Abstract: A digital television (DTV) receiver receives a data signal that is divided into a plurality of segments each separated by a known data segment sync sequence. The receiver includes a data segment sync signal detector that receives the data signal and filters the signal to provide a filtered data signal. The detector computes the difference between samples of the filtered data signal and an average expected filtered signal value that is representative of a nominal filtered signal value in the middle of the segment sync sequence. The detector then computes the absolute value of the computed difference, and the resultant absolute value is summed with a sampled value from the previous segment and the summed value is stored into an accumulator. The process is repeated for several segments. The location of the data segment sync sequence within the segment is determined by comparing the summed values to determine the smallest summed value, which represents the center of the segment sync sequence.

Abstract: A voltage boosting circuit and method thereof are capable of boosting an input voltage to a desired voltage while consuming a relatively small amount of power, in a highly efficient manner, and requiring a small number of circuit elements. A first switch of the voltage boosting circuit transfers the input voltage in response to a first control signal. A first charging/pumping portion charges the input voltage transferred from the first switch in response to a second control signal, adds the charged voltage to a first predetermined voltage in response to a third control signal, and pumps the addition result in response to the third control signal to provide a boosted voltage.

Abstract: In a ferrite switchable microwave device, a magnetic structure is formed in a nearly continuous closed-loop configuration of a single crystal material, or of a material exhibiting the magnetic properties of single crystal materials (quasi-single crystal materials). A magnetization M is induced in the structure. The toroidal shape of the structure in combination with the properties of the magnetic material results in a device which exhibits virtually no hysteresis. The device is operable either in a fully magnetized state or in a partially magnetized state. In a fully magnetized state, the device operates in the region of magnetic saturation. The absence of hysteresis in the device enables switching between the positive and negative magnetic saturation points with very little energy. In a partially magnetized state, the device provides a variable magnetization M between the two saturation points.

Abstract: An analog-to-digital converter including an input that samples an analog input signal; circuitry for multiplying the sampled analog input signal by a sequence including -1 and 1; a conversion unit which converts the analog input signal into a monotonic digital output signal; and circuitry for multiplying the digital output signal by the sequence of -1 and 1 in phase with the first means to produce a mismatch shaped digital output signal. In another embodiment of the invention there is provided a method of analog-to-digital including sampling phases of an analog input signal; multiplying the sampled phases of the analog input signal by a sequence including -1 and 1; converting the analog input signal into a monotonic digital output signal; and multiplying in phase the digital output signal by the sequence of -1 and 1 in phase to produce a mismatch shaped digital output signal.

Abstract: A computer telephony system including a telephone communication unit operable for initiating and receiving voice calls and a computer operable for providing and receiving voice data. Circuitry is provided for coupling voice data between the computer and the telephone communication unit simultaneously with the voice calls, and for isolating the voice data from the voice calls. In another embodiment of the invention, there is provided a computer telephony amplifier for use with a telephone communication unit operable for initiating and receiving voice calls and a computer operable for providing and receiving voice data. The amplifier includes circuitry for transmitting and receiving voice data between the computer and the telephone communication unit simultaneously with the voice calls, and for isolating the voice data from the voice calls.

Abstract: A composite photonic crystal structure comprising a guide crystal configured in a lane having a dielectric periodicity in at least a first direction in the plane; and barrier crystals configured above and below the guide crystal to confine light within the guide crystal, the barrier crystals having a dielectric periodicity in at least a second direction not in the plane. In another embodiment, there is provided a composite photonic crystal structure comprising a guide crystal configured in a plane having a dielectric periodicity in at least one dimension; and a barrier crystal configured adjacent the guide crystal to confine light within the guide crystal, the barrier crystal having a dielectric periodicity in at least two dimensions.

