US08527649B2
A method for communication includes providing an item of media content for streaming in a plurality of versions having different, respective bit rates. The media content is streamed from a server to a client by transmitting a first version of the item over a network at a first bit rate from the server to the client via a server buffer associated with the server and monitoring a fill level of the server buffer while streaming the media content. The server switches to transmitting a second version of the item at a second bit rate, different from the first bit rate, to the client in response to a change in the fill level of the server buffer.
US08527646B2
Methods and systems for remotely editing a video file involve: receiving, at a server, a video editing command from a remote client; modifying, at the server, a virtual representation of a media file in accordance with the received command, the virtual representation including a reference to a source media file stored on a storage device, the storage device being connected to the server over a high-speed link; and generating and transmitting, from the server to the remote client, a proxy representation of the source media file modified by the editing commands, wherein the various regions of the proxy representation are rendered either in the background or in real-time according to their complexity. Rendered frames, whether generated in the background or in real time, are stored for reuse. Individual frames of the edited video file may be transmitted upon request from a client. Simultaneous editing of independent projects by multiple users connected to the server via multiple thin clients is supported.
US08527629B2
A method is disclosed for determining attributes of a client connection configured for use with a telecommunications network; comparing determined attributes with location definition information stored in a configuration file; determining at least one user-defined location in the location definition information associated with the client connection based on the comparison; wherein the method is performed by one or more computing devices.
US08527621B2
A method includes scanning to detect presence of a wireless local area network WLAN, detecting presence of said wireless local area network, contacting a base station of said wireless local area network detected to request the location of said base station, and receiving location of said wireless area network.
US08527615B2
An apparatus and method for determining a program neighborhood of a client node in a client-server network is described. The program neighborhood of the client node includes application programs hosted by application servers on the network. The present invention enables a user of a client node to learn of these application programs. The user is not required to know where to find such applications or to manually establish links to such applications. To make the client node aware of its program neighborhood, a host server collects application-related information corresponding to application programs hosted by the servers in the network. The application-related information can include the application name, the server location of the application, minimum capabilities required of client nodes for executing the application, and those users who are authorized to use that application. User credentials are received from the client system. The user credentials are used to filter the application-related information. Information representing those application programs that are available to the client node is transmitted from the host server to the client system for display. In a Windows-based client node, the information can be represented by a graphical icon for each available application program.
US08527610B2
A cache server control device selects cache servers necessary for storing contents to be reproduced, and allows the selected cache servers 300 store the contents to be reproduced; the cache server control device herein uses a first threshold value when the number of units of the cache servers, for storing the content to be reproduced related to the judgment, is increased; and uses a second threshold value, being smaller than the first threshold value, when the number of units of the cache servers, for storing said content to be reproduced related to the judgment, is decreased.
US08527609B2
A command stream is generated that includes serialized commands for editing a document. The command stream can be applied to a modified document to generate a single document that contains modifications to the document made using both a Web application and a client application. The command stream can also be utilized to recreate the edited state of a document following the disconnection from a Web application for editing the document, to load balance a server computer hosting the Web application even while editing sessions are in progress, to perform an upgrade of a server hosting the Web application while editing sessions are in progress, and for other purposes.
US08527607B2
Exchange of small pieces of data among end user terminals and/or between end user terminals and a network has increased. Examples of such small pieces of data include presence information updates. A messaging mechanism piggybacking the data in a push session initiation request enables sending of small pieces of data with minimum delay and without an activated packet data connection, and without user interaction.
US08527605B2
Methods for performing client to client communication in a wireless local area network are disclosed. At an ‘n’ tier client in the wireless local area network, a signaling message from an ‘n−1’ tier client is received wherein the signaling message comprises a first period, a second period, and a third period. Communicating with the ‘n−1’ tier client during the first period and communicating with the ‘n+1’ tier client during the third period. At an access point in the wireless local area network, an association table identifying clients in the wireless local area network is created and a first period for client to client communication based upon the association table and traffic in the wireless local area network is determined where the access point does not communicate with the clients during the first period.
US08527604B2
A system and method for managing rich media content in a computer system. The method can comprise assembling rich media content at a first computer system; encoding the rich media content into a plurality of computer readable data formats; uploading the encoded rich media content from the user computer system to a second computer system; storing the uploaded rich media content at the second computer system; indexing the uploaded rich media content in a computer library; creating a flyer by matching and linking uploaded rich media content and an executable icon; and distributing the flyer to at least one recipient computer system in one of the plurality of computer readable data formats determined by the network computer system to be compatible with the at least one recipient computer system.
US08527601B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a sending apparatus, sending method and a communication system with utilizing the sending apparatus that can improve efficiency of data sending operation and can reduce a duty for data communication. Each sending apparatus classifies data stored on a storage into groups “X”, “Y” and “Z”, fractionates a clump of data, classified into each of the groups “X”, “Y” and “Z”, by a number of fractions based on a sending completion allowable time for the classified data, and sends the fractionated data in multi cycles at every sending interval, without sending and receiving the data stored on the storage all at once. Each sending apparatus selects any one piece of data generated from fractionated clump of data for each of the groups “X”, “Y” and “Z”, and then sends the selected piece of data at every sending interval.
US08527596B2
A system and method are provided for monitoring activity on an internet-based social network. Monitoring criteria is pre-established by a client for monitoring activity on a specified user's page of the social network. Activity monitoring access to the specified user's page of the internet-based social network is established via an application programming interface of the social network based on pre-established identification information that identifies the specified user within the internet-based social network. The client is notified when the monitored activity satisfies at least one of the pre-established monitoring criteria.
US08527592B2
A system and method for providing a reputation service for use in messaging environments employs a reputation of compiled statistics, representing whether SPAM messages have previously been received from respective a selected set of identifiers for the origin of the message, in a decision making process for newly received messages. In a preferred embodiment, the set of identifiers includes the IP address, a tuple of the domain and IP address and a tuple of the user and IP address and the set of identifiers allows for a relatively fine grained set of reputation metrics to be compiled and used when making a determination of a likelihood as to whether a received message is undesired in accordance with the invention.
US08527583B2
A communication device includes a communication start request output unit and a response notification acceptance unit. The communication start request output unit outputs a communication start request to an output destination communication device. The response notification acceptance unit accepts a response notification with respect to the communication start request from the output destination communication device. When the response notification acceptance unit accepts a response notification indicating connection rejection due to a mismatch of a communication standard as the response notification with respect to the output communication start request, the communication start request output unit again outputs the communication start request to the output destination communication device in the communication standard to which the output communication start request conforms.
US08527580B2
A method for saving data may include determining dependencies, by a processing device, between a plurality of data items. The method may also include initiating a save operation by the processing device. Initiating the save operation may include forming a partial-order plan for saving the data items. Forming the partial-order plan may include creating an ordered list of steps which are executable for saving the data items based on the dependencies between the data items.
US08527578B2
A software provisioning environment can include several provisioning server for providing software provisioning. One of the several provisioning server can be configured to be a central provisioning server. The central provisioning server can be configured to maintain the provisioning objects required for the software provisioning. The central provisioning server can be configured to manage the software provisioning supported by additional provisioning servers in the environment. The central provisioning server can be configured to select the provisioning objects to be supported by each additional provisioning server.
US08527574B2
The invention relates to a device for determining the temporal position of an analogue trigger signal with relation to an analogue clock signal, comprising an analogue cross-correlator (30), which carries out an analogue cross-correlation between the trigger signal and clock signal to provide a fine resolution.
US08527571B2
A method (and structure) for performing a matrix subroutine, includes storing data for a matrix subroutine call in a computer memory in an increment block size that is based on a cache size.
US08527570B1
A system to perform Montgomery multiplication includes a first multiplier array configured to multiply w bits of an operand X by W bits of an operand Y, where w and W are integers and w is less than W. A second multiplier array is configured to multiply w bits of an operand Q by W bits of a modulo M. An adder array is configured to add outputs of the first and second multiplier arrays to generate a sum. A partial sum array is configured to store a left portion of the sum. A memory is configured to store a right portion of the sum. Q computation logic includes a lookup table and a half-multiplier that compute W bits of the operand Q sequentially in 2 · W w cycles or W w cycles. The W bits of the operand Q are stored in the fourth buffer for use by subsequent W×W operations.
US08527559B2
In an object-relocating garbage collector, objects are copied and new copies taken into use concurrently with mutator execution without needing to use a read barrier, and importantly, without requiring verification (read-back) of each copied word and without requiring atomic instructions for the copying. Write barriers, thread-local write barrier buffers and processing them by the garbage collector, and write propagation are used for achieving this.
US08527557B2
A batch of data records generated by at least one application for persistent storage is cached by a cache management device. At least one of the batch of data records includes at least one foreign key reference that each references one non-existent data record. It is determined that one of a group of batch database storage events has occurred. In response to one of the group of batch database storage events, it is iteratively determined which of the at least one of the batch of data records do not include the at least one foreign key reference that each references the one non-existent data record. Each of the cached batch of data records that do not include the at least one foreign key reference that each references the one non-existent data record is persisted to a database by a batch storage operation.
US08527555B2
A device and method direct towards the packaging, transporting and extracting of essence files, metadata files and service data files are provided. The device and method include receiving content files (e.g., essence and metadata files) and service files, the service files identifying an application to be applied to the content files, combining the content files and the service files into a media package, and transmitting the media package. The device and method also include receiving the media package containing content files and service files and extracting the content files and the service files from the media package. The media package may further include command data that describes how to process the content files and the service files as well as identification data that identifies the content files and service files. The command data, and content and service files may be encrypted.
US08527551B2
A data structure maintained in a computational device stores how many control areas splits have occurred to store a data set, wherein each control area split causes an addition of a single new control area. A command is received to add a new data record to the data set. A determination is made as to whether adding the new data record to the data set will result in a threshold for control area splits to be exceeded. In response to determining that adding the new data record to the data set will result in the threshold for control area splits to be exceeded, creating at least two new control areas in addition to continuing to use one existing control area for storing the data set.
US08527544B1
A system and method for performing garbage collection. A system includes a storage medium, a first table including entries which map a virtual address to locations in the storage medium, and a second table with entries which include a reverse mapping of a physical address in a data storage medium to one or more virtual addresses. A storage controller is configured to perform garbage collection. During garbage collection, the controller is configured to identify one or more entries in the second table which correspond to a segment to be garbage collected. In response to determining the first table includes a valid mapping for a virtual address included in an entry of the one of the one or more entries, the controller is configured to copy data from a first location identified in the entry to a second location in the data storage medium, and reclaim the first storage location.
US08527541B2
A flat namespace includes a flat identifier. A hierarchical namespace includes containers in some organization. A cache includes associations between flat identifiers, locality reference cues, and containers in the hierarchical namespace. A combiner combines the flat identifier with containers in the hierarchical namespace. The combiner can be used first with containers found in the cache, before trying other containers in the hierarchical namespace.
US08527536B2
A method and system for quickly retrieving the information service on a mobile terminal, adopt the structure of client/server. The method comprises: the user is directly interactive with a server and retrieves the information service via the client module bound at the terminal; the user directly enters a keyword on the desktop of the terminal; the client module queries the client database, server-side database and server-side searching device respectively, based on the present service mode and the information entered by the user, obtains the corresponding network service and content resource, and selects the relevant network as the service carrier based on the service mode, directs the user to enter these network resources to obtain the information service directly.
US08527534B2
Architecture that employs a modeling technique based on language modeling to estimate a probability of a document matching the user need as expressed in the query. The modeling technique is based on the data mining results that various portions of a document (e.g., body, title, URL, anchor text, user queries) use different styles of human languages. Thus, the results based on a language can be adapted individually to match the language of query. Since the approach is based on adaptation, the framework also provides a natural means to progressively revise the model as user data are collected. Different styles of languages in a document can be recognized and adapted individually. Background language models are also employed that offer a fallback approach in case the document has incomplete fields of data, and can utilize topical or semantic hierarchy of the knowledge domain.
US08527528B2
The present invention is an improved system and method for analyzing multiple real estate properties. The system includes a pool of properties that are searched based on user-defined search criteria. The system identifies comparison properties from the search pool. The comparison properties include attributes that match or are a near match to the search criteria. The system compares each of the comparison properties to at least one average value and demonstrably depicts the comparison to the user.
US08527526B1
A computerized method, system for, and computer-readable medium operable to select a list of network user identifiers. A processing circuit receives a list of network user identifiers represented by long-term history data indicative of web pages visited prior to a first time and short-term history data indicative of web pages visited after the first time and prior to a second time. Long-term interest categories, corresponding weight values for each long-term interest category, short-term interest categories and corresponding weight values for each short-term interest category are identified. A model comprising the long-term and short-term interest categories is generated based on the weight values of the long-term and short-term interest categories using either arithmetic or harmonic progression. The processing circuit receives a list of candidate network user identifiers and generates a list of similar network user identifiers based on the model.
US08527524B2
A system may determine a measure of how a content of a document changes over time, generate a score for the document based, at least in part, on the measure of how the content of the document changes over time, and rank the document with regard to at least one other document based, at least in part, on the score.
US08527516B1
Relationships between digital text volumes in a corpus are identified by comparing a plurality of digital text volumes in the corpus to identify clusters of similar volumes. For a given cluster, the pages of pairs of volumes within the cluster are compared to determine page similarity data, the page similarity data indicating degrees of similarity between the compared pages. The relationships between pairs of volumes in the clusters are classified based on the similarity data.
US08527515B2
Systems and methods are described that calculate the interestingness of a set of one or more records in a database, either absolutely (i.e., compared to an overall collection of records) or relative to some other set of records. In one embodiment, the measure is a relative entropy value that has been normalized. Various applications of the measure are described in the context of an information retrieval system. These applications include, for example, guiding query interpretation, guiding view selection and summarization, intelligent ranges, event detection, concept triggers and interpreting user actions, hierarchy discovery, and adaptive data mining.
US08527512B2
A method performs a database query in a relational database, the query being carried out by a database engine and being based on user-defined search criteria. The method includes retrieving a number N of properties of a record within a main database table, the number N being higher than zero, creating a search criteria option for each of the N properties, creating a search criteria table for every search criteria option, creating an index for every search criteria table, and performing the database query based on a user-defined combination of a plurality of the search criteria options.
US08527502B2
A system method and computer-readable media for searching an object oriented database are provided. The present invention may be employed to detect software bugs, deficiencies and/or errors in, affecting, or related to, an object database management system. The invented technique may use an SQL table join query to search for incomplete, damaged or erroneous software objects.
US08527501B2
A method, system, and program for combining and processing transactions. The method includes the steps of: receiving a plurality of transactions from a plurality of clients, where each of the plurality of transactions includes a select query; combining the select queries in the transactions; and sending combined select queries to the database as a combined transaction.
US08527499B2
A computer implemented method for providing a user interface, the method including: providing an interface generator for generating a user interface, the user interface allowing a user to perform a search within a business object or within business objects in a business situation, using a combination of searching using one or more key words and browsing in accordance with predefined options.
US08527496B2
Indexing and retrieving real time content in a social networking system is disclosed. A user-term index includes user-term partitions, each user-term partition comprising temporal databases. As a post is received from a user, a user identifier, a post identifier, and a post is extracted. An object store communicatively coupled to a temporal database for recently received content is queried to determine whether terms in the post has already been stored. A term identifier is stored in the user-term index with the user and post identifiers. A forward index stores the post by post identifier. Responsive to a search query, the user-term index is searched by the user's connections and the terms. A real time search engine compiles the results of the user-term index query and retrieves the stored posts from the forward index. The search results may then be ranked and cached before presentation to the searching user.
US08527487B2
The present invention provides a method and system for automatic construction of information organization structure for related information browsing. The method comprises: inputting a target entity; retrieving information objects related to the target entity from an information object set; extracting topics related to the target entity; searching an existing structure resource to identify existing structures and entities which are relevant to the target entity based on the extracted topics; and selecting a matched structure, which is used for organizing the retrieved information objects related to the target entity, from the identified existing structures by comparing the target entity with each of the identified entities. Compared with the prior arts, the present invention can largely improve the readability of the relevant generated information organization structure.
US08527475B1
Embodiments of a system and method for identifying structured data items lacking requisite information for rule-based duplicate detection are described. Embodiments may include generating a deficiency score for each of multiple structured data items including applying a set of rules based on duplicate detection techniques to each given structured data item in order to perform a comparison of the given structured data item to itself. The deficiency score of the given structured data item may be based on a result of the comparison. Embodiments may also include, based on the deficiency scores of the structured data items, identifying one or more deficient structured data items having less than a requisite quantity of information for performing duplicate detection on structured data items. Embodiments may also include identifying one or more key attributes missing from some of the one or more deficient structured data items and requesting those key attributes.
US08527470B2
Methods, software suites, networks, and systems of recovery point data view formation with generation of a recovery view and a coalesce policy are disclosed. In one embodiment, a network includes a virtualization module to form a data view around a recovery point, a recovery module to generate a recovery snapshot having an ability to position forward and backward from the recovery point when a rolling algorithm is applied, and an events module to generate a coalesce policy around the recovery point to reduce a storage requirement. The network may include an export module to transfer the data view to an external processing device as a virtual volume using one or more of an iSCSI and a fiber channel transport interface. The export module may automatically communicate the data view to a backup tape to provide extended data retention using a lifecycle management policy.
US08527463B2
A computer system with read/write access to storage devices creates a snapshot of a data volume at a point in time while continuing to accept access requests to the mirrored data volume by copying before making changes to the base data volume. Multiple snapshots may be made of the same data volume at different points in time. Only data that is not stored in a previous snapshot volume or in the base data volume are stored in the most recent snapshot volume.
US08527451B2
Pre-existing business objects (e.g., component parts of large business applications) may already define a hierarchy of related terms and include a search index created by a pre-existing search function. A semantic network including a plurality of semantic knowledge domains may be constructed automatically, based on the objects' initial terms structure and search index, and further modified by search results and related terms returned by the search function. This way, a customer specific semantic network may be constructed automatically from pre-existing software components and terms.
US08527449B2
A computer-implemented sepsis alerting method is disclosed. The method involves automatically extracting with a computer system, from records maintained for a patient under care in a healthcare facility, information from a electronic medical record, and obtaining with the computer system information about real-time status of the patient. The method also involves using the information from the electronic medical record and the information about the real-time status to determine whether the patient is likely to be suffering from dangerous probability of sepsis, using information from the electronic medical record to determine whether treatment for sepsis is already being provided to the patient, and electronically alerting a caregiver over a network if it is determined that a potentially dangerous level of sepsis exists and that treatment for sepsis is not already being provided.
US08527437B1
We describe a method for using a classical computer to generate a sequence of elementary operations (SEO) that can be used to operate a quantum computer. The SEO drives as near as desired, in an efficient way, a starting quantum state to a target one.
US08527435B1
A novel Levenberg-Marquardt like second-order algorithm for tuning the Parzen window σ in a Radial Basis Function (Gaussian) kernel. Each attribute has its own sigma parameter. The values of the optimized σ are then used as a gauge for variable selection. Kernel Partial Least Squares (K-PLS) model is applied to several benchmark data sets to estimate effectiveness of second-order sigma tuning procedure for an RBF kernel. The variable subset selection method based on these sigma values is then compared with different feature selection procedures such as random forests and sensitivity analysis. The sigma-tuned RBF kernel model outperforms K-PLS and SVM models with a single sigma value. K-PLS models also compare favorably with Least Squares Support Vector Machines (LS-SVM), epsilon-insensitive Support Vector Regression and traditional PLS. Sigma tuning and variable selection is applied to industrial magnetocardiograph data for detection of ischemic heart disease from measurement of magnetic field around the heart.
US08527426B2
The present intention permits a user to conduct remote transactions without a network while using an untrusted computing device, such as a hand held personal digital assistant or a laptop computer. The computing device is augmented with a smartcard reader, and the user obtains a smartcard and connects it to the device. This design can be used by an untrusted user to perform financial transactions, such as placing bets on the outcome of a probabilistic computation. Protocols are presented for adding (purchasing) or removing (selling) value on the smartcard, again without requiring a network connection. Using the instant protocols, neither the user nor the entity issuing the smartcards can benefit from cheating.
US08527425B2
Systems and methods for processing and distributing legal text information allow content providers to distribute legal text to terminals receiving broadcast content. The legal text may include terms and conditions associated with content that a user may want to purchase or subscribe. Upon receiving a content selection that a user wishes to purchase, a terminal may determine whether the content is associated with legal text information. If so, the legal text may be obtained and rendered for the user. The terminal may further determine whether user consent is required and if so, prompt the user with a consent agreement. Legal text information may be obtained in a variety of manners including from a service provisioning system, from a local cache in the terminal and/or from a file delivery server. Communication of legal text information may further be conducted using messages storing legal text attributes and elements.
US08527417B2
A system and computer-based method for using a one-time password (OTP) to authenticate an identity of a cardholder in a financial transaction initiated by the cardholder with a merchant via a first communication medium. A one-time password is generated at an interchange computer system and transmitted to the cardholder via a second communication medium. The cardholder is prompted to enter access credential information, including the one-time password. When the entered access credential information is verified (e.g., the entered one time password is equal to the generated one-time password), a successful authentication is indicated to the merchant.
US08527414B2
In general terms, embodiments of the present invention relate to methods and apparatuses for prepaying, covering, avoiding, negating, and/or otherwise offsetting future account discrepancy assessments. For example, in some embodiments, a method is provided that includes: (a) receiving one or more payments for offsetting one or more future account discrepancy assessments, where the one or more payments are associated with an account; (b) receiving transaction information associated with a transaction, where the transaction involves the account, and where the transaction is initiated after the receiving the one or more payments; (c) determining, based at least partially on the transaction information, that the account will incur an account discrepancy as a result of the transaction; (d) determining that the one or more payments are sufficient to offset an account discrepancy assessment associated with the account discrepancy; and (e) authorizing the transaction based at least partially on the determining that the one or more payments are sufficient.
US08527409B1
A method, system and computer program product for auditing and reconciling custodial accounts. A tool is provided to allow a custodial agent to audit a custodial account at one or more depository institutions at which deposits are held by the custodial agent on behalf of one or more individuals and reconcile such accounts. According to one embodiment, the method includes comparing account balance data from a depository institution for a custodial account against account balance data from a second source for the custodial account, identifying discrepancies between the balance data from the depository institution and the balance data from the second source, identifying a prospective write-off in the amount of one or more of the discrepancies, and prompting the custodial agent to indicate whether the custodial agent accepts the prospective write-off. The prospective write-off may be offset against an account.
US08527403B2
In general, embodiments of the invention relate to systems, methods, and computer program products for predicting population migration and analyzing migration-affecting programs. For example, an apparatus is provided having a memory device with population information and a plurality of migration factors stored therein. The population information includes information about population distribution across a plurality of classifications. Each of the plurality of migration factors corresponds to a particular classification of the plurality of classifications and indicates how population members of the particular classification migrate to other classifications over a particular time period. The apparatus also includes a processor communicably coupled to the memory device and configured to use the migration factors and the population information to forecast changes in the population distribution across each of the plurality of classifications over multiple time periods. In one embodiment, the systems, methods, and computer program products are configured to predict lateness characteristics of a lending portfolio.
US08527399B2
A system and methods for dynamically changing a trade order quantity in an electronic trading environment are described herein. According to one example embodiment, an automated trading tool determines if a leaned on quantity of a trading strategy has increased or decreased and if so, dynamically changing a desired order quantity to reflect the change in the leaned on quantity. Dynamically changing an order quantity may be more profitable for a trader as order queue position may be maintained and portion of the desired order quantity may get filled; rather than a trader losing their order queue position and/or taking a chance of not getting any of their order quantity filled.
US08527395B2
Disclosed is a method and system for effectuating a buyer-driven and buyer-executed commerce system. The system allows prospective buyers and sellers of goods and services to anonymously exchange conditional Requests For Bids and Conditional Sales Offers based on the buyer's guaranteed ‘purchasing loyalty’ for a self-defined minimum quantity of goods or services, and/or quality of goods of services and/or the length of time or price to which the buyer would agree to be bound or any combination of those condition's. That buyer guarantee permits a seller to easily pre-determine their offers based on the calculated value of ‘capturing’ that buyer's ‘guaranteed purchasing loyalty’. In a preferred embodiment, the method and system of the present invention includes a controller which receives Requests For Bids from prospective buyers and also receives, stores and displays to prospective buyers bindable sales proposals from a multitude of prospective sellers.
US08527394B2
A system, medium storing processor-executable process steps, method and apparatus for supporting a derivative transaction, the method including receiving data identifying a reference entity participating in the derivative transaction; receiving data identifying at least a first reference obligation associated with the derivative transaction; identifying a contractual relationship between the reference entity and the at least first reference obligation; and generating a data record associated with the derivative transaction, the data record including the data identifying said reference entity, the data identifying the at least first reference obligation, and data identifying said contractual relationship, wherein the data record is verified as accurate as of an issue date of the derivative transaction.
US08527389B2
An auction service is provided that stimulates competition between energy suppliers (i.e., electric power or natural gas). A bidding moderator (Moderator) receives offers from competing suppliers specifying the economic terms each is willing to offer to resellers or customers of resellers for estimated quantities of electric power or gas supply (separate auctions). Each supplier receives feedback from the Moderator based on competitors' offers and has the opportunity to adjust its own offers down or up, depending on whether it wants to encourage or discourage additional energy delivery commitments in a particular geographic area or to a particular customer group. Each supplier's offers can also be changed to reflect each supplier's capacity utilization. The Moderator selects at least one supplier to provide electric power or natural gas to each reseller or customer of a reseller, with each supplier providing at least a portion of the electric power or natural gas to be used by each reseller or customer of a reseller during a specific future time interval.
US08527387B2
A method to maximize a post-mortem asset disbursement, the method receives information about one or more assets owned by an asset holder, selects a life expectancy from the group consisting of a single life, a joint life, and both a single life and a joint life, and sets an expected aggregate expenditure of the asset holder over the life expectancy period. The method further calculates a first investment corpus, a first investment corpus life expectancy value, and calculates a first estimated post-mortem tax liability. The method further sets a value for carve out funds deducted from the first investment corpus, wherein said carve out funds take into account both gift tax and estate tax exclusions, calculates a second investment corpus, a second investment corpus life expectancy value, and a second estimated post-mortem tax liability. The method then determines a value for life insurance proceeds paid at end of life expectancy.
US08527380B2
A method for using an electronic transaction device with an electronic transaction service provider may include the steps of registering the electronic transaction device with the electronic transaction device service provider, registering a plurality of accounts corresponding to a plurality of service institutions, providing a data connection between the electronic transaction device and the electronic transaction device service provider, and storing account information for a plurality of service institutions at the electronic transaction device service provider. The method may also include the steps of providing access to a database of client information to the client and analyzing transactional information in the database of client information for a plurality of accounts. The method may also include the steps of designating a portion of the client database non-confidential; analyzing the portion of the client database designated as non-confidential for preferences and patterns; and providing analyzed transactional information to a plurality of vendors.
US08527378B2
A method for providing technical support for a computing device is disclosed herein. In one embodiment, such a method includes detecting a problem associated with a computing device. The method then determines a support level assigned to the computing device. A set of problems is associated with the support level. If the problem belongs to the set of problems associated with the support level, the method automatically sends a message to a support provider so that the support provider can address the problem.
US08527374B2
An asset management system includes a controller area network bus and a data acquisition module connected to the controller area network bus. The data acquisition module has a plurality of analog input channels. One or more sensor systems are connected to the input channels with the input channels receiving analog signals from the sensor systems. The data acquisition module passively conditions the received analog signals prior to digital conversion.
US08527370B2
An aggregation of functionality related to a product within an electronic catalog hosted by a wholesaler web system is provided by presenting on a client computing device a webpage in which a single product is directly associated with a single access point. The single access point provides a means by which plural wholesaler web system functions related to the single product are made available to a consumer. A listing of the plural wholesaler web system functions related to the single product is displayed within the webpage in response to an activation of the single access point by the consumer. In response to a selection by the consumer from the displayed listing the wholesaler web system initiates a performance of the one of the plural wholesaler web system functions so selected.
US08527360B2
A method of eliminating the need to wait in line to conduct a payment transaction in a retail establishment includes initiating a network-based electronic payment transaction with a communications device in a retail establishment. A shopper initiates the network-based electronic payment transaction. Moreover, the method includes entering a machine readable code from at least one good with the communications device, determining a price of the at least one good and a total payment transaction cost, and displaying the total payment transaction cost on a screen of the communications device. Furthermore, the method includes determining whether to approve payment for the electronic payment transaction, authenticating the shopper, completing the electronic payment transaction in the retail establishment, and transmitting a transaction complete message to the communications device when the shopper is authenticated.
US08527347B2
A communications marketing and advertising system is described for delivering advertising content to subscribers of a telecommunications network. The system includes a marketplace component accessible by advertisers and ad space owners, which is used to create ad space for delivering content to subscribers of a telecommunications network. The marketplace allows advertisers to submit bids on the ad space and the ad space owners to approve or reject the bids. The system also includes a campaign manager that creates a campaign upon determining that the bid has been approved by the ad space owner. The campaign includes a set of messages containing ad content to be sent out to the subscribers. The subscriber profile module of the system obtains profile data associated with the subscribers of the telecommunications network and customizes the content of the messages according to the profile data. The ad engine delivers the messages to the recipients.
US08527342B2
A method of delivering advertising in an online environment includes determining an intent of a user interacting with an e-commerce website and determining a hurdle rate, based at least on the intent of the user, that identifies a threshold amount to be bid by an advertiser in order to display an advertisement to the user interacting with the e-commerce website. The method may further include selecting, from a plurality of advertisements, one or more optimal advertisements having a combined advertiser bid that exceeds the determined hurdle rate. The method may further include providing one or more controls in a user interface of a client computer system, each of the controls being associated with a respective advertisement of the one or more optimal advertisements and adapted to enable the user to select one or more of the controls, and providing an element, responsive to an input of the user, that is adapted to display, to the user, the respective advertisements selected by the user.
US08527336B2
A computerized system and method that enables identifying the best payment currency for a product or service is disclosed. Payment currencies include cash, reward programs and the unit or currency in which reward programs are denominated, and combinations thereof. A single product search request initiates searches of multiple payment currencies. Availability, discounts, prices, comparable costs, net values and relative values are determined and/or calculated per each payment currency. Comparable cost, relative value, or other criteria, may be used to determine the best payment method, that is, the lowest cost in a common currency, such as cash. Determination of the best payment currency is accomplished in “real-time” and has an advantage of leveraging quantitative and qualitative analysis in its determination. In addition, the search may be personalized by adding information unique to each user.
US08527335B1
In various embodiments, pollution is reduced by associating a pollution credit with a consumer product or service. The pollution credit is transformed into points and purchasing the product or service earns the points. The points may be accumulated and redeemed for value, thus retiring the pollution credit.
US08527334B2
Technologies are described herein for sharing advertisement revenue. An advertiser-generated avatar is provided to a first participant. The advertiser-generated avatar may be associated with an advertisement. Further, the first participant may be associated with a current avatar. The current avatar is replaced with the advertiser-generated avatar. While the first participant is associated with the advertiser-generated avatar, a level of interaction between the first participant and other participants is monitored. An amount of compensation to provide the first participant is determined based on the level of interaction between the first participant and the other participants. The compensation is provided to the first participant.
