US08161403B2
The present invention discloses a solution for a surface based computing device to return passed objects. That is, software of the surface based computing device can permit software objects appearing within a display of a surface based computing device to be passed among users positioned about the surface based computing device. The surface based computing device can also include software maintaining linkages between passed software objects and return positions defined for each of the passed software objects. Further software can be configured to automatically return at least one of the passed software objects from a current position on the display to an associated return position responsive to an occurrence of a return object event relating to that passed software object. Visual representation of the linkages can be optionally shown on the surface based computing device and the passing objects can be optionally animated.
US08161394B2
A dashboard application can enable a user to quickly view data (and, in a particular aspect, data from one or more business applications) in an efficient manner. The dashboard application can be used to view data about one or more metrics that reflect the performance of a business, as derived from data maintained (perhaps in an associated data store) by the business application(s). In an aspect, a user can select two or more metrics to be displayed on a summary page and/or can invoke a detail page to view detailed information about one of the two or more metrics.
US08161393B2
In some embodiments a method for managing processing components using a graphical user interface is disclosed. The method can include determining connection data of a processing system automatically by communicating with at least one node of the processing system, displaying the connection data on a graphical user interface, accepting a user selection via selectable buttons on the graphical user interface, where the selectable buttons representing selectable system operations for configuring operations of nodes. Based on the user selection the system can automatically perform system configuring. In some embodiments, the method can detect improper or malfunctioning connections and automatically provide a pop-up window that has a suggested remedy. Other embodiments are also disclosed.
US08161389B1
Systems and methods which provide a markup language based file format for storing authoring tool content are shown. The markup language based file format of embodiments provides an aggregated content object containing various assets. A container structure is preferably provided for a plurality of assets comprising the aggregated content object. The assets of embodiments of the present invention include different types of assets, including content assets which contain content and packaging assets which contain aggregated content object information. Content assets may comprise various types or forms of media, such as graphics, video, audio, text, etc. Packaging assets may be in a markup language format, such as may be utilized to provide robust information regarding the aggregated content object and assets thereof. The markup language based file format of embodiments of the invention facilitates access to all or portions of the aggregated content by various authoring tools.
US08161375B2
A system and method are described for creating personalized stationery online. For example, a computer-implemented method according to one embodiment comprises: defining variable types including formatting options to be used in stationery templates; specifying variables to be used for a particular stationery template, each of the variables being assigned a particular variable type; creating a global template for a product category of stationery; extracting metadata from a file or other content provided by a stationery designer; and creating a product template using information contained in the global template and the metadata extracted from the file.
US08161367B2
Sequential storage circuitry includes first and second storage elements storing first and second indications of input data values received by the circuitry during first and second phases of a clock signal. Error detection circuitry detects a single event upset error in any of the first and second storage elements. Two additional storage elements are provided for storing third and fourth indications of the input data value respectively in response to a pulse signal derived from the clock signal. Included is comparison circuitry for comparing the third and fourth indications of the input data value and further comparison circuitry for comparing, during a first phase of the clock signal, the first indication and at least one of the third and fourth indications, and for comparing, during a second phase of the clock signal, the second indication and at least one of the third and fourth indications.
US08161365B1
A cyclic redundancy check (“CRC”) generator and method therefor are described. Checksum bits and checksum enable bits are bitwise ANDed to provide interim checksum outputs. The interim checksum outputs are XORed to provide resultant checksum outputs. Data bits and data enable bits are bitwise ANDed to provide interim data outputs. The interim data outputs are XORed to provide resultant data outputs. The resultant checksum outputs and the resultant data outputs are bitwise XORed to provide parity outputs.
US08161364B1
A network interface controller comprises a first interface that sequentially receives second and first fragments of a packet comprising second and first data portions of the packet, respectively. A checksum adder calculates a first checksum for the first fragment based on a second checksum for the second fragment and the first data portion of the first fragment. The network interface controller writes the first checksum to a checksum field in a header of the packet.
US08161358B2
The systematic and parity bits of a symbol are tightly coupled to each other based on the way in which the symbol is encoded. The relationship between the systematic and parity bits can be exploited to improve the accuracy of soft bit estimation for both the systematic bits and parity bits. In one embodiment, a received symbol is processed by demodulating the received symbol to determine an initial soft estimate of each systematic bit and corresponding one or more parity bits in the sequence. The systematic bit sequence is iteratively decoded to revise the soft estimate of the systematic bit. The initial soft estimate of the one or more parity bits associated with each systematic bit is revised based on the revised soft estimate of each systematic bit. The received symbol can be decoded or regenerated based on the revised soft estimate of each systematic bit and corresponding one or more parity bits.
US08161354B2
A flash memory controller includes a control unit, a buffer, an error correction code (ECC) module, and a configuring unit. The flash memory has a data area for storing the data content and a first spare area for storing a first ECC value corresponding to the data content. The ECC module utilizes the data content for generating a second ECC value and comparing the second ECC value with the first ECC value to determine whether the data content comprises a plurality of errors. The configuring unit computes the amount of the errors to determine whether the amount of the errors exceeds a predetermined threshold. If The configuring unit configures the data area and assigns a portion of the data area to be a second spare area. The first and the second spare area are associated with the ECC capability to allow the ECC module to correct the errors.
US08161351B2
Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for preparing and accessing super sector data sets. As an example, a data storage system including a storage medium is disclosed. The storage medium includes a first servo data region and a second servo data region separated by a user data region. The user data region includes at least a portion of a first codeword and a portion of a second codeword that are together associated with a common header data.
US08161338B2
Exemplary embodiments of a compactor for compacting test responses are disclosed. In certain embodiments, the compactor comprises circular registers and has multiple inputs. The circular registers can have lengths that are relatively prime or prime. In certain implementations, the compactors are able to detect errors commonly observed from real defects, such as errors of small multiplicity and burst errors. Certain embodiments of the compactor operate according to modular arithmetic. Furthermore, because circular registers do not multiply errors or unknown states, embodiments of the disclosed compactors can tolerate one or more unknown states or at least exhibit a desirably high tolerance of such states.
US08161336B1
A system receives serial messages from a device under test. The system includes a deserializer configured to i) receive the serial messages and, ii) based on the serial messages, form data frames. A frame sync module is configured to form Joint Task Action Group (JTAG) data bits based on the data frames. A plurality of virtual JTAG test access ports are configured to i) receive the JTAG data bits and ii) shift the JTAG data bits between the plurality of virtual JTAG test access ports.
US08161322B2
Methods and apparatus to initiate a basic input/output system (BIOS) recovery are disclosed herein. An example BIOS recovery module includes a memory storing one or more signatures to be detected by a detector of a BIOS implemented on a computing platform; and a connector to couple the module to a data display channel of the computing platform, wherein a BIOS recovery mechanism of the BIOS is to initiate in response to the detector detecting the one or more signatures of the module via the data display channel.
US08161320B2
An apparatus, memory device controller and method of controlling a memory device are provided. The example apparatus may include a bad block bitmap referencing unit configured to obtain bad block information from a bad block bitmap based on a given memory address, the given memory address being one of a logical memory address and a physical memory address corresponding to the logical memory address, the bad block information indicating whether a given memory block corresponding to the given memory address is a bad block and a memory mapping unit configured to obtain the physical memory address corresponding to the logical memory address, and configured to obtain a reserved physical memory address corresponding to the physical memory address if the bad block information indicates that the given memory block is a bad block. In an example, the apparatus may be embodied as a memory device controller including a flash translation layer (FTL).
US08161312B2
An apparatus and method is provided for data processing where power is automatically controlled with a feed back loop with the host processor based on the internal work load characterized by performance counters. The host automatically adjusts internal frequencies or voltage level to match the work load. The feedback loop allows tuning of frequency or voltage controlling power dissipation.
US08161304B2
A power management system is provided. The system includes a permanent storage medium that has a plurality of storage segments that are individually controllable. A power manager analyzes requirements of programs that access the permanent storage medium and selectively enables or disables a subset of the storage segments in order to mitigate power consumption of the storage medium.
US08161303B2
A storage apparatus includes plural trays each incorporating plural HDDs and a controller that controls access to the HDDs in response to an access request from a host apparatus. The controller also includes a table, in which standard power and a start-up power supply status are associated with each other for each of the trays, a table that manages total power required by the trays and present power consumed by the trays, and a table that defines maximum available power relative to the total power. The controller, when receiving a power-on setting request for a certain tray, judges whether or not the tray can be turned on based on the standard power for the tray and the present power, and the controller, upon determining that the tray can be turned on, turns on the tray.
US08161298B2
A power supply controlling circuit includes: power supplied portions, adapted to receive power supply from at least one external apparatus; a first power unit, adapted to be driven by a first power; and a second power unit, adapted to be driven by a second power. In response to a change of the power supply, the second power is varied, while the first power is maintained.
US08161287B2
A computer-implemented system and method for protecting a memory are provided. The system includes a memory section with privileged and non-privileged sections, a host gateway (HG) to generate a capability credential, a device controller (DC) to append the credential to data transmitted to the memory, and at least one IO device enabled to do direct memory access (DMA) transactions with the memory.
US08161284B1
An internet service provider (ISP) is configured to provide notification messages such as service updates to subscribers via redirected web pages. In order for the web pages to be treated as originating from the ISP, the ISP provides a shared secret in the browser message. The shared secret may be a secret not derivable by viruses or trojans in the subscriber computer, such as a MAC address of the subscriber modem.
US08161280B2
In one embodiment of the present invention, a method includes verifying a master processor of a system; validating a trusted agent with the master processor if the master processor is verified; and launching the trusted agent on a plurality of processors of the system if the trusted agent is validated. After execution of such a trusted agent, a secure kernel may then be launched, in certain embodiments. The system may be a multiprocessor server system having a partially or fully connected topology with arbitrary point-to-point interconnects, for example.
US08161277B2
A safe and recoverable firmware update method which for a remote embedded electronic device and the device thereof. The method includes reading an update status in a flash memory, and determining the update status. If the update status is “DEFAULT”, a default firmware is executed. If the update status is not “DEFAULT”, the update status is further determined if it is “UPDATED”. If the update status is “UPDATED”, a configuration area is set as “BOOTING” and a new firmware is executed. If the update status is not “UPDATED”, the update status is determined if it is “RUNNEW”. If the update status is “RUNNEW”, a new firmware and an update validation method are executed. If the update validation method gets an update completion validation message, the update status is set as “RUNNEW”. If the update status is not “RUNNEW”, a default firmware is executed.
US08161271B2
Embodiments of the invention provide logic within the store data path between a processor and a memory array. The logic may be configured to misalign vector data as it is stored to memory. By misaligning vector data as it is stored to memory, memory bandwidth may be maximized while processing bandwidth required to store vector data misaligned is minimized. Furthermore, embodiments of the invention provide logic within the load data path which allows vector data which is stored misaligned to be aligned as it is loaded into a vector register. By aligning misaligned vector data as it is loaded into a vector register, memory bandwidth may be maximized while processing bandwidth required to align misaligned vector data may be minimized.
US08161254B2
Method for creating a consistent image, on a destination volume, of a target volume that remains in production use while the image is being created, without requiring the use of a snapshot, by copying the data on the target volume to the destination volume, maintaining changes to data blocks that arise on the target volume during copy operations, copying changed blocks to the destination volume, and repeating changed block updates as necessary until there are no further changed blocks on the target volume (all as more fully described in the specification).
US08161251B2
A storage system can comprise storage devices having storage media with differing characteristics. An eviction handler can receive information regarding the state of storage media or of data stored thereon, as well as information regarding application or operating system usage, or expected usage, of data, or information regarding policy, including user-selected policy. Such information can be utilized by the eviction handler to optimize the use of the storage system by evicting data from storage media, including evicting data in order to perform maintenance on, or replace, such storage media, and evicting data to make room for other data, such as data copied to such storage media to facilitate pre-fetching or implement policy. The eviction handler can be implemented by any one or more of processes executing on a computing device, control circuitry of any one or more of the storage devices, or intermediate storage-centric devices.
US08161250B2
Aspects of the present invention comprise systems and methods for protecting multi-threaded access to shared memory. Some aspects provide higher data concurrency than other methods. Some aspects relate to methods and systems that provide access to data for all threads during the first phases of one thread's write operation. Some aspects provide all threads access to a particular data unit until one thread enters the commit phase of the write operation. Some aspects manage a computing data resource such that, when a thread enters the commit phase, all pending read requests are fulfilled, all pending write requests are allowed to proceed to commit phase at which point they are blocked, all new read and write requests are blocked and the commit phase is completed by updating the target data and releasing the blocked requests.Some aspects provide improved concurrency by performing reduced cross-thread interference. Some aspects may be implemented at any level from hardware to high-level languages. Some aspects protect readers from accessing partial write results which avoids retry semantics and data corruption.
US08161247B2
Synchronizing threads on loss of memory access monitoring. Using a processor level instruction included as part of an instruction set architecture for a processor, a read, or write monitor to detect writes, or reads or writes respectively from other agents on a first set of one or more memory locations and a read, or write monitor on a second set of one or more different memory locations are set. A processor level instruction is executed, which causes the processor to suspend executing instructions and optionally to enter a low power mode pending loss of a read or write monitor for the first or second set of one or more memory locations. A conflicting access is detected on the first or second set of one or more memory locations or a timeout is detected. As a result, the method includes resuming execution of instructions.
US08161240B2
Systems, methods and computer readable media for cache management. Cache management can operate to organize pages into files and score the respective files stored in a cache memory. The organized pages can be stored to an optical storage media based upon the organization of the files and based upon the score associated with the files.
US08161236B1
A system and method integrates a persistent reply cache with operation of a file system executing on a storage system. In an illustrative embodiment, the persistent reply cache is embodied as a file comprising a combination of contents of (i) one or more enhanced non-volatile log records of non-volatile electronic storage, (ii) “dirty” in-core buffer cache data structures, and (iii) on-disk data structures corresponding to those dirty buffer cache data structures. Integration is achieved through atomic operation of the reply cache with the file system to store information associated with a reply, e.g., to a client request, on electronic storage implemented as in-core buffer cache memory of the storage system, as well as on magnetic storage implemented as disks of the system.
US08161235B2
This storage system includes a server management unit for managing in a server a maximum overwrite count and an overwrite count for overwriting the overwrite data in a disk cache, a controller cache for temporarily storing overwrite data sent from the server in the storage subsystem, a storage management unit for managing a maximum overwrite count and an overwrite count for overwriting overwrite data sent from the server in the controller cache so as to overwrite overwrite data sent from the controller cache in the hard disk drive according to the number of the maximum overwrite count, and an address management unit for managing the respective addresses of the disk cache, the controller cache and the hard disk drive storing the same file to be erased.
US08161207B1
A method and apparatus for handshaking using a 2-wire protocol is described. An electronic component may be divided into blocks, with the blocks performing one or more functions. The blocks may be in series with one another to form a pipeline. The blocks may use interface circuitry to transfer information upstream from or downstream to another block. The interface circuitry uses the 2-wire handshaking for the transfer including a transmit readiness wire configured to carry a signal indicative of readiness of the upstream circuit to output data and a receive readiness wire configured to carry a signal indicative of readiness of the downstream circuit to receive the data.
US08161205B1
A reduced complexity maximum likelihood decoder receives a stream of received symbols Y accompanied by a channel estimate matrix H. A variable transformation part includes a first part which converts Y and H into Z and R by computing a matrix R having at least one non-zero element in a row, such that the product of R and Q produces matrix H. A second variable transformation part column-swaps matrix H to form H′, thereafter generating Q′ and R′ subject to the same constraints as was described for Q and R. Transformed variables Z and Z′ are formed by multiplying Y by QH and Q′H, respectively. A reduced complexity maximum likelihood decoder has a first part which accepts Z and R and forms a first metric table having entries of all possible x2 accompanied by estimates of x1 derived from x2 and Z, and also including a distance metric. The reduced complexity maximum likelihood decoder has a second part which accepts Z′ and R′ and forms a second metric table having entries of all possible x1 accompanied by estimates of x2 derived from x1 and Z′, and also including a distance metric. A hard decision is made by finding the minimum distance metric of the combined entries of the first and second table. Soft values are also computed using this table.
US08161204B2
Systems and methods for synchronizing a source and sink device are disclosed. A sink device can efficiently determine the source data rate even in cases where the sink device is not directly coupled to the source device. A method for transmitting a source data stream from a source device to a sink device includes, forming a logical channel from a source device to a sink device, where the logical channel is configured to carry the source data stream, and one or more rate parameters. The rate parameters relate a data rate of the source data stream to a data rate of the logical channel. A method for a sink device to recover a source data rate includes, detecting a logical channel in a received data stream where the logical channel includes the source data stream, recovering one or more rate parameters from the received data stream, determining a data rate of the logical channel, and determining the data rate of the source data stream based on the data rate of the logical channel and the one or more rate parameters. Corresponding systems and computer program products are also described.
US08161202B2
The peripheral device management system includes a server, a peripheral device, a data processing device. The data processing device includes an attempting unit, a confirming unit, a notifying unit, a first setting unit, and a second setting unit. The attempting unit attempts to acquire, from the peripheral device, firmware data. The confirming unit confirms, to the server, whether a newer firmware than the firmware installed on the peripheral device is available for downloading from the server. The notifying unit notifies that the newer firmware is available for downloading from the server. The first setting unit sets a first confirmation time as the confirmation time if a result of the attempting unit satisfies a prescribed condition. The second setting unit sets a second confirmation time that precedes the first confirmation time as the confirmation time if the result of the attempting unit does not satisfy the prescribed condition.
US08161199B1
A system and method are disclosed for modifying the capabilities and functions of a printer after it is manufactured. A consumable/replaceable printer cartridge includes a storage device having updated and/or additional printer function data and other data for use by the printer control circuitry to execute printer functions and other types of functions. In addition, when the printer cartridge is installed in the printer the storage device may be utilized by the printer control circuitry as expanded memory for use in executing the updated and/or additional printer functions and other types of functions.
US08161198B2
According to the present invention, an information processing apparatus which can communicate with a peripheral device that issues a message including state information, comprises a reception unit adapted to receive a leaving message from the peripheral device; an analysis unit adapted to analyze the leaving message received from the peripheral device; and an uninstall unit adapted to uninstall, when said analysis unit analyzes that information included in the leaving message is an uninstall notification indicating that a device driver corresponding to the peripheral device which sent the leaving message is to be uninstalled, a driver program corresponding to the peripheral device that sent the leaving message.
US08161190B2
A method includes receiving, at an address management device, a first address advertisement message that indicates that a first end-user device is assigned a first static internet protocol (IP) address and is connected to a network edge device. The method includes receiving a second address advertisement message that indicates that a second end-user device is assigned a second static IP address and is connected to the network edge device. The method includes sending an aggregate advertisement message including an aggregate IP address to one or more remote devices of a second network. The aggregate advertisement message indicates to route first incoming traffic directed to the first static IP address to the address management device via the aggregate IP address and to route second incoming traffic directed to the second static IP address to the address management device via the aggregate IP address.
US08161184B2
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that implements a long-lived query (LLQ) at a name server. During operation, the system receives an LLQ from a client at the name server, wherein the LLQ requests information related to one or more data items stored on the name server. In response to the LLQ, the system informs the client of updates to the one or more data items.
US08161175B2
A data transmission system includes a sending device and a receiving device. The sending device includes an image receiving unit that indicates the order of reception of the blocks using version numbers, a first database for storing the version numbers of the blocks, a transmitting unit which transmits the blocks to the receiving device using User Datagram Protocol, a determination module which determines whether a block requires resending, an updating unit for updating the version numbers in the first database, and a notification unit for notifying the receiving device of the latest version number of the block at each position using Transmission Control Protocol. The receiving device includes a second database, a receiving unit for receiving blocks using User Datagram Protocol, a display unit for determining the version numbers of the blocks and for displaying the blocks, and a processing unit for sending a request to the sending device.
US08161173B1
A role passing and persistence mechanism that implements role-based access control at a container level is disclosed. In one implementation, the role passing and persistence mechanism provides one or more RBAC services. Functions provided by the role passing and persistence mechanism include role validating, role persisting and role administration. The role passing and persistence mechanism is used to persist role information for a session between a client and a container for any type of client. No matter which adaptor a client uses to connect to the container, the role passing and persistence mechanism provides a uniform method of passing role information to the container such that persisted role information can be used by any service hosted by the container after the session is established and the role information has been persisted.
US08161172B2
Systems and methods for navigating hypermedia using multiple coordinated input/output device sets. Disclosed systems and methods allow a user and/or an author to control what resources are presented on which device sets (whether they are integrated or not), and provide for coordinating browsing activities to enable such a user interface to be employed across multiple independent systems. Disclosed systems and methods also support new and enriched aspects and applications of hypermedia browsing and related business activities.
US08161169B2
A method is described that involves establishing a connection over a shared memory between a connection manager and a worker node. The shared memory is accessible to multiple worker nodes. Then sending, from the connection manager to the worker node over the connection, a first request containing a method call to a remote object on the worker node. Also sending, from the connection manager to the worker node over the connection, a second request containing a second method call to a second remote object on the worker node.
US08161166B2
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including medium-encoded computer program products, for imparting information. In general, one or more aspects of the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in one or more methods that include receiving (e.g., in a peer-to-peer network) multiple sets of numerical residuals generated in accordance with multiple corresponding prime numbers; determining, based on the prime numbers, whether the sets of numerical residuals are sufficient to recover information encoded by the sets of numerical residuals; and recovering the information, when the sets of numerical residuals are sufficient, from at least a portion of the sets of numerical residuals using at least a portion of the prime numbers.
US08161157B2
The invention provides a system and method for automatically displaying a user's logged-in status across an Internet based network of affiliated Web sites via a visual indicator such as a toolbar to help the user to be certain about his logged-in status when he stays with one or switches from one to another affiliated Web site.
US08161156B2
A device communicates with feature peers, associated with a network, to obtain information associated with the feature peers, and receives a customer packet. The device also determines, based on the feature peer information, which of the feature peers support a feature associated with the customer packet, and selects, from the determined feature peers, a set of feature peers for the customer packet to traverse. The device further associates, with the customer packet, an additional packet used for delivering the feature associated with the customer packet, and forwards the customer packet and the additional packet to one of the feature peers in the selected set of feature peers.
US08161149B2
A pseudo-agent is disclosed herein that bridges this divide. For purposes of the discussion herein, a pseudo-agent is a machine that is installed on a fully capable host machine, such as a Windows or UNIX machine, and that gathers and evaluates content from a management server, takes actions if so instructed, and reports the results of its evaluation upstream. However, unlike an agent in a traditional management system, which inspects and acts on the local machine, the pseudo-agent actually inspects and acts on a remote device, or many remote devices.
US08161133B2
Provided is a storage system as follows. A server holds a management table that serves to manage a mount point of a file system. The management table stores a file system identifier that uniquely identifies the file system within the storage system, mount point information that indicates the mount point of the file system, and a management server identifier that indicates an identifier of the server that manages the file system. The contents stored in the management table of each server are the same. Upon reception of a request to obtain a file handle, each server returns the file handle requested to be obtained. The file handle indicates, uniquely within the storage system, the storage area on the disk subsystem in which the file relating to the request is stored.
US08161130B2
An approach for identifying suspect network sites in a network environment entails using one or more malware analysis modules to identify distribution sites that host malicious content and/or benign content. The approach then uses a linking analysis module to identify landing sites that are linked to the distribution sites. These linked sites are identified as suspect sites for further analysis. This analysis can be characterized as “bottom up” because it is initiated by the detection of potentially problematic distribution sites. The approach can also perform linking analysis to identify a suspect network site based on a number of alternating paths between that network site and a set of distribution sites that are known to host malicious content. The approach can also train a classifier module to predict whether an unknown landing site is a malicious landing site or a benign landing site.
US08161126B2
Systems and methods for remote direct memory access (RDMA) queue pair (QP) state split between a RDMA aware network interface card (RNIC) and a host software or application are provided. If a QP state associated with a specific QP comprises a RTS state, the QP state may be processed by an RNIC coupled to a host. If the QP state comprises an “idle” state, a “terminate” state, an “error” state, and/or a “closing” state, the QP state may be offloaded to the host for processing. If the QP state comprises a RTS state, ownership of the QP may be transferred from the host to the RNIC. If the QP state comprises an “idle” state, a “terminate” state, an “error” state, and/or a “closing” state, ownership of the QP may be transferred from the RNIC to the host.
US08161113B2
Managing a web based conference. The web based conference includes one or more presenters connected through a network to one or more conference attendees. The presenters control data sent to the attendees. User input is received at a presenter computing system from a presenter indicating that a message should be sent to a number of computing systems being used by attendees. In response to receiving the user input at the presenter computing system, a message is sent to the of computing systems. One or more acknowledgment messages are received from at least a portion of the plurality of computing systems. Based on the one or more acknowledgement messages, a metric is generated for the number of recipients that received the message. The metric is displayed to the presenter.
US08161103B2
Disclosed is a digital rights management (DRM), and more particularly, a transfer of a rights object (RO) to a second user in consideration of requirements of a movement of a rights object of a first user (a terminal, an equipment), charge, etc., by providing a post browsing session when the rights object occupied by the first user is transferred to a second user via a server.
US08161099B2
Techniques to automatically syndicate content over a network are described. An apparatus may comprise a client computer having a processing system with a processor and computer-readable medium. The computer readable medium may store program instructions for a syndication manager component communicatively coupled to a content producing component arranged to be executed by the processor. The syndication manager component may be operative to receive syndication content from the content producing component, and provide a syndication dialog through the content producing component to syndicate the syndication content using a content delivery platform. The syndication manager component may also syndicate the syndication content to form a syndication resource accessible from the content delivery platform over a network using a syndication referent. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08161098B2
A method and system are provided for denying an application service request, such as a Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) request, on wireless and wireline Internet Protocol (IP) Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) networks or Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) networks. In one example, the method includes receiving a request for an application service from a user via a transport network, determining to deny the request, and providing a response corresponding to the denial of the request to the user via the transport network.
US08161087B2
A computerized method of providing an interactive virtual surface to display virtual objects is described. The method may comprise providing the virtual surface via a graphical user interface on a display screen, wherein the virtual surface displays at least one axis and a plurality of virtual objects. The method may monitor positioning (including re-positioning) of each of the plurality of virtual objects by a user on the virtual surface relative to the axis. Thereafter, virtual object association data may be stored in a database identifying an association between each of the virtual objects and at least one attribute based on the positioning.
US08161082B2
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide methods and systems for supplying rich multimedia metadata usable to generate, e.g., sophisticated entertainment user interfaces in the home. These methods and systems can be implemented as a server-based software application that feeds multiple, diverse clients. The server functionality could be distributed, even co-located physically with one or more clients, or centralized. The server aggregates, filters, validates, augments and links metadata from disparate sources. The server transforms the metadata into a more manageable and extensible internal format. The server communicates with client devices using a schema-independent protocol, providing metadata in the appropriate format that suites the clients needs.
US08161081B2
System and method for generating automatic user interface for arbitrarily complex or large databases
A software system automatically and dynamically generates a fully functional user interface (UI) based upon, and connected directly to, an underlying data model (as instantiated within a relational database management system (RDBMS)). The UI derives from an automated interrogation of the RDBMS, and comprises all mode displays (e.g., browse, search, edit, add) for all tables, and a full complement of mechanisms—integrated directly into the mode displays—for representing, navigating, and managing relationships across tables, regardless of the complexity of the underlying RDBMS schema. It utilizes a hierarchical “context stack” for suspending the working state of a particular table while “drilling down” to work with related-table information and return relevant changes to the base table. The embodiment further provides methods to enhance and extend the internal representation of table structures, constraints, relationships, and—special requirements (“business rules”) for improved revelation of the schema structure through external interrogation.
US08161080B2
The present invention is directed to a method for managing transactions in a telecommunications network. The method includes creating an XML transaction detail file. At least one transaction detail record is stored in the XML transaction detail file in response to a telecommunications transaction. The at least one transaction detail record includes transaction data corresponding to the telecommunications transaction.
US08161075B1
In one of many possible embodiments, an exemplary system includes a data integration subsystem including at least one base hierarchical data structure representative of a first set of one or more data relationships. The system further includes a customization subsystem configured to receive one or more commands from an external source. The commands represent a second set of one or more data relationships, the second set of data relationships being externally defined. The customization subsystem is further configured to generate, based on the commands, a custom hierarchical data structure representative of the second set of data relationships, the second hierarchical data structure being generated on top of at least a subset of the base hierarchical data structure.
US08161074B2
A modular repository is described, where operational features may be implemented without the need to scan every resource included in the modular repository. A modular repository includes a dedicated set of database objects containing all information needed to access the resources in the repository. For example, the database objects of a modular repository may include those user identifier mappings and ACL mappings, etc., to which metadata in the modular repository refers. A database system may also include a mechanism through which a modular repository may be mounted under a subdirectory of a common directory in the database system. The resources of a modular repository that are mounted under the common directory may be accessed through the common directory. Further, a client may query the resources of any modular repository mounted under the common directory by making the federated repository, represented by the common directory, the context of the query.
US08161070B2
In one aspect there is provided a method for handling deltas being posted to a repository, database, or other Business Information Warehouse (BW). The method includes receiving, at a delta handler, absolute data without an indication of a change between the received absolute data and data posted to a repository including a fact table. Identifiers are created for the received absolute data. The absolute data including the created identifier is written into a temporary table. One or more deltas are determined by performing a join of the temporary table and the fact table of the repository. The deltas correspond to the indication of the change between the received absolute data and the data posted to the repository. The delta handler provides the one or more deltas to be posted to the fact table of the repository. Related systems, apparatus, methods, and/or articles are also described.
US08161066B2
Among other disclosure, a knowledge network and semcards enabling intelligent matching of offers and requests, involving all types of information and knowledge, including information such as classified ads, data about products and services, or knowledge, expertise, ideas, suggestions, opinions, and other forms of tacit knowledge is described.
US08161059B2
A system and method for collecting entity aliases include a web object collection component that obtains, from a web search engine, at least one Web object associated with a user' input entity. The system and method also include a social tag collection component that obtains a respective set of social tags for each of the Web objects from a social tag website and defines candidate aliases for the user's input entity based upon the respective set of social tags. An aliases refinement component refines the candidate aliases to obtain a collection of aliases of the user's input entity.
US08161058B2
A method of identifying at least one resource in a distributed computing system which is a potential root cause of performance degradation of the system includes the steps of: computing operational bounds for the system and operational bounds for at least one resource in the system; comparing current end-to-end system performance with the operational bounds for the system; when the current end-to-end system performance is outside of the operational bounds for the system, comparing current performance of the at least one resource in the system with the operational bounds for the at least one resource; and generating at least one output identifying the at least one resource in the system which is a potential root cause of performance degradation of the system.
US08161045B2
The present invention provides a computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program code for identifying interchangeable parts in parts catalogs. In one illustrative embodiment, a set of catalogs is searched for first attributes for a set of parts using an intelligent agent. The intelligent agent compares the first attributes for the set of parts to a set of second attributes for a selected part. A weight is assigned to each of the first attributes based on whether each of the first attributes is correlated to an attribute in the set of second attributes. Each part in the set of parts is ranked using the weight assigned to each attribute in the first attributes. A set of interchangeable parts is identified using the ranking for each part in the set of parts.
US08161043B2
In an interactive program search apparatus (100) which presents search condition candidates for expanding or narrowing down search results, reason words indicating the reason why the search condition candidates are presented are adaptively determined based on user's preference, search actions, and watching actions. An association-source word extracting unit (109) extracts an association-source word from the program search results, and an associated word extracting unit (110) extracts associated words associated with the association-source word, from an association dictionary storage unit (103). A reason word extracting unit (111) extracts reason words illustrating the relationships between the association-source word and the associated words, using the association-source word, the associated words, and the obtainment history information composed of words included in the program information of the programs selected by the user in the past and selected words among the words.
US08161042B2
A browser-based tool is provided that loads a Webpage, accesses the document object model (DOM) of the page, collects information about the page structure and parses the page, determines through the use of heuristics such factors as how much text is found on the page and the like, produces statistical breakdown of the page, and calculates a score based on performance of the page. Key to the operation of the invention is the ability to observe operation of the Webpage as it actually loads in real time, scoring the page for several of various performance factors, and producing a combined score for the various factors.
US08161030B2
The embodiments disclosed herein include new, more efficient ways to collect product reviews from the Internet, aggregate reviews for the same product, and provide an aggregated review to end users in a searchable format. One aspect of the invention is a graphical user interface on a computer that includes a plurality of portions of reviews for a product and a search input area for entering search terms to search for reviews of the product that contain the search terms.
