US08620898B2
The present document describes a method for presenting modified information obtained from the internet on an application on a mobile device. The mobile device is set to communicate with the internet through a proxy server. A user of the mobile device is registered on a social network from which indexed search content specific to the user's connections on the social network are obtained. The method comprises: modifying, based on the indexed search content specific to the user's connections, an output for the application from an internet server to produce a modified output for the application; and sending the modified output for the application to the mobile device for presentation in the application on the mobile device.
US08620896B2
A mobile device, system, and method are directed towards managing social networking information by employing a reverse matching search to identify those members of the social network that may have another person's identifier in their contact lists. The person may initially visit the social network site and provide an identifier either automatically or through a directed action by the person. A reverse search may be performed on members' contact lists to determine which contact lists include the identifier. If a match is found in a member's contact list, selected information about that member may be provided to the person. The reverse matching search may also be performed at various subsequent times to provide members information about new members to the social network.
US08620887B2
Embodiments of the present invention relate to systems, methods and computer program products for allowing a user to define output data to be optimized for a population, define one or more input constraints based on which the output data is to be optimized, and optimizing the output data for the population by selecting an object based on a selection routine. Embodiments of the present invention allow fast and accurate optimization of output data associated with large populations.
US08620883B2
Apparatus and methods are operable to receive a first and second version of an ordered list having a first and second plurality of ordered entries, wherein each of the plurality of ordered entries has a corresponding order index. Further, the apparatus and methods are operable to compare respective ordered entries from the first and second versions of the ordered list at a respective order index. Also, the apparatus and methods are operable to assign a penalty to each possible current list resulting from reconciling the first version and the second version of the ordered list when the comparing identifies a difference between respective ordered entries at the respective order index. Moreover, the apparatus and methods are operable to generate, based on the comparing, at least a portion of all possible current lists, and select and store one of the possible current lists as the current list based on the penalties.
US08620882B2
An improved technique for granting access to a complex datum maps a single user token representing a user onto a set of data group tokens, each data group token providing access to a data group stored on a storage medium. The improved technique combines the centralization of the complex datum while providing the security of tokenization and will lower the risk of a rogue third party gaining unauthorized access to the user's records stored across the data groups.
US08620875B2
A system and method of identifying fraudulent data in a contact database is disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a set of contact records is received where each of the contact records includes a set of contact field values corresponding to a set of contact fields. Some embodiments determine whether a similar content pattern exists in the contact records using at least one of the set of contact field values. In some embodiments, a determination is made as to whether an unusual content pattern exists in the contact records using at least one of the set of contact field values. The set of contact records is flagged when at least one of the similar content pattern or the unusual content pattern is determined to exist in the contact records.
US08620871B2
Determinations are made regarding which database components are installed with a database installation. A recovery manual generator accesses system recovery data to generate a system recovery manual based on the system recovery data. A database feature auditor determines, based in part on the system recovery data, which database features are installed at database installations, which may be at multiple database sites.
US08620867B1
Data uploaded from a mobile unit to a remote site can be buffered at an intermediate wireless base station, allowing an initial wireless link to be rapidly terminated and freed for other uses. In one implementation, a method includes forming a wireless link between a device and a first wireless receiver site, receiving a portion of a data set from the device, relinquishing the wireless link, and then transmitting the portion of the data set from the first wireless receiver site to a service provider. In another implementation, a method includes receiving, via an intermediate wireless base station, a backup request and a portion of data to be backed up from a device. The portion of the data to be backed up is received after a wireless link between the device and the wireless base station has been terminated.
US08620859B2
A method of evaluating effectiveness of usage of a file system by a plurality of files, comprising calculating a ratio A:S, wherein A is the sum of results of a function carried out in respect of each of the files, the result of the function in respect of a file being dependent on at least two properties of the file including the size of the file; and wherein S is the total size of the files.
US08620854B2
In particular embodiments, a method includes accessing a first binary decision diagram (BDD) representing data streams from sensors, accessing a second BDD representing health states associated with specified data ranges, and constructing a third BDD by performing an AND operation between the first and second BDDs.
US08620847B2
A traffic situation prediction apparatus for predicting a traffic situation based on a traffic situation statistical data is disclosed. The traffic situation prediction apparatus includes a map information storage and a controller. The apparatus determines, in response to an update of the map information, whether a specific factor affecting a traffic flow has emerged based on a difference between the map information before and after the update. The apparatus identifies an effect on the traffic flow resulting from emergence of the specific when the specific traffic flow effect factor has emerged. The apparatus predicts the traffic situation by incorporating the identified effect into the traffic situation predicted based on the traffic situation statistical data.
US08620845B2
A method of identifying application metadata in a backup stream comprises finding a known application metadata signature within a backup stream. A source application of user data in the backup stream is identified based upon the known application metadata signature. Application metadata, which has been generated by the source application, is removed from consideration by a data de-duplicator which is used to perform data de-duplication on the backup stream.
US08620842B1
Systems and methods for classifying electronic information using advanced active learning techniques
Systems and methods for classifying electronic information or documents into a number of classes and subclasses are provided through an active learning algorithm. In certain embodiments, the active learning algorithm forks a number of classification paths corresponding to predicted user coding decisions for a selected document. The active learning algorithm determines an order in which the documents of the collection may be processed and scored by the forked classification paths. Such document classification systems are easily scalable for large document collections, require less manpower and can be employed on a single computer, thus requiring fewer resources. Furthermore, the classification systems and methods described can be used for any pattern recognition or classification effort in a wide variety of fields.
US08620838B1
Techniques of line-searching to find a minimum value of a loss function l projected onto a line are disclosed, wherein the loss function l is continuous and piece-wise linear. One technique includes identifying points for at least one output derived from the loss function l at which the slope of the output changes, determining at least one derivative value for an initial point and at least one change in derivative value for at least some of the points using a processor, determining a cumulative reduction in loss for at least some of the points using at least one of the determined derivative values or at least one of the change in derivative values, and selecting a point corresponding to the minimum value of the loss function l based on the cumulative reduction in loss.
US08620837B2
In a machine learning system in which a plurality of learned models, each corresponding to a unique domain, already exist, new domain input for training a new domain model may be provided. Statistical characteristics of features in the new domain input are first determined. The resulting new domain statistical characteristics are then compared with statistical characteristics of features in prior input previously provided for training at least some of the plurality of learned models. Thereafter, at least one learned model of the plurality of learned models is identified as the basis for the new domain model when the new domain input statistical characteristics compare favorably with the statistical characteristics of the features in the prior input corresponding to the at least one learned model.
US08620836B2
Performance of statistical machine learning techniques, particularly classification techniques applied to the extraction of attributes and values concerning products, is improved by preprocessing a body of text to be analyzed to remove extraneous information. The body of text is split into a plurality of segments. In an embodiment, sentence identification criteria are applied to identify sentences as the plurality of segments. Thereafter, the plurality of segments are clustered to provide a plurality of clusters. One or more of the resulting clusters are then analyzed to identify segments having low relevance to their respective clusters. Such low relevance segments are then removed from their respective clusters and, consequently, from the body of text. As the resulting relevance-filtered body of text no longer includes portions of the body of text containing mostly extraneous information, the reliability of any subsequent statistical machine learning techniques may be improved.
US08620833B2
A method and apparatus for billing data services. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a system having a controller that manages a communications interface coupled to a communication system. The controller can be programmed to calculate a charge for service according to a degree of asymmetric bandwidth usage of upstream and downstream data traffic consumed by customer premise equipment. Additional embodiments are disclosed.
US08620831B1
Apparatus and methods are provided for managing a student's educational curriculum. A degree dependency graph is created for a student corresponding to a degree sought after at a selected educational institution. The degree dependency graph may be created in accordance with degree requirements, graduation requirements, prerequisite requirements, and the like, provided by the catalog of a selected institution. In addition, a standardized nomenclature may be created using XML tags or other terminology, to identify like information from different educational institutions. The XML tags may be used by a curriculum management system to identify courses from multiple institutions to satisfy requirements of a selected degree program at a selected institution.
US08620826B2
Embodiments of a system and method for receiving task requests from unregistered devices are described. Embodiments may include a communication interface service configured to receive from a communication device a message indicative of a request to perform a task. The communication interface service may determine that the communication device is not registered with an existing account that provides information for performing said task. The communication interface service may obtain identification and authentication information for an existing account via a communication channel. The existing account may be an account for that is accessible via a network-based interface. The communication channel through which the identification and authentication information is received by the communication interface service may be any communication channel that does not include the network-based interface of the existing account. Additionally, the communication interface service may use the identification and authentication information for performance of the task using the existing account.
US08620820B2
Methods and arrangements for assembly and licensing of appliances. A base image is created, the base image corresponding to a combination of an operating system and hardware. A purchasing medium client is embedded into the base image, and a provisioning request for a pay-per-use license is developed. A provisioned instance is started, and a product bundle plan is executed. The license is requested from a purchasing medium.
US08620817B2
A method and system for creating license management in software applications are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises receiving an installer package associated with a software application to be run on a computer, the installer package not including license administration functionality. One or more executable files are extracted from the installer package. One or more license-enabled executable files are generated with the one or more executable files and a license wrapper. A new installer package is created with the one or more license-enabled executable files, the new installer package supporting the license administration functionality.
US08620816B2
A system and method for providing a secured information vault so that individual owners of personal data may control and manage the access and dissemination of the personal data and provides for the owner of the personal data to receive compensation for the use of the personal data, thus, in effect, the personal data becomes a valuable commodity analogous to money. Centralized protected storage of personal data is provided, which minimizes the number of copies that may be in existence. The personal data may be converted from one format to another by subscribing to format conversion services provide by the vault. The vault regularly updates stored personal data per the subscribed services so that the personal data is available in the latest data formats used by various industries. A fee may be charged for format conversions.
US08620813B2
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.
US08620812B2
Tools for facilitating the process of providing presentation instrument redemption services, including without limitation tools that implement techniques for authenticating the identity of a check cashing customer through the use of biometric data that is derived from one or more biometric characteristics of the customer. The tools can be used to enroll the customer in a check cashing program, using biometric data as an authentication key. Thereafter, when the customer attempts to redeem a presentation instrument, the customer can provide the same biometric data, and the tools can authenticate the identity of the customer based one the biometric data. The tools can implement additional risk-prevention measures, such as risk-profiling routines, which can be used to estimate the risk of a fraudulent transaction, based on a variety of risk factors associated with the customer and/or the requested transaction.
US08620805B2
Methods and systems of processing payments globally over one of a plurality of payment processing paths employ computer hardware and software for receiving a request to access a global payment utility, presenting a plurality of payment options by the global payment utility, and receiving information by the global payment utility consisting at least in part of a source of payment, a payment destination, and a user-designated payment vehicle. Upon receiving the information, one of a plurality of payment processing paths for the payment is selected according to a clearing rules aspect of a rules engine of the global payment utility, and the payment is routed for processing via the selected payment processing path.
US08620799B2
The present invention provides systems and methods for tracking obligations incurred between individuals. The method may include receiving a request from a first party, where the request includes an expense incurred by the first party for the benefit of a second party. The method may also include providing a notice of the request to the second party and receiving an acceptance from the second party to assume an obligation associated with the expense. The method may further include associating the obligation with the second party and associating a benefit with the first party. The obligation and/or benefit may be substantially equal in value to the expense. The method may additionally include interfacing with a social network service to provide the social network service with information about the obligation and/or the benefit.
US08620793B2
A network clearinghouse may be provided that brings together organizations (subjects) requiring outsourcing of a service and service providers (operators). The clearinghouse manages the bidding and awarding of contracts, by collecting and authorizing requests for proposals (RFPs), sending bid invitations to operators that meet the requirements of the subject, sending a notification that the contract has been awarded, and collecting payment from the subject and paying the operator.
US08620789B2
A system, method and computer program product creates an index based on accounting data, or a portfolio of financial objects based on the index where the portfolio is weighted according to accounting data. Indexes may be built with metrics other than market capitalization weighting, price weighting or equal weighting. Financial and non-financial metrics may be used to build indexes to create passive investment systems. A combination of financial non-market capitalization metrics may be used with non-financial metrics to create passive investment systems. Once built, the index may be used as a basis to purchase securities for a portfolio. Specifically excluded are widely-used capitalization-weighted and price-weighted indexes, in which price of a security contributes in a substantial way to calculation of weight of that security in the index or the portfolio, and equal weighting weighted indexes. The indexes may be constructed to minimize volatility.
US08620786B2
The invention comprises a system and method for “waterfall” type payment processing using multiple alternative payment sources. A payor provides account information for multiple payment sources, such as a bank checking account, savings account, first credit card account, second credit card account, and so forth. The multiple payment sources are prioritized so that one is a primary payment source, another is a secondary payment source, another is a tertiary payment source, and so forth. After setting up the waterfall payment arrangement, when a bill becomes due a payee or third party payment administrator submits transactions against the payment sources in their order of priority until the payment is satisfied. Other variations and enhancements are disclosed.
US08620783B2
A system and method for providing redundant customer communications delivery using hybrid delivery channels is provided. In one configuration, the system utilizes an initial delivery channel to send a batch of customer communications and later utilizes a different, delayed backup delivery channel to resend only a subset of those communications as deemed necessary.
US08620782B2
Systems and methods for electronic billing activation are provided. A request on behalf of a payer to activate electronic billing from a biller for the payer is received by a first electronic financial service provider (EFSP) that supports a first of a plurality of electronic financial service networks (EFSNs) from a second EFSP that supports a second of the plurality of EFSNs. Each of the plurality of EFSNs includes a respective plurality of billers or payers, and the biller is associated with the first EFSN and not associated with the second EFSN, while the payer is not associated with the first EFSN. In response to the received request, activation confirmation information is transmitted by the first EFSP to the second EFSP. The electronic billing activation enables subsequent electronic transmission of a bill from the biller for the payer.
US08620770B1
Paths followed by a plurality of devices are recorded. Devices of the plurality have sent content requests similar to a current content request. Behaviors exhibited by respective ones of the plurality of devices after sending content requests are recorded. The respective ones of the plurality of devices into intent groupings. A path followed by a device is assembled. The assembling the path comprises recording a plurality of physical location readings generated with respect to the device prior. An intent grouping matching the path is identified. The intent grouping is associated with an expected behavior. Content calculated to facilitate the expected behavior is identified.
US08620763B2
In embodiments disclosed herein, a computer may operate to determine, for each member in a set and each non-member under consideration for the set, an expected revenue to be passed to a parent organization. The expected revenue may be determined utilizing a plurality of weighted features. Members in the set may be ranked according to their expected revenues. Top performing members in the set may be protected to ensure their expected revenues. Bottom performing members may be removed from the set and/or replaced with new members outside of geographical protective areas of the top performing members. The optimization process can be repeated until the set of members can satisfy an existing demand while maximizing revenue for the parent organization.
US08620761B1
The present inventions may be implemented by tools enabling preferred domain positioning on a registration website. An example may comprise a computer-readable media storing instructions that, when executed by a server computer, cause the server to receive a bid from a registry seeking such preferred placement for a domain (that may be administered by the registry), generate a quality score for the domain, and determine the preferred placement based upon the bid and the quality score.
US08620752B2
Systems and methods for allocating and providing advertisements in response to impression events (e.g., a request for a placement of an advertisement) corresponding to forecasted impressions (e.g., a forecast of a request for a placement of an advertisement). The advertisements are allocated according to solution data that includes two disjoint solution sets, with each solution set identifying an advertisement that can be allocated to a forecasted impression.
US08620747B2
An internet target marketing system, method, and computer program for distributing online advertising to viewers based upon the viewers' interests is provided. The system, method, and computer program may involve identifying one or more document-related concepts derived from analysis of content of a web document capable of being displayed to the user, identifying one or more advertisement-related concepts relevant to an advertising, comparing the one or more document-related concepts to the one or more advertising-related concepts to determine a relevance, and selecting the advertising based on the relevance.
US08620745B2
Systems and methods are described that select advertisements for placement on a series of consecutively-accessed web pages, such as consecutively-accessed web search results pages generated in response to a particular search. The systems and methods perform a separate advertisement ranking process to select advertisements for placement on each web page in the series of consecutively-accessed web pages at the time the web page is accessed. For web pages that follow the first web page in the series, the systems and methods utilize an advertisement ranking technique that calculates a probability that a user will select an advertisement based on certain user selection feedback features. The user selection feedback features for an advertisement are determined by comparing attributes of the advertisement to attributes of user-selectable items that were presented on one or more of the previously-accessed web pages in the series that are known to have been selected or not selected by the user.
US08620742B2
Large groups of Web ads may, at least in part, be approved automatically. A subset of a group of ads is selected, and a manual review process is used to determine which ads in the subset are not acceptable, and perhaps the reasons for the disapprovals. A distrust score may then be determined using the ads in the subset that were disapproved. The distrust score may also use the reasons for disapproval. The distrust score may then be compared with a predetermined threshold. If the distrust score is less than the threshold, the ads in the group may be accepted. If the distrust score is equal to or greater than the threshold, the ad group is not automatically accepted.
US08620737B2
System and methods of use are discloses that default routing of an ID read by an ID reader as part of a purchase transaction in a retail store, to a first computer system (MCS) instead of the POS computer system for the retail store, the first computer system processes the ID, and the POS computer system receives the results of the processing in the form of a IDs recognizable by the POS computer system and for which the POS computer system has associated costs.
US08620734B2
A method of providing coupons for shopping includes storing a shopping list in an electronic device including items for purchase via a merchant, storing electronic representations of coupons in the electronic device and associating the electronic representations of coupons with items included in the shopping list.
US08620732B2
A method and system for generating electronic advertisement, such as banner ads, based on user profile information and other information are disclosed. An online promotion service may receive profile information, location information and other information from a user. The user may also define a proximity preference which may include a range of distance the user is willing to travel to redeem one or more promotions. A service or product provider or other authorized entity may define a proximity preference which may include a target range of advertisement exposure. The online promotion service may present advertisements for incentives and other promotions based on user profile information as well as proximity preference information where the proximity preference is defined by the user, the provider, or both. The user may activate a user identifier displayed on the advertisement which provides a direct link to user profile information to enable the user to easily and quickly modify and update user profile information.
US08620721B1
A method analyzes preferences of one or more participants. Each of the participants may be presented with a plurality of evaluation items that illustrate various marketing options. Response data from the participants that indicates at least an approach, if any, toward the evaluation items is obtained. An approach entropy value may be generated for the marketing options based on the response data for each participant. A relative preference order for each participant for the marketing options may be determined from the generated approach entropy values.
US08620719B2
The present invention relates to methods, systems and software for managing software license annuities. The method relates to monitoring renewal revenue, including developing a forecast of renewal revenue, for each of one or more customers, using a customer database; contacting some of the customers to obtain customer profile data; assisting each of the contacted customers to select a renewal option using the customer profile data; modifying the forecast for each of the contacted customers based on the renewal option selected by that customer; and comparing the forecast and the customer's actual renewal purchases to monitor renewal revenue. The followings methods are also disclosed: a computer-implemented method of modelling renewal options, a method of managing annuity renewals, a method of modelling annuity renewals, and a method of displaying customer compliance with a licensing scheme. Systems and software for performing any of the mentioned methods are further disclosed.
US08620715B2
A method of performing Field Management is disclosed, a Field Management system including a portable Field Management (FM) framework being initially decoupled from any simulators, one or more adaptors operatively connected to the FM framework, and one or more open interfaces associated, respectively, with the one or more adaptors, the open interfaces each having interface characteristics, the method comprising: modifying one or more of the simulators such that the simulators adhere to the interface characteristics of the open interfaces of the one or more adaptors which are operatively connected to the FM framework; subsequently coupling the one or more modified simulators to the one or more open interfaces of the one or more adaptors of the FM framework in response to the modifying step; and performing the Field Management on the condition that the one or more modified simulators are coupled to the one or more open interfaces of the one or more adaptors of the FM framework. The FM framework is also flexible in that it allows control over how the FM Framework logic is executed in order to accommodate real field situations that require such control.
US08620712B1
A method of scheduling at least one meeting for a consumer involves matching the consumer to a first professional of a plurality of professionals based on information associated with the consumer and the plurality of professionals, where the first professional is qualified to provide service to the consumer, scheduling a first meeting between the consumer and the first professional, and notifying the consumer and the first professional about the first meeting using information associated with the first meeting.
US08620711B2
A computerized visitation registration and scheduling system provides the department of corrections the ability to have inmates and visitors schedule visits through an automated interface, such as a telephone interface, or the internet. The system allows, for example, the ability for potential visitors to perform a registration process with little to no manual overhead requirements of department of corrections employees. Secondly, potential visitors, once approved, are able to schedule inmate visits without necessarily having to burden department of corrections employees.
US08620705B2
The present invention is a method for synchronizing multiple layers of constrained optimization with both layers having some common variables in a to processing plant. The layers of optimization can include Planning, Scheduling, Real-Time Optimization and Model Predictive Control.
US08620704B1
Methods and apparatuses are described for creating and using full-kit tasks, monitoring the progress of full-kit tasks, determining full-kit dates, checking compliance of release conditions associated with full-kit tasks, and/or computing and reporting full-kit task delays. A full-kit task can be used in the project plan to represent the preparations that are required or recommended to be performed before executing a set of tasks. The full-kit task can be a zero-duration task that has a full-kit date and that includes a list of items which need to be completed by the full-kit date. The full-kit task is capable of being in one of the following states: not started, in progress, released, and completed. In some embodiments, the set of tasks associated with the full-kit task can only be started if the full-kit task is either in the released state or the completed state.
US08620701B2
In an embodiment, a computer-based system in a business organization is configured with a set of business rules. The computer-based system is further configured to receive an indication of a transaction within the business organization, and to automatically determine, based on the set of business rules, a location in a recording system of the business organization to record data regarding the transaction.
US08620700B2
A business method for defining, controlling, and optimizing a flow of value down a workflow pipeline includes creating a phase-gate workflow pipeline for one or more projects in which completion of one or more predetermined activities of each project advances the project to a succeeding phase in the pipeline. Each of the activities for each project in the pipeline is mapped to a value metric that is a function of a risk discount factor using an option valuation technique. The projects and/or portfolio of projects are then analyzed to determine the flow of value down the pipeline and managed based on analysis of this flow of value.
US08620698B2
A computer system includes a data storage device. The data storage module receives, stores, and provides access to historical claim data. A categorical aggregation component comprising program instructions stored in a program memory provides categorized and aggregated historical claim data by identifying claim categories based on the historical claim data, each of the one or more claim categories associated with a respective set of claim characteristics, identifying claims of the historical claim data associated with one of the claim categories, assigning each identified claim to one of a plurality of total severity ranges based on the total severity of the identified claim, and determining an average cost per claim year for claims of each total severity range when executed by a computer processor.
US08620695B2
The present disclosure describes, among other things, an example method for maintaining an account for a life insurance policy. The method may include determining an amount to apply to the account, the amount based at least in part on i) a plurality of first factors based on data for life insurance policies in a class of policies, wherein the class of policies includes the life insurance policy, and ii) a plurality of second factors based on data for an individual, wherein the individual is a policy holder of the life insurance policy. The method may include increasing at least a portion of the account by the amount.
US08620693B1
An insurance policy management system for administering and managing insurance policies having deductible coverage through a primary and a secondary insurer. The secondary insurer is provided a portion of a premium payment via the primary insurer to provide deductible coverage to a policyholder. The policyholder will not have to pay a lump sum deductible in the event of a loss when selecting the no deductible option and may have the option of bidding out the deductible coverage in a multi-insurer platform.
US08620691B2
An apparatus for communicating health care data from a sender to a receiver is provided. The apparatus has a first computer system, a second computer system, and a rules engine. The first computer system has health care data stored therein. The second computer system is in operable communication with, and is configured to extract the health care data from, the first computer system. The rules engine normalizes the extracted health care data to a predefined format. The rules engine defines a plurality of health care data fields in the predefined format, as well as a plurality of relationships between fields of normalized data.
US08620689B2
A method for synchronizing patient data between at least two independent applications in a distributed environment includes capturing screen information from a display window of a first application client that is displaying a medical image of a patient, analyzing the screen information captured from the first application client display to extract patient identifying information, and synchronizing a display of information of the patient on a second application system display screen with the first application display window using the extracted patient identification information.
US08620688B2
A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for controlling access to electronic health records associated with an individual are provided. Individuals are provided with an electronic health records account (EHR account), wherein the EHR account is available to store electronic health records associated with the individual, in a network accessible storage repository. Additionally, an individual may be provided with plurality of disposable access devices, wherein the access devices may be presented to an entity. In turn, the entity may access the individual's EHR account, based on a predefined authorization specified for a particular access device.
US08620685B2
A method is described that enables a health care provider to monitor and manage a health condition of a patient. The system includes a health care provider apparatus operated by a health care provider and a remotely programmable patient apparatus that is operated by a patient. The health care provider develops a script program using the health care provider apparatus and then sends the script program to a remotely programmable patient apparatus through a communication network such as the World Wide Web. The script program is a computer-executable patient protocol that provides information to the patient about the patient's health condition and that interactively monitors the patient health condition by asking the patient questions and by receiving answers to those questions. The answers to these health related questions are then forwarded as patient data from the remotely programmable patient apparatus to the health care provider apparatus through the communication network.
US08620681B2
The present invention relates to a method of holding laboratory test results in a computerized environment. A first laboratory test result is received, and is related to one or more other laboratory tests that comprise a healthcare order. It is determined whether the test results of the order have been received. If they have all been received, the test results are compared to predefined criteria and are determined to be considered normal. Once determined to be considered normal, the order is automatically verified. If the tests results of the healthcare order have not all been received, the first laboratory test result is held until all of the test results have been received.
US08620680B2
A tool for planning and management of clinical trials. The tool computes a patient enrollment timeline in a clinical trial using multiple factors that bear on the rate of patient enrollment. The factors may be site-dependent factors or may be country-dependent factors. When these factors are applied, different sites may have different rates of enrollment in the same interval. Further, the factors may be time dependent such that even the same sites may have different enrollment rates in different intervals. Once the timeline is created, the tool may use it to calculate a schedule of monitor visits, project trial completion or otherwise generate output used in management of the clinical trial.
US08620672B2
Phase-based processing of a multichannel signal, and applications including proximity detection, are disclosed.
US08620666B1
A system, method, and computer readable medium that facilitate user authentication via voice biometrics in a network system featuring interactive voice response system access is provided. The voice biometric authentication mechanisms alleviate identity theft occurring via specific interactive voice response transactions. A voice biometrics authentication system interfaces with an interactive network platform and may be hosted by a third party provider of voice biometric technologies.
US08620664B2
A system and method for processing voice requests from a user for accessing information on a computerized network and delivering information from a script server and an audio server in the network in audio format. A voice user interface subsystem includes: a dialog engine that is operable to interpret requests from users from the user input, communicate the requests to the script server and the audio server, and receive information from the script server and the audio server; a media telephony services (MTS) server, wherein the MTS server is operable to receive user input via a telephony system, and to transfer the user input to the dialog engine; and a broker coupled between the dialog engine and the MTS server. The broker establishes a session between the MTS server and the dialog engine and controls telephony functions with the telephony system.
US08620653B2
Architecture that uses near-end speech detection and far-end energy level detection to notify a user when a local microphone and/or speaker that the user is using, are muted. A voice activity detector is employed to detect the presence of near-end speech, sense the existing mute state of the near-end microphone, and then notify the user when the current microphone is muted. Separately or in combination therewith, received far-end voice signals are detected, the associated energy level computed, the existing mute state of the near-end audio speaker is sensed, and the user notified when the speaker is muted and/or at a reduced volume setting. These determinations enhance the user experience when the architecture is employed for communications sessions where participants connect via different communications modalities by automatically notifying the user of the audio device state, without attempting to contribute only to find that a microphone or speaker was muted.
US08620651B2
A method of concealing bit errors in a signal is provided. The method includes decoding an encoded signal parameter based upon constraints placed on a signal parameter, comparing the decoded signal parameter against the constraints, and declaring the decoded signal parameter invalid when the constraints are violated.
US08620643B1
A computer numerical processing method for representing audio information for use in conjunction with human hearing is described. The method comprises approximating an eigenfunction equation representing a model of human hearing, calculating the approximation to each of a plurality of eigenfunctions from at least one aspect of the eigenfunction equation, and storing the approximation to each of a plurality of eigenfunctions for use at a later time. The approximation to each of a plurality of eigenfunctions represents audio information. The model of human hearing includes a bandpass operation with a bandwidth having the frequency range of human hearing and a time-limiting operation approximating the time duration correlation window of human hearing.
US08620631B2
The method of identifying Hammerstein models with known nonlinearity structures using particle swarm optimization provides a computerized method utilizing a particle swarm optimization (PSO)-based scheme for the identification of nonlinear Hammerstein models with known nonlinearity structures. Particularly, this is accomplished by formulating the identification of the Hammerstein model as an optimization problem, with PSO being used in the optimization process.
US08620622B2
A system includes a plurality of sensors configured to measure one or more characteristics of an impeller. The system also includes an impeller condition indicator device, which includes a plurality of sensor interfaces configured to receive input signals associated with at least one stage of the impeller from the sensors. The impeller condition indicator device also includes a processor configured to identify a fault in the impeller using the input signals and an output interface configured to provide an indicator identifying the fault. The processor is configured to identify the fault by determining a family of frequencies related to at least one failure mode of the impeller, decomposing the input signals using the family of frequencies, reconstructing a impeller signal using the decomposed input signals, and comparing the reconstructed impeller signal to a baseline signal. The family of frequencies includes a vane pass frequency and its harmonics.
US08620620B1
A method(s) of testing AN/ULQ-21 (Hydra) Circuit Card Assembly(ies) (CCAs), which involve providing software to perform automated tests on Hydra CCAs that make up the Hydra Countermeasures Set and employ commercial off the shelf equipment (such as signal generators, spectrum analyzer, Data Acquisition Device(s), oscillators, etc. as applicable depending on the test and CCA being evaluated).
US08620611B2
Multi-phase flow is estimated in a flow meter by measuring fluid pressure within the flow meter and using the measured pressure to calculate a density of the flow. A total flow rate through the flow meter is estimated based on the calculated density and a PVT analysis of the fluid. A corrected total mass flow rate is calculated using a liquid/gas slip correction technique. Fluid flow rates are further corrected with a discharge coefficient that varies with changes in the Reynolds number of the fluid. The gas and oil fractions can be determined from the corrected total mass flow rate and gas fraction.
US08620607B2
Systems and methods for metering and analyzing energy consumption of events within a portable device
System and methods to determine the energy consumption per event type from usage data of portable devices are described. An example method includes determining a first plurality of linear equations representative of energy expended in a portable device for a second plurality of functions, the second plurality of functions including at least one software function of the portable device, the first plurality being more than the second plurality, and determining, using a processor, energy values corresponding to the second plurality of functions by applying a statistical method to the first plurality of linear equations.
US08620599B2
A membrane tension measuring apparatus comprises: a rectangular frame (5) adapted to be abuttable on a surface (4) of a membrane (2) to which tension (Tx, Ty) is applied; an acoustic wave generator (17) operable to emit an acoustic wave (16) toward a part (2a) of the membrane (2) surrounded by the frame (5); a vibration detector (24) operable to detect vibration which is induced in the part (2a) of the membrane (2) by the emitted acoustic wave (16); and a processor (29) operable to calculate the tension (Tx, Ty) based on vibration data detected by the vibration detector (24). Each of the acoustic wave generator (17), the vibration detector (24) and the processor (29) is mounted to the frame (5).
US08620598B2
A bushing press-fitting inspection device that can perform an inspection in any state between the beginning of press-fitting and the end of press-fitting as to whether or not the press-fitting has been satisfactorily performed is provided. The bushing press-fitting inspection device is used in a bushing press-fitting apparatus that, using a press-fitting mechanism, supports a bushing at an end of the bushing press-fitting apparatus and that press-fits, over a certain stroke at a certain load, the bushing into a bushing press-fitting portion formed in part of a structure in a cylindrical shape that is included in a workpiece. The bushing press-fitting inspection device includes setting means, storage means, input means, judgment means, and output means.
US08620592B2
A method of diagnosing, predicting, or prognosticating about a disease that includes obtaining experimental data, wherein the experimental data is high dimensional data, filtering the data, reducing the dimensionality of the data through use of one or more methods, training a supervised pattern recognition method, ranking individual data points from the data, wherein the ranking is dependent on the outcome of the supervised pattern recognition method, choosing multiple data points from the data, wherein the choice is based on the relative ranking of the individual data points, and using the multiple data points to determine if an unknown set of experimental data indicates a diseased condition, a predilection for a diseased condition, or a prognosis about a diseased condition.
