26th week of 2014 patent applcation highlights part 40 |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20140177700 | SEGMENTING AND TRANSCODING OF VIDEO AND/OR AUDIO DATA - In various embodiments, an encoder may be configured to divide received content in a first format into one or more segments and then to transcode the previously-divided segments into other formats and/or bitrates for presentation. In various embodiments, the encoder may include multiple segmenting computing devices configured to perform the dividing of the content into segments. The encoder may also include multiple transcoding computing devices configured to transcode the divided segments into a format for presentation. In various embodiments, the computing devices may be configured to communicate with each other via a network to determine which content has been divided into segments and which divided segments have been transcoded. The determination may be performed autonomously by the devices. Thus, in various embodiments, the devices included in the encoder may be configured to perform segmenting and transcoding on a distributed basis without necessarily requiring coordination by any one device. | 2014-06-26 |
20140177701 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TIME BUDGET ACHIEVEMENT IN REAL-TIME VIDEO ENCODING - A method and apparatus for encoding video is provided. A pre-analysis processor processes unencoded video data formed from a series of video pictures into respective video segments. An allocation processor allocates a first encoding time budget to a respective video segment respective video segment based on a size of the respective segment a target frame rate for the respective video segment, a second encoding time budget to individual pictures that form the respective video segment based on a picture-level complexity value and a type of picture, the second time budget for all individual pictures being substantially equal to the first time budget, and a third encoding time budget to individual blocks that form respective ones of the individual pictures based on a coding mode for the individual block and a block complexity value, the third time budget for all blocks being substantially equal to the second time budget for the respective individual picture that includes the blocks. An encoding processor encodes respective video segments using the third time budget to encode the video segment using the first, second and third time budgets. | 2014-06-26 |
20140177702 | CONSTANT QUALITY VIDEO ENCODING - In embodiments, apparatuses, methods and storage media are described that are associated with content distribution. In embodiments, an encoder may be configured to encode portions of content, such as video and/or audio data, utilizing different sets of encoding control variable settings. The different sets of encoding control variable settings may include different resolutions, different frame rates, and/or different compression levels. In embodiments, different segments and/or different portions of a single segment of data may be encoded using different sets of encoding control variable settings. | 2014-06-26 |
20140177703 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR QUALITY CONTROLLED ENCODING - This disclosure describes techniques for controlling a perceived quality of multimedia sequences to try to achieve a desired constant perceptual quality regardless of the content of the sequences. In particular, an encoding device may implement quality control techniques to associate a sequence segment with a content “class” based on the content of the segment, determine a perceptual quality metric of the sequence segment, and adjust at least one encoding parameter used to encode the segment is encoded such that for the perceptual quality of the sequence segment converges to the desired quality. | 2014-06-26 |
20140177704 | MULTI-TYPE PARALLELIZED SAMPLE ADAPTIVE OFFSET IN VIDEO CODING - In general, techniques are described for performing multiple passes of sample adaptive offset (SAO) filtering when coding video data. A video decoding device comprising one or more processors may perform the techniques. The processors may determine a first SAO pixel classification for a block of video data and determine a first offset value based on the first SAO pixel classification and one or more pixel values of the block. The one or more processors may also determine a second SAO pixel classification for the block and determine a second offset value based on the second SAO pixel classification and the one or more pixel values of block of video data. The processors may then apply the first offset value and the second offset value to the block of video data to generate a block of SAO filtered video data. | 2014-06-26 |
20140177705 | PICTURE CODING AND DECODING APPARATUSES AND METHODS PERFORMING VARIABLE LENGTH CODING AND DECODING ON A SLICE HEADER STREAM AND ARITHMETIC CODING AND DECODING ON A SLICE DATA STREAM - A frame coding unit generates individual picture signal information from a moving picture signal, and outputs a frame code value which is a numeric value to be obtained as a result of coding picture signal information of each frame. A variable length coding unit decomposes the frame code value into unit frame code values which are basic units of coding, converts the unit frame code values into frame code words using only a single code table, and constructs a frame stream by combining the converted frame code words. A multiplexing unit multiplexes a header stream which is constructed through a method equivalent to a conventional method and the frame stream, and constructs a picture coded signal. | 2014-06-26 |
20140177706 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING SUPER-RESOLUTION OF QUANTIZED IMAGES AND VIDEO - An image-encoding system that is configured to generate an output stream based on an input image is provided that includes an encoder and a metadata extractor. The encoder is configured to encode a low-resolution image to generate a quantized, low-resolution image. The low-resolution image is generated based on the input image. The metadata extractor is configured to extract super-resolution (SR) metadata from the input image. The output stream comprises the quantized, low-resolution image and the SR metadata. An image-decoding system is configured to receive the output stream. The image-decoding system includes a decoder and an SR processor. The decoder is configured to decode the quantized, low-resolution image to generate a decoded image. The super-resolution processor is configured to perform super-resolution on the decoded image based on the SR metadata to generate a super-resolved image. | 2014-06-26 |
20140177707 | ENTROPY CODING OF MOTION VECTOR DIFFERENCES - An entropy decoder is configured to, for horizontal and vertical components of motion vector differences, derive a truncated unary code from the data stream using context-adaptive binary entropy decoding with exactly one context per bin position of the truncated unary code, which is common for horizontal and vertical components of the motion vector differences, and an Exp-Golomb code using a constant equi-probability bypass mode to obtain the binarizations of the motion vector differences. A desymbolizer is configured to debinarize the binarizations of the motion vector difference syntax elements to obtain integer values of the horizontal and vertical components of the motion vector differences; A reconstructor is configured to reconstruct a video based on the integer values of the horizontal and vertical components of the motion vector differences. | 2014-06-26 |
20140177708 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ENTROPY ENCODING/DECODING - Provided are methods and apparatuses for entropy-encoding and entropy-decoding an image. The method for entropy-encoding an image includes operations of arithmetically encoding a binary value of a current coding symbol, by using a probability of a predefined binary value which is determined based on previously-coded symbols that are encoded before the current coding symbol; and updating the probability of the predefined binary value by using a plurality of scaling factors, according to the binary value of the current coding symbol. | 2014-06-26 |
20140177709 | IMAGE ENCODING APPARATUS, IMAGE ENCODING METHOD AND COMPUTER PROGRAM - To reduce power consumption in an encoding process without extremely lowering encoding efficiency, a chrominance of each pixel of a prediction block is derived as a reference chrominance block according to a chrominance intra prediction mode from a reference chrominance sample representing a chrominance of a pixel necessary for intra encoding, a difference between the reference chrominance block and a chrominance sample of an input encoding block is derived as a chrominance prediction residual, and an evaluation value of the chrominance prediction residual is derived. This process is performed to a candidate of the chrominance intra prediction mode adoptable irrespective of a luminance intra prediction mode. The chrominance intra prediction mode corresponding to the evaluation value when this evaluation value is equal to or smaller than a threshold is adopted as the chrominance intra prediction mode of the prediction block. | 2014-06-26 |
20140177710 | VIDEO IMAGE COMPRESSION/DECOMPRESSION DEVICE - An image compression/decompression device achieving increased utilization efficiency of the memory bandwidth in the access to the memory used for the compression/decompression operation while maintaining ill effect on the images at a low level is realized. The image compression/decompression device comprises a data conversion unit which reduces the data access rate when original images (as input images at the time of performing the compression) and reference images (used for performing the interframe prediction) are stored in the memory by accessing the memory. The access to the memory is performed in an address sequence (order) that differs between data write and data read. This makes it possible to increase the utilization efficiency of the memory bandwidth, and further to reduce the capacity of the buffer memory used for the data read. | 2014-06-26 |
