Abstract: A prebiotic formula comprises glucomannan polysaccharides with a main distribution range of molecular weight at 0.6-107 kDa, said low molecular weight glucomannan polysaccharides, having ?-1,4-D-glucopyranose units and ?-1,4-D-mannopyranose units in backbone, and a portion of mannosyl units acetylated. The prebiotic formula aims to provide intestinal mucosal protection and intestinal immunity modulation.

Abstract: A rapid PCR detection device includes a body, a disposable microfluidic unit, a magnetron micro-fluid unit, a linear actuator, a PCR thermal cycling unit and an image recognition unit. The microfluidic unit is made of a transparent material, wherein a transparent film is arranged in the middle of the microfluidic channel and has at least one hole for a micro-fluid to flow in the microfluidic channel. The magnetron micro-fluid unit drives the micro-fluid, so that the micro-fluid is divided into a plurality of droplets each guided to a lower layer of the microfluidic channel. The linear actuator drives the disposable microfluidic unit to an amplification zone. The PCR thermal cycling unit performs PCR thermal cycling in the amplification zone. The image recognition unit illuminates the droplets with a fluorescent light and determines the number of DNA fragments in the droplets according to the detected fluorescent intensity.

Abstract: A physiology signal sensing device includes an elastic pad and a strain sensor element. The elastic pad is used for contact with a human body, and corresponds a blood vessel of the human body. The strain sensor element is disposed in the elastic pad and includes a conductive element. The conductive element deforms according to the vibration of the blood vessel, and the resistance value of the conductive element varies according to the strain of the conductive element.

Abstract: A pressure sensor and a blood pressure measurement device with the pressure sensor are disclosed. The pressure sensor includes a case and a pressure sensing element. Two opposite sides of the case have a concave portion and a convex portion, respectively. A recessed space is formed in the concave portion. The pressure sensing element is disposed on the case. When the convex portion pushes the pressure sensing element, the pressure sensing element is deformed and protruded toward the recessed space. The pressure sensor has a higher detection sensibility.

Abstract: A blood pressure measurement device includes a body, a film-type pressure sensing unit, a first electrode, and a second electrode. The body includes a pulse sensing surface and a concave portion. The film-type pressure sensing unit is disposed on the pulse sensing surface and communicated with the concave portion. The first electrode is disposed on the pulse sensing surface. The second electrode is disposed on the body corresponding to the first electrode. The first electrode and second electrode are a pair of ECG electrodes. A blood pressure measurement method cooperated with the blood pressure measurement device is also disclosed.

Abstract: A blood pressure measurement device comprises a case, a first electrode and a stress sensor. The case includes a first surface and a second surface. The first electrode is disposed on the first surface, and the stress sensor is disposed on the second surface. The blood pressure measurement device is operated on a part of a body of a user. The part of the body has a blood vessel inside. Upon measurement of the blood pressure, the first electrode, the stress sensor and the blood vessel at least partially overlap in one projection orientation. Therefore, the stress sensor is able to be pressed on the part of the body when the user touches the first electrode. A method of blood pressure measurement is also disclosed.

Abstract: A physiology signal sensing device includes an elastic pad and a strain sensor clement. The elastic pad is used for contact with a human body, and corresponds a blood vessel of the human body. The strain sensor element is disposed in the elastic pad and includes a conductive element. The conductive element deforms according to the vibration of the blood vessel, and the resistance value of the conductive element varies according to the strain of the conductive element.

Abstract: An output stage configured to control a driving voltage thereof is provided. The output stage includes: a first switching current module, coupled to a node for outputting a first current; a second switching current module, coupled to the node for outputting a second current; a switching capacitor module with a capacitance, coupled to the node; a calibrating control circuit, for calibrating the first current, the second current and the capacitance; a time constant calibrating circuit, for generating a reference slew rate, and controlling the calibrating control circuit to selectively calibrate the first current, the second current and the capacitance, such that a ratio of the first current and the capacitance and the ratio of the second current and the capacitance conform to the reference slew rate; and a voltage clamper for setting a high/low voltage range and limiting a amplitude of the driving voltage within the high/low voltage range.

Abstract: A comparison apparatus and a speed-up method for comparator are provided. The comparison apparatus consists of a comparator and a bias modulator. The bias modulator receives input signals of the comparator to provide a set of output signals modulated according to the input signals. The set of output signals dynamically adjust body voltages of transistors in a positive feedback network of the comparator to increase a switching speed of the transistors. Therefore, an operation speed of the comparator can also be increased.

Abstract: An output stage configured to control a driving voltage thereof is provided. The output stage includes: a first switching current module, coupled to a node for outputting a first current; a second switching current module, coupled to the node for outputting a second current; a switching capacitor module with a capacitance, coupled to the node; a calibrating control circuit, for calibrating the first current, the second current and the capacitance; a time constant calibrating circuit, for generating a reference slew rate, and controlling the calibrating control circuit to selectively calibrate the first current, the second current and the capacitance, such that a ratio of the first current and the capacitance and the ratio of the second current and the capacitance conform to the reference slew rate; and a voltage clamper for setting a high/low voltage range and limiting a amplitude of the driving voltage within the high/low voltage range.

