US08489259B2
Commercial aircraft (11) having a black box (41) comprising a flight data recorder (49) connected to suitable acquisition units (13, 14, 15) for recording information required for crash investigation purposes inside a container (43), wherein the aircraft (11) comprises a crash detection device (17); the black box (41) is installed in a suitable location for being ejected outside the aircraft in a crash event through a duct (21, 31) having its exit in a fuselage area where the ejected black box (41) would not impact on the aircraft; the aircraft (11) also comprises ejection means (23, 33), controlled by a black box ejection control unit (19) connected to said crash detection device (17), for ejecting the black box (41) through said duct (21, 31), when an impending crash is detected by said crash detection device (17).
US08489250B2
A fan control system for a computer system is provided. The fan control system includes a power sensor and a controller. The power sensor detects the power dissipated by a target device in the computer system. The controller calculates a suggested airflow speed required for the target device and thus outputs a control signal for controlling a fan within the computer system according to at least the dissipated power.
US08489244B2
A method of controlling the flow of a multiphase fluid through a pipeline that includes a riser pipe with a choke valve comprises receiving multiple signals dependent on fluid flow properties from a plurality of sensors in the topside area of the riser pipe, analysing the signals to establish a vector of measurement weights, the product of the vector of measurement weights and a corresponding vector of the signal values of a given time being dependent on the severity of a slug flow forming in the system. Further signals dependent on fluid flow properties are received from the plurality of sensors in the topside area of the riser pipe. A set position for the choke valve is then determined from the product of the vector of measurement weights and further values of signals to restrict characteristics of the flow in the topside from moving towards a severely slugging flow regime.
US08489241B2
An exemplary method is disclosed for controlling on-line the steam output of a waste incineration plant that is fed with waste of varying composition. Process or system quantities (u2, u3, xGC, xLL, w0) can be measured repeatedly, at different times during operation of the plant, and a relation with linear parameters (θi) as coefficients of non-linear expressions (φi) of the process quantities can be established by evaluating the measurements. From this relation, an optimal waste feed rate to obtain a desired steam output ({dot over (M)}steam) can be determined and applied to a waste feed actuator of the waste incineration plant.
US08489233B2
A method and related system blend fuels and dispense a blended fuel to a vehicle at a fueling station. In one aspect, the method comprises selecting the desired proportion of at least one of the fuels available at the service station, blending that fuel with another one available, and delivering the blended fuel to the vehicle. Preferably, the first fuel is a non-renewable, petroleum based one, while the second fuel is a non-petroleum based, renewable one (such as ethanol or biodiesel).
US08489231B2
Methods to solve the costly “loop mail” problem (FIG. 4, 464) in automated sorting and delivery of mail pieces are disclosed. Loop mail is detected, and marked as such (FIG. 7, 738), in an automated reject encoding machine (REM) (FIGS. 9-10). In one case, loop mail is detected where a new image of a returned mail piece is captured (702), a new destination address is read (720), and the new address does not match the bar code on the piece (732), suggesting that the previous address resolution was erroneous. The bar code is over-labeled (734) and replaced with the new postal code (736). The mail piece is marked with a loop mail indicator (738), and then returned for automated DBCS sortation (740). The loop mail indicator (810) indicates that the piece has already gone around the sorting and attempted delivery loop at least once, and is used to prevent recurrence (704, 710).
US08489230B2
The apparatus is for sorting a range of machine-identifiable items received in random order such as meat products or cuts produced at an abattoir. In one example, the items are allocated into high, medium and low priority types (total 205 types). High priority items are allowed a smaller range of types than are low-priority items. Items are recirculated automatically for re-sorting once, twice or three times respectively into fully sorted sets of products. Preferably a freezing chamber surrounds the sorting apparatus so that the items become chilled or frozen while being sorted.
US08489227B2
Provided is a transport method comprising judging whether there is a possibility that misalignment greater than or equal to a threshold value occurs between substrates to be layered that are held by a pair of substrate holders aligned and stacked by an aligning section, the misalignment occurring when the pair of substrate holders is transported from the aligning section to a pressure applying section; and if the judgment indicates that there is the possibility of misalignment, transporting the pair of substrate holders to a region other than the pressure applying section. Whether there is the possibility of misalignment may be judged based on at least one of an acceleration of the substrate holders, an acceleration of a transporting section that transports the substrate holders, relative positions of the substrate holders, or relative positions of the transporting section and one of the pair of substrate holders.
US08489222B2
A machine and a method for grinding a spacer grid of a nuclear fuel assembly. The machine includes a spacer grid holding unit, a first rectangular coordinates robot for grinding an outer surface of the spacer grid, a second rectangular coordinates robot for grinding a corner of the spacer grid, and a control unit. The spacer grid holding unit includes a holding jig onto which the spacer grid is seated and held, and a rotary index table which is coupled to the holding jig to rotate the holding jig. The first and second rectangular coordinates robots are provided at predetermined positions adjacent to the spacer grid holding unit. The control unit controls the spacer grid holding unit, the first and second rectangular coordinates robots and all programs required to conduct the operation for grinding the spacer grid.
US08489216B2
A sound mixing apparatus includes mixing processing units 11 to 1k provided according to sampling frequencies. Each of mixing processing units 11 to 1k adds up input sound signals of the same sampling frequency to generate a first added-up sound signal, converts the sampling frequency of the first added-up sound signal into a sampling frequency processable by the other mixing processing units, and supplies sound signals that are converted to the sampling frequency, to the other mixing processing units, adds up, to generate a second added-up sound signal, the first added-up sound signal generated by itself and the first added-up sound signals that are converted to a sampling frequency processable by itself and that are supplied from the other mixing processing units.
US08489204B2
A method and apparatus is described for detecting and localizing areas of myocardial infarction or ischemia. By pacing sites in proximity to the infarcted or ischemic region with appropriately timed pacing pulses, the region is pre-excited in a manner that lessens the mechanical stress to which it is subjected, thus reducing the metabolic demand of the region and the stimulus for remodeling.
US08489199B2
A bio-medical unit includes a power harvesting module and an RF communication module. The power harvesting module generates a power supply voltage from the electromagnetic signal. The RF communication module interprets a predetermined pattern of the transmitting of the electromagnetic signal to determine null intervals; receives a downstream RF communication signal during at least one of the null intervals; converts the downstream RF communication signal into downstream information; converts upstream information into an upstream RF communication signal; and/or transmits the upstream RF communication signal during one or more of the null intervals.
US08489195B2
A medical implant, such as a cochlear implant, comprising a fixating point which is located remotely from the medical implant. This arrangement can reduce the risk of post operative infection in a patient in which the medical implant is implanted.
US08489188B2
An active implantable medical device such as a cardiac prosthesis, including ventricular capture testing by analysis of an endocardial acceleration signal. The device isolates in an endocardial acceleration (“EA”) signal an EA component, extracts from it, n representative indicators (PEA_i, LEA_i), and forms a vector EA (X_i) from these indicators. A classifier allows acquiring reference EA signals at a stimulation energy level sufficient to cause a capture, and in spontaneous rhythm in the absence of ventricular pacing and forms a corresponding plurality of first reference EA vectors. The n-dimensional space of the EA vectors is partitioned into two corresponding subspaces. The presence or absence of a capture is discriminated based on the position of the current EA vector (X_i) in one or other of these two sub-spaces. The representative indicators may be: the value of peak to peak amplitude, the width, the moment of occurrence of the peak, the starting time and the ending time of the EA1 and/or EA2 components, the signal to noise ratio (SNR), the contrast value, the entropy value, and the cumulative energy of the EA1 and/or EA2 component, or the value of the peak-to-peak amplitude of the EA 4 component.
US08489187B2
This document discusses, among other things, techniques for generating and delivering a high voltage defibrillation shock using an implantable cardiac rhythm management device. An output energy delivery bridge can be programmed to provide desired shock vectors or polarities. A bootstrapped fully solid-state switch control voltage generation circuit is described. Automatic polarity or vector reconfiguration embodiments are described, such as in response to an unsuccessful attempt to convert the heart to a normal rhythm.
US08489184B2
Methods and systems for monitoring contact between a medical probe and tissue are provided. A medical probe is introduced into a patient adjacent the tissue. An electrical parameter, e.g., electrical admittance, is measured between a first electrode located on the medical probe and a second electrode remote from the first electrode. The electrical parameter is amplitude modulated in response to a physiological cycle of the patient. Contact between the medical probe and the tissue is detected based on the amplitude modulation of the measured electrical parameter.
US08489182B2
A quality control system in combination with an ECG data analysis system to analyze ECG data acquired by an ambulatory electrocardiography device via a cable having a plurality of leads connected to a subject is provided. The quality control system includes a memory having programmable instructions for execution by a processor to perform the steps of calculating a trend of a quality score in the ECG data dependent on a noise content in the ECG data; and calculating a probability that one of a hardware and the Hookup personal, each associated with collecting the ECG data from the subject, is a substantial cause of the quality score for the ECG data. The probability can be calculated based on a comparison the trend of the quality score associated with the Hookup personnel versus the trend of the quality score of the hardware employed in acquiring the ECG data.
US08489175B2
The invention relates to a method and device for imaging a cyclically moving organ of a human or animal body, with a device supported such that it can be rotated at an angular velocity around the body recording images of the organ from different angle positions, with the angular velocity being modulated with a reference signal representing the movement phase of the organ. During the rest phase of the organ images of the organ are recorded at nominal angular speed. In the movement phase of the organ the device is slowed down, turned back and accelerated again such that on entry into the next rest phase the device records images for the next angle range at nominal angular velocity without major angle gaps in respect of the previous angle range, to generate the most complete data record possible.
US08489172B2
A surgical tool such as a liposuction cannula is equipped with a sensor at the tool tip. The sensor continuously analyzes the type of tissue in contact with the tip based on the electrical properties of the tissue. When encountering a tissue type that should not be disturbed, the action of the surgical tool is stopped automatically. When used for liposuction, the cannula is mechanically decoupled from the handle when the wrong type of tissue is detected thus minimizing the inertia of the part that needs to be stopped. Besides electrical sensing, other sensors, such as mechanical or ultrasonic, can be used at the tip of the surgical tool or cannula to differentiate between tissue types.
US08489153B2
A two way communication system is adapted to reduce latency while the communications system is operating in a low power mode. The two way communication system includes a local host having a first primary communication channel and a secondary out of band transmitter; and customer premise equipment having a primary communication channel for communicating with the first primary communication channel of the local host and a secondary low power out of band receiver that receives out of band control signals from the out of band transmitter during low power operation of the customer premise equipment.
US08489143B2
A mobile device is provided having a smart card. The smart card is programmed to generate a new configure command that can be used to configure network related parameters with in the mobile device. The configure command can be used to override existing network related parameters or to add additional network related parameters. The network related parameters may relate to different access points and an identifier may be associated with each set of network parameters to facilitate the subsequent identification of desired network related parameters.
US08489140B2
The present disclosure provides for a mobile communication device identifier, constituted of: a shielding defining a coverage area, the shielding arranged to attenuate radio signals originating externally of the coverage area to be less than a pre-determined signal strength; an antenna associated within the defined coverage area; a transceiver coupled to the antenna, the transceiver operative to communicate with a mobile station inserted within the defined coverage area utilizing a signal strength greater than the pre-determined signal strength; and a service control unit responsive to the transceiver, the service control unit operative responsive to the communication to output a signal indicative of an authorization to provide a product or service.
US08489138B2
The present invention provides a solution for maintaining a reliable power control in a telecommunications network during soft handover between a serving and non serving base station when a dedicated physical control channel power is boosted due to an increased data rate.
US08489122B2
A method and system for estimating the location of a mobile device. A range of the mobile device to a reference station may be determined as a function of the time of transmission of a first signal transmitted from a base station and as a function of the time of receipt of a second signal transmitted from the mobile device to the reference station, the second signal being a function of the first signal advanced by a timing parameter. A relationship for each of a plurality of grid points in a geographic region may be determined as a function of the determined range and a range metric. These plural grid points may contain the reference station. The determined relationship may be compared with data corresponding to each of the plural grid points, and a location of the mobile device determined as a function of the comparison.
US08489117B2
An apparatus and method is provided for real-time location estimation of a mobile station (MS) on a map of roads using non-Global Positioning Satellite location data (300) of the MS and includes a step of determining (302) a mobility of the MS. A next step (306) includes identifying a region that covers all location data. A next step (310) includes dividing the region into smaller blocks, where each block constitutes a Hidden Markov Model state. A next step (312) includes determining a distance between blocks, to be used in a varied continuous probability distribution to determining a state transition probability of each block to represent a likelihood of the MS moving to any one block. A next step (314) includes using a univariate continuous distribution as a function of a distance between each block and a raw location data. A next step (316) includes finding a most likely state/block sequence of the MS motion using the HMM state transition probability and the univariate continuous distribution as the location of the MS.
US08489115B2
A smart phone senses audio, imagery, and/or other stimulus from a user's environment, and acts autonomously to fulfill inferred or anticipated user desires. In one aspect, the detailed technology concerns phone-based cognition of a scene viewed by the phone's camera. The image processing tasks applied to the scene can be selected from among various alternatives by reference to resource costs, resource constraints, other stimulus information (e.g., audio), task substitutability, etc. The phone can apply more or less resources to an image processing task depending on how successfully the task is proceeding, or based on the user's apparent interest in the task. In some arrangements, data may be referred to the cloud for analysis, or for gleaning. Cognition, and identification of appropriate device response(s), can be aided by collateral information, such as context. A great number of other features and arrangements are also detailed.
US08489108B2
An approach is provided for interworking between radio access networks that utilize different radio access technologies. Loading information of a plurality of radio access networks that are accessible by a terminal is determined. A list of candidates from the radio access networks are output based on the loading information for use by the terminal.
US08489106B2
The present invention relates to a method and a system for providing a quality of service assurance in a wireless communication. The method primarily includes: defining lossless relocation indication information in a WiMax system, transferring the lossless relocation indication information between entities of the WiMax, and providing a quality of service assurance to a corresponding service flow according to the transferred lossless relocation indication information. The present invention also defines end to end MSS-ASN-CSN QoS parameters for WiMax, so that the WiMax may selectively carry out lossless relocation, thereby providing more appropriate QoS parameters for the WiMax system and improving the performance of the wireless communication system. The present invention also defines end to end MSS-ASN-CSN QoS negotiation procedures for WiMax, so that the QoS over the whole end to end MSS-ASN-CSN bearer may be assured for the WiMax, thereby providing differentiated services for WiMax users.
US08489103B2
The present invention for reconfiguring a common channel, receives a first control message indicating modification of a first common channel configuration through the first common channel, and a second control message through a second common channel, based on the first control message. The first channel is reconfigured using the second control message. Also, the mobile terminal of the present invention comprises a processor unit by which the common channel is reconfigured. According the present invention, the common channel, such as the MCCH, may be reconfigured more efficiently.
US08489100B2
A method for power control in a long term evolution (LTE) network is disclosed and includes configuring a user equipment (UE) with a plurality of transmit power levels where each transmit power level corresponds to a subframe type. A first power level is used in subframes protected by cooperative coordination between base stations. A second power level corresponds to unprotected subframes. The method also includes scheduling the UE to transmit in accordance with the configured transmit power levels.
US08489095B2
A group service providing method and apparatus suitable for use in a wireless communication system. A group registration method for providing a group service to a master terminal and a slave terminal, the group registration method may comprise receiving and storing subscriber profile information of the master terminal from an associated communication network server in response to a group service registration request from the master terminal; generating a group related to the group service registration request and a group key corresponding to the generated group and transmitting to the master terminal a group generation completion message including the group key; receiving and storing subscriber profile information of the slave terminal dependent on the master terminal from the communication network server; and transmitting the group key to the slave terminal with reference to the subscriber profile information of the slave terminal.
US08489089B1
A radio base station for performing radio communication functions includes a human-readable, semi-persistent overlay fixed to a surface of the radio base station. A nonvolatile memory stores a current operational state of the radio base station. The human-readable, semi-persistent overlay indicates at least with text characters or symbols on the current state. If the current state of the radio base station changes, then the text characters or symbols on the human-readable, semi-persistent overlay are updated to reflect the changed state. The indication of the changed radio base station state on the human-readable, semi-persistent overlay remains human-readable even if the radio base station is powered-down.
US08489084B2
In a communications system, one or more mobile devices may be programmed through the use of an assigned channel of a logical channel. For example, a broadcast control channel (BCCH) transmission may be received by one or more mobile devices, the transmission comprising a set of instructions to program the mobile devices. The BCCH transmission may be used to program certain mobile devices, such as a type or brand of device, or mobile devices having certain features, such as call waiting. The mobile device may be configured to accept a transmission, such as a packet in a GPRS network, on one channel while rejecting a transmission on other channels. Further, the mobile device may be reconfigured to accept additional channel transmissions or reject currently approved channel transmissions.
US08489083B2
A method and apparatus for providing an idle screen service are disclosed. A mobile communication terminal receiving contents provided from at least one content provider server in a mobile communication system environment is also disclosed. The mobile communication terminal may include a content receiver module which receives contents provided through a mobile communication system by separating into layers, a handset operating system module which operates the terminal and runs an application and which has a user interface, and a content management application module which synthesizes the contents separated into layers received from the content receiver module into one idle screen layer and which provides it to the idle screen of the mobile communication terminal. According to at least one embodiment of the invention, several contents provided in a mobile communication system environment can be provided at once on a mobile communication terminal idle screen in an idle mode, to satisfy the demands of the user for DIY services and increase the content participation rate.
US08489079B2
The invention provides proximity based content retrieval. A proximity element is provided for each of a plurality of components associated with a primary device. Identification information of each proximity element for an associated particular proximity space is communicated to a mobile wireless device. Upon the mobile wireless device being located within the associated particular proximity space of a particular proximity element, the mobile device receives associated identification information of the particular proximity element. The mobile device retrieves video content based on the associated identification information.
US08489072B1
A wireless mobile communication device may be configured to include its Mobile Device Number (MDN) and its Mobile Equipment Identification (MEID) with each outgoing communication request when communicating over the internet through a Wi-Fi connection. A server may be configured to authenticate each request by comparing the MEID and MDN which are received from the wireless mobile communication device with MEID and MDN pairs which are stored in an equipment registration database. The wireless mobile communication device may also be configured to communicate at different times through a different type of internet connection, such as through a cellular telecommunication system. During this mode of communication, the IP address and the MDN of the mobile communication device may instead be used for authentication purposes by the server.
US08489071B2
The identity of a mobile communication device can be authenticated to allow the device to access a web site without the need for a user log-in operation. The mobile device stores an identity token and sends it to the web server in the web browser data stream. Additionally, the mobile device transmits an identity token to an authentication entity using a data stream other than the web browser data. The authentication entity queries the wireless network to verify authentication of the mobile device. The identity token may be the mobile telephone number itself, a temporary mobile subscriber identity assigned by the mobile network, or encrypted or hashed versions of either. Alternatively, a new temporary mobile subscriber identity may be sent to the mobile device and retransmitted back to the authentication entity.
US08489062B2
A wireless communications device and method for communicating an emergency message to a public safety answering point (PSAP) may include storing (i) data representative of a plurality of emergency messages being of different message types and (ii) a network address associated with each emergency message. In response to a user selecting one of the emergency messages, the selected emergency message and associated network address may be established as defaults for communication of the default emergency message to a PSAP over the communications network. In response to the user requesting to send an emergency message, the default emergency message may be generated by using the default network address to communicate the emergency message and communicated over the communications network to the default network address for routing the default emergency message to a PSAP local to the user.
US08489061B2
The object of the invention is a method and a server for relaying and managing service calls. The invention is suitable, for example, for relaying and managing calls related to alarm and care services. The objective of the invention can be attained with a solution wherein the calls are routed from the customer terminal (230, 250) to a server (210) for relaying as an assignment to the service terminals (270) of service providers. The server (214) shall be programmed not only with the contact information of the service providers but also with additional service provider data based on which the service to which the assignment is to be sent is chosen. By using suitable additional data and selection criteria, the system can yield an efficient, quick, and affordable solution for relaying services.
US08489055B2
The invention relates to active interference suppression in a satellite communication system, particularly but not exclusively to an apparatus and method for using active interference suppression in order to suppress co-channel interference between user signals in the communication system. The communication system includes a receive or transmit antenna having a plurality of antenna elements, each antenna element associated with a respective antenna element signal. The method includes the steps of calculating complex weighting values for one or more of a plurality of beam signals, adjusting the beam signals in accordance with the calculated complex weighting values and cancelling co-channel interference in at least one of the beam signals using the one or more adjusted derived beam signals to provide an interference suppressed output signal. The complex weighting values can be calculated based on a constant modulus algorithm.
US08489045B2
A system and method for measuring transmission power distortion in a wireless communication device are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises reading an operating temperature of the wireless communication device and enabling a loopback path between a transmission circuit and a receiver circuit of the wireless communication device. Using the loopback path, the wireless communication device can calibrate the transmission power output by storing data for compensating the distortion of the transmission power. The data can be stored in a calibration look up table for use by the wireless communication device.
US08489034B1
In order to improve the communication performance and communication reliability of an electronic device, a communication quality metric is determined based on information communicated via a wireless network using a single antenna. For example, the communication quality metric may be determined based on acknowledgment (ACK) and negative-acknowledgment (NACK) messages in the communicated information or a number of packets retransmitted and a number of new packets transmitted in the communicated information. Then, one of at least two antennas is selected based on the determined communication quality metric. In this way, the electronic device may effectively use a single receive chain to provide improved communication of the information.
US08489026B2
This includes systems and methods for noise cancellation and power management in a wireless headset. The wireless headset can perform noise cancellation by using two or more omni-directional microphones to generate a noise canceling “cone.” Audio signals received outside of the cone can be filtered out. An accelerometer can be used to determine the location of the wireless headset and the system can then properly position the cone to face the user's voice and filter out other audio signals. Additionally, by monitoring the ambient noise, the system can save power by turning off the noise cancellation system when the amount of ambient noise is below a threshold value.
US08489017B2
There is provided a wireless communication system which causes a wireless terminal to select a relay device among plural relay devices connected together via a communication line when the wireless terminal attempts to communicate with another wireless terminal. The relay device has an information acquiring unit, a calling determining unit, and an information adding unit. The wireless terminal has an information analyzing unit which analyzes whether or not the own device is included in a communication counterparty of calling information when the calling information is included in communication information, a priority comparing unit which determines whether or not a priority level of the calling information is higher than that of a current communication when the own device is included, and a channel changing unit which changes a channel to that of another relay device of the calling information when the priority level of the calling information is higher.
US08489010B2
An image delete apparatus has a paper feed tray that feeds recording media, a group of sensors containing a double-feed detection sensor that senses double-feed of the recording media and a media sensor that senses thicknesses of the recording media, a folding unit, and an auxiliary carrying path, and includes a collecting unit that folds and collects the recording media.
US08489005B2
Generally, according to an embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, a belt, a sensor whose detection area for a toner image is set on a belt surface, and an image control unit. The image control unit controls the image forming unit to form a toner image to be transferred to a sheet in a range different from the detection area in a direction of belt width, and to form alignment patterns at a position which is within a range where the toner image is formed in the direction of belt surface movement and which overlaps the detection area in the direction of belt width.
US08489003B2
A developing device includes a developer bearing body that rotates in a first direction, and a supply brush roller, out of contact with the body, that also rotates in the first direction. A brush contact member has a first contact portion in contact with bristles of the roller above a first horizontal plane passing through a rotational axis of the roller and upstream in the first rotational direction of the roller of a portion of the roller opposing the body. A thickness adjusting member has a second contact portion in contact with the body below a second horizontal plane passing through a rotational axis of the body and downstream in the first rotational direction of the body of the portion of the roller opposing the body. A first vertical plane passing through the first contact portion is closer to the axis of the roller than is a second vertical plane passing through the second contact portion.
US08488995B2
A cleaner-less image forming apparatus includes an LED which is arranged with a closest distance of 10 to 5000 μm to a photosensitive member and exposes the photosensitive member. In the image forming apparatus, an absolute value of an average charge of a developer is between 50 μC/g and 90 μC/g, and a contact angle of the photosensitive member with respect to pure water is not less than 90° and not more than 150°.
US08488991B2
An image forming device includes a housing; a conveying belt, and a retaining member. The retaining member retains image bearing members that juxtaposed with and spaced apart from one another. The retaining member is slidingly movable relative to the housing in a direction that the image bearing members are juxtaposed. The retaining member retains the image bearing members to confront the conveying belt. The image bearing members and the conveying belt are arranged in a reference direction. The retaining member includes a cleaning member that removes residual developing agent from the conveying belt, and a guide unit that guides the recording medium to the conveying belt. The guide unit is located on the image bearing member side and the cleaning member is located on the conveying belt side. At least part of the guide unit overlaps at least part of the cleaning member when projected in the reference direction.
US08488987B2
An image forming apparatus includes an image forming apparatus body, a cassette attaching section and a media cassette. The media cassette includes a loading plate, a pushing up member, a projecting portion and a plate holding portion that engages the loading plate. In a first position, the plate holding portion releases its hold on the loading plate so that the media contacts the media supplying roller. A release portion engages the plate holding portion to cause the plate holding portion to release its hold on the loading plate. A first ground conducting route is formed by electrically connecting the projecting portion with a ground portion. A second ground conducting route has a ground portion formed at a position to which the media contacts after the media cassette is attached to the first position and after the media is conveyed by the media supply roller.
US08488983B2
In a method or system for processing a measurement signal to detect a property of a toner mark, the toner mark is generated with aid of an image generation device. The toner mark is detected with aid of a measurement unit in that sample values determined by the measurement unit at sample points in time are output as the measurement signal for detecting the property of the toner mark. A function is determined to describe at least one part of a signal curve of the measurement signal on a basis of at least one part of the output sample values. At least one extreme value of the function is determined.
US08488960B2
A virtual network operating center and a virtual command interface synchronize events occurring on a wavelength division multiplexed network with processing events in a connected server. Should a disaster or other interruption of the network occur, the virtual command interface synchronizes events which occur on the network and any attached servers or server clusters with a reference clock coupled to the server. An event queue connected to the virtual command interface preserves the order of messages having a time stamp and compares the timestamps with the reference clock coupled to the server which is used to determine data integrity. The queued events may be encoded as XML device call to update the representation of the network or portions thereof in the virtual network operation center.
US08488956B2
High-accuracy focus adjustment is achieved even when vignetting is caused by a taking lens. A first pixel group receives a light beam that passes through a first pupil area of an optical system that forms an object image, and a second pixel group receives a light beam that passes through a second pupil area. A first signal based on an output signal from the first pixel group and a second signal based on an output signal from the second pixel group are corrected using correction information with a sampling pitch that is changed in accordance with an amount of defocus. A focal state of the optical system is adjusted based on an amount of relative displacement between the corrected first signal and the corrected second signal after the image-signal correction process.
US08488945B2
A recording/reproducing apparatus (115) includes a storage section (117) having a content attribute database (DB1) and a point database (DB2). Further, a point calculating section (120) of the recording/reproducing apparatus (115) extracts attribute information sets for each content item from the content attribute database (DB1). Further, deletion factor points associated with deletion factors corresponding to the extracted attribute information sets are extracted from the point database (DB2) for each content item, and evaluation points are calculated in accordance with the extracted plural deletion factor points. This allows the user to appropriately reserve a space required in a recording medium.
US08488941B2
Necessary coded data only can be read out at random accessing even with recording medium having coded data recorded thereon but whose code quantity is out of proportion to time. Once a recording medium was loaded into a recorder-player connected with a coded-data control device, the device reads control data from the recording medium and stores the data in a coded data control portion. At random accessing, the control data is read-out from the coded-data control portion and entered into a recording medium controller which in turn controls the recording medium to read-out only desired data according to the information inputted from the coded data control portion. In random access playback, fast playback from the midway of a video-sequence can be realized by accessing coded data of a video frame by using control data.
US08488935B2
It is determined that service is to be disconnected for at least a first subscriber of a video content network employing at least one fiber optic cable. The service to the at least first subscriber is provided from a cross-connect cabinet, over the at least one fiber optic cable, to a premises of the at least first subscriber. Sufficient macro-bending loss is induced in the at least one fiber optic cable so as to cause a signal-to-noise ratio at the premises to degrade such that the service is disconnected. The macro-bending loss is induced in a portion of the at least one fiber optic cable which services only the first subscriber. The macro-bending loss can be induced, for example, by winding about a single mandrel, two mandrels in a figure eight pattern, in a tortuous groove in a tray, and so on.
US08488930B2
Disclosed is an exemplary wavelength converting illumination probe having an illumination probe that can be selectively connected to a light source configured to generate light at a first wavelength range. The illumination probe including a lumen defining an aperture in a distal end of the illumination probe for emitting light. The wavelength converting illumination probe further including a wavelength converting element disposed within the lumen of the illumination probe. The wavelength converting element operable for receiving light from the light source at the first wavelength range, and converting the light to a second wavelength range.
US08488929B2
Robust fiber optic cables and assemblies having low attenuation multimode optical fibers. The cables have low attenuation in tensile and mandrel wrap tests, and can have thermoplastic urethane jackets coextruded over tensile strength members that allow the cables to be pulled by the jackets. The cables have relatively small cross-sections yet have sufficient robustness to be deployed in extreme environments such as cellular tower applications.
US08488921B2
A method and structure for coupling to a plurality of multicore optical fiber strands. A first plurality of optoelectronic devices is provided on a surface of a substrate, the first optoelectronic devices being arranged in a 2D array pattern that corresponds to a 2D array pattern corresponding to different light cores of a first multicore optical fiber. A second plurality of optoelectronic devices is provided on the surface of the substrate, the second optoelectronic devices being arranged in a 2D array pattern that corresponds to a 2D array pattern corresponding to different light cores of a second multicore optical fiber. Each optoelectronic device on the substrate surface provides one of a receive function and a transmit function for interacting with a corresponding core of a multicore optical fiber strand.
US08488919B1
The present invention is related to designs of optical devices for combining optical signals or sources at different wavelengths to generate depolarized outputs combining the optical signals. According to one aspect of the present invention, an optical apparatus comprises N different inputs, each having a wavelength and a combining mechanism receiving the N different inputs and combining the N different inputs to produce N outputs, each of the outputs being coupled to a series of optical recirculation depolarizers to produce combined and depolarized outputs.
US08488903B2
An image processing device includes a normal light image acquisition section that acquires a normal light image including an object image that includes information within a wavelength band of white light, a special light image acquisition section that acquires a special light image including an object image that includes information within a specific wavelength band, an isolated point determination section that performs an isolated point determination process on a normal light processing target pixel based on a pixel value of the normal light processing target pixel, the normal light processing target pixel being a processing target pixel included in the normal light image, and a correction control section that controls a correction process performed on the special light image based on the isolated point determination process performed by the isolated point determination section.
