Patents Assigned to Philips Electronics
  • Prediction of ratings for shows not yet shown
    Publication number: 20040098743
    Abstract: A method for generating a recommendation for a video content not yet broadcast. The method including: remotely accessing a user profile of a viewer; and comparing characteristics of the video content to the user profile to generate a recommendation for the video content. Preferably, the accessing and comparing are repeated for a plurality of viewers, wherein for each of the plurality of viewers a corresponding recommendation is generated for the video content resulting in a plurality of recommendations. More preferably, a statistical analysis is performed on the plurality of recommendations to predict a rating for the video content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2002
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Applicant: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Srinivas Gutta, Vasanth Philomin, Miroslav Trajkovic
  • Protection circuit and method for floating power transfer device
    Publication number: 20040095787
    Abstract: A protection circuit and method are provided for a floating power transfer device having one or more switches for controlling charging of a reservoir capacitor across which a load is applied when in use. The protection circuit includes a control circuit, a fault detection circuit and a precharge driver circuit. The control circuit at least partially controls switching of the at least one switch, while the fault detection circuit detects when a fault in the floating power transfer device or the load occurs and sends a fault detect signal to the control circuit in response thereto. The precharge driver circuit, which is enabled by the control circuit responsive to receipt of the fault detect signal, attempts to precharge the reservoir capacitor to a voltage level sufficient for switching of the one or more switches to proceed without damaging the switches.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2003
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventors: William Donaldson, Edmond Toy
  • Content retrieval based on semantic association
    Publication number: 20040098376
    Abstract: A method and system which enable a user to query a multimedia archive in one media modality and automatically retrieve correlating data in another media modality without the need for manually associating the data items through a data structure. The correlation method finds the maximum correlation between the data items without being affected by the distribution of the data in the respective subspace of each modality. Once the direction of correlation is disclosed, extracted features can be transferred from one subspace to another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2002
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventors: Dongge Li, Nevenka Dimitrova
  • DC/DC up/down converter
    Patent number: 6737838
    Abstract: A DC/DC up/down converter (30), comprising inductive energy storage means (L), switching means (S1, S2, S3) and control means (40). The control means (40) are arranged for operatively controlling the switching means (S1, S2, S3) for transferring electrical energy to a first output (Vout1) of the DC/DC converter (30) in a down-conversion mode and for transferring electrical energy from the first output (Vout1) to a second output (Vout2) of the DC/DC converter (30) in an up-conversion mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Ferdinand Jacob Sluijs, Cornelis Maria Hart
  • Reducing vertical segregation in a HID lamp operated at VHF frequencies using simultaneous arc straightening and color mixing
    Patent number: 6737815
    Abstract: A method and structure for substantially overcome vertical segregation in HID lamps, the method comprising the steps of: determining and selecting a frequency sweep signal to produce arc straightening and a fixed frequency signal for exciting a second longitudinal acoustic mode; and exciting in conjunction with a carrier frequency an arc straightening acoustic mode together with a second longitudinal acoustic mode excitation. In a preferred embodiment, the exciting step comprises amplitude modulating the carrier frequency signal with a sum of the frequency sweep signal and the fixed frequency signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventor: Jerry Martin Kramer
  • Radio communication system
    Patent number: 6738638
    Abstract: The invention relates to a radio communication system having a random access packet channel for the transmission of data packets (214) from a secondary station to a primary station. Such a channel is intended for use by secondary stations having packets of data (214) to transmit to a primary station while not actually engaged in a call. A secondary station wishing to transmit data packets (214) engages in two contention resolution phases (208, 210) with the primary station. This addresses the problem with prior art systems that there is a significant chance of two secondary stations believing that they have been granted access to the channel, the resultant collisions leading to a significant reduction in system capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventor: Timothy J. Moulsley
  • Data carrier with an integrated circuit between two carrier layers
    Patent number: 6737732
    Abstract: A data carrier (1) for contactless communication comprises a first carrier layer (2) and a second carrier layer (3) which are held together by an adhesive layer (15), wherein an integrated circuit (11) is held in a given position between one of the two carrier layers (2, 3) and the adhesive layer (15), the circuit comprising transmission means (13, 14) which can communicate in a contactless manner with transmission means (7, 8) at the carrier layer, and the transmission means (7, 8) of the carrier layer are connected with electrical conduction to further transmission means (5, 6) by which a contactless communication with a communication station can be carried out, and wherein the final, mechanically stable retention of the integrated circuit (11) in the position reserved for it in the data carrier (1) is realized by means of the adhesive layer (15) only.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Reinhard Fritz, Gerardus Franciscus Cornelis Maria Lijten, Hubertus Henricus Alphonsus Winters
  • Radio communication system
    Patent number: 6738640
    Abstract: A radio communication system has means for improving power control of a communication channel for the transmission of data after an interruption in the transmission. This is done by applying power control in steps of variable size at the start of a transmission, using a large step size initially which is reduced as the power approaches a target value. In one embodiment the step size is reduced when the sign of a power control command reverses, while in another embodiment the step size is reduced after a predetermined time. These techniques reduce the time taken for power control to be established, thereby addressing the problem that data transmissions at the start of a data channel are likely to be corrupted if the power level is too low, or to generate extra interference if the power level is too high.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Matthew P. J. Baker, Timothy J. Moulsley, Bernard Hunt
  • Plasma picture screen with a phosphor layer
    Patent number: 6736995