US08161028B2
A system, method and computer program product provides a solution to a class of categorization problems using a semi-supervised clustering approach, the method employing performing a Soft Seeded k-means algorithm, which makes effective use of the side information provided by seeds with a wide range of confidence levels, even when they do not provide complete coverage of the pre-defined categories. The semi-supervised clustering is achieved through the introductions of a seed re-assignment penalty measure and model selection measure.
US08161025B2
The present subject matter provides systems, methods, software, and data structures for patent mapping, storage, and searching. Some such embodiments include mapping patent documents, claims, and claim limitations. Some further embodiments provide for searching a universe of patent documents by patent document, claim, limitation, class, element, or concept.
US08161015B2
Rectifying discrepancies between a table, from which a segment of data has been removed, and an index for the table may be deferred. Each entry in the index is sequentially analyzed to remove entries therefrom referring to any removed segment referenced in the starting location list. During this process, if a segment newly removed from the table is detected, then analysis of the index entries continues and an indicator is set that another segment has been removed. Analysis of the entries continues in a looping fashion until each entry has been assessed to determine if it makes a reference to any of the removed segments. If a query is received before rectification is complete then the query is amended by establishing search boundaries based so that the query does not produce any entries in the index referring to removed segments.
US08161014B1
A system and method for managing user access to objects in a computer system when a request to access the object is received. The user, operation and object are identified and matched against one or more Venn relationship rules to determine if they match any of the rules.
US08161013B2
Implementing application specific management policies on a content addressed storage device is disclosed. In one embodiment, each data object stored on the content addressed storage device is associated with one of a plurality of data sets. A corresponding data set specific management policy is associated with at least each of a subset of said plurality of data sets. The applicable data set specific management policy is applied to the data objects of each data set with which a corresponding data set specific management policy has been associated.
US08161006B2
In order to reduce a period of time required for a database operation and maintenance job, provided is a database management method in a database management apparatus that manages a database stored in a storage apparatus including: executing load processing of storing data which is read from the storage apparatus in a memory; executing job processing by reading and writing the data which is stored in the memory; executing unload processing of writing the data which is stored in the memory in the storage apparatus; and executing maintenance processing for the database using the data which is stored in the memory at timing for executing at least one of the load processing and the unload processing.
US08160998B2
A system for providing content includes a source and a client. The source is capable of generating a representation of the content, the content being hierarchically-structured and including at least one item having an associated type. The source is capable of generating a representation including an identity table and at least one type table, each item of content being included in the identity table, and included in a type table based upon the type of the item. Thereafter, the source can be capable of providing the representation of the content. The client is capable of receiving the representation of the content, and accessing at least a portion of the content based upon the representation. The client can also be capable of receiving a query for at least one item of content, searching the representation for the item(s), and accessing at least a portion of the content including the item(s).
US08160979B1
A virtual agent is disclosed. The virtual agent may receive a question from a user, and compare the question against a list of queries contained in a database. The virtual agent may then assign a point value to the question, determine which of a set of ranges the point value matches, and perform an action responsive to which of the ranges the point value matches. The virtual agent is self-learning in that when a question is unanswerable, the virtual agent may seek out answers and store answers for future reference. Multiple virtual agents may be networked, creating a self-scaling pool of knowledge.
US08160975B2
Methods and systems for granular support vector machines. Granular support vector machines can randomly select samples of datapoints and project the samples of datapoints into a randomly selected subspaces to derive granules. A support vector machine can then be used to identify hyperplane classifiers respectively associated with the granules. The hyperplane classifiers can be used on an unknown datapoint to provide a plurality of predictions which can be aggregated to provide a final prediction associated with the datapoint.
US08160968B2
Many digital media methods are detailed. In one, consumers are provided incentives for viewing commercials. In another, charges for entertainment content are assessed based on the percentage actually rendered to a consumer. Signature data can be derived from the advertisements and entertainment content to implement such methods. A variety of other features and arrangements are also disclosed.
US08160967B2
A method for recovering an authorization code which is assigned to a licensee by a licensor and is stored in an access-protected data processing device that is connected to a computer of said licensee via an interface. A backup file which is part of the authorization code and contains the license parameters is stored on the licensee's computer. The license parameters associated with the licensor are read out of the backup file, the license parameters are sent to the respective licensor, authorization codes corresponding to the received license parameters are recovered at the level of the licensor, the recovered authorization code is then returned to the licensee's computer, and the recovered authorization codes are stored in the data processing device connected to the licensee's computer.
US08160964B2
Exemplary methods, systems, and products are described for creating a virtual license document for material subject to an end-user license agreement (‘EULA’). Embodiments include identifying a licensing clause for the virtual license document; creating metadata describing the licensing clause; and inserting in a markup document the licensing clause and the metadata describing the clause. Identifying a licensing clause for the virtual license document may be carried out by identifying a known licensing clause in an existing end-user license agreement (‘EULA’) in dependence upon licensing clause identification rules. Identifying a known clause in an existing end-user license agreement (‘EULA’) in dependence upon clause identification rules may be carried out by identifying keywords in the existing end-user license agreement (‘EULA’) predetermined to be associated with a known clause in end-user license agreements; and identifying the known licensing clause in dependence upon the keywords.
US08160960B1
According to one embodiment, the invention relates to a system and method for evaluating the creditworthiness of an account holder of a credit account comprising the steps of determining, at least once a day, whether a first data set relating to the creditworthiness of the account holder has been received from a credit reporting organization; determining, at least once a day, whether a second data set relating to transaction activity of the credit account has been received; periodically receiving from a credit reporting organization a third data set relating to the creditworthiness of the account holder; periodically receiving a fourth data set relating to the historical activity of the credit account; and using the first and second data sets, to the extent they have been received, and the third and fourth data sets to determine a measure of creditworthiness.
US08160956B2
A method of financing a purchase or a lease a depreciating asset that includes determining a credit worthiness indication associated with a purchaser or lessee and establishing a finance contract for the lease or the purchase of the depreciating asset. A dealer is a guarantor of the finance contract. The method further includes issuing an insurance policy for a benefit of the dealer based on a liability associated with being the guarantor. The liability is based on at least the credit-worthiness indication and a value of the depreciating asset. The method also includes paying a payment associated with the finance contract. A portion of the payment based on a cost of the purchase or the lease of the depreciating asset and a cost associated with the insurance policy.
US08160951B2
A device and method for trading commodity options and futures related to an educational institution's non-rival athletic program to manage risks associated with producing collegiate athletic programs. In one version, the underlying asset of the options and futures contracts is an athletic prospect's obligation to participate in a non-rival athletic program at a particular institution in exchange for the opportunity for the athletic prospect to participate in academic and athletic programs within the institution. In a particular form, the underlying asset is a signed National Letter of Intent, a contract that obligates a prospect attending a particular institution to participate in that institution's non-rival athletic program. Revenues generated by options and futures contracts traded according to the device and method of the present invention can be used to further the institution's educational and athletic missions.
US08160934B2
An announcement distributor distributes, or auctions an opportunity to distribute, an announcement to an announcement recipient such as a consumer, issuer, merchant, or acquirer within a payment processing system. The announcement when there has been a satisfaction of an announcement condition, such as the consumer being determined to be located within a predetermined spatial zone. The content of the announcement may, in turn, facilitate a subsequent cashless transaction for resources of merchants. Implementations describe various permutations of the content of the announcement, the announcement condition, and the announcement recipient.
US08160933B2
A method and system to automate payment for a network-based commerce transaction provide a buyer an option to enable an automatic payment service, wherein automatic payment service automatically provides payment to a seller upon a termination event of a network-based commerce transaction. Payment information of the buyer is provided to a network-based payment system upon the occurrence of the termination event.
US08160928B2
Various embodiments include systems, methods, and software to manage offers in a network-based commerce system. One embodiment includes providing sellers an option when listing an item for sale to receive best offers for the item from buyers. This embodiment further includes receiving best offers submitted by offerees via the network-based commerce system and notifying sellers of received best offers. Some embodiments further include providing sellers an option to accept, reject, or ignore the individual best offers received. In some such embodiments, ignored best offers expire after a period, such as 48 hours. Yet further embodiments include notifying offerees of acceptance or rejection of their submitted best offers.
US08160921B2
A system to incentivize financial account holders, such as a checking account, by providing a cash bonus for certain activities in the financial account, including certain deposits, electronic payments, debit card purchases, and receiving an electronic statement (instead of paper statements). The cash bonus is calculated on the current time period, for example monthly and credited to the financial account at the end of such current time period.
US08160919B2
A particular method of distributing content includes receiving data related to content to be distributed. The method also includes automatically estimating a financial return associated with an audio version of the content based at least partially on a particular text-to-speech conversion process used to generate the audio version. The method further includes selecting one of a plurality of available text-to-speech conversion processes based on the estimated financial return.
US08160898B2
Methods for determining whether a drug is a specialty drug, methods for creating tools to be used in making the determination, and the tools themselves are disclosed. The overall value of a drug depends on the drug's attribute values with respect to each of a set of drug attributes (concerning, e.g., the drug's route of administration, targeted disease, possible adverse reactions, risk of toxicity, cost, need for patient compliance with the treatment regime, and handling, preparation, and/or storage requirements. If the overall value or its partial overall values meet certain criteria, the drug is deemed to be a specialty drug.
US08160894B2
A computer system comprising a processor for executing program instructions and a memory coupled to the processor for storing the program instructions, the programming instructions comprising: enter intake data on a patient; entering symptoms the patient is experiencing and services performed on the patient, wherein all symptom and services listed in the program instructions are assigned a numeric number based on severity of the symptom and service; calculating total value of all numeric values of symptoms patient is experiencing and services performed on the patient; and making a recommendation to one of continue hospital stay or discharge of the patient.
US08160892B2
An integrated border management solution providing a balance between facilitating the movement of people and commerce with the requirements of immigration, customs, and other border-focused law enforcement. The facilitation aspect of the solution includes processing of arrivals and departures, as well as processing requests triggered by forms and applications such as requests for visas, asylum or customs declarations. The enforcement aspect of the solution includes border enforcement alerts and communication, as well as a comprehensive, integrated investigation and intelligence workbench. The border management solution is based upon a border management business architecture defining the structure for developing a border management solution in terms of its capabilities and the interrelationships of those capabilities. The border management solution according to the present invention may be implemented as an integrated whole or as component parts to a border management solution.
US08160891B2
A system and method to distribute disaster information to a customer. An information distribution apparatus for distributing disaster information to a customer terminal includes a disaster information storage for storing disaster-occurred district information for identifying a disaster-occurred district in which a disaster has occurred and a real disaster level corresponding to the disaster selected from a plurality of preset disaster levels; a customer information registration unit for registering customer district information; a distribution information management unit for deciding whether the disaster information is distributed to the customer by collating the disaster-occurred district with the customer district with respect to the disaster level; and an information distribution unit for distributing disaster information to the terminal according to a decision of the distribution information management unit.
US08160887B2
Digital audio sample data are adaptively processed for interpolation based on whether the frequency at which the digital audio signal samples reverse polarity is at least equal to a predetermined threshold, the threshold being determined by their sampling frequency. If so, the digital audio signal samples are subjected to zero-order interpolation, with zero-inserting between the samples followed by lowpass filtering; if not, the samples are subjected to Lagrange (spline) interpolation processing.
US08160883B2
Controls are provided for a web server to generate client side markups that include recognition and/or audible prompting. The controls comprise elements of a dialog such as a question, answer, confirmation, command or statement. A module forms a dialog by making use of the information carried in the controls. The dialog follows a selected order of prompting and receiving input from a user as related to the order of the controls, and departs from the selected order as a function of responses from the user.
US08160876B2
A method and apparatus for updating a speech model on a multi-user speech recognition system with a personal speech model for a single user. A speech recognition system, for instance in a car, can include a generic speech model for comparison with the user speech input. A way of identifying a personal speech model, for instance in a mobile phone, is connected to the system. A mechanism is included for receiving personal speech model components, for instance a BLUETOOTH connection. The generic speech model is updated using the received personal speech model components. Speech recognition can then be performed on user speech using the updated generic speech model.
US08160870B2
A method and apparatus multiplies a past sample a time lag τ older than a current sample by a quantized multiplier ρ′ on a frame by frame basis, subtracts the multiplication result from the current sample, codes the subtraction result, and codes the time lag using a fixed-length coder if the multiplier ρ′ is smaller than 0.2 or if information about the previous frame is unavailable, or codes the time lag using a variable-length coder if ρ′ is not smaller than 0.2. A multiplier ρ is coded by a multiplier coder and the multiplier ρ′ obtained by decoding the multiplier ρ is outputted. The process is performed for each frame.
US08160859B2
A logic simulation apparatus includes: a jitter detector generation section 21 that generates information concerning a jitter circuit for determining whether a time variation occurs in signal passing between a first circuit and a second circuit, the first circuit configured to output a signal with a clock output from a predetermined clock source and the second circuit configured to output a signal with a clock output from a clock source different from the above predetermined clock source; and a constraint solver generation section 22 that generates information concerning a solver that is configured to create a signal to be output at an observation point using a logical expression of an output signal of the second circuit and output, based on the logical expression and output signal of the jitter detector circuit, a signal constrained by the output signal of the jitter detector circuit and output signal of the second circuit.
US08160857B2
In response to receiving HDL file(s) that specify a plurality of hierarchically arranged design entities defining a design to be simulated and that specify an instrumentation entity for monitoring simulated operation of the design, an instrumented simulation executable model of the design is built. Building the model includes compiling the HDL file(s) specifying the plurality of hierarchically arranged design entities defining the design and instantiating at least one instance of each of the plurality of hierarchically arranged design entities, and further includes instantiating an instance of the instrumentation entity within an instance of a particular design entity among the plurality of design entities and, based upon a reference in an instrumentation statement in the one or more HDL files, logically attaching an input of the instance of the instrumentation entity to an input source within the design that is outside the scope of the particular design entity.
US08160854B2
A method visually and clearly manages and displays a large amount of gene expression data obtained using a large number of DNA chips. The types of DNA chip are displayed in a leftmost column of a matrix, parameters such as times in a time series, treatment methods, types of samples, and the like are displayed in the top row, and expression value data corresponding to the respective cells are displayed as small matrices. Treatment methods or types of samples of Channel 1 and Channel 2 are displayed in the rows and columns of the small matrices. When a cell in a small matrix is clicked, a scatter diagram for corresponding expression value data is displayed.
US08160834B2
The invention disclosed herein provides methods and materials for observing the state of a sensor, for example those used by diabetic patients to monitor blood glucose levels. Typically a voltage such as a voltage pulse is applied to the sensor in order to solicit a current response from which for example, factors such as impedance values can be derived. Such values can then be used as indicators of a sensor's state, for example the state of sensor hydration, sensor noise, sensor offset, sensor drift or the like.
US08160828B2
Disclosed is a method for design validity verification of an electronic circuit board with regard to power supply noise, wherein with regard to an i-th LSI (i=1 to n) on the electronic circuit board, an input voltage Vin[i] to the LSI from the printed circuit board is given by Vin[i]=VDD−Zlsi[i]×VDD/(Zlsi[i]+Z11[i]), where Zlsi[i] is an input impedance characteristic and Z11[i] is a reflected impedance characteristic viewed from a position at which the i-th LSI is mounted, being a characteristic with the i-th LSI omitted from the whole of the electronic circuit board and a judgment is made as to whether or not a reflected voltage Vr[i]=Vin[i]×(Zlsi[i]+Z11[i])/(Zlsi[i]−Z11[i]) satisfies |Vr[i]|≦ΔV (power supply variation tolerance range).
US08160813B1
The present invention provides devices, kits and methods for illustrating travel time. The device includes a display board, a starting point indicator, a destination indicator, a travel path, and a progress indicator. The starting point indicator represents a starting point and is adapted for display on the display board. The destination indicator represents a destination point and is adapted for display on the display board. The travel path represents a path of travel between the starting point and the destination point. The progress indicator is adapted to indicate a point between the starting point indicator and the destination indicator and is adapted for movement along the travel path. A kit for illustrating travel time comprises a display board, a location indicator set, and a progress indicator. A method for illustrating travel time comprises displaying a starting point indicator on a display board, displaying a destination indicator on the display board, and displaying a progress indicator.
US08160811B2
A system and method for providing driving risk assessment for a host vehicle equipped with on-board sensors or vehicle-to-vehicle or infrastructure-to-vehicle systems. The system includes a hierarchical index of passive driving conditions, a means of collecting active driving conditions and a processor whereby the sum of passive driving conditions may be further refined by the active driving conditions. The method incorporates a hierarchical index of risks associated with passive driving conditions, and refining said risks with active driving conditions of the vehicle to generating a driving risk assessment for current vehicle operation.
US08160806B2
Systems are provided to avoid overloading a truck's bed and/or overloading a truck's towing capacity. Systems are also provided to detect and alert drivers of unbalanced loads.
US08160802B2
An engine control system comprises a ringing index (RI) determination module, a fueling threshold determination module, and a combustion mode determination module. The ringing index (RI) determination module determines an RI value of a cylinder of an engine and compares the RI value and a predetermined RI threshold. The fueling threshold determination module determines a fueling threshold and adjusts the fueling threshold based on the comparison of the RI value and the RI threshold. The combustion mode determination module selects a combustion mode for the engine based on a comparison of a current fueling rate and the fueling threshold.
US08160797B2
An HV_ECU executes a program including a step of calculating an estimated gradient, a step of performing rate limit processing on a change in the estimated gradient when on a hill and an absolute value of the vehicle speed is equal to or below V(0), a step of performing hysteresis processing, a step of calculating a creep increase coefficient, and a step of calculating a creep increase torque.
US08160784B2
An operation parameter display system for a working vehicle (1) fitted with a working implement (3) includes a parameter setting controller (475) setting a group of operation parameters appropriate for the working implement (3) and the working vehicle (1) for each state of an operation executed by the working vehicle (1) in response to an operation input from a manual operation input device (200). A parameter recording controller (476) stores the group of operation parameters set by the parameter setting controller (475) in a memory (477) in response to the operation input from the operation input device (200). A parameter display controller (479) displays the group of parameters stored in the memory (477) on a display device (101) in response to the operation input from the operation input device (200).
US08160782B2
A system includes one or more actuators (such as valve assemblies) that are configured to release a material. The system also includes a wireless receiver configured to receive wireless positioning signals. The system further includes a processing device configured to determine a position associated with the one or more actuators based on the wireless positioning signals and to determine whether to open or close the one or more actuators based on the determined position. In addition, the system includes a controller configured to control the opening and closing of the one or more actuators based on signals from the processing device. The processing device may be configured to determine whether to open or close the one or more actuators by determining whether the material has already been released at the determined position.
US08160780B2
The present invention relates, in general, to a system and method for keeping a vehicle in a lane in consideration of a steering wheel contortion angle, and more particularly, to a system for keeping a vehicle in a lane in consideration of a steering wheel contortion angle, which estimates the path of a vehicle in consideration of a steering wheel contortion angle attributable to the distortion of a steering shaft, thus improving the safety and riding comfort of occupants.
US08160777B2
When an electrification failure occurs in any of the phase of a motor, a control device of an electric power steering device executes current control for generating, in each of two electrification phases other than a phase with the electrification failure, a phase current that changes in the form of a secant curve or a cosecant curve based on an asymptotic line, which is a predetermined rotational angle corresponding to the phase with the electrification failure, to thereby continuously output a motor control signal. The control device of the electric power steering device executes current restriction for restricting the phase current within a predetermined range. The control device of the electric power steering device further executes control for accelerating rotation of the motor during two phase drive, in order to prevent the occurrence of a stuck steering wheel during low-speed steering, which is caused as a result of the execution of the current restriction.
US08160776B2
An automotive vehicle with a steering apparatus includes a steering wheel, front and rear steerable road wheels, and a steering mechanism for steering the front and rear steerable road wheels. The steering apparatus measures a steering wheel angle of the steering wheel; sets a desired position of a center of rotation about which the vehicle is to rotate for changing a heading angle of the vehicle with respect to a path of the vehicle; sets a desired turning behavior of the vehicle in accordance with the measured steering wheel angle and the desired position of the center of rotation; sets the desired front and rear road wheel steer angles in accordance with the desired turning behavior; and controls the steering mechanism in accordance with the desired front and rear road wheel steer angles.
US08160775B2
A wheel attitude control method of the invention comprises the steps of: chronologically obtaining acceleration data in a radial direction of a tire at a center position of a tire tread and at an off-center position spaced apart from the center position toward a shoulder; obtaining respective contact lengths at the center position and the off-center position from the acceleration data; and controlling a wheel attitude, which varies in accordance with changes in a load applied to the wheel when the braking force is imparted to the wheel, based on the obtained contact length at the center position and the obtained contact length at the off-center position.
US08160773B2
In case a temperature (T) of a lubricant oil (G) cannot be detected by an oil temperature sensor (51) provided on an output side of a lubricant pump (46), the temperature (Tm) of a wheel drive motor (17) is detected by using a motor temperature sensor (53) provided on the wheel drive motor (17). By estimating the temperature (T) of the lubricant oil (G) from the temperature (Tm) of the wheel drive motor (17), monitoring is carried out as to whether or not the temperature (Tm) has risen to a predetermined temperature (Tms) at which the cooling of the lubricant oil (G) by forced circulation is deemed necessary. The drive of a lubricant pump (46) by a pump drive motor (47) is stopped until the motor temperature (Tm) rises to a level exceeding the predetermined temperature (Tms).
US08160772B2
A drive control apparatus (100) uses a calculating unit (103) to calculate a danger index indicative of the possibility of occurrence of a dangerous event for a mobile body based on information of the mobile body acquired by an information acquiring unit (101). A notifying unit (104) notifies a passenger of the possibility of occurrence of a dangerous event for the mobile body. A control unit (106) controls a driving unit (102) to stop the drive if a determining unit (105) determines that the danger index is greater than a predetermined value.
US08160771B2
A vehicular data recording apparatus includes crash detection portion (12) for detecting a crash of a vehicle, and recording process portion (14) for recording and retaining output data of various vehicle-mounted sensors (20, 30, 40, 50) mounted in the vehicle, in a non-volatile memory (70). If a crash is detected by the crash detection portion (12), a data recording/retaining process relevant to the crash is performed by the recording process portion. If a plurality of crashes different in the crash form are detected continually in a short time by the crash detection portion, the recording process portion performs the data recording/retaining process relevant to each crash in accordance with a predetermined order of priority based on the crash form of each crash.
US08160768B2
A device for determining a value of a binary item, delivered in a redundant manner by two distinct determination mechanisms, and representative of a parameter of a system, the binary item being equal to a first or a second value when the parameter lies respectively in a first or a second range of values, the first and second ranges of values being separated by a transient range of values in which the transitions of value of the binary item transmitted respectively by the determination mechanisms occur. The system includes a state machine that assigns, when one of the determination mechanisms delivers a binary item devoid of any transition of value on account of a malfunction, respectively the first or second predetermined value delivered by the other determination mechanism, which is operating normally, when the parameter lies in the first or second range of values.
US08160764B2
An apparatus for providing vehicle accident information periodically collects vehicle travel information, and stores vehicle travel information that is collected during an accident of a vehicle, in a vehicle black box. The apparatus for providing vehicle accident information collects information about other vehicles through communication with the other vehicles during the accident of the vehicle, and stores the collected information in the vehicle black box. Since the information about the other vehicles is collected through communication with the other vehicles as described above, it is possible to provide more accurate and efficient information required for dealing with the accident. In addition, vehicle accident information, which includes time when an accident occurs, location where an accident occurs, and the type of accident, is transmitted to a related agency such as a police station and a traffic center, so that it is possible to quickly deal with the accident.
US08160756B2
Disclosed is a system for generating a controlled speed for an aircraft along a ground trajectory. The system provides for receiving a ground trajectory of the aircraft and the speed profile of the aircraft. An interpolated speed of the aircraft is calculated on the basis of the ground trajectory, the speed profile and the current position; a weighting factor is calculated from an angular deviation, which is calculated from a measured current aircraft heading and the ground trajectory; an auxiliary speed is determined from the calculated interpolated speed; and the determined auxiliary speed is multiplied by the weighting factor to generate the controlled speed.
US08160752B2
Accessing an energy usage rule for a device is described, wherein the device is coupled with a first structure. The energy usage of the device is monitored. The energy usage rule and the energy usage is then compared. Based on the comparing, an instruction is generated to modify an energy usage profile of said device to correlate with said energy usage, thereby enabling efficient energy management.
US08160749B2
An energy conservation system is provided to lower energy consumption in an unoccupied room. A master controller provides control of power consumption to an occupant of a room through an occupant action to create an occupied mode and otherwise be in an unoccupied mode. A thermostat is controlled by the master controller. A master radio frequency transceiver is located within the master controller and a second radio frequency transceiver remote from the master radio frequency transceiver is provided. The second radio frequency transceiver is coupled to an electrical switching circuit responsive to a radio frequency signal received from the master radio frequency transceiver. A controlled power device is coupled to the electrical switching circuit such that an energy input to the device is controlled by the master controller in the unoccupied mode.
US08160742B2
An apparatus for the dispensing of product is provided. The apparatus includes a dispenser that is configured for dispensing product and a sensor in communication with an electrical circuit carried by the dispenser. The sensor is configured for detecting identification information about the product when the electrical circuit is completed by the product. Additional exemplary embodiments are also provided in which the sensor operates through optical detection, smell, physical contact with the product, or vibration instead of or in addition to the completion of an electrical circuit.
US08160741B1
A pass-through medications cabinet is built into a wall of a hospital room and can be accessed from the room interior or from the hallway. A frame mounted in the wall supports a rack or box containing patient drawers or bins, arranged in a vertical stack parallel to the wall or in a horizontal row. There is a hall-side door that can be opened by pharmacy staff to place pre-loaded bins into respective compartments, and one or more room-side doors or drawers that may be opened by nurse staff for administering the medications to patients. The hallway door and room doors interlock to prevent their being opened at the same time to safeguard patient privacy. The system maintains an audit trail of access to the bins.
US08160731B2
A stabilized platform system includes a platform, a chassis subject to external vibration, first and second servomechanisms fixed to the chassis, first support having an end rotatably coupled to the first servomechanism and an other end rotatably coupled to the platform, a second support having an end rotatably coupled to the second servomechanism and an other end rotatably coupled to the platform, a third support having an end fixed relative to one of the chassis and an other end rotatably coupled to the platform, one or more sensors fixed to the platform, and a controller coupled to the one or more sensors and the first and the second servomechanisms. The controller causes the servomechanisms to adjust the inclination angles of the platform to maintain a desired orientation of the platform.
US08160720B2
Medical electrical lead systems and related methods are described. The medical electrical lead systems may be configured to be at least partially implanted in a body of a subject. Some variations of the medical electrical lead systems may comprise a lead body comprising a proximal end and a distal end and a lumen extending at least partially therebetween, at least one electrode in the proximity of the distal end of the lead body, and a reservoir in fluid communication with the lumen, where the reservoir is located at a position removed from the distal end of the lead body. Certain variations of the medical electrical lead systems may comprise a lead body comprising a proximal end and a distal end and first and second lumens extending at least partially therebetween, and at least one electrode in the proximity of the distal end of the lead body.
US08160714B2
A complementary drug delivery sheath for implantable medical devices. The complementary drug delivery sheath is covered, impregnated or otherwise carries one or more drugs. The complementary drug-delivery sheaths are manufactured separately from to the implantable device and are operationally combined with the device subsequent to the device's manufacture and/or sterilization. For example, embodiments of the complementary drug-delivery sheaths may be configured, for example, to attain an implanted position adjacent to one or more surfaces of an implantable medical device. In certain embodiments, the sheath is configured in the form of a glove, pocket, pouch, or the like to receive and to partially or completely wrap around or envelop an implantable medical device. Embodiments of the complementary drug delivery sheath may be implanted into the recipient prior to, concurrently with, or subsequent to the implantation of the implantable medical device.
US08160712B1
An apparatus and method for treating sleep apnea comprising an external, low voltage electrical stimulator that provides between 5 to 25 milliamps connected to electrodes imbedded located over the first and third intercostals or the third and fifth intercostals. The stimulator is designed to provide a current to the electrodes that stimulated one of the two pairs of intercostals for 59 seconds, rest for 4 seconds and then repeats the cycle throughout the night after the user has fallen asleep. The stimulator includes a main power switch and two amplitude control switches (also called amplitude control switches), a main control switch, an adustable delay activation timer switch, a power timer switch, an amplitude lock switch, two channel electrode wire plugs, an LCD display, and a battery pack. Prior to use, the amplitude control switches adjusted and lock at an amplitude needed to cause contraction. of the intercostals assigned to the channel. The patient then connects the electrode wires to the intercostals electrodes and activates the stimulator.
US08160705B2
In an electromagnetic interference (EMI) filter terminal for an active implantable medical device (AIMD), an insulated and shielded RF telemetry pin is provided to prevent re-radiation of unwanted stray signals, including the telemetry signal itself, to adjacent sensitive circuits or lead wires. The invention provides for an EMI filter terminal assembly for an AIMD including a radio frequency (RF) telemetry pin antenna extending therethrough. The RF telemetry pin antenna includes a conductive shield extending over a portion of the RF telemetry pin antenna in non-conductive relation with the telemetry pin, and conductively connected to a ground associated with the AIMD. The assembly may also include an insulation tube between the RF telemetry pin antenna and the conductive shield covering a portion of the RF telemetry pin antenna.
US08160701B2
According to various method embodiments, a person is indicated for a therapy to treat a cardiovascular disease, and the therapy is delivered to the person to treat the cardiovascular disease. Delivering the therapy includes delivering a vagal stimulation therapy (VST) to a vagus nerve of the person at a therapeutically-effective intensity for the cardiovascular disease that is below an upper boundary at which upper boundary the VST would lower an intrinsic heart rate during the VST.
US08160693B2
An irrigation ablation probe comprises a generally rigid probe body and a handle mounted to the proximal end of the probe body. The generally rigid probe body comprises an ablation electrode at its distal end having at least one irrigation opening through which fluid can pass. An infusion tube extends through the probe body for introducing fluid into the ablation electrode. The irrigation ablation probe is useful for treating atrial fibrillation during open heart surgery.
US08160681B2
A method for measuring a chemical concentration in tissue has two measurement steps. A portion of tissue is illuminated with a first generated light and a second generated light. A first Raman scattered light, corresponding to the first generated light, and a second Raman scattered light, corresponding to the second generated light, are directed to a plurality of light sensors, each light sensor measuring light at a different wavelength, that wavelength being proximate to a wavelength of an expected Raman shift wavelength for the chemical in the tissue. A measurement is obtained from each light sensor, each measurement being specific to the first scattered light and/or the second reflected light to that light sensor. The measurements of the first scattered light and the measurements of the second scattered light are used to calculate a concentration of the chemical in the tissue.
US08160679B2
A method of coordinating an imaging procedure and an injection procedure, the method comprising the steps of providing an injector system having first and second pressurizing units for pressurizing a contrast medium and a diluent for injection into a patient; providing an imaging system for producing an image of an internal region of the patient from a signal resulting from energy applied to the patient; and providing a data interface interconnecting the injector and imaging systems for enabling exchange of digital information therebetween such that the digital information transmitted between the systems is usable to enable closed loop control of at least one of the injection and the imaging procedures during which the contrast medium and the diluent injected into the patient is adjustable so as to achieve a desired level of enhancement within the internal region of the patient of which the images are acquired during the imaging procedure.
US08160678B2
A method for repairing or modifying an area of a patient's anatomy that comprises directing at least a portion of a scanning beam assembly to an area of a patient's anatomy, applying a radiation-responsive agent to portion of the anatomy, and exposing the radiation-responsive agent to radiation directed onto the agent by the reflector to cause the agent to therapeutically interact with the site. The scanning beam assembly including a radiation source capable of emitting radiation, a reflector that receives the radiation from the radiation source to direct the radiation onto the anatomy, wherein the reflector oscillates in at least two directions to create a scan of the anatomy, a detector to detect radiation returned from the anatomy, and a controller to convert the detected radiation into a displayable anatomy image.
US08160671B2
Disclosed herein are systems and methods for calibrating a continuous analyte sensor, such as a continuous glucose sensor. One such system utilizes one or more electrodes to measure an additional analyte. Such measurements may provide a baseline or sensitivity measurement for use in calibrating the sensor. Furthermore, baseline and/or sensitivity measurements may be used to trigger events such as digital filtering of data or suspending display of data.
US08160669B2
The present invention relates generally to systems and methods for measuring an analyte in a host. More particularly, the present invention relates to systems and methods for transcutaneous measurement of glucose in a host.
