Patents Issued in April 29, 2008
  • Patent number: 7366280
    Abstract: An imaging system includes a gantry rotating around an object on a table. A cathode emitter is coupled to the gantry and generates an electron beam. An anode, also coupled to the gantry, is stationary with respect to the cathode emitter and generates an x-ray flux in response to the electron beam. A detector is coupled to the gantry and is adapted to receive the x-ray flux and generate therefrom a detector signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Brian D. Lounsberry
  • Patent number: 7366281
    Abstract: According to one aspect of the invention, a contraband detection apparatus is provided and a method of detecting contraband are provided. A container is scanned with a first type of contraband detection apparatus. Based on results of the first scan, a plurality of risk values, which correspond to particular types of contraband, are generated. The container is then scanned with a second type of contraband detection apparatus. Based on the results of the second scan, the risk values are modified. If the combined risk values are above a predetermined value, an alarm is triggered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: GE Invision Inc.
    Inventor: Sondre Skatter
  • Patent number: 7366282
    Abstract: This invention is directed towards finding, locating, and confirming threat items and substances. The inspection system is designed to detect objects that are made from, but not limited to, special nuclear materials (“SNM”) and/or high atomic number materials. The system employs advanced image processing techniques to analyze images of an object under inspection (“OUI”), which includes, but is not limited to baggage, parcels, vehicles and cargo, and fluorescence detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Rapiscan Security Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Kristian R. Peschmann
  • Patent number: 7366283
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for an x-ray system includes an x-ray emitter having a first electrode and a second electrode. A high voltage supply is electrically connected to the first electrode. A power supply is electrically connected to the second electrode. A controller electrically connected to the high voltage supply and power supply is configured to provide a predetermined parameter to the second electrode during operation of the x-ray emitter to generate the predetermined dose rate from the x-ray emitter. During operation of the x-ray emitter, at least one operational value of the second electrode corresponding to the predetermined parameter is measured and combined with the predetermined parameter using an algorithm to obtain a modified predetermined parameter to be provided by the controller to the second electrode during a subsequent operation of the x-ray emitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Gendex Corporation
    Inventors: Todd R. Carlson, John J. Gregorio, Roberto Molteni
  • Patent number: 7366284
    Abstract: An outage reporting method and system are disclosed for a telecommunications system. The outage reporting system includes a processor to record a data element value. The data element value indicates a type of outage that occurred in the telecommunications system, such as an administrative or network outage. The data element value can be sent to a network management system for use by the telecommunications provider, for example, to determine whether or not the telecommunications user should receive a refund.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: SBC Properties, L.P.
    Inventors: Brian Gonsalves, Sherri D. Pena
  • Patent number: 7366285
    Abstract: A method of collecting information is provided. The method includes sending an interactive text markup programming language script, using a session initiation protocol (SIP) message, to a communications device. The interactive script includes a first query and a second query that depends on a response to the first query. The method also includes receiving the response from the communications device. The response is based upon input from a user of the communications device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: AT&T Labs, Inc.
    Inventors: Satish Parolkar, Vikram Bhavsar
  • Patent number: 7366286
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described for modified asymmetric digital subscriber line for use with long loops. A method includes modifying a digital signal processor including reallocating a portion of an original guard band to a modified downstream band and reallocating a portion of an original upstream band to a modified guard band. An apparatus includes a digital signal processor defining an expanded downstream band; and a high pass filter coupled to the digital signal processor to accommodate the expanded downstream band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Symmetricom, Inc
    Inventor: Kishan Shenoi
  • Patent number: 7366287
    Abstract: A current time and a current Gregorian date are converted into an epoch time stamp. A number of seconds that have elapsed since a predetermined date up until the current year is determined. A number of seconds that have elapsed since the beginning of the current year up until the current month is determined based on whether the current year is a leap year. In addition, a number of seconds that have elapsed since the beginning of the current month up until the current day is calculated, as is a number of seconds that have elapsed during the current day. All of these values are summed to obtain a converted time. Finally, it is determined whether Daylight Savings Time is in effect, and when Daylight Savings Time is not in effect, 3600 seconds are added to the converted time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: AT&T Knowledge Ventures, L.P.
