on Clamping mechanism with detachable positioning member By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 14 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A clamping mechanism includes a positioning member, a support plate, a frame, a fastening assembly, and an operating assembly. The support plate defines a through hole. The fastening assembly is fixed to the frame. The fastening assembly includes a fastening member and an elastic member. The positioning member extends through the through hole of the support plate, and is fastened by the fastening member under an elastic force of the elastic member. The operating assembly resists the fastening member, thereby driving the fastening member away from the positioning member. Full Article
on Support disk fixing apparatus, manufacturing method for a semiconductor device using this apparatus, and semiconductor manufacturing apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A support disk fixing apparatus which includes an upper surface to which a wafer is bonded, a lower surface, a cylindrical side surface between the upper surface and the lower surface, and a chamfered portion between the upper surface and the side surface, includes a base upon which the support disk is placed; and a fixture that is provided on the base, and that has a first surface that abuts against the side surface of the support disk and covers the side surface of the support disk, and a second surface that abuts against the chamfered portion of the support disk and covers the chamfered portion of the support disk. Full Article
on Bonding apparatus and bonding method By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT The bonding apparatus is capable of effectively increasing temperature of a substrate and reducing occurrence of position gaps and poor connection in a process of flip-chip-bonding semiconductor devices to the substrate. The bonding apparatus comprises: a supporting unit for supporting the substrate, on which the semiconductor devices have been adhered by a non-conductive; and a heating/pressing unit for heating and pressing the substrate, the heating/pressing unit having a built-in heat source and a clamping face, onto which the substrate supported by the supporting unit is pressed. The substrate supported by the supporting unit is moved toward the clamping face of the heating/pressing unit so as to preheat the substrate and the semiconductor devices by radiation heat. Then, the semiconductor devices are pressed onto the clamping face of the heating/pressing unit so as to cure the non-conductive adhesive and bond bumps of the semiconductor devices to terminal sections of the substrate. Full Article
on Loading container for a washing machine By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A loading container (10) for a washing machine (60) comprises a containing body (12) to support and position objects to be washed inside the washing machine (60) or washing devices (20, 22) containing the objects to be washed. The container (10) also comprises a base body (14), located below the containing body (12), and a rotation unit (45) to connect rotatably the base body (14) and the containing body (12) so as to allow a selective reciprocal angular positioning of the containing body (12) and the base body (14). Full Article
on Repair alignment method and apparatus for turbine components By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A turbine component repair apparatus includes: a first die having male and female halves for clamping a first section of a turbine blade with a platform and a root portion of an airfoil, the first die having a recess shaped to receive the root portion and retain a faying surface thereof in predetermined alignment; and a second die having male and female halves for clamping a repair section which defines a tip portion of the airfoil, the second die having a second recess shaped to receive the tip portion and retain a faying surface of the tip portion in predetermined alignment. The first and second dies have mating front faces configured to align their bottom surfaces in a common plane. A alignment device is removably attached to the second die to temporarily align the repair section in the absence of the male half of the second die. Full Article
on Reconfigurable clamping system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A reconfigurable clamping system is disclosed. An example clamping system for securing a workpiece comprises a retention assembly and an inflatable bladder. The retention assembly comprises a plurality of links, each pair of adjacent links having a pivotal connection to enable the retention assembly to be configured to the general shape of a workpiece, and each pair of adjacent links having a locking mechanism to selectively lock an angular relationship between the pair. The inflatable bladder is coupled between the retention assembly and the workpiece and is to apply a clamping force to the workpiece. Full Article
on Optical fiber fusion splicer By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An optical fiber fusion splicer includes: a windshield cover having a rotating shaft and rotating around the rotating shaft so as to be openable and closable; a cable member wrapping unit coupled and fixed to the windshield cover on the same axis as the rotating shaft of the windshield cover or formed as a portion of the windshield cover, the cable member wrapping unit being rotatable in a normal direction or in a reverse direction around the rotating shaft; a first cable member winding unit that is a rotary pulley, a non-rotary pulley, or a rotary gear; and a closed-loop member including a deformable cable member wound around the cable member wrapping unit and the first cable member winding unit, the closed-loop member constituting a closed loop. Full Article
