US08312457B2
The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for maintaining a count for lock-free stack access. A numeric value representative of the total count of nodes in a linked list is maintained at the head node for the linked list. Commands for pushing and popping nodes appropriately update the total count at a new head node when nodes are added to and removed from the linked list. Thus, determining the count of nodes in a linked list is an order 1 (or O(1)) operation, and remains constant even when the size of a linked list changes.
US08312453B2
A mechanism for communication in a virtualization system via multiple generic channels of a paravirtualized device is disclosed. A method of the invention includes creating one or more communication devices for each VM managed by a hypervisor of a host machine, exposing a plurality of ports on top of each created communication device to the VM that the communication device is associated with, specifying options for each port to enable the port to be used to establish a communication channel between the hypervisor and the VM, the options including a port name to associate with both of the port and the communication channel of the port, and creating a direct connection between two or more VMs via their associated communication devices in order to enable direct communication between the two or more VMs by utilizing the ports of their associated communication devices.
US08312448B2
In a configuration-to-order (CTO) software provisioning system, software upgrade/downgrade support, software running change support, and software file server management are provided in part using microcode typically stored on a user computer BIOS.
US08312447B2
Generating a next build version of a software application using information generated during a previous build version at the compiler and linker levels. The information describes the structure and build decisions applied during creation of the previous build version. Generation of the current build version is modified based on the information to minimize the binary differences between the builds. In some embodiments, a linker arranges the contents during the previous build in anticipation of the current build. Further, the linker pads the previous build with unused address space to minimize relocation of the contents of the build.
US08312445B2
Computer implemented methods, data processing systems and computer program products install deliverables into user-specified install locations. A user-specified install location is provided. Software virtual product data is extracted from a software bundle. Software virtual product data is stored within the user-specified install location.
US08312444B2
A method for altering and preferably optimizing the performance of system memory of a computer system. The method includes identifying the motherboard and the memory module of the computer system, and then searching multiple SPD update files associated with multiple motherboards and containing data corresponding to physical and operational characteristics of multiple memory modules. From these SPD update files, a compatible SPD update file is identified that is compatible with the motherboard and contains data corresponding to physical and operational characteristics of the memory module. Thereafter, a software utility is used to erase pre-existing SPD data stored on the SPD circuit device and then write and verify installation of the data of the compatible SPD update file on the SPD circuit device. New SPD settings for the memory module are then enabled based on the data of the compatible SPD update file.
US08312430B2
A mechanism for providing a source code control system that employs test case execution results to mandate that software code have a specific level of quality for check-in to a central repository. A request to check-in a modified copy of a source code file to a repository is received, wherein the modified copy comprises changes to the source code file located in the repository. The modified copy of the source code file is placed in a quality check pending state in the repository. Responsive to an occurrence of a specific event or expiration of a set time period, applicable regression test cases are executed against the changes in the modified copy. A determination is made as to whether the regression test cases are successful. If the regression test cases are successful, the changes in the modified copy are committed to the source code file located in the repository.
US08312427B2
To facilitate code building, a user can identify an expression to be copied at a position in a source section of program code. Occurrences of the user-selected expression form a set of candidate code expressions. The user-selected expression may include some or all occurrences of a variable within an enclosing scope in the source section, program statements, etc. The formed set of candidate code expressions is presented to the user for user selection of one or more of the expression occurrences within the set. The set occurrences selected by the user are pasted to one or more target locations.
US08312404B2
A method for modeling bond wires in an IC package for predicting noise effects generated by electromagnetic coupling in complex bond wire configurations. A look-up table of equivalent LC circuit models for the bond wires is generated that accurately predicts the effects of the bond wire circuitry of a signal transmission system. Switch and mirror techniques are applied to reduce the bond wire configurations necessary to simulate. The method includes: setting parameters related to the IC package layout of groups of bond wires; sub-dividing each group of bond wires into regions, each including a portion of the bond wire or its corresponding pad, and generating dissection planes for the regions consisting of the bond wires; performing a 3D simulation on the regions consisting of the corresponding pads, and a 2D simulation for each dissection plane; constructing equivalent circuit models for groups of bond wires and corresponding pads based on the 3D and 2D simulations results; inputting the equivalent circuit models into a circuit simulator to measure the noise effects; and modifying the layout geometry to meet noise targets.
US08312401B2
A method for smart defect review is disclosed. The method includes pre-processing a design layout into a plurality of layout based pattern groups, dividing the design layout into a plurality of cells, overlapping the cells belong to the same layout based pattern groups, extracting a plurality of defect data of all defects on a wafer, constructing a plurality of layout based defect composite pattern groups, executing layout pattern match to obtain each individual layout based defect composite pattern group, performing some defect sample selection rules to each layout based defect composite pattern group, sorting the layout based defect composite pattern groups into different defect types, obtaining a defect image file by reviewing different sample number of defect image from each layout based defect composite pattern group, and generating a defect pattern library or a defect yield prediction by performing a defect yield diagnosis to the defect image file.
US08312395B2
A method includes capturing an image of the pattern using one or more scans across a surface of the partially completed wafer. The method includes processing information associated with the captured image of the pattern in a first format (e.g., pixel domain) into a second format, e.g., transform domain. The method includes determining defect information associated with the image of the pattern in the second format and processing the defect information (e.g., wafer identification, product identification, layer information, x-y die scanned) to identify at least one defect associated with a spatial location of a repeating pattern on the partially completed wafer provided by a reticle. The method includes identifying the reticle associated with the defect and a stepper associated with the reticle having the defect and ceasing operation of the stepper. The damaged reticle is replaced, and the process resumes using a replaced reticle.
US08312391B2
A touch screen device and operating method thereof are provided. The touch screen device includes a screen including a display configured to display images thereon and a detector configured to detect a user touch and movement thereof, a storage device configured to store image information corresponding to the movement, and a controller configured to retrieve and display an image corresponding to the detected drag. The image may include at least one of a trace image representing a moving trajectory, an icon image, or a text image.
US08312390B2
When a user interface cursor hovers over a user interface item, a determination is made as to whether the user interface item has an associated screentip. If the user interface item has an associated screentip, text associated with the screentip is identified, a translated text string is located for the text string, and the translated text string is displayed in the screentip. If the user interface item does not have an associated screentip, a determination is made as to whether the user interface item contains a text string. If so, a determination is made as to whether a translated text string is available that corresponds to the text in the user interface item. If so, the translated text string is displayed in a screentip for the user interface item.
US08312389B2
Techniques for visualization of decision logic are provided. In one aspect, the techniques can be implemented by providing a control within a graphical user interface to a user. The control can display a plurality of graphical user interface elements corresponding to linked nodes within a hierarchical structure. An input identifying a selected graphical user interface element within the control can be generated by a user. A selected node within the hierarchical structure can be identified based on the selected graphical user interface element. In response to a request from a user, modifying an appearance of a subset of the linked nodes within the hierarchical structure based on a desired visualization criteria, the linked nodes within the hierarchical structure and the selected node.
US08312388B2
According to an aspect of the invention, an information processing apparatus includes an operation acquisition module, a thumbnail image creating module, and a thumbnail image storing control module. The operation acquisition module acquires an operation to an electronic file displayed on a display device, the operation to be acquired by the operation acquisition module being set previously. The thumbnail image creating module creates a thumbnail image corresponding to the acquired operation. The thumbnail image storing control module controls the thumbnail image so as to store the thumbnail image associated with specifying information by which the electronic file is specified.
US08312387B2
Various embodiments provide a target element zoom component that is configured to perform a focal point zoom operation on a target element using an appropriate zoom factor. In at least some embodiments, the target element zoom component receives a request to perform a zoom operation at a focal point of a target element in a page displayed in a display area. In at least some embodiments, the request is received via two-finger tap input on a screen of a touch enabled device. The target element zoom component then determines an appropriate zoom factor for the zoom operation. Responsive to determining the appropriate zoom factor, the target element zoom component performs the zoom operation on the page using the appropriate zoom factor so that the target element remains within the display area with the focal point retained.
US08312380B2
Information communication technology operable to provide users with a means for sharing information and comments is disclosed. The information communication technology provides a means for participants to place chat comments on an interactive graphic such as a dynamically rendered map that participants can track, edit and collaboratively work with in order to decide on a suitable meeting location.
US08312379B2
Methods, computer program products, and systems for editing using an interface for selecting and presenting editing tools are described. An input document is received for editing. A strategy for editing the document is identified. Editing tools are selected to edit the document, and the selected editing tools are presented.
US08312374B2
An information processing apparatus includes: display means for displaying an image; operation-input receiving means for receiving operation input of a user; and display control means for performing, when the operation-input receiving means receives predetermined operation for a root image displayed on the display means, display control for causing the display means to display a related image related to the root image.
US08312372B2
A system and method for confirming touch input with a touch-sensitive display that includes detecting contact with a touch-sensitive display at coordinates corresponding with a control. An animated rendering on the touch-sensitive display is displayed, and an action is performed at a conclusion of the animated rendering if contact with the touch-sensitive display at the coordinates corresponding with the control is detected throughout a time period extending from initiation to the conclusion of the animated rendering.
US08312370B2
Described embodiments provide a system for assembly of structured documents having at least a memory, a processor, and a circuit. The memory stores documents. The processor identifies a template for generating a document. The template defines fields having a specified position and length within the document. The processor stores characters based on data associated with fields to locations of memory associated with the fields. Based partly on the text and length of the field, the processor stores indicators for portions of fields to be removed from the document. An indicator includes one or more specified character values, which may include a first byte value indicative of a start-of-heading character, and a second of byte value indicative of a number of characters to be removed. A circuit accesses the document from the memory and removes portions of fields based on the indicators to generate a portion of an assembled document.
US08312366B2
A data analysis program receives a selection of data fields defining multiple row header areas and/or multiple column header areas for display in a summary table. Data is read from a data source containing values for the data fields and transformed into summary level data for building the summary table. A display is rendered in the summary table for each of the multiple row header areas and column header areas defined, with the row header areas being displayed vertically adjacent to one another and the column header areas being displayed horizontally adjacent to one another.
US08312357B2
A digital broadcast transmitting system and a signal processing method thereof that improves the receiving performance of the system. A digital broadcast transmitter includes a randomizer to receive and randomize a transport stream into a specified position of which stuff bytes are inserted, a replacement sequence generator to generate known data including a predefined sequence, a stuff-byte exchange unit to insert the known data into the specified position of the transport stream into which stuff bytes are inserted, an encoder to encode the transport stream output from the stuff-byte exchange unit for an error correction, and a transmission unit to modulate the encoded transport stream, RF-convert the modulated transport stream and transmit the RF-converted data. The digital broadcast receiving performance is improved even in an inferior multi-path channel by detecting the known data from the received transmission and using the known data for synchronization and equalization.
US08312352B2
A communication apparatus which can communicate a data packet, a recovery packet used to recover a data packet that failed to be communicated, and a retransmit packet for the data packet that failed to be communicated, the communication apparatus includes a determining unit configured to determine, when a first packet of a plurality of packets that failed to be communicated is normally communicated, a packet that can be recovered, from among the plurality of the packets that failed to be communicated based on the first packet and the normally communicated recovery packet, and a retransmit determination unit configured to determine not to retransmit at least a part of the plurality of packets that can be recovered, when the first data packet is retransmitted which is determined to recover a plurality of data packets if it is normally communicated.
US08312351B2
A method for transmitting data between first and second nodes in a network comprises (a) the first node sending a start packet to the second node, (b) the first node starting a first counter concurrently with sending the start packet, wherein the first counter starts counting, (c) the second node starting a timer in response to the start packet, (d) the second node starting a second counter in response to the timer running for a predetermined delay time, wherein the second counter starts counting, (e) the first node stopping the first counter and sending a stop packet in response to the first node determining that the number of accumulated first counts corresponds to the data (thereby transmitting the data solely as a time interval between the start and stop packets), the second node stopping the second counter in response to the stop packet (and receiving the transmitted data).
US08312350B2
In a mobile communication system, when a receiving condition is deteriorated to the extent that reception does not succeed even by means of combination after retransmission to the maximum number of retransmissions, a transmission rate is restricted by reducing radio frames assignable to new data, and by setting dedicated retransmission frames, to which retransmission data are assignable, over the maximum number of retransmissions for the reduced transmission rate, thereby enabling a greater number of retransmissions than the maximum number of retransmissions without an increase of a buffer size. By this, a combination gain through retransmission is improved and a retransmission failure rate is decreased.
US08312344B2
An encoding method using a Low Density Parity Check (LDPC) matrix having a codeword length of N and an information word length K is provided to improve coding efficiency, and includes generating a first parity bit vector (p1) using the low density parity check matrix, generating a second parity bit vector (p2), performing L-parallel iterative accumulation encoding on the first parity bit vector, and generating a codeword vector c=(s,p1,p2) including an information word vector and the first and second parity bit vectors. The communication method and apparatus herein provides an efficient encoding algorithm using the trade-off relationship between a circuit implementation and operation and delay complexities.
US08312341B1
Generation of code words for error correction coding (ECC) of a channel with a non-uniform signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) is provided. A channel SNR profile is accessed, which can also include determining the channel profile. The channel profile characterizes sections of the channel having like SNR values. Each section of the channel is partitioned into a number of partitions. The number of partitions of each section equals a number of code words for the channel. The code words are generated by interleaving the partitions from each section such that an average SNR of each code word is made substantially the same as an average SNR of the channel.
US08312339B2
An apparatus and method for controlling an Automatic Repeat reQuest (ARQ) reset in a broadband wireless communication system are provided. The apparatus includes an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) sender for receiving one or more data from a transmitter, a controller for determining whether the data is received in order and a memory for constituting selective reset information according to a result of the determining. The method includes receiving one or more data from a transmitter, determining whether the data is received in order and constituting selective reset information according to a result of the checking. Hence, the performance degradation can be prevented by shortening the TCP timeout and the break time (the time of no traffic transmission).
US08312324B2
A remote diagnostic system and method based on device data classification. Device diagnostic data with respect to a device can be acquired and a conditional probability look up table can be constructed for each fault code associated with the device diagnostic data by a classification module. A score function can then be created by summing the conditional probabilities and an occurrence of the fault code can be mapped to a service call category with a numerically highest score function. The fault occurrence data in association with a number of time stamps and device identifiers can be stored in a data warehouse. The occurrence of fault code can be matched with respect to a solution set which can be automatically dispatched to a customer via a communications link.
US08312316B2
A data storage system, method and a data storage and backup system are provided. The data storage method comprises defining a local storage of the data processing system as a journal vault; storing data in the journal vault by journaling; sending the data from the journal vault to a transmitter; and transmitting the data from the transmitter to a secondary storage. The present invention enhances a write function of a low performance storage device by journaling. In a case where the present invention is applied to a backup system, the performance of the whole backup system can be improved significantly, and the backup system can be extended to a remote site easily. When a storage of a production system fails, the storage system of the present invention can be switched to “production mode” and service resumes to be provided with the shortest downtime.
US08312314B2
A fault-tolerant storage system is provided. The storage system is composed of a controller having a plurality of processors and other units. When an error occurs in any one of the components in the controller, the storage system cuts off an I/O path of the controller, specifies the failed component in the cutoff status, and invalidates the failed component. After invalidating the failed component, the storage system determines whether it is operable only with the normal components, cancels (releases) the cutoff of the I/O path when it determines that it is operable, and resumes operation by rebooting.
US08312312B2
A controller transmits a second protocol command to a target from among one or more switch devices. The second protocol command is a command which conforms to a second protocol type in which a connection established for transmitting a command to the target is broken during processing of the command by the target, and is defined as a command corresponding to a first protocol command, which is a command conforming to a first protocol type in which the connection remains established during processing of the command by the target.
US08312307B2
Generally, this disclosure describes an energy-efficient Ethernet communications approach. In at least one embodiment described herein, an Ethernet controller may be configured to operate in an active power state to transmit or receive data packets at a maximum available link speed. The maximum available link speed may be determined by a negotiation between the Ethernet controller and a link partner coupled to the Ethernet controller. Once the data packets are transmitted or received, the Ethernet controller may be configured to operate in an idle power state to reduce energy consumption.
US08312305B2
A system for controlling a multitasking microprocessor system includes an interconnect, a plurality of processing units connected to the interconnect forming a single-source, single-sink flow network, wherein the plurality of processing units pass data between one another from the single-source to the single-sink, and a monitor connected to the interconnect for monitoring a portion of a resource consumed by each of the plurality of processing units and for controlling the plurality of processing units according to a predetermined budget for the resource to control a data overflow condition, wherein the monitor controls performance and power modes of the plurality of processing units.
US08312304B2
A host chipset heartbeat may be utilized, in some embodiments, to handle interrupts from external devices on a power efficient basis. The availability of the host chipset heartbeat may be signaled to external devices and those external devices may time their activities to a period of time when not only are resources available, but the assertion of the activity is advantageous because the host chipset is already transitioning from a lower power consumption state.
US08312303B2
A power supply system for CPU is disclosed. The CPU includes a plurality of dynamic voltage identification (VID) pins, and the power supply standard of the CPU conforms to a first standard. The power supply system includes a dynamic VID signal line set and a core voltage controller. The VID signal line set is coupled to the VID pins of the CPU. The core voltage controller conforms to a second standard and is coupled to a partial line set of the dynamic VID signal line set. The core voltage controller determines a core voltage to be output to the CPU according to the partial line set to conform to the first standard.
US08312301B2
A data processing unit having a field of clocked logic cells (PAEs) which is operable in different configuration states and a clock preselecting means for preselecting logic cell clocking. The clock preselecting means is designed in such a way that, depending on the state, a first clock is preselected at least at a first cell (PAE) and an additional clock is preselected at least at an additional cell.
US08312300B2
A redundant power supply system includes power limit logic and plural power supplies. The power limit logic is configured to impose a first power limit threshold on the power supply system during a first time period in which one or more of the plural power supplies is being enabled, and a second power limit threshold higher than the first power limit threshold during a second time period.
US08312292B2
A device for high-assurance processing is disclosed. A processing circuit uses an access controller to assure that the processing circuit operates properly. The processing circuit runs software programs and is programmable. The access controller is programmable, but not programmable by the processing circuit. Peripherals or segments of the address space of the processing circuit is regulated. In a particular state, the peripherals that are available are regulated by the access controller. In some embodiments, the transition from state-to-state can also be regulated by the access controller.
US08312290B2
A biometric method, a biometric apparatus, and a biometric data encryption method thereof are disclosed. In the biometric method and the biometric apparatus, a biometric data is quantified to obtain a quantified data. A one-way function is then performed to convert the quantified data into an encrypted data. In the present invention, the biometric data is protected through a cryptography system so as to prevent the biometric features from being stolen or misappropriated. Moreover, in the present invention, a biometric technique can be integrated with a cryptography technique.
US08312288B2
Securely disclosing a personal identification number (“PIN”) associated with a financial account to an account holder and receiving a new PIN from the account holder. A PIN reveal application can interact with a hardware security module (“HSM”) using a PIN offset masking process and randomly generated account data to reveal the PIN to the account holder one or more PIN characters at a time. A PIN set application also can interact the HSM using a PIN offset masking process and randomly generated account data to receive a new PIN for the account one or more PIN characters at a time. In each of the PIN reveal and PIN setting processes, less than the entirety of the PIN is stored in an unencrypted format outside of the HSM only.
US08312282B2
An information processing apparatus includes a classifying unit configured to classify structural elements under predetermined attributes; a storage unit configured to store data, which describes which attribute among the attributes of the structural elements is a target of electronic signature verification, in association with the output destination of a structured document; an attaching unit configured to attach electronic signatures to the structural elements; and an inserting unit configured to refer to the stored data and data of the structured document, generate tree data which corresponds to the output destination of the structured document and indicates which structural element is a target of electronic signature verification among the structural elements to which electronic signatures have been attached, and insert the tree data in the data of the structured document.
US08312279B2
A method and system for secure access to computer equipment. An embodiment includes a secure access controller connected to a link between a transceiver (such as a modem) and the computer equipment. Public and private keys are used by the secure access controller and a remote user. The keys are provided to the secure access controller by an authentication server. Once the transceiver establishes a communication link with the user, the access controller uses these keys to authenticate packets issued by the user to the computer equipment. If the packet is authenticated, the access controller passes the packet to the computer equipment. Otherwise, the packet is discarded. Another embodiment includes a secure access controller having a plurality of ports for connection to a plurality of different pieces of computer equipment. The secure access controller thus intermediates communications between the modem and the plurality of different pieces of computer equipment.
US08312278B2
An access authentication method applying to IBSS network involves the following steps of: 1) performing authentication role configuration for network entities; 2) authenticating an authentication entity and a request entity that have been performed the authentication role configuration via an authentication protocol; and 3) after finishing the authentication, the authentication entity and the request entity perform the key negotiation, wherein, the message integrity check field and protocol synchronization lock-in field are added in a key negotiation message. The access authentication method applying to IBSS network provided by the invention has the advantages of the better safeness and the higher execution efficiency.
US08312274B2
The present invention improves security of image data when communication between an image managing apparatus that stores the image data of a submitted job and an image processing apparatus is not possible. To accomplish this, for executing a specific process according to a submitted job, the image data and log information of the job is transmitted to the image managing apparatus to store them when the image processing apparatus can communicate with the image managing apparatus. After transmission of the image data and the log information, upon receiving a notification indicating the completion of storage from the image managing apparatus, control is made to execute a specific process on the image data.
US08312273B2
Methods, systems, and computer-readable media for facilitating personalization of web content is provided, while protecting the privacy of the user data utilized to personalize the user's experience. A privacy vault may collect user data including user activity data, demographic data, and user interests submitted by a user. In one embodiment, the privacy vault operates on a user client device. The privacy vault sends the user data to a community vault that collects user data from multiple users. The community vault generates segment rules that whether a user belongs to a user segment, which expresses a user's interest. The segment rules are then communicated back to the privacy vault, which assigns one or more user segments to the user based on the user data available to the privacy vault and the segment rules. The privacy vault may communicate user segments to one or more content providers that supply personalized content that is selected based on the user segments provided.
US08312272B1
An authentication token management system securely manages an authentication token. Hardware based security extensions on a client are used to dynamically instantiate two dynamic secure virtual machines, a registration initiation module (RIM) and a registration completion module (RCM). A public key and a corresponding private key are generated, and the RIM seals the private key to the RCM. A request for an authentication token is signed by the hardware based security extensions and transmitted to the server. This request comprises at least the public key. In response, an authentication token encrypted with the public key is received. The RCM unseals the private key, and uses it to decrypt the received authentication token. The RCM then seals the authentication token to at least one additional dynamic secure virtual machine, which can use it to perform additional functionalities, such as data signing, encryption, generation and/or verification.
US08312271B2
Systems, apparatus and methods for privacy-protecting integrity attestation of a computing platform. An example method for privacy-protecting integrity attestation of a computing platform (P) has a trusted platform module (TPM), and comprises the following steps. First, the computing platform (P) receives configuration values (PCR1 . . . PCRn). Then, by means of the trusted platform module (TPM), a configuration value (PCRp) is determined which depends on the configuration of the computing platform (P). In a further step the configuration value (PCRp) is signed by means of the trusted platform module. Finally, in the event that the configuration value (PCRp) is one of the received configuration values (PCR1 . . . PCRn), the computing platform (P) proves to a verifier (V) that it knows the signature (sign(PCRp)) on one of the received configuration values (PCR1 . . . PCRn).
US08312263B2
According to one embodiment of the present invention, a method of updating a certificate trust list on a first endpoint includes receiving an initial certificate trust list at the first endpoint. The initial certificate trust list includes authentication data for at least a second endpoint. Digitally signed information is received at the first endpoint and authentication is initiated against the authentication data for the at least a second endpoint. The authentication occurs only if the digital signature is complementary to the authentication data for the at least a second endpoint. After successful authentication, the initial certificate trust list is updated with the information to yield an updated certificate trust list.
US08312254B2
An indirect branch instruction takes an address register as an argument in order to provide indirect function call capability for single-instruction multiple-thread (SIMT) processor architectures. The indirect branch instruction is used to implement indirect function calls, virtual function calls, and switch statements to improve processing performance compared with using sequential chains of tests and branches.
US08312248B2
Integrated circuit systems include a non-volatile memory device (e.g, flash EEPROM device) and a memory processing circuit. The memory processing circuit is electrically coupled to the non-volatile memory device. The memory processing circuit is configured to reallocate addressable space within the non-volatile memory device. This reallocation is performed by increasing a number of physical addresses within the non-volatile memory device that are reserved as redundant memory addresses, in response to a capacity adjust command received by the memory processing circuit.
US08312247B2
A plural-partitioned type nonvolatile storage device which solves the problem that a memory card composed of a flash memory and a controller, when a storage area is divided into a plurality of partitions, cannot be correctly used with a conventional host apparatus incapable of recognizing plural partitions. The memory card includes, as its storage areas, a device characteristic data storage area, a division table storage area, and a device storage area, where the device storage area is partitioned into plural partitions. The memory card can have different modes for adapting different accesses from the external host, and allows the external host to access partitions corresponding to the mode. Division information as to a dividing method for the plural partitions, and access information as to the host-accessible partitions corresponding to each individual mode are stored in the division table storage area. Plural types of device characteristic data corresponding to mode, respectively, are stored in the device characteristic data storage area.
US08312245B2
One or more embodiments comprise control circuitry coupled to one or more memory devices having a number of planes of physical blocks organized into super blocks. The control circuitry can be configured to: determine defective physical blocks among the number of planes; responsive to none of the physical blocks at a particular block position being determined to be defective, assign the physical blocks at the particular block position to a super block; and responsive to one or more of the physical blocks at a particular block position being determined to be defective, assign non-defective physical blocks at the particular block position to a super block and assign a replacement physical block to the super block for the respective defective physical blocks at the particular block position, the replacement physical block selected from a number of physical blocks within a respective plane that includes a respective defective physical block.
US08312243B2
System and method for storing information units is provided. The system includes a memory comprising a plurality of contiguous memory segments, a local memory storing a plurality of pointers, each pointer pointing to one contiguous memory segment, a receiving unit configured to arrange incoming information units into queues and memory control logic configured to allocate pointers to the queues and configured to cause the incoming information units to be written into contiguous memory segments. The incoming information units form at least one queue and wherein pointers form a linked list of pointers if the information units are written into more than one contiguous memory segment.
US08312240B2
A memory controller converts controller output signals output from a controller into memory input signals according to the operation specifications of memory chips to operate, and outputs the resultant to the memory chips through a common bus. The memory controller also receives memory output signals output from the memory chips through the common bus, and converts the received signals into controller input signals receivable to the controller. This allows the single memory controller to access the plurality of types of memory chips. As a result, the memory controller can be reduced in chip size, lowering the cost of the memory system.
US08312237B2
Methods of providing access to data are presented. The method includes providing a storage grid which includes a source chain of storage nodes and a target chain of storage nodes, the source chain including a primary source node and a secondary source node which operates as a data mirror of the primary source node, and the target chain including a primary target node and a secondary target node which operates as a data mirror of the primary target node. The method also includes initially storing data on the source chain, the primary source node of the source chain maintaining a primary source copy of the data, and the secondary source node of the source chain maintaining a secondary source copy of the data. The method further includes relocating the data from the source chain to the target chain, the primary target node of the target chain maintaining a primary target copy of the data, and the secondary target node of the target chain maintaining a secondary target copy of the data, access to the data being continuously provided from the storage grid to an external device before, during, and after relocation of the data from the source chain to the target chain.
US08312226B2
A first appliance of a network memory includes a processor configured to receive data. The processor determines whether the data is locally accessible to a second appliance of the network memory and generates an instruction based on the determination in order that the second appliance obtain the data. The processor then transfers the instruction over a communication network to the second appliance. In another first appliance of a network memory, the first appliance includes a processor configured to receive an instruction over a communication network from a second appliance of the network memory. The processor processes the instruction to determine an action to perform to obtain the data. The processor performs the action to obtain the data if the data is locally accessible to the first appliance.
US08312225B2
In one embodiment, a multi-core processor having cores each associated with a cache memory, can operate such that when a first core is to access data owned by a second core present in a cache line associated with the second core, responsive to a request from the first core, cache coherency state information associated with the cache line is not updated. A coherence engine associated with the processor may receive the data access request and determine that the data is of a memory page owned by the first core and convert the data access request to a non-cache coherent request. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08312215B2
A software-based RAID system is provided that enables configuration conflicts to be detected and resolved between a PD that is logically present but physically missing, and a PD that is physically and logically present. In accordance with the invention, a determination is made as to whether such a configuration conflict exists, and if so, the logically-present, but physically missing, reference identifier associated with the PD is remapped to a port number that currently is not in use.
US08312213B2
A method to speed up access to an external storage device for accessing to the external storage device comprises the steps of: (a) during startup of a computer, setting up part of a physical memory of the computer as a cache memory for use by the external storage device, in the form of a continuous physical memory area outside the physical memory area that is managed by an operating system of the computer; (b) upon detection of a request to write data to the external storage device, writing the data to the cache memory; and (c) sending the data written in the cache memory to the external storage device to be saved therein.
US08312210B2
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for storing and retrieving compressed data. A compression module compresses a data file organized in logical tracks. A ratio module determines a track compression ratio. The track compression ratio is a ratio of an integer value n to one. A destage module destages a single directory entry for the data file to a directory. The directory entry points to a zeroth track on a hard disk drive. The destage module further destages the data file sequentially to tracks of the hard disk drive from the zeroth track with n logical tracks of the data file stored on one physical track of the hard disk drive. A stage module stages a kth logical track from a physical track of the hard disk drive. The physical track is specified by an integer value of k divided by n.
US08312205B2
A memory device includes a flash memory and a controller. The flash memory includes a plurality of blocks, and each block includes a plurality of pages. The controller is utilized for reading a plurality of bits from an identification region of a page, and determining whether the page is blank or not according to the plurality of bits.
US08312202B1
A system, method and computer program product for optimizing handling of guest code in a Virtual Machine include means for identifying, in the guest code, a predetermined pattern that includes privileged but unsafe instructions and an instruction that raises an exception; means for executing the guest code in a native mode; means for, upon encountering the instruction that raise the exception, transferring control to a Virtual Machine Monitor; means for emulating the pattern in the Virtual Machine Monitor; and means for rolling back the effects of privileged but unsafe instructions and any intervening instructions to ensure correct Virtual Machine Monitor context. The pattern can include, for example, a privileged but unsafe instruction, followed by safe instructions, followed by an exception raising instruction, followed by safe instructions, followed by a privileged but unsafe instruction. Optionally, the most frequently occurring patterns can be placed in a cache, for use by the Virtual Machine Monitor to verify their presence in the guest code.
US08312198B2
A technique to enable efficient interrupt communication within a computer system. In one embodiment, an advanced programmable interrupt controller (APlC) is interfaced via a set of bits within an APIC interface register using various interface instructions or operations, without using memory-mapped input/output (MMIO).
US08312188B1
A first network device includes a first port to provide first data traffic to a first storage area network, a second port to provide second data traffic to a local area network, and memory shared between the first port and the second port to temporarily store the first data traffic in N first buffers and the second data traffic in M second buffers. A queue control module allocates a first memory space of the N first buffers to the first port and a second memory space of the M second buffers to the second port. An adjustment module adjusts a first amount of the first memory space and a second amount of the second memory space in response to a congestion event is caused by a first data traffic. Up to all of the first memory space and the second memory space is allocated to the N first buffers.
US08312181B1
Example embodiments provide various techniques for initiating read-ahead requests. A rate at which applications is requesting data from a data storage device is identified. Additionally, a length of time in retrieving or servicing the data from the data storage device is also identified. The identified rate and length of time in retrieving the data are used to determine when read-ahead requests should be sent to pre-fetch data.
US08312180B2
An address management method and a video apparatus using the same are provided. The address management method includes determining whether an external device is connected or not; when determining the connection to the external device, generating an invalidation message for invalidating an address; and transmitting the generated invalidation message to the external device. Accordingly, when the port connection is changed, the physical address can be correctly updated by invalidating the former physical address.
