Patents Issued in March 4, 2014
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Patent number: 8666200Abstract: When phases of lights passing through arms are adjusted, a first DC bias and a first modulation signal are applied to one arm from one modulating electrode, and a second DC bias and a second modulation signal are applied to the other arm from the other modulating electrode. The first and second DC biases are applied to the modulating electrodes such that a rate of a product of a length of one modulating electrode and the first DC bias and a product of a length of the other modulating electrode and the second DC bias is kept at a constant value. According to this constitution, it is possible to enable an optimum control of a phase difference between the arms and a precise control of wavelength chirp characteristics with a simple element constitution, and an optical modulation of which device size is small and having fine characteristics is enabled.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2012Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: Fujitsu LimitedInventors: Kazumasa Takabayashi, Akinori Hayakawa
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Patent number: 8666201Abstract: This invention relates to an optical sensor element comprising a photonic crystal constituted by a membrane of a chosen transparent material, the membrane being provided with a number of defined openings in a chosen pattern, the pattern being adapted to provide resonance at a chosen wavelength or range of wavelengths, wherein said openings are provided with a reactive material acting as a receptor for a chosen type of molecules, e.g. proteins, the presence of which alters the resonance and/or scattering conditions in the sensor element thus altering the amount of light propagating out of the membrane plane.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2010Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignees: Sintef, The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior UniversityInventors: Jon Olav Grepstad, Stig Morten Borch, Ib-Rune Johansen, Aasmund Sudbo, Olav Solgaard
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Patent number: 8666202Abstract: A system for measuring properties of a thin film coated glass having a light source, a spectrometer, at least one pair of probes, a first optical fiber switch and a second optical fiber switch. The pair of probes includes a first probe located on one side of a glass sheet and a second probe located on the opposite side of the glass sheet, directly across from the first probe. The first and second optical fiber switches are adapted to couple either probe to the light source and/or the spectrometer. Because the design of the system is optically symmetrical, calibration may be performed without the use of a reference material such as a tile or mirror.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 2012Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: Cardinal IG CompanyInventors: Jordan B. Lagerman, Keith J. Burrows, Kyle R. Thering
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Patent number: 8666203Abstract: An optical fiber sensor assembly comprises a source of a plurality of different frequency substantially monochromatic signals (1, 2, 3, 4); a modulator connected to the output of the source to produce a train of output pulses of the monochromatic signals; a plurality of sensor sub-assemblies connected to the output of the modulator, each sub-assembly comprising an optical drop multiplexer (ODM) (13), a sensor array (14) comprising a plurality of sensor elements and an optical add multiplexer (OAM) (15); a wavelength demultiplexer (WDM), having an input coupled to the sub-assemblies output; a plurality of detectors, each detector having an input connected to receive a respective output of the WDM and providing at an output thereof a signal corresponding to a respective frequency of the modulated monochromatic signals; and an interrogation system, having a plurality of inputs connected such that each input receives the output signal from a respective detector.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2012Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: Optasense Holdings LimitedInventor: Geoffrey A Cranch
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Patent number: 8666204Abstract: An optical transmission module includes a semiconductor substrate, a first film layer, an electronic component layer and a waveguide structure. The electronic component layer is used for converting a first electrical signal into an optical signal. The waveguide structure is formed on the first film layer, and includes a first reflective surface, a waveguide body and a second reflective surface. After the optical signal is transmitted through the semiconductor substrate and the first film layer and enters the waveguide structure, the optical signal is reflected by the first reflective surface, transmitted within the waveguide body and reflected by the second reflective surface. After the optical signal reflected by the second reflective surface is transmitted through the first film layer and the semiconductor substrate and received by the electronic component layer, the optical signal is converted into a second electrical signal by the electronic component layer.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2011Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: National Central UniversityInventors: Mao-Jen Wu, Hsiao-Chin Lan, Yun-Chih Lee, Chia-Chi Chang, Hsu-Liang Hsiao, Chin-Ta Chen, Bo-Kuan Shen, Guan-Fu Lu, Yan-Chong Chang, Jen-Yu Chang