on Multi-functional vice base By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A multi-functional vice base including a main body and a plate is provided. The main body includes a bottom surface, side surfaces and fixing portions. At least two side surfaces form a groove therebetween. Each fixing portion is disposed between the groove and the bottom surface. A first fixing member goes through a through hole of one of the fixing portions and is fixed on a working machine bench. The plate is detachably disposed at one of the side surfaces. Whereby the vice base can be mounted on various sized horizontal machining centers. Besides, plates with different size are allowed to be mounted on the main body for clamping work pieces whose sizes are different. Full Article
on Hand tool for inserting a variety of connectors into plastic irrigation piping By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A hand tool for inserting a large variety of connector components into narrow plastic irrigation piping is disclosed. This tool is an improved and progressive development of my previous Israeli patent no: 152089 in that it is designed to work with a large variety of connector components and is designed to accommodate both sizes of narrow spaghetti piping, whereas the previous patent could accommodate only a single size of narrow piping. The tool as shown in FIG. 2 has a body onto which all the elements are connected and the body is configured to sit comfortably in the palm of the hand. When pressing down on the handle, the grips secure the narrow piping and cause a connector component, deployed in appropriate recess provided in the tool to be easily inserted into the narrow piping. Full Article
on Optical fiber fusion splicer By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An optical fiber fusion splicer that heats and fusion-splices optical fibers to each other, the optical fiber fusion splicer includes: a coating clamp installation base; a coating clamp that is attached to the coating clamp installation base and has a coating clamp lid that is openable and closable; and a first power source for advancing the coating clamp installation base and opening the coating clamp lid. An operation of opening the coating clamp lid is performed using the first power source after the fusion splicing is completed. Full Article
on Reconfigurable clamping system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The present invention is directed to apparatus and methods for clamping along a work piece. In one embodiment, a clamping system includes one or more force applying units each including a plunger or force applying member adapted to apply clamping force to the work piece, and one or more coupling units linked with the force applying units forming a chain of force applying units and coupling units. The coupling units may include a lockable pivot adapted to pivot to conform the chain to the surface of the work piece when unlocked, and adapted to be locked when at least one of the plurality of force applying units applies clamping force to the work piece. In another embodiment, a clamping system may include multi-axis pivot units. In a further embodiment, a clamping system may include length adjusting units. Full Article
on Support structures and clamping systems for semiconductor devices during wire and ribbon bonding operations By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A support structure for supporting a semiconductor device during a bonding operation is provided. The support structure comprises a body portion defining an upper surface configured to support a semiconductor device during a bonding operation. The upper surface defines a constraining feature for constraining at least a portion of the semiconductor device during the bonding operation. Full Article
on Device for re-contouring a gas turbine blade By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A device for recontouring a gas turbine blade includes at least one support configured to rest on an edge of the gas turbine blade during the recontouring, at least one side bearing configured to rest on an intake side or an outlet side of the gas turbine blade during the recontouring and a machining unit for machining the gas turbine blade. The machining unit is configured to fuse at least one partial area of the edge of the gas turbine blade using a beam of energy that is targeted such that material of the blade solidifies into a new contour, substantially without the addition of supplementary material. Full Article
on Tire printing device and method for printing onto tire surface By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The present invention aims to provide a technique that prints characters and patterns clearly onto a tire surface without complicated operations. A tire printing device of the present invention includes a printer head that ejects and applies a coating material onto a tire surface, a widthwise moving unit that moves the printer head along the width direction of the tire, a radial moving unit that moves the printer head along the radical direction of the tire, and a swinging unit that swings the printer head around the axis along the circumferential direction of the tire. Full Article
on Material deposition system and method for depositing materials on a substrate By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A material deposition system includes a frame, a support coupled to the frame to support an electronic substrate during a deposit operation, a gantry coupled to the frame, and a deposition head coupled to the gantry. The deposition head is movable over the support by movement of the gantry. The deposition head includes a chamber to hold material, an actuator to push a volume of material out of the chamber, a needle extending from the chamber and terminating in a needle orifice, and at least two air jets located on opposite sides of the needle orifice. A desired volume of material is formed at the needle orifice in response to the actuator, and each of the at least two air jets produce a timed pulse of air to create a micro-droplet from the desired volume and to accelerate the micro-droplet to high velocity. Full Article