US08527333B1
A system and method is provided that uses a processor to rank advertisements based on their likely appeal to users and the price that will be charged for the advertisement. In one aspect, and advertiser may pay a fee in order to have its advertisement considered to be the most expensive in terms of price even though the advertiser is actually paying less. The fee may also be paid in connection with a transferable option, whereby the advertiser may have the right but not the obligation to have it advertisement displayed at the price.
US08527326B2
Techniques for determining maturity of a delivery process in an information technology maintenance project are provided. The techniques include collecting information during a delivery process, wherein the information comprises operational data, aggregating the collected information for each delivery dimension into one or more aggregate delivery measures, wherein the one or more aggregate delivery measures comprise one or more delivery dimensions, comparing the one or more delivery dimensions against a threshold to determine a level of maturity for each delivery dimension, and determining an overall level of maturity of the delivery process by combining the level of maturity for each delivery dimension.
US08527319B2
A two-leg MLM organization construction system encourages a member who puts in effort in recruiting members by offering a chance to drastically increase bonus earnings. New first and second positions are provided between the position of the upper level member and the positions that are immediate right and left to the upper level member. These new first and second positions are initially set to an OFF-state position. When the number of positions filled with recruited members reaches a predetermined level, the new first and second positions are turned to on ON-state position.
US08527315B2
For each of tasks performed in an operation of manufacturing equipment, a proficiency of a worker with respect to a task to be performed is obtained from a proficiency DB (120) storing proficiencies of workers with respect to the tasks. A guidance base time (314) determined based on a manufacturing schedule is controlled corresponding to the proficiency of the worker, a guidance control time (334) corresponding to the proficiency of the worker is determined, and guidance is outputted at the guidance control time (334). The proficiency of the worker with respect to the task is corrected based on task record information (340) including a task content and a task time of a task performed by the worker and on the guidance control time (334), and the proficiency of the worker with respect to the task stored in the proficiency DB (120) is updated.
US08527312B2
A system and methods for managing dynamic teams and workflows is disclosed. In one embodiment, the system and methods include processes for dynamically creating and modifying a team-based workflow. In one instance, the system and methods may include processes for defining a plurality of generic roles, assigning participants to the team, defining focus items, associating the focus items with the plurality of generic roles, and assigning each of the participants at least one of the plurality of generic roles. Additionally, the system and methods may include processes that manage workflows by providing interactive prompts that provide information to direct participants to perform certain actions and providing mechanisms to communicate responses to the interactive responses to other participants based on their assigned generic roles.
US08527305B1
Aspects of the invention are directed to methods and systems for efficiently communicating data between an insurer and a non-referral repair shop, e.g., vehicle repair shops that are normally not preapproved by the insurer to perform the estimating and repair work. The methods and systems described herein are particularly useful for insurers utilizing non-referral repair shops for servicing vehicles involved in insurance claims. According to aspects of this invention, the insured may be able to select a non-referral repair shop, not delegated or preapproved by the insurer, thereby generally allowing the insured to select any available vehicle repair shop.
US08527302B2
Described are computer-based methods and apparatuses, including computer program products, for managing insurance plans. Multiple bids are received from multiple reinsurance companies for the price of a unit of an insurance product (e.g., a fixed annuity paying ten dollars a month starting at the age of sixty five). The unit of the insurance product is associated with a set of one or more risk factors (e.g., age, range of ages). A bid is selected from the bids based on a relationship between the bids (e.g., lowest bid, lowest weighted bid). The selected bid is associated with a selected reinsurance company. Units of the insurance product associated with the selected bid are offered to participants associated with the set of one or more risk factors.
US08527292B1
A medical data analysis service is provided. The service may be implemented as an on-line service using a data analysis server. The data analysis server may maintain patient databases and a community database. Each patient database may be populated with patient medical expense data such as medical bills from health care providers and insurance statements from insurance providers. The service analyzes the data in the databases to identify potential errors. The system detects errors in billing and insurance coverage and enables the patient to query medical expense data. The system enables patient's notes relating to these services to be easily tracked, queried and shared. The system enables a patient to derive additional knowledge from the medical expense and insurance coverage data. This knowledge can be queried by the patient. The system enables a patient to derive more knowledge from collective patient medical expense and insurance coverage data and annotations.
US08527291B1
A system, method, and computer software product for managing medical information on a networked computer system. An inputted search string is used with at least two medical sources accessible over a communications network. Results from the two or more sources are displayed in a single results page. Results can be ranked with special weight attributed to the source depending on source weighting criteria, the searcher's profile or healthcare worker type, or a combination of both of these factors. Results can be annotated and stored. Retrieval from storage is assisted by using keywords assigned to a particular document at the time of storage, or other similar metadata assigned to a particular document. Documents can have security designations assigned to them to limit read or read/write access to authorized users.
US08527290B2
Flour may be treated to denature the proteins and modify starches. The invention includes methods and systems for determining whether to use treated flour or untreated flour. The invention also includes methods and systems for determining whether to treat flour or not.
US08527289B1
A system and method for providing one or more client systems for communicating with a host system over a network. The client systems use a scanner to convert a paper form of a check, coupon, or other paper document to a digital representation and then the client systems send the digital representation over a network to the host system for storage. The host system archives the digital representation and determines the appropriate processing stream for a transaction related to the paper document (e.g. coupon, check), via a decisioning engine, based on a set of predefined stream selection rules. The host system then communicates the transaction to a back end transaction destination, according to the selected processing stream. Examples of the transaction destination can include ACH, Reproduce Paper, and Remittance.
US08527280B2
Methods and devices for voice communications and foreign language translation are disclosed. One method includes selecting one of a plurality of microphones of an earpiece unit, receiving a selected voice communication of a first language from the selected microphone and translating the selected voice communication from the first language to a second language, the second language different from the first to create a translated voice communication, and transducing the translated voice communication at a speaker within the earpiece unit. Preferably the microphones are oriented in different directions and are directional microphones. The present invention further optionally provides for the sensing and transmission of pulse oximeter measurements and temperature measurements.
US08527278B2
An intelligent home automation system answers questions of a user speaking “natural language” located in a home. The system is connected to, and may carry out the user's commands to control, any circuit, object, or system in the home. The system can answer questions by accessing the Internet. Using a transducer that “hears” human pulses, the system may be able to identify, announce and keep track of anyone entering or staying in the home or participating in a conversation, including announcing their identity in advance. The system may interrupt a conversation to implement specific commands and resume the conversation after implementation. The system may have extensible memory structures for term, phrase, relation and knowledge, question answering routines and a parser analyzer that uses transformational grammar and a modified three hypothesis analysis. The parser analyzer can be dormant unless spoken to. The system has emergency modes for prioritization of commands.
US08527277B2
A system for managing recognition errors in a multiple dialog state environment incorporates an error management module. The error management module includes error counters and error set points associated with the system globally as well as associated with specific dialog states. User interaction within the system may then be managed based upon the status of the error counters in relation to the error set points.
US08527270B2
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for enhancing interactive translation and dialogue systems. In one embodiment, a method for conducting an interactive dialogue includes receiving an input signal in a first language, where the input signal includes one or more words, processing the words in accordance with a vocabulary, and adjusting a probability relating to at least one of the words in the vocabulary for an output signal. Subsequently, the method may output a translation of the input signal in a second language, in accordance with the vocabulary. In one embodiment, adjusting the probability involves adjusting a probability that the word will be used in actual conversation.
US08527253B2
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that accurately models polarization states of an illumination source in an optical lithography system for manufacturing integrated circuits. During operation, the system starts by receiving a two-dimensional (2D) grid map for an illumination source pupil in the optical lithography system. The system then constructs a source-polarization model for the illumination source by defining a polarization state at each grid point in the grid map. Next, the system enhances a lithography model for the optical lithography system by incorporating the source-polarization model into the lithography/OPC model.
US08527252B2
A process control system simulation technique performs real-time simulation of an actual process control network as that network is running within a process plant in a manner that is synchronized with the operation of the actual process control network. This real-time, synchronized simulation system includes a simulation process control network and a process model which are automatically updated periodically during the operation of the actual process control network to reflect changes made to the process control network, as well as to account for changes in the plant itself, i.e., changes which require an updated process model. The simulation system provides for more readily accessible and usable simulation activities, as the process control network and the process models used within the simulation system are synchronized with and up-to-date with respect to the current process operating conditions.
US08527247B1
A computer-implemented method of determining the pitch stability of an airfoil system, comprising using a computer to numerically integrate a differential equation of motion that includes terms describing PID controller action. In one model, the differential equation characterizes the time-dependent response of the airfoil's pitch angle, α. The computer model calculates limit-cycles of the model, which represent the stability boundaries of the airfoil system. Once the stability boundary is known, feedback control can be implemented, by using, for example, a PID controller to control a feedback actuator. The method allows the PID controller gain constants, KI, Kp, and Kd, to be optimized. This permits operation closer to the stability boundaries, while preventing the physical apparatus from unintentionally crossing the stability boundaries. Operating closer to the stability boundaries permits greater power efficiencies to be extracted from the airfoil system.
US08527242B2
Disclosed is a method for determining an phase spectrum θ(ω) of the complex spectral transfer function H(ω) of a medium. In some embodiments, the method is applied for detecting or imaging an object screened by scattering medium or for determining a refractive index spectrum of a material.
US08527241B2
A telemetry system for use in a combustion turbine engine (10) having a compressor (12), a combustor and a turbine (16) and includes a sensor (118) in connection with a turbine blade (111) or vane (23). A transmitter assembly (117) includes a telemetry transmitter circuit/transceiver may be affixed on a turbine blade (111) or seal plate (115) proximate the turbine blade with a first connecting material (119) deposited on the turbine blade (111) for routing electronic data signals, indicative of a condition of the turbine blade (111), from the sensor (118) to the telemetry transmitter circuit/transceiver. An induction power system for powering the telemetry transmitter circuit/transceiver may include a rotating data antenna (116) affixed to the seal plate (115) with an electrical connection (122) between the telemetry transmitting circuit/transceiver for routing electronic data signals from the telemetry transmitter circuit/transceiver to the rotating data antenna (119).
US08527238B2
A method includes determining a total storage input/output capacity of a set of storage elements available for use by a software application located on an operating system volume of a computer system. The total storage input/output capacity is determined by evaluating storage input/output capacity of the storage elements at a physical device level and at a file level. The method includes measuring a number of input/output storage operations performed on behalf of the software application. The method also includes determining a storage input/output utilization of the software application based on the measured number of input/output storage operations as compared to the total storage input/output capacity of the set of storage elements.
US08527236B2
A displacement detection apparatus includes a scale 115 on which marks are disposed, first and second position detection sensors 111 and 112 detecting positions of the marks 110, and a processor 409 performing a calculation processing of an output signal from each of the first and second position detection sensors 111 and 112. The first and second position detection sensors 111 and 112 are disposed at a distance L from each other to be movable relative to the scale 115. The processor 409 calculates a correction value P′ of a mark pitch P of the marks 110 using the distance L, a first time TPK required for K marks of the marks 110 to pass a detection position, and a second time TL required for a specific mark of the marks 110, which are measured at the same time of the first time TPK, to move the distance L.
US08527233B2
The different advantageous embodiments provide an apparatus and method for identifying an airspeed for an aircraft. In one advantageous embodiment, an apparatus is provided. The apparatus consists of a plurality of pitot-static probes. The plurality of pitot-static probes generate a first data. The apparatus also consists of a plurality of angle of attack sensor systems. The plurality of angle of attack sensor systems generate a second data. The apparatus also consists of a plurality of light detection and ranging sensors. The light detection and ranging sensors generates a third data. The apparatus also consists of a signal consolidation system configured to detect errors in the first data generated by the plurality of pitot-static probes, the second data generated by the plurality of angle of attack sensor systems, and the third data generated by the plurality of light detection and ranging sensors.
US08527232B2
Methods of diagnostic test pattern generation for small delay defects are based on identification and activation of long paths passing through diagnosis suspects. The long paths are determined according to some criteria such as path delay values calculated with SDF (Standard Delay Format) timing information and the number of logic gates on a path. In some embodiments of the invention, the long paths are the longest paths passing through a diagnosis suspect and reaching a corresponding failing observation point selected from the failure log, and N longest paths are identified for each of such pairs.
US08527226B2
An apparatus for modulating an incident beam includes a body that is non-transmissive and rotatable about an axis perpendicular to a surface of the body. The body has a first set of features including transmissive features with respect to the incident beam along a first radial path at a first radial distance from the axis and a second set of features including data storage features along a second radial path at a second radial distance from the axis. The apparatus also includes a reference sensor disposed over a first position along the second radial path. In the apparatus. the radial distances are different and the numbers of transmissive features and data storage features are relatively prime. When the body is rotating, the first set of features modulate the incident beam and the reference sensor generates a reference signal based on the data storage features traversing the first position.
US08527224B2
An apparatus using a battery includes a receiving unit, a determination unit and a calculation unit. The receiving unit receives a dischargeable capacity, a first voltage and a second voltage from the battery. The first voltage is used to display the end of an available time and the second voltage is used to carry out a low power operation. The determination unit determines whether the first voltage is less than the second voltage. The calculation unit corrects the dischargeable capacity and calculates the available time based on the corrected dischargeable capacity, if the determination unit determines that the first voltage is less than the second voltage.
US08527221B2
A method for monitoring an activity of partial electrical discharges in an electric apparatus powered with direct voltage comprises the following steps, repeated in succession at predetermined time intervals: measuring (1) analogue electrical signals and generating corresponding digital signals representative of the wave form of partial discharge impulses; deriving (2) for each of said digital signals, at least one shape parameter and at least one amplitude parameter; separating (3) the set of the measured data into homogeneous sub-sets with respect to the shape parameter; correlating (4) the sub-sets of signals having similar values of the shape parameter and measured in successive steps; selecting (5) the correlated sub-sets for which the amplitude parameter has a predetermined profile over time and attributing the signals of said subsets to partial discharge activities. The methods currently in use do not allow to monitor partial discharge activities in an apparatus in DC, because they do not allow to distinguish the signals relating to the partial discharges from those relating to noise or to disturbances.
US08527214B2
A mechanical seal monitoring system and method that measure the wear of seal faces of a mechanical seal where the mechanical seal seals a rotating machine portion from another portion of the machine. The system preferably uses a wear probe movable relative to a rotating seal component so that the wear probe can contact the rotating component. The wear of the seal is preferably determined by the relative movement that is required for the wear probe to contact the rotating component. Preferably, stress waves induced by the rubbing between the probe and the rotating component are detected by a stress-wave sensor, processed by a signal processor, and either displayed to the user numerically or reported to a monitoring computer. A signal intensity comparison method is preferably used to make the detection process insensitive to background noise generated by sources other than the contact of the wear probe and the rotating component.
US08527196B2
A system includes a first module receives N points (N≧3) from a remote device, the N points indicating (i) a current location, (ii) a desired location, and (iii) one or more points between the current location and the desired location. A second module determines whether first information in a first datastore of the system is missing a link between each neighboring pair of points within the N points. A third module receives M points (M≧1) from the remote device for each missing one of the N−1 links, the M points indicating points between two of the N points associated with a missing link. A fourth module generates a route from the current location to the desired location based on the N points and the first information in a first datastore, and any M points received for missing ones of the N−1 links.
US08527192B2
Watercraft automation and aquatic data utilization for aquatic efforts are utilized for fishing and network communication. In one aspect, an anchor point is obtained and a water craft position maintenance routine is actuated to control the watercraft to maintain association with the anchor point. In another aspect, prior aquatic effort data is obtained in association with an anchor point. In yet another, aspect, current aquatic effort data is generated in association with an anchor point. In still another aspect, current aquatic effort data and prior aquatic effort data are utilized for prediction generation. In yet another aspect, current aquatic effort data and prior aquatic effort data are utilized to obtain another anchor point for a watercraft.
US08527189B2
The present invention relates particularly to a method for detecting electric power blips during transmission of an electric signal representative of a magnitude detected by a sensor (1) to an electronic control unit associated with a motor, characterized in that it includes the steps of: a) measuring said electric signal known as “raw signal” (SBTE); b) proceeding with the filtering of said raw signal to obtain a “filtered signal” (STFE); c) calculating for a constant time pitch, |raw signal−filtered signal|, that is, the absolute value of the difference between the raw signal and the filtered signal; d) comparing said absolute value to a predetermined threshold of maximum variation (SVM); e) when said absolute value is greater than said predetermined threshold of maximum variation, declaring a state of power blip; f) otherwise, repeating the preceding steps.
US08527184B2
A logical sensor method is provided for internal combustion engines (Compression Ignited or Spark Ignited) based on a software algorithm (SBS). This algorithm identifies the mixture diesel/bio-diesel present in a vehicle's fuel tank and adapts the engine control strategy as a function of the fraction of FAME (Fatty Acid Methyl Esters) vegetal-based oil or oil produced from organic waste blended into a crude oil based diesel fuel (average chemical formula C12H23).
US08527175B2
A braking/driving control apparatus for a vehicle includes a basic control unit which calculates and outputs a target axle torque based on a target acceleration and a driving resistance of the vehicle and which determines an axle torque for a power train of the vehicle and an axle torque for a braking apparatus of the vehicle based on the calculated target axle torque, a sliding-down prediction determining unit which determines whether there is a possibility that the vehicle slides down rearwards on an uphill road, and a sliding-down preventing process executing unit which performs a process for reducing a possibility that the vehicle slides down, based on a determination result of the sliding-down prediction determining unit. After the sliding-down prediction determining unit determines that there is the possibility, the sliding-down preventing process executing unit controls the basic control unit to calculate and output the target axle torque so as to reach an axle torque which is obtained by reducing a predetermined positive amount form an estimated value of an axle torque necessary for the vehicle to achieve the target acceleration against the driving resistance.
US08527173B2
The method for managing an energy variation of an aircraft provided with at least one propulsion system, capable of generating a thrust force on said aircraft comprised in a thrust range, is characterized in that said energy variation is expressed by a size representative of said energy variation and homogenous to a gradient of the aircraft, and in that it includes steps for determining the current energy variation of said aircraft, ordering an energy variation of the aircraft, determining, as a function of said ordered energy variation, a necessary thrust force that must be generated by said propulsion system for the energy variation of the aircraft to be able to tend towards said ordered energy variation, and developing and applying a control order to said propulsion system so that it delivers said necessary thrust force.
US08527169B2
An apparatus and method of controlling a torque transmitting apparatus having multiple selectively engageable couplers is provided. The multiple couplers may be selectively engaged and disengaged to provide a mechanical, friction or fluid coupling between portions of the torque transmitting apparatus and other components of a vehicle powertrain during various operational stages. The control apparatus includes a fluid pressure control device and a fluid flow control device.
US08527164B2
A method of controlling and/or regulating an automated transmission of a vehicle in which a rolling function or a coasting function of the vehicle is activated in an automatic mode, under predetermined conditions, such that the drivetrain is disengaged and the drive motor is one of operated at idle or is switched off at times. The rolling function or the coasting function is automatically terminated if at least one of the predetermined conditions is no longer present. The rolling function or the coasting function can also be terminated manually by the driver, and a manually operable shifting strategy can be initiated.
US08527162B2
A control apparatus for an automatic transmission prevents friction engagement elements from being kept in an engagement state in accordance with the traveling state of a vehicle when a shift lever is operated to the position where a neutral range is formed, even if the malfunction of a solenoid valves occurs. If the shift range is switched to an N range, an ECU controls an So3 solenoid valve to enter an energized state, and controls a speed change mechanism to enter a non-transmission state, when the ECU judges that vehicle speed V is smaller than an N range forming method changing threshold Vn. The ECU controls an SL1 linear solenoid valve to enter a de-energized state, and controls the speed change mechanism to enter the non-transmission state, when the ECU judges that the vehicle speed V is no less than the N range forming method changing threshold Vn.
US08527161B2
The present disclosure relates to a control circuit for a vehicle transmission cooling system having a controller configured to control an air compressor to selectively pressurize a transmission clutch housing and provide air to an alternative vehicle subsystem (or subsystems).
US08527159B2
An electronic-hydraulic controller for an automatic transmission includes a transmission control module (TCM) which is disposed outside the transmission housing and is connected to the actuators, sensors and switches within the transmission by a serial data link such as the car area network (CAN). Electrical power is also provided to the components within the transmission resulting in a connector requiring only five or six terminals. Each of the actuators, sensors and switches includes its own integrated electronic circuitry which receives, stores and provides data and allows it to communicate through the serial data link with the externally mounted control module. The electronic circuitry of each actuator stores data regarding its input signal to output pressure and flow characteristics which facilitates replacement of the transmission control module.
US08527155B2
An avoidance system is disclosed for operating a vehicle on a pile of material on a worksite, the material being released through an opening at the worksite and causing a disturbance zone to form on a surface of the pile. The system has a sensor positioned at the worksite and configured to sense the surface of the pile, and a processor in communication with the sensor and the vehicle. The processor is configured to identify the disturbance zone based on the sensed surface and a known location of the opening, and to transmit a signal indicative of the disturbance zone to the vehicle.
US08527152B2
A vehicle control device has first and second transmission circuits that communicate by radio with a portable unit and also has a control section that, when the portable unit is confirmed to be correct, engages in a permission mode that permits the start of an engine. The first and second transmission circuits transmit first and second request signals from first and second transmission antennas to first and second communicatable areas respectively. When a back door is detected to be open, the control section does not permit the start of the engine even if an ID code signal is returned from the portable unit in response to the second request signal.
US08527144B2
An in-vehicle apparatus changes icon appearance of gadget-associated icons according to travel impediment information associated with respective gadgets during the travel of a vehicle. The icon appearance has an improved recognizability if the icon is associated with a gadget that does not impede the travel of the vehicle, or has a worsened recognizability if the icon is associated with a gadget that impedes the travel of the vehicle. As a result, the in-vehicle apparatus allows a user to easily recognize whether a gadget-associated icon has impeding operation steps or non-impeding operation steps for the execution of the respective gadgets, thereby enabling a safer travel of the vehicle.
US08527140B2
This application describes the detection of the state of a vehicle and various actions to be performed based on the detected state. The detection of the state is done by a portable device, carried by the user, which uses onboard sensors to receive operations indicators, and uses rules in a predetermined criteria to determine the operational state of the vehicle. Various methods are described for detecting the states of the vehicle and applications based upon it.
US08527127B2
A method and system of determining a maximum oil change limit for an engine considering the engine operating environment and location is provided. An engine location indicator is generated in response to a trigger, using a locating device in communication with a controller. The locating device may include a global positioning system (GPS) receiver. The engine may be an internal combustion engine on a vehicle configured as one of a hybrid vehicle and an extended range electric vehicle. The trigger may be one of a calendar time, a key-on event, an oil change event, and a signal provided by the controller. The controller may generate the maximum oil change limit of the engine using one or more oil change indices, each defined by the engine location and/or time in location. The maximum oil change limit and/or an oil change limit alert may be provided as an output of the controller.
US08527115B2
An airborne reconnaissance system comprising: (1) Gimbals having at least two degrees of freedom; (2) At least one array of light sensors positioned on the gimbals, for being directed by the same within at least two degrees of freedom; (3) Map storage means for storing at least one Digital Elevation Map of an area of interest, divided into portions; (4) Inertial Navigation System for real-time providing to a gimbals control unit navigation and orientation data of the aircraft with respect to a predefined global axes system; (5) Portion selection unit for selecting, one at a time, another area portion from the area of interest; and (6) servo means for directing the gimbals. The system uses data from the inertial navigation system and from the digital elevation map for real-time calculating direction to selected area portions, and for maintaining the direction during integration of light from the terrain, and for producing corresponding images of area portions.
US08527113B2
A system for providing enhanced operator control of a remote vehicle driving at increased speeds comprises: a head-mounted display configured to be worn by the operator and track a position of the operator's head; a head-aimed camera mounted to the remote vehicle via a pan/tilt mechanism and configured to pan and tilt in accordance with the position of the operator's head, the head-aimed camera transmitting video to be displayed to the operator via the head-mounted display; and a computer running a behavior engine, the computer receiving input from the operator and one or more sensors, and being configured to utilize the behavior engine, operator input, sensor input, and one or more autonomous and/or semi-autonomous behaviors to assist the operator in driving the remote vehicle. The remote vehicle includes releasably mounted wheels and high-friction tracks.
US08527112B2
An on-vehicle device with a storage unit that includes a transfer unit that transfers data stored in the storage unit to another on-vehicle device of equal capability that is also equipped with a storage unit. In the on-vehicle device, the transfer unit is configured by a data transfer jack provided to each of the on-vehicle device and the another on-vehicle device, and a data transfer cable for connecting the transfer jacks.
US08527111B2
A device for moving a jet member in a first path over a layer to be treated by the jet has means configured to enable input of data relating to a geometrical shape of a surface of said layer to be treated by the jet member and means configured to use said data for calculating end positions (S1, S2) of an impact point of the jet member for a plurality of consecutive stripes (S) extending substantially perpendicularly to a second path for indexing, each having a width substantially corresponding to an indexing step and together forming said geometrical shape. A control arrangement co-ordinates movement of the impact point of the jet member and said indexing for treating a surface of said layer having said geometrical shape by said jet member.
US08527110B2
A charge/discharge control device capable of increasing the lifetime of a storage portion while suppressing effects of fluctuation in power generated by a power generator on a power grid is provided. This charge/discharge control device is so formed as to start charge/discharge control of the storage portion if an amount of change in power detected by a power detection portion detecting power passing through a prescribed portion of a line between the power generator and the power grid is at least a prescribed amount of change when the detected power changes from first power to second power while the detected power does not return to power in the vicinity of the first power from the second power within a first period from a time point when the detected power changes from the first power to the second power.
US08527108B2
A method for managing an energy consuming load in a group of energy consuming loads and a method for managing the group of energy consuming loads. The method includes generating sets of load state data from the loads, making enablement state decisions for one or more loads independently of the other loads using the sets of load state data, and implementing the enablement state decisions. A computer readable medium for providing computer readable instructions directing a processor in order to manage an energy consuming load in a group of energy consuming loads. An apparatus including a processor programmed to manage an energy consuming load in a group of energy consuming loads.
US08527100B2
A method of providing a flow control device is disclosed, which one aspect may include: defining a flow rate; defining a desired relationship between a parameter of the flow control device that exhibits a substantial change when a selected property of the fluid changes in a first range and remains substantially constant when the selected property is in the second range; determining using a computer and a simulation program the relationship between the performance parameter and the selected property over the first range and the second range for the defined flow rate for a geometry of a flow through area of a flow control device; comparing the determined relationship of the performance parameter with the desired relationship; altering the geometry to a new geometry when the difference between the desired performance and the determined performance is outside a desired range; determining using the computer and the simulation program the relationship between the performance parameter and the selected property over the first range and the second range for the defined flow rate for the new geometry of the flow through area of the flow control device; repeating the process of altering the geometry and determining the performance until the difference between the desired performance and the determined performance for a geometry is acceptable; and storing the geometry of the flow through device on a suitable storage medium for which the difference between the determined performance and the desired performance is acceptable.
US08527096B2
A programmable controller includes a user interface which includes a default interface, a home screen, an indoor settings interface and one or more tab interfaces. As the home screen covers a predominant portion of the default interface and is associated with the indoor settings interface, the home screen enables an operator of the programmable thermostat to intuitively transition from the home screen to the indoor settings and one or more tab interfaces.
US08527088B2
Upon receiving first data, a stop control unit (211) performs control such that a transportation vehicle (200) stops at a first stop position at which the transportation vehicle (200) can load the article onto a second apparatus. Upon receiving second data, the stop control unit (211) performs control such that the transportation vehicle (200) stops at a second stop position corresponding to a first apparatus.
US08527084B2
In the method for cutting a material layer (20) along a given cutting line (21), a cutting beam is moved so as to impinge on the material layer (20) laterally offset by a distance (W) from the cutting line (21). The distance (W) is determined as a function of the variations of the cutting speed at which the cutting beam is moved, and/or as a function of the deviations of the effective cutting beam cross-section from a circular shape.
US08527067B2
A medical electrical lead includes a tapered distal tip having a tapered drug-eluting component incorporated therein. The drug-eluting component can be an overmolded drug-eluting collar or a pre-molded drug eluting collar. The drug-eluting collar is disposed in a recess formed in the tapered distal tip and maintains the overall tapered profile of the distal tip.
US08527060B2
Disclosed herein is a shield for shielding a telemetry wand from electromagnetical interference capable of interfering with telemetry communications between the telemetry wand and an AIMD in a patient. The telemetry wand may include a first side that is configured to be placed against a patient, a second side generally opposite the first side, a lateral side between the first and second sides, a hole extending between the first and second sides, and a cable extending from the lateral side. The shield may include a shell including a wall that defines a volume and an opening in the shell. The volume may be configured to receive therein the telemetry wand such that the second and lateral sides of the telemetry wand face respective portions of the wall and the first side faces the opening in the shell.
US08527058B2
An exemplary method includes a sound processing unit 1) directing an implantable cochlear stimulator coupled to a plurality of electrodes to generate an electrical stimulation current in accordance with one or more stimulation parameters, 2) automatically detecting an impedance of at least one of the electrodes, and 3) directing, in accordance with the detected impedance, the implantable cochlear stimulator to adjust a pulse width of the electrical stimulation current to maintain constant a total electric charge level of the electrical stimulation current.
US08527044B2
A user interface method and apparatus is described for use with a defibrillator (100) such as an automated external defibrillator (AED). The user interface comprises a plurality of layered user interface components which become available to the operator of the defibrillator (100) as they become necessary or appropriate during the operation of the defibrillator (100) and treatment of the patient. In one embodiment, the layered user interface components comprise an on/off actuator (108), a lid (104), an electrode package (120) containing defibrillation electrodes (142, 144), and a shock key (170), as well as accompanying visual and aural instructions for operating the defibrillator (100) and for treating the patient.
US08527039B2
Systems and methods for detecting and/or treating nervous system disorders, such as seizures. Certain embodiments of the invention relate generally to implantable medical devices (IMDs) adapted to detect and treat nervous system disorders in patients with an IMD. Certain embodiments of the invention include detection of seizures based upon comparisons of long-term and short-term representations of physiological signals. Further embodiments of the invention include preparing for the delivery of therapy by warming up therapy delivery components prior to the expected delivery of therapy.
US08527033B1
Systems and methods which determine the position of an instrument internal to an object using an opto-mechanical sensor are shown. Embodiments utilize an opto-mechanical sensor system in which a mechanical instrument interface provides instrument movement information to a corresponding optical sensor system to determine instrument movement. Determinations of instrument movement preferably provide information regarding movement direction and speed. Such information, when used in combination with other information such as starting position or starting position offset, insertion angle or angle of attack, and/or insertion plane, is utilized by embodiments of the invention to determine the position of an instrument or portion thereof. Embodiments are adapted to accommodate different instrument configurations. Position information may be utilized in combination with an ultrasound image to display a visual representation of the instrument, or portion thereof, within a object being imaged.
US08527026B2
Devices and methods for determining analyte levels are described. The devices and methods allow for the implantation of analyte-monitoring devices, such as glucose monitoring devices that result in the delivery of a dependable flow of blood to deliver sample to the implanted device. The devices include unique architectural arrangement in the sensor region that allows accurate data to be obtained over long periods of time.
