US08914494B2

A system and method for user behavioral management in a computing environment are disclosed. In one embodiment, the system includes a computer having computing resources including, for example, a plurality of applications installed thereon. A monitoring module is associated with the computer in order to monitor a plurality of utilization parametrics to determine the utilization of the computing resources by a user and provide to the user a substantially realtime, visible indication of the utilization of the computing resources. The data captured relative to the utilization parametrics enables, at the management level, enterprise-wide administration of the computing resources and, at the user level, self-directed behavioral modification with respect to computing resource management.
US08914490B2

A generic mechanism enabling the programmatic identification of MIBs needed for control of an SNMP agent for a network device is disclosed. The present invention provides for the automatic retrieval of the identified MIBs and their loading onto a network management station (NMS) without user intervention. Additionally, previously known MIBs are programmatically examined to determine whether they require updating. Any required updates may be performed automatically with the updated MIBs being loaded onto the NMS.
US08914487B2

The present invention provides a method and an apparatus for abstracting logical topology information of a Peer-to-Peer (P2P) network. The method includes: obtaining a set of Points of Presence (POPs) of peer clients in the P2P network; using a relevant algorithm of a routing protocol to calculate a best path between any two POPs in the set of POPs and a weight value of the best path; and collecting calculation results of the best path and the weight value that are obtained on each POP to obtain a set of abstract logical topology records of the P2P network. The embodiments of the present invention provide a universal and efficient method for abstracting logical topology information, which greatly reduces network topology information that needs to be transmitted, mitigates a risk of exposing lower-layer network topology information, and transmits the network topology information to a P2P application server securely and concisely.
US08914485B2

Methods and apparatus for client-side context managers are disclosed. An example apparatus for use in a healthcare information system includes a primary application implemented on a client device in communication with a server; a secondary application implemented on the client device, wherein the primary application is to be initiated before the secondary application can be initiated; and a context manager integrated into the primary application to execute in connection with the primary application.
US08914483B1

Systems and methods are provided for real-time information sharing. A server receives, from a first user device, a request to create an event and to share information among a group of user devices only within a predetermined time period. The server receives information from the respective user devices in the group during the predetermined time period, and distributes the received information to the group of user devices during the predetermined time period. The information comprises at least one of geographic locations of the group of user devices and still pictures or video taken by one or more of the group of user devices during the event.
US08914475B2

The disclosure discloses a method, a device and a terminal for editing and playing music according to a data download speed. The method includes: generating, according to a preset number of continuously recorded download speed values, a number of preset speed domains, wherein the number of the preset speed domains is one more than the preset number of the download speed values, and setting one set frequency for each preset speed domain, wherein each set frequency corresponds to one preset musical sound; and playing a preset musical sound corresponding to a set frequency which corresponds to a preset speed domain when an immediate subsequent download speed value is within the preset speed domain. By means of the disclosure, an entertainment effect of “playing music randomly” can be achieved, so that entertainment experience of a user is increased and competitiveness of a product is improved.
US08914465B2

A method of operation of a provider controlling platform system includes: determining a provider criterion for selecting a service provider; determining a device capability for selecting a device service for a peripheral device; generating a selection threshold based on the provider criterion, the device capability, or a combination thereof for executing the device service; and generating a service command based on the selection threshold meeting or exceeding a service request for commanding the peripheral device to execute the device service.
US08914463B2

A device and method facilitates communication with a network-based service or application such as a Social Networking Service (SNS), for example. The device may be a cellular telephone that is not normally equipped to communicate with such services. However, a controller in the device selects a bearer service that can be used to communicate with the service.
US08914457B2

A replication count of a data element of a node of a cache cluster is defined. The data element has a key-value pair where the node is selected based on a hash of the key and a size of the cache cluster. The data element is replicated to at least one other node of the cache cluster based on the replication count.
US08914450B1

In one embodiment, an email message having an email addresses with a local-part and a domain separated from the local-part by a “@” symbol can be identified. The domain can causes the email message to be conveyed to a final email server associated with handling email messages for the domain. The local-part can correspond to a dynamic target, wherein said final email server comprises hardware and software. The final email server can assess at least one variable condition of the email message before associating the local-part with any static recipient. Responsive to results of assessing the variable condition, a static target for the email address can be dynamically determined. The determined static target can vary based on the results of assessing the variable conditions. Responsive to determining the static target, at least a portion of content of the email message can be provided to the determined static target.
US08914439B2

A method, system and computer program product are provided for fallback ordering for an on-line environment. The method includes: serving a web page from a web server to a client browser; and providing a mechanism in the web page to provide an alternative method of submitting order data from the client browser to a backend application in an event of a failure of the web server hosting the web page.
US08914437B2

Systems and methods of managing URLs including capturing and recording URLs are presented. A digital processor detects a URL in a communication communicated between a sending-user and a receiving-user. The detected URL is automatically stored in a cache memory specific to the sending-user or receiving-user. The cache memory allows bookmarking of URLs to be avoided and centrally stores the URLs in browser history of the respective user improving his searching efficiency. The cache memory serves as a pre-bookmark incubator or filter.
US08914427B2

A system and method for directing download and execution of an application. A runtime engine receives an identifier of a block of shared memory from a directing process. The shared memory stores a map indicating which portions of an application file have been stored in a local copy of the application file. The runtime engine also receives an instruction from the directing process to execute the local copy when the local copy stores less than the entire application file. As the application executes, the runtime engine identifies requests from the application to access portions of the local copy and uses the map to determine whether the requested portions have been stored in the local copy. If the requested portions are not stored in the local copy, the runtime engine prevents the executing application from accessing the local copy until the map indicates the requested portions have been stored therein.
US08914422B2

Methods and systems are provided for displaying a graphical representation of data objects of a schema using an online tool. In an embodiment, the online tool may be used to create or modify a schema. Modifying a schema may include adding or modifying or deleting data objects. Modifying data objects may include adding or modifying or deleting data fields. The online tool may be used to define relationships between data objects. In an embodiment, user permissions may be set for data objects. In an embodiment, the graphical representations of data objects may be selected and placed is a different location.
US08914414B2

Methods, program products, and systems implementing integrated repository of structured and unstructured data are disclosed. An integrated environment is provided for accessing, structured data (e.g., data of a relational database) and unstructured data (e.g., data stored in a text or binary file), including creating, managing, modifying, and searching the structured data and unstructured data. The integrated environment can include an integrated user interface, a set of commands and application programming interface (API), and storage for a relational database and a document repository. The integrated environment can include a database abstraction layer that allows database operations on both the structured data and the unstructured data.
US08914404B1

Described are techniques for providing notifications. A client registers a subscription request for a view to provide a notification to the client responsive to a data change affecting the view. The view is generated using one or more commands operating on data included in a database. A first operation is performed to the database. It is determined whether the first operation causes a data change affecting the view. Responsive to determining the first operation causes a data change affecting the view, a notification is sent to the client. The view is updated in response to receiving the notification.
US08914399B1

This disclosure describes systems and associated processes for generating recommendations for users based on usage, among other things. These systems and processes are described in the context of an interactive computing system that enables users to download applications for mobile devices (such as phones) or for other computing devices. Users' interactions with applications once they are downloaded can be observed and tracked, with such usage data being collected and provided to the interactive computing system. The interactive computing system can include a recommendation system or service that processes the usage data from a plurality of users to detect usage patterns. Using these usage patterns, among possibly other data, the recommendation system can recommend applications to users for download.
US08914393B2

In one embodiment, a method includes accessing a map comprising a plurality of tiles representing a plurality of geographic areas, respectively, where each tile comprises a plurality of objects having locations within the tile, and each tile has below a threshold number of objects located within the tile; receiving a first query from a first user that includes a first location within a first tile; identifying one or more objects corresponding to the first query, where each identified object has a location within the first tile; and generating search results comprising references to one or more of the identified objects.
US08914392B2

Particular embodiments access a search query submitted by a first user of a social-networking system; identify one or more web pages in response to the search query; for each of the one or more web pages, determine a value indicating a number of user clicks associated with the web page by one or more second users of the social-networking system who are connected to the first user within the social-networking system; and send a set of hyperlinks for the one or more web pages, wherein hyperlinks for web pages where the value is greater than zero are visually emphasized over other hyperlinks.
US08914391B2

To provide a method, program, and system for converting graph data to a data structure that enables manipulations in various applications to be reflected in the original graph data. The method uses at least one graph matching pattern to convert at least a part of graph data including nodes and edges to a data structure as an image of a homomorphism thereof. A pattern is provided which includes one representative node variable having a first constraint that at most one node in the graph data matches the representative node variable; the node is prohibited from matching a node variable in another pattern. The method includes the step of performing matching between the graph data and the pattern to obtain a matching result that does not violate constraints including the first constraint, and the step of generating a data structure corresponding to the matching result that does not violate the constraints.
US08914381B2

In one embodiment, the correlation filter can use one of several data structure to track each migration unit and reject successive accesses within a period of time to each migration unit. In one embodiment, the correlation filter uses a space efficient data structure, such as a hash indexed correlation array to store the address of referenced migration units, and to filter accesses to a single migration unit that are correlated accesses resulting from multiple accesses to the same migration unit during a sequential I/O stream. In one embodiment, the correlation array contains a global timeout, which resets each element to a default value, clearing all store migration unit address values from the correlation array. In one embodiment, each element of the migration array can time-out separately.
US08914368B2

According to one embodiment of the present invention, a method for cross-service tagging is provided. The method includes creating connections to multiple applications, each application having multiple entities. Relationships are determined between the entities within a single application and between entities across multiple applications. A tag is associated with a selected one of the entities in a first one of the multiple applications. Entities in other applications besides the first application are identified that are related to the selected entity, based on the determined relationships. The tag is propagated across multiple applications by associating the tag with the identified entities in the other applications. According to a second embodiment of the present invention, a method for inferring tags suggestions is provided. This method includes analyzing email messages to create keywords from text analysis, from bringing content and tags from other email messages or directory applications. Tags suggestions from the various sources are merged and weighed according to an algorithm.
US08914361B2

Systems and methods for determining a meaning of a document to match the document to content are described. In one aspect, a source article is accessed, a plurality of regions in the source article are identified, at least one local concept associated with each region is determined, the local concepts of each region are analyzed to identify any unrelated regions, the local concepts associated with any unrelated regions are eliminated to determine relevant concepts, the relevant concepts are analyzed to determine a source meaning for the source article, and the source meaning is matched with an item meaning associated with an item from a set of items.
US08914339B2

A data processing device (1) is installed in a data processing server (2) adapted to receive primary data and to transmit said primary data after application by control means (5) of dedicated processing based on primary rules. The device comprises, firstly, a first table (T1) in which are stored sets of at least one primary rule, called “primary metarules”, in a parameterizable form, in corresponding relationship to primary identifiers, and, secondly, management means (8) intended to be coupled to the control means (5) and adapted, on receipt of auxiliary data representing operating parameters delivered by the control means (5) after the reception by the server (2) of secondary data, to select at least one of the primary identifiers in the first table (T1) and associate the auxiliary data therewith in such a manner as to define the dedicated processes.
US08914338B1

A method for storing data in a data storage system by partitioning the data into a plurality of data chunks and generating representative data for each of the plurality of chunks by applying a predetermined algorithm to each chunk of the plurality of chunks. Subsequently, the representative data is compared and sorted. Representative data for base data chunks and representative data for other data chunks that can be stored relative to the base data chunks are identified by evaluating the sorted set of representative data. Finally, each of the other data chunks identified as those that can be stored relative to a base data chunk are stored in the data storage system as the difference between the data chunk and a base data chunk.
US08914337B2

To readily select a data file to be obtained from among data files to be distributed, or to readily recommend such a data file to a user, while suppressing a load imposed on a data distribution system. A data distribution system comprises a distribution device for holding data files which are distribution objects, and user terminals. Each of the user terminals obtains each of file pieces from any of other user terminals or the distribution devices, the file pieces being obtained by dividing one object file among the data files to be distributed, obtains a list of data files having been obtained by another user terminal when obtaining a file piece from the other user terminal, and assembles the obtained file pieces to obtain the object file, in which information of the data files included in the obtained list is used in selecting a data file to be newly obtained.
US08914336B2

A storage device comprising a plurality of file systems, a data restructuring unit, an area calculator for calculating a free space in the file system in which the relocation is performed and the data has been stored by the data restructuring unit, a data extraction unit for extracting data that is able to be stored in the free space from a plurality of data that has not been stored in the file systems in which the relocation is completed or the file system in which the relocation is performed, the extracting data having the largest size among the plurality of data to be stored in the free space, and a data re-storing unit for storing the data extracted by the data extraction unit in the free space.
US08914333B2

A system and method for storing data-files stored on distributed devices connected to a network. Data-elements of the data-files are allocated to data-blocks stored on the distributed devices. Key-identifiers are calculated for each of the data-blocks based on the allocated data-elements. The key-identifiers are stored in distributed tables stored on the distributed devices. Index-nodes are generated for the data-files based on the data-blocks. A Paxos algorithm is executed for the index-nodes based on the key-identifiers to provide a consensus of the data-files that are stored on the plurality of distributed devices.
US08914329B1

This disclosure relates to a method, article of manufacture, and apparatus for automated time-based testing of a distributed system. In some embodiments, this includes setting a backup schedule for a backup of data on a client using a server scheduler on a server, setting a recover schedule using a client scheduler on the client, wherein the client includes a data simulation for generating the data and a repository, wherein the repository includes attributes of the data and a metadata of the backup, starting the data simulation on the client, according to the backup schedule, from the server, triggering a set of backup scripts to perform the backup of the data generated by the data simulation, and according to the recover schedule, triggering a set of recover scripts to perform a recover of the data on the client.
US08914328B2

Information management is disclosed. A file output from an application to an operating system is intercepted before the file output arrives at the operating system. The file output is directed towards protected data. The intercepted file output is analyzed to determine whether a predetermined type of version of the protected data has been created. In the event it is determined that the predetermined type of version of the protected data has been created at least in part because the analyzed intercepted file output includes a modification to the protected data, the protected data automatically backed up, including by storing at least a portion of the file output as a backup version of the protected data. In the event it is determined that the predetermined type of version of the protected data has not been created, the protected data is not backed up.
US08914318B2

Provided are architectures, system, methods, and computer program products that provide a user with the ability to define an association of data and/or information from known reference sets perceived by the user as relevant to a subject matter domain, thereby imparting and formalizing some of the user's knowledge about the domain. An associative relevancy knowledge profiler may also allow a user to create a profile by modifying or restricting the known reference sets and windowing the results from the association as a user might refine any other analysis algorithms. An associative relevancy knowledge profiler may also be used to define a user profile used by the user and others. A user profile may be usable in various manners depending upon, for example, rights management permissions and restrictions for a user.
US08914316B2

Embodiments of methods, systems and/or apparatuses relating to data processing in distributed computing environments are disclosed. In particular, methods, systems, and/or apparatuses for determining information similarly and/or performing related statistical techniques which may be implemented or operated in a distributed computing environment are disclosed.
US08914315B2

Embodiments of the present invention provide a neural module comprising a multilevel hierarchical structure of neural compartments. Each neural compartment is interconnected to one or more neural compartments of a previous level and a next hierarchical level in the hierarchical structure. Each neural compartment integrates spike signals from interconnected neural compartments of a previous hierarchical level, generates a spike signal in response to the integrated spike signals reaching a threshold of said neural compartment, and delivers a generated spike signal to interconnected neural compartments of a next hierarchical level. Each neural compartment is further interconnected to one or more external spiking systems, such that said neural compartment integrates spike signals from interconnected external spiking systems, and delivers a generated spike signal to interconnected external spiking systems. The neural compartments of a neural module include one soma compartment and a plurality of dendrite compartments. Each neural compartment is excitatory or inhibitory.
US08914312B2

Method of selectively predicting hydrocarbon concentration in a sample of unknown hydrocarbon concentration, by (i) separately subjecting two or more samples of known hydrocarbon concentration to infrared (IR) radiation, (ii) separately detecting an IR signal from the samples of known hydrocarbon concentration, (iii) analyzing the IR signals using a multivariate chemometric technique to produce a training data set, (iv) generating a predictive model for hydrocarbon concentration based on the training data set, (v) subjecting the unknown sample to infrared (IR) radiation, (vi) detecting an IR signal from the unknown sample, (vii) applying the predictive model to the IR signal from the unknown sample. Thereafter, as step (viii), hydrocarbon concentration in the unknown sample is selectively predicted.
US08914309B2

A method and system for tracking potentially fraudulent activities associated with one or more web sites is disclosed. The system includes a fraud tracking server connected to a fraud tracking database. The fraud tracking server includes a communications module to facilitate the exchange of data between the server and multiple client devices. The fraud tracking server receives data from one or more client devices that identifies a potential spoof site. The fraud tracking server also includes control logic to generate a spoof site tracking record in the fraud tracking database. The spoof site tracking record includes the data identifying the potential spoof site. After the spoof site tracking record has been created, the fraud tracking server notifies an administrator of the potential spoof site by communicating the data received and stored in the fraud tracking database to an administrator.
US08914307B2

A method includes receiving, at a client access module, a request from a client to process a loan transaction, wherein the request is associated with a particular loan system. The method also includes determining, by a processor, the particular loan system associated with the request, determining one or more rules associated with the request and a selected one of the client access module and the particular loan system, and applying, by the processor, the one or more determined rules to the request using the account information.
US08914303B2

A system and method are provided for direct manipulation of a triangular distribution of information using a graphical user interface. The system includes a graphical user interface for receiving user inputted values. The system further includes a data calculator for generating estimates based on the user inputted values, and for generating curves for display on a grid based on at least one of, the user inputted values and the estimates. The graphical user interface respectively receives the user inputted values based at least on a current position of a pointer on the grid. The graphical user interface is capable of applying a direct manipulation, based at least on the current position of the pointer on the grid, to at least one of the user inputted values and the estimates, such that a result of the direct manipulation is displayed on the grid.
US08914296B2

An audio decoder includes an arithmetic decoder for providing decoded spectral values on the basis of an arithmetically encoded representation thereof, and a frequency-domain-to-time-domain converter for providing a time-domain audio representation. The arithmetic decoder selects a mapping rule describing a mapping of a code value onto a symbol code representing a spectral value, or a most significant bit-plane thereof, in a decoded form, in dependence on a context state described by a numeric current context value. The arithmetic decoder determines the numeric current context value in dependence on a plurality of previously decoded spectral values. It evaluates a hash table, entries of which define both significant state values amongst the numeric context values and boundaries of intervals of numeric context values, in order to select the mapping rule, wherein the hash table ari_hash_m is defined as given in FIGS. 22(1), 22(2), 22(3) and 22(4).
US08914295B2

A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a server including a controller to receive audio signals and content identification information from a media processor, generate text representing a voice message based on the audio signals, determine an identity of media content based on the content identification information, generate an enhanced message having text and additional content where the additional content is obtained by the controller based on the identity of the media content, and transmit the enhanced message to the media processor for presentation on the display device, where the enhanced message is accessible by one or more communication devices that are associated with a social network and remote from the media processor. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US08914294B2

The invention relates to a system and method for gathering data for use in a spoken dialog system. An aspect of the invention is generally referred to as an automated hidden human that performs data collection automatically at the beginning of a conversation with a user in a spoken dialog system. The method comprises presenting an initial prompt to a user, recognizing a received user utterance using an automatic speech recognition engine and classifying the recognized user utterance using a spoken language understanding module. If the recognized user utterance is not understood or classifiable to a predetermined acceptance threshold, then the method re-prompts the user. If the recognized user utterance is not classifiable to a predetermined rejection threshold, then the method transfers the user to a human as this may imply a task-specific utterance. The received and classified user utterance is then used for training the spoken dialog system.
US08914289B2

A method for parsing a verbal expression received from a user to determine whether or not the expression contains a multiple-goal command is described. Specifically, known techniques are applied to extract terms from the verbal expression. The extracted terms are assigned to categories. If two or more terms are found in the parsed verbal expression that are in associated categories and that do not overlap one another temporally, then the confidence levels of these terms are compared. If the confidence levels are similar, then the terms may be parallel entries in the verbal expression and may represent multiple goals. If a multiple-goal command is found, then the command is either presented to the user for review and possible editing or is executed. If the parsed multiple-goal command is presented to the user for review, then the presentation can be made via any appropriate interface including voice and text interfaces.
US08914283B2

A system and method is provided for combining active and unsupervised learning for automatic speech recognition. This process enables a reduction in the amount of human supervision required for training acoustic and language models and an increase in the performance given the transcribed and un-transcribed data.
US08914271B2

A method and system for predistorting signals provides a test signal to model a non-linear component. Model kernels representative of static and dynamic parts of the model are extracted from an output of the non-linear component responsive to the test signal. The dynamic part represents memory effects of the non-linear component. The model kernels are then used to calculate an inverse memory model component model. An input signal is predistorted using the inverse memory model.
US08914270B2

Device and method for smoothing an original velocity model of a given subsurface such that a travel-time through the given subsurface is preserved. The method includes receiving the original velocity model, wherein the original velocity model has a set of model parameters that determine a given parameterization and the original velocity model has velocity discontinuities at various depths; selecting a sub-set of model parameters of the given parameterization; converting the selected sub-set of model parameters to composite parameters; smoothing with a processor the composite parameters by applying a convolutional filter (g) such that velocity moments are preserved at the velocity discontinuities; and generating a smooth velocity model by converting the smoothed composite parameters into a smoothed sub-set of model parameters.
US08914269B2

Rock physics guided migration is disclosed to enhance subsurface three-dimensional geologic formation evaluation. In one embodiment, a geologic interpretation is generated based on a seismic data volume. Sets of compaction and acoustic formation factor curves are generated, and these are combined into a set of velocity-relationship curves. A pore pressure is derived and used to establish a pore pressure state. A rock physics template is then generated utilizing the derived information. This rock physics template can be used to refine geologic formation evaluation with any suitable form of migration technique.
US08914263B2

An information processing apparatus includes an acquiring module, a model generating module and an analyzing module. The acquiring module acquires recording information corresponding to a target event from an event recording information storage device storing the recording information which includes a starting date and time of the target event, an ending date and time of the target event, and a place for an occurrence of the target event. The model generating module sets a date and time before or after a predetermined period since the starting date and time, sets a date and time before or after a predetermined period since the ending date and time, and generates a model including influence information. The analyzing module analyzes an influence of a first event and a second event. The second event is generated in the same place as the place in which the first event occurs.
US08914260B2

A method for creating an electric vehicle charging network includes receiving first location data from a first remote device; providing electric vehicle charger data to the first remote device as a function of the first location data; receiving second location data from a second remote device; providing the electric vehicle charger data to the second remote device as a function of the second location data; and, in response to the electric vehicle charger data, receiving interest data from the first and second remote devices to permit creation of a first electric vehicle charger. Further methods and systems are provided.
US08914259B2

A method, system, apparatus, article of manufacture, and computer-readable storage medium provide the ability to edit surface objects in a surface modeler. A dependent surface object (that is dependent on one or more input objects) having one or more properties is obtained. First user input is received that indicates that a surface associativity for the dependent surface object is off. In response to the receiving, an association between the dependent surface object and the one or more input objects is maintained. The association is used to expose the one or more properties of the dependent surface object. The properties are then displayed for editing by the user.
US08914254B2

Panning latency measurement techniques are described. In one or more implementations, a test apparatus includes one or more motors configured to move one or more contacts at least proximal to one or more sensors of a device to be detectable as a movement. The test apparatus also includes one or more modules implemented at least partially in hardware to measure latency of the device to recognize the movement of the one or more contacts.
US08914253B2

A computer-implemented analysis method is provided for identifying a flight trajectory of a bogey relative to earth's surface. The method includes a first step of obtaining first and second altitudes and velocities of the bogey separated by a first time interval. The second step calculates a first difference between the first and second velocities divided by the first time interval to obtain an acceleration vector. The third step determines the direction of the velocity vector. The fourth step determines whether direction of the second velocity vector exceeds an upward pointing threshold. The fifth step determines whether the acceleration vector is negative and substantially perpendicular to earth's surface as a second result being valid. The sixth step reports that the bogey represents a ballistic projectile in response to the first and second results.
US08914250B2

A method and system are provided for determining a length quantity of a power transmission line, which connects a first location with a second location. A first signal having a first carrier frequency is provided at the first location. The first signal is transmitted from the first location to the second location via the power transmission line. A second signal having a second frequency is provided at the second location. A first phase difference between the first signal and the second signal is measured at the second location, and the length quantity is calculated from the measured phase difference. In the system, a second receiver at the second location is configured to receive the first signal having the first carrier frequency from the first location. A frequency generator creates the second signal having the second frequency at the second location. The receiver includes a phase detection device configured to detect a first phase difference between the second frequency and the first carrier frequency at the second location.
US08914245B2

An ultrasonic probe (10) that scans a subject with beams of high frequency sound. The probe (10) includes a transducer (26) to produce high frequency sound waves, a means to steer the sound waves in the proper direction, a printed circuit board (22) with a non-volatile memory (38), a micro electrico-mechanical accelerometer integrated circuit (32) and an outlet connector (19). The accelerometer (32) is configured to detect the movement of the probe (10) in from two to three axes when the probe (10) is rotated or moved in a linear direction to allow the probe (10) to detect images from more than one plane.
US08914244B2

Disclosed is an apparatus, method and system for inspecting structures, and more particularly for evaluating the condition of a structure. The disclosed nondestructive inspection testing method and apparatus enables an operator to assess the condition of a structure, such as a composite laminate part and determining the location and depth of anomalies. The method includes generating a subsurface longitudinal ultrasonic wave signal at a high incidence angle into a structure being evaluated and collecting at least one of any front, back or side reflected wave data. The method may include processing the reflected wave data to determine the condition of the structure, including any anomalies that may have been detected and their location, size and shape.
US08914242B2

The present invention includes a guided microwave spectroscopy system (1) that eliminates the need for an automatic gain control feature by providing multiple signal processing paths having differing fixed voltage gains. An emitted signal which exits a test chamber (2) containing a material under test is simultaneously amplified by at least a first fixed gain amplifier (4) and a second fixed gain amplifier (7). The output signal of each amplifier is separately digitized and then normalized for further digital signal processing by a computer (13) in order to determine parameters of the material under test which may have variable microwave radiation characteristics that are a function of the frequency of the signal emitted into the test chamber. During the signal processing step a system clock (121) causes the computer to sample only an integral number of complete output signal cycles. A calibration protocol (136-154) is conducted based on laboratory samples of each potential material to be processed by the system (1).
US08914241B2

A technique for sequencing nucleic acids in an automated or semi-automated manner is disclosed. Sample arrays of a multitude of nucleic acid sites are processed in multiple cycles to add nucleotides to the material to be sequenced, detect the nucleotides added to sites, and to de-block the added nucleotides of blocking agents and tags used to identify the last added nucleotide. Multiple parameters of the system are monitored to enable diagnosis and correction of problems as they occur during sequencing of the samples. Quality control routines are run during sequencing to determine quality of samples, and quality of the data collected.
US08914235B1

A system and method for location detection is disclosed. The system and method may derive estimates of a user's location by interfacing with other sources of location data. In one aspect of the invention, a client device may determine the user's location by using locally configured location services. The client device may also query a remote server that contains recent geolocation data of the user. Both the local and remote estimates may be presented to a user. The user may also be allowed to select the location that most accurately represents the user's current location.
US08914230B2

Architecture that enables shared social selection by multiple participants of a route (or routes) to a physical destination based at least in part on estimated time-of-arrival (ETA) of the participants to the destination as a group, and joint selection of the destination as a group. The individuals of the group may travel from different locations and along same or different routes to the destination. The architecture assists in planning shared (and/or separate) routes to the destination and estimating the time the group as a whole will be together at the destination. The ETA for the group can be based on the person of the group estimated to arrive at the destination last in time. Interaction capabilities (e.g., texting) are facilitated between group members as part of the navigation system, and dynamic destination decisions can be based on user locations, calculated routes, and/or the type of destination.
US08914228B2

In a method of sharing location information between a map application and a calendar application, the map application pulls calendar event locations from a calendar event store and presents these calendar event locations as suggested locations for the map application. Likewise, the calendar application pulls map locations from a map location data store and presents these map locations as suggested locations for calendar events. By sharing location information between the map application and the calendar applications, these applications become significantly more useful.
US08914217B2

A device for measuring a spectrum of a light beam in a wavelength range chosen beforehand, device called a spectrometer, the spectrum being generated by a fluid to be analyzed, the spectrometer including: at least one light source; a measurement cell including the fluid to be analyzed; a measurement detector placed on an optical pathway taken by a measurement optical beam being emitted by the light source and encountering the measurement cell; and a reference detector placed on an optical pathway taken by a reference optical beam being emitted by the light source and not encountering the measurement cell, wherein the spectrometer is borne by an automotive vehicle and includes an element for forming an incident optical beam emitted by the at least one light source, and for dividing the optical beam into a measurement beam and a reference beam, in the form of a waveguide.
US08914206B2

A control device of a continuously variable transmission for a vehicle having a pair of variable pulleys with variable effective diameters of an input-side variable pulley and an output-side variable pulley and a transmission belt wound around between the pair of the variable pulleys, the continuously variable transmission respectively controlling an input-side thrust force in the input-side variable pulley and an output-side thrust force in the output-side variable pulley to set an actual gear ratio to a target gear ratio while preventing a slip of the transmission belt, the continuously variable transmission includes: a hydraulic control circuit capable of accurately controlling one of the input-side variable pulley and the output-side variable pulley in terms of thrust force as compared to the other, in the case that a target thrust force on the one side for assuring belt slip prevention of the both pulleys on the one side is set, based on a target thrust force on the one side, a target thrust force on the other side for achieving a target gear ratio on the other side being set, and a larger one being selected as the target thrust force on the one side out of a limit thrust force to a slip on the one side required for belt slip prevention on the one side, and a thrust force on the one side required for achieving a target gear ratio on the one side calculated based on a limit thrust force to a slip on the other side required for belt slip prevention on the other side.
US08914205B2

A system and method combines integrated system health usage monitoring and flight tracking of a helicopter, and transmits the information to monitoring sites for managing flight operations in real time, thereby providing the functionality of both system health and flight tracking and reducing weight related constraints faced by helicopters. With enhanced availability of system health data, vital information for maintenance and flight position data-stream, operations, flight dispatch and maintenance can plan for required services more efficiently.
US08914200B2

A control device for a belt type continuously variable transmission device includes primary And secondary pulleys and a belt and controls gear ratio based on a running radius of the belt on a pulley by controlling primary and secondary oil pressures. The transmission includes a belt slip control unit and a belt slip control permission determining unit. The belt slip control unit performs such control as to oscillate the secondary oil pressure, estimates a belt slip condition by monitoring the phase difference between an oscillation component included in an actual secondary oil pressure and an oscillation component included in an actual gear ration, and then reduces the actual secondary oil pressure to maintain a predetermined belt slip condition. The belt slip control permission determining unit permits belt slip control when a transmission rate as a change rate of the gear ratio is less than a predetermined value.
US08914197B2

