Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090108890 | Internal Supply Voltage Controlled PLL and Methods for Using Such - Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and circuits for clock signal generation. For example, various embodiments of the present invention provide semiconductor devices that include a power source and a phase lock loop circuit. The power source provides a supply voltage to the phase lock loop circuit. The phase lock loop circuit includes and on-chip control voltage source and a voltage controlled oscillator. The on-chip control voltage source is capable of producing a control voltage that varies between a minimum voltage and a maximum voltage. The voltage controlled oscillator receives the control voltage and provides a clock signal with a frequency corresponding to the control voltage. The maximum voltage is greater than the supply voltage. For example, in some embodiments of the present invention, the maximum voltage is more than double the supply voltage. As another example, in some embodiments of the present invention, the maximum voltage is more than six times the supply voltage. | 04-30-2009 |
20100031805 | Method and apparatus for adjusting the cadence of music on a personal audio device - Disclosed is an audio device that adjusts the cadence of played songs. All songs in a playlist may be adjusted to match the cadence of a particular song. First, the desired cadence of a reference song is determined by low pass filtering a digital representation of the reference song and determining the period (T) of the back beat of the reference song. The cadence of subsequent songs is then determined by low pass filtering digital representations of the subsequent songs and determining the period (T) of the back beat of the subsequent songs. An adjustment of the period (T) of the subsequent songs is then determined such that the adjustment of the period (T) of the subsequent songs results in the subsequent songs having the desired cadence (i.e., the cadence of the reference song). The period (T) of the back beat of the subsequent songs are then adjusted. | 02-11-2010 |
20100033412 | Integrated Audiovisual Output Device - An integrated audiovisual output device includes at least one display comprising at least one panel, at least one voice coil contiguous with the at least one panel, and at least one magnet proximate to the at least one voice coil, wherein the at least one panel is vibrated in order to generate audio output. Another integrated audiovisual output device includes at least one display comprising at least one panel, at least one magnet contiguous with the at least one panel, and at least one voice coil proximate to the at least one magnet, wherein at least one panel is vibrated in order to generate audio output. Another integrated audiovisual output device includes at least one display comprising at least one panel and an audio transducer for vibrating at least one panel of the at least one display, wherein at least one panel comprises driver circuitry operative to produce at least audio data for presentation by the audio transducer. | 02-11-2010 |
20100089224 | Method and apparatus for adjusting the cadence of music on a personal audio device - Disclosed is an audio device that adjusts the cadence of played songs. A user sensor determines cadence data based on movement of the user. A desired cadence is determined based on the cadence data received from the sensor. The cadence of songs is determined by low pass filtering digital representations of the songs and determining the period (T) of the back beat of the songs. An adjustment of the period (T) of the songs is then determined such that the adjustment of the period (T) of the songs results in the songs having the desired cadence. The period (T) of the back beat of the subsequent songs are then adjusted. | 04-15-2010 |
20100267431 | RECESSIBLE INTEGRATED POCKET CLIP FOR MOBILE DEVICES AND THE LIKE - In one embodiment, an apparatus comprising a housing and a fastener, such as a clip ( | 10-21-2010 |
20100278021 | CONTROLLING AN OPTICAL-DISC READER USING SURFACE MARKS - An optical-disc player having a reader and a controller. The reader derives out-of-band information from surface marks of an optical disc, where the controller controls operations of the reader based on the derived information. The controlled operations may involve the reading and rendering of embedded data of the optical disc. For example, a person writes the words “Spanish” and “widescreen” on the surface of a DVD with a marker and inserts the DVD in a DVD player. The DVD player scans the surface of the DVD and sends the resulting image data to an optical character recognition (OCR) module. The OCR module outputs a text file containing the words “Spanish” and “widescreen” to a controller (e.g., Microsoft HDi runtime). In response, the controller sets the playback language to Spanish and the screen format to widescreen. | 11-04-2010 |