US08620591B2
Ambulatory or in-hospital monitoring of patients is provided with early warning and prioritization, enabling proactive intervention and amelioration of both costs and risks of health care. Multivariate physiological parameters are estimated by empirical model to remove normal variation. Residuals are tested using a multivariate probability density function to provide a multivariate health index for prioritizing medical effort.
US08620577B2
A method and system for searching for points of interest along a route is disclosed. A relation that includes records that associate link identifiers, point of interest identifiers, and distances between the links and the points of interest is generated during the compilation process of a first version of a geographic database. The relation is stored in compiled database products. When a compiled database product is being used by a navigation system, for example, navigation application software programs use the relation to accurately and efficiently find points of interest along a computed route.
US08620575B2
The invention relates to a route guidance method and a system for implementing such a method, and a corresponding computer-readable storage medium, which in particular may be used for an adaptive route guidance, the travel routes being selected that offer the highest safety when following the required driving maneuvers. For this purpose, it is recommended to output driving recommendations as a function of the risk of calculated routes. To this end, information about the current traffic situation in the surroundings of the vehicle is evaluated, the risk of the driving maneuvers resulting from calculated routes is evaluated using the results of the evaluation by at least one computer program, and driving instructions are output as a function of the evaluation.
US08620574B2
A method and system are provided for calculating a quantity for a route segment extending between two points on a digital map, the points corresponding to two geographical locations, the quantity representing a distance between the two geographical locations or an estimated time for travelling between the two geographical locations, the method comprising; determining a base quantity for the route segment, determining a first parameter corresponding to a first condition between the two geographical locations, determining a second parameter corresponding to a second condition between the two geographical locations, determining an additional quantity based on the first parameter and the second parameter such that the influence of the second parameter on the size of the additional quantity depends on the first parameter, calculating a modified quantity for the route segment based on the base quantity and the additional quantity, and generating a signal based on the modified quantity.
US08620572B2
Methods, apparatus and systems for determining the location of a marking device during performance of a marking operation using triangulation are described. The marking device may be of the type used to mark the presence or absence of underground facilities and may include a marking material dispenser to dispense marking material as an indicator. The marking device may include a transmitter which transmits a signal received by a receiving system including two or more receiving devices at separate locations. Triangulation algorithms may then be used to determine the location of the marking device relative to the receiving system.
US08620571B2
A method and apparatus for providing driver assistance are provided. The apparatus includes a road recognition unit, an eligibility acquisition unit, an other vehicle recognition unit, an other vehicle eligibility acquisition unit and a guidance unit. The road recognition unit determines if a host vehicle is traveling on a restricted road having a lane with travel eligibility restrictions. The eligibility acquisition unit obtains information regarding travel eligibility of the lanes on the restricted road. The other vehicle recognition unit determines if the other vehicle is traveling in an adjacent lane and the other vehicle eligibility acquisition unit obtains travel eligibility information of the other vehicle. Based on the travel eligibility of the other vehicle, the other vehicle traveling lane or the host vehicle traveling lane, the guidance unit determines whether to provide guidance information.
US08620560B2
The invention aims at providing an internal combustion engine control device 1 which can make suppression of a rise in the temperature of an engine control ECU 2, and fuel cut control of an engine compatible with each other. An internal combustion engine control device 1, which controls an engine having a plurality of cylinders having intake valves and exhaust valves, includes intake valve solenoids 8 to 11 and exhaust valve solenoids 12 to 15 which switch the operating state of valve elements of the intake valves or exhaust valves to a drive state and a closed valve holding state; an engine control ECU 2 which controls the intake valve solenoids 8 to 11 and the exhaust valve solenoids 12 to 15; an ECU temperature sensor 6 which detects the temperature of the engine control ECU 2; and a switching number setting unit 32 which sets the number of valve elements whose operating state is switched at one time by the intake valve solenoids 8 to 11 and the exhaust valve solenoids 12 to 15 to be smaller, as the temperature detected by the ECU temperature sensor 6 is higher.
US08620557B2
A method for determining speed set-point values vref for a vehicle's control systems including determining a horizon from position data and map data of an itinerary made up of route segments with at least one characteristic for each segment; calculating threshold values for the characteristic of segments according to one or more vehicle-specific values, which threshold values serve as boundaries for assigning segments to various categories; comparing the characteristic of each segment with the calculated threshold values and placing each segment within the horizon in a category calculating set-point values for the vehicle's control systems across the horizon according to rules pertaining to the categories. When any characteristic in segments within the horizon indicates a hindrance, calculating the vehicle's retardation determining a start position within the horizon for commencement of retardation according to its calculated retardation in order to achieve a lowering of the set-point speed vref to a maximum speed required by the hindrance at the location of the hindrance; adapting the speed set-point values vref within the horizon according to the start position and retardation of the vehicle and regulating the vehicle's speed according to the speed set-values vref. Also a module determines set-point values for a control system in the vehicle.
US08620554B2
An accelerator reaction force control apparatus has an accelerator position detecting device that detects an accelerator position and a reaction force varying device that varies a reaction force of an accelerator. The reaction force varying device increases the accelerator's reaction force beyond a base reaction force in response to the accelerator position being equal to or larger than a reaction force increase threshold, and decreases the accelerator's reaction force toward the base reaction force in response to the accelerator position becoming equal to or smaller than a reaction force increase cancellation threshold after the reaction force has been increased beyond the base reaction force. The reaction force varying device varies a reaction force decrease rate at which the accelerator's reaction force is decreased based on an accelerator position change condition existing at a time when the accelerator position becomes equal to or smaller than the reaction force increase cancellation threshold.
US08620551B2
A bicycle regenerative brake control device basically includes a first displacement amount detecting part, a second displacement amount detecting part and a first control part. The first displacement amount detecting part is arranged to detect a first displacement amount a first brake system. The second displacement amount detecting part is arranged to detect a second displacement amount of a second brake system, which different from the first brake system. The first control part is configured to control a motor using a first control process in response to the first and second displacement amounts of the first and second brake systems such that the first control part generates a first regenerative braking force that corresponds with braking information obtained from the first displacement amount and the second displacement amount.
US08620526B2
A method is provided for operating a motor vehicle traveling on a roadway. The method includes, but is not limited to determining data of the roadway in the area, which includes determining a number n of lanes. If it is determined that n≧2, it is determined whether a lane in which the vehicle is located with data of an optical camera of the motor vehicle. In addition, it is determined whether a second motor vehicle is traveling in the lane, in which the motor vehicle is located, in a direction of travel opposite a first direction of travel with a determination apparatus of the motor vehicle. If a second motor vehicle is determined, a warning message and/or automatic actuation is generated from an apparatus of the motor vehicle (e.g, a braking apparatus, a drive apparatus, or a steering apparatus).
US08620516B2
A diagnostic system for performing engine material temperature sensor diagnostics includes a coolant flow sensor configured to provide an indication of coolant flow within a coolant system; an engine state sensor configured to provide an indication of an operational state of an internal combustion engine; and a diagnostic module in communication with the coolant flow sensor and engine state sensor. The diagnostic module is configured to use the indication of coolant flow and the indication of an operational state of the internal combustion engine to estimate an amount of accumulated energy within the internal combustion engine.
US08620510B1
A mission planning system for determining an optimum use of a plurality of vehicles in searching a predefined geographic area (PGA). A discretizer subsystem may be used for sensing the capabilities of each vehicle to produce a point set defining a number of points within the PGA that the vehicles must traverse to completely search the PGA. A task allocator subsystem may determine an optimum division of the PGA into different subregions to be handled by specific ones of the vehicles, thus to minimize an overall time needed to search the PGA. A path optimizer subsystem may determine an optimum path through a particular vehicle's assigned subregion to minimize the time needed for each specific vehicle to traverse its associated subregion.
US08620508B2
A hybrid vehicle is driven by a power unit which includes: a first rotating machine including a first rotor, a first stator, and a second rotor, wherein the number of magnetic poles generated by an armature row of the first stator and one of the first rotor and the second rotor are connected to a drive shaft; a power engine, wherein an output shaft of the power engine is connected to the other of the first rotor and the second rotor; a second rotating machine; a capacitor; and a transformer that steps up an output voltage of the capacitor. The hybrid vehicle includes: a voltage demand calculator that calculates a voltage demand required for each of the first rotating machine and the second rotating machine in accordance with an operating condition of the hybrid vehicle; a step-up execution determining unit that allows the transformer to step up the voltage, when at least one of the voltage demand of the first rotating machine and the voltage demand of the second rotating machine is higher than a first threshold value; and a controller that controls the transformer in accordance with the result determined by the step-up execution determining unit. Accordingly, it is possible to achieve reduction in the size and cost of the power unit and enhance the driving efficiency of the power unit.
US08620507B2
A hybrid vehicle is driven by a power unit which includes: a first rotating machine including a first rotor, a first stator, and a second rotor, wherein the number of magnetic poles generated by an armature row of the first stator and one of the first rotor and the second rotor are connected to a drive shaft; a power engine, wherein an output shaft of the power engine is connected to the other of the first rotor and the second rotor; a second rotating machine; and a capacitor. A traveling mode of the hybrid vehicle includes an EV traveling mode and an ENG traveling mode, wherein the hybrid vehicle travels with a motive power from at least one of the first rotating machine and the second rotating machine in the EV traveling mode, and the hybrid vehicle travels with a motive power from the power engine in ENG traveling mode. The hybrid vehicle includes: an EV traveling mode predicting unit that predicts a switching from the ENG traveling mode to the EV traveling mode; and a controller that controls a remaining capacity of the capacitor in accordance with prediction result obtained by the EV traveling mode predicting unit so as to change a target value of the remaining capacity. Accordingly, it is possible to achieve reduction in the size and cost of the power unit and enhance the driving efficiency of the power unit.
US08620506B2
A method for thermal management of an electric vehicle and the vehicle are provided. A controller is configured to regulate the temperature of a traction battery to within an operating temperature range when the vehicle is operating. The temperature of the battery is regulated to within a charging temperature range when the battery is connected to the charger and power source and the ambient temperature is outside an environmental temperature range. The battery is preconditioned to a battery drive temperature when the ambient temperature is outside the environmental temperature range and the battery is connected to the charger and power source. The cabin in the vehicle is preconditioned to a cabin temperature when the vehicle is connected to the charger and power source and the ambient temperature is outside the environmental temperature range.
US08620504B2
An ECU executes a program including the steps of: setting a target boost voltage to a maximum value when a request for changing a sub power supply is made; temporarily increasing discharge electric power of a main power supply and then restricting discharge electric power of the sub power supply before switching; shutting off a gate of a converter on the sub power supply side; performing processing for shutting off an SMR corresponding to the sub power supply before switching; connecting an SMR corresponding to a sub power supply after switching when an absolute value of a current is equal to or lower than a predetermined value; canceling shut-off of the gate of the converter on the sub power supply side; canceling temporary increase in discharge electric power of the main power supply and restriction of discharge electric power of the sub power supply; and canceling the setting of the maximum value as the target boost voltage.
US08620497B2
A code bit level redundancy method for a computer interlocking system is provided. The method includes: (1) controlling the output in parallel, and (2) sharing the collected information.
US08620490B2
A smart entry system for a vehicle having a lockable trunk is provided. The smart entry system includes portable devices, an onboard transmitter for transmitting request signals to the portable devices, an onboard receiver for receiving identification signals from the portable devices, and a trunk lockout protection feature. The trunk lockout protection feature is configured to receive a command signal to either initiate a trunk lockout protection sequence to unlock the trunk in the event that one of the portable devices is locked in the trunk or to disable the trunk lockout protection sequence to permit the trunk to remain in a locked state in the event that one of the portable devices is locked in the trunk.
US08620482B2
An estimation unit can estimate, on a real-time basis, a maximum power generation capacity of a single cycle or combined cycle gas turbine power plant. For example, the actual power output and the maximum power generation capacity can be calculated relying on a mathematical process model. Subsequently, the calculated actual power output can be compared with the measured power output yielding a model-estimation error. Based on the model-estimation error, a correction signal can be deduced, to correct the calculated maximum power generation capacity. A controller can maintain a specified power reserve. The controller can use an estimate of the maximum power generation capacity as a reference, subtract a load offset, and apply the resulting signal as upper limit of the load set-point.
US08620480B2
The present invention provides a multitude of embodiments for landscape water conservation with automated water budgeting or seasonal adjustment. Water budget automation may be implemented within an irrigation controller, by means of an add-on or a plug-in to the controller, or broadcast from a central location. The environmental data used for automated water budgeting may be historical including ambient temperature, wind, solar radiation, relative humidity, soil moisture, soil temperature, or evapotranspiration, or combinations thereof, or with a combination of current sensor data. The automated water budgeting may be accomplished with a percentage accumulation method which adjusts watering intervals and schedules, or on a daily percentage basis. In addition, government based restricted watering schedules may be combined within all the above embodiments to provide additional flexibility for water conservation.
US08620475B2
A control method is described, said method being used within an operating system (10) for roller blinds (20) or the like having an output shaft (SH) of a motor (M) which transfers rotational movement to a drum (40) onto which the roller blind is wound, said method comprising the following steps: —(i) detecting directly or indirectly the force acting on the drum, or on a member connected thereto, and/or the relative position of the drum, or of a member connected thereto, with respect to a part which is fixed and/or integral with the operating system; —(ii) obtaining from the detection operation performed in step (i) a zero value (RZ) representing a stable rest condition of the roller blind; —(iii) starting an automatic closing movement of the roller blind should said force and/or said relative position (RR) vary, with respect to the value (RZ) obtained during step (ii), beyond a predefined threshold (T). The method simplifies the constructional design and installation of the operating system, while providing it with protection against wind and impacts.
US08620466B2
A method for determining a point in time within an audio signal, the audio signal having been transmitted from a broadcast station to a client and to a server, the method including: deriving, at the server, first signature data from the audio signal, wherein a reference point in time is associated with the beginning or end of the audio data corresponding to the first signature data; deriving, at the client, second signature data from the audio signal, wherein the second signature data are derived in the same manner as the first signature data at the server; comparing the first and second signature data; and determining the point in time to be equal to the reference point in time depending on a result of the comparing.
US08620457B2
An implantable system for the defibrillation of the atria of a patient's heart comprises (a) a first catheter configured for insertion into the right atrium of the heart, preferably without extending into the right ventricle of the heart; a first atrial defibrillation electrode carried by the first catheter and positioned at the atrial septum of the heart (i.e., an atrial septum electrode); (b) a second atrial defibrillation electrode which together with the first atrial defibrillation electrode provides a pair of atrial defibrillation electrodes that are configured for orientation in or about the patient's heart to effect atrial defibrillation, and (c) a pulse generator operatively associated with the pair of atrial defibrillation electrodes for delivering a first atrial defibrillation pulse to the heart of the patient. The second electrode may be configured for positioning through the coronary sinus ostium and in the coronary sinus or a vein on the surface of the left ventricle, such as the great vein. An additional electrode configured for positioning in the superior vena cava, right atrium (including the right atrial appendage, or the right ventricle may also be included, and the pulse generator may be configured or programmed for concurrently delivering a first defibrillation pulse through the additional electrode and the atrial septum electrode, and a second defibrillation pulse through the atrial septum electrode and the second electrode. Electrode assemblies and methods useful for carrying out the invention are also disclosed.
US08620456B2
An assembly for pain suppressing electrical stimulation of a patient's spinal cord, the assembly including lateral, medial, and oppositely lateral series of contact plates; a lateral panel, a medial panel and an oppositely lateral panel, the electrical contact plates being fixedly attached to the panels; living hinges pivotally attaching the lateral and oppositely lateral panels to the medial panel; proximally extending wires electrically communicating with the contact plates; a proximally extending insulator attached to the medial panel, the insulator having a hollow bore and the wires being embedded within the insulator; a proximally opening traction socket fixedly attached to the medial panel; and a semi-rigid stay which is extendable through the hollow bore, the semi-rigid stay being engageable with the proximally opening traction socket.
US08620453B2
A medical lead is provided for use in a pulse stimulation system of the type which includes a pulse generator for producing electrical stimulation therapy. The lead comprises an elongate insulating body and at least one electrical conductor within the insulating body. The conductor has a proximal end configured to be electrically coupled to the pulse generator and has a DC resistance in the range of 375-2000 ohms. At least one distal electrode is coupled to the conductor.
US08620446B2
Systems and methods are provided for allowing an implantable medical device, such as pacemaker, to properly sense electrophysiological signals and hemodynamic signals within a patient during a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) procedure. Systems and methods are also provided for allowing the implantable medical device to transmit the sensed data to an external monitoring system during the MRI procedure so that attending medical personnel can closely monitor the health of the patient and the operation of the implantable device during the MRI. These improvements provide the attending personnel with information needed to determine whether the MRI should be suspended in response to induced tachyarrhythmias or other adverse conditions within the patient.
US08620445B2
Errors in pitch allocation within a cochlear implant are corrected in order to provide a significant and profound improvement in the quality of sound perceived by the cochlear implant user. The disclosure provides a tool for determining the implant fitting curve for cochlear implant system to correct pitch warping. The method presents familiar musical tunes to determine the implant fitting slope (relative alignment). In addition, in one embodiment, speech sounds may be used to determine the offset of the fitting line (absolute alignment). The use of music and speech to determine the implant fitting curve (line) and the slope is facilitated by using techniques to implement virtual electrodes to more precisely direct stimuli to the location or “place” on the cochlea.
US08620444B2
An implant includes a humidity sensor for generating a signal indicative of humidity within the implant. A controller within the implant receives the signal indicative of humidity, and controls the implant based on the signal indicative of humidity.
US08620443B2
Stimulation inputs are provided to a visual prosthesis implant. The images captured by a video decoder are received and digitized to provide a plurality of video frames; integrity of the video frames is checked, the checked video frames are filtered, and the filtered video frames are converted to stimulation inputs. A similar system is also disclosed.
US08620438B1
A method and apparatus for applying neuromuscular electrical stimulation to an agonist/antagonist muscle pair to move a limb about a joint includes generating a first pattern of neuromuscular electrical stimulation pulses for output through a first channel to a first pair of electrodes and generating a second pattern of neuromuscular stimulation pulses for output through a second channel to a second pair of electrodes. The first pair of electrodes are attached to the agonist muscle of the agonist/antagonist muscle pair, and the second pair of electrodes are attached to the antagonist muscle. A first pattern of electrical stimulation pulses is transmitted through the first pair of electrodes to the agonist muscle at a first intensity level to initiate contraction of the agonist muscle, and then at a second intensity level which is less than the first intensity level to continue contraction of the agonist muscle. A second pattern of electrical stimulation pulses is transmitted through the second pair of electrodes to the antagonist muscle at a first intensity level to reduce the acceleration of the limb, and then at a second intensity level which is less than the first intensity level to regulate the movement of the limb.
US08620428B2
According to various method embodiments for pacing a heart and avoiding unwanted stimulation of a phrenic nerve during cardiac pacing, a desired pacing time for delivering a cardiac pace is determined, and a desired nerve traffic inhibition time to inhibit nerve traffic in the phrenic nerve is determined using the desired pace time. The cardiac pace is delivered at the desired pacing time and nerve traffic in the phrenic nerve is inhibited at the desired nerve traffic inhibition time.
US08620426B2
Various aspects relate to a device which, in various embodiments, comprises a header, a neural stimulator, a detector and a controller. The header includes at least one port to connect to at least one lead, and includes first and second channels for use to provide neural stimulation to first and second neural stimulation sites for a heart. The controller is connected to the detector and the neural stimulator to selectively deliver a therapy based on the feedback signal. A first therapy signal is delivered to the first neural stimulation site to selectively control contractility and a second therapy signal is delivered to the second neural stimulation site to selectively control one of a sinus rate and an AV conduction. Other aspects and embodiments are provided herein.
US08620420B2
The present invention relates to a method for filtering the signal of neuronal activity during a high frequency deep brain stimulation (DBS) to remove the stimulus artefact in the observed signal, comprising the step of approximating the observed signal trajectories in phase space the observed signal being considered as a sum of the stimulation artifacts induced by the signal of stimulation, wherein the signal of stimulation is assumed to be a solution of an ordinary differential equation including a self-oscillating system with stable limit cycle; slicing the observed signal and its derivative into segments, each segment corresponding to a period of stimulation; collecting N selected periods of stimulation to a training set; estimating the limit cycle of the self-oscillating system; synchronizing each artefact of the observed signal with the estimated limit cycle; subtracting the estimated limit cycle from each artefact in phase space according to the synchronization; collecting all segments in order to obtain whole filtered signal and finally presenting the results in time domain.
US08620419B2
A system and method include a computer implemented training framework that adapts its behavior to different types of training goals. The system utilizes a measured neuro-physiological state of a student to provide at least one of self regulation feedback and training environment feedback to optimize a learning experience for one or more different types of scenarios.
US08620407B2
A patient support includes an upper support plate which is provided with a headrest. A base plate is arranged below, and separate from the upper support plate, by a floating mounting. A single narrow, narrow support column is provided, in the region of the headrest, between the support plate and the base plate. An upper face of the support plate consists of a forward zone, a mid-zone and an end zone. A width of the support plate reduces continuously from a widest point in the forward zone to a narrow space in the mid-zone and then widens continuously to the end of the support plate. Left and right sections of the patent support are formed and run horizontally arranged symmetrically about a longitudinal and symmetrical axis of the support plate.
US08620405B2
A skin marker for providing a reference point for a plurality of different medical imaging procedures, said marker incorporating one or more substances having one or more of radiance and/or hydration and/or radiopaque and/or radio luminescent and/or radioactive properties for detection by X-ray and/or Computer Tomography (CT) and/or MRI and/or Ultrasonic scanning processes and/or Positron Emission Tomography (PET), and one or more markings recognizable by an optical imaging process such as 3D surface scanning.
US08620399B2
Medical devices, methods of manufacturing medical devices, and systems comprising medical devices are provided. The medical device comprises a shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, and a major lumen disposed therein extending between the proximal end and the distal end. The major lumen is configured to receive a second medical device therein. The shaft comprises an inner liner, a generally planar element wrapped in a spiral pattern about the outer surface of the inner liner, and an outer layer. The generally planar element has a longitudinal axis and a plurality of longitudinally extending ribs and comprises a polymeric material.
US08620395B2
A mobile terminal comprises: a case forming appearance of the mobile terminal, and having a printed circuit board (PCB) therein; and a connection terminal mounted to the case, and configured to electrically connect the PCB to an external device, wherein the connection terminal comprises: an external terminal supported by an outer surface of the case; and an internal terminal elastically contacting a terminal of the PCB, connected to the external terminal, and supported by an inner surface of the case.
US08620394B2
Communication networks are implemented using a variety of devices and methods. In a particular embodiment for use in a communication network having RF-communication devices that communicate using a RF protocol, an RF-communication device is implemented with an RF transceiver (110) to communicate over the network using the RF protocol and being controllable in a reduced power-consumption mode in which the RF transceiver does not communicate over the network. The device also includes an RF receiver (104, 106) including an envelope detector (104) and a pulse generator circuit (106). The envelope detector circuit (104) providing an envelope-based signal to a pulse generator circuit (106) that, in response to the envelope-based signal and after generating a number of pulses that exceeds a predetermined number of pulses, prompts the RF transceiver (110) to transition out of the reduced power-consumption mode.
US08620388B2
A noise suppressing device receives sound signals through a plurality of sound-receiving units and suppresses noise components included in the input sound signals. The noise suppressing device includes a detecting unit which detects a usage pattern of the noise suppressing device from a plurality of usage patterns in which positional relationships of the plurality of sound-receiving units and/or positional relationships between the plurality of sound-receiving units and a target sound source are different from each other, a converting unit which converts using environment information used in a noise suppressing process to each of the sound signals inputted by the plurality of sound-receiving units into using environment information in accordance with a usage pattern detected by the detecting unit and a suppressing unit which performs the noise suppressing process using the using environment information converted by the converting unit to the sound signals.
US08620379B2
A method and system are provided in which a Windows Portable Devices (WPD) driver installed and executed on a central device enables one or more applications on that device to interface with a peripheral device, such as a Bluetooth low energy (BLE) device. The peripheral device may utilize a Generic Attribute Profile (GATT) to interface with the WPD driver. Through the WPD driver, the central device may access, transmit, receive, and/or modify information associated with the peripheral device and/or control the peripheral device. The information associated with the peripheral device may include services, characteristics, and/or descriptors. A WPD device and objects that logically or virtually represents the peripheral device may be generated to map attributes of the WPD device to services and/or characteristics associated with the peripheral device. More than one WPD device may be available when multiple peripheral devices are represented in the central device.
US08620378B2
A Femto Access Point includes determination means for determining whether or not called side user equipment is accommodated in the Femto Access Point; and communication control means for, if the determination means has determined that the called side user equipment is accommodated in the Femto Access Point, sending out a Ring Back Tone to calling side user equipment.
US08620369B2
There is provided a channel access method in which a channel access method in a wireless network in which a channel access opportunity is provided to high priority traffic for each super-frame. The channel access method includes: setting parameter values required for channel access; setting a channel access time to be equal to a size of a contention access period (CAP); and accessing a channel to be used by resetting the channel access time to be equal to the size of the CAP when traffic to be transmitted is traffic having a preset high priority in a case in which the channel is not in an idle state.
US08620368B2
A first device wirelessly transmits and/or receives swept 60 GHz beacon signals to and/or from other devices. Beacon signals indicate angle of reception and/or relative direction with respect to other devices. Knowing reception angle and/or relative direction enables beamforming of adaptive and/or steered antennas for communication. 60 GHz beacons are swept over one or more angles. Identity information, configuration information, timing information and/or spatial information are communicated via 60 GHz beacons. Control and/or coordination information are transmitted and/or received. Reception angle, relative direction and/or distance between devices are determined based on 60 GHz beacons. Adaptive and/or steered antennas used for communication are initialized and/or undergo beamforming for 60 GHz, based on the angle, direction and/or distance between devices. Devices are mobile and/or stationary. Devices comprise mobile stations, base stations, wireless phones, access points, set-top-boxes, computers, game consoles, video servers, video recorders, video playback devices, residential gateways and internet browsing devices.
US08620363B1
A base station determines occupancy of a channel used for message communication and transmits channel occupancy data to access terminals operable to transmit messages via the channel. An access terminal receives characters for sending a text message via the channel and determines whether the channel occupancy exceeds an occupancy threshold. If the channel occupancy exceeds the threshold, the access terminal transmits characters of the text message to the base station via multiple messages. Each of those messages including a number of characters that does not exceed a maximum number of characters associated with the threshold. If the channel occupancy does not exceed the threshold, the access terminal transmits characters of the text message to the base station via a single message so long as the number of characters does not exceed a maximum number of characters for sending a complete text message to the base station via a single message.
US08620361B2
Systems, methods, and apparatus that facilitate effective routing of short message service (SMS) and multimedia messaging service (MMS) messages via short codes are presented herein. A group message component can be configured to receive a message transmitted via a wireless communications device, and determine whether the message comprises at least two addressees. A short code component can be configured to identify whether the at least two addressees are associated with at least one short code, and recognize whether the message comprises only text. A routing component can be configured to convert the message to an SMS message when the message comprises the at least two addressees, the at least two addressees are associated with the at least one short code, and the message comprises only text. Further, the routing component can be configured to route the SMS message to the at least one short code.
US08620355B2
A method for wireless positioning is provided. The method for wireless positioning includes: acquiring synchronization with base stations; collecting a plurality of propagation delay taps for the base stations; determining a final propagation delay tap among the plurality of propagation delay taps; calculating a time difference of arrival (TDOA) value using the final propagation delay value; and deriving locations of the terminals using the calculated TDOA value. By this configuration, the positioning accuracy can be improved.
US08620352B2
An arrangement for providing privacy settings for determining whether location information for a subscriber can be provided to a requesting party is described. The privacy settings are at least partially based on presence information for the subscriber. A gateway mobile location center (GMLC) selectively provides the location information regarding subscribers on request, in accordance with the privacy settings.
US08620343B1
Inexpensive position sensing devices that allow widespread use and availability of position information are disclosed. One embodiment of the position-sensing device acquires, down converts and extracts raw position data from position signals. Then, the position-sensing device wirelessly transmits the raw position data to a position-computing device, which converts the raw position data into the position of the device. The position-computing device can also receive auxiliary information from auxiliary sensors, and perform analyzes based on the position and the auxiliary information. The position-computing device can re-transmit the position and auxiliary information to a remote site for further analysis and/or central storage. The remote site can also download information to the position-computing device. The position-computing device can also control an actuator to perform an operation.
US08620342B2
Determining a geographic location of a cellular base station is disclosed. In some embodiments, a set of measurement data that includes for each of a plurality of signals received at the base station a corresponding measurement data is determined. The set of measurement data is used to determine the geographic location of the base station. In some embodiments, a set of measurement data is received. The received measurement data includes for each of a plurality of location measurement units at which a signal transmitted by the base station is received a corresponding measurement data associated with the signal. The set of measurement data is used to determine the geographic location of the base station.
US08620339B2
A system and method for providing quality of service mapping including a first receiver to receive location data of a mobile device, a transmitter to transmit the location data to one or more servers of a service provider, and a second receiver to receive signal quality information based on the location data. The signal quality map be used to provide at least a signal quality map, a coverage area map, an availability map, and turn-by-turn directions for optimized signal quality or availability, based on the signal quality information. The signal quality map be also be used to improve overall service in the event of signal loss or signal degradation.
US08620333B2
A wireless communications system includes a radio resource manager, one or more base stations, and one or more wireless transceivers capable of communicating with the base stations. The wireless transceivers are configured to be able to measure the difference in network parameter (e.g. frequency and timing offset) between base stations within their range. These network parameter differences along with other information are communicated to the radio resource manager which is then able to update or correct the signal or signals of one or more base stations using the information from the wireless transceivers.
US08620331B1
Methods and systems for establishing landline telephone services for wireless telephone subscribers are provided. One embodiment of a method includes receiving a request to establish a voice connection between a first telephone device and a second telephone device, wherein the second telephone device is a landline telephone device, and further wherein a particular wireless telephone number is associated with the second telephone device; referencing a mapping of one or more wireless telephone numbers and corresponding IP addresses, wherein the particular wireless telephone number associated with the second telephone device is mapped to a particular IP address in the referenced mapping; and utilizing said referenced mapping, initiating a voice connection between the first telephone device and the second telephone device.
US08620330B2
A communication system, console, and method of patching a PTT call are provided. An audio stream and control messages are provided to the console, which patches the either or both to target devices. The identity of the audio stream source is embedded only in the audio stream. Initially, when the audio stream is first patched, the identity is not provided. While the audio stream is being patched, the identity is extracted and the control messages updated so that the identity is immediately relayed through the console without having to wait for the next periodic transmission of a control message from the console.
US08620327B2
A base transceiver station performing communications with user equipment, includes a receiving unit to receive an uplink transmission signal containing a propagation path fluctuation value between a self-device and the user equipment from the user equipment; and a communication permitting unit to control a period of time during which a permission of communications is given to the user equipment based on the propagation path fluctuation value.
US08620325B2
A mobile station associated with a base station determines a measure of the quality of a communication link between the mobile station and the base station. The measure takes into account (a) RF power levels of signals received at the mobile station over the link and (b) an actual data rate of communications over the link. This measure of the quality of the link may be a factor in triggering the mobile station to initiate a handoff.
US08620324B2
A method and an apparatus of a serving base station for determining handover of a terminal in a mobile communications system are provided, including determining whether a measurement report message is received from a User Equipment (UE); when receiving the measurement report message, determining whether a channel status value of the UE satisfies a preset condition during a certain time; and determining whether to hand over the UE according to the determination result.
US08620320B2
A call in progress in a first communication network is handed over to a second communication network which uses a different air interface. To facilitate the handover, the present serving base station commands the mobile communication device to take measurements of surrounding cells of the second communication network. The measurements are sent along with a handover request from the serving base station to a radio network controller of the second network, which decides upon a cell to which the cal will be handed. A grant message including an identifier to be used by the mobile communication device and an identifier of the base station receiving the handover is transmitted back to the first network, and used by the mobile communication device in handing over the call.
US08620316B2
The present invention provides a method in a call session control node (18, 200) for a packet-switched telecommunications network (10). The call session control node (18, 200) comprises an originating call handling function (202) and a terminating call handling function (204). The method comprises the steps of: receiving (100, 300) a message (14) for a called entity on the originating call handling function (202); determining (106, 400) with the originating call handling function (202) whether the called entity is registered with the call session control node (18, 200); and, if the called entity is registered with the call session control node (18, 200), routing (110, 500) the message (14) to the terminating call handling function (204), without traversing an inbound call session control function.
