Abstract: Sheet resistance, junction leakage and contact conductivity of a semiconductor layer, associated with an ultra-shallow junction layer or metal film are measured by contacting the surface with a plurality of probes. The probes can be used, in conjunction with a four-point probe system, to determine sheet resistivity. Junction leakage through an ultra-shallow junction is determined by establishing a reverse bias across the junction set at a predetermined voltage value, measuring through a first probe a total junction current conduction value, measuring through second, third, and fourth probes a plurality of voltage values. The junction leakage value is then directly computed based on the sheet resistivity value, reverse bias potential, wafer radius, and the measured voltage values. Contact conductivity between a metal film and semiconductor layer can be similarly directly computed.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an apparatus of high dynamic-range CMOS image sensor and method thereof. The present invention utilize a pixel circuit outputting an output signal, wherein the pixel circuit has a photodiode and a plurality of transistors; and utilize a current source as a charge supplement unit to supply current into one end of the photodiode, and providing charges to the parasitic capacitor of the photodiode to delay saturation in the pixel circuit. In addition, a feedback circuit can be further designed connecting the pixel circuit. The feedback circuit receives the output signal from the pixel circuit and then outputs a control signal according to the output signal of the pixel circuit to control status of the charge supplement unit, and thereby increasing the dynamic range of the CMOS image sensor.

Abstract: A disk drive is disclosed including a disk having a plurality of tracks, wherein each track comprises a plurality of servo sectors. The disk drive further comprises a head having a read element offset from a write element by a reader/writer offset. The read element is positioned over a first track and the write element is positioned over a second track. A first servo control signal is generated for servoing the head in response to the servo sectors in the first track, and first wedge repeatable runout (RRO) data is written to the second track along a substantially sinusoidal path corresponding to the reader/writer offset, wherein the first wedge RRO data are for writing data to a third track.

Abstract: A disk drive is disclosed comprising a plurality of servo sectors that define a plurality of tracks, and a head comprising a read element radially offset from a write element. The read element is positioned over a first track, and the first track is read to generate first read wedge repeatable runout (WRRO) values. A first seek operation of the head positions the read element over a second track, and the second track is read to generate first write WRRO values. The first write WRRO values are used to write the first read WRRO values to the first track. A second seek operation of the head positions the read element over a third track, and the third track is read to generate second write WRRO values. The second write WRRO values are used to write the first write WRRO values to the second track.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an apparatus of high dynamic-range CMOS image sensor and method thereof. The present invention utilize a pixel circuit outputting an output signal, wherein the pixel circuit has a photodiode and a plurality of transistors; and utilize a current source as a charge supplement unit to supply current into one end of the photodiode, and providing charges to the parasitic capacitor of the photodiode to delay saturation in the pixel circuit. In addition, a feedback circuit can be further designed connecting the pixel circuit. The feedback circuit receives the output signal from the pixel circuit and then outputs a control signal according to the output signal of the pixel circuit to control status of the charge supplement unit, and thereby increasing the dynamic range of the CMOS image sensor.

Abstract: A disk drive operable with first and second servo patterns in a perpendicular media recording (PMR) environment is disclosed. The disk drive comprises a head operable with a perpendicular flux, a disk, and a servo controller. The disk includes a plurality of tracks, wherein each track has a plurality of servo sectors utilized in seek operations. The servo sectors of the disk include a first servo pattern between one of an inner diameter (ID) or an outer diameter (OD) of the disk and a middle diameter (MD) of the disk, respectively, and a second servo pattern between the other of the OD or the ID of the disk and the MD of the disk, respectively. The servo controller operates in a first mode when seeking within one of the first or second servo patterns and a second mode when seeking between the first servo pattern and the second servo pattern.

Abstract: A motion vector (MV) prediction method and a prediction apparatus thereof are applicable for a video image encoder/decoder to predict an MV of a video image. Firstly, segment a macroblock in the video image into microblocks. Then, configure a row memory and three register memories to register the MV required for prediction. Finally, the MV stored in the row memory or the register memories at a position corresponding to the current microblock to be predicted is used to predict the MV of the current microblock to be predicted in the current macroblock to be predicted. After the prediction is completed and moved to another macroblock or microblock, the MV stored in the row memory or the register memories is updated according to a predetermined storage updating condition.

Abstract: Sheet resistance, junction leakage and contact conductivity of a semiconductor layer, associated with an ultra-shallow junction layer or metal film are measured by contacting the surface with a plurality of probes. The probes can be used, in conjunction with a four-point probe system, to determine sheet resistivity. Junction leakage through an ultra-shallow junction is determined by establishing a reverse bias across the junction set at a predetermined voltage value, measuring through a first probe a total junction current conduction value, measuring through second, third, and fourth probes a plurality of voltage values. The junction leakage value is then directly computed based on the sheet resistivity value, reverse bias potential, wafer radius, and the measured voltage values. Contact conductivity between a metal film and semiconductor layer can be similarly directly computed.

Abstract: A perpendicular media recording (PMR) servo track writer (STW) system and method for writing servo sectors onto a disk is disclosed. The servo writer includes a head positioner to position a head of a head disk assembly (HDA) relative to a disk, wherein the head writes servo sectors onto the disk with a perpendicular flux. The servo writer includes a controller to control the head positioner such that the head writes servo sectors onto the disk from one of an inner diameter (ID) or an outer diameter (OD) of the disk to a middle diameter (MD) of the disk, respectively, followed by writing servo sectors between the other of the OD or the ID of the disk to the MD of the disk, respectively.