There is provided an optical raindrop detector including a light source, a light guide, an image sensor and a processing unit. The light source alternatively emits light with different brightness values. The light guide has an incident surface, a detection surface and an ejection surface, wherein the light source emits incident light into the light guide via the incident surface, and a plurality of microstructures are formed on the ejection surface to reflect the incident light to become scattered light toward the detection surface. The image sensor receives reflected light formed by raindrops in front of the detection surface reflecting the scattered light to penetrate the light guide and eject from the ejection surface, and generates image frames corresponding to the different brightness values of the light source. The processing unit calculates differential images of the image frames to accordingly identify rain intensity.
US08914195B2

A system for powering a steering angle sensor coupled to a steering wheel and a controller comprising a switch, coupled to the sensor and the controller. The switch is activated upon motion of the steering wheel or steering shaft. The switch, when activated, connects a power supply, such as a vehicle battery, to the sensor and the controller so that a new steering angle may be sensed and stored. After a predetermined period of time, the controller sends a signal to deactivate the switch and disconnect the power supply.
US08914180B2

A hybrid powertrain has an engine, a starter motor, and a gear train that connects the starter motor with the engine, and a motor/generator. A belt drive train connects the motor/generator with the engine. The powertrain has a first energy storage device with a first operating range of voltage and a second energy storage device with a second operating range of voltage at least partially in common with the first operating range of voltage. A controller places a switching device in an on-state so that the first energy storage device is connected with the second energy storage device or in an off-state in which the first energy storage device is disconnected from the second energy storage device. The controller causes the switching device to be in the off-state and the starter motor and the motor/generator to be powered with energy from the first energy storage device to restart the engine.
US08914179B2

During an inertial energy storage operation, electric power conversion at an inverter is controlled such that a direct current electric power from an electric power storage device is converted into an alternating current by the inverter so as to be supplied to stator windings, such that torque in the direction of engine rotation is applied to an output side rotor from a stator to rotatively drive the output side rotor in a state where power transmission from the output side rotor to a drive axle is stopped. During a cranking operation after the inertial energy storage operation, the electric power conversion at an inverter is controlled to permit application of the alternating current to rotor windings, such that a torque in the direction of engine rotation is applied to an input side rotor from the output side rotor, thereby rotatively driving an input side rotor to crank the engine.
US08914175B2

Various embodiments include an electric motor vehicle which does not have any active suspension components, gearbox, differential or other mechanical transmission components, in various embodiments including consists a chassis, at least one pair of integrated wheel and brushless DC electric motor assemblies mounted on the chassis with conventional suspension components including springs and dampers. In various embodiments, a battery pack on the chassis provides power to the integrated wheel and electric motor assemblies; and a control system operates each integrated wheel and motor assembly independently of each other integrated wheel and motor assembly. Various embodiments include the control system including a master controller connected to the battery pack, and, a separate slave controller connected to the battery pack and to each of the integrated wheel and motor assemblies as well as the master controller.
US08914165B2

A Human Machine Interface includes a flight control system operable to communicate display data directly to a cockpit display system.
US08914164B1

A system and method are provided for calculating Mach number and true airspeed without reference to data from a pitot static sensor. The true airspeed and Mach number are calculated using the altitude information from GPS, IRS, Radio Altimeter and other onboard sensors other than the air data computer (ADC). The computed true airspeed or Mach number could be used to confirm the ADC information or in lieu of the ADC information when the ADC information is unreliable or unavailable.
US08914161B2

A power supply control device including a power supply and a switching control system. The power supply includes a solar power supply unit and an electric network power supply unit. The solar power supply unit includes solar cells and a DC-DC boosting circuit; an output terminal of the solar cells is connected with an input terminal of the DC-DC boosting circuit and the output terminal of the DC-DC boosting circuit supplies power to the exterior. The electric network power supply unit includes an AC-DC rectifying circuit; an input terminal of the AC-DC rectifying circuit is connected to an electric network alternating current input and an output terminal thereof supplies power to the exterior. A ventilating device using the power supply device is also provided.
US08914159B2

A method of controlling power to a plurality of devices on an energy network, wherein each device has an identifier which uniquely identifies the device on the network, the method comprising: forming a group of devices from said plurality of devices; and controlling the power of other devices in said group in accordance with the state of the power supplied to a first device in said group.
US08914155B1

Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture to control fluid flow in a data center are disclosed herein. An example method disclosed herein comprises sensing a condition of a fluid in a first contained aisle on a first side of data center equipment, the fluid in the first contained aisle substantially isolated from a second contained aisle on a second side of the data center equipment, and controlling a vent to alter the fluid flow between the first contained aisle and the second contained aisle based on the sensed condition.
US08914153B2

The invention relates to a head for positioning a tool on irregular surfaces, formed by a tool-holder assembly which is coupled to a robot arm (4) by means of a support (3), the tool-holder assembly being provided with a force sensor (2) and distance detectors (7) by means of which a control of the action of the robot arm (4) for positioning the work tool with respect to the operating surface is established.
US08914151B2

A robot for legged locomotion incorporating passive dynamics with active force control and method are provided.
US08914147B2

A service providing system according to an embodiment includes a robot unit, an interface that receives input of order input information, and a control unit that is connected to the robot unit and the interface, and causes the robot unit to execute an operation based on the order input information input with the interface. Furthermore, the service providing system receives input of the order input information with the interface, causes the robot unit to execute the processing operation based on the order input information input with the interface, and provides a product on which the processing operation has been performed by the robot unit.
US08914139B2

A Robot includes a main body, a Portable device and a supporting structure. The supporting structure is disposed at the main body for detachably connecting the Portable device. The Portable device reads digital media data from the main body or the Portable device itself, and plays the digital media data as video. After the Portable device is detached from the supporting structure, the main body and the Portable device operate independently.
US08914135B2

An integrated monitoring, control and equipment maintenance and tracking system and method is provided for managing a plurality of field devices. The integrated and coordinated system includes the monitoring and control system that uses safety subsystem field device data and process control subsystem field device data. When a compromised field device is determined, e.g., by the safety system and/or the process control system, information about testing, maintenance, repair or replacement is conveyed to the monitoring and control system. This information is used to modify the work orders created by the equipment maintenance and tracking system processor such that the compromised field device, or a field device at a location of the compromised field device, is not subject to unnecessary or excessively redundant testing.
US08914132B2

A medical implantable lead has a header in a distal end, a fixation arrangement and an electrode arranged in the header. The lead also has a connector in a proximal end that includes a connector pin and is adapted to be connected to a monitoring and/or controlling device, and an inner coil, which extends inside an outer casing of the lead and is adapted to transmit electrical signals between the monitoring and/or controlling device and the electrode. The inner coil is attached to the connector pin. The inner coil extends through a bore inside the connector pin and is attached to the connector pin in its proximal end. A method for manufacturing such a lead is also provided.
US08914124B2

An exemplary system includes a sound processor configured to 1) divide an audio signal into a plurality of analysis channels and 2) generate one or more tonality indices each representing a tonality of one of the analysis channels, and an implantable cochlear stimulator communicatively coupled to the sound processor and configured to 1) generate one or more stimulation pulses configured to represent the audio signal in accordance with one or more stimulation parameters, and 2) adjust the one or more stimulation parameters based on at least one of the tonality indices.
US08914113B2

An inspiratory muscle stimulation system uses an implantable medical device to deliver stimulation to control diaphragmatic contractions for slower and deeper breathing, thereby conditioning and strengthening inspiratory muscles. In various embodiments, respiratory and/or cardiac performance are monitored for controlling parameters of the stimulation.
US08914111B2

A device for stimulating nerves adjacent the vagina includes a nerve stimulating element coupled to a body. The nerve stimulating element is positioned to stimulate the vesical, Frankenhauser's and/or inferior hypogastric plexuses. The device may reside in the vaginal fornices.
US08914108B2

Time delays between a feature of a signal indicative of electrical activity of a patient's heart and a feature of a plethysmograph signal indicative of changes in arterial blood volume are used to arrange the operation of an implantable device, such as a pacemaker. Shorter time delays between the feature of the signal indicative of electrical activity of a patient's heart and the feature of the plethysmograph signal indicative of changes in arterial blood volume are indicative of larger cardiac stroke volumes. The time delay can be used to select a pacing site or combination of pacing sites and/or to select a pacing interval set.
US08914107B2

A cardiac rhythm management (CRM) device can extract ventilation information from thoracic impedance or other information, and adjust a delivery rate of the CRM therapy. A tidal volume of a patient is measured and used to adjust a ventilation rate response factor. The measured tidal volume can optionally be adjusted using a ventilation rate dependent adjustment factor. The ventilation rate response factor can also be adjusted using a maximum voluntary ventilation (MVV), an age predicted maximum heart rate, a resting heart rate, and a resting ventilation determined for the patient. In various examples, a global ventilation sensor rate response factor (for a population) can be programmed into the CRM device, and automatically tailored to be appropriate for a particular patient.
US08914104B2

A medical device includes a device housing and a door mounted to the device housing. The device also includes a first magnet mounted to the door, wherein magnetic force applied to the door exerts a moment on the door, and a second magnet mounted in the housing and positioned to hold the door shut by magnetic interaction with the first magnet. In addition, the device includes a user-movable mode-changing mechanism attached to a third magnet, and arranged to hold the third magnet out of proximity with the first and second magnets when the device is in a first mode, and to move the third magnet into proximity with the first and second magnets when the device is in a second mode so as to expel the first magnet away from the housing and open the door to expose items positioned behind the door.
US08914103B2

An apparatus having a thin film battery includes: a device electrically operating and including a substrate; and the thin film battery for supplying power to the device. The thin film battery includes: a first electrically conductive layer formed on the substrate; a second electrically conductive layer formed on the substrate while being spaced apart from the first electrically conductive layer and positioned on an identical plane to the first electrically conductive layer; a first electrode layer formed on the first electrically conductive layer and electrically connected to the first electrically conductive layer; a second electrode layer formed on the second electrically conductive layer, electrically connected to the second electrically conductive layer, disposed while being spaced apart from the first electrode layer in a side direction, and having a polarity opposite to a polarity of the first electrode layer; an ion conductive polymer electrolyte for covering both the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer; and a sealing film for sealing the ion conductive polymer electrolyte.
US08914100B2

An exemplary electroencephalogram measurement system includes: a frequency analysis section for, analyzing a frequency power of the electroencephalogram signal of a user with respect to each set of a reference electrode and a measurement electrode; an insufficient electrode determination section for, through comparison of the analyzed frequency power against a first threshold value, distinguishing whether a state of attachment of each electrode is sufficient or not; and an insufficiency cause estimation section for determining the number of insufficient electrodes distinguished as insufficiently worn, determining a position at which each insufficient electrode is in contact with the user, and estimating a cause for the insufficient state of attachment of the insufficient electrode or electrodes that corresponds to the determined number of insufficient electrodes and position of each insufficient electrode by referring to insufficiency pattern data.
US08914095B2

A method for generating a trigger signal for a magnetic resonance measurement by an R wave of an EKG signal is proposed. The EKG signal is captured by an algorithm manager. The algorithm manager includes at least a first trigger instance having a trigger algorithm. EKG signals from at least two different EKG channels are processed by the trigger algorithm. The algorithm manager includes at least a further trigger instance for capturing the EKG signal. The further trigger instance has at least one further trigger algorithm for processing EKG signals from at least two different EKG channels. The trigger signal is generated by selecting a trigger instance from the different trigger instances.
US08914089B2

Utilization of a contact device placed on the eye in order to detect physical and chemical parameters of the body as well as the non-invasive delivery of compounds according to these physical and chemical parameters, with signals being transmitted continuously as electromagnetic waves, radio waves, infrared and the like. One of the parameters to be detected includes non-invasive blood analysis utilizing chemical changes and chemical products that are found in the conjunctiva and in the tear film. A transensor mounted in the contact device laying on the cornea or the surface of the eye is capable of evaluating and measuring physical and chemical parameters in the eye including non-invasive blood analysis. The system utilizes eye lid motion and/or closure of the eye lid to activate a microminiature radio frequency sensitive transensor mounted in the contact device. The signal can be communicated by wires or radio telemetered to an externally placed receiver. The signal can then be processed, analyzed and stored. Several parameters can be detected including a complete non-invasive analysis of blood components, measurement of systemic and ocular blood flow, measurement of heart rate and respiratory rate, tracking operations, detection of ovulation, detection of radiation and drug effects, diagnosis of ocular and systemic disorders and the like.
US08914088B2

According to embodiments, sensors and systems for medical spectroscopy may include adaptive optical components, such as digital light processing components. Adaptive light emitting elements may allow such sensors to alter the intensity profile of emitted light photons to change the distribution of photons through the tissue or to scan areas of tissue to determine if certain areas may be associated with improved measurements. In addition, sensors with adaptive light detecting elements as provided may adapt to selectively detect light of certain wavelengths or from certain regions of the tissue.
US08914086B2

A superconducting magnet system includes a coil support structure, superconducting coils, and electrically and thermally conductive windings. The superconducting coils and the conductive windings are supported by the coil support structure. Each conductive winding is electromagnetically coupled with a corresponding superconducting coil. Each conductive winding is electrically shorted.
US08914084B2

In one embodiment, a mobile communication device comprises a transceiver operably connected to a first antenna and to a second antenna; and a controller operably connected to the transceiver and to a memory having instructions that when executed by the controller generates, based on determining that one of a first signal from the first antenna and a second signal from the second antenna is weak, a resultant signal from a remaining signal of the first signal and the second signal.
US08914078B2

The present application discloses an adapter, an electronic device and a wireless communication system, wherein the adapter comprises a first information acquiring unit for acquiring adapter information of the adapter and/or electronic device information from an electronic device, and a first wireless communication unit electrically connected to the first information acquiring unit and configured to perform at least one of the following operations in a wireless way: transmitting the adapter information to the electronic device, and receiving the electronic device information from the electronic device. Various information can be communicated between the adapter and the electronic device in the present application.
US08914076B2

A device and method process voice communication service. A mobile terminal device of the present disclosure includes a microphone arranged at one end of a body of the device; a speaker arranged close to the microphone; a transceiver arranged at the other end of the body; a codec including a coder connected to the microphone, a decoder connected to the speaker, and a switch of which one node is connected to one of the coder and the decoder selectively and the other node is connected to the transceiver; and a communication controller which controls the switch to establish a path between the coder and the transceiver and enables the speaker in speakerphone mode.
US08914073B2

According to an aspect, a mobile electronic device includes a display unit and a control unit. The display unit has a display area for displaying a plurality of objects. The control unit is configured to display the objects in a first arrangement in the display area, move the objects displayed in the first arrangement outward from inside the display area, and display the objects moved outward of the display area again in the display area in a second arrangement.
US08914068B2

An array antenna apparatus in which an SN ratio is improved. Antenna elements having transmission modules, respectively, are arranged in plurality, wherein the plurality of transmission modules respectively have transmission signal generators that each output a transmission intermediate frequency signal, local oscillation signal generators that each output a local oscillation signal, and transmission mixers that each mix the transmission intermediate frequency signal and the local oscillation signal with each other, thereby to carry out frequency conversion to a transmission high frequency signal. A reference signal source inputs a reference signal to the transmission signal generators and the local oscillation signal generators. The transmission intermediate frequency signal and the local oscillation signal are synchronized with each other by the reference signal.
US08914064B2

A mobile terminal including a main body; a display unit arranged on a front side of the main body, and configured to display a video communication screen in a first direction when a video communication event occurs; a camera arranged in a lower end portion of the front side and configured to capture an image during the video communication event; a sensing unit installed in the main body, and configured to detect a motion of the main body in response to the video communication event; and a controller configured to switch a displaying direction of the video communication screen from the first direction to a second direction based on the detected motion of the main body.
US08914057B2

A system and method are provided for operating a cellular communications network including a first base station and a second base station. The method comprises reducing the downlink transmission power of the second base station and increasing the downlink transmission power of the first base station, based upon the level of data traffic being communicated through the second base station; and receiving an initial uplink transmission from a mobile station at the second base station and identifying that the second base station can provide a communications service to the mobile station.
US08914056B2

A mobile station device includes a receiving section configured to receive a control signal used for changing a value of the transmission power of the mobile station device from a base station, and a control section configured to change, if the transmission power value of the mobile station device is more than a certain threshold value when the control signal has been received, the transmission power value by setting an extent to which the transmission power value is to be changed as a certain extent of change, and, if the transmission power value of the radio mobile station device is less than the certain threshold value when the receiving section received, change the transmission power value by making the extent of change of the transmission power value smaller than the certain extent of change.
US08914054B2

Systems and methods are disclosed for selecting resources for direct device to device communications in a cellular communication network. Preferably, resources for the direct device to device communications are selected to minimize, or at least substantially reduce, interference that results from the direct device to device communications in the cellular communication network. In one embodiment, a downlink resource of the cellular communication network is selected as a resource for a direct device to device communication link between a first wireless device and a second wireless device if at least one of the first and second wireless devices is less than a predefined threshold radio distance from a closest base station in the cellular communication network. Otherwise, an uplink resource of the cellular communication network is selected as a resource for the direct device to device communication link between the first and second wireless devices.
US08914052B2

The technology in this application compresses multi-antenna complex-valued signals by exploiting both a spatial and a temporal correlation of the signals to remove redundancy within the complex-valued signals and substantially reduce the capacity requirement of backhaul links. At a receiver, the compressed signal is received, and a decompressor decompresses the received signal over space and over time to reconstruct the multiple antenna stream.
US08914051B2

A network device may receive a subscriber's activity data for a plurality of network resources associated with the subscriber. The subscriber's activity data may be analyzed and a tailored notification instruction may be provided for alerting the subscriber.
US08914050B2

A base station allocates a paging group to a mobile station. The base station transmits, to a mobile station, a first message including indices of a plurality of carriers and information for the plurality of carriers and a second message including paging group information representing whether each of a plurality of carriers supports each of one or more paging groups. Then, the base station selects a paging transmission carrier for the mobile station from among at least one paging carrier corresponding to the paging group allocated to the mobile station and transmits the paging message through the paging transmission carrier.
US08914016B1

A system is provided for interfacing with a mobile device. The system includes a mobile device operable to present the active content of the mobile device in association with an external computing device and receiving, on the mobile device, user input from one or more components associated with the external computing device. A system for interfacing with a mobile device is also provided. The system includes one or more proximity control components, one or more translator components, one or more rendering components, and one or more transferring components. A system for communicating active content of a mobile device to an external computing device is also provided. The system includes a mobile device operable to transfer data containing at least one of display definitions, navigational elements, and active content and an external computing device operable to present the transferred data.
US08914014B2

The present invention includes a phone able to detect or determine that a user of the phone is sitting in a driver seat of a moving vehicle. The determination may be based on, for example, captured front-side images, captured back-side images, captured audio, contextual analysis of textual messages, contextual analysis of phone conversations or intra-vehicular conversations, GPS data or other location data, or other parameters. Upon such determination, the phone may block one or more features or applications, such as texting or messaging. The present invention may reduce, eliminate or block occurrences of concurrent texting-and-driving, or other unsafe or illegal operations.
US08914008B2

A method for setting up communications forwarding is provided. The method can include determining that a wireless communication device having a first telephone number associated with a first country is being operated in a second country and that a second telephone number associated with the second country has been activated on the wireless communication device. The method can further include, responsive to the determination, sending a forwarding request from the wireless communication device to a network to request activation of forwarding of communications directed to the first telephone number to the second telephone number.
US08913997B2

A method includes sending a request to a user indicating options to modify a quality of experience for one or more application flows between a radio network and a mobile node used by the user. The request indicates the user should select one of the following: declining an option to upgrade an existing service to a new service able to support the one or more application flows with a higher quality of experience than supported by the existing service; or accepting an option to upgrade the existing service to the new service. In response to receiving an indication the user selected the option to upgrade the existing service, performing one or more actions to upgrade the existing service to the new service. The option to upgrade the existing service can include an option of receiving advertisements for the new service or paying extra for the new service.
US08913991B2

A system and methodology that can customize screen time-outs on a portable electronic device based on user activity is provided. The system employs a sensing component that receives data from one or more sensors located on the portable electronic device, for example, skin conductivity sensors. The sensing component determines whether the user is using the portable device, either actively or passively and also determines the identity of the user. A configuring component is employed to change one or more features or functions of the portable electronic device based on the information determined by the sensing component. In particular, the configuring component changes one of more features of the portable electronic device based on the preferences predefined by the identified user and device usage (active and passive usage).
US08913986B2

Roaming of mobile devices is tracked and accounted for automatically and accurately. Revenue records are received for at least one service provider due to roaming of mobile devices within a particular geographical area served by the at least one service provider for mobile devices that do not have a subscription for service with the service provider for the particular geographic area. Expense records are received for the service provider due to roaming of mobile devices within other geographical areas served by at least one other service provider and not served by the at least one service provider. Each of the revenue and expense records is associated with a particular mobile device and includes a code identifying a particular service provider with which the particular mobile device has a subscription and a code identifying a particular geographical area assigned to the particular mobile device. The codes identifying particular service providers and particular geographical areas assigned to the mobile devices are validated against a list of predefined service providers and predefined geographical areas. If the codes are valid, the revenue records and expense records received over a period of time are compiled and summarized.
US08913985B2

The invention provides a method and a system for analyzing mobile telephony connectivity transaction information by the use of a code appended to a transaction.
US08913984B2

An apparatus and method of displaying traffic information using at least one widget in a mobile terminal are provided. The method of displaying traffic information in a mobile terminal includes receiving traffic information from at least one broadcasting station through at least one digital broadcasting channel, and displaying the traffic information on a standby screen with at least one of an image file and a text file using the at least one widget. Thereby, a user can determine a traffic situation using the traffic information provided on the standby screen using the at least one widget. Further, even when no navigation device is provided in the mobile terminal, the user can conveniently receive traffic information.
US08913979B2

A network node (4), referred to as answering point (4), performs a method including a triggering procedure (s22) for triggering the transmission, towards a mobile station (2), of an instruction message (12a) including an instruction to start a new emergency communication towards the answering point (4). The triggering procedure (s22) includes sending (s226), towards the mobile station (2), a trigger message (12b). The mobile station (2) performs a method including a receiving procedure (s28) and a starting procedure (s30). The receiving procedure (s28) includes receiving the instruction message (12a) including the instruction to start a new emergency communication towards the answering point (4), and the starting procedure (s30) includes starting a new emergency communication towards the answering point (4). This enables to re-establish an emergency communication between the answering point (4) and the mobile station (2). The invention also relates to network nodes, mobile stations and computer programs.
US08913978B2

A multiphase mixer using a rotary traveling wave oscillator is disclosed. In addition to the oscillator, the mixer includes first and second mixer circuits. The rotary traveling wave oscillator generates a first set of N/2 phase and a second set of N/2 phases, where each phase has a frequency that is a factor of N/2 less than the incoming radio frequency signal. The first set of phases are sine signals and the second set of phases are cosine signals. The first mixer circuit generates a first down-converted signal from the first set of phases and the incoming rf signal. The second mixer circuit generates a second down-converted signal from the second set of phases and the rf signal.
US08913974B2

Methods and systems for vector combining power amplification are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a plurality of signals are individually amplified, then summed to form a desired time-varying complex envelope signal. Phase and/or frequency characteristics of one or more of the signals are controlled to provide the desired phase, frequency, and/or amplitude characteristics of the desired time-varying complex envelope signal. In another embodiment, a time-varying complex envelope signal is decomposed into a plurality of constant envelope constituent signals. The constituent signals are amplified equally or substantially equally, and then summed to construct an amplified version of the original time-varying envelope signal. Embodiments also perform frequency up-conversion.
US08913973B2

Electronic devices with wireless communications capabilities are provided. The electronic device may include storage and processing circuitry, power amplifier circuitry, power supply circuitry, etc. The storage and processing circuitry may direct the power amplifier circuitry to operate using a desired gain mode, in a particular radio channel, and at a given output power level. The power supply circuitry may bias the power amplifier circuitry with a power supply voltage. The performance of the power amplifier circuitry may be characterized by an adjacent channel leakage ratio (ACLR) margin. The power consumption of the power amplifier circuitry may be characterized by a current savings ratio. A cost function may be calculated by taking the product of the ACLR margin and current savings ratio. A minimum point for each cost function curve may be determined. It is desirable to bias the power amplifier circuitry with a supply voltage corresponding to the minimum point.
US08913970B2

An electronic device may contain wireless circuitry that transmits and receives radio-frequency signals through antenna structures. Power amplifier circuitry may amplify the radio-frequency signals that are being transmitted. An adjustable voltage supply may supply an adjustable power amplifier bias voltage to the power amplifier circuitry. The power amplifier circuitry may include multiple power amplifiers each of which may handle signals transmitted using a different cellular telephone standard. For each cellular telephone standard, multiple modulation schemes may be supported. Some modulation schemes may have greater power amplifier linearity requirements than others. Control circuitry can adjust the adjustable power amplifier bias voltage in real time to select an optimum power amplifier bias voltage based on the current cellular telephone standard, modulation scheme, power amplifier gain state, and operating frequency in use.
US08913967B2

At least a first shunt switching element and switching control circuitry of a first switching power supply are disclosed. At least the first shunt switching element is coupled between a ground and an output inductance node of the first switching power supply. The first switching power supply provides a buck output signal from the output inductance node. The switching control circuitry selects one of an ON state and an OFF state of the first shunt switching element. When the buck output signal is above a first threshold, the switching control circuitry is inhibited from selecting the ON state. The first switching power supply provides a first switching power supply output signal based on the buck output signal. By using feedback based on the buck output signal, the switching control circuitry may refine the timing of switching between series switching elements and shunt switching elements to increase efficiency.
US08913963B2

The present invention relates to a device and method for simulating a radio channel with a defined characteristic between at least one antenna port (102a, 102b) of a first device (101), and a second device (103) in a test environment. The device comprises a first antenna (104a) adapted to transmit signals, and arranged to provide a first radio channel (105a) between the first antenna (104a) and the second device (103) and, a second antenna (104b) adapted to transmit signals, and arranged to provide a second radio channel (105b) between the second antenna (104b) and the second device (103). A characteristic of the second radio channel (105b) is dissimilar to a characteristic of the first radio channel (105a). The device further comprises a multiport circuit (106) arranged to connect the at least one antenna port (102a, 102b) of the first device (101) with the first and second antennas (104a, 104b), and adapted to split a signal received from the at least one antenna port (102a, 102b) into at least two split signals, and to forward the at least two split signals to the first and second antenna 104a, 104b respectively. The device also comprises a modifying circuit (107a) adapted to modify an amplitude relation between the at least two split signals, thereby simulating a radio channel between the at least one antenna port (102a, 102b) and the second device (103) with a characteristic which is a combination of the characteristic of the second radio channel (105b) and the characteristic of the first radio channel (105a) in a relation corresponding to the modified amplitude relation.
US08913961B2

Systems and methods are disclosed which relate to mitigating the detrimental effects of interference to electronic devices from mobile telephones utilizing any form of time-domain multiplexing technology. A wireless transmitter inside the mobile telephone broadcasts a warning transmission which can be received by affected devices. Once the warning transmission is received by an affected device, the device activates a blanking circuit comprising an actuator and a switch or switches. The switches open for the duration of the interference so that the user does not receive undesired output such as: noise through a speaker, noise through a microphone, or other interference with electrical signals.
US08913942B2

A formation process of a glossy surface, without unevenness of gloss in a image on a print surface, nor toner offset or release failure over a long time period, is provided, where a surface of a belt member is composed of a resin containing structural units derived from a specific urethane (meth)acrylate (A), a specific polyfunctional monomer (B), and a fluorine-modified acrylate (C) and has the contact angle with respect to water of 85 to 110°, and the melting energy ΔH of a wax in a clear toner is 2 to 20 J/g.
US08913933B2

A paper conveying device includes an intermediate transfer member and a paper conveying member driven so as to rotate at the same rotational speed, and an adjusting device. On an outer peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer member, an elastic layer is provided. An axes distance between the intermediate transfer member and the paper conveying member is adjusted by the adjusting device so that drive torque for rotating the intermediate transfer member and the paper conveying member at the same rotational speed becomes smaller than a target set value. Accordingly, occurrence of the shear is suppressed without changing a rotational speed ratio of rollers arranged opposite to each other.
US08913932B2

An image forming apparatus includes: image-forming units of multiple colors that form images on an image carrier in such a manner that the images are overlaid on one another, and a determination unit that determines necessity of position alignment correction of an image of each color accompanying image formation in accordance with a degree of change of image formation environment from when correction was executed in the past and a combination of colors used for the image formation.
US08913931B2

Provided is a developing roll for use in an electrophotographic machine capable of preventing an ion conductive agent from blooming and retaining long-term charge decay characteristics. The roll (1) includes a shaft (2), an elastomeric layer (3) and a surface layer (4), wherein the surface layer contains a composition containing an (A) ingredient defining a binder resin having a functional group reactive with an alkoxy silyl group in a (B) ingredient, and the (B) ingredient defining an ion conductive agent containing a cation having a chemical structure represented by R1-N+-R2-Si(OR3)3, where R1: a cyclic organic group or a linear organic group, R2: a group containing at least (CH2)n, n representing an integer number, and R3: an alkyl group, wherein the cation is bound with the (A) ingredient, and wherein the (B) ingredient is 0.10 to 3 parts by mass with respect to 100 parts by mass of the (A) ingredient.
US08913927B2

A developer cartridge is detachably mounted to a main apparatus, and includes a storage portion storing a developer, an ejection opening for ejecting the developer from the storage portion, and a first opening-and-closing member for opening and closing the ejection opening. The first opening-and-closing member is able to take a first position where the first opening-and-closing member opens the ejection opening and causes the developer cartridge to be fixed to the main apparatus, a second position where the first opening-and-closing member closes the ejection opening and makes the developer cartridge detachable from the main apparatus, and a third position where the first opening-and-closing member closes the ejection opening and causes the developer cartridge to be fixed to the main apparatus.
US08913922B2

An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body in which an image forming section that forms an image on a recording material and a drive mechanism that generates a rotational driving force are provided; a fixing section that transports the recording material while receiving the rotational driving force and fixes the image on the recording material, the fixing section being held by the apparatus body at two axial ends thereof; and a transmission mechanism that is provided at one of the two axial ends of the fixing section and is connected to the drive mechanism, the transmission mechanism transmitting the rotational driving force from the drive mechanism to the fixing section. When a pulling force is applied to a recording material that is present in the fixing section, the drive mechanism and the transmission mechanism are disconnected from each other.
US08913920B2