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Patent number: 8666205Abstract: An optical device (20) are formed by bonding a optical element (6) having an optical waveguide (8) with a substrate (2). On a surface of the optical element (6) facing the substrate (2) formed are the optical waveguide (8) and a thin film heater (4) that heats the optical waveguide (8). The optical element (6) and the substrate (2) are bonded through a first bonding part (12) and a second bonding part (14) made of metal material. The thin film heater (4) is electrically connected with a wire on the substrate (2) through the first bonding part (12) and the second bonding part (14). In this way, additional wires for electrical connection can be omitted, the optical element 6 can be miniaturized removing a superfluous region, and the manufacturing process can be simplified.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 2010Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: Citizen Holdings Co., Ltd.Inventors: Toru Takizawa, Takaaki Nozaki, Yosuke Abe
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Patent number: 8666206Abstract: An asymmetric slotted waveguide and method for fabricating the same. The slotted waveguide is constructed in silicon-on-insulator using a Complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) process. One or more wafers can be coated with a photo resist material using a photolithographic process in order to thereby bake the wafers via a post apply bake (PAB) process. An anti-reflective coating (TARC) can be further applied on the wafers and the wafers can be exposed on a scanner for the illumination conditions. After a post exposure bake (PEB), the wafers can be developed in a developer using a puddle develop process. Finally, the printed wafers can be processed using a shrink process to reduce the critical dimension (CD) of the slot and thereby achieve an enhanced asymmetric slotted waveguide that is capable of guiding the optical radiation in a wide range of optical modulation applications using an electro-optic polymer cladding.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 2011Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.Inventors: Andrew T S Pomerene, Wesley D. Reinhardt, Craig M. Hill
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Patent number: 8666207Abstract: A multi-mode to single mode optical interface device includes an optically pumped edge emitting semiconductor laser device and a lens. The optically pumped edge emitting semiconductor laser device includes (1) a gain area, and (2) an edge located single mode output. The lens focuses a multi-mode optical fiber output beam into a substantially line shaped output beam focused onto the gain area of the optically pumped edge emitting semiconductor laser device. A method for converting a multi-mode optical signal into a single mode optical signal includes (1) focusing the multi-mode optical signal onto a gain area of an optically pumped edge emitting semiconductor laser using at least a line focusing lens, and (2) converting the multi-mode optical signal into the single mode optical signal using the semiconductor laser.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 2010Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: The Trustees of Dartmouth CollegeInventor: Elsa Garmire
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Patent number: 8666208Abstract: A waveguide suitable in form factor and weight for use in a heads-up display or similar wearable display and a method of manufacturing the waveguide are disclosed. The waveguide comprises a waveguide body of light-weight, optically transparent solid material, such as plastic, with a series of micro structures embedded in the waveguide body at a top surface of the waveguide body. A first set of the micro structures near one end of the waveguide body serves to couple light into the waveguide, whereby a portion of the coupled light propagates subject to total internal reflection toward a second set of micro structures that reflects a portion of the propagated light out of the waveguide at a bottom surface of the waveguide body. The waveguide can deliver an image provided by an input light source to a human eye (or other detector) situated near the bottom surface of the waveguide body.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 2010Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: Google Inc.Inventor: Babak Amirparviz
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Patent number: 8666209Abstract: Techniques, apparatus and systems that use an optical probe head to deliver light to a target and to collect light from the target for imaging, monitoring, medical diagnostics and medical treatment applications.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2011Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: Tomophase CorporationInventors: Feiling Wang, Andrey Vertikov
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Patent number: 8666210Abstract: A liquid crystal (LC) display panel including a lower substrate with pixel structures, an upper substrate, and an LC layer is provided. Each of the pixel structures includes a transistor and a pixel electrode. The pixel electrode includes first and second pixel electrodes insulated from each other, respectively including a first pattern and a second pattern that different and complementary to each other. Each of the first pixel electrode and the second pixel electrode has at least a trunk with a width smaller than or equal to 10 microns and a plurality of branches. The LC layer is positioned between the upper and the lower substrates and includes a plurality of LC molecules and a plurality of polymers, which are formed on surfaces of at least one of the upper and the lower substrates to cause the plurality of LC molecules to have a pretilt angle.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2010Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: Chimei Innolux CorporationInventors: Chien-Hong Chen, Jian-Cheng Chen, Rung-Nan Lu
