Abstract: An operational amplifier for a pipeline analog-to-digital converter (ADC). The operational amplifier includes a cascaded chain of differential amplifiers, each differential amplifier including resistive-averaged common mode feedback to produce a common mode voltage for the differential amplifier, a particular differential amplifier of the chain having the highest gain of the gains of the differential amplifiers. The operational amplifier has one or more feedback paths each including a compensation capacitor to compensate the operational amplifier.

Abstract: A system, method and article of manufacture is disclosed that provides an improved, higher efficiency, more accurate laser direct imaging on a photosensitive medium on a substrate using a ultraviolet, mode-locked laser having a low average power and a short pulse width. The ultraviolet, mode-locked laser is modulated in a scophony mode. The resulting in-scan edges having improved perpendicularity relative to the underlying substrate. The resulting cross scan beginning and end having improved perpendicularity relative to the underlying substrate. The improved perpendicularity resulting in improved accuracy over the prior art.

Abstract: A method for dynamically obtaining a unified classification information graph which provides a navigation system for a user to access sought information. The method includes providing multiple information resources that include a hierarchy of categories that are associated, each, with a category. Leaf categories in the hierarchy are connected to information pages. The method further provides generating a unified classification information graph by using the hierarchy of categories and the categories of the multiple information resources. The unified classification graph includes a hierarchy of unified categories. Leaf unified categories in the hierarchy are connected to information pages, whereby, information pages accessible through the hierarchy of the multiple information resources are also accessible through the hierarchy of the unified classification information graph.

Abstract: A composition for a UV-curable inkjet ink that includes none or almost no photoinitiator, and a method of polymerizing one or more such inkjet inks having a viscosity and superficial tension suitable for inkjet printing. The UV curable inkjet ink includes 20-40% by weight of one or more monofunctional acrylates, 35-55% by weight of one or more difunctional acrylates, 5-15% by weight of one or more trifunctional acrylates, no more than approximately 5% by weight of one or more pigments; and a minute quantity or photoinitiator. One embodiment further includes 5-15% by weight of one or more highly reactive acrylates and 0.5-1.5% stabilizer. The method includes depositing the one or more inks on the substrate using one or more inkjet heads in an inkjet printer, irradiating the deposited inks with UV radiation relatively high in UVC radiation (“UVC-rich radiation”), the UVC-rich radiation produced by a first UV source, the irradiation while the substrate is moved relative to the first UV source.

Abstract: A computer implemented method to include microscopic perforations (perforations) in an printing plate is revealed. The particles improve the properties of the plate towards printability of an image on different kinds of offset presses. The perforations are formed by perforations which are added in a fully digital way. Aspects of the invention include of three alternative embodiments for include the repelling particles, and these alternative embodiments may be uses alone or in combination depending on the user's preferred workflow. The third alternative embodiment adds the perforations through an additional layer in the page description, this layer comprising a pattern which erases small particles in the original design elements. The first alternative embodiment adds the perforations through a modified screening method. The second alternative embodiment includes perforations into existing bitmaps.

Abstract: A local oscillator calibrator comprises a main charge pump that drives a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) through a loop filter. A second, replica charge pump can also drive the VCO, but is setup to output only its most positive or most negative analog output control voltage. Since the construction and characteristics of the replica charge pump duplicate the main charge pump, the main charge pump's minimum and maximum analog control outputs can be cloned out to the VCO on demand. A VCO calibration procedure therefore includes switching the VCO to each of its ranges set by a bank of fixed capacitors, and using the replica charge pump to drive the VCO to its minimum and maximum frequency for each range setting. The min-max frequency data is stored in a lookup table, and operational requests to switch to a new channel frequency can be supported with a priori information about which fixed-capacitor range selection will be best.

Abstract: A pipeline analog-to-digital converter (ADC) includes cascaded stages for resolving at least one bit of an analog voltage. Each stage has an analog input, one or more reference voltage inputs, and one or more digital outputs. The analog voltage is coupled to the analog input of the first stage. Each stage but the last has an analog output connected to the analog input of the next stage, and includes an operational amplifier that has one or more differential amplifiers having a common mode voltage. The pipeline ADC includes a reference generator to generate the one or more reference voltages for the stages. The reference generator includes a circuit to track the common mode voltage of the differential amplifiers such that the generated reference voltages are relative the common mode voltages of the differential amplifiers.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining a small number of parameters that spectrally characterize colorants by a small number of parameters and for using such colorant parameters to accurately predict the spectral reflection or transmission characteristics of such colorants when deposited on top of one another, either on an opaque, transparent or semitransparent carrier of a particular type, each colorant deposited with a certain coverage percentage, for example, dot percentage in the case of offset printing, the colorant parameters of any colorant being substantially independent of the color of the substrate and including dependency on the colorants deposited before and after. The method involves making measurements of sets prints of varying coverage percentages of a colorant on a number of backgrounds, and solving the resulting set of equations for the colorant. Colorants that are defined by a recipe of basic colorants can be characterized from measurements on prints of the basic colorants.

Abstract: A method is described for exposing both sides of a light sensitive sheet such as a printed circuit board panel according to imaging data. The method uses a device that has an optical system for scanning the sensitive sheet by one or more beams. The optical system scans both sides with the scan lines on one side mutually positioned with respect to the scan lines on the other side. According to one implementation, the optical system includes two optical scanning units driven by a single source, with a switch alternating the beam from the source to one then the other optical scanning unit.

