08982147B2
There are disclosed methods to provide stable pose determinations of various three dimensional shapes. Methods are also disclosed for determining multiple, unique drawing descriptors for two dimensional drawings, and for obtaining intermediate three dimensional representations of two dimensional drawings as one way to determine the descriptor. Methods are also disclosed to provide for searching of two dimensional drawings and three dimensional shapes using user-defined input, which may be a drawing or sketch. User interactivity is provided to further refine search results.
US08982143B2
There are both flat and sloped ground surfaces on which the game characters traverse. In areas where a sloped surface changes angle (i.e. where a sloped surface connects to a flat surface), a transitional method has been created to make the adjoining textures on the top surface area of the ground blend together seamlessly. A unique texture is used for this purpose. This texture uses the same material as the flat “ground trim” texture seen on the top of every surface. The texture has a diagonally drawn alpha mask that blends from completely transparent to completely opaque from the bottom right corner of the texture to the top left corner. When this texture is drawn at the ends of each sloped surface where they change angle, the combination of the color channels and the alpha mask line up with adjoining textures to blend them together and create a seamless visual transition.
US08982141B2
There is disclosed apparatus and a computer implemented method for processing a digital image. The method comprises maintaining ordered cached digital images arranged in a predetermined order. The ordered cached digital images comprise a base digital image and a subsequent plurality of modified cached digital images. Each modified cached digital image is associated with an image modification category. Each subsequent modified cached digital image is generated by performing image modification operations relating to its respective image modification category on the immediately preceding cached image in accordance with the predetermined order.
US08982140B2
One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for addressing data in a hierarchical graphics processing unit cluster. A hierarchical address is constructed based on the location of a storage circuit where a target unit of data resides. The hierarchical address comprises a level field indicating a hierarchical level for the unit of data and a node identifier that indicates which GPU within the GPU cluster currently stores the unit of data. The hierarchical address may further comprise one or more identifiers that indicate which storage circuit in a particular hierarchical level currently stores the unit of data. The hierarchical address is constructed and interpreted based on the level field. The technique advantageously enables programs executing within the GPU cluster to efficiently access data residing in other GPUs using the hierarchical address.
US08982139B2
An image refreshing method applied to an image processing apparatus is provided for preventing tearing effect during frame refresh. The method includes steps of: determining a location of an updating part of a frame; determining a refresh starting location of the frame on a panel of the image processing apparatus according to the location of the updating part; and writing the updating part to refresh the frame.
US08982135B2
A server device 10 includes a frame buffer 13 that stores the image; an encoder 14e that compresses the image; a whole screen moving image conversion determination unit 14m that detects, from the image, a moving image area to be compressed by using the encoder 14e; a screen generator 14b that compresses the image such that image degradation is lower than that of the encoder 14e; a high frequency screen update area identifier 14n that detects, from an area compressed by the encoder 14e, a change area that has changed and calculates an accumulated change area by accumulating the change area; and a transmitter that transmits, to a client terminal 20, a moving image by compressing the moving image area detected by the moving image area and the detected change area and an image of the accumulated change area that is compressed by the screen generator 14b.
US08982122B2
Systems and methods for automatically generating animation-ready 3D character models based upon model parameter, clothing selections, and texture-region color component selections are described. One embodiment of the invention includes an application server configured to receive the user defined model parameters and the at least one texture selection via a user interface. In addition, the application server includes a generative model and the application server is configured to generate a 3D mesh based upon the user defined model parameters using the generative model and to apply texture to the generated mesh based upon the at least one texture selection.
US08982120B1
Aspects of the disclosure relate to rendering three-dimensional (3D) models to increase visual palatability. One or more computing devices may render an image of a 3D model. This rendering may actually occur in one or more stages. At an interim stage, the one or more computing devices determine an error value for a rendering of a partially-loaded version of the image. The error value is compared to a threshold. Based on the comparison, the one or more computing device generates an at least partially blurred rendering based at least in part on the rendering of the partially-loaded version of the image. The one or more computing devices provide the at least partially blurred rendering and subsequently provide for display a completely loaded version of the image.
US08982118B2
Described are computer-based methods and apparatuses, including computer program products, for radar data processing. In some examples, the system includes a communication module, a surface discovery module, a linear condensation identification module, and a structure generation module. The communication module is configured to receive 3-dimensional image data from an imaging device. The surface discovery module is configured to rotate the 3-dimensional image data around an axis in 3-dimensional space of the 3-dimensional image data. The linear condensation identification module is configured to identify linear condensations in the rotated 3-dimensional image data. The structure generation module is configured to generate a structure based on the linear condensations and the rotated 3-dimensional image data.
US08982116B2
Touch screen based interaction with traffic data is disclosed. A virtual broadcast presentation may be generated based on dynamic information such as traffic information, weather information, or other information that may be featured on a virtual broadcast presentation. A signal generated by a touch screen may be received. The generated signal may be processed and the virtual broadcast presentation may be updated in response to the processed signal.
US08982114B2
A display device includes a first-stage output circuit adapted to perform output to a first-stage output signal line as an endmost output signal line out of a plurality of output signal lines disposed in parallel to each other, and the first-stage output circuit includes a start signal line to which a start signal for applying a conducting potential sequentially to the plurality of output signal lines is applied, a first clock signal line to which a first clock signal is applied, a second clock signal line to which a second clock signal is applied, a first transistor having a source to which the first-stage output signal line is connected, and a drain to which the first clock signal line is connected, and a second transistor having a gate to which the start signal line is connected.
US08982104B1
A touch typing emulator to be placed on any flat surface is made from as few as two acoustic sensors connected by a wire that determines the separation between the sensors and is connected by a USB cable to a computer. The emulator receives two waves from each finger tap on the surface, a higher velocity wave and a lesser velocity wave. By affixing the sensors to a surface, the sensors, in connection with software in a computer receiving the USB connection, determines the location of the tapping of a users fingers on the surface and uses that information to emulate a typewriter keyboard.
US08982102B2
A coordinate input apparatus includes a light projecting unit configured to project light parallelly to an effective coordinate input region, a reflection unit configured to retroreflect the light projected by the light projecting unit, and a light receiving unit configured to receive light from the light projecting unit or the reflection unit. The coordinate input apparatus includes a moving unit configured to move a set of the light projecting unit, light receiving unit, and reflection unit in a direction perpendicular to the effective coordinate input region in order to ensure a light amount with which a pointed position in the effective coordinate input region can be calculated based on variations of a light amount distribution obtained from the light receiving unit.
US08982099B2
It is an object to provide a touch panel which includes an A/D converter circuit and has a function of image shooting with high resolution and high-level gray scale and at high operation speed. A touch panel includes a plurality of pixels each provided with a display element and a photo sensor, an A/D converter to which a first potential is applied from a photo sensor, and a reading circuit. The A/D converter includes an oscillation circuit which changes the oscillating frequency of a first signal to be generated in accordance with the first potential and stops oscillating when a second potential is applied thereto from the reading circuit, and a counter circuit which generates a second signal having a discrete value determined in accordance with the oscillating frequency.
US08982094B2
Systems, devices and techniques disclosed in this document provide device-to-device communications via a human body of a user between (1) a capacitor sensor touch screen device that includes a capacitor sensor touch screen that includes capacitor sensors and provides a display function and (2) a capacitor sensor device that includes one or more capacitor sensors that detect or sense, based on capacitive sensing and without providing a display function, signals transmitted from the capacitor sensor touch screen of the capacitor sensor touch screen device. The human body of a user operates as a signal transmitting medium. In addition, the systems, devices and techniques disclosed in this document provide device-to-device communications via direct device-to-device coupling between two capacitor sensor touch screen devices each including capacitor sensor touch screen that includes capacitor sensors and provides a display function.
US08982092B2
Provided is a touch cell structure having high detection sensitivity and accuracy, a touch panel using the same, and a touch input detection method. According to technical advantages, an electrostatic capacitance Ct formed between a touch unit and a conductive pad at the time of occurrence of a touch input is an important factor that determines a kick back, to thus make a great difference between output signals from a switching device due to a kick back difference depending upon whether or not a touch input exists. Thus, detection sensitivity and detection accuracy with respect to the touch input are very high, the touch input is not little influenced due to external noise, and the output signal in an analog form from the switching device is detected in a digital mode without being converted into a digital signal in an analog to digital (ADC) converter.
US08982088B2
A touch sensitive device is provided. The device includes a substrate; a plurality of first electrodes formed on the substrate and arranged along a first direction without overlapping one another; a first insulating layer formed on the substrate and covering the plurality of first electrodes; and a plurality of second electrodes formed on the first insulating layer and arranged along a second direction without overlapping one another, wherein the first direction is vertical to the second direction.
US08982086B2
An information processing apparatus includes a touch panel which displays pieces of identification information including letters, figures, and symbols and detects a contact of the panel with a finger of a user or other object. When the touch panel detects the contact of the panel, a detection unit specifies identification information of one or more of the multiple pieces of identification information displayed on the touch panel, indicated by a position at which the contact in question occurred. The detection unit also detects an area of part of the panel where the contact occurred. A storage unit stores reference identification information and a reference area range. A control unit performs particular processing upon matching of the detected identification information with the stored reference identification information and the area of the contact detected by the detection unit falling within the stored reference area range.
US08982077B2
A portable electronic apparatus and an operation method thereof and a computer readable media are provided. The portable electronic apparatus comprises a touch display unit, and an electronic notebook is displayed in the touch display unit. When the touch display enters a power saving mode, and a trigger event is detected, the power saving mode is ended, and the electronic notebook is directly displayed in the touch display unit without displaying a screen lock mode before displaying the electronic notebook.
US08982073B2
A method for displaying a picture/interface on a screen of a terminal comprises obtaining relevant information on a pressure, when the pressure is detected to be applied on the screen, obtaining a corresponding display mode according to the relevant information on the pressure, and displaying the picture/interface according to the display mode. The terminal may adjust the display mode automatically according to the pressure applied on the screen of the terminal by the user, with strong real-time property, simplifying the operations by the user on the terminal and improving the user's experience.
US08982071B2
A tactile sensation providing apparatus includes a touch sensor 11, a detection unit 12, a tactile sensation providing unit 13, a main control unit 16, and a tactile sensation provision control unit 14. The control unit 14 stores a signal related to information from the detection unit in the memory unit and, based on contents thereof and a tactile sensation provision instruction signal from the main control unit 16, determines a state of the main control unit 16. When the instruction signal does not correspond to a busy state, the providing unit 13 vibrates the touch sensor 11 in a first mode, and, when the instruction signal corresponds to the busy state, the control unit 14 controls the main control unit 16 to cancel the process corresponding to the detection information and controls the providing unit 13 to vibrate the touch face 11a in a second mode.
US08982053B2
A second user interface screen is presented to a user in response to detection of a predefined user motion associated with a first user interface screen. In one embodiment, a method includes: presenting, via a display of an end-user device, a first user interface screen; detecting, via a user input device of the end-user device, a predefined user motion associated with the first screen, wherein the user motion is substantially in a direction of movement in a plane parallel to the display; and in response to detecting the user motion, presenting a second user interface screen via the display, the second screen including information corresponding to the first screen.
US08982051B2
Embodiments are disclosed herein that are related to input devices with curved multi-touch surfaces. One disclosed embodiment comprises a touch-sensitive input device having a curved geometric feature comprising a touch sensor, the touch sensor comprising an array of sensor elements integrated into the curved geometric feature and being configured to detect a location of a touch made on a surface of the curved geometric feature.
