mi Method and apparatus for transporting deterministic traffic in a gigabit passive optical network By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A system and method are disclosed for transporting deterministic traffic in a gigabit passive optical network. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, an Optical Line Termination (OLT) for exchanging data traffic in a Gigabit Passive Optical Network (GPON) having a controller programmed to generate a timeslot schedule for transport of a desired bandwidth of constant bit rate (CBR) data traffic by selecting one or more timeslots from periodic frame clusters operating according to a GPON Transmission Convergence (GTC) protocol. Additional embodiments are disclosed. Full Article
mi Method and apparatus for dynamically allocating bandwidth to a client in a passive optical network By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods for allocating bandwidth to a plurality of traffic containers of a passive optical network. The method comprises receiving upstream data from a plurality of traffic containers of the passive optical network and passing the upstream data to a traffic manager. The method further comprises dynamically changing the allocated bandwidth based at least in part on the amount of the upstream data stored in one or more queues of the traffic manager. Full Article
mi Method and system for WDM transmission with chromato-temporal encoding By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A transmitter and a receiver for an optical telecommunication system of the WDM type are disclosed. In one aspect, the transmitter uses a chromato-temporal encoder which, with each block of symbols to be transmitted, associates a code matrix, where each element of the matrix corresponds to a wavelength and a use of the channel. The transmitter includes multiple modulators, where each modulator modulates a laser beam at a wavelength during a use of the channel by an element corresponding to the code matrix. The beams modulated in this manner are multiplexed in an optical fiber. Another embodiment using both a wavelength and a polarization encoding is also proposed. Full Article
mi Long-haul undersea transmission system and fiber By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An undersea long-haul transmission system includes an optical fiber transmission span and a coherent detection and digital signal processing module for providing dispersion compensation. The transmission span includes at least one fiber pair comprising substantially equal lengths of a positive-dispersion first fiber and a negative-dispersion second fiber that are configured to provide a signal output at transmission distances greater than 10,000 km, in which the combined accumulated dispersion across the operating bandwidth does not exceed the dispersion-compensating capacity of the coherent detection and digital signal processing module. Further described is a fiber for use in an undersea long-haul transmission span. At a transmission wavelength of 1550 nm, the fiber has a dispersion coefficient in the range of −16 to −25 ps/nm·km, and a dispersion slope in the range of 0.04 to 0.02 ps/nm2·km. Full Article
mi Pre-emphasis control method and optical transmission system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A pre-emphasis control method includes calculating an average value of transmission characteristics based on transmission characteristics of a plurality of light beams received by a receiver, and determining that, among signals of the plurality of light beams, a wavelength with a deviation from the average value is a wavelength at which control is to be performed, determining that the wavelength at which control is to be performed and a wavelength adjacent thereto are a group of wavelengths at which control is to be performed, obtaining an average of transmission characteristics of the group of wavelengths at which control is to be performed, and based on a difference between averaged transmission characteristics and respective transmission characteristics of the group of wavelengths at which control is to be performed, changing a light intensity output from each transmitter that transmits a group of wavelengths at which control is to be performed. Full Article
mi Signal transmission device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A signal transmission device drives a light-emitting element and outputs an optical signal depending on a data signal from an electronic device. The device includes an element driving portion which supplies a driving current to the light-emitting element, wherein the driving current is obtained by superimposing a modulation current on a bias current, the modulation current being dependent on the data signal indicating emitting information of the light-emitting element. A temperature compensation portion of the device controls the bias current and the modulation current depending on the temperature so that a temperature-current characteristic of the light-emitting element is reproduced based on the voltage which is dependent on the temperature and the voltage which is independent from the temperature, thereby performing current control depending on the temperature. Full Article
mi Optical transceiver having enhanced EMI tolerance By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An optical transceiver that attenuates the EMI radiation leaked therefrom is disclosed. The optical transceiver includes a top cover and the bottom base to form a cavity into which a TOSA, a ROSA, and a circuit are set. At least one of the top cover and the bottom base provides a combed structure in a rear portion of the optical transceiver, where the combed structure has a plurality of T-shaped fins to attenuate the EMI radiation. Full Article
