Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100125907 | UPnP CDS USER PROFILE - In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a hierarchy of authentication folders configured in a control directory server (CDS) of a Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) network, a personal identification number (PIN) code associated with a user and comprising of identifiers, and non-public media content organized in the CDS to provide selective service to users, where the non-public media content is made accessible to the user when the user is authenticated with a selection of the hierarchy of authentication folders. | 05-20-2010 |
20100131613 | MEDIA SHARING NETWORK - A computer-readable medium has a computer program stored thereon. The computer program senses the presence of a physical medium loaded on a media-sharing network and senses the presence of metadata and content on the physical medium. The computer program wraps the metadata and the content in a container. The container includes the location of the metadata and the location of the content. The computer program assembles the container such that it is recognized as a virtual physical medium on the media sharing network and such that it enables playback of the content by control commands compatible with a media sharing protocol. | 05-27-2010 |
20110095687 | Modular Networked Light Bulb - Various methods of manufacturing a lighting apparatus and embodiments of a modular networked lighting apparatus are disclosed. One method defines a mechanical form factor with a minimum set of electrical connections for a networking module, builds a subassembly of the networked lighting apparatus, the subassembly comprising attachment points compatible with the mechanical form factor for the networking module and contacts for the minimum set of electrical connections for the networking module, installs a networking module into the subassembly of the networked lighting apparatus, the networking module compatible with a selected networking protocol for the networked lighting apparatus, completes the final assembly of the networked lighting module, and marks the networked lighting apparatus to indicate the selected networking protocol for the networked lighting apparatus. In some embodiments, the lighting apparatus may function without the networking module installed. One embodiment of the modular, networked light bulb has means for supporting and holding an electronics module conforming with a predetermined form factor in place, and means for allowing the electronics module to control at least a brightness level of the at least one LED. The modular networked light bulb may have a networked controller conforming with the predetermined form factor used as the electronics module. The networked controller is able to connect to a network and may be positioned and held by the means for supporting and holding an electronics module. | 04-28-2011 |
20110098953 | Networked Device with Power Usage Estimation - A method and apparatus for a networked device to estimate its own power or energy usage, and report it over a network is disclosed. The method of reporting energy usage status by the networked device comprises receiving a power usage status request from a network, retrieving a set of power usage data from a non-volatile memory located within the networked device, the power usage data having been previously stored in the non-volatile memory, calculating a best estimate of the energy usage status on the set of power usage data retrieved from the non-volatile memory, and sending the best estimate of the energy usage status over the network as a reply to the power usage status request. A log of time spent in the different operating conditions by the networked device may be maintained, and the best estimate of the energy usage status calculated based on both the set of power usage data and the log of time spent in the different operating conditions. The networked device disclosed comprises, means for connecting to a network, means for storing a set of power usage data, and means for calculating a best estimate of the energy usage status based on the set of power usage data. An energy usage status request is received from the network and the best estimate of the energy usage status is sent in a response message over the network. The networked device may be a networked light bulb. | 04-28-2011 |
20110163668 | Power Failure Reporting in a Networked Light - Power is stored in a networked light allowing the networked light to send a message over the network providing information that the networked light is turning off if external power is no longer available. | 07-07-2011 |
20110299854 | Light Bulb with IR Transmitter - A lighting module is disclosed that integrates a controller capable of receiving data from a source outside of the module, and then sending out an IR command to control a consumer electronics component based on the data received. The lighting module could be light bulb, a lighting fixture, a subcomponent of a lighting apparatus, or any other apparatus that incorporates both an illumination source and the controller for receiving data and sending out the IR command for controlling consumer electronics. | 12-08-2011 |
