Abstract: A method for driving a semiconductor memory device, includes initializing first data corresponding to a refresh time of each corresponding row included in a cell array; storing second data corresponding to column data included in the first row after entering a self refresh mode; setting the first data corresponding to the first row by detecting the refresh time of the first row while performing refresh operations on the other rows in the cell array according to a refresh period selected based on the corresponding first data for predetermined refresh cycles, wherein the refresh operation is not performed on the first row during the predetermined refresh cycles; restoring the second data to the first row; and repeating the above steps for the other rows to thereby set the corresponding first data until the setting step is completed for all rows or the self refresh mode expires.

Abstract: A programmable device includes a substrate (10); an insulator (13) on the substrate; an elongated semiconductor material (12) on the insulator, the elongated semiconductor material having first and second ends, and an upper surface S; the first end (12a) is substantially wider than the second end (12b), and a metallic material is disposed on the upper surface; the metallic material being physically migratable along the upper surface responsive to an electrical current I flowable through the semiconductor material and the metallic material.

Abstract: A method for controlling the constant power dissipation of a memory cell includes initially measuring the resistance of the memory cell, and subsequently controlling a source to apply a variable level of current or voltage to the memory cell. The variable level of the applied current or voltage is determined in proportion to the measured resistance of the memory cell so as to result in a predefined level of power dissipation within the memory cell, said dissipated power operable to heat the memory cell.

Abstract: A flash memory device including a non-volatile memory for storing information; a power switch for controlling operation of the non-volatile memory; and a controller that operates the power switch to alternately provide and deny power to the non-volatile memory.

Abstract: A memory device includes a configurable array of memory cells. A number of array banks is configured based upon data stored in a mode register or decoded by logic circuitry. The memory device remains a full capacity memory, regardless of the number of array banks. Memory address decoding circuitry is adjusted to route address signals to or from a bank address decoder based upon the number of array banks selected.

Abstract: A dual-plane type flash memory device having a random program function and program operation method thereof. The flash memory device includes a first plane, a second plane, a first X-decoder, and a second X-decoder. The first plane includes first memory blocks sequentially arranged in a row direction. The second plane includes second memory blocks sequentially arranged in a row direction. The first X-decoder activates one of the first memory blocks in response to a first block address signal. The second X-decoder activates one of the second memory blocks in response to a second block address signal. The block activated by the first X-decoder of the first memory block is different from the block activated by the second X-decoder of the second memory blocks. Accordingly, during a program operation, memory blocks of two planes having different block addresses can be selected and programmed. Accordingly, the operational performance of the flash memory device can be enhanced.

Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes plural ports for transmitting an input data serial-interfaced with an external device into a global data bus, plural banks for parallel-interfacing with the plural ports through the global data bus, plural input signal transmission blocks, responsive to a mode register enable signal, for transmitting an input signal parallel-interfaced with the external device into the global data bus, and a mode register set for determining one of a data access mode and a test mode based on the input signal inputted through the global data bus.

Abstract: A multi-port semiconductor device and method thereof are provided. In an example, the multi-port memory device may include a clock generating unit receiving an external clock signal having a given frequency and a given phase, the clock generating unit generating a plurality of local clock signals by adjusting at least one of the given frequency and given phrase of the received external clock signal such that at least one of the plurality of local clock signals have at least one of a different frequency and a different phase as compared to the given frequency and given phrase, respectively, of the received external clock signal.

Abstract: A word-line driver has an input from a word-line decoder and an output to drive a word-line. The word-line driver comprises a plurality of inverters connected in series between the input and output including a first and a second inverter with a first node designating an output of the first inverter and an input of the second inverter, the first inverter having a NMOS transistor with a controllable first source, and a first pull-up circuitry coupled between a positive supply voltage and the first node and selectively activated by a first control signal, wherein when the first source is set to the positive supply voltage and the first control signal is set to a complementary supply voltage of the positive supply voltage, the first node is pulled up to the positive supply voltage to ensure an output of the second inverter is pulled down to the complementary supply voltage.