US08982048B2
An input apparatus capable of transmitting a signal corresponding to an operation of a user to a control apparatus capable of switching display among a plurality of display screens, includes a first detection section, a second detection section, and a mode switch section. The first detection section detects analog information on a movement of the input apparatus made by the user. The second detection section detects digital information input by the user. The mode switch section makes a switch between a first mode for transmitting to the control apparatus a first signal that is based on the analog information detected by the first detection means and a second mode for transmitting to the control apparatus a second signal that is based on the digital information detected by the second detection means, in association with the display screen displayed on the control apparatus.
US08982040B2
In one embodiment, an array substrate includes a plurality of gate lines extending in a column direction. A lighting device includes a first lighting unit, a second lighting unit, and a lighting driver to light on and light off the first and second lighting units independently. The first lighting unit includes a first light source arranged on a scanning starting side of the gate lines. The second lighting unit includes a second light source arranged on a scanning terminating side of the gate lines. The lighting driver lights on the second lighting unit after lighting on the first lighting unit, and lights off the second lighting unit after lighting off the first lighting unit in a period between a starting time to write a first signal and a finishing time to write a second signal in the plurality of pixels.
US08982038B2
A display system and method for displaying an image on the display system are provided. The display system includes a display panel and a backlight for illuminating the display panel, the backlight including one or more light emitting zones that each emit light in response to a backlight drive value. The display system further includes a backlight selection module for selecting the backlight drive value for each light emitting zone from image data, an effective backlight module that generates effective backlight signals using light spread information for the backlight and the backlight drive values, and a module for modulating the image data according to the effective backlight signal and providing the modulated image data to the display panel. The light spread information includes information representing the contribution of light from each light emitting zone over the display panel.
US08982027B2
A liquid crystal display (LCD) drive circuit and a driving method thereof are disclosed. The driving method comprises: a. dividing scan lines into a plurality of groups each comprising a plurality of scan lines; b. during displaying of a current image frame, using a scan driver to scan each group of scan lines sequentially, c. during displaying of a next image frame, using the scan driver to scan each group of scan lines sequentially; and d. if each scan line in the group has been scanned once simultaneously with an adjacent scan line within a predetermined time interval, then the step b is executed; otherwise, the step c is executed. The LCD drive circuit and the driving method thereof according to the present disclosure can increase an average charging time of pixel units without compromising the accuracy of image frames.
US08982024B2
A liquid crystal display device includes: a first substrate, on which a reference potential trunk line that supplies a reference potential to a plurality of sub-pixels and a switching element of each of the plurality of sub-pixels, are disposed; and a second substrate, on which a display signal line that supplies a display signal, is disposed. A liquid crystal capacitance of each of the plurality of sub-pixels is formed between the first substrate and the second substrate. Pixels composed of the plurality of sub-pixels that correspond to a plurality of luminance regions are arranged in a matrix. In case that a prescribed half-tone is displayed in between pixels that are adjacent in the row direction, the plurality of sub-pixels that correspond to the same luminance region are arranged adjacently in the row direction.
US08982023B2
An array substrate includes a first pixel electrode and a second pixel electrode. The first pixel electrode includes first branch electrode portions and second branch electrode portions. The first branch electrode portions are disposed in a first area of a unit pixel area and are substantially parallel to a first side of the unit pixel area. The second branch electrode portions are disposed in a second area of the unit pixel area and are substantially parallel to a second side of the unit pixel area. The second pixel electrode includes third branch electrode portions disposed between the first branch electrode portions and fourth branch electrode portions disposed between the second branch electrode portions.
US08982021B2
A display device capable of obtaining a constant luminance without being influenced by temperature change is provided as well as a method of driving the display device. A current mirror circuit composed of a first transistor and a second transistor is provided in each pixel. The first transistor and second transistor of the current mirror circuit are connected such that their drain currents are kept almost equal irrespective of the level of load resistance. By controlling the OLED drive current using the current mirror circuit, a change in OLED drive current due to fluctuation in characteristics between transistors is avoided and a constant luminance is obtained without being influenced by temperature change.
US08982017B2
A pixel circuit of an OLED display device is disclosed. The pixel circuit includes a light emitting element, a driving TFT for driving the light emitting element, a delivery capacitor connected between a first node and a second node, a storage capacitor connected between the second node and a third node, a first reset TFT for initializing the first node to a reference voltage in response to a first reset signal from a first reset line, a second reset TFT for initializing the third node to an initialization voltage in response to the first reset signal from the first reset line, a third reset TFT for initializing the second node to the reference voltage in response to a second reset signal from a second reset line, and a switching TFT for supplying a data voltage to the first node in response to a scan signal from a scan line.
US08982016B2
Disclosed herein is a display device including: a pixel array unit; and a driving unit; wherein the pixel array unit includes first scanning lines and second scanning lines in a form of rows, signal lines in a form of columns, and pixels in a form of a matrix, the pixels being disposed at parts where the first scanning lines and the signal lines intersect each other, each pixel includes a drive transistor of an N-channel type, a sampling transistor, a switching transistor, a retaining capacitance, and a light emitting element, the driving unit includes a write scanner for sequentially supplying a control signal to each first scanning line, a drive scanner for sequentially supplying a control signal to each second scanning line, and a signal selector for alternately supplying a signal potential as a video signal and a predetermined reference potential to each signal line.
US08982010B2
An antenna configuration for emitting high-energy microwave pulses has a first flat electrode and a second flat electrode, the first electrode and the second electrode being able to be connected to a generator for producing an excitation pulse. The antenna configuration further has a multiplicity of radiation elements which connect the first electrode and the second electrode to one another, and semiconductor diodes which are provided in the region of the radiation elements and turn on as of a particular breakdown voltage and thus make it possible for the antenna to emit a pulsed overall pulse.
US08982009B2
An antenna pattern frame according to an aspect of the invention may include: a radiator having an antenna pattern portion transmitting and receiving a signal; a ground portion extending from the antenna pattern portion; a connection portion connecting the antenna pattern portion and the ground portion to be arranged in different planes; and a radiator frame manufactured by injection molding on the radiator so that the antenna pattern portion may be provided on one side of the radiator frame and the connection terminal portion may be provided on the other side thereof, the radiator frame allowing the antenna pattern portion to be embedded in the electronic device case.
US08981997B2
An antenna includes an antenna element in which a predetermined electrode is provided on a dielectric base member and a substrate in which a predetermined electrode is provided on a base. A feed-terminal connecting electrode to which a feed terminal provided on the lower surface of the antenna element, an external-terminal connecting electrode to which an external electrode is connected, and a ground-terminal connecting electrode to which a ground terminal provided on the lower surface of the antenna element are provided on the upper surface of an ungrounded area of the substrate. A chip inductor is connected between the external-terminal connecting electrode and the feed-terminal connecting electrode, and a chip inductor is connected between the external-terminal connecting electrode and the ground-terminal connecting electrode. The shortcut of a current route achieved by each of the chip inductors is provided.
US08981993B2
A method is provided for using an antenna array to create two beams (a first beam and a second beam). In one aspect, the method uses dual polarization beam forming, which allows for many degrees of freedom in designing a desired power pattern. The method is well suited for systems with multiple radio chains (e.g., systems with active antennas). The method is also well suited for multi-port systems such as TD-SCDMA. In some embodiments, the method produces two beams where(a) the shape of the power beam pattern for the first beam and the shape of the power beam pattern for the second beam are the same (or substantially the same) in a plurality of directions of interest and (b) the beams have orthogonal (or substantially orthogonal) polarizations in the coverage area.
US08981989B2
A projectile detection system, and method of detecting a projectile (for example a bullet), for use on a vehicle (100) (for example a helicopter), the projectile detection system comprising: a radar antenna array (4) arranged to transmit and receive microwave signals so as to provide a plurality of detection segments (40, 42, 44, 46) of a volume of airspace (38); one or more processors (3) arranged to: determine which segments (40, 42, 44, 46) microwave signals reflected by a projectile (10) are received from; determine timing information relating to a time order in which the received microwave signals are received; and determine directional information relating to a direction of travel of the projectile (10) using the determined segments (40, 42, 44, 46) and the determined timing information; wherein the microwave signals have a frequency between 1 GHz and 30 GHz.
US08981982B2
Aspects of a method and system for data converters having a transfer function with multiple operating zones. In some embodiments, an operating zone of the multiple operating zones is characterized by more stringent performance criteria than the other operating zones. Thus, such data converters may receive an input signal and generate an output signal from the input signal per the transfer function and the more stringent performance criteria in the appropriate operating zone.
US08981978B2
Two resistive elements and a capacitive element are coupled between a first node and each of an inverting input terminal of an operational amplifier, an output terminal of the operational amplifier, and a common node. A resistive element and a capacitive element are coupled between the first node and a signal input terminal. Two capacitive elements and a resistive element are coupled between a second node and each of the inverting input terminal, the output terminal, and the common node. Two capacitive elements are coupled between the second node and each of the signal input terminal, and the common node.
US08981976B2
A novel noise injection technique is presented to improve dynamic range with low resolution and low speed analog to digital converters. This technique combines incoming signal and noise signal with wave front de-multiplexer and split into several channels. Then low resolution and low speed analog to digital converters are used to sample each channels. All signals are recovered using wave front multiplexer. For advanced design, ground diagnostic signals with optimizing processor can be added to guarantee recovery quality.
US08981964B2
In this driving supporting device, the light color change cycle of a prediction object traffic signal is acquired on the basis of the light color change cycle of a prediction basis traffic signal installed before the prediction object traffic signal, and the light color state of the prediction object traffic signal when the vehicle arrives at the prediction object traffic signal is predicted on the basis of the light color state of the prediction basis traffic signal and the light color change cycle of the prediction object traffic signal. Thus, since the light color change cycle of the prediction object traffic signal is acquired on the basis of the light color change cycle of the prediction basis traffic signal, it becomes possible to predict a light color state even in the case of a traffic signal which cannot transmit information indicating its light color change cycle.
US08981959B2
A method and apparatus is disclosed for prioritizing the processing of messages sent between site transceivers (12, 15) at utility meter data origination sites (10) and gateway transceivers (20, 30, 40) in a fixed meter data collection network. To reduce message processing time, priorities are assigned for processing messages destined for mobile gateways, messages sent to assigned gateways, and messages sent to any gateway after not receiving an acknowledge signal from an assigned gateway. The gateway transceiver also has four receivers for processing four respective messages on four different frequency channels to further reduce processing time and to conserve power usage at the site transceivers.
US08981958B2
The present invention concerns application of a unique conductive electrode geometry used to form an efficient wideband, one- or two-way wireless data link between autonomous systems separated by some distance along a bore hole drill string. One objective is the establishment of an efficient, high bandwidth communication link between such separated systems, using a unique electrode configuration that also aids in maintaining a physically robust drill string. Insulated or floating electrodes of various selected geometries provide a means for sustaining or maintaining a modulated electric potential adapted for injecting modulated electrical current into the surrounding sub-surface medium. Such modulated current conveys information to the systems located along the drill string by establishing a potential across a receiving insulated or floating electrode.
US08981953B2
The invention relates to a protection module (1), a system and a method for monitoring objects, wherein a protection module (1) comprises, a locating module (11) for acquiring position data of the protection module and a communication unit (12) which can send data to a monitoring device (2), wherein the protection module (1) is suitable for being placed into an alarm state by an alarm signal and in the alarm state, sending position data to the monitoring device (2) in a particular alarm interval or continuously.
US08981935B2
In a method and a system (1) for providing target information of an event message for an event occurring at a tag reader (2), the target information is extracted from a signed digital certificate of a tag (4). The event is triggered at a tag reader (2) and can be evaluated by a target computer (6), for example a server. The method and system enhance reconfiguration flexibility and also increase security against manipulation.
US08981927B2
A system including a network of emergency equipment stations is described. The network includes at least one emergency equipment station. The emergency equipment station includes an emergency assistance device, a first sensor configured to detect an object within a vicinity of the emergency equipment station and a second sensor configured to sense at least one selectable predetermined internal condition. The system may further include a central station that is remotely located from the emergency equipment station. The central station is configured to communicate with the emergency equipment station as well as the network and receive data from the first and the second sensors.
