Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for synchronizing an analog video signal to an LCD monitor is described. For each of a succession of associated video frames are surveyed for a number of displayed features based upon a pseudo-random selection of regions into which the displayed video frame is divided. During successive associated video frames, a minimum number of features each is which is generated by an associated pixel clock is determined based upon a pre-selected number of scans. Subsequent to the determination of the minimum number of features, a transition region for each of plurality of horizontal resolution values is determined by scanning through a selected number of pixel clock phases. Based upon a minimum transition zone corresponding to a maximum change in the number of features for a particular pixel clock phase, an associated horizontal resolution is provided.

Abstract: A partially completed multi-layered substrate, e.g., silicon on silicon. The substrate has a thickness of material from a first substrate. The thickness of material comprises a first face region. The substrate has a second substrate having a second face region. Preferably, the first face region of the thickness of material is joined to the second face region of the second substrate. The substrate has an interface region formed between the first face region of the thickness of material and the second face region of the second substrate. A plurality of particles are implanted within a portion of the thickness of the material and a portion of the interface region to electrically couple a portion of the thickness of material to a portion of the second substrate.

Abstract: A sheet stacking and pallet loading system configured to stack sheets of material on a first pallet while holding a second pallet in a staging position above the first pallet. The system can include an elevator for supporting the first pallet in a loading position while the sheets are stacked on the first pallet. After a sufficient quantity of sheets has been stacked thereon, the elevator can lower the first pallet from its loading position. The second pallet can then be lowered from its staging position such that the sheets can be stacked thereon. The system can further include extendable pallet supports which can be extended to support the second pallet while the first pallet is being lowered by the elevator. The pallet loading system can further include a pallet-grasping assembly having, first, a frame movable along a track and, second, one or more end-effectors movable relative to the frame for engaging a pallet.

Abstract: A lithium secondary battery includes a positive electrode made from a positive electrode active material and a semiconductor substrate that is directly laminated on the positive electrode. A charge carrier formed in the positive electrode active material when the lithium secondary battery is charged and a carrier of the semiconductor substrate are the same, and the semiconductor substrate is used as a collector.

Abstract: Methods and compositions relating to diagnosing and treating cardiomyopathy and particularly relating to methods and compositions for diagnosing and treating arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia/cardiomyopathy (ARVD/C) are described. Provided are methods for screening for, diagnosing or detecting a risk of developing arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia/cardiomyopathy (ARVD/C) comprising detecting the presence of a transmembrane protein 43 (TMEM43) disease associated variant in a sample of a subject, wherein the presence of a TMEM43 disease variant is indicative that the subject has ARVD/C or an increased risk of developing ARVD/C compared to an individual having wild type TMEM43.

Abstract: An improved free swinging hammer mill hammer design is disclosed and described for comminution of materials such as grain and refuse. The hammer design of the present art is adaptable to most hammer mill or grinders having free swinging systems. The improved hammermill hammer may incorporate multiple comminution edges for increased comminution efficiencies. The design as disclosed and claimed may be forged to increase the strength of the hammer. A rod hole shoulder surrounding a portion of the rod hole adjacent the neck may be reduced in the radial dimension. The shape of the hammer body may be varied, as disclosed and claimed, to further improve hammer strength, or reduce or maintain the weight of the hammer while increasing the amount of force delivered to the material to be comminuted.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of optimizing transmission (both real time and continuous) of a number of multimedia data packets between a multimedia source device and a multimedia display device is disclosed. In the described embodiment, the multimedia source device and the display device are coupled by way of a unidirectional main link arranged to carry the multimedia data packets from the multimedia source device and the multimedia display device and a bi-directional auxiliary channel arranged to transfer information between the multimedia source device and the multimedia display device. The method can be carried out by following at least the following operations. Providing a test pattern by the multimedia source device on the main link, determining a transmission quality factor of the main link based upon the test pattern, and optimizing the transmission of the multimedia data packets based upon the transmission quality factor.

Abstract: A film of material may be formed by providing a semiconductor substrate having a surface region and a cleave region located at a predetermined depth beneath the surface region. During a process of cleaving the film from the substrate, shear in the cleave region is carefully controlled. According to certain embodiments, an in-plane shear component (KII) is maintained near zero, sandwiched between a tensile region and a compressive region. In one embodiment, cleaving can be accomplished using a plate positioned over the substrate surface. The plate serves to constrain movement of the film during cleaving, and together with a localized thermal treatment reduces shear developed during the cleaving process. According to other embodiments, the KII component is purposefully maintained at a high level and serves to guide and drive fracture propagation through the cleave sequence.

Abstract: A method for management of a land base includes interfacing a machine or equipment to a computer running a geographical information system (GIS) application such that the computer is configured to monitor the operations performed by the equipment or machine on the land base and store the operations as map points, lines, or polygons on at least one data layer within the GIS application. The method further includes displaying the GIS application to the operator at the point and time of performing the operations.