    Inventors: Kenneth Robert Stroud, Jeffrey Lewis Brandt, Rick Anthony Cherye
  • Patent number: 7366288
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for detecting inter-carrier call looping. In one embodiment, the present invention is a method that can be used to reliably detect inter-network routing loops and kill associated calls using a modified ISUP Hop Counter parameter to be sent across network boundaries. Detection of inter-network loops prevents routing loops, those involving two or more carrier networks, from generating additional signaling traffic that can aggregate to overload signaling networks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: AT&T Corp.
    Inventor: Phu Khanh Huynh
  • Patent number: 7366289
    Abstract: A method and device for preventing fraud in international calls in a long-distance telecommunications system, where selected customers can avoid fraud control blocks and greater granularity is achieved in blocking international destinations. In the method and device, an override flag is created in the records of the Billing Number Screening (BNS) database. When a call is made using a billing number whose corresponding record has the override flag set, the call is not stopped by fraud control blocks on certain international destinations. In addition, international destinations can be blocked with greater specificity because a Country Set Logic (CSET) field is added to the International City Code Database. The addition of CSET to this database allows particular international city destinations to be blocked from certain origin points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Verizon Business Global LLC
    Inventors: Dean C Marchand, Arthur Lance Springer
  • Patent number: 7366290
    Abstract: A billing method and billing system to determine usage fees which are charged to the user of a digital telecommunications network, whereby a usage fee charged for a connection is determined prior to establishing this connection from statistical characteristics of previous connections of the user, is described. Usage fees are determined from a dynamic client profile, derived from one or multiple random variables of previous connections of the user, which is stored in memory and re-derived after each new customer connection. In a simple variant, the client profile contains a value proportional to the average price per connection or to the average duration of a connection of the user. The random variables used to derive the client profile include, for example, the connection duration, the time of day, the day of the week, and/or geographic characteristics of previous connections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Swisscom Mobile AG
    Inventors: Rudolf Ritter, Walter Heutschi
  • Patent number: 7366291
    Abstract: A service node is used in the implementation of a call-transfer service in which a service call is transferred to a second agent from a first agent. A code receiver receives from a service control point, via a data link, at least one subscriber-defined call-transfer feature code that can be invoked by the first agent. A call-transferor transfers the service call to the second agent from the first agent in response to the service node receiving a signal from the first agent after the first agent invokes an elective call-transfer function using at least one subscriber-defined call-transfer feature code.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: AT&T Knowledge Ventures, L.P.
    Inventors: Susanne M. Crockett, Ronald King
  • Patent number: 7366292
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a service for providing call reports to a subscriber related to non-answered calls for calls attempted between at least two parties. Using telecommunications switch triggers, call status related to answered, busy, and unanswered calls is collected in a record and used to populate a report. The report is then provided to a report formatter that formats the report so that it is suitable for presentation to a subscriber. The reported call information can be provided to the report formatter in near real time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: AT&T Knowledge Ventures, L.P.
    Inventors: Dianna Inara Tiliks, Nancy Ann Book, Susanne Marie Crockett, Carol Shifrin Gruchala, John Wesley Moss, Thomas Joseph McBlain, Gordon Lynn Blumenschein, James Daniel Kovarik, Barbara Jablonski, Douglas Marshall, Jayson Anthony O'Neill, Matthew D. Brooks
  • Patent number: 7366293
    Abstract: A network-based call center for managing a company's interactions with its customers uses resources supplied by an application service provider. The call center stores sensitive information on a database within the company's private network, behind a firewall. When a call center resource or another client or server obtains new sensitive information, the resource writes the information to the database and then erases the information. When a resource needs sensitive information stored on the database, the resource requests the information from the database, uses it, and then erases the information. The call center further provides a browser-based tool, running on the Internet, for enabling non-technical personnel of the company to provision a call center from the resources of the application service provider.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Oracle Sytems Corporation
    Inventors: Ran Ezerzer, Gerald Augustin Holly, Jr., Roberto Armando Portillo Jarquin, Ali Aljane, Eli Ben Borodow
  • Patent number: 7366294