Abstract: A device is described for exposing both sides of a light sensitive sheet such as a printed circuit board panel according to imaging data. The device comprises an optical system for scanning the sensitive sheet by one or more beams. The optical system scans both sides with the scan lines on one side mutually positioned with respect to the scan lines on the other side. According to one implementation, the optical system includes two optical scanning units driven by a single source, with a switch alternating the beam from the source to one then the other optical scanning unit.

Abstract: A method for dynamically obtaining a unified classification information graph which provides a navigation system for a user to access sought information. The method includes providing a multiple information resources that include hierarchy of categories that are associated, each, with a category. Leaf categories in the hierarchy are connected to information pages. The method filter provides generating a unified classification information graph by using the hierarchy of categories and the categories of the multiple information resources. The unified classification graph includes hierarchy of unified categories. Leaf unified categories in the hierarchy are connected to inflation pages, whereby, information pages accessible through the hierarchy of the multiple information resources are also accessible through the hierarchy of the unified classification information graph.

Abstract: A system and method is disclosed that provides an automated, flow-through, dual side, laser direct imaging process and apparatus. This provides the capability to simultaneously register and image both sides of a substrate in a continuous flow-through process. The present invention provides efficiency improvements over the prior art on several levels. First, the prior art is batch process in which substrates are imaged one (or a batch) at a time in contrast with the present invention is a continuous, flow through, sequential process whereby a first substrate is followed into the apparatus by a second substrate which is, in turn followed by a third and so forth and the second substrate begins the process through the apparatus before the first substrate completes the process through the apparatus. Second, the process time per substrate is reduced as compared to the prior art.

Abstract: A system and method is disclosed that provides an automated, flow-through, dual side, laser direct imaging process and apparatus. This provides the capability to simultaneously register and image both sides of a substrate in a continuous flow-through process. The present invention provides efficiency improvements over the prior art on several levels. First, the prior art is batch process in which substrates are imaged one (or a batch) at a time in contrast with the present invention is a continuous, flow through, sequential process whereby a first substrate is followed into the apparatus by a second substrate which is, in turn followed by a third and so forth and the second substrate begins the process through the apparatus before the first substrate completes the process through the apparatus. Second, the process time per substrate is reduced as compared to the prior art.

Abstract: This invention relates to a vacuum holder for securing workpieces, such as flexible media or printed circuit boards, through a suction force. Pressure responsive, one way flow valves are incorporated between chambers under suction openings to control the application of suction. This results in a restraining force that is uniform in time and space, resulting in a vacuum holder that has reduced pumping requirements.

Abstract: A system and method is disclosed that provides an automated, flow-through, dual side, laser direct imaging process and apparatus. This provides the capability to simultaneously register and image both sides of a substrate in a continuous flow-through process. The present invention provides efficiency improvements over the prior art on several levels. First, the prior art is batch process in which substrates are imaged one (or a batch) at a time in contrast with the present invention is a continuous, flow through, sequential process whereby a first substrate is followed into the apparatus by a second substrate which is, in turn followed by a third and so forth and the second substrate begins the process through the apparatus before the first substrate completes the process through the apparatus. Second, the process time per substrate is reduced as compared to the prior art.

Abstract: A method and apparatus controls network bandwidth between a first node and a second node on a network. A data element transmitted from the first node to the second node is intercepted. The data element comprises a data portion and a header portion including an original window size. The original window size in the header portion of the data element is replaced with a replacement window size, the data portion of the data element remaining unmodified. The data element is then routed to the second node, the header portion of the data element being coupled to the replacement window size.

Abstract: A method for generating a reference signal from a modulated signal transmitted to a communications station that includes an array of antenna elements and spatial processing means including: separating from the signals received at the antenna elements a copy signal corresponding to the signal transmitted by a particular remote station using an initial spatial weight vector corresponding to the particular remote station; determining from the terminal copy signal a reference signal having substantially the same frequency offset and time alignment as the received antenna signals; and computing a new spatial weight vector by optimizing a cost function, the cost function using the received antenna signals and the reference signal. For demodulation, the method further includes extracting the symbols of the modulated signal.

Abstract: An antenna monitor collects statistics about the received signal strengths of each antenna in a cooperating antenna array over long periods of time. In cellular telephone base station applications for a base station using an array of antenna elements to obtain spatial diversity, samples of the received signal strength are taken during particular times whenever an active mobile subscriber is operating in the area. Periodically, such samples are averaged and added to a running total that is maintained in a long-term accumulator for each antenna. The accumulated totals are then compared after a statistically sufficient number of samples have been collected and averaged. Faulty antennas, including broken ones and ones with bad connections, will be revealed by those corresponding signal paths having relatively low accumulated totals. Given long enough collection periods, the spatial diversity of the antennas in the array will have only a minimal impact on favoring one antenna over another.

Abstract: A co-simulation design system that runs on a host computer system is described that includes a hardware simulator and a processor simulator coupled via an interface mechanism. The execution of a user program on a target processor that includes a cache is simulated by executing an analyzed version of the user program on the host computer system. The analysis adds timing information to the user program so that the processor simulator provides accurate timing information whenever the processor simulator interacts with the hardware simulator. The analysis also adds hooks to the user program such that executing the analyzed user program on the host computer system invokes a cache simulator that simulates operation of the cache.

Abstract: A co-simulation design system that runs on a host computer system is described that includes a hardware simulator and a processor simulator coupled via a interface mechanism. The execution of a user program is simulated by executing an analyzed version of the user program on the host computer system. The analysis adds timing information to the user program so that the processor simulator provides accurate timing information whenever the processor simulator interacts with the hardware simulator.