Abstract: A bandgap reference voltage generator has a first stage that generates a first current that is complementary-to-absolute-temperature (Ictat) and a second stage that generates a current that is proportional-to-absolute-temperature (Iptat). The Ictat and Iptat currents are both forced through a summing resistor to generate a voltage that is relatively independent of temperature, since the Ictat and Iptat currents cancel out each other's temperature dependencies. A PMOS output transistor drives current to an output load to maintain the load at the reference voltage. An op amp drives the gate of the PMOS output transistor and has inputs connected to emitters of PNP transistors in the second stage. A series of resistors generate the reference voltage between the PMOS output transistor and ground and drives bases of the PNP transistors and includes the summing resistor. Parasitic PNP transistors in an all-CMOS process are used. The generator operates with a 1-volt power supply.

Abstract: A heat exchange structure includes elongated air ducts. Each air duct has a first opening and a second opening at two ends of the air duct to allow air to enter and exit the air duct, respectively. The heat exchange structure includes an exterior heat exchange surface and interior heat exchange surfaces, in which the exterior heat exchange surface is configured to receive thermal energy from heat generators that are mounted on the exterior heat exchange surface, and the exterior heat exchange surface dissipates a portion of the thermal energy received from the heat generators and transfers another portion of the thermal energy to the interior heat exchange surfaces. The interior heat exchange surfaces are in the elongated air ducts and configured to exchange thermal energy with air flowing in the air ducts, enhancing air flow in the air ducts by buoyancy of heated air.

Abstract: A heat exchange structure includes elongated air ducts. Each air duct has a first opening and a second opening at two ends of the air duct to allow air to enter and exit the air duct, respectively. The heat exchange structure includes an exterior heat exchange surface and interior heat exchange surfaces, in which the exterior heat exchange surface is configured to receive thermal energy from heat generators that are mounted on the exterior heat exchange surface, and the exterior heat exchange surface dissipates a portion of the thermal energy received from the heat generators and transfers another portion of the thermal energy to the interior heat exchange surfaces. The interior heat exchange surfaces are in the elongated air ducts and configured to exchange thermal energy with air flowing in the air ducts, enhancing air flow in the air ducts by buoyancy of heated air.

Abstract: An oscillator operates at a very low voltage yet has a duty cycle that is set by a ratio of capacitors that are charged and discharged. Sub-threshold p-channel transistors conduct sub-threshold currents below the normal threshold voltage, and drive set and reset inputs of a set-reset S-R latch. The S-R latch drives the oscillator outputs. The oscillator outputs feed back to charging p-channel transistors that charge one plate of the capacitors. During half of the cycle, the charging p-channel transistor is off, allowing one plate of the capacitors to discharge through an n-channel discharge transistor. After a period of discharge determined by the capacitance of the capacitor, the gate of a sub-threshold p-channel transistor falls enough for sub-threshold current to flow, triggering the set or reset input of the S-R latch. Since sub-threshold currents are needed to toggle the S-R latch, the oscillator begins to oscillate below the threshold voltage.

Abstract: A zero-delay clock generator has a phase-locked loop (PLL) that generates a feedback clock and receives a reference clocks. All clocks are differential and have a common-mode voltage. The common-mode voltage of an externally-generated reference clock can vary from the common-mode voltage of the internally-generated feedback clock. Differences in common-mode voltage of the reference clock and feedback clock cause delay variations resulting in static phase offsets of generated clocks. A common-mode sense and equalizer senses the common-mode voltages of the buffered reference and feedback clocks, and generates control voltages. The control voltages adjust the common-mode voltage and delay of differential buffers that receive the reference and feedback clocks. The control voltages adjust the differential buffers to match the common-mode voltages of the buffered reference and feedback clocks. The buffered clocks are then applied to a phase and frequency detector of the PLL.

Abstract: A stacked multi-chip package with an EMI shielded component has first and second substrates mounted together by a grid array of metallic connecting nodes, such as a solder Ball Grid Array. Each substrate has a conductive plane associated with it. An electronic component is mounted between the first and second substrates and is surrounded by a group of the metallic connecting nodes that are also electrically connected to the conductive planes of both substrates to form a conductive Faraday cage about the component.

Abstract: A vertical gallium-nitrate-based LED and method of making a vertical gallium-nitrate-based LED using a stop layer is provided. Embodiments of the present invention use mechanical thinning and a plurality of superhard stop points to remove epitaxial layers with a high level of certainty. According one embodiment, the method of making a vertical LED includes forming a plurality of layers on a sapphire substrate, forming a plurality of stop points in the plurality of layers, removing the sapphire substrate and part of a u-GaN layer using mechanical thinning, wherein the mechanical thinning stops at an end of the plurality of stop points, selectively etching the u-GaN layer and exposing at least a part of the highly doped stop layer, and forming an n-electrode on the highly doped stop layer.

Abstract: A heat exchange device that includes a structural section and a thin layer of material attached to a surface of the structural section. The thin layer of material has a thickness less than 100 microns. The combination of the structural section and the thin layer of material has a higher thermal transfer coefficient than the structural section alone, the thermal transfer coefficient representing an ability to exchange thermal energy with an ambient gas.