20140177711 | VIDEO ENCODING AND DECODING METHOD AND APPARATUS USING THE SAME - Disclosed is technology associated with video encoding and decoding having a structure including one or more layers (quality, spatial, and view) and technology associated with a method that predicts an higher layer signal by using one or more reference layers in encoding and decoding an higher layer. In more detail, an interlayer prediction is capable of being performed by considering a characteristic of each layer by separating a spatial and quality reference layer list constituted by spatial and quality layers to be referred at the same view as a target layer and a view reference layer list constituted by the same spatial and quality layers as a target layer in encoding and decoding encoding and decoding pictures of an higher layer in encoding and decoding encoded and decoded pictures of the higher layer to improve encoding and decoding efficiency. | 2014-06-26 |
20140177712 | METHOD OF ENCODING/DECODING OF MULTIVIEW VIDEO SEQUENCE BASED ON ADAPTIVE COMPENSATION OF LOCAL ILLUMINATION MISMATCHES AT INTERFRAME PREDICTION - A technology for processing digital signals is provided, and more particularly, a method of encoding or decoding a multiview video sequence based on adaptive compensation of local illumination mismatches between frames of the multiview video sequence is provided. The method may be performed using a correction parameter used to correct a change in illumination. The correction parameter may be computed based on at least one of a first estimate estD | 2014-06-26 |
20140177713 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR DETERMINING TRANSFORM BLOCK SIZE - Embodiments of the present invention provide a method and a device for determining a transform block size, and can improve image compression efficiency. The method includes: obtaining, according to image block information and a splitting manner of an image block, a parameter of a transform block corresponding to the image block; and obtaining a transform block size according to the parameter of the transform block and the splitting manner of the image block. In the embodiments of the present invention, during determination of a transform block size, the transform block size is obtained according to a splitting manner of an image block and a parameter of a transform block corresponding to the image block. Therefore, a transform block matching the splitting manner of the image block can be used, improving image compression efficiency. | 2014-06-26 |
20140177714 | CODING VIDEO DATA WITH AN ALTERNATE REFERENCE FRAME GENERATED USING A TEMPORAL FILTER - Implementations of the teachings herein include coding video data with an alternate reference frame generated using a temporal filter. The alternate reference frame is generated by determining a first weighting factor, for each corresponding block of a respective frame of a filter set, that represents a temporal correlation of the block with the corresponding block, determining a second weighting factor, for each pixel for each corresponding block of the respective frame of the filter set, that represents a temporal correlation of the pixel to a spatially-correspondent pixel in the block, determining a filter weight for each pixel in the block and for each spatially-correspondent pixel is each corresponding block based on the first weighting factor and the second weighting factor, and generating a weighted average pixel value for each pixel position in the block to form a block of the alternate reference frame based on the filter weights. | 2014-06-26 |
20140177715 | METHOD OF DETERMINING MOTION VECTORS FOR A BI-PREDICTIVE IMAGE BLOCK - In one embodiment, the method includes determining motion vectors of the bi-predictive image block based on a type of the first reference picture. The type is one of a long-term type and a short-term type, and the type characterizes a temporal distance of the first reference picture with respect to the bi-predictive block. The motion vectors of the bi-predictive image block are determined according to a first set of expressions if the first reference picture is of the short-term type, and according to a second set of expressions if the first reference picture is of the long-term type. The second set of expressions is different than the first set of expressions. The method further includes decoding the bi-predictive image block based on the determined motion vectors. | 2014-06-26 |
20140177716 | USING AN AVERAGE MOTION VECTOR FOR A MOTION SEARCH - A method for using an average motion vector in a motion vector search process. The method includes accessing an input frame for processing and reading average motion vector information from memory. The method further includes performing a motion vector search by using the average motion vector and a plurality of hints, calculating a winner motion vector based on the average motion vector and the plurality of hints, and storing the winner motion vector back into memory to create a new updated average motion vector. The method further includes finishing processing the input frame using the winning motion vector. | 2014-06-26 |
20140177717 | REDUCTION OF I-PULSING ARTIFACTS - Various methods and systems are provided for reduction of I-pulsing artifacts. In one example, among others, a method includes modifying at least a portion of a picture to be encoded as an I picture based at least in part upon a picture that precedes the picture. The modification can reduce an I-pulsing artifact associated with the I picture. The modified picture is intra-coded for inclusion in a series of encoded pictures, which may then be transmitted. In another example, an encoder includes adaptive pre-processing circuitry configured to modify at least a portion of a first picture based at least in part upon a second picture that precedes the first picture in a series of video pictures. For example, the modification may be based upon coding noise associated with the preceding picture. Intra-encoding processing circuitry is configured to encode the modified picture as an I picture. | 2014-06-26 |
20140177718 | Multi-Layer Video Stream Encoding and Decoding - Multi-layer dependencies are signaled in an efficient way for a multi-view video stream (1). Coding or decoding relationship information defining coding or decoding dependencies is represented in bit-efficient syntax code, preferably through usage of hierarchical layer dependencies using layer indices for representing layer dependencies. | 2014-06-26 |
20140177719 | METHOD OF DETERMINING MOTION VECTORS FOR A BI-PREDICTIVE IMAGE BLOCK - In one embodiment, the method includes determining, first and second reference pictures; obtaining a type of the first reference picture; and determining motion vectors of the bi-predictive image block based on the type of the first reference picture. The type is one of a long-term type and a short-term type, and characterizes a temporal distance of the first reference picture with respect to the bi-predictive block. The motion vectors of the bi-predictive image block are determined according to a first set of expressions if the first reference picture is of the short-term type, and according to a second set of expressions if the first reference picture is of the long-term type. The second set of expressions is different than the first set of expressions. The method further includes decoding, by the moving picture coding system, the bi-predictive image block based on the determined motion vectors. | 2014-06-26 |
20140177720 | CONSTRAINTS ON NEIGHBORING BLOCK BASED DISPARITY VECTOR (NBDV) TECHNIQUES FOR 3D VIDEO - Techniques are described for determining whether a block in a candidate reference picture is available. A video coder may determine a location of a co-located largest coding unit (CLCU) in the candidate reference picture, where the CLCU is co-located with a LCU in a current picture, and the LCU includes a current block that is to be inter-predicted. The video coder may determine whether a block in the candidate reference picture is available based on a location of the block in the candidate reference picture relative to the location of the CLCU. If the block in the candidate reference picture is unavailable, the video coder may derive a disparity vector for the current block from a block other than the block determined to be unavailable. | 2014-06-26 |
20140177721 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR DETERMINING RESIDUAL DATA FOR ENCODING OR DECODING AT LEAST PART OF AN IMAGE - A method and device for determining residual data for encoding at least part of an image of an enhancement layer of video data, the video data including the enhancement layer and a base layer, the enhancement layer being composed of processing blocks and the base layer being composed of elementary units each having associated residual data, the method comprising for a processing block of the enhancement layer
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20140177722 | APPARATUS FOR CODING OR DECODING INTRA IMAGE BASED ON LINE INFORMATION OF REFERENCE IMAGE BLOCK - An apparatus for coding an image is provided to effectively code the image. The apparatus for coding the image includes an input image segmentation unit to segment an input image into a plurality of image blocks including a first image block and a second image block. The apparatus also includes a waveform information generation unit to select a plurality of reference pixels from among pixels included in the first image block, generate first waveform information about the first image block based on a pixel value difference between the selected plurality of reference pixels, and generate second waveform information about the second image block based on a pixel value difference between the pixels included in the second image block. The apparatus also includes a coding unit to code an image included in the second image block based on the first waveform information and the second waveform information. | 2014-06-26 |
20140177723 | IMAGE ENCODING METHOD AND IMAGE DECODING METHOD - According to one embodiment, an image encoding method includes selecting a motion reference block from an already-encoded pixel block. The method includes selecting an available block including different motion information from the motion reference block, and selecting a selection block from the available block. The method includes generating a predicted image of the encoding target block using motion information of the selection block. The method includes encoding a prediction error between the predicted image and an original image. The method includes encoding selection information identifying the selection block by referring to a code table decided according to a number of the available block. | 2014-06-26 |
