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CONTROLLING VALVE OPERATION USING PRESSURE

A valve body has a piston that slides within the body through four successive positions. The piston has a head, and an upper and lower skirt, with a port in the upper skirt. In the first position, a bias force urges the piston to the first of four positions, in which the piston port is closed. In a second position, the piston port aligns with a low pressure port in the valve body, when a low pressure supply of water is connected. In a third position, greater pressure again closes the piston port. In a fourth position, at a still greater pressure, the piston port aligns with a high pressure port in the valve body. The bias force or a location of the piston port can be varied for valves along a supply line, whereby varying supply pressure opens different valves, thereby enabling addressing of valves according to supply pressure.




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THROUGHFLOW CONTROLLER

A sanitary insert part includes an insert housing, which includes in a housing interior thereof a functional element that controls throughflow and that has at least one throughflow orifice. At least one throughflow opening is delimited by a peripheral wall, the shape of which can be changed against a restoring force as a result of the pressure of the inflowing water in such a manner that the at least one throughflow orifice has a variable orifice cross section which can be changed, in dependence on the pressure of the inflowing water, between an open position and a minimized position having a reduced orifice cross section by comparison.




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TRANSLATING CASCADE THRUST REVERSER WITH CONTROL OF BLOCKER DOOR

Aspects of the disclosure are directed to a system associated with a thrust reverser of an aircraft, comprising: a set of cascades incorporating a track, the track including a first track end and a second track end, a blocker door, and a link including a first link end coupled to the track and a second link end coupled to the blocker door, where the cascades are configured to translate between a stowed position and a deployed position to cause the first link end to traverse the track.




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Rotatable Shroud for Directional Control of Application Area

A controlled droplet application (CDA) nozzle has a CDA nozzle cone having a first axis of rotation in a first position and, after adjustment, a second axis of rotation in a second position orthogonal to the first. A rotationally adjustable directional shroud surrounds at least a portion of the cone, the directional shroud blocking at least a portion of a lip of the cone regardless of whether the cone is positioned in the first or second axis of rotation.




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CONTACTING TYPE INFILTRATION GROOVE FOR PHOTORESIST COATING EQUIPMENT

The present invention provides a contacting type infiltration groove for photoresist coating equipment, comprises a loading main body and a sprinkler head. A spray nozzle is provided at the end of the sprinkler head, wherein, a limiting component is additional clamped at the end of the sprinkler head to make only the spray nozzle of the sprinkler head dip into the solvent in the loading main body. The sprinkler head can be hold up by the limiting component to separate the non-spray nozzle from the solvent so as to avoid the solvent contacting on the surface of the non-spray nozzle part. The contacting surface of the sprinkler head is setting on the top of the spray nozzle to make them adhere seamlessly together.




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Building Community in Conscious Rap

Jada Imani strives to reflect her inner dreams in her recorded work. Jada Imani has been writing songs since she was five years old. At 21, she is committed to forging her own way as a rapper, writer, emcee, and youth organizer in the Bay Area.…




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Kronos Once Again Conveys the Unifying Power of Music

Quartet's formidable live performance at Zellerbach was nonetheless upstaged by the work of its collaborators. That's probably how the members wanted it. Without disrespecting the formidable prowess of the Kronos Quartet, the contemporary string quartet was upstaged in its live performance last Thursday at Zellerbach Hall by a guy at a piano and the filmed performance of an Inuk throat singer and a pipa player. The ambitious two-part program An Evening With Kronos Quartet began with celebrated minimalist composer and keyboard player Terry Riley performing a solo piano set.…




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Multifunctional tool for automotive air conditioning system testing and maintenance

An automotive tool for servicing air-conditioning (AC) systems equipped with quick-connect adaptors. May be used to service modern refrigerant R132A-compatible systems or retrofitted older systems. The tool is adapted for attaching, detaching, opening, and closing valved T-adaptors used to attach gas lines and pressure gauges such as required for adjusting pressure in AC systems at full operational pressure and temperature, and particularly finds use when the “hi-tap” and “lo-tap” fittings are in hard to reach places around the engine block or chassis. The tool includes swappable extension arms so that length and angular geometry may be adjusted as needed. The tool aids in avoiding injury on dangerously hot surfaces and moving fan blades or belts. Surprisingly, using two such tools, one for the high tap and one for the low tap, a mechanic may work each tool singlehandedly to complete any necessary pressure adjustments.




