US08352547B1
A system, method, and computer-readable medium for recording and replaying a web browsing session. A presenter client presents a web browsing session to an attendee client via a network. The web browsing session is viewed at the attendee client and recorded by the presenter client. A control server that is connected to the presenter client and the attendee client via the network enables the presenter client to control the web browsing session at the attendee client, and a playback client that is connected to the control server via the network requests playback of the recorded web browsing session from the control server. The recorded web browsing session is then replayed at the playback client.
US08352546B1
A computer-implemented method is provided for notifying a user having an association with a plurality of computing devices. A notification service is configured to receive notifications intended for the user and forward the notifications to one or more of the computing devices associated with the user. The notification service may determine a present location of the user and select a computing device to send the notification in accordance with the present location of the user. The notification service may also identify one of the computing devices that is currently being interacted with by the user from amongst the computing devices associated with the user and send the notification to the identified computing device.
US08352541B2
A system and method of providing data to a mashup application may involve receiving a request from a mashup application and supplying first data to the mashup application in response to the request. Mashup information can be received from the mashup application, wherein the mashup information indicates an inclusion of the first data with second data in the execution of the mashup application. The mashup information may be stored and analyzed to identify relationships between previously unrelated data.
US08352540B2
Systems, methods, and computer products for communicating between a client and server by identifying and separating file data streams within a file are provided. The method comprises indicating the type of file data stream to be transmitted and transmitting the indicated file data stream. The transmitted file data stream is compared with a stored data stream. A non-redundant file data stream is stored based upon the outcome of the comparison. The transmitted file data stream and stored data stream may be compared according to a deduplication table based on data stream profiles.
US08352539B2
A technology that makes a program line-up related to contents distributed to a user side, depending on various conditions, preferences, and communication environments of the user side that views and listens to the content is disclosed. According to the technology, an on-board device (content receiving and reproducing device) 1 receives, from a service server 5, potential content list information of contents that can be distributed from a content server 7. The on-board device 1 sorts appropriate content from among the contents in the potential content list information and decide on a reproducing order of the contents, based on conditions of the user side, such as user preferences and vehicle conditions, conditions related to an environment on the user side, such as the communication environment, and conditions related to the contents, such as the genre of the content. The on-board device 1 creates program table information (timetable) and transmits the program table information to the content server. As a result, reception and reproduction of the contents from the content server can be performed in adherence to the program table information.
US08352538B2
A system for exchanging transaction messages between different computer systems includes a data processor for monitoring transaction messages. The data processor has a transaction processor for assigning identifiers to both inbound transaction messages from source executable applications and outbound transaction messages for communication to destination executable applications, to individually identify transaction messages. The data processor has a repository of map information associating inbound and outbound transaction messages using the assigned identifiers and a user interface for providing data representing at least one display image and including data identifying an inbound or outbound transaction message and a corresponding outbound or inbound transaction message, in response to a user command.
US08352537B2
An apparatus comprising a plurality of entities associated with a network element (NE), wherein the entities are associated with each other in a hierarchical architecture, wherein each entity is assigned an Access Identifiers (AID), and wherein each AID comprises a prefix that indicates a type for the corresponding entity and a numerical field that indicates the association between the corresponding entities and the remaining entities. Also disclosed is an apparatus comprising at least one processor configured to implement a method comprising assigning an AID to each of a plurality of NE entities having a hierarchical relationship, wherein the AID comprises a prefix comprising no more than about five characters and a numerical string consisting essentially of numbers, and managing the NE entities using the AIDs.
US08352534B2
An integer division circuit with allowable error is described, what a signal processing apparatus includes a pointer, a first left shifter, a second left shifter, a subtractor, a multiplier, and a right shifter. The pointer searches for a most significant non-zero bit of a divisor and outputs a most significant byte value. The first left shifter performs a shift operation according to the most significant byte value, so as to generate a first exponential coefficient. The second left shifter performs a shift operation according to the most significant byte value, so as to generate a second exponential coefficient. The subtractor calculates a multiplier factor according to the divisor, the first exponential coefficient, and the second exponential coefficient and outputs the multiplier factor to the multiplier. The multiplier multiplies an input value with the multiplier factor and outputs a result to the right shifter. The right shifter outputs a calculation result.
US08352529B2
REDC (A*B) is calculated for the values A and B by using a Montgomery's algorithm REDC. The part related to the A*B is performed by the three-input two-output product-sum calculation circuit. One digit ai of the value A, one digit bj of the value B and a carry value c1 are input to the product-sum calculation circuit, and ai*bj+c1 is calculated thereat. The higher-order digit of the r-adic two-digit of the calculation result is used as the carry value c1, and the lower digit is used for a later calculation. Further, one digit ni of a modulo N for the REDC, a predetermined value m and a carry value c2 are input into the product-sum calculation circuit, and n*ni+c2 is calculated thereat. The higher-order digit is used as the carry value c2, and the lower digit is used for a later calculation.
US08352502B2
A method for storing data, comprises representing the data as a tree structure, calculating a structure ID for the tree structure, the structure ID being a representation of the tree structure and independent of node names and node values of the tree structure, and storing a mapping of the structure ID to the tree structure.
US08352501B2
A method begins by a processing module obtaining a directory file and determining a new snapshot identifier (ID) for the directory file. The method continues with the processing module identifying a version of a filename to associate with the new snapshot ID and updating the directory file by associating the snapshot ID to the version of the filename to produce an updated directory file. The method continues with the processing module dispersed storage error encoding the updated directory file to produce a set of encoded updated directory file slices and sending the set of encoded updated directory file slices to a dispersed storage network (DSN) memory for storage.
US08352500B2
An embodiment is a technique to perform centralized multimedia access. A playlist is created in a single document, the playlist including a plurality of items. Each of the items specifies an access parameter to a multimedia file and a play parameter. The playlist is stored in a central location. The multimedia file as pointed to by the playlist is retrieved or accessed in the central location using the access parameter to play the multimedia file according to the play parameter.A storage element contains a pointer to point to a playlist in a single document. The playlist includes a plurality of items. Each of the items specifies an access parameter to a multimedia file and a play parameter. A compiler compiles the playlist to determine the access parameter, the play parameter, and a plug-in associated with the multimedia file. The plug-in plays the multimedia file according to the play parameter.
US08352499B2
Ads are scored using, at least, user information and information associated with a user request, such as a search query or a document request. The scores may be used in determining whether to serve ads, how to serve ads, to order ads, to filter ads, etc. Items of user information, request-associated information, and/or ad information can be weighted based on previous uses of such information in the serving of ads and the performance of those served ads.
US08352486B1
The different advantageous embodiments provide an apparatus that comprises a number of data storage units, a data extraction tool, a data warehouse, and a data processing system. The data extraction tool is configured to extract data from the number of data storage units. The data warehouse has a number of data files comprising the data extracted from the number of data storage units. The data processing system is configured to process selected data for a number of selected systems from the number of data files.
US08352480B2
An apparatus for converting geographical geometrical content of a geographical database to map tiles may include a processor and a memory storing executable computer code that cause the apparatus to at least perform operations including modifying a geographical database based in part on adding items of data arranged in fields based on analyzing values corresponding to geometry information. The geometry information is associated with records of the geographical database. The computer program code may further cause the apparatus to determine a set of tiles at a predetermined zoom level including geographical information of respective records and may update the records to include data associated with minimum and maximum x and y values of the tiles. The computer program code may further cause the apparatus to determine minimum and maximum x and y values that define a rectangular block(s) of map tiles. Corresponding computer program products and methods are also provided.
US08352473B2
Methods and systems for automatically synthesizing product information from multiple data sources into an on-line catalog are disclosed, and in particular, for automatically synthesizing the product information based on attribute-value pairs. Information for a product may be obtained, via entity extraction, feed ingestion, and other mechanisms, from a plurality of structured and unstructured data sources having different taxonomies and schemas. Product information may additionally or alternatively be obtained or derived based on popularity data. The product information may be cleansed, segmented and normalized. The product information may be clustered so closest products, attribute names and attribute values are associated. A representative value for an attribute name may be determined, and the on-line catalog may be updated so that entries are comprehensive, meaningful and useful to a catalog user. Updates from at least 500 million different data sources may be scheduled to occur as frequently as several times daily.
US08352468B2
At least certain embodiments of the present disclosure include a method to identify top hits in search result based on learned user preferences. In one embodiment, a user search query for records is received from a user. The user search query may contain an alphanumerical string. Records in a multifunctional device are searched to find those that match the alphanumerical string. Based on records previously selected by the user, records in the search result are ranked to identify one or more top hits for the user.
US08352455B2
The invention described herein can be implemented in numerous ways, including as a process; an apparatus; a system; a composition of matter; a computer program; a product embodied on a computer readable storage medium, e.g., RAM, ROM, and other hardware storage devices; and/or a processor, such as a processor configured to execute instructions stored on and/or provided by a memory coupled to the processor. In this specification, these implementations, or any other form that the invention may take, may be referred to as techniques. In general, the order of the steps of disclosed processes may be altered within the scope of the invention. Unless stated otherwise, a component such as a processor or a memory described as being configured to perform a task may be implemented as a general component that is temporarily configured to perform the task at a given time or a specific component that is manufactured to perform the task. As used herein, the term ‘processor’ refers to one or more devices, circuits, and/or processing cores configured to process data, such as computer program instructions.
US08352451B2
Methods and apparatus to classify text communications are disclosed. An example method includes determining a first conditional probability of a first feature occurring in a text given that the text belongs to a classification mode, wherein the first feature is included in the text, determining a second conditional probability of a second feature occurring in a text given that the text belongs to the classification mode, wherein the second feature is included in the text, determining a probability of the classification mode occurring, multiplying the first conditional probability, the second conditional probability and the probability of the classification mode to determine a product, and storing the product in a tangible memory as a score that the message belongs to the first classification mode.
US08352447B2
In deduplicating data including objects, the system obtains information of the location of the objects and uses the information in calculating the hash value. The hash value calculation program divides data from the boundary location to chunks to match the boundary location of the objects subject to deduplication and the hash value is calculated from each chunk.
US08352439B1
A method for processing a write instruction for writing data to a database stored on a logical device includes obtaining first and second addresses that specify the location of the data in respective first and second address spaces. A third address corresponding to an expected location of the data record in the first address space is then calculated. On the basis of a comparison between the first address and the third address, a determination is made as to whether to execute the write instruction.
US08352435B1
In a synchronous remote mirroring system, as a host computer writes data to primary storage in a primary data storage system, remote copy data is transferred from the primary data storage system to a secondary storage system in which secondary storage is maintained as a remote mirror of the primary storage. The primary data storage system performs data reduction upon the remote copy data prior to transmitting the remote copy data in a reduced to the secondary data storage system. The secondary data storage system returns an acknowledgement of receipt of the remote copy data upon receipt of the remote copy data in the reduced form, and later reverses the data reduction upon the remote copy data in the reduced form to produce data written to the secondary storage to maintain the secondary storage as the remote mirror of the primary storage.
US08352424B2
A system and method for generating replication requests for objects in a distributed storage system is provided. Replication requests for objects in a distributed storage system are generated based at least in part on replication policies for the objects and a current state of the distributed storage system, wherein a respective replication request for a respective object instructs a respective instance of the distributed storage system to replicate the respective object so as to at least partially satisfy a replication policy for the respective object, wherein a respective replication policy includes criteria specifying at least storage device types on which replicas of object are to be stored. At least a subset of the replication requests is then distributed to the respective instances of the distributed storage system for execution.
US08352420B2
Systems or methods may utilize one or more mote-related content logs. By way of example, but not limitation, a system using one or more processing components may be configured (i) to accept input defining a mote-appropriate network search and (ii) to search at least one mote content log of at least one federated log in response to the accepted input, with the at least one federated log stored by a memory, wherein the search may include searching a time series of at least two mote logs that correspond to at least a first mote and a second mote for the accepted input. In certain example implementations, a time series may include at least a portion of at least one mote content log of at least one federated log, or a first mote may correspond to a first physical location and a second mote may correspond to a second physical location.
US08352407B2
Methods, systems, and computer program products are provided for decision making under uncertainty. A causality framework is provided to define relationships between an alternative (Ai) of a set of alternatives and at least one performance indicator of a set of performance indicators. A k-concurrent lottery (Li) associated with the alternative (Ai) is conducted, the alternative (Ai) having consequences over k ones of the set of performance indicators. The k-concurrent lottery (Li) is homogenized over the set of performance indicators if the k ones is less than a number of the set of performance indicators. An expected utility of the k-concurrent lottery (Li) for each one of the set of alternatives is computed. One alternative is selected from the set of alternatives, the selection occurring in accordance with a selection criteria based on the expected utility.
US08352397B2
The inference of a dependency graph that represents a graph of solves that leads from input model parameter(s) to output model parameters using analytics. In one embodiment, the dependency graph is part of visually driven analytics in which the output model parameter(s) are used to formulate data-drive scenes. As the identity of the input and/or output model parameter(s) change, or as the analytics themselves change, the dependency graph may also change. This might trigger a resolve of the analytics. In one embodiment, the intermediate parameters involved in the dependency graph may be viewed and evaluated by the user.
US08352395B1
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, implementing techniques for training an attentional cascade. An attentional cascade is an ordered sequence of detector functions, where the detector functions are functions that examine a target image and return a positive result if the target image resembles an object of interest and a negative result if the target image does not resemble the object of interest. A positive result from one detector function leads to consideration of the target image by the next detector function, and a negative result from any detector function leads to rejection of the target image. The techniques include training each detector function in the attentional cascade in sequence starting with the first detector function. Training a detector function includes selecting a counter-example set. Selecting a counter-example set includes selecting only images that are at least a minimum difference from an example set.
US08352389B1
A multiple output relaxation (MOR) machine learning model. In one example embodiment, a method for employing an MOR machine learning model to predict multiple interdependent output components of a multiple output dependency (MOD) output decision may include training a classifier for each of multiple interdependent output components of an MOD output decision to predict the component based on an input and based on all of the other components. The method may also include initializing each possible value for each of the components to a predetermined output value. The method may further include running relaxation iterations on each of the classifiers to update the output value of each possible value for each of the components until a relaxation state reaches an equilibrium or a maximum number of relaxation iterations is reached. The method may also include retrieving an optimal component from each of the classifiers.
US08352387B2
A system for adapting a legacy system to a new environment includes a method of learning the behavior of a legacy system and a method for replacing a legacy system.Learning the behavior of a legacy system includes gathering information with respect to inputs, outputs, and internal function of the legacy system; defining from the gathered information a set of behavioral rules describing the legacy system; and testing the rules by applying known inputs to the legacy system and verifying that the legacy system responds as predicted by the rules.Replacing a legacy system includes monitoring legacy system responses to legacy system inputs; defining a set of rules describing behavior of the legacy system based on the responses to the inputs; comparing actual legacy system responses to responses predicted by the set of rules; and using the set of rules to create a replacement system that mimics the legacy system.
US08352383B2
The present invention provides systems, methods, and computer program products for altering delivery of a piece by altering either the delivery address, mode of processing, and/or the mode of delivery. The invention provide an indicia associated with the piece of mail including instructions that are at least one of a different delivery address, mode of processing, or a mode of delivery than that originally designated for the piece of mail. During mail sorting and processing, the indicia associated with the piece of mail are analyzed. Either the delivery address, mode of processing, and/or mode of delivery currently associated with the piece of mail are altered to conform with the delivery address, mode of processing, and/or mode of delivery indicated by the indicia. In some embodiments, the indicia is altered by on a business parameter, such as a monetary value associated with the contents of the piece of mail.
US08352376B2
System and method for authorizing transactions, such as payments or money transfers. A transaction authorization mechanism may be provided through which a transaction initiated via a first communications channel may be authorized through a second, separate communications channel or mechanism. A source entity may initiate a transaction to a target entity via a first communications channel to a transaction authorization service. The transaction authorization service may confirm the transaction with the source entity via a second communications channel. Various embodiments may use different communications channels, for example conventional telephone systems, mobile/cellular phone systems, and text messaging systems as the first or second communications channels. After the transaction has been authorized via the second communications channel, the transaction authorization service and/or the source entity may contact the target entity to inform the target entity of the transaction. The target entity may then complete the transaction.
US08352369B2
A system and method is disclosed for verifying a commercial transaction between a card-holder, a merchant, and a credit card company. The card-holder makes a purchase with the merchant using a full credit card number. The merchant submits a transaction approval request for approval with the credit card company. The credit card company executes conventional credit approval of the transaction approval request, as well as verifies the transaction approval request with the card-holder. An approval is sent to the merchant only after the transaction approval request is both conventionally approved by the credit card company and verified by the card-holder. The card-holder, or the credit card company, may initiate verification of the transaction approval request. The transaction approval request can also be automatically verified if one or many pre-verification criteria is/are satisfied by data contained in the transaction approval request. The pre-verification criteria can be initially determined and/or modified by the card-holder.
US08352368B2
A method and system for making a payment is disclosed. In the method, a Payor can specify an account from which to withdraw funds for the payment and specify an activation code necessary to activate the payment. The payment can be sent to a Payee in the form of a pre-paid transaction account. The account will not be activated unless the Payee provides the activation code. Funds can be withdrawn from the account specified by the Payor either in full at the time the payment is made or are withdrawn as the Payee uses the transaction account to access the funds.
US08352367B2
A system and method of payment of an end-user account with a service provider includes a computer system that makes payments to service providers on behalf of end-users and that is operable to exchange information with a terminal at the point of sale or a web-enabled computer system operated by the end-user and with the computer system of the service provider. In one embodiment, the computer system of an intermediary receives and fulfills a request to make a payment on an end user's account with a service provider. In another preferred embodiment, a payment router together with an issuing/sponsoring bank and a processor, as implemented by their computer systems, facilitate payment transactions in which the router transacts at least thousands of payments for at least hundreds of payors with at least dozens of payees using at least one open system card association network, preferably in a day.
US08352365B1
A method and system for electronic bill presentment and payment using a third party intermediary is described. A third party provides an electronic post office that uses a virtual address directory to provide a level of abstraction in an EBPP data stream using the ACH network so that EBPP participants do not require the information that is typically required to process such transactions. By using the virtual address directory, neither the biller, nor the bank, nor the intermediary have all the consumer data used in the transaction. Accordingly, privacy is enhanced and any risk that privacy will be compromised is reduced.
US08352362B2
A transaction and payment and processing system securely conducts transactions over the public telephone network. The transactions may be between and among entities of any type such as individuals, merchants, utilities, banks, etc. Nothing more than access to a telephone is required after initial registration of a user.
US08352358B2
A method for assigning a value to a debt is disclosed. The method includes entering, into a digital computer, bankruptcy data associated with a bankruptcy proceeding after a debtor has filed for bankruptcy. The bankruptcy data may include priority claim data associated with priority claims, non-precedence claim data associated with non-precedence claims, and bankruptcy plan data. After the bankruptcy data are obtained, the digital computer determines a present value associated with at least one non-precedence claim in the non-precedence claims.
US08352352B2
A system of using an interactive device such as an e-mail pager to obtain information from a publicly available source, such as the Internet. The e-mail pager may send information in its native format to a service that acts as an intermediary. That service takes the information and uses it to assemble a request to the actual information source, such as a Web page being accessed. If a web page is being accessed, the request is in HTML, and may include personal logon information. The response from the web page is also in HTML, and this information is received by the service, and salient information is taken from the HTML file. The information is reformatted, e.g. according to a template, into the e-mail pager″s native format, and sent to the pager. Another embodiment describes opening multiple pages, and assembling their content into a single web page.
US08352350B1
Financial data associated with one or more “contributing consumers” is obtained. The financial data is then aggregated, analyzed, and/or categorized, according to one or more events and one or more criteria/parameters associated with the financial transaction data and/or the contributing consumer. The aggregated and/or categorized data is then stored. A “user consumer” then initiates a request for predictive event cost data associated with one or more specified events and the aggregated and/or categorized data representing the event related changes in the financial data is searched based. Results data representing the changes in the financial data for one or more similarly situated contributing consumers associated the specified event is then obtained and presented to the user consumer.
US08352349B2
A method, article of manufacture, and computer program product are presented for generating a glide path for a target date fund comprising a growth asset and a reserve asset, where the glide path is a distribution of the growth and reserve assets over an interval. The method includes identifying an acceptable risk level for the target date fund determining, using the identified acceptable risk level, an inflection interval and calculating the percentages of the target date fund comprising the growth asset and the reserve asset at the inflection date. Finally, the method includes determining the glide path for the target date fund, where at the end of the interval the reserve asset comprises one hundred percent of the target date fund.
US08352337B2
A system for automatically replacing loaner parts within a loaner system to prevent loaner system callback. In response to selecting a loaner system within loaner inventory data, it is determined whether the selected loaner system is required to be returned based on a target return date for the selected loaner system. In response to determining that the selected loaner system is not required to be returned, a notification is automatically generated and sent to a customer to return expiring loaner parts within the selected loaner system based on loaner part rules. A part replacement order is automatically generated for replacement loaner parts for each of the expiring loaner parts. Then, the replacement loaner parts are automatically shipped to the customer to replace the expiring loaner parts to prevent callback of the selected loaner system.
US08352334B2
What is disclosed is a novel apparatus and method for effectuating the ordering of supplies via a wireless handset device. In one embodiment, the handset is pre-loaded with a plurality of folders each representing a multifunction device. A user navigates the hierarchy of folders and selects a folder. The user then selects at least one graphical widget contained therein representing a particular supply commodity available for order from a supplier. In response to a user selection thereof, a part number identified by the selected graphical widget and a supplier profile are retrieved from memory. The profile contains the ordering method and contact information. An order message is prepared according to the ordering method prescribed by the profile and is sent to the supplier to place an order for that supply commodity. The process repeats until no more supplies are to be ordered. Additional features, enhancements, and embodiments have been provided.
US08352333B2
A method and system for automatically generating a self-updating naturally-reading narrative product summary including assertions about a selected product. In one embodiment, the system and method includes evaluating an existing narrative product summary, comparing an existing attribute name, attribute value, attribute unit, and assertion model, respectively, to a current attribute name, attribute value, attribute unit, and assertion model to determine if one of the comparisons shows a change. The system and method further determines a new attribute associated with the selected product, selects an alternative product, retrieves a new assertion model with assertions that describe the selected product and identify an alternative product in a natural manner. The system and method then generates a naturally-reading narrative product summary by combining the new attribute with the new retrieved assertion model, and by combining the selected alternative product with another retrieved assertion model to recommend the selected alternative product in the narrative.
US08352331B2
A system, method, and computer program product discover relationships among items and recommend items based on the discovered relationships. The recommendations provided by the present invention are based on user profiles that take into account actual preferences of users, without requiring users to complete questionnaires. An improved binomial log likelihood ratio analysis technique is applied, to reduce adverse effects of overstatement of coincidence and predominance of best sellers. The invention may be used, for example, to generate track lists for a personalized radio station.
US08352325B2
A method, system and computer program product for conducting an online auction of a plurality of heterogeneous items between a plurality of selling and potential purchasing parties. The method includes the steps of accepting an offer in respect of an item, accepting one or more subsequent offers that is/are preferable to a previously accepted offer, and rejecting the previously accepted offer. While the offer/s is/are binding on a party making the offer, acceptance of the offer/s is/are not binding on a party accepting the offer. Classes of “seller strategies”, for offering items to potential purchasing parties, and “buyer strategies”, to decide which offers to accept, are also disclosed. As a result of the interaction of the buyer and seller strategies, the auction mechanism converges to an allocation of items to buyers at particular prices and assists in discovering a free and fair competitive equilibrium price. The auction is performed using terminals connected via a communications network and software-based agents hosted on the terminals, wherein the software-based agents act on behalf of the participating parties.
US08352321B2
Computer program products, devices, and methods for generating in-text embedded advertising are described. Embedded advertising is “hidden” or embedded into a message by matching an advertisement to the message and identifying a place in the message to insert the advertisement. For textual messages, statistical analysis of individual sentences is performed to determine where it would be most natural to insert an advertisement. Statistical rules of grammar derived from a language model may be used choose a natural and grammatical place in the sentence for inserting the advertisement. Insertion of the advertisement creates a modified sentence without degrading a meaning of the original sentence, yet also includes the advertisement as a part of a new sentence.
US08352315B2
Systems, apparatus, and methods are provided for efficiently authorizing a transaction initiated by a consumer. An authorization can be generated before the consumer actually initiates the transaction. For example, a future transaction can be predicted, and an authorization can be generated for the predicted transaction. In this manner, the authorization can be ready and quickly used when the consumer does initiate the transaction. Previous transactions made by the consumer can be used to predict when the future transaction is likely. In various examples, the authorization can be sent to a specific merchant or to the consumer for use when the consumer initiates the predicted transaction, or saved by an authorization server for use in response to an authorization request from the merchant.
US08352310B1
A method and system for monitoring enterprise system performance in which a datastore receives and stores performance metric data from different enterprise systems and provides the performance metric data to a web-based browser interface for presentation to a user as one or more linked web pages. In a preferred embodiment, the linked web pages are accessible on an enterprise intranet.
US08352303B2
The invention relates to a method for integrating services in a calendar application via the meeting request functionality of calendar programs comprising: initiating one or multiple services, wherein the initiation may involve the transmission of calendar event information from the calendar application to the service, the service requests being sent as meeting request e-mails to one or more service e-mail addresses, each service e-mail address representing a service, receiving the update requests generated by the one or multiple services, the update requests being meeting request response e-mails or one or multiple second meeting request e-mails processing the received update requests, and updating the calendar application.
US08352301B1
A sales notification system and related methods. Implementations include receiving a selection of a target industry identifier and a selection of a product identifier, where each product identifier is associated with a particular product and product category. The method includes generating a list of client accounts associated with the target industry identifier and product identifier where each client account is associated with a particular account segment, generating a list of potential sales representatives by retrieving all sales representatives associated with each client account, and generating a list of eligible sales representatives for each client account where each eligible sales representative is the potential sales representative who is permitted to sell the product associated with the product indicators within the product category and within the account segment associated with each client account. The method may also include using the server to generate a sales notification for each eligible sales representative.
US08352296B2
Presence information within a meeting room is detected and published to users for managing room availability and real time status. Various means such as motion detectors, card readers, log-in mechanisms associated with in-room computers, and the like, are used to detect presence information. Different status indicators are assigned to each room and published through a communication application or hosted service providing useful and real time information to users.
US08352292B2
The present invention is a method for calculating a current monetary value of a personal injury claim wherein computers are utilized to store, process, manipulate and analyze information collected from finalized personal injury claims including data representative of the cause of the personal injury, the type of injury sustained, the location where the injury occurred, the amounts paid for medical services and the amounts claimed for medical services to calculate an average settlement multiple which, when multiplied by the current amount claimed as medical damages, yields a current average settlement value.
US08352280B2
An audio encoder adapted to encode a multi-channel audio signal. The encoder comprises an encoder combination module (ECM) for generating a dominant signal part and a residual signal part being a combined representation of first and second audio signals, the dominant and residual signal parts being obtained by applying a mathematical procedure to the first and second audio signals. The mathematical procedure involves a spatial parameter comprising a description of spatial properties of the first and second audio signals. Embodiments include a plurality of interconnected encoder combination module, so that e.g. six independent 5.1 format audio signals can be encoded to a single or two dominant signal parts and a number of parameter sets and residual signal parts.
US08352275B2
One embodiment of the invention is a method for simulating a cross cultural communication dynamic between participants. The simulation includes the steps of distributing unique subsets of the information set to the participants, assigning the participants to a first communication group that represents people for whom a lingua franca is a first language and to a second communication group that represents people for whom the lingua franca is a second language, providing a communication platform that facilitates communication between the participants of the simulation to assemble the unique subsets of the information set, and selectively disadvantaging the communication through the communication platform between a subset of participants.
US08352269B2
Disclosed are techniques and systems to provide a narration of a text in multiple different voices. Further disclosed are techniques and systems for processing indicia in a document to determine a portion of words and associating a particular a voice model with the portion of words based on the indicia. During a readback process, an audible output corresponding to the words in the portion of words is generated using the voice model associated with the portion of words.
US08352264B2
A method for facilitating the updating of a language model includes receiving, at a client device, via a microphone, an audio message corresponding to speech of a user; communicating the audio message to a first remote server; receiving, that the client device, a result, transcribed at the first remote server using an automatic speech recognition system (“ASR”), from the audio message; receiving, at the client device from the user, an affirmation of the result; storing, at the client device, the result in association with an identifier corresponding to the audio message; and communicating, to a second remote server, the stored result together with the identifier.
US08352258B2
An encoding device includes: a frequency region converter which converts an inputted audio signal into a frequency region; a band selector which selects a quantization object band from a plurality of sub bands obtained by dividing the frequency region; and a shape quantizer which quantizes the shape of the frequency region parameter of the quantization object band. When a prediction encoding presence/absence determiner determines that the number of common sub bands between the quantization object band and the quantization object band selected in the past is not smaller than a predetermined value, a gain quantizer performs prediction encoding on the gain of the frequency region parameter of the quantization object band. When the number of common sub bands is smaller than the predetermined value, the gain quantizer non-predictively encodes the gain of the frequency region parameter of the quantization object band.
US08352254B2
A fixed code book (FCB) search device simplifies an error minimizing process and reduces a calculation amount so as to prevent deterioration of a coding performance. The FCB search device includes a pulse shape convolution inverse filter having an inverse feature of a pulse diffusion filter and supplied with an ideal residual signal; a pulse candidate preparatory selector that pre-selects a plurality of pulse candidates from the ideal residual signal to which the inverse filter is applied; and a pulse candidate final selector that finally selects one pulse from the selected candidates. Using this configuration, a search is made for an algebra code book to which the pulse diffusion is applied.
US08352251B2
An audio signal processing circuit is provided which comprises an ADC which samples an audio signal at a predetermined sampling frequency, a high-band compensation processor which compensates a signal sampled by the ADC to a frequency band which is higher than a signal band sampled by the sampling frequency, and an encoding unit which encodes a signal processed by the high-band compensation processor.
US08352249B2
An encoding device improves the sound quality of a stereo signal while maintaining a low bit rate. The encoding device includes: an LP inverse filter which LP-inverse-filters a left signal L(n) by using an inverse quantization linear prediction coefficient AdM(z) of a monaural signal; a T/F conversion unit which converts the left sound source signal Le(n) from a temporal region to a frequency region; an inverse quantizer which inverse-quantizes encoded information Mqe; spectrum division units which divide a high-frequency component of the sound source signal Mde(f) and the left signal Le(f) into a plurality of bands; and scale factor calculation units which calculate scale factors ai and ssi by using a monaural sound source signal Mdeh,i(f), a left sound source signal Leh,i(f), Mdeh,i(f), and right sound source signal Reh,i(f) of each divided band.
US08352246B1
Methods, systems, and apparatuses, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for adjusting language models. In one aspect, a method includes accessing audio data. Information that indicates a first context is accessed, the first context being associated with the audio data. At least one term is accessed. Information that indicates a second context is accessed, the second context being associated with the term. A similarity score is determined that indicates a degree of similarity between the second context and the first context. A language model is adjusted based on the accessed term and the determined similarity score to generate an adjusted language model. Speech recognition is performed on the audio data using the adjusted language model to select one or more candidate transcriptions for a portion of the audio data.
US08352244B2
Systems and methods for active learning of statistical machine translation systems through dynamic creation and updating of parallel corpus. The systems and methods provided create accurate parallel corpus entries from a test set of sentences, words, phrases, etc. by calculating confidence scores for particular translations. Translations with high confidence scores are added directly to the corpus and the translations with low confidence scores are presented to human translations for corrections.
US08352242B2
A system and method are disclosed for communicating in a programmable core. The programmable core is within a single integrated circuit and is divided into multiple independent sub-cores. The sub-cores are coupled together using a multiplexer based network. In another aspect, the multiplexer-based network includes multiplexers associated with some of the sub-cores for sending data and demultiplexers associated with other sub-cores for receiving data. In yet another aspect, a clock is included in the multiplexer-based network for synchronizing communication between the multiplexers and demultiplexers.