An electrophotographic image forming apparatus detachably mountable to a main assembly of the apparatus, includes a rotatable image bearing member on which a latent image is to be formed; charging means for contacting said image bearing member to charge a surface of said image bearing member; a frame supporting said image bearing member and said charging means; a covering member, demountably mounted to said frame, for protecting the surface of said image bearing member; and a spacer member including a spacing portion, movably provided on said covering member, for entering between said image bearing member and said charging means to space them therebetween, and a retaining portion, contacting said covering member when said spacing portion is not between said image bearing member and said charging means, for preventing said spacer member from disengaging from said covering member.
US08913919B2

A moving mechanism is configured to move a cartridge supporting unit to a mounted position, a retracted position, and a pulled-out position. The cartridge supporting unit is mounted in a main casing and a supply opening of each developer cartridge and a reception opening of each image forming unit are in communication with each other when the cartridge supporting unit is in the mounted position. The cartridge supporting unit is moved away from a plurality of image forming units in an axial direction of a photosensitive drum to interrupt a communication between the supply opening and the reception opening when the cartridge supporting unit is in the retracted position. The cartridge supporting unit is pulled outside the main casing from the retracted position in a predetermined direction perpendicular to the axial direction when the cartridge supporting unit is in the pulled-out position.
US08913912B2

An approach is provided for applying a release agent to a substrate having at least a first surface and a second surface. The approach involves determining a print job type for applying one or more printed images to the substrate to be one of a simplex print job type that applies the one or more printed images to one of the first surface and the second surface and a duplex print job type that applies the one or more printed images to the first surface and the second surface. The approach also involves processing the determined print job type to cause, at least in part, a determination of a release agent application instruction that corresponds with the determined print job type. The approach further involves causing, at least in part, an amount of the release agent to be applied to the substrate based on the release agent application instruction.
US08913907B2

An image forming apparatus includes a toner image forming device for forming a color image. The toner image forming device forms a first color test image and a second color test image superposedly on an image conveying member so that at least one of a screen angle and a screen ruling with respect to the first color test image is different from that with respect to the second color test image. The image forming apparatus further includes a detecting device for detecting a distribution of heights of the first and second color test images formed superposedly on the image conveying member by the toner image forming device, and a control device for controlling a toner image forming condition of the toner image forming device on the basis of the distribution detected by the detecting device.
US08913900B2

A novel method and apparatus for long distance quantum communication in realistic, lossy photonic channels is disclosed. The method uses single emitters of light as intermediate nodes in the channel. One electronic spin and one nuclear spin coupled via the contact hyperfine interaction in each emitter, provide quantum memory and enable active error purification. It is shown that the fixed, minimal physical resources associated with these two degrees of freedom suffice to correct arbitrary errors, making our protocol robust to all realistic sources of decoherence. The method is particularly well suited for implementation using recently-developed solid-state nano-photonic devices.
US08913899B2

An optical-power-distribution (OPD) subsystem that provides means for supplying optical local-oscillator signals and optical-carrier signals to various optical line cards, without the need for each optical line card to have a corresponding individual laser source. In one embodiment, a single laser coupled to the OPD subsystem provides optical local-oscillator signals and optical-carrier signals to multiple optical line cards. In another embodiment, multiple lasers coupled to the OPD subsystem provide multiple optical local-oscillator signals and optical-carrier signals to a single line card. An OPD subsystem may provide significant power savings in the operation of the corresponding optical transport system, a reduction in the required equipment-cooling capacity, and an increase in the device-packing density within optical line cards and inside equipment cabinets that house optical line cards.
US08913891B2

A method and a Reconfigurable Optical Add Drop Multiplexer (ROADM) where blocking of a first optical signal carried over a specific optical channel in the ROADM is performed by compensating the first optical signal by a second optical signal created for that purpose.
US08913887B2

In a first aspect, the method and apparatus of the present disclosure can be used to periodically and/or intermittently place one or more ONUs attached to a PON in a power savings mode so that an OTDR test can be performed. While in the power savings mode, the ONUs temporarily suspend their transmitter function and power down their upstream lasers. In a second aspect, the method and apparatus of the present disclosure can be used to coordinate the performance of OTDR during one or more periodic or intermittent discovery slots used to detect and register ONUs recently connected to the PON. Because new ONUs are infrequently connected to the PON and ONUs already registered are not permitted to transmit during the discovery windows, OTDR can be performed during these windows without impacting, to a great degree, the normal operation of the PON.
US08913882B2

Systems and methods for performing automatic content modification or removal are described. An exemplary system may include an electronic device configured to receive video content and/or user inputs. The electronic device may further include one or more processors as well as memory, which when executed by the one or more processors, cause them to review each frame of the received video content and identify instances of sequential frames providing similar content. The one or more processors may further be caused to determine whether at least one of the sequential frames may be removed, remove one or more of the sequential frames to produce modified video content, and transmit the modified video content to one or more display devices.
US08913878B2

Device for providing a playable sequence in renderable manner comprises: a providing unit for providing defined functions, said functions for applying playable effects to objects, a time unit for adding time boundaries to said functions, to provide time bounded functions, an ordering unit for ordering said time bounded functions into a sequence, and a translation unit for applying translations to said objects in accordance with said effects.
US08913876B2

According to one aspect of the invention, an image processing apparatus comprises: a unit configured to obtain an input image and a subsequent image; a unit configured to obtain N replicated images from the input image; a generating unit configured to generate a low-frequency enhanced image; a subtraction unit configured to generate a high-frequency enhanced image; a synthesizing unit configured to generate a high-frequency output image; and an output unit configured to select and output one of the low-frequency enhanced image and the high-frequency output image. The generating unit comprises a unit configured to obtain a motion vector of an object, and a filter unit configured to apply the filter to pixels around a specified pixel position Q in the replicated image, to obtain a pixel value at a pixel position P in the low-frequency enhanced image.
US08913870B2

A method and an apparatus for capturing video data and audio data according to reproduction of a moving picture stream are provided. In an apparatus for reproducing the moving picture, a moving picture feature section at a capture instruction time is determined as a capture section for audio data and video data decoded from the moving picture stream when a capture instruction is input while the moving picture stream is reproduced. Next, audio data and video data corresponding to the capture section among the audio data and the video data decoded from the moving picture stream are captured.
US08913869B2

According to one embodiment, a video playback apparatus includes a recorder, storage, a setter, a classifier and a display controller. The setter is configured to set a keyword for searching for a comment on the program recorded by the recorder, from the comments stored in the storage. The classifier is configured to classify on which program recorded by the recorder the comment stored by the storage is made, based on the keyword set by the setter. The display controller is configured to, when playing back the program recorded by the recorder, perform control to display the comment classified by the classifier as a comment on the program, and the program.
US08913858B2

A fiber optic interface module and assemblies using same are disclosed, wherein the modules have at least one lens that defines a folded optical path through the module body. The module operably supports one or more optical fibers adjacent an end wall. The module includes one or more lenses formed therein for coupling light from one or more light sources to the corresponding one or more optical fibers. The one or more lenses each have a folded optical path formed by total internal reflection within the module body. The one or more lenses each include a lens surface configured to define a back focus that resides within a corresponding one of the optical fibers.
US08913853B2

An image retrieval method applies an application server, one or more calculating servers, and a sorting server to perform image retrieval. The application server extracts visual features of an exemplary image. The one or more calculating servers calculate similarities of available images according to the visual features of the exemplary image. The sorting server sorts the available images according to the similarities so as to obtain images similar to the exemplary image.
US08913852B2

A method of selecting a plurality of patches (e.g., 1040) within a region of a page (e.g., 1010), for use in image alignment, is disclosed. One or more candidate image alignment patches distributed across a region of the page are determined, based on content in the page region, each candidate patch being associated with a feature strength value. A distribution of grid nodes is applied to the page region, at least one attribute of the distribution of grid nodes being dynamically adjusted according to the distribution of the candidate patches across the page region. A corresponding patch from the distribution of candidate patches is selected for each of a plurality of the grid nodes, wherein each of the selected patches is selected based on proximity of the selected patch to a corresponding grid node.
US08913851B1

A system and method of use are provided for generating video fingerprints that are robust to rotation, stretching, scaling, flipping and other affine transformations. The system and method are based on determining points of interest for a target video image and a collection of images stored in a database. A method of identifying a copied video image is also provided through comparison of the fingerprint of the target video image with fingerprints of images in a database. The method of video fingerprinting involves: defining points of interest from a video image, determining an oriented bounding area encompassing said points of interest that have been transformed by the same transformations used to produce the oriented bounding area and creating a fingerprint by encoding the points of interest as Gray Code such that similar images have a small Hamming distance and dissimilar images have a large Hamming distance. The identification of points of interest are provided by a number of techniques including segmentation, identification of affine covariant regions and scale invariant features.
US08913850B2

Mechanisms are provided for determining the physical location of a physical asset in a physical area. A plurality of physical assets are controlled to cause each physical asset to output a visual output pattern on visual output elements of the physical asset. An image of a target physical asset is captured that has the current state of the visual output elements. An identification of the target physical asset is determined based on the current state of the visual output elements. A physical location of the target physical asset is determined based on a physical location of the image capture device when the image was captured. Location data identifying the determined physical location of the target physical asset is stored in an asset database in association with configuration information for the physical asset.
US08913847B2

Disclosed herein are a system and a method that use a background model to determine and to segment target content from an image and replace them with different content to provide a composite image. The background model can be generated based on image data representing images of a predetermined area that does not include traversing content. The background model is compared to image data representing a set of captured images of the predetermined area. Based on the comparison, portions of an image that differs from the background model are determined as the traversing content. A target content model is used to determine the target content in the traversing content. The target content determined in the images is replaced with different content to provide a composite image.
US08913846B2

A system and method for validating GPU rendered display data—e.g., a sequence of frames—by comparing, across substantially all of the pixel locations in a frame, the GPU rendered display data to display data rendered by another processor. In this way, by checking substantially all of the pixel locations in a frame, errors in the display image data can be detected without prior knowledge of the format, layout, etc. of the display data. The system may be capable of operating without receiving input from a user or producing output to a user, and without receiving input from other applications or producing output to other applications. In this way, the validation would be invisible to a user and/or other applications.
US08913845B2

A method of generating output image data comprises obtaining derivative data relating to a reference image; obtaining a constraint for output image data; and generating the output image data from the derivative data relating to the reference image in dependence on the constraint. This method can be used to recover a robust output image from the derivative of an input image.
US08913843B2

To assign angle-dependent information to an input image in order to highlight and display one-dimensional patterns. First, data of an input image is inputted to a computer (Sa1). An arbitrarily defined constant m is then inputted as a contrast intensity (Sa2). Next, a closed region (x, y) made up of a plurality of pixels in the input image is demarcated as a target region D, degrees of inclination between respective two pixels, namely, a pixel of interest in the target region D and arbitrarily defined neighboring pixels thereof, are summed over a whole circumference around the pixel of interest, and the sum is divided by the number of pixels within the target region to calculate a mean value thereof (Sa3). Furthermore, an amplitude value β of a gradient obtained in step (Sa3) is multiplied by the contrast intensity m (where m is a positive constant) inputted in step (Sa2) and an arbitrarily defined offset value γ is added to the obtained value (Sa4) to obtain a final output image (Sa5).
US08913841B2

Image blurring of a mass spectrum image obtained by the signal intensity for each mass/charge ratio from the obtained two-dimensional mass spectrum is reduced by image restoration using a blurring function. The blurring function expresses a two dimensional distribution of transferred energy related to the distance from a point of primary ion incidence limited by a region exceeding desorption energy of a molecule.
US08913840B2

A compressed image, for which a desired SSIM value is obtained, is acquired when irreversible compression is performed. Specifically, a quadratic curve G2 is defined. Next, a compression ratio P4 is calculated. An image is irreversibly compressed at the compression ratio P4, the compressed image is decoded and an SSIM value S5 is calculated. If the calculated SSIM value S5 is outside an allowable range of the target SSIM value, then the quadratic curve G2 is corrected in such a manner that it will pass through an intersection C4 between the compression ratio P4 and the SSIM value S5, whereby a quadratic curve G3 is obtained.
US08913836B1

Method, system, device and computer program product for projective correction of an image containing at least one text portion that is distorted by perspective. The method includes a step of image binarization involving binarizing said image. The method includes connected component analysis. Pixel blobs are detected in said at least one text portion of said binarized image in connected component analysis. The method includes horizontal vanishing point determination, including estimating text baselines by means of eigenpoints of said pixel blobs and determining a horizontal vanishing point of said at least one text portion by means of said text baselines. The method also includes vertical vanishing point determination. A vertical vanishing point is determined for said at least one text portion on the basis of vertical features thereof. The method includes projective correction. Perspective in said image is corrected on the basis of said horizontal and vertical vanishing points.
US08913834B2

According to one embodiment, an electronic apparatus comprises (i) an image extraction module configured to extract representative images from a plurality of frames which constitute video content data, and to output time stamp information indicative of time points at which the extracted representative images appear, and (ii) an image list display process module configured to display a list of the extracted representative images on a two-dimensional display area. The area includes image display areas which are divided by columns, a plurality of time zones, and the image list display process module is configured to display, based on the time stamp information corresponding to each of the extracted representative images, the representative images, which belong to the time zone allocated to each column.
US08913832B2

The present invention relates to an electronic device that comprises a display and a method for such an electronic device. The method includes displaying a map that illustrates a plurality of streets and establishments that are situated on the streets. The method also includes receiving a character input in a character input area of the display and a gesture input outside the character input area of the display. One or more establishments associated with the character input is displayed on the map.
US08913817B2

A method for rib suppression in a chest x-ray image detects and labels one or more ribs in a region of interest and detects rib edges of the one or more detected ribs. Cross rib profiles are generated along the detected ribs. The original x-ray image is conditioned according to at least one of the detected rib edge and cross rib profiles. The conditioned x-ray image can be stored, displayed, or transmitted.
US08913814B2

A scanner is used for scanning an object (3, 4, 5), in particular a tooth or a plurality of teeth or a dental cast. The scanner (1) comprises a projector (2) for projecting a pattern (7) onto the object (3, 4, 5) and a camera which comprises a recording optics and an image sensor (18). To improve such scanner, the recording optics comprises a first imaging optics (9) and a second imaging optics (10).
US08913804B2

A tool for assisting in the planning or performing of electrical neuromodulation of a patient's spinal cord. The tool may have various functions and capabilities, including calculating a volume of activation, registering an electrode(s) shown in a radiologic image, constructing functional images of the patient's spinal anatomy, targeting of neuromodulation, finding a functional midline between multiple electrodes, determining the three-dimensional position of multiple electrodes, and/or accommodating for electrode migration. In certain embodiments, the tool can be embodied as computer software or a computer system.
US08913797B1

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, a technique is disclosed. The technique includes storing, at a computing device having one or more processors, a plurality of tagged photographs, each of the plurality of tagged photographs having one or more tags corresponding therewith, each of the one or more tags identifying a person in its corresponding tagged photograph. The technique further includes determining, a plurality of direct links between persons based on the plurality of tagged photographs. A direct link exists between a first person and a second person when the first and second persons are both tagged in at least one of the plurality of tagged photographs. The technique further includes a distance determination module that determines social distances between persons based on the determined direct links.
US08913794B2

When first input image and second input image are input to generate an interpolated image, based on search basis position of the interpolated image, correlation between a block based on the first image as reference and a block based on the second input image as reference is acquired to calculate a motion vector.
US08913791B2

Field of view overlap among multiple cameras is automatically determined as a function of the temporal overlap of object tracks determined within their fields-of-view. Object tracks with the highest similarity value are assigned into pairs, and portions of the assigned object track pairs having a temporally overlapping period of time are determined. Scene entry points are determined from object locations on the tracks at a beginning of the temporally overlapping period of time, and scene exit points from object locations at an ending of the temporally overlapping period of time. Boundary lines for the overlapping fields-of-view portions within the corresponding camera fields-of-view are defined as a function of the determined entry and exit points in their respective fields-of-view.
US08913775B2

Corded devices, such as headphones and power suppliers, can be stored in a case that reduces the tendency of their cords to tangle without the need for wrapping or winding.
US08913772B2

The ear speaker device includes a mount section that is provided with ear-hook sections, and rotation sections that rotate speaker movable sections with respect to the mount section. Tubular ducts are positioned more inside than the ear-hook sections in a natural state. When the ear speaker device is mounted, the speaker movable sections are rotated to the most outside positions. Then, the ear-hook sections are brought into contact with auricle base upper sections, respectively, and the speaker movable sections are rotated inwardly. In this manner, the tubular ducts can be positioned in the vicinity of the external acoustic meatus openings, respectively, of the listener without interfering with auricles and the like.
US08913770B2

A transcutaneous bone conduction system comprising a bone conduction device configured to vibrate in response to received sound. The system also comprises a totally implantable support apparatus positionable under a recipient's skin, comprising: a fixture configured to be implanted in the skull, and a substantially rigid cradle. The cradle has opposing, spaced plates connected by a bridge member, wherein a first of the plates is configured to be secured to the fixture and wherein the space between the plates is sufficient to receive the bone conduction device, and wherein the plates are configured to retain the bone conduction device against the skin proximate to the first plate.
US08913762B2

A capacitive transducer circuit comprises a capacitive transducer having first and second electrodes. The first and second electrodes are biased by respective first and second bias voltages. An amplifier is connected to receive a first analog signal on an input terminal, the first analog signal being generated by the capacitive transducer, and to generate a second analog signal on an output terminal. A digital feedback circuit is connected between the output terminal of the amplifier and the input terminal of the amplifier. The digital feedback circuit is configured to provide one of said first or second bias voltages. The output of a voltage source which provides the other bias voltage for the capacitive transducer may be filtered by a low pass filter. The low pass filter may comprise a switched capacitor filter circuit.
US08913761B2

Disclosed herein is a sound source recording apparatus and method adaptable to an operating environment, which can record a target sound source at a predetermined level without being affected by characteristics of the sound source or ambient noise. A target sound source is separated from a sound source signal received through an array of microphones and a recording sound pressure level and a gain are estimated using a reference sound pressure level and a reference distance for the target sound source, thereby controlling or adjusting the gain of the microphones.
US08913757B2

A system enhances spatialization in which spatial information about sound sources at an originating location is represented in an audio signal. The system applies a phase difference analysis to the signals received from an array of spaced apart input devices or microphones to derive spatial or directional information about the relative directions of one or more satellite input devices or microphones. The signals from the satellite input devices or microphones are mixed by a function of their respective directions to generate a multichannel output signal. When processed by a remote or local system, the output signal provides a representation of the relative directions of the sound sources at the originating location at a receiving location.
US08913749B2

A wireless communication apparatus may include a first module that stores a first key used to encrypt and decrypt communication contents, a second module that stores a second key used to encrypt and decrypt the first key, the first key being encrypted in accordance with a public key encryption scheme, and a connection bus that connects the first module and the second module to each other Each of the first module and the second module may include an encryption processing unit that encrypts and decrypts information, which is transmitted and received via the connection bus, by using a third key that is different from the first key and the second key.
US08913746B2

A method of commissioning wireless network devices in a communication network includes assigning a user-defined number to a wireless network device. The method further includes generating, by the wireless network device, an identification number based on the user-defined number using a first hashing algorithm, generating, by the wireless network device, an encryption key based on the user-defined number using a second hashing algorithm, and transmitting, by the wireless network device, a message that is encrypted using the encryption key for joining the wireless network device to the communication network. The user-defined number is to be provided by a user using an input device that is coupled to, or integral to, the wireless network device.
US08913745B2

A method for hindering detection of information unintentionally leaked from a secret held in a memory unit is described, the method including receiving a triggering event waiting for at least a first amount of time to pass after the receipt of the triggering event, the memory unit being in a non-operational state during the at least a first amount of time after the at least a first amount of time has passed, changing at least one first condition under which the memory unit operates, thereby causing the memory unit to enter an operational state, waiting for a second amount of time to pass after the changing at least one first condition, and changing, after the second amount of time, at least one second condition under which the memory unit operates, thereby causing the memory unit to enter the non-operational state, wherein access to the secret information is enabled only during the second amount of time, and detection of secret information unintentionally leaked is limited during the first amount of time. Related apparatus and methods are also described.
US08913740B2

An Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) key generation assist instruction is provided. The AES key generation assist instruction assists in generating round keys used to perform AES encryption and decryption operations. The AES key generation instruction operates independent of the size of the cipher key and performs key generation operations in parallel on four 32-bit words thereby increasing the speed at which the round keys are generated. This instruction is easy to use in software. Hardware implementation of this instruction removes potential threats of software (cache access based) side channel attacks on this part of the AES algorithm.
US08913733B2

Efficient telephone number mapping (ENUM) based call routing during area code splits is described. An ENUM domain management component can associate an ENUM domain name with multiple records when a numbering plan area code split links an old area code of a telephone number corresponding to the ENUM domain name with a new area code. An ENUM provisioning component can perform permissive dialing of the old and new area code during ENUM based call routing by utilizing the multiple records.
US08913730B2

A method of operation of a communication system includes: processing a communication event by a control module; identifying a contact list entry from the communication event; calculating an urgency based priority for the communication event; generating a pending communication list, having the urgency based priority for displaying on a display device; and generating a communication event indicator, for the contact list entry, having the largest instance of the urgency based priority from the pending communication list for displaying on the device.
US08913724B2

A method for assigning an alias telephone number to a long distance telephone number in connection with a pre-paid account, comprising obtaining from a user an account number, a long distance number and an originating call number; comparing said account number and long distance number against an alias number database to confirm that no local alias number has been assigned to said long distance number and account number combination; identifying from a pool of available local alias numbers a local alias number having the same area code, or an area code from the same calling area, as said originating telephone number; associating said available local alias number with said long distance number, said account number, and said originating telephone number; and sending a message to said user advising of the association of said local alias number with said long distance number, said call's originating telephone number, and said account number.
US08913723B2

In general, the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in methods, systems, and program products for receiving, at a server system of a social network and from a telephone service provider, information identifying members of a preferred calling group for a first user that is associated with the telephone provider. The sever system of the social network identifies the first user as a member of the social network. The server system of the social network identifies one or more of the members of the preferred calling group as being one or more members of the social network. The server system of the social network automatically defines a social network group that includes the one or more members of the preferred calling group who are members of the social network.
US08913719B2

An electron gun having: a cathode for emitting electrons; a first Wehnelt electrode equipped with a first aperture through which electrons are allowed to pass; and a second Wehnelt electrode that is equipped with a second aperture disposed at a predetermined position with respect to the cathode and the first aperture, and that is furnished at a position closer to the cathode than the first Wehnelt electrode, wherein: the cathode and the second Wehnelt electrode are included within a single assembly constituting a unitary body; and the assembly is detachably attached to the first Wehnelt electrode. Replacement of the cathode can be performed by detaching the cathode unit from the first Wehnelt electrode, and then ejecting the cathode unit out from the Wehnelt cover. The emitter of the cathode can thereby be reliably positioned with respect to the second aperture.
US08913716B2

A dose calculation tool operable to generate a variance map that represents a dose uncertainty. The variance map illustrates on a point-by-point basis where high uncertainty in the dose may exist and where low uncertainty in the dose may exist. The dose uncertainty is a result of an error in one or more data parameters related to a delivery parameter or a computational parameter.
US08913713B2

Radiographic images for different imaging directions taken by applying radiation to a subject from the different imaging directions are obtained, and a plurality of first tomographic images having a first slice thickness are generated based on the obtained plurality of radiographic images and a plurality of second tomographic images having a second slice thickness that is greater than the first slice thickness are generated based on the radiographic images. Then, MinIP processing is applied to the first tomographic images to generate a MinIP image, and MIP processing is applied to the second tomographic images to generate a MIP image. Then, combining processing is performed using the MinIP image and the MIP image to generate a composite image.
US08913712B2

There is provided an X-ray CT apparatus that allows easy and correct confirmation of which position a bed can be moved to and which region can be imaged. The X-ray CT apparatus performs imaging for obtaining a scanogram 301 (S101), displays the scanogram 301 (S102), and calculates a transversely movable region 304 (S103). Further, the X-ray CT apparatus inputs size of a bow tie filter 103 (S201), inputs a transverse movement destination of a bed 106 (S105), calculates an imageable region on the basis of the size of the bow tie filter and the transverse movement destination 302 (S202), and displays the imageable region 305 (S203).
US08913710B2

In accordance with at least some embodiments of the present disclosure, a process for enhancing an image is presented. The process may include receiving a first plurality of projections, wherein the first plurality of projections contain computed tomography (CT) data obtained in multiple motion phases and also image data attributable to a first portion of a scanned object. The process may include expanding the first plurality of projections to cover at least the first portion of the scanned object to generate a second plurality of projections. The process may further include generating a phase-correlated image based on a multi-phase image and a phase-correlated difference image, wherein the multi-phase image is reconstructed based on the second plurality of projections, and the phase-correlated difference image is reconstructed based on the first plurality of projections and the second plurality of projections.
US08913707B2

A photoneutron conversion target for generating photoneutrons by directing an x-ray beam at the photoneutron conversion target includes an elongated body having a first end and a second end. When the photoneutron conversion target is in use, the x-ray beam enters the body and propagates in a direction from the first end to the second end. The body of the photoneutron conversion target is shaped such that propagation of the x-ray beam is substantially proportionate to an intensity distribution of the x-ray beam, so that the greater an intensity of x-rays of the x-ray beam, the greater the propagation distance of the x-rays within the body of the photoneutron conversion target. The photoneutron conversion target according to the invention can make full use of the x-ray beam so as to increase a yield of photoneutrons.
US08913706B2

A circuit for producing one of a plurality of output clock frequencies from a single, constant input reference clock frequency. The circuit comprises a reference clock system and a phase lock loop. The reference clock system includes a bypass path, a divider path including a first integer divider, and a multiplexer. A divisor of the first integer divider is based on a selected communications protocol of a group of possible communications protocols. The multiplexer is configured to route the bypass path or the divider path based on the selected communications protocol. The phase lock loop includes a voltage controlled oscillator and a feedback path. The feedback path includes a second integer divider. A divisor of the second integer divider is based on the selected communications protocol. The reference clock system is configured to receive a constant reference clock frequency. The voltage controlled oscillator is configured to produce one of a plurality of output clock frequencies corresponding to the selected communications protocol. The selected output clock frequency is produced based on at least one of the routing of the multiplexer, the divisor of the first integer divider, and the divisor of the second integer divider.
US08913700B1

A method includes, in a mobile communication terminal, receiving downlink signals from at least two antennas. A signal covariance matrix for the received signals is calculated. Each diagonal element of the signal covariance matrix is enlarged by a respective antenna-specific value that depends on a respective antenna associated with the diagonal element. Equalizer coefficients are computed based on the signal covariance matrix having the enlarged diagonal elements. The received downlink signals are equalized using the equalizer coefficients.
US08913698B2

The invention described herein is directed to different embodiments of a wireless communications device that can be used in many different applications, such as but not limited to a digital oversampling receiver adapted to select desired signals and to reject undesired signals. In one embodiment, a wireless communications device is disclosed that comprises an architecture for a receiver front end that obviates the need for high order passive circuitry or RC active circuitry to select desired signals and to reject undesired signals.
US08913683B2

CSI may be provided for a first device communicating with a second device over a MIMO channel using codewords of a precoding codebook. The first and/or second devices support communications over the MIMO channel using a plurality of transmission layers, and the codewords of the precoding codebook are divided into transmission layer groups. Each transmission layer group is provided for a respective one of the transmission layers. At least first and second pluralities of codewords of the precoding codebook are defined. Each of the first and second pluralities includes codewords from each of the transmission layer groups. During a first TTI, respective performance metrics for the first plurality of codewords are determined based on transmissions received at the first device. During a second TTI, respective performance metrics for the second plurality of codewords are determined based on transmissions received at the first device.
US08913682B2

A mobile station configured to receive transmissions from a two-dimensional array of antennas at a base station is provided. A main processor of the mobile station is configured to estimate first and second channel states and determine a co-phasing scalar component for each of multiple groups of antennas in the array based on the first channel state. The main processor is configured to generate a matrix X that includes a plurality of column vectors selected from a codebook based on the second channel state, generate a matrix P1, wherein the matrix P1 is a block diagonal matrix having the matrix X for each block diagonal element, and generate a matrix P2. The main processor is also configured to transmit to the base station information corresponding to the matrix P1 and to the matrix P2, as well as a CQI that is derived with a precoding matrix P defined by P=P1P2.
US08913678B2

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for initiating a multiple input multiple output (MIMO) communication. The method and apparatus includes processing that begins by transmitting a frame formatted in accordance with a default MIMO active transmitter-receiver antenna configuration to a target receiver. The processing continues by receiving at least one response frame from the target receiver. The processing continues by determining a number of receiver antennas of the target receiver from the at least one response frame.
US08913668B2

A perceptual mechanism for residue selection in a video encoder may be provided. The mechanism may comprise a method, system, or device for receiving video frames comprising pluralities of pixels. For each video frame, a sensitivity threshold may be determined for each pixel of a previous video frame. The pixels of the video frame may compared in turn to the pixels of the previous video frame to determine a residue value. The residue value may be compared to the sensitivity threshold such that when the residue value is less than the sensitivity threshold, the pixel data in the video frame may be zeroed out prior to encoding the video frame for transmission.
US08913667B2

Video decoding system having a programmable variable-length decoding accelerator. The system includes a decoder processor and a variable-length decoding accelerator. The variable-length decoding accelerator is coupled to the decoder processor and performs variable-length decoding operations on variable-length code in the video data stream. The variable-length decoding accelerator is capable of decoding variable-length code according to any of a plurality of decoding methods. In one embodiment, the variable-length decoder includes a plurality of code tables stored in memory and a code table selection register that is programmable to dictate which of the plurality of code tables is to be utilized to decode variable-length code. In one embodiment, the decoding system includes two variable-length decoding accelerators.
US08913666B2

This disclosure describes techniques for performing entropy encoding and decoding of video coefficients using a joint context model shared between transform units having different sizes. For example, the joint context model may be shared between transform units having a first size of 32×32 and transform units having a second size of 16×16. Performing entropy coding using a joint context model shared between transform units having different sizes may reduce an amount of memory necessary to store contexts and probabilities, and reduce computational costs of maintaining context models. In one example, the joint context model may be shared between transform units having the first size with coefficients zeroed out to generate a retained coefficient block having the second size and transform units having the second size. In another example, the joint context model may be shared between transform units having the first size and transform units having the second size.
US08913652B2

