Abstract: A voltage comparator, comprises: a first branch comprising a first transistor, a first resistor (R1), and a first current dependent voltage source (VA), wherein a first voltage (V1) is applied across the first branch to generate a first current and wherein the first transistor is a diode-connected transistor; a second branch comprising a second resistor (R2), a second current dependent voltage source (VB), and a second transistor having a control voltage (V3), wherein a second voltage (V2) is applied on an end of the second branch to generate a second current; and a third branch for generating a comparator output, wherein a trip point of the comparator output is set to when the first current and the second current are equal and wherein the trip point is a function of the transistors, the resistors, and the current dependent voltage sources of the first branch and the second branch.

Abstract: A method for playing a game of chance having one or more primary reels for a base game and one or more secondary reels for a bonus game, comprises the following steps of, initiating the base game; drawing one or more symbols of the primary reels; if the drawn symbols of the primary reels comprise one or more bonus symbols, adjusting the secondary reels to draw symbols as a function of the bonus symbols; and evaluating the drawn symbols of the secondary reels for a winning combinations.

Abstract: A method for storing data, comprises the steps of: defining one or more intervals for one or more virtual disks, wherein each of the intervals has data; receiving a storage command in a cache, wherein the command having a logical address and a data block; determining a respective interval for the data block corresponding to the logical address of the data block; determining whether the data of the respective interval is to be written to a corresponding storage unit; and receiving a next storage command.

Abstract: A method for operating a virtual whiteboard using a mobile phone device, comprises the steps of: generating the virtual whiteboard, wherein the mobile phone device is coupled to the virtual whiteboard to input data to the virtual whiteboard; connecting the mobile phone device to an external display device; displaying the virtual whiteboard on the external display device; and operating the virtual whiteboard using the mobile phone device; wherein markings on the virtual whiteboard correspond to spatial movements of the mobile phone device.

Abstract: Inverse transforms used in video and image compression/decompression, such as DCT/IDCT used in MPEG-2 and MPEG-4, or the integer transforms used in H.264, are usually calculated with fast algorithms, which only take advantage of the symmetry existing in the transform matrix but ignores the peculiarities in the input data. While these kind of fast algorithms can apply to both forward and inverse transforms, they tend to be inefficient in calculating inverse transforms. In inverse transforms, most of the coefficients become zero after quantization, this invention takes advantage of this fact to further simplify the general fast algorithm and speed up the calculation.

Abstract: This invention relates to a negative electrode of a rechargeable battery. In particular, the active material for the negative electrode is a mixture of two types of graphite, graphite A and graphite B. Graphite A are of graphite granules having an average granule diameter between 10 and 40 ?m, and a crystallite interlayer spacing, d002, between 0.335 and 0.342 nm. Graphite B are graphite granules with an average granule diameter between 5 and 30 ?m and a crystallite interlayer spacing, d002, between 0.336 and 0.360 nm. The ratio of the weight of the graphite A and graphite B is between 25:75 to 80:20. To fabricate said negative electrode, take said mixture of graphite A and graphite B, add binder, dispersant, and solvent. Then stir to mix, coating the resultant mixture on a foil, heat to dry, and compress to form the negative electrode. A lithium ion rechargeable battery made with said negative electrode has high discharge capacity, long cycle life, excellent high current and safety characteristics.

Abstract: An adaptive digital phase locked loop comprises: a digital configurable phase detector for receiving a reference signal and a feedback signal and for generating a detection signal indicative of a phase/frequency difference between the reference signal and the feedback signal; a configurable digital loop filter for filtering the DPFD detection signal; a digital locking monitor for monitoring polarity transitions of the detection signal and adaptively switching the locking modes and DCO tuning resolution; and a DCO for generating the feedback signal as a function of the detection signal.

Abstract: A method for digital phase detection, comprises the steps of: providing a reference clock; receiving a feedback clock; determining a timing difference between the reference clock and the feedback clock; determining a polarity that indicates the leading or lagging relationship between the reference clock and the feedback clock; adaptively selecting one of at least two operating modes for generating a quantized level indicative of the timing difference, wherein in a first operating mode the quantized level is a constant maximum value and wherein in a second operating mode the quantized level is proportional to the timing difference; and generating a digital phase detection output as a combination of the polarity and the quantized level.

Abstract: This invention provides a type of lithium iron phosphate cathode active material and its method of synthesis. Said cathode active material contains the sintering product of lithium iron phosphate and a mixture. Said mixture comprises of two or more metal oxides where the metal elements are selected from groups II A, III A, IV A, V A, III B, IV B, or V B, and where the weight of one metal oxide is 0.5-20% of the weight of the other metal oxide. Greatly increased capacity can be achieved in rechargeable lithium-ion batteries using the lithium iron phosphate cathode active material provided by this invention.

Abstract: This invention discloses a type of radial circuit for use in driving LCD monitors. The radial circuit includes an odd-even column data generator. The odd-even column data generator receives data from a modulation counter and divides the data into two groups of data having opposite levels: odd column modulation data and even column modulation data. The odd-even column data generator then sends the two sets of data to a comparator comparing the display data and modulation data of the LCD. The comparator is used to control the odd and even columns of the LCD. This utility model divides all the columns in the same row into odd and even columns. An opposite driver voltage waveform is output from between the odd and even columns of the neighboring columns. While the odd columns discharge, the even column recharges. This type of simultaneous discharge and recharge process creates just the right mutual electric charge compensation; and it results in minimizing the electric charge dissipation which saves energy.

