Abstract: A system includes an interface, a synchronization module, a pre-filtering module and a data alignment module. The interface is configured to connect a first device having a first transfer rate and a second device having a second transfer rate. The interface transfers a data stream from the first device to the second device. The synchronization module is provided within the second device and is configured to synchronize the first transfer rate and the second transfer rate. The pre-filtering module is connected to the synchronization module, and the pre-filtering module is configured to mask a non-compliant input within the data stream into a compliant output. The data alignment module is connected to the pre-filtering module, and the data alignment module is configured to perform logic computations on the legal output.

Abstract: A method for updating a firmware of a memory card is provided. The method includes: first, starting the memory card; then, determining whether there is a new firmware code or not in the nonvolatile memory; if it is determined that there is a new firmware code in the nonvolatile memory, then determining whether the new firmware code has been updated; if it is determined that the new firmware code has not been updated yet, then performing the firmware updating, and then performing the general operating procedure of the memory card. Therefore, instead of returning back to the memory card manufacturer, the user can conveniently update the memory card with a PC or a card reader.

Abstract: A parallel memory updating method and its system are proposed in the present invention. The present invention is applied for a host computer and makes the host computer capable of using pipeline concept to update multiple peripheral devices at the same time. Thus, the updating efficiency is greatly improved. The parallel flash memory updating method includes the following steps: sending a START_FLASH_CMD command via an IDE interface to make the peripheral devices switch to a flash memory updating mode; send out a WRITE_ENABLE command to enable a writing function of the flash memories of the peripheral devices; and writing firmware data to the flash memories of the peripheral devices.

Abstract: A logic circuit includes an interface and an error detection unit. The interface is configured to receive and transmit a data stream, wherein the data stream includes at least one of a variable length format packet or burst and a fixed length format packet or burst. The error detection unit is configured to detect an error detection code error when a misalignment occurs within the data stream by recursively calculating parity terms.

Abstract: An extendable squarer applied for processing a square operation for n-bit data is disclosed. The extendable squarer comprise a bit expanding circuit and a plurality of operating units. The bit expanding circuit comprises n?1 bit expanding output terminals for outputting a plurality of bit expanding data. The operation units receive a plurality of bit codes of the n-bit data corresponding thereto according to the binary weight. In addition, except for bit code of the most-significant bit, the other operation units receive the corresponding bit expanding data output by the bit expanding circuit respectively. The present invention generates the square operation value of the n-bit data based on the corresponding bit expanding data and bit codes.

Abstract: Batteries including a lithium anode stabilized with a metal-lithium alloy and battery cells comprising such anodes are provided. In one embodiment, an electrochemical cell having an anode and a sulfur electrode including at least one of elemental sulfur, lithium sulfide, and a lithium polysulfide is provided. The anode includes a lithium core and a ternary alloy layer over the lithium core where the ternary alloy comprises lithium and two other metals. The ternary alloy layer is effective to increase cycle life and storageability of the electrochemical cell. In a more particular embodiment, the ternary alloy layer is comprised of lithium, copper and tin.

Abstract: A USB host system includes a core logic having a host controller and a first root hub coupled thereto, a second root hub external to the core logic and coupled to the first root hub via a mapping interface, and a plurality of USB ports coupled to the second root hub, each of the USB ports adapted to couple an external USB device.

Abstract: A method employing a bonding layer is used to form active metal electrodes having barrier layers. Active metals such as lithium are highly reactive in ambient conditions. The method involves fabricating a lithium electrode or other active metal electrode without depositing the barrier layer on a layer of metal. Rather a smooth barrier layer is formed on a smooth substrate such as a web carrier or polymeric electrolyte. A bonding or alloying layer is formed on top of the barrier layer. Lithium or other active material is then attached to the bonding layer to form the active metal electrode. A current collector may also be attached to the lithium or active metal during the process.

Abstract: Disclosed are oxidizer-treated lithium electrodes, battery cells containing such oxidizer-treated lithium electrodes, battery cell electrolytes containing oxidizing additives, and methods of treating lithium electrodes with oxidizing agents and battery cells containing such oxidizer-treated lithium electrodes. Battery cells containing SO2 as an electrolyte additive in accordance with the present invention exhibit higher discharge capacities after cell storage over cells not containing SO2. Pre-treating the lithium electrode with SO2 gas prior to battery assembly prevented cell polarization. Moreover, the SO2 treatment does not negatively impact sulfur utilization and improves the lithium's electrochemical function as the negative electrode in the battery cell.

Abstract: A method for forming lithium electrodes having protective layers involves plating lithium between a lithium ion conductive protective layer and a current collector of an “electrode precursor.” The electrode precursor is formed by depositing the protective layer on a very smooth surface of a current collector. The protective layer is a glass such as lithium phosphorus oxynitride and the current collector is a conductive sheet such as a copper sheet. During plating, lithium ions move through the protective layer and a lithium metal layer plates onto the surface of the current collector. The resulting structure is a protected lithium electrode. To facilitate uniform lithium plating, the electrode precursor may include a “wetting layer” which coats the current collector.