US08620310B2
A method, device and system for sending and acquiring information is provided, which relates to the field of communication, for solving the problem that user equipment (UE) cannot determine whether information transmitted in a time-frequency resource block is pilot measurement information or other information, such as communication data, that result in inaccurate detection on signal quality of a neighboring cell by the UE. Antenna configuration information of the neighboring cell is acquired, and a message is sent carrying the antenna configuration information of the neighboring cell to the UE. The embodiments of the present invention can be applied in a wireless communication network.
US08620307B2
A method for automated selection of an access interface and a source address for communication between a communication device and a network node in a communication system, comprising: executing a first selection routine for considering at least one first policy on access interface allocation; and executing a second selection routine for considering at least one second policy on source address allocation; wherein at least one first output of the first selection routine is inputted into the second selection routine or at least one second output of the second selection routine is inputted into the first selection routine.
US08620304B2
This technology herein relates to methods and systems for determining cellular and other radio transmitter mappings based upon calculated and actual values. Cellular and other radio transmitter mappings are calculated based upon factors including transmitter locations, projected signal strength maps, and signal strength measurements. This technique can be used to determine prospective and actual locations of communications towers, and which communications providers would be interested in leasing space on those towers.
US08620302B2
The technology in this application identifies a relay cell serviced by a relay radio node in a radio access network (RAN) of a cellular communications system in which there is a radio connection between the relay radio node and a donor radio base station. The donor radio base station is identified by a RAN donor radio base station cell identifier. A RAN relay cell identifier is determined that uniquely identifies the relay cell within the RAN, the RAN relay cell identifier including a relay cell identifier and a donor base station identifier. The RAN relay cell identifier is then provided or used as needed so that the relay radio node can transmit the RAN relay cell identifier to uniquely identify the relay cell to one or more radio terminals in the RAN.
US08620300B2
In a cellular radio system cell identities, in particular the E-UTRAN Physical Layer Cell Identities (PCIDs), are grouped in accordance with the area, in particular the Tracking Area, to which they belong to in a message transmitted from a radio base station to a mobile station. In one embodiment the grouped cell identity information is transmitted as a broadcast message. A multi RAT, e.g. GERAN/E-UTRAN, capable mobile station receiving such a broadcast message where the IDs are grouped together in tracking area groups is then enabled to determine the neighboring cells that belong to the same Area. As a result when cell reselection to an E-UTRAN cell is rejected due to that the Tracking Area is not allowed, the mobile station can then be allowed to directly initiate cell reselection to E-UTRAN cells that are not part of the same PCID group, and which thus do not belong to the same tracking area. This in turn results in that no waiting time is needed to initiate a cell reselection towards those cells.
US08620299B2
Methods, systems, and computer readable media for electronically delivering a prepaid card to a mobile device are disclosed. According to one aspect, the method includes receiving, at a merchant server, purchase information related to the purchase of an electronic prepaid card. The method further includes receiving, from the merchant server, electronic prepaid card information derived from the purchase information. The method further includes establishing a communications link with a mobile device associated with address data included in the electronic prepaid card information. The method also includes provisioning the electronic prepaid card information on the mobile device via over the air (OTA) communications.
US08620297B2
Systems and methods of connection control for wireless mobile communication devices enabled for communication via a plurality of communication connections are provided. Connection control information associates software applications with communication connections. When a connection request specifying a requested connection is received from a software application, it is determined whether the requested connection is permitted by the connection control information. Where the requested connection is permitted by the connection control information, the requested connection is opened. If the requested connection is a first connection opened by the software application, then the software application is associated with the requested connection in the connection control information.
US08620288B2
A method is provided for altering content of a webpage served from a content provider's server (32). The method includes: receiving a data request at a proxy server (22) over a wireless telecommunication network (20), the data request being initiated by a mobile device (10) served by the wireless network (20); forwarding the request from the proxy server (22) to the content provider's server (32) over the Internet (30) such that the content provider's server (32) returns a webpage with original content contained therein in response to the forwarded request; receiving the returned webpage at the proxy server (22); altering the original content of the webpage received by the proxy server (22); and, forwarding the webpage with the altered content to the mobile device (10) initiating the data request.
US08620269B2
A system and method for defining a boundary within a wireless coverage area using a physical access control system (PACS) and limiting access to the wireless network to devices located within the boundary area is provided. The system includes a PACS for controlling access to a secured area defined by the boundary to authorized personnel and a wireless network generating system for generating a wireless network. Access to the wireless network is limited to devices associated with an authorized personnel when the authorized personnel is determined to be within the secured area and denied to devices associated to personnel determined to be outside the secured area.
US08620255B2
Techniques for routing an emergency call originated by a mobile station via a femto access point (FAP) in a wireless network and for locating the mobile station are described. In an aspect, the emergency call may be routed to an appropriate emergency center based on location information for the FAP. In one design, the location information for the FAP may include a macro cell identity (ID) and/or a macro Mobile Switching Center (MSC) ID determined based on the FAP location. The macro cell ID and/or the macro MSC ID may be assigned to the FAP and used to access a database, which may store routing information for emergency centers versus cell IDs and MSC IDs. In another design, the location information for the FAP may include a location estimate for the FAP. The location estimate may be used to access a geographic database, which may store routing information for emergency centers for different geographic areas.
US08620254B2
The present invention is directed to a wireless communications device that includes an antenna configured to receive an RF signal from an ambient environment. The antenna is characterized by an antenna impedance and the RF signal is characterized by a predetermined frequency. A passive mixer assembly is coupled to the antenna without an RF matching network. The passive mixer assembly is characterized by a passive mixer impedance presented to the antenna. The passive mixer assembly includes a plurality of baseband mixer ports. The passive mixer assembly is configured to downconvert the RF signal and provide a plurality of baseband signals. Each baseband signal of the plurality of baseband signals is directed out of a corresponding port of the plurality of baseband mixer ports and characterized by a predetermined phase of a plurality of predetermined phases. A baseband low noise amplifier (baseband-LNA) assembly is coupled to the passive mixer assembly. The baseband-LNA assembly includes a baseband-LNA input portion configured to receive the plurality of baseband signals from the passive mixer assembly. The baseband-LNA assembly is configured to provide a plurality of amplified baseband signals from a baseband-LNA output portion. A baseband feedback network is coupled between the baseband-LNA output portion and the baseband-LNA input portion. The baseband feedback network includes a plurality of first adjustable resistive components. The plurality of first adjustable resistive components is selectively adjustable such that the passive mixer impedance is substantially matched to the antenna impedance at the predetermined RF frequency.
US08620252B2
Presented herein are systems, methods, and apparatus for ultra-low power, low noise switched capacitor radio frequency mixer. In one embodiment, there is described a method for mixing a signal. The method comprises mixing with a mixer, a received signal with a mixing signal to generate a mixed signal. The mixing signal comprises an in-phase component and an out-of-phase component and a desired frequency. The mixed signal comprises a mixed in-phase component and a mixed out-of-phase component. The method also comprises mixing one of the mixed in-phase component and the mixed out-of-phase component based on the mixing signal.
US08620242B2
According to one embodiment, an improved preamplification chain for implementation in a transmitter comprises a frequency conversion stage for up-converting a baseband signal to a transmit signal, a variable gain control power amplifier driver for preamplifying the transmit signal, and a differential feedback calibration stage receiving first and second differential outputs of a current steering unit of the power amplifier driver and providing calibration feedback to a baseband signal generator of the transmitter. In one embodiment, the frequency conversion stage includes an adjustable low-pass filter for filtering the baseband signal, a passive mixer for up-converting the baseband signal to the transmit signal, and a clock conversion unit configured to convert a fifty percent (50%) duty cycle clock input to a twenty-five percent (25%) duty cycle clock output for driving the passive mixer.
US08620238B2
Various embodiments described herein relate to a power management block and one or more amplification blocks used in the transmitter of a communication subsystem. The power management block provides improved control for the gain control signal provided to a pre-amplifier and the supply voltage provided to a power amplifier, both of which are included in a selected one of the amplification blocks. The power expended by the power amplifier is optimized by employing a continuous control method in which one or more feedback loops are employed to take into account various characteristics of the transmitter components and control values. Post power amplifier transmission power is detected for input into the one or more feedback loops executed in the power management block. A controller for the power amplifier is design to stabilize the system with respect to gain expansion in the power amplifier.
US08620237B2
A system includes a voltage regulator connected to a voltage source for providing a regulated voltage at a first level in a first mode of operation and at least one second level in a second mode of operation. The second voltage level is higher than the first voltage level. A control processor provides control signals to select between the first and the second modes of operation. A component associated with the voltage regulator. The component is disabled in the first mode of operation and enabled in the second mode of operation. The control processor generates control signals to configure the voltage regulator to generate the voltage at the first level in the first mode of operation when the component is disabled and to configure the voltage regulator to generate the voltage at the at least one second level in the second mode of operation when the component is enabled.
US08620235B2
A data module operable in a wireless communication system is provided. The data module comprises a plurality of circuit components, one or more temperature sensors, and a thermal management unit. The temperature sensors are configured to determine the temperature of a corresponding circuit component. The thermal management unit is configured to determine one or more thermal characteristics of the data module based on the temperature determinations, and to generate one or more power control point signals indicating whether to adjust corresponding operating characteristics of a target component based on the determined thermal characteristics.
US08620233B2
A method of power amplifier predistortion that makes use of a compression detector circuit in a feedback loop in order to adapt the channel gain for changing transmitter behavior. By monitoring the compression behavior of the amplifier, the signal is scaled to compensate for gain and compression point variations in the power amplifier and transmitter, while keeping a predistortion correction function constant.
US08620228B2
Wideband-Code Division Multiple Access (W-CDMA) transmit architecture. A baseband digital processing module operates cooperatively with an analog signal processing module to effectuate highly adjustable and highly accurate gain adjustment in accordance with transmitter processing within a communication device. The gain adjustment and/or gain control is partitioned between the digital and analog domains by employing two cooperatively operating digital and analog modules, respectively. Gain adjustment in the analog domain is performed in a relatively more coarse fashion that in the digital domain. If desired, gain adjustment in each of the analog and digital domains is performed across a range of discrete steps. The discrete steps in the analog domain are larger than the discrete steps in the digital domain. Also, the discrete steps in the digital domain may be interposed between two successive discrete steps in the analog domain.
US08620222B2
A method for testing transmission modes of a wireless communication device. According to the method, a switching range is determined in a parameter space in a test device. The parameter of the parameter space describes the quality of transmission and influences a recommendation for a transmission mode to be adjusted in a device to be tested. The switching range is a subspace of the parameter space and contains at least one switching limit for the recommendation for the subsequent transmission mode to be adjusted. In a further step, random parameter points from the switching range are generated depending on a probability distribution which is defined for the switching range. A signal is generated for every parameter point and has a transmission mode determined by the parameter point and is transmitted to the device to be tested. The device to be tested then transmits one response signal per received signal to the test device, the response signal containing a recommendation for a subsequent transmission mode to be adjusted. All recommendations from all received response signals are evaluated in the test device.
US08620214B2
A process for establishing a data link between a first processor configured to supply, upon a contact communication port, a first data carrying signal, and a second processor configured to supply, upon a contact communication port, a second data carrying signal is described. The process includes providing a first coupler and a second coupler, establishing a contactless coupling between the first and second couplers and, by the intermediary of the couplers and at least one RF signal, transferring the first data carrying signal to the second processor and transferring the second data carrying signal to the first processor. The second processor is, for example, a secure processor of a SIM card and the first processor is an NFC controller.
US08620212B2
A relay station comprising a control unit is used in order to control a transmission processing device and a reception processing device to eliminate overlap of the receiving period to receive a radio signal from the radio base station and the transmitting period to transmit a radio signal to a radio terminal under the control. Moreover, a control unit is provided to control the transmission processing device and the reception processing device to eliminate overlap of the transmitting period to transmit a radio signal to the radio base station and the reception period to receive a radio signal from the radio terminal.
US08620206B2
The invention describes a system and method for allowing an individual to view an educational program remotely. In the preferred embodiment, the invention is used as a healthcare education system. The system comprises a file server which is connected to a database holding the educational programs. A remote interface connected to the file server allows an administrator to assign educational programs to an individual. The remote interface also includes a memory card writer which records the individual's identification code and the address of the file server on a memory card. The individual is given the memory card to take home. When the individual places the memory card in the memory card reader of a multimedia processor, the processor uses the file server address to automatically connect to the file server. The file server receives the individual's identification code from the processor, retrieves the corresponding educational program from the database, and sends the program to the processor to be displayed. After the individual has watched the educational program, completion data in the form of the date and time the program was watched, or the individual's response, is sent from the multimedia processor to the file server. The completion data can then be viewed by the administrator on a report screen.
US08620203B2
A waste toner container used in an image forming apparatus includes a waste toner reservoir extending in a depth direction of the image forming apparatus for containing waste toner removed from an image bearer, an inlet portion provided above the waste toner reservoir, including a waste toner inlet to receive the waste toner flowing to the waste toner reservoir, a first agitator provided in the waste toner reservoir, to transport the waste toner therein in the depth direction, a rotary member provided in the inlet portion, including a rotary shaft extending in a width direction perpendicular to the depth direction, and a drive transmission unit provided outside the waste toner reservoir, to transmit a drive force from the rotary member provided in the inlet portion to the first agitator provided in the waste toner reservoir and to drive the first agitator in conjunction with rotation of the rotary member.
US08620202B2
There is provided a fixing member to be used in a pressured state, the fixing member including: a base member that is rotated; a resilient layer that is formed on an outer periphery of the base member; and a surface layer that is formed on an outer periphery of the resilient layer, wherein an axial direction end face of the resilient layer includes an inclined portion that is inclined such that an axial direction length thereof is longer at the base member side than at the surface layer side, and that is exposed in the axial direction.
US08620199B2
A cleaning blade which is provided in a cleaning device that removes non-transferred toner remaining on an image carrier includes: a blade member in which an edge thereof is in contact with the image carrier over a longitudinal direction thereof; and a holder member that holds the blade member and has an L-shape in a cross-section that is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. The holder member includes a supporting portion that cantilevers the blade member on a surface thereof such that the edge of the blade member protrudes toward the image carrier, and a bent portion that is connected to the supporting portion to form the L-shaped cross-section and is formed to have a lateral length that is shorter at least a lateral length at one end portion in the longitudinal direction thereof than at a middle portion thereof in the longitudinal direction.
US08620194B2
A developing device, process cartridge and image forming apparatus of a premix developing system, with which developer splashed by the transport member is not discharged from the device, fluctuations of the amount of developer discharged to the outside are not produced, and the output image quality is stable. This developing device is provided with a pocket part, which is installed in a depressed manner facing the outside in relation to the transport route formed by the transport member, and into and out of which part of the developer transported in the transport route flows. This pocket part is provided with a discharge port for discharging developer to outside the device when the surface of the developer flowing into the pocket part exceeds a specified height.
US08620193B2
An image forming apparatus which performs toner discharge control for held toners of respective colors, comprises: an image carrier; a transfer member on which toner images of the respective colors formed on the image carrier are transferred and superposed; a calculation unit configured to calculate toner amounts used to form the toner images of the respective colors; and a control unit configured to superpose toners of at least two colors onto the transfer member when the toner amounts calculated by the calculation unit are smaller than a predetermined consumption amount, wherein the control unit decides a combination of colors of the toners to be superposed in accordance with differences between the toner amounts and the predetermined consumption amount.
US08620189B2
There is provided a developer container, which is divided into a first containing part and a second containing part that are communicated with each other at communication parts on the opposite end sides, which has a discharge port at the second containing part, and in which a developer is contained; a developer carrying member that carries the developer within the developer container to adhere it to the image carrying member; a first conveyance member that conveys the developer in the first containing part of the developer container while agitating it; a second conveyance member that conveys the developer in the second containing part of the developer container while agitating it, and supplies the developer to the developer carrying member; a third conveyance member that is arranged between the second conveyance member and the discharge port; a first driving member that rotary-drives the first conveyance member and the second conveyance member; and a second driving member that drives the third driving member so that its rotation direction can be changed.
US08620187B2
Various embodiments provide materials and methods for bias charging members including an outer surface coating overlaying an outer base layer, wherein the outer surface coating can include conductive fillers combined with one or more polymers to provide desirable surface, electrical, and/or mechanical properties.
US08620181B2
A process cartridge is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The process cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive member; a first frame for supporting the photosensitive member; a developer carrying member for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive member; an opening, provided in the first frame, through which the photosensitive member is exposed; a shutter, provided on the first frame, movable between an open position in which the opening is uncovered and a closed position in which the opening is covered; and a spacer member movably provided on the shutter. When the shutter is located at the closed position, the spacer member is movable to a spacing position in which the spacer member is between the photosensitive member and the developer carrying member to provide a spacing between the photosensitive member and the developer carrying member, and a retracted position in which the opening is covered with the spacer member.
US08620176B2
Casing projections of an image forming apparatus configured to support a seal of a developing device
A developing device comprising: a developing roller; a casing that includes a developer storage unit; a roller supporting unit and an opening; and a seal member that is mounted on the casing outside the opening in the central axis direction and faces an end portion of the developing roller, the seal member configured to rub against the end portion of the developing roller when the seal member is elastically deformed, wherein the casing includes: an outer projection that is provided along a moving direction of the developing roller to abut on an outer end portion of the seal member, the outer projection protruding in a position which is inside the roller supporting unit; and an inner projection provided along the outer projection so as to abut on an inner end portion of the seal member, the inner projection protruding in a position which is outside the opening.
US08620175B2
An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes a chassis, a cover, photosensitive members, an intermediate transfer belt, primary-transfer members, a secondary-transfer roller, a first feed roller, a cleaner device, a waste toner container, which is movable along the predetermined direction to be removably installed in the chassis through a first opening and stores residual toner, a connector, a first feeding path, a second feeding path being a path for a recording sheet inserted through a sheet inlet and includes a sheet guide to guide the recording sheet, and a second feed roller. The second feed roller is movable along with at least a part of the sheet guide. The waste toner container is movable through space, which is occupied by the second feed roller in an upper position, and the first opening when the second feed roller is in a lower position.
US08620170B2
In a RAM are stored a first deflection information table representing the relationship between the rotation amount and the deflection amount of a photosensitive element, a second deflection information table representing the relationship between the rotation amount and the deflection amount of a developing sleeve, a writing sensitivity information table representing the relationship between the rotation amount of the photosensitive element and latent image writing sensitivity, and an image forming condition information table representing the relationship between the rotation amount and laser power. An information input unit is provided to input the respective tables. During a print job, laser power is changed on the basis of the image forming condition information table, and laser power which causes deviation in an opposing direction is calculated on the basis of information input in a standby state to update the image forming condition information table.
US08620167B2
An image forming device includes a light-receiving element that receives a light having passed through a cartridge. An image forming unit has a first mode for forming images while rotating an agitator at a first speed and a second mode for forming images while rotating the agitator at a second speed that is lower than the first speed. If a value regarding image forming amount counted while the image forming unit is in the second mode is determined to be greater than a predetermined value, the image forming unit changes a rotation speed of the agitator from the second speed to the first speed, and it is determined whether the cartridge should be replaced based on a time ratio, which is a ratio of time duration, in which the light-receiving element receives the detection light within a predetermined duration, to the predetermined time duration.
US08620166B2
An optical receiver may include a unitary transformation operator to receive an n-symbol optical codeword associated with a codebook, and to perform a unitary transformation on the received optical codeword to generate a transformed optical codeword, where the unitary transformation is based on the codebook. The optical receiver may further include n optical detectors, where a particular one of the n optical detectors is to detect a particular optical symbol of the transformed optical codeword, and to determine whether the particular optical symbol corresponds to a first optical symbol or a second optical symbol. The optical receiver may also include a decoder to construct a codeword based on the determinations, and to decode the constructed codeword into a message using the codebook. The optical receiver may attain superadditive capacity, and, with an optimal code, may attain the Holevo limit to reliable communication data rates.
US08620160B2
An optical transmission apparatus includes a reception part for receiving a wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) signal reached via optical amplifiers; a measuring part for measuring an optical power level of each wavelength of the WDM signal received by the reception part; a determination part for determining whether an amount of tilt of the WDM signal calculated based on measurement results of the measuring part is suitable or not; an operation part for calculating the tilt correction amount to be applied to tilt correction processing performed by the optical amplifiers if the amount of tilt of the WDM signal is not suitable; and a notification part for notifying the optical amplifiers of the tilt correction amount.
US08620156B2
A method and apparatus for performing an automatic power adjustment wherein a signal power level of an optical signal transmitted by an optical transceiver via an optical span to a far-end device is adjusted automatically in response to a determined span loss of the optical span to achieve a predetermined desired receive signal power level of the optical signal at the far-end device.
US08620153B2
The present invention generally relates to devices for attaching light transmissive elements, such as a filter or an additional lens, to a camera lens. The present invention provides a quick release camera mount. The camera mount includes a filter mount that holds a light transmissive element fixed in place over a camera lens. It further includes: a sidewall; a first flexion plate attached to a release tab extending outwards from the sidewall, where the release tab provides for quick attachment or release from a camera lens; a second flexion plate attached to at least two locking teeth extending inwards from the sidewall.
US08620144B2
A closed caption tagging system provides a mechanism for inserting tags into an audio or video television broadcast stream prior to or at the time of transmission. The tags contain command and control information that the receiver translates and acts upon. The receiver receives the broadcast stream and detects and processes the tags within the broadcast stream which is stored on a storage device that resides on the receiver. Program material from the broadcast stream is played back to the viewer from the storage device. Tags indicate the start and end points of a program segment. Program segments such as commercials are automatically replaced by the receiver with new program segments that are selected based on various criteria.
US08620142B2
When multi-frame rate contents including many high frame-rate portions are played back in a video player, a playback can be easily selected by showing to a user a playback time in respective playback modes of a normal playback and a slow playback. The video player includes a rate analysis unit for calculating playback time in the respective playback modes by analyzing a frame rate of multi-frame rate contents, and thumbnail images of multi-frame rate contents and playback time in the respective playback modes are listed and displayed as display units in a pair with respect to a plurality of contents.
US08620140B2
A reproducing apparatus for reproducing contents data recorded on a disc-shaped recording medium is disclosed, the apparatus comprising inputting means for inputting a non-real time stream and a real time stream reproduced from the recording medium, storing means for storing the program code that has been input by the inputting means; image data storing means for storing the image data that has been input by the inputting means; first combining means for combining decoded moving picture data and decoded subtitle data; and second combining means for combining the decoded image data and the combined data of the decoded moving picture and the decoded subtitle data in accordance with the program code stored in the code storing means.
US08620127B2
The invention provides an optical waveguide including a resin substrate containing an inorganic filler, and at least a UV-absorbing layer, a lower cladding layer, a patterned core layer, and an upper cladding layer laminated above the resin substrate in this order, wherein the core layer has been patterned through light exposure and development, and the UV-absorbing layer has a thickness of 10 to 50 μm, and a method for producing an optical waveguide, including a step of forming a UV-absorbing layer on a resin substrate containing an inorganic filler; a step of forming a lower cladding layer on the UV-absorbing layer; a step of forming a core layer on the lower cladding layer; a step of subjecting the core layer to light exposure to thereby transfer a pattern having a given shape to the core layer; a step of developing the core layer to thereby form a core pattern; and a step of forming an upper cladding layer on the patterned core layer. According to the present invention, an optical waveguide having a high-resolution core pattern can be produced.
US08620126B2
An optical waveguide including a core, a buffer surrounding the core, and a cladding surrounding the buffer. The core, the buffer and the cladding include silica glass. A refractive index of the buffer is substantially equal to a refractive index of pure amorphous silica glass. The buffer may reduce bubble formation during manufacturing and may facilitate splicing of the waveguide. A numerical aperture of the waveguide may be fine-tuned by adjusting a radial dimension of the buffer in order to compensate variations in the refractive index of the core.
US08620122B2
A low-profile optical communications module is provided that has two generally flat optical connector modules that slidingly engage one another to allow optical signals to be coupled between the optical connector modules. Because of the generally flat shapes of the optical connector modules and the manner in which they slidingly engage on another, the optical communications module has a very low profile that makes it well suited for use in thin devices, such as laptop and notebook computers and other electronics devices.
US08620119B2
The invention relates to an array of waveguides (1) comprising a set of coupled waveguides that are substantially parallel and oriented in a guidance direction (Y), the set of waveguides comprising a first zone (2) formed by waveguides coupled according to a first coupling coefficient, and a second zone (3) formed by waveguides coupled according to a second coupling coefficient that is different from the first coupling coefficient, characterized in that the second coupling coefficient is different from the first coupling coefficient in the guidance direction and in the direction (X) perpendicular to the guidance direction.
US08620111B2
Methods and apparatus are disclosed to index digital frames. An example method includes identifying channel types associated with a plurality of image frames, splitting each one of the plurality of image frames into a respective color channel based on the identified channel types, applying a local binary pattern to each of the respective color channels to generate a respective pattern number, generating a spatial representation of each respective pattern number to determine transition probabilities for each channel type, and identifying a degree of similarity between the plurality of image frames based on the transition probabilities.
US08620104B2
Disclosed herein is a movement-adaptive noise reduction apparatus, including a memory, a mixing control section, a movement component extraction section, a low-pass filter section, and a movement decision control section. In the apparatus, the movement decision control section and the low-pass filter section receive, from the outside, information regarding the gain value upon an amplification process to which the image signal is subjected before inputted to the mixing control section to control at least one of the threshold value and the filter characteristic in response to the information.
US08620102B2
Methods, apparatuses and systems providing pixel correction values for a captured image, where the correction values are determined based on a piecewise-quadratic correction function in a first direction. The parameters for the piecewise-quadratic correction function in the first direction are calculated based on a plurality of piecewise-quadratic correction functions in a second direction. The correction values may be positional gain adjustment values.
US08620093B2
A system and method for detecting changes by comparing images which cover the same physical area but are collected at different times, the system comprising: at least one input for inputting an image of a target area; the image of the target area having signatures representing outstanding features; at least one processor operating to divide the image of a target area into a plurality of target subimages; at least one memory comprising reference data comprising reference subimages taken at or near the target area at various times, the at least one processor operating to determine a sparse image representation from the reference data; the sparse image representation of the target data being a linear combination of reference data from corresponding reference subimages stored in the at least one memory; the at least one processor operating to compare the target image to the sparse image representation and to match signatures from the target image to the sparse image representation to register the images and perform change detection.
US08620090B2
An image processing apparatus includes a line information reception unit, a prediction determination unit, a feature amount calculation unit and a line determination unit. The line information reception unit receives a set of information indicating (i) information on an image having a possibility of being line and (ii) line element being a rectangular pixel lump constituting a line. The prediction determination unit determines whether or not a target line element matches a predicted value based on the received information. The predicted value indicates line element which is predicted when the target line element constitutes a line. The feature amount calculation unit calculates feature amount of the image when the prediction determination unit determines the target line element does not match the predicted value. The line determination unit determines whether or not the image is a line based on the calculated feature amount.
US08620079B1
Various embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for extracting information from digital documents, including physical documents that have been converted to digital documents. For example, some embodiments are configured to extract information from a field in a digital document by identifying a block of tokens before (i.e., a prior block) and a block of tokens after (i.e., a post block) the field from which the information is to be extracted, where both the prior block and post block are known to be associated with the field type of the field (e.g., name, address, phone number, etc.).
US08620077B1
A video is segmented to produce volumetric video regions. Descriptors are created for the video regions. A region graph is created for the video, where the region graph has weighted edges incident to video regions and the weight of an edge is calculated responsive to the descriptors of the video regions incident to the edge. The region graph is segmented responsive to the weights of the edges incident to the video regions to produce a new region graph having new volumetric video regions comprised of merged video regions of the first region graph. The descriptions of the region graphs are stored in a data storage.
US08620075B2
There is provided an image processing device which transforms an image with a bit depth of N into an upper layer with a bit depth of M and a remaining lower layer, including a histogram unit that generates histogram indicating occurrence frequency of each pixel value of an image with a bit depth of N, a table unit that generates a table listing pixel values of which occurrence frequency in the histogram generated by the histogram unit is equal to or more than one, a reordering unit that reorders an arrangement of values in the histogram using the table generated by the table unit, an update unit that updates the table generated by the table unit and the histogram reordered by the reordering unit; and an index image unit that generates an index image with a bit depth of N using the updated table and the updated histogram.
US08620070B2
A corresponding image processing method is provided. The corresponding image processing method includes a first step for searching for a corresponding point of a corresponding image; a second step for performing radiometric calibration such that a camera response function of the corresponding image has a linear function; a third step for compensating for a color of the corresponding image by calculating a color conversion matrix; and a fourth step for measuring similarity of the corresponding image.
US08620069B1
A method, apparatus and program product are presented for detecting an image. Ring contour images are created by blurring the image, posterizing the blurred image at a plurality of levels and creating the ring contour images from each of the posterized images. Convex hull images are created by creating a plurality of corner images from corners within the image located by at least two different corner algorithms, finding a bounding rectangle that encompasses the ring contour images, cropping the corner images using the bounding rectangle, applying a threshold to the cropped corner images, and creating the convex hull images by generating a convex hull from the corners in each of the cropped corner images. A plurality of triangles is created by fitting a triangle with an orientation to the ring contour images and the convex hull images. Finally the orientation of the triangle is determined from the plurality of triangles.
US08620067B2
According to an aspect of the invention, an image processing apparatus includes a generating unit, a calculating unit, a receiving unit, and a changing unit. The generating unit generates a plurality of histograms of images with respect to each color based on an input image. The calculating unit calculates a plurality of first image densities of the images from the histograms. The receiving unit receives a content of image quality adjustment performed on the input image. The changing unit changes one of the histograms based on the content of the image quality adjustment. The one of the histogram corresponds to one of the images on which the image quality adjustment is performed. The calculating unit calculates a second image density corresponding to the one the images based on the one of the histogram changed by the changing unit.
US08620066B2
According to one embodiment, a three-dimensional object determining apparatus includes: a detecting unit configured to detect a plurality of feature points of an object included in an image data that is acquired; a pattern normalizing unit configured to generate a normalized pattern that is normalized by a three-dimensional model from the image data using the plurality of feature points; an estimating unit configured to estimate an illumination direction in which light is emitted to the object in the image data from the three-dimensional model and the normalized pattern; and a determining unit configured to determine whether or not the object in the image data is a three-dimensional object on the basis of the illumination direction.
US08620063B2
Methods of monitoring critical dimensions in a semiconductor fabrication process include capturing at least one image of a first structure that has an effect on the polarization state of light reflected therefrom. For at least some of the first structure images, a value is calculated indicative of intensity of light reflected from the first structure. A critical dimension of the first structure is obtained and correlated with the calculated value. At least one image of a subsequent structure is captured. A determination is made, based at least in part on the calculated value, of a critical dimension of the subsequent structure.
US08620062B2
An apparatus for the detection of a geometrical position of plastics material containers, for example, plastics material pre-forms, having a base member and a thread region may include an image-recording device, which records a locally resolved image of the plastics material container. The image-recording device is arranged in such a way that it observes the plastics material container substantially along its longitudinal direction. The apparatus includes an illumination device, which illuminates at least one region of the plastics material container observed by the image-recording device, and an evaluation device, which on the basis of an image recorded by the image-recording device determines a rotary setting of the plastics material container with respect to its longitudinal direction.
US08620060B2
The present invention provides a model image acquisition support apparatus, a model image acquisition support method, and a model image acquisition support program that can easily and swiftly obtain an optimum model image for an image processing apparatus that performs matching processing based on a model image set in advance with respect to a measurement image that is obtained by imaging an object. A plurality of model image candidates, serving as candidates for model image, are extracted from a reference image obtained by imaging an object which can be a model. Matching processing with the plurality of extracted model images is executed on measurement images actually obtained by a visual sensor, so that trial results are obtained. A trial result is generated upon evaluating each of the trial results of the matching processing with the model image. An optimum model image is determined based on the evaluation result.
US08620058B2
The present invention relates to automated document processing and more particularly, to methods and systems for document image capture and processing using mobile devices. In accordance with various embodiments, methods and systems for document image capture on a mobile communication device are provided such that the image is optimized and enhanced for data extraction from the document as depicted. These methods and systems may comprise capturing an image of a document using a mobile communication device; transmitting the image to a server; and processing the image to create a bi-tonal image of the document for data extraction. Additionally, these methods and systems may comprise capturing a first image of a document using the mobile communication device; automatically detecting the document within the image; geometrically correcting the image; binarizing the image; correcting the orientation of the image; correcting the size of the image; and outputting the resulting image of the document.