mi Optical transceiver having enhanced EMI tolerance By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An optical transceiver that reduces the EMI radiation leaked therefrom is disclosed. The optical transceiver includes a top cover and the bottom base to form a cavity into which a TOSA, a ROSA, and a circuit are set. The top cover provides a combed structure in a rear portion thereof, where the combed structure has a plurality of fins with a distance preferably less that quarter wavelength λ/4 of the noise wavelength to be reduced. The combed structure operates as a short stub for the electromagnetic wave traveling longitudinally in the cavity. Full Article
mi Optical transport network system, optical-signal transmission path selecting method, and optical transmission device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An optical transport network system includes a plurality of NEs, each transmitting wavelength-multiplexed optical signals. Each NE includes a routing information DB that is used to store reachable area information, which contains identifiers of other NEs in a range within which the optical signals can be transmitted from the own NE without using an REG. A FROM NE includes a path candidate searching unit that searches for a plurality of path candidates for transmitting optical signals from the FROM NE to a TO NE. The TO NE includes a path selecting unit that selects a path for transmitting optical signals from among a plurality of path candidates. The path selecting unit obtains the number of times for which the REG is used for each of the plurality of path candidates; and, based on each number of times that is obtained, selects a path for transmitting the optical signals. Full Article
mi Optical line termination node and passive optical network By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An optical line termination node has a first connection arrangement for connecting a working fiber, a second connection arrangement for connecting a protection fiber, a transceiver arrangement having first primary link and a first secondary link, and protection switching means configured for being switched either in a working operating state or in a protection operating state. Full Article
mi Minimizing bandwidth narrowing penalities in a wavelength selective switch optical network By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT This invention relates to provisioning wavelength-selective switches and reconfigurable optical add-drop multiplexers to minimize the bandwidth narrowing effect from the optical filters. Novel architectures and methods are disclosed that can significantly reduce bandwidth-narrowing on channels in a reconfigurable WDM network where a large number of optical filter elements are cascaded. Instead of blocking unused channels as in the prior art, unused channels are selectively provisioned depending on the state of their adjacent channels. Unused adjacent channels of an active channel are provisioned to follow the same path as the active channels. As each channels is deployed, the channel frequency is selected so as to minimize bandwidth narrowing. Full Article
mi Illumination device and method for embedding data symbols in a luminance output By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The invention relates to embedding data symbols of a data signal into a luminance output of an illumination device. The device includes a controller configured for receiving a first base pattern and a second base pattern within a frame period, and generating a shifted second pattern by phase shifting the second base pattern within the frame period with respect to the first base pattern in response to the data signal such that the data symbols are embedded in the luminance output of the device. The device also includes a first light source configured to generate a first luminance output in response to the first base pattern and a second light source configured to generate a second luminance output in response to the shifted second pattern. The first and second luminance outputs have different output spectra and the luminance output of the illumination device comprises both the first and second luminance outputs. With this approach, the short-time average light output of the illumination device remains constant, decreasing the visible flicker and allowing the use of lower switching frequencies relative to the prior art approaches. Full Article
mi Transmitter optical module By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Disclosed is a transmitter optical module which includes a first package generating an optical signal; a second package bonded with the first package by using chip-to-chip bonding, having a silicon optical circuit platform structure, and amplifying the optical signal; and an optical waveguide forming a transmission path of the optical signal from the first package to the second package. Full Article
mi Mitigating signal offsets in optical receivers By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An optical receiver circuit is disclosed in which a number of electrical signals are processed to extract data encoded therein. The electrical signals may be compared during the process to selectively remove one or more waveforms from one or more corresponding electrical signals. Various data signals, each including one or more waveforms, may then be processed to extract the encoded data. The optical receiver circuit reduces, or eliminates, electrical offsets which may be present in one or more of the electrical signals to reduce corresponding errors in the encoded data signals. Full Article