    Abstract: This invention relates to a plasma picture screen provided with a phosphor layer which comprises an intrinsically pigmented phosphor. The plasma picture screen has an improved value for the luminance contrast performance without the efficiency of the phosphors being detracted from.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V
    Inventors: Thomas Juestel, Hans-Helmut Bechtel, Walter Mayr
  • Electrically configurable photonic crystal
    Patent number: 6738178
    Abstract: A liquid crystal is configured as a photonic crystal by an establishment of a network of biased liquid crystal regions within the liquid crystal. The liquid crystal is situated between a dielectric plane including an electrode plate and a glass plate, and a dielectric plane including a glass plate and a plurality of electrode pixels. The network is established by a selective application of one or more electric potentials between an electrode plate and one or more of the electrode pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Lucian R. Albu, Peter J. Janssen, Willem G. Odendaal
  • Method of optimizing the use of a tanning-related device, device for performing such a method, and tanning-related device
    Patent number: 6736832
    Abstract: Method comprising steps of: A) determining a quantity related to a person's personal minimum erythema dose (MED), B) using said quantity as an input for a tanning-related device, thus influencing its operation, and comprising for the purpose of step A), C) non-invasively measuring a feature of the person's skin related to the person's personal MED, and D) electronically deducing the person's personal MED from the measured feature. Furthermore, a device for use with a tanning-related device (12) comprising measuring means (1) for non-invasively measuring a feature of the person's skin (3) related to the person's personal MED, deduction means (5) for deducting the person's personal MED from the measured feature, and communication means (7) for electronically communicating a signal representing the deduced MED to a tanning-related device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V
    Inventors: Egbert Lenderink, Theodorus Johanna Maria Schoenmakers
  • Recordable storage medium with protected data area
    Patent number: 6738904
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of storing data on a rewritable data storage medium, to a corresponding storage medium, to a corresponding recording apparatus and to a corresponding playback apparatus. Copy-protective measures require that on rewritable storage media some data must be stored which shall not be modifiable or erasable by consumer end products. A practical problem is the storage of large quantities of such data in a fixed data area. Typically the capacity is limited to a few bits. Meanwhile the amount of copy protection data that needs to be stored may well exceed the storage capacity available in the read-only fixed data area. The invention therefore proposes to write the copy protection data as system data in the recordable data area (4), e.g. as part of the formatting of the medium (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Johan Paul Marie Gerard Linnartz, Antonius Adrianus Cornelis Maria Kalker, Johan Cornelis Talstra
  • Method, system and apparatus for image block matching
    Patent number: 6738497
    Abstract: In block-based motion or depth estimation, a block is assigned a motion or depth value as a result of minimizing the matching error over a limited set (45) of candidate values (20, 21, 22, 23). When the chosen candidate value (23) is an extreme value of the set, it is impossible to predict how remote this value is from the real minimal matching error. To overcome this problem, the method and system for choosing an optimal candidate value choose a new candidate (30) beyond the extreme value (23). When this new candidate (30) then has the lowest matching error, additional new candidates are chosen until it no longer has. An apparatus for adapting a video signal (40) uses the chosen candidate values to create an enhanced version of the video signal (40).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Cornelius Wilhelmus Antonius Marie Van Overveld, Piotr Wilinski
  • Movement detector with tapering kaleidoscopic mirrors and method of installing such a detector
    Patent number: 6737631
    Abstract: A movement detector for detecting movement of a body includes a light sensor, a kaleidoscopic mirror and a lens for projecting a multiple image of the space onto the sensor. The movement detector is very sensitive and has a very small diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Christiaan Jacob Martens, Hendrik Bijl
  • FM receiver with bandwidth control means
    Patent number: 6738606
    Abstract: An FM receiver includes control means for controlling the IF filter. The control means receive a first input signal in dependence of a received RF level signal and a second input signal in dependence of a demodulated signal and have an output coupled to the controllable IF filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Kaveh Kianush, Jacobus Cornelis Sandee
  • Brushhead replacement indicator system for power toothbrushes
    Patent number: 6735802
    Abstract: A system for determining when the brushhead portion of a power toothbrush should be replaced. The system includes a piezoelectric transducer for detecting oscillations of the brushhead. The piezoelectric transducer produces an output signal which is used to drive a counter which accumulates the total number of such oscillations. When the total number of oscillations reaches a preselected number, which is representative of typical use of the toothbrush for a predetermined amount of time, e.g. six months, a signal is produced which drives an alarm indicator, the action of which is recognizable by the user of the toothbrush.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: William G. Lundell, Clifford Jue, Annetta M. Papadopoulos
  • Clock circuit, GSM phone, and methods of reducing electromagnetic interference
    Patent number: 6737904
    Abstract: A method of producing a clock signal with reduced electromagnetic interference spectral components includes providing a first clock signal; producing a second clock signal by delaying the first clock signal; and generating a jittered clock signal by switching between the first clock signal and the second clock signal at times selected responsive to a random number generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Remi Butaud, Bernard Ginetti
  • Metal halide lamp
    Patent number: 6737808
    Abstract: The invention relates to a metal halide lamp having a nominal power of more than 100 W, comprising a discharge vessel with a ceramic wall. The discharge vessel encloses a discharge space having an ionizable filling which, in addition to Hg, contains a quantity of iodide of Na, Tl, Ho and Ca. Two electrodes each having an electrode tip at a mutual distance EA are arranged inside the discharge vessel. The discharge vessel has a cylindrical part with an internal diameter ID and extends through at least the distance EA. According to the invention, the relation EA/ID<1 is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Josephus Christian Maria Hendricx, Nancy Jean Caruso, Kurt Jan Augusta Peelaers, Veronique Emeralda Duivelshof
  • Baby food thermometer
    Patent number: D490003
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventor: Stephen Robert Heath
  • Automatic external defibrillator
    Patent number: D490156
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Kurt Vincent Fischer, Anthony George Picardo