US08488901B2
A video input signal is analyzed to detect image content and image properties, wherein detecting the image content includes automatically deriving image features. A content group is determined for the video input signal based on the detected image content, the content group including predefined image properties. The image properties of the video input signal are adjusted based on a difference between the detected image properties and the predefined image properties.
US08488900B2
The present disclosure relates generally to cell phones and cameras, and to shadow detection in images captured by such cell phones and cameras. One claim recites a method comprising: identifying a shadow cast by a camera on a subject being imaged; and using a programmed electronic processor, redressing the shadow in connection with: i) reading a digital watermark from imagery captured of the subject, or ii) calculating a fingerprint from the imagery captured of the subject. Another claim recites a method comprising: identifying a shadow cast by a cell phone on a subject being imaged by a camera included in the cell phone; and using a programmed electronic processor, determining a proximity of the camera to the subject based on an analysis of the shadow. Of course, other claims and combinations are provided too.
US08488898B2
A filter for eliminating image errors, as well as associated method and TV signal display circuit, is provided to determine the filter coefficients according to the regularity of image errors in an image signal or a TV signal, thereby removing the image errors. The filter includes a plurality of multipliers and an adder. The multipliers receive a plurality of pixel values from a plurality of scan lines, multiply the pixel values by a plurality of corresponding weight coefficients and output the result; the adder sums up the outputs of the multipliers to generate an output pixel value. The errors have a regularity and the corresponding weight coefficients are associated with the regularity such that the errors of the pixel values may be canceled when the adder generates the output pixel value.
US08488897B2
The invention discloses a method and device for image filtering in the field of communication technologies, the method including: acquiring image data of a pixel dot of a current row to be filtered and a corresponding pixel dot of at least one adjacent row; obtaining contrast information containing a transparency value, of the pixel dot of the current row and the pixel dot of the adjacent row respectively by resolving the image data of the pixel dot of the current row and the pixel dot of the adjacent row; generating a filter coefficient according to the transparency value of the pixel dot of the current row and the transparency value of the corresponding pixel dot of the adjacent row; and performing filtering on the pixel dot of the current row with the filter coefficient. The embodiments of the invention effectively avoid image flickering due to a difference between contrasts by adopting the method of at-least-two-row vertical filtering, and by generating the filter coefficients according to the transparencies in filtering.
US08488894B2
A method and system are provided for compressing and/or decompressing a set of dot-matrix font characters. According to a compression method, each dot-matrix font character is divided into a horizontal image including horizontal (stroke) image pattern(s), a vertical image including vertical (stroke) image pattern(s), and a residual image including residual image pattern(s) obtained by removing the horizontal and vertical images from the original character. Then, the Huffman coding is applied to each of a set of the horizontal image patterns, a set of the vertical image patterns, and a set of the residual image patterns, respectively, to produce compressed horizontal codes for the horizontal image patterns in a horizontal Huffman table, compressed vertical codes for the vertical image patterns in a vertical Huffman table, and compressed residual codes for the residual image patterns in a residual Huffman table. The compressed horizontal, vertical, and residual codes are selectively combined into a bit string that represents a compressed form of each character.
US08488889B2
An image encoder including: a predicted-image generating unit that generates a predicted image in accordance with a plurality of prediction modes indicating predicted-image generating methods; a prediction-mode judging unit that evaluates prediction efficiency of a predicted image outputted from the predicted-image generating unit to judge a predetermined prediction mode; and an encoding unit that subjects an output of the prediction-mode judging unit to variable-length encoding. The prediction-mode judging unit judges, on the basis of a predetermined control signal, which one of a common prediction mode and a separate prediction mode is used for respective color components forming the input image signal, and multiplexes information on the control signal on a bit stream, multiplexes, when the common prediction mode is used, common prediction mode information on the bit stream, and multiplexes, when the common prediction mode is not used, prediction mode information for each of the color components on the bit stream.
US08488888B2
Systems and methods for estimating a posture of a body part of a user are disclosed. In one disclosed embodiment, an image is received from a sensor, where the image includes at least a portion of an image of the user including the body part. The skeleton information of the user is estimated from the image, a region of the image corresponding to the body part is identified at least partially based on the skeleton information, and a shape descriptor is extracted for the region and the shape descriptor is classified based on training data to estimate the posture of the body part.
US08488881B2
Techniques are provided. The techniques include capturing an image of an object at a self-checkout, dividing the image into one or more blocks, computing one or more features of the image, computing a confidence value for each of the one or more blocks, wherein computing a confidence value for each of the one or more blocks comprises using a minimum feature distance from one or more reference background blocks, and eliminating one or more blocks from consideration via use of an adaptive threshold computed on the confidence value for each of the one or more blocks, wherein the one or more blocks remaining map to a region of the image containing the object.
US08488877B1
Described is a system for object recognition in colorized point clouds. The system includes an implicit geometry engine that is configured to receive three-dimensional (3D) colorized cloud point data regarding a 3D object of interest and to convert the cloud point data into implicit representations. The engine also generates geometric features. A geometric grammar block is included to generate object cues and recognize geometric objects using geometric tokens and grammars based on object taxonomy. A visual attention cueing block is included to generate object cues based on 3D geometric properties. Finally, an object recognition block is included to perform a local search for objects using cues from the cueing block and the geometric grammar block and to classify the 3D object of interest as a particular object upon a classifier reaching a predetermined threshold.
US08488854B2
A system and apparatus for classifying x-ray energy into discrete levels include an imaging system comprising an x-ray source, a detector, and a DAS having a discriminator assembly configured to count photon hits in the detector. A computer causes the discriminator assembly to count photon hits in the detector having an energy level greater than or equal to first and second threshold levels during an imaging scan, wherein the second threshold level is distinct from the first threshold level. The computer further modifies the counted photon hits having an energy level greater than or equal to the first threshold level based on the counted photon hits having an energy level greater than or equal to the second threshold level and reconstructs an image based on the modified photon hits and based on the counted photon hits having an energy level greater than or equal to a second threshold level.
US08488852B2
A medical imaging system to segment an original blood vessel of a body part represented by an original medical image is provided. The system includes an image analyzer for receiving and the original medical image to analyze the original medical image to provide a Hessian Eigen analysis comprising a first data and a second data mapped to each pixel of the medical image, and an image identifier for receiving the Hessian Eigen analysis and for identifying seed points from the pixels by processing the first data and the second data along with a vesselness property, wherein the seed points are used for segmenting the original blood vessel to provide a corrected medical image representing a corrected blood vessel.
US08488851B2
The invention relates to a system and method for measuring light diffusion in the eyeball or eye region, by recording and processing retinal images. The inventive system includes a double-pass ophthalmoscopic system having means for correcting low-order aberrations. Said system can be used to record images of the plane of the retina on a CCD camera, the outer part of said images containing information relating to ocular scattering. The aforementioned images can be used to obtain the objective scattering index (OSI), providing the ratio between the energy on the outer part of the image and the energy in the central part, or, alternatively, the modulation transfer function (MTF) area can be used for this purpose once the low frequencies have been filtered. According to the inventive method, the low-order aberrations are corrected before a retinal image or a temporal sequence of retinal images is captured and recorded.
US08488848B2
The present invention is directed toward a system and a method for conducting a visual referendum of a subject including at least one voter, at least one referendum marker and at least one referendum answer. A digital image of the subject is first provided. The voter, referendum marker and referendum answer are then parsed of the subject from the digital image. A target referendum, a target voter and a target referendum answer are then identified based on the referendum marker, voter and referendum answer respectively. This is followed by associating the target referendum answer to the target referendum. The target voter is then associated with the target referendum.
US08488844B2
The invention relates to a device and method for providing information about animals walking through an animal passage (I), the information comprising at least the number of animals walking through the animal passage, using a detection device having a sensor device connected to a processor for capturing animal data about animals walking through the animal passage, and an analysis device for recognizing animals in the data/signals captured by the sensor device for the purpose of outputting counter impulses when animals are detected in said signals, the sensor device being designed for producing 3D images, and the analysis device being designed for detecting animals in the 3D data of the 3D images and for counting the animals using said detection.
US08488843B2
A method for following hand movements in an image flow, includes receiving an image flow in real time, locating in each image in the received image flow a hand contour delimiting an image zone of the hand, extracting the postural characteristics from the image zone of the hand located in each image, and determining the hand movements in the image flow from the postural characteristics extracted from each image. The extraction of the postural characteristics of the hand in each image includes locating in the image zone of the hand the center of the palm of the hand by searching for a pixel of the image zone of the hand the furthest from the hand contour.
US08488841B2
In a method for controlling a searchlight using a control apparatus, images of a target area are captured in real-time using an image capturing device when the searchlight is powered on. The captured images are analyzed to detect whether a moving object is in the target area, and position information of the moving object in a current image of the target area are calculated when the moving object is detected. The searchlight is controlled to aim at and illuminate the moving object using an actuating device according to the position information of the moving object.
US08488839B2
A computer program and apparatus function to extract objects from a video by identifying regions to be tracked, tracking the regions across several frames, calculating motions of the regions, and identifying new regions to be tracked. Regions of a selected frame of the video that are appropriate for tracking are selected. Tracking of the identified regions is then performed across frames subsequent to the selected frame of the video. Motions of the identified regions are calculated, and new regions for tracking are identified.
US08488834B2
A method for producing an assured image acquires image data and segments the image data into one or more spatial regions. One or more quality measures is calculated from the image data that is within the one or more spatial regions. Secure assurance data is produced that is representative of the one or more quality measures and the image data. The secure assurance data is associated with the image data to produce the assured image.
US08488825B2
A hearing aid includes: a first microphone configured to generate a first input signal from an input sound; a second microphone configured to generate a second input signal from the input sound; a signal processing unit configured to generate an output signal from the first input signal and the second input signal; and a receiver configured to play an output sound from the output signal. The signal processing unit determines time responses of the first input signal and the second input signal based on a contact sound generated when the hearing aid is contacted in a predetermined time period, and distinguishes a plurality of settings of the hearing aid and changes the setting based on the time responses.
US08488820B2
A method comprises the steps of: receiving a first audio signal (S1); generating a digital representation (S1″) of the first audio signal (S1) by applying a head-related transfer function (HRTF) in a first sound reproduction position (r1); and changing the first sound reproduction position (r1) to a second sound reproduction position (r3) in response to receiving a second audio signal S2) or a precursor signal for a second audio signal (S2).
US08488819B2
An apparatus for processing a media signal and method thereof are disclosed, by which the media signal can be converted to a surround signal by using spatial information of the media signal. The present invention provides a method of processing a signal, the method comprising of generating source mapping information corresponding to each source of multi-sources by using spatial information indicating features between the multi-sources; generating sub-rendering in formation by applying filter information giving a surround effect to the source mapping in formation per the source; generating rendering information for generating a surround signal by integrating the at least one of the sub-rendering information; and generating the surround signal by applying the rendering information to a downmix signal generated by downmixing the multi-sources.
US08488814B2
This acoustic headset (2) comprises: two lateral acoustic modules (4, 6) comprising a mechanical bone excitation transducer (20, 22) which is capable of transmitting the sound signal to the auditory nerve by bone conduction, a flexible upper curved member (8) and a rigid rear curved member (10) for connecting the acoustic modules (4, 6). Each acoustic module (4, 6) comprises: a plate (16, 18) for lateral abutment against the sides of the skull, an articulation (24, 26) between the abutment plate (16, 18) and the transducer (20, 22), a spring for return movement, in terms of rotation about the axis of articulation (24, 26), of the transducer (20, 22) relative to the plate (16, 18) towards a rest position.
US08488799B2
A mobile communication environment (100) can include a mobile device (160) to measure and send sound pressure level data. The mobile device (160) can initiate the collection of audio information responsive to detecting a trigger event. Mobile device (160) can measure or calculate the sound pressure level from the audio information. Metadata including time information and geographic location information can be captured with the collected audio information. Mobile device (160) can send the sound pressure level data and metadata through a wired or wireless communication path to a database (614).
US08488797B2
A method for processing an audio signal, comprising: receiving a downmix signal and a downmix processing information; and, processing the downmix signal using a downmix processing information, comprising: de-correlating the downmix signal; and, mixing the downmix signal and the de-correlated signal in order to output the processed downmix signal, wherein the downmix processing information is estimated based on an object information and a mix information is disclosed.
US08488792B2
A wireless communications validation system comprises a validation module configured to determine an identity of an antenna disposed in a computer system and an identity of a wireless module disposed in the computer system, the validation module configured to validate permissible combination of the antenna with the wireless module.
US08488787B2
The invention concerns a terminal (T) comprising an agent (AS) for processing a secure content encrypted with a key (KCN) and transmitted by a first server (SCN). In order to manage a secure access to the secure content, an application (AG) of a portable communicating object, such as a chip card, associated with a terminal stores one type of related digital right (TDN) and a certificate and transmitted by the agent and stores an access right (DA) and the key (KCN) related to the secure content transmitted from a second server (SAD). The application adapts the access right and the key and modifies the secure content, based on the type of right, and produces a secure access file based on the adapted access right and the key and on the certificate, the produced file being accessible by the terminal so that the agent may process the modified content.
US08488786B2
A method of managing the sending of multimedia contents to a mobile terminal (2) equipped with a security module (3), the multimedia contents being sent in encrypted form from a broadcast server (1) and via a communications network (4). The method comprises the following steps: a) sending to the mobile terminal (2) rights-of-use data for a multimedia content, b) storing said rights-of-use data in the security module (3) of the mobile terminal (2), c) generating a series of encryption/decryption keys, the series of decryption keys being generated from rights-of-use data stored in the security module (3), d) sending the multimedia content to the mobile terminal (2), the content being encrypted with successive keys from the series of encryption keys that has been generated, and e) the mobile terminal receiving the multimedia content and decrypting the multimedia content using the decryption keys from the series of decryption keys generated in the security module of the mobile terminal.
US08488783B2
An approach is provided for reducing communication traffic and cost by applying recipient criteria in identity-based encryption. A recipient criterion application selects one or more recipient criteria for data, and encrypts the data using the selected one or more recipient criteria as a public key of identity-based encryption.
US08488766B2
Methods and systems are provided for managing a communications line associated with two or more users. These methods and systems include receiving first user line management information regarding handling of calls to the communications line from one or more contacts in a first address book, the first address book associated with the first user. Further, these methods and systems include receiving second user line management information regarding handling of calls to the communications line from one or more contacts in a second address book, the second address book associated with the second user. Additionally, the methods and systems are capable of receiving from the communications network information regarding a call received on the communications line associated with the two or more users, determining handling of the call based on the received first user and second user line management information, and forwarding to the communications network instructions regarding the handling of the call, such that the communications network handles the call in accordance with the determined handling.
US08488765B1
By using letters, this invention provides telephone numbers that contain the actual initials or name of the recipient. With business subscribers, each company's stock marker ticker symbol is their telephone number, such as ‘GE’ for General Electric. Custom programming routes a call with the simple dialing input of only the recipient's initials or name. Only one well-defined area code is needed per State, such as ‘AZ’ for Arizona. The same number is used for landline, facsimile, special feature, and cellular connections. Telephone numbers are permanent and fixed for the life of the subscriber.
US08488764B1
An automated method and system is provided for configuring conference calls in which participants can be joined automatically at different times and in response to differing stimuli and in which presence information is used to configure and/or initiate the conference calls.
US08488756B2
A computer-implemented system and method for secure electronic message exchange including coupling a control platform to a workstation of a plurality of workstations via a communications medium, where the control platform includes one or more apparatuses for monitoring, controlling, conversion, and billing, related to messages exchanged between a plurality of local users and a plurality of remote users. The system prevents forwarding or copying of a message sent by a local user of the plurality of local users and received by a remote user of the plurality of remote users, to another party by the control platform. The system and method also provides for authenticating the remote user with the control platform.
US08488750B2
A speech recognition process and system are used for interactive telecommunication. A caller is prompted for input. Each of the phrases represents a destination for routing the call. The response utterance is matched by the system to one of the phrases and the call is routed to the corresponding destination. If the call thereafter has been redirected to a destination representing another of the phrases, speech recognition training data are generated for mapping the utterance to the redirected destination.
US08488737B2
In order to achieve improved image quality in X-ray photographs, a medical X-ray imaging system, comprising a flat, planar X-ray source having a surface with X-ray focal points arranged adjacent to one another and an X-ray detector with a sensor surface, is provided. The X-ray source has a plurality of field emission guns with at least one field emission cathode and the surface with focal points of the X-ray source is larger in size than the sensor surface of the X-ray detector.
US08488736B2
An x-ray detector assembly includes a first flat panel digital projection detector and a second flat panel digital projection detector. The x-ray detector assembly further includes a first detector mounting structure configured to align the first flat panel digital projection detector in a first position to block the second flat panel digital projection detector from receiving x-rays emitting from an x-ray source toward the second flat panel digital projection detector in an x-ray penetration direction.
US08488720B1
Methods and systems for signal quantization may include, but are not limited to: receiving a complex signal characterized by a real portion and an imaginary portion; computing a vector magnitude of a sample of the complex signal; comparing the vector magnitude of the sample to a quantization threshold value; and associating a quantized magnitude with the sample according to a comparison between the vector magnitude of the sample and the quantization threshold value.
US08488715B2
In a destuff circuit, after invalid data included in each data signal assigned to a plurality of lanes in a stuff shifter is collected to one side within the same column, then in a data rotator the number of stuffs of the respective data signals of each column is detected, and the data of the respective columns are operated to rotate in one direction, according to the detection results. Then, effective data included in the data signal of each lane that has been rotated is stored in FIFO, to thereby output signals for which ineffective data has been removed and only effective data has been extracted. As a result, it becomes possible to perform destuffing processing for parallel data signals with simple logical circuits at high speed.
US08488708B2
A rotating reference codebook used in a multiple input multiple output (MIMO) communication system is provided. The reference codebook includes codewords from a discrete Fourier transform (DFT) codebook. A base station and a terminal may calculate a rotation matrix based on a previous preferred codeword and a random codeword among codewords included in the DFT codebook. A reference codebook may be rotated using the rotation matrix and may be transformed to a new codebook. The reference codebook may include codewords of a polar cap codebook and the codewords of the DFT codebook. Even though the codewords of the DFT codebook are rotated, the codewords of the DFT codebook may remain in the new codebook as elements of the DFT codebook.
US08488704B2
The invention relates to Method for Selecting Subchannel Mode and MIMO Communication System Using the Same. A method for self-adaptively selecting a code modulation sub-channel mode is suitably used in a MIMO communication system that comprises a base station and mobile terminals, wherein the method comprises the steps of: the mobile terminal estimating channel state information thereof, and determining a sub-channel structure most suitable for data transmission thereto, based on the channel state information; the mobile terminal feeding back information on the determined sub-channel structure most suitable for data transmission thereto to the base station; and the base station determining a sub-channel structure used for a down link, based on the information on the sub-channel structure fed back by the mobile terminal. According to the present invention, the subchannel structure in the communication system can be self-adaptively changed according to the actual communication environment, so as to improve the entire communication quality and efficiency.
US08488702B2
A MIMO-OFDM transmitter has a plurality of transmitting antennas transmitting OFDM signals to a receiver, and a generating unit generating direct spreading pilot signals of which pilot data for demodulating the OFDM signals transmitted from the plurality of transmitting antennas in the receiver are spread with direct spreading codes, and transmitting the direct spreading pilot signals from the plurality of transmitting antennas.
US08488683B2
A semiconductor for decoding coded image and audio data, which includes an audio processor that decodes coded audio data, and an image decoder that decodes image data. The image decoder removes coding distortion in pixels of two adjacent transform blocks which are motion-compensated, having a coded motion compensation error equal to zero, and are located inside a same macroblock. The image decoder includes a motion compensation block boundary detector that determines whether the motion compensation error of the two adjacent transform blocks located inside the macroblock is zero, and determines whether a boundary of two adjacent transform block is also a boundary of two adjacent motion-compensation blocks. The image decoder also includes a filter that removes coding distortion in pixels of the two adjacent transform blocks, and a selector that selects whether or not the filter removes the coding distortion based on the determination of the motion compensation block boundary detector.
US08488678B2
A moving image encoding apparatus comprises a motion vector search unit for dividing a screen into encoding blocks, dividing each encoding block into motion compensation blocks, and performing a motion vector search by referencing a past or future image with respect to a motion compensation block targeted for encoding, and an encoding unit for encoding a difference value between the motion compensation block and a prediction image that is based on the motion vector. The motion vector search unit sets a plurality of block types for each encoding block, performs rough motion vector search using a reduced image for each block type, computes an evaluation value for each block type based on the motion vectors, and determines whether to set a division method of the block type for which the highest evaluation value was obtained as a motion compensation block division method for a motion vector search in detail.
US08488677B2
A method of decoding a video signal is disclosed. The present invention includes searching a reference block using side information, deriving motion information of a current block from the reference block, decoding the current block using the motion information of the current block, wherein the side information includes offset information indicating a position difference between the reference block and a corresponding block and wherein the corresponding block is a block indicated by a global motion vector indicating a disparity difference between a view of the current block and a view of the reference block.
US08488670B2
Methods, systems, and computer programs for improved quality video compression. Image quality from MPEG-style video coding may be improved by preserving a higher number of bits during intermediate encoding and decoding processing steps. Problems of inverse discrete cosine transform (IDCT) mismatch can be eliminated by exactly matching the IDCT function numerical algorithm of the decoder to the IDCT function numerical algorithm used for the decoding portion of the encoder. Also included is an application of high precision compression to wide dynamic range images by extending the range of the “quantization parameter” or “QP”. The extension of QP may be accomplished either by increasing the range of QP directly, or indirectly through a non-linear transformation. Also included is an application of extended intermediate processing precision and an extended QP range to reduced contrast regions of an image to extend the precision with which the low-contrast portions are compression coded.
US08488666B2
A method of content adaptive encoding video is disclosed. The method comprises segmenting video content into segments based on predefined classifications or models. Examples of such classifications include action scenes, slow scenes, low or high detail scenes, and brightness of the scenes. Based on the segment classifications, each segment is encoded with a different encoder chosen from a plurality of encoders. Each encoder is associated with a model. The chosen encoder is particularly suited to encoding the unique subject matter of the segment. The coded bit-stream for each segment includes information regarding which encoder was used to encode that segment. A matching decoder of a plurality of decoders is chosen using the information in the coded bitstream to decode each segment using a decoder suited for the classification or model of the segment. If scenes exist which do not fall in a predefined classification, or where classification is more difficult based on the scene content, these scenes are segmented, coded and decoded using a generic coder and decoder.
US08488664B2
A reception device which receives a signal transmitted by a transmission device that changes at least one of a modulation scheme and a coding rate based on information reported from the reception device, the reception device includes an equalization unit which equalizes a received signal in a frequency domain, a signal-noise ratio measuring unit which measures a signal-noise ratio from the received signal after equalization, and a notification signal generation unit which sets at least one of a modulation scheme and a coding rate from the quality of reception and generates a signal to be reported to the transmission device.
US08488662B2
This patent application relates generally to wireless communications systems, and, more particularly, mobile station receiver architecture.
US08488657B2
A system comprises a first circuit includes a data transmitter circuit that transmits digital data based on a first clock signal. A sync generator outputs a sync signal based on the first clock signal. A digital to analog converter circuit includes a data receiver circuit that latches the digital data based on a second clock signal. A digital to analog converter core receives an output of the data receiver circuit. A delay locked loop circuit determines a delay based on the second clock signal and the sync signal and outputs the first clock signal to the first circuit based on the second clock signal and the delay.
US08488655B2
In at least some embodiments, a communication device includes a transceiver with a physical (PHY) layer. The PHY layer is configured for body area network (BAN) operations in a limited multipath environment based on a constant symbol rate for BAN packet transmissions and based on M-ary PSK, differential M-ary PSK or rotated differential M-ary PSK modulation. The PHY layer is configured to transmit and receive data in a frequency band selected from the group consisting of: 402-405 MHz, 420-450 MHz, 863-870 MHz, 902-928 MHz, 950-956 MHz, 2360-2400 MHz, and 2400-2483.5 MHz.
US08488651B1
A spread spectrum slip time encoding scheme encodes data values with one or more Pseudo Noise (PN) codes and generates a corresponding PN encoded data stream. Other data values are encoded into the PN encoded data stream by varying a slip time between the 10 encoded data values.
US08488647B2
The present invention provides a semiconductor light emitting device realizing increased light detection precision by a simple manufacture process. One or more second oxidation layers are provided between an active layer and a semiconductor light detecting element in addition to a first oxidation layer for narrowing current. Since natural emission light includes many divergence components, the natural emission light is reflected and scattered by the second oxidation layer, and propagation of the natural emission light to the semiconductor light detecting element side is suppressed. The detection level of the natural emission light by the semiconductor light detecting element decreases, and light detection precision increases. The first and second oxidation layers are formed by a single oxidizing process so that the manufacturing process is simplified.
US08488640B2
The present invention provides a system and method for creating a coherent optical comb comprising a plurality of lasers, each laser providing an optical output channel; means for combining each optical channel output; a modulator for modulating the combined optical channel outputs, to provide a modulated signal; means for feeding back said modulated signal to said plurality of lasers, such that each laser output channel is phase and/or frequency locked with respect to at least one other of said plurality of lasers. A discrete optical comb is obtained without the need for excessively high power laser outputs and only employs a single (optional) wavelength locker for all channels.
US08488639B1
Apparatus, systems, and methods having a frequency comb of large spacing can be used in a variety of applications. In various embodiments, a frequency comb is generated from a slave laser by injecting an optical output from a drive laser into the slave laser. One or more parameters of the drive laser and/or the slave laser can be adjusted such that a frequency comb can be generated at a multiple of the repetition rate of the drive laser. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.
US08488636B2
Method for suppressing side modes during use of a tunable laser of MGY type, having an amplification section, a phase section and a reflector section having a Y-branched waveguide, with a first a second branch, where the laser operation point is defined by feeding a respective current through the phase section, the first and the second branch, where possible combinations of these currents span a three-dimensional space, in which elongated volumes define combinations of currents for which the laser is operated in the same mode and where two-dimensional sections, defined by holding the current through the phase section constant and varying the currents through the branches, through a certain of the volumes constitute modeflats. The two branch currents are controlled within a certain modeflat so that the laser operation point does not coincide with the center of the modeflat, but is sufficiently far from the periphery of the modeflat for mode transitions not to occur, within a predetermined time period, as a consequence of changes related to ageing of the laser, leading to drift of the laser operation point.
US08488635B2
An actively Q-switched laser based on UV illumination mitigates pyroelectric effects in lithium niobate. An exemplary embodiment comprises a pump source; a dichroic mirror having one end optically facing said pump source; a gain medium optically facing another end of said dichroic mirror; a polarizer having one end optically facing another end of said gain medium; a quarter wave plate having one end optically facing another end of said polarizer; and a electro-optic crystal having one end optically facing said quarter wave plate, at least one side of said electro-optic crystal being electrically connected to Q-switch driver to have the crystal function as a Q-switch. A UV illumination source illuminates a side surface of said electrical-optic crystal with UV light. An output mirror receives an output from said Q-switch and produces a laser emission.
US08488631B2
In one embodiment, a method comprises receiving a plurality of data frames representing at least one virtually concatenated data stream, storing the plurality of data frames in a memory; and recording, for each of a plurality of data frames, a physical write address that indicates a position in the memory and a virtual write address that includes a multiframe indicator and a byte number indicator.
US08488622B2
A jitter control apparatus used in a multiplexing apparatus multiplexing a plurality of signals by asynchronous mapping, includes: a detection unit configured to detect a frequency of timing compensation processes in the asynchronous mapping for each of the plurality of signals; and a selection unit configured to select, on basis of a detection result by the detection unit, a clock signal to be used as a carrier clock for the plurality of signals, from a plurality of clock signals including clock signals extracted from at least one of the plurality of signals.
US08488621B2
At least one node on a network acquires boundary violation information and frame state information concerning a reception slot and adjacent slots. Based on the boundary violation information and frame state information concerning the slots, the node verifies an error factor in the reception slot. Based on verification of the error factor, the node determines that data of a frame received in the reception slot can be used. When determining that the data of the received frame can be used, the node uses the received frame for control.
US08488607B2
A system with WLAN link aggregation comprises an access point, a station and a remote host. The station is equipped with a first network interface unit and a second network interface unit. The first network interface unit and the second network interface unit are configured to forward packets to or receive packets from the access point. After receiving packets from the first network interface unit, the second network interface unit or the remote host, the access point modifies headers of the packets and forwards the packets to the first network interface unit, the second network interface unit or the remote host.
US08488582B2
The present invention involves a method for IP header compression for Real-Time Transport Protocol (RTP) packets that includes header compression for the outer IP layer that carries IPsec ESP tunnel traffic. The preferred embodiment of the invention involves a method of producing minimal VoIP packet size in a GAN user plane by defining an ESP/UDP/IP profile for ROHC; using the ESP/UDP/IP profile to compress the outer layers carrying IPsec ESP tunnel traffic in the GAN user plane; and using a ROHC RTP/UDP/IP profile between IPsec ESP tunnel endpoints for additional compression.
US08488581B2
A method of establishing wireless communications between an interrogator and individual ones of multiple wireless identification devices, the method comprising combining tree search and Aloha methods to establish communications between the interrogator and individual ones of the multiple wireless identification devices without collision. A system comprising an interrogator, and a plurality of wireless identification devices configured to communicate with the interrogator. In a wireless fashion, the respective wireless identification devices having a unique identification number, the interrogator being configured to employ tree search and Aloha techniques to determine the unique identification numbers of the different wireless identification devices so as to be able to establish communications between the interrogator identification and individual devices without ones of the multiple wireless collision by multiple wireless identification devices attempting to respond to the interrogator at the same time.
US08488571B2
The invention manages an IP address space in a mobility network, including partitioning of the IP address space, assignment of IP addresses from the IP address space, and/or use of hysteresis to control reassignment of IP addresses from the IP address space. The IP address assignment is performed using one or more residual time statistics from a residual time profile maintained for the mobile node requesting assignment of an IP address. A residual time profile of a mobile node includes one or more residual time statistics associated with the mobile node. The residual time statistics for a mobile node are determined using a residual time associated with each IP address assigned to the mobile node. The IP address space partitioning is performed using residual time statistics maintained for mobile nodes of the network. The reassignment of IP addresses from the IP address space is controlled using hysteresis.