mi Cutting edge replacement type groove forming tool and end face groove forming method By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 03 Feb 2015 08:00:00 EST A cutting insert (130) is formed to be rotationally symmetric with respect to an axis line (C3) of a height direction and to be planarly symmetric with respect to a virtual plane of the insert (VS1), an axis line (C2) of a traverse direction is gradually inclined toward the front of a rotational direction around which a workpiece (W) rotates moving toward a first traverse direction (C2A), an axis line (C1) of a longitudinal direction extends toward a lower surface side of an insert body (131) so as to approach a virtual plane of the tool moving toward a first longitudinal direction (C1A), and one corner portion (143C) in the other cutting edge (132B) is disposed further toward a first traverse direction (C2A) than one corner portion (143A) in one cutting edge (132A). Full Article
mi Milling cutter and method of operating same, and other machine tools, and an adjustment mechanism therefor By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 17 Feb 2015 08:00:00 EST Milling cutter and method of operating same, and other machine tools, and an adjustment mechanism therefor. A cutting insert is adjusted by moving a resilient web with an adjusting screw. Full Article
mi Milling tool as well as set of milling inserts of a milling tool By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 24 Feb 2015 08:00:00 EST A milling tool for slot milling includes a tool body and a plurality of separated first seats, which form root insert seats for root inserts arranged one after the other along a first line and a plurality of separated flank insert seats that includes a plurality of second seats for flank inserts . The plurality of second seats is arranged one after the other along a second line on a primary side of the root insert seats. A plurality of third seats for flank inserts is arranged one after the other along a third line on a secondary side of the root insert seats. Each flank insert seat includes a bottom surface, an inner side surface, and an outer side surface. Each flank insert includes an under side, an opposite upper side, and a circumferential edge side that forms a rake face connecting the upper side and the underside. Full Article
mi Cutting insert and shim for milling cutters By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 10 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT A cutting tool includes a polygonal cutter body and an end cutting insert for chipforming machining mounted in a serrated seat disposed at an axial end of the cutter body. A bottom surface of the insert has a plurality of parallel serrations meshing with corresponding serrations of the seat. The serrations extend transversely relative to the longitudinal axis for resisting axially rearward cutting forces applied to the insert. The seat is formed directly by the cutter body, or by a shim disposed beneath the insert. The shim is provided with a downward lip to transfer axial forces to the cutter body. The insert can be square or triangular, wherein the serrations are in the form of a plurality of sets of parallel serrations disposed adjacent respective cutting edges. Full Article
mi Electrode milling cutter with milling edges interrupted by cut-outs By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 17 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT Electrode milling cutter for machining spot welding electrodes, said electrode milling cutter having one or more milling edges, wherein at least one of the milling edges is interrupted by one or more cut-outs at one or more points. The invention also relates to a milling device and to an apparatus for subsequently machining spot welding electrodes. Full Article
mi Family of rotating cutting tools By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 14 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A family of rotating cutting tools includes at least two toolholders having different diameters, each toolholder including a first side and a second side, the first side and the second side being substantially perpendicular to an axis of rotation of the toolholder, and at least one insert abutment surface on each of the first side and the second side. For each toolholder, the insert abutment surfaces on the first and second sides define an angle with a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the toolholder, and the angle defined by the insert abutment surfaces and the plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the toolholder is different for the at least two toolholders having different diameters. Full Article
mi Milling cutter as well as a milling insert therefor By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 14 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A milling cutter for chip removing machining, including a basic body rotatable in a predetermined direction around a center axis and having a front end surface and an envelope surface that extends axially backward from the front end surface and is concentric with the center axis. A number of indexable milling inserts are mounted in respective peripherally spaced-apart seats having a mutually fixed pitch, each milling insert including an upper side, an under side and at least one clearance surface, the clearance surface together with the upper side delimiting at least two alternately active cutting edges that are uniform in their extension between first and second end points. The cutting edges of each milling insert are situated on different levels in relation to the under side of the milling insert to alter the effective pitch between the active cutting edges of the milling inserts by indexing of at least one of the milling inserts. Full Article