US08527024B2
An in vivo amperometric sensor is provided for measuring the concentration of an analyte in a body fluid. The sensor comprises a counter electrode and a working electrode, and the working electrode comprises a sensing layer which is generally water permeable and arranged on a support member adjacent to a contact pad. The sensing layer comprises an immobilized enzyme capable of acting catalytically in the presence of the analyte to cause an electrical signal. The sensing layer has an upper surface facing the body fluid and a lower surface facing away from the body fluid, and the immobilized enzyme is distributed within the sensing layer in such a way that the enzyme concentration in the middle between the upper and lower surfaces is at least as high as on the upper surface of the sensing layer.
US08527023B2
The device for the transcutaneous determination of blood gases including a transcutaneous sensor for the measurement of at least one of the parameters of skin carbon dioxide partial pressure (PsCO2) and skin oxygen partial pressure (PsO2) includes at least one sensor for the measurement of the tissue blood flow (F) local with respect to the transcutaneous sensor, and includes a device for the calculation of at least one of the parameters of transcutaneous carbon dioxide partial pressure (tcpCO2) and transcutaneous oxygen partial pressure (tcpO2) from the measured skin carbon dioxide partial pressure (PsCO2) or the measured skin oxygen partial pressure (PsO2), with a factor dependent on the local tissue blood flow (F) being taken into account in the calculation of at least one of the parameters of transcutaneous carbon dioxide partial pressure (tcpCO2) and transcutaneous oxygen partial pressure (tcpO2).
US08527021B2
An entertainment system for a vehicle, including a media player and a control panel having an option that allows a user to select either a first communication mode or a second communication mode, wherein the first communication mode sets the entertainment system to respond to a transmitted first set of codes and the second communication mode sets the entertainment system to respond to a transmitted second set of codes.
US08527019B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a sliding mechanism with which when a state of two connected members is changed to a plurality of states by sliding, the state can be changed from an arbitrary state to another arbitrary state without passing through the other state. The sliding mechanism of the present invention is disposed between a first member and a second member and includes a body to be guided arranged on the first member and a guide body arranged on the second member and guides the body to be guided. The guide body includes an annular guide groove which guides the body to be guided. The guide groove is a groove section composed of at least three sides including an arc-shaped side and a linear side.
US08527018B2
An apparatus and a method for reducing battery consumption of a mobile terminal are provided. More particularly, an apparatus and a method for reducing battery consumption by allowing a mobile terminal to perform a wakeup process by expiration or update of a timer which coincides with a paging period in order to reduce battery consumption. The controller reduces a frequency of waking up from a sleep mode by matching a wakeup time set by a timer to a paging period with a certain condition is met.
US08527009B1
Methods, systems, and computer-readable media are provided for presenting coverage bars on a mobile device based on available telecommunications signals. In particular, a mobile device is associated with a plurality of telecommunications signals. Further, the telecommunications signals associated with the mobile device are assessed based on signal strength. A determination is made as to the relative strength of one telecommunications technology over another. Additionally, identifiers of the telecommunications signals are presented on a screen of the mobile device.
US08527003B2
A system and apparatus including a wireless network architecture that provides broadband data network coverage over an expandable geographic area. A media access control layer is also provided that facilitates access to the broadband wireless network. A high-frequency wireless modem enables high data rate access to the wireless network in a spectrally-efficient manner using SSB modulation. A wideband millimeter-wave antenna includes a cosecant-squared reflector enabling signal propagation between network elements thereby enabling seamless wireless communications. A millimeter-wave polarizer, and a septum polarizer each convert between linear and circular polarization. A cross-shaped horn antenna adapted for circularly polarized signals can also be used in combination with the septum polarizer. A combined horn antenna is fed using a microstrip patch antenna.
US08527000B2
Wireless communication system for monitoring and managing client interface for area-specific process
A method enables a communication between a process client and a wireless process server to carry out an area-specific process in an area. The method includes a step of transmitting it message from a wireless process server to a wireless communication device operated by the process client. The message includes information related to the area-specific process for enabling the process-client to better arrange time before the area-specific process is scheduled to carry out in the area. In a specific embodiment, the wireless communication server sends a message to notify the process client about a location and an estimate time for the process client to carry out the area-specific process. In another preferred embodiment, the communication system enables the process client to employ a wireless communication device owned by the process client.
US08526998B2
A mobile terminal (10) of the present invention has a sensor (15) for detecting a pulse, in an upper end portion of a back surface of a main body of the mobile terminal (10). The sensor (15) is constituted by a light-emitting element and a light-receiving element. A position of the sensor is determined so that a force acting on the sensor falls within a range from 50 gf to 200 gf in a case where the mobile terminal is supported at its lower end portion and at the sensor by a fingertip. Thus, the present invention provides the mobile terminal (10) which can be always carried with a user and which realizes easy and stable pulse measurement.
US08526994B2
A method and apparatus for controlling a Transmit power (TX power) of an indoor Base Station (BS) in a broadband wireless communication system. An operation of the indoor BS includes receiving received channel quality information on the indoor BS from at least one Mobile Station (MS), increasing in steps the TX power by as much as a basic unit amount and, determining whether an MS located outside a building has accessed the indoor BS using the received channel quality information in every increase and, when the MS located outside the building has accessed the indoor BS, decreasing the TX power of the indoor BS.
US08526990B1
Methods and systems are disclosed herein that may be used to share transmit-power information between mobile stations. An exemplary method involves a first mobile station: (i) determining a verified transmit power (VTP) for the first mobile station; (ii) using the VTP to generate a transmit-power message, wherein the transmit-power message is usable to determine an initial transmit power (ITP) for the second mobile station; and (iii) the first mobile station sending the transmit-power message to at least the second mobile station. For instance, the first mobile station may set the ITP for the second mobile station equal to the VTP for the first mobile station, and include an indication of the ITP in the transmit-power message. Alternatively, the first mobile station may calculate the ITP for the second mobile station by adjusting its VTP according to the ratio of the distance between the second mobile station and the serving base station, and the distance between the first mobile station and the serving base station.
US08526983B2
A Short Message Service (SMS) message is communicated to a mobile user equipment (MUE) over an Internet Protocol (IP) network using an IP communication. An SMS network includes a Short Message Service Centre (SM-SC), a gateway mobile switching centre (GMSC), the SMS network communicating SMS messages. An IP/SMS gateway communicates between the SMS and IP networks. A home location database maintains address data identifying a current location of a MUE. After interrogation by the GMSC, the home location database provides the GMSC an address of the IP/SMS gateway, stored in association with the subscriber identify number. The GMSC sends the SMS message to the IP/SMS gateway. The IP/SMS gateway retrieves an IP address corresponding to the mobile subscriber number pre-stored in an IP/SMS database associated with the IP/SMS gateway. The IP/SMS gateway communicates the SMS message to the MUE at the retrieved IP address via the IP network.
US08526981B2
A method for delivering a short message service (SMS) message to an interworking wireless local area network user equipment (UE) begins by registering the UE with an Internet Protocol short message gateway (IP-SM-GW). A capability report is sent from the UE to the IP-SM-GW, the capability report including the capabilities of the UE. A SMS message is transmitted from a short message service center (SMSC) to the IP-SM-GW. The capabilities of the UE are evaluated at the IP-SM-GW to determine whether the UE can receive the SMS message, and the SMS message is delivered to the UE via the IP-SM-GW if the UE has the capabilities to receive the SMS message.
US08526974B2
Own communication equipment locates a source of wireless transmissions, the own equipment including a serving base station (BS). The serving BS receives, from remote sensors including at least one user equipment (UE), sensing information from which transmitter location information (“location information”) can be determined. The location information is oriented in a serving BS coordinate system. The location information can comprise white space sensing information from which a direction of a transmitter relative to a position of the UE can be determined, and pilot signal sensing information from which respective directions of one or more BSs relative to the position of the UE can be determined. The BS transforms the white space and pilot signal sensing information into the location information. Geographical safety margins are determined from the location information, and BS transmissions are adjusted to limit transmitting signals beyond the geographical safety margin area.
US08526964B2
A communication system for supporting carrier aggregation and a method and apparatus for updating system information thereof are disclosed. A method for providing system information in the communication system supporting carrier aggregation includes: when system information of said communication system changes, generating first information including information for indicating the change of system information; determining a first cell of a terminal related to the change of system information, wherein said first cell is one of cells to which said terminal connects, and corresponds to a carrier unit currently used by said terminal for keeping connection with a base station of said communication system; and transmitting said first information to said terminal through said first cell.
US08526960B2
The present invention relates to a first node and a second node in a mobile telecommunication network. The network comprises a first node, a second node and a third node, wherein the first node is connectable to the second node and the second node is connectable to the first node and to the third node and the third node is connectable to the second node. A system function is realized by the execution of a master-process implemented in the first node and a slave-process implemented in the third node, wherein the execution of the master-process realizes a control function associated with the system function. The master-process of the first node is adapted to temporarily delegate the responsibility to realize the control function to a master-proxy-process implemented in the second node and the master-proxy-process implemented in the second node is adapted to take over the responsibility to realize the control function from the master-process of the first node.
US08526957B2
In accordance with the exemplary embodiments of the invention there is at least a method, apparatus, and executable computer program to perform operations including detecting that a cell in a wireless communication system is able to selectively increase or decrease its transmit power by an amount, where the cell is configured with a transmit power and a parameter that indicates a maximum difference in power change, resulting from a change in transmit power, that can exist between a power change of the cell and a power change of a neighbor cell, examining, at the cell, a signal comprising at least one value received from at least one neighbor cell, based on the examining, determining that a transmit power change is possible, modifying a value associated with the transmit power, and modifying the transmit power of the cell by the modified value, and signaling the modified value to the at least one neighbor cell in the wireless communication system.
US08526940B1
A telecommunications network includes a plurality of operators, each performing customer service activities. Each operator uses an analytics engine to apply troubleshooting rules to help diagnose customer problems. In addition to a local rules repository at each of the different operators, a centralized rules repository is used to collect domain knowledge of the different operators. Additionally, rules generated by software vendors and device manufacturers are also included in the centralized rules repository. By accessing this centralized rules repository, the local rules repositories can be updated with rules from these other sources, thereby increasing the rules available for each individual operator.
US08526939B2
The invention relates to a device and to a method for testing a mobile radio device in a multiple antenna system using a frequency-selective static channel model for channel simulation in frequency space. In the method according to the invention, the useful data to be transmitted are first allocated to a plurality of carrier frequencies and the associated coding parameters per antenna. The useful data are then modulated onto the carrier frequencies according to the allocation. One or more modulated carrier signals are now distorted in frequency space according to a frequency-selective static channel model. A transmission signal composed of the channel-modeled modulated carrier signals is subsequently transmitted in the period of time to a mobile radio device to be tested.
US08526938B1
A method of testing a mobile phone maintenance channel is provided. The method comprises transmitting a plurality of mobile phone activation set-up messages to an open mobile alliance (OMA) platform, the OMA platform storing activation set-up information in a data store, and generating test activation request messages. The method further comprises transporting the activation request messages over a mobile phone maintenance channel, the OMA platform retrieving activation set-up information from the data store, the OMA platform transmitting activation response messages, the activation response messages comprising at least a portion of the mobile phone activation set-up information associated with the test activation request, transporting the activation response messages over the maintenance channel, and the computer, in response to receiving the activation response messages, determining a first test result based on comparing the plurality of activation request messages to the activation response messages.
US08526937B2
A method of handling minimization of drive tests (MDT) reporting of a mobile device in a wireless communication system is disclosed. The method comprises not transmitting a request message to a network of the wireless communication system, when the mobile device is performing the MDT reporting to the network, wherein the request message is used for releasing a connection between the mobile device and the network.
US08526934B2
A system that facilitates inter-operable communications between first responder (FR) wireless communications devices at an emergency location. The system includes an on-site tactical communications plan that is configured into a communications control device. The communications control device is part of an emergency command vehicle. First responders utilize their associated FR devices to establish a wireless IP data session with the communications control device via a macro wireless network. Once the IP data session is established, the FR device is authenticated by the communications control device. The tactical plan is then transmitted to the FR device via the established wireless IP data sessions. Once the tactical plan is transmitted to the FR devices, each of the FR devices comprises identical radio configurations and channel assignments.
US08526915B2
Equipment to prevent spoofing in an authentication technique that uses a portable terminal and the like, includes an authentication unit for performing personal authentication of the user, a communication unit for communicating with a register, and an authentication control unit for permitting the authentication unit to execute the personal authentication of the user when receiving authentication start instructing information from the register connected to the communication unit. Spoofing is difficult to carry out because the authentication start instructing information must be received from the register in order to perform the required personal authentication prior to the post-authentication communication.
US08526913B2
Systems, methods, and computer program products are for managing access to a femtocell coverage area. An exemplary method includes storing in a memory component a first identifier corresponding to a subscribed service of a communication device and a second identifier corresponding to a user of the communication device, and granting access to the femtocell coverage area using the second identifier.
US08526909B2
An Emergency Alert System (EAS) alert message may be used to activate a security system. For example, a mobile device of a subscriber may receive an EAS alert message from a network provider of the mobile device. Upon receipt of the EAS alert message, the mobile device may send an indication of the EAS message to the security system. A component of the security system may be activated to provide notification of the EAS alert message to the subscriber.
US08526904B2
Techniques to reduce LO leakage by controlling the amplitude of LO signal based on the level of output signal after the frequency conversion process. An LO generator receives a VCO signal and generates an LO signal having a variable amplitude and a frequency that is related to the frequency of the VCO signal. A variable gain amplifier receives a control signal and adjusts the amplitude of the LO signal based on the control signal. The variable amplitude LO signal is used for frequency upconversion (e.g., direction upconversion) of an input signal (e.g., at baseband) to obtain an output signal (e.g., at RF). The relationship between LO signal amplitude and output signal level may be defined by a particular transfer function. In general, the LO signal is set higher for higher output signal level and is reduced proportionally for lower output signal level.
US08526897B2
According to one aspect of the present invention, a controller is coupled to at least first and second signal processors (at least one of which includes analog demodulation circuitry and another of which includes digital demodulation circuitry). The controller may operate to disable the first signal processor responsive to a control signal that indicates that a second signal (corresponding to a demodulator output) is available from the second signal processor.
US08526893B2
A configurable transceiver includes an RF receiver that generates a stream of inbound data from at least one received RF signal, wherein the RF receiver is configurable in response to a control signal. An RF transmitter generates at least one RF signal from a stream of outbound data, wherein the RF transmitter section is configurable in response to the control signal. A configuration controller generates the control signal based on channel data. A power management unit generates at least one receiver supply signal and at least on transmitter supply signal in accordance with a plurality of power consumption parameters, and wherein the power management unit adjusts at least one of the plurality of power consumption parameters based on the control signal.
US08526890B1
A radio frequency (RF) module capable of self-calibration is provided. According to an embodiment, the RF module includes an RF signal processor, a plurality of RF signal paths, an antenna switch module (ASM), and a power detector. The RF signal paths are connected between the RF signal processor and the ASM. The ASM has an antenna port and selectively connects the RF signal processor to the antenna port through one of the RF signal paths. The power detector is operative to detect power of an RF transmission signal that exits the antenna port of the ASM and enters an antenna when the ASM connects an RF transmission path of the RF signal paths to the antenna port of the ASM.
US08526874B2
A transmission mechanism of an image forming apparatus includes: a first transmitting section transmitting a driving force of a drive mechanism to a first transporting roller; and a second transmitting section transmitting the driving force of the first transmitting section to a second transporting roller. The first transmitting section has a first gear rotatable integrally with the first transporting roller. The second transmitting section has a second gear engaged with the first gear; a shaft extended in a direction intersecting the rotational axes of the first and second transporting rollers, and rotatable integrally with the second gear; a third gear rotatable integrally with the shaft; and a fourth gear engaged with the third gear and rotatable integrally with the second transporting roller. The image forming apparatus is capable of transporting a paper favorably along a re-transporting path.
US08526863B2
A toner discharge mechanism which is attached to a toner cartridge includes an auger screw for conveying and discharging a toner stored in the toner cartridge, the auger screw having an end portion downstream thereof, the end portion forming a taper portion having a predetermined length and an outer diameter diminishing toward a tip thereof; a cover member for covering the taper portion, the cover member having a conical inner wall configured to correspond to a taper shape of the taper portion; and a toner discharge outlet formed on the cover member.
US08526859B2
A system and method for determining LEP ink conductivity are provided. A pair of electrodes is arranged to define a narrow gap there between. A non-conductive propeller rotates within the gap and causes liquid ink to flow over respective planar surfaces of the electrodes. The rotating propeller further prevents the accumulation of ink sludge on the planar surfaces of the electrodes within the gap. Electrical current is conducted between the electrodes. The electrical current is measured and the conductivity value of the ink determined there from.
US08526857B2
Provided a charging member which can prevent any contaminants deposited on a cleaning member from adhering thereto by making low a surface free energy and coefficient of friction thereof. The charging member has a substrate, an elastic layer and a surface layer, and the surface layer contains a polymer having an Si—O—W linkage; the polymer having a constitutional unit represented by the following formula (1) and a constitutional unit represented by the following formula (2):
US08526856B2
An image forming unit includes a first rotating body having a first gear; a first unit that rotatably supports the first rotating body; a second rotating body having a second gear; a second unit that rotatably supports the second rotating body; and a biasing part that biases the second unit toward the first unit, wherein a drive force is generated by transmitting rotation from the first gear to the second gear in order to transmit the rotation from the first rotating body to the second rotating body, and the biasing part biases the second unit in a biasing direction substantially perpendicular to a driving direction of the drive force.
US08526839B2
An image forming apparatus arranged to produce groups of printed sheets. Each group includes a plurality of sequential sheets. The image forming apparatus includes a plurality of storage units each configured to store the printed sheets produced by an image forming unit, a sorter unit configured to sort the printed sheets of a group into a plurality of portions, wherein the sheets in each portion are in sequential order, and to output each of the portions to a different storage unit, and a display unit configured to display an indication of the storage unit storing the portion including the first or the last sheet of the group such that a user is directed to collect the portion including the first or the last sheet of the group from the indicated storage unit first.
US08526830B2
A method of analyzing an input signal, the method including the steps of: (a) dividing a first input signal into first and second orthogonal signal polarization components; (b) dividing a second input signal into orthogonal first and second orthogonal local polarization components; (c) mixing the first orthogonal signal component with the second orthogonal local polarization component to provide a first mixed signal; (d) mixing the second orthogonal signal component with the first orthogonal local polarization component to provide a second mixed signal; (e) analyzing the first and second mixed signal to determine the polarization or phase information in the input signal.
US08526822B2
A flexible circuit assembly is described that integrates a first fiber optic die, for example a transmitter die, a second fiber optic die, for example a receiver die, a trans-impedance amplifier die and a transmitter driver die on a single flexible circuit. Alignment holes and multiple die are accurately placed on a single flexible circuit. The precise placement of alignment holes and fiber optic die facilitate micron alignment accuracy to a fiber optic connector, preferably a mechanical transfer (MT) connector. A heat sink is provided that transfers heat from the trans-impedance amplifier die and the transmitter driver die and isolates the fiber optic die from the heat source. Circuitry for the first fiber optic die, second fiber optic die, impedance die, and driver die, including isolated grounding circuitry, is also integrated on the flexible circuit assembly.
US08526819B2
A receiver receiving a phase-modulated optical frequency division multiplexed signal is provided. The receiver includes a light spectrum shaper configured to extract a carrier wave and a modulated light component contained in either one of a short-wavelength-side waveband or a long-wavelength-side waveband with respect to the carrier wave, to output a spectrum-shaped light signal; and an optical-to-electric converter configured to convert the spectrum-shaped light signal into an electric signal.
US08526817B2
A communications device includes a transmitter device having an optical source to generate an optical carrier signal, and a first modulator coupled to the optical source and to modulate the optical carrier signal with a radio frequency (RF) input signal, and an optical waveguide coupled to the transmitter device. The communications device includes a receiver device coupled to the optical waveguide and including a second modulator to further modulate the modulated optical carrier signal with a local oscillator (LO) signal, a frequency modulation-phase modulation (FM-PM) discriminator coupled to the second modulator and to convert the modulated optical carrier signal to an intensity modulated optical carrier signal based upon the LO signal, and an optical-to-electrical converter coupled to the FM-PM discriminator and to generate an intermediate frequency (IF) signal based upon the intensity modulated optical carrier signal.
US08526809B2
An adapter for a camera flash including: a first terminal portion corresponding to a flash terminal of a camera; a mounting portion supporting the first terminal portion and installed on the camera; an operating portion coupled to the mounting portion in a manner that allows an orientation of the operating portion to be adjusted; a second terminal portion disposed on the operating portion for an external flash to be installed thereon and electrically connected to the first terminal portion; and a connection unit disposed between the operating portion and the mounting portion and supporting the operating portion with respect to the mounting portion in a manner that allows the orientation of the operating portion to be adjusted.
US08526801B2
The present invention relates to a line connector for media lines, consisting of a connector piece with at least one junction portion for junction connection to a media line or to an assembly and with a transitional portion contiguous to the junction portion and having a flow duct. In this case, at least in the region of the transitional portion, electrical heating means are provided in an arrangement at least partially surrounding the flow duct. Furthermore, the invention relates to a ready-made media line consisting of a pipeline with a heating conductor arranged on the circumference and with a heatable line connector fastened at least to one pipeline end of the media line.
US08526799B2
An air dehumidifier for use in small enclosures such as gun and other types of safes is disclosed. The air dehumidifier provides a natural convection dehumidifier circulation system for use in enclosures that reduces natural convection airflow through a drying chamber and thereby dehumidifies and circulates air within the enclosure. Heated air released through the air flow apertures combine with air drawn in through the air intake apertures in the base, to provide air circulation and dehumidification within the safe interior. This invention also provides a drying chamber end cap which prevents articles within the enclosure from blocking the airflow out of the drying chamber.
US08526782B2
In one embodiment, a method includes obtaining a link to a video program; obtaining metadata that relates to the program and that defines, for a specified time point in the program, annotations to be invoked at the specified time point; wherein the annotations comprise: a graphic image; one or more filters, each of the filters comprising a key and one or more matching values; and optionally a reference to a video segment, an electronic document, program code statements, or a programmatic call; during playing the video, detecting that the video program is playing at the specified time point; in response to the detecting: for each particular annotation for the specified time point, retrieving a current value for the key, and causing to display the graphic image associated with that particular annotation only when the current value of the key matches one of the matching values of one of the filters.
US08526781B2
A multimedia time warping system allows a user to store selected multimedia data streams while the user is simultaneously watching or reviewing other multimedia data. Data streams are converted to digital streams for internal transfer and manipulation. A parser and event buffer decouple the CPU from having to parse the digital stream. Video segments are stored on a storage device and when data is requested for display, its video segments are extracted from the storage device and sent to a decoder that converts them into display output signals and delivers the display output signals to a display.
US08526778B2
An apparatus and method for capturing and editing a moving image according to a theme of the moving image, the apparatus including: a theme selector to select the theme of the moving image to be captured; a scene selector to select, according to a user command, a scene clip from a plurality of scene clips of a story board of the moving image to be captured, the story board provided according to the theme selected by the theme selector; and a photographing unit to capture a portion of the moving image corresponding to the selected scene clip while a template corresponding to the selected scene clip is displayed on a display screen.
US08526775B2
A fiber fuse terminator including an optical fiber with a core and cladding having holes, wherein: a refractive index of the core of the optical fiber is higher than a refractive index of a portion of the cladding excepting portions of the holes; wherein: a mode field diameter at a used wavelength of the optical fiber is MFD, and a distance in a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber between a center of the core and a position, closest to the center of the core, of the hole that is closest to the core is Rmin, is no less than 1.2 and no more than 2.1; a width, in a diameter direction, of a region where the holes present in the cladding is W, is no less than 0.3; and a diameter of the cladding of the optical fiber is Dfiber, W≦0.45×Dfiber is satisfied.
US08526774B2
A cable management and termination arrangement constructed for use in both a sliding drawer application and a hinged panel application. The cable management and termination arrangement including a sliding drawer and first and second hinged access panels. In a sliding drawer application, the arrangement is horizontally mounted; the drawer slides between an open position and a closed position to provide access to the interior. In a hinged panel application, the arrangement is vertically mounted; the first and second hinged access panels pivot between open and closed positions to provide access to the interior.
US08526763B2
Seamless image compositions may be created. A plurality of images may be received, one image being a base image and the remaining image or images being source images. A selection may be received of one or more regions of one or more of the sources images to be copied onto the base image. An input may be received setting a blend parameter for each of the selected regions. The plurality of images may be blended together into a composite image by matching image gradients across one or more seams of the composite image. The image gradients may be based on the blend parameters. In one embodiment, input may be received to set a modified blend parameter for at least one of the selected regions and the plurality of images may be re-blended into a composite image in a similar manner but using the modified blend parameter.
US08526744B2
A document processing apparatus includes a comparison source data acquisition unit that acquires a plurality of comparison source data each including a plurality of comparison source descriptions that are acquired from a comparison source document and ordered; a comparison target acquisition unit that acquires one or more comparison target data respectively acquired from comparison target documents; and a comparison result output unit that outputs a comparison result based on a minimum difference between one datum of the comparison source data and one data of the comparison target data corresponding to one of a plurality of combinations in each of which one of the comparison source data is combined with one of the comparison target data.
US08526733B2
Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for processing image information using a more computationally efficient version of a previously developed HSEG (Hierarchical Segmentation) algorithm. The HSEG algorithm includes iterations intertwining two forms of region growing to produce a set of hierarchically related image segmentations. The first form is a commonly used approach in which regions are grown by merging the most similar spatially adjacent regions. The second form is a unique approach in which regions are grown by also merging spatially non-adjacent regions that are at least as similar as the spatially adjacent regions merged by the first form in the same iteration. The improved HSEG algorithm limits the regions considered for non-adjacent region merging in the second form of operation to regions having at least a minimum number of pixels. This minimum is dynamically controlled to optimize processing efficiency and image segmentation quality.
US08526731B2
A method for converting a portion of an image from a first domain to a second domain. The method may apply a Hough transform on the converted portion of the image, including calculating a range of angles for each tested pixel q relative to a center pixel p, quantizing the range of angles into a plurality of bins, voting each tested pixel q using a range of bins using a weighted voting schema; and detecting one or more features in the portion of the image. The methods may be implemented by program instructions executing in parallel on CPU(s) or GPUs.
US08526730B2
Image processing apparatuses and methods of processing color image data that perform overdrive are provided. The apparatuses include a restoration block that restores R-, G-, and B-element values of respective pixels of previous one of successive frames based on Y-element values of the respective pixels of the previous one of the successive frames and the color image data of a current one of the successive frames. The apparatus further includes a correction block that compares the R-, G-, and B-element values of the respective pixels of the previous one of the successive frames that the restoration block restored and R-, G-, and B-element values of corresponding pixels of the current one of the successive frames and generates the corrected color image data.
US08526729B2
An image processing apparatus includes a histogram calculation unit configured to calculate a histogram of a luminance value for each spatial block obtained by dividing an input image in a spatial direction, a gray scale correction coefficient calculation unit configured to calculate a gray scale correction coefficient used for correction of the gray scale of a luminance value for each bin of the histogram, and a gray scale correction unit configured to perform gray scale correction of a luminance value of a target pixel based on the gray scale correction coefficient of the bin to which the target pixel of the input image belongs and the gray scale correction coefficient of a bin adjacent to the bin to which the target pixel belongs in the spatial direction and a luminance direction.
US08526728B2
An image enhancement system may match images to a matrix having various enhancements of images for groups of users. The matrix may define image enhancement settings for the particular images and groups of users, and the matching may apply enhancements to a new image that closely matches a user's preferences. After the matrix is initially populated, new users and new images may be added to increase the matrix's accuracy. The image enhancement system may be deployed as a cloud service, where images may be enhanced as a standalone application or as part of a social network or image sharing website. In some embodiments, the image enhancement system may be deployed on a personal computer or as a component of an image capture device.
US08526726B2
The invention provides a method and apparatus for compressing and decompressing electronic image data, and in particular texture data. The compressed data comprises at least two sets of reduced size data, modulation data and modulation and discontinuity flags. The modulation and discontinuity flags determine how the modulation data is used, in combination with the reduced size data sets, in a decompression process. The invention allows for data decompression of textures including large color discontinuities.
US08526725B2
An image processing apparatus includes a division-conversion unit and a composing unit. The division-conversion unit extracts data representing N pixels (N is an integer of two or greater) from image data, divides the extracted data into k (2≦k≦N) divided data elements such that at least one pixel is described in each of the k divided data elements, and converts each of the k divided data elements into a single piece of data by using a conversion table. The conversion table is provided in accordance with the number of pixels described in each of the k divided data elements and is used for converting the corresponding k divided data element into the single piece of data by performing conversion processing. The composing unit combines the single pieces of data so as to generate one-pixel output data which is reduced from the extracted N-pixel data with a reduction ratio of 1/N.
US08526722B2
Provided are an apparatus and method for enhancing image quality of an input image captured by an image capturing device having an aperture with a plurality of openings employing different color filters. The image quality enhancing apparatus includes an ROI (region of interest) classifying unit classifying ROIs according to distances from the image capturing device of a captured input image by using a cluster-based image segmentation algorithm, a color channel registering unit determining motion vectors of color channels corresponding to the respective ROIs by analyzing a high frequency component of image data included in the ROIs, and moving the color channels based on the determined motion vectors to obtain a registered image of the respective ROIs, and an image fusing unit fusing the registered images of the respective ROIs to obtain a fused image.
US08526715B2
A three-dimensional sense adjusting unit displays three-dimensional images to a user. If a displayed reaches a limit of parallax, the user responds to the three-dimensional sense adjusting unit. According to acquired appropriate parallax information, a parallax control unit generates parallax images to realize the appropriate parallax in the subsequent stereo display. The control of parallaxes is realized by optimally setting camera parameters by going back to three-dimensional data. Functions to realize the appropriate parallax are made into and presented by a library.
US08526708B2
A semiconductor wafer critical dimension measurement method comprising receiving an image of a site of the semiconductor wafer comprising a plurality of features, processing the image to measure at least one critical dimension of at least some of the features, analyzing the critical dimension of each feature and determining the feature to be a non-defective feature or a defective feature, and using the critical dimension of at least some of any non-defective features as a measure of the critical dimension of features of the semiconductor wafer.
US08526696B2
Based on medical image data acquired in each time phase included in a one-cycle interval, first tracking part tracks the position of a first region of interest set in a first time phase in each time phase and tracks the position of a second region of interest set in a second time phase in each time phase. Based on position information of the first region of interest and the second region of interest in each time phase, position correction part obtains position information of a region of interest in each time phase so that it passes through the position of the first region of interest in the first time phase and the position of the second region of interest in the second time phase. Motion-information calculator obtains motion information of a tissue based on the obtained position information.
US08526689B2
On the methods of creating corneocyte specimen for providing useful information for appropriate selection of cosmetic products or assessment of the skin condition, it is intended to provide a method of indicating an unstained image of corneocytes or the like in an observable pseudocolor in a method of creating corneocyte specimen, without resorting to staining the corneocyte specimen. The state of corneocytes of skin is input into a computer as an enlarged image by using, for example, a digital microscope. Then, the RGB values of the individual pixels in the image are converted with the use of a conversion system such as a conversion formula, a conversion table or a conversion chart and an image is indicated in a pseudocolor by using the individual RGB values converted.
