Sony Corporation

Agency for Science, Technology and Research

Kanzo Okada

Xiaobing Sun

Yugang Ma

Jin Xu

Ching Biing Yeo

Minoru Watanabe

Keitaro Yamashita

Shunji Okada

Masayuki Nakayama

Peng Gao

Kazuo Takahashi

Takashi Yamada

Akio Takada

Toshio Mamiya

Shun Kayama

Wei Lu

Jian Zhang

Naoto Kojima

Qingsong Wei

Jun Xu

Junjun Wang

A storage device is disclosed, in which the device comprises memory () divisible into multiple zones, each zone comprising a plurality of physical blocks of the memory () and for associating with a zone-based address map for mapping between logical and physical addresses of said zone. The multiple zones are configurable independently of each other, and the memory () is non-volatile or volatile memory. A related zone-based block management and address mapping method, and a zone-based block management and address map for a storage device are also disclosed.

Memory storage device, and a related zone-based block management and mapping method

A method for transforming an audio signal and a system employing that method is disclosed. The method proceeds by extracting from the signal components that fall within a stop band, for example, using one or more low-pass filters. Then, a set of one or more harmonics of the extracted components is generated by down-sampling to create an intermediate signal, which is then repeated. Each harmonic is then weighted by controlling its gain by application to it of a respective weighting factor, the factors being determined by the psychoacoustic properties of a system that will reproduce the signal. Then, the weighted harmonics are added to the audio signal (which may have been subject to a delay to ensure synchronization) to create an output signal.

Audio enhancement method and system

A system for estimating range to an object comprising a system for estimating range to an object comprising a transmitter to transmit at least one UWB signal, a receiver to receive at least one UWB signal, a sampler to sample the received UWB signal depending on a plurality of clock and/or sample pulses having a first frequency, and a circuit and/or processor configured to generate a fractional signal having a second frequency that is lower that the first frequency and a phase that is dependant on the delay between when the UWB signal is actually received and when the received UWB signal is first sampled, and determine the range based on at least a first number of clock or sample pulses between transmitting and receiving the UWB signal and the phase of the fractional signal. Also a method of estimating range to an object.

Ranging system and method

The present invention proposes a system in which an ultrasonic carrier beam is modulated using an audio input signal. The audio signal is divided into frequency bands, and that frequencies in different ones of these bands are treated differently. Specifically, different modulating schemes are used for different frequency bands. Also, different transducer aperture sizes are used for different frequency signals. Also, a further frequency equalizer is provided within each of the frequency bands. Finally, a relatively smaller amplitude modulating index (or indices) is used for signals in low frequency band(s).

Method and apparatus to generate an audio beam with high quality

A transducer array comprises a conductive back plate, a conductive front platehaving openings, and a plurality of piezoelectric vibrator elementslocated in an array between the plates. The vibrator elementsare two-layer elements which each include a metal portionand a PZT element. These elementsare in electrical contact with the respective plates. The vibrator elementsare attached to support elementsupstanding as part of the back plate. The transducer array can be formed as a batch process in which the vibrator elementsare formed simultaneously, and then simultaneously attached to the support elements

Ultrasonic transducer array and a method for making a transducer array

A method for estimating one or more parameters of a ultra wideband signal and a receiver system for receiving ultra wideband signals is provided. The method for estimating one or more parameters of a signal in an ultra wide band system including estimating the parameter(s) for a first signal element in a received signal then removing this signal element from the signal to obtain a modified signal. The parameter(s) for a number of further signal elements are then estimated and these elements are removed from the modified signal to form a refined signal. The parameter(s) for the first signal element are re-estimated to re-define the first signal element based on the refined signal minus the signal element having the greatest amplitude. The parameter(s) for the signal element having the greatest amplitude are re-estimated to re-define this signal element. The steps are repeated to generate a refined estimate of the parameter(s) for the first signal element. There is also disclosed a receiver for performing the above steps.

Method for estimating one or more parameters of a ultra wideband signal and a receiver system for receiving ultra wideband signals

A method of measuring distance between a target and a receiver in a ranging system may comprise transmitting a first pulse at a first time determined by a sampling clock in a receiver, receiving the first pulse, sampling the first pulse at a predetermined amplitude threshold using the sampling clock and determining the time of arrival of the first pulse in terms of a number of periods of the sampling clock after the first pulse was transmitted. This may be repeated for a second pulse and the average times of arrival of the first and second pulses are determined to obtain an averaged estimated time of arrival. The distance between the target and the receiver may be determined by multiplying the averaged estimated time of arrival by the speed of propagation of the transmitted pulses. There is also disclosed an apparatus for measuring distance.