US08981926B2
A monitoring system for sudden infant death syndrome alerts parents, including parents who are blind and deaf, of changes in their infant's health condition. The system comprises three parts: a portable monitoring and warning control unit, a sensor bracelet that would be placed around the infant's wrist and an alarm bracelet for blind and deaf parents. The infant sensor bracelet comprises multiple sensors and a microphone and transceiver to receive and transmit data to a portable control monitoring unit. A similar system is provided for blind and deaf parents. The vibration alarm units each have Braille characters printed in the top to enable a blind person to identify the vibration alarm. A portable monitoring and warning control unit comprises at least a transceiver to communicate with the bracelets and a processing control unit to collect data and compare it with thresholds/acceptable ranges.
US08981922B2
A rear collision prevention system includes: a linkage coupled to a gas pedal, the linkage capable of sensing the position of the gas pedal, the linkage communicatively coupled to a transmitter, a transmitter with at least a first channel and a second channel, where the first channel receives a signal from the linkage when the gas pedal is depressed, and the second channel receives a signal when the gas pedal is released. The system also includes a receiver communicatively coupled to the transmitter. The receiver receives signals from the first channel and the second channel of the transmitter. An illumination device is communicatively coupled to the receiver, and the device illuminates in a first color responsive to the receiver receiving a signal on the first channel and illuminates in a second color responsive to the receiver receiving a signal on the second channel.
US08981921B2
A status indicator and reminder system for a temporary mobility kit for use in a vehicle having a tire pressure monitoring system. A tire sealant containing temporary mobility kit is fittable within the vehicle. A controller coupled to the temporary mobility kit and the tire pressure monitoring system will generate a service warning signal for the temporary mobility kit in response to information provided by the tire pressure monitoring system. The service warning signal will be provided at a message center in the vehicle to apprise the driver of the need to service the temporary mobility kit. The status indicator and reminder system may also utilize inputs from a power load monitor and a trailer brake controller system to generate and display a service warning signal at the message center.
US08981920B2
Provided are an apparatus and method for monitoring tire pressure, and in particular, a method of identifying a position of a TPM sensor attached to a tire using tooth data of ABS. The apparatus identifies the position of the TPM sensor using a point where tooth data of ABS has a variation different for each wheel, by estimating wheel tooth data from wheel position angle information measured by a rotation sensor of the TPM sensor, comparing the actual measured value with the estimated value, and recognizing that the TPM sensor is attached to a tire where the actual measured value is the same as or closest to the estimated value.
US08981917B2
An emergency report apparatus in a vehicle transmits a signal of an emergency report to a center apparatus via a communication network when determining that the vehicle collides. The apparatus has a plurality functions for the emergency report with an operating power supplied from a vehicle battery in the vehicle. A backup battery is included to supply an operating power when the electric power supplied from the vehicle battery declines. A measurement device is included to measure a battery capability of the backup battery. A restriction device is included to restrict a function for the emergency report when the battery capability measured is lower than a predetermined value.
US08981909B2
The invention describes a selection and arbitration method for reading a population of RFID transponders (tags). The transponders are selected or de-selected individually, or in one or more groups, using one or more command signals from a reader. The command signals from the reader include selection or de-selection criteria for selecting or de-selecting transponders by moving them between different states by setting or resetting a command flag, such as a flip-flop, in the transponders. The different transitional states include a Ready state, an Active state, a Standby state, a Singulated state and a Quiet state.
US08981903B2
A method and apparatus for marking the location of a buried object in which the location of the buried object is determined and a barhole driver or plunger bar having a detachable plug element and a marking material for marking the location of the buried object is driven into the ground proximate the location of the buried object. The detachable plug element detaches from the plunger bar as the plunger bar is removed from the ground, leaving a substantially continuous path of the marking material in the ground extending substantially continuously from proximate the detachable plug element to the ground surface.
US08981899B2
An electromechanical lock and its operation method is disclosed. The method includes: reading data from an external source; matching the data against a predetermined criterion; providing a fulcrum provided that the data matches the predetermined criterion; holding the lock by a locking pin, when engaged, in a locked state, and, when disengaged, in a mechanically openable state; and if the fulcrum is provided, levering mechanical power with the fulcrum to the locking pin to mechanically disengage the locking pin.
US08981897B2
The meat cutting cabinet provides an apparatus for automatically cutting and slicing meat using laser beams. The cabinet includes a motor disposed in the interior top thereof. The motor is connected to a winch or spool that pays out or reels in a steel cable. A steel hanger adapted for holding meat is suspended from the steel cable. Interior sidewalls of the cabinet have elongate standards extending from the upper portion to a lower portion proximate the cutting area of the cabinet. The steel hanger is slidably attached to the elongate members via channels formed in the standards. A laser carrier is disposed along an interior periphery of the cabinet and holds laser heads that can move via translation inside the carrier. This laser arrangement forms the cutting area through which the suspended meat can travel under control of a control panel connected to the spool motor.
US08981894B2
The invention relates to an improved antenna device, characterized by the following additional features:—that each functional unit (21) can communicate bidirectionally with the remote control unit (RC) by means of the communication bus (23),—the configuration, the controller, and/or the querying of one or more functional units (21) of the at least one emitter device takes place over the entire communications bus (23),—the communication to the remote control unit (RC) is handled by each addressed functional unit (21), and—an internal communications bus (25) is provided for exchanging information and/or action states between the functional units (21) connected in the at least one emitter device.
US08981893B2
Provided is a resistive element which has excellent inrush current resistance, and can suppress heat generation in a steady state. The resistive element has an element main body of a semiconductor ceramic in which the main constituent has a structure of R11-xR2xBaMn2O6 in which 0.05≦x≦1.0 when R1 is Nd and R2 is at least one of Sm, Eu and Gd; 0.05≦x≦0.8 when R1 is Nd and R2 is at least one of Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, and Y; 0≦x≦0.4 when R1 is at least one of Sm, Eu, and Gd and R2 is at least one of Tb, Dy, Ho, and Y; and 0≦x≦1.0 when R1 is at least one of Sm, Eu, and Gd and R2 is at least one of Sm, Eu, and Gd, but the Sm, Eu, and/or Gd in R1 is different from that in R2.
US08981889B2
Disclosed herein is a common mode filter with an ESD protection pattern built therein. The common mode filter includes a base substrate that is made of an insulating material, a first insulating layer that is formed on the base substrate, a coil-shaped internal electrode that is formed on the first insulating layer, a second insulating layer that is formed on the internal electrode, a first external electrode terminal that is formed on the second insulating layer, a first ferrite resin layer that is formed on the second insulating layer and receives the first external electrode terminal, an ESD protection pattern that is formed on the first external electrode terminal, a second external electrode terminal that is formed on the ESD protection pattern, and a second ferrite resin layer that is formed on the first ferrite resin layer and receives the second external electrode terminal.
US08981887B1
A magnetic tool-holder, comprising a flexible outer web defining an enclosed area and enclosing an array of solid, rigid magnets. The magnets are regularly interspersed in direction of polarization, so that the nearest neighbors of a magnet having a north pole facing in a first direction all have a north pole facing in a second direction, opposite to the first direction.
US08981885B2
The invention relates to an electromagnetic actuator comprising a wire coil, an armature and a catch, wherein the armature can be moved in an actuation direction, and wherein the catch secures the armature within the electromagnetic actuator. In order to secure an armature of the electromagnetic actuator, extra parts are mounted to the electromagnetic actuator or the armature is attached via a spring. This results in bigger sizes or insufficient stopping characteristics. The present invention overcomes these disadvantages by locating a catch inside the electromagnetic actuator.
US08981883B2
A contact mechanism is capable of, without enlarging the entire configuration thereof, preventing the generation of an electromagnetic repulsion that opens a movable contact upon application of a current, and also provides an electromagnetic contactor that uses this contact mechanism. A contact mechanism has a fixed contact and a movable contact that are inserted in a current-carrying path. In the contact mechanism, the fixed contact or the movable contact is formed into an L-shape or a U-shape so as to generate a Lorentz force that acts against an electromagnetic repulsion in an opening direction, which is generated between the fixed contact and the movable contact upon application of a current.
US08981869B2
A multilayer circuit board assembly includes one or more radio frequency (RF) interconnects between different circuit layers on different circuit boards which make up the circuit board assembly. The RF interconnects can include one or more RF matching pads which provide a mechanism for matching impedance characteristics of RF stubs to provide the RF interconnects having desired insertion loss and impedance characteristics over a desired RF operating frequency band. The RF matching pads allow the manufacture of circuit boards having RF interconnects without the need to perform any back drill and back fill operation to remove stub portions of the RF interconnects in the multilayer circuit board assembly.
US08981861B2
An injection locked pulsed oscillator includes a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) responsive to an injection signal. The injection locked pulsed oscillator includes at least one enable circuit responsive to a first enable signal to enable output pulses from the VCO. The injection locked pulsed oscillator also includes timing circuit responsive to a pulse repetition frequency signal and is configured to provide the injection signal to phase lock the VCO and provide the first enable signal delayed from the injection signal to shape a width of the output pulses from the VCO.
US08981858B1
An apparatus includes a selection device to select a spreading profile from a plurality of spreading profiles, and an oscillation device to generate clock signals having different frequencies over time based on the selected spreading profile. A method includes selecting a spreading profile from a plurality of spreading profiles, and generating clock signals having different frequencies over time based on the selected spreading profile.
US08981853B2
A differential or pseudo-differential TIA includes an auxiliary differential amplifier input transistor pair cross-coupled to the output nodes to cancel undesired output signal components. The advantages of a classical differential topology are retained while performance at a high data rate is significantly improved.
US08981851B2
A power amplifier amplifies a radio signal. Negative feedback is applied to a linear amplifier and the linear amplifier receives an envelope signal. A pulse current modulator is connected to a power supply terminal of a power amplifier and an output terminal of the linear amplifier via an inductor, and outputs a pulse current according to a control signal generated from the envelope signal. A diode has an anode connected to an output terminal of a direct current source and a cathode connected to an output terminal of the pulse current modulator. A switching element is disposed between the output terminal of the direct current source and a ground potential, and is controlled by the control signal.
US08981850B2
A method and system for designing and implementing a reconfigurable Doherty amplifier system are disclosed. In one embodiment, a design method includes determining, using a processor, a first set of ABCD transmission parameters of a first output compensation network in a main path of a Doherty amplifier for the case where an auxiliary amplifier of the Doherty amplifier is off. The method further includes determining, using a processor, a second set of ABCD transmission parameters of a second output compensation network in an auxiliary path of the Doherty amplifier based on the first set of ABCD transmission parameters.
US08981848B2
Programmable delay circuitry, which includes an input buffer circuit and variable delay circuitry, is disclosed. The variable delay circuitry includes an input stage, a correction start voltage circuit, and a variable delay capacitor. The input buffer circuit is coupled to the input stage, the correction start voltage circuit is coupled to the input stage, and the variable delay capacitor is coupled to the input stage. The programmable delay circuitry is configured to provide a fixed time delay and a variable time delay.
US08981844B2
An amplifier system may include a power stage having inputs for three different supply voltages and an output for coupling to a load, a controller to generate control signals to the power stage that cause the power stage to vary an output voltage applied to the load among more than three distinct voltage levels, a monitor to provide a first control signal to the controller based on an input voltage signal, and a feedback system to provide a second control signal to the controller based on comparison of the output voltage and the input signal.
US08981842B1
Among other things, an integrated circuit and method for routing electrical pathways of an integrated circuit is provided. The integrated circuit comprises a buffer chain coupling a first cell of the integrated circuit to a second cell of the integrated circuit. An electrical pathway coupling a first inverter of the buffer chain with a second inverter of the buffer chain extends through a first set of metal layers and is routed to form a pulse-like shape having an apex at a top layer of the first set.