US08620056B2
A method, an apparatus and a computer program for transferring scan geometry between a first region and a second region, similar to the first region includes identifying the first and second regions in an overview image, followed by determining of the first scan geometry corresponding to the first region. Then, the first scan geometry is transferred into the second scan geometry corresponding to the second region using information on geometrical correspondence between the first and second regions. The transferring includes establishing corresponding mappings between similar regions and their respective scan geometries.
US08620047B2
Systems and methods for retrieving, manipulating, and viewing 3D image objects from 3D virtual microscope slide images (“3D digital slides”) are provided. An image library module provides access to the imagery data in a 3D digital slide and constructs 3D image objects that are coextensive with the 3D digital slide or a 3D sub-portion thereof. From within the 3D image object, cross layer planar views spanning various depths of the 3D digital slide are constructed as well as 3D prisms and other shaped image areas. The image library module allows a 3D image object to be sliced into horizontal and vertical views, skewed cross layer views and regular and irregular shaped 3D image areas for viewing by a user.
US08620040B2
A method is disclosed for determining a 2D contour of a vessel structure imaged in 3D image data for a first slice plane of the vessel structure, wherein the 3D image data was generated using a medical imaging system and has a multiplicity of image voxels which are all assigned a respective image value. In at least one embodiment, the method includes providing 3D image data; determining a multiplicity of first initial 2D contours of the vessel structure, wherein the first initial 2D contours in the 3D image data are determined for slice planes of the vessel structure, which planes are arranged orthogonally in respect of a central line of the vessel structure and spaced apart from one another along the central line; determining a first initial 3D contour from the first initial 2D contours; determining a smoothed second 3D contour by applying an active 3D contour model to the first initial 3D contour; determining a second initial 2D contour as a slice through the smoothed second 3D contour including the first slice plane; and determining the 2D contour by iteratively fitting the second initial 2D contour to that vessel structure imaged in the 3D image data which results for the first slice plane.
US08620036B2
An image quality control system and method is disclosed. At least one infrared camera takes a screen image of a room. When there are a plurality of cameras, images of the cameras are synchronized with respect to time, and a specific object of the image is tracked to estimate image quality of the object. When there are a plurality of cameras, a 3D screen model is reconfigured, and positions of the cameras and the infrared lighting tools are controlled. Infrared lighting and the cameras are controlled, and particularly, optical axis direction, optical magnification, exposure time, and the iris of the camera can be amended. Next, a high-quality object image list can be generated so as to process the images.
US08620030B2
An apparatus stores a luminance signal and a color signal extracted from a tracking area in image data and determines a correlation with the stored luminance signal, thereby extracting an area where a specified object exists in another image data to update the tracking area using the position information of the extracted area. If a sufficient correlation cannot be obtained from the luminance signal, the apparatus makes a comparison with the stored color signal to determine whether the specified object is lost. The apparatus updates the luminance signal every time the tracking area is updated, but does not update the color signal even if the tracking area is updated or updates the color signal at a period longer than a period at which the luminance signal is updated.
US08620025B2
In order to perform vehicle control, a warning process, and the like which do not give a driver an uncomfortable feeling in speed adjustment, a warning process, and the like corresponding to a road shape such as a curve, it is necessary to recognize not only a near road shape but also a far road shape with high accuracy. A traveling environment recognition device includes: a measurement unit which measures a target object; a three-dimensional object detection unit which detects a three-dimensional object on the basis of a signal acquired by the measurement unit; a road shape prediction unit which predicts a road shape on which a target vehicle is traveling; a three-dimensional object selection unit which selects, from among the three-dimensional objects detected by the three-dimensional object detection unit, only a three-dimensional object within a predetermined range from a point of the road predicted by the road shape prediction unit; and a road shape estimation unit which estimates the road shape on the basis of position information of the three-dimensional object selected by the three-dimensional object selection unit.
US08620022B2
Disclosed are an event structure system and a method and medium for controlling the event structure system. The method includes recognizing multiple-person interaction primitives, composing an event by inference based on temporal relations using the multiple-person interaction primitive, and determining a final event by either eliminating an unnecessary event from the composed event, or adding a new event in the composed event.
US08620021B2
A user captures an image of a magazine or catalog page with a smartphone. The page is identified by extracting fingerprint or watermark data from the imagery. Other imagery depicting that page is identified, and is displayed to the user on the smartphone screen. Further imagery can also be presented on the screen. This further imagery can include other pages in the publication that are not be consecutive with the captured page, but that are logically linked with it by reference to a data structure. The user may elect to post such imagery to a social network account (e.g., Pinterest) associated with the user. The posting can include an attribution identifying the original publication. A great variety of other features and arrangements are also detailed.
US08620019B2
Automatically preparing communications for transmission by a mobile terminal device. In one example, this includes storing contact information including personal contacts and associated address and face image information. A face image is extracted from within a still image content to obtain an extracted face image. The extracted face image is linked to a given personal contact among the personal contacts by finding a match corresponding to the extracted face image among previously extracted face images found in the stored contact information. The given personal contact is correlated to address information using the contact information, and a message is automatically prepared for transmission to the given personal contact using the address information.
US08620004B2
An electronic device includes an audio jack, a power supply unit, a determining circuit, and an executing circuit. The audio jack may be arranged for transmitting an audio input signal, and the electronic device may be configured to connect with an audio accessory via the audio jack. When the audio accessory may be connected to the electronic device, the power supply unit provides a first voltage to the audio jack and a second voltage. The determining circuit determines whether to trigger an interrupt request according to the second voltage and a third voltage, wherein the third voltage may be coupled to the audio jack and may be generated according to the first voltage. The executing circuit may be coupled to the determining circuit, for determining whether to execute a corresponding function according to the third voltage when the interrupt request may be received.
US08620000B2
An audio output controlling apparatus and method, and a mobile terminal system using the same control settings of an audio out port according to whether an audio frame includes an audio signal. The audio output controlling method includes receiving an audio frame, determining whether an audio signal is included in the audio frame, and setting, depending on whether the audio signal is included in the audio frame, a power voltage provided to an audio out port. The mobile terminal includes a wireless transceiver; an audio unit, through an audio out port, an audio frame among the wireless data; and an audio output controlling unit to control a power voltage of the audio out port. The apparatus includes a section determining unit; and a power controlling unit to set a power voltage provided to an audio out port according to whether the audio signal is included in the audio frame.
US08619999B2
A decoded sound analysis unit (104) calculates, regarding the frequency-region stereo signals L(b) and R(b) decoded by the PS decoding unit (103), a second degree of similarity (109) and a second intensity difference (110) from the decoded sound signals. A spectrum correction unit (105) detects a distortion added by the parametric-stereo conversion by comparing the second degree of similarity (109) and the second intensity difference (110) calculated at the decoding side with the first degree of similarity (107) and the first intensity difference (108) calculated and transmitted from the encoding side, and corrects the spectrum of the frequency-region stereo decoded signals L(b) and R(b).
US08619998B2
The present invention describes techniques that can be used to provide novel methods of spatial audio rendering using adapted M-S matrix shuffler topologies. Such techniques include headphone and loudspeaker-based binaural signal simulation and rendering, stereo expansion, multichannel upmix and pseudo multichannel surround rendering.
US08619993B2
A system and method of providing content protection for OMA Broadcast smartcard profiles. When an electronic device has a content item for encryption, the device generates a random number. The electronic device then transmits a content encryption key request message, including the random number and a service encryption key identifier, to a smartcard, which then responds with a a content encryption key response message. The content encryption key response message includes the random number and a content encryption key. The electronic device can then use the content encryption key to manage the encryption of the content item. The electronic device stores random number, service key identifier and encrypted content item into a certain file format. The electronic device sends again content encryption key request at the time of rendering. The content encryption key returned by the content encryption key response message is used for the decryption of the stored content item.
US08619987B2
Disclosed is a system for transmitting encrypted broadcast signals to different transmitters on a single frequency network (SFN) in a digital broadcasting system. The system for transmitting encrypted broadcast signals on the SFN includes: a main broadcasting system for transmitting encrypted broadcast signals including data streams and transmitter identification information (TII) through a main broadcasting network; a repeating system for amplifying encrypted broadcast signals of the main broadcasting network and transmitting the amplified broadcast signals, or modulating and amplifying streams input by the main broadcasting system through a private line and repeating broadcast signals of the main broadcasting system through a repeating network; and a decrypting key provider for receiving a decrypting key value from the main broadcasting or repeating system and transmitting a user authentication and decrypting key to a charged subscriber terminal through a mobile communication network.
US08619976B2
An encryption/decryption method comprises by using a generalized Feistel structure in which data is divided into n pieces and mixing processing with key data is performed, diffusion processing, in which data transformation via linear operation is executed, is performed at least once between rounds of the generalized Feistel structure, wherein. As the diffusion processing, linear transformation is performed in which each of n pieces of output data is operated on by two or more pieces of input data. The method is adapted for encryption or decryption.
US08619974B2
A spread scrambled multiple access (SSCMA) scheme is described. A first encoded bit stream of a first terminal is scrambled according to a first scrambling signature. A second encoded bit stream of a second terminal is scrambled according to a second scrambling signature. The first scrambled bit stream is spread to match a communication channel bandwidth. The second scrambled bit stream is spread to match the communication channel bandwidth.
US08619970B2
Methods and systems for updating the adaptive filter of an echo canceller. A method of updating the adaptive filter of an echo canceller in which an estimated echo is resolved from a received signal and then subtracted from an incoming echo-contaminated signal so as to produce a filtered output signal, includes: obtaining a corrected impulse response of an echo reconstruction filter (ERF); calculating specified decision measures usable to decide whether to prospectively apply the corrected ERF impulse response or a current ERF impulse response; determining whether application of the corrected ERF impulse response would result in improved echo cancellation; and updating the ERF to apply the corrected impulse response, when it is determined that the updating would result in a lower residual echo.
US08619961B2
A self-provisioning telephony service includes assigning a toll-free telephone number to a customer account for a customer of a telecommunications provider, distributing the toll-free telephone number and an access number to the customer along with an invitation to provision a toll-free telephone number service, and receiving, at a local exchange carrier switch, a call from the customer. The access number is identified by the local exchange carrier switch for the call in response to performing a call number translation. The telephony service also includes accessing, by a server, the toll-free telephone number identified for the customer account and generating a provisioning order that includes a customer telephone number from the customer account and the toll-free telephone number. The telephony service further includes transmitting the provisioning order to a service control server, the service control server activating the toll-free telephone number for the customer account.
US08619955B2
In accordance with the teachings described herein, systems and methods are provided for optimizing distribution of advertisement information. In one example, call tracking data may be generated from a plurality of telephone calls made to a business entity, where the call tracking data includes geographical information to identify locations from which the plurality of telephone calls originated. A call distribution may be determined from the call tracking data, where the call distribution groups the call tracking data based at least in part on distances between the business entity and the locations from which the plurality of telephone calls originated. A probability density function may be generated from the call distribution and used in the generation of the advertisement distribution plan.
US08619954B2
Systems and methods for second call during ring suppression are disclosed. After a communications device receives a first incoming call, the ringer is activated to produce an initial audible alert and thereafter, the ringer of the communications device is suppressed for subsequent audible alerts according to a timed ring suppression profile. Thereafter, a secondary incoming call is routed to the communications device and the ringer is activated to provide notification of the secondary incoming call while the first call is suppressed.
US08619953B2
A home videoconferencing system interfaces with traditional set-top boxes and typical home A/V equipment. The system includes a camera, a microphone, and a codec module. The module can couple to a modem connected to a television network and can couple to a display and a set-top box. Alternatively, the module can connect to a network for exchanging videoconference data and can connect between the set-top box and the display. The set-top box can connect to the television network on its own.
US08619950B1
A video and digital audio transport system transports high resolution computer, video, computer video graphics and other video signals, as well as multiple channels of high quality audio, over extended lengths of unshielded twisted pair (UTP) cabling. Frequency compensation techniques are employed to extend the bandwidth of the UTP cables, and differential signaling over the common mode of a first two of the four twisted pairs comprising the UTP cable is used to transmit horizontal sync and differential signaling over the common mode of a second two of the four twisted pairs is used to transmit vertical sync. In addition, a unique digital encoding technique is applied to a standard digital audio encoding protocol to augment the number of available audio channels. A digitally controlled delay line is incorporated to compensate for the different lengths of each twisted pair.
US08619943B2
A method and a computed tomography system are disclosed for generating tomographic image datasets of a measurement object with multiple simultaneously operable sets of detector elements. In at least one embodiment, at least one first set measures incident radiation over the entire energy spectrum of the incident radiation in an integrating manner and at least one second set measures incident radiation in at least two energy ranges in a resolving manner, wherein furthermore by way of the integrating measurements, the energy-resolving measurements relating in each case to rays traversing a measurement object in a spatially identical manner are corrected and a tomographic image dataset of the measurement object is reconstructed at least from the corrected energy-resolving measurements.
US08619929B2
A positioning signal reception device receives a positioning signal transmitted from a position information satellite, and includes: a signal reception portion that obtains a reception signal by receiving the positioning signal; an A/D conversion portion that generates a digital signal by converting the reception signal into a digital form; a filter portion that subjects the digital signal to frequency separation, a characteristic of the filter portion being changeable; a filter characteristic change portion that changes the characteristic of the filter portion according to an operating state of the positioning signal reception device and an external environmental condition of the positioning signal reception device; and a code synchronization establishment portion that establishes synchronization of spreading codes contained in the reception signal.
US08619927B2
A system for selectively and discretely amplifying or attenuating antennas in a hybrid multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) radio distribution network (RDN) receiving system is provided herein. The system includes a MIMO receiving system comprising a MIMO baseband module having N branches; an RDN connected to the MIMO receiving system, the RDN comprising at least one beamformer fed by two or more antennas, so that a total number of antennas in the system is M, wherein M is greater than N, wherein each one of the beamformers include a passive combiner configured to combine signals coming from the antennas coupled to a respective beamformer into a combined signal, wherein the at least one beamformer is further configured to selectively amplify or attenuate in discrete steps, one or more of the signals coming from the M antennas, based on qualitative metrics measured by the MIMO baseband module.
US08619925B2
An automatic gain control circuit configured so that a response time is reduced until a gain converges is disclosed. A variable gain amplifier is configured so that a gain is varied by a first control signal. A detector circuit detects an intensity of an output signal of the variable gain amplifier. A comparator compares an output signal of the detector circuit with a reference signal. An integrator integrates a signal corresponding to an output signal of the comparator, and outputs an integration result to the variable gain amplifier as the first control signal. A loop gain control unit, connected between the comparator and the integrator, is configured so that a loop gain is varied by a second control signal. A level detection unit detects an intensity of an output signal of the integrator and outputs a detection result to the loop gain control unit as the second control signal.
US08619922B1
A method for updating channel estimates in an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing receiver of a wireless local area network includes generating channel estimates for an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing subcarrier as a function of subcarrier index values. The method includes generating a complex number by summing a product of frequency domain signals and the channel estimates for each of the subcarrier index values and dividing the sum by a sum of a squared absolute value of the channel estimate for each of the subcarrier index values. The method includes multiplying the complex number by the channel estimates to generate updated channel estimates.
US08619919B2
Techniques are provided which may be implemented using various methods and/or apparatuses in a receiver of an electronic device to allow for a received signal to be demodulated using both coherent and non-coherent demodulation techniques and for selecting one of the demodulated data signals based, at least in part, on a drift rate measurement of a carrier frequency of the received signal.
US08619902B2
A method forms a preamble sequence in a wireless communication system. The method comprises determining a value K related to a time-domain characteristic of the wireless communication system so that a time-domain preamble sequence includes a number of K waveforms similar in shape to one another having a linear phase shift, identifying a first preamble sequence for a first band, the first preamble sequence having a first length not dividable by K, identifying at least one second preamble sequence each for a second band, the at least one second preamble sequence having at least one second length, identifying the length of a third preamble sequence, the length of the third preamble sequence equal to a sum of the first length and the at least one second length, determining whether the time-domain characteristic is maintained when the one or more of the at least one second preamble sequence is concatenated with the first preamble sequence, modifying one or more of the at least one second preamble sequence if the time-domain characteristic is not maintained when concatenated, and forming the third preamble sequence by concatenating the first preamble sequence and the at least one second preamble sequence having one or more second preamble sequence modified.
US08619901B2
Input data may be coded in accordance with a coding method that allows for either coded data or messages to be transmitted with pre-determined, but unequal reliability over a communication channel. The coding method may allow the messages to be transmitted with higher reliability than the coded data. Messages may be transmitted when they are available. Otherwise, the coded data may be transmitted.
US08619897B2
A frequency-domain based echo and NEXT canceller is provided. The canceller uses log2 encoding to precondition the error signal representing the echo. An improved gradient constraint is applied on at least a portion of a full weight vector in a least-mean-square algorithm. The least-mean-square algorithm is used to compute filter coefficients. The filter coefficients are multiplied by a frequency-domain data vector using a frequency-domain multiplier to generate frequency-domain output vector.
US08619884B2
A channel estimator is configured to determine channel estimate parameters indicative of characteristics of a wireless communication channel based on a received signal comprising a known transmitted signal and a noise signal. The channel estimator is configured to apply, to the received signal, a frequency domain representation inverse of a combination of a known signal factor as a function of frequency and a noise factor.
US08619881B2
In one method embodiment, forward transforming a set of co-located blocks corresponding to plural matched frames; computing a difference measure for a subset of coefficients between a set of transformed blocks and a reference block, the computation in a two-dimensional (2D) transform domain; and selectively thresholding one or more of the co-located transformed blocks based on the number of transformed blocks having a difference measure below a predetermined threshold.
US08619875B2
An encoding apparatus and an encoding method, a decoding apparatus and a decoding method, a recording medium, and a program suitable for encoding image signals with a higher compression ratio for transmission or accumulation. In an arithmetic coding section, from among the syntax elements of input image compression information, the frame/field flag is first encoded by a frame/field flag context model. When the macroblock to be processed is subjected to frame-based encoding, a frame-based context model, specified in the current H.26L standard, is applied. On the other hand, when the macroblock to be processed is subjected to field-based encoding, a field-based context model is applied for the syntax elements described below. The present invention is applied to an encoder for encoding image information and a decoder for decoding image information.
US08619874B2
Methods and systems are provided for encoding and decoding a video stream. Each picture in a video stream can be divided into slices, each of which contains a contiguous row of macroblocks. All the blocks corresponding to a single video component within each slice can then be used as the basis for encoding the picture. By decomposing each picture into slices, the video stream can be efficiently converted for displays of varying size and/or quality. The encoded bitstream can include a slice table to allow direct access to each slice without reading the entire bitstream. Each slice can also be processed independently, allowing for parallelized encoding and/or decoding.
US08619872B2
The present invention relates to a method for conducting interlayer texture prediction in encoding or decoding of video signal. The present method constructs a pair of frame macro blocks from a single field macro block or vertically-adjacent two field macro blocks of a base layer, and using texture information of the constructed pair of frame macro blocks in interlayer texture prediction of a pair of frame macro blocks of a current layer.
US08619871B2
In an implementation, a supplemental sequence parameter set (“SPS”) structure is provided that has its own network abstraction layer (“NAL”) unit type and allows transmission of layer-dependent parameters for non-base layers in an SVC environment. The supplemental SPS structure also may be used for view information in an MVC environment. In a general aspect, a structure is provided that includes (1) information (1410) from an SPS NAL unit, the information describing a parameter for use in decoding a first-layer encoding of a sequence of images, and (2) information (1420) from a supplemental SPS NAL unit having a different structure than the SPS NAL unit, and the information from the supplemental SPS NAL unit describing a parameter for use in decoding a second-layer encoding of the sequence of images. Associated methods and apparatuses are provided on the encoder and decoder sides, as well as for the signal.
US08619868B2
A system and method for conveying information that is helpful for a network middlebox or a media player to decided which coded data units to forward or process within an RTP payload or a file format data unit in an easy-to-access manner. This mechanism can be used to provide indications of items such as redundant coded pictures, temporal level switching points, gradual decoding refresh access points, view identifiers, and view random access points. A middlebox and/or receiver can then use this information to determine whether certain coded data units need to be processed and/or transmitted.
US08619861B2
Architecture that employs texture sensitive temporal filtering to reuse motion estimation information in a realtime encoder. The temporal filter is applied for classified static areas. The architecture reuses the motion estimation results on motion vectors, cost estimates (e.g., sum of absolute difference (SAD)), and edge awareness texture information to apply the temporal filter on the current picture. Filtering can be applied at the pixel level, block level or macroblock level.
US08619860B2
A method of processing multimedia data being associated with multiple layers is disclosed. The method may include determining a base layer residual and performing interlayer prediction to generate an enhancement layer residual if at least one of a number of non-zero coefficients of the base layer residual or a number of zero coefficients of the base layer residual meets a first selected condition. A method of decoding a multimedia bitstream may include receiving a multimedia bitstream having a base layer and an enhancement layer and decoding the base layer to determine whether the enhancement layer should be decoded using intralayer prediction or interlayer prediction.
US08619852B2
Multi-layered frame-compatible video delivery is described. Multi-layered encoding and decoding methods, comprising a base layer and at least one enhancement layer with reference processing, are provided. In addition, multi-layered encoding and decoding methods with inter-layer dependencies are described. Encoding and decoding methods that are capable of frame-compatible 3D video delivery are also described.
US08619850B1
An integrated real-time display is provided that includes video images and a graphical representation of the transmission path, where each video image is associated with a point along the graphical representation of the transmission path. A number of monitoring points, which correspond to critical points along the transmission path are identified. The points may be selected for technical reasons or economic reasons. The graphical representation of the transmission path can be a logical representation showing the logic blocks along the transmission path or a physical representation showing the devices along the transmission path.
US08619849B2
The invention provides a multi-phase digital pulse width modulator (MP-DPWM) to implement a distribution scheme which applies the duty cycle in the fastest possible manner with restriction on the number of switching actions per phase and cycle, and additionally takes the number of available phases into account. It modulates switching signals according to a duty cycle input command, their previous switching states, and the current switching cycle. The controller is adapted to additionally take the residue of the previous subcycle into account. In the control scheme: each phase is allowed switch up to twice per cycle; only the next phase in the cycle is additionally turned on, at the start of a subcycle, and if a phase is still on at the end of a subcycle it can be kept on for longer, if required.
US08619842B2
A communication device includes: a reception unit that receives a beacon signal including an identification number of a slave unit from a master unit; a first assignment unit that performs an assignment of a first communication interval for receiving a signal from the master unit based on the number of identification numbers included in the beacon signal; and a second assignment unit that performs an assignment of a second communication interval for transmitting a signal to the master unit within a rest of time calculated by subtracting the first communication interval and a non-communication interval, which is not used for a communication with the master unit, from a signal period which is a period of the beacon signal.
US08619833B2
A broad stripe laser (1) comprising an epitaxial layer stack (2), which contains an active, radiation-generating layer (21) and has a top side (22) and an underside (23). The layer stack (2) has trenches (3) in which at least one layer of the layer stack (2) is at least partly removed and which lead from the top side (22) in the direction of the underside (23). The layer stack (2) has on the top side ridges (4) each adjoining the trenches (3), such that the layer stack (2) is embodied in striped fashion on the top side. The ridges (4) and the trenches (3) respectively have a width (d1, d2) of at most 20 μm.
US08619829B2
The present invention provides a semiconductor laser device including: a plurality of light emitting sections arranged in strip shapes in parallel; a plurality of first electrodes arranged along top faces of the light emitting sections, respectively; an insulating film covering a whole surface of the plurality of first electrodes, and including contact apertures corresponding to the first electrodes, respectively; a plurality of second electrodes arranged in positions different from those of the plurality of light emitting sections, correspondingly to the first electrodes; a plurality of wiring layers arranged on the insulating layer, and electrically connecting the second electrodes and the corresponding first electrodes through the contact apertures, respectively; and a plurality of window regions arranged for the light emitting sections in the insulating film so as to expose the first electrodes, respectively, and including at least two window regions having areas different from each other.
US08619826B2
A laser diode includes: a plurality of strip-shaped laser structures arranged in parallel with each other, and including a lower cladding layer, an active layer, and an upper cladding layer in this order; a plurality of strip-shaped upper electrodes singly formed on a top face of the respective laser structures, and being electrically connected to the upper cladding layer; a plurality of wiring layers being at least singly and electrically connected to one of the respective upper electrodes; and a plurality of pad electrodes formed in a region different from that of the plurality of laser structures, and being electrically connected to one of the respective upper electrodes with the wiring layer in between. The respective wiring layers have an end in a region different from a region where the respective wiring layers are contacted with the upper electrode.
US08619819B2
A method and apparatus for sending messages from a first network device to a second network device is described. In one embodiment, the method comprises constructing a data packet, the data packet comprising a House Code field for identifying a house code relating to the first and second network devices, the house code for identifying an address common to the first network device and the second network device. The data packet further comprises a Long/Short field for indicating whether the data packet is a long data packet or a short data packet and a Command field comprising a command, the command for instructing the second network device to perform an action. The data packet further comprises a Data field comprising information for use by the second network device to execute the action associated with the command, and an Error Check field comprising error checking information. The data packet is then modulated and transmitting over one or more communication channels.
US08619798B2
A method may include receiving, in a first server from a second server, a request for a service of a network by a device; sending, from the first server to the second server, a response to the request for the service to permit access to the service; and sending state information about the response to a third server for storage in a database.
US08619797B2
Included are devices, systems, and methods which may be employed in an access network. An access node (AN) may be configured to communicate with a residential gateway (RG) via the access network. The AN may also be configured to encapsulate a router solicitation (RS) from the RG with a header comprising an access identifier associated with the RG. The AN may send the encapsulated RS to an Internet Protocol (IP) edge. The AN may also be configured to receive a responsive router advertisement (RA) from the IP edge and may forward the RA to the RG based on the access identifier.
US08619791B2
Described are a network, computer program product, and method of distributing routing information for a virtual private network (VPN) application through a packet-switched network (PSN) having fully meshed provider edge (PE) routers through Provider Backbone Bridge (PBB) tunnels. A PE router is configured to participate in a VPN and to run a BGP (Border Gateway Protocol) as an auto-discovery process for finding one or more other PE routers participating in the VPN. The VPN is associated with a PBB tunnel. A service instance identifier (I-SID) is assigned to the VPN. The PE router advertises membership in the VPN by including the I-SID assigned to the VPN in a BGP message issued during the auto-discovery process.
US08619789B2
In one embodiment, a battery-operated communication device “quick-samples” a frequency hopping sequence at a periodic rate corresponding to a substantially low duty cycle, and is discovered by (e.g., attached to) a main-powered communication device. During a scheduled sample, the main-powered communication device transmits a control packet to be received by the battery-operated communication device, the control packet containing timing information and transmitted to account for worst-case clock drift error between the two devices. The battery-operated communication device responds to the control packet with a link-layer acknowledgment containing timing information from the battery-operated communication device. Accordingly, the two devices may re-synchronize their timing based on the timing information in the control packet and acknowledgment, respectively.
US08619787B2
Described embodiments provide for scheduling packets for transmission by a network processor. A traffic manager generates a tree scheduling hierarchy having a root scheduler and N scheduler levels. The network processor generates tasks corresponding to received packets. The traffic manager enqueues the received task in the associated queue, the queue having a corresponding parent scheduler at each of one or more next levels of the scheduling hierarchy up to the root scheduler. Each scheduler determines one or more tasks to schedule from a given queue based on a default packet size of the packet corresponding to the task. The corresponding packet data is read from a shared memory, and, at each corresponding parent scheduler up to the root scheduler, an actual size of the packet data is updated. Scheduling weights of each corresponding parent scheduler are updated based on the actual size of the packet data.
US08619783B2
Disclosed herein is a system and method for coupling communication terminals. In a communication method performed by a terminal coupler according to the present invention, sequence numbers are sequentially assigned to data packets received from a terminal end device. The data packets with the sequence numbers assigned thereto are individually transferred to a plurality of communication terminals belonging to a same group in conformity with preset scheduling policies. Data packets, received from the plurality of communication terminals belonging to the same group, are reordered by sequence numbers, and the reordered data packets are transferred to the terminal end device.
US08619778B2
There is described a method for automatic address allocation to at least one communication partner encompassed by a network, whereby a primary communication partner likewise encompassed by the network transfers a data item to the, or one of the, communication partner(s) and whereby the communication partner in question performs a comparison of the data item with a reference data item. Depending on the result of the comparison, either an address is assigned to the communication partner in question or the data item is transferred to a communication partner downstream of the communication partner in question in the network and the data item is modified in conjunction with the transfer of the data item to the downstream communication partner. There is also described a communication partner as well as an automation system for executing the method as well as an automation system with such a communication partner.
US08619770B2
A method, node device, signal, and instruction set to reduce the size of data packets in a telecommunications network. The invention provides a solution wherein a size of SDU position identifiers in a header of a packet data unit is optimized depending on the actual size of the packet data unit, reducing the amount of data sent in the telecommunication network.
US08619768B2
Described are a method and a sensor aware network for dynamic processing of sensor data. Network context data are inserted into data packets from sensors or local sensor networks coupled to the sensor aware network. Sensor aware nodes in the sensor aware network can read the context data and can respond by performing specific network actions. The sensor data and network context data are provided to one or more application nodes. The sensor data and network context data can be stored in a database and later searched according to the network context data. Advantageously, sensor data flows can be treated differently by the sensor aware network, the application and the user, depending on the type of sensor data and the actual data values. Thus critical responses to certain sensor data flows can be implemented more efficiently than otherwise possible using conventional network configurations.
US08619765B2
In one embodiment, a network device is provided that includes a DHCP server; a NAT/NAPT facility; and a logic engine configured to detect a presence of an upstream NAT/NAPT service, the logic engine being further configured to disable the DHCP server and the NAT/NAPT facility in response to detecting the presence of the upstream NAT/NAPT service.
US08619761B2
A Circuit Switched (CS) domain codec list for Single Radio Voice Call Continuity (SR-VCC) is provided. An apparatus providing such a list can include preparing a list of include preparing a list of circuit switched capabilities of a terminal device, sending the list to a network device during attachment, receiving the list at the network device, storing the list in the network device, sending the list to a second network device, receiving the list at the second network device, and using the list in handing over the terminal device to the second network device.
US08619759B2
A system for video call processing is disclosed. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a first communication device having a controller element to establish by way of a PSTN port of the first communication device a Public Switched Telephone Network communication session with a second communication device, submit by way of a broadband port of the first communication device a first Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) message to determine whether the second communication device has video capability, receive a second SIP message indicating the second communication device is video capable, present a notice indicating the second communication device is video capable, receive a request to establish video communications with the second communication device, and submit a third SIP message to establish a video communication session with the second communication device. Additional embodiments are disclosed.
US08619757B2
Method and apparatus delivering voice/data services within a piconet operating over a limited range or over a WLAN communicating with 3GPP devices by reformatting data into IP format before delivering to the WLAN. The service is short message service (SMS). Upon receipt of an SMS message, relevant routing information is retrieved. A PDGW address for the SMS message is identified and is sent to the PDGW address which identifies the WLAN user equipment (UE) for receiving the SMS and reformats the SMS message into IP format (text or encapsulation) for delivery to the UE. A protocol architecture is provided for SMS delivery over WLANs, in particular, for UMTS/CDMA based SMS over WLAN through two alternative mechanisms, i.e., SMS tunneling and SMS proxy, for protocols for the delivery of SMS across the WLAN. The invention enhances standard 802.11 in the context of UMTS and CDMA 2000; as well as other scenarios.
US08619752B2
A data packet communication system employs radio link control (RLC) transmission between a transmitter and a receiver with an Automatic Repeat Request (ARQ) arrangement whereby polling of the receiver is accomplished with reduced amount of redundantly transmitted data, such as between an access node and terminal. Upon a polling event, such as emptying of a transmission buffer of the transmitter, expiration of a polling timer, or reaching a radio link control (RLC) protocol data units (PDUs) count threshold, the transmitter sends a polling command to the receiver. This polling command is smaller than any of the RLC PDUs, which are conventionally resent with a polling bit set to evoke a STATUS PDU from the receiver. With evolving communication standards tending toward larger PDUs, such as in excess of a kilobyte for HSPA+ (High-Speed Packet Access Evolution) and 3GPP LTE (Long Term Evolution), this inefficiency can be of increasing impact.