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for suppressing noise is presented. The apparatus may utilize a filter bank of bandpass filters to split the input noisy speech-containing signal into separate frequency bands. To determine whether the input signal contains speech, DTMF tones or silence, a joint voice activity & DTMF activity detector (JVADAD) may be used. The overall average noise-to-signal ratio (NSR) of the input signal is estimated in the overall NSR estimator, which estimates the average noisy signal power in the input signal during speech activity and the average noise power during silence. Two indirect power measures are performed for each band, measuring a short-term power and a long-term power. The power estimation processes are adapted based on the signal activity indicated by the JVADAD. A NSR adapter adapts the NSR for each frequency band based on the long-term and short-term power measures, the overall NSR and the signal activity indicated by the JVADAD. The NSR adaptation may then be performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Tellabs Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Ravi Chandran, Daniel J. Marchok, Bruce E. Dunne
  • Patent number: 7366295
    Abstract: A method or device includes a telephone with an audio or video effects generator to produce audio or video effects that are transmitted as part of a signal from the telephone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Inventor: John David Patton
  • Patent number: 7366296
    Abstract: Embodiments of the method and system provide for automatic balancing of audio signal strength levels on voice paths between first and second parties in a telecommunication system. The method in an embodiment may have the steps of: checking for a subscription to audio signal strength level balancing by at least one of the first and second parties; and balancing, if at least one of the first and second parties has the subscription, audio signal strength levels on voice paths between the first and second parties. The system implements the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Lucent Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: David S. Benco, Sanjeev Mahajan, Baoling S. Sheen, Sandra L. True
  • Patent number: 7366297
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a method for converting alternating current voltage signals to Ethernet in-line power includes converting an alternating current voltage signal to an approximate direct current voltage signal, adding at least one odd harmonic of the approximate direct current voltage signal to produce a compensated direct current voltage signal, and conditioning the compensated direct current voltage signal to produce an Ethernet in-line power signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert A. Marshall, James R. Sisk
  • Patent number: 7366298
    Abstract: A headset (1, 10, 30) e.g. for use in connection with wireless communication by means of Bluetooth technology in connection with mobile telephones, PSTN telephones and the like, which comprises a housing (2, 3, 11, 28) with a transducer (5, 12, 27) in the form of a speaker, as well as a microphone (4, 14, 29) and an ear hook (6, 23, 28). In a first embodiment, the housing may be constructed as two shells (2, 3) which may be opened and closed so that all mechanical parts may be concealed on the housing when the headset (1, 10, 30) is not in use, thereby ensuring that the various parts are not damaged when the headset is stored in a pocket. The shells (2, 3) may be interconnected by means of a hinge (7, 8) which has an axis disposed in the same plane as the surface of the shells. Alternatively, the shells may be arranged such that the axis is disposed in a perpendicular plane relative to the surface of the shells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: GN Netcom A/S
    Inventors: Charles L. Pedersen, Martin Bech, Tom Bogeskov-Jensen, Karsten Langhorn
  • Patent number: 7366299
    Abstract: A data cryptographer encrypts and decrypts character data of any given length using derivative equations and factors. The use of factors and derivative equations introduces the randomness required for effective encryption without the use of complex mathematics. A set of equations determined by the user is used in a manner similar to a key but with random results. Only a portion of the key is exposed to decrypt the encrypted information. The data cryptographer may be configured using either simple or complex equations and may be implemented in an unlimited number of variations. The data cryptographer is portable, and can be implemented in any programming language that supports cyclical character manipulation. The data cryptographer also supports input from a variety of sources, allowing control from the administrator side, string value side, or any other input that may be extracted from the desired programming language.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Tom Thuan Cheung
  • Patent number: 7366300
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for implementing a cryptography engine for cryptography processing. A variety of techniques are described. A cryptography engine such as a DES engine can be decoupled from surrounding logic by using asynchronous buffers. Bit-sliced design can be implemented by moving expansion and permutation logic out of the timing critical data path. An XOR function can be decomposed into functions that can be implemented more efficiently. A two-level multiplexer can be used to preserve a clock cycle during cryptography processing. Key scheduling can be pipelined to allow efficient round key generation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Zheng Qi, Mark Buer
  • Patent number: 7366301
    Abstract: A multiple-layered watermark is generated to be placed on document, to protect against counterfeiting and forgery. Hidden information embedded into each of the watermark's layers is only detectable by using a corresponding decoder. Because of the multiple-layered structure, it is difficult to reverse engineer the optical watermark. The generalized watermark structure significantly increases the “key space” of the decoder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Trustcopy Pte Ltd.
