1218results about How to "Raise the potential" patented technology

In order to maintain the integrity of data stored in a flash memory that are susceptible to being disturbed by operations in adjacent regions of the memory, disturb events cause the data to be read, corrected and re-written before becoming so corrupted that valid data cannot be recovered. The sometimes conflicting needs to maintain data integrity and system performance are balanced by deferring execution of some of the corrective action when the memory system has other high priority operations to perform. In a memory system utilizing very large units of erase, the corrective process is executed in a manner that is consistent with efficiently rewriting an amount of data much less than the capacity of a unit of erase.

An iterative process is provided for interacting with a voice information service. Such a service may permit, for example, a user to search one or more databases and may provide one or more search results to the user. Such a service may be suitable, for example, for searching for a desired entity or object within the database(s) using speech as an input and navigational tool. Applications of such a service may include, for instance, speech-enabled searching services such as a directory assistance service or any other service or application involving a search of information. In one example implementation, an automatic speech recognition (ASR) system is provided that performs a speech recognition and database search in an iterative fashion. With each iteration, feedback may be provided to the user presenting potentially relevant results. In one specific ASR system, a user desiring to locate information relating to a particular entity or object provides an utterance to the ASR. Upon receiving the utterance, the ASR determines a recognition set of potentially relevant search results related to the utterance and presents to the user recognition set information in an interface of the ASR. The recognition set information includes, for instance, reference information stored internally at the ASR for a plurality of potentially relevant recognition results. The recognition set information may be used as input to the ASR providing a feedback mechanism. In one example implementation, the recognition set information may be used to determine a restricted grammar for performing a further recognition.

There is provided a semiconductor device in which fabrication steps can be reduced by constructing a circuit using only TFTs of one conductivity type and in which a voltage amplitude of an output signal can be normally obtained. A capacitance (205) is provided between a gate and a source of a TFT (203) connected to an output node, and a circuit formed of TFTs (201) and (202) has a function to bring a node a into a floating state. When the node α is in the floating state, a potential of the node a is caused higher than VDD by using gate-source capacitance coupling of the TFT (203) through the capacitance (205), thus an output signal having an amplitude of VDD-GND can be normally obtained without causing amplitude attenuation due to the threshold value of the TFT.

In order to maintain the integrity of data stored in a flash memory that are susceptible to being disturbed by operations in adjacent regions of the memory, disturb events cause the data to be read, corrected and re-written before becoming so corrupted that valid data cannot be recovered. The sometimes conflicting needs to maintain data integrity and system performance are balanced by deferring execution of some of the corrective action when the memory system has other high priority operations to perform. In a memory system utilizing very large units of erase, the corrective process is executed in a manner that is consistent with efficiently rewriting an amount of data much less than the capacity of a unit of erase.

In order to maintain the integrity of data stored in a flash memory that are susceptible to being disturbed by operations in adjacent regions of the memory, disturb events cause the data to be read, corrected and re-written before becoming so corrupted that valid data cannot be recovered. The sometimes conflicting needs to maintain data integrity and system performance are balanced by deferring execution of some of the corrective action when the memory system has other high priority operations to perform. In a memory system utilizing very large units of erase, the corrective process is executed in a manner that is consistent with efficiently rewriting an amount of data much less than the capacity of a unit of erase. Data is rewritten when severe errors are found during read operations. Portions of data are corrected and copied within the time limit for read operation. Corrected portions are written to dedicated blocks.

In order to maintain the integrity of data stored in a flash memory that are susceptible to being disturbed by operations in adjacent regions of the memory, disturb events cause the data to be read, corrected and re-written before becoming so corrupted that valid data cannot be recovered. The sometimes conflicting needs to maintain data integrity and system performance are balanced by deferring execution of some of the corrective action when the memory system has other high priority operations to perform. In a memory system utilizing very large units of erase, the corrective process is executed in a manner that is consistent with efficiently rewriting an amount of data much less than the capacity of a unit of erase. Data is rewritten when severe errors are found during read operations. Portions of data are corrected and copied within the time limit for read operation. Corrected portions are written to dedicated blocks.

The present invention is directed to pluripotent fetal stem cells derived from chorionic villus, amniotic fluid, and placenta and the methods for isolating, expanding and differentiating these cells, and their therapeutic uses such as manipulating the fetal stem cells by gene transfection and other means for therapeutic applications.