US08619745B2
In order to prevent from being incapable of receiving Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service, called MBMS hereinafter, service when a user equipment (UE) has a connection for signaling only, the present invention provides a method of selecting an MBMS operating frequency for the UE in a wireless communications system. The method includes determining a radio bearer state of the UE, and switching a current operating frequency of the UE to a preferred frequency corresponding to an MBMS service prioritized by upper layers when the radio bearer state of the UE is in signaling transmission state.
US08619739B1
A wireless network device comprises a first wireless communication device that includes a first radio frequency (RF) transceiver that generates a synchronization pulse and that transmits and receives data according to a first period. A second wireless communication device receives a signal indicative of the synchronization pulse and includes a second RF transceiver that transmits and receives data according to a second period. The second period is not equal to the first period and the second wireless communication device adjusts the second period according to the first period and the synchronization pulse.
US08619733B2
An access terminal may switch to a different mode of wireless network selection as a result of manual selection of a wireless cell set (e.g., a closed subscriber group) associated with one or more wireless cells. For example, if the user of an access terminal selects a closed subscriber group in a wireless network that is different than the current wireless network, the access terminal may enter a manual mode of wireless network selection, select the wireless network corresponding to the closed subscriber group, and register on a closed subscriber group cell in the selected wireless network. In addition, an access terminal may automatically switch to a different mode of wireless network selection (e.g., the prior mode) upon losing coverage of a wireless cell set. An access terminal may also automatically select a cell of a wireless cell set if the access terminal returns to a cell of the cell set within a defined period of time after losing coverage of the cell set. Furthermore, an access terminal may return to a prior wireless network upon losing coverage of a wireless cell set.
US08619722B2
A method for using a wireless digital base station to receive, process and transmit a plurality of communications having independent data rates establishing a first communication channel having a first data communication rate to support a first communication; determining the data rate required to support the first communication; selecting one or more transmission channels, from a plurality of available transmission channels, required to support said required data rate; and transmitting the first communication using one or more selected transmission channels. The plurality of available transmission channels includes at least one B or D channel.
US08619719B2
The invention relates to a method, apparatus and system for configuring control channels in a mobile communication network and a mobile station. In order to suggest another improved scheme for configuring control channels, in particular control channels related to the transmission of user data the invention suggests aligning the size of the control channel information of different formats to an equal number of coded control channel information bits and/or modulation symbols for each control channel. The control channels may comprise scheduling related control information. According to another aspect of the invention, a more flexible solution is proposed that may allow for taking different geometries of mobile stations within a cell into account. Similar to the aspect above, the size of the control channel information is aligned by means of modulation and/or coding, however the control channel information is aligned to one out of a set of numbers of coded control channel information bits and/or modulation symbols for each control channel.
US08619716B2
A method in a wireless communication terminal includes receiving an aggregated carrier including a first component carrier and a second component carrier, determining a level of interference from a signal received on the first component carrier to a signal on the second component carrier based on a signal characteristic of the first component carrier and a signal characteristic of the second component carrier, and providing signal interference information to a serving base station if the determined interference level satisfies a condition.
US08619715B2
A communication network has a first wireless access point (AP) in a first subnet segment and a second wireless AP in a second subnet segment, and provides a virtual local area network (VLAN) which spans the first and the second subnet segments. A mobile device associates with the first wireless AP using a first extended set service identifier (ESSID). In response to identifying a request to establish a communication session, the mobile device reassociates with the first wireless AP using a second ESSID, for accessing the VLAN to establish and maintain the communication session.
US08619704B2
The present invention relates to a power saving in a wireless local area network including a plurality of access points providing at least one mobile station in each access point cell boundary with access service, the mobile station transits between an active mode and an idle mode. The power saving method includes grouping the access points into at least one paging group with a paging group boundary; determining if the a mobile station is in the idle mode in which the mobile station switches between an awake state and a doze state every predetermined time interval, or the active mode in which the mobile station is in the awake mode; and if the mobile station is in the idle mode enabling an idle handoff which occurs only when the mobile station crosses the paging group boundary. In the present invention, the handoff occurs when the mobile terminal crosses the paging group boundary but not the access point cell in the idle mode, resulting in reduction of power consumption.
US08619701B2
A method of configuring routers facilitates handoff of user equipment from a router to another router. The method includes configuring a virtual interface in a current router used by user equipment. The method also includes assigning a global address to the virtual interface. The global address is assigned to the virtual interface that is used to facilitate handoff of the user equipment from a current router to a new router. A system, router and user equipment are configured to implement the method.
US08619700B2
To address the drawbacks of the current bandwidth requesting and allocation in the wireless broadband access network, the present invention proposes a technical solution of fast bandwidth requesting and allocation, wherein the MS sends a bandwidth allocation request message to the BS for only once, and the interactions between the BS and the MS are decreased so as to increase the efficiency of bandwidth requesting and allocation, effectively shorten the transmission waiting time of traffic data, and especially improve the support for latency-sensitive data traffic. Due to the fact that the interactions between the BS and the MS are decreased, various processing resources in the BS and the MS are spared. Additionally, the BS can also adjust the size of the time/frequency resource block on which each mobile station sends the bandwidth allocation request message according to the number of the mobile stations covered by the base station, and/or according to the traffic types in each mobile station, so as to make the whole wireless communication system operate efficiently.
US08619698B2
Methods and apparatus for using high power narrow signals, e.g., tones, for communicating transmitter information without putting the full transmission power available into the transmitted tone or tones are described. User data is transmitted in parallel with transmitter information in many embodiments with the user data being allocated more than 20% of the transmitter's maximum output power in many cases. Buy using an amount of power on the tones used to communicate transmitter information while simultaneously transmitting user data with more than 20% of the available transmission power, efficient bandwidth utilization is achieved while still ensuring a high probability that that the transmitter information signals will be received and detectable using simple energy detection techniques and without the need for timing synchronization with the transmitter to be achieved for success interpretation of the transmitter information.
US08619697B2
Systems and methods are described for allocating bandwidth in a wireless network. Entry of subscriber equipment into a wireless network is detected at a base station which typically provides information used to determine geographic location of the subscriber equipment. Based on the determined location, a level of service is selected from a plurality of service levels available to a subscriber and provided. Location can be determined based on information provided by the subscriber equipment, provided by a global positioning system and/or provided by a user of the subscriber equipment. Location of the subscriber equipment can be identified with an activity of a user of the subscriber equipment, including business and non-commercial activity. Selection of the level of service may be further based upon time of day, day of week or upon a date and time of provision of the level of service.
US08619695B2
The present invention relates to a broadband wireless access system, and more particularly, a ranging technique of a terminal using a legacy support frame in a mobile communication system including a legacy system and an advanced system. According to one form of an embodiment of the present invention, the ranging method of the terminal for a base station in the mobile communication system having the legacy system and the advanced system comprises the steps of: receiving secondary super frame header (S-SFH) information from the base station; determining whether a frame composition used in the mobile communication system supports the legacy system; acquiring ranging channel information for initial ranging, handover ranging, and periodical ranging from the S-SFH; and performing one or more ranging processes of the initial ranging, the handover ranging, and the periodical ranging in the base station by using the ranging channel information.
US08619693B2
In a system having a plurality of cells participating in a Coordinated Multi-Point (CoMP) operation, a method for transmitting Reference Signals (RSs) to User Equipment (UE) includes generating, by Base Station (BS) included in each of the plurality of cells, a subframe including RSs for a UE located in the each of the plurality of cells, and transmitting the generated subframe to the UE by the BS. The RSs include RSs for channel measurement, and RSs for data demodulation, the plurality of cells are grouped according to frequency shift values applied to the RSs for channel measurement and RS allocation patterns are determined for two cells among the plurality of cells according to a predetermined rule.
US08619689B2
The present invention relates to a method and arrangement for triggering a Random Access Channel (RACH) procedure for requesting uplink resources on a random access channel to a radio base station (600) scheduler based on a change in terminal (700) buffer status as compared to a Buffer Status Report BSR stored in said terminal. In a first method step, the status of the present terminal buffer content, i.e. terminal buffer data, is compared with the status of said stored buffer status report BSR. A second method step involves initiating a RACH procedure for indicating a service request to said base station scheduler upon detecting a change of buffer status at said comparison. The service request includes an indicator of the status change as a trigger for said scheduler to assign uplink resources to said terminal.
US08619682B2
There is provided a method for enabling a user equipment to perform a random access procedure in a wireless communication system. The method includes transmitting a random access preamble and receiving a random access response as a response to the random access preamble. The random access response is addressed by a random access identifier. The random access identifier is mapped to radio resources used for transmitting the random access preamble. The user equipment can immediately confirm its random access response and perform further efficient random access procedure.
US08619681B2
A non-transitory computer-readable medium can include includes instructions to perform dynamic call anchoring. The instructions can include call anchor logic programmed to determine if an outbound call leg being initiated from a mobile unit should be anchored at an anchor point based on evaluating anchoring criteria to input data. The call anchor logic can providing an anchor control signal to cause the outbound call leg to be one of (i) anchored at the anchor point or (ii) connected to a called party without anchoring at the anchor point. The anchor point can correspond to a node in an associated private network where the outbound call leg and another call leg are connected together that is outside of a service provider network for the mobile unit.
US08619680B2
A base station includes a radio communication unit, a resource adjustment unit, a resource division unit and a detection unit. The resource adjustment unit determines radio resources to be allocated to a downlink communication from a radio resource region shared with another base station. The resource division unit limits, to a first radio resource segment which is a part of the radio resource region, radio resources in response to estimating that communication quality of the downlink communication using the limited first radio resource segment is improved over the communication quality of the first downlink communication when using the entire range of the radio resource region that is shared with the other base station. The detection unit detects execution of resource division by the other base station for limiting radio resources used for another downlink communication between the other base station and a mobile station to a second radio resource segment.
US08619675B2
Techniques of emergency session handling in a communication network are provided, in which a packet switched network control function configured to handle emergency sessions established from a user equipment via a packet switched network access, e.g. an Emergency Call Session Control Function (E-CSCF), is associated with a switching control node of a circuit switched network. The switching control node is capable of handling emergency session established via a circuit switched network access, e.g. a Mobile Switching Center Server (MSC-S) of a mobile network. Handling of emergency sessions established via the packet switched network access is forwarded from the packet switched network control function to the associated switching control node.
US08619673B2
Two preamble partition schemes are provided for flexible network deployment and efficient utilization of limited cell identification resources in a wireless network. In a soft partition scheme, the entire preamble sequences are partitioned into several configurable non-overlapping subsets, and each subset is associated with a corresponding cell type. In a hybrid partition scheme, a combination of fixed and configurable subsets is used for preamble partition. The partitioning information is carried in a broadcasting channel broadcasted from base stations to mobile stations. In one embodiment, after a mobile station performs scanning and synchronization with a first base station, it derives the cell type of the first base station from cell identification and partitioning information. The mobile station completes ranging and network entry with the first base station if the cell type is preferred, and starts to perform scanning and synchronization with a second base station if the cell type is non-preferred.
US08619660B2
A mobile communication system in which a number of common channels are added due to the offering of a new service includes: the assumption that a plurality of common channels can be arranged to transmit the same data, a monitor means that uses the reception path search results of either dedicated channels or random access channels of mobile stations to monitor the communication state of mobile stations within the cell and a control means that, when it is determined that distribution within the cell of mobile stations that receive the new service is unbalanced, effects control to divide and use the communication range permitted by a plurality of common channels.
US08619658B2
In a wireless communication system comprising at least one access point (AP) and a plurality of stations (STAs), a method for transmission management of the wireless medium comprises the AP configuring a Multiple Receiver Aggregate Multi-Poll/Power Save Aggregation Descriptor (MMP/PSAD) frame with scheduled Uplink Transmission Time (ULT) information for the plurality of STAs. The AP then transmits the MMP/PSAD frame to the plurality of STAs. Upon successfully receiving and decoding the MMP/PSAD frame, STAs transmit during their scheduled ULT.
US08619654B2
A base station selection method is disclosed to select between two base stations for connecting a mobile device in a wireless neighborhood to a network. The wireless neighborhood may support multiple carriers and multiple radio access technologies. The base station selection method performs mobility estimation of the mobile device, where possible, to perform cell selection, but is also capable of performing cell selection without knowing the mobility of the device. Considerations such as the battery level of the mobile device, traffic demands of the network, and load balancing of network resources are used to make optimal selections for the mobile device as it travels through the wireless neighborhood.
US08619652B2
A system and method for power saving in a wireless network for transmitting uncompressed audio/video (A/V) data disclosed. The method includes an adaptive sleep period scheme in which the current sleep period is computed based at least partly on one or more previous sleep periods. The method also includes entering an inactive state by a coordinator as well as non-coordinator stations in the wireless network in which no beacons are transmitted.
US08619651B2
Systems and methods are described for configuring customer premises equipment in a wireless network in response to reconnection of subscriber station to a base stations. A set of rules is provided that governs configuration of a network interface based in part on whether the interface connects to a different base station after reconnection. Reconfiguration may be include cycling power of the network interface and the decision to cycle power may be based on network configuration determined after the loss of communication. This decision can be made after the loss of communication and after the network interface is reconnected to the wireless network through the same or a different base station. The rules may be processed by a combination of subscriber equipment, network interface and base station. Power may be cycled responsive to a message transmitted by the one base station to the network interface.
US08619634B2
In an example embodiment, a topology based channel assignment method for mitigating contention between overlapping radio coverage areas in a wireless “mesh” network topology. A central controller compiles radio overlap information and executes a Tiered Graph Coloring Algorithm, which is used to mitigate contention between overlapping radio coverage areas. In general, the radio channel for each Channel Assignment Cluster (Basic Service Set) is selected so that the aggregate radio coverage area of the Channel Assignment Cluster does not overlap with the radio coverage areas of neighboring Channel Assignment Clusters and fixed interference sources. In the tiered algorithm, a Channel Assignment Cluster is represented as a single vertex, interference sources are represented as “fixed” vertices with fixed color assignments, and “overlapping” vertices are interconnected by “edges.” Vertices are “tiered” so that overlap mitigation is prioritized for higher-traffic radios.
US08619622B2
The present invention relates to a method for limiting the throughput of a communication in a meshed network, comprising the following steps: allocating fixed paths to communications likely to be established on the network; identifying the communications likely to take a mesh segment; allocating respective throughput quotas to the identified communications such that the sum of these quotas is less than or equal to a nominal throughput of said segment; and measuring the throughput of each communication at the input of the network and suspending the communication when its quota is reached.
US08619620B2
Techniques to select a suitable transmission mode for a data transmission in a multi channel communication system with multiple spatial channels having varying SNRs are presented in this disclosure. For certain embodiments, a closed-loop technique may be applied, in which back-off factors used to calculate an effective SNR value fed back to a transmitter are adjusted. An open-loop rate control scheme is also presented in which a transmitter may select a data rate and number of streams based on whether transmitted packets are received in error at a receiver.
US08619615B2
A mobile station apparatus which communicates with a base station apparatus using a plurality of component carriers, transmits uplink control information to the base station apparatus using a single physical uplink control channel in a plurality of uplink component carriers, regardless of whether or not a plurality of physical uplink control channels is assigned by the base station apparatus and, when each physical uplink shared channel of the plurality of uplink component carriers including a first uplink component carrier on which the uplink control information is transmitted using the physical uplink control channel is assigned in the same subframe by the base station apparatus, transmits the uplink control information to the base station apparatus using the physical uplink shared channel of the first uplink component carrier.
US08619612B2
A method for performing measurement by a radio apparatus is presented. In one embodiment, the method includes determining raw measurements (e.g., a channel estimation and a noise variance estimation) of a subband and determining a rank indicator (RI) without requiring a precoding matrix indicator (PMI) search. The method includes calculating, based at least on the raw measurements, a mean instantaneous capacity (MIC) for the subband and determining a channel quality indicator (CQI) and a PMI based at least on the MIC. In one embodiment, the method uses subband-based measurements for performing feedback/measurement.
US08619596B2
A system for centrally controlling packet network communications may include an input/output (I/O) unit configured to communicate data packets over a packet network with multiple network communications devices, a processing unit in communication with the I/O unit and configured to communicate with the network communications devices via respective node segments, and a memory in communication with the processing unit and configured to store a table. The processing unit may be configured to receive and store network performance information of node segments generated by the network communications devices. The network performance information may be stored in the table in association with indicia representative of the node segments, respectively. The processing unit may further be configured to control network communications by the network communications devices over the node segments based on the network performance information stored in the table.
US08619591B2
The present invention provides a transmission method for a physical layer operations, administration and maintenance (PLOAM) message in a passive optical network. The method includes: a transmitter dividing a PLOAM message to generate more than two new PLOAM messages, each of which comprises at least a message identification (Message ID) field (1501); and the transmitter transmitting the new PLOAM messages identified with Message IDs (1502). The invention also provides an assembling method for a PLOAM message in a passive optical network and a transmission device for a PLOAM message in a passive optical network. By using the method of the invention, the invention improves the efficiency of the PLOAM message transmission, avoids bandwidth waste, and simultaneously improves the flexibility and timeliness of the PLOAM message transmission between an OLT and an ONU.
US08619582B2
A data processing method for a wireless communication system with a plurality of terminals, an intermediate device and a service network, the method comprising: sending a plurality of machine type communication (MTC) data flows from the plurality of terminals to the intermediate device; performing a data multiplexing operation by the intermediate device on the plurality of machine type communication data flows to generate a multiplexed data flow; and the service network receiving the multiplexed data flow.
US08619581B2
Devices, systems and methods of selecting a station of a wireless network to perform the role of the wireless network controller or control point. The station may receive a request to check the capabilities of the station in order to select the wireless network controller wherein the request includes sending station capabilities values. The station checks the station capabilities by comparing the station self capabilities values with the sending station capabilities values in descending capabilities priority order and if the station capability value is higher than the sending station capability value then the station may selects the station with the highest capability value as the wireless network controller.
US08619570B1
Systems and methods for processing media streams for transport over a network based on network conditions. An integrated circuit comprises a media processing unit coupled to receive feedback from a network processing unit. The media processing unit converts a media stream from a compressed input stream to a compressed output stream such that the compressed output stream has characteristics that are best suited for the network conditions. Network conditions can include, for example, characteristics of the network (e.g., latency or bandwidth) or characteristics of the remote playback devices (e.g., playback resolution). Changes in the network conditions can result in a change in the conversion process.
US08619563B2
Systems and methodologies are described herein that facilitate interference control and resource management in a wireless communication system. As described herein, a base station, terminal, and/or other entity in a wireless communication system that observes interference from one or more other network entities can construct and communicate resource utilization messages (RUMs) in order to request the interfering network entities to conduct power backoff on designated resources. Parameters constructed as a function of quality of service (QoS) and/or priority metrics (such as head-of-line delays, queue lengths, burst sizes, delay targets, average rates, or the like) can be included within the RUM, such that an entity receiving the RUM can compute QoS changes associated with various power backoff levels in order to select a power backoff level that maximizes overall system QoS performance.
US08619559B2
A system and method for enabling energy efficient Ethernet networks with time-sensitive protocols. Time-stamped packets generated by a time-sensitive protocol rely on fixed latency in a transit time through a transmission subsystem. An energy efficiency control policy in a network device governs a transmission of time-stamped packets in accordance with energy efficiency initiatives controlled by the energy efficiency control policy. In one embodiment, time-stamped packets can be dropped or modified to account for transitions by the transmission subsystem into an energy saving state. In another embodiment, transitions by the transmission subsystem into or out of an energy saving state can be impacted by the existence of time-stamped packets scheduled for transmission.
US08619554B2
An interconnect block for a data processing apparatus, said interconnect block being operable to provide data routes via which one or more initiator devices may access one or more recipient devices, said interconnect block comprising: a first and a second portion; said first portion comprising at least one initiator port for communicating with one of said initiator devices, and at least one recipient port for communicating with one of said recipient devices; said second portion comprising at least two recipient ports for communicating with at least two recipient devices, said second portion being connected to said first portion via at least two parallel connecting routes, said at least two recipient ports being connectable to said at least two parallel connecting routes; wherein in response to a request received from one of said initiator devices at said first portion to perform a transaction accessing one of said at least two recipients in communication with said second portion, said interconnect block is operable to provide a data route between said initiator device and said recipient device via said at least two parallel connecting routes and to maintain said data route for the duration of said transaction.
US08619549B2
A method, apparatus and computer program product for performing location based load balancing of wireless access points and wireless switches is presented. A wireless controller (WC) receives an associate message from an Access Point (AP)/wireless switch (WS) at the WC. The WC then determines whether a preferred WC for the AP/WS is available. When the preferred WC is not available, then the WC determines if an alternate WC for the AP is available. When the alternate WC is not available, an administrator configured policy may be used that maps the AP to a specific WC. When the policy does exist then the AP is coupled to the WC according to the policy and when the policy does not exist then the WC parses the AP/WS location information for the AP/WS to determine an available geographically closest WC for the AP/WS and sends a message to the AP/WS relating to the available WC. The WC will also assign an available geographically closest WS to AP.
US08619547B2
A system may include, for example, an Interrogating Call Session Control Function (I-CSCF) device having a processor adapted to receive a request from a Serving CSCF (S-CSCF) device communicatively coupled to a first communication device to establish communications with a second communication device responsive to the first communication device initiating a call directed to the second communication device, and to identify a primary S-CSCF device to which the second communication device is registered. The processor can also be adapted to detect a communication fault when attempting to communicate with the primary S-CSCF device, and to identify a secondary S-CSCF device that provides backup communication services to the second communication device responsive to detecting the communication fault. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US08619542B2
A method and apparatus for providing channel feedback is provided herein. During operation a covariance matrix at time t (R) is calculated as a function of a received downlink signal. In order to reduce overhead, R is normalized and quantized. The base unit then uses the covariance matrix estimate to determine appropriate channel beamforming weights, and instructs transmit beamforming circuitry to use the appropriate weights. In an embodiment, circuitry performs a method of calculating a first precoding matrix index I from a codebook using a received signal, calculating a second codebook index J* using the first precoding matrix index I to approximate a covariance matrix and calculating a quantized coefficient α* to approximate the covariance matrix wherein the quantized coefficient α* is determined using the first precoding matrix index I.
US08619541B2
Pilot arrangement method in mobile radio communication system and transmitter/receiver adopting same
A pilot arrangement method in a mobile radio communication system by which, in order to avoid a problem that poor CQI accuracy affects the scheduling of channel arrangement to cause the throughput to be deteriorated, a working frequency band is divided into a plurality of predetermined bands and time division multiplexing is performed. A known pilot symbol is inserted into the predetermined frequency bands at predetermined reference intervals. Furthermore, the known pilot symbol is inserted into at least one of the predetermined frequency bands at smaller intervals than the predetermined reference intervals and arranged.
US08619528B2
A system and method of calibrating optical measuring equipment includes optically measuring discrete objects of a first known predictable pattern from a calibration apparatus, wherein the first known predictable pattern is a bit pattern. A recording surface optical reader is calibrated based on the optically measuring. Using the first known predictable pattern, contamination is filtered from the results of the optically measuring.
US08619517B1
A thermally-assisted magnetic recording head includes a waveguide having a core and a cladding, and a plasmon generator. The core has an evanescent light generating surface. The plasmon generator has a plasmon exciting part opposed to the evanescent light generating surface. Assuming a virtual straight line that passes internally through the core and that is parallel to the direction of travel of light propagating through the core, at least part of the evanescent light generating surface and at least part of the plasmon exciting part are both inclined relative to the virtual straight line such that the distance from the virtual straight line decreases with increasing proximity to the medium facing surface.
US08619500B2
A method for estimating principal stresses of a subterranean formation from seismic data. In one embodiment, rock strength parameters from seismic data of the formation is first determined to calculate the anisotropic elastic properties of the formation. The three principal stresses of the formation: vertical stress, minimum horizontal stress, and maximum horizontal stress, is determined using at least the calculated anisotropic elastic properties and the rock strength parameters of the formation. From the estimated principal stresses, the differential ratio of the maximum and minimum horizontal stresses can be determined to indicate optimal zones for hydraulic fracturing. In another embodiment, a tectonic strain term is introduced to calibrate the estimated principal estimated stress to a known reference point. In yet another embodiment, hoop stress is incorporated to estimate the fracture initiation pressures.
US08619496B2
Marine seismic survey using an array (6) of streamers (8) towed behind a vessel (2) and carrying acoustic sources (4) and sensors (10), spreading means (12, 14, 22, 23, 24) for keeping the streamers (8) at a given distance by lateral tensioning, and bridles (16) for connecting the spreading means and towing ropes and cables. The bridles (16) are comprising at least one solid link or connection device (26) for releasable connection to lines under tension and extending in different directions.
US08619495B2
A configuration for the deck of a marine vessel, wherein parallel and perpendicular travel paths, for movement of individual OBS unit storage baskets, are formed along a deck utilizing, in part, the storage baskets themselves. A portion of the deck is divided into a grid defined by a series of low-to-the-deck perpendicular and parallel rails and each square in the grid is configured to hold an OBS unit storage basket. Around the perimeter of the grid is an external containment wall which has a greater height than the rails. Storage baskets seated within the grid are configured to selectively form internal containment walls. Opposing internal and external containment walls define travel paths along which a storage basket can be moved utilizing a low, overhead gantry. A basket need only be lifted a minimal height above the deck in order to be moved along a path. The containment walls and the deck itself constraining uncontrolled swinging of baskets, even in onerous weather or sea conditions. The system is flexible to meet the needs of a desired operation since the internal walls of the grid can be reconfigured as desired in order to free up a particular storage basket or define a particular travel path.
US08619492B2
An on-die termination (ODT) circuit of a memory device comprising: a memory device having a memory core having a memory cell array; a data input/output pin connected to the memory core through a data buffer; and an on-die termination (ODT) circuit, comprising: a termination circuit configured to provide a termination impedance at the input/output data pin, the termination circuit having a switching device that selectively connects a termination impedance to the input/output data pin based on the presence of an asynchronous control signal (ACS), wherein the ACS is generated based on the presence of a memory WRITE command. The memory device may further comprise a training circuit comprising: an asynchronous signal delay configured to delay the signal path of the ACS signal to the termination circuit; and a comparing unit configured to compare a phase difference between the ACS signal and a reference signal, the comparing unit comprising a phase detector and a replica delay, wherein the replica delay is configured to delay the signal path of the ACS signal to the phase detector, and the phase detector is configured to output the phase difference as training result.
US08619487B2
A semiconductor device includes a memory core with a plurality of memory cells, an internal voltage generator and a low power entry circuit. The low power entry circuit receives a plurality of control signals which are provided to a command decoder, and generates a low power signal indicating a low power consumption mode where a refresh operation is prohibited. The internal voltage generator includes a detector and at least one of booster circuits. The internal voltage generator, coupled to the memory core via an internal power supply line, generates a boosted internal voltage based on an external voltage and supplies the boosted internal voltage to the memory core via the internal power supply line. The internal voltage generator stops supplying the boosted internal voltage to the internal power supply line in response to the low power signal while the external voltage is supplied to the semiconductor device.
US08619486B2
In one embodiment, a semiconductor memory device receives a refresh command and address information, and supplies a refresh control signal and the address information in common to core chips. Each of the core chips includes a layer-address comparison circuit that determines whether the address information assigns an own core chip, and a refresh control circuit that refreshes an own memory cell based on the refresh control signal when the address information assigns the own core chip. With this arrangement, a memory capacity of a chip that is refreshed by a refresh command for one time is reduced, and therefore a shortest issuing interval of a refresh command can be shortened.
US08619475B2
Memory devices and methods for operating a memory cell are disclosed, such as a method that uses two program verify levels (e.g., low program verify level and program verify level) to determine how a data line voltage should be increased. A threshold voltage of a memory cell that has been biased with a programming voltage is determined and its relationship with the two program verify levels is determined. If the threshold voltage is less than the low program verify level, the data line can be biased at a ground voltage (e.g., 0V) for a subsequent programming pulse. If the threshold voltage is greater than the program verify level, the data line can be biased at an inhibit voltage for a subsequent programming pulse. If the threshold voltage is between the two program verify levels, the data line voltage can be increased for each subsequent programming pulse in which the threshold voltage is between the two program verify levels.
US08619474B2
Memory devices and methods are disclosed, such as devices configured to apply a first program inhibit bias to data lines during a first portion of a program operation and to apply a second program inhibit bias to data lines during a second portion of the program operation. The second program inhibit bias is greater than the first program inhibit bias.
US08619467B2
Multi-period structures exhibiting giant magnetoresistance (GMR) are described in which the exchange coupling across the active interfaces of the structure is ferromagnetic.
US08619464B1
Integrated circuits may have arrays of memory elements. Data may be loaded into the memory elements and read from the memory elements using data lines. Address lines may be used to apply address signals to write address transistors and read circuitry. A memory element may include a bistable storage element. Read circuitry may be coupled between the bistable storage element and a data line. The read circuitry may include a data storage node. A capacitor may be coupled between the data storage node and ground and may be used in storing preloaded data from the bistable storage element. The read circuitry may include a transistor that is coupled between the bistable storage element and the data storage node and a transistor that is coupled between the data storage node and the data line.
US08619459B1
Providing for resistive random access memory (RRAM) having high read speeds is described herein. By way of example, a RRAM memory can be powered at one terminal by a bitline, and connected at another terminal to a gate of a transistor having a low gate capacitance (relative to a capacitance of the bitline). With this arrangement, a signal applied at the bitline can quickly switch the transistor gate, in response to the RRAM memory being in a conductive state. A sensing circuit configured to measure the transistor can detect a change in current, voltage, etc., of the transistor and determine a state of the RRAM memory from the measurement. Moreover, this measurement can occur very quickly due to the low capacitance of the transistor gate, greatly improving the read speed of RRAM.
US08619455B2
One embodiment provides a ferroelectric memory including: memory cells each including a ferroelectric memory; first and second bitlines configured to read out cell signals from the memory cells; a first circuit configured to fix, when the cell signal is read from the memory cell to the first bitline, a voltage of the second bitline to a first power-supply voltage, and then set the second bitline to a second power-supply voltage different from the first power-supply voltage; a second circuit configured to set, after the first circuit sets the second bitline to the second power-supply voltage, the second bitline to a reference voltage; and a third circuit configured to amplify a voltage difference between the first bitline to which the cell signal is read and the second bitline to which the reference voltage is set.
US08619448B2
In order to reduce the average power of the ringing noise, the present invention provides a power converter comprising: an arm circuit including a high-voltage side switching device to which a first diode is connected in parallel and a low-voltage side switching device to which a second diode is connected in parallel; and a main power supply connected to a series circuit of the high-voltage side switching device and the low-voltage side switching device, wherein a connecting point between the high-voltage side switching device and the low-voltage side switching device is connected to a load, and a resonant frequency calculated from inductances of wirings of a closed circuit including the first diode, the second diode, and the main power supply and a capacitance across the first diode is different form that calculated from the inductances of the wirings and a capacitance across the second diode.
US08619446B2
Cascade H-Bridge inverters and carrier-based level shift pulse width modulation techniques are presented for generating inverter stage switching control signals, in which carrier waveform levels are selectively shifted to control THD and to mitigate power distribution imbalances within multilevel inverter elements.
US08619445B1
Transient or fault conditions for a switched capacitor power converter are detected by measuring one or more of internal voltages and/or currents associated with switching elements (e.g., transistors) or phase nodes, or voltages or currents at terminals of the converter, and based on these measurements detect that a condition has occurred when the measurements deviate from a predetermined range. Upon detection of the condition fault control circuitry alters operation of the converter, for example, by using a high voltage switch to electrically disconnect at least some of the switching elements from one or more terminals of the converter, or by altering timing characteristics of the phase signals.
US08619440B2
Control methods and controller thereof for a power supply including a power switch and an inductor. The power switch is turned on to increase the inductor current through the inductor, which is sensed to generate a current-sense signal. The current-sense signal is added up with an adjusting signal to generate a summation signal. The power switch is turned off if the summation signal is higher than a peak limit. The turn-on time of the power switch is detected to update the adjusting signal.
US08619437B2
A system simplification can be achieved by reducing the number of sensors required to detect currents and voltages when an output current is estimated. A switching power supply device 6 includes a current transformer 12, a switching circuit 13, a rectifying circuit 15, a smoothing circuit 16, an input voltage detecting circuit 18, a control part 19, an output voltage detecting circuit 22 and a PWM signal generating part 30. The control part 19 calculates a duty rate and an average value of voltage of the secondary side voltage of the current transformer 12 detected by the input voltage detecting circuit 18 based on a waveform of the detected voltage. The control part 19 calculates an output current lo based on the calculated duty rate, the calculated average value of voltage and an output voltage Vo detected by the output voltage detecting circuit 22.