mi Roughing end mill and insert for a roughing end mill By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A roughing end mill comprises an end mill body and plural inserts which are placed on an outer circumference of the end mill body with a predetermined distance apart from each other in the axial direction of the end mill body, wherein the plural inserts form plural insert rows which are provided in a circumferential direction of the end mill body, where the inserts are offset in the axial direction from each other between the different insert rows which are adjacent in the circumferential direction. The inserts have waveform cutting edges which face towards an outer circumferential side of the end mill body. One insert of one insert row and an insert of another insert row are positioned such that the waveform cutting edges of each of these inserts make up a waveform cutting edge row whose phase is continuous on a rotation trajectory around the axis. Full Article
mi Hybrid digital and channel microfluidic devices and methods of use thereof By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The present invention provides a hybrid digital and channel microfluidic device in the form of an integrated structure in which a droplet may be transported by a digital microfluidic array and transferred to a microfluidic channel. In one aspect of the invention, a hybrid device comprises a first substrate having a digital microfluidic array capable of transporting a droplet to a transfer location, and a second substrate having a microfluidic channel. The first and second substrates are affixed to form a hybrid device in which an opening in the microfluidic channel is positioned adjacent to the transfer location, so that a droplet transported to the transfer location contacts the channel opening and may enter the channel. The invention also provides methods of performing separations using a hybrid digital and channel microfluidic device and methods of assembling a hybrid digital microfluidic device. Full Article
mi Catalyzed SCR filter and emission treatment system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Provided is a catalyst article for simultaneously remediating the nitrogen oxides (NOx), particulate matter, and gaseous hydrocarbons present in diesel engine exhaust streams. The catalyst article has a soot filter coated with a material effective in the Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) of NOx by a reductant, e.g., ammonia. Full Article
mi Catalyzed SCR filter and emission treatment system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Provided is a catalyst article for simultaneously remediating the nitrogen oxides (NOx), particulate matter, and gaseous hydrocarbons present in diesel engine exhaust streams. The catalyst article has a soot filter coated with a material effective in the Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) of NOx by a reductant, e.g., ammonia. Full Article
mi Catalyzed SCR filter and emission treatment system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Provided is a catalyst article for simultaneously remediating the nitrogen oxides (NOx), particulate matter, and gaseous hydrocarbons present in diesel engine exhaust streams. The catalyst article has a soot filter coated with a material effective in the Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) of NOx by a reductant, e.g., ammonia. Full Article
mi Chemical reactor with a plate heat exchanger By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A steam cooled chemical reactor (1) comprising a vertical vessel (2), a plate heat exchanger embedded in a catalytic bed, to cool the catalytic bed by evaporation of a cooling water flow, wherein a water inlet and a steam outlet are located underneath the heat exchanger, and the plates and related piping are arranged so that the path of the cooling flow comprises a first ascending path from bottom to top of the catalytic bed, and a second descending path from top to the bottom of catalytic bed, and wherein internal evaporation channels of the plates provide the second descending or the first ascending path, and water upcomers or respectively steam downcomers provide the other of said first and second path. Full Article
mi Microfluidic device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Microfluidic devices of the present disclosure relate to quick and inexpensive microfluidic manipulation/handling. A number of channels may be supplied with fluid ingredient(s). In some embodiments, a number of protrusions as well as a sealing material may be disposed adjacent to the channels. When the channels are supplied with fluid ingredient(s), the channels may be partitioned into a number of separate cavities that are fluidly isolated from one another. For instance, a sealing material may be compressed so as to deform into the channels, obstructing fluid flow. In some embodiments, the channels supply fluid ingredients to a number of pre-formed cavities. Once the cavities are supplied with fluid ingredient, channels connecting the cavities may be sealed off; that is, the cavities may be subject to fluid isolation. When appropriate, contents within reaction chambers may be subject to further processing (e.g., thermal cycling, various analyses). Full Article