20140177724 | IMAGE ENCODING METHOD AND IMAGE DECODING METHOD - According to one embodiment, an image encoding method includes selecting a motion reference block from an already-encoded pixel block. The method includes selecting an available block including different motion information from the motion reference block, and selecting a selection block from the available block. The method includes generating a predicted image of the encoding target block using motion information of the selection block. The method includes encoding a prediction error between the predicted image and an original image. The method includes encoding selection information identifying the selection block by referring to a code table decided according to a number of the available block. | 2014-06-26 |
20140177725 | IMAGE ENCODING METHOD AND IMAGE DECODING METHOD - According to one embodiment, an image encoding method includes selecting a motion reference block from an already-encoded pixel block. The method includes selecting an available block including different motion information from the motion reference block, and selecting a selection block from the available block. The method includes generating a predicted image of the encoding target block using motion information of the selection block. The method includes encoding a prediction error between the predicted image and an original image. The method includes encoding selection information identifying the selection block by referring to a code table decided according to a number of the available block. | 2014-06-26 |
20140177726 | VIDEO DECODING APPARATUS, VIDEO DECODING METHOD, AND INTEGRATED CIRCUIT - A video decoding apparatus includes: a decoding unit which derives a flag regarding a motion vector from an encoded video stream; a comparing unit which determines whether or not motion vectors of adjacent blocks are equal to each other; a block combining unit which combines the adjacent blocks determined as being equal in motion vector, into one motion compensation block on which motion compensation is to be performed; a motion vector generating unit which generates a motion vector; a reference image obtaining unit which obtains a reference image corresponding to the motion compensation block from reference image data stored in a memory; a motion compensating unit which generates a prediction image corresponding to the motion compensation block; and an adder which reconstructs an image using the prediction image generated by the motion compensating unit. | 2014-06-26 |
20140177727 | VIDEO ENCODING APPARATUS AND VIDEO DECODING APPARATUS - A video encoding apparatus is a video encoding apparatus for subjecting a video image to motion compensated prediction coding, comprising an acquisition module to acquire available blocks of blocks having motion vectors from encoded blocks adjacent to a to-be-encoded block and number of the available blocks, an acquisition/selection module to select one selection block from the encoded available blocks, a selection information encoder to encode selection information specifying the selection block using a code table corresponding to the number of available blocks, and an image encoder to subject the to-be-encoded block to motion compensated prediction coding using a motion vector of the selection block. | 2014-06-26 |
20140177728 | METHOD AND SYSTEM OF TRANSFORM BLOCK PROCESSING ACCORDING TO QUANTIZATION MATRIX IN VIDEO CODING - A method and system for processing transform blocks according to quantization matrices in a video coding system are disclosed. Embodiments of the present invention derive one or more derived quantization matrices from one or more initial quantization matrices or from one previously derived quantization matrix. In one embodiment, the initial quantization matrices include a 4×4 and 8×8 quantization matrices, which can be either default or user-defined. All quantization matrices larger than 8×8 can be derived from the 4×4 and 8×8 initial quantization matrices. Non-square quantization matrices can be derived from at least one initial square quantization matrix or at least one derived square quantization matrix. Individual initial quantization matrices may be used to derive respective larger quantization matrices. Furthermore, the individual initial quantization matrices may be derived from larger quantization matrices designed for corresponding transform sizes. Syntax design to enable the quantization matrix representation is also disclosed. | 2014-06-26 |
20140177729 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TRANSCODING VIDEO DATA - A method and apparatus for transcoding video data decodes video that is encoded in the first format and produces decoded data blocks that include decoded tile data such that each decoded block includes pixel data for multiple display lines. The method and apparatus performs a linear write operation on the decoded data block by controlling storing of the decoded data block rows in consecutive linear addresses in memory such that one line of memory comprises decoded data for multiple display lines from the same block. The method and apparatus fetches the line of memory and re-encodes the data into a data block format, In one example translation of the fetched line of memory back into the original decoded data block format is performed for re-encoding such that the block of data includes data for multiple display lines. The video data is re-encoded to the second format using the decoded data block that was translated from the fetched line of memory. | 2014-06-26 |
20140177730 | VIDEO PROCESSING APPARATUS CAPABLE OF GENERATING OUTPUT VIDEO PICTURES/SEQUENCE WITH COLOR DEPTH DIFFERENT FROM COLOR DEPTH OF ENCODED VIDEO BITSTREAM - A video processing apparatus includes a control unit, a storage device, a video decoder and a video processor. The control unit is arranged for generating a color depth control signal. The video decoder is coupled to the storage device, and arranged for decoding an encoded video bitstream and accordingly generating decoded video pictures (sequence) to the storage device. The video processor is coupled to the control unit and the storage device, and arranged for referring to the color depth control signal to enable a target video processing mode selected from a plurality of supported video processing modes respectively corresponding to different output color depths, and processing picture data derived from the data buffered in the storage device under the target video processing mode to generate output video pictures (sequence) to a display apparatus. | 2014-06-26 |
20140177731 | Remedying low densities of ONEs in transmission and reception of digital television signals - In a DTV transmitter the bits of shortened BCH codewords that exhibit undesirably low densities of ONEs are ONEs' complemented before being further coded, and used to modulate carrier waves. In a DTV receiver the further coding is decoded after demodulation. The results of such decoding are processed to recover successive shortened BCH codewords, some of which are in TRUE form and others of which have had their bits ONEs' complemented. Each shortened BCH codeword is extended to full length with ZEROs, and decoding is attempted. Successful decoding confirms that the shortened BCH codeword was received in TRUE form. If decoding is unsuccessful, the bits of the shortened BCH codeword as received are ONEs' complemented, extended to full length with ZEROs, and decoding is attempted. Successful decoding confirms that the shortened BCH codeword was received in ONEs' complemented form and has subsequently been converted to TRUE form. | 2014-06-26 |
20140177732 | DECODING METHOD AND MULTIMEDIA PLAYING SYSTEM - By inserting a symbol start tag at a start of a data segment corresponding to each symbol of a multimedia data stream, and by inserting frame start tags at starts of different frames in a start data segment, data signals belonging to different channels can be precisely and rapidly classified and decoded when the multimedia data stream is performed with demodulation. | 2014-06-26 |
20140177733 | Keyframe Alignment for Encoding Video at Multiple Bitrates - In one embodiment, a method receives a frame type storage medium including frame type decisions made by a first encoding process to encode a video at a first bitrate to generate a first encoded video. While performing a second encoding process to encode the video at a second bitrate to generate a second encoded video, the method performs: retrieving information from the storage medium regarding a frame type decision made during the first encoding process; inserting a keyframe in the second encoded video based on the retrieved information from the storage medium, wherein the inserted keyframe in the second encoded video is aligned with a corresponding keyframe in the first encoded video; and continuing to retrieve information from the storage medium and inserting keyframes in the second encoded video. Keyframes in the first encoded video are aligned with keyframes in the second encoded video. | 2014-06-26 |
20140177734 | CONTROLLING A VIDEO CONTENT SYSTEM - According to examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, a method of controlling a video content system can include: obtaining a current input frame and a preceding input frame from an input video sequence and obtaining a current degraded frame and a preceding degraded frame from a degraded video sequence corresponding to the input video sequence; computing a first differences value from the current input and the preceding input frames and a second differences value from the current degraded frame and the preceding degraded frame, comparing the first and second differences values, giving rise to an inter-frame quality score; computing an intra-frame quality score using an intra-frame quality measure that is applied in the pixel-domain of the current degraded frame and the current input frame and providing a configuration instruction to the video content system based on a quality criterion related to the inter-frame and the intra-frame quality scores. | 2014-06-26 |