US08619436B2
An electrical component (100) includes a housing (1), a number of terminals (2) molded within housing and at least one electrical element (3). The housing has at least a side wall (11) having a number of recesses (112) and an internal cavity (15). Each terminal has a first end (23) extending to a bottom of the side wall and formed with a platform portion (231) located onto the bottom of the side wall and aligned with the corresponding recess. The electrical element has a number of wires (321) wrapped thereon. One end of the wire extends outward the cavity through the recess and is soldered onto the corresponding platform portion.175
US08619435B2
An external EMI diverting structure to electrically shield an electronic device from EMI is presented. The electronic device is physically isolated from the case ground which interrupts the EMI or lightning fault path. This shield provides a return path to ground for the EMI away from the electronic device and replaces conventional EMI filter capacitors, which are not connected to case ground. The external EMI diverter comprises a first conducting enclosure enclosing the electrical circuit and is electrically coupled to the electric circuit and a second conducting enclosure enclosing the first conducting enclosure and being electrically isolated from the first conducting enclosure and the electric circuit. The diverter is physically and electrically connected to the case ground at an attachment point.
US08619431B2
The present invention provides a three-dimensional System-In-Package (SIP) Package-On-Package (POP) structure comprising a support element formed around a first electronic device. A filling material is filled between the first electronic device and the support element. Signal channels are coupled to first die pads of the first electronic device. Conductive elements form signal connection between the first end of the signal channels and the second die pads of a second electronic device.
US08619425B2
Cooling apparatuses and methods are provided for immersion-cooling one or more electronic components. The cooling apparatus includes a housing at least partially surrounding and forming a fluid-tight compartment about the electronic component(s), and a boiling fluid mixture of first and second dielectric fluids within the fluid-tight compartment, with the electronic component(s) immersed within the mixture. A condensing fluid is also provided within the fluid-tight compartment, and is immiscible with the boiling fluid mixture. The condensing fluid has a lower specific gravity and a higher thermal conductivity than the boiling fluid mixture, and facilitates condensing of vaporized boiling fluid mixture. A cooling structure is provided within the compartment, and includes a condensing region and a sub-cooling region, with the condensing region being in contact with the condensing fluid, and the sub-cooling region being in contact with the boiling fluid mixture. The cooling structure facilitates heat removal from the fluid-tight compartment.
US08619417B1
A computer docking station is provided having an enclosure unit, a cable-to-panel connector, a dock cover, an electrical connector that includes an open box configuration; and a cable-to-panel component. The enclosure unit connects to the docking station. The dock cover is disposed inside the enclosure unit. The electrical connector is also disposed inside the enclosure unit and connects to the dock cover. The electrical connector comprises connectors to enable electrical connections to peripheral devices, a mounting plate positioned over the enclosure unit, a docking connector operatively connected to the dock cover and extending through the mounting plate, and a plurality of gaskets connected to the mounting plate.
US08619415B1
In one general aspect a computing device can include a base portion including an input region, a display portion, and a rotating mechanism fixedly coupled to the display portion. The computing device can include a connecting rod coupled to the rotating mechanism and to the base portion. The rotating mechanism and connecting rod can be configured to move a bottom portion of the display portion in a direction away from the input region in response to the display portion being rotated about an axis of the rotating mechanism from a closed position with respect to the base portion toward a flat position with respect to the base portion.
US08619412B2
Described herein are various embodiments of a power distribution unit having modular components. For example, according to one embodiment, a power distribution unit can include a component portion that comprises at least two modules including outlet modules, circuit protection modules, power input modules, communications I/O modules, and display modules. Each of the at least two modules of the component portion can comprise at least one connection element and can be removably secured to one or more other of the at least two modules via the connection elements. The power distribution unit can also include a housing that defines an interior cavity. The component portion can be removably secured to the housing at least partially within the interior cavity.
US08619406B2
This invention relates to substrate supports, e.g., coated electrostatic chucks, having a dielectric multilayer formed thereon; dielectric multilayers that provide erosive and corrosive barrier protection in harsh environments such as plasma treating vessels used in semiconductor device manufacture; process chambers, e.g., deposition chambers, for processing substrates; methods for protecting substrate supports; and methods for producing substrate supports and electronic devices. The dielectric multilayer comprises (a) an undercoat dielectric layer comprising a metal oxide or metal nitride formed on a surface; and (b) a topcoat dielectric layer comprising a metal oxide formed on the undercoat dielectric layer. The topcoat dielectric layer has an aluminum oxide content of less than about 1 weight percent. The topcoat dielectric layer has a corrosion resistance and/or plasma erosion resistance greater than the corrosion resistance and/or plasma erosion resistance of the undercoat dielectric layer. The undercoat dielectric layer can have a resistivity greater than the resistivity of the topcoat dielectric layer. The topcoat dielectric layer can have a dielectric constant greater than the dielectric constant of the undercoat dielectric layer. The undercoat dielectric layer can have a porosity greater than the porosity of the topcoat dielectric layer. The invention is useful, for example, in the manufacture and protection of electrostatic chucks used in semiconductor device manufacture.
US08619401B2
A current source regulator for controlling an output device (Mp) of current source, the output device (Mp) providing an output current (Isrc) to a load. The current source regulator comprises a first feedback loop (1) and second feedback loop (2). The first feedback loop (1) includes a first sensing path to provide a first sensing signal (Is1) for comparison with a first reference to generate a first control signal. The second feedback loop (2) comprises a second sensing path to provide a second sensing signal (Is3, Is3′) for comparison with a second reference (Ib5) to generate a charging current signal (Icharge). The charging current signal (Icharge) is applied to the control signal during a transient state of the current source regulator.
US08619400B2
An overvoltage protection method and circuit includes a positive supply input node, an output node, and a negative supply node. The overvoltage protection circuit further includes a first functional circuit configured to turn ON a MOSFET and maintain it in a low resistance state. A second functional circuit is configured to detect an overvoltage and control the gate of the MOSFET to regulate a voltage at the output node. A third functional circuit is configured to provide a startup wherein the overvoltage protection circuit is not damaged and/or to regulate an operating voltage such that an overvoltage does not appear on the overvoltage protection circuit. The external components include the MOSFET, which has a gate coupled to the output of the charge pump of the overvoltage protection circuit.
US08619394B1
The present invention generally relates to a magnetic head having a thinner intermixing layer between a barrier layer and a magnetic layer. The method of making the magnetic head is also disclosed. The thinner intermixing layer in the magnetic head is formed by cooling the barrier layer in an atmosphere having a temperature of below 0 degrees Celsius prior to depositing the magnetic layer on the barrier layer. The thinner intermixing layer leads to a sharp interface between the barrier layer and the magnetic layer, which leads to an increased MR.
US08619385B1
A disk drive is disclosed comprising a disk including a plurality of sectors each comprising a sector sync mark pattern and sector data preceding and following the sector sync mark pattern, and a head actuated over the disk for generating a read signal. A data sequence is detected from the read signal, and the data sequence is correlated with an extended sync mark comprising a target sync mark pattern and target data. The correlation of the target sync mark pattern with the data sequence is biased relative to the correlation of the target data with the data sequence.
US08619369B2
The present invention relates to a display device, notably for a motor vehicle, comprising a projection module for generating an image for the purpose of a projection in the normal direction of looking of a user of the display device on an optical path, the display device comprising a reflection element, the reflection element being capable of being moved between a multitude of different display positions, the different display positions corresponding to different viewing positions of a user of the display device.
US08619360B2
An improved technique balances a telescope from the viewpoint of the motors that drive the telescope's axes. A motor that controls movement along an axis of the telescope drives the telescope in one direction and then in the opposite direction. Motor current is measured while the motor is driving the telescope in each direction, and a difference in motor current is computed. The difference in motor current indicates the degree of imbalance of the telescope, which may be communicated to an operator to allow adjustments to the telescope to improve its balance.
US08619359B2
The present invention discloses a unique and novel combination light source and active light filtering system for microscopes that eliminates the need for individual color filters, fluorescence filters, and many other filter types. The present invention provides variable light wavelength generating capabilities, and all of the benefits of most commercially available light sources in a compact package that can be mounted on a microscope or used at a distance from a microscope, but be coupled to it through a fiber optic cable or other light transmission means. Additionally, the present invention eliminates the need for a filter wheel turret in a microscope's optical path, as well as eliminates the need for multiple fluorescent filter blocks in a fluorescent microscope optical path. The present invention can improve microscope filter systems to enable effective imaging of live cells without staining.
US08619355B2
A device for generating or receiving electromagnetic radiation in a frequency range from 10 GHz to 100 THz is provided. The device includes a housing and a wave guide fiber leading into the housing. The wave guide fiber is adapted for guiding pulsed laser light with a first central wavelength. Within the housing, a terahertz converter is provided for generating or receiving the electromagnetic radiation in the terahertz range. The device also includes a frequency converter for converting the light exiting from the wave guide fiber to a second central wavelength being arranged between the end of the wave guide fiber and the terahertz converter in such a way that the terahertz converter is impinged by the frequency converted light.
US08619341B2
Systems and methods are disclosed for enabling legacy devices to consistently and reliably operate within a distributed scan environment using proxy scan services. A proxy scan service is communicatively coupled between a scan management service and a scanner. Information transmitted between the scan management service and the scanner is intercepted at the proxy scan service, where the scan management service recognizes a first format message for the information and the scanner recognizes a second format message for the information. The information is converted at the proxy scan service between the first format message and the second format message. The transmission between the scan management service and the scanner is completed using the converted information.
US08619332B2
Provided is a printing apparatus that prints an image of a first colorimetric system that is constructed with a plurality of pixels by using dots having a plurality of sizes, including: a print head that ejects a printing material to form the dots on a printing medium; a color conversion unit that converts the image in the first colorimetric system to an intermediate image in a second colorimetric system that can be printed by the printing apparatus; a detection unit that detects edge pixels, which constitute an edge of the intermediate image, among a plurality of pixels constituting the intermediate image; a dot allocation unit that allocates dots having a predetermined size among the dots having the plurality of sizes to the edge pixels; and a printing unit that controls the print head based on printing data indicating the dot allocation to form the image on the printing medium.
US08619326B2
Disclosed is process of forming a regular array of rows of subpixels on a workpiece. The subpixels having four different colors, and a subpixel pitch s. Of the four colors, q colors are formed by printing and r colors are formed by a non-printing method. The process includes the steps: (1) providing a printing head having z nozzles arranged in a row with a spacing between the nozzles of p, where z=4n1 and p=3s, the printing head being at a first position relative to the workpiece; (2) providing q different printing inks, one for each of the q printed colors; (3) supplying each of the printing inks to the nozzles in a regular alternating pattern; (4) printing a first set of z rows of subpixels with the printing head; (5) moving and printing in a first printing pattern by: (a) moving the workpiece laterally relative to the printing head by a distance d1, where d1=4n2s; (b) printing a set of z rows of subpixels with the printing head; (6) moving and printing in a second printing pattern by: (c) moving the workpiece laterally relative to the printing head by a distance d2, where d2=d1; (d) printing a set of z rows of subpixels with the printing head; (7) moving and printing in a third printing pattern by: (e) moving the workpiece laterally relative to the printing head by a distance d3, where d3=4n3s, such that d1+d2+d3=pz; and (f) printing a set of z rows of subpixels with the printing head; (8) repeating steps (5) through (7) multiple times in the same order; and (9) applying r colors by a non-printing method.
US08619323B2
When the number (M) of passes is smaller than a threshold value, a first processing mode is selected. In the first processing mode, multivalued image data is divided into pieces of multivalued data corresponding to passes and a common multivalued data for a plurality of passes, the pieces of multivalued data are individually binarized to generate pieces of binary data corresponding to the passes, and the common multivalued data is binarized to generate common binary data for these passes. On the other hand, when the number (M) of passes is equal to or larger than the threshold value, a second processing mode is selected. In the second processing mode, multivalued image data is binarized and the binary data is divided into pieces of binary data corresponding to passes with a mask.
US08619317B2
A display input device 1 includes: a display part 11 displaying character string regions; an input part 12 accepting operation; a storage part 18 storing data including data for an image; and a display control part 10 controlling the display at the display part. The display control part 10 judges whether or not, of the character string regions, the adjacent character string regions include the same character string, and if they include the same character string, makes the display part highlight characters other than the same character string.
US08619316B2
A document processing apparatus, including a symbol-related information acquirement unit which identifies a text area in a scanned document, extracts symbols from the identified text area, and acquires symbol-related information regarding each extracted symbol, a symbol division unit which divides the extracted symbols into several groups based on a preset reference value regarding the symbol-related information, and a key index generation unit which generates a key index by arranging one group of symbols from among the divided groups. Accordingly, a user can look for a desired document more easily and conveniently.
US08619313B2
An image capture device comprises an output settings module configured to receive a selection of at least one output setting for at least one of a plurality of objects to be concurrently imaged by the image capture device, the at least one output setting automatically applied to a scanned image of the at least one object.
US08619309B2
An image processing apparatus includes a capturing unit for capturing an image; an operation unit for inputting information specifying a specific information processing device among a plurality of information processing devices; an information request processing unit for externally transmitting an information acquisition request including a concurrent notification request and identification information identifying the specific information processing device; a destination determination processing unit for determining a transmission destination according to answer information relative to the information acquisition request; and an image information transmission processing unit for transmitting the image captured with the capturing unit to the transmission destination determined with the destination determination processing unit.
US08619303B2
Controllers on the master and slave sides each perform an ink cartridge checking process and transmit a detection result, for example “NG”, obtained though the ink cartridge checking process to the other controller. Furthermore, the same ink cartridge checking process is performed in the other controller and the detection result thereof, for example “OK” is transmitted to the first controller. A mechanical control unit merges (combines) the respective detection results and if at least one of the results is NG, a merged result of NG is obtained. In the case of NG, this fact is transmitted to a host control unit and if YES is selected in a Y/N display, the error is cleared. On the other hand, in the case of a merged result of OK, an ink cartridge OK state notification is issued to a mechanical controller.
US08619302B2
An image reading apparatus, system and control method are provide, wherein specific information used to specify a setting associated with reading set by a host PC is received from the host PC, and both the received specific information and identification information used to identify the host PC having transmitted the specific information are registered in association with a specific key. Upon an operation of the specific key, a read instruction issue request is sent to the host PC in accordance with the specific information registered in association with the specific key, an image is read in accordance with a read instruction sent from the host PC in response to the read instruction issue request sent by the host PC, and image data obtained from the image is transmitted from the image reading apparatus to the host PC.
US08619301B2
An image forming apparatus forms an image on a recording medium to output the image based on a print job, and the image forming apparatus includes: a control section which controls an output operation performed by the image forming apparatus; and an informing section; wherein the control section causes the informing section to inform output content confirmation information for confirming one or more contents each being of an image output operation corresponding to the print job and one or more contents each being of a predetermined output operation set in the image forming apparatus, based on the print job and a setting content of the predetermined output operation set in the image forming apparatus, the setting content being set independently of a setting of the image output operation corresponding to the print job.
US08619295B2
A computer readable medium having a computer program product stored thereon, the computer program product including instructions for ordering a computer to perform the following steps. The steps include a first receiving step of receiving a facsimile command from a client device configured to executes a facsimile application program, a first determining step of determining whether or not to allow communication with a facsimile device based on a predetermined condition when receiving the facsimile command at the first receiving step, and a transferring step of transferring the facsimile command received at the first receiving step to the facsimile device when the communication is allowed at the first determining step.
US08619293B2
When an initial communication program is started, a handheld device searches for image forming apparatuses within its communicable range. Then, upon receiving a response of that inquiry from an image forming apparatus, the handheld device requests the image forming apparatus for an image-forming-apparatus control program for handheld devices according to a predetermined determination condition. The image forming apparatus then responds to the inquiry from the handheld device and sends to the handheld device the image-forming-apparatus control program for handheld devices that has been stored in a memory device. Upon receiving the image-forming-apparatus control program for handheld devices, the handheld device stores it in a memory unit, terminates the execution of the initial communication program, and executes the image-forming-apparatus control program for handheld devices.
US08619292B2
A terminal device may comprise a memory configured to store a browser application including a first program and a second program, and a processor comprising a first processing unit and a second processing unit. The first processing unit configured to acquire specific data from the internet and display a browser screen including the specific data on a displaying unit, and the second processing unit configured to execute a process. The second processing unit may display a predetermined inputting portion on the browser screen, and acquire new specific data in a case where the predetermined inputting portion is operated. The new specific data may be transformed from the specific data being displayed on the browser screen. The new specific data may have a specific format that a specific printer can interpret. The second processing unit may send the new specific data to the specific printer.
US08619289B2
An image forming apparatus, receiving and processing data transmitted from an image processing apparatus, includes a determination unit, first requesting unit, first analysis unit, second requesting unit, second analysis unit, and image forming unit. The determination unit determines whether or not the data are receivable. The first requesting unit requests the image processing apparatus to transmit first data where the determination unit determines that the data are not receivable. The first analysis unit analyzes the first data received from the image processing apparatus. The second requesting unit requests the image processing apparatus to transmit second data serving as image information corresponding to the first data based on an analysis result provided by the first analysis unit. The second analysis unit analyzes the second data received from the image processing apparatus. The image forming unit forms an image based on an analysis result provided by the second analysis unit.
US08619283B2
An image processing apparatus is provided that includes plural devices, a device control unit associated with each of the devices for controlling a power status of each of the devices according to a relevant power mode, and power mode setting unit for setting the relevant power mode to the device control unit.
US08619282B2
An image forming system includes an information management unit, at least one image forming unit, an authenticating unit, a determining unit, an adding unit, a notifying unit, and a controller. The information management unit stores and manages print information. Each image forming unit forms an image on a recording medium in accordance with the print information. The authenticating unit authenticates a recipient of an output result of the image forming unit. The determining unit determines whether or not the print information requires authentication. The adding unit adds authentication information about the recipient to the print information when the print information requires authentication. The notifying unit notifies the recipient of information regarding the print information with the authentication information added. The controller controls the information management unit to transmit the print information to the image forming unit to form an image when the recipient has been successfully authenticated.
US08619280B2
An information processing apparatus capable of reducing power consumption of a printing apparatus efficiently according to a processing situation. An accumulation unit accumulates print jobs that should be transmitted to the printing apparatus. An acquisition unit acquires an operation history and a power consumption history of the printing apparatus. A setting unit sets a threshold value for determining a timing of transmitting the print jobs accumulated in the accumulation unit in series to the printing apparatus based on the operation history and the power consumption history acquired. A determination unit determines the timing of transmitting the print jobs based on the threshold value. A transmission unit transmits the print jobs accumulated in the accumulation unit in series to the printing apparatus at the timing determined.
US08619271B2
To reduce downtime due to maintenance of an image processing apparatus as much as possible.Image processing jobs and maintenance jobs of the image processing apparatus are treated in the same way and registered together in the same table. With reference to a table having recorded therein prohibited functions that need to be prohibited during execution of the maintenance job, control is performed such that an image processing job that does not use the prohibited functions (Step S15: NO) is executed in parallel with the maintenance job even during execution (Step S16).
US08619270B2
A double-side recording apparatus includes a recording section that performs recording by ejecting liquid to a sheet-shaped medium; a reversing section that reverses the medium after recording on one side of the medium; a capping section of the recording section; a moving section that moves the recording section to a second position where the recording section is capped and a first position other than the second position; and a controller that controls the moving section and the capping section. The controller determines whether a waiting time set to cause recording to wait for drying exceeds a threshold value before a reversing operation by the reversing section is initiated after recording on the one side of the medium is completed. After the recording section completes recording on the one side of the medium, the controller controls the recording section to wait at the first position without moving the recording section to the second position when the waiting time does not exceed the threshold value, and controls the recording section to wait in a capping state by moving the recording section to the second position when the waiting time exceeds the threshold value.
US08619266B2
An optical position-measuring device includes a light source, a measuring reflector movable in space, a detection unit and a light-beam deflection unit that can align at least one beam of rays, emitted by the light source, in the direction of the measuring reflector. The light-beam deflection unit includes a cardan system having two cardan frames. A first cardan frame is adjustable by motor about a first axis of rotation, and a second cardan frame within the first cardan frame is adjustable by motor about a second axis of rotation oriented in a direction perpendicular to the first axis of rotation. The two axes of rotation intersect in a fixed reference point, at which a reference reflector is disposed. A plurality of mirrors are disposed rigidly on the cardan frames, so that the beam of rays can be pivoted about the fixed reference point via the mirrors during alignment.
US08619257B2
Disclosed herein are methods and devices for detection of bacterial HAI. Disclosed methods may be utilized for continuous in vivo monitoring of a potential bacterial infection site and may be utilized to alert patients and/or health care providers to the presence of pathogenic bacteria at an early stage of infection. Disclosed methods include utilization of recombinant bacteriophage to deliver to pathogenic bacteria a translatable genetic sequence encoding an optically detectable marker or an enzyme capable of producing an optically detectable marker. Upon detection of the optical signal produced by the marker, medical personnel may be alerted to the presence of pathogenic bacteria at the site of inquiry. Any bacterial causative agent of HAI may be detected according to disclosed methods.
US08619256B1
Optical analysis systems may be useful in systems and methods for various properties of fluid cement compositions. For example, a method may include generating with an optical computing device a plurality of output signals corresponding to a plurality of time points and a characteristic of a fluid cement composition at a monitoring location within a flow path, the optical computing device having an electromagnetic radiation source configured to optically interact with the fluid cement composition and an integrated computational element, wherein the integrated computational element is configured to produce and convey optically interacted light to a detector which generates a plurality of output signals corresponding to the characteristic at a plurality of time points; receiving the plurality of output signals with a signal processor communicably coupled to the detector; and determining a difference between at least two of the output signals with the signal processor.
US08619254B2
In a case of generating a main body of an analysis tool and a micro flow path chip as separate components, to obtain an accurate sample analysis result and to accurately adjust fluid temperature inside the micro flow path chip without damaging an analytical light receiving section of the micro flow path chip. In analysis tool body (10) that detachably holds micro flow path chip (30) in a fixed manner, notch section (21) is formed in mount surface (13) onto which micro flow path chip (30) is to be mounted. Notch section (21) is formed in a predetermined range including a part corresponding to optical path L of light emitted from a lens of optical unit (60) in a state where analysis tool (1) is arranged on heat block (50).
US08619252B2
A light intensity measuring unit for measuring an intensity of light emitted from a microscope includes an aperture stop, a field stop, at least one measurement lens arranged between the aperture stop and the field stop, and an interface for attachment to a microscope. The aperture stop is positioned on or close to a back focal plane of the at least one measurement lens. The field stop is positioned on or close to a front focal plane of the at least one measurement lens.
US08619233B2
Disclosed herein is a method of compensating for distortion of an exposure pattern due to stage yawing in a maskless exposure apparatus using digital micromirror devices (DMDs). Requirements as to control performance of the stage yawing through the adjustment of sync signals (PEGs) to switch frames of the DMDs are eliminated, thereby reducing manufacturing costs of a large-sized stage. Also, distortion of an exposure pattern, which may occur due to uncompensated yawing, is digitally compensated by controlling the stage yawing, thereby achieving high-quality exposure.
US08619232B2
A method for damping an object in two or more degrees of freedom, including measuring a position quantity at each of the two or more measurement locations; extracting from the measured position quantities a measurement signal for each dynamic mode; feeding the measurement signal of a dynamic mode to a controller unit associated with the respective dynamic mode, the controller unit providing for each dynamic mode an output signal on the basis of the respective measurement signal; and providing a control signal to each of the two or more actuators, the control signal for each actuator being based on output signals of one or more controller units.
US08619228B2
A liquid crystal display device includes an array substrate and a counter substrate that face each other with a liquid crystal layer therebetween. The array substrate includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and an alignment sustaining layer. The first electrode has a comb-teeth shape. The second electrode has a comb-teeth shape, faces the first electrode, and includes a protruding portion protruding from the first electrode in a direction where comb teeth are arranged. The alignment sustaining layer is formed above a surface of the array substrate being in contact with the liquid crystal layer and gives liquid crystals a pre-tilt to a direction in which the second electrode protrudes from the first electrode, in a direction in which the comb teeth are arranged.
US08619227B2
It is an object of the present invention to apply a sufficient electrical field to a liquid crystal material in a horizontal electrical field liquid crystal display device typified by an FFS type. In a horizontal electrical field liquid crystal display, an electrical field is applied to a liquid crystal material right above a common electrode and a pixel electrode using plural pairs of electrodes rather than one pair of electrodes. One pair of electrodes includes a comb-shaped common electrode and a comb-shaped pixel electrode. Another pair of electrodes includes a common electrode provided in a pixel portion and the comb-shaped pixel electrode.
US08619225B2
A liquid crystal device, which has a plurality of pixels and switching elements provided in correspondence with the pixels, includes an element substrate, an interlayer insulating film, a first electrode layer, and a second electrode layer. The switching elements are formed in the element substrate. The interlayer insulating film is formed on the switching elements. The first electrode layer is formed on the interlayer insulating film. The second electrode layer is formed in the element substrate and overlaps the first electrode in plan view through an interelectrode insulating film. Each of the pixels includes a first region and a second region. The first electrode layer overlaps the second electrode layer in plan view in the first region. Of the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer, only the first electrode layer is formed in the second region. The thickness of the second electrode layer is smaller than the thickness of the first electrode layer.
US08619218B2
A display substrate and a display device including the same are provided. The display substrate includes a first substrate which is divided into a display portion including pixel regions and a non-display portion including a region other than the display portion. Color filters are formed in the pixel regions of the substrate to respective thicknesses. At least one stepped pattern is formed on the non-display portion of the substrate and from the same material as used to form at least one of the color filters. The stepped patterns are formed at an area occupancy density of 20% or more of the non-display portion. A minimum distance is maintained between the stepped patterns and the pixel regions.
US08619216B1
An optical wavelength selective device includes a waveguide grating unit to separate input beam signals with different wavelengths into a plurality of output beam signals, each of which has a different wavelength span and is output from a different channel region of the waveguide grating unit; a polarization splitting unit to split each of the output beam signals into a first polarized beam with a first polarization and a second polarized beam with a second polarization different from the first polarization; a birefringence control member to control the first polarized beam to undergo a different refractive effect than the second polarized beam when the first and second polarized beams pass through the birefringence control member under a first voltage applied thereto; and a reflection member configured to reflect the first and second polarized beams output from the birefringence control member back to the birefringence control member.
US08619208B2
In the case of forming switching elements and light sensor elements over the same substrate, an increase in the film thickness of active layers in an attempt to enhance the sensitivity of the light sensor elements would adversely affect the characteristics of the switching elements (TFTs). In a configuration of a display in which a channel layer 25 for constituting thin film transistors to form the switching elements for pixels and a photoelectric conversion layer 35 for constituting the light sensor elements are provided over a gate insulating film 24 on a glass substrate 5 to be provided with a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix pattern, the photoelectric conversion layer 35 is formed to be thicker than the channel layer 25, and/or the photoelectric conversion layer 35 is formed of a material different from the material for the channel layer 25, whereby the light absorption coefficient of the photoelectric conversion layer 35 is made to be higher than that of the channel layer 25.
US08619207B2
In an amorphous silicon thin film transistor-liquid crystal display device and a method of manufacturing the same, gate patterns including a gate line and a gate electrode are formed on an insulation substrate having a display region and a driving circuit region on which a plurality of shift resistors are formed. A gate insulating film, active layer patterns and data patterns including source/drain electrodes are formed successively on the substrate. A passivation layer on the substrate has a first contact hole exposing a drain electrode of the display region and second and third contact holes respectively exposing a gate electrode and source/drain electrode of a first transistor of each of the shift resistors. Electrode patterns on the passivation layer include a first electrode connected to the drain electrode of the display region through the first contact hole and a second electrode connecting the gate electrode to the source/drain electrode of the first transistor through the second and third contact holes. The gate driving circuit including the shift resistors and the wirings are integrated on the insulating substrate without an additional process, thereby simplifying the manufacturing process.
US08619201B2
A display apparatus having a display driving unit on a lower part is provided. The LCD display apparatus includes a signal processing unit which performs video decoding, video scaling, and conversion into high-quality video on an input video; and a driving unit which is disposed closer to a lower end of the LCD display apparatus than to an upper end of the LCD display apparatus, and drives a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel to display a video output from the signal processing unit on the LCD panel.
US08619200B2
A television receives a command to power up from a standby mode. This causes the TV to start a boot process, and while the boot process proceeds. At a point in the boot process when the tuner input switch is operative, the process simultaneously determines a current time from a real time clock and retrieves a channel and a switch setting from a usage pattern database corresponding to the current time. The tuner is tuned to the channel and the input switch is set. At completion of the boot process the tuner is already tuned to the channel and the input switch is set to the switch setting corresponding the current time so that time to viewing a desired channel is often minimized. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.
US08619195B2
A display apparatus includes a sight line detection unit that detects a line of sight of a user by analyzing user video information, an enhancement processing unit that detects an intersection point of the line of sight of the user detected by the sight line detection unit and a video display surface of a monitor as an attention point, which is a point on which the user focuses attention, and performs enhancement processing for the monitor by setting a higher gain amount in stages from a position of a longer distance from the attention point toward a position of a smaller distance, and a display video output control unit that outputs video via the monitor based on the gain amount set by the enhancement processing unit and display video information whose input is received by a display video information input unit.
US08619193B2
A communication apparatus includes a communication unit, a first determination unit, a second determination unit, and a control unit. The communication unit communicates with an external apparatus via communication lines that conform to HDMI standard. The first determination unit determines whether the first data indicating that the external apparatus displays video data transmitted from the communication unit to the external apparatus is detected by the communication unit has received via a CEC line. The second determination unit determines whether a second data indicating that the external apparatus displays video data transmitted from the communication unit to the external apparatus is detected by the communication via a TMDS line. The control unit determines whether to transmit video data to the external apparatus based on at least one of a determination result obtained by the first determination unit and a determination result obtained by the second determination unit.
US08619190B2
Film mode detection with bad edit detection used in de-interlacing video includes use of combing artifact detection in both 3-2 pull down detection and 2-2 pull down detection. Further, combing artifact detection uses only two field memories by accumulation of partial field statistics for comparisons.
US08619175B2
Provided is a small-sized five-element image pickup lens which ensures a sufficient lens speed of about F2 and exhibits various aberrations being excellently corrected. The image pickup lens is composed of, in order from the object side, a first lens with a positive refractive power, including a convex surface facing the object side; a second lens with a negative refractive power, including a concave surface facing the image side; a third lens with a positive or negative refractive power; a fourth lens with a positive refractive power, including a convex surface facing the image side; and a fifth lens with a negative refractive power, including a concave surface facing the image side. The image-side surface of the fifth lens has an aspheric shape, and includes an inflection point at a position excluding an intersection point with the optical axis.
US08619168B2
This disclosure describes: (1) two different schemes to enhance dynamic range, (2) a new motion detection scheme using in-pixel digital storage, and (3) the motion detection in high illumination for CMOS image sensors. The schemes may be implemented in a small pixel size and easily incorporated in simple column-level circuits for existing CMOS image sensor systems.
US08619158B2
An object of this invention is to simplify an operation of reproducing, on a single window, pieces of image information of different image capturing apparatuses or pieces of image information captured at different times. A display apparatus manages a camera apparatus (1) serving as the image capturing source of image information to be reproduced in each image region in association with a plurality of image regions on a single window. The display apparatus manages whether the image information to be reproduced in each image region is recorded image information or image information which is currently being captured. On the basis of the pieces of management information, the display apparatus acquires image information from a desired one of camera apparatuses and recording apparatuses and reproduces the pieces of acquired image information on the plurality of image regions.
US08619154B2
The attenuation and other optical properties of a medium are exploited to measure a thickness of the medium between a sensor and a target surface. Disclosed herein are various mediums, arrangements of hardware, and processing techniques that can be used to capture these thickness measurements and obtain three-dimensional images of the target surface in a variety of imaging contexts. This includes general techniques for imaging interior/concave surfaces as well as exterior/convex surfaces, as well as specific adaptations of these techniques to imaging ear canals, human dentition, and so forth.
US08619153B2
A method of calibrating a brightness value measured by a camera with an amount of light received by the camera includes creating a series of measurements, wherein for each measurement the amount of light received at an image plane in the camera is controlled to be a known ratio of two opposed irradiance values: a high irradiance value and a low irradiance value. Each ratio is correlated with the brightness value measured by the camera. A function is obtained describing the correlation.
