US08983723B2
Braking/driving force control that includes: detecting a driver's operating state for causing the vehicle to run; detecting a vehicle body motional state while the vehicle is running; computing a target longitudinal driving force for causing the vehicle to run and motional state amounts for controlling a vehicle body behavior on the basis of the detected operating state and motional state; and computing driving or braking forces allocated to the wheels so as to achieve the computed target longitudinal driving force and target motional state amounts and that the braking/driving force generating mechanism causes the wheels to generate independently.
US08983720B2
A motor vehicle has an engine kill device that can automatically stop the engine. The vehicle has components for determining the engine may have been errantly left running, in which case the vehicle sends a notice to the user. The vehicle is capable of receiving a response from the user with instructions to leave the engine running. If no response is received, the vehicle can activate the engine kill device and stop the engine, or the vehicle can leave the engine running if a response is received from the user indicating the engine should remain running.
US08983714B2
Methods and systems for analyzing failsafe conditions. One method includes receiving, at a processor, a message transmitted over a vehicle bus, wherein the message includes a data field. The method further includes accessing at least one data attribute included in a database file associated with the vehicle bus. The at least one data attribute includes at least one of (a) a safety critical attribute, (b) an automotive safety integrity level attribute, (c) a maturation time attribute, (d) a warning indicator attribute, and (e) a diagnostic trouble code attribute. The method also includes converting the data field based on the at least one data attribute.
US08983711B2
A method for detecting whether a vehicle on standby is in a transported situation, the vehicle including a course control device, wheel speed sensors, a yaw rate sensor, a processing unit processing data managing vehicle operation modes and a device for immobilizing the vehicle. The method includes detecting a vehicle standby mode after installing the vehicle on a transport support, detecting a zero vehicle speed using the wheel speed sensors, the speed sensor of at least one wheel able to be on the verge of oscillating over a predefined time period, detecting a non-zero yaw rate using the yaw rate sensor over a predefined time period, and under these conditions determining the vehicle is in a transported mode, in which data from at least the wheel speed sensor on the verge of oscillating is filtered, and allowing the vehicle to be put in a wake-up state.
US08983693B2
In an apparatus for guiding an unmanned autonomous operating vehicle having an electric motor supplied with power from a battery (30) for operating a lawn mower blades, other electric motors for driving wheels, and two magnetic sensors attached at the front for detecting intensity of a magnetic field of an area wire and controlled to run about in an operating area defined by the area wire to perform operation and to return to a charging device installed on the area wire so as to charge the battery, the area wire is laid with an offset to right or left when viewed in a plane such that the vehicle is turned from a straight-running position to a direction of the offset and then is returned to the straight-running position when the vehicle runs to be connected to the charging device, thereby guiding the vehicle to the charging device.
US08983692B2
A method to control a hybrid powertrain including an engine, an electric machine, and a transmission through a transition from an initial operating point to a target operating point includes monitoring a break point in a non-convex data set defined by an engine torque below which a growl condition cannot occur and a threshold low motor torque required for the grown condition, comparing the target operating point to the break point, and controlling the powertrain based upon the target operating point and the comparing.
US08983690B2
A system and method optimizes energy consumption in a railway system including a set of trains, a set of energy storage devices, and a set of substations connected to a grid by first optimizing control parameters controlling at least part of the energy consumption of the railway system to produce optimized control parameters. The optimized control parameters minimize, over multiple time steps, a combination of total power provided by the grid to satisfy a power demand of the railway system, a state-of-charge of each energy storage device, power supplied to charge the energy storage device and power supplied by the energy storage device. The optimizing is subject to constraints on operations of the railway system over multiple time steps. The constraints include a complementarity constraint. A command is generated to control the energy consumption of the railway system based on the optimized control parameters.
US08983683B2
Flight management systems and control methods for meeting a required time of arrival (RTA) with reduced fuel burn. An example method can account for probabilistic wind forecast uncertainty in RTA calculations by reformulating the speed and thrust profile problem as a multi-stage stochastic program, using a wind forecast uncertainty model to generate scenario sets for the fuel optimization problem. The method can iteratively calculate a fuel-efficient advised air speed for achieving an RTA over a flight path with an arbitrary number of recourse points.
US08983676B2
A method for cooling a heat-generating device, comprising setting a reference surface temperature of the heat-generating device, measuring a temperature of a surface of the heat-generating device, measuring a temperature gradient based on temperature measurements of two or more different locations on the heat-generating device, implementing a closed-loop control based on the reference surface temperature, the measured surface temperature, and the measured temperature gradient of the heat-generating device to compute a rate of application of a cooling material to the surface of the heat-generating device, and providing a command to apply the cooling material to the surface of the heat-generating device at the calculated rate to cool the heat-generating device.
US08983662B2
Robots including projectors for projecting images on identified projection surfaces are disclosed. A robot includes a housing, an electronic control unit coupled to the housing, a projector coupled to the housing, a human recognition module coupled to the housing, and a projection surface identification module coupled to the housing. The projector, the human recognition module, and the surface identification module are communicatively coupled with the electronic control unit. The electronic control unit includes a non-transitory memory that stores a set of machine readable instructions and a processor for executing the machine readable instructions. When executed by the processor, the machine readable instructions cause the robot to recognize a human using the human recognition module, identify a projection surface using the projection surface recognition module, and project an image on the identified projection surface with the projector.
US08983655B2
Automated dispensing systems and mechanisms for queuing output from an automated dispensing system are provided for the dispensing of articles. The automated dispensing system may increase efficiency of the automated dispensing system by reducing cycle time, increasing throughput, and reducing the time required for the unloading process. A system for dispensing articles may include a carousel including a plurality of stations, a plurality of carrier holders, each configured to be received at a respective station, and a robot configured to retrieve a carrier holder from the carousel. The robot may further be configured to move the carrier holder proximate the location of a first article, load the first article onto the carrier holder, and return the carrier holder to a station of the carousel.
US08983653B2
An electromechanical latch and ejector to selectively unlatch and eject an object.
US08983650B2
A work hanging apparatus includes a hanger line continuously conveying hangers each having a hook, a robot that has a hand with which a work having a hole is held and transfers the held work to a hanging location set in the hanger line, a controller controlling a movement of the hand to catch the hook of one of the hangers with the hole of the held work at the hanging location, a hole deviation detector that detects a positional deviation of the hole of the work, an attitude deviation detector that detects an attitudinal deviation of the hanger, and a corrector that corrects the movement of the hand according to the positional and attitudinal deviations.
US08983642B2
The present invention relates generally to the field of telecommunications systems and methods. More specifically, the present invention is directed to systems and methods for identifying and/or distributing music and other types of useful information for users in a very simple and convenient manner. A variety of systems and methods are disclosed which provide users with quick and convenient access to various forms of information, such as, for example, audio information including music and news items as well as coupons and other information. The systems and methods allow users to store data representative of a time of transmission and preferably a source of transmission so that data of interest may be identified for ordering an/or downloading.
US08983636B1
A client configuration tool configured to program a universal master control station to allow expansion of an existing oil field, monitoring and controlling of subsea/topside field equipment provided by multiple vendors, or combinations thereof.
US08983634B2
Provided herein is a vehicular stage with individual seats and seat control system and method for controlling a movement of a seat, the seat control system including: a motor configured to move the seat in at least one direction; a control computer, which is disposed remotely with respect to the seat, and which is configured to output control commands for controlling the movement of the seat; and a microcontroller, which is connected to the motor and the control computer and configured to receive the control commands from the control computer and to control the motor to move the seat in the at least one direction based on the control commands received from the control computer.
US08983628B2
Devices, systems and methods are disclosed for treating a variety of diseases and disorders that are primarily or at least partially driven by an imbalance in neurotransmitters in the brain, such as asthma, COPD, depression, anxiety, epilepsy, fibromyalgia, and the like. The invention involves the use of an energy source comprising magnetic and/or electrical energy that is transmitted non-invasively to, or in close proximity to, a selected nerve to temporarily stimulate, block and/or modulate the signals in the selected nerve such that neural pathways are activated to release inhibitory neurotransmitters in the patient's brain.
US08983623B2
A system includes a medical device lead including a connector at a proximal end of the lead, a conductor electrically connected to the connector at a proximal end of the conductor, and at least one electrode coupled to a distal end of the conductor. The system further includes a device securable to the proximal end of the lead including an inductive element. The device includes a port configured to receive the connector and position the inductive element around at least a portion of the connector.
US08983621B2
A functional electrical stimulation system having a boost module to raise an output voltage of a primary power to a first preset voltage, an energy storage module, connected to the boost module, configured to store electrical energy of the first preset voltage, a central control unit configured to generate data packets of electrical stimulation parameters, and an electrical stimulation output channel, connected to the energy storage module, configured to receive the data packets of electrical stimulation parameters, analyze the electrical stimulation parameters from the data packets, convert electrical energy stored in the energy storage module to an electrical stimulation pulse corresponding to the electrical stimulation parameters and apply the electrical stimulation pulse to a part of a user. The functional electrical stimulation system can enhance flexibility and autonomy of an electrical stimulation pulse so that the user can select a personalized electrical stimulation pulse type according to his/her actual conditions.
US08983616B2
The present disclosure involves a medical system. The medical system includes a medical device configured to deliver a medical therapy to a patient and store an electronic patient record that includes visual identification information of the patient. The medical system includes a clinician programmer configured to program the medical device. The clinician programmer includes a display screen. The clinician programmer includes a transceiver configured to conduct electronic communication with external devices. The clinician programmer includes a memory storage configured to store machine-readable code. The clinician programmer includes a computer processor configured to execute the machine-readable code to: establish an electronic communication with the medical device via the transceiver; and display the electronic patient record, including the visual identification information of the patient, on the display screen after the electronic communication has been established.
US08983612B2
A method and apparatus that resulted in blocking an action potential in a nerve.
US08983608B2
A lead-connection system includes a lead and a connector. The lead includes a distal end, a proximal end, a plurality of electrodes disposed at the distal end, a plurality of terminals disposed at the proximal end, and a plurality of conductor wires electrically coupling each of the plurality of electrodes to a different one of the plurality of terminals. The connector defines a port for receiving the proximal end of the lead and a plurality of connector contacts. The number of connector contacts is greater than the number of terminals disposed on the proximal end of the lead. When the connector receives the proximal end of the lead, each of the terminals disposed on the proximal end of the lead makes electrical contact with at least one of the connector contacts of the connector and no two terminals make electrical contact with a same one of the connector contacts.
US08983595B2
A method and apparatus for treatment of heart failure, hypertension and renal failure by stimulating the renal nerve. The goal of therapy is to reduce sympathetic activity of the renal nerve. Therapy is accomplished by at least partially blocking the nerve with drug infusion or electrostimulation. Apparatus can be permanently implanted or catheter based.
US08983591B2
A method of detecting seizures may comprise receiving an EMG signal and processing the received EMG signal to determine whether a seizure characteristic is present in the EMG signal during a time window. An apparatus for detecting seizures with motor manifestations may comprise one or more EMG electrodes capable of providing an EMG signal substantially representing seizure-related muscle activity; and a processor configured to receive the EMG signal, process the EMG signal to determine whether a seizure may be occurring, and generate an alert if a seizure is determined to be occurring based on the EMG signal.
US08983590B2
In an implantable medical device, such as a bi-ventricular pacemaker and a method for detecting and monitoring mechanical dyssynchronicity of the heart, a dyssynchronicity measure indicating a degree of mechanical dyssynchronicity of a heart of a patient is calculated. A first intracardiac impedance set is measured using electrodes placed such that the first intracardiac impedance set substantially reflects a mechanical activity of the left side of the heart and a second intracardiac impedance set is measure using electrodes placed such that the second intracardiac impedance set substantially reflects a mechanical activity of the right side of the heart. The measure of a dyssynchronicity is calculated based on a resulting parameter set from a comparison between at least a subset of the first and the second impedance sets, respectively, the subsets containing information of the mechanical systole, wherein a reduced dyssynchronicity measure corresponds to an improved synchronicity between the right side and the left side of the heart.
US08983585B2
A medical device and associated method for monitoring a patient's heart rhythm sensing a cardiac signal determine whether a cardiac signal is noise corrupted by obtaining cardiac signal pulses and generating a pulse amplitude threshold in response to the plurality of signal pulses. The number of signal sample points exceeding the pulse amplitude threshold in each of the of signal pulses is computed. The cardiac signal is determined to be noise corrupted or non-corrupted in response to the computed number of signal sample points.
US08983579B2
Systems and methods are presented for the visual indication of whether a power injector has discharged fluid from a power injector syringe in a previous medical procedure. In this regard, the systems and methods generally provide for a power injector and a syringe for use with the power injector. The syringe includes a visual indicator that moves between a first state and a second state at approximately the same time that the power injector discharges fluid from the syringe such that an operator may view the change in state.
US08983566B2
Embodiments disclosed herein may include an adapter which is capable of converting signals from an oximeter sensor such that the signals are readable by an oximeter monitor. In an embodiment, the adapter is capable of converting signals relating to calibration information from the oximeter sensor. The calibration information may relate to wavelengths of light emitting diodes within the oximeter sensor. In a specific embodiment, the adapter will convert wavelength calibration information in a first form relating to data values stored in a digital memory chip to a second form relating to a resistance value of an expected resistor within the oximeter sensor.
US08983560B2
A smart case configured to encapsulate a mobile communication device. The smart case includes a radio embedded in the case for selectively enabling the encapsulated mobile communication device to communicate over a wireless network using either the radio embedded in the case or the Wi-Fi and/or cellular radio in the communication device itself. In alternative embodiments, either a hard switch, a soft switch, or both, is provided for switching between either the radios(s) embedded in the smart case or the internal radio(s) in the mobile communication device.
US08983558B2
In the present invention, a rear cover 1 of a display part is made of at least a resin material, and a rear cover 4 of an operation part is made of a metal material. Respective plane portions of a front case 2 of the display part and a front case 3 of the operation part are made mainly of a metal material, and at least hinge parts 2c and 3c, which are formed on the front case 2 of the display part and the front case 3 of the operation part, are made of a resin material.
US08983557B1
The present disclosure describes techniques and apparatuses for reducing power consumption of a multi-antenna transceiver. In some aspects, the techniques and apparatuses minimize power consumption while maintaining a threshold level of performance, maximize performance while maintaining a threshold power-consumption limit, or optimize power consumption and performance. To do so, the techniques and apparatuses use a subset of the transceiver's available antennas, RF chains, and/or baseband receive chains.
US08983556B2
A communication system is configured that includes a mobile terminal, one or more relay devices, and a base station for communicating with the mobile terminal via any of the one or more relay devices, where the mobile terminal includes a reception unit for receiving a reference signal transmitted from the one or more relay devices, a determination unit for determining a relay device to be used for communication with the base station based on the reference signal received by the reception unit from the one or more relay devices, and a transmission unit for transmitting to the base station information indicating the relay device determined by the determination unit.
US08983554B2
In accordance with a non-limiting aspect, a mobile wireless communications device includes a housing, at least one circuit board carried by the housing, radio frequency (RF) circuitry, and a processor. An antenna is operative with the RF circuitry. A charging circuit charges a battery carried by and powers the device and includes at least one charging contact carried by the housing and configured for engaging an external charging cradle when connected thereto. It includes an internal connector extending to at least one circuit board and connecting to the charging circuitry. An RF filter includes a ferrite material surrounding at least a portion of the internal connector to minimize RE coupling from the at least one charging contact to the antenna and reduce transmitter harmonics emission and receiver de-sense.
US08983544B2
The present invention relates to a communication system and a communication method. The communication system includes a micro IC card, a radio frequency (RF) card sleeve and a multi-frequency card reader. The micro IC card is used to communicate with the RF card sleeve through a contact interface. The multi-frequency card reader is used to perform an RF communication with the RF card sleeve. The communication method includes exchanging data with a micro IC card through an RF channel; and the micro IC card sleeve exchanges data with the micro IC card by a contact communication. The communication system and method provide operators a working environment to adapt cards with different frequencies. Thus, telecommunication operators and financial service providers are able to independently issue their own cards, which lowers difficulties of promoting mobile payment services, and aids to boost the popularization and applications of the mobile payment services.
US08983532B2
A method and apparatus for allowing varied functionality between a sending entity and a receiving entity, the method sending a first message from the sending entity to the receiving entity utilizing a first protocol, detecting an indication that the receiving entity did not recognize the first message or that the receiving entity did not fulfill a request in the first message, and sending a second message from the sending entity to the receiving entity utilizing a second protocol.
US08983525B2
A mobile communication system includes: a plurality of mobile communication terminals; and a first base station device configured to wirelessly communicate with the plurality of mobile communication terminals. The first base station device is configured to report to the plurality of mobile communication terminals that a second base station device allowing only a particular mobile communication terminal access is set to allow all the plurality of mobile communication terminals access, by transmitting using cell broadcast service, identification information of the second station device.
US08983524B2
A method and apparatus are described for controlling transmitter power in a wireless communication system in which both dedicated and shared channels are utilized. A wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) may receive a first channel (e.g., downlink shared channel), power commands for a second channel (e.g., dedicated channel) and power commands for a third channel (e.g., uplink shared channel). The WTRU may transmit in a transmission time interval at least one of the second channel and the third channel. Acknowledgments and negative acknowledgements to signals received over the first channel may be sent on the third channel. The WTRU may determine a transmission power level of the second channel in response to the second channel power commands and not the third channel power commands. The WTRU may determine a transmission power level of the third channel in response to the third channel power commands and not the second channel power commands.
US08983521B2
A pilot power setting method and a femtocell using the same are disclosed. The pilot power setting method is for using in a femtocell which is operated in a closed mode to provide service to a user equipment (UE). The method includes the following steps. A communication link connecting the UE and the femtocell is established. A command is provided to the UE, which returns n items of path loss information to the femtocell in a pre-determined period according to the command, wherein n is a natural number which is greater than 1. A maximum path loss information between the UE and the femtocell is obtained from the n items of path loss information in the pre-determined period. A predicted pilot power is obtained according to the maximum path loss information. A pilot power of the femtocell is set according to the predicted pilot power.
US08983520B2
A radio base station (1) measures the volume of communication with radio terminals connected to said radio base station (1), and if said volume of communication exceeds a threshold value, the radio signal transmission power of the base station is decreased, and a request is made to other radio base stations to increase the radio signal transmission power of said other radio base stations.
US08983519B2
A control unit for a wireless terminal includes a power amplification request/modulation method reception unit which receives uplink communication channel power amplification requests transmitted from a wireless base station connected to the wireless terminal, a power reduction request reception unit which receives uplink communication channel power reduction requests transmitted from a wireless base station not connected to the wireless terminal, and a modulation class setting unit which, when a power amplification request is received by the power amplification request/modulation method request reception unit and a power reduction request is received by the power reduction request reception unit, sets the modulation class to a modulation class which has less transmission power than prior to the setting and that has a modulation method for which the communication quality of the aforementioned uplink communication channel is at or above a required level.
US08983511B2
The present invention relates to a method for mitigating inter-cell interference in a multi-cell DAS. In one embodiment of the present invention, user equipment estimates an interfering antenna of an adjacent cell on the basis of RS pattern information of the adjacent cell, provided by a base station of a serving cell, or the base station provides the user equipment with information which specifies an interfering cell of the adjacent cell.
US08983501B2
This document describes proximity-based task notification. By notifying a user of an entity at which the user can perform a task when that entity is near to the user, the techniques enable the user to decide, at a time and location likely convenient to the user, whether or not to perform the task now at the entity or wait until a later occasion. If the user wishes to forgo performing the task, the techniques can notify the user again when the entity or some other entity is likely to be convenient to the user.
US08983496B1
In systems and methods of managing tracking area updates, tracking area update messages received from a wireless device are monitored, where the tracking area update messages are received from a wireless device when the wireless device changes between communicating over a first channel associated with a first tracking area identifier and a second channel associated with a second tracking area identifier. The first tracking area identifier comprises a unique tracking area code and a first network identifier, and the second tracking area identifier comprises the unique tracking area code and a second network identifier. When a number of the tracking area update messages received from the wireless device meets a message threshold, the wireless device is instructed to not send a next tracking area update message.
US08983482B2
Provided is a method for detecting a network or device and a neighbor thereof, in order to detect networks or devices which substantially interfere with each other and to manage resources in consideration of the substantial interfering relationships so that the networks or devices can efficiently coexist. To this end, according to an embodiment of the present invention, a method for detecting a neighbor of a television band device (TVBD) network or device comprises the steps of: transmitting a request to a coexistence manager which serves the TVBD network or device; and receiving neighbor information on the TVBD network or device in response to the request, wherein the neighbor information includes an identifier of a neighbor TVBD network or device which interferes with the TVBD network or device, and the neighbor information is based on operating channels of the TVBD network or device and the neighbor TVBD network or device.
US08983481B2
A mobile communications device with a wireless module and a controller module is provided. The wireless module performs wireless transceiving to and from a first cellular station of a first service network and a second cellular station of a second service network, wherein the first service network is a long term evolution (LTE) network and the second service network is a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) network. The controller module receives a measurement request message from the first cellular station via the wireless module, performs a measurement on the second cellular station in response to the measurement request message and reports the measurement result to the first service network via the wireless module, wherein the second cellular station is previously not requested or configured by the first service network to be measured.
US08983470B1
A networked computer system in a cellular communications network comprises a processor, a memory, and a non-transitory computer readable medium with computer executable instructions stored thereon which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to generate a local cluster list by identifying a plurality of cells that are relevant to a maintenance or optimization operation of a reference cell using at least one neighbor cell list, a centroid of the reference cell, radio network planning data, or usage data of the reference cell, the local cluster list including local cluster information for the plurality of cells that are relevant to the maintenance or optimization operation, and store the local cluster list in the memory.
US08983466B2
A system supporting controlled access to multimedia information and media-related services, the system including a gateway communicatively coupled to a broadband network and at least one wireless interface, the gateway capable of selectively communicating multimedia information among the at least one wireless interface and the broadband network, and of communicating with a plurality of access devices via the at least one wireless interface. The gateway is also capable of selecting one of a plurality of access privilege tiers based upon identification information received from one of the plurality of access devices. The identification information includes a plurality of identity data pieces. Each of the plurality of identify data pieces differs from another of the plurality of identity data pieces. Access to each of the plurality of access privilege tiers requires a different degree of authentication that is represented by a different combination of the plurality of identity data pieces.
US08983465B2
A mobile station UE according to the present invention includes a control unit 12 configured, upon determination based on “EPC-MO-LR support” included in “Attach Accept” or “TAU Accept” received from a mobility management node MME that “EPC-MO-LR” is not supported in a mobile communication system of an E-UTRAN scheme, to switch the E-UTRAN scheme to a UTRAN scheme after establishing a connection in the mobile communication system of the E-UTRAN scheme, and then transmit “NAS MO-LR Request” to a mobile switching center SGSN/MSC.
US08983460B2
A method to adjust operation of a network controller of a device is disclosed. The method may include receiving contextual data from a sensor communicatively coupled to the device. The method may also include analyzing the contextual data to determine the context of the device. The method may also include modifying the network controller operation based on the analyzed contextual data.
US08983453B1
Self-Organized Network (SON) architectures for heterogeneous networks are disclosed. In some embodiments, various SON architectures for heterogeneous networks are provided that can evolve with such networks while the core functional modules of the SON solution can remain the same. In some embodiments, techniques for implementing SON architectures for heterogeneous networks includes providing a base station that includes performing a pre-operation self-configuration; and performing an operation self-optimization.
US08983451B2
Systems and methods for storing information in a user zone list are described herein. According to the systems and methods herein, the user zone list includes multiple user zone files and the user zone files include information regarding a communication interface type.
US08983443B2
A method for managing a voice call while simultaneously running a data application on a handset having a display includes determining whether the display on the handset is on or off; and if the display is off, then suspending data transfer supporting the data application. Other conditions for suspending data transfer include whether an application is in the foreground of the display; whether the handset is in proximity to a user's head, or if network reception quality exceeds a threshold.
US08983438B2
A provisioning system for enabling a mobile communication device to operate as a financial presentation device (FPD) which is presentable to providers of goods or service is provided. The provisioning system relies on a transaction processing system that normally routes authorization requests from merchants to issuers of FPDs for purposes of authorizing FPD transactions. The transaction processing system already stores security keys of all issuers in order to validate transaction data being sent from the merchants. The provisioning system monitors authorization requests being routed through the transaction processing system and retrieves an authorization request of a financial transaction that was initiated with a particular FPD. The provisioning system then transmits the FPD data contained in the retrieved authorization request and the security key stored in the transaction processing system to a secure memory element of the mobile communication device so as to enable the mobile communication device to operate as a FPD.
US08983437B2
A system for actively notifying instant messages and locations in a certain area and a method therefor contain a controlling device function module for judging messages and functions transmitted to a processing device function module of a at least one service device function module from a back-site device function module. The back-site device function module chooses the messages of the processing device function module. The at least one service device function module transmits the messages to a user handheld device from the back-site device function module, and the at least one service device function module includes a WiFi device and a processing device function module. The user handheld device transmits a regional location message, a language using system code, and a group identification code of the user handheld device to the at least one service device function module in the certain area.
US08983435B2
A computer-implemented method of providing an alert based on user location. An indication of a second user is received from a first user. It is determined whether the first user and the second user are co-members of a telecommunication carrier service plan. Location information of the first user and location information of the second user is received. A distance between the first user and the second user is determined based on the location information of the first user and the location information of the second user. The first user is alerted responsive to the distance between the first user and the second user exceeding a predetermined threshold. A system for providing an alert based on user location or user motion state is also provided.
US08983427B2
A method of communication comprising the steps of: requesting at least one service having a plurality of parts; determining if said at least one service can be provided taking into account credit information relating to a user; and if not providing only one or some of said plurality of parts of said at least one service.
US08983426B2
Groups of consenting users such as families can track where other members of the same group are under agreed upon access arrangements. The locating system can operate in a passive mode. Users do not have to actively sign-in or check-in to the locating system for the locating system to obtain individual location determination estimates. The locating system collects communications device usage information from a plurality of communications networks, e.g., landline, cellular, Wi-Fi, DSL. The locations of communication devices and infrastructure are known. Members of locating groups are associated with various communication devices detected are being used. Approximate locations of an individual member or members of a locating group are inferred from detected device usage information. A location report is generated, e.g., in a map, table, or audio format, indicating the determined location of individuals, and optionally including time tags. The report is provided to authorized members of the locating group.
US08983412B2
Systems, methods and interfaces are disclosed for managing communications associated with a mobile communication device. Mobile communication devices process environmental inputs and transmit mobile communication device context information to a communication management system. The context information may, for example, reflect the motion and/or geographic location of the mobile device, and may reflect the risk associated with using the device to handle a call or other communications session. The communication management system uses the context information, optionally in combination with communication device profiles, to determine how to manage incoming and/or ongoing calls or other communication sessions. Mobile device users may also be inhibited from initiating communication sessions.
US08983403B2
A frequency compensation device, applicable to a user equipment (UE) communicating with a first base station (BS), includes a receiving module and a transmitting module. The receiving module has an offset detection unit for performing following steps. A first signal from the first BS at a first receiving frequency is received. A first transmitting frequency where the first BS transmits the at least one first signal is read. A difference between the first transmitting frequency and the first receiving frequency is calculated and used as a frequency difference. The transmitting module is for performing following steps. A BS parameter corresponding to the first BS is obtained. A frequency compensation value according to the BS parameter is calculated. A second transmitting frequency according to the frequency compensation value corresponding to the first BS is compensated. A second signal to the first BS at the compensated second transmitting frequency is sent.
US08983400B2
Systems and methods for transceiver communication are discussed herein. An exemplary system comprises a first transceiver unit comprising a first attenuator, a filter module, a gain module, and an antenna. The first attenuator may be configured to attenuate a transmission signal from a second transceiver module over a coaxial cable. The transmission signal may comprise a primary component and a triple transit component. The first attenuator may further be configured to attenuate and provide a reflection signal over the coaxial cable to the second transceiver module. The reflection signal may be based on a reflection of at least a portion of the transmission signal. The filter module configured to filter the transmission signal. The gain module may be configured to increase the gain of the transmission signal. The antenna may be configured to transmit the transmission signal.
US08983395B2
Wireless communications circuitry such as radio-frequency power amplifiers may be tested using a test station. A test station may include a test host and a test unit coupled to the test host. The power amplifiers may be configured to transmit radio-frequency signals in allocated resource blocks within a particular radio channel. The power amplifier circuits may be configured to transmit signals utilizing only an allocated portion of its total available resource blocks so that the transmitted signals are output at maximum power levels. The power amplifiers may transmit in resource blocks near a low channel edge during a first time period and may transmit in resource blocks near a high channel edge during a second time period. The test unit may receive the signals generated from the power amplifiers and may perform desired radio-frequency measurements (e.g., test unit may measure adjacent channel leakage radio, signal-to-interference ratio, error vector magnitude, etc.).
US08983394B2
Embodiments are disclosed of a switchplexer for performing test operations on a radio device. The switchplexer comprises a plurality of test ports corresponding to a plurality of radio device ports and a plurality of switches for routing test signals between the individual test ports. Processing logic is disclosed for controlling actuation of the switches to route test signals between individual test ports. The switchplexer disclosed herein may be incorporated into a mobile test device for self-test operations or may be used in a manufacturing or maintenance facility for testing and calibration operations.
US08983377B2
A near field communication antenna device of a mobile terminal having a near field communication antenna function of 13.56 MHz by Alternating Current (AC) coupling a conductive pattern of a touch screen panel is provided. The device includes a conductive pattern formed in a touch screen panel, a first antenna line AC-coupled to one end of the conductive pattern, a second antenna line AC-coupled to the other end of the conductive pattern, and a near field communication module connected to the first antenna line and the second antenna line. Therefore, a near field communication antenna can be embodied using a conductive pattern of an existing touch screen panel. Accordingly, an increase in thickness and material cost of a mobile terminal can be prevented.
US08983375B2
An adapter for a communications module includes first terminals for connection with a host interface of a given platform, and second terminals for connection with the communications module. The host interface provides signals associated with the platform and power at corresponding first terminals. The communication module provides associated signals and connections for supplying voltages to the module circuits, at corresponding second terminals. A power converter connected to the first terminals is arranged to output fixed voltages one or more of which is required for the communications module. A power management stage connected to the output of the power converter is arranged to apply the voltages to the second terminals so that the voltages are properly supplied to the module circuits. A buffer stage connected to the first and the second terminals is arranged to buffer or condition shared signals among the host interface and the communications module.
US08983367B1
The vehicle, such as airplane, which comprises the internal wireless communicating device and the external antenna device, wherein the passenger(s) in the vehicle may access network (e.g., the Internet) via the internal wireless communicating device and the external antenna device.
US08983362B2
A sheet binding apparatus which forms concavity and the convexity on a sheet bundle including a plurality of sheets in a thickness direction so as to bind the sheet bundle, the sheet binding apparatus includes: a pair of concave-convex members, each of which has concave-convex portion in the thickness direction of the sheet bundle and which forms the concavity and the convexity on the sheet bundle in the thickness direction while niping the sheet bundle therebetween; wherein in the pair of concave-convex members, one of the concave-convex members has a greater difference in height of the concave-convex portion than that of the other concave-convex member which engages with the above-described concave-convex member.