20140177735 | IMAGE RECEIVING DEVICE AND IMAGE RECEIVING METHOD - An image transmission device compresses and transmits image data to be sent and cannot correct errors occurring on the transmission path when image data to be transmitted is larger than a currently prescribed image size. In an image receiving device which receives compressed image data, data to be inputted is inputted by switching between first periods, during which the amount of data transmitted per prescribed time interval is a first data transmission amount, and second periods, during which the amount of data transmitted per prescribed time interval is less than the first data transmission amount. Compressed image data is inputted during the first periods, and error correction codes are inputted during the second periods, and a control unit expands the output of an error detection unit by means of an expansion unit and outputs the same. | 2014-06-26 |
20140177736 | POWER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM UTILIZING DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS TO DETERMINE THE CONFIGURATION THEREOF - Three-phase electrical power is used to distribute electrical power to electronic devices in a cluster. A power distribution system includes circuit breaker panels and power distribution units for providing electrical power to the electronic devices. The electrical connections within the power distribution system form a digital communication network that communicates identification codes for the purpose of identifying each electrical connection in the power distribution system. A cluster management entity may then collect the identification codes associated with each electrical connection in order to detect the actual configuration of the power distribution system. By further knowing the load of each electronic device and their association with entities of the power distribution system, the cluster management entity may determine the load on each phase and take steps to balance the load. | 2014-06-26 |
20140177737 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MONITORING AN ELECTRICAL DEVICE - Disclosed herein is a device for monitoring the condition of a branch circuit. A device contains a switch that is normally open to prevent the occurrence of electric shock. An optical prong detector is provided to determine weather both the hot and neutral prongs of a plug have been inserted into the receptacle. The receptacle provides conductance upon determination of insertion of a plug into the receptacle. Additional features include GFI detection, current detection heat detection warning lights and an audible alarm. The receptacle includes communication abilities with remote devices to transmit data indicative of the state of the device. | 2014-06-26 |
20140177738 | DETERMINING THE CONFIGURATION OF A POWER DISTRIBUTION SYTEM - A method provides digital communication over an electrical power supply cable between a management processor in a circuit breaker panel (CBP) and a management processor in a power distribution unit (PDU), wherein the CBP has a CBP identification code (ID) and the PDU has a PDU ID. The digital communication provides the CBP management processor with the PDU ID for the PDU that is connected through the electrical power supply cable to the CBP, or the digital communication provides the PDU management processor with the CBP ID for the CBP that is connected through the electrical power supply cable to the PDU. The method further comprises identifying the electrical power supply cable connection by communicating first and second endpoints of the electrical power cable connection to a cluster management entity, wherein the first endpoint is identified by the CBP ID and the second endpoint is identified by the PDU ID. | 2014-06-26 |
20140177739 | TRANSMISSION DEVICE AND NODE FOR THE SAME - Nodes are connected in parallel between two transmission lines and configured to utilize a telecommunications standard of a differential transmission. At least one of the nodes includes two input/output terminals, a driver, a receiver, a resistor, and a comparator. The two input/output terminals are connected to the two transmission lines. The driver includes two output terminals connected to the two input/output terminals. The receiver includes two input terminals connected to the two input/output terminals. The resistor is connected between each of the two input/output terminals and one of a grand and a power supply voltage. The comparator compares a voltage between the transmission lines with a reference voltage to determine whether the transmission lines are in an idle state or in a communication state. | 2014-06-26 |
20140177740 | HEXAGONAL CONSTELLATIONS AND DECODING SAME IN DIGITAL COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS - Embodiments of the invention provide a method of decoding of hexagonal constellations. The decoding methods exploit the inherent structure of the hexagonal grid to eliminate/minimize the requirements for distance computations. A constellation which has unused constellation points is received. A plurality of lookup tables is used for indicating whether a particular constellation point is used. The lookup tables are indexed using the two integers u and v. An initial estimate ū and | 2014-06-26 |
20140177741 | OFDM or OFDMA signaling for ranging and data - A communication device is operative to generate and orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbol that includes one or more data and ranging modulation symbols. The data and ranging modulation symbols may be included within different sub-carriers of the OFDM symbol. The OFDM symbol is used to generate an OFDM symbol pair in the frequency domain (FDOM). After conversion from the FDOM to the time domain (TDOM), the OFDM symbol pair may then undergoes post-processing in the TDOM before transmission. Such post-processing may include the addition of cyclic prefix (CP) and cyclic suffix (CS) to the OFDM symbol pair in the TDOM as well as filtering using a window function. The OFDM symbol may be generated as an orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) symbol, and two were more OFDM symbols or OFDMA symbols may be arranged in a frame. | 2014-06-26 |
20140177742 | MILLIMETER-WAVE LINE OF SIGHT MIMO COMMUNICATION SYSTEM FOR INDOOR APPLICATIONS - A Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) communication system is described. The system may include a transmitting device having at least two transmitting antennae, each of the at least two transmitting antenna is configured to form and/or steer directional beam signals, and a receiving device having at least two receiving antennae. The transmitting device and the receiving device are configured and disposed such that illuminated spots at the receiving device produced by the beam signals of the transmitting antennae are smaller than spatial separation between neighboring receiving antennae and/or resolution spots from the receiving antenna are smaller than spatial separation between the transmitting antennae. | 2014-06-26 |
20140177743 | Multi-Clock Physical Layer Preamble Design and Detection - In a method for detecting, at a first communication device, a clock rate of a physical layer (PHY) data unit, the PHY data unit is received, at the first communication device, from a second communication device via a communication channel. The PHY data unit includes (i) a first portion and (ii) a second portion following the first portion. At the first communication device, the first portion of the PHY data unit is processed. Processing the first portion of the PHY data unit includes performing one or more autocorrelations to generate one or more respective autocorrelation outputs. At the first communication device and based on at least one of the one or more autocorrelation outputs, a clock rate of the second portion of the PHY data unit is determined. | 2014-06-26 |
20140177744 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ANTENNA ARRAY CHANNEL FEEDBACK - A method and apparatus provide antenna array channel feedback. The method can include receiving, at a wireless terminal, a set of channel state information reference signals. The method can include determining a precoding matrix based on the received set of channel state information reference signals. The precoding matrix can have a representation in terms of three components. The first component of the three components can be determined from a first set of vectors. The second component of the three components can be determined from a first set of parameters. The third component of the three components can be determined from a second set of parameters. The second set of parameters can be a set of unit-magnitude scalars. The method can include transmitting, by the wireless terminal, a representation of at least one of the first component, the second component, and the third component. | 2014-06-26 |
20140177745 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ANTENNA ARRAY CHANNEL FEEDBACK - A method and apparatus provide antenna array channel feedback. The method can include receiving a first set of channel state information reference signals on resource elements, and a second set of channel state information reference signals on resource elements. The method can include determining a first precoding matrix based on the received first set of channel state information reference signals. The first precoding matrix can be chosen from a first codebook. The method can include determining a second precoding matrix based on the second set of channel state information reference signals. The second precoding matrix can be chosen from a second codebook that is different than the first codebook. The method can include transmitting a representation of at least one of the first precoding matrix and the second precoding matrix. | 2014-06-26 |
20140177746 | METHOD AND APPARATUS WITH ANTENNA SELECTION IN A COMMUNICATION SYSTEM - According to an exemplary embodiment, a method with antenna selection in a communication system may support an antenna selection function at a central node having a plurality of antennas; and co-schedule multiple distributed nodes to the same resource in a downlink channel from the central node to the multiple distributed nodes by using multiple precoders related to the multiple distributed nodes to provide a system performance gain; wherein the multiple precoders are under one of conditions of partially overlapped antenna selection, non-overlapped antenna selection, and fully overlapped antenna selection. | 2014-06-26 |