Embodiments include methods, systems, and apparatuses capable of dynamically and adaptively operating on wideband signals. Examples include state variable filters whose center frequencies can be tuned using variable gain blocks coupled to outputs of filter integrators. First- and second-order state variable filters may operate on signals in parallel and their outputs combined to produce a filtered output. Filters may be tuned to pass or reject signals depending on the application; sample applications include, but are not limited to: agile filtering; spectrum analysis; interference detection and rejection; equalization; direct intermediate-frequency transmission; and single-sideband modulation and demodulation.
US08913647B2

A method of receiving and reassembling non-sequential meta-data information embedded within an original burst carrier signal that receives multiple composite burst carrier signals each with an original burst carrier signal and a meta-carrier signal, wherein the meta-carrier signal occupies at least a portion of a bandwidth of the original burst carrier signal and includes one or more bits of meta-data information of a meta-data message about the original burst carrier signal that is non-contiguous in reference to a temporal order in which the meta-data information is received, detecting a DSSS spreading sequence and extracting the meta-carrier signals from the composite burst carrier signals, determining a phase progression of the meta-carrier signals based on a PRN spreading code, and reassembling the one or more bits of meta-data information from each meta-carrier signal into a sequential order after an entire meta-data message is received and extracted.
US08913645B2

The invention relates to a laser cavity with central extraction by polarisation for coherent coupling of intense intra-cavity beams. The laser cavity (1) according to the invention comprises an extraction unit (7) with central extraction, which divides the laser cavity (1) longitudinally into two functional portions (P1, P2), namely a first portion (P1) including the active components (3), which amplifies the laser beams (4), and a second portion (P2) which performs coherent coupling of the laser beams (4).
US08913641B2

A method for producing a laser device comprising: a semiconductor laser (1) which is configured to emit a laser beam; (2), and a lens (3) which is position-adjusted relative to the semiconductor laser (1), wherein the lens (3) is firstly shifted perpendicularly to the expansion direction of the laser beam (2) and is consequently penetrated by the laser beam (2), wherein the optical axis of the lens (3) lies parallel to the expansion direction of the laser beam (2), and the lens (3) is then fastened to a lens holder (5) by a joining connection (4) by flowing material, which solidifies in order to form the joining connection, such that the mobility of the lens (3) perpendicular to the expansion direction of the laser beam (2) is blocked.
US08913628B2

A method (600) for controlling access to a wireless medium in a network. The method comprises dividing an access time to the wireless medium into fixed and repeated time rounds (300), wherein each time round includes a plurality of superframes (310) and each superframe includes a fixed number of time slots (420) (S610); allocating a global beacon period (530) within a time round (S620); and reserving subframes (410) within each superframe (300), wherein master devices can access the wireless medium at least during the reserved subframes (S630).
US08913615B2

A shared network interface controller (NIC) interfaces a plurality of operating system domains as part of the load-store architecture of the operating system domains. A bus interface couples the NIC to a load-store domain bus (such as PCI-Express), using header information to associate data on the bus with an originating operating system domain. Transmit/receive logic connects the NIC to the network. Association logic allows the NIC to designate, and later lookup which destination MAC address (on the Ethernet side) is associated with which operating system domain. Descriptor register files and Control Status Registers (CSR's) specific to an operating system domain are duplicated and made available for each domain. Several direct memory access (DMA) engines are provided to improve throughput. Packet replication logic, filters (perfect and hash) and VLAN tables are used for looping back packets originating from one operating system domain to another and other operations.
US08913610B2

The invention discloses a network aggregation system, apparatus and method for creating aggregated network connections to provide high availability and increased throughput where the plurality of network connections may possess diverse physical and logical characteristics. Increased throughput on the aggregated network connection equals the sum of the available throughput on the aggregated network connections. Aggregation is performed in a transparent fashion, independent of any physical or logical characteristics of the individual connections. Network connectivity over the aggregated connection is managed such that the loss or gain of connectivity in an individual connection among the aggregated group does not result in the loss of data from the data stream aggregation device.
US08913606B2

Disclosed are a communication system, a communication device, a communication method, and a program all for preventing disconnection of communication during re-transmission in response to an automatic repeat request in a confirmation mode. The communication system is provided with a first communication device including data transmitting means and data re-transmitting means and a second communication device connected to the first communication device and including data receiving means for receiving data transmitted from the first communication device and data re-transmission requesting means for requesting re-transmission of data not normally received by the data receiving means. The data receiving means determines whether or not the re-transmission data requested by the data re-transmission requesting means will be re-transmitted from the first communication device.
US08913603B2

Methods and systems for automatic time-based routing rule administration are disclosed. According to one method, routing data for routing messages between a source address and a destination address is stored in a network routing table. A time period is associated with the routing data based on agreements between service providers. Messages are routed between the service providers during the time period. Outside of the time period, routing of messages between the source address and the destination address is automatically inhibited.
US08913601B1

A programmable integrated circuit is disclosed. The programmable integrated circuit comprises a plurality of circuit blocks, each circuit block of the plurality of circuit blocks comprising configurable blocks; and a routing network coupled to each circuit block of the plurality of circuit blocks, the routing network enabling asynchronous data communication with the plurality of circuit blocks. Each circuit block comprises an interface portion having routing circuits coupled to the routing network, the routing circuits enabling routing data to the configurable blocks of the circuit block. A method of asynchronously routing data in a circuit block of an integrated circuit is also disclosed.
US08913597B2

A cyclic prioritized multiple access method is disclosed which includes Fixed Deterministic Post-Backoff. Fixed deterministic post-backoff reduces conflicts between access points of overlapping cells. Contention-free sessions can be generated, one from each overlapping cell. Each active access point engages in a fixed deterministic post-backoff. A fixed deterministic backoff delay (Bkoff times a fixed number of idle time slots) is used by all access points, with the value of Bkoff being greater than the number of overlapping cells. The Bkoff should be large enough to enable the traffic that needs to be accommodated by the channel. Each access point has a backoff timer that is counted down using the shortest interframe space possible. A contention-free session is initiated when the backoff timer expires, and it is then reset to the value of Bkoff to start a new cycle.
US08913596B2

A method of regulating sending of data packets, implemented by a station having at least one data packet to be sent via a wireless communication network, includes at least one step of obtaining a binary value representative either of an authorization to send, or of a prohibition to send, a step of sending the packet, the sending step being executed on condition that at least one criterion relating to the binary value or values obtained is satisfied, where the binary value or values are dependent on an index value assigned randomly to the station and a class of packets to which the packet to be sent belongs.
US08913595B2

An apparatus for enriching data records based on messages monitored on a telecommunications network having an Internet Protocol (IP) portion includes a data record enrichment module for receiving data records from a data record builder. The data records include at least a subscriber identifier field and a handset type identifier field and the data enrichment module stores a table mapping subscriber identifiers with the handset type identifiers. When a received data record includes a subscriber identifier and a handset type identifier, the table is updated appropriately and when the received data record includes the subscriber identifier but does not include the handset type identifier, the data record enrichment module checks the table for the handset type identifier mapped to the subscriber identifier and adds the corresponding handset type identifier, if it is present in the table, to the handset type identifier field in the data record.
US08913593B2

A serving base station transmits a message to one or more target base station in response to a handover decision for a wireless device supporting beamforming and multiple carrier configurations. The message includes a plurality of measurement configuration parameters for the wireless device. The serving base station receives a response from at least one of the target base stations. The serving base station transmits a handover command to the wireless device subsequent to receiving the response message.
US08913591B2

According to one embodiment, a mobile communication device is provided comprising a determiner configured to determine at least one of a geographical position of the mobile communication device within a first mobile radio cell in which the mobile communication device is located and a movement direction of the mobile communication device; a selector configured to select, based on at least one of the determined geographical position and the determined movement direction, from a plurality of second mobile radio cells at least one second mobile radio cell for a radio link performance measurement (RLPM); and a measuring circuit configured to measure the performance of a radio link between the mobile communication device and a base station operating the at least one selected second mobile radio cell.
US08913590B2

Disclosed herein is a method of managing a hybrid network including a cellular network and a local network wherein a number of dual mode mobile terminals are connectable to a base station of the cellular network through a direct cellular link and are also connectable, one with respect to the other, through the local network by a radio access technique. The method includes the steps of computing a cost associated with a direct connection established along a path (A) extending from a selected mobile terminal to the base station through the cellular link only, computing a cost (Ccg) associated with at least one indirect connection established along a path (B) extending from the selected mobile terminal to the base station through the local network and the cellular network, and selecting for data transmission the path that minimizes the cost.
US08913589B2

A service control method for a machine type communications device and a related apparatus and system are disclosed. The service control method for the machine type communications device may include: receiving, by an access-network network element, a service request message from a core-network network element, where the service request message carries device type indication information of a user equipment (UE), and the device type indication information of the UE is used to indicate whether the UE is a machine type communications device; determining a device type of the UE according to the device type indication information of the UE; and if a current load of the access-network network element exceeds a set threshold, determining, according to the device type of the UE, whether to execute a service operation corresponding to the service request message.
US08913576B2

A method and an apparatus are provided for transmitting and receiving control information in wireless communication system. An eNB generates control information, and transmits the control information using at least one enhanced Control Channel Element (eCCE) and at least one antenna port. The at least one antenna port is determined according to at least one of a starting index of the at least one eCCE and an aggregation level of the at least one eCCE.
US08913572B2

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a radio self-backhaul method, device, and system in an evolved network. With the radio self-backhaul method, device, and system provided in the embodiments of the present invention, the NodeB sends the uplink data to the core network by using the cable transmission link without occupying the radio resources of other NodeBs. This implements the radio self-backhaul for the NodeB, saves the radio transmission resources of the NodeB, and mitigates the impact on the radio network throughput.
US08913565B2

A method in a user equipment for requesting that a base station schedule the user equipment for an uplink data transmission to the base station is provided. The user equipment comprises a buffer. Directly or indirectly responsive to receiving data into the buffer to be transmitted to the base station, the user equipment generates a scheduling request trigger. The scheduling request trigger is configured to trigger the sending of a scheduling request to the base station if the trigger is pending at the next scheduling request opportunity, and to remain pending until it is cancelled. The user equipment cancels the pending scheduling request trigger when the data is accounted for in a buffer status report, which reports the size of the buffer to the base station, or when the data is included directly in a scheduled uplink data transmission whichever occurs first.
US08913551B2

The embodiments of the invention provide a method for selecting antennas for date transmission in a wireless communication network including user equipment (UE). The network is assigned a band of frequencies, wherein the band is partitioned into at least one set of subbands of the band according to a sounding reference signal (SRS) bandwidth configuration in a form of a codetree having a plurality levels and each level is associated with a partition coefficient. The UE is configured to transmit frequency-hopped SRS on the set of subbands using subsets of the set of antennas. First, the method determines if a number of subbands in the set of the subbands is odd or even based on the SRS bandwidth configuration, and selects a particular subset of the antennas according to whether the number is odd or even. Then, the SRS is transmitted from the particular subset of the antennas.
US08913546B2

Resource blocks associated with communication devices can be managed. A mobile device(s) at cell edge identifies its in-use resource blocks (RBs) to a neighbor base station, or in-use RBs of a neighbor base station to the serving base station. In the former instance, the neighbor base station sorts RBs in ascending order based on signal strengths respectively associated with the RBs and mobile devices; in the latter instance, the serving base station ranks RBs in ascending order based on signal strengths respectively associated with the RBs and neighbor base stations. RBs having weakest signal strength are reused first for mobile devices at cell edge. Base station establishes a direct wireless radio path with another base station facilitated by employing a sequence of subframes where all subframes but a specified subframe are blanked, and data is transmitted between base stations during the specified subframe.
US08913541B2

A system that processes single stream multicast data includes multiple queues, a dequeue engine, and/or a queue control engine. The queues temporarily store data. At least one of the queues stores single stream multicast data. A multicast count is associated with the single stream multicast data and corresponds to a number of destinations to which the single stream multicast data is to be sent. The dequeue engine dequeues data from the queues. If the data corresponds to the single stream multicast data, the dequeue engine examines the multicast count associated with the single stream multicast data and dequeues the single stream multicast data based on the multicast count. The queue control engine examines one of the queues to determine whether to drop data from the queue and marks the data based on a result of the determination.
US08913538B2

A method of receiving multimedia broadcast/multicast service (MBMS) information by a user equipment (UE) in a cell-based wireless communication system is provided. The method includes receiving information regarding a second cell from a first cell over a first channel, and receiving the MBMS information from the second cell over a second channel based on the received information regarding the second cell. Information regarding a cell that transmits multimedia broadcast/multicast service (MBMS) information is obtained from a cell that does not transmit the MBMS information, thereby eventually receiving the MBMS information. Therefore, an overhead caused by broadcasting of unnecessary MBMS control information can be reduced.
US08913537B2

A control scheme using packet headers allows GSM EDGE Radio Access Network (GERAN) systems to increase spectral efficiency through multiplexing techniques, such as superposition coding, multi-user packet transmission, joint detection, and/or joint decoding. A fast feedback scheme for GERAN allows Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) frames to be transmitted over GERAN air interfaces without excessive feedback latency. As a result, Hybrid Automatic Repeat-reQuest (H-ARQ) acknowledgements may be timely provided for end-to-end VoIP calls that traverse GERAN air interfaces. Additionally, Incremental Redundancy H-ARQ and link quality feedback latencies are decreased.
US08913536B2

The present invention provides a DRX control method and system in which power consumption of a mobile station can be reduced and an increase in the load of a network can be suppressed. A source base station forwards Dormancy Context, which is information for controlling the activity level of a mobile station that performs inter base station handover, to a target base station and, immediately after the mobile station completes handover, the target base station performs DRX control of the mobile station using the Dormancy Context.
US08913534B2

A method and network element for sending a transition indication to transition a user equipment to a different state or mode, the method receiving a configuration message from a network; and transmitting a transition indication from the user equipment, the transition indication only includes a cause if the configuration message contains an inhibit transition indication. Also, a method and user equipment for processing a transitioning indication from a user equipment indicating the user equipment desires a transition to a different state or mode, the method comprising: receiving the transition indication from the user equipment; if the transition indication contains a cause: releasing a signaling connection of the user equipment or transitioning the user equipment to a different state or mode; and if the transition indication does not contain the cause: releasing the signaling connection.
US08913531B2

A method of transmitting subframe designating information in downlink in a wireless communication system is disclosed. The present invention includes generating the subframe designating information for designating a subframe of a specific type in a radio frame and transmitting the generated subframe designating information to a user equipment, wherein the subframe designating information includes initial location information indicating an initial location of the subframe of the specific type on the radio frame and period information indicating a period for the subframe of the specific type to be repeated.
US08913527B2

Suitably arranged circuits located on a die surface of respective multiple dies are operatively connected via a physical link, which is configured for full-duplex operation. Data information content is transferred between the operatively connected suitably arranged circuits via the full-duplex physical link which is configured as a fragmented data interconnected (FDI) physical link allowing peer-to-peer operation and pipelining. The data information content is carried in data fragments by a self-contained data packet structure. In one embodiment a device comprises a first suitably arranged and configured circuit located on a die surface, a second suitably arranged and configured circuit located on a die surface and a full-duplex physical link arranged and configured for operatively connecting the first circuit located on the die surface to the second circuit located on the die surface for transferring data information content between the first circuit and the second circuit.
US08913521B2

Disclosed are a method and an apparatus for measuring distances between nodes. According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, N or more nodes among a plurality of nodes located in a network are randomly selected, n-dimensions (where N>n and n≧1) are formed by using the randomly selected N or more nodes, coordinates of other nodes are determined in the formed n-dimensional spaces by using distances between the randomly selected N or more nodes and other nodes, and distances between the plurality of nodes located in the network are calculated by using the determined coordinates. According to the present invention, the distance between nodes located in a network may be more effectively measured.
US08913511B2

Techniques for performing interference management to support peer-to-peer (P2P) communication in a wide area network (WAN) are described. In an aspect, interference management may be performed in a coordinated manner for/by a set of server nodes, which may include a P2P server and at least one neighbor server node of the P2P server. The P2P server may be a UE communicating peer-to-peer with at least one other UE or P2P client. Interference management may be performed for the set of server nodes to reduce interference to the P2P server and/or the at least one P2P client. In one design, active sets may be determined for UEs. The active set of each UE may include nodes received with sufficient strength by that UE. The set of server nodes may be determined based on the active sets of the P2P server, the at least one P2P client, and possibly other UEs.
US08913510B2

Embodiments of systems and methods for providing collision detection in a wider bandwidth are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
US08913504B2

A system and method for initiating testing of a plurality of communication devices. The tester and devices under test (DUTs) are first synchronized as a way of confirming test readiness on the part of the DUTs, Following that, a test sequence is initiated by the tester. The synchronization and test initiation can be accomplished using signals with differing signal magnitudes or device identifiers. The test sequence can be a DUT transmit signal test in which each DUT transmits data packets in accordance with one or more predefined test sequences. Alternatively, the test sequence can be a DUT receive signal test in which the tester transmits data packets to the DUTs with differing signal frequencies or signal magnitudes.
US08913499B2

A bandwidth monitoring device for use in a network for transferring priority packets in preference to non priority packets as far as the amount of the priority packets is within a contract bandwidth established between a network user and a network operator, comprising a bandwidth check result decision unit for detecting whether the bandwidth of the priority packets is less than the contract bandwidth, and a DSCP decision unit for determining that a non priority packet may be transferred as a priority packet when the bandwidth of the priority packets is less than the contract bandwidth thereby to sufficiently use the contract bandwidth.
US08913498B2

Technologies are generally described for a priority assigning scheme considering a type of data traffic. In some examples, a method may include analyzing a request for data traffic, determining a type of the data traffic, and assigning priority based on the type of the data traffic.
US08913490B1

In one example, a network device includes a hardware-based processor, and a Resource Reservation Protocol with Traffic Engineering extensions (RSVP-TE) module executing on the hardware-based processor that establishes a plurality of label switched paths (LSPs) having the network device as a common transit network device. The network device presents a plurality of options for selection, which each specify a different algorithm for selecting LSPs to evict from the link. In response to detecting an over-subscription condition on a link along the plurality of LSPs, the RSVP-TE module selects a subset of the plurality of LSPs to evict from the link, and the RSVP-TE module outputs an error message to one or more ingress network devices associated with the selected subset of LSPs without outputting an error message to the ingress network devices associated with those LSPs not selected for eviction.
US08913480B2

It is possible to provide a radio communication terminal device and a radio transmission method which can improve reception performance of a CQI and a reference signal. A phase table storage unit stores a phase table which correlates the amount of cyclic shift to complex coefficients {w1, W2} to be multiplied on the reference signal. A complex coefficient multiplication unit reads out a complex coefficient corresponding to the amount of cyclic shift indicated by resource allocation information, from the phase table storage unit and multiplies the read-out complex coefficient on the reference signal so as to change the phase relationship between the reference signals in a slot.
US08913475B2

A data detecting device includes a multi-input adaptive equalizer, a binarizing unit, and an equalization error calculating unit. The multi-input adaptive equalizer includes a plurality of adaptive equalizers and outputs a reproduction information signal from a target track and a reproduction information signal from a close track close to the target track as equalization signals by calculating outputs of the adaptive equalizers, the reproduction information signals being input to the adaptive equalizers, respectively as reproduction information signals. The binarizing unit obtains binarized data by performing a binarization process on the equalization signals. The equalization error calculating unit obtains an equalization error from an equalization target signal obtained from the binarization result of the binarizing unit and an equalization signal output from the multi-input adaptive equalizer, and supplies the equalization error as a tap coefficient control signal for equalization to the adaptive equalizers.
US08913466B2

An electronic timepiece with internal antenna maintains sufficiently high reception performance of circularly polarized waves even when having a metal external case. A drive unit of the timepiece counts a time inside the external case. An antenna has a tubular-shaped side part, a bottom part that covers one of two openings of the side part, and a top part that contacts an inside surface of the side part inside the external case. The bottom part is a back cover of the external case, and the top part has a slot part.
US08913462B2

Methods and apparatuses are disclosed for generating three dimensional (3D) vertical seismic profiles (VSPs) in a more time efficient manner. The methods and apparatuses enable faster and more efficient VSP surveys than previous techniques. Real-time updating of the velocity model and real-time reflection point density calculations are carried out, which are used to determine the location of the next seismic source firing. In the event the data of a particular bin has an insufficient fold, common image points (CIPs) or reflection point density, additional source firings may be carried out prior to moving the source. Further, in the event the data of a particular bin is excessive in terms of the fold, CIPs or reflection point density before the planned source firings for the bin are completed, remaining source firings for that bin may be skipped to save time and improve the efficiency of the data collection.
US08913450B2

A memory device is provided including a cell array and a volatile storage device. The cell array may include a plurality of word lines, a plurality of bit lines, wherein a selection of a word line and bit line defines a memory cell address, and a non-volatile reserved word line for storing configuration information for the cell array. The volatile storage device is coupled to the cell array. The configuration information from the non-volatile reserved word line is copied to the volatile storage device upon power-up or initialization of the memory device.
US08913432B2

Programming accuracy is increased for select gate transistors and memory cells by using a dynamic verify voltage which increases from an initial level to a final level during a programming operation. Faster-programming transistors are locked out from programming before slower-programming transistors, but experience program disturb which increases their threshold voltage to a common level with the slower-programming transistors at the conclusion of the programming operation. For programming of memory cells to different target data states, an offset between the initial and final verify levels can be different for each data state. In one approach, the offset is greater for lower target data states. The increases in the dynamic verify voltage can be progressively smaller with each subsequent program-verify iteration of the programming operation. The start of the increase can be adapted to the programming progress or can be at a predetermined program-verify iteration.
US08913428B2

A system and methods for programming a set of data onto non-volatile memory elements, maintaining copies of the data pages to be programmed, as well as surrounding data pages, internally or externally to the memory circuit, verifying programming correctness after programming, and upon discovering programming error, recovering the safe copies of the corrupted data to be reprogrammed in alternative non-volatile memory elements. Additionally, a system and methods for programming one or more sets of data across multiple die of a non-volatile memory system, combining data pages across the multiple die by means such as the XOR operation prior to programming the one or more sets of data, employing various methods to determine the correctness of programming, and upon identifying data corruption, recovering safe copies of data pages by means such as XOR operation to reprogram the pages in an alternate location on the non-volatile memory system.
US08913424B2

Magnetic memory cell comprising two conductors and a magnetic storage element between the two conductors, wherein a magnetic enhancement layer (MEL) is provided in the proximity of at least along a partial length of at least one of the two conductors. The MEL is for enhancing a magnetic field in the element when the two conductors are energized. Methods for operation and fabrication process for the memory cell are also disclosed. The memory cell is particularly for use in magnetic random access memory (MRAM) circuits, when using magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) stacks as the magnetic storage elements.
US08913419B2

A semiconductor memory device in which capacitance of a capacitor is lower and integration degree is higher. A plurality of memory blocks is connected to one bit line BL_m. A memory block MB_n_m includes a sub bit line SBL_n_m, a write switch, and a plurality of memory cells. A sub bit line SBL_n+1_m adjacent to the sub bit line SBL_n_m is connected to an amplifier circuit AMP_n/n+1_m including two inverters and two selection switches. A circuit configuration of the amplifier circuit can be changed with the selection switches. The amplifier circuit is connected to the bit line BL_m through a read switch. Because of a sufficiently low capacitance of the sub bit line SBL_n_m, potential change due to electric charges of the capacitor in each memory cell can be amplified by the amplifier circuit AMP_n/n+1_m without an error, and the amplified data can be output to the bit line BL_m.
US08913414B2

A semiconductor apparatus may include a plurality of through-semiconductor chip lines which pass through a plurality of stacked semiconductor chips. An uppermost semiconductor chip among the plurality of stacked semiconductor chips is configured to transfer its internal information signal to an assigned corresponding through-semiconductor chip line, and at least one semiconductor chip other than the uppermost semiconductor chip is configured to logically combine respective internal information signals transferred through through-semiconductor chip lines and their internal information signals and sequentially transfer resultant signals to assigned corresponding through-semiconductor chip lines. The at least one semiconductor chip other than the uppermost semiconductor chip logically combines the internal information signals transferred through the through-semiconductor chip lines from adjoining semiconductor chips and its internal information signals.
US08913412B1

A content addressable memory (CAM) device having any number of rows, each of the rows including a match line connected to a plurality of CAM cells, a match line detector circuit, and an incremental match line charge circuit. The detector circuit generates a feedback signal based on a detected match line voltage. The charge circuit partially pre-charges the match line to an intermediate voltage during a pre-charge phase of a compare operation, and then selectively charges the match line higher towards a supply voltage in response to the feedback signal.
US08913407B2

An example controller for a primary side control power converter includes a feedback circuit, a driver circuit, and an adjustable voltage reference circuit. The feedback circuit compares a feedback signal representative of a bias winding voltage of the power converter with a voltage reference. The driver circuit outputs a switching signal having a switching period to control a switch to regulate an output of the power converter in response to the feedback signal and enables or disables a switching period based on the output of the feedback circuit. The adjustable voltage reference circuit adjusts the voltage reference by a first amount in response to a first number of disabled switching periods indicating a first load condition at the output of the power converter and by a second amount in response to a second number of disabled switching periods indicating a second load condition at the output of the power converter.
US08913406B2

A power conversion system includes a shared output bus and a plurality of power conversion units coupled to the shared output bus. Each power conversion unit includes a power converter having a converter output coupled to the shared output bus and a delay generator that generates a start-up delay for the power converter if a pre-bias value of a bus voltage on the shared output bus is greater than a predefined threshold. Each power conversion unit also includes a voltage controller that controls the converter output subsequent to the start-up delay and maintains a current sourcing condition of the converter output during start-up of the power converter. The power conversion system also includes a load that is coupled to the shared output bus. A method of operating a power conversion unit is also provided.
US08913392B1

A lockable infrastructure includes a frame assembly, including a first portion of an electrical connector, configured for use within an IT infrastructure. A module assembly, including a second portion of the electrical connector, is configured to be removably positionable within the frame assembly. An indication system is configured to visually indicate the position of the module assembly within the frame assembly.
US08913385B2

A cooling system comprises an electronics module and a duct. The electronics module produces more heat at a first location than at a second location, and is rated to a safe operating temperature. The duct surrounds the electronics module, and has a shaped baffle with a constricted region near the first location and an open region near the second location. The expanded region has greater cross-sectional flow area than the constricted region. Airflow through the duct cools both the first location and the second location to within an efficiency margin below the safe operating temperature.
US08913379B2

A telecommunications chassis includes an array of mezzanine card interfaces and a carrier module coupled to the mezzanine card interfaces to control and manage mezzanine cards connected to the mezzanine card interfaces.
US08913368B2

A three-dimensional network aluminum porous body in which the amount of aluminum forming a skeleton of the three-dimensional network aluminum porous body is uneven in the thickness direction, and a current collector and an electrode each using the aluminum porous body, and a manufacturing method thereof. In such a sheet-shaped three-dimensional network aluminum porous body for a current collector, the amount of aluminum forming a skeleton of the three-dimensional network aluminum porous body is uneven in the thickness direction. For example, in the case where a cross section in the thickness direction of the three-dimensional network aluminum porous body is divided into three regions of a region 1, a region 2 and a region 3 in this order, each region is configured so that the average of the amounts of aluminum in the region 1 and the region 3 differs from the amount of aluminum in the region 2.
US08913366B1

A Virtual Photon Energy Amplification circuit for harnessing force or electrical energy from virtual photons existing in a quantum state by means of a discrete electric field circuit and a discrete magnetic field circuit having a capacitor transformer circuitry arrangement therein.
US08913365B2

A circuit breaker, including: a circuit breaker body and a circuit control board; the circuit breaker body comprising a box body, and a circuit breaker actuating mechanism used for switching the on/off state of the circuit breaker, a wire inlet end, and a wire outlet end arranged in the box body. An automatic closing control unit is arranged on the circuit control board, and the circuit breaker actuating mechanism operates through an electrical operating mechanism under the condition of controlling a motor; the automatic closing control unit includes: a power collection subunit obtaining a power signal from a phase line and conducting rectifying and filtering; and a motor motion control subunit obtaining the power signal, allowing the motor to move after receiving the closing command, and ultimately realizing the closing action of the circuit breaker actuating mechanism.
US08913362B2

A mixed-voltage circuit employs a higher-voltage transistor in series connection with a lower-voltage transistor. To protect the lower-voltage transistor from transient overvoltage events, a series of one or more diodes is connected between the current terminals (i.e., the source and drain terminals) of the lower-voltage transistor so as to limit the voltage across the lower-voltage transistor. This diode protection mechanism also may be provided between the gate terminal and a current terminal of the lower-voltage transistor so as to protect against an overvoltage event at the gate of the lower-voltage transistor. In this manner, the mixed-voltage circuit can provide the performance benefits of mixed use of lower-voltage and higher-voltage transistors while reducing the risk of damaging the lower-voltage transistors due to the use of the higher-voltage power supply needed for operation of the mixed-voltage circuit.
US08913348B2

A suspension board with circuit includes a metal supporting layer, an insulating base layer formed on the metal supporting layer, a conductive layer formed on the insulating base layer, and a slider supported on the metal supporting layer via a pedestal. The conductive layer includes a conductive overlapping portion which overlaps a plane on which the slider is projected when projected in a thickness direction. The conductive overlapping portion is provided to be spaced apart from the slider.
US08913344B1

An apparatus includes a fluid dynamic bearing and means for dynamically adjusting the stiffness or damping of the fluid dynamic bearing.
US08913342B1

A data storage device is disclosed comprising a disk, a head, and a microactuator configured to actuate the head over the disk. The data storage device further comprises control circuitry comprising a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) configured to generate a control signal applied to the microactuator. The control circuitry measures an operating temperature and then adjusts a range of the DAC based on the measured operating temperature.
US08913339B2

Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for data processing. For example, a data processing system is discussed that includes: an analog to digital converter circuit, a data detector circuit, a filter circuit, an error generation circuit, and a target parameter adaptation circuit. The analog to digital converter circuit converts an analog input into corresponding digital samples. The data detector circuit applies a data detection algorithm to a data set derived from the digital samples to yield a detected output. The filter circuit convolves the detected output with a target parameter to yield a target output. The error generation circuit calculates an error value based on the digital samples and the target output. The target parameter adaptation circuit updates the target parameter based at least in part on the error value.
US08913335B2

Shingled magnetic recording (SMR) devices according to embodiments of the invention include unshingled cache regions that can be used for storage of data. The unshingled cache regions can be used in a variety of flexible ways including in an implementation of write-twice caching or for opportunistic temporary storage to improve performance. The cache regions can be offset between top and bottom surfaces of the disk and staggered between disks to provide shorter seek times to the nearest cache region. Embodiments of the invention are adapted for use with symmetric or asymmetric heads.
US08913326B2