US08981837B1
A system for providing a load current at a specific output voltage to a circuit block of an integrated circuit (IC) includes a supply node at a supply voltage, a charge pump, and a cross-coupling circuit. The charge pump includes a first a first capacitor to charge while a first clock signal is high and a second capacitor to charge while a second clock signal is high. Each of the capacitors has a top plate node, a bottom plate node, a ground node, and an intermediate node between the bottom plate node and the ground node. The cross-coupling circuit couples the intermediate node of the first capacitor to the supply node while the second clock signal is high and couples the intermediate node of the second capacitor to the supply node while the first clock signal is high.
US08981830B2
An asynchronous level shifter electronic circuit including: a transmitter, which can be coupled to a first voltage and generates a communication signal; a receiver, which can be coupled to a second voltage; and a capacitive coupling stage, which receives the communication signal and supplies a corresponding filtered signal to the receiver. The receiver includes: a threshold device, which has an input terminal and an output terminal and switches an electrical quantity on the output terminal between a first value and a second value, as a function of corresponding transitions through a threshold of a first intermediate signal present on the input terminal, to generate a second intermediate signal; and a biasing circuit, which generates the first intermediate signal to have a d.c. component, which is a function of the second intermediate signal, and superposed on which is a variable component, which is a function of the filtered signal.
US08981829B1
Systems and methods are provided to regulate a supply voltage of a load circuit. For example, a system includes a voltage regulator circuit that includes a passgate device. The system includes a passgate strength calibration control module which is configured to (i) obtain information which specifies operating conditions of the voltage regulator circuit, (ii) access entries of one or more look-up tables using the obtained information, (iii) use information within the accessed entries to determine a maximum load current that could be demanded by the load circuit under the operating conditions specified by the obtained information, and to predict a passgate device width which is sufficient to supply the determined maximum load current, and (iv) set an active width of the passgate device according to the predicted passgate device width.
US08981826B2
A semiconductor device includes: a voltage-control-type clock generation circuit having a plurality of stages of first delay elements and whose oscillation frequency is controlled according to a control voltage applied to the first delay elements; a delay circuit having a plurality of stages of second delay elements connected serially; and a selection circuit selecting one from pulse signals output by the plurality of stages of respective second delay elements. The first delay elements and the second delay elements have a same structure formed on a same semiconductor substrate, and a delay amount of the second delay elements is adjusted according to the control voltage.
US08981817B2
A circuit having a centralized PT compensation circuit to provide compensation signals to localized I/O blocks on the chip. Process variations and temperature variations tend to be approximately uniform across an integrated circuit chip. Thus, a single, centralized PT compensation circuit may be used instead of one PT compensation circuit per I/O section as with solutions of the past. Further, the PT compensation circuit may generate a digital code indicative of the effects of process and temperature. Further yet, each section of I/O block may have a local voltage compensation circuit to compensate the voltage variation of the I/O block. The voltage compensation circuit utilizes an independent reference voltage. The reference voltage is generated by the PT compensation circuit, which is placed centrally in the IC chip and hence any need to repeat the reference generation for each I/O block is eliminated.
US08981812B2
A self-ready flash null Convention Logic (NCL) gate includes a one-shot circuit to create the flash timing to reset the gate to a null state. The one-shot circuit may be any type of circuit to generate a pulse in response to a change of state of an input line. In one embodiment, the one-shot circuit may start the pulse in response to a change of a flash input line and end the pulse in response to the NCL output being reset to a null state.
US08981811B2
An integrated circuit memory device stores a plurality of digital values that specify respective termination impedances. The memory device switchably couples respective sets of load elements to a data input/output (I/O) to apply the termination impedances specified by the digital values, including, applying a first termination impedance to the data I/O during an idle state of the memory device, applying a first one of two non-equal termination impedances to the data I/O while the memory device receives write data in a memory write operation and applying a second one of the two non-equal termination impedances to the data I/O while another memory device receives write data in a memory write operation. When outputting read data via the data I/O in a memory read operation, the memory device switchably couples to the data I/O at least a portion of the load elements included in the sets of load elements.
US08981809B2
A compliant printed circuit semiconductor tester interface that provides a temporary interconnect between terminals on integrated circuit (IC) devices being tested. The compliant printed circuit semiconductor tester interface includes at least one dielectric layer printed with recesses corresponding to a target circuit geometry. A conductive material is deposited in at least a portion of the recesses comprising a circuit geometry and a plurality of first contact pads accessible along a first surface of the compliant printed circuit. At least one dielectric covering layer is preferably applied over the circuit geometry. A plurality of openings in the dielectric covering layer are provided to permit electrical coupling of terminals on the IC device and the first contact pads. Testing electronics that to test electrical functions of the IC device are electrically coupled to the circuit geometry.
US08981807B2
A system for positioning a load including a support column, a drive rail unit coupled to the support column, the drive rail unit moveable relative to the support column, a vertical carriage moveable along the support column, wherein the vertical carriage supports the load, an engagement member which engages the drive rail and which moves along the drive rail, and a motor which applies force to the engagement member, causing the engagement member to move along the drive rail. The motor is coupled to the vertical carriage so that, as the motor applies force to the engagement member, the vertical carriage moves relative to the drive rail unit, the vertical carriage is also moveable with the drive rail unit so that the vertical carriage and the drive rail unit move relative to the support column. A method of positioning a load is also provided.
US08981803B2
A method for cleaning a contact pad of a microstructure or device to be tested when it is in electric contact with a measure apparatus, being obtained by electrically contacting a flexible probe with said contact pad. The method includes mechanically engaging a free end of the flexible probe in a manner that sticks the free end in the pad; and laterally flexing, by a tip charge, the flexible probe in a manner that keeps the free end stuck in the pad, so as to locally dig into a covering layer of the pad and realize a localized crushing thereof.
US08981802B2
A device tester for an IC device under test (DUT), the DUT having a substrate and an attached die. The device tester includes a thermal control unit and a test socket assembly which conforms to the DUT's profile. The thermal control unit includes a pedestal assembly, a heater having a fuse coupled to a heating element, a substrate pusher, and a force distributor for distributing force between the pedestal assembly and the substrate pusher. The test socket assembly includes a socket insert that supports and also conforms to the DUT's profile.
US08981801B2
A positioning device includes a positioning mechanism, a contacting mechanism located in the positioning mechanism, and a connecting mechanism located adjacent to an end of the positioning mechanism. The positioning mechanism includes a receiving member, a positioning member received in the receiving member, and a cover rotatable connected to the receiving member. The receiving member defines two sliding grooves. The cover defines two driving grooves corresponding to the two sliding grooves, each of the two driving grooves forms a driving surface, and the sliding block includes a slanted surface corresponding to the driving surface. When the cover is rotated to cover the receiving member, the driving surface resists with the slanted surface to drive the sliding block to move towards the positioning groove until the first contacting member contacts one testing point of the camera module.
US08981794B2
A Dicke-switched radiometer including a signal channel comprising of an antenna for receiving an input signal and a first stage amplification circuit for amplifying an output of the antenna and generating an amplified input signal; a reference channel comprising of a resistive load, a second stage amplification circuit and a matching filter for matching a frequency and an impedance of the amplified input signal to a frequency and an impedance of the amplified reference signal; a Dicke switch coupled to first stage amplification circuit and the matching filter for inputting the amplified input signal and an output of the matching filter to generate a difference signal; a third stage amplification circuit coupled to an output of the Dicke switch for amplifying the difference signal; and a detector coupled to an output of the third stage amplification circuit to obtain the amplified difference signal and generate a detected difference signal.
US08981785B2
A method and an apparatus for detecting an earth fault on a three-phase electric line are provided. The apparatus includes means for determining a neutral admittance on the basis of a residual current and a residual voltage, means for comparing the determined neutral admittance to a predetermined operation characteristic to detect an earth fault on the three-phase electric line, and means for determining one or more harmonic components of the residual current and one or more harmonic components of the residual voltage. The harmonic components have frequencies n*fn such that n≧2 and fn is a fundamental frequency. The means for determining a neutral admittance are configured to use at least one of the determined one or more harmonic components of the residual current and at least one of the determined one or more harmonic components of the residual voltage for determining the neutral admittance.
US08981782B2
A method of monitoring a maximum available capacity of a battery includes providing a number of diverse end-of-discharge-voltage values. A counter is assigned to each of the end-of-discharge-voltage values. The battery is discharged. One of the end-of-discharge-voltage values at which the battery is discharged is determined. A counter reading of the counter assigned to the determined end-of-discharge-voltage value is incremented. The previous steps are repeated. The counter readings are read-off so as to obtain a number of read-off counter readings. Based on the read-off counter readings, a first factor representing a first measure of a decline in the maximum available battery capacity is determined.
US08981779B2
Active resistive shim coil assemblies may be used in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems to reduce in-homogeneity of the magnetic field in the imaging volume. Disclosed embodiments may be used with continuous systems, gapped cylindrical systems, or vertically gapped systems. Disclosed embodiments may also be used with an open MRI system and can be used with an instrument placed in the gap of the MRI system. An exemplary embodiment of the active resistive shim coil assembly of the present disclosure includes active resistive shim coils each operable to be energized by separate currents through a plurality of power channels. In some embodiments, the disclosed active resistive shim coil assemblies allow for various degrees of freedom to shim out field in-homogeneity.
US08981773B2
A magnetic-field sensor adapted to detect an external magnetic field. The magnetic-field sensor including a first chip, having a first magnetoresistive structure for detection of the external magnetic field, the first magnetoresistive detection structure including an electrical-contact pad and magnetoresistive element, and a second chip housing an integrated electronic circuit and a magnetic-field generator. The first and second chips being mutually arranged in such a way that the integrated electronic circuit can be electrically coupled to the electrical-contact pad of the magnetoresistive structure and in such a way that the magnetic-field generator can be magnetically coupled to the magnetoresistive structure.
US08981772B2
In a method of performing a cluster assay, a suspension (14) of superparamagnetic particles in a fluid to be analyzed is provided, wherein the superparamagnetic particles are coated with a bioactive agent. The particles are then allowed to form clusters due to an analyte present within the fluid. Subsequently, clusters of superparamagnetic particles are selectively actuated by applying a rotating magnetic field, wherein the amplitude of the magnetic field varies over time. Finally, the selectively actuated clusters are detected. An apparatus for performing a cluster assay comprises means for accommodating a sample (12) and means for applying a rotating magnetic field (11), the magnetic field being adapted for selectively actuating clusters of superparamagnetic particles. The apparatus further comprises means for detecting the selectively actuated clusters.
US08981763B2
A circuit includes a power circuit and a current sensing circuit. The power circuit has a main current loop. The current sensing circuit is spaced apart from and electrically decoupled from the power circuit. The current sensing circuit is operable to generate a voltage proportional to an electromagnetic field generated responsive to a current change in the main current loop of the power circuit and generate a current information signal based on the voltage. The current information signal describes the current in the main current loop.
US08981757B2
A phase detector (100, 400, 800) comprising a balun (150) and input ports (116) at each of the balun's balanced ports. The phase detector (100, 400, 800) has four devices (105, 115, 110, 155) for measuring a signal's amplitude: —a first device (105) at a first input port (116), —a second device (115) at a second input port (117), —a third device (110) between the input ports (116, 117), connected to the ports via a passive component (120, 125; 120′, 125; 120″, 125″), —a fourth device (155) at the unbalanced port of the balun (150), The difference between the amplitude values of the third (110) and fourth (155) devices indicate the phase difference and the difference between the amplitude values measured by the first (110) and second (115) devices indicates the phase difference in the region of 0-2π.