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Patent number: 8666211Abstract: An optical device including at least one first optical waveguide coupled to a second optical waveguide of smaller cross-section which penetrates into it on the side of a first end. The first optical waveguide is capable of being coupled with an optical fiber on the side of a second end. A surface of the first optical waveguide includes a diffraction grating capable of introducing-extracting-sending back light into and from the first optical waveguide.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2009Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: Commissariat a l'Energie AtomiqueInventors: Christophe Kopp, Badhise Ben Bakir, Stéphane Bernabe
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Patent number: 8666212Abstract: An optical apparatus of a head mounted display includes a fused fiber bundle, an image source, and an image lens. The fused fiber bundle includes an array of fused optical fibers having an in-coupling surface located at a first end and an out-coupling surface physically facing an eye-ward direction and located at a second end. The fused fiber bundle is tapered such that the in-coupling surface has a larger surface area than the out-coupling surface to compress the light image. The image source is disposed at the first end of the fused fiber bundle and optically aligned with the in-coupling surface to launch the light image into the fused fiber bundle. The image lens is disposed at the second end and optically aligned with the out-coupling surface to focus the light image emitted from the second end towards an eye when the head mounted display is worn.Type: GrantFiled: January 6, 2012Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: Google Inc.Inventor: Babak Amirparviz
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Patent number: 8666213Abstract: A multimode optical fiber is drawn form an optical fiber preform, and during said drawing step, a series of perturbations are imparted to the fiber along the length of the optical fiber, said perturbations exhibiting a non-constant amplitude or repeat period.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2011Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: Corning IncorporatedInventor: Ming-Jun Li
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Patent number: 8666214Abstract: One embodiment of a single mode optical fiber includes: a graded index central core region having outer radius r1 and relative refractive index ?1; a cladding region comprising (i) a first inner cladding region having an outer radius r2<10 microns and relative refractive index ?2 and 0.65?r1/r2?1; (ii) and a second inner cladding region (i.e., trench) having an outer radius r3>10 microns and comprising a minimum relative refractive index ?3, wherein said second inner cladding region has at least one region with a relative refractive index delta that becomes more negative with increasing radius; and (iii) an outer cladding region surrounding the second inner cladding region and comprising relative refractive index ?4, wherein ?1>?2>?3, ?3<?4.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2012Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: Corning IncorporatedInventors: Dana Craig Bookbinder, Ming-Jun Li, Pushkar Tandon
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Patent number: 8666215Abstract: A cable management panel having a grounding arrangement. The grounding arrangement including a rolling ground strap interconnected to each of a drawer and a chassis of the cable management panel. The rolling ground strap being arranged to include a loop that rolls along the length of the ground strap.Type: GrantFiled: January 20, 2011Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: ADC Telecommunications, Inc.Inventor: Kathleen M. Barnes
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Patent number: 8666216Abstract: A telecommunications infrastructure includes first and second trough members for routing signal-carrying fibers. Coupling members may be used to adjustably couple a first trough member arranged alongside a second trough member together. Coupling members may also be used to adjustably couple a first trough member together with a second trough member terminating at the first trough member.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2011Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: Telect, Inc.Inventors: Walter Dean Takisaki, Paul A. Knight, Steven W. Ellison
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Patent number: 8666217Abstract: A fiber tray for managing and organizing fiber distribution is disclosed. The fiber tray includes a housing and a drawer received in the housing. The housing is secured to an equipment rack. The housing includes inner sides with a glide mechanism extending the length of each inner side. The glide mechanism includes a first end and a second end. The glide mechanism also includes at least one curved path located at one of the first end and the second end. The drawer includes a bottom, a first side, a second side, a front and a back. The first and second sides of the drawer have a pin. The pins extending from the sides of the drawer slide within the glide mechanism to enable the drawer to be retracted, extended or removed from the housing.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2013Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: Panduit Corp.Inventors: Thomas Chung Yin Wong, Mark J. Donnell, David C. Kilinskis
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Patent number: 8666218Abstract: A MEMS variable optical attenuator (VOA) chip includes a frame having a planar surface, a micro-electric actuator with a movable optical shutter arranged with respect to the planar surface of the frame, where the VOA is actuated by thermal expansion. The micro-electric actuator comprises semiconductor conductors (“wires”) that can be moved, upon applying an electrical current, by thermal expansion. In one embodiment, the MEMS VOA chip is configured in a multiple wire arrangement that restricts the shutter movement in a plane.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2010Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: Agiltron, Inc.Inventors: Yi He, Luzhong Yin, Guixiong Zhong, Jun Yan, Jing Zhao
