US08977903B1
A network-based production service is configured to process client requests for the production service via a network, capture production request data defining the requests and store the production request data in a data store. A test system comprising one or more controllers creates test jobs according to a test plan for testing the production service. The test plan creates a test profile for using specified production request data to simulate a load on the production service. Each job created by the test plan specifies a portion of production request data. A job queue receives and queues test jobs from one or more controllers configured to add test jobs to the job queue according to the test plan. Workers access jobs from the job queue and the production request data from the data store as specified in each job and replay the production request data to the production service.
US08977900B2
Remediating events of components using behaviors via an administrator system and an administrator client. The administrator system receives an event from a component of an information technology (IT) environment. A behavior is determined at least partly from the event. The behavior is determined to be an anomalous behavior at least partly from a group of previously received events. A coefficient is calculated, via a calculation, for the anomalous behavior at least partly from a weight. The administrator system sends a description of the anomalous behavior and a group of options to the administrator client. The description is at least partly based on the calculation. The administrator system receives a severity indication from the administrator client. The weight, the calculation, and the description are updated based on the severity indication.
US08977896B1
A data migration operation uses an error flag to protect against data corruption. During write cloning states, the error flag is set and only allowed state transitions are performed, including a non-error transition to a committed state when no device fault is recorded for a target storage device and an error transition to a setup state when a device fault is recorded for the target storage device. In a clean system shutdown, a shutdown procedure records a detected target storage device fault and clears the error flag; the recorded device fault later forces the error transition of the migration operation. During the system startup, if the error flag is set then a target storage device fault is recorded to likewise later force the error transition of the migration operation, on the assumption that a detected fault may exist but be unrecorded because the shutdown procedure did not complete during shutdown.
US08977891B2
A method, article of manufacture, and apparatus for restoring data. In some embodiments, this includes determining an object to be recovered, determining a representation of the object, and requesting the representation of the object from a data resource system. In some embodiments, the representation of the object is a hash value of the object. In some embodiments, the representation of the object is a segment of the object.
US08977885B1
A programmable logic device is provided that includes: a programmable interconnect adapted to route input signals through the device at a system clock rate; and a digital signal processor (DSP) block coupled to the interconnect, the DSP block including: a plurality of input ports; an input register coupled to the multiple input ports and adapted to sequentially register samples of the input signals from the interconnect received at the input ports at a multiple of the system clock rate; and a multiplier adapted to multiply the registered samples at the multiple of the system clock rate to produce an output signal.
US08977882B2
A system for transferring data between asynchronous domains in an SOC includes a slave request generation and data latch circuit, a busy signal generator, a positive edge detector, and a cascaded synchronizer. A host device transmits a host request signal and host data to the slave request generation and data latch circuit for execution by a slave device, which operates at a different frequency than the host device. The slave request generation and data latch circuit stores the host data and transmits it to the slave device based on a synchronized slave clock signal. The host device can perform other tasks while the slave device executes the host request.
US08977874B2
Various embodiments of methods and systems for managing battery load in a portable computing device (“PCD”) are disclosed. One such method includes tracking an active load on a battery attributable to one or more active power consuming components. Measurements associated with the battery and indicative of the battery's state of health may also be monitored. When a call for additional load on the battery is recognized, such as a user request for provision of additional functionality in the PCD, a future load on the battery that considers the newly called load can be calculated. Based on an analysis of the impact on the battery's state of health, existing, lower priority loads may be scaled or suspended to create battery load capacity for the newly called load. In this way, quality of service and user experience may be optimized while minimizing conditions that could be detrimental to the battery.
US08977873B2
In an information processing apparatus, a transmitter forwards received data. A significance determination unit determines significance of the received data. Based on the significance of the received data, an operation mode selection unit selects which operation mode to apply. Power management information stored in a memory describes what power management is to be performed in each different operation mode. A control unit performs power management of the transmitter, with reference to the stored power management information corresponding to the selected operation mode.
US08977866B2
Apparatus, systems, and methods provide a mechanism to enhance the management of data security in a system for users of the systems. Various embodiments include apparatus and methods to manage security of data in an electronic system on an application-by-application basis. Managing security of data may include an apparatus, system, or method structured to determine that a status of a feature in the electronic device satisfies a specified criterion, and to automatically activate a portion of a security mechanism in the electronic device to lock down an application that is open in the electronic device after determining that the status has satisfied the specified criterion. Such application-by-application basis can be applied in addition to managing data security globally in the electronic system. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.
US08977864B2
Techniques usable by devices to encrypt and decrypt sensitive data to in a manner that provides security from external monitoring attacks. The encrypting device has access to a base secret cryptographic value (key) that is also known to the decrypting device. The sensitive data are decomposed into segments, and each segment is encrypted with a separate encryption key derived from the base key and a message identifier to create a set of encrypted segments. The encrypting device uses the base secret cryptographic value to create validators that prove that the encrypted segments for this message identifier were created by a device with access to the base key. The decrypting device, upon receiving an encrypted segments and validator(s), uses the validator to verify the message identifier and that the encrypted segment are unmodified, then uses a cryptographic key derived from the base key and message identifier to decrypt the segments.
US08977857B1
A client device has one or more processors and memory. An application running on the device obtains a client certificate from a system service running on the device. The certificate includes a public key for the device. The device is authenticated to a remote server using the certificate. The application receives encrypted application identification information and an encrypted access token from the server. The application is authenticated to the device by comparing the received application identification information with corresponding application identification information from the application. The application invokes the system service to unencrypt the access token using the private key corresponding to the public key. The application sends a request for protected information to the server. The request includes the unencrypted access token. The application receives at least a portion of the protected information from the server, and stores the information in the memory on the device
US08977852B2
A module (2) for integrity protection of messages transmitted from a mobile software defined radio (SDR) terminal (1), the module provided with a confined cryptographic key K and arranged to receive loaded SDR-code. The module derives an integrity protecting key Rk from at least said cryptographic key K, and provides a periodic integrity protection on-line of generated messages using said key integrity protecting key Rk, and the integrity of said messages is verified by an integrity checking node (10) of the access network.
US08977844B2
An embodiment generally relates to a method of managing tokens. The method includes detecting a presence of a token at a client and determining a status of the token. The method also includes formatting the token at the client in response to the status of the token being unformatted.
US08977841B2
A system includes a server connectable to a client, the server configured to allow the client to acquire a message of an index designated by the client among N messages held by the server where N is an integer of two or more. The server includes a classification unit configured to classify the N messages into M classified messages by contents of the messages; a message encryption unit configured to encrypt each of the M classified messages; a message provision unit configured to provide the M encrypted classified messages to the client; and a key sending unit configured to send the client, by oblivious transfer, a message key for decrypting the classified message corresponding to the message of the index designated by the client.
US08977834B2
A method or system for determining storage location of an isolation region based on a data region sizing specified by a host device. In one implementation, the isolation region comprises a set of storage locations required for isolation of or more data region of the storage device.
US08977833B2
According to one embodiment, a memory system has a data transfer device which includes a first command generating unit, a second command generating unit, a first storage unit, a second storage unit, and a nonvolatile memory managing unit. The first command generator generates a first command for reading out data from a nonvolatile memory to a host apparatus. The second command generator generates a second command for internal processing of the memory system associated with a temporary memory and the nonvolatile memory. The first memory has a queue structure configured to store the first command. The second memory has a queue structure configured to store the second command. The memory manager is configured to read out the first command stored in the first memory in priority to the second command stored in the second memory and to transmit read-out command to the nonvolatile memory.
US08977826B1
A method, system, and computer program product for ordering a plurality of data IO captured at a primary site to be applied at a secondary site, comprising removing the one or more extent level portions from the captured data IO, determining if the one or more extent level portions are time sequenced to overwrite a portion of data of the data IO, based on a determination that the portion data is to be overwritten, removing the overwritten portion of data from the plurality of the data IO and ordering the one or more extent level portions to be applied at the secondary site before the captured data IO.
US08977824B2
According to one embodiment, a portable electronic apparatus executing performing process based on command input from an external apparatus, and storing a plurality of TLV data objects, the apparatus includes, a storage unit configured to store the data class and data character of each TLV data object, respectively in two storage areas spaced apart from each other, and to store addresses of a fixed length, representing the positions of the data characters, in association with the each data classes.
US08977823B2
Provided are techniques for handling a store buffer in conjunction with a processor, the store buffer comprising a free list; a merge window; and an evict list; and logic, for, upon receipt of a T_STORE operation, comparing a first address associated with the T_STORE operation with a plurality of addresses associated with previous T_STORE operations, wherein the previous T_STORE operations are part of the same transaction as the T_STORE operation and the entries corresponding to the previous T_STORE operations are stored in the merge window; in response to a match between the first address and a second address, associated with a second T_STORE operation, of the plurality of addresses, merging a first entry corresponding to the first T_STORE operation with a second entry corresponding to the second T_STORE operation; and consolidating results associated with the first T_STORE operation with results associated with the second T_STORE operation.
US08977817B2
Methods and apparatuses for reducing leakage power in a system cache within a memory controller. The system cache is divided into multiple small sections, and each section is supplied with power from a separately controllable power supply. When a section is not being accessed, the voltage supplied to the section is reduced to a voltage sufficient for retention of data but not for access. Incoming requests are grouped together based on which section of the system cache they target. When enough requests that target a given section have accumulated, the voltage supplied to the given section is increased to a voltage sufficient for access. Then, once the given section has enough time to ramp-up and stabilize at the higher voltage, the waiting requests may access the given section in a burst of operations.
US08977813B2
The present disclosure includes systems and techniques relating to implementing fault tolerant data storage in solid state memory. In some implementations, a method includes receiving a data request for a solid state memory; identifying a logical block grouping corresponding to the data request, wherein the logical block grouping indicates physical data storage blocks spanning at least two distinct memory units of the solid state memory; reading stored data and parity information from at least a portion of the physical data storage blocks spanning the at least two distinct memory units; and recovering data of at least one block of the logical block grouping based on the stored data and the parity information.
US08977810B2
Systems and methods for using memory commands are described. The systems include a memory controller. The memory controller receives a plurality of user transactions. The memory controller converts each user transaction into one or more row and column memory commands. The memory controller reorders the memory commands associated with the plurality of user transactions before sending the memory commands to a memory device.
US08977803B2
A disk drive is disclosed that utilizes multi-tiered solid state memory for caching data received from a host. Data can be stored in a memory tier that can provide the required performance at a low cost. For example, multi-level cell (MLC) memory can be used to store data that is frequently read but infrequently written. As another example, single-level cell (SLC) memory can be used to store data that is frequently written. Improved performance, reduced costs, and improved power consumption can thereby be attained.
US08977800B2
Provided is a multi-port cache memory apparatus and a method of the multi-port cache memory apparatus. The multi-port memory apparatus may divide an address space into address regions and allocate the divided memory regions to cache banks, thereby preventing the concentration of access to a particular cache.
US08977797B2
A computer system for multi-processing purposes. The computer system has a console comprising a first coupling site and a second coupling site. Each coupling site comprises a connector. The console is an enclosure that is capable of housing each coupling site. The system also has a plurality of computer modules, where each of the computer modules is coupled to a connector. Each of the computer modules has a processing unit, a main memory coupled to the processing unit, a graphics controller coupled to the processing unit, and a mass storage device coupled to the processing unit. Each of the computer modules is substantially similar in design to each other to provide independent processing of each of the computer modules in the computer system.
US08977791B2
A water heater having a modular control system. The water heater includes a tank, a heating element, a first controller, and a second controller. The heating element is coupled to the tank. The first controller is supported by the tank and includes a housing, a first communication port, a processor, and a first memory storing executable instructions that are executed by the processor. The first controller determines whether the first controller is connected to the second controller through the communication port. The first controller controls an operation of the water heater according to a first algorithm when the first controller is not connected to the second controller. The operation of the water heater is controlled based on an algorithm stored on the second controller when the first controller is connected to the second controller.
US08977784B2
An embodiment may include circuitry to be comprised at least in part in a first host, and at least one process to be executed, at least in part, by the circuitry. The circuitry may comprise a first port and a second port. The at least one process may detect, at least in part, a first bandwidth condition of the first port, and may associate, at least in part, in response at least in part to the first bandwidth condition, the first port and the second port with a port team. The second port may have been, prior to being associated, at least in part, with the port team, in a relatively lower power state compared to a relatively higher power state. The second port may be in the relatively higher power state after the second port is associated, at least in part, with the port team.
US08977781B1
A computer system includes a first storage control module and at least one server module. The first storage control module includes plural storage processors. Each server module includes a server processor and a server I/F connected to the server processor and at least two of the plurality of storage processors. The sever I/F of an issuance server which is any one of the at least one server module specifies the storage processor by referring to sorting information in which identification information of the issuance server of an I/O request issued by the server processor of the issuance server, identification information of a destination storage area of the I/O request, and identification information of the storage processor in charge of the destination storage area are correlated with each other, and sends a command based on the I/O request to the specified storage processor.
US08977780B2
A network having a plurality of electronic equipments and a plurality of network nodes is disclosed. The nodes are connected and form a reference ring, according to which ring the nodes are ordered by successive ranks. Each node is connected by a direct receiving connection to an upstream node and via a direct transmission connection to a downstream node. The network is adapted to tolerate a number of network node breakdowns, n being greater than 1. Each node is connected by a direct receiving connection to all of the other nodes placed, in the reference ring, up to: 2 ranks downstream and 1 rank upstream or 1 rank downstream and 2 ranks upstream if n is 2; n−1 ranks downstream and n−1 ranks upstream, if n is odd; or n−1 ranks downstream and n−2 ranks upstream, or n−2 ranks downstream and n−1 ranks upstream, if n is even and greater than 2.
US08977778B2
A method, system and computer readable medium compress and send media files. The method includes sending a computer program for compressing and sending media files to a client computer. The computer program comprises program code for identifying information about a media file in response to receiving a request to send a media file, determining whether the media file is compressible based on the identified information, identifying a compression algorithm based on the identified information, compressing the media file using the compression algorithm, and sending the compressed media file to one or more server computers. The method further includes receiving the compressed media file sent from the client computer.
US08977776B1
Described herein are systems and methods for content streaming with bandwidth management. Partial content is generated from source content at a server and distributed to a streaming device, such as during periods when network bandwidth is available. This partial content is incomplete relative to the source content and is unusable. During presentation of the content, remaining content is streamed from the server and combined with the partial content to generate complete content suitable for presentation.
US08977775B2
Techniques for identity and policy based routing are presented. A resource is initiated on a device with a resource identity and role assignments along with policies are obtained for the resource. A customized network is created for the resource using a device address for the device, the resource identity, the role assignments, and the policies.
US08977771B2
A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program code for distributing media content. A plurality of media files are identified for distribution. A determination is made whether any of the plurality of media files is unavailable remotely. In response to a determination that a portion of the plurality of media files is unavailable remotely, a portion of the plurality of media files is placed in an archive. A playlist identifying the plurality of media files is placed in the archive. A set of links to each of the plurality of media files that are available remotely are placed in the archive, wherein the archive is used to distribute the media content.
US08977768B2
A receiver driven approach for playback of remote content is described. One embodiment includes obtaining information concerning the content of the media file from the remote server, identifying a starting location within the media sequence, identifying byte ranges of the media file corresponding to media required to play the media sequence from the starting location, requesting the byte ranges required to play the media sequence from the starting location, buffering received bytes of information pending commencement of playback, playing back the buffered bytes of information, receiving a user instruction, identifying byte ranges of the media file corresponding to media required to play the media sequence in accordance with the user instruction, flushing previous byte range requests, and requesting the byte ranges required to play the media in accordance with the user instruction.
US08977766B2
Some embodiments provide methods and systems for improving the scalability and redundancy of a distributed content streaming system. Such scalability and redundancy is provided with zero configuration changes to the addressing used by content providers to publish content and zero configuration changes to existing servers of the system. The system includes ingest servers and edge servers. Content providers supply content streams to the ingest servers using a virtual or load balanced address that distributes the content streams across the ingest servers. Accordingly, ingest servers can be added or removed without changing content provider configurations. The ingest servers are configured to notify the edge servers of which content streams are available for streaming at which ingest server. When an ingest server is added to the system, its functionality may be assimilated without modifying the configurations of the other servers. Some embodiments also provide multiple caching layers.
US08977763B1
A broadcaster may be configured to use a media protocol to provide a distribution point with a stream. The broadcaster uses a controller configured to implement the media protocol that includes a message class indicating an applicability of a message to a distribution point. The media protocol includes an authentication message structured and arranged to authenticate an establishment of a stream for distribution on the distribution point, a stream configuration message structured and arranged to configure the stream being distributed on the distribution point, a connection message structured and arranged to distribute the stream, and a stream session termination message structured and arranged to terminate a streaming session that has been established.
US08977759B2
A system that includes a talker, a listener, and a controller may communicate over an Ethernet Audio/Video Bridging network. The controller may communicate control messages to manage data streams between the talker and the listener through one or more application layer interfaces of the talker and the listener. Based on the control messages, the talker and the listener may communicate using a Stream Reservation Protocol to reserve connection for, or remove connection from, the data streams. The talker and listener may communicate the success of reserving or removing the connections to the controller through the application layer interfaces.
US08977753B1
The real-time aspects of keep-alive generation are removed from the dynamic routing protocol (DRP) application and are embedded within a Unix-based operating system, which is programmed by DRP. A keep-alive control provides the ability to create a keep-alive message and a timeout interval on a TCP socket. Each socket can have an independent keep-alive message and timeout interval. A keep-alive message is sent whenever the TCP socket sends no normal user output for a duration exceeding the timeout interval. A timeout interval is normally specific in seconds and a keep-alive message is user definable and must not exceed a predetermined length in bytes. System calls are used to set the timeout interval and keep-alive message independently. Both a timeout and a keep-alive message must be set before the timeout becomes active.
US08977749B1
Allocation of buffers for a TCP proxy session between a client and a server by a service gateway includes: monitoring dynamic network behaviors for server and client side sessions of the TCP proxy session; and allocating capacity for a server side buffer and capacity for a client side buffer in a memory buffer based on the dynamic server side network behaviors, the dynamic client side network behaviors, and a weighted average of a capacity of the memory buffer. In one approach to the allocation, the gateway determines whether an available capacity of the server or client side buffer is sufficient to store a data packet. If not sufficient, the allocated capacity of the server or client side buffer is increased based on measurements of the dynamic network behaviors and the weighted average, and the available capacity of the server or client side buffer is adjusted accordingly.
US08977748B1
A method and system for reporting a user location are described. Aspects of the invention minimize the need to report a current location of a user device to a remote server by attempting to predict a most likely location or most likely destination of the user device. As long as the user device does not leave a certain area defined in relation to the predetermined location or destination, the user device refrains from reporting to the remote server. The likely location or likely destination may be determined using a schedule generated from heat map information stored on the remote server. The schedule is used to determine where the user is likely to be traveling based upon the user's current location and/or the time of day.
US08977747B2
A first network interface coupled to one or more clients. The first network interface analyzes received network communications to determine if a first rule of any of one or more rules corresponds to the received network communications associated with a first client. The network interface updates a first set of statistical information accumulated over a time period associated with the first client responsive to a determination that the first rule corresponds to the network communications. The network interface analyzes the first set of statistical information to determine if aberrant network behavior is occurring with respect to the first client by applying a set of conditions to the first set of statistical information. Each of the set of conditions corresponds to aberrant network behavior and comprises a threshold to be applied to at least a portion of the statistical information.
US08977733B1
Techniques are provided to adjust network settings for network connectivity resources used by a host server. A network card device, coupled to the host server, receives instructions to adjust network settings associated with the host server. Power is received from the host server at the network card device in order to allow the network card device to configure the network settings while the host server is in a standby mode. The network card device receives commands to adjust the network settings while the host server is in the standby mode.
US08977722B2
Exchanging information via web is a way of life in modern society. Present invention utilizes dynamic workspace technology to allow people much efficiently and flexibly to exchanging information across global environment.
US08977717B2
An approach is provided for initiating sending a request message indicating a parameter for an application to an index of parameter values stored in a database for a plurality of related applications. A value for the parameter is received in response to sending the request. Performing a function of the application based on the value received for the parameter is initiated. The value for the parameter is used by a different mobile application of the plurality of related applications.
US08977714B2
A pressure-sensitive adhesive composition attached to a metal surface. The composition includes an acrylic copolymer obtained by polymerizing a monomer mixture, the monomer mixture including: at least one monomer (monomer m1) selected from alkyl(meth)acrylates represented by the formula (I): CH2═C(R1)COOR2 in which R1 is a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, and R2 is an alkyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, in an amount of 50 to 99.9% by weight based on a total amount of the monomer mixture, and at least one monomer (monomer m2) selected from N-hydroxyalkyl(meth)acrylamides represented by the formula (II): CH2═C(R3)CONHR4 in which R3 is a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, and R4 is a hydroxyalkyl group having 2 to 4 carbon atoms, in an amount of 0.1 to 25% by weight based on the total amount of the monomer mixture. The monomer mixture includes substantially no carboxyl group-containing monomer.
US08977709B2
Some embodiments of the present invention provide a system that uses an interactivity object to facilitate interactivity during automated web site accesses. During operation, the system examines a web page on the web site to determine a data type for an interactivity request associated with the web page. Next, the system creates an interactivity object, which includes the interactivity request along with the determined data type for the interactivity request. Finally, the system sends the interactivity object to the user to solicit a response from the user.
US08977708B2
A mobile wireless communications device may include a portable housing, at least one wireless transceiver carried by the portable housing, and a controller carried by the portable housing and coupled to the at least one wireless transceiver. The controller may be configured to operate a plurality of different mobile device applications for processing different electronic file types and generating download electronic file transfer requests and upload electronic file transfer requests, download requested electronic files for the plurality of different device applications via the at least one wireless transceiver using a common file transfer application responsive to the download electronic file transfer requests, and upload requested electronic files for the plurality of different device applications via the at least one wireless transceiver using the common file transfer application responsive to the upload electronic file transfer requests.
US08977707B2
A method and system for delivering offers is provided. The method includes enabling for a user via a device, a Web browser and an associated URL. A processor determines a manufacturer and model of the device and that the device is associated with a shared device list. A user agent receives the manufacturer and model of the device and the processor transmits the user agent, the manufacturer and model of the device, and the associated URL. The manufacturer and model of the hardware device is extracted from the user agent and a rules engine is evaluated with respect to the manufacturer and model of the device. Specified content associated with the device is determined based on results of the evaluation. The specified content is transmitted to the Web browser.
US08977697B2
A method and system for removing metadata from email attachments sent from mobile devices includes receiving an email with an attached document. The attached document has metadata removed to create a cleansed version of the attached document. The attached document is replaced by the cleansed version of the attached document, and the email is sent according to the address or addresses included in the email.
US08977696B2
Handling a message comprises: classifying an incoming message for a recipient, storing the classified message and providing a notification to the recipient, wherein the notification includes summary information about the classified message and an interface that allows the recipient to operate on the classified message.
US08977689B2
A system facilitates collaborative communications and information sharing in a network defined by a model. The model and a portion of the system are stored on a storage component coupled to a terminal. The system captures context information and user-defined data, the user-defined data provided during user interaction of the user in a first domain of the network, and dynamically stores the context information as metadata associated with the user-defined data, the user-defined data and the metadata stored on the storage component; a tracking component for tracking a change of the user from the first domain to a second domain of the network and dynamically updating the stored metadata based on the change, where the user accesses the user-defined data from the second domain; and an interface to the system that permits the user to create and view the user-defined data according to the model of the network.
US08977685B2
Users of social networking system are provided with user interface elements permitting the user to post comments on pages within the social networking system. Pages may be provided for any non-user entity, including for example, pages for businesses, products, concepts, etc. Embodiments provided herein permit page moderators to ban certain content from being displayed on a page. For example, the social networking system may receive a list of proscribed content and block comments containing the proscribed content by reducing the distribution of those comments to other viewing users. However, the social networking system may display the blocked content to the commenting user such that the commenting user is not made aware that his or her comment was blocked, thereby providing fewer incentives to the commenting user to spam the page or attempt to circumvent the social networking system filters.
US08977683B2
Disclosed herein are methods, systems, and devices for improved audio, video, and data conferencing. The present invention provides a conferencing system comprising a plurality of endpoints communicating data including audio data and control data according to a communication protocol. A local conference endpoint may control or be controlled by a remote conference endpoint. Data comprising control signals may be exchanged between the local endpoint and remote endpoint via various communication protocols. In other embodiments, the present invention provides for improved bridge architecture for controlling functions of conference endpoints including controlling functions of the bridge.
US08977672B2
A method of protecting data on a mobile computing device using a storage network by deploying to the mobile computing device, a synchronization agent and then associating a synchronization policy with the synchronization agent. The mobile computing device is monitored for at least one threshold event. Its determined that the threshold event has occurred which causes a request to initiate a data synchronization event to be transmitted. The response to the request is synchronizing the mobile computing device with the storage network.
US08977667B2
A series generator divides a data series having an autocorrelation property equally into a certain number to generate subdata series. A modulator multiplies a predetermined amplitude coefficient and a unique number by each element of the subdata series, respectively, and rearranges the subdata series and synthesizes the rearranged subdata series to generate the modulation data. An IFFT unit performs an IFFT on the modulation data. The calculator divides the calculation result equally into the certain number to generate the sub calculation results, and multiplies an equalization coefficient by each element of the sub calculation results. A synthesizer generates a baseband signal by arranging the sub calculation results, so that an arranged position corresponds to a position at the time of being divided equally, and synthesizing the arranged result. A transmitter generates the transmission signal and transmits it to another apparatus via an antenna.
US08977656B2
A data structure comprises a clump header table and an inline tree data structure. The inline tree, representing filterable data fields of hierarchically organized data records, comprises an alternating sequence of first-level binary string segments, each followed by one or more corresponding second-level binary string segments. Each clump header record includes an indicator of a location in the inline tree of corresponding binary string segments. A dedicated, specifically adapted conversion program generates the clump header file and the inline tree for storage on any computer-readable medium, and the inline tree can be read entirely into RAM to be searched or filtered. A dedicated, specifically adapted search and filter program is employed to list or enumerate retrieved data records. Run-time computer code generation can reduce time required for searching and filtering. One example includes spatial searching and filtering of data records that include spatial coordinates as data fields.
US08977655B2
Aspects of the subject matter described herein relate to automating evolution of schemas and mappings. In aspects, mappings between a conceptual model and a store model are updated automatically in response to a change that occurs to the conceptual model. For example, when a change occurs to the conceptual model, a local scope of the change is determined. The local scope indicates mappings that are most similar to the type(s) affected by the change. Based on the local scope, a pattern of mappings between the conceptual model and the store model is determined. Using this pattern and the nature of the change, the mappings are updated according to the pattern. In addition, the store model and data thereon may be updated in a manner to preserve existing data that is not to be deleted in response to the change.
US08977650B2
Keyword searching is used to explore and search large Resource Description Framework datasets having unknown or constantly changing structures. A succinct and effective summarization is built from the underlying resource description framework data. Given a keyword query, the summarization lends significant pruning powers to exploratory keyword searches and leads to much better efficiency compared to previous work. The summarization returns exact results and can be updated incrementally and efficiently.
US08977647B2
In accordance with embodiments, there are provided mechanisms and methods for conditionally allowing an application of an entity access to data of another entity in an on-demand database service. These mechanisms and methods for conditionally allowing an application of an entity access to data of another entity in an on-demand database service can enable embodiments to limit such access to the data, as desired. Furthermore, embodiments of such mechanisms and methods may provide additional security when sharing data among different subscribers to an on-demand database service.
US08977646B2
A method includes receiving a database query for a first database and determining whether a second database contains data responsive to the database query, wherein the second database comprises a graph database. The method also includes retrieving responsive data from a memory device associated with the second database if it is determined that the second database contains data responsive to the database query. The method further includes responding to the database query by providing the responsive data.
US08977645B2
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs stored on computer storage media, for accessing a search interface from a structured presentation. One aspect can be embodied in machine-implemented methods that include the actions of displaying a structured presentation on a display device, receiving data characterizing a user interaction with the displayed structured presentation, the data including a specification of a first instance and a first attribute of the structured presentation, and displaying a formerly concealed search interface on the display device in response to receiving the data.
US08977644B2
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for providing alternative search results for a query. In one aspect, a method includes transmitting a set of one or more search results for a query to a client device for presentation to a user, where each search result refers to a respective resource, receiving from the client device an alternative search result submitted by the user for the query, associating the alternative search result with the query, and storing in a repository the query and the alternative search result, where the alternative search result is transmitted with the set of one or more search results for a new search of the query.
US08977642B2
A method and system for recommending relevant and personalized content retrieving keywords to users of a text messaging service (TMS) based content platform. Embodiments of the invention provide a discovery mechanism for introducing registered keywords identifying published information in the TMS based content platform that may be of interest to the user. In particular, the solution is hybrid in nature combining various sources of recommendations (e.g., based on past usage patterns, emerging trends, expert suggestions, etc.) to select recommended keywords. Based on this keyword discovery/recommendation mechanism, users with a basic phone and without smartphone data plans can discover contents through a TMS based content platform.
US08977638B2
Embodiments are directed towards managing and tracking item identification of a plurality of items to determine if an item is a new or existing item, where an existing item has been previously processed. In some embodiments, two or more item identifiers may be generated. In one embodiment, generating the two or more item identifiers may include analyzing the item using a small item size characteristic, a compressed item, or for an identifier collision. The two or more item identifiers may be employed to determine if the item is a new or existing item. In one embodiment, the two or more item identifiers may be compared to a record about an existing item to determine if the item is a new or existing item. If the item is an existing item, then the item may be further processed to determine if the existing item has actually changed.
US08977627B1
This disclosure relates to filter based object detection using hash functions. A hashing component can compute respective hash values for a set of object windows that are associated with an image to be scanned. The hashing component can employ various hash functions in connection with computing the hash values, such as a winner takes all (WTA) hash function. A filter selection component can compare the respective hash values of the object windows against a hash table of object filters, and can select one or more object filters for recognizing or localizing at least one of an object within the image as a function of the comparison.
US08977626B2
A system searches a data collection using a bloom filter index to reduce the search scope to improve search efficiency, while at the same time allowing more flexible searches of the data collection using search terms containing any arbitrary string of data.
US08977625B2
Methods, systems, and media are provided for facilitating generation of an inference index. In embodiments, a canonical entity is referenced. The canonical entity is associated with web documents. One or more queries that, when input, result in a selection of at least one of the web documents are identified. An entity document is generated for the canonical entity. The entity document includes the identified queries and/or associated text from the content of a document or from an entity title that result in the selection of the at least one of the web documents. The entity document and corresponding canonical entity can be combined with additional related entity documents and canonical entities to generate an inference index.
US08977603B2
This document describes, among other things, systems and methods for managing shared collections. A method comprises receiving, by a network-based commerce system, an indication from a client device to create a collection; receiving, by the network-based commerce system, a textual description of the collection from the client computer; automatically classifying the textual description into one or more elements; and storing the collection as one or more classified elements in the network-based commerce system.
US08977596B2
Systems and methods for replicating a client data set on a computer includes replicating the client data set using an application software on the computer; generating a manifest of a target data set during replication containing state of target data reflecting post-update state; and determining differences between the local data and manifest to determine required backup operations.