US08526688B2
Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a method for correlating data including: receiving from a tracking subsystem a first data set including a tracked position of an object; receiving from an imaging subsystem a second data set including an image of the object; and comparing automatically at least a portion of the first data set with at least a portion of the second data based at least in part on the tracked position of the object and the image of the object. In an embodiment, the comparing automatically the first data set with the second data set is performable in real-time. In an embodiment, the method further includes registering the first data set with the second data set. In an embodiment, the tracking subsystem tracks the object electromagnetically, at least in part. In an embodiment, the imaging subsystem includes an x-ray imaging subsystem. In an embodiment, the first data set is generatable by the tracking subsystem substantially in real-time. In an embodiment, the method further includes determining an offset between at least a portion of the first data set and at least a portion of the second data set. In an embodiment, the method further includes performing an adjustment based at least in part on the offset on at least one of: the tracking subsystem, the imaging subsystem, and a data processing subsystem.
US08526680B2
An image-processing method is characterized by including a searching operation of searching for a local motion vector from each of blocks in the plural images, an electing operation of electing a representative motion vector from the local motion vectors of the respective blocks, and an approximating operation of approximating a motion vector distribution on the images based on the representative motion vector in order to detect motion between plural images with high precision without increasing the number of blocks made by dividing an image. In addition, when an approximate surface thereof is a plane, the operation amount for approximating the motion vector distribution and the information amount for representing the motion vector distribution can be minimized.
US08526650B2
Disclosed herein, among other things, is a system for frequency translation by high-frequency spectral envelope warping in hearing assistance devices. The present subject matter relates to improved speech intelligibility in a hearing assistance device using frequency translation by high-frequency spectral envelope warping. The system described herein implements an algorithm for performing frequency translation in an audio signal processing device for the purpose of improving perceived sound quality and speech intelligibility in an audio signal when presented using a system having reduced bandwidth relative to the original signal, or when presented to a hearing-impaired listener sensitive to only a reduced range of acoustic frequencies.
US08526643B2
A speaker includes a base, a diaphragm, a separating module, a first electrode set and a second electrode set. The base and a porous structure are formed a cavity. The diaphragm is disposed in the cavity and includes a first part and a second part. The separating module is located in the cavity and contacts the diaphragm to separate the cavity into the first and the second chambers. The first electrode set disposed in the first chamber is connected to a first sound source signal, such that the first part of the diaphragm is vibrated and the first sound source signal is exported from the first chamber. The second electrode set disposed in the second chamber is connected to a second sound source signal, such that the second part of the diaphragm is vibrated and the second sound source signal is exported from the second chamber.
US08526632B2
A camera speakerphone having a microphone array may be used for videoconferencing. Example microphone array designs described herein may be used to perform Sound Source Localization (SSL) and improve audio quality of captured audio. In one example, an omni-directional camera speakerphone includes a base having a speaker and at least one microphone. A neck is coupled to the base which is coupled to a head. The head includes an omni-directional camera and at least one microphone.
US08526631B2
An audio device 100 which replays audio on the basis of an external audio signal PAS outputted from a portable audio device (500) includes: a power supply unit 170, that is a power supply element which supplies power at a predetermined voltage to the portable audio device 500; a control unit 110, that is a control element which, along with notifying to the portable audio device 500 function setting information FRP that is operability information specifying whether or not inherent actuation input is possible using an inherent actuation input element provided to the portable audio device, also controls the details notified; and speakers 130L and 130R, that are audio replay element for replaying audio on the basis of the external audio signal PAS. As a result, an audio device 100 is implemented which can enhance the convenience to the user, in cooperation with the portable audio device 500.
US08526629B2
An audio output apparatus including a digital operation unit, a digital-to-analog converter (DAC), a left channel unit, a right channel unit and a common unit is provided. During an initial setting, the digital operation unit detects a cross talk voltage on a left channel earphone unit in the left channel unit or a right channel earphone unit in the right channel unit, calculates a first ratio and a second ratio, and then performs an arithmetic operation on a left and a right channel signals according to the first and the second ratios, so as to obtain a compensated left channel signal and a compensated right channel signal respectively for eliminating a cross talk phenomenon.
US08526627B2
A noise reduction device of the present invention comprises a control filter unit for generating a control sound signal to cancel out a noise, a control speaker for outputting a control sound according to the control sound signal from the control filter unit, an error microphone for detecting a residual sound by superimposing the noise upon the control sound output from the control speaker, and an obstacle detector for detecting an obstacle around the error microphone, wherein the control filter unit generates the control sound signal according to data from the error microphone and the obstacle detector.
US08526625B2
A stereo microphone includes a supporter that is made of an elastic material. The supporter fixes two unidirectional microphone units at certain angles. A moving part is used to apply external force to a part of the supporter so that an angle formed by main axes of the respective unidirectional microphone units is changed by deformation of the supporter.
US08526622B2
Television audio signal encoders include a matrix that sums a left channel audio signal and a right channel audio signal to produce a sum signal. The matrix also subtracts one of the left and right audio signals from the other to produce a difference signal. The encoders also include a configurable infinite impulse response digital filter that selectively uses one or more sets of filter coefficients to filter the difference signal and/or the sum signals. Each selectable set of filter coefficients is associated with a unique filtering application to prepare the difference signal for transmission. Decoders with the matrix are also disclosed.
US08526616B2
A process using code segment which is installed over a transport medium, using a device, such as a network, for transmitting real-time end-to-end encrypted voice or data communications between at least a first digital device and a second device in real time is disclosed. The network includes a network portal for Registration, Key Management, Authentication, and Authorization of the first digital device and the second device. Accordingly, the devices are capable of securely communicating with each other in real-time by providing each digital device with at least first and second keys, and receives requests to communicate, provides authorization to set up a secure session, and encrypts and decrypts the voice and data messages sent to and received from the portal. The intent is to provide a low cost, COTS, real-time software voice and data encryption upgrade solution which is scalable, interoperable, and agnostic for all communications.
US08526615B2
A storage system includes a channel interface (IF) unit having an interface with a server, a disk IF unit having an interface with a hard disk group, a memory unit for storing data to be read/written from/to the server or the hard disk group, a switching unit, and the hard disk group. The channel IF unit, the disk IF unit, and the memory unit are connected to each other through the switching unit, and an encryption and decryption processing unit is provided between a host IF unit and a transfer controller in the channel IF unit.
US08526611B2
The present invention relates to methods for protecting a data signal using the following techniques: applying a data reduction technique to reduce the data signal into a reduced data signal; subtracting the reduced data signal from the data signal to produce a remainder signal; embedding a first watermark into the reduced data signal to produce a watermarked, reduced data signal; and adding the watermarked, reduced data signal to the remainder signal to produce an output signal. A second watermark may be embedded into the remainder signal before the final addition step. Further, cryptographic techniques may be used to encrypt the reduced data signals and to encrypt the remainder signals before the final addition step.
US08526608B2
A printing system and printer with an electronic signature capability, and a method thereof are provided. To print security documents using an electronic signature stored in a portable memory, the printing system of the invention includes a portable memory for storing an electronic signature. A memory interface connects detachably to the portable memory. A printer receives the electronic signature from the memory interface, composes the received electronic signature with print data, and executes a print operation. Accordingly, a stamping or signature process on numerous documents can be facilitated, and excessive stamping or signature execution can be prevented. Moreover, the electronic signature of the invention can be executed on various types of forms or documents.
US08526604B2
A wireless station (A) is operated in a power-save mode, in which the station is alternately in power-ON and power-OFF states to reduce power consumption. Wireless station (A) computes at least some future time instances at which another wireless station (B) is expected to start transmitting control messages. Wireless station (A) is ensured to be in the power-ON state in corresponding time intervals encompassing durations of at least some of such future transmissions of control messages by wireless station (B), and is thereby enabled to receive the control messages. In an embodiment, the control messages correspond to group key message updates in which values of a decryption key are transmitted, wireless station (A) being a wireless client, wireless station (B) being an access point, with wireless stations (A) and (B) operating in a wireless network consistent with IEEE 802.11 specifications, and communication between wireless stations (A) and (B) being encrypted.
US08526602B2
There is provided an adjustment-value-attached block cipher apparatus realizing block cipher processing that the amount of processing is small in adjustment-value-attached block cipher. The adjustment-value-attached block cipher apparatus includes: an encryption section performing encryption by a block cipher system; an input section accepting plaintext, an adjustment value and instruction information indicating first or second cipher processing; and a generator dividing the adjustment value into first and second adjustment values, encrypting the first adjustment value using the encryption section to generate cipher for offset, determining an offset value according to the cipher for offset and the second adjustment value, determining the sum of the offset value and the plaintext, and encrypting the sum using the encryption section to generate first ciphertext when the instruction information indicates the first cipher processing, and encrypting the plaintext using the encryption section to generate second ciphertext when the instruction information indicates the second cipher processing.
US08526597B2
A system and a computer-implemented method for monitoring and guiding agents of call centers are described. The method includes receiving during an interaction call between an agent and a and a customer, real-time data associated with the interaction; retrieving by the call analysis system, a performance profile of the agent; using the performance profile of the agent and the real-time data associated with the interaction to determine whether a corrective action alert should be sent to the agent and generating and transmitting the alert to a terminal of the agent during the interaction if so determined.
US08526593B2
A method for providing directory assistance includes receiving a communication from a requestor for a desired contact listing and retrieving a requester profile relating to the requester where the profile including a calling history of the requester. At least one listing is retrieved in response to the communication for a desired contact listing, where the retrieving of the desired listing includes reviewing the calling history of the requester and including, among the at least one retrieved response, a predictive listing.
US08526586B2
Targeted content is provided to at least one communication device responsive to a notification of a missed communication. Responsive to a notification of the missed communication, a selection of one of a plurality of different pricing options is received for a return communication. Targeted content is provided, in addition to content of the return communication, based on the selected pricing option.
US08526584B2
A desktop network protocol telephone set has a network interface for connecting the telephone set to a local area network. An audio interface provides audio signals to and from a handset of the telephone set. A processing circuit is responsive to communications from the network interface. A control circuit coupled to the processing circuit is used for changing a driving frequency of the LCD panel.
US08526581B2
IP text relay or phone captioning is described herein, to facilitate communication through the use of traditional phone or VOIP or internet telephone system between people of hearing impaired and those who can hear. This service and device will enable users to communicate with users of hearing via assistance of an operator who will transcribe the call, while also receiving the Caller ID of the calling party and not the relay center.
US08526574B2
A circuit providing reliable voltage isolation between a low and high voltage sides of a circuit while allowing AC power transfer between the low and high voltage sides of the circuit to an x-ray tube filament. Capacitors provide the isolation between the low and high voltage sides of the circuit.
US08526545B1
A baseband processor including an analog to digital converter configured to convert a baseband signal from an analog format into a corresponding digital format, wherein the baseband signal comprises a data packet having i) a preamble portion, ii) a header portion, and iii) a payload portion, wherein the payload portion of the data packet is in accordance with either i) a first format or ii) a second format. The baseband processor further includes a first demodulation pathway configured to recover i) the preamble portion of the data packet, ii) the header portion of the data packet, and iii) the payload portion of the data packet in response to the payload portion of the data packet being of the first format; and a second demodulation pathway configured to recover the payload portion of the data packet in response to the payload portion of the data packet being of the second format.
US08526543B2
A system and method are provided for removing quadrature imbalance errors in received data. The method accepts an unbiased training sequence in a quadrature demodulation receiver. An unbiased training sequence has a uniform accumulated power evenly distributed in a complex plane, and includes predetermined reference signals (p) at frequency +f and predetermined mirror signals (pm) at frequency −f. The unbiased training sequence is processed, generating a sequence of processed symbols (y) at frequency +f, representing complex plane information in the unbiased training sequence. Each processed symbol (y) is multiplied by the mirror signal (pm), and an unbiased quadrature imbalance estimate Bm is obtained at frequency (−f). Using quadrature imbalance estimates, channel estimates, and processed symbols, an imbalance-corrected symbol can be generated.
US08526535B2
A communications device, in one aspect as a portable wireless communications device, includes an in-phase modulator and power amplifier that receives a baseband I signal and modulates and amplifies the I signal. A quadrature modulator and power amplifier receives a baseband Q signal and modulates and amplifies the Q signal. A power combiner sums and outputs the I and Q signals. An I demodulator circuit receives a signal fed back from the I power amplifier and demodulates the fed back signal to produce demodulated I signals. A Q demodulator circuit receives a signal fed back from the Q power amplifier and demodulates the fed back signal to produce demodulated Q signals. A processor compares the digital, baseband I and Q signals with a demodulated I and Q signals to compensate for amplitude, frequency and phase modulation errors.
US08526527B2
A radio communication apparatus and an associated method are provided. The apparatus includes a receiving unit configured to receive first data and second data, which are transmitted from a plurality of antennas for spatial-multiplexing using a plurality of blocks, into which a plurality of consecutive subcarriers in a frequency domain are divided. The apparatus further includes a calculating unit configured to calculate a first absolute CQI value per each of the blocks for the first data and a second absolute CQI value per each of the blocks for the second data, and calculate a relative value of the second absolute CQI value with respect to the first absolute CQI value, per each of the blocks. The apparatus still further includes a transmitting unit configured to transmit the first absolute CQI value and the relative value of the second absolute CQI value in the same block.
US08526525B2
Method and apparatus for communicating a radio signal between a first station and a second station, including estimating at least one characteristic of a radio channel from the first station including a first plurality of weightable transceiving elements, to the second station including a second plurality of weightable transceiving elements; calculating a receive weighting of at least one weightable transceiving element at the second station, responsive to the estimate; calculating a transmit weighting of at least one weightable transceiving element at the first station; and then communicating the radio signal by transmitting from the transmit-weighted transceiving elements at the first station, over the radio channel, to the receive-weighted transceiving elements at the second station, while reducing the response to unwanted interfering signals.
US08526505B2
Disclosed is a system for transmitting a digital video stream, which supports decoding of a scalable video coding (SVC) scheme, the system includes a transmission terminal and a reception terminal, wherein the transmission terminal includes an encoder for encoding a high-definition digital video stream and a division transmission unit for dividing the high-definition video stream having a predetermined time unit into a first divided high-definition video stream and a second divided high-definition video stream by reducing a frame rate and for transmitting the first and second divided high-definition video streams, and the reception terminal includes a transmission coupling unit for receiving the first and second divided high-definition video streams transmitted from the transmission terminal, coupling the received streams according to validity thereof, and transmitting the received streams as a reception high-definition digital video stream; and a decoder for decoding the reception high-definition digital video stream transmitted from the transmission coupling unit.
US08526498B2
A video coding apparatus is provided to reduce pulsing artifacts. The video coding apparatus includes a correlation calculation unit calculating a correlation value indicating a correlation degree of correlation between: a first block; and a second block or a third block. The first block includes pixels included in a first original picture in an original picture sequence of original pictures, the second block includes pixels included in a second original picture which precedes the first original picture, and the third block is obtained by coding and reconstructing the second block. The video coding apparatus also includes a correlation judgment unit judging whether the correlation value exceeds a first threshold, and judging that the correlation is high when the correlation value exceeds the first threshold, and includes a blending unit blending the first block and the third block when the correlation judgment unit judges that the correlation is high.
US08526495B2
An apparatus and method for video coding and decoding with constrained PU partition are disclosed. In the High Efficient Video Coding (HEVC) system, rate-distortion function or other performance criterion usually is evaluated for various CU partition and PU partition during the encoding process in order to select a configuration with best possible performance. The PU design in the current HEVC development results in some redundancy that causes rate-distortion function or other performance criterion repeatedly evaluated for same PU configuration. Accordingly, constrained PU partition is developed to eliminate or reduce the redundancy in processing. Furthermore, necessary syntax to convey the information related to constrained PU partition between an encoder and a decoder is developed. Systems embodying the present invention has been shown to result in sizeable reduction in encoding and decoding time while the performance in terms of RD-rate remains approximately the same or slightly higher than a conventional HEVC system.
US08526493B2
Provided are a method and apparatus for buffering image data for motion compensation. One of two buffers of a double register array buffer, i.e., a first buffer, is selected as a buffer in which data corresponding to a row of a block of an image is to be written and the other of the double register array buffer is selected as a buffer from which data corresponding to another row of the block is to be read, thereby speeding up motion compensation processing when compared with the use of a single register array buffer.
US08526492B2
Rate control mechanisms for video encoding aim to provide the best possible video quality while keeping given conditions on transmission rate and decoding delay. In order to achieve a constant video quality, the anchor and non-anchor frames of different frame types are encoded using a different number of bits. However, since video sequences generally contain widely varying picture content and previously coded frames are used to predict a given frame, a suitable assignment of frame target bit rates is hard to determine, especially for non-anchor frames. According to the invention, non-anchor frames are coded using a fixed quantization parameter. Since the quantization parameter used for the encoding of non-anchor frames is directly derived from the average quantization parameter of the previously encoded anchor frame, such approach ensures a constant video quality. Beside of that, the complexity of the rate control strategy is reduced, because no macroblock-level rate control is applied for the encoding of non-anchor frames.
US08526483B2
Disclosed herein is a power line channel-adaptive communications system and method. The power line channel-adaptive communications system includes a transmitting end, a channel-adaptive controller, and a receiving end. The transmitting end generates an adaptive chirp symbol signal of a preset type for transmission data according to a channel state of the power line, modulates the generated adaptive chirp symbol signal in any one of first and second transmission modes, and transmits the modulated adaptive chirp symbol signal via the power line channel. The channel-adaptive controller controls the type and transmission mode of the adaptive chirp symbol signal. The receiving end restores the transmission data by demodulating the adaptive chirp symbol signal, received via the power line channel, in any one of the first and second transmission modes according to the channel state of the power line.
US08526481B2
A movable electrode assembly for use in a laser system, includes a first electrode having a first discharge surface, a second electrode having a second discharge surface. The second electrode being arranged opposite from the first electrode. The second discharge surface being spaced apart from the first discharge surface by a discharge gap. A discharge gap adjuster interfaced with at least one of the second electrode or the first electrode, the discharge gap adjuster configured to adjust the discharge gap. A method of adjusting a discharge gap is also disclosed.
US08526480B2
A semiconductor laser device comprising an optically pumped surface emitting vertical emitter which emits in a vertical main radiation direction, and at least one monolithically integrated pump radiation source for optically pumping the vertical emitter, wherein the pump radiation source emits pump radiation in a pump main radiation direction extending transversely with respect to the vertical main radiation direction. In accordance with the invention, suitably dimensioned vertical sections are provided such that modes of the pump radiation are forced completely or at least partly in a vertical direction from this section to reduce absorption losses of the pump radiation at conductive layers.
US08526479B2
A laser device is provided. The laser device includes a laser tube, and power devices distributed uniformly along the length of the laser tube.
US08526478B2
A semiconductor optical integrated element includes: a substrate; and a laser diode and a modulator which are integrated on the substrate. The laser diode includes an embedded waveguide having a core layer, both sides of which are embedded in a semiconductor material. The modulator includes a high-mesa ridge waveguide having a core layer, neither side of which is embedded in the semiconductor material. The core layers in the laser diode and the modulator are stripe-shaped.
US08526470B2
Methods and test systems for testing a network. A test system may emulate a plurality of users, each emulated user executing a user activity. Each emulated user activity may include one or more commands. At least some emulated user activities may include a first command associated with a first protocol synchronized with a second command associated with a second protocol different from the first protocol. The test system may report a result of emulating the plurality of users.
US08526469B2
A receiver of network data dynamically filters packets by packet type from a network device CPU based on usage information, such as time, day, location, and feature (e.g., “video” or “application”) selection.
US08526468B1
The disclosure generally relates to service-tier-based regulation of reverse-link activity at an access terminal operating in a wireless access network. An exemplary method involves (a) receiving one or more reverse activity bits from a wireless access network; (b) based 5 at least in part on the received reverse activity bits, determining a Quick Reverse Activity Bit (QRAB) and/or a Filtered Reverse Activity Bit (FRAB); (c) applying a first service-tier filter to the determined QRAB, wherein the first service-tier filter corresponds to a service tier for which the access terminal is authorized; and (d) based at least in part on the service-tier filtered QRAB, determining an adjustment to reverse-link activity of the access terminal. The method may further involve applying a second service-tier filter to the determined FRAB and using the service-tier filtered QRAB in determining the adjustment to reverse-link activity.
US08526467B2
Methods, apparatuses and systems directed to facilitating transitions from IPv4 to IPv6 networks. In particular implementations, the invention facilitates or enables accessibility of network application services between IPv4 and IPv6 hosts, or traversal of network paths including both IPv6 or IPv4 domains. Particular implementations of the invention are directed to selective mapping of network layer addresses between IPv6 and IPv4 protocols and Domain Name System records under one or more policy controls. Other implementations of the invention are directed to a proxy-to-proxy based tunnel architecture allowing hosts implementing a first network layer protocol, such as IPv4, to traverse a network implementing a second network layer protocol, such as IPv6.
US08526460B2
Systems (100)/methods (1000) for allocating performance of data service tasks (DST-1, . . . , DST-30) of a defined duration or data volume among time frames (2021-1, 2021-2, . . . , 2021-N, . . . , 20217-1, 20217-2, . . . , 20217-N) defined in separate communication channels (2001, . . . , 20017). Each time frame has a predetermined duration and number of time chips (3021-1, 3021-2, . . . , 3021-26624). The methods involve allocating portions of the time frames to synchronous type data service tasks (STDSTs). STDSTs (DTS-1, . . . , DST-14, DST-16, . . . , DST-18, DST-20, . . . , DST-30) must be communicated in consecutive time chips of a single channel. The methods also involve allocating residual channel space portions of the time frames to asynchronous type data service tasks (ATDSTs). ATDSTs (DST-15, DST-19) do not require data to be communicated in consecutive time chips of a single channel.
US08526453B2
Linecards and methods for processing signals are provided.
US08526447B1
A network device has a H.323 interface to communicate under a H.323 standard of the International Telecommunications Union. The device also has a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) interface. A processor converts signaling messages between H.323 and Session Initiation Protocol to establish a fax session for communication of packetized fax signals and data.
US08526445B2
An apparatus for providing domain information is disclosed. The apparatus includes a storage module that stores domain information regarding a domain, and a control module that transmits a response message including the stored domain information to the device through the communication-interface module in response to a domain-information-request message received from the device.
US08526443B2
In general, the disclosure describes network techniques that may automatically assign virtual local area networks (VLANs) to domains in a ring network. In one example, a method includes receiving, by a control node in a ring network, a plurality of data units transmitted by a plurality of transport nodes on the ring network, each data unit comprising profile information, and automatically assigning a VLAN to one of a plurality of domains established on the ring network based on the profile information.
US08526441B2
A system for reordering frames may include at least one processor that enable receiving of an out-of-order frame via a network subsystem. The at least one processor may enable placing data of the out-of-order frame in a host memory, and managing information relating to one or more holes resulting from the out-of-order frame in a receive window. The at least one processor may enable setting a programmable limit with respect to a number of holes allowed in the receive window. The out-of-order frame is received via a TCP offload engine (TOE) of the network subsystem or a TCP-enabled Ethernet controller (TEEC) of the network subsystem. The network subsystem may not store the out-of-order frame on an onboard memory, and may not store one or more missing frames relating to the out-of-order frame. The network subsystem may include a network interface card (NIC).
US08526435B2
A packet node and corresponding methods are provided for providing services to packets received at the packet node. At an ingress card, a packet is classified and a virtual media access control (VMAC) address is attached to the packet. The VMAC address identifies a service component for providing a service to the packet. Layer two switching of the packet is made within the packet node, based on the VMAC address. After processing of the packet by the service component, a new VMAC address is attached to the packet. Further layer two switching of the packet, based on the new VMAC address, may lead to further processing by another service component or to forwarding of the packet beyond the packet node.
US08526424B2
An improved telephony adapter compresses voice data, creates IP packets, and prioritizes the voice IP packets over the data IP packets. Preferably, the compression and packetization interval is such that the bandwidth occupied by the voice IP packets is approximately half of the minimum average available bandwidth in the upstream direction, thereby maintaining acceptable latency and voice quality of the speech. Further enhancement is achieved by causing the ISP to also give priority to voice packets that are destined to the telephony adapter, over the data packets that are destined to the telephony adapter.
US08526422B2
A network on chip (‘NOC’) that includes integrated processor (‘IP’) blocks, routers, memory communications controllers, and network interface controllers, with each IP block adapted to a router through a memory communications controller and a network interface controller, where each memory communications controller controlling communications between an IP block and memory, and each network interface controller controlling inter-IP block communications through routers, with the network organized into partitions, each partition including at least one IP block, each partition assigned exclusive access to a separate physical memory address space and one or more applications executing on one or more of the partitions.
US08526421B2
The time slot index for wireless signals is synchronized using an approach that facilitates rapid synchronization acquisition and tracking synchronization recovery. According to an example embodiment, a synchronization circuit (e.g., 300) uses data in symbols of a particular signal frame (e.g., 120) to set a time slot index synchronization characteristic for an acquired wireless signal, and further to track time slot index synchronization during processing of the signal.
US08526418B2
A media access control (MAC) controller is disclosed for a network providing communication for network stations located at a plurality of customer premises and sharing a communication medium, each of the premises having a plurality of network stations. The MAC controller includes a virtual local area network (vLAN) controller, providing access to the communication medium for and communication among the stations located at a single customer's premises, to define a vLAN between them. A group local area network (gLAN) controller provides access to the communication medium for and communication among interfering vLANs, two vLANs being considered to be interfering when one can sense communications over the medium from a station in the other. A MAC controller is provided in at least one station in a vLAN. The MAC controller is preferably connected to use as the communication medium the portion of a power line at the output of the last step down transformer and utilizes a token passing protocol to control access to the medium.
US08526414B2
A method of mapping symbols of a physical control format indicator channel (PCFICH) is described. A start position of a resource element to map the symbols for the PCFICH is determined by flooring a value, obtained by multiplying the number of resource blocks by a variable proportional to a symbol index for the PCFICH and then dividing the multiplied result by 2, wherein the resource blocks are transmitted in downlink. The symbols are mapped in the start position. Therefore, a problem of wasting resource elements or not being able to implement mapping can be solved by applying a simple mapping rule while mapping symbols of the PCFICH.
US08526400B2
A method and system for wireless data communication using a first wireless communication technology and a second wireless communication technology. The second wireless communication technology being different from the first wireless communication technology. A transmitter is arranged to transmit data using frame structures based on the first wireless communication technology and the second wireless communication technology in which the frame structure based on the second wireless communication technology has a timing structure, MAC and pilot that are also used with the frame structure of the first wireless communication technology. The transmitter is arranged to selectively change transmission on a frame by frame basis between the first wireless communication technology and the second wireless communication technology.
US08526398B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a communication terminal and a communication method that can reduce power consumption while securing a communication state by a first communication means or a second communication means.A mobile device includes a radio communication part that communicates and connects with a mobile communication network and a WLAN communication part that communicates and connects with a WLAN. In the mobile device, a communication state monitoring part judges whether or not a radio communication using the radio communication part can be performed based on a preset reference value. When the communication state monitoring part judges that the communication using the radio communication part can be performed, a control part causes the WLAN communication part to transit to a sleep state.
US08526387B2
The present invention relates to a wireless communication system. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method for transmitting uplink control information and a device therefor, and the method comprises the steps of: selecting, from a plurality of uplink control channel resources, one uplink control channel resource corresponding to a plurality of HARQ-ACKs; and transmitting bit values corresponding to said plurality of HARQ-ACKs by using the selected uplink control channel resource.
US08526380B1
A communication system comprises a wireless access node having a plurality of ports and a control system. The wireless access node is configured to exchange wireless communications over the ports with wireless communication devices that are individually identified by device identifiers. The control system is configured to individually allocate the wireless communication devices into categories based on the device identifiers and determine one of the categories having a majority of the wireless communication devices. The control system is configured to configure the ports of the wireless access node to utilize a MIMO 2T2R mode for exchanging the wireless communications if the one category having the majority of the wireless communication devices comprises a first data rate capability, and to configure the ports of the wireless access node to utilize a MIMO 4T4R mode for exchanging the wireless communications if the one category having the majority of the wireless communication devices comprises a second data rate capability.
US08526369B2
A system, method, and computer readable medium for provisioning radio access via a femtocell system that includes integrated BTS and BSC functions are provided. The femtocell system is coupled with a packet switched backhaul and provides an IP-accessible radio access network. The femtocell system includes a session initiation protocol adapter that supports a SIP client pool and provides conversion of call set-up functions to SIP client set-up functions for provisioning of radio access to a user equipment. The user equipment may have a session initiation protocol client associated with the user equipment. The session initiation protocol client is hosted and registered with a registrar service by the femtocell system. Accordingly, telecommunication services may be directed to and from the user equipment over the packet-switched backhaul to the user equipment via the femtocell system.
US08526361B2
In a mobile communication system, which has a plurality of radio network controllers and a number of radio base stations connected to each of the radio network controllers, for sending and receiving user data between a host network and mobile stations via the radio network controllers and radio base stations, a plurality of transmission paths that pass through one or more radio network controllers are set up between a base station, which sends and receives radio signals to and from a mobile station, and the host network. When data is being sent and received using one transmission path from the host network to a base station through a radio network controller, traffic conditions on this transmission path are monitored. When traffic has increased, the user data is dispersed by being passed through a plurality of transmission paths.
US08526360B1
A method, system, and medium are provided for optimizing a stream of a media content through a wireless telecommunications network. A catalog receives a request from a mobile communication device for a particular media content. The catalog identifies that the media content is not available as reverse buffered media content. The request is then directed to a host of the media content where the host communicates the media to the mobile communications device. The media content is reverse buffered at a reverse buffer. The catalog updates to indicate that the media content is available as reverse buffered media content at the reverse buffer. The catalog receives a second request for the media content. The catalog determines that the media content is available and directs the request to the reverse buffer. The reverse buffered media content is communicated to the second mobile communication device.
US08526358B2
System and method for determining an optimal transmission center frequency for a traffic station (30) in a satellite communication system (100) includes transmitting, by the traffic station (30) in a first uplink channel, a first burst of information in a first uplink TDMA frame to a satellite (10) and receiving, by the traffic station (30) in a first downlink channel, a downlink TDMA frame including a reference burst (210) and the first burst of information. A Doppler offset ratio is calculated based on a measured frequency shift of the received first burst of information. A local oscillator offset ratio is calculated based on a measured frequency shift of the reference burst and the Doppler offset ratio. An adjusted transmission frequency of a second uplink channel is calculated based on the Doppler offset ratio and the local oscillator offset ratio.
US08526357B2
The present invention relates to methods and arrangements for handling unreliable scheduling grants in a WCDMA-communication system. A user equipment detects that a received scheduling grant is unreliable and adjust its serving grant based on that information. The user equipment is also able to report continuously received unreliable grants as an event to the network, allowing the network to adapt its operation to reduce the unreliable grants.
US08526351B2
Channel characterization and training within multiple user, multiple access, and/or MIMO wireless communications. Within such communication systems, there can be a number of devices (e.g., STAs) that communicate with a single device (e.g., AP). A multi-cast sounding frame may be transmitted from a transmitting device to a number of receiving devices. Appropriate scheduling or ordering of feedback signals from some or all of the receiving devices may be performed explicitly (e.g., sounding frame sent from the transmitting device to a receiving device) or implicitly (e.g., control information sent from the transmitting device to the receiving device, sounding frame sent to the transmitting device from the receiving device). Such characterization and training is with respect to a channel or path in which data will subsequently follow. Such characterization and training can be performed in accordance with group membership (e.g., with respect to only some of the receiving devices).
