Abstract: A portable noise measuring device includes: a head part disposed at a front end of a body part and applying a pressure to an external object; a microphone disposed inside the body part and measuring noise; and an output part mounted on an outside surface of the body part and displaying a level of the noise measured by the microphone.

Abstract: A wireless audio output device, a wireless audio output system including the same and a control method thereof are disclosed. When a user approaches the output device, while listening to music on a portable device, the output device automatically connects the wireless audio output system to the portable device, to reproduce the music of the portable device. The control method includes detecting the user, detecting the portable device if the user is sensed, and outputting an audio file being reproduced by the portable device using the wireless audio output system, if the portable device is detected.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to reproduce a media file including reading mapping information from a predetermined position of the media file, searching for a sound field effect file of the media file by referring to the mapping information, and setting an equalizer of the audio data on the basis of the sound field effect file. A user can reproduce a media file by using an optimized equalizer of each media file even though the user himself does not set the equalizer. Also, since an equalizer setting of the reproducing apparatus can be applied to another reproducing apparatus, a user can enjoy listening to a media file in the other reproducing apparatus under the same reproducing conditions as those of the reproducing apparatus.

Abstract: A wireless audio output device, a wireless audio output system including the same and a control method thereof are disclosed. When a user approaches the output device, while listening to music on a portable device, the output device automatically connects the wireless audio output system to the portable device, to reproduce the music of the portable device. The control method includes detecting the user, detecting the portable device if the user is sensed, and outputting an audio file being reproduced by the portable device using the wireless audio output system, if the portable device is detected.

Abstract: An audio-book playback method includes buffering text data that is to be played back by speech, converting the buffered text data to speech data, performing speech-playback by using the speech data, and buffering next text data for continuous playback. The provided audio-book playback method and an apparatus enable a user to enjoy reading a book while also listening to content of the book being voiced by a multimedia playback device. Moreover, double buffering technology is employed to provide seamless text and speech-playback services.

Abstract: A device and method of manufacturing a fuse region are disclosed. The fuse region may include an interlayer insulating layer formed on a substrate, a plurality of fuses disposed on the interlayer insulating layer, and fuse isolation walls located between the fuses, wherein each of the fuse isolation walls may include lower and upper fuse isolation patterns.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to reproduce a media file including reading mapping information from a predetermined position of the media file, searching for a sound field effect file of the media file by referring to the mapping information, and setting an equalizer of the audio data on the basis of the sound field effect file. A user can reproduce a media file by using an optimized equalizer of each media file even though the user himself does not set the equalizer. Also, since an equalizer setting of the reproducing apparatus can be applied to another reproducing apparatus, a user can enjoy listening to a media file in the other reproducing apparatus under the same reproducing conditions as those of the reproducing apparatus.

Abstract: In an electronic device, the physical boundaries of a manipulation unit for inputting a user command defines a contour to which an arrangement of items that are displayed on a display unit conforms. A user's active manipulation of the manipulation unit corresponds to a reaction of a GUI on the display unit. Accordingly, the user can manipulate the electronic device more easily and conveniently.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling standby power of a washing machine, which is located in a remote place and can be remotely controlled by a user, is provided. The apparatus includes a communication unit, a power supply, and a controller. The communication unit performs data communication with a monitoring device that performs remote control and monitoring of the washing machine. The power supply supplies needed power to the washing machine. When a wash cycle is terminated or a power-off command is input during data communication with the monitoring device through the communication unit, the controller determines whether to supply main power to the washing machine according to a user setting and controls the power supply according to the determination. The user can set whether to supply main power when a wash cycle has been terminated or a power-off command has been input, achieving easy and efficient standby power control.

Abstract: Disclosed are a washing machine and a control method thereof, including the steps of (a) calculating the quantity of a detergent in a washing operation, (b) setting a washing pattern based on the calculated quantity of the detergent, and (c) performing a rinsing operation according to the set washing pattern, thereby improving rinsing capacity of the washing machine.

Abstract: A device and method of manufacturing a fuse region are disclosed. The fuse region may include an interlayer insulating layer formed on a substrate, a plurality of fuses disposed on the interlayer insulating layer, and fuse isolation walls located between the fuses, wherein each of the fuse isolation walls may include lower and upper fuse isolation patterns.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a monitoring system and method for a home appliance placed within certain distance. The monitoring system includes: an indoor space in which a user lives; a housing space being at a distance from the indoor space; a home appliance being placed in the housing space and having a communication module for communicating with the external of the housing space; and a remote controller placed in the indoor space, for communicating with the communication module to receive monitoring information of the home appliance, thereby monitoring an operation state of the home appliance.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a device for curling hair comprising means for rotating the heads wherein a guide groove is formed at a bottom surface of the other end in each grip, receiving groove is formed at an upper surface of the other end in each grip, and each receiving groove has a step portion and a through hole at a center thereof, wherein an end of a cover in each head is bent to form a guide to be inserted into the guide groove of each grip, a connecting piece is coupled with each cover by bolt, and each connecting piece has a recess and an irregular portion formed at a bottom surface of the recess, and wherein an intermitting piece having an irregular portion formed at an upper surface thereof is accommodated in the recess of each connecting piece and is fastened to a button provided to each head by a bolt, a pushing part is provided between a bottom surface of each button and the step portion of each receiving groove supported by a spring, and each connecting piece is separated from each i

