Abstract: An amplifier having an input transmission network with a plurality of input transformers having serially coupled primary windings. Each one of the input transformers has a secondary winding magnetically coupled to a corresponding one of the primary windings. The amplifier includes an output transmission network having a plurality of output transformers having serially coupled secondary windings. Each one of the output transformers has a secondary winding magnetically coupled to a corresponding one of the primary windings. The amplifier includes a plurality of amplifier sections, each one the sections having an input connected to a corresponding one of the secondary windings of the input transformers and an output connected to a corresponding one of the primary windings of the output transformers.

Abstract: In order to target and intercept a desired object within a number of objects detected in an environment, detection data is received from two different sensors, where the detection data includes spatial coordinates. A set of four-point subsets (tetrahedra) are selected from each set of spatial coordinates. A number of correlation maps are determined between the first set of spatial coordinates and the second set of spatial coordinates based on the plurality of four-point subsets. The mean sphericity for each corresponding plurality of four-point subsets in the plurality of correlation maps is determined, and a threat object map based on the correlation map having the greatest mean sphericity is created. The desired object is targeted based on the correlation map.

Abstract: Optical imaging systems and methods use early photons in order to generate processed fluorescent light images of fluorescent material on or within a tissue. The early photons are generated in accordance with a pulsed light source and an early-photon light receiver. The processed fluorescent light images tend to have improved resolution and imaging accuracy compared with fluorescent light images generated with photons beyond the early photons portions.

Abstract: An organic field-effect transistor includes: source and drain electrodes; a semiconductor layer made of an organic semiconductor material placed at least between said source and drain electrodes; a gate electrode suitable for creating an electric field that increases the density of mobile charge carriers in the semiconductor layer in order to create a conduction channel in this semiconductor layer between the source and drain electrodes when a voltage VG is applied to the gate electrode; and an electrical insulator layer interposed between the gate electrode and the semiconductor layer, characterized in that it further includes a piezoelectric layer placed close to the conduction channel, in the semiconductor layer between the source and drain electrodes or on the opposite side of the gate electrode with respect to the electrical insulator and semiconductor layers, alongside the source and drain electrodes, said piezoelectric layer being electrically isolated from said source and drain electrodes and from the

Abstract: A semiconductor structure is provided that can be used for cooling, heating, and power generation. A first region of the semiconductor structure has a first length and comprises a first semiconductor material doped at a first concentration with a first dopant. A second region is disposed adjacent to the first region so as to define a first interface, has a second length which is longer than the first length, and comprises a second semiconductor material doped at a second concentration with a second dopant. At least one of the first material, second material, first concentration, second concentration, first length, second length, first dopant, and second dopant is selected to create, at the first interface, a forward electrical potential step having a barrier height dependent at least in part on an average temperature (T) of the semiconductor structure, e.g., a range of approximately 3-10 ?BT, where ?B is the Boltzmann constant.

Abstract: In an apparatus for performing a substrate developing process, a first washing tank and a second washing tank are disposed on both sides of a substrate support section for supporting the substrate opposite to each other to wash a developing nozzle. The developing nozzle moves in a horizontal direction from the first washing tank toward the second washing tank and supplies a developing solution onto the substrate in the meantime. After supplying the developing solution, the developing nozzle is received in the second washing tank, and the developing solution adhered to the developing nozzle is removed by a washing solution in the second washing tank.

Abstract: A hybrid probabilistic/deterministic planning system including a hybrid planning engine responsive to a null hybrid contingency plan including user defined probabilistic problem including goals, possible effect actions, and the initial state of one or more possible worlds configured to extract a deterministic planning problem therefrom. A deterministic planning engine responsive to the hybrid planning engine configured to generate one or more deterministic partial plans. The d hybrid planning engine converts the one or more deterministic partial plans into one or more hybrid partial plans and splices the one or more hybrid partial plans into selected null hybrid contingency plans to generate one or more hybrid contingency plans for each agent in each of the one or more possible worlds.

Abstract: A circuit to detect a movement of an object has a calibration time period that ends when peak detectors in the circuit stop updating for a predetermined amount of time. A method associated with the circuit is also described.

Abstract: An imaging device includes a sensor to locate and track an object of interest; an imaging camera having a plurality of detectors juxtapositionally aligned to increase the field of regard of an image of interest and a plurality of corresponding illuminators, each illuminator co-aligned with the field of view of a corresponding detector; and a digital processor connected to the sensor to receive tracking signals indicative of the track of the object of interest and connected to the imaging camera to provide a control signal to the imaging camera to activate each one of the detectors when the object of interest is within the field of view of a detector.