US08312179B2
Systems and methods for configuring a universal serial bus (USB) including for connection by a peripheral device by detecting an attach event at a USB port on the peripheral device; receiving, at the USB port, a first request for device identification; sending, at the USB port, a first identification data; receiving, at the USB port, a query related to the first identification data, the query indicating software associated with the vendor identifier is supported by the sender of the query; simulating a detach and then an attach at the USB port; receiving, at the USB port, a second request for device identification; and sending, at the USB port, a second identification data that includes an indication that the peripheral device supports at least one function from a plurality of functions that are different from the functionality defined by a generic device class code.
US08312163B1
Methods, systems, and computer-readable media for transmitting data between a local computer and a remote computer are provided. An amount of data capable of being transmitted per frame from the local computer to the remote computer is determined. An amount of data associated with a current frame of data to be transmitted to the remote computer is also determined. A quality level for the data to be transmitted to the remote computer is then selected such that the amount of the data to be transmitted to the remote computer is less than or equal to the amount of data capable of being transmitted per frame to the remote computer.
US08312161B2
Techniques for fragmenting a file or a collection of media data are disclosed. According one aspect of the techniques, a file pertaining to a title is fragmented into a header and several tails or segments. The header is a continuous portion of the file while the segments are respective parts of the remaining portion of the file. The header is seeded substantially in all boxes, and none, one or more of the segments are distributed in each of the boxes in service. When a title is ordered, the header is instantly played back while the segments, if not locally available, are continuously fetched respectively from other boxes that have the segments.
US08312154B1
Techniques are described for providing client computing nodes with enhanced access to remote network-accessible services, such as by providing local capabilities specific to the remote services. In at least some situations, access to remote services by a client computing node may be enhanced by automatically locally performing some activities of the remote services, such as to improve the efficiency of communications that are sent between the client computing node and the remote service and/or to improve the efficiency by the remote service of processing communications from the client computing node. As one example, a node manager system local to a client computing node may perform authentication of communications sent by the client computing node to a remote service and/or may perform other activities specific to the remote service, so that the remote service does not need to perform the authentication and/or other performed activities for the communications.
US08312152B2
A method, apparatus, and system are disclosed for reassigning a network address. A detection module detects a routing table change for a host. The host is in communication with a least one network. A client is also in communication with the host over a network interface using a first address. A generation module generates a second address for the client. The second address does not compete with other addresses on the at least one network. An interface module disables the network interface to the client. The interface module then enables the network interface between the client and the host. A communication module receives a request for a new address from the client. The communication module assigns the second address to the client.
US08312147B2
A computer-implemented method includes sending, from a first node to a second node, an initiator message to open a connection between the first node and the second node, receiving, at the first node, a responder message sent from the second node, in which the responder message comprises a responder certificate, converting the responder certificate to a responder canonical identifier, comparing the responder canonical identifier to a stored canonical identifier, and establishing the connection between the first node and the second node over a pre-existing session corresponding to the stored canonical identifier, when the responder canonical identifier matches the stored canonical identifier.
US08312143B2
The invention provides systems and methods for securely transmitting data between a roaming computer and a managed network service over a shared public network. A secure connection is created between the roaming computer and a server computer that hosts or acts as a secure gateway to the managed network service. The connection is set up and established by a client agent installed on the roaming computer and a connection component of the managed service on the server computer. The client agent and the connection component of the managed service operate, on an initial request from the roaming computer to the managed service to negotiate the secure connection using certificate-based client authentication. The client certificate preferably includes user-specific attributes that can be extracted by the connection component and made available to the managed service to apply processing rules specific to the user.
US08312142B2
Allocation information is transmitted in a communications system for indicating allocation of sets of transmission resources to communications devices. At least one allocation rule is defined for associating sequences of sets of transmission resources with communications devices, and a communications device monitors allocation information of sets of transmission resources associated with it. Communications devices are informed of their respective allocation rules. Transmission resources for the communications devices are allocated based at least on said allocation rules.
US08312141B2
A network includes a cache server and a network aware server that operates to determine an optimization between a cost of retrieving content from a communication network and a cost of caching content at the cache server. The optimization is determined as a minimum of a sum of a transit cost, a backbone cost, and a caching cost. The transit cost includes a money cost per data unit. The backbone cost includes a money cost per data unit and time unit. The caching cost includes a money cost per server unit. In response to determining the optimization, the network aware server sends a content identifier to the cache server, and the cache server receives the content identifier, determines a source of a content item, and if the source is the same as the content identifier, then cache the content item.
US08312134B2
The present invention relates to link layer status information using a media independent handover module in a mobile communication system, wherein packet loss attributed to congestion can be identified from packet loss attributed to non-congestion. Preferably, the present invention comprises establishing communication between a mobile terminal and at least one of a homogeneous and heterogeneous network, reporting status information of a radio link connecting the mobile terminal and the at least one of a homogeneous and heterogeneous network to a heterogeneous network handover module of the mobile terminal, and reporting the status information of the radio link from the heterogeneous network handover module to an upper management entity of the mobile terminal if the heterogeneous network handover module determines a predetermined condition is satisfied.
US08312122B2
A device management system, a device, and a management apparatus are provided. The device management system includes a plurality of devices that are coupled to a network; and a management apparatus that is coupled to the network. The devices include a first device and a second device. The first device stores icon image data indicating the device and including specified information embedded therein as digital watermark information. The second device stores icon image data indicating the device but not including specified information. The management apparatus includes a response information receiving unit; a response detecting unit that detects whether the specified information is embedded as the digital watermark information in the icon image data; and a device specifying unit that specifies a device as a first device or a second device.
US08312117B1
A distributed computer system comprises an enterprise server and a network server. The distributed computer system utilizes a distributed transmission control protocol (TCP) to establish an off-loaded dialog through the network server. If the off-loaded dialog is interrupted by, e.g., failure of the hosting network server, dialog recovery is performed to move the off-loaded dialog.
US08312113B2
A method for managing a user's computing environment on their computer or workstation. The method includes storing a set of files in a memory device accessible via a communications network. Each file includes data such as environment variable values defining a particular computing environment. The method includes providing an environment management engine in a user's home directory of a computer. A shell runs in the computer device to invoke and run a computing environment management engine within the shell. The engine generates a computing environment in the computer based on the computing environment definition in one of the files that is chosen based on a user-provided or otherwise determined job state (e.g., the user is working on a project or a portion of a project that is associated with a job state). The computing environment includes versions of software applications, path variables, and alias definitions.
US08312110B2
In an information processing device, objects are given unique labels expressed by a tree structure by a plurality of nodes. The label includes (A) name information showing node names from a highest order node to a lowest order node and (B) a storing position of the object. Each node corresponds to data required for a process or a software application. Information expressed in an external language is transmitted and received to and from devices in a network. A received label expressing an object is processed such that a process of calling-up, writing, deletion, and partial change with respect to each node of the object is performed. At least one node of the object is acquired via the network expressed in the external language together with a request for processing. The designated object is converted into information expressed in an internal language while preserving the acquired node tree structure.
US08312108B2
Embodiments of the invention are directed to identifying network resources or other topics that are of interest to members of multiple online communities to which a user belongs. Online communities include blogs, websites, games, e-commerce systems, messaging systems, wikis, etc. For each online community, click activity or other client behaviors are tracked and analyzed to determine statistical metrics about community activity, such as which articles, links, services, or other network resources are popular in the online community. At least some of the tracking or analysis can be performed by clients that access the online communities, by a server of each online community, and/or by a central tracking system. The results for each community may be further analyzed relative to each other. The results are provided for all communities with which a given user is associated. For example, a list of the most popular links in the user's selected online communities.
US08312107B2
An apparatus, method and system to improve data transfer across a communications network by employing an acknowledgment independent equalized data packet transfer mechanism on a peer-to-peer basis. The present disclosure teaches how many computers can send data to many other computers, with particularity on a peer-to-peer basis when desired, without requiring acknowledgements of safe receipt by the receiving computer. By aggregating several computers to send data in a collection to a requesting computer, transfer rates may be increased. Further, by not requiring acknowledgment of receipt from the receiving computer, and by treating all data packets with equal utility, the present disclosure teaches a mechanism that reduces file transfer administration bandwidth, increases file transfer scalability on demand, and increases overall network transfer efficiency.
US08312106B2
Aspects of this disclosure relate a system for retrieving images that may include one or more mainframe computer sites or Logical Partitions (LPARS) one or more servers operatively connected to the LPARS, and one or more databases operatively connected one or more of the LPARS. The system may also include a processor that may be configured to perform a method for generating electronic cash letters. The method for generating electronic cash letters may include reading a primary input key file assigned to the cash letter job, wherein the primary input key file includes a set of keys and each key corresponds to an image stored in one of the databases. The method may further include splitting the keys in the primary input key file into individual key files. The method may further include attaching a key processor subtask to each of the individual key files and running the key processor subtasks concurrently and independently of one another, wherein each of the key processor subtasks connects to one of the servers via TCP/IP protocol and retrieves the images from the particular database to which the keys in individual key files correspond.
US08312104B2
An interactive information dissemination and retrieval system is disclosed herein. The system includes a website configured to host a blog and to receive at least one blog post. An information retrieval reporting system is configured to i) extract a first set of tags from the blog and a second set of tags from the at least one blog post and ii) recognize a semantic relationship between the first and second sets of tags. At least one analyzer is included in the system and is configured to analyze the semantic relationship and generate at least one action item based on the semantic relationship. Method(s) for generating action item(s) are also disclosed herein.
US08312102B2
Techniques for previewing a content package file through a portal interface before the file is imported to the portal server computer are provided. A content package file is a relational data structure that contains references to a first level of content files. The first level content files within the content package file can contain references to second level content files, the second level content files can contain references to third level content files, etc. The references to the content files are replaced with content from the content files. Information about the content files is displayed in a preview format through a portal interface before the content files are imported. The user can be notified if any of the references to content files contain errors.
US08312100B2
A request server automatically detects, in response to initialization of the request server, if there are previous generations of requests outstanding for the request server, and if so, immunizes itself against those requests. The request server starts one or more threads that are designed to gather messages associated with requests from previous incarnations of the server and handles those messages without affecting the requestors. While the request server is immunized from earlier generations of requests, the request server is capable of processing new requests.
US08312094B2
A mechanism to enable multiple message threads management in the context of the Converged IP Messaging (CPM) service and in the context of CPM inter-working with SMS is provided. A CPM user can simply start a message-based conversation with another CPM or Short Message Service (SMS) user without explicitly establishing a session beforehand. All messages that belong to a given conversation are displayed in the corresponding conversational view (i.e. window) in the CPM user device, even if the conversation is stopped and restarted at a later time, and even if there are multiple message threads available (currently active or stored) in the CPM device. Message structures and behavior of the CPM system elements to enable the functionalities above as well as a mechanism makes the message threads management possible even between a CPM user and an SMS user are also provided.
US08312092B2
A method for a watcher to receive presence information. The method includes the watcher requesting presence information from a presence access layer and then disconnecting from the presence access layer. The method further includes the presence access layer receiving the requested information through a persistent session with a presence server, storing the requested information, and delivering the requested information to the watcher after the watcher reconnects to the presence access layer.
US08312089B2
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed to dynamically estimate a response time while composing an email. A recipient module determines a set of email recipients identified by a user. The set of email recipients comprises intended recipients of a new email message from the user. A response time identification module determines a response time trend for each email recipient. Each response time trend has information relating to previous email response times of an email recipient. An estimate module determines an estimated response time for the new email message based on the retrieved response time trends. A display module displays a visual representation of the response time to the user.
US08312088B2
Systems and methods of device identifier selection are disclosed. In a particular embodiment, a method includes, at a hub device having a plurality of ports including a first port, a second port, and a third port, receiving a first message from a host device. The first message including a broadcast indicator. The method also includes, in response to determining that the first message requests enumeration, emulating a ring communication topology by serially propagating messages including an enumeration indicator to a first device via the first port and to a second device via the second port. The method further includes, in response to determining that the first message does not request enumeration, selectively sending the first message to the first device substantially concurrently with sending the first message to the second device. Emulating the ring communication topology enables the hub device to provide a first distinctive identifier value of the first device and a second distinctive identifier value of the second device to the host device.
US08312086B2
Disclosed is an apparatus for customizing messages. The apparatus includes a communications unit and a processing unit. The communications unit can be configured to receive a message from a sender and intended for one or more target recipients. The communications unit can also be configured to receive one or more message customization indicators that are from either or both of the sender and respective ones of the target recipients. The message customization indicators are respectively related to identifying characteristics of the respective target recipients and the sender when provided by the sender and respective ones of the target recipients. The processing unit can be configured to cause respective output versions of the message to be outputted to the target recipients, each respective output version being output in a format consistent with the message customization indicators and at least one of the respective output versions being different from another of the respective output versions. Also disclosed are corresponding methods and computer program products.
US08312084B2
A method and apparatus for processing messages is described. In one embodiment, an application programming interface provides for a flush protocol to force members of a group to send all of their pending messages prior to a predetermined event. A client sends a request to a coordinator of the group to join the group and to transfer a state of the group to the client. The application programming interface performs a single flush operation on the group in response to the request.
US08312075B1
A data reconstruction system, method and computer program product are provided. In use, one of a plurality of computers receiving data over a network is identified. In addition, the data received by the computer is reconstructed in a manner that is independent of the computer.
US08312071B2
A random number generator includes a fairness checker and correction module that ensures that a complete random sequence within a predetermined period of time will be output by the random number generator.
US08312066B2
Embodiments of the invention include a method performed in a media access control (MAC) forwarding control module within a network element for looking up a MAC address and interface (I/F) identifier pair (MAC-I/F pair) from a MAC forwarding data structure that comprises a first tier data structure and a plurality of second tier data structures. The MAC forwarding data structure utilizes compressed keys to index each of the plurality second tier data structures. The compressed key is generated with a desired MAC address and a mask bit list that corresponds with enough bit positions such that all MAC addresses in second tier data structure can be uniquely addressed with just the values of each MAC address in the bit positions listed. As such, the MAC forwarding data structure is constructed so that the total cost of a lookup with the compressed key technique is deterministic and, therefore, O(1).
US08312054B2
A data management system and method for updating and aligning a plurality of management components, wherein the data management system is accessible to various users from a remote location, is disclosed. The data management system includes a user system having a web browser, a database including a plurality of management components for storing information related to a client group, and a server system in communication with the user system and the database, wherein the server system includes a change management component adapted to manage information stored on the database and dynamically update each of the management components when information stored on the database is modified.
US08312048B2
A database server application program is provided that is configured to provide a programmable interface into a database application by way of database services uniform resource locators (URLs). A database services URL utilized by the database application can be updated programmatically by program code executing within or under control of the database server application program. A macro action for use in conjunction with a database server application that provides functionality for displaying a database object, such as a form or report, in-place in a Web browser is also disclosed.
US08312046B1
A system and method to allow a volume to appear in multiple locations in a super-namespace. A super-namespace is a hierarchy of namespaces within a storage system environment, such as a storage system cluster. The volume can appear in multiple locations in the super-namespace and/or in multiple namespaces within the super-namespace.
US08312045B2
A property sheet system and method for managing and organizing configuration information for components contained within a clustered environment. The property sheet system includes a user interface to display contents of a property sheet data structure. The property sheet data structure includes a plurality of entries, each entry associated with a non-modifiable parameter and optionally a modifiable parameter. The user interface enables a user to modify a selected modifiable parameter associated with the property sheet data structure. Once the selected modifiable parameter has been modified, the modified parameter is stored independently with respect to the non-modifiable parameters in the property sheet data structure.
US08312044B2
An information processing apparatus includes a creation unit and a registration unit. The creation unit acquires first limited use information which is associated with a designated object and stored in an object storage unit from the object storage unit in accordance with an instruction to specify the designated object, and creates second limited use information containing information indicated by the acquired first limited use information and described in a different form from the acquired first limited use information. The registration unit registers the second limited use information created by the creation unit in a second limited use storage unit.
US08312043B2
Preventing a process from traversing back a directory tree through its parent directories is described. In a system with a program executing in a path container, an access permission rule applicable to the instance of the program prevents the program from traversing the tree structure back through its parent directories towards an absolute root directory. The access permission rule may be a rule in an instance of a security policy applicable to the particular path container from which the process is executing.
US08312039B2
A system and method for structured search of information, including but not limited to, search for goods and services in e-commerce and mobile e-commerce, is disclosed. In some embodiments, the system comprises a plurality of heterogeneously structured data sources, a plurality of query objects that represent queries to the data sources and that are independent of the structure of the data sources, and a user interface configured to query the plurality of query objects.
US08312037B1
Data can be processed in parallel across a cluster of nodes using a parallel processing framework. Using Web services calls between components allows the number of nodes to be scaled as necessary, and allows developers to build applications on the framework using a Web services interface. A job scheduler works together with a queuing service to distribute jobs to nodes as the nodes have capacity, such that jobs can be performed in parallel as quickly as the nodes are able to process the jobs. Data can be loaded efficiently across the cluster, and levels of nodes can be determined dynamically to process queries and other requests on the system.
US08312027B2
Computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium provide for a modular query optimizer. In one aspect, a computer program product includes selecting one or more projections from a set of projections for each table in a database query wherein each of the selected projections for the table has leads to an estimated lower execution cost for the query as compared to non-selected projections; generating join orders for the query based on data distribution of one or more of the selected projections among sites in a computer network wherein the join orders reflect different combinations of data distribution operations applied to the output of one or more of the query's joins; and selecting a join order from the join orders based on evaluation of the join orders using a cost model.
US08312022B2
Topic-centric, dynamically-created web pages are compiled from links to multimedia content elements. Keywords are identified within the content elements and used to identify a set of topics related to the content elements. A query string comprising the keywords is executed against the content elements and in response to a request to display information about a topic the query string associated with the topic is executed against the collection of multimedia content elements to identify content elements related to the topic. A dynamically-created web page is displayed that includes computer-executable links to the set of related multimedia content elements.
US08312015B1
A processor engine for affecting a website's position on at least one Internet search engine's page ranking comprises at least one processor. The at least one processor is arranged to: load (425) at least one search term into a program (425) running on the at least one processor; load (445) a target list comprising at least one website that is to be promoted; and create (420) an Internet connection. The at least one processor is further arranged to request a search of the at least one search term on the at least one Internet search engine; identify at least one website search hit that matches at least one website on the target list; and access the identified at least one website a plurality of times, affecting the at least one website's position on the Internet search engine's page ranking.
US08312013B1
In accordance with embodiments, there are provided mechanisms and methods for linking a custom share row cause to a sharing record associated with a custom object in an on-demand service. These mechanisms and methods for linking custom share row causes to sharing records associated with an instance of a custom object in an on-demand service can enable a user or code executed by a user to share a custom object record with one or more users and to specify a custom row cause in that sharing record. The ability of embodiments to link custom share row causes to sharing records may allow users of such on-demand services to utilize custom row causes to determine why a sharing record was added and to identify the source of a sharing record.
US08312010B1
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for ranking local businesses. One or more signals indicating one or more actions related to a plurality of business listings are received. The business listings are ranked based on the signals. A search query is received, and in response to the search query, one or more of the business listings are presented in an order based at least on the ranking.
US08312006B2
Storage of data segments is disclosed. For each segment, a similar segment to the segment is identified, wherein the similar segment is already managed by a cluster node. In the event the similar segment is identified, a reference to the similar segment and a delta between the similar segment and the segment are caused to be stored instead of the segment.
US08312005B2
A semantically aware relational database management system includes suitable programming to relate attributes of the relational database to semantic equivalents of such attributes. In response to receiving a query, the relational database management system performs at least one semantically aware operation on the data in the relational database in order to determine what data is to be retrieved in response to the query. Results of the query presented to a user may include data derived from performing the semantically aware operations.
US08311981B2
A client stores client metadata entries corresponding to a plurality of data objects. During a first phase of a synchronization process, the client sends one or more client metadata entries to a server. Each client metadata entry sent corresponds to a data object for which at least one metadata parameter has changed since a prior execution of the synchronization process. During a second phase of the synchronization process, the client receives from the server one or more server metadata entries, each having at least one parameter that has changed since a prior execution of the synchronization process. The client identifies any received server metadata entry that conflicts with a corresponding client metadata entry, requests a user to select from among a predefined set of conflict resolutions to resolve the conflict, and the performs an action in accordance with the conflict resolution selected by the user.
US08311977B2
An information processing apparatus for managing attribute information as to resources constituting a system includes an acquisition unit which obtains a plurality of attribute information as to the same resources, a degree of reliability calculation unit which calculates, when a contradiction exists between the plurality of attribute information obtained by the acquisition unit, a degree of reliability as to each of the plurality of attribute information, and an attribute information determination unit which sets the attribute information, which has the highest degree of reliability calculated by the degree of reliability calculation unit, as attribute information as to the resources.
US08311958B2
Methods and systems for constructing biological-scale hierarchically structured cortical statistical memory systems utilizing fabrication technology and meta-stable switching devices. Learning content-addressable memory and statistical random access memory circuits are detailed. Additionally, local and global signal modulation of bottom-up and top-down processing for the initiation and direction of behavior is disclosed.
US08311955B2
The present invention is a method to determine models to predict physical or chemical properties of a petroleum fluid when such properties of such fluids cannot be measured by conventional analytical methods. The invention includes the steps of determining one or more models that predict one or more predetermined properties from a set of oils whose optical spectra and properties are known wherein a model corresponds to each predetermined property which is related to the spectrum, estimating the quality of the models, estimating the predictive quality for samples with unknown properties, augmenting the spectrum with shape parameters and/or properties that are predicted by the step above, and determining the quality and predictive quality of the models. The models are then used to predict properties of very small samples.
US08311943B2
Techniques for processing of recurring payments are provided that do not require merchants to update consumer account information when a consumer is issued a new account number for a payment card or the like. For example, when a consumer is issued a new account number by an issuer, the new account number can be provided to a payment processing network. A server computer in the payment processing network then identifies any recurring payments associated with the user's old account number and provides the consumer with a list of merchants for which the consumer had established recurring payments associated with the old account number. The consumer is then provided the opportunity to select those merchants for whom the consumer wishes to continue the recurring payments using the new account number. The payment processing network then creates a mapping between the old account number and the new account number for the merchants designated by the consumer and continues to process recurring payment authorization requests received from the designated merchants using the old account information. As a result, the merchants do not need to make any updates to the consumer account information maintained by the merchants, and the consumer is provided with the ability to easily select which merchants can continue processing recurring payments using the old account number.
US08311942B1
A method for paying a bill includes receiving a bill notification email directed to a user, scanning the bill notification email to gather, from the bill notification email, bill information that includes a billed amount and a biller identifier, generating a network protocol request referencing a bill payment service and that includes the bill information, and augmenting the bill notification email with a selectable interface component that includes the network protocol request to create a modified bill notification email. The method further includes presenting the modified bill notification email to the user, receiving a selection of the selectable interface component, extracting the bill information from the network protocol request based on the selection to obtain extracted bill information, and paying the bill using the extracted bill information by paying the billed amount to the biller identified by the biller identifier using a financial account of the user.
US08311939B1
Method, system and program product, the method comprising: accessing databases, comprising: information for a plurality of FDIC-insured and interest-bearing aggregated deposit accounts held in a plurality of banks, and client account information; obtaining a deposit amount, Di; calculating a client first amount, FAi, comprising a first percentage X, multiplied by the deposit amount, Di, to be distributed approximately equally among a client Ni banks; calculating a client second amount, SAi, comprising a second percentage, Y, multiplied by the client amount, Di, to be distributed approximately equally among client Mi banks in the program; allocating a respective portion of the client first amount, FAi, to each of the respective client Ni banks in the program, and allocating a respective portion of the client second amount, SAi, to each of the respective client Mi banks in the program; generating data for transferring funds; and updating the electronic databases.
US08311936B2
Share of Wallet (“SOW”) is a modeling approach that utilizes various data sources to provide outputs that describe a consumers spending capability, tradeline history including balance transfers, and balance information. These outputs can be appended to data profiles of customers and prospects and can be utilized to support decisions involving prospecting, new applicant evaluation, and customer management across the lifecycle. The outputs can be used as attributes to consider in developing a credit bureau scorecard.
US08311917B2
Methods and apparatus for managing collateral based transactions are disclosed. In one embodiment, one or more processors perform defining collateral for a financial transaction, assessing a valuation of the collateral based upon a difference between a material value and a legal tender value of the legal tender precious metal coins, and determining terms of the financial transaction based on the valuation. In some embodiments, the collateral includes one or more legal tender precious metal coins.
US08311915B2
Methods for initiating an electronic shopping transaction, for initiating a control operation for a user-selectable video game character, for emphasizing an advertisement in a computer generated display, and for presenting multiple GUIs in desktop user interfaces using detail-in-context graphical distortions. The method for initiating an electronic shopping transaction, for a user-selectable item presented in a computer generated original image on a display, comprising: receiving a selection signal for the item from a user; distorting the original image to produce a distorted region for the item to provide the user with detailed information for the item; and, receiving a purchase signal for the item from the user.
US08311907B2
Some demonstrative embodiments of the invention include a system and method for detecting related transactions, e.g., fraudulent transactions by for example associating transactions and creating lists of related transactions. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08311902B2
A method for fulfilling inventory requests includes receiving an inventory request requesting an inventory item and selecting the requested inventory item from an inventory holder. The method further includes storing the requested inventory item in an order holder associated with the inventory request and moving the order holder to a storage space. In addition, the method includes detecting a triggering event and in response to detecting the triggering event, retrieving the order holder from the storage space.
US08311890B2
A system and method for providing dynamic pay-for-placement advertisements via graphics-enabled email that generates a display of advertisements when the email newsletter is opened so the advertisements displayed are based on rankings at the time the email is opened instead of when the email was generated and transmitted. In one embodiment, a graphical-content email having one or more embedded advertisement image references is provided to one or more email recipients. The advertisement image reference, in one embodiment, may include query string parameters indicating the context of the image reference and/or portion of the image reference (i.e., identifying the image reference as being part of a particular newsletter email), a position of the image reference in the email display, and the like. A URL reference also may be included with each advertisement image reference (.e.g., one URL for each advertisement portion of the image to be retrieved by the advertising image reference).
US08311887B2
Methods, devices and systems for Real-time Instant Presence with Advertisement (RIPA) using an instant messaging topology with wireless technology to instantly setup and update of presence information of an instant messaging user. The invention provides location information of a business and other business information to a wireless instant messaging user/customer of the business, and obviates the need for the users/customer to manually enter presence information of the business. The invention further provides methods for promotion, advertising and network marketing of a business using presence information sent to instant messaging users and instantly propagated through instant messaging address lists.
US08311874B2
Customer relationships, particularly in a business-to-business environment, are evaluated and enhanced by generating actionable inferences through the measurement and analysis of both customer satisfaction and customer importance. Customer satisfaction information is captured from both an internal channel comprising key internal customer contacts or boundary employees, as well as an external channel comprising representatives from a plurality of identified respondent profile groups. Customer Importance is also considered in the overall analysis and interpretation of the customer satisfaction. By incorporating all the internally reported customer satisfaction, the externally obtained satisfaction figures and the customer importance scores, a framework is provided for the analysis of various relationships which can help to identify relationships that are in critical need of attention, isolate critical areas of improvement, and identify trends across various respondent profiles and lifecycle phases in a manner that optimizes the use of vendor organizational resources.
US08311872B2
Computer modeling process of project management based on Monte Carlo simulation of average quantum mechanical wave function of the project milestone predicting the project delay or project cost increase, based on presenting project milestones as superposition of wave functions of all tasks, averaged over multiple project samples, with each task's duration randomly distributed around its scheduled value.
US08311862B2
A method for facilitating in assessing transitional costs in business transformations using a computer-aided organizational design system is provided. The method comprises creating a first organization design model representative of the current organizational design state of an organization using a graphical tool. The method further comprises changing the first organization design model into a second organization design model representative of the organizational design state of the organization after the business transformation. The method further comprises generating a report identifying the transition cost factors and the transition cost of moving from the first organization design model to the second organization design model, wherein the transition cost is determined based on predetermined calculation algorithms or heuristics.
US08311853B1
A method and system facilitate enrollment of a customer in a medication compliance packaging program. The medication compliance packaging program facilitates proper dosing of each included medication dispensing each medication in a customized package and thereby serving as a personalized, prepackaged pill organizer. The compliance package groups all of the customer's daily pills, separated by the day and time of day that the customer takes each dose. The disclosed method and system provide a convenient means for a customer to enroll in the program, select prescription medications to include in the medication compliance packaging, and set up a dose schedule for each medication.
US08311848B2
An electronic medical record system enables organic growth of medical conditions or choices linked to predefined human body systems or an anatomical image. These choices are used as blue print launchers that form sentences/paragraphs as a user interacts with the choice lists. The choice lists can include a set of control variables that can be selected to create a medical history of a patient in the form of one or more visit notes. The medical history of the patient is formed by user selection of some of the control variables for insertion into fillable data entry locations in the sentences/paragraphs. The sentences/paragraphs are in the form of blue prints which are available generically to be populated with patient specific information to form customized blue prints for a particular patient. Multiple data perspectives in the electronic medical record system allows relatively easy and simultaneous collection of the complex medical data to produce medical visit notes or letters during a patient office visit.
US08311845B2
A method and system for providing a pay-for-visit billing model for advertisements is provided. The advertisement system provides advertisements that have associated physical visit locations. The advertisement system provides advertisements to a mobile device or fixed of a user when the user is in the vicinity of or examining locations in the vicinity of the visit location. If the user subsequently visits the visit location of the advertisement by physically going to the location, the advertisement system then bills the advertiser for the advertisement. The advertisement system bills the advertiser under the assumption that but for the advertisement, the user would not have visited the visit location.
US08311840B2
A system and methods are provided for extending the frequency bandwidth of a harmonic signal. Harmonic content of a band-limited signal is extended to frequencies outside the signal's passband by performing a non-linear transformation on the complex spectrum of the band-limited signal in the frequency domain. The non-linear transformation may be accomplishes by a linear convolution of the complex spectrum with itself. A system for extending the frequency bandwidth of a harmonic signal includes a signal processor with a forward transform module for transforming a time domain signal into the frequency domain, a non-linear transform module for performing the non-linear transformation on the complex spectrum of the harmonic signal, and a reverse transform module for transforming the extended spectrum of the harmonic signal back into the time domain.
US08311837B1
A Mobile Voice Self Service (MVSS) mobile system that includes an MVSS mobile device, on which a VoiceXML browser is implemented directly. The VoiceXML browser may request a VoiceXML application from a VoiceXML application server and process it. A client system may include the VoiceXML application server that the VoiceXML application is requested from. Upon request, the VoiceXML application may deliver the requested VoiceXML application to the VoiceXML application browser. A vendor media resource system may provide advanced Media Resource Control Protocol (MRCP) services, such as Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) or Text-To-Speech (TTS), to the VoiceXML application that is being processed by the VoiceXML application browser. A call data manager may also be implemented on the MVSS mobile device and may provide call data that, in conjunction with data from the VoiceXML application server, may authorize access to advanced Media Resource Control Protocol (MRCP) services.
US08311833B2
Methods and systems for testing and analyzing integrated voice response systems are provided. Computer devices are used to simulate caller responses or inputs to components of the integrated voice response systems. The computer devices receive responses from the components. The responses may be in the form of VXML and grammar files that are used to implement call flow logic. The responses may to analyzed to evaluate the performance of the components and/or call flow logic.
US08311831B2
A voice emphasizing device emphasizes in a speech a “strained rough voice” at a position where a speaker or user of the speech intends to generate emphasis or musical expression. Thereby, the voice emphasizing device can provide the position with emphasis of anger, excitement, tension, or an animated way of speaking, or musical expression of Enka (Japanese ballad), blues, rock, or the like. As a result, rich vocal expression can be achieved. The voice emphasizing device includes: an emphasis utterance section detection unit (12) detecting, from an input speech waveform, an emphasis section that is a time duration having a waveform intended by the speaker or user to be converted; and a voice emphasizing unit (13) increasing fluctuation of an amplitude envelope of the waveform in the detected emphasis section.
