Abstract: A planar plasmonic device includes a first material layer having a surface configured to receive at least one photon of incident light. A patterned plasmonic nanostructured layer is disposed adjacent and optically coupled to the first material layer. The patterned plasmonic nanostructured layer includes a selected one of: a) at least a portion of a surface of the patterned plasmonic nanostructured layer includes a textured surface, and b) at least one compound nanofeature including a first material disposed adjacent to a second material within the compound nanofeature.

Abstract: An asymmetric waveguide layer which includes a metal film having an array of apertures defined in the metal film. The apertures extend from a first surface of the metal film to a second surface of the metal film. A plurality of photons have a wavelength of about X propagate through the asymmetric waveguide layer in one direction, and are substantially prevented from propagating in the other direction. An integrated solar cell is also described. First and second PV layers are disposed adjacent to and optically coupled to the asymmetric waveguide layer. A reflective layer is disposed adjacent to and optically coupled to the second PV layer second surface. Light passing through the asymmetric waveguide is substantially trapped within the second PV layer by a combination of reflection from the reflective layer and reflection by the asymmetric waveguide layer.

Abstract: A surface plasmon wavelength converter device includes a metallic film which has a plurality of nanofeatures. A wavelength conversion layer having a plurality of centers is disposed adjacent to the metallic film. The surface plasmon wavelength converter device is configured to respond to an incident electromagnetic radiation having a first wavelength by radiating away from the surface plasmon wavelength converter device an electromagnetic radiation having a second wavelength. A surface plasmon wavelength converter device having a metallic film and at least one center disposed in at least one of a plurality of nanofeatures of the metallic film is also described. A surface plasmon wavelength converter device having a transparent conductive oxide (TCO) film having a plurality of metallic nanofeatures, adjacent to a wavelength conversion layer, and a TCO film having a plurality of metallic nanofeatures with at least one center disposed therein is also described.

Abstract: Provided is an optical microscope system for detecting nanowires to allow for use of an existing optical microscope in fabricating an electronic device having the nanowires and including: a light source for emitting light to provide the light to a nanowire sample; a rotational polarizer provided on a path of the light emitted from the light source for polarizing the light; an optical microscope for detecting a nanowire image using light that is polarized by the rotational polarizer and incident on the nanowire sample; a CCD camera provided in a region of the optical microscope for photographing and storing the nanowire image detected by the optical microscope; and a data processor for performing Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) on the nanowire image stored in the CCD camera. Intensity of reflected light varies, due to optical anisotropy of the nanowires, along a polarizing orientation of light incident on the nanowires.

Abstract: Image scanning apparatus and method of receiving a new scan job, determining whether the new scan job is a multi-scan job, and when the new scan job is a multi-scan job, individually performing the multi-scan job using the plurality of scan units. Accordingly, in the process of performing a scan job, a user can perform a new scan job without waiting.

Abstract: Provided is an optical microscope system for detecting nanowires that is designed with a rotational polarizer and Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) to allow for use of an existing optical microscope in fabricating an electronic device having the nanowires. The optical microscope system includes: a light source for emitting light to provide the light to a nanowire sample; a rotational polarizer provided on a path of the light emitted from the light source for polarizing the light; an optical microscope for detecting a nanowire image using light that is polarized by the rotational polarizer and incident on the nanowire sample; a CCD camera provided in a region of the optical microscope for photographing and storing the nanowire image detected by the optical microscope; and a data processor for performing Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) on the nanowire image stored in the CCD camera.

Abstract: A character inputting system for a mobile terminal, and a mobile terminal using the same, is provided, to thereby more efficiently input characters in a mobile terminal in which characters should be input with a small number of keys. The character inputting system includes a key module (10) having five keys, a key signal generator (20) for converting a contact button signal provided from the key module into a key signal and outputting the converted result, and a data generator (30) generating data corresponding to the key signal output from the key signal generator (20).

Abstract: A cordless complex root canal plugger for dental clinics is disclosed. The root canal plugger includes a battery charger; a pen-type vertical spreader having a rechargeable battery unit and a control unit therein; and a gun-type injection device having both a rechargeable battery unit and a control unit therein. The battery charger, the pen-type vertical spreader and the gun-type injection device are provided as a group of complementary products. The cordless complex root canal plugger allows an endodontist to move freely in a dental clinic while executing a root canal plugging procedure using the cordless complex root canal plugger during nerve treatment. Thus, the endodontist can more easily, rapidly and precisely pack a root canal with a filler material and, therefore, the cordless complex root canal plugger induces en-dodontists to buy it.

Abstract: A digital image upscaling system enhances the visual quality of enlarged images by detecting diagonal edges and applying an appropriate scaling algorithm, such as a rotated bilinear scaling process, to output pixels associated with those edges. The rotated bilinear scaling process involves detecting diagonal edges and specifying a new frame of reference rotated 45° from the original frame of reference, and then selecting a rotated pixel set based on the new frame of reference. Bilinear interpolation in the new frame of reference using the rotated pixel set provides improved pixel data for the output pixel. Output pixels found not to be associated with diagonal edges are processed using standard bilinear interpolation.