US08488569B2
A communication device of the present invention performs communication over a network where a session is identified based on a source address set in a frame. The communication device comprises an interface unit for connecting to the network, a management unit for managing a plurality of addresses, a request unit for transmitting a frame including a session establishment request to an authenticator system provided on the network through said interface unit, and an address setting unit for setting one of the plurality of addresses managed by said management unit as a source address of the frame including the session establishment request.
US08488559B2
A mechanism for initiating route optimization in an administrative domain. The mechanism is actualized when traffic is exchanged between at least a first mobile node and a second mobile node, said traffic taking place over at least one Local Mobility Anchor (LMA) within said administrative domain. The traffic exchange between said first and second mobile nodes within the administrative domain is detected followed by a decision to initiate route optimisation for the traffic. Thereafter an optimized route for the traffic, in which the traffic is routed directly between a first and a second mobile access gateway (MAG) serving the first and the second mobile nodes, respectively, is created. A route optimisation update is then sent directly or indirectly, to any uninformed mobile access gateway (MAG), after which the traffic is routed directly between the first and the second MAG. This method for route optimization may be applied in a Proxy Mobile IP (PMIP) context.
US08488556B2
The invention relates to a system for speech and/or data communication between a mobile telephone on board an aircraft and terminals in communication networks outside the aircraft. The invention allows communication with third parties on the ground during a flight, with calls handled in a manner that is largely or completely automatic for the user of the mobile telephone, such that the user can use his mobile telephone just as well as if he were in the area of his home network on the ground. The communication is handled directly via the satellite communication path between the aircraft and the ground, bypassing the mobile radio operator with whom the user of the mobile telephone has completed a contract.
US08488554B2
A method for handover between different types of access systems in some embodiments consistent with the present invention includes: when the UE hands over between different types of access systems, the UE accesses the IASA connected with the UE in the source access system through the destination access system. Furthermore, the present invention discloses a handover system, and a UE that includes an IASA address storing module and an IASA address sending module. The handover system includes: a destination access system, and a source IASA.
US08488552B2
The present invention relates to a UE, base station network node and methods thereof in a cellular mobile communication system. One method concerns handover from a first radio base station to a second radio base station wherein, it comprises the steps receiving a notification from the first radio base station that currently serves said UE, said notification indicating the last packet to be transmitted to this user equipment from said first radio base station on a first connection; and informing the second radio base station by a request to commence transmission from this second radio base station when the notified last packet is received at the UE.
US08488546B2
This invention relates with a method for detecting a downlink control structure for carrier aggregation in communication network in which data transmission is scheduled by a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH). An UE receives higher layer signaling enabling carrier aggregation for the UE. The UE reads the PDCCHs of component carriers (CCs), wherein the downlink control information (DCI) in the PDCCHs of each CC is read according to one of a plurality of predefined formats derived from the higher layer signaling.
US08488545B2
In a Vehicular Ad Hoc Network (VANET) a hybrid method combines SDMA (Space Division Multiple Access) and dynamic TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access) that divides the roadway into regions (whose size is larger than the SDMA unit) where each region is allocated a pool of radio channels based on SDMA and may contain a limited number of vehicles. Vehicles within the same region compete for and access the channels using dynamic TDMA. A channel allocation scheme that maps the pool of channels to the regions such that when a vehicle acquires multiple channels (time slots) in a region, the intervals among the channels are as uniform as possible, thus minimizing the waiting time of the messages to be broadcast by the vehicle, which is critical for safety related applications. This solution is referred to as R-SDMA (Region based SDMA).
US08488544B2
A type 1 system and a type 2 system are classified according to whether carrier aggregation is used. A shared component carrier is used for both a type 1 terminal and a type 2 terminal, whereas a dedicated component carrier is used only for the type 2 terminal. Also, a type 2 base station transmits broadcast information by using a shared component carrier. In this instance, the broadcast information includes the shared broadcast information used for both the type 1 terminal and the type 2 terminal and the dedicated broadcast information only for the type 2 terminal. Also, the type 2 base station indicates component carriers that are used by the type 2 terminal, by using a semi-static component carrier indicator or a dynamic component carrier indicator.
US08488540B2
A method and apparatus of allocating a resource for a plurality of logical channels is provided. A transmitter acquires a plurality of available resources for a plurality of component carriers, and allocates the plurality of available resources to the plurality of logical channels based on priority of each of the plurality of logical channels.
US08488536B2
A method for transmission mode selection in a MIMO radio system between a spatial diversity (A-matrix) mode and a spatial multiplexing (B-matrix) mode comprises: obtaining a channel condition number; if the channel condition number is above a selected threshold, and a signal to interference plus noise ratio exceeds a predetermined threshold then selecting spatial multiplexing; and otherwise selecting spatial diversity.
US08488533B2
An approach is provided for acknowledgement bundling. Dynamically scheduling of one or more of subframes per bundling window is performed by reusing an assignment index field (e.g., downlink assignment index (DAI) field). The assignment index field has a value greater than or equal to number of previously assigned subframes within the bundling window. The bundling window defines a group of subframes for common acknowledgement.
US08488528B2
User equipment for performing cell search using a synchronization channel including a primary synchronization channel and a secondary synchronization channel includes a reception unit configured to receive a signal including the synchronization channel, a symbol timing candidate detection unit configured to detect multiple synchronization signal symbol timing candidates from the synchronization channel based on a correlation value in a time domain between the signal received at the reception unit and a replica signal of the primary synchronization channel, a secondary synchronization channel correlation detection unit configured to perform correlation detection for the secondary synchronization channel based on the multiple synchronization signal symbol timing candidates detected in the symbol timing candidate detection unit and a secondary synchronization channel detection unit configured to detect the secondary synchronization channel based on a result of the correlation detection by the secondary synchronization channel correlation detection unit.
US08488522B2
A system and method for managing wireless communications for a plurality of devices in a high occupancy vehicle is presented. The method comprises steps of creating a global bandwidth usage map across all vehicles, routes, and passengers, transmitting the global bandwidth usage map to a vehicle controller, interpreting the global bandwidth usage map and creating a local usage map, and commanding a wireless concentrator to manage the wireless communications for the devices in accordance with the local usage map. Further, the global map can be created by gathering ticket and route information, obtaining customer productivity data from a network, and parsing obtained data into canonical form. A step of inputting the ticketing information by one of the user, and a ticketing agent can be included. A step of displaying messages using a wireless access application residing on the device can be included.
US08488515B2
Provided are a data transmission method in a communication system and a relay performing the same. The data transmission method in a communication system includes receiving, at a relay, an uplink buffer status report (BSR) of a terminal from the terminal, including the uplink BSR of the terminal received by the relay in an uplink BSR to be transmitted from the relay to a base station to generate a combined uplink BSR, and transmitting the combined uplink BSR to the base station even before the relay receives data stored in an uplink buffer of the terminal from the terminal. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the transmission delay of the communication system including a relay.
US08488510B2
Data carriers (such as RFID tags) are formed into clusters of data carriers. Each cluster has at least one bridge data carrier that can communicate with a bridge data carrier of another cluster, thereby allowing data carriers in each cluster to communicate directly or indirectly with each other using a stochastic communication protocol method. Direct tag-to-tag communication capability is provided between data carriers in each cluster and/or between clusters. The data carriers can backscatter and modulate a carrier wave from a source, thereby using the backscattered and modulated carrier wave to convey data to each other.
US08488507B2
Methods and apparatus that enable a wireless network to detect and manage impending congestion events caused by a plurality of mobile devices attempting to access the network in a brief space of time. In one embodiment, the network comprises a 3g (UMTS) cellular network, and includes a congestion management and avoidance entity that preemptively triggers a collision mode upon detecting an impending congestion event. This mode advantageously reduces processing burden on the base station by causing the mobile devices (UEs) to halt current access attempts, and invoke a multiple access scheme (e.g., wait a random amount of time before attempting further access attempts). The comparatively early detection and avoidance of collisions reduces the mobile device's power consumption, while addressing congestion events early in the wireless communication process so as to maintain optimal network conditions.
US08488498B2
A method for the retransmission and coding of multicast broadcast services.
US08488483B2
In cellular radio systems it is a problem to provide service to UE (user equipment) on the cell border. In systems that apply a frequency re-use of one, and OFDM access technology, the uplink direction need be improved. One embodiment of this application relates to a radio base station that is equipped with one or more FFT processor/s in addition to the FFT-processor that is adapted for being adjusted to the timed aligned arrival of signals from UE served by the radio base station. The additional FFT processor/s is adapted for being adjusted to the arrival of one or more signals from UE that are served by other radio base station/s. The radio base station is further adapted to send Fourier processed signal information relating to the UE of the other radio base station/s and thereby assist the other radio base station in signal reception. The application also relates to a method for assisting another radio base station in signal reception, and to a method for receiving assistance from another radio base station in signal reception.
US08488478B1
A device and method measures transmission efficiency of wireless RF energy packets for each 802.11 channel and relates these measurements to the presence of RF interference. The invention is implemented using a single computing device with an installed wireless network adapter that implements the CSMA/CA transmission protocol.
US08488476B2
System and method for providing applets to remote devices in a communications network. A preferred embodiment includes a host device, which is the device from which the applet will be transferred, and a target device, which is the device to which the applet will be transferred. In one embodiment, the host device autonomously determines that an applet is to be pushed to the target device. The host device then determines the address of the target device and transmits the applet to the target device. Instructions and commands may be sent to the target device form the host, and the target device may transmit results to the host device. In another embodiment, the target device is customer premise equipment and/or a user device that requests an applet from the host device. The target device requests applets, for example, to perform service parameter verification, performance monitoring, troubleshooting, or the like.
US08488472B2
A method for configuring components in a networked computer system comprising providing a configuration map that includes installation locations and sequences for network components. The configuration map is used to indicate component installation locations and sequences through a series of indicators. The component installation locations and sequences are confirmed after the components are configured according to the configuration map by an electrical connectivity test of each affected component.
US08488466B2
Systems, devices, and methods for finding a captured data packet including a data pattern of interest and data packets associated with the found data packet are herein provided. A traffic flow of captured data packets may be received by a network captured traffic distribution device and may be duplicated. A traffic flow of captured data packets may be scanned for data packets including a data pattern of interest and identifying information may be determined for any found data packets. A duplicate traffic flow of captured data packets may also be scanned for data packets with identifying information that matches a found data packet. An egress port for the found data packet may be determined and both the found data packet and any data packets with identifying information matching found data packet might be transmitted to the determined egress port.
US08488465B2
A system and method for intercepting and load-balancing information including one or more mediation devices configured to receive intercept instructions for intercepting information for a predetermined period of time, an intercept access device configured to receive the intercept instructions from the one or more mediation devices, wherein the intercept access device may identify and intercept information based on the intercept instructions and may encapsulate the intercepted information, and an intercept load balancer configured to receive the intercepted information and transmit the intercepted information to the one or more mediation devices for distribution to one or more law enforcement device.
US08488459B2
For Quality of Service (QoS) implementation in a multiple-access communication system, a base station processes data transmissions from terminals for all QoS classes supported by the system and obtains status information for the data transmissions. The status information may indicate whether each packet is decoded correctly or in error and the delay for each packet. For each QoS class, the base station derives one or more metrics based on the status information for data transmissions from disadvantaged terminals and updates the QoS parameter based on the metrics and requirements for the QoS class. The QoS parameter for each QoS class determines the transmit powers for the data transmissions sent for that QoS class. The base station broadcasts the QoS parameters for all QoS classes. Each terminal uses the QoS parameter for an applicable QoS class for power control of the data transmission sent to the base station.
US08488456B2
A method, switch, and/or computer program product routes IP packet flows. An Ethernet switch receives an IP packet flow. Each of the packets in the IP packet flow has a header that contains a same 5-tuple. A load balancing control engine determines whether servers in a group of servers are balanced in their utilization according to 5-tuple redirection rules contained in the load balancing control engine. In response to the load balancing control engine determining, according to the 5-tuple redirection rules, that the servers are balanced, the Ethernet switch routes the IP packet flow to the servers. In response to the load balancing control engine determining that the servers are unbalanced, the load balancing control engine instructs the Ethernet switch to redirect the IP packet flow to a server that is relatively less busy than other servers.
US08488455B2
A method for fair scheduling of broadcasting services includes receiving, at a base station from a core network entity, data packets scheduled for transmission during a scheduling period and synchronization information for service bearers. It is determined whether there is an overflow condition based on the received synchronization information and transmission resources reserved for the plurality of service bearers for the scheduling period in a single-frequency network. Upon determining that the overflow condition is present, among the service bearers, at least one service bearer is selected based on a bearer selection function. The bearer selection function results in selecting the service bearer with a highest value or a lowest value of a ratio of two quantities each with a specific value for each service bearer. The bearer selection function does not directly compute any ratio. A data packet is then dropped from the selected at least one service bearer.
US08488454B2
The present invention relates to the communication filed and discloses a method for adjusting the signal speed, a media gateway (MG), and a media gateway controller (MGC). The method includes: receiving a command request that includes signal speed adjustment information from the MGC, and adjusting the signal speed according to the signal speed adjustment information. The MG includes a receiving module, an adjusting module, and a sending module. The MGC includes a sending module. In the present invention, the media gateway control protocol is extended to enable the MGC to adjust the speed of any signal.
US08488425B2
An optical pickup device including: a laser diode for emitting laser light; an objective lens which irradiates an optical beam emitted from the laser diode; an actuator which displaces the objective lens in a radius direction of the optical disc; a grating for branches an optical beam reflected by an information recording layer into plural regions; and one photodetector having plural light receiving parts for receiving the branched optical beams, wherein the photodetector has a first light receiving part which detects zero-th order grating diffracted light and plural second light receiving parts which detecting grating diffracted light having an order not less than that of ±first order grating diffracted light; a detected signal of the zero-th order grating diffracted light is defined as a reproduction signal; and a detected signal of the grating diffracted light is defined as a signal for servo controlling.
US08488421B2
A lens cleaner capable of more surely cleaning grime off from an objective lens is provided. A lens cleaner of the present invention includes first and second lens cleaning portions. The first lens cleaning portion is provided to be brought into contact with a lens protector when the lens cleaner is rotated, to cause an objective lens to be away from a recording or reproducing position against an elastic force of an elastic member. The second lens cleaning portion is provided on an upstream side in a rotation direction relative to the first lens cleaning portion. The second lens cleaning portion is provided to pass above the lens protector while the objective lens is away from the recording or reproducing position, and to be brought into contact with the objective lens when the objective lens returns to the recording or reproducing position by the elastic force of the elastic member.
US08488407B2
A nonvolatile memory apparatus includes a memory device including a configuration information storage block for storing configuration data groups. A configuration information processing circuit is configured to determine majorities of configuration data groups, which are outputted from the memory device during a first period as an initial stage of a power-up operation, under the control of a first control clock signal. The configuration information processing circuit is also configured to determine majorities of configuration data groups, which are outputted from the memory device during a second period after the first period, under the control of a second control clock signal having a cycle shorter than the first control clock signal.
US08488394B2
An object is to provide a semiconductor device with a novel structure, which can hold stored data even when power is not supplied and which has an unlimited number of write cycles. The semiconductor device is formed using a memory cell including a wide band gap semiconductor such as an oxide semiconductor. The semiconductor device includes a potential change circuit having a function of outputting a potential lower than a reference potential for reading data from the memory cell. When the wide band gap semiconductor which allows a sufficient reduction in off-state current of a transistor included in the memory cell is used, a semiconductor device which can hold data for a long period can be provided.
US08488390B2
Embodiments for data dependent boosted (DDB) bit cells that may allow for smaller minimum cell supplies (Vmin) without necessarily having to increase device dimensions are presented.
US08488389B2
A NAND flash memory device and method of erasing memory cells thereof, wherein each cell is only subjected to the level of erase voltage needed to restore its nominal “erased” state. Each memory cell of the NAND flash memory device comprises a floating gate, a control gate connected to a wordline and receives a control voltage therefrom to induce a programming charge on the floating gate, and a bitline adapted to apply an erase voltage to deplete the floating gate of the programming charge. Each memory cell further includes circuitry for modulating the erase voltage according to the level of the programming charge on its floating gate.
US08488386B2
Provided are a nonvolatile memory device and a method of operating the same. The nonvolatile memory device in accordance with an embodiment of the inventive concept may include a string select line; a ground select line; a dummy word line adjacent to the ground select line; a first word line adjacent to the dummy word line; and a second word line disposed between the string select line and the first word line. The nonvolatile memory device is configured to apply a voltage to the dummy word line. When programming a memory cell connected to the first word line, a first dummy word line voltage lower than a voltage applied to the second word line is applied to the dummy word line. When programming a memory cell connected to the second word line, a second dummy word line voltage between a voltage applied to the first word line and the first dummy word line voltage is applied to the dummy word line. Accordingly, when a program operation is performed, a charge loss of a memory cell connected to a word line adjacent to a dummy word line can be reduced by changing a voltage applied to the dummy word line according to a select word line.
US08488385B2
The present disclosure includes methods, devices, modules, and systems for reducing noise in semiconductor devices. One method embodiment includes applying a reset voltage to a control gate of a semiconductor device for a period of time. The method further includes sensing the state of the semiconductor device after applying the reset voltage.
US08488384B2
A nonvolatile memory device (NVM), memory system and apparatus include control logic configured to perform a method of applying negative voltage on a selected wordline of the NVM. During a first time a first high voltage level is applied to the channel of a transistor of a address decoder and a ground voltage is applied to the well of the transistor. And, during a second time a second high voltage level is applied to the channel of the transistor, and within the second time interval a first negative voltage is applied to the well of the transistor. The first high voltage level is higher than the second high voltage level, and a voltage applied on the selected wordline is negative within the second time interval.
US08488383B2
A nonvolatile memory device includes: a data transmission line configured to transmit internal configuration data; a data path control unit configured to control a data transmission path direction of the data transmission line according to control of a test signal; and a configuration data latch unit configured to latch a signal transmitted through the data transmission line or drive a latched signal to the data transmission line, according to control of the test signal.
US08488381B2
Provided is a method of operating a non-volatile memory device. The method includes applying a turn-on voltage to each of first and second string select transistors of a first NAND string, applying first and second voltages to third and fourth string select transistors of a second NAND string, respectively, and applying a high voltage to word lines connected with memory cells of the first and second NAND strings.
US08488375B2
According to one embodiment, a magnetic recording element includes a stacked body including a first stacked unit and a second stacked unit. The first stacked unit includes a first ferromagnetic layer, a second ferromagnetic layer and a first nonmagnetic layer. Magnetization of the first ferromagnetic layer is substantially fixed in a first direction being perpendicular to a first ferromagnetic layer surface. The second stacked unit includes a third ferromagnetic layer, a fourth ferromagnetic layer and a second nonmagnetic layer. Magnetization of the fourth ferromagnetic layer is substantially fixed in a second direction being perpendicular to a fourth ferromagnetic layer surface. The first direction is opposite to the second direction.
US08488372B2
A magnetic random access memory (MRAM) cell includes a storage layer, a sense layer, and a spacer layer between the storage layer and the sense layer. A field line is magnetically coupled to the MRAM cell to induce a magnetic field along a magnetic field axis, and at least one of the storage layer and the sense layer has a magnetic anisotropy axis that is tilted relative to the magnetic field axis. During a write operation, a storage magnetization direction is switchable between m directions to store data corresponding to one of m logic states, with m>2, where at least one of the m directions is aligned relative to the magnetic anisotropy axis, and at least another one of the m directions is aligned relative to the magnetic field axis. During a read operation, a sense magnetization direction is varied, relative to the storage magnetization direction, to determine the data stored by the storage layer.
US08488367B2
According to one embodiment, a method for controlling a semiconductor device comprises determining a select bit number for a group of memory cells each includes a variable-resistance element, setting a first voltage corresponding to the select bit number, applying the set first voltage to the memory cell group, and performing verify read on the memory cell group to which the first voltage has been applied and determining whether or not the memory cell group passes the verify read. If the memory cell group is determined not to pass the verify read, the number of bits corresponding to passed memory cells is subtracted from the select bit number, and the first voltage corresponding to the decreased select bit number is set again.
US08488365B2
Some embodiments include methods in which a memory cell is formed to have programmable material between first and second access lines, with the programmable material having two compositionally different regions. A concentration of ions and/or ion-vacancies may be altered in at least one of the regions to change a memory state of the memory cell and to simultaneously form a pn diode. Some embodiments include memory cells having programmable material with two compositionally different regions, and having ions and/or ion-vacancies diffusible into at least one of the regions. The memory cell has a memory state in which the first and second regions are of opposite conductivity type relative to one another.
US08488362B2
Memory devices are described along with methods for manufacturing and methods for operating. A memory device as described herein includes a plurality of memory cells located between word lines and bit lines. Memory cells in the plurality of memory cells comprise a diode and a metal-oxide memory element programmable to a plurality of resistance states including a first and a second resistance state, the diode of the memory element arranged in electrical series along a current path between a corresponding word line and a corresponding bit line. The device further includes bias circuitry to apply bias arrangements across the series arrangement of the diode and the memory element of a selected memory cell in the plurality of memory cells.
US08488361B2
A method is for non-destructive reading of an information datum stored in a memory that includes a first wordline, a first bitline and a second bitline, and a first ferroelectric transistor, which is connected between the bitlines and has a control terminal coupled to the first wordline. The method includes applying to the first wordline a first reading electrical quantity, generating a first difference of potential between the first and second bitlines, generating a first output electrical quantity, and applying to the first wordline a second reading electrical quantity. The method further includes generating a second difference of potential between the first and second bitlines, generating a second output electrical quantity, and comparing the first and second output electrical quantities with one another. On the basis of a result of said comparison, the method includes determining the logic value of the information data.
US08488360B2
Semiconductor integrated circuit including a logic circuit module with a plurality of photodetectors
A semiconductor integrated circuit capable of protection from card hacking, by which erroneous actions are actively induced by irradiation with light and protected secret information is illegitimately acquired, is to be provided. Photodetectors, configured by a standard logic process, hardly distinguishable from other circuits and consumes very little standby power, are mounted on a semiconductor integrated circuit, such as an IC card microcomputer. Each of the photodetectors, for instance, has a configuration in which a first state is held in a static latch by its initializing action and reversal to a second state takes place when semiconductor elements in a state of non-conduction, constituting the static latch of the first state, is irradiated with light. A plurality of photodetectors are arranged in a memory cell array. By incorporating the static latch type photodetector into the memory array, they can be arranged inconspicuously. Reverse engineering by irradiation with light can be effectively prevented.
US08488356B2
A memory system includes a status circuit having a common status node electrically connected to a respective status pad of each of a plurality of memory chips. The memory system also includes a plurality of resistors disposed within the status circuit to define a voltage divider network for generating different voltage levels at the common status node. Each of the different voltage levels indicates a particular operational state combination of the plurality of memory chips. Also, each of the plurality of memory chips is either in a first operational state or a second operational state. Additionally, the different voltage levels are distributed within a voltage range extending from a power supply voltage level to a reference ground voltage level.
US08488350B2
A method of operating a DC-AC inverter to produce AC power having alternating positive and negative half cycles is disclosed. The inverter includes an input connected to a DC power source, an output, a first buck converter coupled between the input and the output and a second buck converter coupled between the input and output. The method includes alternately operating the first buck converter and the second buck converter to alternately produce the positive and negative half cycles at the output.
US08488347B2
It is an object to provide a DC/DC converter that can stabilize power supply potential in use. It is another object to provide a semiconductor device in which circuit operation is stabilized. In addition to a power supply that supplies potential to be reference potential of boosting in a DC/DC converter, a power supply for charging a capacitor in the DC/DC converter is provided. Accordingly, loads to the power supply that supplies the reference potential of boosting can be reduced. Further, as power for charging the capacitor in the DC/DC converter, power supplied from not an antenna but a secondary battery is used. More specifically, a secondary battery is used as a power supply that supplies power to a buffer circuit or an inverter circuit. Thus, power supplied from the antenna can be stabilized. In other words, operation of a logic circuit and an analog circuit can be stabilized.
US08488343B2
A switching mode power supply apparatus includes a transformer, a main switch to adjust power supplied to a primary coil of the transformer, a passive clamp circuit to suppress a voltage stress of the main switch, and a control circuit to disable a clamping operation of the passive clamp circuit in a standby mode of the switching mode power supply apparatus. Power is not consumed in the passive clamp circuit in a standby mode so that power consumed in the standby mode can be remarkably reduced.
US08488339B2
A switching power supply includes a first auxiliary power supply for causing a first auxiliary winding of a transformer to induce voltage by ON/OFF control of a switching element connected to a primary winding of the transformer. The voltage induced by the first auxiliary winding charges a capacitor in the first auxiliary power supply. The switching power supply also includes a control circuit for starting and stopping the ON/OFF control of the switching element by comparing a voltage of the capacitor with a first threshold value, an activation circuit for charging the capacitor with voltage from the power supply input to the switching power supply, and a determination unit for determining a lifespan of the switching power supply based on the voltage of the capacitor after the voltage of the capacitor becomes greater than or equal to the first threshold value.
US08488338B2
A controller for a power converter is provided. The controller includes a PWM circuit, a detection circuit, a signal generation circuit and an oscillation circuit. The PWM circuit generates a switching signal coupled to switch a transformer of the power converter. A feedback signal is coupled to the PWM circuit to disable the switching signal. The detection circuit is coupled to the transformer via a resistor for generating a valley signal in response to a signal waveform of the transformer. The signal generation circuit is coupled to receive the feedback signal and the valley signal for generating an enabling signal. The oscillation circuit generates a maximum frequency signal. The maximum frequency signal associates with the enabling signal to generate a pulse signal. The feedback signal is correlated to an output load of the power converter. The maximum frequency of the pulse signal is limited.
US08488336B2
A multi-level converter to at least convert an AC switched voltage available on a switched voltage point into at least five DC voltage levels available on positive and negative DC voltage lines, said converter comprising two separate switching units to convert respectively positive and negative half-waves of said switched voltage, connected to the DC voltage lines respectively presenting positive and negative DC voltage levels, and wherein each switching unit comprises a switching point connected to said switched voltage point by means of change-over means.An uninterruptible power supply comprising said converter.
US08488333B2
An electronic power converter is provided. The electronic power converter includes at least one DC capacitor bank and one voltage inverter. The voltage inverter includes at least three phase modules connected to one another, each one specifically for the shaping of the current on one phase at the output of the voltage inverter. The DC capacitor bank is connected to the phase modules. The phase modules of the voltage inverter are distributed angularly around an axis in order to delimit between them a cylindrical space. The phase modules are interconnected by connection elements arranged inside the cylindrical space delimited by the phase modules. The DC capacitor bank is connected to the phase modules by the connection elements arranged inside the cylindrical space delimited by the phase modules.
US08488330B2
In a circuit module, a chip element is mounted on a mount electrode, with an outer electrode interposed therebetween. The chip element is arranged such that a cut surface thereof is oriented toward a side of a circuit module that is adjacent to the mount electrode. A gap that is observable from outside of the circuit module is provided between a bottom surface of a base of the chip element and a top surface of a circuit board.
US08488323B2
An electronic device has a ventilation system with an inlet section that receives inlet air that travels past components of the computing device to be cooled and exits at an outlet section. The air carries heat away from the components. A liquid heat transfer system captures heat generated by the components and transfers the captured heat to the inlet section of the ventilation system to warm the inlet air before it travels past the components to be cooled.
US08488321B2
An assembly for liquid cooling electronics by direct submersion into circulated engine coolant that includes an epoxy material dispensed around leads of electronics devices in a manner effective to mechanically secure the electronics devices to the assembly and prevent engine coolant leakage around the leads, and a Parylene™ coating layer deposited in a manner effective to protect the electronic device from electrically conductive engine coolant such as ethylene glycol. Such an assembly is useful in hybrid electric vehicles that have engine coolant available from the vehicle's internal combustion engine.
US08488319B2
A modularly constructed power converter arrangement has two end-side elements and at least one power converter module arranged therebetween. One end-side element has, a fan of an air cooling device, while the other end-side element has, aligned with the fan, cutouts acting as air passages. At least one end-side element has an electrical connection device. The at least one power converter module has, as part of the cooling device, a heat sink, through which air can flow from one end-side element to the other and on which is arranged at least one power semiconductor module connected to a control device and to a capacitor device. For this purpose, the at least one power converter module has a housing, which is open at the end sides and which can be connected in each case at the end sides to an end-side element or a further power converter module.
US08488315B2
A manifold is provided for supporting a power module assembly with a plurality of power modules. The manifold includes a first manifold section. The first face of the first manifold section is configured to receive the first power module, and the second face of the first manifold section defines a first cavity with a first baseplate thermally coupled to the first power module. The first face of the second manifold section is configured to receive the second power module, and the second face of the second manifold section defines a second cavity with a second baseplate thermally coupled to the second power module. The second face of the first manifold section and the second face of the second manifold section are coupled together such that the first cavity and the second cavity form a coolant channel. The first cavity is at least partially staggered with respect to second cavity.
US08488311B2
A container data center includes a mobile container and a number of servers. The mobile container includes a main room receiving the servers, and an air shower room isolated from the main room. The air shower room includes an outer door, an inner door, a blower, and a dust absorber. The outer door connects the air shower room and is used to separate the air shower room from the outer environment. The inner door connects the air shower room and is used to separate the air shower room from the main room. The blower and the dust absorber are secured on two opposite walls of the air shower room respectively, the blower being configured for blowing air towards the dust absorber.
US08488303B2
An electrical distribution center includes a housing composed of a first material having a first melting point, an electrical bus disposed in the housing, a removable electrical/electronic component electrically connected to the electrical bus and which produces a predetermined temperature in operation higher than the first melting point, an opening formed in the housing, and a socket mounted within the housing opening and physically supporting the electrical/electronic component. The socket is composed of a second, differing material having a second melting point higher than the predetermined temperature produced by the electrical/electronic component in operation, whereby the housing is effectively isolated and protected by the socket as the electrical/electronic component operates.
US08488289B2
An intelligent power switch (IPS) circuit providing current protection for a power switch, a gate terminal of the power switch being controlled by a first control signal generated by a gate driver. The IPS circuit includes a first circuit to measure a current in the power switch, determine a first difference between a first voltage and a first reference voltage, and reduce the first control signal if the first difference exceeds a first predetermined limit; and a second circuit to measure the current in the power switch and determine a second difference between the first voltage and a second reference voltage, wherein if the second difference exceeds a second predetermined limit the first control signal is set to turn OFF the power switch.
US08488287B2
In some embodiments, an overcurrent protection circuit is configured to operate in accordance with operation modes including a first operation mode in which when the power supply circuit is activated, the capacitor is charged until the terminal voltage reaches a first voltage, a second operation mode in which depending on a time period in which a current flowing through an output transistor of the power supply circuit exceeds a predetermined value, the capacitor is charged so that the terminal voltage increases from the first voltage toward a second voltage, and the power supply circuit is shut down when the terminal voltage reaches the second voltage, and a third operation mode in which when the power supply circuit is shut down, the capacitor is discharged until the terminal voltage reaches a third voltage, and the shutdown of the power supply circuit is released when the terminal voltage reaches the third voltage.
