US08996241B2
A vehicle battery diagnosis system diagnoses the state of degradation of a battery of a vehicle equipped with the battery as a motive power source. The system includes: an information accumulation portion that accumulates degradation information regarding the battery; an information processing portion that reads information from the information accumulation portion, and that creates a plurality of types of screen information that are different from each other in display format, for a plurality of information recipients; a display portion that displays a screen that corresponds to at least one of the types of screen information created by the information processing portion.
US08996237B2
A diagnostic tool that can communicate with a computing device such as smart phone is provided. The diagnostic tool can include a power management system that allows the dynastic tool to enter lower power state in order to prevent the power drain of vehicle battery. The diagnostic tool can also AutoID a vehicle or use a “fingerprinting” process to identify the vehicle. A crediting system is provided that can be used to credit a 3rd party for software purchased for use by the diagnostic tool or smart phone.
US08996227B2
A power control system for controlling a power network of a hybrid electrical vehicle, is provided. The power control system includes a power generating unit, one or more energy storage units coupled to a power converting unit, an electrical load. The power control system further includes a control logic module for controlling the power generating unit and the power converting unit. The control logic module is configured to identify a power demand from the electrical load and to select the power generating unit or one of the one or more energy storage units to control a voltage level of the power network based on the identified power demand, based on electrical characteristics of the power generating unit, of the power converting unit, and of the electrical load, and based on a current mode of operation of the vehicle.
US08996222B1
The inventive concept is directed to a “COMPEL” system. The word compel is an acronym of the words “compressed air and electricity”. The compel system is a system of mechanical devices aligned together to propel a vehicle without employing any fossil fuel and creating very little or no detectable pollution. The motion source is a single electric engine that drives the vehicle by way of a transmission. The source/s for producing the electricity originate in two different manners. One source is of the motion of the vehicle itself and responsible for the action of the second source. Conversely, the second source provides the energy to propel the vehicle, Thus, each source is generally dependent upon the other. However, the holding reserve capacity of the fuel tank allows for the compressed air engine source to mobilize the vehicle from a dead stop and thereby re-engage the other generating source/s. The other energy generating sources are elements driven by the axle of the vehicle. All functions of all of the elements are controlled by a computer.
US08996218B2
A hybrid drive control device for a hybrid motor vehicle includes a control or regulation unit having a hybrid operating module that predictively controls or regulates at least a state of charge of an energy store as a function of at least one route parameter. The control or regulation unit has at least one speed control operating module that predictively controls or regulates a motor vehicle speed as a function of the at least one route parameter.
US08996217B2
A start operation is continuously performed until the internal combustion engine starts even when an accelerator pedal opening decreases between initiation and termination of the start operation of the internal combustion engine, and an EV mode is selected again. A motor/generator is controlled such that a torque of the motor/generator exerting to reduce a slippage of the second clutch increases as the accelerator pedal opening decreases during control of the second clutch to start the internal combustion engine, compared to a case where the accelerator pedal opening does not decrease during mode switching.
US08996215B2
A vehicle includes a torque generating device, a transmission, and a controller. The transmission has one or more clutches. The controller executes a method, which includes measuring an amount of slip across an identified offgoing clutches and determining whether the offgoing clutches have slipped prior to a modeled clutch torque capacity reaching zero. A status is assigned indicating that the offgoing clutches are released if the offgoing clutch has slipped prior to the modeled clutch capacity reaching zero. The controller induces slip across the identified offgoing clutches to a calibrated low, non-zero level after recording the value, including by enforcing the low, non-zero slip value using one or more acceleration profiles.
US08996201B2
A method and a device are disclosed for exchanging data between a technical management system of an aircraft and a mission management system of the aircraft, in order to permit one of the systems to determine the consequences of an event detected in the other of the systems. After at least one event has been detected in one of the technical management and mission management systems of the aircraft, at least one information item pertaining to the detected event is transmitted to the other of the technical management and mission management systems of the aircraft. The consequences of the event detected in the other of the technical management and mission management systems of the aircraft are then determined. The adaptation of at least one datum of the other of the technical management and mission management systems of the aircraft is evaluated in response to the determination.
US08996196B2
In order to suppress charge amount shortage in a predetermined area, an information provision device has an acquisition means that acquires travelling information of an electric vehicle on which a secondary battery 204 is mounted; a charge output estimation means that estimates, on the basis of the travelling information, a charge output value of a charging device which is provided in a predetermined area; a judgment means that judges, on the basis of the estimated charge output value, whether there is a risk that shortage of a charge amount will occur in the predetermined area; and an information provision means that provides recommendation information concerning charge of the vehicle to the electric vehicle according to a judgment result of the judgment means.
US08996195B2
An adaptive control system is disclosed. The control system can control uncertain dynamic systems. The control system can employ one or more derivative-free adaptive control architectures. The control system can further employ one or more derivative-free weight update laws. The derivative-free weight update laws can comprise a time-varying estimate of an ideal vector of weights. The control system of the present invention can therefore quickly stabilize systems that undergo sudden changes in dynamics, caused by, for example, sudden changes in weight. Embodiments of the present invention can also provide a less complex control system than existing adaptive control systems. The control system can control aircraft and other dynamic systems, such as, for example, those with non-minimum phase dynamics.
US08996185B2
A unit commitment problem is solved for a set of generators with a set of configurations having a set of 2N.T schedules, wherein N is a number of generators i and T is a number of decision time steps. A reduced set of configurations is determined, and then a functional metric to measure a similarity of all possible pairs of the configurations is defined. Dynamic programming is applied to the reduced set of configurations using the similarity metric to determine an optimal configuration.
US08996183B2
A utility employs an active load management system (ALMS) to estimate available operating reserve for possible dispatch to the utility or another requesting entity (e.g., an independent system operator). According to one embodiment, the ALMS determines amounts of electric power stored in power storage devices, such as electric or hybrid electric vehicles, distributed throughout the utility's service area. The ALMS stores the stored power data in a repository. Responsive to receiving a request for operating reserve, the ALMS determines whether the stored power data alone or in combination with projected energy savings from a control event is sufficient to meet the operating reserve requirement. If so, the ALMS dispatches power from the power storage devices to the power grid to meet the operating reserve need. The need for operating reserve may also be communicated to mobile power storage devices to allow them to provide operating reserve as market conditions require.
US08996176B2
A robot apparatus includes an output unit that displays an image including an object on a screen, an input unit that receives an operation performed by a user for specifying information relating to an approximate range including the object in the image, an object extraction unit that extracts information regarding a two-dimensional contour of the object on the basis of the specification received by the input unit, and a position and attitude estimation unit that estimates information regarding a three-dimensional position and attitude of the object on the basis of the information regarding the two-dimensional contour.
US08996166B2
A touch screen testing platform may be used to perform repeatable testing of a touch screen enabled device using a robotic device tester and a controller. Prior to running a test, the controller and/or robot may be calibrated to determine a planar surface of the touch screen and to establish a relative coordinate system across the touch screen. The controller may then be programmed to allow a robot to engage the touch screen using known input zones designated using the coordinate system. The platform may employ object recognition to determine and interact with content rendered by the device. The platform may use various types of tips that engage the touch screen, thereby simulating human behavior. The platform may perform multi-touch operations by employing multiple tips that can engage the touch screen simultaneously.
US08996165B2
A remote controlled robot with a head that supports a monitor and is coupled to a mobile platform. The mobile robot also includes an auxiliary camera coupled to the mobile platform by a boom. The mobile robot is controlled by a remote control station. By way of example, the robot can be remotely moved about an operating room. The auxiliary camera extends from the boom so that it provides a relatively close view of a patient or other item in the room. An assistant in the operating room may move the boom and the camera. The boom may be connected to a robot head that can be remotely moved by the remote control station.
US08996162B2
An article vending machine in a network of article vending machines capable of exchanging an inoperable rental article received from a user for an operable replacement article. The article dispensing machine checks customer identification information against one or more customer rental criteria to determine if the customer is eligible to exchange an inoperable article for an operable one. The article vending machine searches for an identical replacement article within an inventory of the machine itself and within inventories of the networked article vending machines. Alternatively, the article vending machine may provide a refund for the inoperable article.
US08996154B2
A robot system according to one aspect of an embodiment includes a robot and an instructing module. The robot holds one of a plurality of feed materials used for processing a workpiece. The instructing module gives instructions to the robot, when the feed materials are used for processing the single workpiece, for an operation in which the feed material held last in the previous round of processing a workpiece is used first in the subsequent round of processing a workpiece.
US08996150B1
A system, apparatus and method for a person to communicate customized design information for an object, such as a product at a time prior to its manufacture. A network accessible communications channel and user interface is provided that enables the person to communicate design information, including a visual representation of the product, prior to its manufacture.
US08996145B2
An embodiment relates generally to a method of playback in a media player. The method includes retrieving at least one song from a media library in a random mode on a media player and playing the at least one song through the media player. The method also includes initiating an album mode on the media player and retrieving remaining songs on an album associated with the at least one song.
US08996133B2
The methods and apparatus for lead placement on a surface of the heart are employed using an elongated body having proximal and distal end portions. The body defines a lead receiving passageway extending between a proximal inlet and a distal outlet for receiving a lead therethrough for contact with the heart surface. The elongated body is adapted for insertion between a pericardium and an epicardial surface. At least a portion of the body may have a non-circular cross-sectional shape adapted to retain the body orientation between the pericardium and the epicardial surface.
US08996132B2
An implantable electrical stimulation lead includes a tip electrode disposed on a distal tip of the lead body. One tip electrode has a base and a separate plug attached to the base. The base defines an interior lumen closed at one end by the plug. Another tip electrode has an electrode body, a stem extending from the electrode body, and shaped retention features extending from the stem. Yet another tip electrode has an electrode body, a stem extending from the electrode body, and a flange disposed on the stem opposite the electrode body. A further tip electrode has an electrode body defining an interior lumen and a plurality of protrusions extending into the interior lumen. Another tip electrode has an electrode body and arms extending from the electrode body. The electrode body defines an interior lumen and the arms extend over an opening to the interior lumen.
US08996129B2
An implantable medical electrode includes a substrate and an iridium oxide surface, which is formed by an iridium oxide film applied over a roughened surface of the substrate. The film is preferably applied via direct current magnetron sputtering in a sputtering atmosphere comprising argon and oxygen. A sputtering target power may be between approximately 80 watts and approximately 300 watts, and a total sputtering pressure may be between approximately 9 millitorr and approximately 20 millitorr. The iridium oxide film may have a thickness greater than or equal to approximately 15,000 angstroms and have a microstructure exhibiting a columnar growth pattern.
US08996126B2
A composite RF current attenuator for a medical lead includes a conductor having a distal electrode contactable to biological cells, a bandstop filter in series with the lead conductor for attenuating RF currents flow through the lead conductor at a selected center frequency or across a range of frequencies about the center frequency, and a lowpass filter in series with the bandstop filter and forming a portion of the lead conductor. The bandstop filter has a capacitance in parallel with a first inductance. In a preferred form, the lowpass filter includes a second inductance in series with the bandstop filter, wherein the values of capacitance and inductances for the composite RF current attenuator are selected such that it attenuates MRI-induced RF current flow in an MRI environment.
US08996122B2
An exemplary system includes 1) a storage facility configured to maintain data representative of a cochlear implant fitting software package comprising a plurality of cochlear implant fitting features and maintain data representative of a plurality of independent licensing heuristics corresponding to the plurality of cochlear implant fitting features, wherein each independent licensing heuristic within the plurality of independent licensing heuristics corresponds to a different cochlear implant fitting feature within the plurality of cochlear implant fitting features, and 2) a feature control facility configured to selectively enable or disable each cochlear implant fitting feature in accordance with the corresponding independent licensing heuristic. Corresponding methods and systems are also described.
US08996119B2
A prosthesis is provided comprising a substrate having a distal end and a proximal end; and a plurality of electrodes located at or adjacent the distal end of the substrate. The distal end of the substrate is configured for insertion, via an incision, between first and second tissue layers, such as the sclera and choroid in the eye. The prosthesis tapers in thickness towards the distal end and has a substantially curved profile at least on one surface so that the prosthesis can be inserted into position without needing a guide and without causing damage to the tissue or the prosthesis. The prosthesis can include an electrode interface unit located at or adjacent the proximal end of the substrate which locates between the tissue layers. An anchor portion can be provided that extends from the substrate into the incision.
US08996118B2
An implantable device, including a first electrically non-conductive substrate with a plurality of electrically conductive vias. The device also includes a flip-chip multiplexer circuit attached to the electrically non-conductive substrate using conductive bumps, the circuit being electrically connected to at a subset of the plurality of electrically conductive vias. Another a flip-chip driver circuit is attached to the flip-chip multiplexer circuit using conductive bumps while a second electrically non-conductive substrate attached to the flip-chip driver circuit using conductive bumps. Discrete passives are attached to the second electrically non-conductive substrate and a cover is bonded to the first electrically non-conductive substrate. The cover, the first electrically non-conductive substrate and the electrically conductive vias form a hermetic package.
US08996117B2
A method, device and/or system for generating arbitrary scalable waveforms of a desired shape that can be used for generating a stimulation pulse for medical purposes such as for spinal cord stimulation therapy, where scaling function(s) can be used to scale arbitrary waveforms for increased flexibility and which can also be used for charge balancing purposes as well.
US08996110B2
A method for determining the cause of an irregularity in physiologic data collected by a medical device may include monitoring a collected physiologic characteristic of a patient through the physiologic data, detecting an irregularity in the physiologic data, monitoring position data of the patient, correlating the physiologic data with the position data, and determining the cause of the irregularity in the physiologic data based on correlation of the physiologic data with the position data.
US08996089B2
A continuous analysis apparatus capable of transmitting information about components in body fluid to another apparatus such as medicine dosing apparatus more correctly without giving a user displeasure. The continuous analysis apparatus according to the present invention includes a sensing unit 2 including a sensor that is held in subcutaneous tissue for obtaining information with respect to an objective substance in a sample; and a data holding unit 3 having a storage means for storing the information obtained from the sensor or data corresponding to the information, the sensing unit and the data holding unit having configuration so that they are separably joined to each other.
US08996086B2
Embodiments of the innovation relate to method for generating an image of a tissue element. The method includes generating, by a visualization system controller, a highlighting image representation of the tissue element within a tissue region based upon a first image of the tissue element captured when a first light source illuminates the tissue region, receiving, by the visualization system controller, a second image of the tissue element within the tissue region when a second light source illuminates the tissue region, combining, by the visualization system controller, the highlighting image representation of the tissue element to the second image of the tissue element to generate a composite tissue image, and delivering, by the visualization system controller, the composite tissue image to an output device.
US08996085B2
A robust alarm system has an alarm controller adapted to input an alarm trigger and to generate at least one alarm drive signal in response. Alarm subsystems input the alarm drive signal and activate one or more of multiple alarms accordingly. A subsystem function signal provides feedback to the alarm controller as to alarm subsystem integrity. A malfunction indicator is output from the alarm controller in response to a failure within the alarm subsystems.
US08996078B2
A method for increasing data rate in wireless communications includes selectively activating a plurality of hardware accelerators, and performing, using the hardware accelerators, data processing for modem data based on parameters received from a processor.
US08996077B2
In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention, there is at least a method, apparatus which may include operations that result from operation of computer program code, and a plurality of coupled logic circuit elements constructed to carry out the associated functions for, in response to signaling received from a network access node, prematurely terminating operation of a timer running on a user equipment, the timer being used to control how long the user equipment is considered uplink time aligned, and performing operations defined to be executed upon the timer expiring. Further, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention there is signaling a user equipment to prematurely terminate operation of a timer running on the user equipment, the timer being used to control how long the user equipment is considered uplink time aligned, and reserving an uplink resource for the user equipment.
US08996076B2
According to an aspect, a device includes a battery, a display, and a controller. When a charge of the battery is started, the controller causes the display to display a screen including one or more options for stopping a function in which power is consumed.
US08996074B1
Exemplary methods and systems may help to more intelligently provide adaptive paging. An exemplary method involves: (i) making a determination that a wireless communication device (WCD) should be paged, (ii) in response, selecting one or more coverage areas for an initial page attempt to the WCD, wherein the selected coverage areas are selected from recent-response list that indicates coverage areas via which a page response message was recently received from the WCD, and wherein selecting the coverage areas comprises, for each coverage area from the recent-response list, using both (a) a paging success rate for the coverage area and (b) a paging-channel occupancy of the coverage area as a basis for determining whether or not to select the coverage area for the initial page attempt, and (iii) initiating the initial page attempt to the WCD in the one or more selected coverage areas.
US08996068B2
An electronic paper display unit includes a protective case, which is made of a transparent material, a display, which is installed in the protective case, is powered to display desired image information, and includes a plurality of divided regions, and a control module, which is electrically connected with the display, and includes a first mode transmitting a divided mode signal such that many pieces of image information are independently displayed on the respective divided regions and a second mode transmitting an integrated mode signal such that one piece of image information is displayed throughout the overall divided regions. Further, a mobile communication terminal can visually display various pieces of image information thereon according to selection of a user.
US08996065B2
A method for transferring an application in a telecommunication terminal includes: storing in a removable smart card identification data related to the application; connecting the removable smart card to the telecommunication terminal in order to establish an electrical communication between them; acquiring by the telecommunication terminal the identification data; sending by the telecommunication terminal the identification data to an application storing device for requesting the application; and downloading in the telecommunication terminal and from the storing device the application corresponding to the identification data.
US08996059B2
A computer implemented method and system for determining a communication mode for recording a media message on a communication device is provided. An adaptive recording application detects activation of an interface element, for example, a push or a touch of a button on the communication device and determines duration of the activation of the interface element. The adaptive recording application, in response to the detection of the activation of the interface element, selects a communication mode, for example, a push to talk communication mode, a tap to start communication mode, etc., based on a comparison of the duration of the activation of the interface element with one or more configurable timing parameters and/or a determination of a presence or an absence of a media signal during and/or after the activation of the interface element. The adaptive recording application initiates recording of the media message in the selected communication mode.
US08996055B2
A method and apparatus are disclosed for reporting a power headroom report (PHR) in a carrier aggregation scenario. The method includes the following steps: when a user equipment (UE) reports the PHR in a scenario where a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) and a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) can be transmitted concurrently, if no PUSCH is transmitted over the Uplink Primary Component Carrier (UL PCC) configured by an eNB for the UE, then a virtual type1 PH and/or a virtual type2 PH corresponding to the UL PCC are reported; if a PUSCH rather than a PUCCH is transmitted over the UL PCC configured by the eNB for the UE, then the type1 PH corresponding to the UL PCC is reported or the virtual type2 PH and the type1 PH corresponding to the UL PCC are reported. User equipment is also disclosed.
US08996048B2
The present invention concerns a method for controlling the interferences generated by radio signals transferred by or to wireless telecommunication devices of a wireless cellular telecommunication network. The method comprises the steps of: forming at least one group of wireless telecommunication devices, allocating at least one identifier to each wireless telecommunication device of the group, the at least one identifier, said as group identifier, being allocated to each wireless telecommunication device of the group of wireless telecommunication devices, the group identifier being intended to be transferred by each wireless telecommunication device to mobile terminals in parallel with another identifier, allocating the same parameters for controlling the interferences generated by radio signals transferred to or by each wireless telecommunication device of the group.
US08996046B2
Systems and methods for automated retrieval of digital content from vendors upon occurrence of a 411 call event from a mobile device. In an example method, a message is sent from the mobile device based on the detected 411 call event. A server receives the sent message, compiles associated digital content based on information in the received message, and sends the digital content to the mobile device. The mobile device outputs/displays at least a portion of the received digital content to the user soon after the occurrence of the 411 call event.
US08996042B1
A paging message is received at a first access node for a wireless device. It is determined by the first access node that the wireless device is unavailable at the first access node, and the paging message is forwarded from the first access node to a second access node over a communication link between the first access node and the second access node. A message can also be sent from the first access node to a controller node to prevent the sending of a second paging message from the controller node.
US08996041B2
Certain aspects of the present disclosure propose techniques for avoiding paging interval conflicts in a multimode terminal (MMT) capable of communicating via at least two different radio access technologies (RATs). Certain aspects provide a method for communicating, by an MMT, with first and second networks via first and second RATs. The method generally includes determining a discontinuous reception (DRX) cycle length of the first network, determining a paging cycle length of the second network, determining—based on the paging cycle length and the DRX cycle length—information associated with a position of a paging interval within the paging cycle length of the second network that avoids overlap between a paging interval of the first network and the paging interval of the second network, and communicating the information to the second network. For some aspects, the information may comprise a set of control channel cycle (CCC) indices.
US08996039B2
A paging method and device are disclosed, and the technical solution includes: determining to page an user equipment (UE) by using international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI), and before the paging, judging whether tracking area identity list (TAI List) of the UE is stored, and if the judgment result is “no”, then paging the UE in the tracking area (TA) served by the base station connected with the local area. Adopting the technical solution enables to effectively resolve the problem of uncertainness of paging an UE in which TAs, wherein the problem exists in the existing technology, and happens when mobility management entity (MME) pages the UE by using IMSI during the process of network error recovery.
US08996038B2
A method for displaying an idle screen, which is varied depending on a specific condition of a mobile communication terminal, for better graphic impressions. When the user of the mobile communication terminal travels between countries, and a border crossing is detected, a landmark image of a corresponding country is displayed on the idle screen. In addition, an animation effect is displayed on the idle screen so as to inform of the occurrence of the corresponding event. Accordingly, a novel graphic effect is provided to the user via a user interface having enhanced entertaining features.
US08996036B2
An apparatus and method for estimating a location of an object within a mobile reference frame. Sensor data is received from an accelerometer associated with an object followed by determining from the sensor data that the mobile reference frame is executing one of a set of predetermined maneuvers. In response to such determination: (1) the sensor data is applied to a mathematical model associated with the executed maneuver, the model trained with previously obtained data from one or more reference accelerometers positioned at known locations within the mobile reference frame and estimating the location of the object by applying the sensor data to the mathematical model; and/or (2) incorporating reference accelerometers in the mobile reference frame and comparing the sensor data with the reference accelerometers and estimating the location of the object.
US08996031B2
The present disclosure provides devices, systems, and methods to utilize relative timing offset information reported by one or more mobile devices. When coupled with AGPS information reported by one or more mobile devices, the offset information is be used to calibrate calculations and subsequently to locate all 3G mobiles with GPS-like accuracy, whether or not a GPS receiver is available on said mobile device being located. A determination of a propagation delay between one or more cell sites and a mobile device is reported to a network and used to calibrate unknown information such as a timing offset, to improve the accuracy of a detected location. The relative timing offset can be applied to determine a location for all other mobile devices within the area served by the known base station. The present disclosure utilizes this method in conjunction with information crowd-sourced from a plurality of mobile devices.
US08996026B2
A scheduling process handles a plurality of communication services in a collective manner, thus making a radio communications system more operable. A pilot signal sender sends pilot signals with carrier frequencies each corresponding to an N (N≧1) different communication services. A scheduler collects N×n instances of propagation environment data from n (n≧1) terminal devices and selects terminal devices and communication services therefor by assigning terminal devices having a better propagation environment to the plurality of different communication services in a collective manner. The pilot signals are used by a propagation environment data sender to measure and report a propagation environment of each carrier frequency. A communication function configurer automatically sets up a communication function to adapt to the communication service that the base station has assigned.
US08996025B2
Communication parameter selection techniques are presented to reduce interference in small cells of wireless networks. A list of neighboring radio access points with respect to a particular radio access point in a wireless network is obtained. The list includes a unique identifier for each neighboring radio access point. A set of candidate communications parameters are obtained for use in the wireless network by the particular radio access point. A prediction is made of candidate communications parameters in the set of candidate communications parameters which can be used by the neighboring radio access points. The communication parameters in the set of candidate communication parameters which are available for use by the particular access point are determined based on the predicted set of communications parameters. A communication parameter is selected for use by the particular radio access point based on the communication parameters determined to be available for use.
US08996022B2
A method for activating coexistence work mode and a base station, user equipment and system using the method. The method for activating coexistence work mode includes: a user equipment in a first communication system transmits an activation mode request, which requests for entering the coexistence work mode, to the base station in the first communication system; in the coexistence work mode, using different transmission resource, the user equipment performs a first communication with the base station and performs a second communication with a device of a second communication system which is different from the first communication system, respectively; the user equipment activates the coexistence work mode based on configuration information of the coexistence work mode, wherein, the configuration information of the coexistence work mode is preset for the user equipment by the base station, and is conserved in the user equipment.
US08996012B2
A method (700, 800) and apparatus (500, 600) for distinguishing cells with the same physical cell identifier is disclosed. The method can include receiving (820) a handover request message including target cell timing offset information at a potential target cell base station, where the potential target cell base station can have a physical cell identifier. The method can include comparing (830) the received target cell timing offset information with stored timing offset information at the potential target cell base station. The method can include sending (840) a handover request accept message if the received target cell timing offset information is substantially equal to the stored timing offset information. The method can also include receiving (720), at a wireless terminal, a target cell physical cell identifier and determining (730) a target cell timing offset of a radio frame of the target cell with respect to reference timing of a serving cell. The method can include sending (740) a measurement report including the target cell physical cell identifier and the target cell timing offset.
US08996007B2
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for arbitrating radio resources between femto base stations in which, when handover of a terminal takes place between femto base stations, the handover is carried out by reallocating radio resources of a serving femto base station assigned to the terminal to a target femto base station, to rearbitrate the radio resources and reduce the time required for rearbitration, thereby enhancing communication effectiveness.
US08996005B2
A communication device of handling cell change for a mobile device includes performing a cell change order procedure from a source cell of a first radio access technology to a target cell of a second radio access technology, establishing a returning condition corresponding to access barring of the target cell, and determining that the cell change order procedure is failed when the returning condition is conformed.
US08995999B2
The invention relates to a method for operating a telecommunications network and a telecommunications network for mobile telecommunication, having a network register in which identifier of mobile terminals and network-related user data of the terminals are stored. The network register is formed from a peer-to-peer network having a multiplicity of decentralized register nodes which are networked with one another and are each associated with a geographic region. Hash tables are held in the register nodes, in which hash tables the identifiers of the terminals are stored as hash values and the user data is stored associated with these hash values. The network has at least a first node associated with a geographic region at which a terminal can register, and a second node, which is permanently assigned to the terminal and is associated with a geographic region. The terminal registers with the first node by transmitting the identifier, when it is located in the first region. The first node then determines network-related user data of the mobile terminal on registration, and determines the hash value for that identifier. This hash value is used to determine the second node. The first node either transmits the network-related user data to this second node or itself stores this user data in his hash table together with the hash value and transmits only its own address in the network to the second node. Either the network-related user data or the address of the first node is then stored, associated with the hash value, in the hash table of the second node.
US08995993B2
The Aircraft Mobile IP Address System provides wireless communication services to passengers who are located onboard an aircraft by storing data indicative of the individually identified wireless devices located onboard the aircraft. The System assigns a single IP address to each Point-to-Point Protocol link which connects the aircraft network to the ground-based communication network but also creates an IP subnet onboard the aircraft. The IP subnet utilizes a plurality of IP addresses for each Point-to-Point link thereby to enable each passenger wireless device to be uniquely identified with their own IP address. This is enabled since both Point-to-Point Protocol IPCP endpoints have pre-defined IP address pools and/or topology configured; each Point-to-Point Protocol endpoint can utilize a greater number of IP addresses than one per link. Such an approach does not change IPCP or other EVDO protocols/messaging but does allow this address to be directly visible to the ground-based communication network.
US08995989B2
A method of applying a network forbidden list for enhanced service recovery in mobile communication networks is provided. In a first embodiment, upon receiving an error cause for a RAT in a selected network, a UE stores a PLMN ID, the RAT information, and the error cause as an entry in the forbidden list. The UE will not select to the RAT of the network stored in the forbidden list until the PLMN/RAT entry is removed from the forbidden list. In a second embodiment, upon receiving an error cause in a selected network, a UE stores a PLMN ID, the error cause, and a timer value as an entry in the forbidden list. The UE will not select to the network stored in the forbidden list until the timer associated with the PLMN ID is expired.
US08995985B2
A method for use in a core network node, such as a mobility management entity, is described for associating a tracking area list comprising at least one tracking area identity (TAIs) with a user equipment. A wireless communication network, such as an EPS network, comprises the core network node. The method comprises the steps of: registering at least one tracking area identity sequence of tracking areas repetitively used by a plurality of user equipments; and compiling at least one tracking area list using the at least one registered tracking area identity sequence. The disclosure also relates to a core network node and a computer program product.
US08995984B2
A communication system (1) includes a mobile communication network (2); a fixed communication network (3) connected to the mobile communication network (2); and a plurality of radio base stations capable of communicating with a mobile terminal (100) by radio communication. The radio base stations include a first base station (41, 42) connected to the mobile communication network (2); and second base stations (51, 52) connected to the fixed communication network (3) through wire communication lines (61, 62). A communication connection using a predetermined interface is established between one of the second base stations (51) and one of neighboring base stations (the first base station (42) and another one of the second base stations (52)) located in the neighborhood of the one of the second base stations (51).
US08995980B2
A system, method and apparatus for protecting privacy when a mobile device is located in a defined privacy zone are described herein. The available features that a user of a mobile device may use are controlled while the mobile device is located in a define privacy zone. Once a mobile device is detected in the define privacy zone, a database is accessed to determine if the mobile device has the features available that are to be disabled. If the features are available, a disable signal is sent via the communications network to the mobile device and the feature is disabled. Once the mobile device is detected to be outside of the defined privacy zone, the previously disabled mobile device feature is enabled.
US08995975B2
A hardware and/or software facility measures end user activity associated with a software application or service on a mobile phone or other mobile device. The facility tracks and stores usage data associated with a mobile user's use of the application or service. When the mobile user initiates transmission of the usage data, the facility retrieves from the mobile phone or other mobile device a usage code representing the usage data. The facility relies on user transcription, text input-buffer insertion, or other indirect means of data transport to deliver the usage code from the mobile phone or other mobile device to an application developer, service provider, or another entity. The recipient extracts the usage data contained in the usage code, and may perform various data mining and analysis techniques on the usage data in order to evaluate how the application or service is used.
US08995968B2
A system for targeting advertising content includes the steps of: (a) receiving respective requests for advertising content corresponding to a plurality of mobile communication facilities operated by a group of users, wherein the plurality includes first and second types of mobile communication facilities with different rendering capabilities; (b) receiving a datum corresponding to the group; (c) selecting from a first and second sponsor respective content based on a relevancy to the datum, wherein each content includes a first and second item requiring respective rendering capabilities; (d) receiving bids from the first and second sponsors; (e) attributing a priority to the content of the first sponsor based upon a determination that a yield associated with the first sponsor is greater than a yield associated with the second sponsor; and (f) transmitting the first and second items of the first sponsor to the first and second types of mobile communication facilities respectively.
US08995960B2
A mobile device has an authentication module that detects a proximity-based authentication component and unlocks sensitive areas of the mobile device when the proximity-based authentication component is within a desired proximity of the mobile device. If the proximity-based authentication component is not within the desired proximity of the mobile device, the mobile device automatically locks the secured areas of the mobile device. The proximity-based authentication component is separate from the mobile device in that it is not inserted or slid within the mobile device, or in any way attached to the mobile device, in order to be used.
US08995955B2
Methods, systems, and media for logging phone calls are provided. In some embodiments, methods for logging phone calls are provided, the methods comprise: causing a phone call to a client to be made; creating at least one note based on received user input; transmitting information about the phone call and the created note to the first server; causing the information and the note to be stored in association with the client by the first server; causing the information about the phone call and the note to be transmitted from the first server to a second server, wherein the information and the note are stored in an electronic medical record on the second server that is associated with the client; receiving an analysis of phone calls associated with the client over a period of time; and causing the analytical information to be presented based on the received analysis.
US08995949B2
Devices and systems provide for proximity based selection of an implantable medical device for far field communication with an external device. By using a proximity communication that is limited to the IMD of interest during the selection process, the external device can eliminate those IMDs that are in range of far field communications but are able to receive the proximity communication. Thus, information may be shared via a proximity communication that is validated via a far field communication, or shared via a far field communication as a challenge and then validated via a proximity communication. The proximity communication may be used to initially limit the number of devices that respond to a discovery request and then subsequently used to select the intended implantable medical device as well as automatically select the appropriate therapy application corresponding to the selected IMD.