20120013238 | Electrically Controlled Glass in a Lamp - An apparatus for generating light may be comprised of a light source with a lens interposed in a light path from the light source. The lens may be comprised of two or more sections wherein at least one section may be comprised of smart glass. Electrical circuitry may be configured to control a transparency state of the smart glass lens sections. Another embodiment may have two reflectors wherein one of the reflectors may be interposed between the light source and the other reflector and may be comprised of smart glass with a transparent state and a reflective state so that two different reflection patterns may be created. A method for illumination wherein at least one area's illumination is controlled by a section of smart glass is also disclosed. | 01-19-2012 |
20120014086 | Emitting Light Using Multiple Phosphors - A method and apparatus for generating different spectral compositions of light is disclosed. The method comprises generating light at a wavelength, using an LED in some embodiments, and optically coupling the generated light to a first phosphor in a first operating mode and optically coupling the generated light to a second phosphor in a second operating mode. Several different embodiments of optically coupling the phosphors to the light source are disclosed. The first phosphor emits light with a first spectral characteristic when irradiated by the light at the wavelength and the second phosphor emits light with a second spectral characteristic when irradiated by the light at the wavelength. | 01-19-2012 |
20120060044 | POWER NODE WITH NETWORK SWITCH - A power node provides energy management and network expansion features in a networked data communications and control environment that may be utilized in an energy management system implementing a method of managing energy. Network expansion may be provided by integrating a networking bridge from a power line network to one or more wired network ports or a wireless network. The power outlet on the power node providing power to a device may be identified and associated with information about the device. | 03-08-2012 |
20120070153 | Noise Detector in a Light Bulb - Noise may be received through a microphone included in a lighting apparatus. The noise may then be analyzed to determine if a human being may have been the source of the noise, and a message sent over a network alerting other devices that a human-caused noise was detected. | 03-22-2012 |
20120137010 | PROVIDING SERVER IDENTIFICATION TO A CLIENT - A request for a server identifier is responded to with one of two different server identifiers. A remote server identifier is provided if the remote server is available and a local server identifier is provided if the remote server is not available. A networked device may provide the server identifier in a networked system. | 05-31-2012 |
20120146505 | LIGHT WITH CHANGEABLE COLOR TEMPERATURE - Color temperature of a lighting apparatus that includes a first LED that emits a white light with a first color temperature and a second LED that emits a white light with a second color temperature is managed. The two LEDs are connected in parallel anode to cathode so that current flowing in one direction turns on the first LED and current flowing in the opposite direction turns on the second LED. A controller manages a duty cycle of an alternating current flowing through the two LEDs to control the color temperature and/or the brightness of the lighting apparatus. | 06-14-2012 |
20120169511 | Multi-Mode Display - A networked display has multiple modes of operation. In the first operating mode, the display receives and shows information related to charging an electric vehicle. In a second mode of operation, the display receives and shows information related to home energy usage. Other operating modes may also be supported. | 07-05-2012 |
20120187835 | Modular Networked Light Bulb - Various methods of manufacturing a lighting apparatus and embodiments of a modular networked lighting apparatus are disclosed. One method defines a mechanical form factor with a minimum set of electrical connections for a networking module, builds a subassembly of the networked lighting apparatus, the subassembly comprising attachment points compatible with the mechanical form factor for the networking module and contacts for the minimum set of electrical connections for the networking module, installs a networking module into the subassembly of the networked lighting apparatus, the networking module compatible with a selected networking protocol for the networked lighting apparatus, completes the final assembly of the networked lighting module, and marks the networked lighting apparatus to indicate the selected networking protocol for the networked lighting apparatus. In some embodiments, the lighting apparatus may function without the networking module installed. One embodiment of the modular, networked light bulb has means for supporting and holding an electronics module conforming with a predetermined form factor in place, and means for allowing the electronics module to control at least a brightness level of the at least one LED. The modular networked light bulb may have a networked controller conforming with the predetermined form factor used as the electronics module. The networked controller is able to connect to a network and may be positioned and held by the means for supporting and holding an electronics module. | 07-26-2012 |