US08981747B2
The regulator has a differential circuit that generates a comparison signal corresponding to the difference between an input voltage and a voltage related to the output voltage, a first transistor that adjusts the output voltage in accordance with the comparison signal, a first current mirror circuit connected to a pair of differential output lines of the differential circuit, a second transistor that amplifies the high frequency signal superposed on the output voltage and sends the amplified signal to one of the differential output lines, a second current source that feeds current for amplifying the high frequency signal to the second transistor, a first capacitor, which accumulates charge therein as a result of the high frequency signal and controls the current flowing to one the pair of differential output lines via the second transistor in accordance with the charge quantity, and a second capacitor connected to the output voltage line.
US08981743B2
A switching voltage regulator including a comparison module configured to receive a reference voltage and a feedback voltage and to generate a comparison signal corresponding to a difference between the reference voltage and the feedback voltage, an offset module configured to generate an offset signal based on a number of active phases of the voltage regulator, an adder configured to generate a control signal based on the comparison signal and the offset signal, a plurality of pulse-width-modulated (PWM) power stages, and a control module configured to control the plurality of PWM power stages based at least in part on the control signal generated by the adder.
US08981739B2
Embodiments of a linear voltage regulator are described. In one embodiment, the linear voltage regulator includes a PMOS low drop-out (LDO) regulator configured to convert an input voltage to a regulated voltage, a charge pump connected to the PMOS LDO regulator and configured to amplify the regulated voltage into an amplified voltage, and an NMOS LDO regulator connected to the charge pump and configured to convert the amplified voltage into an output voltage. Other embodiments are also described.
US08981737B2
A buck/boost voltage regulator generates a regulated output voltage responsive to an input voltage and a plurality of control signals. The buck/boost voltage regulator includes a plurality of switching transistors responsive to the plurality of control signals. Control circuitry monitors the regulated output voltage and generates the plurality of control signals responsive thereto. The control circuitry controls the operation of the plurality of switching transistors to enable a charging phase in a first mode of operation, a pass through phase in a second mode of operation and a discharge phase in a third mode of operation within the buck/boost voltage regulator to eliminate occurrence of a four switch switching condition.
US08981726B2
A secondary battery system includes a secondary battery, an abnormality detecting unit OC which detects whether the secondary battery has become abnormal, and a signal generating circuit which outputs a signal to an externally connected device based on detection information of the abnormality detecting unit OC. The signal generating circuit includes a circuit element that can be held at least in a first state and in a second state. The signal generating circuit is configured to change an output state of a signal to the externally connected device based on whether the circuit element is in the first state or in the second state. The signal generating circuit is configured to switch the circuit element from the first state to the second state when the abnormality detecting unit OC has detected the abnormal state, and not to return the circuit element to the first state.
US08981719B2
A battery pack charger including a case (1) having an attachment section (2) where a battery pack (30) can be attached in a detachable manner, and a plurality of connecting terminals (3) disposed in an exposed manner in the attachment section to connect with external terminals (33) on the battery pack. The connecting terminals are disposed in approximately vertical orientation in a plurality of approximately parallel rows. The case has terminal through-holes (52) opened through the case between adjacent connecting terminals. Even if there is ingress of foreign material, such as dust and dirt, between the connecting terminals, that material can fall through the holes in the case. Foreign material collection between the connecting terminals can be avoided, and the battery pack charger has the positive feature that unintended conduction, such as leakage current and short-circuit, can be avoided.
US08981703B2
A system for operating an electric machine includes: a rotor position sensor to provide a rotor position indication as a function of a rotor position angular range which indicates the position of a rotor of the electric machine; a control unit designed to associate in each case a commutation angular range, which indicates a certain control state for the stator coils, with one or more of the rotor position indications, so that a change in the commutation angular range is triggered by a change in the rotor position indication, and to change an association scheme of the associations between the rotor position indications and the respective commutation ranges as a function of a predefined rotational direction indication which indicates the desired rotational direction.
US08981702B2
Input-output linearization (IOL) and extended state observer (ESO) techniques are applied to a Field Oriented Control (FOC) for Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motors (PMSM). In one such approach, at least one gain value is determined based at least in part on a given bandwidth value. Operating parameters for the motor are determined based on the at least one gain value and information from a current sensor regarding motor current. Control signals used to the control the motor are determined based on the determined operating parameters. Accordingly, automated control can be effected through setting a bandwidth value through the implementation of IOL and ESO techniques.
US08981700B2
Provided is a vehicle seat apparatus including drive mechanism for moving configuring elements of a vehicle seat using a motor drive, in order to adjust a posture; control mechanism for controlling the operation of the drive mechanism; a rotation sensor which outputs pulse signals synchronized with a motor rotation; position detection mechanism for detecting a movement position of the configuring elements by counting pulse edges of the pulse signals according to the motor rotation direction; and reverse rotation detection mechanism for estimating that a reverse rotation has occurred in the motor rotation, in a situation where the pulse edges are continuously detected after the motor drive is stopped, if the rotation direction is unchanged, in a case where a motor rotation speed indicated by the pulse edges after the stop becomes faster than the motor rotation speed before the motor drive is stopped.
US08981688B2
A control device for a three-phase alternate current motor includes: an inverter for driving the motor; current sensors for sensing current in the motor; and a control means having a feedback control operation part for operating a voltage command of each phase and switching the inverter based on the voltage command. When an absolute value of a sum of the current sensed values of three phases is larger than a threshold, the control means: executes a provisional current sensor system abnormality determination; generates a variation visualizing state, in which a response of a feedback control with respect to a variation in the current sensed value caused by the abnormality is delayed or stopped; and performs a phase identification processing for identifying the current sensor on a phase, in which an absolute value of a current deviation is larger than a threshold.
US08981686B2
An electric motor controller is configured to be coupled to an electric motor. The controller includes an inverter and a control unit coupled to the inverter. The inverter is configured to receive an input voltage and to provide a conditioned output voltage to the electric motor. The control unit is configured to control the electric motor to produce positive torque when direct current (DC) link voltage has a 100% voltage ripple. Methods for controlling an electric motor using the electric motor controller are also provided.
US08981679B2
A first-fail-safe electromotive furniture drive includes at least one drive unit having at least one motor; at least one actuating device having at least two actuating units, each of which includes a motor contact element and a safety contact element; at least one supply unit; and at least one safety device. The furniture drive is equipped with a reporting device for displaying the functioning and a failure of the at least two actuating units and the safety device.
US08981677B2
A lighting device comprises groups of solid state light emitters, a sensor and circuitry. If the emitters are illuminated, the sensor is exposed to combined light from the groups, and senses only a portion of the combined light. The circuitry adjusts current applied to at least one of the emitters based on an intensity of the light sensed. Also, a device comprising emitters, a circuit board and a sensor, at least one of the emitters being positioned on the first circuit board and the sensor being spaced from the circuit board. Also, a lighting device comprising emitters, a sensor, and circuitry which adjusts current applied an emitters based on detection by the first sensor, the circuitry comprising a differential amplifier circuit. Also, a lighting device, comprising light emitters and circuitry which adjusts current applied to only some of the emitters based on ambient temperature. Also, methods of lighting.
US08981672B2
This invention relates to a method of adjusting the fixture color emitted by a first and a second lighting fixture to a target color, each lighting fixture comprising at least a first and a second light source emitting light having different source colors, and said fixture color is obtained as a combination of said source colors, and said fixture color can be varied by varying the intensity of each light source; where the adjusting of said fixture color to a target color is performed by varying the intensity of said light sources based on both a first color gamut and a second color gamut respectively described by said source colors from said first lighting fixture and said second lighting fixture. The invention further relates to a light adapter and light system for adjusting the fixture color emitted by a first and a second lighting fixture to a target color and to a computer-readable medium having stored therein instructions for causing a processing unit to execute said method.
US08981665B1
A light source can include an LED configured to emit light having a spectrum of first wavelengths when provided with electrical current, a pumped material configured to absorb at least some of the light emitted by the LED and to emit light having a spectrum of second wavelengths, a power supply configured to provide a series of electrical current pulses to the LED, and a current controller configured to control a time-averaged chromaticity coordinate of a combination of light emitted from the LED and the pumped material by controlling the series of current pulses provided to the LED.
US08981662B1
A backlight driving circuit is disclosed. The backlight driving circuit includes a boost circuit, a constant-current driving chip, a detecting module and a LED string coupled with the boost circuit. The boost circuit boosts an input voltage and then provides the boosted voltage to the LED string. The detecting module receives and calculates external PWM optical signals to obtain a duty-cycle ratio of the PWM optical signals, and compares the duty-cycle ratio of the external PWM optical signals with a predetermined threshold to determine if control signals have to be generated for the constant-current driving chip such that the constant-current driving chip controls the current passing through the LED string. The backlight driving circuit can operate normally even when the duty-cycle ratio of the PWM optical signals is very small. In addition, a liquid crystal display includes the above backlight driving circuit is also disclosed.
US08981656B2
A system and method of controlling a lighting system is provided. Lamp insertion detectors are coupled to a ballast and detect when relamping occurs. The outputs of the lamp insertion detectors are coupled together to provide a single input of a timing circuit. The timing circuit generates an output having a predetermined duration. This timing circuit output is received by a ballast driver circuit, which causes the ballast to provide a high voltage to a lamp socket for a predetermined duration of the timing circuit output to ignite the new lamp.
US08981644B2
A Lucent Waveguide Electromagnetic wave Plasma Light Source has a fabrication of fused quartz sheet and drawn tube. An inner closed void enclosure is formed of 8 mm outside diameter, 4 mm inside diameter drawn tube. Electromagnetic wave excitable plasma material is sealed inside the enclosure. The end plate is circular and has the enclosure sealed in a central bore in it, the bore not being numbered as such. A similar plate is positioned to leave a small gap between the inner end of the enclosure and itself. The two tubes are concentric with the two plates extending at right angles to their central axis. The outer tube extends back from the back surface of the inner plate as a skirt.
US08981631B2
An illumination apparatus includes a substrate, an illumination element and a lens structure. The illumination element is disposed on the substrate. The lens structure is disposed above the illumination element, and includes a lens body and a plurality of lens stands. The lens body is positioned above the illumination element. The lens stands are disposed on the bottom of the lens body. The substrate has a plurality of tunnels are around the illumination element. The lens stands respectively insert into the tunnels, so that the lens body is fastened on the substrate.
US08981617B2
Provided is an actuator apparatus including: an actuator that is provided with a driving voltage at one end and a reference potential at the other end to enable driving; a first setting section that is connected to the one end of the actuator and sets an operating speed of the actuator; a second setting section that is provided between the one end of the actuator and the reference potential, and sets the driving voltage of the actuator.
US08981612B2
A rotor is provided with a first rotation member having a plurality of first claw poles in a circumferential direction and a second rotation member having a plurality of second claw poles in a circumferential direction. By of fitting each second claw pole in a cutout portion between first claw poles and by fitting each first claw pole in a cutout portion between second claw poles, the first rotation member and the second rotation member are assembled to each other. At least either one of the first rotation member and the second rotation member is formed of a magnet. Based on a magnetic field generated by the magnet, the first claw poles and the second claw poles have alternating north poles and south poles in the circumferential direction.
US08981610B2
The invention concerns a rotor (1) for an electric drive motor of a refrigerant compressor with a cylinder ring (2), several permanent magnets (14) resting on the radial inside of the cylinder ring (2), each permanent magnet (14) forming a ring section, and fixing elements (15) between the permanent magnets (14), said fixing elements (15) engaging a fixing geometry (4, 16) of the cylinder ring (2). It is endeavoured to simplify the manufacturing of such a rotor. For this purpose, the cylinder ring (2) is located in a carrier (5), which comprises a bottom (6) and a circumferential wall (7), the permanent magnets (14, 14a, 14b) resting on the bottom (6), and each fixing element (15, 15a, 15b) comprising at least one projection (17, 18), which covers a side (24) of the permanent magnet (14, 14a, 14b) facing away from the bottom (6).