US08995942B2
There is provided a radio communication device including a radio receiving unit to receive a radio signals, a synchronization unit to detect synchronization based on a result of a correlation for received signals output from the radio receiving unit, and a signal strength output unit to output, as signal strength of the received signals that is RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indicator) value, a level of a correlation signal that is output as a result of the correlation by the synchronization unit.
US08995938B2
A radiation power level compliance and control scheme for a wireless user equipment (UE) device including one or more tunable elements. The wireless UE device comprises a component configured to detect one or more changes with respect to at least one operational parameter associated with the wireless UE device. A component is provided for determining that a tunable action is required with respect to at least one of the tunable elements. Upon defining one or more tunable element settings, a component is configured to determine a Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) value, which is compared against an acceptable limit. If the SAR is within the limit, appropriate tuning control signals are provided to the tunable elements according to the defined tunable element settings. If the SAR is not within the limit or is about to exceed the limit, then the tunable element settings may be changed and retested.
US08995933B2
In a communication device, a heat sink includes a solderable top surface with multiple upward facing swaging protrusions. A spacer is placed on top of the top surface of the heat sink with locating cut-outs on the spacer aligned with the swaging protrusions. A solder pre form is inserted into an opening in the spacer. The solder pre form includes locating features for alignment with the spacer and the swaging protrusions. The spacer is configured to restrict melted flow from the solder pre form to a defined area of the heat sink top surface. A printed circuit board including cut-outs and input and output connections for inserting a radio frequency device and further including locating holes for aligning the printed circuit board with the swaging protrusions is placed on top of the solder pre form and secured to the heat sink prior to a manufacturing process.
US08995925B2
Methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture for performing inter-frequency measurements in a mobile network are disclosed. Example methods disclosed herein include a mobile station receiving, from a network, one or more lists specifying a set of frequencies for which measurements are to be performed. Such example methods also include the mobile station varying a rate at which the measurements are to be performed for a first frequency of the set of frequencies based on a number of frequencies for which the measurements are to be performed.
US08995924B2
A method for configuring gain factors in a WCDMA telecommunication system is provided in which the gain factor for defining power required for normal reception of uplink data in an environment supporting an uplink service over an E-DCH can be configured using minimal signaling information. First gain factors for first TFs corresponding to a part of a TF set including a plurality of TFs available for an uplink service are received. One of the first TFs is determined as a reference TF for a second TF other than the first TFs in the TF set. Then, a second gain factor for the second TF is calculated using the first gain factor for the determined reference TF. The second gain factor is used for transmitting or receiving uplink data.
US08995922B2
The invention presents methods and corresponding device relating to cooperative spectrum sensing. First a candidate set of sensors that can participate in an occasion of cooperative spectrum sensing is obtained. A cost formula for calculating a cost associated with using sensors from the candidate set in the cooperative spectrum sensing is then defined (75; 107, 97). The candidate set is partitioned (29; 14, 145) into an active set and a passive set. The active set contains any sensor (s) from the candidate that is to participate in the cooperative spectrum sensing. The passive set includes any sensor (s) that is not to participate in the cooperative spectrum sensing. The partitioning of the candidate set is done by applying an optimization procedure (79, 81, 83; 111, 113, 115) which performs a constrained optimization of the cost in accordance with the defined cost formula.
US08995917B2
A method detects a first baseband signal sent by a first sending station via an air interface to a first radio station of a radio communications system. A first receive signal, which contains the first baseband signal superposed with at least a second baseband signal sent by a second sending station to a second radio station, is received by the first radio station. The first radio station uses at least a second receive signal received by the second radio station for detection of the first baseband signal. The second receive signal contains at least the second baseband signal, and is used to at least partially cancel the interference in the first receive signal caused by the second baseband signal.
US08995916B2
A wireless transmitter controls the number of transmission beams to be formed for transmitting a data stream depending on the number of data streams to be transmitted, and a wireless receiver selectively receives any one or more of the transmission beam from the transmission beams. In this manner, by changing the number of transmission beams (the original number of beams selectable on the receiving side) to be formed depending on the number of transmitting data streams, high throughput characteristics by a low interbeam correlation at the time of the multistream transmission and a large directional gain at the time of a single stream may be achieved.
US08995910B2
An antenna and a mobile terminal having the antenna are discussed. According to an embodiment, the antenna can include a flexible board having a first region and a second region; a high frequency antenna pattern formed in the first region of the flexible board to transceive a wireless signal by detecting a magnetic flux; a low frequency antenna pattern formed in the second region of the flexible board to generate an induced current; and a magnetic sheet stacked on one surface of the flexible board to simultaneously cover both of the high frequency antenna pattern and the low frequency antenna pattern, the magnetic sheet having a high magnetic permeability for both a high frequency and a low frequency.
US08995909B2
Method and apparatus for obtaining and processing location information with near field communication
In an environment in which tag readers are installed at a plurality of locations, communication between a tag reader and a terminal including a near field communication (NFC) tag capable of bi-communication with a tag reader is triggered. The tag reader transmits user information and location information which was provided to the terminal to a location information management server so that a service based on the information is provided.
US08995905B2
A wireless network relay apparatus includes a Layer 2 switch and a line control device as well as wireless/wired line terminating devices performing band limitation associated with an AMR function. It measures traffic passing through each line terminating device in inflow/outflow path directions. Upon detecting a modulation scheme changed due to an AMR function in a wireless area, it may specify a line terminating device so as to read a desired modulation scheme from a transmission source modulation scheme conversion table of the line control device based on traffic. It may change a local modulation scheme with a desired modulation scheme when a difference therebetween is above a predetermined number of stages. By tracking a modulation scheme changed for a transmission destination, it is possible to appropriately change a modulation scheme for a transmission source, thus suppressing traffic without discarding necessary data.
US08995900B2
A cleaning member includes a blade portion contacted to a member-to-be-cleaned with respect to a direction counter to a movement direction of the member-to-be-cleaned, and a flexible supporting member. The supporting member includes one end portion where the blade portion is provided, another end portion including a portion-to-be-fixed for being fixed at the fixing portion, and a bent portion between the one end portion and the other end portion in a side remote from a surface of the member-to-be-cleaned toward an outside with respect to a line connecting the portion-to-be-fixed and a contact portion where the blade portion is contacted to the member-to-be-cleaned. The portion-to-be-fixed is provided downstream of the contact portion with respect to the movement direction of the member-to-be-cleaned. The blade portion is supported by the supporting member in contact to only the one end portion.
US08995893B2
A fixing device includes a supporting mechanism and contact members. The supporting mechanism pivotably supports a separating member. The contact members come into contact with the circumferential surface near both ends of the first roller and form a gap having a predetermined distance between the distal end of the tabular member and the circumferential surface of the first roller. The supporting mechanism includes first and second fulcrum members functioning as a fulcrum for pivoting of the separating member and first and second holes provided in the separating member. The first fulcrum member is inserted into the first hole and the second fulcrum member is inserted into the second hole. The first hole is a hole that allows the separating member to substantially shift only in a predetermined direction. The second hole is a hole that does not substantially restrict displacement of the separating member.
US08995886B2
The device for automatically supplying a toner to a toner cartridge of the present invention includes: a toner storage container for storing toners to be refilled; an outer container for containing the toner storage container; a toner supplying unit for supplying the toner stored in the toner storage container to the toner cartridge; and a toner supply hose for sending the toner to the toner cartridge, wherein the toner supplying means consists of: a balloon, which expands and contracts when air is supplied to or discharged from the inside, so that the toner at the bottom is pushed in towards the cartridge or the toner at the top moves to supplement the bottom; an air pump for supplying air to the balloon; an air pipe for connecting the balloon and the air pump; a control valve; and a controller for operating the control valve, enabling the present invention to print stably by preventing toner shortage.
US08995885B2
An image forming apparatus includes a toner case, an apparatus main body and a cover. The toner case is attachably/detachably installed to the apparatus main body and includes a case main body having a discharge port discharging a toner, a shutter opening/closing the discharge port and a lever connected with the shutter. The cover is openably/closably attached to the apparatus main body and partly covers the toner case. The lever is shifted to a first position in order to make the shutter close the discharge port and to allow the close of the cover without interfering with the cover, to a second position in order to make the shutter close the discharge port and to interfere with the cover, or to a third position in order to make the shutter open the discharge port and to allow the close of the cover without interfering with the cover.
US08995877B2
A process cartridge includes: a photosensitive member unit having a photosensitive member; a developing unit detachably mountable on the photosensitive member unit and having a developing roller; a movable member configured to move between a first position and a second position when the developing unit is mounted on the photosensitive member unit, the movable member at the first position permitting the photosensitive member and the developing roller to be in contact with each other and the movable member at the second position permitting the photosensitive member and the developing roller to be in separation from each other; and a covering member configured to cover the photosensitive member, the movable member being at the second position in a state where the covering member covers the photosensitive member.
US08995866B2
In a cartridge, a housing has a developer accommodating portion and includes a first side wall and a second side wall. A coupling member is disposed at a position opposite to the developer accommodating portion with respect to the first side wall. A detection body is disposed at a position opposite to the developer accommodating portion with respect to the second side wall. A first driving force transmission member is positioned at the same side with the coupling member with respect to the first side wall, and transmits driving force from the coupling member to a rotating member. A second driving force transmission member is positioned at the same side with the detection body with respect to the second side wall, and transmits driving force from the rotating member to the detection body.
US08995857B2
An image forming apparatus includes: a first image forming unit configured to form an image on a sheet using a first colorant to be heat-fixed on the sheet; a second image forming unit configured to form an image on the sheet using a second colorant that is erasable by heating; and a fixing device arranged further on a downstream side in a sheet conveying direction than the first image forming unit and further on an upstream side in the sheet conveying direction than the second image forming unit and capable of executing fixing processing for heat-fixing the image, which is formed on the sheet by the first image forming unit, on the sheet and executing erasing processing for heating the sheet, on which the image is formed with the second colorant, to erasing temperature to thereby erase the second colorant on the sheet.
US08995856B2
Disclosed is an image processing device including: a sample output unit to instruct a print device to successively print test images on a plurality of sheets of the recording paper; a profile preparing unit to prepare a plurality of profiles of the density unevenness in the sub-scanning direction in the plurality of sheets of the recording paper, from measuring data obtained by optically reading the test images; an analyzing unit to analyze the profiles by arranging the profiles in a printing order apart from each other so as to correspond to intervals of the sheets of the recording paper, and to detect a long period density unevenness in the sub-scanning direction, which has a long period extending through the plurality of sheets of the recording paper; and a correction data preparing unit to prepare correction data for removing the long period density unevenness.
US08995851B2
A developing device includes a developer container, an agitation conveyance member, a toner detection sensor, and a scraper. Agitation conveyance member agitates and conveys a developer in developer container. Toner detection sensor detects a toner concentration or a remaining amount of toner in developer container. Scraper is provided in agitation conveyance member, and cleans a detection surface of toner detection sensor when agitation conveyance member rotates. Scraper includes a first member that comes into contact with detection surface of toner detection sensor when agitation conveyance member rotates forward, and a second member that comes into contact with detection surface of toner detection sensor when agitation conveyance member rotates reversely. First member has a wear resistance higher than that of second member, and a coefficient of friction between second member and detection surface is higher than a coefficient of friction between first member and detection surface.
US08995848B2
Disclosed is an image forming apparatus including: an image forming unit to form an image on paper fed from the selected feed tray; a density sensor to measure a density of the image formed on the paper; and a control unit to control execution of an output paper density adjustment in accordance with a result obtained by forming a test image on the paper by using the image forming unit and by measuring the density of the test image formed on the paper by using the density sensor, wherein the control unit executes the output paper density adjustment by changing the feed tray for feeding the paper, from the feed tray designated in a print job to the substitute feed tray at a predetermined timing while the print job is executed, regardless of the paper setting information related to the substitute feed tray.
US08995837B2
An ONU includes a CDR that regenerates a clock based on a signal from an OLT, an oscillator that generates an internal clock, a time stamp counter that manages a time of the ONU based on the clock in a period in which the CDR regenerates the clock and manages the time of the ONU based on the internal clock in a period in which the CDR does not regenerate the clock, an MPCP control unit that decides, when a Cyclic Sleep mode is set, a receiver-time synchronization time that is a period in which the receiver is normally operated within a sleep time, based on a difference between a time stamp value included in the signal transmitted from the OLT and a time stamp managed by the time stamp counter, and a power-saving control unit that controls the receiver to be normally operated in the receiver-time synchronization time.
US08995831B2
A method for processing optical signals includes performing frequency mixing, photoelectric detection, analog/digital conversion, and dispersion compensation on received input optical signals. First-path polarization multiplexing optical signals and second-path polarization multiplexing optical signals. An initialization update process is performed on filter coefficients. Polarization compensation is performed on the first-path polarization multiplexing optical signals and the second-path polarization multiplexing optical signals by using the filter coefficients on which the initialization update is performed to obtain initialized x-path optical signals and initialized y-path optical signals. Preset x-path training sequences and y-path training sequences are synchronized by using the initialized x-path optical signals and the initialized y-path optical signals. If a synchronization result indicates that polarization cross occurs, the polarization cross is rectified.
US08995825B2
Access point pictures designated as randomly accessible positions are I pictures or P pictures. Information indicating the decoding sequence (I1, P1, B1, B2, B3, B4, P2, . . . ) of pictures functioning as access points and attribute information (picture_type) indicating whether a picture functions as an access point or is necessary for decoding of the access point following a given access point are recorded on the video information recording medium. Random access is possible even if the GOP interval is lengthened.
US08995824B2
An apparatus for recording multimedia content transmitted over a network including a reception interface for receiving the multimedia content from the network, a user input interface for receiving user inputs, and a storage resource including executable instructions including a recording module for recording the multimedia content in accordance with the user inputs. The user inputs also include a multimedia selection signal for indicating the multimedia content to be recorded, and a segmenting signal for indicating a size of at least one of a plurality of segments in which the multimedia content is recorded.
US08995821B2
A device is provided for use with a digital content provider and a content purchaser. The content provider can provide digital content and a first digital key, wherein the digital content has quantified digital rights associated therewith. The device includes a receiving portion, a security portion, a content database, an interface portion and a transmitting portion. The receiving portion can receive the digital content and the first digital key. The security portion can access the digital content with the first digital key. The content database can store the digital content. The interface portion can offer to the content purchaser the digital content and can enable the content purchaser to purchase the digital content in accordance with purchased quantified digital rights. The security portion can further encrypt the digital content with a digital key such that the content purchaser may use the purchased digital content.
US08995820B2
Identification of starting and ending times of commercial breaks and commercials within those commercial breaks found in audiovisual content is disclosed. A solution to a “batch optimization” problem is used in which commercial locations within a set of audiovisual content are detected as a group by choosing a set of commercial locations which optimizes a cost function which can include considerations of, for example, 1) one or more cues, 2) relative locations of commercials within the audiovisual content, and/or 3) probability models based on statistics obtained regarding characteristics of typical commercial and commercial breaks. Optimization can be done over the total set of commercial location decisions, rather than on a per-commercial basis. Additionally, the cost function can be iteratively evaluated and many more types of cues and combinations of cues can be used in detection of commercials.
US08995817B2
Embodiments of the invention include a method that comprises receiving a request to record television content on a specified channel for a specified period of time. The method can also include tuning to the specified channel at the specified time, and recording the specified content. The method can also include determining that one or more segments of the television content is corrupted. The method can also include presenting a notification indicating that some of the television content is corrupted, retuning to the specified channel made by the request, and acquiring uncorrupted television content for use in replacing the one or more segments of corrupted television content.
US08995813B2
An optical apparatus comprises: a waveguide substrate, optical cladding formed on the substrate; a waveguide core formed within the cladding, an optically absorptive layer formed within the cladding, and a linearly polarized light source. The waveguide core includes an attenuating segment thereof, and the absorptive layer is formed near the attenuating segment of the core. The core and cladding are arranged to form an optical waveguide that supports a propagating optical mode. The absorptive layer is positioned near the attenuating segment of the core so as to spatially overlap a portion of the optical mode. The extent of the overlap results in a designed level of optical loss per unit distance of propagation of a linearly polarized optical signal along the attenuating segment of the optical core in the optical mode without substantial alteration of the polarization state of the optical signal.
US08995803B2
An optical fiber link suitable for use in a mode division multiplexing (MDM) optical transmission system is disclosed. The link has a first optical fiber having a core which supports the propagation and transmission of an optical signal with X LP modes at a wavelength of 1550 nm, wherein X is an integer greater than 1 and less than or equal to 20, the first fiber having a positive differential mode group delay between the LP01 and LP11 modes at a wavelength between 1530-1570. The link also has a second optical fiber having a core which supports the propagation and transmission of an optical signal with Y LP modes at a wavelength of 1550 nm, wherein Y is an integer greater than 1 and less than or equal to 20, said optical fiber having a negative differential mode group delay between the LP01 and LP11 modes at a wavelength between 1530-1570.
US08995802B2
An IR supercontinuum source for generating supercontinuum in the MIR or possibly LWIR spectral bands comprises a supercontinuum fiber formed from a heavy metal oxide host glass having low optical loss and high non-linearity over the spectral band that is stable, strong and chemically durable. The supercontinuum fiber is suitably a depressed inner clad fiber configured to support only single transverse spatial mode propagation of the pump signal and supercontinuum. The source suitably includes a tapered depressed inner clad fiber to couple the pump signal into the supercontinuum fiber. The source may be configured as an “all-fiber” source.
US08995800B2
A method of fabricating silicon waveguides with embedded active circuitry from silicon-on-insulator wafers utilizes photolithographic microfabrication techniques to define waveguide structures and embedded circuit recesses for receiving integrated circuitry. The method utilizes a double masking layer, one layer of which at least partially defines at least one waveguide and the other layer of which at least partially defines the at least one waveguide and at least one embedded circuit recess. The photolithographic microfabrication techniques are sufficiently precise for the required small structural features of high frequency waveguides and the double masking layer allows the method to be completed more efficiently. The basic fabrication method may be extended to provide batch arrays to mass produce silicon waveguide devices.
US08995797B2
A Periodic Cluster State Generator (PCSG) consisting of a monolithic integrated waveguide device that employs four wave mixing, an array of probabilistic Photon Guns, single mode Sequential Entanglers and an array of controllable entangling gates between modes to create arbitrary size and shape cluster states with several constraints. The cluster state is assumed linear or square lattice. Only nearest neighbor qubits are entangled. Such a cluster state resource has been proven to be able to perform universal quantum computing if the initial state is large enough.
US08995795B1
Textual errors in digital volumes in a corpus are corrected by comparing a set of similar digital volumes, the set including a basis volume and a plurality of comparison volumes. The basis volume is compared with the comparison volumes to identify sequences of text that are identical across all of the candidate volumes and mismatched sequences of text that contain different text in at least one of the candidate volumes. The correct text for at least some of the mismatched sequences is resolved by comparing the different text in the different candidate volumes. The mismatched sequences are replaced by the resolved correct text, thereby correcting errors in the candidate volumes.
US08995786B2
An image processing apparatus capable of appropriately arranging a plurality of images of an output target in an output region is provided. For example, when the plurality of images is arranged in rows and columns by the arrangement unit, if there is a row or a column in which a number of images is less than a predetermined number of images, the number of images in the row or column is identified. Then, from the plurality of combinations, based on the number of images identified by the identification unit, for each of a plurality of combinations of number of rows and number of columns when the plurality of imaged is arranged, a combination of the number of rows and the number of columns is determined.
US08995784B2
A structure descriptor for an m×n pixel block of an image may be determined. The m×n pixel block may contain a primary pixel having a primary pixel value and a plurality of secondary pixels having respective secondary pixel values. The structure descriptor may include a plurality of structure indicators each associated with a respective secondary pixel. The respective structure indicators may be based on the primary pixel value and the respective secondary pixel value of the associated secondary pixel. Based on the structure descriptor, a structure value for the m×n pixel block may be determined. Based on the structure value, image processing may be applied to the m×n pixel block.
US08995778B2
The invention relates to methods and apparatuses for encoding/decoding high resolution images, which involve setting the size of the prediction unit to be encoded to an expanded macro-block size in accordance with the temporal frequency characteristics or spatial frequency characteristics among pictures to be encoded, and performing motion prediction motion compensation, and transformation on the basis of a set prediction unit size. In addition, the methods and the apparatuses of the present invention involve dividing a macro-block having a pixel size of 32*32 or 64*64 into at least one partition on the basis of an edge, and performing encoding processes for each partition. Accordingly, encoding efficiency can be improved for high definition (HD) or higher resolution high-resolution images.
US08995770B2
Performing word recognition operations to determine what an image of a word represents. The method includes accessing a first image. The first image represents an image version of a word. The method further includes accessing a second image. The second image also represents an image version of a word. Using a warp mesh, the method includes warping the second image to cause the second image to approximately match the first image by applying a mesh to the second image and moving vertices of the mesh to warp the second image. The difference between the warped second image and the unwarped first image are determined.
US08995769B2
A method of obtaining contact information for a person or an entity is disclosed. The method comprises detecting a name of the person or the entity in a frame from a screen of a device; determining a presence status for the detected name based on one or more connectivity status for the detected name in one or more communication applications and/or one or more databases, where the one or more communication applications operate on the device from which the frame originates and where the one or more databases are accessible on the device; displaying the presence status on the screen of the device.
US08995766B1
An image processing module is provided. A de-mosaic unit in the image processing module includes an edge direction detection unit and a multi-pixel directional interpolation unit. The edge direction detection unit is used to determine a first color row luminance difference according to a plurality of first color pixels of a pixel row of raw data, and determine a first color column luminance difference according to a plurality of first color pixels of a pixel column of raw data. The multi-pixels directional interpolation unit is used to determine pixel luminance of a third color array according to the first color column luminance difference, the first color row luminance difference, the third color pixels adjacent to a first color pixel and the third color pixels adjacent to a second color pixel.
US08995765B2
A digital image processing apparatus and method are provided. The digital image processing apparatus includes: a Y component processing unit receiving a Y component and performing edge enhancement processing and first noise reduction processing on the Y component by using a memory allocated to the Y component; and a CbCr processing unit receiving a Cb component and a Cr component, and performing false color suppression processing and second noise reduction processing on the Cb component and the Cr component by using a memory allocated to the Cb component and the Cr component, where the Y component, the Cb component and the Cr component are variables of the YCbCr color space.
US08995760B2
The invention provides a method and apparatus for coloring a cosmetic covering. The apparatus includes image acquisition apparatus (18) operative to acquire an image of a part of a human or animal body to provide a digital color image, processing apparatus (20) operative to determine a calibration transform for colors of an image acquired by the image acquisition apparatus, the processing apparatus being further operative to transform the digital color image with the calibration transform to provide a color compensated digital color image, pigment mixing apparatus (26) operative to mix a plurality of pigments of different colors in dependence on at least one color characteristic of at least one color within the color compensated digital color image to produce at least one mixed pigment, and pigment applying apparatus (24) operative to apply the at least one mixed pigment to a cosmetic covering.
US08995729B2
Systems, methods and computer-readable media that facilitate matching biometric data to entries in a gallery of biometric data. According to embodiments, a method is provided to match a query comprising biometric data to zero or more of the entries in the gallery. According to this method, a match query is received. The entries in the gallery of biometric data can then be filtered using features of the biometric data to produce a subset of entries that excludes unlikely matches to the query biometric data. A set of candidate entries can be created from the subset of entries where the candidate entries are high probability matches to the query biometric data above a certain pre-determined threshold.
US08995727B2
A mechanism is provided for identifying one or more eligible image candidates. Responsive to a determination that the storage of a recently captured image raising an allocated captured images memory space in a storage to a point that storage of a next captured image would raise the allocated captured images memory space in the storage above the predetermined threshold, a criteria group in a set of criteria groups is identified to utilize for identification of one or more images candidates from a set of stored images in the storage. The one or more images candidates from the set of stored images in the storage are identified utilizing one or more image identification criteria in the criteria group. The one or more image candidates are then presented to a user.
US08995725B2
A comprehensive system to enhance the aesthetic quality of the photographs captured by mobile consumers provides on-site composition and aesthetics feedback through retrieved examples. Composition feedback is qualitative in nature and responds by retrieving highly aesthetic exemplar images from the corpus which are similar in content and composition to the snapshot. Color combination feedback provides confidence on the snapshot to contain good color combinations. Overall aesthetics feedback predicts the aesthetic ratings for both color and monochromatic images. An algorithm is used to provide ratings for color images, while new features and a new model are developed to treat monochromatic images. This system was designed keeping the next generation photography needs in mind and is the first of its kind. The feedback rendered is guiding and intuitive in nature. It is computed in situ while requiring minimal input from the user.
US08995720B2
A non-transitory information storage medium stores a program for causing a computer to execute processing including obtaining a search region for a search of the outside of one object and selecting any object in the search region as a search result from among a plurality of other objects.
US08995714B2
Score determination means 62 determines a score, which indicates how accurately points in real space in respective images respectively acquired by a plurality of image acquisition means represent a target object, for each combination of image acquisition means and point in real space. View status determination means 63 determines the status of view to each point in real space from each image acquisition means by using non-target object presence information indicating to image acquisition means where a non-target object that conceals a target object is present, and determines probability density functions of a score corresponding to the result of the view status determination. Existence probability calculation means 64 determines an existence probability of a target object being present at a point in real space by using probability density functions for each combination of the image acquisition means and point in real space. Estimation information creation means 65 creates information for estimating position from the existence probability.
US08995712B2
A method for automatically detecting and tracking multiple targets in a multi-camera surveillance zone and system thereof. In each camera view of the system only a simple object detection algorithm is needed. The detection results from multiple cameras are fused into a posterior distribution, named TDP, based on the Bayesian rule. This TDP distribution represents a likelihood of presence of some moving targets on the ground plane. To properly handle the tracking of multiple moving targets with time, a sample-based framework which combines Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC), Sequential Monte Carlo (SMC), and Mean-Shift Clustering, is provided. The detection and tracking accuracy is evaluated by both synthesized videos and real videos. The experimental results show that this method and system can accurately track a varying number of targets.
US08995711B2
Systems and methods are described for imperceptibly embedding information by identifying locations that can be imperceptibly modified, where the imperceptible modification by replacing original content using replacement content derived from elsewhere in the compressed bitstream to remove at least a portion of the original content, generating at least one piece of replacement data for each identified location, where overwriting a portion of the compressed bitstream with replacement data prevents a decoder from decoding original content due to decoding replacement content derived from elsewhere in the compressed bitstream, selecting pieces of replacement data using an embedding device, where overwriting portions of the compressed bitstream using pieces of replacement data encodes payload information in accordance with a predetermined coding scheme, and embedding the payload information in the compressed bitstream by using the embedding device to overwrite at least a portion of the compressed bitstream with the selected replacement data.
US08995695B2
A speaker system includes: a first speaker unit having a predetermined directivity angle in the horizontal direction; and a pair of second speaker units which are disposed opposite to each other with the first speaker unit sandwiched between them when viewed in the vertical direction and which have a directivity angle in the horizontal direction greater than the directivity angle of the first speaker unit, wherein distances from the center of the first speaker unit to the centers of the pair of second speaker units are equal to each other, and the first speaker unit and the pair of second speaker units are disposed so as to face toward the same direction.
US08995692B2
An apparatus for personal media playing, the apparatus comprising: a signal receiver, configured to receive a media signal, a signal generator, in communication with the signal receiver, configured to derive a plurality of signals from the received media signal, and tailor each of the derived signals for a respective one of a plurality of body areas of a user, and a plurality of vibration devices, in communication with the signal generator, each vibration device being deployable on a respective one of the body areas of the user and configured to vibrate on the body area, according to the signal tailored for the body area.
US08995690B2
A microphone and a method for calibrating a microphone are disclosed. In one embodiment the method for calibrating a microphone comprises operating a MEMS device based on a first AC bias voltage, measuring a pull-in voltage, calculating a second AC bias voltage or a DC bias voltage, and operating the MEMS device based the second AC bias voltage or the DC bias voltage.
US08995684B2
A digital audio data output device having first and second post-processors that process received digital audio data in parallel. Each processor includes a mixer unit that processes received digital audio data on the fly in response to a channel mode control signal, and a volume control unit that adjusts volume level of output of the mixer unit on the fly in response to a volume level control signal. Each mixer unit includes first and second buffers that can respectively store first and second channel data, a calculator that calculates mix data from the outputs of the buffers, a third buffer that stores the mix data, and an output unit. The output unit selects and outputs one of the received digital audio data, the output of the first buffer, the output of the second buffer, the mix data, and output of the third buffer, as the output of the mixer unit.
US08995683B2
Disclosed are methods and devices for adapting a ringtone in accordance with ambient noise. In one embodiment a method includes processing an ambient noise signal to determine an ambient noise volume. When there is an incoming communication and it is determined that the ambient noise has a low ambient noise volume, a method can include generating a ringtone having a ringtone volume that is initially a low volume and increasing the ringtone volume over a predetermined period of time. A method can include applying a filter to the ringtone signal to increase a signal-to-noise ratio, the filter configured to increase an amplitude of a frequency that is not one of the predominant frequencies of the ambient noise and that the transducer is configured to output according to the transducer frequency response. In another embodiment, a second transducer may generate a ringtone output in addition to the first transducer.
US08995679B2
Through a cable coupling two portions of a communications headset, conductors of the cable providing electric power from one of the portions to another are caused to do so with one of a selection of different predetermined voltage levels used to control aspects of one or more functions performed by the communications headset, including enabling or disabling functions, perhaps at least partially by controlling the manner in which the provided electric power is used.
US08995677B2
Accessories such as headsets for electronic devices are provided. A headset may be provided with a button controller assembly that has user-actuated buttons. The button controller assembly may be formed of housing portions that float with respect to each other. Plastic engagement structures may limit the amount of unimpeded travel that is exhibited by the housing portions. The housing portions may be formed from first and second housings. A rigid frame may be mounted within the second housing. The first housing may flex along its length when the user squeezes the first and second housings together to actuate a desired button. Housings may be formed as double-shot plastic parts having first and second plastics with different properties. Integrated circuits and a microphone may be mounted within the button controller assembly. A nonoperational microphone port may be provided as a visual indicator that the button controller contains a microphone.
US08995672B2
The present disclosure provides a method of determining microphone polarity in a headset. By being able to detect the polarity of the microphone within the headset, a portable electronic device may be compatible with any headset and is not limited to use with a specific headset. By applying a detection signal over one of lines within a headset cable, a return signal may be sensed on one of the other lines to determine which of the lines is the ground line and which line is the microphone line.
US08995652B1
A streaming one time pad cipher using rotating ports for data encryption uses a One Time Pad (OTP) and an Exclusive Or (XOR) (or other cipher) with a public key channel to encrypt and decrypt OTP data. There is no method in cryptography to thwart the OTP/XOR method and it is proven impossible to crack. The method also rotates the ports of the channels periodically to increase communication obfuscation. Through pre-fetching and cache of OTP data, latency increases from encryption are kept to an absolute minimum as the XOR for encryption and decryption is done with a minimal number of instructions.
US08995649B2
Conventional Universal Serial Bus (USB) headsets or other headsets capable of being connected to a digital data port may be connected in a collaborative configuration using a multiple headset integrator. The multiple headset integrator unifies multiple calling parties at a local end point of an audio communication with a remote calling party. Other peripheral communication devices may also be used, and controls may be provided on the multiple headset integrator or control signals may be passed from the headsets or other wearable communication devices.
US08995648B1
Systems and methods are disclosed for conducting an outbound call campaign that involves multiple abandonment rates. In various embodiments, one or more filters are applied to a call list for an outbound call campaign to identify a first sub-list of telephone numbers with a first applicable abandonment rate and a second sub-list of telephone numbers with a second applicable abandonment rate. In particular embodiments, the first and second sub-lists are apportioned into sets of telephone numbers and a predictive dialer places telephone calls based on a first set for the first sub-list while targeting the first abandonment rate over a first particular period of time and, after placing the first group of calls, places telephone calls based on a first set for the second sub-list while targeting the second abandonment rate over a second particular period of time.
US08995636B2
The present invention allows a user to customize her personal conference bridge such that conference participants who connect to the bridge are provided conference information selected by the user. In particular, after each conference participant gains access to the personal conference bridge, the conference information is delivered to a terminal of the conference participant. Although the user associated with the personal conference bridge may be a conference participant, delivery of conference information to the user is optional. The conference information may be any type of media content, or information identifying the location of media content to present to the conference participants.