US08977590B2
Apparatus, methods, and other embodiments associated with providing front end intelligence for monitoring back end state are described. One example method includes controlling a first entity to request that a second entity perform a multi-state stateful operation (e.g., file create). The method includes receiving notice from the second entity that the stateful operation has attained a first state (e.g., partial file create complete) and, upon receiving the notice, maintaining, at the first entity, information (e.g., sequence number, metadata) associated with the stateful operation. The method also includes, upon receiving notice that the second entity lost state before the stateful operation attained a second state, selectively providing to the second entity a portion of the information maintained at the first entity, and upon receiving notice from the second entity that the stateful operation has attained the second state, terminating maintaining the information associated with the stateful operation.
US08977589B2
A computer-implemented method, a computer-implemented system, and a computer program product for data binning are disclosed. In a first aspect, the computer-implemented method comprises in response to a determination that a data value is greater than an estimated maximum data value, calculating a new bin position for the data value by adding multiples of a bin width to the estimated maximum data value until a bin where the data value belongs is found.
US08977588B1
Systems and methods for detecting changes in a physiological system are provided. A method comprises embedding time series data relating to the physiological system within a reconstructed phase space and partitioning the reconstructed phase space into a plurality of regions. The method further comprises generating a first matrix having a plurality of cells. A value stored in each cell is based on a probability that the system will transition from a first region associated with the cell to a second region associated with the cell and a rate of separation of trajectories of the embedded data within at least one of the first region and the second region. The first matrix is associated with a normal operating condition of the physiological system. The method further comprises comparing the first matrix and a second matrix based on different data to detect an anomalous condition of the physiological system.
US08977584B2
The APPARATUSES, METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR A DIGITAL CONVERSATION MANAGEMENT PLATFORM (“DCM-Platform”) transforms digital dialogue from consumers, client demands and, Internet search inputs via DCM-Platform components into tradable digital assets, and client needs based artificial intelligence campaign plan outputs. In one implementation, The DCM-Platform may capture and examine conversations between individuals and artificial intelligence conversation agents. These agents may be viewed as assets. One can measure the value and performance of these agents by assessing their performance and ability to generate revenue from prolonging conversations and/or ability to effect sales through conversations with individuals.
US08977579B2
Disclosed is a general learning framework for computer implementation that induces sparsity on the undirected graphical model imposed on the vector of latent factors. A latent factor model SLFA is disclosed as a matrix factorization problem with a special regularization term that encourages collaborative reconstruction. Advantageously, the model may simultaneously learn the lower-dimensional representation for data and model the pairwise relationships between latent factors explicitly. An on-line learning algorithm is disclosed to make the model amenable to large-scale learning problems. Experimental results on two synthetic data and two real-world data sets demonstrate that pairwise relationships and latent factors learned by the model provide a more structured way of exploring high-dimensional data, and the learned representations achieve the state-of-the-art classification performance.
US08977573B2
A system and method for identifying an author of a social media interaction. A social media profile may be received for a user interacting in a social media interaction in a social media environment. The social media profile may include identification parameter(s) defining personal information registered to the user in the social media environment and content parameter(s) defining content of the user's social media interaction. For each of a plurality of customers registered in a contact center environment, a contact center profile may be received for the customer including identification parameter(s) defining personal information registered to the customer in the contact center environment and content parameter(s) defining content of the customer's past contact center interactions. The user's social media profile and customer's contact center profile may be compared to determine if the social media user and contact center customer have the same identity.
US08977561B2
Mechanisms are provided, in a data processing system, for retrieving and utilizing item information to perform a transaction. The mechanisms receive an identification of an item present in a detection field of the item identification system. A determination is made as to whether valid item information for the item is present in a cache of the data processing system in response to detecting the item as being present in the detection field of the item identification system. If valid item information is present in the cache, the valid item information is retrieved from the cache. If valid item information is not present in the cache, the valid item information is retrieved from a remotely located cloud computing system. The transaction is performed based on the valid item information.
US08977553B2
Dynamic adjustment of text input system components is provided. An indication of user activity with respect to a text input system of an electronic device is received. One or more activity indicators are determined based on at least the user activity. One or more components of the text input system are identified, each component providing a typing assistance functionality to a user and being associated with a set of parameters. For each of the one or more components, a determination is made whether the component should be adjusted based on the one or more activity indicators, and the component is dynamically adjusted when it is determined that the component should be adjusted based on the one or more activity indicators. Dynamically adjusting the component includes at least one of activating the component, deactivating the component or adjusting the set of parameters associated with the component.
US08977547B2
A voice recognition system includes: a voice input unit 11 for inputting a voice uttered a plurality of times; a registering voice data storage unit 12 for storing voice data uttered the plurality of times and input into the voice input unit 11; an utterance stability verification unit 13 for determining a similarity between the voice data uttered the plurality of times that are read from the registering voice data storage unit 12, and determining that registration of the voice data is acceptable when the similarity is greater than a threshold Tl; and a standard pattern creation unit 14 for creating a standard pattern by using the voice data where the utterance stability verification unit 13 determines that registration is acceptable.
US08977546B2
Disclosed are an encoding device and a decoding device which suppress the occurrence of pre-echo artifacts and post-echo artifacts caused by a high layer having a low temporal resolution, and which implement high subjective quality encoding and decoding. An encoding device (100) carries out scalable coding comprising a low layer, and a high layer having a lower temporal resolution than that of the low layer. A start point detection unit (or end point detection unit) (150) determines the start point (or end point) of sections of the decoded low layer signal which have audio, and when the start point (or end point) is determined, a second layer encoding unit (160) selects a bandwidth to be excluded from encoding on the basis of the spectral energy from the decoded first layer signal, excludes the selected bandwidth, and encodes an error signal.
US08977539B2
A language analysis apparatus of the invention includes division rules, each of which is classified into one of levels according to the degree of risk of causing analysis accuracy problems when applied; a division point candidate generation unit 21 which, when a character string whose length is greater than the predetermined maximum input length is input, generates division point candidates for the input character string by applying the division rules sequentially one by one in the ascending order of the level of risk of causing problems; a division point adjustment unit 22 which, when the length of a division unit candidate obtained by the division point candidate generated by the division point candidate generation unit 21 is less than the maximum input length, selects a combination of division points from among the division point candidates obtained by applying division rules of the same level while ensuring that each division unit is not greater in length than the maximum input length; and a division unit 23 which divides an input character string at the division point determined by the division point adjustment unit.
US08977538B2
One example embodiment includes a method for constructing a word graph. The method includes obtaining a subject text and dividing the subject text into one or more units. The method also includes dividing the units into one or more sub-units and recording each of the one or more sub-units.
US08977536B2
A system with a nonstatistical translation component integrated with a statistical translation component engine. The same corpus may be used for training the statistical engine and also for determining when to use the statistical engine and when to use the translation component. This training may use probabilistic techniques. Both the statistical engine and the translation components may be capable of translating the same information, however the system determines which component to use based on the training. Retraining can be carried out to add additional components, or when after additional translator training.
US08977528B2
A method and apparatus may be present for managing rework. A section in a platform having a number of composite materials needing a rework may be identified to form an identified section. A selected rework process to perform the rework of the identified section may be identified. The selected rework process may comprise a process to bond a patch to the identified section. A computer system may perform a simulation of the selected rework process to determine whether the selected rework process provides the rework for the identified section. The simulation may include a thermal analysis. The thermal analysis may take into account a number of structures associated with the identified section. The number of structures associated with the identified section may be located within a distance of the identified section such that the number of structures affect or are affected by bonding of the patch to the identified section.
US08977526B1
A system is provided for simulating an operating environment of a power plant control room (e.g., a nuclear power plant control room). The system may include a simulator configured to simulate the operating environment of the control room, and a simulation computer in communication with the simulator, wherein the simulation computer may be configured to perform a plurality of real-time calculations associated with modeling the operating environment of the control room. The simulator and the simulation computer may include only standard off-the-shelf components.
US08977525B2
Methods for product data management and corresponding systems and computer-readable mediums. A method includes receiving a three-dimensional CAD model in the data processing system, the CAD model including a plurality of features. The method includes receiving a selection of a non-variational function to be applied to the CAD model, including a selection of at least one feature to which the function is to be applied. The method includes creating a copy of the selected feature as a second body to produce a modified feature and adding the modified feature to a solver configuration of the CAD model. The method includes solving the CAD model according to the solver configuration to produce a modified CAD model, and storing the modified CAD model.
US08977521B2
A method and system of creating and linking 3D spatial objects with dynamic data, and visualizing said objects in geographic information systems (GIS) that includes a front end for a user interface, a database at the back end, and an application layer which processes the data sent between interface and database. A method of generating and uploading Keyhole Markup Language (KML) rings is disclosed. Furthermore, a user specifies a search location, and is shown a view of the available space indicated on the buildings by KML code which is assembled from the database by the system. A method for creating, linking and displaying a three-dimensional spatial object is also disclosed, as well as a method of generating a visual flight between several geographical points, showing the KML structures during the flight. Lastly, a method of showing a cardinal view from a floor of a building in a GIS is disclosed.
US08977509B2
An operation information output device includes: a power data acquirer that acquires time-series data of a physical quantity consumed or generated when production equipment executes a process; a single-cycle detector that detects time-series data of predetermined duration from the time-series data acquired by the power data acquirer, and an operation information acquirer that acquires operation information of the production equipment by use of the time-series data detected by the single-cycle detector, hence it becomes possible to easily calculate and determine detailed operation information.
US08977505B2
A method is provided for controlling a hand-held analysis device for analyzing a body fluid in which in each case at least one test means for single use is automatically provided in consecutive measuring cycles by means of a control device where each measuring cycle in a measuring mode of the control device is triggered by a start actuation. According to the invention it is proposed that a defined control intervention puts the control device into a maintenance mode in which the automatic provision of a test means is prevented.
US08977497B2
Techniques are provided for presenting a route using a route presentation that provides both a context map and one or more detail route maps. Narrative instructions for the route also may be presented. The presentation of the context map and the one or more detail route maps may be interactive. The route presentation also may be user controllable such that a user may control the portions of a route that are printed. The route presentation also may include a re-routing feature that allows a user to request that a new route be identified that avoids a particular maneuver or maneuvers in a route.
US08977490B2
Provided are an apparatus and method of providing path information based on a status of a path and/or a purpose of the use of the path. A path information providing server collects environmental information from a sensing device. The path information providing server receives a path information request including a departure and a destination from a terminal device, and provides path information generated by mapping environmental data to a searched path.
US08977483B2
Methods and apparatus for enabling an air traffic control system to set a beacon code on a transponder of an aircraft without voice communication with the flight crew. In one embodiment, an air traffic control system receives a flight plan from an aircraft, relays clearance of the flight plan to the aircraft, sets a beacon code on a transponder on the aircraft without voice communication, receives an acknowledgement of the beacon code setting from the aircraft, sends an acknowledgement to the aircraft, sets a new beacon code on the transponder without voice communication and receives a new acknowledgement of the new beacon code from the aircraft.
US08977481B1
A method and apparatus for assisting in management of a number of unmanned aerial vehicles. Symbols used to display a number of pre-planned routes for the number of unmanned aerial vehicles are identified on a top-down view of the number of pre-planned routes. Flight information with respect to time for the number of unmanned aerial vehicles on a number of timelines is displayed using the symbols identified as being used to display the number of pre-planned routes for the number of unmanned aerial vehicles on the top-down view of the number of pre-planned routes.
US08977463B2
A vehicle brake controller is capable of executing limit control for limiting increase in braking force applied to front wheels by using a deceleration of a vehicle. The vehicle brake controller is configured to start the limit control when the deceleration of the vehicle becomes greater than or equal to a start determination value before a start determination time period elapses after a deceleration starting point in time, at which the deceleration of the vehicle is started by application of braking force at least to the front wheels. The vehicle brake controller is configured to end the limit control if the deceleration of the vehicle is less than an end determination value, which is greater than the start determination value, at a point in time when an end determination time period, which is longer than the start determination time period, has elapsed from the deceleration starting point in time.
US08977461B2
When the operating speed of an accelerator pedal is higher than a given operating speed, a target acceleration as a target output value is multiplied by a gain so that an absolute value of the target acceleration is increased; therefore, a large acceleration requested by the driver can be achieved. The gain by which the target acceleration is multiplied is set to 1 when the target acceleration is about zero, so as to resume a condition where the absolute value of the target acceleration is not increased. Thus, when the control of increasing the absolute value of the target acceleration with the gain is stopped, an elevation change is less likely or unlikely to occur in the actual acceleration. Consequently, a desired acceleration is generated without causing the driver to feel uncomfortable during driving of the vehicle.
US08977453B2
In a control apparatus for an automatic transmission that changes speed of an engine output and transmits it to driven wheels, having an electromagnetic control valve installed in a hydraulic pressure supply device of the transmission and operated upon receipt of current to control hydraulic pressure supply to the transmission; and a current supply controller composed of a microcomputer installed on an electronic circuit board, calculating a current supply command value of the current supplied to the valve based on a hydraulic pressure supply control value of the transmission calculated based on the vehicle's operating condition and controlling current supply from a battery to the valve based on the command value, a load detector detects load of an electric device that shares ground set on the board with the valve; and the current supply controller calculates the command value based on the hydraulic pressure supply control value and detected load.
US08977452B2
In a vehicle control, an automatic transmission is shifted using a predetermined shift model, which determines control operation amounts for achieving shift target values, by setting the shift target values on the basis of a torque on an output shaft-side rotating member and a speed variation amount of an input shaft-side rotating member, setting the control operation amounts on the basis of a torque on the input shaft-side rotating member, a torque capacity of an engaged-side engagement device during shifting and a torque capacity of a released-side engagement device during shifting and setting torque shares of a transmission torque between the engaged-side engagement device and the released-side engagement device during shifting when the transmission torque is converted to the torque on the input shaft-side rotating member, and timing at which the torque shares are varied is changed on the basis of a shift pattern.
US08977451B2
The first setting value showing holding pressure for a metal belt is set for each of a plurality of control modes A to H. The second setting value changing lagging behind the first setting value is calculated based on the first setting value for each of the plurality of control modes A to H. A target value is set to be equal to or more than the greatest second setting value among a plurality of second setting values. A continuously variable transmission is controlled such that the holding pressure for the metal belt is equal to the set target value.
US08977445B2
A system for determining an operational state of a machine is provided. The system includes an implement position sensor configured to generate a position signal indicative of a position of an implement. The system further includes a pressure sensor configured to generate a pressure signal indicative of a pressure of a cylinder of the machine. The system also includes a controller communicably coupled to the implement position sensor and the pressure sensor. The controller is configured to receive the position signal and the pressure signal. The controller is further configured to determine a weight of a payload of the machine based on the received signals. Further, the controller is configured to determine a dig status of the machine based, at least in part, on a rate of change of the weight of the payload and the position of the implement.
US08977440B2
A heavy-duty vehicle including a movable arm, an operator control unit, an inertial measurement device, and a controller. The operator control unit directs movement of the movable arm. The inertial measurement device measures a pitch motion and a heave motion of the heavy-duty vehicle. The controller mitigates pitch motion and heave motion by adjusting a movement of the movable arm. The inertial measurement device detects a motion in one of a first direction and a second direction. The controller determines a direction of movement of the arm in one of a third direction and a fourth direction. The controller increases the speed of motion of the arm when the motion is in the first direction and the movement is in the third direction or when the motion is in the second direction and the movement is in the fourth direction.
US08977439B2
A system is provided for controlling equipment of a controlled vehicle, including: an imaging system including an image sensor configured to acquire images of a scene external of the controlled vehicle and to generate image data corresponding to the acquired images; and a controller in communication with the imaging system. The controller is configured to receive and analyze the image data, to generate a control signal that is used to control the equipment, and to automatically aim the image sensor. The controller may analyze the image data to determine a stability state for the aim of the image sensor. The control signal may include an aim stability indication.
US08977438B2
According to a relaxation length compensation torque computation section 54 of a vehicle steering apparatus 100, a relaxation length compensation torque is computed based on (1) a front wheel actual steering angular velocity computed from a motor rotation angular velocity input by a front wheel actual steering angular velocity computation section 52, and based on (2) a transfer function that is (a) expressed using a difference between a road surface reaction torque model and a referential reaction torque model and that is (b) determined according to a vehicle velocity input by a vehicle velocity sensor 20. A power steering controller 58 adds the relaxation length compensation torque to an assistance torque, and controls an EPS motor 3 so as to generate the assistance torque to which the relaxation length compensation torque has been added. The relaxation length compensation torque is thereby computed with good precision, enabling high handling performance to be achieved.
US08977433B2
An electric power steering apparatus includes a first torque calculating unit for calculating a first torque command based on a steering torque detected by the steering torque detecting unit, a second torque command calculating unit for calculating a second torque command based on the wheel rotation speed, an emergency switching unit for outputting the second torque command instead of the first torque command when error of the rotation torque is detected, a wheel rotation speed error detecting unit for detecting an error of the wheel rotation speed based at least on the wheel rotation speed, the steering torque in a normal state and the motor rotation information, and an emergency command limiting unit for liming the second torque command when normal and the motor rotation information, and where error of the wheel rotation speed is detected, when the second torque command is selected by the emergency switching unit.
US08977431B2
A method and apparatus for setting or modifying a programmable operating parameter associated with a power driven wheelchair is provided. In one embodiment, the method includes: a) operating a user interface device associated with a power driven wheelchair in a programming mode, b) selecting a programmable operating parameter associated with operation of the power driven wheelchair using the user interface device, c) selecting a value for the programmable operating parameter using the user interface device, and d) saving the selected value for the programmable operating parameter in a portion of a storage device associated with the power driven wheelchair using the user interface device. A method and apparatus for selecting one or more programmable parameter sets from a portable storage medium and saving the selected sets to a local storage device associated with a power driven wheelchair and vice versa is also provided.
US08977429B2
A system for shifting a vehicle's transfer case into or out of the neutral position, using an electronic vehicle information center. The system comprises a transfer case control module connected to a transfer case and an electronic vehicle information center connected to the transfer case control module. The electronic vehicle information center instructs the transfer case control module to shift the transfer case into or out of the neutral position by detecting an input signal request from a control panel to shift the transfer case into or out of a neutral position, and sending an instruction signal to the transfer case control module to shift the transfer case into or out of the neutral position.
US08977420B2
A method for controlling vehicle procession through an intersection includes monitoring movement of a first vehicle through the intersection, and synchronizing movement of a second vehicle following the first vehicle through the intersection to the first vehicle movement through the intersection.
US08977411B2
The present disclosure provides a computer-implemented method of generating a description of aircraft intent expressed in a formal language that provides an unambiguous description of an aircraft's intended motion and configuration during a period of flight. A description of flight intent is parsed to provide instances of flight intent, each instance of flight intent spanning a flight segment. For each flight segment, an associated flight segment description is generated that comprises one or more instances of flight intent that describe the aircraft's motion in at least one degree of freedom of motion. One or more instances of flight intent are added to flight segments to close all degrees of freedom of motion. The flight segment descriptions are collated thereby providing a description of aircraft intent for the period of flight expressed in a formal language.
US08977394B2
In the control method for mobile parallel manipulators, kinematic singularity and redundancy are solved through joint limits avoidance and manipulability criteria. By taking the MPM self-motion into consideration due to its redundancy, the inverse kinematic is derived using a hybrid neuro-fuzzy system, such as NeFIK. The discrete augmented Lagrangian (AL) technique is used to solve the highly nonlinear constrained multi-objective optimal control problem. An adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS)-based structure (based on the result of the AL solution) is used to solve the online trajectory planning of the MPM.
US08977393B1
Methods and systems for robotic device charging are described. Within examples, a robotic device may be any device that has a computing ability and interacts with its surroundings with an actuation capability (e.g., electromechanical capabilities). In some examples, a robotic device may be configured to receive a second device, such as a mobile phone, that may be configured to function as necessary as an accessory or a “brain” of the robotic device. A power source apparatus may be any apparatus able to distribute charge in some form in any method to a device wanting charge, including robotic devices.
US08977392B2
A robot control device of a vertical articulated robot having seven axes and an offset structure includes: a storage unit which stores a condition of a status of the vertical articulated robot including a position of an elbow in the vertical articulated robot and control information for controlling the vertical articulated robot such that the condition is satisfied to match each other; an input unit to which the condition of the status of the vertical articulated robot including the position of the elbow is input; and a robot control unit which controls the vertical articulated robot such that the input condition is satisfied on the basis of the control information stored in the storage unit to match the same condition as the condition input to the input unit.
US08977389B2
A method, system and apparatus for delivery of custom blended dispensing custom blended personal care beauty products for a beauty service, wherein one or more components of a beauty product are stored where they may be supplied as needed to a dispenser, and where a control mechanism regulates the dosage of beauty components to provide a desired selected personal care beauty product with the characteristics selected. A selection screen display provides an image of a person and the person's hair that may be manipulated to simulate modifications that may include cut or styling and color or other effects. The selections are processed and stored and a formula is generated and communicating to a dispensing device to deliver the product components to produce the formula.
US08977388B2
A method for compensating for a perturbation external to a platform having a plurality of mechanical arms in accordance with an embodiment of the technology includes detecting a normal positional and/or orientational measurement of the platform using a sensor. A perturbed positional and/or orientational measurement of the platform can also be detected using the sensor. The normal positional and/or orientational measurement and the perturbed positional and/or orientational measurement can be compared to determine a positional and/or orientational difference. A position and/or orientation of a mechanical arm can be adjusted to compensate for the perturbation based on the positional and/or orientational difference.
US08977369B1
An exemplary cochlear implant system includes a sound processing assembly configured to be external to a patient and first and second extension members coupled to the sound processing assembly. The sound processing assembly includes a sound processing unit configured to process an audio signal and transmit one or more control parameters based on the audio signal to an implantable cochlear stimulator and a battery module configured to be electrically coupled to the sound processing unit and provide operating power to the sound processing unit. The first extension member has a distal portion configured to be coupled to a first ear of the patient and the second extension member has a distal portion configured to be coupled to a second ear of the patient. The first and second extension members typically extend back from the ears, thus positioning the sound processing assembly behind the patient's head.
US08977365B2
An electronic system activatable by electrical power is described. The system is useful for influencing cellular functions or malfunctions in a warm-blooded mammalian subject. The system includes one or more controllable low energy HF (High Frequency) carrier signal generator circuits, one or more data processors for receiving control information, one or more amplitude modulation control generators and one or more amplitude modulation frequency control generators. The amplitude modulation frequency control generators are adapted to accurately control the frequency of the amplitude modulations to within an accuracy of at least 1000 ppm, most preferably to within about 1 ppm, relative to one or more determined or predetermined reference amplitude modulation frequencies.
US08977360B2
An external control device for use with a programmable implantable medical device coupled to an operative element. The external control device comprises a user interface comprising a control element and a display screen configured for displaying a graphical representation of the operative element. The external control device further comprises control circuitry configured for prompting the display screen to superimpose a graphical programmer control over the graphical representation of the operative element when the control element is actuated, and modifying an operational parameter for the operative element in response to actuation of the graphical programmer control. The external control device further comprises output circuitry configured for transmitting the modified operational parameter to the programmable implantable medical device.
US08977356B2
Systems and methods for arrhythmia therapy in MRI environments are disclosed. Various systems disclosed utilize ATP therapy rather than ventricular shocks when patients are subjected to electromagnetic fields in an MRI scanner bore and shock therapy is not available. As the patient is moved out from within the scanner bore and away from the MRI scanner, the magnetic fields diminish in strength eventually allowing a high voltage capacitor within the IMD to charge if necessary. The system may detect when the electromagnetic fields no longer interfere with the shock therapy and will transition the IMD back to a normal operational mode where shock therapy can be delivered. Then, if the arrhythmia still exists, the system will carry out all of the system's prescribed operations, including the delivery of electric shocks to treat the arrhythmia.
US08977355B2
A bandstop filter having optimum component values is provided for a lead of an active implantable medical device (AIMD). The bandstop filter includes a capacitor in parallel with an inductor. The parallel capacitor and inductor are placed in series with the implantable lead of the AIMD, wherein values of capacitance and inductance are selected such that the bandstop filter is resonant at a selected frequency. The Q of the inductor may be relatively maximized and the Q of the capacitor may be relatively minimized to reduce the overall Q of the bandstop filter to attenuate current flow through the implantable lead along a range of selected frequencies.
US08977354B2
An apparatus for interfacing between tissues being stimulated is provided. The apparatus includes an electric source capable of generating an applied electric field across a region of tissue and/or a means for altering at least one electromagnetic characteristic of the region of tissue relative to the applied electric field and an interface component, such interface component creating an interface between the region of tissue and the applied electric field or the means for altering at least one electromagnetic characteristic of the region of tissue.
US08977353B2
A method of modifying tissue behavior, comprising: determining a desired modification of tissue behavior for at least one of treatment of a disease, short or long term modification of tissue behavior, assessing tissue state and assessing tissue response to stimulation; selecting an electric field having an expected effect of modifying protein activity of at least one protein as an immediate response of a tissue to the field, said expected effect correlated with said desired modification; and applying said field to said tissue.
US08977351B2
A disposable heart rate indicator is provided. The disposable heart rate indicator has a power source for generating power to the heart rate indicator, at least two electrodes for detecting a person's heart beat, a processor and a light signal emitting head. The processor is operatively coupled to the at least two electrodes and is configured to receive a signal on each heart beat detected by the electrodes and visually indicate a detected heart rate via optical light emitted by the light signal emitting head. The heart rate indicator further includes a conductor coupled between the light signal emitting head and the processor. The conductor is arranged to extend from a heart beat detection area formed by the electrodes and the processor such that the light signal emitting head is visible during use.
US08977348B2
A system is provided including a thoracic bio-impedance or bio-reactance (TBIR) analysis module, a photoplethysmograph (PPG) analysis module, and a cardiac output module. The TBIR module is configured to obtain TBIR information from a TBIR detector, and the PPG analysis module is configured to obtain PPG information from a PPG detector. The cardiac output module is configured to determine the cardiac output of a patient using the TBIR information and the PPG information.
US08977343B2
An optical probe and an optical imaging system include an optical guide, and an actuator having driving coils and a magnet. By supplying a driving current through the driving a magnetic flux is generated which causes a displacement of the distal end of the optical guide. A position measuring device includes a position measuring coil used for monitoring the position of the optical guide, where displacement of the guide distal end causes change in the relative positions of the measuring and driving coils. A power supply supplies a high frequency AC current through the driving coils which causes, an induced voltage in the position measuring coil and thus generates a magnetic coupling between the measuring and driving coils. This induced voltage change is indicative for the position of the distal end.
US08977339B1
A method of assessing stenosis severity for a patient includes obtaining patient information relevant to assessing severity of a stenosis, including anatomical imaging data of the patient. Based on the anatomical imaging data, the existence of any lesions of concerns may be identified. A three dimensional image can be generated of any irregular shaped lesion of concern and a surrounding area from the patient anatomical imaging data. A plurality of comparative two dimensional lesion specific models may be created that have conditions that correspond to the three dimensional model. The comparative two dimensional models may represent vessels having regular shaped lesions with each of the comparative two dimensional models represents a different stenosis severity. The three dimensional model can then be mapped to one of the plurality of comparative two dimensional models. After this mapping, a diagnosis of whether the patient has coronary artery disease may be made.
US08977338B2
A biological optical measurement apparatus includes a connector unit to which a measurement probe is detachably connected, a supply unit configured to supply air to the connector unit, a pipe that connects the connector unit and the supply unit, a pressure detection unit configured to detect a pressure value in the pipe, and an abrasion determination unit configured to determine abrasion of the connector unit based on the pressure value detected by the pressure detection unit under conditions that the measurement probe is connected to the connector unit.
US08977323B1
A cellular phone and mobile device is configured with the ability to accept a signature. A user may write a signature on a touch sensitive display of a mobile device using touch or a pen. A user may be further authenticated by using voice or password. The signature may be viewed on a second mobile device in real time. The signature may be synchronized with a server or an Internet device. The system may allow for multiple parties to sign an electronic document using mobile devices and Internet servers.
US08977322B2
The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus and method, and a program in which information can be reliably exchanged when performing wireless communication by allowing a user to know a communication distance at which devices can be connected. A communication unit 28 performs Bluetooth communication with a communication unit, which serves as a Bluetooth module, provided for a cellular telephone. A CPU 21 displays an image corresponding to the cellular telephone based on the input level of Bluetooth radio waves transmitted from the cellular telephone. For example, when the input level of the radio waves transmitted from the cellular telephone is equal to the maximum input, the CPU 21 sets the level of transparency to be 0, and displays the image corresponding to the cellular telephone on an LCD 32 so that a background image is not transmitted at all. When the input level of the radio waves is almost equal to the reception sensitivity, the CPU 21 displays the image corresponding to the cellular telephone on the LCD 32 by setting the level of transparency to be 90% so as to transmit the background image. The present invention can be applied to an information processing apparatus, for example, a personal computer, a PDA, or a cellular telephone.
US08977319B2
Disclosed are a portable electronic device and a method for controlling the portable electronic device wherein it is possible to use an application enabling an easy input of characters. The portable electronic device is provided with a starting unit, a display unit, a detection unit, and a control unit. The starting unit starts the application enabling the input of characters. The display unit displays a screen based on the application. The detection unit detects a contact to the display unit. The control unit causes the starting unit to start the application when identifying, while a standard screen is displayed on the display unit, the track of the contact to the display unit according to the contact to the display unit detected by the detection unit and determining from the detected track of the contact that characters are being inputted.
US08977318B2
A mobile terminal and a method for controlling the same in consideration of communication environment are provided. The mobile terminal includes a grip sensor unit for generating sensing signals corresponding to user grip, a control unit for identifying a grip pattern on the basis of sensing signals from the grip sensor unit, for extracting communication control information associated with the identified grip pattern, and for performing at least one of power control and antenna tuning control; and a communication means to which power control and antenna tuning are applied under control of the control unit.
US08977314B2
One embodiment of the present invention provides an automatic gain control (AGC) module for a wireless communication system that includes a plurality of amplifiers. The AGC module includes a receiving mechanism configured to receive an input that indicates a total amount of gain adjustment; a collecting mechanism configured to collect a number of parameters associated with the amplifiers; a determining mechanism configured to determine a desired performance requirement; a gain-control engine configured to generate a gain profile for the amplifiers based on the collected parameters, the total amount of gain, and the desired performance requirement; and an output mechanism configured to output a plurality of control signals based on the generated gain profile, wherein a respective control signal independently controls gain of a corresponding amplifier, thereby enabling the wireless communication system to achieve the total amount of gain adjustment while meeting the desired performance requirement.
US08977305B1
Disclosed are various embodiments for implementing wireless service for a wireless device. In a representative embodiment, a service initiation system is executed in a computing device that communicates with a service provider system over a network to activate a wireless service associated with a newly purchased wireless device. The service initiation system also generates a network page to send to a client over the network, where the network page has a component that initiates a porting of a contact designation associated with a prior wireless device to the newly purchased wireless device separate from the activation of the wireless service for the newly purchased wireless device.
US08977296B1
Provided are methods and systems for setting up geo fences and dynamically delivering particular digital media content based on these geo fences. A method may involve providing information corresponding to a specific geographic location and identifying a virtual geographical boundary around that location, for example, by adjusting position of the sliding bar. An interactive map may be used to illustrate location and boundary of the created geo fence and to specify some characteristics of that geo fence right on the map. Multiple common geo fences may be simultaneously created for different locations. Each geo fence may be associated with a token, which is incorporated into each subset of digital media content. Such tokens allow selecting and sending a particular subset to a subscriber device when the device enters a geographic area associated with a certain geo fence. Therefore, a subscriber device receives dynamically updated information based on its location.
