Abstract: In a method of detecting defects of patterns on a semiconductor substrate and an apparatus for performing the method information on positions of reference defects influencing an operation of a circuit including the patterns when the patterns are formed on the semiconductor substrate is acquired in advance. Preliminary defects of the patterns formed on the semiconductor substrate are detected. Positions of the preliminary defects of the patterns are compared with positions of the reference defects. The preliminary defects having the positions substantially the same as the positions of the reference defects are set to be defects of the patterns so that the actual defects are detected.

Abstract: A power supply apparatus includes an inverter controller, a power transforming part and a connecting part. The power transforming part converts a direct current supplied from the inverter controller into an alternating current to output first and second polarity currents. The connecting part outputs the first and second polarity currents to first and second end portions of a load through first and second terminals, respectively and has a third terminal to receive a sensed signal in response to the first or second polarity currents so as to output the sensed signal. The first terminal is spaced apart from the second terminal by a first insulating distance, and the third terminal is spaced apart from the first or second terminals adjacent to the third terminal by a second insulating distance. Therefore, the sensed signal is independent of the output power, thereby increasing the sensing efficiency.

Abstract: A method for managing a network in which Bluetooth equipped devices are linked together when the network master cannot serve as a master. During normal operation, the network master updates the backup master rank information when the network master disappears, in a predetermined cycle, according to link information, such as received signal strength indication (RSSI) or link quality, transmitted from the Bluetooth equipped devices serving as a slave. When power of the network master is exhausted, or when the network master leaves the network operating region, a new master is selected from the remaining slaves according to the backup master rank information, thereby reconfiguring a network around the new network master. The method enables proper designation of a new master when a preexisting network master leaves the network operating region, thereby increasing a probability of holding connection throughout the network.

Abstract: Provided is a double waveguide electroabsorption modulator, in which two spot size converters are integrated between first and second optical waveguides, thereby reducing an insertion loss between an optical fiber and an optical modulator while favorably operating even in high input optical power. Therefore, the electroabsorption modulator can stably operate in higher input optical power while reducing an optical coupling loss and an optical confinement factor (OCF).

Abstract: A mobile radio frequency identification (mRFID) reader having a receiving circuit is provided. The receiving circuit includes a local oscillator which generates a carrier signal at a predetermined frequency band; a mixer which mixes a tag signal received from a tag with the carrier signal, to lower a frequency of the tag signal; a phase adjusting block which adjusts a phase of the carrier signal by determining a phase of the tag signal; and a control block which processes the tag signal through a series of operations, and controls an operation of the phase adjusting block to compensate for a phase delay of the tag signal according to an output of the processed tag signal. Because the mRFID reader can be provided as small as a half size of a related art reader, a mobile communication terminal accommodating the mRFID reader can be compact-sized. Additionally, because the number of components for the receiving circuit decreases, not only the power consumption but also the unit price can be reduced.

Abstract: A power supply apparatus capable of reducing power consumption and a liquid crystal display including the power supply apparatus includes a first DC-AC converting unit enabled by a driving signal to convert a DC voltage into a first AC voltage, increase the first AC voltage, and supply the increased first AC voltage as a first power supply voltage; a switching unit which selectively transmits the driving signal in response to a selection signal; and a second DC-AC converting unit enabled by the driving signal selectively transmitted by the switching unit to convert the DC voltage into a second AC voltage, increase the second AC voltage, and supply the increased second AC voltage as a second power supply voltage.

Abstract: A wafer inspecting method including the steps of: multi-scanning a pattern image of a unit inspection region in a normal state and a pattern image of a unit inspection region to be inspected, respectively, using different inspection conditions; comparing the multi-scanned pattern images in the normal state with the multi-scanned pattern images to be inspected obtained by the same inspection conditions, and storing differences between the pattern images as difference images; generating a discrimination difference image by calculating a balance between the stored difference images; and discriminating a defect from noise by using the discrimination difference image.

Abstract: A backlight assembly includes a plurality of lamps, a receiving container, and a reflective plate. The lamps are disposed substantially parallel with each other and generate light. The receiving container receives the lamps, and openings corresponding to the lamps are formed therein. The reflective plate is disposed between the lamps and the receiving container and reflects the light from the lamps. The reflective plate is formed from an insulating material.

Abstract: A power supply apparatus includes an inverter controller, a power transforming part and a connecting part. The power transforming part converts a direct current supplied from the inverter controller into an alternating current to output first and second polarity currents. The connecting part outputs the first and second polarity currents to first and second end portions of a load through first and second terminals, respectively and has a third terminal to receive a sensed signal in response to the first or second polarity currents so as to output the sensed signal. The first terminal is spaced apart from the second terminal by a first insulating distance, and the third terminal is spaced apart from the first or second terminals adjacent to the third terminal by a second insulating distance. Therefore, the sensed signal is independent of the output power, thereby increasing the sensing efficiency.

Abstract: An inverter driving apparatus for driving a plurality of lamp units is provided. The inverter driving apparatus includes a plurality of inverter boards for generating driving signals for driving respective lamp units based on a control signal and a voltage signal. Each lamp unit includes at least one lamp, and the plurality of inverter boards are connected in series and include a first outer inverter board receiving the control signal and a second outer inverter board located opposite the first outer inverter board receiving the voltage signal. Each of the plurality of inverter boards transmits the control signal and/or the voltage signal to at least one of the plurality of inverter boards adjacent thereto.

