Abstract: The invention is a driving apparatus and circuit for efficiently converting a direct current (DC) signal into an alternating current (AC) signal to drive a fluorescent lamp. A semi class E configuration which utilizes only one transistor is employed in the invention. The invention comprises a power transistor, a transformer wherein a primary winding is used as a load for the power transistor and a secondary winding is used to transfer energy to the load for the driving apparatus, i.e. the CCFL tube, and control means which extracts the frequency and current of the power transistor and corrects the deviation between the frequency of the power transistor and that of the control means.

Abstract: A negative voltage detection circuit for a synchronous rectifier metal oxide silicon field effect transistor (MOSFET). The circuit comprises a reference current source, a first circuit mirroring a first current based upon the reference current source and generating a first voltage based upon a detection voltage, a second circuit mirroring a second current based upon the reference current source and generating a second voltage, and a comparator having input ends to receive the first voltage and the second voltage, wherein a level of an output voltage of the comparator changes when the detection voltage is equivalent to a value predetermined according to a difference between the first current and the second current.

Abstract: An LCD (liquid crystal display) power supply includes an AC to DC converter circuit, a transformer, a DC to AC converter, and a feedback circuit. The AC to DC converter circuit couples an AC power supply to generate a DC signal. The DC to AC converter couples the DC signal to a primary side of the transformer and alternates polarities thereof so that an AC signal is generated on a secondary side of the transformer to supply for a load. The feedback circuit receives a first feedback signal indicative of power being supplied to the load and modulates the DC signal generated by the AC to DC converter circuit according to the first feedback signal.

Abstract: A backlight driver circuit has a transformer, a switching circuit and a plurality of switch devices. The switching circuit couples a DC voltage to a primary side of the transformer and alternates polarities thereof so that an AC voltage is generated on a secondary side of the transformer to turn on the backlight blocks. The switch devices are respectively connected between one of the backlight blocks and the transformer, and the AC voltage turns the backlight blocks on when the switch devices are turned on.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel method to isolate and expand pure progenitor/stem cells from a primary tissue explant, which produces a population enriched in multipotent functional progenitor/stem cells free of contaminating fibroblasts and other cell types. Cardiac progenitor/stem cells isolated by this method maintain their self-renewal and clonogenic character in vitro and differentiate into normal cells in myocardium, including cardiomyocytes, endothelial cells, and smooth muscle cells, after transplantation into ischemic hearts. The present invention also includes substantially pure populations of multipotent progenitor/stem cells, e.g., cardiac progenitor/stem cells, and their use to treat and prevent diseases and injuries, including those resulting from myocardial infarction.

Abstract: A massaging apparatus comprises a frame, an elevating base, a kneading device and a pounding device. The frame is composed of a bottom base, two rails, an upper transversal rod and a threaded rod. The elevating base has two U-shaped boards symmetrically mounted at two sides thereon. A rod holder is attached to a lateral section of the elevating base to combine with the threaded rod. The kneading device comprises a first motor, divider and multiple kneading rings in pairs. The pounding device comprises a second motor, two first bearing mounts, a transmitting shaft, two pulling arms, two second bearing mounts and two pounding arms. When both motors actuate individually or simultaneously, the kneading device and the pounding device provide the kneading efficiency and the pounding efficiency respectively and at the same time.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an apparatus that drives a lighting system with multiple lamps. A phase shift mechanism is produced either by a digital method, an analog method, or a mixture of the two methods. In a digital method, phase shifts are generated by digital circuits comprising counters, a divider, an adder, and a comparator. The digital circuits analyze the signal and use the necessary information to form a series of phased driving signals. In an analog method, phase shifts are generated by analog circuits comprising ramp waveform generators, comparators, and at least one shot generator. Also, an apparatus for driving a lighting system with multiple lamps can be realized by mixing the two methods mentioned above.

Abstract: A physical asset management system as disclosed herein is capable of carrying-out a method for facilitating integration of communications network equipment inventory management. In at least one embodiment of the method for facilitating integration of communications network equipment inventory management, the method includes assigning system-readable identification to an asset item of a communication network, receiving the system-readable identification of the asset item at a physical asset manager in response to installing the asset item in the communication network, and creating an informational link between an on-line sub-object of the asset item and an off-line sub-object of the asset item. The system-readable identification enables the physical asset manager to create the informational link between the on-line sub-object of the asset item and the off-line sub-object of the asset item.

Abstract: The invention is a driving apparatus and circuit for efficiently converting a direct current (DC) signal into an alternating current (AC) signal to drive a fluorescent lamp. A semi class E configuration which utilizes only one transistor is employed in the invention. The invention comprises a power transistor, a transformer wherein a primary winding is used as a load for the power transistor and a secondary winding is used to transfer energy to the load for the driving apparatus, i.e. the CCFL tube, and control means which extracts the frequency and current of the power transistor and corrects the deviation between the frequency of the power transistor and that of the control means.