20140177747 | MIMO COMMUNICATION METHOD, MIMO TRANSMITTING DEVICE AND MIMO RECEVING DEVICE - The current feedback mechanisms in the 802.11 standard are not appropriate for MU-MIMO, in which many STAs transmit their feedback to an AP, which then proceeds to select the most appropriate STAs for transmission and discards the feedback of the rest of the STAs. This operation leads to large overhead, effectively limiting the effectivity of the MU-MIMO operation. The techniques described in this document allow for a more efficient transmission of feedback related to a MIMO communication. | 2014-06-26 |
20140177748 | WIDEBAND MULTI-CHANNEL RECEIVER WITH FIXED-FREQUENCY NOTCH FILTER FOR INTERFERENCE REJECTION - A wideband multi-channel receiver comprises an antenna configured to receive a radio frequency band. A band-pass filter is in signal communication with the antenna, and a low-noise amplifier is in signal communication with the band-pass filter. A mixer is in signal communication with the low-noise amplifier and is configured to translate a radio frequency band to an intermediate frequency (IF) band. A tunable local oscillator is in signal communication with the mixer. At least one fixed-frequency notch filter is in signal communication with the mixer, with the notch filter configured to reject at least one interference signal in the IF band while passing remaining signals in the IF band. An analog-to-digital converter is in signal communication with the notch filter and is configured to convert the remaining signals in the IF band to digital signals. | 2014-06-26 |
20140177749 | METHOD OF DESIGNING CODEBOOK FOR 3D ANTENNA CONFIGURATION - The invention relates to a method of designing a codebook for a 3D antenna configuration, the method including the steps of: selecting a first codeword characterizing a first antenna array in the 3D antenna configuration from a first codebook; selecting a second codeword characterizing a second antenna array in the 3D antenna configuration from a second codebook; and obtaining a corresponding codeword in the codebook for the 3D antenna configuration by multiplying the first codeword with the second codeword. The solution of the invention has the advantage of being simple in design and can make use of existing LTE Rel-10 codebooks and thus have the advantage of good compatibility. | 2014-06-26 |
20140177750 | Fine step blended modulation communications - A communication device is configured to perform symbol mapping of bits to generate modulation symbols using one or more modulations. The device may employ a blended modulation composed of bit labels or symbols having different numbers of bits per symbol and different modulations. For example, the device may symbol map bit labels/symbols having first number of bits per symbol to first modulation, and the device may symbol map labels/symbols having second number of bits per symbol to second modulation. The device may be configured to perform forward error correction (FEC) or error correction code (ECC) and coding of information bits to generate coded bits that subsequently undergo symbol mapping. The device may be configured to operate based on different operational modes based on substantially uniform steps of rates, or bits per symbol, and energy per bit or symbol to noise spectral density ratio (E | 2014-06-26 |
20140177751 | PRECODING APPARATUS, PROGRAM FOR PRECODING, AND INTEGRATED CIRCUIT - More reduction of the amount of operation than in QRM-VP is realized while maintaining transmission performance that can be achieved by VP. A precoding apparatus | 2014-06-26 |
20140177752 | RFI MITIGATION USING BURST TIMING - In some embodiments, burst timing is provided to reduce RFI in a computing platform. | 2014-06-26 |
20140177753 | ASYMMETRICAL TRANSMITTER-RECEIVER SYSTEM FOR SHORT RANGE COMMUNICATIONS - Systems, methods, and devices relating to short range wireless communications. A host device wirelessly communicates with a user device. The transceiver on the host device is of a greater complexity than the transceiver on the user device. The host device performs a number of signal processing steps on data to be exchanged with the user device such that the complexity of the processing to be done by the user device is significantly reduced. This approach thereby reduces the complexity of the transceiver on the user device. The host device processing includes pre-channel equalization and pre-synchronization. | 2014-06-26 |
20140177754 | Shielding Flaw Detection and Measurement in Quadrature Amplitude Modulated Cable Telecommunications Environment - Signal egress from a shielding flaw in a cable telecommunication system is detected, even where signals carried by the cable telecommunication system are quadrature amplitude modulated signals that statistically resemble broadband noise by generating a marker signal comprising a double side band, suppressed carrier signal in the fringes of contiguous frequency bands and at a power level which cannot cause perceptible interference with signals in those contiguous frequency bands. The separation of the sidebands comprising the marker signal can unambiguously identify the marker signal and can distinguish between different cable telecommunication systems installed in the same geographic area. The marker signal can be additionally coded by varying the frequency and/or amplitude of the modulating signal used to create the marker signal. | 2014-06-26 |
20140177755 | RF TRANSMITTER, INTEGRATED CIRCUIT DEVICE, WIRELESS COMMUNICATION UNIT AND METHOD THEREFOR - A radio frequency (RF) transmitter includes a power amplifier comprising a plurality of power amplifier cells. At least one digital signal processing module of the RF transmitter is operably coupled to the power amplifier and comprises at least one digital pre-distortion component arranged to apply at least one digital pre-distortion codeword to the plurality of power amplifier cells, wherein the at least one digital pre-distortion codeword is applied to at least one of the plurality of power amplifier cells via a digital filter. A combiner is arranged to combine outputs of the plurality of power amplifier cells thereby generating an analogue RF signal for transmission over an RF interface based at least partly on the digitally filtered at least one digital pre-distortion codeword. | 2014-06-26 |
20140177756 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TRANSMITTING/RECEIVING SIGNAL IN COMMUNICATION SYSTEM - A method for transmitting a signal by a signal transmission apparatus in a communication system is provided. The method includes detecting a parameter related to a Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM) scheme and a parameter related to a Frequency Shift Keying (FSK) scheme based on channel quality and an interference component, and modulating information bits using a modulation scheme based on the QAM scheme and the FSK scheme which uses the parameter related to the QAM scheme and the parameter related to the FSK scheme. | 2014-06-26 |
20140177757 | METHOD, DEVICE, AND SYSTEM FOR IMPLEMENTING MICROWAVE MULTIPLE-INPUT MULTIPLE-OUTPUT - A method, device and system for implementing microwave multiple-input multiple-output, relate to the field of wireless communications. The device includes a transmit channel correction module including a transmission energy distributor and a transmission coupler; the transmission energy distributor decomposes, according to a first energy distribution parameter, each channel of transmitted signals among N channels of transmitted signals into channels of transmitted sub-signals, where the number of the channels of transmitted sub-signals is the same as the number of transmit antennas, the number of transmit antennas is N, and N is a natural number greater than 1; and the transmission coupler performs phase processing on each channel of transmitted sub-signals according to a first phase parameter, selects one channel of phase-processed transmitted sub-signals from each of the N channels of transmitted signals, and combines them to obtain N channels of output signals. | 2014-06-26 |
20140177758 | TIMING RECOVERY APPARATUS AND METHOD - A timing recovery apparatus for compensating a sampling frequency offset of an input signal is provided. The timing recovery apparatus includes a timing error corrector configured to generate an output signal according to the input signal and a calibration signal, a gain controller configured to adjust at least one of a signal edge low-frequency error component and a signal edge high-frequency error component of the output signal and accordingly generate an adjusted signal, a timing error detector configured to generate an error signal according to the adjusted signal, and a calibration signal generator coupled to the timing error detector and the timing error corrector, for generating the calibration signal according to the error signal and outputting the calibration signal to the timing error corrector to compensate the sampling frequency offset of the input signal. | 2014-06-26 |
20140177759 | DEMODULATION METHOD, DEMODULATION DEVICE, AND ELECTRONIC APPARATUS - A satellite signal which carries a navigation message including satellite-specific information is received. Data of the navigation message is demodulated from received satellite signal. Error detection processing is carried out on demodulated data on a word basis of the navigation message. The number of bit transitions is counted at each corresponding bit transition position with respect to a first word in which an error is detected in the error detection processing and which carries the satellite-specific information, and plural second words belonging to a different frame from a frame to which the first word belongs and having a common part with the first word. A bit value of the first word is detected based on the number of bit transitions counted. | 2014-06-26 |
20140177760 | SYNCHRONOUS TRANSFER OF STREAMING DATA IN A DISTRIBUTED ANTENNA SYSTEM - Embodiments of the invention provide a method, distributed antenna system, and components that generate a jitter reduced clock signal from a binary encoded data stream transmitted over a communication medium. The method includes receiving a modulated signal that includes the binary encoded data stream and generating a recovered clock signal that is phase locked to the binary encoded data stream. The method further comprises generating a stable recovered clock signal by filtering the recovered clock signal to remove jitter, while allowing the clock signal to track long-term drift. | 2014-06-26 |
