Abstract: A method and an apparatus for restoring defective memory cells are provided. The apparatus includes memory, a memory scan controller, which scans the memory to see if the memory is defective when a system starts operating and transmits resulting defect information to a memory controller, and the memory controller, which converts an external address applied from a system controller into an internal address for accessing the memory and replaces a defective cell in the memory with spare memory provided therein so that when a request for access to the defective cell is issued by the system controller, spare memory, rather than the defective cell, can be accessed by the system controller.

Abstract: In recent system LSIs, a plurality of RAMs differing in capacity and in bit width have come to be mounted on a single chip according to the needs on the system side. However, when testing the plurality of RAMs, if the RAMs differ in capacity, they cannot be tested using the same test pattern (for example, HALF-MARCH) even if a special pin is provided for each RAM, because X, Y address mapping differs between the different RAMs; accordingly, the test has to be performed by dividing the RAMs into groups each consisting of RAMs having the same memory space, and this has lead to increased test time. An external address signal and a test-only address signal are provided as RAM control signals and, in the latter case, the number of X, Y addresses in each of the RAMs 4 and 5 is set equal to that of the largest capacity RAM 3 within the same chip, thereby making the X, Y address mapping the same for all the RAMs 3 to 5.

Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes first and second voltage sources that have at least one different charging characteristic from each other, and performs first and second cycles each of which comprises steps of charging the signal by the first voltage source, switching from the first voltage source to the second voltage source, and charging the signal by the second voltage source after the switching step. At least one of a first time period, for which the first voltage source charges the signal, and a second time period, for which the second voltage source charges the signal, in the first cycle is different from that/those in the second cycle.

Abstract: Disclosed is the flash memory device capable of repairing the word line. Fail word lines are repaired using redundancy cells for repairing bit lines by combining X/Y addresses, whereby repair in the direction of the bit line as well as repair in the direction of the word line is made possible. Therefore, it is possible to prevent degradation in the yield and improve reliability of the device.

Abstract: A circuit for biasing an input node of a sense amplifier is proposed. The circuit includes a voltage regulator for keeping the input node at a pre-set operative voltage during a sensing operation. The circuit further includes a pulling device for pulling the input node from a starting voltage towards a power supply voltage, the operative voltage being comprised between the starting voltage and the power supply voltage. The circuit also includes a control device for disabling the pulling device before the input node reaches the operative voltage.

Abstract: A programmable memory cell comprised of a transistor located at the crosspoint of a column bitline and a row wordline is disclosed. The transistor has its gate formed from the column bitline and its source connected to the row wordline. The memory cell is programmed by applying a voltage potential between the column bitline and the row wordline to produce a programmed n+ region in the substrate underlying the gate of the transistor. Further, the row wordline is formed from a buried N+ layer allowing for higher density integration.

Abstract: A reference value is set for recording quantity of information, and a plurality of compression factors is provided for compressing information to be recorded. The compression factors are arranged in order. The information is sequentially recorded on a first memory at a first compression factor of the arrangement of the compression factors. It is determined whether the recording quantity of a first information group reaches the reference value. The first information group is compressed at a larger second compression factor when the recording quantities reaches the reference value, and the compressed first information group is recorded on the first memory at a first area. A second information group following the first information group is compressed at the second compression factor, and the compressed second information group is recorded on the first memory at a second area next to the first area. It is determined whether the sum of the recorded first and second information groups reaches the reference value.

Abstract: A ferromagnetic thin-film based digital memory having a bit structures therein a magnetic material film in which a magnetic property thereof is maintained below a critical temperature above which such magnetic property is not maintained, and may also have a plurality of word line structures each with heating sections located across from the magnetic material film in a corresponding one of the bit structures. These bit structures are sufficiently thermally isolated to allow selected currents in the adjacent word lines or in the bit structure, or both, to selectively heat the bit structure to approach the critical temperature. Such bit structures may have three magnetic material layers each with its own critical temperature for maintaining versus not maintaining a magnetic property thereof.