US08311827B2
The present invention relates to voice-activated vehicle control, and to the control of UAVs (unmanned air vehicles) using speech in particular. A method of controlling a vehicle is provided that includes receiving one or more instructions issued as speech and analyzing the speech using speech recognition software to provide a sequence of words and a word confidence measure for each word so recognized. The sequence of words is analyzed to identify a semantic concept corresponding to an instruction based on the analysis, and a semantic confidence level for the semantic concept identified derived at least in part with reference to the word confidence measures of the words associated with the semantic concept. A spoken confirmation of the semantic concept so identified based on the semantic confidence level is provided, and the semantic concept is used to provide a control input for the vehicle.
US08311815B2
A down sampler 13 down samples a digital signal in the sampling frequency thereof from 96 kHz to 48 kHz on a frame-by-frame basis. The converted signal is compression encoded and output as a main code Im. An up sampler 16 converts a partial signal corresponding to the main code Im to a signal having the original sampling frequency 96 kHz, for example. An error signal between the up sampled signal and an input digital signal is generated. An array converting and encoding unit 18 array converts bits of sample chains of the error signal, thereby outputting an error code Pe. On a decoding side, a high fidelity reproduced signal is obtained based on the main code Im and the error code Pe, or a reproduced signal is obtained based on the main code Im only.
US08311813B2
Discrimination between at least two classes of events in an input signal is carried out in the following way. A set of frames containing an input signal is received, and at least two different feature vectors are determined for each of said frames. Said at least two different feature vectors are classified using respective sets of preclassifiers trained for said at least two classes of events. Values for at least one weighting factor are determined based on outputs of said preclassifiers for each of said frames. A combined feature vector is calculated for each of said frames by applying said at least one weighting factor to said at least two different feature vectors. Said combined feature vector is classified using a set of classifiers trained for said at least two classes of events.
US08311804B2
A driving directions system loads into memory a limited subset of prerecorded, spoken utterances of geographic names from a mass media storage. The subset of spoken utterances may be limited, for example, to the geographic names within a predetermined radius (e.g., a few miles) of the driver's present location. The present location of the driver may be manually entered into the driving directions system by the driver, or automatically determined using a global positioning system (“GPS”) receiver. As the vehicle moves from its present location, the driving directions system loads into memory new names from the mass media storage and overwrites, if necessary, those which are now geographically out of range. Based on the current location of the driving, the driving directions system can audibly output geographic names from the run-time memory.
US08311802B2
Embodiments consistent with the invention include a method of creating a document on a computing device and a computer-readable storage medium. The method includes: receiving input text in the computing device to initiate a document creation process, the computing device including a first portion of font data for a first language, the first portion including less than all of the font data for the first language; based on the input text, determining whether the first portion is sufficient to create the document on the computing device; loading a second portion of the font data to the computing device from a data storage location if the first portion is not sufficient; and creating the document using at least one of the first portion and the second portion.
US08311795B2
A conceptualization method uses maximum or other substrings of a string pattern to find specific N-tuples of substring triples with N≧2 and m=1 . . . N inside a reference set (SET_r_i) of strings (STR_n_i). Each N-tuple is considered as a candidate for representing related concepts. Each concatenation of the substrings triples is an explicit member of the reference set (SET_r_i). Each middle substring out of middle substrings is unequal to another middle substring out of middle substrings within the substring triples found inside the reference set (SET_r_i). Each prefix substring (X_i) is equal to all other prefix substrings (X_i) within the substring triples found inside the reference set (SET_r_i). Each suffix substring (Z_i) is equal to all other suffix substrings (Z_i) within the substring triples found inside the reference set (SET_r_i). Either the prefix substring (X_i) or the suffix substring (Z_i) is not empty.
US08311786B2
Accurate methods to model the precipitation rate, water delivery spatial distribution, and distribution uniformity for irrigation systems for landscapes are described. A relatively small set of test data is fitted to empirical and physics-based formulas. This permits the extrapolation of test data for an irrigation system with sprinklers being used with any arbitrary specification of operational and environmental variables. The operational variables are the pressure at the sprinkler head, sprinkler model and nozzle choice, range of arc operation, throw adjustment, head tilt, run time, and spatial position. The environmental variables are the wind profile and three-dimensional terrain topology. The; invention predicts the surface distributions and the three-dimension spatial distributions. Projected onto a landscape surface, this predicts the surface distributions for any arbitrary landscape topology, and includes the effect of wind upon the distribution, and thus provides a very general and realistic irrigation design tool.
US08311785B2
Methods and apparatus to minimize saturation in a ground fault detection device are disclosed. An example method includes connecting a capacitor simulator to a node of the ground fault detector device to prevent saturation, and monitoring power-line conductors for ground fault conditions with the ground fault detector device. An example apparatus to simulate a saturation capacitance in a ground fault device includes a sense coil induced by power-line conductors, and at least one of an amplifier or a current detector including an input connected to the sense coil and an output connected to a ground fault detector. The example apparatus also includes a saturation capacitor simulator connected to a node of at least one of the amplifier or the current detector to prevent saturation.
US08311783B2
A method for the generation of a set of conflicts for model-based system diagnostics is described, with which system a plurality of sensors is associated for the observation of variables indicative of operation conditions.The method starts from generating a complete set of Analytical Redundancy Relations (ARRs) in implicit form and, for each diagnosis instance: it performs a system simulation, computing the expected values for a first subset of Analytical Redundancy Relations (D-ARRs) including the relations involving only one system observation variable; it compares the expected and observed values of the system observation variables to identify the inconsistent variables, i.e. the unsatisfied redundancy relations, indicating a fault in at least one system component; and, when discrepancies are detected, it checks the consistency of each relation belonging to a second subset of Analytical Redundancy Relations (I-ARR), comprising relations involving a plurality of system observation variables, at least one of which exhibits discrepancies between expected and observed values; therefore identifying the support set of the unsatisfied Redundancy Relations as set of system conflicts.
US08311769B2
A portable monitoring device to calculate a number of stairs or flights of stairs traversed by the user, in one aspect, comprising a housing having a physical size and shape that is adapted to couple to the body of the user, a motion sensor, disposed in the housing, to sample motion of the user in response to a motion sample signal and generate data which is representative thereof; an altitude sensor, disposed in the housing, to sample an altitude of the user in response to an altitude sample signal and generate data which is representative thereof; and processing circuitry, disposed in the housing to: (i) generate the altitude sample signal using the data which is representative of motion of the user, and (ii) determine a change in altitude of the user using the data which is representative of a change in altitude of the user.
US08311768B2
A step count measuring system includes a pedometer and a step count managing apparatus which are able to communicate with each other. In the pedometer, a step count value sequentially detected for each unit of time is stored, and a time counted in the pedometer is stored as first time data by being brought into associated with each of the step count values. When a battery is replaced in the pedometer, a reset is executed to start initialization processing, and the time stored as first time data is stored as second time data which can be discriminated from the first time data. A recording time of each of the step count values being associated with the first time data before the initialization processing is set on the basis of the time counted by the step count managing apparatus, and a recording time of each of the step count values being associated with the second time data after the initialization processing is set on the basis of the second time data.
US08311765B2
Locating and/or marking equipment, such as a locate transmitter or locate receiver, a marking device, or a combined locate and marking device, may be communicatively coupled to and/or equipped with a mobile/portable device (e.g., a mobile phone, personal digital assistant or other portable computing device) that provides processing, electronic storage, electronic display, user interface, communication facilities and/or other functionality (e.g., GPS-enabled functionality) for the equipment. A mobile/portable device may be mechanically and/or electronically coupled to the equipment, and may be programmed so as to log and generate electronic records of various information germane to a locate and/or marking operation (e.g., locate information, marking information, and/or landmark information). Such records may be formatted in various manners, processed and/or analyzed on the mobile/portable device, and/or transmitted to another device (e.g., a remote computer/server) for storage, processing and/or analysis. The mobile/portable device also may provide redundant, shared and/or backup functionality for the equipment to enhance robustness.
US08311761B2
A method of operation in a memory controller is disclosed. The method includes receiving a strobe signal having a first phase relationship with respect to first data propagating on a first data line, and a second phase relationship with respect to second data propagating on a second data line. A first sample signal is generated based on the first phase relationship and a second sample signal is generated based on the second phase relationship. The first data signal is received using a first receiver clocked by the first sample signal. The second data signal is received using a second receiver clocked by the second sample signal.
US08311754B2
Methods and mechanisms for processing a plurality of electrical parameters of a common alternating current service that supplies power for multiple electrical devices. In an embodiment, an instance data structure is identified based on a data set which is generated from samples of an alternating current service, the instance data structure corresponding to an on-off cycle of an electrical device. Based on the instance data structure, a contribution by the on-off cycle is subtracted from the data set to determine a residual data set. In another embodiment, the residual data set is processed to determine whether the residual data set includes a contribution by an on-off cycle of another electrical device.
US08311748B2
Embodiments include a system for determining cardiovascular information for a patient. The system may include at least one computer system configured to receive patient-specific data regarding a geometry of the patient's heart, and create a three-dimensional model representing at least a portion of the patient's heart based on the patient-specific data. The at least one computer system may be further configured to create a physics-based model relating to a blood flow characteristic of the patient's heart and determine a fractional flow reserve within the patient's heart based on the three-dimensional model and the physics-based model.
US08311742B2
A computer-implemented method for accurately estimating plasma velocities on the photosphere based on magnetic field data from vector magnetograms. Spatial and temporal derivatives of the magnetic field components are computed and a structure tensor containing terms that specifically include the horizontal magnetic field components is constructed. The structure tensor is convolved with a window function and a least-squares solution based on the convolved structure tensor is found. The solution includes the plasma velocities in the horizontal and vertical directions at the center of the window.
US08311741B1
Methods and systems for providing routing information to a user are disclosed. Based on a request for routing information between an origin and destination for a travel objective, wireless coverage data for the geographic area associated with the travel objective is received. A graph model for determining routes between the origin and destination is adjusted based at least in part on the wireless coverage data. According to particular aspects of the present disclosure, the graph model can be adjusted based on the wireless coverage data and at least additional parameter such as estimated trip time, average speed, distance, favored routes or traffic information. User information can be optionally provided and used to emphasize or deemphasize wireless coverage data in the determination of the route for the travel objective.
US08311739B2
Methods and apparatus for: (a) the correction of one or more elements determined from a first set of continuous gyro and accelerometer measurements comprising using a second set of discontinuously measured higher accuracy accelerometer measurements doubly integrated in an inertial coordinate system, (b) determining relative movement of a vehicle using a first set of acceleration measurements that do not include components of acceleration caused by the Earth's gravitational field, and a second set of acceleration measurements that do include components of acceleration caused by the Earth's gravitational field; and (c) correcting errors in an inertial navigation system positioned in a vehicle comprising using independently measured changes in position of the vehicle relative to an inertial coordinate frame.
US08311716B2
A control apparatus for a shift range changeover device determines temporary abnormality, when a detection output of a rotation position of a motor continues to be abnormal for a first abnormality determination period. The control apparatus further determines persistent abnormality and performs predetermined failsafe processing, when the detection output further continues to be abnormal for a second abnormality period following the first abnormality period. If the temporary abnormality is determined within a feedback control permission period, motor feedback control is prohibited to control the shift range to the neutral range. If the temporary abnormality is determined after the feedback control permission period, the same control operation as before the temporary abnormality is performed.
US08311711B2
A shift control device is provided with a structure wherein when a driver selects a manual shift mode, an appropriate shift level is set as an initial shift level in conformity to a driver's will to have or not to have a drive-force source braking effect. When a shift lever 72 is operatively moved to an S-position to select an S-mode, depending on whether a stay time in a position “D” continuing for a certain time period or more (step S2), a shift mode switching or a manual shift mode direct-selecting is determined, and then an initial shift level is individually determined for a shift mode switching (YES in step S2) and a manual shift mode direct-selecting (NO in step S2). This determines appropriate initial shift level in conformity to the driver's will to have the drive-force source braking effect in the shift mode switching and that not to have the drive-force source braking effect in the manual shift mode direct-selecting.
US08311704B2
A control apparatus of a variable damping force damper used to suspend a vehicle body of a vehicle is configured to set a target control quantity of the variable damping force damper based on a plurality of dynamic state quantities of the vehicle, wherein the plurality of dynamic state quantities include a vertical dynamic state quantity of the vehicle.
US08311703B2
A control system has a startup start device that generates and outputs a startup start signal that starts a startup of a vehicle based on an operation of starting up the vehicle, a power supply device that supplies power to each unit of the vehicle, a central control unit that generates and outputs to a motor device for driving the vehicle, a startup command signal that starts up the motor device based on the startup start signal, a startup control unit that performs a startup control of the motor device based on the startup command signal, a drive control unit that performs a drive control of a peripheral device configuring the vehicle, a storage unit that stores first data containing initial information of the peripheral device or setting information set in advance, and a data storage control unit that performs the startup control of the motor device by the startup control unit after storing second data indicating, when the operation of starting up the vehicle is performed, a state of the peripheral device at the time of the operation in a predetermined storage area in the storage unit.
US08311702B2
A health state management device manages information on a state of health of a driver of transportation equipment. An authentication portion authenticates the driver, and a health state judgment portion measures blood component data of the driver authenticated by the authentication portion. The health state judgment portion judges the state of health of the driver using the blood component data. A decision portion decides whether or not to permit operation of the transportation equipment based on a judgment result of the health state judgment portion, and a storage portion stores the judgment result of the health state judgment portion and a decision result of the decision portion in association with driver identification information of the driver.
US08311693B2
Systems and methods for stabilizing a hybrid electric vehicle (“HEV”) towing a trailer. One system includes a regenerative braking system, a non-regenerative braking system, and a stabilization system. The stabilization system determines a direction of rotation and a speed of the HEV and compares the HEV's speed to a predetermined low speed threshold value and a predetermined high speed threshold value. The stabilization system instructs the regenerative braking system to brake at least one wheel when the speed is less than or equal to the predetermined low speed threshold value and instructs the regenerative braking system to brake at least one wheel opposite the direction of rotation and at least one of the regenerative braking system and the non-regenerative braking system to provide an extra stabilizing braking torque to at least one wheel opposite the direction of rotation when the speed is greater than the predetermined high speed threshold value.
US08311682B2
A system, methods, and user-friendly program product to optimize energy recovery for a process or cluster of processes under all possible combinations of given process changes and stream-specific minimum temperature approach values without enumeration, are provided. The systems, methods, and program product can include steps/operations to identify a set of common-structure heat exchanger network designs which allow for construction of a physically exchanger network easily retrofittable to accommodate time-dependent new operating modes, disturbances, and uncertainty schemes.
US08311680B2
A method of setting a demand threshold is provided. A control unit arranges a plurality of demand data in a descending or an ascending order as a curve. The control unit connects a maximum demand datum and a minimum demand datum with a line. The control unit sets a demand datum with a longest perpendicular distance to the line as a demand threshold.
US08311676B2
A system for controlling a bipedal robot via a communication device. The system acquires a mapping data and a current location of the bipedal robot via a Global Positioning System (GPS), determines a route on the mapping data, and directs movement of the bipedal robot until it reaches a preset destination. A method for controlling the robot and a storage device containing computer instructions for execution of the method are also provided.
US08311672B2
The present invention relates to a robot and a control method adapted for the robot. The method includes a) measuring time; b) performing a normal biological action when the time reaches a beginning time of a biological function; c) judging whether an instruction is received while during the biological function; d) if the instruction is received while during the biological function, fetching an action adjustment parameter of the biological function and performing an output; e) after the output is finished, resuming performing the normal biological action; and f) stopping the normal biological action when the time reaches an ending time of the biological function.
US08311666B2
A system separating defective dies from a wafer comprises a film frame platform and a pick-and-place device. The film frame platform comprises a support table assembly configured for supporting a film frame assembly and a platform surface configured to receive the placement of bins thereupon. The pick-and-place device is configured for moving in a linear manner between the support table assembly and the platform surface.
US08311665B2
When handling paper sheets, the paper sheet present at the uppermost or lowest part of each batch of the paper sheets is assigned as a designated paper sheet, and then intrinsic information on this designated paper sheet is associated with transaction information corresponding to the batch of the paper sheets. Thereafter, a plurality of batches of the paper sheets are stacked, one on another, in a certain number corresponding to transactions, while the intrinsic information on each designated paper sheet is already associated with the corresponding transaction information. Then, such stacked batches of the paper sheets are handled, collectively, by a paper sheet handling system. Thereafter, each recognition result on the plurality of batches of the paper sheets, respectively handled by the paper sheet handling system, is separated by utilizing each designated paper sheet. As such, information on the association between each recognition result on the paper sheets and the transaction information can be obtained.
US08311664B2
A tray supply apparatus includes a tray magazine, a sub magazine, a supply station, and a lifting and lowering mechanism. The tray magazine can store a tray on each of a plurality of stages. The tray stores components. The sub magazine includes a plurality of conveyance mechanisms having a plurality of stages. The sub magazine is adjacent to the tray magazine and capable of taking out the tray from the tray magazine. The supply station includes a plurality of placement portions having a plurality of stages, on each of which the tray is placed, and a stage that lifts and lowers the tray between the plurality of placement portions. The supply station is disposed at a position where the components are picked up. The lifting and lowering mechanism lifts and lowers the sub magazine to convey the tray between the tray magazine and the supply station through the sub magazine.
US08311637B2
A magnetic core flux canceling device according to embodiments of the present invention includes a magnetic field sensor adapted for placement at a ferrite material core in an implantable medical device, the magnetic field sensor adapted to transmit a signal corresponding to a magnitude of a first magnetic field. Such a device may also include a coil disposed around the ferrite material core and a driver circuit configured to receive the signal and to vary a voltage applied across the coil based on the signal, the voltage applied across the coil creating a second magnetic field at least partially in a direction opposite the first magnetic field. According to some embodiments of the present invention, multiple coils may be used to cancel magnetic fields in multiple directions. A voltage applied across the coil varies in magnitude and/or direction to cancel or weaken an MRI-related magnetic field.
US08311636B2
The disclosure describes an implantable stimulation system that guides programming with a therapeutic tree. All possible stimulation parameters are arranged on the therapeutic tree, with each level of the therapeutic tree containing a different stimulation parameter type. Each level includes nodes that are connected to nodes of adjacent levels. A program path is created by moving through nodes of lower levels. The stimulation parameter types are arranged so that coarse adjustments occur at higher levels of the tree and fine adjustments occur at lower levels of the tree. The nodes of the program path define the stimulation parameters of the delivered stimulation therapy. The user may provide information such as efficacy input and/or medication dosage information to the system for identifying the most efficacious program path in treating pain of the patient. Additionally or alternatively, efficacy feedback may be received from physiological parameter sensors.
US08311634B2
An apparatus and method for retinal stimulation are shown. The method comprises varied parameters, including frequency, pulse width, and pattern of pulse trains to determine a stimulation pattern and visual perception threshold.
US08311624B2
An apparatus for delivering at least one therapeutic agent to an ocular tissue of a subject includes at least one electrode, a medicament layer including the at least one therapeutic agent, an electrical signal source, and logic configured to control the electrical signal source. The at least one electrode has oppositely disposed, dome-shaped first and second major surfaces. The first major surface is curved such that the first major surface substantially conforms to a contour of the ocular tissue when placed in contact with the ocular tissue. The medicament layer is disposed on at least a portion of the second major surface. The electrical signal source provides a signal having certain characteristics and is electrically connected to the at least one electrode. The certain characteristics comprise at least one orienting frequency and at least one motivating frequency sufficient to motivate the at least one therapeutic agent into the ocular tissue.
US08311619B2
A cardiac-activity based prediction of a rapid drop in a patient's blood pressure during extracorporeal blood treatment is disclosed. A proposed alarm apparatus includes a primary beat morphology analysis unit bank of secondary analysis units and an alarm generating unit. The primary beat morphology analysis unit discriminates heart beats in a received basic electrocardiogram signal, classifies each beat into one out of at least two different beat categories, and associates each segment of the signal with relevant event-type data. The event-type data and the basic electrocardiogram signal together form an enhanced electrocardiogram signal, based upon which the primary beat morphology analysis unit determines whether one or more secondary signal analyses should be performed. Depending on the enhanced electrocardiogram signal's properties, the bank of secondary analysis units performs none, one or more of up to at least two different types of secondary analyses, and for each analysis performed produces a respective test signal. The alarm generating unit receives the test signals, and triggers an alarm signal indicative of an estimated rapid blood pressure decrease, if at least one alarm criterion is fulfilled.
US08311606B2
The present invention is an apparatus and method for making a polymer patterned electrode for cardiac pacing and sensing. The electrode surface includes a polymer overlayed on an electrode. The polymer layer is patterned to form an electrode surface consisting of a polymer and a conductive metal surface. The electrode can be made of a high or low impedance electrode by changing the conductivity of the polymer. Furthermore, the electrode surface texture can be optimized with a micro pattern that may enhance the biocompatibility. The polymer may be conductive or insulative.
US08311601B2
According to various embodiments, a medical sensor assembly may be configured to switch between transmission and reflectance mode. Such sensors may include multiple optical sensing components that may be activated or silent, depending on the mode in use. A practitioner may switch between modes based on the particular situation of the patient or based on the signal quality.
US08311600B2
An optical measurement instrument for living body includes: a plurality of light irradiation means for irradiating an object being tested with light; a plurality of light reception means for detecting the light that is irradiated to the object being tested and propagates inside the object being tested; and a calculation unit for calculating hemodynamics of a plurality of factors inside the object being tested from the detection signal detected by the light reception means, wherein the calculation unit includes a separation calculation unit for separating a plurality of signals from the detection signals; a selection unit for calculating a correlation coefficient between a plurality of the signals separated to select a signal in which a correlation coefficient is a predetermined value or greater as a noise signal; and a reconstruction calculation unit for reconfiguring the detection signal excluding the noise signal selected by the selection unit.
US08311588B2
The present invention includes a device, method, and user interface for providing optimized entry of alphanumeric text. In one form, a method for providing selectable characters within a user interface includes determining an operating mode of a communication device and receiving an input associated with a selected input key. The method determines a group of characters associated with the selected key based on the operating mode and displays the group of characters within the user interface. The user interface may display a first character of the group of characters within a first portion of the user interface and the group of characters proximal to the first character within a second portion of the user interface.
US08311587B2
Each of the cases C1 and C2 is formed in a plate. A sliding mechanism SL1 is slidably coupled with the case C1 and the case C2. A Felica circuit 24 is provided with an antenna (24a), and is contained in the case C2. A magnetic sensor 28 is contained in the case C2. A magnet 30 is contained in the case C1. A main LCD monitor 32 is attached to a top surface of the case C1. A CPU (22) determines whether an open position or a closed position from the output value of the magnetic sensor 28. In the closed position, an assist mark (36) is displayed on the main LCD monitor 32 at a position of the antenna (24a) with respect to the main LCD monitor 32.
US08311583B2
A communication system including a first station having at least two first narrow beam antennas and a second station having at least two second narrow beam antennas. The first and second stations establish a first communication path for wireless communication via a pair of first and second narrow beam antennas. When communication via the first communication path is disturbed by obstacles, the first and second stations automatically establish at least one alternative communication path, which is spatially different from the first communication path, for wireless communication using the at least two first narrow beam antennas and the at least two second narrow beam antennas.
US08311580B2
Archiving mobile device contact information as a function of occurrence of one or more temporal conditions is provided herein. By way of example, contact information stored in an active contact list of a mobile device can be associated with a temporal condition, such as frequency of use, or location of the mobile device, or the like. If the temporal condition is met, the contact information is archived at remote data store and/or passive portion of mobile device memory. Once the temporal condition is no longer met, the contact information can be re-downloaded into active memory and incorporated into the active contact list. As a result, aspects of the claimed subject matter provide for organizing a mobile device contact list according to temporal condition(s) to provide added efficiency and to manage such information according to a determinable situational context.
US08311563B2
The present invention relates to a method for transmitting and receiving information for configuring a point-to-multipoint control channel in a wireless communication system. A network generates configuration information for configuring a point-to-multipoint control channel (MCCH) and transmits the configuration information to a mobile terminal. The configuration information comprises at least one of a modification period, a repetition period, a SFN-MCCH-Offset comprising an offset between a transmission of a first frame of a modification period and a system frame number (SFN) of a cell in which the configuration information is transmitted, and a number of transmission time intervals (TTIs) the mobile terminal will read at each beginning of a repetition period.
US08311551B1
Wireless access terminals operating in a radio access network (RAN) may move from one coverage area to another coverage area formed by base stations within the RAN. The RAN tracks the location of the access terminals so that RAN can efficiently route communications, such as page messages, to a base station serving the access terminals. From time-to-time, the access terminals can send route-update messages to inform the RAN of their locations. Sending the route-update messages can increase the loading on base station channels that carry the messages. Methods, systems, and devices for delaying transmission of the route-update messages are described. Delaying or not delaying transmission of the route-update messages may be dependent on occupancy of access channels of a base station and whether the access terminals are mobile at the time the route-update messages are to be sent.
US08311547B2
A system for and method of maintaining response center information is presented. In one exemplary embodiment, the system for and method of maintaining response center information may comprise receiving, via an electronic interface, electronic data associated with emergency communications handling, processing, using a processor, the electronic data to associate a portion of the electronic data with a geographical boundary, identifying a modification to geographical boundary, and determining a communication address associated with the modification to the geographical boundary.
US08311546B2
A wireless communication device for use in a noisy or harsh environment in connection with a cellular telephone is disclosed. The wireless communication device provides enhanced audio broadcasting capabilities for an operator of the device by providing a larger, more powerful speaker than that typically found in a cellular telephone. The apparatus of the present invention improves cellular telephone usage in the typically noisy and harsh environment found while operating a boat. The present apparatus further provides a half-duplex mode of communication to further reduce ambient noise experienced while using a cellular telephone in a noisy environment In another embodiment, the apparatus is connectable to a variety of external devices and is capable of operating the external devices and providing internet access for a variety of external devices through a cellular telephone connection In at least one embodiment, the present invention is connectable to any transceiver.
US08311538B2
A method and system for facilitating HLR access includes receiving a query request from a query entity, processing the query request to yield an SS7 request message, dispatching the SS7 request message to a HLR, receiving an SS7 response message from the HLR, constructing a query response, and returning the query response to the query entity.
US08311536B1
A method, apparatus, and system in which a wireless communication device that is registered for service with a roaming carrier network engages in peer-to-peer communication, via the roaming carrier network, with a home carrier server to notify the home carrier server of the device's roaming status and location, and the device then receives in response from the home carrier server a directive to register with and be served by a nearby home carrier base station instead.
US08311532B2
Disclosed is a system and method for enabling personalized shared mobile phone usage within a wireless telecommunications network, including an illustrative application of the invention as it relates to mobile subscribers who cannot afford a mobile phone handset in the emerging markets. For instance, a prepaid wireless subscriber can be provisioned on a wireless network without the need for a mobile phone handset or SIM but with a personal phone number. The subscriber may access his account and invoke the system by keying in an Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) short code followed by his account number on a borrowed handset to access a personalized menu sent from the system over the network. Key features of the disclosure are the very low cost of entry and the ability for a subscriber to access the system from any GSM MAP2+ handsets without the need for any modification or downloading of applications.
US08311527B2
A mobile communication terminal, a message service server, a message service system, and a method thereof for sending and receiving a message are disclosed. In one embodiment, the mobile communication terminal includes 1) a font encoder configured to encode a font design into font data and to encode a message text into message data so as to generate combined message data which comprises the font data and message data and 2) a font decoder configured to i) separate the font data and the message data from the combined message data, and ii) reconstruct and output a message, comprising the font design, based at least in part on the separated font data and the message data. According to one embodiment, by including the font data and message data in the transmission, the receiving mobile communication terminal can display the same font design as the original font design.
US08311526B2
A selection of a category of interest and location information is used to determine categorical information that is provided to a device. In some implementations, the device includes a touch-sensitive display and presents the categorical information on a map using an indicator. In some implementations, the categorical information can be shared and/or updated by others.
US08311510B2
A method for automatically transmitting requested floor plans to emergency responders en route to a building, including receiving a request for the plans for a building located at a location identified as the destination of emergency responders, retrieving requested plans from a central database, and transmitting retrieved plans to emergency responders. The central database includes plans for a plurality of buildings located at a plurality of respective locations.
US08311509B2
Detection device for detection and generation of detection device generated signal, processed with remote control device generated remote control signal, with location finder or location tracker or navigation signal and with Modulation Demodulation (Modem) Format Selectable (MFS) communication signal. Processor for processing a digital signal into cross-correlated in-phase and quadrature-phase filtered signal and for processing a voice signal into Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexed (OFDM) or Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) signal. Detection device generated signal and location finder signal, with OFDM or OFDMA processed voice signal is used in a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) and in Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network. Detection device generated signal and location finder signal with Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), Global Mobile System (GSM) and spread spectrum Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) signal is used in a cellular network. Polar and quadrature modulator and two antenna transmitter for transmission of provided processed signal. Transmitter with two amplifiers operated in separate radio frequency (RF) bands. One transmitter is operated as a Non-Linearly Amplified (NLA) transmitter and the other transmitter is operated as a linearly amplified or linearized amplifier transmitter. Two antenna receiver and demodulator. Diversity receiver and demodulator.
US08311497B2
A method and a system for scanning frequencies in an electronic device include storing one or more frequencies, performing a scan based on the stored frequencies for a predetermined time interval, and establishing a connection based on the scan. The system includes an acquisition database for scanning frequencies in an electronic device, a timer module for setting a predetermined time interval as the scanning interval, and a frequency identification module for identifying one or more frequencies of a normal scan and a limited scan.
US08311495B2
Embodiments include methods and apparatus for detecting a phase angle between an incident signal and a reflected signal. The apparatus comprises a plurality of phase shifters and additional circuitry. The plurality of phase shifters is adapted to apply first phase shifts to a representation of the incident signal and to apply second phase shifts to a representation of the reflected signal. The additional circuitry, which is operatively coupled to the plurality of phase shifters, is adapted to produce a first indication of a location of a relative phase difference between the incident signal and the reflected signal within a first region of a first reference circle, and to produce a second indication of the location of the relative phase difference within a second region of a second reference circle, wherein the second reference circle is rotated with respect to the first reference circle.
US08311491B2
A system to provide narrowcast communications uses adaptive data rate control to individual subscribers such that the effects of precipitation or other link conditions, which are not common to all subscribers, is mitigated. The invention takes advantage of the fact that the narrowcast data consist of packets which are individually addressed to specific subscribers, or groups of subscribers. The narrowcast data is communicated on a plurality of channels, each of potentially differing data rates. The subscribers are assigned a particular channel, based upon their link quality, to receive packets addressed to them. The lower data rate channel will be less affected by adverse link conditions and are hence assigned to subscribers most likely to incur adverse link conditions.
US08311490B2
Control systems for mounting in a vehicle and for transmitting a signal to a receiver associated with a device for opening or closing a movable barrier when the receiver receives an authorized signal are provided.
US08311489B2
The present invention provides methods implemented in a base station having a plurality of antennas and one or more user terminals. One embodiment of the method includes receiving feedback from at least one user in response to transmitting a first frame to said at least one user. The first frame is formed by pre-coding at least one symbol using at least one first code word selected from at least one first code book associated with the at least one user. The method also includes transmitting at least one second frame to the user(s). The second frame(s) are pre-coded using at least one second codeword selected from at least one second codebook. The second codebook(s) determined based on the feedback and the first codeword(s).
