Abstract: The inventive technology described herein includes a novel mechanical apparatus and system which allows centrifugation of small micron sized particles. The invention allows for continuous separation of ultrasound contrast agents (microbubbles) from lipid solution via centrifugation assisted by a motor. The system allows for mass isolation and collection of microbubbles. The invention also allows for the dispensation of lipid solution. In one preferred embodiment, dilute microbubble solution is introduced to the system and subjected to a centrifugal force such that the particles migrate towards the center and collectively rises for extraction, while the lipid solution dispenses and is replace with an equal volume of dilute solution. In one preferred embodiment, the device includes a rotating column or cylinder driven by a belt drive assembly, with the column being supported by annular bearings on both ends.

Abstract: A manufacturing method to form a memory device includes forming a hard mask on a magnetic stack. A first magnetic stack etch is performed to form exposed magnetic layers. A liner is applied to the exposed magnetic layers to form protected magnetic layers. A second magnetic stack etch forms a magnetic random access memory (MRAM) cell, where the liner prevents shunting between the protected magnetic layers.

Abstract: A manufacturing method to form a memory device includes forming a hard mask on a magnetic stack. A first magnetic stack etch is performed to form exposed magnetic layers. A liner is applied to the exposed magnetic layers to form protected magnetic layers. A second magnetic stack etch forms a magnetic random access memory (MRAM) cell, where the liner prevents shunting between the protected magnetic layers.

Abstract: A transmission line driver and a serial interface data transmission device including the same are provided. The transmission line driver includes a pre-driver configured to generate and output differential input data signals based on a serial transmission data signal, a differential amplifier configured to receive the differential input data signals and to output differential output data signals, and a common mode controller configured to drive the differential output data signals to a predetermined common mode voltage in an idle mode. Accordingly, power consumption can be reduced and a common mode specification can be supported.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes a valve assembly located at a refrigerant path from a condenser to at least one expansion valve for controlling flow of a refrigerant from the condenser to the at least one expansion valve. The valve assembly includes a valve chamber, wherein the refrigerant drawn from the condenser is held in the valve chamber; at least one outlet hole through which the refrigerant held in the valve chamber is discharged to a corresponding outlet path connected to the at least one expansion valve; and a valve body for selectively opening and closing the at least one outlet hole as the valve body rotates, such that the refrigerant held in the valve chamber is selectively discharged to the corresponding outlet path.

Abstract: A system of recording or reading data are discussed. According to an embodiment, the system includes: a host device transmitting a write or read command and data to be written or receiving data based on the read command; and a recording/reproducing device, operatively coupled to the host device via interface, controlling a write or read operation in response to the write or read command the from the host device. The recording/reproducing device includes, a pickup for writing or reading data to or from medium, and a controller for determining whether the data requires a real time recording or producing, controlling a recording or reading operation such that a defective block is replaced with a spare block of the spare area, based upon the determination.

Abstract: A recording medium and apparatus and method for managing defective areas are discussed. According to an embodiment a controller determining whether or not to replace a defective block with a replacement block when a writing or reading data to or from the optical recording medium, based upon a data type to be written or read, and creating a defect list, the defect list including information to indicate whether or not the defective block is replaced with a replacement block; and a writing reading unit, coupled to the controller, to write or read the data to or from the optical recording medium and storing the defect list to a defect management area of the optical recording medium, according to a control of the controller.

Abstract: A method for real time recording and playback of data to and from an optical recording medium, and a method for managing a file thereof is disclosed. In the present invention, the host controls real time data writing by providing a signal requesting for information on a defective area to the device for recording/playback of data to/from an optical disk before providing a write command. Accordingly, the write command is generated such that data is not written on the defective areas, based upon the returned information on the defective area. Alternatively, the host may first provide a write command to the device for recording/playback of data to/from an optical disk, upon which information on defective areas is returned. Thus, the host generates and provides a new write command such that data is not written on a defective area based upon the returned information on the defective area.

Abstract: An information device recognizing a fingerprint, the information device having a fingerprint data base storing registered fingerprint data; a fingerprint verifying unit comparing fingerprint data transmitted from an external device to the fingerprint verifying unit; and a kernel of an operating system of the information device permitting access to a program stored in the information device when the fingerprint verifying unit determines that transmitted fingerprint data match the registered fingerprint data, wherein the kernel determines whether the fingerprint data base has been established in the information device, recognizes that the external device and the information device have been activated and performs a fingerprint registration routine when it is determined that the fingerprint data base has not been established.