on Liquid feed valve unit and liquid ejection device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A liquid feed valve unit is configured to switch between a releasing mode for forcibly opening a valve and a blocking mode for closing the valve, and the valve can therefore be opened and closed in a short time as needed. Since the releasing mode is implemented by pushing the peripheral part and the pressure-receiving part of the flexible member, the flexible member can be prevented from flexing toward the outside of the liquid accommodating chamber even in the case that the pressure-receiving part is pushed. In this case, since a residual pressure can be prevented from forming in the liquid accommodating chamber, there is no need to suspend operation, and it is possible to immediately proceed to the next operation. A fast-operating liquid feed valve unit can thereby be obtained. Full Article
on Liquid feeding device and method of determining time of exchange of gas control element By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Ink in an ink tank is fed through a dissolved gas control filter to a printer head. A gas pressure changing mechanism reduces pressure in a gas pressure control tank. In response, the dissolved gas control filter removes gas dissolved in the ink. The gas pressure control tank is placed under pressure corresponding to a sum of the pressure reduced by the gas pressure changing mechanism and the pressure of the gas having been removed from the liquid. A gas pressure measuring part measures the sum of these pressures as pressure in the gas pressure control tank. Then, a controller determines when time of exchange of the dissolved gas control filter has come based on the magnitude of a gradient of gas pressure variation in the gas pressure control tank. Full Article
on Liquid container and liquid ejecting apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A liquid container includes a liquid which generates gases over time due to a chemical change in components; a liquid storage chamber in which the liquid is stored; a liquid flow port which communicates with the liquid storage chamber, via which the liquid inside the storage chamber flows out; and an information holding portion which holds time information on manufacturing of the liquid container. Full Article
on Liquid ejection apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A liquid ejection apparatus includes: a head including: a reservoir tank; an inlet opening; and ejection openings; an air-discharge passage for discharging air from the reservoir tank to an outside; a first sucking device for sucking air from the reservoir tank via the air-discharge passage; a semipermeable membrane dividing a space in the reservoir tank and the air-discharge passage, into a reservoir-tank-side space and a first-sucking-device-side space and allowing communication of the air and inhibiting communication of liquid between the reservoir-tank-side space and the first-sucking-device-side space; and a first valve mechanism dividing the reservoir-tank-side space into a first space on a semipermeable-membrane side and a second space on an inlet-opening side, inhibiting fluid from flowing from the first space to the second space, and allowing fluid to flow from the second space to the first space. The first space is located above the ejection openings. Full Article
on Liquid cartridge and image forming apparatus incorporation same By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A liquid cartridge is detachably attachable to an apparatus body of an image forming apparatus. The liquid cartridge includes a cartridge case, an information memory element, and a holding unit. The cartridge case includes at least two dividable case parts. The at least two dividable case parts form a front face of the cartridge case to face the apparatus body when the liquid cartridge is attached to the apparatus body. An information memory element is held at the front face of the cartridge case. The holding unit is provided in one of the at least two dividable case parts to hold the information memory element with only the one of the at least two dividable case parts. The holding unit includes a groove to receive the information memory element and a displaceable claw to hold the information memory element between the groove and the claw. Full Article
on Ink stick identification system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A solid ink stick identification system enables accurate and efficient identification of solid ink sticks in a solid ink imaging device. The solid ink identification system includes an actuator configured to move one of an optical source and an optical sensor between a plurality of predetermined positions. The optical source emits light toward a face of the ink stick, and the optical sensor generates signals corresponding to an amount of reflected light received. A controller identifies features on the solid ink stick based on the signals as the one of the optical source and optical sensor is moved between the plurality of predetermined positions. Full Article
on Liquid ejection apparatus including curl reduction device, curl reduction method executed in the apparatus, and storage medium used for the apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A liquid ejection apparatus includes: (a) a storage device for storing an image data set representing a plurality of images; (b) a liquid ejection head for performing an image formation on each recording medium; (c) a curl reduction device for reducing curl caused in each recording medium having the corresponding image formed thereon by the liquid ejection head; (d) an output tray for receiving each recording medium whose curl has been reduced by the curl reduction device, such that the received recording media are stacked on the output tray; and (e) a control device configured to control the curl reduction device, such that the curl caused in an earlier one of the recording media is reduced by a smaller degree than the curl caused in a later one of the recording media that has been subjected to the image formation later than the earlier one of the recording media. Full Article