US08352239B2
An interface device for an emulator is disclosed. The interface device includes a connection unit, a transmission unit, and an interface unit. The connection unit receives data, to be used to emulate a logic, from a host computer, and transmits result data, output from the logic, to the host computer. The transmission unit receives the data from the connection unit and stores (writes) the data in the first area of a register array. If the result data is stored in the second area of the register array, the transmission unit reads the result data and transmits the result data to the connection unit. The interface unit includes at least one register array, outputs a clock, set using the data stored in the first area, to the logic, and stores the result data, output from the logic, in the second area.
US08352238B2
A method for integration of a GPS emulator in a simulation environment includes operating a computer adapted for using a simulation timer and configured to receive a signal of x_PPS type. For each pulse detected on the x_PPS signal, a counter is updated with a number of detected pulses and a value of the simulation timer is stored. A given simulation time moment is evaluated according to the detected and counted number of pulses, a current value of the simulation timer, and the stored value of the simulation timer. A related device and computer readable medium are also disclosed.
US08352236B2
The invention relates to the fault tree analysis system for a nuclear power plant with advanced boiling water reactor. The full digital instrument control system uses six different modes to simulate the transmission of the digital signals and the analog signals from the detection units. It is to develop the fault tree for various signal transmission modes to support the nuclear power plant in probabilistic risk assessment (PRA) and meet requirements for simulated signal detection, transmission, logic operation and equipment actuation. Thus, the digital instrument control flow process can fit into PRA model and properly reflect its importance in risk assessment.
US08352234B2
A computerized system comprising: a processor; a first interface configured to obtain a constraint; a second interface configured to obtain a first model, wherein the first model is configured to be utilized in model checking, and the first model, when constrained by the constraint, comprises at least one finite path; and a finite path removal module implemented in the processor and configured to generate a second model equivalent to the first model obtained by said second interface, wherein the second model excludes a portion of the at least one finite path, and the second model is configured to be utilized in model checking.
US08352233B2
An electromagnetic field simulation apparatus disclosed herein replaces a predetermined region in printed circuit board CAD data to be subjected to electromagnetic field simulation with measurement data measured by a near-field measurement device and generates new printed circuit board CAD data. Subsequently, regarding a measurement data portion in the new printed circuit board CAD data generated by the data generating unit, the electromagnetic field simulation apparatus generates analysis model data by setting, as a wave source, an electric field or a magnetic field measured by the near-field measurement device. Then, the electromagnetic field simulation apparatus executes electromagnetic field simulation with respect to the analysis model data having a set wave source.
US08352232B2
Disclosed are apparatus, methods and software that implement a partial element equivalent circuit (PEEC) method having global basis functions on cylindrical coordinates to determine wide-band resistance, inductance, capacitance, and conductance from a large number of three-dimensional interconnections in order to provide for the electrical design of system-in-package (SIP) modules, and the like. The apparatus, methods and software use a modal equivalent network from mixed potential integral equation with cylindrical conduction and accumulation mode basis functions, which reduces the matrix size for large three-dimensional interconnection problems. Combined with these modal basis functions, the mixed potential integral equations describe arbitrary skin and proximity effects, and allow determination of partial impedance and admittance values. Additional enhancement schemes further reduces the cost for computing the partial inductances. Therefore, the apparatus, methods and software can be used to construct accurate models of a large number of three-dimensional interconnection structures, including more than 100 bonding wires used for stacking integrated circuit chips, through-silicon via interconnections, and the like.
US08352228B2
A method for predicting petroleum production is provided. An exemplary embodiment of The computer-implemented comprises computing a first approximation of an amount of generated petroleum that is retained with a complex organic product using a Threshold and a Maximum Retention value. The exemplary method also comprises revising the first approximation by approximating a process of chemical fractionation using at least one partition factor to create a revised approximation and predicting petroleum production based on the revised approximation.
US08352225B2
A process for simulating and assembling flexible parts includes creating an ideal path between first and second planes and placing a virtual rigid envelope around the ideal path, and possibly tubular extensions beyond the path. A virtual flexible part is marked with reference features and pulled through the virtual rigid envelope, such that the path of the virtual flexible part is constrained but may rotate. Removing the virtual rigid envelope allows the virtual flexible part to relax, causing it to move to its lowest energy state. Zero-twist end conditions on the virtual flexible part are marked, corresponding to the intersection of the reference features with the planes. Identification marks are placed on a real flexible part, corresponding to the reference strips on the virtual flexible part. The real flexible part may then be assembled by aligning zero-twist marks on mating features to the identification marks on the real flexible part.
US08352223B1
The different advantageous embodiments provide a system for network communication testing comprising a communication effects server, a number of radio emulators, a number of radios, and a wireless link simulator. The communication effects computer is configured to provide a number of communication network effects. The number of radio emulators have a number of Ethernet signal-in-space emulators configured to output a number of Ethernet packets to the communication effects server. The number of radios is configured to transmit and receive messages over a radio frequency. The wireless link simulator is configured to provide simulated distance between the number of radios using real-time changes in a simulation running on a number of platforms.
US08352215B2
Systems and methods are provided for performing an estimation using an iteratively reweighted least squares technique on a scenario defined by a design matrix, a response variable vector, and a parameter to be estimated. A system and method can be configured to include a root data processor, where a least squares estimate is calculated by the root data processor during each of a plurality of processing iterations. A plurality of node data processors can also be configured to: update values of a weight matrix according to a current state of the least squares estimate, determine a first intermediate value based on the design matrix and the weight matrix, determine a second intermediate value based on the design and weight matrices and the response variable vector. The root data processor calculates an updated least squares estimate based on the intermediate values.
US08352214B2
A belt weighing system, including a belt passing over a weigh frame able to measure the weight of conveyed material, and at least one memory to store a zero image for the belt. At least one processor able to determine differences between a measured belt weight and a stored zero image for corresponding points or sections of the belt, and to determine if the differences are constant for different sections of the belt. A condition for an empty belt state can be detected where the instantaneous difference between the stored zero image and the measured belt weight for corresponding belt points or sections is equal to an average difference for different belt points or sections.
US08352206B2
The invention describes a method that is used to determine the linearization curve of a sensor for specific gas components by combining this sensor with an ultrasonic molar mass sensor. The described method uses the fact that the molar mass sensor exhibits a completely linear response when two gas compositions of differing molar mass values are mixed. Using this feature a non linear-response of a sensor for specific gas components can be determined and a linearization curve can be computed.
US08352199B2
An airflow-sensing computer cursor generator includes a microprocessor and plural air flow rate sensors. The plural air flow rate sensors are used for sensing airflow rates resulted from a moving action of an inductor in plural directions, thereby generating respective air flow rate signals corresponding to the plural directions. The microprocessor is used for judging a moving direction and a displacement value of the inductor according to the air flow rate signals, thereby generating a computer cursor signal.
US08352190B2
An exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a method for interpolating seismic data. The method includes collecting seismic data of two or more types over a field (401), determining an approximation to one of the types of the seismic data (402), and performing a wave-field transformation on the approximation to form a transformed approximation (405), wherein the transformed approximation corresponds to another of the collected types of seismic data. The method may also include setting the transformed approximation to match the measured seismic data of the corresponding types at matching locations (408), performing a wave-field transformation on the transformed approximation to form an output approximation (412), and using the output approximation to obtain a data representation of a geological layer (416).
US08352189B2
A method for generating a high-resolution surface topology map of a surface using surface profiling data combined with data collected from a surveying instrument. The system and method involve collecting a plurality of survey sample points and collecting a plurality of profile sample points of the surface. The profile sample points are then correlated with the survey sample points in the Z direction. Once the correlation is performed, the correlated profile sample points are merged or “filled-in” between the survey sample points. The high-resolution surface topology map is generated from the merging of the survey and profile sample points. In various embodiments, the survey data may be generated using an inertial profiler, an inclinometer based walking device, or a rolling-reference type profile device.
US08352172B2
Provided are systems and methods for tracking resources at a site and initiating audio and video communication with tracked resources using multiple input and output modalities. The systems include a location tracking system, including a positioning engine and a presentation engine, an environmental tracking system, location and environmental sensors, either permanently installed or temporarily deployed, and portable devices such as mobile phones or personal digital assistants carried by the tracked resources and users. The methods include tracking such resources at a site, displaying their locations on a portable device using a visual map display, and providing the ability to initiate bidirectional audio and video communications with one of more of the tracked resources.
US08352168B2
The present invention relates to a system and method for minimizing or preventing runway incursion at airports by utilizing data packets of information transmitted over the voice communication channel used by pilots at the airport. The data packets of information contain the latitudinal and longitudinal position of the aircraft provided by an on board GPS receiver and a unique identifier for the aircraft, such as the tail number, which is then received by other aircraft on the same ground frequency, and the tower, and displayed on a geo-referenced map display of the airport provided to the pilots and the tower ground controller. The information may be updated by polling the various aircraft In this manner, information received from all active aircraft within an airport can be displayed on an electronic map of the airport which can be viewable by the pilots on the ground as well as the ground controller.
US08352166B2
Systems and methods of operating an engine, the engine including an injector configured to directly inject fuel into an engine cylinder. One example method comprises, during an engine cold start, performing compression direct fuel injection, and retarding a timing of the compression injection as a fuel alcohol content of the fuel increases.
US08352163B2
A method for operating an engine is disclosed. In one example, the method adjusts a torque limit of the engine in response to an amount of EGR in an engine cylinder. The approach may reduce the possibility of pre-ignition for boosted engines.
US08352161B2
An exhaust valve early-closure control brings about blowback of exhaust gas into an intake system. However, if the exhaust valve early-closure control is executed, for example, during a first idle operation immediately following the startup of the engine, or the like, the amount of blowback exhaust gas becomes excessively large. Therefore, when the post-startup increase amount has decreased to or below a lower-limit criterion value, the ECU prohibits the exhaust valve early-closure control, and changes the control to a usual valve timing control. As a result, during a period during which the combustion state has a stability margin and the amount of emission of HCs and the like is large, the exhaust emission quality can be bettered by the exhaust valve early-closure control. Besides, when the post-startup increase amount has decreased, the combustion state can be stabilized by prohibiting the exhaust valve early-closure control.
US08352157B2
In an internal combustion engine, a variable compression ratio mechanism able to change a mechanical compression ratio and a variable valve timing mechanism able to control the closing timing of an intake valve are provided. The mechanical compression ratio is held at a maximum mechanical compression ratio at the engine low load operation side and gradually made to decrease as the engine load increases at the engine high load operation side. The actual compression ratio is held nearly constant at the engine high load operation side and is made to decrease as the engine load decreases at the engine low load operation side.
US08352152B2
An apparatus for providing an antisurge operating mode for a turbocharged engine may include a processor. The processor may be configured to receive indications of engine operating parameters and engine accelerator pedal position, determine whether the received indications correspond to antisurge mode activation conditions, and, in response to a determination that the received indications correspond to antisurge mode activation conditions, initiate control of selected engine components by directing the selected engine components to operate based on stored engine operating parameters recorded a predetermined time prior to the determination.
US08352144B2
In a method for controlling an electromechanical parking brake system (EPB) of a vehicle, wherein the electromechanical parking brake system (EPB) comprises at least one actuating element (BE), at least one brake mechanism unit (BME), and at least one control device (SG), in order to statically brake the vehicle, the actuating element (BE) is actuated and, depending thereon, the at least one brake mechanism unit (BME) is applied with a predetermined application speed (AV) controlled by a control and evaluation routine (SAR) run in the control device (SG). The vehicle speed (V) prevailing when the at least one actuating element (BE) is actuated is advantageously determined and the application speed (AV) of the brake mechanism unit (BME) is selected depending on the determined vehicle speed.
US08352143B2
A vehicle includes a control system that is used to control a vehicle system. The control system determines a roll condition in response to a yaw rate sensor and a pitch rate sensor without having to use a roll rate sensor. A relative roll angle, relative pitch angle, global roll angle, and global pitch angle may also be determined. A safety system may be controlled in response to the roll condition, roll angle, or the pitch angles individually or in combination.
US08352136B2
A vehicle control system for an engine-powered vehicle equipped with an engine and an automatic transmission with a clutch. When a given engine stop requirement is met during running of the engine, the system stops the engine automatically. When a given engine restart requirement is met after stop of the engine, the system restarts the engine and enters a clutch control mode to bring the clutch in the automatic transmission into a slippable state in which the clutch is permitted to slip based on the speed of the vehicle, thereby absorbing the acceleration shock which usually occurs upon engagement of the clutch to transmit engine torque to wheels of the vehicle when the engine is restarted, and the speed of the vehicle is relatively low.
US08352133B2
A system and method for upshift delay for fuel cut acquisition is disclosed. Decel lockup control may be activated if a lift foot upshift is prevented after sudden pedal release. Fuel economy may be increased by cutting fuel to the engine when decel lockup control is engaged. When the throttle is reapplied, the regular shift map resumes control and performs an upshift if necessary.
US08352128B2
A system and method for using a gantry crane to efficiently and safely transport loads such as containers and ship hatch covers from one location to another along a known path while avoiding collisions between the loads and obstructing objects which may be situated in the known path. A transceiver emitting laser beams may be used to establish both the position of the spreader and its load and the profile of the known path. Continuous comparisons are made by computer between the location of a dynamic digital protective envelope constructed around the crane spreader and its load, if any, and a digital representation of the profile of the known path to be traveled by the spreader and its load, if any. In the event, the comparison indicates intersection of the protective envelope and the path profile, a speed limit is imposed on the motor controlling the movement in the X axis of the trolley or in the Z axis of the spreader, as required to prevent a collision.
US08352122B2
An engine control apparatus that effectively suppresses a rise in rotation number of an engine in a jump of a vehicle. An engine control apparatus includes an acceleration detecting device for detecting an acceleration component of gravity acceleration in a perpendicular direction of the vehicle body based on a signal inputted from an acceleration sensor, and a control circuit for judging whether the vehicle has jumped or not based on the acceleration component to be detected. The control circuit suppresses a rise in rotation number of the engine when the vehicle is judged to have jumped.
US08352120B2
A system and method for stability control of a vehicle using GPS data. The system and method can receive GPS data and optionally vehicle operating data or signals and define one of a brake-based stability control subsystem and a torque management-based stability control subsystem as the dominant stability control system. Based on the stability control subsystem defined as the dominant stability control system, the system and method provide stability control for the vehicle. The system and method also defines the dominant stability control system based on weather data.
US08352119B2
A vehicle gradient estimating device includes: a vehicle speed sensor which detects a traveling speed of a subject vehicle; an acceleration calculating unit which calculates an acceleration of the subject vehicle on the basis of the traveling speed; an engine load deceleration calculating unit which calculates a deceleration due to an engine load of the subject vehicle; an acceleration correcting unit which corrects the acceleration by using the deceleration; a brake fluid pressure detecting unit which detects a brake fluid pressure of the subject vehicle; and a first gradient estimating unit which estimates a gradient of a road being traveled of the subject vehicle, wherein the first gradient estimating unit estimates the gradient on the basis of a ratio between the brake fluid pressure and the acceleration corrected by the acceleration correcting unit.
US08352106B2
In a method for operating a power-branching hybrid drive having at least one first and one second electric machine coupled via a transmission, as well as having an internal combustion engine which outputs a torque MVM, the electric machines and the internal combustion engine acting together, having their drives connected, the first electric machine is rotation speed-regulated, the second electric machine is torque-controlled, and the internal combustion engine is operated in a rotation speed-regulated manner.
US08352081B2
The disclosure provides an HVAC data processing and communication network and a method of manufacturing the same. In an embodiment, the network includes a demand unit and a subnet controller. The demand unit is coupled to a data bus and configured to provide a primary service having a maximum service capacity. The subnet controller is configured to send a demand message to the demand unit via the data bus instructing the demand unit to provide a portion of the maximum.
US08352074B2
A path planning apparatus and method of a robot, in which a path, along which the robot accesses an object to grasp the object, is planned. The path planning method includes judging whether or not a robot hand of a robot collides with an obstacle when the robot hand moves along one access path candidate selected from plural access path candidates along which the robot hand accesses an object to grasp the object, calculating an access score of the selected access path candidate when the robot hand does not collide with the obstacle, and determining an access path plan using the access score of the selected access path candidate.
US08352072B2
The invention is a system that is integrated with an existing robotic system in order to extend its observation, surveillance, and navigational capabilities. The system comprises: a sensor module comprising imaging and other types of sensors that is attached to the robotic device of the robotic system and a system control station comprising a communication link to the robot control station of the existing robotic system. Both the system control station and the sensor module comprise processing units that are configured to work in complete harmony. These processing units are each supplied with software that enables using information supplied by the sensors and other components in the sensor module to provide the robotic systems with many advanced capabilities that could not be achieves prior to attachment of the sensor module to the robot.
US08352066B2
A machine tool with a main positioning device for positioning a main support element in a translational linear direction within a main region of displacement is provided. A main machining device and an accessory machining device are arranged on the main support element. The machining devices have pivoting devices for pivoting the machining heads in a rotatory basic pivoting direction. Every accessory pivoting device is connected to the main support element via a respective supplementary accessory positioning device for positioning the respective accessory machining head in the translational linear direction relative to the main support element within a respective supplementary accessory region of displacement.
US08352065B2
A method for generating a trimming setpoint for an ophthalmic lens for it to be mounted in a surround of a spectacle frame, includes: a) acquiring the shape of a first longitudinal profile of the surround, b) constructing, on a two-dimensional projection of the first longitudinal profile, at least two predetermined geometrical figures, by adjusting their dimensions to those of the two-dimensional projection, c) calculating differences between the two-dimensional projection of the first longitudinal profile and each of the predetermined geometrical figures, d) from the target geometrical figures, each of which has an associated trimming parameter, selecting the target geometrical figure that is closest to the first longitudinal profile according to the differences, e) calculating the trimming setpoint according to the shape of the first longitudinal profile and the trimming parameter associated with the selected target geometrical figure.
US08352062B2
A method for fabricating a integrated circuit with improved performance is disclosed. The method comprises providing a substrate; performing a plurality of processes to form a gate stack over the substrate, wherein the gate stack comprises a gate layer; measuring a grain size of the gate layer after at least one of the plurality of processes; determining whether the measured grain size is within a target range; and modifying a recipe of at least one of the plurality of processes if the measured grain size of the gate layer is not within the target range.
US08352057B2
A method for feedback-based optimization of a measurement data life cycle in joining processes during production, comprising the following steps: 1) analysing and simulating production on the basis of assumptions, in particular on the basis of production data, in order to prepare an initial production strategy and/or inspection strategy, 2) preparing and/or adapting a production and/or inspection order, 3) checking the production and/or inspection order for consistency, 4) exporting and storing the production and/or inspection order, 5) aligning and/or joining a component made of at least two sub-assemblies in an assembly zone, 6) analysing and simulating production on the basis of actual measurement results and feedback of an optimized production and/or inspection order into method step 2), and 7) at least one repetition of method steps 2) to 6). The invention also relates to a device for carrying out the method.
US08352045B2
The disclosure relates to a device for stimulating living tissue, comprising an array of stimulating microelectrodes that are placed in a defined configuration side by side and able to be selected by applying an electrical signal for stimulation by one of the microelectrodes. According to the disclosure, an additional conducting surface for application against the living tissue, is provided in the vicinity of a defined plurality of sections for local application of microelectrodes, connecting structures being provided for electrical connection between the zones, and the additional conducting surface being also connected to a lead and being formed so as to ensure local stimulation via a microelectrode.
US08352043B2
An implantable medical device is capable of delivering the therapeutic output to the patient. A controller, programmable by a medical professional, is operatively coupled to the implantable medical device to, in part, program the therapeutic output to be delivered to the patient. The controller has an interface allowing the medical professional to select an amount of the therapeutic output to be delivered to the patient in at least one of the series of discrete timer intervals. However, the therapeutic output deliver to the patient is dependant upon the clock time to which the infusion device. In certain situations the infusion device clock time may have inaccuracies that grow over time. The clock time can be reset by the infusion programmer but a method must be in place to determine and account for resetting the infusion device clock time that controls when the therapy will be delivered.
US08352029B2
A method for implementing a neural stimulation therapy mode in an implantable medical device (IMD) comprising the acts of mapping respective device states, defined by one or more timer states that include at least one neural event timer or one or more indications of one or more sensed physiologic events, to associated device actions in a stored neural table, storing an event represented as a device status word and a time stamp in a queue in response to an action input, and comparing one or more current timer states or one or more indications of one or more sensed physiologic events to a device state contained in the neural table and, if found to match, causing performance of one or more associated device actions, wherein the device actions include one or more of a neural stimulation energy delivery or a change in one or more timer states.
US08352028B2
An implantable medical device system, including an implantable medical device and an associated implant tool. The device has a hermetic housing containing a power source and electronic circuitry. One or more tines are mounted to the housing movable from a first position extending away from the housing to a second position adjacent the housing. The device is provided with a rotational fixation mechanism. The Implant tool includes an elongated sheath sized to receive the device and provided with internal grooves sized to engage with the tines when the tines are located in their second position. The implant tool may further include a push tool located with the sheath and movable within the sheath to advance the device distally out of the sheath. The sheath may be provided with a closed distal end openable by passage of the device therethrough.
US08352022B2
Optical methods, devices, and systems for noninvasively detecting transient surface displacements in a neuron are disclosed. Methods, devices, and systems provided may employ a phase-sensitive optical low coherence reflectometer. In addition, surface displacements due to action potential propagation in neural tissues may be detected in some embodiments using back-reflected light. According to some embodiments, exogenous chemicals or reflect ion coatings are not required. Transient neural surface displacement of less then 1 nm in amplitude and 1 ms in duration may be detected and may be generally coincident with action potential arrival to the optical measurement site. The systems and methods may be used for noninvasive detection of various neuropathies such as retinal neuropathies. They may also be useful in detecting the effects of various pharmacological agents.
US08352020B2
The inventive method for processing an RR series comprises a plurality of (RR) samples representing time intervals (dti) between two successive heart beats or the inverse (1/dti) of said time intervals consists in selecting (N) (RRi) samples in a main time window having a predetermined length (n), in cutting said main window into (m) subwindows (Fj), in calculating an intermediate parameter (A1) for each subwindow (Fj) on the basis of the (RRi) samples contained in the subwindow (Fj) and in calculating a final parameter as a function of the intermediate parameters (Aj). The invention is used for analysing a cardiac rhythm variability, in particular for assessing a patient's pain or stress.
US08352017B2
A bone density meter including a light emission unit which emits light toward a surface of a user's body. A light reception unit receives the light emitted from the light emission unit toward the body surface and propagated in a portion of the body that includes bone. A bone density computation unit determines the bone density based on the amount of light received by the light reception unit. The light emission unit emits light toward the body surface at a portion having a thin subcutis, and the light reception unit receives the light propagated in the body through the portion at which the subcutis is thin.
US08352016B2
The invention refers to a method for carrying out data collection on electrodes placed on a body for subsequent processing of an electrical impedance tomography image of a corresponding part of said body. In order to improve the resolution of electrical impedance tomography systems without noticeably affecting the signal-to-noise ratio, the method according to the invention comprises the steps of placing the electrodes on a peripheral line around the body, applying a current pattern from a current source to at least one pair of electrodes, and measuring differential potentials between pairs of electrodes, wherein at least one intermediate electrode lies in between each pair of electrodes for measuring the differential potentials and the differential potentials of one current pattern for the subsequent image processing refer to at least three different pairs of electrodes with no electrode used more than twice for each current pattern.
US08352015B2
A method and apparatus are provided for determining and tracking location of a metallic object in a living body, and then directing a second modality such as ultrasound waves to the determined location. The metal detector may be a radar detector adapted to operate on a living body. The adaption may include disposing a transfer material having electromagnetic properties similar to the body between the radar detector and the living body, ECG gating the radar detector, and/or employing an optimal estimator with a model of expected stent movement in a living body. Applications include determination of extent of in-stent restenosis, performing therapeutic thrombolysis, or determining operational features of a metallic implant.
US08352004B2
In an embodiment, a sensor may be adapted to provide information related to its position on a patient's tissue. postioned adjacenta sensor may be provided with tissue contact sensors which may relay a signal related to the proper placement of the sensor relative to the tissue of a patient. Such a sensor may be useful for providing information to a clinician regarding the location of the sensor in relation to the skin of a patient in order to provide improved measurements.
US08351990B2
The use of a digital camera in communication with a mobile device to determine the intensity of ambient light conditions is described herein. In one example, the digital camera receives light energy representing ambient light. The intensity of the ambient light is determined and, based upon a comparison of that intensity to a setpoint, the mobile device is reconfigured. In another example, a mobile device is described that uses a digital camera to measure ambient light conditions. The mobile device can be configured in various ways based upon a determination of the intensity and/or wavelengths of the ambient light.
US08351976B2
A method for modifying a signal transmitted from a mobile communication device comprising by perturbing a transmit diversity parameter from its nominal value by modulating the parameter with respect to the nominal value in a first direction for a first feedback interval and then in a second direction for a second feedback interval, receiving a feedback signal including feedback information relating to the perturbed signal as received at a feedback device, and based at least on the feedback information, adjusting the nominal value of the transmit diversity parameter by increasing, decreasing, or preserving the nominal value.
US08351975B2
A method for setting a power control level (600) in a wireless communication system. The method includes the steps of obtaining (620) transmission information from a wireless subscriber unit, and modifying a power control level and/or a communication channel format (660) in response to said transmission information. Preferably, the transmission information is re-transmission requests from a wireless subscriber unit, which are transmitted frequently. In this manner, rapid adjustment of power control can be attained utilizing an optimal selection of the available communication channel format, followed by a fine-tuning power control operation.
US08351970B2
The invention relates to a method and system for extending a known push to talk service in such a way that novel application capabilities are obtained. According to said invention, the use of said push to talk techniques is carried out by adding a functionality making it possible to transmit other forms of data besides speech.
US08351967B2
A wireless communication method and system using virtual MIMO (“V-MIMO”) are provided. Post processing signal to interference and noise ratios (“SINR”) for a plurality of signals corresponding to a plurality of mobile terminals arranged as a V-MIMO group are estimated. The one of the plurality of mobile terminals having the highest post processing SINR is selected. Wireless communication for the selected mobile terminal is scheduled. The signal corresponding to the selected mobile terminal is cancelled. Post processing signal to interference and noise ratios (“SINR”) for the signals corresponding to the remaining mobile terminals is re-estimated. The one of the remaining mobile terminals having the highest post processing SINR is selected. Wireless communication for the selected remaining mobile terminal is scheduled.
US08351961B2
A system for detecting and locating illicit cellular telephone use within a facility includes an array of radio frequency (RF) receivers, each receiver being placed in a predetermined location in the facility, and a central server, the receivers being in electrical communication with the central server. The server commands a group or groups of receivers to tune to a frequency of interest and to perform detailed sample rate measurements of the RF signal level received at the receivers. The array of receivers is organized into a plurality of measurement areas covering widely separated areas of the facility or different buildings of the facility, and the plurality of receivers of a measurement area is organized into a plurality of measurement groups covering areas of approximately uniform RF propagation conditions. Each receiver scans a frequency band of interest non-synchronously and independently of the other receivers in the array. Also, each receiver is preferably a direct-conversion receiver.
US08351960B2
In a mobile telecommunications network including a micro base station, a method of controlling the micro base station includes: determining one or more registered users of the micro base station; determining a location of the one or more registered users; and causing the micro base station to transition between a first operational mode and a second operational mode depending upon the location of at least one of the one or more registered users.
US08351957B2
An overload control device is disclosed. In one embodiment, the device includes a load measuring unit configured to measure the load of a radio network controller, wherein the network controller is in data communication with a plurality of base stations and an overload determining unit configured to determine whether an overload has occurred in the network controller based, at least in part, on the comparison of the measured load and a predetermined load. The device may further include a call connection controller configured to limit a new call connection setting of at least one base station which has a total transmission output greater than an allowed transmission output. The total transmission output indicates a power output of the base station for transmitting at least one call during a predetermined period. The allowed transmission output may vary according to the determined overload.
US08351956B2
A method for redirecting communication requests made by user equipment (6,8) to an access point (2) in a cellular communication system is disclosed. The access point (2) has a shorter communication range than a macrocell in the system. The method comprises the steps of; sending a communication request from user equipment to the access point (2); determining whether the access point (2) has reached a maximum capacity; sending a communication rejection signal to the user equipment (6,8) if the access point (2) has reached maximum capacity; and redirecting the communication request into the macrocell in which the access point (2) is positioned wherein the macrocell and femtocell operate at the same frequency.
US08351953B2
In a wireless communication system, a wireless access node provides a wireless communication service to wireless communication devices over a first frequency band class and over a second frequency band class. A control system identifies a subset of the wireless communication devices operating over the first frequency band class that have been in an idle mode for a time period that exceeds a threshold. The wireless access node transfers a signal to the subset of the wireless communication devices to transition from the first frequency band class to the second frequency band class. The wireless access node then provides the wireless communication service to at least some of the subset of the wireless communication devices over the second frequency band class.
US08351952B1
A method, system, and medium are provided for increasing the robustness of communications sessions between mobile devices and communications networks through handoff diversity. Separating the handoff times through handoff diversity provides for continuous transmission of data and decreases the likelihood of dropped calls and lost data. In a communications session capable of communicating data through multiple channels, handoff diversity is implemented by ensuring that at least one communication channel's handoff is complete and transferring data prior to initiating a handoff within another channel. In one illustrative embodiment, the present invention configures the physical propagation environment of the channels to create diversity in channel-handoff occurrences. In another illustrative embodiment, the communications network or mobile device is configured to force channel-handoff diversity by delaying a handoff for one or more communication channels.
US08351948B2
A method for customizable flow management in a cellular basestation including configuring a framework on a cellular basestation; and executing customized flow management functions through the framework by an external entity.
US08351940B2
A method and apparatus for selecting cells in a mobile telecommunications system, the system comprising a network of a plurality of cells of a Universal Mobile Telecommunications Systems (UMTS) and a network of a plurality of cells of a second Radio Access Technology (RAT), the method comprising, at a user equipment device: when in UMTS mode, flagging in a neighboring cell list stored on the user equipment device information for a cell of a second RAT which is known to be unsuitable for selection. Information from the neighboring cell list information for the flagged cell may be removed, in particular for a limited period of time.
US08351925B2
A digital television (TV) signal, received from a satellite, in a transceiver of a ship and of other water based communication devices, is demodulated and processed into a baseband TV signal and further processed and modulated into a CDMA or TDMA or OFDM modulated signal and transmitted to a mobile device. The mobile device in interactive communication with the transceiver controls the transceiver transmitted and received signal to and from the mobile device.
US08351924B2
A technique for protecting location information of a subscriber in a mobile network is disclosed. A User Mobility Server (UMS) receives a first query from a first call state control function (CSCF). The UMS transmits a call setup and a subscriber identity to a servicing-call state control function (S-CSCF). The S-CSCF may have no record of the subscriber identity due to a restart are some other event. The UMS receives a second query from the S-CSCF based in part of the subscriber identity. The UMS transmits a home address of a mobile station to the S-CSCF. The UMS may also transmit a profile download to the S-CSCF.
US08351920B2
The present invention provides a method of operating a femtocell control module in control of a femtocell, comprising transmitting a request to operate the femtocell to an external control system; receiving a response from the external control system, where the response comprises an operational constraint on the femtocell; and causing the femtocell to conduct cellular communications according to the operational constraint.
US08351914B2
Method and system for registration of licensed modules in mobile devices. The present invention provides for a registration system to determine active use of licensed modules installed in mobile devices such as wireless cellular terminals and PDA's. The registration system can be made to operate in a manner that is substantially transparent to the user of the mobile device. In example embodiments, a module handler within the processor platform of the mobile device collects module parameters as necessary and causes registration messages to be assembled and sent. In some embodiments, encryption is provided. User interaction with the registration process can also optionally be accommodated. Additionally, the module handler can direct that use of the software module or package is restricted until an acknowledgement is returned from the module activation system, confirming the registration.
US08351907B2
A method of performing an action is disclosed. The method starts by sensing a print medium to obtain data encoded on a surface of the print medium. The data encodes at least a print media identifier. The print medium has a representation of a document printed thereon. The print media identifier is determined from the data and a digital copy of the document corresponding to the representation is retrieved. The digital copy is associated with the print media identifier and includes one or more hyperlinks. The digital copy of the document is displayed and a selection of one of the hyperlinks is received from a user. A predefined action designated by the selected hyperlink is then performed.