Abstract: The present invention provides a semiconductor device having a plurality of functional blocks and a select signal generation circuit for supplying a select signal to a functional block to be operated out of the plurality of blocks. A clock generation unit in the function clock, to which the select signal and a system clock are supplied, generates a control clock based on the system clock when the select signal is being supplied, and stops generation of the control clock when the select signal is not being supplied. When the select signal is not received, a dynamic circuit provided inside the functional block does not operate since the control clock is not supplied. When the select signal is received, the control clock is supplied and the dynamic circuit repeats precharge and discharge for each clock cycle, and performs operation to execute a predetermined function, and consumes power.

Abstract: To provide a control circuit of power supply unit, power supply unit and control method thereof capable of setting and adjusting a voltage value of output voltage flexibly corresponding to an instruction from outside, a voltage adjusting portion AD for adjusting first voltage setting information inputted from outside to real voltage information is provided and the voltage value of the output voltage of the power supply unit is controlled based on real voltage information outputted from the voltage adjusting portion AD. The first voltage setting information inputted from outside enables a desired output voltage to be set up by adjusting the real voltage information flexibly even if information relating to the setting of voltage set as output voltage to an external device which is a supply destination is different from actually necessary voltage value.

Abstract: A caulk product is provided. The product comprises an amount of caulk that is formulated so as to be white in color prior to curing and clear after curing. A cylindrical cartridge contains the amount of caulk, wherein the cartridges comprises a dispensing tip, a substantially cylindrical body, a removable and replaceable endcap, and a breakable seal located between the tip and the body. A transparent area is disposed within a wall of the cartridge so as to allow the color of the caulk to be viewed, wherein the area defined by the cartridge body is adapted to accommodate the insertion of colorant and a mixing tool without overflow. A related method for coloring caulk is also provided.

Abstract: Aspects of the present invention relates to automated production processes and associated systems, including automated bread making processes which enable the continuous production of baked bread. One aspect of the invention is directed toward a system for the continuous production of baked bread that includes an ingredient metering unit, a dough mixing unit coupled to the ingredient metering unit, a dough transport coupled to the dough mixing unit, an endless oven conveyor having a plurality of dough holders spaced apart from each other, and an oven unit coupled to the oven conveyor. The oven conveyor is configured to move the dough holders through the baking portion at a rate so the single batches of dough in the dough holders will be sequentially baked to form the baked products when the dough holder exit the oven unit.

Abstract: Plural types of fluids that are incompatible with each other are merged. A disturbance is induced at an interface between the fluids by causing the fluids to flow through a merged flow passage having a cross-sectional area that changes. One type of the fluids is turned into microscopic liquid droplets.

Abstract: A mixing head for producing heated milk in the form of a froth or water-milk mixture. The mixing head includes a steam feed, a milk inlet, a mixing area where the steam feed and milk inlet join and the steam and milk combine, an outlet nozzle for draining the resulting mixture from the mixing head, a rinsing medium supply, a milk supply and a transfer mechanism that provides relative movement between the milk inlet and the rinsing medium supply or the milk supply for selectively bringing the milk inlet into fluid connection with the rinsing medium supply or the milk supply, such that milk or a rinsing medium, as desired, can enter the mixing head at the milk inlet.

Abstract: A beverage dispenser includes a container, a transmission shaft, and at least one partitioning plate mounted to the transmission shaft to move therewith. The container includes a compartment for receiving a beverage. The container includes an inlet through which beverage enters the container and an outlet through which the beverage exits the container. The transmission shaft is movable relative to the container. The at least one partitioning plate divides the compartment of the container into at least two subcompartments. At least one passageway is defined between the at least one partitioning plate and an inner circumference of the container to allow communication between the at least two subcompartments.

Abstract: Various techniques are described which may be used to facilitate and improve seismic exploration activities. For example, one aspect of the present invention is directed to a technique for enabling in-situ measurement of geophone response parameters. Another aspect of the present invention is directed to a technique for improving geophone calibration and for improving the accuracy of measurement of geophone response parameters. Yet another aspect of the present invention is directed to a technique for compensating geophone response output data in order to improve the accuracy of such data.

Abstract: A method of processing seismic data, wherein a digital seismic trace is provided comprising at least one seismic loop. A selected discrete wavelet transform of the digital seismic trace is obtained as a function of scale sj and shifted sample time tk. From the discrete wavelet transform, a singularity spectrum is obtained for the at least one seismic loop, and a selected function is fitted to the singularity spectrum. Based on the fitted function, a reconstructed seismic trace may be calculated. The method may be embodied in the form of software code instructions in a computer program product.