US08311482B2
A wireless base station apparatus is provided that is configured to automatically optimize the radiation pattern it uses when installed for operation in a wireless network in order to serve wireless client devices within a coverage area. The wireless base station is configured to determine its geographical location and to evaluate its geographical location based on stored geographical map data that indicates the physical geographical environment surrounding its geographical location. Based on the physical geographical environment surrounding the geographical location, the base station determines a radiation pattern best suited to serve wireless client devices within a coverage area.
US08311478B2
A portable communication device is equipped to search for content stored on a target electronic device. The portable communication device transfers user-defined content search query to an electronic device via a near-field communications (NFC) module. The portable communication device receives search results from the electronic device via the NFC module and indicates to the user that search results have been received from the electronic device. The portable communication device facilitates content searching and data transfer between two devices.
US08311477B2
According to one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a high-frequency switching circuit including a first differential line and third line. The differential line includes a first line configured to have one end and an other end, a second line configured to have one end and an other end and a first switch configured to switch electrical connection between the one ends of the first and second lines. The differential line receives or outputs differential signals by the other ends of the first and second lines. The third line is configured to be electromagnetically coupled with the first differential line when the first switch is turned on. The first switch is arranged at a position where an electrical length from the other end of the first line and an electrical length from the other end of the second line are approximately equal.
US08311470B2
An image heating apparatus includes: a belt member; an inclinable steering roller configured to support the belt member; a heating member configured to contact the belt member and heat an image on a recording material; a detecting member configured to detect a position of a belt end in a widthwise direction of the belt member; a correcting device configured to correct a position of the belt member in the widthwise direction by inclining the steering roller in accordance with a detected position of the belt end by the detecting member; and a supporting device configured to support the detecting member. The supporting device is provided with a contact portion for press-contacting an end surface of one end portion of a pressing roller configured to press the belt member against the heating member.
US08311469B2
In a fixing device, a stationary member is provided inside a belt member and pressed against a rotary pressing member via the belt member to form a nip between the rotary pressing member and the belt member through which a recording medium bearing a toner image passes. An expandable heating member is provided inside the belt member to face an inner circumferential surface of the belt member to heat the belt member. A regulator contacts a downstream portion of the heating member provided downstream from a center of the nip in a direction of rotation of the belt member to expand the downstream portion of the heating member.
US08311465B2
An image forming apparatus including: an image carrier that has a belt-like shape and carries an image; an image forming section that forms the image on the image carrier; a driving roller around which the image carrier is looped, the driving roller being rotationally driven by a first driving source to drive the image carrier; a roller around which the image carrier is looped; a transfer roller having a partially hollow peripheral surface and being rotationally driven by a second driving source, the transfer roller abutting on the image carrier to form a transfer nip at a position at which the image carrier is looped around the roller; a first tension roller that abuts on the image carrier between a position of the driving roller and a position of the roller to adjust a tensile force of the image carrier; and a second tension roller that abuts on the image carrier to adjust a tensile force of the image carrier, the second tension roller abutting on the image carrier on an abutting position opposite to that of the first tension roller so as to interpose the transfer nip between the first and second tension rollers.
US08311454B2
An image forming apparatus, having: an image forming section to form a toner image on a sheet; a fixing device to fix the tone image on the sheet at a nip section having a pair of fixing members pressing each other to form the nip section and a heat source disposed on at least one of the fixing members to heat the fixing member; a swing section to swing the pair of the fixing members so that the fixing members displace relatively with respect to the sheet in a width direction which is perpendicular to a sheet conveyance direction, and a heat source support section to support the heat source in a way that a position of the heat source is maintained constantly with respect to the sheet in the width direction.
US08311451B2
There is provided an image forming apparatus including: a photosensitive member; a plurality of developing devices each including a developing roller; a support member detachably supporting the plurality of developing devices; and a developing device move mechanism that moves each of the developing devices to a close position and a distant position. Each of the developing devices includes a cover member that is movable between a cover position and an exposure position. The image forming apparatus further includes a cover member move mechanism, which moves the cover member from the cover position to the exposure position in association with movement of the developing roller from the distant position to the close position, and which moves the cover member from the exposure position to the cover position in association with movement of the developing roller from the close position to the distant position.
US08311448B2
An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes: an apparatus main body, a drawer, an image carrier, a developing unit which is provided to be movable with respect to the drawer, a contacting and spacing mechanism which is provided to at least one of the apparatus main body and the drawer, and which is configured to move the developing unit between a contacting position and a spacing position, a driving unit which is configured to drive the contacting and spacing mechanism, a cover, an interlocking mechanism which is configured to interlock with opening of the cover, wherein when the cover is opened, the interlocking mechanism performs a first operation of releasing the coupled state between the driving unit and the contacting and spacing mechanism, and a second operation of moving the developing unit to a drawn position while interlocking with the first operation.
US08311435B2
There is provided an image formation device, comprising: an image forming unit configured to execute image formation to form an image on a recording medium; a holding body configured to move relatively with respect to the image forming unit and to hold an image formed thereon by the image forming unit; a controller that controls the image forming unit to form a correction pattern in an area on the holding body, the area corresponding to an image formation area defined on the recording medium when the image formation is executed for the recording medium; a measurement unit configured to measure a position of the correction pattern formed on the holding body; and a correction unit configured to correct an image formation position of the image formation unit based on a measurement result of the measurement unit.
US08311426B2
An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier and a detection unit. The image carrier is stretched around a plurality of rolls. The detection unit detects a density of a toner image formed on the image carrier, based on an amount of regularly reflected light from a surface of the image carrier. A detection length where the detection unit performs the detection in a movement direction of the image carrier is longer than a length, in the movement direction of the image carrier, of a deformation area where a deformation of the image carrier is caused.
US08311425B2
A fixing unit controlling apparatus that includes a switching unit of a power supplier to supply power to a fixing unit according to a power supply controlling signal to control a temperature of the fixing unit, and a switching unit of a power shutter to shut off power supplied to the fixing unit when the fixing unit controlling apparatus operates abnormally, wherein the switching units of the power supplier and the power shutter are both connected to a snubber circuit of the power shutter.
US08311410B2
The polarization direction of an optical signal is changed by a polarization controller so as to be orthogonal to a main axis of a polarizer. A control pulse generator generates control pulses from control beam with a wavelength which is different from the wavelength of the optical signal. The optical signal and the control pulse are input to a nonlinear optical fiber. In the nonlinear optical fiber, the optical signal, during a time period in which the optical signal and the control pulse coincide, is amplified with optical parametric amplification around a polarization direction of the control pulse. The optical signal, during the time period in which the optical signal and the control pulse coincide, passes through the polarizer.
US08311409B2
The present invention provides an optical signal-selection switch module which is used in a method for simultaneous real-time status monitoring and troubleshooting of a high-capacity single-fiber hybrid passive optical network that is based on wavelength-division-multiplexing techniques.
US08311407B2
A camera system includes an interchangeable lens and a camera body. A body controller in the camera body performs control to transmit a timing signal and a drive information signal to the interchangeable lens. A lens controller in the interchangeable lens controls drive of a focus lens based on the drive information signal and the timing signal which are received from the camera body. The drive information signal includes information of a driving time which is a period from a start of driving the focus lens until an end of driving the focus lens.
US08311400B2
A content reproduction apparatus (100), connected to a display and speakers, includes: a content display control unit (200) which can cause a first window (1101) and a second window (1201) to be displayed on the display; a sound output control unit (110) which can cause at least one speaker assigned for outputting sound of first content to output the sound of the first content, and can cause at least one speaker assigned for outputting sound of second content to output the sound of the second content; a viewable range calculation unit (150) which calculates, by calculation, a viewable range in which the first viewer is located and which is included in a predetermined range where the first viewer can hear the sound of the first content with a predetermined acoustic effect; and a display control unit which outputs, to provide to the first viewer, information based on the viewable range.
US08311399B2
An embodiment of the present invention disclose a method for fast forward/backward play of video data includes: obtaining fast forward/backward index information that meets a fast forward/backward play request from a pre-generated fast forward/backward sequence index file according to the fast forward/backward play request from a client; and obtaining video data that meets the fast forward/backward play request from a pre-generated fast forward/backward sequence file according to the index information and transmitting the video data to the client via a network. An embodiment of the present invention also discloses a streaming server. With the method and streaming server provided by the present invention, the fast forward/backward video data reading efficiency of the streaming server may be improved.
US08311395B2
The present invention comprises an input part for inputting image data, a receiving part for receiving production information relating to production transmitted from another apparatus, a recording part for recording the production information received by the receiving part and image data input by the input part, a detection part for detecting a recording position on a recording medium at an editing point of image data recorded by the recording part, and a transmission part for transmitting information of the recording position detected by the detection part, whereby identification information for identifying image data and voice data is recorded in a recording medium or a recording device, this relieving a burden on a photographer and an editor and facilitating extraction of image data and voice data.
US08311382B1
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for recording and publishing content on social networking websites and other websites include providing an imbedded link on a social networking webpage to media recorder software stored on an external server system, invoking the media recorder software within a displayed instance of the social networking webpage through an application programming interface for the social networking webpage, receiving a video stream defining video captured using the media recorder software at the external video management server system, generating and storing a video file using the received video stream at the external server system, selecting the stored video file for distribution via one or more communication networks, and providing the stored video file for display within displayed instances of webpages hosted on external web server systems.
US08311380B2
A splice tray holder includes a body with a first portion, a second portion, and a front surface. A retention portion is disposed on an outer periphery of each of the first and second portions and defines a receiving groove having an inner surface that faces toward the front surface of the body. A spring portion is disposed on each of the first and second portions, wherein the spring portion is adapted to provide a biasing force in a direction from the front surface of the body toward the inner surface of the receiving groove.
US08311366B2
The invention relates to a calibration method and system for at least one projection apparatus, where the geometric data from at least one projection area has been or are stored in advance in a computer unit, wherein a) the at least one projection apparatus projects previously known calibration patterns onto at least one portion of the projection area, with the calibration patterns having at least one overlap region among one another, b) the calibration patterns are recorded by at least one camera apparatus as a calibration image, where c) the computer unit is used to automatically ascertain the difference between the recorded real calibration image and an ideal depiction result from the previously known calibration pattern on the projection area as a reference pattern, and where subsequently the difference between the real calibration image and the reference pattern is used to ascertain a correction transform.
US08311364B2
A method for estimating the aesthetic quality of an input digital image comprising using a digital image processor for performing the following: determining one or more vanishing point(s) associated with the input digital image by automatically analyzing the digital image; computing a compositional model from at least the positions of the vanishing point(s); and producing an aesthetic quality parameter for the input digital image responsive to the compositional model, wherein the aesthetic quality parameter is an estimate for the aesthetic quality of the input digital image.
US08311359B2
In a method of registering three-dimensional brain images, a reference slice for a midsagittal plane of each image is constructed. The reference slice comprises image points forming a cortical edge. Edge points are selected from these image points such that an ellipse fit to the edge points approximates the cortical edge. The reference ellipse in each image that fits the edge points is determined. The images are registered in a same coordinate system such that the reference ellipses in the images are aligned with one another.
US08311351B2
A frame rate improving apparatus and method use a motion trajectory. The frame rate improving apparatus determines forward feature point trajectory information through a feature point, and generates a new intermediate frame by performing backward motion estimation through the feature point trajectory information, thereby generating an interpolated image with high quality.
US08311348B2
Disclosed are an image encoding method and apparatus for encoding an image by grouping a plurality of adjacent prediction units into a transformation unit and transforming the plurality of adjacent prediction into a frequency domain, and an image decoding method and apparatus for decoding an image encoded by using the image encoding method and apparatus.
US08311345B2
A method and system for detecting flames are provided. The flame detection method based on image processing techniques performs the following steps to detecting flames. It first finds one or more bright objects in the images that are captured from videos. A flickering state of a bright object is then determined. To verify the existence of a flame, additionally subsequent images from the instant that a bright object first appears are utilized and the similar steps are applied to them. Finally a flame could be detected if the analyzed results are positive after the aforementioned steps have been performed.
US08311343B2
An image capture device captures a plurality of sequential images of a vehicle in motion. At substantially the same time a collocated rangefinder determines the distance between the vehicle and the image capture device. Each of the plurality of images may be segmented based on the rangefinder point of reference. The portion of each image representing the vehicle is extracted based on its motion with respect to a stationary background. Knowing the size of the vehicle with respect to the image and the distance that the vehicle is from the image capture device, the image data is converted to real world dimensions. Using these real world dimensions a vehicle classification is determined.
US08311342B2
A method for the classification of objects (16) and/or the recognition of their position and/or their orientation in space is set forth, wherein measurement object data points of a measurement object surface are generated using a distance resolving receiver unit (18) and, with the aid of model object data determined in advance, hypotheses on the class, the position and/or the orientation of a measurement object (16) are proposed and verified from the measurement object data points. A plurality of different hypothesis tests can be executed cascaded in such a way that only on verification of a hypothesis through a hypothesis test is a subsequent hypothesis test carried out within this cascade, until either a hypothesis is falsified by the failure of a hypothesis test or a hypothesis is verified as a whole through a complete run through a cascade without falsification.
US08311341B1
A method and system is described for determining the distance between first and second images using an enhanced P-Edit distance metric which accounts for differences in the rotation or pose of objects identified in the images.
US08311333B2
First, a binary image is generated by binarizing an image. Next, a binary pixel ratio, that is a ratio of a binary pixel quantity that is a quantity of dotted pixels included in a specific area of the binary image to a total quantity of pixels included in the specific area of the binary image, is found. Then, a thin-line image is generated by performing a line-thinning process on the specific area. After that, a thin-line pixel ratio that is a ratio of the quantity of dotted pixels included in the generated thin-line image to the binary pixel quantity is found, and the specific area is determined to be a map area or a photograph area based on the calculated binary pixel ratio and the calculated thin-line pixel ratio.
US08311331B2
An optical character recognition process characterizes text lines in a textual image by their base-line, mean-line and x-height. The base-line for at least one text line in the image is determined by finding a parametric curve that maximizes a first fitness function that depends on the values of pixels through which the parametric curve passes and pixels below the parametric curve. The base-line corresponds to the parametric curve for which the first fitness function is maximized. The first fitness function is designed so that it increases with increasing lightless or brightness of pixels immediately below the parametric curve while also increasing with decreasing lightness of pixels through which the parametric curve passes. The mean-line is determined by incrementally shifting the base-line upward by predetermined amounts (e.g., a single pixel) until a second fitness function for the shifted base-line is maximized. The second fitness function is essentially the inverse of the first fitness function. Specifically, the second fitness function increases with increasing lightless of pixels immediately above the shifted base-line while also increasing with decreasing lightness of pixels through which the shifted base-line passes. The x-height is equal to the sum of the predetermined amounts by which the base-line is shifted upward in order to maximize the second fitness function. In some cases different groups of text-lines in the textual image may be characterized differently from one another. For example, each group may be characterized by a most probable x-height for that group.
US08311328B2
An electronic visual aid is provided that includes an evaluating unit, which is supplied with a recording of an information carrier on which information standing out visibly from the background is displayed. The evaluating unit determines a brightness distribution of the recording and derives from the brightness distribution a brightness threshold value lying in the transition zone between a zone of the brightness distribution associated with the background and a zone of the brightness distribution associated with the information. The visual aid also includes an image processing unit which generates from the recording a binary image having only two different, predetermined brightness values, by respectively assigning to the pixels of the binary image the first of the two brightness values when the brightness of the corresponding pixel of the recording is below the brightness threshold value, and otherwise assigning the second brightness value. Also included is a display unit which displays the binary image and is provided as an HMD device.
US08311315B2
A color image of an inspection object is taken by an imaging means capable of taking a color image to obtain color information of an RGB color space. A gray-scale image of a color component of the RGB color space or another color space is generated, and the inspection object is detected by a pattern recognition technique. Alternatively, a binary image is generated from the generated gray-scale image, and the inspection object is detected by performing pattern recognition on the binary image. Color data of a pixel occupied by the detected inspection object is compared with color data of a non-defective inspection object which is previously prepared to judge whether or not the inspection object is defective. In addition, this judgment result is reflected in another manufacturing step through a network and product quality is improved.
US08311314B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a sample measuring method and a sample measuring device suitable for evaluation of inclination of a pattern edge. To achieve the object, a method and a device for forming a plurality of contours of a pattern edge and evaluating the dimension between the contours are proposed below. Forming a plurality of contours allows evaluation of the degree of inclination of an edge portion of a pattern. Further, displaying evaluation values indicative of the degree of the inclination of the edge portion in an in-plane distribution form makes identifying the cause of taper formation easier.
US08311312B1
A inspection system for medical devices includes an inspection station, a workstation and a database. The inspection system collects images of the medical device. Analysis of the images reveals whether there is a defect in the medical device. If there is a defect, then a comparison analysis is performed between the defect and information in the database. The comparison analysis produces an indication of whether the medical device should be rejected in view of the defect or accepted in spite of the defect.
US08311300B1
There is provided a medical image processing apparatus matching a plurality of image data. The medical image processing apparatus includes: an image data storage that stores at least two image data of different phases of single target object; a node creating portion that creates nodes, wherein the nodes are related to positions in each of the at least two image data; a local force field calculating portion that calculates local force fields for the nodes, based on positions of the nodes and the at least two image data; a local force calculating portion that calculates local forces, each of which is acted in a corresponding one of the local force fields, from the local force fields; and an image deforming portion that deforms the positions of the nodes based on the local forces.
US08311291B2
An extraction-pattern storing unit stores therein information related to a plurality of different extraction patterns for extracting a predetermined number of pixels from pixels surrounding a pixel that is a target for detecting a face part image. A face-part-image detecting unit extracts a pixel using the different extraction patterns stored in the extraction-pattern storing unit, and detects the face part image included in an image using a feature amount of an extracted pixel. A face-image detecting unit detects a face image from the image based on the face part image detected by the face-part-image detecting unit.
US08311290B2
A method for identifying a person (200) by capturing an image of the iris producing an anamorphic transformation of the image along a horizontal axis and then a vertical axis to code it in the form of one or two models. The model is compared with reference models stored in a database to determine the identity of the person. The acquisition device captures the image of the iris through means of optical deformation to produce the anamorphic transformation of the image and then codes the image into the models.
US08311286B2
A first ranging apparatus includes a light-emitting unit for emitting a series of first through fourth modulated lights which have respective different start phases at which the first through fourth modulated lights start being emitted, a light-detecting unit for detecting reflected lights from an object that is irradiated with the first through fourth modulated lights, and a calculating unit for calculating the distance up to the object based on the phase difference between the first through fourth modulated lights and the reflected lights. The light-emitting unit comprises a start phase controller for controlling the start phases. The light-detecting units samples the amounts of the reflected lights in exposure periods established at a constant cycle length from the time when the modulated lights start being emitted.
US08311285B2
A location and orientation in an environment is determined by acquiring a set of one or more real omni-directional images of an unknown skyline in the environment from an unknown location and an unknown orientation in the environment by an omni-directional camera. A set of virtual omni-directional images is synthesized from a 3D model of the environment, wherein each virtual omni-directional image is associated with a known skyline, a known location and a known orientation. Each real omni-directional image is compared with the set of virtual omni-directional images to determine a best matching virtual omni-directional image with the associated known location and known orientation that correspond to the unknown location and orientation.
US08311278B2
A system to automatically attach subject descriptions to a digital image containing one or more subjects is described. The system comprises a camera a set of remotely readable badges attached to the subjects, where each badge has a readable identification, a receiver to read the badges where the receiver can determine both the identification of each badge and the location of each badge, and a processor to combine the digital image and the identification and location information is described. By accessing a database containing the subject identification associated with each badge identification the processor can attach subject identification information to each subject in the image.
US08311274B2
Methods, devices and systems for recognizing an object in an image are provided, in which the object is recognized by evaluation of both image data and digital map information that corresponds to an area represented by the image. Evaluation of the image data and the digital map information may involve various methods of evaluation including cross-checking, in which the digital map information is utilized to verify correct object recognition in the image data; prediction, in which digital map information is utilized to predict a feature of an object to facilitate object recognition in the image data; or modeling in which a generic model of an object is compared with the image data.
US08311273B2
An object detecting apparatus and method includes a pixel state determining unit that derives variance value for temporal properties of pixel characteristics of an input image, background model generating unit that adaptively generates a background model from characteristics in the characteristic storing unit and characteristic storing unit for background model generation using the characteristic distance and the pixel state determined as conditions, and an object judging unit that judges an object based on a characteristic distance indicative of a degree of similarity between a generated background model and pixel characteristics of an input image.
US08311260B2
A miniature audio earphone includes a pair of audio earphones, an electrical connector adapted for making a selectively detachable physical and electrical connection to a source of stereo audio signals, a generally Y-shaped electrical lead assembly having a bifurcated upper portion and an adjoining lower portion, whose lower end is coupled to the connector. The upper portion has a pair of branch leads each of which is coupled to a respective one of said earphones. A plurality of exteriorly disposed mechanical shielding elements at least partially surrounds an underlying portion of at least one of said branch leads to resist damage to the lead assembly due to abrasion, crushing, kinking and cutting without unduly impairing the flexibility of the assembly or causing it to have an unattractive appearance. A tensile stress-relief line is also provided for resisting damage to the upper portion of the assembly due to tension.
US08311258B2
A headset includes a housing having a first wall with at least one sound hole formed thereon, a loudspeaker unit disposed in the housing and adjacent to the sound hole, a blocking component mounted in the housing and capable of slidably moving towards and backwards the first wall to form an adjunctive chamber therebetween, and an adjustive component rotatably mounted to the housing. The adjustive component is connected with the blocking component in a way of screw link in order to drive the blocking component to move towards and backwards the first wall when the adjustive component is driven to rotate.
US08311237B2
A howling suppression apparatus suppresses a howling caused in an acoustic system including a sound collection device and a sound emission device. An estimation part generates an estimated signal by estimating a feedback sound reaching the sound collection device from the sound emission device. An adjustment part generates an estimated signal by adjusting the estimated signal. A spectrum subtraction part generates an acoustic signal using a result of subtracting a frequency spectrum of the estimated signal from a frequency spectrum of an acoustic signal. A filter part generates an acoustic signal by suppressing a component of a frequency band including a howling frequency F among the acoustic signal. An acoustic signal in which the acoustic signal is amplified by an amplifier is supplied to the sound emission device.
US08311236B2
A noise extraction device of the present invention includes: first and second microphone units (11 and 12) each picking up a sound; a directivity synthesis unit which performs a directivity synthesis on output signals respectively received from the first and second microphone units (11 and 12) and generates two directionally synthesized signals which have: different sensitivities to noise; the same directional pattern with respect to sound pressure; and the same effective acoustic center position; and an acoustic cancellation unit which cancels an acoustic component of one of the two directionally synthesized signals by subtracting the one of the two directionally synthesized signals from the other of the two directionally synthesized signal, so as to extract a noise component.
US08311234B2
Disclosed herein is an echo canceller for use in a sound reinforcement communication system configured to carry out a sound reinforcement communication by utilizing a speaker and a microphone, the echo canceller including: an adaptive filter section configured to adaptively identify an impulse response of a feedback path formed by an acoustic coupling or the like between the speaker and the microphone to estimate an echo component in the feedback path from an input signal to the feedback path, and subtracting the echo component thus estimated from an output signal from the feedback path; and an echo suppressing section configured to execute echo suppressing processing for an output signal from the adaptive filter section.
US08311228B2
Systems and methods for monitoring a sound pressure level dose at an ear are provided. A system includes an audio transducer which outputs a sound signal is placed within an ear to receive sound at the ear. A sound level threshold detector determines whether a sound pressure level of the sound signal is at a minimum level and outputs a sound pressure level signal corresponding to the sound pressure level when the sound pressure level is not at the minimum level. A time period is calculated during which the sound pressure level is not at the minimum threshold level. A listening fatigue calculator determines whether a cumulative effect of exposure to the sound signal at the ear over the time period will cause harm to the ear. At least a portion of the system is disposed in situ at the ear.
US08311224B2
A system and a method with quantum cryptography authentication. The system includes an optical link connecting a sender and a receiver. The sender transmitting a first optical pulse and a second optical pulse having a defined time delay therebetween. The first pulse is modulated with a first authentication phase shift; and the second pulse is modulated with phases selected from one basis of two non-orthogonal bases, and encoded with one of two orthogonal states within the one basis based on an information of the sender, and with a second authentication phase shift. The receiver includes a splitter receiving and splitting the first and the second pulse into pulses of interest. The split pulses of interest are modulated with the first authentication phase shift; and the second authentication phase shift, respectively. The receiver includes a second coupler whereby the split pulses of interest arrive at the second coupler simultaneously. The receiver includes a first set of detectors receiving the combined pulses, which determine the one basis of the two non-orthogonal bases; and a second set of detectors receiving the combined pulses, and determine the one of the two orthogonal states within the basis and thereby decoding the information of the sender.
US08311214B2
Communication and validation of information transfer from a transmitter to a receiver is achieved by generating a cipher (400) from a message m (410) using parameters of an elliptic curve, a generator point P (406) on the elliptic curve and a public key Q (416) of the receiver. The cipher includes a first element that is the product kP of a random number k (404) with the generator point P and a second element that is the product of m and the x-coordinate of the product kQ. The message m is generated from two mathematically independent representations of the information and, optionally, a random number. The cipher is communicated to the receiver and decoded to recover a message m′ (502). A validation token (500) is generated by the receiver and passed to the transmitter, which validates communication of the information to the receiver if the product mkQ is equal to the validation token.
US08311208B2
A method is provided for the production of accurate waiting time estimates based on at least one of (i) a queue arrival rate and (ii) estimated queue length. In a first embodiment of the present invention, the waiting time for a caller is determined on the basis of a queue arrival rate. In a second embodiment of the present invention, the waiting time for a caller is determined on the basis of a queue length estimate. The queue length estimate is a prediction of the size of the queue at a given time instant.
US08311206B1
Facilitating communications for voicemail services in a system that uses disparate signaling systems
A method and system for performing signaling between a private branch exchange (“PBX”) and a voicemail server external to the PBX (“VM server”) to facilitate serving voicemail services to a subscriber of the PBX and the voicemail services is provided. The method includes: exchanging, between a first gateway and the PBX, a first signaling message formed in accordance with a first signaling protocol of a digital private network signaling system; exchanging, between the first gateway and a second gateway, a second signaling message formed in accordance with a second signaling protocol for serving voice over internet-protocol services; exchanging, between the second gateway and the VM server, a third signaling message form in accordance with a terminal-control protocol for an internet-protocol network, converting between the first and second signaling messages, at the first gateway; and converting between the second and third signaling messages, at the second gateway.
US08311203B2
Techniques to defer an incoming communication and then schedule a follow up communication are disclosed. A communication recipient can defer an incoming communication and schedule a return communication time. The return communication may be manually deferred by a user and/or automatically deferred based at least in part on availability of a user on an appointment calendar.
US08311194B2
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system for establishing a communication between a first party and a second party, comprising: a data receiving subsystem for receiving from a third party details of the first and second party; and control logic for establishing a communication between the first and second party using the details supplied by the third party.
US08311187B2
The disclosure relates to systems and methods for interleaving operation of a linear accelerator that use a magnetron as the source of electromagnetic waves for use in accelerating electrons to at least two different ranges of energies. The accelerated electrons can be used to generate x-rays of at least two different energy ranges. In certain embodiments, the accelerated electrons can be used to generate x-rays of at least two different energy ranges. The systems and methods are applicable to traveling wave linear accelerators.
US08311183B2
An on-line EDXRD analyser including (i) a housing defining an analysis zone and having a passageway through it to allow transport of material in a process stream to pass through the analysis zone, (ii) a collimated source of polychromatic X-rays, (iii) an energy-resolving (ER)X-ray detector, (iv) a primary beam collimator disposed between the source of X-rays and the (ER)X-ray detector comprising an annular slit which defines an incident beam of polychromatic X-rays to irradiate a portion of the analysis zone, (v) a scatter collimator disposed between the primary beam collimator and the ERX-ray detector, the scatter collimator comprising an annular slit which defines a diffracted beam of X-rays scattered by the material to converge towards the ERX-ray detector, and (vi) a detector collimator comprising a conical opening which further defines the diffracted beam of X-rays scattered by the material. The ERX-ray detector measures an energy spectrum of the diffracted X-rays at a predetermined diffraction angle defined by the relative positioning of (ii) to (vi), and where one of (iv) and (v) comprises an aperture arranged to enable a detector to measure the transmission of a direct beam of X-rays through the material.
US08311177B2
A clock generating circuit includes: a phase detector for detecting a phase difference between an input clock and a reference clock to generate a control signal corresponding to the phase difference; a filter for filtering the control signal to generate a filtered control signal; a controllable oscillator for generating a plurality of output clocks according to the filtered control signal, wherein the plurality of output clocks correspond to an oscillating frequency and correspond to a plurality of different phases respectively; a phase selector for selecting an output clock as a feedback clock from the plurality of output clocks according to a phase select signal; and a feedback circuit for generating the input clock according to the feedback clock.
US08311175B2
A Time Division Duplex (TDD) communication apparatus and an operation method thereof can provide operation clock signals in the transmission and reception of the TDD communication apparatus using a Clock Recovery & Data Retiming (CDR) circuit, thereby stabilizing an operation without any crystal oscillator and reducing the power consumption. In a transmission time interval, a transmitting frame is processed using a clock signal of a reference frequency generated from the CDR circuit. In a reception time interval, a receiving frame is processed using a clock signal recovered from the receiving frame by the CDR circuit.
US08311172B2
A method is disclosed of synchronizing a first high data-rate radio transceiver and a second high data-rate radio transceiver. The first high data-rate radio transceiver is associated to a first lower data-rate radio transceiver and the second high data-rate radio transceiver is associated to a second lower data-rate radio transceiver. The method comprises time synchronizing the first and second lower data-rate radio transceivers, determining a timing information concerning operation of the first high data-rate radio transceiver relative to operation of the first lower data-rate radio transceiver, transmitting the timing information to the second lower data-rate radio transceiver, and time synchronizing the first and second high data-rate radio transceivers using the transmitted timing information.
US08311165B2
A reception station 1b compares its BSSID with BSSID included in a signal that has arrived thereat. As BSSIDs included in signals transmitted by interfering stations 1c and 1d both match BSSID of the reception station 1b, the reception station 1b identifies each of the interfering stations 1c and 1d as a non-suppression target transmission source. As neither of BSSIDs included in signals transmitted by interfering stations 2a and 2b matches BSSID of the reception station 1b, the reception station 1b identifies each of the interfering stations 2a and 2b as a suppression target transmission source. The reception station 1b uses characteristic amounts of signals that are associated with the interfering stations (i.e., suppression target transmission sources) 2a and 2b and that have been measured in the past as characteristic amounts of interfering signals that are used to suppress the interfering signals from a received signal.
US08311164B2
A correlation apparatus for tracking a satellite signal includes a shifter, a multiplexer and an accumulator. The shifter generates generating a Prompt signal, a plurality of Early signals and a plurality of Late signals. The multiplexer outputs at least one of the plurality of Early signals and at least one of the plurality of Late signals. The accumulator acquires a correlation signal to tracking the satellite signal.
US08311157B2
A signal recovery circuit capable of expanding the receive margin is provided. The signal recovery circuit comprises for example a clock generator unit CLK_GEN for generating the clock signals CLKa, CLKb, and CLKc, a window width control unit WW_CTL, and a clock data discriminator unit CD_JGE for generating a phase detector signal (EARLY, LATE) when for example a data signal Di pulse edge enters between the CLKa and CLKb, or between the CLKb and CLKc, and the clock generator unit. Along with exerting control based on these phase detection signals to maintain the mutual phase differential of the overall phase of CLKa, CLKb, CLKc so as to prevent intrusion of the above described Di edge, the CLK_GEN also regulates the phase differential between CLKa and CLKb, and the phase differential between CLKb and CLKc based on a signal (Sww) from the WW_CTL.
