Abstract: An optical readout device for reading out data from an electroluminescent data storage medium, comprising: a driving circuit (4) for driving the radiation-emitting material with a time-varying applied signal; a radiation detector array (6) for detecting radiation emitted from the data storage medium and for generating radiation detection signals; and a processing part (8) arranged to process the detection signals to distinguish a detection signal resulting from reading different types of marks in the data storage medium in dependence on a timing reference signal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compounds of the formula (I), wherein R is independently SO3? or CH3; the spacer is a flexible spacer of a length of 13-25 atoms; the charge of the pentasaccharide residue is compensated by positively charged counterions; and the total number of sulfate groups in the pentasaccharide residue is 4, 5 or 6; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, a prodrug or a solvate thereof. The compounds of the invention have antithrombotic activity and can be used in treating or preventing thrombin-related diseases.

Abstract: The electrical consumption of a cellular mobile telephone is reduced by using fractional-division phase-locked loops receiving a frequency reference from a fairly inaccurate quartz oscillator. Electrical consumption is also reduced by switching the output of the oscillator onto the input of the processing stage when the transmission/reception stage is inactive. The fractional-division phase-locked loops can then be deactivated.

Abstract: The invention provides an amplifier circuit made by digital CMOS processes, the amplifier circuit comprising a main operational amplifier with at least one input and at least one output and a feedback loop including a non-linear gateoxide capacitor, wherein a voltage control means is connected to the main operational amplifier to provide a voltage difference between the output common mode voltage and the input common mode voltage of the main operational amplifier to apply a DC biasing voltage across the non-linear gateoxide capacitor sufficient to operate the non-linear gateoxide capacitor in a bias range where the capacity of the none-linear gateoxide capacitor is almost independent of the applied voltage comprising the bias voltage plus a signal voltage.

Abstract: The inherent capacitance between the substrate and the drain of an SOI device is utilized as part of a circuit. The substrate is connected to a sensing pin brought external to the chip, and other electronic components are hooked up to form a circuit that includes and operates with the inherent capacitance between the substrate and the drain.

Abstract: A superhet receiver in which an input signal is frequency down-converted in a first mixer (14) to produce a first IF signal comprising a wanted channel signal and an image channel signal. The first IF signal, without image rejection filtering, is frequency down-converted in a second mixer (24) to produce a second, lower IF signal comprising at least the wanted channel signal having a bandwidth corresponding to a predetermined passband of a channel filter (32) coupled to the output of the second mixer. The local oscillator signals used in the first and second frequency down conversion processes are varied in order to produce successively different image channel signals in the first IF signal and to maintain the wanted channel signal in the second IF signal within the passband of the channel filter (32).

Abstract: A lithography system and method are used to increase throughput using multiple reticles to pattern multiple substrates that are positioned with respect to one another according to a predetermined sequence. For example, during a first exposure period a first reticle patterns a first set of substrates, during a second exposure period a second reticle patterns the first set of substrates and a second set of substrates, and during a third exposure period the first reticle patterns the second set of substrates, etc. This can continue with further pairs of substrates until all desired substrates are patterned. It is to be appreciated that after the first and second reticles are complete, third and fourth reticles can pattern the first and second, sets of substrates. As another example, other sequences can also be performed using four exposure periods.

Abstract: The invention relates to method and apparatus for controlling the powering of electric drive motors (8) of a group of at least two machines (2, 3, 4), the motors operating in periodic motions, wherein the periodic motions are mutually coordinated in a manner so as to control a parameter which is representative of the operations of the machines. Parameters may include one or more of the sum of the electric power applied to the drive motors, the magnitude of the noise level generated by the machines and machine-caused vibrations. The drive motors of one machine may be controlled as a function of the periodic motion of the drive motor of the other machine, and power applied to one drive motor may be applied as a function of a mutually related drive motion of the machines.

Abstract: A frequency hopping system comprises a transmitting station and a receiving station, both stations storing a frequency hopping sequence comprising a predetermined sequence of N frequencies, where N is an integer greater than 2. In order for the receiving station to acquire synchronization with the transmitter which is continuously hopping through the sequence of frequencies, the receiver initiates a search by tuning to one of the N frequencies and checking if that frequency corresponds to the currently transmitted frequency during that hop period. If it does not correspond, the receiver eliminates the phase of hopping sequence associated with that frequency and tunes to another of the N frequencies with the exception of the next frequency in the eliminated phase and checks for correspondence. If there is not correspondence then the phase of the hopping sequence associated with that frequency is also eliminated from the search.

Abstract: Digital to analogue conversion in an AMLCD is obtained by using the column electrode capacitance as part of the digital to analogue conversion circuit by dividing columns (19) into separate sections and serially performing the conversion via switching elements (31). Alternative embodiments comprise a column driver circuit with capacitors having a (binary) divided range of capacitance or use column sub-electrodes of different widths.

