Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein to provide analog-to-digital converter techniques. For example, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, an analog-to-digital converter architecture is disclosed that utilizes optical techniques to convert an analog electrical signal to a digital electrical signal.

Abstract: The present invention provides a manufacturing method of a thin film transistor array panel, which includes forming a gate line on a substrate; forming a gate insulating layer, a semiconductor layer, and an ohmic contact on the gate line; forming a first conducting film including Mo, a second conducting film including Al, and a third conducting film including Mo on the ohmic contact; forming a first photoresist pattern on the third conducting film; etching the first, second, and third conducting films, the ohmic contact, and the semiconductor layer using the first photoresist pattern as a mask; removing the first photoresist pattern by a predetermined thickness to form a second photoresist pattern; etching the first, second, and third conducting films using the second photoresist pattern as a mask to expose a portion of the ohmic contact; and etching the exposed ohmic contact using a Cl-containing gas and a F-containing gas.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a thin film transistor array panel using a photo mask is provided. The photo mask includes: a transmitting area and a translucent area, wherein the translucent area includes a plurality of light blocking portions blocking light, and wherein the light blocking portions have a plurality of areas blocking different amounts of light. By using this type of photo mask, a substantially flat layer of photoresist film can be deposited even on top of an uneven surface to manufacture a thin film transistor array panel. The flat photoresist film reduces processing cost and enhances the reliability of the panel manufacturing process.

Abstract: A cervical support system for restricting head and neck movement of a patient recovering from an injury to or surgery on the spine. The support system includes a supporting member for mounting onto and around the head and neck of the patient. The supporting member includes an injection molded base portion integral with an occipital lobe supporting portion. The base portion is arranged to rest on the shoulder of the patient while the occipital lobe supporting portion is arranged to extend along the neck from the shoulder to the head of the patient. An arcuate member such as a C-collar is disposed on an outer surface of the supporting member. A plurality of adjustment devices such as a turn-tab adjustment mechanism on an outer surface of the arcuate member rotatably connect the arcuate member to the supporting member to position the arcuate member onto, and with respect to, the supporting member.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a low temperature removable silicon dioxide hard mask for patterning and etching is provided, wherein tetra-ethyl-ortho-silane (TEOS) is used to deposit a silicon dioxide hard mask.

Abstract: An insulating film according to an embodiment of the present invention has Chemical Formula 1 wherein the Rs are equal to or different from each other, m is an integer, the Rs have Chemical Formula 2: R=R1R2R3,??(2) and R1, R2, and R3 in the Chemical Formula 2 are one selected from Chemical Formulae 3, 4 and 5, respectively (n is an integer):

Abstract: For an Internet Access Gateway operative between an area network and a public network, managing dynamic network sessions therebetween whereby a primary server on the public network in a primary session with a client of the area network initiates an additional session with an additional server on the public network, for which an unexpected data packet received at the gateway from the additional server is associated with the primary session, and accordingly allowed access to the area network through the gateway, provided the gateway received the data packet at an input port exceeding 1023, the additional session comprises a pre-defined Session Triggering Event, and at least one internal network component of the area network indicates willingness to receive the data packet. Wherefore, a preferred Application Level Gateway is thereby provided for firewall and NAT implementations to enhance network security.

Abstract: Disclosed is an optical data storage medium with enhanced contrast. The optical data storage medium includes a substrate having oppositely facing first and second surfaces. A first metal/alloy layer is formed overlaying the first surface of the substrate. The first metal/alloy layer is formed from tin, antimony and element selected from the group consisting of indium, germanium, aluminum, and zinc. After the first metal/alloy layer is formed, a first dielectric layer is formed overlaying the first metal/alloy layer. This dielectric layer is formed from silicon oxynitride. The first metal/alloy layer is positioned between the substrate and the first dielectric layer.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display is provided, which includes: a liquid crystal panel including a gate line, a data line, and a pixel including a switching element connected to the gate line and the data line; a gate driver applying a gate signal for controlling the switching element to the gate line; and a data driver selecting gray voltages corresponding to gray signals and applying the selected gray voltages to the data line. The gate signal includes a gate-on voltage for turning on the switching element and a gate-off voltage for turning off the switching element. The gray voltages include pairs of positive and negative voltages (V+, V?) and V + + V - 2 = Vconst for each gray, where Vconst indicates a predetermined level.