US08981608B2
One embodiment of the new method of propulsion is an electron magnetic drive with an array of rotor electromagnets (28A-28L) operating in the non inertial frame of reference produced by the rotation (33) of the rotor (26); linked by a magnetic field from the electromagnets (28A-28L) to the inertial frame of reference of the stationary stator electromagnet (40); generate a propulsive reaction force (45) in accordance with Newton's third law of motion. The electromagnets (28A-28L) mounted on the rotor (26), when energized for a time interval generate a magnetic field that engages the magnetic field of the energized stator electromagnet (40). The magnetic field engagement produces magnetic forces of attraction and repulsion with the like and unlike magnetic polarities of the energized stationary electromagnet (40) and the corresponding energized electromagnet (28A-28L) in the rotor (26).
US08981593B1
A control unit connected to power supplies and loads transitions between states to connect supplies and loads in various configurations. In a first state, for example, the first supply and first load are connected in series, and the second supply and second load are connected in series. In a second state, the first supply and second load are connected in series, and the second supply and first load are connected in series. The control unit transitions between states via a transition state in which all supplies and loads are connected in parallel, avoiding load power disruptions. First and second power supplies can be rechargeable battery packs, and first and second loads can be any devices drawing or generating power. If one load is a motor and the other a generator, one battery can power the motor and the other battery can be charged using the generator.
US08981592B2
Disclosed is a transformer control device and method based on a three-dimensional zone diagram policy. The method includes: setting transformers, including a transformer A and a transformer B; collecting three-phase voltage data and three-phase current data in a power system; rectifying the collected three-phase voltage data and the three-phase current data; transferring the data to the latches in a time-transfer method; transferring the data to an A/D converter of a processor to convert analog signals to digital signals; constructing a three-dimensional zone diagram in the processor; determining transformer operating conditions according to positions of points formed by voltage, reactive power factor and substation load; and adjusting the transformers. This invention adopts a simple, easy and clear three-parameter control policy including voltage, power factors and substation loads, so as to simplify analysis of transformer operating conditions, realize optimal substation operation, reduce transformer loss, and increase economic benefits.
US08981590B2
In order to operate a hybrid vehicle, a mode is provided in which adjustment to the remaining electrical range is performed, specifically said remaining range is kept substantially constant. For example, the driver of the vehicle can continuously maintain the currently determined remaining electrical range by activating an activation element, in order to be able to retrieve said remaining electrical range later for purely electric driving, for example in a low emission zone. Adjustment to the remaining electrical range is more appropriate than the previously known adjustment to the charge state of the battery, because the vehicle driver can better plan his trip.
US08981588B2
An auxiliary bicycle power supply system is provided that basically includes a bicycle power generating portion and an auxiliary power supply portion. The auxiliary power supply portion operates by power from the bicycle power generating portion. The auxiliary power supply portion is configured to supply power generated by the bicycle power generating portion to an electrical bicycle component based on a power supply situation from a main bicycle power supply.
US08981583B2
A method for stabilizing the network frequency of an electrical power network is provided. The network includes at least a two-shaft gas turbine which includes power turbine and a gas generator, wherein the power turbine is connected to a first generator by means of a shaft in a torque transferring manner. Also, an assembly for carrying out the method is provided. The first shaft of the power turbine and the first generator turn permanently synchronized with the power network and the first generator drives the rotation as a motor and a second shaft of the gas generator permanently turns at an ignition speed, wherein the gas generator is ignited upon a power demand and the power turbine is driven by the created hot gas of the gas generator, such that the first generator creates power.
US08981582B2
A submerged power generator comprises a hull that defines an air space. A weighted container is allowed to fall within the air space during a power generating stroke. The container interacts with an apparatus so as to drive a generator during the power stroke. After the power stroke the container is ejected from the hull into the surrounding body of water. The container is made buoyant and thus floats upwardly during a buoyant stroke. The buoyant container is retrieved as it approaches the top of the hull and reintroduced into the hull for another power generating cycle.
US08981577B2
A method of manufacture of an integrated circuit packaging system includes: providing an interposer having an interposer first side and an interposer second side opposing the interposer first side; mounting an integrated circuit to the interposer first side, the integrated circuit having a non-active side and an active side with the non-active side facing the interposer; connecting first interconnects between the active side and the interposer first side, the first interconnects having a first density on the interposer first side; mounting the interposer over a package carrier with the interposer first side facing the package carrier; connecting second interconnects between the package carrier and the interposer second side, the second interconnects having a second density on the interposer second side, the second density that is approximately the same as the first density; and forming an encapsulation over the package carrier covering the interposer and the second interconnects.
US08981565B2
In one aspect, a method of fabricating a metal silicide includes the following steps. A semiconductor material selected from the group consisting of silicon and silicon germanium is provided. A metal(s) is deposited on the semiconductor material. A first anneal is performed at a temperature and for a duration sufficient to react the metal(s) with the semiconductor material to form an amorphous layer including an alloy formed from the metal(s) and the semiconductor material, wherein the temperature at which the first anneal is performed is below a temperature at which a crystalline phase of the alloy is formed. An etch is used to selectively remove unreacted portions of the metal(s). A second anneal is performed at a temperature and for a duration sufficient to crystallize the alloy thus forming the metal silicide. A device contact and a method of fabricating a FET device are also provided.
US08981564B2
Structures and methods of forming the same are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a structure can comprise a region having first and second oppositely facing surfaces. A barrier region can overlie the region. An alloy region can overlie the barrier region. The alloy region can include a first metal and one or more elements selected from the group consisting of silicon (Si), germanium (Ge), indium (Id), boron (B), arsenic (As), antimony (Sb), tellurium (Te), or cadmium (Cd).
US08981561B1
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor device in which CNTs are used for a contact via comprise a substrate including a contact via groove, a catalyst layer for CNT growth which is formed at the bottom of the groove, and a CNT via formed by filling the CNTs into the groove in which the catalyst layer is formed. Each of the CNTs is formed by stacking a plurality of graphene layers in a state in which they are inclined depthwise with respect to the groove, and formed such that ends of the graphene layers are exposed on a sidewall of the CNT. Further, the CNT is doped with at least one element from the sidewall of the CNT.
US08981555B2
An integrated circuit package is presented. In an embodiment, the integrated circuit package has a package substrate, an integrated circuit die attached to the package substrate, and a package level heat dissipation device, such as an integrated heat spreader, attached to the package substrate encapsulating the integrated circuit die. The package level heat dissipation device has a top side with a ridge formed on top of a perimeter of the top side, and a bottom side that couples to the integrated circuit die.
US08981554B2
A lower package includes a semiconductor chip. A first upper package and a second upper package are disposed on the lower package. A heat spreader is disposed on the lower package. The heat spreader includes an upper plate and an extension part connected to the upper plate. At least a part of each of the first and second upper packages vertically overlaps the semiconductor chip. The upper plate may be arranged on the first upper package and the second upper package. The extension part may be arranged between the first upper package and the second upper package. The extension part has a vertical height that is greater than its horizontal width.
US08981549B2
The preferred embodiment of the present invention can prevent signal distortions such as stress, or the like, occurring at the time of power delivery due to the difference in the lengths of the metal wires for electrically connecting each of the plurality of semiconductor chips formed on the dual die package substrate.
US08981545B2
A semiconductor module includes an electrically conductive lower contact piece and an electrically conductive upper contact piece spaced apart from one another in a vertical direction. The module further includes a semiconductor chip having a first load connection and a second load connection. The semiconductor chip is electrically conductively connected by the second load connection to the lower contact piece, and electrically conductively connected to the upper contact piece by at least one bonding wire bonded to the first load connection. An explosion protection means is arranged between the first load connection and the upper contact piece and into which each of the bonding wires is embedded over at least 80% or over at least 90% of its length.
US08981540B2
A package structure is disclosed, which includes: a carrier having a recessed portion formed on a lower side thereof and filled with a dielectric material; a semiconductor element disposed on an upper side of the carrier and electrically connected to the carrier; and an encapsulant formed on the upper side of the carrier for encapsulating the semiconductor element. Therein, the dielectric material is exposed from the encapsulant. As such, when the carrier is disposed on a circuit board, the dielectric material is sandwiched between the lower side of the carrier and the circuit board to form a decoupling capacitor, thereby improving the power integrity.
US08981538B2
The reliability of a semiconductor device is improved. A semiconductor device has a first metal plate and a second metal plate electrically isolated from the first metal plate. Over the first metal plate, a first semiconductor chip including a transistor element formed thereover is mounted. Whereas, over the second metal plate, a second semiconductor chip including a diode element formed thereover is mounted. Further, the semiconductor device has a lead group including a plurality of leads electrically coupled with the first semiconductor chip or the second semiconductor chip. The first and second metal plates are arranged along the X direction in which the leads are arrayed. Herein, the area of the peripheral region of the first semiconductor chip in the first metal plate is set larger than the area of the peripheral region of the second semiconductor chip in the second metal plate.
US08981537B2
A semiconductor device has a base substrate having a plurality of metal traces and a plurality of base vias. An opening is formed through the base substrate. At least one die is attached to the first surface of the substrate and positioned over the opening. A cover substrate has a plurality of metal traces. A cavity in the cover substrate forms side wall sections around the cavity. The cover substrate is attached to the base substrate so the at least one die is positioned in the interior of the cavity. Ground planes in the base substrate are coupled to ground planes in the cover substrate to form an RF shield around the at least one die.
US08981533B2
An electronic device can include a substrate including a first region having a first thickness, and a second region having a second thickness different from the first thickness. The electronic device can include a via within the first region. The electronic device can include a conductive structure adjacent to the first region and connected to the via, wherein a combined thickness of the first thickness and a thickness of the conductive structure is thicker than the second thickness. In another embodiment, an interposer may have a similar structure, with laterally offset conductive structures that allow for lateral routing of electronic signals. A process of forming an electronic device can include forming a via and removing a portion of the substrate. The process can include forming a conductive structure connected to the via, wherein the conductive structure is adjacent to a region where the portion of the substrate has been removed.
US08981529B2
A variable capacitance device including: first and second transistors coupled in parallel between first and second nodes of the capacitive device, a control node of the first transistor being adapted to receive a control signal, and a control node of the second transistor being adapted to receive the inverse of the control signal, wherein the first and second transistors are formed in a same semiconductor well.
US08981522B2
A nonvolatile semiconductor storage device includes a substrate; an isolation film extending in a first direction and dividing the substrate into element regions; a cell string including memory cells in the element regions; a cell unit including the cell string and a select transistor on first directional ends of the cell string; diffusion layers formed in a portion of the element region first directionally beside the select gate electrode, the diffusion layers being adjacent to one another in a second direction intersecting with the first direction; and contacts extending through an interlayer insulating film and contacting the diffusion layers. An upper surface of the isolation film located between the diffusion layers is lower than an upper surface of the substrate. A laminate of silicon oxide film and a silicon nitride film are located above the upper surface of the isolation film and below the upper surface of the substrate.
US08981517B2
A solid-state image pickup element 1 is structured so as to include: a semiconductor layer 2 having a photodiode formed therein, photoelectric conversion being carried out in the photodiode; a first film 21 having negative fixed charges and formed on the semiconductor layer 2 in a region in which at least the photodiode is formed; and a second film 22 having the negative fixed charges, made of a material different from that of the first film 21 having the negative fixed charges, and formed on the first film 21 having the negative fixed charges.