Abstract: A packet based high bandwidth copy protection method is described that includes the following operations. Forming a number of data packets at a source device, encrypting selected ones of the data packets based upon a set of encryption values, transmitting the encrypted data packets from the source device to a sink device coupled thereto, decrypting the encrypted data packets based in part upon the encryption values, and accessing the decrypted data packets by the sink device.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an integrated circuit on semiconductor substrates, e.g., silicon wafer. The method includes providing a semiconductor substrate characterized by a first lattice with a first structure and a first spacing. In a specific embodiment, the semiconductor substrate has an overlying film of material with a second lattice with a second structure and a second spacing, the second spacing placing the film of material in a strain mode characterized by a first tensile and/or compressive mode along a single film surface crystal axis across a first portion of the film of material relative to the semiconductor substrate with the first structure and the first spacing. The method patterns a predetermined region of the first portion of the film of material to cause the first tensile and/or compressive mode in the first portion of the film of material to change to a second tensile and/or compressive mode in a resulting patterned portion of the first portion of the film of material.

Abstract: A method for fabricating bonded substrate structures, e.g., silicon on silicon. In a specific embodiment, the method includes providing a thickness of single crystal silicon material transferred from a first silicon substrate coupled to a second silicon substrate. In a specific embodiment, the second silicon substrate has a second surface region that is joined to a first surface region from the thickness of single crystal silicon material to form of an interface region having a first characteristic including a silicon oxide material between the thickness of single crystal silicon material and the second silicon substrate. The method includes subjecting the interface region to a thermal process to cause a change to the interface region from the first characteristic to a second characteristic.

Abstract: A method for forming a strained layer of semiconductor material, e.g., silicon, germanium, Group III/V, silicon germanium alloy. The method includes providing a non-deformable surface region having a first predetermined radius of curvature, which is defined by R(1) and is defined normal to the surface region. The method includes providing a first substrate (e.g., silicon wafer) having a first thickness. Preferably, the first substrate has a face, a backside, and a cleave plane defined within the first thickness. The method includes a step of overlying the backside of the first substrate on a portion of the surface region having the predetermined radius of curvature to cause a first bend within the thickness of material to form a first strain within a portion of the first thickness. The method provides a second substrate having a second thickness, which has a face and a backside.

Abstract: The present invention includes a harvesting and irrigation device, a method and a kit for the collection of viable fat cells and/or adipose tissue with decreased handing and improved yield and viability.

Abstract: The present invention includes a harvesting and irrigation device, a method and a kit for the collection of viable fat cells and/or adipose tissue with decreased handing and improved yield and viability.

Abstract: A computer-based method for determining a value of an index-offset deposit product, having a principal amount P, a term T, a specified guaranteed amount G, and an index credit C, comprising: d) setting trial values for fixed-income-linked crediting parameters for said product implying an expected fixed-income-linked credit component F at the end of the term T; e) determining a cost for an equity option paying equity-linked credit component E such that the index credit C=E+F, to be paid at T, together with the principal P, is at least equal to G; and f) summing said equity option cost, present value of principal, and present value of fixed-income-linked credit component to determine said value of said index-offset deposit product.

Abstract: A computer-based method for determining a set of equity-indexed crediting parameters E for a lifetime-income equity-indexed deposit product provided to a set of owners having a set of dates of birth B, a rider charge C, a lifetime income percentage scale L, a set of profitability requirements R, a principal amount P, and an account value A. The method can include the steps of: establishing the values of C, L, R, P, A and E at a time when said deposit product is purchased; generating a set of yield curve and equity index scenarios consistent with valuation parameters; setting a trial value Ei for E; calculating the observed distribution D of profitability; comparing D with R; and, computing a revised trial value Ei+1 for E, where the steps of establishing, generating, setting, calculating, comparing, and computing are performed by at least one general purpose computer.

Abstract: A system of introducing a particle beam such as a linear accelerator particle beam for low contaminate processing. The system includes an accelerator apparatus configured to generate a first particle beam including at least a first ionic specie in an energy level of 1 MeV to 5 MeV or greater. Additionally, the system includes a beam filter coupled to the linear accelerator apparatus to receive the first particle beam. The beam filter is in a first chamber and configured to generate a second particle beam with substantially the first ionic specie only. The first chamber is associated with a first pressure. The system further includes an end-station including a second chamber coupled to the first chamber for extracting the second particle beam. The second particle beam is irradiated onto a planar surface of a bulk workpiece loaded in the second chamber for implanting the first ionic specie. The second chamber is associated with a second pressure that is higher than the first pressure.

Abstract: A linear reformer for liberating hydrogen from a hydrogen containing feedstock, operable on both gaseous and liquid fuels, has a linear burner distributor with at least two fuel distribution apertures for distribution of fuel, a supply of air, where the fuel and air mix in a linear mixing cavity to form a catalytically combustible mixture, a catalytic burner element, an electric heater in heat transferring relation to at least one of the burner distributor and the catalytic burner element, a catalyst bed, a boiler for boiling and heating the feedstock, and an exhaust heat exchanger effective for pre-heating the supply of air to the burner.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for generating transfer curves for adaptive contrast enhancement. Transfer curves are generated so as to enhance the bright pixels in mostly dark images and the dark pixels in mostly bright images. For a dark image, a transfer curve is generated which increases luminance in high-luminance regions of the image without substantially changing the luminance in the mid- and low-luminance regions of the image. For a bright image, a transfer curve is generated which decreases the luminance in the dark areas of the image without substantially changing the luminance in the mid- and high-luminance regions of the image. For a medium-bright image, a transfer curve is generated with increases the luminance in the high-luminance range and decreases the luminance in the low-luminance range of the histogram without substantially changing the luminance in the medium-luminance range of the image.