US08311148B2
Data multiplexing subcarrier identification signal generating means generates a data multiplexing subcarrier identification signal that identifies subcarriers with which data signals are to be multiplexed. Transmission signal generating means generates transmission signals by multiplexing data signals with subcarriers according to the data multiplexing subcarrier identification signal. Peak reducing transmission signal generating means generates peak reducing transmission signals by reducing peak power of the transmission signals according to peak reducing signals in a combination of a first peak reducing process in which subcarriers with which the data signals are not multiplexed are used for the peak reducing signals and subcarriers with which the data signals are multiplexed are not used for the peak reducing signals, and a second peak reducing process in which both subcarriers with which the data signals are not multiplexed and the subcarriers with which the data signals are multiplexed are used for the peak reducing signals.
US08311147B2
An equalizer provided in a digital transmitter compensates for attenuation in a signal channel to a digital receiver. The equalizer generates signal levels as a logical function of bit history to emphasize transition signal levels relative to repeated signal levels. The preferred equalizer includes an FIR transition filter using a look-up table. Parallel circuits including FIR filters and digital-to-analog converters provide a high speed equalizer with lower speed circuitry. The equalizer is particularly suited to in-cabinet and local area network transmissions where feedback circuitry facilitates adaptive training of the equalizer.
US08311137B1
Systems and methods for removing a DC offset from an orthogonal frequency division multiplexed (OFDM) signal transmitted over a plurality of subcarrier frequencies. The system includes a receiver. The system further includes a high pass DC component filter configured to reduce a DC component of the orthogonal frequency division multiplexed signal, the high pass DC component filter shaping noise in the orthogonal frequency division multiplexed signal which results in a non-uniform power spectral density of the noise across the plurality of subcarrier frequencies. The system further includes a noise whitener configured to compensate for the noise shaping by the high pass DC component filter by normalizing the non-uniform power spectral density of the noise across the plurality of subcarrier frequencies.
US08311127B2
A method to detect (identify) wrongly decoded data (I type macro-blocks), which can be subsequently concealed by error concealment techniques, thereby improving the visual quality of a decoded stream, is provided. Additionally, a method is provided. In use, a set of macro-block data is selected for validation. Additionally, a set of suspicious macro blocks is selected from the set of macro-block data based on location information for each suspicious macro block.
US08311125B2
A process for distributing video streams to a plurality of addressees, comprising a marking step comprising adding at least one visual element to a video stream, which marking step applied to an original video stream common to all the addressees and which is personalized for each addressee by addition of a visual element specific to the addressee that allows rapid visual identification of the addressee, wherein the added visual element replaces part of the original video stream that is stored in complementary information on a multimedia server.
US08311122B2
An information processing apparatus includes: a coding mechanism for generating hierarchical data hierarchized in descending order of importance with respect to resolution from image data, and coding the hierarchical data for each hierarchy; and a redundancy coding mechanism for blocking the hierarchical data for each of the hierarchies using a block size determined for each of the hierarchies on the basis of dependencies of the hierarchies between pieces of the hierarchical data generated by the coding mechanism or between the hierarchical data and the image data, and performing redundancy coding to generate redundant data of the hierarchical data for each of the blocks.
US08311115B2
A video encoder uses previously calculated motion information for inter frame coding to achieve faster computation speed for video compression. In a multi bit rate application, motion information produced by motion estimation for inter frame coding of a compressed video bit stream at one bit rate is passed on to a subsequent encoding of the video at a lower bit rate. The video encoder chooses to use the previously calculated motion information for inter frame coding at the lower bit rate if the video resolution is unchanged. A multi core motion information pre-calculation produces motion information prior to encoding by dividing motion estimation of each inter frame to separate CPU cores.
US08311111B2
Decoding a stream of encoded video data involves partitions that have been compressed using lossless encoding. Each partition includes rows that have also been encoded using intra-frame or inter-frame encoding. During the decoding process, two or more of the partitions are entropy decoded on two or more processors in parallel, except that partitions containing adjacent rows in the frame are decoded with an offset so that at least a portion of the output of the entropy decoding of one partition can be used as input in the entropy and intra/inter-frame decoding of the other.
US08311109B2
Methods and encoders/decoders for applying in-loop deblocking to intra-coded images/frames. In a decoding context, a deblocking filter is applied to reconstructed pixels of an intra-coded block prior to decoding the subsequent block in the decoding sequence. In an encoding context, a deblocking filter is applied to reconstructed pixels of an intra-coded block in an inter-coding loop before encoding a subsequent block in the coding order for the image.
US08311108B2
A multi-view image coding apparatus and method are provided. The multi-view image coding apparatus may extract geometric information from a plurality of cameras, may construct a spatial prediction structure to enable a correlation of each view to be maximum using the geometric information, and thereby may code and transmit a multi-view image.
US08311107B2
A quantizer quantizes a “prediction error” as a difference value between a pixel X to be compressed and a prediction value X′. A variable-length encoder inputs a quantization number obtained from a quantization table of the quantizer, and outputs a variable-length code (compressed code). A prediction value candidate calculation module calculates candidates 1 through k for a prediction value on the basis of peripheral pixels A, C, and B, and transmits them to a multiplexer (MPX). A prediction value determination module determines a prediction value among the candidates 1 through k for a prediction value on the basis of an intermediate value correspondence table and an intermediate value—image format correspondence table depending on an image format, and transmits a control signal to the multiplexer (MPX). The multiplexer (MPX) outputs one of the candidates 1 through k for a prediction value as a prediction value X′.
US08311104B2
An information processing apparatus controlling processing for splicing first and second compressed image data at an editing point includes acquiring means for acquiring the code amounts of the first compressed image data near the start point and the second compressed image data near the end point of a first range around the editing point; analyzing means for analyzing, in accordance with the code amounts, a first locus of virtual buffer occupancies when the virtual buffer occupancy at the start point is minimum and a second locus of virtual buffer occupancies when the virtual buffer occupancy of a picture next to the end point is maximum; and determining means for determining, in accordance with the first locus and the second locus, an upper limit and a lower limit of the virtual buffer occupancy at the start point and the end point, respectively, when the first range is re-encoded.
US08311096B2
A method and a device for continuous adaptation of coding parameters to a variable user-data rate of a datastream composed of data frames. Data packets and ensembles are received and associated with services for mobile receivers. The transmission requirement of the next ensemble is determined based on the buffered data packets. Optimized coding parameters for the ensemble in the next data frame are then determined based on certain factors, such as the transmission requirement for the un-coded ensemble and the determined transmission capacity.
US08311089B2
A plurality of cameras is placed so that those optical axes become parallel to the Z-axis and are in relative position t on the XY plane. Multi-view video compression coding apparatus determines depth distance Z and unit normal vector (nx, ny, nz) of the arbitrary point in the surface of the object, moves the first block by disparity vector based on t and Z, transforming the first block by linear transformation matrix based on t, Z and n, then, matching the first block to block of the second picture. Then, while changing Z and n arbitrarily, the second block of the second picture which is most similar to the first block is searched for. And the apparatus derives a prediction error between the first block and the second block, codes the prediction error, and adds Z and n to coded data.
US08311086B2
A method and apparatus are provided for testing susceptibility of a receiver to intermodulation distortion of a digital channel, the method including selecting a first digital channel from channels in a composite signal, determining a first power measurement from the first digital channel, determining a total power measurement from other channels in the composite signal, and determining susceptibility of the first digital channel to intermodulation distortion by comparing the first power measurement and the total power measurement with intermodulation distortion characteristics of the receiver.
US08311084B2
A method for performing data transmission between a transmitter and a receiver. The method includes the steps of generating a feedback message at the receiver in response to data received from the transmitter, assigning an identifier for the feedback message, storing the feedback message in association with the identifier in the receiver, transmitting the feedback message and the identifier to the transmitter, determining, at the transmitter, transmission format for data to be transmitted to the receiver based on the feedback message received from the receiver; and transmitting data and a control message, by the transmitter, using the determined transmission format, with the control message comprising the identifier of the feedback message based on which the transmission format is determined.
US08311083B2
Conventional transceivers do provide some compensation for in-phase/quadrature (I/Q) imbalance. However, these techniques do not separately compensate for I/Q imbalance for the transmitter and receiver sides of the transceiver. Here, a transceiver is provided that allows for compensation of I/Q imbalance in the transmitter and receiver irrespective of the other to allow for a more accurate transceiver.
US08311073B2
A semiconductor laser that includes: a substrate; a first semiconductor multilayer reflector of a first conductive type formed on the substrate; an active region formed on the first semiconductor multilayer reflector; a second semiconductor multilayer reflector of a second conductive type formed on the active region; and an intermediate semiconductor layer of a first conductive type or a second conductive type formed under the first semiconductor multilayer reflector or above the second semiconductor multilayer reflector. An oxidized region formed by oxidizing a part of the intermediate semiconductor layer and an un-oxidized region contacting with the oxidized region are formed in the intermediate semiconductor layer, the un-oxidized region is electrically connected to the first or second semiconductor multilayer reflector, and a beam generated in the active region is reflected at a boundary between the oxidized region and the un-oxidized region to a direction parallel to a principal surface of the substrate, and is emitted from a side surface of the intermediate semiconductor layer.
US08311072B2
A surface emitting laser array having a plurality of surface emitting lasers arranged in an array, each of the surface emitting lasers being provided with a two-dimensional photonic crystal having a resonance mode in an in-plane direction and with an active layer. The surface emitting laser has a mesa-shaped inclined side wall surface. When a maximum light-receiving angle with respect to the mesa-shaped inclined side wall surface at which an incident light is coupled with a waveguide containing the two-dimensional photonic crystal is denoted as θmax°, an angle formed by a plane of the two-dimensional photonic crystal and the mesa-shaped inclined side wall surface is controlled so as to exceed (90+θmax)° or be smaller than (90−θmax)°.
US08311071B2
A wavelength tunable laser includes a DFB portion including a first optical waveguide provided with a first grating; a DBR portion including a second optical waveguide that is optically coupled to the first optical waveguide and is provided with a plurality of second gratings continuously arranged in a waveguide direction; and a phase shift portion including a third optical waveguide that is optically coupled to the first and second optical waveguides. Each of the second gratings has a grating formation area in which a grating is formed, and a grating phase shift area which shifts the phase of the grating adjacent thereto in the second grating.
US08311068B2
A method of controlling a wavelength-tunable laser selecting an oscillation wavelength with a combination of a plurality of wavelength selection portions of which wavelength peak is different from each other, comprising: a first step of confirming a control direction of the wavelength selection portion in a case where a setting value is changed from a first setting value for achieving the first wavelength to a second setting value for achieving the second wavelength; a second step of setting a setting value that is shifted from the second setting value in a direction that is opposite of a pre-determined changing direction on the wavelength selection portion as a prepared setting value, when the control direction confirmed in the first step is opposite to the pre-determined changing direction; and a third step of changing the prepared setting value set in the second step to the second setting value.
US08311066B2
A laser apparatus comprises an amplifier including at least one of a MOPA and a MOPO each of which amplifies a single-longitudinal or multiple-longitudinal mode laser light, an amplifiable agent of the amplifier being a molecular gas, a master oscillator constructed from a semiconductor laser being able to oscillate a single-longitudinal or multiple-longitudinal mode laser light of which wavelength is within one or more amplification lines of the amplifier; and a controller executing a wave shape control adjusting a pulse shape and/or a pulse output timing of a single-longitudinal or multiple-longitudinal mode laser light outputted from the master oscillator.
US08311057B1
A circuit manages input and output formats of the packets of a communication protocol. The circuit includes representation blocks and distribution and gather blocks coupled to the representation blocks. Each representation block is associated with a respective descriptor of the input and output formats. Each representation block processes a value of the respective descriptor. One or more of the representation blocks is adapted to modify the value of the respective descriptor. For each packet input in the input format, the distribution block distributes the value of each descriptor for the packet to the representation block associated with the descriptor. For each packet output in the output format, the gather block gathers the value of each descriptor for the packet from the representation block associated with the descriptor. The input format is changed to the output format in response to representation blocks modifying the value of the respective descriptor.
US08311056B2
A time slot selection device is provided that can consider resource use states on its own and allocate time slots. The time slot selection device performs time slot allocation, based on data link identifiers that identify a group of data links specified by a path setup request, a time slot size that is information about a required band, and a required number that is the number of contiguous time slots required. In this time slot selection device, a resource allocation section performs time slot selection, based on the resource use state of each time slot. By the time slot selection with consideration given to the use state of each time slot in the group of data links, time slots to be used can be selected so that a maximum number of contiguous usable time slots will be left. Thus, it is possible to efficiently use resources.
US08311050B2
The present invention is directed to a method for consecutively rendering one or more conversations on a first communication device. The method includes defining a set of conversations to be consecutively rendered among the one or more conversations and defining a priority hierarchy for rendering the media associated with the defined set of conversations. During operation, media associated with the defined set of conversations is received at the first communication device over a network. In accordance with the method, the available media is continually sequenced into a sequence order at least partially based on the hierarchy priority. The one or more conversations are consecutively rendered by continually rendering the media in the sequence order.
US08311046B2
The invention relates to a method in which a message is received to a communication server from a node. The communication server obtains user information with recipient information in the message. The user information comprises user entity state and user entity protocol information. A first protocol is determined to become a preferred protocol based on the user entity protocol information. The delivery of said message is attempted with a delivery mechanism of the preferred protocol. A second protocol is determined to become the preferred protocol with said user entity protocol information upon a failure to deliver said message with said first protocol. The attempting of the delivery of said message is repeated with a delivery mechanism of the preferred protocol.
US08311045B2
A system for selectively applying a service to a packet in a network. In a specific embodiment, the system includes a mechanism for encoding service information in a network-compatible packet header and providing encoded data in response thereto. In a more specific embodiment, the network-compatible header includes a Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) header, a Generic Route Encapsulation (GRE) header, and/or a Layer-2 Tunneling Protocol (L2TP) header.
US08311036B2
A system is disclosed. The system has a call data receiver arranged to receive call data comprising number data indicative of a telephone number associated with a call connection request. The system also has a translator arranged to translate the received number data to obtain translated number data indicative of another telephone number. There is also a number data associator for associating the call connection request with the translated number data.
US08311021B2
A method for saving power, at a mobile terminal, includes receiving a call, at a network entity, wherein the call contains information relating to transmission of the call from the network entity to the mobile terminal. The mobile terminal operates in first and second communications networks, which are different. The mobile terminal detects coverage of the first communications network and activates a first interface corresponding to the first communications network. The mobile terminal can also deactivate the first interface and activate a second interface corresponding to the second communications network while the mobile terminal is located in both the first and second communications networks. The mobile terminal can then enter a low power consumption mode supported by the second communications network. The mobile terminal can also deactivate the low power consumption mode and activate the first interface to communicate with the first communications network when a call is delivered via the first communications network.
US08311018B2
The location of a wireless mobile device may be estimated using, at least in part, one or more pre-existing Network Measurement Reports (“NMRs”) which include calibration data for a number of locations within a geographic region. The calibration data for these locations is gathered and analyzed so that particular grid points within the geographic region can be determined and associated with a particular set or sets of calibration data from, for example, one or more NMRs. Embodiments of the present subject matter also provide a method of improving a location estimate of a mobile device. Received signal level measurements reported by a mobile device for which a location estimate is to be determined may be evaluated and/or compared with the characteristics associated with the various grid points to estimate the location of the mobile device.
US08311016B2
A charging process method, relating to communication network, is disclosed according to embodiments of the present invention. The method includes receiving a charging request containing a type of a second method when the method for a user equipment to access a packet data network gateway has been changed from a first method to the second method; performing, based on the charging request, charging control over the used service units in a charging mode corresponding to the first method for the user equipment to access the packet data network gateway and reserving service units for the charging session for the second method based on a charging mode corresponding to the second method for the user equipment to access the packet data network gateway. A network system, a packet data network gateway and a charging system are provided according to embodiments of the present invention accordingly. Embodiments of the present invention can be applicable to a charging process in a situation when the method for a user equipment to access the packet data network gateway changes.
US08310997B2
An apparatus and method for dynamic channel allocation in a multiple channel wireless communication system are provided. The apparatus includes a scheduler for dividing resources to be used for a band Adaptive Modulation and Coding (AMC) channel and a diversity channel, a generator for generating a MAP heading field including physical distribution information on the band AMC channel and the diversity channel, and a mapper for mapping the MAP heading field to a predetermined physical resource region.
US08310991B2
Method, apparatus, and computer program product embodiments are disclosed for independent wireless resource sharing on a fair basis to enable selecting the most suitable coexistence between wireless networks. Example embodiments of the invention include a method comprising receiving, at a network controller, a coexistence management service request allowing one or more network controllers to make decisions concerning operational parameters of a wireless network originating the request; determining whether control of the wireless network is to be shared with one or more network controllers serving one or more wireless networks neighboring the wireless network originating the request; and in response to determining that control of the wireless network is not to be shared with the one or more network controllers serving the one or more wireless networks neighboring the wireless network originating the request, notifying the one or more network controllers serving the one or more wireless networks neighboring the wireless network originating the request that the wireless network has requested a coexistence information service.
US08310990B2
Methods and devices for routing communications between distributed mobile architecture (DMA) servers using DMA gateways are disclosed. Communications information is received at a first DMA gateway of a DMA gateway communications network. The communications information is associated with a communications network that is accessible by a second DMA gateway of the DMA gateway communications network. The communications information is stored at a memory of the first DMA gateway. The first DMA gateway receives a communication that is associated with a destination device indicated by the communications information to be served by the second DMA gateway. The communication is routed from the first DMA gateway to the destination device by relaying the communication from the first DMA gateway to the second DMA gateway via the DMA gateway communications network.
US08310989B2
A wireless communications node, being included in a multi-hop route starting from a source node and terminating at a destination node, has a receiving part configured to receive signals including transmission data prepared by the source node and transferring the received signals to a succeeding node, a preparing part configured to prepare source node data including at least identification data of the source node based on a predetermined portion of the transmission data, and a reporting part configured to report the source node data and relay data to a management node that manages cost data of plural nodes included in an ad hoc network. The relay data include the cost data and station data including at least identification data of the wireless communications node.
US08310988B2
A method of generating MAC header and a method of transmitting data using the generated MAC header are disclosed. A mobile station can receive a message from a base station, the message including an indicator for identifying a service flow (SF). If the mobile station is connected with the base station to generate the service flow, the mobile station and the base station can map the service flow with the indicator. Accordingly, the base station can generate MAC header, which includes the indicator and a parameter representing whether the MAC header has been compressed.
US08310986B1
In a data communications system a scheduler device and multiple client devices communicate with each other over a data communications network. The scheduler device assigns a portion of the system's client devices one or more data rate multiplier values that individually affect a maximum throughput associated with their respectively assigned modulation and coding scheme (MCS). The data rate multiplier value assignment is selected by the scheduler device based on a type MCS or a signal interference plus noise ratio (SINR) value. The assigned data rate multiplier values may result in a hybrid throughput scheduling scenario amongst the client devices.
US08310984B2
A disclosed control apparatus performs packet communications with a mobile station and divides a coverage area into plural sectors so as to control the communications. The control apparatus comprises a transmission allocation portion that selects at least two transmission sectors to perform transmission to the mobile station in accordance with reception quality imparted from the mobile station so as to perform a transmission allocation for the mobile station; and a transmission portion that uses an identical scramble code for sector identification so as to perform transmission to the mobile station.
US08310980B2
Method for assigning a precoding beam forming scheme in a broadband satellite system, wherein said broadband satellite system comprises a multibeam satellite (1) having a plurality of antennas and a plurality of satellite beams, a gateway (2) and a number N of satellite terminals (ST11, ST12 . . . ST21, ST22, ST23 . . . STK1, STK2 . . . ), and wherein said gateway (2) is configured for processing and serving a plurality of K beams of said plurality of satellite beams towards said number N of satellite terminals (ST11, ST12 . . . ST21, ST22, ST23 . . . STK1, STK2 . . . ), wherein K
US08310973B2
A method for managing multicast delivery of data packets in communication networks includes the steps of checking join requests coming from hosts to be a part of a multicast group to determine a delivery policy associated with that host and for the requested group and associating hosts with a multicast group according to their delivery policy.
US08310962B2
Provided is a united Adaptive Forward Error Correction (U-AFEC), including: an automatic gain control unit for controlling a gain of forward/backward relay signals; a switching unit for switching the forward/backward relay signals; a forward feedback signal detecting unit for detecting and updating a phase and a size of a feedback signal; a backward feedback signal detecting unit for detecting and updating the phase and the size of the feedback signal; a reverse feedback signal synthesizing unit for generating a reverse feedback signal based on the phase and the size of the feedback signal; a feedback signal removing unit for removing the feedback signal in the forward/backward relay signals and transmitting the forward/backward relay signals to the automatic gain control unit; and a control unit for removing the feedback signal in the forward/backward relay signals and controlling each constituent element.
US08310957B1
A router determines a graph of unicast tunnels that connect a set of edge routers that will distribute multicast traffic in a network, wherein the graph comprises vertices and edges connecting one or more vertex pairs. The router calculates a minimum-cost spanning tree for the graph based on edge metric values, wherein the minimum-cost spanning tree includes the graph vertices and a selected subset of the graph edges, and wherein the minimum-cost spanning tree includes a first vertex that represents an ingress one of the set of edge routers for the multicast traffic and a second vertex that shares one of the edges with a third one of the vertices other than the first vertex representing the ingress edge router. The router then establishes an MPLS-based multicast distribution tree based on the calculated minimum-cost spanning tree to distribute the multicast traffic from the ingress router to the edge routers.
US08310943B2
Computer- and network-based methods and systems for transmission-based billing are provided. Example embodiments provide a Packet-Based Billing System (“PBBS”), which enables application providers, such as carriers and content providers, to bill subscribers for the use of content on mobile subscriber devices, such as wireless devices, on a per-application, per-user basis based upon the extent of the usage. Embodiments of the present invention can also be used to bill subscribers for the use of content on a per-application, per-user basis for wired subscriber devices as well, using the same techniques. In operation, the PBBS provides modified content by inserting billing and tracking code into content returned to a requesting device. The modified content, when executed, tracks the amount of data sent and received between the content and a network and posts the accumulated data to a proxy/billing server according to business rules for an interval/frequency to post such data. The proxy/billing server stores the raw billing data and an accounting program retrieves the billing data to generate customer (call) data records. Business rules that specific different charges for different content or users can be incorporated into the system.
US08310940B2
In order to measure the performance of a DOCSIS upstream channel as well as to locate impairments, a special test signal is transmitted in a time slot of the upstream channel by a test instrument positioned anywhere within the CATV plant. A second test instrument, located at the termination point of the upstream plant, then detects, recovers, and processes the test signal in order to complete the measurement. The typical methods used to detect and recover bursted signals within a DOCSIS upstream channel use precise timing information transmitted in a corresponding DOCSIS downstream channel. Unfortunately, the downstream channel and thus the precise timing information are not always available to the secondary test instrument. The present invention also describes an apparatus and method for detecting a bursted test signal without the use of the DOCSIS upstream channel timing.
US08310936B2
In a communication network, links in a transmission path between source and destination terminals are sequentially switched to an operational state in response to a command or a group of commands for transmitting data prior to completion of assembling the data. Each node in the transmission path independently monitors transmission of data. After transmitting the data, the links are selectively switched to pre-determined power saving states.
US08310932B2
The present invention concerns a method for controlling upstream bandwidth at a device the device comprising an interface to a first network, at least a local interface to at least a second network, the at least second network comprising more than one gateway device. The method comprises the steps of monitoring the available bandwidth value on the first network and periodically indicating to said more than one gateway device the maximum upstream bandwidth available to said more than one gateway device, the maximum upstream bandwidth depending on the available bandwidth, the number of the more than one gateway device connected to the device, and the number of local interfaces connected to the more than one gateway device.
US08310918B2
A recovery network may provide communication recovery and backup services to an organization. The recovery network may be communicatively coupled to the existing communication infrastructure of an organization via one or more alternative communication paths. The alternative communication paths may couple the recovery network to the organization independently of a public communication network. Upon activation of recovery services, the recovery network may receive communication requests directed to the organization from the public communication network. The recovery network may service one or more of the requests using one or more of the alternative communication paths. Similarly, the recovery network may service outbound communication requests originating at the organization over an alternative communication path. Communication requests may be backed up (e.g., within a voicemail or other backup system) until an alternative path or communication network becomes available and/or may be redirected to other addresses within the public communication network.
US08310917B2
A switching hub for processing a VLAN frame transmitted through a transmission line of a ring network includes two ring ports connected to the transmission line of the ring network, and a forwarding processing mechanism for, when one of the two ring ports receives the frame and when a VLAN in which the received frame belongs is a VLAN only through both the ring ports, forwarding the frame to the other ring port without performing FDB learning on the frame.
US08310911B2
In an optical pickup apparatus, a major part of an optical path of a laser beam emitted from a first semiconductor laser device and an optical path of a laser beam emitted from a second semiconductor laser device 3 are shared. The first laser beam is transmitted through a quarter wavelength plate and a second reflecting mirror and is reflected by a first reflecting mirror. With this structure, the number of parts of optical systems disposed in the optical pickup apparatus is reduced, an attachment operation of the parts becomes easier, and a time required for adjusting an optical axis is reduced. Thus, an operational efficiency is greatly improved.
US08310910B2
An optical system of an optical pickup device includes an astigmatism element which imparts astigmatism to BD light reflected on BD and CD light reflected on CD, and a spectral element which disperses four light fluxes of BD light and four light fluxes of CD light by diffraction, the four light fluxes of BD light and the four light fluxes of CD light being obtained by dividing the BD light reflected on the BD and the CD light reflected on the CD by a first straight line parallel to a converging direction by the astigmatism element, and a second straight line perpendicular to the first straight line. A photodetector of the optical pickup device is provided with first and second sensor groups for respectively receiving the four light fluxes of BD light and the four light fluxes of CD light dispersed by the spectral element.
US08310905B2
A wobble signal extracting circuit includes: a readout signal generating circuit generating an RF signal by adding first and second detection signals corresponding to reflected light from inside and outside a recording track; a first subtractor generating a push-pull signal by subtracting the first and second detection signals, respectively; a first analog-to-digital converter (ADC) converting the RF signal to digital; a second ADC converting the push-pull signal to digital; a residual RF component generating circuit generating a residual RF signal component equivalent to the RF signal component remaining in the digitized push-pull signal; and a second subtractor generating the wobble signal by subtracting the residual RF signal component from the digitized push-pull signal. The residual RF component generating circuit generates the residual RF signal component so that it may approach the remaining RF signal component based on correlation between the wobble signal and the digitized RF signal.
US08310896B2
A memory system includes a nonvolatile semiconductor memory which includes a first original block composed of n (n being natural number) write unit areas and a first subblock composed of a plurality of write unit areas. A controller writes data having one of first to p-th (p being natural number smaller than n) addresses into the first original block. The controller writes data which has a first write address of one of the first to p-th addresses into the first subblock when the controller receives request to write data having the first write address and data having the first write address exists in the first original block.
US08310875B2
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor memory device includes memory cell units including serially-connected memory cells, which includes a semiconductor pillar and conductive and insulation films surrounding the semiconductor pillar. The memory cell units constitute blocks each of which is the minimum unit of data erasure. A pipe layer in at least one pair of adjacent first and second memory cell units of the memory cell units includes a semiconductor layer connected to the semiconductor pillars in the first and second memory cell units, and are connected to first ends of the first and second memory cell units. A conductive plate between the first ends of the first and second memory cell units and the semiconductor substrate contain the pipe layers of at least two blocks and controls conduction of the pipe layers. A supply path structure is connected to the plate and transmitting a potential the plate.
US08310867B2
A nonvolatile solid state magnetic memory with a ultra-low power consumption and a recording method thereof, the memory including a magnetic material having a magnetic anisotropy that can be changed by increasing or decreasing a carrier concentration, wherein a direction of an easy axis of magnetization, in which the magnetization is oriented easily, is controlled by increasing or decreasing the carrier concentration. The nonvolatile solid state magnetic memory including a recording layer of a magnetic material, and a recording method thereof, in which a carrier (electron or hole) concentration in the recording layer is increased and/or decreased, whereby the magnetization is rotated or reversed and the recording operation is performed.
US08310862B2
It is made possible to provide a highly reliable magnetoresistive effect element and a magnetic memory that operate with low power consumption and current writing and without element destruction. The magnetoresistive effect element includes a first magnetization pinned layer comprising at least one magnetic layer and in which a magnetization direction is pinned, a magnetization free layer in which a magnetization direction is changeable, a tunnel barrier layer provided between the first magnetization pinned layer and the magnetization free layer, a non-magnetic metal layer provided on a first region in an opposite surface of the magnetization free layer from the tunnel barrier layer, a dielectric layer provided on a second region other than the first region in the opposite surface of the magnetization free layer from the tunnel barrier layer; and a second magnetization pinned layer provided to cover opposite surfaces of the non-magnetic metal layer and the dielectric layer from the magnetization free layer.
US08310857B2
A resistive switching non-volatile memory element is disclosed comprising a resistive switching metal-oxide layer sandwiched between and in contact with a top electrode and a bottom electrode, the resistive switching metal oxide layer having a substantial isotropic non-stoichiometric metal-to-oxygen ratio. For example, the memory element may comprise a nickel oxide resistive switching layer sandwiched between and in contact with a nickel top electrode and a nickel bottom electrode whereby the ratio oxygen-to-nickel of the nickel oxide layer is between 0 and 0.85.
US08310856B2
A memory having a plurality of ferroelectric memory cells connected between first and second bit lines is disclosed. A read circuit is also connected between the first and second bit lines. A word select circuit selects one of the ferroelectric memory cells and generates a potential on the first hit line indicative of a value stored in the selected one of the plurality of ferroelectric memory cells. Each ferroelectric memory cell includes a ferroelectric capacitor and a variable impedance element having an impedance between first and second switch terminals that is determined by a signal on a control terminal. The ferroelectric capacitor is connected between the control terminal and the first switch terminal. First and second gates connect the ferroelectric memory cell to the bit lines in response to the word select circuit selecting that ferroelectric memory cell.
US08310854B2
In one embodiment of the invention, a memory integrated circuit is provided including a memory array, a register, and control logic coupled to the register. The memory array in the memory integrated circuit stores data. The register includes one or more bit storage circuits to store one or more identity bits of an identity value. The control logic provides independent sub-channel memory access into the memory integrated circuit in response to the one or more identity bits stored in the register.
US08310852B2
An entry including multiple bits of unit cells each storing data bit is coupled to a match line. The match line is supplied with a charging current having a restricted current value smaller than a match line current flowing in a one-bit miss state in one entry, but larger than a match line current flowing in an all-bit match state in one entry. A precharge voltage level of a match line is restricted to a voltage level of half a power supply voltage or smaller. Power consumption in a search cycle of a content addressable memory can be reduced, and a search operation speed can be increased.
US08310830B2
A frequency converter for driving a motor, includes a circuit board, having at least one first heat-generating element mounted thereon; a heat sink, connected to the at least one first heat-generating element; a fan, facing the heat sink; and a bracket, for positioning the at least one heat-generating element relative to the heat sink and the circuit board. The frequency converter includes a separating member for separating at least one portion of at least one second heat-generating element from the circuit board to prevent the cooling air guided to the at least one second heat-generating element from flowing to the circuit board. The frequency converter includes an airflow guiding member for guiding the cooling air from the fan to the heat sink and the at least one second heat-generating element and a flow guiding gate dispensing more airflow to the region corresponding to the at least one first heat-generating element.
US08310823B2
The invention relates to a portable digital computer having a housing on which a keyboard, a detachable mouse and a swivelling monitor are disposed. The housing (10, 11) is configured in two parts and contains the accumulators only. The two housing parts can be swivelled by another hinge (12, 13) parallel to the first, and the keyboard (15) can be detached from the housing. A CD-ROM player (30) and the data processor are accommodated behind the monitor (14). The two housing parts (10, 11) can be laid one upon the other and serve as a support structure for the monitor.