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Patent number: 8666219Abstract: An interface cable assembly, which enables the user of either an iPhone® or Android® smartphone to record both incoming and outgoing telephone conversations on a standard dual channel (stereo) audio recorder in either WMA or MP3 format, includes one four-conductor plug that engages the audio input/output jack of the smartphone, one three-conductor plug that engages the dual-channel input jack of an audio recorder, and one four-conductor jack that engages the plug of a standard earphone and microphone assembly. In addition, the cable assembly includes resistors and capacitors which provide an impedance match between the input/output circuitry and the audio recorder input circuitry. In order to clearly distinguish between the participants in a recorded telephone conversation, outgoing voice signals are recorded on one channel of the audio recorder, while incoming voice signals are recorded on the other channel.Type: GrantFiled: April 18, 2012Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Inventors: Randall Edward Wright, Jay Harrison Higbee
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Patent number: 8666220Abstract: A recording/reproducing apparatus includes an operating section having dual functions depending on being in an image capture mode or in a reproduction mode respectively. While one of the recording mode and the reproduction mode is being carried out, in response to start of the other mode, a controlling function of the operating section is switched to the function of the other mode, and in response to the completion of the other mode, the function of the operating section is switched to the function of the one mode.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2010Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Katsuyuki Tsukui
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Patent number: 8666221Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a temperature sensor configured to sense a temperature associated with a case of the imaging apparatus, a moving image recording unit configured to generate moving image data based on one of a plurality of recording methods which determines image quality of a recording image, and records the moving image data in a recording medium, and a controller configured to control the recording method set on the moving image recording unit. The controller changes the recording method to be set on the moving image recording unit, according to a result of the sensing by the temperature sensor.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 2012Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Yoshinori Okazaki, Yasutoshi Yamamoto, Akira Seto, Tsutomu Mukai
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Patent number: 8666222Abstract: Some embodiments provide a method of processing digital video in a computer. The method receives a first video clip. It stores the first video clip at a first rate in a storage of the computer. From the first video clip, the method generates a second video clip that is at a second rate different than the first rate. The method then outputs the second video clip from the computer. In some embodiments, the first rate is the native rate that a camera originally shot at least a portion of the first video clip, and the second rate is an encoded rate. In some embodiments, the method generates the second video clip from the first video by using the 2:3:3:2 encoding format. Also, in some embodiments, the method outputs the second video clip as the method generates the second video clip.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 2011Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventor: David Robert Black
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Patent number: 8666223Abstract: According to one embodiment, an electronic apparatus includes a storage device, a first display process module, and a second display process module. The storage device is configured to store a plurality of moving picture data, and still images which are composed of a plurality of still images extracted from the moving picture data with respect to each of the moving picture data. The first display process module is configured to display a list of the plurality of moving picture data. The second display process module is configured to display, in a case where to-be-deleted moving picture data is selected by a user from the list of the moving picture data, a deletion confirmation screen on which still images corresponding to the to-be-deleted moving picture data are arranged and which prompts the user to confirm whether or not to delete the to-be-deleted moving picture data.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 2009Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventor: Kohei Momosaki
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Patent number: 8666224Abstract: A storage medium including meta data for providing an enhanced search function on AV data supporting multi-angle, and a reproducing apparatus and method for reproducing AV data from the storage medium are provided. The storage medium comprises moving picture data for supporting multi-angle; and meta data for providing an enhanced search function on the moving picture data, wherein the meta data is defined according to scene, and comprises information regarding at least one search keyword to be applied to a corresponding scene and information regarding an angle supported by the corresponding scene. Such meta data further includes information regarding a start location and a reproduction duration time of the corresponding scene. As a result, an enhanced search function can be realized according to scene, character, actor, or search criterion which a producer arbitrary defines, with respect to moving picture data supporting multi-angle.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2005Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hye-Jeong Chun, Sung-Wook Park
