Abstract: The present invention relates to a quadrature divider which may be used in a phase locked loop or frequency synthesizer or with a single side band mixer. According to a preferred embodiment the divider takes a quadrature input and has a quadrature output. The divider has four analog mixers 1, 2, 3 and 4. The first two mixers 1, 2 take the in-phase quadrature input, while the second mixers 3, 4 take the quadrature-phase quadrature input. The outputs and feedback loops of the mixers are properly arranged such that the in-phase and quadrature-phase outputs of the divider have a determinisitic phase sequence relationship based on the phase sequence relationship of the corresponding quadrature inputs. Third order harmonics may be minimized or reduced by addition or subtraction of the mixer outputs. As the divider is able to take a quadrature input, there is no need for a dummy divider in the phase locked loop, thus saving space and power.

Abstract: A method for electrochemically or electrically detecting nucleic acids, utilizes electrochemically active or electrically conductive reporter materials. An electric voltage is applied and electric signals are measured to the electrodes that are suitable for detecting or quantifying the nucleic acid(s) in a sample. This technique is suitable for point-of-use applications, e.g. detecting bioanalytes in remote locations. A microchip, device, kit used adapted to be used for this method is also disclosed.

Abstract: The presently described subject matter is directed to water-soluble conjugated polyene compounds that exhibit aggregation induced emission, as well as to water dispersible, fluorescent, polymeric microparticles and/or nanoparticles comprising the water-soluble conjugated polyene compounds. Also provided are methods of making and using the compounds and particles. The described conjugated polyene compounds are useful as bioprobes for the detection biomacromolecules, as well as in the manufacture of sensors.

Abstract: Pixels of an LCD are divided into two sub-pixels, one for a reflective mode and one for a transmittive mode. The cell gaps of both sub-pixels are the same, improving fabrication ease. A novel photoalignment technique is used together with a shadow mask in an embodiment of the invention. Double exposure of the alignment layer with different orientations produces different alignment directions, thereby achieving the different LCD modes for the sub-pixels.

Abstract: Crystallization-inducing metal elements are introduced onto an amorphous silicon thin film. A first, low-temperature, heat-treatment induces nucleation of metal-induced crystallization (MIC), resulting in the formation of small polycrystalline silicon “islands”. A metal-gettering layer is formed on the resulting partially crystallized thin film. A second, low-temperature, heat-treatment completes the MIC process, whilst gettering metal elements from the partially crystallized thin film. The process results in the desired polycrystalline silicon thin film.

Abstract: A tunable multiphase ring oscillator includes a plurality of stages connected in series in a ring structure, where each stage generating a stage output from a stage input. Each stage of the tunable multiphase ring oscillator includes a plurality of trans-conductance cells, each generating an output from at least one portion of the stage input. Each stage further includes at least one phase shifting module for imparting at least one phase shift to the at least one portion of the stage input, an oscillator unit for generating the stage output from a combination of the plurality of outputs, and means for varying at least one of the plurality outputs so as to adjust a phase of the stage output.

Abstract: The invention provides a CMOS CT detector design with high linearity, quantum-limited noise, good scalability, high fill factor with a single CMOS chip utilizing synchronous partial quantization. The CMOS CT detector includes a pixel array, digital column buses, analog column buses, column processing circuits, a shift register, a control signal generation circuit, and a reference generation circuit, and implements a synchronous partial quantization scheme with reset, integration and analog readout phases. Each pixel of the pixel array further includes a photodiode; an integration capacitor; an OPAMP; a reset switch; a comparator; a 1-bit dynamic random-access-memory (DRAM) cell; a circuit block for enabling subtraction of a substantially fixed amount of charge from the integrated photocharge if the integrated photovoltage increases beyond the reference voltage; an integration node; an analog buffer; and a switch coupled between the output of the DRAM cell and the digital column bus.

Abstract: The present invention provides an ultra-low power embedded CMOS temperature sensor based on serially connected subthreshold MOS operation particularly well suited for passive RFID food monitoring applications. Employing serially connected subthreshold MOS as sensing element enables reduced minimum supply voltage for further power reduction, which is very important in passive RFID applications. The temperature sensor may be part of a passive RFID tag and incorporates a temperature sensor core, proportional-to-absolute-temperature (PTAT) and complimentary-to-absolute-temperature (CTAT) delay generators, and a time-to-digital differential readout circuit. In one embodiment, the sensor is embedded inside a passive UHF RFID tag fabricated with a conventional 0.18 ?m 1P6M CMOS process. With the sensor core working under 0.5 V and digital interfacing under 1 V, the sensor dissipates a measured total power of 119 nW at 33 samples/s and achieves an inaccuracy of +1/?0.8° C. from ?10° C. to 30° C. after calibration.

Abstract: The invention relates to liquid crystal display cells with fast response and continuous gray scale. The liquid crystal cell is based on a field-sequential color system (“FSC”) and comprises a chiral smectic liquid crystal whose helix pitch is less than thickness of liquid crystal layer placed between two polarizers, as well as a source of voltage applied to electrodes of the cell, wherein the amplitude of the applied voltage is less than the critical voltage amplitude of the helix unwinding. The liquid crystal has one steady state corresponding to twisted helix without applied voltage.