20140177761 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING AN ENHANCED ZERO-IF RECEIVER ARCHITECTURE FOR A WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM - An approach includes injecting a plurality of equal amplitude tones across a frequency band. The approach also includes determining frequency response based on the injected tones, determining an imbalance parameter associated with a quadrature down-converter based on the determined frequency response; determining one or more parameters for wideband quadrature compensation based on the determined frequency response, and compensating an input signal based on the determined imbalance parameter and the determined one or more parameters for the wideband quadrature compensation. | 2014-06-26 |
20140177762 | DATA-MODULATED PILOTS FOR PHASE AND GAIN DETECTORS - Methods, systems, and devices are described for mitigating an unwanted increase in a coding rate of a wireless communication signal. A plurality of symbols including a transmitted codeword is received. The plurality of symbols including a first group of data symbols with a first modulation and coding scheme and a second group of data modulated pilot symbols with a second modulation and coding scheme. Applicable demodulation schemes are adaptively switched for each group of the plurality of symbols. The second group of data modulated pilot symbols are used in lieu of pilot symbols. The second modulation and coding scheme is a more reliable modulation and coding scheme than the first modulation and coding scheme. | 2014-06-26 |
20140177763 | WIRELESS RECEIVING APPARATUS AND PROGRAM - A data signal component output from a reference signal demultiplexer and channel state information obtained by using DM-RS output from a channel estimating unit are input into a modulo estimating unit. In a channel compensator, a first provisional decision value sequence is calculated on the basis of the channel state information. The first provisional decision value sequence is input into a modulo calculator, and modulo calculations are performed on the first provisional decision value sequence to obtain a second provisional decision value sequence. A decision-feedback channel estimating section finds a first channel estimation value based on the first provisional decision value sequence and a second channel estimation value based on the second provisional decision value sequence. A modulo decision section decides whether or not a perturbation term has been added to a code, and uses a decision result for the selection of a demodulation method. | 2014-06-26 |
20140177764 | LOW POWER PACKET DETECTION EMPLOYING SINGLE ADC - Wireless systems, devices, and methods are presented in which a communications interface unit is configured to receive a wireless signal and includes a first channel path having a first down-converter to generate a first analog baseband signal and a first ADC to generate first digital samples as well as second channel path having a second down-converter that operates at a frequency orthogonal to the first down-converter and generates a second analog baseband signal and a second ADC to generate second digital samples. In addition, a packet detector unit is used to detect a beginning frame of packet data, wherein the second channel path is deactivated until the beginning frame of the packet data is detected and the packet detector detects the beginning frame of the packet data based on only the first digital samples provided by the first channel path. | 2014-06-26 |
20140177765 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS TO MITIGATE PHASE NOISE - Methods, systems, and devices are described for mitigating phase noise. An output of a decoder is utilized to generate an estimation of a plurality of transmitted symbols. One or more phase errors of a plurality of received symbols are generated. The one or more phase errors are based at least in part on the estimation of the plurality of transmitted symbols. The one or more phase errors are generated by comparing angles between the plurality of received symbols and the estimation of the plurality of transmitted symbols. The output of the decoder used to generate the estimation is a plurality of a posteriori log-likelihood ratios (LLRs) of a plurality of transmitted bits. The estimation is generated by performing hard decision decoding on the output of the decoder and remodulating the hard decision decoding according to the modulation used by a transmitter on the plurality of transmitted bits. | 2014-06-26 |
20140177766 | CHANNEL TRACKING IN AN ORTHOGONAL FREQUENCY-DIVISION MULTIPLEXING SYSTEM - A receiver determines phase and frequency information from data signals that carry information from a transmitter to a receiver, instead of or in addition to, information from control signals. In a specific embodiment, the information is obtained from data signals modulated as a binary phase-shift keying (“BPSK”) waveform by demodulation. Other phase-shift keyings might be used instead. Encoded information might be recovered in received OFDM packets by receiving OFDM subcarriers modulated with the two low data rates supported by IEEE 802.11 standard(s) wherein the subcarriers encoding the packet are modulated using binary phase shift keying and the encoding information is at a zero phase or a π (pi) phase offset on each of the subcarriers. Determining the carrier frequency might be done by calculating the square of each of subcarrier signal and/or determining the phase offset of the subcarriers even with information modulated onto the subcarriers. | 2014-06-26 |
20140177767 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR JOINT EQUALIZATION AND DECODING OF MULTIDIMENSIONAL CODES TRANSMITTED OVER MULTIPLE SYMBOL DURATIONS - Techniques are provided for performing joint equalization and decoding of multidimensional codes transmitted over multiple symbol durations. A reduced state sequence estimation (RSSE) decoder is provided for a multidimensional code. A multidimensional code symbol comprises a number of symbol components of lower dimensionality. The RSSE decodes comprises at least one branch metric unit that calculates branch metrics for a received signal based on intersymbol interference and intrasymbol interference estimates, the at least one branch metric unit compensating for intrasymbol interference caused by symbol components within a current multidimensional code symbol; and a decision feedback unit that processes survivor symbols to calculate the intersymbol interference estimates for different code states of the multidimensional code and channels used to transmit the multidimensional code. | 2014-06-26 |
20140177768 | Digital Calibration of Analog Distortion Using Split Analog Front-End - A receiver is disclosed that is capable of correcting for harmonic distortion injected into received analog signals. The receiver splits the analog signal in the analog front-end and modifies the split analog signals with a difference signal. After amplification and/or sampling, the modified analog signals are recombined in a main data pathway and are kept separate in a secondary pathway. Utilizing the difference signal, a feedback loop that includes distorters and an LMS filter detects the distortion coefficient of the harmonic distortion. A distorter in the main data pathway utilizes the detected distortion coefficient to correct the harmonic distortion in the analog signal. | 2014-06-26 |
20140177769 | AUTOMATED SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SYNCHRONIZING AN AUTOMATED SYSTEM - An automated system and method that includes at least two cooperating electrical components, each having a time counter. The electrical components being coupled to one another via signals for cyclically transmitting process data via a signal network, and are synchronized with one another based on global, relative time information as a reference quantity. | 2014-06-26 |
20140177770 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CONTROLLING FREQUENCY SYNTHESIS - Disclosed are systems and method for controlling frequency synthesizers. A control system can be implemented in a phase-locked loop (PLL), such as a Frac-N PLL of a frequency synthesizer, to reduce or eliminate reference spurs. In some embodiments, such a control system can include a phase detector configured to receive a reference signal and a feedback signal. The phase detector can be configured to generate a first signal representative of a phase difference between the reference signal and the feedback signal. The control system can further include a charge pump configured to generate a compensation signal based on the first signal. The control system can further includes an oscillator configured to generate an output signal based on the compensation signal. The compensation signal can be configured to reduce or substantially eliminate one or more reference spurs associated with the frequency synthesizer. | 2014-06-26 |
20140177771 | CLOCK DATA RECOVERY CIRCUIT, DATA RECEPTION APPARATUS, AND DATA TRANSMISSION AND RECEPTION SYSTEM - A clock data recovery circuit includes: an oscillator that outputs a clock signal; a phase comparator that outputs a signal corresponding to a phase difference between an input reception data signal and the clock signal; a divider that outputs a feedback clock signal; a first variable delay circuit that outputs a delay data signal; a second variable delay circuit that outputs a delay feedback clock signal; a frequency phase comparator that outputs a signal corresponding to a frequency difference and a phase difference between the delay data signal and the delay feedback clock signal; a lock detector that outputs a determination signal indicating whether or not the frequency difference and the phase difference are within a predetermined range; and a multiplexer that receives the determination signal and select a signal of the phase comparator and a signal of the frequency phase comparator. | 2014-06-26 |