US08995635B1
Automatic room rescheduling is described. In an embodiment, an apparatus receives status data regarding status of communications resources capable of use in a teleconference call at a first teleconference location. The apparatus determines that a status of one or more of the communications resources might negatively affect the teleconference call. The apparatus receives availability data about other available communications resources and teleconference locations. Based on at least the status data and the availability data, the apparatus reschedules the teleconference call for a second teleconference location. The apparatus communicates information about the rescheduling and identifies the second teleconference location to one or more teleconference call participants. In other embodiments, the invention encompasses a method and a computer-readable medium configured for carrying out the method steps.
US08995633B2
A method includes gathering local call attributes from a call detail record capture utility, linking supplemental attributes to the local call attributes; and generating a local call report, which associates local call routes with a plurality of attributes. A system includes an electronic cost administrator operable to gather call detail records identifying a plurality of calls set up throughout a network and associate a cost with each identified call, a trunk group inventory storing a plurality of local trunk groups that calls can be terminated on, and a local call optimal cost routing matrix generator operable to retrieve selected call setup data from the electronic cost administrator, identify local calls using the trunk group inventory and generate an optimal cost routing matrix associating a plurality of local calls with local routes in a prioritized manner.
US08995626B2
Described is a technology by which a storage at a telephone device (e.g., a client telephone) is synchronized with information corresponding to actions performed at a computing device (e.g., a server) on behalf of the client. For example, the server may employ speech recognition to recognize a name or number spoken into the client telephone, and in response, dial out a corresponding telephone number for the client telephone. This action is synchronized back to the client storage so that the client's call history includes knowledge of the server's dialing action. Thereafter, an action at the telephone device that accesses the call history (e.g., for redialing or scrolling) obtains the full call history, independent of whether the telephone device or computing device performed the action. Changes made via telephone device may be similarly synchronized to the computing device, such as directly dialed calls, user-input speed dial information, and so forth.
US08995624B2
An apparatus and method that enables a case officer to monitor in remotely to P/Ps. The remote supervision server receives GPS data/time-date data/text/audio/video reporting periodically from the parolees and probationers and the GPS data/time-date data/text/audio/video reporting is analyzed. The remote supervision server will send an alert to the case officer if a suspicious behavior is detected. If no suspicious behavior is detected, the remote supervision server will store the analysis result and send a notification to the case officer. The case officer can then check the audio/video reporting and the analysis result later. The remote supervision server also calculates the likelihood of recidivism for each post-release supervised client, parolee or probationer and advises the officer of such risk in order of greatest risk to lowest risk.
US08995622B2
An x-ray source is described. During operation of the x-ray source, an electron source emits a beam of electrons. This beam of electrons is focused to a spot on a target by a magnetic focusing lens. In response to receiving the beam of focused electrons, the target provides a transmission source of x-rays. Moreover, a repositioning mechanism selectively repositions the beam of focused electrons to different locations on a surface of the target based on a feedback parameter associated with operation of the x-ray source. This feedback parameter may be based on: an intensity of the x-rays output by the x-ray source; a position of the x-rays output by the x-ray source; an elapsed time during operation of the x-ray source; a cross-sectional shape of the x-rays output by the x-ray source; and/or a spot size of the x-rays output by the x-ray source.
US08995617B2
The ability to provide a fine resolution variation in the dose rate of radiotherapeutic apparatus would allow delivery times of Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy (VMAT) and related techniques to be reduced significantly. A radiotherapeutic apparatus is described, comprising a source of radiation able to issue pulses of radiation at a base frequency, and a control apparatus arranged to permit pulses provided these match a pulse pattern chosen to achieve a selected time-averaged power level, the chosen pulse pattern being one selected from a plurality of pulse patterns that include patterns consisting of trains of pulses that include, relative to the base frequency, at least every nth and every mth pulse where n≠m and the nth and mth pulses are non-coincident. Essentially, such an apparatus issues a pulse if it is the nth or the mth or the kth (etc) where n, m, k . . . are selectable independently.
US08995616B2
One embodiment of the present disclosure is directed to a mobile X-ray unit. The mobile X-ray unit may include a base for accommodating a control unit for controlling an X-ray applicator and a power supply for supplying power to the X-ray applicator. The mobile X-ray unit may further include an articulated arm associated with the base and coupled to the X-ray applicator. The X-ray applicator may have an X-ray tube configured to emit an X-ray beam through an exit window to irradiate an object. The mobile X-ray unit may further include a dosimetry system adapted for real time dosimetry.
US08995609B2
Briefly described, in an exemplary form, the present invention discloses a system, method and apparatus for X-ray Compton scatter imaging. In one exemplary embodiment, the present invention uses two detectors in a volumetric CT system. A first detector is positioned generally in-line with the angle of attack of the incoming energy, or, generally in-line of path x, where x is the path of the incoming energy. The first, or primary, detector detects various forms of radiation emanating from an object undergoing testing. In some embodiments, the present invention further comprises a Compton scattering system positioned generally normal to path x. In some embodiments, the Compton scattering subsystem comprises a second detector and a pin-hole collimator. The second detector detects Compton scattering energy from the object being tested.
US08995591B2
A wireless communication device configured for receiving multiple signals is described. The wireless communication device includes a single-chip carrier aggregation receiver architecture. The single-chip carrier aggregation receiver architecture includes a first antenna, a second antenna, a third antenna, a fourth antenna and a transceiver chip. The transceiver chip includes multiple carrier aggregation receivers. The single-chip carrier aggregation receiver architecture reuses at least one of the carrier aggregation receivers for secondary diversity.
US08995590B2
An apparatus including a configurable demodulation architecture which includes a control module and a demodulation engine. The control module includes a set of one or more control fields. The demodulation engine includes a spatial whitening module, a Minimum Mean Square Estimation (MMSE) module, at least a first Maximal Ratio Combining (MRC) module, and at least one multiplexer. Further, the multiplexer is coupled to the instruction module and controlled based on the control fields to select at least one of the MMSE module or MRC module.
US08995589B1
An accurate channel frequency response is obtained by processing an extracted number of pilot tones provided at different locations within a received OFDM symbol. This includes filtering the extracted pilot tones with a first window function, converting the thus filtered pilot tones to a first channel impulse response signal that may include a main tap and a plurality of adjacent taps, removing taps whose absolute values or energy levels are below a predetermined level, processing the remaining taps having sufficient absolute values or energy levels into a second channel impulse response signal that is significantly free of noises, converting the second channel impulse response signal to a frequency-domain signal, and filtering the frequency-domain signal with a second window function having an inverse characteristic of that of the first window function to obtain an accurate channel frequency response.
US08995583B2
A technique for decoding a signal in a communication network is provided. A method implementation of the technique comprises the steps of receiving a signal; identifying a position in the signal; initializing a Viterbi state metric; and decoding the encoded signal by means of a wrap-around Viterbi algorithm. The received signal comprises information, wherein the signal is encoded by a tail-biting convolutional code. The identified position relates to a known portion of the information. The initialized Viterbi state metric is consistent with the known portion of the information. The decoding uses the initial Viterbi state metric, wherein the decoding starts at a decoding step following the identified position.
US08995580B2
In one embodiment, a transmitter includes a binary sequence generator unit configured to provide a sequence of reference signal bits, wherein the sequence is an inseparable function of a cell identification parameter, a cyclic prefix mode corresponding to the transmitter and one or more time indices of the sequence. The transmitter also include a mapping unit that transforms the sequence of reference signal bits into a complex reference signal, and a transmit unit configured to transmit the complex reference signal. In another embodiment, a receiver includes a receive unit configured to receive a complex reference signal and a reference signal decoder unit configured to detect a sequence of reference signal bits from the complex reference signal, wherein the sequence is an inseparable function of a cell identification parameter, a cyclic prefix mode corresponding to a transmitter and one or more time indices of the sequence.
US08995577B2
Apparatus for measurement of the reception time of a pulse in a receiving system, which contains at least one receiving channel with a non-linear transmission response, which receiving channel produces at its output a received signal, having a memory, in which the received signals of reference pulses with a predetermined different amplitude are available as reference signals with respect to a time scale, and having an evaluation device, which is connected to the receiving system and to the memory and compares a received signal with each reference signal with a variant time offset in order to determine that reference signal and that time offset for which the comparison discrepancy is a minimum, and outputs this time offset as the reception time with respect to the time scale.
US08995576B2
The invention relates to a method for estimating frequency bias negatively affecting a digital signal representative of a symbol frame, wherein said method comprises the steps of: generating the digital signal at a sampling period Te that is shorter than a predefined period of each of the symbols of the frame; calculating values for a plurality of pairs of samples of the digital signal, each value being representative of a phase difference between the samples of a pair; estimating the frequency bias negatively affecting the digital signal on the basis of the values calculated for Np pairs of samples selected such that a plurality of said Np pairs belong strictly to a single symbol in the frame. The present invention also relates to a module for implementing the estimation method, as well as to a telecommunication method and system.
US08995572B1
Systems and techniques relating to wireless communications are described. A described technique includes aligning a received data sequence with a transmitted data sequence to produce an aligned data sequence, the received data sequence being based on an output of a power amplifier having one or more nonlinear characteristics that is responsive to the transmitted data sequence; dividing the aligned data sequence into N segments; obtaining first nonlinear parameters for the power amplifier based at least on first segments of the N segments; obtaining a second nonlinear parameter(s) corresponding to a second segment(s) of the N segments based on an extrapolation of the first nonlinear parameters, the second segment(s) having a lower transmitted data sequence value(s) than the first segments; and performing digital predistortion on a transmit data sequence based on the nonlinear predistortion parameters to compensate for the one or more nonlinear characteristics of the power amplifier.
US08995561B2
In a radio communication method non-contiguously using a frequency, notification information is reduced, while suppressing an effect on performance. In a communication apparatus which switches between a communication method contiguously using a frequency and a communication method non-contiguously using the frequency, sets a parameter corresponding to each communication method, and performs radio communication, the communication apparatus sets a same parameter to an entire frequency band in the communication method contiguously using the frequency, while dividing a frequency band into a plurality of frequency bands and setting a different parameter for each divided frequency band in the communication method non-contiguously using the frequency. The communication method contiguously using the frequency and the communication method non-contiguously using the frequency mutually have different PAPR (Peak to Average Power Ratio) characteristics.
US08995560B2
An apparatus and method measures power of channels generated by a multiple-carrier transmitter that upconverts a plurality of baseband signals to a corresponding plurality of assigned carrier frequencies to generate an RF wideband signal. A measurement module's input interface receives a selected baseband signal and a corresponding assigned carrier frequency as well as the RF wideband signal. An undersampling component undersamples the RF wideband signal for a sampling interval to generate a plurality of measured aliased samples. A determination component determines a plurality of determined aliased samples based on the selected baseband signal upconverted to the corresponding assigned carrier frequency. A correlator correlates the plurality of measured aliased samples with the plurality of determined aliased samples to produce a correlation result. A transmit power component determines a transmitted power of the correlation result for a selected channel of the RF wideband signal corresponding to the selected baseband signal as upconverted.
US08995554B2
A method and apparatus of reducing interference in space frequency block coding (SFBC) communication are disclosed. SFBC encoding is performed on at least one pair of symbols. The symbols are assigned to subcarriers in accordance with a frequency assignment pattern assigned to a cell. Different frequency assignment patterns are assigned to neighboring cells. Cells in the network may be divided into a plurality of groups and a different frequency assignment pattern may be assigned to each group of cells. The frequency assignment pattern may be defined such that subcarriers mapped to a pair of symbols in one cell are interlaced to subcarriers mapped to a pair of symbols in a neighbor cell. Alternatively, the frequency assignment pattern may be defined such that subcarriers mapped to a pair of symbols in one cell are shifted in a neighbor cell.
US08995551B2
An apparatus and method for generating a codebook in a wireless communication system are disclosed. The codebook generation apparatus includes a processor for generating a covariance matrix of a channel between the transmitting end and a receiving end, using a unitary matrix including a first vector corresponding to at least one quantized dominant singular singular vector of the channel and a second vector corresponding to at least one basis vector of a null space of the first vector, and transforming a predefined first codebook by applying the covariance matrix of the channel to the first codebook.
US08995549B2
A method and apparatus are provided for transmitting a source signal including a plurality of binary sequences to NR receiving antennas, where NR is no lower than 2. The method implements, for at least one first binary sequence of the source signal, pre-filtering for focusing a signal to be transmitted on at least one of the reception antennas, referred to as the target antenna. The target antenna and the associated focus pre-filtering step are selected according to a value of the first binary sequence intended for being considered as received. The method also includes transmitting the pre-filtered signal.
US08995548B2
An Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing communication system is provided that schedules a transmission of uplink sounding signals or channel quality feedback signals in sounding intervals, or sounding zones, that are outside of the sub-frames, thereby preserving sub-frame capacity for other overhead and data transmissions.
US08995546B2
A software defined radio is disclosed. The software defined radio may utilize a method for encoding a bit stream into non-periodic spiral-based symbol waveforms for transmission and reception. The method includes transmitting a signal constructed from one or more non-periodic modulation sets residing on a memory system of the software defined radio, where each modulation set corresponds to a symbol alphabet and provides non-periodic symbol waveforms corresponding to symbol bit sequences segmented by a microprocessor according to alphabet size. The method also includes receiving the signal constructed from one or more spiral modulation sets, wherein the signal from one or more spiral modulation sets are filtered and then fed to an analog to digital converter, where the signal constructed from the one or more spiral modulation sets is digitized and are fed to the microprocessor. A non-transitory computer storage media may also execute the method.
US08995539B2
Methods and apparatus for determining, e.g., selecting, communications resources, e.g., tones, to use in a communications system are described. The methods are well suited for use in Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) systems. Devices seeking to transmit information select tones in pairs for use in transmitting the information. Each tone pair includes a tone and the corresponding image tone. By restricting a communications device to select communications frequencies in pairs, the problem of interference and reduced dynamic range at a receiver due to IQ imbalance is reduced, as compared to the case where devices may use a tone independent of the corresponding image tone for transmission purposes, since the path loss from the transmitter to the receiver is likely to be the same for both tones and the transmission power level is controlled by an individual device using both of the tones.
US08995531B2
Technologies are generally described herein for extracting a representative motion flow from a video. Technologies are also generally described herein for retrieving a video utilizing the representative motion flow. The representative motion flow may be extracted utilizing a sliding window approach to generate interesting motion flows. The representative motion flow may be generated based on the interesting motion flows.
US08995525B2
To increase efficiency of a bit-depth scalable data-stream an inter-layer prediction is obtained by mapping samples of the representation of the picture or video source data with a first picture sample bit-depth from a first dynamic range corresponding to the first picture sample bit-depth to a second dynamic range greater than the first dynamic range and corresponding to a second picture sample bit-depth being higher than the first picture sample bit-depth by use of one or more global mapping functions being constant within the picture or video source data or varying at a first granularity, and a local mapping function locally modifying the one or more global mapping functions and varying at a second granularity smaller than the first granularity, with forming the quality-scalable data-stream based on the local mapping function such that the local mapping function is derivable from the quality-scalable data-stream.
US08995521B2
A method and system for high density pulse density modulation is disclosed. In accordance with the present disclosure, a modulation function is split in to two band limited streams using a complementary pair of non-linear functions. More specifically, one bitstream definition contains the peaks of the original function while the other bitstream contains a soft clipping version of the original bitstream. The bitstreams are applied to a pair of switching amplifiers, and the bitstreams can be combined again to reconstruct the original function. The method in accordance with the present disclosure limits the amount of input power necessary to achieve higher output power, lowers operating voltage and improves power amplifier efficiency.
US08995519B2
Generating updated coefficients for an adaptive equalizer involves generating phase tracking information using asynchronous detection strategy (ADS) based on resolved data, and equalized signals, and estimating a phase corrected error based on the equalized signals, the phase tracking information and the resolved data. An inhibit signal is generated to inhibit updating of the equalization coefficients, the inhibit signal representing a likelihood of the phase corrected error being accurate, determined according to the phase corrected error, and the equalized signals. The equalization coefficients for the equalizer are adapted based on the received signals, and on the phase corrected error, and the adapting is inhibited according to the inhibit signal. Compared to conventional ADS, the new combination with the inhibit signal can enable improved convergence of coefficient adaptation. This is particularly useful for coherent receivers for optical systems.
US08995517B2
The present invention relates to a device for the location of passive intermodulation faults in a coaxial cable network. The test apparatus (100) according to one embodiment of the present invention utilizes a pair of high-power, frequency-synthesized, unmodulated RF carriers v1(t) (101) and v2(t) (102) are generated inside the HPA module of the apparatus. The power and frequency of v1(t) (101) and v2(t) (102) can be independently set to a range of values, v1(t), v2(t) are combined inside the instrument and then applied to the input of the device under test (DUT). The PIM signals (107,108,109) generated in the DUT are combined to produce the primary PIM signal vIM(t) (103). The apparatus also includes two receivers (110,111, 112,113,114,115) for the detection of vIM(t) 103 and vREF(t) (104). These signals are downconverted to 455 kHz. The two 455 kHz waveforms are digitized with a dual- channel A/D converter (116,117) and the amplitude ratio and phase offset between the digitized waveforms are calculated and stored.
US08995512B2
Receivers (500) and methods of adaptively adjusting the receivers based on a received interferer are described. The peak-to-average ratio of a received signal is used to determine the type of interferer. The ratio and interferer type, in addition to the type of on-channel signal, are used to select parameters to adjust the decay time of a peak detector (516), and the threshold and hysteresis of a comparator (518). The peak detector (516) and comparator (518) are used to generate an off-channel flag that indicates the presence of a relatively strong interferer to other modules in the receiver (500). If valid data is not present a default set of parameters is provided. The ratio is determined by dividing the maximum peak over the average or a range of ratios is determined by comparing a scaled value of the average to different scaled values of the peak.
US08995494B1
Techniques and architecture are disclosed for providing a laser system. In one specific example embodiment, the system includes a thulium-doped fiber laser coupled by silica glass fiber to a remote optical converter (ROC) including a Ho:YAG laser and, optionally, an optical parametric oscillator (OPO) utilizing zinc germanium phosphide (ZnGeP2; ZGP) or orientation-patterned gallium arsenide (OPGaAs). The fiber laser may emit a low-peak-power, continuous wave pump signal that pumps the Ho:YAG laser, which in turn emits a higher-peak-power, pulsed signal. When included, the OPO can be used to convert the resultant, pulsed signal to a longer wavelength (e.g., about 2-5 μm, or greater). In some cases, distributed architecture and reduced weight/bulk may be realized while eliminating the need to actively cool the ROC for operation, for example, over a broad temperature range (e.g., −55-125° C.). Also, methods of preparing high-peak-power, pulsed signals using such systems are disclosed.
US08995493B2
A VCSEL array device formed of a monolithic array of raised VCSELs on an electrical contact and raised inactive regions connected to the electrical contact. The VCSELs can be spaced symmetrically or asymmetrically, in a manner to improve power or speed, or in phase and in parallel. The raised VCSELs and raised inactive regions are positioned between the electrical contact and an electrical waveguide. The VCSELs may be separated into subarrays and each VCSEL may be covered with an integrated or bonded microlens for directing light without external lenses. The microlenses may be offset to collect or collimate light and may be shaped to form various lens profiles.
US08995488B2
A high-gain optical amplifier for a wave to be amplified at a wavelength referred to as the emission wavelength, includes: optical pumping elements (4) producing a pump wave at a wavelength referred to as the pump wavelength; a solid amplifying medium (1) that is doped with active ions, the solid amplifying medium being capable of emitting laser radiation at the emission wavelength when the medium is pumped by the pumping elements; cooling elements (2) capable of cooling the solid amplifying medium to a temperature of no higher than 250 Kelvin; and optical multiplexing elements capable of coupling together the pump wave and the wave to be amplified in the amplifying medium. The amplifying medium has Stark sublevels contained within a spectral domain ranging over less than 200 cm−1 (approximately 20 nm, when expressed in wavelength). A laser including a resonant optical cavity and an amplifier are also described.
US08995486B2
There provided is a semiconductor laser control device which including plural light sources that are configured with eight or more semiconductor laser elements, a one detecting section that detects a light power of the light sources, a light power control unit that compares a signal according to a light power detected by the detecting section with a control signal corresponding to a predetermined light power to control a current supplied to the light sources, and a voltage clamp circuit that functions as an overvoltage preventing means for the detecting section when turning on each of the light sources to perform light power control.
US08995479B2
The present invention relates to a laser apparatus having a structure for removing a skirt portion contained in pulsed light, and a laser processing method using the laser apparatus. The laser apparatus comprises a MOPA fiber laser light source which outputs pulsed light having a skirt portion with a light intensity lower than a predetermined value, and a saturable absorber which removes a skirt portion from the pulsed light outputted from the MOPA fiber laser light source.
US08995453B2
A system, apparatus and a method for implementing a secured communications link at a layer other than that at which packets are filtered are disclosed. In one embodiment, a computer system is configured to form a virtual private network (“VPN”) and comprises an address inspection driver to identify initial target packet traffic addressed to a target server. Also, the computer system includes a pseudo server module to receive rerouted initial target packet traffic from the address inspection driver. The pseudo server module is configured to convey packet regeneration instructions to a VPN gateway. The address inspection driver functions to identify additional target packet traffic addressed to the target server and routes the additional target packet traffic to the pseudo server. In one embodiment, the pseudo server is configured to strip header information from the additional target packet traffic to form a payload, and thereafter, to route the payload to the target.
US08995451B2
Embodiments of a network architecture include a backbone node having a plurality of independent routers or switches connected in a matrix, wherein the matrix includes a plurality of stages of routers or switches, to form a node having a node switching capacity that is greater than the node switching capacity of the individual routers or switches. A method includes assigning one of a plurality of backbone networks to a destination network address, associating a next hop loopback address with the destination network address, and advertising the destination network address in combination with the next hop loopback address through the selected backbone network address.
US08995446B2
In one embodiment, a router may store a “neighbor table” for storing the router's Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) neighbors. Each neighbor corresponds to a virtual routing and forwarding (VRF) instance and associated VRF identifier (ID), and the neighbor table indexes the BGP neighbors according to their respective VRF ID. In response to initiating a BGP update generation for a BGP table having BGP network entries, each entry having an associated VRF ID that indicates to which VRF instance the BGP entry is to be advertised, a single lookup operation for each BGP entry is performed into the neighbor table based on the corresponding VRF ID of each BGP entry to determine a corresponding VRF update group of indexed BGP neighbors to which each BGP entry is to be advertised. Accordingly, a shared BGP update may be generated for each VRF update group for the initiated BGP update generation.
US08995443B2
A hybrid device can execute hybrid ARP functionality to manage one-to-many associations between a single network layer address and multiple link layer addresses of other hybrid devices. In accordance with the hybrid ARP functionality, the hybrid device can determine a transmission route, a corresponding one of a plurality of network interfaces of a destination hybrid device, and a corresponding one of a plurality of link layer addresses of the destination hybrid device, based on address resolution store entries associated with the destination hybrid device. The identified link layer address can be populated in a frame for transmission to the destination hybrid device. Additionally, the hybrid ARP functionality can be configured to operate in conjunction with conventional ARP functionality implemented by upper protocol layers. The hybrid ARP functionality can serve as a “proxy” between the conventional ARP functionality and one or more hybrid devices of the hybrid communication network.
US08995434B2
Apparatus includes a communication predelivery receiver, configured to communicate with and relay both IP addressed overhead and IP addressed payload data from an originating communication device. The communication predelivery receiver includes a screener configured to, when the communication predelivery receiver is in communication with the originating communication device, receive certain data including first IP addressed data and second IP addressed data of corresponding first and second initiated communications. The communication predelivery receiver is configured and connected within a network so the first IP addressed data and the second IP addressed data are processed differently. For the first initiated communication, the first payload data is converted, after the point in time at which the screener received the first IP addressed data, from IP addressed first payload data to another network signal. For the second initiated communication, the second payload data is delivered without so converting the second payload data.
US08995430B2
A media over packet networking appliance provides a network interface, a voice transducer, and at least one integrated circuit assembly coupling the voice transducer to the network interface. The at least one integrated circuit assembly provides media over packet transmissions and holds bits defining reconstruction of a packet stream having a primary stage and a secondary stage. The secondary stage has one or more of linear predictive coding parameters, long term prediction lags, parity check, and adaptive and fixed codebook gains. The packet stream has an instance of single packet loss, and the reconstruction includes receiving a packet sequence represented by P(n)P(n−1)′, [Lost Packet], P(n+2)P(n+1)′, and P(n+3)P(n+2)′, obtaining as information from the secondary stage one or more of the linear predictive coding parameters, long term prediction lags, parity check, and adaptive and fixed codebook gains, and performing an excitation reconstruction utilizing said packet sequence thus received.
US08995429B1
Systems and methods for assigning unique network identifiers in a packet-switched wired network and methods for communicating with a network device in a packet-switched wired network are provided. A request for a unique network identifier for a network device is received. A socket-based unique network identifier, including an IP address and one or more ports, is assigned to the network device. The unique network identifier is created by combining an IP address and one or more ports. This allows multiple unique network identifiers to be created from a single IP address, where each unique network identifier consists of the same IP address combined with a different group of one or more ports.
US08995427B1
Disclosed herein are methods, systems, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for streaming audio via a telephone call. The method includes receiving a telephone call from a user via a client device, presenting available audio streams to the user and receive an audio stream selection from the user, contacting a website associated with the selection and communicating the selected audio stream with the user, and while streaming the audio stream, replacing advertisements with new advertisements selected from an advertisement database. The system includes modules configured to control a processor to perform the method. The system may also include modules configured to control a processor to receive a telephone call from a client device, receive streaming audio from a website, detect an advertisement identifier associated with an advertisement, supersede the advertisement with a new advertisement or insert an advertisement, and communicate the streaming audio with the new advertisement to the client device.
US08995420B2
According to one aspect of the present invention, a multi-antenna transmitter is provided. The transmitter includes: a data block acquiring device for acquiring multiple data streams, wherein each data stream includes data blocks at multiple slots; and a grouping and mapping device for grouping and mapping each data block, wherein the data blocks at the same slot in each data stream are grouped according to the number of the antennas and each group is mapped to one of the antennas respectively, and the different data blocks in the same group are mapped to different sub-bands respectively; and wherein grouping and mapping manners which are not exactly the same are adopted for the data blocks at different slots, and the grouping and mapping manners include data block grouping manners, group-to-antenna mapping manners, and sub-band mapping manners. And the groups of data blocks at the multiple slots are transmitted via the antennas. With the technical solutions of the present invention, a reduced PAPR during data transmission can be achieved while the diversity gain is guaranteed.
US08995417B2
Techniques to increase capacity in a wireless communications system. In an aspect, systematic non-transmission, or “blanking,” of minimal-rate frames transmitted in a communications system is provided. In an exemplary embodiment, eighth rate frames in a cdma2000 voice communications system are systematically substituted with null-rate frames carrying zero traffic bits. Provisions are nevertheless made for the transmission of certain designated as “critical” by, e.g., a vocoder. The receiver detects the presence of null rate or non-null rate transmissions and processes the received frames accordingly, including updating an outer loop power control only in response to non-null rate frames. Further techniques for changing the pilot transmission gating pattern to assist the receiver in detecting null rate frames are provided. In another aspect, early termination of a signal transmission over a wireless communications link is provided. In an exemplary embodiment, a base station (BS) transmits power control groups (PCG's) for a frame over a forward link (FL) to a mobile station (MS) until accurate reception of the frame is acknowledged by the MS over a reverse link (RL), possibly before all PCG's of the frame are received over the FL. Possible ACK signaling methods are defined for channels associated with a cdma2000 wireless communications system. In another exemplary embodiment, techniques for reverse link early termination are also provided.
US08995415B2
A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a device having a processor operable to receive an identifier from a wireless device of a user, to determine information of a femtocell, and to provide the femtocell information to the wireless device. The processor is also operable to determine location data of the femtocell and to identify according to the gateway identifier a subscriber account to verify availability of service for the femtocell. The femtocell is authenticated according to the location data and the femtocell identifier. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US08995412B2
A network is provided comprising a network management system, a third party server, and a plurality of mobile routers. The network management system comprises at least one server; and a link to a wide area network. Each mobile router is disposed in a corresponding one vehicle of a plurality of vehicles and each mobile router is operable to selectively communicate with the network management system. The network management system is operable to selectively communicate with each mobile router and the third party server. The router comprises an application executable to selectively acquire predetermined data comprising vehicle emission data; and a communication agent operable to upload the predetermined data to the network management system.
US08995403B2
A method and apparatus for signaling in a wireless transmit receive unit (WTRU). The method includes the WTRU receiving a value of a maximum number of retransmissions and retransmitting data in a plurality of hybrid automatic retransmission request (HARQ) processes limited by the value of a maximum number of retransmission. The WTRU is configured to receive a cell-specific, fixed or absolute grant on a broadcast channel.
US08995391B2
The present invention relates to a method, devices, and a program for using IP multicast addresses for mobile terminals (6) (UE) connected to a communication gateway (1) in a wireless communication network (2). The IP multicast address is used for updating routers (3) in the infrastructure network of where to transport data to the UE when the UE connects to another communication gateway (V), this may be updated from the new communication gateway or from a mobility management entity (5) relieving a network gateway (4) (e.g. a SAE gateway) of control traffic reducing the risk of bottle necks in the infrastructure network (2).
US08995381B2
A wireless device receives a control command to transmit a random access preamble on random access resources of a secondary cell in a secondary cell group. The wireless device receives a random access response providing an uplink grant to transmit an uplink packet. The wireless device computes the transmission power of the uplink packet employing, at least in part, a first parameter calculated by summation of: a power control value corresponding to a power control field in the uplink grant; and a total power ramp-up from the first transmission to the last transmission of the random access preamble.
US08995379B2
A method and device for activating and de-activating an uplink of a secondary cell of a terminal. The method includes: determining a number of component carrier waves an RF chain of the terminal can simultaneously receive; determining an activation method to be used for uplink activation according to the number of component carrier waves; and, based on needs, sending information that carries the activation method. Using the method and device, one can determine the activation or de-activation method according to the number of the component carrier waves the terminal's RF chain can simultaneously receive, thus conserving electricity consumption of the terminal and avoiding communication interruptions.
US08995378B2
A channel allocation apparatus in a communication system includes: a receiving unit configured to receive terminal information containing transmission mode information of a plurality of stations (STAs) from the STAs; a checking unit configured to check transmission modes of the STAs and check a frequency band available for the STAs; an allocating unit configured to allocate channels of an allocable frequency band in the available frequency band to the STAs, according to the transmission modes of the STAs; and a transmitting unit configured to transmit channel allocation information on the channels allocated to the STAs to the STAs.
US08995345B2
An apparatus for simultaneously receiving incoming messages on at least two channels in a multi-channel device, wherein a first incoming message is received on a first channel of the at least two channels according to a first protocol. Responsive to receiving the first incoming message, outgoing messages are transmitted on the first channel while the incoming messages are simultaneously received on a second channel. The outgoing messages to be sent according to the first protocol are queued in a transmitter. The transmitter also monitors at least one data stack that is used for transmitting messages according to a second protocol for transmit opportunities. Responsive to detecting a transmit opportunity, the transmitter transmits an optimal number of the outgoing messages within the duration of the transmit opportunity. The outgoing messages are transmitted on the first channel without affecting incoming messages received on the second channel.
US08995343B2
A method and apparatus for transmitting a frame to at least one receiver in a wireless communication system is provided. The apparatus determines at least one data length in accordance with each receiver based on a number of symbol for the frame to be transmitted, determines a maximum data length among the at least one data length, and determines a length of the frame in time domain based on the maximum data length. The apparatus generates the frame in accordance with the length of the frame, the frame including a first signal field and at least one second signal field. The first signal field indicates the length of the frame and each second signal field indicates each data length.
US08995340B2
The invention discloses a user terminal (115) for a wireless communications system (100) which is arranged to establish and carry out a communications session with a gateway node (120) in the system (100) according to a first protocol over at least one bearer (110, 140). The user terminal (115) is arranged to provide a predefined issued message to the gateway node (120) during the establishment of a session with an indicator that the user terminal (115) is arranged to handle traffic to and from the gateway node (120) using a predefined version of a defined filter (130).