US08160662B2
A slide device includes a base, a slider provided at the base and slidable along an axis serving as a y-axis with respect to the base, a cam provided at the base and having a surface undulating in an x-axis direction orthogonal to the y-axis, a cam follower provided at the slider and capable of moving from a position corresponding to one end of the cam in the x-axis direction to a position corresponding to the other end, and an urging mechanism urging the cam follower towards the cam such that the cam follower slides around the cam in one direction in accompaniment with the sliding of the slider with respect to the base. Further, electronic equipment includes a front casing, a rear casing facing a rear surface of the front casing, and the slide device described above.
US08160660B2
A dual slide portable terminal includes a first housing having a surface and a rear surface; a second housing having a surface; and a dual slide coupling mechanism coupling the first and second housings to each other. The coupling mechanism includes: a first translation mechanism coupling the first housing to the second housing in a manner allowing longitudinal translation movement of the first housing relative to the second housing between a first posture in which the surface of second housing is covered by the rear surface of first housing and a second posture in which the surface of the second housing is exposed; and a second translation mechanism coupling the first housing to the second housing in a manner allowing lateral translation movement of the first housing relative to the second housing between the first posture and a third posture in which the surface of second housing is exposed.
US08160650B2
A bidirectional slide-type mobile communication terminal for providing a user interface that changes in real time according to input includes a sensor-equipped lower body and an upper body that slides with respect to the lower body. A method of providing such a graphic user interface includes sensing a sliding movement of the upper body, switching the terminal to an operation mode corresponding to the direction of the sliding movement, displaying the graphic user interface corresponding to the operation mode to which the terminal is switched, receiving input from a sensor, and changing the displayed graphic user interface in real time corresponding to the received input.
US08160645B2
Apparatus and method for supporting SIM card in mobile communication terminal having multiple modems
An apparatus and method for supporting a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card in a mobile communication terminal including a plurality of modems are provided. The apparatus includes the SIM card for storing user information, and the plurality of modems each for providing a clock and for transmitting/receiving a signal by an independent interface with respect to the SIM card. Only a first modem of the plurality of modems controls a reset of the SIM card.
US08160642B1
The communication device comprising the voice communicating implementer, the sound caller ID implementer, the calculation implementer, the word processing implementer, the stereo audio data output implementer, the digital camera implementer, the multiple language displaying implementer, the caller's information displaying implementer, the icon software implementer, the voice dialing implementer, the email implementer, the video phone implementer, and the simultaneous implementer.
US08160639B2
A communication terminal optimally switches between the use of multicast reception and unicast reception, in consideration of the mobile radio environment of each terminal. For example, received signal strength indicator information is acquired at a received signal strength indicator information acquisition time calculated using a content reception time. Either multicast reception or unicast reception is selected according to the acquired received signal strength indicator information and content reception is performed. An optimal reception system can be selected and reception failure can be reduced. In addition, by performing a dynamic switching of reception methods as such, the base station-end can perform multicast delivery rather than unicast delivery when possible to communication terminals in favorable mobile radio environments, thereby significantly reducing the traffic load placed on communication paths.
US08160635B2
Disclosed is a communication network system, which includes a cluster and a base station. The cluster includes plural communication devices installed underwater and a wired connection connecting at least two of the plural communication devices. The base station performs acoustic communication with at least one of the plural communication devices.
US08160634B1
A method and system is disclosed for intelligent power control in a wireless communication system. In accordance with an example embodiment, a first device will operate in a dynamic-power state in which it transmits a power-increment command or power-decrement command in response to each of periodic comparisons of a signal power level of a signal received from a second device with a threshold power level. While operating in the dynamic-power state, the first device will recognize when it has transmitted a threshold number of alternating power-increment and power-decrement commands, and responsively will transition to operating in a steady-power state in which it continues to transmit alternating power-increment and power-decrement commands even if it detects that the second device has ceased responding to the alternating power-increment and power-decrement commands. While operating in the steady-power state, the first device will recognize when the difference between a currently-received signal power level and the threshold power level is greater than a differential threshold power, and based at least on the recognition will transition to operating in the dynamic power state.
US08160631B2
A method performed in a wireless communication system having radio frequency burst transmission interference is presented. The method includes obtaining a first power level of noise and interference signals in an environment of at least one of a plurality of wireless communication devices serviced by an access point; and estimating a second power level by filtering the first power level.
US08160629B2
In a radio access network in which a first access terminal uses a first access point to access the network and a second access terminal uses a second access point to access the network, interference is reduced in communications between the first access terminal and the first access point by adjusting signal power levels of the second access terminal without requiring coordination between the first and second access points.
US08160623B1
Methods, media, and systems are provided for delivering short messaging service (SMS) messages via a satellite radio network are provided. A cellular-satellite gateway (CSG) server is coupled to both the network of a terrestrial cellular telecommunications provider and to the network of a satellite radio provider. Once a requisite number of unsuccessful attempts for delivery have been made by the elements of the cellular network, the SMS message is forwarded to the CSG server. The CSG sends the text message to a specified satellite radio network. The satellite radio network broadcasts the text message so that it may be received by a satellite radio enabled device. Messages are filtered at the mobile device to ensure only the intended recipient receives the text message. Acknowledgment is sent the next time the mobile device connects to its cellular network.
US08160619B1
Exemplary methods and systems for paging a mobile station are disclosed herein. An exemplary method involves: (i) before transmission of a page to a mobile station by an access network, the access network (a) determining a page-type of the page to the mobile station; (b) based at least in part on the page-type, determining whether to disable or enable page-concatenation for the page; and (c) if concatenation is enabled, then concatenating the page, and otherwise refraining from concatenating the page; and (ii) the access network transmitting the page to the mobile station. In an exemplary embodiment, determining the page-type of the page may involve determining whether the page is a voice-service page or a data-service page and/or determining whether or not the page is an intersystem page. Further, concatenation may be enabled if the page is a voice-service page, and disabled if the page is a data-service page. Yet further, concatenation may be disabled if the page is an intersystem page (preferably regardless of whether the intersystem page is a voice-service or data-service page).
US08160608B2
Techniques and apparatus are described for detecting a position of a target. A position detection device associated with a wireless communication system includes an accumulator to sample and accumulate a pulse signal included in an input signal. A double-sliding window is connected to the accumulator to detect a starting point of the input signal. Also, a synchronization controller is connected to the accumulator to generate a synchronization signal to enable the accumulator to sample and accumulate the pulse signal. In addition, a time shift calculator is connected to the accumulator to correct the detected starting point of the input signal based on the accumulated pulse signal. Further, a position calculator is connected to the time shift calculator to calculate a position of a target based on the corrected starting point.
US08160607B2
A mobile terminal apparatus and method for sharing contents are provided. The mobile terminal apparatus includes a storage unit storing location information on an area; a location determination unit for determining a location of the mobile terminal apparatus; a network unit forming a network with one or more other mobile terminal apparatuses in the area; a control unit checking whether the mobile terminal apparatus has entered the area, based on the location information on the area and the determined location; and a screen configuration unit configuring a screen for providing information indicating locations of the one or more other mobile terminal apparatuses; wherein the control unit controls the network unit whereby the network unit obtains contents contained in one of the one or more other mobile terminal apparatuses, wherein the one mobile terminal apparatus is selected based on the information displayed on the screen and indicating the locations of the one or more other mobile terminal apparatuses. According to the apparatus and method, it is possible for users to share and watch user-created private media in real-time using bidirectional networking. Therefore, efficiency of media usage is increased.
US08160605B2
Communications is executed between users through wireless terminals thereof without fear of being located by each other. On terminal 1x, area 4 in which wireless communication is enabled with terminal 1x is divided into proximity area 6 and external area 7 and the radius (distance between boundary 5 and terminal 1x) is temporally varied by random number. A control block of terminal 1x detects terminals located in side the communicable area 4 and in the communication enabled state and processes the other terminals located inside proximity area 6 as out-of-service-area among the detected other terminals, not displaying the users of these other terminals located inside proximity area 6 onto display screen 2x. The control block processes only other terminals located inside external area 7 as in-service area and displays the users of these other terminals onto display screen 2x.
US08160598B2
Devices and methods are disclosed which relate to dynamically adapting network policy on a wireless communications device to account for changes in network environment. These network policies are enforced, at least in part, at the device level, as opposed to solely at the network edges. The network policy is broad so as to encompass changes in network environment, such as increases and decreases in available bandwidth and presence or absence of security.
US08160588B2
The invention discloses a wireless communication handset comprising licensed wireless communication signal processing circuitry and unlicensed wireless communication signal processing circuitry. The invention further discloses a control circuit connected to both the licensed wireless communication signal processing circuitry and the unlicensed wireless communication signal processing circuitry, and a computer readable memory for directing the control circuit to function in a specified manner. This memory includes instructions to formulate a measurement report containing signal strength information that corresponds to the strength of a signal received through the unlicensed wireless communication signal processing circuitry. The measurement report also contains a request to transfer a wireless communication session from a licensed wireless system to an unlicensed wireless system. The memory further includes instructions to transmit the measurement report to the licensed wireless system through the licensed wireless communication signal processing circuitry.
US08160587B2
In a radio communication system wherein radio frequencies for communicating with a radio terminal are different in radio base stations, a table in which positional information, information on the frequency used for transmission/reception to/from the terminal, and a decision condition in a handoff operation are stored as to each base station is prepared in a base station controller beforehand. When the positional information is received from the radio terminal, the base station controller selects the base station being a handoff candidate, on the basis of the positional information of the radio terminal, the positional information of each base station and the decision condition of the handoff operation with reference to the table, and it transmits a handoff request message which contains the information on the frequency of the base station being the handoff candidate, to the radio terminal through the base station communicating with the radio terminal.
US08160582B2
A method for called party recovery in an MSC Pool, applied in a system that comprises an HLR and an MSC Pool including multiple MSC/VLRs, includes configuring a backup server for each MSC/VLR in the MSC Pool; if an MSC/VLR serving a user is down, the user has not initiated any calling service or location update and the user is called, further includes: the HLR sending a call signaling to the backup server of the MSC/VLR that is down; the backup server of the MSC/VLR initiating a paging request to the user and initiating a location update for the user to the HLR; the HLR registering user data of the user at the backup server and switching the MSC/VLR serving the user to the backup server. The present invention also discloses other methods, systems and devices, which can solve the problem of called party recovery in the MSC Pool.
US08160580B2
Systems and methods for determining the home network carrier associated with a mobile station and authorizing the provision of services to the mobile station using centralized storage of mobile station and home network information. In one embodiment, when a roaming mobile station attempts to access services, identifying information for the mobile station is used by a local server to query a centralized DNS server that stores a mapping of mobile station identifying information to corresponding home networks. The centralized DNS server returns an identification of the home network of the roaming mobile user, and the home network then determines whether to grant or deny the mobile station access to the local network. The mobile station identifying information may comprise an MSID such as an MIN, IRM or IMSI, which may serve as part of the address for the query to the centralized DNS server.
US08160577B2
A method and apparatus for automatically deactivating an electronic device during flight of an aircraft. The method utilizes a global positioning system (GPS) or assisted global positioning system (AGPS) circuit to facilitate computing the acceleration, velocity and altitude of the electronic device and comparing this information to a profile to determine whether the acceleration, altitude and velocity meets a profile threshold of an airliner taking off. If the profile is that of the take-off of an aircraft, then the circuitry connected to the GPS/AGPS circuit will be deactivated.
US08160572B2
A platform test environment is described for testing the functionality of a gateway. The platform includes a number of clients that simulate the functionality of a service provider application and a number of simulators that simulate the functionality of a telecommunications network component. These clients and simulators can be used to test functionality within a gateway that manages request traffic between the application(s) and the telecommunications network component(s). Once the platform test environment is configured, it can be used to execute a series of testing operations on the gateway by transmitting requests between the clients and simulators via the gateway. Furthermore, a unit test framework is provided that can be used to generate unit tests for the platform environment. These unit tests can be used to input data into the system, obtain a set of results and compare the results to expected values.
US08160571B2
A mobile device executes software. The software collects realistic and accurate user quality information without degrading the user experience of the mobile device during the data collection process. The software operates as a background application, and may have a user interface, and the software is remotely controllable and updatable by an external server.
US08160570B2
A hub unit is configured to digitize first and second analog radio frequency signals in order to generate first and second digital data, respectively, indicative of the first and second analog radio frequency signals. The first and second analog radio frequency signals are broadcast from first and second base stations, respectively, associated with first and second cellular service providers, respectively, using first and second air interfaces, respectively. The first and second digital data are transported to a radio access node using a shared transport medium. The radio access node is configured to reconstruct versions of the first and second analog radio frequency signals from the first and second digital data, respectively, using first and second digital-to-analog converters and is also configured to generate first data packets from a first data radio frequency signal. The first data packets are communicated to the hub unit using the shared transport medium.
US08160563B2
Methods and apparatus for providing service notifications in a network environment. In an aspect, a method is provided that operates to provide a notification system. The method includes obtaining notification information, determining a response factor, generating a notification message comprising selected notification information, wherein the notification message is generated to produce a response based on the response factor, and broadcasting the notification message. In an aspect, an apparatus is provided that operates to provide a notification system. The apparatus includes a notification interface configured to obtain notification information, processing logic configured to determine a response factor and generate a notification message comprising selected notification information, wherein the notification message is generated to produce a response based oil the response factor, and broadcast logic configured to broadcast the notification message.
US08160561B2
Apparatus, methods, data structures, and computer programming for the display on mobile wireless communications devices of information without the authorization or control of administrative servers. Displayed information can include, for example, carrier logos, news, and advertisements presented at the initiative of local service providers or other third-party systems. The local service providers or other parties are enabled to control the location and manner of the displays, as well as the content of data displayed. Providing control over the display to the local service provider enables, among other advantages, the transmission and display of much richer content, in more flexible manner than has heretofore been possible, including static and dynamic graphic images. The Application can be particularly useful in GSM, GPRS, EDGE, and UMTS systems.
US08160552B2
The present invention includes a method and software application for providing a promotion to a user on a phone. The software application resides on a user's phone and “listens” for phone numbers dialed by a user. In response to the user dialing a phone number, the software determines whether a promotion or an offer for a promotion should be provided to the user. In response to determining to play or offer to play a promotion to the user, the software application on the phone effectively “intercepts” the call and plays to the user either a promotion or an offer to hear about a promotion prior to placing an outbound voice call. The software application may retrieve the promotion from local memory or may connect with a remote server to download an applicable promotion.
US08160545B2
An exemplary system and method are directed at the selective delivery of communications messages. The selective delivery may comprise receiving a communications message from a network device; determining an identifier associated with the communications message; determining whether a subscriber is blocked from receiving the communications message based at least in part on the identifier; and selectively delivering the communications message to the subscriber based on the determination.
US08160540B2
An emergency telephone call is supported and routed to a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) in an IP based packet switched wireless communications network. An activate PDP context request is sent from a user equipment to the network. A parameter in said activate PDP context request indicates that the PDP context will be used to transfer an emergency call. An activate PDP context accept message is returned from said support node to said user equipment. Said activate PDP context accept message acknowledges said activate PDP context request message and provides the address of a call state control function. A call setup request transferred to the call state control function includes the Service Area Identity (SAI). The call state control function selects a PSAP based, at least in part, on the SAI included in the call setup request and forwards the emergency call to the selected PSAP.
US08160537B2
A Wireless Router (WR) aggregates information regarding the emergency calls based on their context and routes the aggregated emergency information to the correct portal which directs the aggregated emergency to appropriate Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP). The information aggregation is automatically triggered when the number of calls exceeds the multihop capacity to the egress point. The PSAP responds to the emergency situation by sending a response message via the Portal. The WR multicast/broadcasts the response message to the mobile devices which initiated the emergency calls. The response message generally includes emergency instructions based on incident type and location. Further, a call-back list is created for users whose emergency calls were not completed. By using the call-back list PSAP personnel can initiate calls to end users to provide assistance in emergency situations.
US08160535B2
An adapter for coupling to a process control transmitter of the type used to monitor a process variable in an industrial process is provided. The adapter includes I/O circuitry configured to couple to a two wire process control loop and to the process control transmitter and communicate on the process control loop. Wireless communication circuitry couples to the two wire process control loop and is configured to transmit an RF signal. Power supply circuitry provides power to the wireless communication circuitry.
US08160527B2
Methods and apparatus for providing automatic gain control (AGC) for received multi-carrier signals are disclosed. A receiver circuit comprises a common analog signal path, which includes an analog variable-gain circuit and an analog-to-digital converter, and further comprises first and second carrier-specific, digital variable-gain circuits corresponding to first and second carriers of the received multi-carrier signal, respectively. The receiver circuit further includes a gain control circuit configured to control the analog and digital variable-gain circuits and to allot gain adjustments to the analog variable-gain circuit based on a difference between carrier signal levels for the first and second carriers. In some embodiments, the gain control circuit selectively operates in an all-carrier mode, in which analog gain adjustments are calculated from both of the carrier signal levels, or in an unequal-priority mode, in which analog gain adjustments are calculated from only one of the first and second carrier signal levels.
US08160524B2
A signal receiving apparatus includes: a receiver which receives at least two types of broadcasting signals included in a plurality of channels; and a controller which controls the receiver to search a current channel according to one type of a broadcasting signal used for a previous channel search and to search a current channel according to another type of a broadcasting signal if the channel is not searched, to thereby set an automatic channel.
US08160523B2
A channel detecting method executes a process for instructing a broadcast wave scan start, a process for performing tuning control, a process for starting initialization/operation of an OFDM demodulation section and starting the counting of a synchronous establishment timer unit, a process for determining that broadcasting is being conducted, a process for determining the expiration of the synchronous establishment timer unit, a process for outputting a TS signal and notifying that a broadcast parameter is being detected, a process for instructing transition to the next channel, a process for making a decision as to a final channel, a process for performing a transition operation, and a process for terminating a broadcast wave scan. When no broadcast is being conducted, a demodulation unit, an error correction unit and a decoder are not operated.
US08160522B2
A receiving apparatus and method of a Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) system are provided. The receiving apparatus includes a clock generation/delay compensation unit for generating a clock, an antenna switching unit for temporally dividing signals received through multiple antennas by performing switching according to the clock, a radio frequency (RF) chain to be shared for converting the temporally divided signals into baseband signals, and an analog to digital converter (ADC) to be shared for converting the converted signals into digital signals and for outputting the converted signals according to the clock. Accordingly, the number of RF chains used to implement a MIMO RFIC is reduced.
US08160513B2
An apparatus for implementing phase rotation at baseband frequency for transmit diversity may include a primary transmit signal path and a diversity transmit signal path. Both the primary transmit signal path and the diversity transmit signal path may receive a primary transmit signal. A signal selector within the diversity transmit signal path may perform phase rotation with respect to the primary transmit signal while the primary transmit signal is at a baseband frequency, thereby producing a diversity transmit signal.
US08160507B2
A single-cable protocol and associated methods and systems enable improved communication efficiency and/or reduced cost. Transmit information, receive information, telemetry information, and/or DC power may be multiplexed onto a single cable, eliminating the need for multiple cables between a satellite transceiver and a corresponding modem while reducing and/or eliminating spurious emissions. Additionally, telemetry features enable improved diagnostics and/or repair of communication systems, for example satellite communication systems.
US08160498B2
Aspects of a method and system for portable data storage with an integrated 60 GHz radio may include establishing a microwave communication link between a wireless portable storage device and a wireless transmitter and/or wireless receiver. Beamforming parameters of a first antenna array coupled to said wireless portable storage device and a second antenna array coupled to said wireless transmitter and/or wireless receiver may be adjusted automatically and/or dynamically. The wireless portable storage and the wireless transmitter and/or wireless receiver may exchange data via said first antenna array and said second antenna array. A secondary wireless communication link may be established to initialize the establishing of the microwave communication link. The secondary wireless communication link may be established via Bluetooth protocol. The wireless portable storage and the wireless transmitter and/or wireless receiver may receive and transmit in the 60 GHz frequency band.
US08160493B2
A system having a UHF RFID transceiver is adapted to communicate exclusively with a single electro-magnetically coupled transponder located in a predetermined confined transponder operating region. The system includes a near field coupling device comprising a plurality of lines connected in parallel with an unmatched load. The near field coupling device may be formed, for example on a printed circuit board with a plurality of electrically interconnected traces and a ground plane. The system establishes, at predetermined transceiver power levels, a mutual electro-magnetic coupling which is selective exclusively for a single transponder located in a defined transponder operating region. Also included are methods for selective communication with the transponder in an apparatus such as a printer-encoder.
US08160489B2
A karaoke device is included within an enclosure and having a voice pickup element integrated into the enclosure, the voice pickup element for converting sound waves into an electrical signal. An audio input signal passes into the enclosure and connects with an electronic circuit for amplifying the electrical signal, for controlling the amplitude of the electrical signal and for mixing the electrical signal and the audio input signal into a mixed audio signal which passes out of the enclosure. A video input signal passes into the enclosure and directly connects to a video output signal that passes out of the enclosure.
US08160485B2
A fixing device includes: a pressure belt movable in a revolving motion; a fixing roller; and a pressure member for pressing an inner surface of the belt toward the roller. A fixing nip is formed between the roller and the belt while an elastically deformable surface of the roller is contacted with the belt by pressure applied by the pressure member to the belt. The pressure member includes: an elastic member for applying pressures so that greater pressure is applied to center of the roller than to the ends, the center and the ends being along axis direction of the roller; and a hard member that is disposed parallel to the elastic member on downstream side thereof in a revolving direction of the belt and applies pressures to the roller so that greater pressure is applied to the ends than to the center.
US08160484B2
In a fixing device, a fixed member is fixedly provided inside a loop formed by a belt, and is pressed against a pressing rotary member via the belt to form a nip portion between the pressing rotary member and the belt to nip a recording medium bearing a toner image. A heating member is fixedly, provided inside the loop formed by the belt to heat the belt. The heating member includes an opening opposing the pressing rotary member. A seal member covers the opening in the heating member to prevent a foreign substance from entering the heating member through the opening in the heating member. A reinforcement member is fixedly provided inside the heating member and pressed against the fixed member via the seal member to reinforce the fixed member.
US08160476B2
There is disclosed an image forming apparatus including: a latent image carrier; a latent image writing unit; a development unit; a latent image carrier unit having the latent image carrier; a first positioning protrusion disposed on the latent image carrier unit, the first positioning protrusion being engaged with a groove or a slit of an image forming apparatus body; an abutted portion disposed on the groove or the slit, the abutted portion abutting the first positioning protrusion in order to position the latent image carrier unit in an installation and removal direction; and a second positioning protrusion shifted in the installation and removal direction and disposed on the latent image carrier unit, the second positioning protrusion positioning the latent image carrier unit at a position different from a position of the first positioning protrusion in order to engage the groove or the slit.
US08160474B2
Techniques for modifying an imaging cartridge includes providing the imaging cartridge including a body including a circuit holding structure sized to hold an electronic circuit and forming a modified circuit holding structure, with the modified circuit holding structure sized to hold a replacement electronic circuit. At least one dimension of the replacement electronic circuit may be greater than a corresponding dimension of the electronic circuit.
US08160473B2
A method of modifying an imaging cartridge detachably mountable to an imaging apparatus, the imaging cartridge comprising a cartridge chip, the method including detaching the cartridge chip from the imaging cartridge, the cartridge chip comprising a light emitting device adapted for emitting light in the visible spectrum; and attaching a replacement cartridge chip to the imaging cartridge, the replacement cartridge chip comprising a light emitting device adapted for emitting light outside the visible spectrum.
US08160469B2
An apparatus includes a setting unit configured to set binding processing for binding a part of the document data including data of plurality of pages as a partial binding set for the document data, and a display control unit configured to display a setting verification image for verifying a status of setting of the binding processing by using a binding mark, which indicates that the binding processing is set, on a display apparatus in a display state in which the plurality of partial binding sets is discriminable.
US08160464B2
A developing apparatus including a developing container for containing developer, the developing container having an opening portion, a developer carrying member for carrying the developer at the opening portion, a detecting member for detecting a developer amount, the detecting member detecting a capacitance between the developer carrying member and the detecting member, and a force receiving portion for receiving a force and moving the developing container between a first position in which a developing operation is performed by the developer carrying member and a second position in which the developing operation is not performed, wherein the capacitance can be detected in the second position, and the detecting member is a rotatable developer supplying member for supplying the developer to the developer carrying member, the developer supplying member including a foam layer in which the developer can enter.
US08160463B2
Disclosed is an image forming apparatus, which makes it possible to appropriately conduct a controlling operation for eliminating the velocity fluctuation of the photoreceptor drum without generating any malfunction. The apparatus includes a photoreceptor member driven by a motor and a control section that is provided with a feed forward controlling section that stores parameters derived from driving errors for one revolution of the photoreceptor member to create a reverse-phase instruction value based on the parameters and a feedback controlling section that controls a velocity of the photoreceptor member, so as to keep the velocity of the photoreceptor member constant. During an initial operating time, the control section deactivates the feed forward controlling section, while only activates the feedback controlling section to drive the photoreceptor member so as to measure a driving toque of the driving motor, and selects a parameter from the parameters, corresponding to the driving toque measured.
US08160460B2
An image forming apparatus includes: an apparatus main body; a plurality of cartridges removably mounted to the apparatus main body and accommodating developer of respective colors, each of the cartridges including a nonvolatile memory; and a storing control unit provided in the apparatus main body. The storing control unit is configured to store, in each of the nonvolatile memories, given information on all of the cartridges and identification information of the cartridges in response to a use of at least one of the cartridges, such that the given information on each of the cartridges is associated with identification information of a respective one of the cartridges.
US08160447B2
An OLT transmits and receives a CMTS/CM apparatus control signal through an apparatus physical management interface which is physically identical to or different from a main signal interface (NNI) and processes the CMTS apparatus control signal by itself. When connection of a new ONU is detected by an ONU apparatus control signal, an IP address is allocated by using the CM apparatus control signal in a manner similar to the CM. The CM apparatus control signal regarding the ONU is transmitted and received by using the IP address and a mutual conversion is performed between the CM apparatus control signal and the ONU apparatus control signal. The ONU processes the ONU apparatus control signal in a manner similar to the ONU based on an ordinary PON standard.
US08160444B2
Apparatus, systems and methods for separating a selected optical signal wavelength component from a plurality of optical signal wavelength components of an aggregate optical signal, and for passing the selected optical signal wavelength component while suppressing the remaining wavelength components are provided. Generally, the apparatus provides an optical signal wavelength selective element enabling output of a selectable optical signal wavelength component. The system contains a fiber optic cable carrying an optical signal, an optical signal measurement apparatus to measure optical signal characteristics, and an optical wavelength selector to pass the selected optical signal wavelength component to the optical signal measurement apparatus.
US08160440B2
A three-dimensional image pickup apparatus for capturing a three-dimensional image which includes a left-eye image and a right-eye image includes: a first imaging unit having a first optical system and operable to take the left-eye image; a second imaging unit having a second optical system and operable to take the right-eye image; and a controller operable to control the first imaging unit and the second imaging unit. The first optical system and the second optical system individually include a convergence angle changing unit capable of optically changing a convergence angle and a focal length changing unit capable of optically changing a focal length. The controller, when controlling the focal length changing unit to change the focal length, controls the convergence angle changing unit based on a predetermined constant convergence angle tracking curve to keep the convergence angle constant before and after the change of the focal length.
US08160437B2
A focus detection apparatus comprises a field mask which has a rectangular opening, a first focus detection optical system which divides, in a longitudinal direction of the opening or a shorter side direction of the opening, the light beam, a second focus detection optical system which divides, in an oblique direction, the light beam, a plurality of first focus detection regions which respectively extend in the dividing direction by the first focus detection optical system within a frame on an expected imaging surface of the imaging lens, and a plurality of second focus detection regions which respectively extend in the dividing direction by the second focus detection optical system within the frame that receives the light beam divided by the second focus detection optical system, the plurality of second focus detection regions being aligned in the longitudinal direction or the shorter side direction within the frame.
US08160434B2
System of electrical thermostatation of pipes or tanks, including a jacket that serves to at least partially cover a surface of the piping or tank, the jacket including an external mechanical protection in the form of an external shell and an internal shell, a thermal insulation supplied between the internal shell and the external shell, a heating element for generating thermal energy, an element to spread the thermal energy towards the interior, and a conduit for an electricity supply line.
US08160430B2
A recording apparatus includes a screen information generation unit and a recording control unit. When again generating screen information of a recording medium recorded with plural image data, the screen information on which a screen for selecting the plural image data is based, and a recording state of the image data when the screen information was generated, the screen information generation unit selects a range of the screen information necessary to be rewritten in accordance with a recording state of image data in the recording medium when previous screen information was generated and a recording state of image data in the recording medium at a present time, and updates only the selected range of the screen information. The recording control unit records screen information generated by the screen information generation unit in the recording medium.
US08160414B1
Systems and methods of forming an optical coupling between two optical waveguides where at least one of the optical waveguides is non-UV transmissive are disclosed. In one aspect, a self-forming waveguide (SFWG) is formed in a photosensitive material disposed between a UV transmissive optical waveguide and a non-UV transmissive component at least in part by a portion of an incident UV beam reflected from an interface between the photosensitive material and the non-UV transmissive material. In another aspect, two separate SFWG waveguides are formed in two separate photosensitive materials by UV beams passed thereto via a UV transmissive bridge waveguide.
US08160409B2
A light guide of the tapered-waveguide type includes an input slab (30) for expanding a projected image between an input end and an output end, and an output slab (10) arranged to receive rays from the said output end, and to emit them at a point on its face that corresponds to the angle at which the ray is received. The input slab and output waveguide are matched so that all rays injected into the input end undergo the same number of reflections before leaving the output surface. With the invention the input slab (30) is itself tapered slightly towards the output waveguide. This means that input and output waveguides can be made the same length, in the direction of ray travel, and can therefore be folded over each other with no wasted space.
US08160403B2
A game apparatus functioning as an image transmitting apparatus includes a CPU. The CPU performs an edit of at least one image with a controller according to an instruction by a user, transmits image data of the image through a wireless communication module to a network during execution of the edit, and further transmits layout information indicating a layout of the image after completion of the edit.
US08160401B2
An information storage medium including graphic data and presentation information, and an apparatus and method of processing the graphic data are provided. The information storage medium includes the graphic data, page composition information which defines page composition of the graphic data, and the presentation information indicating when graphic screen data, which is composed with reference to the page composition information of the graphic data, is output to a display screen. Therefore, a graphic object is reusable in graphic data processing, and accordingly, a time taken to process the graphic data is reducible and memory area may be saved.
US08160396B2
A method and camera apparatus touches up a source image to produce a target image. The source image is partitioned into non-overlapping tiles of pixels. Each tile is labeled. A probability distribution of the labels is inferred, in which the probability distribution is a conditional random field. Weights are determined from the conditional random field. Then, each tile of the source image is transformed according to the weights to produce a corresponding tile of a target image. The transforming maximizes a conditional likelihood of the target image given the source image, while marginalizing over all possible labelings of the source image.
US08160385B2
Blotches may be identified and processed to reduce or eliminate the blotch. The blotch may be in just one of several separations and multiple separations may be used, for example, to identify the blotch. An implementation (i) compares a first component image of an image with a first component image of a reference image, (ii) compares a second component image of the image with a second component image of the reference image, and (iii) determines based on these comparisons whether the first component image of the image includes a blotch. Multiple image separations also, or alternatively, may be used, for example, to modify the blotch, as well as to evaluate whether a modification is beneficial.
US08160373B2
Image decoder including: a memory to store a reference image which is a previously decoded image; and a synthesizer to receive an encoded bitstream including information of I and P frames, and execute motion compensation by synthesizing a predicted image of a current frame using motion vector information included in the encoded bitstream and the reference image. The motion compensation includes calculating intensity values at points where no pixels actually exist by bilinear interpolation performable using a positive and negative rounding method, and is performed using the rounding method specified by rounding method information included in the encoded bitstream of the current frame when the current frame is a P frame. Such specifies one of two values specifying a positive or a negative rounding method. The rounding method information is not received from the encoded bitstream of the current frame when the current frame is an I frame.
US08160367B2
A method for characterizing a shape of an object surface includes acquiring image data including the object. The image data is analyzed at a locus of points that are at a predetermined distance from a point of interest proximate to the object surface to determine which of the locus of points represents a foreground and which of the locus of points represents a background. The shape of the object surface is characterized based on the characterization of the locus of points.