20140177772 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING GAIN ACCORDING TO RATE OF CHANGE IN WATER LEVEL OF STEAM GENERATOR IN NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS - Provided is an apparatus for controlling a gain according to a water level change rate of a steam generator in nuclear power plants. The apparatus includes a water level variance detector detecting a water level variance of the steam generator, a change rate calculator calculating a water level change rate with respect to the detected water level variance, a compensation value calculator calculating a compensation gain value corresponding to the calculated water level change rate, a reactor power sensor sensing whether or not reactor power corresponds to certain power or less, and a gain compensation controller, when the reactor power corresponds to the certain power or less, outputting a control gain value obtained by combining a general gain value provided to control a proportional-integral (PI) controller with the compensation gain value to the PI controller | 2014-06-26 |
20140177773 | CONTROL ROD DRIVE APPARATUS UTILIZING ALLOYS WITH LOW TO ZERO COBALT CONTENT - A control rod drive apparatus may include a cylindrical housing structure having a proximal end and an opposing distal end. A drive assembly including a drive piston and an index tube may be arranged within the cylindrical housing structure. A flange may be connected to the proximal end of the cylindrical housing structure and may define a vacancy therein. A check valve ball may be disposed within the vacancy, wherein the vacancy may be configured to facilitate a displacement of the check valve ball between an open position and a closed position. The control rod drive apparatus may also include a collet assembly within the cylindrical housing structure. The check valve ball and/or the collet assembly may be made of an alloy having less than 2% cobalt by weight. | 2014-06-26 |
20140177774 | PASSIVE VISUAL FUEL TEMPERATURE INDICATOR - A fuel bundle temperature sensing device may include an indicating rod made of a first material; an outer housing having an upper opening, the outer housing being made of a second material and surrounding at least a portion of the indicating rod; and a rod holder attached to an inner surface of the outer housing, the rod holder being made of a third material and being configured to support the indicating rod such that a top surface of the rod extends out of the upper opening of the outer housing, the third material having a lower melting point than the first and second materials. | 2014-06-26 |
20140177775 | COOLING SYSTEMS FOR SPENT NUCLEAR FUEL, CASKS INCLUDING THE COOLING SYSTEMS, AND METHODS FOR COOLING SPENT NUCLEAR FUEL - A cooling system for spent nuclear fuel may include a device configured to generate electricity using energy emitted from the spent nuclear fuel. The cooling system may be configured to use the electricity when cooling the spent nuclear fuel. A cask for storage, transport, or storage and transport of spent nuclear fuel may include the cooling system and a container configured to hold the spent nuclear fuel. A method for cooling spent nuclear fuel may include generating electricity using energy emitted from the spent nuclear fuel, and using the electricity in a cooling system for the spent nuclear fuel when cooling the spent nuclear fuel. | 2014-06-26 |
20140177776 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR STORING SPENT NUCLEAR FUEL - Systems and methods for storing spent nuclear fuel below grade that afford adequate ventilation of the spent fuel storage cavity. In one aspect, the invention is a system comprising: a shell forming a cavity for receiving a canister of spent nuclear fuel, at least a portion of the shell positioned below grade; and at least one inlet ventilation duct extending from an above grade inlet to a below grade outlet at or near a bottom of the cavity; the inlet ventilation duct connected to the shell so that the cavity is hermetically sealed to ingress of below grade fluids. In another aspect, the invention is a method comprising: providing a below grade hole; providing a system comprising a shell forming a cavity for receiving a canister of spent nuclear fuel, at least a portion of the shell positioned below grade, and at least one inlet ventilation duct extending from an inlet to an outlet at or near a bottom of the cavity, the inlet ventilation duct connected to the shell; positioning the apparatus in the hole so that the inlet of the inlet ventilation duct is above grade and the outlet of the inlet ventilation duct into the cavity is below grade; filling the hole with engineered fill; and lowering a spent fuel canister into the cavity. | 2014-06-26 |
20140177777 | STARTUP/SHUTDOWN HYDROGEN INJECTION SYSTEM FOR BOILING WATER REACTORS (BWRS), AND METHOD THEREOF - A system and a method for injecting hydrogen into Boiling Water Reactor (BWR) reactor support systems in operation during reactor startup and/or shutdown to mitigate Inter-Granular Stress Corrosion Cracking (IGSCC). The system may provide hydrogen at variable pressures (including relatively higher pressures) that match changing operating pressures of the reactor supports systems as the reactor cycles through startup and shutdown modes. | 2014-06-26 |
20140177778 | JET PUMP BEAM WELDLESS KEEPER LOCK PLATE - A lock plate for a locking device of a jet pump beam, the locking device including a locking sleeve including a lower portion, may include a beam bolt opening sized to receive the locking sleeve, and a spring arm including plurality of spring a ratchet teeth sized to mesh with locking sleeve ratchet teeth included in the lower portion of the locking sleeve, the spring arm being structured such that the spring arm has both i) an engaged position where the locking sleeve is in the beam bolt opening and at least a portion of the capture feature overlaps vertically with an upper surface of the lower portion of the locking sleeve, and ii) a disengaged position where the locking sleeve is in the beam bolt opening and the capture feature does not overlap vertically with the upper surface. | 2014-06-26 |
20140177779 | HEAVY RADIAL NEUTRON REFLECTOR FOR PRESSURIZED WATER REACTORS - A heavy radial neutron reflector for a pressurized water reactor that employs elongated lengths of round bar stock closely packed in either a triangular or rectangular array extending between former plates of a core shroud between the core barrel and the baffle plates which outline the periphery of the reactor core and are formed in axial and circumferential modules. Flow channels are formed in the long gaps between the adjacent round bar stock that communicates cooling water that enters through the core barrel at the top of the shroud and flows down through openings in the former plates to the bottom of the neutron reflector where it exits through a lower baffle orifice to join other cooling water flowing up through the lower core support plate. | 2014-06-26 |
20140177780 | SHIFT REGISTER AND THE DRIVING METHOD THEREOF, GATE DRIVING APPARATUS AND DISPLAY APPARATUS - The present invention provides a shift register, a driving method, a gate driving apparatus and a display apparatus. Said shift register comprises a pull-up unit, a reset unit, a pull-down unit and a signal output; the pull-up unit is connected to said signal output and pulls up an output signal; the reset unit is connected to a control end of said pull-up unit and said signal output respectively and resets the potential of the control end of said pull-up unit after said output signal is at high level; the pull-down unit is connected to a control end of said pull-up unit and said signal output respectively and pulls down the potential of the control end of said pull-up unit and said output signal after said reset unit has reset the potential of the control end of said pull-up unit, so that said pull-up unit switches off. | 2014-06-26 |
20140177781 | COLLIMATOR GRID AND AN ASSOCIATED METHOD OF FABRICATION - A collimator grid and a method of fabricating the collimator grid are disclosed. The method includes molding a plurality of plates, each plate includes a plurality of grooves in a first surface, a plurality of fin tips in a second surface disposed opposite to the first surface, plurality of ribs on a first pair of peripheral sides, a plurality of first fiducials formed on the plurality of ribs, and a plurality of second fiducials formed on a second pair of peripheral sides. The method includes machining the second surface to form the plurality of fins having predefined dimensions. Further, the method includes stacking the plurality of plates overlapping each other based on the plurality of first fiducials, and machining the plurality of ribs and first fiducials to form the collimator grid. | 2014-06-26 |
20140177782 | DYNAMIC COLLIMATION - A method includes performing a three dimensional volume scan of a region of interest located in a portion of an object or subject in an examination region, including dynamically collimating a radiation beam used to perform the scan so that a geometry and/or location of the radiation beam tracks, during the scan, to a geometry and/or location of the region of interest, wherein the region of interest is a sub-region of the portion of the object or subject in the examination region. | 2014-06-26 |
20140177783 | TERBIUM BASED DETECTOR SCINTILLATOR - An imaging system ( | 2014-06-26 |
20140177784 | System and Method for Automatic Tube Potential Selection for Dose Reduction in Medical Imaging - A method for CT imaging that utilizes an automatic tube potential selection for individual subjects and diagnostic tasks. The method quantifies the relative radiation dose of different tube potentials for achieving a specific image quality. This allows the selection of a tube potential that provides a reduced radiation dose while still providing CT images of a sufficient quality. | 2014-06-26 |
20140177785 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MULTIPLE X-RAY IMAGING APPLICATIONS - The present invention pertains to an apparatus and method for medical imaging comprising rotating two X-ray source-detector pairs around an axis of rotation simultaneously to quickly acquire image data and form a computed tomography (CT) dataset. The sources can be configured to emit radiation from a plurality of discrete locations. The CT dataset can be utilized as a prior to reconstruct a three-dimensional image from subsequent bi-planar imaging with these source-detector pairs. | 2014-06-26 |