US08351902B2
Apparatus, and an associated method, for providing routing information to a mobile node operable in a radio communication system. The routing information is used by the mobile node to address data messages that are to be communicated to a relay host, or other, device. The routing information that is provided to the mobile node includes a plurality of separate routing sequences. Different ones of the routing sequences are used by the mobile node, depending upon at what location that the mobile node is positioned when the data message is sent. A registration server is used by which to create the routing information, responsive to indications of a home network associated with the mobile node and a current location of the mobile node.
US08351898B2
Various embodiments are disclosed for a services policy communication system and method. In some embodiments, a communications device implements a service policy for assisting billing for the communications device use of a service on a network; and monitors use of the service based on the service policy, in which a local service usage is synchronized with a network based service usage.
US08351893B2
The invention relates to a method for performing software functions in a mobile station apparatus comprising several externally accessible keys, one or more displays and means for locking the keys. The presented method comprises the steps of detecting that one or more keys are pressed down when the keypad is locked, performing software functions when said one or more keys are pressed down while the keypad is locked, and showing the result obtained after having performed software functions on one or more mobile station displays.
US08351890B2
A communication device according to the present invention which receives a reception signal, includes: an intermodulation oscillator that outputs a signal of a first frequency; an adding section that adds together the reception signal and the signal of the first frequency; an intermodulation wave generating section that generates an intermodulation wave signal from the reception signal and the signal of the first frequency that are added together; a local oscillator that outputs a local signal; a mixer that generates an intermediate frequency signal by mixing the local signal into the intermodulation wave signal; a bandpass filter that extracts a signal of a desired frequency from the intermediate frequency signal; a voltage level detection section that detects a voltage level of a desired signal; and a control section that causes the intermodulation oscillator to output the signal of the first frequency when the voltage level of the desired signal is greater than a saturation level of the receiving section, and causes the intermediate frequency signal to be generated by mixing the local signal whose frequency is controlled into the intermodulation wave signal.
US08351888B1
A wireless network device including a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) module, an error rate module, and an antenna selection module. The signal-to-noise ratio measures i) a first average SNR while utilizing a first antenna, and ii) a second average sNR while utilizing a second antenna. The error rate module measures i) a first error rate while utilizing the first antenna, and ii) a second error rate while utilizing the second antenna. The antenna selection module selects the first antenna or the second antenna based on i) a first comparison of the first average signal-to-noise ratio to the second average signal-to-noise ratio, and ii) a second comparison of the first error rate to the second error rate. The second comparison is selectively performed depending on the first comparison.
US08351887B2
Systems and methods which provide a multimode tuner architecture implementing direct frequency conversion are shown. Embodiments provide a highly integrated configuration wherein low noise amplifier, tuner, analog and digital channel filter, and analog demodulator functionality are provided in a single integrated circuit. A LNA of embodiments implements a multi-path configuration with seamless switching to provide desired gain control while meeting noise and linearity design parameters. Embodiments of the invention implement in-phase and quadrature (IQ) equalization and a multimode channelization filter architecture to facilitate the use of direct frequency conversion. Embodiments implement spur avoidance techniques for improving tuner system operation and output using a clock signal generation architecture in which a system clock, sampling clock frequencies, local oscillator (LO) reference clock frequencies, and/or the like are dynamically movable.
US08351884B2
A method, apparatus, and computer program for controlling diversity reception in a radio receiver are provided. The radio receiver is configured to either activate or disable the diversity reception according to an application type of an application requesting transfer of data.
US08351875B2
A distortion compensator for reducing a level of a distortion component included in an output analog signal of an amplifier, includes: an A/D converter to convert the output analog signal of the amplifier into a digital output signal; a comparator to generate a distortion characteristic of the amplifier based on a digital input signal and the digital output signal; a rate controller to control a sampling rate of the A/D converter based on the digital input signal and the digital output signal; a predistorter to multiply the digital input signal and a compensation value for compensating the amplifier, the compensation value being calculated based on the digital input signal and the distortion characteristic of the amplifier; and a D/A converter to convert multiplication result of the predistorter into an analog input signal to input the analog input signal to the amplifier.
US08351872B2
A system and method to be used with first and second devices where the first and second devices are capable of communicating using a subset of different modulation schemes wherein the subset includes at least first and second different modulation schemes, the method for optimizing transmission of data from the first device to the second device, the method comprising the acts of at the first device, when data is to be transmitted from the first device to the second device, receiving at least a portion of a trigger signal from the second device wherein the transmitted trigger signal includes data transmitted using a sequence of at least two of the modulation schemes from the subset, the portion of the trigger signal received being a received trigger signal, analyzing the received trigger signal to identify one of the modulation schemes from the subset as a function of the received trigger signal as an initial modulation scheme to be used to transmit data to the second device and transmitting the data from the first device to the second device using the initial modulation scheme.
US08351869B2
A circuit tracer includes a transmitter that places one of first and second signals on an electrical circuit depending on whether the circuit is energized. A receiver detects the signals imposed on the circuit by the transmitter, with the signal strength indicating the proximity of the receiver to the circuit. The receiver detects which of the transmitter signals is present and thereby can also indicate whether power is present on the circuit. The receiver has first and second antennas, one optimized for wide area detection and one optimized for circuit breaker detection. The receiver has an OLED display that remains properly oriented for viewing regardless of the orientation of the receiver housing. The transmitter can have a clamp version that inductively couples to the circuit being traced.
US08351865B2
Three alternative methods of controlling transmit power in a basic service set (BSS) including a plurality of stations that have successfully synchronized with an access point include providing each BSS with one transmit power limit that is not more than the lowest one of the transmit power limits of all of its operating channels, providing each BSS with one transmit power limit that is fixed for physical layer convergence procedure (PLCP) protocol data units (PPDU) with each channel bandwidth, or providing each BSS with one transmit power limit that is fixed for each 80 MHz channel.
US08351858B2
An apparatus and method for obtaining information on Bluetooth devices in a computing device using Bluetooth are provided. The method includes, if an Inquiry Response (IR) packet is received as a response to an inquiry packet, obtaining information on a first Bluetooth device transmitting the IR packet and determining whether a supplementary response indication field is enabled and, if the supplementary response indication field is enabled, receiving an Extended Inquiry Response (EIR) packet, and obtaining information on at least one Bluetooth device other than the first Bluetooth device through the EIR packet.
US08351849B2
A wireless communication device includes a transceiver configured for communication using multiple radio access technologies. An antenna array is coupled to the transceiver, and includes a first antenna element and a second antenna element. A control circuit is operable to detect an available one of the radio access technologies based on a wireless signal received at the antenna array, and is operable to automatically alter a configuration of the antenna array by switching the first and/or second antenna elements between active and inactive states responsive to detection of the available one of the radio access technologies. Related methods of operation are also discussed.
US08351843B2
A method for specifying content of interest using a digital radio broadcast receiver is described. A digital radio broadcast signal includes first audio content and first program data, wherein the first program data includes information identifying a first item, and includes second audio content and second program data, wherein the second program data includes information identifying a second item. A user command entered at a user interface during reception of audio content is registered, indicating a user's interest in either the first or second audio content. It is determined whether there is an ambiguity in the content of interest. If there is an ambiguity, a first data structure is stored for the first audio content, and a second data structure is stored for the second audio content. The first data structure includes the information identifying the first item, and the second data structure includes the information identifying the second item.
US08351838B2
An image bearing member-protecting agent which is supplied to an image bearing member for protecting the image bearing member, the image bearing member-protecting agent including a fatty acid metal salt and an inorganic lubricant, wherein the image bearing member-protecting agent is formed by compression molding of powder containing at least the fatty acid metal salt and the inorganic lubricant, and wherein the image bearing member-protecting agent satisfies the relation 1.0
US08351818B2
An image forming apparatus includes: a belt having a carrying surface that carries a recording sheet; a photosensitive body disposed opposite to the carrying surface of the belt; a transferring member which is disposed opposite to the photosensitive body such that the carrying surface of the belt is disposed between the transferring member and the photosensitive body, and a transferring bias is applied to the transferring member; a cleaning member arranged adjacent to an outer peripheral surface of the belt; and a control unit for controlling a voltage that is applied to the cleaning member. The control unit causes a first voltage to be applied to the cleaning member during a first mode. The control unit causes a second voltage, different from the first voltage, to be applied to the cleaning member during a second mode.
US08351812B2
A printing control system includes: operation means configured to enter a first printing condition including information on the number of page images to be printed on one printing sheet and the total number of page images to be printed; display means; and control means. The control means compare ratios of reduction in the usage of printing sheets provided by the one or more second printing conditions to a preset threshold value, and sets the first printing condition as the final printing condition when the ratios of reduction in the usage of printing sheets provided by the one or more second printing conditions are less than the threshold value while causing the display means to display the one or more second printing conditions when the ratios of reduction in the usage of printing sheets provided by the one or more second printing conditions are not less than the threshold value.
US08351802B2
An image forming apparatus is capable of performing a plurality of controlling operations. The image forming apparatus includes a detachable replaceable part having an information storing unit that stores predetermined information, an information reading unit that reads the predetermined information from the information storing unit, a determining unit that determines whether the replaceable part is a genuine part or not based on the predetermined information read by the information reading unit, a display unit capable of displaying the predetermined information, and a control unit that determines a controlling operation among the plurality of controlling operations based on a determination by the determining unit.
US08351799B2
A method for multiscale sampling for wide dynamic range electro-optic receivers is presented. The method comprises obtaining a signal, reproducing the signal into first and second signals, scaling one signal with respect to the other, modulating both signals with the same modulation function, and utilizing the resulting vector response function to invert the response of the link over a greater dynamic range than would otherwise be possible with a single instance of the modulated signal. The sealed modulation response may be obtained by splitting the signal into two polarizations and utilizing a modulator having different response for the two polarizations, or by utilizing two modulators.
US08351789B2
A programmable encoder is provided that includes at least one optical input for receiving a modulated broadband optical signal and at least one optical output. A dispersion element receives the optical signal from the optical input and spatially separates the optical signal into a plurality of wavelength components. A collimating element is provided for collimating the plurality of wavelength components. An actuatable optical arrangement receives the collimated plurality of wavelength components from the collimating element. The actuatable optical arrangement includes a digital micromirror device (DMD) from which a programmably selected subset of wavelength components are reflected at least twice before being directed to a selected one of optical outputs to thereby encode the CDMA signal.
US08351788B2
A method and system for encoding and determining labels in a Dual Polarization (DP) Quaternary Phase Shift Keying (QPSK) signal is provided. A label frame, signature sequence, and data payload are combined using a complementary constant-weight code encoding (CCWC) encoder, the output of which is deinterleaved and differentially precoded to generate a polarized tributary of a DP-QPSK signal. This encoding can be duplicated for a second tributary of the DP-QPSK signal. The label can be determined using one or more polarizers and corresponding low-speed photodetectors, each applied to a copy of the DP-QPSK signal. The strongest output of the photodetectors is then used to determine the label. Alternatively, the DP-QPSK signal can be viewed as having XI, XQ, PH, and PV tributaries. These tributaries can then be translated into XI, XQ, YI, and YQ tributaries are encoded into a standard DP-QPSK signal.
US08351787B2
An apparatus comprising a frame alignment processor coupled to a receiver, wherein the frame alignment processor is configured to align a first frame and a second frame in the receiver by matching a first synchronization (sync) pattern predicted using a first sync field in the first frame with a second sync pattern obtained from a second sync field in the second frame. Included is an apparatus comprising at least one component configured to implement a method comprising receiving a first frame, subsequently receiving a second frame that was transmitted after the first frame, predicting a first sync pattern from a first sync field in the first frame, obtaining a second sync pattern from a second sync field in the second frame, and determining that the first frame and the second frame are aligned when the first sync pattern matches the second sync pattern.
US08351771B2
An optical element driving device is provided with at least one optical element, a moving member, a fixed member, a first actuator, a first detection element, a second actuator, and a second detection element. The first actuator has a first coil and a first magnet. The first detection element is substantially aligned in a first direction relative to the first coil to detect the position of the moving member in the first direction. The second actuator has a second coil and a second magnet. The second detection element is substantially aligned in the first direction relative to the second coil to detect the position of the moving member in a second direction. The optical element, the first actuator, and the second actuator are substantially aligned in the first direction.
US08351769B2
A heating apparatus and a steam generator that is capable of heating water to produce hot water or steam and an electric home appliance that is capable of washing, rinsing, drying, or sterilizing an object using the same are disclosed. The heating apparatus and steam generator include a heating member, a fixing unit assembly for fixing the heating member to a predetermined support structure, a thermostat mounted to the fixing unit assembly for preventing the heating member from overheating, and a heat transfer member connected between the heating member and the thermostat for transferring heat from the heating member to the thermostat. The electric home appliance includes the heating apparatus and steam generator.
US08351768B2
A media processing comparison system (“MPCS”) and techniques facilitate concurrent, subjective quality comparisons between media presentations produced by different instances of media processing components performing the same functions (for example, instances of media processing components in the form of hardware, software, and/or firmware, such as parsers, codecs, decryptors, and/or demultiplexers, supplied by the same or different entities) in a particular media content player. The MPCS receives an ordered stream of encoded media samples from a media source, and decodes a particular encoded media sample using two or more different instances of media processing components. A single renderer renders and/or coordinates the synchronous presentation of decoded media samples from each instance of media processing component(s) as separate media presentations. The media presentations may be subjectively compared and/or selected for storage by a user in a sample-by-sample manner.
US08351764B2
A network system includes a terminal apparatus, a recording apparatus, and a network. The recording apparatus includes a record-scheduling-state storing section that stores data of a record scheduling state of a program and a record-scheduling-state providing section that transmits the data of the record scheduling state stored in the record-scheduling-state storing section through the network. The terminal apparatus includes a record-scheduling-state acquiring section that acquires the data of the record scheduling state of the recording apparatus through the network, an EPG data acquiring section that acquires EPG data, a record-scheduling-state-display processing section that creates, on the basis of the data of the record scheduling state acquired by the record-scheduling-state acquiring section and the EPG data acquired by the EPG data acquiring section, EPG display data that reflects the record scheduling state, and a display unit that displays the EPG display data created by the record-scheduling-state-display processing section.
US08351763B2
A system for recording television programs for subsequent viewing by a user includes a preference determination module which is responsive to attribute information associated with television programs viewed by the user. The preference determination module categorizes the attribute information in accordance with categorization parameters to generate recordation preference information, indicative of television program viewing preferences of the user. The system also includes a recordation module which is responsive to the recordation preference information, for causing recordation on a storage medium of subsequently transmitted television programs, having attribute information corresponding to the recordation preference information.
US08351758B2
A playback time axis of a video stream is composed of a plurality of frame periods. To overlay a rendered image with a stereoscopic video image to be displayed in the i-th frame period, a process of writing to a left-view plan memory and a process of writing to a right-view plane memory both need to be completed before the start of the i-th frame period. To simultaneously request the two rendering processes, the argument of an application interface includes a pair of specifications, one specifying writing to the left-view plane memory and the other specifying writing to the right-view plane memory.
US08351756B2
An up-converter (7) performs up-conversion on frame images in a video signal. A pseudo-noise generation circuit (9) generates a pseudo-noise signal, and an adder (10) composites the pseudo-noise signal with the up-converted video signal. As a result, noise having the same resolution as the up-converted frame images (1920 vertical pixels by 1080 horizontal lines) is distributed in the composited frame images, and each piece of noise has a characteristic approximating a characteristic (crest value, amount, or frequency) of noise included in the pre-conversion video signal.
US08351744B2
Embodiments of optical collimators are disclosed. For example, one disclosed embodiment comprises an optical waveguide having a first end, a second end opposing the first end, a viewing surface extending at least partially between the first end and the second end, and a back surface opposing the viewing surface. The viewing surface comprises a first critical angle of internal reflection, and the back surface is configured to be reflective at the first critical angle of internal reflection. Further, a collimating end reflector comprising a faceted lens structure having a plurality of facets is disposed at the second end of the optical waveguide.
US08351741B2
A method of detecting fluorescence/absorbance/luminescence from 24-well, 48-well, 96-well, 384-well and 1536-well microplates and other sample containers. The sample is pumped into a waveguide. The waveguide efficiently gathers and guides the emission light to the end of the waveguide. The emission light exits the ends of the waveguide and is focused into a detector. To minimize background caused by the excitation light used for fluorescence, the excitation illuminates the waveguides at 90 degrees. To facilitate reuse, the waveguide assembly can be configured to be washed by an appropriate wash solution.
US08351733B2
Provided is an image sharpening processing device capable of performing image sharpening processing by changing only luminance without changing a hue. The image sharpening processing device includes: a smoothing means for smoothing luminance of an input image and thus obtaining a smoothed image; a subtraction means for subtracting the smoothed image from the luminance of the input image and thus obtaining a difference image; a luminance-linked gain calculation means for calculating a luminance-linked gain from the input image; a first multiplication means for multiplying the difference image by the luminance-linked gain and thus obtaining a multiplication result; an addition means for adding the multiplication result to the luminance of the input image and thus obtaining luminance of an output image; a color difference gain calculation means for calculating a color difference gain from a color difference of the input image and the luminance-linked gain; and a second multiplication means for multiplying the color difference of the input image by the color difference gain and thus obtaining a color difference of the output image.
US08351731B2
Image processing apparatus, imaging apparatus, image processing method, and computer program product
An image-information obtaining unit obtains image information. An image-component separating unit separates the image information into luminance information and color information. An edge extracting unit extracts edge information from the luminance information. A luminance-noise removing unit removes noise from the luminance information. A color-noise removing unit removes noise from the color information. An image-information synthesizing unit synthesizes image information based on the edge information, the luminance information form which the noise is removed, and the color information from which the noise is removed.
US08351730B2
A system and method for scaling images are provided. An upscaling algorithm or function is employed that increases the size of an image and then filters the upscaled image to remove aliasing artifacts. The system and method provides for acquiring an image of a first size, detecting the geometry of the image, scaling the image to a second size, and filtering the scaled image with at least one filter based on the detected geometry. During the filtering process, the edges of objects in the upscaled image are detected and different filter frequency responses are provided for the detected edges. Providing different filter frequency responses for the detected edges preserves more details for line images.
US08351723B2
A low complexity visual masking method used as part of an image encoding process is described. The method is suitable for use in JPEG2000 image compression systems. Control weights used for rate allocation are generated based on integer order moments of wavelet transformed coefficients corresponding to a codeblock. The novel rate allocation weight generation method can, and in some embodiments is, combined with an apriori rate allocation algorithm, where allocation of bits to different portions of images is controlled as a function of one or more generated weights. The methods and apparatus of the present invention have the effect of increasing errors in busy areas of an image where they tend to be less noticeable and allocating a higher number of bits to less busy areas than some other systems, e.g., systems which attempt to minimize a mean squared error under a constraint of a user selected output rate.
US08351715B1
Systems and processes for compressing, translating and storing solid-state model data for a plurality of parts that form a solid-state model is provided. Compressing, translating and storing solid-state model data includes extracting the solid-state model data. Compressing, translating and storing solid-state model data also includes translating the sorted solid-state model data into one or more assembly components, a plurality of part components and a plurality of surface components. The process further requires storing each of the one or more assembly components, each of the plurality of part components and each of the plurality of surface components into a single file.
US08351714B2
An image processing apparatus includes: a reference-based coding unit that encodes image information for an image partition having a predefined size by referring to image information for another image partition; an independently coding unit that encodes the image information for the image partition independently of any other image partition; and a bounds defining unit that defines bounds of reference to be made by the reference-based coding unit.
US08351712B2
Example methods and apparatus to perform image classification based on pseudorandom features are disclosed. A disclosed example method includes generating first and second pseudorandom numbers, extracting a first feature of an image based on the first and second pseudorandom numbers, and determining a classification for the image based on the first extracted feature.
US08351705B2
For monitoring an image transformation such as aspect ratio conversion, an image feature is defined by identifying a position in the image having a local spatial maximum value and then identifying four other positions in the image having local spatial minimum values such that the four minimum value positions surround the position of the maximum, a first pair of the minimums lie on a first line passing through maximum and a second pair of the minimums lie on a second line passing through the maximum.
US08351704B2
A method of producing linear features along a reference-line across a surface for use in a map database is disclosed. In at least one embodiment, the method includes generating, from reference-line data representative of coordinates of the reference-line in a geographic coordinate reference system and source images of the surface adjacent to the reference-line and associated position and orientation data in the geographic coordinate reference system, a reference-line referenced data set, wherein the reference-line referenced data set includes a plurality of sets of image data and associated data defining a reference-line' across a surface in the geographic coordinate reference system, the sets of image data including pixels wherein a set of image data corresponds to an orthorectified view representation of a line section of the surface in the geographic coordinate reference system, each set of image data includes a reference pixel being associated with a position on the reference-line, wherein each pixel represents a surface having a position at a distance from the position of the reference pixel along the line section, and wherein the line section perpendicularly crosses the reference-line at the position associated with the reference pixel; and, post processing the reference-line referenced data set to produce linear features along the reference-line and associated locations in the geographic coordinate reference system for use in a map database.
US08351697B2
The present invention relates to a method for detection of film mode or camera mode of a video sequence. This detection is carried out using histograms of video levels of frames of the video sequence. Difference histograms are calculated then compared with each other so as to generate difference parameters for each video frame of the sequence. The pattern formed by these difference parameters is then compared with predetermined patterns to deduce the mode, film or camera, of the sequence. The advantage of this method is that it requires just small memory resources for its implementation and can therefore be implanted in an FPGA circuit.
US08351693B2
A pattern data storage stores a plurality of different pattern data having the same data size as bit planes. An image compressing/decoding unit calculates code amounts of the respective encoded bit planes and successively adds the code amounts of the respective bit planes in decreasing order from that of the bit plane of the most significant bit to such an extent that the sum does not exceed a limited code amount. Then, the image compressing/decoding unit selects the bit planes with highest degrees of coincidence by comparing the bit planes other those whose code amounts were added to such an extent that the sum does not exceed the limited code amount and the respective pattern data stored in the pattern data storage and replaces the bit planes by the selected pattern data.
US08351690B2
A testing method includes following steps. An electronic image is captured by an electronic device. A test device detect whether the image has any black bar. If the image has a black bar, pixel values in the black bar are extracted. If the pixel values in the black bar are all the same, a test result of imaging software error is presented. If the pixel values in the black bar are different from each other, a test result of mechanism error is presented. A test system associated with the testing method is also disclosed.
US08351689B2
Implementations of the present invention involve methods and systems for converting a 2-D image to a stereoscopic 3-D image by segmenting one or more portions of the 2-D image based on one or more pixel color ranges. Further, a matte may be created that takes the shape of the segmented region such that several stereoscopic effects may be applied to the segmented region. In addition, ink lines that are contained within the segmented region may be removed to further define the corresponding matte. Implementations of the present disclosure also include a interface that provides the above functionality to a user for ease of segmentation and region selection. By utilizing the segmentation process, a 2-D image may be converted to a corresponding stereoscopic 3-D image with a perceived depth. Further, this process may be applied to each image of an animated feature film to convert the film from 2-D to 3-D.
US08351684B2
A terrain mapping system is disclosed. The system has at least one sensor configured to gather a plurality of current points defining a current surface of a site and a database containing a plurality of previously-gathered points defining a previous surface of the site. The system also has a controller in communication with the at least one sensor. The controller is configured to compare a height of at least one of the plurality of the current points to a height of a corresponding at least one of the plurality of previously-gathered points and to determine if an update to the database is warranted based on the comparison. The controller is further configured to update the database if it is determined that an update is warranted.
US08351681B2
A structure for recognizing an article to be collected includes a recognition reference plane that is provided in a part of a holding base which holds the article to be collected with a predetermined positional relationship and that serves as a reference used for recognizing layout information about a position and an attitude of the holding base. The structure also includes a recognition indicator element which is placed on the recognition reference plane in such a way that an imaging tool captures an image of the recognition indicator element and which has four or more unit pattern marks at a predetermined positional relationship, in which each of the unit pattern marks is formed such that a density pattern sequentially changes with an increasing distance from a center position toward a periphery of the mark.
US08351673B2
Described herein is a technology for facilitating coordinated description in image analysis. In one implementation, the technology includes receiving image data including at least first and second descriptors (204) describing portions of the image data. The first and second descriptors are coordinated by determining at least one conditional probability of observing the first descriptor in the image data given an occurrence of the second descriptor (206). A classifier may then be trained based on the conditional probability (208).
US08351672B2
A combined X-ray and laser 3D imaging system for food safety inspection, which uses a 3D laser subsystem to get accurate depth information, which is further combined with an x-ray image to achieve accurate physical contamination detection in poultry and other meat products. A unique calibration model is used to calibrate the x-ray and laser 3D imaging systems at the same time. And a nested multi-thread software structure is implemented to prevent data conflict and ensure fully use of system resources during the physical contamination detection of the poultry and other meat products.
US08351670B2
A region data editing apparatus includes a contour deforming section for receiving a contour deforming operation in which a contour of a region in a three-dimensional image is deformed, a boundary surface deforming section for deforming a boundary surface ∂D between inside and outside of region D in such a manner that the boundary surface ∂D follows the contour deformed by the contour deforming operation, and a region data updating section for updating region data in such a manner that the region data thus updated represents an inside of the boundary surface which has been deformed by the boundary surface deforming section.
US08351662B2
Face verification is performed using video data. The two main modules are face image capturing and face verification. In face image capturing, good frontal face images are captured from input video data. A frontal face quality score discriminates between frontal and profile faces. In face verification, a local binary pattern histogram is selected as the facial feature descriptor for its high discriminative power and computational efficiency. Chi-Square (χ2) distance between LBP histograms from two face images are then calculated as a face dissimilarity measure. The decision whether or not two images belong to the same person is then made by comparing the corresponding distance with a pre-defined threshold. Given the fact that more than one face images can be captured per person from video data, several feature based and decision based aggregators are applied to combine pair-wise distances to further improve the verification performance.
US08351659B2
An eye detection system, method, and apparatus are disclosed. The eye detection apparatus includes illuminator, receiver, processor, and memory elements. The illuminator emits radiation at predetermined wavelengths from the eye detection apparatus toward an area of interest. Radiation from the area of interest is detected at the receiver which, in turn, provides sensor data to the processor. The processor is coupled to the illuminator and receiver and controls their respective operations. The processor detects a pattern representative of a human eye in the sensor data and determines coordinates of an object corresponding to the pattern. The memory stores the coordinates of the object. Optionally, the eye detection apparatus communicates the coordinates of the object to a wireless device and directs countermeasures to the object's coordinates in response to commands from the wireless device.
US08351649B1
Technologies for object tracking can include accessing a video feed that captures an object in at least a portion of the video feed; operating a generative tracker to capture appearance variations of the object operating a discriminative tracker to discriminate the object from the object's background, where operating the discriminative tracker can include using a sliding window to process data from the video feed, and advancing the sliding window to focus the discriminative tracker on recent appearance variations of the object; training the generative tracker and the discriminative tracker based on the video feed, where the training can include updating the generative tracker based on an output of the discriminative tracker, and updating the discriminative tracker based on an output of the generative tracker; and tracking the object with information based on an output from the generative tracker and an output from the discriminative tracker.
US08351647B2
The present invention is a system and framework for automatically measuring and correlating visual characteristics of people and accumulating the data for the purpose of demographic and behavior analysis. The demographic and behavior characteristics of people are extracted from a sequence of images using techniques from computer vision. The demographic and behavior characteristics are combined with a timestamp and a location marker to provide a feature vector of a person at a particular time at a particular location. These feature vectors are then accumulated and aggregated automatically in order to generate a data set that can be statistically analyzed, data mined and/or queried.
US08351646B2
A method and apparatus for estimating poses of a subject by grouping data points generated by a depth image into groups representing labeled parts of the subject, and then fitting a model representing the subject to the data points using the grouping of the data points. The grouping of the data points is performed by grouping the data points to segments based on proximity of the data points, and then using constraint conditions to assign the segments to the labeled parts. The model is fitted to the data points by using the grouping of the data points to the labeled parts.
US08351638B2
A portable terminal with a speaker device includes a body housing, and a speaker module provided in the body housing and slidably retracted or extracted into/from the body housing. The speaker module includes a speaker housing slidably settled in the body housing, guide rails provided in the body housing, for sliding the speaker housing, at least one guide protrusion provided on the speaker housing and slidably engaged with the guide rails, and a moving member protruding from the speaker housing to an outside of the body housing, for retracting or extracting the speaker housing into/from the body housing.
US08351637B2
An earhook (1), for example for a headset, to be worn around the root of the auricle (14) in the postauricular sulcus. The earhook (1) extends between a first end (5) and a second end (6) and has at least a first (2) and a second (3) curved element interconnected at the first end (5). Each curved element (2, 3) has a concave first side pointing forward towards the root of the auricle (14) and a convex second side pointing away from the root of the auricle (14) when worn. The curved elements (2, 3) are arranged with lateral distance (w) seen in a direction essentially perpendicular to the side of the head.
US08351628B2
The present disclosure includes methods, devices, and systems for cochlear implants. One method embodiment for cochlear implant signal processing includes processing a differential analog audio signal using amplitude modulation and pulse-width modulation. The method includes driving a transmission coil on an external unit of the cochlear implant with the pulse-width and amplitude modulated signal. The method also includes driving a reception coil on an internal unit of the cochlear implant with an output of the transmission coil.
US08351623B2
Each of level meter block images 21 to 2m arranged on a touch panel display 1 displays, as a bar graph, respective signal levels of channels of a corresponding one of m blocks into which a plurality of channels are divided. The level meter block images 21 to 2m also serve as assignment selection buttons of an assignment selection portion 2. For each level meter block image, an image generation portion 8 generates not only an image of a bar graph but also an image which indicates respective color indicators of the respective channels such that, when a signal type of a channel indicates that there is a signal correlation between the channel and its neighboring channel, the channel has a color indicator of a connected shape shared with the neighboring channel, and synthesizes these images to output the synthesized image to an image display control circuit 3.
US08351621B2
A system for limiting the excursion of an audio speaker. The system may include first lowpass filter circuitry configured to receive a system input signal and to generate a first signal. The system may further include clipping circuitry configured between the first lowpass filter circuitry and the first combiner circuitry. The system may include first highpass filter circuitry configured to receive the system input signal and to generate a second signal. The system may include second lowpass filter circuitry configured to receive a combined output signal from the first combiner circuitry. The system may include allpass filter circuitry configured to receive the system input signal and to generate a fourth signal. The system may include second highpass filter circuitry configured to receive the fourth signal from the allpass filter circuitry. The second combiner circuitry may be configured to generate an excursion limiting output signal.
US08351610B2
To improve a communication system including two communication apparatuses so as to reduce a possibility of having communication decrypted by a third party. The communication system includes a first communication apparatus and a second communication apparatus, where one of the communication apparatuses encrypts transmission subject data and transmits generated encrypted data to the other communication apparatus which decrypts received encrypted data. Each of the communication apparatuses generates an algorithm used for encryption each time it performs the encryption or decryption. In this case, each of the communication apparatuses generates the algorithm by assigning past solutions to a solution generating algorithm capable of having the past solutions assigned thereto and thereby generating a new algorithm. The past solutions are erased when they are no longer used.
US08351609B2
One or more rights objects (RO) files may be used for storing RO's preferably in the protected area available only to authenticated users. A RO navigation file is stored preferably in an unprotected public area containing status bits, where each status bit identifies whether a location in a RO file contains a valid RO or not. Preferably, there is a one-to-one correspondence between the location for a RO in a RO file and a location in the RO navigation file for the status bit which identifies whether its corresponding location in the RO file contains a valid RO or not. Whether a particular location in a RO file contains a valid RO or not can be found by checking its corresponding status bit in the RO navigation file. By finding out whether a particular location in a RO file contains a valid RO or not in this manner, it is possible to delete ROs without having to go through an authentication process. The process of finding an empty slot in the RO file for storing a new RO is also simplified. This greatly increases the efficiency of RO management. A similar system may be used for management of content encryption/encryption keys for protecting content files.