Abstract: A conventional semiconductor integrated circuit device suffers from the increasing difficulty in definitely setting the output state of a redundancy circuit as the number of conductor layers increases. To overcome this inconvenience, according to the present invention, a semiconductor integrated circuit device has a first semiconductor chip having a nonvolatile memory for storing redundancy information, and has a second semiconductor chip having a conversion circuit for converting the redundancy information output in the form of serial data from the nonvolatile memory into parallel data and a redundancy circuit of which the output state is definitely set by receiving the parallel data output from the conversion circuit.

Abstract: A semiconductor device verification system and method isolates errors detected during verification by comparing a predetermined stimulus applied to the semiconductor device with an observed stimulus measured within the semiconductor device. If the predetermined stimulus differs from the observed stimulus, the error likely results from an inaccuracy in the verification process rather than a flaw of the semiconductor device. The observed stimulus is measured between the input circuit and the core of the semiconductor device, such as between the flip flop associated with an input pin and the logic core of a processor. An observed stimulus circuit integrated within the semiconductor device outputs the observed stimulus to an output pin for use by an error isolation engine associated with verification testing equipment.

Abstract: According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a semiconductor device comprising a plurality of memory cells, and an error-correction circuit, wherein write operation is performed by a late-write method, and ECC processing is executed in parallel with writing, and thereby cycle time is shortened. Moreover, it is better that when a memory cell is power supplied through a well tap, the same address is not assigned while the memory cell is power supplied through the well tap.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, provided are a memory cell, a bit-line coupled to the memory cell, a pre-charge circuit coupled to the bit-line to pre-charge the bit-line, and a discharge device coupled to the bit-line to discharge the bit-line prior to a read of the memory cell.

Abstract: A high-performance, low energy amplifier circuit for the detection and amplification of a voltage differential includes a current conveyor and a sense amplifier. The current conveyor includes a pair of cross-linked transistors and a pair of pass transistors. The sense amplifier includes four transistors forming a cross-linked current sense amplifier. The current sense amplifier detects a current differential between complementary bit lines, develops a differential voltage based on the current differential, amplifies the differential voltage and outputs the amplified differential voltage.

Abstract: An auto refresh control circuit of a semiconductor memory device comprises a command decoder for generating an auto refresh signal performing an auto refresh operation; a wordline control means for activating wordlines when the auto refresh signal is activated, and for precharging the wordlines when an auto refresh operation is finished; and a buffer control means for inactivating the input buffers when the auto refresh signal is activated or a power down signal is activated, and for activating the input buffers when a signal detecting the end time of an auto refresh is activated. Accordingly, the auto refresh control circuit inactivates all of the buffers and input latches during the auto refresh operation, thereby reducing current consumption.

Abstract: The present invention provides a memory device for reducing power consumption during a self-refresh operation performed for protecting data loss. For this object, in the present intention, the memory device for performing a refresh operation in a self-refresh period instigated for every constant time interval after entering into a self-refresh mode includes a low-power controller outputting a enable signal for enabling the power supply means during the self-refresh period after being enabled in the self-refresh mode; and a power supply means receiving the enable signal for supplying a low and a high voltages used in an internal circuit by using an external supply voltage and a ground voltage, wherein the low voltage is lower than the ground voltage and the high voltage is higher than the external supply voltage.

Abstract: When threshold voltages of constituent transistors are reduced in order to operate an SRAM circuit at a low voltage, there is a problem in that a leakage current of the transistors is increased and, as a result, electric power consumption when the SRAM circuit is not operated while storing data is increased. Therefore, there is provided a technique for reducing the leakage current of MOS transistors in SRAM memory cells MC by controlling a potential of a source line ss1 of the driver MOS transistors in the memory cells.

