Abstract: A JTAG Boundary Scan method by which the on-chip system logic (OCSL) of an integrated circuit is changed by use of a state machine which, among other functions, allows a predefined set of instructions to be loaded into an Instruction Register and then executed. The predefined instructions are designed to follow in sequence after certain other previous instructions. The instructions change the OCSL from one state to another state and allows the state to be changed without the need of a full device reset. Additional instructions within this invention were created to have attendant operating modes for which termination is self timed within the integrated circuit. Additional instructions further control the implementation of instruction execution within the state machine.

Abstract: Boundary Scan integrated circuits are provided with a plurality of new registers between two dedicated pins, Test Data In (TDI) and Test Data Out (TDO) pins. The new registers include an address register and a plurality of test data registers which are addressable by the address register using address-dependent instructions in the instruction register (IR). Instructions for the addressable registers may be steered to the correct register with an ADDLOAD instruction placed in the instruction register followed by an address-dependent instruction. The ADDLOAD instruction makes the address register active between the TDI and TDO pins. Any instruction from a set of address-dependent instructions may be steered to any register handling address-dependent instructions allowing a small number of instructions to be used in a large number of addressable data registers. At the same time non-addressable registers, such as the Boundary Scan register, use address-independent instructions.

Abstract: A method of constructing a leadless array integrated circuit package that mounts directly to a printed circuit board, without pins, but has accessible contacts for testing and inspection. The method includes arranging a series of metal bonding pads on a top side of an insulating substrate and then attaching an array of integrated circuit chips to the metal bonding pads. The integrated circuit chips are encapsulated and then partially separated and electrically isolated prior to testing the chips for any fabrication faults. The chips are then completely separated into individual chip packages. The individual chip packages can then be installed on a printed circuit board. The chip package is heated in a furnace during package fabrication and mounts to the printed circuit board by solder flow contacts on the perimeter of the chip package that melds with solder paste applied to the printed circuit board.

Abstract: A lamp having a coiled lamp shade disposed within and extending upwardly out of a frame assembly. The lamp shade is made of a translucent sheet, arranged in a loop or coil which bulges outwardly to form a wall which surrounds a lamp bulb assembly. The lamp shades can be of varying heights and shapes and is easily interchangeable with other lamp shades of the same type. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the frame assembly is a modular kit, having vertical and horizontal parts, which can be assembled to form a rectangular frame. Alternately, other types of frame assemblies, such as round shaped or preassembled frames, can be used.

Abstract: A towing device, adapted to be mounted to a chassis of a vehicle, features a bi-planar rotation mechanism which allows a telescoping beam to dynamically pivot about two orthogonal axes. The towing device includes a sub-frame mounted to the chassis. An underframe is pivotally attached to the sub-frame to move between a retracted position, adjacent to the sub-frame, and an extended position, distal from the sub-frame. The telescoping beam extends from the underframe and terminates in a carriage, which is adapted to support the wheels of a towed vehicle. In this fashion, the telescoping beam allows the towed vehicle to dynamically pivot about two orthogonal axes which avoids "high centering" of the towing vehicle.

Abstract: A rotating machine configurable as a pure DC generator for use in various applications, including recharging batteries in battery operated portable devices. The generator consists of a pair of permanent magnets which are mounted on two rotating magnetic ferrous metal hubs. The magnets are aligned so that they have the same polarity facing each other. The hubs, including the magnets, rotate around a stationary toroidal coil, which creates a magnetic flux. The flux from the two magnets cuts the conductor to the toroidal coil in a same direction upon rotation of the hubs, creating an emf (current) which is always in the same direction. Thus, a direct current is created, without the need for commutation or rectification. The input and output functions of the generator may be reversed to enable the generator to function as a DC motor.

Abstract: A boundary scan test circuit (JTAG) interface is used to provide data for a set of configuration latches within a Configuration Register. The Configuration Register is included within the JTAG structure as a Test Data Register (TDR). Each configuration bit within the Configuration Register consists of a Configuration Latch, and each configuration latch has an output used as a configuration control signal within an output logic macrocell. The configuration register's input signal is selectably provided from either a set of serially connected configuration bit non-volatile element sense latches or from the JTAG Test Data In (TDI) data pin for reconfiguration, prototyping, and testing.