US08977292B2
A method for fingerprinting positioning decision support includes obtaining a geographic distribution probability of positions of measurement. A first collection of simulated measurements according to a signal model is generated, wherein each simulated measurement is associated with a respective pixel. The signal model is based on base stations located in the area. Fingerprinting positioning reference data is computed from the first collection and positions of the selected pixels. A second collection of simulated measurements is generated, which is statistically independent to the first collection. These simulated measurements are associated with a respective intended position within the area. Fingerprinting positioning is performed by the second collection utilizing the computed fingerprinting positioning reference data. An estimated accuracy of the fingerprinting positioning is calculated using a comparison between the intended position and the estimated position. This is made to evaluate positioning capabilities of fingerprinting positioning based on the measurement strategy.
US08977285B2
In one illustrative example, data for an appointment is saved in memory. The data include start data corresponding to a start date and time of the appointment, an identifier or address of at least one other mobile device, and at least one of a session ID or key. When a current date and time matches the start date and time, the mobile device grants permission to share, with another mobile device, location information indicating a location of the mobile device. The mobile device also receives location information indicating a location of the other mobile device. When the location information indicates that the locations are within a predetermined range of each other, the mobile device connects in an ad hoc wireless network with the other mobile device with use of the session ID or key, for the communication of one or more files in a secure data session.
US08977273B2
A method for selecting a mobile radio area includes a mobile radio communication device, which is in a state without having a signaling communication connection and a data communication connection with a mobile radio network unit in a first mobile radio area, leaving the first mobile radio area. The mobile radio communication device enters a second mobile radio area and receives in the mobile radio communication device first signals from the mobile radio network unit of the first mobile radio area and second signals from a mobile radio network unit of the second mobile radio area. Furthermore, the mobile radio communication device stores temporarily first mobile radio resource data about the first mobile radio area for a predetermined time period, wherein the first mobile radio resource data are used for receiving the first signals from the mobile radio network unit of the first mobile radio area and the mobile radio communication device storing at least partially at the same time second mobile radio resource data about the second mobile radio area, wherein the second mobile radio resource data are used for receiving the second signals from the mobile radio network unit of the second mobile radio area.
US08977268B2
At least one example embodiment discloses a method of controlling a handover of a user equipment (UE) from a serving base station to a target base station in a heterogeneous network. The method includes determining, by a serving base station, a speed of the UE and a type of the handover, the type of the handover being one of macro cell to macro cell, macro cell to small cell, small cell to macro cell and small cell to small cell, and controlling, by the serving base station, the handover from the serving base station to the target base station based on the speed of the UE and the type of handover.
US08977265B2
A method for minimizing handoff latencies when a handoff is performed in a wireless network. An access point (AP) or base station associated to a current wireless station (STA) allows information required for a reassociation to the STA to be propagated to handoff-capable neighboring APs or base stations. When the STA moves, a neighboring AP or base station performs the reassociation to the STA on the basis of context. When a handoff procedure is performed, the time taken to receive context of a corresponding STA is reduced, such that a fast handoff can be implemented.
US08977258B2
Embodiments of System and Method for Communicating within Broadband Wireless Networks are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
US08977256B2
A computerized method for subscribing an international roaming plan for a communication device, the communication device includes an electronic map. At least one border checkpoint of a predetermined country can be determined on the electronic map. A distance between a current location of the communication device and the location of the at least one border checkpoint is calculated. When the calculated distance is less than a predetermined distance and the current location of the communication device is within the home country, a user may be prompted to select whether to subscribe to an international roaming plan for a particular period of time. A preset message is sent to a predetermined service terminal provided by a telecommunication company to subscribe to the international roaming plan for the communication device when the user makes a selection to subscribe to the international roaming plan for the communication device.
US08977253B2
The present invention discloses a method for sending auxiliary detection signaling, comprising: for each base station in a base station group, that is, a first base station, the other base stations in the base station group except the first base station respectively send auxiliary detection signaling at the carrier frequency of the first base station. The technical solution saves both signaling overhead and power and reduces the complexity of a search carried out by an MS.
US08977234B2
Systems, methods and computer program products for facilitating payments using low-cost barcode or RFID tags are disclosed. Such tags can be attached or affixed to physical, real-world objects thus allowing the objects to be purchased using a customer mobile device, without the need for a dedicated, on-site point-of-sale system. The tags may be constructed from paper, metal, leather, plastic or some other low-cost material. The tag allows a unique visual identifier such as a tag code to be imprinted so that it can be read using a mobile camera or other sensor enabled telephone.
US08977224B2
A transceiver for radio-frequency identification (RFID) is provided. The transceiver includes a transmitter, a receiver and a noise canceller. The transmitter transmits a carrier signal to an antenna. The receiver receives a wireless signal from the antenna. The noise canceller generates a feedback current according to a part of the carrier signal, and feeds the feedback current to an input of the receiver to cancel noises in the wireless signal. Further, the noise canceller adjusts the feedback current according to the signal strength of the noises in the wireless signal.
US08977223B1
A radio frequency receiver subject to a large in-band interferor employs active cancellation with coarse and at least one cancellation signals, each with a respective radio frequency combiner, in order to increase the effective dynamic range of the receiver for weak signals of interest. One or both can be digitally synthesized. This is particularly applicable for co-site interference, whereby the interfering transmit signal is directly accessible. A similar system and method may also be applied to external interferors such as those produced by deliberate or unintentional jamming signals, or by strong multipath signals. An adaptive algorithm may be used for dynamic delay and gain matching. In a preferred embodiment, a hybrid technology hybrid temperature system incorporates both superconducting and semiconducting components to achieve enhanced broadband performance.
US08977219B2
Methods and systems for antenna switching for mitigating leakage of a 60 GHz transmitted signal back into an RF input of a 60 GHz device are disclosed and may include configuring one or more antennas in the plurality of remote RF modules based on a measured signal characteristic, wherein the RF modules receive IF signals via coaxial lines. In-phase (I) and quadrature phase (Q) signals may be generated from the received IF signals. The generated I and Q signals may be summed before being transmitted via the antennas. The received IF signals may be up-converted into first I and Q signals, filtered, and up-converted a second time into the generated I and Q signals. Control signals for the RF modules may be communicated utilizing the coaxial lines. A local oscillator frequency may be configured for the up-conversion of signals via the communicated control signals.
US08977214B2
Disclosed are a sequence report method and a sequence report device for reducing a signaling amount for reporting a Zadoff-Chu sequence or a GCL sequence allocated for a cell. Indexes starting at 1 are correlated to different ZC sequences and are allocated for cells so that the indexes are continuous. When such ZC sequences are reported from BS to UE, a start index indicating the start of the continuous indexes is combined with the number of allocated sequences and they are reported as allocation sequence information by a report channel. The UE and the BS share the correlation between the ZC sequences and the indexes and the UE identifies a usable sequence number according to the correlation and the allocation sequence information reported from the BS.
US08977210B2
A radio-frequency circuit has a signal processing unit for processing a symmetrical input signal, two signal inputs for receiving the symmetrical input signal, a connection which is used as a ground point for the symmetrical signal, and a line which connects the signal inputs and has a length which essentially corresponds to an odd-numbered multiple of half the wavelength of the input signal. A method for testing a radio-frequency circuit having a signal processing unit for processing a symmetrical input signal is additionally provided.
US08977205B2
A head-mounted computing device is described. The head-mounted computing device includes a processor. Coupled to the processor is a memory for storing a software application for execution on the processor. A battery provides current to the processor. A frame supports the processor, the memory, and the battery. The frame includes a mechanical coupling feature and an electrical connector for receiving a peripheral.
US08977200B2
In an external medium communication system including a non-contact card 300, which is an external medium, and a card communication device 400, which is a communication device, the non-contact card 300 includes a conductive unit 320, and the card communication device 400 includes a detection antenna unit 420 including a detection output antenna 421 and a detection input antenna 422. When the external medium 300 is mounted in a predetermined position, the card communication device 400 detects that the non-contact card 300 is in the predetermined position by detecting that the detection output antenna 421 and the detection input antenna 422 are coupled by electromagnetic induction across the conducting unit 320.
US08977198B2
A communication method for the communication between two appliances which are set up for communication in a first communication mode is provided. The method includes sending an activation sequence in a second communication mode from the first to the second appliance in order to initiate communication based on the first communication mode; sending data from the second appliance to the first appliance based on the first communication mode. The activation sequence sent to the second appliance includes an initialization sequence and a request for data communication in the first communication mode. In addition, a corresponding electronic appliance and system are provided.
US08977197B2
A near-field communications (NFC) device includes an NFC antenna, a matching network coupled to the NFC antenna, and a transmitter coupled to the matching network. The transmitter applies a signal to the matching network and a capacitance of the matching network is varied. A parameter is measured while varying the capacitance of the matching network and while applying the signal. A peak value of the parameter is identified and compared to a threshold. A communication protocol is initiated in response to a determination that the peak value satisfies the threshold.
US08977185B2
An image forming apparatus includes a recording sheet storage unit for storing recording sheets substantially in an upright position, an image forming unit which forms an image on a recording sheet conveyed from the recording sheet storage unit, and a recording sheet receiving unit for storing the recording sheet conveyed from the image forming unit substantially in an upright position. In this image forming apparatus, a paper conveyance passage extends upward from a lower portion of the recording sheet storage unit toward the recording sheet receiving unit. The image forming unit positioned on the paper conveyance passage comprises a fixing device and a developer unit at least including a developer carrier, and the fixing device is arranged above the developer unit. Further, a developer receptacle for storing developer that is supplied to the image forming unit is arranged adjacent to one longitudinal end of the developer carrier.
US08977177B2
A fixing device comprises a fixing member having a heat generation layer, an excitation coil disposed opposite an outer circumferential surface of the fixing member to cause the fixing member to induce electromagnetic heat, and a magnetic core to form a continuous magnetic path guiding a magnetic flux generated by the excitation coil to the fixing member. A holder is provided to accommodate and hold the excitation coil and the magnetic core. A first core included in the magnetic core and is arranged opposite the outer circumferential surface of the fixing member not via the excitation coil along a line extended from an axis of the fixing member in a radius direction. An end face of the first core arranged opposite the outer circumferential surface of the fixing member is substantially perpendicular to the line.
US08977173B2
A fixing apparatus includes a fixing unit configured to heat and fix an unfixed image, which is formed on a recording material, on the recording material, a rotating member provided with a metal shaft and configured to convey the recording material that has passed through the fixing unit, a cover member made of injection-molded resin and configured to cover the shaft of the rotating member from a recording material conveyance path side so that a portion of the rotating member in contact with the recording material is exposed, the cover member including a portion that has a U-shaped cross-section when viewed from one end side of the shaft, and a sheet member configured to cover an opening of the U-shaped portion of the cover member.
US08977172B2
A fixing apparatus includes first and second fixing rotatable members configured to fix a toner image on a sheet at a nip portion therebetween, a rubbing rotatable member configured to rub an outer surface of the first fixing rotatable member, a moving mechanism configured to move the rubbing rotatable member between a contact position, in which the rubbing rotatable member is in contact with the outer surface of the first fixing rotatable member, and a separate position, in which the rubbing rotatable member is away from the outer surface of the first fixing rotatable member, and an air blowing mechanism configured to blow air to between the rubbing rotatable member and the first fixing rotatable member at least when the rubbing rotatable member moves from the contact position to the separate position.
US08977171B2
The image forming apparatus is capable of changing a state between a first state in which only a first image bearing member and transfer belt contact each other, and a second state in which respective image bearing members are separated from the transfer belt. A second transfer member is located at a first separating portion at which the second transfer member is separated from the image bearing member in the first state, and is located at a second separating position closer to the second image bearing member than the first separating position in the second state to regulate the position of the transfer belt.
US08977166B2
An image forming apparatus includes: a photosensitive drum configured to rotate about a rotational axis extending in an axial direction; and a charger that charges the photosensitive drum. The charger includes: a wire electrode; a grid electrode having a grid surface that faces the photosensitive drum between the wire electrode and the photosensitive drum; and a pair of shield electrodes, which faces each other with interposing the wire electrode therebetween, and which extends in a substantially orthogonal direction to the grid electrode. The grid surface is inclined to a second plane such that the grid electrode and the shield electrode come close to the photosensitive drum at a more downstream side in a rotating direction of the photosensitive drum than a first plane, wherein the first plane includes the wire electrode and the rotational axis of the photosensitive drum, and the second plane is orthogonal to the first plane.
US08977164B2
A fixing element, a cover device and a multifunction printer are provided. The multifunction printer includes a machine body, the cover device and the fixing element. The cover device is disposed on the machine body and includes a first cover, a second cover and a third cover, wherein the second cover is between the first cover and the third cover. The fixing element passes through and is fixed on the second cover. The first cover and the second cover open relative to the third cover when the fixing element locks the first cover and the second cover, and the first cover opens relative to the second cover and the third cover when the fixing element locks the second cover and the third cover.
US08977160B2
An shutter having an overmolded seal for use in controlling the flow of toner through a port in a toner containing supply items for an imaging apparatus. In one form the shutter is overmolded with a seal comprised of a sleeve and one or more integrally molded angled endless ribs projecting outwardly from the sleeve. With the shutter installed in the supply item, the ribs deflect creating an sealing interface with the housing of the supply item to prevent toner leakage between the shutter and the housing of the supply item.
US08977159B2
An image forming apparatus includes an air-conditioning section to control at least one of temperature and humidity of air, a first passage to guide the air sent off by the air-conditioning section to a temperature-controlled portion in the image forming apparatus, an air-intake section to take in the air from outside of the image forming apparatus, and a second passage to guide the air taken in by the air-intake section to the temperature-controlled portion.
US08977137B2
An apparatus including a polarization controller is described. The polarizer controller is communicatively coupled via a feedback loop to an evaluation module located near an optical receiver. The evaluation module is configured to measure polarization dependent loss (PDL) of an optical signal received at the optical receiver. The polarization controller is configured to receive feedback control data regarding the PDL from the evaluation module. Additionally, the polarization controller is configured to modify a state of polarization of the optical signal at an optical transmitter, which is communicatively coupled to the optical receiver, based on the feedback control data.
US08977134B2
There is disclosed a visible light communication technology capable of intuitively recognizing a transmission speed, an alignment status, a communication status, or a transmission rate. A visible light communication apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a light source selecting unit selecting at least one light source of a plurality of light sources generating lights having different wavelengths by considering intuitive information distinguished depending on a wavelength in a visible light band; and a visible light communication unit performing visible light communication by at least one selected light source to allow the intuitive information to be recognized by a color corresponding to at least one selected light source. Accordingly, a user using the visible light communication can intuitively know an optimal communication status or transmission speed.
US08977133B2
Distributed communications systems employing one or more free-space-optics (FSO) links, and related components and methods are disclosed. In one embodiment, a distributed communications system is provided in which one or more links of a communications path located between a central unit and a remote unit include FSO provided by one or more FSO components. The FSO component(s) can replace optical fiber (or copper) cable assembly and the associated electrical/optical and optical/electrical converter circuitry. Note that FSO and fiber cable links may be used in a mixed fashion depending on the particular requirements of a given installation project for a distributed communications system. Use of such FSO components may allow temporary installations to be effectuated with greater ease and more economically since physical cable is not required for the FSO portion of the communications path. Likewise, installation obstacles associated with physical cable may be eliminated for portion of the communications paths that employ FSO.
US08977122B2
The present invention provides a method and device for routing and wavelength assignment in an optical network. The method comprises: a topology step in which a topology network of the optical network is obtained; a route calculation step in which at least one route in the topology network is calculated, a first node and a last node of the route being predetermined, and the at least one route being part of all routes from the first node to the last node; and a wavelength assignment determination step in which for each node on the route, it is determined whether link attribute information of the node meets a predetermined constraint condition, if the predetermined constraint condition is met, the route is selected as a working route, and the method ends; if the predetermined constraint condition is not met, the method returns to the route calculation step.
US08977121B2
An optical transport network based on multimode/multicore fibers includes a mode-multiplexer to multiplex independent data streams from one or more transmitters; a multimode erbium-doped fiber amplifier (MM EDFA) to compensate for MMF loss; a multimode optical add-drop multiplexer (MM OADM) to add and/or drop multimode channels in multimode networks; a multimode optical cross-connect; and a mode-demultiplexer to separate various mode streams to one or more receivers.
US08977112B2
Exemplary media content recording, management, and distribution systems and methods are disclosed. An exemplary method includes a media content provider subsystem providing an online recording manager service for access by a user, providing an online content management service for access by the user, receiving, through the online recording manager service, a recording request initiated by the user to record a television content program, and publishing, in response to the recording request received through the online recording manager service, a recording of the television content program to the online content management service for hosted access by the user through the online content management service. Corresponding systems and methods are also disclosed.
US08977111B2
An image displaying apparatus, an image editing apparatus, an image editing system, an image displaying method and an image editing method are disclosed. The image displaying apparatus includes an image processing unit which captures a still image, a communication module which communicates with an external device, and a control unit which controls an edited image to be displayed.
US08977109B2
A method and associated apparatus for using a trajectory-based technique to detect a moving object in a video sequence at incorporates human interaction through a user interface. The method comprises steps of identifying and evaluating sets of connected components in a video frame, filtering the list of connected components by comparing features of the connected components to predetermined criteria, identifying candidate trajectories across multiple frames, evaluating the candidate trajectories to determine a selected trajectory, eliminating incorrect trajectories through use of the interface and processing images in said video sequence responsive to the evaluating and eliminating steps.
US08977091B2
Multimode optical fiber systems with adjustable chromatic modal dispersion compensation are disclosed, wherein the system includes a VCSEL light source and primary and secondary optically coupled multimode optical fibers. Because the VCSEL light source has a wavelength spectrum that radially varies, its use with the primary multimode optical fiber creates chromatic modal dispersion that reduces bandwidth. The compensating multimode optical fiber is designed to have a difference in alpha parameter relative to the primary multimode optical fiber of −0.1≦Δα≦−0.9. This serves to create a modal delay opposite to the chromatic modal dispersion. The compensation is achieved by using a select length of the compensating multimode optical fiber optically coupled to an output end of the primary multimode optical fiber. The compensating multimode optical fiber can be configured to be bend insensitive.
US08977086B2
A method of forming a waveguide, the method comprising the steps of: forming a multilayer stack of light guiding layers; and delaminating the multilayer stack between at least two of the light guiding layers to form a waveguide between the light guiding layers; in which the patterned region has converging sides and the waveguide is tapered, the multilayer stack having increased transmissivity at a region corresponding to a selected thickness of the waveguide. A tapered waveguide is also disclosed, comprising: a multilayer stack of light guiding layers; the multilayer stack defining a channel between at least a first waveguiding layer and a second waveguiding layer; the channel having a diminishing thickness in a first direction; and at least one of the first waveguiding layer and the second waveguiding layer having a region of increased transmissivity adjacent a selected thickness of the core. Methods for the use of the tapered waveguide as an optical coupler or spectrometer are also disclosed. Methods for enhancing the optical resolution of the taper waveguide when operated as a spectrometer are also disclosed.
US08977074B1
Photographic images can be used to enhance three-dimensional (3D) virtual models of a physical location. In an embodiment, a method of generating a 3D scene geometry includes obtaining a first plurality of images and corresponding distance measurements for a first vehicle trajectory; obtaining a second plurality of images and corresponding distance measurements for a second vehicle trajectory, the second vehicle trajectory intersecting the first vehicle trajectory; registering a relative vehicle position and orientation for one or more segments of each of a first vehicle trajectory and a second vehicle trajectory; generating a three-dimensional geometry for each vehicle trajectory; mapping the three-dimensional geometries for each vehicle trajectory onto a common reference system based on the registering; and merging the three-dimensional geometries from both trajectories to generate a complete scene geometry.
US08977072B1
Various embodiments of the present invention relate to a method, system and computer program product for detecting and recognizing text in the images captured by cameras and scanners. First, a series of image-processing techniques is applied to detect text regions in the image. Subsequently, the detected text regions pass through different processing stages that reduce blurring and the negative effects of variable lighting. This results in the creation of multiple images that are versions of the same text region. Some of these multiple versions are sent to a character-recognition system. The resulting texts from each of the versions of the image sent to the character-recognition system are then combined to a single result, wherein the single result is detected text.
US08977066B2
Methods, systems, and articles of manufacture for image compression and decompression using sub-resolution images are disclosed. Compressing of images includes, determining a plurality of entropy code sets based upon statistically similar regions in the input image, generating one or more sub-resolution images including a first sub-resolution image comprising the plurality of entropy code sets, encoding the input image using the generated one or more sub-resolution images to control one or more compression parameters including an entropy code, and outputting the encoded input image and the generated one or more sub-resolution images as a compressed entropy coded image file. Decompressing of images include, decomposing an image file to access the encoded compressed input image and respective sub-resolution images for each of a plurality of compression parameters, and decoding the encoded compressed input image using the respective sub-resolution images to control each of the plurality of compression parameters.
US08977064B2
This disclosure describes techniques for rotating an encoded image, such as an image encoded according to a JPEG standard. In one example, a method for rotating an encoded image comprising reordering minimum coded units (MCUs) of the encoded image according to a specified rotation of the encoded image, rotating image data within the MCUs according to the specified rotation, and generating a rotated version of the encoded image comprising the reordered MCUs and the rotated image data within the MCUs.
US08977061B2
A method for merging face clusters includes analyzing a set of digital images, grouping instances of faces within the set of digital images into a set of face clusters, each of the face clusters corresponding to a particular person, and determining a probability that a person associated with a first face cluster from the set of face clusters is the same person associated with a second face cluster of the set of face clusters. The probability is based on both a social similarity between the first face cluster and the second face cluster in addition to a facial similarity between the first face cluster and the second face cluster.
US08977059B2
Integrating features is disclosed, including: determining a value associated with a temporal feature for a point; determining a value associated with a spatial feature associated with the temporal feature; including the value associated with a spatial feature and the value associated with the temporal feature into a feature vector; and using the feature vector to decode for a character. Determining a transform is also disclosed, including: determining, for a point associated with a sequence of points, a set of points including: the point, a first subset of points of the sequence preceding a sequence position associated with the point, and a second subset of points following the sequence position associated with the point; and determining the transform associated with the point based at least in part on the set of points.
US08977058B2
According to one embodiment, an image processing apparatus includes following units. The correlation calculation unit calculates correlations between a first region and predetermined first basis vectors. The distance calculation unit calculates distances between the first region and second regions on a subspace generated by the second basis vectors selected from the first basis vectors. The feature quantity calculation unit calculates a feature quantity based on the correlations. The weight calculation unit calculates weights based on the distances and the feature quantity. The pixel value calculation unit calculates a weighted average of pixel values according to the weights to generate an output pixel value.
US08977055B2
There is provided an information processing device including a database that stores feature quantities of two or more images, the database being configured such that identification information for identifying an object in each image and an attribute value related to a lighting condition under which the object was imaged are associated with a feature quantity of each image, an acquisition unit configured to acquire an input image captured by an imaging device, and a recognition unit configured to recognize an object in the input image by checking a feature quantity determined from the input image against the feature quantity of each image stored in the database. The feature quantities stored in the database include feature quantities of a plurality of images of an identical object captured under different lighting conditions.
US08977053B2
An image processing device, method and program in which a feature point derivation unit derives a plurality of characteristic points in an input moving image. A tracking subject feature point setting unit sets a feature point within a tracking subject, from the characteristic points. A background feature point setting unit sets a group of background feature points from the characteristic points. The background feature points are not located within the tracking subject. A motion detection unit detects movement over time of the background feature points. A clip area setting unit sets a size and a position of a clip area of an image to be employed which includes the feature point within the tracking subject, on the basis of the movement of the feature point within the tracking subject and the movement of the background feature points, when the motion detection unit detects movement of the background feature points.
US08977052B2
An apparatus for detecting an error in a contour of a lesion includes an extracting unit configured to extract a contour of a lesion in each of a plurality of two-dimensional image frames that form a three-dimensional image, and an error determining unit configured to determine a presence or an absence of an error in a contour of a lesion in a target image frame of the two-dimensional image frames based on estimation information about the lesion in the target image frame and/or an energy value that corresponds to the contour of the lesion in the target image frame.
US08977051B2
An image enhancement method for improving color perception of colorblind viewers has an image input step, an image difference area analyzing step, an image color distribution adjusting step, and an image output step. In such method, a normal image and a colorblindness-simulative image are input and calculated to produce a colorblindness-optimized image. Color vision obtained by a colorblind person from the colorblindness-optimized image is substantially identical to that obtained by a person with normal color perception from the normal image.
US08977035B2
An analysis system for detection of defects within an inspection image of an inspected object, the inspection image comprising a plurality of pixels, the system including: a computerized segmentation module configured to segmentize the inspection image based on multiple anchor locations and on a mask which defines multiple mask-segments, by assigning each part out of multiple parts of the inspection image to a respective image-segment selected out of a multiple image segments, wherein the multiple image segments correspond to at least one mask-segment of said multiple mask-segments; and a defect detection processor configured to determine a presence of a defect in the inspection image based on the segmentation at least by assessing each pixel out of a plurality of pixels of the inspection image.
US08977028B2
A method of displaying a virtual ruler on separate images of an object includes: dividing the object into imaging areas in a predetermined direction and obtaining the separate images corresponding to the imaging areas; obtaining a first distance value for each respective separate image, as a distance from a reference point to a first side of the respective separate image, and a second distance value for each respective separate image, as a distance from the reference point to a second side of the respective separate image, the first side being opposite to the second side along the predetermined direction; and displaying the virtual ruler, which indicates distance values between the first distance value and the second distance value of each respective separate image, on each of the respective separate images.
US08977026B2
Methods and systems for locating a region of interest in an object are provided. One method includes acquiring planar nuclear medicine (NM) images of a subject from an NM system, wherein the planar NM images include at least one identified region of interest. The method also includes acquiring a three-dimensional (3D) x-ray Computed Tomography (CT) volume image of the subject from an x-ray CT system and locating the region of interest within the 3D CT volume image using the planar NM images.
US08977025B2
A system and method includes data representing a sequence of X-ray images of a portion of patient anatomy acquired over a time interval and signal data representing electrical activity of the heart of the patient over the time interval, determination of a score value for each image of said sequence of X-ray images, selection of a set of images from said sequence of X-ray images based on the determined score values, the set of images excluding one or more images of said sequence of X-ray images, and generation of an averaged image from said set of images.
US08977022B2
A computed tomography method for determining a volumetric representation of a sample comprising reconstruction initial volume data of the sample from x-ray projections of the sample taken by an x-ray system, determining a part of the reconstructed initial volume data to be updated, and executing an iterative update process configured to generate, using an iterative reconstruction method, updated volume data only for the part of the volume data determined to be updated. Determining the part of the sample volume to be updated comprises individually evaluating every single voxel in the reconstructed initial volume data, based on available quality information for the reconstructed initial volume data, whether or not the voxel fulfils a predetermined condition indicating that an update is required for the voxel, and the iterative update process generates the updated volume data only for the voxels which have been determined that an update is required.
US08977012B2
A method, computer program product, and computer system for identifying a first portion of a facial image in a first image, wherein the first portion includes noise. A corresponding portion of the facial image is identified in a second image, wherein the corresponding portion includes less noise than the first portion. One or more filter parameters of the first portion are determined based upon, at least in part, the first portion and the corresponding portion. At least a portion of the noise from the first portion is smoothed based upon, at least in part, the one or more filter parameters. At least a portion of face specific details from the corresponding portion is added to the first portion.
US08977011B2
A method of determining face recognition profiles for a group persons includes determining with a multi-classifier face detector that a face region within a digital image has above a threshold probability of corresponding to a first person of the group, and recording probability scores which are analyzed for each classifier, including determining a mean and variance for each classifier for the first person. The process is repeated for one or more other persons of the group. A sub-set of classifiers is determined which best differentiates between the first person and the one or more other persons. The sub-set of classifiers is stored in association with the first person as a recognition profile.
US08977008B2
A driver assistance system for a vehicle includes an imager disposed in the vehicle and viewing forward of the vehicle through the vehicle windshield. The imager has a field of view exterior the vehicle and is operable to capture image data. The imager includes (i) a lens, (ii) a spectral filter and (iii) a CMOS photosensor array of photosensor elements. The system includes a control that may be operable to process captured image data for at least a first application and a second application, with the first application including lane departure warning and the second application selected from the group consisting of (i) headlamp control, (ii) vehicle detection and (iii) rain sensing. The control may be operable to adjust a parameter or setting of the imager.
US08977007B1
Methods and systems for detecting a vehicle signal through image differencing and filtering are described. A computing device may be configured to receive a sequence of images of an identified vehicle in a vicinity of a given vehicle. The computing device may be configured to determine, based on a comparison of a first image of a pair of images of the sequence of images to a second image of the pair of images, a portion of image data exhibiting a change in color and a change in brightness between the first image and the second image of the pair of images. The computing device may be configured to determine that the portion indicates a light signal for the identified vehicle; and provide instructions to control the given vehicle based on the light signal of the identified vehicle.
US08977001B2
The invention relates to a device, method, computer program, and a computer program product for monitoring objects, in particular for monitoring scenes of objects captured on video. An object is thereby repeatedly detected and tracked, wherein a tracking device is fed back to a device for object model selection, so that when detected repeatedly, considering tracking parameters determined when tracking the object, the tracking parameters are fed to the selection device and can be considered for detecting.
US08976995B2
An ear unit for stably fitting in an ear includes a first surface facing inwardly toward the ear, a second, opposite surface facing outwardly from the ear and an outer circumferential surface formed between the first and second surfaces. The outer circumferential surface is shaped as a decremental curve. The distance between the ends of the decremental curve is approximately equal to the distance between a first cavity formed under the tragus of the ear and second cavity covered by the lower node of the antihelix of the ear. The first surface is provided with a curvature that provides a contact surface that substantially conforms to the concha, providing an improved attachment, thereby enabling the ear unit to fit closely against the concha when the ear unit is positioned into the ear.
US08976993B2
A system for securing headphone transducers is provided. In one aspect of the present invention, the system comprises a first transducer device having a first mechanical housing, which has an outer surface and an inner surface. A first coupling device is affixed to the outer surface of the first mechanical housing of the first transducer device. A second transducer device has a second mechanical housing, which has an outer surface and an inner surface. A second coupling device is affixed to the outer surface of the second mechanical housing of the second transducer device. The first coupling device is coupled to the second coupling device when in close proximity to each other, such that the inner surfaces of the first and second mechanical devices are opposed to each other.
US08976990B2
A listening device comprises an input transducer providing an electric input signal comprising audio and a detector coupled to the input transducer, for determining whether the electric input signal is a broadband signal or not and providing a detection signal in response. The listening device furthermore comprises a controllable filter for filtering the electric input signal being coupled to the detector and the input transducer and for outputting a filtered electric input signal such that a component of the electric input signal in the tinnitus frequency range is dampened, if the detection signal indicates that the electric input signal is a broadband signal, and outputting an unfiltered electric input signal such that a component of the electric input signal in the tinnitus frequency range is not dampened, if the detection signal indicates that the electric input signal is not a broadband signal.