US08351608B2
When a function inactivation process is instructed on an MFP A, all the functions are inactivated and a function inactivation certification key is issued, and then resources related to the functions are transmitted to an MFP-B. When reception of the resources is completed on the MFP-B, a function duplication completion certification key is issued. When these keys are input to a licensing server, a database is updated, and a function activation key is issued. When the function activation key is input to the MFP B, the functions related to the transmitted resources are carried out.
US08351606B2
A power distribution system may have source, switching and load components, wherein at least one of the source, switching and load components has a wireless communication capability such that it is operable to act as a wireless communication access point. A mobile station seeking to associate with the one component may use a secure access protocol to gain such access. The secure access protocol may provide for receiving at the one component a management message from the mobile station. From the management message the component may obtain mobile identification information used to verify the identity of the mobile station and to initiate communication by sending an association message. Until after successful verification of the mobile station identity the component remains radio silent.
US08351596B2
Methods and systems are provided for routing incoming customer service requests directly to the most appropriate destination within a call center without requiring customer knowledge of a specific telephone number or extension to call and without requiring the customer to select from a series of menus. The receiving location or inbound call center accepts a voice call from a customer. The incoming voice call includes an associated data stream. This data stream is processed by the inbound call center and is used to route the call to the appropriate destination or customer service representative, for example a specific person, a department, a subsidiary, an individual either working within a facility or working outside the facility, a subcontractor and combinations thereof. Additional functionality is provided by including additional data, e.g. data in addition to routing data, along with voice data.
US08351593B2
A method and apparatus are provided for recording a call between a client and an agent through an automatic contact distributor. The method includes the steps of the automatic contact distributor receiving a recording request from the agent, the automatic contact distributor activating a recording program, the recording program sniffing traffic within a packet telephone of the agent to detect packets exchanged between the agent and client and the recording program recording the detected packets between the agent and customer.
US08351592B2
A method for providing a remote PBX service by a customer's phone service provider. More than one telephone number is assigned to one customer's telephone communication link. The one customer's telephone communication link is in communication with at least one telephone. A connect signal is received by the customer's phone service provider. The connect signal includes one of the telephone numbers assigned to the one customer's telephone communication link. A called telephone code is generated. The called telephone code is indicative of the one of the telephone numbers included in the connect signal. The called telephone code is sent to the customer's telephone communication link whereby a user of the customer's telephone communication link is capable of knowing which of the more than one telephone numbers assigned to the one customer's telephone communication link was called prior to answering the at least one telephone connected to the customer's telephone communication link. Thus, the customer's phone service provider provides the remote PBX service for the customer without the necessity of a local PBX.
US08351591B2
The present invention provides flexible call processing. For example, a call processor system can receive an inbound call intended for a called party and place an outbound call to the called party. The call processing system can provide the called party with a call transfer option.
US08351587B2
A telecommunications device including a notification set-up unit associated with a user device; an access control unit configured to receive notification configuration information from said notification set-up unit and provide notification to said user device of a pending conference in accordance with said notification configuration information.
US08351586B2
The invention relates to a method for arranging a conference call with mobile terminals operating in a cellular network. At first, a group of the participants of the conference call is formed either by selecting the participants from a list saved in the memory of the mobile terminal in by inputting the contract information of the participants manually. In the next step, a summons to the conference call is drawn up in standard form. An application loaded into the memory of the convener's mobile terminal forms the summons, and sends the summons to the particulars via the cellular network. When a participant wants to join a conference call, he/she makes a call with the mobile terminal to the telephone number mentioned in the summons. An application in the mobile terminal of the convener receives the incoming calls and joins them to the conference call automatically.
US08351581B2
Intelligent call transcript systems and methods are disclosed. An intelligent call transcript system can create a transcript of a telephonic communication and supplement the transcript with additional information automatically or upon request. Additional information may be added when key words are detected, such as adding acronym expansion when an acronym is detected or adding identifying information to an important task when mention of the task is detected. Portions of the transcript may also be sent as messages, text-based or audio, upon detection of key words or at the instruction of a user or device.
US08351578B2
A wiring verification system is disclosed for testing the correct pairing of a plurality of subscriber lines between an existing line termination system and a replacement line termination system to assist in the transfer of the subscriber line terminations from the existing line termination system to the replacement system. The wiring verification system comprising a controller and two testheads, one of which places test calls from the line under test to a designated test line that is terminated by the second testhead. The electrical qualities of the wye splices between lines associated with new line termination system and those of the existing line termination system are analyzed for correctness and possible hazardous conditions. The directory number of the line under test can be verified by decoding the calling line ID. Automated test strategies provide details related to which splices require attention and suggestions for remediation.
US08351575B2
A source (19) for multiple energy X-ray generation in particular by field emitting carbon nanotubes (1, 2) is presented. In order to achieve a spatial overlap of the trajectories of the X-ray beams coming from different emitters, a focusing unit (7, 9) is supplied to the emitted electrons (28, 29). A fast switching between the emission of the different carbon nanotubes allows multiple kilovolt imaging. Independent determination of multiple focal spot parameters by the focusing unit leads to the possibilities of fast switching between different spot geometries and spatial resolutions. This might be seen in FIG. 1.
US08351573B2
A device is provided for positioning a target volume, such as a phantom or a patient, in a radiation therapy apparatus. The apparatus directs a radiation beam towards the target. The apparatus can include a target support whereon the target is immobilized, a two dimensional radiation detector fixed with fixations means in a known geometric relationship to the target support, the radiation detector being capable of detecting the position of intersection of the radiation beam with the detector, and correcting means for correcting the relative position of the beam and the target support, based on the detected intersection position.
US08351567B2
A method and system for automated testing and/or measurement of a plurality of substantially identical components by means of X-ray radiation comprises a testing/measuring device with an X-ray device, a protection cabin surrounding the testing/measuring device, a conveying device for continuously conveying components to or away from the testing/measuring device, and a control/evaluation unit, which is set up for automated control of the system and for evaluation of the X-ray signals. The testing/measuring device comprises a support and a rotor mounted on the support so as to be continuously rotatable, the X-ray device being arranged on the rotor and the conveying device being set up for serial conveying of the components through the rotor and the control/evaluation unit for computer tomographic evaluation of the X-ray signals.
US08351555B2
In an example embodiment a method comprises receiving at least one data stream from at least two transmitter antennas, wherein the at least one data stream is pre-coded by a set of weighting coefficients; receiving a pilot channel from each of the at least two transmitter antennas; processing the received at least one data stream by an equalizer with a set of equalizer filter coefficients; calculating for each of the at least one data stream following: a signal power and an interference power from other stream, if there is any intererence, at least in part based on a set of post equalizer channel coefficients and the set of weighting coefficients; a noise power at least in part based on the received pilot channels and the set of weighting coefficients; and a signal to interference and noise ratio based on the corresponding calculated signal power, interference power and noise power.
US08351547B2
A wireless communication device and method are capable of detecting a receive timing of a direct wave at higher precision without increasing transmit power. A signal receiver receives a signal having a center frequency changed in a predetermined rule at predetermined time intervals. A time-frequency transformer transforms the received signal from a time domain to a frequency domain. A filter removes frequency-domain signal components unused during reception, based on the predetermined rule, from the frequency-domain signal. A reverse modulator performs a reverse modulation process on the remaining signal components. A signal adder generates an added signal by performing accumulative addition on the signal components that underwent the reverse modulation process in the reverse modulator for a predetermined period. A direct wave arrival time determiner determines an arrival time of a direct wave according to an impulse response obtainable from an output of the frequency-time transformer.
US08351546B2
Sensing installed orientation of an antenna or access node in a wireless digital network. According to one aspect of the invention, an orientation sensor such as a 2 or 3 axis accelerometer is provided in the access node. The orientation sensor may be attached to the access node housing, directly or through a substrate, attached to the main logic board of the access node, or may be mounted to an antenna. The orientation sensor may be mounted to the same substrate as is used to form an antenna, or may be mounted on a separate substrate. When associated with an antenna, such as the orientation sensor on the same substrate as the antenna, or co-located with the antenna such as inside the same package, the orientation of the antenna may be sensed. Orientation data on the access node and/or antenna may be transmitted to the controller for the access node, and/or to clients of the access node. This orientation information may be used for example to verify or validate installation and positioning, for example comparing the actual orientation to the desired orientation as stored in a database. The orientation information may be used in modeling and/or displaying access node coverage. In access nodes with selectable antennas, the orientation information may be used to switch antennas.
US08351544B2
A method and apparatus are provided for feedback for closed-loop transmitting with multiple transmit antenna elements and multiple receive antenna elements. A base station includes a codebook containing sets of weightings for the multiple transmit antenna elements, with each set of weightings identified by an index and the codebook known to the base station and a served mobile station (MS). The base station pre-codes pilot signals using a precoding matrix, preferably a unitary matrix, to produce pre-coded pilot signals, which precoding matrix may or may not be known to the MS and which precoding matrix may or may not be included in the codebook. The base station then transmits the pre-coded pilot signals to the MS via the multiple transmit antenna elements and, in response, receives an index to a set of weightings in the codebook for use in a subsequent transmission of a data stream.
US08351532B2
An exemplary method of communicating includes determining a first user channel estimate from a communication comprising first and second user reference sequences. The first user reference sequence is reconstructed using the determined first user channel estimate. The communication is revised based upon the reconstructed first user reference sequence. Then determining a second user channel estimate is based on the revised communication.
US08351519B2
Techniques and apparatus for embedding one or more bits of 802.11 Very High Throughput (VHT) information in existing IEEE 802.11 preamble fields are provided. As will be described herein, because different combinations of modulation techniques, coding schemes, and transmission lengths result in the same transmit time (e.g., in terms of symbol length), a clever choice of modulation, coding, and length may allow some extra information to be embedded in a legacy field for use by VHT stations. In this manner, the total VHT preamble transmission time may potentially be reduced, thereby increasing the efficiency of the physical layer (PHY). Moreover, the embedded bits may most likely be invisible to legacy stations, since the transmission time that such stations compute will be independent of these bits by design.
US08351511B2
Disclosed herein is an image processing apparatus, including, a local motion vector detection section, a global motion vector acquisition section, an index value calculation section, a motion compensation section, an addition ratio calculation section, and an addition section.
US08351499B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide a method of identifying inconsistent field order flags for a sequence of video frames comprising: for each frame in the sequence of video frames analyzing the frame to make an initial determination of the field order for that frame; averaging the initial determination of the field order over a predefined number of most recently analyzed frames; and determining those frames for which the averaged field order does not match the field order identified by a respective field order metadata item associated with each frame by comparing the averaged field order for each frame to the respective field order metadata item.
US08351494B2
Provided are a channel equalization and carrier recovery method and a receiving apparatus thereof. In the method, a receiver of the high speed wireless communication system obtains an initial value of a channel equalization coefficient through non-causal channel estimation in a frequency domain during a preamble transmission section of a packet. High-order QAM signal correction for updating the channel equalization coefficient in a time domain is performed during a data transmission section of the packet. when a payload section starts in the data transmission section of the packet, channel equalization coefficient tracking is performed on the basis of frequency domain decision, and a hard decision of a correction value by the high-order QAM signal correction in the time domain is made to correct carrier phase errors, so that the channel equalization coefficient is updated.
US08351487B1
A method for communication includes receiving signals at a receiver from one or more sources, including a target signal transmitted by a given transmitter. A channel response is estimated from the given transmitter to the receiver, and a filter response is computed by taking a sum of an autocorrelation of the received signals with an adaptive noise factor, and applying the sum to the estimated channel response. The filter response is applied to the received signals in order to recover the target signal.
US08351474B2
In accordance with the present invention, a compact laser system with nearly continuous wavelength scanning is presented. In some embodiments, the compact laser system can be scanned over a broad range. In some embodiments, the compact laser system can be scanned at high scan rates. In some embodiments, the compact laser system can have a variable coherence length. In particular, embodiments with wavelength scanning over 140 nm with continuously variable scan rates of up to about 1 nm/μs, and discrete increase in scan rates up to about 10 nm/μs, and variable coherence lengths of from 1 mm to about 30 mm can be achieved.
US08351472B2
The present invention provides a semiconductor light emitting element that can obtain oscillation at desired wavelengths. The semiconductor light emitting element comprises a semiconductor substrate 11, an active layer 12 for emitting and propagating light, which is formed in a stripe shape above the semiconductor substrate 11, buried layers 13a, 13b formed on both lateral sides of the active layer 12, a cladding layer 16 formed above the active layer 12 and the buried layers 13a, 13b, a first electrode 17a formed above the cladding layer 16, and a second electrode 17b formed below the semiconductor substrate 11. The active layer 12 opens on one end facet 14a among the two end facets formed by cleavage so that the active layer 12 makes a predetermined angle to the normal direction of the one end facet 14a. A partially heating means 15 for heating a predetermined length portion of the active layer 12 along the direction of light propagation is formed on a first electrode at a position thermally isolated from the one end facet 14a.
US08351470B2
A signal receiver including an input that receives a plurality of signals from a respective plurality of channels; a multiplexer unit that receives the plurality of signals from the input and that selects, in a time-division manner, one of the plurality of signals; and at least one phase difference detector that receives the selected signal from the multiplexer unit, a number of the at least one phase difference detectors being less than a number of the plurality of channels.
US08351468B2
As additional channels are added to a communication system for applications, such as standard density (SD) and eventually high density (HD) Video on Demand (VOD), additional capacity can be realized by reducing the time required to transmit content. A reduction of transmission time (or an increase of the transmission rate) can be achieved by bonding channels of the communication system. The bonded channels typically provide a statistical multiplexing gain because the additional bandwidth is treated as a large single channel for the download. Bonding channels of the communication system can provide high speed downloading of content, such as video content, far in excess of the playback rate. Using bonded channels can relax the Quality of Service (QoS) requirements of a data stream, such as a video stream, over an internet protocol (IP) network.
US08351460B2
Disclosed herein is a control method for a Digital Video Recorder (DVR). In the method, a protocol script map table, including command packet information and management information for parsing the command packet information, is newly defined. Whenever a camera using a new protocol is added to the DVR system, a script table for the new protocol is prepared based on the newly defined table, and is copied to a predetermined area of system memory via a data port, such as a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port, and a running main application creates a command packet for controlling the newly connected camera with reference to the prepared script table. Thus, a surveillance camera can be added to a digital video recording system without interrupting a surveillance function.
US08351457B2
A method for providing a priority-based, low-collision distributed coordination function (DCF) in a wireless network is provided. The network includes an access point and a plurality of stations. The method includes receiving at a first station a super-frame from the access point. The super-frame is operable to define a service period for each of the stations. A priority for the first station is determined based on the super-frame. A back-off time is selected for the first station based on the priority.
US08351456B2
Systems and methodologies are described herein that facilitate filtering or clustering of radios and/or other transceivers associated with a communication environment. As described herein, potentially conflicting transceivers supported by a communications device can be managed in an expedited fashion by filtering the transceivers into respective groups or clusters of transceivers that exhibit potential collisions. For example, clusters can be generated such that respective transceivers are associated with a single cluster and respective transceivers associated with a given cluster do not exhibit potential collisions with transceivers not associated with the given cluster. Clustering can be performed graphically as further described herein by generating and analyzing a graph that includes nodes corresponding to respective transceivers and edges representing potential conflicts therebetween. Additionally, resolution tables can be generated using substantially all combinations of conflicting transceivers within a set of transceivers, as determined based on an initial clustering and/or in any other suitable manner.
US08351452B2
A method and network node for distributing media across an IP network, the network node having multicast and peer-to-peer ingress interfaces, and unicast and peer-to-peer egress interfaces. For each of a plurality of contents, the network node selects an ingress interface and receives media packets representing the content at the selected interface. For each media packet received, the network node determines from information conveyed in the media packet whether that media packet can be cached at the network node and caches the media packet if permitted. When the network node receives a request from a further network node for a given content, the network node selects an egress interface and forwards media packets representing the given content to the further network node over that selected interface. If media packets representing the given content were cached, the cached media packets are forwarded to the further network node.
US08351445B1
Network interface systems are disclosed comprising a bus interface system, a media access control system, a memory system, a security system for selectively encrypting outgoing data and decrypting incoming data, a checksum system for generating and verifying checksum values, and a segmentation system for selectively segmenting outgoing data, where the network interface system may be fabricated as a single integrated circuit chip. Methods are also provided for interfacing a host system with a network, in which checksum information is obtained from the host system, which is used to generate checksum values for outgoing data while the data is being stored in a network interface memory system.
US08351444B2
Communication environment switchover may be provided. A received signal strength level may be determined corresponding to a signal sent from a first device and received at a second device. The received signal strength level may be measured at the second device. In addition, the first device may be re-provisioned. For example, the first device may be re-provisioned to communicate in a second environment if the first device is provisioned to communicate in a first environment and if the received signal strength level is greater than a first threshold value. Furthermore, the first device to be re-provisioned to communicate in the first environment if the first device is provisioned to communicate in the second environment and if the received signal strength level is less than a second threshold value. The second threshold value may be less than the first threshold value.
US08351434B1
Systems and methods for improving network performance. A method of transmitting packet data across a network includes a transmitting network device establishing a reservation to transmit traffic to a plurality of wireless receiving network devices across a network; the transmitting network device transmitting a sequence of packets across the network, wherein a packet of the sequence of packets includes data requesting the receivers acknowledge receipt of the packet; the transmitting network device waiting for a predetermined time to receive acknowledgement of receipt of the packet from the wireless receiving network devices; the transmitting network device retransmitting a packet across the network only if it does not receive an acknowledgement for that packet from any of the wireless receiving network devices within the predetermined time.
US08351432B2
An encapsulation apparatus for encapsulating data includes an input to receive the data, a machine to generate information related to the encapsulation of data and a logic coupled to the machine. A processing machine is coupled to the input and the logic.
US08351430B2
The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for routing using global address pairs. Embodiments of the invention use publicly routable Internet Protocol (“IP”) addresses to represent sites rather than individual hosts. Hosts can be represented by a global address pair, including site public IP address and a node private IP address. Nodes route packets to address processing modules using IP-in-IP encapsulation. An outer header contains a site public IP address and is destined to a site on inter-site links. An inner header contains a node private IP address and is destined to a private endpoint in intra-site links. In some embodiments, a site public IPv4 address and a node private IPv4 address are encoded into an IPv6 address. Use of an IPv6 address makes encoding of the two IPv4 address transparent to IPv6 applications.
US08351421B2
A system and method for sending long distance telephone calls over the Internet utilizes cost and quality of service data to optimize system performance and to minimize the cost of completing the calls. The system utilizes a network of gateways connected to the Internet. The gateways receive calls from various service providers and convert the analog calls into data packets which are then placed onto the Internet. Similarly, the gateways take data packets off the Internet, convert the data packets back into analog format, and provide the analog telephone calls to the same or another service provider. Then system periodically checks the quality of communications between each of the gateways, and uses this information, in combination with cost information, to determine how to route the calls over the Internet. Special addressing protocols can be used by a system embodying the invention to reduce or eliminate unnecessary signaling between gateways as call setup procedures are carried out. The system can also use information about calls that has been recorded in more than one location to determine how much to charge for completing a call.
US08351416B2
The present invention relates to a re-generating method and module for an ATSC-MH broadcasting signal, an ATSC-MH broadcast receiver, and a storage medium. The ATSC-MH broadcast receiver includes: a main stream data generating module for receiving an ATSC-MH RF signal, and outputting main stream data including MHE packets; an ATSC-MH broadcasting signal re-generating module for extracting the MHE packets from the main stream data generated by the main stream data generating module, thereby re-configuring data of MPH Group format after data interleaver; and a mobile stream generating module for outputting the mobile stream data from the interleaved MPH group format data re-configured by the ATSC-MH broadcasting signal re-generating module.
US08351409B2
A system for synchronizing time amongst a plurality of wireless network devices in a wireless network is provided, where a message is exchanged between a transmitting wireless device and a receiving wireless device. Such a system includes: a controller that inserts synchronized time information in the message, prior to transmitting the message, the synchronized time information comprising a current time value and a synchronization time value; and a processor that determines a local elapsed time value since last receiving a last synchronized time.
US08351405B2
Methods and apparatus for improved beacon signaling in a wireless communication system are described. Information is encoded in the tone position of the beacon tone. The information encoded may include sector type, sector index and slope index, as well as some time index. The information is coded in the tone position so that any few of several beacons can be decoded in order to decode the information. The methods and apparatus described in the invention improve the robustness against frequency selective fading and do not require wireless terminals to establish synchronization for reliable base station detection.
US08351403B2
A data allocation method in a wireless communication system in which data is allocated in both a time axis direction and frequency axis direction, and data is transmitted between a mobile station and base station according to an allocated schedule, the allocation method including: measuring propagation path information between the mobile station and the base station; and modifying an allocation width of a burst in the time axis direction or in the frequency axis direction based on the propagation path information.
US08351402B2
Provided are a digital communication system using frequency selective baseband and a method thereof. A transmitter of the digital communication system, includes: a preamble/header transmission processing unit for spreading a preamble for frame synchronization and a header including data information; a data transmission processing unit for spreading data by using spread codes having dominant frequency in a desired frequency band, i.e., frequency selective spread codes; and a multiplexer for multiplexing the spreaded preamble and the spreaded header from the preamble/header transmission processing unit and the frequency selective spreaded data from the data transmission processing unit and transmitting the multiplexed signal in digital.
US08351390B2
A system comprises a candidate channel assessment module for obtaining at least one AC-specific channel suitability metric for each of two different channels, and for using the AC-specific channel suitability metrics to determine a channel suitability index of each of the two different channels; a channel selection module for using the channel suitability index to select one of the two different channels as a new channel; and a channel setting module for configuring a wireless transceiver to use the new channel.
US08351387B2
A method for receiving an acknowledgement (ACK)/negative acknowledgement (NAK) signal in an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) communication system is described. The method includes receiving ACK/NAK signals and repetitions of the ACK/NAK signals mapped to one or more OFDM symbols which are allocated for transmission of a plurality of ACK/NAK signals within one sub-frame, and confirming receipt of the ACK/NAK signals. The OFDM symbol for each ACK/NAK signal is determined according to the repetition of the ACK/NAK signals, and frequency regions for the ACK/NAK signals within the OFDM symbols are different from frequency regions for the repetition of the ACK/NAK signals within the OFDM symbols.
US08351381B1
A method and system for determining that a given channel defined by a first protocol radio link is overloaded, transmitting a first type of message to a wireless communication device operating on the first protocol radio link, and thereafter transmitting a message of a second type to the wireless communication device via a second protocol radio link. The message of the first type is encoded to cause the wireless communication device to switch from operating on the first protocol radio link to operating on the second protocol radio link and to cause the wireless communication device to switch back to operating on the first protocol radio link upon receipt of the message of the second type. The wireless communication device may present the message of the second type to a user of the wireless communication device.
US08351360B2
When a request is sent by a switching unit, relating to the use of at least one subset of a codec mode configuration for the establishment of a transcoder-free operation connection by a radio network controller, it is checked whether the at least one requested subset is supported by the radio network controller. If the at least one subset of at least one codec mode configuration is supported, a transcoder-free operation connection to the switching unit and to the communication terminal is established by the radio network controller. Furthermore, a message relating to the at least one subset of the codec mode configuration to be used is signalled from the radio network controller to the communication terminal for the transmission of data.
US08351355B2
In a particular embodiment, interworking between an H.323 protocol and SIP protocol for a call forward/redirection is provided. A first user may call a second user. The second user may have set preferences that cause a call redirection/forward to another end device. The end device may be associated with the second user or another user. Different preferences for the call forward/redirection may be provided. For example, a call may be forwarded all the time, when the second end device is busy, when there is no answer, etc. The redirection may then be performed using a gateway. When end devices communicate using SIP and H.323, the gateway provides interworking to provide the call forward/redirection. For example, the gateway maps a 3xx message in SIP to an H.450.3 message in the H.323 protocol, and vice versa, to provide the call forward/redirection.
US08351347B2
Disclosed is a method for transmitting a sounding reference signal from to a base station in a radio communication system. More specifically, the method comprises the steps of: transmitting a periodic sounding reference signal to a base station; receiving a transmission instruction for an additional sounding reference signal from the base station; multiplexing said periodic sounding reference signal and said additional sounding reference signal along a frequency axis or a time axis; and transmitting said multiplexed periodic sounding reference signal and said additional sounding reference signal to said base station. Said multiplexing step is characterized by multiplexing said periodic sounding reference signal and said additional sounding reference signal along a frequency axis or a time axis.
US08351346B2
A communication device capable of improving power saving is provided. A communication device (1) includes a communication port (10); communication monitoring sections (18, 22) for controlling information communication using the communication port, a status indicating section (12) having one or more status indicators, a status indicator driving section (20) for controlling a drive signal which detects a communication status from the communication monitoring sections and is supplied to the status indicating section on the basis of the communication status, and a lighting control section (24) for detecting the communication status from the communication monitoring sections and outputting a control signal to the status indicator driving section if the communication status changes from a first status to a second status. The status indicator driving section controls the drive signal so as to turn off the status indicators when the control signal is outputted from the lighting control section.
US08351339B2
A method for Bluetooth on-demand routing, and network formation, and a communication method of a Bluetooth group ad hoc network. With respect to a Bluetooth network system that has a source node, a destination node and a plurality of independent nodes, the method includes the forward and the backward path set-up steps. In the forward path set-up step, the source node sends out a route request message, thus setting up multi forward paths towards the source node and the destination node. In the backward path set-up step, the destination node in receipt of the route request message sends out a route reply message to the source node through one of the set forward paths, thus setting up a backward path. Through the set backward path, a route is formed as the most suitable path between the source node and the destination node to save battery power and provide broader bandwidth.
US08351327B1
An intermediate network device intercepts a packet flow associated with a communication session between a client device and a server, splits the intercepted packet flow of the communication session into a plurality of application-layer data channels, wherein each application-layer data channel represents an independent stream of application-layer data within the communication session, performs Quality of Service (QoS) processing on the application-layer data channels, combines the plurality of QoS-processed application-layer data channels into a combined packet flow, and outputs the combined packet flow onto the communication session between the client device and the server.
US08351326B2
An exemplary system includes a first mobile telephone switching office subsystem configured to receive and forward network traffic, a second mobile telephone switching office subsystem configured to receive and forward network traffic, and a hub router communicatively connected to the first and second mobile telephone switching office subsystems via at least one network backhaul connection. The hub router configured to establish at least one communication tunnel from the hub router to the first mobile telephone switching office subsystem and establish at least one backup communication tunnel from the hub router to the second mobile telephone switching office subsystem, wherein the at least one backup communication tunnel is pre-signaled as a backup to the at least one communication tunnel. Corresponding systems and methods are also disclosed.
US08351317B2
Provided are a laser irradiation apparatus, an irradiation method using the same, and a method of crystallizing an amorphous silicon film using the same. Particularly, a laser irradiation apparatus which can reduce a deviation of an intensity of a laser beam, an irradiation method using the same, and a method of crystallizing an amorphous silicon film using the same, which can improve uniformity in crystallization into a polycrystalline silicon thin film, are provided.
US08351312B2
An optical disc recording apparatus (10) is provided with a tracking servo (13) for tracking a spiral track of concave and convex marks, an analog signal processor (14) for extracting a reproduction signal corresponding to the concave and convex marks, a digital signal processor (15) for extracting a channel clock synchronized with a channel bit length of the concave and convex marks, and a sub-information recording section (30) for recording sub-information by irradiating laser light based on the tracking to the spiral track. The sub-information recording section (30) records all the sub-information by repeating a process of recording a part of the sub-information by discretely irradiating laser light at a specified interval and with a specified frequency in synchronism with a channel clock by one tracking to form recordable marks on a reflective film a plurality of times. By this construction, a tracking control to the concave and convex marks can be stably executed and the sub-information can be stably recorded.
US08351311B2
The present invention achieves higher precision and lower power consumption by reducing semiconductor chip occupation area. A semiconductor integrated circuit which can be mounted on an optical disk device has: a wobble signal generating circuit capable of receiving first, second, third, and fourth light reception output signals A, B, C, and D of a light receiving element in an optical pickup and detecting a wobble in a recordable disk; a differential phase detection signal (DPD) generating circuit for tracking an unrecordable disk; and two A/D converters and an arithmetic circuit. The first, second, third, and fourth light reception output signals are selectively supplied to the two A/D converters, the arithmetic circuit in a first operation mode generates a first addition output signal of A and C and a second addition output signal of B and D, the DPD generating circuit generates a digital phase comparison signal, the arithmetic circuit in a second operation mode generates a third addition output signal of A and D and a fourth addition output signal of B and C, and the wobble signal generating circuit generates a digital wobble signal.
US08351309B2
Disclosed is a thermally assisted magnetic recording medium comprising a substrate, a plurality of underlayers formed on the substrate, and a magnetic layer which is formed on the underlayers and predominantly comprised of an alloy having a L10 structure, characterized in that at least one of the underlayers is predominantly comprised of MgO and comprises at least one kind of a metal element having a melting point of at least 2,000° C., such as Nb, Mo, Ru, Ta or W. The thermally assisted magnetic recording medium has magnetic crystal grains having uniform size in the magnetic layer, and has a narrow switching field distribution (SFD), and a magnetic recording storage provided with the thermally assisted magnetic recording medium exhibits a high SN ratio.
US08351304B2
A near-field optical head includes: a near-field light generating element, formed on a counter surface of a slider facing the surface of a magnetic recording medium and having two or more side surfaces each of which are in contact with the counter surface at a certain angle with the counter surface, for generating the near-field light; at least one lower wiring formed on at least one of the side surfaces of the near-field light generating element; a thin-film-like magnetic pole disposed to a position covering the lower wiring; at least one upper wiring disposed on one of the two sides of the magnetic pole, opposite to the side on which the lower wiring is disposed; at least one side surface wiring connecting the lower wiring and the upper wiring; insulating layers insulating each of the lower wiring, the magnetic pole, and the upper wiring from the others; and a coil wound around the magnetic pole by connecting the lower wiring and the upper wiring alternately and serially using the side surface wiring.
US08351298B2
Apparatus and methods for acquiring seismic data using a seabed seismic data cable positioned on a seabed are described, including correcting for the effect of one or more sensor non-linear motions, which improves accuracy of seismic data. One or multiple non-linear movements of the sensor may be corrected for. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract, which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. 37 CFR 1.72(b).
US08351295B2
A waterproof or water-resistant membrane cover for the acoustic transducer array of a sodar system. The membrane is placed over each transducer of the array. The membrane may be spaced from the array, with a structure such as a frame used to hold the membrane in place relative to the array.
US08351286B2
A method of screening manufacturing defects at a memory array may include programming a background pattern of physically inverse data along conductive lines extending in a first direction. The programming may include providing a program conductive line with a high value. The method may further include programming a memory cell at an intersection of the program conductive line and a conductive line extending in a second direction to a selected high value, and determining whether a cell initially at a low value and associated with a conductive line extending in the first direction and adjacent to the program conductive line is disturbed.
US08351280B2
A circuit includes a reference data line configured to receive a reference voltage value, a memory cell, a data line coupled to the memory cell and configured to have a data logic value associated with data stored in the memory cell, a first circuit coupled to the reference data line and to the data line, and an output node configured to selectively receive the data logic value from the data line or receive the data logic value through the first circuit, based on the reference voltage value and a trip point used to trigger the first circuit to provide the data logic value through the first circuit.
US08351279B2
An integrated circuit includes a static random access memory (SRAM) array coupled to a first voltage supply node and a second voltage supply node. The first and second voltage supply nodes provide a retention voltage across the SRAM array. A current limiter is disposed between the SRAM array and the first voltage supply node, and a voltage regulator is coupled in parallel with the current limiter between the SRAM array and the first voltage supply node. The voltage regulator is configured to maintain the retention voltage across the SRAM array above a predetermined level.
US08351277B2
According to one embodiment, a method is disclosed for operating a semiconductor memory device. The semiconductor memory device includes a substrate, a stacked body, a memory film, a channel body, a select transistor, and a wiring. The method can boost a potential of the channel body by applying a first erase potential to the wiring, the select gate, and the word electrode layer. In addition, after the boosting of the potential of the channel body, with the wiring and the select gate maintained at the first erase potential, the method can decrease a potential of the word electrode layer to a second erase potential lower than the first erase potential.