US08995339B2
Techniques for network control of application states of applications associated with a communication device are presented herein. An application agent, associated with an application used by the communication device, controls transitioning the application between application states based on network indicators received or network events detected from a communication network. The application states include active state or doze state. An application management component associated with the communication network at least partially controls transitioning the application between application states to facilitate controlling network traffic or reducing network congestion. The application agent or application management component can map application states to various factors, including radio states, congestion level, application performance indicators, network policies, or user policies, to facilitate determining which application state to apply to an application at a given time. The application agent can be in a centralized location, or at a same or different location as the application source.
US08995338B2
A method, a computer program product, and an apparatus are provided. The apparatus, which is a first node, sends a join request to a second node to route communication associated with a third node to the first node. The join request includes a first node identifier associated with the first node. The first node receives from the second node a join response comprising a second node identifier associated with the second node. The first node sends a setup request to the third node, the setup request comprising the second node identifier. The first node receives a communication with the first node identifier from the second node, the communication originating from the third node.
US08995336B2
An MTC device activates an MTC service by first performing an MTC device attachment procedure to attach to a mobile communication network. After the MTC device is attached to the mobile communication network, the MTC device activates a packet data protocol context for the MTC device with the mobile communication network. After the packet data protocol context is activated, the MTC device activates an MTC service with an MTC server.
US08995322B2
Methods, program products, and systems for multi-tier detection of a geofence are disclosed. In general, in one aspect, a mobile device can be configured to perform a task when the mobile device enters a geographic region. The mobile device can monitor a current location using a multi-tiered approach. A baseband subsystem can monitor a coarse location of the mobile device using a CDMA system identifier, a CDMA network identifier, a CDMA zone identifier, or a CDMA base station identifier, in that order, as the mobile device moves closer to the geographic region. The baseband subsystem can notify an application subsystem when the mobile device is in a cell that intersects the geographic region. The application subsystem can perform the task upon notification.
US08995320B2
In a particular embodiment, a method includes applying a first stream to antenna mapping scheme to a preamble portion of a packet. The method further includes applying a second stream to antenna mapping scheme to a data portion of the packet. The second stream to antenna mapping scheme is applied to the data portion of the packet but not to the preamble portion of the packet. The second stream to antenna mapping scheme includes a circulation scheme or a cyclic delay diversity (CDD) scheme.
US08995318B2
A method of communication involves sending a request from a first network entity (e.g., a femto convergence server) to a second network entity (e.g., a home subscriber server) for user data relating to an access point, receiving a response to the request, wherein the response identifies at least one application server, and sending registration status information to the identified at least one application server.
US08995309B2
An outdoor unit includes: a transmitting module configured to transmit a signal; a splitter module configured to split the signal into two branches, where one branch is input into a amplifier, and the other branch is input into a duplexer; and the amplifier is configured to amplify the signal from the splitter module; the duplexer is configured to filter the signal from the splitter module and then output the signal to an antenna, and filter an external signal received by the antenna and then output the external signal to a combining module; the combining module is configured to combine the signal output by the amplifier with the signal output by the duplexer, and then output a combined signal to a receiving module; and the receiving module is configured to receive the combined signal output by the combining module.
US08995304B2
A computer program product comprising computer executable instructions stored on a non-transitory medium of an upstream node in a network system comprising a plurality of nodes that when executed by a processor cause the node to advertise an upstream assigned label to a downstream node, receive a message from the downstream node, and if the received message confirms that no conflict with the upstream assigned label exists at the downstream node, assign the upstream-assigned label, or if the received message confirms that a conflict with the upstream-assigned label exists at the downstream node, either select a new upstream-assigned label or wait until indication is received that the label resource has become available.
US08995300B2
A wireless receives at least one channel state input information element (IE) from a first base station. The wireless device computes a precoding matrix indicator (PMI) employing, at least in part, the at least one channel state input IE and measurement of signals received at least from at least one antenna port of a second base station. The wireless device transmits channel state information comprising the PMI to the first base station. The wireless device receives at least one data packet employing beamforming according to a precoding matrix identified by the PMI.
US08995287B2
One embodiment of the present invention provides a port profile management mechanism. The port profile management mechanism detects an active profile associated with a physical port on a switch and displays configuration of the port based on the identified port profile using the display mechanism. In addition, a port group management mechanism obtains information of a port group associated with a virtual machine, wherein the port group defines network configurations for the virtual machine. The port profile management mechanism detects a port profile associated with the virtual machine coupled to a physical port on a switch and displays an alert using the display mechanism in response to the port group and the port profile being out of synchronization.
US08995286B2
A method, apparatus, and machine readable storage medium is disclosed for establishing a test protocol processor which identifies and removes predetermined messages from a network element port buffer. Subsequent to removal the test protocol processor may perform one or more of several actions according to the results of statistical calculations. These actions include allowing the message to drop, replacing the message after a delay, replacing the message after altering the payload of the message, and replacing the message after altering the message type. The disclosed autonomous self disrupting network element is particularly useful for providing a means to perform in situ field testing of network performance indicators under desired statistical conditions.
US08995275B1
Systems, methods, and tangible computer-readable media are described for network routing of traffic. The system includes a source node for multicast traffic assignment across multiple networks. The source node chooses a first node and at least one different node for transmitting a message, the message to be transmitted from the source node to the first node, then to the at least one different node, then to a destination node.
US08995260B2
A method and apparatus for managing load in a communication network are provided. At a processor of a relay device, a number of messages is determined that are one or more of currently queued for relay via a communication interface of the relay device and previously relayed within a given time period, the communication interface and the processor of the relay device for relaying the messages, via the communication interface, between a plurality of devices and a network infrastructure. At the processor, a rate at which the plurality of devices establishes communications with the network infrastructure is controlled, wherein there is an inverse relationship between the rate and the number of messages.
US08995255B2
Embodiments of systems and techniques for coverage adjustment in evolved universal terrain radio access networks (E-UTRANs) are described. In some embodiments, a network management (NM) apparatus may receive data representative of first and second radio link failure (RLF) reports including information related to respective disconnections of first and second user equipment (UEs) from an E-UTRAN. The NM apparatus may identify a hole in a coverage area of the E-UTRAN based at least in part on the first and second RLF reports, and may perform an automated coverage and capacity optimization (CCO) action to reconfigure cell resources of the E-UTRAN based on the identified hole. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
US08995248B2
A power adjusting apparatus communicating with a remote terminal is provided. The apparatus includes: a transceiving unit transmitting a plurality of test packets by a plurality of powers; a processing unit coupled to the transceiving unit, and deciding a transmission power for transmitting a subsequent packet according to at least one retransmission number of transmitting the test packets.
US08995245B2
The above-described problem can be solved by the following optical-information reproducing apparatus: An optical-information reproducing apparatus for reproducing a hologram storage medium into which an interference pattern is recorded as a hologram, the interference pattern being formed by causing a reference beam and a signal beam to interfere with each other, the optical-information reproducing apparatus, including an optical detector for detecting a reproduced beam, the reproduced beam being acquired by illuminating the recorded hologram with the reference beam, an optical element for generating a first reference beam and a second reference beam by branching the reference beam, a wavefront detector for detecting wavefront aberration of the reference beam by causing the first reference beam and the second reference beam to interfere with each other, and a wavefront compensator for compensating the wavefront of the reference beam, wherein the wavefront compensator is adjusted based on an output of the wavefront detector.
US08995239B2
Recording medium for long-term data retention, recording method, and recording/reproducing apparatus
Provided are recording media, recording/reproducing apparatuses, and recording methods for use in long-term data retention. Recording medium information may be copied and stored in a new information zone in a data area. Accordingly, if medium recognition of a lead-in area and/or a lead-out area fails, a recording medium may be recognized using the data recorded in the new information zone.
US08995229B2
Methods and apparatus determining a position of a submersible vehicle within a body of water are provided. A method comprises determining an initial position of the vehicle while the vehicle is at or near a water surface. The method further comprises coupling the vehicle and a base node to a weight and determining a position of the base node once the base node and vehicle have reached the floor of the body of water using acoustic modems of the vehicle and a surface vessel to aid in calculating the position as they descend, and acoustically transferring the at rest position on the seafloor from the vehicle to the node. The method further comprises decoupling the vehicle from the node and weight and determining a position of the vehicle based on the position of the base node and acoustic signals exchanged between acoustic modems of the vehicle and the base node.
US08995211B2
Methods and devices for charging unselected bit lines are disclosed. The rate at which inhibited (or unselected) bit lines are charged may depend on a program condition. The program condition may be completion of a program loop. As another example, the program condition may be a certain program state completing or nearly completing programming. As one example, the bit lines may be charged at a faster rate prior to the program condition occurring than after the program condition. As another example, the bit lines may be charged at a slower rate prior to the program condition than after the program condition. Charging the unselected bit lines at a slower rate may reduce current consumption. Charging the unselected bit lines at a faster rate may allow for faster programming.
US08995208B2
Integrated circuit memory devices include a memory cell configured to receive a power supply signal and a write assist circuit. The write assist circuit is configured to improve write margins by reducing a magnitude of the power supply signal supplied to the memory cell from a first voltage level to a lower second voltage level during an operation to write data into the memory cell. The memory device further includes at least one bit line electrically coupled to the memory cell and a read assist circuit. The read assist circuit may be configured to improve read reliability by partially discharging the at least one bit line from an already precharged voltage level to a lower third voltage level in preparation to read data from the memory cell.
US08995203B2
The present inventive concept provides a driving method of memory controller controlling nonvolatile memory device using variable resistive element. The memory controller may control a plurality of first memory devices and a second memory device. A number of write drivers in the second memory device may be driven when a number of first memory devices among the plurality of first memory devices are used. A different number of write drivers in the second memory device may be driven when a different number of first memory devices among the plurality of first memory devices are used.
US08995199B2
An instruction to write to a location in the Flash memory is received. It is determining if the Flash memory exposes a level placement setting associated with defining what voltage range corresponds to what level. In the event it is determined that the Flash memory exposes a level placement setting, an accurate coarse write is performed on the location, including by configuring the level placement setting to be a first value, and after the accurate coarse write is performed on the location, a fine write is performed on the location, including by configuring the level placement setting to be a second value, in response to receiving the instruction.
US08995188B2
A memory device, system, and method for operation of a memory device. In one such memory device, the memory device comprises a plurality of strings of memory cells. A plurality of drain select devices are coupled to each string of memory cells. An upper drain select device shares common support circuitry (e.g., selecting/deselecting transistors) with one or more upper drain select devices of other strings of memory cells. The support circuitry (e.g., selecting/deselecting transistors) for lower drain select devices can also be shared between a plurality of strings of memory cells.
US08995183B2
In a nonvolatile memory that stores data in two or more different data storage formats, such as binary and MLC, a separation scheme is used to distribute blocks containing data in one data storage format (e.g. binary) so that they are separated by at least some minimum number of blocks using another data storage format (e.g. MLC).
US08995163B2
A magnetic memory according to an embodiment includes: a magnetic layer including a plurality of magnetic domains and a plurality of domain walls, and extending in a direction; a pinning layer formed with nonmagnetic phases and magnetic phases, extending in an extending direction of the magnetic layer and being located adjacent to the magnetic layer; an electrode layer located on the opposite side of the pinning layer from the magnetic layer; an insulating layer located between the pinning layer and the electrode layer; a current introducing unit flowing a shift current to the magnetic layer, the shift current causing the domain walls to shift; a write unit writing information into the magnetic layer; a read unit reading information from the magnetic layer; and a voltage generating unit generating a voltage to be applied between the pinning layer and the electrode layer.
US08995161B2
Subject matter disclosed herein relates to methods and apparatus, such as memory devices and systems including such memory devices. In one apparatus example, a plurality of block configurations may be employed. Block configurations may include an arrangement of similarly doped semiconductor switches. Block configurations may select a respective tile of a memory array, a particular memory cell of the respective tile, and select a memory operation to apply to the particular memory cell. Immediately adjacent block configurations within a particular slice of the memory array may be substantially mirrored and immediately adjacent block configurations in separate immediately adjacent slices of the memory array may be substantially similar. Similarly doped diffusion regions for similarly doped semiconductor switches in substantially mirrored block configurations may be arranged to electrically share a common potential signal value level. Other apparatus and methods are also disclosed.
US08995158B2
A rectifier circuit includes first and second load terminals, a first semiconductor device having a load path and configured to receive a drive signal, and a plurality of second semiconductor devices each having a load path and each configured to receive a drive signal. The load paths of the second semiconductor devices are connected in series, and connected in series to the load path of the first semiconductor device. A series circuit with the first semiconductor device and the second semiconductor devices is connected between the load terminals. Each of the second semiconductor devices is configured to receive as a drive voltage either a load-path voltage of at least one of the second semiconductor devices, or a load-path of at least the first semiconductor device. The first semiconductor device is configured to receive as a drive voltage a load-path-voltage of at least one of the second semiconductor devices.
US08995155B2
A photovoltaic power conditioning system and method is provided. The system includes an isolated DC/DC converter (41), a DC/AC inverter (42), and a sine filter (43). The isolated DC/DC converter (41) receives a DC voltage from a solar cell through a parallel connection structure and converts the DC voltage into another DC voltage and then outputs the converted DC voltage through a series connection structure. The DC/AC inverter (42) converts the DC voltage output from the isolated DC/DC converter into an AC voltage. The sine filter (43) performs sine filtering on the AC voltage output from the DC/AC inverter and outputs the filtered AC voltage. The system employs a topology allowing it to be responsible for part of the output capacity, thereby significantly reducing the required capacity and increasing the system efficiency, so that the system can be applied to small and large-capacity photovoltaic power generation.
US08995154B2
A power supply circuit system includes a ring oscillator provided with a variable resistance circuit, a charge pump circuit outputting a boosted voltage in response to an oscillation output signal from the ring oscillator, a voltage regulator circuit adjusting the boosted voltage from the charge pump circuit, a first current comparator circuit comparing a first current flowing through the voltage regulator circuit with a first reference current, a second current comparator circuit comparing the first current with a second reference current, and a control circuit outputting control signals to control a resistance value of the variable resistance circuit in accordance with a first comparison signal from the first current comparator circuit and a second comparison signal from the second current comparator circuit.
US08995152B2
An inverter circuit 40 with reduced loss in semiconductor elements when starting up, having switching elements Q1 and Q2 in series, and connected to both ends of a direct current power source circuit 30 having direct current power sources Psp and Psn in series, and including an alternating current output terminal U connected to a connection point of the switching elements, an alternating current output terminal V connected to a connection point of the direct current power sources, a bidirectional switch element S1, connected between the alternating current output terminal U and a terminal R of an alternating current power source 1, and a bidirectional switch element S2, connected between the alternating current output terminal U and a terminal S of the alternating current power source, causing the bidirectional switch elements to turn on and off when starting up.
US08995143B2
A pivotal assembly applied to a board includes a first board, a first pivotal member, and a pivotal plate. The first pivotal member is fixed to the first board and has a first retaining structure. The pivotal plate is pivotally connected to the first pivotal member and has a first protrusion. The first protrusion is retained in the first retaining structure, so as to make the first board limitedly rotate to be perpendicular or parallel to the pivotal plate.
US08995142B2
Provided is a power module invented for easy manufacturing and fatigue reduction at a soldered portion, and a method for manufacturing the same. The power module according to the present invention comprises a substrate where electronic parts are mounted by soldering, and a mold case housing the substrate and including bus bars for electrical connection with an external apparatus. The mold case comprises partition plates forming an electronic part mount area where electronic parts are mounted on the substrate, and a bonding area for bonding to the bus bars, a first resin cast to the electronic part mount area, and a second resin cast to the bonding area.
US08995140B2
An electronic device having a jack hole to expose a jack, includes a circumferential wall is formed in a case to surround the jack, wherein two gap portions of the circumferential wall are formed to pass from the jack hole to the inside of the case, and wherein one gap of the two gap portions is smaller than the other gap of two gap portions.
US08995132B2
A new mounting structure is provided in which, when a heat sink is mounted (fixed) on a circuit board using a spring member, an anchor for fixing the spring member is formed in a very small size in plan view. In the present invention, at least one anchor for mounting a heat sink body on a circuit board is set in a projected state on the heat sink body side and both ends of a spring member are each directly or indirectly attached to an anchor, whereby the heat sink body is mounted on the circuit board. In the anchor, a main body section projecting on the circuit board is formed in a substantially circular shape or a polygonal shape. When the spring member is attached to the anchor, the spring member is attached to an attaching section in an externally fit state.
US08995131B2
A heat transfer system is provided by the present disclosure that includes, in one form, a structural member having an upper skin, a lower skin, and a foam core disposed between the upper skin and the lower skin. At least one heat conducting array extends through the foam core and between the upper skin and the lower skin, the heat conducting array defining at least one upper cap, at least one lower cap, and a wall portion extending between the upper cap and the lower cap, the upper cap being disposed proximate a heat source. A heat conducting spreader is disposed between the lower cap of the heat conducting array and the lower skin of the structural member.
US08995130B2
In a power supply unit, a printed circuit board is provided on which two or more different-shape components are mounted. Such components include semiconductor devices. The printed circuit board has a designated mounting surface of the board. The housing is also provided, which houses the printed circuit board and comprises a cooling member for cooling a first space formed between the mounting surface and an opposed surface in the housing. The opposed surface is opposed to the mounting surface. The cooling member is arranged at part of the opposed surface, the part of the opposed surface projects toward the semiconductor devices, and the opposed surface is opposed to the two or more types of different-shape components.
US08995126B2
An apparatus and a system for housing a device are described. The apparatus includes a housing that is configured such that a device may be fitted within the housing and thereby be protected, such as from shocks and/or liquid. The housing may include top and bottom members that may be removably coupled together so as to form the housing. Each top and bottom member includes a perimeter portion. The perimeter is defined by proximal and distal ends as well as opposing sides. The top and bottom members may include respective clasping mechanisms that extend along the perimeter of the top and bottom members and may be configured for engaging a third clasping mechanism, such as a locking comb or wedge feature. The clasping mechanisms are configured for coupling the top and bottom members with one another thereby sealing the housing, for instance, in a shock-proof and/or water tight seal.
US08995125B2
An electronic device includes a first housing of a single piece of material that has first and second spaced apart major walls that extend in lateral directions and at least three side walls extending perpendicular to the lateral directions between the major walls. The major walls and the side walls define an internal cavity, and the first housing defines an opening to the internal cavity opposite one of the side walls. At least one support member is within the internal cavity of the first housing adjacent a major walls a side wall thereof. At least one electronic component is contained within the internal cavity, and a first cover is removably affixed over the opening. At least one of the support member and the first cover contributes to a retention force applied on the at least one electronic component within the internal cavity of the first housing.
US08995123B2
A cooling and noise-reduction apparatus for a computing device disposable within a structure having a central air conditioning system is provided. The computing device includes a heat generating component, an enclosure having first and second inlets, a fan configured to drive coolant from the first inlet to the heat generating component, a vent operably interposed between the second inlet and the heat generating component and a controller coupled to the fan and the vent to respectively control operations thereof. The cooling and noise-reduction apparatus includes a ducting element configured to flexibly and fluidly couple the second inlet with the central air conditioning system.
US08995122B2
An electronic-device housing stores an electronic circuit and a cooling fan. The electronic-device housing includes a first surface having at least one opening to release heat outside. At least one projected portion projects toward an outside of the electronic-device housing, and when the electronic-device housing is installed on an installation surface so that the first surface is opposed to the installation surface and the projected portion comes into contact with the installation surface, a rotation moment acting on a gravity center of the electronic-device housing acts in a direction where the rotation moment causes the first surface to move away from the installation surface.
US08995113B2
In a method and a system for connecting a plurality of printed circuit boards (1) to at least one frame or carrier element (5), the following elements are provided: a plurality of printed circuit boards (1), which are designed to have at least one coupling element (4) on at least one edge (2, 3), at least one frame or carrier element (5) for coupling to a plurality of printed circuit boards (1) using coupling elements (6) that in each case complement at least one coupling element (4) of the printed circuit boards (1), wherein the printed circuit boards (1) can be coupled to the at least one frame or carrier element (5) by fitting the coupling elements (4, 6) of the printed circuit boards (1) and of the frame or carrier element (5), and wherein the at least one frame or carrier element (5) only surrounds or encloses the printed circuit boards (1) over a partial region of the circumference. In addition, a printed circuit board (1) and a frame or carrier element (5) for use in such a method and system are provided.
US08995100B2
There is provided an integrated circuit includes an output driver and a configurable electrostatic discharging (ESD) power clamp element according to embodiments of the present invention. The output driver includes a first semiconductor element having a first conductivity type and electrically connected to a first power rail; and a second semiconductor element having a second conductivity type different from the first conductivity type and electrically connected to a second power rail. Specifically, the configurable ESD power clamp element is coupled between the first power rail and the second power rail to provide ESD protection when configured in a first hardware state, and forms a portion of the output driver when configured in a second hardware state, thereby increasing the design flexibility of the integrated circuit.
US08995096B2
Various embodiments may position a side shield adjacent to and separated from a stack sidewall of a magnetic stack with the side shield having a shield layer disposed between the stack sidewall and a permanent magnet. The permanent magnet can be separated from a first portion of the shield layer by a diffusion barrier that decouples the permanent magnet from the shield layer.
US08995090B2
A wiring circuit substrate, comprising: a metal support layer; an insulating layer formed on the metal support layer; a conductive layer for wiring formed on the insulating layer; and an opening formed so as to open at a same location in the insulating layer and the conductive layer for wiring, wherein the metal support layer includes: a support section that supports the insulating layer and the conductive layer for wiring, and a terminal section that extends from one edge side to the other edge side of the opening, the terminal section being separated from the support section; and the conductive layer for wiring includes a wiring that is connected to the terminal section by a connecting section.
US08995083B2
There are provided a spindle motor and a hard disk drive including the same. The spindle motor includes: a sleeve supporting a shaft so that an upper end of the shaft protrudes upwardly in an axial direction and a bearing clearance filled with a lubricating fluid formed between the sleeve and the shaft; a housing provided so as to enclose an outer peripheral surface of the sleeve and forming a circulation hole between the housing and the sleeve in the axial direction; and a rotor hub fixedly installed on an upper end portion of the shaft in the axial direction, wherein a connection part is formed between the housing and the rotor hub so as to allow a sealing part on which a liquid-vapor interface is disposed and the circulation hole to be in communication with each other.
US08995069B2
An interchangeable lens to be detachably attached to a camera body, that includes a holding unit at which a plurality of contacts is arranged, the interchangeable lens includes: a first communication contact system arranged at the holding unit; and a second communication contact system different from the first communication contact system, arranged at the holding unit at a position different from a position at which the first communication contact system is arranged. The fourth contact is arranged at a position closer to the second communication contact system than the first contact, the second contact, and the third contact are, and the seventh contact and the eighth contact are arranged at positions closer to the first communication contact system than the fifth contact and the sixth contact are.
US08995068B2
Disclosed herein is an image photographing device capable of being auto-focused while moving a lens barrel in an optical axis direction. The image photographing device includes: a lens barrel having at least one lens; a housing receiving the lens barrel therein so that the lens barrel moves in an optical axis direction; and an impact reducing unit elastically supporting the lens barrel in the case in which the lens barrel deviates from a set movement range, thereby primarily damping the lens barrel before the lens barrel deviates from the movement range to collide with other components positioned at an outer side of the lens barrel.
US08995051B2
Embodiments of optical fiber may include cladding features that include a material (e.g., fluorine-doped silica glass) that may produce a very low relative refractive index difference with respect to cladding material in which the cladding features are disposed. This relative refractive index difference may be characterized by (n1−n2)/n1, where n1 is the index of refraction of the cladding material in which the cladding features are included, and n2 is the index of refraction of the cladding features. In certain embodiments, the relative refractive index difference may be less than about 4.5×10−3. In various embodiments, the configuration of the cladding features including, for example, the size and spacing of the cladding features, can be selected to provide for confinement of the fundamental mode yet leakage for the second mode and higher modes, which may provide mode filtering, single mode propagation, and/or low bend loss.
US08995048B2
A change in loading conditions of fiber amplifiers in an optical communications network causes rapid variations in the gain profile of the amplifiers due to spectral hole burning and stimulated Raman scattering. An apparatus for reducing such gain profile variations is described which monitors optical signal perturbations and reacts by adjusting pump powers of the amplifiers and, or fast variable optical attenuator according to a pre-determined function stored in the form of constants in controller's memory. The optical signal is monitored as total power, and the power of light after passing through one or more optical filters. The light detection is relatively fast, whereby the gain profile variations are compensated by fast controlled variable optical attenuator and pump power adjustment upon the change in loading conditions.
US08995044B2
The invention relates to controllable Fabry-Perot interferometers which are produced with micromechanical (MEMS) technology. Micromechanical interferometers of the prior art have a disadvantage of significantly attenuating infrared radiation. In the inventive solution there is a gap in at least one mirror, serving as a layer of the mirror. The other layers of the mirrors can be made of polycrystalline silicon, which has a negligible attenuation at the infrared range. It is also preferable to provide a hole or a recess in a substrate at the optical area of the interferometer.
US08995041B2
Compounds having the formula LiaEC1M1bM2cOx, wherein “a” ranges from about 0.5 to about 3; b+c ranges from about 0.1 to about 1; c/(b+c) ranges from about 0.1 to about 0.9; and wherein x is about 0.1 to about 50, are disclosed. Methods of making these compounds as well as their use in thin film materials and electrochromic devices are also disclosed.
US08995040B2
An exterior mirror assembly with an optical display is suggested, whereby a light opening (2) is provided on the exterior mirror assembly for the passage of light of a warning display. The optical display comprieses of a display housing (4), into which an active illuminated display element (10) is mounted as a light source.
US08995034B2
An image forming apparatus includes a storage unit to store a color conversion table, a user interface unit to receive a color revision initiation command, an image forming unit to print a color chart generated based on the color conversion table if the color revision initiation command is received, the color chart having a plurality of CMYK mixed colors having at least one of brightness and chroma changed, a scan unit to scan the printed color chart, and a change unit to revise the color conversion table using the scanned color chart.
US08995030B2
An image forming apparatus according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes an apparatus body, a document sheet feed apparatus, a wiring cord, a guide portion, and a wiring cord cover. The apparatus body includes a document sheet reading portion therein. The document sheet feed apparatus is configured to be openable and closable relative to a document sheet placing surface of the apparatus body. The wiring cord is configured to electrically connect between the apparatus body and the document sheet feed apparatus. The guide portion is configured to surround the wiring cord. The wiring cord cover is mounted detachably to the apparatus body in a state where the wiring cord cover has the wiring cord disposed therein.
US08995028B2
A reading apparatus including: a first conveyance path in which a sheet is conveyed; a second conveyance path different from the first conveyance path, the second conveyance path allowing the sheet switched back after having passed through the first conveyance path to be conveyed therein; a reading unit configured to read the sheet, the reading unit being movable to a first position where a first surface of the sheet in the first conveyance path is read, a second position where a second surface as a back surface of the first surface of the sheet in the second conveyance path is read, and a third position different from the first position and the second position; and a reference portion that the reading unit reads for correcting information read by the reading unit, the reference portion being read by the reading unit moved to the third position.
US08995027B2
An image reading apparatus including a first image unit fixed on one side of a conveyance path, a second image unit provided on the other side of the conveyance path and facing the first image unit, a guide at the second image unit and that contacts a medium to move the second image unit in a direction away from the conveyance path, an image sensor at one of the first image unit and the second image unit, a reference plate at the other one of the first image unit and the second image unit, and a thickness detection unit for detecting a thickness of the medium on the basis of an image signal output by the image sensor that captures an image of the reference plate with the medium inserted between the first image unit and the second image unit.
US08995022B1
An ink jet process is used to deposit a material layer to a desired thickness. Layout data is converted to per-cell grayscale values, each representing ink volume to be locally delivered. The grayscale values are used to generate a halftone pattern to deliver variable ink volume (and thickness) to the substrate. The halftoning provides for a relatively continuous layer (e.g., without unintended gaps or holes) while providing for variable volume and, thus, contributes to variable ink/material buildup to achieve desired thickness. The ink is jetted as liquid or aerosol that suspends material used to form the material layer, for example, an organic material used to form an encapsulation layer for a flat panel device. The deposited layer is then cured or otherwise finished to complete the process.
US08995014B2
An image forming apparatus includes an image forming section that forms an image on a recording medium, plural recording medium supply sections that supply a recording medium to the image forming section, a recording medium setting section that sets attributes of the recording medium supplied by the recording medium supply section, a function program registration section that makes function programs for executing processes that use processing functions relating to image formation correspond to recording medium attribute information relating to the recording medium usable for the function program and performs registration for each of the function programs, and a control section that controls whether or not the registered function program is executable based on the attributes of the recording medium set by the recording medium setting section and the recording medium attribute information registered by the function program registration section.
US08995010B2
A digital printer is equipped with a built-in color measurement device in the form of a colorimeter or spectral photometer, as well as with color management support. The built-in color measurement device is used for control and optimization of the print output, especially for the simplification, optimization and automation of the work processes and for the verification of the output results.
US08995001B1
User-specified instructions for documents processed from a hot folder. A print server monitors hot folders for retrieval of files to be processed in a print system based on settings of the hot folders. The print server is detects a management file in a hot folder that indicates a number of documents to print over a period of time, retrieves documents from the hot folder for printing based on instructions in the management file, and initiates scheduling of the retrieved documents with a printer of the print system. The print server also determines a total of documents printed after expiration of the period of time, determines whether the total of documents printed corresponds with the number indicated in the management file, and sends a notification to a user of the hot folder when the total does not correspond with the number indicated in the management file.
US08995000B2
In an image forming apparatus of an image forming system, a judging section judges, based on identification information included in print job data, whether a display apparatus corresponding to the print job data is a specific display apparatus. Based on a judgment result of the judging section, an image formation control section controls image forming operation of an image forming section. When it is judged by the judging section as being the specific display apparatus, this image formation control section suspends the image forming operation by the image forming section once. Further, when it is judged by the judging section as not being the specific display apparatus, the image formation control section causes the image forming operation by the image forming section to be executed promptly.
US08994991B2
A printing control method, printer and printing system are provided. The printing control method comprises: receiving the ticket data to be printed; printing the ticket data; judging whether the printed ticket data is complete; and performing predetermined process according to the judgment result. The invention can conveniently and accurately judge whether a ticket is completely printed.
US08994984B2
An information processing apparatus includes a plurality of output circuits that output a plurality of pieces of information to an external device. Each of the output circuits includes a synchronization control unit that synchronizes an operation clock of the output circuit with an operation clock of a separate output circuit; an information receiving unit that receives a piece of information that is different from a piece of information that is received by the separate output circuit; and an output control unit that outputs the received piece of information to the external device in accordance with the synchronized operation clock.
US08994977B2
An image transmission apparatus includes a destination setting unit configured to set a transmission destination of image data, a transmission unit configured to transmit the image data to the destination set by the destination setting unit, an authentication unit configured to perform processing for authentication required for the transmission unit to transmit the image data to the destination set by the destination setting unit, a storage unit configured to store a destination table in which authentication information required for the authentication unit to perform the processing for authentication is registered in such a manner that the authentication information is associated with the destination, a selection unit configured to select one of a first authentication mode, in which the authentication unit performs the processing for authentication using the authentication information stored in the storage unit when the transmission unit transmits the image data to the destination set by the destination setting unit, and a second authentication mode, in which the authentication unit performs the processing for authentication using authentication information entered by a user when the transmission unit transmits the image data to the destination set by the destination setting unit, and a limitation unit configured to limit a number of destinations to which the transmission unit transmits the image data when the selection unit selects the second authentication mode.
US08994975B2
An information processing apparatus includes an analysis part that analyzes a set of output data that has been input to obtain an attribute value of an output attribute; a determination part that determines whether to generate a preview image of the set of output data, based on the attribute value of the output attribute of the set of output data and history information that associates attribute values of the output attribute of sets of output data with information concerning preview displays of the sets of output data; and a preview image generation part that generates, based on the determination result of the determination part to generate the preview image of the set of output data, the preview image of the set of output data, and stores the generated preview image in a storage part.