US08981515B2
A solid-state imaging device includes a plurality of photoelectric conversion regions stacked at different depths within a semiconductor substrate of each pixel to photoelectrically convert light of different wavelength bands, and a discharge region formed between the photoelectric conversion regions adjacent to each other in a depth direction of the semiconductor substrate to discharge charges generated by photoelectric conversion in regions between the photoelectric conversion regions.
US08981504B2
A vertical Hall sensor includes first and second vertical Hall effect regions in a semiconductor substrate, with first and second pluralities of contacts arranged at one side of the first or second vertical Hall effect regions, respectively. The second vertical Hall effect region is connected in series with the first vertical Hall effect region regarding a power supply. The vertical Hall sensor further includes first and second layers adjacent to the first and second vertical Hall effect regions at a side other than a side of the first or second pluralities of contacts. The first and second layers have different doping properties than the first and second vertical Hall effect regions and insulate the first and second vertical Hall effect regions from a bulk of the semiconductor substrate by at least one reverse-biased p-n junction per vertical Hall effect region during an operation of the vertical Hall sensor.
US08981503B2
An STT MTJ cell is formed with a magnetic anisotropy of its free and reference layers that is perpendicular to their planes of formation. The reference layer of the cell is an SAF multilayered structure with a single magnetic domain to enhance the bi-stability of the magnetoresistive states of the cell. The free layer of the cell is etched back laterally from the reference layer, so that the fringing stray field of the reference layer is no more than 15% of the coercivity of the free layer and has minimal effect on the free layer.
US08981494B2
The function of logic cells may be changed by altering their metal routing. Logic cells altered in this manner may be used to correct, substitute, or otherwise alter the operation of logic blocks or scan paths without completely re-working an integrated circuit. The process may be referred to as an engineering change order (ECO) process. According to an exemplary process a buffer may be reconfigured to operate as a NAND gate, a NOR gate, or an INVERTER, for example, and may be configured to operate in a circuit in need of such a logic function.
US08981492B2
An integrated circuit product is disclosed that includes a resistor body and an e-fuse body positioned on a contact level dielectric material, wherein the resistor body and the e-fuse body are made of the same conductive material, a first plurality of conductive contact structures are coupled to the resistor body, conductive anode and cathode structures are conductively coupled to the e-fuse body, wherein the first plurality of conductive contact structures and the conductive anode and cathode structures are made of the same materials.
US08981483B2
An electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection structure and an ESD protection circuit are provided. A PMOS transistor is located in a first region of a first N-type well region of a semiconductor substrate. A first doped base region located in a second region of a first N-type well region is N-type doped and connected to an external trigger-voltage adjustment circuit. An NMOS transistor is located in a third region of a first P-type well region. Second doped base regions discretely located in a fourth region of a first P-type well region are P-type doped and connected to the external trigger-voltage adjustment circuit. A first N-region is located in the fourth region, surrounding the second doped base regions, and connected to the I/O interface terminal. A second N-region is located in the fourth region, surrounding the first N-region and the second doped base regions, and connected to the ground terminal.
US08981480B2
A semiconductor device includes a buried well, first and second active regions, an isolation layer, and a low resistance region. The buried well is disposed on a substrate and has impurity ions of a first conductivity type. The first and second active regions are disposed on the buried well and each have impurity ions of a second conductivity type, which is different from the first conductivity type. The isolation layer is disposed between the first and second active regions. The low resistance region is disposed between the isolation layer and the substrate and has impurity ions of the second conductivity type. The concentration of impurity ions in the low resistance region is greater than the concentration of the impurity ions in each of the first and second active regions.
US08981472B2
A high-voltage MOS transistor has a semiconductor substrate formed with a first well of a first conductivity type in which a drain region and a drift region are formed and a second well of a second, opposite conductivity type in which a source region and a channel region are formed, a gate electrode extends over the substrate from the second well to the first well via a gate insulation film, wherein there is formed a buried insulation film in the drift region underneath the gate insulation film at a drain edge of the gate electrode, there being formed an offset region in the semiconductor substrate between the channel region and the buried insulation film, wherein the resistance of the offset region is reduced in a surface part thereof by being introduced with an impurity element of the first conductivity type with a concentration exceeding the first well.
US08981470B2
The performance of power semiconductor device of partial gate type structure may be improved by providing the source region only adjacent the gate electrodes in the structure, and providing the contact spaced from the gate by the source. The device includes a plurality of field plate electrodes which extend inwardly of the drift layer, a second field plate electrode disposed between the contact and one of the first field plate electrodes, and a gate electrode located between the source and a second one of the first field plate electrode.
US08981464B2
Power wafer level chip scale package (CSP) and process of manufacture are enclosed. The power wafer level chip scale package includes all source, gate and drain electrodes located on one side of the device, which is convenient for mounting to a printed circuit board (PCB) with solder paste.
US08981460B2
The subject disclosure presents power semiconductor devices, and methods for manufacture thereof, with improved ruggedness and. In an aspect, the power semiconductor devices are power field effect transistors (FETs) having enhanced suppression of the activation of the parasitic bipolar junction transistor (BJT) and a normal threshold value. The devices comprise a doped source (14) of a first conductivity type, a doped body (15) of a second conductivity type, a source electrode (20) short-connecting the doped body and the doped source, a doped drift region (10) of the first conductivity type, a first layer (30) of a gate dielectric region (36) covering the surface of the doped drift region (10), and forming channel from the doped source (14) to the doped drift region (10), a second layer (31) of the gate dielectric region (36) over the first layer (30), a third layer (32) of the gate dielectric region (36) over the second layer (31), and a gate electrode (21) over the third layer (32).
US08981458B2
A three-dimensional semiconductor device includes an upper structure on a lower structure, the upper structure including conductive patterns, a semiconductor pattern connected to the lower structure through the upper structure, and an insulating spacer between the semiconductor pattern and the upper structure, a bottom surface of the insulating spacer being positioned at a vertical level equivalent to or higher than an uppermost surface of the lower structure.
US08981457B2
There is provided a monolithic three dimensional array of charge storage devices which includes a plurality of device levels, wherein at least one surface between two successive device levels is planarized by chemical mechanical polishing.
US08981442B2
A semiconductor magnetic field sensor comprising a semiconductor well on top of a substrate layer is disclosed. The semiconductor well includes a first current collecting region and a second current collecting region and a current emitting region placed between the first current collecting region and the second current collecting region. The semiconductor well also includes a first MOS structure, having a first gate terminal, located between the first current collecting region and the current emitting region and a second MOS structure, having a second gate terminal, located between the current emitting region and the second current collecting region. In operation, the first gate terminal and the second gate terminal are biased for increasing a deflection length of a first current and of a second current. The deflection length is perpendicular to a plane defined by a surface of the semiconductor magnetic field sensor and parallel to a magnetic field.
US08981440B2
A semiconductor-storage-device manufacturing method of the present invention is a method for manufacturing a semiconductor storage device provided with a ferroelectric capacitor including a lower electrode, a ferroelectric film, and an upper electrode, and the method includes a step of embedding a first metal plug and a second metal plug in an insulating layer; a step of forming a covering layer that covers at least the second metal plug while securing apart that comes into electric contact with the first metal plug; a step of forming a deposit structure by sequentially depositing a material for the lower electrode, a material for the ferroelectric film, and a material for the upper electrode after forming the covering layer; and a step of forming the ferroelectric capacitor by etching and removing other parts except a part of the deposit structure such that the part of the deposit structure remains on the first metal plug.
US08981438B2
A photoelectric conversion apparatus includes: a first semiconductor region forming a part of a photoelectric conversion element; a second semiconductor region stacked on the first semiconductor region, and forming a part of the photoelectric conversion element; a third semiconductor region to which a signal charge transferred from the photoelectric conversion element; a fourth semiconductor region of the first conductivity type having an higher impurity concentration, between the first and third semiconductor region and between the second and third semiconductor regions, closer to a main surface than the first semiconductor region, and connected to the first semiconductor region; a first gate electrode over the fourth semiconductor region, an insulating film on the main surface and between the first gate electrode and the fourth semiconductor region; and a second gate electrode between the third and fourth semiconductor regions, and over the insulating film.
US08981434B2
Provided is a semiconductor device in which the trade-off between the withstand voltage and the on-resistance is improved and the performance is increased. A semiconductor device comprises a substrate 1, a first n-type semiconductor layer 21′, a second n-type semiconductor layer 23, a p-type semiconductor layer 24, and a third n-type semiconductor layer 25′, wherein the first n-type semiconductor layer 21′, the second n-type semiconductor layer 23, the p-type semiconductor layer 24, and the third n-type semiconductor layer 25′ are laminated at the upper side of the substrate 1 in this order. The drain electrode 13 is in ohmic-contact with the first n-type semiconductor layer 21′ and the source electrode 12 is in ohmic-contact with the third n-type semiconductor layer 25′. A gate electrode 14 is arranged so as to fill an opening portion to be filled that extends from the third n-type semiconductor layer 25′ to the second n-type semiconductor layer 23, and the gate electrode 14 is in contact with the upper surface of the second n-type semiconductor layer 23, the side surfaces of the p-type semiconductor layer 24, and the side surfaces of the third n-type semiconductor layer 25′. The second n-type semiconductor layer 23 has composition that changes from the drain electrode 13 side toward the source electrode 12 side in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the substrate 1 and contains donor impurity.
US08981429B2
The present invention discloses a high electron mobility transistor (HEMT) and a manufacturing method thereof. The HEMT device includes: a substrate, a first gallium nitride (GaN) layer; a P-type GaN layer, a second GaN layer, a barrier layer, a gate, a source, and a drain. The first GaN layer is formed on the substrate, and has a stepped contour from a cross-section view. The P-type GaN layer is formed on an upper step surface of the stepped contour, and has a vertical sidewall. The second GaN layer is formed on the P-type GaN layer. The barrier layer is formed on the second GaN layer. two dimensional electron gas regions are formed at junctions between the barrier layer and the first and second GaN layers. The gate is formed on an outer side of the vertical sidewall.
US08981422B2
To prevent contact plugs formed to sandwich an abutting portion between gate electrodes, from being short-circuited via a void formed inside an insulating film of the abutting portion. Over sidewalls SW facing each other in the abutting portion between gate electrodes G2 and G5, a liner insulating film 6 and an interlayer insulating film 7 are formed. Between the sidewalls SW, the liner insulating film 6 formed on each of the side walls of the sidewalls SW are brought in contact with each other to close a space between the sidewalls SW to prevent a void from being generated inside the interlayer insulating film 7 and the liner insulating film 6.
US08981420B2
A nitride semiconductor device includes a conductive oxide film with high reliability is provided. The nitride semiconductor device having a nitride semiconductor layer includes a conductive oxide film on the nitride semiconductor layer and a pad electrode on the conductive oxide film. The pad electrode includes a junction layer that contains a first metal and is in contact with the conductive oxide film, and a pad layer that contains a second metal.
US08981405B2
An LED light source is described. The light source includes an LED and a diffuser. The LED emits a light having a dominant wavelength. The diffuser includes a filler material, which includes particles. The mean diameter of the particles is at least as large as the dominant wavelength of the light emitted by the LED. The particles are configured to scatter the light emitted by the LED.
US08981399B2
Disclosed are a method of fabricating a light emitting diode package with a surface treated resin encapsulant and a package fabricated by the method. According to the method of fabricating a light emitting diode package, a resin encapsulant encapsulating a light emitting diode chip is surface treated using plasma. Thus, a bonding force between the surface treated resin encapsulant and a resin molding member covering it is increased.
