Abstract: A fluid pump has a pump body and a displacer which is adapted to be positioned at a first and at a second end position by means of a drive, the displacer and the pump body being implemented such that a pump chamber is defined therebetween, and the pump chamber being adapted to be fluid-connected to an inlet and to an outlet via a first opening and a second opening which are not provided with check valves. An elastic buffer bordering on the pump chamber is provided. The displacer is implemented in the form of a plate which is secured to the pump body, and the pump body is provided with a recess defining the pump chamber. The drive acts on the displacer substantially in the area of the first opening. The displacer closes the first opening when it occupies its first end position and leaves the first opening free when it occupies its second end position.

Abstract: A hydrogen barrier layer is formed above a ferroelectric thin film in an integrated circuit. The hydrogen barrier layer is directly over a protected segment of the ferroelectric thin film, while a sacrificial segment of the ferroelectric thin film extends laterally beyond the edges of the hydrogen barrier layer. The sacrificial segment absorbs hydrogen so that it cannot diffuse laterally into the protected segment of the ferroelectric thin film. After it absorbs hydrogen, the sacrificial segment is etched away to allow electrical connection to circuit layers below it. The ferroelectric thin film preferably comprises a layered superlattice compound. Excess bismuth or niobium added to the standard precursor solution of a strontium bismuth tantalum niobate compound helps to reduce hydrogen degradation of the ferroelectric properties.

Abstract: A protective layer in a ferroelectric integrated circuit contains small amounts of oxygen to protect ferroelectric oxide material against hydrogen degradation during the fabrication process. Typically, the protective layer is a hydrogen diffusion barrier layer formed to cover a thin film of ferroelectric oxide material. In one method, a small amount of oxygen is included in the sputter atmosphere during deposition of a hydrogen diffusion barrier or a metallized wiring layer. The oxygen forms oxides that inhibit diffusion of hydrogen towards the ferroelectric oxide material. The oxygen forms a concentration gradient so that the oxygen concentration in the interior of the protective layer is zero, and the oxygen concentration near the surfaces of the layer is about two weight percent.

Abstract: Circuitry that provides alternating current to a load from a unipolar power supply. A current source in the circuitry controls current applied to the load. A first switch and a second switch are connected between the load and the current source and allow current to flow from the current source to the load in a first direction responsive to the first switch and the second switch being closed. A third switch and a fourth switch connected between the load and the current source allow current to flow from the current source to the load in a second direction responsive to the third switch and the fourth switch being closed.

Abstract: An Expandable communications bus system for transferring data between a plurality of devices. The expandable communications bus system is comprised of a plurality of communication busses each capable of transferring n bits of data between devices. A device may be connected to any multiple of the communication busses. Mn bits of data may be transferred at one time between devices using m busses. Other busses in the system transfer can data between other devices while the transfer over m busses is occurring allowing for more efficient use of bus resources. For each communications bus that is connected to a device, the device has an interface that controls the transfer of data over the communications bus. Arbitration for a bus is performed by the interface of each device connected to the bus.

Abstract: The call hold state notification system functions to provide an indication to the parties presently served by the existing call connection that the original hold state has been terminated. This is accomplished by enabling both parties (multiple parties on a n-way call) to a call connection to place their respective call termination on hold to serve another call or to perform some other task without having to physically monitor the call connection. When any party to the call connection removes the hold state at their respective telephone station set, the remaining parties to the call connection who have a hold state active at their termination receive a notification of the reconnection of the party to the call connection. Optionally, the returning party also receives a notification that the call connection is in an on hold state at the other end of the call connection and that party is being advised of the termination of the held state by the returning party.

Abstract: The device box for wall mounted communication equipment functions to provide connections for communications conductors and electrical conductors as well as a housing to receive a power transformer, with the installation of the device box for wall mounted communication equipment capable of being mounted flush with a wall surface. The device box for wall mounted communication equipment includes a box of sufficient size to receive: electrical conductors, which are terminated on an electrical outlet contained within the box; communications conductors which are terminated on a telephone jack; space to receive a transformer to interconnect the wireless telephone station set with the electrical outlet; and features that serve to mount the wireless telephone station set to the device box for wall mounted communication equipment.