Abstract: In a semiconductor memory device comprising a cell array of memory cells each including a cell transistor and a capacitor, word lines and bit line pairs, the control circuit controls the memory circuit to set the bit lines to a high level to write “1” data into the memory cells regardless of a logic level of data to be written, in a state where a potential of a gate of the cell transistor of each memory cell is raised from a first potential of a standby time to a second potential of an active time, and thereafter to set the bit lines to a low level to write “0” data into the memory cells with “0” data to be written, in a state where the potential of the gate of the cell transistor is changed to a third potential higher than the first potential and lower than the second potential.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel semiconductor integrated circuit device equipped with memory circuits, high-speed memories and large memory capacity memory circuits, which enables speeding up and facilitation of timing settings.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a semiconductor memory device with a suitable redundancy circuit and an address conversion circuit, wherein external addresses are allocated to both a memory cell array which needs refresh, typically DRAM and another memory cell array which does not need refresh, typically SRAM.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a pointer generator which generates pointer values for a stack (LIFO memory). The pointer generator includes a selection input terminal and a bi-direction linear feedback shift register. The selection input terminal transmits a selection signal to the bi-direction linear feedback shift register in response to a command to read/write the stack. The fundamental structure of the bi-direction linear feedback shift register is a linear feedback shift register. After receiving the selection signal from the selection input terminal, the bi-direction linear feedback shift register performs calculation of a specific primitive characteristic polynomial, and then creates a number sequence. When the selection signal changes, the bi-direction linear feedback shift register creates another number sequence by performing calculation of another specific primitive characteristic polynomial. The two number sequences are exactly opposite to each other in order.

Abstract: A dynamic random access memory (DRAM) features an address counter strobe test mode device including a reference pulse generator, an address counter strobe test mode unit, an internal address counter unit, and an address decoding unit. The reference pulse generator receives an external clock signal and generates an internal clock signal. The address counter strobe test mode unit receives the internal clock signal and outputs an address strobe signal, wherein a pulse width and a pulse generating time of the address strobe signal are regulated in response to a plurality of control signals outputted from a mode register set. The internal address counter unit receives an external address signal and outputs an internal address signal in response to the address strobe signal. The address decoding unit decodes the internal address signal. As a result, the address counter strobe test mode device prevents mis-operations caused by mis-addressing in the DRAM.

Abstract: A method for the production of rubber mixtures in a ram kneader or in an aggregate combination of a ram kneader and a preferably thereunder disposed ram-less kneader includes applying a fluid in a surface covering application onto the mixture which has been handled in the ram kneader at the same time as during the mixing process at which there occurs at least one of an enlargement of its working volume, during the discharge process in which the mixture is discharged from the ram kneader, and during a time at which the mixture is in the ram-less kneader, the boiling point of the fluid being less than the desired end temperature of the mixture and the fluid being evaporated during the course of further working of the mixture in a manner in which no fluid remnants remain.

Abstract: A closed automatic fluid mixing apparatus and method for mixing two fluids while maintaining a feed pressure of the mixed fluid at a predetermined level are disclosed. The apparatus comprises a first fluid feed, a second fluid feed, a mixing valve, and a closed control system. The mixing valve is capable of mixing a first fluid received from the first fluid feed and a second fluid received from the second fluid feed to produce a mixed fluid. The closed control system is capable of controlling the mixing valve to determine the ratio of the first and second fluids in the mixed fluid while maintaining the pressure of the mixed fluid at a predetermined level. The method comprises feeding a first fluid and a second fluid to a mixing valve; mixing the first and second fluids therein; and controlling the mixing valve's actuation of to determine the ratio of the first and second fluids in a resultant mixed fluid while maintaining the pressure of the mixed fluid at a predetermined level.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for mixing at least two fluids, wherein the fluids are introduced as adjacent fluid lamellae into a swirl chamber, forming a fluid spiral flowing inward. Removal of the resulting mixture is carried out from the center of the fluid spiral. The static micromixer has a mixing chamber in the form of a swirl chamber (6), in which the inlet channels (15a, b, 16a, b) discharge in such a way that the fluid lamellae enter in the form of fluid jets forming a fluid spiral (50) flowing inward. At least one outlet (25) is fluidically connected to the swirl chamber (6) for removing the resulting mixture.

