Abstract: A multi-bit clock gating cell is used in an integrated circuit (IC) in place of single bit clock gating cells to reduce power consumption. A physical design method is used to form a clock tree of the IC. Initial positions of clock gating cells are defined with respective initial clock input paths. Selected clock gating cells are moved to modified positions in which they may be adjoining. Adjoining cells are merged by substituting a multi-bit clock gating cell having multiple gating signal inputs, corresponding gated clock outputs, and a common clock input path. A net reduction is obtained for the overall capacitance of the clock path due to reduction of the upstream capacitance of the clock path and of the resulting multi-bit clock gating cell itself, compared with the aggregate capacitance of the clock paths of the corresponding clock gating cells before moving and merging.

Abstract: A multi-bit flip-flop has first and second one-bit flip-flops. The multi-bit flip-flop employs inter-cell clock switch (CSW) sharing in which the first and second one-bit flip-flops share at least one clock switch. The multi-bit flip-flop may also employ intra-cell CSW sharing in which at least one of the first and second one-bit flip-flops shares at least one clock switch. The inter-cell CSW sharing enables implementation of multi-bit flip-flops with fewer clock switches and possibly fewer data devices, while reducing power consumption, including state retention power gating power reduction.

Abstract: A railway vehicle and an axle box structure thereof are provided. The axle box structure includes an axle box body and a positioning joint mounting seat, and a bearing mounting cavity is provided inside the axle box body. The positioning joint mounting seat is provided with a mounting cavity configured to mount a positioning joint, a longitudinal center line of the axle box body is in parallel with a longitudinal center plane of the positioning joint mounting seat, and the longitudinal center plane of the positioning joint mounting seat is outwardly deviated with respect to a longitudinal center plane of the axle box body. In this way, a large space can be left for mounting the brake clamp, and the mounting and replacing of the brake clamp and the wheel set can be facilitated.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) sample chamber. An apparatus includes a sample chamber, a laser source connected to an excitation optics assembly, the excitation optics assembly connected to a first port on the sample chamber, a collimator assembly connected to a spectrometer, the collimator assembly connected to a second port on the sample chamber, and a first lens tube positioned on the first port and a second lens tube positioned on the second port, the first lens tube protecting the first port connected to the excitation optics assembly and the second lens tube protecting the second port connected to the collimator assembly from particles emitted when a laser pulse from the laser source ablates a surface of a target sample and generates a plasma.

Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) has a block of instances of cells aligned in rows of at least first and second heights. The instances of cells are selected from at least two different libraries of standard cells that have heights that are integer multiples of the first and second heights respectively as a function of performance criteria of the instances of cells. The floorplan provides respective numbers of rows of the different heights as a function of the ratios of the total widths of rows of the different heights needed to place the selected standard cells.

Abstract: A multi-bit flip-flop has first and second one-bit flip-flops. The multi-bit flip-flop employs inter-cell clock switch (CSW) sharing in which the first and second one-bit flip-flops share at least one clock switch. The multi-bit flip-flop may also employ intra-cell CSW sharing in which at least one of the first and second one-bit flip-flops shares at least one clock switch. The inter-cell CSW sharing enables implementation of multi-bit flip-flops with fewer clock switches and possibly fewer data devices, while reducing power consumption, including state retention power gating power reduction.

Abstract: An embodiment of a laser induced breakdown system is described that comprises a portable device that includes: a laser configured to produce a beam comprising a plurality of repeating pulses; a processor configured to open a data acquisition window after a delay period, wherein the delay period begins upon production of one of the pulses; one or more optical elements configured to direct the beam at a sample and collect emitted light from a plasma continuum; and an optical detector configured to produce a plurality of signal values from the emitted light from the plasma continuum collected during the data acquisition window, wherein the processor is configured to identify an element from the signal values.

Abstract: A railway vehicle and an axle box structure thereof are provided. The axle box structure includes an axle box body and a positioning joint mounting seat, and a bearing mounting cavity is provided inside the axle box body. The positioning joint mounting seat is provided with a mounting cavity configured to mount a positioning joint, a longitudinal center line of the axle box body is in parallel with a longitudinal center plane of the positioning joint mounting seat, and the longitudinal center plane of the positioning joint mounting seat is outwardly deviated with respect to a longitudinal center plane of the axle box body. In this way, a large space can be left for mounting the brake clamp, and the mounting and replacing of the brake clamp and the wheel set can be facilitated.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) sample chamber. An apparatus includes a sample chamber, a laser source connected to an excitation optics assembly, the excitation optics assembly connected to a first port on the sample chamber, a collimator assembly connected to a spectrometer, the collimator assembly connected to a second port on the sample chamber, and a first lens tube positioned on the first port and a second lens tube positioned on the second port, the first lens tube protecting the first port connected to the excitation optics assembly and the second lens tube protecting the second port connected to the collimator assembly from particles emitted when a laser pulse from the laser source ablates a surface of a target sample and generates a plasma.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a single laser source configurable to produce laser pulses directable towards a target substance, a focusing lens optically positionable between the single laser source and the target substance, the focusing lens focusing a first laser pulse to ablate at least a portion of the target substance when in a first focusing lens position to generate a plasma plume, the plume emitting atomic emission lines characteristic of elements including the target substance, the focusing lens focusing a second laser pulse in the target substance when in a second focusing lens position, resulting in Raman scattering, a collection optics assembly to detect signals representing the atomic emission lines characteristic of the target substance and the Raman scattering, and a spectrometer to detect signals received from the collection optics assembly.