US08994969B2
In accordance with an embodiment, a maintenance method for an information processing apparatus comprises: acquiring a machine identification information for identifying the machine of the information processing apparatus and a machine information includes a setting value information of a plurality of setting items of a machine and an error information of the machine through an external storage apparatus, associating the acquired machine information with the machine identification information and storing the associated information in a database, acquiring a statistical image which is generated based on the setting value information of a plurality of information processing apparatuses, generating a setting value image determined by the setting value information of the machine based on the machine information stored in the database and combining the setting value image with the statistical image and displaying the combined image on a display unit.
US08994968B2
An image forming apparatus that is capable of displaying a real size preview and reduces user's time and effort required for forming the image on the recording medium. The image forming apparatus includes a printing unit which forms an image on a recording medium, and a user interface for displaying information to a user. A real size preview image is displayed on the user interface. A display magnification slider is used for enabling a user to change a display magnification of the image displayed on the user interface. A controller unit selects a size of the recording medium on which the image is to be formed, based on the display size changed by the user. A printing unit forms the image on the recording medium having the selected size.
US08994962B2
An image forming system includes a first image forming apparatus and a second image forming apparatus coupled in tandem to the first image forming apparatus which are assigned differently to print images on respective different regions on a recording sheet. The first image forming apparatus includes two compressing and expanding sections and is configured to receive both image data to be printed by the first image forming apparatus and image data to be printed by the second image forming apparatus. When performing any one process of a compressing process and an expanding process for the image data to be printed by the first image forming apparatus and a compressing process for the image data to be printed by the second image forming apparatus, a compressing and expanding section being used for no process is selected from the two compressing and expanding sections, and assigned to perform the any one process.
US08994960B2
In an image forming device, an edge expansion unit executes an edge expansion process on an edge of an object by modifying image data so as to expand at least a first toner layer at the edge by a predetermined number of pixels' worth of width so that a surface area occupied by the first toner layer is larger than that occupied by a second toner layer along a recording surface, the first toner layer being made up of toner of a first color that is transferred onto the recording surface among a plurality of colors, the second toner layer being made up of toner of remaining color other than the first color, the edge expansion unit supplying the modified image data to an image forming unit, thereby causing the image forming unit to form an image represented by the modified image data.
US08994955B2
A Fabry-Perot interferometer includes an input mirror and an output mirror arranged facing the input mirror via a gap. Each mirror includes a pair of high-refractive layers and a space layer arranged selectively between the high-refractive layers. At least one of an input-side bridge part and an output-side bridge part arranged crossing the gap, is movable as a membrane. Each bridge part includes a transmission portion and a periphery portion. Each transmission portions includes a mirror element in which the space layer is sandwiched by the pair of high-refractive layers. In a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, the mirror element of the input mirror has a width larger than seven times of a maximum wavelength of a transmission light output from the output mirror, and functions as a diffraction restriction mirror.
US08994951B2
The invention pertains to a frame element of a laser gyroscope comprising a substrate comprising mobile ions and an electrode fixed to the said substrate, comprising at least one electrically conducting element, connected electrically to the said electrode, and furnished with at least one distal part integrated into the said substrate and exhibiting at least one tip and/or at least one groove, forming at least one blind hole and/or at least one groove in the said substrate, of shape corresponding to that of the said distal part or parts, so as to obtain a tip effect.
US08994939B2
Optical radiation from a sample is received by the slit and it is passed through an aperture in a reflective plane of a folding mirror towards a curved reflective surface of a collimating mirror. The slit and the curved reflective surface have a common optical axis. The reflective plane and the curved reflective surface face each other. The optical radiation passed through the folding mirror is collimated by the curved reflective surface. The collimated optical radiation is directed to the reflective plane of the folding mirror by the curved reflective surface. The collimated optical radiation is reflected in a direction other than the common optical axis of the slit and the curved reflective surface by the reflective plane.
US08994937B2
A surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy calibration curve generating system includes a SERS sensor, which includes a substrate and a plurality of sensing members formed on the substrate. Each of the sensing members includes a plurality of SERS signal amplifying structures. An inkjet dispensing device is to dispense different concentrations of a solution including a known analyte of interest onto the respective sensing members to form a concentration dependent array. A Raman spectrometer is to interrogate the concentration dependent array. A processor is operatively connected to each of the inkjet dispensing device and the Raman spectrometer. Computer-readable instructions are embedded on a non-transitory, tangible computer-readable medium and are executable by the processor. The computer-readable instructions are to automatically generate an intensity profile as a function of concentration for the concentration dependent array.
US08994929B2
Apparatus and techniques for measuring seismic parameters, such as ground force, of a seismic vibrator used for generating seismic signals through a geological formation are provided. The seismic vibrator has a base plate positionable adjacent a ground surface of the geological formation. A sensor pad may be provided with an optical cable positionable between the base plate of the seismic vibrator and the ground surface of the geological formation, a laser for passing a light through the optical cable, and a detector for detecting disturbances in the laser light whereby a ground force applied to the ground surface may be determined.
US08994922B2
Provided is a barrel support device for supporting a lens barrel. The barrel support device may include a guide frame configured to laterally support the lens barrel and tilt with the lens barrel, a rotation guide on a first end of the guide frame, the rotation guide being ring shaped and configured attach the lens barrel to the guide frame, and a ring-shaped tilting frame configured to support a second end of the guide frame and tilt the guide frame, wherein the guide frame, the rotation guide, and the tilting frame are configured to allow the lens barrel to pass therethrough.
US08994919B2
A control system for controlling a position or position related quantity of an object is provided. A measurement system is configured to measure a position or position related quantity of the object. A controller is configured to provide a control signal on the basis of the measured position or position related quantity. A actuator actuates the object on the basis of the control signal. A filter unit, which may be a partial order filter unit, filters the measured position or position related quantity.
US08994914B2
There is provided an integrated wide viewing film including: a first film having an optical axis located in-plan; and a second film having an optical axis located in a thickness direction thereof, and inclined at a predetermined angle in an in-plane direction. The IPS-LCD employing the integrated wide viewing film can be significantly improved in a contrast ratio in a diagonal direction.
US08994910B2
In a display panel and a method of manufacturing the display panel, the display panel includes a display substrate including a first electrode and a second electrode insulated from the first electrode and disposed on the first electrode, an opposite substrate including a third electrode facing the second electrode, and a liquid crystal layer interposed between the display substrate and the opposite substrate. The liquid crystal layer includes liquid crystal molecules, a reactive mesogen polymer, and nano-rods.
US08994909B2
The width W1 of a groove (5a) is formed narrower than the width W2 of a groove (6a). The width W2 of the groove (6a) is formed at a prescribed width such that a sealing material (8) that overflows the groove (5a) can be formed along the groove (6a). The sealing material (8) spreads across the entirety of the groove (5a) and the groove (6a) when a color filter substrate (2) and an active matrix substrate (3) are bonded together. The groove (5a) is formed so as to be positioned within the groove (6a) in a plan view.
US08994905B2
The liquid crystal display device is provided with: a pair of first electrodes in wall form that at least partially overlap a pair of first structures; and a second electrode sandwiched between the pair of first electrodes, wherein the first electrodes are formed of: a wall electrode that is formed on a sidewall surface of the structure, protruding so as to be in a wall form in a direction of a normal to the first substrate and running in the longitudinal direction of the pixel; and a plane electrode that runs in a plane direction of the first substrate from a side of the wall electrode on the first substrate side in such a manner that an end portion thereof runs in proximity to the second electrode, and at least either the plane electrode or the second electrode covers the pixel display region.
US08994901B2
A display device in which an image with a wide color reproduction range and bright red can be displayed is provided. The display device is a display device such as, for example, a liquid crystal display device, a cathode ray tube, an organic electroluminescent display device, a plasma display panel, and a field emission display. The display device includes a display surface including a pixel having red, green, blue, and yellow sub-pixels, wherein the red sub-pixel preferably has the largest aperture area.
US08994899B2
A polarizing plate includes a polarizer, a thin film on the polarizer, the thin film having an in-plane phase difference (Ro) of about 500 nm to about 3000 nm, and a coating layer disposed on one side of the thin film and having a haze value of about 15% to about 35%.
US08994893B2
The present invention provides a flat panel display device, which includes a backlight system and a display panel. The backlight system includes a light source, a light homogenization mechanism, and a back frame. The back frame carries the light source and the light homogenization mechanism, and the light homogenization mechanism guides light from the light source into the display panel. The back frame includes primary assembling pieces, secondary assembling pieces, and a bracing piece for fixing a circuit board. The primary assembling pieces are connected through joining. Further, the primary assembling piece includes a joint section that forms a reinforcement structure and a circuit board is mountable and position adjustable through a bracing piece. The present invention also provides a stereoscopic display device and a plasma display device. The present invention have a back frame having a simple structure, reduce the expenditure of a back frame mold, allow strength of the back frame to meet a desired requirement, improve fixing of circuit board, and save the material used for back frame so as to lower down the manufacturing cost of flat panel display device.
US08994891B2
A touch panel whose power consumption can be reduced is provided, and an increase in the manufacturing cost of the touch panel is prevented. A photosensor which includes a light-receiving element including a non-single-crystal semiconductor layer between a pair of electrodes and a transistor including an oxide semiconductor layer in a channel formation region is provided. A touch panel which includes a plurality of pixels and the photosensor adjacent to at least one of the plurality of pixels is provided. Each of the plurality of pixels includes a pair of terminals. One of the pair of terminals is a reflective conductive film. Alternatively, each of the pair of terminals is a light-transmitting conductive film.
US08994882B2
Systems and methods may provide for conducting a real-time perceptual quality analysis of a video, wherein the perceptual quality analysis includes at least one of a noise measurement, a contrast measurement and a sharpness measurement. One or more strength parameters of one or more post-processing modules in a video processing pipe may be set based on the perceptual quality analysis resulting in overall video processing that adapts to the changing perceptual quality of the input. In one example, the strength parameters include at least one of a contrast parameter and a de-noising parameter. The invention results in visually enhanced video at the output of the post-processing module.
US08994876B2
A system for photographic exposure via real-time broadcast of lighting parameters. The system includes a light source that emits light at different color temperatures and intensities controlled by a controller. The controller generates light source data that is transmitted to a digital imaging device. The digital imaging device includes a receiver for receiving the signal from the light source and a processor processing the light source data for determining color temperature, intensity, and timing of light emitted by the light source for generating exposure data. The exposure data determines when to commence capturing an image of a desired exposure and color temperature for achieving a desired exposure. The digital imaging device includes a display for displaying the exposure data to a user for allowing the user to select when to actuate the shutter release for capturing the image with the desired color temperature and exposure.
US08994871B2
A focus controller includes an evaluation value generating unit and a control unit. An evaluation value generating unit obtains a first evaluation value based on a first signal output from a pixel part of an imaging unit by scanning the pixel part in a first direction and obtains a second evaluation value based on a second signal output from the pixel part by scanning the pixel part in a second direction different from the first direction. When a first movement direction of a focus lens based on the first evaluation value and a second movement direction of a focus lens based on the second evaluation value are in the same direction, the control unit performs an auto focus operation in order to move the focus lens in the movement direction determined as the same direction.
US08994862B2
In a photoelectric conversion device, groups of unit pixels are arranged in a well, where each of the unit pixels includes photoelectric conversion elements, an amplifier transistor, and transfer transistors. The photoelectric conversion device includes a line used to supply a voltage to the well, a well-contact part used to connect the well-voltage-supply line to the well, and transfer-control lines used to control the transfer transistors. The transfer-control lines are symmetrically arranged with respect to the well-voltage-supply line in respective regions of the unit-pixel groups.
US08994854B2
CDS circuit, image sensor including the same, and image processing device including the image sensor
A correlated double sampling (CDS) circuit includes a correction circuit configured to receive an input pixel signal through a first node via a column line, correct the input pixel signal, and output the corrected pixel signal through a second node; and a comparator including first and second input terminals, the first input terminal being connected to the second node and being configured to receive the corrected pixel signal, and the second input terminal configured to receive a ramp signal, the comparator being configured to compare the corrected pixel signal with the ramp signal and output a comparison signal indicating a result of the comparing, wherein the correction circuit includes, a first capacitor connected between the first and second nodes, and one or more metal lines disposed adjacent to the first capacitor, and wherein at least one other capacitor is formed by the first capacitor and the metal line.
US08994853B2
The invention relates to a method for controlling a light-sensitive device comprising a matrix of light-sensitive points arranged into lines and columns. The invention can essentially but not exclusively be used in light-sensitive devices used for detecting X-ray images. The method includes a step (E2) of acquiring an image during which each light-sensitive point can accumulate a charge, and a step (E3) of reading said image. The reading step (E3) comprises a preliminary sub-step (E31) of converting the charges accumulated at the different light-sensitive points into analog signals representative of said charges, and a sub-step (E32) of processing the analog signals in order to obtain a digital image. According to the invention, the processing sub-step (E32) is repeated N times for a same light-sensitive point and for a same acquisition step (E2), with N being an integer greater than or equal to two, and the reading step (E3) comprises a sub-step (E35) of averaging the N signals processed per light-sensitive points in order to provide a single digital image per acquisition step (E2).
US08994842B2
A zoom lens includes a frontmost lens unit, which is located closest to the object side and a plurality of lens units located closer to the image side than the frontmost lens unit. All the distances between adjacent lens units vary during zooming in the state in which the zoom lens is focused on an object at infinity. One of the plurality of lens units is a first focusing lens unit. During focusing from an object at infinity to an object at a short distance in a first shooting mode, only the first focusing lens unit moves. During focusing from an object at infinity to an object at a short distance in a second shooting mode, two lens units in the zoom lens move.
US08994841B2
An information communication method that enables communication between various devices includes: setting an exposure time of an image sensor; obtaining a bright line image including a bright line, by capturing a subject that changes in luminance by the image sensor with the set exposure time; setting a longer exposure time than the exposure time; obtaining a normal captured image by image capture by the image sensor with the longer exposure time; generating a synthetic image by specifying, in the normal captured image, a part that corresponds to the bright line included in the bright line image and superimposing a signal object on the normal captured image, the signal object being an image indicating the part; displaying the synthetic image; and obtaining information by demodulating data specified by a pattern of the bright line included in the obtained bright line image.
US08994836B2
A feed forward command aiding architecture with corresponding method, system, and computer product are provided. The feed forward command aiding architecture includes generating angle and rate commands from a received inertial data input. The angle command is feed into a proper order position loop producing an intermediate result. An angle feedback is differentiated producing a rate loop feedback. The intermediate result, rate command, and rate loop feedback are then feed into a proper order rate loop producing a torque command. The proper order rate loop is nested inside of the proper order position loop. The torque command being generated moves a beam steering element of an electro-optic sensor to deflect a line of sight of the electro-optic sensor by an angle approximating the received inertial angular input.
US08994833B2
A photographic processing system in which subject and other data is stored in a database and such data is automatically linked to photographs taken using either a film or digital camera.
US08994831B2
An image pickup control apparatus, includes: a trigger acceptance section adapted to accept a predetermined trigger input as a changeover input from an automatic image pickup mode to a request responding image pickup mode; and a request responding image pickup control section adapted to establish, when the trigger input is accepted by the trigger acceptance section while an image pickup apparatus is carrying out still picture image pickup operation with an image pickup visual field of the image pickup apparatus changed in the automatic image pickup mode, the request responding image pickup mode and control the image pickup apparatus to execute a process for determining an image pickup visual field in accordance with an image pickup request and then execute still picture image pickup operation after the determination of the image pickup visual field.
US08994818B2
A method includes receiving image data obtained by a laser imaging system. The method also includes identifying a minimum post spacing obtainable in a three-dimensional image constructed using the image data. The minimum post spacing defines a maximum obtainable resolution of the image. Identifying the minimum post spacing includes using (i) multiple point spread functions associated with the image data and (ii) a number of laser pulses directed at a specified area by the imaging system during capture of the image data. Identifying the minimum post spacing may also include using (iii) a minimum contrast ratio associated with the image. The point spread functions may be associated with different point reflectors, have a Gaussian distribution, and overlap.
US08994817B2
Systems and methods for detecting anomalies in web structures used in the formation of tires are disclosed. A thermal imaging device, such as an infrared camera, can be used to scan a portion of web structure as the web structure leaves a calender. The thermal images can be analyzed for temperature differentials in the web structure. The presence of a temperature differential can signify the presence of an anomaly in the web structure, such as a missing or out of place cable anomaly, an improper edge trim anomaly, or a missing rubber material anomaly.
US08994816B2
A system and method for providing access to a video display for multiple devices. Various aspects of the present invention may comprise receiving, at a video display system, a first video data signal through a first data communication interface and a second video data signal through a second data communication interface. A processor module may process the first and second video data signals to generate video information of first and second display windows in a composite display. For example, the processor module may transform and translate video information to fit display windows. The processor module may, for example, generate an output video signal comprising information of the first window and information of the second window. Such a signal may, for example, be utilized to drive an output display showing the first and second windows. Various aspects may also provide method steps and apparatus for controlling aspects of the displayed windows.
US08994814B2
In one aspect, the present disclosure relates to a method of detecting information transmitted by a light source in a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor by detecting a frequency of light pulses produced by the light source. In some embodiments, the method includes capturing on the CMOS image sensor with a rolling shutter an image in which different portions of the CMOS image sensor are exposed at different points in time; detecting visible distortions that include alternating stripes in the image; measuring a width of the alternating stripes present in the image; and selecting a symbol based on the width of the alternating stripes present in the image to recover information encoded in the frequency of light pulses produced by the light source captured in the image.
US08994809B2
A method and apparatus for simulating depth of field (DOF) in microscopic imaging, the method comprising computing a blur quantity for each pixel of an all-focus image, performing point spread function operations on one or more regions of the all-focus image, computing intermediate and normalized integral images on the regions and determining an output pixel for the each pixel based on the intermediate and normalized integral images.
US08994808B2
To provide a microscope system enabling the user to accurately observe the surface of the observing target in a short time. A sensitivity parameter for adjusting a value of the pixel data corresponding to a plurality of pixels is set. The pixel data is acquired with a first sensitivity value set as the sensitivity parameter, and the number of pixels in which the peak value of the pixel data is smaller than or equal to a threshold value is detected. A ratio of the detected number of pixels with respect to the total number of pixels region is calculated, where the pixel data is acquired by a second sensitivity value different from the first sensitivity value when the ratio is greater than or equal to a reference value, and the pixel data is not acquired by the second sensitivity value when the ratio is smaller than the reference value.
US08994805B2
A safe nursing system includes a control unit and monitors movement of a patient on a bed. The control unit sets, for each patient, a correspondence relationship between a plurality of types of predetermined movements and a plurality of alert levels based on conditions; calculates a value of a predetermined index used to determine a predetermined movement of the patient; sets a predetermined condition to determine the predetermined movement; determines the predetermined movement based on the calculated value and the set predetermined condition; and outputs information indicating that the patient has performed the predetermined movement at the alert level indicated by the correspondence relationship set for the patient in accordance with the predetermined movement, under the condition that the predetermined movement has been determined to have been performed. It is possible to give a notification to a caregiver based on the condition of each patient.
US08994804B2
A scanning endoscope system includes: a scanning endoscope including a light-guiding section that guides illumination light, a driving section that causes the light-guiding section to swing such that an irradiation position of the illumination light draws a trajectory corresponding to a predetermined scanning pattern; and a light-receiving section that receives return light of the illumination light; a test chart device including a plane portion having first and second regions; a light detection section that outputs a signal corresponding to an intensity of the return light; a pixel generation section that generates pixels on the predetermined scanning pattern; a first correction value calculation section that calculates a correction value based on a pixel value of each of the pixels in the first region; and a second correction value calculation section that calculates a correction based on a pixel position of each of the pixels in the second region.
US08994801B2
An image processing apparatus is provided with: a first feature value calculating section calculating a first feature value for each of pixels constituting an image obtained by picking up an image of a subject; a region dividing section dividing the image into multiple regions on the basis of the first feature values; a second feature value calculating section calculating a second feature value for each of the divided regions; a classification section performing classification with regard to which of multiple kinds of attributes each region of the multiple regions has, on the basis of the second feature value; a judgment section judging whether a region having a predetermined attribute exists or not; and a diagnostic support information calculating section correcting an attribute value of the region having the predetermined attribute to calculate diagnostic support information for supporting a diagnosis.
US08994800B2
A camera detects devices, such as other cameras, smart devices, and access points, with which the camera may communicate. The camera may alternate between operating as a wireless station and a wireless access point. The camera may connect to and receive credentials from a device for another device to which it is not connected. In one embodiment, the camera is configured to operate as a wireless access point, and is configured to receive credentials from a smart device operating as a wireless station. The camera may then transfer the credentials to additional cameras, each configured to operate as wireless stations. The camera and additional cameras may connect to a smart device directly or indirectly (for instance, through an access point), and the smart device may change the camera mode of the cameras. The initial modes of the cameras may be preserved and restored by the smart device upon disconnection.
US08994794B2
An imaging apparatus includes a first light-shielding member formed in a predetermined optical member included in a photographing optical system, the first light-shielding member dividing a pupil region of the photographing optical system into a first region and a second region and a second light-shielding member letting only a light beam passing through the first region enter a first light-receiving element and letting only a light beam passing through the second region enter a second light-receiving element other than the first light-receiving element.
US08994785B2
A method for generating video data and an image photographing device implementing the same are provided. The method includes acquiring annular panoramic video data by performing panoramic video photographing, selecting an extraction area from each frame of the annular panoramic video data, and generating video data by combining the extraction area selected from each frame.
US08994784B2
A method and apparatus of correcting image distortion using an orthogonal transfer charge-coupled device array is provided. A wide field of view line-scan remote sensing system includes an array of orthogonal transfer charge-coupled devices (OTCCDs) configured to record image data of an optical image of a moving object received from a lens. Further, the system includes a processor coupled to the array of OTCCDS, in which the processor is configured to scan the optical image across the array of OTCCDs; and shift pixel charges along a first axis and a second axis that substantially matches an actual image motion of the moving object while the optical image is being scanned in order to reduce an amount of image distortion across the array of OTCCDs.
US08994782B2
The invention involves local media rendering of a multi-party call, performed by a Client User Equipment (1). The media is encoded by each party in the call, and sent as a media stream to a Media server (2), and the media server receives a request for media streams from each Client User Equipment, each media stream in the request associated with a client priority. The Media server selects the media streams to send to each Client User Equipment, based on the request, and further such that the number of streams does not exceed a determined maximum number, which is based e.g. on the available bandwidth.
US08994781B2
A technique manages an electronic conference. The technique involves receiving a set of audio signals from a set of participants of the electronic conference, each audio signal being received from a respective participant. The technique further involves categorizing the set of audio signals received from the set of participants, each audio signal being individually categorized as currently representing (i) intentional participant sound or (ii) unintentional participant sound. The technique further involves controlling operation of the electronic conference based on the categorized set of audio signals.
US08994779B2
Systems and methods for controlling various aspects of ensemble experiences and system control for attention management are disclosed. In some embodiments, the disclosure contemplates a variety of improved methods and systems for control of an ensemble experience such as a sports game, a large scale event, or a video conference. One or more interface(s) are provided that may present multiple layers and/or channels of communication, e.g., multiple video and audio. Options may be provided for participants to adjust the overall audio volume and assign different weights to audio signals from group layer(s), content layer, and system layer.
US08994777B2
Systems and methods are provided for web conference recording. A system receives a request to record a web conference from a web conference participant device. The system identifies video files associated with the web conference. The video files include different types of video files, such as a webcam file, a display screen file, a document file, a presentation program file, a chat session file, an electronic whiteboard file, and a mash-up web application file. The system creates a combined recording file associated with the web conference by stitching copies of the video files together.
US08994773B2
A display apparatus including a main body, a display panel installed in the main body, a video call unit installed to the main body, a circuit board for control of the video call unit, and a cable to connect the video call unit and the circuit board to each other, is provided. Installing the video call unit to the main body enables a video call via the display apparatus.
US08994764B2
An image display apparatus includes: a light source that outputs light; a light modulation device that has plural pixels arranged in a matrix and modulates the light from the light source; a projection system that projects the light modulated by the light modulation device onto a projection surface; a pixel image shift unit that can shift positions of images of the pixels of the light modulation device projected on the projection surface; and a control unit that controls the light modulation device and the pixel image shift unit, wherein the control unit can switch whether the pixel image shift unit temporally shifts the positions of the images of the pixels or not.
US08994761B2
There is provided an information display apparatus. The information display apparatus includes a plurality of display units separately arranged in a foldable housing, a detection unit configured to detect posture angles of the plurality of display units, a gamma storage unit configured to store gamma correction values for the plurality of display units according to a relationship between the posture angles, and a display control unit configured to perform gamma correction on the plurality of display units by referring to the gamma storage unit based on the posture angles of the plurality of display units which are detected by the detection unit.
US08994758B2
An adjusting mechanism for a vehicle with an adjusting device that serves for adjusting a desired operating parameter and can assume adjusting positions between a minimum value and a maximum value, and with a display area for displaying the currently adjusted position. Each region of the display area can assume a first and at least a second display state. The two display states can be distinguished by different, respectively active light emissions that lie in the visible range. The relative surface area of a first segment of the display area that coherently assumes the first display state and the relative surface area of a second segment of the display area that coherently assumes the second display state are defined by the currently adjusted position of the adjusting mechanism.
US08994755B2
Methods of generating heatmaps including receiving, at a first electronic device, first information associated with a first zone of a plurality of zones of a content item, determining at least one first concept related to the first information, receiving at least one target content characteristic, determining at least one second concept related to the at least one target content characteristic, and determining a first heat of the first zone based on the first and second concepts, the first heat representing a measure of similarity between the first and second concepts.
US08994753B2
An image processing apparatus includes an extraction unit configured to extract a structure of a tested eye from an OCT image obtained by optical coherence tomography, an extraction unit configured to extract a structure of the tested eye from an eyeground image obtained by a scanning laser ophthalmoscope or a fundus camera, a calculation unit configured to calculate a reliability degree of the extraction for each of the extracted structures, and a display control unit configured to display the extracted structures superimposed on a image of eyeground according to the calculated reliability.
US08994748B2
Systems, methods and computer program products for displaying image sprites, sub-regions and three dimensional images includes (but is not limited to) receiving a composite image file containing multiple individual images and an index of the multiple individual images, parsing a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) of the composite image file as a function of the index of the multiple individual images, extracting a desired individual image from the composite image file as a function of the index and displaying the extracted individual image.
US08994742B2
Systems and methods are provided for resolving seams in computer graphics when a two-dimensional image is applied to a three-dimensional structure. The method can include providing a two-dimensional image in a UV space, identifying at least one sub-image on the two-dimensional image, defining a seam connectivity for the two-dimensional image in the UV space, and remapping the location of an object on the two-dimensional image when the location of the object is within at least one seam boundary of the seam map.
US08994740B2
A cache line allocation method, wherein the cache is coupled to a graphic processing unit and the cache comprising a plurality of cache lines, each cache line stores one of a plurality of instructions the method comprising the steps of: putting the plurality of instructions in whole cache lines; locking the whole cache lines if an instruction size is less than a cache size; locking a first number of cache lines when the instruction size is larger than the cache size and a difference between the instruction size and the cache size is less than or equal to a threshold; and locking a second number of cache lines when the instruction size is larger than the cache size and a difference between the instruction size and the cache size is large than the threshold; wherein the first number is greater than the second number.
US08994738B1
System and method for rendering a sequence of images corresponding to a sequence of camera poses of a target area to generate an animation representative of a progression of camera poses are provided. An initial image and an associated initial depthmap of a target area captured from an initial camera pose, and a final image and an associated final depthmap of the target area captured from a final camera pose are identified. A plurality of intermediate images representing a plurality of intermediate camera poses directed at the target are produced by performing interpolation on the initial image, the initial depthmap, the final image and the final depthmap. Each intermediate image is associated with a point along the navigational path between the initial and the final camera poses. An animation of the plurality of intermediate images produces a transition of views between the initial camera pose and the final camera pose.
US08994733B2
A system intuitively displays medical data of a patient. The system includes a display and one or more processors. The processors are programmed to receive medical data for the patient. The medical data includes one or more medical values for one or more parameters affecting the health or wellbeing of the patient. The processors are further programmed to display a clock-like face on the display and display the medical values on the display overlaid on the clock-like face. Time for a medical value is represented as a position around a center of the clock-like face, and magnitude for a medical value is represented as deviation from the center of the clock-like face.
US08994732B2
Architecture that integrates the benefits of natural user interaction such as freeform sketch with computer-aided charting. The architecture integrates natural user interaction utilizing multiple modalities (e.g., sketch, multi-touch, etc.) with computer supported data analysis that allows users to explore data by drawing charts using simple strokes. Natural user interactions can be utilized to change chart types by drawing symbols, transform data by applying functions, filter data by drawing strikethrough on legends, etc. Additionally, the architecture makes an inference of visualizations the user intended from user-drawn strokes, such as the axes of a graph, the words of a label, etc. When appropriate, the architecture automatically completes visualizations.
US08994729B2
An image processing apparatus comprises a simulation unit which performs a simulation of operation of an object and a display unit which generates based on a result of the simulation an image in which a virtual object is operating and displays the image. The apparatus further comprises a calculating unit which calculates a position and orientation of a predetermined part of an observer who observes the virtual object being displayed, and a generating unit which generates a parameter for use in the simulation based on the position and orientation of the predetermined part of the observer and the position and orientation of the virtual object. This structure makes it possible to set parameters of simulation in a virtual-reality or mixed-reality space through manipulation performed by the observer.
US08994728B2
A method and apparatus are shown that select a focus depth for digital light field image data that represents a scene having a plurality of objects at different focus depths, the selected focus depth corresponding to a layer of the digital light field image data at the selected focus depth, and display the layer of the digital light field image data by utilizing at least one spatial light modulator to present the layer of the digital light field image data at a focal length corresponding to the selected focus depth. A server is shown that communicates with at least one apparatus to facilitate performance of the method.
US08994726B1
System and methods for preparing a model of an environment for display are provided. In some aspects, a system includes a transformation module configured to modify a three-dimensional (3D) model of an environment such that a target wall portion of the 3D model is more visible from a viewing direction after the modification than prior to the modification. The modification of the 3D model is based on constructive solid geometry and comprises at least one of i) a removal of at least one ceiling wall portion of the 3D model, ii) a thickening of at least one lateral wall portion of the 3D model, and iii) a removal of an obstructing wall portion. The obstructing wall portion blocks at least a partial view of the target wall portion from the viewing direction.
US08994724B2
Methods and systems for generating surface data from polygonal data are disclosed. The methods and systems receive polygonal data which describe discrete points on an object. The methods and systems analyze and use the data to calculate and define a continuous BREP object which accurately represents the original polygonal object. In some embodiments, the generated BREP is G2 continuous at substantially all points.
US08994716B2
A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a set top box having a controller to receive two-dimensional image content comprising a plurality of images, identify an object in a first image of the plurality of images, identify the object in a second image of the plurality of images, determine a perspective angle difference between the first and second images, generate a third image using the first and second images when the perspective angle difference satisfies a three-dimensional angle threshold, generate three-dimensional image content using the first image and the third image, and provide the three-dimensional image content to a display device operably coupled with the set top box. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US08994709B2
An organic light emitting display and a method of manufacturing the organic light emitting display are provided. The organic light emitting display includes a display unit including pixels coupled to scan lines, data lines, emission control lines, and power lines, a scan driver on a side of the display unit and coupled to the scan lines, an emission control driver on another side of the display unit and coupled to the emission control lines, a first power pad on a side of one of the scan driver or the emission control driver for receiving power, a second power pad on another side of the one of the scan driver or the emission control driver, the second power pad coupled to the power lines, and power buses coupling the first power pad and the second power pad to each other.
US08994708B2
A driver circuit for dot inversion of liquid crystals includes a positive source supplying a first positive signal and a second positive signal; a negative source supplying a first negative signal and a second negative signal; a first selector unit connected with the sources to receive the first positive signal and the first negative signal; a second selector unit connected with the sources to receive the second positive signal and the second negative signal; a first source connected with the selection unit to alternatively output a first positive voltage and a first negative voltage; a second source connected with the selection unit to alternatively output a second positive voltage and a second negative voltage. When the first source outputs the first positive voltage, the second source outputs the second negative voltage. When the first source outputs the first negative voltage, the second source outputs the second positive voltage.