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Method of enhancing thermal conductivity in hydrogen storage systems

A method of forming a material for reversible hydrogen storage within a storage tank includes charging a mixture of a metal amide and a metal hydride to the storage tank, and chemically reacting the mixture at a reaction condition within the storage tank to form a thermally conducting composite material situated in the storage tank and for reversibly storing hydrogen. The composite material includes a three-dimensional and interconnected framework including a conductive metal. A method for reversibly storing hydrogen includes providing a storage tank and in situ chemically forming a composite material by charging a mixture of a metal amide and a metal hydride to the storage tank and chemically reacting the mixture at a reaction condition to form a thermally conducting composite material including a metal hydride and a substantially unreactive elemental metal framework. Hydrogen is absorbed into the composite material and is desorbed from the composite material.




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Method and device for controlling effective heat transfer in a solid gas storage system

A method for controlling the effective heat transfer from a storage unit (1). During gas release from storage material (3) in the storage unit the storage material is heated by a heater (2). During re-saturation of the storage material (3) with gas the heater is off. Controlling of the effective heat transfer from the storage unit (1) is performed, during gas release, by ceasing convection of a convection gas and, during re-saturation, by performing or enabling convection of a convection gas to cool the storage unit (1).




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Combination handle locking and beverage container opener

A combination handle clamp, beverage bottle and can opener having a generally curved shaped body and integral attachment point to allow connection to other personal item such as a key ring. A secondary and tertiary integral curved section form a pair of loading points for fixing open a handle-trigger assembly and incorporate a gripping edge to facilitate opening a crimped or vacuum sealed bottle top. The tertiary curved section additionally functions as a second clamp position for the larger handles and also doubles as a pry mechanism to assist opening a pop-top can. The said gripping edge of the invention which contacts with said bottle top to be constructed of a durable material that won't abrade from its intended use.




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Hand tool for use in the quick disconnection of quick connect/disconnect couplings

A tool for the removal of connectors from pipes is disclosed that, in one embodiment, enables the removal of connectors from large pipes and in another embodiment from a size range of pipes. Movable and stationary gripping and pushing elements are affixed to handles to enable a pipe to be firmly gripped between a movable gripping jaw and a stationary gripping jaw and the connector prevented from movement by the movable pusher jaw and the stationary pusher jaw. The handles can compress around a pivot point or slide on a bar. In another embodiment the movable and stationary gripping and pushing elements are removable from the body of the tool.




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AMINO-CONTAINING SILICA PARTICLE, COMPOSITION FOR FORMING POLYIMIDE AEROGEL, POLYIMIDE AEROGEL AND METHOD OF FABRICATING THE SAME, POLYIMIDE AEROGEL-CONTAINING COMPOSITE MATERIAL

An amino-containing silica particle is provided. The amino-containing silica particle is obtained by hydrolysis-condensation reaction of an alkoxy silane represented by formula (I), an alkoxy silane represented by formula (II) and a catalyst: Si(OR1)4 formula (I) (NH2—Y)m—Si(OR2)4-m formula (II) wherein in formula (I), R1 is a C1-C10 alkyl group, and in formula (II), Y is a C1-C10 alkyl group or a C2-C10 alkenyl group, R2 is a C1-C10 alkyl group, and m is an integer of 1 to 3.




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CONDUCTIVE ROLLER COATING COMPOSITION, AND DEVELOPING ROLLER AND IMAGE FORMATION DEVICE USING SAME

Provided is a conductive roller coating composition which can reduce degradation of toner during durable printing when used for a developing roller, and a developing roller and image formation device using the same. In a conductive roller coating composition containing a resin component including a polyol and an isocyanate, and microparticles, a Tg of the microparticles is −13° C. or less. In a developing roller including: a shaft 1; and an elastic layer 2 supported on an outer periphery of the shaft 1, an outer periphery of the elastic layer 2 is coated with the conductive roller coating composition.