US08983354B2
A fixing device includes an irradiation section that has plural light emitting elements arranged in a first direction and emits light, a condensing section that condenses the light emitted from the irradiation section in a second direction intersecting the first direction, and a supporter that includes a contact location which supports a recording medium by a surface thereof at a position of a focal length of the condensing section, and a noncontact location which is located outside the contact location in the first direction and has a surface which does not come into contact with the recording medium, wherein a distance between the surface of the noncontact location and the condensing section is different from a distance between the surface of the contact location and the condensing section.
US08983348B2
A fixing device that includes a rotary fixing member; a pressure roller configured to press against the fixing member to form a nip with the fixing member; and an induction heating unit as a heat source to heat the fixing member. The induction heating unit includes an excitation coil; a coil retainer to hold the excitation coil; and a cover member disposed opposite the coil retainer in an opposite side of the rotary fixing member, in which the cover member protrudes toward a central predetermined range of the excitation coil in an axial direction of the rotary fixing member to effectively cool the fixing device. The induction heating unit further includes a rectifying member to effectively cool the fixing device.
US08983345B2
A developer supplying member is provided for supplying developer to a developer supporting member. The developer supplying member includes a foamed member having a discrete foam cell structure and being formed of a silicone rubber as a main component thereof. The foamed member constitutes a surface of the developer supplying member. The foamed member includes a foam cell wall dividing foam cells thereof and being exposed on the surface of the developer supplying member. The foam cell wall has a ten-point average surface roughness between 45.2 μm and 65.3 μm.
US08983341B2
An electrophotographic image forming apparatus including first and second developing devices to develop electrostatic latent images formed on first and second photosensitive bodies, each of the first and second developing devices comprise a first toner containing unit to contain a toner, the second developing device further including a second toner containing unit that is connected to the first toner containing unit by a connecting unit.
US08983338B2
In an image forming apparatus provided with a detachable fixing unit having fixing paired-rollers, a heating unit heats at least one of the fixing paired-rollers, and a temperature detecting unit detects a temperature of the detachable fixing unit. The image forming apparatus is further provided with an adjustment mechanism for preventing the detachable fixing unit from being taken out from the apparatus body, when the temperature detecting unit determines that the temperature of the detachable fixing unit exceeds a predetermined value, and allowing the detachable fixing unit to be taken out from the apparatus body, when the temperature detecting unit determines that the temperature of the detachable fixing unit is the predetermined value or less, whereby protecting users from getting their hands burned when taking out the detachable fixing unit from the apparatus body.
US08983325B2
An image heating apparatus includes a first rotating member configured to heat a toner image on a sheet at a nip portion, a second rotating member configured to form the nip portion cooperatively with the first rotating member, a heat conduction member configured to conduct a heat of the second rotating member in a width direction of the second rotating member in an operating position in which the heat conduction member is in contact with the second rotating member, and a fan configured to blow an air toward a predetermined region of the heat conduction member which is in the operating position.
US08983324B2
An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit that forms a metallic toner image on a recording medium using a metallic toner containing flakes of metallic pigment; and a heating portion that heats and melts the metallic toner on the recording medium. A first shearing force is applied to the molten metallic toner in a transportation direction of the recording medium.
US08983322B2
An image forming apparatus including an image forming device, a transfer device, a fixing device, an inverting device, and a processor. The transfer device includes an intermediate transfer member, a nip forming member, and an electric potential difference generator to generate an electric potential difference between the intermediate transfer member and the nip forming member. The processor causes the electric potential difference generator to generate a first electric potential difference containing only a DC component when a toner image is transferred onto a first side of a recording sheet, and to generate a second electric potential difference containing a DC component and a superimposed AC component when the toner image is transferred onto a second side of the recording sheet. The second electric potential difference has an averaged absolute value per unit of time smaller than an absolute value of the first electric potential difference.
US08983320B2
An image forming apparatus includes a latent-image bearing body, a charging unit, a latent-image writing unit, a development unit, a development power, and a bias control unit. After a start of an image forming operation, the bias control unit performs a process of constantly maintaining an output of a development bias at an adjustment bias value. The adjustment bias value is a central value in a periodic fluctuation range of the output of the development bias. At a timing at which a difference of the development bias from the adjustment bias value in the periodic fluctuation range is less than or equal to a predetermined threshold value, the bias control unit performs switching from the process of constantly maintaining the output of the development bias at the adjustment bias value to a process of periodically changing the output of the development bias based on development bias control data.
US08983319B2
An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier that carries an electrostatic latent image; a developer supplying unit that supplies developer by being driven at a predetermined speed; a developing unit that develops the electrostatic latent image, while a transporting member transports the developer, a transport speed of the transporting member being switched to a plurality of speeds; a determining unit that determines whether or not an operation where a supply capacity of the developer supplying unit is greater than a transport capacity of the developing unit exceeds a predetermined threshold value and is continued; and a controller that performs control so that, when the determining unit determines that the operation exceeds the predetermined threshold value and is continued, an operation that was being executed immediately prior to the determination is stopped to forcefully drive the transporting member of the developing unit for a predetermined driving time.
US08983306B2
A WDM device having a controller that individually controls the operating parameters of tunable lasers and the temperatures of an optical multiplexer and etalon. The device employs a spectral analyzer to measure the spectral composition of the optical output signal produced by the device. Based on the analyses of the measured spectral composition, the controller sets the temperatures of the tunable lasers, optical multiplexer, and optical etalon to values that cause: (i) middle frequencies of transmission bands of the optical multiplexer to be spectrally aligned with the corresponding frequencies of the specified frequency grid, (ii) each laser line to be properly positioned within the corresponding transmission band, and (iii) transmission resonances of the optical etalon to be properly positioned with respect to the laser lines.
US08983302B2
An apparatus comprises an optical transmitter; an optical detector configured to receive optical signals from an optical fiber; an optical splitter having a first port, a second port coupled to the optical detector by the optical fiber, and a third port coupled to the optical transmitter; and a two stage amplifier system connected to an output of the optical detector. An input surface of the optical detector may have a diameter that is substantially equal to a diameter of a core in the optical fiber. The diameter of the input surface of the optical detector reduces capacitance and reduces signal distortion. The optical splitter may be configured to receive a first optical signal at the first port. The optical splitter may be configured to send the first optical signal to the second port and send a second optical signal received at the third port to the first port.
US08983301B2
Optical fiber-based distributed communications components and systems, and related methods to provide localization services for client devices are disclosed. The localization services allow the providing and/or determination of the location of client devices in communication with a component or components of the optical fiber-based distributed communications system. The location of client devices can be provided and/or determined based on knowledge of the location of the component or components in the optical fiber-based distributed communications system in communication with the client device. This information can be used to determine or provide a more precise area of location or area of location for client devices. The optical fiber-based distributed communications components and systems, and related methods disclosed herein may be well-suited for indoor environments where other methods of providing and/or determining location of client devices may be obstructed or not possible due to the indoor environment.
US08983293B2
An optical switch fabric, including: a first set of horizontal optical waveguides receiving a plurality of wavelengths; a plurality of wavelength-selective drop optical switches associated with the first set of horizontal optical waveguides, wherein the plurality of wavelength-selective drop optical switches are each configured to drop a selected wavelength from a horizontal optical waveguide of the first set of horizontal optical waveguides to an associated vertical optical waveguide of a plurality of vertical optical waveguides; and a plurality of controllable optical switches associated with the plurality of vertical optical waveguides, wherein the plurality of controllable optical switches are each configured to direct a selected wavelength from a vertical optical waveguide of the plurality of vertical optical waveguides to a horizontal optical waveguide of a second set of horizontal optical waveguides, and wherein the second set of horizontal optical waveguides output a plurality of wavelengths.
US08983286B2
A node of an optical transport network system transmits optical wavelengths to an adjacent node through an operational line. An apparatus for protection switching of the optical transport network system transmits only an optical channel with a fault among a plurality of optical channels composed of flexible optical channel data units in an optical wavelength of the operational line, via a reserve line.
US08983280B2
A coated film drying furnace for drying a coated film inside a furnace body by conveying the coated film therein, the coated film having an absorption spectrum for electromagnetic waves of 3.5 μm or less and having hydrogen bonds, such as an electrode coated film for lithium ion battery. Infrared heaters provided inside a furnace body have outer circumferences of filaments concentrically covered by tubes that function as a low pass filter, and have a structure in which a fluid flow passage is formed between the plurality of tubes. Due to this, a temperature rise in the furnace is controlled so as to prevent explosion of an organic solvent vapor, and the coated film is efficiently heated and dried by intensively radiating near infrared rays of 3.5 μm or less that have superior ability to cut off the intermolecular hydrogen bonds onto a work.
US08983271B2
Systems which allow for the insertion of targeted advertisements or other messages into programming content, e.g., using Digital Video Recording (DVR) technology are disclosed. Systems use storage to pre-load advertisements, record content with commercials breaks, and merge the advertisements into the recorded content in the background, so that they are available when the content is viewed in time-shifted mode.
US08983270B2
In a recording medium on which is recorded a multiplexed stream including a plurality of first packets (V_main) constituting a first I-picture in a first video stream and a plurality of second packets (V_sub) constituting a second I-picture in a second video stream, information for identifying the first I-picture and information for identifying the second I-picture are recorded on the medium. A recording medium can thereby be obtained that enables the rapid detection, from a small amount of information, of a particular picture included in a stream such as a TS in which multiple content streams are multiplexed.
US08983266B2
In a recording medium on which is recorded a multiplexed stream including a plurality of first packets (V_main) constituting a first I-picture in a first video stream and a plurality of second packets (V_sub) constituting a second I-picture in a second video stream, information for identifying the first I-picture and information for identifying the second I-picture are recorded on the medium. A recording medium can thereby be obtained that enables the rapid detection, from a small amount of information, of a particular picture included in a stream such as a TS in which multiple content streams are multiplexed.
US08983264B2
Methods and systems are described for coordinating playing of media streams. In one aspect, an access by a media player to a presentation device to play a media stream is detected. Additionally, presentation focus information is accessed for determining whether the media player has presentation focus for playing the media stream. Further, it is determine, based on the presentation focus information, that the media player has presentation focus for playing the media stream. Still further, in response to determining the media player has presentation focus, it is indicated that the media player is allowed to play the media stream via the presentation device.
US08983254B2
Fiber optic assemblies include subunit cables wrapped in binders. The assemblies have small cross sections and low bend radii while maintaining acceptable attenuation losses. Stranding of the subunit cables allows ease of access to the individual cables during installation.
US08983243B2
Wind turbine blade comprising a sensor system with an optical path comprising a first optical sensor fiber, a second optical sensor fiber and a patch optical fiber, the first optical sensor fiber including a first core with a first core diameter wherein the first optical sensor fiber extends from a first end to a second end and comprising at least one sensor, the second optical sensor fiber including a second core with a second core diameter, wherein the second optical sensor fiber extends from a first end to a second end and comprising at least one sensor, the patch optical fiber including a patch core with a patch core diameter, wherein the patch optical fiber extends from a first end to a second end and connects the first optical sensor fiber and the second optical sensor fiber, wherein the first core diameter is the same as the patch core diameter.
US08983215B2
An image processing device that reduces influence by a compressibility error of image data generated by a previous frame on output image data is disclosed. The image processing device generates a compressibility error prediction value, based on an input image data, generates substitute image data of the input image data, based on an emergence tendency of the compressibility error, selects the input image data or the substitute image data to set a result as current image data, generates next state image data, compresses the next state image data to generate compressed state image data, stores the compressed state image data in a frame memory, generates the state image data by reading the compressed state image data from the frame memory and decompressing the same, and generates output image data, based on the current image data and the state image data.
US08983213B1
Methods and apparatus for coding and/or decoding bitplanes of individual codeblocks are described. Aspects relate to speeding up bitplane decoding when one or more decoders are used as part of the decoding process and one or more consistent value bitplanes were coded at the start of a codeblock. A number F, e.g., of consistent value, e.g., zero value, bitplanes are identified as corresponding to the beginning of an encoded codeblock being processed. Based on the determination a predetermined output, e.g., zero values corresponding to F bitplanes, is output. Thus, the output corresponding to the F consistent value bitplanes can be produced without having to perform a full arithmetic decoding process to generate the decoded data corresponding to the F consistent value bitplanes. Remaining bitplanes of a codeblock including data are subjected to decoding using one or more decoder modules which maybe part of a JPEG 2000 compliant decoder.
US08983206B2
A visual quality assessment method and system are based on deriving a quality metric by comparing sub-band approximations of a distorted image and an undistorted version of the same image, providing a good compromise between computational complexity and accuracy. The sub-band approximations are derived from Discrete Wavelet (Haar) transforms of small image blocks of each image. Due to inherent symmetries, the wavelet transform is “blind” to certain types of distortions. But the accuracy of the method is enhanced, and the blindness of the transform is overcome, by computing quality metrics for the distorted image as well as computing quality metrics for a shifted version of the distorted image and combining the results.
US08983204B2
A production unit of an image processing apparatus produces a contour signal of an image including a specific subject. A detection unit detects, on the basis of the contour signal, a representative contour direction for each of a plurality of division regions of the image, where the detection unit detects a specific direction as the representative contour direction when the direction of the entire contour portion included in the division regions is biased in the specific direction by at least a specific degree. A determination unit determines a type of the subject on the basis of at least one of a direction-based frequency distribution of the detected representative contour directions, a number of representative contour directions detected, etc. A correction unit configured to correct the image data according to a correction method corresponding to the type of the subject.
US08983200B2
Techniques for segmenting an object are provided. The techniques include capturing an image of an object, dividing the image into one or more blocks, computing a confidence value for each of the one or more blocks, and eliminating one or more blocks from consideration based on the confidence value for each of the one or more blocks.
US08983199B2
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for efficiently generating feature data which properly determines a feature point indicating features of images and describes the feature point. The apparatus for generating image feature data comprises: a feature point determining unit which determines a feature point from an image and extracts information on the determined feature point; a feature point filtering unit which determines, as a final feature point, at least one feature point from among the feature points determined by the feature point determining unit; and a feature data generating unit which generates image feature data based on the final feature points determined by the feature point filtering unit and feature point information on the final feature points.
US08983193B1
A computer-implemented technique can receive, at a computing device including one or more processors, a plurality of photos. The technique can extract quality features and similarity features for each of the plurality of photos and can obtain weights for the various quality features and similarity features based on an analysis of a reference photo collection. The technique can generate a quality metric for each of the plurality of photos and can generate a similarity matrix for the plurality of photos by analyzing the various quality features and similarity features and using the obtained weights. The technique can perform joint global maximization of photo quality and photo diversity using the quality metrics and the similarity matrix in order to select a subset of the plurality of photos having a high degree of representativeness. The technique can then store the subset of the plurality of photos in a memory.
US08983188B1
In some implementations of edge-aware smoothing, a method includes determining a boundary map for an input image, where the boundary map associates one of multiple different labels to each pixel of the input image, and the labels indicate one or more edges in the input image. The method determines a set of input pixels of the input image eligible to influence an output pixel of an output image, the output pixel corresponding to a pixel of the input image. A blurred pixel value for the output pixel is determined, where the blurred pixel value is based on the set of input pixels and associated labels from the boundary map that correspond to the set of input pixels. The associated labels are used to reduce blurring in the output image of any of the one or more edges present in the set of input pixels.
US08983186B2
Some embodiments of the image editing and organizing application described herein provide an automatic enhancement process that includes a shadow lift adjustment. The process takes an input image and enhances the contrast of darker parts of the image. The process uses a structure histogram to determine an amount of shadow lift adjustment to apply to the image. The process tempers this adjustment based on an International Organization for Standardization (ISO) value of the image.
US08983181B2
A method for interpreting a color in a photographic digital image is disclosed. The method includes receiving a photographic digital image comprising a color portion proximate to a color scale. Different spatial positions on the color scale correspond to different known outcome values. The position of the color portion in the digital image is located and a digital color value for the color portion is determined. Digital scale color values at different positions on the color scale are determined. The digital color value is compared to one or more digital scale color values to determine a digital reference color value that approximates the digital color value of the color portion. A position of the digital reference color value on the color scale is determined. An outcome value is then determined based on the position of the digital reference color value.
US08983177B2
A resolution of a low resolution depth image is increased by applying joint geodesic upsampling to a high resolution image to obtain a geodesic distance map. Depths in the low resolution depth image are interpolated using the geodesic distance map to obtain a high resolution depth image. The high resolution image can be a gray scale or color image, or a binary boundary map. The low resolution depth image can be acquired by any type of depth sensor.
US08983173B2
A machine vision system for automatically identifying and inspecting objects is disclosed, including composable vision-based recognition modules and a decision algorithm to perform the final determination on object type and quality. This vision system has been used to develop a Projectile Identification System and an Automated Tactical Ammunition Classification System. The technology can be used to create numerous other inspection and automated identification systems.
US08983170B2
Systems and methods are provided for assessing whether mobile deposit processing engines meet specified standards for mobile deposit of financial documents. A mobile deposit processing engine (MDE) is evaluated to determine if it can perform technical capabilities for improving the quality of and extracting content from an image of a financial document. A verification process then begins, where the MDE performs the image quality enhancements and text extraction steps on sets of images from a test deck. The results of the processing of the test deck are then evaluated by comparing confidence levels with thresholds to determine if each set of images should be accepted or rejected. Further analysis determines whether any of the sets of images were falsely accepted or rejected in error. An overall error rate is then compared with minimum accuracy criteria, and if the criteria are met, the MDE meets the standard for mobile deposit.
US08983169B2
An apparatus for identifying a counterfeit bill is provided. The apparatus includes a camera module configured to receive a captured IR image of a bill; a binary image generator configured to generate a binary image of the bill, based on the IR image; a distance value calculator configured to compare a predetermined area of the binary image with a predetermined area of a pre-stored real bill database corresponding to the predetermined area of the binary image; and a corrected image generator configured to generate a corrected image based on a result of the comparison.
US08983168B2
A method of categorizing defects in a media item. The method comprising the steps of: receiving a binarised image of the media item, where the binarised image comprises a plurality of pixels, each pixel having either a potential defect intensity or a non-defect intensity; and identifying one or more blobs comprising contiguous pixels each having a potential defect intensity. For each identified blob, the method involves comparing a size of the blob with a damage threshold; ignoring the blob if the blob size is smaller than the damage threshold; and for each identified blob having a size exceeding or equaling the damage threshold, categorizing the identified blob.
US08983159B2
A mammography apparatus has a determination unit, a setting unit, a generating unit and a display unit. The determination unit determines whether a radiographic image of a breast contains an implant part based on a pixel value distribution in a predetermined region concerning data of the radiographic image. The setting unit changes a setting of a parameter for a tone conversion process based on a determination made by the determination unit. The generating unit generates a display image based on the radiographic image by application of the parameter. The display unit displays the display image.
US08983138B2
An image processing device includes an information acquisition section that acquires a photographing position of a photographed image or a position of an imaging device as coordinate information, a distribution state acquisition section that acquires a distribution state of a plurality of pieces of coordinate information acquired as the coordinate information, and a keyword assignment section that assigns a keyword that corresponds to the acquired distribution state to the photographed image.
US08983131B2
A method (200) and an object analyzer (104) for analyzing objects in images captured by a monitoring camera (100) uses a first and a second sequence of image frames, wherein the first sequence of image frames covers a first image area (300) and has a first image resolution, and the second sequence of image frames covers a second image area (302) located within the first image area (300) and has a second image resolution higher than the first image resolution. A common set of object masks is provided wherein object masks of objects (304) that are identified as being present in both image areas are merged.
US08983130B2
Positioning information forming device, detection device, and positioning information forming method
Provided is a positioning information forming device which improves object detection accuracy. This device comprises a synthesis unit (103) which synthesizes camera distance map information and radar distance map information and generates “synthesized map information”. This synthesized map information is used for object detection processing by a detection device (200). In this way it is possible to improve object detection accuracy by being able to detect objects based on information in which the camera distance map information and radar distance map information have been synthesized. In other words, by synthesizing the camera distance map information and radar distance map information, it is possible to remove unnecessary noise due to reflection from the ground and walls, etc. and therefore set object detection thresholds to low values. It is therefore possible to detect even objects the detection of which was judged to be impossible in the past.
US08983117B2
Directional albedo of a particular article, such as an identity card, is measured and stored. When the article is later presented, it can be confirmed to be the same particular article by re-measuring the albedo function, and checking for correspondence against the earlier-stored data. The re-measuring can be performed through us of a handheld optical device, such as a camera-equipped cell phone. The albedo function can serve as random key data in a variety of cryptographic applications. The function can be changed during the life of the article. A variety of other features are also detailed.
US08983113B2
Acquired mask data of a defect portion is sent to a simulated repair circuit 300 to be simulated. The simulation of the acquired mask data 204 is returned to the mask inspection results 205 and thereafter sent to a wafer transfer simulator 400 along with a reference image at the corresponding portion. A wafer transfer image estimated by the wafer transfer simulator 400 is sent to a comparing circuit 301. When it is determined that there is a defect in the comparing circuit 301, the coordinates and the wafer transfer image which is a basis for the defect determination are stored as transfer image inspection results 206. The mask inspection results 205 and the transfer image inspection result 206 are then sent to the review device 500.
US08983110B2
A headphone device including a driver unit, and an ear-hook hanger of a loop shape that is integrated with the driver unit and supports an entire circumference of an ear capsule is provided.
US08983101B2
An earphone assembly for an in-ear listening device and method for filtering a portion of an audible sound output are disclosed. An earphone comprises a housing configured to receive a nozzle, a plurality of drivers each having an acoustical output disposed within the housing, and an elongated passageway disposed within the housing configured to filter at least an audible portion of a sound wave output from at least one of the plurality of drivers. The method comprises providing an elongated passageway to provide an increased path length and connecting an output of the at least one driver to the elongated passageway to configure the sound output to be received within the elongated passageway to acoustically filter a portion of the sound output from the at least one driver.
US08983097B2
A MEMS structure and a method for operation a MEMS structure are disclosed. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a MEMS structure comprises a substrate, a backplate, and a membrane comprising a first region and a second region, wherein the first region is configured to sense a signal and the second region is configured to adjust a threshold frequency from a first value to a second value, and wherein the backplate and the membrane are mechanically connected to the substrate.
US08983093B2
Electronic devices and accessories such as headsets for electronic devices are provided. A microphone may be included in an accessory to capture sound for an associated electronic device. Buttons and other user interfaces may be included in the accessories. An accessory may have an audio plug that connects to a mating audio jack in an electronic device, thereby establishing a wired communications link between the accessory and the electronic device. The electronic device may include power supply circuitry for applying bias voltages to the accessory. The bias voltages may bias a microphone and may adjust settings in the accessory such as settings related to operating modes. User input information may be conveyed between the accessory and the electronic device using ultrasonic tone transmission. The electronic device may also gather input from the accessory using a voltage detector coupled to lines in the communications path.
US08983081B2
Systems and methods for logging acoustic incidents. An exemplary system includes a transducer configured to receive an electrical signal from an electrical signal source and produce a corresponding acoustic signal, a recording system operable to record the electrical signal from the electrical signal source, and an incident estimation and control system coupled to the recording system to estimate an acoustic incident and to instruct the recording system to record the electrical signal that is producing the acoustic incident. The system can replay the recorded electrical signal through the same transducer that was in use at the time of the acoustic incident, to exactly reproduce the sound that occurred.
US08983074B2
An input content data managing system, includes a first electronic storing apparatus that stores encoded content data generated by encoding content data with a cryptographic key; a electronic second storing apparatus that stores the cryptographic key with corresponding digest-value data of the encoded content data capable of identifying sameness of the encoded content data; a matching unit that determines a matched cryptographic key stored in the second storing apparatus for the encoded content data stored in the first storing apparatus, the matching using, as a matching key, at a predetermined time, digest-value data of the encoded content data obtained from the encoded content data stored in the first storing apparatus to match with the digest-value data of the encoded content data stored in the second storing apparatus, in order to obtain the content data by decoding the encoded content data using the matched cryptographic key.
US08983073B1
Approaches for restricting the use of an integrated circuit (IC) are described. In response to receiving an encrypted configuration bitstream, a cryptographic key is retrieved from an internal memory of the IC and the encrypted configuration bitstream is decrypted using the cryptographic key to produce a decrypted configuration bitstream. A first signature value of the decrypted configuration bitstream is calculated. A second signature value is retrieved from a write-once memory of the IC. In response to the first signature value being different from the second signature value, configuration of the IC with the bitstream is prevented. In response to the first signature value being equal to the second signature value, configuration of the IC with the bitstream is permitted.
US08983065B2
Method and apparatus for secure transmissions. Each user is provided a registration key. A long-time updated broadcast key is encrypted using the registration key and provided periodically to a user. A short-time updated key is encrypted using the broadcast key. The short-time key is available with each broadcast message, wherein sufficient information to calculate the short-time key is provided in an Internet protocol header preceding the broadcast content. Broadcasts are then encrypted using the short-time key, wherein the user decrypts the broadcast message using the short-time key.
US08983064B2
A method of determining the integrity of a message exchanged between a pair of correspondents. The message is secured by embodying the message in a function of a public key derived from a private key selected by one of the correspondents. The method comprises first obtaining the public key. The public key is then subjected to at least one mathematical test to determine whether the public key satisfies predefined mathematical characteristics. Messages utilizing the public key are accepted if the public key satisfies the predefined mathematical characteristics.
US08983058B2
The present invention relates to an echo canceller (300) for estimating a model of an echo signal and a method thereof. The echo canceller comprises at least an adaptive main filter (301) for modeling the echo signal and an adaptive shadow filter (302) for modeling the echo signal. The adaptive main filter is an adaptive filter for which the adaptation speed is proportional to a system noise estimate and the adaptation speed of the shadow filter (302) is faster than the adaptation speed of the adaptive main filter (301). The echo canceller (300) comprises a processor (303) for determining whether the adaptive shadow filter models the echo signal better than the adaptive main filter and an updater (304) for updating the system noise estimate of the adaptive main filter (301) if the adaptive shadow filter models (302) the echo signal better than the adaptive main filter (301).
US08983054B2
A method for automatically routing a telephonic communication to at least one of a plurality of communication destination addresses is provided. The method is implemented by a computer readable medium having a plurality of code segments. The method comprises the step of receiving customer identifier and communicating with a customer history database configured to store historic data. The method also includes determining whether the received customer identifier corresponds to a stored customer identifier in the customer history database. Historic data corresponding to the stored customer number is identified based on the comparison of the received customer identifier and the stored customer identifier. The telephonic communication is associated with a predetermined communication destination based on the identified historic data. The associated communication data is transmitted to a switching signal.
US08983052B2
A critical assured service that includes a network management system and an A/B switch. The A/B switch having at least four ports with a first port being connected to the network management system over a dedicated line. The A/B switch sending and receiving messages and/or signals from the network management system over the first dedicated line. The A/B switch automatically switching telephone service from a first point of presence to a second point of presence after the A/B is signaled that the first point of service is inoperable.
US08983050B2
This invention presents a service of barring the forwarded calls. According to the invention, a subscriber may define in his subscriber information that all calls forwarded to him are to be rejected. In response to receiving a request for establishing a call to a subscriber, his subscriber information is checked to find out if he has defined that calls forwarded to him are to be rejected. If the subscriber information shows that the subscriber wishes to reject the forwarded incoming calls, the call establishment signaling is studied to find out if the call has been forwarded. If the call is determined to have been forwarded, the call is rejected. In a preferred embodiment the subscriber may define a set of allowed numbers from which even the forwarded calls are to be accepted.
US08983018B2
A method and apparatus for repairing and/or reinforcing a Boiling Water Reactor (BWR) jet pump riser pipe. The repair includes attaching two collars to the riser pipe using match drilling to drill holes through the collars and the riser pipe and plugging the holes with expandable plugs. Support columns are attached to the collars. Brace supports are slideably attached to the support columns. Gaps between each brace support and its respective collar are then narrowed as ratchet bolts may apply a force that pulls downward on an upper collar and pulls upward on a lower collar, thereby exerting a compression force on the riser pipe. A clamp assembly may also be located between the two collars that applies a hoop force on the riser pipe.
US08983016B2
In order to provide a circuit which can realize high-speed frequency tracking performance while satisfying jitter/wander suppression performance, the circuit controls loop gain of a PLL means, which extracts a clock signal of a SDH signal or an Ethernet signal from an OTN signal, on the basis of a result of processing a jitter/wander component and a frequency change state on the basis of phase comparison data of the PLL means.
US08983015B2
In some embodiments, a system comprises a clock, a root node, a radio channel network, and first and second child nodes. The clock may be configured to generate a clock signal. The root node may be configured to generate a first frame including a first payload and a first overhead and generate a second frame including a second payload and a second overhead. The first and second overheads may comprise a synchronization value based on the clock signal. The radio channel network may be in communication with the root node for transmitting the first and second frames. Each first and second child nodes may be configured to perform clock recovery including frequency synchronization using the synchronization value and a respective phase-lock loop.
US08983009B2
Methods and apparatus for efficient demapping of constellations are described. In an embodiment, these methods may be implemented within a digital communications receiver, such as a Digital Terrestrial Television receiver. The method reduces the number of distance metric calculations which are required to calculate soft information in the demapper by locating the closest constellation point to the received symbol. This closest constellation point is identified based on a comparison of distance metrics which are calculated parallel to either the I- or Q-axis. The number of distance metric calculations may be reduced still further by identifying a local minimum constellation point for each bit in the received symbol and these constellation points are identified using a similar method to the closest constellation point. Where the system uses rotated constellations, the received symbol may be unrotated before any constellation points are identified.
US08982994B2
Device comprising processing means (MT), transmission channels (VE1, . . . VEn), an antenna array for transmitting signals comprising a number of antennas (A11 . . . A1n) respectively associated with the transmission channels, a number of digital-analog converters (DAC) and a number of phase-shifting means (MD1, . . . MDn) respectively associated with the antennas, said phase-shifting means (MD1, . . . MDn) being placed between the processing means (MT) and the digital-analog converters (DAC) and including digital all-pass filters of FIR type (PT), the processing means comprising control means (MC) configured to adjust the coefficients and/or the order of the all-pass filters of FIR type.
US08982992B2
Block-based crest factor reduction (CFR) techniques are provided. An exemplary block-based crest factor reduction method comprises obtaining a block of data samples comprised of a plurality of samples; applying the block of data to a crest factor reduction block; and providing a processed block of data from the crest factor reduction block. The block-based crest factor reduction method can optionally be iteratively performed a plurality of times for the block of data. The block of data samples can comprise an expanded block having at least one cursor block. For example, at least two pre-cursor blocks and one post-cursor block can be employed. The peaks can be cancelled, for example, only in the block of data samples and in a first of the pre-cursor blocks.