Abstract: A method of identifying the presence of heroin in an impure heroin composition which contains heroin and at least one fluorescent contaminant which interferes with a Raman signal from the heroin. The method may include contacting the mixture with a solvent such as an alcohol, then contacting the resulting alcohol composition with a SERS surface. The surface may then be exposed to laser light from a hand-held Raman spectrometer to detect a Raman signal from the heroin. An apparatus for performing the method is also provided.

Abstract: A method of identifying the presence of heroin in an impure heroin composition which contains heroin and at least one fluorescent contaminant which interferes with a Raman signal from the heroin. The method may include contacting the mixture with a solvent such as an alcohol, then contacting the resulting alcohol composition with a SERS surface. The surface may then be exposed to laser light from a hand-held Raman spectrometer to detect a Raman signal from the heroin. An apparatus for performing the method is also provided.

Abstract: A Raman spectrometer including a laser excitation source, edge filters, and detection optics that direct light into a spectrograph. A spectrograph containing a dispersive element and optics that directs various wavelengths of light onto a segmented diffractive MEMS light modulator array. The MEMS array, depending on actuation state, directs light either to or away from a single detector. Control electronics drive the MEMS light modulator for either sequential wavelength measurement or multiplexed wavelength measurement (Hadamard for example).

Abstract: A latch circuit has a tri-state gate and a reverse tri-state gate that share the same complementary controls. The reverse tri-state gate locks an output of the tri-state gate when the tri-state gate is shut-off. The complementary control signals include a first undoped polysilicon strip. The output of the reverse tri-state gate may be coupled to the output of the tri-state gate via a second undoped polysilicon strip.

Abstract: A Raman spectrometer including a laser excitation source, edge filters, and detection optics that direct light into a spectrograph. A spectrograph containing a dispersive element and optics that directs various wavelengths of light onto a segmented diffractive MEMS light modulator array. The MEMS array, depending on actuation state, directs light either to or away from a single detector. Control electronics drive the MEMS light modulator for either sequential wavelength measurement or multiplexed wavelength measurement (Hadamard for example).

Abstract: A state retention power gated cell includes a logic cell arranged in two or more rows. The logic cell has an active layer including at least a first well and a second well disposed in first and second rows, respectively. In a normal operation mode, the first well is powered with a first bias voltage, the second well is powered with a second bias voltage, the first power supply line is powered with VDDC, and the second power supply line is powered with VDD. In a standby mode, the first well preferably is powered down, the second well is powered with the second bias voltage, the first power supply line is powered with VDDC, and the second power supply line is powered down.

Abstract: A Raman spectrometer including a laser excitation source, edge filters, and detection optics that direct light into a spectrograph. A spectrograph containing a dispersive element and optics that directs various wavelengths of light onto a segmented diffractive MEMS light modulator array. The MEMS array, depending on actuation state, directs light either to or away from a single detector. Control electronics drive the MEMS light modulator for either sequential wavelength measurement or multiplexed wavelength measurement (Hadamard for example).

Abstract: A state retention power gated (SRPG) cell includes a retention circuit coupled to a power gated circuit. The retention circuit stores state information of the power gated circuit before a low power period is started. A gated power supply coupled to the power gated circuit and to a first end of a power supply switch supplies a gated supply voltage to the power gated circuit during a non-low power period. A local power supply coupled to the retention circuit and to a second end of the power supply switch is coupled to the gated power supply in the non-low power period, and a non-gated power supply is coupled to the local power supply via an isolation element to isolate the non-gated power supply from the local power supply during the non-low power period, and to couple the non-gated power supply to the local power supply during the low power period.

Abstract: A state retention power gated cell includes a logic cell arranged in two or more rows. The logic cell has an active layer including at least a first well and a second well disposed in first and second rows, respectively. In a normal operation mode, the first well is powered with a first bias voltage, the second well is powered with a second bias voltage, the first power supply line is powered with VDDC, and the second power supply line is powered with VDD. In a standby mode, the first well preferably is powered down, the second well is powered with the second bias voltage, the first power supply line is powered with VDDC, and the second power supply line is powered down.

Abstract: A latch circuit has a tri-state gate and a reverse tri-state gate that share the same complementary controls. The reverse tri-state gate locks an output of the tri-state gate when the tri-state gate is shut-off. The complementary control signals include a first undoped polysilicon strip. The output of the reverse tri-state gate may be coupled to the output of the tri-state gate via a second undoped polysilicon strip.