US08488285B2
Active current surge limiters and methods of use are disclosed. One exemplary system, among others, comprises a current limiter, including an interface configured to be connected between a power supply and a load; a disturbance sensor, configured to monitor the power supply for a disturbance during operation of the load; and an activator, configured to receive a control signal from the disturbance sensor and to activate the current limiter based on the control signal.
US08488281B1
A disk drive includes a suspension assembly that includes a load beam and a laminated flexure. The laminated flexure includes a structural layer, a dielectric layer, and an electrically conductive layer. The electrically conductive layer includes a plurality of flexure bond pads. The structural layer includes a tongue and a flexure bond pad shelf. The flexure bond pad shelf underlies each of the plurality of flexure bond pads. The flexure bond pad shelf is separate from the tongue in the structural layer so that the structural layer nowhere connects the flexure bond pad shelf to the tongue. A fine actuator may be disposed on and bonded to the tongue to produce relative motion between the head and the tongue. With the flexure bond pads bonded to the plurality of head bond pads, the fine actuator may also produce relative motion between the flexure bond pad shelf and the tongue.
US08488277B2
A magnetic recording medium for a hard disk drive, including a thermal conduction layer made of materials having different thermal conductivities formed on a recording layer having data recording regions and including magnetic particles that are heated and cooled for magnetic recording, is provided based on a thermally assisted magnetic recording technique. First thin films made of a material high in thermal conductivity are formed on portions of the thermal conduction layer, said portions located in association with portions of the data recording regions. Second thin films made of a material lower in thermal conductivity than the first thin films are formed between respective pairs of the first thin films within the thermal conduction layer. The magnetic recording medium ensures the thermal stability of the magnetic particles heated for the magnetic recording, and the thermal stability of magnetic particles located near the heated magnetic particles, thereby suppressing disappearance of data.
US08488259B2
This invention provides an optical image capturing lens system comprising: a first lens element with positive refractive power having a convex object-side surface; a second lens element; a third lens element; a fourth lens element; and a fifth lens element with negative refractive power, at least one of the object-side and image-side surfaces thereof being aspheric, and at least one inflection point is formed on at least one of the object-side and image-side surfaces thereof; wherein the system at least has one front stop and one rear stop; which are positioned between an imaged object and the third lens element as well as between the third lens element and the fifth lens element, respectively. By such arrangement, photosensitivity and total track length of the system can be reduced, and the aberration and astigmatism of the system can be effectively corrected. Moreover, the focusing performance thereof can be improved.
US08488255B2
An image pickup optical system, sequentially arranged from an object side to an image side, comprises the first lens element with positive refractive power having a convex object-side surface, the second lens element with negative refractive power having a concave object-side surface and a convex image-side surface, the third lens element with refractive power, the fourth lens element with refractive power having a concave image-side surface, at least one of the surfaces being aspheric, the fifth lens element with refractive power having a concave image-side surface, at least one of the surfaces being aspheric and having at least one inflection point. Each of the five lens elements may be made of plastic with aspherical surfaces. The image pickup optical system satisfies conditions related to the reduction of the total length and the system sensitivity for use in compact cameras and mobile phone cameras functionalities.
US08488252B2
A high-performance zoom lens system which is compact and has a wide view angle at a wide-angle limit and a high zooming ratio in a balanced manner, in order from an object side to an image side, comprising a first lens unit having positive optical power, a second lens unit having negative optical power, a third lens unit having positive optical power, and a fourth lens unit having positive optical power, wherein the first lens unit is composed of at most two lens elements, the second lens unit is composed of two lens elements, the third lens unit is composed of three lens elements, in order from the object side to the image side, including an object side lens element having positive optical power, a lens element having negative optical power, and an image side lens element having positive optical power, and the conditions: ωW≧36 and fT/fW>4.5 (ωW: a half view angle at a wide-angle limit, fT: a focal length of the entire system at a telephoto limit, fW: a focal length of the entire system at a wide-angle limit) are satisfied; an imaging device; and a camera are provided.
US08488250B2
An embodiment of a piezoelectric actuator system for a fluid-filled lens is described herein. A piezoelectric reservoir is provided encompassing a fluid. In an embodiment, the reservoir is disposed around the perimeter of a lens module within a housing. In an embodiment, electrodes are woven into the reservoir and connected to a power source. An applied potential causes the reservoir to flex with a magnitude and direction related to the amplitude and polarity respectively of the potential. In an embodiment, flexing of the reservoir causes fluid to either inflate or deflate the fluid-filled lens module.
US08488247B2
An object is disposed such that the apparatus is between the object and an observer. The appearance of the object is altered and, in the limit, the object cannot be observed, and the background appears unobstructed. The apparatus is formed of a metamaterial where the properties of the metamaterial are varied as a function of distance from the interfaces. The metamaterial may be fabricated as a composite material having a dielectric component and inclusions of particles of sub-wavelength size, and may also include a gain medium.
US08488244B1
Designs of optical devices providing multiplexing or demultiplexing functions are disclosed. According to one embodiment, an optical device or an assembly employs an array of micro lenses, an array of filters and a glass block all bonded onto a substrate to provide multiplexing or demultiplexing functions. To compensate for possible errors caused by some or all of these components, one or more compensatory optical plates are provided to respectively correct these errors. Depending on implementation, the compensatory optical plates may be designed differently to correct various errors.
US08488243B2
Stereoscopic display systems including a position-tracking system that determine the position of the stereoscopic eyewear worn by a viewer. An exemplary embodiment of the eyewear includes retro-reflective reflectors that are illuminated by an infrared illuminator proximate to or optically co-axial with a capturing camera. Suppression reflections from other reflective features in the vicinity may be achieved by control of the polarization of the infrared light.
US08488241B2
An optical film includes a base member having convex structures that are two-dimensionally and orderly arranged on a surface thereof and a hard-coating layer provided on the surface of the base member, the surface having the arranged structures thereon. A continuous wave surface is provided on a surface of the hard-coating layer so as to approximately conform to the shape of the structures of the surface of the base member, a maximum amplitude A and a minimum wavelength λ of the continuous wave surface are each substantially uniform, and a ratio (A/λ) of the maximum amplitude A to the minimum wavelength λ is more than 0.002 and 0.011 or less.
US08488233B2
The invention discloses an apparatus for enhancing the signal power to ASE power ratio in an optical amplifier including a 1×n input optical switching component, n band-pass filters, and an n×1 output optical switching component, wherein the signal power is allowed to pass through the band-pass filter switched by the 1×n input optical switching component and the n×1 output optical switching component.
US08488228B2
Interferometric modulators and methods of making the same are disclosed. In one embodiment, an interferometric modulator includes an interferometric reflector having a first reflective surface, a second reflective surface, and an optical resonant layer defined by the first reflective surface and the second reflective surface. The interferometric reflector can be configured to transmit a certain spectrum of light at a transmission peak wavelength such that the interferometric modulator has a diminished reflectance of light at the transmission peak wavelength.
US08488224B2
Briefly, in accordance with one or more embodiments, an electric comb drive scanner comprises a scanning body comprising a mirror supported by one or more flexures along a first axis and one or more support structures coupled to the one or more flexures. One or more drive combs are disposed on the one or more support structures, wherein the drive combs cause the mirror to rotate about the first axis in response to a drive signal applied to the drive combs. The one or more support structures are tuned to reduce non-uniformity of warping of the support structures to reduce variation in disengagement of the drive combs along a length of the drive combs.
US08488223B2
The present invention relates to an optical security marking component producing a first visible configuration when observed through a polarizer oriented in a first orientation, and a second configuration, separate from the first, visible when observed through the polarizer oriented in a second orientation, the optical component comprising a stamped film for forming at least two diffraction gratings having different orientations, characterized in that each of said gratings has a period of less than 550 nm and a modulation between 0.25 and 0.5 relative to a reference plane.
US08488219B2
An image reading apparatus includes: a light source to illuminate an original; a color sensor and a monochrome sensor to receive light reflected from the original illuminated by the light source to output an image signal; an amplifier to amplify the image signal from the color and monochrome sensors; a reflective reference member; and a control circuit to adjust a gain of the amplifier amplifying the image signal from the color sensor that receives light reflected from the reflective member illuminated by the light source, and holds the adjusted gain as a gain setting value for the color sensor, and the control circuit obtains a gain setting value for the monochrome sensor by calculation based on the gain setting value for the color sensor.
US08488212B2
An image reading apparatus including, a sheet feeding device, a sheet feeding section that controls transport of an original document performed by the sheet feeding device, a reading section that outputs image data by reading the original document, a carriage that is equipped with the reading section, a carriage control section that controls movement of the carriage, a buffer that temporarily stores the image data, and a monitoring section that monitors a volume of the image data stored in the buffer. When the monitoring section determines that the volume of the image data is more than a predetermined threshold value, the sheet feeding section decelerates and stops the transport of the original document, and the carriage control section accelerates the carriage in a direction opposite to the transport of the original document during a deceleration period of the transport of the original document.
US08488211B2
A device, system and method for portable data scanning and transmission are provided. The device is a portable appliance including resources for interoperating with a scanner to scan images of paper based documents, and a memory for storing the images without the need for a personal computer. The portable appliance is also interoperable with a mobile communication means to transfer the images to a remote computer. The portable appliance may include a computer program operable to enable processing of the images, including control routines for enabling data collection, storage and transfer to the remote computer. The invention can be implemented as an in-cab scanning system operable with existing in-cab communication systems.
US08488205B2
The purpose of the present invention is to prevent a two-dimensional code to be additionally embedded from corrupting a two-dimensional code which has been embedded when a document in which the two-dimensional code has been embedded is copied or when a document in which the two-dimensional code has been embedded is overlaid on form data in which the two-dimensional code has been embedded. In the present invention, when it is detected that a second two-dimensional code is embedded in an input image, the input image is printed without overlay of a first two-dimensional code thereon. Furthermore, when form data for overlaying is stored, when it is detected that a third two-dimensional code is embedded in the form data or when it is detected that a second two-dimensional code is embedded in an input image, the input image is output without overlay of a first two-dimensional code thereon.
US08488195B2
A system and method is provided for improving color management of DeviceN color spaces in an electronic document. In one embodiment of the present invention, the system includes a memory device for storing a plurality of ICC profiles, and a rendering application operating on a computer, wherein each ICC profile includes a plurality of colorant names and an order in which they are laid down during a reproduction process. The rendering application is configured to render a document having at least one DeviceN color space so that it can be accurately displayed on a color display. The rendering application is further configured to identify a names array in a color definition of the DeviceN color space of the electronic document, compare the names array to the ICC profiles (or colorant names included therein) stored in the memory device to identify an ICC profile from the plurality of profiles, and (iii) use the identified ICC profile to map the DeviceN color space into control values for the color display.
US08488192B2
What is disclosed is a novel system and method for retrieving a gamut mapping strategy from a seed profile of a seed device. In a manner more fully described herein, the present method provides an embodiment which accounts for the pathological case of a false gamut mapping ray being produced in those instances where the shapes of the gamuts of the host and seed devices are substantially different. In these instances, the rays miss the boundary surface of the host gamut and intersect the boundary of the L*a*b* cube. Another embodiment is provided which accounts for those cases wherein the ray intersects the host gamut at a substantially oblique angle such that mapped color is sufficiently different to generate contours in the output print.
US08488183B2
A method for rendering a drawing, including: identifying fixed objects (FOs) having footprints within the drawing; identifying moveable objects (MOs) having locations within the drawing associated with the footprints; identifying, within a coarse pixel array (CPA), coarse pixels corresponding to the footprints; setting the coarse pixels corresponding to the footprints to an occupied status; selecting a MO having a first location; identifying a first set of coarse pixels in the CPA corresponding to a first frame of the MO; determining that at least one coarse pixel of the first set of coarse pixels is in the occupied status; generating a second location for the MO; identifying a second set of coarse pixels in the CPA corresponding to a second frame of the MO; setting the second set of coarse pixels to the occupied status; and rendering the drawing by placing the MO at the second location on a page.
US08488180B2
A mixture of image data in a plurality of categories is prevented from being present on one sheet of recording paper and the handling of printed recording paper is facilitated. Inputted captured image data is saved in order in an image memory. Kinds of the inputted captured image data are determined by the determination section. When the captured image data inputted to the determination section is determined to be of a different kind from the previously inputted image data, the determination section prints through a print head the captured image data previous to the captured image data determined to be of a different kind by the determination section.
US08488178B2
Responding to an instruction accompanied with data having a folder path and a saving period from a computer, a record having the data is added to a saving period table. Responding to an instruction accompanied with a document file and a folder path from the computer, a file registration process is executed wherein a record is added to a file attribution table, the record having a document file path, a total number of pages, a data size, a file registration date, and a scheduled date of file deletion; the document file is stored in the folder; and a thumbnail of the first page of the file is created. Responding to a view instruction from the computer, an HTML file is created by relating records in the file attribution table with respective thumbnails to send it to the computer. Document files whose saving periods have ended are automatically deleted.
US08488176B2
The present invention provides a method for analyzing usage of printers. A method in accordance with an embodiment includes: obtaining from at least one printer information about a plurality of print tasks performed by each printer, wherein the information about print tasks at least contains information of print requesters, print document attributes, and print time of each of the print tasks; and transforming the information about print tasks into an organizational representation based on information of organizational structure containing the print requesters. In the present invention, entities having a costly pattern are identified by mining historical usage data of the printers, thus driving the redesign of business process associated with the entities, performing print policies optimization on each entity associated with the printers based on the mined historical usage data, thereby reducing unnecessary paper consumption.
US08488175B2
A method for managing a plurality of printers connected to a network, the method comprising the following steps: scanning the network to obtain printer usage data from the plurality of printers wherein scanning is performed by at least one scan module wherein the at least one scan module gathers printer usage data from a plurality of printers and transmits the gathered printer usage data to a patrol application; receiving the scanned data at the patrol application and compiling the scanned data into a single form; dispatching the single form from the patrol application to a server; and removing the single form from the patrol application if the single form was successfully dispatched to the server.
US08488174B2
To enable printing using an arbitrary type of printer without functional limitation by a user merely specifying the printer to be used from the provided printers. When executing print processing with a virtual printer driver 126, an output device identification processing unit 1251 that identifies an output device, and a printer driver management processing section 1252 that executes preparation processing and organizing processing for print processing with the virtual printer driver 126 are provided. The printer driver management processing section 1252 during a preparation processing acquires hardware information for the output device, searches for a corresponding printer driver that based on the hardware information, and installs a dedicated or a generic printer driver identified by searching. The printer driver management processing section 1252 during the organizing processing determines whether configuration information of the output device is required. When configuration information for the output device is required, the printer driver management processing unit determines whether the configuration information has been acquired. When the configuration information for the output device has not been acquired, the configuration information for the output device is acquired.
US08488161B2
A management apparatus capable of setting a suitable schedule for transmitting operation information to a plurality of image forming apparatuses, in which a management load and an operation status of a user are fully considered, identifies a plurality of image forming apparatuses which include overlapping department ID and manages the plurality of identified image forming apparatuses in a group when the plurality of identified image forming apparatuses is less than a predetermined maximum value. The management apparatus determines a transmission schedule for each of a plurality of the managed groups so that department counter information is transmitted from the image forming apparatuses belonging to each group at intervals of at least a first time period.
US08488157B2
A printing system that enables to recover documents of a recovery target print job easily without forcing a user to do complicated operations. An information processing apparatus transmits a print job. An image forming apparatus prints out the received print job. A management information storage unit stores management information of a print job to be recovered. A management information transmission unit transmits the management information corresponding to user information. An identifying information input unit receives an input of identifying information for identifying a user. A user information transmission unit transmits the user information determined by authenticating the identifying information. A management information receiving unit receives the management information corresponding to the transmitted user information. A display control unit controls a display unit so as to display a no-outputted print job when an output operation is received, and display a no-recovered print job when a recovery operation is received.
US08488155B2
A document reading device is provided that may perform preview display to enable read contents to be checked if it is determined that a blank sheet exists among read document images. This document reading device includes a document reading portion, a blank-sheet determining portion that determines blank-sheet image data among document image data read by the document reading portion, and a preview displaying portion that performs preview display for image data excluding the blank-sheet image data determined by the blank-sheet determining portion, and the preview displaying portion is capable of performing re-preview display of all the image data read by the document reading portion for the image data excluding the blank-sheet image data displayed in the preview display.
US08488153B2
If a job executed on the data to be processed is stopped due to interruption of a wireless communication with an image processing apparatus and a portable terminal, which happens to occur while the image processing apparatus is receiving the data to be processed, which is transmitted by the portable terminal, the image processing apparatus examines if the portable terminals connected before and after stop of the job execution are one and the same, and requests the portable terminal to retransmit the data to be processed. And then the image processing apparatus resumes executing the job on the data to be processed, which is retransmitted in response to the request.
US08488150B2
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for analyzing usage of printers. A method in accordance with an embodiment includes: obtaining from at least one printer information about a plurality of print tasks performed by each printer, wherein the information about print tasks at least contains information of print requesters, print document attributes, and print time of each of the print tasks; and transforming the information about print tasks into an organizational representation based on information of organizational structure containing the print requesters. In the present invention, entities having a costly pattern are identified by mining historical usage data of the printers, thus driving the redesign of business process associated with the entities, performing print policies optimization on each entity associated with the printers based on the mined historical usage data, thereby reducing unnecessary paper consumption.
US08488148B2
A printing system includes a data processing apparatus and a printing apparatus. When a user issues an instruction for performing a print job to the printing apparatus via the data processing apparatus to perform the print job with the printing apparatus, if it is determined that an installation location of the data processing apparatus or the printing apparatus has been changed from a previous print job, the data processing apparatus or the printing apparatus notifies the user of the change in the print environment.
US08488145B2
The invention makes it possible to reduce wasteful use of recording paper and other resources by readily and reliably being able to judge updated content of a website and printing out if content has been updated. An apparatus of the invention judges whether there are any print jobs to be printed at the current time when scheduled print job processing is started. If a print job to be printed exists, the apparatus requests a website for update information written in RSS or Atom format according to the URL specified by the print job, acquires the requested update information, then determines whether a resource of the registered URL has been updated by analyzing the acquired information. If the resource of the registered URL has been updated, the apparatus acquires the resource using the URL, then generates a print image based on the acquired resource, and prints the print image.
US08488141B2
An image forming apparatus including a controller generating image data and a print control signal and outputs the image data and the print control signal together with a print request; and an engine driving print process devices to perform print processing according to the image data. Upon receipt of the print request, the engine initiates the print process devices to print an image according to the image data. When receiving no next print request within a predetermined waiting time, the engine inquires the controller whether there is a next page image to be printed. When receiving a response from the controller such that there are next page image data, the engine sets a predetermined second waiting time while stopping termination of the print process devices for the predetermined second waiting time.
US08488132B2
Optoelectronic position measurement device comprises a code carrier, a radiation source and a detection unit. The code carrier can be moved relative to said sensor unit by one degree of freedom. A refractive optical element having a focusing segment and at least one neighboring segment are arranged between the code carrier and the first sensor unit. Optical radiation shining in on the focusing segment parallel or at an angle of incidence below a threshold angle α to the optical axis of the focusing segment can be guided by the focusing segment on the receiving region of the first sensor unit within the optical axis, and radiation that is shining into a deflection angle region above the threshold angle α to the optical axis of the focusing segment can be deflected by the focusing segment and the neighboring segment to a point outside of the optical axis of the focusing segment.
US08488127B2
A measuring system for the optical measurement of an optical imaging system, which is provided to image a pattern arranged in an object surface of the imaging system in an image surface of the imaging system, comprises an object-side structure carrier having an object-side measuring structure, to be arranged on the object side of the imaging system; an image-side structure carrier having an image-side measuring structure, to be arranged on the image side of the imaging system; the object-side measuring structure and the image-side measuring structure being matched to each other in such a way that, when the object-side measuring structure is imaged onto the image-side measuring structure with the aid of the imaging system, a superposition pattern is produced; and a detector for the locally resolving acquisition of the superposition pattern. The imaging system is designed as an immersion system for imaging with the aid of an immersion liquid. A structure carrier to be arranged in the region of the immersion liquid is assigned a protective system in order to increase the resistance of the measuring structure to degradation caused by the immersion liquid. A measurement of immersion systems under immersion conditions is thereby possible without detrimental influence of the immersion liquid on the measuring accuracy.
US08488125B2
An optical tomography imaging a tomogram by using a coherent light by a backscattering light of a measured object and a reflected light of a reference mirror, which has supercontinuum light sources, an optical system having group velocity dispersion connected to the supercontinuum light source, an optical detection element detecting a coherent light by a backscattering light of the measured object and a reflected light of the reference mirror, a timing detection element detecting a timing of each wavelength component in an output light from the optical system having the group velocity dispersion, and a unit sampling a signal from the optical detector by using a timing signal from the timing detection element with a signal from the supercontinuum light source as a trigger, and detecting an optical tomogram signal imaging a tomogram, thereby acquiring an optical tomogram at a higher speed than a conventional SS-OCT.
US08488117B2
An inspection system includes a first focusing unit configured to perform fast focus changes to a first focusing function applied to an incident light beam. A traveling lens acousto-optic device is arranged to receive the light beam focused by the first focusing function and produce focused spots using a plurality of traveling lenses generated in response to radio frequency signals. The traveling lenses apply a second focusing function and the traveling lens acousto-optic device is arranged to alter the second focusing function at a fast rate. The inspection system also includes optics arranged to direct the focused spots onto an inspected object and to direct radiation from the inspected object to a sensor.
US08488116B2
The present invention provides an apparatus and method which enable detecting a microscopic defect sensitively by efficiently collecting and detecting scattering light from a defect in a wider region without enlarging the apparatus. In the apparatus for inspecting a defect on a surface of a sample, including illumination means which irradiates a surface of a sample with laser, reflected light detection means which detects reflected light from the sample, and signal processing means which processes a detected signal and detecting a defect on the sample, the reflected light detection means is configured to include a scattering light detection unit which collects scattering light components of the reflected light from the sample by excluding specularly reflected light components by using an aspheric flannel lens and detecting the scattering light components.
US08488111B2
A method for determining a mean cell volume for a blood sample includes: illuminating the sample with incident light at a plurality of illumination wavelengths and obtaining a two-dimensional image of the sample at each of the plurality of illumination wavelengths; identifying a plurality of cells that appear in each of the images; for each one of the plurality of cells, determining an integrated optical density corresponding to each of the plurality of illumination wavelengths; for each one of the plurality of cells, determining a cell volume based on the integrated optical densities corresponding to each of the plurality of illumination wavelengths; and determining the mean cell volume for the blood sample from the cell volumes for each one of the plurality of cells.
US08488108B2
A method for forming a liquid immersion area with a liquid on an object, includes determining a condition for forming the liquid immersion area based on affinity between the liquid and a liquid contact surface of the object, and forming the liquid immersion area under the determined condition.
US08488107B2
The invention provides a level sensor configured to determine a height level of a surface of a substrate supported on a movable substrate support, the level sensor including multiple projection units, multiple detection units, and a processing unit to calculate a height level for each of a plurality of measurement locations on the basis of the measurement beams from the projection units, wherein the level sensor is configured to measure height levels simultaneously at multiple measurement locations on the substrate, wherein the substrate support is configured to move the substrate in a first direction substantially parallel to the surface of the substrate to measure a height level at different locations on the substrate, and wherein at least part of the multiple measurement locations are at least spaced in a second direction that is substantially parallel to the surface of the substrate and perpendicular to the first direction.
US08488104B2
A projection objective for imaging an object arranged in an object plane of the projection objective into an image of the object lying in an image plane of the projection objective has a multiplicity of transparent optical elements and holding devices for holding the optical elements at prescribable positions along an imaging beam path of the projection objective. Each of the optical elements has an optical useful region lying in the imaging beam path and an edge region lying outside the optical useful region. At least one holding element of the holding device assigned to the optical element acts at the edge region in the region of a contact zone. At least one of the optical elements is assigned a diaphragm arrangement with a false light diaphragm arranged directly upstream of the optical element and a second false light diaphragm arranged directly downstream of the optical element. Each of the false light diaphragms is fashioned in such a way that the false light diaphragm screens at least a part of the edge region against radiation running outside the imaging beam path.
US08488099B2
An exposure apparatus is provided that performs well a liquid supply operation for forming a liquid immersion region and a liquid recovery operation to form a liquid immersion region in a desired state, thereby allowing high exposure accuracy and high measurement accuracy. The exposure apparatus (EX) exposes a substrate (P) by irradiating exposure light (EL) onto the substrate (P) via a liquid (LQ), and includes a liquid supply mechanism (10) that has a supply port (13) capable of supplying the liquid (LQ) substantially in parallel with a surface of the substrate (P).
US08488098B2
A phase-type diffraction device includes a substrate having a front surface and a solidified liquid crystal layer formed on the front surface of the substrate and constituted by a continuous film containing at least a liquid crystal compound. The solidified liquid crystal layer is constituted by first, second and third regions arranged periodically, the third region being interposed between the first region and the second region. The first region is optically anisotropic and the second region is optically isotropic, the third region is not optically isotropic, a degree of orientation of mesogens of the liquid crystal compound being lower than that of the first region. An in-plane average refractive index ni of the second region is different from an in-plane average refractive index na of the first region and an in-plane average refractive index nm of the third region is between ni and na.
US08488096B2
A liquid crystal display device includes a panel, a heater, and a temperature detector. The panel includes substrates, electrodes and liquid crystal. The electrodes and the liquid crystal are disposed between the substrates. The heater has a transparent heating member, and the heating member emits heat by being supplied with electricity. At least a part of the heating member of the heater is located to overlap with a display area of the panel in a thickness direction of the substrates. A temperature detecting portion of the temperature detector and the heating member of the heater are located adjacent to each other.
US08488090B2
A backlight unit including a light source; and a liquid crystal panel. The liquid crystal panel includes a first substrate which guides light incident from the light source disposed at at least one side of the first substrate; a transparent electrode disposed on a surface of the first substrate; a second substrate; a reflective electrode disposed on a surface of the second substrate facing the transparent electrode; a liquid crystal layer disposed between the transparent electrode and the reflective electrodes; and a transparent film disposed between the transparent electrode and the reflective electrodes, the transparent film including a surface contacting the liquid crystal layer and patterned with grooves or ribs , and having a refractive index corresponding to at least one of an ordinary refractive index and an extraordinary refractive index of liquid crystals of the liquid crystal layer.
US08488088B2
A transflective pixel structure including a reflective region and a transmittance region is provided. The pixel structure includes an active device, a covering layer, a reflective electrode layer, a reflective electrode pattern and a transparent electrode layer. The covering layer is disposed in the reflective region and the transmittance region and covers the active device, where the covering layer has a contact opening at least disposed in the transmittance region. The reflective electrode layer is disposed in the reflective region. The reflective electrode pattern is disposed within the contact opening and extends onto a top surface of the covering layer surrounding the contact opening. The transparent electrode layer is disposed on a surface of the covering layer in the transmittance region. The transparent electrode layer is electrically connected to the reflective electrode layer and the transparent electrode layer is electrically connected to the active device through the contact opening.
US08488087B2
To suppress light leakage at the time of dark state, and to provide a liquid crystal display device whose electrodes in the reflection areas can be formed with high precision. The liquid crystal display device has a reflection area within a pixel unit by corresponding at least to a reflection plate forming part, and the reflection area is driven with a lateral electric field mode and normally-white. A driving electrode for forming an electric field to a liquid crystal layer of the reflection area is formed on the reflection plate via an insulating film by using a non-transparent electric conductor.
US08488069B2
One or more buttons are associated with an electronic display screen. The display screen is configured to display various information, such as button labels. The buttons are configured, such as by being at least partially transparent, so that the display is visible there through. Input to or activation of the buttons is determined passively, such as by a RF board located at an opposing side of the display screen from the button(s), the board configured to transmit and receive radio frequency signals, and an interface configured to provide a data connection to an electronic device. In this embodiment, the one or more buttons comprise one or more RF transponders.
US08488063B2
A method for enhancing an edge transition in a video signal comprising the steps of receiving a video signal including an edge transition, generating a correction signal for the edge transition, applying the correction signal to the video signal to produce a corrected signal and restricting the amplitude of the corrected signal to extend between extended maximum and minimum amplitude limits in dependence on the measured maximum and minimum amplitudes of a predefined pattern of pixels adjacent to the edge transition.
US08488055B2
Certain aspects of this disclosure relate to an image signal processing system that includes a flash controller that is configured to activate a flash device prior to the start of a target image frame by using a sensor timing signal. In one embodiment, the flash controller receives a delayed sensor timing signal and determines a flash activation start time by using the delayed sensor timing signal to identify a time corresponding to the end of the previous frame, increasing that time by a vertical blanking time, and then subtracting a first offset to compensate for delay between the sensor timing signal and the delayed sensor timing signal. Then, the flash controller subtracts a second offset to determine the flash activation time, thus ensuring that the flash is activated prior to receiving the first pixel of the target frame.
US08488043B2
An image apparatus records images of a subject corresponding to a photo opportunity without intensifying complex operations after the imaging. When a SLOW button is depressed, a process is started in which frame image data that is obtained at an imaging frame rate is stored sequentially in a buffer memory. The frame image data is read out from the buffer memory at a display frame rate that is set in advance, and images are displayed on a display device based on this frame image data. When a shutter key is depressed, the frame image data read out from the buffer memory is recorded to storage memory.
US08488041B2
An image pickup control unit displays either one of a picked-up image by a first image pickup unit and a picked-up image by a second image pickup unit on a display unit as a finder image. A feature detecting unit calculates a distribution of brightness values or brightness dispersion for each of the picked-up images by the first and second image pickup units, thereby detecting features of the two picked-up images. A sameness determining unit determines the sameness between both picked-up images based on the detected features, and determines that an abnormality like the unexpected appearance of an obstacle is present when the feature largely differs. When it is determined that an abnormality is present, a warning processing unit simultaneously displays both picked-up images on the display unit, or displays the picked-up image including the abnormality on the display unit as a finder image.
