Abstract: A surgical tensioning device for dynamically holding two tissue portions in contact with one another comprises a resilient body having a plurality of spring elements, and a plurality of stop members for limiting travel of the spring elements in order to control energy stored or delivered by the spring elements. A length of suture is also provided, wherein a first end of the suture is connected to the resilient body at a first attachment point and a second end of the suture is connected to the resilient body at a second attachment point. In one embodiment, the stop members contact one another to limit compression of the spring elements. When the suture is placed in tension, the spring elements move to an extended configuration and the stop members move apart, creating gaps between ends of each of the stop members.

Abstract: An LDPMOS structure having enhanced breakdown voltage and specific on-resistance is described, as is a method for fabricating the structure. A P-field implanted layer formed in a drift region of the structure and surrounding a lightly doped drain region effectively increases breakdown voltage while maintaining a relatively low specific on-resistance.

Abstract: In a method of block-based motion estimation a motion vector map is obtained by obtaining a motion vector of each macroblock (MB) in the current frame with respect to the reference frame. The motion vector of each MB in an interpolated frame is then determined according to the motion vector map.

Abstract: A suspension or solution for an organic optoelectronic device is disclosed. The composition of the suspension or solution includes at least one kind of micro/nano transition metal oxide and a solvent. The composition of the suspension or solution can selectively include at least one kind of transition metal oxide ions or a precursor of transition metal oxide. Moreover, the method of making and applications of the suspension or solution are also disclosed.

Abstract: A system and method of generating a color correction matrix (CCM) for an image sensor are disclosed. Quantum efficiency (QE) spectra of pixels of the image sensor illuminated by a physical light source are measured. Subsequently, color values of the image sensor and color values in a predetermined color space are determined according to the QE spectra and predetermined reference data essential for deriving the color values. Finally, the CCM for the image sensor is generated by applying a fitting algorithm on the color values of the image sensor and the color values in the predetermined color space.

Abstract: A de-pop circuit adaptable to an audio circuit is disclosed. A high-pass filter generates a high-pass output signal according to an output signal of the audio circuit. A blockage circuit receives the high-pass output signal and a control signal, and generates an enable signal to activate the audio circuit according to the control signal and the high-pass output signal.

Abstract: A switched-capacitor circuit which comprises a first sampling capacitor, a second sampling capacitor, an op-amp, a third capacitor, and a fourth capacitor is provided. The first sampling capacitor is disposed to sample an input signal in a sampling phase. The second sampling capacitor is disposed to sample the input signal in the sampling phase. Wherein, in a first amplify phase, the third capacitor stores an offset voltage of the op-amp, the fourth capacitor stores the electric charges which are flowed from the first sampling capacitor and the second sampling capacitor, and in a second amplify phase, the fourth capacitor gives the stored electric charges back to the first sampling capacitor and the second sampling capacitor.

Abstract: A motorcycle clutch utilizes a reduced clutch spring load with a corresponding reduction in lever effort by an operator to disengage the clutch. At higher speeds, and hence engine torque, the clutch clamp load increases by means of a centrifugal mechanism, supplementing the clamp load provided by the clutch springs, until a predetermined speed level is reached, at which point the centrifugal load is limited, and remains almost constant at all engine speed levels above the predetermined level.

Abstract: A method of operating a camera is disclosed. A shutter button is pressed to trigger capturing an image. Subsequently, a display-related signal is prevented from transferring to a display panel at least for a duration during which image data are being read out of an image sensor.

Abstract: A substrate inspection method is disclosed. The disclosed method includes 1) providing one or more images of one or more sample substrates; 2) identifying, from the images, two or more occurrences of a target pattern in the images; and 3) comparing the identified target-pattern occurrences against each other to determine, from the images, a presence of abnormalities in the compared target-pattern occurrences, hence determining one or more defects physically present in the target-pattern occurrences. The disclosed method may be implemented via execution of a computer program encoded in a computer readable medium, where the computer program instructs an imaging apparatus to form images of the of-interest sample substrates and instructs an image analyzing apparatus to identify and compare, from the images, the target-pattern occurrences on the sample substrates.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are introduced in this invention to reduce the edge effect of a substrate that causes image variation or distortion due to applied substrate bias. An edge plate with an edge effect eliminator are provided such that substrate is inspected by a charged particle beam can capture images without distortion at substrate edge.

Abstract: An apparatus basically uses a simple and compact multi-axis magnetic lens to focus each of a plurality of charged particle beams on sample surface at the same time. In each sub-lens module of the multi-axis magnetic lens, two magnetic rings are respectively inserted into upper and lower holes with non-magnetic radial gap. Each gap size is small enough to keep a sufficient magnetic coupling and large enough to get a sufficient axial symmetry of magnetic scale potential distribution in the space near to its optical axis. This method eliminates the non-axisymmetric transverse field in each sub-lens and the round lens field difference among all sub-lenses at the same time; both exist inherently in a conventional multi-axis magnetic lens.