US08994707B2
Discussed are a display device and a method for controlling the same, which are capable of achieving a reduction in power consumption, through selective application of a charge share mode or a pre-charge mode in accordance with the swing width of a data voltage. The disclosed method includes the steps of determining a positive or negative polarity of input image data on the basis of reference data and outputting a pre-charge enable signal when two successive image data have the same polarity; supplying a pre-charge voltage to a corresponding output channel in response to the pre-enable signal; and converting the image data into a data voltage, supplying the converted data voltage to a corresponding data line through the corresponding output channel.
US08994703B2
A display apparatus includes: a substrate having a display area and anon-display area; a display device formed on the display area; a bending embodiment unit formed on the non-display area and including bimetal elements; and a control unit for controlling bending of each of the bimetal elements so as to improve convenience to the user.
US08994700B2
A method, system and computer program product for driving a display device by a display system is provided. The display system includes a processor, a first display controller, a second display controller and the display device. The first display controller receives display frames that are sent by the processor. The first display controller drives the display device when the processor sends new display frames. When the same display frames are continually sent by the processor, the control of the display device is switched to the second display controller, which is optimized for low-power operation. The control of the display device is switched in proximity to an input vertical synchronization (V-sync) pulse.
US08994699B2
A touch input device comprises: a body made of a conductive material; a brush formed at one end of the body for external extraction, and which is made of a conductive material for touching a capacitive touch panel; and a unit for generating a clicking sensation which is installed within the body to generate a clicking sensation when the touch panel is touched by the brush, thereby enabling a user to sense a click when touching the touch panel, thus improving user convenience, enabling dragging to be smoothly performed, enabling pictures to be easily drawn, minimizing damage such as scratches or the like on the surface of the touch panel, and enabling the surface of the touch panel to be cleaned.
US08994693B2
A locating method for an optical touch device to calculate a position of a light blocking object is provided. The optical touch device includes a number of image detecting components. Each of the image detecting components includes a number of pixels arranged in a straight line. In the locating method, the pixels of each of the image detecting components are at least divided into a first group and a second group. When the first group detects a dark point caused by the light blocking object, the position of the dark point is calculated using a first calculating method. When the second group detects the dark point, the position of the dark point is calculated using a second calculating method. The locating method can determine the position of the light blocking object accurately. An optical touch device that is suitable for using the locating method is also provided.
US08994685B2
An input sensing device for sensing an input on a touch panel, and touch panel are provided. The input sensing device has a capacitance node and includes a charge pump to which an output signal from a first electrode of the capacitance node is input as a charge source in response to a sensing signal applied through a second electrode of the capacitance node. The input sensing device determines whether there is an input on the touch panel, based on an output voltage of the charge pump.
US08994683B2
A digital display device having two or more displays that are coupled at angles to each other for displaying content associated with multiple sets of sources of content is described herein. Each display has one or more display regions in which content is displayed. A first display region on one display may be merged with a second display region on the same or a different display to form a merged display region in which content is displayed. The displays may be touch-sensitive. Display regions may be merged by, for example, receiving a first touch from a user of a first touch-sensitive display region and a second touch of a second touch-sensitive display region. In some embodiments, the digital display device has the form of a cube with six displays.
US08994682B2
A display device includes a display panel, and an electrostatic capacitive type touch panel which is formed in an overlapping manner with the display panel. A plurality of X electrodes and a plurality of Y electrodes intersecting with the X electrodes. A first signal line supplies signals to the X electrodes, a second signal line supplies signals to the Y electrodes, and the first signal line and the second signal line are formed on a flexible printed circuit board. A dummy electrode is formed adjacent to an electrode portion of each X electrode and electrode portion of each Y electrode, the dummy electrode does not overlap the X electrode and the Y electrode, and the dummy electrode does not electrically connect with the first and second signal lines.
US08994681B2
In one example, a method includes outputting, by a computing device and for display, a graphical keyboard comprising a plurality of keys. The method may also include receiving, by the computing device, an indication of a gesture detected at a presence-sensitive input device. The method may also include determining, by the computing device and based on a plurality of features associated with the gesture, a degree of precision of the gesture. The method may also include modifying, by the computing device and based at least in part on the degree of precision, a probability that the gesture indicates at least one key of the plurality of keys. The method may also include outputting, by the computing device and for display, a candidate word that is based at least in part on the probability that the gesture indicates at least one key of the plurality of keys.
US08994680B2
A system for displaying images is provided. The system includes a touch sensor device including a transparent substrate having a sensing region and a non-sensing region adjacent to the sensing region. A sensing electrode pattern layer is on the transparent substrate in the sensing region. An inorganic dielectric material layer is on the transparent substrate. The inorganic dielectric material layer has a first portion in the non-sensing region and a second portion in the sensing region and partially covering the sensing electrode pattern layer. A method of forming a touch sensor device is also disclosed.
US08994676B2
A method for operating a control device, in particular in a vehicle, the control device having a display surface and a control element. A detection region formed in the vicinity of the control element is monitored by a proximity sensing device such that an actuating element is detected in the detection region, and first and second display contents are displayed on the display surface. The first display content is no longer displayed if an actuating element has been detected in the detection region by the proximity sensing device. Also disclosed is a control device for carrying out the method.
US08994673B2
A display device with an integrated touch screen according to an embodiment, includes a display panel including a touch screen provided in an active area of the display panel, and a display driver circuit provided in an inactive area of the display panel, the touch screen including a plurality of driving electrodes, each of the driving electrodes including a plurality of sub driving electrodes positioned in the active area of the display panel but electrically connected to each other in the inactive area of the display panel, the touch screen further including a plurality of sensing electrodes disposed between the sub driving electrodes and formed in the active area of the panel, and the display driver circuit configured to apply a common voltage to the driving electrodes and the sensing electrodes or a touch driving voltage to the driving electrodes according to a driving mode of the display panel.
US08994671B2
Embodiments are described for displaying indications of notifications received by a multi-screen device. The notifications may relate to a number of different categories including, without limitation, phone calls, SMS messages, email, notifications from applications, battery level, and signal strength. The multi-screen device includes a unified desktop that displays indications of the notifications regardless of the state of the multi-screen device, which in embodiments includes an undocked state and a docked state, in which a peripheral screen is used to display the indications. The indications may be displayed differently depending on the state of the multi-screen device.
US08994670B2
A method includes detecting a first touch at a first touch location on a touch-sensitive display, detecting a second touch at a second touch location on the touch-sensitive display, and when a first distance from the first touch location to the second touch location meets a distance threshold and a second distance from the previous touch location to the first touch location does not meet the distance threshold, identifying the second touch as a new touch.
US08994658B2
To provide an input apparatus, a control apparatus, a control system, and a control method that are capable of improving an operational feeling when a user uses the input apparatus to input an operation signal via an operation section. An MPU (19) of an input apparatus (1) stops generating or transmitting a movement command corresponding to a displacement amount of a pointer on a screen, during a predetermined timer-operating time period since a cancel of an input of an operation signal (Step 309) made by a user using an operation button. Alternatively, it is also possible for the MPU (19) to continue outputting the movement command with the displacement amount of the pointer on the screen set to 0 during the predetermined time period (Step 311). By such processing, a movement of the pointer on the screen is regulated even when a casing of the input apparatus is moved when the user presses and releases the operation button and the movement is detected by a sensor unit.
US08994656B2
The invention describes a method of controlling a position (x′, y′) of a control point (c) on a command area (ACM). This method comprises the steps of: aiming a pointing device (1) comprising a camera (2) in the direction of the command area (ACM); generating an image (I) of a target area (AI) aimed at by the pointing device; processing the target area image (I) to determine a target point (T) at which the pointing device (1) is aimed; determining position (x′, y′) of the control point (C) according to the position (x, y) of the target point (T) within a currently defined control area (ACT), which control area (Acr) includes at least partially the command area (ACM). Moreover the invention describes an adequate system and a pointing device (1) for controlling a control point position (P) on a command area (ACM).
US08994655B2
The prompt responsiveness and operability of pointer display and pointer control is ensured. A display control device has: a first information processing terminal drawing a pointer corresponding to each of input operation devices on a pointer screen on the basis of an operation quantity input from each of the input operation devices; a second information processing terminal drawing a working state of an application on an application screen in accordance with the input instruction information input from each of the input operation devices; and an image synthesis unit that creates a synthesized image by superimposing each of the two screens on the other and that outputs the image to a display device.
US08994651B2
A mobile terminal including a wireless communication unit configured to wirelessly communicate with at least one other terminal; a flexible display unit configured to be bent in response to an applied physical force and to display information; a detection unit configured to detect a bending of the flexible display unit and a time for which the bending is maintained; and a control unit configured to execute different functions of the mobile terminal according to the time for which the bending is maintained.
US08994643B2
A multi-function force reflecting haptic interface including various sub-assemblies is disclosed. The sub-assemblies include multiple function user interfaces, a user interface docking station for setting the interface to a home position, temperature monitoring and control systems, and various kinematic cable drive systems.
US08994641B2
Devices, methods and products are described that provide information handling devices with touch-based reflective display. One aspect provides a method comprising: providing a touchable control having one or more areas, said one or more areas providing both reflective display and accepting touch-based input; displaying data on a display device of an information handling device which does not overlap the reflective display of said one or more areas; ascertaining touch-based input to said one or more areas of said touchable control area; and executing one or more functions responsive to said touch-based input. Other embodiments are described.
US08994636B2
It is an object to provide a display device which can favorably display a image without delayed or distorted signals. The display device includes a first gate driver and a second gate driver. The first gate driver and the second gate driver each include a plurality of flip flop circuits and a plurality of transfer signal generation circuits. Both the flip flop circuit and the transfer signal generation circuit are circuits which output a signal inputted to a first input terminal with a half clock cycle delay. In addition, an output terminal of the transfer signal generation circuit is directly connected to a first input terminal of the flip flop circuit in the next stage. Therefore, delay and distortion of the signal which is inputted from the transfer signal generation circuit to the flip flop circuit can be reduced.
US08994629B2
According to an embodiment, a gate shift register includes a plurality of stages cascade-connected to each other. An nth one of the stages includes: a pull-up transistor that outputs any one of gate shift clocks as an nth scan pulse of a gate high voltage in accordance with the potential of a Q node; a pull-down transistor that is connected to the pull-up transistor through an output node, and outputs a low-potential voltage as an nth scan pulse of a gate low voltage in accordance with the potential of a QB node; and a switching circuit that charges and discharges the Q node and the QB node, respectively, or vice versa in response to a set signal and a reset signal, wherein an adaptively adjusted variable high-potential voltage is applied to the QB node to correspond to a shift in the threshold voltage of the pull-down transistor.
US08994623B2
A pixel circuit includes: a switching transistor whose conduction is controlled by a drive signal supplied to the control terminal; a drive wiring adapted to propagate the drive signal; and a data wiring adapted to propagate a data signal. The drive wiring is formed on a first wiring layer and connected to the control terminal of the switching transistor. The data wiring is formed on a second wiring layer and connected to a first terminal of the switching transistor. A multi-layered wiring structure is used so that the second wiring layer is formed on a layer different from that on which the first wiring layer is formed.
US08994619B2
A display device includes: a display unit including pixels coupled to scan lines for transmitting scan signals, data lines for transmitting data signals, and light emission control lines for transmitting light emission control signals; a scan driver; a data driver; and a light emission driver. Each pixel includes: an OLED; a driving transistor to transmit a driving current corresponding to a data signal to the OLED; a first transistor to transmit the data signal to the driving transistor according to a first scan signal; a second transistor to apply a first power source voltage to a first electrode of the driving transistor according to a second scan signal, during an initialization period for initializing a gate electrode voltage of the driving transistor; and a capacitor including a first electrode coupled to a gate electrode of the driving transistor and a second electrode coupled to a first power source supply.
US08994609B2
A transmission line feed for a surface wave medium having a dielectric substrate with an array of electrically conductive patches formed thereon. The transmission line feed includes a microstrip substrate, the microstrip substrate having a first permittivity which is lower than a second permittivity of the dielectric substrate of the surface wave medium, the microstrip substrate abutting against the dielectric substrate of the surface wave medium; a tapered microstrip disposed on the microstrip substrate, the tapered microstrip tapering from a relatively narrow end to a relatively wide end, the relative wide end terminating where the microstrip substrate abuts against the surface wave substrate; and an adapter for coupling a transmission line to the relatively narrow end of the tapered microstrip.
US08994607B1
A spiral antenna apparatus utilizes a noise suppression sheet that is interposed between the spiral antenna element and its ground plane. The noise suppression sheet permits an extremely compact spiral antenna apparatus while lessening antenna performance degradation.
US08994600B2
According to various aspects, exemplary embodiments are provided of antenna assemblies. In an exemplary embodiment, an antenna assembly generally includes one or more tapered loop antenna elements.
US08994584B2
Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to motion compensation, and in particular to an autofocus-based compensation (ABC) systems and methods for a ground moving target indication platform. According to one embodiment, a method for autofocus based compensation of range data acquired from an object in motion is provided. The method may include: receiving range data; steering at least one receive beam of the range data in a desired direction; transforming the range data into the range domain; determining the width of a main clutter lobe; excluding data that is not part of the main lobe clutter response; transforming the main-lobe clutter response into the range domain; calculating a phase correction term; and applying the phase correction to the original range data.
US08994580B2
A sensor for a vehicle includes a sensor housing, a surface of which sensor housing has at least three areas defining at least three reference measuring fields. Positions of the at least three reference measuring fields define a reference plane. The reference measuring fields have (i) a surface texture which enables tactile position determination of the reference measuring fields, and/or (ii) a surface characteristic which enables optical position determination. The detected positions of the reference measuring fields are used to define the reference plane. A mechanical sensor axis of the target sensor is defined as extending orthogonally to the reference plane. The mechanical sensor axis is used to (a) ascertain an angle of deviation between the mechanical sensor axis and a known sensor axis of the sensor, and/or (b) align the mechanical sensor axis to a travel axis of the vehicle.
US08994578B1
A system and method for adjusting a target value for generating a vertical profile view in an aircraft weather radar system is provided. Processing electronics are configured to receive a target value for generating a vertical profile view of weather detected by the radar system. The processing electronics are also configured to adjust the target value to account for the motion of the aircraft and/or the motion of the detected weather.
US08994577B1
A synthetic aperture radar (SAR) image is produced by using all phase histories of a set of phase histories to produce a first pixel array having a first azimuth resolution, and using less than all phase histories of the set to produce a second pixel array having a second azimuth resolution that is coarser than the first azimuth resolution. The first and second pixel arrays are combined to produce a third pixel array defining a desired SAR image that shows distinct shadows of moving objects while preserving detail in stationary background clutter.
US08994566B2
There is provided A DA converter in which the N current switch cells each include: a current source having one end connected to a first power source; and first and second switch transistors differentially operating each other, each having a control terminal receiving a digital signal, the first combining node combines a current output from the first switch transistor in each current switch cell, the second combining node combines a current output from the second switch transistor in each current switch cell, the first output impedance element has ends connected to the first combining node and a second power source, the second output impedance element has ends connected to the second combining node and the second power source, the controller controls the current source in each current switch cell to reduce variation in amount of a current flowing from the first power source.
US08994562B1
A system for monitoring a plurality of boats has a plurality of boat monitoring elements. Each boat monitoring element is mounted on a respective boat and is coupled to various sensors on the same boat. Further, a system controller is configured to communicate with each of the boat monitoring elements via a wireless mesh network. Data indicative of events sensed by the sensors are transmitted to the system controller via such wireless mesh network. The system controller tracks the sensed events and is configured to perform various predefined actions when certain events occur. A remote user may contact the system controller through a wide area network or otherwise to discover the status of a particular boat or to control conditions on the boat.
US08994552B2
An all-electronic utility gas meter using with micromachined (a.k.a. MEMS Micro Electro Mechanical Systems) silicon sensor to measure gas metrology data for custody transfer or tariff in city gas metering application is disclosed in the present invention. The meter has two separate metrology units. One of the units is located in the main flow channel with the insertion probing configuration while the other is configured as a bypass unit assembly with the main metrology unit. The bypass metrology unit can perform independent metrology tasks and can be exchanged onsite during service, maintenance or repair without dismantle the meter from the service pipeline. The bypass metrology unit also can be used to compare the measured data from time to time and performance self-diagnosis that shall help the performance and data authentication during the meter field service. Both of the units can be powered by battery or external sources. The units can be connected to network as well as provide internal plural storages for data transmission and safety.
US08994550B2
A method and system are presented for transmitting data along tubing in a borehole, comprising generating an acoustic signal using a transmitter at a first location on the tubing, and receiving the acoustic signal at a receiver at a second location on the tubing. The method and system further comprise: (i) generating the acoustic signal at the transmitter at a first frequency and bit rate; (ii) receiving the acoustic signal at the first frequency at the receiver and attempting to synchronize the receiver at the first frequency, and (iiia) if the synchronization is successful, continuing to transmit the acoustic signal so as to pass the data from the transmitter to the receiver; or (iiib) if the synchronization is unsuccessful, adjusting the frequency and/or bit rate of the signal and repeating steps (i)-(iii) on the basis of the adjusted signal.
US08994549B2
The invention provides a system and method for facilitating oilfield operations utilizing auditory data. In one embodiment, the present invention generates one or more auditory mapping structures whereby oilfield data may be mapped to sounds. The present invention provides at least one computer generated selection tool through which the user may select one or more portions of displayed oilfield data for auditory enhancement. Once the user has indicated an area of interest using the selection tool, the present invention may identify the oilfield data displayed within the outlined area of interest, identify auditory data associated with the displayed oilfield data utilizing one or more auditory mapping structures, and emit at least a portion of the identified auditory data to enhance the user's understanding of the displayed oilfield data.
US08994547B2
Methods of automatically tracking a patching connection between a first connector port of a patch panel and a second connector port of a network device are provided in which a sensor is used to detect that a first end of a patch cord has been inserted into the second connector port. The patch cord has at least one data communications channel and a separate control channel. A first conductor of the control channel of the patch cord is biased to power an integrated circuit chip on the network device. In response to the detection by the sensor, a first signal is transmitted over the separate control channel of the patch cord to the network device. A second signal is received over the control channel of the patch cord in response to the first signal. The second signal includes a unique identifier that is associated with the second connector port.
US08994541B2
Methods, apparatuses, and systems for monitoring condenser performance are described herein. One method includes receiving a control signal associated with a fan component of a condenser of a refrigeration system, determining an expected control signal based on a number of driving conditions associated with the condenser, and providing a notification responsive to a difference between the received control signal and the expected control signal exceeding a threshold.
US08994523B2
A brake monitoring system and method for a vehicle having multiple axles and a plurality of brake actuators and an engine control module, each brake actuator being associated with one of the axle. The system include sensors for measuring, in real-time, brake pressure and brake lining wear, and generating first and second signals. The first and second signals are received and stored in a chassis communications module. The chassis communications module detects fault condition of the brakes as a function of the first and/or second signals and for recording the fault condition, the fault condition being one of a brake monitor warning and a brake lining warning and provides an indication of status via warning lights.
US08994508B2
Embodiments of the present invention allow for dynamic selection and query of different types of RFID tags into a session. Embodiments of the present invention also allow for dynamic activation of different types of RFID tags. In certain embodiments of the invention, an inclusive operation is performed on the RFID tags and in other embodiments an exclusive operation is performed.
US08994505B2
Methods and apparatuses to secure data transmission in a radio frequency identification (RFID) system against eavesdropping, using multiple communication channels. In one embodiment, a method includes communicating key information and cipher text generated based on the key information, or plain text, using a plurality of different, distinct and separate communication channels connected to an RFID tag.
US08994497B2
An electronic key for a merchandise security device is provided. The electronic key may include electronic circuitry for providing electrical power to a lock mechanism for locking and unlocking the lock mechanism. The electronic key may also include an audio component configured to indicate a status of the lock mechanism.
US08994495B2
Keypad indicia are integral with a window of a vehicle. The keypad indicia are formed using a ultra-violet (UV) fluorescent dye that is nearly invisible to a human eye until exposed to UV light. A UV light emitting device of the vehicle is configured for outputting UV light. The light emitting device is mounted for enabling the keypad indicia to be exposed to the outputted UV light thereby causing the keypad indicia to become readily visible by the human eye. An imaging device of the vehicle captures user interaction with the keypad indicia while the keypad indicia is exposed to the outputted UV light. The keypad interaction processor determines if a sequence of body part movements with respect to the keypad indicia that is captured by the imaging device during exposure of the keypad indicia to the outputted light corresponds to an access code of the vehicle.
US08994492B2
The use of user equipment, or distracting features thereof are restricted or prohibited to improve vehicle operation safety. The presence of user equipment within the operator's or driver's operational area is detected. The distracting features are then restricted either immediately or based on other conditions such as vehicle speed, motion, engine state, etc. When the conditions have been eliminated and/or the user equipment is vacated from the operator's operational area, the restrictions can be removed or removed after a threshold period of time.
US08994486B2
Embodiments of a method are provided for joining a secondary wire to a magnet wire, such as a fine gauge aluminum or silver wire. Further provided are embodiments of a disparate wire splice connector and embodiments of an electromagnetic coil assembly including such a splice connector. In one embodiment, the electromagnetic coil assembly includes disparate wire splice connector having a first blind bore and a second blind bore. A coiled magnet wire having a segment inserted into the first blind bore is soldered to the disparate wire splice connector. A secondary wire having a segment inserted into the second blind bore is also soldered to the disparate wire splice connector such that the secondary wire is electrically coupled to the coiled magnet wire through the disparate wire splice connector.
US08994480B2
A resonant element is provided with a multilayer board, comprising a plurality of conductor layers isolated by a dielectric, a signal via conductor, penetrating through the multilayer board, and a plurality of ground vias, penetrating thought the multilayer board and disposed around the signal via conductor. The multilayer board comprises a first conductor layer, a second conductor layer, and a corrugated conductor layer disposed between the first and the second conductor layers. The corrugated conductor layer comprises a corrugated signal plate, connected to the signal via conductor, and a corrugated ground plate, connected to the plurality of ground vias, isolated from the corrugated signal plate by the dielectric.
US08994474B2
An ortho-mode transducer may include a cylindrical common waveguide terminating in a common port, a rectangular vertical branch waveguide in-line with the cylindrical common waveguide and terminating in a vertical port, and a rectangular horizontal branch waveguide normal to the common waveguide and terminating in a horizontal port. The vertical branch waveguide may be configured to couple a first linearly polarized mode from the vertical port to the common waveguide. The horizontal branch waveguide may be configured to couple a second linearly polarized mode, orthogonal to the first linearly polarized mode, from the horizontal port to the common waveguide. A portion of the vertical branch waveguide may overlap a portion of the cylindrical common waveguide. A septum may span the vertical branch waveguide proximate to the overlapping portions of the vertical branch waveguide and the common waveguide. A rectangular symmetry cavity may be opposed to the horizontal branch waveguide.
US08994472B2
An antenna duplexer includes first and second filters connected to an antenna terminal. The first filter has a passband of a low frequency band. The second filter has a passband of a high frequency band. The second filter is a ladder-type filter including series-arm resonators and parallel-arm resonators. At least one parallel-arm resonator out of the parallel-arm resonators has a main resonance and an auxiliary resonance. Attenuation poles caused by the main resonance and the auxiliary resonance are within the low frequency band. This antenna duplexer has a high attenuation characteristic and a high isolation characteristic while maintaining a low insertion loss.
US08994467B2
A digitally-controlled oscillator (DCO) includes a first capacitor array and a second capacitor array responsive to an integer part and a fractional part of a digital control word, respectively. The mismatch measurement of the DCO includes a first settling phase and a second settling phase. In the first settling phase, the first capacitor array is fixed to have one capacitive value, and the second capacitor array is adjusted for making the DCO frequency locked to a target value. In the second settling phase, the first capacitor array is fixed to have another capacitive value, and the second capacitor array is adjusted for making the DCO frequency locked to the same target value. The capacitor mismatches are estimated according to characteristic values derived from the digital control word adaptively adjusted in the first setting phase and the second setting phase.
US08994465B1
A method for reducing the phase noise of a oscillator includes monitoring a phase slope of a resonator, and controlling the resonator to operate the resonator at a high phase slope condition, wherein the resonator comprises a piezoelectric material, or piezoelectric quartz.
US08994445B2
A CPU outputs a high level ENB signal to a USB-IC via an ENB line and monitors, after outputting the ENB signal, whether or not there is an overcurrent in the USB-IC on the basis of the voltage level of the ENB line. The USB-IC outputs, when it receives the ENB signal, a 5 V voltage to a VBUS line and stops, when an overcurrent occurs, output of the 5 V voltage to the VBUS line. A connector changes the voltage level of the ENB line to a high voltage level using the 5 V voltage of the VBUS line and changes, when output of the 5 V voltage is stopped, the voltage level of the ENB line to a low level. Thus, the ENB line may be shared for outputting the ENB signal from the CPU and for providing notification of an overcurrent from the USB-IC.
US08994443B2
In a bidirectional switch using a metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET), the source terminal and the backgate terminal of the MOSFET are connected to each other via a transfer gate. A switch may be used between the connection point of the backgate terminal and the transfer gate of the MOSFET and the ground potential (where the MOSFET is an n-channel type) or supply potential (where the MOSFET is a p-channel type).
US08994437B2
A semiconductor device outputs a signal to control a gate potential a switching device. The semiconductor device includes a first signal output terminal, and is capable of receiving or internally creating a reference signal, which varies between a first potential and a second potential. The semiconductor device can switch between first and second operations. The first operation outputs to the first signal output terminal a signal that is at a third potential when the reference signal is at the first potential, and that is at a fourth potential higher than the third potential when the reference signal is at the second potential. The second operation outputs to the first signal output terminal a signal that is at the fourth potential when the reference signal is at the first potential, and that is at the third potential when the reference signal is at the second potential.
US08994436B2
According to one embodiment, there is provided a semiconductor device including a first amplifier and a second amplifier. The first amplifier has an input terminal to receive a first signal and an output terminal to output a second signal. The second amplifier is configured to receive the first signal and a correction data, to generate a correction signal according to the first signal and the correction data, and to output the generated correction signal to the output terminal of the first amplifier so as to add the first signal and the generated correction signal.
US08994431B2
A flip-flop circuit includes an input stage circuit, a middle stage circuit, an output stage circuit and a set/reset circuit. The input stage circuit is arranged for receiving a first signal from a first node, and selectively outputting a second signal at a second node according to at least one control signal. The middle stage circuit is coupled to the input stage circuit, and arranged for receiving the second signal, and selectively outputting a third signal at a third node according to the at least one control signal. The output stage circuit is coupled to the middle stage circuit, and arranged for receiving the third signal to output an output signal. The set/reset circuit is coupled to the second node and the third node, and arranged to receiving a set signal and a reset signal, and selectively determining a voltage level of the third signal at the third node.
US08994430B2
To reduce power consumption of a circuit (TEDC) which detects timing errors in a main flip-flop by determining whether or not output data signals of the main flip-flop and a shadow flip-flop correspond. The TEDC includes a power gating circuit (PGC) which performs power gating of the shadow FF and a reset circuit (RSTC) which resets an output signal of the shadow FF. The PGC makes the shadow FF in an active mode only when error detection needs to be performed; other than that, the PGC makes the shadow FF in a power saving mode. The RSTC supplies a certain voltage to an output terminal of the shadow FF in the power saving mode to suppress malfunction of the TEDC. A transistor using an oxide semiconductor is used to supply the voltage to the output terminal.
US08994426B2
In various embodiments, systems and methods for generating high-precision pulse-width modulation include a delay-locked loop comprising multiple delay units having time-variable delays, control logic for selecting a subset S of the multiple delay units to thereby generate a time-invariant shift amount having a precision finer than that of a system clock and circuitry for applying the shift amount to rising and falling edges of a pulse-width modulation waveform to thereby generate a high-precision pulse-width modulation waveform.
US08994425B2
A circuit includes first and second aligner circuits and a deskew circuit. The first aligner circuit is operable to align a first input serial data signal with a control signal to generate a first aligned serial data signal. The second aligner circuit is operable to align a second input serial data signal with the control signal to generate a second aligned serial data signal. The deskew circuit is operable to reduce skew between the first and the second aligned serial data signals to generate first and second output serial data signals.
US08994422B2
A method and system is disclosed in which the phase detector in a phase-locked loop is able to run at the fastest speed appropriate for a reference signal. A frequency offset is added to the output frequency of the phase-locked loop, to alter the frequency fed to the frequency divider which would receive the output frequency in a conventional PLL to an intermediate frequency. The frequency offset is selected so that the ratio of the intermediate frequency to the reference frequency is a simple fraction, and preferably an integer, i.e., the intermediate frequency is a multiple of the reference frequency. In cases where the relationship between the output frequency and the reference frequency is largely relatively prime, the phase detector is thus able to receive signals at the frequency of the reference signal and operate at the fastest speed appropriate for the reference signal.
US08994420B2
A frequency synthesizer capable of generating a clock signal having reduced digital spurs and reduced jitter is described. An apparatus includes a frequency modulator configured to generate a divide control signal and a digital quantization error signal in response to a divide ratio. The apparatus includes a phase modulator configured to generate a phase error signal based on the digital quantization error signal. The phase modulator is an n-order sigma-delta modulator module, n being an integer greater than one. The apparatus may include an interpolative divider configured to generate a feedback signal in a phase-locked loop (PLL) based on an output signal of the PLL, the divide control signal, and the phase error signal. The interpolative divider may include the frequency modulator and the phase modulator. The phase modulator may have a unity gain signal transfer function.
US08994417B2
A method and system for synchronizing the output signal phase of a plurality of frequency divider circuits in a local-oscillator (LO) or clock signal path is disclosed. The LO path includes a plurality of frequency divider circuits and a LO buffer for receiving a LO signal coupled to the plurality of frequency divider circuits. The method and system comprise adding offset voltage and setting predetermined state to each of the frequency divider circuits; and enabling the frequency divider circuits. The method and system includes enabling the LO buffer to provide the LO signal to the frequency divider circuits after they have been enabled. When the LO signal drives each of the frequency divider circuits, each of the frequency divider circuits starts an operation. Finally the method and system comprise removing the offset voltage from each of the frequency divider circuits to allow them to effectively drive other circuits.
US08994415B1
A clock buffer circuit can include a low voltage drive circuit that receives a clock signal and provides a low voltage drive at a first power supply potential to a load. A boost drive circuit can provide a high voltage drive at a second power supply potential greater than the first power supply potential to the load. The boost drive circuit can provide the high voltage drive in response to a pulse signal generated in response to a transition of a clock input signal. A pulse generator circuit may generate the pulse signal to have a predetermined width to enable the high voltage drive until the load is charged essentially to the first power supply potential.
US08994402B2
A level shifter and integrated level shifter and metastability resolution flop circuit are disclosed. A circuit includes a generation circuit, in a first voltage domain, coupled to receive a logic signal via a single-ended input and configured to generate true and complementary values of the logic signal. The circuit further includes a storage circuit coupled to receive the true and complementary values of the logic signal from the generation circuit. The storage circuit is configured to store the true and complementary values of the logic signal. The storage circuit is in a second voltage domain. The circuit further includes an output circuit coupled to the storage circuit and configured to provide a differential output signal having true and complementary values corresponding to the true and complementary values of the logic signal. The circuit may be combined with a latch circuit coupled to receive the differential output signal.
US08994398B2
A high-speed signaling system with adaptive transmit pre-emphasis. A transmit circuit has a plurality of output drivers to output a first signal onto a signal path. A receive circuit is coupled to receive the first signal via the signal path and configured to generate an indication of whether the first signal exceeds a threshold level. A first threshold control circuit is coupled to receive the indication from the receive circuit and configured to adjust the threshold level according to whether the first signal exceeds the threshold level. A drive strength control circuit is coupled to receive the indication from the receive circuit and configured to adjust a drive strength of at least one output driver of the plurality of output drivers according to whether the first signal exceeds the threshold level.
US08994389B2
A method for automatically measuring a property of a fluid associated with a drilling application, including obtaining a sample of the fluid, wherein the sample of the fluid is obtained by directing the fluid through an electrode probe assembly comprising an electrode probe and depositing the fluid in a probe gap between electrodes of the electrode probe, ramping up a voltage applied to the electrodes of the electrode probe until a threshold current is obtained, recording the breakdown voltage at the threshold current value, and using the breakdown voltage to compute the property of the sample of the fluid.