An integrated, fully automated video production system provides a video director with total control over all of the video production devices used to produce and broadcast a show. Such devices include, but are not limited to, cameras, robotic pan / tilt heads, video tape players and recorders (VTRs), video servers and virtual recorders, character generators, still stores, digital video disk players (DVDs), audio mixers, digital video effects (DVE), video switchers, and teleprompting systems. The video production system provides an automation capability that allows the video director to pre-produce a show, review the show in advance of “air time,” and then, with a touch of a button, produce the live show. In one embodiment, the invention provides a video production system having a processing unit in communication with one or more of the video production devices. The processing unit also records the show or elements from the show following its production. The show or elements can be recalled for subsequent broadcasts. An Internet interface supports live or on-demand requests for content from the video production. In an embodiment, an online user selects specific. elements and reorganizes the elements to personalize a broadcast. The processing unit receives and executes the online request to continuously stream or download the content to the user. In an embodiment, various supporting features enhance and extend the content of the video production, such as real time polling, hyperlinks to related web sites, video captions, and the like.

Cellulose nanofibers have been processed from renewable feedstock in particularly from natural fibers, root crops and agro fibers, wherein the pulp was hydrolysed at a moderate temperature of 50 to 90 degree C., one extraction was performed using dilute acid and one extraction using alkali of concentration less than 10%; and residue was cryocrushed using liquid nitrogen, followed by individualization of the cellulose nanofibers using mechanical shear force. The nanofibers manufactured with this technique have diameters in the range of 20-60 nm and much higher aspect ratios than long fibers. Due to its lightweight and high strength its potential applications will be in aerospace industry and due to their biodegradable potential with tremendous stiffness and strength, they find application in the medical field such as blood bags, cardiac devices, valves as a reinforcing biomaterial.

A method of fabricating AlGaN / GaN enhancement-mode heterostructure field-effect transistors (HFET) using fluorine-based plasma immersion or ion implantation. The method includes: 1) generating gate patterns; 2) exposing the AlGaN / GaN heterostructure in the gate region to fluorine-based plasma treatment with photoresist as the treatment mask in a self-aligned manner; 3) depositing the gate metal to the plasma treated AlGaN / GaN heterostructure surface; 4) lifting off the metal except the gate electrode; and 5) high temperature post-gate annealing of the sample. This method can be used to shift the threshold voltage of a HFET toward a more positive value, and ultimately convert a depletion-mode HFET to an enhancement-mode HFET (E-HFET).

The present invention discloses a method for performing CT imaging on a region of interest of an object under examination, comprising: acquiring the CT projection data of the region of interest; acquiring the CT projection data of region B; selecting a group of PI line segments covering the region of interest, and calculating the reconstruction image value for each PI line segment in the group; and combining the reconstruction image values in all the PI line segments to obtain the image of the region of interest. The present invention further discloses a CT imaging device using this method and a data processor therein. Since the 2D / 3D slice image of the region of interest can be exactly reconstructed and obtained as long as the X-ray beam covers the region of interest and the region B, it is possible to use a small-sized detector to perform CT imaging on the region of interest at any position of a large-sized object, which reduces to a great extent the radiation dose of the X-ray during the CT scanning.

In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for receiving contextual information relating to a client request for content, determining that content delivered in response to the client request is restricted content through a scanning facility, and communicating the contextual information to a central repository for use in detection rules generation. Further, the content may be delivered to the central repository along with the contextual information.

A semiconductor device having a normal function means is provided, in which the amplitude of an output signal is prevented from being decreased even when a digital circuit using transistors having one conductivity is employed. By turning OFF a diode-connected transistor 101, the gate terminal of a first transistor 102 is brought into a floating state. At this time, the first transistor 102 is ON and its gate-source voltage is stored in a capacitor. Then, when a potential at the source terminal of the first transistor 102 is increased, a potential at the gate terminal of the first transistor 102 is increased as well by bootstrap effect. As a result, the amplitude of an output signal is prevented from being decreased.

A circuit is provided which is constituted by TFTs of one conductivity type, and which is capable of outputting signals of a normal amplitude. When an input clock signal CK1 becomes a high level, each of TFTs (101, 103) is turned on to settle at a low level the potential at a signal output section (Out). A pulse is then input to a signal input section (In) and becomes high level. The gate potential of TFT (102) is increased to (VDD−V thN) and the gate is floated. TFT (102) is thus turned on. Then CK1 becomes low level and each of TFTs (101, 103) is turned off. Simultaneously, CK3 becomes high level and the potential at the signal output section is increased. Simultaneously, the potential at the gate of TFT (102) is increased to a level equal to or higher than (VDD+V thN) by the function of capacitor (104), so that the high level appearing at the signal output section (Out) becomes equal to VDD. When SP becomes low level; CK3 becomes low level; and CK1 becomes high level, the potential at the signal output section (Out) becomes low level again.