A zoom lens assembly may enlarge/reduce an image without shifting a position of a lens set. A housing, a zoom lens unit and a drive unit may be provided. The zoom lens unit may include a plurality of lenses stationarily arranged within the housing by being spaced apart in prescribed distance from each other along an optic axis. The plurality of the lenses respectively have variable refractive indexes without a position shift. The drive unit may pressurize a prescribed one of the lenses to vary the refractive index of the prescribed lens. The controller may control the drive unit to change a focal distance of the zoom lens unit to enlarge or reduce an image.
US08913307B2

An illumination apparatus configured to illuminate a target surface from a first side and a second side different from the first side, including: a guide; and a reflector, the guide including: incident surface; a surface for totally reflecting beam from the incident surface; a reflecting surface arranged on an opposite side of the incident surface relative to the surface; a first exit for causing the reflected beam to exit as converging beam from the first side, the first exit having condensing action in plane orthogonal to the one-dimensional direction; and a second exit, adjacent to the first exit, having condensing action in the orthogonal plane for causing beam not reflected by the reflecting surface to exit as converging beam, and the reflector reflecting the beam from the second exit to the target surface as beam from the second side.
US08913292B2

An image reading apparatus includes an image reading unit and a computational unit. The image reading unit includes a reference reflecting member that acts as a color reference, an illuminating unit that illuminates a part of the reference reflecting member and a sheet being transported in proximity thereto, a line sensor that reads an image formed on the sheet and the part of the reference reflecting member in proximity to the sheet in the sheet width direction, and a spectroscope that measures the spectral distribution of each of multiple patches for correcting color tones formed on the sheet and arranged in the sheet transport direction. The computational unit generates color tone correction data by performing computations based on the spectral distribution of each patch measured by the spectroscope, and the read values of the reference reflecting member obtained by the line sensor.
US08913287B2

A color erasing apparatus includes a conveyance member to convey a sheet on which an image is formed of a color erasable coloring material, a color erasing part to erase a color of the coloring material of the image formed on the sheet conveyed by the conveyance member, a control part that counts the processed number of sheets images of which are color-erased by the color erasing part and determines whether the processed number of sheets exceeds a previously set threshold, and a notification interface to output a signal for notifying that, cleaning of the color erasing part is required if the processed number of sheets exceeds the threshold.
US08913281B2

There is disclosed a multifunction peripheral device, a method, and apparatus for processing a document from a portable data storage device. The multifunction peripheral device may have a port for receiving a portable data storage device and an input unit to receive user input of a selected function for an electronic document on the portable data storage device. The multifunction peripheral device further comprises a control unit to determine whether the selected function may be performed on each of the plurality of electronic documents and the input unit to receive user input as to a selected electronic document. The multifunction peripheral device is further to perform the selected function on the selected electronic document.
US08913278B2

An image forming apparatus which displays a preview of a relevance according to output forms between a plurality of pages upon outputting images of the plurality of pages, a control method thereof, and a program are provided. To accomplish this, this image forming apparatus analyzes a predetermined relevance according to output forms between pages based on setting information of print data, generates a preview image including a plurality of pages having the predetermined relevance as a group for a page for which the predetermined relevance is specified, generates a preview image of only a page for which the predetermined relevance is not specified, and displays the preview image including the plurality of pages as the group on a display unit.
US08913276B2

In an information processing apparatus, information concerning the data format of a document designated by a terminal apparatus and a data format compatible with the image forming apparatus are received in accordance with an instruction from a user, and a connection route, of a plurality of connection routes to the image forming apparatus designated by the user and the terminal apparatus, which allows the image processing apparatus to process the document data is selected based on the received data format of the document and the data format compatible with the image forming apparatus. The terminal apparatus displays the selected connection route.
US08913270B2

An authentication system includes an apparatus and an authentication apparatus configured to perform authentication of a user of the apparatus. The apparatus includes an identification information obtaining unit configured to obtain identification information of the user and an authentication requesting unit configured to send the obtained identification information and group information indicating a group to which the user belongs to the authentication apparatus to request authentication of the user. The authentication apparatus includes an authentication unit configured to search records of identification information associated with the group information to find matching identification information matching the obtained identification information of the user.
US08913268B2

A printing apparatus configured to perform printing by using a recording material, includes a storing unit configured to store a recording material, a moving unit configured to move the storing unit determined to have run out of a recording material to a position where a recording material is supplied to the printing apparatus, and a setting unit configured to, according to an instruction from a user, set continued use of the storing unit determined to have run out of the recording material. The moving unit does not move the storing unit to the position even when the storing unit is determined to have run out of the recording material if continued use of the storing unit determined to have run out of the recording material is set.
US08913255B2

This disclosure discloses a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium, storing a fixed form print information processing program for executing steps on a control device. The steps comprises a fixed form print producing step for producing fixed form print information, a margin area deleting step for deleting a width direction margin area of the width direction margin area and a longitudinal direction margin area respectively set on each side of both ends in a tape width direction as well as each side of both ends in a tape longitudinal direction of font data corresponding to a character string included in the fixed form print information, a fixed form print displaying step for displaying on the display device the fixed form print information from which the margin area has been deleted, and a fixed form print transferring step for transferring the fixed form print information to the print label producing apparatus.
US08913252B2

A computing device is electronically connected to a measurement machine and a controller. The controller is connected to a sensor installed on the measurement machine. The computing device receives spectral signal data sent from the controller and generates an intensity distribution diagram according to the spectral signal data. Furthermore, the computing device sends control commands to the measurement machine, to adjust a position of the sensor on the measurement machine according to variation of a peak value of a wave in the intensity distribution diagram.
US08913251B2

A surface roughness value and a sub-surface scattering property of a material are estimated. The material is illuminated with a light beam with controlled coherence properties at multiple incident angles. Multiple speckle patterns are recorded, each speckle pattern being recorded for a respective one of the multiple incident angles. Both of a surface roughness value and a sub-surface scattering property of the material are estimated by calculations using the multiple speckle patterns and the incident angle for each such speckle pattern.
US08913248B2

Systems and methods for reducing noise in balanced detection based optical coherence tomography (OCT) systems are described. Embodiments including both optical hardware and electronic based solutions to spectrally filter and attenuate the source reference light in optical coherence tomography in an effort to reduce RIN and FPN noise in OCT systems are presented. A novel application to electronic balanced detection schemes in which a single source of reference detection is balanced against the interferometric signals from multiple interferometers is also presented.
US08913234B2

A method measures the positions of centers of curvature of optical surfaces of a multi-lens optical system. The spacings between the surfaces are measured along a reference axis using an interferometer. Subsequently the centers of curvature of the surfaces are measured using an optical angle-measuring device. In the course of the measurement of the position of the center of curvature of a surface situated within the optical system, the measured positions of the centers of curvature of the surfaces situated between this surface and the angle-measuring device and the previously measured spacings between the surfaces are taken into consideration computationally. In this way, a particularly high accuracy of measurement is achieved, because desired spacings do not have to be fallen back upon.
US08913233B2

An imaging system comprises a wide field of view (FOV) telescope, a narrow FOV telescope, a spectrometer, an imaging detector, an image slicer, and a selection mechanism. The wide FOV telescope is configured to produce a one-dimensional optical image of a broad field of view (FOV) F. The narrow FOV telescope is configured to produce a two-dimensional optical image of a narrow FOV f. The spectrometer is configured to produce a spectrum of a one-dimensional image, and the imaging detector is configured to capture that spectrum. The image slicer is configured to break the two-dimensional optical image into a series of one-dimensional segments. The selection mechanism operable in either of two modes: a wide FOV mode transmitting the one-dimensional optical image to the spectrometer, and a zoom mode transmitting a one-dimensional concatenation of the series of one-dimensional segments to the spectrometer.
US08913230B2

In an imprint lithography system, a recessed support on a template chuck may alter a shape of a template positioned thereon providing minimization and/or elimination of premature downward deflection of outer edges of the template in a nano imprint lithography process.
US08913229B2

A method for controlling a multi-stage system includes a stator extending parallel to a first direction; a first and second stage that are moveable relative to the stator; the stages being provided with a magnet system to generate a magnetic field, and the stator being provided with coils to interact with the magnetic fields to position the stages relative to the stator, the method including: determining the position of the stages; selecting a first and a second subset of coils that are capable of having a non-negligible interaction with the magnetic field of respectively the first and the second stage; activating the coils of both subsets, wherein activating the coils includes determining the coils that are part of both subsets; and excluding a coil that is part of both subsets from activating.
US08913228B2

A lithographic apparatus is disclosed that is arranged to project a pattern from a patterning device onto a substrate, the lithographic apparatus has a substrate table configured to hold a substrate. The substrate table includes a conditioning system configured to hold a conditioning fluid and to condition the substrate table. The conditioning system includes a pressure damper that is in fluid communication with the conditioning system and is arranged to dampen a pressure variation in the conditioning system.
US08913220B2

An array substrate for a liquid crystal display (LCD) device include: a substrate; a gate line formed in one direction on one surface of the substrate; a data line crossing the gate line to define a pixel area; a thin film transistor (TFT) configured at a crossing of the gate line and the data line; a pixel electrode formed at a pixel region of the substrate; an insulating film formed on the entire surface of the substrate including the pixel electrode and the TFT, including a first insulating film formed of a high temperature silicon nitride film and a second insulating film formed of a low temperature silicon nitride film, and having a contact hole having an undercut shape exposing the pixel electrode; a pixel electrode connection pattern formed within the contact hole having an undercut shape and connected with the pixel electrode and the TFT; and a plurality of common electrodes separately formed on the insulating film.
US08913215B2

A bistable switchable liquid crystal device is provided in which the device can be switched between a transparent and an opaque state by a predetermined voltage pulse. The device is based on polymer stabilized cholesteric materials. No additional amount of voltage has to be applied to the device in order to sustain the optical states. Therefore, the device is energy-saving.
US08913208B2

A liquid crystal module includes a display panel having an active area; a case top configured to surrounds an edge of an upper surface and edges of a display panel, and having first through holes; a cover bottom configured to support a light guide plate disposed under the display panel; a supporter main configured to support the display panel and the cover bottom; a light source circuit board on which light emitting diodes (LEDs) emitting light to at least one of both sides of the light guide plate are mounted, wherein the light source circuit board is disposed on the supporter main; and fasteners configured to pass through the first through hole of the case top and to couple the case top with the supporter main, wherein at least two of the LEDs are disposed between the fasteners.
US08913207B2

Provided is a display device, including: a first protrusion formed to an inner side surface of one of side walls of the frame on a short side of an angled corner portion surrounded by the side walls; a second protrusion formed to an inner side surface of one of the side walls on a long side of the angled corner portion; and a third protrusion formed at another angled corner portion on another end side of at least one of the side walls sharing the angled corner portion provided with the first and second protrusions, and formed to an inner side surface of one of the side walls that is opposed to the side wall to which the first protrusion and/or the second protrusion are/is arranged, the optical sheet including cut-out first to third recesses which are to be fitted to the first to third protrusions.
US08913204B2

A method of driving a bi-stable chiral splay nematic mode liquid crystal display device including first and second substrates, a liquid crystal layer between the first and second substrates, first and second reset electrodes on one of inner surfaces of the first and second substrates, a pixel electrode on the inner surface of the first substrate and a common electrode on the inner surface of the second substrate includes: applying a data voltage and a common voltage to the pixel electrode and the common electrode, respectively, such that a vertical electric field is generated and the liquid crystal layer transitions from a splay state to a π-twist state during a writing period; and floating the pixel electrode and the common electrode such that the liquid crystal layer keeps the π-twist state and displays a present image during a memory period.
US08913200B2

An encoding apparatus for inputting a first image signal and a second image signal from an input source different from an input source of the first image signal adaptively decides a first bit rate and a second bit rate which are respectively assigned to a first encoding unit for encoding the input first image signal and a second encoding unit for encoding the input second image signal on the basis of the first image signal, on the basis of photographing mode information or distortion ratios of encoding by the encoding units.
US08913191B2

A communication apparatus includes a first determination unit that determines whether an external apparatus can transmit device information of the external apparatus to the communication apparatus, a device information acquisition unit that acquires the device information from the external apparatus even when the first determination unit determines that the external apparatus cannot transmit device information of the external apparatus to the communication apparatus, a second determination unit that determines whether the device information acquired from the external apparatus is correct, and a communication unit that transmits video data corresponding to the device information to the external apparatus if the second determination unit determines that the device information is correct even when the first determination unit determines that the external apparatus cannot transmit device information of the external apparatus to the communication apparatus.
US08913186B2

A device for use in conjunction with a video processing device includes an adaptive filter for processing input pictures into selectively filtered pictures, based on a filter motion data. A deinterlacer selectively interpolates the selectively filtered pictures into selectively deinterlaced pictures, based on deinterlace motion data. A motion detector generates the filter motion data and the deinterlace motion data, based on detecting motion in the input pictures.
US08913184B1

Systems and methods are provided for detecting sharpness among video fields. In certain implementations of the systems and methods, a plurality of video fields is received and a sharpness metric for each of the plurality of video fields is determined. The sharpness metric of a first video field is compared to the sharpness metric of a second video field among the plurality of video fields and a video field source of the first video field and the second video field is determined based on the comparison.
US08913182B2

A portable hand-held device is provided having a processor chip. The processor chip has, on-chip, a network interface and four interconnected processing units. The processing units are configured to process information communicated over the network interface.
US08913180B2

Described herein is a folded tape package for electronic devices. The folded tape package uses a flexible tape substrate having two end sections for passive components and a middle section for connecting and stacking multiple dies. The stacked dies are encapsulated or covered with a mold. One side may be left exposed for device functionality and operation with additional components or devices. The passive components may also be covered with a mold. The end sections are folded such that the end sections are in a parallel configuration with the middle section. The flexible tape substrate may be a high density interconnect flexible tape substrate with two layers. A silicon substrate may be used to interconnect a die stack to the flexible tape substrate. The folded tape package has a reduced device footprint, lower substrate warpage effects, and higher substrate yields.
US08913173B2

An imaging apparatus includes an imaging section, an imaging acquisition range control section, a distortion information obtaining section, and a display section. The imaging section includes a lens and obtains an image data by imaging a subject image. The imaging acquisition range control section controls an acquisition range of the image data such that a part of the subject image is read out. The distortion information obtaining section obtains distortion information of the lens. The distortion correction section corrects distortion of the image data in accordance with the distortion information. The display section performs enlarged live-view display operation to display an enlarged image of the corrected image data in the acquisition range. The imaging acquisition range control section updates the acquisition range, when the distortion information is changed while the enlarged live-view display operation is performed, in accordance with the changed distortion information.
US08913172B2

An information processing apparatus capable of being opened and closed includes storage means, display means, and taken image display control means. The storage means stores a taken image therein. The display means has a display screen provided in a surface which is located inside when the information processing apparatus is closed and which is located outside when the information processing apparatus is opened. The taken image display control means displays a taken image on the display screen, and changes a taken image to be displayed between before and after closing and opening the information processing apparatus when the information processing apparatus is closed and opened again.
US08913167B2

An image pickup apparatus includes pixels each including a photoelectric conversion unit, an amplifying element, a first signal holding unit and a second signal holding unit both disposed in an electric path between the photoelectric conversion unit and an input node of the amplifying element, a first charge transfer unit configured to transfer electrons from the photoelectric conversion unit to the first signal holding unit, and a second charge transfer unit configured to transfer electrons from the first signal holding unit to the second signal holding unit. Voltage are set such that a voltage supplied to the first control electrode when the electrons are transferred from the photoelectric conversion unit to the first signal holding unit is lower than a voltage supplied to the second control electrode when the electrons held by the first signal holding unit are transferred to the second signal holding unit.
US08913158B2

The present invention provides a shooting device and a program that can recognize shooting scenes according to the situation with a high degree of precision. In at least one of a case where GPS information has not been acquired by a GPS receiver 58 within a predetermined period after the GPS receiver 58 has been activated, a case where the GPS information has been acquired by the GPS receiver 58 within the predetermined period after the GPS receiver 58 has been activated but the acquired GPS information has not been stored in a database C, and a case where a subject image has been acquired by shooting without the GPS receiver 58 being activated, the shooting device recognizes the shooting scene at the current shooting location on the basis of at least one of the subject image acquired by the shooting and shooting support information.
US08913155B2

An optical system includes, in order from the object side, an aperture, a first lens having a positive refractive power, a second lens having a negative refractive power, a third lens having a positive refractive power, a fourth lens having a positive refractive power and having a meniscus shape with a convex surface facing the image side, and a fifth lens having a negative refractive power. The optical system satisfies a certain condition.
US08913147B2

A method including initiating video functionality of an optical image capture device, using the video functionality to capture a plurality of still images at video speed, saving the plurality of still images as a cached timeline from which a user may select a desired still image, and providing a user interface on a display screen to allow the user to select a desired still image.
US08913144B2

An information communication method that enables communication between various devices includes: determining a pattern of a change in luminance; transmitting a signal by a light emitter changing in luminance; determining a sequence of first and second image units; and displaying an image including the first and second image units arranged according to the determined sequence, wherein in the displaying: for 0, the sequence of the first and second image units is determined so that a first image unit group and a second image unit group that have a same number of image units as each other are consecutive; and for 1, the sequence of the first and second image units is determined so that a first image unit group and a second image unit group that have different numbers of image units from each other are consecutive.
US08913143B2

In one general sense, a user may be presented with a multimedia experience corresponding to an entertainment event or venue by managing a sensor array having at least two sensors that are made configured to provide a stream of data units, associating location information with sensors in the sensor array, enabling the user to perceive a map related to an entertainment event or venue, relating the perceived map to one or more sensors within the sensor array, receiving a user request identifying a selected position within the map, identifying one or more sensors within the sensor array corresponding to the selection, and presenting to the user a multimedia experience based on one or more streams of data units associated with the selected sensors.
US08913140B2

This disclosure pertains to devices, methods, and computer readable media for reducing rolling shutter distortion effects in captured video frames based on timestamped positional information obtained from positional sensors in communication with an image capture device. In general, rolling shutter reduction techniques are described for generating and applying image segment-specific perspective transforms to already-captured segments of a single image or images in a video sequence, to compensate for unwanted distortions that occurred during the read out of the image sensor. Such distortions may be due to, for example, the use of CMOS sensors combined with the movement of the image capture device. In contrast to the prior art, rolling shutter reduction techniques described herein may be applied to captured images or videos in real-time or near real-time using positional sensor information and without intensive image processing that would require an analysis of the content of the underlying image data.
US08913138B2

A handheld magnification device for displaying a magnified representation of an object in a see-through manner is provided. The handheld magnification device includes a casing and a first and a second camera both adapted to acquire an image of the object, and having respectively a first working range proximate the handheld magnification device and a second working range different from and extending beyond the first working range. The handheld magnification device also includes a distance-sensitive sensor for measuring a distance parameter representative of a distance between the object and the handheld magnification device, as well as a processing unit for automatically selecting, based on the distance parameter and the first and second working ranges, one of the first and second cameras as a selected camera. The handheld magnification device further includes a display for displaying the magnified representation of the object based on the image acquired by the selected camera.
US08913133B2

A camera system for a motor vehicle includes: a camera, which includes an image sensor for outputting image signals, and camera optics for detecting a first environment and for imaging the first environment on the image sensor at a first subject distance. The camera system has camera supplementary optics, which are at least partially provided in the optical path in front of the camera optics, the camera optics and the camera supplementary optics jointly forming an optics system by which a second environment, e.g., a region of a surface of a window, is able to be imaged or focused on the image sensor at a second object distance that differs from the first object distance.
US08913132B2

A camera system for detecting the surroundings of a vehicle through a vehicle window pane (1), having a camera (2) having an image sensor (4), a first optical radiation (6) generated by the vehicle surroundings detectable by a sensor surface (10) of the image sensor (4), and a radiation source (3) for emitting a second optical radiation (7). At least a portion of the emitted second optical radiation (7) is detectable by the sensor surface (10) of the image sensor (4), and the portion of the second optical radiation (7) detected by the sensor surface (10) is a function of a state of window pane (1). The first and second optical radiation (6, 7) are jointly detectable via at least one partial area (8, 9) of the sensor surface (10). A method is also provided for detecting the surroundings of a vehicle employing the camera system.
US08913131B2

An imaging system for generating images taken from a rail vehicle, the system including a camera configured to generate video data associated with a rail vehicle, and a processor configured to control recording of video data according to at least one of a variable frame rate or a variable resolution based on operating conditions of the rail vehicle. A method and non-transitory computer readable medium with instructions are also included.
US08913130B2

The invention relates to a monitoring camera arrangement, having at least one setting axis for setting a monitoring region and a detection means in order to be able to capture and signal changes of the monitoring region. According to the invention, the detection means comprises at least one monitoring image-independent tilt detector in order to signal a monitoring region change in response to detected tilt changes.
US08913122B2

Proper exposure is achieved within a short period of time even when image-acquisition elements are switched. Provided is an image-acquisition device for a microscope, which includes an optical-path branching section that branches light from an object into two optical paths; a first image-acquisition element and a second image-acquisition element that are respectively disposed in the two optical paths branching from the optical-path branching section and that acquire images of the light from the object under different image-acquisition conditions; and an exposure-time calculator that calculates an exposure time for the second image-acquisition element on the basis of an exposure time for the first image-acquisition element and a ratio of the image-acquisition conditions of the first and second image-acquisition elements.
US08913118B2

Multispectral images, including ultraviolet light and its interactions with ultraviolet light-interactive compounds, can be captured, processed, and represented to a user. Ultraviolet-light related information can be conveniently provided to a user to allow the user to have awareness of UV characteristics and the user's risk to UV exposure.
US08913114B2

A calibration tool for a scanning endoscope includes: an abutment portion that is in contact with and abuts an illumination window provided in a distal end face of an insertion portion of a scanning endoscope and is configured to be in contact with a region of the illumination window other than a region in which an illuminating light beam applied from the illumination window is scanned; and a chart with a calibration pattern drawn thereon, the calibration pattern being provided for calibrating a scan pattern of the illuminating light, the chart being arranged parallel to the distal end face with a predetermined distance from a surface of the illumination window positioned as a result of the illumination window coming into contact with the abutment portion, according to a size of the calibration pattern, whereby image calibration of the scanning endoscope can accurately be performed with a simple configuration.
US08913111B2

The image processing device includes a first image acquisition section that acquires a first image that includes an object image including information within a wavelength band of white light, a second image acquisition section that acquires a second image that includes an object image including information within a specific wavelength band, a type determination section that determines a type of the object image in the second image based on a feature quantity of each pixel included in the second image, and a highlight section that performs a highlight process on the first image based on the type of the object image determined by the type determination section.
US08913108B2

This invention relates to a method and a device of processing parallax information comprised in a signal. A signal comprising parallax map associated with further image information is received. A first data is obtained from the signal indicative of first parallax map constraints. A second data is obtained from the signal indicative of second parallax map constraints. Third data matching third parallax map constraints of a target device is determined by means of processing the at least the first data and the second data. This third data is used to generate an updated signal matching the parallax map information constraints of the target device.
US08913105B2

Various implementations are described. Several implementations relate to joint depth estimation for multiple depth maps. In one implementation, a first-view depth indicator for a location in a first view is estimated, and a second-view depth indicator for a corresponding location in a second view is estimated. The estimating of one or more of the first-view depth indicator and the second-view depth indicator is based on a constraint. The constraint provides a relationship between the first-view depth indicator and the second-view depth indicator for corresponding locations.
US08913099B2

Systems and methods are provided to automatically discover if an email address contact is video chat capable. A server receives a request from an electronic device to determine video chat capability associated with an email address. It compares the email address with a listing of email addresses, wherein the listing includes email addresses associated with other electronic devices having video chat capability. If an entry in the listing matches the email address, it returns a message configured to automatically enable addition of the email address as a video chat contact on the electronic device.
US08913070B2

There is provided a server in which a screen update generating unit generates screen update information representing an image of an update area in a screen; a distributing unit distributes the screen update information to a transmitting unit selected from first to N-th transmitting units; a storage stores a generation history of the screen update information; and a precedence possibility determining unit specifies, based on the generation history of the screen update information, screen update information X and Y such that the screen update information X is more previously generated than the screen update information Y and that the image of the screen update information Y is permitted to be displayed prior to the screen update information X, wherein the distributing unit distributes the screen update information Y to the transmitting unit different from that of distributing the screen update information X.
US08913069B2

In one embodiment there is provided, a display driver system, comprising, at least one display driver; a magnetic random access memory (MRAM) macro; and a display driver interface coupling the MRAM macro and the at least one display driver.
US08913066B2

An information display device is provided. The information display device includes a controller for being able to execute a plurality of applications, a user interface for allowing a user to instruct the controller, and a display unit for simultaneously displaying an application selection menu item for allowing the user to select one of the applications and an application proprietary menu item that is used with a selected application, along with an information image created by execution of the selected application. The display unit is configured to display the information image, the application selection menu item, and the application proprietary menu at substantially the same position on a display screen of the display unit, regardless of which application is selected.
US08913064B2

In-game characters select the proper animation to use depending on the state of the terrain on which they are currently moving. In this specific case the character chooses an animation depending on the angle of the ground on which it is walking. The method involves real-time determination of the ground angle which is then used to choose the most desirable animation from a closed set of pre-created animations. The animation set consists of animations rendered with the character moving on flat terrain, as well as animations rendered of the character moving uphill and downhill (separately) at pre-determined angles. In this game an animation set consisted of the following animations: 0 degrees, 15 degrees uphill, 30 degrees uphill, 45 degrees uphill, 15 degrees downhill, 30 degrees downhill, 45 degrees downhill). Drawing of the animation is offset to give the best appearance relative to the ground angle.
US08913056B2

The techniques disclosed herein use a compass, MEMS accelerometer, GPS module, and MEMS gyrometer to infer a frame of reference for a hand-held device. This can provide a true Frenet frame, i.e., X- and Y-vectors for the display, and also a Z-vector that points perpendicularly to the display. In fact, with various inertial clues from accelerometer, gyrometer, and other instruments that report their states in real time, it is possible to track the Frenet frame of the device in real time to provide a continuous 3D frame-of-reference. Once this continuous frame of reference is known, the position of a user's eyes may either be inferred or calculated directly by using a device's front-facing camera. With the position of the user's eyes and a continuous 3D frame-of-reference for the display, more realistic virtual 3D depictions of the objects on the device's display may be created and interacted with by the user.
US08913053B2

The degree of an influence from wiring crosstalk between signal lines of a data signal transmission line (video signal line) is decided on the basis of an input signal generated in display controlling unit (a timing controller) at a predetermined timing (at each frame period, at each clock pulse period, or at each horizontal period) and, based on a result of the decision, the voltage amplitude of a data signal is adjusted so that it may exceed an input amplitude specification value for data line driving circuits (data drivers) by a predetermined value.
US08913052B2

A display device includes a display panel, a module frame having first and second contact pins, and a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) having first and second pads connectable with the first and second contact pins of the module frame, respectively, in a contacting state and disconnectable therewith in a non-contacting state. The first and second contact pins are electrically connected to each other. The PCB includes a circuit block in a non-operational state when the first and second pads are in the non-contacting state with the first and second contact pins of the module frame, respectively.
US08913051B2

An LCD controller includes a charge pump circuit for generating a charge voltage responsive to an external voltage and a clock signal. An oscillator generates the clock signal responsive to at least one bias voltage. The oscillator has a high power mode of operation and a low power mode of operation. Bias circuitry for applies the at least one bias voltage to the oscillator. The at least one bias voltage is applied to the oscillator from an external source in the high power mode of operation and the at least one bias voltage is applied to the oscillator from a source within the oscillator in the low power mode of operation. An LCD driver voltage circuit generates a plurality of LCD driver voltages for driving segments of an LCD display responsive to the charge voltage.
US08913048B2

Provided is a technology for preventing noisy data from being displayed before valid data is inputted when power is turned on in a liquid crystal display. A source driver circuit for a liquid crystal display includes: a power supply voltage input unit configured to divide a first power supply voltage and a second power supply voltage, such that a middle level of the second power supply voltage is lower than a level of the first power supply voltage; a power supply voltage comparison unit configured to compare division voltages inputted from the power supply voltage input unit, and output an output voltage of a high level in a time period in which the middle level of the second power supply voltage is higher than the level of the first power supply voltage; a Schmitt trigger configured to output the output voltage of the power supply voltage comparison unit as a reset signal while preventing a sensitive response to external environment; and a specific voltage supply unit configured to output a voltage of a specific level in a time period between the input of the reset signal from the Schmitt trigger and the input of a first gate start pulse.
US08913047B2

A semiconductor device includes a plurality of sets of external drive terminals in a marginal region along one long side of a rectangular semiconductor substrate, a plurality of sets of ESD protection circuits arranged in the marginal region and coupled to corresponding sets of the drive terminals, and a plurality of output circuits coupled to corresponding sets of the drive terminals. Each set of drive terminals in a plurality of n columns along a Y direction is laid out in a staggered arrangement with drive terminals in adjacent columns shifted relative to each other. Each output circuit includes n output units associated with n drive terminals of each set and arranged in one column in an X direction. By the arrangement, the drive terminals can be arranged at a narrower pitch, and the total width for n output units can be compacted into that of one output circuit.
US08913038B2

An electronic reader device with a physical control disposed on a surface of the device housing. The physical control is operable to initiate a first function. A display disposed on the surface of the housing is operable to show a virtual control that initiates a second function. A sensor detects a drag operation moving the virtual control to a position on a border of the display adjacent to the physical control. A processor associates the second function with the physical control in response to the drag operation and performs the second function upon activation of the physical control.
US08913022B2

Provided is a character input device that can improve user's convenience (can reduce operations to be performed by the user). In this character input device, an operation display portion displays a keyboard screen corresponding to a character type of the first character of the registered user information as an initial screen for accepting re-input, when accepting the re-input of the same user information as the registered user information.
US08913006B2

A non-destructive inspection and testing instrument includes a housing and a first panel with a first type input to be assembled onto the housing and a second panel with a different, second type input to be assembled onto the housing. A first GUI module for the first panel implements a function upon an actuation of the first type input. A second GUI module for the second panel implements the same function upon an actuation of the second type input. A controller is configured to select the first GUI module when the first panel is associated with the instrument and to select the second GUI module when the second panel is associated with the instrument.
US08912998B2

Power consumption is cut down by reducing backlight light source luminance in accordance with the variability of luminance of the picture displayed on a display panel. A picture luminance detector calculates information (luminance information) representing luminance of the picture at intervals of a time unit. A picture luminance storage is a memory capable of storing the past records of luminance information within a fixed period of time (some seconds to some ten seconds). A processor is configured of a variation detector and a light source luminance determiner. Variation detector performs detection of the variability of picture luminance based on the luminance information on the current picture detected by picture luminance detector and the past records of picture luminance information stored in picture luminance storage to output variation information. Light source luminance determiner determines light source luminance based on the luminance information on the current picture detected by picture luminance detector and the variation information output from variation detector and outputs a light source information control signal.
US08912995B2