Abstract: A hydraulic cylinder control unit for gait control of a prosthetic limb which features two cylindrical tubes that are eccentric with respect to each other. The inner tube houses hydraulic fluid and the gap between the two tubes serves as a displacement chamber as a piston, mounted on a piston rod, moves through the fluid in the inner tube. When the outer tube is rotated about the inner tube, the gap between the tubes changes which either increases or decreases the flow allowed between the tubes. This changes the resistance which controls the rate of swing of an artificial limb. The resistance is easily adjustable by a simple rotation of the outer cylindrical tube. A floating sealed piston is additionally provided at the bottom of the inner tube. The sealed piston moves upwards or downwards depending on the balance of forces between the fluid force above the piston and the stored energy force below the sealed piston.

Abstract: A continuous purification method for removing neutral, as well as ionic, contaminants from liquid toner in an electrostatic printing system is disclosed. This method involves circulating liquid toner from a toner supply tank through a common volume which includes the toning applicator. The liquid toner is introduced to solid and ionic contaminants in the common volume and as the toner is circulated back to the toner supply tank for each toning pass, some contaminants and toner are left in the common volume. Next a wash fluid from a wash fluid supply tank is circulated through the common volume after each toning pass, the wash fluid mixing with the toner and the contaminants. This mixture is then passed through an electrophoretic purifier to remove the contaminants. Then the mixture passes through a porous particulate filter to remove any remaining contaminants before it returns back to the wash fluid supply tank.

Abstract: A disk gripper featuring a spindle fitting through the central hole of a disk, with the spindle harboring a movable latch which is a pin carried by a movable arm. An actuator shifts the latch out of the spindle once the spindle has entered a disk hole with the latch causing the disk to slide laterally into a curled finger which provides a protective, non-contacting envelope. The disk is held in place on the shoulder of a bulbous portion of the spindle which keeps the disk on the shoulder of the spindle. The actuator is activated by a floating sensor ring carried by the spindle. When the spindle passes through a disk hole, the sensor ring moves upwardly, resting on the disk sending an upright tripper into an optical detector causing the latch to retract and allowing the spindle to pass into the disk hole. After passage into the disk hole the latch is released, causing lateral disk motion, causing the disk to laterally slide into a securely held position.

Abstract: A method and system for inhibiting the counterfeiting of electronic cash smart cards that use microchips for monetary stored value. Such cards have recently been counterfeited by the use of electronic techniques to break the security codes. Such counterfeiting can be inhibited by bonding an optical memory stripe to the smart card with pre-recorded or post-recorded validation data on the cards. This optical validation data would be read with a photodetector array and could be transmitted to the recipient during funds transfer and/or used locally to control dispensing of cash. Thus successful counterfeiting of the modified electronic cash card would require meeting exacting electronic and optical requirements.

Abstract: A digital interface circuit has two inverters with different switching points, one below and one above the nominal transition point of the circuit. Each inverter controls both pull-up and pull-down output transistors. The inverter with the low switching point controls the low-to-high signal transition, while the inverter with the high switching point controls the high-to-low signal transition. Pass gates responsive through delay elements to either the circuit input, an inverter output, or the circuit output isolate the other inverter from the output transistors. The pass gates may also be tristatable by means of a logical combination of the delayed pass gate enable signals with output enable signals. In yet another embodiment, the pair of inverters are replaced by a single inverter with dual switching points.

Abstract: A process that allows precise control of the tape position in consumer videotape devices, such as camcorders, for the purpose of video editing. The process involves the use of a software algorithm within the central processing unit of a computer to locate a specific video frame with digitized video. The process first involves storing an initial set of calculated scene detection data, including luminance and change of luminance values for each video frame. Then, at the time of the video editing, a second set of scene detection data from the videotape is taken at a reference point, near the location of the desired frame. The second set of scene detection data is compared to the first set of scene detection data to determine whether there is any offset between the expected location of the frame, as shown in the first set of scene detection data, and the actual location of the desired frame, as shown in the second set of scene detection data.

Abstract: A modular electron beam device is disclosed, the device being housed in a modular enclosure containing a power supply subsystem coupled to provide power to an electron beam tube. The enclosure is shaped to permit stacking of plural such modular units in a way that the stripe-shaped beam emitted from each of the units completely irradiates a surface to be treated. Beams may lie on different lines but the combined beams sweep out a width on a surface which is a continuous span. In an alternate embodiment of the invention, the modular unit comprises a plurality of electron beam units, each comprising an electron tube and a filament and bias supply to power the tube. A single high voltage stack is common to the plural tube/filament/bias sub-units. A daisy-chain arrangement allows for the single high voltage stack to power all of the tube units. In yet another embodiment, the modular unit comprises a plurality of electron tubes powered by a single power supply.