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Patent number: 8666225Abstract: A digital cinema management device includes a control unit that manages schedules of contents exhibited by playback devices and controls a representation of a management window for performing the schedule management, in which the control unit determines an urgent level in accordance with the number of days left until an exhibition day when the requirements for exhibiting contents with the playback devices in accordance with an exhibition schedule are not satisfied and switches the properties of the representation on the management window in accordance with the determined urgent level.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2010Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Misato Ogura, Katsumi Ogawa
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Patent number: 8666226Abstract: The present invention provides a method for converting an original script code of video having relative dynamic descriptors of objects' orientation into video with absolute descriptors orientation for objects in the video. The method includes the steps of: identifying exchangeable dynamic objects in the video, parsing each frame script code for analyzing relative dynamic descriptors of objects for determining absolute descriptors values for each object, creating new script code for the video, determining the absolute descriptors values for each object in each frame and generating a video template which supports the creation of customized videos by altering or exchanging dynamic objects.Type: GrantFiled: December 26, 2012Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: Idomoo LtdInventors: Danny Kalish, Assaf Fogel, Yaron Kalish
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Patent number: 8666227Abstract: According to one embodiment, an information processing apparatus includes a capture module which acquires video data and audio data output from a first module to a second module, a time stamp module which respectively adds time information to the video data and audio data acquired by the capture module, an effect module which performs correction processing of at least one of the video data and audio data acquired by the capture module, and a synchronization output module which synchronizes and outputs the video data and audio data at least one of which has undergone the correction processing by the effect module to the second module based on the time information added by the time stamp module.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2009Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventor: Seiichi Nakamura
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Patent number: 8666228Abstract: An operating method of a broadcasting receiver storing a broadcasting program and providing thumbnail images of a channel-switched broadcasting program during storing the broadcasting program and a broadcasting receiver enabling of the method, thus providing a representative thumbnail image of a channel-switched broadcasting program during storing of the broadcasting program, making it possible to improve a user's convenience by providing information on what the channel-switched broadcasting program is as well as by extracting and outputting thumbnail images from the broadcasting program.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2009Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.Inventor: Dae Suk Park
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Patent number: 8666229Abstract: Provided is a technology for recording the information of contents recorded in a recording medium, when the reproduction of the contents is instructed by a user, thereby to extract a favorite program of the user on the basis of that information. For the technology, the contents stored in the recording medium in accordance with the operation of the user are reproduced. In case the contents are reproduced, the information indicating the reproduced contents is read out and recorded as reproduction history information. A list of programs to be broadcast is received, and the program according to the reproduction history information is extracted as the favorite program of the user from that list.Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 2009Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: Fujitsu LimitedInventor: Toshiro Ohbitsu
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Patent number: 8666230Abstract: A mechanism that enables authoring of new optical disc physical media (e.g., HD-DVD) while maintaining backwards compatibility with previous physical media (e.g., DVD-ROM, DVD-Video). The system eliminates film system “switching” and avoids adding new commands to the command specification, while still allowing legacy (e.g., DVD-ROM) drives to use of the content on the legacy layer. The mechanism enables seamless use of any layer should the drive be able to recognize it. The system can employ a single logical block address (LBA) range together with the concept of “sessions” to effect backwards compatibility. As well, logical overwrite techniques can also be employed to accomplish seamless backwards compatibility.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 2005Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventor: Henry P. Gabryjelski