Abstract: Compositions comprising a glycosaminoglycan (e.g., a hyaluronan, hyaluronic acid, hyaluronate, sodium hyaluronate, dermatan sulfate, karatan sulfate, chondroitin 6-sulfate, heparin, etc.) in combination with at least one component selected from; i) polyglycols (e.g., polyethylene glycol), ii) long chain hydroxy polyanionic polysaccharides (e.g., dextran, sodium alginate, alginic acid, propylene glycol alginate, carboxymethyl cellulose and carboxyethyl cellulose, hydroxyl ethyl starch, hydroxyl propyl methyl cellulose, hydroxy propyl ethyl cellulose, hydroxy propyl cellulose, methyl cellulose, polylysine, polyhistidine, polyhydroxy proline, poly ornithine, polyvinyl pyrolidone, polyvinyl alcohol, chitosan, etc.) and iii) long chain Nitrogen containing polymers (e.g., Polylysine, Polyvinylpyrrolidone, and polyvinyl alcohol). The invention also includes methods for using such compositions (e.g., as substance delivery materials, tissue fillers or bulking agents, as moistening or hydrating agents, etc.).

Abstract: An output buffer circuit with enhanced slew rate is disclosed. A first and a second slew-rate enhancing transistor are configured to enhance the slew rate of the source transistor and the sink transistor of an output stage. A first control circuit and a second control circuit turn off the first and the second slew-rate enhancing transistors during the static state, and turn on the first and the second slew-rate enhancing transistors during the transition.

Abstract: A plasma system for changing a microscopy material sample comprises a microscopy material sample holder for holding a microscopy material sample in place in a desired orientation, and a receptacle holder for receiving the sample holder and an RF antenna. The microscopy sample is positioned relative to the antenna so that no point on the antenna is in direct line-of-sight contact with the microscopy sample. This feature of avoiding direct line-of-sight contact between the antenna and the sample assists in preventing, or at least minimizing, ion sputtering of system component material onto the specimen or sample 10 that is being trimmed. Moreover, portions of the system which are in direct line-of-sight contact with the sample are comprised of material having a low sputtering yield, preferably carbon. The material may comprise graphite, and may be in the form of a carbon coating or a carbon paint.

Abstract: A method for forming a thin-film transistor (TFT) includes providing a substrate, forming a first patterned conducting layer on the substrate, forming an organic dielectric layer on the first patterned conducting layer and the substrate, forming a seeding layer on the organic dielectric layer, using the seeding layer as a crystal growing base to form an inorganic semiconductor layer on the seeding layer, and forming a second patterned conducting layer on the inorganic semiconductor layer.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a digital image content-adaptive contrast improving method. The method includes forming a piecewise linear tone remapping function for a digital image according to the histogram thereof. The piecewise linear tone remapping function is formed by repeatedly performing a first and a second step. The first step determines a starting linear tone mapping function for a specific range of luminance values. The second step generates a new tone mapping function for the specific range of luminance values based on the starting linear tone mapping function and the histogram. An apparatus for implementing the method is also provided.

Abstract: A trailer-mounted crash impact attenuator for attachment to a host vehicle includes an anti-rotational attachment system having an internal support tube and a plurality of external support tubes. The internal support tube has a connector on its front end for attachment to a suitable receptacle on the host vehicle, and the plurality of external support tubes each have an anti-rotation support pad on their front ends. At least one of the internal support tube and the plurality of external support tubes is comprised of a telescoping construction. A backup frame is disposed on a rear end of the attachment system, and a crash attenuator unit is disposed on an axle and pair of wheels for mobility. When the crash attenuator is impacted by an errant vehicle, the anti-rotational attachment system is actuated to prevent the trailer mounted crash impact attenuator from rotating relative to the host vehicle.

Abstract: A receiver with capability of correcting error is disclosed. A soft slicer generates quantized data and associated soft data. A decoder with error recovery generates decoded quantized data and a soft sequence, and is capable of correcting one bit of the quantized data. A serial-to-parallel (S/P) converter with code corrector generates parallel data, and is capable of correcting two bits of de-scrambled data bits.

Abstract: Architectures and techniques for treating conditions of the eye, such as presbyopia, utilize sources of treatment energy, such as electromagnetic energy emitting devices, to implement non-corneal manipulations. According to these devices and methods, the sources of treatment energy are activated to direct energy onto parts of the eye, such as the conjunctiva and sclera, to treat presbyopia. The treatments can affect at least one property of the eye and enhance an accommodation of the eye.