Abstract: A voltage level shifter comprises an input stage in the form of cross-coupled source followers and an output stage in the form of an amplifier AMP, which may have single-ended or differential inputs. The source followers comprise the transistors M1 and M2 and the transistors M3 and M4. Differential inputs IN and !IN are connected to the gates of the transistors M2 and M4. A bias voltage is supplied to the gate of the transistor M1 from a node B to which the drain of the transistor M3 and the source of the transistor M4 are connected. Similarly, a bias voltage is supplied to the gate of the transistor M3 from a node A to which the drain of the transistor M1 and the source of the transistor M2 are connected.

Abstract: There are provided: a first logic operation circuit which performs a logic operation using a high-amplitude logic signal; a transmission system having a load capacitance; and a low-voltage signal generator which is a step-down level shifter transforming an incoming high-amplitude logic signal from the first logic operation circuit to a low-amplitude logic signal having a lower amplitude than the high-amplitude logic signal for output to the transmission system. In the configuration, the first logic operation circuit operates based on a high-amplitude logic signal, and is therefore free from malfunctions and performs operations at high speed. Further, the transmission system introducing a load capacitance transmits a low-amplitude logic signal and therefore restrains increases in electric power consumption and occurrence of unnecessary radiation.

Abstract: A voltage level shifter comprises an input stage in the form of cross-coupled source followers and an output stage in the form of an amplifier AMP, which may have single-ended or differential inputs. The source followers comprise the transistors M1 and M2 and the transistors M3 and M4. Differential inputs IN and !IN are connected to the gates of the transistors M2 and M4. A bias voltage is supplied to the gate of the transistor M1 from a node B to which the drain of the transistor M3 and the source of the transistor M4 are connected. Similarly, a bias voltage is supplied to the gate of the transistor M3 from a node A to which the drain of the transistor M1 and the source of the transistor M2 are connected.

Abstract: An active matrix device comprises an array of picture elements. Each picture element has an image element, such as an LCD cell (11) connected to a first storage capacitor 12 and arranged to be connected to a data line 4 by an thin film transistor 10 when activated by a scan signal on a scan line 6. A second storage capacitor 21 can be connected across the first capacitor 12 by means of another thin film transistor 20 when desired so as to increase the storage capacitance at the pixel.

Abstract: The sensory attributes and/or visibility of deposits of wax-structured antiperspirant or deodorant sticks in the form of emulsions can vary significantly depending on the formulation employed. A particularly beneficial balance of attributes is obtained in emulsion sticks by employing a composition comprising a continuous phase which comprises from 10 to 35% volatile silicone oil, and from 5 to 15% non-volatile hydrophobic oil, from 40 to 75% of ta disperse aqueous phase which contains from 1 to 35% of an antiperspirant or deodorant active, from 7 to 25% of a wax structurant, from 0.1 to 10% of an emulsifier, and preferably contains up to 5% insoluble particulate materials, %s being by weight based on the composition.

Abstract: A frame rate controller 20 is provided for controlling the frame refresh rate of an active matrix display. The controller 20 comprises a first circuit such as a preloadable synchronous counter 21 which counts vertical synchronization signals VSYNC and supplies an enable signal FE for every Nth frame of data, where N is an integer greater than zero and is selectable. A gating arrangement 26 is controlled by the enable signal FE so that an active matrix display is refreshed for every Nth frame of data, thus allowing a reduction in power consumption of the display.

Abstract: Multi-format sampling registers, digital to analogue converters, data drivers and active matrix displays are provided which provide power saving in lower resolution formats by disabling circuitry which is not required in those formats.

Abstract: An active matrix device includes a data line driver circuit for sampling the input signal to produce data signals for each of the rows of control elements in a corresponding line period, and a scan line driver circuit for addressing the scan lines sequentially by applying a scan signal to the scan inputs of the control elements along each of the rows so as to supply said data signals to the control elements along the row. Such circuits are controlled so that a data input signal is sampled and stored to produce data signals for a first group of the control elements along the row in a first line subperiod and the stored data signals are applied to the first group of control elements in a second line subperiod, and so that the data input signal is sampled and stored to produce data signals for a second group of control elements along the row in the second line subperiod and the stored data signals are applied to the second group of control elements in a subsequent line subperiod.

Abstract: A display device comprising a plurality of picture elements arranged in rows and columns, each picture element being switchable between at least two states having different optical output characteristics, a plurality of row and column drivers, connected to said rows and columns respectively, for switching said picture elements between said states, wherein at least one switch is provided for switching at least one of said drivers between a first configuration in which the driver drives at least one row or column, and a second configuration, different from said first configuration, in which the driver drives at least two rows or columns.

Abstract: An image display device includes two data signal line drive circuits and two scan signal line drive circuits configured differently from each other. Different data signal line drive circuits and scan signal line drive circuit are compatible with different display formats. A display can be produced in the most suitable display format, and power consumption also can be reduced, by switch operating drive circuits according to the kind of input video and environmental conditions. Further, an image can be written over another image by writing video signals to signal lines with a time lag using a plurality of drive circuits; therefore, a superimposed display can be produced without externally processing the video signals. Thus, both a satisfactory image display and low power consumption can be achieved in an image display device.