US08310798B2
An electrically noisy D.C. power source having high slew rate A.C. transient voltage, is cut off from a capacitive load by a switchable, constant slew rate voltage source, upon the detection of an A.C. transient voltage having a slew rate that would otherwise cause a current overload through the capacitive load or the voltage source, or the D.C. power source.
US08310797B2
A short circuit protection circuit for a power supply device includes a driving transistor, for controlling to output an input voltage to a load according to a first control voltage; a shutdown transistor, coupled with the driving transistor, for controlling a level of the first control voltage according to a second control voltage; and an energy storage module, coupled with the shutdown transistor, for storing energy of the input voltage, to output a specific voltage as the second control voltage in a specific interval after short-circuit occurs.
US08310790B1
A gimbal assembly of a dual-stage microactuator is provided with a remotely-located piezoelectric transducer (PZT) and at least one actuation strut connecting an asymmetrical amplification structure supporting the PZT to a tongue supporting a slider, such that the movement of the PZT over the asymmetrical amplification structure is amplified by the asymmetrical amplification structure and at least one actuation strut into rotation of the tongue and slider. A plurality of actuation struts connect opposing sides of the asymmetrical amplification structure with opposing sides of the tongue, which causes the tongue to rotate about a central portion of the tongue upon which a dimple of a supporting loadbeam contacts the tongue.
US08310789B2
An integrated conductor/suspension structure for supporting and electrically connecting a write/read head in a hard disk drive and methods of making the conductor/suspension structure are provided. The integrated conductor/suspension structure may allow for an increased characteristic-impedance range, greater interference shielding and a reduction of signal loss that is contributed by a lossy conductive substrate. The suspension structure includes apertures formed therein that result in a reduction in the lossy material and its effect on the electrical signals. In addition, the conductor/suspension structure of the present invention provides shielding to reduce the interference from external electric fields.
US08310784B2
A magnetic head in one embodiment comprises a pole; a first write gap in the pole; a first coil for generating a magnetic flux across the first write gap; a second write gap in the pole having at least a portion thereof aligned with the first write gap in a direction parallel to a direction of media travel thereover; and a second coil for generating a magnetic flux across the second write gap, the second coil being addressable independently of the first coil. A method in one embodiment comprises forming a first write coil; forming a first write gap; forming a second write gap having at least a portion thereof aligned with the first write gap in a direction parallel to a direction of media travel thereover; forming a second coil for generating a magnetic flux across the second write gap, the second coil being addressable independently of the first coil; and forming one or more write poles, wherein a write pole region adjacent the first and second write gaps is formed concurrently.
US08310782B2
A transducing head for use with a storage medium rotatable about an axis includes first and second writers for writing to the storage medium. The first writer is configured for dedicated writing to a first radial region of the storage medium, and the second writer is configured for dedicated writing to a second radial region of the storage medium. The second radial region is located radially outward from the first radial region.
US08310768B2
This invention provides an optical imaging lens system including five lens elements with refractive power, in order from an object side toward an image side: a first lens element with positive refractive power having a convex object-side surface, a second lens element with negative refractive power, a third lens element having a convex object-side surface and a concave image-side surface, a fourth lens element having both surfaces being aspheric, a fifth lens element having a concave image-side surface with at least one inflection point formed thereon. By such arrangement, the total track length and the sensitivity of the optical imaging lens system can be reduced while achieving high image resolution.
US08310767B2
This invention provides an image capturing lens assembly, in order from an object side to an image side comprising: a first lens element with positive refractive power having a convex object-side surface; a second lens element; a third lens element; a fourth lens element having at least one of an object-side surface and an image-side surface thereof being aspheric; a fifth lens element with positive refractive power having a convex image-side surface, at least one of an object-side surface and the image-side surface thereof being aspheric, and the fifth lens element is made of plastic; and a sixth lens element with negative refractive power having a concave image-side surface, at least one of an object-side surface and the image-side surface thereof being aspheric, and the sixth lens element is made of plastic. By such arrangement, the photo-sensitivity and the total track length of the image capturing lens assembly can be reduced. Furthermore, the aberration and astigmatism of the assembly can be effectively corrected for obtaining higher image resolution.
US08310766B2
An arrangement for collimating and turning an optical beam utilizing a pair of two-dimensional lenses to separate the collimation into separate one-dimensional operations, while using one of the two-dimensional lenses to also perform the turning operation. A first two-dimensional lensing surface is disposed at the endface of a launching waveguide. This first two-dimensional lensing surface provides collimation along one axis of the system (for example, the X axis). A second two-dimensional lensing surface is provided by introducing a defined curvature to a turning mirror in the system. The curvature of the turning mirror is designed to create collimation (or focusing, if desired) in the orthogonal beamfront (in this case, the Y axis beamfront), while also re-directing the propagating signal into the desired orientation.
US08310764B2
Provided are an image display device and HMD, which can make an observer observe an image with reduced luminance nonuniformity and reduced color nonuniformity, while making the image bright by reducing the degree of diffusion with a constitution employing a means which diffuses incident light in one direction. In the image display device, light from a light source is diffused in one direction with the diffusing means and is guided to a display element, and image light emitted from the display element is guided to an optical pupil through a lens. The image display device with the constitution satisfies the expression Hw/f≦tan 1′Kw/(f+δ), wherein Hw is the aperture width of pixels of the display element in the diffusing direction of the diffusing means, Kw is the maximum pitch of recesses and protrusions in the diffusing direction of the diffusing means, f is the focal length of the lens, and δ is the distance between the display surface of the display element and the diffusing surface of the diffusing means.
US08310761B1
A lenticular product having a see-through window or lens is made by depositing a clear coating on a lenticular sheet. The lenticular product permits scanning a bar code or reading textual data that is printed on an image viewable through the lenticular product for animated, morphing, or stereographic effect. The window or lens of the lenticular product can also provide optical effects (e.g., magnification) in addition to the effects provided by the lenticular sheet. The lenticular product can be made by depositing fluid or resin in a one- or two-step process.
US08310752B2
The disclosure relates to a method of manufacturing a projection objective, and a projection objective, such as a projection objective configured to be used in a microlithographic process. The method can include defining an initial design for the projection objective and optimizing the design using a merit function. The method can be used in the manufacturing of projection objectives which may be used in a microlithographic process of manufacturing miniaturized devices.
US08310744B2
An image processing apparatus includes a document correction section and a display control section. The document correction section carries out rotation processing with respect to a document image so that a first reference direction from a reference side of a document to a side facing the reference side coincides with as an upper-to-lower direction of the document image which has been subjected to the rotation processing. Further, before the rotation processing is carried out, the display control section causes the display apparatus to display a display image in which the document and a mark indicating the reference side of the document to a user are shown in accordance with the document image. This allows a user to easily predict how the document shown in the document image will be oriented after the document image is subjected to the rotation processing, before the user inputs a command to carry out the rotation processing.
US08310741B2
An embodiment of an image reading device may include a light source, an image reading unit, a drive control unit, a white reference member, a chromaticity detecting unit, a reference value storage unit, a chromaticity change calculating unit, and/or a control unit. An embodiment may include a photoelectric conversion element that reads an image illuminated by the light source. In some embodiments, may measure the chromaticity of a white reference member. In some embodiments, a reference value storage unit may store a reference value representing the chromaticity of an image. In an embodiment, a control unit may control an operation of the device according to the calculated amount of chromaticity change. An embodiment may include measuring the luminous intensity of a light source and storing a reference value representing the luminous intensity of the light source. Some embodiments may include making adjustments to images.
US08310738B2
A scanning optical device includes a rotating polygonal mirror having a plurality of reflecting faces. A first light source emits a first light beam from one section obtained by sectioning the scanning optical device with a plane passing through the rotation axis of the rotating polygonal mirror. A second light source emits a second light beam from the other section. The first calculation unit calculates scan time of the first light source. The second calculation unit calculates scan time of the second light source. The jitter correction unit corrects jitter by controlling a pixel clock supplied to the first light source according to the scan time of the second light source. The jitter correction unit also corrects jitter by controlling a pixel clock supplied to the second light source according to the scan time of the first light source.
US08310737B2
An image reading apparatus of the present invention includes a first light source, a first light guide, a second light source, a second light guide, light receiving elements and a lens unit. The first light source emits first light. The first light guide directs the first light from the first light source toward an image-carrying object as first linear light extending in a primary scanning direction. The second light source emits second light of a wavelength different from that of the first light. The second light guide directs the second light from the second light source toward the image-carrying object as second linear light extending in the primary scanning direction. The light receiving elements are arranged in the primary scanning direction. The first and second linear lights are reflected by the image-carrying object, and the reflected lights are guided by the lens unit toward the light receiving elements.
US08310736B2
An image reading device includes: a light-source adjusting device, a storage, a first converting device and a determining device. The adjusting device adjusts brightness of the light source to the brightness corresponding to the one of a plurality of reading modes. The storage stores an reference adjusting value and converting information, the reference adjusting value being adjusted in a state where external light is not incident on a platen, the converting information being for converting the reference adjusting value of the reference mode into the reference adjusting value of another reading mode. The first converting device refers to the converting information and converts the reference adjusting value into the value of the selected reading mode. The determining device determines presence or absence of external light incident on the platen, comparing the converted reference adjusting value with the light-source adjusting value adjusted by the adjusting device.
US08310726B2
An image processing apparatus including a specific image detection unit detecting an area including at least a part of a specific image in an input image, a representative color calculation unit calculating a representative color of the specific image on the basis of pixels belonging to the area detected by the specific image detection unit, plural correction curve acquisition units which acquire plural correction curves resulting in gradation correction for every element color on the basis of the gradation value for every element color constituting the representative color after correction, and plural correction units which correct the gradation value for every element color in each pixel constituting the input image based on the obtained plural correction curves.
US08310716B2
A method for designing a black generation transfer curve is described. A table is produced to convert a first signal in a first signal space to a second signal in a second signal space. Color measurement data of a device is obtained. The color measurement data relates to a signal-to-color response of the device. A black generation transfer curve is designed constrained by the color measurement data of the device.
US08310710B2
A document delivery network server having a set of integrated functions including sending, receiving, routing and filing of FAXes and e-mails to other users which achieves numerous advantages over the prior art. The document delivery system is based on a client/server model having both analog and digital Fax line capabilities. The server side provides very highly integrated systems functionality based on industry standard, commercially available hardware and a mix of industry standard and proprietary software components including integrated FAX/modem modules, an embedded OS, embedded plug-and-play driver sets, embedded e-mail gateways, an embedded FAX archive, embedded back-up/restore, proprietary high efficiency line utilization and highly efficient load balancing.
US08310707B2
Image forming device, image forming system and image forming method for image with high-density area
An image forming device includes an image forming unit in communication with a printing data memory unit and configured to print first and second printing data on a front side of a recording medium, and a recording medium re-feeding mechanism unit configured to re-feed the recording medium to the image forming unit to enable the image forming unit to over-print one of the first printing data and the second printing data on the front side of the recording medium at the image forming unit.
US08310700B2
A print shop consolidation system including a print shop consolidation management system with an application is provided. The application is used to (1) evaluate, with a set of information, an operational capacity of a first print shop to process both a first group of print jobs and a second group of print jobs, (2) evaluate, with the set of information, an operational capacity of the second print shop to process both the first and second groups of print jobs, and (3) use the evaluations of (1) and (2) to consolidate processing of the first and second groups of print jobs at one of first and second print shops.
US08310699B2
A fax conversion system for determining a measure of the number of pages transmitted by fax to or from a plurality of users, comprising: means for converting the transmitted pages into a format that can be output electronically rather than in hardcopy, means for counting the number of pages within an individual fax transmission, means for associating said fax transmission with a respective one of said plurality of users, and means for determining a measure of the total number of pages transmitted by fax to or from each of said plurality of users. The system may determine a measure of an equivalent number of trees saved, or the number of carbon credits gained, by not producing hardcopies of transmitted pages.
US08310689B2
A disclosed device includes a document managing apparatus including an image data acquiring unit acquiring original data of original documents in a predetermined layout, a layout information storing unit storing IDs and layout information, an original document determining unit determining the IDs of the original documents, a partial area information storing unit storing partial area information for the original data respectively for the IDs, a partial area extracting unit, an arrangement information storing unit storing arrangement information on paper in association with the IDs respectively for the partial areas, a synthetic image data generating unit forming synthetic image data in conformity with the arrangement information and forming identification information into the synthetic image data, a data accumulating unit causing a data storing unit to store the identification information and the original data, and a printing unit that prints a synthetic document having the synthetic image data.
US08310682B2
A testing and analysis system for a pressure-sensitive device (42) that includes a testing stage (10) comprising a platform having a groove situated on an upper surface, an endless support gasket located in the endless groove, a pressure port located on the upper surface and interior to the endless groove, and a means for securing a substrate above the upper surface. The substrate (40) supports a pressure-sensitive device (42) to form a pressure chamber between the substrate (40) and the upper surface. A pressure source (32) is operatively connected to the pressure port to modify a pressure inside the pressure chamber and deflect the pressure-sensitive device (42). A surface profile measurement apparatus (104) is included for measuring a surface profile of the deflected pressure-sensitive device (42).
US08310681B2
A method, apparatus and system for non-invasive imagining and analysis involves generating probe radiation and reference radiation that have orthogonal polarization characteristics and controlling the polarization characteristics such that substantially all the back scattered probe radiation co-propagates with controlled amounts of components of the reference radiation, thereby improving signal to noise ratios and hence performance of imaging and analysis systems. A preferred embodiment of the invention includes a rotational sensitive mirror that systematically rotates the polarization vector of higher order components of the reference radiation.
US08310675B2
A system and process for analyzing a sample includes an excitation section and an analyze section, said excitation section including a light source emitting an incident measurement luminous beam, a polarization state generator (PSG), first optics, and said analyze section includes a polarization state analyzer (PSA), a detection system and second optics. The excitation section includes an illumination source emitting an incident visualization luminous beam, superposition optics that direct the incident visualization luminous beam toward the sample surface along an optical axis which is identical to the optical axis of the incident measurement luminous beam and the analyze section includes separation optics that transmit a part of the reflected or transmitted visualization luminous beam and a part of the reflected or transmitted measurement luminous beam towards a visualization direction.
US08310667B2
A wafer surface inspection method and apparatus of high sensitivity, and free from performance degradation in terms of cleanliness, coordinate repeatability of foreign particles and the like. Gas for cooling is sprayed onto a laser irradiation position on the wafer surface to prevent an increase in temperature of the foreign particles and to suppress break-down of the foreign particles.
US08310665B2
An inspecting method and apparatus for inspecting a substrate surface includes application of a light to the substrate surface, detection of scattered light or reflected light from the substrate surface due to the applied light at a plurality of positions to obtain a plurality of electrical signals, extraction of a signal in a mutually different frequency band from each of the plurality of electrical signals, and calculation of a value regarding a state of film of the substrate through an arithmetical operation process of a plurality of extracted signals in the frequency bands.
US08310664B2
Refractive index distribution measuring method and refractive index distribution measuring apparatus
The method includes first and second steps of placing an object in first and second media whose refractive indices are lower than that of the object, and of causing the reference light to enter the object to measure first and second transmitted wavefronts. When light rays entering a peripheral portion of the object and passing through a same point of the object are defined as first and second light rays, the method causes these light rays to proceed in directions mutually different to change an NA of the reference light such that the reference light after being transmitted through the object is brought closer to collimated light than that before entering the object. The method calculates an effective thickness of the object using geometric thicknesses thereof and calculates a refractive index distribution thereof using the first and second transmitted wavefronts and the effective thickness.
US08310660B2
A method and system for calibrating a multiple-beam curvature/flatness sensor in order to provide an accurate media curvature/flatness measurement. One or more flat media sheets are passed through a multiple-beam media curvature/flatness sensor and the timing data associated with the lead edge/trail edge crossing each beam associated with the multiple beam curvature/flatness sensor is used for the calibration of the curvature/flatness sensor system. The unknown variables in the media curvature/flatness equation which takes into consideration of the manufacture and assembly errors of the sensor as well as the media deflection due to gravity can be determined and eliminated in order to obtain a calibrated media curvature/flatness equation. The calibrated media curvature/flatness equation can further be applied in the curvature/flatness measurement in order to achieve accurate measurement results.
US08310656B2
A method for use in controlling a system includes tracking three-dimensional movements of a hand-held controller for the system, mapping the tracked three-dimensional movements of the handheld controller onto a two-dimensional image plane of a screen of a display for the system, and displaying one or more images on the two-dimensional image plane of the screen based on the mapping of the tracked three-dimensional movements of the handheld controller. Some embodiments may include one or more sensors configured to track three-dimensional movements of a hand-held controller for the system, and a processor configured to perform the above mentioned steps.
US08310653B2
According to the present invention, a laser scanner measuring system, which has a laser scanner and a calibration target, wherein the laser scanner comprises a light emitting element for emitting a pulsed laser beam, a rotary projecting unit for projecting the pulsed laser beam for scanning, a distance measuring unit, which has a distance measuring light receiving unit, for measuring a distance by receiving a reflection light from an object to be measured, and a control unit for driving and controlling the light emitting element and the distance measuring unit, and wherein the calibration target has a reflection sector with a known shape and with high reflectance and is installed at a known position, comprising a step for judging a reflected pulsed laser beam from the reflection sector as received by the distance measuring light receiving unit by detecting a level of light quantity, a step for determining a center position of the reflection sector based on the result of the judgment, and a step for calibrating the laser scanner measuring system based on the determined center position and on the known position.
US08310648B2
The disclosure describes a liquid crystal display device with a sensing function and a method of fabricating the same. The device comprising gate and data lines crossing each other on a substrate, so as to define a pixel region including a pixel electrode; a first switching thin film transistor disposed at a crossing of the gate and data lines; a sensing thin film transistor, disposed at a predetermined portion of the pixel region, that senses external light; a sensing storage capacitor that stores a signal sensed by the sensing thin film transistor; and a second switching thin film transistor that receives the sensing signal stored and reads information that is externally inputted, wherein the sensing storage capacitor and the second switching thin film transistor are provided with a reflective region including a reflective electrode.
US08310647B2
Disorder in the initial orientation (pretilt angle) and active orientation of liquid crystal molecules associated with higher resolution can be reduced to achieve high image quality displays. A layer having a drive element is bonded into an adhesive layer above color filters provided on the inner surface of a rear panel. The layer with the drive element, a drive electrode (pixel electrode), and a counter electrode are buried in the adhesive layer, so that the surface on the liquid crystal layer side is smooth. An orientation film is formed on the smooth surface to have a liquid crystal orientation control capability (orientation capability). A front panel includes a transparent substrate formed of glass or resin, with a smooth surface on the liquid crystal layer side. An orientation film is formed on the smooth surface of the front panel also to have liquid crystal orientation control capability (orientation capability).
US08310646B2
A liquid crystal on silicon (LCoS) cell structure includes a substrate, a plurality of top metal regions arranged in an array, a dielectric material filling between the top metal regions and a composite post spacer disposed on the dielectric material and encircling to form a cell space. The composite post spacer includes a first dielectric layer disposed on the dielectric material and a spacer material layer disposed on the first dielectric layer. The spacer material layer and the first dielectric layer are substantially different.
US08310645B2
A wiring board of the present invention has pads disposed in a plurality of rows including: first row pads each being connected to a respective one of the connection wires that is long in length; and second row pads (30b) each being connected to a respective one of the connection wires that is shorter in length than that of first connection wires (10a) connected to the first row pads, each of the first connection wires (10a) being provided not in a region between adjacent ones of the second row pads (30b) but in a lower layer region of the second row pads (30b), in such a manner that at least a first insulating layer (20a) is sandwiched between the second row pads (30b) and the first connection wires (10a), and 0.8≦W1/W2≦1, where W1 is a line width of the first connection wires (10a) in the lower layer region of the second row pads (30b), and W2 is a width of the second row pads (30b).
US08310642B2
A liquid crystal display (“LCD”) having controlled texture and reduced response time includes first and second insulation substrates which are separated from each other and face each other, a liquid crystal layer which is interposed between the first and second insulation substrates and has liquid crystal molecules, a pixel electrode which is disposed on the first insulation substrate and includes a plurality of first linear electrode patterns, a common electrode which is disposed on the first insulation substrate and includes a plurality of second linear electrode patterns separated from the first linear electrode patterns by a predetermined gap, and a texture control portion which is disposed in an area corresponding to the gap and formed on the first or second insulation substrate, wherein the first and second linear electrode patterns are arranged in an alternating fashion.
US08310640B2
A liquid crystal display device according to the present invention includes a vertical alignment type liquid crystal layer 32. Each pixel electrode thereof 12 has a plurality of unit electrode portions 12a, each of which has a conductive film and slits 13 that have been cut through the conductive film. When a predetermined voltage is applied between the pixel electrode and a counter electrode, a liquid crystal domain is produced in association with each unit electrode portion and liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal domain come to have a substantially radially tilting alignment state. As a result, the device of the present invention achieves a wide viewing angle and a fast response characteristic.
US08310638B2
Disclosed is a display device that can achieve a reduction of power consumption without deteriorating the aperture ratio. A liquid crystal capacitance element (Clc) is formed by being sandwiched between a pixel electrode (20) and an opposite electrode (80). The pixel electrode (20), one end of a first switching circuit (22), one end of a second switching circuit (23), and the first terminal of a second transistor (T2) form an internal node (N1). The other end of the first switching circuit (22) and the other end of the second switching circuit (23) are connected to a source line (SL). The second switching circuit (23) includes a series circuit of a transistor (T1) and a diode (D1), and an output node (N2) is formed of the control terminal of the transistor (T1), the second terminal of the transistor (T2), and one end of a boost capacitance element (Cbst). The other end of the boost capacitance element (Cbst) is connected to a boost line (BST), and the control terminal of the transistor (T2) is connected to a reference line (REF). The diode (D1) has a rectifying function in the direction to the internal node (N1) from the source line (SL).
US08310635B2
The invention provides, an electro-optic device that can include a pair of substrates sandwiching an electro-optic substance therebetween. The electro-optic device can further include a coating member including an antistatic material and being disposed on a surface not opposing the electro-optic substance of at least one of the pair of substrates. Accordingly, problems of dust adhesion on the surface of the electro-optic device and dust projection can be solved so as to enable images with high quality to be displayed.
US08310629B2
A liquid crystal display (LCD) device including a backlight module and an LCD panel is provided. The backlight module is used for providing light penetrating through the LCD panel disposed at one side of the backlight module. The LCD panel includes a substrate, a scan line, a first and a second data line, a first and a second switch element and a first and a second pixel electrode. The scan line and the two data lines, which are perpendicular to the scan line, are disposed on the substrate. The switch elements are respectively disposed at the intersection of the scan line and the first data line and the intersection of the scan line and the second data line. The pixel electrodes are respectively electrically connected to the switch elements. The area of the first pixel electrode is substantially less than that of the second one.
US08310623B2
An optical sheet and a liquid crystal display including the same are disclosed. The optical sheet includes a reflective polarizing film, a first adhesive layer on one surface of the reflective polarizing film, and a first diffusion layer on the first adhesive layer. The first adhesive layer has first and second thicknesses. The first diffusion layer includes a first light transmitting material and a plurality of first diffusion particles. At least one of the first diffusion particles has a portion protruding above a surface of the first light transmitting material, and a height of the portion, h1, substantially satisfies the following equation: 0.1D1≦h1≦0.7D1, where D1 is a diameter of the at least one of the first diffusion particles. The first thickness, T1, and the second thickness, T2, substantially satisfy the following equation: 10 nm≦|T1−T2|≦2 μm.
US08310615B2
A backlight module which includes a frame and a first prism film is provided. The frame includes sidewall which encloses an inner space. The first prism film is disposed within the inner space and has a plurality of prisms on it. The prisms are in parallel and adjacent to each other, and the prisms extend along a first extending direction. The first prism film has a surrounding edge, which includes a first edge and a second edge. The prisms include a center prism being substantially located in a center position of all prisms. The center prism insects the surrounding edge at two intersection points; a first distance D1 is between the intersection point and the sidewall. The surrounding edge further has an end point being located farthest from the center prism. A second distance D2 is between the end point and the sidewall. The first distance D1 is larger than the second distance D2.
US08310612B2
A thin film transistor (TFT) liquid crystal display panel and fabrication method are described. The panel has a data line and a gate line connected with a TFT and formed on the same layer. One of data or gate lines is discontinuous and the other is continuous in a pixel region such that the continuous line bisects the discontinuous line. A passivation film protects the TFT. Contact holes penetrate the passivation film and expose segments of the discontinuous line. A contact electrode connects the segments through the contact holes.
US08310611B2
Provided is a display device including: a gate electrode (GT); a semiconductor film (S) which controls a current flowing between a source electrode (ST) and a drain electrode (DT), the semiconductor film including a channel region and two impurity regions formed of regions which sandwich the channel region; two Ohmic contact layers (DS) being interposed between the source electrode and the like and the two impurity regions; and an insulating film laminated on a partial region of the semiconductor film, the partial region being around a position corresponding to a substantial center of the semiconductor film, in which: the semiconductor film is formed of one of microcrystalline-silicon and polycrystalline-silicon; the two impurity regions are formed in regions on which the insulating film is absent; the two Ohmic contact layers cover the two impurity regions therewith; and the source electrode and the like cover the Ohmic contact layers therewith.
US08310610B2
A display panel includes a first substrate having a first line and a second line and a second substrate facing the first substrate. The first substrate includes an electrostatic discharger that is electrically connected to the first line to discharge a static electricity inflowing into the display panel through the first line to an exterior. Also, the second substrate includes a common electrode through which an opening is formed by removing an area of the common electrode corresponding with the electrostatic discharger. Thus, the electrostatic discharger may be prevented from being shorted with the common electrode, thereby preventing a display quality of the display panel from being deteriorated.
US08310607B2
A liquid crystal spatial light modulator for adjusting an optical signal is configured in such a manner that a region of one element is partitioned into two regions so as to perform intensity modulation in one region and phase modulation in the other region. Since the region for performing the intensity modulation and the region for performing the phase modulation can be formed by partitioning one region of the liquid crystal spatial light modulator, only one element allows adjusting functions, both the optical signal intensity modulation and phase modulation.
US08310602B2
A remote control that includes buttons on the side or bottom may be used to control television viewing provided through a set-top box. In one particular implementation, a method may include receiving, by the set-top box, a signal from the remote control indicating entry to an interactive input mode and receiving another signal from the remote control indicating motion of the remote control. The set-top box may identify an intended command based on the second signal and control television programming in response to the command.
US08310594B2
A method and system for adjusting picture display settings of a display device is provided. One embodiment involves simultaneously displaying multiple pictures of the same visual content on the display device, wherein the picture setting and one or more sample pictures each at a different picture setting relative to the reference picture. Then user selection of a picture among the multiple pictures is received, and the current picture setting is adjusted to the settings of the selected picture. The process may be repeated.
US08310592B2
A signal processing circuit includes an interpolation filter for outputting an interpolation value of signal levels at positions of ¼ phase and ¾ phase between two original pixels of the input digital image adjacent in the predetermine direction; a phase shift circuit for outputting signal value of each of the two original pixels by shifting the phases of the signals of the two original pixels in the predetermined direction to ¼ phase and ¾ phase, respectively, between the two original pixels; a edge detection circuit for detecting a edge portion of the image from a signal level change of a plurality of pixels including the two original pixels of the input digital image in the predetermined direction; and a first signal selection circuit for outputting the output of the phase shift circuit when the edge is detected, and outputting the output of the interpolation filter when no edge is detected, based on the result of detection by the edge detection circuit.
US08310586B2
The present invention provides a photographing apparatus, in which an object image is formed on an image pickup element through a photographing lens, and a desired frequency component is extracted from an image signal obtained by the image pickup element through a filter so that the extracted frequency component is integrated to calculate a focus evaluation value and, based on the calculated focus evaluation value, an in-focus position of the photographing lens is searched, the apparatus comprising: a scene discrimination section which discriminates a photographing scene of an object image; and a control section which changes either of a searching range of the in-focus position of the photographing lens or the frequency component to be extracted by the filter based on the photographing scene discriminated by the scene discrimination section, and thereafter moves the photographing lens to search an in-focus position.
US08310579B2
The present invention is a solid-state imaging apparatus having a plurality of signal accumulating units for accumulating signals from a plurality of pixels each including a photoelectric conversion element, a common signal transferring unit for transferring a signal outputted from the signal accumulating unit, a plurality of reset units for resetting a potential of a signal path of the common signal transferring unit, a horizontal scanning unit for outputting, to the common signal transferring unit, the signal accumulated in the plurality of signal accumulating units, and a plurality of reset controlling units for controlling the reset units, wherein the horizontal scanning unit includes a plurality of horizontal scanning blocks, an operation of the horizontal scanning unit is controlled by a reference pulse supplied to the horizontal scanning block, and the reset controlling unit is arranged in the horizontal scanning block.
US08310576B2
An object of the present invention is to provide an imaging system capable of improving S/N ratio and increasing dynamic range and a method of driving the imaging system suited to the improvement and increase. An imaging system includes: a solid-state imaging device having a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix, column amplifiers each corresponding to each of columns of the pixels and an output portion for outputting an image signal based on an amplification by the column amplifier; and a signal processing portion receiving the image signal, wherein the column amplifier amplifies a signal output from the pixel by a gain q larger than 1, and the signal processing portion multiplies, by a factor less than 1, the image signal based on the signal amplified by the gain q.
US08310573B2
A solid-state imaging device includes a color filter array based on a checkered pattern array and in which two pixels adjacent to each other in at least one of upper/lower and right/left directions have the same color. The color filter array is a color filter array in which a spatial sampling point (x, y) is approximately arranged in at least one of (x=3*(2n−1+oe)+1±2 and y=3m−2 (n and m are an integer, oe has a value of 0 when m is an odd number and 1 when m is an even number)) and (x=3*(2n−1+oe)+1 and y=3m−2±2 (n and m denote an integer, and oe has a value of 0 when m is an odd number and 1 when m is an even number)).
US08310571B2
An image processing device that performs color shading correction on an image formed by a plurality of pixel signals with correction data includes: a correction execution decision unit that decides whether or not color shading correction is to be executed for each pixel signal in order to perform color shading correction for a part of the plurality of pixel signals and not to perform color shading correction for another part of the plurality of pixel signals; and a correction unit that performs correction of the pixel signal of which execution of correction is decided by the correction execution decision unit for each color component thereof.
US08310560B2
The attenuation and other optical properties of a medium are exploited to measure a thickness of the medium between a sensor and a target surface. Disclosed herein are various mediums, arrangements of hardware, and processing techniques that can be used to capture these thickness measurements and obtain three-dimensional images of the target surface in a variety of imaging contexts. This includes general techniques for imaging interior/concave surfaces as well as exterior/convex surfaces, as well as specific adaptations of these techniques to imaging ear canals, human dentition, and so forth.
US08310559B2
A method and apparatus for transmitting/receiving data in which a color gamut identifier is included using a synchronization section of an analog image signal are provided. In the method, it is determined whether an analog image signal is a color gamut signal. If the analog signal is a color gamut signal, a color gamut identifier is generated using a synchronization section of the analog image signal, and the analog image signal is transmitted after the color gamut identifier is added to the synchronization section of the analog image signal.
US08310544B2
The hand-held inspection tool enhances the ability of an on-site inspector to detect and communicate the presence of contamination on an object or in an area. An on-site inspector directs an excitation light in the sensing head of the tool into an area of interest. If the targeted contamination is present, the excitation light causes the contamination to emit fluorescence. The emitted fluorescent light passes through a narrow spectral band-pass video camera filter and is detected by a video camera mounted in the tool sensing head. The video camera transmits the image to a display visible to the on-site inspector. The invention also includes a means of recording, documenting, and wirelessly communicating the inspection process so that remotely located personnel can view the inspection, and respond to the inspection findings in real time.
