Abstract: Techniques for storing and reading data on/from a hard disk are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, a hard disk is provided with a parameter storage block for storing a number of parameters. One of the parameters is a last physical address the hard disk was accessed. The last physical address is used as a reference to read data segments onto the hard disk. Each of the data segments is a compressed version of a portion of data to be stored in the hard disk. A portion of the data is allocated in accordance with a predefined time period. Accordingly, the compressed data portion also includes a header including information about the compressed data portion. The information includes at least a compression scheme used as well as the time about the data portion. Based on how the data is stored, a corresponding reading method is also provided.

Abstract: The radiation beam of discrete light source such as LEDs is shaped by a cylindrical lens and a spherical lens to form two perpendicular narrow lines to illuminate a surface. The first line is projected onto a sample surface to improve illumination efficiency, and the second line is projected onto a pupil plane of an imaging lens to improve illumination uniformity. The layout of the LED chip is optimized to match the aspect ratio of the imaging detector. Multiple LEDs at different wavelengths are combined to improve sensitivity. The full surface of the sample is inspected through the relative motion between the sample and the optics.

Abstract: A system including at least specialized elements that are restricted to a particular domain of data analysis or processing and configurable data that permits the specialized elements to be tailored to a particular application. The configurable data expands applicability of the specialized elements to plural applications within the particular domain. The specialized elements can be provided by a supplier to a developer without the supplier having detailed knowledge of structures and internal operations used by the particular application. The particular application can be generated by the developer without the developer having detailed knowledge of internal operations used by the specialized elements.

Abstract: Transceiver architectures for supporting multi-band radio frequencies are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, a number of processing channels are designed, each for one specified carrier frequency. A number of switching means is provided to ensure that a processing channel is properly selected for a specified carrier frequency. Each of the processing channels includes at least an amplified and a low-pass filter, where the low-pass filter is automatically programmable in response to a wireless standard (e.g., Wi-Fi or WiMAX). A single voltage oscillator (VCO) is used to support operations of each of the processing channels.

Abstract: Control of attenuators used to regulate optical signals is disclosed. An assembly including an IR source and an IR sensor is provided to sense blockage of optical signals transmitted between two collimators via a fixed common light blocker that is driven by a motor. The motor is controlled to make sure that that the reset of the light blocker is properly done in an event in which a power supply is intentionally or incidentally cut off. An auxiliary power supply is provided to energize other parts in an attenuator should power supply is intentionally or incidentally cut off.

Abstract: Attenuators used to regulate optical signals are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, an assembly including an IR source and an IR sensor is provided to sense blockage of optical signals transmitted between two collimators via a fixed common light blocker. The movement of the light blocker is sensed by a sensing assembly including an IR source and IR sensor. By detecting the photocurrent from the IR sensor and a feedback circuit, the attenuation of the optical signals can be well controlled.

Abstract: Techniques for interchanging positions of external terminals of an integrated circuit chip are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, a chip comprises at least a pair of external terminals for communicating with other components or circuits, an internal circuit and an interchangeable unit coupled between the external terminals and the internal circuit. The interchangeable unit is configured to interchange the external terminals electronically such that the chip remains compatible in various versions involving an change of the terminals thereof, wherein the an interchangeable unit is controllable externally by a selecting pin applicable to either a high level or a low level to cause the external terminals interchanged.

Abstract: An LCoS chip is designed to suppress electrical noise due to cross-talk between electrical components of the chip and stray light entered into the chip. The LCoS chip includes a silicon substrate having an array of memory cells formed the substrate. The chip includes a first polycrystalline silicon layer that forms word lines and a metal layer that forms bit lines, wherein bit lines are directed orthogonal to the word lines. The chip also includes capacitor storages formed on second and third second polycrystalline silicon layers. The second polycrystalline layer is disposed over the first polycrystalline silicon layer and over regions of the substrate not covered by the word lines. The metal layer includes shields to reduce cross-talk between neighboring bit lines as well as between the bit lines and the capacitor storages. A third polycrystalline layer is configured to reduce cross-talk between the bit lines and the word lines.

Abstract: Techniques for designing optical devices with high isolation are disclosed. The high isolation is achieved by causing a reflected light signal to go through another filter. According to one embodiment, an optical apparatus comprises a first optical filter configured to transmit a first selected wavelength and reflect all other wavelengths, a second optical filter the second optical filter configured to transmit a second selected wavelength and reflect all other wavelengths. The first optical filter, being not perfect and producing a reflected signal with a residual of a signal at the first selected wavelength, the residual of the signal is minimized by the second optical filter when the reflected signal is impinged upon the second optical filter.

Abstract: Techniques pertaining to a circuit architecture capable of controlling a current source to a predefined precision are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, an automatic trimming circuit is proposed to automatically trim a current generated from a current generator or circuit in accordance with a reference current. The automatic trimming circuit includes a comparator, an ADC and a register. The comparator that may be implemented as a subtractor finds a difference between a generated current and a reference current. The difference is then digitized to an n-bit precision. A digital representation of the difference is then kept in a register and used subsequently correct or modify the generated current to produce a precisely controlled current.