US08526347B2
Techniques for supporting peer-to-peer (P2P) communication are disclosed. In an aspect, P2P communication may be supported with a symmetric waveform for a P2P downlink and a P2P uplink. In one design, a first UE generates a first signal based on a particular waveform (e.g., a downlink waveform or an uplink waveform for a wireless network) and transmits the first signal to a second UE for P2P communication. The first UE also receives a second signal generated by the second UE based on the particular waveform and transmitted to the first UE for P2P communication. In another aspect, a proximity detection signal may be transmitted in a portion of a subframe instead of the entire subframe. The remaining portion of the subframe may be used to transmit control information and/or other information to support P2P communication.
US08526346B1
A power saving communication mechanism can be implemented on an access point and on a connected WLAN device in a wireless communication network so that the connected WLAN device transmits uplink data frames in response to receiving a trigger frame from the access point. The access point determines a number of connected wireless network devices in the wireless communication network and a number of power save intervals to be implemented in each beacon interval. Additionally, the access point can vary a trigger frame transmission sequence according to which trigger frames are transmitted to connected WLAN devices. The access point transmits the trigger frame to each connected WLAN device to request transmission of uplink data frames based on the trigger frame transmission sequence. The power saving communication mechanism can improve throughput, facilitate conservation of radio resources, and reduce power consumption.
US08526344B2
A method of power information reporting for enhancing uplink power control in a wireless communication system is disclosed. The method comprises reporting a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) power headroom report (PHR) on a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) in a reporting subframe for each of at least one PUCCH transmission in a first subframe.
US08526343B2
A mobile communication method includes an operation frequency setting method for setting an operation frequency of a radio base station including measuring by the radio base station a received power level of a common control signal transmitted by each of neighboring radio base stations, and comparing each of the measured received power levels of the common control signals with a prescribed threshold and determining an operation frequency of the radio base station from among operation frequency candidates from which a frequency of a common control signal having a received power level higher than the prescribed threshold is excluded.
US08526338B2
A method for determining uplink transmission power in time division duplex system is disclosed: a base station determines the current distribution manner of uplink and downlink sub-frames, acquires the frame correspondence information that corresponds to the distribution manner of said uplink and downlink sub-frames, selects, based on said frame correspondence information, downlink sub-frames to transmit to a terminal the power control (TPC) commands that correspond to the uplink sub-frames. Before using the uplink sub-frames to transmit data, the terminal determines the current distribution manner of uplink and downlink sub-frames, acquires the frame correspondence information that corresponds to the distribution manner of said uplink and downlink sub-frames, determines, based on the frame correspondence information, the downlink sub-frames that are used for transmitting the TPC commands; acquires the TPC commands received by the downlink sub-frames, and determines the data transmission power of the uplink sub-frames based on said TPC commands. The present invention also discloses a time division duplex data transmission system and an apparatus therefor. With the present invention, a time division duplex system can transmit and receive TPC commands based on the frame correspondence information, thereby enabling correct and effective uplink power control performance.
US08526336B2
In one embodiment, a system for conducting a conference session among a group of participants includes a server for establishing communication channels over a network connected with endpoint devices of the participants. The server operates to allocate initial resources on the network to conduct the conference session, the initial resources including the communication channels and at least one conferencing bridge. Code running on the server selects one or more different resources currently available during the conference session. The one or more different resources is selected to optimize a quality of service (QoS) criteria. Execution of the code causes the server to move the conference session to the one or more different resources responsive to a triggering event. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure.
US08526334B2
Methods and apparatus for conducting a test of a network including a plurality of endpoints, each endpoint including a software agent for conducting network tests. Candidate endpoints pairs to conduct the test may be identified from the plurality of endpoints. The candidate endpoints pairs may be ranked in accordance with stored connectivity data. The connectivity of the candidate endpoint pairs may be checked in rank order until a connectable endpoint pair is located. The connectable endpoint pair may be instructed to conduct the test.
US08526332B2
A method and apparatus of detecting resource assignment information by a user equipment (UE) in a wireless communication system is provided. The UE detects a number of Assignment Advanced-MAP (A-A-MAP) groups and a number of a plurality of A-A-MAP Information Elements (IEs) included in each of the A-A-MAP groups, extracts type and flag of each of the plurality of A-A-MAP IEs; and performs blind detection of resource assignment information on the basis of the type and flag of each of the A-A-MAP IEs.
US08526328B2
A system for pointing, acquisition, and tracking in a networked communications system is disclosed. A first communications device of the networked communications system may include a PAT module for establishing PAT links with other communications elements in the networked communications system. A second communications device may also include a PAT module for establishing PAT links with other communications elements in the networked communications system. A communications node may also include a PAT module for establishing PAT links with other communications elements in the networked communications system. A first PAT link is formable between the first communications device and the communications node. A second PAT link is formable between the second communications device and the communications node, and a third PAT link is formable between the first communications device and the second communications device through the communications node.
US08526317B2
A method of operating a wireless device is provided in which a number of neighboring nodes is estimated, a medium access priority to access a communication resource in a current timeslot is determined, and whether to transmit a scheduling control signal in the current timeslot is determined based on the number of neighboring nodes and the medium access priority.
US08526315B2
A method in one embodiment includes allocating, by a node of a network, a flow label attribute identifying a media flow associated with a Session Description Protocol (SDP) media session. The media flow is between a sender and receiver nodes over a media transmission path of the network. The node further specifying a flow state attribute to generate media flow information and communicating the flow label and the flow state attribute to downstream nodes in the media transmission path. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure.
US08526309B2
Provided are a communication system and a mobile station apparatus which can effectively manage setting information held in a base station apparatus and a mobile station apparatus in a system having a plurality of component carriers. The mobile communication system is formed by the base station apparatus and the mobile station apparatus. The system manages specific system information elements used by a plurality of component carriers occupying a part of the bandwidth in the system band as unique information.
US08526308B1
What is disclosed is a method of operating a wireless communication device, where a wireless access node provides wireless access to communication services over a wireless link for the wireless communication device. The method includes transferring data in a series of frames to the wireless access node over a reverse link portion of the wireless link, where each frame comprises a series of subframes, and transferring a present frame at a first power level. The method also includes, during transfer of the present frame at the first power level, monitoring control information transferred by the wireless access node on a forward link portion of the wireless link, and in response to receiving a power change instruction in the control information, interrupting transfer of the subframes of a present frame at the first power level and restarting transfer of the subframes of the present frame at a second power level.
US08526306B2
A system for the identification of patterns in stateful transactions may include a message interceptor, a message pattern processor, a message handler, and a memory. The message interceptor may be operative to intercept messages transmitted by a first device over a network to a recipient. The message interceptor may be operative to intercept the messages before the messages are received by the recipient. The message pattern processor may be operative to add the message to a message pattern and store the message pattern in a memory. The message pattern processor may compare the message pattern to a plurality of exemplary message patterns and identify when the message pattern matches at least one of the exemplary message patterns. The message handler may be operative to determine an action to take with respect to the message based on the at least one matching exemplary message pattern identified by the message pattern processor.
US08526287B2
Provided is an optical disk apparatus capable achieving stable focus control or tracking control. A first detector receives reflected light from an object lens optical system, a second detector receives reflected light from a prescribed information layer, a positional deviation determination unit determines positional deviation between a focal point of a light beam and a point where information on the prescribed information layer is recorded or reproduced, on the basis of a signal from the second detector, a stray light determination unit determines a surface stray light component which is reflected light from the surface of an optical disk and is included in the signal from the positional deviation determination unit, on the basis of the signal from the first detector, and a stray light correction unit corrects the signal output from the positional deviation determination unit on the basis of the surface stray light component thus determined.
US08526278B2
In a recording system (1), a personal computer (20) reads out boot information from an optical disc (31) in a predetermined order and records elements of the boot information in contiguous areas on the optical disc (32). In order to thus operate, the personal computer (20) refers to access records before reading out the boot information from the optical disc (31). The access records are generated by a protocol analyzer (11) at a start-up of a personal computer (10). Further, for each of the elements indicated by the access records, the personal computer (20) records, on the optical disc (32), an address conversion table in which that area on an optical disc (31) in which the element is recorded and that area on the optical disc (32) in which the element is recorded are correlated with each other.
US08526276B2
The present invention provides an optical disc drive and computer. The optical disc drive comprises: a tray for laying a disc therein; a drive means connected to the tray; and a control circuit for connecting the drive means and a power supply of a computer connected to the optical disc drive, wherein the drive means establishes an electrical connection with the power supply via the control circuit. The control circuit comprises: a determination unit for determining whether a optical disc drive power-off condition is valid and acquiring a determination result; and a power supply control unit for transmitting a power-off instruction to a computer host when the determination result indicates that the optical disc drive power-off condition is valid. The power-off instruction is configured for instructing the computer to control the power supply to stop supplying power to the control circuit and the drive means. The present invention enables complete power-off of the optical disc drive so that electrical power consumption is reduced to a maximum degree.
US08526271B2
Implementations of a capacitive micromachined ultra-sonic transducer (CMUT) include a feedback component connected in series with the CMUT. The feedback component applies a feedback on a voltage applied on the CMUT for affecting the voltage applied on the CMUT as a capacitance of the CMUT changes during actuation of the CMUT.
US08526269B2
Methods and systems for acoustically determining reservoir parameters of subterranean formations. A tool comprising at least one seismic source or seismic receiver mounted thereon; a conveyance configured for movement of the acoustic tool in a borehole traversing the subterranean formations; and a source retainer configured or designed for permanent deployment in the borehole to removably retain the acoustic tool in the borehole. The source retainer when deployed provides acoustic coupling with the borehole and removably retains the acoustic tool in the borehole so that, over multiple deployments, the acoustic tool is repeatedly deployed at the same predetermined location and orientation relative to the subterranean formation, and with the same acoustic coupling to the borehole.
US08526268B2
A method is disclosed for deghosting and water surface multiple reflection attenuation in marine seismic data. The method includes decomposing data acquired at two water depths with sensors that measure the same parameter into upgoing and downgoing wavefield components. The decomposing includes, in one embodiment, transforming the data into the spatial Fourier domain and separating the upgoing and downgoing wavefield components in the transformed data. A substantially multiple-free wavefield is then determined from the decomposed wavefield components.
US08526265B2
A memory bank includes an array of memory cells, word lines for accessing the memory cells, and word line drivers coupled to the word lines. When the memory bank is being accessed, the word line drivers are coupled to receive a first supply voltage, which is applied to the non-selected word lines of the memory bank. The first supply voltage turns off access transistors of the memory cells coupled to the non-selected word lines. When the memory bank is not being accessed, the word line drivers are coupled to receive a second supply voltage, which is applied to each of the word lines of the memory bank. The second supply voltage turns off the access transistors of the memory cells coupled of the word lines. The first and second supply voltages are selected such that the first supply voltage turns off the access transistors harder than the second supply voltage.
US08526263B2
A multi-layered memory device is provided. The multi-layered memory device includes two or more memory units and an active circuit unit arranged between each of the two or more memory units. The active circuit includes a decoder. Each memory unit includes one or more memory layers. Each memory layer includes a memory array.
US08526261B2
An integrated circuit memory 2 is provided with an array of memory cells 4 and power supply circuitry 10, 12. Detected operating errors in malfunctioning memory cells 14 are identified using a built-in-self-test controller 34. The power supply circuitry 10, 12 is then configured to alter the voltage supply to the malfunctioning memory cells 14 in an attempt to correct their operation. The voltage supply of the row containing the malfunctioning memory cell and the column containing the malfunctioning memory cell may both be altered. The voltage alteration may be an increase or a decrease in voltage supply depending upon the nature of the malfunction detected.
US08526260B2
A dynamic random access memory (DRAM) is selectively operable in a sleep mode and another mode. The DRAM has data storage cells that are refreshed in the refresh mode. A boosted voltage is provided for the operation of the DRAM. A boosted voltage provider includes a group of charge pump circuits that are selectively activated by a pump control circuit based on a refresh time for refreshing data in the DRAM cells in the sleep mode.
US08526257B2
A processor includes an array of memory cells, a control module, a precharge circuit, and an amplifier module. The control module generates a clock signal at a first rate, reduces the first rate to a second rate for a predetermined period, and adjusts the second rate back to the first rate at an end of the predetermined period. The precharge circuit: based on the first rate, precharges first bit lines connected to memory cells in a first row of the array of memory cells; based on the second rate, refrains from precharging the first bit lines; and precharges the first bit lines subsequent to the end of the predetermined period. The amplifier module: based on the first rate, access first instructions stored in the first row; and based on the second rate, accesses second instructions stored in the first row or a second row of the array.
US08526252B2
A method and apparatus for testing an array of non-volatile memory cells, such as a spin-torque transfer random access memory (STRAM). In some embodiments, an array of memory cells having a plurality of unit cells with a resistive sense element and a switching device has a row decoder and a column decoder connected to the plurality of unit cells. A test circuitry sends a non-operational test pattern through the array via the row and column decoders with a quiescent supply current to identify defects in the array of memory cells.
US08526239B2
A semiconductor memory device includes a memory string coupled to a bit line, a page buffer configured to sense a sensing current of the bit line in an erase verification operation or a program verification operation, and a sensing control circuit configured to differently set a level of the sensing current in the erase verification operation and the program verification operation in order to sense the threshold voltage level of a selected memory cell of the memory string.
US08526235B2
Various aspects of a NAND memory include have multiple versions of a high threshold voltage distribution—a version with a reduced maximum, and another version. The version with a reduced maximum has a reduced word line pass voltage.
US08526233B2
In a non-volatile storage system, one or more substrate channel regions for an unselected NAND string are boosted during programming to inhibit program disturb. A voltage applied to one or more unselected word lines associated with at least a first channel region is increased during a program pulse time period in which a program pulse is applied to a selected word line. The increase can be gradual, in the form of a ramp, or step-wise. The boosting level of the first channel region can be maintained. The increase in the voltage applied to the one or more unselected word lines can vary with temperature as well. Before the program pulse time period, the voltage applied to the one or more unselected word lines can be ramped up at a faster rate for a second, adjacent channel region than for the first channel region, to help isolate the channel regions.
US08526220B2
An example embodiment is a memory cell including a SOI substrate. A first and second set of lateral bipolar transistors are fabricated on the SOI substrate. The first and second set of lateral bipolar transistors are electrically coupled to form two inverters. The inverters are cross coupled to form a memory element.
US08526213B2
Some embodiments include methods of programming a memory cell. A plurality of charge carriers may be moved within the memory cell, with an average charge across the moving charge carriers having an absolute value greater than 2. Some embodiments include methods of forming and programming an ionic-transport-based memory cell. A stack is formed to have programmable material between first and second electrodes. The programmable material has mobile ions which are moved within the programmable material to transform the programmable material from one memory state to another. An average charge across the moving mobile ions has an absolute value greater than 2. Some embodiments include memory cells with programmable material between first and second electrodes. The programmable material includes an aluminum nitride first layer, and includes a second layer containing a mobile ion species in common with the first layer.
US08526208B2
An electrical circuit, in particular a circuit used for generating electric power, wherein this circuit comprises a generator with n phases, a converter and a transformer to which a p-phase load can be connected. The converter comprises m partial converters, each of the partial converters is composed of p units and each of these units is provided with n/m switching circuits. The switching circuits of the individual units are connected symmetrical to the generator.
US08526204B2
A power converter is preferably mounted in a vehicle. The converter has a power converting unit including an electrical switching element electrically switched on and off selectively in response to a duty ratio of PWM (pulse-width modulation) signal given to the switching element. The converter further has a controller including a drive unit that generates the PWM signal, in addition to a controlling unit and a limiting unit. The controlling unit controls the duty ratio of the PWM signal such that a voltage inputted to the power converter is converted to a voltage to be outputted depending on the duty ratio. The limiting unit limits at least one of a time change amount of the duty ratio of the PWM signal and a maximum duty ratio of the PWM signal.
US08526201B2
There is provided switching power unit comprising: a PFC voltage detector that detects PFC voltages of the power-factor improvement unit; an output voltage detector that is provided in a current resonance converter unit; a switching controller into which output signals from the PFC voltage detector and output signals from the output voltage detector are input, wherein the switching controller in a full-bridge circuit of first to fourth switching elements, based on output signals from the PFC voltage detector and the output voltage detector, controls the PFC voltages by changing on-duty of the first and second switching elements, and also controls the output voltages by changing switching frequencies of the full-bridge circuit.
US08526196B2
An apparatus is provided for receiving, at least partially, an electric/electronic component in an internal housing area, in particular for commercial vehicles. A first housing component at least partially forms the internal housing area and a cover at least partially surrounds the internal housing area. The cover is designed such that at least one electrically conductive connecting element for electrically coupling the electric/electronic component to at least one additional electric/electronic component provided outside of the internal housing area is fixed by the cover. A method for assembling the apparatus is also provided.
US08526187B2
The present invention provides a system that allows for a single panel of the invention to be easily modified, preferably without the use of tools, to fit on a server rack, where the single panel is so modified as to cover the desired amount of open space on a server rack as a single piece, where the panel is preferably fire-rated, and where the modified panel may be easily installed onto the server rack to as to cover any open space thereon, and prevents the circular flow of warm air output from entering the cooler air input of the servers housed on the server rack.
US08526185B2
To reduce the impedance of the ground path from a heat sink to a ground pad on a printed circuit board, and thus reduce electromagnetic interference, an electrically conductive collar is arranged around an opening in the heat sink. The electrically conductive collar may include an internal extension, such that the internal extension abuts the conducting member passed through the electrically conductive collar and the opening in the heat sink to electrically ground the heat sink to the ground pad on the printed circuit board.
US08526177B2
A chassis comprises a printed circuit board (PCB) and a sub-chassis housing multiple processors that couple to the PCB. The sub-chassis is disposed above and parallel to the PCB. The multiple processors are cooled by a fan disposed on the sub-chassis.
US08526170B2
Electronic equipment is provided with a board 24a that includes an antenna circuit for transmitting and receiving a wireless signal and a ground pattern 24c for electrically grounding the antenna circuit, and a second casing 23 formed integrally with an antenna holding portion 23f for holding the board 24a. At least the antenna holding portion 23f in the second casing 23 is formed of a conductor. A clip 40 sandwiches the antenna holding portion 23f and the board 24a in a state where the ground pattern 24c and the antenna holding portion 23f are in contact with each other.
US08526167B2
Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to methods and apparatus for forming an energy storage device. More particularly, embodiments described herein relate to methods of forming electric batteries and electrochemical capacitors. In one embodiment a method of forming a high surface area electrode for use in an energy storage device is provided. The method comprises forming an amorphous silicon layer on a current collector having a conductive surface, immersing the amorphous silicon layer in an electrolytic solution to form a series of interconnected pores in the amorphous silicon layer, and forming carbon nanotubes within the series of interconnected pores of the amorphous silicon layer.
US08526163B2
A multilayered ceramic electronic component includes: a ceramic element having a plurality of dielectric layers laminated therein; first inner electrodes formed on the dielectric layers disposed in upper and lower portions in the ceramic element, the width of a portion of each of the first inner electrodes exposed from one end face of the ceramic element being less than that of a portion thereof disposed within the ceramic element; and second inner electrodes formed on the dielectric layers disposed in the middle portion in the ceramic element, the width of a portion of each of the second inner electrodes exposed from one end face of the ceramic element being equal to that of a portion thereof disposed within the ceramic element.
US08526155B2
A phase-control switchgear includes a circuit breaker, a phase difference detection unit, a storage unit, and a circuit breaker control unit. The phase difference detection unit detects a phase difference between voltages of a specific phase (U-phase) of buses to which three-phase generators are respectively connected, at a plurality of time points. The storage unit stores the detected phase differences. When the three-phase generators are out of synchronization, the circuit breaker control unit estimates a breaking time point at which the phase difference between the voltages of the U-phase of the buses will be in the range of not less than −80° and not more than 80°, based on the phase differences at the plurality of time points stored in the storage unit. The circuit breaker control unit opens the circuit breaker to break a current at the estimated breaking time point. This makes it possible to suppress a transient voltage generated between electrodes of the circuit breaker after the current is broken.
US08526154B2
A current transformer assembly includes input connections, output connections, current transformers placed between the input connections and the output connections, with at least one transformer output being electrically connected to the transformers. In at least one embodiment, the current transformer assembly includes an integrated wiring arrangement wherein a plurality of input connections is electrically connected to a plurality of output connections by way of the integrated wiring arrangement such that the wiring arrangement functions as an alternating wiring system.
US08526153B2
In an undervoltage tripping unit of at least one embodiment, an armature acts on a tripping slide via a drum. During tripping, an auxiliary switch is closed. In order to reset the under-voltage tripping unit after tripping, a latching mechanism of an associated circuit breaker acts on the drum via a driver bolt. At the same time, a projecting element is formed on the drum and closes the auxiliary switch when the drum is rotated back. The auxiliary switch therefore need not itself be directly coupled to the latching mechanism.
US08526151B2
A power equipment protection system includes a plurality of trip units including at least a first trip unit and a second trip unit, wherein each of the plurality of trip units is configured to monitor operation data. The system also includes a shared memory device coupled to the plurality of trip units via a network, wherein the shared memory device is configured to transmit a synchronization request to at least the second trip unit, receive a response from the second trip unit, including operation data associated with the second trip unit, receive a data request from the first trip unit, and transmit the operation data associated with the second trip unit to the first trip unit via the network.
US08526146B2
The present invention is directed to an electrical wiring device that includes a circuit coupled to the line terminals and configured to conduct a predetermined current flow when the line terminals are connected to a source of AC power, the predetermined current flow does not simulate a fault condition. An interrupting contact assembly includes four sets of interrupting contacts that are configured to provide electrical continuity between the line terminals, the load terminals and the at least one receptacle in a reset state and configured to interrupt the electrical continuity in tripped state. The interrupting contact assembly is energized to effect the tripped stated and substantially deenergized otherwise, the interrupting contact assembly being substantially prevented from effecting the reset state absent the predetermined current flow.
US08526144B2
There is a fault circuit interrupter comprising at least one grounded neutral sensor and at least one test circuit configured to test the grounded neutral sensor. A further embodiment can also include at least one fault circuit which is configured to detect a current sent from the grounded neutral sensor. The device can also include a line side phase line, a line side neutral line, and a test line coupled to the line side neutral line and extending from a first region on the line side neutral line to a second region on the line side neutral line, with the grounded neutral sensor being positioned between the first region and the second region on the line side neutral line. This test circuit can comprise a switch, such as a manually operatable switch or it can comprise any one of solid state circuitry, a transistor, and/or a silicon controlled rectifier.
US08526138B2
A magnetic head in one embodiment includes a pole; a first write gap in the pole; a first coil for generating a magnetic flux across the first write gap; a second write gap in the pole having at least a portion thereof aligned with the first write gap in a direction parallel to a direction of media travel thereover; and a second coil for generating a magnetic flux across the second write gap, the second coil being addressable independently of the first coil. A method in one embodiment includes forming a first write coil; forming a first write gap; forming a second write gap; forming a second coil for generating a magnetic flux across the second write gap, the second coil being addressable independently of the first coil; and forming one or more write poles, wherein a write pole region adjacent the first and second write gaps is formed concurrently.
US08526128B2
An image-forming lens includes: from an object side to an image side in order, a first group with a positive refractive power which includes less than or equal to five lens elements of two negative lenses and equal to or more than two positive lenses and in which a first lens element on a most object side is a negative meniscus lens a convex surface of which faces the object side; an aperture; and a second group with a positive refractive power which includes less than or equal to five lens elements including at least one cemented lens of a positive lens and a negative lens; wherein each of the first group and the second group shifts independently to perform focusing to a limited object distance, and an interval between the first lens element and a second lens element close to a surface on the image side of the first lens element: d11-2 and an interval between the second lens element and a third lens element close to a surface on the image side of the second lens element: d12-3 satisfy Conditional Expression A: 0.0
US08526124B2
An optical system, in order from an object side to an image side, includes a first lens unit having a positive refractive power, a second lens unit having a negative refractive power, and a third lens unit having a positive or negative refractive power. The first lens unit is configured by a first partial lens unit and a second partial lens unit each having a positive refractive power. The first partial lens unit is configured by a positive single lens, and has at least one aspherical surface. The second partial lens unit is configured by a positive lens and a negative lens, and has a diffraction optical surface of a diffraction optical element rotationally symmetric with reference to an optical axis direction. The second lens unit is a focus lens unit that is movable in the optical axis direction. And a paraxial lateral magnification βasph meets a predetermined condition.
US08526112B2
A capsule endoscope is provided with an imaging lens, capsule body, and a transparent cover. The capsule body is formed hollow, and has an opening at an end. The imaging lens is provided such that a part thereof is positioned inside the capsule body and the rest is protruded from the opening. The transparent cover is formed into a dope shape, and is attached to the end of the capsule body to cover the imaging lens protruded from the opening. The inside of a patient's body is captured using the transparent cover and the imaging lens designed to satisfy the following condition: |fD|/fL≦70 where fD is a focal length of the transparent cover, and fL is a focal length of the imaging lens.
US08526101B2
The present invention provides a method of manufacturing a display medium, including preparing a first substrate on which a gap retaining member that retains a gap between substrates is disposed in a protruded form; applying an adhesive to a top surface of the gap retaining member; disposing a particle dispersion liquid on an area surrounded by the first substrate and the gap retaining member; and adhering the first substrate and a second substrate together via the gap retaining member, by contacting the second substrate with the adhesive applied to the top surface of the gap retaining member and drying the solvent of the adhesive so as to adhere the second substrate to the top surface of the gap retaining member by the adhesive component of the adhesive. The display medium and a display apparatus including the display medium and an electrical field-generating unit are also provided.
US08526097B2
A tunable bandwidth selector is disclosed. The tunable bandwidth selector may include a plurality of spaced apart electron sheets which selectively separate a first bandwidth from an input spectrum.
US08526094B2
The invention relates to a control device for at least one electrochromic window with—means for generating a charging current, to bring the window from a first state into a second state, wherein the window is darker in the second state than in the first state,—means for discharging the window, to bring the window from the second state into the first state, wherein the discharging of the window can be triggered by an emergency signal.
US08526088B2
A device for holographic reconstruction of three-dimensional scenes includes optical focusing means which directs sufficiently coherent light from light means to the eyes of at least one observer via a spatial light modulator that is encoded with holographic information. The device has a plurality of illumination units for illuminating the surface of the spatial light modulator; each unit comprises a focusing element, and a light means that emits sufficiently coherent light such that each of these illumination units illuminates one separate illuminated region of the surface, whereby the focusing element and the light means are arranged such that the light emitted by the light means coincides close to or at the observer eyes.
US08526087B2
Disclosed herein is a hologram recording medium, wherein in a volume hologram, the hologram recording medium is covered with a partially patterned optical functional film on the side closer to the viewer than a hologram recording layer without the medium of air, and wherein the hologram recording medium maintains its appearance approximately unchanged irrespective of the presence or absence of the optical functional film.
US08526083B2
Image processing in which image data is input. The input image data is converted into first image data defined by a color space depending on a characteristic of a first environment light and into second image data defined by a color space depending on a characteristic of a second environment light. A color is specified which has a color difference between the first image data and the second image data, the color difference of the specified color being larger than a predetermined value. Information is output indicating the specified color.
US08526081B2
A first feeder contacts a first surface of a first sheet held in a first tray and feeds the first sheet toward a recording unit. A second feeder contacts a first surface of a second sheet held in a second tray and feeds the second sheet toward the recording unit. An inner member is disposed above a standing plate. An outer member comprises an upstream portion opposing the standing plate, and a downstream portion opposing the inner member. The inner member guides the first surface of the first sheet and the first surface of the second sheet. The standing plate guides the first surface of the second sheet. The upstream portion of the outer member guides a second surface of the second sheet, and the downstream portion guides a second surface of the first sheet and the second surface of the second sheet. The standing plate moves relative to the outer member.
US08526075B2
A tray used to place granular materials on a reading surface of an image reading device has provided thereto a transparent bottom plate, a background vertically upstanding relative to the bottom plate, and reflective elements arranged at predetermined intervals parallel to the background. In order to enable an imaging means of the image reading device to receive a side view image of the granular materials in the thickness direction thereof with the granular materials placed on the bottom plate of the tray, the tray is provided with a technical means for bending and guiding, by the reflective elements, light from the granular materials in the thickness direction thereof to the direction of the optical axis of the imaging means.
US08526063B2
An image forming apparatus is described. The image forming apparatus includes a pattern detection unit to detect whether an input image includes a specific pattern as a portion of the image, a conversion unit to convert the specific pattern into data in a predetermined format, an encryption unit to encrypt the data in the predetermined format and to generate an encryption pattern from the encrypted data, and an output unit to output an image that is similar to the input image except for the portion of the image, which includes the encryption pattern rather than the specific pattern in the output image.
US08526057B2
An image processing apparatus includes a selecting unit selecting a reference image from input images, a calculating unit calculating brightness ratios of the remaining input images as gains, a calculating unit calculating first weights for the remaining input images and calculating a second weight based on a brightness of image data as a synthesized image of the input image with the first weights, a generating unit generating a high-contrast image by performing weighting synthesis on the input images using the first weights and the second weight, a preparing unit preparing a tone conversion curve based on a brightness distribution of the high-contrast image and a brightness distribution as conversion target, and a generating unit performing the tone conversion on the high-contrast image based on the tone conversion curve, and generating the output image having the narrow tonal range.
US08526051B2
A network file processing system comprising: a scanner device connected to a network, for reading a document and generating image data; and a plurality of file servers connected to the network, each having an area to save data to, in which: the scanner device comprising: an acceptance request issuance unit for sending multicast acceptance requests for the image data to the plurality of file servers across the network after generating the image data; a data transmission unit for transmitting the image data to at least one of the plurality of file servers that has returned a reading response; and a related information saving unit for saving related information associated with the image data.
US08526049B2
Systems and methods consistent with some embodiments of the present invention provide data structures and methods for the automatic storing, manipulating and processing of a intermediate printable data generated from a first printable data are presented. In some embodiments, the first printable data may take the form of a PDL description of a document and the intermediate printable data may take the form of a display list of objects generated from the PDL description.In some embodiments, a data structure for storing a intermediate printable data generated from a first printable data may comprise at least one memory pool, which may further comprise a plurality of uniformly sized segments to store the intermediate printable data; at least one global structure for storing information related to the one or more memory pools; and buffers for performing operations on the first printable data and the intermediate printable data.
US08526038B2
The present invention provides a technique capable of preventing, in a system that transmits a print job from a network terminal to a printing apparatus through a print job managing server, useless consumption of a storage area of the printing apparatus and an unnecessary increase in traffic in a network. A print job managing server includes: a transmission-destination-information acquiring unit configured to acquire job transmission destination information for specifying at least one printing apparatus that is a job transmission destination associated in advance with information concerning a transmission source of a print job; and a job transmitting unit configured to transmit the print job to the printing apparatus, which is the job transmission destination, on the basis of the acquired job transmission destination information.
US08526035B2
A push-type pull printing system comprising a server and an image forming apparatus, the server sending, to the image forming apparatus, a print job including print data and a print condition instruction command for the print data, and the image forming apparatus executing a print process based on the print job. Here, the image forming apparatus comprises an input receiver operable to receive an input of a print condition, a converter operable to convert the inputted print condition, before being transmitted to the server, to an instruction command in a description language interpretable by the image forming apparatus, and a transmitter operable to transmit the converted instruction command to the server; and the server comprises a job transmitter operable to receive the converted instruction command from and send the print job to the image forming apparatus, the print job including the instruction command as the print condition instruction command.