US08310542B2
The invention segments detector input according to the time and the level of activity in different geographic regions of a locality. In one embodiment of the invention the detector input is comprised of video stream from one or more cameras to identify activity in the video. In one embodiment of the invention the detector input is comprised of sensor outputs such as RFID, pressure plates, etc. Various embodiments of the invention include identifying boundaries based on the level of activity. In embodiments of the invention, the boundaries can be used to select time dimensions. In one embodiment, by recognizing time dimensions with distinctive activity patterns, systems can better present overviews of activity over time.
US08310539B2
The calibration device 1 is set up in a machine tool 50 and provides: a image capture subject material 10 having a calibration pattern 14 that includes one feature point and being attached to the spindle 55, two-dimensional coordinate calculation parts 22, 23 that calculate the two-dimensional coordinates of feature points based on the two-dimensional image data that is created from the images of the calibration pattern 14 that were captured at multiple movement positions of the spindle 55 by the CCD camera 58; a three-dimensional coordinate calculation part 24 that calculates the three-dimensional coordinates of the feature points that correspond to each movement position of the spindle 55; and a parameter calculation part 26 that calculates the intrinsic parameters and extrinsic parameters of the CCD camera 58 based on the two-dimensional coordinates and three-dimensional coordinates at each movement position of the spindle 55.
US08310536B2
An apparatus and method are provided for measuring the end surface of a disk-shaped semiconductor wafer based on its projection image, without the influence of contaminants on the end surface. A rotation supporting mechanism supports a wafer between a first supporting position rotated by +δrelative to a predetermined reference position and a second supporting position rotated by −δdegrees at two or more supporting positions. An image sensor picks up a projection image of the wafer's end surface. An index value for the end surface is calculated for each of a plurality of obtained projection images. One representative value of the calculated index values or an aggregate value is obtained, and a shape measurement of the wafer's end surface corresponding to the reference supporting position is derived. When the wafer's radius and a chamfer width are set as r and k, δ≧cos−1 ((r-k)/r) is satisfied.
US08310534B2
The present invention relates to an apparatus for confirming three-dimensional model data or the like, capable of confirming easily, efficiently, and precisely whether three-dimensional model data including an attached object attached to a machine tool and at least a part of the machine tool good are accurate. An apparatus 1 for confirming three-dimensional model data is provided with: CCD cameras 13 and 14 for imaging an actual attached object attached to a machine tool 30 to generate actual image data of the attached object; a model-data storing section 17 for storing in advance model data which include the attached object attached to the machine tool 30 and at least a part of the machine tool 30 and which are previously created; a virtual image data generating section 19 for generating, by a computer process, two-dimensional image data, which are virtual image data of the attached object, based on the model data stored in the model-data storing section 17; and an image-data comparing section 21 for comparing, by a computer process, the actual image data of the attached object and the virtual image data thereof to determine whether these image data match.
US08310531B2
A method for generating a fluorescence microscopy image of a sample. The method comprises a step of obtaining a series of fluorescence microscopy images of the sample for a plurality of different focal plane depths in the sample and different exposure times. The images may be obtained directly from a microscope, or from a library of images. Images comprising the series of fluorescence microscopy images are combined to form a single resultant fluorescence microscopy image of the sample. The single resultant image may then be analyzed as if it were a conventional fluorescence microscopy image, e.g. by visual inspection or numerical processing. However, because the resultant image is based on images from a range of focal plane depths and exposure times, different structures that appear under only certain conditions (i.e. in only certain ones of the original series of fluorescence microscopy images) can appear together in a single image, thus simplifying visualization, interpretation and analysis of the sample.
US08310530B2
A method for reducing an effect of a video artifact includes adjusting a phase of a second imaging device's video clock signal so that a phase of the second imaging device's video synchronization signal matches a phase of a first imaging device's video synchronization signal. An endoscopic system includes a first imaging device, a second imaging device, a light source, and a controller that reduces an artifact in an image produced by the first imaging device. In some embodiments, the first imaging device faces the light source.
US08310527B2
A system for providing respective video signals to at least two viewers is disclosed. The system includes a control unit; and a display connected to the control unit. The control unit is operable to control the display to alternately display an image from a first video signal and an image from a second video signal, to synchronize a first shuttered filter to the display such that the first filter is shuttered when the second video signal image is displayed, and to synchronize a second shuttered filter to the display such that the second filter is shuttered when the first video signal image is displayed. In this way only the first video signal image is provided to a first viewer using the first shuttered filter and only the second video signal image is provided to a second viewer using the second shuttered filter.
US08310513B2
In a light-source driving device, a high-frequency clock generating circuit generates two high-frequency clock signals having mutually different phases, an image-data creating circuit creates a plurality of image data corresponding to a plurality of light-emitting units according to image information, and a write control circuit creates a plurality of modulated data corresponding to the light-emitting units from the plurality of image data and separately controls output timings of the plurality of modulated data by using a time, as a unit, corresponding to a phase difference between the two high-frequency clock signals. The write control circuit includes two data switching circuits that set a correspondence relation between image data and PWM data based on one of a relation between an array of the light-emitting units and an array of a plurality of light spots and a relation between a surface to be scanned and a main scanning direction.
US08310512B2
The invention relates to a method of storing images on a medium able to be etched on the basis of a writing procedure using a laser beam, in which a substrate, preferably flexible, comprises a multiplicity of expanses of lateral dimensions less than 10 millimeters, each reserved for an image, and an expanse reserved for an image comprises as many elementary zones as there are image pixels to be stored, the image stored in an expanse being able to be read by optical magnification means. Each elementary zone comprises an engraved pattern whose diameter represents one respective grey level out of n possible levels.
US08310496B2
An image display device includes: an image input unit configured to input an image; a content categorizer configured to determine a content category of the image; a database configured to store adjustment items corresponding to each of a plurality of content categories, the adjustment items being related to sensibility words each representing an impression for images; an adjustment item display configured to display the adjustment items corresponding to the content category, the adjustment item being selectable by a user; a receiver configured to receive set values of the adjustment items selected from the user; an image quality parameter calculator configured to calculate image quality parameters in accordance with the set values of the adjustment items; an image processor configured to perform image processing on the image in accordance with the image quality parameters; and an image display configured to display the processed image.
US08310486B2
Embodiments of methods, apparatuses, devices and systems associated with adjusting for input latency within an electronic are disclosed. An electronic device may receive a user input, such as a user actuation of a device key. A latency adjusted time of the input may be calculated based, at least in part, on a latency of the electronic device in determining the user actuation of the device key. The latency adjusted time may be used to determine a result of the user input.
US08310483B2
A tinted color value is produced for a surface of an object in a computer generated scene. The surface is illuminated by a light source having a lighting color value associated with the light source. A first reflected color value is calculated for the surface. The first reflected color value is calculated based on an assumption that the surface is illuminated by white light rather than the lighting color value associated with the light source. A desaturated color value is computed using the first reflected color value. A tinted color value is computed by combining the desaturated color value with the lighting color value associated with the light source. The tinted color value is stored.
US08310481B2
One embodiment of the present technology provides a the method comprises the steps of: Converting B-spline networks to T-splines, Converting NURBS into T-spline surfaces, Adding control points to local regions, Scaling or optimizing weights across the mesh, and merging between NURBS and T-spline surfaces. The technology overcame some of the issues with implementing simultaneous multiple surface design methodology when dealing with groups of lenses and reflectors, by improving seed patch junction continuity, elimination of ripples and holes, and precisely adding control points where required. In at least one embodiment of the technology, the t-splines topology allowed for refined control over the optical surface. Control points were reduced by conversion of a NURBS into a T-spline. T-splines were used to produce new loft lenses which were further refined and merged to spline patches. In another embodiment of the present technology, the T-spline loft lens network was subsequently optimized through reverse raytracing, bi-directional raytracing, flow-line, optical path, or flux tube approach.
US08310460B2
A display device with a touch panel includes a display panel, and an electrostatic-capacitance-coupling touch panel which is arranged on a viewer-side surface of the display panel. The touch panel includes a substrate; a first shield conductor which is formed on the viewer-side surface of the substrate; an insulation film which is formed on the first shield conductor; a plurality of first electrodes which are formed on the insulation film, extend in the first direction and are arranged parallel to each other in the second direction which intersects with the first direction; and a plurality of second electrodes which are formed on the insulation film, extend in the second direction and are arranged parallel to each other in the first direction which intersects with the second direction. A predetermined signal is inputted to the first shield conductor.
US08310452B2
Disclosed herein is a touch panel display apparatus including: a display panel; a movable panel unit including a touch panel and being flat plate-like in shape; a movable support section for supporting the movable panel unit on a support structure so as to permit the movable panel unit to be moved along a plane parallel to the panel surface of the movable panel unit; an actuator configured to drive the movable panel unit to vibrate; an actuator drive control section for outputting an actuator drive signal to drivingly control the actuator; an acoustic pressure generating member configured to generate an acoustic pressure by being driven by the actuator to vibrate; and a superposing section for superposing an acoustic signal on the actuator drive signal outputted by the actuator drive control section.
US08310451B2
An information exchange device contains the outside framework, the front panel and the back panel, a vacant space is formed inside of the outside framework. In the vacant space, a control circuit is disposed which includes a micro-control unit with the control procedure inside, a batter unit connected with the micro-control unit, a keyboard unit connected with the input of the micro-control unit, a RF unit having a two-way communication links with the micro-control unit, an antenna unit connected with the RF unit and used for receiving and sending at the working frequency of 2.45 GHz, a LCD display unit connected with the output of the micro-control unit, a near-distance RFID with a working frequency of 13.56 MHz. The information exchange device of the present invention adopts the 2.45 GHz as the working frequency and having a near-distance RFID disposed inside, as a result that the information exchange of long-distance, low-power, anti-collision achieves and the short distance RF communication achieves.
US08310450B2
A computer input apparatus includes a keyboard and a mouse. The keyboard includes a housing, a number of input keys, and a telephone module for responding to a call or initiating a call according to a user's input. The input keys include standard keyboard keys and standard telephone keys. The mouse includes a main body, a number of buttons mounted on the main body, and a motion detecting unit for detecting motion of the mouse. The main body includes a mouse speaker configured for converting electrical signals into sound and a mouse microphone configured for converting sound into electrical signals. The buttons include a number of standard mouse buttons and an enable telephone button configured for enabling a telephone function of the mouse to answer a call.
US08310446B1
A system for positioning a graphical object on an electronic display. A coarse positioning input control element provides a coarse position input signal and a fine positioning input control element provides a fine position input signal. A microprocessor is operatively connected to the coarse positioning input control element and the fine positioning input control element for integrating the coarse position input signal and the fine position input signal. The microprocessor output signal is provided to an electronic display. Manipulation of the coarse positioning input control element provides a rapid and coarse manual positioning of a graphical object and manipulation of the fine positioning input control element provides accurate positioning of the graphical object, thereby optimizing the efficiency for graphical object positioning on the electronic display.
US08310442B2
The invention relates to methods and apparatus for forming images on a display utilizing a control matrix to control the movement of MEMs-based light modulators.
US08310436B2
A power supply controller for a plurality of lighting components in a battery-powered apparatus. The power supply controller comprises a current source common to the lighting components, and a sequencer for coupling the current source sequentially to each of the lighting components with a repetition rate substantially faster than the flicker perception rate. Each of the lighting components comprises a respective array of lighting elements connected in series to receive the same current as the other lighting elements of the same lighting component.
US08310417B2
A pixel capable of compensating for the deterioration of an organic light emitting diode. The pixel includes an organic light emitting diode; a second transistor to control a capacity of an electric current that is supplied from a first power source to the organic light emitting diode; a first transistor coupled between a data line and a gate electrode of the second transistor and for turning on when a scan signal is supplied to a scan line; a first capacitor coupled between a power line (that receives a power signal overlapping with the scan signal and having a wider interval (or width) than that of the scan signal) and the gate electrode of the second transistor; and a feedback capacitor coupled between the gate electrode of the second transistor and an anode electrode of the organic light emitting diode.
US08310414B2
An information processing apparatus includes a self-luminous type display, a current value predicting unit for predicting, based on a pixel value of a next image, the value of a current required by the display that displays the next image, and a controller for controlling luminance of the display based on the predicted current value.
US08310411B2
A plasma display includes a plurality of discharge cells, and is driven with one frame divided into a plurality of subfields having respective weight values. Light emitting cells are selected through address discharge during an address period of each subfield, and sustain discharge is performed on the light emitting cells for a number of times corresponding to a weight value of the corresponding subfield during a sustain period of each subfield to display images. The plasma display provides a sensing period for identifying an external contact with the plasma display prior to the address period in at least one subfield of the plurality of subfields, and discharges the plurality of discharge cells during a sensing period. The plasma display identifies the external contact based on light generated from the discharge cells during the sensing period.
US08310409B2
The present invention relates to a display apparatus and a display method that enable multiple users to view high resolution moving images from various viewing points of the users. A light-control screen 25 is rotated, and projectors 211 to 21N irradiate the screen 25 from various directions with light rays corresponding to image data captured from those directions. In this case, when the forward direction of the light-control screen 25 is aligned with the projecting direction of one of the projectors 21n, an image corresponding to light rays emitted from the projector 21n is displayed on the light-control screen 25. The present invention may be applied to a display apparatus for displaying images.
US08310403B2
An antenna attachment scheme is provided, according to one aspect of the invention, for mounting an antenna to a meter. The antenna attachment scheme comprises a housing mountable to a meter. The housing comprises a top surface; an open-end; and a side surface. The side surface of the housing comprising a mounting surface for the antennae to the housing.
US08310401B2
Mobile wireless communications device with selective load switching for antennas and related methods
A mobile wireless communications device may include a plurality of antennas, a plurality of wireless transceivers, and signal processing circuitry. The device may further include a controller for selectively switching the signal processing circuitry to a desired one of the wireless transceivers, and for selectively switching a desired one of the antennas to the desired one of the wireless transceivers. Moreover, the controller may also be for selectively connecting and disconnecting the at least one other one of the antennas to an unused one of the wireless transceivers.
US08310387B2
Sampling method for time-interleaved data converters in frequency-multiplexed communications systems
A wide band analog-to-digital converter used in a frequency multiplexed communication system. The converter includes a plurality, M, of time-interleaved analog-to-digital converter subunits (ADC subunits). The sampling rate, FS1, of the M ADC subunits is selected to locate one or more integer multiples of a Nyquist frequency of a respective subunit ADC in one or more guard bands, and/or such that one or more integer multiples of FS1 are also located in the guard bands.
US08310377B2
An autonomous system for automated monitoring of traffic patterns on at least one designated surface including at least one mobile monitoring and recording module. The at least one mobile monitoring and recording module includes at least one support and stabilization section, at least one erector section, at least one autonomous source of electric energy, at least one electric energy storage device, and at least one control and information storage unit. The at least one support and stabilization section incorporates a transportation subsection arranged to provide mobility when coupled to a source of a mechanical force and at least one stabilizing subsection arranged to stabilize the at least one mobile monitoring and recording module in a stationary traffic monitoring position. The at least one erector section includes an erector arranged to erect at least one speed measuring device, at least one traffic imaging device, and at least one illumination device at respective predetermined heights above the designated surface.
US08310376B2
An object classification method in which a vehicle moves toward an object includes: (a) ascertaining a first characteristic quantity from the variation of a first signal received by a distance-measuring sensor; (b) ascertaining an additional characteristic quantity from the variation of a second signal received by the distance-measuring sensor; (c) ascertaining a distance traveled by the vehicle between step (a) and step (b); (d) ascertaining a predictive quantity associated with the distance ascertained in step (c); (e) comparing the predictive quantity with the additional characteristic quantity; and (f) generating an object classification signal.
US08310375B2
Provided is a system and method for providing vehicle parking information using a navigation satellite. The system includes: a monitoring unit for photographing an image of a vehicle parking space and transmitting the image to a parking space checking unit; the parking space checking unit for checking a vacant parking space based on the transmitted vehicle parking space image and transmitting vacant parking space acquisition information to a location information computing unit; and the location information computing unit for creating and transmitting location information of the vacant parking space, which is vehicle parking information, to a navigation satellite based on own location information acquired based on navigation information transmitted from an external navigation satellite and the transmitted vacant parking space acquisition information.
US08310374B2
A telemetry system is disclosed herein. The telemetry system includes a transmitter/monitor configured to provide tracking data and monitoring data, and a receiver adapted to define a coverage area. The receiver is configured to receive the tracking data and the monitoring data from the transmitter/monitor when the transmitter/monitor is within the coverage area. The telemetry system also includes a processor configured to receive the tracking data and the monitoring data from the receiver, analyze the tracking data and the monitoring data, and identify an alarm condition based on the analysis of the tracking data and the monitoring data.
US08310369B1
Water is conserved by detecting unintended inflow of water into the tank of a flush toilet. A sensor acoustically and/or vibrationally coupled to the flush toilet detects sound and/or vibration generated due to turbulence in water flowing into the toilet tank. An electronic circuit analyzes the sensor output to detect cyclical water inflow not intended by a user. The electronic circuit generates an alert such as an audible and/or visual indication that the toilet is leaking.
US08310342B2
An anti-collision method is provided for a radio frequency identification (RFID) system including a reader, and two or more tags each having an ID. The anti-collision method includes transmitting an ID request value from the reader to the respective tags, the ID request value containing one or more of the codes forming the ID, receiving the ID from at least one of the tags which contain the ID request value, when a plurality of IDs collide, requesting the tags for a value representing a position of collision, and receiving the value representing the position of collision from the tags and identifying the IDs of the tags. Because collision pattern of the bits of respective IDs is recognized, and a plurality of IDs are recognized, the number of transmissions between the reader and the tags can be reduced.
US08310341B2
Packet formats and related infrastructure for improved messaging and processing of commands in an AMR system are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for identifying the features of an endpoint based on data encoded in a standard meter reading is provided. In this regard, the method includes receiving a standard meter reading having an endpoint type and subtype classification, wherein the subtype classification corresponds to a feature of the endpoint that may be re-configured. Once received, the standard metering reading is decoded. Then, the method identifies the classification of the endpoint with regard to type and subtype and determines whether the endpoint is capable of implementing a particular command.
US08310335B2
A device may include a memory to store a home automation graphical application and a processor to operate based on the home automation graphical application to establish via a network a communication link with a home automation system, and provide a graphical user interface to permit a user to view state information of home devices or modify home automation configuration data to control home devices.
US08310334B2
A surface mount resistor includes a resistance body, a first protective layer, a heat-transfer layer, a second protective layer and two electrode layers. The resistance body has a first end portion, a second end portion and a central portion between the first end portion and the second end portion. The first protective layer is disposed on the central portion of the resistance body, and the first end portion and the second end portion are exposed. The heat-transfer layer is plated on at least part of the resistance body. The second protective layer is disposed on at least part of the heat-transfer layer. The electrode layers are respectively arranged on the first end portion and the second end portion, and electrically connected with the heat-transfer layer.
US08310333B2
Modular fuse holder assemblies for configurable panelboards are specifically adapted to meet the needs of photovoltaic fuses and solar powered systems. Fuse rejection features, safety features, and remote monitoring features are further provided.
US08310332B2
A magnetic component and a method of manufacturing the same. The method comprises the steps of providing at least one shaped-core fabricated from an amorphous powder material, coupling at least a portion of at least one winding to the at least one shaped-core, and pressing the at least one shaped-core with at least a portion of the at least one winding. The magnetic component comprises at least one shaped-core fabricated from an amorphous powder material and at least a portion of at least one winding coupled to the at least one shaped-core, wherein the at least one shaped-core is pressed to at least a portion of the at least one winding. The winding may be preformed, semi-preformed, or non-preformed and may include, but is not limited to, a clip or a coil. The amorphous powder material may be an iron-based or cobalt-based amorphous powder material or a nanoamorphous powder material.
US08310326B2
Example methods include calculating a first number of turns of a shield winding included in an energy transfer element of a power supply. A first number of turns of the shield winding is calculated for the power supply to have a low noise current in an input conductor of the power supply. The method then includes increasing the first number of turns to a second number of turns. The power supply is then operated, which generates a first voltage waveform of a voltage between the input conductor and an output conductor of the power supply. An impedance is then inserted between the shield winding and the input conductor. The noise current is reduced by adjusting a value of the impedance until a second voltage waveform of the voltage between the input conductor and the output conductor reverses polarity to be the opposite of a polarity of the first voltage waveform.
US08310321B2
A tunable filter includes a circuit configuration in which variable capacitors are connected with surface acoustic wave resonators. The surface acoustic wave resonators each include a piezoelectric substrate made of LiTaO3 or LiNbO3, an IDT electrode made of an electrode material filled in a recess in an upper surface of the piezoelectric substrate, and a SiO2 film arranged to cover the piezoelectric substrate.
US08310320B2
A nano-resonator device comprising at least one fixed element and at least one mobile element with respect to the fixed element, first electromagnetic means, integrated or fixed on the fixed element, and second electromagnetic means, integrated or fixed on the mobile element, to generate an oscillating movement of the mobile element.
US08310316B2
A first wiring layer and a plurality of second wiring layers having a thickness smaller than the first wiring layer are stacked on the semiconductor substrate. An oscillator circuit has an inductor formed by the plurality of second wiring layers. The inductor oscillates at a frequency at which the inductor and a parasitic capacitance of an inverter circuit resonate. A drain of an n-type MISFET and a drain of a p-type MISFET of the inverter circuit are connected to each other, and an output of the inductor is connected to a connection point of those drains.
US08310300B2
A charge pump includes a first counter and a pump stage. The first counter has a control input for receiving a control signal, and an output for providing a first count value. The first count value is incremented in response to the control signal being a first logic state and the first count value is decremented in response to the control signal being a second logic state. The pump stage has a variable capacitor. The variable capacitor has a control input coupled to the output of the first counter for receiving the first count value. The capacitance value of the variable capacitor is changed in response to the first count value changing. The capacitance value is for determining a ramp-up rate of an output voltage at an output of the charge pump.
US08310292B1
A DLL system that automatically resets after a frequency change of an external clock according to a phase difference includes: a clock receiver for receiving the external clock and generating a clock signal; a delay line, coupled to the clock receiver, for generating a delayed clock signal; a control loop, for tracking a phase difference between the clock signal and the delayed clock signal and locking the delay line when the phase difference is zero; and an N degrees phase detector (PD), coupled to the control loop, for detecting the phase difference between the clock signal and the delayed clock signal and outputting a positive signal when the detected phase difference is greater than N degrees, wherein the positive signal generates a reset signal to the DLL system.
US08310274B2
A cell element field for data processing, having function cell means for execution of algebraic and/or logic functions and memory cell means for receiving, storing and/or outputting information is described. Function cell-memory cell combinations are formed in which a control connection leads from the function cell means to the memory cell means.
US08310267B2
In order to reduce the number of electrodes included in test patterns, the semiconductor integrated circuit includes, a plurality of first and second chains, a first common electrode connected to one end of each first chain, a second common electrode connected to one end of each second chain, and a plurality of selection electrodes. Each selection electrode is connected to the other end of any one of the plurality of first chains and to the other end of any one of the plurality of second chains. When a test target chain is selected from the plurality of first chains, a first reference voltage is applied to the first common electrode, a second reference voltage is applied to a target selection electrode that is connected to the test target chain, and a current flowing in the target selection electrode is measured to obtain a resistance value of the test target chain.
US08310266B2
A device for characterizing the electro-optical performance of a semiconductor component includes a chamber containing a controlled atmosphere; a measuring head equipped with conductive probes for contacting the electrical interfaces of said component and connected to a data processing system in order to determine said electro-optical performance; and a staging fixture support to accommodate said component(s), the staging fixture being capable of being cooled and being moved in an upward and downward translational movement to bring the electrical interfaces of said component(s) into contact with the tip of the measuring probes of the measuring head. The staging fixture has bumps and the components are positioned in contact with these and the staging fixture accommodates, in the area of each of these bumps, two positioning grids which are capable of sliding relative to each other and cooperating with each other to define pockets suitable for accommodating the component(s) to be characterized.
US08310262B2
A plurality of gate lines are formed on an insulating substrate in the horizontal direction, a gate shorting bar connected to the data lines is formed in the vertical direction and a gate insulating film is formed thereon. A plurality of data lines intersecting the gate lines are formed on the gate insulating film in the vertical direction, and a data shorting bar connected to the data lines is formed outside the display region. A first shorting bar is formed on the gate insulating film, located between the gate lines and the gate shorting bar, and connected to the odd gate lines. A second secondary shorting bar is formed parallel to the first shorting bar and connected to the even gate lines.
US08310261B2
There is provided a probing apparatus capable of modifying an existing probing apparatus having a single loading port to one having dual loading ports while saving the space without increasing a foot print thereof and also capable of increasing an inspection efficiency by cooperating with an automatic transfer line for the apparatus having a single loading port. The probing apparatus includes a prober chamber in which a wafer is inspected and a loader chamber having: a first and a second loading ports positioned to be spaced apart from each other at the side of a prober chamber, each of the loading ports mounting thereon a cassette accommodating therein a plurality of waters; and a wafer transfer unit for transferring the wafers between the loading ports and the prober chamber. The loading ports are arranged along a route where the cassette is transferred by an automatic transfer device.
US08310257B2
A plurality of metal plates and an insulating plate having a polished surface are laminated in a probe supporting plate. Through-holes into which probes are to be inserted are respectively formed in the metal plates and the insulating plate. Diameters of the through-holes are greater than diameters of the through-holes, and the through-holes pass through the probe supporting plate in a thickness direction of the probe supporting plate. Hollow portions passing through the probe supporting plate in the thickness direction of the probe supporting plate are formed in the probe supporting plate. Each of the hollow portions is formed by connecting each of holes formed in each of the metal plates and each of holes formed in the insulating plate. Diameters of holes of a metal plate that is an uppermost layer, holes of a metal plate that is a lowermost player, and holes of a metal plate that is one of intermediate layers are less than diameters of holes of metal plates 30d that are the other intermediate layers.
US08310252B2
A test circuit tests a nonvolatile circuit element having multiple intermediate states. The test circuit includes a waveform generator configured to apply a waveform to the circuit element connected to the test circuit. The waveform includes stress pulses applied to the circuit element over time. A detector detects a parameter of the circuit element as the waveform is applied to the circuit element.
US08310249B2
A method and apparatus for sensing particulates within an exhaust flow are provided. The methods and apparatus utilize a soot sensor that includes opposed electrodes separated by an insulator. Preferably, a gap is formed between the electrodes and the insulator to prevent electrical current from flowing therebetween. The soot sensor, when positioned in an exhaust flow, will accumulate a layer of particulates on an outer surface thereof. As the layer of particulates increases the particulates will bridge the two electrodes permitting current flow. The sensor is configured with a proper geometry and potential difference between the electrodes to generate currents in the milli-amp range. Further, the sensor is configured to have a regenerative effect that causes the bridge to be broken when particles sees to impinge the soot sensor.
US08310247B2
A method of determining a contact position in an electronic apparatus including capacitance sensing circuits that output capacitance measuring signals and light sensing circuits that output light measuring signals includes acquiring the capacitance measuring signals by sequentially scanning the capacitance sensing circuits, determining whether a target object is in contact with a contact surface based on the acquired capacitance measuring signals, acquiring the light measuring signals by sequentially scanning the light sensing circuits after the target object is determined to be in contact with the contact surface, and determining a position of the contact surface, with which the target object is in contact, based on the acquired light measuring signals. The acquiring of the capacitance measuring signals and the determining of whether the target object is in contact with the contact surface are repeated until the target object is determined to be in contact with the contact surface.
US08310245B2
The modelling arrangement of the configuration situation of the electric power transmission network according to the invention comprises a modelling element (7) designed to be installed in each generator of the electric power transmission network. The modelling element (7) is arranged to measure the state of the said switches until an open switch is detected and to detect the corresponding generator on the basis of the closed switch and thus to model the power transmission network comprising the detected generators and the area of the power transmission network belonging to the same electric network via closed switches.
US08310233B2
A method for image reconstruction that utilizes a generalization of compressed sensing is provided. More particularly, a method for homotopic l0 minimization is provided, in which a series of subproblems that asymptotically approach a solution to the l0 minimization are iteratively solved. These subproblems include utilizing concave metric prior functionals in the traditional compressed sensing framework. Substantially undersampled image data is acquired from a subject, for example, with a medical imaging system, such as a magnetic resonance imaging (“MRI”) system or a computed tomography (“CT”) system. Using the provided method, undersampling on the order of around 96 percent can be achieved while still producing clinically acceptable images.
US08310230B2
A method for sensing a microwave magnetic field polarization component of a microwave field generated by a microwave device, comprises the steps of generating a static magnetic field having a predetermined amplitude and a predetermined direction relative to the microwave magnetic field polarization component to be sensed, preparing an atom cloud of ultracold probe atoms in defined hyperfine levels, wherein the hyperfine levels of the probe atoms are split in transition frequencies by the static magnetic field, applying a microwave pulse including the microwave magnetic field polarization component to be sensed to the atom cloud, wherein a spatial state distribution of the probe atoms is created by Rabi oscillations during the microwave pulse between the hyperfine levels of the probe atoms being resonant with the microwave magnetic field polarization component, and collecting a state image of the probe atoms, said state image depending on the spatial state distribution of the probe atoms and representing the magnetic field polarization component to be sensed. Furthermore, a sensor device being adapted for sensing a microwave field created by a microwave device is described.
US08310229B2
An intelligent eddy current array probe comprising a plurality of coil elements and an embedded non-volatile memory element is disclosed. Prior to coupling the intelligent eddy current array probe to an NDI system, a data table describing a desired firing sequence for the array probe within a given inspection operation is created. This data table is then stored within the embedded non-volatile memory element of the intelligent eddy current array probe such that when the array probe is coupled to the NDI system, the elements of the NDI system can load and execute the stored firing sequence without operator intervention. In this way, a plurality of intelligent eddy current array probes, each with its own firing sequence, can be used interchangeably within a single NDI system without the need for mechanical adjustments to the NDI system.
US08310227B2
An electronic measuring wheel has a casing, a distance wheel and an operating shaft. The casing has a power supply, a seven-segment display and a sensor. The seven-segment display is mounted in the casing and is electrically connected to the power supply. The sensor is mounted on the seven-segment display in the casing and is electrically connected to the power supply and the seven-segment display. The distance wheel is rotatably connected to the casing and has a distance wheel axle and an induction ring. The distance wheel axle has an inner end mounted in the casing. The induction ring is mounted around the inner end of the distance wheel axle near the sensor. The operating shaft is connected to the casing.
US08310221B2
An electronic device is provided which comprises circuitry for DC-DC conversion configured to switch an inductor current through an inductor using slope compensation, wherein the circuitry comprises a slope compensation stage configured to generate a slope compensation signal as a function of an switching frequency of the DC-DC conversion and an input voltage of the DC-DC converter.
US08310214B2
A control system for controlling a multiphase power converter includes a current control module, a voltage control module and a current command selector. The current control module generates grid voltage command signals for the multiphase power converter and the voltage control module generates reference converter current command signals for the current control module. The current command selector supplies active and reactive current command signals from a supervisory controller to the current control module when the multiphase power converter is connected to the grid and supplies the reference converter current command signals to the current control module when the multiphase power converter is unconnected to the grid.
US08310210B2
A zero-phase current is outputted by detecting a ground-fault current with a zero-phase-sequence current transformer. A circuit having an open collector output operates when the voltage of the zero-phase current exceeds a positive side threshold value or it falls below a negative side threshold value to discharge a capacitor. When the inter-plate voltage of the capacitor falls below a threshold value voltage, a controlling means detects electric leakage to transmit that to a control unit of an air conditioner.
US08310204B2
The present invention relates to an automatic charge equalization apparatus and method having an automatic PWM generating means for a series-connected battery string. The automatic charge equalization method and apparatus for a series-connected battery string according to the present invention can improve charge equalization by accomplishing charge equalization operation after comparing the potential of the corresponding battery cell with the average potential of the plurality of battery cells including the corresponding battery cell upon charging or discharging the corresponding battery cell.