US08982987B2
Successive pairs of OFDM symbols are transmitted by an OFDM transmitter and received by an OFDM receiver. The successive pairs include a first pair of OFDM symbols. First and second OFDM symbols of the first pair both include pilot symbols on two subcarriers that are symmetric about a center carrier frequency. The two subcarriers are the same for the first and second OFDM symbols. The pilot symbols on the two subcarriers for the first and second OFDM symbols compose an orthogonal matrix. The OFDM receiver estimates frequency responses at frequencies including the frequencies of the two subcarriers and compensates for signal impairment based at least in part on the estimated frequency responses.
US08982974B2
Receiver synchronization techniques (RST), contributing more accurate synchronization of receiver clock to OFDM composite frame combined with much faster acquisition time and better stability of the receiver clock, and phase and frequency recovery techniques, comprising a software controlled clock synthesizer (SCCS) for high accuracy phase & frequency synthesis producing synchronized low jitter clock from external time referencing signals or time referencing messages wherein SCCS includes a hybrid PLL (HPLL) enabling 1-50,000 frequency multiplication with very low output jitter independent of reference clock quality.
US08982970B2
In a device or system, a total tone count is determined or selected for modulating a data payload. Two or more code words are interleaved into the data payload, and the data payload is transmitted on a channel of the device or system.
US08982968B2
An apparatus for converting terminal polarity for RS communication includes a comparator configured to discriminate polarities of a first signal line and a second signal line by comparing voltage levels indicated on the first and second signal lines of a cable for RS-485 communication, a switch unit configured to connect a TRXD+ terminal to the first signal line and connect a TRXD− terminal to the second signal line, or to connect a TRXD+ terminal to the second signal line or connect a TRXD− terminal to the first signal line in response to a provided switch control signal, and a switch controller configured to transmit the switch control signal to the switch unit in response to a polarity discrimination result by the comparator relative to the first signal line and the second signal line.
US08982952B2
Methods and systems for using motion vector confidence to determine a FME patch priority list for a scalable coder are disclosed, and may include a fine motion estimator receiving a plurality of coarse motion vectors and corresponding confidences. A patch list may be generated based on the corresponding confidences of the coarse motion vectors. The patch list may then be used to determine a search area. Each video block in a present picture may be matched to the video blocks in the search area to find the best match. A fine motion vector may be determined for each video block in the present picture with respect to a video block in the search area.
US08982951B2
A method for encoding a video signal comprising a plurality of reference frames and non-reference frames includes: for a non-reference frame to be encoded, determining if at least a portion of a reference frame that is a backward reference frame of the non-reference frame has no scene change; and when the portion of the reference frame has no scene change, scaling down a search range for block matching of the portion of the non-reference frame.
US08982950B1
A processing device receives, from an upstream device, a D-dimensional vector data set of media content, wherein D is greater than or equal to one. The processing device applies a low-frequency-pass method to the received D-dimensional media content to generate a low-frequency D-dimensional vector data set of media content. The processing device obtains a structure tensor field comprising a set of D-dimensional structure tensors corresponding to each vector of the received D-dimensional media content. The processing device performs an eigensystem analysis for each structure tensor in the field of structure tensors to generate a plurality of D eigenvalue fields comprising D eigenvalues for each vector of the received D-dimensional media content. The processing device interpolates between each vector of the received D-dimensional media content and a corresponding vector from the low-frequency D-dimensional media content in view of one or more of the D eigenvalues for each vector of the plurality of D eigenvalue fields to produce a restored-dynamic range D-dimensional vector data set of media content.
US08982930B2
Appropriate communication operation is performed by employing space division multiple access in which wireless resources on a space axis are shared by a plurality of users.Frame exchange is performed between an access point and terminals whereby the access point estimates delay times of the terminals and notifies the terminals of information on the delay times and the terminals perform uplink frame transmission to the access point taking a difference among the delay times into consideration. Interference among users may be reduced in the access point and throughput of a system which performs the space division multiple access is improved.
US08982926B2
Disclosed is a spectrum spread communication system which is hardly influenced by noises, and in which a frame structure can be identified at a receiving side without use of a frame synchronization signal. A spread code generator switches spread codes (“Scai” and “Scbi”) in each frame, and outputs it to a spread modulation unit. The spread modulation unit performs spread modulation of transmission data, and transmits it to a direct current power line. A reference code generator generates reference codes (“Scai” and “Scbi”) in the same code phase. Spread demodulation units performs spread demodulation of the received signal with use of the reference codes (“Scai” and “Scbi”), and output it to a selection unit. A frame synchronization detection unit identifies a frame structure on the basis of switching of a synchronization state of a code phase in a code phase synchronization detection unit. The selection unit outputs reception data by selecting spread demodulated data from the spread demodulation unit which is in a phase-synchronized state.
US08982925B2
A communications node operable to communicate with another communications node over a communications channel having a plurality of frequency resources, the communications node includes data defining a division of the communications channel into a plurality of contiguous sub-bands each having N frequency resources, wherein each frequency resource in a sub-band has a corresponding frequency resource in each of the other sub-bands, data defining an initial allocation of the frequency resources, a resource determination module operable to apply a frequency shift to the initially allocated frequency resources in accordance with a frequency hopping sequence to determine frequency resources to use for communicating information with the other communications node, wherein the frequency shift applied moves the initially allocated frequency resources to corresponding frequency resources in another sub-band, a transceiver for communicating information with the other communications node using the determined frequency resource.
US08982924B2
Various embodiments are directed to systems and methods for combining a plurality of codes. The plurality of codes may be binary codes having possible logical values of −1 and +1 and may comprise an even number of codes. An output of the combining v0,k may be given by: v0=sgn(vi), where vi is the sum of the first plurality of codes at the first time. Embodiments for allocating different power levels among various codes are presented.
US08982919B2
A laser light source module includes a laser source, a connecting unit, a controlled switch unit, and a verification unit. When a verification signal is received, the verification unit judges whether the verification signal complies with a verifying condition. If the verification signal complies with the verifying condition, the controlled switch unit is in the on state, so that a first output voltage is transmitted to the laser source through the controlled switch unit to drive illumination of the laser source. Whereas, if the verification signal does not comply with the verifying condition, the controlled switch unit is in the off state, so that the first output voltage fails to be transmitted to the laser source through the controlled switch unit and the laser source is turned off.
US08982905B2
A system includes scaled-out fabric coupler (SFC) boxes and distributed line card (DLC) boxes. Each SFC box has fabric ports and a cell-based switch fabric for switching cells. Each DLC box is in communication with every SFC box. Each DLC box has network ports receiving packets and network processors. Each processor has a fabric interface that provides SerDes channels. The processors divide each packet received over the network ports into cells and distribute the cells of each packet across the SerDes channels. Each DLC box further comprises DLC fabric ports through which the DLC is in communication with the SFCs. Each DLC fabric port includes a pluggable interface with a given number of lanes over which to transmit and receive cells. Each lane is mapped to one of the SerDes channels such that an equal number of SerDes channels of each fabric interface is mapped to each DLC fabric port.
US08982904B2
A local area network (60) within a residence or other building, including both wired (5) and non-wired segments (53). The wired segments are based on new or existing wires (5a, 5b, 5c, 5d, 5e) in the building, wherein access to the wires is provided by means of outlets (61a, 61d), such as a telephone system, electrical power distribution system, or cable television wiring system. The non-wired segments are based on communication using propagated waves such as radio, sound, or light (e.g. infrared). The wired and non-wired segments interface in the outlet, using a module (50) that serves as mediator between the segments. The module can be integrated into the outlet, partially housed in the outlet, or attached externally to the outlet. Such a network allows for integrated communication of data units (24b) connected by wires and data units (24a, 24d) connected without wires.
US08982902B1
A method for providing telephony services in a distributed VoIP system includes determining that a first switch is unable to communicate with a first server, where the first switch is configured to provide telephony services to a first plurality of communication devices, and the first server is configured to provide applications and data associated with the first plurality of communication devices to the first switch. The method also includes sending an adoption request from the first switch to a second server, where the second server is configured to provide applications and data associated with a second plurality of communication devices to a second switch and also configured to provide the applications and data associated with the first plurality of communication devices to the first switch. The method also includes receiving at the first switch the applications and data associated with the first plurality of communication devices from the second server.
US08982896B2
A network device includes a memory with a first queue and a second queue. A timing module generates a first priority timing signal or a second priority timing signal based on a clock signal. The clock signal is shared between the network device and other network devices in a non-arbitrary network. The network device includes a deblocking shaper or a blocking shaper. The deblocking shaper (i) forwards first protected data from the first queue, and (ii) generates a deblocking signal based on a first frame signal and the first priority timing signal. The blocking shaper (i) forwards one of second protected data and unprotected data from the second queue, and (ii) generates a first blocking signal based on a second frame signal and the second priority timing signal. A selector module selects the first frame or the second frame based on the deblocking signal and the first blocking signal.
US08982895B2
Systems, methods, and apparatuses for inter-device communication in wireless communication systems are provided. A user equipment (UE) may communicate directly with another UE over a direct inter-device communication link when they are located in proximity. The UE may simultaneously maintain an active communication link with its serving base station while communicating with other UEs over the inter-device communication link. Long term evolution (LTE) downlink or uplink radio resources may be used for communications over the inter-device communication link. Further, radio link parameters may be chosen specifically for the inter-device communication link.
US08982894B2
A plurality of control stations supervise respective ones of different networks and multiple nodes belonging to each network perform redundant transmission of data. The number of communication paths for which the qualities of communication links between the nodes belonging to the network are greater than a threshold value are calculated as the number of active paths of each of the nodes belonging to each network, and it is determined whether the calculated number of active paths of each node in each network is equal to or greater than a predetermined redundancy. In case of existence of a node for which the number of active paths is less than the predetermined redundancy, then the node is moved between the network in which the node exists and another network.
US08982891B2
Embodiments are directed to systems and methods for network monitoring and testing using intelligent sequencing of data events so as to generalize the sequencing of events from multiple disparate sources of network events with multiple disparate types of events.
US08982883B2
Method and apparatus for decreasing multi-cell feedback overhead is provided in the present invention. Wherein a mobile user terminal equipment utilizes a first period to feedback short-term channel direction information of a serving base station, utilizes a second period to feedback long-term channel direction information of neighboring base stations, further, the mobile user terminal equipment utilizes a third period to feedback long-term relative amplitude information, utilizes a fourth period to feedback short-term relative phase information, wherein the first period is shorter than the second period, and the third period is longer than the fourth period.
US08982879B2
A system and method of transmitting and receiving packetized biological sequence data is disclosed. The method includes receiving, at a network interface of a node of a network, a data packet including a first header containing network routing information, a second header containing header information pertaining to the biological sequence data, and a payload containing a compressed version of the biological sequence data. The method further includes extracting at least the compressed version of the biological sequence data from the data packet. In addition, the method includes storing the compressed version of the biological sequence data within a memory of the node.
US08982878B1
A method of reconfiguring a provisioning system. The method comprises sending a reload command to a controller component that identifies one of a plurality of circuit switches which the provisioning system is configured to provision; sending by the controller component the reload command to a plurality of commander components associated with the circuit switch identified in the reload command; the commander components associated with the circuit switch identified in the reload command sending a stop command to each of an at least one connection thread launched by the commander component; terminating by the commander components the at least one connection thread; reading a modified configuration file by each of the commander components associated with the circuit switch identified in the reload command; and launching at least one connection thread by each commander component associated with the circuit switch identified in the reload command based on the modified configuration file.
US08982867B2
A system and method for wireless communications is provided. A method for operating in a communications network includes receiving a codebook, the codebook includes a plurality of codewords, and determining if the codebook satisfies a constant modulus property. The method also includes in response to determining that the codebook does not satisfy the constant modulus property, converting the codebook into a codebook satisfying the constant modulus property, and storing the codebook satisfying the constant modulus property. The method further includes storing the codebook in response to determining that the codebook does satisfy the constant modulus property, and causing to transmit a transmission to a communications device, wherein the transmission is encoded using a codeword in the stored codebook.
US08982866B1
A method includes receiving a Code-Division Multiple Access (CDMA) signal carrying at least a data channel, a pilot channel and a control channel. A first noise level is estimated on the pilot channel. A second noise level is estimated on the control channel. The first estimated noise level and the second estimated noise level are combined to produce a noise estimate of noise on the data channel.
US08982865B2
The present invention relates to a method for transmitting a data demodulation reference signal in a radio mobile communication system. The method comprises: a step for generating a sub-frame including the data demodulation reference signal, and a step for transmitting the generated sub-frame. The 1st and 2nd demodulation reference signal pattern groups include plural demodulation signal patterns orthogonal to each other, and are differentiated from each other with regard to time-frequency resources. In the data demodulation reference signal, demodulation reference signal patterns which are respectively orthogonal to each other M (M≦N) and N−M times are respectively included in the 1st and 2nd demodulation reference signal pattern groups if the rank is N.
US08982864B2
A base station including an allocation unit for allocating the downlink of the relay link or the access link and the downlink of the direct link to a resource block included in a same resource block group, and allocating the uplink of the relay link or the access link and the uplink of the direct link to a resource block included in a same resource block group.
US08982863B1
Different networks, different cellular telephone/mobile devices (CT/MDs) and base stations coexist in a new virtual network with the ability to form many concentric overlaying networks and have the CT/MD exist in one or more wired or wireless networks simultaneously. A server such as Server C controls the communication protocols in conjunction with the network switching box or other devices, such as CT/MD. In either the base station configuration or the network box configuration, the units have the ability to take optical data and multiplex the data for wireless transmission over one or more channels, at one or more frequencies and power levels. The base station, the network box or the CT/MD may use one or more transmission protocols as deemed optimal and appropriate by the local server located in a LAN, WAN or the Internet.
US08982862B2
A system and a method for providing a mobile data service to a mobile device over a fixed wireless data network wherein the system comprises an enterprise Mobile Signaling Gateway coupled to a Public Land Mobile Network, an enterprise Mobile Access Controller resident within the fixed wireless data network. The system further comprises an enterprise Mobile User-plane Aggregator coupled to 1) the Public Land Mobile Network, 2) the fixed wireless data network and the enterprise Mobile Signaling Gateway. The enterprise Mobile Signaling Gateway at least establishes an IP tunnel to the enterprise Mobile Access Controller, determines whether a mobile device coupled to the Public Land Mobile Network is registered, directs the establishment of multiple IP tunnels between the mobile device and the network elements of the system, and directs pathways for communicating user-plane and control-plane data between trusted or untrusted transport networks.
US08982859B2
Embodiments of a wireless communication device and method for short frame indication in an IEEE 802.11ah network are generally described herein. In some embodiments, a reserved bit in a service field is used to indicate whether a frame is using a short MAC header or a regular MAC header.
US08982849B1
A wireless network device comprising a physical layer (PHY) module and a media access control (MAC) module. The PHY module is configured to communicate with an 80 MHz channel. The 80 MHz channel includes a plurality of sub-bands including a first sub-band, a second sub-band, a third sub-band, and a fourth sub-band. One of the plurality of sub-bands corresponds to a primary channel. The PHY module is further configured to determine which of the plurality of sub-bands are receiving a data packet, and generate at least one clear channel assessment signal indicating which of the plurality of sub-bands are receiving the data packet. The MAC module is configured to receive the at least one clear channel assessment signal from the PHY module, and selectively transmit on the primary channel based on the at least one clear channel assessment signal.
US08982844B2
A base station, to which a cell belongs and which communicates with a relay node to which a relay node cell belongs, including a control unit configured, at a time of handing over the relay node from another cell belonging to a first base station to the cell belonging to the base station, to request the relay node to measure wireless quality of neighbor cells of the cell belonging to the base station and report a measurement result of the wireless quality, and to update by adding or deleting, if the measurement result of the wireless quality of a first neighbor cell among the neighbor cells is higher or lower than a predetermined threshold for the cell existing at the handover destination of the relay node, the relay node cell to or from a first neighbor cell list of the first neighbor cell, respectively.
US08982843B2
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for performing handover in a wireless communication system, and the handover method of the present invention includes checking, when a Path Switch Request message associated with a terminal is received from a base station, whether a list of terminal security information values which has been saved exists; generating, when the list exists, a Path Switch Request acknowledge message including an unused terminal security information value selected form the list; and transmitting the Path Switch Request acknowledge message to the base station. Through this procedure, it is possible to reduce the terminal handover signal load generated by the base station.
US08982835B2
The claimed subject matter relates to performing quality of service management in a mobile wireless communications system. In more detail, in some wireless environments a wireless terminal can be connected to multiple access nodes by way of links, and the wireless terminal can move between various access nodes changing its points of attachment to the network, including its primary point of attachment. Requesters of resources with respect to the wireless terminal can be notified when the primary point of attachment alters, such that subsequent requests are provided to a correct access node (e.g., base station).
US08982823B2
Disclosed is a method for allocating a terminal identifier through an initial network entry process with a base station in a wireless access system. The method comprises the steps of: receiving terminal type indication information indicating a M2M terminal from a terminal; constituting a second terminal identifier by adding bits of a predetermined number to the first terminal identifier on the basis of the terminal type indication information; and transmitting the second terminal identifier to the terminal.
US08982822B2
A communication system, etc. are provided that can prevent the accuracy of propagation channel estimation from degrading when performing radio communications based on orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) by using a plurality of carriers each with a predetermined bandwidth. Radio communications based on an OFDM scheme are performed between a transmitter and a receiver by using a carrier with a prescribed bandwidth in which first signals such as reference signals, for example, are arranged at constant subcarrier intervals. The transmitter, when performing communications with the receiver by using a plurality of such carriers, transmits to the receiver an OFDM signal in which the first signals are arranged at predetermined subcarrier intervals across the plurality of carriers. The receiver extracts the first signals from the OFDM signal received from the transmitter.
US08982814B2
A method in a network node for transmitting an enhanced Control CHannel, eCCH, to a user equipment in a telecommunications system. The eCCH comprises control information to the user equipment in at least one Control Channel Element, CCE. The at least one CCE maps to a number of resource elements comprised in at least one enhanced resource element group. The at least one enhanced resource element group is comprised in at least one resource block in a time-frequency Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing, OFDM, grid. The network node decides to use a CCE aggregation level that is smaller than the smallest CCE aggregation level of a physical downlink control channel, PDCCH, for a first eCCH. The network node then modulates the first eCCH by using a higher order modulation than Quadrature Phase Shift Keying, QPSK, modulation, when the smaller CCE aggregation level is used for the first eCCH. Then, the network node maps the modulated first eCCH to the at least one enhanced resource element group of resource elements in the at least one resource block, and transmits the mapped first eCCH to the user equipment. A network node, a method in user equipment and a user equipment are also provided.
US08982811B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide a traffic bearer mapping method and a communication device. The traffic bearer mapping method includes: obtaining attribute information of a traffic data flow of a user; selecting a relay transmission tunnel according to the attribute information of the traffic data flow of the user; and mapping the received traffic data flow to the relay transmission tunnel for transmission, where the relay transmission tunnel includes a relay link radio bearer Un RB or a bearer including the Un RB. According to the embodiments of the present invention, transmission of a traffic data flow in an LTE-A network after a relay node is introduced into is implemented, thereby ensuring quality of service of multi-service.
US08982808B2
A method for transmitting a signal and a communications apparatus are provided. The method includes: obtaining a signal transmission mode, where the signal transmission mode indicates that an uplink signal is transmitted in a multiplexing mode; and transmitting the uplink signal on an uplink band and a downlink band in the multiplexing mode according to the obtained signal transmission mode. The communications apparatus includes: a first obtaining unit, configured to obtain a signal transmission mode, where the signal transmission mode indicates that an uplink signals is transmitted in a multiplexing mode; and a transmitting unit, configured to transmit the uplink signal on an uplink band and a downlink band in the multiplexing mode according to the obtained signal transmission mode. The technical solutions of embodiments of the present invention can reduce signaling overheads of the system and improve spectrum efficiency of the system when obtaining channel state information (CSI).
US08982803B1
A first wireless device includes a transmitter and a receiver. The transmitter is configured to transmit a request for parameters to a second wireless device via a communication channel, wherein the parameters include at least one of (i) an estimated quality of the communication channel and (ii) a modulation and coding scheme (MCS) for transmission via the communication channel. The transmitter is further configured to, based on at least one of the parameters, select a MCS for transmission to the second wireless device via the communication channel. The receiver is configured to receive a response from the second wireless device via the communication channel, wherein the response includes the parameters.
US08982790B2
The present invention provides a method for recording the unsuccessfully transmitted downlink data volume into the CDR generated by gateway support node in a telecommunication system. The method includes creating information relating to the unsuccessfully transmitted downlink data in a node and sending the information from the node to the gateway support node, to make the gateway support node know the volume of unsent downlink data. A node and gateway support node which adapted to prevent overcharging the user which is caused by the G-CDR are also provided.
US08982777B1
Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for adding and removing unanchored small cell sites for a cluster that delivers precision time protocol frequency and phase synchronization over a network without on-path support are provided. In embodiments, the method includes continuously measuring, in an asymmetric network without on-path support, an anchor path delay. A maximum standard allowable (MSA) delay variation is determined for the cluster. A respective round trip (RT) delay is continuously measured from the host site to each unanchored small cell site in the cluster. The anchor path delay is compared to each respective RT delay to determine a respective unanchored delay variation. In embodiments, unanchored small cell sites are be added to or removed from the cluster based on a comparison of a respective unanchored delay variation to the MSA delay variation.
US08982773B2
A satellite cellular radio-communication system using beam formation is provided. The system includes a satellite, at least one satellite access station, terminals, at least one control unit of a virtual cell. At least one of the terminals is configured to transmit and receive on a transmission channel having at least two frequency and spatial transmission resources of a same virtual cell that are different by their frequency band, a frequency and spatial transmission resource being a sub-band of a frequency band used in a beam. The frequency band is taken from among a predetermined number of frequency bands and was allocated to said beam according to a reuse function.
US08982759B2
Disclosed are a device and method for transmitting or receiving the system information. The system information transmitting device comprises a processor for transmitting the system information on a broadcast channel, and the system information comprises multi-carrier information relating to a multi-carrier operation. The present invention allows additional information elements to be included in the system information, while also providing backward compatibility with legacy systems.
US08982756B2
An intermittent reception control apparatus controls intermittent reception in communication between a base station apparatus and mobile station apparatuses. The intermittent reception control apparatus comprising a control unit that generates DRX parameters, which are intermittent reception parameters, and transmits the generated DRX parameters to the mobile station apparatuses. Further, the DRX parameters include information on the timing at which to cause the mobile station apparatuses to enter an active state and are common to all of the mobile station apparatuses, where the active state is a state where reception of signals transmitted from the base station apparatus is enabled. The intermittent reception control apparatus further comprising a scheduler that transmits to the mobile station apparatuses a DRX command that operates to force these apparatuses to enter an inactive state.
US08982755B1
A radio access network (RAN) determines whether transmission time interval (TTI) bundling is warranted for a wireless communication device (WCD) based on at least a power headroom report from the WCD. In response to determining that TTI bundling is warranted, the RAN selects a TTI bundle size, N, for the WCD and instructs the WCD to use the selected TTI bundle size. The TTI bundle size, N, could be selected from among a set of predefined values, such as N=2, N=3, and N=4. The selection could be based on various factors, such as a utilization of an uplink shared channel, a re-transmission rate of the WCD, and/or a remaining battery life of the WCD.
US08982750B2
Techniques for transmitting overload indicators over the air to UEs in neighbor cells are described. In one design, an overload indicator may be transmitted as a phase difference between at least one synchronization signal and a reference signal for a cell. In another design, an overload indicator may be transmitted as a phase difference between consecutive transmissions of at least one synchronization signal for a cell. In yet another design, an overload indicator may be transmitted by a cell on resources reserved for transmitting the overload indicator. In yet another design, an overload indicator may be transmitted by a cell on a low reuse channel or a broadcast channel. For all designs, a UE may receive overload indicators from neighbor cells, determine the loading of each neighbor cell based on the overload indicator for that cell, and control its operation based on the loading of the neighbor cells.
US08982738B2
In one embodiment, a method of serving media includes receiving a request to serve media content to an user equipment, and receiving caching information regarding the media content. The caching information includes information regarding whether the media content requested by the user equipment is cacheable. A first media server is assigned from a hierarchical set of media servers to serve the user equipment if the media content to be served is cacheable. The hierarchical set of media servers includes a plurality of first type of media servers deployed in a plurality of layer2 (L2) access networks. The user equipment is coupled to the content delivery network through a layer2 access network of the plurality of L2 access networks.
US08982729B2
A replay station and a method of operating the relay station in a multi-hop communication system are provided. A method of operating a relay station of a multi-hop communication system includes monitoring a delay of the relay station, determining whether the monitored delay exceeds a predetermined threshold, and controlling the relay station to be handed over to another upper relay station that is different from a connecting upper relay station.
US08982726B2
In this disclosure, we have the following examples and teachings: (1) Integrating the NID functionality in to the small foot-print of an SFP Module, with one or more of the features below: a) Mounting a NID SoC IC to an existing SFP Printed Circuit Board (PCB); b) Using the power from the SFP module, without requiring separate external power; c) NID SoC having only 2 ports, each with its own MAC and possibly PHY layer; d) NID SoC having an embedded microprocessor, RAM and ROM; e) Running a Web portal or other remote login and management software on the NID SoC; f) Miniaturizing the NID to make it cheaper, with reduced cost of inventory, shipment, and installation; and/or g) Supporting one or more (multiple) of the following functions in NID SoC: OAM, Media conversion, Rate adaptation, Policing & marking, Shaping, SLA performance monitoring, Statistics collection, Header manipulation, Security, and/or In-band management. (2) Building the NID functionality in a Dongle that hangs off an Electrical Ethernet port that supports POE (Power over Ethernet), with one or more of the features below: a) Similar to SFP-NID, but hanging off an Electrical Ethernet port; and/or b) Using the power from the Ethernet port POE, without requiring separate external power.
US08982723B2
The disclosure discloses a method and a system for synchronizing an Access Stratum (AS) security algorithm. The method comprises: a control plane notifying a user plane to start a decryption exception detection when sending an Radio Resource Control (RRC) connection re-establishment message (100); the user plane performing the decryption exception detection on a service message received after the RRC connection re-establishment, and sending a decryption exception instruction to the control plane when discovering the decryption exception of the service message (101); and the control plane performs a corresponding exception process according to the decryption exception instruction (102). With the method, the exception of the AS security algorithm configured for User Equipment (UE) in the RRC connection re-establishment is discovered in time, the bandwidth waste caused by invalid data packets of an air interface is maximally avoided, and the prompt exception recovery is improved, so as to further improve the user experience before and after a handover.
US08982719B2
In an example embodiment, a method for dynamically troubleshooting voice quality. The method comprises generating a request to intercept a predetermined data stream on a network, acquiring a replicated copy of the intercepted data stream responsive to the request and analyzing the replicated copy of the intercepted data stream.
US08982714B2
A communication system is provided. A first communications device transmits at least one first message including predetermined bit sequences. A second communications device determines one or more antenna weighting vectors (AWVs) and one or more bitloading vectors (BLVs) by using the first message in accordance with a predetermined rule and transmits a second message including information pertinent to the AWVs and the BLVs to the first communications device. The first communications device further communicates with the second communications device about an AWV selected from the AWVs and the first and second communications devices apply the selected AWV to the corresponding antennas before exchanging data. The data includes a header carrying information pertinent to a BLV selected from the BLVs used to encode the data and a payload is transmitted to the second communications device. The second communications device decodes the data in accordance with the selected BLV.
US08982712B2
The disclosure discloses a de-mapping method and a device for an Optical Transport Unit (OTU) frame. The method includes: setting a receiving reference clock and a de-mapping path according to a highest priority of an OTU frame mapping mode of a local device (S102); receiving an OTU frame of an opposite device by using the receiving reference clock and the de-mapping path (S104); determining a de-mapping priority of the OTU frame according to a clock recovery result of the received OTU frame and a customer service alarm instruction (S106); and de-mapping the OTU frame of the opposite device by using a receiving reference clock and a de-mapping path corresponding to the determined de-mapping priority of the OTU frame (S108). By means of the present invention, the de-mapping efficiency and accuracy of the OTU frame in an optical transport network are improved.
US08982710B2
Methods, systems, and computer readable media for transmitting an OAM packet from a source network device to a destination network device are disclosed. They include generating an OAM protocol data unit (PDU) at the source network device, injecting the OAM PDU in an ingress packet processing pipeline, determining an egress interface of the source network device through which to transmit the OAM PDU to the destination network device, encapsulating the OAM PDU in one or more protocol headers in an egress packet processing pipeline, and transmitting the encapsulated OAM PDU from the egress interface as the OAM packet. The injected OAM PDU is associated with an indication to bypass at least a portion of ingress packet processing.
US08982708B1
A method determines an efficient route between a source node and a destination node in a mobile ad-hoc network. The source node and the destination node communicate over a control channel until a link event occurs, such as congestion or a link failure in the control channel. In response to the link event, the method begins probing the network for at least one alternative route between the source node and the destination node. The probing of the network, however, is limited based on a route metric, which includes information regarding the number of network nodes between the source node and the destination node and information regarding a required bandwidth necessary for the efficient route.
US08982707B2
Technologies are provided in example embodiments for intercepting a packet being multicast from a first tunnel endpoint in a network, determining first address mapping information of the first tunnel endpoint and a first host, wherein the first host created the packet, generating a control protocol message with the first address mapping information, and communicating the control protocol message through a control plane in the network. In more specific example embodiments, the communicating the control protocol message includes sending the control protocol message to a network repository, where the first address mapping information is registered in the network repository. In other more specific example embodiments, the communicating the control protocol message includes pushing the control protocol message to one or more other tunnel endpoints. Further embodiments include decapsulating the packet to determine an endpoint identifier of the first host and a location of the first tunnel endpoint.
US08982702B2
An apparatus may receive a plurality of data streams for transmission over a network. The apparatus may adjust packet drop rates in proportion to differences between actual bit rates and target bit rates of the data streams. Information about the adjusted packet drop rates may be provided to rate adaptive endpoints that are generating the data streams. The rate adaptive endpoints may respond to the information by adjusting the bit rates at which the data streams are encoded. Over one or more time intervals, the bit rates are adjusted to levels that yield a transmission of the data streams that is both balanced and unbiased.
US08982698B2
A transmission method is used by a node of a communications network, wherein nodes communicate with one another via a carrier-sense multiple-access channel, said method comprising a step of sending a signal at a given transmit power and a given data rate to a receiver node over the channel, and wherein the transmit power of the sent signal assumes successively a first power value during a first time period and then a second power value during a second time period, the two power values being different and one of them being equal to the given power, the first time period representing the given power and the second time period representing the data rate. The invention also relates to a method of receiving a signal sent by the transmission method enabling the transmit power and the data rate used by the sender node to be deduced from the received signal.
US08982697B2
A method and an apparatus for sending an Ethernet physical-layer OAM overhead, and a method and an apparatus for receiving an Ethernet physical-layer OAM overhead are disclosed herein. A method for sending an Ethernet physical-layer OAM overhead includes: adjusting the order of sending a payload block and part of Inter-Packet Gaps (IPGs) in a data stream to be transmitted; and when receiving a request for sending an OAM overhead, substituting the OAM overhead for the part of IPGs, and sending the OAM overhead before sending the payload block. Through the present invention, the order of sending IPGs and payload blocks in an MAC data stream can be adjusted, and the OAM overhead can be sent in time.