US08976988B2
An audio processing device includes a) an input unit for converting a time domain input signal to a number NI of input frequency bands and b) an output unit for converting a number NO of output frequency bands to a time domain output signal. A signal processing unit processes the input signal in a number NP of processing channels, smaller than the number NI of input frequency bands. A frequency band allocation unit allocates input frequency bands to processing channels. A frequency band redistribution unit redistributes processing channels to output frequency bands, and a control unit dynamically controls the allocation of input frequency bands to processing channels and the redistribution of processing channels to output frequency bands.
US08976986B2
Volume adjustment based on listener position is disclosed. A position of one or more speakers is identified, and a position of a listener is tracked. For each of the one or more speakers, a changing distance between that speaker and the listener is assessed. A volume of that speaker is automatically adjusted in real-time based on a current distance between that speaker and the listener.
US08976983B2
Provided are a method of generating and playing an object-based audio content that may effectively store preset information about an object-based audio content, and a computer-readable recording medium for storing data having a file format structure for an object-based audio service. The method of generating the object-based audio content may include: receiving a plurality of audio objects (310) generating at least one preset using the plurality of audio objects (320) and storing a preset parameter with respect to an attribute of the at least preset and the plurality of audio objects (330). The preset parameter may be stored in a form of a box that is defined in a media file format about the object-based audio content. Through this, it is possible to effectively store a preset about a plurality of audio objects.
US08976979B2
Apparatuses for and methods of carrying out dynamic equalization processing of an audio signal, and apparatuses for and methods of controlling such equalization processing of the audio signal to dynamically adjust the time-varying spectrum of an audio signal to more closely match a user specified target time-invariant perceived audio signal spectrum while preserving the original dynamic range of the audio signal. The dynamic equalization is according to a user-defined spectral profile specified by a control interface that allows a user to define, create, modify and/or apply the user-defined spectral profile.
US08976978B2
A sound signal processing apparatus includes a sound source direction determination unit and a filter processing unit. The sound source direction determination unit determines sound source directions with respect to sound signals of a plurality of channels for respective first to n-th bands. The filter processing unit includes first to n-th filters which are connected in series and configured to boost or attenuate the sound signals with respect to the first to n-th bands. The respective first to n-th filters perform boosting or attenuation based on the sound source directions of the first to n-th bands which are determined by the sound source direction determination unit.
US08976977B2
A microphone array, comprising N microphones, wherein N is greater than or equal to 3 is provided. The microphones are substantially equiangularly arranged over a circular arc subtending an angle ε, wherein ε is less than or equal to 2π, with the directional axes of the N microphones facing substantially radially outwards. Each of the N microphones have a substantially common directivity function Γ(θ) defining the directional response of the microphone, wherein θ=0 is the directional axis, and the directivity function Γ(θ) is arranged such that a sound source in acoustical free field is effectively captured by no more than two consecutive microphones in the array. By arranging the directivity function in this manner crosstalk between non-adjacent microphones can be minimized, which has been shown to improve auditory localization performance.
US08976974B2
The invention relates to a method for automated tuning of a sound system, the sound system comprising delay lines, equalizing filters, and at least two loudspeakers, the method comprising the steps of reproducing a useful sound signal through the loudspeakers, measuring sound pressure values at least one location, providing a target transfer function for tuning the delay lines and the equalizing filters of the sound system, the target transfer function representing a desired transfer characteristics of the sound system, adjusting the delay of the delay lines, and adjusting amplitude responses of the equalizing filters such, that the actual transfer characteristics of the sound system approximates the target function.
US08976972B2
Processing of sound data encoded in a sub-band domain, for dual-channel playback of binaural or Transaural® type is provided, in which a matrix filtering is applied so as to pass from a sound representation with N channels with N>0, to a dual-channel representation. This sound representation with N channels comprises considering N virtual loudspeakers surrounding the head of a listener, and, for each virtual loudspeaker of at least some of the loudspeakers: a first transfer function specific to an ipsilateral path from the loudspeaker to a first ear of the listener, facing the loudspeaker, and a second transfer function specific to a contralateral path from said loudspeaker to the second ear of the listener, masked from the loudspeaker by the listener's head. The matrix filtering comprises a multiplicative coefficient defined by the spectrum, in the sub-band domain, of the second transfer function deconvolved with the first transfer function.
US08976968B2
Intercepting a secure communication session includes distributing a key from a key distribution point to establish a secure communication session between a first endpoint and a second endpoint. A secure channel is established between the key distribution point and an intercepting point. The intercepting endpoint may be determined to be authorized to intercept the secure communication session. The key is provided to the intercepting endpoint only if the intercepting endpoint is authorized to intercept the secure communication session, where the key provides the intercepting endpoint with access to intercept the secure communication session.
US08976935B2
A collimator grid and a method of fabricating the collimator grid are disclosed. The method includes molding a plurality of plates, each plate includes a plurality of grooves in a first surface, a plurality of fin tips in a second surface disposed opposite to the first surface, plurality of ribs on a first pair of peripheral sides, a plurality of first fiducials formed on the plurality of ribs, and a plurality of second fiducials formed on a second pair of peripheral sides. The method includes machining the second surface to form the plurality of fins having predefined dimensions. Further, the method includes stacking the plurality of plates overlapping each other based on the plurality of first fiducials, and machining the plurality of ribs and first fiducials to form the collimator grid.
US08976933B2
A method and apparatus are provided for spatially modulating X-rays or X-ray pulses using microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) based X-ray optics. A torsionally-oscillating MEMS micromirror and a method of leveraging the grazing-angle reflection property are provided to modulate X-ray pulses with a high-degree of controllability.
US08976932B2
In an X-ray generator using an ultraviolet laser, the generation of the X-ray is stabilized. In an X-ray generation method for irradiating an ultraviolet laser beam emitted from an ultraviolet laser beam generator on an ultraviolet laser beam receiving surface of an electron beam emitting device, irradiating an electron beam emitted from an electron beam emitting surface of the electron beam emitting device distinguished from the ultraviolet laser beam receiving surface on a metal piece and generating an X-ray from the metal piece, denaturalization of substance of the ultraviolet laser beam receiving surface is prevented by controlling the ultraviolet laser beam.
US08976926B2
An x-ray imaging system and method for providing three-dimensional data representing the contents of an object. An x-ray source and x-ray screen are used to acquire multiple x-ray images of the object from different perspectives. The different perspectives are obtained by placing the x-ray source at one end of a moveable arm. These images are processed by back-projecting each perspective image at known distances between the object and the x-ray source, and superimposing the back-projected images at each distance, thereby providing a set of image slices of the object along the z-axis.
US08976924B2
An X-ray detector of an X-ray CT apparatus has a collimator, a plurality of scintillators, a light reflector and a plurality of photodiodes. The collimator has a threshold plate with a thickness Wc to eliminate scattered radiation from an X-ray. The plurality of scintillators emit light based on the X-ray. The light reflector is provided in a gap between adjacent scintillators of the plurality of scintillators. The plurality of photodiodes convert the light of each of the plurality of scintillators into the electric signal. The thickness Wc of the threshold plate mounted on the X-ray incident side of the adjacent scintillators, and a thickness Ws of the gap has a relationship shown in a following expression: Wc≧Ws.
US08976920B2
A nuclear power plant with an improved cooling system using nanoparticles in solid or fluid form is provided. The nanoparticles are delivered in locations such as the cold leg accumulator and high and low pressure pumps of an emergency core cooling system. Motor driven valves and pressurization can aid in the delivery. Methods for providing the nanoparticles are also provided.
US08976918B2
A wireless communication device includes a reception processing circuit including a weight coefficient computation circuit that includes a computation circuit to compute a weight coefficient which is used for removing a distortion of a reception signal caused by a multi-path, and which of each of fingers corresponds to each of a specified number of paths among a plurality of paths caused by the multi-path between the device and the opposing device, by iteratively performing a computation including a complex multiplication between a weight coefficient while being iteratively computed and a component of a correlation matrix, and a control circuit to cause the computation circuit to compute complex multiplications between a first (second) component of a pair of components having a complex conjugate relationship and a first (second) weight coefficient while being iteratively computed when the pair of components is present among components used for computing the weight coefficient.
US08976915B2
According to one embodiment, an adjacent-channel interference reject filter comprises a short-pulse inverter which includes a short-pulse sensor configured to detect a pulse in an intermediate frequency signal supplied to the device. The short-pulse sensor detects pulses having a pulse width less than or equal to some predetermined width. The short-pulse inverter also includes a pulse inverter configured to invert the pulse detected by the short-pulse sensor. The adjacent-channel interference reject filter may also include an inversion controller to control the inverting of detected short pulses. An adjacent-channel interference reject filter may be included in various devices such as wireless communication devices.
US08976909B1
A non-linear detector for detecting signals with signal-dependent noise is disclosed. The detector may choose a data sequence that maximizes the conditional probability of detecting the channel data. Since the channel may be time-varying and the precise channel characteristics may be unknown, the detector may adapt one or more branch metric parameters before sending the parameters to a loading block. In the loading block, the branch metric parameters may be normalized and part of the branch metric may be pre-computed to reduce the complexity of the detector. The loading block may then provide the branch metric parameters and any pre-computation to the detector. The detector may then calculate the branch metric associated with the input signal and output the channel data.
US08976903B2
Certain aspects of the present disclosure relate to a method and an apparatus for unified iterative demodulation-decoding that can be employed in both multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) and non-MIMO wireless systems.
US08976901B2
A phase shift keying transmitter circuit that includes: a variable frequency conversion stage adapted to receive a first data signal, wherein the variable frequency conversion stage comprises a plurality of frequency modulating elements, wherein the first data signal controls the number of the plurality of frequency modulating elements that are operated so as to control an operating frequency of the variable frequency conversion stage; and an output stage configured to switch between one of two possible outputs, the signals provided by one of the two possible outputs having an opposite polarity to the other, wherein the output stage is configured to receive a second data signal to control the switching between the two possible outputs, wherein the output stage is coupled to the variable frequency conversion stage and wherein the switching between the two possible outputs changes the phase of a signal from the variable frequency conversion stage by 180°.
US08976894B2
Provided are a digital broadcast transmitter, a digital broadcast receiver, a stream-processing method for the digital broadcasting transmitter, and a stream-processing method for the digital broadcast receiver. The stream-processing method for the digital broadcasting transmitter includes: configuring a stream in which slots including a plurality of blocks are continuously disposed; and encoding and interleaving the stream to be output as a transport stream, wherein the configuring the stream includes, if slots of a block extension mode 00 are continuously placed, connecting known data placed in predetermined locations of adjacent slots to each other in order to generate a long training sequence.
US08976890B2
A multilevel amplitude modulation device for generating, from digital data, a multilevel amplitude modulation signal having four or more signal levels and outputting the generated signal, including: an average level calculator that selects one of a plurality of preliminarily prepared different candidates for a code word building method such that average level of a symbol array, obtained by adding a symbol for a code word of digital data to be transmitted to one or more already outputted symbols included in a multilevel amplitude modulation signal already outputted, is most approximate to voltage center of the four or more signal levels, and outputs a selection signal indicating the selected method; a signal converter that forms a codeword of the digital data in accordance with the method indicated by the selection signal; and a multilevel modulator that generates a multilevel amplitude modulation signal using the codeword and outputs the generated signal.
US08976889B2
The embodiments of the present disclosure provide a WWAN test method and a test system related to the communication field, which is suitable for the product research and development stage and can derive a quantitative data relationship between a NFS test result and an OTA test result. The WWAN test method comprises: measuring a power value of noises, denoted by D(NFS), received by an antenna of a terminal to be tested in a NFS test manner; measuring a power attenuation value, denoted by D-sense, of a path from a WWAN module to the antenna of the terminal; obtaining an antenna efficiency value, denoted by AE, of the terminal; and obtaining a TIS value of an OTA test result by TIS=D(NFS)+D-sense−AE. The embodiments of the present disclosure can be used in the NFS test.
US08976888B2
The present invention discloses a method for uplink multi-user cooperation communication, including a first, and a second source node and a target node. When transmitting a signal to the target node, the first source node also transmits the signal to the second source node, the second source node changing to a relay node of the first source node and forwarding the signal to the target node; the target node obtains its reception Signal Noise Ratio (SNR) by using a maximal ratio combining mode according to the signal directly transmitted from the first source node and the signal forwarded from the second source node, sets a precoding policy according to the reception SNR, and selects the optimal precoding as a precoding vector which is used when the first source node transmits a signal to the target node.
US08976887B2
The system and method of the present disclosure exploit the fact that an undesired phase offset between signals up-converted and transmitted by transmitters of at least two transceivers is correlative with a phase offset between signals received and down-converted by receivers of the at least two transceivers. Such correlation occurs when the transmitter and receiver in each of the at least two transceivers share the same local oscillator and thus experience the same or very similar random phase noise. Using this fact, the system and method of the present disclosure are configured to measure the phase offset between signals received and down-converted by the receivers of the at least two transceivers and then use the measured phase offset to compensate for the phase offset between the signals up-converted by the transmitters of the at least two transceivers. This compensation allows MIMO communication, such as spatial multiplexing, to be better performed.
US08976886B2
Systems and methods for estimating characteristics of a channel are provided. A transmission of known reference data is received at a receiving device. The reference data is transmitted over the channel that includes one or more desired layers and one or more interfering layers. Characteristics of the channel are determined based on the known reference data, where the determining includes a joint estimation of the one or more desired layers and the one or more interfering layers. The determining includes selecting certain of the layers to be estimated at each of the known reference data and selecting certain of the layers to be estimated over a range of the known reference data. The determining includes solving an equation to jointly estimate the one or more desired layers and the one or more interfering layers based on the selections. The selections reduce a number of unknown values in the equation.
US08976877B2
An embodiment of the present invention provides an apparatus, comprising a transceiver operable as an access point and capable of communicating in a wireless network, the AP adapted to perform a down link multi user-multiple input multiple output (DL MU-MIMO) transmission and further adapted to transmit a null data packet (NDP) to sound channels between intended recipient wireless stations (STAs), and wherein following a DL MU-MIMO transmission of the NDP, the AP polls each of the STAs in turn for channel state information.
US08976870B1
A method for processing a plurality of sub-blocks in a block of video is disclosed. The method generally includes the steps of (A) intra predicting a first group of the sub-blocks in a first quadrant of the block, (B) intra predicting a second group of the sub-blocks in a second quadrant of the block after starting the intra predicting of the first group and (C) intra predicting a third group of the sub-blocks in the first quadrant after starting the intra predicting of the second group, wherein the first group and the third group together account for all of the sub-blocks in the first quadrant.
US08976864B2
A video encoding apparatus, video encoding method, and computer program, which are capable of employing an adaptive filter that provides improved encoding performance while reducing the processing cost required for calculation. A video encoding apparatus estimates interpolation filter coefficients by means of an image frequency characteristic analysis. When a loop continuation condition is satisfied, the video encoding apparatus performs re-estimation of the interpolation filter coefficients. As the loop continuation condition, a first condition can be used, in which the number of times the re-estimation has been consecutively performed for the current frame to be processed is smaller than a predetermined number, for example.
US08976859B2
What is disclosed is a novel video processing system and method wherein a plurality of image frames of a video captured using a video camera with a spatial resolution of (M×N) in the (x, y) direction, respectively, and a temporal resolution (T) in frames per unit of time. A first and second magnification factor f1, f2 are selected for spatial enhancement in the (x, y) direction. A third magnification factor f3 is selected for a desired temporal enhancement in (T). The video data is processed using a dictionary comprising high and low resolution patch cubes which are used to induce spatial and temporal components in the video where no data exists. A high resolution course video X0 is generated which has an enhanced spatial resolution of (f1*M)×(f2*N) and an enhanced temporal resolution of (f3*T) frames. The course high resolution video is then smoothed, when found required, to generate a smoothed high resolution video.
US08976845B2
A network element for a wireless communication system is locatable to couple at least one base station to an antenna array comprising a plurality of antenna elements. The network element comprises a plurality of independent transceiver circuits coupled to at least one of a plurality of respective antenna elements of the antenna array; and logic arranged to apply at least one complex digital signal to at least one transceiver signal path of a transceiver circuit of the plurality of independent transceiver circuits. A feedback path is arranged to provide feedback of the at least one complex digital signal such that it is capable of facilitating determination of latency mismatch error response between at least two transceiver signal paths. Adjustment means comprises delay logic arranged to receive a complex digital signal and provide a modified representation of the received complex digital signal in response to the latency mismatch error response of the at least two transceiver signal path.
US08976844B2
A method for processing a signal having a plurality of codes. The method includes receiving the signal at a receiver and removing a carrier signal from the signal. The method further includes isolating a data stream from the carrier signal and determining timing of the plurality of codes. The plurality of codes is filtered to separate from the plurality of codes in the data stream a particular code for each plurality of codes that correlates to the received signal.
US08976843B2
In some embodiments of the invention, OFDM symbols are transmitted as a plurality of clusters. A cluster includes a plurality of OFDM sub-carriers in frequency, over a plurality of OFDM symbol durations in time. Each cluster includes data as well as pilot information as a reference signal for channel estimation. In some embodiments, a plurality of clusters collectively occupy the available sub-carrier set in the frequency domain that is used for transmission. In some embodiments of the invention data and/or pilots are spread within each cluster using code division multiplexing (CDM). In some embodiments pilots and data are separated by distributing data on a particular number of the plurality of OFDM symbol durations and pilots on a remainder of the OFDM symbol durations. CDM spreading can be performed in time and/or frequency directions.
US08976840B2
The method disclosed herein is implemented in a radio receiver to detect an AWGN channel, where the radio receiver comprises a rake receiver. The radio receiver receives signals transmitted via a propagation channel from a transmitter, and determines that the propagation channel is an AWGN channel when a filtered version of a minimum value of a metric is lower than a threshold value. The metric relates to a difference between a normalized measured power profile of the propagation channel and a normalized power template, which normalized power template is dependent on predetermined sampling timing shifts and on rake finger positions within the rake receiver.
US08976839B2
The present invention discloses a method, device and system for configuring codebooks. The method comprises a transmitting end selecting a code word restricted sub-set and informing a receiving end of the code word restricted sub-set, the code word restricted sub-set containing part or all of code words in a first codebook and/or a second codebook; and the receiving end selecting an optimal pre-coded code word from the code word restricted sub-set and informing the transmitting end of an index of the optimal pre-coded code word. By the present invention, code word restriction is implemented in the case of dual codebooks in the LTE-A system such that the calculation complexity is reduced when the receiving end selects the code word, occurrences of the case where the receiving end selects the code word wrongly are decreased, and the signaling structure in the LTE system can be inherited very well.
US08976836B2
A sounding reference signal transmission method which is efficient in an uplink wireless telecommunications system using a multiple antenna technique and sounding reference signal hopping. A terminal using the multiple antenna technique is equipped with a plurality of antennas, and a base station receives the sounding reference signal transmitted from these antennas and estimates the uplink channel state of each antenna. Moreover, the sounding reference signal performs frequency hopping so that the base station determines the channel condition for the entire bandwidth to which data is transmitted in the uplink system. The sounding reference signal is transmitted through an antenna pattern in which the sounding reference signal can be transmitted through the entire data transmission bandwidth of the uplink system for each antenna of the terminal without additional overhead in this environment.
US08976833B2
An embodiment is a semiconductor device comprising an optical device over a first substrate, a vertical waveguide on a top surface of the optical device, the vertical waveguide having a first refractive index, and a capping layer over the vertical waveguide, the capping layer configured to be a lens for the vertical waveguide and the capping layer having a second refractive index.
US08976830B2
A laser active region can include a quantum well barrier having GaPSb. The active region can include one or more quantum wells, and a quantum well barrier having GaPSb bounding each side of each of the one or more quantum wells. The quantum well barrier can be GaP1-wSbw, where w ranges from about 0.12 to about 0.25 mole fraction, and can have a thickness of from about 20 Angstroms to about 50 Angstroms. The one or more quantum wells include InGaAs or InGaAsP. Various types of lasers can have the laser active region. Such a laser can be capable of emitting light having a wavelength of about 850 nm or +/−150 nm. As an example, a vertical cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) having the laser active region. The laser may also be a tunneling laser.
US08976827B2
A driving device includes: a driving circuit configured to provide a drive current; a first detecting circuit; a second detecting circuit configured to detect a first reference current or a physical quantity corresponding thereto, as well as a second reference current or a physical quantity corresponding thereto; a first generating circuit configured to generate an additive voltage as a control voltage at a light-emission time of a light-emitting element, and further to generate a second voltage as a control voltage at a non-light-emission time of the light-emitting element; and a second generating circuit configured to generate a third reference current. The second detecting circuit has a first adder circuit that generates the first reference current by adding the second reference current and the third reference current with each other.
US08976810B2
A wireless communication system in which wireless communication can be performed via a wireless communication network, the wireless communication system comprising: a wireless access point device configured to operate by using power supplied via a two-wire cable, to perform wireless communication with wireless field devices via the wireless communication network, and to perform communication via the two-wire cable; and a conversion device connected to the two-wire cable and to a control unit configured to control the wireless field devices, the conversion device being configured to supply power to the wireless access point device via the two-wire cable, and to perform conversions between signals, which are input and output from the control unit, and signals, which are transmitted and received via the two-wire cable.
US08976793B2
The invention relates to enabling differential forwarding in address-based carrier networks such as Ethernet networks. There is described a method of and connection controller for establishing connections (76, 77) in a frame-based communications network comprising nodes (71-75 and 78) such as Ethernet switches. The connections are established by configuring, in various of the nodes, mappings for forwarding data frames, such as Ethernet frames. The mappings are from a combination of a) a destination (or source) address corresponding to a destination (or source) node (73) of the connection and b) an identifier, such as a VLAN tag. The mappings are to selected output ports of the various nodes. By using the combination of destination (or source) address AND identifier, the mappings enable data frames belonging to different connections (76, 77) to be forwarded differentially (ie forwarded on different output ports) at a node (75) despite the different connections having the same destination node. This enables flexibility in routing connections and the ability to perform traffic engineering.
US08976785B2
A system and method for providing voice redundancy service. A digital packet telephony service is monitored for continuity of the digital packet telephony service. Voice communication service is switched to a plain old telephone connection in response to determining the digital packet telephony service is unavailable.
US08976767B2
A method of reducing data transfer while increasing image information over an 802.15.4 network includes obtaining an image with a sensor, modulating a representation of the image using a first 802.15.4 modem, sending the representation of the image to a coordinator, demodulating the representation of the image using a second 802.15.4 modem, and digitally enhancing at least one of the representation of the image and the image. A system for communication over an 802.15.4 network includes a sensor for obtaining data, the size of the data being at least an order of magnitude greater than the size of an 802.15.4 packet, a first 802.15.4 modem coupled to the sensor, a buffer for temporarily storing the data to allow transmission of portions of the data; the buffer being coupled to the sensor, a coordinator coupled to the sensor, the coordinator being capable of communicating with a computer, and a second 802.15.4 modem coupled to the coordinator.
US08976763B2
A guaranteed time slot allocation scheme is provided for the IEEE 802.15.4 standard for use in wireless personal area networks having sensor devices to overcome bandwidth under-utilization for time-critical or delay-sensitive data transmissions. A fractional knapsack problem is formulated to obtain optimal guaranteed time slot allocation with which a minimum bandwidth requirement is guaranteed for the sensor devices.
US08976762B2
Radio frequency (RF) architectures for spectrum access networks are provided. Embodiments of the invention generally provide a radio frequency (RF) architecture for customer premise equipment (CPE) for use in, for example, IEEE 802.22 wireless regional area networks (WRANs). In some embodiments, the CPE RF architecture includes two receive chains with a directional antenna and an omni-directional antenna, respectively. The CPE RF architecture facilitates opportunistic out-of-band spectrum sensing and WRAN signal receiving that are performed in parallel with data transmission.
US08976761B2
In a wireless local are network, each of multiple access points, in a high density deployment, are configured to suppress co-channel interference. A first access point having a plurality of antennas beamforms a transmission to a wireless client device within a null-space or with the weakest singular eigenmodes of a wireless channel between the first access point and at least one co-channel second access point. Techniques are presented herein for situations in which any given access point has two or more co-channel access points. In addition, an access point may perform receive side suppression with respect to a transmission (made by a co-channel access point to one of its associated wireless client devices) that is received from that co-channel access point.
US08976759B2
A method implemented in a base station used for a downlink multi-user (MU) multi-input multi-output (MIMO) system is disclosed. The method includes receiving an indication of a quantized matrix from each of a plurality of scheduled user equipments, precoding data streams for the plurality of scheduled user equipments, transmitting the precoded data to the plurality of scheduled user equipments. Other methods and some apparatuses for wireless communications also are disclosed.
US08976758B2
A wireless communication system includes a receiving unit, a buffer unit, a determining unit, and an adjustment unit. The receiving unit receives a signal stream. The buffer unit is coupled to the receiving unit, for storing the signal stream by using a used depth. The determining unit is coupled to the receiving unit, for determining a signal receiving quality of the signal stream received from the receiving unit and accordingly generating a determining result. The adjustment unit is coupled to the determining unit and the buffer unit, for adjusting the used depth of the buffer unit according to the determining result.
US08976746B2
A transmission scheme newly adds a Demodulation Reference Signal (DM-RS) to estimate a channel response for demodulation. When a transmission scheme based on Long Term Evolution Common Reference Signal (LTE CRS) is set in a user, a corresponding user cannot receive data in a Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service Single Frequency Network (MBSFN) sub-frame. To solve this problem, the present scheme separates and sets a transmission mode for sub-frame and a transmission mode for MBSFN.
US08976744B2
A wired and wireless vehicle communication network includes network node modules, switch modules, bridge-routing modules, and a network manager. The network manager is operable to determine a wired packet communication mode and/or a wireless packet communication mode. When the network is in the wireless packet communication mode, the network manager coordinates wireless communication of packets among the network node modules, the switch modules, and the bridge-routing modules based on individual content of the packets and wireless channel mapping. When the network is in the wired packet communication mode, the network manager coordinates wired communication of packets among the network node modules, the switch modules, and the bridge-routing modules based on the individual content of the packets and in accordance with a global vehicle network communication protocol.
US08976738B2
A method for execution on an apparatus configured to operate in a telecommunications network comprising a processor, wherein said processor is configured to execute said method, said method comprising encoding a plurality of uplink feedback information elements for carrier aggregation, by a set of codewords where each codeword comprises a channel, wherein at least two information elements have the same channel distribution.
US08976736B2
A mobile station apparatus (1) determines an uplink carrier component to which a physical downlink control channel instructing to start random access procedure corresponds. Provided is a wireless communication system in which a base station apparatus (3) and a mobile station apparatus (1) communicate with each other using a plurality of component carriers, wherein the base station apparatus (3) includes a random access controller (1012) that preliminarily allocates random access resources corresponding to a specific downlink component carrier, by means of which the mobile station apparatus (1) can start a random access communication, and a transmission processor (111) that transmits control information instructing to start the random access procedure, and wherein the mobile station apparatus (1) includes a random access processor (2012) that, upon receipt of the control information instructing to start the random access procedure, starts the random access procedure by means of the random access resource corresponding to a specific downlink component carrier preliminarily allocated by the base station apparatus (3).
US08976731B2
A method for a base station supporting multicarrier operation to transmit a paging message is provided. The base station determines a first time point for multicast broadcast service (MBS)-related information and transmits the MBS-related information through a first carrier at the first time point. Also, the base station determines a second time point for transmitting a paging message to a mobile station, determines a second carrier for transmitting the paging message to the mobile station, and transmits the paging message through the second carrier at the second time point. Here, the second time point is different from the first time point.
US08976726B2
A method of and system for distinguishing polarizations and information about the carrier signals transmitted from a repeating relay comprising encoding, using an encoder, a first data stream and a second data stream at a repeating relay, modulating, using a modulator, the first and second encoded data streams at the repeating relay, spreading, using a spreader, the first modulated data stream such that a first spread waveform results having first spreading characteristics and the second modulated data stream such that a second spread waveform results having second spreading characteristics, wherein the first spreading characteristics and the second spreading characteristics are different and differentiate the first spread waveform from the second spread waveform, and transmitting the first spread waveform as a first spread spectrum carrier signal on a first electromagnetic polarization and the second spread waveform as a second spread spectrum carrier signal on a second EM polarization.
US08976724B2
The present disclosure may include a method for repackaging data in a communications system. The method may include receiving low-power RF data at a wireless relay device from one or more low power wireless devices and translating the low-power RF data at the wireless relay device into one or more translated packets. The method may further include synchronizing the translated low-power RF data with one or more wireless links and transmitting the synchronized low-power RF data to a host device. The method may further include receiving wireless communications from a host device, translating the parsing the wireless packets, synchronizing the translated packets with one or more low-power RF connections, and transmitting the synchronized packets to one ore more low-power RF devices. The method may further include managing the network topology of the communications system via commands to the wireless relay device.
US08976721B1
A clock generator generates a first clock. A receiver transitions, based on the first clock, from a power save mode to an active mode to receive a DTIM beacon from an access point. The DTIM beacon is transmitted at a DTIM beacon interval based on a second clock of the access point. A beacon sensing module determines a number of times the DTIM beacon is missed by the receiver during a predetermined time period subsequent to the receiver transitioning from the power save mode to the active mode. A transmit module transmits a number of requests to the access point during a given DTIM beacon interval. The number of requests is based on the number of times the DTIM beacon is missed. A synchronization module receives information about the second clock from the access point and synchronizes the first clock to the second clock based on the information.
US08976715B2
A packet voice transceiver adapted to reside at a first end of a communication network and to send an ingress communication signal comprising voice packets to, and receive an egress communication signal comprising voice packets from, a second packet voice transceiver residing at a second end of the communication network. The packet voice transceiver includes a far-end echo canceller that reduces echo that is present in the egress communication signal. The far-end communicates with other functional components of the transceiver system and adapts its behavior based on the activity of the other functional components.
US08976710B2
A method, non-transitory computer readable medium, and apparatus for discovering and analyzing a network topology includes obtaining information regarding a network including a relationship of a plurality of nodes of the network. At least one value for each of a plurality of centrality parameters is determined for each of the plurality of nodes. At least one topology score for each of the plurality of nodes is generated based on one or more of the centrality parameter values. One or more relatively significant nodes are identified based on one or more of the topology scores and output.
US08976705B2
A method is provided in one example embodiment and includes receiving packets from a group of nodes configured to operate in a mesh network; referencing geographic information associated with the group of nodes; evaluating a subset of the group of nodes within a particular geographic area; determining a global positioning system (GPS) location and a relative location associated with the subset of the group of nodes; determining configuration data for the subset of the group of the nodes; and communicating the configuration data to the subset of the group of nodes.
US08976691B2
A first communication device comprising memory in which data is stored may receive a request packet from a second communication device, measure received signal strength for the request packet, and determine whether to perform the requested search of the data stored in the memory based on the received signal strength and the power at which the request packet was transmitted. The search request packet may comprise a request to search the data stored in the memory, and a transmit power field that indicates a power at which the request packet was transmitted. The determining may be based on a result of a comparison between the received signal strength and a threshold and/or based on a comparison of a relative power and a threshold. The relative power may be calculated utilizing the received signal strength and the power at which the packet was transmitted.