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Patent number: 8666231Abstract: Provided is a recording medium in which extents for a base-view and a dependent-view are arranged alternately. The lower limit of the size of the base-view extents is the larger of a first lower limit value and a second lower limit value. The lower limit of the size of the dependent-view extent is a third lower limit value. The first lower limit value is determined so that, in monoscopic video playback, buffer underflow does not occur during jump periods between base-view extents. The second lower limit value is determined so that, in stereoscopic video playback, buffer underflow does not occur during read periods from each base-view extent to a next dependent-view extent. The third lower limit value is determined so that, in stereoscopic video playback, buffer underflow does not occur during read periods from each dependent-view extent to the next base-view extent.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 2009Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Taiji Sasaki, Hiroshi Yahata
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Patent number: 8666232Abstract: An image voice play apparatus for playing an AVI file includes: a control portion that when an instruction for a time search is issued, estimates the “number of voice chunks in one movi chunk,” determines in which AVI chunk a voice chunk for the time search is situated, reads an idx1 chunk in the “determined AVI chunk” without reading an idx1 chunk in an AVI chunk other than the “determined chunk,” and determines a play start position that corresponds to the time search.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 2011Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.Inventor: Hirofumi Tani
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Patent number: 8666233Abstract: The present invention relates to a gas range usable as an electric range, wherein the simultaneous supply of gas and electricity can be prevented, and the replacement and use thereof are more convenient due to having a simple configuration. The present invention provides a gas range usable as an electric range, comprising: a burner portion at the inside of a case; and an accommodation portion for accommodating a gas container supplying gas to the burner portion, at one side, wherein a heating element placed at the corresponding position of the burner portion and a heating member comprising a body coupled to one side of the heating element are coupled in a separable manner inside the case and the accommodation portion.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2012Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Inventor: Ha-yong Lee
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Patent number: 8666234Abstract: An aroma dispensing device includes a flexible film having opposite first and second sides, with the first side having a releasable agent to removably adhere the film to a surface. An aroma source is mounted to the second side of the film for dispensing a fragrance to an area adjacent the surface. The film adheres by static cling or an adhesive which does not leave a residue on the surface when the film is removed. The device may include an activator for actuating dispensement of the fragrance from the aroma source, as well as a power source for actuating a fan and providing power to the activator.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2007Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Inventors: Daryl A. Michael, Jennifer L. Michael
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Patent number: 8666235Abstract: The efficiency and effectiveness of apparatuses for vaporizing and combusting liquid fuel can be improved using thermal conductors. For example, an apparatus having a liquid fuel vaporizer and a combustion chamber can be characterized by a thermal conductor that conducts heat from the combustion chamber to the vaporizer. The thermal conductor can be a movable member positioned at an insertion depth within the combustion chamber that corresponds to a rate of heat conduction from the combustion chamber to the vaporizer. The rate of heat conduction can, therefore, be adjusted by positioning the movable member at a different insertion depth.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 2010Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: Battelle Memorial InstituteInventors: Michael R. Powell, Greg A. Whyatt, Daniel T. Howe, Matthew S. Fountain
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Patent number: 8666236Abstract: Disclosed herein are more energy efficient heaters for dispensing volatile air treatment chemicals. The heaters have a housing with a base and a cover, the base and cover together defining an enclosure with an internal generally ring-shaped cavity and an axial through bore. One of the base and cover has an essentially cylindrical extension that is integral therewith, extends towards the other of the base and cover, and forms a portion of the axial through bore. First and second electrical contacts are positioned in the cavity with portions overlapping against a heater. A metallic heat transfer sleeve formed separately from the base and cover is positioned radially outward and around the essentially cylindrical extension, and has a flange abutting one of the contacts. Also disclosed are dispensers that incorporate these heaters.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2010Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc.Inventors: Joao Paulo Possidonio Miguens, Zhang Wei, Ren Jianhui
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Patent number: 8666237Abstract: A cooker and a controlling method for the same are provided. A carbon heater has a wavelength bandwidth of 1.5˜2.5 ?m where a radiant energy is maximum, and the carbon heater provides the radiant energy into a cavity in order to heat food disposed therein.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2008Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.Inventors: Wan Soo Kim, Yang Kyeong Kim, Young Jun Lee