US08982688B2
A method and system for detecting congestion in a network of nodes, abating the network congestion, and identifying the cause of the network congestion is provided. A congestion detection system may comprise a detection system, an abatement system, and a causation system. The detection system monitors the performance of network components such as the network interface controllers and tiles of routers to determine whether the network is congested such that a delay in delivering packets becomes unacceptable. Upon detecting that the network is congested, an abatement system abates the congestion by limiting the rate at which packets are injected into the network from the nodes. Upon detecting that the network is congested, a causation system may identify the job that is executing on a node that is the cause of the network congestion.
US08982679B2
A player device uses playlists having names of contents. Users can update the playlists via network. The player device includes a storage device for storing digital data of the contents, a reception/reception circuit for downloading playlists, a display for displaying the titles of contents included in the playlists, a pointing device for specifying displayed titles, a circuit for retrieving digital data from the storage device in the event that digital data of a content specified by the pointing device is stored within the storage device, and an output circuit for outputting the retrieved digital data.
US08982678B2
A data storage media may have at least a multi-layer recording lamination with a predetermined coercivity. The multi-layer recording lamination can be configured to record at least one servo format mark for a plurality of data tracks with a solid immersion mirror and program a data bit on the multi-layer recording lamination with a near field transducer.
US08982664B2
The invention relates to processing seismic data that includes signals from at least two sources and typically three or four sources where source separation is necessary for geophysical analysis. Specifically, the present invention is an analytical technique that quickly creates a more accurate source signature delivered by analysis of the source generated data contamination present in the separated data. The technique is to invert a segment of the data using a seed source signature and compute an error that reflects the generated data contamination observed in the separated source data. The source signature is iteratively revised as the segment is continually inverted with the goal of finding the optimal source signature that provides the lowest computed error. The source signature that provides the lowest error is, or is very close to, the true source signature and is then used in the separation process for the entire composite data set. This will provide much more information for geophysical interpretation.
US08982650B2
A memory interface circuit, which controls capture timing of data provided from a memory according to a strobe signal provided from the memory, includes a control unit that controls an activation timing of an internal strobe gate signal, which masks the strobe signal when being deactivated, by delaying the internal strobe gate signal by a first period shorter than one cycle time of a clock signal to generate an internal strobe gate adjustment signal, and by adjusting an activation timing of the adjustment signal. A detection unit outputs a detection signal, when the strobe signal changes from a first potential to a second potential higher than the first potential, or when the first potential of the strobe signal continues for a second period or longer. The control unit adjusts the activation timing of the adjustment signal in accordance with the detection signal.
US08982646B2
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor memory device includes a memory cell array, a data bus, a transfer controller, column blocks, and a column selector. The data bus is divided into stages. The transfer controller serially transfers data such that the data are respectively allocated to the stages. The column blocks temporarily stores the data. The column selector selects a column block for each of the stages from the column blocks, and transfers the data parallel between the stages and the column blocks selected for the stages. The data bus extends from one end to the other in a direction in which the column blocks are arranged, and returns from the other end to the one end.
US08982632B2
Upon programming a semiconductor memory device including a first and a second n-wells, a first and a second p-channel memory transistors respectively formed in the first and the second n-wells, and a bit line connected to a drain of the first p-channel transistor and a drain of the second p-channel memory transistor, a first voltage is applied to the first bit line, a second voltage is applied to the first n-well, and a third voltage lower than the second voltage is applied to the second n-well.
US08982629B2
Techniques are provided for programming and erasing of select gate transistors in connection with the programming or erasing of a set of memory cells. In response to a program command to program memory cells, the select gate transistors are read to determine whether their Vth is below an acceptable range, in which case the select gate transistors are programmed before the memory cells. Or, a decision can be made to program the select gate transistors based on a count of program-erase cycles, whether a specified time period has elapsed and/or a temperature history of the non-volatile storage device. When an erase command is made to erase memory cells, the select gate transistors are read to determine whether their Vth is above an acceptable range. If their Vth is above the acceptable range, the select gate transistors can be erased concurrently with the erasing of the memory cells.
US08982623B2
A non-volatile semiconductor memory device has memory cell arrays, with the memory cells arranged in a matrix configuration and divided into p areas in the column direction, a column redundancy area arranged in a portion of the memory cell array and having redundancy columns that can substitute for defective user data columns, and a column substituting register that holds the column substituting information for substituting the defective user data columns of the selected area with the redundancy columns.
US08982621B2
A non-volatile memory device comprising a plurality of strings each including a drain select transistor, drain-side memory cells, a pipe transistor, source-side memory cells, and a source select transistor coupled in series, wherein the plurality of strings are arranged in a first direction and a second direction, and the strings arranged in the second direction form each of string columns; a plurality of bit lines extended in the second direction and coupled to the drain select transistors of the strings included in each string column; and a plurality of source lines extended in the first direction and in common coupled to the source select transistors of strings adjacent to each other in the second direction, wherein strings included in one of the string columns are staggered in the first direction and each of the string columns are coupled to at least two of the bit lines.
US08982620B2
A method of operating a non-volatile memory includes; during power-on, reading control information from an information block and lock information from an additional information block, then upon determining that a secure block should be locked, generating a lock enable signal that inhibits access to data stored in the secure block, and a read-only enable signal that prevents change in the data stored in the additional information block.
US08982619B2
Apparatuses, systems, and methods are disclosed to manage non-volatile media. A method includes determining a configuration parameter for a set of storage cells of a non-volatile recording medium. A method includes reading data from a set of storage cells using a determined configuration parameter. A method includes adjusting a configuration parameter based on read data.
US08982608B2
A semiconductor device having a memory cell including a capacitor and a select transistor with a floating body structure, a bit line connected to the select transistor, a bit line control circuit, and a sense amplifier amplifying a signal read out from the memory cell. The bit line control circuit sets the bit line to a first potential during a non-access period of the memory cell, and thereafter sets the bit line to a second potential during an access period of the memory cell, so that the data retention time can be prolonged by reducing leak current at a data storage node of the memory cell so that an average consumption current for the data retention can be reduced.
US08982602B2
A memory device can include a plurality of memory elements programmable between different impedance states; and circuits configured to apply first electrical conditions to one group of memory elements and second electrical conditions, different from the first electrical conditions, to another group of memory elements to vary a speed of an access operation to the different groups of memory elements.
US08982600B2
A magnetic memory according to an embodiment includes: a magnetic nanowire; a first electrode and a second electrode provided to different locations of the magnetic nanowire; a third electrode including a magnetic layer, the third electrode being provided to a location of the magnetic nanowire between the first electrode and the second electrode; an intermediate layer provided between the magnetic nanowire and the third electrode, the intermediate layer being in contact with the magnetic nanowire and the third electrode; a fourth electrode of a nonmagnetic material provided onto the magnetic nanowire and being on the opposite side of the magnetic wire from the third electrode; and an insulating layer provided between the magnetic nanowire and the fourth electrode, the insulating layer being in contact with the magnetic nanowire and the fourth electrode.
US08982598B2
A memory device includes a stack of circuit layers, each circuit layer having formed thereon a memory circuit configured to store data and a redundant resources circuit configured to provide redundant circuitry to correct defective circuitry on at least one memory circuit formed on at least one layer in the stack. The redundant resources circuit includes a partial bank of redundant memory cells, wherein an aggregation of the partial bank of redundant memory cells in each of the circuit layers of the stack includes at least one full bank of redundant memory cells and wherein the redundant resources circuit is configured to replace at least one defective bank of memory cells formed on any of the circuit layers in the stack with at least a portion of the partial bank of redundant memory cells formed on any of the circuit layers in the stack.
US08982590B2
The invention describes a solar generation method by means of a system (1) comprising a set of solar cells (2) connected to an inverter (4) that transmits the energy generated to an electrical network (6), which comprises controlling the active and reactive power that the system (1) transmits to the electrical network (6) by controlling the voltage (Vcell) of the cells (2) and the output current (Iinv) of the inverter (4), such that: in a first mode of operation, the voltage (Vcell) of the cells (2) provides the maximum active power in accordance with the operating conditions; and, in a second mode of operation, the voltage (Vcell) in the cells (2) is different from the voltage that provides the maximum active power, generating an active power that is lower than the maximum, in order to optimise the integration of the solar generation system (1) into the electrical network (6).
US08982583B2
An electrical apparatus that can prevent erroneous attachment of a fuse is provided. A PCU includes a housing having a surface. A fuse storage space is formed in the housing. The fuse storage space communicates with a region outside of the housing through an opening formed at the surface. The PCU further includes a cover member covering the opening, and an overcurrent-protection fuse located in the fuse storage space. The cover member includes a cover body closing the opening, and a projection section projecting inward of the fuse storage space relative to the cover body. The projection section interferes with the fuse when the fuse is attached erroneously in the fuse storage space.
US08982579B2
An electrical assembly is assembled by affixing two conductors to a battery block without the use of solder, inserting a PCB into a PCB opening in the battery block and inserting a battery into a battery block opening in the battery block. Each of the two conductors will have a first lead in mechanical and electrical contact with the battery without the use of any solder and a second lead in mechanical and electrical contact with the PCB without any use of solder. As a result of such assembly, the PCB is held within the PCB opening by a mechanical fit without the use of any solder.
US08982575B2
A display device and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. The display of the present invention includes a flexible substrate, a display layer, a protecting layer, an electronic unit, and a filling glue. The flexible substrate has a carrying surface. The display layer is disposed on the carrying surface and has a side edge. The protecting layer is disposed on the opposite side of the display layer corresponding to the carrying surface. The electronic unit is disposed on the carrying surface with a space formed between the electronic unit and the side edge of the display layer. The filling glue is filled in the space and connected with the side edge of the display layer, the electronic unit, and the carrying surface.
US08982572B2
The invention relates to a control device for executing an open mode of a motion module of an electric apparatus. The electric apparatus includes a motion module and a machine body module. The control device disposed on a path of the relative movement includes a combination of a carrier and an elastomer, in which the carrier has a blocking portion. The elastomer normally keeps the carrier at a first position, and the elastomer allows the carrier to motion toward a second position when the carrier is pressed. The control device allows the motion module to rotate (in an open mode) when the motion module crosses the blocking portion of the carrier. Accordingly, the invention promotes visual artistic effects by eliminating the essential exposure of the rotary shaft in the rotation-open mode of conventional skills.
US08982565B2
Included are embodiments for toolless configuration of a computer enclosure. At least one embodiment of an apparatus includes a computer enclosure configured to support a plurality of components, the computer enclosure including a plurality of dividing walls, the dividing walls including a first opening and a second opening. Some embodiments include a divider configured for insertion into the computer enclosure and between the dividing walls, the divider including a first tab for coupling with the first opening, the divider including a second tab for coupling with the second opening, the divider further including a locking tab for locking the divider in place within the computer enclosure.
US08982553B2
In a mobile terminal having a case defining an appearance of the terminal, and a fabrication method for the case, the mobile terminal includes a plurality of pieces formed of zirconia or ceramic and each having a preset shape, and a frame recessed into one surface of the case to receive the plurality of pieces, the frame covering edges of the plurality of pieces, wherein the plurality of pieces are aligned in a repetitive manner to define one surface of the case.
US08982549B2
A flash drive protection structure includes a decoration cover and a protective cover. The decoration cover that is made by elastic materials includes a cover block and a receiving space spacedly. The cover block has a cover hole facing the receiving space, and a connecting post is formed inside the receiving space. The protective cover has a first and a second surface, and the protective cover is disposed in the receiving space of the decoration cover through the first surface, while the second surface is exposed outside the decoration cover. The protective cover has a connecting hole at the first surface to connect the connecting post of the decoration cover. Also, the protective cover has a receiving trough toward the cover block, and one end of the flash drive is plugged into the receiving trough, while the other end is plugged into the cover hole of the cover block.
US08982546B2
An electronic device is disclosed, which includes a touch display module, a frame for placing the touch display module, plural elastic pieces extended from a sidewall of the frame, a casing, a fastener, and plural adjusting screws. The fastener fastens the frame to the casing. The adjusting screws are inserted in the elastic pieces and are screwed in the casing. The depth of the adjusting screws screwed in the casing can be adjusted for adjusting a relative height between the touch display module and the casing.
US08982544B2
A housing includes a base housing and a reinforcing frame fixed with the base housing. The base housing includes a base plate, a peripheral sidewall extending outward from a peripheral edge of the base plate, and an inclined supporting peripheral wall extending inward from a distal end of the peripheral side wall toward a central portion of the base plate. The reinforcing frame is securely mounted on the inclined supporting peripheral wall of the base housing. The reinforcing frame includes a mounting portion having an inclined bottom surface resisting against and fixing with the corresponding inclined supporting peripheral wall of the base housing. An electronic device using the housing is also provided.
US08982540B1
The present invention is directed to an enclosure for electrical equipment. The enclosure includes a power plate assembly and a vented cover installed over the power plate assembly. Electrical components operating at 50 volts or more are mounted to a rail in the power plate assembly. The vented cover separates the electrical components mounted to the rail from the electrical components mounted in the enclosure.
US08982539B2
An electrical distribution panel includes a panel box locating a ground bus in electrical connection with a ground input lug, a neutral bus in electrical connection with a neutral input lug, and a primary power bus connected to a power input lug through a main breaker switch. The main breaker switch is operable between an on position in which the primary power bus receives power and an off position in which the primary power bus is disconnected. Primary circuit breakers can be supported in the usual manner in connection with the primary power bus. One or more auxiliary circuit breakers are connected to the power input lug to receive power independently of the main breaker switch. An electrical outlet can thus be integrally supported in one of the side walls of the panel box to receive power independently of the main breaker switch.
US08982535B2
A package for an electrochemical double layer capacitor includes a housing defining an interior volume, the housing having an end wall, side walls, and an end cap configured to sealably engage with the side walls to enclose the interior volume, wherein the interior volume has a height (hcan) and a diameter (dcan) such that an aspect ratio defined as hcan/dcan is for an electrochemical double layer capacitor having a specific capacitance of at least 100 F. An electrode set adapted to be incorporated into the package can have an aspect ratio in a range of 3.1 to 15 and a specific capacitance of at least 100 F.
US08982528B2
Logic circuit for integrated circuit comprising a variable supply voltage source, the variation of which comprises at least three successive phases, a first phase of increasing the voltage from a zero value to a nominal voltage, a second phase of maintaining the supply voltage at the nominal voltage and a third phase of reducing the supply voltage from the nominal voltage to a zero value, and at least two mechanical switches, said switches being microelectromechanical switches or nanoelectromechanical switches, and means of switching said switches.
US08982526B2
A plurality of insulating rods are placed at peripheries of the nonlinear resistor and the metal plates, and each having an upper end portion and a lower end portion inserted into holes formed in the electrodes. A spacer is placed between an inner peripheral surface of the hole and an outer peripheral surface of the insulating rod inside the hole of the electrode, and a fixing screw is attached to the hole of the electrode. A double-ended bolt couples the metal plate and the electrode together. The double-ended bolt has a first screw part and a second screw part opposite in a fastening direction to the first screw part which are provided on a same axis. The first screw part is attached to the metal plate, and the second screw part is attached to the electrode.
US08982524B2
A low forward voltage drop transient voltage suppressor utilizes a low-reverse-voltage-rated PN diode electrically connected in parallel to a high-reverse-voltage-rated Schottky rectifier in a single integrated circuit device. The transient voltage suppressor is ideally suited to fix the problem of high forward voltage drop of PN diodes and high leakage of low reverse breakdown of Schottky rectifiers. The low-reverse-voltage PN rectifier can be fabricated through methods such as 1) double layers of epi (with higher concentration layer epi in the bottom) or 2) punch through design of PN diode by base with compression.
US08982523B2
Embodiments provide a charge pump circuit which produces a bias voltage that is applied to a transient suppression device used to clamp both positive and negative transients on signal lines. The bias voltage can be set to a level that is above the sum of a DC voltage differential between positive and negative signal lines and the maximum signal voltage.
US08982522B2
A self-adaptive surge-proof circuit is used in a switching power supply device. The switching power supply device includes an AC input, a filter-rectifier circuit connected to the AC input, and a power converter circuit connected to the filter-rectifier circuit. The self-adaptive surge-proof circuit includes a surge suppression unit connected between the filter-rectifier circuit and the power converter circuit, a switching unit connected in parallel with the surge suppression unit for adjusting an input impedance of the switching power supply device, a sampling unit connected to the filter-rectifier circuit for collecting a surge signal from the filter-rectifier circuit, and a drive-controlling circuit connected to the sampling unit for generating a driving signal for controlling on and off of the switching unit according to the surge signal.
US08982521B2
An overvoltage protection method for backlight driver includes: providing an LCD device having 2D and 3D modes, comprising a backlight driver comprising a constant current supplying chip and a dimming control coupled to the constant current supplying chip, the constant current supply chip applying a first overvoltage protection level and a second overvoltage protection level as a overvoltage protection level; detecting a signal of the dimming control by using the constant current flow supplying chip, and applying the first overvoltage protection level as the overvoltage protection level based on the signal of the dimming control when the LCD device is in the 2D mode; and detecting the signal of the dimming control by using the constant current flow supplying chip, and applying the second overvoltage protection level as the overvoltage protection level based on the signal of the dimming control when the LCD device is in the 3D mode.
US08982519B2
A current differential relay comprises: an interface section; a quantization section; a communication section; and a difference calculation section. The quantization section quantizes current received by the interface section and converts it to first current data. The communication section, in the case where this relay is a representative current differential relay of a first group, transmits second current data from another current differential relay belonging to the first group and the first current data jointly to a representative current differential relay belonging to the second group, receives third current data from the representative current differential relay, and transmits the third current data to the other current differential relays. A difference calculation section executes a current difference calculation based on the first to third current data.
US08982516B2
An area-efficient, high voltage, single polarity ESD protection device (300) is provided which includes an p-type substrate (303); a first p-well (308-1) formed in the substrate and sized to contain n+ and p+ contact regions (310, 312) that are connected to a cathode terminal; a second, separate p-well (308-2) formed in the substrate and sized to contain only a p+ contact region (311) that is connected to an anode terminal; and an electrically floating n-type isolation structure (304, 306, 307-2) formed in the substrate to surround and separate the first and second semiconductor regions. When a positive voltage exceeding a triggering voltage level is applied to the cathode and anode terminals, the ESD protection device triggers an inherent thyristor into a snap-back mode to provide a low impedance path through the structure for discharging the ESD current.
US08982515B2
An apparatus includes an enclosure; a connector structured to mechanically and electrically engage a power circuit; a transmitter structured to transmit a signal having a frequency substantially greater than a power line frequency to the connector; and a user interface structured to cause the transmitter to transmit the signal to the connector.
US08982508B1
A magnetic transducer having an air-bearing surface is described. The magnetic transducer includes a nonmagnetic layer on an underlayer, a pole having a plurality of sidewalls, a gap layer on the sidewalls, a seed layer and at least one side shield. The nonmagnetic layer has an aperture therein. The aperture is free of magnetic inclusions at the ABS. The pole is on the underlayer and within the aperture. The seed layer is for the side shield(s) and resides on the gap layer, a portion of the underlayer and a portion of the nonmagnetic layer. The side shield(s) residing on the seed layer and in the aperture. The side shield(s) are free of undercuts at the ABS.
US08982506B1
Utilities that increase the volume of media elements that can be simultaneously loaded and/or unloaded into or from a storage library, facilitate mounting of media element magazines into a storage library, and limit access to an interior of a storage library by users during operation of robotics assemblies of the storage library. One disclosed utility includes a cartridge access port for use with a storage library that has a storage container that is pivotable (e.g., swingable) between at least first and second positions. In the first position, the storage container is adjacent an opening in the housing of the library for loading and unloading of media elements by a user into or from the container via the opening. After the storage container has swung into the second position, the storage container is spaced from the opening and faces the interior of the library for access by a robotics assembly.
US08982505B2
According to one embodiment, there is provided a method for generating address data. The method generates a first code corresponding to a cylinder number. The cylinder number is divided and recorded on servo sectors in association with an identification of a cylinder on a disk. The first code is formed of some codes obtained by dividing the cylinder number based on a number of each of the servo sectors. The method generates a second code corresponding to address data for each of the servo sectors, by encoding the first code based on the servo sector number and a servo format number. The servo format number is used to identify a format of each of the servo sectors.
US08982495B2
An apparatus according to one embodiment includes a plurality of modules configured to at least read data stored on a magnetic recording tape, each of the modules having an array of readers. One module is configured to read data on a magnetic recording tape which none of the other modules can read. An apparatus according to another embodiment includes a first module configured to at least read data stored on a magnetic recording tape in a first range of formats, and at least a second module configured to at least read data stored on a magnetic recording tape in at least a second range of formats. The first range of formats does not include a format that is in the second range of formats. All of the modules are aligned along a tape travel direction.
US08982494B2
A head gimbal assembly has a suspension configured to extend along a surface of a recording medium and to bend and deform in a thickness direction of the recording medium. A slider is provided on a front end side of the suspension so as to confront the surface of the recording medium. A support section supports the slider such that the slider can pivot about two axes parallel to the surface of the recording medium and perpendicular to each other. An optical waveguide is connected to the slider and is configured to introduce a light flux into the slider. A near-field light generating element generates near-field light from the optical flux and causes the near-field light to record information on the recording medium. A positioning section is mounted between the support section and the slider for positioning the optical waveguide relative to the slider.
US08982492B2
Adjusting tension in a tape media to counter tape dimensional stability (TDS) errors in a tape media
Provided are a method, system, and program for adjusting tension in a tape media to counter tape dimensional stability (TDS) errors in a tape media. A determination is made of whether to adjust tension of the tape media based on a detected error rate of reading at least one of the tracks. The tension of the tape media is adjusted in response to determining to adjust the tension.
US08982476B2
A zoom lens includes, in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens unit having a negative refractive power, a second lens unit having a positive refractive power, a focus lens unit having a negative refractive power, configured to move in focusing, and a final lens unit having a positive refractive power, disposed closest to the image side. The focus lens unit and the final lens unit are disposed so as to be adjacent to each other, each lens unit moves so that a distance between adjacent lens units changes in zooming, and a focal length of the final lens unit fimg, a focal length of the focus lens unit ff, and a focal length of an entire system at a wide-angle end fw are appropriately set.
US08982475B2
A zoom lens includes: a first lens group having a positive refractive power and including a plurality of lenses, a second lens group having a negative refractive power, a third lens group having a positive refractive power, a fourth lens group having a negative refractive power and including one lens, and a fifth lens group having a positive refractive power and including one lens. The first through fifth lens groups are subsequently arranged from an object side. An interval between neighboring lens groups changes during zooming from a wide angle position to a telephoto position. The zoom lens satisfies the following inequality, 0.4≦n1−n2≦0.7, where “n1” denotes a refractive index of a first lens from the object side in the first lens group, and “n2” denotes a refractive index of the second lens from the object side in the first lens group.
US08982474B2
A zoom lens includes, in order from an object side to an image side along an optical axis, a first lens group having a positive refractive power, a second lens group having a negative refractive power, a third lens group having a negative refractive power, a fourth lens group having a positive refractive power, and a fifth lens group having a positive refractive power.
US08982464B2
A tilt-type anti-shake compensation structure for auto-focus module includes an auto-focus module having a lens assembly held thereto and driving the latter to move forward and rearward in a light entering path, i.e. in z-axis direction, so as to focus a captured image; an outer frame enclosing the auto-focus module therein, and having an elastic supporting member provided therein to connect to and between upper ends of the outer frame and the auto-focus module; and a compensation driving unit arranged behind the auto-focus module for driving the auto-focus module to tilt leftward and rightward on x-axis, or forward and rearward on y-axis, within the outer frame, so as to compensate any image deviation due to shake caused by hands. The anti-shake structure is simple and can quickly compensate shake caused by hands.
US08982463B2
The disclosure generally relates to color combiners, and in particular color combiners useful in small size format projectors such as pocket projectors. The disclosed color combiners include at least two tilted dichroic plates having at least two reflectors configured with light collection optics to combine at least two colors of light.
US08982457B2
A microscope system and an illumination intensity adjusting method that can automatically adjust an illumination intensity when a bright-field illumination system and a dark-field illumination system are simultaneously used are provided. The microscope system includes: a stage on which a specimen is placed; an objective lens that converges observation light from at least the specimen S on the stage; a bright-field illumination unit configured to emit bright-field illumination light that is illumination light aperture to the specimen for a bright-field observation; a dark-field illumination unit configured to emit dark-field illumination light that is illumination light aperture to the specimen for a dark-field observation; and an illumination intensity control unit configured to adjust an illumination intensity of at least one of the bright-field illumination light and the dark-field illumination light according to the illumination intensity of the other one.
US08982455B2
A modular laser scanning system where the laser scanner and various optical “building blocks” are contained in separate mechanical and optical modules. These modules can be combined to provide flexible systems with unique laser scanning capabilities or combinations of techniques. Additionally, the combining of these modules is achieved through the use of a mechanical and optical coupling standard.
US08982451B2
A pump probe measuring device (1) comprises: an ultrashort optical pulse laser generator (2) for generating a first ultrashort optical pulse train which is a pump light (3a), second and third ultrashort optical pulse trains (3b), (3c) which are probe lights; an optical shutter unit (6) to which the second and the third ultrashort pulse trains (3b), (3c) are introduced; and a detecting unit (20) including an irradiation optical system (8) for directing the pump light (3a), the first probe light (3b) and the second probe light (3c) to a sample (7), a sensor (11) for detecting a probe signal from the sample (7), and a phase-sensitive detecting means (12) connected to the sensor (11). An optical shutter control unit (10) periodically modulates the delay time of the first probe light (3b) and that of the second probe light (3c) with respect to the pump light (3a), and the modulated first and second probe lights (3a), (3b) illuminate the sample (7) alternately to detect the probe signals from the sample (7) by the phase-sensitive detecting means (12) in synchronization with the periodic modulation signal of the delay time.
US08982448B2
An electrowetting device includes: a liquid-confining member including a base and an electrode unit supported on the base, the liquid-confining member defining an inner chamber; a first liquid of a magnetic ink disposed in the inner chamber; and a second liquid of a polar material disposed in the inner chamber and immiscible with the first liquid. The first and second liquids contact each other to define a liquid-liquid interface therebetween.
US08982440B2
MEMS and fabrication techniques for positioning the center of mass of released structures in MEMS are provided. A MEMS device includes a substrate and a released structure connected to the substrate via a flexure. The released structure includes a frame rotatable with respect to the substrate, and an elongate first member having a longitudinal axis extending perpendicularly from an undersurface of the frame and a free end remote from the frame. A recess is formed in an end face of the free end. The recess has a longitudinal axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the first member and a transverse area smaller than an area of the end face.
US08982434B2
An image processing apparatus includes a reception port capable of receiving a paper document. A discharge port discharges a paper document received from the reception port and serves as an ID card reception port. A conveyance path connects the reception port and the discharge port to each other. A conveyance unit conveys the paper document received from the reception port or the ID card received from the discharge port. An image reading unit, provided on the conveyance path, reads a double-sided image of the paper document or the ID card. An image processing unit matches a first image data output condition obtained by reading, by the image reading unit, the paper document received from the reception port, with a second image data output condition obtained by reading, by the image reading unit, the paper document received from the discharge port.
US08982432B2
A light guide includes a plurality of boss portions. A round hole portion is provided near the center of a base member for fixing the light guide, and slit portions are provided on both ends thereof. The round hole portion supports one boss portion in both the longitudinal direction and the lateral direction of the light guide. The slit portions support boss portions in the lateral direction of the light guide, but are free in the longitudinal direction of the light guide. That is, the center of the light guide is fixed from both directions, and thus both ends of the light guides can expand away in the longitudinal direction. This cuts the influence of expansion by half.
US08982429B2
An image reading apparatus includes: a contact glass setting a manuscript thereon; an image sensor extending in a first direction and having a reading surface which faces the contact glass for reading an image from the manuscript on the contact glass; a rail member extending inside the apparatus main body in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; a carriage having a sensor container to contain the image sensor, a taper end portion formed in an end portion in the first direction to become smaller in height toward the end side, and an opening formed in the bottom of the sensor container on the taper end portion side; a biased portion adjacent to the reading surface of the image sensor in the second direction; and a biasing member biasing the image sensor toward the contact glass via the biased portion.
US08982428B2
A page-turning device turning a page of a book includes a turning unit and a blower. The turning unit holds the page at a departure position of the page of the book being opened and releases the holding of the page at a destination position of the page. The blower sends air above the page at the departure position to blow against the page at the destination position.
US08982426B2
JPEG data to be printed is Huffman-decoded on a block-by-block basis and is stored in a Huffman decoded data storage unit as Huffman decoded data, image data is generated by performing a later-stage decoding process (group decoding, run-length decoding, inverse quantization, inverse DCT) on the Huffman decoded data, a display process for displaying an image in a display unit based on the generated image data is executed, and the JPEG data is reconstructed by inserting RST markers at intervals equivalent to every stripe width while encoding the Huffman decoded data produced during the display process and stored in a reconstructed JPEG data storage unit. Then, when rotated printing is instructed, rotation/decoding that performs rotation while decoding the stored reconstructed JPEG data using the RST markers is carried out, print data is created from the image data obtained by the rotation/decoding, and a printing process is executed.
US08982423B2
In some embodiments, techniques for voting and visual cryptography may include various enhancements.
US08982421B2
A threshold matrix generating method includes: generating q(x, y, g) in which the number of dots in an initial dot pattern is varied; calculating an error matrix (ERR(x, y, g)) of q(x, y, g); calculating AVE(a, b) representing the uniformity of the number of dots in discrete blocks into which the dot pattern has been divided; determining two pixels, of which the dot positions are to be swapped, on the basis of ERR (x, y, g) and AVE(a, b); swapping the dot positions; calculating the evaluation value (MSE(n)) of q(x, y, g) after the positional swapping; and repeating the positional switch of the dots repeating the generation of q(x, y, g) and the positional swapping of the dots with q(x, y, g) functioning as the initial dot pattern until a q(x, y, g) satisfying MSN(n)
US08982411B2
An image processing apparatus includes: an extractor to extract colors used in input data; a converter to convert signals of the extracted colors into intermediate color signals each including three color signal components including brightness; an evaluator to evaluate recognizabilities of the colors based on the intermediate color signals; a generator to generate additional image data to be added to data for ordinary image formation based on a result of the evaluation and the input data; and a color convertor to convert the input data into the data for ordinary image formation.
US08982389B2
An image processing apparatus for executing a job set thereto, and includes a communication unit configured to perform wireless communication with a portable terminal, a distance estimation unit configured to estimate a distance between the image processing apparatus and the portable terminal, a screen determination unit configured to determine a screen to be displayed on the portable terminal according to the distance estimated by the distance estimation unit, a screen configuration data generation unit configured to generate a first screen configuration data that constitute the screen determined by the screen determination unit, and a job execution control unit configured to control execution of the job based on a setting condition received from the portable terminal via the communication unit.