Method and apparatus for measuring distance between a target and a receiver in a ranging system

A method, device and system for determining a DOA of a signal are described. Determination of the DOA of the signal may include receiving first and second UWB waveforms of the signal at one or more antennas of a UWB transceiver. A window may be defined in the first and second UWB waveforms such that the window is defined in a leading portion of the signal. First and second amplitude values of the respective first and second UWB waveforms in the window may be calculated. An amplitude ratio may be calculated with the first and second amplitude values and compared with calibration data to determine the DOA of the signal.

Method, device and system for determining direction of arrival of signal

A method of producing hard disk drives of reduced size including using a one or more MEMS spindle motors, and one or more magnetic heads. Each spindle motor includes a rotor and a stator. The rotor carries a film of magnetic film, and a head is arranged to communicate data with the magnetic film. The rotors are formed by MEMS technology. Rotor elements are formed within a substrate, and the substrate is subsequently cut to simulate the rotor elements, and turn them into rotors.

Method of producing hard disk drives of reduced size

A system and method for determining position of, for example, a robot based on reflected signals comprises a transmitter for transmitting signals in a number of directions within a range of directions and a receiver for receiving echoes of the signals from any direction in the range. The transmitter has a first rotatable antenna and the receiver has a second rotatable antenna which is mechanically couplable to the second antenna. The received echoes are processed by a processor to derive echo data signals indicative of the distance of the system to one or more reflective surfaces and the direction of the reflective surface(s) relative to the system. The processor is arranged to determine the position of the system relative to a starting position from the derived echo data signals indicative of the distance of the system to the reflective surface(s) and the direction of the reflective surface(s) relative to the system.

System and method for determining position of radar apparatus based on reflected signals

A local positioning system is proposed for wirelessly locating an object using existing features within a static environment, such as walls, as the references for determining the position of the system. An antennaattached to the object transmits RF signals which are reflected by the surroundings. During a training mode, the reflected signals are used to train a neural networkto map the position of the object to the characteristics of the reflected signals. During a working mode, the trained neural network is to identify the position of the object based on reflected signals in working mode. Optionally, the reflected signals may be subject to a clustering process before input to the neural network.

Local positioning system which operates based on reflected wireless signals

A recording and/or reproducing head which is small-sized and lightweight and which does not require focussing servo. In order to achieve this result, a head slider is mounted on a supporting spring movable radially of an optical disc. The head slider includes a base having a recording medium facing surface facing the optical disc, a head unit mounted to the head slider so that an optical recording and/or reproducing head will face the optical disc, a connecting unit for connecting the head unit to the air outlet side of the base, and connecting beams including electro-mechanical transducer elements. The electro-mechanical transducer elements of the beams are driven in response to the supplied driving signals to cause fine movement of the recording and/or reproducing head relative to the optical disc along the tracking direction.

Connecting unit for connecting the head unit to a head slider in a head actuator for recording and/or reproducing apparatus

A disc-shaped recording medium for which information signals are recorded and/or reproduced in a state in which a rotating recording and/or reproducing head is floated a pre-set distance from a signal recording region carrying surface of the disc-shaped recording medium. The disc-shaped recording medium has an area radially outside of the outer perimeter of center opening by at least 0.1 mm clamped by a clamp mechanism. This area is coplanar as each surface of the disc-shaped recording medium carrying the signal recording region. It is possible in this manner to prevent eccentricity of the rotating disc-shaped recording medium and consequent collision of the recording and/or reproducing head against the disc-shaped recording medium.

Disc-shaped recording medium and disc driving system

In a recording/reproduction apparatus, when a rotational-speed-mode setting instruction is received from an I/F unit, a CPU reads out a control procedure from a storage device, controlling other components in accordance with the procedure. As a result, a node switch driving circuit controls field windings of a pulse motor to a switching sequence, driving the pulse motor to rotation at a predetermined rotational speed. Since the control is feedback control, the pulse motor rotates at the predetermined rotational speed specified by an instruction setting a rotational-speed mode with a high degree of reliability. Data can thus be recorded into and reproduced from a magnetic disk at a variable speed.

Growing community of inventors

Singapore, Singapore

Kanzo Okada