Abstract: A mixer circuit to mix a RF (Radio Frequency) signal with a LO (Local Oscillator) signal to generate an IF (Intermediate Frequency) signal including a dummy branch connected in parallel of a mixing branch, the dummy branch including a transconductance stage having an input connected to a reference potential independent from the RF signal, to transform the reference potential into a current signal, and a current switching core to switch the current signal according to LO and signals, and chopping switches to connect in series the transconductance stage of the mixing branch to the current switching core of the mixing branch and, in the alternative, to the current switching core of the dummy branch under the control of a chopping signal.

Abstract: A method for encoding video signals subjects the signals to unbalanced multiple description coding. The unbalanced multiple description coding codes a video signal in a first high resolution packet and a second low resolution packet and represents, respectively a first high resolution description and a second low resolution description. The unbalanced multiple description coding step includes using different intra refresh periods for the first and second high resolution descriptions, with an intra refresh period for the second low resolution description shorter than the intra refresh period of the first high resolution description.

Abstract: A pre-writing teaching aid and method assists beginning writers in creating letters. The teaching aid includes a tray having a recessed area surrounded by a tray frame. A plurality of cards respectively depict alphanumeric characters, where each of the cards includes a start indicator designating a starting point for forming the depicted character. The students use dough having a consistency that is moldable into strips for forming the alphanumeric characters depicted on the cards in the tray. The teaching aid utilizes multi-sensory teaching methods to make it easy and fun for students to form letters and numbers correctly.

Abstract: A memory architecture includes a plurality of local input and output circuitries, with each local input and output circuitry associated with at least one memory bank. The memory architecture also includes a global input and output circuitry, which includes a plurality of global sub-write circuitries, is coupled to the plurality of local input and output circuitries One global sub-write circuitry is enabled and provides a write-data to a selected local input and output circuitry.

Abstract: Memory devices and methods of operating a memory cell are disclosed in which a bitline can be grounded after charge sharing with an electrically floating ground line and before writing data to the memory cell. An electric potential of an upper power supply node of a memory cell can be lowered and an electric potential of a lower power supply node of the memory cell can be raised before writing data to the memory cell.

Abstract: The subject is to provide a liquid crystal composition that satisfies at least one of characteristics such as a high maximum temperature of a nematic phase, a low minimum temperature of a nematic phase, a low viscosity, a suitable optical anisotropy, a negatively large dielectric anisotropy, a large specific resistance, a high stability to ultraviolet light and a high stability to heat, or that is suitably balanced regarding two or more characteristics. The subject is to provide an AM device that has a short response time, a high voltage holding ratio, a high contrast ratio, a long service life and so forth. The invention provides a liquid crystal composition having a negative dielectric anisotropy that contains a specific compound having a negatively large dielectric anisotropy as a first component, and a specific two-ring compound having a low viscosity as a second component, and provides a liquid crystal display device containing the composition.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to reduction in the effect of kickback in comparators by means of charge injection implemented by means of voltage controlled switches with attributes similar to those of an input differential pair. The voltage controlled switches produce charge to neutralize the charge loss during latching of inputs in the comparator.

Abstract: A dust collecting installation for collecting airborne dust adjacent to a moving web. An elongate duct extends transversely to the direction of movement of the web and is positioned adjacent to the web. The duct is shaped and positioned so as to form an opening into the duct that receives at least a proportion of a layer of dust laden air adjacent to and moving with the web surface, and dust laden air is in turn withdrawn from the duct. The duct is positioned and so shaped that air flow into the opening is augmented by a jet of air generated where the moving surface converges with and comes into contact with a surface of a roller which the web passes over and contacts.

Abstract: A reversible stop hook (26) for a magazine (16) of a gun (10) is adapted to be housed in the gun transversally to the magazine to be locked and comprises a coupling portion (28) being provided with a button-shaped end (30) and a stop end (32) for the magazine. The coupling element comprises at least a first component (42) and a second component (40) partially inserted one inside the other along a longitudinal direction of the stop hook. The first component (42) comprises a coupling portion (50) which is either deformable or yielding, in order to mutually fasten the first and second components along the longitudinal direction. A third component (60) is inserted into the coupling portion (50) of the first component (42) in order to prevent the first and second components from mutually unfastening.

Abstract: A parallel deblocking filtering method, and deblocking filter processor performing such deblocking, for removing edge artifacts created during video compression. The method includes loading luma samples for a macroblock. Filtering is performed on a set of vertical edges of the macroblock using information in the luma samples, with vertical edge filtering occurring concurrently with the loading of the luma samples. The method also includes filtering a set of horizontal edges of the macroblock using information in the luma samples. The horizontal edge filtering occurs in parallel with vertical edge sampling and with loading operations. The use of parallel and concurrent operations significantly enhances the efficiency of the deblocking method. Storing of filtered samples is also performed in the method, and this storing is performed concurrently with some loading operations as well as filtering operations. Edge filtering includes performing filtering to the H.264 standard and its deblocking filtering algorithm.