Abstract: A reflector, a method of producing same and a method of creating high omnidirectional reflection for a predetermined range of frequencies of incident electromagnetic energy for any angle of incidence and any polarization. The reflector includes a structure with a surface and a refractive index variation along the direction perpendicular to the surface while remaining nearly uniform along the surface. The structure is configured such that i) a range of frequencies exists defining a photonic band gap for electromagnetic energy incident along the perpendicular direction of said surface, ii) a range of frequencies exists defining a photonic band gap for electromagnetic energy incident along a direction approximately 90.degree. from the perpendicular direction of said surface, and iii) a range of frequencies exists which is common to both of said photonic band gaps. In an exemplary embodiment, the reflector is configured as a photonic crystal.

Abstract: A highly efficient channel drop filter. The filter employs a coupling element including a resonator-system between two waveguides, which contains at least two resonant modes. The resonator-system includes one or more interacting resonant cavities which in addition to being coupled to the waveguides, can also be coupled directly among themselves and indirectly among themselves via the waveguides. Each component of the coupling element can be configured or adjusted individually. The geometry and/or dielectric constant/refractive index of the resonator-system are configured so that the frequencies and decay rates of the resonant modes are made to be substantially the same. The filter can achieve 100% signal transfer between the waveguides at certain frequencies, while completely prohibiting signal transfer at other frequencies. In exemplary embodiments, the filter is configured with photonic crystals.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for magnifying a dynamic range of an image while improving a contrast of an image are provided. A histogram calculator receives a digital image signal and calculates histograms depending on the illuminance distribution of an image. A histogram accumulator receives a histogram output by the histogram calculator, obtains an accumulative density function by integrating the input histogram up to each illuminance level and normalizes the accumulative density function, and generates an initial conversion function. A bias calculator determines a threshold value for dividing into a low illuminance level and a high illuminance level on the basis of a histogram output by the histogram calculator, and obtains a histogram compensation function for applying a negative bias to a histogram around the threshold value.

Abstract: An data processing apparatus for a digital versatile disk ROM system includes an EFM demodulator, an error-correction decoder, and a data transfer unit, each of which is interfaced with an external memory partitioned into first, second, and third banks for storing demodulated data, error-corrected data and transfer data. A bank pointer comparator generates first, second, and third bank pointers, compares the bank pointers with each other, and activates or deactivates predetermined enable signals in accordance with comparison result. The bank pointers represent the bank of external memory in which EFM-demodulated data is written, the bank in which error-corrected data is stored, and the bank from which transfer data is read, respectively. Each bank pointer is incremented when an operation associated with the bank pointer is completed rather than the conventional technique of increasing the bank pointer whenever an ECC block sync signal is input.

Abstract: A microelectro-mechanical device which includes a fixed electrode formed on a substrate, the fixed electrode including a transparent, high resistance layer, and a moveable electrode formed with an anisotropic stress in a predetermined direction and disposed adjacent the fixed electrode. The device includes first and second electrically conductive regions which are isolated from one another by the fixed electrode. The moveable electrode moves to cover the fixed electrode and to electrically couple to the second conductive region, thus electrically coupling the first and second conductive regions, in response to a potential being applied across the fixed and moveable electrodes. The fixed electrode is transparent to electromagnetic signals or waves and the moveable electrode impedes or allows transmission of electromagnetic signals or waves.

Abstract: A telephone headset interface circuit is coupled to a telephone line to extract power for use by a headset amplifier and is particularly adapted for use with telephone handsets having dynamic or electret microphones. The telephone line connects a telephone to a service system, such as a Central Office, a PBX system, or a Key system. The interface circuit includes a power extraction circuit having a plurality of circuit portions, each one coupled to a corresponding one of the telephone line wires for providing a predetermined output voltage, so that substantially identical electrical impedance characteristics are introduced to each such wire. An amplifier is coupled to the telephone handset such that the predetermined constant output voltage is coupled to the amplifier to power the amplifier from the telephone line when the telephone includes an electronic microphone handset.