    Inventors: Sheng Huang, Jian Kang Wu
  • Patent number: 7366302
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for an iterative cryptographic block under the control of a CPU and without a fixed number of stages. In one embodiment, a first cryptographic block descrambles received information using an internal key or a preprogrammed key to form a descrambled key or descrambled data. A data feedback path stores the descrambled data as internal data and provides the internal data or the external data as data input to the first cryptographic block. A key feedback path stores the descrambled key as an internal key and provides the internal key or the preprogrammed key to a key input of the first cryptographic block. A second cryptographic block descrambles received content using a final descrambling key. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Brant Candelore
  • Patent number: 7366303
    Abstract: A network system is proposed comprising a network control element and a communication device (UE) associated to a subscriber, wherein the communication device (UE) is adapted to send a registration message (A8) including subscriber information to be protected and an integrity code (MAC), to the network control element, wherein the communication device (UE) is adapted to calculate the integrity code (MAC) by using a part or whole of the registration message (A8) including the subscriber information to be protected, and the network element is adapted to verify the integrity code (MAC) included in the registration message. Also a case is proposed in which the integrity code is calculated in the network control element and verified in the communication device (UE). Furthermore, corresponding methods are proposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Nokia Siemens Networks Oy
    Inventors: Patrik Flykt, Valtterie Niemi, Jaakko Rajaniemi, Aki Niemi
  • Patent number: 7366304
    Abstract: A method that utilizes software and hardware mechanisms to meet the FCC requirement for a U-NII antenna to be an integral part of the device in which it operates, while providing wireless ready U-NII devices and CRUable U-NII radios. Enhancements are made to the software BIOS, including the inclusion of a table of approved radio-antenna PCI ID pairs to create an authentication scheme that verifies and authenticates the radio and antenna combination as being an FCC-approved unique coupling during boot-up of the system. The BIOS also comprises an OEM field that stores an encrypted secret key utilized to complete a second check of the radio model placed in the device. During boot up of the device, the PCI ID pairs from the BIOS are compared against the PCI ID of the radio and the secret key is checked against the radio model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Lenovo (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Daryl Carvis Cromer, Kazuo Fujii, Ronald John Griffiths, Jr., Masaharu Itoh, Philip John Jakes, Kozo Matsunaga, Masaki Oie
  • Patent number: 7366305
    Abstract: One aspect of an embodiment of the invention provides a method and platform to prove to a challenger that a responder device possesses cryptographic information from a certifying manufacturer. This is accomplished by performing a direct proof by the responder device to prove that the responder device possesses the cryptographic information. The direct proof comprises at least one exponentiation being conducted using an exponent having a bit length no more than one-half a bit length of a modulus (n).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Ernie F. Brickell
  • Patent number: 7366306
    Abstract: Described are programmable logic devices that decrypt proprietary configuration data using on-chip decryption keys. The keys are stored in a key memory that can be operated in a secure mode or a non-secure mode. The non-secure mode allows the decryption keys to be read or written freely; the secure mode bars read and write access to the decryption keys. The programmable logic device supports secure and non-secure modes on a key-by-key basis, allowing users to write, verify, and erase individual keys without affecting others.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: XILINX, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen M. Trimberger
  • Patent number: 7366307
    Abstract: A graphical interface is provided to select parameters for fitting a hearing device. The graphical interface provides means visually representing and controlling values of these parameters using a common reference axis for multiple parameters related by a programmable constraint. The common reference multiple parameter structures convey information to a user about the interactions between parameters and the limits of the parameters. Further, parameters related by a constraint relation are displayed on graphical structures having a common path, such that movement of a slider representing a parameter can be limited within the bounds of the programmed constraints. Such limited movement is visually conveyed to the user allowing the user to make appropriate adjustment to remain within the limits of the constraint while programming a hearing device for improving performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Micro Ear Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Jerry L. Yanz, Blane A. Anderson, Michael J. John
  • Patent number: 7366308