Abstract: In a ferroelectric integrated circuit, a hydrogen barrier layer comprising titanium or titanium nitride or both is formed over a metal oxide element to protect it from hydrogen degradation. After hydrogen annealing and other process steps causing hydrogenating or reducing conditions, the hydrogen barrier layer is removed in a two-step etching process. The first etch step is a dry etch, preferably a standard ion-mill etching process, which rapidly removes most of the hydrogen barrier layer. The second step is a wet, chemical etch, preferably using a solution containing NH4OH, H2O2, and H2O, which selectively removes remnants of the hydrogen barrier layer from the circuit by oxidizing a chemical element of the barrier layer. The metal oxide material preferably comprises a layered superlattice compound.

Abstract: First and second bus bridges, e.g., first and second RAID disk controllers, are operative to communicate between a first bus and a second bus via respective first and second caches and to transfer information from the first bus bridge to the second cache over a third bus, e.g., a synchronous data link between the caches, to allow recovery of data previously cached in the first cache via the second bus bridge. The second bus bridge preferably is operative to transfer information addressed to the first bus from the first bus to the second bus, e.g., to “alias” addresses normally assigned to the first bus bridge in event of a failure, disconnection or other change in status of the first bus bridge. The status may be communicated from the first bus bridge to the second bus bridge over a fourth bus connecting the first and second bus bridges.

Abstract: A ferroelectric destructive read-out memory system includes a power source, a memory array including a memory cell, and a logic circuit for applying a signal to the memory array. Whenever a low power condition is detected in said power source, a disturb prevent circuit prevents unintended voltages due to the low power condition from disturbing the memory cell. The disturb prevent circuit also stops the operation of the logic circuit for a time sufficient to permit a rewrite cycle to be completed, thereby preventing loss of the data being rewritten.

Abstract: A drive system for a vibrating tube-based measurement instrument employing a spatial filter to produce a drive signal having modal content only at a desired vibration mode. Multiple feedback sensors located at different locations along a vibrating tube produce multiple feedback sensors. Each feedback signal has applied to it a weighting or gain factor. All of the weighted feedback signals are then summed to produce a drive signal, or a signal proportional to a drive signal, having improved modal content as compared to any of the feedback signals by themselves. The weighting factors are selected by any of several means. One method is to build the eigenvector matrix for the vibrating flow tube by extracting the eigenvectors from a finite element model of the vibrating structure. The inverse or psuedo-inverse of the eigenvector matrix is calculated to obtain the modal filter vector. The appropriate set of weighting coefficients are selected from the modal filter vector.

Abstract: In a method for detecting an image signal by means of an array (30) of photosensitive devices (10) with each of which the charge of a capacitance (12) can be altered, an optical signal (20) of each photosensitive device is first detected by means of the following substeps: creating a charge condition of the capacitance with a predetermined voltage (+U_DD), changing the charge of the capacitance (12) either with a photocurrent generated in the photosensitive device (10) by the optical signal (20) or with a quantity derived from the same and detecting the voltage across the capacitance (12) after a predetermined time period, deciding whether the detected voltage lies within a valid range and, if this is so, determining on the basis of the detected voltage a valid signal which characterizes the detected optical signal, and, if this is not so, repeating the cited steps with a time period which differs from the predetermined time period either a predetermined number of times or until it is determined that the

Abstract: A thin film of ferroelectric layered superlattice material in a flat panel display device is energized to selectively influence the display image. In one embodiment, a voltage pulse causes the layered superlattice material to emit electrons that impinge upon a phosphor, causing the phosphor to emit light. In another embodiment, an electric potential creates a remanent polarization in the layered superlattice material, which exerts an electric field in liquid crystal layer, thereby influencing the transmissivity of light through the liquid crystal. The layered superlattice material is a metal oxide formed using an inventive liquid precursor containing an alkoxycarboxylate. The thin film thickness is preferably in the range 50-140 nm, so that polarizabilty and transparency of the thin film is enhanced. A display element may comprise a varistor device to prevent cross-talk between pixels and to enable sudden polarization switching. A functional gradient in the ferroelectric thin film enhances electron emission.