20100302175 | USER INTERFACE APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE TOUCHSCREEN - Embodiments of the invention include a system for entering end user information into an electronic device. The system includes a display unit with a touchscreen having a plurality of locations. The touchscreen is configured to detect the presence of an end user object proximal to one of the touchscreen locations and to detect when an end user object makes contact with one of the touchscreen locations. The system also includes a controller configured to generate an audible sound indicative of the touchscreen location to which an end user object is proximal in response to the display unit detecting the presence of the end user object proximal to the touchscreen location. The controller also is configured to generate contact location information indicative of the touchscreen location with which an end user object makes contact in response to the display unit detecting the contact of the end user object on the touchscreen location. | 12-02-2010 |
20100325909 | AUTO-CALCULATED LENGTH DETERMINATION AND DISPLAY - In one embodiment, a tape measure having a tape, housing, and an input, has an OLED strip overlaid on top of the tape. The housing contains a programmable controller and a rolled-up portion of the tape. A specified fraction of the length of the linear target is provided to the controller using the input. The tape may be extracted from the housing to generate an exposed portion of the tape corresponding to the total length of a linear target. The controller receives information indicative of the total length of the linear target. The controller controls the OLED strip to show, i.e., light up along the tape, a fractional portion corresponding to the specified fraction of the linear target. | 12-30-2010 |
20100329054 | Memory Built-In Self-Characterization - A memory circuit includes an operational memory and a monitor circuit comprising a circuit element in the operational memory and/or a circuit element substantially identical to a corresponding circuit element in the operational memory. The monitor circuit is operative to measure at least one functional characteristic of the operational memory. A control circuit coupled to the monitor circuit is operative to generate a control signal which varies as a function of the measured characteristic of the operational memory. The memory circuit further includes a programmable voltage source coupled to the operational memory which is operative to generate at least a voltage and/or a current supplied to at least a portion of the operational memory which varies as a function of the control signal. | 12-30-2010 |
20110007048 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR USING PIXELS OF A DISPLAY DEVICE TO COMMUNICATE OPTICAL INFORMATION OVER A COMMUNICATIONS LINK - A system for communicating over an optical communications link is provided that uses at least one display pixel of a display device to transmit optical information bits and at least one sensor pixel of the display device to receive optical information bits. To transmit optical information bits, a controller of the display device causes the transmitter display pixel to switch between at least first and second optical display conditions to produce a modulated optical signal representative of one or more information bits. To receive optical information bits, the controller reads the electrical sense signal produced by the receiver sensor pixel and interprets the electrical sense signal read from the receiver pixel as corresponding to one or more information bits. | 01-13-2011 |
20110007618 | PREVENTING UNAUTHORIZED USE OF OPTICAL DISCS - An optical-disc writer writes extrinsic data to an optical disc. Extrinsic data can be written as (i) embedded marks (e.g., pits and lands) located outside the conventional readable area of a disc and/or (ii) alternative marks, such as surface marks located on a surface of the disc. In an optical-disc player having a disc-reading subsystem and a read controller, the disc-reading subsystem reads and relays the extrinsic data to the read controller, which controls the operations of the player based on the extrinsic data. For example, the writer prints extrinsic data, e.g., a barcode, on the surface of a software installation disc. The disc is inserted in the player and installation is commenced. The read controller instructs the disc-reading subsystem to read the extrinsic information. If the read controller determines that the extrinsic data was successfully read, then installation proceeds; otherwise, installation is halted. | 01-13-2011 |
20120160914 | TAMPER RESISTANT RFID TAG CIRCUIT APPARATUS AND METHOD - A tamper pool RFID tag apparatus, system and method for keying the RFID tag in association with an object. An oscillator circuit configured on an RFID tag substrate enables the RFID tag to be keyed with respect to the object. One or more capacitors that are operatively connected in association with the RFID tag substrate via a substrate vias determine an oscillator frequency pulse when placed on the object. A comparator compares the oscillator frequency pulse with a predetermined pulse count stored in a latch/storing unit. The RFID tag circuit can accept the object in, for example, a vending machine, if the frequency pulse matches the predetermined pulse count in order to effectively handle object returns in a wide range of commercial applications. | 06-28-2012 |