US08488037B2
In order to provide a photoelectric conversion apparatus, which is an apparatus excellent in reading speed, high S/N, high tone level, and low cost, the photoelectric conversion apparatus has a photoelectric conversion circuit section comprising a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements, switching elements, matrix signal wires, and gate drive wires arranged on a same substrate in order to output parallel signals, a driving circuit section for applying a driving signal to the gate drive wire, and a reading circuit section for converting the parallel signals transferred through the matrix signal wires to serial signals to output them, wherein the reading circuit section comprises at least one analog operational amplifier connected with each of the matrix signal wires, transfer switches for transferring output signals from the respective matrix signal wires, output through each amplifier, reading capacitors, and reading switches for successively reading the signals out of the reading capacitors in the form of serial signals.
US08488036B2
An imaging device that stores charge from a photosensor under at least one storage gate. A driver used to operate the at least one storage gate, senses how much charge was transferred to the storage gate. The sensed charge is used to obtain at least one signature of the image scene. The at least one signature may then be used for processing such as e.g., motion detection, auto-exposure, and auto-white balancing.
US08488028B2
According to one embodiment, a solid state imaging device includes a pixel region to be used for generating pixels, a black reference region provided outside the pixel region, and a dummy region provided between the black reference region and the pixel region, and including a light shielding pattern configured to shield the black reference against light coming from the pixel region.
US08488026B2
Image capturing system and computer readable recording medium for recording image processing program
An image capturing system includes: a first noise reduction unit which roughly removes the effects of an edge component by performing edge-preserving adaptive noise reduction processing on a target pixel within a local region including the target pixel and the neighboring pixels extracted from an image signal acquired from a CCD; a noise estimation unit which dynamically estimates the noise amount with respect to the target pixel based upon the target pixel value thus subjected to the noise reduction processing by the first noise reduction unit; and a second noise reduction unit which performs noise reduction processing on the target pixel based upon the target pixel value thus subjected to the noise reduction processing by the first noise reduction unit and the noise amount thus estimated by the noise estimation unit.
US08488024B2
The image capture device of this invention includes: an optical system for producing a subject image; an imager, which receives the subject image and outputs an image signal representing the subject image; and an image processing section for zooming in on, or out, a given image based on the image signal and in accordance with information about a zoom power specified, to generate a new image signal with the zoom power changed. Until the zoom power specified reaches a predetermined value, the processing section zooms in on the image by interpolating pixels so that degree of sharpness given to the image increases. If a value representing illuminance of the image is a predefined value or more and if the zoom power is the predetermined value or more, the processing section fixes the degree of sharpness given to the image. And if the value representing the illuminance of the image is less than the predefined value and if the zoom power specified is the predetermined value or more, the processing section decreases the degree of sharpness given to the image.
US08488023B2
A face is detected and identified within an acquired digital image. One or more features of the face is/are extracted from the digital image, including two independent eyes or subsets of features of each of the two eyes, or lips or partial lips or one or more other mouth features and one or both eyes, or both. A model including multiple shape parameters is applied to the two independent eyes or subsets of features of each of the two eyes, and/or to the lips or partial lips or one or more other mouth features and one or both eyes. One or more similarities between the one or more features of the face and a library of reference feature sets is/are determined. A probable facial expression is identified based on the determining of the one or more similarities.
US08488022B2
The present invention relates to an electronic camera which images an object image and records image data. Particularly, the present invention relates to technology to record image data in a good shooting state, such as with little blurring due to hand shaking. The invention has an image pick-up means which continuously images an object, a temporary memory means which temporarily stores a plurality of frames of image data which are continuously imaged by the image pick-up means, a shooting evaluation means which evaluates a good or bad shooting state of the image data imaged by the image pick-up means, a still image selection means which selects the image data with the highest evaluation of the shooting evaluation means among the image data which are stored in the temporary memory means, and an image saving means which saves the image data which is selected by the still image selection means.
US08488017B2
An image processing apparatus includes a moving image generating unit, an instruction unit, a control unit, an additional information generating unit, a multiplexing unit, and a transmitting unit. The control unit controls the moving image generating unit in accordance with a frame rate changing instruction provided by the instruction unit such that the frame rate of moving image data generated by the moving image generating unit is changed from a first frame rate to a second frame rate. The additional information generating unit generates additional information indicating a particular period. The multiplexing unit adds the additional information to the moving image data and the transmitting unit transmits the moving image data and the additional information output from the multiplexing unit.
US08488016B2
An image processing apparatus includes: an image sensor outputting at least long and short accumulation images with longer and shorter exposure times, respectively, in one field; first and second long accumulation evaluation value computation units computing first and second long accumulation evaluation values from the long accumulation image; a short accumulation evaluation value computation unit computing a short accumulation evaluation value from the short accumulation image; a short accumulation exposure control unit acquiring a short accumulation target exposure time and short accumulation exposure control information from the short accumulation evaluation value and a first target level; a long accumulation evaluation value synthesis unit acquiring a long accumulation evaluation value by synthesizing the first long accumulation evaluation value and the second long accumulation evaluation value; a long accumulation exposure control unit acquiring long accumulation exposure control information from the long accumulation evaluation value and a second target level; and a synthesis unit generating one image from the long accumulation image and the short accumulation image.
US08488013B2
A system enables secure, safe remote access and control of stand-alone medical imaging systems whilst maintaining physical separation and independence from the medical imaging systems, to prevent medical system infection by a software virus and data corruption. A system provides remote control and interaction with a medical imaging system and includes a transmitter. The transmitter wirelessly transmits command signals via a first secure communication link to a receiver unit coupled to a medical imaging system. The command signals enable control of the medical imaging system from a remote location. At least one computer receives video data from a camera located near the medical imaging system and monitors medical images and associated data presented on a display of the medical imaging system in response to command signals wirelessly communicated to the receiver unit. A monitor presents the received video data to a user. Also a user interface enables a user to provide commands for controlling the medical imaging system via the command signals from the remote location.
US08488011B2
System to augment a visual data stream based on a combination of geographical and visual information
An mobile computing device includes a video capturing module to capture a video stream, a global positioning system (GPS) module to generate geographical information associated with frames of the video stream to be captured by the video capturing device, and a video processing module to analyze the frames of the video stream and extract features of points of interest included in the frames. The video processing is configured to transmit the features of the points of interest and the geographical information to a server and to receive augment information from the server computer using wireless communication. The video processing module uses the augment information to overlay the frames of the video stream to generate an augmented video stream.
US08488005B2
Disclosed is an optical image stabilizer for a camera module using polymer elements which can be moved in a first direction and a second direction in the vicinity of the camera module. The optical image stabilizer includes an upper housing and a lower housing; a printed circuit board having an image sensor; a lens frame having a camera lens retained within the lower housing; first and second drivers disposed in the vicinity of the lens frame for moving the lens frame in first and second directions, respectively; and a movement sensing controller provided within the lower housing for sensing the amount of movement of the lens frame on the basis of the magnitude of a shaking of the camera module, so as to control the lens frame.
US08487992B2
The invention provides an image processing device and an image processing method which can efficiently make use of memory resources, and can also edit and simulate a registered image or the like so as to reflect the registered image or the like after editing in a normal operation without stopping the normal operation, and further to enhance production efficiency. When data for image processing edited in a second processing section is to be reflected in image processing (normal operation) that is continuously executed in a first processing section, the edited data for image processing is transmitted from a third data storage area to a second data storage area, and the edited data for image processing is read from the second data storage area when image processing is executed by use of the edited data for image processing in the first processing section.
US08487989B2
The present invention relates to an image stabilization device which is particularly space-efficient and has a quick response time, and which is integrated into an image capture device for an image capture system of a surgical microscope, including a carrier substrate (101, 102) defining a sensor plane, a plurality of optoelectronic image capturing cells (110) arranged, in particular, in a matrix array; and at least one moving means (120) for moving the optoelectronic image capturing cells (110) relative to the carrier substrate (101, 102).
US08487986B2
An impedance matching apparatus includes: a cable that transmits a rectangular wave outputted from a solid image pickup device; a correlated double sampling circuit that performs scanning of the rectangular wave by sampling the rectangular wave with a timing of a signal clamp pulse being changed, based on a timing of the feed-through sampling pulse fixed at a timing at which the rectangular wave by the cable indicates a high value; a variable resistance provided at a tail end side of the cable; and a resistance value varying unit that, that performs the scanning with a resistance value of the variable resistance being changed, based on a signal outputted from the correlated double sampling circuit, changes a resistance value of the variable resistance so as to match a characteristic impedance of the cable.
US08487984B2
Disclosed are systems, methods, and computer readable media for retrieving digital images. The method embodiment includes converting a descriptive audio stream of a digital video that is provided for the visually impaired to text and then aligning that text to the appropriate segment of the digital video. The system then indexes the converted text from the descriptive audio stream with the text's relationship to the digital video. The system enables queries using action words describing a desired scene from a digital video.
US08487983B2
A viewing area adjusting device has an image pickup unit capable of shooting a forward direction of a stereoscopic video display device capable of displaying a stereoscopic video, a viewer information detector configured to detect the number of viewers and positions of the viewers by a video shot by the image pickup unit, a viewing area adjustment policy determining unit configured to select any one of a plurality of viewing area adjustment policies based on the number of viewers detected by the viewer information detector, a viewing area information computing unit configured to compute an adjustment amount for the viewing area, and a viewing area adjusting unit configured to adjust the viewing area.
US08487970B2
An imaging system including an image receiving structure including a material layer having a tunable energy transfer characteristic; and an energy source to emit an energy beam at the material having the tunable energy transfer characteristic such that marking material is pattern-wise transferred to the image receiving structure.An imaging system includes an image receiving structure disposed to be in direct contact with marking material; and an energy source to emit a pattern-wise modulated energy beam at a region of the image receiving structure contacting the marking material to pattern-wise transfer marking material to the image receiving structure.
US08487958B2
At least one of two enhancement methods for changing contrast and/or density are applied to an image. According to a first enhancement method the window width/level settings of the image are modified and according to a second enhancement method density and contrast of the image are modified by modifying a multi-scale representation of the image whereby modification is derived from at least two gradient functions determined at different scales, a gradient function at a specific scale specifying the dependency of contrast amplification at said scale as a function of density. The amount of modification obtained by applying either of said first and second enhancement methods is determined by the amount of movement of at least one indicium.
US08487957B1
Embodiments of the present invention relate to displaying and navigating within photo placemarks in a geographic information system. In one embodiment, a computer implemented method displays a photographic image within geographic information in a geographic information system. The photographic image is displayed at a location within the geographic information when the photographic image is located within a field of view of a virtual camera of the geographic information system. In response to a computer input event, the photographic image is displayed in greater detail.
US08487954B2
An automatic 3D modeling system and method are described in which a 3D model may be generated from a picture or another image. For example, a 3D model for a face of a person may be automatically generated. The system and method also permits gestures/behaviors associated with a 3D model to automatically generated so that the gestures/behaviors may be applied to any 3D models.
US08487948B2
A graphic processing system to compute a texture level of detail. An embodiment of the graphic processing system includes a memory device, a driver, and level of detail computation logic. The memory device is configured to implement a first lookup table. The first lookup table is configured to provide a first level of detail component. The driver is configured to calculate a log value of a second level of detail component. The level of detail computation logic is coupled to the memory device and the driver. The level of detail computation logic is configured to compute a level of detail for a texture mapping operation based on the first level of detail component from the lookup table and the second level of detail component from the driver. Embodiments of the graphic processing system facilitate a simple hardware implementation using operations other than multiplication, square, and square root operations.
US08487946B2
Methods and apparatuses to create and manage volatile graphics objects in a video memory are disclosed. An object is created and marked as volatile. The volatile object is stored in a video memory of a graphics subsystem. A volatile marking indicates that data for an object is not to be paged out from the video memory to make room for other data. The video memory space occupied by the volatile object is indicated as a volatile storage, in a data structure. Another object is written into at least a portion of the video memory space, which is occupied by the volatile object, without paging out data for the volatile object. In one embodiment, at least a portion of the volatile object is referenced or used while another object is formed. The volatile object may be discarded after being referenced or used to form another object.
US08487939B2
Provided are techniques for providing animation in electronic communications. An image is generated by capturing multiple photographs from a camera or video camera. The first photograph is called the “naked photo.” Using a graphics program, photos subsequent to the naked photo are edited to cut an element common to the subsequent photos. The cut images are pasted into the naked photo as layers. The modified naked photo, including the layers, is stored as a web-enabled graphics file, which is then transmitted in conjunction with electronic communication. When the electronic communication is received, the naked photo is displayed and each of the layers is displayed and removed in the order that each was taken with a short delay between photos. In this manner, a movie is generated with much smaller files than is currently possible.
US08487936B2
A portable electronic device including a display unit uses a still character font and a scroll character font. The display unit can scroll through one or more images on a screen. The still character font is used for characters on a still screen. The scroll character font is used for characters on a scroll screen, and has the same characters as those of the still character font, the characters of the scroll character font having at least one different visual characteristic when compared to corresponding characters of the still character font.
US08487930B2
In an embodiment, a system and method are described that enable a display of a parallel coordinate plot. Such a parallel coordinate plot includes a plurality of parallel axes, and each of the parallel axes represents a variable. The display further includes one or more polygonal lines connecting values of the variables of the parallel axes. The system and method further enable a display of information about an additional variable on the parallel coordinate plot by varying the property of the one or more polygonal lines.
US08487926B2
Provided is a method and apparatus for generating a 3D image including: generating a 2D panorama image showing the whole scene by combining a plurality of 2D images, each of which partially showing the scene; and generating a 3D image by folding the 2D panorama image on the basis of image information on the 2D panorama image.
US08487924B2
Provided is an apparatus for driving a display panel. A short circuit can be detected by detecting a current (due to the short circuit) applied to a display panel through a low-dropout (LDO) regulator during a black data period. In addition, power applied to the display panel from a DC-DC converter can be turned off according to the short-circuit detection result.
US08487921B2
In a display panel driver an output amplifier circuit includes a first output stage to receive a power supply voltage and a first voltage lower thereto and to output a drive voltage in a first voltage range defined between the power supply voltage and a middle power supply voltage; and a second output stage to receive the power supply and ground voltages and to output a drive voltage between the power supply and ground voltages. In a first mode that the first voltage is set as the middle power supply voltage, the first output stage outputs a first drive voltage in the first voltage range to one of first and second output terminals. In a second mode that the first voltage is set as the ground voltage, the second output stage outputs a first drive voltage in the first voltage range to one of the first and second output terminals.
US08487912B1
In one embodiment, control circuitry receives an indication of a current position of an input object on a capacitive touch sense device. The control circuitry determines whether a difference between a previous position and the current position exceeds a predetermined hysteresis threshold. If the determined difference does not exceed the predetermined hysteresis threshold, the control circuitry masks the current position of the input object on the capacitive touch sense device.
US08487908B2
A detector circuit and detect method of a capacitive touch panel conditionally abort detection of useless traces of the capacitive touch panel when the capacitive touch panel detects the traces thereof. For a selected trace, first several digital values obtained by detecting the selected trace are compared with a threshold value to identify whether the selected trace is useful or not, and if the selected trace is identified useless, an abort signal is triggered to abort detection of the selected trace. Therefore, the performance of the capacitive touch panel is improved with higher frame rate and less power consumption.
US08487903B2
A display device incorporating a touch panel that can be made thinner than a conventional one and requires no countermeasure against misalignment in overlapping is provided by incorporating a touch panel. The display device incorporating a touch panel includes a display panel having a first substrate and a second substrate. The second substrate has a conductive light shielding film formed in a grid pattern on a surface on the opposite side from an observer. The conductive light shielding film is used as a touch panel electrode of electrostatic capacitive coupling system. The conductive light shielding film has a shape with four corners. The corners of the conductive light shielding film are connected to a touch position detection circuit. The display panel has four conductive members. The first substrate has four connecting portions each connected to each of the corners of the conductive light shielding film via each of the conductive members, four terminals connected to the touch position detection circuit, and wires each connecting each of the connecting portions with each of the terminals. The conductive member is a conductive bead.
US08487898B2
A touch sensor panel is disclosed including the use of ground guards or ground isolation bars to improve the touch event detection capabilities of the touch sensor panel. Ground isolation bars can be formed between connecting traces and adjacent sense lines to shunt near-field lines to ground and reduce unwanted capacitive coupling between the connecting traces and the sense lines. Ground guards can be formed between the drive and sense lines to partially or fully surround a sense line and shunt near-field lines to ground and improve the touch event detection capabilities of the sensor.
US08487897B1
Devices and methods for interpreting an input key from a keystroke are disclosed. In an implementation, the method includes displaying a keyboard including keys. The method also includes defining targets on the keyboard. Each one of the targets is associated with one of the keys, an area of the keyboard, and a swipe direction. Each one of the keys is associated with at least two of the targets. The method also includes determining a location and a swipe direction of the keystroke, and comparing the location of the keystroke with the areas associated with at least some of the targets. The method also includes comparing the swipe direction of the keystroke with the swipe directions associated with at least some of the targets, and defining the input key based on the comparisons of the location of the keystroke and the swipe direction of the keystroke with the targets.
US08487895B1
Certain embodiments of the disclosed technology may include systems and methods for enhancing touch event processing performance. According to an example embodiment of the disclosed technology, a method is provided for receiving, at an input dispatcher, touch events from one or more input devices. The method also includes batching the received touch events. Batching can include accumulating the received touch events for a predetermined duration corresponding to a screen refresh rate. The method also includes directing the batched touch events to event receivers associated with one or more applications. The one or more applications asynchronously control receipt of the batch touch events.
US08487894B2
The present disclosure includes, among other things, systems, methods and program products for content chapter access and license renewal.
US08487886B2
An information input device is provided, which may perform highly-convenient processing in response to input of information with an external proximity object. The information input device includes: an input panel having a detection function of detecting an external proximity object, to be used in a state of being placed on a display panel; a position detection section detecting position and area value of the external proximity object based on a detection signal of the external proximity object obtained by the input panel; and an image generation section generating display data to be utilized to display an image including a display object, in such a manner that size of the display object displayed on the display panel at the detected position of the external proximity object is allowed to vary in accordance with the detected area value of the external proximity object.
US08487880B2
A display table includes a location determination system that determines the location and orientation of each privacy overlay on the display table, and controls the display of private information accordingly. The overlays are portable sheets, akin to placemats, that can be positioned relatively arbitrarily about the display surface.
US08487874B2
A control system and a method for controlling information process devices is disclosed using an additional input device with an application installed inside so that the plurality of information processing devices is controlled by a set of mouse and keyboard or the input device. The control system comprises: a mouse keyboard controller connects with a mouse, a keyboard, and an input device, wherein an application program is installed in the input device and drives the input device to communicate with the mouse keyboard controller and the plurality of information processing devices is controlled by the mouse keyboard controller.
US08487868B2
A novel method and apparatus for controlling a display of an electronic device is provided. In an embodiment, the device is a portable electronic device with the combined features of wireless email and telephony. The portable electronic device also includes a camera. The device includes a trackball which can be used to control the image shown in the viewfinder when the device is being used as a camera.
US08487866B2
A method for managing an interactive video display system. A plurality of video spots are displayed on the interactive video display system. Data based on interaction with the interactive video display system corresponding to video spots of the plurality of video spots is gathered. The data is stored, wherein the data is for use in managing presentation of the video spots. By analyzing data relating to different video spots, popularity and other metrics may be determined for the video spots, providing useful information for managing the presentation of the video spots.
US08487860B2
There is provided a driving circuit that drives an electro-optic device by outputting data signals that are subjected to serial-to-parallel conversion into m channels through m (m is a natural number greater than or equal to 2) image signal lines to a plurality of data lines. The driving circuit includes an adjusting section that adjusts the m-channel data signals so that, when a reference signal whose signal level is a reference level is input, the m-channel data signals at least partly reach signal levels different from the reference level for each channel, the number of continuous channels of signals at the same signal level is smaller than a predetermined number, and the differences between the signal levels and the reference level fall within a predetermined range.
US08487854B2
A method for driving a liquid crystal display (LCD) apparatus, wherein the LCD apparatus comprises a plurality of scan rows, a plurality of data columns, and a data driving circuit, includes: driving a plurality of specific scan rows of the plurality of scan rows at a same time; extracting a plurality of pixel data, arranged into a first order, corresponding to the plurality of specific scan rows; arranging the plurality of pixel data into a second order different from the first order according to a connecting relationship between the data driving circuit and a plurality of pixels of the plurality of specific scan rows; and utilizing the data driving circuit to drive a plurality of pixels according to the plurality of pixel data corresponding to the second order.
US08487852B2
An active array substrate, a liquid crystal display panel and method for driving the same are provided. The active array substrate includes a plurality of first strip electrodes and second strip electrodes. The sum of one width of the first stripe electrode and one pitch between two adjacent first stripe electrodes is greater than that of one width of the second strip electrode and one pitch between two adjacent second strip electrodes.
US08487846B2
A method for sensing the actuation and/or release voltages of a electromechanical system or a microelectromechanical device include applying a varying voltage to the device and sensing its state and different voltage levels. In one embodiment, the device is part of a system comprising an array of interferometric modulators suitable for a display. The method can be used to compensate for temperature dependent changes in display pixel characteristics.
US08487831B2
In one embodiment of the present invention, an object of the invention is to provide a wireless communication-improving sheet member capable of increasing a possible communication distance of an IC tag for wireless communication, a wireless IC tag, an antenna, and a wireless communication system. A first spacer includes an arrangement face on which on which the wireless IC tag is disposed without a wired connection, and an auxiliary antenna is disposed on the first spacer on an opposite side to the arrangement face, the auxiliary antenna resonating with electromagnetic waves used in the wireless communication. The auxiliary antenna includes a first conductor layer as a resonant layer and a second spacer. The second spacer is disposed on an opposite side to the first spacer with the first conductor layer interposed therebetween. A discontinuous area is disposed in the first conductor layer of the auxiliary antenna. Thus, it is possible to not only eliminate influence of a communication-jamming member, but also increase received electrical power of a wireless IC tag (antenna), and ensure a long communication distance.
US08487828B2
A document with a cover having a first cover part, a second cover part, at least one internal page located between the two cover parts when the document is closed, a radiofrequency microcontroller, an antenna electrically connected to the radiofrequency microcontroller, and an electromagnetic shield capable of disrupting, at least partially, the wireless communication with the radiofrequency microcontroller when the document is closed and not disrupting the wireless communication when the document is opened. The electromagnetic shield is a wire grid. The wire mesh distance between each two adjacent wires of the wire grid is smaller than a radio-frequency wavelength used for communicating with the radiofrequency microcontroller, and is at least 0.1 millimeters and at most 40 millimeters.
US08487811B1
In embodiments of sync feedback for time to first fix (TTFF), satellite data signals are received from which a geographic position of a positioning-system device can be determined. The satellite data signals each include a time reference and ephemeris data that indicates an orbital position of a satellite. A sync feedback is generated that includes a time-free position fix determined from a satellite data signal before bit sync and/or frame sync of the satellite data signal are obtained. The sync feedback is then utilized as a feedback input to determine the bit sync and/or the frame sync of the satellite data signal.
US08487810B2
An integrated radar system includes a processing module and a radar device. The radar device includes an antenna module, a configurable shaping module, and a configurable transceiver module. The processing module generates an outbound signal and a control signal to configure the integrated radar system. The configured transceiver module converts the outbound signal into an outbound wireless signal. The configured shaping module shapes the outbound wireless signal into a shaped signal. The antenna module transmits the shaped signal and then receives an inbound radar signal. The configured shaping module shapes the inbound radar signal into an inbound wireless signal. The configured transceiver module converts the inbound wireless signal into an inbound symbol stream. The processing module determines location information regarding an object based on the inbound symbol stream.
US08487805B1
An analog-to-digital converter (ADC) converts an analog input signal to a digital output signal by sampling an analog input signal to obtain an analog sample and then converting the analog sample to the digital output signal using a successive approximation algorithm. The method decreases ADC conversion time and increases ADC throughput.
US08487799B1
The RFDAC includes: a multi-phase radio-frequency signal generator configured to generate radio-frequency signals that are different in phase; a vector selector configured to select two radio-frequency signals therefrom, cause each of the two radio-frequency signals to pass through at least one transmission path, combine the two radio-frequency signals; a test signal generator configured to output a test signal; a multiplexer configured to select either the test signal or the baseband signal; a vector controller configured to control the vector selector based on the selected signal and a predetermined selection pattern such that the two radio-frequency signals, and transmission paths thereof are selected; a detector configured to detect an output signal from the vector selector; and a calibrator configured to calibrate a phase error between the selected two radio-frequency signals, based on an envelope of the output signal.
US08487790B2
The described embodiments may provide a chemical detection circuit. The chemical detection circuit may comprise a pixel array, a pair of analog-to-digital converter (ADC) circuit blocks, a pair of input/output (I/O) circuit blocks coupled to the pair of ADC circuit blocks respectively, and a plurality of serial link terminals coupled to the pair of IO circuit blocks. The pixel array may comprise a plurality of chemically-sensitive pixels formed in columns and rows. Each chemically-sensitive pixel may comprise: a chemically-sensitive transistor, and a row selection device.
US08487786B1
An aircraft display system includes an electronic display configured to provide at least one of graphical and textual elements and electronics configured to receive a signal indicating an ambient light level. The electronics set a brightness of the display using a first calculation in response to a desired contrast ratio and the ambient light level and using a second calculation in response to the desired contrast ratio and the ambient light level.
US08487785B2
A system and device is provided for formulating alerts of the items of equipment of an aircraft. The device includes a database of virtual objects representing the items of equipment for constructing a virtual model representative on the one hand of the topological configuration of the network of items of equipment and on the other hand of the configuration of the chain of functional applications implemented by the items of equipment, means for each virtual object to formulate a request for consulting the status of the functional application carried out by the item of equipment associated with the object and means for detecting alerts for formulating requests for consulting the status of each of the objects of the virtual model so as to detect anomalies of configuration of the topology of the network of items of equipment and of the chain of functional applications of the virtual model and to transmit the alerts associated with the anomalies. The device detects and manages the alerts of an aircraft.
US08487782B2
A method for detecting objects having a low height, using a system for obstacle detection in vehicles, the system for obstacle detection including distance sensors for ascertaining the distance from objects and an arrangement for evaluation. The method includes performing the following: (a) continually recording the distance from an object using the distance sensors or recording the distance from an object at specified intervals, (b) checking whether the object continues to be recorded by the distance sensors when approaching the vehicle, in response to falling below a specified distance, or whether it vanishes from the detection range of the distance sensors, (c) detecting the object, which vanishes from the detection range of the distance sensors, as being an object of low height. Also described is a method for supporting a driver during a driving maneuver.
US08487772B1
A system and method for effectively communicating information using at least one mode of communication is described, in which information recipients proximate to a communications device within a pre-determined space and during a pre-determined time period are identified, from whom physiological state information is obtained that, when coupled with other characteristics information, is used to select from a plurality of information elements at least one information element to better target the information elements. The information element is then provided to the communications device so that it may be provided to the information recipients in the pre-determined space in a manner that is sensed by the information recipients.
US08487763B2
A breach detection system for a container includes at least two panels having a first electrical circuit mounted thereto. The panels are configured for attachment to a container. The first electrical circuit is configured to detect an intrusion through any portion of the panel and generate an intrusion signal when the intrusion occurs. A connector electrically connects the first electrical circuits of two panels of the container.
US08487761B2
A device for ensuring the safety of a motor vehicle service workplace has at least one receiver for receiving a signal emitted by at least one associated transmitter, and an evaluation device which is configured to determine on the basis of the received signal whether the at least one transmitter is located in a danger zone of the motor vehicle service workplace. The device for ensuring the safety is configured to bring devices at the motor vehicle service workplace into a safe condition when the at least one transmitter is located in a danger zone.
US08487760B2
A method, apparatus and computer program are provided. The method comprises: determining that an event has occurred; obtaining, from at least one detector, a detection of one or more bio-signals from a user; and processing the detection of the one or more bio-signals to decide whether to control at least one user output device to initiate a user alert, contemporaneously with the occurrence of the event, indicating that the event has occurred.
US08487758B2
A portable medical device and related operating methods are provided. One operating method involves a portable medical device that includes a situational awareness sensor. The method begins by detecting an alert condition associated with operation of the portable medical device. In response to the alert condition, the situational awareness sensor performs a scanning operation to obtain sensor data indicative of a current environmental status of the portable medical device. The device can then select a preferred alerting scheme from a plurality of different available alerting schemes, where the preferred alerting scheme is influenced by the sensor data. The device then generates an alert for the alert condition in accordance with the preferred alerting scheme.
US08487754B2
A vehicle parking control and enforcement system for a plurality of unmetered parking spaces is provided wherein in-ground vehicle sensors are coupled with a microcontroller or microprocessor to detect the presence or absence of a vehicle in a parking space, determine whether the vehicle is in violation of the parking regulations and communicate a violation to a parking authority. The in-ground vehicle sensors may also include a digital camera.
US08487747B2
A system having a first motion sensor configured to sense movement of an object on a first side of a portal, the object including an RFID tag, a first RFID reader being activated by the first motion sensor when the first motion sensor senses movement of the object, the first RFID reader reading the RFID tag, a second motion sensor configured to sense movement of the object on a second side of the portal and a second RFID reader being activated by the second motion sensor when the second motion sensor senses movement of the object, the second RFID reader reading the RFID tag, wherein, when one of the first and second motion sensors sense movement of the object, the other one of the first and second motion sensors is deactivated for a predetermined period of time.
US08487740B2
A vehicle function restriction system for installation in a vehicle. The vehicle includes a master key allowed to activate any function of the vehicle. The system includes a valet key mounted in the vehicle and configured to dismountable from the vehicle to be lent to a person to whom the vehicle is lent. A restriction setting unit sets the vehicle in a restriction state when the valet key is dismounted from the vehicle. The restriction setting unit sets at least one restricted vehicle functions which is not activated by the valet key, in accordance with the person to whom the vehicle is lent.
US08487739B2
A signal received by a television over a communication medium is interrogated for the presence of a remotely transmitted ping. The television is operated in response to detection of the presence of the ping in the received signal. The television is locked against use in response to failing to detect the presence of the ping in the received signal.
US08487730B2
A magnetic field generating device includes a housing and a cryogenically coolable superconducting magnetic coil that is accommodated in the housing. The housing includes a deep-drilled hole, through which coolant flows.
US08487727B2
A superconducting magnet assembly is provided. The superconducting magnet assembly includes a superconducting magnet configured to generate a static magnetic field, an iron shield configured to shield the superconducting magnet, and a magnetic gradient coil assembly configured to generate a gradient magnetic field. The superconducting magnet assembly further includes one or more magnetic lamination elements disposed on the iron shield to reduce eddy current induced by the gradient magnetic field in the iron shield. A method is also presented.