US08976687B2
It is specified that a frame containing at least the plurality of slots is repeated. A detecting unit detects a slot usable in the communications between terminal apparatuses, from among a plurality of slots. A modem unit and an RF unit broadcast the information on the detected slot. A power measuring unit in the detecting unit measures the respective received powers of the plurality of slots, and an empty slot identifying unit identifies a slot whose received power is less than a threshold value.
US08976678B2
A method for controlling data communication within a locomotive consist is disclosed. The method may include monitoring an effect of a first interference generated by a first pair of wires on a second pair of wires during a communication. The method may also include monitoring an effect of a second interference generated by the second pair of wires on the first pair of wires during the communication. The method may further include dividing data packets to he sent from the first access point to the second access point such that a first subset of the data packets are designated for the first pair of wires and a second subset of the data packets are designated for the second pair of wires and modifying the first subset of the data packets to reduce the effect of the first interference.
US08976677B2
A wireless user equipment (UE) device includes a processor configured to control at least one of a plurality of subsystems to receive sensory data associated with multiple radio channels relative to one or more radio elements utilizing multiple radio access technologies in a communications network, whereby the sensory data may be processed to determine one or more reliability conditions associated with the sensory data. The processor is further configured to control at least one or more of the plurality of subsystems for communicating the sensory data and the associated reliability conditions to a network node and for processing a control message received from the network node for facilitating allocation of a radio resource to at least one of the radio elements.
US08976672B2
In one embodiment, a node (e.g., a router) performs reservations for data flows, each on a corresponding selected (reserved) path having adequate reservation availability. Also, the node forwards data from data flows, each over a corresponding selected (forwarded) path having adequate load availability, wherein forwarded paths are decoupled from reserved paths for the data flows.
US08976666B2
Methods and systems for providing device-specific authentication are described. One example method includes receiving, by an input port of a network adapter within the computer system, a stream of network traffic; dividing, by load balancing logic within the network adapter, the received stream of network traffic into a plurality of substreams; and presenting the plurality of substreams to respective interfaces of the network adapter, each network adapter interface being accessible by an operating system executing on the computer system.
US08976665B2
The disclosed embodiments include a system, computer program product, and method for routing a call over a packet network. A call request may be received from a calling party to call a called party at a network address. At least one potential call path over a packet network may be determined to connect the calling party to the called party at the network address. Network performance information associated with each potential call path may be accessed and a determination may be made that each of the call paths are impaired or congested. In response to determining that each of the call paths are impaired or congested, the call may be routed over a call path other than one of the at least one potential call paths to enable the calling party to communicate with the called party.
US08976663B2
A QoS based selection of access network allows a UE to transmit different data traffic flows using different access technologies. The selection is done in accordance with information provided in the ANDSF. This allows a network operator to determine how different data traffic is routed, which can allow for better network utilization planning.
US08976661B2
A device used in a network is disclosed. The device includes a network monitor to monitor a network state and to collect statistics for flows going through the network, a flow aggregation unit to aggregate flows into clusters and identify flows that can cause a network problem, and an adaptive control unit to adaptively regulate the identified flow according to network feedback. Other methods and systems also are disclosed.
US08976660B2
According to one aspect of the present invention, values which are specifically defined for each user equipment are reflected when resource allocation/mapping of downlink/uplink ACK/NACK channels is performed, so as to vary uplink/downlink ACK/NACK information transmitting resources for each user equipment allocated to the same downlink/uplink resource. According to another aspect of the present invention, nodes for transmitting uplink/downlink ACK/NACK information vary for each user equipment allocated to the same downlink/uplink resource. According to the present invention, even when downlink/uplink signals for a plurality of user equipment are transmitted from the same resource, uplink/downlink ACK/NACK signals of the plurality of user equipment are transmitted from different resources, thereby reducing interferences among ACK/NACK signals of the plurality of user equipment.
US08976659B2
One embodiment of the present invention provides a switch. The switch includes a port management module and a notification module. During operation, the port management module identifies a local port selected to be in a blocking state associated with a spanning tree. The notification module constructs a notification message associated with the blocking state.
US08976658B1
A network device configured to i) control a rate of traffic while operating in a rate-limiting mode, and ii) mirror traffic while operating a sampling mode. The network device includes an ingress circuit configured to receive packets, and a rate limiter in communication with the ingress circuit. The rate limiter is configured to, while the network device is operating in the rate-limiting mode, perform a rate-limiting scheme to control a rate of the packets received through the ingress circuit. The rate limiter is further configured to, while the network device is operating in the sampling mode, perform a modified form of the rate-limiting scheme to mirror the packets received through the ingress circuit.
US08976652B2
An L2 switch includes a storage unit, a detection unit, a selection unit, and a notification unit. The storage unit stores a plurality of relay paths connecting a source device and a destination device that receives information from the source device. The detection unit detects occurrence of congestion between the host L2 switch and an adjacent L2 switch in a first path among the plurality of relay paths. The selection unit selects a second path from among the plurality of relay paths in the case where the occurrence of congestion has been detected. The notification unit notifies, through an L2 switch adjacent to the host L2 switch in the second path, an L2 switch adjacent to the source device that the second path is to be used as a detour path.
US08976648B2
A method, system and apparatus for managing load on service devices in a communication network are provided. At a processor of a relay device, it is determined that the service devices are available after being unavailable, the relay device comprising a communication interface and a processor for relaying messages, via the communication interface, between a communication device and the service devices. In response, the processor blocks incoming messages associated with a subset of the service devices, the incoming messages from the at least one communication device.
US08976647B2
A network component comprising a hash generator configured to generate a first hash value using a first hash function and a packet, and generate a second hash value using a second hash function and the packet, a memory comprising a first hash table related to the first hash function and a second hash table related to the second hash function, the first and second hash tables comprising one or more entries, the one or more entries comprising a signature, a timestamp, and a path identification, a comparator configured to compare the first hash value and the second hash value with the one or more entries, and a forwarding decision module configured to forward the packet on a selected path.
US08976643B2
A wireless communication method for a transmission apparatus that transmits an OFDM (orthogonal frequency division multiplexing) signal using a communication band, which comprises a plurality of subcarrier groups each including a plurality of subcarriers. The method includes specifying which subcarrier group and how many subcarriers are to be used to transmit the OFDM signal, determining a configuration of a transmission frame, generating the OFDM signal by mapping data symbols according to the determined configuration of the transmission frame, and transmitting the generated OFDM signal.
US08976638B2
Provided is an information encoding method and a holographic memory device which increase the amount of information per page of a holographic memory and reduce the bit error rate to ensure a larger multiplexing number. The holographic memory information encoding method expresses information of signal page data in a holographic memory as a multi-stage data using different resolution by block coding, and superimposes each data on a single page of signal page data. The multi-stage data using different resolution is realized by light amplitude data and phase data. The amplitude data is divided by area through block coding. When n odd-numbered ON bits exist in a divided area of the phase data, a phase of 2πs/n (where n and s are natural numbers) is imparted as s-th phase information to one value of binary data, and the same phase is imparted to the other value of binary data.
US08976627B2
A micro geophone having pole pieces do not extend out around the sides of the magnet, thereby allowing a reduced geophone diameter for a given magnet diameter. The pole pieces are adhesively bonded to the magnet using an adhesive, which may be made suitably electrically conductive by silver or nickel fillers or non-conductive by mica fillers such as borosilicate glass micro-spheres. Axial space is economized by eliminating traditional spider retaining rings. The spider springs are seated directly against the coil form and secured by adhesive fillets disposed on the outward-facing spring circumferences. The spider springs include circumferential notches to receive adhesive. A two-piece bimetallic coil form of aluminum and a heavier material, joined by adhesive, is provided. Headers are affixed to the housing within the seats by adhesive. A straight or rounded chamfer at each of the geophone ends allows the overall geophone dimensions to be maximized.
US08976626B2
The invention concerns a device for emitting seismic waves designed to operate by being towed by a vessel. The device of the invention comprises a support of elongated shape; at least one seismic source connected to the support; means to tow the support while holding it in a substantially vertical position.
US08976621B2
Subject matter disclosed herein relates to techniques to read memory in a continuous fashion.
US08976612B2
A single-ended sense amplifier circuit of the invention comprises first and second MOS transistors and first and second precharge circuits. The first MOS transistor drives the bit line to a predetermined voltage and switches connection between the bit line and a sense node and the second MOS transistor whose gate is connected to the sense node amplifies the signal via the first MOS transistor. The first precharge circuit precharges the bit line to a first potential and the second precharge circuit precharges the sense node to a second potential. Before sensing operation, the bit line is driven to the predetermined voltage when the above gate voltage is controlled to decrease. The predetermined voltage is appropriately set so that a required voltage difference at the sense node between high and low levels can be obtained near a changing point between charge transfer/distributing modes.
US08976610B2
In some examples, a memory device is configured to receive a precharge command and an activate command. The memory device performs a first series of events related to the precharge command in response to receiving the precharge command and a second series of events related to the activate command in response to receiving the activate command. The memory device delays the start of the second series of events until the first series of events completes.
US08976602B2
A non-volatile semiconductor device includes first and second selecting transistors; multiple memory cells that are stacked above the substrate; multiple word lines that are connected to control gates of the multiple memory cells; selecting gate lines that are each connected to a gate of one of the selecting transistors; a bit line connected to the first selecting transistor; a source line connected to the second selecting transistor; and a control circuit configured to execute an erasing loop that includes an erase operation and a verifying operation. The control circuit increases an erasing voltage in accordance with the number of times the erasing loop is repeated.
US08976597B2
A control circuit executes an erase operation that includes an erase pulse application operation and an erase verify operation. The erase pulse application operation applies an erase pulse voltage to a memory cell to change the memory cell from a write state to an erase state. The erase verify operation applies an erase verify voltage to the memory cell to judge whether the memory cell is in the erase state or not. The control circuit changes conditions of execution of the erase verify operation when the number of times of executions of the erase pulse application operation in one erase operation reaches a first number.
US08976594B2
Apparatus and methods are disclosed, including a method that raises an electrical potential of a plurality of access lines to a raised electrical potential, where each access line is associated with a respective charge storage device of a string of charge storage devices. The electrical potential of a selected one of the access lines is lowered, and a data state of the charge storage device associated with the selected access line is sensed while the electrical potential of the selected access line is being lowered. Additional apparatus and methods are described.
US08976593B2
A nonvolatile memory device includes a plurality of global word lines, a voltage pump configured to generate a plurality of voltages, a control unit configured to divide the plurality of global word lines into a first group and a second group in response to an input row address and generate control signals, a first selection unit configured to output at least two different voltages that are to be applied to global word lines of the first group, a second selection unit configured to output a voltage that is to be applied to global word lines of the second group, and a third selection unit configured to apply output voltages of the first selection unit to the global word lines of the first group, and apply an output voltage of the second selection unit to the global word lines of the second group.
US08976592B2
A nonvolatile memory device includes a flag cell configured to store flag information, a plurality of dummy cells adjacent to the flag cell, and program control logic configured to control a program operation on the flag cell and a dummy program operation on the plurality of dummy cells. When the program operation on the flag cell is performed, the program control logic performs the dummy program operation on at least one of the plurality of dummy cells.
US08976591B2
According to example embodiments, a nonvolatile memory device includes a first and a second NAND string. The first NAND string includes a first string selection transistor, a first local ground and a first global ground selection transistor, and first memory cells stacked in a direction perpendicular to a substrate. The second NAND string includes a second string selection transistor, a second local ground and a second global ground selection transistor, and second memory cells stacked in the direction perpendicular to the substrate. The device includes a selection line driver including path transistors configured to select and provide at least one operation voltage to the first and second string selection transistors, the first and second local and global ground selection transistors. The first and second string selection transistors are electrically isolated from each other, and the first and second global ground selection transistors are electrically connected.
US08976589B2
According to one embodiment, a storage device includes a nonvolatile memory and a controller. The nonvolatile memory includes blocks which store data. Each of the blocks is an erase unit. The controller controls an operation of the nonvolatile memory. The controller executes writes and erases with respect to a first block of the blocks in the nonvolatile memory for the first number of times during a first period. The controller executes writes and erases with respect to other blocks for the second number of times smaller than the first number of times during the first period.
US08976588B2
The present invention discloses two preferred embodiments of a 12T NVSRAM cell with a flash-based Charger and a pseudo 10T NVSRAM cell with one shared Flash-based Charger. The Flash-based Charger can be made of a 2-poly floating-gate type or a 1-poly charge-trapping SONOS/MONOS flash type, regardless of PMOS type or NMOS type. In an alternative embodiment, the Store operation of above two preferred NVSRAM cell use a DRAM-like charge-sensing scheme with Flash cell configured into a voltage follower associated with Flash Charger and 2-step SRAM amplification technique to amplify the threshold level difference ΔVt stored in the paired Flash transistors. The ΔVt can be detected as low as 1V when the coupled charges through the Flash charger are sufficient by ramping a gate control of the Flash Charger as high as VPP or by increasing the channel length for the Flash Charger.
US08976584B2
A method is provided for programming a flash memory device including memory cells formed in a direction perpendicular to a substrate, a first sub word line connected to first memory cells and selectable by a first selection line, and a second sub word line connected to second memory cells and selectable by a second selection line, the first and second memory cells being formed at the same level and being supplied with a program voltage at the same time. The method includes performing LSB program operations on the first and second sub word lines by enabling the first and second selection lines, respectively; performing CSB program operations on the first and second sub word lines by enabling the first and second selection lines, respectively; and performing MSB program operations on the first and second sub word lines by enabling the first and second selection lines, respectively.
US08976566B2
Some embodiments include electronic devices having two capacitors connected in series. The two capacitors share a common electrode. One of the capacitors includes a region of a semiconductor substrate and a dielectric between such region and the common electrode. The other of the capacitors includes a second electrode and ion conductive material between the second electrode and the common electrode. At least one of the first and second electrodes has an electrochemically active surface directly against the ion conductive material. Some embodiments include memory cells having two capacitors connected in series, and some embodiments include memory arrays containing such memory cells.
US08976562B2
A resistive memory structure, for example, phase change memory structure, includes one access device and two or more resistive memory cells. Each memory cell is coupled to a rectifying device to prevent parallel leak current from flowing through non-selected memory cells. In an array of resistive memory bit structures, resistive memory cells from different memory bit structures are stacked and share rectifying devices.
US08976561B2
An integrated circuit package for use in a switch mode power converter comprises an encapsulation and a lead frame. A portion of the lead frame is disposed within the encapsulation. The lead frame includes a first conductor having a first conductive loop disposed substantially within the encapsulation. The lead frame also includes a second conductor galvanically isolated from the first conductor. The second conductor includes a second conductive loop disposed substantially within the encapsulation proximate to and magnetically coupled to the first conductive loop to provide a communication link between the first and second conductors. A first control die including a first control circuit is coupled to the first conductor. A second control die including a second control circuit is coupled to the second conductor. One or more control signals are communicated between the first and second control dice through the communication link.
US08976560B2
An inverter control device includes a voltage detector, a target value calculation section, an inverter control section, an abnormality detector and a voltage clamp unit. The target value calculation section calculates a target value of an alternating current output from the inverter based on a detection voltage. The inverter control section controls a switching element of the inverter based on the detection voltage and the target value. The abnormality detector detects an abnormality in the voltage detector. The voltage clamp unit holds the detection voltage, for calculating the target value, at a first assured voltage determined based on a lower limit area of an assured voltage range that assures an operation of the inverter: and holds the detection voltage, for generating the control signal, at a second (higher) assured voltage, upon detecting the abnormality in the voltage detector.
US08976548B2
In one aspect, the present invention reduces electromagnetic interference (EMI) caused by a capacitive dropper power supply by synchronizing the openings and closings of a shunt switched used for regulation control of the DC output voltage generated by the power supply, to zero crossings of AC current from the current-limiting resistor disposed in series at the AC input of the power supply. In one or more other embodiments, the capacitive dropper power supply includes disconnect circuitry that senses a loss of the input AC voltage source and in response wholly or partly disconnects internal regulation control circuitry from the supply's output filter capacitor to reduce the current drawn from the filter capacitor, thereby reducing the decay rate of the DC output voltage from the filter capacitor. The contemplated power supply may also be implemented in a Bipolar, BiCMOS or CMOS process, for realization in a compact integrated circuit device.
US08976547B2
A switching mode power supply comprising a synchronous rectifying control circuit. The synchronous rectifying control circuit comprising an integrating circuit, a first comparison circuit and a logic circuit. The integrating circuit is configured to provide an integrating signal. The first comparison circuit comprises a first input coupled to the output of the integrating signal, a second input configured to receive a first threshold signal, and an output. The logic circuit comprises a first input coupled to the output of the first comparison circuit and an output coupled to a control terminal of the secondary switch, and the secondary switch is configured to be turned OFF when the integrating signal is less then the first threshold signal.
US08976546B2
A control integrated circuit for controlling a switch power supply, including: a voltage collecting module, configured to collect a feedback voltage based on an output voltage of the switch power supply; an error amplifying module, configured to compare the feedback voltage with a reference voltage and generate an error voltage; a time collecting module, configured to obtain a degaussing time signal based on the feedback voltage; and a constant voltage and current module, configured to collect a peak current feedback signal of a switch transistor, generate a control signal based on the error voltage, the degaussing time signal and the peak current feedback signal, wherein the control signal is for controlling an operating frequency and a duty ratio of the switch transistor, and control the switch transistor according to the control signal.
US08976539B2
An optical transceiver that reduces the EMI noise leaked therefrom is disclosed. The optical transceiver provides a metal housing, an optical subassembly, and an electronic circuit. The metal housing includes a first space to install the electronic circuit, and a second space to install the optical subassembly. At least the first space has inner surfaces having a corrugated shape to reduce the resonance of the electromagnetic waves.
US08976528B2
The disclosed embodiments provide a system that facilitates heat transfer in an electronic device. The system includes a heat pipe configured to conduct heat away from a heat-generating component in the electronic device. The system also includes a thermal stage disposed along a thermal interface between the heat-generating component and the heat pipe, wherein the thermal stage applies a spring force between the heat-generating component and the heat pipe. The thermal stage includes a first thickness to accommodate the heat pipe and a second thickness that is greater than the first thickness to increase a spring force between the heat-generating component and the heat pipe. Finally, the system includes a set of fasteners configured to fasten the thermal stage to a surface within the electronic device and form a thermal gap between the heat pipe and an enclosure of the electronic device.
US08976525B2
An enclosure is presented. The enclosure includes an outer casing having one or more walls. Further, the enclosure includes a synthetic jet assembly configured to dissipate heat from the one or more walls, where the synthetic jet assembly includes a bracket operatively coupled to the one or more walls of the outer casing and two or more synthetic jets operatively coupled to the bracket, where the two or more synthetic jets are arranged in a multi-dimensional array.
US08976523B2
A mobile terminal includes: a body having a slot at one side thereof; a socket mounted to the body, and to which an external device is connected through the slot; a slide door coupled to the body so as to expose or cover the socket; and a guide portion formed in the body, and configured to guide motion of the sliding door, wherein the slide door comprises: a base having a plate shape; a manipulation portion protruding from a front surface of the base, and exposed to the outside through the slot; and a rail portion formed to be slidable along the guide portion, and coupled to a rear surface of the base so as to be covered by the base.
US08976517B2
An electronic device includes a shell, a display module and a cushion. The shell includes a bottom plate and a top plate. The top plate defines an opening. The display module is disposed in the shell and faces the opening. The display module is spaced from the bottom plate of the shell. The cushion is disposed between the display module and the bottom plate of the shell, and brought into contact with the display module for cushioning the display module when an external force is applied to the display module.
US08976497B2
An electrostatic discharge (ESD) device implemented within a power domain to mitigate ESD events imparted from another power domain for reducing integrated circuit (IC) failures. A first power domain includes an interface where ESD events are received and an output that can impart ESD event voltages on other components. A second power domain includes an ESD device coupled to the output of the first power domain and a protected IC. In one embodiment, the ESD device includes a floating device with an input terminal coupled to the interface output. By floating the device receiving the ESD event in the second power domain, damaging ESD induced voltages are reduced. Embodiments of the ESD device can be implemented using standard cell libraries to simplify integration.
US08976496B2
Techniques and architectures corresponding to electrostatic discharge blocking circuits are described.
US08976492B1
In one embodiment, a magnetic head includes a lower shield, a read element positioned above the lower shield at a media-facing surface of the magnetic head, the read element having a free layer, an upper shield positioned above the read element, a first domain control layer having a direction of magnetization in a predetermined direction, the first domain control layer being configured to control a direction of magnetization of the free layer toward the predetermined direction, and a second domain control layer configured to have a magnetization in a same direction as the direction of magnetization of the first domain control layer, the second domain control layer being positioned above the first domain control layer, wherein the first domain control layer is a hard magnetic layer, and wherein the second domain control layer is a soft magnetic layer.
US08976478B1
Systems and methods are disclosed for performing band rewrites on shingled storage media based on error scan counts. In one embodiment, a device may comprise a data storage medium including a first band and a processor. The first band may include a plurality of tracks storing data in a shingled manner where a first track at least partially overlaps a second track. The processor may be configured to receive a write command directed to the first band, increment a first rewrite count of the first band based on the write command, and when the first rewrite count exceeds a first rewrite threshold, perform a read-modify-write (RMW) operation for all of the first band. In some embodiments, a device may maintain write counts for sections of a band, and perform RMW operations on less than all of the band.
US08976477B1
The disclosure is directed to a system and method of generating soft-orthogonal syncmarks for at least a first set of tracks and a second set of tracks. Random pairs of sync patterns are searched to identify one or more pairs where the sync patterns of each pair exhibit delta-like autocorrelation and small cross-correlation with each other and with preamble portions of the tracks. Then a pair of sync patterns is selected from the one or more identified pairs, where the selected pair includes sync patterns that are distinguishable from the user data portions of the tracks at least partially based upon a data characteristic of the user data portions of the tracks. The selected pair of sync patterns is then used to generate a first syncmark for the first set of tracks and a second syncmark for the second set of tracks.
US08976475B1
Systems and method relating generally to data processing, and more particularly to systems and methods for segmenting a data set and recovering the segmented data set. In one case, a system is disclosed that includes: a data transfer preparation circuit, a transfer characteristic determination circuit, and a a format insertion circuit. The data transfer preparation circuit is operable to receive a user data set and to generate an output data set based upon the user data set; the transfer characteristic determination circuit is operable to determine a distance between a first servo data wedge on a storage medium and a second servo data wedge on the storage medium; and the format insertion circuit is operable to dynamically augment the output data set with formatting information at a location selected based at least in part on the distance between the first servo data wedge and the second servo data wedge.
US08976472B1
Methods and apparatus for vibration cancellation are disclosed. Vibration data from one or more vibration detectors associated with a storage device is collected. The vibration data represents vibrations experienced by the storage device. In response to the vibration data from the one or more vibration detectors, one or more movements for respective ones of one or more counter-vibration actuators to at least partially cancel of the vibrations experienced by the storage device is calculated. The one or more counter-vibration actuators perform the one or more movements.
US08976469B2
A lens driving system is configured for driving a lens to a focus position, and includes a control unit and a driving unit electrically connected to the control unit and coupled with the lens. The control unit acquires the focus position, calculates a main current value according to the focus position, and calculates a number of secondary current values according to the main current value. The secondary current values gradually increase to the main current value. The driving unit drives the lens to the focus position according to the secondary current values.
US08976464B2
An imaging lens comprising, in order from the object side: an aperture stop; a positive first lens having convex object-side and image-side surfaces; a double-sided aspheric negative second lens having a concave object-side surface; a meniscus double-sided aspheric positive third lens having a convex image-side surface; and a meniscus double-sided aspheric negative fourth lens having a concave image-side surface. All of the lenses are made of a plastic material.
US08976458B2
An inner focus lens system comprising a first lens unit and subsequent lens units, wherein an aperture diaphragm is provided, the first lens unit is: fixed with respect to an image surface in focusing; and composed of five or more lens elements including a first positive lens element located closest to the object side and a second positive lens element, the subsequent lens units include at least a first focusing lens unit located closest to the object side and a second focusing lens unit, at least one of the first focusing lens unit and the second focusing lens unit is composed of two or less lens elements, at least one lens element is provided on the image side relative to the aperture diaphragm, and the condition: NF1≦NF2 (NF1, NF2: the number of lens elements constituting the first, second focusing lens unit) is satisfied.
US08976451B2
A lens array module includes an arrayed optical element including a light blocking frame and a lens unit, and a light sensor array unit. The light blocking frame includes a bottom plate with multiple through holes, a surrounding wall, and a partition wall integrally connected to and cooperating with the bottom plate and surrounding walls to define multiple optical channels. The lens unit includes a substrate abutting against the bottom plate and including multiple lens elements that are aligned respectively with the through holes, and a plurality of upper positioning walls integrally connected to the substrate. The light sensor array unit includes multiple light sensing components respectively aligned with the lens elements.
US08976439B2
An interior rearview mirror assembly includes a mirror casing and a prismatic reflective element. The mirror casing is a unitarily molded mirror casing having at least one attachment surface. The prismatic reflective element includes a glass substrate having a front surface and a rear surface and a perimeter edge about a periphery of the glass substrate. A mirror reflector is established at the rear surface of the glass substrate. The perimeter edge of said glass substrate has a generally rounded surface disposed between the front surface and the mirror casing. The prismatic reflective element is attached at the attachment surface of the mirror casing. The perimeter edge of the glass substrate is exposed to and is viewable by the driver of the vehicle when the interior rearview mirror assembly is normally mounted in the vehicle.
US08976426B2
A light source driving circuit that drives a light source includes a driving electric current generator that generates a driving electric current including a predetermined electric current, a first auxiliary current, and a second auxiliary current; and a controller that sets values of the first and second auxiliary currents by using first and second lighting pattern signals, wherein each of the first and second lighting pattern signals is for controlling supply of the predetermined electric current to the light source. After setting a first value of the first auxiliary current, a second value of the second auxiliary current is set by using the second lighting pattern signal that defines a time period for stopping supply of the predetermined electric current to be shorter than a time period for stopping the supply of the predetermined electric current that is defined by the first lighting pattern signal.
US08976422B2
A lens array includes a transparent substrate arranged on a plane perpendicular to an optical axis, first lenses, which are arranged in a main scanning direction with respect to an light incident on the transparent substrate, and which condense the light, light shielding portions arranged on the transparent substrate except in areas of the first lenses to shield the light, and second lenses, which are laminated on the first lenses, and which are made of a material with a wettability different from that of a material of the first lenses.
US08976408B2
An image processing apparatus includes a setting unit configured to set two pixels, one of which is adjacent to a processing target pixel in a vertical direction and the other of which is adjacent to the processing target pixel in a horizontal direction, as first determination pixels, and to set two pixels adjacent to and opposite across one of the two first determination pixels, as second determination pixels, and an output unit configured to output a black pixel for the processing target pixel, in a case where one of the first determination pixels is a black pixel and one of the second determination pixels is a black pixel.
US08976399B2
An image forming apparatus is connected to a plurality of external apparatuses. A job reception portion receives from each of the external apparatuses request to execute print job for forming image on paper sheet. A print control portion causes image forming portion to form image on paper sheet based on the print job received by the job reception portion, and causes discharge portion to discharge to paper sheet discharge portion the paper sheet on which the image has been formed by the image forming portion based on the print job. A collection determination portion, after the person detection portion has detected the presence of person, when person detection portion has not detected the presence of person and discharge detection portion has not detected the presence of paper sheet, determines that all paper sheets discharged to the paper sheet discharge portion have been collected.
US08976398B2
An information processing apparatus activates an installer by a basic printer driver, transmits information of an image forming apparatus to automatically install and activate a printer adaptor module, and automatically prepares a second extension printer driver, thereby achieving original bidirectional communication.
US08976392B2
An information processing apparatus comprises: a unit which holds information of a plurality of hot folders; a unit which holds a condition for ranking the plurality of hot folders; a unit which generates a list of the plurality of hot folders ranked according to information of the plurality of hot folders, the condition, and information of print data input to a first hot folder of the plurality of hot folders, and to present the list; a unit which receives selection of a second hot folder as a movement destination of the print data input to the first hot folder from the plurality of hot folders indicated in the list; and a unit which moves the print data input to the first hot folder to the second hot folder.
US08976388B2
In one embodiment, a request is received at a first computer system included within a first domain. The request is a request to send content to a network connected printer identified according to a printer identifier attributing the printer to a second domain, wherein the printer is included within a third domain. A validation request message is sent to a second computer system within the second domain requesting validation of the printer identifier. Responsive to receipt of validation information from the second system, the content, or a content availability message that the content is available to be obtained by the printer, is sent to a third computer system within the third domain, for the third system to forward to the printer.
US08976376B2
A first RIP processing unit reads cache data from a first cache unit. The first RIP processing unit transmits first RIP-processed variable part data to a printer. Since an identifier read by the first RIP processing unit is not a transmitted identifier, the first RIP processing unit transmits RIP-processed reuse part data to the printer. A second RIP processing unit reads cache data from a second cache unit. The second RIP processing unit transmits second RIP-processed variable part data to the printer. Since an identifier read by the second RIP processing unit is a transmitted identifier, the second RIP processing unit does not transmit the RIP-processed reuse part data to the printer.
US08976373B2
Disclosed is an image processing apparatus includes a plurality of control sections each of which performs analysis processing of analyzing data of page description language form to generate intermediate language data and rendering processing of generating rendering data based on the intermediate language data generated by the analysis processing, the plurality of control sections capable of performing the analysis processing and the rendering processing parallelly with each other; and a storage section which stores the intermediate language data and the rendering data, and at least any one of the plurality of control sections obtains information with regard to a vacant capacity of the storage section, and at least any one of the control sections discontinues the analysis processing being performed by at least any one control section and performs the rendering processing based on the information with regard to the vacant capacity of the storage section and a predetermined set value.
US08976364B2
A microfabricated optical gyroscope that utilizes a linear array of micron scale optical ring resonators closely spaced to allow evanescent coupling of electromagnetic fields in adjacent resonators. Within each resonator, the optical Sagnac effect produces a phase difference between clockwise and counterclockwise propagating light that is proportional to the inertial rotation rate perpendicular to the plane of the resonator. The disclosure enhances the overall sensitivity to rotations by varying the strengths of the evanescent coupling between resonators and/or the circumferences of the resonators. The size and coupling strengths control the optical interference between resonators. By using periodically alternating coupling strengths and/or linearly chirped resonator circumferences, the gyroscope transmission has extremely narrow transmission resonances with slopes, corresponding to the responsivity to inertial rotations, that are large enough to yield shot noise limited sensitivities sufficient for inertial navigation in a device size less the 1 mm2 in size.
US08976363B2
A probe system includes an imager and an inspection light source. The probe system is configured to operate in an inspection mode and a measurement mode. During inspection mode, the inspection light source is enabled. During measurement mode, the inspection light source is disabled, and a structured-light pattern is projected. The probe system is further configured to capture at least one measurement mode image. In the at least one measurement mode image, the structured-light pattern is projected onto an object. The probe system is configured to utilize pixel values from the at least one measurement mode image to determine at least one geometric dimension of the object. A probe system configured to detect relative movement between a probe and the object between captures of two or more of a plurality of images is also provided.