Abstract: A cascading orifice mixer for mixing a viscoelastic material comprising a plurality of chambers connected in series, including a first chamber, at least one intermediate chamber and a last chamber, each chamber including an orifice providing fluid communication between adjacent chambers thereby defining a substantially unidirectional sequential flow path through the chambers is disclosed. Each chamber has a variable volume ranging from a minimum volume to a maximum volume and the chambers are adapted to transport the viscoelastic material along the sequential flow path by transporting the viscoelastic material from a filled chamber containing a quantity of the viscoelastic material to a next adjacent empty chamber wherein the filled chamber and the next adjacent chamber are each at or near the maximum volume for the respective chamber.

Abstract: A static mixer (10) is provided with a first grid (14) having one or more crossing elements (16) and one or more slots and a second grid (14) having one or more crossing elements (16) and one or more slots. The crossing elements (16) of the first grid (14) are arranged at intersecting angles to the crossing elements (16) of the second grid (14). At least one elongated connector (18) is positioned between and secured to adjacent crossing elements (16) of the first grid (14) and crossing elements (16) of the second grid (14). The grids may further be arranged such that each crossing element of one grid intersects a slot in the other grid.

Abstract: A clip mixing board with disposable sheets has been innovatively designed to make filler and compound mixing easier and more efficient, to avoid cleaning the remains left on the board, and to be able to adapt to limited working space due to the flexibility of disposable sheets. This tool helps to maintain a clean work environment, improves the repair quality, and reduces the expenses of labor and materials used to clean a mixing board for each use.

Abstract: Present invention relates to a food processing device driven by one single motor and used at the sites of food preparation, characterized in that onto the motor block of kitchen robot (1-1), an elastic, twistable and extendable-shrinkable (flexible) motion transfer element (1-4) that is attached via a detachable sleeve group (1-3) is provided and any special functioning accessory (1-5) are actuated through control of a working speed specific to the relevant function via a speed adjustment switch (1-2) present on the motor block.

Abstract: A body device includes: a plurality of sound sources; a speaker and a headphone for outputting sound signals from those sound sources; and a mode setting unit capable of setting a single mode, in which the sound signals from one sound source are output in response to an operation from a front operation unit, and a dual mode in which, while the sound signals from one sound source are being output from the speaker, the voice signals from another sound source are output from the headphone; an external connection unit for connecting an external DVD device with the outside; and a control unit for controlling a mode setting unit so that the body device may be turned ON in the dual mode when a power ON demand signal from the external DVD device or a rear operation unit is detected.

Abstract: A method of monitoring a microseismic event includes detecting the event to produce a first signal dependent on the event. The first signal includes noise at a frequency of, for example 50 Hz. A first sample of the first signal is taken. Then a second sample of the first signal is taken, the second sample occurring n/f seconds after the first sample, where n is an integer (e.g. 1). Subtracting the first and second samples from each other produces a farther signal dependent on the event in which the noise has been at least partly compensated for.

Abstract: A method of monitoring microseismic events in a hydrocarbon production reservoir provided with a well comprising inner production tubing and an outer casing. The method includes providing one or more microseismic sensors in contact with the outer casing of the well, and taking steps to enhance the ability of the microseismic sensors to detect microseismic signals over the background noise generated by fluid flow inside the inner production tubing is enhanced. An installation suitable for carrying out such a method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for generating at least one route traversing a plurality of predetermined seismic survey paths (202) in a marine seismic survey (200). The method includes generating a plurality of routes traversing a subset of the predetermined seismic survey paths (202). The routes satisfy survey constraints such as run in (402) and run out (401) distances and minimum turn radius (404). Penalties are generated for the routes, including line change penalties, hazard penalties, streamer feather penalties, and penalties based on survey line priorities, total survey distance and duration, maintenance requirements, and the final location of the ship (101) performing the survey. At least one of the routes is selected on the basis of the penalties.

Abstract: In one aspect the invention comprises a system and a method for marine geophysical exploration, which includes a first cable connected to a vessel and a plurality of streamer cables connected to the first cable. The first cable includes all towing strength members and all electrical power and data transmission conductors for the connected streamer cables.

Abstract: An airborne sonar collision avoidance system is disclosed. The system compensates for changes in temperature in real time to provide more accurate sonar detection. In addition, the sensors are arranged in a communications network that allows for the sensors to be programmed at run time, thus providing the ability to relocate the sensors without having to pre-program the sensors before the sensors are installed onto a different location.