Abstract: A heat exchange device that includes a structural section and a thin layer of material attached to a surface of the structural section. The thin layer of material has a thickness less than 100 microns. The combination of the structural section and the thin layer of material has a higher thermal transfer coefficient than the structural section alone, the thermal transfer coefficient representing an ability to exchange thermal energy with an ambient gas.

Abstract: A heat exchange device that includes a structural section and a thin layer of material attached to a surface of the structural section. The thin layer of material has a thickness less than 100 microns. The combination of the structural section and the thin layer of material has a higher thermal transfer coefficient than the structural section alone, the thermal transfer coefficient representing an ability to exchange thermal energy with an ambient gas.

Abstract: A heat exchange device that includes a structural section and a thin layer of material attached to a surface of the structural section. The thin layer of material has a thickness less than 100 microns. The combination of the structural section and the thin layer of material has a higher thermal transfer coefficient than the structural section alone, the thermal transfer coefficient representing an ability to exchange thermal energy with an ambient gas.

Abstract: A heat exchange structure includes a plurality of elongated air ducts. The heat exchange structure has an exterior heat exchange surface and interior heat exchange surfaces, the interior surfaces being in the elongated air ducts. The heat exchange structure includes a plurality of heat generators that are distributed on the exterior heat exchange surface along an elongated direction of the air ducts, in which air flowing in the air duct is heated successively by heat from the heat generators, and air flow in the air duct is enhanced by buoyancy of heated air.

Abstract: A method of sensing movement or proximity of objects by optical reflection is provided. The method includes the steps of transmitting a train of optical pulses towards a destination, sensing optical pulses reflected from the destination, and sensing and evaluating movement or proximity characteristics of objects at the destination with reference to variation in pulse width between transmitted and reflected optical pulses.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a disposable container for a medicament or cosmetic agent for topical application, containing a single dose of melatonin or of a melatonin derivative which corresponds to a locally effective dose but which does not cause any systemic effect.

Abstract: A material processing apparatus having an integrated toroidal plasma source is described. The material processing apparatus includes a plasma chamber that comprises a portion of an outer surface of a process chamber. A transformer having a magnetic core surrounds a portion of the plasma chamber. The transformer has a primary winding. A solid state AC switching power supply comprising one or more switching semiconductor devices is coupled to a voltage supply and has an output that is coupled to the primary winding. The solid state AC switching power supply drives an AC current in the primary winding that induces an AC potential inside the chamber that directly forms a toroidal plasma that completes a secondary circuit of the transformer and dissociates the gas.

Abstract: Apparatus for dissociating gases includes a plasma chamber comprising a gas. A first transformer having a first magnetic core surrounds a first portion of the plasma chamber and has a first primary winding. A second transformer having a second magnetic core surrounds a second portion of the plasma chamber and has a second primary winding. A first solid state AC switching power supply including one or more switching semiconductor devices is coupled to a first voltage supply and has a first output that is coupled to the first primary winding. A second solid state AC switching power supply including one or more switching semiconductor devices is coupled to a second voltage supply and has a second output that is coupled to the second primary winding. The first solid state AC switching power supply drives a first AC current in the first primary winding. The second solid state AC switching power supply drives a second AC current in the second primary winding.

Abstract: Plasma ignition and cooling apparatus and methods for plasma systems are described. An apparatus can include a vessel and at least one ignition electrode adjacent to the vessel. A total length of a dimension of the at least one ignition electrode is greater than 10% of a length of the vessel's channel. The apparatus can include a dielectric toroidal vessel, a heat sink having multiple segments urged toward the vessel by a spring-loaded mechanism, and a thermal interface between the vessel and the heat sink. A method can include providing a gas having a flow rate and a pressure and directing a portion of the flow rate of the gas into a vessel channel. The gas is ignited in the channel while the remaining portion of the flow rate is directed away from the channel.

Abstract: The invention relates to novel nucleic acid sequences which encode human autoantibodies and antiidiotypic antibodies against blood platelet membrane proteins, to novel amino acid sequences of human antibodies, and to their use for the diagnosis and therapy of diseases.

Abstract: An apparatus for dissociating gases includes a plasma chamber that may be formed from a metallic material and a transformer having a magnetic core surrounding a portion of the plasma chamber and having a primary winding. The apparatus also includes one or more switching semiconductor devices that are directly coupled to a voltage supply and that have an output coupled to the primary winding of the transformer. The one or more switching semiconductor devices drive current in the primary winding that induces a potential inside the chamber that forms a plasma which completes a secondary circuit of the transformer.

Abstract: Nucleotide sequences are used to store meaningful information, such as letters, words, phrases, signs, icons, musical notes, numbers or bits and bitmaps in any cultural context including languages, phonetics, multimedia applications, codes, abbreviations, personal and scientific information. The information is stored by creating a plurality of codons composed of nucleotides that it is readable by any technique that is capable of analyzing nucleotide sequences. The information can also be encrypted by all known or to be developed algorithms of cryptography.