US08160366B2
An object recognition device includes: a model image processing unit having a feature point set decision unit setting a feature point set in a model image, and detecting the feature quantity of the feature point set, and a segmentation unit segmenting the model image; a processing-target image processing unit having a feature point setting unit setting a feature point in a processing-target image and detecting the feature quantity of the feature point; a matching unit comparing the feature quantities of the feature points set in the model image and in the processing-target image so as to detect the feature point corresponding to the feature point set, and executes a matching; and a determination unit determining the processing result in the matching unit so as to determine presence/absence of a model object in the processing-target image.
US08160355B1
A method for performing white balancing of a digital image, the method includes: generating or receiving multiple candidates, each candidate represents a pixel area of the digital image; applying multiple white balancing estimation processes on the candidates to provide multiple digital image imbalance estimations; wherein a first white balancing estimation process differs from a second white balancing estimation process by its inherent reliability; calculating at least one white balancing compensation parameter in response to at least two digital image imbalance estimations; and providing a compensated digital image by applying at least one white balancing compensation image.
US08160352B2
A surface inspection apparatus capable of acquiring scattered light intensity distribution information for each scattering azimuth angle, and detecting foreign matters and defects with high sensitivity. A concave mirror for condensation and another concave mirror for image formation are used to cope with a broad cubic angle. Since mirrors for condensation and image formation are used, a support for clamping the periphery of a lens is unnecessary, and an effective aperture area does not decrease. A plurality of azimuth-wise detection optical systems is disposed and reflected light at all azimuths can be detected by burying the entire periphery without calling for specific lens polishing. A light signal unification unit sums digital data from a particular system corresponding to a scattering azimuth designated in advance in the systems for improving an S/N ratio.
US08160344B2
A method and system for facilitating computer-aided detection (CAD) in which, in one implementation, image data is received (302) and iterations of an iterative segmentation process is performed on the image data. Each iterative segmentation process may include ascertaining whether a segment is normal (304), removing the segment from the image if ascertained to be normal (308) and transforming the shape of the segment (310). The iterative segmentation process may be stopped if a stop condition is met (312).
US08160341B2
A method for performing a medical imaging study includes acquiring a preliminary scan. A set of local feature candidates is automatically detected from the preliminary scan. The accuracy of each local feature candidate is assessed using multiple combinations of the other local feature candidates and removing a local feature candidate that is assessed to have the lowest accuracy. The assessing and removing steps are repeated until only a predetermined number of local feature candidates remain. A region of interest (ROI) is located from within the preliminary scan based on the remaining predetermined number of local feature candidates. A medical imaging study is performed based on the location of the ROI within the preliminary scan.
US08160319B2
Systems and techniques for reducing distortions in magnetic resonance images. In one aspect, machine-implemented method for reducing image distortion in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) includes receiving a first MRI image and a second MRI image, estimating displacements of voxels between the first MRI image and the second MRI image by minimizing a cost function expressing a cost of the displacements, reducing distortion in an MRI image using the estimated displacements, and making the MRI image having reduced distortion available. The first MRI image and the second MRI image were acquired using different gradient fields.
US08160311B1
A control system enables a user to control an electronic device by moving parts of the face, including the eyes. Optical emitters and optical detectors are used to reflect light from the relevant parts of the user's face. Pattern matching or approximation of a pointing location are used to define the control input to the electronic device based on the user's motions. Visual feedback is optionally provided to the user during the controller's actions. Additional sensor elements are optionally provided to improve performance of the system. Hardware and software elements are combined to provide for the specified control actions.
US08160308B2
An image acquisition device includes a first speed-optimized filter for producing a first set of candidate red-eye regions for an acquired image; and a second analysis-optimized filter for operating on the first set of candidate red eye regions and the acquired image.
US08160301B2
In a stereo-image recognition apparatus, pixel blocks having correlation with the brightness characteristics of target pixel blocks extracted from a reference image of a stereo image are specified in a comparative image so as to calculate parallaxes of the pixel blocks. Further, distance-data calculation pixel blocks whose distance data is to be calculated are extracted from the pixel blocks whose parallaxes are calculated, and parallaxes of the extracted distance-data calculation pixel blocks are calculated as distance data, thus monitoring vehicle surroundings. A brightness-determination-threshold setting unit variably sets a brightness determination threshold value on the basis of the distance distribution of the calculated distance data of the distance-data calculation pixel blocks so as to control the sensitivity to extract the distance-data calculation pixel blocks and to enhance the accuracy in monitoring vehicle surroundings.
US08160300B2
A first pedestrian judging unit judges, on the basis of the size and motion state of a target three-dimensional object, whether the object is a pedestrian. A second pedestrian judging unit judges, on the basis of shape data on the object, whether the object is a pedestrian. A pedestrian judging unit finally determines that the object is a pedestrian when both the first and second pedestrian judging units judge the object as a pedestrian, when the second pedestrian judging unit judges the object as a pedestrian, when the first pedestrian judging unit judges the object as a pedestrian and a result of this judgment is held for a preset period, or when the first pedestrian judging unit judges the object as a pedestrian in a current judgment operation and the second pedestrian judging unit judged the object as a pedestrian in the previous judging operation.
US08160296B2
A method of determining change in a state of an object using images of the object, the method including providing a first image and a second image of the object, the first image and the second image being spaced apart in time, performing a plurality of pixel-based change detection algorithms to obtain a plurality of output difference products/images containing change information and pseudo change information, combining the plurality of output difference products to form a hybrid output difference product and thresholding the output difference product to detect changes in the object.
US08160295B2
Image-processing device and image-processing method for embedding code patterns in image information
For facilitating detecting the position of additional information embedded in image information shown on a printed matter, an input unit configured to input image information and an embedding unit configured to embed a plurality of code patterns in the image information according to additional information are provided. The additional information includes direction-determination information used to detect the direction in which the additional information is embedded in the image information. When one of the code patterns is rotated, the rotated code pattern corresponds to one of the code patterns that are not yet rotated.
US08160288B2
An in-ear canal earphone includes a torus-shaped cushioning member defining an aperture therethrough. An audio housing is connected to the cushioning member such that the cushioning member is movable between a first position, in which the housing extends generally away from the cushioning member, and a second position, in which a portion of the housing extends through the aperture for insertion into an ear canal.
US08160275B2
An apparatus and method for amplifying a transmission signals in multiple modes and multiple bands. The apparatus includes a tunable power amplifying module adapted to receive a plurality of signal types comprising multiple modes and multiple bands. The tunable power amplifying module includes a first and second power amplifier stages and a number of tunable matching networks configured to optimize an impedance value based on the mode and band of the signal to be amplified.
US08160274B2
The present invention provides for methods and systems for digitally processing an audio signal. Specifically, the present invention provides for a headliner speaker system that is configured to digitally process an audio signal in a manner such that studio-quality sound that can be reproduced.
US08160273B2
Methods, apparatus, and systems for source separation include a converged plurality of coefficient values that is based on each of a plurality of M-channel signals. Each of the plurality of M-channel signals is based on signals produced by M transducers in response to at least one information source and at least one interference source. In some examples, the converged plurality of coefficient values is used to filter an M-channel signal to produce an information output signal and an interference output signal.
US08160272B1
An audio output circuit includes a port attenuation circuit, which is configured to convert an abrupt dc voltage offset transition between a pair of audio signals received in sequence at an input thereof into a more gradual transition. This conversion is achieved by performing, in sequence, a ramp-to-mute operation on a first of the pair of audio signals and a ramp-from-mute operation on a second of the pair of audio signals. The ramp-to-mute operation includes ramping an output of the audio output circuit from a dc voltage offset associated with the first of the pair of audio signals to a reference dc voltage offset. The ramp-from-mute operation includes ramping the output of the audio output circuit from the reference dc voltage offset to a dc voltage offset associated with the second of the pair of audio signals. These ramping operations may be performed using voltage steps having uniform step size.
US08160271B2
Methods and systems for masking audio noise are disclosed. One apparatus includes a silence detector configured to detect a period of substantial silence in an audio signal; a masking noise source operably coupled to the silence detector, the masking noise source configured to generate a noise signal in response to the silence detector detecting the period of substantial silence; and at least one combining device operably coupled to the masking noise source, the at least one combining device configured to contribute to combining the audio signal and the noise signal. A method includes detecting a period of substantial silence in an audio signal; and combining masking noise with the audio signal during the period of substantial silence.
US08160266B2
An active vibratory noise control apparatus has a speaker for canceling vibratory noise in the passenger compartment of a vehicle, the speaker being used as a speaker of one of different audio devices that can be installed on the vehicle. Each of the audio devices has a command key switch assembly. When the command key switch assembly is operated to turn off the transistor, a control signal is applied to a switching control circuit in an active vibratory noise control unit, which identifies the audio device installed on the vehicle. The active vibratory noise control unit generates a canceling signal matching characteristics of the speaker of the identified audio device for canceling vibratory noise in the passenger compartment.
US08160260B2
A circuit for processing multichannel audio signals, comprises a frequency characteristics correction device and an output device. The frequency characteristics correction device corrects frequency characteristics of an audio signal of a channel including an audio signal component having a predetermined frequency band, of audio signals of a multichannel comprising at least a right channel and a left channel, in accordance with correction characteristics determined based on a head related transfer function. The output device mixes the audio signal component having the frequency characteristics corrected with an audio signal of the right channel and an audio signal of the left channel to generate mixed output audio signals, and outputting the mixed output audio signals as a right channel output audio signal and a left channel output audio signal.
US08160247B2
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including medium-encoded computer program products, for providing local storage service to applications that run in an application execution environment. In one aspect, a method includes receiving a request from one of the applications, wherein the request triggers local storage of information; obtaining an encryption key based on identifiers including a first identifier corresponding to the application execution environment, a second identifier corresponding to the one application, and a third identifier corresponding to the computing apparatus; encrypting the information using the encryption key; and storing the encrypted information in the computing apparatus.
US08160243B1
A present novel and non-trivial decryption system and methods are disclosed for the secure storing of bulk data using one-time pad (“OTP”) encryption. A storage device could be initialized with an OTP prior to encrypting data received from a data source. Parts of the OTP may be retrieved and used to encrypt the data. Once the data has been encrypted, it may be stored in the same location(s) from where parts of the OTP were retrieved with an optional sterilization of the locations being performed during the encryption process. Besides a data source, an initialize station could be used to facilitate the initializing of the OTP onto the storage device, storing OTP parameters corresponding to the OTP, and deleting the OTP. Additionally, a retrieval station could be used to facilitate the retrieval and decryption of encrypted code using the OTP used in the encryption process.
US08160235B2
A method, system, and program for allowing callers to adjust in position within a hold queue are provided. An advancement token earned by a caller while waiting in a hold queue is detected. The advancement token is stored for redemption in a future call by the caller according to an authenticated identifier for the caller, wherein future redemption of the advancement token will cause adjustment of a waiting position. In particular, a caller in the call hold queue may earn advancement tokens by answering questions posed by other callers in the call hold queue, where the questions are answered in a manner such that the other callers do not need additional aid from a representative. In addition, a caller may redeem advancement tokens earned in a previous hold queue while waiting in current hold queue, where the redeemable advancement tokens are accessible across multiple call centers according to the caller identification.
US08160234B2
A technique is disclosed that optimizes the background noise experienced by a party who is calling into a call center. Working as part of an overall call-assignment algorithm, the technique considers the acoustic noise that is present in the vicinities of multiple call-center agents who are otherwise satisfactory candidates to handle a call. The technique then selects an agent to handle the call who is associated with an optimal acoustic noise. Typically, the selected agent is associated with lowest background noise level. The background noise is monitored at each call agent's station by evaluating the signals that are present at the agent's microphone. Usually, this is done when a call agent is between calls and, as a result, is not using her headset at that moment. In other words, the background noise is actually measured, and the measurements are then used to assign a call agent to the incoming call.
US08160227B1
A method is provided for establishing a roaming line number in a communication network. The method includes receiving information from a telephony device indicating a desire to program a roaming line number for the telephony device. The method also includes associating the roaming line number with a packet network address of the telephony device such that calls placed to the roaming line number will be directed to the telephony device.
US08160226B2
Methods and systems are disclosed for providing Key Word Programmable Caller ID Screening services. One method monitors a telephone call for a key word call screening request. The telephone call is from a calling telephone number to a called telephone number. An action is taken in response to the key word call screening request. The action could be playing an announcement, terminating the connection, forwarding to voice mail, storing, adding, updating, and or blocking incoming communications matching the ICLID information and/or subscriber identified alphanumeric information. The call screening request may comprise a Dual-Tone Multi-Frequency, a softkey entry, and/or a data message. Subsequent incoming calls from the calling telephone number are characterized as undesirable and are screened from alerting or otherwise establishing a communications connection to the called telephone number.
US08160217B2
Systems, methods, and apparatus for providing a personal identification number (PIN) in the form of a receipt displayed and/or printed by a client terminal are disclosed. A method includes storing, at the client terminal, receipt templates, received from a server, for plural prepaid services from a plurality of prepaid service providers. The method further includes receiving, at the client terminal, a request for a PIN associated with one or more of the plural prepaid services. Requested PINs and other information associated with one or more of the plural prepaid services is then displayed and/or printed, in accordance with one or more of the receipt templates associated with the plural prepaid services, upon the receipt and dispensed by the client terminal. Related systems and apparatus are also disclosed.
US08160214B1
A system and method for processing a plurality of requests for a plurality of multi-media services received at a Private Service Exchange (PSX) defined on the system from a plurality of IP-communication devices. The system includes a Network Gateway Controller (GSX) coupled to the PSX and to a media sever (MS). The PSX is coupled to at least one IP Service Control Point (IP-SCP), which is operative to process the plurality of requests for the plurality of multi-media services. The IP-SCP further selectively directs the requests to the media server, via the PSX and GSX. The media server operates to form a preliminary multi-media communication path with a calling communication device. The MS further operates to play a plurality of announcements to the calling communication device over the preliminary multi-media communication path, as well as to collect caller-entered data from the calling communication device over the preliminary multi-media communication path.
US08160203B2
A stochastic patient movement model and a dosage delivery plan are used to determine probabilities of dosages received by a target volume during a radiation treatment. The stochastic patient movement model is created by identifying possible sequences of patient positions during the treatment with probabilities specified for each. The dosage delivery plan specifies dosage levels and radiation locations over time. Accumulated dosages are calculated for each sequence of patient positions and the dosage delivery plan. The specified probability for each sequence is then correlated to the accumulated dosage for that sequence.
US08160198B2
A shift register circuit includes a plurality of shift register stages for providing plural gate signals to plural gate lines. Each shift register stage includes an input unit, a first pull-up unit, a second pull-up unit, a pull-down unit and an auxiliary pull-down unit. The input unit inputs a first gate signal generated by a preceding shift register stage to become a driving control voltage. The first pull-up unit pulls up a second gate signal according to the driving control voltage and a first clock signal. The second pull-up unit pulls up a third gate signal according to the driving control voltage and a second clock signal. The auxiliary pull-down unit is employed to pull down the driving control voltage according to a fourth gate signal generated by a subsequent shift register stage. The pull-down unit pulls down the first and second gate signals according to the driving control voltage.
US08160194B2
Reconstruction method for reconstructing a first signal (x(t)) regularly sampled at a sub-Nyquist rate, comprising the step of retrieving from the regularly spaced sampled values (ys[n], y(nT)) a set of weights (cn, cnr, ck) and shifts (tn, tk) with which said first signal (x(t)) can be reconstructed.The reconstructed signal (x(t)) can be represented as a sequence of known functions (γ(t)) weighted by the weights (ck) and shifted by the shifts (tk). The sampling rate is at least equal to the rate of innovation (ρ) of the first signal (x(t)).
US08160193B2
A delay-type phase adjusting circuit including a first variable delay circuit for receiving a reference clock signal and adding a delay to the reference clock signal, for output a phase comparator for receiving an output of the first variable delay circuit and the reference clock signal and detecting a phase difference therebetween a control circuit for generating a control signal for variably controlling a delay value of the first variable delay circuit based on a result of phase comparison by said phase comparator a second variable delay circuit for receiving an input signal and adding a delay to the input signal, for output a computation circuit for receiving a predetermined value and the control signal and variably controlling a delay value of the second variable delay circuit.
US08160190B2
A receive filter for a stream of OFDM symbols has an infinite impulse response (IIR) filter which receives packets having a preamble part followed by a data part, the data part having a succession of cyclic prefixes followed by OFDM symbols. The packet is provided to the IIR filter, and the registers of the IIR filter are reset before or during each cyclic prefix. The IIR filter may be formed from registers which are coupled to return a value to a predecessor register, or as an array of registers, such as in a BIQUAD configuration, where the registers are reset by a shared reset signal.
US08160189B2
In accordance with the present invention, a method of processing a signal is described that includes receiving a signal having an encoded digital packet, wherein the digital packet includes packet data and a packet frame, wherein the packet frame includes a common digital signal that is common to each one of a plurality of digital packets. The method further includes sampling a signal associated with the received signal to provide a sampled signal. The method further includes performing a channel characterization by contrasting a signal representative of the sampled signal with a signal representative of the common digital signal. A corresponding system is also described.
US08160184B2
A method for extracting time information from a received, amplitude-modulated time signal is provided. The method provides that the time signal is demodulated, the analog signal thus obtained is digitized by a comparator, and the digital signal thus obtained is analyzed to extract the time information. In addition, a characteristic value of the time duration of at least one signal phase of a specific signal level of the digital signal is compared to a target value, and a comparator threshold of the comparator is altered as a function of a result of the comparison such that the time duration of at least the applicable signal phase of the digital signal approaches the target value. In this way, an improved system sensitivity is achieved according to the invention in a receiver for receiving time signals. In particular, the frequency of occurrence of errors due to misreading of pulse lengths is reduced here, and distorted received signals are better detected as being distorted on account of their temporal deviation from the applicable target value. In addition, compensation of manufacturing tolerances of the various components in the described circuit arrangement is possible.
US08160183B2
For eigenmode transmission with minimum mean square error (MMSE) receiver spatial processing, a transmitter performs spatial processing on NS data symbol streams with steering vectors to transmit the streams on NS spatial channels of a MIMO channel. The steering vectors are estimates of transmitter steering vectors required to orthogonalize the spatial channels. A receiver derives a spatial filter based on an MMSE criterion and with an estimate of the MIMO channel response and the steering vectors. The receiver (1) obtains NR received symbol streams from NR receive antennas, (2) performs spatial processing on the received symbol streams with the spatial filter to obtain NS filtered symbol streams, (3) performs signal scaling on the filtered symbol streams with a scaling matrix to obtain NS recovered symbol streams, and (4) processes the NS recovered symbol streams to obtain NS decoded data streams for the NS data streams sent by the transmitter.
US08160161B2
A method (50) and apparatus (40) for reducing noise in a video signal calculates (53) a discrimination value of a filter based on a magnitude difference between a current frame and a prior frame of a sequence of frames and modifies (54) the current frame using the modified discrimination value. The output of the filter is calculated as follows: g(i,j,k)=f(i,j,k)±β wherein: f(i, j, k) is the current frame input to the filter; g(i, j, k) is the current frame output from the filter; and β is the discrimination value of the filter, which is calculated as follows: β = { κδ ′ + χ , δ ′ = max { δ , δ 0 } , δ < δ 1 0 , δ ≥ δ 1 in which: κ and χ are constants less than one; δ is a magnitude difference between the current frame and the prior frame; and δ0 and δ1 are constants that satisfy δ0≦δ1.
US08160157B2
A method for encrypting data exchanged between an encoder and a decoder in a video system is disclosed. A set of bits which, when encoded, do not have any influence upon the decoding stage, are determined during the encoding stage. At least one part or all of the bits selected in stage 1 is/are encoded prior to transmission to the decoding stage. The bit selection stage determines the parts of the flow of bits that only modify the contexts of the decoding process in an insignificant manner in the sense that the modification due to encryption does cause desynchronization or does not lead to non-compatible bit flows with regard to encoding contexts and visual impact. The present invention is used with H.264 encoders/decoders.
US08160153B2
In one aspect, a method for encoding pictures is provided. The method is applied to each picture in a sequence of pictures, and the method comprises the steps of assigning a pre-decoder buffer removal time to the picture; selecting, for the picture, a number of bits, wherein the time-equivalent of the number of bits is no greater than a difference based on the pre-decoder buffer removal time of the picture and an initial arrival time of the picture into a pre-decoder buffer; and compressing the picture to generate the number of bits. The method may further include the step of allocating a first number of bits for compressing the picture and one or more number of bits for compressing one or more future pictures, wherein the future pictures are in the pre-decoder buffer at the pre-decoder buffer removal time of the current picture.
US08160149B2
Motion compensation for video compression using a “flowfield” comprising a per-pixel field of motion vectors and confidence values. Flowfields can be quantized transform coded for compression motion compensation. Encoding-only flowfields match with one or more previous and subsequent frames to determine both modulation for resolution-enhancing layers, as well as sharp/soft filtering for an original image, a base layer, and for resolution-enhancing layers. Encoding-only flowfields can be used with various codec types by using the flowfield motion vector length and confidence to drive sharp/soft filters to improve efficiency via in-place noise reduction. Pixels may be displaced using encoding-only flowfields to nearby frames, and weighted for efficient noise reduction. Encoding-only flowfields are discarded after their use in encoding, and therefore do not require coded bits. Encoding-only flowfields can be applied to all frame types, including intra, predicted, forward flowfield-predicted “F” frames, and multiply-predicted “M” frame types, and improve intra coding efficiency.
US08160141B2
A method of intra mode prediction uses a block of pixels and their horizontal Hpos and vertical Vpos pixel positions and adjacent horizontal and vertical pixels within an input picture frame signal as inputs for a method for selecting a lowest Sum of Absolute Transformed Differences (SATD) intra mode among intra modes among the horizontal, vertical, and steady state (DC) intra modes for use in advanced video coding algorithms, such as MPEG-4 Part 10 and H.264/AVC. Associated costs are calculated for each of the intra modes are used to select the output of the best intra mode. The method reduces the unimproved computational cost of three 2D 4×4 Hadamard transformations (which is equivalent to 24 1D 4 point transformations) to just 4 1D 4 point transformations for a significant computational improvement. As horizontal and vertical panning is frequently used in video imagery, this improvement may reduce encoder processing by 80%.
US08160138B2
Provided are a filtering method and apparatus for removing blocking artifacts and ringing noise. The filtering method includes transforming video data on a block-by-block basis, and detecting the presence of an edge region in the video data by checking the distribution of values obtained by the transformation. Accordingly, it is possible to completely remove blocking artifacts and/or ringing noise by more effectively detecting the presence of an edge region in video data.
US08160130B2
The present invention relates to a method, system and computer program product for the predictive encoding of digital video sequences. The objectives of the invention are accomplished by dynamically determining the resolution of a current frame being encoded and outputting the determination. The determination process is based on statistical and coding information of a plurality of frames, including at least one previous frame and the current frame. Further, general encoding parameters and the encoding parameters of a current frame at a chosen resolution are determined, wherein the encoding parameter selection step takes into account the determination of the dynamic resolution determination step in determining the encoding parameters.
US08160125B2
A system is provided for performing downlink beamforming based on information fed back by a mobile station. The mobile station includes a channel matrix generation unit to generate a channel matrix with respect to channels ranging from a base station to a mobile station, the base station including multiple transmission antennas, a codebook updating unit to generate a second codebook including a plurality of second codeword matrixes based on the generated channel matrix and a first codebook including a plurality of first codeword matrixes, a codeword selection unit to select at least one transmission codeword matrix from among the plurality of second codeword matrixes, a transmission unit to transmit an index of the selected transmission codeword matrix to the base station, and a receiving unit to receive data transmitted from the base station via the multiple transmission antennas.
US08160120B2
A control unit sends a plurality of request messages to the I/O units. The I/O units send a plurality of response messages to the control unit. The request messages and response messages are sent using radio-frequency signals. The I/O units expect to receive a request message within defined first time intervals, and the control unit expects to receive at least one response message within defined second time intervals. The control unit and the I/O units maintain a selected transmission frequency for as long as the request messages and response messages are received within the defined time intervals. The control unit and the I/O units change the transmission frequencies according to a defined pattern if no expected message is received within the defined time intervals.
US08160117B1
A method of generating a spread spectrum clock signal for a line imaging device including receiving a line length value of the line imaging device, receiving a first clock signal indicative of a system timing signal in the line imaging device, generating a spreading waveform having a frequency as a function of the line length value and having a total number of clock cycles matching the line length value, and modulating the first clock signal using said spreading waveform to generate the spread spectrum clock signal where the spread spectrum clock signal is used for driving the imaging, data sampling and digitizing, and data transfer operation of the line imaging device. The spread spectrum clock has the same clock frequency variation for each scan line of the line imaging device.
US08160109B2
Aspects of the invention provide a method and system for synchronizing a transceiver and a framer in an optical transmission network. Subsequent to achieving synchronization of an inbound data stream, an internal framer may be adapted to inform a downstream device such as a full framer, that synchronization has already been attained. Accordingly, the downstream device may not need to perform resynchronization of the inbound data and can immediately start processing the inbound data. Advantageously, the internal framer may provide expedited error checking, handling and reporting prior to receipt of the data by the downstream device.
US08160103B2
Provided are a method and apparatus for generating a preamble of a data packet. The method includes operations of generating a first field, a second field, and a third field; generating a synchronization sequence for synchronization between a data packet transmitter and a data packet receiver, generating a channel estimation sequence (CES) for estimation of a property of a channel in which the data packet is transmitted, and generating an additional sequence indicating an end position of the synchronization sequence in the preamble, and an additional sequence indicating information about a structure of the CES; and respectively recording the synchronization sequence, the additional sequences, and the CES in the first field, the second field, and the third field, thereby generating the preamble.
US08160101B2
A method for transmitting and receiving data by a mobile station (MS), a method for transmitting and receiving data by a base station (BS), and a mobile communication terminal are provided. The method for transmitting and receiving data by an MS includes generating an uplink subframe by placing an uplink control channel so as to have a margin with a time allocated to a MAP of a downlink subframe and transmitting the uplink subframe to a BS. A new frame structure compatible with a full duplex FDD MS is applied in a mobile communication system.
US08160092B1
Methods are provided for transforming a declarative description of a processor of the packets of a communication protocol. A first declarative description of the packet processor is input. The first declarative description includes rules that include actions for manipulating the fields of the packets. Each rule includes one or more of the actions, and at least one of the rules includes multiple actions and a guard condition for enabling and disabling some of these actions. The first declarative description is transformed into a second declarative description of the packet processor. The second declarative description includes rules for manipulating the fields of the packets, and each rule corresponds to an action of a rule of the first declarative description. In addition, each individual action of each rule of the first declarative description corresponds to a rule of second declarative description that includes the individual action. The second declarative description is output.
US08160090B2
A communication apparatus improves the throughput of a whole communication system while performing contention distributed control which provides equality of a transmission chance by observing a medium occupation state. The communication apparatus includes a back-off process section for performing, using a contention window, a regular back-off process which is performed at transmission of a transmission frame and a pseudo back-off process which is performed in a pseudo manner when the transmission frame is not transmitted. The communication apparatus also includes a medium information obtaining section for obtaining, by the pseudo back-off process, medium information indicative of a state of the transmission line medium when the transmission frame is not transmitted, and a medium state determination section for determining the state of the transmission line medium using the medium information to obtain determination information.
US08160085B2
Methods and systems consistent with the present invention provide dynamic buffer allocation to a plurality of queues of differing priority levels. Each queue is allocated fixed minimum number of buffers that will not be de-allocated during buffer reassignment. The rest of the buffers are intelligently and dynamically assigned to each queue depending on their current need. The system then monitors and learns the incoming traffic pattern and resulting drops in each queue due to traffic bursts. Based on this information, the system readjusts allocation of buffers to each traffic class. If a higher priority queue does not need the buffers, it gradually relinquishes them. These buffers are then assigned to other queues based on the input traffic pattern and resultant drops. These buffers are aggressively reclaimed and reassigned to higher priority queues when needed. In this way, methods and systems consistent with the present invention dynamically balance requirements of the higher priority queues versus optimal allocation.
US08160083B2
A method and apparatus for implementing a bearer path are disclosed. The method includes the following steps: a Media Gateway (MG) reports a preset Path Request (PR) event to a Media Gateway Controller (MGC) according to a received request message related to a bearer path, requesting the MGC to deliver a resource reservation decision; the MG receives the resource reservation decision sent by the MGC; and the MG processes the bearer path according to the resource reservation decision. The present disclosure is applicable to setup of a bearer path.
US08160075B2
Although described herein in terms of UE out-of-sync detection, those of skill in the art will readily recognize that embodiments of the present invention improve in-sync detection for currently out-of-sync UEs 22. That is, if an out-of-sync UE 22 detects sufficiently good channel conditions, it may announce this fact to the network and re-acquire in-sync status. For example, if the UE 22 receives F-DPCH signal transmissions and determines that, e.g., the TPC command error rate is less than a threshold, which is preferably much lower than 30%, over a measurement interval of, e.g., 240 slots (or 160 ms), the UE 22 may conclude that it is in-sync and announce this fact to the network 10. The restrictions of only valid F-DPCH transmissions during the UL DTX gated period will obviously enhance the reliability of this determination, just as is the case in determining out-of-sync status. Furthermore, according to at least one embodiment, the UE 22 may disregard the DTX UL DPCCH state, and transmit a scheduling request during a UL DTX gated period to announce to the network 10 its in-sync status.
US08160074B1
Forwarding database entries in a memory of a network device are scanned. Each port on the network device maintains a forwarding database in the memory. A filtered list of forwarding database entries is automatically sent to a management module.
US08160072B1
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that facilitates end-to-end quality of service (QoS) between a source and a destination in a network. During operation, the system allocates virtual channels on an output port of a switch to a number of quality of service (QoS) levels. The system further assigns a virtual channel to a traffic flow based on a QoS zone, wherein the QoS zone is identified by a host identifier, a target identifier, and a QoS level of the traffic flow. In addition, the system forwards data frames in the traffic flow via the assigned virtual channel.
US08160065B2
A device and a method for enabling access to data from a channel are provided. The device comprises a storage medium for storing the data from the channel as it is received at a network element and a controller. The controller enables commencing storage of at least a portion of multicast data from the channel not already stored on a storage medium as the data is received at a network element, after detecting a request to receive data from the channel. In the event of receiving a subsequent request associated with a user device to receive data from the channel, the data is transmitted from the storage medium to the user device. A controller for controlling storage of the data comprises a memory and a processor.
US08160058B2
In a method and apparatus for signaling a voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) call based on a class of service in a VoIP service system, a database which includes VoIP signaling information differentiated by the class of VoIP service is built, and the database is retrieved by a service class assignment condition to produce a call setup message. The call setup message includes information related to the service class. Accordingly, it is possible to perform dynamic VoIP signaling by setting a differentiated service class based on each user or a primary factor of each class of the VoIP service.
US08160055B1
A pseudowire verification framework gathers and maintains status of individual pseudowires by aggregating the state of the individual node hops defining the pseudowire. The framework provides complete assessment of a network by gathering status feedback from network nodes (forwarding entities) that are inaccessible directly from a requesting node by employing an intermediate forwarding entity as a proxy for inquiring on behalf of the requesting node. Therefore, status regarding inaccessible pseudowires is obtainable indirectly from nodes able to “see” the particular pseudowire. Configurations further assess multihop pseudowires including a plurality of network segments; in which each segment defines a pseudowire hop including forwarding entities along the pseudowire path. In this manner, pseudowire health and status is gathered and interrogated for nodes (forwarding) entities unable to directly query the subject pseudowire via intermediate forwarding entities.
US08160051B2
In a communication system for establishing the communication between a radio intelligent terminal and a server via gateways, it is necessary to notify a non-communicating and a disconnecting radio intelligent terminal of an address of an exchange-destination gateway at the time of changing from a gateway to be used at all time to an exchange-destination gateway for some reason. To achieve the above object, a communication system comprises address notifying means for notifying the radio intelligent terminal of the address of the exchange-destination gateway according to a gateway exchange instruction inputted by an operation. The address notice is sent to the non-communicating terminal at the time of inputting the gateway exchange instruction, and is sent to the disconnecting terminal when it can start the communication.
US08160048B2
A method for accessing a hybrid network including a wide area network and a distributed network, a gateway apparatus, a wireless terminal and a gateway communication system are disclosed for reducing the power consumption of the wireless terminal which is an access gateway. The method comprises: sensing by a gateway apparatus a relay request slot on a downlink common control channel of the wide area network; transmitting by a wireless terminal a relay request signal requesting to relay a data packet to be transmitted, in the relay request slot on the downlink common control channel; and if the relay request signal from the wireless terminal is sensed in the relay request slot, establishing by the gateway apparatus a connection with the wireless terminal in a distributed network environment. As such, the gateway apparatus accesses the wireless distributed network only when the surrounding wireless terminals require data relay, without sensing signals on both networks simultaneously, in order to reduce the power consumption.