20130050297 | Illumination Device Having User-Controllable Light Sequencing Circuitry - An illumination device comprises a plurality of light sources, light sequencing circuitry coupled to the light sources, a light guide structure for directing light from the plurality of light sources over a surface of a display screen to be illuminated, and a user interface for providing control input to the light sequencing circuitry. The light sequencing circuitry comprises a logic state machine responsive to the control input to select one of a plurality of available sequencing modes for the plurality of light sources, a code generator operative to generate output signals controlling respective ones of the light sources responsive to the selected one of the sequencing modes, and timing circuitry for defining timing intervals for processing of the control input by the logic state machine to determine the selected one of the sequencing modes and for generation of the corresponding output signals by the code generator. | 02-28-2013 |
20130076433 | ADAPTIVE FILTER WITH COEFFICIENT DETERMINATION BASED ON OUTPUT OF REAL TIME CLOCK - An adaptive filter implemented in a communication system transmitter or receiver has a real time clock associated therewith, and one or more coefficients of the adaptive filter are determined based at least in part on an output of the real time clock. For example, the adaptive filter may comprise a coefficient update engine and a memory for storing a plurality of sets of adaptive filter coefficients in association with respective time indicators derived from the output of the real time clock, with the coefficient update engine being configured to determine a particular one of the sets of filter coefficients for use by the adaptive filter based at least in part on one or more of the time indicators. The time indicators may comprise respective time stamps generated based on the output of the real time clock at respective times at which the corresponding sets of coefficients are determined. | 03-28-2013 |
20130083243 | DIGITAL TELEVISION WITH IMPROVED INPUT SELECTION FUNCTIONALITY - An apparatus comprising a switching circuit and a display. The switching circuit may be configured to present an output signal in response to a plurality of input signals. The output signal may be generated in response to an active one of the input signals. A user prompt may appear prior to switching to the active one of the input signals. The user prompt may allow a user to confirm or reject switching to the active input. The display circuit may be configured to display information from the output signal. | 04-04-2013 |
20130099956 | APPARATUS TO REDUCE SPECIFIC ABSORPTION RATE - In described embodiments, a user is protected from potential health risks from emitted RF energy from a wireless handset or other device by reducing Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) of the device while avoiding, or even improving, the radiation pattern of the antenna. For example, a hat, cap or other covering of a device user's upper body includes a dual-layer structure comprising of carbon-loaded, open cell foam with a metalized layer. The dual-layer structure is imbedded in, for example, a hat with the carbon loaded foam facing away from the user's head. The covering provides for RF protection of the user to reduce SAR while maintaining relatively good return loss characteristics, thereby avoiding a negative impact on the desired antenna radiation pattern of the device. | 04-25-2013 |
20130105456 | OPTICALLY-BASED CONTROL FOR DEFROSTING SOLAR PANELS | 05-02-2013 |
20130127401 | ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY PLUG-IN ADAPTER - A plug-in adapter includes a transformer having a primary winding capable of being coupled to an AC power source and a secondary winding configured to provide an output charging voltage. The plug-in adapter also includes a voltage sensing connection configured to sense an external device voltage. Additionally, the plug-in adapter includes an adapter isolation switch coupled between the primary winding and the AC power source and configured to close by application of the external device voltage thereby providing the output charging voltage, wherein removal of the external device voltage opens the adapter isolation switch thereby substantially isolating the primary winding from the AC voltage source. In other aspects, a method of operating a plug-in adapter and a plug-in adapter system are provided. | 05-23-2013 |
20130150162 | VIDEO GAME AND METHOD HAVING ENHANCED AUDIO EFFECTS - A computer-readable medium, a method of conducting a video game and a gaming system. In one embodiment, the medium contains programming instructions that cause a computer processor to: (1) conduct a video game that generates events having corresponding exclusively audible prompts and (2) convey the exclusively audible prompts to specific audio channels for sound-capable gaming controllers of a gaming system. | 06-13-2013 |