    Abstract: The invention relates to a sound recording device for a public address system. Sound is emitted from a sound source, picked up by at least two sound sensors and converted into electrical signals. The sound sensors are located at a distance from a reference position which corresponds to an ideal set position. Directional vectors located between said reference position and the sound sensors indicate different directions. The sound sensors are electrically or acoustically connected to a common signal amplitude add device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Beyerdynamic GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Gerhard Kock
  • Patent number: 7366309
    Abstract: A robot includes first and second microphones and movable portions. The first microphone gathers a first sound reception signal by gathering mainly a target signal. The second microphone gathers a second reception sound signal by gathering mainly noise other than the target signal. The movable portions operate on the basis of the first sound reception signal output from the first microphone and the second sound reception signal output from the second microphone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Miki Sato, Akihiko Sugiyama, Shin'ichi Ohnaka
  • Patent number: 7366310
    Abstract: The present invention increases the aperture size of a microphone array by introducing a diffracting structure into the interior of a microphone array. The diffracting structure within the array modifies both the amplitude and phase of the acoustic signal reaching the microphones. The diffracting structure increases acoustic shadowing along with the signal's travel time around the structure. The diffracting structure in the array effectively increases the aperture size of the array and thereby increases the directivity of the array. Constructing the surface of the diffracting structure such that surface waves can form over the surface further increases the travel time and modifies the amplitude of the acoustical signal thereby allowing a larger effective aperture for the array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: National Research Council of Canada
    Inventors: Michael R. Stinson, James G. Ryan
  • Patent number: 7366312
    Abstract: An artificial stereophonic circuit which includes a monophonic signal input terminal, a signal output terminal of one of an L channel and an R channel which are connected to the signal input terminal, a phase-shifting circuit having an input side connected to the signal input terminal, and a signal output terminal of the other channel of the L channel and the R channel having an output side connected to the phase-shifting circuit. The phase-shifting circuit has an almost equal gain in a full frequency band of an input signal, and a phase shift for a change from 0 to 180 degrees according to an increase in a frequency of the input signal is carried out. The change of the phase can be minimized and a natural stereophonic effect can be realized. Moreover, only one capacitor is enough and only one pin for external attachment is enough for wholly forming an IC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: New Japan Radio Co;, Ltd.
    Inventor: Yositugu Sugimoto
  • Patent number: 7366313
    Abstract: In a mixing console apparatus, an input section inputs a plurality of electric signals, a processing section processes the inputted electric signals, and an output section outputs the processed electric signals. A plurality of operators are provided in correspondence to a plurality of circuit components contained in those of the input section, the processing section and the output section, and are assigned with various functions in correspondence to the respective circuit components. The operators are manually operable to act on the corresponding circuit components for controlling the electric signals. The plurality of the operators are arranged to form at least one group operation section such that the operators having similar functions are grouped into the same group operation section. The group operation section is divided into subgroups with markings such that operators belonging to one subgroup is distinguished from operators belonging to another subgroup by the respective markings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Kojiro Kato
  • Patent number: 7366314
    Abstract: Disclosed is an enclosure for a speaker for a communication device. The enclosure comprises: a surface; a speaker grill located in the surface, the grill having an opening therein providing an air channel to the speaker; and at least one structure located in a first region in the surface and protruding from the surface. The enclosure is shaped such that when the enclosure is placed on a flat surface with the surface facing the flat surface, the structure causes the surface to be canted from the flat surface to expose the speaker grill to ambient air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Research in Motion Limited
    Inventors: Cortez Corley, Frank Tyneski, Norman Ladouceur, Larry Hawker
  • Patent number: 7366315
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus for processing sound includes a means (401) for analysing a sound signal into a number of frequency bands and a means (403) for applying variable gain to each frequency band independently. Gain in applied under control of a number of gain comparator means (409) each of which generates a number ot statistical distribution estimates in respect of each signal and compares those estimates to predetermined hearing presponse parameters stored in memory (411). The numerous gain compensated frequency bands are then combined (415) in order to generate a single sound signal. The apparatus may be implemented in dedicated hardware embodiment or by software running on a microprocessor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Hearworks PTY, Limited