Abstract: A flash analog-to-digital converter reduces a property mismatching problem which may occur due to process variations by reducing the number of comparators and resistors as compared to conventional converters. A half code generator receives an analog signal and outputs a one-bit middle code and a (m/2-1)-bit half thermometer code in response to a system clock signal, where m=2.sup.n and n is a positive integer. A code generator receives the middle code and the (m/2-1)-bit half thermometer code, performs a logic operation with respect to the middle code and the half thermometer code, and outputs an operation result as a (m-1)-bit full thermometer code. An encoder encodes the (m-1)-bit full thermometer code into n-bit binary data.

Abstract: A Braille device includes a plurality of Braille cells that comprise a plurality of pins that are actively positioned to present information to a user via tactile feel. The Braille device also allows the user to depress at one or more of the pins in order to make a selection analogous to point and click of a mouse. To allow the user to move a screen cursor and make selections via the Braille pins, the Braille cell includes pin position sensing circuitry that senses the position of each of the plurality of Braille pins. A system controller (e.g., a CPU) reads the information from the sensing circuitry to determine which pins, if any have been depressed. Advantageously, the Braille pins are used as an output device that allows a user to read information, and also as an input device by allowing the user to depress the Braille pins in order to make a selection. In addition, depositing the electronics onto the piezoelectric bimorph reduces the overall size of the Braille device.

Abstract: There is disclosed an anchor for anchoring boats in areas where there are reefs or a rocky seabed. In one embodiment four prongs extend from the end of an anchor shaft, the prongs including stem section with terminating portions making an arcuate angle with corresponding stem section. The stem sections are fixedly attached to the shaft and angled relative to the shaft axis in order that the free end of the terminating portion is longitudinally offset from the end of the shaft and radially offset also. The longitudinal offset being substantially greater than the radial offset.

Abstract: An integrated circuit memory interface device includes a debug controller for generating debug control signals in response to memory access control signals, and individual address and data boundary-scan registers. Each of the address and data boundary-scan registers has a predetermined number of cells which are daisy-chained from cell to cell. The address and data registers are placed between a memory device and a core logic which performs normal interface operations with respect to the devices during a normal mode. The interface device includes a test access port (TAP) controller which operates in synchronism with a test clock signal during test and debugging modes, and an instruction register. The TAP controller receives a test mode select signal and generates register control signals in response to the test clock and mode select signals.

Abstract: There is provided a non-volatile memory device having a multi-bit cell structure. In the non-volatile memory device, a memory cell array includes a plurality of cells of a first conductivity type which has different threshold voltages and are arranged in a matrix on a semiconductor substrate. A bulk region of a second conductivity type opposite to the first conductivity underlies the memory cell array and receives a predetermined back bias voltage when a cell is driven. The threshold voltage difference between states can be sufficiently widened because a state having a high bulk concentration is highly susceptible to a body effect. Therefore, reduction of masks leads to process simplicity, reduced turnaround time, and improved process margin.

Abstract: A remote control receiving system includes a squaring circuit for squaring the received signal before filtering. The filtered signal is applied to an envelope detector for distinguishing a control signal from external noise. Accordingly, external optical or electrical noise is substantially removed from the control signal such that remote control communication is substantially enhanced.

Abstract: A solar heat collecting apparatus wherein a heat-absorbing plate for absorbing the solar radiation is installed in a vacuum vessel, the solar heat accumulated in the heat-absorbing plate is transmitted to a working medium in a pipe connected to the heat-absorbing plate, an upper surface layer for passing the solar radiation irradiated on the heat-absorbing plate therethrough and reflecting the infrared radiation emerging from the heat-absorbing plate is formed on the upper surface of the heat-absorbing plate, a lower surface layer for reflecting the infrared radiation emerging from the heat-absorbing plate is formed on the lower surface of the heat-absorbing plate, a space-diving film is formed between the lower surface of the heat-absorbing plate and the bottom surface of the vacuum vessel, a reflection layer is formed on the bottom surface of the vacuum vessel, a film for passing the solar radiation and reflecting the infrared radiation is provided between the upper surface of the heat-absorbing plate and t