Abstract: A level-shifting pass gate comprises a field effect transistor (M1) whose source is connected to a signal input (IN) and whose drain is connected to a signal output (OUT). A load (R) is connected between the drain of the transistor (M1) and a supply line (vdd). A control means (1) has an enable input (EN) which receives signals for enabling or disabling the pass gate. When the gate is enabled, the control means (1) controls the transistor (M1) and possibly the load (R) so that an input logic low level is passed substantially unchanged whereas a relatively low input high level is shifted to a higher output logic high level approaching the supply voltage. When the pass gate is disabled, the transistor (M1) is switched off so that the input (IN) is isolated from the output (OUT) and assumes a high impedance state. Conversely, when disabled, the output (OUT) defaults to a predetermined state, such as logic low, logic high or high impedance.

Abstract: A firm solid antiperspirant composition having a continuous phase comprising water-immiscible liquid containing i) one or more gelating structurant materials which form a network of fibres within the liquid, and ii) a polymeric thickener which has an organic polymer backbone containing at least five monomer repeat units, which polymer has the ability to increase the viscosity of the water-immiscible liquid in the absence of the gelating structurant materials; and iii) an antiperspirant active dispersed in the continuous phase, said composition being free from or containing less than 3% by weight of a fatty alcohol that is solid at 20° C.

Abstract: Soft solid antiperspirant formulations in which a particulate antiperspirant active material is suspended in a continuous phase containing a water-immiscible liquid which is structured by specified proportions of an organic polymeric thickener and a second structurant selected from fibre-forming structurants and waxes (often other than fatty alcohols) or a mixture of both. Such soft solid formulations avoid or minimise problems inherent in production of many published formulations such as sensitivity to small changes in concentration of the structurant.

Abstract: A firm solid antiperspirant composition having a continuous phase comprising water-immiscible liquid containing

Abstract: A static clock pulse generator comprises a plurality of stages, each of which comprises a reset-set flip-flop and a gating circuit. Complementary outputs of the flip-flop control the gating circuit for supplying clock pulses from a clock input to the output of the stage. When the gating circuit is switched off, it holds the output at a default level. The flip-flop has a set input which receives the output from the preceding stage and a reset input which receives the output from the following stage.

Abstract: A static clock pulse generator comprises a plurality of stages 1,2, each of which comprises a D-type flip-flop 3 and a gating circuit 4. The flip-flop 3 supplies output signals Q of the stage which are also used as gating signals for the gating circuit 4 of the following stage. The gating circuit 4 supplies a signal to the data input D of the flip-flop 3 when its gating input G is active and a clock pulse is present on the clock input CK or !CK. An asynchronous reset signal R is supplied to the flip-flop 3 from the following stage.

Abstract: A digital-to-analog converter comprises a first converter stage 1 for converting the m most significant bits of a k bit input signal to upper and lower voltage limits VL and VH by selecting the appropriate low impedance reference voltages. A second converter stage 2 performs a linear conversion of the n least significant bits of the k bit input within the voltage range defined by the voltage limits VL and VH. A precharging circuit comprising switches SW1 and SW2 disconnects the stage 2 from the load CLOAD, which is charged to the voltage limit VL during a precharge phase. The load is subsequently disconnected from the voltage limit VL and connected to the output of the stage 2 to complete charging of the load CLOAD to the converter output voltage.

Abstract: Anhydrous antiperspirant formulations in which a particulate antiperspirant active is suspended in a carrier fluid can result in significant visible deposits when applied to skin or when transferred onto clothing. Anhydrous antiperspirant suspension sticks which exhibit very low visible deposits are obtainable by employing a carrier fluid in which at least 45% and preferably at least 60% of its weight comprises an oxygen-containing emollient oil having a refractive index of at least 1.465, in conjunction with structurant comprises a wax or a non-polymeric fiber-forming gellant, excluding certain gellants or gellant combinations. Preferred emollient oils include alkyl benzoates and alkylphenylsiloxanes. The waxes can even comprise fatty alcohols.

Abstract: Antiperspirant compositions herein comprise an antiperspirant active, together with a carrier and a structurant for the carrier which comprises an organic wax having a melting point of from 40 to 90° C. of which at least 60% of the weight of the wax is provided by at least one aliphatic ester satisfying the formula: CH3—(CH2)n—CO—(CH2)m—CH3 in which n is from 9 to 39 and m is from 0 to 35 to form a solid or a soft solid. The compositions can be anhydrous, in the form of a suspension of antiperspirant active, or can comprise aqueous emulsions. The formulations structured by the selected waxes provide lower visible deposits on topical application compared with conventional wax-structured formulations and the waxes are effective at structuring/thickening at a proportion below that in conventional wax-structured formulations.