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METHODS FOR PRODUCING ULTRAFINE FIBER AND ULTRAFINE FIBER-CONTAINING SHEET, SHEET OBTAINED THEREBY, AND RESIN COMPOSITE COMPRISING LAMINATED RESINS

An object of the present invention is to provide a method for producing an ultrafine fiber-containing sheet with suppressed yellowing. Another object of the present invention is to provide an efficient method for eliminating an introduced substituent, and a composite sheet comprising an organic layer and/or an inorganic layer laminated on the obtained sheet. The present invention provides a method for producing an ultrafine fiber-containing sheet, comprising (a) introducing a substituent having electrostatic and/or steric functionality to a fiber raw material to obtain substituent-introduced fiber; (b) machine-processing the substituent-introduced fiber obtained in the step (a) to obtain substituent-introduced ultrafine fiber; (c) preparing a sheet from the substituent-introduced ultrafine fiber obtained in the step (b); and (d) eliminating at least a portion of introduced substituents from the sheet obtained in the step (c). In a preferred aspect, the substituent having electrostatic and/or steric functionality is a phosphoric acid-derived group, and the method may further comprise, after the step (a) and before the step (c), the step of (e) changing the degree of neutralization of the substituent-introduced fiber or the substituent-introduced ultrafine fiber.




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LIGHTWEIGHT CONSTRUCTION ELEMENT, MANUFACTURING METHOD THEREFOR, USE OF SAME, AND LIGHTWEIGHT PANEL AND INSULATING MATERIAL

A lightweight construction element (1) comprises at least one lightweight panel (2) and a layer of insulating material (4) associated with the lightweight panel (2), wherein the at least one lightweight panel (2) comprises boards (6), which, on at least one of the main surfaces (8) thereof, have a group of grooves (9) running parallel and which boards (6) are arranged in at least one layer (5) and are connected to one another via adhesive bonds. The layer of insulating material (4) comprises wood chips (19), which are removed from starting boards during the manufacture of boards (6) for the lightweight panels (2). These lightweight construction elements have good load and thermal insulation properties. The material used originates from one source and achieves a large overall volume after processing.




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VACUUM HEAT INSULATING BODY, AND HEAT INSULATING CONTAINER AND HEAT INSULATING WALL EMPLOYING SAME

Air permeable core material is vacuum sealed in enveloping member. Further, core material is formed of at least two layers of heat insulating core materials having different heat conductivities. Further, at least two of the at least two layers of heat insulating core materials which form core material are formed of materials having change gradients in the heat conductivity changed in accordance with temperature, and the change gradients in the heat conductivity of the heat insulating core materials intersect with each other. Since two layers of heat insulating core materials having different heat conductivities are provided in a vacuum state, a heat insulating property becomes higher compared to a conventional configuration in which a single layer of the heat insulating core material formed of fiber material such as glass wool or rock wool is vacuum sealed and the high heat insulating property is shown in a wide temperature range.




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BIODEGRADABLE GROUND CONTACT SLEEVE FOR A SEISMIC DATA ACQUISITION NODE

A biodegradable ground contact sleeve for a seismic data acquisition node includes a ground contact sleeve having a substantially tubular shaped body insertable into the surface of the earth and having an internal opening at one longitudinal end for receiving a seismic data acquisition node and making acoustic coupling thereto. The ground contact sleeve is formed of biodegradable material.




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NETWORK CONNECTION FRAMEWORK FOR CONNECTING A DARTBOARD TO A PORTABLE DEVICE

A network connection framework for connecting a dartboard to a portable device includes: a cloud server; a communication device communicating with the cloud server via a communication network; a dartboard including a dartboard unit, a sensing unit and a dartboard wireless communication unit which connects the dartboard to the cloud server via wireless signal, the dartboard wireless communication unit serves to receive and transmit the score signal to the could server; and a portable device with a portable device wireless communication device which connects the portable device to the cloud server via wireless signal. When the user registration information is inputted in the portable device, the score corresponding to the score signal will be displayed. Therefore, the dart game can be played by players in different venues, and consequently is not restricted by the number of the players and the size and location of the venue.