Abstract: A power supply apparatus and an operation-mode determining unit and a method thereof are provided. The power supply apparatus includes first and second control units, a switching unit, a power output unit, and an operation-mode determining unit. The first and second control units provide first and second control signals respectively. The switching unit selects to output the first or second control signal according to a switching signal. The power output unit adjusts its output power in accordance with the control signal output from the switching unit. The operation-mode determining unit compares an operation frequency in the power output unit with a reference frequency, and detects an inductor current in the power output unit. The operation-mode determining unit determines the state of a switching signal and outputs it to the switching unit in accordance with the comparison result and the detection result.

Abstract: In a linear image sensing device with image matching function, a linear sensors array senses a finger, which is moving over it, to obtain fragment image analog signals, which are amplified, by a programmable gain amplifier, into amplified signals. An analog-to-digital converter sequentially converts the amplified signals into digital image signals. An image matching module sequentially receives and processes adjacent two of the digital image signals, and outputs continuous non-overlapped fragment images through an input/output interface. A control logic controls operations and communications of the above-mentioned components. A terminal system receives the non-overlapped fragment images and assembles the non-overlapped fragment images into a complete fingerprint image in a manner of stacking the images side by side.

Abstract: A adaptive pole and zero and Pole-Zero Cancellation Control Low Drop-Out (LDO) regulator is provided, which includes a regulation unit, an error amplifier, a Miller Effect Pole control unit, a Pole Zero Cancellation delay unit, and a feedback network. Pole and Zero could be adaptive regulated depend on various loads and maintain stably in a perfect phase margin.

Abstract: A power supply apparatus and an operation-mode determining unit and a method thereof are provided. The power supply apparatus includes first and second control units, a switching unit, a power output unit, and an operation-mode determining unit. The first and second control units provide first and second control signals respectively. The switching unit selects to output the first or second control signal according to a switching signal. The power output unit adjusts its output power in accordance with the control signal output from the switching unit. The operation-mode determining unit compares an operation frequency in the power output unit with a reference frequency, and detects an inductor current in the power output unit. The operation-mode determining unit determines the state of a switching signal and outputs it to the switching unit in accordance with the comparison result and the detection result.

Abstract: In a linear image sensing device with image matching function, a linear sensors array senses a finger, which is moving over it, to obtain fragment image analog signals, which are amplified, by a programmable gain amplifier, into amplified signals. An analog-to-digital converter sequentially converts the amplified signals into digital image signals. An image matching module sequentially receives and processes adjacent two of the digital image signals, and outputs continuous non-overlapped fragment images through an input/output interface. A control logic controls operations and communications of the above-mentioned components. A terminal system receives the non-overlapped fragment images and assembles the non-overlapped fragment images into a complete fingerprint image in a manner of stacking the images side by side.

Abstract: A power on detect circuit. The power on detect circuit is designed for detecting low power on voltage and having low temperature coefficient of power on voltage. Detected power on voltage range is insensitive to process and temperature. The power on detect circuit includes two MOS transistors, one has a larger aspect ratio and is coupled to a voltage source by two series resistors, the first resistor and the second resistor, and the other has a lower aspect ratio and is coupled to the voltage source by a resistor, the third resistor. A comparator senses out voltage difference the first resistor and the third resistor to generate a power on reset signal.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a peak hold and calibration circuit, and more particularly, to a peak hold and calibration circuit for use in measuring the signals in a digital multi-meter implemented by using an integrated circuit (IC) and a capacitor, wherein said IC is connected to said capacitor; wherein said IC comprises an operational amplifier, and a switching circuit; wherein a first voltage is applied to one input terminal of said operational amplifier and the other input terminal of said operational amplifier is connected to the feedback network while the output terminal of said operational amplifier is connected to said switching circuit; wherein the output of said switching circuit is a second voltage and connected to said capacitor.

Abstract: We discloses an efficient method for compressing a color image, visual block pattern truncation coding (VBPTC), in which the conventional block truncation coding (BTC) serves to encode an original image. This method defines the edge block according to human visual perception. If the difference between the two quantized values of BTC in a block is larger than a threshold which is defined by visual characteristics, the block will be identified as an edge block. In an edge block, the bitmap is adapted to compute block gradient orientation and to match the block pattern.

Abstract: The invention discloses a 9-cell array architecture with data-rings for 3-step hierarchical search (3SHS) block-matching algorithm. With the efficient data-rings and memory organization, the regular raster-scanned data flow and comparator tree-like structure can be used to simply internal I/O controller and reduce latency. In addition, we can utilize techniques to reduce external memory accesses and interconnections. The results demonstrate that the array architecture with the data-rings is low in terms of latency, memory bandwidth and costs and a high performance solution for the 3 SHS.