mi Silicon substrate optimization for microarray technology By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A micro device includes a substrate and a structure configured to bind to an object or a material, or not to bind to an object or material. The structure has a roughness based on a roughness of the object or material. For example, a microarray includes a substrate and a well positioned in the substrate and configured to bind to a type of bead. The well has a roughness based on a roughness of the type of bead to which the well is configured to bind. The roughness of the well is controlled by controlling a position and number of striations in the side of the well. In another example, a moveable component of a micro device may have a roughness different from a roughness of an adjacent component, to reduce the likelihood of the moveable component sticking to the adjacent component. Full Article
mi Microfluidic devices with removable cover and methods of fabrication and application By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The present invention includes microfluidic systems having a microfabricated cavity that may be covered with a removable cover, where the removable cover allows at least part of the opening of the microfabricated cavity to be exposed or directly accessed by an operator. The microfluidic systems comprise chambers, flow and control channels formed in elastomeric layers that may comprise PDMS. The removable cover comprises a thermoplastic base film bonded to an elastomer layer by an adhesive layer. When the removable cover is peeled off, the chamber is at least partially open to allow sample extraction from the chamber. The chamber may have macromolecular crystals formed inside or resulting contents from a PCR reaction. The invention also includes a method for making vias in elastomeric layers by using the removable cover. The invention further includes methods and devices for peeling the peelable cover or a removable component such as Integrated Heater Spreader. Full Article
mi Microtiter plate temperature control By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The present invention provides methods and apparatus for efficiently providing accurate temperature control of a microtiter cold plate and precise alignment of the microtiter cold plate with a microtiter plate. Full Article
mi Microtiter plate mask By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Provided is a masking system of masks for use with multiwell plates such as microtiter plates to facilitate sample dispensing and assay accuracy, especially when dispensing more than one solution into the wells. One or more masks, adapted in size to fit snugly over a multiwell plate and the mask formed with openings each aligned with a subset of one or more wells of the plate beneath, aids the user in sample and/or reagent administration. Advantageously, the masks contain registration aids so that proper orientation with respect to the plate below is achieved; the registration aid may be a cut corner, registration peg or mark, or visual marking or stamping. Full Article
mi Emissions treatment system with ammonia-generating and SCR catalysts By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 Apr 2016 08:00:00 EDT Provided are emissions treatment systems for an exhaust stream having an ammonia-generating component, such as a NOx storage reduction (NSR) catalyst or a lean NOx trap (LNT) catalyst, and an SCR catalyst disposed downstream of the ammonia-generating catalyst. The SCR catalyst can be a molecular sieve having the CHA crystal structure, for example SSZ-13 or SAPO-34, which can be ion-exchanged with copper. The LNT can be layered, having an undercoat washcoat layer comprising a support material, at least one precious metal, and at least one NOx sorbent selected from the group consisting of alkaline earth elements, rare earth elements, and combinations thereof and a top washcoat layer comprising a support material, at least one precious metal, and ceria in particulate form, the top washcoat layer being substantially free of alkaline earth components. The emissions treatment system is advantageously used for the treatment of exhaust streams from diesel engines and lean burn gasoline engines. Full Article
mi Transmissive diffraction grating and detection apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A transmissive diffraction grating includes a polarization conversion layer, a first diffractive layer disposed on one surface side of the polarization conversion layer, and a second diffractive layer disposed on the other surface side of the polarization conversion layer. Both the first diffractive layer and the second diffractive layer include refractive index modulation structures arranged with a period P in a first direction, and diffraction efficiency for a TE polarized light component is higher than a diffraction efficiency for a TM polarized light component. Full Article
mi Apparatus and method for compensating for sample misalignment By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method of compensating for sample misalignment in an optical measurement apparatus (40), comprises the steps of: determining an expected response from a detector (58) in said optical measurement apparatus given a particular set of parameters defining a path that light can take through the optical measurement apparatus from a source (42), via a sample (50), to the detector (58); measuring a response from the detector for the sample under test; and refining the set of parameters until the expected response and the measured response converge so as to determine the set of parameters giving rise to the measured response. Full Article
