Abstract: An image sensor includes a pixel array, a column signal processor, and a column mismatch compensator. The pixel array outputs a pixel signal from each column line during a pixel measuring time, and outputs a reference signal during a reference measuring time. The column signal processor performs correlated double sampling (CDS) on the reference signal to generate a reference CDS signal, and performs CDS on the pixel signal to generate a pixel CDS signal. The column mismatch compensator compensates the pixel CDS signal based on the reference CDS signal.

Abstract: A temperature sensor includes a band gap reference (BGR) circuit, a voltage generation unit and a digital CDS circuit. The band gap reference (BGR) circuit generates a reference voltage proportional to a temperature. The voltage generation unit generates a first voltage and a second voltage based on the reference voltage, where the first voltage and the second voltage are proportional to the temperature. The digital CDS circuit generates a digital signal corresponding to the temperature by performing a digital correlated double sampling (CDS) operation on the first voltage and the second voltage. The temperature sensor is able to detect a temperature accurately.

Abstract: A method for providing a safety guidance service from a local server to a nomadic device includes gathering information regarding surrounding conditions within a service area on a road, receiving device information from the nomadic device, which enters the service area, determining whether or not the nomadic device is placed in a situation based on the device information, and when it is recognized that the situation has happened, providing safety guidance message suitable to the situation to the nomadic device.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus in which an Automatic Identification System (AIS) accesses a radio channel. The present invention includes selecting a slot on which a packet is to be transmitted on at least one radio channel, temporarily sending a first carrier, notifying other AISs that the selected slot has been selected by the AIS, on the selected slot in transmission mode, and after temporarily sending the first carrier, detecting a second carrier transmitted by another device on the selected slot in reception mode. In accordance with the present invention, the AIS temporarily sends a first carrier, notifying other AISs that a selected slot has been selected by the AIS, on the selected slot prior to the detection of a second carrier, and another AIS accessing the same slot detects the first carrier temporarily transmitted. Accordingly, a collision between channels can be avoided.

Abstract: Provided is a steel strip stabilizing apparatus which allows shape correction and vibration suppression in a steel strip, particularly, plated steel strip, in a non-contact manner. The steel strip stabilizing apparatus includes an apparatus support body disposed on at least one side of a traveling steel strip and a steel strip stabilizing unit comprising a magnetic field generating pole disposed on the apparatus support body to face the steel strip and a pole expansion part configured to provide steel strip attraction force to a steel strip-side end of the magnetic field generating pole so as to allow shape correction or vibration suppression in the steel strip.

Abstract: A vehicle controller includes a communications unit for performing data communications with local servers; a local path generation unit for generating, in response to an automatic vehicle guidance service request, a local path based on a driving control command and sensing information received from the local servers via the communications unit; a path-following control unit for generating actuator control signals for controlling actuators of a vehicle to drive the vehicle along the local path; and a vehicle driving unit for driving the actuators according to the actuator control signals. Each local server pre-processes and merges sensor data received from the infra-sensor to generate the sensing information. A global server generates the driving control command based on the sensing information and transmits the driving control command to the local servers.

Abstract: Methods of forming a semiconductor device include forming an insulation layer on a semiconductor structure, forming an opening in the insulation layer, the opening having a sidewall defined by one side of the insulation layer, forming a first metal layer in the opening, at least partially exposing the sidewall of the opening by performing a wet-etching process on the first metal layer, and selectively forming a second metal layer on the etched first metal layer. An average grain size of the first metal layer is smaller than an average grain size of the second metal layer. Related semiconductor devices are also disclosed.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate, a plurality of insulating layers vertically stacked on the substrate, a plurality of channels arranged in vertical openings formed through at least some of the plurality of insulating layers, and a plurality of portions alternatingly positioned with the plurality of insulating layers in the vertical direction. At least some of the portions are adjacent corresponding channels of the plurality of channels. Each of the portions includes a conductive barrier pattern formed on an inner wall of the portion, a filling layer pattern positioned in the portion on the conductive barrier pattern, and a gate electrode positioned in a remaining area of the portion not occupied by the conductive barrier or filling layer pattern.

Abstract: A vertical non-volatile memory device includes a semiconductor pattern disposed on a substrate; and a plurality of transistors of first through n-th layers that are stacked on a side of the semiconductor pattern at predetermined distances from each other, wherein the transistors are spaced apart and insulated from one another at the predetermined distances via air gap, where n is a natural number equal to or greater than 2.

Abstract: There is provided an apparatus and method for controlling mode switching in a terminal. A switch unit outputs a signal for mode switching of the terminal in response to a touch operation of a stylus pen, and a controller switches a mode of the terminal in response to the signal output from the switch unit.