on Media multi-feed rejection process with an encoded counter-rotating roller By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT This invention relates to a media multi-feed rejection apparatus, comprising: a plurality of feed rollers; a feed roller driving means operatively connected to one of the plurality of feed rollers; a clutch means operatively connected to the other of the plurality of feed rollers; and a single channel encoder means operatively connected to the clutch means to measure a rotation of the other of the plurality of feed rollers. Full Article
on Medium conveyance apparatus and image forming apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT According to an aspect of the present invention, in a medium conveyance apparatus which securely supports and conveys a medium, by providing a function for applying a back tension to the medium, in a guide section which forms a guide for supporting the medium in a medium conveyance unit, it is possible to apply a back tension to the medium of which at least a portion is securely supported by the medium conveyance unit, thereby restricting the occurrence of creasing and floating when the medium is securely supported by the medium conveyance unit and maintaining the flatness of the medium which is securely supported by the medium conveyance unit. Full Article
on Optical writing controller, image forming apparatus, and optical writing control method By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An optical writing controller that controls a light source to expose a photoconductor and forms an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor calculates a correction value for correcting a superimposing position where the developed images for different colors developing each of the electrostatic latent images formed on each of the multiple photoconductors are superimposed based on the detection signal output by a pattern detection sensor that detects a pattern for correcting the superimposing position, controls the multiple light sources to draw a predetermined pattern repeatedly in the sub-scanning direction so that stepwise patterns whose width in the main scanning direction varies with repetition are formed, and determines the width in the main scanning direction of the patterns for correcting based on the strength of the detection signal output by the pattern detection sensor. Full Article
on Image forming apparatus in which the light irradiated on a non-imaging portion is adjusted By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An image forming apparatus including a control unit configured to cause the light irradiation unit to irradiate the photosensitive member at an image forming portion to which toner particles adhere with light emitted from the light source by a first light emission amount, and cause the light irradiation unit to irradiate the photosensitive member at a non-image forming portion to which no toner particles adhere with light emitted from the light source by a second light emission amount that is smaller than the first light emission amount. The image forming apparatus further includes an adjusting unit configured to adjust the first light emission amount and the second light emission amount, and an acquisition unit configured to acquire information relating to a speed of surface of the photosensitive member. The adjusting unit is configured to change the second light emission amount according to information acquired by the acquisition unit. Full Article
on Optical scanning device, optical scanning device control method, and image forming apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An optical scanning device includes: a driving unit that drives a light source that outputs multiple light beams; a deflecting unit that scans a scanning surface in a main-scanning direction by deflecting the light beams, the scanning surface moving at a predetermined line speed in a sub-scanning direction; and a control unit that changes number of the light beams according to the line speed by controlling the driving unit, changes a scanning speed of the deflecting unit in the main-scanning direction according to a difference between an exposure amount per unit length in the main-scanning direction after a change in the number of the light beams and a predetermined exposure amount, and changes light intensity of each of the light beams output by the light source according to an amount of a change in the scanning speed. Full Article
on Laser scanning unit and image forming apparatus including the same, with laser light intensity detection, adjustment, and control By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A laser scanning unit includes a laser light source, rotating polygon mirror, drive motor, and entry detection, intensity detection, intensity adjustment, and drive control portions. The laser light source radiates first and second laser lights in first second directions, respectively. The drive motor rotates the polygon mirror reflecting the first laser light. The intensity adjustment portion adjusts the first laser light in accordance with the second laser light detected by the intensity detection portion, until a second time after a first time has elapsed since the first laser light entry detection by the entry detection portion. The drive control portion, upon adjustment by the intensity adjustment portion, drives the drive motor at a first rotation speed, wherein a return light entry timing is included within the first time or from when the second time has elapsed to the timing of the entry detection portion detection. Full Article
on Image forming device with smoothing correction for plural light emitting segments By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An image forming device includes a photoreceptor drum including a target surface that is scanned in a main scanning direction and a sub-scanning direction, an exposure head including a plurality of light emitting segments aligned in parallel to the main scanning direction, an exposure driving unit which selectively drives the plural light emitting segments, a storing unit which stores a profile where the respective positions of the plural light emitting segments correspond to a correction amount from the main scanning direction toward the sub-scanning direction at every position, and a correcting unit which smoothes a local change of the correction amount in the profile. Full Article