Abstract: A lamp driving circuit includes: a voltage supply part including a first voltage supply part and a second voltage supply part; a first circuit part including a first terminal, a second terminal and a first coil; a second circuit part including a second coil electromagnetically coupled to the first coil and which supplies a voltage to a lamp; and an electric current detecting part which detects an electric current of the first coil and includes a detecting resistor and an electric current detector.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of controlling luminance of a backlight based on a processed image data after receiving information of image data, in order to improve the visibility of moving picture. An inverter according to the present invention includes a first block generating a first luminance control signal with an analog value depending on the luminance control signal with a duty ratio depending on a synchronization signal. The luminance control signals generated by the respective blocks are synthesized luminance control signal. Accordingly, a liquid crystal display employing two backlight control methods can be provided. Thus, it is possible to remove the drag phenomenon of a screen and, at the same time, to improve the visibility for moving picture.

Abstract: Disclosed are a power supplying apparatus and a LCD having the same that reduces manufacturing cost of a large-scale LCD module and enhances powpower efficiency by integrating an external dc power supply used in a large-scale LCD panel into a LCD panel. A first voltage converter converts an external ac voltage into a first dc voltage, and changes a voltage level of the first de voltage into a second dc voltage having a highr voltage level than that of the first de voltage. A second voltage converter converts the second dc voltage into an ac voltage, raises a voltage level of the converted ac voltage, and provides the raised ac voltage to a load. A current detector detects a current flowing through the load, and provides a current detection signal as a feedback signal to the first voltage converter so that the first voltage provide a constant direct current output voltage.

Abstract: Provided are an RFID reader and a data recovery method which selectively selects only an integrity-checked phase signal, when receiving a backscattered signal of an RFID tag through an I signal path or a Q signal path, and may reduce a shadow area of a read range. The RFID reader includes a signal receiver which receives a plurality of phase signals; a symbol detector which recovers data with respect to each of the received phase signals; and a signal selector which selects a signal that satisfies a predetermined standard, from the data-recovered phase signals.

Abstract: A system and method for providing geographical information to a driver of a vehicle using radio frequency identification (RFID). Also provided is a traffic information supply system using RFID. The geographical information supply system includes a reader provided near a road which outputs a first signal and receives a second signal generated in response to the first signal; a tag that senses the first signal, converts information on a destination into the second signal in response to the first signal, and outputs the second signal. Also included is a first control unit which extracts and outputs the destination information from the second signal, receives geographical information to the destination, and supplies the geographical information to a driver. A server generates the geographical information corresponding to the destination information and outputs the generated geographical information to the first control unit.

Abstract: In receiving information on an item by use of electromagnetic waves propagating from the item in which a radio frequency identification (RFID) chip is embedded, a portable handset requests the information on the item that is stored in the RFID chip to the RFID chip-embedded item, receives from the item the information on the item, and, if additional information is needed other than the received information, requests the additional information to a server storing the information on the item by using the received information.

Abstract: Provided is an optical module including a microstrip line, a traveling wave type optical device positioned in the end of the microstrip line, and at least one balanced open stub connected to the microstrip line for the impedance matching at a specific frequency such as 40 GHz and 60 GHz. For the fine tuning, laser trimming can be applied to the stub. A transition region is formed between the optical device and the microstrip line. A termination resistor is formed to face the microstrip line with the optical device therebetween. A bandwidth can be controlled at a specific frequency by adjusting a number of the stubs or a value of the termination resistor.

Abstract: An inverter driving apparatus for driving a plurality of lamp units is provided. The inverter driving apparatus includes a plurality of inverter boards for generating driving signals for driving respective lamp units based on a control signal and a voltage signal. Each lamp unit includes at least one lamp, and the plurality of inverter boards are connected in series and include a first outer inverter board receiving the control signal and a second outer inverter board located opposite the first outer inverter board receiving the voltage signal. Each of the plurality of inverter boards transmits the control signal and/or the voltage signal to at least one of the plurality of inverter boards adjacent thereto.

Abstract: A lamp driving apparatus includes a lamp driving unit which is provided with a predetermined direct current (“DC”) voltage from an external source, converts the provided DC voltage into a first lamp driving voltage and a second lamp driving voltage, and provides the first lamp driving voltage and the second lamp driving voltage to a lamp, and a control unit which detects the first lamp driving voltage and the second lamp driving voltage and generates first detection signals based on the detected first lamp driving voltage and generates second detection signals based on the detected second lamp driving voltage, compares a test signal with a reference voltage, and generates a driving control signal according to the result of the comparison, wherein the test signal is obtained by merging the first detection signal and the second detection signal.

Abstract: Disclosed are a power supplying apparatus, a backlight assembly and an LCD apparatus having the same. A control section outputs a switching signal so as to control an output of a constant current supplied to a lamp unit in response to on and/or off signals and a dimming signal and a switching section controls an output of a direct current voltage source in response to the switching signal. A power outputting section provides an alternating current voltage source having a constant voltage to the lamp unit. A sensing section senses variation of a power supplied to the lamp unit and a detecting section compares a sensing signal with a predetermined reference signal to output a detecting signal to the control section, thereby maintaining the constant current to be supplied to the lamp unit. Accordingly, the LCD apparatus may prevent deterioration of an image and damage of circuit thereof.