US08487707B2
The present invention discloses a frequency synthesizer which includes: a PLL including an oscillator for generating an oscillator signal and a first frequency divider for dividing a frequency of the oscillator signal to generate a first frequency-divided signal; a switching unit for switching the PLL to either an open loop status or a closed loop status; a second frequency divider, for dividing a frequency of a reference clock to generate a second frequency-divided signal; a counter, for counting according to the first frequency-divided signal and the second frequency-divided signal to generate a counter value when the PLL is in the open loop status; a comparator, for comparing the counter value with a predetermined value to generate a comparing result; and a determining unit, for adjusting an oscillator frequency of the oscillator according to the comparing result.
US08487705B2
Embodiments of circuits, apparatuses, and systems for a protection circuit to protect against overdrive or overvoltage conditions. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
US08487702B2
A transimpedance method and apparatus are provided. In one implementation an apparatus includes a common-gate amplifier for receiving a first current from a first circuit node and outputting a second current to a second circuit node, and a load circuit coupled to the second circuit node, the load circuit comprising a diode-connected MOS (metal-oxide semiconductor field effect transistor), wherein a gate terminal of the MOS is coupled to a drain terminal of the MOS via a resistor. In one embodiment, a current-mode input is injected to the first circuit node and the apparatus further comprises a biasing circuit for outputting a substantially constant current to the first circuit node.
US08487701B2
A circuit for amplifying a signal representing a variation in resistance of a variable resistance comprising at least one first load linked to an output terminal of a first transistor whose other terminal is associated with a variable resistance, in such a way as to allow the recovery of the amplified signal at the terminals of the first load.
US08487700B2
A pre-driver includes first to fourth transistors and first and second impedance elements. The first transistor, coupled between the first output terminal and a first node, has a gate coupled to the first differential input terminal. The second transistor, coupled between the second differential output terminal and the first node, has a gate coupled to the second differential input terminal. The third transistor, coupled between the first differential output terminal and a second node, has a gate coupled to the first differential input terminal. The fourth transistor, coupled between the second differential output terminal and the second node, has a gate coupled to the second differential input terminal. The first and second impedance elements are coupled between the first differential output terminal and a third node, and coupled between the second differential output terminal and the third node, respectively, wherein the third node is biased to a preset voltage.
US08487694B2
A charge domain filter (CDF) apparatus having a bandwidth compensation circuit is provided. The bandwidth compensation circuit includes a configurable power-reference cell (CPC) and/or a programmable-delay cell (PDC). The CPC receives and adjusts an output of the CDF to obtain a sensing power, and outputs the sensing power to the CDF. The PDC receives and delay an output of the CDF, and outputs a delay result to the CDF. The bandwidth compensation circuit having a flexible structure, so as to implement X-axis (frequency) compensation and/or Y-axis (power or gain) compensation of a frequency response diagram according to a design requirement.
US08487692B1
A charging circuit includes a first current mirror for receiving an input voltage, a second current mirror including a first branch circuit and a second branch circuit for receiving the input voltage, a switch transistor coupled to the first current mirror and the first branch circuit for determining a conduction condition of the switch transistor according to a switch signal, a first resistor including a first resistance and one end coupled to the switch transistor, and a second resistor including a second resistance and one end coupled the second branch circuit of the second current mirror, wherein the first current mirror and the second current mirror perform a charging operation of a loading circuit according to the first resistance and the second resistance.
US08487691B1
An apparatus comprising a first circuit, a second circuit, and a third circuit. The first circuit may be configured to generate a first control voltage and a second control voltage. The second circuit may be configured to generate a bias signal in response to the first control voltage and the second control voltage. The third circuit may be configured to generate a filtered signal in response to the bias signal. The filtered signal may be added to the first control voltage and the second control voltage to provide AC noise suppression when generating the bias signal.
US08487687B2
An output buffer circuit for avoiding voltage overshoot includes an input stage, an output bias circuit, an output stage, a clamp circuit, and a control unit. The input stage includes a positive input terminal, for receiving an input voltage, and a negative input terminal. The input stage generates a current signal according to the input voltage. The output bias circuit is coupled to the input stage, for generating a dynamic bias according to the current signal. The output stage is coupled to the input stage and the output bias circuit, including an output terminal, reversely coupled to the positive input terminal, and at least one output transistor, coupled to the output bias circuit and the output terminal, for providing a driving current to the output terminal according to the dynamic bias to generate an output voltage.
US08487685B2
An enhanced complementary waveform generator (ECWG) generates two complementary pulse width modulation (PWM) outputs determined by rising and falling event sources. In a simple configuration of the ECWG, the rising and falling event sources are the same signal which is a PWM signal having the desired period and duty cycle. The ECWG converts this single PWM input into dual complementary PWM outputs. The frequency and duty cycle of the dual PWM outputs substantially match those of the single input PWM signal. Blanking and deadband times may be introduced between the dual complementary PWM outputs, and the dual complementary PWM outputs may also be phase delayed.
US08487669B2
High-speed RF differential, Quadrature, divide-by-2 clock divider designs are based on inverters and clocking circuits connected in a serial ring formation. In one embodiment, only NMOS transistors are used in the inverters, and only PMOS transistors are used in the clocking circuits. This structure uses only 12 transistors, The input can be coupled directly to a VCO output, and provides minimum loading, as each VCO output is connected to only two transistors. Another embodiment comprises clocked inverter stages connected in a serial ring configuration with inverters between stages. The RF clock (or VCO signal) is used at the outer side of the inverters for speed improvement. In both circuits, positive and negative clock inputs are connected alternately at each stage of the ring.
US08487663B2
A driver circuit suitable for outputting a signal onto an output line affected by conducted EMI, has a slope control circuit and an output circuit, (op-amp, Mo, M13 to M21). It can be used for driving a LIN network. The slope control circuit outputs a slope controlled version of the input signal to the output circuit, which (M6,M7) is arranged to reduce an amount of conducted EMI induced DC shift in the output circuit. This can involve clipping a feedback signal, and regulating an output stage of the op-amp to prevent the DC shift. Having a separate output circuit can help shield the slope control circuit from the EMI on the output line.
US08487655B1
A system and apparatus are described for providing greater flexibility and performance in a mixed-signal array through improved and highly configurable routing, control elements and signal processing capabilities.
US08487653B2
The Anlinx™:LVLP Hybrid Analogic Field Programmable Array of Milinx™:Mixed Signal FPSC™ Field Programmable System Chip™ is constituted of Field Programmable Hybrid Array (FPHA and Frequency Programmable Xtaless Clock (FPXC) being for high-speed and high frequency System-Design-On-Chip(SDOC) embedded in a single chip of Field Programmable System Chip(FPSC™). The FPXC adopts the Self-Adaptive Process & Temperature Compensation Bandgap Reference Generator, the Gain-Boost Amplitude Control LC VCO and inverter type flash memory. The FPHA adopts the two-way flash switch and inverter type flash memory Look-Up-Table(LUT). The FPXC adopts the inverter type flash memory as the Non-Volatile Memory(NVM) to keep the setup data in the field frequency programming. The flash technology of FPHA and FPXC are compatible that the FPHA has the FPXC capability. The PLLess CDR(PLL free Clock Data Recovery) is based on the FPXC capability for the SerDes high frequency application. The PLLess CDR and pipeline ADC are for the analog front high frequency application. With the SDOC on FPHA, the Automobile Infotainment Center(MIC) is reduced to be Mobile Infotainment Center(MIC). The (1) Capacitorless Low Drop Voltage (Capless LDVR) (2) Inductor less Switch Mode Power Supply (Indless SMPS) (3) Resistorless Current Sensor (Resless CS), (4) Saw Filter Less Low Noise Amplifier(Sawless LNA), (5) Diode Less True Random Number Generator (Dioless TRNG), (6) Crystal Less Clock (Xtaless Clock), (7) PLL Less Clock and Data Recovery (PLLess CDR) and (8) Filmless Touching Screen (FLTS) constitutes the most advanced System Design On Chip (SDOC) on Field Programmable Hybrid Array (FPHA) for Mobile Infotainment Center (MIC).
US08487647B2
System and method for deglitching an input signal. An output signal may be delayed to generate a delayed signal, the delayed signal determining a guard time interval following a desired transition in the input signal, and a logic circuit is used to keep the output signal unchanged during the guard time interval, and to allow the output signal to equal the input signal outside the guard time interval, based on a value of the delayed signal.
US08487643B2
The present invention relates to a substrate with a substrate test circuit. In an embodiment, by making the length of the wiring from a first data-line-test input terminal to a first panel equal to that of the wiring from a second data-line-test input terminal to the first panel, the input resistances between two test input terminals of a first data-line-test line and the first panel are identical, and thus when a data line of the first panel is detected, the voltage drops of test signals inputted from the two test input terminals are the same, and the test signals actually loaded to the first panel are the same and the detecting abilities are identical.
US08487637B2
Exemplary embodiments are directed to a test arrangement for testing surge voltage in electrical high voltage components with a surge voltage generator and a voltage distributor. The surge voltage generator and voltage distributor have a tower-like structure with a first and a second structure end. A rectangular container is connected to the first and second structure and includes a first and a second container end. At least one of the surge voltage generator and the voltage distributor are movable between a first substantially horizontal position inside the container and a substantially vertical position relative to the container. Each movement between the two positions involves a pivot motion about a rotational axis perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the surge voltage generator.
US08487618B2
A radio frequency coil unit includes a chassis which has a tubiform inner cylinder, a plurality of flanges arranged apart from each other, each of the plurality of flanges provided in a state of protruding outwards from the inner cylinder while in contact with a whole outer circumference surface of the inner cylinder, and a tubiform external cylinder in which each of the plurality of flanges is provided in a state of contacting an inner surface thereof, wherein the chassis forms a flow path of cooling air as a space surrounded by the inner cylinder, the plurality of flanges and the external cylinder, and a radio frequency coil which is mounted on the inner cylinder or the external cylinder to be positioned in the space surrounded by the inner cylinder, the plurality flanges and the external cylinder.
US08487614B2
A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes an imaging unit and a compensation unit. The imaging unit acquires image data by imaging that applies a pre-pulse for controlling contrast. The compensation unit suppresses a remnant magnetic field having an intensity according to slice position. The remnant magnetic field is at an application timing of the pre-pulse and due to an eddy current generated by at least one gradient magnetic field applied before applying the pre-pulse.
US08487613B2
A system improves accuracy of blood flow peak velocity measurements as well as the speed and precision of an MR data acquisition workflow. A system for blood flow velocity determination in MR imaging comprises an MR imaging system. The MR imaging system acquires a three dimensional (3D) MR imaging dataset of a patient anatomical volume of interest and a one dimensional (1D) MR imaging dataset within the volume of interest automatically aligned in response to 3D vector directional information. An image data processor derives the 3D vector directional information by, deriving velocity magnitude data using the acquired 3D MR imaging dataset, identifying maximum velocity data using the derived velocity magnitude data and transforming the identified maximum velocity data to provide the 3D vector directional information. A calculation processor uses the acquired 1D MR imaging dataset to calculate a blood flow velocity in a direction determined by the 3D vector directional information.
US08487606B2
A sensor assembly includes an electrical conductor, at least one of a voltage sensor and a current sensor disposed about the electrical conductor, and a first insulator molded about the electrical conductor. The first insulator includes a plurality of structures structured to maintain concentricity between the electrical conductor and the at least one of the voltage sensor and the current sensor. A second insulator is molded about the first insulator and the at least one of the voltage sensor and the current sensor.
US08487604B2
An asymmetrical coupled inductor includes a first and a second winding and a core. The core is formed of a magnetic material and magnetically couples together the windings. The core is configured such that a leakage inductance value of the first winding is greater than a leakage inductance value of the second winding. The coupled inductor is included, for example, in a multi-phase DC-to-DC converter. A DC-to-DC converter including a symmetrical coupled inductor includes at least one additional inductor electrically coupled in series with one or more of the coupled inductor's windings. A controller for a DC-to-DC converter including a first phase having an effective inductance value greater than an effective inductance value of a second phase is configured to shut down the second phase while the first phase remains operational during a light load operating condition.
US08487594B2
An integrated circuit includes a DC-DC converter, which includes an inductor; a first transistor coupled to the inductor and configured to pass an inductor current to the inductor; and a second transistor forming a current mirror with the first transistor. The integrated circuit further includes an operational amplifier. The operational amplifier includes a first input node and a second input node. The first input node is configured to couple to a drain of the first transistor when the first transistor is turned on, and decoupled from the drain of the first transistor when the first transistor is turned off. The second input node is coupled to a drain of the second transistor.
US08487593B2
A controller for a switched mode power supply converting an input voltage to a regulated output voltage according to one embodiment includes a control network and a detection network. The control network develops a pulse width control signal for regulating a level of the output voltage. The detection network detects a phase lag of the output voltage and adjusts operation of the control network based on the phase lag. The phase lag may be determined from any parameter incorporating phase shift, such as the output voltage or the compensation voltage. Various alternative schemes are disclosed for adjusting the control loop, including, but not limited to, adding slope compensation, adjusting window resistance or window current, adding adjustment current to adjust ripple voltage, adjusting ripple transconductance, and adjusting ripple capacitance. Digital and analog compensation adjustment schemes are disclosed.
US08487592B2
A circuit includes a first half bridge including a first controllable semiconductor switch and a first diode. The first controllable semiconductor switch is coupled between a first constant supply potential and a center tap of the first half bridge. The first diode is coupled between the center tap and a constant reference potential. A second half bridge includes a second diode and a second controllable semiconductor switch. The second diode is coupled between a second constant potential higher than the first potential and a center tap of the second half bridge. The second controllable semiconductor switch is coupled between the center tap and the constant reference potential. Driver circuitry controls the conducting state of the first and the second semiconductor switch thus controlling the current flow through a field connectable between the center taps.
US08487589B2
A method and a device are provided for determining the start of a charging process for an energy storage device in a vehicle, such as an electric vehicle. The method includes, but is not limited to determining at least one first parameter that indicates that a passenger is about to exit the electric vehicle. In addition, a first time t1 at which the charging process concludes at the earliest is determined, and a second time t2 at which the charging process is to have concluded at the latest is set, where t2≧t1. Further, a determination is made as to whether a third time t3 at which a lowered second energy rate relative to the first energy rate is present before the second time t2 has been reached, and the start of the charging process is set in such a way that the at least one third time t3 lies within the charging process, and the charging process concludes by the second time t2 at the latest.
US08487587B2
A battery pack for a mobile device, a method for processing fault notifications for a mobile device, and a mobile device for processing fault notifications are described. The battery pack comprises a housing, at least one battery cell within the housing, and a memory accessible by an application of the mobile device, the memory having stored thereon identifying information for identifying at least one of the battery pack and battery cell. Notifications are sent to mobile device including fault parameters for identifying at least one battery pack and/or battery cell affected by a fault. If the identifying information is within the fault parameters, displaying a fault notification on the display of the mobile device.
US08487582B2
An apparatus comprises a first energy storage device configured to output a DC voltage, a first bi-directional voltage modification assembly coupled to the first energy storage device, and a charge bus coupled to the first energy storage device and to the first bi-directional voltage modification assembly. The apparatus also comprises high-impedance voltage source coupleable to the charge bus and a controller configured to monitor a transfer of charging energy supplied from the high-impedance voltage source to the first energy storage device. The controller is also configured to compare the monitored transfer of charging energy with a threshold value and, after the threshold value has been crossed, control the first bi-directional voltage modification assembly to modify one of a voltage and a current of the charging energy supplied to the first energy storage device.
US08487581B2
A battery pack burn-in test system comprising first and second interconnection circuits for electrically interconnecting a first and a second battery pack respectively to the system; a data communication bus for coupling to respective battery management integrated circuits (ICs) of the first and second battery packs; and a system management unit coupled to the data communication bus. The system management unit may control a charging of the first battery pack during a burn-in test from a discharging of the second battery pack.
US08487580B2
A blower motor assembly having a variable speed motor that is suitable for direct, drop-in replacement in a residential HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) system that employs a PSC motor. The blower motor assembly includes at least a neutral input and two hot AC line connections, one for connection to the heating power source and the other to the cooling power source. A sensing circuit senses which of the inputs is energized by sensing either voltage or current on the inputs. The sensing circuit delivers a corresponding signal to a motor controller to control the speed of the variable speed motor. The blower motor assembly may also be equipped with additional hot AC inputs, more than one neutral line, and several sensing circuits for sensing current or voltage in the hot inputs and/or the neutral lines for controlling various aspects of the variable speed motor.
US08487577B2
Various embodiments of a motor controller are disclosed. In exemplary embodiments, the motor controller can be instructed to select an operational profile based on the duration of power loss. In an exemplary embodiment, the system comprises a battery or capacitor to provide power to a microcontroller in the motor controller while power is disconnected.
US08487566B2
The present invention provides an electronic commutator circuit for use with a stator winding of an electrical machine. The stator winding of the electrical machine includes a number of coils linked by the same number of points of common coupling. The electronic commutator circuit comprising the same number of switching stages, each switching stage being connected between a respective one of the points of common coupling and first and second dc terminals. Each switching stage further includes a first reverse blocking semiconductor power device (such as a Reverse Blocking Gate Turn Off Thyristor (RB-GTO 1) capable of being turned on and off by gate control having its anode connected to the first dc terminal, and a second reverse blocking semiconductor power device (RB-GTO 2) capable of being turned on and off by gate control having its cathode connected to the second dc terminal.
US08487565B2
A method of controlling an electrical machine that includes commutating a phase winding of the electrical machine at a time T_COM(1) after a first edge and at a time T_COM(2) after a second edge of a rotor-position signal. T_COM(2) is defined by the equation: T_COM(2)=T_COM(1)+T_AVE−T_PD, where T_AVE is an average period between edges of the rotor-position signal, and T_PD is the period between the first and second edges. Additionally, a controller and control system that implement the method.
US08487546B2
A light emitting diode (LED) lighting system and method are disclosed. The LED lighting system and method include an LED controller to accurately control a current in an LED system. The LED controller includes components to calculate, based on the current and an active time period of an LED current time period, an actual charge amount delivered to the LED system wherein the LED current time period is duty cycle, modulated at a rate of greater than fifty (50) Hz and to utilize the actual charge amount to modify and provide a desired target charge amount to be delivered during a future active time period of the LED current time period. The LED system and method further involve components to compare the actual charge amount to a desired charge amount for the active time period and compensate for a difference between the actual charge amount and the desired charge amount during the future active time period.
US08487541B2
A ballast circuit (6) comprises a rectifier circuit (8) and dual starting circuits (11, 13) that ensure ballast startup and lamp ignition regardless of input waveform half cycle. The first starting circuit comprises resonant circuit (10), and the second starting circuit includes a resistor (11). The resistor (11) comprising the second startup circuit provides a bias resistance to the second switches (72) to ensure ballast startup when an oscillating input waveform is in a negative phase.
US08487539B2
An illumination device includes one or more LED's and a power supply configured to convert energy from a commercial AC power source and drive said LED's. The power supply includes a rectifier circuit, a phase detection circuit receiving an output voltage from the rectifier circuit and a switching element. A circuit includes the one or more LED's, an inductive element and a diode, and is coupled on a first end to the rectifier circuit and coupled on a second end to ground through the switching element. A current sensor is positioned to detect a current flowing to the light-emitting diode. A control circuit is coupled to receive the detected current and the detected phase of the rectified output voltage, and further coupled to the switching element and configured to generate a PWM signal for driving the switching element at a frequency higher than a commercial AC frequency. The PWM signal has a pulse width determined in accordance with one or more of a feedback control based on a current detected by the current sensor and a feed-forward control based on a phase of the pulsating voltage detected by the phase detection circuit.
US08487537B2
A retained and a removable circuit connect together to form a closed circuit. A switching mechanism is connected between the retained and removable circuits and to a circuit break load. Upon disconnection of the circuit break load and/or the removable circuit, the switching mechanism automatically switches from an open circuit to a closed circuit to form a closed circuit with the retained circuit.
US08487534B2
A system and method for controlling the temperature of both an electron emitter and a filament to their lowest possible operating temperature is disclosed. The apparatus includes a filament, an electron emitter heated by the filament to generate an electron beam, and a power supply configured to supply power to each of the filament and the electron emitter. The apparatus also includes a control system to control a supply of power to each of the filament and the electron emitter, with the control system being configured to receive an input indicative of a desired electron emitter operating temperature, cause a desired voltage to be applied between the electron emitter and the filament, and cause a desired voltage to be applied to the filament based on the desired emitter element operating temperature, so as to minimize an operating temperature of the electron emitter and the filament.
US08487519B2
A light emitting device includes an electroluminescent element (1), a housing (2) and current supply device for the electroluminescent element. A micro-optical element (12) is coupled to the housing (2) and arranged such that it influences light emitted by the electroluminescent element (1). The micro-optical element may be made up of micro-optical structures on a surface of an at least partially transparent layer (11) coupled to the housing (2). The micro-optical structures may, for example, be manufactured by directly imprinting them on the at least partially transparent layer (11) coupled to the housing or by casting an at least partially transparent layer (11) including the electroluminescent element to a body of the light emitting device. The diffractive optical features of the micro-optical element (12) are designed according to the position, size and shape of the one or more electroluminescent elements (1), and output light distribution of the one or more electroluminescent elements (1).
US08487517B2
A lamp includes a housing, a heat sink, a cooling fan and a light-emitting module. The housing has an assembling opening and an electrical connection member on two ends thereof, wherein the housing further comprises an inner wall and a portion of the inner wall adjacent to the assembling opening is an air-guiding wall. The heat sink has a base plate disposed at the assembling opening of the housing, wherein the base plate has at least one partitioning board defining an air channel of the heat sink. A first air-guiding opening is formed between the air-guiding wall and the at least one partitioning board, and a second air-guiding opening is formed between the air channel and the air-guiding wall. The cooling fan is coupled with the heat sink and has an impeller. The light-emitting module is coupled with the base plate of the heat sink.
US08487509B2
In order for keeping the amplitude of the excitation current of a vibrator constant irrespective not only of the temperature variation but also of the manufacturing variation and the variation in frequency, a comparison control circuit for controlling the amplitude of the drive signal for exciting the vibrator includes a comparative voltage supply circuit for supplying the comparative voltage, and the comparative voltage supply circuit generates the comparative voltage with a constant current source and a second resistor made of a material the same as a material of a first resistor included in a current-voltage conversion circuit.
US08487499B2
In an electric rotating machine, a stator coil is comprised of first and second winding groups. The stator coil is wound around a stator core in a concentrated winding manner so that the phase difference in electrical angle between each corresponding pair of windings of the first and second winding groups is equal to π/6. Further, the windings of the first and second winding groups are connected to form Δ-Y connections. Consequently, the sixth harmonic components of the electromagnetic forces created by the windings of the first winding group can be offset by those of the electromagnetic forces created the windings of the second winding group. As a result, the total magnetic noise and torque ripple generated in the machine can be reduced. Moreover, the machine can be driven with only a single three-phase inverter to achieve the effects of reducing the total magnetic noise and torque ripple.
US08487497B2
In a motor system, a motor includes a rotor and a stator. The rotor includes magnet poles and consequent poles. The stator includes a stator core and a stator coil that is comprised of first and second m-phase coils. The number of slots of the stator core provided per circumferentially-adjacent pair of the magnet and consequent poles is equal to 4m. The phase windings of the first m-phase coil are alternately arranged with those of the second m-phase coil in a circumferential direction of the stator core. An inverter energizes the first and second m-phase coils to cause them to respectively create first and second spatial magnetic fluxes. Variation in a resultant spatial magnetic flux, which is the resultant of the first and second spatial magnetic fluxes, is less than variations in the first and second spatial magnetic fluxes in a circumferential direction of the rotor.
US08487490B2
An electric rotating machine including a rotor rotating relative to a stator, the rotor rotating a first fan placed at a first end of the stator, and a second fan placed at a second end of the stator opposite to the first end, the first and second fans being configured to generate an air flow from the first fan to the second fan through the rotor and the stator, the first fan comprising an external ring connecting the radial ends of blades together.
US08487488B2
In a dental, dental-medical or dental-technical handpiece, having an elongate grip sleeve there are provided at the rearward end of the grip sleeve coupling elements for the connection of the handpiece to a supply hose to be connected with a dental supply arrangement, and there are provided at the forward end of the grip sleeve a head section with a tool receiver for mounting a tool to be put into rotation. The handpiece further has an electric motor for driving a tool held by the tool receiver, which motor is completely integrated into the grip sleeve such that grip sleeve and motor form a unit.
US08487482B2
A circuit for operating a consumer comprises a current source, a first switch connected in parallel with the consumer and actuated potentially separate, whereby opening and closing the first switch transmits power to the consumer in the form of square wave current pulses. The negative branch includes a potentially separately actuated second switch connected in parallel with the first switch and in series with the consumer, as well as a first load connected in parallel with the first switch and in series with the consumer. The positive branch includes a potentially separately actuated third switch connected in parallel with the first switch and in series with the consumer and second switch, as well as a second load connected in parallel with the first switch and in series with the consumer and the second switch. The second and third switches are opened and closed in anti-phase manner to the fist switch.
US08487481B2
Exemplary embodiments are directed to wireless power transfer. A wireless power receiver includes a receive antenna for coupling with a transmit antenna of transmitter generating a magnetic near field. The receive antenna receives wireless power from the magnetic near field and includes a resonant tank and a parasitic resonant tank wirelessly coupled to the resonant tank. A wireless power transmitter includes a transmit antenna for coupling with a receive antenna of a receiver. The transmit antenna generates a magnetic near field for transmission of wireless power and includes a resonant tank and a parasitic resonant tank coupled to the resonant tank.
US08487478B2
Exemplary embodiments are directed to wireless power transfer. A transmitting device or a receiving device for use in a wireless transfer system may be equipment or a household appliance. The transmitting device includes a transmit antenna to wirelessly transfer power to a receive antenna by generating a near field radiation within a coupling-mode region. An amplifier applies an RF signal to the transmit antenna. A presence detector detects a presence of a receiver device within the coupling-mode region. A controller adjusts a power output of the amplifier responsive to the presence of a receiver device. The presence detector may also detect a human presence. The power output may be adjusted at or below the regulatory level when the presence signal indicates human presence and above a regulatory level when the presence signal indicates human absence.
US08487469B2
An apparatus for generating electrical power. The apparatus comprises a plurality of solar energy collectors for generating electricity from solar energy; a plurality of wind turbines for generating electricity from wind energy; a support structure having arms extending radially from a vertical shaft, the arms positioned at different vertical distances along the vertical shaft and the arms having different lengths; solar energy collectors and the wind turbines affixed to terminal ends of the arms; and the support structure comprising camouflage elements causing the support structure to resemble vegetation.
US08487468B2
Some embodiments of a turbine system described herein provide a turbine that rotates in response to off-axis fluid flow, such as water flowing in a generally horizontal direction that is generally perpendicular to a vertical axis of rotation. The rotation of the turbine can drive a generator to output electrical energy.
US08487454B2
A semiconductor device includes a die pad, the die pad including a first surface and a second surface, a first chip arranged on the first surface, the first chip including a first side and a second side crossing to the first side, a second chip arranged on the first surface, a plurality of first recesses formed on the first surface, a plurality of second recesses formed on the first surface, the plurality of second recesses being different from the first plurality of recesses in at least one of size and geometry, a wire, a resin, and a lead, one end of the lead being connected to another end of the wire and a part the lead being encapsulated by the resin. The plurality of first recesses includes a third recess and a fourth recess, and the first chip is arranged in a first area.
US08487447B2
A semiconductor structure which includes a plurality of stacked semiconductor chips in a three dimensional configuration. There is a first semiconductor chip in contact with a second semiconductor chip. The first semiconductor chip includes a through silicon via (TSV) extending through the first semiconductor chip; an electrically conducting pad at a surface of the first semiconductor chip, the TSV terminating in contact at a first side of the electrically conducting pad; a passivation layer covering the electrically conducting pad, the passivation layer having a plurality of openings; and a plurality of electrically conducting structures formed in the plurality of openings and in contact with a second side of the electrically conducting pad, the contact of the plurality of electrically conducting structures with the electrically conducting pad being offset with respect to the contact of the TSV with the electrically conducting pad.
US08487443B2
Disclosed is a semiconductor structure including a semiconductor substrate including an electronic circuit which is provided in a predetermined region of the semiconductor substrate, a wiring provided on the semiconductor substrate in a region outside of the predetermined region, an external connection electrode provided on the wiring, a sealing resin which covers a side surface of the external connection electrode and a wall which intervenes between the electronic circuit and the sealing resin.
US08487441B2
A rigid wave pattern formed on a first side of a substrate in a semiconductor die package. The rigid wave pattern aligns with and overlies the contact fingers formed on the second side of the substrate. The rigid wave pattern includes a first pattern with an etched portion and an unetched portion around the etched portion. When the substrate and dice are encased during the molding process, the rigid wave pattern effectively reduces deformation of and stresses on the dice, therefore substantially alleviating die cracking.
US08487438B2
An integrated circuit solder bumping system provides a substrate and forms a redistribution layer on the substrate. An insulation layer is formed on the redistribution layer. The insulation layer has a plurality of openings therethrough. A first UBM layer of titanium is deposited on the insulation layer and in the openings therethrough. A second UBM layer of chromium/copper alloy is deposited on the first UBM layer. A third UBM layer of copper is deposited on the second UBM layer. UBM pads of at least two different sizes are formed from the UBM layers. Solder paste is printed over at least some of the UBM pads. The solder paste is reflowed to form at least smaller solder bumps on at least some of the UBM pads. Bigger solder bumps are formed on at least some of the UBM pads.
US08487433B2
A device includes a substrate, a semiconductor chip, first and second pads, and a first wiring layer. The substrate includes first and second surfaces. The semiconductor chip includes third and fourth surfaces. The third surface faces toward the first surface. The first and second pads are provided on the third surface. The first and second pads are connected to each other. The first wiring layer is provided on the second surface of the substrate. The first wiring layer is connected to the first pad.
US08487429B2
A multi-chip module (MCM) is described. This MCM includes two substrates, having facing surfaces, which are mechanically coupled. Disposed on a surface of a first of these substrates, there is a negative feature, which is recessed below this surface. A positive feature in the MCM, which includes an assembly material other than a bulk material in the substrates, at least in part mates with the negative feature. For example, the positive feature may be disposed on the surface of the other substrate. Alternatively, prior to assembly of the MCM, the positive feature may be a separate component from the substrates (such as a micro-sphere). Note that the assembly material has a bulk modulus that is less than a bulk modulus of the material in the substrates. Furthermore, at least a portion of the positive feature may have been sacrificed when the mechanical coupling was established.
