Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide pixel cells that allow both automatic light control and correlated double sampling operations. The pixel cell includes first and second photo-conversion devices that can be separately read out. For example, the second photo-conversion device can be the pixel cells' floating diffusion region, with an area and doping profile suitable for photo-conversion. An image sensor may include an array of pixel cells, some or all of which have two photo-conversion devices, and peripheral circuitry for reading out signals from the pixel cells. The image sensor's readout circuitry may monitor charge generated by the second photo-conversion devices to determine when to read out signals from the first photo-conversion devices.

Abstract: A system for generating hydrogen gas utilizes a volume exchange housing for the storage of a fuel material that reacts to generate hydrogen gas and a hydrogen separation chamber. The system includes a gas permeable membrane or membranes that allow hydrogen gas to pass through the membrane while preventing aqueous solutions from passing therethrough. The system is orientation independent. A throttle valve is also used to self regulate the reaction generating the hydrogen gas.

Abstract: A low-volatility or non-volatility memory device utilizing zero field splitting properties to store data. In response to an electrical pulse or a light pulse, in the absence of any externally applied magnetic field, the host material can switch between stable energy-absorbing states based on the zero field splitting properties of the metal ions and the surrounding host material. The invention also includes a device and method for the storage of multiple bits in a single cell using a plurality of metal ion species in a single host material.

Abstract: A hydraulic tool is provided with a spool valve 24 for changing the flow of a working fluid pressurized by a hydraulic power generating mechanism in a hydraulic circuit. The spool valve 24 is slidable in directions perpendicular to a piston rod 18. A cylindrical grip handle 34 to be operated by the operator's hand is extended parallel to the piston rod 18 on the outer surface of the main casing 5 so as to be turnable about its own axis. The spool valve 24 and the grip handle 34 are interlocked by a cam mechanism including members 29, 30 and 21. The spool valve 24 is moved axially by turning the grip handle 34 to control the flow direction of the working fluid.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a method of forming a chalcogenide material containing device, and particularly resistance variable memory elements. A stack of one or more layers is formed over a substrate. The stack includes a layer of chalcogenide material and a metal, e.g., silver, containing layer. A protective layer is formed over the stack. The protective layer blocks light, is conductive, and is etchable with the other layers of the stack. Further, the metal of the metal containing layer is substantially insoluble in the protective layer. The stack and the protective layer are then patterned and etched to form memory elements.

Abstract: An n-bit shift register 102 for shifting input data through successive bit stages and AND gates 103-i (i being 1 to n) corresponding to the bit stages of the shift register 102 are provided. A control circuit 101 feeds out control signals 107-i for on-off controlling the feeding of the outputs of the corresponding bit stages of the shift register 102. Multipliers 104-i multiply the on-off controlled data and predetermined filter coefficient data, and an adder circuit 105 adds together the output of the multipliers to derive an FIR filter output including ramp-up and -down. A ramp-up/-down signal is fed to a shift register in the control circuit 101, and ramp-up data is derived from the output of the adder circuit 105. Thus, the circuit can be readily constructed without scale increase.

Abstract: A contactless data storage medium having a principal circuit component and a coupling element, with a controllable load provided for performing offloading modulation. A drawn-current controller is able to reduce the current drawn by the principal circuit component and simultaneously increase the size of the current through the load in order to provide an offloading potential for performing the offloading modulation.

Abstract: A searching system allowing high-speed data searching and operation is disclosed. A search table is provided which stores a copy of an entry that has been retrieved from a database to retrievably store a plurality of retrieved entries. Further, an address pointer table is provided which stores a list of retrieved entries which are linked from a leading one to a bottom one. A search processor can access a plurality of retrieved entries by referring to the list stored in the address pointer table so as to be consistent with a corresponding entry stored in the database when the corresponding entry has been updated.

Abstract: A method of preparing a polymeric aryl sulfonamide is described which consists of reacting aryl sulfonyl with a polymeric amine in the presence of an acid acceptor. Also, another method of preparing a polymeric aryl sulfonamide is disclosed and consists of: reacting an aryl sulfonyl with a polymeric diamine in the presence of an acid acceptor to result in a linear oligomeric molecule; and reacting the linear oligomeric molecule with a monoamine or an aryl monosulfonyl in the presence of an acid acceptor. The use of polymeric aryl sulfonamides as pigment dipersants and wetting agents is also disclosed.

Abstract: A second battery charging apparatus includes a voltage detecting circuit, a current detecting circuit, a charging circuit, and a charge control circuit. The voltage detecting circuit detects a battery voltage of the second battery and accordingly outputs a signal. The current detecting circuit detects a battery current supplied to the second battery and accordingly outputs a signal. The charging circuit executes a current supply control to perform the charging to the second battery such that the battery voltage becomes equal to a voltage predetermined based on control signals and also that the charging current becomes equal to a current predetermined based on the control signals. The charge control circuit instructs the charging circuit with the control signals to set the battery voltage and the charge current in response to a voltage indicated by the signal from the voltage detecting circuit.

Abstract: Disclosed is a friction stir welding method for welding two members to be welded which differ in physical properties and/or mechanical properties by abutting the two members to each other, inserting a pin portion of a rotary tool having the pin portion and a shoulder portion to the abutment surfaces of the two members, and moving the rotary tool along the abutment surfaces. The pin portion is inserted to only one of the members, the pin portion is not inserted to the other of the members but only the shoulder portion is set in contact with the other of the members, and, while this condition is maintained, the rotary tool is moved. With this method, only the member on the side where the pin is inserted can be made to undergo plastic flow attendant on a friction stir action. The metal in plastic flow is pressed against the opposite member at an elevated temperature and high pressure, whereby diffusion of atoms is caused in the vicinity of the abutment surfaces, and the members are welded.