US08351276B2
A method includes erasing bits and identifying bits that have been over-erased by the erasing. A first subset of the bits that have been over-erased are soft programmed. The results of soft programming the first subset of bits is measured. An initial voltage condition from a plurality of possible voltage conditions based on the results from soft programming the first subset of bits is selected. A second subset of bits that have been over-erased are soft programmed. The soft programming applies the initial voltage condition to the bits in the second subset of bits. The second subset comprises bits that are still over-erased when the step of selecting occurs. The result is that the soft programming for the second subset may begin at a more optimum point for quickly achieving the needed soft programming to bring all of the bits within the desired erase condition.
US08351273B2
A nonvolatile memory device comprises a memory cell array including a number of bit lines commonly coupled to a source line and each coupled to a number of memory cells, a delay unit configured to delay a sense signal in response to a voltage level of the source line and to output a delayed sense signal, and a page buffer unit configured to sense voltage levels of the bit lines in response to the delayed sense signal.
US08351272B2
An apparatus and method for reducing power consumption in digital circuits, particularly circuits including a charge pump. A driver may selectively drive a signal line, such as a memory device wordline, between a first voltage, which may be a voltage generated by the charge pump, and a different second voltage. A coupling circuit may be coupled between the signal line and the charge pump to selectively couple the signal line to the charge pump responsive to the signal line being driven from the first voltage to the second voltage. For example, the first voltage may be a voltage generated by the charge pump, and the second voltage may be a voltage having a lesser magnitude. As a result, the voltage on the signal line may be discharged into the charge pump when the voltage of the signal line transitions from the first voltage to the second voltage.
US08351267B2
A method of programming a nonvolatile memory device comprises performing a first program operation on first memory cells and second memory cells so that threshold voltages of the first and second memory cells have a first reference level lower than a first target level, the first memory cells having the first target level as a first target level, and the second memory cells having a second target level higher than the first target level as a second target level; performing a second program operation on the second memory cells so that the threshold voltages of the second memory cells have a second reference level lower than the second target level; and performing a third program operation on the first and second memory cells to have the respective target levels.
US08351266B2
Techniques for controlling a direct injection semiconductor memory device are disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the techniques may be realized as a method for controlling a direct injection semiconductor memory device comprising applying a first voltage potential to a first region via a bit line, applying a second voltage potential to a second region of the memory device via a source line, applying a control voltage potential to a body region of the memory device via a word line that is spaced apart and capacitively coupled to the body region, and applying a third voltage potential to a third region of the memory device via a carrier injection line in order to bias at least one of the first region, the second region, the third region, and the body region to perform one or more operations.
US08351263B2
Disclosed is a method, circuit and system for determining a Lowest Operative Threshold Voltage Level for one or more cell segments/blocks/sets of a NVM array and a corresponding device, adapted to compare substantially native state NVM cells in a block of cells against one or more reference cells/structures or offset values, and to maintain a read error count.
US08351262B2
A nonvolatile memory device that includes first and second storage areas, and a control logic configured to control the first and second storage areas, wherein when a program operation of the first storage area is passed before a program operation of the second storage area is passed, the control logic completes the program operation of the first storage area and continues the program operation of the second storage area is provided.
US08351261B2
The disclosure relates to a device for supplying to at least one integrated circuit a high voltage for erasing and/or programming of a memory. The device includes at least one contact terminal linked to at least one contact terminal of the integrated circuit, a monitor for monitoring a data signal received by the integrated circuit and detecting in the data signal a write command of the memory, and a voltage supplier for applying the high voltage to a terminal of the integrated circuit when a write command of the memory has been detected by the monitor.
US08351255B2
p-type wells are provided within an n-type embedded well of a semiconductor substrate lying in an area for forming a flash memory, in a state of being isolated from one another. A capacitance section, a data write/erase charge injection/discharge section and a data read MIS•FET are disposed in each of the p-type wells. The capacitance section is disposed between the data write/erase charge injection/discharge section and the data read MIS•FET. In the data write/erase charge injection/discharge section, writing and erasing of data by an FN tunnel current at a channel entire surface are performed.
US08351243B2
A nonvolatile memory device with a first conductor extending in a first direction and a semiconductor element above the first conductor. The semiconductor element includes a source, a drain and a channel of a field effect transistor (JFET or MOSFET). The nonvolatile memory device also includes a second conductor above the semiconductor element, the second conductor extending in a second direction. The nonvolatile memory device also includes a resistivity switching material disposed between the first conductor and the semiconductor element or between the second conductor and the semiconductor element. The JFET or MOSFET includes a gate adjacent to the channel, and the MOSFET gate being self-aligned with the first conductor.
US08351241B2
A method of suppressing propagation of leakage current in an array of switching devices. The method includes providing a dielectric breakdown element integrally and serially connected to a switching element within each of the switching device. A read voltage (for example) is applied to a selected cell. The propagation of leakage current is suppressed by each of the dielectric breakdown element in unselected cells in the array. The read voltage is sufficient to cause breakdown in the selected cells but insufficient to cause breakdown in the serially connected, unselected cells in a specific embodiment. Methods to fabricate of such devices and to program, to erase and to read the device are provided.
US08351239B2
A dynamic sense current supply circuit and an associated method for rapidly characterizing a resistive memory array is disclosed. In one embodiment, the disclosed circuit comprises a first and second dynamically programmable current mirror sub-circuit. Responsive to a bank of control signals, each dynamically programmable current mirror sub-circuit provides a dynamically adjustable current scaling factor. These scaling factors are used to scale a supplied reference current to generate a plurality of sense currents which can be used within a plurality of read operations on a resistive memory array. A digital circuit is also provided to sense and store the result of each read operation.
US08351234B2
An extensible three dimensional circuit having parallel array channels includes an access layer and crossbar array layers overlying the access layer and being electrically connected to the access layer. The crossbar array layers include parallel channels, the parallel channels being formed from two classes of vias, the first class being pillar vias connected to relatively short stub lines, and the second class being traveling-line vias connected to long lines that travel away from the via; pillar vias and traveling-line vias being configured to connect to crossing lines such that each crossing point between the lines is uniquely addressed by one pillar via and one traveling-line via. Programmable crosspoint devices are disposed between the crossing lines.
US08351228B2
A voltage conversion circuit with reduced power consumption can be used for a power supply device (100). The power supply device (100) is composed of a power supply circuit (3) including an alternating power supply (1) and a rectifying circuit (2); a voltage conversion circuit (6) including a plurality of capacitors (4) and a switching circuit (5); and a load circuit (7). The voltage conversion circuit (6) is connected between the power supply circuit (3) and the load circuit (7). The alternating power supply (1) is connected to a switching circuit (5) of the voltage conversion circuit (6) without having the rectifying circuit (2) in between. An output voltage (potential fluctuation: a potential difference generated in the signal waveform of the power supply voltage) from the alternating power supply (1) prior to rectification is applied to the switching circuit (5). The alternating power supply (1) is also connected to the capacitors (4) through the rectifying circuit (2), and output power after rectification is applied to the capacitors. The voltage conversion circuit (6) supplies the load circuit (7) with the power supply voltage inputted from the power supply circuit (3) by increasing or reducing the voltage.
US08351217B2
A wiring board of the present invention comprises a plurality of device formation areas each for mounting a semiconductor chip thereon, and two or more slits formed in an area which comes into contact with a molding die when the wiring board is placed in a cavity of the molding die for forming a sealant to collectively cover the plurality of device formation areas.
US08351215B2
The present invention relates to a chip embedded printed circuit board and a manufacturing method thereof. The present invention provides the chip embedded printed circuit board including an insulating layer embedding a chip provided with posts at an upper part, vias formed through the insulating layer, upper patterns formed at the upper part of the insulating layer to be connected to the posts and the vias and lower patterns formed at a lower part of the insulating layer to be connected to the vias, and the manufacturing method thereof.
US08351207B2
A heat pipe includes a conductive hollow case, a conductive capillary layer, a piezoelectric component, and a flexible component. The conductive hollow case has a first end and a second end. The first end is connected to a heat-generating component. The second end is a heat-dissipating end. The conductive capillary layer is formed on an inner wall of the conductive hollow case. A liquid stored in the conductive capillary layer can be heated to evaporate by the heat-generating component and then move toward the second end. The piezoelectric component is connected to the conductive capillary layer. The flexible component is disposed at a side of the piezoelectric component for being driven by the evaporated liquid so as to exert force upon the piezoelectric component. Thus, the piezoelectric component can generate electric energy, which can be transmitted from the conductive capillary layer to the conductive hollow case.
US08351201B2
A latching mechanism for a portable electronic device includes a housing, a pressing assembly, a latching assembly and a cover, the cover latches in the housing with the latching assembly, the pressing assembly is pushed along a first direction, causing the latching assembly to slide along a second direction perpendicularly to detach the cover from the housing.
US08351195B2
A multifunctional USB flash drive organizer includes a main unit, an interior of which is provided with a containing chamber to put USB flash drives. A side of the containing chamber is pivoted with USB sockets which can turn and a wire containing slot is provided beside the containing chamber. The main unit is provided with a wire collection device and a USB connector, with that a connection cable of the USB connector is electrically interconnected with the wire collection device. In addition, multiple USB flash drives can all operate at a same time. A wallet unit encloses the main unit as a box which is convenient in labeling for drive management and can be carried easily.
US08351177B2
A method for discharging an industrial lifting magnet quickly without producing a high voltage transient is presented. Most of the stored magnetic energy is dissipated in the magnet itself by connecting a diode across the magnet in the appropriate direction at discharge time using switching devices. One variation, suitable for smaller magnets, discharges the remaining energy using DC capacitors and a diode switching network. Another variation, suitable for magnets of any size, discharges most of the remaining energy in a power resistor of modest size using a system of diodes and switching devices in conjunction with a relatively small AC capacitor across the magnet.
US08351171B2
A monitor control system and method for an electrical distribution system includes a trip unit of a circuit breaker. A sensor is associated with the electrical distribution system and coupled to the trip unit wherein the sensor is connected to one or more components of the electrical distribution system to detect whether the electrical distribution system is being serviced when a presence of a human being is also detected. A selector is coupled to the trip unit and configured to select maintenance mode parameters to define a mode of operation of the trip unit wherein in the maintenance mode arc flash reduction or tripping delay reduction is provided such that the trip unit operates based on the maintenance mode parameters.
US08351167B2
A current limiting device (30, 40, 50, 60) comprising for each phase of an AC supply a closed magnetic core (31) of reduced volume and mass having first and second pairs of opposing limbs (32a, 32b; 33a, 33b), and at least one AC coil (35a, 35b) enclosing opposing limbs (33a, 33b) of the magnetic core (31) and adapted for series connection with a load. A superconducting DC bias coil (34) encloses a limb) (32a, 32b) of the magnetic core (31) for saturating each of the opposing limbs (33a, 33b) in opposite directions by the bias coil (34). Under fault conditions, the AC flux in at least one limb counteracts the DC bias flux, bringing the limb out of saturation. Preferably, current is reduced in the DC bias coils thus bringing both opposing limbs of the core out of saturation.
US08351156B2
A perpendicular magnetic recording head according to one embodiment includes a main pole; first magnetic films arranged on both sides of the main pole in a track width direction via nonmagnetic films; and a second magnetic film arranged on a trailing side of the main pole via a nonmagnetic film; wherein the depths of the first magnetic films from an air bearing surface are smaller than the depth of the second magnetic film from the air bearing surface at least at a periphery of the main pole. A perpendicular magnetic recording head according to another embodiment includes a main pole; first magnetic films arranged on both sides of the main pole in a track width direction via nonmagnetic films; and a second magnetic film arranged on a trailing side of the main pole via a nonmagnetic film; wherein the main pole and the first magnetic films have respective tapered portions whose thicknesses become larger toward the side opposite to an air bearing surface, and the tapered portions are in contact with the second magnetic film. Additional embodiments are also presented.
US08351154B2
A perpendicular recording magnetic head is provided, according to one embodiment, in which even if a thickness of a main pole is reduced corresponding to a reduction in a recording track width, recording performance is not degraded. A magnetic-field auxiliary pole and a nonmagnetic layer are stacked on a main pole, and a nonmagnetic portion is provided on each side face on a flying surface side of the magnetic-field auxiliary pole and the nonmagnetic layer, in one approach. In all regions except for a region near a flying surface, an interval between the main pole and a shield is increased by the nonmagnetic portion and the nonmagnetic layer, so that magnetic field loss is prevented, and consequently magnetic field strength and a magnetic field gradient are increased. Other systems and methods are also disclosed for retaining magnetic recording performance while reducing a thickness of a main pole.
US08351150B2
A hard disk drive (HDD) includes a base plate where the base plate includes a disk housing, at least one disk located within a disk shroud in the base plate, a drive cover configured to cover the at least one said disk within said base plate and a reservoir between the base plate and the drive cover and the reservoir is proximate along a periphery of the at least one disk. The HDD also includes a reservoir seal configured to isolate unstable air pressure in the reservoir from the at least one disk.
US08351149B2
When inserted in the slot 150 of the storage unit main body 100, the cartridge-type HDD 200a is situated with the slight clearance between the protrusion 164 of the slot 150 and the upper surface of the cartridge-type HDD 200a. In addition, the protrusion 166 of the slot 150 is loosely fitted in the recess 216 of the cartridge-type HDD 200a.
US08351141B2
A drive device includes a setting unit 12 for setting a control value using a control value-displacement characteristic at a predetermined reference temperature showing a relationship between a control value used to position a movable unit 5 and a displacement of the movable unit 5; a drive unit 20 for supplying drive power corresponding to the control value set by the setting unit 12 to a shape-memory alloy 1 and causing the shape-memory alloy 1 to expand or contract, thereby positioning the movable unit 5; and a correction unit 13 for correcting the control value so as to correct a position shift of the movable unit 5 from a target position resulting from a difference between a control value-displacement characteristic at an ambient temperature and a control value-displacement characteristic at the reference temperature based on the ambient temperature detected by a temperature detection unit 11.
US08351127B2
A gradient lens capable of focusing electromagnetic rays received at a first lens surface onto a second lens surface. The first lens surface and second lens surface can include convex surfaces protruding in opposite directions from a substantially planar surface. The lens can include a gradient index between the first surface and the planar surface and a gradient index between the two convex surfaces. The lens can include two or more gradient layers, each gradient layer having an index of refraction different than that of adjacent gradient layers. The gradient layers can focus parallel electromagnetic rays incident on the first surface onto a focal point at the second surface of the lens. As the parallel electromagnetic rays pass from one gradient layer to the next, the rays are redirected toward the focal point.
US08351124B2
In the visual display device of the present invention, the first reflection plane 11 is so disposed as to face the eye point 4 in order of an optical path of reverse tracing that extends from the eye point 4 to the two-dimensional image displaying plane 3; the second reflection plane 21 is so disposed as to face the two-dimensional image displaying plane 3, and an optical axis connecting the first reflection plane 11 to the eye point 4 is so disposed as to cross an optical axis connecting the second reflection plane 21 to the two-dimensional image displaying plane 3; both the first and second reflection planes 11 and 21 have positive power; and diopter difference S of the position of a virtual image associated with diopter is substantially equal to that of the position of a virtual image associated with convergence.
US08351115B2
A complex type microscopic device includes a slider unit moving a stage, an optical microscope, a scanning electron microscope with an electron axis intersecting with an optical axis of the optical microscope, an optical measurement/observation unit having a magnification between those of the scanning electron microscope and the optical microscope and co-using an objective lens with the optical microscope, and a control unit controlling the entire device, and a display unit having a display screen. During display of a low-magnification optical microscopic image, the control unit controls the display unit to display, on the image, a representation to designate an area to be observed at a magnification of the optical measurement/observation unit, and to display, on the image, another representation to designate an area to be observed at a magnification of the scanning electron microscope during display of a high-magnification optical microscopic image.
US08351110B2
An optical-signal processing apparatus includes a polarizer that is provided at an output terminal of an optical fiber, and polarization control units that adjust a first excitation light and a second excitation light input to the optical fiber. The polarization control units adjust polarization states of the first excitation light and the second excitation light so that, when the first excitation light and the second excitation light are input to the polarizer, polarization directions of the first excitation light and the second excitation light are orthogonal to each other, and angular difference between the polarization direction of the first excitation light and the polarization direction of the second excitation light, measured against the polarization main axis of the polarizer, is equal to or smaller than a threshold value.
US08351109B2
A nonlinear optic article for difference frequency generation is provided. The article comprises a wave mixer configured to generate a difference frequency mixing signal, the wave mixer comprising a compound made from one or more noncentrosymmetric crystal-glass phase-change materials comprising one or more chalcogenide compounds that are structurally one dimensional and comprise a polymeric 1∞[PSe6−] chain or a polymeric 1∞[P2Se62−] chain, wherein the one or more chalcogenide compounds are capable of difference frequency generation.
US08351103B2
A method for reducing speckle patterns of a three-dimensional holographic reconstruction is disclosed. A controllable light modulator into which a three-dimensional scene is coded is illuminated by coherent light, a reconstruction means projects the modulated light close to an eye position into a space of observation and a control means controls the illumination. This provides a holographic reproduction device in which the speckle patterns occurring during reconstruction of a three-dimensional scene are reduced. Also provided is a next-to-real time method using a carrier medium of conventional image refresh rate.
US08351076B2
A color transformation table is constructed in an imaging device. Unsmoothed entries are placed in a table. The unsmoothed entries are replaced by smoothed entries. The smoothed entries are indexed by a color dimensional value for each color dimension in a first color space. Each smoothed entry is a color dimensional value for a color dimension within a second color space. A first unsmoothed entry is replaced with a first smoothed entry, so that the first smoothed entry is a weighted mean of a subset of unsmoothed entries. The subset of unsmoothed entries includes the first unsmoothed entry and other unsmoothed entries that are indexed by the same color dimensional values as the first unsmoothed entry for all but a first color dimension in the first color space.
US08351073B2
The invention has an image forming apparatus with a deviation amount calculator for obtaining, by an arithmetic operation, by an arithmetic operation, the deviation amount between the laser beam irradiating positions for each color, under the condition that the deviation amount increases gradually according to a time lapse in at least one of the plurality of operating modes, according with a further time lapse, the deviation amount between the laser beam irradiating positions for each color decreases gradually, and according with a further time lapse, the deviation amount between the laser beam irradiating positions for each color is converged.
US08351072B2
An image scanning unit scans a mark-sense sheet to read editing information for specifying edit modes for editing image data to be output as one page of print data. On the basis of the read editing information, print data is generated from the image data. The editing information is read from grouping marks for grouping photo images, rotation marks, and the like. Photo images divided into groups by marking the grouping marks are output on one page of print data in orientations specified by marking the rotation marks.
US08351070B2
A method of obtaining image data for printing a circular pad having a radius R by forming ink blots having a radius r in an overlapping manner. The method can include: setting a base pitch as the base distance between adjacent ink blots, arranging the vector data of the pad in an x-y coordinate system, setting a first base point in the coordinate system, selecting a first determination point that is separated from the first base point by a unit distance along each of the x-axis and y-axis in any one direction of 45 degrees and 135 degrees, comparing the distance from the first base point to the first determination point with the base pitch, and storing the coordinates of the first determination point as print data if the distance from the first base point to the first determination point is greater than or equal to the base pitch.
US08351064B2
An image output instruction apparatus includes an output condition reception section and an output instruction section. The output condition reception section receives, for each predetermined range of a document to be output, a setting of an output condition concerning an image output process. The output instruction section provides a first output instruction to a first image forming apparatus based on the output conditions for the respective predetermined ranges received by the output condition reception section.
US08351046B2
A multiple nested interferometric fiber optic gyroscope system having varying functions may include a first fiber optic coil, a second fiber optic coil which is smaller than the first fiber optical coil and nested within and transversely to the first fiber optic coil, and a third fiber optic coil which is smaller than the second fiber optical coil and nested within and transversely to the second fiber optic coil.
US08351042B1
An information acquiring device has a light source which emits light of a predetermined wavelength band; a projection optical system which projects the light emitted from the light source toward the target area with a predetermined dot pattern; and a light receiving element which receives reflected light reflected on the target area for outputting a signal. In this arrangement, the projection optical system projects the light toward the target area in such a manner that a dot of a reference pattern of the light to be received by the light receiving element has a pitch equal to or larger than 2.5 pixels at least in an alignment direction in which the light source and the light receiving element are aligned.
US08351040B1
A cavity ring down system is optimized to precisely measure trace gases or particles in an air sample by using time sampling detection and multiple-sample averaging resulting in a high signal-to-noise ratio. In one embodiment, a cavity ring down system is programmed to measure the rise time and the fall time of the light level in an optical cavity. The cavity ring down system is programmed to integrate a plurality of sample portions during a rise time and a plurality of sample portions during a fall time (in alternate intervals) to obtain a time constant with no sample present and a time constant with sample present. The measurements are used to calculate trace gases in the air sample.
US08351030B2
A multi-part injection mold (10) for producing a cuvette (1) or a receptacle vessel for liquid or gaseous media for spectroscopic, qualitative and/or quantitative analysis or measurement using a measuring region or measuring gap (2) through which radiation is able to penetrate is provided, with the cuvette being made of plastic through injection molding. To this end, the inner cavity or filling space (9) and the measuring gap (2) are formed and limited on the interior of the injection mold (10) by a contour core (11), the thickness of which is limited to about one millimeter or less in the region (11a) of the measuring gap (2). The contour core (11) is held on the end (11b) thereof having the smallest dimension during the injection molding process, initially by at least one support (14), and retracted during the injection molding process after partial filling of the mold with plastic such that the lower continuation of the walls of the measuring gap (2) is formed.
US08351017B2
An optically intelligent image sensing device is provided. By applying different potentials across different electrode sections in the image sensing device, the electric field profiles of the corresponding liquid crystal layer sections bend the lights passing through the liquid crystal layer sections in a predetermined manner. In one embodiment, all of a certain color light entering the image sensing device can be bent towards a color filter for the specific color, thereby entering the light sensor for the specific color light. Accordingly, the optically intelligent image sensing device has improved optical efficiency. An arrangement for an array of different electrode and light sensing sections in the image sensing device is also provided as an example for how each electrode may be connected to the optically intelligent image sensing device control signals. An example using the present optically intelligent image sensing device to improve the optical efficiency of an image capturing device is also described.
US08351013B2
An LED circuit using a combination of series and parallel arrangements for optimum current sharing between LEDs. The current paths allow an LED to fail while minimizing the effect on other LEDs and noticeable luminance variance across the circuit. Some embodiments use metallic PCB technology which permits optimal thermal regulation of heat generated by the LEDs. Exemplary embodiments can be used with a single-layer PCB where only one layer of conducting material must be placed on the substrate. This results in a thinner, lighter, and cheaper assembly. The rear surface of the PCB may contain heat sinks or fins and may have air (or other gaseous matter) moved across the surface and/or heat sinks to facilitate cooling of the assembly. An LCD assembly using the same is also disclosed.
US08351010B2
Disclosed herein is a liquid crystal module having a liquid crystal display panel, and a backlight unit disposed on a back surface of the liquid crystal display panel. The liquid crystal display panel has a flexible printed wiring circuit substrate for a liquid crystal display panel. The backlight unit has a light guiding plate, a light emitting diode for emitting a light, a flexible printed wiring circuit substrate for a light emitting diode, and a case in which the light guiding plate and the flexible printed wiring circuit substrate for a light emitting diode are accommodated. The flexible printed wiring circuit substrate for a liquid crystal display panel extends along a side surface of the case. The flexible printed wiring circuit substrate for a light emitting diode has a derivation portion.
US08351009B2
A display panel is connected to a wiring-mounted board on which a signal supply wiring that supplies wiring supplies signals for driving the display panel is mounted. The wiring-mounted board has (i) first and second wires extending toward the display panel, and (ii) first and second terminals that are connected to the first and second wires, respectively. The display panel has a first short-circuit wire that is connected to the first and second wires at a connecting part of the display panel and the wiring-mounted board, so as to short-circuit the first and second wires.
US08351003B2
A liquid crystal display device includes first and second substrates with a liquid crystal layer therebetween. A planer electrode and a plurality of overlapping linear electrodes are formed on the first substrate with an insulation film disposed between the planar electrode and the plurality of linear electrodes. A projecting portion is formed on one of the first and second substrates and an alignment film is formed on each of the first and second substrates and on the projection portion. The alignment films are made of a photo-decomposition-type material, and a film thickness of the alignment film on the projecting portion and a film thickness of a portion of the alignment film facing the projecting portion satisfy a predetermined relationship.
US08351001B2
First and second polarizers are disposed in cross-Nichol configuration. A liquid crystal cell is disposed between the two polarizers and establishes vertical alignment in a state of no voltage application. An even number of optical films having optical anisotropy and disposed between the liquid crystal cell and first polarizer. A retardation of the liquid crystal cell is in a range between 300 nm and 1500 nm; and each optical film satisfies nx>n≧z, an in-plane retardation is smaller than 300 nm, a thickness direction retardation is in a range between 50 nm and 300 nm, an angle between an in-plane slow axis of the optical film disposed nearest to the first polarizer and an absorption axis of the first polarizer is smaller than 45°, and the slow axes of mutually adjacent optical films are perpendicular to each other.
US08350995B2
A production method of an optical film, including: a stretching step of stretching a film, wherein the film has a longitudinal direction, a width direction and a thickness direction, wherein the stretching is in either of the longitudinal direction or the width direction of the film; and a shrinking step of shrinking the film in either of the longitudinal direction or the width direction of the film, that is not the direction in which the film is stretched, wherein the film thickness in the thickness direction is increased as compared with the film thickness before at least one of the stretching step and the shrinking step.
US08350986B2
A backlight unit of thin-type comprises: at least one or more light source(s); plural numbers of light guide plates, each of which is configured to guide and irradiate the light of the light source(s) to a side of a liquid crystal panel; and a chassis, on which the light source(s) and the light guide plates are fixed, thereby being constructed by aligning the light guide plates, wherein the following conditions are satisfied: 15.0 mm>h, 20°≦θ≦60° when assuming that a distance from an irradiation surface of the backlight unit to the light guide plate is “h”, and that an angle indicative of a half-value light intensity of a light emitting from a light emission surface of the light guide plate, thereby providing a video of high picture quality, and there is also provided a video display apparatus applying the same therein.
US08350982B2
Disclosed is a display device. The display device comprises a liquid crystal panel, a backlight assembly disposed below the liquid crystal panel, a frame receiving at least a part of the liquid crystal panel and the backlight assembly, and a chassis disposed at the frame. At least a part of the chassis is inserted into the frame, so that the strength of the frame and the chassis can be improved.
US08350981B2
A fixture component for a liquid crystal display (LCD) module (LCD) is provided. The fixture component clamps and encloses the LCD module with a front cover and an enclosing member to clamp and wrap the LCD module, so as to form an LCD assembly. A visible portion is formed on a front side surface of the front cover in a protrusive manner, corresponding to a display side of the LCD module. The visible portion enhances the antistatic property of the LCD module. Meanwhile, the visible portion fits an opening of a case, so that the LCD assembly is mounted and fixed in the case more easily.
US08350975B2
In an array substrate capable of improving the quality of displayed images and a method for manufacturing the array substrate, the array substrate includes a base substrate, a first conductive pattern including a gate line and a first light-blocking pattern, a semiconductor layer overlapping the light-blocking pattern, a second conductive pattern including a data line and a storage line overlapping the first light-blocking pattern, and a pixel electrode overlapping the storage line to form a storage capacitor. The first conductive pattern may further include a second light-blocking pattern overlapping the semiconductor layer which is formed under the data line. The first and second light-blocking patterns block light proceeding toward the semiconductor layer formed under the storage line and under the data line, respectively, so that the semiconductor layer may be prevented from being excited by light energy.
US08350965B2
A portable terminal device includes: an operation part 7 including operation keys 71 that are two-dimensionally arranged in a matrix form; an image enlarging part 91 that, in a state where a plurality of enlargement target areas 93 are preliminarily set as partial areas of an image, generates an enlarged image by, on the basis of an operation of any of the operation keys 71, enlarging an image within an enlargement target area 93 preliminarily related to the operation key 71; a display image generating part 92 that generates a display image including the image in a normal or an enlargement browsing mode generates a display image including the enlarged image; and a display part 5 that displays the display image. The respective enlargement target areas 93 respectively correspond in an arrangement order to the operation keys 71, and form overlap areas with their adjacent enlargement target areas.
US08350962B2
Described herein is a method and system for video format conversion. Aspects of the current invention may convert decoded video data from 4:2:2 format to 4:4:4 format. Aspects of the current invention may also convert decoded video data from 4:2:0 format to 4:4:4 format. Aspects of the current invention may further convert decoded video data from 4:2:0 format to 4:2:2 format. Aspects of the current invention may provide a region-aware conversion system that monitors the edges of mosaic windows in order to apply proper boundary conditions during the conversion process.
US08350956B2
A method of operating an image pickup system includes generating a first control signal in response to a long duration exposure mode selectively input by a user, setting circuits to process image data associated with modes other than long duration exposure mode to a standby mode in response to the first control signal, generating a second control signal when the standby mode has been established, opening a shutter in response to the second control signal, and performing a long duration exposure to accumulate a charge corresponding to an optical signal incident on an image sensor of the image pickup system when the shutter is open.
US08350955B2
Provided are a digital photographing apparatus by which a clear image may be obtained despite shaking of the digital photographing apparatus during a photographing operation, a method of controlling the digital photographing apparatus, and a recording medium having recorded thereon a program for executing the method. The digital photographing apparatus includes a data obtaining unit for obtaining first data of a first image captured using a long time exposure and obtaining second data of a second image captured using a short time exposure; a motion vector extraction unit for extracting a motion vector between a position of a subject in the first image and the position of the subject in the second image; a blurring determination unit for determining whether blurring exists in the first image; a subject location determination unit for determining whether the position of the subject in the first image is identical to the position of the subject in the second image; and a data combination unit for creating data having luminance data of the second data and having composite color data obtained by combining color data of the first and second data, as ultimate data.
US08350953B2
In an image pickup apparatus which includes a photoelectric conversion cell group in which, a plurality of photoelectric conversion cells which convert an optical image formed by an optical system to an electrical signal, are arranged two-dimensionally, at least some photoelectric conversion cells from among the plurality of photoelectric conversion cells are formed to output an image signal and a signal for ranging, and areas of a photoelectric conversion regions of photoelectric conversion cells which output the image signal, including the photoelectric conversion cells which output the image signal and the signal for ranging having the same spectral sensitivity of light received, in the photoelectric conversion cell group are substantially same, and the photoelectric conversion cells are arranged such that, for at least two photoelectric conversion cells which are necessary for ranging, a distance between centers of gravity of areas of the photoelectric conversion region of the photoelectric conversion cells which output the image signal and the signal for ranging differs from a distance between centers which is calculated from a pixel pitch.
US08350931B2
An input system for a digital camera may include a portion for taking at least one image to be used as a control image; and a controller to control at least one operation of the digital camera based on a control command recognized from the control image, the control command controlling a function of the camera.
US08350925B2
A display apparatus includes an image recording section which records a plurality of image data items obtained on different dates and including image data items including a person, and a control section which displays one of the image data items selected from the image data items on a display section, retrieves another one of the image data items obtained on a date different from a date of the selected image data item and including the person, and displays the another one of the image data items on the display section.
US08350919B2
An application for a device that includes an image sensor, an orientation sensor and image capture capabilities. Operation of the device is based upon a detected orientation of the device by the orientation sensor. In one embodiment, when the device is in a horizontal orientation, the image capture operates as a digital still image camera and when the device is in a vertical orientation, the image capture operates as a digital video camera. Other orientations are anticipated including upside down as well as other operating modes such as flash enabled and flash disabled. Optionally, a control is provided to lock the operation in one of the modes irrespective of changes in the orientation of the device.
US08350915B2
A motion detector camera includes a housing, viewing electronics mounted within the housing, an IR emitter exposed on a surface of the housing, a motion detector exposed on a surface of the housing, and a controller operatively coupled to the viewing electronics, the IR emitter, and the motion detector, wherein the controller is adapted to send an activation signal to the IR emitter and to the viewing electronics when the controller receives a triggering signal from the motion detector.