US08976362B2
A system, apparatus and method employing carbon nanotubes on substrates such as silicon, titanium, copper, stainless steel and other substrates, where the carbon nanotubes are blacker than existing paints and coatings, thereby providing an exponential increase in stray light suppression depending on the number of bounces of such treated surfaces. Additionally, the present invention is directed to techniques to better absorb and radiate unwanted energies. Further, the alternate substrates offer strength of material for numerous components and in numerous physical applications. The present invention is also directed to techniques for improving the adhesion of the nanotubes to the alternate substrate materials and also extending the wavelength of operation from the near ultraviolet to the far infrared portion of the spectrum (0.2 microns to 120 microns wavelength).
US08976361B2
A measuring apparatus includes an illumination device including a surface light source, a detector configured to detect a light intensity distribution formed on a light-receiving surface by reflected light, and a processor configured to obtain the reflection characteristic based on first data of the light intensity distribution detected by the detector. The processor is configured to estimate, based on the first data, second data of a light intensity distribution formed by specular reflected light and third data of a light intensity distribution formed by diffuse reflected light in a case where a point light source is disposed at each position in a light-emitting region of the surface light source, and to estimate, based on the second data and the third data, a light intensity distribution formed by reflected light from the surface.
US08976360B2
To provide a surface plasmon sensor for measuring a refractive index by which a refractive index can be easily measured with high accuracy without relying on an absorption curve. The surface plasmon sensor includes: a reflection plate which includes a metal layer having a periodic structure and on which a specimen is arranged; a light source which irradiates an incident light to the reflection plate; a light receiving part which receives a reflected light reflected on the reflection plate; and a measurement part which measures a refractive index of the specimen based on phase information on two kinds of waves which are included in reflected light reflected on a periodic structure surface and differ in polarization direction.
US08976357B2
An optical sensor includes a light receiving element (for example a photodiode) and an angle limiting filter that limits the incidence angle of incidence light with respect to the light receiving area of the light receiving element. When a wavelength of the incidence light is denoted by λ, a height of the angle limiting filter is denoted by R, and a width of an opening of the angle limiting filter is denoted by d, “d2/λR≧2” is satisfied.
US08976356B2
According to one embodiment, a measurement mark includes: a first line pattern, first lines extending in a first direction, the first lines arranged in a second direction in the first line pattern, the first line pattern capable of forming a first moire pattern by overlapping with an arrangement pattern including a pattern, and a first polymer and a second polymer being alternately arranged in the pattern;a second line pattern, second lines extending in the first direction, the second lines being arranged in the second direction in the second line pattern, the second line pattern capable of forming a second moire pattern by overlapping with the arrangement pattern; and a reference pattern with a reference position configured to assess a first shift amount from the reference position of the first moire pattern and a second shift amount from the reference position of the second moire pattern.
US08976354B2
An optical apparatus has a light detecting section which detects light and emits transmitted light where linearly polarized light, which is converted by a polarizing section, is transmitted through a subject. In addition, the optical apparatus has an orthogonal separating section which orthogonally separates the emitted light from the light detecting section and a light reception section which receives light which is orthogonally separated by the orthogonal separating section. A calculation apparatus outputs a rotation control signal to a rotation apparatus and rotation controls the light detecting section so that the rotation plane is orthogonal with regard to an optical path of the transmitted light. Then, the calculation apparatus measures the polarization state of the transmitted light, which is transmitted through the subject S using the intensity with which the light, is received by the light receiving section.
US08976349B2
A method of manufacturing a particle-based image display having a plurality of imaging cells is disclosed. The method includes filling the plurality of imaging cells with a plurality of first particles, identifying a defect associated with one or more of the imaging cells, and repairing the defect within a unit corresponding to part of the plurality of imaging cells.
US08976346B2
An optical coupling lens includes a refraction surface, a first total reflection surface, a second total reflection surface, a first aligning member and a second aligning member. The refraction surface, the first total reflection surface and the second total reflection surface are orderly connected end to end. The first aligning member and the second aligning member are formed on the refraction surface.
US08976341B2
An optoelectric control apparatus for a satellite laser ranging system comprises a communication controller for externally receiving optoelectric control data. Memory is connected to the communication controller and stores a round trip distance to a satellite. A laser generation control unit is connected to the communication controller and outputs a laser fire signal. A signal measurement unit receives a laser start time. A real-time conversion unit is connected to the signal measurement unit and the communication controller, and converts a predicted laser arrival time into real time. A Lagrange interpolation processor is connected to the real-time conversion unit and the memory, and calculates a time at which laser light fired by a laser transmission unit returns back to a laser reception unit (laser arrival time). The clock unit is connected to a time measurement unit, the real-time conversion unit, a register unit, and a delay unit, and outputs time information.
US08976339B2
A system for determining the speed and position of objects comprises a beam source, a transmit reflection device, a beam receiver, a receive reflection device, and a controller. The beam source may generate a beam. The transmit reflection device may reflect the beam at the objects and may include a plurality of transmit faces with each transmit face oriented at a different angle and operable to reflect the beam at a different height. The beam receiver may detect the beam. The receive reflection device may include a plurality of receive faces with each receive face oriented at a different angle and operable to focus the beam reflected from objects at different heights onto the beam receiver. The controller may determine the position of the objects over time and calculate the speed of the objects based on a change in the position of the objects.
US08976335B2
A lithographic apparatus arranged to transfer a pattern from a patterning device onto a substrate, the lithographic apparatus having a first object and a planar member mounted on the first object to improve thermal transfer to/from a second object.
US08976332B2
A conduit system for a lithographic apparatus is disclosed, the conduit system including a conduit configured to guide a liquid or liquid-gas mixture, and a gas injection nozzle configured to introduce a gas in the liquid or liquid-gas mixture to at least partially absorb pressure peaks or waves in the liquid or liquid-gas mixture. In an embodiment, the gas injection nozzle may be arranged in a pump of the conduit system. The pump further includes a pump inlet, a pump outlet and a pump chamber between the pump inlet and the pump outlet arranged for compression of the liquid or liquid-gas mixture.
US08976331B2
A liquid crystal display device and a method of repairing bad pixels thereof, in which the bad pixels can be efficiently and easily repaired, includes a first insulating substrate, a gate wiring and a storage wiring arranged substantially parallel to each other in a first direction on the first insulating substrate, a data wiring intersecting the gate and storage wirings in an insulated manner and arranged substantially in a second direction, and a pixel electrode formed on a pixel area defined by the gate and data wirings. The storage wiring includes a horizontal portion arranged substantially in the first direction and at least a part of which does not overlap the pixel electrode, and a vertical portion branching off substantially in the second direction from the horizontal portion and overlapping the data wiring.
US08976323B2
A dual layer display system for generating dimensional imagery. The system includes a first display device and a second display device with a light source. The second display device is arranged to be spaced apart from the first display device and to project output light onto a back surface of the first display device. The system alternatively operates the display devices in a first mode in which the first display device is transparent and the second display device displays back layer content and in a second mode in which the first display device displays front layer content and the second display device operates as a backlight to the first display device. In the first mode, the first display device displays a mask for the front layer content such as with gray-to-black pixels mapped to an object in the front layer content to block back layer content at this location.
US08976315B2
The present invention provides a liquid crystal display module, which includes a backlight module, a mold frame arranged on the backlight module, a liquid crystal display panel arranged on the mold frame, and a bezel arranged on the liquid crystal display panel and fixed to the backlight module. The backlight module includes a backplane. The backplane includes a bottom board and a side board connected to the bottom board. The bezel includes a front wall and a side wall connected to the front wall. The side board forms a projection toward the side wall. The projection forms a threaded hole. The side wall forms a receiving hole corresponding to the projection. The projection is completely received in the receiving hole and secured to the receiving hole by a bolt.
US08976313B2
Provided is an outdoor display apparatus having an improved configuration to effectively prevent deterioration of a panel included therein. The outdoor display apparatus includes: a casing body having an air inlet and an air outlet; first and second display panel modules in the casing body to display images on front and rear surfaces of the casing body, respectively; transparent members fitted respectively to the front surface and the rear surface of the casing body to protect the first and second display panel modules; an air suction unit to suction the air into the casing body through the inlet and to discharge the air through the outlet; and an air distribution unit to distribute the air discharged from the air suction unit to at least one of the first display panel module and the second display panel module.
US08976308B2
It is an object to obtain a liquid crystal display device in which a contact defect is reduced, increase in contact resistance is suppressed, and an opening ratio is high. The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display device having a substrate; a thin film transistor provided over the substrate, which includes a gate wiring, a gate insulating film, an island-shaped semiconductor film, a source region, and a drain region; a source wiring which is provided over the substrate and is connected to the source region; a drain electrode which is provided over the substrate and is connected to the drain region; an auxiliary capacitor provided over the substrate; a pixel electrode connected to the drain electrode; and a protective film formed so as to cover the thin film transistor and the source wiring, where the protective film has an opening, and the auxiliary capacitor is formed in the area where the opening is formed.
US08976295B2
A method of linkage-viewing a TV broadcasting program between a mobile communication apparatus and a digital TV, the method includes inputting a TV linkage-viewing command in order to successively view a TV broadcasting program which is being viewed on the mobile communication apparatus, on the digital TV; transmitting data information from the mobile communication apparatus to the digital TV according to the input of the TV linkage viewing command; and selecting a TV channel in the digital TV which is the same as a current channel which is being viewed on the mobile communication apparatus and changing to the selected TV channel based on the data information which the digital TV has received.
US08976280B2
An image processing device includes an image input portion, a motion vector acquisition portion and a distortion component estimation portion. The image input portion inputs a target image which is an image to be processed. The motion vector acquisition portion acquires a motion vector generated by relative movement with respect to a subject drawn in the target image when an imaging device which has generated the target image generates the target image. The distortion component estimation portion estimates a rolling shutter distortion component of the target image based on the motion vector.
US08976279B2
According to one embodiment, a light receiver includes a light reception module, a multi-exposure area selector, a multi-exposure controller, and a readout module. The light reception module includes N lines, each of the N lines having a plurality of light receiving elements. The multi-exposure area selector is configured to select one or a plurality of single-exposure lines and one or a plurality of multi-exposure lines. The multi-exposure controller is configured to, per the unit time, perform an exposure on the single-exposure lines one time for a first exposure time; and a first exposure and a second exposure on the multi-exposure lines. The readout module is configured to read exposure amounts of the lines line by line. The multi-exposure controller is configured to start the second exposure on the multi-exposure lines before reading of the exposure amounts of all the single-exposure lines is completed.
US08976278B2
The present invention relates to the field of design of analog digital hybrid integrated circuit. The object of the invention is to reduce ADC conversion rate thus further reducing power consumption of the sensor while not reducing line frequency of the CMOS-TDI. To this end, a digital domain accumulative CMOS-TDI image sensor with low power consumption is provided. It includes a pixel array of n+k lines multiplied m columns, a column parallel signal pre-processing circuit, a column parallel successive approximation (SAR) ADC, a column parallel digital domain accumulator, a column parallel divider, a timing control circuit and an output shift register, wherein n+k+1 coarse quantification memory units are provided to the column parallel digital domain accumulator for storage of coarse quantification results; and memory units for storage of n times of fine quantification results are also provided, thus realizing n stages of TDI signal accumulation after accumulation of n times of fine quantification results. The invention is generally used in hybrid integrated circuit design.
US08976272B2
In an imaging apparatus, unevenness in brightness in screen due to flash is eliminated and video with secured continuity as a moving image can be obtained. In the imaging apparatus (1), signals of fields affected by flash among video signals acquired by imaging are treated with adding or adding and averaging to equalize effects of flash which appear unevenly on a screen.
US08976271B2
The optical system capable of performing zooming includes a first lens unit and a second lens unit and satisfies conditions of |(ΔTMyu+ΔTMyl)/(ΔWMyu+ΔWMyl)|<0.67 and 0.75<|(ΔWMyu+ΔWMyl)|/2P<16.0. ΔWMyu represents a lateral aberration amount for a d-line of a 70 percent upper ray reaching an 80 percent image height at a wide-angle side middle focal length, ΔWMyl represents a lateral aberration amount for the d-line of a 70 percent lower ray reaching the 80 percent image height at the wide-angle side middle focal length, ΔTMyu represents a lateral aberration amount for the d-line of the 70 percent upper ray reaching the 80 percent image height at a telephoto side middle focal length, ΔTMyl represents a lateral aberration amount for the d-line of the 70 percent lower ray reaching the 80 percent image height at the telephoto side middle focal length, and P represents a pixel pitch of the image sensor.
US08976268B2
An image processing apparatus capable of properly synthesizing a strobe-illuminated image and non-strobe-illuminated images, irrespective of a condition for illuminating a photographic subject. A sensitivity of strobe emission photographing is set to be lower than a sensitivity of non-strobe emission photographing, and a strobe-illuminated image and plural sheets of non-strobe-illuminated images are continuously photographed with the set sensitivities. The strobe-illuminated image is gain-processed with a gain amount, and positional deviations of the plural sheets of non-strobe-illuminated images relative to the strobe-illuminated image are corrected. An averaged image obtained by synthesizing the gain-processed image and the images after the positional deviation correction is synthesized with the strobe-illuminated image, while taking account of amounts of strobe illumination in the strobe-illuminated image, thereby obtaining a synthesized image.
US08976266B2
Examples of the present disclosure provide a method and system for locating a picture, based on navigation functions of a mobile terminal. The method includes the follows. During a process of utilizing a photographic device to take a picture, current time information and geographical location information of current track point may be obtained and recorded by a mobile terminal, by using navigation functions carried by the mobile terminal. Picture shooting time carried by the picture taken and the time information obtained by the mobile terminal may be associated with each other, such that geographical location information where the picture is taken may be determined. Time of the photographic device is synchronous with time of the mobile terminal.
US08976258B2
An exemplary image processing apparatus generates an interpolation frame to be inserted between a first frame and a second frame of a moving picture contiguous with each other. The image processing apparatus includes: a repetitive pattern detection section configured to detect whether a repetitive pattern is present in at least one of the first and second frames; a motion vector calculation section configured to calculate a motion vector of an object in the first and second frames; and an interpolation frame generation section configured to compare a repetition cycle of the repetitive pattern in a first direction with a magnitude of the motion vector in the first direction so as to generate the interpolation frame through a process performed based on a result of the comparison.
US08976253B2
A camera and another device synchronization system, apparatus, signaling, processor-readable medium, and method are provided. As part of a system or as an apparatus, the camera may include a user content synchronization module for automatically synchronizing image data stored as camera records by the camera with central records stored for the user by a central node remote from the camera, the camera records and the central records comprising at least one of photo images or video files, such that changed central record and camera records are update using the most recent records from the other source.
US08976249B2
Technologies and implementations for capturing images from IR signals are generally disclosed.
US08976245B2
An orbital debris detection system positionable on a satellite launchable into an earth orbit includes a light source having a collimated light output, a curved mirror for receiving the collimated light output and forming a light sheet outside the satellite, and a scattered light detector for detecting a scattered light from the light sheet resulting from orbital debris intersecting the light sheet and scattering light toward the detector. The system can provide damage attribution on a space vehicle (whether it was just hit by a piece of debris), data gathering for debris models (time, location, approximate debris size, direction of trajectory) that are starved for information on small (<1 cm) debris pieces, measuring density and distribution of predominantly small (<1 cm) orbital debris in a debris cloud (e.g. a cloud that is the result of a satellite collision), and monitoring the performance of orbital debris removal efforts that target small debris.
US08976242B2
The present invention includes a camera which takes an image of a camera or an inspection target; a device which estimates the movement of the inspection target; a device which generates a high resolution image having a higher resolution than the pixel resolution of a video image taken by the camera from the video image taken by the camera; a device which evaluates the quality of the high resolution image generated by the generation device; and a device which presents an inspector who visually inspects the inspection target with the high resolution image together with the quality evaluation result of the high resolution image. The present invention can improve the reliability of inspection by use of the high resolution image as well as can reduce the inspection time, and further can guarantee the reliability of the inspection using a high resolution image.
US08976225B2
A method for managing media streams including at least video data and audio data in a multi-party video conference involving one or more groups of one or more nodes respectively receiving a media stream from each of a plurality of associated endpoints is provided. In each of the one or more nodes of each of the one or more groups, the loudest audio of the media streams received from the respective plurality of associated endpoints is determined. An indication of the volume of the determined loudest audio and an identification of the node is transmitted to a decision maker. The highest received volume and the associated identification is determined. The node of the identification is instructed to transmit the received media stream of the endpoint to one of: all nodes in the one or more groups and to a proxy.
US08976224B2
A controlled three-dimensional (3D) communication endpoint system and method for simulating an in-person communication between participants in an online meeting or conference and providing easy scaling of a virtual environment when additional participants join. This gives the participants the illusion that the other participants are in the same room and sitting around the same table with the viewer. The controlled communication endpoint includes a plurality of camera pods that capture video of a participant from 360 degrees around the participant. The controlled communication endpoint also includes a display device configuration containing display devices placed at least 180 degrees around the participant and display the virtual environment containing geometric proxies of the other participants. Placing the participants at a round virtual table and increasing the diameter of the virtual table as additional participants are added easily achieves scalability.
US08976222B2
An image processing apparatus includes an image processing command input section to receive image processing commands for image data written into a memory by units of one line, a line number deriving section to derive a number of lines of the image data required to execute image processing operations based on the image processing commands received by the image processing command input section, a line number indicating section to output a numerical value indicating the number of lines of the image data derived by the line number deriving section, a read timing controlling section to control read timing from the memory in response to the numerical value output from the line number indicating section, a parameter indicating section to output parameters used for the image processing operations, and an image processing section to execute the image processing operations.
US08976221B2
Systems and methods are disclosed for detecting when a video stream embedded within a region of another video stream contains copyrighted material. In one implementation, a computer system receives a first video stream and determines that the first video stream comprises a second video stream within a region of the first video stream, using metadata that identifies a set of geometric properties of the region. The computer system obtains the second video stream from the first video stream based on the set of geometric properties of the region, and determines whether the second video stream contains copyrighted material.
US08976219B2
Studio, studio system, studio configuration and calibration method for life-size videoconferencing include local conferee space and local transceiver for life-size videoconferencing. The transceiver includes optical input unit and optical output unit providing continuous duplex image transfer via a duplexer area of a screen configured to simultaneously transmit to local conferee space the image of remote conferee space including a remote studio, and reflect the image of local conferee space to the optical input unit, enabling visualizing to scale without aberrations image of the entire local conferee space to the remote conferee space; enabling a local party conferee to establish eye contact and register body movements of a remote party conferee. Images of physically separated conferee spaces are concatenated to an operational conference setting, enabling a remote conferee located anywhere in the remote space to establish eye contact with a conferee visible in the image of the second remote space.
US08976218B2
An electronic device is communicatively coupled to at least one video camera during a video conference, and also includes a touchscreen display having video conference participant representations displayed on the touchscreen display. A haptics feedback system is integrated into the touchscreen display and is responsive to a user touching the video conference participant representations displayed on the touchscreen display. A speech-to-text controller converts video conference participant's speech into text and creates an identification tag for each video conference participant. In addition, an ongoing commentary controller provides feedback on non-verbal cues about the video conference participants.
US08976217B2
A wireless network and videoconference includes a circuit board, a wireless local area network (WLAN) interface, a videoconference interface, and a transmission interface. The WALN interface is placed on the circuit board and electrically connected thereto. The videoconference interface is placed on the circuit board and electrically connected thereto. The transmission interface is electrically connected to the WLAN interface, the videoconference interface, and a mother board.
US08976212B2
The present invention discloses a printer, specifically an edge justified printer, having a housing. The printer further comprises a mounting assembly that holds printable media and a printhead assembly. The printhead assembly of the present invention has a printhead cantilevered to a mounting member by a bracket. The printer further comprises a plurality of adjusting devices wherein each of the adjustive devices includes an adjusting member. The adjusting member(s) allows for pressure to be applied at the end or edge of the printhead and less pressure at the other end or edge of the printhead.
US08976207B2
To suppress deterioration of quality of a still image displayed with a reduced refresh rate. A liquid crystal display device includes a display portion that is controlled by a driver circuit and includes normally white mode (or normally black mode) liquid crystals, and a timing controller for controlling the driver circuit. The timing controller is supplied with an image signal for displaying a moving image and an image signal for displaying a still image. The absolute value of a voltage applied to the liquid crystals in order to express black (or white) in an image corresponding to the image signal for displaying the still image is larger than that of a voltage applied to the liquid crystals in order to express black (or white) in an image corresponding to the image signal for displaying the moving image.
US08976205B2
A method of displaying a three-dimensional (“3D”) stereoscopic image includes providing a first 3D data signal to a first display area portion of a display panel; and selectively providing a second 3D data signal or a black data signal to a second display area portion of the display panel when the first 3D data signal is being provided to the first display area.
US08976204B2
Disclosed is a liquid crystal display device (1) provided with a backlight part (3) that has a light-emitting diode (light source), and a liquid crystal panel (display part) (2) that includes a plurality of pixels (P) and displays information using illumination light from the backlight part (3). A video generating device (control part) (9) decides, in a frame in which a gray-scale transition occurs, at least a length of either an OFF period of the light-emitting diode in a first half of the frame or an ON period of the light-emitting diode in a latter half of the frame, based on the time information from the time information generating part (26), and outputs an instruction signal to a light source driving part (14) in accordance with the decided OFF or ON period for driving the light-emitting diode.
US08976201B2
A method for rendering one or more user interface elements on a display screen of a device is disclosed. The method includes receiving a request for rendering a first user interface element without an orientation preference, and identifying a type of the device. The method also includes, in accordance with a determination that the type of the device is a first device type corresponding to television devices and the first user interface element corresponds to a first user interface element type, rendering the first user interface element as a vertical user interface element in a first display region of the display screen.
US08976200B1
In one embodiment, a display controller comprises control logic that rotates a frame image by two-dimensional blocks of pixels when the frame image is rotated from an original orientation.
US08976197B1
Solution generating devices and methods are provided herein. Exemplary devices may execute logic via one or more processors, which are programmed to capture a view with an image capturing device, evaluate the view to determine a task within the view, generate a solution for the task, and display the solution via a display device.
US08976190B1
The invention provides, in some aspects, a system for implementing a rule derived basis to display image sets. In various embodiments of the invention, the selection of the images to be displayed, the layout of the images, as well as the rendering parameters and styles can be determined using a rule derived basis. In an embodiment of the present invention, the user is presented with images displayed based on their preferences without having to first manually adjust parameters.
US08976189B2
Various embodiments provide techniques for enabling multiple graphics interfaces to be accessed to perform graphics-related operations. In at least some embodiments, techniques determine if the multiple graphics interfaces can share a memory resource for performing graphics operations. If the multiple graphics interfaces can share the memory resource, a coalescing graphics element is provided that can be used by applications to perform multiple graphics operations.
US08976184B2
A game developer can “tag” an item in the game environment. When an animated character walks near the “tagged” item, the animation engine can cause the character's head to turn toward the item, and mathematically computes what needs to be done in order to make the action look real and normal. The tag can also be modified to elicit an emotional response from the character. For example, a tagged enemy can cause fear, while a tagged inanimate object may cause only indifference or indifferent interest.
US08976182B2
A facial sketch creation device, a configuration information generation device, a configuration information generation method, and a storage medium that stores a computer program, which acquires position information for characteristic points that pertain to facial features within a facial image of a user, acquires a classification result in which the facial image has been classified as a facial type, using the position information for the characteristic points and based on relative positions of the facial features, and generates configuration information by taking an initial configuration that is based on the position information for the characteristic points and performing modification of the initial configuration by enhancing characteristics that indicate the classified facial type.
US08976178B2
Provided is a display switching apparatus including an operation unit used to instruct a display unit to switch a display of a display image having a background image, and a control unit that, when instructed to switch the display of the display image via the operation unit, exercises control so that the display of the display image on the display unit is switched to the display image having the background image in a visible state indicating whether the display is switchable.
US08976169B1
Systems, methods, and computer storage mediums are provided for blending custom terrain patches onto a terrain of a virtual three-dimensional environment. A method includes accessing terrain data that describes a mesh representing the surface of the terrain of the three-dimensional environment. The mesh is constructed of primitives that are defined by a terrain altitude at each vertex. A surface grid is determined from the primitives such that each point in the surface grid includes the terrain altitude where the point falls on the mesh. Custom terrain data is also accessed that includes a custom grid of terrain altitudes. A patch grid is determined from the custom grid such that each point in the patch grid includes a terrain altitude derived from the custom grid. The patch and surface grids are blended such that each terrain altitude in the patch grid modifies its corresponding terrain altitude in the surface grid.
US08976164B2
The invention relates to a field of display technique. There is disclosed a circuit for eliminating shutdown afterimages of a display. By designing a circuit capable of generating voltages for tuning on TFTs in a time-division way, it is realized that when the display screen shuts down, not only the significant discontinuous differences of pictures are ensured to be not perceived by human eyes so as to eliminate the shutdown afterimages, but also such a problem can be avoided that the circuitry in the panel is burned out by the overlarge instantaneous current caused by the simultaneous turning on of all the TFTs at the moment of shutdown.
US08976156B2
The present invention relates to a camera module and an optical touch screen using the same, the camera module including a holder formed with a stair unit and opening, an infrared light emitting diode mounted at the stair unit for emitting an infrared, and an image sensor detecting the infrared through the opening.
US08976140B2
A touch coordinate acquisition unit acquires the coordinate position of a touch point on a touch panel. An area determination unit determines whether or not the coordinate position of a touch point is present within an enlarging operation area provided in part of the touch panel. A drag determination unit determines if a touch point has been dragged. When the coordinate position of a touch point is present within the enlarging operation area and the touch point has been dragged, an operation mode switching unit switches the operation mode for touch inputs from a normal operation mode to an enlarging operation mode. When the operation mode is switched to the enlarging operation mode, a touch coordinate transformation unit transforms the coordinates of an actual touch point within the enlarging operation area into the coordinates of a virtual touch point for the whole area of the touch panel.
US08976135B2
A proximity-aware multi-touch tabletop is disclosed that includes both a touch screen display and proximity sensors. The proximity sensors are disposed in one or more annular groups around the touch screen display and are positioned in upward- and outward-facing directions. The proximity sensors allow the multi-touch tabletop to sense the distance of a body, arm, hand, or fingers of a user from the multi-touch tabletop. Thus, hand, arm, and finger positions of a user can be determined relative to the body position of the user, which enables the multi-touch tabletop to differentiate between left hand/arm gestures and right hand/arm gestures. Further, because the multi-touch tabletop can correlate left arm and right arm movements to a user body, the multi-touch tabletop can differentiate gestures originating from different users. The ability of the multi-touch tabletop to distinguish between users greatly enhances user experiences, particularly in a multi-user environment.
US08976128B2
Disclosed is a user interface that responds to differences in pressure detected by a touch-sensitive screen. The user selects one type of user-interface action by “lightly” touching the screen and selects another type of action by exerting more pressure. Embodiments can respond to single touches, to gestural touches that extend across the face of the touch-sensitive screen, and to touches in which the user-exerted pressure varies during the course of the touch. Some embodiments respond to how quickly the user changes the amount of pressure applied. In some embodiments, the location and pressure of the user's input are compared against a stored gesture profile. Action is taken only if the input matches “closely enough” to the stored gesture profile. In some embodiments, a notification is sent to the user when the pressure exceeds a threshold between a light and a heavy press.
US08976123B2
The display device with high detection accuracy includes: display pixel electrodes; a common electrode; a display function layer; a display control circuit performing image display control by applying a pixel voltage to each of the display pixel electrodes and applying a common drive voltage to the common electrode, the common drive voltage inverting in synchronization with a drive cycle of the image display control; a touch detection electrode cooperating with the common electrode to form a capacitor; and a touch detection circuit detecting an external proximity object, based on a detection signal obtained from the touch detection electrode in response to the common drive voltage applied to the common electrode. The touch detection circuit corrects the detection signal based on a gray scale of the image signal at the time of acquisition of the detection signal, and performs the detection operation.
US08976115B2
A system associated with a text entry application, such as email or instant messaging, comprises an optional onscreen representation of a circular keyboard, a list of potential linguistic object matches, and a message area where the selected words are entered. The circular keyboard is manipulated via a hardware joystick or game-pad with analog joystick or omni-directional rocker switch built therein. The user points the joystick in the general direction of the desired letter, and then continues pointing roughly to each letter in the desired word. Once all letters have been roughly selected, buttons are used to select a specific word from the list of potential matches and send the selected word to the message area.
US08976114B2
A hand-held device with a sensor for providing a signal indicative of a position of the hand-held device relative to an object surface enables power to the sensor at a first time interval when the hand-held device is indicated to be in a position that is stationary and adjacent relative to the object surface, enables power to the sensor at a second time interval shorter than the first time interval when the hand-held device is indicated to be in a position that is moving and adjacent relative to the object surface, and enables power to the sensor at a third time interval when the hand-held device is determined to be in a position that is removed relative to the object surface.
US08976098B2
Disclosed herein is an adjustable viewing angle display device. The display device includes a display panel composed of a first substrate, a second substrate, a display medium layer interposed therebetween, a first electrode, a second electrode and a third electrode. Pluralities of sub-pixels are defined in the display panel. The first and second electrodes are disposed on the first substrate in the sub-pixels. The first electrode is spaced apart from the second electrode. The third electrode is disposed on the second substrate. When the display device is operated in a narrow viewing angle mode, there exists a non-zero potential difference between the second electrode and the third electrode, and when the sub-pixel is at gray level of zero, the potential difference between the first electrode and the second electrode is not zero. A driving method for driving the display device is disclosed as well.
US08976081B2
An integrated display panel (IDP) is created by integrating two or more modified component display panels. Each of the two or more modified component display panels include an active region, which may be extended until at least one of the edges. A first set of layers of a first modified component display panel and a second set of layers of the second modified is removed along an edge while manufacturing the first and second modified component display panels. The first and the second modified component display panels are overlapped along the edge to form a junction. At the junction, the back light from a lower layer is allowed to pass through until it reaches a top layer of the IDP. The graphics is displayed, seamlessly, in an active area of the IDP without forming a dark band at the junction of the first and the second modified component display panel.
US08976080B2
Several embodiments of projection systems are disclosed that comprise a plurality of controllable emitters, each said emitter providing light for a light path; a plurality of first optical elements, each said first optical element receiving light from one of said emitters; a controllable modulator receiving light from said plurality of first optical elements; a plurality of conduits, each said conduit disposed over a portion of said controllable modulator; a plurality of second optical elements, each of said second optical elements receiving light from at least one of said plurality of conduits, and a controller for sending control signals to said controllable emitters and said controllable modulator. The illumination from the emitters may form a plurality of overlapping areas of illumination upon a projection screen where the image is intended to be formed.
US08976079B2
A secure display system for a movable object, such as an aircraft, includes: a screen comprising at least two independent matrices formed of pixels, each of the matrices being controlled by an independent graphic channel; a light box comprising at least two independent subassemblies, each backlighting each half-screen; two bypass functions, a bypass function being associated with a graphic channel, a bypass function being linked to an input of one of the matrices; a central module having a function of mixing the data originating from the two independent graphic channels, and a function of separating said data, said separation module being connected to said bypass functions; each graphic channel comprising image-generation means; and two power supply means. The display system may be used in an aeroplane.