Abstract: A method for automatically determining the region of interest from an image comprises the three steps of (a) analyzing content of the transformed coefficients of an image after a discrete signal transformation and partitioning an image into the interested region and background region that are based on p×p-pixel sub-blocks for performing classification; (b) locating the central point of the interested sub-blocks; and (c) integrating a plurality of the interested sub-blocks from said central point to the boundary of an image to generate a closed and continued region of interest by using a image processing technique with considering the bit-rate requirement.

Abstract: A reconfigurable apparatus with a high usage rate in hardware is disclosed, which comprises at least one reconfigurable unit that has a plurality of processing units and at least one switch box connected to the processing units. The reconfigurable unit receives at least one reconfiguration signal to dynamically configure the processing units and the switch boxes as a new functional unit.

Abstract: A method for automatically determining the region of interest from an image comprises the three steps of (a) analyzing content of the transformed coefficients of an image after a discrete signal transformation and partitioning an image into the interested region and background region that are based on p×p-pixel sub-blocks for performing classification; (b) locating the central point of the interested sub-blocks; and (c) integrating a plurality of the interested sub-blocks from said central point to the boundary of an image to generate a closed and continued region of interest by using a image processing technique with considering the bit-rate requirement.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of constructing a hardware architecture for transform functions is disclosed, which uses a single-input-parallel-output method for processing operations. The transform function has operations of multiplication, path-selection, and accumulation to be executed. The fixed-one-input multipliers first multiply an input signal by all transform coefficients. Then a path-selection unit determines correct signal paths and delivers product results to the corresponding accumulators for processing accumulation. Finally, multipliers perform the multiplications of the accumulated values and a constant to obtain output signals.

Abstract: An energy saving multiplication device and its method is disclosed. The multiplication device includes a dynamic range determination unit, a Booth encoding/decoding unit and a counter array. The dynamic range determination unit determines dynamic ranges of the numerical values to be multiplied together and outputs after processing according to the dynamic-range size relation of the input data. The Booth encoding/decoding unit couples to the dynamic range determination unit. The counter array couples to the Booth encoding/decoding unit for accumulating the partial products to obtain the products of the input data.

Abstract: An arithmetic device with low power consumption includes master latches, a dynamic range detection unit, slave latches, an operation unit, and a word-length restoration unit. In the arithmetic device, the master latches latch a plurality of (such as two) input data. The dynamic range detection unit detects the effective dynamic range of these input data. The slave latches latch the values of the effective dynamic-range bits of these input data. The operation unit performs predetermined operations of the bits of these effective dynamic range to obtaing an operation result. Since the operation unit only performs operations of the bits of the effective dynamic range, the circuit corresponding to other bits will not demonstrate switching of power consumption, thereby lowering the overall power consumption. Furthermore, the word-length restoration unit will complement the operation result to its original output length in association with the sign of the operation result, for obtaining the correct operation result.

Abstract: An energy saving multiplication device and its method is disclosed. The multiplication device comprises a dynamic range determination unit, a Booth encoding/decoding unit and a counter array. The dynamic range determination unit determines dynamic ranges of the numerical values to be multiplied together and outputs after processing according to the dynamic-range size relation of the input data. The Booth encoding/decoding unit couples to the dynamic range determination unit. The counter array couples to the Booth encoding/decoding unit for accumulating the partial products to obtain the products of the input data.

Abstract: A programmable finite impulse response processor, by which a convolution calculation between input data and filter coefficients is performed based on Booth algorithm. The processor include a pre-processing unit, data latches, a configurable connection unit, Booth decoders, coefficient registers, a path control unit, and a post-processing unit. The pre-processing unit is used to partition the input data into a pipeline sequence which include a plurality of sequence units in a Booth format. According to both the dynamic ranges of the input data and of the filter coefficients, the configurable connection unit is used to select certain parts of the sequence units for the convolution calculation, so that a dynamic data range is scaleable by the processor. By Booth decoders, the selected sequence units are decoded and multiplied by corresponding filter coefficients stored in the coefficient registers.

Abstract: A method of disinfection of foodstuff involving the use of hydrogen peroxide in combination with anti-microbial agents selected from the group consisting of benzoic acid, and phosphoric acid, at low concentration, to substantially reduce the microbial count in food-related application.

Abstract: An exercise bicycle includes an elongated base frame, two support frames mounted on the front portion of the base frame and an adjustable seat mounted on the rear portion of the base frame. A driving assembly, a hand operated assembly, a transmission assembly and a load applying assembly are mounted to the support frames in a compact manner. The driving assembly has a first wheel and a second wheel rotated with the first wheel. The hand operated assembly has a third wheel with a peripheral groove mounted to the second shaft, a rope member wound around the third wheel in the peripheral groove. The transmission assembly has a fourth wheel and a fifth wheel rotated with the fourth wheel. The load applying assembly has a sixth wheel and a seventh wheel rotated with the sixth wheel. A damping fan is coaxially connected to the seventh wheel.

Abstract: A method and circuit to enable Four-Point Probe and Spreading Resistance techniques to overcome the high contact resistance in measuring the resistivities of III-V compound semiconductors. This is accomplished by using forward DC bias to greatly reduce the contact resistance of the potential probe to the III-V semiconductor while maintaining the AC input impedance of the potential probe to be several orders of magnitude higher than the DC input resistance, thus enabling use of the AC component to make potential measurements very accurately.