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MULTI-CONTACT TYPE POSITION DETECTION APPARATUS FOR TARGET BOARD

A multi-contact type position detection apparatus for a target board includes a first membrane board having a plurality of first signal lines formed in a first direction, a second membrane board having a plurality of second signal lines formed in a second direction, and a plurality of dots which are formed on the first membrane board or the second membrane board such that the first membrane plate and the second membrane plate are spaced at a predetermined distance from each other, wherein the plurality of dots can be arranged at a distance of “k/2±A (A is 1%˜2% of k)” when a magnetic body diameter of a pin attached on the target board is “kmm”.




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CONTROL MODULE FOR AUTONOMOUS TARGET SYSTEM

A portable control module autonomously positions a target deployed in a combat simulation course. The module chassis is bullet-resistant and angled to deflect errant shots, and encloses a control circuit having an adjustable target exposure delay, an adjustable target exposure duration, means for receiving a trigger signal representing movement of a human body, means for revealing the target when the exposure delay lapses after triggering, means for enabling, only when the target is revealed, hit detection means detecting a shot striking the target, and means for concealing the target responsive to earliest occurrence of the shot detection or lapse of the target exposure duration. The module may include means for relaying the trigger signal to other modules within a cooperative decentralized target control system. A method for the autonomous position control is also disclosed.




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Control device and method for intelligent basketball shooting machine

The disclosure refers to a control device and method for an intelligent basketball shooting machine, the device includes a control module, a blue-tooth communication module, a display module, a control switch, a power-supplying module, and a first sensor and a second sensor both for counting; the first sensor is used for catching amount of goals in one basket of basketball shooting machine, and the second sensor used for catching amount of goals in another basket of basketball shooting machine; the first sensor, second sensor, blue-tooth communication module, display module, control switch and power-supplying module are respectively connected with control module; the disclosure makes the basketball shooting machine go on single game or online game, besides, the player can play the shooting game with friends by remote way just through an intelligent terminal, which increases interest and convenience.




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NOVELTY APPAREL WITH MULTIPLE ATTACHED CONFORMABLE SELECTABLE INDICIA

A novelty apparel includes multiple attached conformable, selectable and viewable occupational role playing indicia. A baseball cap includes a dome shaped crown of compound curves and a forward facing sun visor brim portion, a display region in a central front face portion of the dome shaped crown, where the display region displays a first permanent occupational status identifier and a mounting region for a secondary occupational status identifier selectable from a number of different indicia carried on a display surface conformable to said dome shaped crown. The selected indicium is displayed centered above the brim. The display surface conforms to the curved exterior of the dome shaped crown, wherein the baseball cap does not deviate substantially from the look of a typical baseball cap with a single permanent indicium.




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Concentric vertical pipe heat exchanger for drain water heat recovery

An outer plastic tube has water connections through the wall into an annular space defined by an O-ring spacer-gasket positioned between the wall and the perimeter margin of an inner cylinder rolled from a single-layer of sheet metal. A metal drainpipe with a removable bullet-shape at one end is forced through the cylinder to expand it and to thereby compress the gasket sealing the annular space. Thermal contact conductance is increased by the compressive force of water pressure. Water flow through the heat exchanger is both annular and turbulent to optimize heat transfer.




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HEAT EXCHANGER DESIGNS USING VARIABLE GEOMETRIES AND CONFIGURATIONS

A heat exchanger may include at least one fluid passageway adjacent a heat transfer plate and a plurality of heat transfer elements positioned in the at least one fluid passageway and joined with the heat transfer plate. The heat transfer elements may be positioned with first spacings therebetween at an inlet end of the at least one fluid passageway. The heat transfer elements may be positioned with second spacings therebetween at an outlet end of the at least one fluid passageway. The first spacings may be smaller than the second spacings.