Abstract: In one aspect of the present invention, a method has steps for forming a wellbore with a tool string bit having a body intermediate a shank and a working face. The bit body has a fluid passageway and at least a portion of a jack element is disposed within the body. The jack element also has an end forming at least a portion of a relief mechanism in the fluid passageway and a distal end substantially protruding from the working face. The bit connected to a tool string is deployed into a wellbore. Fluid is passed through the fluid passageway. A bottom of the wellbore is destructed by pulsing the fluid traveling through the passageway by opening and closing the relief mechanism.

Abstract: An insect repelling system includes (1) a microphone for converting pressure waves generated by a flying insect flapping its wings into electrical signals, and (2) a speaker for generating pressure waves toward the flying insect based on the electrical signals.

Abstract: To generate information representing a volume, co-arrays or synthetic transmit aperture process is performed in one dimension and beamforming is performed in another dimension. For example, a transmit aperture focuses in azimuth, but is unfocused or divergent in elevation. A multi-dimensional array receives reflected echoes. The echoes are beamformed for sub-arrays for focus in azimuth. The resulting partial beamformed information is provided to an imaging system from the probe housing for completion of beamforming at least in elevation.

Abstract: The invention proposes a timepiece including a motion work (12) which drives analogue display means (14) and a strike train (16) which drives a striking mechanism (18), wherein the motion work (12) is driven in rotation by a barrel (20) including a spring, a toothing which meshes with the motion work (12), and a winding ratchet (38) coaxial to the barrel (20), the winding ratchet (38) being secured in rotation to the drive arbour (26) of the barrel (20), and wherein a winding member (44) is provided to mesh with the winding ratchet (38) in order to wind the barrel spring (24), characterized in that the winding ratchet (38) drives the strike train (16) in rotation via an intermediate wheel set (45) whose axis (A2) is shifted relative to the axis (A1) of the barrel (20), and in that the intermediate wheel set (45) includes a click device (47) for uncoupling the winding ratchet (38) relative to the strike train (16) during the winding phase of the spring (24).

Abstract: A wristwatch having a display unit with memory that retains the display state of a last preceding display update operation, and a solar cell for displaying operating power at least to the display unit with memory during the display update operation. The display unit with memory and the solar cell render a dial or a display panel.

Abstract: There is realized an alarm information display unit capable of enabling a message relating to an error of a hardware placed in a predetermined managing environment to be displayed on a display screen together with normal alarm information. In the alarm information display unit for collecting alarm information from external equipment and displaying it on a display screen of a monitoring means, and mounting thereon a hardware placed in a predetermined managing environment, the alarm information display unit comprises an error retrieval means for retrieving newly occurred error while gaining access to a system log in which error information of the hardware is written, an error message generation means for generating an error message relating to the error information detected when retrieved by the error retrieval means, and a display control means for causing the generated error message to be displayed on the display screen together with the alarm information.

Abstract: Systems and methods from loading/unloading a data head for a disk drive provide for more efficient use of disk space. A method of loading/unloading a data head for a disk drive comprises determining a disk phase of a spinning disk arrangement, determining a loading/unloading position based on the disk phase, and loading or unloading the data head on or from, respectively, the spinning disk arrangement based on the determined disk phase. The determining a disk phase may be based on zero crossing of voltages for a three-phase motor associated with the spinning disk arrangement.

Abstract: An optical integrated unit includes a semiconductor laser (11), a polarized light beam splitter (14), a light receiving element (12), and a polarized light diffraction element (15) for diffracting an optical beam (20) and returning light. The polarized light diffraction element (15) is so provided as to receive the light beam (20) having passed through a polarized light beam splitter surface (14a), and as to diffract the returning light such that an optical path of the returning light is changed to lead to the light receiving element (12). This makes it possible to provide (i) an optical integrated unit in which the beam diameter of light incidenting on a diffraction element is large and in which an optical path length from the diffraction element to a light receiving element is long, and (ii) an optical pickup device including such an optical integrated unit.