Abstract: A system and method are provided that maintains a high pH at the wafer surface through the entire polish process and then lowers the pH only when necessary in a controlled fashion after CMP and during the post-polish clean. A fluid having a high pH chemistry and, optionally, surfactants is used instead of deionized water to keep the wafer and polisher components wet and to clean the slurry residue from the polishing pad.

Abstract: Gradient pulses are generated by current conducting gradient coils. High-frequency components cause the center of gravity of the current to be shifted by mutual influencing of the coil conductors. The shift depends on the electrical resistance of the conductor material, which in turn depends on the temperature of said conductor material, and on the frequency (, such that the magnetic gradient field B decreases with increasing frequency. This phenomenon manifests itself as a delay (of the gradient pulse with respect to the gradient demand D. The invention proposes to determine during the pulse a quantity representing the conducting state of the conductors of the gradient system and to use a model of the MRI apparatus to calculate the gradient delay (from that quantity and to correct the gradient demand for said delay.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of determining the background-corrected counts of radiation quanta of an X-ray energy spectrum relating to a sample of interest. To this end, two or more different measurement windows are defined in the spectrum. In these windows the counts of radiation quanta are measured and a pair consisting of a first and a second measurement window is selected. A background signal for the first measurement window is calculated on the basis of the counts of radiation quanta in the second measurement window while using a relation defined between said pair of measurement windows. Said background signal is subtracted from the counts of radiation quanta in the first measurement window, thus yielding the background-corrected counts of radiation quanta in the first measurement window. A spectrometer with means for carrying out the steps of the method and a computer program for carrying out the steps of the method are also provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to an encoding method for the compression of a video sequence divided into groups of frames (GOFs), each of which is decomposed by means of a three-dimensional (3D) wavelet transform comprising successively, at each decomposition level, a motion compensation step, a temporal filtering step, and a spatial decomposition step. The motion compensation is based on a motion estimation leading to motion vectors which are encoded and put in the coded bitstream together with, and just before, the coded texture information of the concerned spatial decomposition level. The encoding operation of the motion vectors is carried out at the lowest spatial resolution, and only refinement bits of said motion vectors at each of the other spatial resolutions are put in the coded bitstream refinement bitplane by refinement bitplane.

Abstract: In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a method of and system for improving temporal consistency of an enhanced signal representative of at least one frame using a sharpness enhancement algorithm with an enhancement gain are provided. The method comprises the steps of: receiving the enhanced signal comprising at least one frame, obtaining an enhancement gain for each pixel in the frame, retrieving an enhancement gain value of each pixel in a reference frame from a gain memory using motion vectors, identifying if the frame is an I, P or B frame type and determining an updated enhancement gain for an I frame type by calculating a gain map for use in the sharpness enhancement algorithm. The updated enhancement gain of each pixel is equal to enhancement gain previously determined for use in the sharpness enhancement algorithm.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a process for activating a catalyst composition comprising at least one hydrogenation metal component of Group VI and/or Group VIII of the Periodic Table, and an S-containing organic additive, wherein the catalyst is contacted with hydrogen at a temperature between room temperature and about 600° C., preferably about 100-450° C., and prior to or during the contacting with hydrogen the catalyst is contacted with an organic liquid. Preferably, the contacting with the organic liquid is carried out prior to the contacting with hydrogen. The organic liquid may be a hydrocarbon with a boiling range of 150-500° C., preferably white oil, gasoline, diesel, or gas oil or mineral lube oil. It was found that the application of an organic liquid prior to or during the hydrogen treatment results in catalysts with an increased activity. The invention also comprises catalyst made by the above process and the use of such catalyst in hydrotreating.

Abstract: Peptide sequences are provided which are capable of mimicking proteins encoded by HCV for use as reagents for screening of blood and blood products for prior exposure to HCV. The peptides are at least 5 amino acids long and can be used in various specific assays for the detection of antibodies to HCV, for the detection of HCV antigens, or as immunogens.

Abstract: A device for storing heat-generating hazardous material, particularly radio-active fuel for nuclear reactors, comprises a substantially cylindrical, reinforced concrete body (11) with a cylindrical through center passage (13) and a plurality of axially elongate, substantially cylindrical storage spaces for accommodating the hazardous material which are disposed around and parallel to and radially spaced spaced from the center passage. The storage spaces are formed by sealed storage vessels (21) containing a fluid coolant and made of a heat-conducting material and being encapsulated in the concrete body (11). Heat transferred inwardly from the storage vessels (21) is carried away from the device by air or other fluid coolant flowing upwardly in the center passage (13).