US08976078B2
A device for receiving and/or emitting an electromagnetic wave having a free space wavelength λ0 comprised between 1 mm and 10 cm, comprising a medium (11) of solid dielectric material and the free space wavelength λ0 corresponding to a wavelength λ inside the medium, a plurality of conductor elements (12) incorporated inside the medium and spaced apart from each other of a distance lower than λ/10, and one antenna element (13). The conductor elements are not loop elements. A tuned conductor element among the conductor elements has a first end at a distance from the antenna element which is lower than λ/10, and has a length Hwire adapted to generate an electromagnetic resonance in the tuned conductor element corresponding to the wavelength λ.
US08976077B2
A tunable impedance surface, the tunable surface including a plurality of elements disposed in a two dimensional array; and an arrangement of variable negative reactance circuits for controllably varying negative reactance between at least selected ones of adjacent elements in the aforementioned two dimensional array.
US08976076B2
A high-frequency transmission line having low alternate current (AC) resistance is provided. One aspect of the present invention is a high-frequency transmission line disposed along a surface of an insulating support, wherein, letting F [Hz] be the frequency of an AC electric signal transmitted by the high-frequency transmission line and Ms [Wb/m] be the saturation magnetization per unit area, the frequency value F and the saturation magnification value per unit area Ms satisfy the following expression (1): Ms≦(1.5×102)/F+5.7×10−8 (1).
US08976072B2
A flat scanning antenna comprises at least one slotted waveguide array comprising two dielectric substrates, one superposed above the other. The two substrates comprise the same number of waveguides, which are in mutual correspondence and communicate between them, pairwise, via corresponding coupling slots. Each waveguide of the upper substrate further includes a plurality of radiating slots, all the radiating slots being mutually parallel and oriented in the same direction and each waveguide of the lower substrate includes an individual internal supply circuit comprising an individual phase-shift/amplification electronic circuit.
US08976071B1
An integrated antenna system is disclosed which may include a first antenna sub-system. The integrated antenna system may further include a second antenna sub-system. The first antenna sub-system may be a Ku-band antenna sub-system. The second antenna sub-system may be one of: an L-band antenna sub-system or a C-band antenna sub-system. The second antenna sub-system may be tightly/seamlessly integrated with the first antenna sub-system, thereby providing a system with integrated antenna bands which provides omni-directional coverage.
US08976066B2
A beam-forming antenna for transmission and/or reception of an electromagnetic signal having a given wavelength in a surrounding medium includes a transmission line electromagnetically coupled to an array of individually controllable antenna elements, each of which is oscillated by the signal with a controllable amplitude. The oscillation amplitude of each of the individual antenna elements is controlled by a switch. The antenna elements are arranged in various shapes such as a parabolic arc, a circular arc, a cylindrical surface or a conic surface. The antenna elements have various spacing such as uniform, parabolic, circular, or raised cosine.
US08976058B2
A vehicle-mounted radar apparatus for transmitting radar waves toward the outside of a vehicle mounting the apparatus thereon and receiving the radar waves reflected from an object to thereby acquire information about the object. In the apparatus, a target detection unit transmits and receives the radar waves to detect positions of targets. An object position determination unit determines a position of the object reflecting the radar waves on the basis of the positions of the targets. A representative target selection unit selects a representative target from the targets detected by the target detection unit. A same-object target selection unit selects targets belonging to the same object as the representative target. A large-vehicle determination unit determines whether or not an extent of the targets selected by the same-object target selection unit is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value for large-vehicle determination.
US08976047B2
A mechanism enabling an electronic dial to operate without generating a click noise. The dial includes a rotational operation member that is turnable. A rotary plate is rigidly secured to the operation member. The rotary plate is formed of a conductive material and has a plurality of detecting portions circumferentially formed thereon. A printed circuit board is disposed between the operation member and the rotary plate. The printed circuit board has a first detection electrode group formed on a surface thereof opposed to the operation member and a second detection electrode group formed on a surface thereof opposed to the rotary plate. A detection circuit detects a touch operation onto the operation member based on an output from the first detection electrode group and detects a turning operation of the operation member based on an output from the second detection electrode group.
US08976044B2
A transit stop destination sign is provided that communicates wirelessly with a central transit system server over a wireless network, determines its GPS location and provides the same to the central transit system server, and provides both an updated visual destination sign display as well as an audio button for visually impaired that provides updated destination information in a natural language.
US08976042B1
Present novel and non-trivial system, device, and method for combining image data received from two or more vision systems are disclosed. A system may be comprised of a first vision source, a second vision source, and an image generator (“IG”). The first vision source may be could configured to generate a first image data set and a depth buffer data set, and the second vision data source could configured to generate a second image data set. The IG could be configured to receive both the first and second image data sets; the depth buffer data set; and generate a third image data set as a function of both image data sets, the depth buffer data set, and a pixel cutoff distance that may be fixed or variable. In addition, the pixel cutoff distance may be determined as a function of input variable data.
US08976034B2
An apparatus for reporting fault information of a battery of a power storage system includes a receiving portion configured to receive state information of the battery from a battery management system of the power storage system, a controller configured to produce fault information of the battery from the state information of the battery received by the receiving portion by comparing the state information of the battery with a prestored reference value; and a display configured to display the fault information produced by the controller, wherein the receiving portion and the controller are positioned inside a storage space with the power storage system, and the display is outside of the storage space.
US08976031B2
A portable personal dispenser assembly comprising a combination of a dispenser and a communication enabled, portable handheld pocket-sized, personal computer in which the pocket-sized personal computer performs compliance monitoring of use of the dispenser and preferably controls and powers the use of the dispenser.
US08976019B2
A human tumble detecting and alarming device includes an external shell body, a sensor module for detecting body postures of an object to be detected in real time, a data processing module for analyzing information detected by the sensor module and judging whether the detected object tumbles or not according to analyzing results, a wireless communicating module connected to the data processing module and a power source module for respectively supplying the sensor module, the data processing module and the wireless communicating module with electricity. The sensor module is a triaxial acceleration sensor. The sensor module, the data processing module, the wireless communicating module and the power source module are all provided within the external shell body. The human tumble detecting and alarming device is simple in structure, small-sized, portable and easy to operate.
US08976018B2
A local detection processing system includes a local detection processing device and at least two types of detectors. The detectors are disposed in an area for detecting properties or property changes of a specific target to generate a detection signal. The local detection processing device analyzes the detection signals and transmits the detection result to a processing center. The local detection processing device includes a detection information receiving unit receiving the detection signals generated by the at least two types of detectors; a memory unit recording codes of the at least two types of detectors, a format of the detection signal, information of the corresponding processing center and values of the detection signals; an information processing unit analyzing the received detection signals, determining a detection result whether to transmit the detection result and the processing center; and a communication unit connecting at least two processing centers.
US08976015B2
Disclosed is a method and a circuit configuration as well as a navigation system are disclosed, wherein the extraction and transmission of signals running on a line bus (1, 2) is carried out without having to sever the bus cable. Furthermore, a sensor (4) is disclosed, which outputs sensor signals reproducing the line signals and wherein the output sensor signals are amplified by a signal processing unit (11) and transformed into a defined digital signal shape (22). The filtered signals are then transmitted to a display device (14) or another device via an additional bus in wireless manner or by way of a line. The invention further relates to a tapping device for the wireless tapping of CAN data from a CAN line by the electromagnetic field, without having to sever the CAN lines, having a pivotable top shaped part (32), which can be pressed against a bottom part (35) by way of a pivot mechanism (41) for the purpose of accommodating CAN cables, and guide grooves (31 for accommodating the CAN cables (CAN1, CAN2), with conductor loops, in the closed position of the pivot mechanism, being closed around the CAN cables which are connectable to a signal processing electronics.
US08976014B2
A control module provides for immobilization of a vehicle. The control module includes an intelligent control disposed within a housing of the control module, a plurality of discrete inputs and a plurality of discrete outputs operatively connected to the intelligent control, at least one network interface operatively connected to the intelligent control, at least one user interface operatively connected to the intelligent control, and software stored for execution by the intelligent control, the software providing instructions to control functions of a vehicle associated with the control module, the functions including vehicle immobilization functions.
US08976010B2
A security system includes an integrated circuit and a transceiver/transponder circuit. The integrated circuit includes an antenna for communicating with the transceiver/transponder circuit. An inhibiting element is associated with the integrated circuit for inhibiting communications with the transceiver/transponder circuit and for securing the data contained in the integrated circuit. The inhibiting element is an electromagnetic inhibiting element. The security system further includes a coupling element associated with the antenna of the integrated circuit for temporarily deactivating the electromagnetic inhibiting element to allow communications between the integrated circuit and the transceiver/transponder circuit.
US08976007B2
The present invention provides systems, methods and apparatus for a wearable band adapted to be worn by a user. The wearable band may include one or more biometric sensors such as a pulse monitor adapted to monitor a pulse of the user, and a transmitter adapted to wirelessly transmit pulse information from the pulse monitor to a mobile device such as a cellular telephone or PDA. The wearable band does not include a display for the biometric information. Numerous additional embodiments are disclosed.
US08976003B2
Computer-implemented methods, systems, and computer program products for document authentication and identification using a large-scale distributed system are provided. A method includes receiving a digitized document at a trusted system managed by a trusted third-party that is separate from a creator of content in the digitized document. The digitized document is compared to a set of markers to determine whether the digitized document includes one or more of the markers, and in response thereto, information associated with the one or more markers is extracted using a decoder on the trusted system according to encoding strategies. The method further includes generating a comparison registration identifier on the trusted system as a summary of the extracted information and the one or more markers, and comparing the comparison registration identifier with a stored registration identifier in an encoding history via the trusted system to authenticate and identify the received digitized document.
US08975999B2
Disclosed is a transformer using a symmetrical printing pattern which includes: a substrate; a plurality of first printing lines printed at predetermined distances on the substrate; a plurality of second printing lines printed at predetermined distances on the substrate; first bonding wires connecting the first printing lines; and second bonding wires connecting the second printing lines, in which the first printing lines and the second printing lines are printed in a symmetrical printing pattern, respectively, on the substrate, and the first bonding wires and the second bonding wires are formed symmetrically, respectively.
US08975998B2
A planar magnetic component and a method for manufacturing the same are provided. The planar magnetic component includes a substrate, a first conductor layer and a magnetic structure; wherein the first conductor layer is disposed on a first surface of the substrate, and the magnetic structure penetrates the first conductor layer and is embedded in the substrate. The magnetic structure includes a ferromagnetic material layer and at least one first hard protective layer disposed on a first surface of the ferromagnetic material layer, which could prevent the ferromagnetic material layer from breaking in a pressing process.
US08975994B2
An inductor includes an inductor body having a top surface and a first and second opposite end surfaces. There is a void through the inductor body between the first and second opposite end surfaces. A thermally stable resistive element positioned through the void and turned toward the top surface to forms surface mount terminals which can be used for Kelvin type sensing. Where the inductor body is formed of a ferrite, the inductor body includes a slot. The resistive element may be formed of a punched resistive strip and provide for a partial turn or multiple turns. The inductor may be formed of a distributed gap magnetic material formed around the resistive element. A method for manufacturing the inductor includes positioning an inductor body around a thermally stable resistive element such that terminals of the thermally stable resistive element extend from the inductor body.
US08975992B2
An electromagnetic drive for an electrical switch such as a circuit breaker, has at least one movable armature that can implement a lifting movement along a pushing direction for moving a movable switching contact of the switch. In a closed armature position, the armature closes a magnetic circuit through first and second magnetically conductive yoke parts. A permanent magnet produces a magnetic field for the magnetic circuit and a holding force for holding the armature in the closed position. A coil is disposed to generate a magnetic flux in the same or opposite direction as the magnetic flux of the permanent magnet. The electromagnetic drive can be readjusted after installation, where the first and second yoke parts are moved relative to one another by the permanent magnet into the adjusted state, whereupon they are fixed in position.
US08975990B2
An switching mechanism is disclosed for an electrical switching device. In at least one embodiment, the switching mechanism is for a low-voltage circuit-breaker. Further, an electrical switching device is disclosed, in particular a low-voltage circuit-breaker, with a switching mechanism.
US08975986B2
A high-frequency signal transmission line includes a flexible body including a plurality of insulating layers. A linear signal line is located in or on the body. A first ground conductor is located opposite to the signal line via at least one of the insulating layers. A second ground conductor extends along the signal line. An interlayer connection portion that connects the first ground conductor and the second ground conductor includes a plurality of interlayer connection conductors individually pierced in some of6 the insulating layers and connected to each other. The plurality of interlayer connection conductors includes two interlayer connection conductors that are pierced in adjacent ones of the insulating layers with respect to a layer-stacking direction and that have central axes located in different positions when viewed from the layer-stacking direction.
US08975977B2
LC tank and ring-based VCOs are disclosed that each include a differential pair of transistors for steering a tail current generated by a current source responsive to a bias voltage. A biasing circuit generates the bias voltage such that a transconductance for the transistors in the differential pairs is inversely proportional to a resistance.
US08975976B2
A power management apparatus and method for maintaining a substantially constant duty cycle of a reference clock signal in a multi-power oscillator, includes a first output power transistor in electrical parallel with a series arrangement of a second output power transistor and a switch, and a crystal oscillator capacitively coupled to a common gate of the first and second output power transistors, wherein a level of the reference clock signal power output is a normal power level when the switch is open and the level of the reference clock signal power output is a higher power level when the switch is closed to operate the second output power transistor in parallel with the first output power transistor.
US08975972B2
An oscillator system includes a first oscillator, a second oscillator, and a changeover component. The first oscillator is configured to generate a first signal at a selected frequency. The second oscillator is configured to generate a second signal at about the selected frequency. The changeover component is configured to generate a changeover output signal according to the first signal and the second signal.
US08975971B2
A digitally controlled LC-tank oscillator is constructed by connecting different tuning circuits to a LC tank. The tuning circuit includes a single bank of tuning cells, a dual bank of tuning cells, or a fractional tuning circuit. Each of said tuning cells in the tuning circuit includes a tuning circuit element and a memory cell.
US08975963B2
A circuit includes a first amplifier configured to amplify an input signal to generate an output signal. An offset sensor is configured to sense DC offset based on the output signal, where the offset sensor includes a second amplifier configured to generate an offset reduction signal for the first amplifier based on the sensed DC offset. A T-network in the circuit includes at least three resistors coupled to provide a feedback connection between the input signal and the output signal for the first amplifier and to receive the offset reduction signal to mitigate DC offset in the first amplifier. Since this method reduces the low-frequency component of the signal, it also shapes and reduces the flicker noise.
US08975953B2
A signal processing apparatus that includes a circuit in which a signal processing function is performed during a first time period, the signal processing apparatus including or being associated with a switch or a filter in a power supply to the signal processing apparatus so as to disconnect the signal processing apparatus from the power supply or to filter the power supply during a second time period that is coincident with at least part of the first time period.
US08975943B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide a device for level shifting an input signal. The device includes an output buffer that has: an output node, a p-FET coupled to a high reference voltage, and an n-FET coupled to a low reference voltage. The device also includes two latches. The first latch has a first latch output that drives a gate of the p-FET via an inverting circuit element. The second latch has a second latch output that drives a gate of the n-FET via a non-inverting circuit element. The device also includes a reset signal pulse generator that receives the input signal and generates a reset signal pulse in response to a transition in the input signal. Both of the latches are placed in a reset state by the reset signal pulse.
US08975935B1
A delay circuit includes a first flip flop (FF), a transistor connected to the FF, a first resistor capacitor circuit (RCC) coupled to the transistor and between a voltage and a ground, a first comparator for comparing an output of the first RCC and a voltage reference, gate logic coupled to the input line and to an output of the first FF and to a second FF, a second transistor coupled to the second FF, a second RCC coupled to the second transistor and between the voltage and ground, a second comparator for comparing an output of the second RCC and the voltage reference and coupled to the first FF, and output logic coupled to the first and second comparators.
US08975933B1
Systems and methods are provided for a data storage element. A data input is configured to receive input data to the data storage element. A latching element is configured to hold input data that is received from the data input. A pulse generator is configured to assert a pulse signal based on a clock signal, and a multiplexer is configured to select for output from the data storage element, responsively to the pulse signal, one of the input data that is received from the data input without passing through the latching element and the input data held in the latching element.
US08975931B2
A circuit configuration for the limiting of current intensity and/or the edge slope of electrical signals includes: a voltage source; a switching element connected to the voltage source and equipped for switching the voltage source; and a limiting unit functionally positioned between the switching element and the voltage source, the limiting unit being equipped to limit a current intensity and/or an edge slope of an electrical signal in response to a switching process of the voltage source while using the switching element.
US08975927B2
Disclosed herein is a gate driver. The gate driver according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes: a first power switch sourcing current according to voltage applied by a voltage source; a second power switch connected with the first power switch in series and sinking current according to the voltage applied by the voltage source; and a speed booster receiving a voltage pulse from the outside to output peak current so as to make a turn on/off operation of the first power switch fast. As set forth above, according to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, it is possible to improve the driving speed of the gate driver without increasing the current of the current source by further including the speed booster configured of the plurality of MOSFETs and the capacitor.
US08975917B2
A programmable logic device includes a plurality of arithmetic circuits; a configuration changing circuit for changing a logic state of each of the plurality of arithmetic circuits by rewriting configuration data; a power supply control circuit for switching between start and stop of supply of power supply voltage to the plurality of arithmetic circuits; a state memory circuit for storing data on configuration, data on a state of power supply voltage, data on use frequency, and data on last use of each of the plurality of arithmetic circuits; and an arithmetic state control circuit for controlling the configuration changing circuit and the power supply control circuit in accordance with the data stored in the state memory circuit. One of the plurality of arithmetic circuits includes a transistor comprising an oxide semiconductor film in a channel formation region.
US08975909B1
A test structure operable to receive an integrated circuit is described. The test structure includes a substrate, a test contact member, a base structure, an aperture, and a conductive contact member. The test contact member extends from a surface of the substrate and has a tip at one end. The base structure is suspended above the surface of the substrate and has an aperture in which the test contact member is positioned. Furthermore, the conductive member is disposed in the aperture. The conductive member is positioned further away from the surface of the substrate compared to the tip of the test contact member. A method to test an integrated circuit (IC) utilizing the test contactor is also described.
US08975908B2
An embodiment disperses a force acting on a border portion between an extending portion and a pedestal portion or a reinforcing member to prevent breakage of a probe tip portion of a probe. An electrical test probe includes a probe main body, a recess provided at an end of the main body and having an inner surface, and a probe tip having a part received in the recess. The inner surface has a central area and two lateral areas on both sides of the central area, and the part of the probe tip is located at the central area and at least at either one of the lateral areas.
US08975905B2
A display apparatus includes a display panel including a plurality of pixels, a plurality of first lines and a plurality of second lines, a plurality of first pads electrically connected to the first lines, respectively, where the first pads are divided into a first group and a second group, a plurality of pads including a second pad, a third pad, a fourth pad and a fifth pad, a first shorting bar configured to be connected to the first group of the first pads and to be connected between the second pad and the fourth pad during a test process of the first lines, and a second shorting bar configured to be connected to the second group of the first pads and to be connected between the third pad and the fifth pad during the test process of the first lines.
US08975898B2
Disclosed herein is an electronic switch that comprises a pressure sensitive bridge array adapted to monitor pressure and activate an indicator when the monitored pressure exceeds a predetermined value indicative of a dangerous condition. The electronic switch further comprises a monitoring circuit adapted to test the overall operability of the pressure sensitive bridge array and its accompanying electronics control circuitry.
US08975896B2
An NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) apparatus has a magnet system disposed in a cryostat (1), the cryostat having at least one nitrogen tank (3b) for receiving liquid nitrogen (5b) and a room temperature bore (7) for receiving an NMR probehead (8), wherein part(s) of the probehead or the overall probehead can be cooled to cryogenic temperatures by supplying liquid nitrogen (5b) via a supply line (14). The nitrogen tank (3b) of the cryostat (1) is connected to the NMR probehead (8) by means of a supply line (14) in such a fashion that liquid nitrogen (5b) is removed from the nitrogen tank (3b) and guided to the NMR probehead (8). The overall apparatus is therefore more compact, the operating comfort of the apparatus is increased, and the costs for acquisition, operation and maintenance are considerably reduced compared to previous comparable devices.
US08975891B2
A method to measure an applied magnetic field in a plane is provided. The method includes simultaneously applying a first and second alternating drive current to a respective first and second strap overlaying a magnetoresistive sensor so the magnetoresistive sensor is subjected to a periodically rotating magnetic drive field rotating in the plane in the magnetoresistive sensor. When the applied magnetic field to be measured is superimposed on the periodically rotating magnetic drive field rotating in the plane, the method includes extracting a second harmonic component of an output voltage output from the magnetoresistive sensor. The magnitude of the magnetic field to be measured in the plane is proportional to an amplitude of the extracted second harmonic component of the output voltage. The orientation of the magnetic field to be measured in the plane is related to a phase angle of the extracted second harmonic component of the output voltage.
US08975881B2
A boost converter circuit includes a first boost module, a first detecting unit, a second boost module and a first detecting unit. The first boost module includes a first comparing control unit. The first detecting unit is coupled to the first boost module, and the first detecting unit adjusts a first input signal of the first comparing control unit according to a first signal of the first boost module. A second boost module is connected in parallel to the first boost module, and the second boost module includes a second comparing control unit. The second detecting unit is coupled to the second boost module, and the first detecting unit adjusts a second input signal of the second comparing control unit according to a second signal of the second boost module.
US08975880B2
A switching regulator arrangement utilizes internal capacitors rather than external capacitors for driving output power transistors. Low-dropout linear voltage regulators together with a dip compensation circuit provide an intermediate supply voltage for driving power transistors under circumstances in which a supply voltage is greater than a gate drive voltage of the power transistor, allowing for a more efficient absorption of transient current.
US08975878B2
A method of controlling a generator (110) of an electric drive (104) associated with an engine (102) is provided. The method may determine an operational state of the electric drive (104) based on a speed of the engine (102), and selectively engage one of a map-lookup control scheme (150) and a fixed-theta off control scheme (152) for operating the generator (110) based on the operational state of the electric drive (104).
US08975877B2
A DC motor assembly (10) with soft starting capability is provided. The assembly (10) comprises a DC motor (12) including an armature (14) and a field winding (16) adapted to be excited separately from the armature; and circuitry configured to controllably increase current flow through the field winding of the DC motor as a function of time during starting of the DC motor.
US08975871B2
A power management method and an electronic system using the same are provided. The electronic system includes a display device and an auxiliary device, and has dual batteries and two subsystems. By detection and control mechanisms of the subsystems, the electronic system may allow the display device to maintain in a full power state, in the case where the external power is available or the power of the auxiliary device is sufficient. On the other hand, the auxiliary device may apply to the display device, such as a notebook computer, and the battery time may also be extended since the computer has two batteries.
US08975862B2
In a power supply apparatus, a power source generates electric power at a predetermined source voltage. The first converter circuit converts the source voltage into a first voltage or a second voltage. The secondary battery is charged with electric power at the first voltage when the first converter circuit outputs electric power at the first voltage. The second converter circuit converts the first voltage of the electric power outputted from the first converter circuit or the secondary battery into the second voltage. The electric load device is supplied with electric power at the second voltage outputted from the second converter circuit. The direct power supply circuit directly supplies electric power at the second voltage outputted from the first converter circuit to the electric load device without passing through the second converter circuit when the first converter circuit outputs the electric power at the second voltage.
US08975859B2
In an energy storage system, power from at least one of a solar cell, a commercial AC power source, and a storage battery is supplied to load devices. In the daytime, under the condition that an amount of power generated by the solar cell is less than an amount of power consumed by the load device, the discharge from the storage battery to the load device is permitted or prohibited if the charge level of the storage battery is higher or is not higher than the reference charge level. The discharge from the storage battery which makes the charge level of the storage battery lower than the reference level is permitted at night.
US08975857B2
An inverter apparatus basically includes an inverter, a rotational speed detecting component and a control component. The inverter includes a plurality of pairs of switching elements. The control component controls an on-off status of the switching elements to convert a direct current from a direct current power source into alternating current by alternately executing first and second controls when a rotational speed of a motor connected to the switching elements is larger than a prescribed rotational speed. The first control turns on the switching elements that are directly connected to a positive electrode of the power source, and turns off the switching elements that are directly connected to a negative electrode of the power source. The second control turns on the switching elements that are directly connected to the negative electrode and turns off the switching elements that are directly connected to the positive electrode.
US08975848B2
Methods and systems for starting an electric motor using a motor controller including a processor are provided. The method includes determining if the electric motor is operating, increasing a failed start counter if the electric motor is determined not to be operating, determining a reverse rotation by comparing a failed start counter to a predetermined threshold, and applying a reverse rotation start routine to the electric motor when a reverse rotation is determined.
US08975845B2
Systems and methods of detecting a failure of a permanent magnet synchronous motor system. A current of each phase coil of the motor is monitored. A value indicative of the power of the motor is compared to a threshold value indicative of power during a low power detection period. If the value indicative of the power fails to exceed the threshold value indicative of power for the entire low-power detection period, the system indicates a first error condition. The method also monitors the speed of the motor and indicates a second error condition if the speed of the motor remains below a speed threshold for an entire speed failure detection period. A third error condition is indicated if the current of at least one phase of the motor remains below a phase current threshold for an entire loss of phase detection period.
US08975839B2
A control device includes a PWM control unit that executes PWM control over an alternating-current motor mounted on a vehicle. The PWM control unit includes an alarm sound generation processing unit that executes an alarm sound generating process of generating an alarm sound from the motor for informing a pedestrian, or the like, of the approach of the vehicle by intentionally varying phase current flowing through the motor by periodically adding a variation value (ΔV) to a d-axis voltage command value (Vd) at a predetermined interval. At the time of executing the alarm sound generating process, the alarm sound generation processing unit adjusts the variation value (ΔV) such that the d-axis voltage command value (Vda) resulting from the alarm sound generating process (the sum of Vd and ΔV) falls within a range in which it is possible to suppress occurrence of an overcurrent in the motor.
US08975837B2
In a method for reducing the starting current of a multi-phase machine operated by block commutation, which includes a battery, one high side switch for each phase, a low side switch and a phase winding as well as a rotor, the high side switch assigned to one current phase or the low side switch assigned to one current phase is held in the closed state, and the low side switches or the high side switches assigned to the other current phases are alternately controlled.
US08975834B2
The present invention relates to a control circuit for an illuminating device, characterized in that the control circuit comprises a detecting unit, a central control unit and an illumination mode control unit, the detecting unit detects ambient brightness and generates a detection signal, the central control unit controls the illumination mode control unit, according to the detection signal, to generate a plurality of first driving signal enabling the illuminating device to operate in a first illumination mode or a plurality of second driving signal enabling the illuminating device to operate in a second illumination mode. The control circuit can automatically adjust the illuminating device to be in different operation modes according to different ambient brightness.
US08975817B2
A showerhead electrode assembly for a plasma processing chamber, which includes a showerhead electrode; a heater plate secured to the showerhead electrode; at least one pressure controlled heat pipe secured to an upper surface of the heater plate, the at least one pressure controlled heat pipe having a heat transfer liquid contained therein, and a pressurized gas, which produces a variable internal pressure within the at least one pressure controlled heat pipe; a top plate secured to an upper surface of the at least one heat pipe; and wherein the variable internal pressure within the at least one pressure controlled heat pipe during heating of the showerhead electrode by the heater plate displaces the heat transfer liquid from a thermal path between the top plate and the heater plate, and when removing excess heat from the showerhead electrode returns the heat transfer liquid to the thermal path.
US08975815B2
The invention relates to a method for making an electronic display device (1) having a screen (3) covered by a protection plate, and to a substrate (2) covered by said screen for obtaining such a device. The method comprises the following steps: a) applying glue (10) at the non cross-linked state substantially on the entire surface of the screen and/or the assembling surface (11a) of the plate (11) following a deposit on the screen connection area (5) of at least one organic layer (15) for protecting the connection area from the glue; applying the assembling surface against the screen via the glue; c) emitting a radiation through the plate for cross-linking the glue; and d) removing a portion of the plate covering the connection area so that the latter can be electrically accessible, the protection layer being removed from the connection area upon said removal or during a further surface processing step. According to the invention, the protection layer contains at least one organic compound selected from the group comprising compounds derived from diamines and organometallic complexes with heterocycles.
US08975814B2
Disclosed is a scattering film which can be used in an organic EL light-emitting device, in which the light utilization efficiency and field-of-view dependence, which have been problems so far in organic EL light-emitting devices, can be improved without interfering the two properties with each other. Specifically disclosed is a scattering film for an organic EL, which can be placed on the light emission surface side of an organic EL light-emitting device for use, and involves a scattering layer, wherein the scattering layer comprises a binder resin, microparticles having a different refractive index from that of the binder resin, and resin particles having a larger average particle diameter than that of the microparticles. The content of the microparticles is preferably 5 to 90 parts by weight relative to 100 parts by weight of the binder resin, and the content of the resin particles is preferably 100 to 300 parts by weight relative to 100 parts by weight of the binder resin.
US08975812B2
A polarization structure for a display device is disclosed. In one embodiment, the structure includes a retardation layer, a first polarizing layer, a first uniaxial optical compensation layer, a second polarizing layer and a second uniaxial optical compensation layer. The retardation layer may be configured to create a phase difference between two polarization components of an incident light. The first polarizing layer may be disposed on the retardation layer. The first uniaxial optical compensation layer may be disposed on the first polarizing layer. The second polarizing layer may be disposed on the first uniaxial optical compensation layer. The second uniaxial optical compensation layer may be disposed between the first polarizing layer and the first uniaxial optical compensation layer or between the first polarizing layer and the second polarizing layer.
US08975810B2
Described herein is a mercury sample that has an isotopic composition that differs from the naturally occurring distribution of isotopes. In various configurations of an isotopically tailored mercury sample, the fraction of one or more isotopes is increased or decreased with respect to the natural fraction(s). A example of a lighting device comprises an envelope, a buffer gas enclosed within the envelope, a isotopically tailored sample of mercury vapor, and a current injection mechanism configured to excite the mercury vapor to emit light. In various configurations, the lighting device emits radiation at a wavelength of 254 nm and/or at a wavelength of 185 nm. In various configurations, the lighting device envelope includes a fluorescent coating that is excited by ultraviolet (UV) light emitted by the mercury vapor. In various configurations, the lighting device provides improved efficiency as compared to lamps employing mercury with a naturally occurring isotope distribution.
US08975805B2
According to an example embodiment, an electrical energy generator includes at least one piezoelectric structure, a semiconductor layer and a contact layer. The at least one piezoelectric structure includes a material having piezoelectric characteristics. One surface of each piezoelectric structure forms a p-n junction with the semiconductor layer. The other end of each piezoelectric structure contacts the contact layer that is formed of a material having metal-insulator transition (MIT) characteristics. The piezoelectric structure may be an elongated member, such as a nanowire.
US08975803B2
An SAW device (1) has a piezoelectric substrate (3) propagating acoustic waves, and a comb-shaped electrode (6) arranged on a first surface (3a) of the piezoelectric substrate (3). The SAW device (1) has a columnar terminal (15) located on the first surface (3a) and electrically connected to the comb-shaped electrode (6), and a cover member (9) covering the a side surface of the terminal (15). The terminal (15) comprises, in a first region in the height direction of height thereof, a larger diameter on the side of the first surface (3a) compared with the diameter on the side opposite to the first surface (3a).