US08982381B2
Provided is an image processing system which reduces the load of destination registration on the user. To accomplish this, in an image processing system including a PC (102) and device (101) connected to a network, the PC (102) has a transfer unit (120) which transfers identification data of the PC (102) to the device (101), and the device (101) has a scanner unit (130) which scans an image and outputs the image data, a memory (140) which stores a destination of the output image data from the scanner unit (130), a transfer unit (150) which transfers the image data to the destination stored in the memory (140), and a registration unit (170) which receives the identification data transferred by the transfer unit (120), and registers the received identification data as a destination of image data in the memory (140).
US08982378B2
A method of analyzing failures of a print device may include receiving failure information associated with a print device in a print shop. The failure information may pertain to a plurality of failures experienced by the print device over a period of time. The method may include generating, by a computing device, failure distribution information by, for each pair of consecutive failures in the failure information, determining a time to failure between the pair of consecutive failures, determining a repair time associated with each failure in the pair of consecutive failures, and setting the determined times to failure and the determined repair times as the failure distribution information. The method may include performing, by the computing device, a simulation of processing of one or more print jobs by the print device using the failure distribution information, and displaying one or more results of the simulation to a user.
US08982375B2
An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming unit; a power supply controller controls the image forming apparatus to operate in a normal mode and a power saving mode, in which supply of power to the image forming unit is cut off; and a plurality of interfaces that receives a transition command for transitioning from the power saving mode to the normal mode. The power supply controller performs an interface-power supply process of supplying power to at least one interface; a first change process of changing power supply destinations in the interface-power supply process so as to reduce an amount of power supply in the interface-power supply process; and a second change process of changing the power supply destinations in the interface-power supply process after the first change process so as to further reduce the amount of power supply.
US08982366B2
A method automatically performs regression testing of output of an altered variable information print job (program). In one embodiment, the method begins by supplying test data to a variable information (VI) print job to produce first sample data. Next, the method applies a numeric generation application to the sample data to produce numerical representations. Then, the VI print job is altered and the same test data is supplied to the altered VI print job to produce second sample data. Again, the numeric generation application is applied to the second sample data to produce more of the numerical representations. The numerical representations are then compared to identify altered data records caused by the altering of the VI print job.
US08982365B2
An image forming apparatus includes an input unit to receive printing data, a controller to determine a duplex printing mode to be applied to the printing data from among a plurality of duplex printing modes and an engine waiting time according to a feature of the input printing data and performance of the image forming apparatus, an image processor to perform image-processing of the input printing data, and an image former to print the image-processed printing data based on the determined duplex printing mode and the determined engine waiting time.
US08982359B2
A system for detecting motion of a body, the system comprising: a body; a first grating mounted substantially stationary relative to a frame of reference; a second grating mounted on the body; a detector arranged to receive one or more radiation beams diffracted at the first and second gratings thereby to detect motion of the body relative to the frame of reference; wherein the detector is coupled to the body and moveable relative to the body.
US08982358B2
Systems and methods are presented to enhance and isolate residual signals indicative of the speckle field based on measurements taken by optically based metrology systems. Structural irregularities such as roughness and topographical errors give rise to light scattered outside of the specularly reflected component of the diffracted light. The scattered light interferes constructively or destructively with the specular component in a high numerical aperture illumination and detection system to form a speckle field. Various methods of determining residual signals indicative of the speckle field are presented. Furthermore, various methods of determining structural irregularities based on analysis of the residual signals are presented. In various embodiments, illumination with a high degree of spatial coherence is provided over any of a wide range of angles of incidence, multiple polarization channels, and multiple wavelength channels. In addition, diffracted light is collected over a wide range of angles of detection.
US08982342B2
A method of calculating, using a computer, a refractive index of at least a portion of a specimen by using electromagnetic wave measurement. The method includes measuring a first scattered waveform from a structure of the specimen, measuring a second scattered waveform from a structure, in which a material for calculating a refractive index is disposed on a surface of the specimen, and comparing intensities of peak positions at corresponding portions of the first scattered waveform and the second scattered waveform.
US08982340B2
A method for conducting fast Brillouin optical time domain analysis for dynamic sensing of optical fibers is provided herein. The method includes the following stages: injecting a pump pulse signal into a first end of an optical fiber and a probe signal into a second end of the optical fiber, wherein the probe and the pump pulse signals exhibit a frequency difference between them that is appropriate for an occurrence of a Brillouin effect; alternating the frequency of either the probe or the pulse signals, so as the alternated signal exhibits a series of signal sections, each signal section having a predefined common duration and a different frequency; measuring the Brillouin probe gain for each one of the alternating frequencies; and extracting physical properties of the optical fiber throughout its length at sample points associated with the sampled time and the frequencies, based on the measured Brillouin probe gain.
US08982334B2
The present invention refers to a method of operating a self-mixing interference sensor and a corresponding self-mixing interference sensor device. In the method the laser (1) of the device is controlled to periodically emit a laser pulse followed by an emission period of laser radiation having a lower amplitude. The pulse width of the laser pulse is selected such that the pulse after reflection at the object (3) re-enters the laser (1) during the emission period of laser radiation with lower amplitude. The corresponding SMI signal has an increased signal to noise ratio.
US08982327B2
A method to enable positioning of an object by a positioning device that includes an electromagnetic motor to control the position of the object in a lithographic apparatus, the method including receiving desired motor signals at the electromagnetic motor to produce a plurality of primary forces and a pitch torque associated with the primary forces within a motor control cycle, wherein for the motor control cycle, the pitch torque is based on either the primary forces to be generated by the electromagnetic motor or the desired forces and torques for positioning the object; and in response to the desired motor signals, causing the electromagnetic motor to generate the primary forces, wherein prior to the primary forces are determined for a next motor control cycle, the desired forces and torques for positioning the object are modified using the pitch torque associated with a previous motor control cycle.
US08982326B2
An exposure system includes an exposure apparatus and a phase shift mask. The exposure apparatus emits a multi-wavelength light including a plurality of wavelengths different from each other. The phase shift mask includes a transparent substrate and a light blocking layer. The transparent substrate includes a first surface, and a second surface opposite to the first surface. The multi-wavelength light is incident into the first surface. The transparent substrate further includes a recess which extends from the second surface toward the first surface. The light blocking layer includes a first opening which exposes the second surface of the transparent substrate, and a second opening which is spaced apart from the first opening and exposes the recess of the transparent substrate.
US08982325B2
The disclosure relates to a microlithographic projection exposure apparatus and a microlithographic projection exposure apparatus, as well as related components, methods and articles made by the methods. The microlithographic projection exposure apparatus includes an illumination system and a projection objective. The illumination system can illuminate a mask arranged in an object plane of the projection objective. The mask can have structures which are to be imaged. The method can include illuminating a pupil plane of the illumination system with light. The method can also include modifying, in a plane of the projection objective, the phase, amplitude and/or polarization of the light passing through that plane. The modification can be effected for at least two diffraction orders in mutually different ways. A mask-induced loss in image contrast obtained in the imaging of the structures can be reduced compared to a method without the modification.
US08982324B2
Improved low k1 lithographic imaging is disclosed by optimizing or improving an illumination polarization condition. The polarization condition may be a pre-defined spatially varying polarization, or a spatially customized local polarization of bright illumination points based on tracking a value of a desired lithographic response. Several non-traditional polarization conditions, e.g., TM/TE polarization (with or without a central TM region), diagonal polarization, and Y+X polarization (typically for dark field illumination) are disclosed, that offer substantial imaging advantages for specific lithographic problems, especially at low k1 values. The initial polarization definition may be limited to specific fixed polarization angles.
US08982321B2
In the present invention, while conveying a subject to be exposed, when exposure on a first exposure area of the subject to be exposed is completed, the exposure being performed by using a first mask pattern group of a photomask in which a plurality of types of mask pattern groups corresponding to each exposure pattern is arranged and formed in a conveying direction of the exposure to be exposed at a predetermined interval, the photomask is moved in synchronization with a conveying speed of the exposure to be exposed and the mask pattern group is switched from the first mask pattern group to a second mask pattern group. When the switching of the mask pattern group of the photomask 11 is completed, the movement of the photomask is stopped, exposure on a second exposure area of the subject to be exposed 8 is performed by the mask pattern group.
US08982319B2
A detector to measure a property of radiation is disclosed. The detector comprises first and second luminescent uniaxial crystals each having an optic axis, the optic axis of the first uniaxial crystal being arranged such that it is substantially perpendicular to the optic axis of the second uniaxial crystal.
US08982307B2
Embodiments of the present invention disclose a pixel unit, an array substrate, a liquid crystal panel, a display device and a manufacturing method thereof. The pixel unit comprises a thin film transistor, a pixel electrode and a common electrode, the thin film transistor comprising a gate electrode, a gate insulating layer provided on the gate electrode, an active layer provided on the gate insulating layer, a source electrode and a drain electrode provided on the active layer, and a passivation layer provided on the source electrode and the drain electrode; wherein the common electrode is provided directly on the passivation layer; and the pixel electrode is provided under the passivation layer and is connected to the drain electrode of the thin film transistor. For the array substrate, the liquid crystal panel, the display device and the manufacturing method thereof, it is possible to increase view angles, lower power consumption, and increase aperture ratio, thereby improving display quality.
US08982305B2
The present invention provides a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel and a display apparatus using the same. In the LCD panel, a second electrode of the second substrate comprises a trunk portion and a plurality of branch portion, and each of the pixels comprises a main pixel region and a sub-pixel region, and an included angle between the trunk portion and the branch portions is of 45 degrees in the main pixel region, and in each of the sub-pixel regions, a predetermined angle between the trunk portion and the branch portions is not equal to 45 degrees. The λ/2 pattern retarder film of the LCD panel comprises λ/2 retarder rows and zero wave retarder rows.
US08982304B2
Air is sprayed on the first polymer film along a first negative direction in the sub pixel areas of an n-th row of a unit pixel area, and air is sprayed on the first polymer film along a first positive direction in the sub pixel areas of an (n+1)-th row of the unit pixel area to form a first alignment layer. Air is sprayed on the second polymer film along a second negative direction crossing the first negative direction in the sub pixel areas of an n-th column of the unit pixel area, and air is sprayed on the second polymer film along a second positive direction crossing the first positive direction in the sub pixel areas of an (n+1)-th column of the unit pixel area to form a second alignment layer.
US08982300B2
There are provided a viewing angle controlling system which can be used in a display device for which peep-prevention and viewing-angle-control are required, and makes it possible to control the viewing angle of a display, and an image display device using the same. The viewing angle controlling system includes: a first polarizer and a second polarizer which are each in the form of a film comprising an absorption dichroic material. The first polarizer has an absorption axis in its film plane, and the second polarizer has an absorption axis in the range of angle from 0 to 45° to the normal line of its film plane.
US08982299B2
Disclosed herein are a backlight unit and a display device. The backlight unit includes a bottom cover, a light emitting device module disposed at the lower portion of the inside of the bottom cover, a light guide plate disposed adjacent to the light emitting device module and disposed in front of the bottom cover, at least one optical sheet and a reflective sheet disposed adjacent to the light guide plate, recesses, each of which is disposed with one opened side, disposed at the edges of at least one of the light guide plate, the reflective sheet and the at least one optical sheet, and protrusions disposed at one side of the bottom cover disposed with the light emitting device module so as to be inserted into the recesses of the at least one of the light guide plate, the reflective sheet and the at least one optical sheet.
US08982298B2
The backplane for a liquid crystal display (LCD) device includes side walls, and the backplane at least includes two backplane units. A horizontal moving guide device is arranged between the adjacent backplane units, and an elastic device which enables the two backplane units to relatively elastically expand and contract horizontally is further arranged between the adjacent backplane units. The backplane of the LCD device of the present disclosure is designed to be able to elastically expand and contract in a direction perpendicular to a light emitting diode (LED) lightbar. When a light guide panel (LGP) in the backplane expands after absorbing heat, the backplane is extended by a pushing force, and heat expansion quantity of the LGP is directly absorbed. When the LGP is contracted because of temperature drop, the backplane is shortened under action of the elastic device, and a light coupling distance between the LGP and the LED lightbar is always kept constant.
US08982297B2
The present invention relates to a technical field of liquid crystal display, and specially to a fixture and a liquid crystal display module incorporated with such a fixture. The fixture includes a sidewall and top and bottom plate attached to the sidewall, wherein the sidewall, top and bottom plates jointly defines a compartment; wherein a stopper is formed on an end of the bottom plate with a magnetic device securely disposed within the compartment. The present invention further provides a liquid crystal display module, specially the liquid crystal display module incorporated with such a fixture. A liquid crystal display module with a simplified fixture incorporated therein is also provided. By the provision of the fixture and the liquid crystal display incorporated with such a fixture, the printed circuit board can be readily and securely attached to the backboard without the implementation of embossments or posts such that the printed circuit boards of different dimension can be readily attached to the backboard without additional glue or fasteners. In addition, since the embossments and/or posts have been omitted during the manufacturing of the backboard, the backboard can be made more planar. The adaptability of the backboard is therefore increased.
US08982295B2
A display device includes a frame for receiving a display panel. The frame includes a bottom segment extending in a first direction, a top segment spaced from the bottom segment in a direction perpendicular to the first direction, the top segment extending in the first direction, and a side segment connecting a side of the bottom segment and a side of the top segment, the side segment extending in the first direction. The top segment includes a top uplifted part protruding in the direction perpendicular to the first direction.
US08982291B2
According to one embodiment, an image display device includes a liquid crystal optical apparatus, an image display unit, and a control unit. The image display unit includes a display unit stacked with the liquid crystal optical apparatus. The control unit controls a potential of electrodes provided in the liquid crystal optical apparatus. Light including kth (k being an integer) major region parallax image is emitted outside the liquid crystal optical apparatus through a lens center portion. Light including kth adjacent region parallax image is emitted outside the liquid crystal optical apparatus through a refractive index increase portion.
US08982283B2
A method of scanning television channels at initial setup. The method includes at a first power mode, automatically scanning for channels using a first scanning setup procedure during which the television is unusable by a user. The first power mode is when the television is at a full power mode. The detected channels are automatically provided for use by the television upon completion of the first scanning setup procedure. The method further includes automatically scanning for channels using a second scanning setup procedure at a second power mode following the first power mode. The second power mode is at a lower power mode than the first power mode, and the second scanning setup procedure is more time consuming in comparison to the first scanning setup procedure. Additional channels not detected during the initial setup by the first scanning setup procedure are automatically detected at the second power mode.
US08982279B2
An HDMI® source determines whether or not an HDMI® sink can receive a sub-signal based on VSDB of E-EDID. When the HDMI® sink can receive the sub-signal, the HDMI® source adds a sub-signal to pixel data of a main image composed of pixel data whose number of bits is smaller than that of transmission pixel data transmitted by a transmitter, thereby constructing transmission pixel data. This data is transmitted by the transmitter through TMDS channels #0 to #2. Furthermore, the HDMI® source transmits a general control packet containing sub-signal information indicating whether or not the sub-signal is contained in the transmission pixel data in the control period of a vertical blanking period. The present invention can be applied to, for example, HDMI®.
US08982276B2
A camera module includes a shell, an ambient light sensor, and a lens module having a printed circuit board. The shell has a seat in its front surface, a first connector on its back surface, and circuits connecting the first connector to the seat by a laser direct structure technology. The ALS is soldered to the seat. The PCB is attached to the back surface of the shell and includes a second connector connected to the first connector.
US08982271B2
An imaging device includes an image pick-up device including phase difference detection pixel pairs, each formed from a pair of phase difference detection pixels respectively having their openings eccentrically formed on opposite sides of a main axis of an imaging lens, and imaging pixel pairs; a reading section that reads out signals from the pixels arrayed in the image pick-up device using a rolling shutter method; a first correlation computation section that performs correlation computation on the signals from the phase difference detection pixel pairs; a second correlation computation section that performs correlation computation on the signals from the imaging pixel pairs; a correction section that corrects a result from the first correlation computation section using a result from the second correlation computation section; and a focusing section that performs focus control using the corrected result.
US08982257B2
An image sensor module includes a ceramic substrate, an image sensor, a conductive film, a flexible print circuit board (FPCB), and a stiffening plate. The ceramic substrate includes an upper surface and a lower surface opposite to the upper surface, the ceramic substrate defines a transparent hole on the upper surface and a receiving recess on the lower surface. The transparent hole communicates with the receiving recess. The image sensor is received in the receiving recess and is electrically connected to the ceramic substrate. The FPCB is electrically connected to the lower surface of the ceramic substrate by the conductive film. The stiffening plate is positioned on one side of the FPCB opposite to the ceramic substrate.
US08982246B2
An imaging apparatus includes an obtaining unit that obtains lens information including information indicating resolution of an optical system with respect to a position of a zoom lens, an imaging sensor that captures a subject image formed through the optical system to output image information, an image processor that performs digital zoom to electronically enlarge a subject image by performing image processing on the image information outputted from an imaging sensor, and a controller that determines, based on the obtained lens information, whether the zoom lens is located in a predetermined position and controls the image processor to perform the digital zoom on the image information outputted from the imaging sensor, when the zoom lens is located in the predetermined position. The predetermined position is a position of the zoom lens where resolution of the optical system is larger than a predetermined value.
US08982242B2
An imaging device of the present invention, for taking and storing movies and still pictures, comprises an image sensor, an imaging processing section, and a control section for controlling exposure of the image sensor and controlling taking of an optical image, wherein the control section, when taking still pictures while shooting a movie, carries out exposure by dividing a time corresponding to a single frame of the movie into a plurality of times, applies processing by the imaging processing section to acquire a plurality of image data, performs positional alignment of the subject image of the plurality of image data and combines a plurality of image data, and stores as still picture data, and combines a plurality of image data without carrying out positional alignment of the subject image of the priority of image data and stores as a single frame of the movie data.
US08982235B2
An image processing device may include an image processing pipeline in which at least a magnification chromatic aberration correction processing unit that corrects magnification chromatic aberration of an imaging optical system, a distortion aberration correction processing unit that corrects distortion aberration of the imaging optical system, and an imaging processing unit that performs image processing with respect to image data and outputs image processed-image data to the distortion aberration correction processing unit are included in one pipeline, magnification chromatic aberration of the image data having been corrected by the magnification chromatic aberration correction processing unit, a sequencer that controls operations of respective elements included in the image processing pipeline, and a distortion correction range calculation unit that calculates a distortion aberration correction input range.
US08982212B2
A work vehicle surrounding area monitoring device includes an imaging unit, a bird's-eye view image creating unit, a display unit and a traveling state determining unit. When the work vehicle is in the stopped state, the bird's-eye view image creating unit is configured to use a first virtual projection plane to create the bird's-eye view image, and at least an outer edge portion of the first virtual projection plane has a shape that increases in height from the ground surface as a distance from the work vehicle increases. When the work vehicle is in the traveling state, the bird's-eye view image creating unit is configured to use a second virtual projection plane to create the bird's-eye view image, and at least an outer edge portion of the second virtual projection plane has a shape having a uniformly flat height from the ground surface.
US08982202B2
An image pickup system is an image pickup system in which an image pickup device arranged at a distal end of an insertion section of an endoscope and a processor can communicate with each other. A group of multiple control parameters to be collectively transmitted and checksum codes related to the parameters are transmitted from the processor to the image pickup device, and the image pickup device reflects the control parameters on a register only when all the received multiple control parameters are normal, on the basis of the checksums.
US08982190B2
There is provided an imaging element that photographs multiple viewing point images corresponding to images observed from different viewing points and an image processing unit separates an output signal of the imaging element, acquires the plurality of viewing point images corresponding to the images observed from the different viewing points, and generates a left eye image and a right eye image for three-dimensional image display, on the basis of the plurality of acquired viewing point images. The image processing unit generates parallax information on the basis of the plurality of viewing point images obtained from the imaging element and generates a left eye image and a right eye image for three-dimensional image display by 2D3D conversion processing using the generated parallax information. By this configuration, a plurality of viewing point images are acquired on the basis of one photographed image and images for three-dimensional image display are generated.
US08982186B2
The present invention relates to a method for selecting an appropriate mode when performing a new broadcast, such as a 3D stereo broadcast, a UHDTV broadcast, and a multi-view broadcast, among others, while maintaining compatibility with existing broadcasting channels in an MPEG-2-TS format for transmitting and receiving digital TV, and to a method for recognizing a descriptor. To this end, the present invention suggests providing the descriptor which is related to synthesizing left and right images using the type of stream, existence of the descriptor, and a frame-compatible mode flag.
US08982178B2
The present invention provides a method and device for acquiring real-time video images of a terminal, sad method comprising: acquiring light intensity of an existing environment when the terminal acquires the real-time video images; comparing the light intensity of the existing environment with a light intensity threshold value set by the terminal system; acquiring images preset by the terminal and sending the preset images to an existing receiver which is communicating with the terminal if the light intensity of the existing environment is lower than the light intensity threshold value set by the terminal system. The present invention can ensure the quality of video conversation when the light intensity is weak, save power energy, improve the user experience, and is beneficial to promote the video communication terminal.
US08982161B2
There is provided an image data processing device including a display control unit for controlling display of an image on a display device, a decoding priority setting unit for setting a decoding priority in each of image data of a plurality of images that may be displayed on a display screen of the display device by the display control unit, a decoding unit for performing a decoding process on each image data according to the decoding priority set by the decoding priority setting unit, and a storage unit for storing each decoded image data subjected to the decoding process by the decoding unit.
US08982160B2
Embodiments provide a user interface for computing devices equipped with a touchscreen user interface/display and a digital camera that enhances a portion of a displayed image within a user's gaze. A user may calibrate their mobile device by touching a portion of the touchscreen with one or more fingers and following a moving image on the display with their eyes. The mobile device may track where a user is looking, and if the user is looking at the mobile device display, a portion of the display in the vicinity of the user's gaze may be enhanced in size. In an embodiment, if the user is looking at a virtual keyboard, key icons near the user's gaze may be increased in size commensurate with the user's finger tip size. In this manner, a user can accurately select individual keys in a virtual keyboard that fits within a mobile device display.
US08982136B2
This disclosure describes techniques for automatically selecting a rendering mode for use by a graphics processing unit (GPU) to render graphics data for display. More specifically, the techniques include evaluating at least two metrics associated with rendering graphics data of one or more rendering units, and automatically selecting either an immediate rendering mode or a deferred rendering mode for a current rendering unit based on the evaluated metrics. The selected rendering mode may be the one of the rendering modes predicted to use less power and/or system bandwidth to render the graphics data of the current rendering unit. A rendering unit may comprise a set of frames, a frame, a portion of a frame, multiple render targets associated with a frame, a single render target associated with a frame, or a portion of a single render target.
US08982134B2
A method and device are provided for performing tile based rendering. The method and device analyze past and current commands to determine when tiles are renderable independently of other tiles. In such cases, all rendering passes are performed successively without rendering other tiles in between.
US08982132B2
Methods and systems for animation timelines using value templates are disclosed. In some embodiments, a method includes generating a data structure corresponding to a graphical representation of a timeline and creating an animation of an element along the timeline, where the animation modifies a property of the element according to a function, and where the function uses a combination of a string with a numerical value to render the animation. The method also includes adding a command corresponding to the animation into the data structure, where the command is configured to return the numerical value, and where the data structure includes a value template that produces the combination of the string with the numerical value. The method further includes passing the produced combination of the string with the numerical value to the function and executing the function to animate the element.
US08982130B2
Methods of generating heat maps of assets using clustering of assets are disclosed. Some methods include receiving a list of assets, assigning the assets to one or more heat range categories based on the status of the assets, assigning assets operating within a zone to a zone cluster, assigning the assets of the zone cluster to category clusters based on the heat range categories assigned to the assets. The positions of the clusters may be calculated for mapping, and may be displayed on a map. Some embodiments of these methods allow a user to quickly detect and locate non-standard assets on a map while standard assets are consolidated to clusters that are less prominent to the user. This leads to minimizing the time required to form responses to de-load hotspots in an electrical grid, minimizing the cost of assets by reducing the need for hardware redundancy, and minimized equipment outages.
US08982121B2
A computer-implemented method and system for rendering a computer-aided design model includes constructing a boundary representation data structure of the model comprising topological data for a face, constructing a data structure representing a parameter space of the face, and decomposing the parameter space into cells, where each cell indicates the presence of the face in the cell. The cells are encoded in a texture construct that is transmitted to a graphics processing unit where further processing renders the face on a computer monitor.
US08982117B2
A display apparatus includes a display panel configured to include a plurality of pixels and display an image having a plurality of viewpoints in response to a data signal and a control signal, a converter, and a driver. The converter is configured to receive a first image signal and a first control signal, the first image signal including an image data and a depth data corresponding to the image data and a first control signal, the converter further configured to generate a converted depth data corresponding to a predetermined pixel on the basis of the first image signal, and output a second image signal having the viewpoints and a second control signal based on the image data and the converted depth data. The driver is configured to receive the second image signal and the second control signal and output the data signal and the control signal to the display panel.
US08982106B2
A display device includes flexible substrate, a display unit including multiple light-emitting elements arranged at the substrate and configured to display an image according to an image signal, a displacement sensor provided to at least one of a front surface and a back surface of the substrate and configured to detect a curved state of the substrate, and a control unit configured to perform a flip control with respect to the image displayed in the display unit when a curve of the substrate is detected by the displacement sensor.
US08982101B2
The invention provides an optical touch system, including a camera having a lens and an image sensor to capture an image of a touch object on the image sensor through the lens, an active light source for lighting the touch object, and a processor for determining the distance between the touch object and the camera according to the size of the image or the brightness of the image on the image sensor, determining the direction of the touch object according to the position of the image on the image sensor, and calculating the position of the touch object.
US08982091B1
Systems for and methods of decoding the coordinates a touch upon a touch panel. The touch panel comprises drive channels and sense channels. A Hadamard excitation matrix and a cover code are used to generate drive signals to the drive channels of the touch panel. Sense channels of the touch panel are demodulated and decoded using an inverse excitation matrix. The inverse of an Hadamard excitation matrix is the same as the Hadamard excitation matrix. A Hadamard excitation matrix is orthogonal and enables the use of cyclic extension of excitation of the drive signals to reduce the effect of phase shift of drive signals propagated to the sense channels. The cover code enables reduction of the dynamic range of amplifiers at the sense channels.
US08982085B2
A touch panel includes an insulated substrate including a planar part and a folded part extending from the planar part; a transparent conductive layer located on the planar part and the folded part; a plurality of planar electrodes located on the planar part and electrically connected to the transparent conductive layer; and at least one side electrode located on the folded part and electrically connected to the transparent conductive layer on the folded part. The planar electrodes, the transparent conductive layer and the planar part are formed into a planar touch module configured to detect a planar input signal resulted from the planar part. The at least one side electrode the folded part and the transparent conductive layer on the folded part are formed into a side touch module configured to sense a side input signal resulted from at least one virtual key corresponding the at least one side electrode.
US08982081B2
The disclosure relates to a displacement sensing touch panel and a touch screen using the touch panel. The touch panel includes a first panel, a second panel, and a displacement sensor sandwiched between the first panel and the second panel. The displacement sensor deforms when a pressure is applied to the first panel. The touch screen includes the touch panel, a controller where the touch positions and forces applied are deduced from the readings of the displacement sensor, and a display coupled to the controller and adjacent to the touch panel. Displacement information is collected through the displacement sensor to deduce the positions and magnitudes of the forces applied to the first panel of the touch panel or touch screen.
US08982079B2
An electronic device is provided, including a housing, at least one tap sensing unit and a processing unit. The housing has a touch surface, in which, when the touch surface is tapped more than one time in a predetermined interval, shock waves are generated. The tap sensing unit receives the shock waves to generate a moire signal. The processing unit obtains a shock wave source number of each of the shock waves according to the moire signal, and generates a string code according to a generation order of the shock waves and the shock wave source number of each of the shock waves, such that the processing unit controls the electronic device according to a control command corresponding to the string code.
US08982068B2
A device includes a housing, a processor that is coupled to the housing, the processor is configured to process a software program stored in a memory. A touch screen is coupled to the housing and configured to display graphical objects, wherein a sensor signal associated with a user's interaction with the touch screen is provided to the processor. A first actuator is coupled to the touch screen and positioned within the housing. The first actuator is configured to output a first haptic effect to the touch screen upon receiving a first activating signal from the processor. A second actuator is coupled to the housing and configured to output a second haptic effect to the housing upon receiving a second activating signal from the processor. The first activating signal is associated with a foreground event and the second activating signal is associated with a background event occurring in the software program.
US08982063B2
A navigation module for a handheld communication device having a navigation pad, a chrome-like ring surrounding the navigation pad, an illumination ring surrounding the navigation pad, and at least one light source optically coupled to the at least the illumination ring. The illumination ring can be interposed between the chrome-like ring and the navigation pad. The chrome-like ring can be interposed between the illumination ring and the navigation pad. The light source can be a light emitting diode.
US08982061B2
In embodiments of angular contact geometry, touch input sensor data is recognized as a touch input on a touch-screen display, such as a touch-screen display integrated in a mobile phone or portable computing device. A sensor map is generated from the touch input sensor data, and the sensor map represents the touch input. The sensor map can be generated as a two-dimensional array of elements that correlate to sensed contact from a touch input. An ellipse can then be determined that approximately encompasses elements of the sensor map, and the ellipse represents a contact shape of the touch input.
US08982060B2
Compensation for sensors in a touch and hover sensing device is disclosed. Compensation can be for sensor resistance and/or sensor sensitivity variation that can adversely affect touch and hover measurements at the sensors. To compensate for sensor resistance, the device can gang adjacent sensors together so as to reduce the overall resistance of the sensors. In addition or alternatively, the device can drive the sensors with voltages from multiple directions so as to reduce the effects of the sensors' resistance. To compensate for sensor sensitivity variation (generally at issue for hover measurements), the device can apply a gain factor to the measurements, where the gain factor is a function of the sensor location, so as to reduce the sensitivity variation at different sensor locations on the device.
US08982059B2
A touch panel includes a first electrode plate having a first conductive layer and a second electrode plate including a second conductive layer opposite to the first conductive layer. At least one of the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer includes a carbon nanotube film. The carbon nanotube film includes a number of thin regions and at least one normal region having a number of successively oriented carbon nanotubes joined end-to-end by Van der Waals attractive force therebetween. The carbon nanotubes are substantially aligned along a same direction. The at least one normal region has a density of carbon nanotubes greater than that of the number of thin regions, and the number of thin regions form at least one row extending along the aligned direction of the carbon nanotubes of the at least one normal region.
US08982043B2
An electronic reader device with a physical control disposed on a surface of the device housing. The physical control is operable to initiate a first function. A display disposed on the surface of the housing is operable to show a virtual control that initiates a second function. A sensor detects a drag operation moving the virtual control to a position on a border of the display adjacent to the physical control. A processor associates the second function with the physical control in response to the drag operation and performs the second function upon activation of the physical control.