Abstract: An optical system driving device, includes: a carriage on which an objective lens is mounted; a guide for slidably supporting the carriage to guide the carriage in a tracking direction; at least a pair of coils which are attached to both sides of the carriage and which are wound in a direction perpendicular to a plane including the tracking direction and an optical axis of the objective lens; and at least a pair of magnet sections which are opposed to the coils so as to sandwich the carriage, wherein each of the pair of magnet sections has a permanent magnet in which two magnetic poles are arranged in a direction perpendicular to the plane including the tracking direction and the optical axis of the objective lens, and the two magnetic poles of one permanent magnet are arranged in an opposite direction of the two poles of the other permanent magnet.

Abstract: An apparatus for optical pickup is disclosed which minimizes offset element occurring between the recorded and non-recorded pattern when object lenses are configured off-axis along the tracks on the optical storage medium. The optical pickup of the present invention minimizes the offset voltage level change by passing the incident beam into the optical storage as one beam and then dividing the beam into three beams and by preventing the AC signal of sub beam from reaching the light detecting means.

Abstract: When recording/reproducing an optical disc having a recording layer of multi-layer structure, an unwanted optical beam reflected from a recording layer other than a target layer for recording/reproduction is incident on a photodetector to cause an unwanted disturbance component to leak to a detection signal, giving rise to a degradation in the quality of a tracking control signal. In an optical pickup apparatus, for suppression of the degradation, an optical element is mounted having a diffraction area for diffracting part of the optical beam and light receiving planes for sub-optical beams are provided each of which has a light shielding zone or dead zone of a predetermined width on its central sectioning line.

Abstract: A method for determining a bias voltage of a servo signal of an optical disc drive is disclosed. The method includes: generating a plurality of sensing signals via an optical sensor of the optical disc drive; generating a first and a second servo signals according to the sensing signals; adjusting the first and the second servo signals to generate a first and a second adjusted signal respectively; and determining the bias voltage of the servo signal according to the first and the second adjusted signals.

Abstract: The present invention provides an information recording medium in which an access unit including basic data and extension data is recorded, so as to allow a decoder that decodes only basic data to process the access unit which includes the basic data and the extension data for the next generation.

Abstract: An information recording medium for enabling quick finalization and efficient data recording/reproducing, and a recording/reproducing apparatus and method are provided. The information storage medium includes a finalization area of which both of an in-groove pre-pit and a land pre-pit are formed in at least a part, while the information storage medium is manufactured.

Abstract: There is provided a disk/disk drive management system that is capable of setting limits to reproduction of a disk and a disk drive used for the disk reproduction, for example, setting limits to reproduction of a rental disk to prevent unrestricted copying. On a first storage region of a disk having optical information written thereto and a second storage region of the disk having an electronic circuit 11 mounted thereon, a plurality of arbitrary codes (A001 to A999) assigned uniquely to the disk are stored. When the disk is loaded into a disk drive 1, the plurality of codes are read in and written to a code memory 114 of the electronic circuit 11, and an unused code of the plurality of codes is written to a memory 14 provided in the disk drive 1 and/or to a management memory 115 provided on the electronic circuit 11. The disk drive information that was used or is being used, user information, and other information can also be written to the management memory 115.

Abstract: Provided is an optical disk apparatus which has high read retry ability and high compatibility by performing a proper verify for other apparatuses. The optical disk apparatus includes a playback system capable of arbitrarily changing playback performance, and means which detects and determines a factor causing a read error. Moreover, a read retry is performed by use of playback parameters corresponding to the factor causing the read error. Furthermore, a verify is performed with the playback performance of the playback system lowered.

Abstract: The method and apparatus described utilise the fact that CDs manufactured from the same master will have distinctive physical characteristics attributable to the physical manufacturing process of the master to distinguish counterfeit CDs from genuine discs. For a genuine disc, the relative angular orientation of specified sections of the recorded data are determined and recorded. The relative angular orientation of the same sections of data on a test disc are also determined. Where the relative angular orientations are the same it is concluded that the test disc derives from the same source as the genuine disc and is therefore bona fide. Where there is no correlation, the test disc may be identified as counterfeit. The relative angular orientations, or other physical characteristics of the discs, may be physically measured, or may be calculated from information gained by reading the data on the disc. The disclosed technique can also be used to copy protect discs.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus 1, for determining the quality of the optical disk read signal. Said method comprises: comparing said optical disk read signal with a preset reference signal to acquire the signal values correlated with said preset reference signal in said optical disk read signal, with said correlated signal values satisfying a preset condition; sampling said optical disk read signal to acquire a, plurality of sampled signal values; acquiring, with respect to each of said signal values, two sampled signal values that are adjacent to each of said signal values according to said signal values and said sampled signal values; and finally determining the quality of said optical disk read signal on the basis of the preset relationship between the average and the maximum values of the differences of said two adjacent sampled signal values that are corresponding to each of the signal values.