Abstract: A system having improved cycle time for removing PC boards from a connected panel. In accordance with the present invention, a pair of walking clamps are used to receive a panel from a subsequent processing system, and a movable receiving nest is used to provide the PC boards to a subsequent processing station. The processes of receiving a panel, depaneling the PC board, and delivering the PC boards do not use common components and are able to operate independently and concurrently to reduce idle time in the system and improve the cycle time. The present invention also provides a secondary vacuums which removes debris from the PC boards as the PC boards are being transporting to a subsequent processing system to improve the removal of debris.

Abstract: The surface of a Si substrate is coated with a lower electrode of precious metal (Pt), then a buffer layer comprising an oxide thin film containing Bi is deposited. On the surface of the buffer layer, a thin film of a Bi layer structured ferroelectric substance is formed. Thus, reaction of the Bi layer structured ferroelectric substance with the precious metal coating the Si substrate is avoided during crystallization carried out at a low temperature. Therefore, deviation in composition of the thin film thus formed is suppressed to provide the thin film with a high density. When the thickness of the buffer layer is not greater than five percent of that of the Bi layer structured ferroelectric thin film, electrical characteristics of a capacitor are not deteriorated. When electrical connection is conducted by polycrystalline Si, production of oxide can be avoided by deposition at 650° C.

Abstract: The invention provides for assessing location and/or proximity to a buried or submerged optical fiber cable. A seismic generator creates seismic pulses, at known frequencies, on the ground (or water) at a first location and the synchronous rotation of the polarization state of light transmitted through the optical fiber cable is detected. Other seismic pulses are generated at different locations and the polarization rotation is detected at each such location to locate a closest proximity to the cable, corresponding to a minimum or maximum of polarization rotation. A wireless synchronous signal is generated with the seismic pulses to differentially isolate the polarization rotation signal; and, if desired, to further determine distance between the cable and the source of the seismic pulse.

Abstract: A voice coil linear actuator includes a bobbin connected to a voice coil, a center pole piece, a main magnet, and an outer pole and housing. An auxiliary magnet is constructed and arranged for attachment to the center pole piece such that the center pole piece is sandwiched between the auxiliary magnet and the main magnet. The main magnet has a first magnetic polarization (e.g., North) adjacent to the center pole piece at a first end of the main magnet. The auxiliary magnet has a second magnetic polarization (e.g., North) adjacent the center pole piece, such that fringing fields from the auxiliary magnet substantially cancel fringing fields from the main magnet. Consequently, substantially all fringing fields from the actuator are substantially contained with the actuator. Fields at the magnetic head in a tape drive unit are less than about five Orsted.

Abstract: The present multi-media message storage system functions to provide the user with a playback that represents a capsulization of the content of the stored message to thereby enable the user to determine whether the stored message contains sufficient information that warrants the user playing back the entirety of the message. The summary consists of content descriptive information that is excerpted from the body of the message and played back to the user in a form that differs from that used to store the received message. This feature enables a multi-media message storage system to store and retrieve text messages for a user in an efficient manner, thereby enabling the multi-media message storage system to function as a multi-media mail system.

Abstract: A semiconductor device has a device isolation oxide film, an interlayer insulating film, hydrogen barrier films, a lower electrode, a capacitor insulating film, an upper electrode, an interlayer insulating film and a wiring layer, formed on a silicon substrate. A gate electrode is formed on a gate oxide film between impurity diffusion regions in the silicon substrate. Further, a capacitor portion, comprising the lower electrode, the capacitor insulating film (ferroelectric or high dielectric substance) and the upper electrode, is completely covered with the hydrogen barrier films. The hydrogen barrier films prevent deterioration of the ferroelectric substance and the high dielectric constant material due to reducing conditions in a hydrogen atmosphere. Other device characteristics, however, are not adversely affected because only the capacitor portion is completely covered with the hydrogen barrier films.