Abstract: This invention is suitable for use in the field of integrated circuits. It provides a type of power source circuit. Said power source circuit includes: a charge pump circuit used to operate the charge pump to produce driving voltages; a first control circuit, used in the closed-loop control of said charge pump circuit to produce a positive high voltage; a bias-ratio circuit, used with the positive high voltage and the zero-potential voltage produced by the first control circuit to produce a positive sub-high voltage and a lowest positive high voltage; and a second control circuit, used in accordance with the positive sub-high voltage and the lowest positive high voltage produced by said bias-ratio circuit in the closed-loop control of said charge pump circuit to produce a negative high voltage.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for selecting the coarse frequency offset estimation in an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing system that may include: searching within a predefined subset for a set of frequency offset candidates; selectively searching outside the predefined subset for additional frequency offset candidates; and combining one or more ICDC method and CIR based method to select the coarse frequency offset.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an optical measurement and/or inspection device that, in one application, may be used for inspection of semiconductor devices. A method is disclosed for extracting information of a device-under-test for an ellipsometer, comprising the steps: providing a plurality of incoming polarized beams using a plurality of polarizers, where each of the beams being polarized at a designated polarizing angle; using a parabolic reflector to focus said plurality of incoming polarized beams on a spot on a DUT; using a parabolic reflector to collect a plurality of beams reflected from said DUT; and analyzing said collected beams using a plurality of analyzers, wherein each of the analyzers having a designated polarizing angle with respect to its respective polarizer.

Abstract: The subject invention is an immunoassay for the semi-quantitative test kit for determination of human chrionic gonadtropin (hCG) in fluid sample (such as urine) as an aid in the diagnosis of a certain stage of pregnancy. The test device includes five strips having each having a dipping end or sample ends where sample can be applied. Results are indicated by coloration of two bands across a clear area of the strips, one band being coated with a reagent such as hCG antigens and the other with a reagent such as goat/rabbit polyclonal antibody gold conjugate. The combination of color indications on the bands provides the test results.

Abstract: This invention describes methods and circuits for the segment driver circuit in a LCD driver system as well as application specific SEG decoder. The methods include the following steps: the array signal undergoes an inversion process (from 1 to 0, or from 0 to 1); the data and the array signal that has been processed through the inversion process then undergo a matrix operation; the signal that has gone through the matrix operation is then sent to a BBM (break before make) circuit. The signal processor of the application specific SEG decoder performs the inverse operation (from 1 to 0, or from 0 to 1) on the array signal; the decoding circuit performs the matrix operation on the signal that has been inversed (from 1 to 0, or from 0 to 1) before sending it to the BBM circuit.

Abstract: The present invention discloses enhanced separators for storage batteries with zinc negative electrodes. These enhanced separators include a separator layer and one or more resistive layers on said separator layer. The dimensions of the one or more resistive layers are less than or equal to that of the separator layer. Portions of the separator layer can also be treated with a PTFE suspension to increase the resistance at those portions. For storage batteries where the resistance along two edges of the separator layer has to be larger then the center, the enhanced separator include said resistive layers where each layer includes two independent parts positioned along the two edges of the separator layer. The edge portions of the separator layer can also be treated with a PTFE suspension. Using these enhanced separators in storage batteries with zinc negative electrodes can increase the capacity and prolong the life of the batteries.

Abstract: A type of lithium ion secondary battery is disclosed; therein, the positive electrode 1 is formed by smearing an active material on the surface of an aluminum foil body, where said active material is compound oxide(s) comprising transition metals and lithium capable of absorbing and releasing lithium ions; the negative electrode 2 is formed by smearing an active material on the surface of a copper foil body, where said active material includes carbon material capable of absorbing and releasing lithium ions. Both the positive and negative electrodes have conducting strips acting as current conductors 6, 7. The positive and negative electrodes 1, 2 are in plate form and are alternately stacked on both sides of the belt-shaped separator 3 to form the electrode core 4. The separator 3 wraps around said electrode plates and separates the positive and negative electrodes 1, 2.

Abstract: This invention provides a type of cathode flow field plate for fuel cells. The cathode flow field plate comprises a cooling flow field and a reacting flow field, gas entrances, gas exits and plate ribs. Here, an end of said flow field is connected to the gas entrances. The other end is connected to the gas exits. Said cooling flow field comprises of a distributing rib. Said distributing rib is located between the gas entrances and the gas exits. There are connecting pores between said gas entrances and the distributing rib. The cathode flow field plate for fuel cells provided in this invention uses the distributing rib and the connecting pores to divide the gas into cooling gas and reacting gas. Since a single gas source is used, the only parameter subject to adjustment is the total amount of gas flow. Thus the control of the gases is relatively simple. The devices controlling the sources of the cooling gas and the reacting gas can be minimized.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a proton exchange membrane having a polymer comprising of a main chain and a branch chain connected to said main chain wherein the chemical formula for said branch chain is and where n is an integer. Said main chain is a polymer selected from the group that includes: aliphatic polymers, aliphatic block polymers, and aliphatic random copolymers. The fabrication method for said polymers comprises the steps of: reacting a polymer having a benzene ring in its branch chain with a sulfo-alkylated chemical reagent and a catalyst in an anhydrous solvent in an inert atmosphere; separating the resulting sulfo-alkylated polymer; and acidifying to obtain said fabricated polymer. Proton exchange membranes made with these polymers are pliant, do not expand much during wet conditions, and, are chemically, hydrolytically, dimensionally and thermally stable.

Abstract: The present invention relates to lithium ion secondary batteries that have an enclosure with an electrode core compartment for holding the electrode core and a separate protection circuit compartment for holding the protection circuits, and terminal leads connecting the electrodes in the electrode core with the circuits in the protection circuit. The enclosure is made of non-conducting material such as plastic. The lithium batteries of this invention are light, not only because of the weight of the material of their enclosure, but also because its non-conducting character eliminates the necessity of additional protective features that are commonly necessary for enclosures with metal components.