US08350912B2
A CMOS image sensor 1 outputs a differential signal (VF−VU) between a pixel signal (VF) in a period when a LED 7 is turned on in an exposure period and a pixel signal (VU) in a period when the LED 7 is turned off in the exposure period. This does not obtain a difference between a pixel signal in an exposure period and a pixel signal in a non-exposure period. It is possible to increase simplicity in utilization as well as suppressing fixed pattern noise by generating the difference between pixel signals in different exposure spans from each other.
US08350911B2
The invention relates to a method for monitoring an environment through a plurality of sensors, wherein a control system receives information from one or more sensors of said plurality and uses said information in order to monitor said environment. The method comprises a setup stage wherein an operator creates a model of an environment by defining a plurality of cells corresponding to areas of said environment, and then creates cell/sensor relationships by defining for each sensor at least one possible position which is associated with at least one cell. For each position the sensor is assigned by the operator a monitoring judgment for the associated cell. The method also comprises an operational stage wherein the control system, in order to perform a surveillance function, finds those sensors which can be used for carrying out the requested surveillance function and controls them based on the monitoring judgments and the cell/sensor relationships.
US08350908B2
Tracking a target across a region is disclosed. A graphical user interface is provided that displays, in a first region, video from a field of view of a main video device, and, in a plurality of second regions, video from a field of view of each of a plurality of perimeter video devices (PVDs). The field of view of each PVD is proximate to the main video device's field of view. A selection of one of the plurality of PVDs is received. In response, video from a field of view of the selected PVD is displayed in the first region, and a plurality of candidate PVDs is identified. Each candidate PVD has a field of view proximate to the field of view of the selected PVD. The plurality of second regions is then repopulated with video from a field of view of each of the plurality of identified candidate PVDs.
US08350904B2
A microscope for virtual-slide creating system has a stage for holding the specimen, a transmitted-light illumination optical system for illuminating the specimen with transmitted light, an objective, a tube lens and an image capture unit. The objective is configured as a dry system of infinity-corrected type with an object-side numerical aperture of 0.8 or greater and a focal length for d-line rays in a range from 8 to 20 mm. The tube lens has a focal length in a range from 160 to 280 mm. The image capture surface of the image capture unit has a long side of 12 mm or longer and a pixel size (μm) satisfying the following condition: a (μm)≦(0.61×0.59 (μ/m))/NA′ where a is the pixel size, and NA′ is an image-side numerical aperture.
US08350902B2
A system and method of providing composite real-time dynamic imagery of a medical procedure site from multiple modalities which continuously and immediately depicts the current state and condition of the medical procedure site synchronously with respect to each modality and without undue latency is disclosed. The composite real-time dynamic imagery may be provided by spatially registering multiple real-time dynamic video streams from the multiple modalities to each other. Spatially registering the multiple real-time dynamic video streams to each other may provide a continuous and immediate depiction of the medical procedure site with an unobstructed and detailed view of a region of interest at the medical procedure site at multiple depths. A user may thereby view a single, accurate, and current composite real-time dynamic imagery of a region of interest at the medical procedure site as the user performs a medical procedure.
US08350900B2
A method includes reducing a red rivalry through adjusting a color temperature on a first image, converting the first image from the RGB domain to a YCbCr domain, shifting a hue of a red color in the first image towards a magenta color to reduce a red color vibrancy, and adjusting a blue color in the first image such that a dark blue visible through a second lens corresponding to a second image is at least partially visible through a first lens corresponding to the first image. The method also includes reducing the red rivalry through adjusting a tone of the red color in the first image towards a brown color, converting the first image from the YCbCr domain back to the RGB domain, adjusting a color saturation in the first image, and combining the first image with the second image in a processor to generate an anaglyph image.
US08350898B2
A head-mounted visual display device for low-vision aid, which features 2 models, they are analog signal model and digital signal model. Said analog device contains at least an analog video extractor, a video decoder, an ITU-R.656 decoder, a de-interlacing unit, an image processor, two YCbCr to RGB converter, two color enhancement units, two video D/A converter, a head mounted display, a signal voltage controller and a wireless communication module. Said digital device consists of a digital video signal extractor/capturer, a RGB to YCbCr converter, an image processor, two YCbCr to RGB converter, two color enforcement units, a head-mounted display, a signal voltage controller and a wireless communication module.
US08350887B2
A method includes receiving, via an internet protocol television network, a broadcast signal comprising video content at a device. The device is associated with a person. The method includes receiving, via the internet protocol television network, a message notification directed to a communication address associated with the person. The message notification includes a visual indication based at least in part on the communication address. The method also includes sending a display signal to a display device. The display signal includes the broadcast signal and the visual indication.
US08350875B2
A mobile terminal emitting light according to a temperature and a display control method thereof are provided. The mobile terminal includes a display part activated in response to a control signal, a temperature sensor part for measuring a temperature of the mobile terminal and outputting a voltage corresponding to the measured temperature value, and a central controller for outputting the control signal to activate the display part included in the mobile terminal when the voltage input from the temperature sensor part exceeds a predetermined reference value. Therefore, it is possible to improve the design of the mobile terminal.
US08350871B2
A method and apparatus is provided for easily creating virtual graffiti that will be left for a particular device to view. During operation a device will be placed near a first point that is used to define a boundary for the virtual graffiti. The device will locate the first point, and use the point to define the boundary. The device will receive an image that is to be used as virtual graffiti, and will fit the image within the boundary of the virtual graffiti. For example, the device may be consecutively placed near four points that will define a polygon to be used as the boundary for the virtual graffiti. An image will then be received, and the image will be fit within the polygon.
US08350870B2
A recording medium storing an AVClip structured by multiplexing video stream and a graphics stream. The graphics stream represents a moving picture made of a plurality of pictures, and the graphics stream includes graphics data representing graphics to be combined with the pictures. The graphics stream also includes window information (WDS) that specifies a window for rendering the graphics, and that indicates a width, a height and a position of the window on a plane which is a plane memory of a reproduction apparatus that combines the graphics with the pictures.
US08350867B2
A method includes detecting one of an application access or a file type access, and configuring, in response to detecting the application or file type access, automatically without user interaction, a display system in an image quality configuration for the application or the file type where the image quality configuration is based on providing best image quality with respect to the application or the file type. Configuring the display system in an image quality configuration, may involve determining that a profile associated with the application or associated with the file type is stored in memory, and configuring the display system according to the profile. The method may adjust at least one anti-aliasing parameter or at least one anisotropic filter parameter. The method may monitor an operating system to obtain an indication that an application has been accessed or that a file type has been accessed.
US08350863B2
Methods and systems for improving resource utilization when remoting three dimensional graphics commands that are generated by an application executing on a local computing machine. An agent that executes on a local computing machine intercepts a first call to a drawing library. The application generates this first call to request information from the drawing library. The agent further transmits a first frame that is generated by the application, to a remote computing machine, and prevents a return of the first call to the requesting application until the agent receives a notification indicating either the first frame was transmitted to the remote computing device or the first frame was rendered. Upon receiving such a notification, the agent permits the return of the first call to the requesting application.
US08350861B2
A method and system for simulating a character is provided. The method of simulating a character including: optimizing motion data by using a displacement mapping and a Proportional Derivative (PD) control; and performing controller training by using the optimized motion data and controlling a motion of the character. In this instance, the optimizing includes: generating a target motion by using the displacement mapping between an input motion and a displacement parameter; and generating a simulated motion by using the target motion and an objective function.
US08350859B2
The present invention discloses a method and apparatus for changing lip shape and obtaining a lip animation in a voice-driven animation, and relate to computer technologies. The method for changing lip shape includes: obtaining audio signals and obtaining motion extent proportion of lip shape according to characteristics of the audio signals; obtaining an original lip shape model inputted by a user and generating a motion extent value of the lip shape according to the original lip shape model and the obtained motion extent proportion of the lip shape; generating a lip shape grid model set according to the obtained motion extent value of the lip shape and a preconfigured lip pronunciation model library. The method for changing lip shape in a voice-driven animation includes an obtaining module, a first generating module and a second generating module. The solutions provided by the present invention have a simple algorithm and low cost.
US08350854B2
A method and an apparatus are disclosed for visualizing a tomographic volume data record of an object volume. In at least one embodiment of the method, the gradient magnitude is additionally determined for each voxel of the volume data record and an at least two-dimensional transfer function is provided which assigns a color value and an opacity value to each combination of gradient value and scalar of the voxel. Here, at least the opacity value and the color value are modulated by the gradient value. The transfer function is applied to the previously determined gradient values and scalar values and the volume data record is displayed with the respective color and opacity values of the voxels by way of a volume rendering technique. The method permits an improved recognizability of structures, in particular in volume data records from medical imaging.
US08350853B2
When an interpolation point is interpolated using a curve/curved surface, represented by control points, such as a B-Spline curve/curved surface or a subdivision surface, interpolation processing is performed in such a way that a moving vector for moving each control point is calculated using position information on interpolation points constituting the point group, as well as vector information on the unit direction vector that is set for each interpolation point, and the control point is moved in the movement direction and for the movement amount of this moving vector. By, repeating the generation step of a curve/curved surface that interpolates the interpolation point and the movement step of the control point, the position of a new control point is found that fits the curve/curved surface to the positions and the unit direction vectors of the point group.
US08350846B2
A method, program product and system for conducting a ray tracing operation where the rendering compute requirement is reduced or otherwise adjusted in response to a changing vantage point. Aspects may update or reuse an acceleration data structure between frames in response to the changing vantage point. Tree and image construction quality may be adjusted in response to rapid changes in the camera perspective. Alternatively or additionally, tree building cycles may be skipped. All or some of the tree structure may be built in intervals, e.g., after a preset number of frames. More geometric image data may be added per leaf node in the tree in response to an increase in the rate of change. The quality of the rendering algorithm may additionally be reduced. A ray tracing algorithm may decrease the depth of recursion, and generate fewer cast and secondary rays. The ray tracer may further reduce the quality of soft shadows, resolution and global illumination samples, among other quality parameters. Alternatively, tree rebuilding may be skipped entirely in response to a high camera rate of change. Associated processes may create blur between frames to simulate motion blur.
US08350838B2
An exemplary power supply circuit includes an output terminal configured for providing electric power to a load circuit, a direct current (DC) power supply, a first resistor, a second resistor, a first switch and a second switch. The first switch includes a control electrode is grounded via the first resistor, a first current conducting electrode is connected to the DC power supply, and a second current conducting electrode is connected to the output terminal. The second switch includes a control electrode is connected to the output terminal, a first current conducting electrode is connected to the DC power supply, and a second current conducting electrode is connected to the control electrode of the first switch. The second resistor is interconnected the first current conducting electrode of the first switch and the second current conducting electrode of the first switch.
US08350826B2
Disclosed is a capacitive touch panel device having a sensing control unit that performs a scan sequence on individual sensor electrodes to measure sensor output values. The sensing control unit exercises control to measure sensor output values, with setup performed to avoid the detection of sensitivity slope, by executing a first scan sequence on all sensor electrodes. If the result of the first scan sequence indicates that multiple points are touched, the sensing control unit exercises control to measure sensor output values again, with setup performed to allow the detection of sensitivity slope, by executing a second scan sequence on the sensor electrodes related to a plurality of touch position candidate coordinates derived from multiple point touches, and identify and eliminate erroneously detected coordinates in accordance with the sensor output values measured upon the execution of the second scan sequence and with the tendency of sensitivity slope.
US08350822B2
The present invention provides a touch pad operable with multi-objects and a method of operating such a touch pad. The touch pad includes a touch structure for sensing touch points of a first and a second object and a controller for generating corresponding touching signals and related position coordinates. Moreover, the controller calculates at least two movement amount indexes according to coordinate differences between these position coordinates, thereby generating a movement amount control signal to control behaviors of a software object.
US08350819B2
The present invention discloses a method for determining touch points on a touch panel and a system thereof. The method includes the following steps: sampling, calculating a difference, comparing the difference, sampling a determinative area, and calculating a barycenter. The barycenter position from the said steps is a touch point position. The present invention can overcome the problem of the ghost point in traditional touch panels and also be applicable for touch panels of various types.
US08350815B2
A portable communication device is equipped with a touch input device configured to provide key press functionality and scrolling functionality. The touch input device is electronically defined to include a plurality of key press areas separated by grey zones. The portable communication device is configured to provide scrolling functionality in response to detection of sequential user contact with multiple key press areas and an intervening grey zone within a predetermined timing trigger.
US08350808B2
Carrying cases (e.g., for a computer mouse) comprising a pad and a fastener (e.g., a zipper) around the perimeter of the pad that may form a mouse pad when the fastener is unfastened, and may be folded along a dimension and the fastener fastened to form a storage pouch. Such carrying cases may include a rim to prevent a mouse from sliding off of the mouse pad, an attachment mechanism that may include a strap, a snap button, or both, or a combination thereof. Embodiments are neoprene having a thickness of 1 to 5 mm, have a fold dimension between 15 and 30 cm, or both. The fastener may have a pull tab located at one end of the fold when the fastener is unfastened and at an opposite end of the fold when the fastener is fastened. Pads may be round, oval, or rectangular with rounded corners.
US08350803B2
A display apparatus (1) comprises a matrix display device (DD) with pixels (10) wherein particles (14) move in a fluid (13) between electrodes (6, 6′, 7). An optical state of the pixels (10) is defined by a value of a drive voltage (VDi) and a duration (Di) of a drive period (TDi) during which the drive voltage (VDi) is present across the pixel (10). A DC-balancing circuit (3) controls the amplitudes of the drive voltages (VDi) and/or durations (Di) of drive periods (TDi) to obtain a substantially zero time-average value (N) across each pixel (10) or across each sub-group of pixels. This control of the amplitude of the drive voltages (VDi) and/or the duration (Di) of the drive periods (TDi) allows minimizing the image retention, without requiring reset pulses causing all pixels (10) to become temporarily white or black. In a preferred embodiment in accordance with the invention, a display device (DD) is used in which a drive voltage (VDi) is supplied to the pixel (10) with a level such that the grey level (or the amount of colorization) does not change anymore after an initial period of time. Now, if applicable, the DC-balancing can be performed by making the duration (Di) of the drive periods (TDi) longer than the initial period of time.
US08350800B2
The present invention provides a display device. The display device includes: a backlight unit that is divided into a plurality of blocks and driven for each of the divided blocks and includes a plurality of optical assemblies; a display panel positioned on the top of the backlight unit; a controller that outputs a local dimming value for each of blocks corresponding to the blocks of the backlight unit depending on an image displayed in the display panel; and a BLU driver that controls the brightness of the blocks of the backlight unit by using the local dimming value for each block, wherein the optical assembly includes a substrate; a plurality of light sources that are positioned and emit light; and a light guide plate including a light input unit including an incident surface into which light is inputted through the side from the light source and a light emitting unit emitting the inputted light to the top, and wherein at least some portions of two adjacent optical assemblies among the plurality of optical assemblies are superimposed on each other, and the BLU driver receives the local dimming value for each block and outputs a plurality of driving signals and the blocks of the backlight unit are driven in the unit of the divided groups by being divided into a plurality of scan groups.
US08350799B2
A system and method for controlling subsections of an LED backlight for a liquid crystal display (LCD). Exemplary embodiments analyze the histograms for each subsection of the LCD which corresponds with the subsections of the LED backlight in order to produce a proper luminance for the backlight subsection. The proper luminance may be less than the maximum or typical luminance that is produced by common LED backlights. By reducing the luminance the resulting display can have less power consumption, longer lifetime, and higher contrast ratios. The original subpixel voltages for the LCD are re-scaled based on the proper luminance for the backlight subsection. Virtual backlight data may be created to simulate the luminance at each subpixel and the virtual backlight data may be used to re-scale the original subpixel voltages. The virtual backlight data may be used to blend between adjacent subsections of the LED backlight which may be producing different levels of luminance.
US08350796B2
A display device for displaying an image may include display and control sections. The display section, provided by a liquid crystal display (LCD), may be configured to display the image with a luminance in accordance with a display signal voltage, the display section including pixels, each pixel in the LCD including first and second subpixels connected to same source and gate lines. The control section may be configured to divide each frame into first to m-th subframe periods, m being an integer greater than or equal to two, the control section configured to generate first to m-th display signals for the subframe periods for output to the display section such that dividing each frame into the subframe periods does not change a sum luminance output of the display section within each frame. The control section may create a difference between luminances of the first and second subpixels.
US08350791B2
In displaying image data received from a camera module on a display device such as a view finder, image data having a size suited for display from an image size conversion circuit is displayed via line memories included in a signal-for-display generation circuit. Vertical synchronization in an image data storage including these line memories is established by initializing a reading address in accordance with a frame head pixel indication and a reading completion indication of one line in the line memories. It is possible to reduce power consumption of an image display system for displaying an image of a imaging subject.
US08350790B2
A video display system includes a plurality of primary color light sources; and a spatial light modulator (SLM) for modulating an illumination light emitted from at least one of the plurality of primary light sources. The video display system further includes a display controller for controlling a process to display a sequence of video images within a period of one frame comprising each of a plurality of primary colors and each of a plurality of complementary colors to minimize a number of emissions of each of the plurality of primary color light sources and also displaying the video images of the colors of the plurality of primary colors and the plurality of complementary colors in sequence.
US08350779B2
A display controlling apparatus that is capable of communicating with an image processing apparatus that sends image data to the display controlling apparatus in response to a notification from the display controlling apparatus, includes the following elements: a sending unit configured to send the notification to the image processing apparatus; a first receiving unit configured to receive the image data sent from the image processing apparatus in response to the notification; and a first computing unit configured to compute a first time required to display the image data received by the first receiving unit. The sending unit sends a new notification to the image processing apparatus at a timing based on the first time computed by the first computing unit.
US08350778B2
A dish antenna adjustment method is performed as follows. A dish antenna angle adjustment apparatus is provided; the dish antenna angle adjustment apparatus having a base member, a first rotation member and a second rotation member. The first rotation member is pivotally connected to the second rotation member, and rotates by a first rotation angle relative to the second rotation member. The second rotation member is pivotally connected to the base member, and rotates by a second rotation angle relative to the base member. A first rotating angle adjustment mechanism is connected to the angle adjustment apparatus of the dish antenna, e.g., the first rotating angle adjustment mechanism connects the first rotation member and the second rotation member. The first rotating angle adjustment mechanism adjusts the first rotation angle between the first and second rotation members. The first rotating angle adjustment mechanism is detached from the angle adjustment apparatus, and the detached first rotating angle adjustment mechanism can be used for adjustment of another dish antenna.
US08350771B1
A dual-band, dual-orthogonally-polarized antenna element includes a dielectric substrate having a conductor layer that includes a square ring slot and a shorted square ring, with each having a pair of orthogonal feed points. The shorted square ring is fed with coaxial probe feeds, while the square ring slot feeds striplines terminated in open-circuited stubs for coupling energy to each pair of orthogonal feed points. The first and second stripline feeds are not coplanar in order that each stub terminates past a center point of the element. The square ring slot operates as a high frequency band radiator and the shorted square ring operates as a low frequency band radiator, and both bands radiate substantially simultaneous dual-orthogonally-polarized modes. The modes can be any combination of dual-Circular Polarization (CP) and dual-Linear Polarization (LP), depending on the geometry of the radiators.
US08350759B2
Provided is antenna having metamaterial and providing gain improvement and beamforming together. The antenna includes a resonator and a superstrate. A feed antenna is disposed in the resonator. The superstrate includes a conductive pattern on the resonator for improving gain and beamforming of the feed antenna.
US08350757B2
An acquisition unit of a GNSS receiver base band circuit includes an integrator with a number of preprocessors where an incoming digital signal is mixed with different frequency signals to compensate at least in part for clock drift and Doppler shifts. The resulting digital signals are, after an accumulation step reducing sample frequency, integrated over an integration period extending over several basic intervals of the length of a basic sequence characteristic for a GNSS satellite, so that samples separated by a multiple of the basic interval are superposed. The resulting data sequence of 1,023 digital values is stored in one of two memories and then, in mixers, sequentially shifted by post-integration frequencies which are multiples of the inverse of the length of the basic interval. The pre-integration frequencies employed in the preprocessors deviate, with one possible exception, from the post-integration frequencies and are usually smaller.
US08350747B2
A surveillance system is disclosed. In some embodiments, the surveillance system may include at least one controller adapted to control operation of first and second screening apparatus and to produce image data and screening data, to relate the image data to the screening data, and to produce relational information data from the related image data and screening data. In some embodiments, the system may include a first screening apparatus adapted to screen a subject in a subject position, a second screening apparatus adapted to screen the subject in the subject position, and a controller adapted to produce first and second screening data from the first and second screening apparatus, respectively, relate the first and second screening data, and to produce relational information data from the related first and second screening data.
US08350739B2
A D/A converter having reference node for receiving a reference voltage and together network having a network reference bus connected to the reference node by way of a first electrical connection. The converter network produces a series of reference outputs derived from the reference voltage in response to a digital input applied to the converter, with the converter network sinking a network reference current at the network reference bus which varies with the converter digital input. A reference current compensator circuit is included which provides a compensation current at the network reference bus having a magnitude which varies in response to at least a portion of the digital input, with the compensation current operating to reduce variations in current through the first electrical connection caused by changes in the digital input.
US08350738B2
An exemplary differential track and hold amplifier includes a track stage including first and second linearized pairs connected in series at their respective inputs and in parallel at their respective outputs. The differential track and hold amplifier also includes a hold stage selectively coupled to the outputs of the first and second linearized pairs. The hold stage includes a unity gain buffer with feedback having a hold capacitor interconnected across its outputs. The differential track and hold amplifier also includes an output buffer coupled to the outputs of the hold stage. An exemplary analog-to-digital converter includes a differential track-and-hold amplifier, a voltage ladder, and a plurality of slices. Each of the slices in turn includes a differential preamplifier coupled to the track-and-hold amplifier and to a corresponding location on the voltage ladder; a current mode logic latch comparator coupled to the differential preamplifier; a large-swing latch coupled to the current mode logic latch comparator; a complementary metal oxide semiconductor latch having a dummy load; a calibration digital to analog converter connected across outputs of the differential preamplifier to inject calibration currents; and a register coupled to the calibration digital to analog converter and storing calibration values for use thereby. The analog-to-digital converter also includes a multiplexer which multiplexes outputs of the complementary metal oxide semiconductor latches down to a predetermined number of outputs.
US08350734B1
This application relates to decoding signals that carry clock and data information. In particular, it relates to construction a time-varying histogram of inter-arrival times between pulse edges and using the histogram to identify whether a pulse edge encodes a single length interval, a double length interval or some longer length interval. Further details and embodiments of the technology disclosed are provided in the drawings, detailed description and claims.
US08350729B2
A handheld electronic device and an associated method are provided. The handheld electronic device includes a keyboard assembly, a display positioned adjacent the keyboard assembly, a processor structured to receive inputs from the keyboard assembly and to output to the display as a function of the inputs, the processor further structured to run a disambiguation routine. The keyboard assembly includes a printed circuit board, a primary conductor portion, a secondary conductor portion, and a keyboard assembly. The printed circuit board has a plurality of electrical contacts. The conductor assembly has a plurality of primary conductors and a plurality of secondary conductors, each the primary conductor and secondary conductor structured to correspond to, and engage and close, at least one of the plurality of electrical contacts. The keyboard assembly has a plurality of keys each having one or more indicia thereon.
US08350728B2
A keypad includes a plurality of keys, and a processor that is coupled to control use of the keypad, including to enable use of the keypad in each of a letter entry mode or an alternative entry mode. The plurality of keys include a subset of keys, each key in the subset being (i) enlarged as compared to other keys of the keypad that are not part of the subset, (ii) assigned m letter values for when the keypad is operated in the letter entry mode, and (iii) assigned n numeric values, where 1≦n
US08350727B2
A touch panel comprises: a first conductive plate including a first substrate having a surface, a first conductive layer disposed on the surface of the first substrate and exhibiting an anisotropic resistivity, and at least one conductive first connecting line, the surface of the first substrate having a peripheral edge, a sensing region covered by the first conductive layer, and a marginal region extending from the sensing region to the peripheral edge, the first connecting line being disposed on the marginal region; and a second conductive plate including a second substrate and a second conductive layer disposed on the second substrate, facing the first conductive layer, and exhibiting anisotropic resistivity. An electronic device including the touch panel is also disclosed.
US08350725B2
The invention concerns a method and device for detecting attempts at intruding on a communication link between an aircraft and a ground station, the communication being capable of being configured according to multiple security levels, comprising the following steps: a) analyzing a message received to determine a security level corresponding to said message; b) comparing said security level with a security level associated with the communication; c) if the security levels compared at step b) are different, performing an action concerning the rejection of the received message and the signalling of an attempt at intrusion. The invention also concerns a device for implementing said method.
US08350724B2
A substantially transparent head up display includes one of light emitting particles or microstructures over a predefined region of the substantially transparent head up display permitting luminescent display while permitting vision through the substantially transparent head up display. A method to display a graphic upon the substantially transparent head up display of a vehicle illustrating a parking aid includes monitoring a parking mode, determining the graphic illustrating the parking aid for projection upon a view of a parking surface proximate to the vehicle for display upon the substantially transparent head up display based upon the parking mode and displaying the graphic illustrating the parking aid upon the substantially transparent head up display.
US08350715B2
Mud pulse telemetry systems and methods that employ some combination of modulated pulse positions, modulated pulse widths, and modulated pulse amplitudes to increase telemetry data rates. In at least some of the employed coding techniques, information is conveyed by the positions of both the upward and downward transitions. In some embodiments, fixed symbol intervals are used to convey combinatorial coded waveforms. In other embodiments, variable length symbol intervals include both a pulse position interval and a pulse width interval. The two intervals can be independently varied to convey telemetry data. Subject to specific system constraints, optimal coding efficiencies may be expected at data rates of between four and seven bits per symbol interval.
US08350713B2
Signals from a plurality of sensors (vibration sensors, temperature sensors, and humidity sensors) disposed at places on a machine are input through a communication circuit to a numerical controller that controls the machine. The numerical controller uses vibration information, temperature information and humidity information obtained from these sensors to determine whether the machine is in an abnormal state.
US08350706B2
A hygiene compliance monitoring system provides a dispenser that is associated with a data collection unit that collects dispensing events, such as the dispensement of material from the dispenser, which occurs during time segments of a predetermined duration. The hygiene event monitoring system also includes a portable data acquisition unit that is in wireless communication with the data collection unit of the dispenser. As such, when the data acquisition unit is brought within the range of reception of the data collection unit, the hygiene compliance data and time segment information are transmitted to the data acquisition unit and stored at a portable memory unit, which is removable. As such, the hygiene compliance data stored on the portable memory unit can be readily transferred to any desired computing device for analysis and report generation.
US08350701B2
Methods and apparatuses for configuring antennae of radio frequency identification reader systems. In one aspect of an embodiment, a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader system, includes: a receiver; a radio frequency (RF) source for signal transmission; and a switch matrix coupled with the receiver and the radio frequency source to selectively couple the receiver and the radio frequency source to a plurality of non-collocated antennae. When in a first mode, the switch matrix connects the radio frequency source to a first one of the antennae for signal transmission and the receiver to a second one of the antennae for signal reception; and when in a second mode, the switch matrix connects the first one of the antennae for signal reception and, in one example, the second one or another one of the antennae to the RF source for signal transmission.
US08350695B2
A body coupled antenna system usable in a personal locator unit includes an antenna element for connection to an RF circuit; a coupling plate for conductively coupling to an adjacent body for broadening the tuning frequency and reducing the loading sensitivity; a first capacitance interconnected between the coupling plate and the antenna element; and a second capacitance interconnected between the coupling plate and the RF circuit; the first and second capacitances being set to restore a predetermined matching impedance level while maintaining the broadened tuning frequency.
US08350689B2
The present invention provides a monitor of the hose connection of a pneumatic product-on-demand delivery system in an agricultural machine. This can be done in several ways. One way is to sense the product flow in the product hose and how long it is running. If the product is constantly running through the hose, that indicates a disconnection. A second way is to sense air pressure in the product hose to determine if it is still operating under pressure. If disconnected, the air pressure will drop indicating a disconnection. A third way is to sense a current through the connection to determine if it is on or off. All of these methods produce a signal that can be fed back to a monitor at the operator station and give the operator an alert if a disconnected hose is detected.
US08350686B2
A driver more reliably becomes aware, on a vehicle glass, of near-vehicle object information of which the driver should be aware. A vehicle information display system 10 is equipped with awareness information detecting unit 1 that detects information of an awareness object of which a driver should be aware near a host vehicle, eye position detecting unit 2 that detects the position of the eyes of the driver, and display unit 3 that displays on vehicle glasses 11, 12 and 13 at least one of the information of the awareness object that has been detected by the awareness information detecting unit 1 and an emphatic display. The display unit 3 displays, in an intersection where an axis interconnecting the position of the eyes of the driver that has been detected by the eye position detecting unit 2 and the awareness object of which the driver should be aware intersects the vehicle glasses 11, 12 and 13 or in a neighborhood of that intersection, the information of the awareness object detected by the awareness information detecting unit 1 or the emphatic display.
US08350684B2
A vehicle lane departure warning system and method are provided having a trailer mode. The system includes an imager capturing images of a roadway forward of a vehicle and an input receiving a towing signal indicative of whether the vehicle is towing a trailer. The system also includes a processor for processing the captured images and determining whether the vehicle or trailer is expected to be departing from a lane on the roadway based on the captured images and a threshold width value. The processor selects the threshold width value based on the input towing signal such that an enhanced threshold width value is employed when the vehicle is towing a trailer. An output is provided for outputting a lane departure warning signal based on the processed images and selected threshold width value.
US08350682B2
A system for providing external notification of a vehicle event to an operator includes a reader device connected to a control unit providing status of at least one vehicle condition with the vehicle having a diesel particulate filter (DPF), a plurality of warning devices connected to the reader device and a power supply connected to the reader device and to the warning devices wherein the reader device receives data via data lines from the control unit, decodes the received data to determine the occurrence of a vehicle event relating to the DPF and controls ground signal lines of the warning devices to trigger at least one of the warning devices based on the detection of a particular event.
US08350679B2
A product system comprises a package base unit and a package. The package base unit comprises a control element and a package interface operatively connected to the control element. The package comprises a package base interface, and a printed element. The printed element comprises a control circuit element and an output circuit element. Each of the control circuit element and the output circuit element are operatively connected to the package base interface.
US08350676B2
Provided are an RFID operating system and an RFID system operating method for allowing multiple RFID readers to read tags without collision. The RFID system operating method includes the steps of grouping RFID readers spaced apart by more than a spacing distance capable of avoiding collision between RFID readers into a single group to determine at least one group, classifying RPM readers included in each group into at least one sub-group based on a read time of each RFID reader, and driving the RFID readers such that RPM readers belonging to at least two different sub-groups that do not collide with each other simultaneously operate. According to the present invention, switching is performed sub-group by sub-group to reduce the number of switching operations and sub-groups can simultaneously operate to decrease a read time.
US08350674B2
An RFID tag and an RFID tag using the same are disclosed, wherein the RFID tag comprises: a circuit unit arranged on a first part of a board; and a loop type antenna on a second part of the board.
US08350673B2
A card comprises an antenna configured to generate and receive radio frequency signals, a chip coupled with the antenna, the chip configured to store sensitive information and communicate the information to an authorized reader via the antenna, and a switching mechanism configured to tune and detune the antenna relative to the chip to enable and disable respectively, the chips ability to communicate the sensitive information via the antenna.
US08350658B1
Methods and structures for constructing a magnetic core of a coupled inductor. The method provides for constructing N-phase coupled inductors as both single and scalable magnetic structures, where N is an integer greater than 1. The method additionally describes how such a construction of the magnetic core may enhance the benefits of using the scalable N-phase coupled inductor. The first and second magnetic cores may be formed into shapes that, when coupled together, may form a single scalable magnetic core. For example, the cores can be fashioned into shapes such as a U, an I, an H, a ring, a rectangle, and a comb, that cooperatively form the single magnetic core.