US08982041B2
A display device and a method for driving the display device is disclosed. The display device comprises drive circuitry (35) and a plurality of pixels (PIX1, PIX2, PIX3, PIX4, PIX5, PIX6) having movable charged particles (116). The drive circuitry is configured to apply control signals to the pixels to move the charged particles between first (110) and second (112) regions of each pixel in order to alter the optical appearance of each pixel. The method for each pixel comprises a pre-addressing stage (PRA) of moving the charged particles towards the boundary (114) between the first and second regions, and then an addressing stage (ADD) of moving the particles to one side or the other side of the boundary, in dependence on the desired optical appearance of the pixel.
US08982037B2
A display device for providing additional information using Visible Light Communication (VLC), including a decoder for dividing an input signal into a video signal and a data signal including additional information on at least one object included in an image output through the video signal; a display; a VLC controller for receiving the data signal from the decoder and encoding the data signal in accordance with a VLC protocol to output the data signal as a visible light signal through the VLC; light source blocks, which include light sources, back light the display, and output the data signal encoded in accordance with the VLC; and a control unit for controlling the encoded data signal including the additional information on the object, to be output as the visible light signal through a light source block at a position corresponding to the object from among the light source blocks.
US08982036B2
A liquid crystal display includes a liquid crystal display panel, a backlight unit including a plurality of light sources, a backlight driving circuit that individually drives a plurality of previously determined blocks each including the light sources based on a dimming value of each of the blocks, and a local dimming control circuit. The local dimming control circuit adjusts the dimming value of each block based on the result of an analysis of input data, calculates and interpolates sampling gain values of predetermined sampling positions positioned inside each block so as to compensate for a change amount of a luminance resulting from the dimming value of each block, obtains a gain value of each pixel, and modulate the input data to be applied to a corresponding pixel based on the gain value of each pixel.
US08982035B2
A method of driving a light source including a light source module which provides a liquid crystal display panel with light and is driven through a dimming method according to a plurality of driving blocks, the method including; calculating gradation data of an image block of the liquid crystal display panel from an external image signal by dividing the image block into a plurality of sub-blocks, determining a duty ratio of a driving signal which drives an individual driving block of the plurality of driving blocks, the individual driving block corresponding to the image block based on the gradation data, and driving the individual driving block in accordance with the duty ratio.
US08982034B2
A portable electronic device and a backlight control method are both provided herein. The portable electronic device includes a display, a backlight module, an orientation sensor, and a light sensor. The backlight control method includes steps of providing the display with a backlight emitted from the backlight module; sensing a spatial position of the portable electronic device with the orientation sensor and generating a first signal in accordance with the spatial position; sensing the brightness of the ambient light outside the portable electronic device with the light sensor and generating a second signal in accordance with the brightness of the ambient light; and turning on or off the backlight module in accordance with the first signal and the second signal.
US08982033B2
A display device including various portions, circuits and other arrangements for outputting various pulses and triggers, for controlling forward shift and backward shift operations.
US08982026B2
A sub-pixel circuit, display panel and driving method of the display panel are provided. The display panel has a plurality of data lines, scan lines and sub-pixel circuits. At least one of the sub-pixel circuits is electrically coupled to one data line and three scan lines. The sub-pixel circuit determines whether to receive data from the coupled data line or not according to scan signals transmitted on the coupled three scan lines, and controls transmittance itself accordingly. Specifically, the scan signals transmitted on the coupled three scan lines are different from each other.
US08982013B2
An adequate display operation control in accordance with the external world situation is realized. For example, where a user wears the wearing unit of a spectacle-shaped or head-worn unit, the user is made to be able to view any type of image on the display section immediately in front of the eyes, and provided with taken images, reproduced images, and received images. At the point, a control relative to various display operations such as on/off of the display operation, display operation mode, and source change is carried out based on external world information.
US08982004B1
A method and system for aligning an antenna reflector with satellites in a satellite configuration. A method in accordance with the present invention comprises pointing the reflector to a position along an orbital arc used in the satellite configuration, commanding a Single Wire Multiswitch circuits which is coupled to the reflector of the antenna to output a signal from at least one satellite at the orbital slot, and adjusting the reflector to maximize reception of the signal from the orbital slot.
US08982002B2
Electronic devices may be provided that contain wireless communications circuitry. The wireless communications circuitry may include radio-frequency transceiver circuitry coupled to an adjustable antenna. The adjustable antenna may contain conductive antenna structure such as conductive electronic device housing structures. Electrical components such as switches and resonant circuits may be used in configuring the antenna to operate in two or more different antenna modes at different respective communications bands. Control circuitry may be used in controlling the switches. The antenna may be configured to operate as an inverted-F antenna in one mode of operation and a slot antenna in a second mode of operation.
US08982001B2
Provided is an information processing apparatus including a keyboard portion, a first antenna module, and a connection portion. The keyboard portion includes a base plate to support a plurality of key portions, and a reinforcing member having an electric conductivity to be stacked on and reinforce the base plate. The first antenna module includes an antenna electrode to generate an induced electric field, and a ground portion to electrically connect to the antenna electrode. The connection portion is electrically connected to the ground portion and the reinforcing member.
US08981999B2
A broadband antenna element includes a circuit board, an antenna carrier connected to the circuit board, and a broadband antenna. The broadband antenna includes a first antenna and a second antenna which are conductive bent strips of metal. The first antenna includes a first feed terminal and a second feed terminal. The second antenna includes a third feed terminal and a coupling ground terminal. The second feed terminal and the coupling ground terminal are mounted on the circuit board keeping a first predetermined distance away from each other. The first feed terminal is mounted on the antenna carrier/circuit board being connected to the second feed terminal, and the third feed terminal is mounted on the antenna carrier being connected to the coupling ground terminal.
US08981994B2
Mobile device, method and computer program product for processing signals at the mobile device. The signals are received at a plurality of signal sensors of the mobile device. Motion of the mobile device is sensed and the received signals are processed using beamforming means at the mobile device, in dependence upon their direction of arrival at the plurality of signal sensors and in dependence upon the sensed motion of the mobile device.
US08981992B2
Methods and apparatuses are provided that may be implemented in various electronic devices to identify suspect measurements for use in a position/velocity/time estimation filter and provide corresponding validated measurements that may be either operatively re-weighted in some manner or operatively one-sided isolated in some manner when subsequently considered by the position/velocity/time estimation filter.
US08981986B2
Measures are provided for performing direct radio-frequency to digital conversion. A radio-frequency input signal is compared with a plurality of reference voltages to generate a plurality of comparison signals, each comparison signal corresponding to one of the plurality of reference voltages. One or more of the plurality of generated comparison signals are first filtered to generate a first filtered signal. One or more of the plurality of generated comparison signals are second filtered to generate a second filtered signal. A digital output signal is generated at least on the basis of the first filtered signal and the second filtered signal.
US08981974B2
A first switching unit configured to switch a first state for inputting a first clock signal input from a first input terminal, and a second state for inputting an output signal of a second delay element, to a first delay element. A second switching unit configured to switch a first state for inputting a second clock signal input from a second input terminal, and a second state for inputting an output signal of a first delay element, to a second delay element. After the two clock signals are respectively taken in the first delay elements and the second delay elements by putting the first and second switching units into the first state, the control unit puts the first and second switching units into the second state. An output unit outputs a phase difference obtained by decoding values stored in FFs in the second state.
US08981969B2
The invention relates to an alarm apparatus (1) for a pilot's headset (3) and to a pilot's headset having such an alarm apparatus. The alarm apparatus comprises an attitude sensor (11), which detects its inclination relative to a starting position or the horizontal, and a measuring device (12) for recording a period for which the inclination recorded by the attitude sensor exceeds a stipulated inclination tolerance limit. In addition, the alarm apparatus has a means (13) which is set up to trigger an alarm signal when a recorded period of the inclination tolerance limit being exceeded is longer than a preset maximum period.
US08981967B1
Method and apparatus for managing equipment on an aircraft. An apparatus comprises an interrogator, a display system, and a processor unit. The interrogator is configured to read information from a set of wireless tags associated with a set of equipment in an aircraft. The processor unit is configured to identify the set of equipment from the information read from the set of wireless tags by the interrogator. The processor unit is further configured to display a layout of an interior of the aircraft on the display system. The processor unit is further configured to display a number of graphical indicators for the set of equipment on the layout in a number of locations on the layout corresponding to a number of locations of where the set of equipment is located in the interior of the aircraft.
US08981963B2
Disclosed is an accident/near-miss factor area specifying device capable of specifying accident/near-miss factor areas, the presentation of which is highly required. The accident/near-miss factor area specifying device (100) is used for specifying accident/near-miss factor areas which a driver of a vehicle should be aware of in order to prevent an accident, and the device comprises a viewing area specifying unit (151) for specifying a viewing area of a driver of a vehicle which had a near-miss, immediately before the near-miss occurs, and an unnoticed area specifying unit (152) wherein, when a near-miss object is located in a viewing area, an area corresponding to the position of the object is treated as an unnoticed area which is one of the accident/near-miss factor areas.
US08981962B2
A holder device is capable of automatically adjusting orientation of an electronic device placed thereon based upon position of a user. The holder device includes a holder body, a torque unit, and a control unit. The holder body includes a base, a movable arm set pivoted to the base, and a fastening seat for placing the electronic device thereon. The torque unit is disposed at pivot joints of the movable arm set and provides power for driving pivoting movement of the movable arm set. The control unit is disposed to receive user-associated position information and is configured to generate a control command corresponding to the position information and to transmit the control command to the torque unit so as to control the torque unit to move the movable arm set for adjusting orientation of the electronic device placed on the fastening seat.
US08981960B2
A wireless field device may include a first communication unit that performs wireless communication via a wireless network, a storage unit that stores setting information including at least one of device information specifying the wireless field device, communication setting information for implementing wireless communication via the wireless network, and device setting information prescribing an operation of the wireless field device, and a change control unit that performs control not to enable a change of the setting information when prohibition information representing prohibition of the change of the setting information is received by the first communication unit.
US08981957B2
Remote operation of downhole tools in a subterranean wellbore is performed by inserting untethered, mobile devices sequentially into the wellbore. The mobile devices can include motive means, power supply, communication and data storage means, etc. In one embodiment, the method comprises maneuvering a first mobile device into proximity with a downhole tool, the device powering the tool. The first device is then removed, such as by flowing up or dissolving. The now-powered tool is used to perform a test or other operation. A second mobile device is maneuvered into proximity with the downhole tool and data is transferred. The second device is retrieved with the data or, using on-board logic devices, provides “if-then” commands to the downhole tool. Alternately, a third mobile device can be used to power and transfer commands to the tool. The method can be used for various tasks, such as opening bypass ports on ICD valves.
US08981950B1
Various devices, systems, and methods may be presented. A sensor unit may be presented that includes a housing and a chamber arranged within the housing. The sensor unit may include a controller arranged within the housing. The controller may receive information from an HVAC (heating ventilation and air conditioning) system, wherein the information is indicative of operation of the HVAC system. The controller may determine an effect of the HVAC system on measurements made by the sensor using the information from the HVAC system.
US08981948B2
A connector clip for medical sensors, including a first main body having two main tip contacts in electrical contact with electrical wires connectable to an instrument and a second main body mounted on the first main body and movable with respect to the first main body between an open position and a closed position. Two auxiliary tip contacts and an electric/electronic circuit provided with two connecting leads each electrically connected to one of the two auxiliary tip contacts are positioned in first or second main body. When a disposable sensor tab is correctly located and clamped each of two contacts is in contact with one of the main tip contacts and one of the auxiliary tip contacts and the electric circuit is connected in parallel with an electrical circuit defined by the sensor.
US08981946B2
In one embodiment, the present invention is directed to a soil moisture sensor for interrupting an irrigation schedule of an irrigation controller. The moisture sensor comprises a relatively flat body with two lower electrodes and two lower anchoring barbs. A receiver receives moisture readings from the sensor and compares moisture data to a predetermined moisture interrupt value or limit, over which irrigation is interrupted.
US08981944B2
The invention relates to an interaction device (1), comprising a) a first input unit (20) with a first sensitive surface, especially a touch display, and a first sensor unit, b) a second input unit (2-12) with a second sensitive surface and a second sensor unit, c) wherein the second input unit (2-12) is used for protection of the first input unit (20), especially against overheating and/or mechanical damaging. Furthermore, the invention relates to a glass ceramic hob (22), especially induction cooking hob, with an interaction device (1) according to the invention a) wherein preferably the interaction device (1) is arranged in a side and/or edge area of the glass ceramic hob and/or arranged at the lower surface of the glass ceramic hob (22) and/or b) wherein preferably the glass ceramic hob comprises a fan for ventilation. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for protection of an input unit, preferably for an interaction device and/or a glass ceramic hob according to the invention, comprising a) a first input unit (20) with a first sensitive surface, especially a touch display, and a first sensor unit, b) a second input unit (2-11) with a second sensitive surface and a second sensor unit, c) wherein the second input unit protects the first input unit, d) wherein after an input has been detected by the second input unit, especially after a preselected threshold value has been exceeded, e) the input value is compared with at least one preselected threshold value, f) wherein the at least one threshold value is preferably larger than a threshold value generated by the press or the touch of a finger, g) wherein after exceeding the at least one threshold value, g1) the first input unit (20) is turned off and/or g2) the heating energy for the glass ceramic hob, especially the induction current, is turned off to decrease the temperature and/or g3) an alarm is generated, especially an optical or acoustical alarm, to warn the operator and/or g4) the speed of the fan is increased to decrease the temperature.
US08981941B2
There is provided an information processing apparatus including a matter extracting unit extracting a predetermined matter from text information, an action pattern specifying unit specifying one or multiple action patterns associated with the predetermined matter, an action extracting unit extracting each of the action patterns associated with the predetermined matter, from sensor information, and a state analyzing unit generating state information indicating a state related to the matter, based on each of the action patterns extracted from the sensor information, using a contribution level indicating a degree of contribution of each of the action patterns to the predetermined matter, for a combination of the predetermined matter and each of the action patterns associated with the predetermined matter.
US08981936B2
The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a web of a plurality of conductive structures which may be used for example to produce an antenna, electronic circuit, photovoltaic module or the like. The method involved simultaneously patterning at least one pattern in a conductive layer using a plurality of registration marks. The registration marks serve to align and guide the creation of the plurality of conductive structures. Optical brighteners may also be utilized within the adhesive layer and the registration marks of the present invention in order to detect the location where conductive structures are to be placed.
US08981923B2
A remote control signal receiver includes a plurality of signal reception units. Each signal reception unit includes a light reception window arranged in a housing of an electronic device and a light reception element arranged in the housing facing toward the light reception window. The light reception elements of the signal reception units are mounted on a circuit board. A transmission barrier prevents infrared noise entering the housing through the light reception window of one of the signal reception units from being transmitted to the light reception element of another one of the signal reception units.
US08981919B2
A flow indication system for a central tire inflation system is provided. The flow indication system provides a venturi in fluid communication with the conduit providing air to a tire. A pressure reading is taken at the inlet and throat of the venturi and the air flowing through the venturi is calculated based on the pressure differential. According to some embodiments, the pressure readings are provided to a microcontroller that uses a table and interpolation algorithms to calculate the flow of the air flowing through the venturi, such as the mass of air in a given unit of time (grams/second for example). In one embodiment, two separate pressure sensors are coupled to different ends of a narrowed orifice that causes a pressure change in the flow as flow rate increases in the throat of the sensor. This pressure change is then used to calculate a proportional flow that can then be broadcast to various parties instead of an on/off reading.
US08981918B2
A warning system for a vehicle having an air suspension system can include an indicator, an event data recorder, and a controller. The controller can be configured to determine a load on a front axle and a rear axle when the vehicle is in a static condition and compare the determined load on the front and rear axles to a predetermined load threshold for each of the front and rear axles. A warning signal can be provided to the indicator indicative of at least one of the determined loads exceeding the corresponding predetermined load threshold upon the controller determining one of the determined loads exceeds the corresponding predetermined load threshold. Data indicative of at least one of the determined loads exceeding the corresponding predetermined threshold can be communicated to the event data recorder.
US08981896B2
Enabling a passenger of a vehicle to enter or board the vehicle without necessarily having previously purchased a ticket or fare, and then to perfect a ticket purchase using their handheld device while on-board the vehicle.
US08981881B2
A stacked module includes a first multilayer substrate including an opening having a stepwise wall face, and a first transmission line including a first grounding conductor layer, a second multilayer substrate supported on a stepped portion of the stepwise wall face and including a second transmission line including a second grounding conductor layer, a first chip mounted on a bottom of the opening and coupled to a third transmission line provided on the first multilayer substrate, and a second chip mounted on the front face of the second multilayer substrate and coupled to the second transmission line. A face to which the second grounding conductor layer or a fourth grounding conductor layer coupled thereto is exposed is joined to the stepped portion to which the first grounding conductor layer or a third grounding conductor layer coupled thereto is exposed, and the first and second grounding conductor layers are coupled.
US08981859B2
An oscillator includes a resonator section structured such that a dielectric is interposed between first and second conductors and such that the first and second conductors are electrically connected to a resonant tunneling diode, a capacitor section structured such that the dielectric is interposed between the first and second conductors, a line section configured to electrically connect the resonator section and the capacitor section in parallel to each other, and a resistor section configured to electrically connect the first and second conductors to each other. A first position of the resonator section and a second position of the capacitor section are connected to each other by the line section so that the first position and the second position are substantially electrically equivalent to each other in a wavelength range larger than a wavelength of an electromagnetic wave that resonates in the resonator section.
US08981852B2
A power amplifier includes a power amplifier core including a plurality of gain stages to receive a radio frequency (RF) signal and to output an amplified RF signal, an output network coupled to the power amplifier core to receive the amplified RF signal and output a transmit output power signal, and a directional coupler coupled to the output network to obtain a coupled signal proportional to the transmit output power signal. Each of these components can be configured on a single semiconductor die, in an embodiment.
US08981846B2
There is disclosed a technique for controlling at least one amplification stage, comprising: selecting a linearity objective for the amplification stage; in dependence on an input signal to said amplification stage, determining a combination of supply input and bias input for the amplification stage in order to meet said linearity objective; and in dependence on there being more than one combination of supply input and bias input for meeting the linearity objective, selecting the combination that optimizes a further system performance objective for the amplification stage. The further system performance objective may be one or more of: an efficiency objective; an envelope signal bandwidth objective; or a robustness to production tolerance objective.
US08981838B1
A half-ratio charge pump circuit includes a flying capacitor electrically coupled between a first node and a second node. Eight switches are controlled to carry out first to fourth operating phases during which charges are stored on and transferred from the flying capacitor, thereby generating a positive output voltage at approximately half the positive input voltage, and generating a negative output voltage at approximately half the negative input voltage.
US08981834B2
An offset-compensation circuit in a MEMS sensor device, provided with a micromechanical detection structure that transduces a quantity to be detected into an electrical detection quantity, and with an electronic reading circuit, coupled to the micromechanical detection structure for processing the electrical detection quantity and supplying an output signal, which is a function of the quantity to be detected. A compensation structure is electrically coupled to the input of the electronic reading circuit and can be controlled for generating an electrical compensation quantity, of a trimmable value, for compensating an offset on the output signal; the compensation circuit has a control unit, which reads the output signal during operation of the MEMS sensor device; obtains information on the offset present on the output signal itself; and controls the compensation structure as a function of the offset information.
US08981832B2
System and method for integrating an input signal to generate an output signal. The system includes a first integrator configured to receive the input signal and generate an integrated signal based on at least information associated with the input signal, a second integrator configured to receive the integrated signal and generate the output signal based on at least information associated with the integrated signal, and a compensation capacitor coupled to the first integrator and the second integrator. The first integrator includes a first integration capacitor and a first operational amplifier including a first input terminal and a first output terminal, the first integration capacitor being coupled between the first input terminal and the first output terminal. The second integrator includes a second integration capacitor and a second operational amplifier including a second input terminal and a second output terminal.
US08981821B2
Several methods and circuits configured to mitigate signal interference of at least one aggressor circuit operable on a first clock signal within an interfering frequency range of at least one victim circuit in an IC are disclosed. In an embodiment, a signal interference mitigation circuit is configured to be associated with the aggressor circuit and includes a clock divider circuit and a control circuit. The clock divider circuit is configured to generate the first clock signal based on a second clock signal and a division factor pattern. The control circuit is coupled with the clock divider circuit and configured to determine the division factor pattern and provide the division factor pattern to the clock divider circuit. The division factor pattern comprises a plurality of division factors selected randomly based on a plurality of random numbers, and is configured to control a throughput frequency associated with the signal interference mitigation circuit.
US08981820B2
Devices and methods are provided in which a driver is supplied via a first current path and a second current path which can comprise a switching element.
US08981819B2
A switch bias system is provided that includes a bipolar junction transistor (BJT) switch comprising a base, emitter, and collector; an energy storage circuit coupled to the collector of the BJT, the energy storage circuit supplying current flow to the collector of the BJT; a current transformer circuit coupled to the emitter, the current transformer circuit configured to sense current flow through the emitter of the BJT switch; and a proportional bias circuit configured to generate a bias current to the base of the BJT switch, the bias current set to a proportion of the sensed current flow through the emitter of the BJT switch.
US08981814B2
In one embodiment, the integrated circuit has a L-level permutable switching network (L-PSN) comprising L levels of intermediate conductors. The integrated circuit can be used in electronic devices, such as switching networks, routers, and programmable logic circuits, etc.
US08981813B2
A logic processing device, containing an application specific integrated circuit (“ASIC”) and field programmable gate array (“FPGA”), capable of automatically interfacing between ASIC and FPGA is disclosed. The logic processing device, in one aspect, includes a phase adjustment circuit, ASIC, and configurable logic circuit (“CLC”) wherein the CLC can be an FPGA. While ASIC is able to perform a specific function in accordance with an ASIC clock domain, the CLC is capable of performing a programmable logic function in accordance with an FPGA clock domain. The phase adjustment circuit is used to automatically facilitate a communication between the ASIC and the CLC in accordance with the ASIC clock domain and the FPGA clock domain.
US08981788B2
In a calibration process, a capacitor unit is removed from end terminals, or namely, respective capacitors are not connected to terminals. A prescribed voltage (a known voltage) is applied between these end terminals. Among bypass switches of a bypass circuit, the bypass switches connected to one terminal or two or more consecutive terminal pairs from the positive end terminal side are ON. Terminal voltages other than the negative end terminal are obtained and stored as calibration information.
US08981787B2
A method is provided for detecting a state of a connection between an electrically driven motor vehicle (1) and a corresponding charging station. The motor vehicle (1) has a control pilot (CP) function with a vehicle-side control pilot (CP) line (3). The method includes using a power line communication (PLC) chip (2) of the motor vehicle (1) to measure the length of a control pilot line between the motor vehicle and the charging station.
US08981780B2
A receiver and tracking system for identifying a location of a magnetic field source. In a preferred embodiment a plurality of tri-axial antennas are positioned at three distinct points on a receiver frame. Each antenna detects a magnetic field from a source and a processor is used to determine a location of the source relative to the frame using the antenna signals. Each tri-axial antenna comprises three windings in each of three channels defined by a support structure. The windings each define an aperture area. The windings have substantially identical aperture areas and have a common center point. The receiver may to display to the operator the relative location of the field source or may direct the operator to a spot directly above the field source.
US08981775B2
When it is difficult to apply a rephasing gradient magnetic field of a predetermined order according to an imaging parameter value set as input, a rephasing gradient magnetic field of a smaller amount of application is calculated, and at least some echo signals are measured using the calculated rephasing gradient magnetic field of the smaller amount of application.
US08981770B2
The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for void size determination of voids within an object into which an aerosol containing magnetic particles has been introduced, in particular for determining the size of a patient's pulmonary alveoli, said patient having inhaled an aerosol containing magnetic particles To review information concerning the lung structure, it is proposed to use magnetic particle imaging. First and second detection signals are acquired subsequently at different moments in time after introduction of the aerosol containing the magnetic particles into the object, in particular after inhalation of the aerosol by the patient. These detection signals are exploited, in particular the drop in intensity and/or the signal decay time, to get information about the diffusion of the magnetic particles within the voids, in particular alveoli, and to retrieve information therefrom about the size of the voids, in particular alveoli.
US08981769B2
A rotational angle detection device may include a sensor wiring member and a motor wiring member. Each of the sensor wiring member and the motor wiring member includes a terminal body section and a connector section that are formed separately from each other and are electrically connected to each other via a connection structure.
US08981756B2
Systems and methods for an industrial I/O controller circuit for frequency input modules that measure the frequency of an electrical input signal using adaptive threshold voltage and/or adaptive hysteresis feedback are shown and described. The systems and methods provide advantages in that the I/O controller circuit can better distinguish between actual input pulses from the electrical input signal, as opposed to unwanted Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) induced input pulses. This maximizes the amount of EMI rejection, independent of the frequency of the moving machine, and results in less time to commission and adjust a sensor, fewer false frequency measurements and less system down time.
US08981755B2
The present invention concerns a method of detecting electric variables of a three-phase AC network having a first, a second and a third phase, including the steps of measuring a respective voltage value of the first, second and third phases in relation to a neutral conductor at a first moment in time, transforming the three voltage values of the first moment in time into polar co-ordinates with a voltage amplitude and a phase angle, repeating measurement and transformation for at least one further moment in time, and determining the currently prevailing frequency, voltage amplitude and/or phase angle of at least one of the phases from the voltage values transformed into polar co-ordinates.
US08981754B1
A processing system measures an input voltage received at an input of an analog circuit, such as an analog-to-digital converter (ADC), where the input voltage is measured by comparing the input voltage to a reference voltage. The reference voltage is determined by the difference between a first voltage and a ground voltage. The processing system includes a programmable reference signal selection circuit to maintain the reference voltage at a constant level.
US08981752B2
An energy-based oriented switching mode power supply includes a bi-directional converter having an energy input and a load output, and an energy based pulsed generator connected between the energy input and the load output for outputting a gate voltage signal controlling how much energy is supplied from the energy input. The energy based pulsed generator receives a clock signal and outputs the gate voltage signal according to the load output of the bi-directional converter when the clock signal is at a high level. Accordingly, the switching mode power supply achieves a hybrid of PWM and PFM, depending on the energy demand of the load output, for a fast transient response and a small voltage ripple whilst improving power efficiency over a wide load range.
US08981740B2
A multiple output switching circuit (300) comprising an input (302) configured to receive power from a power source; a first output (304) configured to provide a first output voltage; and an inductor (308) and a power switch (306) connected between the input (302) and first output (304). The power switch (306) is operable to transfer power from the input (302) to the first output (304). The switching circuit further comprising a second output (312) configured to provide a second output voltage; a second switch (310) coupled between the first output (302) and the second output (312); and a second switch controller (314) configured to provide the second switch (310) with a second switch control signal (318) such that power is transferred from the input (302) to the second output (312) when the first output voltage level reaches a first output threshold level.
US08981738B2
A solar array system includes at least one solar array and at least one solar array regulator. The solar array regulator has an input port to be connected to the solar array, and an output port to be connected to a power bus. The solar array comprises a switching voltage converter comprising a step-down (PC1) and a step-up (PC2) power cell connected in cascade; and a control circuit for driving said voltage converter in a step-up, a step-down or a direct energy transfer mode, depending on an input control signal and on at least one feedback signal (SILF) indicative of an operating condition of said switching voltage converter; characterized in that said at least one feedback signal (SILF) is indicative of an intensity of an electrical current (IL) flowing between said step-down and said step-up power cells, whereby the control circuit implements an internal current feedback control.
US08981731B1
A charger capable of charging an electronic apparatus includes a charger main body having a power output unit which output charging power, a connection unit which is attached to the charger main body, which is configured to be connected to the electronic apparatus, and which is configured to supply the charging power from the power output unit to the electronic apparatus in a state that the connection unit is connected to the electronic apparatus, and a temperature sensor which is provided in the connection unit, and which is configured to detect a temperature in the vicinity of the connection unit.
US08981729B2
A charging control apparatus for a battery includes a controller that controls charging of an in-vehicle lithium ion secondary battery that is charged by power based on regenerative braking performed during vehicle travel and charged by power from an external power supply; determines whether external charging, in which the battery is charged by the power from the external power supply, or the vehicle travel is underway; and when the external charging is determined to be underway, increases an upper limit value of a charging current relative to that of a case in which the vehicle travel is determined to be underway.
US08981728B1
A system for wireless power transfer via a data signal including a transmitter configured to generate and transmit a wireless data signal that includes charging data to a receiver. The receiver includes a receiver memory bank including memory storage devices coupled to memory buses. The receiver includes a decoder configured to decode the wireless data signal received by the receiver to extract charging data therefrom, and write the charging data to the memory storage devices. The receiver includes a charge controller configured to cause the memory storage devices to output portions of the charging data on the memory busses. The receiver includes a voltage conversion circuit coupled to the memory busses configured to produce partial charging signals from the portions of charging data received on the memory busses. The receiver includes a voltage aggregator configured to aggregate the partial charging signals to generate a charging signal.
US08981727B2
An electric vehicle includes a controller configured to receive sensor feedback from a high voltage storage device and from a low voltage storage device, compare the sensor feedback to operating limits of the respective high and low voltage storage device, determine, based on the comparison a total charging current to the high voltage storage device and to the low voltage storage device and a power split factor of the total charging current to the high voltage device and to the low voltage device, and regulate the total power to the low voltage storage device and the high voltage storage device based on the determination.
US08981712B2
A submodule charges or discharges an energy store and contains a capacitor unit and a power semiconductor circuit having power semiconductors that can be switched on and off. The capacitor unit and the power semiconductor circuit are connected to each other such that, after actuating the power semiconductors, the voltage released at the capacitor unit or a zero voltage can be produced at output terminals of the submodule. In order to provide a submodule allowing individual adaptation of the charging operation to the requirements of the energy store which, is cost-effective, the energy store is connected to the submodule via a DC-DC regulator. The regulator is connected to the capacitor unit and is configured to convert a capacitor voltage into a charge voltage that is required for charging the energy store, and to convert a discharge voltage released at the energy store during discharge into the capacitor voltage.
US08981711B2
A system for charging portable electronic devices is proposed, which comprises an apparatus (1) for suspending the portable electronic device, which can be connected electrically to a power source and a part (2) for carrying the electronic device, which has means for transferring electrical energy, further comprising means for transferring electrical energy, which can be connected electrically to the electronic device, wherein the part (2) for carrying the electronic device has electrical contact means (9, 10) connected to the means for transferring electrical energy, which by suspending the electronic device by means of the part (2) for carrying the electronic device on the apparatus (1) for suspending the portable electronic device can be connected in an electrically detachable manner to the electrical contact means (6, 8) of the apparatus (1) for suspending the portable electronic device.
US08981708B2
The present invention concerns a charging apparatus for charging electric storage devices of electric vehicles including a feed-in unit for feeding electric energy into an electric ac voltage network including an electric dc voltage intermediate circuit for the intermediate storage of electric energy with an intermediate circuit voltage, and an inverter for converting a direct current of the dc voltage intermediate circuit into an alternating current, for feeding it into the electric ac voltage network and for converting an alternating current from the ac voltage network into a direct current for feeding it into the dc voltage intermediate circuit, and at least one electric storage charge circuit for at least partial charging of one of the electric storage devices from the dc voltage intermediate circuit and for at least partial discharging of one of the electric storage devices into the dc voltage intermediate circuit.