Abstract: An image-displaying control circuit used in a scan-backlight LCD is disclosed. The image-displaying control circuit comprises a driver control circuit, a plurality of gate driver groups, a backlight control circuit and a plurality of backlight driver groups. Each of the gate driver groups is used to drive one of the display blocks, and the driver control circuit outputs a gate sequence signal to the gate driver groups. The gate drive groups can respectively drive the display blocks in a driving sequence according to the gate sequence signal. The backlight driver groups controlled by the backlight control circuit are respectively used to turn on one of the backlight blocks, and the driver control circuit outputs a backlight sequence signal to the backlight control circuit. Then, the backlight control circuit can control the backlight driver groups to respectively turn on the backlight blocks in the same driving sequence as the display blocks.

Abstract: A backlight driver circuit has a transformer, a switching circuit and a plurality of switch devices. The switching circuit couples a DC voltage to a primary side of the transformer and alternates polarities thereof so that an AC voltage is generated on a secondary side of the transformer to turn on the backlight blocks. The switch devices are respectively connected between one of the backlight blocks and the transformer, and the AC voltage turns the backlight blocks on when the switch devices are turned on.

Abstract: The display apparatus has several display blocks. The display blocks are driven in a first sequence during a first frame period. The display blocks are driven in a second sequence during a second frame period immediately following the first frame period. The display block driven last in the first sequence is driven first in the second sequence, and an order of each of the other display blocks in the second sequence is higher than that in the first sequence by one.

Abstract: A lamp driving device has a pulse width modulation circuit, a phase splitter and several switching circuits. The pulse width modulation circuit is arranged to generate a pulse width modulation signal. The phase splitter is coupled to the pulse width modulation circuit and arranged to split the pulse width modulation signal into several phased signals having different phases, wherein pulses of each phased signal are non-overlapping with those of another phased signal. The switching circuits are coupled to the phase splitter and are arranged to respectively receive one of the phased signals, wherein each switching circuit is controlled by the received phased signal.

Abstract: An inverter has an inductor, a capacitor, a switching device, a driving circuit and a transformer. A first terminal of the capacitor is connected to the inductor, and the switching device is connected between the first terminal of the capacitor and a ground terminal. The driving circuit is connected to the switching device, wherein the driving circuit is arranged to control the switching device to turn on or turn off; and a primary side of the transformer is connected between a second terminal of the capacitor and the ground terminal.

Abstract: Disclosed is a backlight control system for a display system with motion picture quality improvement and dynamic luminance control. In the backlight control system, a dynamic motion picture detector outputs an enable signal and a luminance control signal by judging whether the input video data are dynamic motion pictures or not. In response to the enable signal, a display quality improvement mechanism decides whether or not to trigger a display quality improvement. In case of the display quality improvement being triggered, a luminance control circuit and/or an inverter make a backlight module of the display system emit stronger lights for luminance compensation.

Abstract: A metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor and a method for forming the same are provided. The MIM capacitor includes an insulator on a bottom metal plate, a top metal plate on the insulator, a dielectric layer on the top metal plate and on at least sidewalls of the top metal plate and the insulator, and an anti-reflective coating (ARC) layer over the top metal plate and the bottom metal plate. The dielectric layer preferably extends on an exposed portion of the bottom metal plate not covered by the top metal plate and the insulator.

Abstract: A jelly-containing device includes a plurality of flexible sheet-shaped spacers integrally formed in the housing thereof. Mid-portions of the respective spacers are intersected with each other. Thus, an inner space of the housing is divided into a plurality of jelly-receiving spaces, and the number of jelly-receiving spaces is two times the number of the spacers. Therefore, the jelly will be equally divided into several portions that are still partially connected with each other. After being squeezed out of the jelly-receiving spaces, the jelly will be broken into pieces easily through sucking and chewing activities, thus eliminating the danger of choking.

Abstract: A circuit for predicting the dead time is provided. The circuit comprises a plurality of integrators, a plurality of comparators, and a logic circuit. Based on a reference signal provided externally, a first charging operation is delayed by a predetermined delay time during one period of the reference signal, such that the integrators maintain at a voltage level in a next period of the reference signal. Then, the integrators further perform another charging operation during the next period, and the charging voltage is compared with the maintained voltage value. When the charging voltage exceeds the maintained voltage, a reset signal is generated by the logic circuit.

Abstract: A circuit for predicting the dead time is provided. The circuit includes a plurality of integrators, a plurality of comparators, and a logic circuit. Based on a reference signal provided externally, a first charging operation is delayed by a predetermined delay time during one period of the reference signal, such that the integrators maintain at a voltage level in a next period of the reference signal. Then, the integrators further perform another charging operation during the next period, and the charging voltage is compared with the maintained voltage value. When the charging voltage exceeds the maintained voltage, a reset signal is generated by the logic circuit.

Abstract: A massaging structure with a buffer function includes a threaded rod positioned in a frame, and a coil spring respectively provided at an upper end section and a lower end section of the threaded rod. When a moving member of a massaging roller moves to the highest point or to the lowest point of the threaded rod, a micro switch at the highest point and at the lowest point of the threaded rod is contacted by the moving member, turned on and activating a motor to reverse its rotating direction. If the motor stops in case of a disorder, the coil springs can let the moving member jump up and down so that a user may know a disorder happened and correct it. Thus, the threads of the threaded rod and the moving member can be protected from damage.