Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring target gas concentrations in an atmosphere. The method and apparatus emit in the atmosphere a laser beam tuned to a molecular absorption line of a target gas, receive a reflected signal affected by gas absorption of the target gas in the atmosphere, divide and direct the received signal into a first optical path and a second optical path including in one of the paths a correlation gas cell filled with a predetermined concentration of the target gas, detect transmitted signals through the first optical path and the second optical path, and calculate a target gas concentration by comparing a first signal transmitted through the first optical path to a second signal transmitted through the second optical path.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring target gas concentrations in an atmosphere. The method and apparatus emit in the atmosphere a laser beam tuned to a molecular absorption line of a target gas, receive a reflected signal affected by gas absorption of the target gas in the atmosphere, divide and direct the received signal into a first optical path and a second optical path including in one of the paths a correlation gas cell filled with a predetermined concentration of the target gas, detect transmitted signals through the first optical path and the second optical path, and calculate a target gas concentration by comparing a first signal transmitted through the first optical path to a second signal transmitted through the second optical path.

Abstract: A system for detecting airborne agents. The system can include a laser source that provides laser pulses of at least two wavelengths, a transmitter that transmits the laser pulses, and a coupling mechanism configured to remotely couple the laser pulses between the laser source and the transmitter. The system can include a receiver receives both elastically backscattered signals from airborne agents and fluorescence signals from the airborne agents. The system can include a telescope both transmits a collimated laser beam of the laser pulse from the transmitter to a far field and receives the elastically backscattered signals and the fluorescence signals from the far field. The system can include a detection system having at least one of a backscatter optical detector that detects the elastically backscattered signals and one or more fluorescence optical detectors that detect the fluorescence signals in selected spectral band(s) from the airborne agents.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting airborne agents. The system includes a semiconductor ultraviolet optical source configured to emit an ultraviolet light, a controller configured to generate a pseudo-random code for emission of the ultraviolet light modulated at the pseudo-random code, a telescope configured to focus the ultraviolet light to a distance from the source and to receive elastically backscattered signals and fluorescence signals from the distance, and a sensor configured to detect the elastically backscattered and fluorescence signals. The method generates a pseudo-random code and emits at least one wavelength of ultraviolet light modulated at the pseudo-random code, transmits the modulated ultraviolet light pulses to a distance from the source, receives elastically backscattered signals and fluorescence signals from the distance, and detects the elastically backscattered and fluorescence signals.

Abstract: A voltage generator and methods thereof are provided. The example voltage generator may include a voltage comparison block which generates an output voltage in response to a read command, the output voltage corresponding to a difference between a reference voltage and a determination voltage and a voltage generation block which outputs the determination voltage and a comparison voltage in response to the read command, an inverse read command having a phase opposite that of the read command, a switching pulse signal and the output voltage. A first example method may include outputting a determination voltage and a comparison voltage in response to a read command, an inverse read command having a phase opposite that of the read command, a switching pulse signal and an output voltage, the output voltage generated in response to the read command and corresponding to a difference between the reference voltage and the determination voltage.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring target gas concentrations in an atmosphere. The method and apparatus emit in the atmosphere a laser beam tuned to a molecular absorption line of a target gas, receive a reflected signal affected by gas absorption of the target gas in the atmosphere, divide and direct the received signal into a first optical path and a second optical path including in one of the paths a correlation gas cell filled with a predetermined concentration of the target gas, detect transmitted signals through the first optical path and the second optical path, and calculate a target gas concentration by comparing a first signal transmitted through the first optical path to a second signal transmitted through the second optical path.

Abstract: A word line driving circuit includes a read voltage generator and a word line driver. The read voltage generator precharges a clamp capacitor with a power supply voltage to stably generate a read voltage in response to a read command. A capacitance of the clamp capacitor is varied to compensate for a fluctuation of a power supply voltage level. The word line driver distributes electric charges precharged in the clamp capacitor to a word line in response to a word line selecting signal. Therefore, the word line driving circuit reduces unnecessary power consumption in a standby mode by operating the word line rapidly with charge sharing in a read mode.

Abstract: A word line driving circuit may include a first word line driver, a second word line driver and a pass transistor. In response to a word line selecting signal, the first word line driver may drive a word line using a first word line driving voltage signal in a first operation mode or the second word line driver may drive the word line using a second word line driving voltage signal. The pass transistor coupled between the first word line driver and the word line may transmit the first word line driving voltage signal to the word line in response to a control voltage signal, which is self-boosted at an initial stage of the first operation mode and is maintained at a stable voltage level after a time period.

Abstract: A voltage generator and methods thereof are provided. The example voltage generator may include a voltage comparison block which generates an output voltage in response to a read command, the output voltage corresponding to a difference between a reference voltage and a determination voltage and a voltage generation block which outputs the determination voltage and a comparison voltage in response to the read command, an inverse read command having a phase opposite that of the read command, a switching pulse signal and the output voltage. A first example method may include outputting a determination voltage and a comparison voltage in response to a read command, an inverse read command having a phase opposite that of the read command, a switching pulse signal and an output voltage, the output voltage generated in response to the read command and corresponding to a difference between the reference voltage and the determination voltage.

Abstract: A word line driving circuit, which may include a read voltage generator and a word line driver. The read voltage generator may precharge a clamp capacitor with a power supply voltage to stably generate a read voltage in response to a read command. A capacitance of the clamp capacitor may be varied to compensate for a fluctuation of a power supply voltage level. The word line driver may distribute electric charges precharged in the clamp capacitor to a word line in response to a word line selecting signal. Therefore, the word line driving circuit may reduce unnecessary power consumption in a standby mode by operating the word line rapidly with charge sharing in a read mode.

