Abstract: A traveling wave FET in which increasing distances between electrodes and the design of semiconductor regions associated with the various electrodes act to increase maximum gain parameters of the device. The relationship of the electrode series resistance is also considered in the design as it affects these gain parameters.

Abstract: A multiprocessor, multi-program, stop-the-world garbage collection program is described. The system initially over partitions the root sources, and then iteratively employs static and dynamic work balancing. Garbage collection threads compete dynamically for the initial partitions. Work stealing double-ended queues, where contention is reduced, are described to provide dynamic load balancing among the threads. Contention is resolved by using atomic instructions. The heap is broken into a young and an old generation where parallel semi-space copying is used to collect the young generation and parallel mark-compacting the old generation. Speed and efficiency of collection is enhanced by use of card tables and linking objects, and overflow conditions are efficiently handled by linking using class pointers. The garbage collection termination employs a global status word.

Abstract: A technique for classifying objects within an image is disclosed. In one embodiment, the technique is realized by identifying a portion of an image, and then filtering the portion of the image based upon an object characteristic and a reference within the image. The image can be a representation of a plurality of pixels, wherein at least some of the plurality of pixels are enabled to represent the identified portion of the image. The reference can be one of a reference plane or a terrain within the image.

Abstract: An integral heating nozzle and a syringe needle pickup vacuum tube where the nozzle moves relative to the pickup tube, FIG. 4, and where the nozzle does not move relative to the pickup tip, FIG. 1. The relative movement allows the heating gas to be directed to the solder connections while the vacuum tube may be independently moved so as to attach to the component body for removal and replacement, even when the component body is small and of different contours. In both cases the nozzle size allows components of cross section 0.01×0.01 inch to 0.05×0.05 inch to bereplaced. The opening of the nozzle accommodates removing and placing these smaller components through the nozzle. In some embodiments helium rather than air or nitrogen is used as a heating gas.

Abstract: A bus switch for transferring logic signals between nodes without the problems associated with overvoltage conduction. The bus switch is an FET switch including a single primary transfer transistor. The bulk of the transfer transistor is coupled to an arbitration circuit that establishes a pseudo high-potential power rail. The pseudo high-potential rail is the highest of a potential associated with the first node, the second node, and a standard high-potential supply rail. The arbitration circuit includes regulating diode devices in parallel, one of which passes to the pseudo high-potential rail the potential associated with the first node and the other the potential associated with the second node, whichever is higher. If both are substantial equal to the potential of the standard high-potential rail, that potential is passed to the pseudo high-potential rail.

Abstract: The present invention relates to high density electronic power supplies and more particularly switching power supplies employing a metallic enclosure and integral cooling means. The configuration employs an array of thermally conductive metal bars to optimally distribute heat from a number of dissipative elements to a thermally conductive metal element that has substantial surface area within an internally generated air stream. The thermally conductive metal element may be the metal enclosure that also acts as a heat sink or fins, both of which provide substantial surface area to the air stream.

Abstract: An adaptive cache coherent purging protocol includes recognizing system performance, especially latency, is affected by when cache is purged. The occurrence of performance enhancing and degrading events regarding a cache are counted and compared to a threshold. When the threshold is triggered the cache becomes a candidate for purging. In an embodiment, a time out delay is implemented before actual purging occurs. When the threshold is not triggered but a cache event occurs, a fake time out delay is triggered and the count is adaptively either raised, lowered or set to zero in response to performance enhancing and/or degrading events. The effect is to make the actual purging more likely if the history of cache events indicates that the performance would be enhanced thereby or less likely if the history indicates that the performance would be degraded thereby.

Abstract: A method of providing conversion from YUV signals to RGB signals includes the steps of determining a correspondence value between each of the Y, U, and V pixel values and the corresponding one of the R, G, and B pixel values. Three tables are generated; a Y table, a U table and a V table. During operation, each table may then be easily accessed by indexing the table with the respective Y, U or V input, to provide R,G,B data. The method may be used in a 64 bit embodiment using two registers or one register. Alternatively, the method may be used in a 32 bit embodiment. The conversion method can easily be augmented to provide color adjustment during conversion without any added complexity.

Abstract: A portable self-contained power pack is described including a miniature internal combustion motor/alternator combination with an attached fuel supply. The electrical output from the motor/alternator is rectified and controlled to provide a DC output. The DC output is used to charge batteries and/or capacitors. The power pack is designed to be of a weight and size so that it may be carried while in use on the person of the user. The DC output and the batteries and/or capacitors are connected and power personal items. These personal items include, but are not limited to, cell phones, portable radios, laptops, stand alone computers, music and video players and recorders, personal electronic organizers, games and cordless power tools.

Abstract: A flashing light source mounted to rotate or fixed to the top of a hat or helmet. The light provided shines out throughout a full 360 degree circle around the wearer to signal and warn people of the presence of the wearer or of danger. In a preferred embodiment the lamp may be a single lamp formed as a circular xenon flash lamp or a bulb or flash tube with a reflector that rotates to traverse the entire 360 degree circle around the wearer.