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SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DYNAMIC CONTROL OF A HEAT EXCHANGER

The present application relates to a system for dynamic control of the operation of a heat exchanger, the system comprising a heat exchanger, a plurality of injector arrangements, a local sensor arrangement, and a controller, wherein the local sensor arrangement comprises a plurality of local temperature sensors being arranged to measure temperature values; and wherein the controller is arranged to determine a difference between the measured temperature values and is further arranged to communicate with the valves of the plurality of injector arrangements to adjust the local amount of first fluid supplied by at least one of the injector arrangements in order to even out the determined difference. The application also relates to a method for the dynamic control of the operation of a heat exchanger in such a system.




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HEAT-INSULATING SHROUD FOR FACILITATING TEMPERATURE CONTROL OF A HEATED DEVICE OR PRODUCT

A heat-insulating shroud for facilitating temperature control of a heated article includes a flexible cover, made from a heat-insulating material, for covering a surface of the heated article, at least one air inlet defined in a first section of the flexible cover, and at least one air outlet defined in a second section of the flexible cover. In a cooling mode of operation, the flexible cover defines an air channel over the surface of the heated article for channeling an air stream from the air inlet(s) over the surface of the heated article towards the air outlet(s). The channeling of the air stream facilitates cooling the heated article. In a heat-conservation mode of operation, the flexible cover of heat-insulating material insulates the heated article from heat loss. Each air outlet may have a closure that opens during the cooling mode of operation and closes during the heat-conservation mode of operation.




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AIR-CONDITIONING DEVICE FOR VEHICLE

Provided is an air-conditioning device for a vehicle, including: a cooling device configured to cool air passing through a duct; a heater core, which is arranged in the duct on a downstream side of airflow with respect to the cooling device, and is configured to use an engine coolant as a heat source to heat the air; a water valve provided in a coolant circulation system on an upstream side of the heater core; and a controller configured to control those components, in which the controller is configured to decrease an opening amount of the water valve in a predetermined cooling mode. The control is configured to, when the opening amount of the water valve is decreased, decrease a rotational speed of a compressor of the cooling device, and increase a target evaporator temperature of an evaporator of the cooling device, thereby decreasing cooling performance of the cooling device.




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WALL-MOUNTED AIR CONDITIONER INDOOR UNIT

A wall-mounted air conditioner indoor unit includes a housing having a front housing and a rear housing, main air intake portions formed on the housing, a mixed air outlet formed on a lower portion of the front housing, a non-hot exchange air inlet formed on the rear housing, and an air delivery apparatus disposed inside the housing. The hot exchange air passage has an upper portion with a size greater than that of its lower portion. A volute and a centrifugal fan located inside the volute are disposed inside the housing and above the air delivery apparatus. An air output portion of the volute faces the hot exchange air passage, and includes a surrounding portion extending to the air delivery apparatus and surrounding the hot exchange air passages, and air mixed cavities are formed between the surrounding portion and the hot exchange air passages.




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SOLUTION CONVEYING AND COOLING APPARATUS

To provide a solution conveying and cooling apparatus that enables removal of a deposit of solid material, or a fouling deposit, inside the apparatus with extremely simple work equipment by fewer on-site workers in a short tune without any dangerous work such as hydroblasting. The solution conveying and cooling apparatus has a rigid outer tube for a cooling medium and a plurality of rigid outer tubes for solution arranged parallel to each other inside the rigid outer tube for a cooling medium. A thin inner tube is disposed inside each of the rigid outer tubes for solution, this thin inner tube having an outer diameter smaller than an inner diameter of the rigid outer tube for solution at normal temperature and pressure, and expanding by an increase in at least one of temperature and pressure of a solution conveyed and as a result contacting with an inner surface of the rigid outer tube for solution that is cooled by the cooling medium.




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FUNCTIONAL COATINGS ENHANCING CONDENSER PERFORMANCE

Coatings for enhancing performance of materials surfaces, methods of producing the coating and coated substrates, and coated condensers are disclosed herein. More particularly, exemplary embodiments provide chemical coating materials useful for coating condenser components.




