Abstract: A method and an apparatus which adjusts a signal read from an optical disc in order to obtain stable binary data. The signal adjustment method comprises (a) detecting a period of an input signal of a predetermined code; (b) determining whether the detected period is smaller than a predetermined value; and (c) if the detected period is determined to be smaller than the predetermined value, adjusting the input signal so that its period equals the predetermined value, and outputting the input signal. The signal adjustment method and apparatus of the present invention reduce errors and improve system performance, when a signal input to the binary processor does not meet its code feature.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing composite polymer electrolyte membranes coated with inorganic thin films for fuel cells using a plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) method or a reactive sputtering method, so as to reduce the crossover of methanol through polymer electrolyte membranes for fuel cells and enhance the performance of the fuel cells.

Abstract: A curable coating composition comprises: (A) a water continuous emulsion comprising a curable elastomeric polymer having a viscosity of 0.5-1,000,000 KPa-s and a glass transition temperature up to 50° C.; (B) an aqueous polyurethane dispersion; and optionally, (C) a cure agent. Methods for preparing the curable coating compositions are also disclosed. The curable coating composition and the cured coatings derived from the reaction product of this composition are useful as fabric coatings, and in particular for decreasing air permeability of the coated fabrics at relatively lower coating weights.

Abstract: A new method is provided for the creation of a mold cap. The mold cap anchoring feature of the invention is designed and incorporated from the start of the design and fabrication of the substrate. Various design options of the mold anchor of the invention can be implemented. The mold anchor of the invention allows the mold compound to flow underneath the substrate where the mold compound will remain in place until the process of mold formation is completed. The mold compound of the package will penetrate all available cavities surrounding and being accessible from the mold anchor of the invention where the mold compound will remain in place and harden. After hardening, the mold compound surrounding the mold anchor will support the anchored area.

Abstract: Disclosed is a washing machine comprising a heating tank accommodating the washing and washing water; a heating part heating the washing water in the heating tank; and a circulation pump circulating the washing water in the heating tank. With this configuration, the present invention provides the circulation pump circulating washing water in the heating tank, thereby preventing the washing from oxidizing, improving a washing efficiency especially improving a washing efficiency according to washing material, and saving washing water. Further, water supply and drain can be easily performed.

Abstract: A data modulation method and apparatus for recording data on a disc-type recording medium, a sync code insertion method and apparatus using the same, and a recording medium for recording programs executing the methods. The method, which inserts a sync code into data recorded on a disc-type recording medium, includes inserting the sync code into an input data stream, wherein the sync code includes one pattern breaking the maximum run and other patterns aligned before and after the one pattern, the length of the other patterns being the same as or larger than a value obtained by dividing the outermost circumference radius of the disc-type recording medium by the innermost circumference radius. The sync code insertion method uses a sync code pattern made in consideration of the radii of the innermost and outermost circumferences of a disc on which data is recorded.

Abstract: A disc type recording medium on which information is recorded by forming disc tracks thereon, a method of forming the disc tracks, and a recording medium for recording a program executing the method. In the above media and method, data access can be rendered in data frame units. The disc type recording medium includes a data frame composed of a plurality of sync frames. The total number of the sync frames is determined according to the length of the innermost circumference of the disc type recording medium. Accordingly, recoding the additional information in such a data frame format prevents a reduction in a rate of detecting the additional information even when the recording medium is miniaturized.

Abstract: A method, machine-readable code and automated system for assaying or monitoring the extent of joint or bone deformity reported by a summarized score that may include joint space narrowing, bone erosion and periarticular osteoporosis in a joint-degenerative or joint-damaging disease in a subject are disclosed. From a digitized image of one of the subject's straight bone terminated with a joint such as fingers, coordinates of right and left bone contours of a selected middle or proximal phalange are determined, and these coordinates are in turn used to determine the coordinates of a minimum width in the middle region of the phalange and one or more apices in a region adjacent at least one side of a joint of the selected phalange. These latter coordinates are used in selecting a reference joint contour representing normal-bone contour for that phalange, or the contour of the patient phalange from an earlier x-ray image.

Abstract: Disclosed are men's healthy underpants enabling to make the penis and scrotum protrude out of the underpants naturally as well as to be received in separate tubes so as to improve a user's sense of wearing. The present invention includes an underpants body having penis and scrotum outlet ports so as to pull out user's penis and scrotum respectively, a penis receiving part having a tube shape of which both ends are open so that one end of the penis receiving part is coupled with the penis outlet port wherein the penis protrudes out of the underpants body through the penis outlet port so as to be received in the penis receiving part, and a scrotum receiving part of which one end is coupled with the scrotum outlet port so that the scrotum protruding out of the underpants body through the scrotum outlet port is received in the scrotum receiving part.

Abstract: A clock generator for reproducing data recorded onto an optical disk, and more particularly, an apparatus for stably generating a clock signal synchronized with an input signal and a method of generating a clock signal. The apparatus generating a clock signal includes a voltage controlled oscillator, a phase compensator, a frequency compensator, and an adder. The voltage controlled oscillator generates a clock signal of a frequency that varies with a control voltage signal. The phase compensator receives an input signal and the clock signal, detects a phase difference between the input signal and the clock signal, and generates a first control voltage corresponding to the phase difference. The frequency compensator receives the input signal and the clock signal, detects a frequency difference between the input signal and the clock signal, and generates a second control voltage corresponding to the frequency difference.