on 2-D straight-scan on imaging surface with a raster polygon By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A 2-D scanning system uses a fast-rotating raster-polygon as a single scanning component to produce straight scan lines over a 2-D image surface. An approach angle of incident light beams to the raster-polygon is selected to minimize pin-cushion distortion of scan lines introduced by polygon scanning on the image surface, and a tilt angle of the rotational axis of the raster-polygon is selected to position said polygon-scanning distortion symmetrically on the image surface. In addition, scan optics are configured to generate a predetermined amount of barrel distortion of scan lines on the image surface to compensate for pin-cushion distortion introduced by polygon scanning. Full Article
on Substrate for inkjet head and inkjet head having protection layer including individual sections corresponding to heating resistors By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 23 Jun 2015 08:00:00 EDT There are provided a substrate for an inkjet head and an inkjet head wherein in a case where a protection layer of heating resistors is energized, an electrical connection with portions around the protection layer is more reliably cut. A first protection layer provided for the substrate for an inkjet head includes individual sections provided at positions corresponding to the plurality of heating resistors and a common section which commonly connects the plurality of individual sections. The individual sections and the common section are connected via connect sections which are eluted and connect in a case where an electrochemical reaction occurs between the connect sections and ink when electricity flow therethrough, so that an electrical connection between the individual sections and the common section is cut. Full Article
on Cover and liquid container By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 23 Jun 2015 08:00:00 EDT A cover for a liquid container which exposes at least a portion of a detecting member, having a liquid supply portion to a liquid ejecting apparatus through communicating with the liquid containing unit, and a first surface provided with a first container side engagement portion arranged between the liquid supply portion and the detecting member. The cover includes a first cover side engagement portion engaging with the first container side engagement portion. Full Article
on Method and system for locating signal emitters using cross-correlation of received signal strengths By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method and system for determining a location of a first device that emits a signal: provide at least three sensors separated and spaced apart from each other; at each of the sensors, receive the signal emitted by the first device; determine the received signals for each of the sensors; determine cross-correlations of the received signals for pairs of the sensors; and determine the location of the first device from the magnitudes of the cross-correlations of the received signals. Full Article
on Electromagnetic wave reverberation chamber By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An electromagnetic wave reverberation chamber includes: an electromagnetic wave absorbing apparatus installed in an intended space of the electromagnetic wave reverberation chamber for adjusting a reflection characteristic of an inside of the electromagnetic wave reverberation chamber, wherein the electromagnetic wave absorbing apparatus have an electromagnetic bandgap structure including a plurality of unit cells arranged periodically. Full Article
on Detection sensor By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Disclosed is a detection sensor, which can detect various detection regions even with a small-sized antenna. Full Article
on Intermittent filling level determination with dynamically determined number of measurements By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method of determining a filling level of a product contained in a tank using a level gauge system, comprising the steps of: transmitting a first signal towards a surface of the product; receiving a first echo signal; determining a present echo characteristic value based on the first echo signal; and comparing the present echo characteristic value and a stored echo characteristic value. If a difference between the present echo characteristic value and the stored echo characteristic value is greater than a predefined value, the method further comprises transmitting at least a second transmit signal towards the surface; receiving at least a second echo signal; and determining the filling level based on the at least second electromagnetic echo signal. Full Article
on Method for monitoring the state of a fill level measuring device operating according to the radar principle By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method for monitoring the state of a fill level measuring device (1) operating according to the radar principle and such a fill level measuring device, wherein the fill level measuring device (1) has at least one transceiver unit (2) for transmitting and receiving electromagnetic signals, and at least one antenna (3) for guiding, radiating and receiving electromagnetic signals. The antenna (3) has at least one interior space (4), and wherein the antenna (3) has a transmission characteristic with regard to the transmission of electromagnetic signals. Electromagnetic signals are emitted or directed at least partially in the direction of a wall section (5) of the interior space (4) of the antenna (3), the received electromagnetic signals are evaluated with respect to the transmission characteristic of the antenna (3), and the result of the evaluation is compared to at least one stored reference value. Full Article