Abstract: The invention relates to a two-stage laser system well fit for semiconductor aligners, which is reduced in terms of spatial coherence while taking advantage of the high stability, high output efficiency and fine line width of the MOPO mode. The two-stage laser system for aligners comprises an oscillation-stage laser (50) and an amplification-stage laser (60). Oscillation laser light having divergence is used as the oscillation-stage laser (50), and the amplification-stage laser (60) comprises a Fabry-Perot etalon resonator made up of an input side mirror (1) and an output side mirror (2). The resonator is configured as a stable resonator.

Abstract: A liquid crystal composition is provided that satisfies at least one characteristic among the characteristics such as a high maximum temperature of a nematic phase, a low minimum temperature of a nematic phase, a small viscosity, a large optical anisotropy, a large dielectric anisotropy, a large specific resistance, a high stability to ultraviolet light and a high stability to heat, or is properly balanced regarding at least two characteristics. An AM device is provided that has a short response time, a large voltage holding ratio, a large contrast ratio, a long service life and so forth. The liquid crystal composition having a nematic phase contains a specific five-ring compound having a large maximum temperature as the first component, a specific compound having a small viscosity as the second component, and a specific four-ring compound having a high maximum temperature as the third component. The liquid crystal display device contains the liquid crystal composition.

Abstract: A resin comprising a structural unit represented by the formula (I): wherein Q1 and Q2 represent a fluorine atom etc., U represents a C1-C20 divalent hydrocarbon group in which one or more —CH2— may be replaced by —O— etc., X1 represents —O—CO— etc., and A+ represents an organic counter ion.

Abstract: A controller means for playing a compuler game where the player may brace themselves using handlebars, other means which may be grasped, and/or pedals and move a support means on which the player may sit, stand, or be supported, on a bearing means to input control signals to a control means. Movement of the game player provides the normal forwards and backwards and side to side control functions of the controller to control a sprite in the computer game being played. Resistance to movement provides physiotherapy-type exercise for the player. Where particular muscle groups or limbs of patient may need to be exercised, the controller means may be set up to provide that exercise as part of a computer game.

Abstract: The present invention aims to provide a dial control device having a maneuverability of a control knob improved by making this in cylindrical shape and downsized by disposing another control knob installed within the first-mentioned cylindrical control knob. A dial control device comprising: a cylindrical control knob, a sun gear rotating integrally with said control knob for transmission of a driving force from said control knob, a planet gear interlocking with said sun gear, an internal gear cooperating with said sun gear to guide said planet gear in a direction of its movement, and a control cable coupled to said planet gear so as to operate an external device, wherein said driving force generated by rotational operation of said control knob is transmitted via said sun gear, said planet gear and said control cable to the external device to control operation of said external device.

Abstract: An image with a bright image plane can be photographed without deteriorating the yield. An object is photographed by a CCD (18) through each of plural filters (141-14N) that have optical films vacuum deposited thereon so that spectral transmission characteristics vary between the filters periodically. Image data obtained by photographing is converted into image data which corresponds to a band by using a plurality of coefficients for converting the spectral transmission characteristics of the filter into spectral transmission characteristics of the target band.

Abstract: A method to receive a signal transmitted over a transmission link comprising coded channels, the method comprising: —equalization operations (110-116) to compensate for signal distortion introduced by the transmission link in a signal burst, and—block decoding operations (120-126) to perform channel decoding operation from the equalized signal bursts. If one of the block decoding operations has not been executed before a predetermined time limit, the method comprises at least one step (146) of discarding one of the next burst equalization operations.

Abstract: The subject is to provide a liquid crystal composition that satisfies at least one characteristic among characteristics such as a high maximum temperature of a nematic phase, a low minimum temperature of a nematic phase, a small viscosity, a suitable optical anisotropy, a negatively large dielectric anisotropy, a large specific resistance, a high stability to ultraviolet light and a high stability to heat, or that is suitably balanced regarding two or more characteristics. The other subject is to provide an AM device that has a short response time, a high voltage holding ratio, a high contrast ratio, a long service life and so forth.

Abstract: Energy commodities in the form of electricity and combustible fuel (e.g. natural gas, propane) are used by appliances within a residence or commercial premises in a fashion which is monitored and controlled through a Premises Energy Management System (PEMS). The system facilitates direct monitoring and control of energy-consuming appliances, in real time, utilizing automated programmatic control and a plurality of human interfaces including local display and control, email, web browser, text messaging, and integrated voice response (IVR). A Monitoring and Control Coordinator (MCC) provides centralized coordination of functions and one or more Communicating Appliance Interfaces (CAI) interact with energy consuming appliances are interconnected via wired and wireless communication networks and protocols. The system may retrieve information from third parties, such as from weather services, for optimizing energy usage.