US08526032B2
Concurrent IPDS and non-IPDS print processing is provided. Because an IPDS print session may not usually be interrupted, non-IPDS print data is received through a separate, non-IPDS channel in the printer control unit. The non-IPDS data is rasterized (“ripped”) using spare processing cycles and stored in a rip spool. At an appropriate time, such as when fully rasterized, an interrupt request may be submitted to the IPDS host then controlling the printer. When the IPDS host relinquishes control of the printer, such as when the IPDS print job has been completed, the rasterized non-IPDS print data may be de-spooled to the print engine and printed.
US08526028B2
A method, system, and computer usable program product for avoiding redundant printing are provided in the illustrative embodiments. An application executing in a data processing system receives a request to print a document. A determination is made whether a valid shared print of the document is available, the valid shared print being a hard-copy of the document that is currently within a validity period and is available for sharing among multiple entities. The shared valid print is requested from a current owner of the shared valid print. If the request is successful, possession of the shared valid print is changed in a prints repository from the current owner to a new owner and a new printing of the document according to the request to print the document is suspended.
US08526023B2
In an image processing apparatus having a first image processing unit for operating at a first clock signal and a second image processing unit for operating at a second clock signal having a second frequency which is higher than the first frequency, if image data is supplied from the first image processing unit to the second image processing unit, the second clock signal is supplied to the second image processing unit when intra-line image data of the image data is being transmitted and pixel data to be processed in the image data exists. If the intra-line image data is being transmitted and no pixel data to be processed in the image data exists, no clock signal is supplied to the second image processing unit.
US08526018B2
A method to automatically convert a format of a file through an image forming apparatus, the method including displaying list of tasks executable by the image forming apparatus and a list of files stored in the image forming apparatus, selecting a task to be executed from the list of tasks and a file from one or more files stored in the image forming apparatus that is an object of the selected task, converting a format of data of the selected file into a bitmap format and converting the bitmap format of the data into a format that is compatible with the selected task, and executing the selected task using the converted file.
US08526008B2
A Fizeau interferometer incorporates an off-axis paraboloidal reflector that forms virtual images of reference and test surfaces and a camera lens that converts the virtual images into real images on a camera detector surface. The camera detector surface is arranged together with the camera lens to accommodate tilting of the virtual images by the off-axis paraboloidal reflector.
US08526003B2
In the interferometric system, the image plane is imaged by an output imaging setup via a transmission system of reflectors to the output plane and a reflection type diffraction grating is located in the image plane of an imaging setup of a reference branch. The transmission systems of reflectors are adjusted so that axes of both branches coincide at an entrance to the output plane and parallel with a normal line of the output plane, and an axial beam, diffracted by the reflection type diffraction grating at an angle α, enters into the output plane at an angle β, and the relation between angle β and α is sin(β)=sin(α)/m, where m is a magnification of the output imaging setup. The system enables the achievement of a holographic imaging of an object by low-coherence waves. Incoherent waves allow the imaging of objects immersed in scattering media.
US08526000B1
Atomic sensor physics package with integrated transmissive and reflective portions along light paths
In one embodiment, a block for a physics package of an atomic sensor is provided. The block comprises one or more sections of optically transparent material defining a vacuum sealed chamber, and including a plurality of transmissive and reflective surfaces to define a plurality of light paths intersecting the vacuum sealed chamber. The one or more sections of optically transparent material include a first monolithic section defining at least a portion of the vacuum sealed chamber. The first monolithic section includes a first portion disposed across a first light path of the plurality of light paths such that light in the first light path is incident on the first portion of the first monolithic section.
US08525996B2
The invention discloses a light emitting component measuring system and the method thereof which is capable of measuring the optical proprieties of a plurality of the devices under test (DUT). Each DUT is capable of receiving electricity so as to output an initial ray, wherein each initial ray has a first wavelength range. The light emitting component measuring system comprises a filtering device and a sensing device. The filtering device comprises a first filtering portion which can filter a corresponding third wavelength of the said initial rays and output a plurality of first filtered rays simultaneously. Each first filtered ray has a second wavelength range respectively. The said sensing device receives the ray outputted from the filtering device and generates an optical data accordingly.
US08525991B2
A method is disclosed for measurement of the electrophoretic mobility of particles in solution. A sample is placed in a cell containing two electrodes that apply an alternating electric field. A monochromatic light beam passes through the sample. Light scattered by the particles, along with the unscattered beam, is collected and collimated as it exits the cell. This beam is combined in free space with a phase modulated reference beam. The interference forms a frequency modulated speckle pattern, which is detected by a photodetector array. Each array element collects a narrow range of well-defined scattering angles. The signal from each is demodulated to provide a first-principle measurement of the electrophoretic mobility of the scattering particles. Each detector element provides a simultaneous independent measurement increasing the amount of information which results in increased sensitivity, extending mobility measurements to particles below one nanometer while reducing the required concentration and electric field.
US08525986B2
A method of completing a hydrocarbon lateral well in a target shale formation. The method uses a data log generated from an optical flow cell assembly to identify areas in the lateral well of high free gas porosity. By evaluating such data, an operator can group “like” rock, determine stage length and variation in stage length, and determine perforation cluster spacing and location. The flow cell assembly can also be used in a completion program to assist in the steering of a lateral well being drilled below the target formation.
US08525984B2
An inspection apparatus includes a wafer stage for carrying a wafer, an illumination module which irradiates an inspection beam on the wafer carried on the wafer stage, a detection module which detects scattering rays or reflection rays from the wafer on the wafer stage and outputs an image signal, a coordinates control module which stores information about the arrangement of individual inspection areas on the wafer, and an imperfect area recognition module which recognizes, on the basis of the inspection area arrangement information stored in the coordinates control module, an imperfect inspection area interfering with a wafer edge.
US08525982B2
Refractive index distribution measuring method and refractive index distribution measuring apparatus
A method includes the steps of measuring a first transmitted wavefront in a first medium having a first refractive index and a second transmitted wavefront in a second medium having a second refractive index different from the first refractive index, and obtaining a refractive index distribution projected value of the object in each orientation by removing a shape component of the object utilizing measurement results of the first transmitted wavefront and the second transmitted wavefront and each transmitted wavefront of a reference object that has the same shape as that of the object and a specific refractive index distribution and is located in one of the first medium and the second medium with the same orientation as that of the object, and calculating a three-dimensional refractive index distribution of the object based on a plurality of refractive index distribution projected values corresponding to the plurality of orientations.
US08525979B2
The present invention provides a monitoring device for detecting stresses and strains in structural components and a method of using the monitoring device. The monitoring device comprises a base material, one or more attachment points for attaching the monitoring device to a structure to be monitored, a detection zone on the monitoring device, and a means for detecting the presence of stress and strain in the detection zone. The dimensions and material of the monitoring device are chosen such that a predetermined level of strain transmitted to the monitoring device from the structure will result in a known level of stress and strain in the detection zone. Detection of stress and strain in the detection zone can be correlated to a level of stress and strain experienced by the structure at the point of attachment of the monitoring device.
US08525971B2
There is provided an exposure apparatus capable of accurately performing an exposure process and a measurement process based on a liquid immersion method. The exposure apparatus (EX), which forms a liquid immersion area (AR2) of a liquid (LQ) on an image surface side of a projection optical system (PL), and exposes a substrate (P) via the projection optical system (PL) and the liquid (LQ) of the immersion area (AR2), is provided with a measuring device (60) which measures at least one of a property and composition of the liquid (LQ) for forming the liquid immersion area (AR2).
US08525968B2
In a liquid crystal substrate in which a matrix of reflecting electrodes is formed on a substrate, a transistor is formed corresponding to each reflective electrode and a voltage is applied to the reflective electrode through the transistor. A silicon oxide film having a thickness of 500 to 2,000 angstroms is used as the passivation film and the thickness is set to a value in response to the wavelength of the incident light to maintain a substantially constant reflectance.
US08525967B2
A process for producing a liquid crystal display device enabling to produce with simple process, and such a liquid crystal display device, are provided.A process for producing a liquid crystal display device comprising: a step of forming transparent electrodes (41, 42) on first and second substrates (11, 12); a step of applying an uncured raw seal material; a step of dropping a first functional material; a step of dropping a second functional material; a step of sandwiching the raw seal material (13a, 14a), the first functional material (32a) and the second functional material (31a) between the first and second substrates under a predetermined reduced pressure atmosphere, and thereby forming a sealed product wherein the first functional material is isolated from the second functional material by the raw seal material and sealed between the first and the second substrates; a step of exposing the sealed product to a normal atmospheric pressure; and a step of curing at least the raw seal material.
US08525966B2
There is provided a display area made up of a pixel array with a non-rectangular shaped outer circumference and the pixel array is made up of a plurality of non-rectangular pixels wherein a first conductor line group including a plurality of first conductor lines and a second conductor line group including a plurality of second conductor lines, and a third conductor line group including a plurality of third conductor lines are arranged so as to intersect with one another. Thus, without sacrificing brightness, viewability, and fidelity of an image, pixel array (display device) with the non-rectangular outer circumferential shape being excellent in design characteristics is realized.
US08525956B2
A manufacturing method of a liquid crystal display device having a liquid crystal layer between a pair of substrates. The method includes disposing between the pair of substrates a liquid crystal composition including liquid crystal molecules and a polymerizable compound that is polymerizable by active energy rays or a combination of active energy rays and heat, and polymerizing the polymerizable compound by active energy ray irradiation, or by both active energy ray irradiation and heat with and/or without applying voltages to the liquid crystal layer, so that a polymer formed by the polymerizing process decides an alignment of the liquid crystal molecules when no voltage is applied. The amount of active energy ray irradiation is decided so that at least some of the polymerizable compound remains in the liquid crystal layer after the polymerization process. Further the amount of the polymerizable compound that remains is not more than a predetermined value.
US08525950B2
A light guide panel, a backlight unit and a display apparatus are provided. A display apparatus includes a light guide panel including a first surface having a first pattern that increases luminance of backlight emitted from a light emitting unit, and a second surface having a second pattern that increases uniformity of luminance of the backlight emitted from the light emitting unit.
US08525949B2
The present invention discloses a back light module and a liquid crystal display (LCD) device. A back light module comprises a light guide plate; both sides of the light guide plate are respectively provided with multiple notches; the back light module is provided with riveted nut studs in the notches; and buffer parts are arranged between the riveted nut studs and the notches. In the present invention, because buffer material such as silicone, rubber and the like is arranged between each notch and each riveted nut stud of light guide plate, the buffer material can provide effective buffer function when the light guide plat is affected by impact force to avoid damage caused by direct impact between the light guide plate and the riveted nut studs. Thus, low cost is achieved because of simple process and economic material. In addition, the tight contact of the light guide plate and the riveted nut stud is kept by the buffer part, and the shake of the light guide plate is avoided.
US08525948B2
A liquid crystal display module for preventing noise caused by friction between a support main and a light guide plate is provided. In the module, a hole is defined at a support main having at least one of a polygonal shape or a circular shape. A light guide plate is disposed on the support main. A protrusion which protrudes from a side surface of the light guide plate is inserted into the hole. The protrusion has at least one of said polygonal shapes and said circular shape.
US08525946B2
A backlight unit, light guide panel, and liquid crystal display (LCD) apparatus having the same are provided. The backlight unit includes a light guide panel which comprises a plurality of patterns to scatter light forward on a bottom surface, and one or more fixing grooves on an edge area; a light source unit which is disposed on a side surface of the light guide panel, and emits light towards the light guide panel; and a supporting member which supports the light guide panel, and comprises one ore more fixing protrusions being inserted into the fixing groove, wherein the amount of patterns formed on a darkness occurring area adjacent to the fixing groove is increased compared to that on an adjacent area, and the amount of patterns formed on a bright line occurring area adjacent to the fixing groove is decreased compared to that on an adjacent area.
US08525943B2
An optically addressed light valve suitable for selectively limiting the transmission of radiation from high intensity light sources independent of wavelength using a TN liquid crystal cell and a photoconductive material (vanadium doped silicon carbide).
US08525934B2
Brightness expression without solid white pattern is enabled, and video expression with an improved black level is achieved. A distortion module (5) reduces the luminance of a backlight source according to the histogram of the video signal so that the contrast may be a predetermined target one. A configuration design unit (13) sets the gain according to the luminance level (BLreduced) of the backlight source selected by the distortion module (5). When setting the gain, the luminance level (BLref) for reference of the backlight source preset according to the video feature value is referenced. If the video feature value meets a predetermined condition, the input video signal is always amplified with the gain. If not, depending on the relation between the BLreduced and the BLref, the input video signal is amplified or not.
US08525928B2
A signal transmission system includes a transmission apparatus and a reception apparatus, the transmission apparatus including: a first portion that converts a video signal into differential signals, converts a vertical synchronization signal into a common mode signal, and transmits the converted signals to the reception apparatus via three pairs of signal lines; and a second portion that converts a horizontal synchronization signal into differential signals, converts a first console signal into a common mode signal, transmits the converted signals to the reception apparatus via a single pair of signal lines; the reception apparatus including: a third portion that restores the differential signals to the video signal, and restores the common mode signal to the vertical synchronization signal; and a fourth portion that restores the differential signals to the horizontal synchronization signal, and restores the common mode signal to the first console signal.
US08525922B2
An electronic camera is provided with a power-saving S-AF mode and a C-AF mode as focus adjustment modes. In the S-AF mode, focus adjustment is performed upon half depression of a release button. In the C-AF mode, the focus adjustment is repeated during a shooting mode regardless of the half depression of the release button to simplify the focus adjustment of a shooting time so that shooting is smoothly performed. When the electronic camera is set to the shooting mode, an AF controller obtains an Ev value representing subject brightness. The Ev value is compared with a threshold value stored in a memory. When the Ev value exceeds the threshold value, the focus adjustment mode is changed to the S-AF mode. When the Ev value falls below the threshold value, the focus adjustment mode is changed to the C-AF mode.
US08525916B2
An imaging apparatus includes an optical system including a focus lens, an imaging unit operable to capture a subject image formed by the optical system to generate image data, a driver operable to drive the focus lens along an optical axis of the optical system, and an autofocus adjusting unit operable to adjust a subject image formed on the imaging unit to be in focus by evaluating the image data generated by the imaging unit and by controlling the driver to drive the focus lens. When adjusting the subject image to be in focus anew after previously adjusting the subject image to be in focus, the autofocus adjusting unit estimates a focus position and controls the driver to drive the focus lens according to a driving method used for evaluating the image data generated by the imaging unit, and different driving methods are used for different results of the estimation.
US08525910B2
An image sensor includes a two-dimensional array of pixels having multiple column outputs and an output circuit connected to each column output. Each output circuit is configured to operate concurrent sample and read operations. An analog front end (AFE) circuit processes pixel data output from the output circuits and an AFE clock controller transmits an AFE clocking signal to the AFE circuit to effect processing of the pixel data. A timing generator outputs a column address sequence that is received by a column decoder. During one or more sample operations the AFE clock controller suspends the output of the AFE clocking signal and the timing generator suspends the output of the column address sequence during the sample operation. The output of the AFE clocking signal and the column address sequence resume at the end of the sample operation.
US08525905B2
According to one embodiment, in a solid-state imaging device having color pixels in which color filters are arranged for respective pixels, two blocks of two pixels in the row direction×two pixels in the column direction of an X1 color are arranged on one diagonal line, and a block of two pixels in the row direction×two pixels in the column direction of one of an X2 color and an X3 color and a block of two pixels of the other color and two pixels of an X4 color arranged diagonally are arranged on the other diagonal line, and magnitudes of wavelengths satisfy the following relationship: X3 color
US08525903B2
In an image taking system such as digital camera, especially when a predetermined objective body such as a face is included, an objective body detecting portion detects a predetermined objective body from an image taken by the image taking system. A storage portion stores a detection history including a past result of detection of the objective body and a newest result of detection of the objective body. A determination portion refers to the detection history and determines whether the objective body is to be handled as detected in the image obtained newest.
US08525900B2
Techniques for creating a High Dynamic Range (HDR) image within a consumer grade digital camera from a series of images of a scene captured at different exposure levels, and displaying the HDR image on the camera's built-in display are provided. The approach employs mixing images of the series to incorporate both scene shadow and highlight details, and the removing of “ghost” image artifacts appearing in the mixed HDR image resulting from movement in the scene over the time the series images are captured. The low computational resource utilization of the image mixing and ghost removal processing operations, along with the ability to commence image mixing and ghost removal prior to the acquisition of all series images, can significantly reduce the time required to generate and display a tone mapped HDR image.
US08525895B2
Various techniques for applying binning compensation filtering to binned raw image data acquired by an image sensor are provided. In one embodiment, a binning compensation filter (BCF) includes separate digital differential analyzers (DDA) for vertical and horizontal scaling. A current position of an output pixel is determined by incrementing the DDA based upon a step size. Using the known output pixel position, a center source input pixel and an index corresponding to the between-pixel fractional position of the output pixel position relative to the input pixels may be selected for filtering. Using the selected center input pixel, one or more same-colored neighboring source pixels may be selected. The number of selected source pixels may depend on the number of taps used by the scaling logic, and may depend on whether horizontal or vertical scaling is being applied. Using the selected index, a set of filter coefficients may be selected from a filter coefficient lookup table, applied to the selected source pixels, and the results may be summed to determine a value for an output pixel having a position corresponding to the current position of the DDA. This process may be repeated for each input pixel and may be performed in both vertical and horizontal directions, thus ultimately producing a re-sampled set of image data that is spatially evenly distributed.
US08525894B2
A camera according to the present invention, which is capable of continuous shooting before and after a still image shot according to photographer's operation, comprises: an imaging section converting an object image into image data; a still image shooting section obtaining image data of the still image according to release operation; a continuous shooting section obtaining the image data by continuous shooting before and after the obtaining of the still image in the still image shooting section; an image processing section performing image processing which is different from that of the image data obtained by the still image shooting section and changed sequentially, on the image data obtained by the continuous shooting section; and a recording section recording the image data image-processed by the image processing section.
US08525891B2
An electronic camera and method of operating an electronic camera which detects whether an external device such as a personal computer is properly connected to the camera and in a state which permits communication. The camera monitors a data terminal ready (DTR) signal of an RS-232 connection in order to determine that the external device is properly connected and in a state which permits communication. Once the proper connection is detected, the camera can either transmit or receive images and/or audio from the external device. Accordingly, a specific switch which places the camera in a communication mode can be eliminated. Further, a single switch may be utilized for both controlling whether the camera records or plays images when there is no device connected, and which controls whether the camera transmits or receives images and/or audio when an external device is determined to be connected.
US08525886B2
An image processing apparatus for achieving the exchange of pieces of image data between a plurality of image processing apparatuses includes: a feature value extraction unit for extracting a feature value included in image data; a feature value transfer unit for transferring to another image processing apparatus a feature value extracted from image data to be exchanged; a feature value reception unit for receiving a feature value transferred from the other image processing apparatus; a first determination unit for determining whether the received feature value matches a feature value included in image data of a captured image; an image data transfer unit for transferring the image data of the captured image to the other image processing apparatus when there is a match between the feature values; and an image data reception unit for receiving image data of a captured image transferred from the other image processing apparatus.
US08525885B2
A system to perform automated audio visual (AV) delay measurement for a system under test (SUT) includes a test pattern generator to generate a dynamic AV test pattern and connected to a source display device and to one or more destination video display devices; at least one light sensor coupled to the one or more destination video display devices; an AV capture device having video inputs connected to the light sensors; and an AV delay analyzer coupled to the AV capture device to perform multi-channel delay parameters analysis.
US08525882B2
A vehicle-mounted camera includes a camera module mounted on a vehicle such as an automobile, and further includes a mirror occupying at least a part of an imaging range of the camera module. The camera module may be arranged to face a forward vehicle traveling direction. The mirror may occupy a lower part of the vertical direction in the imaging range. The camera module and the mirror may both be disposed in the vehicle.
US08525880B2
A modular building system arrangement includes a plurality of electrical building systems. Each electrical building system has a housing with a mechanical connector that is connectable with a like connector of each other building system housing. Members of any subset of the building system housings are connectable with each other to form a building system assembly. The building systems of the building system assembly conjointly define an electrically conductive pathway interconnecting each of the building systems of the building system assembly. The pathway carries power and/or data.
US08525879B2
A depth detection method includes the following steps. First, first and second video data are shot. Next, the first and second video data are compared to obtain initial similarity data including r×c×d initial similarity elements, wherein r, c and d are natural numbers greater than 1. Then, an accumulation operation is performed, with each similarity element serving as a center, according to a reference mask to obtain an iteration parameter. Next, n times of iteration update operations are performed on the initial similarity data according to the iteration parameter to generate updated similarity data. Then, it is judged whether the updated similarity data satisfy a character verification condition. If yes, the updated similarity data is converted into depth distribution data.
US08525877B2
An apparatus for conducting remote subsurface inspections from above is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a support structure, a telescoping mast held by a coupling and born by the support structure, an imaging system held by an extendable portion of the telescoping mast and an offsetting mechanism. The apparatus may further comprise an articulating radial arm with pivots for locating the telescoping mast. The support structure of the apparatus may also include an adaptor section for fitting to a receiver of a hitch of a vehicle. A method for conducting remote subsurface inspections from above is also disclosed. The method of inspection comprises the steps of locating an access point on a working surface, positioning an apparatus for conducting remote subsurface inspections from above, manipulating the telescoping mast above the access point, lowering it and reviewing images from the imaging system.
US08525869B2
A terminal and a method for video telephony communication using the terminal are provided. The method for video telephony communication includes executing video telephony communication for transmitting and receiving a video signal and a voice signal, determining a power saving mode set in the terminal, measuring at least one environmental value corresponding to the determined power saving mode, and transmitting and receiving the voice signal when the environmental value is less than a critical value. The terminal and the method for video telephony communication enable a reduction of power consumption even in a poor video telephony communication environment.
US08525868B2
A mobile platform includes a microphone array and is capable of implementing beamforming to amplify or suppress audio information from a sound source. The sound source is indicated through a user input, such as pointing the mobile platform in the direction of the sound source or through a touch screen display interface. The mobile platform further includes orientation sensors capable of detecting movement of the mobile platform. When the mobile platform moves with respect to the sound source, the beamforming is adjusted based on the data from the orientation sensors so that beamforming is continuously implemented in the direction of the sound source. The audio information from the sound source may be included or suppressed from a telephone or video-telephony conversation. Images or video from a camera may be likewise controlled based on the data from the orientation sensors.
US08525847B2
A method performed by one or more computers programmed to enhance images, the method including receiving an image and a face region associated with the image, sampling pixels from the face region, generating, based on the sampled pixels, a face-region evaluation, identifying a modification to the image based on the face-region evaluation, and modifying the image in accordance with the identified modification.
US08525833B2
A method of generating a three-dimensional volumetric representation of a subject. The method includes capturing a first image of the subject with a first capture device from a first perspective, accessing a stored volumetric model of the subject, and approximating a first orientation of the stored volumetric model that corresponds to the first perspective. A digitally simulated radiograph is generated from the stored volumetric model and compared to the captured first image. A second image is also captured at the same time as the first picture, but from a different perspective. A second orientation of the stored volumetric model is approximated that corresponds to the second image. A second digitally simulated radiograph is generated and compared to the second image. Based on the approximated orientations, a three-dimensional volumetric representation of the subject is generated by positioning the stored volumetric model according to the first orientation and the second orientation.
US08525832B2
A method of forming mesh data for three-dimensional (3-D) data is provided. Inside/outside (IO) functions are generated based on indicator functions to identify element interfaces between a plurality of elements identified in the 3-D data. An indicator function is defined to represent a volume identified for an element within the 3-D data. A cell indicator function is defined for each element interface based on the IO functions to identify a plurality of types of element interfaces. The cell indicator function identifies points in the 3-D data where a plurality of the generated IO functions evaluate to approximately zero. The types of element interfaces are identified based on a number of elements that coincide at a point in the 3-D data. 3-D point locations are distributed on the identified element interfaces based on the plurality of types of element interfaces and the IO functions. Surface mesh data is generated based on the distributed 3-D point locations.
US08525830B2
A method, apparatus, and point cloud generation system for managing a point cloud. Vertices for a model of an object are identified. The object comprises a plurality of parts. Identifiers for the plurality of parts are associated with points in the point cloud using the vertices for the model of the object.
US08525829B2
A multi-view mask apparatus for creating a three-dimensional (3D) display. The apparatus includes a relay lens assembly that is non-inverting of images passed through the relay lens assembly including images of background objects. The apparatus includes a mask display device concurrently displaying first and second mask content via the relay lens assembly. The first mask content is viewable from a first point of view (POV) and the second mask content is viewable from a second POV or the first mask content is apparent from a first light source direction and the second mask content is apparent from a second light source direction. The relay lens assembly includes four lenticular sheets arranged into first and second pairs with adjacent back sides. The mask display device is disposed in one pair between two lenticular sheets and operated to display the first and second mask content as interlaced images under the lenticules.
US08525827B2
An integrated GIS system in which a 3D visualization system is integrated with a 2D GIS system using interfaces that map 2D components for 3D visualization and map 3D components for processing by the 2D GIS system. A 2D GIS system and a 3D visualization system are integrated through interfaces that provide for 3D visualization of 2.5D GIS data as well as interactive control of the 2D GIS system from 3D windows containing 3D renderings produced by the 3D visualization system. User selections made in a 3D window are mapped to 2D geo-location coordinates for to use by the 2D GIS system components. Changes made via the 3D window to 3D graphic indicia and/or metadata are used to modify GIS data in a GIS database, and the modified GIS data is used to update the 3D rendering to reflect the user changes.
US08525826B2
A method comprises receiving scene model data including a scene geometry model and a plurality of pixel data describing objects arranged in a scene. The method generates a primary ray based on a selected first pixel data. In the event the primary ray intersects an object in the scene, the method determines primary hit color data and generates a plurality of secondary rays. The method groups the secondary packets and arranges the packets in a queue based on the octant of each direction vector in the secondary ray packet. The method generates secondary color data based on the secondary ray packets in the queue and generates a pixel color based on the primary hit color data, and the secondary color data. The method generates an image based on the pixel color for the pixel data.
US08525824B2
There is provided a display driver device (liquid crystal driver) causing no degradation in display image quality even when a plurality of signal lines (source lines) of a display panel are divided into a plurality of groups as a countermeasure against EMI. With a liquid crystal display driver device (the liquid crystal driver) for generating image signals to be impressed to respective signal lines of a display panel upon receiving display image data, and outputting the image signals in a lump, corresponding to every one line, according to an output timing signal inputted from outside, output amplifiers, in the last stage of the liquid crystal driver, for outputting the image signals, respectively, are divided into a plurality of groups, and the output amplifiers of respective groups are caused to undergo a periodical change in output sequence while the respective image signals are slightly staggered in output timing by the group.
US08525822B2
A driving circuit on a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel and associated control method is provided. The LCD panel connected to a display control circuit via a flexible print circuit (FPC) includes a master source driver, for inputting a digital image signal in compliance with a first electrical specification via an FPC board and converting the digital image signal to a gate driving signal and a slave source driving signal, which are in compliance with a second electrical specification; a gate driver, for receiving the gate driving signal in compliance with the second electrical specification; and a slave source driver, for receiving the slave source driving signal in compliance with the second electrical specification. The master source driver, the slave source driver and the gate driver drive a thin-film transistor (TFT) on the LCD panel.
US08525819B2
A horizontal scanning period is divided into n parts (n is a natural number), so that horizontal scanning can be performed (n×y) times in one frame period. That is, n signals can be outputted from each pixel, and storage times of the n signals are different from one another. Then, since a signal suited to the intensity of light irradiated to each pixel can be selected, information of an object can be accurately read.
US08525815B2
An optical touch system includes a display screen having a contact surface, an infrared light source emitting infrared light to cover the contact surface, a linear infrared sensor having a sensing surface with a lengthwise direction thereof parallel to the contact surface, a processor, and a controller. The linear infrared sensor captures an image of the contact surface with an infrared portion representing a touch area of a contact object, the image having an aspect ratio greater than that of the contact surface. The processor determines the touch location of the contact object based on the aspect ratios of the image and the contact surface, the location of the infrared portion on the image, the area of the infrared portion and the area of the touch portion of the contact object on the contact surface. The controller executes an instruction according to the determined location of the contact object.
US08525814B2
The invention discloses a method of distinguishing multiple touch points applied to an optical touch system which includes a panel for indicating a first touch point and a second touch point thereon and a camera unit for capturing an image relative to the first touch point and the second touch point. The image has a first dark area and a second dark area corresponding to the first touch point and the second touch point respectively. In the method, if it is observed that the first dark area and the second dark area merge into a first single dark area and a second single dark area at current time and previous time respectively, the respective positions of the first dark area and the second dark area are determined and the respective coordinates of the first touch point and the second touch point are also determined.
US08525813B1
A graphical model is displayed. A location of a portion of a user in relation to the displayed graphical model is sensed to obtain a sensed location of the portion of the user. A movement of the portion of the user in relation to the displayed graphical model and the sensed location of the portion of the user is sensed to obtain a sensed movement. The displayed graphical model is adjusted in response to the sensed movement of the portion of the user to obtain a displayed adjusted graphical model.
US08525811B2
A capacitive touch panel consists of a touch panel having a plural conductive wires, a multiplex selector electrically connected to the plural conductive wires of the touch panel, a first switch electrically connected to the multiplex selector, a first resistor having a first resistor value, a second switch electrically connected to the resistor and the first switch, a capacitor having a capacitance value, the capacitor electrically connected to the first switch and the second switch, a third switch electrically connected to the capacitor, an Analogue to Digital converter, a fourth switch electrically connected to the Analogue to Digital converter and the third switch, and an integrating circuit electrically connected to the second switch and the fourth switch.
US08525807B2
A touch device is disposed on a substrate having a plurality of scan lines. The touch device comprises a plurality of readout lines and a plurality of sensors. The readout lines and the scan lines are intersected with each other, and the sensors are electrically coupled to the corresponding scan lines and the corresponding readout lines respectively. A scan signal is introduced into the scan lines in sequence to control whether turning on the sensors, and the scan signal comprises at least one first turn-on pulse and a second turn-on pulse to simultaneously turn on at least two sensors which are electrically coupled to different scan lines.
US08525802B2
A mobile terminal is provided. The mobile terminal includes a touch screen for generating input signals in response to a proximity touch or a direct touch of an input medium and displaying a first menu and a controller for determining the proximity touch of the input medium on the touch screen for a predetermined period of time and displaying on the touch screen a second menu for providing a function associated with the first menu.
US08525801B2
An equalized capacitive touchpad and a touch positioning method for a capacitive touchpad use an equalizer to correct a sensed value detected from a sensing line of the capacitive touchpad, to thereby offset the attenuation of the sensed value due to the impedance of the sensing line. Thus, the sensed values generated from different positions along a sensing line are equalized, and the touch positioning accuracy of the capacitive touchpad is improved.
US08525798B2
In one embodiment, an apparatus comprises a plurality of capacitors, each having a first electrode and a second electrode. The apparatus includes charging circuitry coupled to the first electrodes and sensing circuitry coupled to the second electrodes, the sensing circuitry configured to detect changes in capacitance across the capacitors responsive to movement of an input object relative to the apparatus. Interpolating circuitry identifies which one of the capacitors is nearest to the input object according to the detected capacitance changes.