US08350655B2
Axisymmetric solid of revolution derivable from section at FIG. 5 is generally toroidal with electric current(s) in windings 110, 160 preferably flowing circumferentially along major circle(s) during power coupling device operation. Current(s) in windings 110, 160; current(s) in half-shields 120, 170; and the volume of space swept out by shield airgap(s) 101 emerge from plane of paper perpendicularly at FIG. 5 but as these emerge therefrom they curve to follow toroidal major circle(s). Cores 115, 165 preferably shunt and align magnetic flux such that magnetic field lines escape therefrom primarily only in region(s) of core airgap(s) and such that magnetic flux loops lie in planes of toroidal minor circle(s). Half-shield(s) 120, 170 preferably have electrically conductive material(s) distributed therein as is sufficient to substantially cancel magnetic flux lines impinging thereon before effects of such impinging magnetic flux lines would reach shield airgap(s) 101 and/or outer surface(s) of half-shields 120, 170.
US08350654B2
A Tran-Energy Machine is an energy conversion device to regain electric energy supplied to activated coils, from the total magnetic flux in the activated coils, and the rising and falling of magnetic flux lines of movable permanent magnets. The device may include one or more timing switches, electronic components in electric circuits, magnetic cores, permanent magnets, rotary parts, inductive coils, activation windings, rectifiers, and output switches. The one or more permanent magnets may be movably arranged with respect to the magnetic core for inducing alternating magnetic field upon movement, wherein activating and deactivating the windings attracts and repels the movable magnets generating regained energy from kinetic movement and changes in magnetic flux.
US08350650B2
A quadrupole magnetic coded switch includes a switch housing, an actuator, one or more switch dipole magnets, and a plurality of magnetically operated switch circuits. The actuator housing is movable relative to the switch housing. The plurality of actuator dipole magnets are coupled to the actuator housing and are movable therewith. The one or more switch dipole magnets are coupled to the switch housing. The one or more switch dipole magnets and the plurality of actuator dipole magnets are arranged to generate a quadrupole magnetic field. Each magnetically operated switch circuit is disposed within the switch housing and is configured to transition between a plurality of switch positions in response to relative movement of the actuator housing and the switch housing.
US08350630B2
Aspects of a method and system for LOGEN based on harmonics using microstrip techniques may include generating an output local oscillator signal from a non-sinusoidal input local oscillator signal by filtering the non-sinusoidal input local oscillator signal via a microstrip filter, wherein the output local oscillator signal may comprise a fundamental frequency that may be given by a harmonic frequency of the non-sinusoidal input local oscillator signal. The microstrip filter may be a programmable bandpass filter or a programmable stopband filter. The microstrip filter may be tuned to the harmonic frequency. The microstrip filter may be configured by adjusting a center frequency via a capacitance and/or an inductance. The bandwidth of the microstrip filter may be configured. The microstrip filter may be a programmable coplanar waveguide filter, and its center frequency may be configured via an inductance and/or a capacitance.
US08350624B2
Biasing methods and devices for amplifiers are described. The described methods generate bias voltages proportional to the amplifier output voltage to control stress voltages across transistors used within the amplifier.
US08350617B2
Various embodiments of a semiconductor apparatus are disclosed. In one exemplary embodiment, the semiconductor apparatus may include an internal voltage generation unit configured to generate an internal voltage having a voltage level corresponding to a code value of a voltage control code, a voltage comparison unit configured to compare a voltage level of a target voltage with a voltage level of the internal voltage, and a voltage control code generation unit configured to adjust the code value of the voltage control code based on the comparison result of the voltage comparison unit.
US08350615B2
If a power supply is provided to a circuit necessary to control a switch for switching a path after wakeup, or if a buckle switch is switched while a microcomputer is asleep, an electrical current necessary for reliable operation of the buckle switch cannot be supplied during sleep, so that the buckle switch will not operate normally. This creates the possibility that wakeup cannot be performed. To permit the electrical current necessary for reliable operation of the buckle switch to be secured if the buckle switch is switched while the microcomputer is asleep, an FET capable of being kept ON or OFF by a power supply acting during sleep, a resistor connected with the FET, and a resistor of large resistance for blocking excessive dark current if the buckle switch is connected are arranged in parallel. The combined resistance of the parallel combination of these elements is used as a pull-up resistance at the input of a control unit.
US08350613B2
A signal delay circuit including a clock transfer control circuit configured to transmit or block a clock signal, and a pulse signal generation circuit configured to delay a first pulse signal in response to the transmitted clock signal to generate a second pulse signal which has a longer active period than the first pulse signal.
US08350610B2
Described herein is a method and apparatus to wake-up analog bias signals with minimum delay. The apparatus comprises a first logic unit operable to adjust a signal level of a gated bias signal via a first predetermined signal in response to a power-down event; a comparator operable to compare the gated bias signal with an un-gated bias signal, and operable to generate an output signal indicating the comparison result; and a self-timed logic unit coupled to the comparator and operable to generate a wake-up signal in response to an end of the power-down event and the output signal.
US08350608B2
Phase locked loop circuit including automatic frequency control circuit and operating method thereof
Provided is a PLL circuit including automatic frequency control circuit and an operating method thereof. The voltage controlled oscillator is primarily controlled by an automatic frequency control circuit, and is secondarily controlled by a loop filter. The voltage controlled oscillator outputs a coarsely-tuned oscillation signal when primarily controlled, and outputs a finely-tuned oscillation signal when secondarily controlled. The PLL circuit can have a quick frequency fixing time, and output the oscillation signal having a broad and stable frequency. Moreover, the noise characteristic of the PLL circuit is enhanced.
US08350607B2
A clock generator having a delay locked loop and a delay control circuit. The delay locked loop receives an input clock signal and adjusts an adjustable delay circuit to generate an output clock signal that is synchronized with received input clock signal. The delay control circuit coupled to the delay locked loop generates a control signal to initialize the delay measure operation to adjust the adjustable delay circuit, after comparing the phase difference of the input clock signal and the output clock signal. The delay control circuit further generates a start measure control signal to start measuring a delay applied to the measurement signal propagating through the adjustable delay circuit, and generates a stop measure control signal to stop the delay measurement of the measurement signal. The delay adjustment of the delay locked loop is then adjusted to apply the delay measurement when synchronizing the input and output clock signals.
US08350601B2
A drive unit controls the operation of a corresponding power switching element such as IGBT which forms an inverter and a converter. The drive unit controls the operation of the corresponding power switching element to supply an operation current to a motor generator. First and second switching elements in the drive unit are simultaneously turned on when an operation signal transferred from a control device is switched to a turning-on instruction operation signal. The voltage at the gate terminal of the power switching element is shifted to a divided voltage obtained by dividing a voltage of the power source by first and second resistances connected in series in the drive unit. When a mirror time period of the power switching element is elapsed, the second switching element only is turned off in order to shift the gate voltage of the power switching element to the voltage of the power source.
US08350594B2
Enabling scheduling of single cycle as well as scheduling multi-cycle rules in a synchronous digital system whose behavior is governed by an asynchronous system specification (e.g., a TRS) provides a way to allow complex actions at state transitions of the asynchronous system without requiring that the complex actions be synthesized in logic that must be performed in a single clock cycle. For example, a relatively infrequent action may include a critical timing path that determines the maximum clock frequency of the system. By allowing that infrequent action to take multiple clock cycles, even if that action takes more absolute time, other actions may take less absolute time by virtue of being able to operate the synchronous system at a higher clock rate. The overall system may then operate more quickly (e.g., as measured by the average number of rules applied per unit of absolute time).
US08350592B1
A single-supply digital voltage level shifter has a first inverter having a first input for receiving an input signal with a first voltage swing, and a first output for outputting a first output signal. A second inverter has a second input for receiving the first output signal, and a second output for outputting a second output signal with a second voltage swing, where the second output signal is a level-shifted version of the input signal. A comparison stage includes a first comparison stage input for receiving the input signal, a second comparison stage input for receiving the second output signal, and a comparison stage output for outputting a comparison stage output control signal. A control stage is connected in a circuit branch of the first inverter and has a control stage switch that assumes a non-conducting state dependent on a logical state of the comparison stage output control signal.
US08350584B2
An apparatus for supporting a device, comprising a base assembly, a plurality of carrier columns extending from the base unit, and a plurality of vertical support plates, each vertically movable along a respective carrier column and including a pivotal device mounting bracket. A pneumatic unit including a piston rod is associated with each vertical support plate such that vertical motion of the piston rod controls vertical motion of the respective vertical support plate.
US08350576B2
A switching system for interfacing a single channel test equipment with a multi-channel device under test, the switching system including: an input connection for connecting to the single channel test equipment; an N-way switch having an N-way switch input coupled to the input connection, the N-way switch having N switch outputs; N output connections coupled to the N switch outputs, the N output connections for connecting to inputs of the multi-channel device under test; a controller coupled to the N-way switch for controlling a connection between the N-way switch input and one of the N switch outputs.
US08350573B2
According to the features discussed herein, through a single generalized arc-fault detection algorithm, various types of series and/or parallel arc faults can be detected without any nuisance trip for either AC or DC Electric Power Systems. Running Discrete Fourier Series (RDFS) formulation for nuisance-free operation and cost-effective implementation is developed. Unlike other methods which require numerous source and load-side current and voltage measurements, only source side current is required. An arc detector may include a first detector to monitor variations of a magnitude of a fundamental component of a current, and a second detector to monitor an overload condition based in an i2t calculation. A method may include obtaining a first cycle of a fundamental component of a current, obtaining a second cycle of the fundamental component of the current, and comparing the first cycle of the fundamental component of the current and the second cycle of the fundamental component of the current to determine if a difference of the first cycle and the second cycle is greater than a threshold amount.
US08350570B2
A method of surveying the condition of an underground enclosure including the steps of (a) positioning at least one transmitter/receiver unit (including an antenna) within an underground, substantially nonconductive enclosure, such that a substantial air gap exists between the antenna and the inner wall of the enclosure; (b) transmitting an ultra wideband (UWB) signal toward at least a portion of the inner wall; and (c) processing the return signal in order to identify the interface between the soil and a region of conductivity different from the soil.
US08350558B2
A system and method for measuring reactive power which uses a pair of quadrate carriers to add a 90 degree phase shift to a voltage path or a current path in a power meter. The quadrate carriers have the same frequency but are offset in phase from each other by 90 degrees.
US08350557B2
This invention relates to a nonlinear degree measuring apparatus and method for a power amplifier, and a predistortion compensation apparatus. The nonlinear degree measuring apparatus comprises a delayer (304), for delaying inputted pilot frequency data; a subtracter (305), for subtracting, from the pilot frequency data delayed by the delayer, subsequently inputted pilot frequency data; a power calculating unit (306), for calculating an instantaneous power of an outputted signal from the subtracter (305); and an averager (307), for averaging the instantaneous power calculated by the power calculating unit (306) to obtain an averaged power.
US08350552B1
A highly accurate voltage reference and temperature sensor circuit requires only several low-cost components in addition to a general-purpose microcontroller with an analog-to-digital converter. Unlike known circuits, the circuit disclosed does not rely on matching between a pair of semiconductor devices, as only a single semiconductor junction is used. All of the signal processing may be performed digitally.
US08350550B2
A power unit includes: a frequency divider to divide a clock signal in a second frequency-division ratio based on a first frequency-division ratio and to output a driving pulse; a switching device driven by the driving pulse; a piezoelectric transformer to output an alternating-current high voltage when receiving an intermittent voltage from the switching device; a comparison device to compare a digital signal corresponding to the piezoelectric transformer output voltage with a target voltage and to output a comparison result; a controller to control the first frequency-division ratio based on the comparison result; a first holding device to hold the controlled first frequency-division ratio; a first computing device to determine the second frequency-division ratio by performing computation using a first correction value and the first frequency-division ratio held by the first holding device; and a second holding device to hold the second frequency-division ratio determined by the first computing device.
US08350546B2
A SEPIC converter with over-voltage protection includes a high-side inductor that connects a node Vw to a node Vx. The node Vx is connected, in turn to ground by a power MOSFET. The node Vx is also connected to a node Vy by a first capacitor. The node Vy is connected to ground by a low-side inductor. A rectifier diode further connects the node Vy and a node Vout and an output capacitor is connected between the node Vout and ground. A PWM control circuit is connected to drive the power MOSFET. An over-voltage protection MOSFET connects an input supply to the PWM control circuit and the node Vw. A comparator monitors the voltage of the input supply. If that voltage exceeds a predetermined value Vref the comparator output causes the over-voltage protection MOSFET to disconnect the node Vw and the PWM control circuit from the input supply.
US08350542B2
A stepwise voltage ramp generator includes a tank capacitor, a terminal of which is coupled to a reference potential to be charged with a voltage ramp. A transistor couples the tank capacitor to a supply line. A diode-connected transistor, biased with a bias current is coupled to the transistor to form a current mirror. A by-pass switch is electrically coupled in parallel to the diode-connected transistor, and is controlled by a PWM timing signal, the duty-cycle of which determines a mean slope of the generated voltage ramp.
US08350538B2
A number of non-isolated and isolated converter embodiments are disclosed all featuring the three switches and characteristic not present in prior-art converters such as: a) reduced voltage stresses on all three switches resulting in safe operation without a danger of voltage overstress of any of the three switches over the full operating range from duty ratio of 0 to 1.0 and thus resulting in wide input voltage operating. b) operating range with magnetics flux and magnetic size much reduced compared to prior-art converters c) stressless switching eliminates switching losses and reduces stresses which are present in prior-art converters. All three features result in simultaneous increase of efficiency, reduction of size and cost when compared with prior-art converters.
US08350534B2
A method for efficiently charging a battery. The method includes producing a first signal having a voltage level dependent on the voltage of the battery, comparing the voltage level of the first signal with a settable voltage representative of a maximum battery charging current, and producing a second signal representative of a charging current to be provided to the battery, the second signal having a voltage level selected to be the lower voltage level between the first signal and the settable voltage.
US08350530B2
An aircraft battery charging system having an alternator with a rotatably driven field coil and a stator coil in which the stator coil is connected to a voltage output from the alternator. The system includes a power source, a first voltage regulator and a second voltage regulator. A switch mechanism selectively connects one of the first or second voltage regulators to one end of the field coil.
US08350528B2
A balancing method for a battery pack includes balancing battery cells near an end of discharge. A deep discharge of the battery cells can be prevented without using an overdischarge control unit. One battery cell balancing method includes: a balancing check condition determination step for determining whether or not a maximum voltage out of voltages of the battery cells is smaller than a reference voltage; a balancing start condition determination step for determining whether or not a residual capacity difference or voltage difference between the individual battery cells exceeds a reference value; a balancing time calculation step for calculating a balancing time for discharging the battery cell that exceeds the reference value; and a balancing operation step for discharging the selected battery cell when the battery cells are under charge or are at rest or when a discharge current of the battery cells is smaller than a reference current.
US08350527B2
A vehicle includes a charging port, a charger, a motive power output device, a PLC processing unit, and a charging ECU. The charging port is configured so that a charging cable can be connected to the charging port. The PLC processing unit uses the charging port and the charging cable as a communication path for performing PLC-based communication with a PLC processing unit of a house. In the case where PLC-based communication has come to an end when external charging comes to an end, the charging ECU controls a relay of a CCID so that it is in OFF state and, in the case where PLC-based communication is continuing when external charging comes to an end, it maintains the relay of the CCID in ON state.
US08350525B2
Methods and systems for charging vehicles in a parking area are described. In one embodiment, a charge request may be received for a vehicle located in a parking area. The vehicle may have a power connection with a power source. An electric charge is provided through the power connection from the power source to the vehicle based on receiving the charge request. Payment is recorded for providing the electric charge based upon departure of the vehicle from the parking area. Additional methods and systems are disclosed.
US08350520B2
A system and method for a self-charging battery cell are provided in which beta emissions from a Strontium-90 source are obtained by a sensor device and converted into electric energy. In embodiments, a scintillation device is used to intake emissions from a Strontium-90 source, and consequently emit a light or plurality of light flashes. A sensor device, e.g., a photodiode, is utilized to convert the light or plurality of light flashes into electric voltage, current and/or energy.
US08350512B2
An electric power tool is provided that includes a motor as a driving source, a first operation switch, a first semiconductor switch, and a second semiconductor switch. The first operation switch is operated by a user to be turned ON/OFF. The first semiconductor switch, provided on a current path from the power source to the motor, includes at least one semiconductor switching device. When the first operation switch is OFF, the first semiconductor switch is turned OFF to interrupt the current path. When the first operation switch is ON, the first semiconductor switch is turned ON to close the current path. The second semiconductor switch is provided on the current path in series with the first semiconductor switch and includes at least one semiconductor switching device. The second semiconductor switch closes/interrupts the current path by being turned ON/OFF in accordance with an input control signal.
US08350509B2
A switching system includes a plurality of diodes forming a diode bridge, and a micro-mechanical system (MEMS) switch array closely coupled to the plurality of diodes. The MEMS switch array is electrically connected in an (M×N) array. The (M×N) array includes a first MEMS switch leg electrically connected in parallel with a second MEMS switch leg. The first MEMS switch leg includes a first plurality of MEMS dies electrically connected in series, and the second MEMS switch leg includes a second plurality of MEMS dies electrically connected in series.
US08350508B2
A control system for an electric machine, the control system including a position sensor and a drive controller. The drive controller generates one or more control signals for exciting a winding of the electric machine in response to edges of a signal output by the position sensor. The times at which the control signals are generated by the drive controller are corrected by a position-sensor offset that is fixed over an operating speed range of the electric machine.
US08350497B2
An controlled LED lighting system that operates using a single conductor to power and control LED nodes is disclosed. The controlled LED lighting system modulates control data onto a nominally constant DC signal transmitted down a single conductor serial line. Nodes coupled the serial line draw power into a local capacitor and demodulate the data signal. Each node shunts the serial line when additional power is not required such that the data signal is received by every node on the serial line.
US08350496B2
Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) are increasingly used in illumination applications. To control multiple Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs), or any other controllable light source, this document introduces a single-wire multiple-LED power and control system. Specifically, individually controlled LED units are arranged in a series configuration that is driven by a control unit located at the head of the series. Each of the individually controlled LED units may comprise more than one LED that is also individually controllable. The head-end control unit provides both electrical power and control signals down a single wire to drive all of the LED units in the series in a manner that allows each LED unit to be controlled individually or in assigned groups.
US08350493B2
A discrete dimming luminance control circuit for light emitting diode illumination includes first and second control inputs, a first supply circuit between the first control input and an output, a second supply circuit between the second control input and the output, a first shunt circuit between the second control input and the output, and a second shunt circuit between the first control input and the output. The luminance control circuit delivers a first voltage to the output when a supply voltage is applied to the first control input and the second control input is left open, a second voltage when the supply voltage is applied to the second control input and the first control input is left open, a third voltage when the supply voltage is applied to the first control input and the second control input is grounded, and a fourth voltage when the supply voltage is applied to the second control input and the first control input is grounded.
US08350490B2
A method and lighting installation for use in horticulture for lighting crops in a greenhouse, with a number of lamps (2a . . . 2n) provided above the crops to be lighted, and a number of dimmer devices (4a . . . 4n) for the lamps, wherein the dimmer devices (4a . . . 4n) are provided with control means for periodically, automatically, varying the light intensity of the light sources cooperating with the dimmer devices according to a predetermined pattern.
US08350487B2
A switch circuit, particularly suitable for dimmer switches, detects zero-crossing or similar points in the supply and uses those to make predictions of future zero-crossing occurrences. The predicted occurrences may be used to time the operation of the switch itself to chop the supply which results in less variation in the power supplied (flicker if the switch circuit is operating a lamp) since the positions of the measured zero-crossings can be subject to noise but flicker is reduced if the switch is operated at times with respect to the true supply waveform. The predicted times may be obtained from a local oscillator having a period set by, for example, low pass filtering the period of the measured zero-crossings. The phase of the oscillator may be adjusted such that an error between the predicted and measured zero-crossings is reduced.
US08350485B2
An LED-based lighting device and method for making the same are disclosed. The lighting device includes an LED light source mounted on a heat sink, a power adaptor, and a controller. The power adaptor is configured to be interchangeable with a conventional incandescent bulb power adapter. The controller provides an average current to the LED light source when power is coupled to the device via the power adaptor. The average current causes the LED light source to generate light of a predetermined standard intensity that is substantially independent of variations in the LED light source from device to device. In one aspect of the invention, the LED light source includes a plurality of LEDs connected in series, the LEDs are bonded to the heat sink and connected to one another in series by wire bonds and to conducting traces on the heat sink.
US08350475B2
The invention relates to a high-pressure gas discharge lamp (8) for a lighting device, in particular for a headlight unit of a motor vehicle, with an electronic ignition system (9) that is arranged inside a lamp cap housing (1, 2) that comprises an upper part (1) and a cover (2), wherein said upper part (1) is provided with an opening (1.1) within which a high-voltage connection (4) between the high-pressure gas discharge lamp (8) and the electronic ignition system (9) is present, the cover (2) projects into said opening (1.1) and closes off this opening (1.1) in an insulating manner, and the mutually facing surfaces of the upper part (1) and the cover (2) form a labyrinth (3) that is interrupted by an insulating element (5).
US08350473B2
A plasma display panel is disclosed. The plasma display panel includes a front substrate, a rear substrate positioned to be opposite to the front substrate, a barrier rib positioned between the front substrate and the rear substrate to partition a discharge cell, and a phosphor layer positioned in the discharge cell. The phosphor layer includes a phosphor material and an additive material. The phosphor layer includes a red phosphor layer emitting red light, a green phosphor layer emitting green light, and a blue phosphor layer emitting blue light. A thickness of the blue phosphor layer is larger than a thickness of the red phosphor layer.
US08350472B2
A spark gap switch for controlling the output of a high voltage pulse from a high voltage source, for example, a capacitor bank or a pulse forming network, to an external load such as a high gradient electron gun, laser, pulsed power accelerator or wide band radar. The combination of a UV laser and a high vacuum quartz cell, in which a photocathode and an anode are installed, is utilized as triggering devices to switch the spark gap from a non-conducting state to a conducting state with low delay and low jitter.
US08350468B2
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide an organic electroluminescence display device. The display device may include a set of multi-directional spacers that are interposed between the pixels of the display. In one embodiment, the spacers are positioned in both lengthwise and crosswise directions. In another embodiment, the spacers include a first portion that is extends lengthwise between pixels and one or more portions that extend laterally from the first portion between pixels. In yet another embodiment, the spacers include portions that extend in multiple directions between pixels. The spacers may substantially surround each of the pixels and may serve as a boundary, for example, that prevents organic material for one pixel from being incorrectly deposited in another pixel. The spacers can be configured as a support structure, such as, for a metal mask during fabrication of the display device. In addition, the multi-directional aspect of the spacers may be useful in protecting the pixels from damage, such as, when a metal mask is moved during mounting or during fabrication of the display device.
US08350463B2
A phosphor of the alpha-sialon type is provided, wherein the general empirical formula is M1p/2Si12−p−qAlp+qOqN16−q:D; where M1 is one or more elements from the group Li, Mg, Ca, Y and the lanthanoids with the exception of Ce and La; D is a co-doping consisting of M2 and Mn, where M2=one or more elements from the group Ce, Pr, Eu, Tb, Yb and Er; in this situation q=0 to 2.5 and p=0.5 to 4 is chosen.
US08350462B2
A light emitting device includes a wavelength converter attached to a light emitting diode (LED). The wavelength converter may have etched patterns on both the first and second sides. In some embodiments the first and second sides of the converter each include a respective structure having a different width at its top than at its base. The wavelength converter may include a first photoluminescent element substantially overlying a first region of the LED without overlying a second region of the LED, while a second photoluminescent element substantially overlies the second region without overlying the first region. In some embodiments a passivation layer is disposed over the etched pattern of the first side. A window layer may be disposed between the first and second photoluminescent elements, with non-epitaxial material disposed on first and second sides of one region of the window layer.
US08350459B2
A method for manufacturing a field electron emission source includes: providing an insulating substrate; patterning a cathode layer on at least one portion of the insulating substrate; forming a number of emitters on the cathode layer; coating a photoresist layer on the insulating substrate, the cathode layer and the emitters; exposing predetermined portions of the photoresist layer to radiation, wherein the exposed portions are corresponding to the emitters; forming a mesh structure on the photoresist layer; and removing the exposed portions of photoresist layer. The method can be easily performed and the achieved the field electron emission source has a high electron emission efficiency.
US08350437B2
A motor is provided that includes magnetic poles, an armature core, armature coils, a commutator, and power supply brushes. The armature core includes teeth arranged in the circumferential direction to extend in a radial pattern. The armature coils include inner layer coils and outer layer coils. Each of the inner layer coils is wound around radially proximal end portions of two circumferentially adjacent teeth or a radially proximal end portion of one of the teeth. The inner layer coils are arranged in the circumferential direction without overlapping each other in the radial direction. Each of the outer layer coils is wound around radially distal end portions of two circumferentially adjacent teeth by distributed winding. The outer layer coils are arranged radially outward of the inner layer coils and are arranged in the circumferential direction without overlapping each other in the radial direction. The circumferential center of the inner layer coils and the circumferential center of the outer layer coils are displaced in the circumferential direction.
US08350434B2
For providing a permanent magnet type rotary electric machine that can reduce magnetic fluxes concentrated to one side in rotating direction on a magnetic pole circumferential face that causes torque ripple as well as ensure the mechanical strength, in the present invention, an outer circumference of respective magnetic poles is formed in a circular arc having a same curvature as well as the magnetic pole center axes of the respective magnetic poles are displaced with respect to the rotation center of a rotor so that an air gap between a stator and the respective magnetic pole outer circumferences at one side in the rotating direction is widened in comparison with the air gap at the other side.
US08350433B2
It comprises stator including stator core having yoke and a plurality of teeth protruded from yoke, which is formed with slots between adjacent teeth, and rotor having rotor core and permanent magnet formed with a plurality of magnetic poles, which confronts tip ends of teeth via gaps, wherein rotor core is formed by rotor core materials circumferentially equally divided into the predetermined number of divisions, and the least common multiple being N for the number of slots and the number of magnetic poles and the least common multiple being M for the number of slots and the number of divisions, then N is equal to M.
US08350429B2
A permanent magnet motor having three chambers aligned end to end where each chamber has a bar magnet. The north pole of the bar magnet in the center chamber faces the north pole of the bar magnet in the chamber to its right and the south pole of the bar magnet in the center chamber faces the south pole of the bar magnet in the chamber to its left. Structure is provided to move the end magnets away from the center magnet and, by means of springs, alternately sequentially snap the end magnets toward the center magnet to drive the center magnet back and forth in its chamber. Shaft members which are connected to gears are provided to control the movement of the end magnets and to convert the back and forth motion of the center magnet to a rotary motion.
US08350421B2
A motor may include a stator formed with a rotor arrangement hole, a rotor disposed in the rotor arrangement hole, and a plate-like member disposed on at least one end side in an axial direction of the stator. The plate-like member is joined with an end face of the stator structured such that a peripheral edge part of the plate-like member is melted. In this case, it is preferable that the peripheral edge part of the plate-like member is joined with the end face of the stator structured such that an edge part on an opposite side to a face contacting with the end face of the stator is melted by irradiation of a laser beam.
US08350402B2
Disclosed is a system for generating electrical power using flowing water in canals, rivers and the like water streams. The system comprising: plurality of circular structures, each having a bore at the center and plurality of elongated arms being fixed on the outer periphery of said structure; plurality of blades being fitted on said plurality of elongated arms; a rotating shaft for rotatably accommodating in space apart relationship said circular structures over outer body of said shaft through said bore; an electrical generator for converting the mechanical energy generated by rotation of said shaft into electrical energy to produce electrical power; and a transmission device for transmitting the mechanical energy generated by rotation of said shaft from shaft to said electrical generator; wherein said circular structures along with blades are kept across the flow of water, the blades of said structure get rotation due to force of flowing water and generate energy which rotates said shaft which in turn generate mechanical energy and finally said mechanical energy is transmitted to electrical generator through transmission device for generating electrical power.
US08350400B2
The ribbon drive generation apparatus is comprised of a ribbon-like curved shape, composed either of metal or other suitable material, attached to a containment tube, peripheral rings, shaft, or porous central tube, with the complete apparatus being contained in a tube having a constant diameter for the length of the tube. The ribbon can be peripherally mounted to the containment tube and optionally to a central porous tube. In this form the containment tube rotates and can form part of a rotor for a generator apparatus. The optional central porous tube can also be used as a bearing surface or, if attached to the inside edge of the ribbon, a power take-off shaft.
US08350398B2
An open-rotor gas turbine engine comprising a starter/generator, a first spool and a second spool, the second spool is of a lower pressure than the first spool; wherein the starter/generator is connected to the first and second spools via first and second clutches respectively. The method of operating the open-rotor engine comprises the step of supplying power to the starter/generator to drive the first spool via the first clutch to start the engine and, once the engine is self-propelling, a step of driving the starter/generator from the second spool via the second clutch to generate electricity.
US08350391B2
The sheet structure includes a plurality of linear structure bundles including a plurality of linear structures of carbon atoms arranged at a first gap, and arranged at a second gap larger than the first gap, a graphite layer formed in a region between the plurality of linear structure bundles and connected to the plurality of linear structure bundles, and a filling layer filled in the first gap and the second gap and retaining the plurality of linear structure bundles and the graphite layer.
US08350388B2
Disclosed is a component built-in wiring board, including a first insulating layer; a second insulating layer positioned in a laminated state on the first insulating layer; a semiconductor element buried in the second insulating layer, having a semiconductor chip with terminal pads and having surface mounting terminals arrayed in a grid shape connected electrically with the terminal pads; an electric/electronic component further buried in the second insulating layer; a wiring pattern sandwiched between the first insulating layer and the second insulating layer, including a first mounting land for the semiconductor element and a second mounting land for the electric/electronic component; a first connecting member connecting electrically the surface mounting terminal of the semiconductor element with the first mounting land; and a second connecting member connecting electrically the terminals of the electric/electronic component with the second mounting land, made of a same material as a material of the first connecting member.
US08350385B2
The present invention relates to a stress buffering package (49) for a semiconductor component, with a semiconductor substrate (52); an I/O pad (54), electrically connected to the semiconductor substrate (52); a stress buffering element (74) for absorbing stresses, electrically connected to the I/O pad (54); an underbump metallization (70), electrically connected to the stress buffering element (74); a solder ball (60), electrically connected to the underbump metallization (70); a metal element (61) between the solder ball (60) and the semiconductor substrate (52); a passivation layer (56, 58), which protects the semiconductor substrate (52) and the metal element (61) and which at least partially exposes the I/O pad (54); characterized in that a roughness of an interface between the stress buffering element (74) and the passivation layer (56, 58) is lower than a roughness of an interface between the metal element (61) and the passivation layer (56, 58). Furthermore the invention relates a method for manufacturing a stress buffering package (49) for a semiconductor component.
US08350381B2
A device includes a first semiconductor chip and a first encapsulant that encapsulates the first semiconductor chip and that includes a cavity. A carrier and an electrical component are mounted on the carrier. The carrier is arranged such that the electrical component is enclosed by the cavity.
US08350371B2
The semiconductor device according to the present invention includes a semiconductor chip, a solid plate to which the semiconductor chip is bonded, and a bonding member made of a BiSn-based material interposed between the semiconductor chip and the solid plate, while the bonding member has a heat conduction path made of Ag for improving heat conductivity between the semiconductor chip and the solid plate.
US08350370B2
The present invention is directed to LED packages and LED displays utilizing LED packages where the peak emission of the LED displays can exhibit improved emission characteristics. In some embodiments the improved characteristics include a wider horizontal emission angle for the LED packages according to the present invention, which results in improved emission characteristics for the LED display such as a wider far field pattern. This provides improved picture intensity and quality when viewing the display at different horizontal viewing angles. Different embodiments also provide for improved emission characteristics for LED packages emitting different colors of light when viewing at different vertical angles. In one embodiment the red and green LED packages can have emission patterns that are substantially the same at different vertical viewing angles within a range. This helps the colors of the display appear consistent at those angles.