20130155207 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATICALLY CONTROLLING A VIDEO PRESENTATION - A system for, and method of automatically controlling a video presentation and 3D glasses incorporating the system or the method. In one embodiment, the system is configured to sense whether a viewer is wearing glasses and transmit a signal to the video source if the viewer is not wearing the glasses. In another embodiment, the system is configured to sense whether the viewer is watching the video presentation and transmit a signal to the video source if the viewer is not watching the video presentation. | 06-20-2013 |
20130243050 | ADAPTIVE FILTER WITH COEFFICIENT DETERMINATION BASED ON OUTPUT OF REAL TIME CLOCK - A transceiver comprises a transmitter and a receiver. At least one of the transmitter and the receiver comprises an adaptive filer. One or more coefficients of the adaptive filter are determined based at least in part on an output of a real time clock. The adaptive filter may comprise a coefficient update engine and a memory for storing a plurality of sets of adaptive filter coefficients in association with respective time indicators derived from the output of the real time clock, with the coefficient update engine being configured to determine a particular one of the sets of filter coefficients for use by the adaptive filter based at least in part on at least a subset of the time indicators. The time indicators may comprise respective time stamps generated based on the output of the real time clock at respective times at which the corresponding sets of coefficients are determined. | 09-19-2013 |
20130324085 | SYSTEM TO IDENTIFY WHETHER A TEXT MESSAGE IS FROM A TRUSTED SOURCE - The present invention concerns an apparatus comprising a first module and a second module. The first module may be configured to send a text message over a wireless network in response to one or more user keystrokes. The first module may generate a body of the text message and a security key to be transmitted along with the body of the text message. The second module may be configured to receive the body of the text message and the security key over the wireless network. The second module compares the security key to a set of known security keys to determine a match. A match indicates whether the text message was generated from a known sender. The first and second modules may be implemented as part of a portable device. | 12-05-2013 |
20130335329 | COMPUTER INPUT DEVICE - An apparatus comprising a monitor and a base. The base may be configured to display a plurality of characters received from both a first source within the monitor and a second source. The base may be connected to the monitor through a physical connection and an optical connection. The optical connection may transmit the characters received from the first source within the monitor. The optical connection may use a passive light source derived from a backlight source of the monitor. | 12-19-2013 |
20140035516 | TELEVISION LOW POWER MODE AND ACCESSORY CHARGING - Described embodiments provide a local electronic device having a power supply coupled to a power main in wireless communication, via a wireless transceiver, to a remote device. The local electronic device includes a charging station to recharge a rechargeable power supply of the remote devices. The local electronic device detects when at least one remote device is being recharged by the charging station. Based on the detection, the local electronic device selectively enters a low-power mode by disabling one or more circuits to reduce power consumption. | 02-06-2014 |
20140045424 | TRANSITORY TOUCHSCREEN ANTENNA STRUCTURE - An apparatus comprising a first substrate, a second substrate, and one or more embedded devices. A lower surface of the first substrate generally has disposed thereon a plurality of first lines comprising a thin-film conductive material. An upper surface of the second substrate generally has disposed thereon a plurality of second lines comprising the thin-film conductive material. The plurality of second lines is generally arranged orthogonally to the plurality of first lines. The lower surface of first substrate generally faces the upper surface of the second substrate and the substrates are generally separated by a predefined distance. The one or more embedded devices are generally coupled between one or more of the first lines and one or more of the second lines. The embedded devices are generally configured to temporarily electrically connect the respective lines to form a radiating structure during an RF operation. | 02-13-2014 |
20140057682 | ENHANCED MOBILE DEVICE HAVING MULTIPLE HOUSING CONFIGURATIONS - An apparatus comprises a first housing having a top surface and a bottom surface, a second housing having a top surface and a bottom surface, and one or more supports coupling the first housing to the second housing such that the first and second housings are electrically connected and the bottom surface of the first housing overlays the top surface of the second housing. The one or more supports are configurable in at least a first configuration wherein the bottom surface of the first housing and the top surface of the second housing are substantially contiguous with one another and a second configuration wherein the bottom surface of the first housing and the top surface of the second housing are separated by a space. | 02-27-2014 |