Abstract: A high-frequency oscillation apparatus wherein an oscillation signal output from a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) is transferred through a transfer line to a resonator and the resonator is excited. The resonator is coupled with a second transfer line and an RF signal having a level corresponding to the frequency of the oscillation signal is transferred through the second transfer line. When the resonant frequency of the resonator is set to a frequency higher than the oscillation-frequency modulation range of the VCO, the oscillation frequency and the RF-signal level have one-to-one correspondence. A detector detects the RF signal and outputs to a control section. The control section compensates a control voltage signal applied to the VCO according to the detected-signal level, and outputs the control voltage signal to the VCO to compensate the oscillation signal of the VCO.

Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes a plurality of memory blocks formed of a flash memory. The semiconductor memory device further includes a rewriting monitor circuit for memorizing the number of times of data rewriting in each of the memory blocks, and a switching circuit for switching a memory block selection address. When the number of times of rewriting in a first memory block which is a rewriting request object exceeds a predetermined value, data in a second memory block is transferred to the first memory block. Data to be written is written to the second memory block. Therefore, it is possible to increase the number of times of rewriting in the flash memory.

Abstract: A power supply apparatus includes a plurality of power source circuits, an oscillator circuit and a controller. The plurality of power source circuits use a common direct current power source. The oscillator circuit generates a plurality of oscillator signals. The controller performs a time sharing control based on the plurality of oscillator signals to enable the plurality of power source circuits to receive power from the common direct current power source in different timings and to output respective voltages.

Abstract: A multi-rate transmission apparatus wherein components operate with a single clock from the outside and, even if the modulation system and the coding rate are varied arbitrarily by switching of the modulation operation mode similarly from the outside, transmission data can be allocated to modulation data and transmitted in response to the variation of the modulation system and the coding rate only with the clock signal from the outside. The multi-rate transmission apparatus includes a data processing section for reading in data with a bit width suitable for the modulation system, a coding unit for performing coding processing parallelly for the data read in by the data processing section, and a transmission section for transmitting the data, for which the coding processing has been performed, in response to the variation of the modulation system and the coding rate.

Abstract: A plate or other utilitarian object for generating conversations is provided comprising a substantially flat central portion for holding on object and a raised side surface positioned coaxially with the substantially flat central portion. A circular perforation is formed coaxially with the substantially flat central portion and the raised side surface and is positioned at a border between the substantially flat central portion and the raised side surface. A plurality of axial perforations are formed in the raised side surface extending along an entire width thereof from the circular perforation to an outer edge of the raised side surface. Each adjacent pair of the plurality of axial perforations and a corresponding portion of the circular perforation defines a selectively removable tab, the selectively removable tab including text material thereon. The text material preferably comprises an open-ended opinion-evoking statement.

Abstract: Operation for global electronic shutter photodiode-type pixels. In a first mode of operation, lag is reduced through global reset of the photodiode array and fixed pattern noise is eliminated through comparison of the photosignal level and the reset level of the floating drain. In a second mode of operation, simultaneous integration and readout processes are achieved through cessation of spill charges over the transfer gate. In a third mode of operation, regulation of the reset photodiode and transfer gate enables voltage gain between the photodiode and the sense node.

Abstract: On one surface of a dielectric substrate having a thickness of one quarter of a signal wavelength, a ground electrode, and a strip line, one end thereof being connected to a high-frequency element via a wire, are formed. On the opposite surface thereof, which opposes a waveguide, a ground electrode is formed, a first electrode opening having a predetermined length and width is formed, opposite to a proximity of an open end of the strip line, and a second electrode opening is formed so that a center line of a width thereof is separated outward by one quarter of the signal wavelength from a conductor wall of the waveguide. Furthermore, via holes having a length of one quarter of the signal wavelength, electrically connecting the ground electrodes on either surface, are formed. The waveguide is disposed in proximity to the dielectric substrate so that a center of the first electrode opening coincides with that of the waveguide.

Abstract: In one implementation, a plasma etching method comprises forming a GexSey chalcogenide comprising layer over a substrate. A mask comprising an organic masking material is formed over the GexSey chalcogenide comprising layer. The mask comprises a sidewall. At least prior to plasma etching the GexSey comprising layer, the sidewall of the mask is exposed to a fluorine comprising material. After said exposing, the GexSey chalcogenide comprising layer is plasma etched using the mask and a hydrogen containing etching gas. The plasma etching forms a substantially vertical sidewall of the GexSey chalcogenide comprising layer which is aligned with a lateral outermost extent of the sidewall of the mask.

Abstract: An optical information recording medium containing a first information substrate including a first substrate having a guide groove thereon, a first recording layer including a dye, overlying the first substrate and a first reflective layer being a semi-transmittance layer, overlying the first recording layer, a second information substrate comprising, a second substrate having a guide groove thereon, a second recording layer comprising a dye, overlying the second substrate, a second reflective layer being a semi-transmittance layer, located overlying the second recording layer and a light transmittance protective layer overlying the second reflective layer and a transparent intermediate layer. Further, the following relationships (1) and (2) are satisfied: (1) 0.3?nd/??0.7, wherein n represents refractive index in the complex refractive index n-ik of the light transmittance protective layer, d represents a thickness thereof, and ? is at least one of a recording wavelength and a playback wavelength, (2) k?0.