US08994384B2
A powder sensor includes a piezoelectric element, an oscillator circuit, a phase determination circuit, and a powder presence/absence determination circuit. The oscillator circuit applies to the piezoelectric element an output signal having a frequency equal to or near a resonance frequency of the piezoelectric element. The phase determination circuit determines phase of a terminal voltage of the piezoelectric element relative to phase of the output signal from the oscillator circuit. The powder presence/absence determination circuit determines that powder is absent if the phase determination circuit determines, n consecutive times (where “n” is an arbitrary integer satisfying n≧2), that the phase of the terminal voltage of the piezoelectric element, relative to the phase of the output signal from the oscillator circuit, satisfies a predetermined condition.
US08994378B2
An electromagnetic survey acquisition system includes a sensor cable and a source cable, each deployable in a body of water, and a recording system. The sensor cable includes an electromagnetic sensor thereon. The source cable includes an electromagnetic antenna thereon. The recording system includes a source current generator, a current sensor, and an acquisition controller. The source current generator powers the source cable to emit an electromagnetic field from the antenna. The current sensor is coupled to the source current generator. The acquisition controller interrogates the electromagnetic sensor and the current sensor at selected times in a synchronized fashion.
US08994376B2
This method for detecting a disturber of magnetic field amplitude comprises: the emitting (62) of several magnetic fields of different frequencies from a same uniaxial magnetic field source, the amplitudes of the magnetic field emitted at two different unspecified frequencies being related to each other by a predetermined ratio, the measurement (64) of the amplitude of these magnetic fields at different frequencies by means of a same sensor, and the reporting (70) of an amplitude disturber if a ratio between two of said measured amplitudes diverges from a predetermined threshold of the predetermined ratio which relates the amplitudes of the magnetic fields emitted at the same frequencies and, if not, the absence of any reporting.
US08994372B2
An image is generated from data acquired with a magnetic resonance tomography, wherein nuclear spins in an excitation region are excited with different transmission modes and a common image is generated from the response signals.
US08994371B2
One embodiment of the invention includes an atomic sensing system. The system includes an atomic sensing device configured to generate an output signal along an output axis in response to a plurality of control parameters. The system also includes a signal generator configured to apply a reference signal to a cross-axis that is approximately orthogonal to the output axis. The system also includes a phase measurement system configured to demodulate the output signal relative to the reference signal to measure a relative phase alignment between the output axis and a physical axis of the atomic sensing device based on the reference signal.
US08994367B2
A differential transformer type magnetic sensor is disclosed. The drive coil includes a planar coil arranged on a substrate. The first differential coil includes a planar coil arranged on the substrate. The second differential coil includes a planar coil arranged on the substrate and connected to the first differential coil. The first selector unit is used for a zero adjustment of a differential transformer. The first differential coil includes a plurality of first branch lines formed by branching a wire material forming the outermost turn of the first differential coil. The plurality of first branch lines are so arranged that the amount of magnetic fluxes passing along the plurality of respective first branch lines differ when the drive coil is driven. The first selector unit is capable of selecting any one of the plurality of first branch lines and arranged on the substrate.
US08994365B2
A current detection apparatus includes two magnetic detectors that are arranged oppositely on a front surface and a back surface of a board which is located above a current path in order to detect a strength of a magnetic field, an electromagnetic shielding frame member that is mounted on the current path so that the two magnetic detectors and a part of the current path are accommodated inside the electromagnetic shielding frame member, and a control circuit that determines whether a failure which occurs in either of the two magnetic detectors from a difference between magnetic fields detected by the two magnetic detectors, respectively. Sensitivities of the two magnetic detectors are made adjusted so that current values outputted from the two magnetic detectors depending on detected magnetic fields are identical to each other in a normal state.
US08994351B2
A power supply includes a drive signal generator to generate a drive signal to control a switching of power switch. A feedback circuit is coupled to receive a feedback signal representative of the output to generate a control signal. An oscillator circuit is coupled to generate an oscillating signal in response to the control signal, from which the drive signal is generated in response. A frequency of the oscillating signal increases from a first frequency to a second frequency with respect to the control signal for a first range of control signal values, remains substantially equal to the second frequency for a second range of control signal values, and decreases from the second frequency to a third frequency with respect to the control signal for a third range of control signal values. The first range is less than the second range, which is less than the third range.
US08994338B2
A charger system for use in a vehicle to charge a vehicle battery includes a first charger and a second charger. The chargers are connected to a vehicle bus. Each charger has a master indication digital input and decodes the input to determine its role as master charger or slave charger. The master charger configures its connection to the vehicle bus to use a master node message set. The slave charger configures its connection to the vehicle bus to use a slave node message set.
US08994336B2
A portable power supply apparatus is provided having reduced impedance losses. The portable power supply apparatus is comprised of: a portable housing; a battery system residing in the housing; and an inverter circuit residing in the housing. The battery system generates a direct current (DC) voltage having a magnitude greater than or equal to a peak value of a desired alternating current (AC) voltage. The inverter circuit receives the DC voltage directly from the battery system, converts the DC voltage to an AC output voltage and outputs the AC output voltage to one or more outlets exposed on an exterior surface of the portable housing.
US08994330B2
An outlet assembly with a portable charger including a power strip and a portable charger is disclosed. The power strip has a main body and a first power output interface. The main body has at least one power socket, and the first power output interface is located on the main body for supplying an AC power. The portable charger includes a power input interface and a second power output interface located on a casing. An AC to DC converting circuit and a power storage unit are located inside the casing. The power input interface may be fitted to the first power output interface, and the AC to DC converting circuit converts the AC power into DC to recharge the power storage unit. The portable charger may be used independently to provide the from the power storage unit through the second power output interface.
US08994329B2
A stationary charging system for charging a battery mounted in a vehicle using direct-current charging power includes a power unit for generating direct-current charging power, a plurality of charging units (CHG1 to CHG9) that constitute the power unit, a control unit (MCU), and a first CAN communication line for allowing data exchange between the control unit and the charging units, each of the charging units receives control command data transmitted by the control unit, and creates charging unit status data, and the control unit, and creates charging unit status data, and the control unit divides the charging units into charging unit groups 4-1, 4-2, and 4-3, and transmits the control command data at varying times, whereby the charging unit status data is received at varying times.
US08994325B2
Improved external chargers for charging an implantable medical device, and particularly useful in charging a plurality of such devices, are disclosed. Each of the various embodiments include design elements for mechanically manipulating the position of one or more charging coils within the external charger to customize the magnetic charging field as appropriate for the charger/implantable device environment. For example, a single charging coil may be moved within a housing of the external charger to direct the charging field of the coil towards the currently “coldest” implant, i.e., the implant with the lowest coupling to the external charger. The one or more charging coils may be mechanically manipulated within the external charger housing in a number of ways, including by using linear actuators, by inflatable bladders, or even by hand.
US08994318B2
An electrical on-board network of a vehicle, having at least two power circuits and an electrical machine allocated to a drive of the vehicle. The electrical machine has at least two phase systems, connected to a respective inverter, and that at least one of the phase systems is capable of being electrically connected to at least one of the power circuits via the associated inverter. A method for operating an electrical on-board network of a vehicle is also described.
US08994315B2
The present invention provides a motor controller for controlling a DC motor according to a reference signal. The motor controller includes a compensator, a pulse width modulation unit, and a motor driving unit. The compensator generates a control signal according to the reference signal and a sensing signal from the DC motor. The pulse width modulation unit generates a motor control signal by comparing the control signal and a ramp signal having a varying frequency. The motor driving unit receives the motor control signal and drives the DC motor according to the motor control signal.
US08994313B2
An injection molding machine includes a motor; a driver circuit; a rectifying part; a capacitor provided between the driver circuit and the rectifying part; a bridge circuit that converts direct electric power between the driver circuit and the rectifying part into alternating electric power; a harmonics component reducing part connected to an alternating side of the bridge circuit; and a regenerative line connected to the rectifying part in parallel, wherein the bridge circuit and the harmonics component reducing part are provided in the regenerative line, and plural switching elements of the bridge circuit are turned on or off such that electric power of the motor is regenerated when a voltage of the capacitor is greater than or equal to a predetermined value, and all the switching elements are turned off when the voltage of the capacitor is less than the predetermined value.
US08994311B1
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for segmenting a content stream. In use, a content stream associated with an event is identified. Additionally, user generated content associated with the content stream is identified. Further, a timing of one or more key events within the content stream is determined, based on the user generated content. Further still, the one or more key events are identified, based on the user generated content. Also, the content stream is segmented, utilizing the one or more key events and the timing of the one or more key events. In addition, a subset of the user generated content and a subset of the one or more key events is associated with a segment of the content stream. Furthermore, a search index associated with the segment of the content stream is generated, utilizing the subset of the user generated content and the subset of the one or more key events. Further still, a search query is received from a user. Also, search results are provided to the user in response to the search query, utilizing the search index associated with the segment of the content stream.
US08994308B2
A technique for controlling drive currents to respective windings of a multi-winding brushless motor comprises monitoring an output of the motor and a demand of the motor, determining whether a failure mode has occurred, the failure mode being an instantaneous complete or partial failure to generate demanded output; and, upon detection of a failure mode on a first winding, distributing a demand contribution that is not being produced by the first winding to one or more of the windings that are not in a failure mode. The demand may be torque demand, and the failure modes may include winding failure, and voltage and/or current saturation. Improved torque output is generated by the redistribution of demand among phases in the event of a failure mode.
US08994307B2
Dynamic reconfiguration-switching of motor windings in a motor is optimized between winding-configurations by selectively lowering resistance of a constantly used portion of one of the motor windings. Acceleration is traded off in favor of higher velocity upon detecting the electric motor in the electric vehicle is at an optimal angular-velocity for switching to an optimal lower torque constant and voltage constant. The total back electromotive force (BEMF) is prohibited from inhibiting further acceleration to a higher angular-velocity.
US08994301B2
An electric-bicycle driving apparatus includes a speed-change mode operator to output a low-speed or high-speed mode signal, a controller to output a first or second control signal corresponding to the low-speed or high-speed mode signal, a first motor driver to output a first motor-driving signal to drive a motor in a low-speed mode in response to the low-speed mode signal, a second motor driver to output a second motor-driving signal to drive the motor in a high-speed mode in response to the high-speed mode signal, a motor-drive-load booster to boost load of the second motor-driving signal using battery power under control of the controller in response to the high-speed mode signal, and a motor speed-change switching unit to selectively receive a switching enable signal from the controller so as to be turned on to provide the second motor-driving signal having the boosted load to the motor.
US08994287B2
Disclosed is a light source control device including a power conversion unit and a control unit. The power conversion unit includes a transfer capacitor provided between a primary side circuit and a secondary side circuit. The primary side circuit is configured such that a first inductor stores energy when a first switching element is ON. The secondary side circuit is configured such that the second inductor limits a changing speed of the driving current. The power conversion unit is configured such that the driving current is raised when the first switching element is ON. The control unit turns OFF when the magnitude of the driving current exceeds the first threshold value, and turns ON the first switching element when the magnitude of the driving current falls below the second threshold value smaller than the first threshold value.
US08994285B2
In various embodiments, ballast for a discharge lamp includes input and output connections; inverter with bridge circuit with electronic switches and control device for controlling electronic switches, wherein switches are connected in series between input connections, wherein one electronic switch is coupled to first input connection and second electronic switch to second input connection, wherein a bridge midpoint is between electronic switches; including a current measuring device for measuring second electronic switch current; lamp choke series-connected between bridge midpoint and first output connection; capacitor parallel-connected with one of electronic switches; and coupling capacitor; wherein control device is coupled to current measuring device and renders an electronic switch conducting, if negative threshold value is exceeded when electronic switch is rendered nonconducting; or if negative threshold value of current through electronic switch is not exceeded after another electronic switch is rendered nonconducting, wherein control device increases first frequency in second case.
US08994281B2
There is provided a light emitting diode driving apparatus capable of supplying a constant average current to a light emitting diode by generating a reference voltage used for driving the light emitting diode according to input power and a switching signal switching a path of a current supplied to the light emitting diode. The light emitting diode driving apparatus includes: a reference voltage generating unit generating a reference voltage set based on input power and a switching signal for supplying driving power to a light emitting diode; and a driving unit supplying the driving power to the light emitting diode according to the reference voltage.
US08994278B2
A device serves to control an electrical load of at least two single loads connected in series. Each of the at least two single loads is connected in parallel to a controllable switch, so that each of the at least two single loads can be switched independently of one another. In addition, a driver stage that drives a current into the electrical load is present. The controllable switches can be controlled by the control unit. A dummy load is connected in series to the at least two single loads.
US08994272B2
An ion source is provided that includes at least one electron gun. The electron gun includes an electron source for generating a beam of electrons and an inlet for receiving a gas. The electron gun also includes a plasma region defined by at least an anode and a ground element, where the plasma region can form a plasma from the gas received via the inlet. The plasma can be sustained by at least a portion of the beam of electrons. The electron gun further includes an outlet for delivering at least one of (i) ions generated by the plasma or (ii) at least a portion of the beam of electrons generated by the electron source.
US08994271B2
A device for generating a cold, HF-excited plasma under atmospheric pressure conditions can be used advantageously for plasma treatment of materials for cosmetic and medical purposes. The device contains a metal housing functioning as a grounded electrode in the region of the emergent plasma, wherein an HF generator, an HF resonance coil having a closed ferrite core suitable for the high frequency, an insulating body acting as a gas nozzle, and a high-voltage electrode mounted in the insulating body are disposed in such a manner that they are permeated or circulated around by process gas. By integrating the plasma nozzle and required control electronics in a miniaturized handheld device, or by using a short high-voltage cable, the invention allows compliance with the electromagnetic compatibility directives and allows the power loss to be minimized and thus a mobile application to be implemented.
US08994270B2
The present disclosure provides for a plasma system. The plasma system includes a plasma device, an ionizable media source, and a power source. The plasma device includes an inner electrode and an outer electrode coaxially disposed around the inner electrode. The inner electrode includes a distal portion and an insulative layer that covers at least a portion of the inner electrode. The ionizable media source is coupled to the plasma device and is configured to supply ionizable media thereto. The power source is coupled to the inner and outer electrodes, and is configured to ignite the ionizable media at the plasma device to form a plasma effluent having an electron sheath layer about the exposed distal portion.
US08994257B2
The spark plug has a configuration satisfying the relationships of B≧0.7A and 0.3 mm≦A≦0.6 mm, where B is an axial thickness along the central axis line Q of the weld portion formed between the base material electrode and the noble-metal chip, and A is an axial distance along the central axis line Q between the intersection points P3 and X. The intersection point P3 is a point at which a phantom axis line radially distant from the central axis line Q by D/2 (D being a diameter of the noble-metal chip) intersects with the boundary line between the weld portion and the noble-metal chip. The intersection point X is a point at which an extension of the contour line of the base material electrode in the vicinity of the weld portion intersects with a boundary line between the weld portion and the base material electrode.
US08994256B2
An igniter for an internal combustion engine includes a center electrode, an insulator disposed about the center electrode, and a ground shield or a threaded portion disposed about the insulator, wherein the insulator includes a tip portion extending past an end portion of the ground shield and a tip portion of the center electrode extending through and away from the tip portion of the insulator. The igniter further includes a cap secured to the center electrode, wherein the cap extends past and covers a distal end of the tip portion of the center electrode and a distal end of the tip portion of the insulator. A spark gap is disposed between a peripheral edge of the cap and the end portion of the ground shield or threaded portion wherein the peripheral edge of the cap is spaced away from a surface of the tip portion of the insulator.
US08994253B2
Provided are a piezoelectric vibrating piece, a piezoelectric vibrator, an oscillator, an electronic device, and a radio-controlled timepiece which can effectively suppress the vibration leakage while maintaining sufficient rigidity of the piezoelectric vibrating piece without making the piezoelectric vibrating piece large-sized. A chamfered portion is formed on corner portions of a connecting portion 21 on a narrow width portion side on both sides in the widthwise direction (Y direction). Due to such chamfered portions, a cross-sectional area (width size) of the connecting portion is gradually reduced toward the narrow width portion from a distal end side (vibrating arm portion side). The chamfered portion may be formed such that an angle θ with respect to side surfaces on both sides of the connecting portion becomes 60° (θ=60°).
US08994242B2
An induction motor has a rotor core including a plurality of conductor bars and a shorting end ring having a plurality of grooves aligned with and mated to the first ends of the conductor bars. The rotor core further includes a cylindrically shaped steel laminate stack including a plurality of longitudinal grooves distributed around the periphery of the steel laminate stack. The conductor bars are each located in one of the plurality of longitudinal grooves and each includes a first end projecting from a first end of the steel laminate stack. The rotor core further includes an end sheet located to the end of the steel laminate stack, the end sheet including a retention feature configured to retain the shorting end ring to the end sheet.
US08994233B2
There is provided a movable iron core linear actuator, which includes a magnetic circuit (mc) which causes a moving element (2) to reciprocate. The magnetic circuit (mc) includes an iron core (20) constituting the moving element (2), a stator core (10) including a facing portion (10c) which faces the iron core (20), a pair of permanent magnets (12a, 12b) disposed in the facing portion (10c) along a reciprocating direction and having inverted magnetic poles at their surfaces which face the iron core, and a coil (11) wound around the stator core (10). Energization to coil (11) causes the moving element (2) to reciprocate. When the coil (11) is not energized, offset force (F4) is applied to the moving element (2) by the magnetic flux produced by the permanent magnets (12a, 12b).
US08994232B2
A device for inverting an electric parameter in the field of power transmission and distribution has a converter that can be connected between an alternating current grid and a DC circuit and having power semiconductor valves extending between an alternating current connection and a DC voltage connection. Each power semiconductor valve has a series circuit of bipolar submodules, each with an energy storage device and a power semiconductor circuit in parallel with the energy storage device, and a grid connection unit connected to the alternating current connection for connecting to the alternating current grid. Simple, effective, and inexpensive symmetrization of the voltages in the DC voltage circuit relative to ground potential is brought about. A star point reactor is connected between the grid connection unit and the inverter with a potential node, including throttle coils connected to a grounded star point. The throttle coils are implemented so that said coils implement a current path with a high impedance to ground potential for alternating current at the base frequency of the alternating current grid, and with low impedance to ground potential for DC current.
US08994222B2
Provided is an apparatus that may control a direction of wireless power transmission. A radiative wireless power transmitter may include at least two first unit resonators to form a magnetic field with a target resonator based on an x-axis direction and a z-axis direction, and to transmit a resonance power to the target resonator, at least two second unit resonators to form a magnetic field with the target resonator based on the x-axis direction and a y-axis direction, and to transmit a resonance power to the target resonator, at least two third unit resonators to form a magnetic field with the target resonator based on the y-axis direction and the z-axis direction, and to transmit a resonance power to the target resonator, and a feeding unit to control resonance power transmission of the at least two first unit resonators, the at least two second unit resonators, and the at least two third unit resonators.
US08994205B2
A wind turbine that includes a rotor, a generator, and a tower is described. The rotor includes a rotor hub and one or more rotor blades. The generator includes a generator stator and a generator rotor. The rotor hub is rotatably mounted on a frame and the generator and tower are arranged on the same side of the rotor. The generator stator is attached to the frame substantially in a plane perpendicular to the rotor's rotational axis, and the generator rotor is rotatably mounted on a part of the generator stator.
US08994201B2
A turbine assembly is provided. The turbine assembly includes a plurality of sails and a generator assembly configured to convert rotation thereabout to power. A brake assembly may be provided. The brake assembly may include a magnet assembly that rotates with rotation of the plurality of sails, a conducting plate initially spaced-apart from the magnet assembly, and an actuator for translating the conducting plate relative to the magnet assembly during rotation thereof to thereby induce eddy currents that create a magnetic field acting on the conducting plate to impart a retarding force to control the rotational speed thereof. A control module is configured to control the actuator to adjust the spacing between the magnet assembly and the conducting plate in order to maintain the turbine assembly at a predetermined speed.
US08994199B2
A system, in one embodiment, may include a static starter subsystem having detection logic for indicating a conductive state of a solid state semiconductor device. The detection logic includes a first logic gate having a first input that receives a first input signal indicating a state of the static starter subsystem, a second input that receives a second input signal indicating a state of a gate firing command being applied to the solid state semiconductor device, and a third input that receives a third input signal indicating whether the solid state semiconductor device is conducting. The first logic gate may be configured to evaluate the first, second, and third input signals and provide a first output signal indicating conductivity of the solid state semiconductor device in response to the gate firing command.
US08994198B2
A system for generating electricity from the motion of a door is provided. In one embodiment, the system includes an AC or a DC generator acted upon by a flexible member coupled to at or near an edge of a door opposite a hinge. The sweep of the door causes the flexible member to impart rotary motion to the generator, thereby generating electricity.
US08994189B2
Methods of fabricating semiconductor structures incorporating tight pitch contacts aligned with active area features and of simultaneously fabricating self-aligned tight pitch contacts and conductive lines using various techniques for defining patterns having sublithographic dimensions. Semiconductor structures having tight pitch contacts aligned with active area features and, optionally, aligned conductive lines are also disclosed, as are semiconductor structures with tight pitch contact holes and aligned trenches for conductive lines.
US08994188B2
A device for use with integrated circuits is provided. The device includes a substrate having a through-substrate via formed therethrough. Dielectric layers are formed over at least one side of the substrate and metallization layers are formed within the dielectric layers. A first metallization layer closest to the through-substrate via is larger than one or more overlying metallization layers. In an embodiment, a top metallization layer is larger than one or more underlying metallization layers. Integrated circuit dies may be attached to the substrate on either or both sides of the substrate, and either side of the substrate may be attached to another substrate, such as a printed circuit board, a high-density interconnect, a packaging substrate, an organic substrate, a laminate substrate, or the like.
US08994179B2
One or more embodiments relate to a semiconductor device that includes: a conductive layer including a sidewall; a conductive capping layer disposed over the conductive layer and laterally extending beyond the sidewall of the conductive layer by a lateral overhang; and a conductive via in electrical contact with the conductive capping layer.
US08994175B2
To improve coupling reliability in flip chip bonding of a semiconductor device. By using, in the fabrication of a semiconductor device, a wiring substrate in which a wiring that crosses an opening area of a solder resist film on the upper surface of the wiring substrate has, on one side of the wiring, a bump electrode and, on the other side, a plurality of wide-width portions having no bump electrode thereon, a solder on the wiring can be dispersed to each of the wide-width portions during reflow treatment in a solder precoating step. Such a configuration makes it possible to reduce a difference in height between the solder on each of terminals and the solder on each of the wide-width portions and to enhance the coupling reliability in flip chip bonding.
US08994158B2
Semiconductor packages having lead frames include a lead frame, which supports a semiconductor chip and is electrically connected to the semiconductor chip by bonding wires, and a molding layer encapsulating the semiconductor chip. The lead frame includes first lead frames extending in a first direction and second lead frames extending in a second direction. The first lead frames may run across the semiconductor chip and support the semiconductor chip and the second lead frames may run across the bottom surface of the semiconductor chip.
US08994146B2
Embodiments of MIM capacitors may be embedded into a thick IMD layer with enough thickness (e.g., 10 KŘ30 KÅ) to get high capacitance, which may be on top of a thinner IMD layer. MIM capacitors may be formed among three adjacent metal layers which have two thick IMD layers separating the three adjacent metal layers. Materials such as TaN or TiN are used as bottom/top electrodes & Cu barrier. The metal layer above the thick IMD layer may act as the top electrode connection. The metal layer under the thick IMD layer may act as the bottom electrode connection. The capacitor may be of different shapes such as cylindrical shape, or a concave shape. Many kinds of materials (Si3N4, ZrO2, HfO2, BST . . . etc.) can be used as the dielectric material. The MIM capacitors are formed by one or two extra masks while forming other non-capacitor logic of the circuit.
US08994137B2
The invention relates to a sensor matrix (1) with semiconductor components and a process for producing such a device, which sensor matrix comprises a laminar carrier layer (3), a first (4) and at least one second (10) electrode arrangement and a component arrangement (6). The first electrode arrangement (4) is disposed on a surface (2) of the carrier layer (3), and the component arrangement (6) is disposed on the first electrode arrangement (4) in the form of a plurality of organic semiconductor components (7). The second electrode arrangement (10) is arranged on a surface (8) of a top layer (9), and the top layer (9) is arranged over the carrier layer (3) so that the first (4) and second (10) electrode arrangements face one another and the second electrode arrangement (10) is in electrically conductive contact, at least in sections, with the component arrangement (6).
US08994135B2
A photodiode array PDA1 is provided with a substrate S wherein a plurality of photodetecting channels CH have an n-type semiconductor layer 32. The photodiode array PDA1 is provided with a p− type semiconductor layer 33 formed on the n-type semiconductor layer 32, resistors 24 provided for the respective photodetecting channels CH and each having one end portion connected to a signal conducting wire 23, and an n-type separating portion 40 formed between the plurality of photodetecting channels CH. The p− type semiconductor layer 33 forms pn junctions at an interface to the n-type semiconductor layer 32 and has a plurality of multiplication regions AM for avalanche multiplication of carriers generated with incidence of detection target light, corresponding to the respective photodetecting channels. An irregular asperity 10 is formed in a surface of the n-type semiconductor layer 32 and the surface is optically exposed.
US08994126B2
A microelectromechanical system, including a first element and a second element, the first element having a first conductive surface facing a second conductive surface of the second element; wherein at least one of the first element and the second element is operable to constrainedly move nearer and farther from the other element; and at least one insulating separating member which is operable to mechanically maintain a separation between the first surface and the second surface, wherein a minimal distance between a first projection of a first contact area of the insulating separating member and a second projection of a second contact area of the insulating separating member is larger than a minimal separation maintained by the insulating separating member between the first element and the second element.
US08994125B2
A semiconductor device includes, on a semiconductor substrate, a gate insulating film, a pMIS metal material or an nMIS metal material, a gate electrode material, and a gate sidewall metal layer.
US08994124B2
Disclosed is a semiconductor device that comprises a gate insulating film formed on a semiconductor substrate; a first conductive metal-containing film formed on the gate insulating film; a second conductive metal-containing film, formed on the first metal-containing film, to which aluminum is added; and a silicon film formed on the second metal-containing film.
US08994123B2
Variation resistant metal-oxide-semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETs) are manufactured using a high-K, metal-gate ‘channel-last’ process. A cavity is formed between spacers formed over a well area having separate drain and source areas, and then a recess into the well area is formed. The active region is formed in the recess, comprising an optional narrow highly doped layer, essentially a buried epitaxial layer, over which a second un-doped or lightly doped layer is formed which is a channel epitaxial layer. The high doping beneath the low doped epitaxial layer can be achieved utilizing low-temperature epitaxial growth with single or multiple delta doping, or slab doping. A high-K dielectric stack is formed over the channel epitaxial layer, over which a metal gate is formed within the cavity boundaries. In one embodiment of the invention a cap of poly-silicon or amorphous silicon is added on top of the metal gate.
US08994122B2
A memory cell region comprises a first interlayer insulating film having a bit contact hole, a contact plug formed of a first conductor film embedded in the bit contact hole, and a second conductor film which is stacked on the first interlayer insulating film to constitute a bit line connected to the contact plug. A peripheral transistor region comprises a peripheral transistor having a gate insulating film and a gate electrode stack formed on the gate insulating film. The gate electrode stack is provided with a metal gate film formed on the gate insulating film, an upper gate film stacked on the metal gate film, and a third conductor film stacked on the upper gate film. A height from a semiconductor substrate to a top face of the upper gate film is equal to or lower than a height of a top face of the first interlayer insulating film.
US08994119B2
The present invention discloses a semiconductor device, comprising substrates, a plurality of gate stack structures on the substrate, a plurality of gate spacer structures on both sides of each gate stack structure, a plurality of source and drain regions in the substrate on both sides of each gate spacer structure, the plurality of gate spacer structures comprising a plurality of first gate stack structures and a plurality of second gate stack structures, wherein each of the first gate stack structures comprises a first gate insulating layer, a first work function metal layer, a second work function metal diffusion blocking layer, and a gate filling layer; Each of the second gate stack structures comprises a second gate insulating layer, a first work function metal layer, a second work function metal layer, and a gate filling layer, characterized in that the first work function metal layer has a first stress, and the gate filling layer has a second stress. Two metal gate layers of different types and/or intensity of stress are formed, respectively, thus different stresses are applied to the channel regions of different MOSFETs effectively and accurately, the device carrier mobility is enhanced simply and efficiently, and the device performance is also enhanced.
US08994117B2
A semiconductor chip having a P− substrate and an N+ epitaxial layer grown on the P− substrate is shown. A P− circuit layer is grown on top of the N+ epitaxial layer. A first moat having an electrically quiet ground connected to a first N+ epitaxial region is created by isolating the first N+ epitaxial region with a first deep trench. The first moat is surrounded, except for a DC path, by a second moat with a second N+ epitaxial region, created by isolating the second N+ epitaxial region with a second deep trench. The second moat may be arranged as a rectangular spiral around the first moat.
US08994111B2
Diffusion regions having the same conductivity type are arranged on a side of a second wiring and a side of a third wiring, respectively under a first wiring connected to a signal terminal. Diffusion regions are separated in a whole part or one part of a range in a Y direction. That is, under first wiring, diffusion regions are only formed in parts opposed to diffusion regions formed under the second wiring and third wiring connected to a power supply terminal or a ground terminal, and a diffusion region is not formed in a central part in an X direction. Therefore, terminal capacity of the signal terminal can be reduced without causing ESD resistance to be reduced, in an ESD protection circuit with the signal terminal.
US08994098B2
A first pillar transistor and a second pillar transistor are arranged with no other pillar transistor therebetween, a distance between a first silicon pillar in the first pillar transistor and a second silicon pillar in the second pillar transistor is smaller than a distance between a third silicon pillar in a third pillar transistor and the first silicon pillar.
US08994097B2
A device includes a semiconductor substrate, a gate stack over the semiconductor substrate, and a stressor region having at least a portion in the semiconductor substrate and adjacent to the gate stack. The stressor region includes a first stressor region having a first p-type impurity concentration, a second stressor region over the first stressor region, wherein the second stressor region has a second p-type impurity concentration, and a third stressor region over the second stressor region. The third stressor region has a third p-type impurity concentration. The second p-type impurity concentration is lower than the first and the third p-type impurity concentrations.
US08994095B2
A semiconductor memory device with a buried drain is provided. The device comprises a semiconductor substrate (107); one drain region (108) of a first doping type; two source regions (101a, 101b) of a second doping type; and a stacked gate provided on the semiconductor substrate for capturing electrons. A memory array formed by a plurality of semiconductor memory devices and a manufacturing method thereof are also provided. The semiconductor memory device has the advantages of small cell area, simple manufacturing process and the like. The manufacturing cost of the memory device is reduced and the storing density of the memory device is increased.
US08994093B2
A semiconductor device includes bit lines provided in a semiconductor substrate; an ONO film that is provided along the surface of the semiconductor substrate and is made of a tunnel oxide film, a trap layer, and a top oxide film; and an oxide film that is provided on the surface of the semiconductor substrate in the middle between the bit lines and contacts the side face of the ONO film, in which the film thickness of the oxide film is larger than the sum of the thicknesses of the tunnel oxide film and the top oxide film, and smaller than the thickness of the ONO film.
US08994091B2
A non-volatile memory device having a vertical structure includes a semiconductor layer, a sidewall insulation layer extending in a vertical direction on the semiconductor layer, and having one or more protrusion regions, first control gate electrodes arranged in the vertical direction on the semiconductor layer, and respectively contacting one of portions of the sidewall insulation layer where the one or more protrusion regions are not formed and second control gate electrodes arranged in the vertical direction on the semiconductor layer, and respectively contacting one of the one or more protrusion regions.
US08994089B2
In some embodiments, an interlayer polysilicon dielectric cap disposed atop a substrate having a first floating gate, a second floating gate and an isolation layer disposed between the first floating gate and the second floating gate may include: a first nitrogen containing layer disposed atop an upper portion and sidewalls of the first floating gate and second floating gate; a first oxygen containing layer disposed atop the first nitrogen containing layer and an upper surface of the isolation layer; a second nitrogen containing layer disposed atop an upper portion and sidewalls of the first oxygen containing layer; and a second oxygen containing layer disposed atop the second nitrogen containing layer and an upper surface of the first oxygen containing layer.