Abstract: An amplifier circuit includes a pair of amplifying devices, a first balun coupled between an input port of the amplifier circuit and RF input ports of the pair of amplifying devices and a second balun coupled between RF output ports of the pair of amplifying devices and an output port of the amplifier circuit wherein the first and second baluns are configured such that the amplifier circuit operates under open condition for signals at a second harmonic frequency even when the second harmonic frequency is within an operating frequency band of a fundamental frequency of the amplifier circuit. In one embodiment, the amplifier circuit includes a bypass circuit which selectively couples balun ports to ground such that in response to a first control signal, the amplifier circuit operates in an amplifying mode and in response to a second control signal, the amplifier circuit operates in a bypass mode.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for image processing include performing visual sub-band decomposition of an image using human visual system characteristics to generate a plurality of sub-band decomposed images, independently processing the plurality of sub-band decomposed images with at least one application, and fusing the independently processed sub-band decomposed images to reconstruct an output image.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for restoration of a digital image. In one embodiment, a method for repairing a defect in a digital image to provide a restored image comprises determining a plurality of pixel locations to form a neighborhood relating to the defect and whether or not the neighborhood has a well-defined, dark border along its edge. Should the neighborhood not have dark border, one embodiment of the method entails processing the neighborhood to bring the neighborhood approximately to uniform darkness, processing the neighborhood to match surroundings in the digital image, copying an edge of a neighborhood in the digital image into the processed neighborhood, processing pixels of the edge to repair the copied edge pixels, and outputting the restored image for display to a user.

Abstract: In a spin unit for rotating a substrate and a method of processing the substrate, the substrate is secured on a support and is rotated on the support. Processing materials including drying gases, etching solutions and cleaning solutions are selectively supplied onto a bottom surface of the rotating substrate. The same processing materials are also selectively supplied onto a top surface of the substrate. The top and bottom surfaces of the substrate are simultaneously processed by simultaneous supply of the processing materials through the first and second sub-injectors.

Abstract: The invention concerns a multi-domed switch. It relates to a multi-domed switch of the push-button type for thin printed circuit possessing a thin substrate (20) against one face of which a printed circuit having connection pads is placed. The switch comprises two domes (12) and an insulating spacer, the peripheral parts of the two domes (12) are each in contact with one face of the spacer and are thus facing each other on either side of the spacer, each dome (12) possesses a connection member (18) for connection to a connection pad of the printed circuit (20), and the spacer has a central hole large enough for the tops of the two domes (12) to be able to come into mutual contact when they are subjected to a closing-off force. Application to chip cards.

Abstract: A mixed-signal, multilayer printed wiring board fabricated in a single lamination step is described. The PWB includes one or more radio frequency (RF) interconnects between different circuit layers on different circuit boards which make up the PWB. The PWB includes a number of unit cells with radiating elements and an RF cage disposed around each unit cell to isolate the unit cell. A plurality of flip-chip circuits are disposed on an external surface of the PWB and a heat sink can be disposed over the flip chip components.

Abstract: Various embodiments provide an optical system including a first lens group having a plurality of lenses, the first lens group being configured to correct for an axial chromatic aberration; a second lens group having a least one lens, the second lens group being disposed adjacent the first lens group; and a third lens group having a plurality of lenses, the third lens group being configured to correct for a lateral chromatic aberration and field curvature, the third lens group being disposed adjacent the second lens group. The first, second and third lens groups are configured to provide a wide field of view greater than approximately 20 deg., and an f-number of less than approximately F/2 in a wavelength range between approximately 8 ?m and approximately 12 ?m.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for fire egress/escape comprising a first container for storing a first fluid, a second container for storing a propellant, a nozzle to mix and atomize material from the first and second containers for forming a mist to suppress flame by evaporation, and an activation mechanism to enable a user to release material in the first and second containers for generating the mist.

Abstract: A new random linear network coding scheme for reliable communications for time division duplexing channels is proposed. The setup assumes a packet erasure channel and that nodes cannot transmit and receive information simultaneously. The sender transmits coded data packets back-to-back before stopping to wait for the receiver to acknowledge (ACK) the number of degrees of freedom, if any, that are required to decode correctly the information. Provided herein is an analysis of this problem to show that there is an optimal number of coded data packets, in terms of mean completion time, to be sent before stopping to listen. This number depends on the latency, probabilities of packet erasure and ACK erasure, and the number of degrees of freedom that the receiver requires to decode the data. This scheme is optimal in terms of the mean time to complete the transmission of a fixed number of data packets.

Abstract: A radially shearing interferometer including a beam splitter configured to form two optical beams from entering light, the optical beam including a magnified beam and a demagnified beam; a plurality of mirrors arranged so as to generate the magnified and demagnified beams and provide a common optical path with the beams traversing the plurality of mirrors in the opposite direction back to the beam splitter, the plurality of mirrors including a pair of parabolic mirrors, the first of the pair configured to receive one of the magnified and demagnified beams, and reflect the first received beam to a flat mirror configured to reflect the first received beam to the other of the pair. An imaging device may be positioned at a pupil plane of the magnified beam and the demagnified beam so as to record the interference of both beams. A method for recording an interferogram is also disclosed.

Abstract: An electronic circuit includes circuit portions for identifying a largest voltage drop through one of a plurality of series connected diode strings and for controlling a boost switching regulator according to the largest voltage drop. The electronic circuit can sense an open circuit series connected diode string, which would otherwise have the largest voltage drop, and can disconnect that open circuit series connected diode string from control of the boost switching regulator. Another electronic circuit includes a current limiting circuit coupled to or within a boost switching regulator and configured to operate with a diode load. Another electronic circuit includes a pulse width modulation circuit configured to dim a series connected string of light emitting diodes.