US08310192B2
In BLDC motors driven via sensorless techniques, the BEMF signals in the motor coils may be used to detect the position of the motor such that speed of the motor may be accurately controlled. When detecting the BEMF signals, however, small perturbations occur which negatively impact the rotational torque of the motor. As a result, torque ripple may occur at regular intervals which may result in inefficiencies as well as audible noise. In various embodiments as described herein, the sampling of the BEMF signals may be done so at pseudo-random intervals such that the overall spectral energy that presents from the BEMF detections may be reduced at specific frequencies (such as fundamental sampling frequencies and harmonics thereof) and spread out over many more frequencies. Thus, despite the overall spectral energy being the same, the amplitude of any given frequency is lower as the sampling of the BEMF is less periodic.
US08310191B2
The invention proposes a device for pushing out a furniture part which is accommodated in a movable manner on a fixed furniture part, having a pushing-out element which is driven via a drive unit and is present on one of the furniture parts in order to push the movable furniture part out of a closure position, the intention being for contact between the pushing-out element and the other furniture part to be eliminated during a pushing-out operation, and having a control unit for controlling the drive unit, the control unit taking as a basis a definable closure position of the movable furniture part for controlling the drive unit. The invention provides means by which, following a closing operation of the movable furniture part, a standstill position achieved in the process can be defined as a new closure position and replaces the closure position previously taken as a basis.
US08310188B2
An H-bridge circuit is connected to a coil of the vibration motor that is to be driven. A comparator receives Hall signals indicating position information of a rotor of the vibration motor, and converts to an FG signal. A pulse width modulator generates a pulse-modulated pulse signal specifying energization time of the coil of the vibration motor. The pulse width modulator, in a first mode, after commencing start-up of the vibration motor, sets a duty ratio of the pulse signal to 100%, and after that, switches the duty ratio to a predetermined value in accordance with rotational frequency of the motor. In a second mode, the duty ratio of the pulse signal continues to be set to 100%. In a third mode, frequency and the duty ratio of the pulse signal are set based on a control signal of a pulse form inputted from outside. The control signal is used also in switching mode.
US08310187B2
A motor drive device has a drive unit for driving a motor based on an ON/OF operation of a switching element by a PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) signal. The motor drive device uses a PWM control method and performs abnormal determination based on an application voltage value and an actual measurement voltage value of the motor. The motor drive device does not make a false determination of determining as abnormal when it is normal, when determining the presence of abnormality based on the application voltage value and the actual measurement voltage value of the motor.
US08310182B2
It makes possible to control a movable element to be smoothly movable by a sensor-less vector control in an equal speed area, without using a position sensor, and possible to perform a stop control and control it in a low speed area. In a case when a moving speed of the armature is faster than a predetermined speed preliminarily determined within a range in which the movable element is moved in synchronous with movement of the magnetic field generated by the armature by a predetermined sensor-less vector control, the current passing through the armature is controlled by the sensor-less vector control, and in a case when the moving speed of the armature is slower than the predetermined speed, in a d-q coordinate in which a d-axis represents a direction of a flux generated by field and a q-axis represents a phase advanced by π/2 with respect to the d-axis, a d-axis armature current and a q-axis armature current are controlled so that a d-axis electric angle is produced, and current passes through the d-axis armature and does not pass through the q-axis armature.
US08310172B2
A powered LED circuit may include a power supply configured to generate and deliver an output current at a controllable average value with a substantial ripple component, one or more LEDs connected together, and a ripple reduction circuit connected to the power supply and to the one or more LEDs. The ripple reduction circuit may have a current regulator connected in series with the one or more LEDs which is configured to substantially reduce fluctuations in the current which flows through the one or more LEDs due to the ripple component of the output current, but not fluctuations in the current which flows through the one or more LEDs due to changes in the average value of the output current.
US08310165B2
A high-voltage LED drive scheme with multi-stage power regulation. The multi-stage power regulation applies two components of voltage to drive the LED strings. This scheme achieves high efficiency, small size and low cost.
US08310159B2
A photocontroller operates one or more lamps, such as a GU24 compact fluorescent lamp, based on ambient light to provide dusk-to-dawn operation. The photocontroller includes a photosensor for detecting the level of ambient light. The photosensor provides a signal to a photocontrol circuit that controls a switching device to selectively provide power to the lamp based on the level of ambient light detected by the photosensor. A fault detection circuit monitors the level of ambient light and the status of the lamp to determine whether the photocontroller is operating properly. The fault detection circuit determines the status of the lamp based on current flow to the lamp as determined by a current sensor. In addition, the photocontroller can include a processor for performing certain photocontrol and fault monitoring functions.
US08310157B2
A lamp includes a discharge vessel comprising a body portion defining a discharge space and leg members extending therefrom. Electrode assemblies include conductors carried by bores of the respective leg members. At least one of the conductors is bonded directly to the respective leg member within the bore, without the need for a sealing material, to form an airtight seal. Electrodes are electrically connected to the conductors and extend into the discharge vessel. An ionizable fill is sealed within the vessel.
US08310154B2
Methods for protecting circuit device materials, optoelectronic devices, and caps using a reflowable getter are described. The methods, devices and caps provide advantages because they enable modification of the shape and activity of the getter after sealing of the device. Some embodiments of the invention provide a solid composition comprising a reactive material and a phase changing material. The combination of the reactive material and phase changing material is placed in the cavity of an electronic device. After sealing the device by conventional means (epoxy seal for example), the device is subjected to thermal or electromagnetic energy so that the phase changing material becomes liquid, and consequently: exposes the reactive material to the atmosphere of the cavity, distributes the getter more equally within the cavity, and provides enhanced protection of sensitive parts of the device by flowing onto and covering these parts, with a thin layer of material.
US08310148B2
An organic light emitting device and a method of manufacturing the same, the organic light emitting device includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and an organic layer that has at least a multi-coated emissive layer and which is interposed between the first and second electrodes. The multi-coated emissive layer is a single layer composed of a neutral emissive material and an no−ne parameter of the emissive layer is greater than an no−ne parameter of a single-coated layer. The organic light emitting device has a longer lifetime and high efficiency.
US08310134B2
Compositions and devices for harvesting electrical energy from mechanical and thermal energy, storing such produced energy, and sensing strain based on low cost materials and processes. In embodiments, the compositions are flexible and include a flexible polymer embedded and coated with a nanostructured piezoelectric material.
US08310130B2
The present invention provides devices and structures and methods of use thereof in electrochemical actuation. This invention provides electrochemical actuators, which are based, inter-alia, on an electric field-driven intercalation or alloying of high-modulus inorganic compounds, which can produce large and reversible volume changes, providing high actuation energy density, high actuation authority and large free strain.
US08310125B2
In a motor comprising a stator and a rotor disposed in an inner circumference of the stator, the stator comprises a substantially cylindrical stator core and coils made up of wound conductors, and the stator core comprises an outer circumferential portion which constitutes an outer circumferential wall of the stator and an inner circumferential portion round which the conductors are wound. The outer circumferential portion is formed of a first sintered metal made of a powder magnetic material, while the inner circumferential portion is formed of a second sintered metal made of a powder magnetic material, and the first sintered metal is a sintered metal having a higher mechanical strength than the second sintered metal. Additionally, the stator core is formed by diffusion bonding the outer circumferential portion and the inner circumferential portion being bonded together.
US08310124B2
A compact, rugged, variable reluctance, variable speed, electric motor capable of producing high torque at high electrical energy conversion efficiencies is provided. The present invention provides for a multi-stage motor design having a number of discreet rotor and stator elements on a common shaft. This configuration provided the simplest of magnetic structures and produces a powerful magnetic flux modeling design technique that is used to further optimize the motor design and subsequent control logic. Thermal mapping of the magnetic mass provides for advanced cooling techniques that are used to insure long in-service life in the most extreme of industrial applications. The electric motor inherently provides low vibration thereby greatly reducing noise; low turn to turn voltage potential thereby eliminating costly phase to phase shorting potential; efficient motor operation through the reduction in switching and copper losses in both the machine and its control.
US08310091B2
A monitoring system includes a controller, a number of input and output (I/O) devices, a number of sensors, and a number of electronic devices. Each I/O device comprises an input circuit, an output circuit, and a connector. The connector is connected to a sensor or an electronic device. The controller controls the I/O device to function as an input device or an output device. When the I/O device functions as an input device, the input circuit transmits a voltage signal to the controller. When the I/O device functions as an output device, the output circuit supplies power to the electronic device and the controller detects the voltage of the electronic device via the input circuit.
US08310088B2
In a method or device for powering a field device for a processing plant, the field device is driven by a process signal of an electrical power supply so that an electronic unit connected to the power supply outputs a process control signal. A required power level of the electronic unit is determined for outputting the control signal. A portion of an electrical power of the power supply exceeding the required power level is stored.
US08310074B2
A power converter for a wind turbine including an array of switching devices and a control module having a current damping device. The control module is configured to control a switching behavior of the array of switching devices and to receive a current having a first frequency component from the wind turbine. The current damping device is configured to reduce an amplitude of the first frequency component.
US08310068B2
A TCP type semiconductor device, which is connected to a plurality of substrate-side electrodes parallel to each other and each having a linear shape, has: a base film; a semiconductor chip mounted on the base film; and a plurality of leads formed on the base film and electrically connecting between the semiconductor chip and the plurality of substrate-side electrodes, respectively. Each of the plurality of leads has an external terminal section extending in a first direction and configured to come in contact with corresponding one of the plurality of substrate-side electrodes. A part of the external terminal section is a wide section that is formed wider than the other section of the external terminal section A position of the wide section in the first direction is different between adjacent leads of the plurality of leads.
US08310062B2
A semiconductor package includes a wire board, a plurality of semiconductor chips configured to be stacked over the wire board and to be electrically coupled with the wire board, and at least one shielding unit configured to be formed between the plurality of semiconductor chips and to be maintained at a predetermined voltage.
US08310061B2
A stacked integrated circuit having a first die with a first surface and a second die with a second surface facing the first surface, the stacked integrated circuit includes a capacitor. The capacitor is formed by a first conducting plate on a region of the first surface, a second conducting plate on a region of the second surface substantially aligned with the first conducting plate, and a dielectric between the first conducting electrode and the second conducting electrode.
US08310051B2
A package-on-package includes a package carrier; a semiconductor die assembled face-down to a chip side of the package carrier; a rewiring laminate structure between the semiconductor die and the package carrier; a plurality of bumps arranged on the rewiring laminate structure for electrically connecting the semiconductor die with the package carrier; and an IC package mounted on the package carrier. The IC package and the semiconductor die are at least partially overlapped.
US08310049B2
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor chip having a current path between a first principal surface and a second principal surface opposite from the first principal surface, a first conductive frame having an opposite region to the first principal surface, and a second conductive frame electrically connected via electrical connection member to a pad formed on the second principal surface. In a gap between the first principal surface and the first conductive frame, there are arranged multiple column-shaped lead-free solders which are arranged within a circle drawn around a center of the opposite region and having a diameter corresponding to a narrow side of the opposite region, and which electrically connects the first conductive frame with the semiconductor chip, and a filler which is filled between the multiple column-shaped lead-free solders.
US08310035B2
Even when only one of semiconductor packages mounted by carrying out infrared reflow is defective, it is required to carry out infrared reflow again to dismount this defective semiconductor package from a mounting board. At this time, stress of heat is also applied to the other non-defective semiconductor packages. For this reason, if infrared reflow is carried out beyond a number of times of infrared reflow specified for non-defective semiconductor packages, the operation of each non-defective semiconductor package cannot be assured. In this case, it is inevitable to discard the semiconductor packages together with the mounting board. To solve this problem, a magnetic material is passed through a hole penetrating a protection member and a package board and the relevant semiconductor package is fixed over a mounting board by this magnetic material. To supply power to the semiconductor package, electromagnetic induction by coils provided in the package board and the mounting board is used.
US08310033B2
A semiconductor integrated circuit having a multi-chip structure includes a number of stacked semiconductor chips. Each of the semiconductor chips includes a first through electrode formed through the semiconductor chip, a first bump pad formed over the semiconductor chip at a region where the first bump pad is separated from the first through electrode, a first internal circuit formed inside the semiconductor chip, coupled to the first through electrode through a first metal path, and coupled to the first bump pad through a second metal path; and a redistribution layer (RDL) formed over a backside of the semiconductor chip.
US08310021B2
A method of manufacturing a neutron detector comprises forming a first wafer by at least forming an oxide layer on a substrate, forming an active semiconductor layer on the oxide layer, and forming an interconnect layer on the active semiconductor layer, forming at least one electrically conductive pathway extending from the interconnect layer through the active semiconductor layer and the oxide layer, forming a circuit transfer bond between the interconnect layer and a second wafer, removing the substrate of the first wafer after forming the circuit transfer bond, depositing a bond pad on the oxide layer after removing the substrate of the first wafer, wherein the bond pad is electrically connected to the electrically conductive pathway, depositing a barrier layer on the oxide layer after removing the substrate of the first wafer, and depositing a neutron conversion layer on the barrier layer after depositing the barrier layer.
US08310010B2
A semiconductor device capable of dissipating heat, which has been produced in an ESD protection element, to the exterior of the device rapidly and efficiently includes an ESD protection element having a drain region, a source region and a gate electrode, and a thermal diffusion portion. The thermal diffusion portion, which has been formed on the drain region, has a metal layer electrically connected to a pad, and contacts connecting the drain region and metal layer. The metal layer has a first wiring trace extending along the gate electrode, and second wiring traces intersecting the first wiring trace perpendicularly. The contacts are connected to intersections between the first wiring trace and the second wiring traces. Heat that has been produced at a pn-junction of the ESD protection element and transferred through a contact is diffused simultaneously in three directions through the first wiring trace and second wiring trace in the metal layer and is released into the pad.
US08310001B2
A vertical device structure includes a volume of semiconductor material, laterally adjoining a trench having insulating material on sidewalls thereof. A gate electrode within the trench is capacitively coupled through the insulating material to a first portion of the semiconducting material. Some portions of the insulating material contain fixed electrostatic charge in a density high enough to invert a second portion of the semiconductor material when no voltage is applied. The inverted portions can be used as induced source or drain extensions, to assure that parasitic are reduced without increasing on-resistance.
US08310000B2
A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device is provided in such a manner that a semiconductor layer is formed over a substrate, a charge accumulating layer is formed over the semiconductor layer with a first insulating layer interposed therebetween, and a gate electrode is provided over the charge accumulating layer with a second insulating layer interposed therebetween. The semiconductor layer includes a channel formation region provided in a region overlapping with the gate electrode, a first impurity region for forming a source region or drain region, which is provided to be adjacent to the channel formation region, and a second impurity region provided to be adjacent to the channel formation region and the first impurity region. A conductivity type of the first impurity region is different from that of the second impurity region.
US08309983B2
Provided is a light emitting device package. The light emitting device package includes a body having a cavity, a plurality of lead frames within the cavity, a light emitting device on at least one of the plurality of lead frames, and a moisture permeation prevention member between each of the lead frames and the body. Each of the lead frames includes a first frame disposed within the cavity, a second frame disposed on a lower surface of the body, and a third frame connecting the first frame to the second frame. The second frame of the lead frames is disposed within the body and at least one portion of the second frame is inclined with respect to the lower surface of the body. The moisture permeation prevention member is disposed on at least third frame of each of the lead frames.
US08309978B2
An LED module includes a first dielectric layer, and a first patterned conductive layer having first, second, and third die-bonding pads. Each die-bonding pad includes a pad body having a die-bonding area, and an extension extended from the pad body. The extension of the first die-bonding pad extends in proximity to the die-bonding area of the second die-bonding pad. The extension of the second die-bonding pad extends in proximity to the die-bonding area of the third die-bonding pad. A second dielectric layer disposed on the first patterned conductive layer includes three dielectric members corresponding respectively to the die-bonding pads of the first patterned conductive layer. Each dielectric member includes a chip-receiving hole exposing the die-bonding area of a respective die-bonding pad for attachment of an LED chip thereto, and a wire-passage hole spaced apart from the chip-receiving hole to expose partially the first patterned conductive layer for bonding a wire.
US08309977B2
An organic light-emitting diode (OLED) module includes a substrate, a bus line, an organic light-emitting device layer, a plurality of conductive elements, and at least one conductive wire. The bus line is configured on the substrate. The organic light-emitting device layer is configured on the substrate and electrically connected to the bus line. The conductive elements are configured on the substrate and electrically connected to the bus line. The conductive wire is configured next to the conductive elements and electrically connected to the conductive elements.
US08309973B2
A package for an optoelectronic device (e.g., a light emitting device such as a LED) includes a sub-mount including a silicon substrate having a thickness in the range of 350 μm-700 μm. The optoelectronic device is mounted on a die attach pad on the front-side surface of the substrate. Feed-through metallization in one or more via structures electrically couples the die attach pad to a contact pad on the back-side surface of the substrate.
US08309971B2
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate to a including a substrate, a first conductive type semiconductor layer arranged on the substrate, a second conductive type semiconductor layer arranged on the first conductive type semiconductor layer, an active layer disposed between the first conductive type semiconductor layer and the second conductive type semiconductor layer, a first electrode pad electrically connected to the first conductive type semiconductor layer, a second electrode pad arranged on the second conductive type semiconductor layer, an insulation layer disposed between the second conductive type semiconductor layer and the second electrode pad, and at least one upper extension electrically connected to the second electrode pad, the at least one upper extension being electrically connected to the second conductive type semiconductor layer.
US08309969B2
A light emitting device includes a light-emitting portion including a metal part including a metal able to be bonded to a solder material, and a heat dissipation member that includes aluminum, aluminum alloy, magnesium or magnesium alloy and a bonding portion processed to be bonded to the solder material. The metal part of the light-emitting portion is bonded via the solder material to the bonding portion of the heat dissipation member. The solder material includes a material unable to be directly bonded to the heat dissipation member, the metal part of the light-emitting portion is formed by metalizing an insulation of ceramic or semiconductor, and the bonding portion includes a thermal expansion coefficient between that of the heat dissipation member and that of the insulation.
US08309968B2
The present invention relates to a Schottky diode with a diamond rod, which comprises: a substrate with a gate layer formed thereon; a patterned insulating layer disposed on the gate layer, wherein the patterned insulating layer comprises a first contact region and a second contact region; a diamond rod disposed on the patterned insulating layer, wherein a first end of the diamond rod connects to the first contact region, and a second end of the diamond rod connects to the second contact region; a first electrode corresponding to the first contact region of the patterned insulating layer, and covering the first end of the diamond rod; and a second electrode corresponding to the second contact region of the patterned insulating layer, and covering the second end of the diamond rod, and a method for manufacturing the same.
US08309961B2
In a channel protected thin film transistor in which a channel formation region is formed using an oxide semiconductor, an oxide semiconductor layer which is dehydrated or dehydrogenated by a heat treatment is used as an active layer, a crystal region including nanocrystals is included in a superficial portion in the channel formation region, and the rest portion is amorphous or is formed of a mixture of amorphousness/non-crystals and microcrystals, where an amorphous region is dotted with microcrystals. By using an oxide semiconductor layer having such a structure, a change to an n-type caused by entry of moisture or elimination of oxygen to or from the superficial portion and generation of a parasitic channel can be prevented and a contact resistance with a source and drain electrodes can be reduced.
US08309959B2
A display device which surely allows the black-spot-forming correction at the time of forming an opening portion in a portion of a scanning signal line where a scanning signal line and a video signal line intersects each other and forming a semiconductor layer and a conductor layer by a resist flow method is provided. A scanning signal line which forms an opening portion in a portion thereof which intersects a video signal line, an insulation film, a semiconductor layer which covers a region which spreads larger than a conductor layer, and the conductor layer are sequentially stacked. The conductor layer includes the video signal line, a drain electrode and a source electrode of a thin film transistor, and a connecting line which connects the video signal line and the drain electrode. The connecting line is branched from the video signal line over the opening portion, and the opening portions is formed in a projecting manner toward both edges of the scanning signal line such that a width of the opening portion in the direction which intersects the connecting line is set larger than a width of the semiconductor layer.
US08309958B2
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor memory device includes a word line interconnection layer, a bit line interconnection layer and a pillar. The word line interconnection layer includes a plurality of word lines which extend in a first direction. The bit line interconnection layer includes a plurality of bit lines which extend in a second direction crossing over the first direction. The pillar is arranged between each of the word lines and each of the bit lines. The pillar includes a silicon diode and a variable resistance film, and the silicon diode includes a p-type portion and an n-type portion. The word line interconnection layer and the bit line interconnection layer are alternately stacked, and a compressive force is applied to the silicon diode in a direction in which the p-type portion and the n-type portion become closer to each other.
US08309952B2
One embodiment of the present invention is a thin film transistor, including: an insulating substrate; a gate electrode and a gate insulator being formed on the insulating substrate, in this order; a source electrode and a drain electrode formed on the gate insulator, surface preparation of the source electrode and the drain electrode being performed with a compound having a functional group with an electron-withdrawing property; and a semiconductor film formed on the gate insulator, the film being formed between the source electrode and the drain electrode.
US08309932B2
A method for estimating the start time of an electronic pulse generated in response to a detected event, for example the start time for pulses received in response to photon detection in positron emission tomography, includes providing a detector that detects an external event and generates an electronic analog pulse signal. A composite reference pulse curve is calculated to represent analog pulse signals generated by the detector. Upon receiving an analog pulse signal, it may be filtered, and then digitized, and normalized based on the area of the digital signal. Using at least one point of the normalized digital pulse signal, the composite reference pulse curve shape is used to estimate the pulse start time.
US08309931B2
Reliable and rapid diagnostic methods for many functional syndromes (FS) such as Bladder Pain Syndrome/Interstitial Cystitis (IC) are not available. Exemplary embodiments include rapid and accurate methods for diagnosing FS in humans and domestic cats using infrared microspectroscopy (IRMS). Exemplary methods utilize Soft Independent Modeling by Class Analogy (SIMCA) to create classification models. Exemplary methods utilize classification models to classify a test subject's condition (e.g., healthy/sick). Using these classification models, various embodiments enable diagnosis based on spectra data from a fluid biomedical specimen. Exemplary embodiments may be useful to rapidly diagnose IC and various other conditions in humans, cats, and/or other mammals.
US08309927B2
An infrared detector includes a pyroelectric element, a first amplifier, and a second amplifier. The pyroelectric element includes a first electrode formed on a first surface of a pyroelectric body, and a second electrode formed on the opposite surface. The first amplifier is connected to the first electrode, and amplifies signals induced to the first electrode. The second amplifier is connected to the second electrode, and amplifies signals induced to the second electrode.
US08309923B2
Provided is a sample observing method wherein the effect on throughput is minimized, and a pattern profile can be obtained at high accuracy even in a complicated LSI pattern, regardless of the scanning direction of an electron beam. In the sample observing method, the presence or absence of an edge parallel to a scanning direction (707) of an electron beam is judged regarding an edge (708) of a pattern to be observed (S702); if the edge is present, an area in the vicinity of the pattern edge is designated as a local pre-dose area (709) (S703); a local pre-dose of an electron beam is performed, so that the initial charged state is controlled not to return secondary electrons generated by irradiation of an electron beam when an image is captured, to the surface of a sample.
US08309921B2
A compact electron microscope uses a removable sample holder having walls that form a part of the vacuum region in which the sample resides. By using the removable sample holder to contain the vacuum, the volume of air requiring evacuation before imaging is greatly reduced and the microscope can be evacuated rapidly. In a preferred embodiment, a sliding vacuum seal allows the sample holder to be positioned under the electron column, and the sample holder is first passed under a vacuum buffer to remove air in the sample holder.
US08309918B2
A trace detector is disclosed. The trace detector comprises: a desorption chamber defining a desorption region, and the desorption chamber has a housing. The housing has a sample feeding port for introducing a substance to be detected into the desorption chamber and a gas discharge port for discharging gas entraining the sample from the desorption chamber. A controller is used for controlling the trace detector in such a manner that the sample feeding port and the gas discharge port are in fluid communication with the desorption chamber during pre-concentration process of the trace detector, thereby continuously feeding and collecting the sample. With the above manner, data collecting, processing and analyzing processes may be performed by the trace detector throughout the sample feeding process and the gas pre-concentrating process. The trace detector has an excellent detecting period of time whether the substance to be detected in the gas is in a high concentration state or a low concentration state, and the trace detector can perform continuous sampling for a long time, thereby improving a ratio of the amount of trapped substance to the amount of the substance entrained in the gas to be detected and the amount of the cumulated trapped substance, decreasing the probability of failing to detect the substance, and increasing detection sensitivity. In addition, the detection efficiency of the detector is increased during the gas pre-concentration process.
US08309917B2
The present invention maintains a stable emission amount from an emitter. In an embodiment of the present invention, a solid sample or a liquid sample is heated to gasify an object to be measured contained in the solid sample or the liquid sample, thereby forming a neutral gaseous molecule, and a metal ion emitted from an emitter having an oxidized surface is attached to the neutral gaseous molecule to ionize the neutral gaseous molecule, which is subjected to mass spectrometry. The solid sample or the liquid sample is a sample that emits a reducing gas by heating. The heating for gasifying the object to be measured is performed at a temperature lower than the vaporization temperature of the solid sample or the liquid sample and not less than the vaporization temperature of the object to be measured, and an oxidizing gas is provided to the emitter.
US08309905B2
The multispectral filter for an image detection device comprises a prismatic plate (85) comprising a first internal face (86) and a second external face (87), the first and the second faces (86, 87) being inclined with respect to one another by an angle β, and comprises at least two different spectral bands (91, 92, 93, 94) deposited either on the first or the second face (86, 87) of the prismatic plate (85), the various spectral bands (91, 92, 93, 94) being spaced a predetermined distance (D) apart.Application to multispectral imagers, in particular to Off Axis imagers.This filter allows the suppression of the ghost images (or spurious echoes) generated at the focal plane of a multispectral imager.
US08309903B2
In an optical device, a number of structures having higher portions or lower portions are arranged at a fine pitch equal to or shorter than a wavelength of visible light on a surface of a base. Each of the structures is arranged to form a plurality of arc track rows on the surface of the base, and to form a quasi-hexagonal lattice pattern, and the structure has an elliptical cone or truncated elliptical cone shape having a major axis in a circumferential direction of the arc tracks.
US08309902B2
A receiving circuit for optical communication includes: a differential circuit, one differential input terminal of which is connected to an anode side of a first photodiode and the other differential input terminal of which is connected to an anode side of a second photodiode; a latch circuit that performs latch operation based on output of the differential circuit; and a flip-flop that performs set operation and reset operation based on a latch state of the latch circuit.
US08309888B2
An electronic apparatus has a printed circuit board, a semiconductor device mounted on the printed circuit board by a plurality of solder bumps, a heater that heats the printed circuit, a power supply unit that supplies electric power to the semiconductor device and the heater, and a controller that controls the power supply unit to supply electric power to the heater when the electric power is not supplied to the semiconductor device.
US08309883B2
A method of processing a work material using a laser can include directing a laser beam of optical energy from a laser to a work material; processing the work material with the laser beam of optical energy in accordance with at least one processing parameter to modify the work material, the processing of the work material having associated therewith an optical signature; sensing a characteristic of the optical signature; and varying the at least one processing parameter responsive to the sensing of the characteristic of the optical signature. Other related methods are disclosed, as are laser processing systems, which systems can be used to practice the methods.
US08309881B2
A portable engraving system comprises an enclosure adapted to operably accommodate an engraving device, wherein the enclosure comprises an adjustment system. The adjustment system comprises one or more adjustable devices, and the adjustable devices are adapted to adjust a distance between the enclosure and a work surface thereby allowing adjustment of the distance between the enclosure and the work surface, whereby the enclosure is adjustable with respect to the work surface. The enclosure further comprises an opening wherein the engraving device is operably positioned thereto, whereby the work surface is accessible to the engraving device therethrough. The enclosure is positionable adjacent the work surface and operably disposed thereto.
US08309873B2
A low-voltage circuit breaker that comprises: a containment structure; a control mechanism; a plurality of circuit breaking poles, each of which comprises a housing containing a scaled ampoule that in turn contains at least one fixed contact and at least one moving contact, which can be mutually coupled and uncoupled, said housing consisting of a first side and a second side that define an interior containing said ampoule, the outer side wall on said first side being complementary to and associable with the outer side wall of said second side, said poles being located side-by-side to form a set of poles complementary to at least a part of said containment structure; operative connection means between said control mechanism and said poles.
US08309872B2
An insulating switching rod has a drive element for initiating a drive movement in an electrical contact system of a switching device and for producing a contact force when the contact system is in the closed state. The system further includes a clamping apparatus for the drive element of the switching rod in order to maintain the contact force. The object is to produce a greater contact force with a compact design and ensure constant spring characteristics as well as low wear over the entire useful life. For that purpose, the switching rod and the drive element can be directly or indirectly connected to one another by way of a plug and latching connection.
US08309871B2
A control apparatus for controlling electrical switchgear, the control apparatus being designed such that it is capable of performing the following in succession: during an opening stage for opening the moving contact, causing the connection end for connection to the moving contact and provided on an output member to go from the point P1 to the point P2, under the effect of an opening mechanical spring moving a moving abutment element that drives the output member by abutment; during a re-cocking stage for re-cocking the spring, moving the moving abutment element under the effect of switching on a motor, while keeping the connection end at the point P2; and during a closure stage for closing the moving contact, causing the connection end to go from the point P2 to the point P1, also under the effect of switching on the motor.
US08309870B2
Described herein are techniques related to a leveled touchsurface with planar translational responsiveness to vertical travel. Examples of a touchsurface include a key of a keyboard, touchpad of a laptop, or a touchscreen of a smartphone or tablet computer. With the techniques described herein, the touchsurface is constrained to remain in a level orientation during planar translational movement between depressed and unpressed positions along a diagonal line with respect to a vertical axis. Also, with the techniques described herein, a planar-translation-effecting mechanism imparts a planar translation to the touchsurface while it travels vertically (e.g., downward) as the user presses the touchsurface. This Abstract is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.
US08309865B2
A sensor unit 10 is provided with a metal plate 20 and a resin molded article 30 is formed integral to the metal plate 20. Busbars 50 are arranged in the resin molded article 30 and include exposed end portions 52 exposed from the resin molded article 30. Connecting portions 52A are provided at the leading ends of the exposed end portions 52 and are riveted to an oil temperature sensor 41 on the metal plate 20. Opposite lateral sides of the exposed end portions 52 are partly in contact with the resin molded article 30.
US08309863B2
A printed wiring board includes ground layers stacked via insulator(s), a first through hole, second through holes and signal wirings, each signal wiring extending from the first through hole through the clearance between predetermined ones of the ground layers, and disposed between predetermined second through holes of the second through holes. Each of first clearances in the ground layers neighboring a layer in which the signal wiring is disposed has an outline such that a distance between the first through hole and outline of the first clearance is minimum of the signal wiring. Each of second clearances in the ground layers not adjacent to the signal wiring has an outline formed outside a circle connecting each center of second through holes centering the first signal through hole, such that the outline of second clearance does not contact with the second through holes.
US08309860B2
A method of manufacturing an electronic component built-in substrate, includes the steps of mounting a chip-like electronic component having a connection pad and a metal protection layer formed on a whole of one surface to cover the connection pad, on a wiring substrate to direct the connection pad upward; embedding the electronic component with the insulating layer; processing the insulating layer in a thickness direction to leave the insulating layer in a side of the electronic component and to expose the metal protection layer of the electronic component; and forming an upper wiring layer having an in-chip wiring part which is connected to the connection pad and contacts an upper surface of the electronic component and is constructed by an underlying metal pattern layer formed by patterning the metal protection layer and a conductive pattern layer formed thereon, and an extended wiring part which is connected to the in-chip wiring part to extend onto the insulating layer and is formed by an identical layer as the conductive pattern layer.