on System and method of radar location By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A system and method of radar location comprises radar signal emission means, an emitted pulse of duration T1 and index i starting at instant T2(i); means receiving reflected radar signals; means determining correlation between reconstruction of an emitted pulse and signal received during the time interval between T2(i)+2*T1 and T2(i+1). The means determining a correlation can reconstruct a set, of at least one truncated pulse j of duration T3(j), less than T1, corresponding to the final part of said emitted pulse, said truncated pulses having increasing respective durations, determining at least one first correlated signal j by correlation of said truncated pulse j and signal received during time interval between T2(i)+T1 and T2(i)+T1+T3(j) and determining a second signal, based on first correlated signals j, by copying the time interval, of said correlated signal j, between T2(i)+T1+T3(j) and T2(i)+T1+T3(j+1), onto the time interval, of said second signal, between T2(i)+T1+T3(j) and T2(i)+T1+T3(j+1). Full Article
on Portable biometric monitoring devices having location sensors By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Assisted-GPS for a portable biometric monitoring device is provided. The portable biometric monitoring device may obtain updated ephemeris data from an associated secondary device via a short-range, low-power communication protocol. The secondary device may be a computing device such as a smartphone, tablet, or laptop. Various rules may control when the ephemeris data is updated. The ephemeris data may be used in the calculation of the global position of the portable biometric monitoring device. Additionally, the portable biometric monitoring device may communicate downloaded position fixing data to the associated secondary device. The associated secondary device may then calculate the global position from the position fixing data. Full Article
on Satellite differential positioning receiver using multiple base-rover antennas By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A rover processor determines position of a rover based upon the interaction between multiple antennas located at the rover and multiple antennas located at a base. The rover antennas may include a rover master antenna having a phase center located at the centroid of the antennas patterns of at least two auxiliary rover antennas. The rover processor may determine the position of the rover master antenna based upon the relative positions of at least two rover antennas (e.g., the rover master antenna and at least one rover auxiliary antenna, or at least two rover auxiliary antennas) with respect to at least two antennas of a base transceiver. Full Article
on Positioning using a local wave-propagation model By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method and apparatus for assisting the calculation of the position of a receiver device (1200), by observing a transmitted signal having a known structure. The method comprises: comparing (S220) the time of arrival, at a reference position (X1), of a first portion of the signal with the time of arrival at the receiver, at an unknown position (Y1), of a second portion of the signal; obtaining (S230) a local wave propagation model of the signal, the model comprising an estimate of the direction of propagation of the signal in the neighborhood of the reference position and unknown position; and using (S240) the direction of propagation and the result of the comparison to assist in the calculation of the unknown position relative to the reference position. Full Article
on Communication system, apparatus and methods for calibrating an antenna array By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method for calibrating (700) an antenna array comprises a plurality of antenna elements coupled to a plurality of respective receive paths in a wireless communication system. The method comprises, in receive mode, applying a test signal to an individual single receive path (715) of the plurality of receive paths; and feeding back the test signal via a switched coupler network. The method further comprises running a receive calibration measurement routine to determine at least one measurement value used to calibrate the individual signal receive path and waiting for at least one converged measurement value; and extracting (720) the converged measurement value for at least one individual receive path. The steps of applying, running, extracting for a next individual single receive path are repeated until the calibration routine has completed (725). The method further comprises selecting a converged measurement value of at least one individual receive path from a plurality of receive paths (730) to form a reference receiver calibration result (730); normalizing a plurality of at least one measurement values of the plurality of receive paths using the reference receiver calibration result (730); and applying a normalized value to at least one of the plurality of receive paths. Full Article
on Wide area positioning systems and methods By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Devices, systems, and methods for sending positional information from transmitters/beacons are disclosed. In one implementation a transmitter generates a range block including a ranging signal and a hybrid block including positioning data, and sends the range block and hybrid block in predefined slots in a transmit frame. A receiver in a user device receives signals from a plurality of transmitters and generates position/location information using trilateration and measured altitude information in comparison with transmitter altitude information. Full Article
on Wireless communication terminal By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A wireless communication terminal includes a communication status measurement element for measuring communication status data representing a communication status of the self terminal at the time of wireless communications; a reference data storage element for storing respective pieces of preset reference data representing communication statuses of a terminal which can be measured at respective locations at the time of wireless communications, in association with respective pieces of location data identifying the respective locations, and a location specifying element for comparing the communication status data measured by the communication status measurement element with the respective pieces of reference data stored in the reference data storage element, and based on the comparison result, specifying a location corresponding to the location data associated with a particular piece of reference data as a location of the self terminal. Full Article
