Abstract: The invention relates to a circuit and method for receiving a signal of which—at the receiver end—the frequency is basically unknown. By sampling the data and deriving the frequency of the signal (or actually: the data rate of the data carried by the signal) and setting a phase locked loop in the receiver to the derived—estimated—circuit, the receiver can very quickly tune in to the frequency of the signal. Hence, no embedded or accompanying clock is required for the signal. Oversampling of the signal by the receiver front end is preferred, though.

Abstract: Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) is a typical multi-carrier technique that has been applied by many advanced wireless communication systems, e.g., 3GPP Long Term Evolution (LTE) and WiMAX. In order to support high mobility transmission, the sub-carrier spacing of multi-carrier systems is made large enough to overcome the Doppler frequency offset. However, this large sub-carrier spacing results in lower transmission efficiency since the CP (Cyclic Prefix) consumes a considerable of radio resources. The present invention provides an adaptive scheme to determine the sub-carrier spacing in which the default sub-carrier spacing is set to support lower mobility, while the adaptively adjusted sub-carrier spacing based on User Equipment (UE) mobile velocities is set to support higher mobility.

Abstract: A magnetic head according to one embodiment includes a side gap layer comprising primarily silicon nitride, wherein outer sides of the side gap layer taper away from one another from a leading end of the side gap layer towards a trailing end of the side gap layer; a seed layer above the silicon nitride side gap layer; and a magnetic pole on the seed layer. A method for forming a magnetic head according to one embodiment includes etching a channel in a silicon oxide layer; forming a side gap layer comprising primarily silicon nitride in the channel; forming a seed layer above the side gap layer; plating a pole on the seed layer; and removing the silicon oxide layer by wet etching. Additional systems and methods are also presented.

Abstract: A system for cover screw float detection. The system includes a drive cradle coupled to a structure. The system also includes a moveable portion coupled to the structure. The system further includes a sensor coupled to said structure. The system additionally includes another sensor coupled to the moveable portion. Spatial separation between the another sensor and the sensor when the moveable portion is oriented in a screw float check position indicates presence of cover screw float in a disk drive disposed in the drive cradle.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a lithography system in which intensities of individually modulated beams from a multitude of beams are determined, comprising a measuring device with a sensor having a sensor area adapted for simultaneously sensing a plurality of beams and providing an aggregated signal thereof. The beams are individually modulated according to associated temporal blanking patterns. The present invention further relates to a method for calculating individual beam intensities dependent on the measured aggregated signal and the temporal blanking patterns of the beams.

Abstract: An arrangement comprising at least a first photovoltaic module and a second photovoltaic module in a string is disclosed. The first photovoltaic module and second photovoltaic module are electrically connected in parallel and arranged to provide a DC voltage to a voltage bus. Also, an electrical connecting device configured for connecting to a photovoltaic module is disclosed. The electrical connecting device comprises first and second contacts for receiving a first DC voltage from the photovoltaic module and third and fourth contacts configured for electrically parallel connection to a DC voltage bus for providing a second DC voltage, dependent on the first DC voltage, to the DC voltage bus.

Abstract: Methods for manufacturing a bipolar transistor semiconductor device are described, along with devices fabricated in accordance with the methods. The methods include the steps of forming a stack of layers over a semiconductor body comprising a window definition layer (18,38), a layer (20) of semiconductor material, a first insulating layer (22), and a second insulating layer (24) which is selectively etchable with respect to the first insulating layer. A trench (26) is then etched into the stack down to the window definition layer. The portion of the trench extending through the second insulating layer is widened to form a wider trench portion (28) therethrough. A window (36) is defined in the window definition layer which is aligned with the wider trench portion, and serves to define the base-collector or base-emitter junction in the finished device.

Abstract: A composition comprises, based on the total weight of the composition, from 30 to 50 weight percent of an ionomeric telechelic polyalkylene ester comprising from 0.05 to 5 mole percent of sulfonate end groups; from 50 to 70 weight percent of a polycarbonate; from 0.1 to 10 weight percent of an organoclay; and from 2 to 12 weight percent of an impact modifier.

Abstract: A source configured to generate EUV radiation includes a fuel droplet generator configured to deliver a droplet of fuel to an interaction point, optics configured to deliver fuel vaporizing and exciting radiation to the interaction point to generate a plasma, and a collector arranged to collect EUV radiation emitted by the plasma. The optics are arranged such that in use the fuel vaporizing and exciting radiation is incident upon more than one side of the fuel droplet at the interaction point.

Abstract: A module for a modular conveyor mat includes a substantially flat metal body part having front and rear sides extending transversely to a conveying direction (P). Projections spaced apart by intermediate spaces form hinge loops attached to the body part. A plastic cover forming a conveying surface is attached to the body part and extends over and around at least one of the hinge loops. The invention also relates to a modular conveyor mat, comprising a multiple number of the modules.

Abstract: The combination of a rolling basket tillage implement and a seed distribution implement is disclosed. A height-adjustable mounting system for a rolling basket soil tillage implement is also disclosed for use with a planter that enables such an implement to be raised above the soil as needed to avoid wet conditions.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the enzymatic production of C6-C18 fatty alcohol and/or C8-C18 fatty acid, by carbon chain elongation, comprising the steps of: i) providing organic C2-C6 compounds; ii) subjecting the organic C2-C6 compounds to enzymatic carbon chain elongation in the presence of an electron donor; and iii) separating the formed C6-C18 fatty alcohol and/or C8-C18 fatty acid.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel processes for the manufacture of chroman derivatives such as ?-tocopherol (TCP) and alkanoates thereof, especially ?-tocopheryl acetate (TCPA), whereby at least one step of the processes is carried out in the presence of a Lewis acid or a mixture of a Lewis acid with a Bronsted acid as the catalyst under pressure, preferably at an absolute pressure of at least 1.1 bar. As starting materials for the manufacture of TCP and its alkanoates either a mixture of 2,3,5-trimethylhydroquinone (TMHQ) or 2,3,6-trimethylhydroquinone-1-alkanoate (TMHQA) and a compound selected from the group consisting of phytol (PH), isophytol (IP) and (iso)phytol derivatives or 2-phytyl-3,5,6-trimethyl-hydroquinone (PTMHQ)/3-phytyl-2,5,6-trimethylhydroquinone-1-alkanoate (PTMHQA) and/or an isomer thereof are used. Suitable Lewis acids are indium(III) salts and scandium(III) salts. Suitable acid mixtures are iron/iron(II) chloride/hydrogen chloride and zinc(II) chloride/hydrogen chloride.

Abstract: A method for the purification or recovery of lactide rich streams by the combination of a suspension-based melt crystallization process with a subsequent separation of the pure lactide crystals in a wash column is disclosed.

Abstract: Various embodiments relate to the production of erasure flags to indicate errors resulting from decoding of convolutional codes. A Viterbi decoder may use a register exchange method to produce a plurality of survivor codes. At a defined index, a majority vote may take place comparing values of bits in each of the survivor codes. This majority vote may involve obtaining both the quantity of high-order bits and the quantity of low-order bits and obtaining the difference of the two quantities. The absolute value of the difference of high-order bits to low-order bits may be compared to a defined threshold. When the absolute value difference is below the defined quantity, an erasure flag may be produced and associated with the bits of the defined index, indicating that they are eligible for erasure. In some embodiments, a Reed-Solomon decoder may use the erasure flag to target specific survivor bits or survivor bytes for error-correction through erasure.