Abstract: A forward DC/DC converter with an active clamp that is driven directly from the primary or secondary of the transformer. The clamp may be on the input or the output circuit and may be of either N-type ot P-type MOSFETs or of bipolar transistors.

Abstract: A technique for locating objects within an image is disclosed. In one embodiment, the technique is realized by obtaining an image and then identifying an object within the image based upon an orientation of the object within the image. The image can be a representation of a plurality of pixels, wherein the plurality of pixels are arranged in a plurality of columns and rows, and wherein at least some of the plurality of pixels are enabled to represent the object.

Abstract: A translation switch is described with a transfer MOS transistor that connects a first node to second node where the first node is referenced to a higher voltage than is the second. A pseudo-rail generator drives the gate of the MOS transistor and provides a p-rail reference voltage lower in voltage to that of the first node. The generator includes a selectively enabled active clamping circuit that clamps the gate of the MOS transfer transistor to the p-rail potential and sinks current from the p-rail when higher voltages appear on the p-rail to thereby maintain the p-rail at a substantially constant potential.

Abstract: A technique for differencing an image is disclosed. In one embodiment, the technique is realized by measuring light values in a scene to generate a first image and a second image. The first image is separated into first luminance and chrominance components, and the second image is separated into second luminance and chrominance components. A difference is determined between the first and the second luminance components to generate a luminance mask. Similarly, a difference is determined between the first and the second chrominence components to generate a chrominance mask. The luminance mask and the chrominence mask are combined to determine a difference between the first and the second images.

Abstract: A digital imaging system is provided for interpolating a full color image from a camera having an array of single color sensors. Measured color values are stored as an array of data elements in a memory of the system. Each data element corresponds to the measured color value from one sensor. A set of gradient values is determined for each data element at a specific location in the array. The gradient values correspond to color value differences in a plurality of directions from the data element. From the set of gradient values, a threshold value is determined. Using the threshold value, a subset of gradient values is selected so that the members of the subset have gradient values less than the threshold. Additional color values for each data element are interpolated according to the subset of gradient values.

Abstract: A load-insensitive circuit enables a global reference clock signal source of a synchronous multiprocessor system having a plurality of nodes to be “insensitive” with respect to the insertion or removal (“hot-swap”) of a load (such as a node) when the system is operational. The load insensitive clock source is provided through the use of a customized two-way passive radio frequency power splitter having an input port and two phase-matched output ports. A high degree of isolation is provided between clock signals delivered over the output ports when the input port of the splitter is properly terminated and embedded in a controlled impedance environment. Isolation is further enhanced by terminating each output port with a constant impedance comprising a precisely-matched, 50-ohm impedance load pad.

Abstract: A technique for tracking objects through a series of images is disclosed. In one embodiment, the technique is realized by obtaining at least first and second representations of a plurality of pixels, wherein at least one grouping of substantially adjacent pixels has been identified in each of the first and second representations. Each identified grouping of substantially adjacent pixels in the first representation is then matched with an identified grouping of substantially adjacent pixels in the second representation.

Abstract: A high-frequency switch circuit having an MOS pass gate or transfer transistor. The switch circuit of the invention includes a first impedance element coupled to the gate of the transfer transistor and, preferably, an alternative second impedance element coupled to the bulk of the transfer transistor. One or both of the impedance elements substantially negates the low-parasitic shunt capacitance associated with the transfer transistor that controls signal attenuation under high frequency operation. The impedance element is coupled in series with that parasitic capacitance to increase substantially the impedance of that pathway, thereby increasing substantially the passable bandwidth. The impedance element may simply be a resistor. The switch circuit is suitable for use in an array of applications, including signal propagation in computing systems, routers, and flat panel screen displays.

Abstract: A download of a data file from a server computer to a client computer is monitored by the client computer. The download is restarted automatically if a failure occurs. A failure may be a timeout, a loss of a connection, data errors, or other errors that terminate the download. The download may be restarted by instructing the server computer to start reading from a specified offset corresponding to an amount of data that was received reliably by the client, so that data is not unnecessarily retransmitted. This process increases the likelihood that a download will complete successfully. The client program, if specialized for performing downloads, may be stored at the server. In response to a request to download a file, the client program is downloaded first, with the location of the requested file stored within the program. The client program is then executed on the client computer to transfer the requested file.

Abstract: A heater box for PCB boards uses open cell metal foam as a heat sink and diffuser of heated gas. The heated gas is dispensed through a metal fabric mesh and then to the PCB to be heated. The gas is introduced under pressure and flow regulated to conduits in the metal foam diffuser. The conduits have side holes that allow the gas to diffuse evenly through the foam. The gas is heated by electrical resistance heaters built into the conduits or by a resistance heated layer between the conduits and the foam. The frame that holds the PCB to be heated and the metal fabric mesh and the heater box itself are all laterally floating with respect to each other.