on Time of arrival (TOA) estimation for positioning in a wireless communication network By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Techniques for determining time of arrivals (TOAs) of signals in a wireless communication network are described. Each cell may transmit (i) synchronization signals on a set of contiguous subcarriers in the center portion of the system bandwidth and (ii) reference signals on different sets of non-contiguous subcarriers distributed across the system bandwidth. A UE may determine TOA for a cell based on multiple signals transmitted on different sets of subcarriers. The UE may perform correlation for a first signal (e.g., a synchronization signal) from the cell to obtain first correlation results for different time offsets. The UE may perform correlation for a second signal (e.g., a reference signal) from the cell to obtain second correlation results for different time offsets. The UE may combine the first and second correlation results and may determine the TOA for the cell based on the combined correlation results. Full Article
on System and method for modifying adaptive cruise control set points By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A driver performance mapping system for a vehicle system is disclosed. The system may include a GPS receiver generating GPS data indicative of a current location of the vehicle. In addition, the system may also have a radar device generating current gap data indicative of a current gap distance from the vehicle to a lead vehicle. Further, the system may include an electronic controller configured to generate learned gap data based on the current gap data and stored gap data, and then assign the learned gap data with the GPS data. Full Article
on Unmanned aircraft with built-in collision warning system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An unmanned aircraft, unmanned aviation system and method for collision avoidance during the flight operation of an unmanned aircraft are provided. The unmanned aircraft includes a lift and propulsion system and a flight control system having a flight control unit, a navigation system and an actuator system. The flight control unit has an autopilot unit. The flight control unit calculates control commands using data from the navigation system and/or the autopilot unit, which can be conveyed to the actuator system for actuating the lift and propulsion system. A collision warning system is connected with the flight control system, the collision warning system detects a collision situation and makes collision avoidance data available. A connection between the collision warning system and the autopilot unit is provided, in order to initiate an obstacle avoidance maneuver by the autopilot unit with the help of the collision avoidance data. Full Article
on Route re-planning using enemy force lethality projection By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method, system and computer readable media for route re-planning including generating enemy force movement predictions to be used during mission planning. During a mission, enemy force movements can be compared to the predictions. By using enemy force movement predictions for an initial comparison, the enemy force movements may only need to be compared to the own force mission plan if the enemy forces deviate from the predictions. When enemy force movement deviates from the predictions, new enemy force movement predictions can be generated. The new enemy force movement predictions can then be compared to the own force mission plan to determine if a route re-plan is needed. The route can be re-planned to determine a route that reduces or eliminates the chance of a lethal encounter with an enemy or threat. Full Article
on SAR autofocus for ground penetration radar By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method of synthetic aperture radar autofocus for ground penetration radar. The method includes transmitting a signal via an antenna; receiving a reflected signal comprising a plurality of image blocks via the antenna; reading each image block from the reflected signal via a processor; locating prominent targets in each image block via the processor; estimating ground penetration phase error via the processor in each image block via phase error inputs including pulling range and quantization level by generating a 1D phase error and converting the 1D phase error into a 2D phase error of an image spectra; refocusing each image block according to estimated ground penetration phase error for that image block via the processor; and forming an image mosaic comprising each refocused image block via the processor. Full Article
on Vectorization approach to isolating local maxima in an N-dimensional dataset By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Identification of maximum power scatters in an N-dimensional dataset generally requires two basic steps. The first step is to identify the max power scatters of the dataset and the second step removes neighboring power scatters (e.g., “hits”) of lower power. Current naïve approaches utilize an inefficient and computationally intensive brute force implementation which requires multiple comparisons of each initial “hit” power to all “hits” of lesser power. Such brute force implementations require 2×N×(M−1)! comparisons, where N is the number of dimensions and M is the number of “hits.” Embodiments of the present disclosure utilize vectorization to identify a plurality of neighboring hits for each max power scatter and removes the neighboring hits of lesser power that are within a predetermined isolation region. Advantageously, embodiments of the present invention perform M−1 comparisons. Full Article