Abstract: A method for measuring a surface structure of a near-field object is provided. A light source produces at least a first light beam and a second light beam; guiding the first light beam and the second light beam to enter the SIL for interacting with the object surface. This method can be used in, for example, a near-field optical disc storage system, wherein reflection intensities of the first and second light beams are used to measure two distances between the SIL and the optical disc at two positions corresponding to the first and second light beams. A surface structure, such as a tilt angle or an average distance between the disc and the SIL or disc roughness, is obtained by analyzing the above-mentioned positions and distances. The first and second light beams are produced, for example, by a diffraction technology or by a single laser diode with multiple beams.

Abstract: The invention relates to write strategy modification, and in particular, to dynamic write strategy modification. A dynamic write strategy modification method comprises: writing a plurality of data on to an optical disk according to a writing strategy with at least three parameters; measuring at least two quality indices of the data wrote on the optical disk; storing a result comprising the parameters and the corresponding quality indices; judging whether a terminate condition is achieved; if no, changing the parameters and repeating the above steps; if yes, analyzing the stored results and outputting an optimal writing strategy with at least three optimal parameters.

Abstract: The invention relates to a playback device for optical storage discs (5), which discs comprise each at least one payload data sequence and one information data sequence (TOC), with a read unit (6) for reading the information data sequence of an optical storage disc (5) inserted into the playback device, a memory unit (9), a user interface (8) for generating a copy command, and a control unit (7) with sub-units designed for determining an unequivocal identification (ID1) from the information data sequence of the inserted optical storage disc (5) and for testing registers (V-ID1, V-1D2) present in the memory unit after reception of the copy command and for generating a register characterized by the unequivocal identification if such a register does not yet exist.

Abstract: An optical recording method of recording information to a phase change optical recording medium with alternate application of peak power and bias power in a pulse manner and with changing a pulse application. interval continuously from an inner part through an outer part of the recording medium with an interval proportional to a window width Tw and a fixed interval, comprising the step of starting a top peak power application interval with a delay from a data input pulse signal starting time for a target mark length nTw, where n denotes an integer in a range between 3 and 14, with changing the delay in proportion to the window width Tw with changing a proportionality factor discretely with respect each linear velocity.

Abstract: An information recording apparatus includes a recording device capable of recording record information onto an information recording medium having a plurality of recording layers; a selecting device for sequentially selecting one recording layer to record therein the record information, such that a recording area of the record information recorded into each of the plurality of recording layers substantially uniformly expands, in accordance with the recording of the record information; a generating device for generating virtual reference information including logical address information on the information recording medium corresponding to the record information on a logical address space such that a recording position of the record information on the logical address space of the information recording medium is in a recording order of the record information onto the information recording medium; and a controlling device for controlling the recording device to record the generated virtual reference information o

Abstract: A data recording method to minimize a number of layer jumps, a recording/reproducing apparatus, and a recording medium thereof wherein a data area of the information storage medium is divided into units, each unit including one or more zones, and data is written on each of the zones along a data writing path in the unit selected with reference to information about the number of rewriting operations performed on each of the zones.

Abstract: The present invention relates to: stabilizing a holographic disk medium against vibrations by engaging at least one of surface of a disk medium when coupled to a disk medium coupler and during recording or reading holograms to or from the disk; stabilizing the disk medium proximate the outer peripheral portion thereof, coupling and uncoupling the disk medium to and from the disk medium coupler and causing the stabilizing means to engage the disk medium when coupled to the disk medium coupler; imparting an axial offset proximate the peripheral portion to deflect a record and/or read portion of the disk medium towards a normal record and/or read plane when coupled to the disk medium coupler, and optionally stabilizing the disk medium against vibrations; and stabilizing the disk medium against vibrations when rotatably mounted on or within a data storage cartridge.