US08619151B2
A photographing method and apparatus are provided. In the method, an image signal of an object region is detected from an input image signal, a shadow region is detected from the object region image signal, and an image signal obtained by superimposing the shadow region on the object region image signal is displayed. When removal of a shadow is requested after the input image signal is captured, the photographing method corrects a brightness level of the shadow region. The photographing apparatus includes an object region detecting unit configured to detect an image signal of an object region from an image signal; a shadow region detecting unit configured to detect a shadow region from the object region image signal, and an image signal superimposing unit configured to output an image signal detected by superimposing the shadow region detected by the shadow region detecting unit onto the object region image signal detected by the object region detecting unit.
US08619148B1
Provided are computer-implemented systems and methods for image correction after combining images from multiple cameras. While combining multiple images may significantly enhance image quality without a need for a longer focal length lens, combined images may have some perspective distortion caused by different imaging angles used by different cameras. For example, when two cameras provided on the same device are used to capture images of a face and these images are combined by cross-fading, a combined image may have an unnaturally widened center portion. Specifically, proportions of nose and ears may be distorted resulting in a wider nose and generally a wider face. The combined image may be compressed either uniformly or non-uniformly (e.g., more compression in the center) to yield a processed image with more realistic and/or natural proportions. The compression ratio and/or compression distribution may depend on imaging angles, various distances, and other factors described herein.
US08619142B2
An apparatus includes a unit that analyzes frequencies of an ultrasonic wave at a plurality of points to calculate a frequency spectrum of the points; a unit that approximates a portion included in a frequency band between a first frequency and a second frequency larger than the first frequency, by a polynomial, in the frequency spectrum of the points to extract first spectrum intensity which is a value of the polynomial in a third frequency included in a domain of the polynomial and second spectrum intensity which is a value of the polynomial in a fourth frequency different from the first to third frequencies, as a feature amount; and a unit that associates the first spectrum intensity, the second spectrum intensity, and/or a function of difference or ratio between the first and second spectrum intensity, to generate a feature amount image to indicate a distribution of the feature amount.
US08619135B2
A method, system, and computer program product for classifying a behavior of a detected object in a video frame, wherein the video frame includes a plurality of blocks and the detected object is associated with a subset of the plurality of blocks. The method includes the step of associating a behavior model with each of the plurality of blocks, wherein each behavior model includes a set of behavior modes each having a set of parameters. The method further includes the steps, for each block in the video frame associated with the detected object, of: (i) determining a set of behavior statistics associated with the detected object, based on the detected object and the set of parameters; and (ii) comparing the determined set of behavior statistics with the set of parameters of each behavior mode in the set of behavior modes associated with that block to determine an abnormality score. The method also includes the step of classifying the behavior of the detected object based on the abnormality scores associated with the subset of the plurality of blocks associated with the detected object.
US08619119B2
Provided is a digital photographing apparatus and method for panoramic photographing. The digital photographing apparatus includes an image pickup device that generates data from incident light, an acceleration sensor that detects motion of the digital photographing apparatus in a first direction, and a time interval determiner that determines a continuous photographing time interval for panoramic photographing, according to the motion detected by the acceleration sensor.
US08619110B2
An image forming apparatus including: a photosensitive member; an exposure device configured to form plural solid patch latent images on the photosensitive member; a potential detecting device configured to detect a surface potential of the photosensitive member; a density detecting device configured to detect density of plural solid patch toner images developed by a developing device; and a control device configured to calculate a relation between an exposure amount of a solid image area and a theoretical value of the exposure amount and a ratio of an exposure amount of a line image area to that of the solid image area, based on detection results of the potential detecting device and the density detecting device, calculate, based on the ratio, a relation of the exposure amount of the line image area to the theoretical value, and modulate light output from the exposure device according to the relation.
US08619109B2
Methods are provided to image patterns on a media. A pitch of a repeating pattern of sub-regions is determined and an imaging head is operated which has an array of individually addressable channels to direct imaging beams to form an image swath on the media. The individually addressable channels are controlled to image the repeating pattern of features and the pitch of the repeating pattern of features is adjusted to equal substantially the pitch of the repeating patterns of sub-regions.
US08619107B2
In a beam-spot position compensation method for use in an optical scanning device which scans a surface of a photosensitive medium by a light beam emitted by a light source, a plurality of sections are defined by dividing a scanning region on the scanned surface. An emission timing of the light beam for every section is adjusted so that a spacing between beam-spot positions corresponding to pixels of start and end of each section is changed by a predetermined amount. The sparseness or denseness of beam-spot position spacings of the plurality of sections in the whole scanning region is compensated.
US08619100B2
Methods for touch-based gestural command input on a device with a touch-sensitive surface and a display are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes displaying an electronic canvas including an object at a first magnification level; simultaneously detecting a first and a second contact on the touch-sensitive surface, wherein at least one of the first contact and the second contact on the touch-sensitive surface is at a location that corresponds to a location on the display that is away from the object; detecting a gesture made with the first and second contacts; when a velocity of the gesture is less than a predefined gesture velocity threshold, scaling the electronic canvas in accordance with the gesture; and, when the velocity of the gesture is greater than the predefined gesture velocity threshold transitioning the electronic canvas from the first magnification level to a second, predefined magnification level in response to the gesture.
US08619091B2
The present invention relates to a video display apparatus. More specifically, the present invention relates to a brightness adjusting device of a video display apparatus that is able to improve perceived contrast ratio by brightness of a video signal input to the video display apparatus having a plasma display panel applied thereto.
US08619084B2
A method for modeling a process includes collecting data pertaining to executed process steps from one or more activity log files. The collected data is parsed to determine a set of process steps that have been performed. An incidence value representing how many times each performed process step follows each of the other performed process steps is determined. A graph representing a model of the executed process by representing each process step that has been performed as a node of the graph and each transition between process steps within each process thread as an edge on the graph is generated. The edges connecting the pairs of nodes are assigned numbers that depend upon the incidence value corresponding to how many times the process step represented by a first node of the pair is followed by the process step represented by a second node of the pair.
US08619082B1
Systems in accordance with embodiments of the invention can perform parallax detection and correction in images captured using array cameras. Due to the different viewpoints of the cameras, parallax results in variations in the position of objects within the captured images of the scene. Methods in accordance with embodiments of the invention provide an accurate account of the pixel disparity due to parallax between the different cameras in the array, so that appropriate scene-dependent geometric shifts can be applied to the pixels of the captured images when performing super-resolution processing. In several embodiments, detecting parallax involves using competing subsets of images to estimate the depth of a pixel location in an image from a reference viewpoint. In a number of embodiments, generating depth estimates considers the similarity of pixels in multiple spectral channels. In certain embodiments, generating depth estimates involves generating a confidence map indicating the reliability of depth estimates.
US08619079B2
Aspects comprise systems implementing 3-D graphics processing functionality in a multiprocessing system. Control flow structures are used in scheduling instances of computation in the multiprocessing system, where different points in the control flow structure serve as points where deferral of some instances of computation can be performed in favor of scheduling other instances of computation. In some examples, the control flow structure identifies particular tasks, such as intersection testing of a particular portion of an acceleration structure, and a particular element of shading code. In some examples, the aspects are used in 3-D graphics processing systems that can perform ray tracing based rendering.
US08619064B2
Dynamic resistance control of a stylus is described. In implementations, a stylus includes a housing configured to be grasped by a user. A roller ball is captured in a socket of the housing to provide rolling movement of the roller ball across a surface of a computing device and to provide one or more inputs to the computing device. A resistance adjustment module is also disposed within the housing to dynamically adjust resistance applied to the rolling movement of the roller ball.
US08619063B2
The invention relates to a method for determining a touch event provided by a user on an interaction surface of a touch sensitive device comprising the steps of: sensing a raw signal by a transducer, in particular by a piezoelectric transducer and low-pass filtering the sensed signal, segmenting the filtered raw signal into a baseline signal and at least one useful signal, and analyzing the at least one useful signal to determine properties of the touch event.
US08619060B2
The present invention relates to a multi-touch positioning method and a multi-touch screen. The multi-touch positioning method comprising: emitting, by a first infrared ray generator set at a first angle of a display panel, infrared rays at a first wavelength; emitting, by a second infrared ray generator set at a second angle, infrared rays at a second wavelength; receiving the infrared rays of the first wavelength and generating a first infrared ray image by a first infrared ray image sensor set at an opposite angle of the first angle; receiving the infrared rays of the second wavelength and generating a second infrared ray image by a second infrared ray image sensor set at an opposite angle of the second angle; and performing processings for the first infrared ray image and the second infrared ray image to determine at least one touch point.
US08619054B2
A two-dimensional position sensor comprising a substrate with a sensitive area defined by a pattern of electrodes including electrodes for determining x-position and electrodes for determining y-position. The x-electrodes and y-electrodes generally extend in the x-direction and are interleaved in the y-direction. The x-electrodes comprise at least first, second and third groups of elements shaped such that adjacent ones of the elements of the different x-electrode groups co-extend in the x-direction so that the x-electrodes provide ratiometric capacitive signals, thereby providing quasi-continuous x-position sensing across the sensitive area. In addition, the y-electrodes may be resistively connected or arranged in ratiometric pairs to provide quasi-continuous y-position sensing. Alternatively, the x-electrode groups may be interdigitated to form pairs of x-adjacent blocks of differing area to provide stepwise x-position sensing in combination with stepwise y-position sensing provided by the y-electrodes.
US08619048B2
A method of inputting a character to a computing unit. The method comprises capturing a stroke drawn by a user in relation to a reference zone, identifying a combination of a shape and a relative position of the stroke in relation to the reference zone, automatically selecting one of a plurality of characters from according the combination, and providing the selected character as an input to the computing unit from the user.
US08619045B2
A calculator is provided. The calculator includes: a display unit having a touch panel; a recognition unit configured to: (i) recognize a numerical expression which is handwritten on the touch panel; (ii) convert the handwritten numerical expression in a text format; and (iii) display the text-converted numerical expression on the display unit; and an erasing unit configured to: if a part of the text-converted numerical expression is erroneously recognized and the erroneously-recognized part is specified, (i) erase the erroneously-recognized part and a part of the handwritten numerical expression corresponding to the erroneously recognized part. If information is handwritten again in the erased part of the handwritten numerical expression, the recognition unit recognizes the handwritten information again, and then the erroneously-recognized part of the text-converted numerical expression is corrected.
US08619041B2
A method of controlling a portable electronic device that has a touch screen display includes providing a graphical user interface including an area defined by a boundary, detecting a touch event at a touch location within the area defined by the boundary on the touch screen display, determining if the touch location has moved to a new location outside of the area defined by the boundary; and performing an action in response to detecting the touch event at the touch location within the area defined by the boundary and determining that the touch location has moved from the area defined by the boundary to the new location outside of the area defined by the boundary.
US08619032B2
A mouse structure including a housing having a base portion, and a tongue portion having a guiding slot and at least a sliding channel; a first sliding device; a second sliding device including a base board, a sliding element, and a resilient apparatus having a pivoting end rotatably connected to the base board, a connecting bar connected to the sliding element, and a resilient portion; a linking element having a first linking portion fastened with the first sliding device, and a second linking portion fixedly attached to the sliding element, wherein when the first sliding device is being pulled or pushed, the linking element moves in conjunction with the first sliding device and drives the sliding element sliding on the base board, whereby the resilient apparatus rotates in conjunction with the sliding element to enable the sliding element to move between first and second positions.
US08619030B2
A method and apparatus are provided for controlling an output device, such as a display, of a portable electronic device. The portable electronic device includes a processor, first and second motion sensors, and the output device. The method includes receiving from the first motion sensor, first motion data representing movement of an external object relative to the portable electronic device. The method also includes receiving, from the second motion sensor, second motion data representing movement of the portable electronic device. Third motion is generated data based on the first and second motion data. The third motion data represents movement of the external object. The output device is then controlled based on the third motion data.
US08619028B2
A mobile communication terminal includes detection means that detects at least one of the position, orientation, attitude, and motion of a mobile communication terminal. Application program execution means can concurrently perform two direction changing processes different from each other according to two direction parameters by executing an application program, and determines at least one of the two direction parameters based on detection data detected by the detection means. The two direction changing processes are, for example, a visual point moving direction changing process for changing a moving direction of a visual point for viewing an image on a display means and a visual line direction changing process for changing a visual line direction. One of the direction parameters may be determined based on a key operation signal from key operation means.
US08619024B2
Disclosed is a high-frequency boost circuitry for use with a computer management system. Detection circuitry at the receiving end of a video signal measures the amplitudes of various frequency components of the video signal. If the amplitudes of the high-frequency components of the video signal are substantially lower than the amplitudes of the low frequency components of the video signal, the detection circuitry sends the amplitude information to analysis circuitry located at the transmitting end of the video signal. The analysis circuitry utilizes this information to determine the appropriate level of amplification needed for the video signal. This results in improved signal to noise ratio at the receiver in the computer management system.
US08619022B1
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that facilitates updating a task-management system by manipulating physical objects. During operation, the system receives a notification at a computer system indicating that a physical icon (phycon) has been moved to a first physical location, wherein a phycon is a physical object that is associated with an element or an attribute of a task-management system. Next, the system identifies an element of the task-management system that is associated with the phycon. The system then identifies an attribute of the task-management system that is associated with the first physical location. Finally, the system applies the attribute to the element in the task-management system.
US08619015B2
A liquid crystal display with improved display quality and a method of driving the same include a timing controller which receives a main clock signal and outputs a first clock generation control signal and a second clock generation control signal which has a variable duty ratio, a clock generator which receives the first clock generation control signal and the second clock generation control signal and outputs a first clock signal and a second clock signal which have variable duty ratios and opposite phases, a gate driver which receives the first clock signal and the second clock signal and outputs gate signals which have variable duty ratios, and a liquid crystal panel including a plurality of pixels which are turned on according to the gate signals and display an image.
US08619009B2
A display control drive device sequentially reads display data from a display memory in which the display data is stored, produces three primary color image signals that are applied to pixel locations in a dot-matrix color display device, and transmits the signals through a common external output terminal in a time-sharing manner. The display control drive device produces control signals applied to selection switching elements in the display device and that selectively apply an input image signal to any of three source lines. The display control drive device includes: a unit that determines one horizontal period based on a clock received from outside synchronously with display data; and a signal production circuit that produces and transmits the control signals, applied to the selection switching elements, so that the control signals will have a pulse duration equivalent to a time calculated by trisecting one horizontal period.
US08619006B2
A display device has a plurality of pixels, where each pixel includes a light emitting element, a capacitor, a driving transistor having a control terminal, an input terminal, and an output terminal and supplying a driving current to the light emitting element to emit light, a first switching unit diode-connecting the driving transistor and supplying a data voltage to the capacitor in response to a scanning signal, and a second switching unit supplying a driving voltage to the driving transistor and connecting the capacitor to the driving transistor in response to the emission signal, wherein the capacitor is connected to the driving transistor through the first switching unit, stores a control voltage depending on the data voltage and the threshold voltage of the driving transistor, and is connected to the driving transistor through the second switching unit to supply the control voltage to the driving transistor.
US08619004B2
The present invention relates to a mobile terminal and a method of controlling the same. The mobile terminal of the present invention includes a first body equipped with a first display unit and a user input unit, a second body equipped with a second display unit and coupled to the first body in a sliding manner, and a controller that controls at least one of display of an image and display of a control menu with respect to at least one of the first and second display units according to a distance where the second body slides from a position where the second body has slid down to the first body. According to the present invention, at least one of display of an image and display of a control menu can be controlled in response to a distance where the second body slides.
US08619003B2
To provide a semiconductor device in which wireless communication is performed between devices formed over different substrates and connection defects of wirings are reduced. A first device having a first antenna is provided over a first substrate, a second device having a second antenna which can communicate with the first antenna is provided over a second substrate, and the first substrate and the second substrate are bonded to each other to manufacture a semiconductor device. The first substrate and the second substrate are bonded to each other by bonding with a bonding layer interposed therebetween, anodic bonding, or surface activated bonding.
US08618999B2
A microwave motion sensor including a patch antenna having a plurality of microwave radiating elements for transmitting and receiving a microwave signal where each microwave radiating element is of the antenna in an array configuration. A reflector is disposed above the antenna for downward shaping the radiating signal, where the microwave radiating elements together with the reflector provide a radiation pattern where a main beam is transmitted in a direction orthogonal to a surface of said antenna and a sided lobe transmitted downward in amplitude below the microwave motion sensor.
US08618981B2
The effects of shock and vibration on a navigation receiver processing satellite signals received from global navigation satellites are reduced by controlling the frequency and the phase of the individual numerically controlled oscillator in each individual satellite channel. The frequency is controlled by an individual frequency control signal based on individual correlation signals generated in an individual satellite channel. The phase is controlled by a common phase control signal or a combination of a common phase control signal and an individual phase control signal. The common phase control signal is based on all the correlation signals generated in all the satellite channels processed by a separate common broadband quartz loop (SCBQL). An individual phase control signal is based on the individual correlation signals generated in an individual satellite channel.
US08618976B2
A method and system for detecting the presence of subsurface objects within a medium is provided. In some embodiments, the imaging and detection system operates in a multistatic mode to collect radar return signals generated by an array of transceiver antenna pairs that is positioned across the surface and that travels down the surface. The imaging and detection system pre-processes the return signal to suppress certain undesirable effects. The imaging and detection system then generates synthetic aperture radar images from real aperture radar images generated from the pre-processed return signal. The imaging and detection system then post-processes the synthetic aperture radar images to improve detection of subsurface objects. The imaging and detection system identifies peaks in the energy levels of the post-processed image frame, which indicates the presence of a subsurface object.
US08618975B2
Examples are provided for converting an analog signal to a digital signal by processing more than one bit per cycle in a number of successive approximation cycles. A system may include capacitive sub-DAC circuits and comparators. Switches may isolate the capacitive sub-DAC circuits during one or more first cycles, and merge the sub-DAC circuits during one or more last cycles. A successive approximation register (SAR) may generate digital output signals or DAC digital signals. In another example, a system may include a DAC circuit. An input capacitor may be pre-charged to at least one of an analog input signal and a DAC analog signal. A programmable gain amplifier may amplify an error signal. A multi-bit ADC may convert the amplified error signal to a multi-bit digital signal. An SAR may use the multi-bit digital signal to generate a DAC digital signal or a digital output signal.
US08618966B2
A method of digitizing an analog electrical signal combines optical and electronic techniques in order to improve the resolution, sampling rate, input frequency range, or flexibility. It implements an optical interferometric modulator, which modulates an input optical signal by the input electrical signal combined with a calibration signal. A set of two or more photoreceivers receiving the output optical signals from the optical modulator produce output electrical signals, which are digitized and processed in a DSP to produce a digitized version of the electrical input signal, and a digitized calibration signal value is used to optimize the input electrical signal digitization. The method and the device can be used in many fields including instrumentation, communications, and imaging.
US08618965B2
A calibration method disclosed herein calibrates at least one of a capacitive load and a charging current controlling a charge-to-digital timer (CDT). In general, the disclosed calibration method measures multiple calibration phases based on start and stop signals separated by a known time difference, and therefore having a known phase, and adjusts at least one of the capacitive load and the charging current of the CDT based on the measured calibration phases. In so doing, the disclosed calibration method reduces power dissipation and peak supply currents over the frequency range of the CDT.
US08618964B2
According to one general aspect, a distributed threshold adjuster (DTA) may be interspersed between stages of a multistage amplifier to adjust the DC voltage of an input signal. The DTA may include an input signal terminal configured to receive the input signal. The DTA may also include a plurality of current sources configured to produce an adjustment current signal whose amperage is configured to be increased or decreased by fixed steps in order to adjust the DC voltage of the input signal. The DTA may include a control unit configured to selectively turn on or off the individual current sources of the plurality of current sources to select the amperage of the adjustment current signal. The DTA may further include an output terminal configured to produce an output signal, comprising a combination of the input signal and the adjustment current signal, to a stage of a multistage amplifier.
US08618962B2
A system and method that process encoded data, wherein the encoded data is an encoded video stream. The encoded data may be buffered and the characteristics of the buffered encoded data may be determined and used to select a decoding table from a plurality of decoding tables. An encoded word may then be decoded using the selected decoding table. The output of the decoding table may be the corresponding decoded word and the size of the encoded word. The size of the encoded word may be utilized to shift the buffered encoded data. The decoded word may be sent to the appropriate portion of the system.
US08618953B2
Disclosed is a roadside-to-vehicle communication system which allows a vehicle, which is traveling within a roadside-to-vehicle communication area, to receive signal information from a roadside device multiple times. The roadside-to-vehicle communication system includes determination means for determining whether or not new information is added to the signal information transmitted from the roadside device, and update means for, only when the determination means determines that the new information is added to the signal information, updating the signal information which is used on the vehicle side. With this configuration, it is possible to reduce the processing load on the signal information even when the signal information is received multiple times through roadside-to-vehicle communication.
US08618952B2
A method of identifying an intersection for a collision warning system is disclosed. The method includes steps of selecting an identified intersection where a driver intends to turn from a set of potential intersections. The collision warning system is then controlled according to the identified intersection.
US08618949B2
A lifting device sensor unit is disclosed. In one embodiment, the sensor unit comprises a housing configured to removably couple about a load line of a lifting device. A first global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver is coupled with the housing and is configured for determining a sensor unit position in three dimensions. A load monitor is coupled with the housing and is configured for monitoring a load coupled with the load line, including monitoring a load position and a load orientation of the load. A wireless transceiver is coupled with the housing and is configured for wirelessly providing information including the load position, the load orientation, and the sensor unit position, to a display unit located apart from the sensor unit.
US08618946B2
Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for interfacing with a power line network. Electrical power is received, and a voltage of the electrical power is monitored. When the voltage is inadequate, then an alternate power source is automatically connected. A frequency of electrical power provided by the alternate power source is monitored, and high frequency data signals are separated from low frequency power signals.
US08618944B2
A coaxial cable connector system is provided. The system includes a coaxial cable connector, the connector having an internal physical parameter sensing circuit configured to sense a physical parameter of the connector and a status output component. The system further includes a data reader located externally to the connector. The reader includes a receiver element, a memory unit, a transmitter element, and a decision logic unit. The receiver element receives information about the connector, via the status output component, from the physical parameter sensing circuit. The memory unit stores predefined threshold limits of the physical parameter of the connector. The transmitter element is adapted to send the information over a network. The decision logic unit is adapted to compare the received information with the threshold limits and, if the received information exceeds the threshold limit, transmits the information over the network. The output display device is in electronic communication with the reader, configured to receive a data packet over the network. The data packet includes information that the physical parameter threshold has been exceeded.
US08618934B2
A system and a method of long-term condition monitoring of structures are based on use of autonomous sensing modules, centers for storing and processing data and software for data analysis. An autonomous sensing module contains a set of sensors for measurements of parameters related to the condition of a monitored structure, a non-volatile memory, a wireless data transfer unit, a controller, a clock circuit, a battery, an energy harvesting device and a power management unit. The autonomous sensing module provides a very long-term (40 years or more) functionality and reliability due to both use of at least near hermetic packages for the controller, the non-volatile memory, the battery, the clock circuit and the power management unit and choosing the duration of periods when the sensing module works in active mode in such a way that the average energy consumed by the autonomous sensing module is fully compensated by the average energy harvested by the energy harvesting device.
US08618927B2
Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for notification of alarms in security systems. When an alarm is detected, a contact list is retrieved and a presence database is queried. A location and availability is retrieved for each contact address in the contact list. A contact address is selected in a vicinity of the security system and having the availability to receive an electronic notification. The electronic notification is sent to the contact address to alert of the alarm.
US08618918B2
A patient support apparatus includes an electronic control system with client browser software running on a general purpose operating system that connects with a remote server via a high speed network connection. The browser and operating system allows the patient support apparatus to access and run programs not designed exclusively for patient support apparatus electronics systems. A general purpose microprocessor along with network converter circuitry allows the patient support to deliver messages in frames having intended recipient addresses. The microprocessor communicates with one or more graphical user interfaces and with a control system that controls actuators of the patient support. The control system may comprise networked nodes, such as CAN nodes for example. Isolation circuitry isolates the patient support from a network of a care facility with which it communicates.
US08618915B2
An apparatus is provided that includes a processor mounted on a battery pack and a communication pathway from the processor to an electronic device comprising power battery contacts. The apparatus also includes an antenna mounted on the battery pack and coupled to the processor and adapted to transmit and receive data. A method is provided that includes installing an integrated chip including a processor and an antenna on a battery pack. The method also includes coupling the integrated chip and an electronic device when the battery pack is installed in the electronic device using power battery contacts. A high frequency signal superimposed on a direct current carried through the power battery contacts operates to send data between the processor and the electronic device.
US08618913B1
An RFID enabled mobile device is configured to provide a secure release of RFID information. The RFID enabled mobile device, such as an RFID enabled cellular telephone, includes a set of sensors, such as a camera, one or more accelerometers, a wireless transceiver configured to send and receive data with an Internet device, and a global positioning system (GPS) receiver. The RFID enabled mobile device utilizes sensor attributes or information from one or more sensor of the set of sensors and, based upon the sensor attributes, controls the release of RFID information and/or other authentication data to an RFID interrogation system. In essence, the RFID enabled mobile device leverages from the conventional sensors typically incorporated as part of the mobile device and uses contextual data from its sensors and communication partners to make security decisions regarding the release of RFID information.
US08618908B2
In one embodiment, providing an endpoint access to a locked target includes receiving a virtual key at a grantee endpoint through a wireless link. The virtual key results from a permission from a grantor endpoint, and is operable to unlock a physical lock of the target. The virtual key is wirelessly transmitted to a management system of the target to unlock the lock.
US08618906B2
A remotely controlled parking space barrier for preventing access to a reserved parking space by unauthorized vehicles includes a barrier assembly. The assembly includes an anchoring member and a rotatable barrier member that is rotatable between a relatively flat position that can be driven over and a vertical or blocking position for preventing vehicular access to the space. The remotely controlled parking space also includes a plurality of studs for anchoring the anchoring member within the parking space. The mechanism also includes an electric motor for rotating the barrier member between a generally flat and a generally vertical position. A lighting system includes a plurality of lights, an alarm and a first sensor for sensing an unauthorized vehicle within a predetermined distance from the entrance to the parking space and actuates flashing lights and sounds an audible alarm when an unauthorized vehicle approaches the entrance to the parking space or parks in front of the parking space. Further a transceiver is also provided and disposed in an authorized vehicle or carried by an authorized individual to send a signal to the transceiver to rotate the barrier member to a generally horizontal position to give access to the authorized vehicle to enter the space. Further, the barrier assembly includes a mechanism and a sensor for detecting a vehicle within the parking space and prevents the moveable barrier from being raised while the authorized vehicle is there and automatically raises the barrier upon removal of the authorized vehicle from the parking space.
US08618904B2
An ESD protection device includes a ceramic multilayer substrate in which a plurality of ceramic insulating layers are laminated; a first connecting conductor extending through the main surfaces of the insulating layer; a mixture portion extending along a main surface of the insulating layer including the first connecting conductor and connected to the first connecting conductor, the mixture portion including a material dispersed therein, the material including at least one selected from a metal and a semiconductor, a metal and a ceramic, a semiconductor and a ceramic, a semiconductor, and a metal coated with an inorganic material; and a second connecting conductor that has electrical conductivity and is connected to the mixture portion and extends along the main surface of the insulating layer on which the mixture portion is provided.
US08618901B2
A power acquisition device fixed to an illuminating device having a fluorescent tube and a reflective plate so as to acquire power from a magnetic field generated by an alternating current flowing through the fluorescent tube by electromagnetic induction. The power acquisition device is fixed so as to surround the fluorescent tube and at least one of the thickness in the direction perpendicular to the surface of the fluorescent tube and the length in the direction parallel to the length direction of the fluorescent tube is non-uniformly. Assuming that the area where the reflective plate exists in the direction perpendicular to the surface of the fluorescent tube is a first area, and the area where the reflective plate does not exist in the direction perpendicular to the surface of the fluorescent tube is a second area, at least one of the thickness in the direction perpendicular to the surface of the fluorescent tube and the length in the direction parallel to the length direction of the fluorescent tube is non-uniformly in the first and second areas.
US08618889B2
There is provided an oscillation drive device that forms an oscillation loop with a vibrator for exciting a driving vibration on the vibrator. The oscillation drive device includes: a comparator that excites a driving vibration on the vibrator based on a signal in the oscillation loop with a given voltage as a reference; an oscillation detector that detects oscillation in the oscillation loop; a signal generation circuit that generates a switching control signal based on an oscillation result given by the oscillation detector; and a switch circuit inserted between the vibrator in the oscillation loop and an output of the comparator, wherein, during an oscillation startup stage in which oscillation in the oscillation loop is not detected by the oscillation detector, the switch circuit alternately switches, based on the switching control signal, between a period in which the output of the comparator and the vibrator are electrically connected and a period in which a predetermined set voltage is supplied to the vibrator.
US08618884B2
Disclosed is a high-frequency signal processing device capable of reducing transmission power variation and harmonic distortion. For example, the high-frequency signal processing device includes a pre-driver circuit, which operates within a saturation region, and a final stage driver circuit, which operates within a linear region and performs a linear amplification operation by using an inductor having a high Q-value. The pre-driver circuit suppresses the amplitude level variation of a signal directly modulated, for instance, by a voltage-controlled oscillator circuit. Harmonic distortion components (2HD and 3HD), which may be generated by the pre-driver circuit, are reduced, for instance, by the inductor of the final stage driver circuit.
US08618881B2
A class-D power amplifier includes a switching power source section, a synchronization signal generation section and a class-D power amplifying section. The synchronization signal generation section takes out of the switching power source section a clock signal having a second frequency which is “n” times of a first frequency. The class-D power amplifying section includes a comparator which compares an input signal with a feedback signal, a second switching section which switches a power source fed from the synchronization signal generation section, a filter section which smoothes an output signal from the second switching section, and a combining section which combines a delayed output signal with a clock signal from the synchronization signal generation section to generate the feedback signal. The class-D power amplifying section is adjusted so as to cause self-oscillating operation at a frequency substantially identical with the second frequency, when a level of the output signal from the filter section is low.
US08618879B2
A variable gain amplifier circuit includes output nodes, a plurality of amplifiers, and a detection circuit. The amplifiers are coupled in parallel with each other between the output nodes and a reference node and selectively assume an operating state in accordance with a control signal. The detection circuit outputs a detection signal according to the magnitude of an input signal to each amplifier. Each amplifier includes a first transistor, a second transistor, and a bias circuit. The first transistor receives, at its control electrode, the input signal or a signal proportional to the input signal. The second transistor is series-coupled to the first transistor between the first reference node and an output node. The bias circuit applies a DC voltage of a magnitude according to the detection signal to a control electrode of the second transistor.
US08618868B2
Disclosed is a charge pump having first and second outputs and at least one capacitor. A plurality of switches are coupled to the at least one capacitor for selectively coupling the at least one capacitor between a high voltage node and a low voltage node, and for selectively coupling the at least one capacitor to the first output and the second output. A switch controller is adapted to generate control signals for the plurality of switches to selectively couple the at least one capacitor between the high voltage node and the low voltage node during charging, and to selectively couple the at least one capacitor to the first output and the second output during discharging that output a first voltage pulse from the first output and a second voltage pulse from the second output such that the first voltage pulse and the second voltage pulse are asymmetrical and coincidental.
US08618862B2
An exemplary embodiment of an analog multiplier may include a voltage controlled resistance circuit, a first transistor and a second transistor, where the resistance of the voltage controlled resistance circuit is based upon a difference between a supply voltage and a first input voltage and a constant current supply. The current passing through the voltage controlled resistance circuit is based upon a difference between the voltage supply and a second input voltage. The first transistor may be configured to mirror the current passing through the voltage controlled resistance circuit.
US08618855B2
An object is to provide a semiconductor device which can suppress characteristic deterioration in each transistor without destabilizing operation. In a non-selection period, a transistor is turned on at regular intervals, so that a power supply potential is supplied to an output terminal of a shift register circuit. A power supply potential is supplied to the output terminal of the shift register circuit through the transistor. Since the transistor is not always on in a non-selection period, a shift of the threshold voltage of the transistor is suppressed. In addition, a power supply potential is supplied to the output terminal of the shift register circuit through the transistor at regular intervals. Therefore, the shift register circuit can suppress noise which is generated in the output terminal.
US08618852B2
An SSCG generating a center-spread modulated clock centering on a frequency obtained by multiplying an input reference clock frequency by a predetermined number is configured to include a phase comparator, a VCO, and a modulation circuit formed by a frequency divider and a division ratio modulation circuit. The division ratio modulation circuit supplies the frequency divider with a division ratio modulated above and below the predetermined multiplication number, and outputs a magnitude relationship involved as a spread direction identification signal. The diagnostic circuit includes a counter that counts the modulated clock and, based on the spread direction identification signal, performs counting operations during an up-spread or down-spread period. Based on the values counted for a predetermined period, the operating status of the SSCG is diagnosed for the presence or absence of a failure, for example.