US08487420B1
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided multiple embodiments of a package-in-package semiconductor device including shortened electrical signal paths to optimize electrical performance. The semiconductor device comprises a substrate having a conductive pattern formed thereon. In each embodiment of the semiconductor device, a semiconductor package and one or more semiconductor dies are vertically stacked upon the substrate, and placed into electrical communication with the conductive pattern thereof. In certain embodiments, a semiconductor die which is electrically connected to the conductive pattern of the substrate may be fully or partially covered with a film-over-wire. Additionally, in each embodiment of the semiconductor device, the vertically stacked electronic components thereof may be covered with a package body which also partially covers the substrate.
US08487414B2
Methods of forming and tuning a multilayer select device are provided, along with apparatus and systems which include them. As is broadly disclosed in the specification, one such method can include forming a first region having a first conductivity type; forming a second region having a second conductivity type and located adjacent to the first region; and forming a third region having the first conductivity type and located adjacent to the second region and, such that the first, second and third regions form a structure located between a first electrode and a second electrode, wherein each of the regions have a thickness configured to achieve a current density in a range from about 1×e4 amps/cm2 up to about 1×e8 amps/cm2 when a voltage in a selected voltage range is applied between the first electrode and the second electrode.
US08487403B2
The semiconductor device which has an electric straight line-like fuse with a small occupying area is offered.A plurality of projecting portions 10f are formed in the position shifted from the middle position of electric fuse part 10a, and, more concretely, are formed in the position distant from via 10e and near via 10d. A plurality of projecting portions 20f are formed in the position shifted from the middle position of electric fuse part 20a, and, more concretely, are formed in the position distant from via 20d and near 20e. That is, projecting portions 10f and projecting portions 20f are arranged in the shape of zigzag.
US08487397B2
An integrated circuit with a self-aligned contact includes a substrate with a transistor formed thereover, a dielectric spacer, a protection barrier, and a conductive layer. The transistor includes a mask layer and a pair of insulating spacers formed on opposite sides of the mask layer. The dielectric spacer partially covers at least one of the insulating spacers of the transistor. The protection barrier is formed over the dielectric spacer. The conductive layer is formed over the mask layer, the protection barrier, the dielectric spacer, the insulating spacer and the dielectric spacer as a self-aligned contact for contacting a source/drain region of the transistor.
US08487396B2
A Schottky photodiode may include a monocrystalline semiconductor substrate having a front surface, a rear surface, and a first dopant concentration and configured to define a cathode of the Schottky photodiode, a doped epitaxial layer over the front surface of the monocrystalline semiconductor substrate having a second dopant concentration less than the first dopant concentration, and parallel spaced apart trenches in the doped epitaxial layer and having of a depth less than a depth of the doped epitaxial layer. The Schottky photodiode may include a metal filler in the parallel spaced apart trenches to form a Schottky rectifying contact with the doped epitaxial layer, an anode current distributor metal layer on a surface of the doped epitaxial layer and in electrical contact with the metal filler of the parallel spaced apart trenches, a dielectric passivation layer on the anode current distributor metal layer, and a conductive metal layer over the rear surface of the monocrystalline semiconductor substrate and configured to provide an ohmic contact with the cathode.
US08487394B2
According to one embodiment, a solid-state imaging device includes a photoelectric conversion element, a light blocking section, and a protective layer. The protective layer protects the photoelectric conversion element and the light blocking section. A step section is formed on a surface of the protective layer. The step section is formed having a difference in height in a direction perpendicular to an irradiation surface of the photoelectric conversion element. The step section is provided in the light receiving area.
US08487391B2
There is provided a magnonic-crystal spin wave device capable of controlling a frequency of a spin wave. The magnonic-crystal spin wave device according to the invention includes a spin wave waveguide made of magnetic material, and the spin wave waveguide guides the spin wave so as to propagate in one direction, and includes a magnonic crystal part which has a cross-section orthogonal to the direction, and at least one of a shape, area size, and center line of the cross-section periodically changes in the direction. In accordance with the invention, it is possible to easily control the frequency of the spin wave using the spin wave waveguide made of single magnetic material.
US08487385B2
We describe the use of a high-quality-factor torsional resonator of microscale dimensions. The resonator has a paddle that is supported by two nanoscale torsion rods made of a very low thermal conductivity material, such as amorphous (“a-”) silicon. The body of the torsion paddle is coated with an infrared-absorbing material that is thin and light weight, but provides sufficient IR absorption for the applications. It may be placed above a reflecting material of similar dimensions to form a quarter wave cavity. Sensing of the response of the paddle to applied electromagnetic radiation provides a measure of the intensity of the radiation as detected by absorption, and the resulting temperature change, in the paddle.
US08487381B2
Disclosed herein is a protection element for protecting a circuit element. The protection element includes source and drain areas created in a semiconductor layer, a gate created on the semiconductor layer, sandwiching a gate insulation film between the gate and the semiconductor layer, a source electrode connected to the surface of the source area and electrically connected to the ground, a drain electrode connected to the surface of the drain area and used for receiving a surge input, and a diode connected between the source electrode and the gate.
US08487377B2
A MOSFET layout is disclosed. The MOSFET comprises a drain region, a gate region, a source region and a body region. The gate region is disposed outside the drain region and adjacent to the drain region. The source region has a plurality of source sections, which are disposed outside of the gate region and adjacent to the gate region. Each of two adjacent source sections has a source blank zone there between. The body region has at least two body portions, which are disposed at the source blank zones and adjacent to the gate region.
US08487376B2
An apparatus includes a first device with a metal gate and a drain well that experiences a series resistance that drops a drain contact voltage from 10 V to 4-6 V at a junction between the drain well and a channel under the gate. The apparatus includes an interlayer dielectric layer (ILD0) disposed above and on the drain well and a salicide drain contact in the drain well. The apparatus also includes a subsequent device that is located in a region different from the first device that operates at a voltage lower than the first device.
US08487375B2
A semiconductor device includes a compound semiconductor layer provided over a substrate, a plurality of source electrodes and a plurality of drain electrodes provided over the compound semiconductor layer, a plurality of first vias each of which is configured to pass through the compound semiconductor layer and be coupled to a corresponding one of the plurality of source electrodes, a plurality of second vias each of which is configured to pass through the compound semiconductor layer and be coupled to a corresponding one of the plurality of drain electrodes, a common source wiring line configured to be coupled to the plurality of first vias and be buried in the substrate, and a common drain wiring line configured to be coupled to the plurality of second vias and be buried in the substrate.
US08487369B2
A semiconductor device includes: a plurality of first trenches formed inside a plurality of active regions; a plurality of buried gates configured to partially fill insides of the plurality of the first trenches; a plurality of second trenches formed to be extended in a direction crossing the plurality of the buried gates; and a plurality of buried bit lines configured to fill the plurality of the second trenches.
US08487367B2
A semiconductor device is disclosed that includes a semiconductor substrate having a channel region and respective source and drain regions formed on opposite sides of the channel region. The channel region includes at least one pore. A gate is formed on the semiconductor substrate between the source and drain regions and includes at least one pin received by respective ones of the at least one pore. A dielectric layer is disposed between the gate and the semiconductor substrate.
US08487365B2
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a substrate, a lower gate layer, a stacked body, a dummy electrode layer, an insulating film, and a channel body. The lower gate layer is provided above the substrate. The stacked body includes a plurality of insulating layers and a plurality of electrode layers alternately stacked above the lower gate layer. The dummy electrode layer is provided between the lower gate layer and the stacked body, made of the same material as the electrode layer, and thicker than each of the electrode layers. The insulating film includes a charge storage film provided on a side wall of a hole formed to penetrate through the stacked body and the dummy electrode layer. The channel body is provided on an inside of the insulating film in the hole.
US08487362B2
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate having first and second regions, a first pillar transistor, and a second pillar transistor, wherein the first pillar transistor comprises a first semiconductor pillar disposed in the first region, and a first gate electrode covering a side surface of the first semiconductor pillar, wherein the second pillar transistor comprises a second semiconductor pillar disposed in the second region, and a second gate electrode covering a side surface of the second semiconductor pillar, wherein the first gate electrode is different in height from the second gate electrode, and the first and second pillar transistors form a CMOS device.
US08487359B2
It is made possible to provide a spin MOSFET that can minimize the increase in production costs and can perform both spin injection writing and reading. A spin MOSFET includes: a substrate that has a semiconductor region of a first conductivity type; first and second ferromagnetic stacked films that are formed at a distance from each other on the semiconductor region, and each have the same stacked structure comprising a first ferromagnetic layer, a nonmagnetic layer, and a second ferromagnetic layer stacked in this order, the second ferromagnetic stacked film having a film-plane area different from that of the first ferromagnetic stacked film; a gate insulating film that is formed on a portion of the semiconductor region, the portion being located between the first ferromagnetic stacked film and the second ferromagnetic stacked film; and a gate that is formed on the gate insulating film.
US08487355B2
A compact semiconductor structure including at least one FET located upon and within a surface of a semiconductor substrate in which the at least one FET includes a long channel length and/or a wide channel width and a method of fabricating the same are provided. In some embodiments, the ordered, nanosized pattern is oriented in a direction that is perpendicular to the current flow. In such an embodiment, the FET has a long channel length. In other embodiments, the ordered, nanosized pattern is oriented in a direction that is parallel to that of the current flow. In such an embodiment, the FET has a wide channel width. In yet another embodiment, one ordered, nanosized pattern is oriented in a direction perpendicular to the current flow, while another ordered, nanosized pattern is oriented in a direction parallel to the current flow. In such an embodiment, a FET having a long channel length and wide channel width is provided.
US08487354B2
The present disclosure provides a method of fabricating a semiconductor device that includes providing a semiconductor substrate, forming a gate structure over the substrate, forming a material layer over the substrate and the gate structure, implanting Ge, C, P, F, or B in the material layer, removing portions of the material layer overlying the substrate at either side of the gate structure, forming recesses in the substrate at either side of the gate structure, and depositing a semiconductor material in the recesses by an expitaxy process.
US08487351B2
The image sensor and an image sensing system including the same are provided. The image sensor includes a semiconductor substrate, a pixel array formed at a pixel area located in the semiconductor substrate and comprising a plurality of photoelectric converts, a plurality of driver circuits formed at a circuit area defined in the semiconductor substrate. The image sensor includes at least one heat blocker or heat shield. The at least one heat blocker may be formed between the pixel area and the circuit area in the semiconductor substrate. The heat blocker or heat shield may block or dissipate heat generated at the circuit area from being transferred to the pixel area through the semiconductor substrate. The heat blocker or heat shield may be used in image sensors using a back-side illumination sensor (BIS) structure or image sensors using a silicon on insulator (SOI) semiconductor substrate.
US08487345B2
According to one embodiment, an information recording and reproducing device includes a stacked body. The stacked body includes a first layer, a second layer and a recording layer provided between the first layer and the second layer. The recording layer includes a phase-change material and a crystal nucleus. The phase-change material is capable of reversely changing between a crystal state and an amorphous state by a current supplied via the first layer and the second layer. The crystal nucleus is provided in contact with the phase-change material and includes a crystal nucleus material having a crystal structure identical to a crystal structure of the crystal state of the phase-change material, and a crystal nucleus coating provided on a surface of the crystal nucleus material and having a composition different from a composition of the crystal nucleus material.
US08487341B2
Provided is a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device. In the method, a growth substrate provided with a single crystal semiconductor thin layer, a support substrate, and a temporary substrate are prepared, the growth substrate, the support substrate, and the temporary substrate are bonded to one another with the support substrate therebetween through functional wafer coupling layers, the growth substrate is lifted off from the single crystal semiconductor thin layer, and the temporary substrate is lifted off from the support substrate.
US08487334B2
A semiconductor light emitting device includes: a light emitting diode unit including a light-transmissive substrate having a face sloped upwardly at a lower edge thereof. A rear reflective lamination body is formed on the lower face and the surrounding sloped face of the light-transmissive substrate. The rear reflective lamination body includes an optical auxiliary layer and a metal reflective film formed on a lower face of the optical auxiliary layer. A junction lamination body is provided to a lower face of the rear reflective lamination body. The junction lamination body including a junction metal layer made of a eutectic metal material and a diffusion barrier film.
US08487333B2
An LED package includes a substrate, an LED chip, and an encapsulation. The substrate includes a first surface. The LED chip is mounted on the first surface of the substrate. The encapsulation covers the LED chip. The encapsulation includes a transparent main body and a number of carbon nanotubes distributed in the transparent main body; the carbon nanotubes are arranged substantially extending along a same direction whereby light generated by the LED chip is polarized prior to radiation out of the encapsulation.
US08487331B2
A white light emitting diode and a liquid crystal display device that realizes images using the white light are provided. The white light emitting diode includes a blue light emitting diode (“LED”) light source, and a light conversion layer which converts incident light from the LED light source into white light. The light conversion layer includes green light emitting semiconductor nanocrystal and red light emitting semiconductor nanocrystal. A light emitting peak wavelength of the green light emitting semiconductor nanocrystal is about 520 nanometer (nm) or more, a light emitting peak wavelength of the red semiconductor nanocrystal is about 610 nanometer (nm) or more, and full width at half maximums (FWHMs) of light emitting peaks of the green and red light emitting semiconductor nanocrystals are about 45 nanometer (nm) or less.
US08487328B2
A light emitting device includes a semiconductor package, and a mounting board having first and second wiring components respectively connected to first and second conduction members of the semiconductor package. The semiconductor package includes: a light emitting element; a first conduction member, on one side of which the light emitting element is placed; and a second conduction member whose surface area is smaller than that of the first conduction member, the other side of the first and second conduction members forms the lower face of the semiconductor package. The mounting board includes: a narrow part and a wide part wider than the narrow part, which are formed on the first and second wiring components. At least the narrow part is joined to the first and second conduction members, and the first wiring component has a recess in its interior.
US08487311B2
A pixel structure including a semiconductor layer having at least one source region and at least one drain region; a first insulating layer covering the semiconductor layer; a first conductive layer on the first insulating layer and including at least one gate; a second insulating layer covering the first conductive layer; a second conductive layer on the second insulating layer and including at least one source electrode, at least one drain electrode and at least one bottom electrode, the source region, the source electrode, the drain region, the drain electrode and the gate forming at least one thin film transistor; a third insulating layer covering the second conductive layer; a third conductive layer on the third insulating layer and including at least one top electrode, the top electrode and the bottom electrode forming at least one capacitor; and a pixel electrode electrically connected to the thin film transistor.
US08487292B2
A non-volatile resistance-switching memory element includes a resistance-switching element formed from a metal oxide layer having a dopant which is provided at a relatively high concentration such as 10% or greater. Further, the dopant is a cation having a relatively large ionic radius such as 70 picometers or greater, such as Magnesium, Chromium, Calcium, Scandium or Yttrium. A cubic fluorite phase lattice may be formed in the metal oxide even at room temperature so that switching power may be reduced. The memory element may be pillar-shaped, extending between first and second electrodes and being in series with a steering element such as a diode. The metal oxide layer may be deposited at the same time as the dopant. Or, using atomic layer deposition, an oxide of a first metal can be deposited, followed by an oxide of a second metal, followed by annealing to cause intermixing, in repeated cycles.
US08487277B2
The present invention relates to a laminated glazing for information display, of the automobile windshield or architectural glazing type, including an assembly of at least two transparent sheets of inorganic glass or of a strong organic material, joined together by an interlayer of a thermoformable material or by multilayer foils incorporating such an interlayer, the glazing being characterized in that a luminophore material of the hydroxyterephthalate type is integrated into the interlayer, allowing the display. The invention also relates to a device for displaying an image on transparent glazing, including laminated glazing of the above type and a source generating concentrated UV radiation of the laser type, the radiation of which is between 350 and 410 nm, the UV radiation being directed onto the area or areas of the glazing that includes the terephthalate-type luminophore layer.
US08487269B2
The invention relates to a combined radiation therapy and magnetic resonance unit. For this purpose, in accordance with the invention a combined radiation therapy and magnetic resonance unit is provided comprising a magnetic resonance diagnosis part with an interior, which is limited in radial direction by a main magnet, and a radiation therapy part for the irradiation of an irradiation area within the interior, wherein at least parts of the radiation therapy part, which comprise a beam deflection arrangement, are arranged within the interior.
US08487259B2
An image sensor comprises a photoelectric conversion element receiving light to accumulate photocharges, and a wavelength conversion layer formed above the photoelectric conversion element to convert light within a first wavelength band into light within a second wavelength band shorter than the first wavelength band and supply the converted light to the photoelectric conversion element.
US08487256B2
A proximity sensor for use in a portable computing device is described. In particular various embodiments of a proximity sensor which fit in an extremely small portion of a cellular phone, and accurately determine the presence of a user's head in close proximity to a surface of the cellular phone.
US08487254B2
A system and method for active thermal stealth or deception, the system including at least two objects, each having at least one active plate and a processing module coupled to the active plate for activating the plate to provide a desired thermal signature to the object, and a remotely located central control unit for external actuation of the processing modules in each object.
US08487251B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a scanning electron microscope aiming at making it possible to control the quantity of electrons generated by collision of electrons emitted from a sample with other members, and a sample charging control method using the control of electron quantity. To achieve the object, a scanning electron microscope including a plurality of apertures through which an electron beam can pass and a mechanism for switching the apertures for the electron beam, and a method for controlling sample charging by switching the apertures are proposed. The plurality of apertures are at least two apertures. Portions respectively having different secondary electron emission efficiencies are provided on peripheral portions of the at least two apertures on a side opposed to the sample. The quantity of electrons generated by collision of electrons emitted from the sample can be controlled by switching the apertures.
US08487250B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for measuring a potential on a surface of a sample using a charged particle beam while restraining a change in the potential on the sample induced by the charged particle beam application, or detecting a compensation value for a change in a condition for the apparatus caused by the sample being electrically charged. In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a method and apparatus for applying a voltage to a sample so that a charged particle beam does not reach the sample (hereinafter, this may be referred to as “mirror state”) in a state in which the charged particle beam is applied toward the sample, and detecting information relating to a potential on the sample using signals obtained by that voltage application.
US08487249B2
The apparatus introduces a second adjustable resonant point in a QMS at a frequency that is close to a multiple of the fundamental frequency by adjusting driving point impedance characteristics of the QMS. The apparatus measures the first and second resonant point of the QMS to account for changes in the operational characteristics of the QMS.
US08487248B2
An ion trap mass analyzer is disclosed comprising a segmented rod set. Ions are trapped radially within the mass analyzer by a radial pseudo-potential well. The ions are also confined axially within a quadratic axial potential well. An AC voltage or potential is applied to the electrodes comprising the ion trap mass analyzer in order to excite parametrically ions within the ion trap.
US08487240B2
A method and sensor for monitoring chemical species in a gas flow are described. An ionized sample of gas is passed through a flow channel, with a DC electric field applied transverse to the longitudinal axis of the channel. Any electric current produced by the ion flow is measured, with variations in the current being indicative of a change in composition of the gas flow. In certain embodiments, the DC field may be varied over time, to sweep the field voltage. The detected current against field voltage graph may be taken as a profile of a particular gas composition. Variations in the profile again are indicative of a change in gas composition.
US08487234B2
An electric device operable with a THz-range frequency of the device output is presented. The device comprises a photocathode installed in either one of a diode, triode and tetrode configuration, and is exposed to illumination. In some embodiments of the invention, the device is configured as a diode and photomixing is used for illumination of the photocathode with light in the THz range, the diode converting this input light signal into an electrical output in the THz range, which operates a signal transmitter/receiver. In some other embodiments of the invention, the device is configured as a triode or tetrode, where the electrodes have small dimensions (about 1 micron or less) and are spaced from one another a distance not exceeding 1 micron. The photocathode is kept under certain illumination, and electrical signal applied to one of the electrodes results in the THz output at one of the other electrodes.
US08487229B2
A solar power generation device including a base, a tracking system mounted to the base, a solar collector mounted to the tracking system configured to open as the solar power generation device transitions to an active state and to close as the solar power generation device transitions to an inactive state, a light sensing system dynamically mounted about the base and configured to adjust the tracking system based upon the position of a light producing element, and a plurality of focusing elements mounted to the base and positioned around the light sensing system such that any light reflected by the focusing elements is directed to the solar collector. The device may further include an electricity management and conditioning system contained in the base that includes a short term storage system, a long term storage system, a data acquisition system, and a data and electricity transmission interface.
US08487224B2
A microwave oven is provided. A reinforcing part is provided to a multi-hole part for transferring the heat of a heater to a cooking chamber. This prevents deformation of the multi-hole part due to the heat of the heater.
US08487221B2
A portable combined heating and lighting unit comprising a first element and a second element for generating thermal or light energy, and a component to convert thermal or light energy into electricity. The first element generates thermal or light energy from combustion of fuel. The second element generates thermal or light energy from electricity.
US08487220B2
A vacuum oven or vacuum furnace is disclosed having a heat distribution sleeve that conforms to the shape of an interior heating chamber. The heat distribution sleeve may be of generally annular shape, like a ring, and located in a substantially regularly spaced and offset relationship from a heating element located within walls adjacent the interior heating chamber. The heat distribution sleeve includes a thermal conductive material which absorbs and re-radiates heat emitted from the heating element, thereby providing more consistent and regular radiation fields for heating treating a work piece that is loaded on a work holding tray and, upon the vacuum oven being in an operational position, the work piece is located within the furnace chamber.
US08487215B2
A method and apparatus for welding include initiating a pulse welding process includes initiating a welding arc by providing CC type welding power, maintaining the arc by providing CV type power. Then, pulse type welding power is provided. The method and system can be used to start short circuit, or other welding processes by providing short circuit power, or welding power of a given mode, instead of providing pulse power. Also, in one alternative, a method and system of initiating a pulse, short circuit, or given welding process includes initiating a welding arc by providing CC type welding power at least until a pseudo-equilibrium for the arc is established. Then, providing welding power in a pulse, short circuit, or the given mode.
US08487211B2
A fusion welding method includes the steps of: generating a hybrid laser beam obtained by mixing a low-intensity laser beam with a first high-intensity laser beam and a second high-intensity laser beam; moving the hybrid laser beam along a gap between a first member and a second member; and melting the first member and the second member in the periphery of the gap with the hybrid laser beam, and filling the gap with the melt of the first member and the melt of the second member to weld the first member and the second member, wherein the first high-intensity laser beam is applied to the area of the first member to which the low-intensity laser beam is applied, and the second high-intensity laser beam is applied to the area of the second member to which the low-intensity laser beam is applied.
US08487208B2
A laser beam irradiation apparatus includes a laser beam oscillation unit including a pulse laser beam oscillator for oscillating a pulse laser beam and a cycle frequency setting unit for setting the cycle frequency, an acousto-optic deflection unit for deflecting the optical axis of the pulse laser beam oscillated from the laser beam oscillation section, and a control unit for controlling the acousto-optic deflection unit. The control unit outputs a driving pulse signal having a predetermined time width including a pulse width of the pulse laser beam oscillated from the pulse laser beam oscillator to the acousto-optic deflection unit based on the cycle frequency setting signal from the cycle frequency setting section.
US08487200B2
A multi-function switch assembly configured to implement a push switch function is provided. A structure for operating pivot switches of the multi-function switch assembly includes a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) disposed between upper and lower casings coupled together to face each other, push switches and rotary switches mounted on the PCB, pivot switches mounted on a bottom of the PCB, a pair of sliders disposed to cross each other at a bottom of the lower casing and configured to laterally ground and operate the pivot switches in eight directions while operating in conjunction with a manipulation direction of the actuation lever, and alignment means configured to elastically support at least one of bottoms of the pair of sliders so that restoring force of a neutral state is generated.
US08487187B2
A hermetic feed-through includes a housing body defining a hollow space, a plurality of conductive pins and a seal structure. The plurality of conductive pins extend through the hollow space. The seal structure is provided in the hollow space and includes a single-piece glass component. The single-piece glass component hermetically seals at least two conductive pins to the housing body and electrically insulates the at least two conductive pins from the housing body.
US08487186B2
A flat power cable includes at least two cores of which at least two cores include a power transmissive insulated element and a protective sheath disposed in a radially external position with respect to the power transmissive insulated element. The cores are disposed on a common transversal axis and an outer armour contains the cores. Inside the armour, adjacent cores and an internal surface of the armour delimit empty interstitial spaces. The flat cable includes swellable fillers disposed in the empty interstitial spaces. In a transversal section of the cable, each of the swellable fillers, in an unswelled configuration, presents a cross section area smaller than a cross section area of the respective empty interstitial space. The swellable fillers swell by absorbing fluid the flat power cable is submerged in and enlarge, filling all the interstices, pushing against the cores and the armour and constraining the cable in its flat configuration.
US08487182B2
A wiring harness subunit is routed on an interior panel to be attached to a ceiling wall inside a vehicle. The wiring harness subunit includes: a wiring harness having a tip end part extended through the outer edge of the interior panel, and a base end part continued to the tip end part and attached to the interior panel; a first attaching member for fixing an end of the base end part to the interior panel so as to allow the tip end part to be moved to absorb a slack; and a second attaching member for fixing the other end of the base end part to the interior panel. An extra length part having a predetermined length is interposed between the first attaching member and the second attaching member of the base end part.
US08487167B2
The present invention relates to non-transgenic tetraploid wheat plants having soft textured endosperm, methods for constructing said non-transgenic plants using cytogenetics and classical breeding techniques, endosperm therefrom and uses thereof.
US08487151B2
The device described in the present invention allows pre-distribution of the gas and liquid feed supplying a reactor functioning in gas and liquid co-current downflow mode to be carried out by means of a pre-distribution plate comprising a filtration medium and an overflow tube in order to regulate the flow of liquid arriving on the distributor plate located downstream of said device.More particularly, the present invention is applicable to the selective hydrogenation treatment of feeds containing acetylenic and dienic compounds.
US08487143B2
A process for the selective production of ethanol by vapor phase reaction of acetic acid over a hydrogenating catalyst composition to form ethanol is disclosed and claimed. In an embodiment of this invention reaction of acetic acid and hydrogen over either cobalt and palladium supported on graphite or cobalt and platinum supported on silica selectively produces ethanol in a vapor phase at a temperature of about 250° C.
US08487134B2
The invention relates to processes for preparing acylated amphetamine, methamphetamine and dexamphetamine derivatives by reacting the parent amine with the to be-coupled acid or a salt of the to-be coupled acid which acid is optionally protected, in the presence of an alkylphosphonic acid anhydride as coupling agent and, if the acid was protected then cleaving the protecting group(s), in a one-pot reaction or in two or more separate steps.
US08487133B2
The present invention relates to the use of a compound of the Formula (I) wherein: R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7 and R8 denote in each case independently of one another hydrogen, an alkyl radical with 1 to 6 C atoms, or an alkenyl radical with 2 to 6 C atoms, with the proviso that at least one of the radicals R1, R2, R7 and R8 and at least one further of the radicals R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7 and R8 are not hydrogen, wherein independently of one another also two of the radicals R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7 and R8 can together denote a bridge with one or more bridge C atoms; Y1 and Y2 denote independently of one another hydrogen, methyl or ethyl; and Ra and Rb denote independently of one another hydrogen, an alkyl radical with 1 to 6 C atoms, an alkenyl radical with 2 to 6 C atoms or a cycloalkyl radical with 3 to 6 C atoms as a food flavor substance.
US08487128B2
The invention provides compositions comprising sulindac, R-epimer sulindac, S-epimer sulindac, derivatives, metabolites, and structural analogs thereof which protect normal cells against damage caused by solar rays, oxidative damage, environmental factors, diseases and organisms.
US08487125B2
A method for producing caffeic acid phenyl ester and its analogues, which includes the steps of: (i) reacting, in a solvent, a salt of a compound of formula (II) with an organic halide having the formula X—R2-A2 in the presence of an iodide catalyst having the formula M-I to produce caffeic acid phenyl ester or its analogue, wherein A1, R1, Q, Y, X, R2, and M are defined herein; and (ii) isolating the caffeic acid phenyl ester or its analogue from the solvent.
US08487122B2
The present invention relates to a novel process for the synthesis of Nebivolol product represented in Scheme (1), comprised of a reduced number of high-yield steps, and characterized by the kinetic resolution of the two epoxide pairs diastereoisomeric therebetween (mixture 1), allowing to avoid complex chromatographic separations.
US08487109B2
The present invention relates to a process for the regioselective synthesis of compounds of the formula (I), wherein R1; R2; R3; R4; R5; J and W have the meanings indicated in the claims. The present invention provides an efficient and general palladium-catalyzed coupling process for aryl tosylates with terminal alkynes to a wide variety of substituted, multifunctional aryl-1-alkynes of the formula I.
US08487099B2
This invention provides novel compounds that are modulators of gamma secretase. The compounds have the formula (I). Also disclosed are methods of modulating gamma secretase activity and methods of treating Alzheimer's Disease using the compounds of formula (I).
US08487098B2
A synergistic antimicrobial composition containing flumetsulam and an isothiazolone biocide chosen from among 4,5-dichloro-2-n-octyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one, 2-n-octyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one and N-n-butyl-1,2-benzisothiazolin-3-one. A synergistic antimicrobial composition containing diclosulam and an isothiazolone biocide chosen from 4,5-dichloro-2-n-octyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one and 2-n-octyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one.
US08487093B2
Substituted bicyclic beta-lactams of Formula I: (I), are β-lactamase inhibitors, wherein a, X, R1 and R2 are defined herein. The compounds and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof are useful in the treatment of bacterial infections in combination with β-lactam antibiotics. In particular, the compounds can be employed with a β-lactam antibiotics (e.g., imipenem, piperacillin, or ceftazidime) against microorganisms resistant to β-lactam antibiotics due to the presence of the β-lactamases.
US08487090B2
A preparation of a kind of 20(R)-ginsenoside Rg3 medicinal composition aqueous solution containing ginsenoside Rg3 0.5˜10 mg/ml: add 0.1-5% of ginsenoside solution to 0.1˜30% of adjuvant A, B{circle around (1)}{circle around (2)}{circle around (5)} at the temperature of 40˜100° C., the ratio of these two is 1:1˜300, add water after the solvent is recycled under reduced pressure; another kind of 20(R)-ginsenoside Rg3 medicinal composition aqueous solution contains 0.1˜2 mg/ml of 20(R) of the ginsenoside Rg3, the preparation: add 0.1˜5% of ginsenoside solution to 20˜65% of adjuvant B{circle around (3)}{circle around (4)} at the temperature of 60˜100° C., main material to adjuvant B=1:100˜400, add water after the solvent is recycled under reduced pressure. The above 20(R) ginsenoside Rg3 composition aqueous solution and the powder after lyophilizaton can be used to prepare injectable, oral administration and external use, and the bioactivity of these preparations is high, and with the actions of anti cancer, efficacy potentiation and toxicity attenuation effects of the combined chemical or radiation therapy of tumor, enhancement of human immune functions, improvement of human memory, anti fatigue, and detumescence, pain relieving.