Abstract: There is provided an optical system for an optical disc drive. The optical system is provided with a light source that emits a light beam, and an objective lens to which the light beam emitted by the light source enters. In this configuration, the light beam emitted by the light source is incident on the objective lens without passing through a coupling lens. Further, the optical system satisfies a condition: ?0.70?d?/(ML?)??0.57 ??(1) where d? (mm) represents a center thickness of the objective lens corresponding to air, M represents magnification of the optical system, and L? (mm) represents an object-to-image distance corresponding to air.

Abstract: An objective lens is provided for an optical pickup apparatus at least reproducing information for a first optical disc, and recording and/or reproducing information for second and a third optical discs. The objective lens includes an optical surface including a common area including a diffractive structure having a cross section in a serrated shape and divided into a plurality of ring-shaped zones. Refractive index differences between media arranged at both side of the optical surface for a light flux with one and the other wavelength satisfy a predetermined condition, and the objective lens satisfies a predetermined conditions defined by using an approximate coefficient which makes a Pearson's correlation coefficient R satisfy 0.99998?R when a depth parallel to the optical axis of step differences between the ring-shaped zones at a vertical distance from the optical axis is approximated by a least squares method.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a three-dimensional memory apparatus for storing information in a volume comprising of an active medium. The active medium is capable of changing from a first to a second isomeric form as a response to radiation of a light beam having an energy substantially equal to a first threshold energy. The concentration ratio between a first and a second isomeric form in any given volume portion represents a data unit. The active medium in the memory apparatus comprises of diarylalkene derivatives, triene derivatives, polyene derivatives or a mixture thereof. The invention is further directed to means for reading the data units from the isomeric states of the active medium in different portions of said active medium where the two isomeric forms have a substantially different absorption coefficient for absorbing energy of a second threshold energy. Reading may also be carried out by measuring the scattering pattern of the two isomeric forms.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for reading information from an optical disc (2) containing tracks (11, 21) with 2D-SCIPER coded information. The method comprises the steps of: generating at least one light beam (32); focussing the light beam (32) in a focal spot (F) on an information layer of the optical disc (2); controlling the radial position of the focal spot (F) such that the focal spot (F) covers pits (10; 20) of two adjacent tracks (11; 21). The optical centre (42) of the focal spot (F) follows a trajectory (45) which is radially offset with respect to a halfway line (44) at a position exactly halfway between the said two adjacent tracks (11; 21). According to this method, the disturbing non-linear intersymbol interference is removed from the multi-level eye-pattern of 2D-SCIPER, yielding much better distinguishable signal levels.

Abstract: Systems and methods for storing and reading data in a data storage system are provided. The data storage system includes a storage medium for storing data. The storage medium stores data as a plurality of topographical features. Further, the data storage system includes one or more transducer. One or more transducer writes data on the storage medium. Additionally, the data storage medium includes one or more gates. A first voltage bias is applied to one or more gates. The data storage system further includes, one or more read heads. One or more read heads include one or more Floating Gate Transistors (FGTs). The first voltage bias creates an electric field between one or more FGTs and one or more gates. A change in the electric field is detected by one or more FGTs.

Abstract: A decorative shaped digital computer media disk such as a CD or DVD Rom is provided which may contain either aural and/or video information. It is intended that the media disk may be shaped as an ornament or gift tag for the holidays or special occasions and it may be provided with an aperture in its outer periphery to place a wire or string hanger there through, or it may be shaped in a rectangle to resemble either a business card, a sports trading cord, or even a representative piece from a board game or other computer game. In the case of a sports trading card, the media disk may have the player's image imprinted thereupon and the disk may contain a detailed sports history as well as video and news clips. In the case of a business card, the shaped digital computer media disk may contain advertising and marketing information.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a multilayer optical disk includes three or more recording layers, and one of conditions (1) Rn/((Rn?1+Rn?2)/2)>0.6, and (2) Rn×(100?Rn?1)2/(Rn?2×Rn?1×Rn?1)>30 is satisfied, where Rn(%) is a reflectivity of an nth layer (n>2) when seen from a surface on which a reproducing light is incident.