    Inventors: Peter John Blamey, Christopher John James, Hugh Joseph McDermott, Lois Martin, Konrad Wildi
  • Patent number: 7366316
    Abstract: A device to transmit and receive data for remote control of hearing devices has a reduced size achieved by the transmitter coils of the transmitter and the receiver coil of the receiver being wound around a common, shared core. Moreover, a protective capacitor that is used to protect the receiver is at the same time used as a correction capacitor to correct the resonant frequency of a reception oscillator circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Siemens Audiologische Technik GmbH
    Inventor: Juergen Reithinger
  • Patent number: 7366317
    Abstract: Various linkage assemblies are shown and described for connecting a first movable member to a second movable member of a transducer. The linkage assemblies provide for motion amplification or reduction and, when used for sound generating purposes such as hearing aids or speakers, three different schemes for compensating for amplification-induced distortion. One scheme for compensating for distortion while providing amplification is the use of a lower horizontal span segment in a closed-loop linkage assembly that is longer than a corresponding upper horizontal span segment or upper vertex. Thus, a horizontal span segment used to connect the loop to the first movable member of the armature is longer than a corresponding segment or vertex used to connect the loop to the second movable member. A second distortion compensating feature that provides amplification is found in the use of non-parallel legs used to connect the linkage loop to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Knowles Electronics, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Edward Miller, David E. Schafer
  • Patent number: 7366318
    Abstract: A suspension, for the voice coil of a loudspeaker drive unit, includes an inner ring to be connected to the voice coil of the loudspeaker drive unit; an outer ring to be connected to the chassis of the loudspeaker drive unit; and a plurality of radial spoke-like members connecting the inner ring to the outer ring. The radial spoke-like members are free of compressive stress between their ends. The spoke-like members are of greater lateral stiffness than the spoke-like member?s and are substantially X-shaped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: B&W Loudspeakers Limited
    Inventor: Stuart Michael Nevill
  • Patent number: 7366319
    Abstract: A method (300) of encoding an image into an image code-stream. The method (300) generates a reduced resolution representation of the image and encodes the reduced resolution representation in accordance with a multi-resolution format to form an encoded reduced resolution representation of the image. The encoded reduced resolution representation is embedded into a first portion of the image code-stream and a compressed representation of the image is encoded into a further portion of the image code-stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: James Philip Andrew, Peter Reeve Foster
  • Patent number: 7366320
    Abstract: A digital image signal based on transformed in frequency, thereby providing partitioned frequency components. Characteristic information is calculated in accordance with a coefficient at a first frequency domain that is selected from among the partitioned frequency components. A coefficient at a second frequency domain is handled in accordance with predetermined rules, thereby embedding the characteristic information into the coefficient at the second frequency domain. The second frequency domain is selected from among areas that differ from the first frequency domain. The frequency coefficients that exhibit several frequency components are encoded in a predetermined manner, thereby producing compressed image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hisashi Inoue
  • Patent number: 7366321
    Abstract: A system and method for performing optical inspection are provided. At least one “invariant feature” of an object design is determined, and such invariant feature is used in inspecting objects having the corresponding design. An “invariant feature” is a feature that is invariant certain transformations occurring in a captured image of an object under inspection, such as brightness, color, and/or other transformations in the captured image. Accordingly, an inspection template may comprise information corresponding to at least one pre-selected invariant feature of an object's design. In certain embodiments, the template is a shape description of a feature that provides an intrinsic invariance to a specified set of basic transformations. Accordingly, the amount of pixel values stored in a template may be minimized, which minimizes the number of pixel comparisons made between a captured image of the object under inspection and the inspection template during the inspection analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel A. Usikov
  • Patent number: 7366322
    Abstract: A computer-assisted method for detecting copyright protection in digital images receives a digital image, searches for capture device information associated with the digital image, calculates one or more image characteristics of the digital image, and verifies copyright ownership and usage authorization of the digital image in response to the capture device information and the calculated image characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Shutterfly, Inc.