Abstract: A word line driving circuit may include a first word line driver, a second word line driver and a pass transistor. In response to a word line selecting signal, the first word line driver may drive a word line using a first word line driving voltage signal in a first operation mode or the second word line driver may drive the word line using a second word line driving voltage signal. The pass transistor coupled between the first word line driver and the word line may transmit the first word line driving voltage signal to the word line in response to a control voltage signal, which is self-boosted at an initial stage of the first operation mode and is maintained at a stable voltage level after a time period.

Abstract: An integrated circuit memory device includes a source line and a memory cell array that includes n memory cells that are connected to the source line. The n memory cells are operative to draw current from the source line in response to an n bit data word. A dummy memory cell circuit is operative to draw current from the source line responsive to the n bit data word such that a total current drawn by the memory cell array and the dummy memory cell circuit during a program operation is given by n*a current drawn by one of the n memory cells.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for coupling a laser signal to an optical carrier. The method and associated apparatus control a power of the laser signal to a power density level below a damage threshold of the optical carrier, couple the laser signal to the optical carrier, and measure an output power of the laser signal at an exit of the optical carrier. By translating a focusing lens or an entrance of the optical carrier along an optical axis between the focusing lens and the entrance to the optical carrier, a range in measured power output is determined in which the laser signal is incident within the entrance of the optical carrier. The method and associated apparatus set a distance between the focusing lens and the entrance to the optical carrier such that the entrance to the optical carrier is at a position beyond a focal point of the focusing lens where the laser signal is divergent-coupled to the optical carrier.

Abstract: An integrated circuit memory device includes a source line and a memory cell array that includes n memory cells that are connected to the source line. The n memory cells are operative to draw current from the source line in response to an n bit data word. A dummy memory cell circuit is operative to draw current from the source line responsive to the n bit data word such that a total current drawn by the memory cell array and the dummy memory cell circuit during a program operation is given by n* a current drawn by one of the n memory cells.

Abstract: An integrated circuit memory device includes a source line and a memory cell array that includes n memory cells that are connected to the source line. The n memory cells are operative to draw current from the source line in response to an n bit data word. A dummy memory cell circuit is operative to draw current from the source line responsive to the n bit data word such that a total current drawn by the memory cell array and the dummy memory cell circuit during a program operation is given by n* a current drawn by one of the n memory cells.

Abstract: A method, system, and apparatus for mass spectroscopic analysis of an analyte solution in which a liquid volume of the analyte solution is irradiated with a light source resulting in desorption of solution-specific ions into a surrounding gas to produce gas-phase ions, the gas-phase ions are transferred to an inlet port of a mass analyzer, and the gas-phase ions are mass analyzed. More specifically, the apparatus may include a laser configured to pulse irradiate a surface of the analyte solution, a mass spectrometer configured to mass-analyze the gas-phase ions according to the mass-to-charge ratio, and a transfer mechanism configured to transfer the gas-phase ions to an inlet port of the mass spectrometer.

Abstract: A diode pumped solid state laser/OPO system widely tunable in mid infrared spectrum for infrared matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) mass spectroscopy is disclosed. Up to a few tens of milli-Joule, short pulse, tunable near infrared laser pulse is generated from an all solid state laser at a high pulse repetition rate up to one kHz. The tunable near-infrared laser pumps a Quasi-Phase Matching (QPM) OPO system to further shift the wavelength to the mid-IR range and to broaden the tuning range to as much as 3 &mgr;m to effectively generate a widely tunable spectral output. The wide range tuning of the infrared output is accomplished by a narrow range tuning of the pump laser. The pump laser output is generated by a diode pumped tunable solid state laser module using either a Yb:YAG crystal or any other efficient tunable laser crystals. The wavelength range (2-5 &mgr;m) covered by the solid state laser system is optimum for MALDI applications.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for coupling a laser signal to an optical carrier. The method and associated apparatus control a power of the laser signal to a power density level below a damage threshold of the optical carrier, couple the laser signal to the optical carrier, and measure an output power of the laser signal at an exit of the optical carrier. By translating a focusing lens or an entrance of the optical carrier along an optical axis between the focusing lens and the entrance to the optical carrier, a range in measured power output is determined in which the laser signal is incident within the entrance of the optical carrier. The method and associated apparatus set a distance between the focusing lens and the entrance to the optical carrier such that the entrance to the optical carrier is at a position beyond a focal point of the focusing lens where the laser signal is divergent-coupled to the optical carrier.

Abstract: A light detecting and ranging system and method for detecting airborne agents in which the system includes a laser which provides laser pulses of at least two wavelengths, a transmitter which transmits the laser pulses, a receiver which receives both elastically backscattered signals from airborne agents and fluorescence signals from the airborne agents, a common telescope which both focuses a laser beam transmission of the laser pulse from the transmitter to a far field and receives the elastically backscattered signals and the fluorescence signals from the far field, a digital detection system having at least one of a backscatter optical detector which detects the elastically backscattered signals and a fluorescence optical detector which detects the fluorescence signals from the airborne agents.

Abstract: A method, system, and apparatus for mass spectroscopic analysis of an analyte solution in which a liquid volume of the analyte solution is irradiated with a light source resulting in desorption of solution-specific ions into a surrounding gas to produce gas-phase ions, the gas-phase ions are transferred to an inlet port of a mass analyzer, and the gas-phase ions are mass analyzed. More specifically, the apparatus may include a laser configured to pulse irradiate a surface of the analyte solution, a mass spectrometer configured to mass-analyze the gas-phase ions according to the mass-to-charge ratio, and a transfer mechanism configured to transfer the gas-phase ions to an inlet port of the mass spectrometer.