Abstract: A semiconductor memory device with a capacitor-over-bitline (COB) structure and a method for fabricating the same. The semiconductor memory device includes a transistor having a gate electrode formed on a gate insulating layer on a semiconductor substrate and having source and drain regions formed on the surface of the substrate and separated from each other by the gate electrode, a first interlayer insulating layer formed over the substrate including the transistor; a bitline formed over the first interlayer insulating layer; and a second interlayer insulating layer formed over the substrate including the bitline, for insulating the bitline from a storage node of a capacitor. A surface of the second interlayer insulating layer is planarized by a chemical-mechanical polishing (CMP) process so as to be substantially parallel to a surface of the substrate including the bitline.

Abstract: Methods of forming metal silicide layers include the steps of forming electrically conductive lines that comprise the steps of forming a layer of polysilicon on a semiconductor substrate and then forming a layer of metal silicide on the polysilicon layer, opposite the substrate. The layer of metal silicide and the layer of polysilicon are then patterned as an electrically conductive line having sidewalls. The semiconductor substrate is then exposed to a cleaning agent that selectively etches the patterned layer of metal silicide at a faster rate than the patterned layer of polysilicon. The patterned layer of metal silicide is then thermally oxidized to define recess spacers extending adjacent sidewalls of the electrically conductive line. An electrically insulating layer is then formed on the electrically conductive line and on the recess spacers. The electrically insulating layer is then anisotropically etched to define insulating spacers on the recess spacers.

Abstract: A semiconductor memory device with a capacitor-over-bitline (COB) structure and a method for fabricating the same. The semiconductor memory device includes a transistor having a gate electrode formed on a gate insulating layer on a semiconductor substrate and having source and drain regions formed on the surface of the substrate and separated from each other by the gate electrode, a first interlayer insulating layer formed over the substrate including the transistor; a bitline formed over the first interlayer insulating layer; and a second interlayer insulating layer formed over the substrate including the bitline, for insulating the bitline from a storage node of a capacitor. A surface of the second interlayer insulating layer is planarized by a chemical-mechanical polishing (CMP) process so as to be substantially parallel to a surface of the substrate including the bitline.

Abstract: A system providing a remote control device operable both as a cordless telephone and as a computer system having a wireless mouse, with two separate assemblies. The first assembly is a computer system that is connected to a telephone jack. The computer system has a video display unit with a cursor, a modem, and the electronics for a base unit of a cordless telephone built inside the chassis. The second assembly is the remote control unit, and serves both as a handset for a cordless telephone and as a wireless mouse. The handset can place and receive telephone calls by communicating, via electromagnetic radiation to the computer system hooked up to the telephone jack. The handset can also control the position and functions of the cursor on the video display screen when not being used as a telephone. The remote control unit has a mouse button and another cursor control device.

Abstract: An integrated circuit is fabricated by forming first source and drain regions and contact regions which electrically contact respective first source and drain regions, for first field effect transistors in an integrated circuit. Then, second source and drain regions for second field effect transistors in the integrated circuit are formed. By simultaneously forming landing pads which electrically contact the integrated circuit substrate between first spaced apart gates, and doping the integrated circuit substrate which electrically contacts the landing pads, an additional protective layer may not be needed, thereby simplifying the fabrication process.

Abstract: A wireless communication system and process for transmission of data communications, may be practiced with a microprocessor, a memory, a controller, a selector and a communication block, and the effect of the wireless communication system for selecting a communication transmission method lies in the fact that a user can select a wireless communication device according to user's needs in a wireless communication device having at least one communication transmission method or a plurality of wireless communication devices having different communication transmission methods, using only one controller.

Abstract: In a mono/stereo input circuit for use in an audio equipment, and more particularly in a circuit for automatically recognizing and receiving mono/stereo audio signals, although a mono connector is inserted into a stereo jack, such an insertion of the mono connector is automatically recognized and then a stereo circuit can operate as a form of a mono circuit. The circuit for automatically recognizing and receiving the mono/stereo audio signals utilizes a fact that one connection terminal of the jack is grounded or not according to a type of the connector such as a mono connector and a stereo connector which is inserted into the jack. Accordingly, a resistor used as a voltage generator generates a generation voltage according to such a connector recognition. Also, using a difference between the generated voltage, the analog switches are turned on or off, to obtain a mono or a stereo audio signal processing circuit according to a type of the inserted connector.