Abstract: A particle counter of the condensation nucleus type wherein a primary stream of fluent material containing particles enlarged by vapor condensate of a working fluid flow through a viewing volume. A secondary stream of fluent material, termed purge gas, surrounds the primary stream of fluent material as the primary stream traverses the view volume, thereby providing a boundary layer of fluent material, reducing turbulence of the primary stream. The two streams are merged after passing through the view volume and the merged stream is drawn into one or more coalescent filters for conversion of vapor to working fluid which is then recycled for reuse, thereby extending the life of the working fluid and preventing escape of vapor which might contaminate the ambient environment.

Abstract: A particle detector employs a laser having a solid-state lasing medium, such as an Nd:YAG crystal, disposed in a resonant cavity, and includes an intracavity view volume. The resonant cavity is defined by two spaced apart mirrors, with the laser medium positioned between them, defining a light path. A pump source is optically coupled to drive the laser medium to produce coherent light having a first wavelength. The view volume is positioned in the light path, between the first mirror and the laser medium, to introduce particles into the resonant cavity so that light impinging there-upon produces scattered light. A detector is disposed to sense light scattered from the view volume and produces signals proportional to the light sensed. A displaying device, such as a pulse height analyzer, is in electrical communication to receive the signals produced by the detector to quantitatively display the intensity of the light sensed.

Abstract: A fluid applicator for surfaces combining a spray-gun and dynamically displacable roller-brushes that features an extension wand formed from a plurality of coupled together segments. Each of the segments include a hollow and rigid tubular body completely encasing a flexible high pressure fluid hose. The tubular body includes a coupler connected at each end thereof, with the fluid hose extending between the couplers. Each coupler includes a large bore region having a plurality of threads. Adjacent segments are coupled together by a threaded barrel adapted to threadably engage adjacent large bore regions. Disposed opposite to the large bore regions of each coupler is a small bore region which has a plurality of threads which are adapted to engage the a threaded attachments associated with conventional high pressure fluid hoses. In this fashion, a fluid tight seal is formed between opposed ends of each segment.

Abstract: A coaxial illumination and collection laser scanning system designed to provide increased sensitivity by reducing auto-fluorescence while having a substantially uniform detection sensitivity across the field of view of an objective lens by reducing lateral chromatic aberrations at the expense of amplifying axial chromatic aberrations. Axial chromatic aberrations in the system are removed in the path of a retro-beam. A laser is in optical communication with the objective lens. The laser produces a collimated beam of coherent light that is directed by a scanner through the objective lens to illuminate a raster of spots on the sample's surface, thereby stimulating a series of small regions of the sample to emit light. The system may be used as a confocal or non-confocal imaging system.

Abstract: A digital signal processing system for executing instructions and processing data, including a program memory which stores the instructions and a first portion of the data, a data memory which stores a second portion of the data, and a program control unit connected to the program memory for receiving a sequence of the instructions and generating control signals for executing the instructions, wherein the program control unit is programmed to fetch at least one data value from the program memory in response to at least one of the instructions. Preferably, the system also includes a memory management unit connected to the program control unit and the data memory for generating address signals in response to at least one of the control signals for use in reading data values from the data memory.

Abstract: A training device for using chopsticks has a pair of parallel, spaced apart plates supported at the edges of the plates by a U-shaped spacer. Two L-shaped members are arranged in a back-to-back configuration and are attached at an edge of the plates, extending into the area between the two plates. The two upright portions of the L-shaped members are flexible and are shaped to support a chopstick. A flexible arm extends from the open end of the U-shaped spacer at an angle toward each upright portion. Once two chopsticks are inserted, the arm holds the chopsticks against the upright portion. Pressure against the edges of the chopsticks causes the arm and upright portion to flex and the tips of the chopsticks to be brought together. A number of features can be included, such as attaching a magnet or suction cup to one plate, printing one plate, or attaching a ring to the edge of the device to act as a key ring. In an alternate embodiment, the holder is associated with collapsible chopsticks.