mi Projection exposure tool for microlithography and method for microlithographic imaging By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 02 Jun 2015 08:00:00 EDT A projection exposure tool for microlithography for imaging mask structures of an image-providing substrate onto a substrate to be structured includes a measuring apparatus configured to determine a relative position of measurement structures disposed on a surface of one of the substrates in relation to one another in at least one lateral direction with respect to the substrate surface and to thereby simultaneously measure a number of measurement structures disposed laterally offset in relation to one another. Full Article
mi High speed microscope with spectral resolution By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 11 Aug 2015 08:00:00 EDT A system and method of high-speed microscopy using a two-photon microscope with spectral resolution. The microscope is operable to provide two- to five-dimensional fluorescence images of samples, including two or three spatial dimensions, a spectral dimension (for fluorescence emission), and a temporal dimension (on a scale of less than approximately one second). Two-dimensional (spatial) images with a complete wavelength spectrum are generated from a single scan of a sample. The microscope may include one of a multi-beam point scanning microscope, a single beam line scanning microscope, and a multi-beam line scanning microscope. The line scans may be formed using one or more of curved mirrors and lenses. The multiple beams may be formed using one of a grating, an array of lenses, and a beam splitter. Full Article
mi Polarization-modulating element, illumination optical apparatus, exposure apparatus, and exposure method By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 22 Sep 2015 08:00:00 EDT There is disclosed a polarization-modulating element for modulating a polarization state of incident light into a predetermined polarization state, the polarization-modulating element being made of an optical material with optical activity and having a circumferentially varying thickness profile. Full Article
mi Controller that determines average output current of a switching circuit By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A switching circuit (400) comprising an inductive component (406) including at least one winding; and a switch (404) is configured to transfer power from a voltage source (402) to the inductive component (406) in accordance with a switch control signal (412). The switching circuit (400) also comprises a controller (408) configured to integrate the voltage across the inductive component (406) in order to generate a signal representative of magnetic flux in the inductive component (406); and use the signal representative of the magnetic flux in the inductive component to account for a peak magnetization current value in order to control the switch (404). Full Article
mi Power converter having semiconductor switching element By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Provided is a configuration in which it is possible to mount an applied voltage suppression circuit configured to prevent voltage breakdown of a semiconductor switching element, and a set voltage thereof can be inspected without damaging an IC or the like of a peripheral circuit. In a power converter having a semiconductor switching element, an applied voltage suppression circuit configured to suppress a voltage applied to the semiconductor switching element and at least one component of constituent components of a driving circuit which causes the semiconductor switching element to be turned off if the component is absent are transferred to and disposed on a slave substrate (separate unit) which is divided from and electrically connected to a master substrate including the semiconductor switching element, the driving circuit, a control circuit, and the like mounted thereon. Full Article
mi Power supply, power management device applied to a power supply, and method for performing brown-out protection and overheat protection of a power management device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A power supply can provide brown-out protection and overheat protection. The power supply includes a rectifier, a transformer, and a power management device. The rectifier is used for receiving an alternating current voltage. The alternating current voltage has a voltage cycle. The transformer coupled to the rectifier has an inductor coupled to a switch for supplying an output voltage. The power management device is used for controlling the switch to make the inductor save power or release power. The power management device has a multi-functional pin coupled to the rectifier for receiving a detection voltage corresponding to a positive half cycle of the alternating current voltage. The multi-functional pin is also coupled to a thermistor for receiving an overheat protection signal. Full Article
mi Semiconductor device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A semiconductor device of a three-level inverter circuit with a reduced number of power supplies for driving IGBTs. The semiconductor device includes a series-connected circuit of IGBTs between P and N of a DC power supply and an AC switch element that is connected between a series connection point of the series-connected circuit and a neutral point of the DC power supply. The series-connected circuit and the AC switch element are integrated into one module. The AC switch element is formed by connecting a collector of a first IGBT to which a diode is connected in reverse parallel and a collector of a second IGBT to which a diode is connected in reverse parallel, and an intermediate terminal is provided at a connection point between the collectors. Full Article