US08981707B1
A wide dynamic range charger module is configured to couple a variable power source such as a photovoltaic cell to a load. The module determines a maximum power point (MPPT) of the power source and based at least in part upon that MPPT selects one of a plurality of power converters to provide power to the load. The selection is such that the selected power converter is operating within its operating regime. The selected power converter may further be configured to a pre-determined input admittance which corresponds to the power source.
US08981705B2
An inverter for a permanent magnet brushless dc machine, having a permanent magnet rotor and a set of stator windings, applies the full dc voltage provided to the inverter to each phase of the machine.
US08981704B2
Provided are a motor controller for suppressing a torque pulsation with a simple configuration and obtaining a sufficient output torque in the case of an open-type fault occurring in any one of windings of a motor and inverters, and an electric power steering device using the motor controller. In the motor controller for controlling a current supplied from and a voltage applied from a power source with respect to the motor including winding sets of a plurality of systems, when a fault determination unit (31) determines the occurrence of the open-type fault, the supply of the currents to the windings of one of the systems in which the fault has occurred is stopped by control performed on switching elements included in the inverter of the faulty system, whereas the supply of the currents to the windings of the normal system in which the fault has not occurred is continued.
US08981693B2
A method for determining a time for a zero crossing of a phase current in a polyphase electrical machine (2). The method including driving a driver circuit (31; 50) for providing phase voltages to operate the electrical machine (2); deactivating a pulse-width-modulated driving by at least one power switch (36, 37; 52, 53), such that no potential is applied to connecting nodes (AI, A2, B1, B2) by the driver circuit (31; 50), at least during a time segment in each cycle of the pulse width modulation; detecting a diode voltage via a freewheeling diode, with which the deactivated power switch (36, 37; 52, 53) has been provided, within the time segment; and fixing the time for the zero crossing of the phase current as the time after which there is no longer a diode voltage present across the freewheeling diode (40; 54) within the time segment.
US08981690B2
An electric power steering system includes short-circuit determination means for determining whether a short-circuit between an energization failure phase and one of the two phases other than the energization failure phase has occurred while assist force is being generated using the two phases other than the energization failure phase as energization phases. When the short-circuit determination means determines that the short-circuit has occurred, generation of the assist force is stopped.
US08981689B2
In a driver, a discharging module discharges, at a discharging rate, the on-off control terminal of a switching element in response to a drive signal being shifted from an on state to an off state. A changing module determines whether a condition including a level of a sense signal being higher than a threshold level during the on state of the drive signal is met, and changes the discharging rate of the on-off control terminal in response to the drive signal being shifted from the off state to the on state upon determination that the condition is met. A loosening module loosens the condition after a lapse of a period since the shift of the drive signal from the off state to the on state in comparison to the condition immediately after the shift of the drive signal from the off state to the on state.
US08981680B2
An electric power tool of the present invention includes: a lighting unit; a motor that drives a tool element; a setting switch that is turned ON/OFF to change an operation mode setting and a lighting mode setting; a setting switching unit that changes the operation mode setting and the lighting mode setting corresponding to a manner of operation provided to the setting switch; a motor control unit that controls the motor according to a control method for one of the operation modes currently set by the setting switching unit; and a lighting control unit that controls the lighting unit corresponding to one of the lighting modes currently set by the setting switching unit. When the setting switch is turned on, the setting switching unit changes one of the operation mode setting and the lighting mode setting corresponding to a duration time of an ON state of the setting switch.
US08981676B2
A light emitting diode (LED) backlight driving circuit includes an LED light bar, a power supply that drives the LED light bar, and a control assembly that controls the LED light bar and the power supply. The control assembly is configured with a monitor that reduces brightness of the LED light bar when a display image of a liquid crystal (LC) panel is switched between a two-dimensional (2D) display mode of the LC panel and a three-dimensional (3D) display mode of the LC panel, and the brightness of the LED light bar goes normal after a preset delay time.
US08981668B2
A demand-side dimmable LED lamp operable on a direct current power source that powers a lighting subsystem. The dimming unit selects a power consumption level of the lighting system. Such selection changes the efficacy of the lighting subsystem such that a reduction in power consumption actually results in improved efficacy. The selecting might, for example, select a particular passive network that includes LEDs within the lighting subsystem. Each passive network may have different I-V characteristics, and result in different L-P characteristics, thereby effecting the improved efficacy at lower powers.
US08981667B2
The present disclosure proposes a fully integrated accurate LED output current controlling circuit and method, which can be seamlessly combined with true PWM dimming. The current controlling circuit has an auto zero function in the light-emitting diode driver to eliminate offsets caused by the system, process variations, parasitic effects, dimming and so on in an LED driver application, and thus is capable of controlling the LED current with high accuracy. Moreover, the driver of the present disclosure does not require the use of external components such as an external resistor to regulate current accuracy.
US08981659B2
An input voltage transfer apparatus for an LED lighting system is provided. The input voltage transfer apparatus includes a source voltage storage unit, a zero voltage switching unit, and a nonzero voltage switching unit. The source voltage storage unit stores a source voltage. The zero voltage switching unit turns on according to the source voltage stored in the source voltage storage unit when a zero voltage is inputted. The nonzero voltage switching unit turns on according to a current applied thereto through the zero voltage switching unit when a nonzero voltage is inputted. When the nonzero voltage switching unit is turned on, the source voltage storage unit discharges the stored source voltage.
US08981657B2
A circuit for powering a LED light source includes a converter and a controller. The converter provides an output voltage, and includes a first switch which is turned on and off alternately according to a driving signal to control a current. The controller generates the driving signal which is a periodic signal having a first state and a second state per time period. The first switch is turned on when the driving signal operates in the first state, and is turned off when the driving signal operates in the second state. The controller modulates a time period of the driving signal and a time duration of the first state, such that a quotient of the time duration squared and the time period is substantially independent of a change of the time period, and the current is substantially independent of the change.
US08981650B2
Various techniques are provided for programming lighting devices. In one example, a lighting device includes a light emitting diode (LED). The lighting device also includes a microcontroller configured to receive a programming signal generated by the LED in response to illumination of the LED with an externally-supplied light signal modulated with the programming signal.
US08981648B2
A lamp assembly provides both instant light through use of an incandescent/halogen lamp source and an energy saving type light provided by a compact fluorescent lamp source. Both light sources are enclosed within a common envelope or outer bulb. The sensor member monitors a temperature of the cathode and mercury reservoir of the compact fluorescent lamp source in order to determine when to terminate power to the incandescent lamp source.
US08981647B2
To satisfy the need for refitting the lighting of a vehicle without the need to modify the controlling system of the vehicle, the present invention proposes a lighting system which comprises an electrical element (110), configured to consume the received power and incapable of emitting light; a light source (130); and a controller (120), configured to receive a first signal indicating the working status of the electrical element (110) and control the light source (130) generating a first light and a second light, respectively, based on the first signal. By utilizing the signal indicating the working status of the electrical element (110), which element is used to replace another automotive lamp, the controller can control the light source (130) to mimic said another automotive lamp while performing its original function.
US08981645B1
Plasma-shells filled with ionizable gas are positioned on or within a rigid, flexible, or semi-flexible substrate. Each plasma-shell is electrically connected to one or more electrical conductors such as electrodes with an electrically conductive bonding substance to form an electrical connection to each electrode. The electrically conductive bonding substance may comprise a pad connected to the plasma-shell and/or an electrode.
US08981641B2
To provide a method of manufacturing an optical film formed on a plastic substrate. There is provided a method of manufacturing an optical film including the steps of laminating a separation layer and an optical filter on a first substrate, separating the optical filter from the first substrate, attaching the optical filter to a second substrate. Since the optical film manufactured according to the invention has flexibility, it can be provided on a portion or a display device having a curved surface. Further, the optical film is not processed at high temperatures, and hence, an optical film having high yield with high reliability can be formed. Furthermore, an optical film having an excellent impact resistance property can be formed.
US08981636B2
In a lamp: an LED module and a circuit unit for lighting are housed within an envelope composed of a globe and a case; the LED module is attached to an end of an extension member that extends from a mount, which closes an opening at one end of the case, into the globe; the circuit unit is mounted inside the case; an insulation member disposed inside the case ensures insulation between the mount, which is made of metal, and the circuit unit; the insulation member has a bottomed cylinder portion inserted into the mount, and a protrusion portion formed on an outer circumference of the based cylinder portion that protrudes toward an inner surface of the mount; and the insulation member is attached to the mount by the protrusion portion pressing against the inner surface of the mount.
US08981629B2
An LED-based lighting assembly includes a heat sink having at least one pedestal with an upwardly facing, upper planar surface that is raised in a vertical direction relative to an upwardly facing, lower planar surface of the heat sink. A PCB forms an aperture corresponding to the pedestal, includes electrical conductors on an upper surface thereof, and is attached to the lower planar surface. The upper planar surface extends into the aperture, and one or more LED chips attach directly to the upper planar surface and connect to the conductors such that light emits upwardly. A method of integrating LEDs with a heat sink includes mounting a PCB to a planar surface of the heat sink, mounting one or more LED chips to a raised surface of the heat sink that is not covered by the PCB, and electrically connecting the LED chips to conductors on the PCB.
US08981624B2
A micromachined structure, comprises a substrate and a cavity in the substrate. The micromachined structure comprises a membrane layer disposed over the substrate and spanning the cavity.
US08981622B2
An ultrasonic sensor device includes a housing, a transducer, a securing unit and a circuit board. The housing has an enclosing portion formed with first and second openings. The transducer is mounted to the enclosing portion at the second opening, and includes an electrically conductive surrounding wall and a piezoelectric member. The securing unit includes a securing component that secures the transducer on the enclosing portion, and a connecting pin set including two pins each having an end connected electrically to a respective one of the surrounding wall and the piezoelectric member. The circuit board is disposed at the first opening of the enclosing portion for electrical connection with the connecting pin set.
US08981621B2
Described herein are transducers and their fabrication. The transducers convert between mechanical and electrical energy. Some transducers of the present invention include a pre-strained polymer. The pre-strain improves the conversion between electrical and mechanical energy. The present invention provides methods for fabricating electromechanical devices including one or more electroactive polymers.
US08981620B2
A driving mechanism driving a first member and a second member relative to each other which includes a piezoelectric element that drives the first member, a base member that movably supports the first member with the piezoelectric element interposed therebetween, and an electrode portion that is supplied with a driving voltage of the piezoelectric element. The electrode portion includes an exposed portion exposed from the base member.
US08981618B2
A tunable acoustic resonator device has a piezoelectric medium as a first thin film layer and a tunable crystal medium as a second thin film layer. The tunable crystal medium has a first acoustic behavior over an operating temperature range under a condition of relatively low applied stress and a second acoustic behavior under a condition of relatively high applied stress. The acoustic behaviors are substantially different and, consequently, the different levels of applied stress are used to tune the acoustic resonator device. Compared with the tunable resonator device consisting of only tunable crystal medium, a device having both the piezoelectric and tunable crystal medium has advantages such as larger inherent bandwidth and less nonlinearity with AC signals. The device also requires a smaller applied stress (i.e. bias voltage) to achieve the required frequency tuning.
US08981613B2
The electric rotating machine includes a stator winding constituted of conductor segments each having a pair of in-slot portions and a coil end section projecting from both axial ends of a stator core. The coil end section includes a joint-side end portion having a skew portion intersecting with another one of the conductor segments at an axial end of the stator core. The skew portion is formed with a joint end portion at an extremity thereof, the joint end portion being formed with a conductor exposed portion where an inner conductor is exposed and joined to a conductor exposed portion of another conductor segment. A joint area between the joint end portions and a vicinity thereof are covered by an insulating resin member. The insulating resin member is thicker at a portion covering the conductor exposed portions than at a portion covering other than the conductor exposed portions.
US08981600B2
A low-loss data transmission method used in a high-power induction-type power supply system consisting of a supplying-end module and a receiving-end module is disclosed. The supplying-end microprocessor of the supplying-end module has built-in anti-noise signal analysis software that can remove noises from the data signal fed back by the receiving-end module, assuring high stability of the transmission of data signal and reducing energy dissipation of data transmission. Subject to a special circuit arrangement of the receiving-end coil of the receiving-end module, signal modulation is performed on a low voltage DC square wave, assuring a high level of stability of the supplying of power supply to the receiving-end module.
US08981599B2
A power feeding device utilizing an electromagnetic resonance coupling method and a contactless power feeding system can be provided. A coupling coefficient of electromagnetic induction coupling in the power feeding device and/or the inside of a power receiving device is optimized to improve electric power transmission efficiency of a resonance frequency regardless of positions of the power feeding device and the power receiving device. Provided is a power feeding device or a contactless power feeding system in which an S11 parameter which is a reflection component of electric power output from a high-frequency power source of the power feeding device is monitored, and one or both of positions of a transmission coil and a first resonant coil in the power feeding device and positions of a reception coil and a second resonant coil in a power receiving device are changed to adjust a coupling coefficient of electromagnetic induction coupling.
US08981597B2
Power is fed from a feeding coil L2 to a receiving coil L3 using magnetic resonance. The receiving coil L3 is connected in series to a capacitor C3 to constitute a receiving coil circuit 130. The receiving coil L3 is further connected to an adjustment coil L5. By adjusting the inductance of the adjustment coil L5, the resonance frequency of the receiving coil circuit 130 can be adjusted. Since the axial direction of the adjustment coil L5 is at right angles to the power feeding direction, an electromotive force does not occur in the adjustment coil L5.
US08981589B2
Systems and methods are provided for regulating the state of charge of a battery. An exemplary electrical system includes a fuel cell coupled to a bus and a battery coupled to the bus via a switching arrangement coupled to a capacitor. An exemplary method for operating the electrical system involves operating the switching arrangement such that a voltage of the battery is substantially equal to a voltage of the fuel cell when a state of charge of the battery is greater than a lower threshold value and less than an upper threshold value, and operating the switching arrangement to couple the capacitor electrically in series between the battery and the bus when the state of charge of the battery is not between the lower threshold value and the upper threshold value.
US08981576B2
The present disclosure provides an integrated circuit. The integrated circuit includes an interconnect structure formed on a substrate; a landing metal trace formed on the interconnect structure and coupled to the interconnect structure, wherein the landing metal trace includes a first width T defined in a first direction; and a metal bump post formed on and aligned with the landing metal trace, wherein the metal bump post includes a second width U defined in the first direction, and the second width U is greater than the first width T.
US08981573B2
Some embodiments of the invention include a connecting structure between a support and at least one die attached to the support. The die includes a number of die bond pads on a surface of the die. The connecting structure includes a plurality of via and groove combinations. Conductive material is formed in the via and groove combinations to provide connection between the die bond pads and bond pads on the support. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08981569B2
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes an insulating film, a catalytic layer and a wiring layer. The insulating film has a hole. The catalytic layer is formed at the bottom of the hole, at the peripheral wall of the hole, and on the upper surface of the insulating film outside the hole. A contact is formed of a carbon nanotube provided on the portion of the catalytic layer at the bottom of the hole. The wiring layer is formed of graphene and provided on the catalytic layer outside the hole in contact with the carbon nanotube. The catalytic layer at the bottom of the hole is a perforated film, and the catalytic layer outside the hole is a continuous film.
US08981563B2
A semiconductor device includes a first interconnect, a porous dielectric layer formed over the first interconnect, a second interconnect buried in the porous dielectric layer and electrically connected to the first interconnect, and a carbon-containing metal film that is disposed between the porous dielectric layer and the second interconnect and isolates these layers.
US08981559B2
Package on package (PoP) devices and methods of packaging semiconductor dies are disclosed. In one embodiment, a PoP device includes a first packaged die and a second packaged die coupled to the first packaged die. Metal pillars are coupled to the first packaged die. The metal pillars have a first portion proximate the first packaged die and a second portion disposed over the first portion. Each of the metal pillars is coupled to a solder joint proximate the second packaged die.
US08981546B2
A semiconductor package and a carrier for a semiconductor package are provided, the carrier having a top surface and a bottom surface separated by side walls. The carrier includes a seat for a component, and at least one terminal region for electrically connecting the component to the carrier when mounted to the seat, wherein a test portal is arranged at an outer surface of the carrier, and wherein one or more routing paths are arranged in the carrier for routing one or more electrical contacts arranged at the carrier to the test portal.
US08981542B2
A semiconductor power module according to the present invention includes a base member, a semiconductor power device having a surface and a rear surface with the rear surface bonded to the base member, a metal block, having a surface and a rear surface with the rear surface bonded to the surface of the semiconductor power device, uprighted from the surface of the semiconductor power device in a direction separating from the base member and employed as a wiring member for the semiconductor power device, and an external terminal bonded to the surface of the metal block for supplying power to the semiconductor power device through the metal block.
US08981535B2
Charge pump capacitor assemblies and methods of manufacturing the same. One charge pump capacitor assembly includes a charge pump capacitor and a silicon substrate. The charge pump capacitor includes: a silicon-based charge pump capacitor oxide layer, a first terminal on a first side of the silicon-based charge pump layer, a second terminal on a second side of the silicon-based charge pump capacitor oxide layer opposite the first side, and a field oxide layer mounted adjacent the second terminal. The charge pump capacitor is coupled to the silicon substrate. The silicon substrate is etched to reduce contact between the silicon substrate and the field oxide layer.
US08981527B2
A method for forming a resistor integrated with a transistor having metal gate includes providing a substrate having a transistor region and a resistor region defined thereon, forming a transistor having a polysilicon dummy gate in the transistor region and a polysilicon main portion with two doped regions positioned at two opposite ends in the resistor region, performing an etching process to remove the polysilicon dummy gate to form a first trench and remove portions of the doped regions to form two second trenches, and forming a metal gate in the first trench to form a transistor having the metal gate and metal structures respectively in the second trenches to form a resistor.
US08981520B2
A semiconductor device having a semiconductor die and an edge termination structure is provided. The semiconductor die includes an outer edge and an active area defining a main horizontal surface and being spaced apart from the outer edge. The edge termination structure includes at least one vertical trench having an insulated side wall forming, in a horizontal cross-section, an acute angle with the outer edge. The acute angle is lower than about 20°.
US08981508B2
A magnetic field sensor having a support with a top side and a bottom side, whereby a Hall plate is provided on the top side of the support and the Hall plate comprises a carbon-containing layer.
US08981506B1
A perpendicular spin-transfer torque magnetic random access memory (STTMRAM) element is configured to store a state when electrical current is applied thereto. The perpendicular STTMRAM element includes a magnetization layer having a first free layer and a second free layer, separated by a non-magnetic separation layer (NMSL). The direction of magnetization of the first and second free layers each is in-plane prior to the application of electrical current and after the application of electrical current, the direction of magnetization of the second free layer becomes substantially titled out-of-plane and the direction of magnetization of the first free layer switches. Upon electrical current being discontinued, the direction of magnetization of the second free layer remains in a direction that is substantially opposite to that of the first free layer.
US08981505B2
A MTJ is disclosed with a discontinuous Mg or Mg alloy layer having a thickness from 1 to 3 Angstroms between a free layer and a capping layer in a bottom spin valve configuration. It is believed the discontinuous Mg layer serves to block conductive material in the capping layer from diffusing through the free layer and into the tunnel barrier layer thereby preventing the formation of conductive channels that function as electrical shunts within the insulation matrix of the tunnel barrier. As a result, the “low tail” percentage in a plot of magnetoresistive ratio vs Rp is minimized which means the number of high performance MTJ elements in a MTJ array is significantly increased, especially when a high temperature anneal is included in the MTJ fabrication process. The discontinuous layer is formed by a low power physical vapor deposition process.
US08981498B2
An electronic MEMS device is formed by a chip having with a main face and bonded to a support via an adhesive layer. A cavity extends inside the chip from its main face and is closed by a flexible film covering the main face of the chip at least in the area of the cavity. The support has a depressed portion facing the cavity and delimited by a protruding portion facing the main face of the chip. Inside the depressed portion, the adhesive layer has a greater thickness than the projecting portion so as to be able to absorb any swelling of the flexible film as a result of the expansion of the gas contained inside the cavity during thermal processes.
US08981497B2
A chip package structure and a method for forming the chip package structure are disclosed. At least a block is formed on a surface of a cover, the cover is mounted on a substrate having a sensing device formed thereon for covering the sensing device, and the block is disposed between the cover and the sensing device. In the present invention, the block is mounted on the cover, there is no need to etch the cover to form a protruding portion, and thus the method of the present invention is simple and has low cost.
US08981495B2
A transistor includes a substrate, a gate over the substrate, a source and a drain over the substrate on opposite sides of the gate, a first silicide on the source, and a second silicide on the drain. Only one of the drain or the source has an unsilicided region adjacent to the gate to provide a resistive region.
US08981489B2
Semiconductor devices including a resistor structure is provided. The semiconductor device may include a gate structure on an active region, a resistor structure on a field region and a first interlayer insulating layer on the gate structure and the resistor structure. The semiconductor devices may also include a resistor trench plug vertically penetrating through the first interlayer insulating layer and contacting the resistor structure and a second interlayer insulating layer on the first interlayer insulating layer and the resistor trench plug. Further, the semiconductor devices may include a resistor contact plug vertically penetrating through the first and second interlayer insulating layers and contacting the resistor structure.
US08981486B2
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate and a gate insulation layer formed over the semiconductor substrate. A gate electrode is formed over the gate insulation layer. The gate electrode includes a silicon-containing electrode including a dopant, a capturing material to capture the dopant, and an activation control material to control an activation of the dopant.
US08981484B2
An integrated circuit (IC) including a well region of the IC having a first doping level and a plurality of semiconductor regions implanted in the well region. Each of the plurality of semiconductor regions has a second doping level. The second doping level is greater than the first doping level. A plurality of polysilicon regions are arranged on the plurality of semiconductor regions. The polysilicon regions are respectively connected to the semiconductor regions. The plurality of semiconductor regions is a drain of a metal-oxide semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET).
US08981479B2
A multi-gate semiconductor device and method for forming the same. A multi-gate semiconductor device is formed including a first fin of a first transistor formed on a semiconductor substrate having a first dopant type. The first transistor has a doped channel region of the first dopant type. The device also includes a second fin of a second transistor formed on the first dopant type semiconductor substrate. The second transistor has a doped channel region of a second dopant type. The device further includes a gate electrode layer of the second dopant type formed over the channel region of the first fin and a gate electrode layer of the first dopant type formed over the channel region of the second fin.
US08981478B2
Semiconductor devices and methods that include forming a fin field effect transistor by defining a fin hardmask on a semiconductor layer, forming a dummy structure over the fin hardmask to establish a planar area on the semiconductor layer, removing a portion of the fin hardmask that extends beyond the dummy structure, etching a semiconductor layer adjacent to the dummy structure to produce recessed source and drain regions, removing the dummy structure, etching the semiconductor layer in the planar area to produce fins, and forming a gate stack over the fins.
US08981476B2
A semiconductor device includes: first and second n-type wells formed in p-type semiconductor substrate, the second n-type well being deeper than the first n-type well; first and second p-type backgate regions formed in the first and second n-type wells; first and second n-type source regions formed in the first and second p-type backgate regions; first and second n-type drain regions formed in the first and second n-type wells, at positions opposed to the first and second n-type source regions, sandwiching the first and the second p-type backgate regions; and field insulation films formed on the substrate, at positions between the first and second p-type backgate regions and the first and second n-type drain regions; whereby first transistor is formed in the first n-type well, and second transistor is formed in the second n-type well with a higher reverse voltage durability than the first transistor.
US08981463B2
A memory array that includes access devices that are each electrically coupled to more than one memory cell. The memory cells are coupled to the access devices via diode devices. The access devices include vertical semiconductor material mesas upstanding from a semiconductor base that form a conductive channel between first and second doped regions, and also planar access devices.
US08981448B2
A variable resistance memory device includes a semiconductor substrate having a vertical transistor with a shunt gate that increases an area of a gate of the vertical transistor.
US08981436B2
A stacked structure according to an embodiment includes: a semiconductor layer; a first layer formed on the semiconductor layer, the first layer containing at least one element selected from Zr, Ti, and Hf, the first layer being not thinner than a monoatomic layer and not thicker than a pentatomic layer; a tunnel barrier layer formed on the first layer; and a magnetic layer formed on the tunnel barrier layer.
US08981424B2
A semiconductor device includes a transistor having a gate electrode, a first electrode, and a second electrode and first and second protection circuits each having one end commonly connected to the gate electrode and the other end connected to the first and second electrodes, respectively. The first and second protection circuits are formed in first and second polysilicon layers, respectively, formed separately on a single field insulating film.
US08981415B1
A light-emitting diode (LED) package structure includes a lead frame, a LED chip, a package body, N opaque spacer and N+1 encapsulating glues. The LED chip is disposed on the lead frame; the package body covers the lead frame and exposes the LED chip. The package body has an accommodation space, divided by the N opaque spacers disposed on the LED chip into N+1 chambers. The N+1 encapsulating glues are filled into the N+1 chambers, where N is a natural number.
US08981410B1
A blue LED device has a transparent substrate and a reflector structure disposed on the backside of the substrate. The reflector structure includes a Distributed Bragg Reflector (DBR) structure having layers configured to reflect yellow light as well as blue light. In one example, the DBR structure includes a first portion where the thicknesses of the layers are larger, and also includes a second portion where the thicknesses of the layers are smaller. In addition to having a reflectance of more than 97.5 percent for light of a wavelength in a 440 nm-470 nm range, the overall reflector structure has a reflectance of more than 90 percent for light of a wavelength in a 500 nm-700 nm range.
US08981403B2
A patterned surface for improving the growth of semiconductor layers, such as group III nitride-based semiconductor layers, is provided. The patterned surface can include a set of substantially flat top surfaces and a plurality of openings. Each substantially flat top surface can have a root mean square roughness less than approximately 0.5 nanometers, and the openings can have a characteristic size between approximately 0.1 micron and five microns.
US08981402B2
Disclosed are a white LED lighting device and an optical lens used in it. The white LED lighting device comprises a white LED and an optical lens. The white LED includes: a LED chip which emits blue light; and a fluorescent material which is excited by emission light of the LED chip and converts a wavelength into fluorescence of a complementary color of blue. The optical lens is formed with a scattering light guide which is given uniform scattering power in terms of a volume. The scattering light guide includes scattering particles for the scattering efficiency in a short wavelength range of light to be higher than that in a long wavelength range of light.
US08981387B2
A light emitting diode assembly includes a base, a light emitting chip mounted on the base, an elastic lens covering the light emitting chip, two rotation members rotatably arranged on the base, and two stopper poles fixed on the base. The two rotation members are capable of driving the elastic lens to rotate with respect to the two stopper poles. The stopper poles compress the elastic lens to cause the elastic lens to deform resiliently when the elastic lens is rotated by the rotation members to engage with the stopper poles.
US08981361B2
A hole injection layer and a second electrode are both formed to be continuous above a first electrode and above an auxiliary wiring. The hole injection layer contains a tungsten oxide. An UPS spectrum, obtained from a UPS measurement, has a protrusion appearing near a Fermi surface and within a region corresponding to a binding energy range lower than a top of a valence band, and the tungsten oxide satisfies a condition, determined from an XPS measurement, that a ratio in a number density of atoms other than tungsten atoms and oxygen atoms to the tungsten atoms does not exceed 0.83.
US08981360B2
The subject of the invention is a process for manufacturing an organic light-emitting diode device comprising at least one electrode based on an electrically conductive thin-film multilayer deposited on a substrate, in which the deposition of said multilayer comprises the following steps: a thin-film multilayer comprising at least one thin silver film between at least two thin films is deposited on said at least one face of said substrate; and the at least one coated face is heat treated using at least one source of laser radiation emitted at at least one wavelength lying between 500 and 2000 nm so that the sheet resistance of the multilayer decreases by at least 5%.
US08981356B2
A molecular memory device has an insulating film with a cavity, the cavity having an upper portion and a lower portion; a first conductive member with a portion exposed at the lower portion of the cavity; a second conductive member with a portion exposed at the upper portion of the cavity; and a resistance varying-type molecular chain disposed in the cavity and bonded with the first conductive member or the second conductive member. The cavity is wider than at least one of the first conductive member along a first direction and the second conductive member along a second direction.
US08981340B2
A nitride semiconductor device according to the present invention includes a p-type nitride semiconductor layer, an n-type nitride semiconductor layer, and an active layer interposed between the p-type nitride semiconductor layer and the n-type nitride semiconductor layer. The p-type nitride semiconductor layer includes: a first p-type nitride semiconductor layer containing Al and Mg; and a second p-type nitride semiconductor layer containing Mg. The first p-type nitride semiconductor layer is located between the active layer and the second p-type nitride semiconductor layer, and the second p-type nitride semiconductor layer has a greater band gap than a band gap of the first p-type nitride semiconductor layer.
US08981330B2
A memory device includes an array of contacts and a patterned insulating layer over the array of contacts. The patterned insulating layer includes a trench. The trench includes a sidewall aligned over a plurality of contacts in the array. A plurality of bottom electrodes on a lower portion of the sidewall contacts respective top surfaces of the contacts in the plurality of contacts. A thermally confined spacer of memory material between the patterned insulating layer and an insulating fill material is formed on an upper portion of the sidewall in contact with the plurality of bottom electrodes.
US08981325B2
A memory device 10 has an arrangement in which a memory thin film 4 is sandwiched between first and second electrodes 2 and 6, the memory thin film 6 contains at least rare earth elements, the memory thin film 4 or a layer 3 in contact with the memory thin film 4 contains any one of elements selected from Cu, Ag, Zn and the memory thin film 4 or the layer 3 in contact with the memory thin film 4 contains any one of elements selected from Te, S, Se. The memory device can record and read information with ease stably, and this memory device can be manufactured easily by a relatively simple manufacturing method.
US08981317B2
The invention relates to a method and to an apparatus for recognizing tumorous living cell tissue. It furthermore relates to a method and to an apparatus for recognizing tumorous cell tissue at collected living cell tissue samples. In the method, electromagnetic radiation is emitted with local definition onto cell tissue by a radiation source and, after deactivation of the radiation source, the decay behavior of the inherent fluorescence intensity of the cell tissue excited by the electromagnetic radiation is detected at the cell tissue in a time resolved and spectrally resolved manner at known sampling rate(s) for at least one wavelength using a detector. The difference autocorrelation function C(t) of the intensity decay behavior is determined using the determined measured intensity values, the fractal dimension DF for the respective irradiated cell tissue is calculated from this and the value of the fractal dimension DF is used for a classification with respect to a presence of a tumor in the respective irradiated cell tissue.
US08981314B2
A method and apparatus for the measurement of total organic carbon content in an aqueous stream is disclosed. Absorbance of electromagnetic energy by the aqueous stream is measured in an optical sample cell with pulsed light at a wavelength of 190 nm±10 nm. A value of total organic carbon from the measured absorbance is calculated without absorbance or fluorescence measurement at any other wavelength.