US08487089B2
The present invention relates to a water-soluble associative cellulose ether having a DP viscosity from 250 to 20,000 mPa·s, measured at a concentration of 1% by weight, and a molecular substitution, MS, from 0.0001 to 0.005 of a hydrophobic substituent containing an unsubstituted or substituted hydrocarbon group of 8-24 carbon atoms. The cellulose ether has a good thickening effect and advantageous application properties at low contents and can be used in an aqueous decorative paint composition, an aqueous paper coating composition, an aqueous organic filler composition, an aqueous cement slurry, an aqueous detergent composition or an aqueous personal care formulation.
US08487071B2
A polyether polymer containing a defined polymerization unit (—R1—O—R2—O—), R1 and R2 being derived from monomers (A) and (B), respectively; and a process for producing the polyether polymer comprising the step of copolymerizing the monomer (A) with the monomer (B) in the presence of a metal salt, wherein the monomer (A) is (A1) a non-conjugated mono-cyclic diene compound containing a cyclic skeleton, or (A2) a non-conjugated cyclic diene compound containing a mutual linking of plurality of a mono-cyclic structure having a cyclic skeleton, and the monomer (B) is an aliphatic diol, an alicyclic diol or a divalent phenol.
US08487055B2
There is provided a polymer made from a monomer having Formula I: where: R and Y are independently selected from the group consisting of H, D, alkyl, fluoroalkyl, aryl, fluoroaryl, alkoxy, aryloxy, NR″2, R′, R′ is a crosslinkable group; R″ is independently selected from the group consisting of H, alkyl, fluoroalkyl, aryl, fluoroaryl, and R′; X is a leaving group; Z is C, Si, or N; Q is (ZR″n)b; a is an integer from 0 to 5; b is an integer from 0 to 20; c is an integer from 0 to 4; q is an integer from 0 to 7; and n is an integer from 1 to 2.
US08487053B2
Methods for removing polymer skins or build-up from reactor walls in polymerization reactor systems containing a loop slurry reactor are disclosed. Such methods can employ removing some or all of the comonomer from the reactor system in combination with increasing the polymerization temperature of the loop slurry reactor.
US08487042B2
A resin composition including the following components (A) to (C): (A) polyarylene sulfide resin: 20 wt %
US08487033B2
Provided are thermoplastic elastomer compositions composed of a thermoplastic component, an elastomeric component, and at least one particulate composition. Particulate compositions are composed of a particulate material and a carrier medium. Exemplary particulate materials include minerals, mineral compounds, including mineral oxides, clays, carbon, nanotubes, and combinations thereof. Typical carrier mediums are one or more polar polymers, apolar polymers, one or more oils, poly α-olefins, or combinations thereof. The at least one particulate composition is dispersed within the thermoplastic component and/or the elastomeric component. Particulate compositions include clay grease compositions wherein a clay, e.g., an exfoliated clay, is utilized as a thickener.
US08487021B2
The present disclosure relates to bone cement formulations that have an extended working time for use in vertebroplasty procedures and other osteoplasty procedures together with cement injectors that include energy delivery systems for on-demand control of cement viscosity and flow parameters. The bone cement formulations may include a liquid component having at least one monomer and a non-liquid component including polymer particles and benzoyl peroxide (BPO). The non-liquid component may be further configured to allow controlled exposure of the BPO to the liquid monomer so as to enable control of the viscosity of the bone cement composition.
US08487020B2
Aqueous suspensions of silicate shell microcapsules are disclosed wherein a first portion of the silicate shell micro-capsules contain an organopolysiloxane having at least two alkenyl groups and a hydrosilylation catalyst as Part A of a curable siloxane composition, and a second portion of the silicate shell microcapsules contain an organohydrogensiloxane as Part B of the curable siloxane composition.
US08487018B2
Heavy metal-free compostable polymers, composites and articles anaerobically biodegrade in landfills in a relatively short time. Heavy metal-free composite polymeric articles and sheets such as indoor or outdoor signs, billboards, banners, images, protective barriers, backdrops and wall coverings have very useful service durations and yet are landfill biodegradable.
US08487010B1
A process for reducing the carbon oxide content in natural gas, by producing a carbon oxide containing natural gas from a geological formation through a natural gas delivery system; providing a reaction zone containing at least one catalyst suitable for hydrocarbon conversion in the natural gas delivery system; introducing hydrogen into the carbon oxide containing natural gas to form a reaction mixture; and passing the reaction mixture to the catalyst in the reaction zone to convert at least a portion of the carbon oxides in the natural gas to hydrocarbons.
US08487005B2
Disclosed are modified release oral tranexamic acid formulations and methods of treatment therewith.
US08486994B2
The present invention relates to prodrugs of compounds containing 1,3-dioxane moiety, pharmaceutical compositions thereof, and the use of the compounds and compositions for the modulation of thromboxane A2 or a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor. The prodrugs of the compounds, analogs, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, and pharmaceutical compositions can be used in the treatment and prevention of cancer.
US08486993B2
A pharmaceutical composition comprising tacrolimus (FK-506) dissolved and/or dispersed in a hydrophilic or water-miscible vehicle to form a solid dispersion or solid solution at ambient temperature have improved bioavailability.
US08486984B2
The present invention relates to an aminomethyl substituted bicyclic aromatic compound of the formula I The invention also relates to the use of a compound of the formula I or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof for preparing a pharmaceutical composition for the treatment of a medical disorder susceptible to treatment with a dopamine D3 receptor ligand.
US08486983B2
A liquid formulation for oral administration of the CETP inhibitor of formula (I) has improved bioavailability compared with conventional solid formulations. The formulation comprises the CETP inhibitor, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof; an oil; and one or more nonionic surfactants having a hydrophilic lipophilic balance (HLB)>10.
US08486982B2
Novel 1,2,4-oxadiazole benzoic acid compounds, methods of using and pharmaceutical compositions comprising an 1,2,4-oxadiazole benzoic acid derivative are disclosed. The methods include methods of treating or preventing a disease ameliorated by modulation of premature translation termination or nonsense-mediated mRNA decay, or ameliorating one or more symptoms associated therewith.
US08486974B2
Aspirin is one of the most widely used drugs in the treatment of inflammation, pain and fever. It has more recently found application in the prevention of heart attacks and stroke and is being studied as a cancer chemopreventative agent. Despite its value aspirin continues to be underutilized because it causes gastric bleeding. The technology under development potentially removes this problem. It is designed to reduce contact between the drug and the intestinal lining. An isosorbide aspirinate prodrug compound is thus provided. The compound has the general structure as shown in general formula (I) wherein Y is a C1-C8 alkyl ester, a C1-C8 alkoxy ester, a C3-C10 cycloalkyl ester, an arylester, a C1-C8 alkylaryl ester or —C(O)ORring, wherein Rring is a 5-membered aromatic or nonaromatic 5-member ring having at least one heteroatom substituted for a carbon of the ring system, which can be unsubstituted or substituted with at least one nitric oxide releasing group.
US08486972B2
The present invention is directed to sublingual formulations containing fentanyl, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, or derivative thereof, suitable for administration to a patient, and methods for treatment with the formulations.
US08486968B2
This invention relates to compounds of formula I their use as inhibitors of the microsomal prostaglandin E2 synthase-1 (mPGES-1), pharmaceutical compositions containing them, and their use as medicaments for the treatment and/or prevention of inflammatory diseases and associated conditions. A, L, M, W, R1, R2, R3, R4, R6, R7, Ra, Rb have meanings given in the description.
US08486961B2
The present invention relates to compounds of formula I: methods of their use, processes for their preparation and isolated actinomycetes strains capable of preparing pyrrolo[4,3,2-de]quinolin-8-amine compounds.
US08486952B2
The present disclosure provides a series of compounds of the formula (I) which modulate β-amyloid peptide (β-AP) production and are useful in the treatment of Alzheimer's Disease and other conditions affected by β-amyloid peptide (β-AP) production.
US08486947B2
The present invention provides new method of treatment of Parkinson's disease, obstructive sleep apnea, narcolepsy, dementia with Lewy bodies, vascular dementia with non-imidazole alkylamine derivatives that constitute antagonists of the H3-receptors of histamine.
US08486943B2
The present invention provides a compound of the Formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof; pharmaceutical compositions comprising a compound of Formula (I) in combination with a suitable carrier, diluent, or excipient; and methods for treating or preventing physiological disorders, particularly reduced bone mass, osteoporosis, osteopenia, reduced muscle mass or strength, or erectile dysfunction comprising administering a compound of Formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
US08486940B2
The invention relates to novel pyrrolidine derivatives of formula (I): wherein R1, R2 and R3 are as defined herein, as inhibitors of glutaminyl cyclase (QC, EC 2.3.2.5). QC catalyzes the intramolecular cyclization of N-terminal glutamine residues into pyroglutamic acid (5-oxo-prolyl, pGlu*) under liberation of ammonia and the intramolecular cyclization of N-terminal glutamate residues into pyroglutamic acid under liberation of water.
US08486934B2
Novel dioxazine- and oxdiazine-substituted arylamides of the formula (I) in which A1, A2, R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5 are as defined in the description, a plurality of processes for preparing these compounds and their use for controlling pests, and also novel intermediates and processes for their preparation.
US08486931B2
The present invention relates to compounds of the general formula (I) in which A, B, R1, R2 and Het have the meaning given in claim 1; Y is a bivalent group of the formula in which D is C1-C3-alkylene, where D may have a substituent R5; R3 is hydrogen, C1-C8-alkyl or together with R4 is C1-C3-alkylene which may have a radical R5a, or together with R5 is C1-C3-alkylene, and R4 is hydrogen, C1-C8-alkyl or together with R3 is C1-C3-alkylene which may have a radical R5a, or together with R5 is C1-C3-alkylene, where R5 together with R5a, where present, are a bond or C1-C3-alkylene; and where one of the following conditions is satisfied: R3 together with R4 is C1-C3-alkylene which may have a radical R5a; or R3 together with R5 is C1-C3-alkylene; or R4 together with R5 is C1-C3-alkylene where the radical A is different from phenyl when the radical B is phenyl or naphthyl; and medicaments which comprise such compounds and the use thereof for the prophylaxis and/or treatment of vasopressin-dependent and/or oxytocin-dependent diseases.
US08486929B2
Use of a monobactam antibiotic of formula (I) wherein the oxyimino group i.e. >C═N—O— has Z-orientation, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof for the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of a bacterial infection in combination with a carbapenem antibiotic or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
US08486927B2
The invention is directed to novel crystalline forms of lamotrigine. These novel crystalline forms of lamotrigine have improved dissolution and in-vivo absorption profile, as compared to pure lamotrigine. These novel crystalline forms of lamotrigine provide a substantial increase in the blood concentration of lamotrigine, as compared to pure lamotrigine when administered to a subject. These novel crystalline forms of lamotrigine also provide a slower, steady build up of lamotrigine blood concentration suitable for sustained release of lamotrigine in-vivo, as compared to pure lamotrigine.
US08486924B2
Nanoparticulate formulations for delivery of taxane conjugate prodrug formed from a taxane coupled to a hydrophobic moiety through a glycolate linker are described.
US08486923B2
The subject matter of this application relates to the combination of ciclesonide with an antihistamine.
US08486918B2
The present invention relates to novel phenyl oxadiazole derivatives, processes for preparing them, pharmaceutical compositions containing them and their use as pharmaceuticals as modulators of sphingosine-1-phosphate receptors.
US08486912B2
Described herein is a method of decreasing expression of MAFB in a subject having a cancer and/or myeloproliferative disorder associated with overexpression of a MAFB gene product where an effective amount of at least one miR-130a gene product or an isolated variant or biologically-active fragment thereof is administered to the subject sufficient to decrease expression of the MAFB gene product in the subject.
US08486909B2
Compositions and methods are disclosed for the treatment and diagnosis of inflammatory diseases and disorders, including pulmonary diseases and fibrotic disorders, including COPD.
US08486905B2
Provided are a composition for diagnosing cancer or screening an anticancer drug comprising an FLJ25416 gene or an antibody directed to a protein expressed from the FLJ25416 gene, a composition for treating cancer comprising an inhibitor of the gene or an inhibitor of the protein expressed from the gene and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, and a kit for diagnosing cancer comprising at least one of the FLJ25416 gene and the protein expressed from the FLJ25416 gene. The FLJ25416 gene is expressed at high level in specific cancer cells, and induces an increase in proliferation rate of normal cells. The expression of the gene is suppressed, which results in an inhibitory effect on cancer cell growth. Thus, the FLJ25416 gene can be used as a target gene for diagnosis or treatment of cancer.
US08486898B2
Compounds extracted from Rhodiola rosea have ability to inhibit gelatinases and collagenases activity. The compounds have the chemical structure as shown below.
US08486897B2
Compounds of formula (I) and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, for use in the prevention and treatment of diseases including diabetes.
US08486893B2
The invention provides methods of treating diseases, disorsers or injuries involving demyelination and dysmyelination, including multiple sclerosis, by the administration of an Sp35 antagonist.
US08486879B2
A solid composition including calcium and/or magnesium hypochlorite, a builder (e.g., one or more of carbonate, bicarbonate, sesquicarbonate), an acid, a water-soluble polymer, at least one anionic surfactant, and optionally, a hydrotrope. The composition does not include any potassium hypochlorite, sodium hypochlorite, lithium hypochlorite, N-halogenated compounds, peroxides, persulfates, hydantoins, isocyanurates, or carboxylic acids that also have hydroxyl, amino, amido, imino, or imido groups. Upon dissolution of the composition in water, the calcium and/or magnesium hypochlorite and acid react to form hypochlorous acid. The use of hypochlorous acid, rather than direct use of an alkaline or alkaline earth hypochlorite results in a composition that is typically acidic rather than basic, and that results in improved cleaning. The composition is particularly suited for cleaning and disinfecting dentures.
US08486877B2
An alkylated hydroxyaromatic compound is disclosed which is prepared by reacting at least one hydroxyaromatic compound with at least one branched olefinic propylene oligomer having from about 20 to about 80 carbon atoms in the presence of an acid catalyst, wherein the at least one branched olefinic propylene oligomer is substantially free of any vinylidene content. The alkylated hydroxyaromatic compound has been determined to be substantially free of endocrine disruptive chemicals when the effects were quantified on pubertal development and thyroid function in the intact juvenile female rat.
US08486876B2
A functional fluid suitable for use in an internal combustion engine is provided, comprising: (a) a major amount of a base fluid; (b) a minor amount of a polysubstituted alkanol amine derivative reaction product obtainable by reacting: (i) a carboxylate compound of formula I R1COOR2 (I) in which: R1 is an aliphatic C1-30-hydrocarbon radical; and R2 is hydrogen or alkyl, mono- or polyhydroxyalkyl, or ammonium; with (ii) an alkanol amine of the formula II NHR3R4 (II) wherein R3 and R4 are independently selected from hydrogen atoms and linear or branched-chain hydrocarbon groups, the carbon chain of which is optionally interrupted by one or more —NH— groups and which optionally has at least one hydroxyl group attached to a carbon atom of the hydrocarbon group, with the proviso that R3 and R4 are not both hydrogen atoms and that at least one of said residues R3 and R4 carries at least one hydroxyl group; in a molar ratio of the —COO— groups of the carboxylate compound of formula I to the molar sum of OH and NH groups of the alkanol amine of formula II in a range and under reaction conditions supporting the formation of a reaction product comprising polysubstituted alkanol amine derivatives; and (c) a minor amount of a detergent additive.
US08486871B2
A lubricating oil for a compression-type refrigerator using a hydrofluorocarbon refrigerant including a polyvinyl ether-based compound containing in the molecule an alkylene glycol unit or a polyoxyalkylene glycol unit and a polyvinyl ether unit and having a molecular weight in the range of 300 to 3,000, and a refrigeration apparatus using the lubricating oil.The present invention can provide a lubricating oil for a compression-type refrigerator having good compatibility in the atmosphere of a hydrofluorocarbon and a high viscosity index, and a refrigeration apparatus using such a lubricating oil.
US08486870B1
Embodiments of the present invention may provide textured surfaces to be lubricated, the texturing to enhance the effectiveness of the intended nano-lubrication. The texturing may make asperities and depressions in the surface to be lubricated. This texturing may be executed, for example, by chemical etching, laser etching, or other techniques. This texturing may create locations in the lubricated surface to hold or anchor the intended nano-lubricants, to facilitate the creation of a tribo-film on the surface when the lubricated surface is used under pressure, and resulting in delivery of multiple chemistries from the nano-lubricant.
US08486859B2
The present invention relates to methods and compositions for supplementing the soil/diet of plants in order to enhance plant growth, yield, hardening, as well as the recovery of plants which undergo transplantation. The present invention provides ribose and other pentose sugars and their derivatives, alone or in combination with other carbohydrates, electrolytes, minerals, enzymes, micronutrients, macronutrients, or other ingredients to enhance plant growth, yield, hardening, and aid in the recovery during and following transplantation.
US08486857B2
Provided are a donor substrate for laser induced thermal imaging (LITI) and a method of fabricating an organic light emitting diode (OLED) using the same, which can prevent a transferred emission layer from being damaged by heat and thus prevent wrinkles from forming on the surface thereof. The donor substrate includes a base layer, a light-to-heat conversion layer disposed on the base layer, a first transfer layer disposed on the light-to-heat conversion layer and including an organic layer, an inorganic layer, or a double layer thereof, and a second transfer layer disposed on the first transfer layer and including an emission layer. The first transfer layer has an absolute value of lowest unoccupied molecular orbital energy level of 2.6 to 3.0 eV and a band gap energy of 2.8 to 3.4 eV.
US08486856B2
Process for producing activated carbon having a high catalytic activity, in which a carbonaceous material is brought into contact with nitrogen compounds, wherein the carbonaceous material is partially gasified with a mixture of steam, nitrogen and CO2 at temperatures above 800° C. in a manner known per se in a multistage fluidized bed and wherein a nitrogen compound is added into the furnace and/or at least one stage of the multistage fluidized bed.
US08486854B2
The present invention relates to an absorbent or a superabsorbent nanocomposite material comprising a polysaccharide and a phyllosilicate. The polysaccharide component can be a biodegradable polysaccharide that is a self-entangled glass-like polysaccharide or a crosslinked polysaccharide. The phyllosilicate component can be an exfoliation or a semi-exfoliation clay.
US08486850B2
The invention relates to aluminophosphate-based glasses suitable for use as a solid laser medium, which further contains SiO2 and B2O3. The laser glasses possess desirable figure of merit values for FOMTM and FOMlaser, as described herein.
US08486846B2
A soft top is provided for a cabriolet. The soft top includes, but is not limited to, a monofilament warp thread and a monofilament weft thread. The soft top also includes, but is not limited to, a filling material substantially filling the interstices between the monofilament warp thread and the monofilament weft thread to form a substantially translucent fabric.
US08486844B2
A system for processing a semiconductor substrate is provided. The system includes a mainframe having a plurality of modules attached thereto. The modules include processing modules, storage modules, and transport mechanisms. The processing modules may include combinatorial processing modules and conventional processing modules, such as surface preparation, thermal treatment, etch and deposition modules. In one embodiment, at least one of the modules stores multiple masks. The multiple masks enable in-situ variation of spatial location and geometry across a sequence of processes and/or multiple layers of a substrate to be processed in another one of the modules. A method for processing a substrate is also provided.
US08486843B2
A method of forming a nanoscale three-dimensional pattern in a porous semiconductor includes providing a film comprising a semiconductor material and defining a nanoscale metal pattern on the film, where the metal pattern has at least one lateral dimension of about 100 nm or less in size. Semiconductor material is removed from below the nanoscale metal pattern to create trenches in the film having a depth-to-width aspect ratio of at least about 10:1, while pores are formed in remaining portions of the film adjacent to the trenches. A three-dimensional pattern having at least one nanoscale dimension is thus formed in a porous semiconductor, which may be porous silicon. The method can be extended to form self-integrated porous low-k dielectric insulators with copper interconnects, and may also facilitate wafer level chip scale packaging integration.
US08486829B2
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.
US08486827B2
A device of filling metal in a through-via-hole formed in a semiconductor wafer and a method of filling metal in a through-via-hole using the same are disclosed. A device of filling metal in a through-via-hole formed in a semiconductor wafer includes a jig base comprising a jig configured to fix the wafer having the through-via-hole formed therein; a upper chamber 120 installed on the jig base; a lower chamber installed under the jig base; a heater installed in the upper chamber, the heater configured to apply heat to filling metal placed on the wafer to melt the filling metal; and a vacuum pump configured to generate pressure difference between the upper chamber and the lower chamber by the pressure of the lower chamber reduced by discharging air of the lower chamber 130 outside, only to fill the melted filling metal in the through-via-hole.
US08486817B2
A method for forming a level of a tridimensional structure on a first support in which components are formed, including the steps of forming, on a second semiconductor support, a single-crystal semiconductor substrate with an interposed thermal oxide layer; placing the free surface of the single-crystal semiconductor substrate on the upper surface of the first support; eliminating the second semiconductor support; and thinning down the thermal oxide layer down to a thickness capable of forming a gate insulator.
US08486816B2
An integrated optical waveguide has a first optical waveguide, a second optical waveguide, and a groove. The second optical waveguide is coupled to the first optical waveguide and has a refractive index that is different from the first optical waveguide. The groove is disposed so as to traverse an optical path of the first optical waveguide and is separated from an interface between the first optical waveguide and the second optical waveguide by a predetermined spacing. The spacing from the interface and the width of the groove are determined such that reflection at a boundary between the first optical waveguide and the second optical waveguide is weakened. A semiconductor board may be disposed at a boundary between the first optical waveguide and the second optical waveguide. In this case, the width of the groove and the thickness of the semiconductor board are determined such that light reflected off an interface between the first optical waveguide and the groove is weakened by light reflected from an interface between the groove and the semiconductor board, and by light reflected from an interface between the semiconductor board and the second optical waveguide.
US08486812B2
The present invention relates to a fabrication method for polycrystalline silicon thin that is capable of providing uniform crystallization of polycrystalline silicon thin film by laser using a mask having a mixed structure of laser transmission regions and laser non-transmission regions, wherein the laser transmission regions exist asymmetrically on the basis of a laser scanning directional axis, and the laser transmission regions exist symmetrically on the basis of a certain central axis, and the laser transmission regions are shifted to a certain distance on the basis of another axis parallel to the certain central axis, so that the laser transmission regions and non laser transmission regions are alternately positioned.
US08486807B2
A method of forming a semiconductor structure includes providing a substrate; forming a buffer/nucleation layer over the substrate; forming a group-III nitride (III-nitride) layer over the buffer/nucleation layer; and subjecting the III-nitride layer to a nitridation. The step of forming the III-nitride layer comprises metal organic chemical vapor deposition.
US08486793B2
A semiconductor device including a gate electrode disposed on a semiconductor substrate and source/drain regions disposed at both sides of the gate electrode, the source/drain regions being formed by implanting impurities. The source/drain regions include an epitaxial layer formed by epitaxially growing a semiconductor material having a different lattice constant from that of the semiconductor substrate in a recessed position at a side of the gate electrode, and a diffusion layer disposed in a surface layer of the semiconductor substrate.
US08486790B2
A manufacturing method for a metal gate includes providing a substrate having a dielectric layer and a polysilicon layer formed thereon, the polysilicon layer, forming a protecting layer on the polysilicon layer, forming a patterned hard mask on the protecting layer, performing a first etching process to etch the protecting layer and the polysilicon layer to form a dummy gate having a first height on the substrate, forming a multilayered dielectric structure covering the patterned hard mask and the dummy gate, removing the dummy gate to form a gate trench on the substrate, and forming a metal gate having a second height in the gate trench. The second height of the metal gate is substantially equal to the first height of the dummy gate.
US08486788B2
A semiconductor device includes: a semiconductor substrate in which a trench is formed; a source region and a drain region each of which is buried in the trench and contains an impurity of the same conductive type; a semiconductor FIN buried in the trench and provided between the source and drain regions; a gate insulating film provided on a side surface of the semiconductor FIN as well as the upper surface of the semiconductor FIN; and a gate electrode formed on the gate insulating film.
US08486772B2
The method of one embodiment of the present invention includes: a first step of irradiating a bond substrate with ions to form an embrittlement region in the bond substrate; a second step of bonding the bond substrate to a base substrate with an insulating layer therebetween; a third step of splitting the bond substrate at the embrittlement region to form a semiconductor layer over the base substrate with the insulating layer therebetween; and a fourth step of subjecting the bond substrate split at the embrittlement region to a first heat treatment in an argon atmosphere and then a second heat treatment in an atmosphere of a mixture of oxygen and nitrogen to form a reprocessed bond substrate. The reprocessed bond substrate is used again as a bond substrate in the first step.
US08486768B2
In a complex semiconductor device, electronic fuses may be formed in the active semiconductor material by using a semiconductor material of reduced heat conductivity selectively in the fuse body, wherein, in some illustrative embodiments, the fuse body may be delineated by a non-silicided semiconductor base material.
US08486767B2
An interconnect structure in a semiconductor device may be formed to include a number of segments. Each segment may include a first metal. A barrier structure may be located between the plurality of segments to enable the interconnect structure to avoid electromigration problems.
US08486761B2
A multi-chip light emitting device (LED) uses a low-cost carrier structure that facilitates the use of substrates that are optimized to support the devices that require a substrate. Depending upon the type of LED elements used, some of the LED elements may be mounted on the carrier structure, rather than on the more expensive ceramic substrate. In like manner, other devices, such as sensors and control elements, may be mounted on the carrier structure as well. Because the carrier and substrate structures are formed independent of the encapsulation and other after-formation processes, these structures can be tested prior to encapsulation, thereby avoiding the cost of these processes being applied to inoperative structures.
US08486755B2
Magnetic field sensors and associated methods of manufacturing the magnetic field sensors include molded structures to encapsulate a magnetic field sensing element and an associated die attach pad of a lead frame and to also encapsulate or form a magnet or a flux concentrator.
US08486750B2
A fabrication method for solid-state imaging devices includes having circuitry formed on a substrate, forming a lower electrode layer on the circuitry, patterning the lower electrode layer to separate pixel-wise into a set of segments, and forming a compound-semiconductor film of chalcopyrite structure over a whole area of element regions. A resist layer is applied on the compound-semiconductor thin film to pixel-wise pattern in accordance with the lower electrode layer as a base separated into the set of segments, and an ion doping is applied over a whole area of element regions, forming element separating regions in the compound-semiconductor thin film. The method includes removing the resist layer for exposure of surfaces of as set of compound-semiconductor thin films separated pixel-wise by the element separating regions. A transparent electrode layer is formed in a planarizing manner over a whole area of element regions.
US08486742B2
A method for manufacturing a light-emitting device comprising the steps of: providing a substrate comprising a first surface and a second surface; forming a plurality of cutting lines on the substrate by a laser beam; cleaning the substrate by a chemical solution; and forming a light-emitting stack on an first surface of the substrate after cleaning the substrate.
US08486734B2
An alternating current light-emitting device includes a substrate, a plurality of microdie light-emitting elements formed on the substrate, a rectifying element-dedicated member formed on a surface of a portion of microdie light-emitting elements, a rectifying unit formed on the rectifying element-dedicated member and provided with at least four rectifying elements forming a Wheatstone bridge circuit, and an electrically conductive structure electrically connecting the rectifying elements and the microdie light-emitting elements. With the rectifying unit being formed on the rectifying element-dedicated member, the rectifying elements are highly tolerant of reverse bias and feature low starting forward bias. Also, the present invention provides a method for fabricating an alternating current light-emitting device.
US08486732B2
Disclosed are a light emitting device, a method of manufacturing the same, a light emitting device package, and a lighting system. The light emitting device includes a conductive support member, a light emitting structure layer including a first conductive semiconductor layer, an active layer, and a second conductive semiconductor layer on the conductive support member, and an electrode on the light emitting structure layer. The conductive support member has a curved lateral surface recessed inward.
US08486725B2
A light emitting device is produced by depositing a layer of wavelength converting material over the light emitting device, testing the device to determine the wavelength spectrum produced and correcting the wavelength converting member to produce the desired wavelength spectrum. The wavelength converting member may be corrected by reducing or increasing the amount of wavelength converting material. In one embodiment, the amount of wavelength converting material in the wavelength converting member is reduced, e.g., through laser ablation or etching, to produce the desired wavelength spectrum.
US08486723B1
A method and structure for a three-axis magnetic field sensing device is provided. The device includes a substrate, an IC layer, and preferably three magnetic field sensors coupled to the IC layer. A nickel-iron magnetic field concentrator is also provided.
US08486716B2
The present invention provides a method for detection of a basic peptide by mixing a sample suspected to contain the basic peptide and a reagent containing denatured albumin and detecting turbidness due to a complex of the basic peptide and denatured albumin.
US08486713B2
Rapid mass spectrometric immunoassay methods for detecting and/or quantifying antibody and antigen analytes utilizing affinity capture to isolate the analytes and internal reference species (for quantification) followed by mass spectrometric analysis of the isolated analyte/internal reference species. Quantification is obtained by normalizing and calibrating obtained mass spectrum against the mass spectrum obtained for an antibody/antigen of known concentration.
US08486699B2
Two cell lines, PICM-19H and PICM-19B, were derived from the bipotent ARS-PICM-19 pig liver stem cell line. The unipotent porcine stem cell line PICM-19H differentiates exclusively into hepatocytes and can be induced to express CYP450 enzymes. The growth rate and cell density in culture, morphological features, and hepatocyte detoxification functions, i.e., inducible CYP450 activity, ammonia clearance, and urea production of the PICM-19H cells were evaluated for their application in artificial liver devices. PICM-19H cells contain numerous mitochondria, Golgi apparatus, smooth and rough endoplasmic reticulum, vesicular bodies and occasional lipid vacuoles and display inducible CYP450 activity, clear ammonia, and produce urea in a glutamine-free medium. The data indicate that both cell lines, either together or alone, may be useful as the cellular substrate for an artificial liver device. The results demonstrate the potential for the use of PICM-19H cells in drug biotransformation and toxicity testing.
US08486698B2
The present invention relates to methods of inducing differentiation of mammalian bone marrow stromal cells into neuronal cells by contacting marrow stromal cells with a neuronal differentiation-inducing compounds. Neuronal differentiation-inducing compounds of the invention include anti-oxidants such as, but not limited to, beta-mercaptoethanol, dimethylsulfoxide, butylated hydroxyanisole, butylated hydroxytoluene, ascorbic acid, dimethylfumarate, and n-acetylcysteine. Once induced to differentiate into neuronal cells, the cells can be used for cell therapy, gene therapy, or both, for treatment of diseases, disorders, or conditions of the central nervous system.