20120280832 | Smart Meter Emulation - Pulses, including electrical waveforms, emitted light, and light reflected by a moving mechanical device, that are emitted by a standard utility meter may be received. A device may be controlled to vary its usage of the utility and that may be used to determine a usage per pulse. The usage per pulse information may be used to convert a pulse rate from a meter to emulate the pulse rate from another meter. Information about the other meter and/or services offered by the other meter may be provided to allow for emulation of the other meter. | 11-08-2012 |
20120280833 | Smart Meter Emulation - Pulses, including electrical waveforms, emitted light, and light reflected by a moving mechanical device, that are emitted by a standard utility meter may be received. A device may be controlled to vary its usage of the utility and that may be used to determine a usage per pulse. The usage per pulse information may be used to convert a pulse rate from a meter to emulate the pulse rate from another meter. Information about the other meter and/or services offered by the other meter may be provided to allow for emulation of the other meter. | 11-08-2012 |
20120312874 | Network Inclusion of a Networked Light Bulb - A unique identifier may be stored in an RFID chip, a bar code, or other methods of passive storage associated with the networked light bulb. The unique identifier may be accessed while the light bulb is unpowered and before the light bulb is put into service. Information is stored in a database that identifies an association between the unique identifier and a particular network. If the light bulb is put into service, the light bulb may send the unique identifier over the network. A device may receive the unique identifier and query the database for information related to the unique identifier. If the unique identifier is associated with the particular network that the light bulb is connected to, the light bulb may be added as an authorized node on the particular network. | 12-13-2012 |
20130020943 | Power Failure Reporting in a Networked Light - Power is stored in a networked light allowing the networked light to send a message over the network providing information that the networked light is turning off if external power is no longer available. | 01-24-2013 |
20130063317 | Antenna Integrated into Optical Element - An antenna is integrated with an optical element, such as a lens, a collimator, a diffuser, a reflector, or some other part that allows at least some light to pass through or reflects light. In some embodiments, the antenna is molded into the optical element. In other embodiments, the antenna is printed on, or attached to, the surface of the optical element. The antenna may be formed from a transparent or a non-transparent conductor, depending on the embodiment. | 03-14-2013 |
20130162166 | Modular Networked Light Bulb - A modular light emitting apparatus includes a light emitting device, a connector to couple to an AC power source, circuitry on a first electronics module to drive the light emitting device, and a support structure arranged to position and hold a second electronics module that conforms to a predetermined form factor. | 06-27-2013 |
20130214699 | Dual-Mode Dimming of a Light - Various methods and apparatus for controlling brightness of a light emitting apparatus include controlling a brightness of a light emitting device based on a brightness value, receiving a message over a network, and detecting a modulation of a power input of the light emitting apparatus. The brightness value is changed based on both the message and the modulation. | 08-22-2013 |
20130253925 | Speech Recognition in a Lighting Apparatus - Acoustic energy is received at a lighting apparatus to create acoustic data, and speech recognition is performed on the acoustic data to determine one or more words. A message based on the acoustic data is sent across a network from the lighting apparatus. | 09-26-2013 |
20130311114 | Networked Device with Power Usage Estimation - A request for energy usage status is received by a networked device over a network. A set of power usage data is retrieved from a non-volatile memory located within the networked device. The set of power usage data, which includes information related to power usage of the networked device, was previously stored in the non-volatile memory in advance of positioning the networked device for normal use. A best estimate of the energy usage status of the networked device is calculated based, at least in part, on the set of power usage data retrieved from the non-volatile memory without measuring electrical parameters of a power source of the networked device during normal use. The best estimate of the energy usage status is then sent by the networked device over the network as a reply to the energy usage status request. | 11-21-2013 |
20140055283 | MULTIPLE AND INTERCHANGEABLE METER READING PROBES - A characteristic of a first utility meter is detected with a first probe head, and a characteristic of a second utility meter is detected with a second probe head. The characteristic of the first utility meter is dependent on a usage of a first utility metered by the first utility meter, and the characteristic of the second utility meter is dependent on a usage of a second utility metered by the second utility meter. Information related to the characteristic of the first utility meter is communicated from the first probe head to a communication unit, and information related to the characteristic of the second utility meter is communicated from the second probe head to the communication unit. A message is also sent from the communication unit indicating the usage of the first utility or the usage of the second utility. | 02-27-2014 |