US08981310B2
A radiation detection device 80 according to an embodiment is a radiation detection device for a foreign substance inspection using a subtraction method, and includes a first radiation detector 32 that detects radiation in a first energy range transmitted through a specimen S and generates a first image, a second radiation detector 42 that detects radiation in a second energy range higher than the radiation in the first energy range and generates a second image, a first image processing section 34 that applies image processing to the first image, and a second image processing section 44 that applies image processing to the second image, wherein a first pixel width in an image detection direction of each pixel of the first radiation detector 32 is smaller than a second pixel width in the image detection direction of each pixel of the second radiation detector 42, and the first image processing section 34 and the second image processing section 44 carry out pixel change processing to make the number of pixels of the first image and the number of pixels of the second image equal to each other.
US08981299B2
A method of sensing motion in a predetermined area is provided. The method may include using a digital output motion sensor to produce a digital output signal indicative of the presence of motion in the predetermined area. The method may further include transmitting the digital output signal along a signal path independent of analog amplification and filtering. The method may also include using a microprocessor coupled to the signal path to receive the digital output signal and to process the digital output signal.
US08981289B2
The present invention relates to an ultraviolet diode and an atomic mass analysis ionization source collecting device using an MCP. In the manufacturing of a portable atomic mass analyzer, an object of the present invention is to use an MCP electron multiplier plate, whereby ultraviolet photons emitted from an ultraviolet diode are irradiated on a front surface plate of the MCP electron multiplier plate to induce primary electrons, an amplified electron beam is collected from the electrons, and an electron beam is generated at a low temperature and low power and having a discharge time that is accurately controlled. The atomic mass analysis ionization source collecting device using an ultraviolet diode and an MCP according to the present invention comprises: an ultraviolet diode emitting ultraviolet rays by means of supplied power; an MCP electron multiplier plate inducing and amplifying primary electron discharge from ultraviolet photons from the ultraviolet diode, and collecting a large amount of electron beams from an MCP reverse surface plate; an electron condenser lens condensing the electron beam amplified through the MCP electron multiplier plate; an ion trap atomic mass separator ionizing gas sample molecules by means of an electron beam injected through the electron condenser lens; and an ion detector performing detection of ions separated from the ion trap atomic mass separator, by means of an atomic mass spectrum.
US08981286B2
A mass spectrometer is disclosed comprising a hydrogen-deuterium exchange cell. Isomeric ions having different conformations but substantially similar ion mobilities can be differentiated by subjecting the ions to hydrogen-deuterium exchange. Two ions having similar ion mobilities can be differentiated more effectively if they have different surface conformations by determining the relative degree of hydrogen-deuterium exchange.
US08981285B2
Presented is a system and method for verifying the authenticity of a part using non-destructive backscattered X-rays. The method uses an identification tag embedded in the part that when illuminated by X-rays returns backscattered radiation that is detected and used to authenticate the part. The system comprises a source of low energy X-rays that irradiate a part, a detector for detecting backscattered radiation returned from the part, and a means for determining the presence of an authentication tag in the part. In embodiments, the system and method use a tag made of a material that returns a high amount of backscattered radiation thereby providing a high level of contrast in comparison with the part. In embodiments, the placement of the tag in the part, the geometry of the tag, and coding in the tag are used to authenticate the part.
US08981280B2
An optical-interrupter provides a mechanically integrated electric light source and electric light sensor positioned across a gap to transmit a light beam across the gap that may be interrupted with an opaque vane. The optical-interrupter uses conventional LEDs for both the light source and a light receiver. An integrated circuit comparator may be used to provide an adjustable threshold for the determination of whether the light beam is blocked.
US08981276B2
An imaging element includes a plurality of pixels. Each of the plurality of pixels includes the following element. A photoelectric transducer is disposed in each of the plurality of pixels and is configured to generate electric charge corresponding to received light. A storage unit has a predetermined capacitance and is configured to store therein electric charge transferred from the photoelectric transducer. A capacitor is disposed separate from a silicon substrate with an interlayer insulating film therebetween, the photoelectric transducer and the storage unit being formed in the silicon substrate. A connecting unit is disposed separate from the silicon substrate with the interlayer insulating film therebetween and is configured to connect the storage unit and the capacitor.
US08981275B2
A solid-state image pickup device includes a plurality of pixels on a light-receiving surface, photodiodes disposed on the light-receiving surface of a semiconductor substrate while being partitioned on the pixel basis, signal transferring portions which are disposed on the semiconductor substrate and which read signal charges generated and stored in the photodiodes or voltages corresponding to the signal charges, insulating films disposed on the semiconductor substrate while covering the photodiodes, concave portions disposed in the insulating films, pad electrodes disposed on the insulating films, a passivation film which covers inner walls of the concave portions, which is disposed on the pad electrodes, and which has a refractive index higher than that of silicon oxide, and a core layer which is disposed on the passivation film while being filled in the concave portions and which has a refractive index higher than that of silicon oxide.
US08981273B2
Embodiments of the invention provides methods and systems for synthesizing optical signals with high frequency stability. Using a set of external optical signal manipulators and control systems, embodiments of the invention enhance the resolution of any frequency reference and thereby alleviates the needs for ultra-high-Q cavities in frequency-stable optical signal synthesis. The invention consequently improves the performance of any optical signal generator by a substantial margin, while maintaining the system complexity and power dissipation at levels comparable to the original systems.
US08981271B1
A comprising a ground mount, a reflector assembly comprising a mirror and a frame rigidly connected to the mirror, a drive assembly configured to rotate the reflector assembly with respect to the ground mount about a predetermined angular range, and a mounting mechanism configured to connect the drive assembly to the reflector assembly and comprising a shaft connected to the drive assembly, where the drive assembly is configured to rotate the shaft about a longitudinal axis of rotation, an attachment for connecting the frame to the shaft at a fixed angle about the longitudinal axis; and a clamp for connecting the shaft to the frame.
US08981270B2
The time/temperature history of a food tray or pouch heated by microwave energy applied through a waveguide can be accurately assessed on positioning and stabilizing a shielded data logger in an orientation where the base of the data logger is located generally close to zero depth (near the side wall) and the tip projects to the cold spot in the tray or pouch. A frame can be used to assure stability of orientation in a pouch while bracing can be used to assure stability in a tray. The properly configured food tray or pouch can serve as an accurate witness device for food items being processed in a similar manner under microwave heating for, e.g., sterilization or pasteurization.
US08981266B2
Electrical apparatus such as a heater (2) for an ice protection system for an aircraft (1) comprises a laminate such as a heater mat (3) and a connector (41-49). The laminate (3) comprises dielectric layers (50-58) and an electrical element such as a heater element (501), and each dielectric layer of the laminate comprises thermoplastic material. The connector (41-49) comprises a ribbon having first and second ends and a metal conductor (413, 423, 433). The ribbon comprises thermoplastic material and its first end (415, 425, 435, 445, 455, 465, 475, 485) is embedded in the laminate and is laminated to adjacent first and second ones of the dielectric layers (50-58) of the laminate. Because the thermoplastic material of the ribbon is the same as or is compatible with the thermoplastic material of the first and second dielectric layers, the formation of an undesirable discontinuity at the interfaces between the first end of the ribbon and the first and second dielectric layers is prevented. Thus, cracks are less likely to be initiated at the interfaces during the use of the electrical apparatus, and de-lamination is less likely to occur.
US08981261B1
A method and system for attenuating a shockwave propagating through a first medium by heating a selected region of the first fluid medium rapidly to create a second, transient medium that intercepts the shockwave and attenuates its energy density before it reaches a protected asset. The second medium may attenuate the shockwave by one or more of reflection, refraction, dispersion, absorption and momentum transfer. The method and system may include a sensor for detecting a shockwave-producing event, determining a direction and distance of the shockwave relative to a defended target and calculating a firing plan, and an arc generator for creating the second medium. The arc generator may create the second medium by creating an electric arc that travels along an electrically conductive path utilizing at least one of high intensity laser pulses, pellets forming a conductive ion trail, sacrificial conductors, projectiles trailing electrical wires, and magnetic induction.
US08981257B2
The invention relates to a device and to an associated method for joining sheet metal parts, each with a flange, by laser, wherein the flanges of the sheet metal parts (2) are joined into one connecting flange. The device has a clamping device (5) for clamping the sheet metal parts (2) to be joined in a main clamping direction running transversely to the connecting flange and a beam guidance system for a laser beam (1). Moreover, the device has a compensation shaft (9) which tracks the laser beam (1) according to a relative movement between the connecting flange and a guidance apparatus.
US08981256B2
Apparatus has a receptacle (1) for two workpiece parts (21, 22) which extend two-dimensionally in X and Y directions and which are to be joined along a weld. The apparatus includes a laser beam source (30) comprising a plurality of individually controllable laser beam emitters (31) which collectively form a line array which is oriented in X direction, a transporting device (6) for transporting the laser beam source (30) relative to the receptacle (1) in Y direction, and a homogenizer (50) arranged downstream of the laser beam source (30) in the radiating direction. The homogenizer (50) has a carrier (52) in which is provided at least one reflection channel (51) with a channel cross section (QS) which is adapted to the course of the weld and a channel width (b) which is adapted to the width of the weld.
US08981236B2
A printed circuit board includes a line intensive distribution area, a line sparse distribution area, a solder mask layer, and a signal layer. A first signal line is laid on the signal layer. The first signal line crosses the line intensive distribution area and the line sparse distribution area. The first signal line is narrower in the line intensive distribution area than in the line sparse distribution area. The solder mask layer is thicker in the line intensive distribution area than in the line sparse distribution area.
US08981233B2
A method for producing a Cu—Sn layer and an Sn-based surface layer are formed in this order on the surface of a Cu-based substrate through an Ni-based base layer, and the Cu—Sn layer is composed of a Cu3Sn layer arranged on the Ni-based base layer and a Cu6Sn5 layer arranged on the Cu3Sn layer; the Cu—Sn layer obtained by bonding the Cu3Sn layer and the Cu6Sn5 layer is provided with recessed and projected portions on the surface which is in contact with the Sn-based surface layer; thicknesses of the recessed portions are set to 0.05 μm to 1.5 μm, the area coverage of the Cu3Sn layer with respect to the Ni-based base layer is 60% or higher, and the ratio of the thicknesses of the projected portions to the thicknesses of the recessed portions in the Cu—Sn layer is 1.2 to 5.
US08981227B2
A spacer device includes an elongate spacing member extending a longitudinal axis for securing to electrical transmission lines, and has a minimum thickness dm. At least one thickened portion having a thickness Tt and length dt is positioned intermediate along the spacing member to form at least two column lengths Lc separated by the at least one thickened portion. Each column length Lc has a portion with the minimum thickness dm. The thickness Tt and length dt of the at least one thickened portion can be at least two times the minimum thickness dm to form at least one end support for the at least two column lengths Lc, such the at least two column lengths Lc behave as separate Euler type columns for producing increased Euler buckling strength with a minimal increase in weight.
US08981225B2
A shield conductor includes: an electrical wire; a tubular shield member that encloses the electrical wire and is configured such that an end portion of a pipe made of metal is fit to an end portion of a tubular accordion member made of metal; a swage ring that is attached at a portion where the end portion of the pipe is fit to the end portion of the tubular accordion member, and constricts the end portion of the pipe and the end portion of the tubular accordion member from outside; a conductor ring that is arranged between the pipe and the tubular accordion member, has an inner circumferential face that faces the pipe and an outer circumferential face that faces the tubular accordion member, and has electrical conductivity; and a plurality of protrusion/recession portions formed on the inner circumferential face and the outer circumferential face.
US08981208B2
A solar cell and a method for manufacturing the same are discussed. The solar cell includes a substrate of a first conductive type, an emitter layer of a second conductive type opposite the first conductive type, a plurality of first electrodes connected to the emitter layer, at least one first current collector connected to the plurality of first electrodes, and a second electrode connected to the substrate. The emitter layer forms a p-n junction along with the substrate. Each of the plurality of first electrodes has a multi-layered structure, and the at least one first current collector has a single-layered structure.
US08981196B2
One or more embodiments of the present invention pertain to an illuminating toothbrush. The toothbrush includes at least one illuminating device enclosed within a body of the apparatus. The toothbrush also includes an audio device configured to play audio when the apparatus is activated. The at least one illuminating device is configured to illuminate the body of the apparatus for the predetermined period of time when the audio is played. In certain embodiments, the at least one illuminating device is further configured to illuminate the body of the apparatus based on a beat of the audio.
US08981194B2
A drumstick that is produced from a pair of bonded wooden halves that form an elongated, structure having a circular bore therethrough. Into the circular bore is inserted a core tube that increases the rigidity of the drumstick, a multiplicity of glass micro-spheres that function to reduce drumstick vibrations that can affect a drummer, and a resilient sleeve that is inserted over the front end and partial rear end of the drumstick. The resilient sleeve increases the useful life of both the drumstick and the instrument struck by the drumstick.
US08981179B2
The present invention relates generally to transgene constructs, transgenic non-human animals comprising transgene constructs, methods of making and methods of using the transgenic non-human animals comprising transgene constructs. An embodiment of the invention relates to methods of assaying the activation of GPCR ligands non-invasively in whole animals, tissue slices, or in native cells using a transgenic model containing a bioluminescent transgene reporter system that is responsive to pathway modulation following ligand binding of GPCR receptors.
US08981172B2
A ternary V—Ti—P mixed oxide is shown to catalytically dehydrate 2-methyl-tetrahydrofuran in high conversion to give piperylene, in good yield. Volatile products collected from this reaction contain piperylene in concentrations as high as 80 percent by weight. Dehydration of glycerol to acrolein in high conversion and moderate selectivity is also demonstrated. The catalyst is also shown to dehydrate other alcohols and ether substrates. The catalyst is resistant to deactivation and maintains activity between runs.
US08981169B2
A process for converting a gaseous hydrocarbon feed comprising methane to an aromatic hydrocarbon is integrated with liquefied natural gas (LNG) and/or pipeline gas production. The gaseous hydrocarbon feed is supplied to a conversion zone comprising at least one dehydroaromatization catalyst and is contacted with the catalyst under conversion conditions to produce a gaseous effluent stream comprising at least one aromatic compound, unreacted methane and H2. The gaseous effluent stream is then separated into a first product stream comprising said at least one aromatic compound and a second product stream comprising unreacted methane and H2. The second product stream is further separated into a methane-rich stream and a hydrogen-rich stream and at least part of the methane-rich stream is passed to LNG and/or pipeline gas production.
US08981161B2
Provided is a method for producing di-TMP by reacting n-butyl aldehyde (NBD), formaldehyde and a base, said method including a first step of reacting the NBD, formaldehyde (1) and a base (I) to obtain a reaction mixture solution containing trimethylolpropane (TMP), di-TMP and 2-ethyl-2-propenal (ECR); a second step of distilling the reaction mixture solution to recover the ECR therefrom; and a third step of sequentially adding the ECR recovered by distillation, and adding at least one of a base (II) and formaldehyde (2), to the reaction mixture solution from which the ECR has been recovered by distillation, and thereby allowing a reaction for production of the di-TMP to proceed gradually, in which TMP is added in any one of the first to third steps or in plural steps of the first to third steps.
US08981160B2
This invention provides a modified liquid epoxy resin having a low viscosity and a high performance, which is obtained by reacting a mixture of a bisphenol and a phenol aralkyl resin with an epiholohydrin. The bisphenol is preferable to be bisphenol F and is further preferable to have a bifunctional form purity as detected by gel permeation chromatography at UV 254 nm of not less than 95% by area in view of the fluidity. Moreover, the mixture of bisphenol and the phenol aralkyl resin is preferable to have a ratio of the phenol aralkyl resin of 10-70% by mass.
US08981157B2
A catalyst, its method of preparation and its use for producing aliphatic ketones by subjecting alkanes C3 to C9 to a gas phase catalytic oxidation in the presence of air or oxygen, and, optionally, steam and/or one or more diluting gases. The catalyst comprises a catalytically active mixed metal oxide phase and a suitable support material onto and/or into which the active catalytic phase id dispersed.
US08981151B2
Fluorocarbon- and urethane-(meth)acryl-containing additives and hardcoats. The hardcoats are particularly useful as a surface layer on an optical device.
US08981148B2
An esteramide compound of the following formula (I): R1OOC-A-CONR2R3 (I) is described, wherein: A is a covalent bond or a methylene group —CH2—; R1 is an optionally substituted, saturated or unsaturated aliphatic or cycloaliphatic hydrocarbon group including from 5 to 36 carbon atoms, R2 and R3, either identical or different, are groups selected from a hydrogen atom, and optionally substituted hydrocarbon groups, preferably including from 1 to 36 carbon atoms, and R2 and R3 not being simultaneously hydrogen atoms. Also described, are applications for using the esteramide compound, notably as a solvent.
US08981145B2
The invention relates to a process for preparing isocyanates, comprising (a) the reaction of at least one amine with phosgene in the gas phase in a reaction zone and (b) the subsequent cooling of the reaction gases in a cooling zone by means of indirect cooling, the cooling medium which absorbs the heat of the reaction gases being conducted in countercurrent to the product stream at least in the region of the highest temperature in the cooling zone.
US08981140B1
Novel POSS mono- and dianiline compounds, their synthesis procedures, and applications in host materials for the purposes of property enhancement are described. This class of POSS compounds features completely aromatic peripheries and partial amine functionality for facile and controlled reactive incorporation into a variety of polymers, and further utility may be derived from reactions of the available amine groups with anhydrides such as phenylethynyl phthalic anhydride (PEPA) to form reactive imide-type oligomers for incorporation into high performance thermosetting polymers. Modification of polymer hosts with the subject nanoparticles can result in a variety of property improvements including mechanical, thermal, tribological, electrical, as well as improved moisture resistance.
US08981130B2
Disclosed are processes for preparing 1,2-cyclohexanediol, and mixtures of 1,2-cyclohexanediol and 1,6-hexanediol, by hydrogenating 1,2,6-hexanetriol.
US08981125B2
The present invention relates to a method for preparing 1,3,5-trioxane using a reaction distillation tower including a reactor and integrally formed distillation and extraction sections. Particularly, the present invention relates to a method for preparing 1,3,5-trioxane characterized in that the amount of formaldehyde discharged to the outside of the system is reduced, to thereby increase the yield of 1,3,5-trioxane by recirculating a portion of the water phase, which is discharged through the top of the reaction extraction tower, to the extraction section, and thus to the upper portion of the extractor supply stream which supplies extractant to the extraction section.
US08981111B2
The present invention relates to hydroximoyl-heterocycle derivatives, their process of preparation, intermediate compounds for their preparation, their use as fungicide active agents, particularly in the form of fungicide compositions, and methods for the control of phytopathogenic fungi, notably of plants, using these compounds or compositions.
US08981106B2
There is disclosed pyridine- and pyrimidinecarboxamide compounds useful as pharmaceutical agents, synthesis processes, and pharmaceutical compositions which include pyridine- and pyrimidinecarboxamides compounds. More specifically, there is disclosed a genus of CXCR2 inhibitor compounds that are useful for treating a variety of inflammatory and neoplastic disorders.
US08981103B2
Provision of a stabilized crystal of 6-(3-chloro-2-fluorobenzyl)-1-[(S)-1-hydroxymethyl-2-methylpropyl]-7-methoxy-4-oxo-1,4-dihydroquinoline-3-carboxylic acid (compound A). A crystal of compound A, which shows a particular X-ray powder diffraction pattern of a characteristic diffraction peaks at diffraction angles 2θ(°) as measured by X-ray powder diffractometry.
US08981102B2
Provided herein are compounds and methods of preparation of compounds that are capable of functioning as agonists or antagonists of a nicotinic receptor. Also provided are pharmaceutical compositions comprising one or more of these compounds, which may further comprise one or more additional therapeutic agents. Further provided are methods of treatment of various conditions that may be responsive to such activity at the nicotinic receptors, such as nicotine dependence.
US08981100B2
Fluorescent quinolizinocoumarin compounds substituted with electrophilic reactive groups that bind thiol compounds are described. The compounds are useful in detecting oxidative stress and processes associated therewith in live cells.
US08981091B2
Disclosed is a pest control composition having an excellent controlling effect on pests, which comprises etoxazole and fenazaquin.
US08981089B2
Pyrazolo-quinazoline derivatives of formula (Ia) or (Ib) as defined in the specification, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, process for their preparation and pharmaceutical compositions comprising them are disclosed; the compounds of the invention may be useful, in therapy, in the treatment of diseases associated with a disregulated protein kinase activity, like cancer.
US08981088B1
A compound comprising a boron subphthalocyanine moiety, a plurality of solubilizing substituents positioned on peripheral cyclic groups of the boron subphthalocyanine moiety and an axial substituent positioned on the boron atom. The plurality of solubilizing substituents comprise an oxygen or sulfur containing functional group and a substituted or unsubstituted, linear, branched or cyclic, aliphatic or aromatic terminal hydrocarbyl group that is 8 or more carbon atoms in length, the hydrocarbyl group optionally containing one or more heteroatoms. The axial substituent is a cyclic group selected from the group consisting of heterocyclic amine groups, diaryl ketone groups, benzotriazole groups, benzyl alcohol groups and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon groups, the cyclic group being bonded to the boron atom by an oxygen containing linking moiety, the cyclic group optionally being substituted with one or more additional substituents. If the axial group is a benzyl alcohol group, the alcohol substituent of the benzyl alcohol is not the oxygen containing linking moiety.
US08981082B2
The present invention relates to an improved process for preparing (2R,3aR,10Z,11aS,2aR,14aR)-cyclopenta[c]cyclopropa[g][1,6]diazacyclotetradecine-12a(1H)-carboxylic acid, 2,3,3a,4,5,6,7,8,9,11a,12,13,14,14a-tetradecahydro-2-[[7-methoxy-8-methyl-2-[4-10(1-methylethyl)-2-thiazolyl]-4-quinolinyl]oxy]-5-methyl-4,14-dioxo-, ethyl ester. This compound is an intermediate in the overall synthesis route of the macrocyclic compound TMC 435. TMC 435 is an inhibitor of NS3/4A protease which plays an important role in the replication of the hepatitis C virus.
US08981076B2
This invention relates to synthesis of novel -N-FMOC protected nucleosides, succinates, phosphoramidites, corresponding solid supports that are suitable for oligo deoxy nucleosides and RNA oligonucleotide synthesis. Our discovery using N-FMOC as nucleoside base protecting group, which is highly base labile protecting group is a novel approach to obtain highest purity oligonucleotides. This approach is designed to lead to very high purity and very clean oligonucleotide, after efficient removal of the protecting groups and to produce high purity therapeutic grade DNA oligonucleotides, RNA oligonucleotides, diagnostic DNA, diagnostic RNA for microarray platform. The deprotection of FMOC protecting groups of the natural deoxy and ribonucleosides occurs under very mild deprotection conditions such as mild bases, secondary and tertiary amines for removal of such groups under such conditions would allows synthesis of various DNA and RNA of highest purity for diagnostics and therapeutic application. This approach is further designed to use FMOC protecting group on various base sensitive nucleoside, and for use in oligo peptide synthesis and for support bound oligo nucleotides. DNA oligonucleotides containing 3′-end dA at the 3′-terminal will be produced using the FMOC-dA-supports would lead to much reduced M−1 deletion sequences, and thereby high purity.
US08981067B2
Compositions relating to a combination of two types of separation matrix; and to variant host cells which contain at least one essential host protein that is fused to an affinity binding tag or has been mutated to replace at least two of a plurality of histidines or basic amino acids are provided. Methods are also provided that relate to isolating a recombinant protein from a lysate.
US08981065B2
Compositions and methods for regulating an immune response in a subject are described. More particularly, described are human antibodies that regulate the activity of NK cells and allow a potentiation of NK cell cytotoxicity in mammalian subjects, and antibodies having antigen-binding properties similar to those of human monoclonal antibody 1-7F9 or 1-4F1. Described also are also fragments and derivatives of such antibodies, as well as pharmaceutical compositions comprising the same and their uses, particularly for use in therapy, to increase NK cell activity or cytotoxicity in subjects.
US08981057B2
The invention relates to the fields of molecular biology, medicine, virology and vaccine development. Because the different forms of the presently available vaccines all have their specific drawbacks, there is a need for alternative vaccine strategies. The current invention provides means and methods for such alternative vaccine strategies.
US08981051B2
A method for regulating Src and its downstream signaling pathway which includes binding between Src and Na+/K+-ATPase is disclosed. The Na+/K+-ATPase/Src complex is a functional receptor for cardiotonic steroids such as ouabain. Also disclosed are Src inhibitors or activators which include either Na+/K+-ATPase or Src that interfere with the interaction between the Na/K-ATPase and Src, act via a different mechanism from ATP analogs, and is pathway (Na+/K+-ATPase) specific.
US08981050B2
The present invention relates to methods for producing N-terminal derivatives of proteins in which a polysaccharide, preferably having at least terminal sialic units and preferably consisting essentially only of sialic acid units, is reacted at the N-terminus of a protein or peptide under controlled conditions to produce an N-terminal derivative. The controlled conditions include use of acidic pH for the derivatization step and a higher pH for purification. The derivatives are useful for improving pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of proteins and peptides.
US08981029B2
This invention relates to a process for polymerization, comprising (i) contacting, at a temperature greater than 35° C., one or more monomers comprising ethylene and/or propylene, with a catalyst system comprising a metallocene catalyst compound and an activator, (ii) converting at least 50 mol % of the monomer to polyolefin; and (iii) obtaining a branched polyolefin having greater than 50% allyl chain ends, relative to total unsaturated chain ends. The invention also relates to the branched polyolefins and functionalized branched polyolefins.
US08981025B2
Disclosed herein are functionalized cationic peptide monomers: peptide chains of two or more positively charged amino acids chosen from lysine or arginine, or derivatives thereof, which are functionalized, meaning that they are bound to one or more polymerization moieties. The functionalized cationic peptide monomers can be described by the formula Z-Xaan-Z1n1 wherein Z and Z1 are polymerization moieties and n1 is an integer of 0 or 1; Xaa is each independently an amino acid Lys or Arg and n is an integer from 2 to 10 and wherein at least one Xaa amino acid of Xaa is Lys, wherein the carboxyl terminus of the amino acid sequence is amidated. Functionalized cationic peptide monomers can be combined and polymerized to form cell culture surfaces.
US08981023B2
This invention relates to a supported nonmetallocene catalyst and preparation thereof. The supported nonmetallocene catalyst can be produced with a simple and feasible process and is characterized by an easily controllable polymerization activity. This invention further relates to use of the supported nonmetallocene catalyst in olefin homopolymerization/copolymerization, which is characterized by a lowered assumption of the co-catalyst as compared with the prior art.
US08981020B2
A method for preparing a functionalized polymer, the method comprising the steps of (a) polymerizing monomer in the presence of a coordination catalyst to form a polymer, (b) inhibiting said step of polymerizing with a Lewis base, and (c) reacting the polymer with a functionalizing agent.
US08981019B2
There is provided a method capable of producing a methacrylic-based polymer excellent in pyrolysis resistance and excellent in fabricability in a high productivity. The method for producing a methacrylic-based polymer includes the following steps (1) and (2): step (1) of using a complete mixing reactor (A) to thereby obtain the first syrup, including specific steps; step (2) of using a reaction apparatus (D) including a plug flow mixer (B) and a plug flow reactor (C) to thereby obtain the second syrup, including specific steps.
US08981014B2
The present invention provides a novel phosphorus-containing phenolic resin. When the phosphorus-containing phenolic resin is used as an epoxy resin curing agent, the cured product thereof has various excellent properties such as excellent moisture resistance, low permittivity, a low dissipation factor, and excellent adhesion in addition to improved flame retardation. Specifically, the phosphorus-containing phenolic resin of the invention is represented by formula (1). The invention also provides a method for manufacturing the novel phosphorus-containing phenolic resin, a phenolic resin composition including the phosphorus-containing phenolic resin, an epoxy resin curing agent including the phenolic resin composition, an epoxy resin composition including the epoxy resin curing agent and an epoxy resin, a cured product obtained by curing the epoxy resin composition, and a copper-clad laminated plate obtained by using the epoxy resin composition as a matrix resin.
US08981013B2
The invention provides polyolefin blend compositions of polar and/or non-polar polymers, with at least one functionalized polyolefin polymer selected from the group consisting of: amine functionalized, hydroxyl functionalized, imide functionalized, anhydride functionalized, or carboxylic acid functionalized polyolefin polymers. The invention also provides methods for making the functionalized polyolefin polymer. The invention also provides for materials and articles containing at least one component prepared from such compositions.
US08981012B2
The present invention provides novel, modified polydicyclopentadienes and methods to prepare modified polydicyclopentadienes. The modified polydicyclopentadienes prepared by the methods of the invention are useful in many applications including new and useful solid phases for chromatography.
US08981008B2
A tapered triblock copolymer having controlled vinyl distribution, enlarged middle block with intermediate composition and microstructure, increased compatibility between its adjacent blocks, good processing characteristics and a peak average molecular weight between 25,000 and 300,000 is made by anionically polymerizing conjugated diene and monovinyl aromatic monomers, polar modifier and initiator to make a first block rich in conjugated diene, forming a second block that is a copolymer of the conjugated diene and the monovinyl aromatic monomer and which is less rich in the conjugated diene than the first block, and forming a third block that is a homopolymer of the monovinyl aromatic monomer. The first, second and third blocks comprise 30 to 60, 20 to 50 wt % and 10 to 40 wt % of the tapered triblock copolymer, respectively. The tapered triblock copolymers may be used as asphalt modifiers, adhesives, sealants, compatibilizers, reinforcing agents and impact modifiers.
US08981002B2
Hyper-branched biodegradable polymers are produced by melt processing biodegradable polymers with a branching agent at temperatures that promote free radical reactions between the biodegradable polymer and the branching agent. The biodegradable compositions have an excellent balance of mechanical properties and are suitable for flame retardant applications.
US08981001B2
The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of oligo(alkylene glycol) functionalized polyisocyanopeptides comprising the steps of functionalizing an isocyanopeptide with oligo-(alkylene glycol) side chains and subsequently polymerizing the oligo-alkylene glycol functionalized isocyanopeptides. Several isocyanopeptide may be functionalized with various linear or non-linear oligo-(alkylene glycol) side chains having variable chain length. The alkylene glycol may be selected from the group consisting of ethylene-, propylene-, butylene- or pentylene glycol. Preferably the isocyanopeptides are functionalized with at least 3 ethylene glycol side chains. The peptides may comprise L aminoacids, D-aminoacids or D, L-aminoacids. The obtained oligoalkylene functionalized polyisocyanopeptides are a new class of materials with unique thermo-responsive properties.
US08980996B2
A phenolic compound for manufacturing a modified polyamide that has an increased degree of crystallinity is described. A polyamide composition comprising at least one such phenolic compound and optionally reinforcing fillers or extenders is also described. The composition is preferably a composition to be molded, for example in the form of granules or powder, that is used for the manufacture of articles by an injection-molding process.
