Abstract: A speckle reduction laser and a laser display apparatus having the speckle reduction laser are provided. The speckle reduction laser includes a semiconductor unit that comprises an active layer and emits laser light through a first side surface thereof by resonating light generated from the active layer, and a vibration mirror unit disposed adjacent to a second side surface of the semiconductor unit. The laser further includes a mirror, and the resonance of the laser light is generated between the first side surface of the semiconductor unit and the mirror, and a resonance mode of the laser light is changed according to the vibration of the mirror.

Abstract: A microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) device includes a frame, an actuator formed on the same layer as the frame and connected to the frame to be capable of performing a relative motion with respect to the frame, and at least one stopper restricting a displacement of the actuator in a direction along the height of the actuator. The MEMS device is fabricated by bonding a second substrate to a first substrate, forming the frame and the actuator by partially removing the first substrate, and forming the at least one stopper by partially removing the second substrate.

Abstract: A semiconductor memory device including a bit line sense amplifier for amplifying a voltage corresponding to a charge stored in a capacitor of a memory cell and outputting an amplified voltage and an I/O sense amplifier for receiving the output of the bit line sense amplifier, amplifying a voltage level of the output and outputting an amplified voltage level is disclosed.

Abstract: A sense amplifier circuit of a semiconductor memory device and a method of operating the same, in which the sense amplifier circuit includes a bit line sense amplifier connected with a bit line to sense and amplify a signal of the bit line, and a calibration circuit calibrating a voltage level of the bit line based on a logic threshold value of the bit line sense amplifier. The bit line sense amplifier senses and amplifies the signal of the bit line after the voltage level of the bit line is calibrated. The bit line sense amplifier may include a 2-stage cascade latch, which includes a first inverter having an input terminal connected with the bit line; and a second inverter which has an input terminal connected with an output terminal of the first inverter and an output terminal connected with the bit line and is enabled/disabled in response to a sensing control signal.

Abstract: A method of designing an alternating phase shifting mask for projecting an image of an integrated circuit design. Phase units are binary colorable within each unit of the hierarchical circuit design, e.g., cell, an array, a net, or array of nets and/or cells, the phase shapes. The assignment of phases or colors within a hierarchical unit will be correctly binary colored to satisfy the lithographic, manufacturability and other design rules, referred to collectively as coloring rules. During assembly with other units, the coloring of phases in a hierarchical unit may change (e.g., be reversed or flipped), but the correct binary colorability of a hierarchical unit is preserved, which simplifies assembly of the integrated circuit layout.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method and apparatus for phase-locking microdischarge device arrays and an ac, rf, or pulse-excited microdischarge. The invention provides output from a non-laser optical source that is a phase-locked array of microdischarges formed of microdischarge cavities containing discharge filler and excitation electrodes. In exemplary embodiments, entire arrays of microdischarge device optical emitters that are not lasers can be fabricated into a surface area having a largest dimension smaller than the coherence length of at least one of the emissions produced by the individual elements. In other embodiments, arrays of microdischarge devices configured in a Fresnel pattern constitute a lens suitable for both producing and focusing light.

Abstract: A system and method for increasing the accuracy of time delay estimates of signals propagating through an environment. The system includes one or more sensors for receiving a plurality of signals, and a time delay estimator for measuring time delays between multiple pairs of signals. At least some of the multiple pairs of signals are received and measured at different points in time. The system further includes a data analyzer for analyzing time delay estimation data, for generating a statistical distribution of time delay estimates from the data, and for calculating a statistical estimate of time delay from the distribution. By increasing the number of signals employed by the system, the accuracy of the time delay estimation is increased. Further, by calculating the median or the mode of the statistical distribution, noise tolerance is improved.

Abstract: A sense amplifier includes a reference signal providing unit and an internal sense amplification unit. The reference signal providing unit provides a reference bit line signal in response to a reference control signal. The internal sense amplification unit receives the reference bit line signal and data signals that correspond to the data. The received signals are provided through bit lines connected to the memory cell array. The internal sense amplification unit senses the received reference bit line signal and the data signals and amplifies the sensed signals. The sense amplifier senses data stored in memory cells connected to dummy bit lines of the outmost memory cell array of a semiconductor memory device such that the memory cells that are not used can be used. Accordingly, the design area and cost of the semiconductor memory device can be reduced.

Abstract: A micropump utilizes electrically controlled interfacial tension between a mercury column and an electrolyte solution in a capillary tube, and also uses the gas pressure in a confined chamber connected to the capillary tube as the restoring pressure. Accordingly, the pump operates without generating external jitter or noise, in vertical, horizontal, or in any orientation against the gravitational force. In this manner, the flow rate of the pumped fluid can be widely and conveniently controlled. Further, the micropump is small in size and simple in construction, and needs extremely small power consumption.

Abstract: A micro-electro mechanical system (MEMS) device using in-plane motion is provided. The MEMS device includes a stage which is supported by an axle and an actuator which provides a push-pull exciting force to the axle at upper and lower eccentric positions of an axis of the axle. The actuator includes a plurality of fixed combs; a plurality of driving combs for engagement with the fixed combs, the driving combs being translationally vibrated between engaging and disengaging positions by an electrostatic attractive force periodically generated by the fixed combs; a driving frame which connects and supports the driving combs, the driving frame being vibrated together with the driving combs; and a motion transmitting member transmitting the translational vibration of the driving frame to the eccentric positions of the axle. With this MEMS device, the comb structure can be easily expanded to improve the dynamic performance and high-speed/long displacement characteristic.