20150048162 | Network Inclusion of a Networked Light Bulb - A unique identifier may be stored in an RFID chip, a bar code, or other methods of passive storage associated with the networked light bulb. The unique identifier may be accessed while the light bulb is unpowered and before the light bulb is put into service. Information is stored in a database that identifies an association between the unique identifier and a particular network. If the light bulb is put into service, the light bulb may send the unique identifier over the network. A device may receive the unique identifier and query the database for information related to the unique identifier. If the unique identifier is associated with the particular network that the light bulb is connected to, the light bulb may be added as an authorized node on the particular network. | 02-19-2015 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100250778 | UPnP AV DEMUX - In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a container containing media content such as a video file, one or more resources created from the media content such as audio and video components of the video file, and a content directory server (CDS) of an UPnP network to present the one or more resources to sink devices and to de-multiplex the audio component from the video file on demand and on the fly when the resources match a specified device description from a sink device. | 09-30-2010 |
20110095608 | POWER NODE FOR ENERGY MANAGEMENT - A power node provides energy management features in a networked data communications and control environment. | 04-28-2011 |
20110098867 | AUTOMATED LOAD ASSESSMENT DEVICE AND MEHTOD - A device for automatically assessing the nature of an electrical load includes electrical transducers. | 04-28-2011 |
20140232287 | DUAL-MODE DIMMING OF A LIGHT - A lighting apparatus includes at least one light emitting device, such as one or more LEDs, detection circuitry coupled to a power input of the lighting apparatus and arranged to detect a characteristic of a modulation of the power input, supervisory circuitry, such as a processor, coupled to the detection circuitry, and a network interface, coupled to the supervisory circuitry, to communicate over a network. The supervisory circuitry is adapted to receive a message that includes brightness information over the network, receive information regarding the characteristic of the modulation of the power input from the detection circuitry, and control a brightness of the at least one light emitting device based on the brightness information and the information regarding the characteristic modulation of the power input. | 08-21-2014 |
20140286036 | Emitting Light Using Multiple Phosphors - A light emitting apparatus includes a light emitting device, fixedly situated at a first position, to emit light at a wavelength, a first phosphor, fixedly situated at a second position, to radiate light with a first spectral characteristic out of the light emitting apparatus in response to irradiation by the light at the wavelength, and a second phosphor, fixedly situated at a third position, to radiate light with a second spectral characteristic out of the light emitting apparatus in response to irradiation by the light at the wavelength. An optical coupling mechanism is included to optically couple the light emitting device to the first phosphor and to optically decouple the light emitting device from the second phosphor in a first operating mode, and optically couple the light emitting device to the second phosphor in a second operating mode. | 09-25-2014 |
20140362580 | Electrically Controlled Glass in a Lamp - An apparatus for generating light may be comprised of a light source with a lens interposed in a light path from the light source. The lens may be comprised of two or more sections wherein at least one section may be comprised of smart glass. Electrical circuitry may be configured to control a transparency state of the smart glass lens sections. Another embodiment may have two reflectors wherein one of the reflectors may be interposed between the light source and the other reflector and may be comprised of smart glass with a transparent state and a reflective state so that two different reflection patterns may be created. A method for illumination wherein at least one area's illumination is controlled by a section of smart glass is also disclosed. | 12-11-2014 |