mi Circuits and methods for determining peak current By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Embodiments include circuits and methods to determine peak current for current regulation. A control signal circuit monitors a current on the primary side of a transformer based a turn on time of a switch coupled to the primary side. The control signal circuit determines whether the monitored current exceeds an over-current protection threshold, and determines a duration that the monitored current exceeds the over-current protection threshold. The control signal circuit determines a peak primary current in the primary side based on the over-current protection threshold, the duration that the monitored current exceeds the over-current protection threshold, and the turn on time of the switch. The control signal circuit controls the turn on time for the switch based on the determined peak primary current. Full Article
mi Mixing apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT Once a human operator selects one output channel using a port setting key and SEL key, output port parameters of a plurality of output ports connected with the selected output channel are displayed in a given arrangement on an output channel-port setting popup screen, and the thus-displayed output port parameters are allocated to controls of corresponding channel strips. Such arrangements allow parameter setting operation to be readily performed for each of the output ports. Full Article
mi Applying digital frequency offset to timing loop By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A system for providing an accumulated phase to an interpolator of a read channel, the interpolator configured to provide a digital clock signal. A frequency accumulator is configured to generate a frequency offset based on a difference between the digital clock signal and a desired clock signal. A zero phase start module is configured to, during a zero phase start, output an incremental phase jump. A phase accumulator is configured to generate the accumulated phase based on the difference between the digital clock signal and the desired clock signal, and, during the zero phase start, the incremental phase jump output by the zero phase start module, or the frequency offset generated by the frequency accumulator or a predetermined frequency offset. Full Article
mi Laminated plasmon generator with cavity process By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A plasmon generator (PG) is disclosed with a laminated structure of non-planar X and Y layers formed between a waveguide and write pole. Each X layer is made of a noble metal such as Au while each Y layer is a non-noble metal or dielectric material to improve durability. As a result, the PG has a peg portion at an air bearing surface with improved reliability compared with pegs made entirely of a noble metal. Non-planarity of X and Y layers improves diffusion of Y material between X grains thereby minimizing X grain growth to enhance thermal stability. The laminated PG is formed by a process sequence that involves forming and filling a cavity, and concludes with a chemical mechanical polish process to form a planar top PG surface that faces a write pole leading side. Full Article
mi Timing loop with large pull-in range By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT Aspects of the disclosure provide a sync mark detector. The sync mark detector includes a first unit configured to decay over time a value indicating a length of a bit format, a second unit configured to compare the decayed value with a detected length of the bit format to determine a new length, and a third unit configured to detect a sync mark based on the detected length and the new length. Full Article
mi Optical disc with pre-recorded and recordable regions and method of forming the disc By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT An optical disc having a region with pre-recorded data and a recordable region, a method of fabricating the disc, a stamper for forming a disc master, and a recording device for use with the disc are disclosed. Data recorded in the recordable region may be used for activation of the disc, providing unique identification or enhancing program content on the disc. Full Article
mi Optical disc with pre-recorded and recordable regions and method of forming the disc By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An optical disc having a region with pre-recorded data and a recordable region, a method of fabricating the disc, a stamper for forming a disc master, and a recording device for use with the disc are disclosed. Data recorded in the recordable region may be used for activation of the disc, providing unique identification or enhancing program content on the disc. Full Article
mi Increased spectral efficiency and reduced synchronization delay with bundled transmissions By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Techniques are provided for increasing spectral efficiency over data channels in a storage or communication system. In some embodiments, data may be encoded and transmitted over multiple channels. The transmitted data from the multiple channels may be considered together as a channel bundle, thereby increasing the edge transitions of the group of signals to improve clock recovery and reduce coding constraints. In some embodiments, the channel bit size is reduced to maximize data rates based on the reduced coding constraints. Furthermore, the channel bundle has only one channel with timing markers, so that a receiver may receive information from the channel bundle and recover clocking based on the timing markers in the one channel. Full Article