20140177786 | PHOTON-COUNTING CT-SYSTEM WITH REDUCED DETECTOR COUNTING-RATE REQUIREMENTS - Various of the disclosed embodiments contemplate systems and methods that compensate for the limited dynamic range of certain X-Ray detector systems, such as CAT-Scan detector systems. In some embodiments, the system alternates between different photon emission flux values and then gives more consideration to an attenuation value associated with a more favorable detection flux. In this manner, different object densities may be accounted for and may be more properly imaged despite the particular characteristics of the X-Ray system. | 2014-06-26 |
20140177787 | Digital Radiographic Device Having a Linear Scanner - An x-ray imaging apparatus comprises a platform connected to a frame, a sliding bar, a detector mounted on the sliding bar, an x-ray source, and a control system. The x-ray source includes a collimator to generate an x-ray exposure window. The control system is configured to slide the detector along the sliding bar and synchronously move the collimator to direct the x-ray exposure window to the first detector. The x-ray exposure window movements are registered to the detector movements. The detector interfaces with a processor that processes x-ray image data received from the detector, and generates at least one x-ray image from the x-ray image data. | 2014-06-26 |
20140177788 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SELECTING PARAMETERS USING CONTRAST AND NOISE - An imaging system includes an identification module, an analysis module, and a determination module. The identification module is configured to identify a scanning mode of operation. The analysis module is configured to determine an attenuation for an object for a scan to be performed on the object. The determination module is configured to determine an image contrast for each of plural setting combinations, determine a corresponding tolerable noise for the image contrast for each of the setting combinations based on the scanning mode of operation, and determine a corresponding diagnostic dosage for each setting combination, the diagnostic dosages corresponding to the image contrast and tolerable noise for the corresponding setting combination. The determination module is also configured to select an operational setting for the scan to be performed using the dosages determined. | 2014-06-26 |
20140177789 | GRATING-BASED DIFFERENTIAL PHASE CONTRAST IMAGING SYSTEM WITH ADJUSTABLE CAPTURE TECHNIQUE FOR MEDICAL RADIOGRAPHIC IMAGING - Embodiments of methods and apparatus are disclosed for obtaining a phase-contrast digital radiographic imaging system and methods for same that can include an x-ray source for radiographic imaging; a beam shaping assembly including a collimator and a source grating, an x-ray grating interferometer including a phase grating, and an analyzer grating; and an x-ray detector, where the phase-contrast digital radiographic imaging system and methods are adjustable for different mean energies of the x-ray source. | 2014-06-26 |
20140177790 | Non-linear solution for 2D phase shifting - Disclosed is a method of reconstructing a representative detailed phase image from a set of fringe pattern interferogram images of an object. The images are captured by an x-ray interferometer having a crossed diffraction grating. A set of captured fringe pattern interferogram images from the x-ray interferometer are provided, the set comprising no more than eight captured fringe pattern interferogram images. The method determines an estimate of an absorption parameter (a), two-dimensional amplitude modulation parameters (m | 2014-06-26 |
20140177791 | PRESS PLATE AND RADIOGRAPHIC IMAGING APPARATUS - A press plate that includes: a plate shaped press portion that is capable of resilient deformation; a first slit that is provided to a first wall portion of a support body with length direction along a first edge portion of the press portion, and that penetrates the first wall portion; second slits that are provided to a second wall portions of the support body with length direction along second edge portions of the press portion, and that penetrate the second wall portions; and a first corner portion slit that is provided straddling a corner portion between the first wall portion and the second wall portion and penetrating the corner portion, that is connected to the first slit, and that is disposed at a separation to the second slit. | 2014-06-26 |
20140177792 | 3D IMAGING WITH MULTIPLE IRRADIATION FREQUENCIES - Imaging methods, apparatus and systems are provided for using different irradiation frequencies to generate a composite three-dimensional image. One exemplary method for imaging a semiconductor device involves irradiating the semiconductor device with a first frequency of electromagnetic radiation, obtaining a first radiation response from the semiconductor device in response to the first frequency of electromagnetic radiation, irradiating the semiconductor device with a second frequency of electromagnetic radiation, obtaining a second radiation response from the semiconductor device in response to the second frequency of electromagnetic radiation, and generating a composite image of the semiconductor device based at least in part on the first radiation response and the second radiation response. | 2014-06-26 |
20140177793 | Four-Sided Imaging System and Method for Detection of Contraband - The present invention provides a four-sided scanning system for vehicles that uses a combination of backscatter and transmission based X-ray imaging to achieve material discrimination. In one embodiment, the system is designed as a mobile, drive-through system, which can be folded and stowed in a truck and can be conveniently deployed at any place when required. | 2014-06-26 |
20140177794 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FOCAL SPOT DEFLECTION - An X-ray tube and methods for imaging are disclosed. The X-ray tube includes an emitter configured to generate an electron beam. Further, the X-ray tube includes a target configured to generate X-rays in response to the electron beam, where a target surface includes at least a first region having a first elevation and a second region having a second elevation different from the first elevation. The X-ray tube also includes a detector configured to generate projection data based on the X-rays and a computing device coupled to the emitter, the detector and/or the target. The computing device is configured to deflect a focal spot on the target surface by controlling target rotation such that the electron beam impinges alternatively on the first and second regions. The computing device processes the projection data corresponding to the deflected focal spot positions and reconstructs images of a subject using the processed projection data. | 2014-06-26 |
20140177795 | X-RAY IMAGE ACQUISITION SYSTEM FOR DIFFERENTIAL PHASE CONTRAST IMAGING OF AN EXAMINATION OBJECT BY WAY OF PHASE STEPPING, AND ANGIOGRAPHIC EXAMINATION METHOD - In an embodiment of an X-ray image acquisition system, an X-ray image detector includes a detector layer having a matrix composed of x total pixels structured in such a way that in a direction standing perpendicularly with respect to the grating lines of the diffraction or phase grating, the total pixels are subdivided into y subpixels which can be driven and/or read out in groups in a readout process such that, in a first phase step, n subpixels are effectively combined into groups, with m subpixels of a total pixel between the groups not being captured, and such that, in subsequent K−1 phase steps, n subpixels are in each case combined again into groups until all necessary combinations of subpixels have been captured, with the combined subpixels being shifted in the analysis direction by an increment of p subpixels in each case. | 2014-06-26 |
20140177796 | X-RAY TUBE - In an X-ray tube having an X-ray shielding member allowing an electron ray to pass through an electron passing hole toward a target, separately from the cathode-side opening of the electron passing hole, a gas exhaust path allowing communication between the inside and outside of the electron passing hole is provided so that gas molecules generated in the electron passing hole can be easily diffused out of the electron passing hole. The degradation of the cathode caused by accelerated collisions with the cathode, of cations generated by collisions of electrons with gas molecules generated in the electron passing hole by a desorption phenomenon due to electron ray irradiation to the target, is reduced. | 2014-06-26 |
20140177797 | X-RAY IMAGING APPARATUS - An X-ray imaging apparatus includes an X-ray generating unit, an X-ray image receiving unit, a control unit, and an arm unit. The X-ray generating unit radiates X-rays. The X-ray image receiving unit receives X-rays radiated by the X-ray generating unit. The control unit controls the X-ray generating unit and the X-ray image receiving unit. The arm unit is configured to extend so as to position the X-ray generating unit and the control unit above the X-ray image receiving unit and to retract in the case of transportation. | 2014-06-26 |
20140177798 | RADIATION IMAGING SYSTEM, COMMUNICATION METHOD OF RADIATION IMAGING SYSTEM, AND RADIOGRAPHIC IMAGE DETECTING DEVICE - A communication section having a relatively high communication speed is used for communicating a detection signal or an emission stop signal between a source control device and an electronic cassette. The detection signal is outputted from a detection pixel of the electronic cassette. The emission stop signal depends on a comparison result between an integrated value of the detection signal and an emission stop threshold value. On the other hand, a wireless communication section having a lower communication speed than that of the detection signal and the emission stop signal is used for communicating image data and the like between the electronic cassette and a console. | 2014-06-26 |
20140177799 | X-RAY IMAGING APPARATUS - An X-ray imaging apparatus includes: a C-arm formed in a C-shaped arc form, and being capable of sliding in an arc direction; an X-ray generator held on one end side of the C-arm; an X-ray detector held on the other end side of the C-arm while being opposed to the X-ray generator; and a first rotation axis which is fixed at a fixation portion to a ceiling portion of a room where the C-arm is installed, and which enables the C-arm to be rotated about an axial center of the first rotation axis, the axial center being a normal line extending in a vertical direction from the center of the fixation portion. | 2014-06-26 |