A Point-of-Entry Kiosk loyalty system, couponing system, and shopping list system is provided so when a consumer enters a store, kiosk(s)s may be present for consumer check-in. When at or within proximity of the kiosk (e.g., from an RFID enabled cell phone) the consumer may log in or be recognized. The consumer may swipe a coded loyalty card, enter their loyalty number or data may be automatically entered through RFID technology or smart phone. The consumer may be presented with discount or coupon offers or shopping suggestions, which may be based on the consumer's prior preferences, demographic data, prior purchases, or preference data harvested from various social networking sites, search engines, or other websites used by the consumer.

A new stent-graft is provided with an improved structure design which comprises multiple stent-graft units with / without one or two open stents sutured to combine the uniform prosthesis without a connector bar in the place where flexing required. Each stent-graft unit comprises a stent sutured to a tubular graft. The new stent-graft can bend, provides a smooth inner surface and is stable after placement within an inner lumen of the human body.

A convenience controller activates a small zone high location precision welcoming detecting function (with high current utilization) in response to a detected arrival of an authorized user into a larger zone low location precision welcoming detecting function (with low current utilization) approach region around a vehicle. A short range transmitter broadcasts a polling signal covering the region. The short range transmitter has an approach pending mode wherein the polling signal is broadcast according to a first predetermined repetition and a baseline mode wherein the polling signal is broadcast according to a lower repetition. The short range transmitter has a first power drain in the approach pending mode. A wireless communication system is configured to monitor for user activity outside the approach region corresponding to a potential user entry into the approach region, wherein monitoring by the wireless communication system has a lower power drain. If the short range transmitter is in the baseline mode when the user activity is detected, then the short range transmitter switches to the approach pending mode.

Although self-driving vehicles excel under “normal” driving conditions, they sometimes struggle with new situations that often would not be overly difficult for a person. Several embodiments described herein enable a hybrid approach that leverages the exceptional abilities of self-driving vehicles while soliciting human interaction in select situations. The resulting combination of machine intelligence and human intelligence significantly enlarges the potential of self-driving vehicles in a manner that will enable self-driving vehicles to become widespread much faster than would otherwise be the case.

Methods of improving a performance parameter of a microbial fuel cell are provided according to embodiments of the present invention which include heating an electrode and exposing the heated electrode to ammonia gas to produce a treated electrode characterized by an increased positive surface charge on the electrode surface. Improved performance parameters include increased maximum power density, increased coulombic efficiency, increased volumetric power density and decreased microbial fuel cell operation time to achieve maximum power density

An electrode catheter and a method for assessing electrode-tissue contact and coupling are disclosed. An exemplary electrode catheter comprises an electrode adapted to apply electrical energy. A measurement circuit is adapted to measure impedance between the electrode and ground as the electrode approaches a target tissue. A processor determines a contact and coupling condition for the target tissue based at least in part on reactance of the impedance measured by the measurement circuit. In another exemplary embodiment, the electrode catheter determines the contact and coupling condition based at least in part on a phase angle of the impedance.

A drive circuit of a display device, which comprise only single conductive TFTs and in which amplitude of an output signal is normal, is provided.A pulse is inputted to TFTs 101 and 104 so that the TFTs would turn ON and then potential of a node á rises. When the potential of the node á reaches (VDD−VthN), the node á became in a floating state. Accordingly, a TFT 105 then turns ON, and potential of an output node rises as a clock signal reaches the level H. On the other hand, potential of a gate electrode of the TFT 105 further rises due to an operation of capacitance 107 as the potential of the output node rises, so that the potential of the output node would be higher than (VDD+VthN). Thus, the potential of the output node rises to VDD without voltage drop caused by a threshold of the TFT 105. An output at the subsequent stage is then inputted to TFTs 102 and 103 to turn the TFTs 102 and 103 ON, while the potential of the node á drops down to turn the TFT 105 OFF. A TFT 106 turns ON at the same time so that the potential of the output node would reach the level L.