A gate driver includes a gate integrated circuit (“IC”) chip which receives at least two scanning start signals and at least four clock control signals, and outputs a plurality of gate-on voltages, where at least two clock control signals of the at least four clock control signals are generated based on one scanning start signal of the at least two scanning start signals, timings of the at least two scanning start signals are independent of each other, and timings of the at least two clock control signals based on the one scanning start signal are independent of each other.
US08912994B2

An electronic apparatus system is provided. The electronic apparatus system includes a register, a display mode computation unit, a display device and a control circuit. The register stores image information having a data input refresh frequency. The display mode computation unit generates a display mode control signal by computation based on an image characteristic categorization of the image information. The display device includes a display panel having a plurality of pixel units. The control circuit controls a display mode and a drive mode of the display panel according to the display mode control signal to further adjust a display refresh frequency of the display panel.
US08912990B2

Systems, methods, and devices are disclosed, including a device having a liquid-crystal display (LCD) panel that includes a transistor-degradation circuit. In some embodiments, the transistor-degradation circuit is configured to output a signal indicative of a change in a property of a transistor on the LCD panel over time.
US08912988B2

Disclosed herein is an electroluminescence display panel including a pixel circuit, a signal line, a scan line, a drive power supply line, a common power supply line, a power supply line drive circuit, a high-potential power supply line, and a low-potential power supply line.
US08912981B2

An image display apparatus includes: an image forming device; an optical system converting light emitted from the image forming device into parallel light; and an optical device to which the light beams converted into the parallel light by the optical system enter, in which the light beams are guided, and from which the light beams are emitted, wherein a central light beam emitted from the center of the image forming device, passing through the nodal point of the optical system and entering the optical device at an optical device center point intersects an XY plane defined by an X axis that passes through the optical device center point, and is parallel to the axis direction of the optical device and a Y axis that passes through the optical device center point, and coincides with the normal axis of the optical device at angles other than 0 degree.
US08912978B2

A substantially transparent windscreen head up display includes one of light emitting particles or microstructures over a predefined region of the windscreen permitting luminescent display while permitting vision through the windscreen. A method to display a graphic head up instrument display upon a substantially transparent windscreen head up display of a vehicle includes monitoring operation of the vehicle, monitoring an operator-defined configuration of the graphic head up instrument display, determining the graphic head up instrument display based upon the operation of the vehicle and the operator-defined configuration of the graphic head up instrument display, and displaying the graphic head up instrument display upon the substantially transparent windscreen head up display.
US08912964B2

The present invention is directed to achieving a favorable grounding state in a vehicle-mounted antenna. One end of a bent antenna element 22 is connected to an inner conductor of a coaxial cable 14 via a wiring conductor pattern of a substrate 12. An outer conductor of the coaxial cable 14 is connected to a front grounding conductor pattern of the substrate 12. In the substrate 12, a plate capacitor is formed by the front grounding conductor pattern, a rear grounding conductor pattern, and a dielectric plate sandwiched between these grounding conductor patterns. The outer conductor 52 of the coaxial cable 14 is electrically connected to one end of a grounding bracket 20 via the plate capacitor. A tip portion 24 of the grounding bracket 20 is secured to a vehicle body by means of a bolt 26 and is electrically connected to the vehicle body.
US08912953B2

Provided is a GPS receiver, including: a navigation signal receiving unit receiving navigation signals from satellites; a navigation signal processing unit acquiring position information of each satellite from the received navigation signal and measuring a pseudo-range; a pseudo-range estimating unit determining whether a satellite of which the pseudo-range may be estimated exists among the satellites from which the navigation signals are transmitted in the case where the number of satellites from which the navigation signals are transmitted is 3 or less and estimating the pseudo-range of the determined satellite; and a navigation solution calculating unit calculating a navigation solution by using the measured pseudo-range and the estimated pseudo-range.
US08912938B1

A converter and a method for controlling a converter are disclosed herein, in which the converter includes a converting circuit, a current sensing circuit, a digital-to-analog converting circuit, a slope compensation circuit and a comparator circuit. The slope compensation circuit is independent from the digital-to-analog converting circuit, and the slope compensation circuit exclusively generates an analog slope compensation signal. The comparator circuit compares an analog signal generated by the digital-to-analog converting circuit with the superimposition of the analog slope compensation signal and a current sensing signal generated by the current sensing circuit or compares the current sensing signal with the superimposition of the analog slope compensation signal and the analog signal to generate a comparator output signal for a control operation of the converting circuit.
US08912932B2

Methods and apparatus are provided for Lempel-Ziv data compression with shortened hash chains based on repetitive multi-byte runs. Data is compressed by processing a sequence of data to identify a repetitive pattern, such as a multi-byte run; and providing indicators associated with the sequence of data of a start position and an end position of the repetitive pattern. The indicators of the start and end positions of the repetitive pattern may comprise, for example, flags associated with the positions. The indicators of the start and end positions of the repetitive pattern are processed to determine a sequence length of the repetitive pattern. In addition, a match can be identified in the sequence of data having a length that is greater than or equal to an offset of s bytes to identify a run comprised of an s-byte sequence.
US08912930B2

A capacitive touch keyboard includes a sensor layer, ground plane, a flexible sensed body, and a sensing circuit. The sensor layer includes a substrate and a key sensing cell which disposed on the substrate spaced apart from the ground plane. The flexible sensed body includes a sensed portion and a connected portion connected with the ground plane where the sensed portion obliquely extends to above the key sensing cell such that the flexible sensed body and the key sensing cell jointly form a capacitor structure. The sensing circuit is electrically connected to the sensing cell for probing a capacitance change. Therefore, features of more simplified structure design, tactile feel, and improved durability are provided in a capacitive keyboard.
US08912926B2

A method for identifying a potential vehicle incident within a communication black spot. It is identified when a vehicle has entered a communication black spot. It is further identified when the vehicle has failed to exit the communication black spot within a determined time period. It is then determined whether it is likely that the vehicle has failed to exit the communication black spot within the determined time period due to being involved in an incident (or whether there is another reasonable explanation for a vehicle's failure to exit). If it is determined that it is likely that the vehicle has been involved in an incident within the communication black spot, a third party can be alerted (by a service provider) to the potential that an incident has occurred within the communication black spot.
US08912922B2

Approaches for issuing preemption requests. The boundaries of a geo-window are repeatedly determined based on locations and headings of a vehicle as the vehicle is traveling along a roadway. The methods and systems determine whether or not any one of a plurality of intersections is located within the boundaries of the geo-window in response to changed boundaries of the geo-window. In response to determining that one of the plurality of intersections is located within the boundaries of the geo-window, a preemption request is transmitted from the vehicle to an intersection controller at the one of the plurality of intersections.
US08912921B2

A warning system for vehicles that comprises a transmitter and a receiver for respectively transmitting a signal to an approaching vehicle or receiving a signal from an approaching vehicle. A light actuated upon receiving a signal from another vehicle and visible to the other vehicle indicates to the other vehicle that it is approaching a vehicle.
US08912920B2

A device connectable to a power line conductor includes an electrically conductive insulated first winding of wire wound into at least two turns having a first and a second end. The first end is configured to be attached to a first power line conductor. An electrically conductive insulated second winding of wire wound into at least one turn having a first end connected to the second end of the first winding of wire and a second end is configured to be attached to a second power line conductor. A switchable connecting device is configured to move between a first position connecting the first and second power line conductors in series, a second position connecting the first winding of wire in series with the first and the second power line conductors, and a third position connecting the first and second power line conductors and the first and second windings of wire in series.
US08912919B2

System and method for determining consumption of resources to assist a meter reading personnel are described. According to an embodiment, the system includes a processor and an extraction module coupled to the processor configured to extract historical data associated with a meter to be read. The system further includes a prediction module coupled to the processor configured to determine a predicted resource consumption for a current cycle based on the historical data and provide the predicted meter reading to a display device corresponding to a meter reading personnel. Furthermore, the system includes a computation module coupled to the processor configured to determine an actual resource consumption for the current cycle based on an analysis of an observed resource consumption of the current cycle with respect to the predicted resource consumption.
US08912910B2

The present invention is directed to a system and method for controlling and managing medical supplies stored inside medical refrigerator or freezer. The system includes a reader and at least two antenna situated in different locations of the exterior of the refrigerator or freezer and are connected to the reader individually; electronic labels attached on the medical supplies which store identification codes of corresponding medical supplies; processing unit which is connected to the reader for receiving identification codes of medical supplies from reader through the antenna, and determines a general position of the corresponding medical supply in the storage space according to the situated location and beam coverage area of the antenna, thus allowing one to quickly retrieve said medical supply.
US08912904B2

A security system including a security tag is provided. The security tag includes a housing and a pin in which the pin is removably insertable into the housing. The security tag further includes a latching element disposed within the housing and positionable in a lock position and in an unlock position. The latching element includes a pivot axis. The latching element has a substantially balanced rotational response about the pivot axis when exposed to an external physical mechanical impulse. The security tag further includes a bias element that releasably positions the latching element in the lock position. The latching element releasably engages the inserted pin when in the lock position.
US08912900B2

An information acquisition device, includes: a positioning unit that measures a current position and acquires positional information thereof; an information acquisition unit that acquires information; a storage unit that stores information acquired by the information acquisition unit and positional information acquired by the positioning unit; and a control unit that causes the positioning unit to perform positioning, while the information acquisition unit is activated, at an interval shorter than while the information acquisition unit is stopped, and causes positional information acquired while the information acquisition unit is activated, outside a time period determined in advance with a time in which acquisition of information was performed by the information acquisition unit as a reference point, among positional information acquired in the positioning unit, to be thinned and stored in the storage unit.
US08912896B1

A TPMS setting tool includes a housing carrying a display unit and an input device on the outside and a circuit board and a power supply device on the inside, the power supply device and the circuit board being electrically coupled together to provide the TPMS setting tool with the necessary working power supply. The housing has a receptacle provided at one side thereof and a connection port with multiple pins mounted inside the receptacle for the connection of a TPMS, enabling the desired communication protocol and ID code to be written into the inserted TPMS.
US08912886B2

A power management system is disclosed in which ESL labels communicate with a server through a base station. The frequency and times at which each ESL label communicates with the server is optimized for the minimum communication necessary to provide up to date pricing and related information, and to simultaneously minimize consumed battery power for the ESL labels. The base stations and servers for the system are preferably operated from hard wired power.
US08912885B2

A personal authentication apparatus comprises an input unit configured to input image data; a face detection unit configured to detect a face region of a person included in the image data input by the input unit, and to detect feature data from the detected face region; a facial expression determination unit configured to determine a facial expression from the face region detected by the face detection unit; a storage unit configured to store feature data used to authenticate a person in correspondence with respective facial expressions of a plurality of faces; a selection unit configured to select feature data corresponding to the facial expression determined by the facial expression determination unit from the storage unit; and an authentication unit configured to authenticate a person by comparing the feature data of the face region detected by the face detection unit, and the feature data selected by the selection unit.
US08912862B2

A system for matching impedances of a bare-die Integrated Circuit and bonding wires. A bare-die Integrated Circuit is configured to output or input, at an impedance of Z3, a millimeter-wave signal from three electrically conductive contacts. Three electrically conductive pads, printed on one of the laminas of a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) are connected to the three electrically conductive contacts via three bonding wires respectively, the bonding wires have a characteristic impedance of Z1, wherein Z1>Z3. One of the electrically conductive pads extends to form a transmission line signal trace of length L, the transmission line signal trace having a first width resulting in characteristic impedance of Z2, wherein Z2>Z3. The transmission line signal trace widens to a second width, higher than the first width, after the length of L, decreasing the characteristic impedance of the transmission line signal trace to substantially Z3 after the length L and onwards.
US08912857B2

A phase locked loop system, comprises: a voltage controlled oscillator circuit, comprising a first plurality of switchable varactors for selecting a frequency band of the VCO, that has a gain that changes with frequency band, and a second plurality of switchable varactors for varying the gain in the selected band. The PLL system has a PLL feedback circuit comprising a switching device for switching the feedback circuit to an open loop state wherein a plurality of predefined tuning voltages can be applied to the VCO; a frequency measurement device for measuring the synthesized VCO frequency; and a control unit operable to determine the gain with respect to the synthesized frequency and the tuning voltages.
US08912847B2

A power amplifier circuit (DIPPA), comprising a driver stage (DR) which is applicable to provide a preamplified driver signal (S_DR) dependent on a predetermined transmit signal. The power amplifier circuit (DIPPA) comprises also a frequency selector (DIP) which is electrically coupled to the driver stage (DR) and which is applicable to separate the driver signal (S_DR) into a first and second signal (S—1, S—2). The first signal (S—1) is associated to a first predetermined and the second signal (S—2) is associated to a second predetermined frequency band. The power amplifier circuit (DIPPA) comprises at least a first and second power amplifier stage (PA1, PA2). The first and second power amplifier stage (PA1, PA2) are electrically coupled to the frequency selector (DIP). The first and second power amplifier stage (PA1, PA2) is operable to provide a first and second amplified signal (S_A1, S—2), respectively, dependent on the first and second signal (S—1, S—2), respectively.
US08912845B2

An integrated circuit includes a radio frequency (RF) amplifier having a trifilar transformer coupled to a gain device in two negative feedback paths. The trifilar transformer includes a first winding, a second winding and a third winding, a first dielectric core is disposed between the first winding and the second winding, and a second dielectric core is disposed between the second winding and the third winding. A first winding ratio between the first winding and the second winding combined with a second winding ratio between the second winding and the third winding affects a total gain of the RF amplifier. In a specific embodiment, the gain device is a transistor, the first winding is coupled to a base of the transistor, the second winding is coupled to a collector of the transistor, and the third winding is coupled to an emitter of the transistor.
US08912833B2

A device and a method for pulse width modulation is disclosed, wherein the temporal occurrence of both the respectively rising and the respectively falling edges of a pulse signal is varied.
US08912830B2

A method and apparatus for atomic frequency and voltage changes in the processor. In one embodiment of the invention, the atomic frequency and voltage changes in the processor is feasible due to the enabling technology of fully integrated voltage regulators (FIVR) that are integrated in the processor. FIVR allows independent configuration of each core in the processor and the configuration includes, but is not limited to, voltage setting, frequency setting, clock setting and other parameters that affects the power consumption of each core.
US08912817B2

A reconfigurable multi-port physical unclonable functions (RM-PUFs) circuit, including: an input signal interface, a first control circuit module, at least two RM-PUFs circuit units, and an output signal interface. Each RM-PUFs circuit unit includes a second control circuit module, an input module, an output module, and a deviation generation module. The input signal interface is connected to the first control circuit module, the first control circuit module is connected to the RM-PUFs circuit units, and the RM-PUFs circuit units are connected to the output signal interface.
US08912816B2

Advantageous analog and/or digital logic cells and methods of powering circuit blocks using the same are provided. A digital logic cell can include a charge storage device, a logic block, and connections to a power supply. The charge storage device may be a capacitor. The capacitor or other charge storage device can be disconnected from the logic block and a power supply to discharge the capacitor, and then connected to the power supply, via the power supply connections, to charge the capacitor. The capacitor can be disconnected from a ground connection of the power supply while the capacitor is discharged. After being charged via the power supply, the capacitor can also be disconnected from the power supply (including ground) and connected to the logic block to power the logic block.
US08912807B2

Sensor devices and related methods disclosed. One example sensor device includes a Rogowski coil defining an aperture and a dielectric material at least partially enclosing the Rogowski coil. The dielectric material has a dielectric constant of at least about 3.5. The dielectric material is configured such that, when a conductor is at least partially inserted within the aperture, at least a portion of the dielectric material is positioned between the Rogowski coil and the conductor.
US08912805B2

Device for processing and measuring properties of a moving rod of material of the tobacco processing industry includes a microwave resonator structured and arranged so that the rod of material is conveyable through the microwave resonator. Includes microwave generator with output frequency f0, and frequency stabilized oscillator to generate intermediate frequency fIM that is less than f0. Single sideband modulator supplies microwave resonator with a sideband signal having a sideband frequency shifted with respect to output frequency f0 by intermediate frequency fIM, and at least one analysis arrangement includes single sideband demodulator, low-pass filter, and analog to digital converter arranged in series. Single sideband demodulator receives a measurement signal of the sideband frequency transmitted or reflected from the microwave resonator, and receives output frequency f0. Low-pass filter passes an output signal of single sideband demodulator with intermediate frequency fIM, and filters out higher frequency signal portions.
US08912801B2

A method for detecting an internal failure in a capacitor bank connected to a power system, wherein the capacitor bank includes a plurality of capacitor units that are divided into two Y sections. Each phase in each of the Y sections defines a leg and each leg includes series and/or parallel-connected capacitor units. The internal failure may occur in one or more capacitor elements or units or involve one or more legs. The method includes measuring the phase current in one of the phases, calculating the root mean square value, denoted by RMS, of the measured phase currents, measuring the unbalanced current between the two sections, calculating the RMS value of the measured unbalanced currents, and detecting the phase angle between the measured phase current and the measured unbalanced current.
US08912795B2

A method and apparatus are provided for medium-field NMR scanning of liquids that is capable of discriminating benign liquids such as lotions, drinks, and pharmaceutical liquids from threat liquids such as components of home-made explosives.
US08912788B2

System and methods for detecting substances such as explosives via the nuclear quadrupole resonance effect. We observe that the nuclear quadrupole resonances of explosives located within a cavity portal involve continuous Rabi transitions which are nonlinear processes since stimulated emission occurs. In other words, where there are no resonances caused by the presence of an explosive, high average power and low average power measurements should be identical. However, when resonances are stimulated by the system, the difference between these two conditions can be compared to determine a correction to measurements made when a person located in the cavity has explosive material on their person, without the need for separate empty portal or elaborate calibration procedures.
US08912785B2

Techniques are disclosed relating to radio frequency (RF) power detection. In one embodiment, a power detection circuit includes a multiplier circuit configured to multiply a first voltage signal by a second voltage signal. The multiplier circuit receives the first voltage signal at gates of a first transistor pair and receives the second voltage signal at gates of second and third transistor pairs. In some embodiments, a drain of a first transistor in the first transistor pair is coupled to sources of the second transistor pair, and drain of a second transistor in the first transistor pair is coupled to sources of the third transistor pair. In some embodiments, the power detection circuit includes a comparison circuit that compares the first pair of currents and a second pair of currents associated with a threshold voltage signal.
US08912781B2

An integrated circuit (IC) controller for a switching power supply has a selectable operating mode for supporting multiple switching power supply topologies. The IC controls current by controlling a cycle rate of the switching power supply to provide a constant or variable output current, which may be provided to lighting devices such as light-emitting diodes (LEDs). The selectable operating mode includes at least a buck converter operating mode and another operating mode, which may be a flyback converter operating mode.
US08912779B2

Novel circuitry and methodology for controlling a step up-step down switching regulator that produces a regulated output signal at an output node in response to an input signal at an input node, and has an inductive device, a plurality of switching circuits for providing connection of the inductive device to the input and output nodes and a ground node, and a switch control circuit for driving the switching devices so as to enable the power supply system to operate in a boost mode to increase the input signal, in a buck mode to decrease the input signal, and in a buck-boost mode when a difference between the input signal and the output signal is within a predetermined range. Buck-boost latch circuitry is provided for latching a transition between the buck mode and the buck-boost mode, or between the boost mode and the buck-boost mode based on a predetermined condition.
US08912774B2

Soft-switching is performed to switch a switching state to an ON state by controlling a delay time of a timing at which a main switch switches to an ON state relative to a timing at which a sub-switch switches to an ON state. Controllability of soft-switching decreases as a result of variations in time difference of a command for switching the main switch to the ON state and the actual switching of the switching state. To set a delay time suitable for performing soft-switching based on the variations in time difference, an EEPROM is provided that stores therein correction data for the delay time. The delay time of the timing of the command for switching the main switch to the ON state relative to the timing of the command for switching the sub-switch to the ON state is set based on the correction data.
US08912769B2

A current mode buck-boost converter has an input terminal, an output terminal, and an output capacitor coupled to the output terminal. The input terminal is used to receive an input voltage, and the output terminal is for producing the output voltage. The current mode buck-boost converter comprises a voltage converter and a control circuit. The voltage converter comprises an inductor. The control circuit is for detecting the current passing through the inductor to determine the electric energy transmitted to the output terminal by the voltage converter. Accordingly, the current mode buck-boost converter has fast response, and the electrical energy can be recycled and stored to the voltage source when the current mode buck-boost converter operates in down-tracking process.
US08912766B2

A generator airgap monitoring system includes a first proximity sensor disposed in a first location of a stator and configured to transmit a first signal representative of a first distance between the first proximity sensor and a plurality of rotor poles of a rotor, and a controller communicatively coupled to the first proximity sensor. The controller is configured to derive a first plurality of instantaneous airgaps based on the first signal and to determine a difference between a first instantaneous airgap of the first plurality of instantaneous airgaps and a second instantaneous airgap of the first plurality of instantaneous airgaps. The first plurality of instantaneous airgaps includes a first plurality of measurements of airgaps between the stator and the plurality of rotor poles when the rotor is rotating. The first instantaneous airgap and the second instantaneous airgaps include measurements for respective rotor poles.
US08912764B2

A power control unit is provided with a converter; a filter capacitor that is connected onto one side of converter; a smoothing capacitor that is connected onto the other side of converter; an MG-ECU that is operated to control converter with power supplied from filter capacitor; and a casing that houses these constituent elements therein. In order to electrically discharge filter capacitor and smoothing capacitor, an MG-ECU controls converter in such a manner as to alternately repeat ON/OFF of an npn-type transistor for a lower arm of an IPM and ON/OFF of an npn-type transistor for an upper arm of IPM, and further, to set a time of ON of npn-type transistor for the upper arm longer than that of ON of npn-type transistor for the lower arm.
US08912758B2

The present disclosure describes a power storage apparatus including a housing made of a durable material and defining an installation space of a plurality of secondary batteries; a plurality of secondary batteries accommodated in the housing and connected to each other in series or in parallel; a Battery Management System (BMS) for controlling charge and discharge of the plurality of secondary batteries and monitoring an electric characteristic value thereof; and a status setting switch for setting a status of the BMS. According to the present disclosure, a power storage system may be easily configured by means of a simple BMS setting. Also, if any one of the power storage apparatuses is not working properly, the power storage apparatus with a problem may be easily distinguished by the naked eyes of a manager, which facilitates easy maintenance and repair.
US08912753B2

Methods and systems are provided for controlling the charging of onboard energy storage systems of a plurality of plug-in vehicles using a remote command center. A system for directing the charging of a plurality of remotely located plug-in vehicles is provided. The system includes a communication system configured to transmit charging authorizations to charge each of the plurality of plug-in vehicles and to receive data related to power consumption from each of the plurality of plug-in vehicles. The system also includes a controller communicatively coupled to the communication system and configured to receive the data related to power consumption and to direct the charge authorizations based thereon. A database is also included in the system and is communicatively coupled to the controller, with the database configured to store the data related to power consumption.
US08912752B2

A wireless charging mobile communication device includes a wireless communication module, an electricity storage module, a converting module, an antenna module and a switching module. The antenna module receives and transmits wireless signal or electromagnetically induces a current. The switching module is electrically coupled to the antenna module, the wireless communication module, and the converting module. The switching module is for connecting the antenna module with the wireless communication module or connecting the antenna module with the converting module. The converting module is electrically coupled to the electricity storage module and converts the electromagnetically induced current for facilitating a charging of the electricity storage module. The converting module, the antenna module, and the switching module are integrated as an antenna device.
US08912751B2

An electric power tool system comprises a tool main body, a battery pack detachably attached to the tool main body, and a first charger that charges the battery pack. The first charger comprises a rechargeable battery that supplies current to at least one rechargeable battery of the battery pack. The at least one rechargeable battery of the first charger preferably has a larger charge storage capacity than the at least one rechargeable battery of the battery pack.
US08912750B2

Disclosed is a charger including a first rectifying portion that rectifies an alternating power and outputs the rectified power to a neutral point of a 3-phase motor; a second rectifying portion/inverter that charges output power of the first rectifying portion in a high-voltage battery in a charging mode and drives the 3-phase motor by switching the charged power of the high-voltage battery in a drive mode; a high-voltage charging controller that controls the first rectifying portion and second rectifying portion/inverter so as to charge the high-voltage battery in the charging mode; and a DSP (Digital Signal Processor) that controls the second rectifying portion/inverter so as to drive the 3-phase motor in the drive mode, and controls the high-voltage charging controller so as to charge the high-voltage battery in the charging mode.
US08912747B2

A driving apparatus including: a stepping motor configuring a drive source; an operating portion configured to reciprocate corresponding to forward and reverse rotations of the stepping motor; a home position detecting unit configured to detect a home position which corresponds to an outward movement starting position and a homeward movement terminating position of the operating portion; a homeward movement detecting unit configured to detect the driving amount of the stepping motor in a homeward movement of the operating portion from a start of the homeward movement of the operating portion driven by the stepping motor until a detection of the home position by the home position detecting unit; and an operation determining unit configured to determine that the operating portion is not operated normally when the driving amount detected by the homeward movement detecting unit is smaller than a predetermined driving amount.
US08912743B2

An example apparatus includes a controller configured to control operation of a salient-type, multiphase motor in accordance with a technique including periodic on and off-times, the motor including a stator and a rotor. The controller is configured to calculate or receive values representing changes in current to the motor during the respective on and off-times or measurements proportional thereto, and calculate an inductance of the motor as a function of the values and a supply voltage to the motor. And the controller is configured to determine a position of the rotor based on the inductance of the motor, and control operation of the motor based on the position of the rotor.
US08912742B2

An ECU executes a program including a step of detecting the rotation speed of a motor, a step of determining the diffusion width of carrier frequency, a step of determining the carrier frequency based on the determined diffusion width, a step of generating a carrier signal based on the determined carrier frequency, and a step of executing pulse width modulation based on an AC voltage command and the carrier signal.
US08912739B2

A synchronous machine control apparatus is characterized by including a magnet condition estimation unit (7, 7a) that estimates the temperature or the magnetic flux of a permanent magnet that forms the magnetic field of a synchronous machine (1), and is characterized in that the magnet condition estimation unit (7, 7a) coordinate-converts an armature current into currents on the γ-δ axis consisting of the γ axis and the δ axis that is perpendicular to the γ axis, based on the rotor position and the estimated γ axis, and estimates the temperature or the magnetic flux of the permanent magnet, based on the control command for the synchronous machine (1) and the γ-δ axis currents.
US08912736B2

Disclosed is a DC/DC converter system that, after calculating required voltages of the first and second motors based on the magnetic flux and speeds of the first and second motors, the voltage supplied to inverters is controlled by a final voltage command determined as a larger value of the battery voltage and the final required voltage. In particular, the final required voltage is determined as a larger value of the required voltages of the first and second motors.
US08912732B2

Embodiments of the present invention provide a system and method for determining a magnitude of current driving LEDs by sensing a current through a switching transistor and extracting the information of the LED current based on a relationship between the current through the switching transistor and the current driving the LEDs.
US08912729B2

A backlight module and a liquid crystal display (LCD) device thereof are proposed. The backlight module includes a DC/DC converter producing a positive/negative voltage level. The backlight module can output the positive and negative levels of driving voltage from an output end of the inverter to drive LEDs through alternately switching. Besides, a constant current can be obtained with designs of power on/off periods and energy-storing inductors to prevent LEDs employing current limiting resistors from having too low current efficiency and from being burnt out.
US08912724B2

The present invention relates to an LED emitting device and a driving method thereof. The LED emitting device receives an input voltage and supplies a power supply voltage needed for operating an LED channel according to a switching operation of a power switch. The LED emitting device controls the power supply and also controls a load switch between the LED channel and an output voltage. The LED emitting device determines the LED channel to be short circuited when the output voltage is reduced to a predetermined threshold voltage during a predetermined short circuit sense period starting from the time when the output voltage reaches a regulated voltage before the LED channel is dimmed. During the short circuit sense period, the power supply is stopped and the load switch is turned on.
US08912716B2

A spark plug for an internal combustion engine includes a spark plug housing. An insulator is concentrically located within the housing and has a distal end extending from an outer surface of the housing. A center electrode extends from a proximal end of the insulator. A ground electrode is secured to the housing and has an electrode tip arranged a distance from the center electrode. A chamber cap fixedly secured to the housing and surrounding both the center and ground electrodes, includes a laminate shell and a plurality of orifices.
US08912704B2

A method and apparatus for reducing or eliminating the effects of torque ripple and cogging torque and otherwise improving performance in an electromechanical machine such as a motor or generator. The rotor and/or stator is conceptually sectionalized and the sections spaced apart by amount sufficient to alleviate deleterious aspects of cogging torque and torque ripple. Positioning of the stator teeth or rotor magnets is determined based on the calculated spacing. Conceptual sections may be formed as physically individual segments. Unwound teeth may be disposed in end spaces between sections occupying less than the entire area of the end space.
US08912700B2

A rotor described herein includes a plurality of flux barriers that include at least one magnetic path formed between a plurality of slits. The flux barriers are arranged in a circumferential direction at a predetermined interval. Adjacent flux barriers are concatenated on an inner circumferential side by an annular connector provided on the inner circumferential side, and are separated on an outer circumferential side by openings provided on the outer circumferential side. The rotor also includes a permanent magnet at least partially embedded within the annular connector.
US08912697B2

A vacuum actuator includes a vacuum partition wall, the interior of which can be evacuated to a vacuum, a rotor supported by the vacuum partition wall to be free to rotate, a permanent magnet provided on the outer peripheral surface of the rotor, a coil opposed to the permanent magnet, and a stator provided with the coil. The stator and the vacuum partition wall are formed integrally with each other.
US08912693B2

A broadband linear vibrator that is small sized and yet capable of generating a greater vibrating force and outputting various broadband vibrations, and a mobile terminal capable of outputting various vibrations and sounds, wherein the broadband linear vibrator includes a case; a spring coupled to the case; an oscillator including a magnet for elastically supporting the spring and a stator formed inside the case for vibrating the oscillator, wherein a frequency band to a maximum use frequency that is detectable as a vibration or a sound source based on a resonant frequency is 1.2 times than a frequency band to a minimum use frequency, such that various feelings of vibrations and sounds can be advantageously provided by the broadband linear vibrator.
US08912686B2

A wireless power system that may align a portable electronic device with an inductive wireless power supply. The induction coils used for transferring power wirelessly may be used as DC electromagnets to align the portable electronic device with the inductive wireless power supply. A DC current may be supplied to the primary coil and to the secondary coil to generate DC electromagnetic fields and attractive force between the primary and secondary coils. This attractive force may be used for alignment.
US08912685B2