US08981395B2
There is provided a semiconductor light emitting device, a method of manufacturing the same, and a semiconductor light emitting device package using the same. A semiconductor light emitting device having a first conductivity type semiconductor layer, an active layer, a second conductivity type semiconductor layer, a second electrode layer, and insulating layer, a first electrode layer, and a conductive substrate sequentially laminated, wherein the second electrode layer has an exposed area at the interface between the second electrode layer and the second conductivity type semiconductor layer, and the first electrode layer comprises at least one contact hole electrically connected to the first conductivity type semiconductor layer, electrically insulated from the second conductivity type semiconductor layer and the active layer, and extending from one surface of the first electrode layer to at least part of the first conductivity type semiconductor layer.
US08981388B2
Provided are a solar cell and a method of manufacturing the same. The method includes: preparing a bottom substrate including sequentially stacked first and second portions, each of the first and second portions including a plurality of grains, wherein the maximum grain size of the second portion is less than the minimum grains size of the first portion; exposing the first portion of the bottom substrate by removing the second portion of the bottom substrate; and forming a photovoltaic conversion layer on the first portion of the bottom substrate.
US08981386B2
An organic light emitting display device including: a substrate; a plurality of first electrodes formed over the substrate; a pixel defining layer (PDL) formed over the substrate, and separating the plurality of first electrodes from one another when viewed in a thickness direction of the display device; a plurality of light emitting layer portions formed over one of the plurality of first electrodes; at least a second electrode formed over the plurality of light emitting layer portions; and a filter unit formed over the at least a second electrode. The filter unit includes a black matrix layer defining a plurality of openings, an organic layer formed over the black matrix layer and the plurality of openings, and comprising a plurality of lens-shaped embossed portions, and a plurality of color filters formed over the organic layer.
US08981385B2
A silicon carbide semiconductor device includes a silicon carbide substrate. The silicon carbide substrate is composed of an element region provided with a semiconductor element portion and a termination region surrounding the element region as viewed in a plan view. The semiconductor element portion includes a drift region having a first conductivity type. The termination region includes a first electric field relaxing region contacting the element region and having a second conductivity type different from the first conductivity type, and a second electric field relaxing region arranged outside the first electric field relaxing region as viewed in the plan view, having the second conductivity type, and spaced from the first electric field relaxing region. A ratio calculated by dividing a width of the first electric field relaxing region by a thickness of the drift region is not less than 0.5 and not more than 1.83.
US08981384B2
There are provided a high-quality semiconductor device having stable characteristics and a method for manufacturing such a semiconductor device. The semiconductor device includes a substrate having a main surface, and a silicon carbide layer. The silicon carbide layer is formed on the main surface of the substrate. The silicon carbide layer includes a side surface as an end surface inclined relative to the main surface. The side surface substantially includes one of a {03-3-8} plane and a {01-1-4} plane in a case where the silicon carbide layer is of hexagonal crystal type, and substantially includes a {100} plane in a case where the silicon carbide layer is of cubic crystal type.
US08981383B1
Embodiments of the invention describe substrates, used to form optical devices, which include high thermal conductivity intermediate layers. Said substrates comprise a bulk layer, an optical device layer comprising a first material, and an intermediate layer disposed between the bulk layer and the device layer comprising a second material having a higher thermal conductivity and a lower index of refraction than the first material.In the resulting devices, said intermediate layer functions as part of the device layer structure—i.e., provides optical or electrical power dissipation (i.e. thermal) functionality for the device formed from said substrate. Thus, optical devices do not necessarily need to utilize an add-on packaging solution for heat absorption when formed from substrate stacks according to embodiments of the invention. Moreover, in some embodiments, said intermediate layer is located at “zero-distance” from the source of the heat generation, thereby efficiently transferring heat out of that region.
US08981381B2
A semiconductor device includes a substrate, a first active layer disposed over the substrate and a second active layer disposed on the first active layer. The second active layer has a higher bandgap than the first active layer such that a two-dimensional electron gas layer arises between the first active layer and the second active layer. A first electrode has a first portion disposed in a recess in the second active layer and a second portion disposed on the second active layer such that a Schottky junction is formed therewith. The first portion of the first electrode has a lower Schottky potential barrier than the second portion of the first electrode. A second electrode is in contact with the first active layer. The second electrode establishes an ohmic junction with the first active layer.
US08981377B2
A semiconductor device and method of making the same are provided. The method of forming semiconductor device uses non-implant process to form doped layers, and thus is applicable for large-size display panel. The method of forming semiconductor device uses annealing process to reduce the resistance of the doped layers, which improves the electrical property of the semiconductor device. A first dielectric layer of the semiconductor device is able to protect a semiconductor layer disposed in a first region of the substrate from being damaged during the process, and an etching stop layer of the semiconductor device is able to protect the semiconductor layer disposed in a second region of the substrate from being damaged when defining second doped layers. The first dielectric layer and the etching stop layer are formed by the same patterned dielectric layer, thus no extra process is required, fabrication cost is reduced, and yield is increased.
US08981369B2
A field effect transistor which includes, on a substrate, at least a semiconductor layer, a passivation layer for the semiconductor layer, a source electrode, a drain electrode, a gate insulating film and a gate electrode, the source electrode and the drain electrode being connected through the semiconductor layer, the gate insulating film being present between the gate electrode and the semiconductor layer, the passivation layer being at least on one surface side of the semiconductor layer, and the semiconductor layer including a composite oxide which comprises In (indium), Zn (zinc) and Ga (gallium) in the following atomic ratios (1) to (3): In/(In+Zn)=0.2 to 0.8 (1) In/(In+Ga)=0.59 to 0.99 (2) Zn/(Ga+Zn)=0.29 to 0.99 (3).
US08981366B2
Provided is a heterocyclic compound that can be used for a carrier-transport material, a host material, or a light-emitting material in a light-emitting element. The heterocyclic compound has an indolo[3,2,1-jk]carbazole skeleton and a dibenzo[f,h]quinoxaline skeleton which are linked to each other through an arylene group. The wide band gap of the heterocyclic compound allows excitation of a green-emissive phosphorescent material, which contributes to the formation of a highly efficient light-emitting element.
US08981363B1
Flexible substrates and devices including flexible substrates are provided. In an embodiment, a flexible substrate includes a first glass substrate material and a first organic light emitting device, disposed over the first flexible substrate, which includes a first emissive layer The first flexible substrate may have a thickness of not more than 300 μm, a flexural rigidity of 10−1 Nm to 10−6 Nm, a water vapor transmission rate of not more than 10−6 g per square meter per day, a refractive index of not more than 1.6, a glass transition temperature of at least 300 C, a Young's modulus of 60 to 90 GPa, and/or an optical transmission of at least 85% for light in the range of 400 to 800 nm.
US08981357B2
A hydrophobic organic layer may be formed on a surface of a graphene doped with a dopant to improve stability of the doped graphene with respect to moisture and temperature. Thus, the transparent electrode having the doped graphene containing the hydrophobic organic layer may be usefully applied in solar cells or display devices.
US08981352B2
A display unit includes, on a substrate, a plurality of organic EL devices, and an insulating film provided in an inter-device region between the plurality of organic EL devices, the insulating film including a groove in a position between the organic EL devices adjacent to each other.
US08981350B2
A pixel structure of an organic light emitting diode display includes a first transistor and a second transistor. The first transistor includes a first drain electrode and a first source electrode. When a voltage difference is provided between the first drain electrode and the first source electrode, the first transistor has a first subthreshold slope (SS). The second transistor includes a second drain electrode and a second source electrode. When the voltage difference is provided between the second drain electrode and the second source electrode, the second transistor has a second SS, and the second SS is larger than the first SS.
US08981343B2
A semiconductor device includes a p-type semiconductor layer, an n-type semiconductor layer, a pn junction portion at which the p-type semiconductor layer and the n-type semiconductor layer are joined to each other, and a multiple quantum barrier structure or a multiple quantum well structure that is provided in at least one of the p-type semiconductor layer and the n-type semiconductor layer and functions as a barrier against at least one of electrons and holes upon biasing in a forward direction. Upon biasing in a reverse direction, a portion that allows band-to-band tunneling of electrons is formed at the pn junction portion.
US08981342B2
A light emitting diode including a first semiconductor layer, an active layer, and a second semiconductor layer is provided. The first semiconductor layer includes a first surface and a second surface. The active layer and the second semiconductor layer are stacked on the second surface in that order, and a surface of the second semiconductor layer away from the active layer is configured as the light emitting surface. A first electrode is electrically connected with and covers the first surface of the first semiconductor layer. A second electrode is electrically connected with the second semiconductor layer. A number of three-dimensional nano-structures are located on the surface of the first surface of the first semiconductor layer and a surface of the active layer, and a cross section of each of the three-dimensional nano-structure is M-shaped.
US08981336B2
A low resistivity interface material is provided between a self-aligned vertical heater element and a contact region of a selection device. A phase change chalcogenide material is deposited directly on the vertical heater element. In an embodiment, the vertical heater element in L-shaped, having a curved vertical wall along the wordline direction and a horizontal base. In an embodiment, the low resistivity interface material is deposited into a trench with a negative profile using a PVD technique. An upper surface of the low resistivity interface material may have a tapered bird-beak extension.
US08981332B2
A nonvolatile resistive memory element includes an oxygen-gettering layer. The oxygen-gettering layer is formed as part of an electrode stack, and is more thermodynamically favorable in gettering oxygen than other layers of the electrode stack. The Gibbs free energy of formation (ΔfG°) of an oxide of the oxygen-gettering layer is less (i.e., more negative) than the Gibbs free energy of formation of an oxide of the adjacent layers of the electrode stack. The oxygen-gettering layer reacts with oxygen present in the adjacent layers of the electrode stack, thereby preventing this oxygen from diffusing into nearby silicon layers to undesirably increase an SiO2 interfacial layer thickness in the memory element and may alternately be selected to decrease such thickness during subsequent processing.
US08981322B2
Disclosed is a multi-nozzle and skimmer assembly for introducing a process gas mixture, or multiple process gases mixtures, in a gas cluster ion beam (GCIB) system, and associated methods of operation to grow, modify, deposit, or dope a layer upon a substrate. The multiple nozzle and skimmer assembly includes at least two nozzles arranged in mutual close proximity to at least partially coalesce the gas cluster beams emitted therefrom into a single gas cluster beam and/or angled to converge each beam toward a single intersecting point to form a set of intersecting gas cluster beams, and to direct the single and/or intersecting gas cluster beam into a gas skimmer.
US08981320B2
An apparatus for maintaining dental hygiene is provided. For example, in one embodiment, the apparatus includes a body. The body includes an elongated member configured to extend outward from the body. The elongated member includes a head including a plurality of bristles. The apparatus also includes a cap configured to kill microbes on a plurality of bristles when attached to the body.
US08981318B1
A device and system for measuring the multidimensional distribution of a sample tagged with a short life fluorescent label. The substance applied to a sample holder can be scanned with an optical point source excitation and read back optical stage. The sample can be excited at each of a plurality of points with a fast, e.g., nanosecond pulse of light. The resulting fluorescence can be detected after the excitation is extinguished. A detection gate window can be optimized to maximize the fluorescence signal detected for a predetermined amount of time.
US08981311B2
CT detector including multi-layer fluorescent tape scintillator with switchable spectral sensitivity
A scintillator element (114) comprising uncured scintillator material (112) is formed and optically cured to generate a cured scintillator element (122, 122″). The uncured scintillator material suitably combines at least a scintillator material powder and an uncured polymeric host. In a reel to reel process, a flexible array of optical detectors is transferred from a source reel (100) to a take-up reel (106) and the uncured scintillator material (112) is disposed on the flexible array and optically cured during said transfer. Such detector layers (31, 32, 33, 34, 35) are stackable to define a multi-layer computed tomography (CT) detector array (20). Detector element channels (50, 50′, 50″) include a preamplifier (52) and switching circuitry (54, 54′, 54″) having a first mode connecting the preamplifier with at least first detector array layers (31, 32) and a second mode connecting the preamplifier with at least second detector array layers (33, 34, 35).