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Patent number: 8666238Abstract: A fluid preheater (10) includes a body (12) having an interior wall (28) defining a chamber (42) and having an inlet (50) and an outlet (52). One or more heaters (18) are disposed in the wall (28), but not exposed to the chamber (42). The chamber (42) has one or more baffles that cause turbulence in the flow of fluid through the chamber (42) from the inlet (50) to the outlet (52) in order to increase the exposure of the fluid to heat from the heaters (18, 64).Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2009Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: Nexthermal CorporationInventors: Jeff Wheeler, Gary Miller
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Patent number: 8666239Abstract: In an image capturing apparatus that allows input of instructions to the image capturing apparatus by shaking the apparatus, without using an operation unit, it is determined whether or not the image capturing apparatus is shaking. Then, in a case in which it is determined that the image capturing apparatus is shaking, at least some of the operations of the operation unit are invalidated.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2011Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Toshio Ibi, Teruhiko Ueyama
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Patent number: 8666241Abstract: A stereographic camera system and method of operating a stereographic camera system are disclosed. The stereographic camera system may include a left camera and a right camera including respective lenses having a focal length and a focus distance, an interocular distance mechanism to set an intraocular distance between the left and right cameras, and a controller. The controller may receive inputs indicating the focal length and the focus distance of the lenses. The controller may control the intraocular distance mechanism, based on the focal length and focus distance of the lenses and one or both of a distance to a nearest foreground object and a distance to a furthest background object, to automatically set the interocular distance such that a maximum disparity of a stereographic image captured by the left and right cameras does not exceed a predetermined maximum disparity.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2013Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Inventors: James Cameron, Vincent Pace, Patrick Campbell, Ronnie Allum
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Patent number: 8666242Abstract: In an OTN (Optical Transport Network), an OTN interface of a network element may receive a BDI (Backwards Defect Indicator) signal from a far end network element to which OTN frames are being transmitted. A BDI signal indicates the occurrence of a unidirectional failure in the transmission of OTN frames to which the far end network element responds by switching its routing to the network element. The OTN interface generates an AIS (Alarm Indication Signal) for its network element so that the network element switches network communication channels to the far end network element to ensure bidirectional switching upon a unidirectional failure.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2007Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.Inventors: David Bianchi, Anand Girish Parthasarathy, Ya Xu
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Patent number: 8666243Abstract: An optical transmission device that is installed at a node of a network and that performs transmission of an optical signal transmits the optical signal to an optical transmission device at the next node without amplifying the optical signal. The optical transmission device generates an adjustment optical signal used by a reception-side optical amplifier in the optical transmission device at the next node to adjust gain for a transmission loss of the optical signal. At the time of booting of the optical transmission device, the optical transmission device transmits the generated adjustment optical signal to the reception-side optical amplifier in the optical transmission device at the next node. Upon receiving a gain-adjustment-completion signal for notifying completion of gain adjustment using the adjustment optical signal from the reception-side optical amplifier, the optical transmission device controls the transmission of the adjustment optical signal to be stopped.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2008Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: Fujitsu LimitedInventors: Seiji Sugiyama, Akira Yamamoto, Makoto Ohtou, Koji Bato
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Patent number: 8666244Abstract: A method of monitoring optical parameters of a modulated optical signal comprises receiving a first optical power, Xi, of said optical signal for a first bandwidth, Bi, across the said optical signal and receiving a second optical power, Xj, of said optical signal for a second bandwidth, Bj, across the said optical signal. The method comprises obtaining a power spectral density description of said optical signal. The method comprises determining an optical signal to noise ratio of said optical signal. The optical signal to noise ratio depends on said first optical power, Xi, said second optical power, Xj, and said power spectral density description. The method also comprises generating a data signal indicative of said optical signal to noise ratio.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2009Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson (Publ)Inventors: Gianmarco Bruno, Fabio Cavaliere