US08160047B2
A method and device for service time division multiplexing as well as a method and a device for transmitting service are disclosed. The method for service time division multiplexing includes: selecting a part or all of radio frames in one time unit as specific radio frames; and selecting a part or all of subframes in the specific radio frames as specific subframes for sending a specific service. The specific service is a multimedia broadcast multicast service, or a unicast service, or one or more than one kind of service transmitted in broadcast or multicast mode.
US08160043B2
The present invention discloses a baseband chip and a method to implement multi-mode switching for a mobile terminal based on the baseband chip, the baseband chip of the mobile terminal in the present invention includes three subsystems of a source encoding/decoding subsystem 102, a wireless transmitting/receiving subsystem 101, a wireless transmitting/receiving and source encoding/decoding common control and process subsystem 100, the baseband chip may be implemented by using a single chip based on CMOS technology. The baseband chip of the present invention are suitably used to a TD-SCDMA mode mobile terminal or a multi-mode mobile terminal including TD-SCDMA, the new requirements proposed to the mobile terminal of the third generation mobile communication technology are met, and repeated design are decreased; furthermore, the method of switching among different communication modes for the mobile terminal based on the above mentioned baseband chip in the present invention implements the switching among different communication modes for the mobile terminal.
US08160037B2
A method and system is provided to reinforce wireless communication capabilities between multiple network nodes of an wireless network group. The method and system first detects a wireless transmission capability between a first network node and a second network node. When the wireless transmission capability is lower than a threshold value, one set of reinforcing coordinates will be derived by introducing the first geographic information and the second geographic information. Afterwards, move a third network node to a position with the set of reinforcing coordinates to establish an alternative wireless transmission route between the first network note and second network node. Therefore, when an original wireless transmission route between any two network nodes is abnormal, the alternative wireless transmission route will be available in time and reduce the risks of losing transmission signals.
US08160033B2
An apparatus and method for transmitting and receiving packet data in a mobile communication system supporting Hybrid Automatic Repeat reQuest (HARQ), e.g., a method and apparatus for performing HARQ retransmission on a packet received through persistent resources where no HARQ process identifier is transmitted. HARQ soft combining is performed by providing a mapping relation between a packet received through persistent resources and a retransmitted HARQ packet. In addition, when there are several HARQ packets received through persistent resources at an arbitrary timing, which packet an arbitrary retransmission packet should be combined is determined, thereby enabling the corresponding processor to perform correct soft combining. This improves HARQ performance of persistent resources without increasing complexity of the reception apparatus.
US08160015B2
Disclosed are systems, methods and computer program products for measuring and reducing latency of radio link flows having different quality of service (QoS) reservations. An example method comprises establishing one or more radio link flows with an access gateway, wherein each radio link flow has a different QoS reservation, transmitting at least one transport layer protocol message having a predetermined size on each radio link flow to the echo service of the access gateway, receiving at least one response message on each radio link flow from the access gateway, computing the round trip time (RTT) for the transmitted and received messages on each radio link flow, and modifying QoS reservations of the one or more radio link flows based on the computed RTT for the one or more radio link flows.
US08160013B2
A method of transmitting data in a multi-cell cooperative wireless communication system is provided. The method includes dividing the data into common data and private data, determining a transmission rate and/or a transmission power of the common data and the private data, respectively and transmitting the common data and the private data at the determined transmission rate and/or transmission power. It is possible to mitigate inter-cell interference and improve the performance of the system.
US08160006B2
Provided is an apparatus and method for providing a synchronous relay service in a multi-hop relay BWA communication system. In the method, a BS-MS link subframe and an RS-MS link subframe are configured for a first section of a subframe in an ith frame. At least one of a BS-RS link subframe, an RS-RS link subframe and an RS-MS link subframe is configured for a second section of a subframe in the ith frame. The BS-MS link subframe and the RS-MS link subframe are configured for a first section of a subframe in an (i+1)th frame. At least one of the BS-RS link subframe, the RS-RS link subframe and the RS-MS link subframe is configured for a second section of a subframe in the (i+1)th frame.
US08160005B2
A method of scheduling uplink transmissions from a plurality of source user equipments to a base station is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of determining the amount of data in the data buffer of each of the user equipments, comparing the amount of data in the data buffers of the user equipments to obtain, for each user equipment, a relative indicator, the relative indicator indicating how full that user equipment's data buffer is in comparison to the data buffers of the other user equipments, and scheduling uplink transmissions in dependence on the relative indicators. In this way, each user equipment is given some knowledge of the state of the buffer in the other user equipments. The user equipments are therefore able to make more efficient scheduling decisions. This can improve the throughput and give lower packet delivery delays.
US08160000B2
Power savings may be achieved in a packet-switched system by grouping packets. For example, packets may be queued while a portion of the system is in a suspended state. In some embodiments, power savings are provided in a wireless system to increase talk time. Here, packets may be queued while one or more components such as a radio of the wireless device are in a suspended state.
US08159995B2
A method for selecting satellite channels in a transmission system consisting of a data source, a data sink, satellite modems and a satellite radio link with a general channel and at least one dedicated channel is provided. The data sink prompts the data source, as a function of the transmission characteristics of the general channel, to set up a dedicated channel for further data transmission.
US08159994B2
A satellite modem for broadband communication. The satellite modem receives a satellite signal on a single carrier from a satellite. The satellite signal is divided by time division multiplexing into physical sub-channels encapsulating logical downstreams. The satellite modem includes a filter which removes a subset of the physical sub-channels intended for the subscriber terminal. The satellite modem includes a demodulator, a decoder, and a medium access channel. The MAC processes the logical downstreams.
US08159992B2
Satellite communications systems, methods, and related devices are described. A satellite communications system may include routing and switching functionality onboard the satellite. Such a system may include a satellite in communication with terminals (e.g., subscriber terminals or gateways) either directly, or via one or more other satellites through an inter-satellite link. The satellite may be configured with different beams which each provide service to a coverage area. A ground-based network control center (NCC) may dynamically allocate bandwidth and process data measured on the satellite. A novel partition of functionality between the satellite and the NCC is described. Routing paths on the satellite, and the distribution of routing tables within the system, are described as well.
US08159986B2
In a communication system, a plurality of radio access systems (RASs) respectively receives connection resources from an MBS server for transmitting a multicast broadcast data packet. The MBS server is involved in transmission of the multicast broadcast data packet. Then, the plurality of RASs receive the multicast broadcast data packet including parameters for synchronization between the plurality of RASs and parameters for size and location of the multicast broadcast data packet and deliver the received multicast broadcast data packet to a portable subscriber station (PSS). Thereby, the plurality of RASs can transmit the multicast broadcast data packets with the same location and the same size to the PSSs at the same time.
US08159982B2
A method, a system, a transmitter and a receiver for identification of a time sliced elementary streams using PSI/SI tables. This identification provides a way to separate time-sliced elementary stream from non-time-sliced elementary streams by defining two descriptors in PSI/SI tables. A time slice identifier descriptor is defined, which can be used to identify elementary streams which are time sliced. This descriptor is also used to provide additional information about the transmitted elementary streams. The invention provides a way to announce additional information of the time sliced elementary streams via PSI/SI tables. Additionally, it provides a mechanism to categorize single elementary stream(s) as non-time sliced and time sliced. A way to identify time sliced elementary streams carried over DVB networks is disclosed and providing additional information on those streams. This can be done by using the time slice identifier descriptor. The descriptor can be used at least in Network Information Table (NIT), Program Map Table (PMT) and IP/MAC Notification Table (INT) tables. Time slicing provides a way to save power in the receiver in broadband transmission.
US08159980B2
Method and system for optimization of a handoff of a user equipment between packet switched and circuit switched networks in response to a request for circuit switched network services on the user equipment while the user equipment is resident on a packet switched only network. The system includes a mobile device, a first network, and a second network. The first network includes a third network and an interworking unit. The second network communicates with the first network. The mobile device sends registration information to the first network. The third network sends the registration information to the interworking unit. The interworking unit sends the registration information to the second network to provide a communication link between the mobile device and the second network.
US08159975B2
A self-configured network system includes a server including a plurality of columns. Each column records therein correlation of a domain name to a corresponding network addressing information. An internet protocol device is built therein a preset domain name and acquires an updated network addressing information in the internet. The preset domain name is previously recorded in a specified column of the server. The internet protocol device transfers the preset domain name and the updated network addressing information to the server via the internet so as to locate the specified column and replace the corresponding network addressing information with the updated network addressing information. A user's node is capable of linking to the internet and accessible to the server to acquire the updated network addressing information of the internet protocol device via the internet in response to input of the preset domain name.
US08159969B2
Messages transmitted between a receiver and a transmitter are used to maximize a communication data rate. In particular, a multicarrier modulation system uses messages that are sent from the receiver to the transmitter to exchange one or more sets of optimized communication parameters. The transmitter then stores these communication parameters and when transmitting to that particular receiver, the transmitter utilizes the stored parameters in an effort to maximize the data rate to that receiver. Likewise, when the receiver receives packets from that particular transmitter, the receiver can utilize the stored communication parameters for reception.
US08159964B2
Satellite communications systems, methods, and related devices are described. A satellite communications system may include routing and switching functionality onboard the satellite. Such a system may include a satellite in communication with terminals (e.g., subscriber terminals or gateways) either directly, or via one or more other satellites through an inter-satellite link. The satellite may be configured with different beams which each provide service to a coverage area. A ground-based network control center (NCC) may dynamically allocate bandwidth and process data measured on the satellite. A novel partition of functionality between the satellite and the NCC is described. Routing paths on the satellite, and the distribution of routing tables within the system, are described as well.
US08159962B2
Method and apparatus for optimizing home network interface selection in home networking applications
Embodiments of the invention generally provide a method and apparatus for optimizing home networking interface selection in home networking applications. One embodiment of a method for selecting, at a set top box in a network, an active home networking interface from among a plurality of home networking interfaces includes activating the best performing home networking interface and deactivating the remainder of the home networking interfaces.
US08159958B1
The present invention relates generally to Krone block dongle. More particularly, the invention encompasses a method and an apparatus to monitor any media DSLAM port remotely off of a Krone block assignment.
US08159957B2
Hardware time stamping and synchronized data transmission disclosed. In a method, a reference time stamp and a local time stamp are obtained. A synchronization offset is prepared based on the local time stamp and the reference time stamp. Instructions are received to send a plurality of data units at a specified time. The plurality of data units are sent at the specified time based on referring to a local time obtained from a local clock and the synchronization offset to simultaneously send a packet storm comprising the plurality of data units. The method may be achieved by a network communications unit on a plurality of network cards included in a network testing system.
US08159954B2
The inventors have envisioned a multihop network scenario in which nodes are equipped with advanced multi-antenna arrangements, and recognized the advantage of exploring the presence of such advanced antenna arrangements in multihop network nodes for the specific purpose of determining link cost for routing in the network. Link cost is determined for a wireless link between a pair of nodes in the network based on multi-channel characteristics between the nodes, where at least one of the nodes is configured for operation with multiple antennas to provide for multiple channels. These multi-channel characteristics may for example be determined based on explicit channel matrix estimation and/or the number of transmit and receive antennas or other information on the antenna capabilities of the involved nodes. The determined link cost information may subsequently be used together with additional routing cost information for route determination, and packet forwarding.
US08159951B2
Provided are system and method for performing access screening in a CDMA network. In one embodiment, the method comprises comparing a strength of a reference pilot specified in an origination message (“ORM”) received from the mobile unit to at least one of an upper pilot strength threshold (“UPST”) and a lower pilot strength threshold (“LPST”); responsive to the reference pilot strength failing to exceed the LPST, redirecting the mobile unit; responsive to the reference pilot strength exceeding the LPST but failing to exceed the UPST, determining whether an additional pilot is reported having a strength greater than that of the reference pilot; and responsive to a determination that no additional pilot is reported having a strength greater than that of the reference pilot, redirecting the mobile unit.
US08159948B2
One embodiment relates to a network device configured with many-to-one connection-rate monitoring. The network device includes sampling circuitry configured to sample packets from a port and a software-implemented agent. The agent is configured to receive the sampled packets and to determine a number of distinct sources for each destination in the sampled packets. Another embodiment relates to a method of many-to-one connection-rate monitoring. A rate of traffic at a port of a network device is measured, and the measured traffic rate is compared with a pre-set threshold rate. If the pre-set threshold rate is exceeded by the measured traffic rate, then packets from the port are sampled over a period of time. The sampled packets are analyzed to detect a high rate of connections to a single destination. Other embodiments, aspects and features are also disclosed herein.
US08159945B2
An overload on a communication path in a sensor network system is prevented while transferring information from a sensor node as close to real time as possible. When the transfer rate of events transferred from a boundary node (DR) toward a gateway (GW) exceeds a limit transfer rate (VL), one of nodes on the sensor node (S) side whose transmission rate meets a preset condition is identified as an excess transmission rate node. The excess transmission rate node, or a node that is not the excess transmission rate node and whose transmission rate should be reduced, is chosen as a deceleration node. A node that reduces the transmission rate of events from the deceleration node, or the transfer rate of the events, is chosen as a deceleration processing executing node. The deceleration processing executing node is instructed to execute preset processing.
US08159941B2
In various exemplary embodiments, a Deep Packet Inspection device is integrated into a provider edge router associated with a user agent client or provided externally. The DPI device monitors the exchange of packets between an originating proxy and a user agent client and inspects the packets to identify SIP control messages. By monitoring the messages exchanged between the two devices, the DPI device may determine the type of application, desired QoS, source, destination, and other information related to the connection. Using this information, the router may then access a policy database to determine whether there is a QoS policy for the application and/or user. Based on this determination, the router may initiate network reservation for an anticipated data flow or store the information so the flow of packets can be remarked as the packets arrive. Accordingly, in various exemplary embodiments, the edge router is aware that QoS should be granted.
US08159938B2
Communication in a broadcast-only distributed wireless network of nodes is provided. Each of the nodes of the network uses a repeated communication frame with an idle period and a TDMA schedule for active communication. The active TDMA schedule of at least some of the nodes in the network are aligned and synchronized. The distributed network does not require a central node for coordinating the TDMA schedules of another node or for synchronizing the communication frames. TDMA slots of the TDMA schedule are used for broadcasting and receiving messages. A node broadcasts a message without the use of an address of the receiving node. Communication frames having dynamic properties, such as communication frame length and start time, TDMA schedule position and length, and idle period position and length, are provided. Distributed functions for nodes to search for and synchronize with other nodes are also provided.
US08159934B2
A server for automatically handling dial-up connectivity problems via a voice connection can include a controller to interface with a caller during a voice call, query a network operations center using a data connection to determine whether a dial-up number associated with the caller and received by the server is out of service, and present alternative dial-up numbers during the voice call without prompting the caller for further information. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US08159931B2
A method, system and apparatus for communication in an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) communication system is provided. The method includes allocating a plurality of sequences to a plurality of sectors in the OFDMA communication system. The plurality of sequences are orthogonal to each other. The method further includes communicating one or more OFDM tiles between one or more MSs in one or more sectors of the plurality of sectors and one or more BSs of the one or more sectors. The one or more OFDM tiles include one or more sequences of the plurality of sequences allocated to the one or more sectors.
US08159924B2
A device includes: an objective lens that serves as a lens having a first numerical aperture when a first optical beam corresponding to a first optical disc converges on the first optical disc while serving as a lens having a second numerical aperture when a second optical beam corresponding to a second optical disc converges on the second optical disc; a section that generates a reflection optical signal from the first or second optical beam reflected by the first or second optical disc; and a section that determines whether an unknown disc is the first optical disc based on a degree of matching between the waveform of the reflection optical signal obtained when the first optical beam is emitted to the first optical disc, and the waveform of the reflection optical signal obtained when the first optical beam is emitted to the unknown disc.
US08159919B1
Aspects of the disclosure can provide a method to optimize optical recording. The method can include recording a pre-defined pattern on an optical medium according to a first write strategy, measuring edge timings corresponding to the pre-defined pattern recorded on the optical medium, determining a second write strategy including at least timing modifications to the first write strategy, and recording data on the optical medium according to the second write strategy. The timing modifications can be determined based on the measured edge timings, edge timing targets for desired edge timings and edge timing sensitivities to the timing modifications.
US08159914B2
[Object] To Reduce Read Errors.[Solving Means] Where new data recording is started from LRA (old) and a record error is detected, at position P0, an extent is closed and the record position is made to jump from the position P0 to position P1. Further, a new extent is set, at the position P1 so that the data recording is continued. Further, a range from the position P0 where the record error was detected to the position P1 where the new data recording was started is registered, as a defect sector. The present invention can be used for a Blu-Ray-Disc-capable recording-and-reproducing system.
US08159913B2
It is to provide an optical disc recording apparatus and a recording power control method that are adapted to high-speed recording and can set an optimal erasing power with high accuracy. A test writing signal detector reproduces a test writing signal of a predetermined mark length or space length with varied power, and detects the number of error mark signals and an amplitude value of an envelope. A controller obtains a first threshold Pe0 of the erasing power based on the number of error mark signals in a region where laser power is low, and obtains a second threshold Pe1 of the erasing power based on the amplitude value in a region where the laser power is high. Then, the controller sets an optimal value of the erasing power from an average value of the first and second thresholds.
US08159912B2
A recording parameter setting device including a trial recording parameter setting section and a reproduced signal quality judging section. The reproduced signal quality judging section judges whether or not a reproduced signal obtained by reproduction of the trial recording carried out in accordance with the trial recording parameter satisfies a predetermined reproduced signal quality. If no, the recording parameters of the predetermined recording mark length or longer are further classified into detailed groups and trial recording is carried out again. If the reproduced signal satisfies the predetermined reproduced signal quality, the reproduced signal quality judging section sets the trial recording parameters as a recording parameter. This makes it possible to form a recording mark capable of surely providing a good reproduced signal quality while the number of recording parameters to be used is reduced.
US08159909B2
An optical head that includes a laser light source, an optical system that applies 0-order diffracted light, +1-order diffracted light, and −1-order diffracted light, which are produced from laser light emitted from the laser light source, onto a recording medium having a plurality of information recording layers, and a light-receiving device for detecting reflected light guided by the optical system. The light-receiving device includes a first light-receiving section for detecting reflected light of the 0-order diffracted light, two second light-receiving sections for detecting reflected light of the +1-order diffracted light and reflected light of the −1-order diffracted light, and a third light-receiving section provided near at least one of the second light-receiving sections to receive stray light reflected from one or more information recording layers other than a target information recording layer to be accessed.
US08159898B2
A semiconductor memory device includes: a first row control circuit region corresponding to a first memory bank; a first column control circuit region corresponding to the first memory bank; a second row control circuit region corresponding to a second memory bank and disposed adjacent to the first row control circuit region; and a second column control circuit region corresponding to a third memory bank and disposed adjacent to the first column control circuit region.
US08159885B2
A semiconductor memory device includes a refresh control circuit and a memory cell array. The refresh control circuit generates an internal auto refresh control signal based on a chip select signal and an external self refresh control signal. The memory cell array is refreshed in response to the internal auto refresh control signal. Because the semiconductor memory device internally generates the internal auto refresh control signal performing auto refresh operations, the semiconductor memory device may not be required to transmit to external devices for performing the auto refresh operations, and thus pins or pads for transmitting signals may be reduced and operation time may become faster.
US08159884B2
According to one embodiment, a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes a memory cell transistor, a word line, a row decoder, a sense amplifier which determines the data in the memory cell transistor via the bit line, a first bit line clamp transistor connected in series between the bit line and the sense amplifier, a second bit line clamp transistor connected in parallel to the first bit line clamp transistor and having a current driving capability higher than that of the first bit line clamp transistor, and a bit line control circuit which turns on the first bit line clamp transistor and the second bit line clamp transistor using a common gate voltage during a predetermined period from a start of charge of the bit line, and turns off only the second bit line clamp transistor when the predetermined period has elapsed.
US08159883B2
A semiconductor memory device can improve electrical properties by prohibiting a leakage current, which flows through a memory cell, in such a way as to turn off a drain select transistor, a source select transistor and a side transistor of an unselected memory cell block when the semiconductor memory device operates. The semiconductor memory device includes a memory cell block in which a plurality of memory cells, drain and source select transistors, and side word line transistors are connected in a string structure, a block decoder for outputting a block select signal in response to predecoded address signals and controlling the drain and source select transistors and the side word line transistors, and a block switch for connecting a global word line to word lines of the memory cell block in response to the block select signal.
US08159879B2
A method for programming that biases a selected word line with a programming voltage. An unselected word line on the source side and an unselected word line on the drain side of the selected word line are biased at a pass voltage that is less than the normal pass voltage. These unselected word lines are both located a predetermined distance from the selected word line. The remaining word lines are biased at the normal pass voltage.
US08159878B2
Semiconductor memory having both volatile and non-volatile modes and methods of operation. A semiconductor memory cell includes a fin structure extending from a substrate, the fin structure including a floating substrate region having a first conductivity type configured to store data as volatile memory; first and second regions interfacing with the floating substrate region, each of the first and second regions having a second conductivity type; first and second floating gates or trapping layers positioned adjacent opposite sides of the floating substrate region; a first insulating layer positioned between the floating substrate region and the floating gates or trapping layers, the floating gates or trapping layers being configured to receive transfer of data stored by the volatile memory and store the data as nonvolatile memory in the floating gates or trapping layers upon interruption of power to the memory cell; a control gate wrapped around the floating gates or trapping layers and the floating substrate region; and a second insulating layer positioned between the floating gates or trapping layers and the control gate; the substrate including an isolation layer that isolates the floating substrate region from a portion of the substrate below the isolation layer.
US08159874B2
Memory devices adapted to process and generate analog data signals representative of data values of two or more bits of information facilitate increases in data transfer rates relative to devices processing and generating only binary data signals indicative of individual bits. Programming of such memory devices includes programming to a target threshold voltage range representative of the desired bit pattern. Reading such memory devices includes generating an analog data signal indicative of a threshold voltage of a target memory cell. Atypical cell, block, string, column, row, etc. . . . operation is monitored and locations and type of atypical operation stored. Adjustment of operation is performed based upon the atypical cell operation.
US08159868B2
Semiconductor memory is provided wherein a memory cell includes a capacitorless transistor having a floating body configured to store data as charge therein when power is applied to the cell. The cell further includes a nonvolatile memory comprising a resistance change element configured to store data stored in the floating body under any one of a plurality of predetermined conditions. A method of operating semiconductor memory to function as volatile memory, while having the ability to retain stored data when power is discontinued to the semiconductor memory is described.
US08159866B2
A method and system for providing a magnetic junction usable in a magnetic memory are described. The magnetic junction includes first and second pinned layers, first and second nonmagnetic spacer layers, and a free layer. The first pinned layer has a first pinned layer magnetic moment and is nonmagnetic layer-free. The first nonmagnetic spacer layer resides between the first pinned and free layers. The free layer resides between the first and second nonmagnetic spacer layers. The second pinned layer has a second pinned layer magnetic moment and is nonmagnetic layer-free. The second nonmagnetic spacer layer resides between the free and second pinned layers. The first and second pinned layer magnetic moments are antiferromagnetically coupled and self-pinned. The magnetic junction is configured to allow the free layer to be switched between stable magnetic states when a write current is passed through the magnetic junction.
US08159853B2
A memory module includes: an ODT circuit on a memory device and including pull-up and pull-down resistors connected between pull-up and pull-down transistors. A data masking (DM) pad is provided in a tap region of the module board. A current leakage monitoring unit is also provided and receives a ground state signal from the DM pad and a bit configuration signal from the memory device and disables the pull-up transistors to cut off a current path between the pull-up resistors of the ODT circuit and the DM pad during a ODT enable mode.
US08159848B2
A power conversion circuit includes a bidirectional switch 2. The bidirectional switch 2 has a first gate terminal G1, a second gate terminal G2, a first ohmic terminal S1 and a second ohmic terminal S2. The bidirectional switch 2 has four operation states. In the first state, the bidirectional switch 2 operates as a diode having a cathode as the first ohmic terminal S1 and an anode as the second ohmic terminal S2. In a second state, the bidirectional switch 2 operates as a diode having an anode as the first ohmic terminal S1 and a cathode as the second ohmic terminal S2. In a third state, the bidirectional switch 2 is bidirectionally conductive with via a diode between the first and second ohmic terminals S1 and S2. In a fourth state, the bidirectional switch 2 cuts off a bidirectional current between the first and second ohmic terminals.
US08159833B2
According to one embodiment, there is provided a printed circuit board, including a frame ground portion in which conductor patterns are formed around a board-fixation hole, and a plurality of through-holes formed around the board-fixation hole in the frame ground portion.
US08159832B2
A folded EBG structure has a plurality of cells arranged in a two-dimensional array. Each of the cells has an electrically conductive patch and an electrically conductive via coupled between the patch and a ground plane. In one dimension of the folded EBG structure, at least one patch in that dimension is folded into three sections located in different planes. In general, both ends of the folded EBS structure have folded patches. Via walls having electrically conductive vias are provided on both ends of a folded EBG structure for connecting the cell vias to the ground plane. The distance between each via wall and the folded EBGs is substantially equal to the length of the vias connected to patches.
US08159826B2
An inorganic solder mask (48) for use as a surface treatment in masking a connection conductor (32) of a semiconductor chip package (10) against solder wetting when mounting the chip package (10) to a printed wiring board (50) or other substrate. The connection conductor (32) is partially covered by a metallization contact (42) formed from a distinct metal. The inorganic solder mask (46) is applied to an exposed portion (44) of the connection conductor (32) not covered by the metallization contact (42). The metallization contact (42) is not coated by the inorganic solder mask (46). The presence of the inorganic solder mask (46) significantly reduces or prevents wetting of the exposed portion (44) when molten solder is present on the connection conductor (32) without affecting the solidified solder layer (48) formed on the metallization contact (42). As a result, an extraneous mass of solder does not solidify on the exposed portion (44) of the connection conductor (32).
US08159820B2
In the present invention, miniaturization of an electric power conversion system is made possible while the reduction of a rise in temperature is achieved through a cooling operation by a cooling fan. The electric power conversion system is provided with a casing for covering cooling fins for cooling power semiconductors, a main circuit board having a driver circuit for driving the power semiconductors, and a cover for covering up the main circuit board. The system includes a first airflow hole provided at a part of the main circuit board, on the upper side of an air-intake provided in the cover, and a second airflow hole provided on the lower side of the first airflow hole, and on the lower side of the cooling fins, wherein air from the second airflow hole is driven to the cooling fins by a cooling fan.
US08159811B2
A metal capacitor in which an electric conductivity is significantly improved by applying a metal material for an electrolyte and a manufacturing method thereof is provided. The capacitor includes a metal member comprising a groove forming portion where a plurality of grooves is formed, an electrode withdrawing portion formed on the groove forming portion, and a sealing portion; a metal oxide layer being formed on the metal member; an insulating layer being formed on the metal member to expose the electrode withdrawing portion of the metal member; a plurality of main electrode layers, each main electrode layer being formed on the metal oxide layer that is formed on the groove forming portion of the metal member; and a conductive connecting layer being formed on the plurality of main electrode layers and the insulating layer to face the electrode withdrawing portion of the metal member and connect the plurality of main electrode layers, wherein a lead terminal is connected to the electrode withdrawing portion of the metal member and each of the main electrode layers.
US08159808B2
An apparatus and method for suppressing voltage fluctuations across a relay coil is disclosed. The method includes the steps of monitoring a voltage drop across a relay coil by a difference amplifier; providing an output of a reference source and an output of the difference amplifier to an integrator amplifier; providing an output of the integrator amplifier to a transistor; and driving the relay coil by controlling an output of the transistor based on the output of the integrator amplifier, wherein the output of the reference source is selectively applied to the integrator amplifier in response to a monitored undesired voltage fluctuations across the relay coil.
US08159804B2
Systems and methods for limiting heating to prevent explosions in a gaseous environment containing an industrial control system are described. A method may include controlling heating in an electrical circuit component in response to a circuit failure so as to avoid reaching a temperature at or above a flash point of a gaseous component of the gaseous environment.
US08159802B2
This invention relates to a power supply apparatus and method for converting three-phase delta AC power to DC power using EMI filters and PFC circuits to maintain balanced AC current loading and reduce radiated and conducted emissions. Overcurrent and temperature protection are also provided in conjunction with a novel optocoupler latch circuit for improving maintenance of the power supply.
US08159798B2
A latch-control protection circuit applied in a power converter is provided. The protection circuit has a comparing circuit unit and a logic gate. The comparing circuit unit is utilized to selectively output a default signal or a comparing signal according to a state signal from the logic gate, wherein the default signal is utilized for latching the state signal and the comparing signal is corresponded to the power condition of the power converter. The logic gate generates the state signal according to the output signal of the comparing circuit unit and a system judging signal. The output signal may be the default signal or the comparing signal. The system judging signal indicates the condition of the power converter.
US08159795B2
A surge protection circuit comprises a surge detection circuit 14 for detecting a surge applied to a semiconductor integrated circuit, and a protection element 15 for absorbing the surge. The protection element is connected between a signal terminal for supplying a signal to the semiconductor integrated circuit and a power source terminal for supplying a power source voltage. When the power source voltage is not larger than a voltage enough to normally operate the semiconductor integrated circuit and the surge detection circuit does not detect the surge, the protection element is set in a current limiting state. When the power source voltage is not larger than a voltage enough to normally operate the semiconductor integrated circuit and the surge detection circuit detects the surge, the protection element is set in a current non-limiting state.
US08159789B2
It is an object to achieve prevention of lowering resonant frequency and improved production efficiency while achieving reduction in weight of a supporting part with a boss portion and reduction in thickness at area at which the boss portion is located. In the present invention, the supporting part includes a first supporting member with which a load bending part is connected, and a second supporting member with the boss portion and a main body region extended radially outward from the boss portion. At least one of the inner periphery of the mount hole and the outer periphery of the main body region is integrally provided with a rib region. The first and second supporting members are connected to each other by a restoring force of the rib region that has been elastically and/or plastically deformed by the other one of the inner periphery of the mount hole and the outer periphery of the main body region with the main body region being located at least partially in the mount hole in a through-thickness direction.
US08159784B2
The magnetic recording medium of the present invention has a pattern formed using a pattern-forming agent in a laminate of multiple layers including a base material and a magnetic recoding layer, wherein the pattern is recognized on the surface of the laminate opposite to the base material, and the pattern-forming agent is distributed through the thickness of the laminate, wherein a region between the center of the magnetic recording layer and a magnetic recording-reading side of the laminate has an area having a density gradient of the pattern-forming agent which gradually declines in the direction from the center of the magnetic recording layer to the magnetic recording-reading side.
US08159776B2
A magnetic tape driving apparatus of the present invention includes a support member for separating a magnetic tape from a magnetic head on at least one of a tape input side and a tape output side of the magnetic head. The support member separates the magnetic tape from the magnetic head at least when a tape driving portion causes the magnetic tape to start running and/or to stop running. With this configuration, the magnetic tape driving apparatus does not suffer from damage to the magnetic head and the magnetic tape when the magnetic tape makes a transition from the stopped state to the running state and vice versa or changes in the running direction.
US08159758B2
A zoom lens system includes, in order from the object side to the image side, first, second, third, fourth lens units respectively having positive, negative, positive, and positive refractive powers. The lens units move from a wide-angle end to a telephoto end such that intervals between adjacent lens units vary during zooming. The first lens unit consists of first-a and first-b lens elements respectively having negative and positive refractive powers, and the second lens unit consists of second-a, second-b, and second-c lens elements respectively having negative, negative, and positive refractive powers. n12 and ν12 respectively represent the refractive index and the Abbe number of the first-b lens element, and fw and ft respectively present the focal length at the wide-angle end and the telephoto end of the zoom lens system. Values for at least n12, ν12, fw and ft are appropriately set based on predetermined conditions.
US08159756B2
A vari-focal length lens system includes a first lens group having a positive refractive power, a second lens group having a negative refractive power, a third lens group having a positive refractive power, and a fourth lens group having a positive refractive power. In the second lens group, each of the object-side surface of the negative lens arranged on the object side and the object-side surface of the positive lens is formed in an aspherical shape and satisfies the following conditional expression: 2.0
US08159736B2
Photonic devices and techniques based on tunable single sideband (SSB) modulation in whispering gallery mode resonators formed of electro-optic materials to effectuate coupling between whispering gallery modes of different polarizations.