Abstract: A driving device is provided, which includes: a switching unit directly connected to a first voltage from a source external to the driving device; a transforming unit indirectly connected to the switching unit for transforming the first voltage into a second voltage and applying the second voltage to a light source; a signal transmitting unit indirectly connected to the switching unit and transmitting a driving voltage for driving the switching unit based on a control signal; and an inverter controller outputting the control signal to the signal transmitting unit.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a sense amplifier includes: a differential amplifier adapted to amplify a voltage difference between a pair of bit lines; and a self-bias generation circuit adapted to reduce an offset bias in the differential amplifier with regard to the amplification of the voltage difference between the pair of bit lines.

Abstract: A flat panel display apparatus comprises a flat panel display module; a control PCB placed in one rear edge area of the flat panel display module and having a conductive grounding part; and a grounding contact member including a rear contact part contacting the grounding part of the control PCB, and a side contact part bent from the rear contact part and contacting one edge of the flat panel display module, and grounding the control PCB. With this configuration, the present invention provides a flat panel display apparatus in which a control PCB having the length shorter than the width of a flat panel display module is easily grounded and the production cost thereof is decreased.

Abstract: A method of forming a polycrystalline silicon thin film with improved electrical characteristics and a method of manufacturing a thin film transistor using the method of forming the polycrystalline silicon thin film.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for gas/liquid separation on an array of jets or streams of liquid is provided. Layers of substantially spherical aggregates of meshed material are provided to “quiet” high-velocity liquid flow with entrained gas to provide a uniform flow at moderate or low velocity from which the gas has been substantially separated from the liquid.

Abstract: A system and method for using subnet relations to determine paging areas, for performing authentication and association, and to activate access network interfaces in wireless communication devices in a heterogeneous access network. Paging areas are generated using subnet relations by determining mobility agent servers within a predetermined number of subnet relations from a last active mobility agent server. Authentication and association are also accomplished using subnet relations. Access network interfaces can also be turned on and off based on subnet relations thereby conserving battery power.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display includes a signal controller having a luminance controller receiving image data from an external graphic source and controlling the luminance of the image data such that the luminance at the gray expressed by a specific data value of the image data is established to be 80 cd/m2, and a gamma converter outputting image data each having a gamma characteristic adapted to a gamma 2.2 curve. The gamma converter output is determined without using a look up table based on at least one difference curve having a linear portion, a quartic portion, and a critical value where the liner portion and the quartic portion intersect. The liquid crystal display further includes a data driver receiving the image data for selecting and outputting gray voltages corresponding to the image data, and an inverter controlling a lamp to emit light with a luminance of 80 cd/m2 or more.

Abstract: A control system and method for simultaneously regulating the operation of a plurality of different types of switching power converters. The system utilizes in regulating the power converters sampled data and nonlinear feedback control loops.

Abstract: Systems and techniques for contemporaneous Raman and photoluminescence spectroscopy. Light that has interacted with a sample is dispersed to separate wavelength components, including Raman and photoluminescence components. A first array detector is positioned to receive Raman components, and a second array detector is positioned to receive Raman components. The first array detector and the second array detector may comprise the same detector material, or different detector materials.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for determining a shared secret between two entities in a cryptosystem. A first random secret is selected that is known to the first entity and unknown to the second entity. A first intermediate shared secret component is determined using the first random secret and a system parameter. The first intermediate shared secret component is communicated to the second entity. A second random secret is selected that is known to the second entity, but unknown to the first entity. A second intermediate shared secret component is determined using the second random secret and the system parameter. The second intermediate shared secret component is communicated to the first entity. It is confirmed that both the first entity and the second entity know a non-interactive shared secret. An interactive shared secret is determined using the first random secret, the second random secret, and the system parameter.

Abstract: An apparatus of driving a liquid crystal display includes a signal controller. The signal controller has a frame memory and an image type detector. The signal controller compares image data for a present frame from an external device with image data for a previous frame stored in the frame memory and determines whether the image data represent still image. If the image data represent a sill image, the signal controller suspends a predetermined control operation and also suspends supply voltages to elements required for the predetermined control operation.