Abstract: In order to optimize detection of targets from a broadband return, a multiplicity of narrow bands are matched-filter processed simultaneously in parallel. The band or bands which provide the best joint combination of target and propagation in response are used for target detection.

Abstract: The invention relates to low-frequency underwater detection systems comprising a towed linear antenna (12, 13).

Abstract: A hand rotational position detection device of a watch includes a light emitting part, a reflection face which is formed on a second support body which faces a first support body in an opposed manner with a gap G defined therebetween and on which light from the light emitting part is obliquely incident, a light receiving part which is mounted at a position spaced apart from the light emitting part so as to receive light obliquely reflected on the reflection face, and a disc like rotary body which is arranged in the gap defined between the first and the second support bodies and includes an opening which opens an incident optical path Pi leading from the light emitting part to the reflection face and a reflection optical path leading from the reflection face to the light receiving part when the disc-like rotary body assumes a first rotational position with respect to the first support body, wherein when the disc-like rotary body is at the first rotational position, an imaginary line which connects the incident

Abstract: A play-back device includes a body device including: a playback mode setting unit for selecting a plurality of playback modes such as a CD mode, an AM mode and an FM mode; a front side speaker and a rear side headphone for selecting an arbitrary one of the playback modes to output play-back signals in the arbitrary playback mode; a front operation unit for operations relating to the front side; and a rear operation unit for operations relating to the rear side. Further included is a control unit for not accepting but making ineffective an operation to release a mute/pause state, even if done from the rear operation unit, when it is decided that the front side is in the mute/pause state while the front side and the rear side are in a common playback mode.

Abstract: An optical device is provided including a conductive film having first and second surfaces, at least one aperture provided in the conductive film and extending from the first surface to the second surface, and a surface topography formed on at least one of the first and second surfaces, wherein said surface topography increases an intensity of light incident onto one of said first and second surfaces and transmitted through said aperture, wherein a region on which the surface topography is formed is larger than a region where the light is incident on the conductive film surface, and the aperture is formed on the region on which the surface topography is formed.

Abstract: The present invention includes a condition setting portion configured to set a condition used to select titles to be registered in a play list among a plurality of titles recorded on a recording medium, a retrieval portion configured to retrieve titles corresponding to a set condition by making reference to management information recorded on the recording medium, and a registration portion configured to register retrieved titles in the play list.

Abstract: A method of eliminating home-in noise of an optical disc drive without a home limit switch and using a variable step counter, includes: resetting the variable step counter, which counts steps of a stepping motor of an optical pickup, to zero regardless of a position of the optical pickup, when power is applied to the optical disc drive; driving a servomechanism at the position of the optical pickup and then reading a sub-code value of the optical disc to confirm a current position of the optical pickup; calculating a number of tracks from the current position of the optical pickup to a home position and converting the number of tracks into a step counter value to obtain a step counter value of the home position; and moving the optical pickup to the home position through an access operation. The step counter value of the home position is an integer varying depending on the position of the optical pickup when power is applied.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for retrieving different types of content through one or more audio output connectors of an audio CD player is described. In one embodiment of the invention, data carried in Redbook-encoded format is optically read from a CD. The data carried in Redbook-encoded format is Redbook-decoded into data representing converted content of a certain type, which was converted from input data of the same type. The data representing converted content is transmitted out of a CD player device through one or more analog output connectors. In a separate outgoing conversion device detachably coupled with the analog output connectors, the data carried in Redbook-unencoded format is demodulated. The data representing converted content is converted into currently playable reconstructed data approximately representing the input content.