US08159735B2
A two-dimensional image is displayed on a screen (SC) by scanning the screen (SC) two-dimensionally with light beams from a laser light source (1) that are deflected to orthogonally-intersecting first and second scanning directions by means of a mirror (10) in a deflection apparatus (3). The deflection apparatus (3) is arranged to incline obliquely in the second scanning direction (e.g. vertical direction) lower in a scanning speed than the first scanning direction (e.g. horizontal direction), and performs an oblique projection onto the screen (SC). Assuming a direction in which the incidence angle of a light beam deflected by the deflection apparatus (3) and entering the screen (SC) increases in the second scanning direction is positive side, the light beam from the laser light source (1) impinges on the deflection apparatus (3) from the negative side in the second scanning direction, and the normal to the mirror (10) in the deflection apparatus (3) in a state where the center of the screen is displayed inclines to the negative side in the second scanning direction with respect to the normal to the screen (SC).
US08159725B2
A method of forming an image on recording media includes providing a rotatable imaging drum adapted for supporting the recording media; providing an imaging head adapted for forming the image on the supported recording media; providing an encoder adapted for detecting incremental rotational positions of the imaging drum; positioning the imaging drum at a non-incremental rotational position; detecting one or more points on an edge of the supported recording media while the imaging drum is positioned at the non-incremental rotational position; determining a position of each of the detected one or more points; and operating the imaging head to form the image on the supported recording media in alignment with at least the determined position of each of the detected one or more points.
US08159724B2
A processing apparatus, method, and medium storing a computer program that combine two or more designated images (S1254), and input the type of security process to be performed for the combined image (S1253). The security process is performed for the combined image using the information associated with the input type of security process (S1255).
US08159716B2
An image processing device includes a first image inputting unit, a comprehensive first characteristic quantity data determining unit, a second image inputting unit, a second characteristic quantity data determining unit, and an image correcting unit. The first image inputting unit is configured so as to be capable of inputting a plurality of first images. The comprehensive first characteristic quantity data determining unit determines comprehensive first characteristic quantity data based on the plurality of first images inputted by the first image inputting unit. The second image inputting unit is configured so as to be capable of inputting a second image. The second characteristic quantity data determining unit determines second characteristic quantity data expressing a characteristic of the second image inputted by the second image inputting unit. The image correcting unit corrects the second image based on the comprehensive first characteristic quantity data and the second characteristic quantity data.
US08159709B2
A print job canceling method for a printer is described and is especially useful in a printer with relatively small buffer memory. When a print job is cancelled by the user using the printer's control panel, this method allows the printer controller to receive additional print jobs while the current job is being cancelled, without having to notify the host to stop sending the current print job. The printer controller reduces the memory allocated to the job being cancelled. The printer controller continues to accept data for the current job from the host, but does not print the received data. The data is subsequently flushed from the memory. The printer controller also assigns a lower priority to the print job being cancelled. Meanwhile, the remaining memory can be used to receive and print additional print jobs.
US08159707B2
A more holistic approach to batch job processing simplifies batch job creation, improves user understanding of batch job status and prevents unwanted batch job printing outcomes. In the approach, before printing any print element (e.g. file, document) in a batch job that includes supported print elements and unsupported print elements, a support status indication is outputted for each of the print elements and the user is required to input a group print instruction before the approach proceeds to print the supported print elements. The approach in some embodiments also allows the user to input a group cancel instruction instructing to cancel the batch job without printing any of the print elements and allows the user to input a change instruction requesting modification of one or more unsupported print elements in an attempt to convert them into supported print elements.
US08159698B2
A print instruction apparatus includes a selecting unit which selects an attached file to be printed on a sheet together with a base file designated in advance as a print target. The print instructing apparatus includes a generating unit which generates code information for the selected attached file, and a transmitting unit which transmits a print instruction of the base file and the code information of the attached file to the printing apparatus.
US08159693B2
A printing system adapted to be able to successively process a plurality of jobs by a printing apparatus has a designation unit adapted to designate, from the plurality of jobs, a job that processing by the printing apparatus is to be suspended; and a controller adapted to control the printing apparatus to suspend the processing of the job designated by the designation unit, wherein the controller controls the printing apparatus so as to suspend processing of another job in accordance with a suspension factor of the job designated by the designation unit.
US08159692B2
An automatic archiving system makes document archiving largely transparent to the user. In one embodiment, documents scanned in or printed during the course of office equipment operation are automatically archived. When a document is copied, printed, or faxed, a document image is archived by the document management workstation without further user intervention. A single user command results in the document being copied and archived, printed and archived, or faxed and archived. In accordance with a first aspect, an image processing device includes a receiving means for receiving a single input, a printing means, a memory device, and a communication means for communicating with said memory device. Responsive to receiving said single input requesting the printing of a document by said receiving means, said printing means prints the document and said communication means sends image data representing said document to said memory device.
US08159690B2
An image processing apparatus is provided which includes a reading unit configured to read image data of a double-page original having a binding part, an output unit configured to generate output based on the image data, and a processing unit. The processing unit is configured to identify and remove shadow data corresponding to a portion of a shadow area in the image data, determine whether two-dimensional code data is included in the image data, and control the removal of the shadow data in the image data when the two-dimensional code data is included in the image data.
US08159679B2
An apparatus for measuring surface properties of a carriageway or road, comprising a platform arranged to move over the carriageway, the platform carrying a light source arranged to illuminate the carriageway, and a detector arranged to receive light returning from the carriageway, characterized in that the light source projects a line of light onto the surface and data representing light returning from the line of light is captured and stored.
US08159678B2
A method of aligning at least two wave shaping elements, a method of measuring a deviation of an optical surface from a target shape and a measuring apparatus for interferometrically measuring a deviation of an optical surface from a target shape. The method of aligning at least two wave shaping elements, each of which wave shaping elements has a diffractive measurement structure for adapting part of a wave front of incoming light to a respective portion of the target shape, includes: providing a first one of the wave shaping elements with a diffractive alignment structure, arranging the wave shaping elements relative to each other such that each of the diffractive measurement structures is traversed by a separate subset of rays of the incoming light during operation of the measuring apparatus, and aligning the first wave shaping element and a second one of the wave shaping elements relative to each other by evaluating alignment light having consecutively interacted with the diffractive alignment structure and with the second wave shaping element.
US08159673B2
A light amount detector includes a light emitter, a light receiver, and a light amount detection unit. The light emitter emits light on a detection pattern formed on a detection surface of an image carrier. The light receiver detects diffused light reflected from the detection pattern. The light amount detection unit detects an amount of light received by the light receiver based on detection output of the light receiver. One of the light emitter and the light receiver is provided at a position directly opposite to the detection surface, such that a distribution of sensitivity of the light receiver detecting the diffused light is substantially symmetrical with respect to a detection output peak when the detection surface is substantially parallel to a hypothetical line connecting the light emitter with the light receiver.
US08159672B1
A spectroscopic system for adjusting spacing between an adjacent source/detector as a unit, and a sample, and a reflecting means for directing an incident beam which reflects from said sample back onto said sample and then into the detector along a locus which is in a plane of incidence that is offset from that of the incident beam, or directly from the reflecting means into the detector, including means for reducing reflections of a beam of electromagnetic from the back of a sample, including methodology of use.
US08159659B2
[PROBLEMS] To provide an optical device inspecting apparatus which can be set to take many objects at one time more freely compared with conventional apparatuses, and furthermore, can accurately inspect even an optical device wherein an optical sensor is offset from a microlens. [MEANS FOR SOLVING PROBLEMS] Provided is an optical device inspecting apparatus having a probe card unit and a lens unit. The probe card unit is provided with a main substrate, a guide plate and a probe. Openings are made on the main substrate and the guide plate. The guide plate is fixed at a prescribed position from the main substrate, and is provided with a plurality of probe inserting holes. The probe is inserted into the probe inserting hole on the guide plate and fixed. The leading end portion of the probe protruding from the inserting hole has a shape of a cantilever. The lens unit using a pupil lens is arranged at the opening on the main substrate, and makes light applied to an inspecting object incline as the light goes further from the center of the optical system.
US08159658B2
The present invention pertains to a system for the automated analysis of samples, comprising: a first optical device including at least one receptacle for receiving at least one of said samples and a receptacle-associated optical unit including at least one receptacle-associated light source for emitting light adapted for determining a color of said sample and generating a light beam for irradiating said sample contained in said receptacle and at least one receptacle-associated light detector for detecting light transmitted through said sample and generating a receptacle-associated detection signal; a second optical device including at least one test element provided with at least one test zone for applying said sample, said test zone being subject to an optically detectable change in response to at least one characteristic of said sample being different from said color and a test element-associated optical unit.
US08159653B2
A method is disclosed for adjusting an arrangement of coordinates in an imaging area of an imaging component in a substrate imaging plane in a substrate position detection apparatus that detects a position of a substrate in accordance with an image taken of a circumferential portion of the substrate by the imaging component, the apparatus being arranged near a rotatable susceptor on which the substrate is placed and a substrate transferring apparatus prepared separately from the susceptor and configured to horizontally drive a supporting pin for transferring the substrate to and/or from the susceptor. This method includes supporting at a predetermined height above the susceptor by the supporting pin a mark-equipped wafer with a mark arranged corresponding to the circumferential portion of the substrate, bringing the mark into the imaging area, detecting the mark at plural points while horizontally moving the mark in one direction within the imaging area by a predetermined distance by horizontally driving the supporting pin, and calibrating an axis direction of the coordinates in accordance with a direction in which the plural points are arranged; and maintaining the mark-equipped wafer with a height adjustment jig at the predetermined height above the susceptor, bringing the mark into the imaging area, detecting the mark at plural points while moving the mark within the imaging area by a predetermined angle by rotating the susceptor, and calibrating an origin position of the coordinates in accordance with a rotation center obtained in accordance with the plural points.
US08159651B2
A coherence remover includes a first partially reflective surface and a second partially reflective surface. The coherence remover is configured to receive an input beam. Each of the first and second reflective surfaces is configured to reflect a respective portion of the input beam to produce respective one or more intermediate beams. The intermediate beams collectively form an output beam that has a reduced coherence compared to the input beam.
US08159650B2
In the case where measurement/inspection of a wafer is performed in a measurement/inspection instrument before and after exposure is performed in an exposure apparatus, various kinds of conditions of the exposure apparatus and the measurement/inspection instrument are made to be matched. In particular, in accordance with a processing state of the exposure apparatus and a coater developer, a measurement result of a film, and the like, exclusion of a mark for overlay error measurement, adjustment of the measurement condition and correction of the measurement result, adjustment of the environment, correction of the measurement result according to the environment, and adjustment of pattern defect inspection are performed. Further, in calibration processing, aberration of a projection optical system of an exposure apparatus that transfers a pattern on a wafer for calibration, and the like are also taken into consideration. Accordingly, the yield of device production can be improved.
US08159649B2
There is disclosed an exposure method is a method of projecting patterns (M1, M2) of a mask (M) onto a substrate to effect exposure thereof, through a plurality of projection optical units each having an enlargement magnification, and the exposure method comprises: placing the mask (M) having first pattern regions (M1) arranged discontinuously in a positional relation corresponding to the enlargement magnification, and second pattern regions (M2) provided at least in part between the first pattern regions (M1), on the object plane side of the projection optical units; projecting enlarged images of either of the first pattern regions (M1) and the second pattern regions (M2) onto the substrate disposed on the image plane side of the projection optical units to effect exposure thereof; and then projecting enlarged images of the other pattern regions onto the substrate to effect exposure thereof.
US08159648B2
The disclosure relates to a microlithography projection exposure system having optical corrective elements configured to modify the imaging characteristics, as well as related systems and components.
US08159635B2
A liquid crystal display device is provided and includes: a liquid crystal cell including a pair of transparent glass substrates each having a transparent electrode, and a nematic liquid crystal between the pair of the transparent glass substrates; and a pair of polarizing plates sandwiching the liquid crystal cell. At least one of the pair of polarizing plates includes a protective film; a polarizer; and an optical compensation film. One of the pair of transparent glass substrates, an adhesive; the optical compensation film; the polarizer; and the protective film are stacked in this order, and they satisfy the following equations (1) to (3): |n1−n2|≦0.03 (1) |n2−n3|≦0.03 (2) |n1−n3|≦0.03 (3) where n1, n2, and n3 indicate average refractive indices at 589 nm of the one of the pair of the transparent glass electrodes, the adhesive; and the optical compensation film, respectively.
US08159627B2
Disclosed is a pixel layout structure capable of increasing the capability of detecting amorphous silicon (a-Si) residue defects and a method for manufacturing the same. Wherein, an a-Si dummy layer is disposed on either one side or both sides of each data line. The design of such an a-Si dummy layer is utilized, so that in an existing testing conditions (by making use of an existing automatic array tester in carrying out the test), in case that there exists an a-Si residue in a pixel, the pixel having defects can be detected through an enhanced capacitance coupling effect and an electron conduction effect. Therefore, through the application of the above-mentioned design, the capability of an automatic array tester can effectively be increased in detecting a defective pixel having a-Si residues.
US08159622B2
Space is decreased in the direction of thickness on a side of a substrates mounted on a back of a flat panel display to adapt requirement for increasing and thinning its size, and most flat panel displays forcibly radiate heat with a fan provided thereon. The present invention provides a flat panel display having fewer heat radiating fans to secure a channel for causing a heat radiating air to flow. Portions where electronic circuit device on a back of a display panel are mounted are divided into three: left; center; and right portions; with a main frame as a border, the electronic circuit device are constructed of four module substrates, the substrate which is the greatest in heating value in the four module substrates (hereinafter referred to as a substrate) is arranged in the center portion and the substrates which are the smallest and the second smallest in heating value therein are arranged in the same portion.
US08159616B2
The present invention relates to a method and corresponding system for improving the perceived visual quality of images for instance displayed on a color television screen. According to the invention, there is provided a means for carrying out histogram processing (13) for scaling an input video signal (6) such that the maximum dynamic range is utilised and where the quality of the perceived image is also optimised. According to the invention, the histogram processing (13) provides a transfer function for the image pixels to obtain enhanced image dynamics and also to provide a chrominance gain (gc) for scaling the chrominance components, when the luminance has been changed by the histogram processing. According to the invention, the histogram processing can also take variations of the ambient light into account (5). The method and system according to the invention can be implemented by a histogram processing block (13) providing a luminance transfer function followed by a chrominance processing block (14), where the latter represents a selective chroma adjustment considering each individual pixel of an image.
US08159614B2
An image display apparatus and a channel information display method thereof are discussed. According to an embodiment, the method includes displaying an image from a selected channel on at least one region of a screen; sequentially receiving, by a tuner, images from a plurality of channels; storing the received images in a storage unit; and displaying the stored images from the plurality of channels simultaneously on at least multiple regions of the screen in response to a channel information function.
US08159610B2
An invention for measuring, maintaining and correcting synchronization between signals which suffer varying relative delays during transmission and/or storage is shown. The preferred embodiment of the invention finds particular use in measuring the relative delay between multiple audio signals and an associated video signal of a television type program which is compressed via MPEG or other compression for a transmission and/or storage system. The invention marks the video signal at a time when a particular event in the associated audio occurs. The mark is carried with the video throughout the video processing. After processing the same event in the audio is again identified, the mark in the video identified, the two being compared to determine the timing difference therebetween.
US08159602B2
An imaging system includes an extended depth of field (EDOF) optical system, a sensor on a sensor substrate, and a securing mechanism adapted to secure the EDOF optical system directly to the sensor substrate.
US08159601B2
A sequential shooting controller includes both high and low load drive modes, and first and second power-voltage detectors. The high/low load drive modes drive a device under high/low loads. The first power-voltage detector detects a power-voltage by connecting a load. The second power-voltage detector detects the voltage across the device. The first power-voltage detector is actuated at the beginning of sequential shooting before a first image capturing operation starts. The high load image capturing operation starts when the voltage detected by the first power-voltage detector is higher than a first threshold. The low load image capturing operation starts when the voltage detected by the first power-voltage detector is lower than the first threshold. The second power-voltage detector is driven during a high load image capturing operation. The second power-voltage detector is disabled during a low load image capturing operation.
US08159599B2
A focus detection apparatus includes an image sensor which includes a pair of pixel groups, outputs a first image signal from one of the pair of pixel groups, and outputs a second image signal from the other of the pair of pixel groups, where the pair of pixel groups receive luminous fluxes passing different pupil regions of an imaging optical system which forms an object image; a calculation unit which generates a first corrected image signal by subtracting the second image signal multiplied by a coefficient from the first image signal and generates a second corrected image signal by subtracting the first image signal multiplied by a coefficient from the second image signal; and a focus detection unit which detects a defocus amount based on a phase difference between the first corrected image signal and the second corrected image signal generated by the calculation unit.
US08159598B2
Attempts to achieve a higher resolution and a higher frame rate of a distance image when a distance to an object within a target space is estimated using the TOF method would cause CCD saturation due to shot noise or environment light, and lower distance precision. A distance estimation apparatus illuminates an object with illumination light for distance estimation emitted from a light source that can emit light (electromagnetic wave) having a predetermined illumination frequency, receives reflected light of the illumination light, obtains information about the distance from the apparatus to the object, generates distance image data based on the distance information, extracts edge information of a color image formed using a visible light component obtained in synchronization with the reflected light, and corrects distance information of a target part of the distance image using distance information of a neighboring part of the target part based on the edge information.
US08159597B2
Even when a point light source is present in a subject or a normal subject is erroneously determined as a point light source in determination of the presence or absence of a point light source, the following is implemented: the driving time of a focus lens is shortened and quick focusing operation is provided. The optimum focus lens stroke is computed based on information on a high-brightness region and a low-brightness region in an image. Then the focus lens is driven while the focus lens stroke is continuously varied based on the amount of change in high-brightness region and low-brightness region.
US08159594B2
A portable telephone device with incorporated projector 10 starts projection by a projection module 6 when a relative angle θ is set to a projection attitude of 80° and three seconds elapses. If a setting is made for performing vibration correction processing, then a camera unit 200 is commanded to start image-capturing or photographing frame pictures continuously. The portable telephone device with incorporated projector 10 calculates six movement vectors by comparing pictures between successive frames photographed by an image sensor. Along with deciding upon “hand tremor” based upon the movement vectors which are calculated, moreover a representative vector is calculated. The portable telephone device with incorporated projector 10 further creates picture shift information for canceling the representative vector, and, if “hand tremor” has been decided upon, suppresses vibration or wobbling of the contents projected by the projector module using the picture shift information.
US08159590B2
When a signal output by a solid-state image sensing device is clamped to a predetermined reference potential, a high voltage generated in a transfer suspension period after the clamping as generally supplied to an A/D converter is generated. A sample/hold output Va is clamped to a clamp level Vref over a period of time between a halfway point of time of a signal of a picture element preceding ahead by one line and the end of an inhibit period of transfer clocks of a signal output by an empty transmission unit via a first clamp pulse and a sample/hold output for the second picture element, or a subsequent one of an OPB unit is clamped to the clamp level via a second clamp pulse to prevent a signal output from exceeding a reference voltage from being supplied to an A/D converter at a later stage.
US08159582B2
A solid-state imaging apparatus has a plurality of pixels arranged linearly along columns of N, a plurality of clamping capacitors each arranged corresponding to each column of the pixels, for accumulating the charge amplified by an amplifying unit in the pixel, and a common node arranged corresponding to each set including the clamping capacitors of L (L is equal to or larger than 2, and a divisor of N), and connectable to each set including the clamping capacitors of L. A plurality of pixel selection switches are connected between the clamping capacitor and the common node, and a clamping unit clamps the common nodes to a reference potential. In addition, a sampling and holding circuit connects to the common nodes through the clamping unit, and samples and holds a charge corresponding to a charge of the common node.
US08159581B2
It is a principle object of the present invention to reduce a voltage drop of a common power supply wiring in a plurality of amplification circuits to suppress crosstalk generated in other signal output lines. A photoelectric conversion device includes: a plurality of pixels each having a photoelectric conversion area; a plurality of signal output lines through which electrical signals are to be read out from the plurality of pixels; and a plurality of amplification circuits provided in correspondence to the plurality of signal output lines for amplifying the electrical signals, respectively, the plurality of amplification circuits including at least one constant current circuit portion and being disposed in a predetermined direction of repetitive dispersion, in which a constant current circuit portion includes at least a source grounded field effect transistor (the gate electrode is designated by reference symbol 124G), and a direction (X-axis direction) of a channel length of the source grounded field effect transistor is different from the direction of repetitive disposition of the amplification circuits.
US08159580B2
Providing a solid-state imaging device having a degree of freedom capable of changing which of the pixels functions as a pixel having a photoelectric converter portion bisected in which direction. When a gate electrode 67 is high and a gate electrode 68 is high, photodiodes 31 through 34 are electrically connected each other. When the gate electrode 67 is high and the gate electrode 68 is low, photodiodes 31 and 32, and photodiodes 33 and 34 are electrically connected each other. On the other hand, photodiodes 31 and 33, and photodiodes 32 and 34 are electrically separated. When the gate electrode 67 is low and the gate electrode 68 is high, photodiodes 31 and 32, and photodiodes 33 and 34 are electrically separated. On the other hand, photodiodes 31 and 33, and photodiodes 32 and 34 are electrically connected with each other.
US08159579B2
Certain cameras and systems described herein produce enhanced dynamic range still or video images. The images can also have controlled or reduced motion artifacts. Moreover, the cameras and systems in some cases allow the dynamic range and/or motion artifacts to be tuned to achieve a desired cinematic effect.
US08159577B2
A solid-state imaging apparatus includes: a pixel region including a plurality of pixels, each including a photoelectric conversion element, arranged in matrix, and a reset switch for discharging electric charge of the photoelectric conversion element; and a first scanning circuit for supplying a reset control signal for controlling an operation of the reset switch, the pixel region and the first scanning circuit being formed on a semiconductor substrate, in which the pixel region includes a first pixel region and a second pixel region, and the first scanning circuit includes a first decoder for controlling the operation of the reset switch arranged in the first pixel region, and a second decoder for controlling the operation of the reset switch arranged in the second pixel region.
US08159576B2
A solid state imaging device 1 includes a photodetecting section including M×N pixel portions P1,1 to PM,N two-dimensionally arrayed in M rows and N columns, a signal readout section including integrating circuits S1 to SN and holding circuits H1 to HN, and an initialization section including initialization switches SWI,1 to SWI,N. In response to a discharging control signal Reset, discharge switches SW2 in the integrating circuits Sn are temporarily closed and then opened, and thereafter, in response to an m-th row selecting control signal Vsel(m), the readout switches SW1 of the pixel portions Pm,n of the m-th row are closed for a first period. In this first period, in response to a hold control signal Hold, the input switches SW31 of the holding circuits Hn are switched from a closed state to an open state, and thereafter, in response to an initializing control signal Init, the initialization switches SWI,n are closed for a second period.
US08159572B2
An image pickup apparatus, an apparatus and a method for processing information, a program, and a program recording medium that can provide a user with an image optimum for the user are provided. A recording medium 4 records a large-size image and a playback parameter thereon. The large-size image has an angle of view wider than that of a normal image that a user intends to be captured and a resolution higher than that of the normal image, where the entirety of an area of a scene captured in the normal image is captured in the large-size image. The playback parameter includes information indicative of a region of the large-size image in which the area of the scene captured in the normal image is captured. An image extracting unit 22 extracts a partial image from the large-size image on the basis of the playback parameter and outputs the extracted image to a display unit 3 as an extraction image. The display unit 3 displays the extraction image. On the other hand, a playback parameter processing unit 24 generates a new playback parameter in accordance with a user operation through an operation unit 26. In such a case, the image extracting unit 22 extracts an extraction image on the basis of the new playback parameter. The present invention is applicable to, for example, apparatuses for recording and playing back an image.
US08159564B2
A signal-processing method adapted to perform predetermined signal processing based on a unit signal transmitted from a semiconductor device that includes at least two unit components arranged in a predetermined order, where each of the unit components includes a detection unit configured to detect change information responsive to a change in an incident physical quantity and a unit-signal-generation unit configured to generate the unit signal based on the change information, and that detects the distribution of the physical quantity is provided. The signal-processing method includes the steps of externally transmitting operation information that can specify an operation state of the semiconductor device from the semiconductor device and performing the predetermined signal processing based on the unit signal by referring to the operation information in a signal-processing unit provided outside the semiconductor device.
US08159559B2
Image light from an object is dispersed by a light dispersing device. When a plurality of image sensors are used for picking up images, an image in which a moving object is stopped is picked up with a high shutter speed, and at the same time, a motion-blurred image in which the moving object is picked up at a slow shutter speed. The obtained images are synthesized. The synthesized image has a slow synchronized flash effect. Accordingly, an image having a slow synchronized flash effect can be obtained without using a flash.
US08159555B2
A method for correcting defects in one or more frames of motion picture film, the method includes the steps of generating an image that includes an infrared channel and one or more color channels; providing an infrared unbuilding model that includes at least one non-linear component that accounts for cross-talk between the one or more color channels and the infrared channel; providing one or more parameters for the infrared unbuilding model; and applying the infrared unbuilding model parameters to the infrared unbuilding model to remove cross-talk between the one or more color channels and the infrared channel to generate an independent infrared channel that is free or substantially free of color channel content.
US08159543B2
A processing device (D) is dedicated to image frame stabilization of digital video sequences in an electronic equipment (E1), such as a digital camera, for instance. This processing device (D) comprises processing means (PM) arranged, for each current image frame of a video sequence, for determining a type of motion present in the video sequence from global motion parameters of the current image frame and the ones of at least one preceding image frame of this video sequence. These parameters are determined from a motion estimation between the current image frame and the preceding one of the video sequence. The motion determination is followed by a selection of a jitter extraction technique amongst at least two jitter extraction techniques depending on this determined motion type. The jitter extraction technique thus chosen is used to determine a jitter intended to be removed from the determined global motion parameter(s) in order to remove unwanted motion(s) present into the current image frame.
US08159537B2
A video surveillance equipment for detecting a change of an object in a monitoring area based on input images captured by an image capturing device, the equipment comprising: an area detection apparatus for detecting a second image area being stationary for a predetermined time in a first image area which is an area differing between a reference image used as a reference in image processing and the input images; a memory apparatus for storing image of the detected second image area; and an image comparison apparatus for performing comparison processing a plurality of times between the stored image and image in the second image area included in the input images.
US08159533B2
A surveillance camera has a sensing module, a micro-control unit (MCU) and a real-time clock (RTC) unit. The sensing module records original images. The MCU is connected to the sensing module and stores multiple time settings and a smart timer process. The MCU executes the smart timer process to operate the surveillance camera in a color mode, a monochrome mode or an auto mode based on the time settings. In the color mode, the surveillance camera records color images. In the monochrome mode, the surveillance camera records monochrome images. In the auto mode, the surveillance camera selectively records color images and monochrome images based on a variation between light level of the original images and a predetermined light level. Therefore, the surveillance camera can be set to operate in specific mode based on requirements. The surveillance camera is more flexible and convenient than conventional surveillance cameras.
US08159521B2
An advanced video teleconferencing system facilitates an engaging and realistic video conferencing experience. Key design elements and video, audio, and control capabilities are provided for a video conferencing experience that cannot be attained with conventional methods, which elements and capabilities include careful design of the table and room at each site, supplementary displays showing imagery in a mirrored manner, networked environmental control, an AutoDirector with keyword and gesture recognition, and audio reflection from a display or beam splitter.
US08159513B2
An image forming apparatus includes a light beam generation unit, a light deflector having a resonance frequency and deflecting a light beam, a photosensitive member to which the deflected light beam is irradiated, and a driving control unit driving and controlling the light deflector. The driving control unit can measure a difference between a frequency of a light-deflector driving signal and the light-deflector resonance frequency and a non-drawing time during which an image is not formed by the light deflector. When the difference between the frequency of the driving signal and the light-deflector resonance frequency is equal to or larger than a predetermined value and the non-drawing time is equal to or longer than a predetermined time, the driving control unit produces the driving signal having a frequency corresponding to the resonance frequency of the light deflector and supplies the produced driving signal to the light deflector.
US08159508B2
An electroluminescent display comprises a substrate with a plurality of pixel regions, wherein each pixel region has a first sub-pixel region, a second sub-pixel region, and a third sub-pixel region. Pluralities of first color light-emitting layers, second color light-emitting layers, and third color light-emitting layers are formed on the substrate. Each first color light-emitting layer is disposed in one first sub-pixel region, and each second color light-emitting layer is disposed in two adjacent second sub-pixel regions. The area of the first sub-pixel region is larger than the area of the second sub-pixel region in a single pixel region.
US08159507B2
In a display device (301), in order to improve the visibility by changing a size for displaying character or patterns on a display screen in accordance with a distance from a user viewing the display screen, a text-containing image generating unit (305) generates a character image indicative of a character train to be presented to a user, a graphic image generating unit (306) generates a pattern image indicative of patterns to be presented to a user, a measuring unit (303) measures a distance between a display screen on which a displaying unit (302) displays the image and the user, a enlargement/contraction ratio acquiring unit (304) acquires a pattern enlarging and reducing rate that increases as the measured distance becomes large and a character enlarging and reducing rate that gently changes at a rate that is less than the pattern enlarging and reducing rate, and a control unit (307) gives the pattern image, the pattern enlarging and reducing rate, the character image and the character enlarging and reducing rate to a displaying unit (302) and makes it display them.
US08159505B2
An efficient method of compositing planes onto a target surface using a computing device with graphics processing capability is disclosed. The method includes partitioning the target surface, on which planes are composited, into partitions. Each one of the partitions contains connected pixels to be formed by compositing an identical subset of the planes to be composited. Each partition is associated with a corresponding subset of the planes. Each partition and its corresponding set of associated planes are then provided to a graphics processor for composition, using exemplary software components including an application programming interface, a library and device driver software. An image is formed on the target surface by compositing each partition. Using the disclosed method, a single pass through stages of the graphics pipeline for the graphics processor is sufficient to composite multiple planes to form an image on the target surface.
US08159494B2
A curve designing system/method is provided. When similar curves are to be generated by evenly mixing features of given sample curves, the method of the present invention can control the extent of mixing features, smoothness, and size. The technology of the present invention can be applied to designing curve and curved surface in the fields of computer graphics and Computer-Aided Design (CAD).
US08159490B2
Embodiments of the invention relate for rendering translucent objects. According to some embodiments, the color of a pixel of a translucent object that is not directly illuminated by a light source can be determined by decaying the illumination contributed by the light source according to a predefined decay function. The decay function may be, for example, an exponential decay function. The decay function may be evaluated based on an initial illumination contributed by the light source, and a transmittance distance. In some embodiments, the initial color of the pixel is decayed instead of the illumination. Also disclosed is modifying the renderings of different regions of an object which have been rendered using different methods in order to remove sharp contrasts between these regions.
US08159484B2
A liquid crystal device includes a lateral electric field mode liquid crystal element that controls alignment of liquid crystal molecules by applying an electric field in a direction of a substrate plane to a liquid crystal layer. A voltage inverter circuit is provided in each pixel circuit, and inverts a voltage applied to the liquid crystal element by switching the supply of each of the first and second voltages, supplied from a memory circuit, to between a first pixel electrode and a second pixel electrode of the liquid crystal element. A holding capacitor holds a voltage applied to the liquid crystal element. The voltage inverter circuit includes switching elements. One end of the holding capacitor is connected to at least one of a common connecting point of first and second switching elements and a connecting point of third and fourth switching elements.
US08159477B2
An electromagnetic interference shielding apparatus and method for manufacturing an electromagnetic interference apparatus are provided. The apparatus includes a frame mounting a display module, a conductive rear cover mounted to a rear side of a frame, a shielding member disposed on a front side of the display module and comprising a conductive layer, a conductive member conductively connecting the shielding member with the rear cover, and a conductive adhesive member conductively connecting the conductive member with the shielding member.
US08159463B2
An apparatus for the electronic display of information, where the apparatus is a substrate incorporating a digital recording medium attached to or embedded within the substrate. The substrate further includes a flexible-substrate display located on an exposed surface of the substrate, where the display is a medium capable of selectively displaying one of at least two possible colors at each pixel location thereon in order to produce a substrate medium that may be modified in accordance with a user's selection.
US08159458B2
A method to transition focus of a display corresponding to an object's motion tracked by a video camera or like device is disclosed. In one implementation, the display shows one or more windows or user interfaces on the display. The object's motion can be used to select one of the windows or user interfaces on the display and manipulate content presented in the window or user interface. In another implementations, the object's motion can manipulate a three-dimensional graphical icon in a three-dimensional display environment, for example, by rotating it. In another implementation, the method further tracks motion of a second object and shifts focus of the display corresponding to the motion of the second object. In another implementation, a second display may be added to mirror the focus transition corresponding to the object's motion.