20150009399 | WEBCAM PRIVACY SHIELD - A webcam privacy shield is magnetically attached to a bezel of an electronic display that includes a webcam. The webcam privacy shield is positioned in either a shielded position where light is blocked from entering the lens of the webcam by positioning an opaque portion of the webcam privacy shield over the lens of the webcam, or an operating position where light is allowed to enter the lens of the webcam by positioning a transparent portion of the webcam privacy shield of the lens of the webcam. Sliding the webcam privacy shield between the shielded position and the operating position allows the user to selectively maintain their privacy from the webcam, or use the webcam. | 01-08-2015 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100321216 | Systems and Methods for Variable Rate Conversion - Poly-phase filters are used to offer an efficient and low complexity solution to rate conversion. However, they suffer from inflexibility and are not easily reconfigured. A novel design for rate converters employ poly-phase filters but utilize interpolation between filter coefficients to add flexibility to rate conversion. This interpolation can be implemented as an interpolation of the poly-phase filter results. Additional approximations can be made to further reduce the amount of calculations required to implement a flexible rate converter. | 12-23-2010 |
20110170683 | Systems and Methods for Echo Cancellation and Echo Suppression - Traditionally, echo cancellation has employed linear adaptive filters to cancel echoes in a two way communication system. The rate of adaptation is often dynamic and varies over time. Disclosed are novel rates of adaptation that perform well in the presence of background noise, during double talk and with echo path changes. Additionally, the echo or residual echo can further be suppressed with non-linear processing performed using joint frequency-time domain processing. | 07-14-2011 |
20110254711 | Systems and methods for variable rate conversion - Poly-phase filters are used to offer an efficient and low complexity solution to rate conversion. However, they suffer from inflexibility and are not easily reconfigured. A novel design for rate converters employ poly-phase filters but utilize interpolation between filter coefficients to add flexibility to rate conversion. This interpolation can be implemented as an interpolation of the poly-phase filter results. Additional approximations can be made to further reduce the amount of calculations required to implement a flexible rate converter. | 10-20-2011 |
20120002819 | AUDIO DRIVER SYSTEM AND METHOD - A grounding switch is described which operates properly even in the presence of negative voltages on a signal line. The grounding switch uses isolated field effect transistors that have their substrates tied to different voltages. The isolated field effect transistor has gate voltage and substrate voltage which can be pulled down to negative voltage when the signal line has a negative voltage allowing the switch to remain open even with a negative voltage. | 01-05-2012 |
20120008788 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR GENERATING PHANTOM BASS - In many audio playback systems, frequencies below a given cut off frequency are suppressed either due to speaker constraints or safety constraints. For example, some speakers are only capable of generating signals above a certain frequency. Prolonged low frequency sound can cause damage to speakers or other components. An audio driver can be equipped with a phantom bass module which by doubling, tripling and/or quadrupling frequencies below a cutoff frequency can simulate the bass experience. The doubling, tripling and quadrupling methods disclosed provide a low complexity formulation of a frequency doubling, tripling and quadrupling. In addition, the frequency doubling, tripling and quadrupling formulations are easily adapted to multi-rate processing, where computational savings can be very high. | 01-12-2012 |
20120016501 | WAVEFORM SHAPING SYSTEM TO PREVENT ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL SATURATION IN LOUD SPEAKERS - Peak reduction and power limitations are used to prevent distortion and protect components. In a cellular telephone, peak reduction can be based on battery power level to prevent electrical distortion from saturation. In addition peak reduction can be used to prevent mechanical distortion such as rub and buzz. Dynamic range compression can be used for peak reduction. In another application dynamic range compression can be used to control the power output to protect a speaker from damage. One example of a dynamic range compressor/peak limiter comprises a look-ahead buffer and an analysis engine. For example, the look-ahead buffer holds a window of samples of a signal. The analysis engine selects a gain envelope function on the basis of the samples, for example, by selecting the Pth sample in the buffer whenever that sample exceeds a given threshold. | 01-19-2012 |
20120019869 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR AUTOMATICALLY DETECTING AND PROCESSING HALFTONE REGIONS IN SCANNED DOCUMENTS - A system for halftone processing is provided. The system includes a programmable halftone segmentation system having one or more programmable parameters to accommodate different input image parameters, such as different printer or scanner parameters, and configured to generate output control data as a function of image input data. A programmable output processor receives the output control data and the image input data and generates image output data that compensates for halftone regions in the image input data. | 01-26-2012 |