Abstract: A nano-liquid crystal on silicon (nano-LCoS) chip having carbon nanotube (CNT) pillars that are grown on a glass substrate thereof. As the heights of the CNT pillars are uniform, the CNT pillars can function as spacers providing a uniform cell gap between the glass substrate and a silicon chip of the nano-LCoS chip. Also, being excellent electrical conductors, CNT pillars can form a part of the electrical connection between an outside voltage source and the indium tin oxide (ITO) layer formed on the glass substrate. The nano-LCoS chip includes nano-LCoS alignment keys that are formed in the silicon chip and connected to the CNT pillars. By applying the same voltage to the ITO layer and keys, a portion of the liquid crystal activated by the keys become transparent fiduciary marks for optical alignment of nano-LCoS chips.

Abstract: Techniques for producing optical medium that can be read at substantially high speeds with greater stability and accuracy are disclosed. According to one aspect of the techniques, a bonding station is employed with what is referred to as a bubble-free bonding technique that may or may not be incorporated with an index bonding technique. The index bonding is provided to ensure that non-flatness of substrates is compensated when two substrates are bonded together so as to minimize possible dynamic imbalance of a disc. The bubble-free bonding technique is provided to generate an alternating electromagnetic field that eliminates bubbles from a type of glue used to bond two substrates, wherein a high voltage source is used to generate the alternating electromagnetic field of a predefine magnitude.

Abstract: Various techniques for synchronizing illumination with an audio signal are disclosed. According to one aspect of the techniques, an audio signal continuously is received and processed one phase or period at a time in an analyzing or detecting unit. From one phase of the audio signal, a set of light controlling parameters are determined from a look-up-table. These light controlling parameters are used to adjust duty cycles of square waves used to drive a plurality of light sources such that the illumination produced is in accordance with the audio signal.

Abstract: The use of a method/apparatus for generating structured documents is disclosed. A counter is coupled for a product implementing the method/apparatus. When the counter is permitted to increment, the structured documents can be generated from unstructured documents. Identifiers in user-defined document type definitions are used to associate selected objects or group objects in the unstructured documents so that association information of the selected objects or group objects can facilitate the generation of files in a markup language suitable for presentations on various media.

Abstract: Techniques for displaying messages on top of a vehicle are disclosed. Although useful in many other areas, the techniques are particularly suitable for taxicab. According to one aspect of these techniques, a display unit is mounted on top of a vehicle. The display unit includes at least two display panels facing outward respectively. The display unit is controlled by a computing device to display various messages. In one embodiment, the vehicle is provided a Global Positioning System (GPS) that determines a location of the vehicle. Coupled to the GPS, the computing device sends the location information of the vehicle to a base station and receives returned information from the base station in accordance with the location information. The returned information, at least some of which are location based, is locally processed for suitable display on the display panels.

Abstract: Techniques for a simple file system for facilitating file transmission are disclosed. According to one aspect of the techniques, a storage device comprises a memory, a creation module, a status record module and a data reading/writing module. The creation module creates a parameter block, a file allocated table, a root directory and a data area in the memory. The starting address of the data area is calculated according to parameters in the parameter block. The status record module stores a last writing address of a last writing access to the memory. The data reading/writing module reads data from the data area according to the starting address and the last writing address.

Abstract: Techniques for designing optical devices with passive components for erbium and other doped fiber amplifiers are disclosed. In one aspect, all passive components needed to construct optical amplifiers of both single and multiple-stage forward or backward pumps are integrated without extensively using optical fiber splicing joints. One of the features is to use free-space optics for inter-function cascades among various necessary functions, such as one or more tap couplings, WDM filtering to multiplex (Mux) or de-multiplex (Demux) pump and signal lights, gain-flattening, pump isolation and even performing Mux and Demux of different polarizations.

Abstract: Designs of cooling systems that operate entirely on solar energy are disclosed. Such cooling systems may be used in refrigeration and air conditioning. According to one aspect of the designs, a solar energy collecting device is disposed outdoor to collect solar energy. A first heat-to-electricity pump operating on heated liquid is provided to produce electricity. A storage tank is used to store heated water. A second heat-to-electricity pump is disposed in the storage and operates on the heated water to generate electricity. A cooling system operates on at least three types of working fluids to achieve low temperature evaporation and high temperature condensation to derive cooling effects. A working unit powered by at least one of the first generator and the second generator is provided to utilize the cooling effects from the cooling system.

Abstract: Designs of optical devices for attenuating a light signal are disclosed. According to embodiment, an attenuator includes a screw and a light blocker, wherein the light blocker has only translational movements when the screw is screwed in or out. To facilitate the light signal in and out, a first collimator to receive a light beam, and a second collimator to output the light beam, wherein the light beam is attenuated by the light blocker when the light is transmitted from the first collimator to the second collimator.