Abstract: This disclosure contains three parts. First, it provides a quantitative analysis on the weaknesses of the physical layer built-in security of the operational and the proposed 3G spread spectrum based wireless communication systems. Second, it incorporates advanced cryptographic techniques into wireless transceiver design. More specifically, it proposes an AES based secure scrambling process to enhance the physical layer built-in security of spread spectrum systems, and therefore formulates a joint physical layer and network layer privacy protection scheme. Third, it provides an AES based secure interleaving process to ensure excellent system performance over channels experiencing severe fading and/or burst errors. The proposed schemes can be extended to general wireless systems in multiple ways.

Abstract: A smart card is adapted to partially include and employ a triply-secure algorithm for data exchange. The algorithm verifies a user's identity and his simultaneous membership in any groups that he has joined. For this purpose, the algorithm requires only a single insertion of the smart card and only a single input of the user's personal identification number. The algorithm can be used in smart cards or in computer networks for identity verification and membership proof. A combination of three different hard problems is used. The first one is based on integer factorization, such as the RSA authenticating technique, and the second one is based on a discrete logarithm, and the third one is based on the coefficients of a polynomial function. In a typical application using smart cards, a certification authority (CA) establishes requirements for preparation and issuance of a multi-purpose card.

Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor memory device formed on a semiconductor substrate with an N-well and a P-well comprises the following steps. Form over a substrate the combination of a gate oxide layer and a gate layer patterned into gate stacks with sidewalls for an NMOS FET device over a P-well in the substrate and a PMOS FET device over an N-well. Form P− lightly doped S/D regions in the N-well and N− lightly doped S/D regions in the P-well. Form spacers on the sidewalls of the gate stacks. Thereafter form deep N− lightly doped S/D regions in the P-well, and form deep P− lightly doped S/D regions in the N-well. Form heavily doped P++ regions self-aligned with the gate below future P+ S/D sites to be formed self-aligned with the spacers in the N-well, and form heavily doped N++ regions self-aligned with the gate below future N+ S/D sites to be formed self-aligned with the spacers in the P-well.

Abstract: A smart card is adapted to partially include and employ a triply-secure algorithm for data exchange. The algorithm verifies a user's identity and his simultaneous membership in any groups that he has joined. For this purpose, the algorithm requires only a single insertion of the smart card and only a single input of the user's personal identification number. The algorithm can be used in smart cards or in computer networks for identity verification and membership proof. A combination of three different hard problems is used. The first one is based on integer factorization, such as the RSA authenticating technique, and the second one is based on a discrete logarithm, and the third one is based on the coefficients of a polynomial function. In a typical application using smart cards, a certification authority (CA) establishes requirements for preparation and issuance of a multi-purpose card.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for managing components of a secret key according to a secret sharing scheme. The disclosed secret sharing scheme divides a secret value, R, into n secret components (R1, R2, . . . , Rn) and one super component, S, in such a way that R can be computed from (i) any k or more Ri components (k<n); or (ii) S and any one component of Ri. The secret components (R1, R2, . . . , Rn) are distributed to a number of authorized users. A multiple threshold secret sharing scheme assigns various users in a group into one of a number of classes. Each user class has a corresponding threshold level that indicates the number of users that must come together with their assigned components to obtain access to the shared secret. The multiple threshold scheme divides the secret into n components each having an assigned threshold level (i.e., the number of such components that are required to obtain the secret).

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for simultaneously establishing a user's identity and membership in multiple groups, using only a single identification card (or computer file). In a registration or enrollment phase, secret information is created between the user and any groups for which the user has registered. Once the user has been registered with one or more groups, the user may be authenticated to a verification agent to obtain access to one or more selected groups by providing an encrypted authentication request based on public identifiers relating to one or more groups, and an exponential function based on private identifiers and several randomly generated numbers. The verification agent is able to verify the user's registration with the selected groups without knowing the secret information. Optionally, for additional reliability, the verification agent may request the user to repeat the authentication process multiple times, each time altering one of the random numbers.

Abstract: A scanner with a transparent module used for providing a scanning background is disclosed. An optical unit and a transparent module are respectively implemented in the base unit and the lifting cover in a synchronous moving manner. In the transparent module, a hollow rolling wheel has one transparent side plate and a number of color side plates. The light source is implemented in the hollow rolling wheel. When the user rotates the hollow rolling wheel causing the transparent plate to face the transparent window under the lifting cover, the optical unit then can scan the transparent content object using the light provided by the source. When the user rotates the hollow rolling wheel to select one of the color side plates to face the transparent window, then the optical unit scans the reflective content object using the selected color side plate as the color of the scanning background. Additionally, the color of the image background would be toward to the selected color of the color side plate.

Abstract: An MOS integrated circuit, such as an input-output buffer, exhibits improved resistance to damage from electrostatic discharge (ESD) by balancing the ESD current flow through active and inactive sections of drivers. Better balance of the ESD current flow is achieved by increasing the width and length of nulti-finger channels of semiconductor material defining the gates of the drivers in the active section. Wider, longer gates of the drivers in the active section increase their ability to carry current, thereby resulting in a more symmetrical distribution of ESD current between the active and inactive sections without degrading the IC's normal performance.

Abstract: An MOS integrated circuit, such as an input-output buffer, exhibits improved resistance to damage from electrostatic discharge (ESD) by balancing the ESD current flow through active and inactive sections of drivers. Better balance of the ESD current flow is achieved by increasing the width and length of multi-finger channels of semiconductor material defining the gates of the drivers in the active section. Wider, longer gates of the drivers in the active section increase their ability to carry current, thereby resulting in a more symmetrical distribution of ESD current between the active and inactive sections without degrading the IC's normal performance.

Abstract: A voltage clamping circuit that protects integrated circuits having multiple separate power supply voltage terminals from damage when an ESD event causes excessive differential voltages between the multiple separate power supply voltage terminals. The voltage clamping circuit has two subgroups of Darlington connected clamping transistors. The first subgroup of Darlington connected clamping transistors is connected between the first power supply voltage terminal and the second power supply voltage terminal. If the differential voltage exceeds the first clamping voltage level, the first subgroup of Darlington connected clamping transistors turn on and restore the first differential voltage to a level less than the first clamping voltage level. The second subgroup of Darlington connected clamping transistors connected between the second power supply terminal and the first power supply terminal.

Abstract: A toothbrush is described whose head has a different design in comparison to a conventional flat-trimmed toothbrush in that the heights of the bristles are arranged to create a concave cylindrical brushing surface at the free ends of bristles which has a curvature approximating that of a user's frontal dental arch. Moreover, the heights of the interior bristles at the inner rows are further shortened to follow a more concave cylindrical shape or to form a plane surface. The toothbrush of this design is an improvement to the conventional flat-trimmed toothbrush in terms of dental cleaning and gums stimulation but does not have the drawbacks of the designs found in the prior art.