Abstract: Disclosed are oxidizer-treated lithium electrodes, battery cells containing such oxidizer-treated lithium electrodes, battery cell electrolytes containing oxidizing additives, and methods of treating lithium electrodes with oxidizing agents and battery cells containing such oxidizer-treated lithium electrodes. Battery cells containing SO2 as an electrolyte additive in accordance with the present invention exhibit higher discharge capacities after cell storage over cells not containing SO2. Pre-treating the lithium electrode with SO2 gas prior to battery assembly prevented cell polarization. Moreover, the SO2 treatment does not negatively impact sulfur utilization and improves the lithium's electrochemical function as the negative electrode in the battery cell.

Abstract: A USB device is coupled to a first USB communication line and a second USB communication line. Separate first and second paths are created between an external device and a controller in the USB device, with both paths including the first and second USB communication lines. The USB device detects whether a USB connection exists over the first and second USB communication lines. If a USB connection exists over the first and second USB communication lines, USB communication is routed via the first path. Otherwise, testing communication is routed via the second path. The external device can be either a USB host or a testing unit.

Abstract: A logic circuit includes an interface and an error detection unit. The interface is configured to receive and transmit a data stream, wherein the data stream includes at least one of a variable length burst and a fixed length burst. The error detection unit is configured to detect an error detection code when a misalignment occurs within the data stream by calculating recursive terms.

Abstract: A network device includes a port and a bus transmission calculation module. The port is connected to the network device to receive a data burst. The bus transmission calculation module connects to the port for calculating a first number of bytes to be transmitted from a first bus and a second number of bytes to be transmitted from a second bus. The first and second bus connect to the network device and transfer data from the network device.

Abstract: A system includes an interface, a synchronization module, a pre-filtering module and a data alignment module. The interface is configured to connect a first device having a first transfer rate and a second device having a second transfer rate. The interface transfers a data stream from the first device to the second device. The synchronization module is provided within the second device and is configured to synchronize the first transfer rate and the second transfer rate. The pre-filtering module is connected to the synchronization module, and the pre-filtering module is configured to mask a non-compliant input within the data stream into a compliant output. The data alignment module is connected to the pre-filtering module, and the data alignment module is configured to perform logic computations on the legal output.

Abstract: A monitor comprising two-way (plug and play) interface. A two-way interface is added in the monitor to achieve the function of mutual communication between a host hardware and monitor. Using the two-way interface, the specification data parameters are transferred to the host hardware, so that the host hardware can easily obtain the specification data parameters. Furthermore, the host hardware can send the parameters to the monitor controller to adjust the image data that meet the specification of the monitor to achieve the function and objective of plug-in of the monitor.

Abstract: Batteries including a lithium anode stabilized with a metal-lithium alloy and battery cells comprising such anodes are provided. In one embodiment, an electrochemical cell having an anode and a sulfur electrode including at least one of elemental sulfur, lithium sulfide, and a lithium polysulfide is provided. The anode includes a lithium core and an aluminum-lithium alloy layer over the lithium core. In another embodiment, a surface coating, which is effective to increase cycle life and storageability of the electrochemical cell, is formed on the anode. In a more particular embodiment, the anode is in an electrolyte solution, and, more particularly, an electrolyte solution including either elemental sulfur, a sulfide, or a polysulfide where the surface coating is composed of Al2S3.

Abstract: An apparatus for canceling noise in a PC environment includes a receiver positioned inside the computer case that inputs noise inside the computer case, a processor coupled to the receiver and having a waveform generation device that generates a cancellation waveform that is inverse to the waveform of the input noise, and a speaker coupled to the processor for broadcasting the cancellation waveform. A method for canceling noise in a PC environment includes inputting a noise, determining a cyclical waveform that is representative of the noise, generating a cancellation waveform that is the reverse of the cyclical waveform, and mixing the sound from the cancellation waveform with the noise.

Abstract: A USB host system includes a core logic having a host controller and a first root hub coupled thereto, a second root hub external to the core logic and coupled to the first root hub via a mapping interface, and a plurality of USB ports coupled to the second root hub, each of the USB ports adapted to couple an external USB device.

Abstract: Batteries including a lithium anode stabilized with a metal-lithium alloy and battery cells comprising such anodes are provided. In one embodiment, an electrochemical cell having an anode and a sulfur electrode including at least one of elemental sulfur, lithium sulfide, and a lithium polysulfide is provided. The anode includes a lithium core and a ternary alloy layer over the lithium core where the ternary alloy comprises lithium and two other metals. The ternary alloy layer is effective to increase cycle life and storageability of the electrochemical cell. In a more particular embodiment, the ternary alloy layer is comprised of lithium, copper and tin.