Abstract: A method for processing a received signal at a mobile receiver of a wireless communications system is disclosed. The method comprises demodulating the received signal to obtain an analog base band signal and converting the analog base band signal into a digital base band signal. The signal strength of the digital base band signal is estimated and, using the estimation, the digital base band signal is scaled by a scaling factor. The digital base band signal is equalized into an equalized digital signal which is then rescaled by a resealing factor.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for large scale noise decoupling in an integrated circuit is disclosed herein. A power decoupling mesh and a power distribution structure are included in the integrated circuit. The power decoupling mesh is configured in accordance with the power distribution structure. The power decoupling mesh comprises a plurality of decoupling capacitors, such as trench capacitors or MOSFETs.

Abstract: A digital image upscaling system enhances the visual quality of enlarged images by detecting diagonal edges and applying an appropriate scaling algorithm, such as a rotated bilinear scaling process, to output pixels associated with those edges. The rotated bilinear scaling process involves detecting diagonal edges and specifying a new frame of reference rotated 45° from the original frame of reference, and then selecting a rotated pixel set based on the new frame of reference. Bilinear interpolation in the new frame of reference using the rotated pixel set provides improved pixel data for the output pixel. Output pixels found not to be associated with diagonal edges are processed using standard bilinear interpolation.

Abstract: A method and system enhances the color of an image by manipulating the chrominance and/or luminance signals of the image. Specifically, a color enhancement system sharpens color changes for better picture quality on digital display systems. In one embodiment of the present invention, color changes are detected by a color change detection unit. If the color changes are significant, a color change sharpening unit sharpens the color change to enhance the image.

Abstract: A method and system of noise filtering is provided. The pixels of a first filter mask are separated into groups based on luminance . . . The sizes of each group is determined and a largest group is selected. The distance of each group of pixels from the largest group is also calculated. Pixels in groups that are small compared to the largest group and far from the largest group are tagged as noisy. After tagging the noisy pixels, additional filtering can be applied to the pixels of first filter mask without degradation from the tagged pixels.

Abstract: A new and improved bonding pad having separate areas for probe needle contact and wire bonding in semiconductor packaging technology. The bonding pad typically has a generally elongated, rectangular configuration with a wire bonding area at one end and a probe needle contact area at the other end of the pad. At least one notch mark may be provided on or adjacent to the bonding pad between the wire bonding area and the probe needle contact area for demarcating these areas during chip production.

Abstract: A new and improved bonding pad having separate areas for probe needle contact and wire bonding in semiconductor packaging technology. The bonding pad typically has a generally elongated, rectangular configuration with a wire bonding area at one end and a probe needle contact area at the other end of the pad. At least one notch mark may be provided on or adjacent to the bonding pad between the wire bonding area and the probe needle contact area for demarcating these areas during chip production.

Abstract: A method and circuit generates a complete picture from a series of digitized interlaced video fields. Each pixel in the complete picture is either duplicated from a digitized interlaced video field or interpolated from three adjoining digitized interlaced video fields. Interpolated pixels are computed from a combination of same-field and adjoining-field pixels. A percentage difference of the luminance values of the same-field and adjoining-field pixels included in the interpolation is used to maximize motion capture in the de-interlaced picture. Additional embodiments incorporate filtering of the percentage difference based on a threshold value to minimize soft noise in the de-interlaced picture.

Abstract: A method and circuit generates a complete picture from a series of digitized interlaced video fields. Each pixel in the complete picture is either duplicated from a digitized interlaced video field or interpolated from three adjoining digitized interlaced video fields. Interpolated pixels are computed from a combination of same-field and adjoining-field pixels. A percentage difference of the luminance values of the same-field and adjoining-field pixels included in the interpolation is used to maximize motion capture in the de-interlaced picture. Additional embodiments incorporate filtering of the percentage difference based on a threshold value to minimize soft noise in the de-interlaced picture.

Abstract: A method and system of noise filtering is provided. The pixels of a first filter mask are separated into groups based on luminance. . . . The sizes of each group is determined and a largest group is selected. The distance of each group of pixels from the largest group is also calculated. Pixels in groups that are small compared to the largest group and far from the largest group are tagged as noisy. After tagging the noisy pixels, additional filtering can be applied to the pixels of first filter mask without degradation from the tagged pixels.

Abstract: A method and system enhances the color of an image by manipulating the chrominance and/or luminance signals of the image. Specifically, a color enhancement system sharpens color changes for better picture quality on digital display systems. In one embodiment of the present invention, color changes are detected by a color change detection unit. If the color changes are significant, a color change sharpening unit sharpens the color change to enhance the image.