US08525796B2
A method, system, and computer program product for determining a level of cleanliness of a multi-touch screen display, characterizing objects that make contact with the screen, and initiating a specific maintenance action on the screen, based on screen cleanliness and the object(s) characterization(s). A screen diagnostic and maintenance (SDM) utility initiates a number of procedures to determine the type of object(s) and a set of characteristics of object(s) that make contact with the touch screen. Based on the results of the procedures, the SDM utility characterizes/identifies the object(s). In addition, the SDM utility initiates maintenance screen check(s) based on information stored in maintenance configuration file(s). Based on the results of the maintenance check(s), configuration file(s) data and type and characterization of the object(s) that have made contact with the screen, the SDM utility determines the type of maintenance that is performed and the timing/schedule of the maintenance action(s).
US08525791B2
A miniature keyboard for a palm held computer is disclosed. The miniature keyboard includes a plurality of keys for providing input to a hand held computing device. The keyboard includes a platform supporting the plurality of keys. The platform is configured to be sized for use by a single hand and the platforms is selectively foldable to substantially conceal the plurality of keys from view. The keyboard also includes a support structure that couples the platform to the hand held computing device body. The support structure is configured to prevent substantial movement of the platform relative to the hand held computing device body.
US08525790B2
A non-contract selecting device is disclosed. The non-contract selecting device include a light source, emitting light to an outside; a camera unit, generating and outputting a video signal corresponding to an external video; a video data generating unit, generating video data corresponding to the video signal; and an identity unit, detecting a location of a detected area formed by light, reflected by pointing-means and inputted, of the light emitted from the video data in units of each frame, recognizing a moving locus of the detected area by comparing at least two continuous frames and generating and outputting corresponding change information. With the present invention, the function-selecting can be more quickly and easily and increase making the most use of elements.
US08525788B2
The present invention provides a method of controlling a virtual object or instruction for a computing device comprising: detecting a user eye motion by a detecting device; generating a control signal in responsive to the user eye motion detection; controlling an object displayed on a display in responsive to the control signal to execute the instruction. The user eye motion is detected by CMOS or CCD.
US08525785B1
A multi-directional remote control system and method is adapted for use with an entertainment system of a type including a display such as a monitor or TV and having display functions employing a mouse type control. The remote controller may be conveniently held in one hand of a user and still provides full mouse type functionality. The remote control system and method images the controller to detect relative motion between the controller and screen. This position information is used for control of a cursor or other GUI interface.
US08525777B2
Embodiments are disclosed herein that are related to computer mice configured to track motion on smooth surfaces. For example, one disclosed embodiment provides an optical mouse comprising a light source configured to illuminate a tracking surface, an image sensor, and an array of lenses configured to superimpose a plurality of images of spatially different areas of the tracking surface onto the image sensor. The optical mouse further comprises a controller configured to receive a plurality of time-sequenced frames of image data from the image sensor, to detect motion of the mouse on the tracking surface from movement of one or more tracking features in the plurality of time-sequenced frames of image data, and to output a motion signal.
US08525772B2
The display area selection circuit selects a desired display area. The signal generating circuit sets a period of each shift signal generated while the selection position of the pixel diode is between the shift start position and the display start position shorter than a period of each shift signal generated while the selection position of the pixel diode is between the display start position and the display end position.
US08525758B2
Disclosed herein is a method for driving a display element including a current-driven light emitting part and a drive circuit, the drive circuit including a write transistor, a drive transistor, and a capacitive part, the method including the steps of: executing threshold voltage cancel processing of changing potential of the second node toward potential obtained by subtracting threshold voltage of the drive transistor from potential of the first node in a state in which the potential of the first node is kept; and executing write processing of applying a video signal from the data line to the first node via the write transistor turned to an on-state by a scan signal from the scan line.
US08525751B1
A tapered direct fed bifilar helix antenna comprises bifilar antenna elements which helically spiral around an antenna axis to define an outer cylindrical shape of the direct fed bifilar helix antenna. The width of the bifilar antenna elements at the feed end of the antenna is sized to provide the antenna with an approximately fifty ohm characteristic impedance. The individual filar elements taper at a predetermined axial position from a maximum width at the feed end to a minimum width at the end furthest from the feed end. A fifty ohm coaxial cable directly feeds the tapered bifilar antenna elements.
US08525749B2
An antenna ground structure of a mobile terminal is disclosed. The antenna ground structure of a mobile terminal is arranged to provide the ground pattern on a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) adjacent to the antenna and to electrically connect the ground pattern to the ground unit of the antenna, so that the area of the ground of the antenna may be expanded to improve Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) and communication performance.
US08525747B2
An antenna has an antenna body having a plurality of first antenna elements situated along a first straight line. The antenna body includes a first conductive grounded surface and a second conductive grounded surface, the first and second grounded surfaces being situated essentially parallel to one another. A dielectric is situated between the first and second grounded surfaces. A signal conductor is also situated between the first and second grounded surfaces. The first antenna elements are designed as apertures situated above the signal conductor in the first grounded surface. Furthermore, the antenna is designed to emit a signal in a direction in space, depending on a frequency of the signal. At least two of the first antenna elements differ from one another in such a way that their power emissions are different.
US08525741B2
A multi-loop antenna system includes: a plurality of loop antennas disposed on a substrate and arranged such that each of extending lines extending respectively from geometric centers of the loop antennas to a center point that is bounded by the loop antennas has a predetermined length, and that each of the loop antennas is spaced apart from an adjacent one of the same by a predetermined distance; and a system module facing toward and being spaced apart from and parallel to the substrate such that the grounding plane is able to reflect radiation from the loop antennas. Each of the loop antennas includes first and second radiator portions operable in respective frequency bands; the former having opposite ends that respectively serve as signal-feed and grounding sections; the latter having opposite ends that are connected respectively to the signal-feed and grounding sections.
US08525738B2
A wireless communication device including a system ground plane and a retractable antenna is provided. The system ground plane includes a feed point. When the retractable antenna is configured to be a first length, the wireless communication device transceives a first signal of a first bandwidth through the retractable antenna for a first radio frequency system. When the retractable antenna is configured to be a second length, the wireless communication device transceives the first signal and a second signal of a second bandwidth through the retractable antenna respectively for the first radio frequency system and the second radio frequency system. A center frequency of the first bandwidth range is substantially a first odd multiple of a reference frequency, and a center frequency of the second bandwidth range is substantially a second odd multiple of the reference frequency, and the first odd multiple is different to the second odd multiple.
US08525734B2
An antenna device for a portable electronic device and an electronic device provided with such an antenna are disclosed. The antenna device is configured to provide in a combination a tuning element for tuning at least one electrical dimension of the portable electronic device and an antenna radiator element of the portable electronic device.
US08525728B2
A system for detecting objects in the vicinity of a vehicle, comprising: a sensor for gathering data relating to objects in the vicinity of the vehicle; and a processor operable to: detect objects, from the sensor data, based on one or more detection criteria, the detection being regulated by one or more detection parameters; analyze the detected objects; and in response to the number of detected objects, vary one or more of the detection parameters.
US08525722B2
An AD converting device includes a resistance-voltage conversion circuit which changes a first integrated voltage in proportion to a product of a varied resistance of a variable resistance and an electrical current applied to the variable resistance and changes a second integrated voltage and a reference voltage in proportion to a product of a total resistance of the variable resistance and the electrical current.
US08525716B2
An electronic circuit comprises a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) core circuit having a current source device and a digital input bit. An isolation circuit is also provided and is connected to the DAC core circuit. The isolation circuit is configured to selectively provide a source bias signal to the current source device. The isolation circuit also is configured to isolate the source bias signal from the current source device based on a state of the digital input bit.
US08525712B2
To improve resolution of a built-in A/D converter by reducing the area occupied by a chip of the built-in A/D converter in a semiconductor integrated circuit that is mounted in an on-vehicle millimeter wave radar device and which incorporates an A/D converter and an MPU. In the semiconductor integrated circuit, a plurality of reception signals of the radar device is A/D-converted by a single digital correction type A/D converter. The digital correction type A/D converter of the single A/D converter is a foreground digital correction type A/D converter that sequentially A/D-converts the reception signals output from a multiplexer of a receiving interface. The single A/D converter includes a pipeline type A/D converter having a plurality of cascade-coupled converters. The semiconductor integrated circuit comprises a correction signal generating unit, a digital correction D/A converter, and a digital correction unit for digital correction.
US08525709B2
Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide a probabilistic analog to digital converter (ADC). The probabilistic ADC may be configured to convert an analog input to a variable-length or variable-amplitude pulse, apply the pulse to a plurality of memory elements as a switching pulse, and determine a digital value based on a number of memory elements that store a value after the switching pulse is applied.
US08525706B2
The method for encoding data includes: receiving data; determining one quantizer from among a plurality of quantizers having a same quantization step size and different offset values; and transmitting an indicator and a quantized coefficient related to the determined quantizer. The method for decoding data includes: receiving an indicator and a quantized coefficient related to a quantizer; determining one de-quantizer from among a plurality of de-quantizers by using the indicator; and acquiring reconstructed data by de-quantizing the quantized coefficient by using the determined de-quantizer.
US08525697B2
A mirror reflective element sub-assembly includes a mirror reflective element, a mirror back plate and a blind spot indicator. The mirror back plate has a generally planar portion and an indicator mounting portion. The indicator mounting portion of the mirror back plate is angled relative to the generally planar portion, and an aperture is established through the mirror back plate generally at the indicator mounting portion. A heater pad is disposed at the rear of the mirror reflective element, and a light transmitting portion of the heater pad is generally aligned with the aperture of the mirror back plate. With the light source of the blind spot indicator activated, light emitted by the light source transmits through an indicia element, the aperture and the light transmitting portion and exits the mirror reflective element at an angle relative to the generally planar portion of the mirror back plate.
US08525696B2
Upon reception of content information (step S1), a control unit decides a different notification sound in accordance with an identifier attached to the received content information (step S4). The control unit causes a reproduction unit (5) to reproduce the decided notification sound. Thus, the user can guess the content of the received content information.
US08525694B2
A computer-implemented method includes detecting, through an RF transceiver in communication with a vehicle computing system, the proximate presence of one or more RFID tags. The method also includes determining, via the vehicle computing system, a type of potential hazard to which the detected tag corresponds. The method further includes notifying, via the vehicle computing system, a driver of the presence of the determined type of potential hazard.
US08525692B2
An electricity meter capable of performing a method for limiting an electricity load in communication with the electricity meter is disclosed. The electricity meter includes at least one load control and the electricity meter has one or more predetermined time-of-use tiers. Each of the one or more predetermined time-of-use tiers has a corresponding time-of-use demand threshold. The method comprises determining a present time-of-use tier; determining a present time-of-use demand for the electricity load in the present time-of-use tier; comparing the present time-of-use demand to the time-of-use demand threshold corresponding to the present time-of-use tier; and setting the at least one load control to a de-energize mode when a de-energize condition is satisfied. The de-energize condition may include sub-conditions such as the present time-of-use demand exceeding the time-of-use demand threshold corresponding to the present time-of-use tier.
US08525691B2
In electric equipment that has a digital interface, an operation that is normally performed by an output terminal during authentication processing is executed on equipment connected to an input terminal of the digital interface by the input terminal as an erroneous connection detection operation. When there is a proper response from the equipment connected to the input terminal of the digital interface in response to the erroneous connection detection operation, the electric equipment detects that the connected equipment has been erroneously connected. When an erroneous connection is detected, the electric equipment gives notice of the detection of the erroneous connection.
US08525688B2
Illustrated is a system and method to activate an alarm where a mobile computing device is no longer proximate to a docking station that provides inductive charging and data transfer capabilities for the mobile computing device. The computer system includes at least one coil to provide inductive charging for a mobile computing device. Further, the computer system includes a processor to control the inductive charging of the mobile computing device. Additionally, the computer system includes a proximity sensor operatively connected to the processor, the proximity sensor to determine that the mobile computing device is proximate to the computer system. Moreover, the computer system includes an alarm logic module to activate an alarm when the mobile computing device is no longer proximate to the computer system.
US08525679B2
A person support apparatus includes a frame and a support surface cooperating with the frame to support a person. The person support apparatus also has a sensor coupled to one of the frame and the support surface. The sensor detects at least one characteristic associated with the person. A controller is coupled to the sensor. In response to at least one of a condition of the frame, a condition of the support surface, a position of the person, or a condition of the person, the controller operates to control the sensor by at least one of changing a gain of the sensor and changing a manner in which a signal from the sensor is filtered. In some instances, the controller turns the sensor off.
US08525674B2
A collective objects management system for objects such as documents contained in file folders in drawers of file cabinets. Each file folder has an electrical circuit with a visible indicator mounted on the file folder. Each folder circuit has an address decoder with a unique system address which enables generation of a VALID signal whenever an incoming address from a source is a match, and a circuit for deriving operating power for the address decoder from an incoming address signal. A local microcomputer and optional encoder receive incoming object identification signals from the source and supplies the desired object address to all the file folders in the cabinet. To aid the user, each file drawer has a visible indicator mounted on the front panel, the panel indicator being illuminated when the sought folder is contained in that drawer. The invention can be applied to a wide variety of collective objects management systems, such as supermarkets, automobile parts distributors, and various manufacturing operations.
US08525669B2
A method of analyzing participant activity includes providing an identification unit to a participant, receiving signals from the identification unit, determining location of the participant based on the received signals, storing the location information and the associated timestamp and analyzing the stored information.
US08525668B1
A monitoring device and method is utilized to monitor certain individuals. A processor receives input from at least one if not a plurality of sensors. In preferred embodiments, if multiple sensors reach certain milestones relative to certain limits, an alarm condition is provided to alert a predetermined recipient of the alarm condition, such as the authorities in the case of a person going above a certain speed limit and moving at least one of his feet to correspond to braking and/or accelerating events. Another sensor such as near the wrist of an individual could be utilized to coordinate with directional headings of the individual to create a condition appearing to be steering of a car wheel.
US08525645B2
A method of recognizing a tag in an RFID reader includes: obtaining a predetermined frame size in the case where throughput obtained by reflecting a slot length based on the remaining number of tags except for recognized tags within a frame progressing current tag recognition that substantially has a maximum value; and when the current frame size is different from the predetermined frame size, stopping the current progress of frame and changing the current frame size into the expected frame size. The method of recognizing a tag may further include when the current frame size is equal to the expected frame size, changing the current frame size into the frame size that does not cause a throughput inversion phenomenon for the remaining number of tags to be recognized within the frame progressing the current tag recognition. By the throughput inversion phenomenon, the occurrence of throughput loss can be prevented and the tag recognition time is reduced to recognize the tags at high speed.
US08525643B2
A medical system that includes an identification patch having a memory that stores identification information associated with the patch. A monitoring device to be used with the identification patch interrogates the patch to obtain the identification information stored within the memory of the patch. The monitoring device determines whether the identification information is valid and, if so, measures values representing one or more parameters of the patient. If the identification information is not valid, monitoring device does not measure values representing the one or more parameters of the patient.
US08525639B2
In some embodiments, a wall-mountable, configurable controller having control keys (e.g., less than eight keys or another small number of keys), a subassembly including circuitry, and a control key insert removably mountable to the subassembly and including at least one of the control keys. The circuitry can include a limit switch that is biased in a default state but moveable into a learning state in response to user-exerted force. In some embodiments, the controller includes an IR emitter and an IR receiver and is operable to clone another device by sending configuring radiation from the emitter to the other device's IR receiver. Preferably, the emitter and receiver are positioned so that a controller's IR emitter aligns with the IR receiver of an identical controller when the controllers are positioned face to face. In some embodiments, the controller provides audible and visual feedback to users when operating in a learning mode.
US08525626B2
A magnetic coupling member, method, and system including a housing and a first arrangement of a plurality of magnets housed within the housing is disclosed. The first arrangement of magnets is selectively arranged and disposed to provide alignment and detachable engagement with a second arrangement of a plurality of magnets.
US08525593B2
An amplifier circuit includes an amplifier unit that is configured to receive an input signal and generate a switching output signal. A level shifter is configured to shift the amplitude of the input signal to have a shifted amplitude that is proportional to a peak-to-peak amplitude of the switching output signal.
US08525588B1
Various apparatuses and methods for a vacuum electronic device are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a vacuum electronic device includes a vacuum housing, an array of slow wave structures inside the vacuum housing sharing a common electron beam tunnel, an electron beam input port at a first end of the common electron beam tunnel, and an electron beam output port at a second end of the common electron beam tunnel.
US08525586B2
A gain stage with DC offset compensation includes a gain amplifier and a compensation device. The gain amplifier is arranged to amplify an input signal according to a gain control signal. The compensation device is arranged to perform a DC offset compensation applied to the gain amplifier with an operating configuration based on the gain control signal.
US08525580B2
A semiconductor circuit includes a voltage regulator and a buffer transistor. The voltage regulator converts an input voltage input to an input terminal thereof into an output voltage output to an output terminal thereof. The buffer transistor is an n-channel depletion-mode metal-oxide semiconductor field effect transistor, disposed between the power supply terminal and the voltage regulator with a gate terminal thereof connected to the power supply terminal, a drain terminal thereof connected to the power supply terminal, and a source terminal thereof connected to the input terminal of the voltage regulator.
US08525579B2
An electronic trimming circuit carries out a trimming operation on portions of an integrated device. The circuit includes N trimmable interconnected resistances, each connected in parallel to a respective shunt fuse. N trimming transistors are each connected to a respective one of the shunt fuses to force therethrough substantially the whole current flowing in the respective trimming transistor. N bias networks are each functionally connected to a control terminal of a respective one of the trimming transistors to directly bias an active junction thereof. An externally driven heating device is thermally coupled with the active junctions of the trimming transistors adapted to raise the temperature thereof.
US08525569B2
There is provided a clock distribution network for synchronizing global clock signals within a 3D chip stack having two or more strata. On each of the two or more strata, the clock distribution network includes a clock grid having a plurality of sectors for providing the global clock signals to various chip locations, a multiple-level buffered clock tree for driving the clock grid and including at least a root and a plurality of clock buffers, and one or more multiplexers for providing the global clock signals to at least a portion of the buffered clock tree. Inputs of at least some of the plurality of clock buffers on each of the two or more strata are shorted together using chip-to-chip interconnects to reduce skewing of the global clock signals with respect to the various chip locations.
US08525551B2
As semiconductor devices including semiconductors, logic circuits are given. Logic circuits include dynamic logic circuits and static logic circuits and are formed using transistors and the like. Dynamic logic circuits can store data for a certain period of time. Thus, leakage current from transistors causes more severe problems in dynamic logic circuits than in static logic circuits. A logic circuit includes a first transistor whose off-state current is small and a second transistor whose gate is electrically connected to the first transistor. Electric charge is supplied to a node of the gate of the second transistor through the first transistor. Electric charge is supplied to the node through a plurality of capacitors. On/off of the second transistor is controlled depending on a state of the electric charge. The first transistor includes an oxide semiconductor in a channel formation region.
US08525549B1
A function cell comprising a first field effect transistor (FET) device, a second FET device, a first node connected to a gate terminal of the first FET device and a gate terminal of the second FET device, wherein the first node is operative to receive a voltage signal from an alternating current (AC) voltage source, an amplifier portion connected to the first FET device and the second FET device, the amplifier portion operative to receive a signal from the first FET device and the second FET device, a phase comparator portion having a first input terminal connected to an output terminal of the amplifier and a second input terminal operative to receive the voltage signal from the AC voltage source, the phase comparator portion operative to output a voltage indicative of a bit of a binary value.
US08525544B2
A system for performing digital operations, including a first device configured to transform a digital input into one or more signals, at least one AB ring, the at least one AB ring irreducibly-coupled and configured to include at least three terminals, a second device configured to read a portion of a signal expressed upon two or more of the at least three terminals, and a third device configured to transform the portion of the signal expressed upon two or more of the at least three terminals into a digital output, the third device operationally connected to the second device.
US08525536B2
A load testing circuit a circuit tests the load impedance of a load connected to an amplifier. The load impedance includes a first terminal and a second terminal, the load testing circuit comprising a signal generator providing a test signal of a defined bandwidth to the first terminal of the load impedance, an energy-storing element being connected to the second terminal of the load impedance and providing an output signal, and a measuring unit that measures the output signal or compares the output signal with a reference.
US08525534B2
Method and device for measuring the content of a fluid flow, the fluid containing a combination of at least two of gas, oil and/or water. The method comprising the steps of:—repeatedly measuring the electrical properties of a cross section of the fluid and detecting time sequences identified by low gas content, especially characterized in that a gas bubble is not present,—in said periods of low gas content measuring the density of the fluid in the flow, wherein the density measurements are performed in at least one period of low gas content and the a fluid density is calculated based on the measured densities over said period or periods.
US08525529B2
According to the present invention, a small impedance detection circuit capable of accurately detecting the impedance of an object to be measured and an adjustment method of an impedance detection circuit can be provided. In the impedance detection circuit according to the present invention, an AC signal generator outputs an AC signal. A detection circuit, which is connected to a circuit to be measured, applies an AC signal to the circuit to be measured. Further, the detection circuit outputs a first signal corresponding to the composite impedance of the impedance of the circuit to be measured and a parasitic impedance. A correction circuit outputs a second signal in synchronization with the first signal. A subtraction circuit outputs a detection signal obtained by subtracting the second signal from the first signal.
US08525521B2
A detector circuit for detecting degradation in the distortion characteristics of a power amplifier based on signals from both ends of a coupled line of a directional coupler. The detector circuit includes a phase shifter/attenuator for phase shifting and attenuating a signal from a coupled terminal of the coupled line, a differential amplifier for outputting difference between an output signal from the phase shifter/attenuator and a signal from the isolated terminal of the coupled line, a wave detector circuit for converting the difference into a DC signal, and a comparing circuit for determining whether the voltage level of the DC signal exceeds a predetermined level. When degradation in the distortion characteristics of the power amplifier arises, the phase shifter/attenuator phase shifts the signal from the coupled terminal and outputs a signal 180° out of phase with the signal from the isolated terminal.
US08525520B2
Systems and methods for monitoring a voltage pump to determine the status of a battery connected to the voltage pump are provided. The operation of the voltage pump is monitored during at least one monitoring period which corresponds to a period of relatively heavy consistent load. The operation of the voltage pump can be monitored by sampling a control signal that corresponds to the operation of the voltage pump.
US08525515B2
Equipment for inspecting explosives and/or illicit drugs comprises a means for generating high-frequency pulses, an antenna coil which irradiates an object of inspection with the generated high-frequency pulses working as a radio wave and receives a nuclear quadrupole signal which is generated from the object of inspection when the object of inspection is excited by the radio wave, and a means for detecting explosives and/or illicit drugs in the object of inspection based on the nuclear quadrupole signal thus received, wherein the antenna coil is formed in the shape of a figure of “8” by using a high-frequency coaxial cable so that two solenoid coil portions wound reversely to each other can be provided, and is used while facing the object of inspection. Various explosives and/or illicit drugs can be inspected compactly and surely by the equipment for inspecting explosives and/or illicit drugs and an inspecting method using such equipment for inspecting explosives and/or illicit drugs.
US08525510B2
A railway positioning system provides an on-board speed measurement device (6) inducing eddy currents in the wayside structure at two spots along the travelling direction, measuring the variations of the magnetic field emitted by the wayside structure and determining position and speed by correlating the 2 measured signals known from U.S. Pat. No. 5,825,177 and a wayside coded tag (1) providing a coding recognizable by the onboard speed measurement device (6). The coded tag (1) consists of a bar (4) with several slots (3) in which metal blocks (2) of different sizes are mounted. The block sizes and positions are selected to represent a coding according to Quadrature Amplitude Modulation.
US08525507B2
The present invention provides a method and system for monitoring external excitation on a surface using nanocomposite paint. The method comprises applying the nanocomposite paint on the surface, wherein the nanocomposite paint comprises a mixture of a plurality of carbon nanotubes and an epoxy resin along with a plurality of electrically conductive patterned electrodes. The electrical properties of the nanocomposite paint changes in response to the external excitation of the surface. The change in the electrical properties of the nanocomposite is measured by a measuring instrument, wherein the change in the electrical properties of the nanocomposite paint is directly proportional to the external excitation experienced by the surface.
US08525506B2
A semiconductor integrated circuit includes constant current circuit, starter circuit and power supply start-up circuit. In the constant current circuit, first current mirror circuit includes first and second transistors, and second current mirror circuit includes third and fourth transistors that are connected to first and second nodes. In the starter circuit, a potential of first node controls sixth transistor, seventh transistor is connected to third node, gate electrode of the seventh transistor is at ground potential, a capacitance element is connected to fourth node, and a potential of fourth node controls fifth transistor, which supplies start-up current to the constant current circuit via second node. In the power supply start-up circuit, source electrode of eighth transistor is fixed at power supply voltage, gate electrode is at ground potential, and drain electrode supplies power to the other circuits.
US08525503B2
A hybrid voltage rectifier enables a switch mode DC-DC power converter to safely power an external dynamic load by way of a substantially lossless conductive coupling between an output filter of the converter and the load. The rectifier is controlled so as to permit net average current through an inductor of the output filter to be approximately equal to, but not less than, zero by permitting very low loss conduction in the first quadrant and, selectively, cycle by cycle, in the third quadrant during load operation. The converter has a first switch, an output filter, a second switch, and a controller. The output filter is conductively coupled with the first switch, and has an inductor in series with the load. The controller sets state conditions of the second switch, such that the inductor operates in a continuous current mode.
US08525502B2
A digital pulse controller uses digital logic to send pulses to a high side and low side switches of a switch-mode power supply converter. The digital logic uses a pulse frequency mode which includes a frequency targeting mode and an ultrasonic mode. The frequency targeting mode dynamically adjusts the size of the pulses in order to achieve a switching frequency within a desired band. The ultrasonic mode is switched into when the frequency of the pulses are at or below a threshold and the time of the pulses reaches a minimum threshold.
US08525499B2
There is provided a switching power supply circuit which receives a voltage from a direct current voltage source and supplies a direct current power to a load part. The circuit includes a switching element, a current detection circuit which is serially connected to the switching element, and which converts a current flowing in the switching element into a voltage, a control circuit which outputs a switch driving signal to control an ON/OFF operation of the switching element such that a current flowing in the load part becomes constant, a reference voltage generation circuit which generates a reference voltage proportional to an ON duty of the switch driving signal, and an error amplification circuit which outputs error information between a voltage output from the current detection circuit and the reference voltage. The control circuit adjusts the ON duty of the switch driving signal based on the error information.
US08525498B2
The embodiment of invention discloses an average input current limit method and apparatus thereof. The apparatus comprises a switching circuit, a current average circuit and a current limit circuit. The current average circuit samples the input current of the switching circuit and generates a signal representative of the average value of the input current. The current limit circuit limits the signal so as to limit the average value of the input current.
US08525496B2
A DC-DC converter including a first inductor connected between a second end of a first MOS transistor and an output terminal, a second inductor connected between a second end of a third MOS transistor and the output terminal, a first capacitor connected between the second MOS transistor and the third MOS transistor, a second capacitor connected between the fourth MOS transistor and the first MOS transistor and a third capacitor connected between the first MOS transistor and the third MOS transistor. Also included in the converter is a first resistor connected to a gate of the second MOS transistor, a second resistor connected to a gate of the fourth MOS transistor, and a first bias adjustment circuit which compares the output voltage with a preset first reference voltage and applies a first bias voltage to the resistors to make the output voltage equal to the first reference voltage.
US08525492B2
An apparatus includes a vehicular electric power generation system comprising a variable speed internal combustion engine, a first variable speed electric power generator driven by the engine, a second variable speed electric power generator driven by the engine, a first inverter to receive electric power from the first generator a provide a first controlled electric output, a second inverter to receive electric power from the second generator and provide a second controlled electric output, and a controller coupled to the engine. The controller is responsive to variation in electrical loading of the first inverter and the second inverter and a degree of electrical load imbalance between the first inverter and second inverter to provide one or more engine control signals. The engine is responsive to the one more engine control signals to change rotational operating speed to adjust for the variation in electrical loading and the degree of electrical load imbalance.
US08525490B2
A power supply device includes: a magneto generator with a rotor having a magnet; a torque supplying device supplying torque to the rotor; a rectifier circuit supplying electric power to a electrical load device by rectifying an output of the magneto generator; a short circuit electrically shorting an output end of the magneto generator; a voltage detection circuit detecting a terminal voltage of the electrical load device; and a control circuit controlling a voltage of the electrical load device to be a first set value by controlling the short circuit to switch ON (short operating mode) and OFF (rectification operating mode) according to the voltage detected by the voltage detection circuit and allowing the short circuit to operate while making a switching between the two operating modes according to a operating state relating to a rotation of the rotor of the magneto generator.
US08525489B2
A system for directly and instantaneously controlling the exciter of a generator. A voltage error calculator calculates a voltage error of output voltage of the generator which is regulated by an instruction voltage and a time constant. A switching signal generator generates switching signals in response to the voltage error. An exciter controller controls the exciter in response to the switching signals. Thus, the system can induce the maximum response characteristic of a power converter only by setting the time constant of a controller without a complicated design for determining gains of the controller. Further, the system can considerably inhibit overshoot from occurring in a transient response state.
US08525488B2
A method and device for charging and/or discharging a capacitive element. A controllable switch is driven to interrupt the charging current when the charging current exceeds a predetermined charging-current threshold. The charging-current threshold is altered while the capacitive element is being charged to the predefined charging voltage. The controllable switch is driven again for coupling the charging current into the capacitive element if a predefined period of time after a previous activation of the controllable switch has elapsed, and/or in case the charging current drops below the predetermined charging-current threshold. A discharging process is carried out correspondingly.
US08525487B1
Embodiments of the present invention include techniques for regulating discharge of a capacitor. In one embodiment, the circuit may be used to store power on a capacitor and regulate the discharge of the capacitor to power a load, such as system electronics, circuitry, or electronic devices. In one embodiment, a first capacitor is charged from a power source and stores energy for powering an electronic device. A second capacitor is coupled to the electronic device for providing power to the electronic device. Switched capacitors are configured to transfer charge from the first capacitor to the second capacitor. A control circuit controls switching of the switched capacitors in response to voltage on the first capacitor. The switching frequency may be increased as the voltage on the first capacitor decreases so that a steady flow of charge is provided across all capacitor voltage levels.
US08525481B2
A device is used for measuring an output voltage of a battery. The device includes a detecting circuit, an encoding circuit, a control circuit, and a processing circuit. The detecting circuit is configured for detecting the output voltage of the battery and generating a first signal, a second signal, and a third signal accordingly. The encoding circuit is configured for generating a first code and a second code according to the first signal and the second signal. The control unit is configured for modifying the second code when the third signal indicates that the output voltage is lower than a predetermined value. The processing unit is configured for generating and outputting display control signals according to the first and second codes. The display control signals are used to control a display panel to display information of the output voltage of the battery.
US08525480B2
A method and a system for charging a battery in hybrid vehicles and electric vehicles are provided. An amount of energy consumption for charging a battery is calculated by taking the sum of a first amount of energy for charging a high voltage battery and a second amount of energy for use by a low voltage auxiliary system during charging. An optimal charge current for a charger is determined based on a charging option. The charging option provides a set of desired charging parameters for a charger controller. A state of charge of the battery is determined within a state of charge range. The charger controller provides a charge current to the battery. The charge current is the optimal charge current up to a maximum charge current for the state of charge range of the battery.