Disclosed herein is a noncontact electric power feeding apparatus, including: a resonance element for supplying an alternative current electric power in a noncontact style in accordance with a resonance; an alternative current power source portion configured to generate an alternative current electric power to be supplied to said resonance element; and impedance adjusting portion provided between said alternative current power source portion and said resonance element and configured to variably control an impedance in accordance with a coupling coefficient between said noncontact electric power feeding apparatus and an electric power feeding destination of the alternative current electric power.
US08912682B2

An electrical power system includes an electrical power generating system (EPGS); one or more constant power loads powered by the EPGS; and a power management and distribution (PMAD) center located between the EPGS and the one or more constant power loads, the PMAD center comprising a plurality of load management channels, each of the plurality of load management channels corresponding to a respective constant power load, wherein each of the plurality of load management channels comprises a load management function and a decoupling filter.
US08912678B2

The present invention is directed to a wave activated power generation system that converts the vertical movement of one or more power generation buoys resulting from interaction with waves into energy producing gyrations via a rack and pinion mechanism. The square-shaped power generation buoys are manufactured from fiber-reinforced plastic material.
US08912676B2

A wind turbine having a generator for generating electrical energy and a transformer is disclosed. The transformer is designed to receive electrical energy from the generator on a secondary side and to discharge said electrical energy again on a primary side at a higher voltage. The wind turbine also comprises a temperature monitoring means for the transformer. The voltage supply to the temperature monitoring means is fed from the primary side of the transformer. The temperature monitoring means is thereby independent of the control system of the wind turbine. The temperature monitoring means reduces the risk of the transformer overheating. A method for operating such a wind turbine is also disclosed.
US08912673B2

An apparatus and method for recovering exhaust kinetic energy. The apparatus includes a valve assembly, a motor generator and a controller. The valve assembly includes a rotary shaft which is disposed in an exhaust gas pipe and a flap which is disposed on the rotary shaft. The flap is rotated by an exhaust gas that is ejected. The motor generator is connected to the rotary shaft of the valve assembly, and in a first instance generates electricity using a rotational force transmitted from the rotary shaft and in a second instance applies a torque to the rotary shaft. The controller fixes the rotary shaft of the valve assembly at a predetermined angle in the first instance and adjusts the speed of rotation of the rotary shaft by controlling the motor generator in the second instance.
US08912663B1

The disclosure provides an embedded package structure comprising a metal substrate, a chip module, an insulation material layer, and at least one patterned metal layer. The metal substrate has a first surface and a second surface. The chip module is disposed on the first surface of the metal substrate, and comprises at least two stacked chips being electrically connected to each. The insulation material layer covers the first surface of the metal substrate and the stacked chips and has an electrical interconnection formed therein. The patterned metal layer is positioned on the insulation material layer, and is electrically connected the chip module through the electrical interconnection. The method for manufacturing the embedded package structure also provides.
US08912655B2

When a first wiring and/or a second wiring is formed, a connection portion is formed in the first wiring and/or the second wiring which covers a part of a lower electrode layer outside the memory cell array. An etching suppressing portion is formed above the connection portion. A contact hole is formed in which a portion under the etching suppressing portion reaches up to a connection potion, and the other portion reaches up to the lower electrode layer by performing etching to a laminated body in a range including the etching suppressing portion. The laminated body includes the insulating layer, the first wiring, a memory cell layer, the second wiring, and the etching suppressing portion. The contact layer is formed by burying a conductive material in the contact hole.
US08912649B2

A device includes a metal pad over a substrate. A passivation layer includes a portion over the metal pad. A post-passivation interconnect (PPI) is electrically coupled to the metal pad, wherein the PPI comprises a portion over the metal pad and the passivation layer. A polymer layer is over the PPI. A dummy bump is over the polymer layer, wherein the dummy bump is electrically insulated from conductive features underlying the polymer layer.
US08912647B2

According to one embodiment, provided is a semiconductor device includes: a high frequency semiconductor chip; an input matching circuit disposed at the input side of the high frequency semiconductor chip; an output matching circuit disposed at the output side of the high frequency semiconductor chip; a high frequency input terminal connected to the input matching circuit; a high frequency output terminal connected to the output matching circuit, and a smoothing capacitor terminal connected to the high frequency semiconductor chip. The high frequency semiconductor chip, the input matching circuit and the output matching circuit are housed by one package.
US08912641B1

An electronic package includes a printed wiring board (PWB) having a die-receiving cavity therein, a semiconductor die in the die-receiving cavity and coupled to the PWB, and a lid mating ring at an upper surface of the PWB surrounding the die-receiving cavity. The lid mating ring has spaced apart pillar-receiving openings therein. A lid is coupled to the lid mating ring and covers the semiconductor die within the die-receiving cavity. The lid includes a liquid crystal polymer (LCP) layer, and spaced apart pillars extending downwardly from a lower surface of the LCP layer and received in corresponding ones of the spaced apart pillar-receiving openings.
US08912633B2

A method for etching features in a silicon layer is provided. A hard mask layer is formed over the silicon layer. A photoresist layer is formed over the hard mask layer. The hard mask layer is opened. The photoresist layer is stripped by providing a stripping gas; forming a plasma with the stripping gas by providing a high frequency RF power and a low frequency RF power, wherein the low frequency RF power has a power less than 50 watts; and stopping the stripping gas when the photoresist layer is stripped. The opening the hard mask layer and the stripping the photoresist layer are performed in a same chamber.
US08912630B2

An integrated circuit (IC) and a method of making the same. In one embodiment, the IC includes: a substrate; an insulation layer over the substrate; a resistor over the insulation layer; a thermal gate over the resistor; and a heat sink connected to the thermal gate via a substrate contact, the heat sink adapted to receive thermal energy from the resistor via the thermal gate.
US08912629B2

A semiconductor device includes a substrate and a plurality of storage nodes on the substrate and extending in a vertical direction relative to the substrate. A lower support pattern is in contact with the storage nodes between a bottom and a top of the storage nodes, the lower support pattern spaced apart from the substrate in the vertical direction, and the lower support pattern having a first maximum thickness in the vertical direction. An upper support pattern is in contact with the storage nodes above the lower support pattern relative to the substrate, the upper support pattern spaced apart from the lower support pattern in the vertical direction, and the lower support pattern having a second maximum thickness in the vertical direction that is greater than the first maximum thickness of the lower support pattern.
US08912627B2

A high programming efficiency electrical fuse is provided utilizing a dual damascene structure located atop a metal layer. The dual damascene structure includes a patterned dielectric material having a line opening located above and connected to an underlying via opening. The via opening is located atop and is connected to the metal layer. The dual damascene structure also includes a conductive feature within the line opening and the via opening. Dielectric spacers are also present within the line opening and the via opening. The dielectric spacers are present on vertical sidewalls of the patterned dielectric material and separate the conductive feature from the patterned dielectric material. The presence of the dielectric spacers within the line opening and the via opening reduces the area in which the conductive feature is formed. As such, a high programming efficiency electrical fuse is provided in which space is saved.
US08912624B2

A semiconductor device and a method for manufacturing thereof are provided. The method includes a step of forming a first insulating film containing silicon and oxygen as its composition over a single-crystal semiconductor substrate, a step of forming a second insulating film containing silicon and nitrogen as its composition over the first insulating film, a step of irradiating the second insulating film with first ions to form a separation layer in the single-crystal semiconductor substrate, a step of irradiating the second insulating film with second ions so that halogen is contained in the first insulating film, and a step of performing heat treatment to separate the single-crystal semiconductor substrate with a single-crystal semiconductor film left over the supporting substrate.
US08912621B1

During fabrication of a semiconductor device, a width of semiconductor mesas between isolation trenches in the semiconductor device is varied in different regions. In particular, the width of the mesas is smaller in a termination region of the semiconductor device than in a cell or active region. When an oxide layer is subsequently grown, the semiconductor mesas between the trenches in the termination region are at least partially consumed so that the semiconductor mesas in the cell region and the termination region have different heights. Therefore, a contact photomask is not needed to isolate the semiconductor mesas in the termination region. Furthermore, after a planarization operation (such as chemical mechanical polishing), the semiconductor device may have a planar top surface than if contact holes are created. This may allow the metal layer deposited on top of the cell region and the termination region to be flat.
US08912620B2

Getter structure comprising at least one getter portion arranged on a support and including at least two adjacent getter material parts arranged on the support one beside the other, with different thicknesses and of which the surface grain densities are different from one another.
US08912612B2

A FinFET structure which includes: silicon fins on a semiconductor substrate, each silicon fin having two sides and a horizontal surface; a gate wrapping around at least one of the silicon fins, the gate having a first surface and an opposing second surface facing the at least one of the silicon fins; a hard mask on a top surface of the gate; a silicon nitride layer formed in each of the first and second surfaces so as to be below and in direct contact with the hard mask on the top surface of the gate; spacers on the gate and in contact with the silicon nitride layer; and epitaxially deposited silicon on the at least one of the silicon fins so as to form a raised source/drain.
US08912608B2

A semiconductor device and a method for fabricating the semiconductor device are disclosed. A gate stack is formed over a substrate. A spacer is formed adjoining a sidewall of the gate stack. A recess is formed between the spacer and the substrate. Then, a strained feature is formed in the recess. The disclosed method provides an improved method by providing a space between the spacer and the substrate for forming the strained feature, therefor, to enhance carrier mobility and upgrade the device performance.
US08912607B2

The thickness and composition of a gate dielectric can be selected for different types of field effect transistors through a planar high dielectric constant material portion, which can be provided only for selected types of field effect transistors. Further, the work function of field effect transistors can be tuned independent of selection of the material stack for the gate dielectric. A stack of a barrier metal layer and a first-type work function metal layer is deposited on a gate dielectric layer within recessed gate cavities after removal of disposable gate material portions. After patterning the first-type work function metal layer, a second-type work function metal layer is deposited directly on the barrier metal layer in the regions of the second type field effect transistor. A conductive material fills the gate cavities, and a subsequent planarization process forms dual work function metal gate structures.
US08912598B2

A semiconductor device can include a source region near a working top surface of a semiconductor region. The device can also include a gate located above the working top surface and located laterally between the source and a drain region. The source region and the gate can at least partially laterally overlap a body region near the working top surface. The source region can include a first portion having the first conductivity type, a second portion having a second conductivity type, and a third portion having the second conductivity type. The second portion can be located laterally between the first and third portions and can penetrate into the semiconductor region to a greater depth than the third portion but no more than the first portion. The lateral location of the third portion can be determined at least in part using the lateral location of the gate.
US08912583B2

The present invention provides a thin-film transistor manufactured on a transparent substrate having a structure of a top gate type crystalline silicon thin-film transistor in which a light blocking film, a base layer, a crystalline silicon film, a gate insulating film, and a gate electrode film arranged not to overlap at least a channel region are sequentially formed on the transparent substrate; wherein the channel region having channel length L, LDD regions having LDD length d on both sides of the channel region, a source region, and a drain region are formed in the crystalline silicon film; the light blocking film is divided across the channel region; and interval x between the divided light blocking films is equal to or larger than channel length L and equal to or smaller than a sum of channel length L and a double of LDD length d (L+2d). Thereby, the cost for manufacturing the thin-film transistor is low, and the photo leak current of the thin-film transistor is suppressed.
US08912577B2

According to various embodiments, a distributed heating transistor includes: a plurality of active regions where transistor action occurs including a heat source; and at least one inactive region where transistor action does not occur and no heat source is present, wherein adjacent active regions are separated by the at least one inactive region. The distributed heating transistor may be configured as field effect transistors (FETs), and bipolar junction transistors (BJTs). Methods for forming the distributed heating transistors are also provided.
US08912570B2

A high electron mobility transistor (HEMT) includes a first III-V compound layer. A second III-V compound layer is disposed on the first III-V compound layer and is different from the first III-V compound layer in composition. A source feature and a drain feature are in contact with the second III-V compound layer. A n-type doped region underlies each source feature and drain feature in the second III-V compound layer. A p-type doped region underlies each n-type doped region in the first III-V compound layer. A gate electrode is disposed over a portion of the second III-V compound layer between the source feature and the drain feature.
US08912568B2

A semiconductor device and manufacturing method therefor includes a Σ-shaped embedded source or drain regions. A U-shaped recess is formed in a Si substrate using dry etching and a SiGe layer is grown epitaxially on the bottom of the U-shaped recess. Using an orientation selective etchant having a higher etching rate with respect to Si than SiGe, wet etching is performed on the Si substrate sidewalls of the U-shaped recess, to form a Σ-shaped recess.
US08912557B2

An LED includes a substrate, a first n-type GaN layer, a connecting layer, a second n-type GaN layer, a light emitting layer, and a p-type GaN layer. The first n-type GaN layer, the connecting layer, and the second n-type GaN layer are formed on the substrate in sequence. The connecting layer is etchable by alkaline solution, and a bottom surface of the second n-type GaN layer facing towards the connecting layer has a roughed exposed portion. The GaN on the bottom surface of the second n-type GaN layer is N-face GaN. A top surface of the second n-type GaN layer facing away from the connecting layer includes a first area and a second area. The light emitting layer and the p-type GaN layer are formed on the first area of the top surface of the second n-type GaN layer in sequence.
US08912547B2

A light-emitting device which includes a semiconductor layer; a first insulating layer over the semiconductor layer; a gate electrode and a first conductive layer over the first insulating layer; a second insulating layer over the gate electrode and the first conductive layer; source and drain electrodes and a second conductive layer over the second insulating layer; a third insulating layer over the source and drain electrodes and the second conductive layer; a first electrode and a third conductive layer over the third insulating layer; a planarization film covering an end portion of the first electrode; an electroluminescent layer over the first electrode; and a second electrode over the electroluminescent layer and the planarization film is provided. The second electrode is electrically connected to the third conductive layer through an opening portion provided in the planarization film. The opening portion overlaps with the first, second, and third conductive layers.
US08912545B2

A method is provided for fabricating a nanowire-based semiconductor structure. The method includes forming a first nanowire with a first polygon-shaped cross-section having a first number of sides. The method also includes forming a semiconductor layer on surface of the first nanowire to form a second nanowire with a second polygon-shaped cross-section having a second number of sides, the second number being greater than the first number. Further, the method includes annealing the second nanowire to remove a substantial number of vertexes of the second polygon-shaped cross-section to form the nanowire with a non-polygon-shaped cross-section corresponding to the second polygon-shaped cross-section.
US08912541B2

One object of the present invention is to increase an aperture ratio of a semiconductor device. A pixel portion and a driver circuit are provided over one substrate. The first thin film transistor (TFT) in the pixel portion includes: a gate electrode layer over the substrate; a gate insulating layer over the gate electrode layer; an oxide semiconductor layer over the gate insulating layer; source and drain electrode layers over the oxide semiconductor layer; over the gate insulating layer, the oxide semiconductor layer, the source and drain electrode layers, a protective insulating layer which is in contact with part of the oxide semiconductor layer; and a pixel electrode layer over the protective insulating layer. The pixel portion has light-transmitting properties. Further, a material of source and drain electrode layers of a second TFT in the driver circuit is different from a material of those of the first TFT.
US08912527B2

A multi-quantum well structure includes two first barrier layers, two well layers sandwiched between the two first barrier layers, and a doped second barrier layer sandwiched between the two well layers. The second barrier layer has its conduction band and forbidden band gradually transiting to those of one of the well layers, and a dopant concentration of the second barrier layer gradually changes along a direction from one well layer to the other. The invention also relates to a light emitting diode structure having the multi-quantum well structure.
US08912520B2

A nanoscale switching device has an active region disposed between two electrodes of nanoscale widths. The active region contains a switching material that carries mobile ionic dopants capable of being transported over the active region under an electric field to change a resistive state of the device. The switching material further carries immobile ionic dopants for inhibiting clustering of the mobile ionic dopants caused by switching cycles of the device. The immobile ionic dopants have a charge opposite in polarity to the charge of the mobile ionic dopants, and are less mobile under the electric field than the mobile ion dopants.
US08912516B2

A memory element, including: a first electrode, a memory layer, and a second electrode in this order. The memory layer includes a resistance change layer containing an oxide, and the resistance change layer being provided on the first electrode side, and an ion source layer in a stacking structure of two or more of a unit ion source layer, the unit ion source layer including a first layer and a second layer, the first layer containing one or more of chalcogen elements of tellurium (Te), sulfur (S), and selenium (Se) and an easy-to-move element that is easy to move in the memory layer, and having a density distribution of the easy-to-move element from the first electrode to the second electrode, and the second layer containing a difficult-to-move element that is difficult to move in the memory layer.
US08912515B2

A method for manufacturing a memory cell device includes forming a bottom electrode comprising a pipe-shaped member, a top, a bottom and sidewalls having thickness in a dimension orthogonal to the axis of the pipe-shaped member, and having a ring-shaped top surface. A disc shaped member is formed on the bottom of the pipe-shaped member having a thickness in a dimension coaxial with the pipe-shaped member that is not dependent on the thickness of the sidewalls of the pipe-shaped member. A layer of phase change material is deposited in contact with the top surface of the pipe-shaped member. A top electrode in contact with the layer of programmable resistive material. An integrated circuit including an array of such memory cells is described.
US08912511B2

A device for multi-photon fluorescence microscopy for obtaining information from biological tissue is provided. The device comprising a laser unit for generating an excitation radiation, an optical unit which is formed to focus the excitation radiation for generating an optical signal at different locations in or on an object to be examined, and a detector module for detecting the optical signal from the region of the object. The optical unit for generating the optical signal at different locations in or on the object is movable in at least one direction relative to the object.
US08912509B2

A cathodoluminescence detection system is provided, including a collection optic collecting light radiation coming from a sample illuminated by a charged particle beam and sending the light radiation to an analyzer, a positioner for the collection optic; the positioner including several translation components of the collection optic. Each translation component effects the translation of the collection optic in one dimension of space so that the translation components effect the translation of the collection optic in several dimensions of space.
US08912507B2

A light irradiation device for dental implants, which is capable of reliably performing a required ultraviolet ray irradiation treatment to screw type dental implants, is provided. The light irradiation device for dental implants irradiates screw type dental implants with ultraviolet rays wherein each of the screw type implants has a screw part comprising a spiral protrusion. The light irradiation device comprises a casing, a stage that is provided within the casing, in which the plurality of dental implants are disposed and held so as to be aligned in one direction, and an ultraviolet ray irradiation lamp that is disposed within the casing, wherein the entire surface of the protrusion that forms the screw part of each of the plurality of dental implants held on the stage is irradiated with the ultraviolet rays emitted from the ultraviolet ray irradiation lamp.
US08912504B2

A central system of monitoring radiation levels in a plurality of facilities at the same time is disclosed. The system may include radiation detection systems, at least one processor to process monitoring data generated by the radiation detection systems to compensate for naturally occurring radiation, and a central monitoring station capable of generating an alarm at the central monitoring station and at a facility where an undesired radiation level has been detected. A method of monitoring radiation levels in production facilities is also disclosed. The method may include providing a plurality of radiation detection systems, providing a central monitor in communication with the radiation detection systems, communicating data from the radiation detection systems to the central monitor, and analyzing the data to detect potential radioactive materials.
US08912501B2

According to one embodiment, an optimum imaging position detecting method includes acquiring an image of a predetermined area of a substrate surface, calculating, on the basis of the image of the predetermined area, peak intensity corresponding to a value obtained by subtracting average signal intensity of an area outside an intensity acquisition part from signal intensity of the intensity acquisition part, calculating variation of the peak intensity, executing acquiring the image of the predetermined area, calculating the peak intensity, and calculating the variation of the peak intensity at each of a plurality of imaging positions, and determining that a position of the maximum variation of the peak intensity is an optimum imaging position.
US08912498B2

A halide scintillator material is disclosed. The material is single-crystalline and has a composition of the formula A3MBr6(1-x)Cl6x (such as Cs3CeBr6(1-x)Cl6x) or AM2Br7(1-x)Cl7x (such as CsCe2Br7(1-x)Cl7x), 0≦x≦1, wherein A consists essentially of Li, Na K, Rb, Cs or any combination thereof, and M consists essentially of Ce, Sc, Y, La, Lu, Gd, Pr, Tb, Yb, Nd or any combination thereof. Furthermore, a method of making halide scintillator materials of the above-mentioned compositions is disclosed. In one example, high-purity starting halides (such as CsBr, CeBr3, CsCl and CeCl3) are mixed and melted to synthesize a compound of the desired composition of the scintillator material. A single crystal of the scintillator material is then grown from the synthesized compound by the Bridgman method. The disclosed scintillator materials are suitable for making scintillation detectors used in applications such as medical imaging and homeland security.
US08912494B2

An apparatus for ultrasensitive long-wave imaging cameras is provided. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a filter configured to allow high frequencies of interest to pass through the filter. The apparatus also includes an antenna that is configured to receive the high frequencies of interest. The apparatus further includes a plurality of bolometers that are configured to measure data regarding the high frequencies of interest.
US08912493B2

A thermographic imaging device includes a focal array portion including a planar arrangement of a plurality of light sensitive devices, and an aperture portion including a facing planar surface, an opposing planar surface, and an arrangement of a plurality of orifices that are communicative with the facing planar surface and the opposing planar surface, each infrared sensitive device of the plurality of infrared arranged in alignment with a corresponding orifice of the plurality of orifices.
US08912491B2

The invention relates to a method of performing tomographic imaging of a sample comprising providing a beam of charged particles; providing the sample on a sample holder that can be tilted; in an imaging step, directing the beam through the sample to image the sample; repeating this procedure at each of a series of sample tilts to acquire a set of images; in a reconstruction step, mathematically processing images from said set to construct a composite image, whereby in said imaging step, for a given sample tilt, a sequence of component images is captured at a corresponding sequence of focus settings; and in said reconstruction step, for at least one member of said series of sample tilts, multiple members of said sequence of component images are used in said mathematical image processing. This renders a 3D imaging cube rather than a 2D imaging sheet at a given sample tilt.
US08912489B2

A process is provided for the removal of defects, for example, micro-bridging defects during device fabrication. In one aspect, a method includes: obtaining a wafer after lithography processing and exposing the wafer to at least one electron beam. In another aspect, a system includes: selecting a substrate with micro-bridging defects after the substrate undergoes lithography processing; preparing the substrate for exposure to at least one electron beam; and exposing the substrate to the at least one electron beam.
US08912488B2

A method for aligning a sample that is placed in the vacuum chamber so that the sample is oriented normal to the focused ion beam is disclosed. The locations of different spots on the sample surface are determined using a focusing routine. The locations of the different spots are used to create an image line or an image plane that determines the proper calibrations that are needed. The image line or image plane is then used to calibrate the sample stage so that the sample is aligned substantially normal to the focused ion beam.
US08912487B2

Observation using an FIB image is enabled without causing any damage to a designated region. To this end, an ion beam scanning-prohibited region is set in a sample by using an image acquired by a charged particle beam other than an ion beam, or an image prepared as external data as a peripheral image including the designated region of a sample. Thereafter, the image used to set the ion beam scanning-prohibited region is exactly superimposed on an FIB image acquired for regions except the ion beam scanning-prohibited region, thereby forming an image including the ion beam scanning-prohibited region on which ion beam scanning has not been performed.
US08912486B2

An elemental flow cytometer includes a device to vaporize, atomize, and ionize material and an introduction system for introducing packets of discrete entities into said device to vaporize, atomize and ionize materials to vaporize, atomize and ionize the entities in the packets. A spectrometer is adapted to individually analyze elemental composition of one or more of the vaporized, atomized and excited or ionized packets.
US08912485B2

The invention relates to acquisition techniques for time-of-flight mass spectra with ionization of the analyte substances by matrix assisted laser desorption. Generally speaking, these acquisition techniques involve adding together a large number of individual time-of-flight spectra, each with restricted dynamic measuring range, to form a sum spectrum. The invention provides a method that improves, in particular, the reproducibility, the concentration accuracy and therefore the ability to quantify the mass spectra. Particular embodiments also increase the dynamic range of measurement. For this purpose, multiple series of mass spectra are acquired, whereby the energy density in the laser spot is increased in discrete steps. As a result, many ion signals saturate the detector and can therefore no longer be evaluated. However, it is possible to employ a technique in which the ion beam is increasingly defocused, or, secondly, to replace parts of the spectrum that are subject to saturation by intensity extrapolations from mass spectra acquired with lower energy density. In the first case, hundreds or thousands of individual mass spectra must be added together in order to increase the dynamic measuring range. In the second case, the finally acquired mass spectrum, with its replacements, forms a mass spectrum with a high dynamic measuring range, improved reproducibility and better concentration accuracy. The gradient of the increasing intensities of the ion signals, as a function of the energy density, supplies additional information about the proton affinity of the analyte ions. The concentration accuracy is enhanced because the increase in the number of proton donors in the ionization plasma leads to an increase in the ionization of those analyte substances that have a lower proton affinity.
US08912484B2

A neutron detector is provided which may include a neutron converting layer, and a scintillator layer adjacent the neutron converting layer. The neutron detector may further include a photomultiplier adjacent the scintillator layer. By way of example, the neutron detector may be used in a well logging apparatus to determine a neutron flux incident upon the neutron converting layer, and thereby determine the neutron porosity of a geological formation around a wellbore.
US08912483B2

A display measuring device for measuring a display, includes a photosensitive unit, a first rotation plane mirror, a second rotation plane mirror, a first lens module, a second lens module, and an optic reflecting unit. The first lens module projects a first incident image from the display to the first rotation plane mirror. The first rotation plane mirror reflects the projected first incident image from the first lens module to the optic reflecting unit. The second lens module projects a second incident image from the display to the second rotation plane mirror. The second rotation plane mirror reflects the projected second incident image from the second lens module to the optic reflecting unit. The optic reflecting unit reflects the reflected first incident image to the photosensitive unit, and reflects the reflected second incident image to the photosensitive unit.
US08912475B2

An optical sensing system includes a transmitter configured to transmit a free-space optical signal toward a target, and a receiver configured to receive a reflected free-space optical target signal from the target. The receiver includes a phase sensitive amplifier (PSA), a homodyne detector coupled downstream from the PSA, and a controller configured to adjust a phase of the PSA based upon the homodyne detector.
US08912468B2

A zero-crossing detector circuit includes: a first capacitor including a first electrode configured to connect to one end of an AC power supply and a second electrode; a second capacitor including a first electrode configured to connect to the other end of the AC power supply and a second electrode; a current path, which is connected in series between the second electrode of the first capacitor and the second electrode of the second capacitor, and which is connected to a reference potential, and which generates a second-electrode-side voltage when the AC current passes through the current path; a signal converting circuit, which is connected to the AC power supply to receive the second-electrode-side voltage and then converts the second-electrode-side voltage into a pulse signal; and a detecting unit, which detects a pulse period of the pulse signal, which and detects zero-crossing points by using the pulse period.
US08912459B2

A system includes a robot, comprising a manipulator and a controller, with a gripper mounted on the manipulator, for picking the battery for testing and sorting, a battery holding section for receiving batteries for testing and sorting at predetermined locations in the battery holding section, and a testing section disposed within the working range of the robot, for testing an electrical condition of the battery for testing and sorting, whereby the controller controls the manipulator and the gripper to first-pick the battery for testing and sorting at the predetermined location from the battery holding section and place it to contact the testing section for testing, the testing section tests the battery and sends to the controller a signal indicating the electrical condition of the tested battery, and the controller controls the manipulator and the gripper to second-pick the battery contacting the testing section and sort it according to the signal.
US08912454B2

Provided is a seal structure which can reduce the thickness of an electronic device, can be easily assembled and disassembles, and can exhibit an excellent seal performance. Thus, the seal structure for an electronic device, which seals a gap between a flexible wiring substrate inserted to a through-hole provided in a case member of an electronic device and the through-hole, is comprised of an annular gasket composed of a rubber elastic material, a part of which is integrally molded with the flexible wiring substrate, and a retainer plate for retaining the gasket in conjunction with the case member.
US08912444B2

Systems and methods for storing a cable are provided. The casing may be configured to naturally coil and to uncoil when one or more forces are applied to the casing. The casing may include an opening that may lead to a channel that may run longitudinally through a length of the casing. At least a portion of the cable (e.g., a headphone cable or in-ear earphone cable) may be stored in the casing by longitudinally aligning the cable with the casing, and inserting various portions of the cable through the opening and into the channel.
US08912442B2

One example embodiment includes a cover plate for an electrical receptacle. The cover plate includes a first conducting strip. The first conducting strip protrudes rearward from the cover plate and is configured to contact a first terminal of a receptacle, where the first terminal connects the receptacle to a power source. The cover plate also includes a first insulating means, where the first insulating means prevents the first conducting strip from contacting other conducting materials. The cover plate further includes a second conducting strip. The second conducting strip protrudes rearward from the cover plate and is configured to contact a second terminal of the receptacle, where the second terminal completes the connection of the receptacle to the power source. The cover plate additionally includes a second insulating means, where the second insulating means prevents the second conducting strip from contacting other conducting materials. The cover plate also includes a load.
US08912439B2

An electrical outlet box installation in which there is no exposed cover plate, only the operative portion of the electrical component is visible at the wall surface. The operative portion of the component may be an electrical outlet, jack, switch, knob, or light, for example. The body of the electrical component is housed within the outlet box, also referred to as a junction box, with the open side of the outlet box being covered by a plate assembly having an opening that closely surrounds the operative portion of the component. The surface of the plate assembly is covered with wallboard mud, or other wall finishing material, which is blended into the surrounding surface of the wall so that only the operative portion of the component is exposed. The wall covering may also be paneling, stone, tile or similar materials.
US08912435B2

Disclosed is an organic photoelectric conversion element which has excellent photoelectric conversion efficiency and excellent temperature stability with respect to power generation. The organic photoelectric conversion element comprises at least one photoelectric conversion layer and at least one carrier transport layer between a first electrode and a second electrode, and is characterized in that the carrier transport layer contains the salt of an alkali metal or an alkaline earth metal or the complex thereof of an alkali metal or an alkaline earth metal.
US08912430B2

A solar conversion assembly comprises: a) a type III-V multiple cell stack solar cell device b) a silicon solar cell device c) a band splitting device located relative to the type III-V solar cell device and the silicon solar cell device. The band splitting device splits light falling on the splitting device into a plurality of wavelength bands and directs a first of said bands to the type III-V solar cell device and the second of said bands to the silicon solar cell device.
US08912423B1

An extensible torpedo has a body, a cavity within the body and a water reactive material in communication with the cavity. A mechanism selectively positions the cavity between a first volume and a second volume and also selectively positions the torpedo between a first length and a second length. The second volume and length are greater than the first volume and length. The mechanism introduces ambient water into the cavity in a volume that represents a stoichiometric balance with the amount of water reactive material.
US08912419B2