20120033275 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR COLOR DEFRINGING - A system and method for defringing chromatic aberrations that occur in imaging devices such as scanners. The system comprises shift filters to shift lines in the various color planes together. In addition in each color plane, a spread filter is used to compensate for the unequal point spread functions of each color. Furthermore, the results can be enhanced by filtering in the luminance-chrominance space. | 02-09-2012 |
20120106750 | AUDIO DRIVER SYSTEM AND METHOD - A system and apparatus for constructing a displacement model across a frequency range for a loudspeaker is disclosed. The resultant displacement model is centered around the distortion point. Once a distortion model is constructed it can be incorporated into an audio driver to prevent distortion by incorporating the model and a distortion compensation unit with a conventional audio driver. Various topologies can be used to incorporate a distortion model and distortion compensation unit into an audio driver. Furthermore, a wide variety of distortion compensation techniques can be employed to avoid distortion in such an audio driver. | 05-03-2012 |
20120170755 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR STEREO ECHO CANCELLATION - Acoustic echoes in communications systems are distracting and undesirable. Acoustic echoes occur in communications systems where sound produced by a speaker is picked up by a microphone in a communications system. In a stereo playback environment, echo cancellation techniques become more complicated. Echo cancellation can be performed by performing echo cancellation on a center signal, which is the sum of a left channel signal and the right channel signal, or left signal and a difference signal, which is the difference of the right channel signal and the left channel signal. The adaptation rates of the two echo cancellers meet certain constraints to prevent degeneracies in the echo cancellation system. | 07-05-2012 |
20120191955 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR FLOATING POINT ACCELERATION ON FIXED POINT DIGITAL SIGNAL PROCESSORS - A system for performing floating point operations comprising a floating point multiply function that utilizes one or more fixed point functional blocks of a processor and one or more dedicated floating point functional blocks of the processor. A floating point add function that utilizes one or more fixed point functional blocks of a processor and one or more dedicated floating point functional blocks of the processor. A floating point normalize function that utilizes one or more fixed point functional blocks of a processor and one or more dedicated floating point functional blocks of the processor. | 07-26-2012 |
20130038475 | Systems and Methods for Variable Rate Conversion - Poly-phase filters are used to offer an efficient and low complexity solution to rate conversion. However, they suffer from inflexibility and are not easily reconfigured. A novel design for rate converters employ poly-phase filters but utilize interpolation between filter coefficients to add flexibility to rate conversion. This interpolation can be implemented as an interpolation of the poly-phase filter results. Additional approximations can be made to further reduce the amount of calculations required to implement a flexible rate converter. | 02-14-2013 |
20130097405 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR ABSTRACT MEMORY ADDRESSING - An apparatus for abstract memory addressing. A processor for generating an abstract memory address. A base register for storing a base memory address. An adder for adding the base memory address to the abstract memory address and generating a physical address for a device memory. A pointer register for storing the physical address, wherein the pointer register is directly coupled to the device memory. | 04-18-2013 |
20130195277 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DYNAMIC RANGE COMPENSATION OF DISTORTION - A system for controlling distortion comprising a total harmonic distortion (THD) modeling system configured to apply a chirp signal to a system and to identify one or more frequency bands at which distortion is present, and to apply a ramping signal to identify for each of the one or more frequency bands an input signal level at which distortion is initiated, a signal processing system configured to receive an input signal, to determine whether frequency components are present in the input signal that are associated with the one or more frequency bands at which distortion is present, and to limit the amplitude of the input signal at the one or more frequency bands, such as by applying dynamic range compensation. | 08-01-2013 |
20130230180 | INTEGRATED MOTION DETECTION USING CHANGES IN ACOUSTIC ECHO PATH - A system for detecting motion comprising a first speaker, a first microphone separated from the first speaker by a distance D | 09-05-2013 |
20140133649 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ECHO CANCELLATION AND ECHO SUPPRESSION - Traditionally, echo cancellation has employed linear adaptive filters to cancel echoes in a two way communication system. The rate of adaptation is often dynamic and varies over time. Disclosed are novel rates of adaptation that perform well in the presence of background noise, during double talk and with echo path changes. Additionally, the echo or residual echo can further be suppressed with non-linear processing performed using joint frequency-time domain processing. | 05-15-2014 |