US08975801B2
Thermionic solar converter with a linear arrangement of the components, suitable for the direct conversion of solar energy into electrical energy and the combined generation of heat and energy, in the form of an elongated transparent vacuum tube comprising: a cathode (5) and at least one anode (6), said cathode and anode being arranged longitudinally alongside each other along the tube: grid electrodes (10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16) for generating electric fields; means (18) for directly cooling the at least one anode; means (7) for electrically connecting the electrodes from the inside to the outside; an optical access window (4) along the surface area of the tube; wherein: the cathode is made of conductive refractory material, is suspended centrally inside the tube with an elongated form and forms the element for capturing the solar energy, on which the sunlight is directly focused in order to perform the thermionic conversion, without any intermediate heat transfer means; the electrical connection means form a longer path and have a form which is able to compensate for the heat expansion; the cathode and the at least one anode have a relative arrangement with a view factor of between 0.001 and 0.5, more preferably between 0.001 and 0.3, more preferably between 0.001 and 0.1, more preferably between 0.001 and 0.05, even more preferably between 0.001 and 0.03; said converter comprising further a radiation shield (9) which is positioned along the inner surface of the tube.
US08975799B2
A broad-pole type square-wave three-phase brushless permanent magnet direct current motor and an assembling method thereof are disclosed. The number of magnetic poles on a rotor core is: 2P=4. The number of slots in a stator core is: Z=6. Six teeth on the stator are composed of three large teeth and three small teeth. The sum of mechanical angels of one large tooth and one small tooth is 120 degree. Electrical angles corresponding to the mechanical angles are: P* 120=240° . Three-phase concentrated windings are wound on three large teeth separately, and only one winding is arranged at each phase. The advantages of the motor are low positioning torque, simple structure, effective production cost, convenient to wind the windings, and low copper loss, etc.
US08975794B2
The starter includes a noise reduction filter having at least one capacitor, a positive side lead plate connected to a first end of the capacitor and a negative side lead plate connected to a second end of the capacitor, the positive side lead plate being connected to a motor lead wire of a motor through a connection fitting, the negative side lead plate being fixed and ground-connected to a frame of the motor. The connection fitting includes a connection arm connected to the positive side lead plate and a cylindrical joint section integrally formed with the connection arm, the joint section being fitted in a root section of the motor lead wire drawn outside the frame through a grommet attached to the frame to be electrically connected to the motor lead wire.
US08975791B2
A patterned electret structure (21) on a substrate (10) comprises a dielectric structure comprising at least one non-patterned dielectric layer (22), and a charge pattern (14) in the dielectric structure and/or at a surface of a dielectric layer that is part of the dielectric structure and/or at an interface between dielectric layers that are part of the dielectric structure. By the presence of the non-patterned dielectric layer (22), the influence of the presence of a conductive substrate (10) on the charges (14) of the electret structure (21) is alleviated, hence increasing the charge stability over time. Moreover, in embodiments of the present invention, the charge stability is substantially independent of the width (W1, W2, W3) of the charge pattern. A method for manufacturing such patterned electret structure (21) is also provided.
US08975784B2
The invention relates to a method for managing an electrical network. The electrical network includes two power centers making it possible for each one to supply several loads, each power center including: an electrical power supply bus, a plurality of reversible converters making it possible to exchange energy between the bus and the various loads , routing means making it possible to vary an association between the converters and the loads, an energy storage element. According to the invention, if for a first of the power centers, the regenerated power cannot be dissipated in the other loads associated with the first center, the regenerative load dissipates its power toward the bus of the second power center.
US08975782B2
A power Y-adapter provides power at a high voltage to an output end from at least two input ends to which power of a lower voltage and a phase difference is provided and includes a first polarity sensitive current isolation device, a second polarity sensitive current isolation device, a control section, and an output section. When the voltage signals supplied to the hot wire terminals of the first input connector and the second input connector sufficiently are out of phase, the Y-adapter can produce a voltage of higher magnitude between the first and the second hot wire terminals of the output connector.
US08975772B2
Power delivery systems and methods for delivering power from a vehicle to a vehicle door. The system includes a supporting device having a first portion fixedly mounted to a main frame and a second portion attached to a door. The second portion being movable about a hinge axis portion that connects the first portion to the second portion. An energy transmitting source is connected to a power frequency generator. The power frequency generator is connected to a power source and configured to couple an oscillating signal to the energy transmitting source. The energy transmitting source is mounted on the hinge axis portion of the supporting device. An energy receiving device is magnetically coupled to the energy transmitting source to receive a power signal from the energy transmitting source. The energy receiving device is mounted on the second portion of the supporting device at a fixed distance from the energy transmitting source. The energy receiving device receives the power signal from the energy transmitting source to deliver the power signal to powered components associated with the door. The power delivery is uninterrupted during opening and closing of the door.
US08975762B2
A semiconductor device includes a substantially rectangular semiconductor chip having an obverse surface, a first long side, a second long side opposite the first long side, a first short side and a second short side, and a plurality of bump electrodes. A wiring substrate has a main surface, a first side disposed outside of the semiconductor chip and extending substantially parallel with the first long side, a second side disposed outside of the semiconductor chip and extending substantially parallel with the second long side, and a plurality of wiring groups, each including a plurality of wirings. A semiconductor chip is mounted on the wiring substrate such that the obverse surface of the semiconductor chip is faced to the main surface of the wiring substrate and the first long side is located between the first side of the wiring substrate and the second long side, in a plan view.
US08975760B2
A semiconductor device includes a wiring substrate having first and second connection pads on a main surface thereof, a first semiconductor chip having first electrode pads, a second semiconductor chip having second electrode pads each of which has a size smaller than that of each of the first electrode pads, first wires connecting the first electrode pads with the first connection pads, and second wires connecting the second electrode pads with the second connection pads. The second wires have wide width parts at first ends. The first electrode pads are larger than the wide width parts while the second electrode pads are smaller than the wide width parts. The wide width parts are connected the second connection pads and the second wires have second ends connected to the second electrode pads via bump electrodes which are smaller than the second electrode pads.
US08975759B2
The present invention includes a temporary fixing step of temporarily fixing a semiconductor element on an adherend interposing an adhesive sheet therebetween, a wire-bonding step of bonding wires to the semiconductor element, and a step of sealing the semiconductor element with a sealing resin, and in which the loss elastic modulus of the adhesive sheet at 175-C is 2000 Pa or more.
US08975753B2
A three-dimensional interconnect includes a first substrate bonded to a second substrate, the first substrate including a device layer and a bulk semiconductor layer, a metal pad disposed on the second substrate, an electrically insulating layer disposed between the first and second substrates. The structure has a via-hole extending through the device layer, the bulk semiconductor layer and the electrically insulating layer to the metal pad on the second substrate. The structure has a dielectric coating on a sidewall of the via-hole, and a plasma-treated region of the metal pad disposed on the second substrate. The structure includes a via metal monolithically extending from the plasma-treated region of the metal pad through the via-hole and electrically interconnecting the device layer of the first substrate to the metal pad of the second substrate.
US08975749B2
A method of making a semiconductor device includes forming a dielectric layer over a semiconductor substrate. The method further includes forming a copper-containing layer in the dielectric layer, wherein the copper-containing layer has a first portion and a second portion. The method further includes forming a first barrier layer between the first portion of the copper-containing layer and the dielectric layer. The method further includes forming a second barrier layer at a boundary between the second portion of the copper-containing layer and the dielectric layer wherein the second barrier layer is adjacent to an exposed portion of the dielectric layer. The first barrier layer is a dielectric layer, and the second barrier layer is a metal oxide layer, and a boundary between a sidewall of the copper-containing layer and the first barrier layer is free of the second barrier layer.
US08975741B2
A device includes an inter-layer dielectric, a device die under the inter-layer dielectric; and a die-attach film under the inter-layer dielectric and over the device die, wherein the die-attach film is attached to the device die. A plurality of redistribution lines includes portions level with the die-attach film. A plurality of Z-interconnects is electronically coupled to the device die and the plurality of redistribution lines. A polymer-comprising material is under the inter-layer dielectric. The device die, the die-attach film, and the plurality of Z-interconnects are disposed in the polymer-comprising material.
US08975740B2
A semiconductor module has a metallic base plate; an insulated circuit board fixed on the metallic base plate; a semiconductor element mounted on the insulated circuit board; a resin case to house the semiconductor element, and having an upper surface with an opening; a terminal exposed from the opening of the resin case to an outer portion in a vertical direction; and an insulating holding piece having a triangular or a rectangular cross-section and one surface contacting the terminal. The terminal has a projecting portion disposed inside the resin case to restrict a movement of the terminal in the vertical direction. The resin case has a first recess portion to fit the projecting portion and a second recess portion disposed on the upper surface of the resin case so that the holding piece pushes the projecting portion on the terminal toward the first recess portion for insertion.
US08975739B2
The invention provides an electronic device package and method for manufacturing thereof. The electronic device package includes a substrate, an electronic chip, a bonding pad, a first passivation layer, a conductive layer, a second passivation layer, and a solder ball. The conductive layer has a first side end and a second side end, and the solder ball is positioned on the first side end of the conductive layer. The second passivation layer contacts with both the upper surface and the sidewall of the second side end of the conductive layer, and the first passivation layer contacts with the lower surface of the second side end of the conductive layer, so as to completely encapsulate the second end of the conductive layer. The electronic device package accordingly prevents the moisture penetration and to enhance the reliability of the electronic device.
US08975738B2
A structure may include a spacer element overlying a first portion of a first surface of a substrate; first terminals at a second surface of the substrate opposite the first surface; and second terminals overlying a third surface of the spacer element facing away from the first surface. Traces extend from the second terminals along an edge surface of the spacer element that extends from the third surface towards the first surface, and may be electrically coupled between the second terminals and the first terminals or electrically conductive elements at the first surface. The spacer element may at least partially define a second portion of the first surface, which is other than the first portion and has an area sized to accommodate an entire area of a microelectronic element. Some of the conductive elements are at the second portion and may permit connection with such microelectronic element.
US08975730B2
A device and corresponding fabrication method includes a vertical stack having an intermediate layer between a lower region and an upper region. The intermediate layer is extended by a protection layer. The vertical stack has a free lateral face on which the lower region, the upper region and the protection layer are exposed.
US08975726B2
A device includes a top package bonded to a bottom package. The bottom package includes a molding material, a device die molded in the molding material, a Through Assembly Via (TAV) penetrating through the molding material, and a redistribution line over the device die. The top package includes a discrete passive device packaged therein. The discrete passive device is electrically coupled to the redistribution line.
US08975710B2
By covering ends of a field insulating film in a region where a MOS transistor having a relatively thin gate insulating film is formed with a relatively thick gate insulating film, a channel region of the MOS transistor having the relatively thin gate insulating film is set apart from an inversion-preventing diffusion layer formed under the field insulating film so as not to be influenced by film thickness fluctuation of the field insulating film, etching fluctuation of the relatively thick gate insulating film, and impurity concentration fluctuation at both sides of the channel due to the inversion-preventing diffusion layer.
US08975702B2
A semiconductor device includes an insulated-gate field-effect transistor which is disposed on a semiconductor substrate having an element formation plane in a (110) plane direction, and which has a channel length direction in a <−110 > direction, and a first element isolation insulation film which is buried in a trench in an element isolation region of the semiconductor substrate and has a positive expansion coefficient, the first element isolation insulation film applying a compressive stress by operation heat to the insulated-gate field-effect transistor in the channel length direction.
US08975699B2
Improvements are achieved in the characteristics of a semiconductor device including SRAM memory cells. Under an active region in which an access transistor forming an SRAM is disposed, a p-type semiconductor region is disposed via an insulating layer such that the bottom portion and side portions thereof come in contact with an n-type semiconductor region. Thus, the p-type semiconductor region is pn-isolated from the n-type semiconductor region, and the gate electrode of the access transistor is coupled to the p-type semiconductor region. The coupling is achieved by a shared plug which is an indiscrete conductive film extending from over the gate electrode of the access transistor to over the p-type semiconductor region. As a result, when the access transistor is in an ON state, a potential in the p-type semiconductor region serving as a back gate simultaneously increases to allow an increase in an ON current for the transistor.
US08975692B2
Provided are a semiconductor device and a method of fabricating the same. The method includes: forming a trench in a semiconductor substrate of a first conductive type; forming a trench dopant containing layer including a dopant of a second conductive type on a sidewall and a bottom surface of the trench; forming a doping region by diffusing the dopant in the trench dopant containing layer into the semiconductor substrate; and removing the trench dopant containing layer.
US08975691B2
A trenched power semiconductor device with enhanced breakdown voltage is provided. The trenched power semiconductor device has a first trench penetrating the body region located between two neighboring gate trenches. A polysilicon structure with a conductivity type identical to that of the body region is located in a lower portion of the first trench and spaced from the body region with a predetermined distance. A dielectric structure is located on the polysilicon structure and at least extended to the body region. Source regions are located in an upper portion of the body region. A heavily doped region located in the body region is extended to the bottom of the body region. A conductive structure is electrically connected to the heavily doped region and the source region.
US08975673B2
A method of trimming spacers includes etching a silicon oxide spacer when forming an outmost spacer, so that a silicon carbon nitride spacer contacting the gate electrode exposes an area. The exposure area of the silicon carbon nitride spacer can then be partly removed by phosphate acid. At the end of the semiconductor process, at least part of the top surface of the silicon carbon nitride spacer will be lower than the top surface of a gate electrode.
US08975672B2
The present invention provides a MOS transistor, including a substrate, a gate oxide, a gate, a source/drain region and a silicide layer. The gate oxide is disposed on the substrate and the gate is disposed on the gate oxide. The source/drain region is disposed in the substrate at two sides of the gate. The silicide layer is disposed on the source/drain region, wherein the silicide layer includes a curved bottom surface. The present invention further provides a manufacturing method of the MOS transistor.
US08975669B2
A micromechanical sensor apparatus has a movable gate and a field effect transistor. The field effect transistor has a drain region, a source region, an intermediate channel region with a first doping type, and a movable gate which is separated from the channel region by an intermediate space. The drain region, the source region, and the channel region are arranged in a substrate. A guard region is provided in the substrate at least on the longitudinal sides of the channel region and has a second doping type which is the same as the first doping type and has a higher doping concentration.
US08975666B2
A MOS transistor includes a gate structure on a substrate, and the gate structure includes a wetting layer, a transitional layer and a low resistivity material from bottom to top, wherein the transitional layer has the properties of a work function layer, and the gate structure does not have any work function layers. Moreover, the present invention provides a MOS transistor process forming said MOS transistor.
US08975665B2
A method of manufacture of an integrated circuit packaging system includes: forming a first metal layer on a carrier; forming an insulation layer directly on the first metal layer; exposing a portion of the first metal layer for directly attaching to a die interconnect connecting to an integrated circuit; forming a second metal layer directly on the insulation layer opposite the side of the insulation layer exposed by removing the carrier; and forming a protective layer directly on the insulation layer and the second metal layer, the protective layer exposing a portion of the second metal layer for directly attaching an external interconnect.
US08975663B2
There is provided a semiconductor device such that it is possible to average the temperatures of a plurality of semiconductor chips simply by providing gate resistors. The semiconductor device includes a semiconductor module wherein a plurality of circuit substrates on which are mounted one or more semiconductor chips having a gate terminal and a gate resistor connected to the gate terminal are disposed in parallel, wherein the disposition distance of the gate resistor from the semiconductor chip is set based on the temperature of the semiconductor chip.
US08975662B2
Source zones of a first conductivity type and body zones of a second conductivity type are formed in a semiconductor die. The source zones directly adjoin a first surface of the semiconductor die. A dielectric layer adjoins the first surface. Polysilicon plugs extend through the dielectric layer and are electrically connected to the source and the body zones. An impurity source containing at least one metallic recombination element is provided in contact with deposited polycrystalline silicon material forming the polysilicon plugs and distant to the semiconductor die. Atoms of the metallic recombination element, for example platinum atoms, may be diffused out from the impurity source into the semiconductor die to reliably reduce the reverse recovery charge.
US08975646B2
An optoelectronic semiconductor component comprising at least one radiation emitting semiconductor chip disposed in a recess of a housing base body, wherein the recess is bounded laterally by a wall surrounding the semiconductor chip and is at least partially filled with an encapsulant that covers the semiconductor chip and is well transparent to an electromagnetic radiation emitted by the semiconductor chip An inner side of the wall, bounding the recess, is configured such that, as viewed looking down on the front side of the semiconductor component, a subarea of the inner side is formed which extends ring-like all the way around the semiconductor chip and which is in shadow as viewed from the radiation emitting semiconductor chip and which is at least partially covered by encapsulant all the way around the semiconductor chip. A housing base body for such a semiconductor component is also specified.
US08975644B2
Optoelectronic devices have a photoactive region containing semiconductor material doped with ions of a rare earth element. Characteristic transitions associated with internal energy states of the rare earth dopant ions are modified by direct interaction of those states with an energy state in the semiconductor band structure. Eu+ and Yb+ doped silicon LEDs and photodetectors are described. The LEDs are emissive of radiation in the wavelength range 1300 nm to 1600 nm, important in optical communications.
US08975641B1
A transistor includes a substrate, a channel layer over the substrate and an active layer over the channel layer. The active layer includes a gradient having a first concentration of a first material at an interface with the channel layer and a second concentration of the first material at a surface opposite the channel layer, and the first concentration is higher than the second concentration.
US08975638B2
The active matrix substrate is provided with: first and second scan lines (20a, 20b) that extend in a first direction; first and second signal lines (30a, 30b) that extend in a second direction; first and second pixels (10a, 10b) that are arranged adjacent to each other along the second direction; an auxiliary capacitor line (40); first and second pixel electrodes (60a, 60b); a first TFT (50a); a second TFT (50b); an auxiliary capacitor electrode (42) that is connected to the auxiliary capacitor line (40) and extends below the first and second pixel electrodes (60a, 60b); a first auxiliary capacitor counter electrode (62a) that is connected to the first pixel electrode (60a); and a second auxiliary capacitor counter electrode (62b) that is connected to the second pixel electrode (60b).
US08975636B2
An organic light emitting display device may include a substrate having a switching device, a first electrode including a reflection structure and being electrically connected to the switching device, a pixel defining layer disposed on the first electrode to define a luminescent region and a nonluminescent region, an organic light emitting structure disposed over the pixel defining layer, and a second electrode disposed over the organic light emitting structure. The first electrode may include the reflection structure such as a recess structure or a protrusion structure, so that the organic light emitting display device may ensure an enhanced light efficiency. Additionally, pixels of the organic light emitting display device may have improved uniformity because an opening of the pixel defining layer may have a rounded shape.
US08975631B2
An array substrate, a manufacturing method, and a display device thereof are disclosed. The array substrate comprises a plurality of pixel units, each of the pixel units comprises a first transparent conductive layer and a second transparent conductive layer (2), the first transparent conductive layer forms a pixel electrode (1), the second transparent conductive layer (2) forms a common electrode (201), and the second transparent conductive layer (2) is disposed on a surface of the pixel unit, an insulating protective layer (131) is provided between the first transparent conductive layer and the second transparent conductive layer (2); wherein a detecting portion (102) is extended from the pixel electrode (1) of each pixel unit; a detecting plate (202) corresponding to the detecting portion (102) is formed of the second transparent conductive layer (2), the detecting plate (202) and the common electrode (201) are transversely separated from each other, and a portion of the insulating protective layer (131) located between the detecting plate (202) and the detecting portion (102) is provided with at least one via hole (3), through which the detecting plate (202) is electrically connected with the detecting portion (201). With the array substrate, the pixel electrode (1) of each pixel unit can be detected individually, thereby improving the detection accuracy.
US08975628B2
The present invention relates to a thin film transistor array panel including: a substrate; gate lines formed on the substrate; and a gate driver formed on the substrate to apply gate signals to the gate lines. The gate driver includes a first wire and a second wire to transmit different signals, and at least one of the first wire and the second wire includes a static electricity preventing structure to prevent static electricity from accumulating between the first wire and the second wire.
US08975621B2
An organic light emitting display device includes a first substrate including a pixel area and a non-pixel area; a pixel array formed on the pixel area of the first substrate; a protective layer formed over the pixel array, and having a trench that exposes at least a portion of the non-pixel area; a second substrate disposed above the first substrate; a sealing material disposed between the second substrate and the protective layer at the outside of the trench; and a getter disposed between the second substrate and the first substrate exposed by the trench. Moisture and/or oxygen penetrated through the sealing material and the protective layer, which are disposed at a side of the organic light emitting display device, are absorbed into the getter, thereby improving the lifespan of the organic light emitting display device.
US08975619B2
The invention relates to co-activated silicate based phosphors. The invention further relates to the method of preparing these phosphors and to the use of these phosphors in electronic and electrooptical devices, in particular in light emitting diodes (LEDs) and solar cells. The invention further relates to illumination units comprising said phosphors.
US08975615B2
A method for forming optical devices includes providing a gallium nitride substrate having a crystalline surface region and a backside region. The backside is subjected to a laser scribing process to form scribe regions. Metal contacts overly the scribe regions.
US08975609B2
A method of forming a non-volatile memory device. A substrate is provided and a first dielectric material forms overlying the substrate. A first polysilicon material is deposited overlying the first dielectric material. A second dielectric material is deposited overlying the first polysilicon material. A second polysilicon material is deposited overlying the second dielectric material. A third dielectric material is formed overlying the second polysilicon material. The third dielectric material, the second polysilicon material, the second dielectric material, and the first polysilicon material is subjected to a first pattern and etch process to form a first wordline associated with a first switching device and a second wordline associated with a second switching device from the first polysilicon material, a third wordline and associated with a third switching device, and a fourth wordline associated with a fourth switching device from the second polysilicon material. A via opening is formed to separate the first wordline from the second wordline and to separate the third wordline from the fourth wordline. An amorphous silicon switching material is deposited conformably overlying the via opening. A metal material fills the via opening and overlies the amorphous silicon material and connected to a common bitline.
US08975605B2
This specification relates to an improved method, process and apparatus for disinfecting and sterilizing all types of surfaces and indoor air and room air contaminated with microorganisms. The improved apparatus consists of a multi-wavelength narrow spectral width UV source that is more effective than mercury based 254 nm germicidal lamps for destroying the DNA and outer shell or membrane of virus, bacteria, spores and cists.
US08975598B2
Embodiments include methods and apparatus for identifying a thermographic phosphor (e.g., Er:YIG) incorporated on or within an article. The method and apparatus embodiments include an excitation energy generator selectively exposing the article to excitation energy in an absorption band of the thermographic phosphor. An emitted radiation detector detects first emission characteristics of first emitted radiation from the article within an emission band of the thermographic phosphor when the article has a first temperature, and detects second emission characteristics of second emitted radiation from the article within the emission band when the article has a second temperature that is different from the first temperature. A temperature adjustment element is configured to adjust the temperature of the article. Embodiments further include a processing system determining whether the first emission characteristics are sufficiently different from the second emission characteristics.
US08975593B1
A gas avalanche neutron detector (GAND) filled with counting gas for detecting thermal neutrons or neutron radiation without the use of a conventional proportional counter is provided. The GAND may include a layer of thermalization material, a cathode having a face with a layer of material, exhibiting neutron capture followed by charged particle emission such as Boron-10, a microstructure amplifier, and an anode. Thermal neutrons may enter the detector and interact with the material on the face of the cathode producing alpha particles. The alpha particles may ionize the counting gas inside the detector and produce ionization electrons. The cathode, microstructure amplifier and anode may have voltages applied that create electric fields that cause the ionization electrons to drift toward the microstructure amplifier. The microstructure then accelerates the electrons causing an avalanche effect within the gas and provides an amplification of the signal dramatically increasing neutron detection sensitivity.
US08975589B2
A scintillator has a two-dimensional array of a plurality of columnar crystals which converts radiation into light, and a covering portion covering the two-dimensional array. The covering portion includes connecting portions configured to partially connect the columnar crystals while partially forming cavities in gaps between the columnar crystals in the two-dimensional array.
US08975583B2
A 3D wafer-integration uncooled infrared (IR) microbolometer focal plane array (FPA) sensor includes a first die with an FPA of uncooled IR microbolometers, a second die signal-processing layer. The dies are vertically aligned, stacked with 3D wafer bonding, and interconnected. Interconnection include vertical electrical interconnects. Separate optimized manufacturing processes are used for die, so that additional processing costs of the FPA die are leveraged and 3D integration is completed at wafer level, minimizing total device cost and maximizing die count per wafer.
US08975576B2
Close containers which are filled with a consumer product are tested on leakiness by means of mass spectrometry (10) in that an impact (AN(P)) by the consumer product (P) upon the surrounding atmosphere (A(P)) of the container to be leak tested is monitored by the mass spectrometry (10).
US08975573B2
Systems and methods are disclosed for calibrating mass spectrometers. In accordance with one implementation, a system comprises a calibrant chamber within a housing of a mass spectrometer. The system also comprises a permeation tube enclosed within the calibrant chamber, wherein the tube contains a calibrant chemical that continuously outgasses the calibrant chemical. The outgassed calibrant chemical may be introduced to the mass spectrometer for analysis. The system may also comprise a heating block to control the temperature of the calibrant chemical. The system may further comprise a valve that introduces a known amount of the calibrant chemical into the calibrant chamber. In accordance with the present disclosure, systems and methods are provided for calibrating a mass spectrometer abundance scale.
US08975572B2
Various embodiments of an optical system for directing light for optical measurements such laser-induced fluorescence and spectroscopic analysis are disclosed. In some embodiments, the optical system includes a thermally conductive housing and a thermoelectric controller, a plurality of optical fibers, and one or more optical elements to direct light emitted by the optical fibers to illuminate a flow cell. The housing is configured to attach to a flow cell.
US08975566B2
By removing the aerodynamic fin forces from the fin lock mechanism, achieved by actuating the fin control system to apply a controlled force that counters the aerodynamic forces acting on the control fins, the system can reduce the transmission of aerodynamic forces onto the fin lock mechanism, which makes the fin lock mechanism easier to unlock with less force. Accordingly, a method for unlocking a fin lock mechanism that releasably holds one or more missile control fins in a locked position, where the control fins are prevented from rotating, includes the steps of (i) applying an alternating positive and negative rotational force to a control fin; (ii) monitoring the position of the control fin during the applying step; and (iii) while the position of the control fin does not exceed a predetermined value, repeating the applying step for a predetermined number of times or for a predetermined period.
US08975546B2
A circuit breaker having a mechanical trip mechanism enabling a circuit breaker to perform an emergency manual trip operation is provided. The circuit breaker includes: a fixed contactor connected to a circuit; a movable contactor movable to a closed state in which the movable contactor is in contact with the fixed contactor and a broken state in which the movable contactor is separated from the fixed contactor, an opening and closing mechanism configured to convert a rotational motion of a plurality of links and a rotational shaft to enable the movable contactor to be brought into contact with the fixed contactor or separated therefrom; a trip latch locked to or unlocked from a main link provided in the opening and closing mechanism; and an OFF button configured to rotate the trip latch to unlock the trip latch from the main link when manually pressed.
US08975544B2
Linkage structure is provided for connection between an operating mechanism and at least one actuating assembly of a circuit breaker for opening and closing a movable electrical contact of a pole assembly associated with the actuating assembly. The linkage structure includes at least one lever constructed and arranged to connect with the at least one actuating assembly. At least one connection rod is coupled to the lever and associated with a close spring for closing the electrical contact. At least one spring structure is coupled to the lever. The spring structure includes at least one open spring providing a spring force on the lever for opening the electrical contact while maintaining the connection rod in tension.
US08975536B2
Provided is a wiring structure that can prevent circuit elements from breaking due to static electricity. The disclosed wiring structure includes: a transparent substrate 11; wiring lines 14 that are formed on the transparent substrate 11; and dummy wiring lines 17 that are formed on the transparent substrate 11 and to which a static electricity absorbers 18 are connected. Prescribed sections of the dummy wiring lines 17 are provided closer to an outer edge 11a of the transparent substrate 11 than the wiring lines 14, and the prescribed sections of the dummy wiring lines 17 are shaped so as to extend towards the outer edge 11a side of the transparent substrate 11.
US08975535B2
In a many-up wiring substrate including a base substrate having dividing grooves formed as part of main surfaces thereof, along boundaries of a plurality of wiring substrate regions, the plurality of wiring substrate regions being arranged in a matrix, when seen in a transparent plan view, dividing grooves of the main surface and dividing grooves of an opposite main surface are formed to be deviated in one direction of transverse direction or longitudinal direction, and a distance between bottoms of the dividing grooves of one main surface and bottoms of the dividing grooves of the opposite main surface is smaller than a distance between the bottoms of the dividing grooves of the one main surface and the opposite main surface and a distance between the bottoms of the dividing grooves of the opposite main surface and the one main surface.
US08975534B2
The invention provides a flexible base material and a flexible electronic device. The flexible base material includes a flexible substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface. A first organic composite barrier layer is deposited on the first surface of the flexible substrate, wherein the first organic composite barrier layer applies a first stress to the flexible substrate. An anti-curved layer is deposited on the second surface of the flexible substrate, wherein the anti-curved layer applies a second stress to the flexible substrate, and wherein the second stress applied by the anti-curved layer cancels off more than 90% of the first stress.
US08975528B2
Even in an electronic device where electrodes are coupled electrically using a solder, sections to which electrodes of an electronic component are coupled are switched by a method other than changing circuits of the electronic component or changing circuits of a wiring substrate.The electronic device includes: a wiring substrate having two or more first electrodes over one surface thereof; and an electronic component having, over one surface thereof, two or more second electrodes arranged corresponding to the two or more first electrodes, respectively. At least one of the first electrodes is a specific electrode divided into two or more divided portions, and the divided portions are coupled to different wirings, respectively. Further, at least one of the divided portions is coupled to a corresponding second electrode through a solder.
US08975526B2
The present disclosure provides a touch panel, including at least a plurality of first electrode axes, a plurality of second electrode blocks. Each first electrode axis and corresponding second electrode block are disposed at the same level, staggered and electrically isolated from each other. Each first electrode axis is an uninterrupted structure. The touch panel of the present disclosure provides a new electrode pattern, and since all electrodes are disposed at the same level, therefore the electrodes can be formed simultaneously, thereby decreasing the cost of manufacturing process.
US08975523B2
A conductive cable for reducing the power losses in components, such as inductors and transformers. The conductive cable includes multiple strands that each include an inner conductor and an outer insulating layer. The conductive cable includes strands of multiple cross-sectional areas (multiple gauges), such that the power losses associated with the skin effect may be reduced. The cross-sectional areas of the strands of the conductive cable may be selected dependent upon the frequency content of the current that they are intended to carry. In the case of a PFC boost converter, the various cross-sectional areas of the strands may be selected to carry the harmonics of and AC power source, as well as higher frequency current caused by a switch associated with the PFC boost converter.
US08975510B2
A rear-contact solar cell interconnect is disclosed. The rear-contact solar cell interconnect includes a first conductive foil with an opening and a second conductive foil. The first conductive foil is arranged to be electrically connected to a first polarity contact of a solar cell. The second conductive foil is arranged to be electrically connected to a second polarity contact of the solar cell through the opening of the first conductive foil. The solar cell includes a first surface arranged to receive solar irradiation and a second surface substantially opposite the first surface. The first polarity contact and the second polarity contact are provided on the second surface of the solar cell.