US08525475B2
A PC executes a program including a step of selecting an exchange electric storage device with the shortest charging history when a charging request is present, inventory of exchange electric storage devices with completed charging is available, the number of inventory days is equal to or less than A days, and the sufficient number of storage locations is ensured, a step of selecting an exchange electric storage device with the longest charging history when the sufficient number of storage locations is not ensured, and a step of executing charging control when the selected exchange electric storage device is connected to a charger.
US08525472B2
A method for wirelessly charging and/or re-charging at least one sports object embedded with a battery and circuitry is provided. The method includes positioning the sports object proximate to a charging system, the charging system containing circuitry for wirelessly communicating with the sports object, whereby information is bi-directionally transferred by radio frequency and electric power is transferred to the sports object by induction. The sports object circuitry is adapted for determines a charging requirement of the power cell therein.
US08525466B2
This inverter device includes a power portion performing PWM control on a voltage command to a motor for each set time period, converting direct-current power into alternating-current power, and outputting the same, a voltage command generation portion generating a voltage command in synchronization with a period N-times (N≧1) longer than the time period, an interval determination portion generating an interval determination signal which is ON during a half period of the time period and OFF during the next half period, a current detection portion detecting the current of the motor at timing of change in the interval determination signal, and a voltage correction portion generating a voltage correction value such that the amount of change in the detected current when the interval determination signal is ON becomes equal to the amount of change in the detected current when it is OFF and correcting the voltage command.
US08525463B2
A malfunction determination device for a motor control system, outputs a position signal that indicates a moved position of a movable member of a motor and a direction signal that indicates a movement direction of the movable member. The malfunction determination device determines a malfunction has occurred if a relationship between the position signal and the direction signal differs from that when the motor control system is operating normally. The malfunction determination device outputs a pulse signal that varies periodically along with variations in the moved position of the movable member as the position signal; outputs a periodic pulse signal in the same phase with the position signal as the direction signal if the movable member is moving in one direction; and outputs a periodic pulse signal in an opposite phase to the position signal as the direction signal if the movable member is moving in the other direction.
US08525455B2
A triangle wave generator (4) measures the phase difference between a triangle wave (CA) and the rotor electrical angle (θm) during a first cycle in which the rotation rate of a rotor (7) is detected, and changes the frequency of the triangle wave (CA) when the value of the phase difference between the triangle wave (CA) and the rotor electrical angle (θm) exceeds a threshold value, thereby allowing rapid response to changes in rotor rotation when PWM control is performed.
US08525453B2
A damper system for a vehicle including an electromagnetic damper, wherein the electromagnetic damper includes: (i) an electromagnetic motor; (ii) a motion converting mechanism; and (iii) an external circuit including (A) a first connection passage, (B) a second connection passage, (C) a first-connection-passage-current adjuster, and (D) a second-connection-passage-current adjuster, wherein the damper system comprises an external-circuit controller including: (a) a main-adjuster control portion configured to perform, on one of the first-connection-passage-current adjuster and the second-connection-passage-current adjuster that is designated as a main adjuster, a first control for mainly damping the relative vibration of the sprung portion and the unsprung portion; and (b) an auxiliary-adjuster control portion configured to perform, on one of the first-connection-passage-current adjuster and the second-connection-passage-current adjuster that is designated as an auxiliary adjuster, a second control for assisting the damping of the relative vibration of the sprung portion and the unsprung portion by the first control.
US08525442B2
An operating circuit is provided for an LED, which receives a voltage, and which supplies a voltage for the LED via a coil, having a first switch clocked by a control/regulating unit. Power is stored temporarily in the coil when the first switch is activated so that the power is discharged via a diode and via the LED when the first switch is turned off. A capacitor is arranged in parallel to the LED and maintains current through the LED during the demagnetization of the coil. A first switch generates a first sensor signal dependent on the current flowing through the first switch, and/or a second sensor unit, which detects whether demagnetization of the coil unit has occurred and generates a sensor signal. The signals are fed to the control/regulating unit and processed. The control/regulating unit reactivates the first switch when the coil is demagnetized and/or the diode is blocking.
US08525439B1
A method, apparatus, and system for compensating for lamp lumen depreciation and providing selective discretionary lamp power adjustment, e.g., for lamp dimming. The method includes operating the lamp under rated wattage for a period towards the first part of operating life of the lamp. Operating wattage is increased at one or more later times. Energy savings are realized. The increases also restore at least some light lost by lamp lumen depreciation. The apparatus uses a timer to track operating time of the lamp. A few wattage changes made at spaced apart times can be made in a number of ways, including changing capacitance to the lamp, or using different taps on the lamp ballast. A component allows selective discretionary adjustment of electrical power or some other controlling factor to adjust light output (e.g. dim) the lamp.
US08525438B1
Methods and apparati for forcing the current through a load (11) in a variable DC electrical circuit to be proportional to the input voltage (V(in)). A circuit embodiment of the present invention comprises a source (27) of input AC; a rectifier (23) coupled to the input AC source (27), said rectifier (23) producing a variable DC input voltage; coupled to the rectifier (23), a load (11) having a variable direct current flowing therethrough; and means (12-16) for forcing the current through the load (11) to be proportional to the variable DC input voltage.
US08525434B2
Aspects of the disclosure provide a power circuit to provide electric energy with control and protection for driving a load, such as a light emitting diode (LED) array, and the like. The power circuit includes a converter, a voltage feedback module, a current feedback module and a controller. The converter is configured to receive electric energy from an energy source and to deliver the electric energy for driving the load. The voltage feedback module is configured to generate a first feedback signal based on a voltage of the delivered electric energy. The current feedback module is configured to generate a second feedback signal based on a current of the delivered electric energy. The controller is configured to receive the first feedback signal and the second feedback signal, and to control the converter to receive and deliver the electric energy based on the first feedback signal and the second feedback signal.
US08525430B2
A plasma lamp apparatus includes a post structure with a material overlying a surface region of the post structure, which has a first end and a second end. The apparatus also has a helical coil structure configured along the post structure. The apparatus includes a bulb with a fill material capable of emitting electromagnetic radiation. A resonator coupling element configured to feed radio frequency energy to at least the helical coil causes the bulb device to emit electromagnetic radiation.
US08525426B2
A lighting apparatus includes a first lighting module, a second lighting module, a rectifier, and a controller. The rectifier is used to rectify the AC power into an input power. The controller is coupled to the rectifier, the first lighting module, and the second lighting module for receiving the input power. When the input power is less than a reference value, the controller controls the first lighting module, the second lighting module, and the rectifier to form a first connection state. When the input power is greater than the reference value, the controller controls the first lighting module, the second lighting module, and the rectifier to form a second connection state. Also, a controlling method of the lighting apparatus is disclosed.
US08525425B1
An LED lighting system has an LED circuit that includes a first LED having an anode and a cathode, and a second LED having an anode and a cathode. The anode of the second LED is electrically coupled to the cathode of the first LED, and the cathode of the second LED is electrically coupled to the anode of the first LED. The first and second LEDs are in an inverse-parallel arrangement, the first LED acting as a reverse-voltage clamp for the second LED and the second LED acting as a reverse-voltage clamp for the first LED.
US08525424B2
This disclosure provides a circuit and a method for driving an LED display. The driving circuit comprises a selection circuit for selecting a first light emitter from the plurality of light emitters, a pre-charging circuit for charging an equivalent capacitor of the display panel with respect to the selected first light emitter, and a power circuit for supplying power to the first light emitter after the first light emitter is selected, wherein the power circuit is configured to supply a driving current to the first light emitter in one or more stages. The driving circuit and method of this disclosure can be used to significantly increase the refresh rate and resolution of the LED display.
US08525417B2
A discharge electrode array for a silicon-based thin film solar cell deposition chamber is provided, relating to solar cell technologies. The discharge electrode array includes a signal feed component having a rectangular-shaped end, a flat waist corresponding to a feed-in port located in a hallowed rectangular area on a center region of a cathode plate having a shielding cover, connecting a feed-in power supply signal by surface contact. The electrode array includes at least a set of cathode plates and an anode plate, with two cathode plates sharing or surrounding one anode plate. Uniform large area and stable discharge driven by the RF/VHF power supply signal can be achieved, and the standing wave and the skin effect can be effectively removed. The production efficiency can be improved and the cost can be reduced.
US08525413B2
A magnetron for microwave oven has an anode cylinder, vanes (height: H (mm)), a cathode spirally extending along the central axis, a pair of end hats (outer diameter: DEH1 (mm), DEH2 (mm)) fixed to both ends of the cathode, and a pair of pole pieces. Vanes extend from an inner surface of the anode cylinder to the central axis. Free ends of the vanes form a vane inscribing circle (diameter: Da (mm)). Pole pieces expand like funnels from through-holes (inner diameter: DPP1 (mm), DPP2 (mm)) facing to the end hats and pinch the cathode. The shape of the magnetron satisfies, H≦8.5, H/Da≦0.95, DEH1/DPP1≦0.8, DEH1/DPP2≦0.8, DEH2/DPP1≦0.8, DEH2/DPP2≦0.8, 0.92≦Da/DPP1≦0.95, and 0.92≦Da/DPP2≦0.95.
US08525402B2
The present disclosure is generally directed to illumination devices, and methods for making the same. The device, in particular, includes a first conductor layer, a first insulator layer disposed on the first conductor layer and having at least one first aperture defined therein through the first insulator layer, a second conductor layer disposed on the first insulator layer and having at least one second aperture defined therein through the second conductor layer and positioned to align with the at least one first aperture, and a light manipulation layer disposed on the second conductor layer and having at least one pair of apertures defined therein through the light manipulation layer including a third aperture and a fourth aperture, where the third aperture is positioned to align with the at least one second and first apertures.
US08525394B2
To provide an AT-cut quartz-crystal vibrating piece in which size of the vibrating unit is adjusted to appropriate value, so that the unnecessary vibration is inhibited and degradation of its characteristics is prevented. A mesa-type AT-cut quartz-crystal vibrating piece for vibrating at 38.400 MHz comprising a rectangular excitation unit (31) and a peripheral region (32) formed on the periphery of the excitation unit and having a thickness less than the thickness of the excitation unit, is represented by the following equation: Mx/Gx=0.09×n−0.06 (n: natural number) . . . (1). Length of a crystallographic x-axis direction of the excitation unit is defined as Mx (mm) and length of the crystallographic x-axis direction of the peripheral region and excitation unit is defined as Gx (mm).
US08525385B2
In a boundary acoustic wave device, a silicon oxide layer and a dielectric layer exhibiting a higher acoustic velocity than the silicon oxide layer are stacked on a LiTaO3 piezoelectric substrate, and IDT electrodes are disposed in grooves in an upper surface of the piezoelectric substrate. Each of the IDT electrodes includes a main electrode layer made of a metal having a density of about 16 g/cm3 or higher, and an auxiliary electrode layer made of a metal having a density within a range of about 3 g/cm3 to about 16 g/cm3. Further, θ of Euler angles (0°, θ, 0°) of the piezoelectric substrate is set within a range of about (θ0−20°) to about (θ0+20°) with respect to θ0 expressed by the formula: θ0=65.53G+0.7568F+0.8454E+7.091D+1.609C−0.03789B−3.535A+60.85.
US08525375B2
An electric machine includes a stator having an outer circumference. Spaced apart first walls are arranged about the outer circumference and provide generally parallel first channels. A second wall adjoins the first wall and is arranged about the outer circumference providing a second channel in fluid communication with the first channels, thus, providing a tortuous fluid flow path about the circumference. The first and second channels have an inner surface. A structure is provided within at least one of the first and second channels. The structure has an outer surface spaced radially outward from the inner surface and at least partially defines the tortuous flow path between the outer and inner surfaces. The stator includes an end turn. An end cap extends axially and radially outward from the stator and provides an enclosure about the end turn in fluid communication with the exit associated with the flow path.
US08525372B2
A dimming switch comprises an enclosure with a mounting surface, a flat plate button mounted on the mounting surface, a dimming button, a tripping button, a dimmer mounted inside the enclosure, a resetting/tripping device, a dimming control circuit, a power input end configured to connect to a live wire of a power supply, and a power output end configured to connect to an electrical load. Pressing the flat plate button resets the resetting/tripping device, thereby electrically connecting the power input end with the power output end through the dimming control circuit. The dimming button is configured so that rotating the dimming button and pressing the dimming button up and down regulates the output voltage of the dimming control circuit. The tripping button and resetting/tripping device trip so that the electrical connection between the power input end and the power output end will be cut off.
US08525371B2
A discharge control apparatus arranged in a power conversion system having high-side switching element and low-side switching element to convert the DC power from the battery to a predetermined type of power. The discharge control is performed to discharge a capacitor connected in parallel to the switching elements when an abnormal event occurs. The discharge control apparatus is configured to simulate the operation of the switching elements assuming occurrence of the abnormal event, and transmits a plurality of signals representing the simulation result to a control device via a common photocoupler that isolates the switching elements side and the control device side. The control device diagnoses whether or not a fault occurs in the discharge control or the like by the simulation result.
US08525367B2
A method and a control unit are provided for controlling a passenger-protection arrangement for a vehicle, at least one switching converter being used to convert voltage. A modifying circuit is provided for the at least one switching converter, the switching converter being disposed on an integrated circuit. The modifying circuit determines a thermal load as a function of at least one physical parameter for the integrated circuit. Rise and/or fall times of at least one output signal of the at least one switching converter are modified as a function of this thermal load.
US08525358B2
A power module is configured to provide power to an electronic device. The module includes a rechargeable battery, an electrical generator, and a driving member. The electrical generator includes a rotor. The driving member is used to drive the rotor to rotate, and includes a mainspring, a receiver to receive the mainspring, and a shaft including one end connected to the mainspring and an opposite end connected to the rotor, enabling the rotor to rotate in union with the shaft. A cable includes one end attached to the shaft with a portion of the cable wound around the shaft. When an opposite end of the cable is pulled, the shaft rotates in a first direction, compressing the mainspring, when the mainspring rebounds, the shaft rotates back in a second direction, and the unwound part of the cable is wound back onto the shaft.
US08525355B2
There is provided a semiconductor device which includes a primary semiconductor chip 11, a secondary semiconductor chip 12 stacked on the primary semiconductor chip 11, primary external connecting terminals 16 which are electrically connected with the primary semiconductor chip 11 via wires 21, secondary external connecting terminals 17 which are electrically connected with the secondary semiconductor chip 12 via wires 22 and primary and secondary low-elasticity resins 13, 15 which seal the primary and secondary semiconductor chips 11, 12 in such a manner as to cover them.
US08525353B2
In a system for providing temporary or permanent connection of an integrated circuit die to a base substrate using electrical microsprings, a thermal element is provided that assists with cooling of the pad structure during use. The thermal element may be formed of the same material and my similar processes as the microsprings. The thermal element may be one or more block structures or one or more thermal microsprings. The thermal element may be provided with channels to contain and/or direct the flow of a thermal transfer fluid. Cooling of components associated with the pad structure (e.g., ICs) may be provided.
US08525345B2
According to an embodiment of the invention, a chip package is provided. The chip package includes a substrate having an upper surface and a lower surface, a plurality of conducting pads located in the substrate or under the lower surface thereof, a dielectric layer located between the conducting pads, a hole extending from the upper surface towards the lower surface of the substrate and exposing a portion of the conducting pads, and a conducting layer located in the hole and electrically contacting the conducting pads.
US08525344B2
A semiconductor wafer has a plurality of semiconductor die with contact pads. An organic material is deposited in a peripheral region around the semiconductor die. A portion of the organic material is removed to form a plurality of vias. A conductive material is deposited in the vias to form conductive TOV. The conductive TOV can be recessed with respect to a surface of the semiconductor die. Bond wires are formed between the contact pads and conductive TOV. The bond wires can be bridged in multiple sections across the semiconductor die between the conductive TOV and contact pads. An insulating layer is formed over the bond wires and semiconductor die. The semiconductor wafer is singulated through the conductive TOV or organic material between the conductive TOV to separate the semiconductor die. A plurality of semiconductor die can be stacked and electrically connected through the bond wires and conductive TOV.
US08525343B2
A device with through-silicon via (TSV) and a method of forming the same includes the formation of an opening in a silicon substrate, the formation of a first insulation layer on the sidewalls and bottom of the opening, the formation of a second insulation layer on the sidewalls and bottom of the opening. A first interface between the first insulation layer and the silicon substrate has an interface roughness with a peak-to-valley height less than 5 nm. A second interface between the second insulation layer and the conductive layer has an interface roughness with a peak-to-valley height less than 5 nm.
US08525340B2
A packaged electronic device includes a flexible circuit structure and a die. The flexible circuit structure includes a first structural layer and electrical conductors. The die is bonded to the flexible circuit structure by a flexible attachment layer. The die includes interconnects in electrical contact with die circuitry and extending through the die, through the flexible attachment layer, and into electrical contact with respective electrical conductors at first ends. A flexible second structural layer is disposed on the die and exposed portions of the electrical conductors, wherein the die and the electrical conductors are encapsulated by the first structural layer and the second structural layer. The first structural layer and/or the second structural layer include a plurality of openings defining respective exposed areas on the electrical conductors at second ends.
US08525334B2
Some exemplary embodiments of a multi-chip semiconductor package utilizing a semiconductor substrate and related method for making such a semiconductor package have been disclosed. One exemplary embodiment comprises a first semiconductor device including, on a surface thereof, a first patterned dielectric layer, a conductive redistribution layer, a second patterned dielectric layer, and a second semiconductor device. The conductive redistribution layer connects to a first and a second patterned conductive attach material for connecting the first and second semiconductor devices to provide coplanar electrical connections for mounting on a printed circuit board. In one embodiment, the first semiconductor device is a diode having anode and cathode contacts on an upper surface thereof, and the second semiconductor device is an IGBT.
US08525331B2
A chip design (1) comprising an external supply connection (VBAT), an internal supply connection (VDD), an integrated circuit (2) that is coupled to the internal supply connection (VDD) for voltage supply, and a fuse (3) that electrically connects the internal supply connection (VBAT) and is arranged within the chip design (1).
US08525329B2
Component stacking for increasing packing density in integrated circuit packages. In one aspect of the invention, an integrated circuit package includes a substrate, and a plurality of discrete components connected to the substrate and approximately forming a component layer parallel to and aligned with a surface area of the substrate. An integrated circuit die is positioned adjacent to the component layer such that a face of the die is substantially parallel to the surface area of the substrate. The face of the die is aligned with at least a portion of the component layer, and terminals of the die are connected to the substrate.
US08525325B2
A method of manufacture of an integrated circuit packaging system includes: forming a lead; forming an interior conductive layer having an interior top side and an interior bottom side, the interior bottom side directly on the lead; mounting an integrated circuit over the lead, the integrated circuit having an inactive side and an active side; forming an encapsulation directly on the inactive side and the interior top side; and forming an insulation layer directly on the active side and a portion of the interior bottom side.
US08525320B2
Microelectronic die packages, stacked systems of die packages, and methods of manufacturing thereof are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method of manufacturing a microelectronic device includes stacking a first die package having a first dielectric casing on top of a second die package having a second dielectric casing, aligning first metal leads at a lateral surface of the first casing with second metal leads at a second lateral surface of the second casing, and forming metal solder connectors that couple individual first leads to individual second leads. In another embodiment, the method of manufacturing the microelectronic device may further include forming the connectors by applying metal solder to a portion of the first lateral surface, to a portion of the second lateral surface, and across a gap between the first die package and the second die package so that the connectors are formed by the metal solder wetting to the individual first leads and the individual second leads.
US08525318B1
Disclosed are a semiconductor device capable of efficiently radiating heat of a semiconductor die and a method of fabricating the same. The semiconductor device efficiently radiates the heat by preventing an encapsulant from reaching the semiconductor die by an encapsulant dam so that an upper surface of the semiconductor die is exposed out of the encapsulant. In addition, the semiconductor device is configured to expose a pre-solder ball or a conductive pattern of a substrate through a via of the encapsulant. Therefore, electrical connection between the pre-solder ball and a solder ball of another semiconductor device stacked thereon is easily achieved.
US08525314B2
A plurality of microelectronic assemblies (60) are made by severing an in-process unit including an upper substrate (40) and lower substrate (20) with microelectronic elements (36) disposed between the substrates. In a further embodiment, a lead frame (452) is joined to a substrate (440) so that the leads project from this substrate. Lead frame (452) is joined to a further substrate (470) with one or more microelectronic elements (436, 404, 406) disposed between the substrates.
US08525309B2
A microelectronic unit can include a lead frame and a device chip. The lead frame can have a plurality of monolithic lead fingers extending in a plane of the lead frame. Each lead finger can have a fan-out portion and a chip connection portion extending in the lead frame plane. The fan-out portions can have first and second opposed surfaces and a first thickness in a first direction between the opposed surfaces. The chip connection portions can have a second thickness smaller than the first thickness. The chip connection portions can define a recess below the first surface. The device chip can have a plurality of at least one of passive devices or active devices. The device chip can have contacts thereon facing the chip connection portions and electrically coupled thereto. At least a portion of a thickness of the device chip can extend within the recess.
US08525307B2
A semiconductor device includes a lead frame, a semiconductor element mounted on the lead frame, and a frame-like member formed on the lead frame, surrounding the semiconductor element, and covering a side surface of the lead frame and exposing a lower surface of the lead frame. The frame-like member has at least one concave portion in a side surface thereof. The concave portion has a ceiling portion located at the same height as or lower than an upper surface of the lead frame, and a bottom portion located higher than the lower surface of the lead frame.
US08525306B2
To suppress a short circuit between neighboring wires which is caused when the loop of a wire is formed into multiple stages in a semiconductor device in which a wiring board and one semiconductor chip mounted over a main surface thereof are electrically coupled with the wire. In a semiconductor device in which a chip is mounted on an upper surface of a wiring board and a bonding lead of the wiring board and a bonding pad of the chip are electrically coupled with wires, a short circuit between the neighboring wires is suppressed by making larger the diameter of the longest wire arranged in a position closest to a corner part of the chip than the diameter of the other wires.
US08525304B2
An insulating layer containing a silicon peroxide radical is used as an insulating layer in contact with an oxide semiconductor layer for forming a channel. Oxygen is released from the insulating layer, whereby oxygen deficiency in the oxide semiconductor layer and an interface state between the insulating layer and the oxide semiconductor layer can be reduced. Accordingly, a semiconductor device where reliability is high and variation in electric characteristics is small can be manufactured.
US08525303B2
A photovoltaic device includes a semiconductor nanocrystal and a charge transporting layer that includes an inorganic material. The charge transporting layer can be a hole or electron transporting layer. The inorganic material can be an inorganic semiconductor.
US08525302B2
A bipolar diode is provided having a drift layer of a first conductivity type on a cathode side and an anode layer of a second conductivity type on an anode side. The anode layer includes a diffused anode contact layer and a double diffused anode buffer layer. The anode contact layer is arranged up to a depth of at most 5 μm, and the anode buffer layer is arranged up to a depth of 18 to 25 μm. The anode buffer layer has a doping concentration between 8.0*1015 and 2.0*1016 cm−3 in a depth of 5 μm and between 1.0*1014 up to 5.0*1014 cm−3 in a depth of 15 μm (Split C and D), resulting in good softness of the device and low leakage current. Split A and B show anode layer doping concentrations of known diodes, which have either over all depths lower doping concentrations resulting in high leakage current or enhanced doping concentration resulting in bad softness.
US08525298B2
A phase change memory device having a 3-D stack structure and a fabrication method for making the same are presented. The phase change memory device includes a semiconductor substrate, a word line structure and one or more phase change structures. The word line structure extends in one first direction on the semiconductor substrate. The one or more phase change structures extend mutually in parallel from one sidewall of the word line structure. The, the memory cell including a switching device, one side of the switching device contacted with the one sidewall of the word line structure, a heating electrode formed on the other side portion of the switching device, and a phase change pattern, one sidewall of the phase change pattern contacted with the heating electrode.
US08525296B1
The present invention provides a capacitor structure, comprising a substrate, a TSV, a dielectric layer and a doped region. The substrate includes a first surface and a second surface, which are disposed oppositely to each other. The TSV penetrates through the first surface and the second surface. The dielectric layer is disposed in the substrate and encompasses the TSV. The doped region is disposed between the dielectric layer and the substrate. The present invention further provides a method of forming the same.
US08525294B2
A package-on-package includes a semiconductor package, and a coil provided at the semiconductor package. The semiconductor package includes a bottom face, and a solder ball protruded from the bottom face. An axis of the coil is inclined with respect to the normal line of the bottom face.
US08525289B2
Sophisticated gate electrode structures may be formed by providing a cap layer including a desired species that may diffuse into the gate dielectric material prior to performing a treatment for stabilizing the sensitive gate dielectric material. In this manner, complex high-k metal gate electrode structures may be formed on the basis of reduced temperatures and doses for a threshold adjusting species compared to conventional strategies. Moreover, a single metal-containing electrode material may be deposited for both types of transistors.
US08525287B2
A photodetector is described along with corresponding materials, systems, and methods. The photodetector comprises an integrated circuit and at least two optically sensitive layers. A first optically sensitive layer is over at least a portion of the integrated circuit, and a second optically sensitive layer is over the first optically sensitive layer. Each optically sensitive layer is interposed between two electrodes. The two electrodes include a respective first electrode and a respective second electrode. The integrated circuit selectively applies a bias to the electrodes and reads signals from the optically sensitive layers. The signal is related to the number of photons received by the respective optically sensitive layer.
US08525286B2
An integrated circuit device is provided. The integrated circuit device can include a substrate; a first radiation-sensing element disposed over a first portion of the substrate; and a second radiation-sensing element disposed over a second portion of the substrate. The first portion comprises a first radiation absorption characteristic, and the second portion comprises a second radiation absorption characteristic different from the first radiation absorption characteristic.
US08525284B2
The present invention relates to a backside illuminated (BSI) imager having a plurality of layers. A plurality of pixel sensors are positioned on a first layer of a substrate. Pixel select conductors are positioned on the substrate in front of the first layer. Pixel readout conductors including a plurality of output lines, pixel power conductors, and a ground conductor are positioned on the substrate in front of the pixel select conductors. A plurality of sample and hold capacitors coupled to the pixel output lines are positioned vertically and/or horizontally on the substrate in front of the ground conductor.
US08525281B2
A z-axis fluxgate magnetometer is formed in a semiconductor wafer fabrication sequence, which significantly reduces the size and cost of the fluxgate magnetometer. The semiconductor wafer fabrication sequence forms a vertical magnetic core structure, a first wire structure wound around the magnetic core structure, and a second wire structure wound around the magnetic core structure.
US08525269B2
A semiconductor device has a plurality of divided elements which are formed over a substrate, each of which containing a film having a predetermined pattern with the long-axis direction and the short-axis direction definable therein, and are arranged in a distributed manner in the same layer in the in-plane direction of the substrate, wherein the plurality of divided elements are arranged so that every adjacent divided element in a first direction has the long-axis direction thereof aligned differently from those of the neighbors, or, so that every adjacent divided element in the first direction is shifted in a second direction, which is orthogonal to the first direction, by an amount smaller than the length of the divided element in the second direction.
US08525268B2
The present technology discloses a vertical discrete device with gate and drain electrodes on the same surface and method for making the same. The vertical discrete device comprises a deep gate contact that couples the buried gate to a gate electrode which is formed on the same surface as the drain electrode. The discrete device according to the present technology can be used in co-packaging power management applications and the source electrode of the discrete device may be attached to the leadframe of the package.
US08525263B2
A method of fabricating a memory device is provided that may begin with forming a layered gate stack overlying a semiconductor substrate and patterning a metal electrode layer stopping on the high-k gate dielectric layer of the layered gate stack to provide a first metal gate electrode and a second metal gate electrode on the semiconductor substrate. In a next process sequence, at least one spacer is formed on the first metal gate electrode overlying a portion of the high-k gate dielectric layer, wherein a remaining portion of the high-k gate dielectric is exposed. The remaining portion of the high-k gate dielectric layer is etched to provide a first high-k gate dielectric having a portion that extends beyond a sidewall of the first metal gate electrode and a second high-k gate dielectric having an edge that is aligned to a sidewall of the second metal gate electrode.
US08525244B2
A germanium (Ge) compound is provided. The Ge compound has a chemical formula GeR1xR2y. “R1” is an alkyl group, and “R2” is one of hydrogen, amino group, allyl group and vinyl group. “x” is greater than zero and less than 4, and the sum of “x” and “y” is equal to 4. Methods of forming the Ge compound, methods of fabricating a phase change memory device using the Ge compound, and phase change memory devices fabricated using the Ge compound are also provided.
US08525240B2
A solid-state imaging device includes photoelectric conversion elements on an imaging surface of a substrate, receiving light incident on a light receiving surface and performing photoelectric conversion to produce a signal charge. Electrodes are interposed between the photoelectric conversion elements and light blocking portions are provided above the electrodes and interposed between the photoelectric conversion elements. The light blocking portions include an electrode light blocking portion formed to cover the corresponding electrode, and a pixel isolation and light blocking portion protruding convexly from the upper surface of the electrode light blocking portion. The photoelectric conversion elements are arranged at first pitches on the imaging surface. The electrode light blocking portions and the pixel isolation and light blocking portions are arranged at second and third pitches on the imaging surface. At least the third pitch increases with distance from the center toward the periphery of the imaging surface.
US08525235B2
A method for fabricating an integrated circuit includes patterning a mandrel over a layer to be patterned. Dopants are implanted into exposed sidewalls of the mandrel to form at least two doped layers having at least one undoped region adjacent to the doped layers. The doped layers are selectively etched away to form pillars from the undoped regions. The layer to be patterned is etched using the pillars as an etch mask to form features for an integrated circuit device. A semiconductor device is also disclosed.
US08525231B2
There is provided a semiconductor device and a method of manufacturing the same. The semiconductor device includes a base substrate; a semiconductor layer having a receiving groove, a protrusion part, a first carrier injection layer, at least two insulating patterns, and a second carrier injection layer provided on the base substrate, the insulating patterns being disposed to traverse the first carrier injection layer and the second carrier injection layer being spaced apart from the first carrier injection layer and disposed on a lower portion of the protrusion part; a source electrode and a drain electrode disposed to be spaced apart from each other on the semiconductor layer; and a gate electrode insulated from the source electrode and the drain electrode and having a recess part recessed into the receiving groove, wherein a lowest portion of the receiving groove contacts an uppermost layer of the first carrier injection layer or is disposed above the uppermost layer thereof, and an insulating pattern, disposed at an innermost portion of the semiconductor layer among the insulating patterns, traverses the first carrier injection layer and is disposed at the outside of both sides of the receiving groove in a thickness direction thereof.
US08525230B2
A field effect transistor including a compositionally graded group-III nitride layer on a silicon substrate.
US08525223B2
A SiC semiconductor device includes: a SiC substrate including a first or second conductive type layer and a first conductive type drift layer and including a principal surface having an offset direction; a trench disposed on the drift layer and having a longitudinal direction; and a gate electrode disposed in the trench via a gate insulation film. A sidewall of the trench provides a channel formation surface. The vertical semiconductor device flows current along with the channel formation surface of the trench according to a gate voltage applied to the gate electrode. The offset direction of the SiC substrate is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the trench.