US08994084B2
The present invention provides a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) including a plurality of transistors formed in a semiconductor substrate, wherein each of the transistors includes a vertical channel region. A plurality of bit line contained trenches is formed in the semiconductor substrate. Each of the bit line contained trenches comprises two bit lines, and each of the bit lines is electrically connected to an adjacent transistor. Each two sidewalls of each of the bit line contained trenches have a contact formed thereon. A plurality of word lines are formed over the plurality of bit lines and electrical connect to the plurality of transistors. Furthermore, a method for fabricating the DRAM is also provided.
US08994081B2
A structure is provided that includes at least one multilayered stacked semiconductor material structure located on a semiconductor substrate and at least one sacrificial gate material structure straddles a portion of the at least one multilayered stacked semiconductor structure. The at least one multilayered stacked semiconductor material structure includes alternating layers of sacrificial semiconductor material and semiconductor nanowire template material. End segments of each layer of sacrificial semiconductor material are then removed and filled with a dielectric spacer. Source/drain regions are formed from exposed sidewalls of each layer of semiconductor nanowire template material, and thereafter the at least one sacrificial gate material structure and remaining portions of the sacrificial semiconductor material are removed suspending each semiconductor material. A gate structure is formed within the areas previously occupied by the at least one sacrificial gate material structure and remaining portions of the sacrificial semiconductor material.
US08994072B2
A method for forming a fin field-effect transistor (FinFET) device, comprises forming a plurality of silicon fins on a substrate, depositing silicon germanium (SiGe) on the plurality of fins, forming a gate region by forming a dummy gate stack on a predetermined area of the fins including the SiGe, removing the SiGe from an area of the fins not covered by the dummy gate stack, forming a merged region in the area of the fins not covered by the dummy gate stack to form a source drain region, removing the dummy gate stack to expose the remaining SiGe in the gate region, mixing the SiGe with the silicon fins in the gate region to form SiGe fins, and depositing a gate dielectric and gate metal on the SiGe fins.
US08994071B2
We have observed anomalous behavior of II-VI semiconductor devices grown on certain semiconductor substrates, and have determined that the anomalous behavior is likely the result of indium atoms from the substrate migrating into the II-V layers during growth. The indium can thus become an unintended dopant in one or more of the II-VI layers grown on the substrate, particularly layers that are close to the growth substrate, and can detrimentally impact device performance. We describe a variety of semiconductor constructions and techniques effective to deplete the migrating indium within a short distance in the growth layers, or to substantially prevent indium from migrating out of the substrate, or to otherwise substantially isolate functional II-VI layers from the migrating indium, so as to maintain good device performance.
US08994069B2
A high electron mobility bipolar transistor including a substrate, a pseudomorphic high electron mobility transistor (pHEMT) sub structure, a sub collector/separating layer and a heterojunction bipolar transistor (HBT) sub structure sequentially stacked from bottom to top is disclosed. The sub collector/separating layer and the pHEMT sub structure are combined to form a pHEMT, and the sub collector/separating layer and the HBT sub structure are combined to form an HBT. The carbon concentration in the sub collector/separating layer is within 5×1017 cm−3 and 1×1020 cm−3, and/or the oxygen concentration within 5×1018 cm−3 and 1×1020 cm−3. The lattice during the process of epitaxy growth is stabilized and it is possible to prevent the dopants, the elements, the vacancies or the defects from diffusing into the neighboring layers, thereby improving the problem of mobility degradation and resistance increase, and sustaining the stability of the manufacturing process.
US08994065B2
A vertical power component including: a silicon substrate of a first conductivity type; on the side of a lower surface of the substrate supporting a single electrode, a lower layer of the second conductivity type; and on the side of an upper surface of the substrate supporting a conduction electrode and a gate electrode, an upper region of the second conductivity type, wherein the component periphery includes, on the lower surface side, a porous silicon insulating ring penetrating into the substrate down to a depth greater than that of the lower layer.
US08994060B2
An object of the invention is to provide a method for manufacturing semiconductor devices that are flexible in which elements fabricated using a comparatively low-temperature (less than 500° C.) process are separated from a substrate. After a molybdenum film is formed over a glass substrate, a molybdenum oxide film is formed over the molybdenum film, a nonmetal inorganic film and an organic compound film are stacked over the molybdenum oxide film, and elements fabricated by a comparatively low-temperature (less than 500° C.) process are formed using existing manufacturing equipment for large glass substrates, the elements are separated from the glass substrate.
US08994045B2
Lighting device having luminescent material between a reflective cup and a solid state light emitter
A lighting device comprising a light emitter chip, a reflective cup and a lumiphor positioned between the chip and the cup. Also, a lighting device comprising a light emitter chip, a wire bonded to a first surface of the chip and a lumiphor which faces a second surface of the chip. Also, a lighting device comprising a light emitter chip, and a lumiphor, a first surface of the chip facing a first region of the lumiphor, a second surface of the chip facing a second region of the lumiphor. Also, a lighting device comprising a light emitter chip and first and second lumiphors, a first surface of the chip facing the second lumiphor, a second surface of the chip facing the first lumiphor. Also, methods of making lighting devices.
US08994039B2
A lighting module may include a lighting band with a band-shaped flexible substrate, wherein at least one semiconductor light source is applied to a top side of the substrate, wherein the lighting module is faced with a protective layer such that at least one emission area of the at least one semiconductor light source is exposed thereby.
US08994037B2
Integrated optical waveguides and methods for the production thereof which have a patterned upper cladding with a defined opening to allow at least one side or at least one end of a light transmissive element to be air clad. The at least one side or at least one end is, for preference, a lens structure unitary with the waveguide or a bend. Also provided is a method of fabricating an optical waveguide with a patterned cladding.
US08994033B2
A method for fabricating LED devices. The method includes providing a gallium and nitrogen containing substrate member (e.g., GaN) comprising a backside surface and a front side surface. The method includes subjecting the backside surface to a polishing process, causing a backside surface to be characterized by a surface roughness, subjecting the backside surface to an anisotropic etching process exposing various crystal planes to form a plurality of pyramid-like structures distributed spatially in a non-periodic manner on the backside surface, treating the backside surface comprising the plurality of pyramid-like structures, to a plasma species, and subjecting the backside surface to a surface treatment. The method further includes forming a contact material comprising an aluminum bearing species or a titanium bearing species overlying the surface-treated backside to form a plurality of LED devices with the contact material.
US08994030B2
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor light emitting device includes a semiconductor layer, a p-side electrode, an n-side electrode, a phosphor layer, and a transparent film. The semiconductor layer has a first face, a second face opposite to the first face, and a light emitting layer. The p-side electrode is provided on the second face in an area including the light emitting layer. The n-side electrode is provided on the second face in an area not including the light emitting layer. The phosphor layer is provided on the first face. The phosphor layer includes a transparent resin and phosphor dispersed in the transparent resin. The transparent film is provided on the phosphor layer and has an adhesiveness lower than an adhesiveness of the transparent resin.
US08994029B2
A voltage equal to the threshold value of a TFT (106) is held in capacitor unit (109). When a video signal is inputted from a source signal line, the voltage held in the capacitor unit is added thereto and a resultant signal is applied to a gate electrode of the TFT (106). Even when a threshold value is varied for each pixel, each threshold value is held in the capacitor unit (109) for each pixel. Thus, the influence of a variation in threshold value can be eliminated. Further, holding of the threshold value is conducted by only the capacitor unit (109) and a charge does not move at writing of a video signal so that a voltage between both electrodes is not changed. Thus, it is not influenced by a variation in capacitance value.
US08994021B2
An oxide semiconductor film which has more stable electric conductivity is provided. The oxide semiconductor film comprises a crystalline region. The oxide semiconductor film has a first peak of electron diffraction intensity with a full width at half maximum of greater than or equal to 0.4 nm−1 and less than or equal to 0.7 nm−1 in a region where a magnitude of a scattering vector is greater than or equal to 3.3 nm−1 and less than or equal to 4.1 nm−1. The oxide semiconductor film has a second peak of electron diffraction intensity with a full width at half maximum of greater than or equal to 0.45 nm−1 and less than or equal to 1.4 nm−1 in a region where a magnitude of a scattering vector is greater than or equal to 5.5 nm−1 and less than or equal to 7.1 nm−1.
US08994020B2
According to one embodiment, a display device includes a thin film transistor. The thin film transistor includes a gate insulating film, a semiconductor layer, a gate electrode, first and second channel protection films, first and second conductive layers, and a passivation film. The semiconductor layer is provided on a major surface of the gate insulating film. The semiconductor layer includes first to seventh portions. The gate insulating film is disposed between the semiconductor layer and the gate electrode. The first channel protection film covers the third portion. The second channel protection film covers the fifth and fourth portions, and an upper surface of the first channel protection film. The first conductive layer covers the sixth portion. The second conductive layer covers the seventh portion. The passivation film covers the first and second portions, the first and second conductive layers, and the second channel protection film.
US08994009B2
To provide a photoelectric conversion device which has little light loss caused by light absorption in a window layer, the photoelectric conversion device includes a first electrode, a first semiconductor layer formed over the first electrode, a second semiconductor layer formed over the first semiconductor layer, a third semiconductor layer formed over the second semiconductor layer, and a second electrode formed over the third semiconductor layer; and the first semiconductor layer is a light-transmitting semiconductor layer containing an organic compound and an inorganic compound, and the second semiconductor layer and the third semiconductor layer are each a semiconductor layer containing an organic compound.
US08994004B2
Photodetectors and integrated circuits including photodetectors are disclosed. A photodetector in accordance with the present invention comprises a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) structure resident on a first substrate, the SOI structure comprising a passive waveguide, and a III-V structure bonded to the SOI structure, the III-V structure comprising a quantum well region, a hybrid waveguide, coupled to the quantum well region and the SOI structure adjacent to the passive waveguide, and a mesa, coupled to the quantum well region, wherein when light passes through the hybrid waveguide, the quantum well region detects the light and generates current based on the light detected.
US08994000B2
An optoelectronic semiconductor chip comprises the following sequence of regions in a growth direction (c) of the semiconductor chip (20): a p doped barrier layer (1) for an active region (2), the active region (2), which is suitable for generating electromagnetic radiation, the active region being based on a hexagonal compound semiconductor, and an n doped barrier layer (3) for the active region (2). Also disclosed are a component comprising such a semiconductor chip, and to a method for producing such a semiconductor chip.
US08993994B2
A light emitting device includes: a substrate; a first electrode on the substrate, the first electrode including a light-transmissive material having a refractive index greater than a refractive index of the substrate; a refraction conversion layer between the substrate and the first electrode, the refraction conversion layer including a first layer having a refractive index greater than the refractive index of the first electrode, a second layer having a refractive index smaller than the refractive index of the first layer, and a third layer having a refractive index smaller than the refractive index of the second layer, wherein the first layer, the second layer, and the third layer are sequentially formed in a direction from the first electrode toward the substrate; a second electrode facing the first electrode; and an organic emissive layer between the first electrode and the second electrode.
US08993991B2
Provided are semiconductor devices and methods of manufacturing the same. The semiconductor device includes a substrate including a first top surface, a second top surface lower in level than the first top surface, and a first perpendicular surface disposed between the first and second top surfaces, a first source/drain region formed under the first top surface, a first nanowire extended from the first perpendicular surface in one direction and being spaced apart from the second top surface, a second nanowire extended from a side surface of the first nanowire in the one direction, being spaced apart from the second top surface, and including a second source/drain region, a gate electrode on the first nanowire, and a dielectric layer between the first nanowire and the gate electrode.
US08993989B1
Radiation shields and radiation shielding systems for attenuating ionizing radiation include two or more attenuating elements, such as layers. The two or more attenuating elements may include different attenuating materials. The two or more attenuating elements may be configured to attenuate ionizing radiation differently than one another. In some embodiments, different attenuating elements may be configured for use with different energies or ranges of energies of ionizing radiation. The concurrent use of two or more layers or other attenuating elements may optimize the ability of a radiation shield to attenuating ionizing radiation. Systems and methods for attenuating ionizing radiation are also disclosed.
US08993987B2
A target supply device may include a receptacle for holding a liquid target material, a first electrode disposed within the receptacle, a nozzle portion provided in the receptacle, a second electrode provided with a first path and disposed facing the nozzle portion, a third electrode provided with a second path that, along with the first path, defines a trajectory of the liquid target material released from the nozzle portion, a first power source that applies a first potential that is higher than a common potential to the first electrode, a second power source that applies a second potential that is lower than the common potential to the third electrode, and a third power source that applies a third potential that is no greater than the first potential and is no less than the second potential to the second electrode.
US08993985B2
The present invention provides a drawing apparatus which performs drawing on a substrate with a plurality of charged particle beams, including an aperture array configured to include a plurality of apertures for shaping the respective charged particle beams, a deflection unit configured to include a plurality of first deflectors which are arranged on a side, with respect to the aperture array, of a charged particle source for radiating a charged particle beam and which deflect the respective charged particle beams, and to individually change irradiated positions of the respective charged particle beams on the aperture array by driving the respective first deflectors, and a controller configured to control deflection of the charged particle beams by the first deflectors to reduce a dispersion of intensities of the respective charged particle beams on the substrate.
US08993970B2
The invention provides a switchable photomultiplier switchable between a detecting state and a non-detecting state including a cathode upon which incident radiation is arranged to impinge. The photomultiplier also includes a series of dynodes arranged to amplify a current created at the cathode upon detection of photoradiation. The invention also provides a detection system arranged to detect radiation-emitting material in an object. The system includes a detector switchable between a detecting state in which the detector is arranged to detect radiation and a non-detecting state in which the detector is arranged to not detect radiation. The system further includes a controller arranged to control switching of the detector between the states such that the detector is switched to the non-detecting state while an external radiation source is irradiating the object.
US08993969B2
In a scintillator used for radiation detection, such as an X-ray CT scanner, a scintillation crystal body having a unidirectional phase separation structure is provided which has a light guide function for crosstalk prevention without using partitions. The phase separation structure includes a first crystal phase and a second crystal phase having a refractive index larger than that of the first crystal phase and which have a first principal surface and a second principal surface, these principal surfaces being not located on the same plane, the first principal surface and the second principal surface have portions to which the second crystal phase is exposed, and a portion of the second crystal phase exposed to the first principal surface and a portion of the second crystal phase exposed to the second principal surface are connected to each other.
US08993968B2
Embodiments of the invention provide a scintillator material, a scintillator system, and/or a method of detecting incident radiation using a scintillator material, or scintillator system, comprising a polymer material that comprises chromophores. Additional embodiments provide a scintillator material, scintillator system, and/or a method of detecting incident radiation using a scintillator material, or scintillator system, comprising a polymer material having one, two, three, or more, organic dyes dissolved therein wherein the polymer material having the one, two, three, or more dyes dissolved therein comprises chromophores. At least one of the dyes, termed the base dye, has a concentration in the range 0.5 to 3.5 mol/L. In a specific embodiment, the base dye has a concentration in the range 1.0 to 3.0 mol/L. This base dye concentration is high enough to achieve a substantial triplet-triplet state annihilation rate despite the negligible diffusion of the dye in the rigid polymer matrix.
US08993967B2
Probe light pulses output from a light source are input to an optical effect unit after the beam diameter is changed by a beam diameter changing optical system, the pulse front is tilted by a pulse front tilting unit, and the beam diameter is adjusted by a beam diameter adjusting optical system. To the optical effect unit, probe light pulses output from the beam diameter adjusting optical system are input, and an electromagnetic wave being an object to be detected is also input. Optical characteristics of the optical effect unit change due to propagation of the electromagnetic wave, and probe light pulses affected by the change in optical characteristics are output from the optical effect unit. The probe light pulses output from the optical effect unit are detected by a photodetector.
US08993965B2
An infrared sensor array with interconnection type, comprises a substrate, a plurality of circuit units, and a plurality of infrared sensing modules. The substrate defines several sensing segments. Each sensing segment has a base portion, a connecting portion, and a testing portion. The connecting portion is arranged between the base portion and the testing portion. The circuit units are respectively formed on the sensing segments. Each circuit unit has a base circuit, a connecting circuit, and a testing circuit. The connecting circuit electrically connects to the base circuit and the testing circuit. Each base circuit is formed on each base portion, each connecting circuit is formed on each connecting portion, and each testing circuit is formed on each testing portion. The infrared sensing modules are respectively disposed on the base portions and electrically connected to the base circuits.
US08993951B2
A driver assistance system for a vehicle includes an imager disposed in a housing and a control. The imager includes a CMOS photosensor array of photosensor elements and a lens. With the housing disposed in a vehicle, the imager views forwardly to the exterior of the vehicle through the vehicle windshield at a region of the windshield that is swept by a windshield wiper of the vehicle. The CMOS photosensor array is operable to capture image data. The control includes an image processor disposed in the housing. The driver assistance system identifies objects viewed by the imager via processing by the image processor of captured image data. At least in part responsive to processing of captured image data by the image processor, streetlights present exterior of the vehicle and viewed by imager are discriminated from other objects present exterior the vehicle and viewed by imager.
US08993941B2
Plural induction heating coils for inductively heating to-be-heated object are provided under a top plate on which to-be-heated object is placed, and plural inverter circuits for supplying high-frequency currents to the plural induction heating coils, respectively, are adapted to be cooled by cooling air flows from cooling portions, and placed in a longitudinal row along the cooling air flows, in air-flow blowing path spaces through which cooling air flows from the cooling portions are blown, so as to facilitate cooling designing for an induction heating device and to improve the cooling performance of the induction heating device.
US08993936B2
A heater assembly includes one or more first heating elements, the one or more first heating elements being characterized by a positive temperature coefficient; and one or more second heating elements, the one or more second heating elements comprising resistance wire elements. The one or more second heating elements are positioned in proximity to the one or more first heating elements such that at least one of the one or more second heating elements is configured to, upon being powered on, pre-heat at least one of the one or more first heating elements before the at least one first heating element is powered on.
US08993925B2
An arc welding method relates to consumable electrode arc welding in which a welding wire feeding rate suitable for a welding current is determined as an average feeding rate, and the short circuit state and the arc generation state are alternately generated by changing the wire feeding periodically and repeatedly between the forward feeding and the reverse feeding. The method offers arc welding with the average feeding rate according to a welding current, a predetermined frequency, and a predetermined velocity amplitude. In the method, at least any one of the frequency and the velocity amplitude is set to a value suitable for the welding current.
US08993923B2
A system for manufacturing an airfoil includes a laser beam and a first fluid column surrounding the laser beam to create a confined laser beam directed at the airfoil. A liquid flowing inside the airfoil disrupts the first fluid column inside the airfoil. A method for manufacturing an airfoil includes confining a laser beam inside a first fluid column to create a confined laser beam and directing the confined laser beam at a surface of the airfoil. The method further includes creating a hole through the surface of the airfoil with the confined laser beam, flowing a liquid inside the airfoil, and disrupting the first fluid column with the liquid flowing inside the airfoil.
US08993917B2
A forming 7 die is filled with a powder (11) of electrode material, the powder (11) of electrode material filled in the forming die is compressed to form a porous powder compact (27), the porous powder compact (27) is set in place in a chamber (25) of a heat-treating furnace (23), the chamber (25) is supplied with inert gas or hydrogen gas, and inert gas or hydrogen gas is heated by heaters (39) in the heat-treating furnace (23) and blown toward the powder compact (27), as blows circulating in the chamber (25), whereby the powder compact is heated with heat of convection flows of inert gas or hydrogen gas, or mixed gas containing inert gas as principal component and hydrogen gas, so the electrode material of the powder compact is sintered.
US08993911B2
When a lever driving section 43 that rotates integrally with a display 2 about a shaft 5a is pushed out by a concave portion 51, a switch operating section 44 on the other end side is rotated about a rotational central section 41 to turn off a switch 30. When the lever driving section 43 is drawn into a convex portion 53, the switch operating section 44 is rotated about the rotational central section 41 to turn on the switch 30.
US08993908B2
A moving contact-carrying carriage (8) for an electrical cut-off device which comprises several seats (80) arranged for receiving several parallel moving contacts (5A-5C) offset in space, and each of them is associated with a return mechanism (65). The carriage can be coupled with an actuator mechanism (6) of the device. The carriage (8) comprises an insulating support (81) which has parallel seats (80) and a supporting structure (9), surrounding the insulating support (81), for forming a load-absorbing belt therearound. In order to couple the carriage (8) with the actuator mechanism, the supporting structure (9) comprises a connecting part (91) positioned in a front section of the insulating support (81) and passing through the central seat (80) and resting against the central moving contact (5A), on a side opposite to the return mechanism (65), for directly transmitting driving efforts of the actuator mechanism when opening the electrical circuit.
US08993903B2
A sealed dual plunger switch assembly includes two switch sub-assemblies comprising plunger actuating mechanisms and basic switches. The sub-assemblies can be inserted into an overall enclosure using shims in order to position their operate points in the desired range relative to the enclosure's mounting surface. The enclosure is then sealed using a combination of covers, gaskets, o-rings, connectors and potting. The sub-assemblies individually and/or simultaneously receive actuation inputs within a fixed distance from the assembly's mounting surface.
US08993901B2
An inverter stack includes an inverter main body housing an inverter circuit inside, and a fan block disposed on the inverter main body through an engagement device and housing a plurality of fans. The engagement device includes a bolt member penetrating through a slot formed in the inverter main body, wherein a body portion of the bolt member is screwed into a nut fixed to a plate member, and having a stopper nut, and an engagement hole formed in the fan block, the engagement hole having an attachment hole portion and a clamping hole portion formed continuously. When the bolt member is tightened in which the body portion passes through the clamping hole portion, the fan block is engaged with the inverter main body, and when the bolt member is released, the fan block is pulled out to the front side to be disengaged from the inverter main body.
US08993900B2
A solar cell module terminal to be electrically connected to an electrode portion provided on a back face of a solar cell module for outputting an electric current generated by a solar cell to the outside. The terminal includes a terminal body, a fixing portion to be fixed to the electrode portion, and a deforming portion provided between the terminal body and the fixing portion for allowing the terminal body and the fixing portion to be movable relative to each other along an anticipated direction of displacement of the electrode portion.
US08993898B2
A radio frequency shield which reversibly transects an electromagnetic frequency enclosure is provided. The shield includes first a number of panels attached to a first surface of the enclosure. The panels are adapted to move through a first arc relative to the first surface. Shield also includes a first panel from the number of panels having a first leading edge capable of transecting the first arc. The shield further includes a second number of panels attached to a second surface of the enclosure. The second set of panels is adapted to move through an arc relative to the second surface of the enclosure. Also a second panel from said second set of panels has a second leading edge capable of transecting the second arc so as to oppose the first leading edge. Finally, the shield includes a means for reversibly attaching the first leading edge to the second leading edge while simultaneously establishing electrical communication between the first and second plurality of panels.
US08993883B2
A differential signal transmission cable includes a pair of insulated electric wires disposed to be parallel with each other, and a shield layer formed of a metal foil composite tape spirally wound around the pair of insulated electric wires collectively. The shield layer is formed by folding the metal foil composite tape along a longitudinal direction of the metal foil composite tape such that a surface on which a metal foil is provided is located outside to provide a folded portion, and winding the metal foil composite tape around the pair of insulated electric wires such that at least a part of the folded portion is located at a spiral overlapped region of the metal foil composite tape.
US08993878B2
An electrode for a photovoltaic device includes a Mo layer and a sulfurization-resistant layer formed on the Mo layer. The sulfurization-resistant layer contains at least one element X selected from a group consisting of Nb, Ti, Ta, Au, V, Mn, and W. A molar ratio of the element X to Mo contained in the sulfurization-resistant layer preferably satisfies X/(Mo+X)>about 0.5. A thickness (initial thickness) of the sulfurization-resistant layer before being exposed to sulfurizing atmosphere is preferably about 3 to about 200 nm.
US08993877B2
A solar battery module has a structure in which a solar battery cell formed by a transparent electrode, a power generating element, and a back electrode is formed on a substrate, and it is sealed with a resin material such as EVA. However, there has been a problem that water enters from a gap between the substrate and a resin sealing material, thereby resulting in the corrosion of the resin or the solar battery cell. A barrier layer made of inorganic substances having portions in contact with the substrate and the second electrode is provided. Here, the barrier layer is formed by laminating at least SiO2 and an inorganic layer having a lower density than SiO2, and the film having a lower density than SiO2 is directly formed on the substrate and the second electrode.
US08993859B1
A novel maize variety designated X13D062 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof, produced by crossing Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. proprietary inbred maize varieties. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprises crossing hybrid maize variety X13D062 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X13D062 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety X13D062, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X13D062. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X13D062.
US08993850B2
A new lettuce variety designated ‘E01L.1935’ is described. ‘E01L.1935’ is a cutting lettuce variety exhibiting stability and uniformity.
US08993849B2
A new lettuce variety designated ‘Truchas’ is described. ‘Truchas’ is a grass-type lettuce variety exhibiting stability and uniformity.
US08993846B2
Methods and compositions for improved bacterial-mediated plant transformation are provided. The methods generally allow plant transformation with reduced vector backbone integration and a high frequency of low-copy transformation events. Vectors for achieving these results are described, as are methods for their use.
US08993840B2
This invention relates to polynucleotide sequences encoding SUT2 or SUT4 sucrose transporter genes. Methods for increasing seed oil content and evaluating increased oil content in a plant seed are described. The compositions and methods disclosed herein employ a variety of sequences that encode sucrose transporters and a variety of sequences that influence fatty acid accumulation, including for example, DGAT, Lec1 and ODP1 transcription factor. In specific embodiments, overexpression of SUT2 and/or SUT4 sucrose transporters in combination with DGAT genes further increase plant seed oil production compared to a high oil plant comprising recombinant DNA constructs that do not overexpress SUT2 or SUT4 transporters.
US08993825B2
An aromatics complex producing one or more xylene isomers offers a large number of opportunities to conserve energy by heat exchange within the complex. One previously unrecognized opportunity is through providing two parallel distillation columns operating at different pressures to separate C8 aromatics from C9+ aromatics. The parallel columns offer additional opportunities to conserve energy within the complex through heat exchange in associated xylene recovery facilities.
US08993824B2
One exemplary embodiment can be a process for fluid catalytic cracking. The process may include providing a first feed having a boiling point of about 180-about 800° C. to a first riser reactor, and providing a second feed having first and second parts to a second reactor. Typically, the first part includes one or more C5-C12 hydrocarbons and a second part includes one or more C4-C5 hydrocarbons. Generally, an effective amount of the second part is combined with the first part to maximize production of propene.
US08993822B2
A method of making a catalyst for use in oligomerizing an olefin comprising a chromium-containing compound, a pyrrole-containing compound, a metal alkyl, a halide-containing compound, and optionally a solvent, the method comprising contacting a composition comprising the chromium-containing compound and a composition comprising the metal alkyl, wherein the composition comprising the chromium-containing compound is added to the composition comprising the metal alkyl.
US08993819B2
The present invention provides a process for preparing cycloheptene and derivatives thereof by ring-closing metathesis of unsymmetric 1,8-dienes whose C—C double bond at the 8 position is nonterminal. Cycloheptene and the cycloheptanone, cycloheptylamine, cycloheptanecarbaldehyde, cycloheptanecarboxylic acid and cycloheptanecarbonyl chloride conversion products thereof, and the derivatives thereof, are important synthesis units for active ingredient compounds. The ring-closing metathesis is preferably performed as a reactive distillation. The unsymmetric 1,8-dienes for the ring-closing metathesis can be obtained by catalytic decarbonylation or oxidative decarboxylation from the corresponding unsaturated carboxylic acids or carboxylic acid derivatives.
US08993814B2
Provided is a method for producing an alcohol compound, which enables the alcohol compound to be obtained at a high yield from an amide compound or amine compound. The method for producing an alcohol compound, which is characterized by comprising allowing an alcohol in a supercritical state to act on the amide compound or amine compound in the presence of a carboxylic acid derivative to obtain the alcohol compound.
US08993813B2
The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of 4-isopropyl-3-methylphenol (p-thymol) from distillation residues of thymol production.
US08993811B2
Described herein are mixed ethers and cosmetic and/or pharmaceutical preparations comprising mixed ethers. Certain mixed ethers have a melting range between −25° C. and +70° C., wherein the width of the melting range comprises at least 30 temperature degrees and the maximum of the melting range is 35 ±10° C. These mixed ethers are obtainable for example by condensation reaction of a) 25 to 90% by weight of unbranched fatty alcohols with a chain length of 12 to 19 carbon atoms; b) 5 to 50 by weight of isostearyl alcohol; c) 0 to 35% by weight of a fatty alcohol with a chain length of 20 and/or 22 carbon atoms; and d) 0 to 25% by weight of a fatty alcohol having 8 and/or 10 carbon atoms.
US08993807B2
The present invention relates generally to compositions and methods for treating neurodegenerative diseases and disorders, particularly ophthalmic diseases and disorders. Provided herein are alkoxyl derivative compounds and pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds. The subject compositions are useful for treating and preventing ophthalmic diseases and disorders, including age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and Stargardt's Disease.
US08993806B2
Porous bulk materials formed of shape-persistent, non-collapsible, three-dimensional molecular cage building blocks are presented that are useful for a variety of applications including gas separation/storage, sensing, and catalysis.
US08993801B2
The invention relates to a catalyst composition comprising a mixed oxide of vanadium, titanium, and phosphorus. The titanium component is derived from a water-soluble, redox-active organo-titanium compound. The catalyst composition is highly effective at facilitating the vapor-phase condensation of formaldehyde with acetic acid to generate acrylic acid, particularly using an industrially relevant aqueous liquid feed. Additionally, the catalyst composition is catalytically active towards the formation of acrylic acid from methylene diacetate and methacrylic acid from methylene dipropionate; both reactions are carried out with high space time yields.
US08993797B2
The present invention provides crystalline solid and amorphous forms of (−)-halofenate. The crystalline solid forms may be used in various pharmaceutical compositions, and are particularly effective for the prevention and/or treatment of conditions associated with blood lipid deposition in a mammal, particularly those diseases related to Type 2 diabetes and hyperlipidemia. The invention also relates to a method for preventing or treating Type 2 diabetes and hyperlipidemia in a mammal comprising the step of administering a therapeutically effective amount of crystalline solid and amorphous forms of (−)-halofenate.
US08993784B2
The present disclosure relates to new polymethine compounds and their use as fluorescent labels. The compounds may be used as fluorescent labels for nucleotides in nucleic acid sequencing applications.
US08993772B2
4-Amino-5-fluoro-3-halo-6-(substituted)picolinates are conveniently prepared from 4,5,6-trichloropicolinonitrile by a series of steps involving fluorine exchange, amination, halogen exchange, halogenation, nitrile hydrolysis, esterification, and transition metal assisted coupling.
US08993763B2
The present invention provides an sulfonamide derivative having DP receptor antagonistic activity and a pharmaceutical composition comprising the said compound as an active ingredient, and further a therapeutic agent for treating allergic diseases.A compound of the general formula (II): wherein the ring A is an aromatic carbocyclic ring etc.; the ring B is a nitrogen-containing non-aromatic heterocyclic ring etc.; the ring C is an aromatic carbocyclic ring etc.; R1 is carboxy etc.; R2 is independently a halogen atom etc.; R3 is optionally substituted alkyloxy etc.; R4 is independently a halogen atom etc.; R5 is independently optionally substituted alkyl etc.; M is sulfonyl etc.; Y is a single bond etc.; L1 is a single bond etc.; L2 is a single bond etc.; k is 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4; n is 0, 1 or 2; and q is 0, 1, 2 or 3; provided that a) k is not 0 when the ring B is a 6-membered nitrogen-containing heterocyclic ring containing one or two nitrogen atom(s) and the ring C is a benzene ring, etc.; a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or a hydrate thereof.
US08993756B2
The instant invention provides compounds of formula I which are JAK3 inhibitors. Specifically, the compounds of formula I are pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine derivative compounds. The instant invention also provides methods of treating JAK-mediated diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, COPD and cancer, by administering the pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine-derivative compounds of formula I.
US08993753B2
The present invention relates to a process for the stereoselective preparation of compounds of formulae (1A) and (1B) and the salts thereof, particularly the physiologically acceptable salts thereof with inorganic or organic acids and bases, which have valuable pharmacological properties, particularly an inhibitory effect on signal transduction mediated by tyrosine kinases, the use thereof for the treatment of diseases, particularly tumoral diseases as well as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), diseases of the lungs and airways.