US08159453B2
A display device having backlight and the backlight control method thereof is provided. Through the provided method, it is capable of fast determining which intensity range the intensity signal from the means for measuring the intensity of external light falls in, so that the turn-off period of backlight is reduced to avoid the decrement of brightness.
US08159447B2
A display driving apparatus that drives display pixels having pixel electrodes arrayed in rows and columns on the basis of display data includes a signal generating circuit generates a driving signal for sequentially sets the respective display pixels corresponding to the respective rows in a selected state, and applies a signal voltage corresponding to a gradation value of the display data to the pixel electrode of each display pixel. The display driving apparatus also includes a correcting circuit that corrects the driving signal in accordance with selecting operation by the driving signal for each display pixel, and brings the magnitude of the signal voltage with respect to the gradation value of the display data, which is to be applied to the pixel electrode of each display pixel, close to the same value, and applies the corrected driving signal to each of the display pixels set in the selected state.
US08159442B2
In one embodiment of the present application, a liquid crystal display device is disclosed, in which increased power consumption due to an excessive DAC capability and reduced display quality due to a deficient DAC capability do not occur as a result of dynamically adjusting the DAC capability such that variation in the characteristics of the liquid crystal panel is compensated. The liquid crystal display device comprises a digital-to-analog converter circuit that converts data signals inputted as digital signals to analog signals; a source driver that distributes and inputs analog signals output from the digital-to-analog converter circuit to a plurality of source lines Y; a differential amplifier that compares the voltage V1 detected on the input side of a source line Y and voltage V2 detected on the side opposite the input side of the source line Y; and a correcting circuit that corrects the output of the digital-to-analog converter circuit that corrects the output of the digital-to-analog converter circuit based on the comparison results of the differential amplifier.
US08159441B2
A driving apparatus suitable for driving a display panel which includes a plurality of gate lines is provided. The driving apparatus includes a driving unit and a voltage detecting unit. The driving unit is used to generate a plurality of output signals, so as to drive the gate lines with the output signals. The voltage detecting unit is electrically connected to the driving unit and generates a control signal according to the level of a logic driving voltage of the driving unit. The voltage detecting unit outputs the control signal to the driving unit, such that the driving unit generates the plurality of output signals simultaneously according to the control signal.
US08159429B2
A liquid crystal display (“LCD”) capable of improving display quality includes a first insulating substrate, gate wiring lines formed on the first insulating substrate and extending in a first direction, data wiring lines insulated from and crossing the gate wiring lines and extending in a second direction, and pixel electrodes, each of which includes first and second sub-pixel electrodes that are applied with different data voltages from the data wiring lines, in which at least a part of the second sub-pixel electrode overlaps the data wiring lines.
US08159423B2
An organic light emitting display device that is capable of compensating for deterioration of organic light emitting diodes includes: a scan driver driving scan lines, compensation control lines, and light emission control lines; a data driver supplying initialization voltage to data lines during a first subperiod of a horizontal period and supplying data signals to the data lines during a second subperiod of the horizontal period; and pixels positioned at crossing areas of the scan lines and the data lines. Each pixel includes: an organic light emitting diode; a pixel circuit including a driving transistor controlling current flowing through the organic light emitting diode; and a compensation unit adjusting voltage of the gate electrode of the driving transistor based on deterioration of the organic light emitting diode. The compensation unit includes a transistor and a capacitor serially coupled between the gate and source of the driving transistor.
US08159421B2
An organic light emitting diode (OLED) display including a plurality of data lines to which a data voltage is supplied, a plurality of pairs of gate lines each comprising a first gate lines to which a first scan pulse is supplied and a second gate lines to which a second scan pulse partially overlapping the first scan pulse in an opposed phase is supplied, an OLED that emits light by current that flows between the high potential driving voltage source and the low potential driving voltage source, a driving device for controlling the current that flows through the OLED in accordance with a gate-source voltage applied between a gate electrode connected to a first node and a source electrode connected to the low potential driving voltage source, a storage capacitor connected between the first node and the second node, and a switch circuit.
US08159416B1
The present disclosure is directed to a dynamic field of view (FOV) for a synthetic vision system (SVS) scene. The FOV within the SVS scene may switch between a FOV conformal to the real world outside of a vehicle and a wider FOV when beneficial. In an aircraft, for example, generating the SVS scene with the narrower FOV may be optimal during flight, while on the ground a wider FOV may improve situational awareness during taxiing. Determination of the airborne or grounded status of the aircraft may be based on speed, altitude, user input, or a received signal. Although the foregoing has been described within a particular context, the present disclosure is not limited to this scenario and may be applied to any vehicle in any situation where dynamically changing between a narrower FOV and a wider FOV is beneficial.
US08159397B2
A system for enhancing location estimates by movable rovers including one or more base stations that engage in two way time transfer (TWTT) with the rovers. Each TWTT operation between a given base station and a given rover provides range measurements and clock differences between the base station and rover. The range measurements are based on the travel time of return TWTT signals and the clock differences are based on a phase offset of a code in the return TWTT signal and/or timing information included in the return TWTT signals.
US08159391B2
A method to detect at a GNSS receiver whether the received GNSS signals and navigation messages are the product of an attack. If there is evidence, as provided by the method described here, that the received signals and messages originate from adversarial devices, then receiver equipped with an instantiation of the method notifies the user or the computing platform that integrates the GNSS receiver that the calculated via the GNSS functionality position and time correction are not trustworthy. In other words, our method enables any GNSS receiver, for example, GPS, GLONASS, or Galileo, or any other GNSS system, to detect if the received navigation messages are the legitimate ones (from the satellites) or not (e.g., from attacker devices that generate fake messages that overwrite the legitimate messages). Based on this detection, neither the user and nor any application running in the computing platform is misled to utilize erroneous position information.
US08159388B2
There is disclosed a method for filtering sea clutter in a radar echo using a hydrographic model. The method comprises the steps of determining parameter values of the hydrographic model using the radar echo, estimating the sea clutter corresponding to the sea surface as deduced from the hydrographic model and filtering of the estimated sea clutter from the radar echo.
US08159376B2
An encoder encodes data into parallel codewords. Each codeword is expressed as a set of logic 0s and a set of logic 1s on two sets of output nodes. The encoder selects a current codeword which differs from the immediately preceding codeword by a fixed number of zero-to-one transitions on the first set of nodes and a fixed number of one-to-zero transitions on the second set of nodes. The current codeword is selected such that the first and second sets of nodes are different than additional nodes that contain transitions between the immediately preceding codeword and a bi-preceding codeword, and that logic values on additional nodes are unchanged between immediately preceding codeword and current codeword. A decoder decodes the codewords by comparing symbols on node pairs other than those for which transitions were expressed in the preceding code word, and decoding the results of those comparisons.
US08159374B2
A character data set is compressed with a compression algorithm module of a computer system to generate one or more streams of encoded values. A code point mapper assigns the encoded values to code points reserved for private use in a Unicode format. An encoder encodes the streams of assigned encoded values using a Unicode Transformation Format (UTF). A dictionary of the compression algorithm initially includes code points assigned by the Unicode format. New entries are successively assigned to private use code points.
US08159372B2
Keyboard apparatus and methods for processing keyboard depressions are disclosed. One disclosed keyboard apparatus includes a keyboard having a plurality of keys configured to be depressed in a concurrent depression state, and a plurality of key switch matrices. Each key switch of the plurality of key switch matrices may be configured to be actuated by a corresponding key of the keyboard. The keyboard apparatus may further include a keyboard controller configured to determine whether a sensed key depression in the concurrent depression state is a ghost key depression, based on sensed key switch states of respective key switches in each of the plurality of key switch matrices which correspond to the sensed key depression.
US08159370B2
A system and method for controlling a body-scanning device using multiple wireless devices is disclosed. The method includes communicating a secure wireless signal from a footswitch enclosure to a footswitch receiver coupled to the body scanning device in response to an actuation of a substantially flat footswitch zone carried on a footswitch enclosure. Additionally, a wireless signal is communicated from a handswitch enclosure in response to an actuation of a handswitch zone and communicated to a handswitch receiver located in the footswitch enclosure. The wireless signal is then communicated from the footswitch enclosure to the footswitch receiver coupled to the body-scanning device to enable an operator to control the body-scanning device using the handswitch or the footswitch.
US08159363B2
In a handheld electronic device, a motor is controlled to adjust, according to input received at a user-input element of the device, an angle of rotation of a camera module about a rotation axis of the camera module. The camera module is partially embedded in a housing of the device. An image sensor is embedded in the camera module and senses an image in a field of view that is centered around a line of sight. The line of sight is perpendicular to the rotation axis. An orientation of the housing relative to a direction of gravity is sensed, and the motor is controlled to rotate the camera module and hence the line of sight about the rotation axis to achieve a particular angle between the line of sight and the direction of gravity.
US08159359B2
A test device, for checking the functioning capability of a gas-alarm annunciator, has a reservoir in which are located a target fluid and a carrier fluid. At least a part of the carrier fluid is present in a liquid aggregate state and the target fluid is at least partially dissolved in the liquid carrier fluid. An extraction device engages into the reservoir such that the target fluid can be extracted along with the liquid carrier fluid. The target fluid is constituted such that on reaching a coverage area of a properly functioning gas-alarm annunciator it will cause the gas-alarm annunciator to annunciate an alarm. A test system and a test method for checking a gas-alarm annunciator's functioning capability use such a test device.
US08159353B2
The invention relates to a portable electronic device, a method, and a computer software product. The portable electronic device comprises an active time unit for determining a user activity level during a predetermined period of time; and a processing unit for determining a user inactivity level during a predetermined period of time on the basis of the determined activity level.
US08159352B2
A personal care implement or toothbrush includes a display for providing content to a user. The display may be configured to present content in a mirror-image format. The personal care implement may be configured to operate in one or more modes of operation. In a clock mode, the display displays a clock reading and/or calendar reading. In a timer mode, the display displays a countdown or count Up timer. In a counter mode, the display displays a number of strokes to be counted up to or down from. One or more components may be included for setting variables associated with the modes of operation, for changing an orientation of the displayed content between a mirror-image format and forward-facing format, and for changing the particular mode of operation.
US08159345B2
A system for identifying, monitoring, and tracking a plurality of tools includes: a pad for placing the tools, wherein the pad includes a plurality of appropriately-sized cutouts for nesting each of the tools; a sensor in each cutout that detects placement and removal of the tool in the cutout; and a low frequency radio tag placed in the pad and operatively coupled with each sensor for reading each sensor. The low frequency radio tag operates at a low clock frequency and is configured to receive and transmit data signals within a peer-to-peer network with any low frequency radiating transceiver. The low frequency radio tag includes: a tag antenna operable at a low radio frequency not exceeding 450 kilohertz, a transceiver, a data storage device for storing data for identifying the tools, a processor for processing the data; and a connector for a power source.
US08159343B2
The abnormality detecting device of this invention comprises a movement detecting unit detecting a presence of a movement of a body based on a video signal in a monitored area, a body detecting unit detecting a predetermined body existence based on the video signal, a brightness level detecting unit detecting a brightness level of the video signal, a determining unit determining whether the detected brightness level is within a predetermined range, a first abnormality detecting unit, in case the brightness level is determined within the predetermined range, detecting the abnormal state occurrence when the movement of the body is detected and the predetermined body is detected, and a second abnormality detecting unit, in case the brightness level is determined to be outside the predetermined range, detecting the abnormal state occurrence when a movement of a body is detected, and detecting the abnormal state occurrence when the predetermined body is detected.
US08159340B2
A remote wireless network includes a plurality of sensors/transmitters wherein each sensor is uniquely identifiable and lends its unique identity to the transmitter to which it is attached.
US08159330B2
A device for determining the dimensions of a parcel includes a platform and two adjacent walls. Each of the platform and walls are provided with a respective antenna for transmitting and receiving RF energy. The parcel to be measured is placed on the platform and registered against the walls. A responding device, having RFID tags attached thereto, is placed on a corner of the parcel. Each of the antennae are energized, and response signals from the RFID tags are measured. Based on the response signals from the RFID tags, the dimensions of the parcel can be determined, and the parcel can be rated for delivery based on the determined dimensions.
US08159329B1
A method and system for location determination and guidance using radio frequency identification (RFID) are disclosed. A location of a mobile RFID reader can be determined by detecting stationary RFID tags located at fixed locations. Each RFID tag stores location information associated with its position as well as location information of at least one other RFID tag. The location information stored by each RFID tag can be used to direct a user from one RFID tag to another. Thus, RFID technology is also used to guide mobile RFID reader between the fixed locations of the stationary RFID tags.
US08159321B2
In one embodiment of the present invention, a production method for an electromagnetic switching device includes the following steps in the sequence listed: producing a one-piece switching chamber, producing a contact bridge carrier and equipping the contact bridge carrier with movable contact bridges, wherein the contact bridges include a plurality of primary contact bridges and at least one auxiliary contact bridge; inserting the contact bridge carrier equipped with the movable contact bridges into the switching chamber; inserting partition elements into the switching chamber so that each partition element is arranged between a bridge contact point of one of the primary contact bridges and a bridge contact point of one of the auxiliary contact bridges, and equipping the switching chamber with fixed primary counter-contact points; fixing primary covers to the switching chamber so that the primary covers cover the primary counter-contact points and fix the partition elements in the switching chamber.
US08159320B2
A micro-machined magnetic latching relay has a moveable cantilever comprising a soft magnetic material and having a first end and a second end. The cantilever has a rotational axis which is a flexure supported by a substrate. A first permanent and a second permanent magnet are disposed near the first end and the second end of the cantilever respectively. Each of the two magnets produces a magnetic force and a torque on the cantilever. The first permanent magnet, second permanent magnet and the substrate are arranged to provide two stable positions for the cantilever. An electromagnet provides a temporary switching magnetic field to adjust the local magnetizations across the magnetic cantilever, causing changes of magnetic forces and torques on the cantilever. As a result, the direction of a sum of torque on the cantilever is reversed. Therefore, the cantilever is switched from one stable position to the other.
US08159313B2
An electronic filtering device includes continuous trace on a dielectric substrate and a dissipation layer communicatively coupled to the trace. The dissipation layer may include disconnected metal particles, which may be embedded in a substrate, for example in an epoxy. The continuous trace may be meandering, for example crenulated, coil or spiral signal path. At least a second continuous trace may be spaced from the first by the substrate, and conductively coupled by a via. The electronic filtering device may be used in one or more printed circuit boards (PCBs) that form stages of an input/output system.
US08159311B2
A high frequency package in which the resonance frequency of a metal seal ring is high, a reflection loss and a insertion loss of an input terminal and an output terminal are reduced in working frequency, and which has an excellent RF (radio frequency) characteristic in such as a millimeter wave, and a manufacturing method for the same are provided. The high frequency package has a minimum of an conductor base plate, a ceramic frame, the metal seal ring arranged on the ceramic frame, a solder metal layer arranged on the metal seal ring, a resonance frequency adjustment conductor formed of a conductor having an opening arranged on the solder metal layer, and a ceramic cap arranged on the resonance frequency adjustment conductor. The resonance frequency adjustment conductor is arranged so that an opening may correspond to a high portion of a loop of bonding wire.
US08159308B1
An apparatus includes a tank circuit of a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO). A pair of alternating current (AC) coupling capacitors couple the gates of the pair of transistors to the drains of the pair of transistors. A bias circuit is coupled to the gates of the pair of transistors to bias the pair of transistors such that the pair of transistors alternatingly turn on during a plurality of peaks of an oscillating signal of the tank circuit and the pair of transistors turn off during a plurality of crossing points of the oscillating signal. A feedback loop may be configured to detect a peak oscillating amplitude of the oscillating signal and adjust a bias voltage of the bias circuit. Also, a supply capacitor may be coupled to the tank circuit and to the pair of transistors to provide an instantaneous current to the VCO.
US08159307B2
In a logical element, supporting portions, and a beam supported by them at two ends are formed. The beam has a back side surface spaced apart from the top side surface of a substrate, creating a space between the facing surfaces of the beam and substrate. An excitation electrode is formed on one supporting portion, whereas an oscillation detecting electrode is formed on the other supporting portion.
US08159306B2
An integrated circuit (IC) with a low temperature coefficient and an associated calibration method are provided to lower the effect of the environmental temperature on the IC and at the same time to maintain the small area and low power consumption of the IC. The IC includes a first circuit, a second circuit and a calibration control circuit. The first circuit has a low temperature coefficient and generates a first output. The second circuit has a high temperature coefficient and generates a second output. The calibration control circuit detects the first and second outputs, and compares the first and second outputs according to a predefined relationship therebetween so as to generate an adjusting signal. The adjusting signal is for adjusting the second circuit such that the second circuit can have the characteristic of the low temperature coefficient.
US08159305B2
An amplifying device includes a selecting section that selects one of a first power source potential and a second power source potential which are different from each other, a potential generating circuit that generates a third power source potential from the power source potential selected by the selecting section, an amplifier that operates with supply of the first power source potential and the third power source potential, and a controlling circuit that variably controls a target to be selected by the selecting section in accordance with at least one of an amplitude of a signal on an input side of the amplifier, an amplitude of a signal on an output side of the amplifier, and the third power source potential.
US08159301B1
An amplifier circuit having a differential input and an amplifier output is provided. In some examples, the amplifier circuit includes a first input stage having a first complementary transistor pair providing a first input and a first output, the first input being a first half of the differential input; a second input stage having a second complementary transistor pair providing a second input and a second output, the second input being a second half of the differential input; an output stage coupled to the first input stage and the second input stage and providing the amplifier output; and a transistor coupled in parallel to one transistor in one of the first complementary transistor pair or the second complementary transistor pair.
US08159293B2
A nested transimpedance amplifier circuit including a first power source, a second power source, a charge pump module and a transimpedance amplifier. The first power source is at a first voltage. The second power source is at a second voltage. The second voltage is different than the first voltage. The charge pump module (i) receives the first voltage and the second voltage and (ii) generates a third voltage based on the first voltage and the second voltage. The first transimpedance amplifier includes an input, an output and a first operational amplifier. The input of the first transimpedance amplifier receives an input voltage. The output of the first transimpedance amplifier outputs an output voltage. The first operational amplifier receives the third voltage. The first transimpedance amplifier generates the output voltage based on the third voltage and the input voltage.
US08159292B2
To efficiently obtain two outputs including one at a normal level and the other at an excessive level. An input signal input to the negative input terminal of an operational amplifier (14) having a negative feedback path is amplified to output an output signal. Signal combining units (18, 20, 22) are provided for adding in a weighted manner a negative input terminal side signal obtained by combining the input signal input to the negative input terminal of the operational amplifier (14) and a feedback signal from the negative feedback path and the output signal from the operational amplifier to output a combined signal, so that two signals, namely the output signal from the operational amplifier (14) and the combined signal, are obtained.
US08159287B2
A field-effect transistor device, including: a semiconductor heterostructure comprising, in a vertically stacked configuration, a semiconductor gate layer between semiconductor source and drain layers, the layers being separated by heterosteps; the gate layer having a thickness of less than about 100 Angstroms; and source, gate, and drain electrodes respectively coupled with said source, gate, and drain layers. Separation of the gate by heterosteps, rather than an oxide layer, has very substantial advantages.
US08159283B2
A high frequency switch circuit according to the present invention includes a control-voltage-generating circuit. The control-voltage-generating circuit includes a depletion type field-effect transistor, an external-control-signal-input terminal, an internal-control-voltage-output terminal, and a power-receiving terminal of the control-voltage-generating circuit. The field-effect transistor has a grounded gate, a source connected to the external-control-signal-input terminal, and a drain connected to the power-receiving terminal. The internal-control-voltage-output terminal is connected to an electrical connection path between the drain of the field-effect transistor and the power-receiving terminal.
US08159278B2
A clamping circuit clamps a voltage received by an n-type semiconductor region without using a Schottky transistor. The clamping circuit includes a current mirror as well as first and second bipolar transistors. The current mirror receives a first current and supplies a second current in response. The first current is received by the first bipolar transistor, and the second current is received by the second bipolar transistor. The difference between the base-emitter junction voltages of the first and second bipolar transistors, in part, defines the voltage at which the n-type region is clamped. To start-up the circuit properly, current is withdrawn from the base/gate terminals of the transistors disposed in the current mirror. The circuit optionally includes a pair of cross-coupled transistors to reduce the output impedance and improve the power supply rejection ratio.
US08159277B1
A feedback loop circuit includes a phase detector and delay circuits. The phase detector generates an output signal based on a delayed periodic signal. The delay circuits are coupled in a delay chain that delays the delayed periodic signal. Each of the delay circuits includes variable delay blocks and fixed delay blocks that are coupled to form at least two delay paths for an input signal through the delay circuit to generate a delayed output signal. Delays of the variable delay blocks in the delay circuits vary based on the output signal of the phase detector. Each of the delay circuits reroutes the input signal through a different one of the delay paths to generate the delayed output signal based on the output signal of the phase detector during operation of the feedback loop circuit.
US08159272B2
An apparatus for measuring time interval between two selected edges of a clock signal. includes an edge generator, a first multi-tap delay module, a second multi-tap delay module, and a multi-element phase detector. The edge generator produces a first edge at a first output node and a second selected edge at a second output node. First multi-tap delay module provides a first constant incremental delay at each tap to the first edge. Second multi-tap delay module provides a second constant incremental delay at each tap to the second selected edge. Each element of the multi-element phase detector has a first input terminal and a second input terminal. The first input terminal is coupled to a selected tap of the first multi-tap delay module and the second input terminal is coupled to a corresponding tap of the second multi-tap delay module. The output terminals of the multi-element phase detector provide the value of the time interval.
US08159271B2
A scan driver includes a voltage setting circuit, a counter circuit, a logic circuit, a dynamic decoder, N level shift circuits and N output stage circuits, wherein N is a natural number. The voltage setting circuit sets N voltage signals to a first level. The counter circuit provides count data to the logic circuit, which generates M control signals according to the count data, wherein M is a natural number. The dynamic decoder includes multiple transistors, arranged in N rows, for receiving the respective N voltage signals. The transistors are further arranged in M columns and are controlled by the respective M control signals to determine levels of the N voltage signals. The N level shift circuits lift the levels of the respective N voltage signals, and the N output stage circuits output respective N gate signals based on the N voltage signals whose levels are shifted.
US08159265B1
Memory for a semiconductor device is disclosed. The memory array comprises: a memory cell replicated in rows and columns to form an array; and a plurality of first horizontal decode signals, each horizontal signal common to all the memory cells in a said row; and a plurality of first vertical decode signals, each vertical signal common to all the memory cells in a said column; wherein, said replicated memory cell further comprises: a storage device to store data; and a first decode device to receive a said first horizontal decode signal and a said first vertical decode signal and generate a first local decode signal to access a first unique memory cell in the array.
US08159262B1
A compensation circuit for controlling a variation in output impedance of at least one buffer circuit includes a monitor circuit having a pull-up portion comprising at least one PMOS transistor and a pull-down portion comprising at least one NMOS transistor. The monitor circuit is configured to track an operation of an output stage in the buffer circuit and is operative to generate a first control signal indicating a status of at least one characteristic of corresponding pull-up and pull-down portions in the output stage over variations in PVT conditions to which the buffer circuit may be subjected. The compensation circuit further includes a control circuit generating first and second sets of digital control bits for compensating the pull-up and pull-down portions in the output stage over prescribed variations in PVT conditions. The second set of digital control bits is generated based at least on the first set of digital control bits and the first control signal.
US08159259B1
A self-modifying FPGA system includes an FPGA and a configuration memory device coupled to the FPGA for providing the FPGA with configuration information. The configuration memory device is programmed with configuration data and dormant data. The FPGA system is also provided with a configuration assist circuit coupled to the FPGA and the configuration memory device for controlling loading of configuration information from the configuration memory device to the FPGA. A tamper detection system provides a tamper signal to the FPGA, wherein when a tamper signal is received by the FPGA the configuration data is replaced with the dormant data.
US08159257B2
A substrate including a semiconductor layer, where characteristics of an element can be evaluated with high reliability, and an evaluating method thereof are provided. A substrate including a semiconductor layer of the invention has a closed-loop circuit in which an antenna coil and a semiconductor element are connected in series, and a surface of an area over which the circuit is formed is covered with an insulating film. By using such a circuit, a contactless inspection can be carried out. Further, a ring oscillator can be substituted for the closed-loop circuit.
US08159255B2
Quiescent supply current (IDDQ) verification, prediction, and debugging of low power semiconductor devices are enhanced by IDDQ defect diagnosis. If all IDDQ patterns fail verification, per module analysis is performed to sort out potential module design issues or cell constraint issues. For issues of missing constraints, and cell design or implementation issues leading to extra leakage that could be avoided by adding constraints, there are usually IDDQ patterns that correlate with expectations, and patterns that do not, due to the random nature of unconstrained scan cell values as determined by the pattern generation tool. Differentiating good and bad IDDQ patterns can identify root causes of IDDQ issues and additional constraints to fix the bad IDDQ vectors. These verification procedures are achieving IDDQ test success and short time to market, as well as significantly faster time to volume and improved yields because of having a higher quality and better-controlled IDDQ test.
US08159251B2
A probe card includes a plurality of probes that contacts a plurality of electrodes provided in the semiconductor wafer and that inputs or outputs an electrical signal in or from the electrodes, a probe head that holds the probes, a substrate having a wiring which is provided near the surface of the substrate facing the probe head so as to be contactable with the probe head and is connected to the probes, a core layer formed of a material which is buried in the substrate and has a coefficient of thermal expansion lower than that of the substrate, and a connecting member that electrically connects at least some of the probes with an external device via the wiring.
US08159237B2
A grid sensor significantly reduces the complexity of a production process. The cost for installing and running the grid sensor are significantly reduced and the service life, pressure and heat resistance of the grid sensor can be significantly increased over previous grid sensors. Channels, which are wider than the diameter of the wire electrodes and have a depth of less than half the thickness of the sensor board, run outwardly from the edge of the measurement cross section in the sensor board. The channels are coated by a metal layer and the wire electrodes are inserted into the periphery of the measurement cross section. The two ends of the electrode, each in one of the opposite channels, and the electrodes are fixed in the channels by means of a conductive sealing compound. In each channel, the conductive sealing compound terminates in a planar fashion with the upper side of the sensor board, and the sensor board is clamped between two clamping plates.
US08159236B2
The presently disclosed embodiments are directed to the detection and monitoring of corona effluent. The present embodiments pertain to a corona sensing device that employs a film of organic charge transporting material, as the active component in a corona effluent sensing device, that is disposed onto a patterned electrode bearing support member.
US08159232B2
In a fuel property sensor, a pair of first and second electrodes is arranged in a fuel chamber to measure an electric capacitance, thereby detecting a mixing ratio of alcohol to gasoline in a fuel of the fuel chamber. An outer wall surface of the first electrode is exposed in the fuel, and a sensing portion contacts an inner wall surface of the first electrode to detect a temperature of the fluid via the first electrode. One end portion of a lead is connected to the sensing portion and the other end portion thereof is connected to a plate portion attached to a housing. Furthermore, an elastic deformation portion is provided as a part of the lead to be elastically deformed, and to cause the sensing portion to be biased in a direction on which the sensing portion contacts the inner wall surface of the first electrode.
US08159227B2
One exemplary embodiment of a method for making directional resistivity measurements includes transmitting an axial electromagnetic wave in a borehole and receiving substantially pure axial and transverse components of the wave. A ratio of the axial and transverse components is computed and may be utilized as an indicator of various formation parameters. The invention advantageously enables the moment of the transmitting antenna to be canceled and therefore can result in improved accuracy.
US08159226B2
An apparatus for monitoring a location of a borehole for production of petroleum from an earth formation is provided. The apparatus includes: a detection source disposable within a detection source conduit, the detection source including an elongated electrically conductive member extendable along at least a portion of the detection source conduit; and an electrosensitive material disposed in at least one portion of the elongated member, the electrosensitive material reactive to an electric current to change a shape of the electrosensitive material, the electrosensitive material configured to change shape in response to the electric current to form an electromagnet at the portion. A system and method for monitoring a location of a borehole for production of petroleum from an earth formation are also provided.
US08159225B2
A method for generating a transmit signal for transmission including the steps of a) generating at least two selected rectangular wave signals, each having a different fundamental frequency; b) mixing the selected rectangular wave signals to produce a driving signal; and c) driving a switching circuit using the driving signal for generating a transmit signal for transmission, wherein the Fourier transform of the transmit signal contains frequency components of relatively high magnitude, at frequencies corresponding to the convolution of the fundamental frequencies of the said at least two selected rectangular wave signals, as compared to other frequency components across the frequency spectrum of the Fourier transform, and wherein the rectangular wave signals are selected such that the frequency components of relatively high magnitude are substantially the same in magnitude, and spaced from each other in the frequency spectrum in a predetermined manner.
US08159224B2
The invention relates to a combined magnetic resonance imaging and targeting device for magnetic particles having a magnetic coil array. The magnetic coil array comprises a plurality of coils, each of which is connected to a power supply. The power supplies are connected to a controller which is embodied for two operating modes. In a first operating mode the power supplies are controlled in such a way that a magnetic field extreme value is generated at least one location in a target region. In a second operating mode the power supplies are controlled in such a way that magnetic fields having a strictly monotonously rising or falling magnetic field profile are generated in an imaging region.
US08159220B2
One embodiment of the invention includes a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) gyroscope system. The system includes a gyro cell that is sealed to enclose an alkali metal vapor, a first gyromagnetic isotope, a second gyromagnetic isotope, and a third gyromagnetic isotope. The system also includes a magnetic field generator configured to generate a substantially uniform magnetic field that is provided through the gyro cell to cause the first, second, and third gyromagnetic isotopes to precess. The system further includes an angular rotation sensor configured to measure a rotation angle about a sensitive axis of the NMR gyroscope system based on measured precession angles of the first, second, and third gyromagnetic isotopes.
US08159219B2
The disclosure provides Hall effect device configurations capable of measuring magnetic fields in two dimensions (2D) and three dimensions (3D) along with associated microelectromechanical system (MEMS) manufacturing methods. The present invention includes various geometric layout configurations for 2D and 3D Hall effect devices with multidimensional magnetic field sensing elements. Advantageously, the present invention can provide, simultaneously and independently, absolute measurement of each of the components (i.e., x-, y-, and z-components) of a magnetic field. Additionally, the geometric layout configurations enable the Hall effect devices to be constructed with MEMS fabrication techniques.
US08159212B2
To disclose a magnetic encoder being subjected to only small gap variation between a magnetic sensor element and a magnetic medium and readily assembled, and having a smaller number of components, high sliding resistance, and high stability against outside force, such as shock or the like. The magnetic sensor holding mechanism has a swirling spring plate structure having elasticity with respect to rotation around a rotation axis in a reciprocative slide relative movement direction, elasticity with respect to rotation around a rotation axis in a direction perpendicular to the reciprocative relative movement direction and in parallel to the magnetic medium, and elasticity in the direction perpendicular to the sensor element. A load between 50 mN and 80 mN is applied to press onto the magnetic medium.
US08159206B2
A voltage regulator comprises first and second bipolar transistors operating at different current densities; a resistance is connected between their bases across which ΔVBE appears. A third bipolar transistor is connected such that its base voltage is equal to that of the first transistor or differs by a PTAT amount. A current mirror balances the collector current of one of the second and third transistors with an image of the collector current of the first transistor when an output node is at a unique operating point. The operating point includes both PTAT and CTAT components, the ratio of which can be established to provide a desired temperature characteristic. A feedback transistor provides current to the bases of the bipolar transistors and to the output node and is driven by the current mirror output to regulate the voltage at the output node by negative feedback.
US08159202B2
A controller includes a hysteretic circuit that provides a first ON level pulse when a corresponding first negative regulated voltage rises above a respective first voltage threshold. Similarly, a second ON level pulse is provided when a corresponding second positive regulated voltage falls below a respective second voltage threshold. The hysteretic circuit provides an OFF level pulse when one of first and second switch currents increases above a current threshold. A switch control circuit receives the first and second ON level pulses and the OFF level pulse, and provides first and second switch control outputs to separately regulate the first and second regulated voltages.
US08159201B2
The present invention discloses a linear regulator and a voltage regulation method. The method comprises: providing a power transistor for converting a supply voltage to an output voltage to a load according to the conduction condition of the power transistor; controlling the conduction condition of the power transistor according to a comparison between a feedback signal relating to the output voltage and a reference voltage; obtaining a signal relating to a load condition; and controlling the conduction capability of the power transistor according to the signal relating to the load condition.