    Inventors: Dhiraj Kacker, Russell Ennio Muzzolini
  • Patent number: 7366323
    Abstract: There is provided a hierarchical shadow detection system for color aerial images. The system performs well with highly complex images as well as images having different brightness and illumination conditions. The system consists of two hierarchical levels of processing. The first level involves, pixel level classification, through modeling the image as a reliable lattice and then maximizing the lattice reliability using the EM algorithm. Next, region level verification, through further exploiting the domain knowledge is performed. Further analysis show that the MRF model based segmentation is a special case of the pixel level classification model. A quantitative comparison of the system and a state-of-the-art shadow detection algorithm clearly indicates that the new system is highly effective in detecting shadow regions in an image under different illumination and brightness conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Research Foundation of State University of New York
    Inventors: Jian Yao, ZhongFei (Mark) Zhang
  • Patent number: 7366324
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for sensing a state of a movable body. According to the apparatus and method, since image information regarding a dashboard of a movable body is collected and a state of the movable body is sensed by analyzing the collected image information by means of image recognition technologies, the state of the movable body can be accurately sensed without an odometer and without a separate wire connection in the movable body. Further, when the apparatus and method are applied to a navigation system, more accurate position information and path guidance can be provided to users of the navigation system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Yoon-Deock Lee, Hyun-Su Hong
  • Patent number: 7366325
    Abstract: Moving object detection is based on low illumination image data that includes distance or depth information. The vision system operates on a platform with a dominant translational motion and with a small amount of rotational motion. Detection of moving objects whose motions are not consistent with the movement of the background is complementary to shape-based approaches. For low illumination computer-based vision assistance a two-stage technique is used for simultaneous and subsequent frame blob correspondence. Using average scene disparity, motion is detected without explicit ego-motion calculation. These techniques make use of characteristics of infrared sensitive video data, in which heat emitting objects appear as hotspots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kikuo Fujimura, Xia Liu
  • Patent number: 7366326
    Abstract: A Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGA) design uses a Coordinate Rotation DIgital Computer (CORDIC) algorithm that can convert a Givens rotation of a vector to a set of shift-add operations. The CORDIC algorithm can be easily implemented in hardware architecture, therefore in FPGA. Since the computation of the inverse of the data correlation matrix involves a series of Givens rotations, the utility of the CORDIC algorithm allows a causal Constrained Energy Minimization (CEM) to perform real-time processing in FPGA. An FPGA implementation of the causal CEM is described and its detailed architecture is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: University of Maryland, Baltimore County
    Inventors: Chein-I Chang, Jianwei Wang
  • Patent number: 7366327
    Abstract: The system includes wheel locating equipment, image capturing equipment, lighting equipment, a first control device, first communicating installations for communications between the first control device and the image capturing equipment, and second communicating installations for communications between the first control device and the lighting equipment. The image capturing equipment and the lighting equipment are arranged above the wheel locating equipment so as to enable the image capturing equipment to capture an image of a wheel. The first communicating installations sends the image to the first control device and the first control device processes the image to obtain data for identifying a wheel model. The invention also includes the process using the described system. The main step of the process is converting a circular portion of an image into a rectangular image by a polar transformation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Eines Informatica, S.C.V.
    Inventors: Jesús Belda Pla, Jorge Broto Ruiz
  • Patent number: 7366328
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for detecting a latent fingerprint image provided to a biometric input device of a fingerprint based security system. First and second images of the fingerprint are captured during a time period interval ?t. At least one of the first and second images are analyzed to identify an extractable feature within a global reference frame, the extractable feature usable for authenticating an individual. The first and second images are compared one with the other to determine differences indicative of motion about the identified extractable feature within a local reference frame during the time period interval ?t. Absent motion about the identified extractable feature being detected, the fingerprint is registered as a latent fingerprint and cannot be used to authenticate the individual who is seeking authorization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Activcard Ireland Limited
    Inventors: Laurence Hamid, John Boyer
  • Patent number: 7366329
    Abstract: The invention matches a countenance of a user during authentication to a countenance of the user's head shot held in advance. An authentication apparatus for certifying the user using a picture registered in memory, includes an image pickup unit taking the picture of the user, and an authentication unit certifying the user by letting the user bring into a predetermined action and comparing the user's picture taken by the image pickup unit when the user brings into the predetermined action and the picture registered in memory. In addition, the image pickup unit takes an animated image of the user, memory supplies an animated image of the user who brings into the predetermined action to the authentication unit, and the authentication unit certifies the user by comparing the user's movement in the animated image taken by the image pickup unit and the user's movement in the animated image acquired from memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventor: Shuji Ono
  • Patent number: 7366330
    Abstract: Processing time is reduced and detection is expedited in a face detecting process that detects faces of various sizes included in an image, by detecting faces within images while varying the size of faces to be detected. Faces are detected in order from larger faces to smaller faces. If a face is detected during the process, detection is continued, excluding the region in which the detected face was included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Wataru Ito