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VEHICLE AIR CONDITIONER

There is disclosed a vehicle air conditioner which is capable of enlarging an effective range of a dehumidifying and heating mode to environmental conditions and smoothly dehumidifying and heating a vehicle interior. A vehicle air conditioner 1 executes a dehumidifying and heating mode in which a controller lets a refrigerant discharged from a compressor 2 radiate heat in a radiator 4, and decompresses the refrigerant by which heat has been radiated and then lets the refrigerant absorb heat in a heat absorber 9 and an outdoor heat exchanger 7, the controller decreases an outdoor blower voltage FANVout of an outdoor blower 15 and decreases an air volume into the outdoor blower 15 in a case where a temperature Te of the heat absorber 9 is high even when the controller adjusts a valve position of an outdoor expansion valve 6 into a lower limit of controlling in a situation in which a temperature TCI of the radiator 4 is satisfactory.




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DIGITAL DOWN CONVERTER WITH EQUALIZATION

A digital down converter with an equalizer translates an ADC output signal to a low frequency spectral region, followed by decimation. All operations of correction of the processed signal are carried out with a reduced sampling rate compared with sampling rates of the prior art. Equalization is performed only in a frequency pass band of the down converter. The achieved reduction of the required computation resources is sufficient to enable the down converter with equalization to operate in a real time mode.




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HIGH RESOLUTION TIME-TO-DIGITAL CONVERTOR

A circuit includes a time delta detector configured to receive an input clock signal and a reference clock signal and generate a delta pulse signal and a reference pulse signal. A comparison circuit is configured to receive the delta pulse signal and the reference pulse signal. The comparison circuit generates an output indicative of a bit of a time difference between the input clock signal and the reference clock signal. A control circuit is configured to receive the output from the comparison circuit. The control circuit maintains a count of the time difference between the input clock signal and the reference clock signal.




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LEVEL SHIFTER AND PARALLEL-TO-SERIAL CONVERTER INCLUDING THE SAME

A level shifter circuit includes a level shifting unit configured to receive signals that may vary in a first range via a positive input terminal and a negative input terminal, respectively and to output signals that may vary in a second range to a positive output terminal and a negative output terminal, respectively, where the second range is larger than the first range, a first pre-charging unit configured to pre-charge the positive output terminal to a predetermined level when a clock is in a first level, and a second pre-charging unit configured to pre-charge the negative output terminal to the predetermined level when the clock is in the first level.




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APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR COMPRESSING CONTINUOUS DATA

Disclosed are an apparatus and method for compressing continuous data. The apparatus for compressing continuous data may include a data generator configured to calculate differences between adjacent values in original continuous data and generate data based on the calculated differences.




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DYNAMIC LINKING OF CODESETS IN UNIVERSAL REMOTE CONTROL DEVICES

A codeset having function-code combinations is provisioned on a controlling device to control functions of an intended target device. Input is provided to the controlling device which designates a function to be controlled on the intended target device. From a plurality of codes that are each associated with the designated function in a database stored in a memory of the controlling device a first code that is determined to be valid for use in controlling the designated function on the intended target device is selected. When the codeset is then provisioned on the controlling device, the provisioned codeset includes as a function-code combination thereof the designated function and the first code.




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INPUT BUFFER AND ANALOG-TO-DIGITAL CONVERTER

An input buffer for an ADC is provided. The input buffer includes a receiving circuit and an impedance circuit. The receiving circuit is coupled between a power supply and a sample-and-hold circuit of the ADC, and receives an analog input signal and generating an analog signal. The impedance circuit is coupled to the receiving circuit, and selectively provides a variable impedance. When the sample-and-hold circuit of the ADC is operated in a first phase, the impedance circuit provides a small impedance, and when the sample-and-hold circuit of the ADC is operated in a second phase, the impedance circuit provides a large impedance.