Abstract: A system for remotely controlling a vehicle in a service area divided into plural service sectors includes: an infra sensor module installed in each service sector for periodically sensing obstacles and vehicles within the service sector; a vehicle controller mounted in each vehicle for requesting the driving guidance service and automatically controlling the vehicle in accordance with a vehicle control signal; and a local server installed in each service sector for communicating with the vehicle controllers through a driving guidance network based on information on the obstacles and vehicles sensed by the infra sensor module. The system further includes a global server for allocating network resources of the driving guidance network to allow the local server to communicate with the vehicle controllers using the allocated network resources.

Abstract: Provided is a steel strip stabilizing apparatus which dampens vibrations of a plated steel strip in a non-contact manner or corrects the shape of the plated steel strip. The steel strip stabilizing apparatus comprises: a plurality of steel strip damping means arranged on at least one side of a steel strip undergoing processing in a direction there towards so as to damp vibrations in the steel strip; and a damping means moving unit connected to the steel strip damping means to move at least a portion of each of the steel strip damping means in a widthwise direction with regard to the steel strip corresponding to the width of the steel strip. According to the present invention, (unit) damping means are movable in the widthwise direction with regard to the steel strip, thus improving the vibration damping properties, the steel strip curvature correcting properties and the plated quality of the steel strip.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a time synchronization method in a wireless sensor network. In the present invention, if an upper node requests a lower reference node to start time synchronization, the lower reference node broadcasts a first sync reference packet. The upper node receives the first sync reference packet and transmits the first sync reference packet reception time to the lower reference node. The lower reference node broadcasts the first sync reference packet reception time, such that the other nodes perform time synchronization on the basis of the first sync reference packet reception time. Meanwhile, the lower reference node estimates the first sync reference packet reception time of the upper node to calculate the reception estimation time, and transmits the reception estimation time to a determination node that is two hops anterior to the lower reference node.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of recovering tin and nickel compounds with high purity at a high yield from scrap steel balls for barrel plating through simple processes without using an excess amount of a solvent, the method using an eco-friendly dry pretreatment and subsequent processes including hydrogen reduction and electrolytic refining under certain conditions.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for preparation of a meso-porous polymer nano-composite material which includes: drying a solid material having pores under vacuum; adding a first organic solvent to the vacuum dried solid material in the reactor and dispersing the first organic solvent in pores of the solid material; adding a constant amount of a material having radicals or functional groups relative to weight of the mixture containing the solid material and the first organic solvent in a reactor, and agitating the mixture; introducing a polymerization initiator into the reactor; using a second organic solvent to filter and wash the reaction product after completion of the polymerization; and drying the treated product to eliminate the second organic solvent from the same after removal of the unreacted material having radicals or functional groups as well as the polymerization initiator from the product.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus and method for supporting the safe navigation of ships based on mobile terminals which can prevent accidents at sea including marine collisions between small ships sailing near the coastline. The method for supporting the safe navigation of a ship in conjunction with a mobile terminal carried by a crew member of a ship includes collecting information about the navigation of the ship by a safe ship navigation supporting apparatus positioned in the ship, collecting information about surrounding ship through group communication with a server corresponding to the surrounding ship, converting a chart transmitted from a ground server into a format compatible with the mobile terminal, and applying safe navigation information created on the basis of the information about the navigation and the information about the ship to the converted chart, and providing the crew member with the safe navigation information through the mobile terminal.

Abstract: Provided is an apparatus for efficiently removing a pollutant source in a snout of a steel plating line such as a steel galvanizing line. The pollutant removing apparatus includes at least one pollutant collecting member connecting to a snout between a heating furnace and a plating tank, and a contact-free inducer varying magnetic field within the snout to forcibly guide, without contact, a pollutant source of a steel plate or a processing unit to the pollutant collecting member.

Abstract: A magnetic bearing device includes a magnet generating a magnetic field at a protrusion formed toward a roll shaft, and a body portion supporting the magnet in one direction. The roll shaft is supported while an air gap is formed between the roll shaft and the protrusion, and both sides of the protrusion are rounded.

Abstract: Provided is a wireless communication method in a wireless sensor network environment. The method overhears a packet transmitted from a source sensor node to a destination sink node and determines whether the destination sink node receives the packet. A transmission node selected by using local information among a plurality of neighboring sensor nodes transmits the overheard packet to the destination sink node when the packet is not received.

Abstract: A cell-based vehicle driving control system includes a local server for obtaining road environment information on roads within a cell and target vehicle information on a target vehicle within the cell and generating local waypoints based on the road environment information and the target vehicle information; a global server for monitoring the target vehicle information, the road environment information and local server information on the local server received from the local server; and a vehicle control terminal, mounted in the target vehicle, for receiving the local waypoints from the local server and controlling the target vehicle based on the local waypoints. The road environment information is obtained by using at least one sensor installed on the roads.