Abstract: A decay heat removal system for a liquid metal reactor, in which a decay heat exchanger (DHX) is installed concentrically with an intermediate heat-exchanger (IHX) in the same cylinder which separates the DHX and IHX from the reactor pool fluid, and serves to remove the reactor core decay heat. The cylinder surrounds the IHX and the DHX, and has an opened top portion protruded out of the level of the fluid in a hot pool, a bottom portion connected to a cold pool and a guide pipe for allowing the passage of the fluid from the hot pool into the IHX. The decay heat removal system can remove decay heat immediately after occurrence of an accident, thereby improves the safety of a nuclear plant.

Abstract: A control unit for a semiconductor memory device, a semiconductor memory device and a method for controlling the same. The control unit of a semiconductor memory device includes control signal circuits, each control signal circuit to receive a master signal and to generate at least one of a plurality of control signals in response to the master signal, each of the plurality of core control signals to be generated after a delay specific to the core control signals after a transition of the master signal, the plurality of control signals to control the semiconductor memory device.

Abstract: A frequency detection circuit and method of detecting the frequency of a clock signal, and a latency signal generation circuit for a semiconductor memory device that includes the frequency detection circuit. The frequency detection circuit includes a frequency detector and an output controller, which determines whether or not the frequency of the clock signal is higher than a predetermined value. Embodiments of the invention have an increased accuracy, increased efficiency, and a reduced current consumption over conventional art.

Abstract: A micro device and a micro mirror employing a piezo actuator are provided. The micro mirror includes a substrate; a plate which is rotatably suspended about a rotation axis over the substrate; at least two cantilevers, each comprising a fixed end fixed to the substrate, and a free end perpendicularly crossing the rotation axis of the plate and connecting to a side of the plate, each cantilever having a piezo actuator installed on an upper surface of the cantilever; a plurality of connectors each one of which connects the free end of a corresponding one of the cantilevers to a side of the plate; and a pair of torsion springs which are connected to the plate and act as a rotational axis for the plate.

Abstract: A two-axis micro scanner is provided in which horizontal driving required for high frequency motion uses a vertical comb-type electrode structure and vertical driving required for low frequency motion uses a piezo-actuator. The micro scanner includes: a frame; a horizontal driving unit including a micro mirror, a plurality of vertical moving comb-electrodes formed parallel to each other along opposite sides of the micro mirror, a plurality of vertical static comb-electrodes formed to alternate with the moving comb-electrodes; and a vertical driving unit including a plurality of cantilevers extending from the frame and respectively connecting opposite ends of the horizontal driving unit to support the horizontal driving unit. A piezo-actuator is installed on an upper surface of each of the cantilevers, wherein the cantilevers are upwardly/downwardly bent according to contraction/expansion of the piezo-actuators.

Abstract: An apparatus for testing a semiconductor module may include a test shelf, test modules and a transfer robot. The test shelf may include multilayered test cells in which a plurality of test cells may be arranged in each of a plurality of layers. The test modules may be each provided in the test cells. The transfer robot may insert the semiconductor module into the test module. The transfer robot may separate the semiconductor module from the test module.

Abstract: An image forming method and apparatus for forming an image on opposite sides of a printing paper which includes operations for receiving a plurality of pages of printing data, processing the printing data to generate first side data in which the printing data is printed in a page order, and second side data in which the printing data of set or selected pages from among the printing data is printed, and printing the first side data on a first side of the printing paper and the second side data on a second side of the printing paper such that a page can be viewed, and previous and/or following pages can be simultaneously viewed on an adjacent page.

Abstract: A vertical comb actuator radio frequency (RF) micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) switch. The RF MEMS switch includes a substrate; first and second signal lines spaced at a predetermined interval from each other and deposited on an upper surface of the substrate; an actuator positioned over the first and second signal lines when viewed from the upper surface of the substrate and spaced at a predetermined interval from the first and second signal lines; and a fixing portion positioned over the actuator when viewed from the upper surface of the substrate, wherein the fixing portion permits the actuator to come in contact with the first and second signal lines when a predetermined driving voltage is applied. Thus, it is possible to prevent the actuator from sticking to the substrate. In addition, the RF MEMS switch can be operated with a low voltage and insertion loss and power loss can be reduced.

Abstract: An RF MEMS switch having asymmetrical spring rigidity. The RF MEMS switch has supporting members spaced apart in a certain interval on a substrate, a membrane being a motion member suspended by plural spring members extended on both sides of the membrane, and a bottom electrode being a contact surface on an upper surface of the substrate facing a bottom surface of the membrane, wherein the plural spring members placed on opposite sides of the membrane have asymmetrical rigidity, and a portion of the membrane on a side of stronger spring rigidity is first separated from the contact surface when the RF MEMS switch is turned off. The present invention has an advantage of easy separation of the switch from the contact surface, when the switch is turned off, due to the different rigidity of the springs located on the sides of the membrane.

Abstract: A MEMS (Micro Electro Mechanical Systems) switch actuated by electrostatic and piezoelectric forces, includes a substrate; a first contact point positioned in a predetermined first area on an upper surface of the substrate; a support layer suspended at a predetermined distance from the upper surface of the substrate; a second contact point formed on a lower surface of the support layer; a first actuator operative to move the support layer in a predetermined direction using an electrostatic force; and a second actuator operative to move the support layer in a predetermined direction using a piezoelectric force. The first actuator is used to turn on the MEMS switch. The second actuator can be used together with the first actuator to turn on the MEMS switch or can be separately used to turn off the MEMS switch. As a result, a stiction can be prevented from occurring between contact points.