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MULTI-LEVEL LADDER DAC WITH DUAL-SWITCH INTERCONNECT TO LADDER NODES

A multi-level DAC includes first and second level resistor ladders, and a dual-switch ladder interconnect reduces DNL at tap-point transitions between first-level ladder resistors. For each first level resistor N, the switch-interconnect network includes dual (first/second) switches connectable to a resistor-top node NT, and dual (third/fourth) switches selectively connectable to a resistor-bottom node NB. The first switch is operable to connect NT to a top tap switch operable to select NT as a top tap point, and the fourth interconnect switch is operable to connect NB to a bottom tap switch operable to select NB as a bottom tap point. The first and fourth switches are connected, forming an outer loop that includes top and bottom tap points. The second switch connects to a top second-level resistor RT, and the third switch connects to a bottom second-level resistor RB, forming an inner loop that includes the series-connected second-level resistors.




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DIGITAL-TO-ANALOG CONVERTER AND HIGH-VOLTAGE TOLERANCE CIRCUIT

A digital-to-analog converter (DAC) and a high-voltage tolerance circuit are provided. The DAC includes a high-voltage tolerance circuit. The high-voltage tolerance circuit is configured to generate a reference voltage, and select the reference voltage or a first power-source voltage to control the node voltage of each branch of an operational amplifier circuit of the high-voltage tolerance circuit according the logical signal level of an input signal.




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ASYNCHRONOUS SUCCESSIVE APPROXIMATION ANALOG-TO-DIGITAL CONVERTER AND RELATED METHODS AND APPARATUS

An ultrasound device including an asynchronous successive approximation analog-to-digital converter and method are provided. The device includes at least one ultrasonic transducer, a plurality of asynchronous successive-approximation-register (SAR) analog-to-digital converters (ADC) coupled to the at least one ultrasonic transducer, at least one asynchronous SAR in the plurality having a sample and hold stage, a digital-to-analog converter (DAC), a comparator, and control circuitry, wherein a DAC update event following at least one bit conversion is synchronized to a corresponding DAC update event of at least one other ADC in the plurality of ADCs.




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Method And System For Time Interleaved Analog-To-Digital Converter Timing Mismatch Estimation And Compensation

Methods and systems for time interleaved analog-to-digital converter timing mismatch calibration and compensation may include receiving an analog signal on a chip, converting the analog signal to a digital signal utilizing a time interleaved analog-to-digital-converter (ADC), and reducing a blocker signal that is generated by timing offsets in the time interleaved ADC by estimating complex coupling coefficients between a desired digital output signal and the blocker signal utilizing a decorrelation algorithm on frequencies within a desired frequency bandwidth. The decorrelation algorithm may comprise a symmetric adaptive decorrelation algorithm. The received analog signal may be generated by a calibration tone generator on the chip. An aliased signal may be summed with an output signal from a multiplier. The complex coupling coefficients may be determined utilizing the decorrelation algorithm on the summed signals. A multiplier may be configured to cancel the blocker signal utilizing the determined complex coupling coefficients.




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SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE, POWER SUPPLY DEVICE AND CONTROL METHOD FOR SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE

A semiconductor device configured to perform an A/D conversion of a wide range of signals is provided. A semiconductor device includes: an input voltage detection unit configured to detect an analog input voltage; a reference voltage setting unit configured to set a reference voltage based on the detected input voltage; an amplifier configured to amplify a difference between the input voltage and the reference voltage; an ADC configured to perform an A/D conversion of an amplified signal; and an arithmetic processing unit configured to calculate a digital voltage corresponding to the input voltage based on a result of the A/D conversion and the reference voltage.




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PIPELINED SAR WITH TDC CONVERTER

A hybrid SAR-ADC that uses a combination of voltage-based signal processing and time-based signal processing to convert an analog input signal to a digital output signal is disclosed. In some embodiments, the hybrid SAR-ADC has a voltage-based signal processing element configured to convert an analog input signal to a first digital signal having a plurality of MSBs and to generate a residue voltage from an input voltage and the first digital signal. A voltage-to-time conversion element is configured to convert the residue voltage to a time domain representation. A time-based signal processing element is configured to convert the time domain representation to a second digital signal comprising a plurality of LSBs. By determining the plurality of MSBs using voltage-based signal processing and determining the plurality of LSBs using time-based signal processing, the hybrid SAR-ADC is able to achieve low power and compact area.