US08618847B2
An integrated circuit for switching a transistor is disclosed. In some embodiments, an operational amplifier is configured to drive a transistor, and slew rate control circuitry is configured to control the slew rate of the transistor source voltage during turn on. The transistor source voltage is employed as feedback to the operational amplifier to facilitate closed loop control of the transistor source voltage during switching of the transistor.
US08618843B2
A device having a voltage mode driver with tunable amplitude and resistance that supports a predetermined output resistance and output amplitude is described herein. The voltage mode driver includes multiple configurable drivers. The voltage mode driver is controlled by a control module. Resistance tuning is controlled by the number of active configurable drivers and amplitude tuning is controlled by setting the high or low drive state of each active configurable driver. The slew rate of the device is controlled by delaying the setting of the high or low drive state of an active configurable driver by a predetermined interval.
US08618842B2
Systems and methods for circuits that self-correct errors due to variations in fabrication processes, voltages, and temperature (PVT), as well as input timing errors. In an exemplary embodiment, a method for improving output signal quality in a complementary logic circuit is provided. An n-type transistor in the complementary logic circuit is digitally enabled or biased with a first variable power supply. A p-type transistor in the complementary logic circuit is digitally enabled or biased with a second variable power supply, providing a voltage different from that of the first variable power supply, to mitigate a difference in the switching times between the p-type transistor and the n-type transistor.
US08618836B1
The present invention provides embodiments of an apparatus that includes a pad configurable for connection to a voltage source that provides a first voltage and a buffer connected to the pad. The buffer includes a plurality of transistors that have nominal breakdown voltages that are less than the first voltage. The buffer is configured to maintain voltage differentials on the plurality of transistors that are less than the break-down voltage of the plurality of transistors during pull-down of a pad voltage from the first voltage to a selected low voltage level or during pull-up of the pad voltage from the selected low voltage level to the first voltage.
US08618835B2
An apparatus is disclosed for converting signals from one digital integrated circuit family to be compatible with another digital integrated circuit family. The apparatus includes a primary interface and a secondary interface to convert a differential output signal from one digital integrated circuit family for use as an input signal by another digital integrated circuit family. The primary and secondary interfaces include gain stages that are configurable to provide rail to rail voltage swings and are characterized as having single pole architectures. The secondary interface may be unterminated such that a substantially equal load is presented to both components of the differential output signal.
US08618834B2
A method and apparatus configures an integrated circuit by determining a multi-bit configuration value on a single node. The multi-bit configuration value is determined by using at least a voltage level at the single node and also by detecting a time to reach a voltage threshold level at the single node, based on a voltage ramp generation circuit. The method and apparatus also includes configuring an operation mode of a circuit in the integrated circuit based on the determined multi-bit configuration value from the single node. Multi-bit configuration values may be obtained on multiple single nodes in an integrated circuit. In one example, a voltage level is employed in addition to a time to reach a voltage threshold level whereas in another example a current level on a single node is utilized in combination with detection of a time to reach a voltage threshold level.
US08618833B1
A source-series terminated (‘SST’) driver circuit that includes: one or more data signal inputs; one or more control signal inputs; a driver output; and a plurality of driver cells, the driver cells coupled in parallel to one another, outputs of the driver cells coupled together to form the driver output of the SST driver circuit, where output resistance of the SST driver circuit varies in dependence upon activation of one or more of the parallel driver cells, activation of each driver cell controlled by control signals received at the control signal inputs.
US08618831B2
Apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed that operate to drive an output with a data signal and to boost a potential of the output in response to a boost signal. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.
US08618828B2
In a connection structure of an electronic component and a wired circuit board, the electronic component includes a plurality of external terminals. The wired circuit board includes a metal supporting board, an insulating base layer formed on the metal supporting board, and a conductive pattern formed on the insulating base layer. The conductive pattern includes a plurality of terminal portions for connection with the plurality of external terminals. The electronic component and the wired circuit board are disposed such that the plurality of external terminals and the plurality of terminal portions face each other. The wired circuit board is bent such that the conductive pattern is warped, and by the reaction force of the warping, the terminal portions and the external terminals are abutted, and the electronic component and the wired circuit board are electrically connected.
US08618827B2
Provided is a test structure for testing an unpackaged semiconductor wafer. The test structure includes a force-application component that is coupled to an interconnect structure of the semiconductor wafer. The force-application component is operable to exert a force to the semiconductor wafer. The test structure also includes first and second test portions that are coupled to the interconnect structure. The first and second test portions are operable to measure an electrical performance associated with a predetermined region of the interconnect structure. The first and second test portions are operable to measure the electrical performance while the force is exerted to the semiconductor wafer.
US08618826B2
A short dummy test structure is disclosed, including a grounded shield layer above a substrate, at least two signal test pads, and a signal transmission line above the grounded shield layer and between the two signal test pads, wherein the signal transmission line is electrically coupled to the grounded shield layer. In one embodiment, the signal transmission line has a smaller total length than a total length of a corresponding signal transmission line and a device-under-test (DUT) of a test structure including the DUT. A de-embedding apparatus and method of de-embedding utilizing such a short dummy test structure are also disclosed.
US08618824B2
A device and method for monitoring the material health of a structure, providing a miniaturized MEMS Kelvin probe within a housing, wherein the Kelvin probe comprises a conductive plate formed of a stable metal and positioned substantially parallel to the structure; a piezoelectric vibrator for vibrating the conductive plate; and an electrical circuit connected to the conductive plate and the structure, wherein the conductive plate and the structure form a capacitor. The device is contained in one small, lightweight package that can be placed at one or more locations of interest. The sensor can be left in-place for continuous monitoring or for active testing at desired intervals, or be brought to the aircraft at desired intervals.
US08618819B2
A capacitance detector includes: a first capacitor with fixed base capacitance and variable capacitance; a second capacitor charged with base charge corresponding to the base capacitance; third and fourth capacitors which receive capacitance distribution from the first or second capacitor; a first switching means for charging the first and second capacitors to a first fixed voltage and charging the third and fourth capacitors to a second fixed voltage in a first section and for charging the first and second capacitors to the second fixed voltage and charging the third and fourth capacitors to the first fixed voltage in a second section; a second switching means for separating the first and second capacitors from the third and fourth capacitors and for connecting the first and second capacitors to the third and fourth capacitors; and a differential amplifier to which first and second voltages corresponding to equalized charge are differentially input.
US08618818B2
This invention offers an electrostatic capacity type touch sensor that can be calibrated in a short period of time at a moment when a finger of operator or the like does not touch a touch pad. An absolute value of a difference (AD0−AD2) between a first output voltage AD0 and a third output voltage AD2 is compared with a first threshold value Vtr1 in step S10. When the difference (AD0−AD2) between the output voltages is smaller than the first threshold value Vtr1, it is judged that the finger of operator or the like does not touch the touch pad, and it is judged which of an offset in a second output voltage AD1 and an offset in the third output voltage AD2 is smaller than the other. When the offset in the second output voltage AD1 is smaller than the offset in the third output voltage AD2, the modification to the second calibration data X1 is permitted.
US08618815B2
A position detecting device includes: a position indicator operable to resonate at a first frequency, upon receipt of an excitation signal, to oscillate at a second frequency different from the first frequency so as to generate an oscillation signal, and to transmit the oscillation signal thus generated; and a position detector operable to generate the excitation signal and to transmit the excitation signal to the position indicator, and configured to perform band pass filtering and amplitude detection upon the oscillation signal received thereby for generating a processed signal, and to obtain information corresponding to position of the position indicator relative to the position detector based on the processed signal. A frequency range of the band pass filtering includes the second frequency and excludes the first frequency.
US08618808B2
Disclosed is a field device which determines whether or not an abnormality which was detected is the type of abnormality which may not allow the output of a burn-out H signal, and sets a signal output for the abnormality to a burn-out L signal when the type of abnormality was one which may not allow the output of a burn-out H signal. For example, an abnormality in the D/A converter or the power supply. Therefore, a burn-out L signal is always output for an abnormality judged likely not to be able to output a burn-out H signal, and the certainty of reporting an abnormality when burn-out H is set is enhanced.
US08618798B2
A method of testing a sample comprising the steps of: applying an excitation to the sample; detecting a response signal from the sample; processing a first part and a second part of the response signal; and determining from the second part of the response signal information with which to enhance the first part of the response signal.
US08618793B2
A tool for testing a magnetic disk for use in a magnetic disk drive. The tool detects surface defects or asperities by detecting a change in electrical resistance corresponding to a temperature change in a thermally sensitive layer. The apparatus includes a slider body having a thermally insulating layer formed on an air bearing surface of the slider body and a thermal sensor layer formed on the thermally insulating layer. The thermally insulating layer prevents thermal heat spikes in the thermal sensor layer (such as resulting from contact with an asperity) from dissipating quickly into the slider body itself. The thermal sensor layer is a material that exhibits a change in electrical resistance in response to a change in temperature and is preferably a PTC thermistor material which exhibits a large change in electrical resistance when a transition temperature has been reached.
US08618791B2
Systems and/or methods are provided for a dual-channel inductive proximity sensor. The sensor can include a sensing element which includes a core having a first cavity and a second cavity, a first coil accommodated within the first cavity of the core, and a second coil housed within the second cavity of the core. Each coil can be independently driven by oscillators to generate respective magnetic fields. The magnetic fields can be monitored to determine whether detection of a target object occurs.
US08618789B2
In a method for current measurement in a multiphase current network, a conductive connection is produced between a plurality of the phases of the multiphase current network such that the plurality of the phases is short-circuited with one another. At a detection time, a current value flowing between the conductive connection and a first voltage potential is detected.
US08618776B2
In a power generator, three-phase armature windings and a switching unit are provided for each phase armature winding. The switching unit includes a pair of a high-side switching element with a first diode and a second low-side switching element with a second diode. The switching unit rectifies, through at least one of the high-side switching element, the first diode, the second low-side switching element, and the second diode, a voltage induced in each phase armature winding. A zero-cross detector detects a point of time when a phase current based on the voltage induced in each phase armature winding is reversed in direction as a zero-cross point of the phase current. A determiner determines an off timing of the high-side switching element or the low-side switching element for each phase armature winding relative to the zero-cross point detected by the zero-cross detector.
US08618765B2
In an apparatus for controlling a sensorless electric motor that drives an electric oil pump, in a case where a rotational speed of the motor deviates from a first range defined between a first upper limit value and a first lower limit value, a rotational speed limiting section generates a current command signal acting for controlling the rotational speed of the motor to suppress deviation of the rotational speed of the motor from the first range, and in a case where deviation of the rotational speed of the motor from the first range is continued for a predetermined time or more, the rotational speed limiting section sets a second range defined between a second upper limit value and a second lower limit value which are respectively displaced from the first upper limit value and the first lower limit value in a direction in which the deviation is continued.
US08618758B2
The invention relates to an electric device (1) comprising an alternating current electric motor (3) and a control inverter (5) for controlling the phase or phases of the motor (3). The motor (3) comprises, on at least one winding of at least one phase (PA, PB, PC), a point (Ma, Mb, Mc) for measuring a voltage relative to a predefined potential (M), the measurement point (Ma, Mb, Mc) being chosen so that it divides the winding into a first (Za1; Zb1; Zc1) and a second (Za2; Zb2; Zc2) portion such that the electromotive forces (ea1, ea2) induced in the two portions are phase-shifted relative to one another and means (11A; 11B; 11C) for measuring the voltage between the measurement point and the predefined potential. The invention also relates to an associated method for measuring electromotive forces.
US08618755B2
A control device is for a motor, especially a brushless DC motor. The control device contains a bridge circuit for generating a rotating field for the motor and a sensor system for detecting a position of a rotor of the motor, a control signal for the bridge circuit being derivable from the signal representing the rotor position. The sensor system includes an absolute value transmitter which detects the absolute position of the rotor and which is configured to derive at least one incremental signal from the absolute position and to make it directly available to a control component for controlling the bridge circuit for commuting the motor.
US08618753B2
An inverter device includes a filter circuit, an inverter circuit, an electric current detecting circuit, a voltage detecting circuit, a control circuit for outputting a drive signal so as to switch switching devices, and an internal power supply. The control circuit includes a shutdown circuit for stopping outputting the drive signal to the switching devices when an electric current flowing through a motor is an overcurrent or a voltage across the inverter circuit is an overvoltage or the voltage outputted from the internal power supply is not stabilized. When electric power by residual charge in the capacitor is used after the inverter device is disconnected from a high-voltage battery, the control circuit generates the drive signal based on a reference waveform and three commands for keeping switching devices corresponding to one phase in either ON or OFF state and for switching ON and OFF the other remaining switching devices.
US08618743B2
The present invention is aimed at providing a dimmer capable of preventing malfunctions due to noise contamination or waveform distortion of the voltage of an AC power source. The dimmer according to the present invention has a time division control circuit for controlling an effective voltage supplied to a lighting load by regulating the period of time to turn on a switching element, and further includes: a zero-crossing detector section 11 for detecting a zero-crossing point and generating a zero-crossing signal whose value changes at the zero-crossing point; an oscillator 13 for generating an oscillating signal having a frequency equal to that of the AC power source or an integral multiple of this frequency; a reference point determiner section 14 for measuring a phase difference between the zero-crossing signal and the oscillating signal every time the zero-crossing signal is generated, and for determining a reference point for setting the timing of turning on or off the switching element 6 based on a data of the measured value of the phase difference; and a time division control signal generator (on/off timing calculator section 15 and time division control signal generator section 17) for sending an on/off signal to the switching element 6 at the timing determined on the basis of the reference point and the effective voltage to be supplied to the lighting load.
US08618739B2
A circuit arrangement for operating discharge lamps is provided with an input, to which an AC system voltage from a power supply system can be connected, an output, to which at least one discharge lamp can be connected, a backup capacitance, which is arranged between the input and the output, and a switch, which is in a charging current path of the backup capacitance. The circuit arrangement may include a driver configured to clock the switch for a predetermined period of time when the circuit arrangement is switched on for periodically interrupting the charging current path of the backup capacitance.
US08618736B2
Disclosed herein is a class of mm and sub mm wavelength amplifiers and oscillators operating with miniature helical slow wave circuits manufactured using micro fabrication technology. The helices are supported by diamond dielectric support rods. Diamond is the best possible thermal conductor, and it can be bonded to the helix. The electron beam is transmitted, not through the center of the helix, but around the outside. In some configurations the RF power produced may be radiated directly from the slow wave circuit. The method of fabrication, which is applicable above 60 GHz, is compatible with mass production.
US08618735B2
A light emitting diode (LED) light engine is provided for use in a light fixture to enable improved and efficient dissipation of heat generated in the light fixture. The light engine includes a circuit board that includes multiple LEDs for emitting light. The light engine includes a chassis that has a plurality of upper fins that extend upward from a central flanged portion to dissipate heat generated by the LEDs into the lighting fixture. The circuit board is mounted to a mounting surface on the chassis that is surrounded by a fin wall that depends from the central flanged portion. The chassis also has a plurality of lower fins that extend outward from an outer surface of the fin wall to dissipate heat out of the fixture and into the ambient air environment.
US08618727B2
The invention relates to a transparent organic light emitting diode (OLED) (1), comprising: a substrate material (2) with a top face (2a) and a bottom face (2b), whereas at least on the top face (2a) is arranged at least one OLED-layer system with a first electrode layer (3), a second electrode layer (4) and an organic light emitting layer system (5), arranged in between said first electrode layer (3) and said second electrode layer (4), whereas said OLED (1) is performed to emit light via the top face (2a) and via the bottom face (2b) and whereas the top face (2a) and the bottom face (2b) of said OLED (1) feature at least one bright lucent area (6) and at least one dark lucent area (7). The invention discloses that at least one layer on the top face (2a) features a varying relation between transparency and reflectivity in the lateral extension of the OLED (1) in such a way, that the OLED (1) features at least one bright lucent area (6) and at least one dark lucent area (7) at the top face (2a) and at the bottom face (2b), whereas said bright lucent areas (6) are arranged opposite to said dark lucent areas (7).
US08618725B2
A spark plug includes a ceramic insulator, a center electrode, a metallic shell, and a ground electrode. The center electrode has a shoulder portion at a forward end portion, which tapers forward with respect to the axial direction. A noble metal tip is joined to the forward end portion of the center electrode through a fusion zone. A spark discharge gap is formed between the noble metal tip and the ground electrode. The shortest distance between the fusion zone and a forward end surface of the noble metal tip is 0.8-1.2 mm. The outside diameter of the fusion zone as measured at a forward end of the fusion zone is smaller than that as measured at a rear end of the fusion zone. An acute angle θ1 formed by a straight line L1 and a straight line L2 satisfies the relational expression θ1≦72°.
US08618720B2
A piezoelectric assembly is described. In accordance with one embodiment, there is provided a piezoelectric assembly comprising: an electrode assembly; a signal electrical connector electrically connected to the electrode assembly; a reference electrical connector electrically connected to the electrode assembly; and a spacer positioned about a perimeter of the electrode assembly and disposed between the signal electrical connector and the reference electrical connector such that no electrical communication is provided between the signal electrical connector and the reference electrical connector through the spacer; wherein a humidity barrier space is defined between the signal electrical connector, the reference electrical connector and the spacer, and wherein the electrode assembly is disposed in the humidity barrier space.
US08618719B2
A power generation device that provides power to an auxiliary system on an airborne platform, includes a piezoelectric energy harvesting device and an energy storage unit, including a battery and a power conditioner. The device extracts energy generated by turbulent airflow around the platform and stores the energy to meet future power requirements. The piezoelectric energy harvesting device is located on a portion of an inner surface of an outward shell of the platform. The stand-alone power generation device is electrically connected to the auxiliary system. The stand-alone power generation device also includes a router that connects the power generation unit to the platform electrical distribution system. Excess power generated by the device may be delivered to the platform electrical distribution system for use by other platform systems.
US08618716B2
A microstepper motor which comprises two electromechanical drive elements, especially piezoelectric bending actuators, having effective directions that are perpendicular to each other. These actuators act upon a drive ring to thereby rotate a shaft. The actuators are non-radially hinged to the drive ring via a torsion-proof, nested frame-type complex structure (drive module) including an interior drive ring, a frame and a U-shaped outer frame. The drive is compact and, the drive module is configured as a single injection-molded structure.
US08618705B2
An electromechanical device for driving and/or braking a shaft (1) includes an electric motor having a rotor (2) that is rotationally fixed to the shaft (1), and a stator (4) supported in a housing (3) around the shaft (1) with a rotational degree of freedom in the peripheral direction in the direction of brake actuation. The stator (4) is operatively connected to the brake pad (7) by a device (5) that converts rotational movement of the stator (4) into axial movement of at least one brake pad (7) that is supported in an axially movable fashion such that, when the electric motor is operated as a generator, the stator (4) is rotated relative to the housing (3) by torque arising between the rotor (2) and the stator (4), such that the brake pad (7) is pressed by the device (5) against the brake disc (8).
US08618702B2
A vibration energy generator includes a case, a coil, a permanent magnet, and a shield magnet. The case is elongated in one direction and is made from a nonmagnetic material. The coil surrounds around an outer surface of the case. The permanent magnet reciprocates inside the case along the one direction. The permanent magnet is magnetized with a polarity oriented in the one direction. The shield magnet is disposed in one end portion of the permanent magnet in the one direction. Each of a surface of the one end portion and a surface of the shield magnet facing the surface of the one end portion has the same magnetic polarity. The length of the shield magnet in the one direction is less than the length of the permanent magnet in the one direction.
US08618699B2
According to one embodiment, an information processing terminal includes a power supply for supplying electric power, an inlet connected to a power cord for supplying electric power to the power supply, an electronic board on which an arithmetic unit is mounted, and a body cover which covers a body including at least the power supply and the electronic board. The information processing terminal further includes a covering member disposed in the body or the body cover, the covering member being displaced to expose one of the inlet and at least one locking member, which should be removed to take the body cover out of the body, while covering the other.
US08618698B2
A modular multilevel converter system. The system includes a plurality of series connected two-terminal M2LC subsystems and a control system module. The two-terminal M2LC subsystems are arranged into at least two output phase modules. A first one of the output phase modules defines a total value of inductance and includes a positive arm and a negative arm. The control system module is configured to apply selectively reassigned modulated switch functions to only one of the following at a given instance of time: the two-terminal M2LC subsystems of the positive arm of the first one of the output phase modules or the two-terminal M2LC subsystems of the negative arm of the first one of the output phase modules. The selective reassigning of the modulated switch functions forces charge balance of the individual capacitors of the series connected two-terminal M2LC subsystems at a predetermined rate.
US08618691B2
A landscape electrical component connector system is provided which is based on a low-voltage electrical circuit with underground wire cable lines and interchangeable, below ground waterproof connectors which interconnect outdoor electrically positioned above ground lighting, audio, and cooling components. These components, which are hard-wired with waterproof connectors, provide versatility in their ability to be easily and simply added and removed from the system manually, without the use of tools, as desired by the owner. The waterproof connectors are quick connect elements which allow for fast and clean interchange of the various components and circuit splitters and extensions, both during initial installation of the system and after it has been installed.
US08618690B2
A wind power hybrid rotor of a wind power plant for converting wind energy into drive energy is provided. For a utilization of the wind energy in a manner as efficient as possible, a wind power hybrid rotor is provided with a cross-flow rotor, a guide device and a Magnus rotor. The cross-flow rotor is supported so as to be rotatable about a rotational axis and has a plurality of axially extending rotor blades. The guide device has a housing segment partially enclosing the cross-flow rotor in the circumferential direction in such a manner that the cross-flow rotor can be driven by inflowing wind. The Magnus rotor axis is arranged within the cross-flow rotor, and the Magnus rotor axis extends in the direction of the rotational axis. The Magnus rotor has a closed lateral surface and is rotatably driven about the Magnus rotor axis by a drive device.
US08618685B2
The invention is directed to a method for operating a wind turbine in the event of a grid error. The wind turbine has a rotor having a rotor blade adjustable in its blade pitch angle, a generator and a unit for capturing an actual value of the rotational speed of the generator, a value of the blade pitch angle and an actual value of a variable which is representative of a generator torque. The method includes recognizing a grid error; capturing the actual value of the generator torque and actual value of rotational speed of the generator when a grid error was recognized; determining a change in torque; capturing the pitch angle; determining a corrective value for the pitch angle in dependence upon the change in the generator torque and the value for the pitch angle; and, determining a corrected set-point for the pitch angle.
US08618684B2
A method is provided for operating a wind turbine with a rotor having a rotor blade adjustable in its blade pitch angle. A generator is connected to the rotor and a measurement unit captures an actual value of a variable representative of a rotational speed of the generator. A set-point for a generator torque is provided and the set-point thereof is corrected. An actual value of a variable representative of a rotational speed of the generator is captured. A set-point for the torque as a function of the captured actual value is provided and the set-point for the torque as a function of a parameter for air density is corrected. A pitch angle value is captured and the set-point for the torque is increased when the captured value for the pitch angle exceeds a minimum value and has been corrected on the basis of an air density parameter.
US08618683B2
A system is disclosed for an electrical generator system for a vehicle. The system includes a wind turbine, an electrical generator mechanically connected to the wind turbine and configured to connect to an electrical energy storage device that is configured to store electrical energy on-board the vehicle, and a rigid, conical housing, forming an interior chamber, the housing having an inlet end and an outlet end, the inlet end having a larger diameter than the outlet end, and the conical housing configured to direct wind flow into the wind turbine.
US08618680B2
A system for storing and retrieving energy may include a cable and a weight connected to the cable. A plurality of cable modules may be attached at spaced-apart locations to the cable above the weight. Each cable module may prevent the cable above and below the cable module from coming in contact with a neighboring stationary wall. A hoist may controllably raise and lower the weight by sequentially grabbing each neighboring cable module.
US08618679B2
A pattern structure in a semiconductor device includes an extending line and a pad connected with an end portion of the extending line. The pad may have a width that is larger than a width of the extending line. The pad includes a protruding portion extending from a lateral portion of the pad. The pattern structure may be formed by simplified processes and may be employed in various semiconductor devices requiring minute patterns and pads.
US08618674B2
A semiconductor device includes a carrier and a first chip attached to the carrier. The semiconductor device includes a sintered insulation material over at least a portion of the carrier and the first chip.
US08618670B2
A system and method prevent corrosive elements (or at least the oxidizing agent) from making contact with metal connections at the interface between two layers of a stacked IC device. When layers are positioned in proximity to each other, a cavity is formed at the boundary of the planar surfaces of the layers. This cavity is bounded by a peripheral seal between the layers. In one embodiment, a vacuum is created within the cavity thereby reducing the corrosive atmosphere within the cavity. In another embodiment, the cavity is filled with an inert gas, such as argon. Once the cavity has oxidizing elements reduced, the peripheral seal can be encapsulated to prevent seepage of contaminants into the cavity.
US08618668B2
System and method for reducing contact resistance and improving barrier properties is provided. An embodiment comprises a dielectric layer and contacts extending through the dielectric layer to connect to conductive regions. A contact barrier layer is formed between the conductive regions and the contacts by electroless plating the conductive regions after openings have been formed through the dielectric layer for the contact. The contact barrier layer is then treated to fill the grain boundary of the contact barrier layer, thereby improving the contact resistance. In another embodiment, the contact barrier layer is formed on the conductive regions by electroless plating prior to the formation of the dielectric layer.
US08618664B2
A semiconductor package includes a chip, a carrier, a bonding wire and a molding compound. The chip includes a pad. The carrier includes a finger and has an upper surface and a lower surface opposite to the upper surface, wherein the upper surface supports the chip. The bonding wire is extended from the finger to the pad for electrically connecting the chip to the carrier, wherein the bonding wire defines a projection portion on the upper surface of the carrier, a straight line is defined to pass through the finger and pad, there is a predetermined angle between the tangent line of the projection portion at the finger and the straight line. The molding compound seals the chip and the bonding wire, and covers the carrier.
US08618662B1
Metal nitride coatings containing carbon can be either electrically conductive or substantially non-conductive depending on the degree to which they have been exposed to an oxidative environment. Substantially non-conductive metal nitride coatings can be used as protective layers in electrical devices. Particularly in an electrical device containing carbon nanomaterials, the metal nitride coatings can be used to mask the device's operational characteristics. Such devices can contain an electrical interconnect containing a carbon nanomaterial and a substantially non-conductive coating on the carbon nanomaterial. The substantially non-conductive coating can contain at least one substantially non-conductive metal nitride layer and at least some carbon. Methods for making such devices and metal nitride coatings are also described herein.
US08618660B2
An integrated circuit device including a substrate, a first internal bonding pad, a second internal bonding pad, an external bonding pad and a bonding wire is provided. A first circuit, a second circuit, at least one interconnect line and an electrostatic discharge protection circuit are embedded in the substrate. The first internal bonding pad is disposed on a surface of the substrate and electrically connected to the first circuit. The second internal bonding pad is disposed on the surface of the substrate and electrically connected to the second circuit. The first internal bonding pad is electrically connected to the second internal bonding pad via the bonding wire. The first internal bonding pad is electrically connected to the electrostatic discharge protection circuit via the interconnect line. The electrostatic discharge protection circuit is electrically connected to the external bonding pad which is used for electrically connecting an external package lead.
US08618658B1
A semiconductor device and a fabrication method thereof are provided. An electrically conductive elastic member is formed on a semiconductor die, and a conductive bump is formed on the elastic member. Accordingly, since the conductive bump is formed on the elastic member, or to protrude from a top surface of the elastic member, the height and thus diameter of the conductive bump is reduced allowing a fine pitch to be realized. Further, the elastic member is elastic and thus mitigates external impacts from being transferred from the conductive bump to the semiconductor die.
US08618646B2
A layered chip package includes a main body. The main body includes a main part, and further includes first terminals and second terminals disposed on the top and bottom surfaces of the main part, respectively. The main part includes first and second layer portions, and through electrodes penetrating them. The through electrodes are electrically connected to the first and second terminals. Each of the layer portions includes a semiconductor chip having a first surface and a second surface opposite thereto, and further includes surface electrodes. The surface electrodes are disposed on a side of the semiconductor chip opposite to the second surface. The first and second layer portions are bonded to each other such that the respective second surfaces face each other. The first terminals are formed by using the surface electrodes of the first layer portion. The second terminals are formed by using the surface electrodes of the second layer portion.
US08618641B2
A semiconductor package and a method for fabricating the same are provided. A leadframe including a die pad and a plurality of peripheral leads is provided. A carrier, having a plurality of connecting pads formed thereon, is attached to the die pad, wherein a planar size of the carrier is greater than that of the die pad, allowing the connecting pads on the carrier to be exposed from the die pad. At least a semiconductor chip is attached to a side of an assembly including the die pad and the carrier, and is electrically connected to the connecting pads of the carrier and the leads via bonding wires. A package encapsulant encapsulates the semiconductor chip, the bonding wires, a part of the carrier and a part of the leadframe, allowing a bottom surface of the carrier and a part of the leads to be exposed from the package encapsulant.
US08618635B2
In one embodiment, a capacitor includes a first via level having first metal bars and first vias, such that the first metal bars are coupled to a first potential node. The first metal bars are longer than the first vias. Second metal bars and second vias are disposed in a second via level, the second metal bars are coupled to the first potential node. The second metal bars are longer than the second vias. The second via level is above the first via level and the first metal bars are parallel to the second metal bars. Each of the first metal bars has a first end, an opposite second end, and a middle portion between the first and the second ends. Each of the middle portions of the first metal bars and the second ends of the first metal bars do not contact any metal line.
US08618627B2
A semiconductor device can include a transistor and an isolation region. The transistor is formed in a semiconductor substrate having a first conductivity type. The transistor includes a drift region extending from a drain region toward a source region and having a second conductivity type. The drift region includes a first resurf region near a working top surface and having the first conductivity type. The high voltage isolation island region includes a first well region laterally offset from the drift region. The first well region has the second conductivity type. An isolation region is located laterally between the drain region and the first well region. The isolation region comprises a portion of the semiconductor substrate extending to the top working surface.
US08618613B2
Methods of forming and using a microelectronic structure are described. Embodiments include forming a diode between a metal fuse gate and a PMOS device, wherein the diode is disposed between a contact of the metal fuse gate and a contact of the PMOS device, and wherein the diode couples the contact of the metal fuse gate to the contact of the PMOS device.
US08618611B2
Embodiments of the invention integrate carbon nanotubes on a CMOS substrate using localized heating. An embodiment can allow the CMOS substrate to be in a room-temperature environment during the carbon nanotube growth process. Specific embodiments utilize a maskless post-CMOS microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) process. The post-CMOS MEMS process according to an embodiment of the present invention provides a carbon nanotube growth process that is foundry CMOS compatible. The maskless process, according to an embodiment, eliminates the need for photomasks after the CMOS fabrication and can preserve whatever feature sizes are available in the foundry CMOS process. Embodiments integrate single-walled carbon nanotube devices into a CMOS platform.
US08618609B2
Embodiments of an apparatus and methods for improving multi-gate device performance are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
US08618604B2
A semiconductor wafer has a main surface. A main chip region is formed on the main surface. A sub-chip region is smaller in area than the main chip region, and positioned on an edge side of the semiconductor wafer relative to the main chip region. The sub-chip region is identical to the main chip region in design pattern. Accordingly, a semiconductor device in which occurrence of a pattern failure at the edge of the wafer can be prevented when chips are arranged in the surface of the semiconductor wafer and a method of manufacturing the same can be obtained.
US08618597B2
A transistor construction includes a first floating gate having a first conductive or semiconductive surface and a second floating gate having a second conductive or semiconductive surface. A dielectric region is circumferentially surrounded by the first surface. The region is configured to reduce capacitive coupling between the first and second surfaces. Another transistor construction includes a floating gate having a cavity extending completely through the floating gate from a first surface of the floating gate to an opposing second surface of the floating gate. The floating gate otherwise encloses the cavity, which is filled with at least one dielectric. A method includes closing an upper portion of an opening in insulator material with a gate material during the deposition before filling a lower portion with the gate material. The depositing and closing provide an enclosed cavity within the lower portion of the opening.
US08618592B2
A semiconductor memory cell is provided that includes a trench capacitor and an access transistor. The access transistor comprises a source region, a drain region, a gate structure overlying the trench capacitor, and an active body region that couples the drain region to the source region. The active body region directly contacts the trench capacitor.