US08350368B2
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes providing a substrate having a conductive bump formed over the substrate and a semiconductor die with an active surface oriented to the substrate. An encapsulant is deposited over the semiconductor die and the conductive bump, and the encapsulant is planarized to expose a back surface of the semiconductor die opposite the active surface while leaving the encapsulant covering the conductive bump. A channel is formed into the encapsulant to expose the conductive bump. The channel extends vertically from a surface of the encapsulant down through the encapsulant and into a portion of the conductive bump. The channel extends through the encapsulant horizontally along a length of the semiconductor die. A shielding layer is formed over the encapsulant and the back surface of the semiconductor die. The shielding layer includes a docking pin extending into the channel and into the portion of the conductive bump to electrically connect to the conductive bump and provide isolation from inter-device interference.
US08350367B2
Described herein are semiconductor device packages with EMI shielding and related methods. In one embodiment, a semiconductor device package includes: (1) a substrate unit including a grounding element disposed adjacent to a periphery of the substrate unit; (2) a semiconductor device disposed adjacent to an upper surface of the substrate unit; (3) a package body disposed adjacent to the upper surface and covering the semiconductor device; and (4) an EMI shield disposed adjacent to exterior surfaces of the package body and electrically connected to a connection surface of the grounding element. A lateral surface of the package body is substantially aligned with a lateral surface of the substrate unit, and the connection surface of the grounding element is electrically exposed adjacent to the lateral surface of the substrate unit. The grounding element corresponds to a remnant of a grounding via, and provides an electrical pathway to ground electromagnetic emissions incident upon the EMI shield.
US08350364B2
An electronic component includes a semiconductor chip with an active front face and a passive rear face, with contact connections and contact surfaces respectively being provided on the active front face and/or on the passive rear face, and with conductive connections being provided in the form of structured conductive tracks for providing an electrical connection from the active front face to the passive rear face. An electronic assembly formed of stacked semiconductor chips, and a method for producing the electronic component and the electronic assembly are also provided.
US08350361B2
The present invention relates to a semiconductor element having a conductive via and a method for making the same and a package having a semiconductor element with a conductive via. The semiconductor element includes a silicon chip and at least one conductive via. The silicon chip includes a silicon substrate and an active circuit layer. The active circuit layer is disposed on a second surface of the silicon substrate, and has at least one metal layer. The conductive via penetrates the silicon substrate, and includes a conductive metal. The conductive metal electrically connects to the metal layer of the active circuit layer, and a surface of the conductive metal is exposed to the outside of a first surface of the silicon substrate. Therefore, a chip is able to be directly stacked on the semiconductor element without forming a passivation layer and a redistribution layer on the first surface of the silicon substrate, and the process is simplified and the manufacturing cost is decreased.
US08350359B2
An aluminum lateral interconnect of a Back End of the Line (BEOL) is used to define the x and y dimensions of a through-silicon via in a semiconductor chip formed in a silicon substrate. The TSV includes one or more aluminum annulus formed on a surface of the substrate, and a deep trench in the substrate having a diameter that is determined by the diameter of the aluminum annulus. The annulus can also be provided with a conductive strap upon which a capacitor can be formed. The strap can also be used to provide a connection of the TSV to other BEOL interconnects.
US08350356B2
An anti-fuse apparatus includes a substrate of a first conductivity type and a well region of a second conductivity type formed in the substrate. A junction between the well region and the substrate is characterized by a breakdown voltage higher than a predetermined voltage. The apparatus includes a contact region of the second conductivity type within the well region. The apparatus also includes a channel region and a drain region within the substrate. A gate dielectric layer overlies the channel region and the contact region. A first polysilicon gate, the drain region, and the well region are associated with an MOS transistor. The apparatus also includes a second polysilicon gate overlying the gate dielectric layer which overlies the contact region. The contact region is configured to receive a first supply voltage and the second polysilicon gate is configured to receive a second supply voltage.
US08350353B2
A method of manufacturing a silicon carbide semiconductor device is provided that includes a step of forming in a surface of a silicon carbide wafer of first conductivity type a first region of second conductivity type having a predetermined space thereinside by ion-implanting aluminum as a first impurity and boron as a second impurity; a step of forming a JTE region in the surface of the silicon carbide wafer from the first region by diffusing the boron ion-implanted in the first region toward its neighboring zones by an activation annealing treatment; a step of forming a first electrode on the surface of the silicon carbide wafer at the space inside the first region and at an inner part of the first region; and a step of forming a second electrode on the opposite surface of the silicon carbide wafer. Thereby, a JTE region can be formed that has a wide range of impurity concentration and a desired breakdown voltage without increasing the number of steps of the manufacturing process.
US08350352B2
A bipolar transistor comprising an emitter region, a base region and a collector region, and a guard region spaced from and surrounding the base. The guard region can be formed in the same steps that form the base, and can serve to spread out the depletion layer in operation.
US08350350B2
In an infrared sensor (1) having a bolometer element (11) and a reference element (21), the reference element (21) comprises a bolometer film (22), a substrate-side insulating film (31) formed on the substrate-side surface of the bolometer film (22), a heat dissipation film (23) made of amorphous silicon formed on the substrate-side surface of the bolometer film (22) with the substrate-side insulating film (31) interposed therebetween, and a plurality of heat dissipation columns (25) made of amorphous silicon thermally connected to the heat dissipation film (23) and a substrate (10), while the bolometer film (22) and substrate-side insulating film (31) are formed such as to extend over a side face of the heat dissipation film (23) intersecting a surface of the substrate (10). Thus configured infrared sensor (1) can efficiently reduce the influence of temperature changes in the environment in use, while being made smaller.
US08350348B2
Provided are a magnetic memory device and a method of forming the same. The method may include forming a pinning pattern on a substrate; forming a first interlayer insulating layer that exposes the pinning pattern on the substrate; forming a pinned layer, a tunneling barrier layer and a second magnetic conductive layer on the pinning pattern; and forming a pinned pattern, a tunnel barrier pattern and a second magnetic conductive pattern by performing a patterning process on the pinned layer, the tunnel barrier layer and the second magnetic conductive layer.
US08350346B1
An integrated MEMS device comprises a wafer where the wafer contains two or more cavities of different depths. The MEMS device includes one movable structure within a first cavity of a first depth and a second movable structure within a second cavity of a second depth. The cavities are sealed to maintain different pressures for the different movable structures for optimal operation. MEMS stops can be formed in the same multiple cavity depth processing flow. The MEMS device can be integrated with a CMOS wafer.
US08350344B2
Provided are a semiconductor device and a method of fabricating the same. The semiconductor device may include a charge storage structure and a gate. The charge storage structure is formed on a substrate. The gate is formed on the charge storage structure. The gate includes a lower portion formed of silicon and an upper portion formed of metal silicide. The upper portion of the gate has a width greater than that of the lower portion of the gate.
US08350340B1
A structure of an output stage includes a first electrode, a second electrode, a third electrode, multiple first auxiliary electrodes connected to the first electrode, multiple second auxiliary electrodes and multiple third auxiliary electrodes both connected to the second electrode, multiple fourth auxiliary electrodes connected to the third electrode, multiple first transistors and multiple second transistors. The widths of each the first auxiliary electrode and each the fourth auxiliary electrode are inversely proportional to the distance thereof respectively from the first electrode and the third electrode. The width of each of the second auxiliary electrodes and the third auxiliary electrodes is inversely proportional to the distance thereof from the second electrode. The first and second auxiliary electrodes are electrically connected to each other respectively through the turned-on first transistors. The third and fourth auxiliary electrodes are electrically connected to each other respectively through the turned-on second transistors.
US08350334B2
A stress film forming method is used in a fabrication process of a semiconductor device. Firstly, a substrate is provided, wherein a first-polarity-channel MOSFET and a second-polarity-channel MOSFET are formed on the substrate. Then, at least one deposition-curing cycle process is performed to form a cured stress film over the first-polarity-channel MOSFET and the second-polarity-channel MOSFET. Afterwards, an additional deposition process is performed form a non-cured stress film on the cured stress film, wherein the cured stress film and the non-cured stress film are collectively formed as a seamless stress film.
US08350328B2
Characteristics of a semiconductor device having a FINFET are improved. The FINFET has: a channel layer arranged in an arch shape on a semiconductor substrate and formed of monocrystalline silicon; a front gate electrode formed on a part of an outside of the channel layer through a front gate insulating film; and a back gate electrode formed so as to be buried inside the channel layer through a back gate insulating film. The back gate electrode arranged inside the arch shape is arranged so as to pass through the front gate electrode.
US08350327B2
A semiconductor device is provided which includes a semiconductor substrate, a gate structure formed on the substrate, sidewall spacers formed on each side of the gate structure, a source and a drain formed in the substrate on either side of the gate structure, the source and drain having a first type of conductivity, a lightly doped region formed in the substrate and aligned with a side of the gate structure, the lightly doped region having the first type of conductivity, and a barrier region formed in the substrate and adjacent the drain. The barrier region is formed by doping a dopant of a second type of conductivity different from the first type of conductivity.
US08350311B2
The present invention provides a technology capable of providing a semiconductor device having an MIM structure capacitor with improved reliability. The capacitor has a lower electrode, a capacitor insulating film, and an upper electrode. The lower electrode is comprised of a metal film embedded in an electrode groove formed in an insulating film over the main surface of a semiconductor substrate; and the upper electrode is comprised of a film stack of a TiN film (lower metal film) and a Ti film (cap metal film) formed over the TiN film (lower metal film).
US08350309B2
A select gate transistor has a select gate electrode composed of a first-level conductive layer and a second-level conductive layer. The first-level conductive layer has contact areas. The second-level conductive layer has its portions removed that are located above the contact areas. Two adjacent select gate electrodes that are adjacent to each other in the column direction are arranged such that the contact areas of one select gate electrode are not opposed to the contact areas of the other select gate electrode. One select gate electrode has its first- and second-level conductive layers removed in their portions that are opposed to the contact areas of the other select gate electrode.
US08350307B2
Provided is a semiconductor memory device including a capacitor structure extending over core and peripheral areas of a substrate. Respective portions of the capacitor structure function as memory cell capacitors in the core area and as first and second capacitors in the peripheral area. A combination of the first and second capacitors functions as a first power decoupling capacitor, and a transistor disposed in the peripheral area functions as a second power decoupling capacitor.
US08350300B2
A semiconductor device comprises a semiconductor substrate, and a multilayer wiring structure arranged on the semiconductor substrate, the multilayer wiring structure including a plurality of first electrically conductive lines, an insulating film covering the plurality of first electrically conductive lines, and a second electrically conductive line arranged on the insulating film so as to intersect the plurality of first electrically conductive lines, where the insulating film has gaps in at least some of a plurality of regions where the plurality of first electrically conductive lines and the second electrically conductive line intersect each other, and the width of the gap in a direction along the second electrically conductive line is not larger than the width of the first electrically conductive line.
US08350296B2
An enhancement mode III-Nitride device has a floating gate spaced from a drain electrode which is programmed by charges injected into the floating gate to form a permanent depletion region which interrupts the 2-DEG layer beneath the floating gate. A conventional gate is formed atop the floating gate and is insulated therefrom by a further dielectric layer. The device is a normally off E mode device and is turned on by applying a positive voltage to the floating gate to modify the depletion layer and reinstate the 2-DEG layer. The device is formed by conventional semiconductor fabrication techniques.
US08350280B2
An exemplary light emitting diode includes a light emitting diode chip, two optical wavelength converting layers, and an encapsulant layer. The light emitting diode chip has an light emitting surface. The light emitting diode chip is used to emit a monochromatic light from the light emitting surface. The light emitting surface includes a first region, a second region, and a third region. The two optical wavelength converting layers covers the first and the third regions of the light emitting surface. The two optical wavelength converting layers are configured for converting the monochromatic light received from the light emitting diode chip and emitting light with a converted wavelength from the light emitting diode. The encapsulant layer covers the second region of the light emitting surface for directing light therefrom.
US08350278B2
A nitride semiconductor light-emitting device includes an n type nitride semiconductor layer, a light-emitting layer formed on the n type nitride semiconductor layer, a first p type nitride semiconductor layer formed on the light-emitting layer, an intermediate layer formed on the first p type nitride semiconductor layer to alternately cover and expose a surface of the first p type nitride semiconductor layer, and a second p type nitride semiconductor layer formed on the intermediate layer. The intermediate layer is made of a compound containing Si and N as constituent elements.
US08350270B2
A silicon carbide MOSFET that exhibits a high source-to-drain withstand voltage and that involves a smaller difference between gate-to-drain capacitance achieved in an activated state and gate-to-drain capacitance achieved in a deactivated state. A silicon carbide drift layer of a first conductivity type is provided on a silicon carbide substrate of a first conductivity type; a pair of base regions are provided in a surface layer portion of the silicon carbide drift layer and exhibit a second conductivity type; a pair of source regions are provided in interiors of surface layer portions of the pair of base regions and exhibit a first conductivity type; and semi-insulating regions are provided between the silicon carbide substrate and the pair of base regions.
US08350265B2
A thin film transistor liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD) array substrate and a method of manufacturing a TFT-LCD array substrate are provided in the invention. The TFT-LCD array substrate comprises a plurality of gate lines and a plurality of data lines formed on a substrate. A plurality of pixel regions are defined by the gate lines and the data lines. A pixel electrode, a first thin film transistor for controlling the charge of the pixel electrode and a second thin film transistor for controlling the pre-charge of the pixel electrode are formed in each pixel region.
US08350261B2
The object is to suppress deterioration in electrical characteristics in a semiconductor device comprising a transistor including an oxide semiconductor layer. In a transistor in which a channel layer is formed using an oxide semiconductor, a p-type silicon layer is provided in contact with a surface of the oxide semiconductor layer. Further, the p-type silicon layer is provided in contact with at least a region of the oxide semiconductor layer, in which a channel is formed, and a source electrode layer and a drain electrode layer are provided in contact with regions of the oxide semiconductor layer, over which the p-type silicon layer is not provided.
US08350260B2
A transistor structure comprises a patterned N-type transparent oxide semiconductor formed over a substrate as a base, and a patterned p-type organic polymer semiconductor formed on the patterned N-type transparent oxide semiconductor comprising a first portion and a second portion so that the patterned N-type transparent oxide semiconductor and the first portion and the second portion of the patterned p-type organic polymer semiconductor form heterojunctions therebetween respectively, wherein the first portion of the patterned p-type organic polymer semiconductor is used as an emitter, and the second portion of the patterned p-type organic polymer semiconductor is used as a collector.
US08350254B2
A polymer electroluminescent device is provided. The device includes an anode, a light-emitting layer, a cation-containing water-soluble polymer layer and a cathode formed in this order on a substrate wherein the cation-containing water-soluble polymer layer is formed by wet coating. The cation-containing water-soluble polymer layer as a secondary thin film layer is not dissolved in a solvent for the formation of the underlying light-emitting layer to prevent intermixing between the two layers, thereby enabling the formation of a multilayer structure by wet coating. In addition, the cation-containing water-soluble polymer layer attracts electrons injection from the cathode by an attractive Coulomb force to effectively increase the mobility of the electrons while blocking high-mobility holes from the anode at an interface between the light-emitting layer and the water-soluble layer. Further provided is a method for fabricating the electroluminescent device.
US08350250B2
A nitride-based light emitting device capable of achieving an enhancement in light emission efficiency and an enhancement in reliability is disclosed. The nitride-based light emitting device includes a first-conductivity semiconductor layer, a second-conductivity semiconductor layer, an active layer arranged between the first-conductivity semiconductor layer and the second-conductivity semiconductor layer, the active layer including at least one pair of a quantum well layer and a quantum barrier layer, a plurality of first layers arranged on at least one of an interface between the first-conductivity semiconductor layer and the active layer and an interface between the second-conductivity semiconductor layer and the active layer, the first layers having different energy band gaps or different thicknesses, and second layers each interposed between adjacent ones of the first layers, the second layers exhibiting an energy band gap higher than the energy band gaps of the first layers.
US08350246B2
A structure of a porous low-k layer is described, comprising a bottom portion and a body portion of the same atomic composition, wherein the body portion is located on the bottom portion, and the bottom portion has a density higher than the density of the body portion. An interconnect structure is also described, including the above porous low-k layer, and a conductive layer filling up a damascene opening in the porous low-k layer.
US08350241B2
A radiation protection device, wherein it includes functional areas where anthropometric and adhesive material are located in the same or other discreet area. It also includes a use recording and/or control system.
US08350231B2
Disclosed herein is an optical measurement apparatus including at least: a flow channel through which samples flow; a first light radiation section; a first opto-electrical conversion section; a first analog-to-digital conversion section; a second light radiation section; a second light detection section; a second opto-electrical conversion section; an amplification section; and a second analog-to-digital conversion section.
US08350225B1
An organic semiconductor device for detecting and measuring radiation has a total active area of less than 100 square microns (□m2) and comprises at least two bulk organic semiconductor regions with each region connected on one side to an independent biasing voltage electrode and connected on an opposing side to a common output electrode.
US08350224B2
A scintillator arrangement for detecting X-ray radiation includes a plurality of pixels separated from one another by reflectors and made of a scintillator ceramic, doped in particular by cerium, for converting the X-ray radiation into visible light. In at least one embodiment, the reflectors are designed for absorbing light with a wavelength range which corresponds to a selected emission band of the scintillator ceramic. Thus, the concentration of cerium in the scintillator ceramic can be reduced and this leads to an increased light yield.
US08350219B2
Some aspects include a device comprising a plurality of cameras arranged in an array, each producing a signal indicative of radiation impinging on the respective camera, the plurality of cameras arranged such that the field of view of each of the plurality of cameras at least partially overlaps the field of view of at least one adjacent camera of the plurality of cameras, to form a respective plurality of overlap regions, an energy conversion component for converting first radiation impinging on a surface of the energy conversion component to second radiation at a lower energy that is detectable by the plurality of cameras, and at least one computer for processing the signals from each of the plurality cameras to generate at least one image, the at least one processor configured to combine signals in the plurality of overlap regions to form the at least one image.
US08350218B2
In nuclear imaging, solid state photo multipliers (48) are replacing traditional photomultiplier tubes. One current problem with solid state photomultipliers, is that they are difficult to manufacture in the size in which a typical scintillator is manufactured. Resultantly, the photomultipliers have a smaller light receiving face (50) than a light emitting face (46) of the scintillators (44). The present application contemplates inserting a reflective material (52) between the solid state photomultipliers (48). Instead of being wasted, light that initially misses the photomultiplier (48) is reflected back by the reflective material (52) and eventually back to the radiation receiving face (50) of the photomultiplier (48).
US08350215B2
A thermopile sensor for detection of infrared radiation in a measurement wavelength range having a sensor substrate in which a cavity is formed, a diaphragm formed on the sensor substrate above the cavity, at least one thermopile structure formed in, on, or below the diaphragm, having at least one thermopile pair of mutually contacted thermopile legs, where the two thermopile legs are made of doped semiconductor materials having different Seebeck coefficients, and at least one insulating intermediate layer formed between the thermopile legs. A layer system having at least the two thermopile legs and at least the insulating intermediate layer is formed above the lower cavity and has multibeam interference for IR radiation in the measurement wavelength range, absorbing a portion of the IR radiation and at least partially reducing the reflection.
US08350208B1
Two-terminal multi junction photodetectors and focal plane arrays for multi-color detection or imaging acquisition can be formed by connecting photodiodes with different bandgaps or wavelengths, through tunnel diodes, in series with the same polarization. Under reverse bias in the dark, the total current going through such multi junction photodetectors is dictated by the smallest reverse saturation current of the photodiodes. When in operating mode, a set of light sources with different wavelengths corresponding to each individual photodiode can be used to optically bias all the photodiodes except the detecting photodiode Under illumination, all other photodiodes work in the photovoltaic mode and have much higher maximum possible reverse currents than the detecting photodiode. As a result, the total current of the multi junction photodetector is dictated by the detecting photodiode. Therefore, a total current can be read by, for example, read-out circuits to give the optical signal strength at that specific wavelength of the detecting photodiode. By using an algorithm one can use such multi junction photodetectors to detect different wavelengths and to take multicolor images.
US08350206B2
The invention relates to a transimpedance amplifier circuit for converting an input current into an output voltage Uout−, comprising an amplifier element (4) having at least one signal input and an output having the output voltage Uout. For this purpose, the transimpedance amplifier circuit has a T-shaped feedback network divided into at least a first branch (1), a second branch (2) and a third branch (3), which is connected in series with the first branch (1), thus producing a node (K). The first branch (1) has a non-reactive resistance (R1) and is connected to the output at one end and the node (K) at the other end. The second branch (2) has at least one capacitance C2 and is connected to the node (K) at one end and in particular to an earth at the other end, and the third branch (3) has at least one capacitance C3 and is connected to the node (K) at one end and to the signal input at the other end. As a result, a capacitive current division is effected at the node (K).
US08350199B2
A launch vehicle comprising a casing, a solid propellant, a channel, a geometric feature, and a suppression structure. The solid propellant is located within the casing. The channel is through the solid propellant, and the geometric feature is in the channel. The suppression structure is located around a centerline for the channel and located upstream in a flow path from the geometric feature.
US08350192B2
An oven includes an interior cavity and a convection heating system for developing a flow of heated air within the interior cavity. The convection heating system includes a plurality of fans to provide a plurality of airflows, and a single convection heating element for heating the plurality of airflows. A shroud is arranged in covering relationship over the convection heating system and includes at least one intake aperture, and a plurality of exhaust apertures for discharging air from the plurality of fans back into the interior cavity. A baffle is located within the shroud and generally between adjacent ones of the plurality of fans. The baffle inhibits mixture of the airflows of each of the fans within the shroud. In one example, a first fan provides a first airflow, a second fan providing a second airflow, and the baffle inhibits mixture of the first and second airflows within shroud.
US08350174B2
A pole part of a switchgear assembly having a vacuum interrupter chamber is provided. To ensure that heat is dissipated to the exterior for convection, a thermally conductive heat transmission element in the form of a cylindrical casing is provided between the vacuum interrupter chamber, a contact holder and an encapsulation casing. An inner surface of the heat transmission element rests on the vacuum interrupter chamber and the contact holder, and an outer surface of the heat transmission element rests on an inner surface of the encapsulation casing inner surface. The heat transmission element can be produced from a thermally conductive plastic using an injection-molding or molding-compound production process. The heat transmission element can be connected to the pole part through openings. The heat transmission element can be arranged before the encapsulation of with an encapsulation compound, and be cast in the encapsulation casing.
US08350167B2
Methods, apparatus and systems which provide buttons oriented at angles relative to each other as a part of a multiple function switch are described. In one embodiment, the multiple function switch is part of an inline controller that is suitable for use to control features or functions of a portable electronic device. A multiple function switch may be incorporated in a cable associated with an earpiece arranged to be interfaced with a portable electronic device.
US08350160B2
A structure includes a conductive film (12) provided in an underlying layer (10); and a carbon nanotube bundle (20) including a plurality of carbon nanotubes each having one end connected to the conductive film (12), wherein, at other end side of the carbon nanotube bundle (20), at least carbon nanotubes allocated at outer side of the carbon nanotube bundle (20) extend with convex curvatures toward the outside of the carbon nanotube bundle (20), and the convex curvatures of the carbon nanotubes allocated at the outer side of the carbon nanotube bundle are larger than those of inner side of the carbon nanotube bundle (20), and diameters of the carbon nanotube bundle (20) decrease toward the other end of the carbon nanotube bundle (20).
US08350150B2
An enclosure of an electronic device includes a plate. The plate defines a number of through holes. Each through hole has a pair of tabs connected to each other and with the through hole. Each pair of tabs are slantingly bent towards an inside of the enclosure. The enclosure with the shields can shield the electronic device from electro-magnetic interference.
US08350148B1
An electrical box comprises a back wall and opposing top and bottom walls. Coupled to a top wall is a track that is configured to interface with a wall mount feature (such as a nail boss) in such a manner that the wall mount features can slide within the track. In such a manner, the wall mount features can be placed in a forward position for storage or transportation, and in a rearward position when installed in a wall. The forward position of the wall mounting feature allows electrical boxes to be nested within each other, raising the shipping density of electrical boxes that can be stored.
US08350144B2
A hybrid photovoltaic cell module includes a substrate and a photopolymer composition disposed on the substrate. The photopolymer composition includes an organic photopolymer, a plurality of nanoparticles, and a dendrimer that disperses the nanoparticles in the composition. The dendrimer has a number average molecular weight of from 300 to 10,000 g/mol and a core having a carbon atom directly bonded to X1 and X2 and two —CH2 groups. X1 is a hydrogen atom, a functional group, or a chain including a functional group. X2 is a chain including a functional group that is the same or different from the functional groups of X1. Each —CH2 group is bonded to a chain that independently includes a functional group that is the same or different from said functional groups of X1 and X2. The module is formed using a method that includes the step of disposing the photopolymer composition on the substrate.
US08350140B2
Disclosed is a keyboard device 100, in which a plurality of keys 3 are attached to a keyboard chassis 1 rotatably in a keying direction. In the keyboard device 100, a key pressing member 20 of the keyboard chassis 1 includes sliding portions 26 as protruding parts. Chassis attachment portions 36 of the keys 3 include opening portions 36a as recessed parts. A configuration is adopted so that, in a state where the sliding portions 26 and the opening portions 36a are engaged with other, the keys 3 can be prevented from dropping off from the keyboard chassis 1, and inclination of the keys 3 in a transverse direction can be suppressed.
US08350132B1
A novel maize variety designated PHE64 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PHE64 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PHE64 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid maize seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the variety PHE64 or a trait conversion of PHE64 with another maize variety. Inbred maize varieties derived from maize variety PHE64, methods for producing other inbred maize varieties derived from maize variety PHE64 and the inbred maize varieties and their parts derived by the use of those methods.
US08350128B2
A soybean cultivar designated S080103 is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar S080103, to the plants of soybean S080103, to plant parts of soybean cultivar S080103, and to methods for producing a soybean plant produced by crossing soybean cultivar S080103 with itself or with another soybean variety. The invention also relates to methods for producing a soybean plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic soybean plants and plant parts produced by those methods. This invention also relates to soybean cultivars, or breeding cultivars, and plant parts derived from soybean variety S080103, to methods for producing other soybean cultivars, lines or plant parts derived from soybean cultivar S080103, and to the soybean plants, varieties, and their parts derived from use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid soybean seeds, plants, and plant parts produced by crossing the cultivar S080103 with another soybean cultivar.
US08350126B2
A new vegetable, referred to herein as green garlic, grown from garlic bulbils is disclosed. In particular examples, the green garlic is rich in one or more thiosulfinates. Methods of producing green garlic are also disclosed. In some examples, such methods permit year-round commercial production of green garlic.
US08350119B2
The present invention relates generally to the field of molecular biology and concerns a method for enhancing various economically important yield-related traits in plants. More specifically, the present invention concerns a method for enhancing various economically important yield-related traits in plants relative to control plants, by increasing expression in a plant of a nucleic acid sequence encoding a Yield-Enhancing Polypeptide (YEP). The YEP may be a Class I TCP or a CAH3 or a Clayata 1 (CLV1) polypeptide with a non-functional C-terminal domain. The present invention also concerns plants having increased expression of a nucleic acid sequence encoding a YEP, which plants have enhanced yield-related traits in plants relative to control plants. The invention also provides constructs useful in the methods of the invention.
US08350116B2
A vacuum bandage is provided for use with a wound having a wound surface. The bandage is connectable to a vacuum source and includes a wound dressing member having a wound contacting surface, a top surface, and a port configured for communication with the vacuum source. The wound dressing member further includes holes in the wound contacting surface configured for communication with the wound surface of the wound and a passageway between the port and each hole. The vacuum bandage further includes a pack adjacent to the top surface of the member. The pack may include an aperture positioned about the port.
US08350115B2
An apparatus for stimulating healing of a wound, includes a porous pad adapted to contact a surface of the wound on an affected part of a body. An envelope for receiving the porous pad and the affected part of the body is provided, and the envelope includes a re-sealable opening that permits the wound to be inspected. A connector is fluidly connected to an interior of the envelope and to a source of negative pressure.
US08350113B2
A process for transalkylating aromatic hydrocarbon compounds, the process comprising introducing an aromatic hydrocarbon feed stream and a sulfur source to a transalkylation zone. The feed stream contacts a catalyst in the transalkylation zone in the presence of sulfur, and produces a reaction product stream comprising benzene and xylene. The invention includes methods to control the transalkylation process.
US08350111B2
One exemplary embodiment can be a method for processing polyisopropylbenzene for producing cumene. The method can include passing a transalkylation feed stream to a transalkylation zone, and passing a reaction product to a separation zone. Typically, the separation zone produces a stream including di-isopropylbenzene, tri-isopropylbenzene, and one or more heavy compounds. Moreover, the stream may include at least about 0.7%, by weight, of the one or more heavy compounds based on the weight of the di-isopropylbenzene, tri-isopropylbenzene, and the one or more heavy compounds in the stream, and at least a portion of the stream is recycled to the transalkylation zone.
US08350108B2
Processes and reactor systems are provided for the conversion of oxygenated hydrocarbons to paraffins useful as liquid fuels. The process involves the conversion of water soluble oxygenated hydrocarbons to oxygenates, such as alcohols, furans, ketones, aldehydes, carboxylic acids, diols, triols, and/or other polyols, followed by the subsequent conversion of the oxygenates to paraffins by dehydration and alkylation. The oxygenated hydrocarbons may originate from any source, but are preferably derived from biomass.
US08350107B2
A process for converting alcohol feedstocks to diesel/turbine fuels.
US08350101B2
The present invention relates to the method for obtaining vinylidene fluoride and the subject matter thereof is more particularly the production of vinylidene fluoride by pyrolysis of 1,2-dichloro-2,2-difluoroethane in the presence of hydrogen at a temperature of greater than or equal to 400° C.
US08350082B2
This process for producing fluorine-containing compounds includes liquid-phase fluorination by introducing a raw material compound and fluorine gas into a solvent to replace hydrogen atoms in the raw material compound with fluorine atoms. More specifically, the process for producing fluorine-containing compounds includes (1) promoting fluorination by dissolving the raw material compound in anhydrous hydrofluoric acid and introducing into a liquid-phase fluorination solvent, or (2) promoting fluorination by dissolving the raw material compound in a perfluoro compound having a plurality of polar groups in a molecule thereof and introducing into a liquid-phase fluorination solvent. According to these processes, a fluorination reaction can be carried out at high yield and without containing hardly any isomers while using a hydrocarbon compound as is for the raw material.
US08350076B2
The present invention is directed to novel phenyloin derivative compounds and the use of such compounds as sodium channel blockers. Such compositions have utility as anti-cancer agents and can be used to limit or prevent PCa growth and/or metastasis.
US08350070B2
Simple, economical preparative processes for the provision of pure hydroxyl functional materials that are derived by converting the alkene groups of the unsaturated molecules found in vegetable oils, into hydroxyl groups.
US08350064B2
Xanthene compounds are disclosed having fluorescence at multiple wavelengths. Also disclosed are methods for their synthesis and use. Some of the compounds fluoresce at three wavelengths, emitting white light. Uses include the imaging of biological tissues, illumination, and display technologies. Many of the compounds have large Stokes shifts, and are resistant to photobleaching. The fluorescence may be readily distinguished from that of endogenous fluorophores, and from that of most existing, commercially-available fluorescent probes. The compounds are well suited for use in “multiplexing” techniques. They exhibit clear isosbestic and isoemissive points, and have broad absorption and emission ranges.
US08350055B2
The present invention relates to novel 1,3-dihydroindol-2-one (oxindole) derivatives of the formula (I) in which A, R3, R4, R5, R6, and R7 are defined according to claim 1, and to medicaments containing them for the treatment of diseases. In particular, the novel oxindole derivatives can be used for the control and/or prophylaxis of various vasopressin-dependent or oxytocin-dependent diseases.
US08350044B2
This document discloses molecules having the following formula (“Formula I”):
US08350038B2
Disclosed are pyridinyl-isoquinoline-dione derivatives, methods of producing these derivatives, conjugates comprising the pyridinyl-isoquinoline dione derivatives and (i) a solid support, or (ii) a biomolecule, methods of producing these conjugates as well as the use of these conjugates as quenchers in fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET).