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CONVERTER FOR CONVERTING CODE-MODULATED POWER WITH CONVERSION CODE, AND CONTROLLER THEREOF

A converter includes: a terminal that receives code-modulated power that has been generated with a modulation code; and a circuit that intermittently converts the code-modulated power with a conversion code based on the modulation code. The code-modulated power is alternating-current power.




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SIGNAL TRANSFER FUNCTION EQUALIZATION IN MULTI-STAGE DELTA-SIGMA ANALOG-TO-DIGITAL CONVERTERS

Typically, complex systems require a separate and expensive equalizer at the output of an analog-to-digital converter (ADC). Rather than providing a separate equalizer, the effective Signal Transfer Function (STF) of a Multi-stAge noise SHaping (MASH) ADC can be modified by leveraging available digital filtering hardware necessary for quantization noise cancellation. The modification can involves adding calculations in the software previously provided for computing digital quantization noise cancellation filter coefficients, where the calculations are added to take into account equalization as well. As a result, the signal transfer function can be modified to meet ADC or system-level signal-chain specifications without additional equalization hardware. The method is especially attractive for high-speed applications where magnitude and phase responses are more challenging to meet.




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PROTECTION CIRCUITS FOR TUNABLE RESISTOR AT CONTINUOUS-TIME ADC INPUT

Continuous-time analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) such as continuous-time delta-sigma ADCs and continuous-time pipeline ADCs, has input resistor structure at the input. The input resistor structure is typically tunable, and the tunability is usually provided by metal-oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) switches. Core MOSFETs, which has a terminal-to-terminal voltage




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FLASH ANALOG-TO-DIGITAL CONVERTER CALIBRATION

An analog-to-digital converter (ADC) is a device that can include a reference shuffler and a loop filter. An ADC can achieve better performance with incremental adjustment of a pointer of the reference shuffler, changing coefficients of the loop filter, and storing calibration codes of the ADC in a non-volatile memory. By incrementally adjusting a pointer of the reference shuffler, a calibration can be performed more efficiently than with a random adjustment of the pointer. By temporarily changing the loop filter coefficients, a greater amount of activity can be introduced into the loop filter. This activity can allow the calibration to proceed more efficiently. By storing the calibration codes in a non-volatile memory, a search space for calibration codes can be reduced. Thus, a calibration can occur more quickly, and the calibration itself can be improved.




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LOGARITHMIC ANALOG TO DIGITAL CONVERTER DEVICES AND METHODS THEREOF

An analog to digital converter includes an error integration circuit configured to receive an input charge from a detector and to integrate a difference between the input charge and one or more feedback charge pulses to create an error voltage. A quantizer is in operable communication with the error integration circuit and is responsive to the created error voltage. An accumulator having a mantissa component and a radix component is in operable communication with the quantizer. A charge feedback device in operable communication with the quantizer and the radix component of the accumulator. The charge feedback device is configured to generate the one or more feedback charge pulses proportional to the radix component of the accumulator and an output of the quantizer. Digital focal plane read out integrated circuits including the analog to digital converter are also disclosed.




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Circuit for Stabilizing a Digital-to-Analog Converter Reference Voltage

The disclosure relates to a circuit for stabilizing a digital-to-analog converter reference voltage. One example embodiment is a circuit for stabilizing a voltage on a reference node. The circuit includes a digital-to-analog converter that includes an array of capacitors and arranged for: receiving an input voltage via an input node, receiving a voltage via a reference node and a digital-to-analog code via a controller node, and outputting a digital-to-analog output voltage. The circuit also includes a capacitive network on the reference node comprising a fixed capacitor arranged to be pre-charged to an external reference voltage and a variable capacitor arranged to be pre-charged to an external auxiliary voltage. Further, the circuit includes a measurement block. In addition, the circuit includes a calibration block arranged for determining an updated setting of the variable capacitor based on the digital-to-analog code and the measured voltage on the reference node.