US08159190B2
The method for controlling the end of discharge of a rechargeable battery according to the invention comprises determining the transition frequency of the battery and determining an end-of-discharge criterion of the battery according to said transition frequency. Said end-of-discharge criterion is representative for example of a predetermined maximum value of the slope of the transition frequency. The transition frequency can be determined periodically during use of the battery, discharging being interrupted by regulating means according to said transition frequency.
US08159187B2
An operational amplifier connects to a midpoint between a plurality of serially connected battery cells constituting a secondary battery to provide a charging circuit for inhibiting a charge/discharge current from flowin to the midpoint and an input/output current from flowing from the midpoint to each battery cell. The charging circuit includes excess voltage detectors for detecting whether the voltage is an excess voltage, and a charging controller for determining an overcharge state of each battery cell on the basis of the voltages detected and controlling an ON/OFF of a charging switch. Voltage followers include an operational amplifier, NPN transistor, and the like, connected to a midpoint between a first battery cell and a second battery cell and a midpoint between the second battery cell and the third battery, respectively. The outputs of the voltage followers are configured as the grounds of the excess voltage detectors, respectively.
US08159185B2
A battery charger capable of correcting the deterioration of a secondary battery left unattended in a charge state and capable of accurately grasping a residual capacity. A battery pack having a nonvolatile memory and a secondary battery cell is attached to the battery charger. Full charge capacity data indicating a chargeable capacity of the battery pack at full charge and a left-charged battery deterioration correcting table to correct the full charge capacity data in accordance with the number of charge cycles are read out from the nonvolatile memory. The charged state data is counted each time it is stored in the nonvolatile memory. A battery cycle deterioration correcting value is specified based on the number of charge cycles, and full charge capacity data is corrected using the specified correcting value. The full charge capacity stored in the nonvolatile memory is rewritten.
US08159181B2
This disclosure relates to a voltage converter including a control circuit, a converter sub-circuit, and a single coil, where when the voltage converter can perform bi-directional voltage conversion using the single coil. In other words, the voltage converter can generate one or more regulated output voltages in both directions from one or more input voltages using the same coil.
US08159176B2
A motor-driving device comprising: a switching element to control a current passed through a first coil of a stepping motor including the first and a second coils electromagnetically coupled; a rectifier element to be energized in a ground-side-to-second-coil direction; a coil-current-detection unit to detect a current passed through the first coil; a regeneration-current-detection unit to detect a current passed through the rectifier element; a control unit to turn off the switching element when the current passed through the first coil reaches a predetermined-set current based on a detection result of the coil-current-detection unit; and a negative-current-detection unit to detect whether a negative current greater in absolute value than a predetermined-set value is passed through the rectifier element based on a detection result of the regeneration-current-detection unit, the control unit keeping the switching element off when the negative current is not passed, based on a detection result of the negative-current-detection unit.
US08159172B2
A method for controlling an electric motor by using the PWM technique including the steps of: applying to the clamps of the electric motor an electric voltage varying in time, which displays a square waveform and consists of a sequence of pulses having a uniform wave period and a variable width; adjusting the average value of the electric voltage by varying the width of the pulses; determining the overall required width variation; subdividing the overall required width variation in a determined number of partial variations, the overall sum of which is equivalent to the overall required width variation; and gradually varying the width amplitude of the pulses of the electric voltage by applying in a sequence a corresponding partial variation to each pulse, so that the difference between the width amplitude of a pulse and the width of a following pulse is equivalent to the corresponding partial variation.
US08159163B2
A phase current estimation device of a motor includes: an inverter which uses a pulse width modulation signal to sequentially commutate an electric flow to a motor of a three-phase alternating current; a pulse width modulation signal generation unit generating the pulse width modulation signal from a carrier signal; a control unit performing a startup control and a self control of the motor using the inverter; a direct current sensor detecting a direct current of the inverter; and a phase current estimation unit estimating a phase current based on the direct current detected by the direct current sensor.
US08159156B2
A lighting system for areal illumination is disclosed which includes a remote driver and a plurality of fixtures including luminaires, control devices, and/or standalone sensors. A method of commissioning a lighting system is also disclosed which includes causing a light source co-located with each luminaire to emit a signal, detecting the signal at light sensors co-located with each luminaire, converting the signals obtained by the light sensors into distance measurements between luminaires, creating a map recording the relative location of luminaires, and assigning luminaires to groups based on their relative locations in the map. A movable orb region containing luminaires can also be defined.
US08159151B2
A reference voltage source generates a reference voltage for adjusting an electric current for a dimming operation. The first current source generates a first current. A first current mirror circuit includes multiple output terminals, duplicates the first current, and outputs multiple first duplicated currents via the multiple output terminals. Multiple first switches are provided on paths for the respective multiple first duplicated currents. A converting resistor, with one terminal set to a fixed electric potential, is provided on a path for the multiple first duplicated currents output from the first current mirror circuit. A decoder circuit receives a control signal from an external circuit, and controls the ON/OFF operations of the multiple first switches. The reference voltage source outputs, as the reference voltage, a voltage that corresponds to a voltage drop that occurs at a converting resistor.
US08159136B2
A plasma lamp is described with resonant frequency tuning capability and associated methods for tuning. One tuning method allows plasma lamp manufacturer to set the frequency of lamps to several discrete predetermined values. For example, most lamps that are near the center of a frequency distribution can be tuned to a nominal value such as 918.7 MHz. Other frequencies can also be tuned to increase manufacturing yield and improve lamp performance.
US08159133B2
A plasma display panel is disclosed. The plasma display panel includes a front substrate, a rear substrate positioned opposite the front substrate, and a barrier rib that is positioned between the front substrate and the rear substrate to partition discharge cells. The barrier rib includes a transverse barrier rib and a longitudinal barrier rib crossing each other. Depressions are positioned to be spaced apart from each other at a barrier crossing of the transverse barrier rib and the longitudinal barrier rib.
US08159124B2
In order to provide an active matrix display device in which a thick insulating film is preferably formed around an organic semiconductive film of a thin film luminescent device without damaging the thin film luminescent device, the active matrix display device is provided with a bank layer (bank) along a data line (sig) and a scanning line (gate) to suppress formation of parasitic capacitance in the data line (sig), in which the bank layer (bank) surrounds a region that forms the organic semiconductive film of the thin film luminescent device by an ink-jet process. The bank layer (bank) includes a lower insulating layer formed of a thick organic material and an upper insulating layer of an organic material which is deposited on the lower insulating layer and has a smaller thickness so as to avoid contact of the organic semiconductive film with the upper insulating layer.
US08159111B2
A driving device includes a motor, a clutch gear, a first rotating portion, a second rotating portion, a piezoelectric assembly, and a controlling unit. The motor includes a rotating shaft. The clutch gear is fixed to the rotating shaft. The first rotating portion sleeved on the rotating shaft includes a first end meshing with the clutch gear and a second end opposite to the first end. The second rotating portion is engaged with the second end. The piezoelectric assembly is sandwiched between the second end and the second rotating portion. The controlling unit is electrically connected to the motor and the piezoelectric assembly. The controlling unit is configured for storing a predetermined voltage, and determining whether a voltage output by the piezoelectric assembly equals to or exceeds the predetermined voltage. A protection method for the driving device is also provided.
US08159102B2
A rotor 14 is rotatably disposed around a stator 13 that is provided with a plurality of magnetic poles 13a. The inner circumferential face of a rotor frame 14b of the rotor is provided with a magnet 15 magnetized to have alternately opposite polarities in a direction opposing the stator, and magnetized to have alternately opposite polarities in a direction opposing a substrate. The outer circumferential ends of the magnetic poles of the stator are provided with a first extended portion 13c that extends from a magnetic pole base 13d to a substrate 11 side, and a second extended portion 13b that extends from the magnetic pole base to a side opposite the substrate side. A face of the substrate opposing the rotor is provided with a FG pattern 19. When a distance between an end of the rotor frame on the substrate side and the substrate is taken as A, a distance between an end of the first extended portion on the substrate side and the substrate is taken as B, and a distance between the end of the first extended portion on the substrate side and the magnet is taken as G, B≦A≦B+G is satisfied. Accordingly, it is possible to improve the precision in detecting the rotational speed by reducing noise superimposed on the FG signal, while securing a high driving efficiency.
US08159097B2
A rotor 14 is rotatably disposed around a stator 13 that is provided with a plurality of magnetic poles 13a. The inner circumferential face of the rotor is provided with a magnet 15 on whose face opposing the stator main magnetization is performed, and on whose face opposing the substrate FG magnetization is performed. The outer circumferential ends of the magnetic poles of the stator are provided with extended portions 13b and 13c that vertically extend from the magnetic pole base 13d. A face of the substrate opposing the rotor is provided with a FG pattern 19 opposing the magnet 15. The FG pattern is disposed on an outer side in a radial direction of the outer circumferential face of the stator. When an angle formed by a straight line connecting a central position in the radial direction of the magnet and a central position in the radial direction of the FG pattern with respect to a central axis of a driving shaft is taken as θ, and an angle formed by a direction of the FG magnetization with respect to the central axis of the driving shaft is taken as A, 0 degree
US08159091B2
A DC/DC converter includes an input terminal for receiving an input voltage; an output terminal for providing an output voltage; a ground terminal for providing a reference voltage; a plurality of charge pump capacitors including at least a first charge pump capacitor, a second charge pump capacitor, and a third charge pump capacitor; and a switch circuit. The switch circuit includes a plurality of switches configured to allow the plurality of charge pump capacitors connected in a hybrid parallel-series arrangement between the input terminal and the ground terminal or between the input terminal and the output terminal by selectively conducting a specified portion of the switches.
US08159076B2
A method of producing an electronic connection device, including: a) formation, in a plane of a support substrate, of at least one first contact element and, in a direction approximately perpendicular to the plane, of at least one second contact element having a first end in electrical contact with the first contact element or elements and a second end, the second contact element or elements including one or more metal tracks standing up along the direction perpendicular to the surface of the substrate; b) then positioning at least one electrical or electronic component in contact with the first contact element or elements; and c) encapsulation of the component(s) and of the first and second contact elements, at least the second end or ends of the second contact element or elements being flush with the surface of the encapsulating material.
US08159074B2
A semiconductor chip includes first, second and third metal interconnects and an insulating layer over a semiconductor substrate. First, second and third openings in the insulating layer are over first, second and third contact points of the first, second and third metal interconnects, respectively. A fourth metal interconnect over the insulating layer connects the first and second contact points. The fourth metal interconnect includes a first metal layer and a second metal layer. The first metal layer is under but not at a sidewall of the second metal layer. The semiconductor chip includes a metal bump connected to the third contact point through the third opening, and a dielectric layer over the fourth metal interconnect and the insulating layer. No opening is in the dielectric layer on the fourth metal interconnect, and the metal bump has a top higher than a top surface of the dielectric layer.
US08159061B2
A stacked semiconductor module is made by stacking a second semiconductor device having a second semiconductor chip mounted to the top surface of a second semiconductor substrate above the top surface of a first semiconductor device having a first semiconductor chip mounted to a first semiconductor substrate. The top surface of the first semiconductor substrate is provided with a first connection terminal and the bottom surface of the first semiconductor substrate is provided with an external connection terminal. A region of the bottom surface of the second semiconductor substrate lying opposite to the second semiconductor chip is provided with a second connection terminal. A conductive connecting member connects the first connection terminal to the second connection terminal.
US08159059B2
The present invention relates to a microelectromechanical device having a simple structure in which strains of the semiconductor substrate can be reduced. Both a semiconductor substrate 17 and a second substrate 14 are disposed to face a first main surface 13a of the first substrate 13 and connected to the first main surface 13a of the first substrate 13. With this structure, no internal line or side surface line is necessary, and the structure of the first substrate 13 can be simplified. The length of the line can be decreased to decrease the resistance of the line, and good electrical characteristics can be achieved at low energy consumption. The strains in the semiconductor substrate 17 can also be reduced.
US08159055B2
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor element; a group of back-inner terminals coupled with the semiconductor element through bonding wires and arranged in an area array shape so as to be exposed inside of the bottom; a group of back-outer terminals arranged outside the group of back-inner terminals; a group of front-outer terminals located immediately above the back-outer terminals to be exposed from the front surface, which are electrically coupled with the back-outer terminals located immediately therebelow through coupling conductors, respectively; and a sealing resin which seals the semiconductor element and bonding wires and non-exposed portions of said back-inner terminals, back-outer terminals and front-outer terminals. On at least the respective terminal faces of said back-inner terminals, back-outer terminals and front-outer terminals, noble-metal plated layers are formed.
US08159049B2
There is disclosed a photo-detector array including a plurality of sub-arrays of photo-detectors, the photo-detectors of each sub-array being formed on a substrate with an active area of each photo-detector being formed on a surface of the substrate, there further being formed for each photo-detector a conductive via through the substrate from an upper surface thereof to a lower surface thereof to connect the active area of each photo-detector to the lower surface of the substrate, wherein a plurality of said sub-arrays of photo-detectors are placed adjacent to each other in a matrix to form the photo-detector array. An imaging system comprising: a radiation detector including such a photo detector array, a radiation source facing the radiation detector, and means for controlling the radiation detector and the radiation source is also disclosed. A method for making such an array is also disclosed.
US08159047B2
A semiconductor device includes conductive pillars disposed vertically over a seed layer, a conformal insulating layer formed over the conductive pillars, and a conformal conductive layer formed over the conformal insulating layer. A first conductive pillar, the conformal insulating layer, and the conformal conductive layer constitute a vertically oriented integrated capacitor. The semiconductor device further includes a semiconductor die or component mounted over the seed layer, an encapsulant deposited over the semiconductor die or component and around the conformal conductive layer, and a first interconnect structure formed over a first side of the encapsulant. The first interconnect structure is electrically connected to a second conductive pillar, and includes an integrated passive device. The semiconductor device further includes a second interconnect structure formed over a second side of the encapsulant opposite the first side of the encapsulant.
US08159042B2
An anti-fuse structure that included a buried electrically conductive, e.g., metallic layer as an anti-fuse material as well as a method of forming such an anti-fuse structure are provided. According to the present invention, the inventive anti-fuse structure comprises regions of leaky dielectric between interconnects. The resistance between these original interconnects starts decreasing when two adjacent interconnects are biased and causes a time-dependent dielectric breakdown, TDDB, phenomenon to occur. Decreasing of the resistance between adjacent interconnects can also be expedited via increasing the local temperature.
US08159025B2
A trench-typed power MOS transistor comprises a trench-typed gate area, which includes a gate conductor and an isolation layer. A thin sidewall region of the isolation layer is formed between the gate conductor and a well region. A thick sidewall region of the isolation layer is formed between the gate conductor and a double diffusion region. A thick bottom region of the isolation layer is formed between the gate conductor and a deep well region.
US08159017B2
A multi-layered non-volatile memory device and a method of manufacturing the same. The non-volatile memory device may include a plurality of first semiconductor layers having a stack structure. A plurality of control gate electrodes may extend across the first semiconductor layers. A first body contact layer may extend across the first semiconductor layers. A plurality of charge storage layers may be interposed between the control gate electrodes and the first semiconductor layers.
US08159014B2
A silicon-on-insulator device has a localized biasing structure formed in the insulator layer of the SOI. The localized biasing structure includes a patterned conductor that provides a biasing signal to distinct regions of the silicon layer of the SOI. The conductor is recessed into the insulator layer to provide a substantially planar interface with the silicon layer. The conductor is connected to a bias voltage source. In an embodiment, a plurality of conductor is provided that respectively connected to a plurality of voltage sources. Thus, different regions of the silicon layer are biased by different bias signals.
US08159013B2
There is provided a layout structure of a semiconductor integrated circuit capable of preventing the thinning of a metal wiring line close to a cell boundary and wire breakage therein without involving increases in the amount of data for OPC correction and OPC process time. In a region interposed between a power supply line and a ground line each placed to extend in a first direction, first and second cells each having a transistor and an intra-cell line each for implementing a circuit function are placed to be adjacent to each other in the first direction. In a boundary portion between the first and second cells, a metal wiring line extending in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction is placed so as not to short-circuit the power supply line and the ground line.
US08159008B2
Trench-generated transistor structures, methods for fabricating transistors using a trench defined in a semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) wafer, design structures for a trench-generated transistor, and other trench-generated device structures. The source and drain of the transistor are defined by doped regions in the semiconductor material of the handle substrate of the SOI wafer. The gate electrode may be defined from the semiconductor layer of the SOI wafer, which is separated from the handle wafer by an insulating layer. Alternatively, the gate electrode may be defined as a conventional gate stack on a shallow trench isolation region in the semiconductor layer or as a conventional gate stack in one of the BEOL interconnect levels.
US08159005B2
An image sensor and manufacturing method thereof are provided. The image sensor can include a readout circuitry, an interconnection, a second interlayer dielectric, an image sensing device, a contact plug, and a sidewall dielectric. The contact plug can electrically connect the first conductive type layer to the interconnection through a via hole passing through the image sensing device. The sidewall dielectric can be disposed on a sidewall of the second conductive type layer within the via hole.
US08158998B2
The present invention discloses a high-reflectivity and low-defect density LED structure. A patterned dielectric layer is embedded in a sapphire substrate via semiconductor processes, such as etching and deposition. The dielectric layer is formed of two materials which are alternately stacked and have different refractive indexes. An N-type semiconductor layer, an activation layer and a light emitting layer which is a P-type semiconductor layer are sequentially formed on the sapphire substrate. An N-type electrode and a P-type electrode are respectively coated on the N-type semiconductor layer and the P-type semiconductor layer. The dielectric layer can lower the defect density of the light emitting layer during the epitaxial growth process. Further, the dielectric layer can function as a high-reflectivity area to reflect light generated by the light emitting layer and the light is projected downward to be emitted from the top or the lateral. Thereby is greatly increased the light-extraction efficiency.
US08158996B2
A semiconductor light emitting device package according to an embodiment comprising: a package body comprising a groove section; an electrode in the groove section; at least one semiconductor light emitting device electrically connected to the electrode in the groove section of the package body; an interconnection pattern on an outer peripheral surface of the package body and electrically connected to the electrode, wherein a part of the interconnection pattern is on a bottom surface of the package body; and a metal pattern is on the bottom surface of the package body corresponding to an area in which the semiconductor light emitting device is located.
US08158991B2
Light-emitting elements in which an increase of driving voltage can be suppressed are provided. Light-emitting devices whose power consumption is reduced by including such light-emitting elements are also provided. In a light-emitting element having an EL layer between an anode and a cathode, a first layer in which carriers can be produced is formed between the cathode and the EL layer and in contact with the cathode, a second layer which transfers electrons produced in the first layer is formed in contact with the first layer, and a third layer which injects the electrons received from the second layer into the EL layer is formed in contact with the second layer.
US08158981B2
The present invention provides a photosensitive resin composition comprising a component (a): a siloxane resin obtained by hydrolyzing and condensing a silane compound comprising a compound represented by the general formula (1) shown below, a component (b): a solvent dissolving the component (a) therein, and a component (c): a quinonediazide sulfonic acid ester. wherein R1 represents an organic group; A represents a divalent organic group; and X represents a hydrolyzable group, wherein plural X groups in one molecule may be the same or different.
US08158978B2
An inverter, a logic circuit including the inverter and method of fabricating the same are provided. The inverter includes a load transistor of a depletion mode, and a driving transistor of an enhancement mode, which is connected to the load transistor. The load transistor may have a first oxide layer as a first channel layer. The driving transistor may have a second oxide layer as a second channel layer.
US08158976B2
Example embodiments relate to thin-film transistors (TFT) and methods for fabricating the same. A thin-film transistor according to example embodiments may include a gate, a gate insulation layer, a channel layer including a first oxide semiconductor layer and a second oxide semiconductor layer, and a source and drain on opposite sides of the channel layer. The first oxide semiconductor layer may have relatively large crystal grains compared to the second oxide semiconductor layer.
US08158962B1
A neutron absorbing insert for use in a fuel rack and method of manufacturing the same. In ones aspect, the invention is a neutron absorbing apparatus for insertion into a fuel rack comprising: a sleeve having a first wall and a second wall, the first and second walls forming a chevron shape; and the first and second wall being a single panel of a metal matrix composite having neutron absorbing particulate reinforcement bent into the chevron shape along a crease.
US08158957B2
The disclosure relates generally to methods and apparatus for using telescope optics and a fiber array spectral translator-based (“FAST”) spectroscopic system for improved imaging, spectral analysis, and interactive probing of a sample. In an embodiment, the confocality of a fiber array spectral translator-based spectroscopic system is improved through the use of structured illumination and/or structured collection of photons. User input may be received and acted upon to allow a user to interactively in real time and/or near real time view and analyze specific regions of the sample.
US08158956B2
A device and method for curing photoactivatable paint coatings. An exemplary device may include a light chamber housing supported by a frame and undercarriage, the wall portions of the light chamber having a peripheral region terminating at a light emission region. A UV light source may be located within the light chamber. A motorized carrier may be provided and configured to controllably index and/or oscillate the UV light source along a travel path within the housing. The light chamber may be located adjacent a target paint cure location on a work piece, with the UV light emission region facing the paint cure location. Once properly located, the UV light source may be indexed and/or oscillated along the travel path to deliver UV light to the target paint cure location so as to cure UV curable paint thereon.
US08158955B2
An apparatus capable of improving image quality by making it possible to suck specimens of different sizes electrostatically, and uniformalizing an electric field of a specimen edge portion, while suppressing increase in prime cost is provided. Specimen holding means is an electrostatic chuck, a master flat plane part surrounding a specimen of the largest size of specimen sizes, and an opening surrounding a specimen size except for the largest specimen size are included at an outer peripheral portion of the electrostatic chuck, a dummy specimen attachable to and detachable from the electrostatic chuck is included, and at a time of switching the specimen size, a dummy specimen is selected (or may be prevented from being used).
US08158954B2
The invention provides a lens system for a plurality of charged particle beams. The lens system comprises an excitation coil providing a magnetic flux to a pole piece unit having a first pole piece, a second pole piece and at least two openings for charged particle beams, wherein the two openings are arranged in one row, thereby forming a lens row, and wherein the pole piece unit has an elongated shape.
US08158947B2
A voltage divider for supplying a photomultiplier. The voltage divider may include a plurality of active circuits, each of the active circuits configured to establish divided voltage levels at separate ports of a photomultiplier.
US08158946B2
An NDIR gas sensor takes advantage of a conventional packaging embodiment commonly used to house detectors of all kinds comprising a can, header and a dish sample chamber all welded together to form a single detector unit. The can forms the top, a hollowed out header body forms the middle and a custom dish sample chamber forms the bottom of a completely functioning NDIR gas sensor. Whereas the header body not only accommodates all the optoelectronic and optical parts on its top surface providing the required signal processing functions for the gas sensor, part of its body is excavated below to accommodate a custom dish sample chamber in communication with the gas outside whose concentration level is to be measured. A lens and windows are also fabricated on the top part of this header body so that infrared radiation can enter the dish sample chamber below and then be redirected back above for signal processing. To achieve this optical feat, strategic reflecting surfaces are impregnated on the top of the can housing so as to direct infrared radiation to the dish sample chamber below through a lens and then redirect the radiation above via another window for subsequent signal detection and processing.
US08158939B2
An ion beam apparatus and a method for providing an energy-filtered primary ion beam are described. Therein, a primary ion beam having an asymmetric first energy distribution is generated by means of an ion source. The primary ion beam is energy filtered using, for example, a retarding lens.
US08158938B2
(1) part or all of the number, coordinates and size/shape and imaging sequence of imaging points each for observation, the imaging position change method and imaging conditions can be calculated automatically from CAD data, (2) a combination of input information and output information for imaging recipe creation can be set arbitrarily, and (3) decision is made of imaging or processing at an arbitrary imaging point as to whether to be successful/unsuccessful and in case a failure is determined, a relief process can be conducted in which the imaging point or imaging sequence is changed.
US08158932B2
A system for analyzing ions comprises: an ion source; a FAIMS cell comprising: (a) a gas inlet; (b) an outer electrode having a generally concave inner surface and comprising: (i) an ion inlet operable to receive the ions from the ion source and a carrier gas from the gas inlet; and (ii) an ion outlet; and (c) an inner electrode having a conduit therethrough and having a generally convex outer surface that is disposed in a spaced-apart and facing arrangement relative to the inner surface of the outer electrode for defining an ion separation region therebetween; and a mass analyzer for mass analyzing ions transmitted by the FAIMS cell through the ion outlet, wherein the inner electrode is moveable between a first position and a second position, the first position facilitating movement of the ions through the ion separation region, the second position facilitating movement of the ions through the conduit.
US08158930B2
The invention relates to a mass spectrometry calibration system that may be performed in real-time using the information contained within a sample without the addition of specific calibrants. When applied to a sample, such as a proteomic sample, the calibration system may identify the exact masses of peptides in the sample. The system involves the use of mathematical algorithms that iteratively estimate the error in the measurement and update the calibration parameters accordingly; thereby resulting in peptide mass identification.
US08158929B2
A specular array for radiometric calibration (SPARC) includes a plurality of spherical mirrors disposed upon a uniform background as at least one array of reflective points, at least two points reflecting a different intensity of directly incident sunlight. Each mirror has a radius of curvature and a diameter, the radius of curvature and the diameter providing a field of regard, the collective mirrors providing a collective minimum calibratability field of regard. Based upon the radius of curvature, the transmittance value of the sun to each mirror and from each mirror to a sensor being calibrated, the intensity of calibration light provided to the input aperture of a sensor to be calibrated within the collective minimum calibratability field of regard may be determined and used as a baseline for sensor calibration. An associated method of combined spatial and radiometric calibration is also provided.
US08158925B2
A rotor type orientation sensor includes a housing, a plurality of light emitters, two light receivers and a rotor. The housing has a circular tunnel and a plurality of first openings connecting to the tunnel and two second openings located on two sides of the first openings. The light emitters emit light into the tunnel through the first openings. The light receivers receive light from the tunnel through the second openings. The rotor is arranged in the tunnel, whereby while the rotor type orientation sensor is tilting, the rotor rotates toward the direction of gravity force, at least a portion of light emitted from the light emitters is blocked by the rotor, one of the light receivers is blocked by the rotor, the light receivers can respectively receive light with predetermined intensity and correspondingly output electric signals with predetermined strength.
US08158919B2
An image capturing system includes an image capturing section that includes a plurality of light receiving elements configured to receive light in a first wavelength range and light in a second wavelength range, a control section that controls the light in the second wavelength range to be received by each of the plurality of light receiving elements more frequently than the light in the first wavelength range, where the light in the second wavelength range has a lower spectral intensity than the light in the first wavelength range, and an image generating section that generates an image by using the light in the first wavelength range received by the plurality of light receiving elements at a given timing and the light in the second wavelength range received by the plurality of light receiving elements at a different timing.
US08158912B2
A fan apparency arrangement for an appliance is disclosed. The fan apparency arrangement includes a chamber having a port; a fan in the chamber for moving air out of the chamber, the fan having a discharge end, and an intake end having an intake tube; and a sail switch disposed in the intake tube. When activated, the fan moves air out of the chamber through the port and creates a pressure difference between opposite ends of the intake tube, the pressure difference causing the sail switch to change position and signal that the fan is activated. An appliance incorporating such a fan apparency arrangement is also disclosed.
US08158911B2
A heating apparatus comprises heating elements arranged of a sheet form and having notches or through holes provided therein, a side wall member made of an electrically conductive material and arranged to surround and define the heating space, and holding members disposed at the heating space side of the side wall member for holding at one end the heating elements. Also, extending members are provided, each member comprising an extending-through portion arranged to project from the heating space side of the side wall member and extend through the notch or through hole between both ends in the heating element and projected portions arranged to project at both, front and back, sides of the heating element from the extending-through portion in a direction, which is orthogonal to the extending direction of the extending-through portion, thus to inhibit the displacement of the heating elements along the extending direction.
US08158908B2
A device includes an electrically heatable honeycomb body, particularly for treating an exhaust gas flow of a mobile internal combustion machine. The device includes sheet metal foils forming channels and being in electrical contact with a housing. The housing has a terminal for connection to a voltage source, a plurality of contact points disposed remotely from the terminal for contacting the sheet metal foils and a respective contact conductor between the terminal and each contact point. The contact conductors have the same electrical resistance. A motor vehicle having at least one such device is also provided.
US08158907B2
A low alloy or mild steel weld containing a slag-modifying additive selected from the group consisting of antimony, bismuth, germanium and compounds thereof;A weld wire for forming a low alloy or mild steel weld containing a slag-modifying additive selected from the group consisting of antimony, bismuth, germanium and compounds thereof.
US08158905B2
A method and apparatus for controlling arc shielding gas during an arc welding operation is disclosed. The method may include the steps of actuating a first valve connected to an arc initiation source of gas to selectively allow arc initiation gas to flow through a mixing chamber; initiating an arc; actuating a second valve connected to a primary shielding source of gas to selectively allow primary shielding gas to flow through the mixing chamber; actuating the first valve to reduce, if needed, the arc initiation gas flow from the arc initiation source of gas; and continuing with the arc welding operation. The arc welding operation may also include actuating the first valve to cause the arc welding operation to operate in a different metal transfer mode when it is desirable, or when the arc welding operation is nearing completion.
US08158899B2
A waterproof operating device has a pressure resistant housing including a support surface with one or more openings therethrough; a cover plate having corresponding openings therethrough; an elastic member having opposing major surfaces facing the support and cover plates with a protrusion extending from one major surface through an opening in the support surface. A button shaft extends through each pair of aligned openings into the protrusion. Each opposing major surface of the elastic member is maintained in direct continuous contact with the cover and support plates from the openings in the support and cover plates outward to beyond an area covered by the head portion of the button. The protrusion is dimensional for the selected elastic material and button dimensions to resist elongation from water pressure at greater than sixty meter depths, sufficient to actuate a switch element proximal to the distal end of the protrusion.
US08158897B2
An actuating device on a vehicle steering wheel includes two shifting buttons which are disposed on an upper side and a lower side of the steering wheel. The shifting buttons are guided together rectilinearly on guide pins during a shifting operation. The guide pins are held in sleeves of a supporting plate and are fastened to a steering wheel cover.
US08158888B2
A circuit substrate suitable for being connected to at least one solder ball is provided. The circuit substrate includes a substrate, at least one bonding pad, and a solder mask. The substrate has a surface. The bonding pad is disposed on the surface of the substrate for being connected to the solder ball. The solder mask covers the surface of the substrate and has an opening for exposing a portion of the bonding pad. The opening has a first end and a second end. As compared with the second end, the first end is much farther from the bonding pad, and a diameter of the first end is larger than that of the second end.
US08158885B2
Disclosed embodiments relate to a wall plate, such as for light switches and electrical outlets, that may be painted to coordinate with the color of a room's walls, trim, or décor. The wall plate includes a transparent cover plate and an optional backing. A reverse side of the transparent cover plate has a prepared surface that is intentionally adapted to be painted by being textured, deglossed, roughened, etched, treated, sand-blasted, or the like. In use, the optional backing can cover and protect the painted surface. The transparent cover plate can be made of molded thermoplastic resin and the backing can be a plate or sheet of suitable material. Both will typically contain openings to provide access to switches, outlets, plugs, jacks, mounting posts, etc., as well as any holes requires by fasteners such as screws.
US08158880B1
Photovoltaic structures for the conversion of solar irradiance into electrical free energy. In a particular implementation, a photovoltaic cell includes a granular semiconductor and oxide layer with nanometer-size absorber semiconductor grains surrounded by a matrix of oxide. The semiconductor and oxide layer may be disposed between electron and hole conducting layers. In some implementations, multiple semiconductor and oxide layers can be deposited.
US08158870B2
A system, method, and computer readable storage medium generates an audio fingerprint for an input audio clip that is robust to differences in key, instrumentation, and other performance variations. The audio fingerprint includes a sequence of intervalgrams that represent a melody in an audio clip according pitch intervals between different time points in the audio clip. The fingerprint for an input audio clip can be compared to a set of reference fingerprints in a reference database to determine a matching reference audio clip.
US08158869B2
A steel drum teaching tool includes a circular base divided into twelve radial sectors and three concentric rings, defining 36 note elements. An adjacent note name in a first radial direction is separated by an interval of a fifth, and an adjacent note name in a second radial direction, by a fourth. A translucent mask is rotatably affixed to the base and has a central portion divided into twelve radial sectors and three concentric rings corresponding to the base. A pair of ring sections extend about seven of the radial sectors and are divided into inner and outer sector elements corresponding to the central portion. The inner ring sector elements have indicia designating notes in a respective key to which the mask is aligned; the outer ring sector elements, indicia designating notes in a respective relative minor key. Additional aspects include an electronic tool and a method of use.