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Patent number: 8666245Abstract: The invention provides a system and method for measuring optical signal-to-noise-ratio (OSNR) in an optical communication system. A channel filter is adapted to select one specific optical communication channel from a wavelength-division-multiplexing (WDM) optical communication system, wherein the channel comprises an optical signal carrying digital bit information and noise from associated optical power amplifiers in the system. At least one optical delay interferometer is adapted to measure at least two interferograms of the noisy signal. The invention provides a mechanism for calculating the in-band OSNR from extinctions of the interferograms measured at different optical delays by referring to each other, wherein said optical delays are selected to be substantially less than a bit period of the optical channel.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2010Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: Provost Fellows and Scholars of the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth, Near DublinInventors: Wei-Hua Guo, Edward Flood, John F. Donegan
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Patent number: 8666246Abstract: A network component comprising at least one processor configured to implement a method comprising transmitting a request to compute a routing assignment, a wavelength assignment, or both, wherein the request comprises a lightpath constraint indicator is disclosed. Also disclosed is an apparatus comprising a Path Computation Client (PCC) configured to transmit a request to and receive a reply from a Path Computation Element (PCE), wherein the request comprises a lightpath constraint, and wherein the reply comprises a routing assignment, a wavelength assignment, an error message, a no-path indication, or combinations thereof. Included is a method comprising receiving a request comprising a request parameter (RP) object comprising a lightpath constraint, sending a reply comprising a routing assignment, a wavelength assignment, an error message, a no-path indicator, or combinations thereof, wherein the request is received and the reply is sent using path computation element protocol (PCEP).Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2011Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: Futurewei Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Young Lee, Greg Bernstein
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Patent number: 8666247Abstract: The present disclosure provides bandwidth defragmentation systems and methods in optical networks such as Optical Transport Network (OTN), Synchronous Optical Network (SONET), Synchronous Digital Hierarchy (SDH), Ethernet, and the like. In particular, the present invention includes bandwidth defragmentation algorithms that may be used within the context of a signaling and routing protocol to avoid bandwidth defragmentation. As such, the present invention defines a mechanism for computing an end to end path for a connection in a manner that avoids bandwidth fragmentation and provides for better network utilization. For example, the present invention may include a path computation based upon administrative weight and upon fragmentation costs. This may be implemented in existing signaling and routing protocols without changes to existing protocol messages used in topology discovery.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2010Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: Ciena CorporationInventors: Hari Srinivasan, Waseem Reyaz Khan, Anurag Prakash, Saurabh Pandey
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Patent number: 8666248Abstract: A photonic-based distributed network switch and method where the switch is designed to reduce or filter optical data frames entering a port of the switch so that only data frames that are appropriate for the port are forwarded from the port. This reduces the amount of data that needs to be handled by the port interface, which is especially important where the port may be using legacy interface technology that may be incapable of handling the volume of data entering the port.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 2010Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: Lockheed Martin CorporationInventors: Brian L. Uhlhorn, Stephen M. Sohn, Howard J. Schantz
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Patent number: 8666249Abstract: A method, device and system for implementing a long reach passive optical network (LR-PON) are provided, which solve the problem that the cost for establishing an LR-PON system is high. The method includes: receiving an uplink burst packet transmitted by an optical network unit (ONU) in a burst manner (101), converting a burst optical signal of the uplink burst packet into a continuous optical signal, and transmitting the continuous optical signal to a receiving device (105). The present invention is applicable to an LR-PON.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2011Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., LtdInventors: Huiyu Zhou, Teng Ma, Kun Huang, Zhiyun Chen
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Patent number: 8666250Abstract: An optical network terminal (ONT) for use in an optical access network and comprising: an optical transceiver arranged to communicate with an optical line terminal using a wavelength which is modulated to carry sub-channels; a second transceiver arranged to communicate with a number of subscriber equipment using respective subscriber equipment channels; the ONT arranged to automatically map each subscriber equipment channel to a respective sub-channel of the wavelength without using an address associated with the respective subscriber equipment.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2008Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson (publ)Inventors: Pierpaolo Ghiggino, Fabio Cavaliere