A musical playback amusement system is disclosed. A primary audio track defined by a plurality of time-sequence audio data elements and associated synchronization identifiers are loaded and played back on a first interactive device. A second interactive device is in communication with the first interactive device to receive playback synchronization commands that coordinates playback of a secondary track loaded on the second interactive device. The synchronization identifiers in the primary track are transmitted from the first to the second interactive device as the playback synchronization commands in coordination with the playback of the primary audio track.
US08912412B2

According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH559337. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH559337, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH559337 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to genetic complements of plants of variety CH559337.
US08912397B1

Disclosed is the seed of a novel soybean variety, designated 75408-57N, a sample of which is deposited under ATCC Accession No. PTA-121159. Also disclosed are plants, or parts thereof, grown from the seed of the variety, plants having the morphological and physiological characteristics of the 75408-57N variety, and methods of using the plant or parts thereof in a soybean breeding program.
US08912390B1

A novel maize variety designated PH1MCM and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PH1MCM with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH1MCM through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid maize seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the variety PH1MCM or a locus conversion of PH1MCM with another maize variety.
US08912383B2

A dual mode absorbent tampon comprising a mass of absorbent material compressed into a generally cylindrical shape, in a first mode of the tampon. The mass of absorbent material comprising a homogeneous mixture of a plurality of fibers which comprise at least a first type of fiber and a second type of fiber, where the first type of fiber is bondable to fibers of the plurality of fibers. At least a portion of the first type of fibers are bonded in a pre-determined pattern to adjacent fibers of the plurality of fibers wherein absorption by the tampon causes at least a portion of the mass of absorbent material to expand into a non-cylindrical shape which is dependent upon the pre-determined pattern, in a second mode of the tampon.
US08912364B2

The present disclosure relates, according to some embodiments, to compositions, apparatus, methods, and systems that may be used to produce polyols, for example, polyether polyols with a narrow range of molecular weights, with little if any unsaturated byproducts, in a sustained and/or continuous reaction, with efficient heat transfer, and/or at high production rates. For example, in some embodiments, teachings of the disclosure may be used to produce polyether polyols in a continuous loop flow process. A continuous loop flow process may be practiced such that heat is effectively transferred and/or product properties (e.g., range of molecular weights) are controllable. For example, a continuous loop flow process may use one or more continuous flow loops comprising a heat exchanger, a means to move material around each loop, inlets for catalyst, monomer, initiator or starter, and an outlet for polyol product.
US08912363B2

Provided is a chlorinated polyether which has excellent solubility in solvents and excellent thermal stability, has the excellent effect of improving the adhesion of coating materials, inks, and adhesives to polyolefins, can be expected to be usable as a flame retardant, and is useful also as a novel starting material for polyurethanes. The polyether is a novel chlorinated polyether containing, as a repeating unit, at least one of the chlorinated-ether residue represented by the following formula (1) and the chlorinated-ether residue represented by the following formula (2). Also provided is a novel polyurethane obtained therefrom.
US08912361B2

Process for preparing primary amines which have at least one functional group of the formula (—CH2—NH2) and at least one further primary amino group by alcohol amination of starting materials having at least one functional group of the formula (—CH2—OH) and at least one further functional group (—X), where (—X) is selected from among hydroxyl groups and primary amino groups, by means of ammonia with elimination of water, wherein the reaction is carried out homogeneously catalyzed in the presence of at least one complex catalyst comprising at least one element selected from groups 8, 9 and 10 of the Periodic Table and also at least one donor ligand.
US08912348B2

To provide a tetrahydropyranyl compound represented by General Formula (1) below: General Formula (1) where X denotes any one of a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, an oxygen atom, and a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic hydrocarbon group, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5 and R6 each denote any one of a hydrogen atom, a methyl group and an ethyl group, and n denotes an integer of 1 to 4.
US08912344B2

A photoelectric conversion device capable of improving conversion efficiency is provided. The photoelectric conversion device includes a work electrode, a counter electrode, and an electrolyte-containing layer. In the work electrode, a metal oxide semiconductor layer supporting a dye is provided. The dye contains a cyanine compound. The cyanine compound has heterocyclic skeletons containing indolenine skeletons bonded with both ends of a methine chain, an anchor group introduced to a nitrogen atom contained in the indolenine skeletons, and a phenanthrene skeleton contained in one of the heterocyclic skeletons. In the case where light enters the dye, electron injection efficiency to the metal oxide semiconductor layer is improved.
US08912341B2

Enantiomeric bicyclic lactone compounds as can be prepared via an N-heterocyclic carbene-catalyzed annulation reaction.
US08912338B2

Molecules according to Formula One: wherein R10 is selected from the following are provided. Furthermore, pesticidal compositions that comprise these molecules, and processes related to their uses as pesticides are disclose.
US08912332B2

The present invention describes tripodal catechol derivatives with a flexible basic framework for the functionalization of surfaces, and methods for their production and use. The central atom of the flexible framework is hereby a tertiary aliphatic carbon atom. The remaining fourth bridgehead position is easily suitable to be further functionalized via so-called click reactions, e.g. with biomolecules, dyes, radiomarkers, polyethylene glycol or active agents.The compounds according to the present invention have the general formula X—C[(CH2)n—YZ]3, wherein X stands for a group —(CH2)p—R5, wherein p=0 to 10 and R5 is selected from —H, —NH2, —NO2, —OH, —SH, —O—NH2, —NH—NH2, —N═C═S—, —N═C═O—, —CH═CH2, —C≡CH, —COOH, —(C═O)H, —(C═O)R6Y stands for —CH2—, —CH═CH—, —C≡C—, —O—, —S—, —S—S—, —NH—, —O—NH—, —NH—O—, —HC═N—O—, —O—N═CH—, —NR1—, -Aryl-, -Heteroaryl-, —(C═O)—, —O—(C═O)—, —(C═O)—O—, —NH—(C═O)—, —(C═O)—NH—, —NR1—(C═O)—, —(C═O)—NR1—, —NH—(C═O)—NH—, —NH—(C═S)—NH—, R1 stands for an aryl group, R6 for an alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl or heteroaryl group, and Z stands for a catechol derivative.The production of the compounds occurs by reacting a compound X—C[(CH2)n—Y′]3 with a reagent Y″Z to the corresponding compound X—C[(CH2)n—YZ]3 and subsequent purification of the reaction product.Y′ and Y″ are hereby precursors of Y. The compounds according to formula (I) according to the present invention are suitable to be used in a method to functionalize surfaces. The X group of the compounds according to the present invention is suitable to be optionally coupled to an effector, for example, by means of click chemistry.
US08912331B2

The present invention provides, inter alia, compounds of formula I as protein kinase modulators, methods of preparing them, pharmaceutical compositions containing them and methods of treatment, prevention and/or amelioration of kinase mediated diseases or disorders with them.
US08912322B2

Convenient methods of preparing aza-dibenzocyclooctynes are disclosed herein. Aza-dibenzocyclooctynes attached to a surface are also disclosed herein. Aza-dibenzocyclooctynes can be reacted with azides to form heterocyclic compounds. Such reactions can be useful in a wide variety of applications including, for example, labeling surfaces.
US08912321B2

The present process provides an improved method for the preparation of 4-amino-1-((2R,3R,4R,5R)-3-fluoro-4-hydroxy-5-hydroxymethyl-3-methyl-tetrahydrofuran-2-yl)-1H-pyrimidin-2-one of the formula (IV) which is a potent inhibitor of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) NS5B polymerase.
US08912319B2

The present invention relates to methods of synthesizing 18F-FMAU. In particular, 18F-FMAU is synthesized using one-pot reaction conditions in the presence of Friedel-Crafts catalysts. The one-pot reaction conditions are incorporated into a fully automated cGMP-compliant radiosynthesis module, which results in a reduction in synthesis time and simplifies reaction conditions. The one-pot reaction conditions are also suitable for the production of 5-substituted thymidine or cytidine analogs. The products from the one-pot reaction (e.g. the labeled thymidine or cytidine analogs) can be used as probes for imaging tumor proliferative activity. More specifically, these [18F]-labeled thymidine or cytidine analogs can be used as a PET tracer for certain medical conditions, including, but not limited to, cancer disease, autoimmunity inflammation, and bone marrow transplant.
US08912318B2

Embodiments are disclosed herein that involve C5-functionalized nucleic acids, which can be used for detecting a target in a nucleic acid. Particular embodiments disclose methods for making these compounds, wherein the compounds can be formed by coupling of an intermediate with a linker. Certain embodiments disclose the use of these compounds for detecting single nucleotide polymorphisms, and for increasing the thermal affinity of nucleic acid complements as compared to unmodified nucleic acid complements. In addition, the disclosed compounds can decrease enzymatic degradation of nucleic acids.
US08912317B2

Sequences of ribonucleic acid interference molecules are provided. For example, in one aspect, at least one nucleic acid molecule comprising at least one of one or more precursor sequences having SEQ_ID NO: 1 through SEQ_ID NO: 3,197 and one or more corresponding mature sequences having SEQ_ID NO: 3,198 through SEQ_ID NO: 6,565 is provided. Techniques are also provided for regulating gene expression.
US08912310B2

The present disclosure describes environmentally responsive polypeptides capable of displaying stimuli-triggered conformational changes in a reversible or irreversible manner that may be accompanied by aggregation. Polypeptides include a number of repeated motifs and may be elastomeric or non-elastomeric. The polypeptides may be used to deliver therapeutics to a biological site and to develop bioactive polypeptides that are environmentally responsive.
US08912295B2

It is an object to provide a liquid thermosetting composition that yields an epoxy resin having physical properties of the cured product such as high flexural strength along with adequate handleability as liquid, to be used in transparent sealants for optical semiconductors, such as transparent sealants for LEDs (light-emitting devices) and the like. There is provided a thermosetting composition containing an epoxy compound that a side chain between a triazinetrione ring and an epoxy group substituted on the triazinetrione ring is long (elongated).
US08912289B2

Provided is a tapered block copolymer having asymmetric vinyl aromatic blocks. The disclosed tapered block copolymer has very superior adhesion properties such as loop tack, 180° peel strength and softening point and may be used to prepare high-quality hot melt adhesives for industrial use.
US08912287B2

Disclosed are a method for producing a polymer by a polymerization of a mixture at a temperature of 210° C. or lower, wherein the mixture comprises 0.01 to 35 mol % of a monomer or a polymer thereof which has a piperidine skeleton represented by formula (1), and a molded body thereof. R1 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, X represents an oxygen atom, an imino group, or a specific oxygen atom containing a hydrocarbon group, and R2 and R3 represent a hydrogen atom, a linear alkyl group with C1 to C8, a branched alkyl group with C1 to C8, an alicyclic hydrocarbon with C6 to C8, or an aryl group, wherein R2 and R3 may also form a cyclic structure.
US08912282B2

Polymer blends comprise at least one ethylene/α-olefin interpolymer and one or more oil. The oil can be an aromatic oil, napththenic oil, paraffinic oil or a combination thereof. The ethylene/α-olefin interpolymers are random block copolymers comprising at least a hard block and at least a soft block. The resulting blends can be used to make flexible molded articles.
US08912274B2

To obtain water-dispersible varnish used in an alternative refrigerant/refrigerating machine oil refrigerant system or a natural refrigerant/refrigerating machine oil refrigerant system, the water-dispersible varnish being capable of solving two problems, namely, reducing the volatile components and the like during thermal curing and resistance of the cured varnish to the refrigerant system,wherein the water-dispersible varnish has a specific thermosetting resin as base polymer, a specific vinyl monomer as reactive diluent, organic peroxide as reaction initiator, and water mixed therein.
US08912272B2

The invention relates to a moisture resistant composition comprising: a) from 20 to 80 weight percent based on the total weight of the composition of a polyetherimide copolymer made from a monomer mixture comprising 3,3′ bisphenol-A dianhydride (BPADA), and 4,4′-diaminodiphenyl sulfone (DDS); b) from 5 to 75 weight percent based on the total weight of the composition of polyetheretherketone (PEEK); and c) from 0 to 30 weight percent based on the total weight of the composition of a filler. The invention relates to a reflector substrate comprising a moisture resistant layer metalized with a reflective layer, wherein the moisture resistant layer comprising the moisture resistant composition. The invention relates to a method for producing a metalized coating without a primer comprising applying a reflective layer directly to a moisture resistant layer in the absence of a primer, wherein the moisture resistant layer comprises the moisture resistant composition.
US08912265B2

Nano-composites that comprise a thermoplastic polymer (TPO) and an exfoliated organoclay are prepared by a method comprising contacting under exfoliating conditions at least one molten TPO polymer with at least one organoclay and at least one exfoliating agent of H-TEMPO or an amine precursor to H-TEMPO such that the exfoliating agent exfoliates the organoclay.
US08912260B2

A composition that includes at least one silane-functional polymer P and 20 to 60% by weight of aluminum hydroxide or magnesium hydroxide or mixture thereof, is disclosed. The composition has a viscosity of 500 to 20,000 mPa·s measured according to DIN 53018 at a temperature of 20° C. The composition is suitable as a liquid membrane and has very good flammability properties, i.e., it is difficult to ignite and is self-extinguishing.
US08912256B2

A hybrid swellable material employs an oleophilic elastomer as a matrix admixed with an organic material derived from soy that is water swellable in brine, as well as fresh water. Various downhole tools may be made using this hybrid swellable material.
US08912246B2

A crosslinkable curing super-branched polyester and the cured product and the preparation method thereof are disclosed. The super-branched polyester has high refractive index and comprises a compound represented by the following structural formula (I). In the formula (I), HBP is the backbone of the super-branched polyester; both a and b are positive integers; the sum of a and b is less than or equal to n; n is more than or equal to 10 and less than 80. In the super-branched polyester, A is represented by formula (II) and N is represented by formula (III), wherein R is methyl or hydrogen atom; the mole ratio of N relative to the total mole of A and N is more than 30 mol %, and the ratio of the total mole of A and N relative to the product of the total mole of HBP backbone and n is more than 0.5 and less than or equal to 1.
US08912244B2

Contemplated compositions and methods for protection of concrete and various other cementitious materials comprise a step of formation of a mesoporous polymeric network within the concrete or other cementitious material, wherein the network further includes a cationic component that forms a substantially insoluble precipitate upon reaction with sulfuric acid to so form a composite barrier against further attack by sulfuric acid.
US08912234B2

The present invention is a method for obtaining a formulation of resveratrol and rice bran oil. The resulting product in the form of an oil or solid proves to increase the therapeutic potential of resveratrol by the synergistic action of the components of the rice oil.The product obtained through the method of the invention is an active principle which, when incorporated in nutraceutical and/or pharmaceutical compositions, provides antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, cardioprotective, neuroprotective and/or cancer chemoprotective action, besides protecting against infections and ischemia, reducing obesity, and preventing illnesses of old age.
US08912230B2

The invention relates to the use of a molecule selected from the group which consists of geranyl acetate, geraniol, isomenthone, limonene or a mixture of at least two of the above, for preparing a drug for treating or preventing vascular endothelial cell senescence and subjacent tissue degeneration induced by repeated inflammatory episodes. Specifically, the drug is useful for treating vascular endothelial cell senescence and tissue degeneration induced by repeated inflammatory episodes resulting from the presence of cancer cells.
US08912222B2

N-Substituted sulfoximines are effective at controlling insects resistant to common insecticides.
US08912219B2

Compounds of the formula I: or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein m, n, p, q, r, A, X1, X2, X3, X4, X5, X6, Y, Z, G, R1a, R2a, R1b, R2b, R3, R4, R5 and R6 are as defined herein. Also disclosed are methods of making the compounds and using the compounds for treatment of inflammatory diseases such as arthritis.
US08912212B2

The present disclosure relates in part to pharmaceutical compositions comprising polymeric nanoparticles having certain glass transition temperatures. Other aspects of the invention include methods of making such nanoparticles.
US08912203B2

Provided herein are PAK inhibitors and methods of utilizing PAK inhibitors for the treatment of CNS disorders such as neuropsychiatric disorders.
US08912201B2

The invention relates to novel 6-cycloalkyl-pyrazolopyrimidinones according to formula (I) wherein R1, R2, D, m and n are as defined herein. The invention also relates to medicaments comprising these compounds and methods of using these compounds in the treatment of diseases and conditions, particularly diseases or conditions concerning deficits in perception, concentration, learning or memory.
US08912196B2

Novel piperazine, piperidine and tetrahydropyridine derivatives comprising a dibenzofurane moiety are provided herein, as well as pharmaceutical compositions comprising same and therapeutic uses thereof.
US08912195B2

Compounds of Formula (I), including pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein A is selected from the group (II), are useful as HIV attachment inhibitors.
US08912187B2

Compounds of the formula (I): wherein A and B together represent an optionally substituted, fused aromatic ring; X can be NRX or CRXRY; if X═NRX then n is 1 or 2 and if X═CRXRY then n is 1; RX is selected from the group consisting of H, optionally substituted C1-20 alkyl, C5-20 aryl, C3-20 heterocyclyl, amido, thioamido, ester, acyl, and sulfonyl groups; RY is selected from H, hydroxy, amino; or RX and RY may together form a spiro-C3-7 cycloalkyl or heterocyclyl group; RC1 and RC2 are both hydrogen, or when X is CRXRY, RC1, RC2, RX and RY, together with the carbon atoms to which they are attached, may form an optionally substituted fused aromatic ring; and R1 is selected from H and halo.
US08912183B2

The present invention is directed to compounds having histamine H3 antagonist activity, as well as methods of their use and preparation.
US08912180B2

Provided is a novel compound which is an agent for treating rejection reactions in various organ transplantations, allergy diseases, autoimmune diseases, and hematologic tumor, and based on a PI3Kδ selective inhibitory action and/or an IL-2 production inhibitory action and/or a B cell proliferation inhibitory action (including an activation inhibitory action). The provided compound has a PI3Kδ selective inhibitory action, an IL-2 production inhibitory action, and/or a B cell proliferation inhibitory action, including an activation inhibitory action.
US08912168B2

A modified starch material for biocompatible hemostasis, biocompatible adhesion prevention, tissue healing promotion, absorbable surgical wound sealing and tissue bonding, when applied as a biocompatible modified starch to the tissue of animals. The modified starch material produces hemostasis, reduces bleeding of the wound, extravasation of blood and tissue exudation, preserves the wound surface or the wound in relative wetness or dryness, inhibits the growth of bacteria and inflammatory response, minimizes tissue inflammation, and relieves patient pain. Any excess modified starch not involved in hemostatic activity is readily dissolved and rinsed away through saline irrigation during operation. After treatment of surgical wounds, combat wounds, trauma and emergency wounds, the modified starch hemostatic material is rapidly absorbed by the body without the complications associated with gauze and bandage removal.
US08912161B2

Described herein are compositions and methods for the inhibition of miR-21 activity. The compositions have certain nucleoside modification patterns that yield potent inhibitors of miR-21 activity. The compositions may be used to inhibit miR-21, and also to treat diseases associated with abnormal expression of miR-21, such as fibrosis and cancer.
US08912160B2

Disclosed herein are antisense compounds and methods for decreasing LDL-C in an individual having elevated LDL-C. Additionally disclosed are antisense compounds and methods for treating, preventing, or ameliorating hypercholesterolemia and/or atherosclerosis. Further disclosed are antisense compounds and methods for decreasing coronary heart disease risk. Such methods include administering to an individual in need of treatment an antisense compound targeted to a PCSK9 nucleic acid. The antisense compounds administered include gapmer antisense oligonucleotides.
US08912158B2

The invention relates to a method for influencing the miR-92 expression in a cell, comprising the following steps: (a) providing a cell; and (b1) reducing the miR-92 expression in the cell in order to promote the vascularization or vessel repair by introducing an antisense molecule against miR-92 into the cell, or (b2) increasing the miR-92 expression in the cell for an inhibition of the tumor angiogenesis by introducing a construct into the cell, wherein said construct includes an expressible miR-92 sequence. Furthermore, the invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition, comprising an agent for reducing the miR-92 activity or expression in a cell in the form of an antisense molecule against miR-92, or an agent for increasing the miR-92 expression in a cell in the form of a construct for expressing miR-92.
US08912157B2

The present invention relates to antisense oligonucleotides that modulate the expression of and/or function of a Pancreatic Developmental gene, in particular, by targeting natural antisense polynucleotides of a Pancreatic Developmental gene. The invention also relates to the identification of these antisense oligonucleotides and their use in treating diseases and disorders associated with the expression of Pancreatic Developmental genes.
US08912154B2

The present invention provides pharmaceutical formulations for oral administration of antisense oligonucleotides, such as antisense oligonucleotides against SMAD7. The pharmaceutical formulations can be used to treat Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis and chronic inflammatory bowel disease.
US08912144B2

Disclosed herein is a method for stimulating axonal outgrowth of central nervous system (CNS) neurons comprising contacting the CNS neurons with an effective amount of NEP1-40 and inosine, to thereby stimulate axonal outgrowth. The method may further comprise contacting the CNS neurons with a cAMP modulator that increases the concentration of intracellular cAMP. Also disclosed is a method for treating a neurological disorder selected from the group consisting of traumatic brain injury, stroke, spinal cord injury, optic neuropathy, retinal nerve damage and optic nerve damage, in a patient in need thereof comprising administering an effective amount of NEP1-40 and inosine to the patient.
US08912140B2

The invention relates to a modified botulinum toxin comprising a natural heavy chain and a modified light chain, characterized in that the modification of the light chain resides in that it comprises (i) an extension of the chain on its N-terminus which has the structure —(C)n-(tag)m-(X)l— in the direction from the N- to the C-terminal end, wherein C represents a cysteine residue, tag represents any tag and X represents the residue of any naturally occurring amino acid, n represents an integer from 1 to 50, m represents 0 or 1, and l represents 0 or an integer from 1 to 50, and in that (ii) at least one of the cysteine residues in the extension of the chain is coupled to at least one chain of PEG.
US08912133B2

The invention provides a lubricating composition containing an oil of lubricating viscosity, an additive containing a polymeric backbone and at least one amino group. The invention further provides for the additive to have dispersant and/or dispersant viscosity modifying properties. The lubricating composition is suitable for lubricating an internal combustion engine.
US08912128B2

The present invention related to a saccharide-based cholera toxin detection sensor for detection of Vibrio cholerae and its use. More specifically, the present invention relates to a carbohydrate chip for detection of Vibrio cholerae, a method for detecting Vibrio cholerae using the same, and a method for preparing the same, where the carbohydrate chip comprises GM1 pentasaccharide, GM2 tetrasaccharide, asialo GM1 tetrasaccharide, GM3 trisaccharide, galactose-β 1,3-N-acetylgalactosamine, lactose, and sialic acid that are immobilized on the surface of a solid substrate.
US08912125B2

Methods for controlling the growth of trifluralin-resistant annual ryegrass in cereals using dithiopyr are described. The methods include contacting the locus of the cereal, at planting or before weed emergence, with an herbicidally effective amount of dithiopyr. The dithiopyr can be applied to the soil and either incorporated into the soil at the time of planting the cereal or applied post-planting to the soil surface before the weeds have emerged.
US08912121B2

Provided herein are synergistic herbicidal compositions containing (a) a compound of formula (I): or an agriculturally acceptable salt or ester thereof and (b) a PS II inhibitor, including but not limited to, atrazine, bentazon-sodium, bromoxynil, chlorotoluron, cyanazine, diuron, hexazinone, ioxynil, isoproturon, linuron, methibenzuron, metribuzin, propanil, pyridate, siduron, simazine, simetryne, tebuthiuron and terbuthylazine, or a salt or ester thereof. The compositions and methods provided herein provide control of undesirable vegetation, e.g., in direct-seeded, water-seeded and transplanted rice, cereals, wheat, barley, oats, rye, sorghum, corn or maize, sugarcane, sunflower, oilseed rape, canola, sugar beet, soybean, cotton, pineapple, pastures, grasslands, rangelands, fallowland, turf, tree and vine orchards, aquatics, plantation crops, vegetables, industrial vegetation management (IVM) or rights of way (ROW).
US08912118B2

A method of color laser marking an article having a polymeric foil with at least one colorless layer containing an infrared absorber, a polymeric binder and a color forming compound; including the steps of:—laser marking the colorless layer with an infrared laser using a first laser operation mode to generate a blue or cyan color; and—laser marking the same colorless layer with an infrared laser using a second laser operation mode to generate a black color, wherein the first laser operation mode applies less energy to the colorless layer than the second laser operation mode. Also disclosed is an article, such as a security document, including a polymeric foil and a colorless layer containing laser marked graphical data having a blue or cyan color and laser marked information having a black color.
US08912108B2

Methods for treating or rejuvenating a spent catalyst are described. These methods can employ a step of halogenating the spent catalyst, followed by decoking the halogenated spent catalyst. The halogenation step can utilize fluorine and chlorine together, or fluorine and chlorine can be applied sequentially.
US08912101B2

A method for forming a silicon-containing dielectric film on a substrate by atomic layer deposition (ALD) includes: providing two precursors, one precursor containing a halogen in its molecule, another precursor containing a silicon but no halogen in its molecule, adsorbing a first precursor, which is one of the two precursors onto a substrate to deposit a monolayer of the first precursor; adsorbing a second precursor, which is the other of the two precursors onto the monolayer of the first precursor to deposit a monolayer of the second precursor; and exposing the monolayer of the second precursor to radicals of a reactant to cause surface reaction with the radicals to form a compound monolayer of a silicon-containing film.
US08912100B1

A manufacturing method of a complementary metal oxide semiconductor includes steps as following: providing a semiconductor substrate; forming a metal oxide semiconductor region having an oxide layer, which has a thickness greater than 1 micrometer, on a first surface of the semiconductor substrate; forming the oxide layer as an isolation region of the metal oxide semiconductor region and a heat-isolation region of a poly heater; forming a poly gate of the metal oxide semiconductor region as at least a portion of the poly heater; forming an interlayer dielectric layer; and processing a selenium etching. Under this circumstance, the oxide layer is applied so as to be the isolation region of the metal oxide semiconductor region and a heat-isolation region of the poly heater, the poly gate of the metal oxide semiconductor region is sufficiently utilized as the poly heater, and the heat-dissipation of the poly heater is optimized.
US08912098B2

A device and method for device fabrication includes forming a buried gate electrode in a dielectric substrate and patterning a stack that includes a high dielectric constant layer, a carbon-based semi-conductive layer and a protection layer over the buried gate electrode. An isolation dielectric layer formed over the stack is opened to define recesses in regions adjacent to the stack. The recesses are etched to form cavities and remove a portion of the high dielectric constant layer to expose the carbon-based semi-conductive layer on opposite sides of the buried gate electrode. A conductive material is deposited in the cavities to form self-aligned source and drain regions.
US08912097B2

A method of patterning a substrate comprises providing an array of resist features defined by a first pitch and a first gap width between adjacent resist features. Particles are introduced into the array of resist features, wherein the array of resist features becomes hardened. The introduction of particles may cause a reduction in critical dimension of the resist features. Sidewalls are provided on side portions of hardened resist features. Subsequent to the formation of the sidewalls, the hardened resist features are removed, leaving an array of isolated sidewalls disposed on the substrate. The sidewall array provides a mask for double patterning of features in the substrate layers disposed below the sidewalls, wherein an array of features formed in the substrate has a second pitch equal to half that of the first pitch.
US08912092B2

A method of forming a semiconductor device may include, but is not limited to, the following processes. A multi-layered structure is prepared over a semiconductor substrate. The multi-layered structure may include, but is not limited to, first and second patterns of a first insulating film, a second insulating film covering the first pattern of the first insulating film, and a first conductive film covering the second pattern of the first insulating film. The second insulating film and the first conductive film are polished under conditions that the first and second insulating films are greater in polishing rate than the first conductive film, to expose the first and second patterns of the first insulating film.
US08912082B2

Methods to form complementary implant regions in a workpiece are disclosed. A mask may be aligned with respect to implanted or doped regions on the workpiece. The mask also may be aligned with respect to surface modifications on the workpiece, such as deposits or etched regions. A masking material also may be deposited on the implanted regions using the mask. The workpiece may be a solar cell.
US08912081B2

The present invention relates to a method for relaxing a strained material layer by providing a strained material layer and a low-viscosity layer formed on a first face of the strained material layer; forming a stiffening layer on at least one part of a second face of the strained material layer opposite to the first face thereby forming a multilayer stack; and subjecting the multilayer stack to a heat treatment thereby at least partially relaxing the strained material layer.
US08912080B2

The semiconductor device is manufactured through the following steps: after first heat treatment is performed on an oxide semiconductor film, the oxide semiconductor film is processed to form an oxide semiconductor layer; immediately after that, side walls of the oxide semiconductor layer are covered with an insulating oxide; and in second heat treatment, the side surfaces of the oxide semiconductor layer are prevented from being exposed to a vacuum and defects (oxygen deficiency) in the oxide semiconductor layer are reduced.
US08912067B2

A method for manufacturing three types of MOS transistors in three regions of a same substrate, including the steps of: forming a first insulating layer, removing the first insulating layer from the first and second regions, forming a silicon oxide layer, depositing an insulating layer having a dielectric constant which is at least twice greater than that of silicon oxide, depositing a first conductive oxygen scavenging layer, removing the first conductive layer from the second and third regions, and annealing.
US08912060B2

A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes: forming a first layer on a substrate; forming a first contact hole in the first layer; burying a sacrificial film in the first contact hole; forming a second layer on the first layer and the first contact hole after burying; forming a second contact hole reaching the sacrificial film in the second layer; removing the sacrificial film from the first contact hole via the second contact hole; and providing a contact electrode in the first contact hole and the second contact hole.
US08912057B1

A semiconductor device with an n-type transistor and a p-type transistor having an active region is provided. The active region further includes two adjacent gate structures. A portion of a dielectric layer between the two adjacent gate structures is selectively removed to form a contact opening having a bottom and sidewalls over the active region. A bilayer liner is selectively provided within the contact opening in the n-type transistor and a monolayer liner is provided within the contact opening in the p-type transistor. The contact opening in the n-type transistor and p-type transistor is filled with contact material. The monolayer liner is treated to form a silicide lacking nickel in the p-type transistor.
US08912055B2

Disclosed are methods for forming hybrid metal-oxide-semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETs) and the hybrid MOSFETS thus obtained. In one embodiment, a method is disclosed that includes providing a first substrate comprising a first region and a second region, providing a second substrate comprising a second semiconductor layer and an insulating layer overlaying the second semiconductor layer, and direct substrate bonding the second substrate to the first substrate, thereby contacting the first region and the second region with the insulating layer. The method further includes selectively removing the second semiconductor layer and the insulating layer in the first region, thereby exposing the first semiconductor layer in the first region, forming a first gate stack of a first MOSFET on the exposed first semiconductor layer in the first region, and forming a second gate stack of a second MOSFET on the second semiconductor layer in the second region.