Abstract: A focus control is performed on the basis of a focus error signal indicative of a deviation amount from a focus state in a recording layer of a laser beam emitted for reproducing information to an optical disk having a plurality of recording layers. Specifically, at the time of focus-jumping a laser beam from a recording layer to another recording layer, an acceleration pulse or a deceleration pulse as a brake signal for making a focus jump is applied to a focus drive signal for controlling driving of an optical pickup for emitting a laser beam. The timing of applying each of the brake signals is variably set on the basis of the level of a focus error signal of a recording layer as an object of the focus jump. As a result, the focus jump can be accurately made in accordance with variations in the level of the focus error signal caused by variations in transmittance of light according to materials of the recording layers.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a startup procedure of optical drive after recording or erasing on an optical disc. After disc writing, startup procedure begins, a chipset reads the recorded data on the disc directly using the track information and focus servo parameter in the memory. Thus, the invention reduces time spent in the reading procedure.

Abstract: The method for reproducing records for the optical recording medium detects and compensates for detrack, tilt and defocus, having advantages in that: (1) the magnitude and the direction of detrack, tilt and defocus can be detected from a difference signal (for example, a read channel 2 signal or a tracking error signal obtained by processing the read channel 2 signal) between optical reflecting signals detected at the header fields staggered on the basis of the tract center, and compensates for detrack, tilt and defocus, thereby preventing deterioration of data quality caused by detrack, tilt and defocus during a recording/reproducing operation and enabling the stable operation of the system; and (2) the focus servo is rapidly stabilized to enable real-time recording as well as the stable operation of the system.

Abstract: A highly accurate and stable tilt servo system is provided. A liquid crystal device for phase correction is driven based on drive data stored in a lookup memory to thereby make a tilt correction. Upon pre-processing, a pickup is moved to a predetermined position on the inner circumference of a disc for a tilt correction to employ tilt error data delivered from a tilt sensor as reference tilt error data and drive data served for the tilt correction as a reference tilt correction quantity. After the pre-processing, when the pickup is moved, the difference between the tilt error data delivered from the tilt sensor at each position of movement and the reference tilt error data is employed as a relative correction quantity. The drive data equivalent to the relative correction quantity is acquired from the lookup memory. The drive data acquired is added to the reference correction quantity to thereby determine a tilt correction quantity.

Abstract: A tilt angle detection device and method which generates, as a first push-pull signal, a difference between light reception signals corresponding to two light receiving surfaces of one side of a photodetector, which are divided along the track tangent direction; generates, as a second push-pull signal, a difference between the light reception signals corresponding to two light receiving surfaces of the other side of the photodetector; and generates a tilt signal that indicates a tilt angle defined by a normal on the recording surface of the optical recording medium at a position of irradiation of the laser beam and the optical axis of the laser beam in accordance to a difference between amplitudes of the first and second push-pull signals.

Abstract: An optical disc drive is used to read and/or write data from/on an optical disc having a data storage layer. The drive corrects electrical offset while reading and/or writing data. The drive updates a correction value based on an electrical offset detected at correcting operation or a value derived using electrical offset values that has been detected and stored, without detecting an electrical offset at correcting operation. Therefore, the optical disc drive can correct the electrical offset less often.

Abstract: This invention provides a method to background format an optical recording medium. The optical recording medium comprises defect management areas (DMAs). Each DMA comprises a data area (DA) and a spare area (SA). Each DA and each SA comprise packets to record digital data. Each packet comprises blocks. Each block has a corresponding address for distinguishing the blocks. The background formatting method is to establish a format recording table with recording units to record whether the packets in the DMAs have recorded digital data. Store the format recording table in a memory. When format a certain packet in the optical recording medium, inspect the corresponding recording unit in the format recording table. If the corresponding unit indicates that there is no digital data in the current packet, start formatting. Otherwise, skip the current packet and format the next packet.

Abstract: The invention provides a searching and recording method to search a corresponding replacement block for a defect block to correctly record digital data onto an optical recording medium. When the digital data which is designated to be recorded in a predetermined block in a data area of a target data management area (DMA) is determined to be recorded in another block, inspect the detect table to find an idle recording entry in a target detect table block (DTB) corresponding to the target DMA for recording. If no spared entry in the corresponding target DTB, sequentially leapfrog around the target DTB back and forth to search in the adjacent DTB for any idle entry. Record the digital data in a replacement block corresponding to the entry in the spare area of a DMA corresponding to the searched DTB.