Abstract: An efficient person search method utilizing human communications characteristics such as close social network, user-dependent hot list, and high skewness in access popularity. This method makes use of hot lists in the routing process and clusters people of the same community together in the search graph, thereof creating a “small-world” effect to minimize the hop counts routing would have to go through in a Peer-to-Peer environment.

Abstract: Methods and devices for fabricating AlGaN/GaN normally-off high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs). A fluorine-based (electronegative ions-based) plasma treatment or low-energy ion implantation is used to modify the drain-side surface field distribution without the use of a field plate electrode. The off-state breakdown voltage can be improved and current collapse can be completely suppressed in LDD-HEMTs with no significant degradation in gains and cutoff frequencies.

Abstract: A method is described for treating fabrics, yarns and individual fibers to improve the mechanical properties thereof, for example their wrinkle-resistance, by treating the fabric, yarn, and fibers in a solution containing polymer nanoparticles. The nanoparticles include two sizes of particles and an appropriate selection of the nanoparticles to control the degree and mode of cross-linking in the fabric with corresponding control of the mechanical properties. The nanoparticles can be provided with an electrical charge that can be opposite in sign to any charge carried by the fabric in order to enhance the formation of a polymer film on the fabric.

Abstract: A system, structure, and method of making the structure are disclosed for generating a large chemical potential difference between spin-up and spin-down electrons in non-magnetic materials. The device includes an inverse spin valve of a sandwiched layer structure with alternating non-magnetic and magnetic layers. In an embodiment of the invention, the structure is a tri-layer device with a magnetic layer sandwiched by two non-magnetic metals. Once the inverse spin valve structure is provided, an external electric field is applied to the inverse spin valve to generate a large chemical potential difference between the spin-up and spin-down electrons. In an embodiment of the invention, this feature is exploited to create a tunable light emitting diode or laser. In an embodiment of the invention, a dynamical magnetism is induced and controlled in the valve by an electric field. The dynamical magnetization may be used as spin source, or in electronic storage devices.

Abstract: The construction of electrodes for liquid-crystal displays using larger grain lower absorption (LGLA) poly-Si showing an absorptivity below 20% in the visible light region is described. Integration in the manufacturing of substrates for active-matrix LCDs is shown. Source, drain and channel region (108b, 108c, 108d) of the TFTs as well as the pixel-electrode (108e) are formed conjointly in a single poly-Si layer.

Abstract: This invention presents an apparatus and system and its accompanying method for automatically placing of RFID antennas and a method for obtaining a readable region for passive RFID Tags are disclosed. The apparatus and system include a Portable and Adjustable Mounting Framework (PAMF) with built in chain belt for holding the RFID antennas, an Antenna Position Controller (APC) and Antenna Position Holders (APH) for control the movement of the antennas, a Moveable Object Platform (MOP) for carrying a number of RFID tags and a Computer Integrated System (CIS) with Readable Region Analysis (RRA) software to capture the transmitted and received RF signal from/to the RFID readers.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the critical foot and shoe-last dimensions and variables is provided. The apparatus includes a surface for a foot to stand on, a mechanism to determine the axis passing through heel centerline, a mechanism to determine the foot or shoe last width measurement, a mechanism to determine the axis passing through center of the foot (or last) width, a mechanism to determine the mid-foot height and a mechanism to determine heel width. Based on the above mentioned mechanisms, the apparatus can determine the required dimensions and the curvature of a person's foot, called the flare angle, and as well as the curvature of a shoe-last so that footwear fitting can be improved.

Abstract: A method for and devices utilizing monolithic integration of enhancement-mode and depletion-mode AlGaN/GaN heterojunction field-effect transistors (HFETs) is disclosed. Source and drain ohmic contacts of HFETs are first defined. Gate electrodes of the depletion-mode HFETs are then defined. Gate electrodes of the enhancement-mode HFETs are then defined using fluoride-based plasma treatment and high temperature post-gate annealing of the sample. Device isolation is achieved by either mesa etching or fluoride-based plasma treatment. This method provides a complete planar process for GaN-based integrated circuits favored in high-density and high-speed applications.

Abstract: Metal induced polycrystallized silicon is used as the anode in a light emitting device, such as an OLED or AMOLED. The polycrystallized silicon is sufficiently non-absorptive, transparent and made sufficiently conductive for this purpose. A thin film transistor can be formed onto the polycrystallized silicon anode, with the silicon anode acting as the drain of the thin film transistor, thereby simplifying production.

Abstract: This invention pertains to the design and construction of retardation films (or plates) with any targeted dispersive property, including those with no wavelength dependence for the entire visible range. In particular, this invention deals with specific design of films with broadband (achromatic) quarterwave and halfwave retardation.

Abstract: It is known to represent a square block of an image which has a maximum horizontal or vertical extension N as N vectors each representing one column or row, and encode it using an N×N discrete cosine transform matrix. We introduce a technique which transforms an input vector, or array, representing a portion of an arbitrarily-shaped object block in which the maximum horizontal or vertical extension is at most N, by adding to it additional padding elements, to produce a vector or array which can be encoded using an N×N discrete cosine transform. The padding maximises the number of transformed elements which are zero. We propose encoding arbitrarily-shaped objects based on this padding technique.