Abstract: A nopal extract isolated from insoluble fibrous waste of a nopal cactus plant. The extract may be concentrated to particularly useful concentrations and provided as a drinkable health supplement. The extract may also be fermented for additional benefit.

Abstract: Only one or two extra key presses are required to invoke such advanced telecommunications functions as speed dial number storage, speed dialing, ANI registration/de-registration, and account transfer/re-fill in a prepaid telephone account.

Abstract: A refrigerator and a method for keeping food using the same are disclosed, in which freshness is maintained for a long time through an improved structure and decrease of nutritive elements contained in food is inhibited. The refrigerator includes a main body, keeping compartments provided in the main body, keeping food, and irradiation devices irradiating light of a visible ray area to the keeping compartments. The irradiation devices switch a wavelength of irradiated light depending on a set standard. The refrigerator further includes a sensor sensing whether food is contained in the keeping compartments. The refrigerator further includes purification devices provided in the keeping compartments to remove ethylene generated from the food kept in the keeping compartments. The irradiation devices switch the wavelength of the light to correspond to color of the food kept in the keeping compartments.

Abstract: A multi-channel data verifying apparatus and method are provided. The apparatus includes a receiver receiving N data channels and a deskew channel generated by sequentially extracting a predetermined data bit from the each of N data channels, and a deskew channel error detector detecting whether the deskew channel received by the receiver corresponds to an expected deskew channel generated and stored based on the test signal or generated based on the previously received deskew channel. Accordingly, data channels, a deskew channel and the entire data capacity can be verified and thus the cause of a problem in the transmission and reception of multi-channel data can be identified in advance.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a recording medium and apparatus and method for managing a defective area of the recording medium. According to an embodiment, the method includes (a) determining whether there is an available replacement block in a spare area and a found defective block is controlled by a linear replacement algorithm; (b) managing a defective data block based on the determination, such that the defective data block is replaced with the replacement block of the spare area if there is the available replacement block and the found defective data block is controlled by the linear replacement algorithm; and (c) recording a defect list to the recording medium, wherein the defect list includes first position information specifying the location of defective data block, second position information specifying the location of replacement block and identification information specifying that the defective data block is replaced.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a recording medium and apparatus and method for managing defective areas in the recording medium. According to an embodiment, the method includes (a) reading a defect management information recorded on a defect management area, the defect management information including second information specifying a location of a replacement area to replace the defective area and status information specifying whether or not the defective area is replaced; (b) identifying the defect management information; and (c) controlling a writing operation according to the result of step (b).

Abstract: A recording medium and apparatus and method for managing defective areas are discussed. According to an embodiment, the method includes: (a) determining whether or not a real time recording is required; and (b) controlling a recording operation based on the determination such that (i) a defective block found during real time recording is not replace with a replacement block of a spare area, while storing a status information identifying that the defective block is not replaced, and (ii) a found defective block is replaced with a replacement block of the spare area if the real time recording is not required as a result of the determination, while storing a status information identifying that the defective block is replaced with the replacement block and storing a location of the replacement block.

Abstract: A method of reproducing an audio file includes: reading an extension information of the audio file, the extension information of the audio file being separated but associated with audio data of the audio file; establishing a reproducing mode for reproducing the audio file based on the extension information; obtaining at least a part of the audio file under the established reproducing mode; and determining whether the audio file is reproducible under the established reproducing mode by checking whether the part of the audio file constructs a specific format stream corresponding to the established reproducing mode.

Abstract: A method of reproducing an audio file includes: applying a reproducing mode established based on an attribute information; obtaining at least a part of the audio file under the established reproducing mode; and determining whether the audio file is reproducible under the established reproducing mode by checking whether the part of the audio file constructs a specific format stream corresponding to the applied reproducing mode.

Abstract: A method of reproducing an audio file includes: identifying a type of audio data in the audio file based on an extension information of the audio file separated from but associated with the audio data of the audio file; and determining whether the audio file is reproducible by checking whether a part of the audio file constructs a specific format stream corresponding to the identified audio type.

Abstract: A method of reproducing an audio file includes: determining whether the audio file is reproducible by checking whether a part of the audio file constructs a specific format stream corresponding to a predetermined audio type; and controlling for selectively reproducing only audio files reproducible based on a result of the determining step.