One time programmable memory units include a magnetic tunnel junction cell electrically coupled to a bit line and a word line. The magnetic tunnel junction cell is pre-programmed to a first resistance state, and is configured to switch only from the first resistance state to a second resistance state by passing a voltage across the magnetic tunnel junction cell. In some embodiments, a transistor is electrically coupled between the magnetic tunnel junction cell and the word line or the bit line. In other embodiments, a device having a rectifying switching characteristic, such as a diode or other non-ohmic device, is electrically coupled between the magnetic tunnel junction cell and the word line or the bit line. Methods of pre-programming the one time programmable memory units and reading and writing to the units are also disclosed.

A semiconductor device having a normal function means is provided, in which the amplitude of an output signal is prevented from being decreased even when a digital circuit using transistors having one conductivity is employed. By turning OFF a diode-connected transistor 101, the gate terminal of a first transistor 102 is brought into a floating state. At this time, the first transistor 102 is ON and its gate-source voltage is stored in a capacitor. Then, when a potential at the source terminal of the first transistor 102 is increased, a potential at the gate terminal of the first transistor 102 is increased as well by bootstrap effect. As a result, the amplitude of an output signal is prevented from being decreased.

An electrode catheter and a method for assessing electrode-tissue contact and coupling are disclosed. An exemplary electrode catheter comprises an electrode adapted to apply electrical energy. A measurement circuit is adapted to measure impedance between the electrode and ground as the electrode approaches a target tissue. A processor determines a contact and coupling condition for the target tissue based at least in part on reactance of the impedance measured by the measurement circuit. In another exemplary embodiment, the electrode catheter determines the contact and coupling condition based at least in part on a phase angle of the impedance.

An expandable slide and lock stent is provided that comprises a plurality of radial elements interconnected to form a tubular member. Each radial element can comprise a helical backbone and at least one elongate member extending from the helical backbone in a circumferential direction. Each backbone can have at least one slot that can be configured to receive an elongate member of an adjacent radial element.

The present invention describes a method that is operative within a clinical environment in which real-time locations of personnel and resources are tracked. The method begins in association with entry of a patient into the clinical environment, such as when a patient is in transit, or has been admitted, to an emergency room or to a hospital. In response, a given care guideline is identified. Using the care guideline, a set of one or more process rules, and information associated with at least one “encounter,” the system generates a patient-specific care protocol; the protocol includes a set of steps through which the patient is expected to proceed while in the clinical environment. An encounter occurs when two or more of objects (e.g., the patient, clinical personnel, and a clinical resource) are in a given physical proximity for a given time period at determined by the at least one process rule. According to the method, at least one event that occurs during at least a first step of the patient-specific care protocol is then monitored. Using information generated by the monitoring step and at least one process rule, the system then determines whether the patient moves to a next step in the patient-specific care protocol.

The present invention relates to the wire type battery for wireless charging which is constructed by adding the coil for wireless charging to the wire type battery, by which the present invention can provide the wire type battery for wireless charging to easily carry out charging compared to the existing wire charging method and can solve the problem in the charging which is expected from the shape of the battery to improve the effect of charging.

A method for and devices utilizing monolithic integration of enhancement-mode and depletion-mode AlGaN / GaN heterojunction field-effect transistors (HFETs) is disclosed. Source and drain ohmic contacts of HFETs are first defined. Gate electrodes of the depletion-mode HFETs are then defined. Gate electrodes of the enhancement-mode HFETs are then defined using fluoride-based plasma treatment and high temperature post-gate annealing of the sample. Device isolation is achieved by either mesa etching or fluoride-based plasma treatment. This method provides a complete planar process for GaN-based integrated circuits favored in high-density and high-speed applications.

Semiconductor memory cells, array and methods of operating are disclosed. In one instance, a memory cell includes a bi-stable floating body transistor and an access device; wherein the bi-stable floating body transistor and the access device are electrically connected in series.

A battery of series-connected rechargeable lithium ion cells each of which contains a negative electrode; a negative electrode current collector; a positive electrode; a positive electrode current collector; and an electrolyte comprising charge carrying medium, lithium salt and cyclable redox chemical shuttle. The negative electrode has a larger irreversible first cycle capacity loss than that of the positive electrode, and is driven to a potential above that of the positive electrode if the cell is discharged to a state of cell reversal. The shuttle has an electrochemical potential above the positive electrode maximum normal operating potential, and prevents the negative electrode potential from reaching even higher and more destructive positive values during overdischarge. The current collector has a lithium alloying potential below the negative electrode minimum normal operating potential. The battery chemically limits or eliminates cell damage due to repeated overdischarge, and may operate without electronic overdischarge protection circuitry.