20140066027 | SYSTEM FOR GENERATING A RECORD OF WHETHER A PERSON IS OPERATING A VEHICLE WHILE COMPOSING AN ELECTRONIC MESSAGE - An apparatus comprising an interface and a control circuit. The interface may be configured to allow a user to compose an electronic message. The control circuit may be configured to (i) receive motion information during a time when a user composes the electronic message and (ii) embed the motion information within the electronic message in a format readable along with the electronic message. | 03-06-2014 |
20140079154 | DIRECT DIGITAL SYNTHESIS OF QUADRATURE MODULATED SIGNALS - An apparatus comprises a direct digital synthesizer, a mixer having first and second input ports and an output port, and a numerically-controlled oscillator. The direct digital synthesizer has a first output coupled to the first input port of the mixer and a second output coupled to a control input of the numerically-controlled oscillator, and the numerically-controlled oscillator has an output coupled to the second input port of the mixer. The mixer provides a quadrature modulated signal at its output port, and the first and second outputs of the direct digital synthesizer control respective portions of the quadrature modulated signal. For example, the first and second outputs of the direct digital synthesizer may control respective amplitude and phase portions of the quadrature modulated signal. | 03-20-2014 |
20140215341 | TRANSITIONING BETWEEN PAGES OF CONTENT ON A DISPLAY OF A USER DEVICE - A method comprises the steps of determining an amount of time between initiating presentation of a first page in a sequence of pages on a display of a user device and receiving a transition command from a user, the transition command causing the display to transition from presentation of the first page to presentation of a second page in the sequence of pages, determining respective amounts of content in the first and second pages, estimating a rate of content consumption based at least in part on the time and the amount of content in the first page, calculating a content transition time based at least in part on the rate of content consumption and the amount of content in the second page, and transitioning from presentation of the second page to presentation of a third page in the sequence of pages based at least in part on the content transition time. | 07-31-2014 |
20140330513 | Linear and Radial Legend Based on Motion - The present disclosure is directed to a method for indicating a direction of motion and a scale on a map. The method includes the step of detecting a position, a speed, and a direction of motion. The method also includes the step of calculating a vector based on the position, speed, and direction of motion, the vector including a scale. A further step of the method includes overlaying the vector on the position indicator on the map. | 11-06-2014 |
20140369395 | Error Detection Based on Superheterodyne Conversion and Direct Downconversion - In one embodiment, a radio receiver has a first downconverter, a second downconverter, first and second analog-to-digital converters, and an error detector. The first downconverter downconverts a received RF signal into a first baseband-frequency signal using a first downconversion technique, and the second downconverter downconverts the received signal into a second baseband-frequency signal using a second downconversion technique, different from the first downconversion technique. The first and second analog-to-digital converters convert the first and second baseband-frequency signals into first and second baseband digital signals, respectively. The error detection logic detects errors in at least one of the first and second baseband digital signals based on a comparison of the first baseband digital signal to the second baseband digital signal. | 12-18-2014 |
20140369696 | Color Coding and Optical Sub-Band Communication Utilizing Color Coding - Data transmission method and apparatus utilizing color coding is disclosed. A one-to-one correspondence between a set of eight unique 3-bit data units and a set of eight unique color representations is established for color coding a sequence of 3-bit data units. Transmission of the sequence of 3-bit data units is then facilitated using a sequence of color representations, wherein each one of the sequence of 3-bit data units has a one-to-one correspondence with one of the sequence of color representations. | 12-18-2014 |
20150022704 | Orientation-Based Camera Operation - An electronic device comprising an image sensor, an orientation sensor, and a user interface, may be operable to capture photographs via the image sensor. Input to the user interface required for triggering a photo capture may depend on an orientation of the electronic device indicated by the orientation sensor. Input required to trigger a photo capture while the orientation sensor indicates a first orientation of the electronic device may be different than input required to trigger a photo capture while the orientation sensor indicates a second orientation of the electronic device. | 01-22-2015 |