Abstract: A method and apparatus detecting binary data from a signal read from an optical recording medium are provided. The apparatus detecting binary data includes a first signal processor nonlinearly converting the input signal based on the result of comparing an absolute value and a predetermined critical value of the input signal and a second signal processor detecting binary data from the nonlinearly converted signal.

Abstract: An optical recording medium has a user data area and a lead-out area, wherein the user data area and the lead-out area each has grooves and lands formed thereon. Wobbles are formed on at least one lateral surface of grooves of the user data area and the lead-out area, and configured such that wobble characteristics are made different between the user data area and the lead-out area. Different types of wobbles are formed on the grooves of either the user data area or the lead-out area, thereby preventing an optical pickup that performs recording/reproduction from deviating from the user data area. Also, in a multi-layer optical recording medium, a whole area of a recording layer is configured to have a same condition, thereby preventing deterioration in reproduction and/or recording due to a difference in light power transmittance of another recording layer.

Abstract: A PBGA package is provided. The heat spreader interfaces with the substrate with the standoff of the heat spreader. The stand-off of the heat spreader is provided with an opening, the stand-off of the heat spreader is aligned with the substrate of the PBGA package by means of a copper pad that is provided over a second surface of the substrate. A solder bump is further provided over the surface of the copper pad. Thermally conductive solder is deposited over the opening of the heat spreader and over the copper pad. If the heat spreader stand-off is aligned with contact pads, thermally conductive epoxy is deposited over the contact pads.

Abstract: A data output control apparatus and method of a semiconductor memory device exactly synchronize the first read data with a clock signal by solving a problem that the first read data is faster than the clock signal as much as a transit time from a voltage level Vddq/2 to a power voltage Vddq or a ground voltage Vssq.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a metal structure using a trench includes etching a semiconductor substrate to form a trench, depositing a seed layer over the semiconductor substrate including in the trench, stacking an insulating layer over the seed layer, removing a portion of the insulating layer to expose a portion of the seed layer at a bottom of the trench, filling the trench with a metal material, and removing the seed layer and the insulating layer on the semiconductor substrate. As a result, a subsequent process in forming a multi-layered structure may be easily carried out, thereby simplifying a manufacturing process.

Abstract: The present invention relates to fluid control systems and methods therefor. More particularly, such fluid control systems and methods of this invention are deigned to allow opening and closing of mixed fluid only at a downstream of a junction in which at least two streams of fluids having different properties are arranged to mix together. Thus, the fluid control systems and methods of the present invention allow an user to start or stop dispensing of the mixed fluids at any time and in any number of occasions without having to require the user to readjust control valves to obtain a desired property of the mixed fluids. Such fluid control systems may be incorporated to conventional shower assemblies, shower-tub assemblies, and sink assemblies, thereby allowing the user to turn off dispense of fluids when he or she does not need the fluids running.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for forming metal wiring in a semiconductor device. The method comprises forming a TiN thin layer on a semiconductor substrate by using Ti compound containing a halogen element which corresponds to a 17 group element in the periodic table and NH3 reactant and adsorbing halogen atoms to the surface of the TiN thin layer; and forming a copper (Cu) thin layer on the TiN thin layer by using the adsorbed halogen atoms as catalyst. Wiring can be carried out in situ in a single chamber system in order to obtain excellent interface characteristics and a short process time.

Abstract: A physical identification data (PID) addressing method using a wobble signal, a wobble address encoding circuit, a method and circuit for detecting the wobble address and a recording medium therefor. Groove address information indicating physical identification information is phase modulated using a wobble clock signal and recorded in one of the two walls of a groove track, and land address information is phase modulated using a wobble clock signal obtained by shifting the phase of the former wobble clock signal and recorded in the other wall. That is, address information is phase modulated and recorded in each track using the wobbles having a phase difference of 90° between adjacent tracks so that a sum of wobble signals from the adjacent tracks can be a quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK) signal. Therefore, more data can be recorded in the recording medium, and since an interval in which a wobble signal disappears is not caused, recovery of a wobble clock signal can be advantageously performed.

Abstract: This application discloses a microelectromechanical (MEMS) switch apparatus comprising an anchor attached to a substrate and an electrically conductive beam attached to the anchor and in electrical contact therewith. The beam comprises a tapered portion having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end being attached to the anchor, an actuation portion attached to the distal end of the tapered portion, a tip attached to the actuation portion, the tip having a contact dimple thereon. The switch apparatus also includes an actuation electrode attached to the substrate and positioned between the actuation portion and the substrate. Additional embodiments are also described and claimed.

Abstract: Methods for delivering a beam in a wafer edge exposure process include (a) generating a laser beam; (b) dividing the laser beam into a plurality of wafer processing laser beams; and (c) delivering ones of the plurality of wafer processing laser beams onto edge portions of a plurality of wafers.