Abstract: A low power complementary gain control circuit adjusts the gain of an input signal with a gain control signal to provide a ground referenced output signal having low distortion. The gain control circuit includes an input stage having the topology of a current feedback amplifier input stage, which operates in conjunction with a complementary pair of gain control amplifiers and a complementary pair of current mirrors to control the amplitude of an input signal by means of a control signal applied to the gain control amplifiers. Each gain control amplifier comprises a pair of differentially connected transistors of the same conductivity type, the common emitters, the collectors, and the bases of the differentially connected transistors forming the current input, current outputs, and gain control inputs of the gain control amplifier.

Abstract: A method for producing oriented, intermetallic, thin film structures having uniaxial magnetic, electronic, optical, and mechanical properties. Artificial superlattices (10) are assembled by sputter deposition of alternating layers of the component metals of the target intermetallic compound on an aligned substrate (16). Either single crystal substrates or crystallographically textured substrates may be used to induce alignment of the deposited layers (10, 12) in the method of the present invention. Annealing of the resulting superlattice (10) generates aligned, thin film intermetallic compounds (38) of the component metals at the interfaces (44) of the superlattice (10), the thin film intermetallic compounds having pronounced, uniaxial properties.

Abstract: A dielectric/conductive waveguide (20) includes a dielectric housing (22) having a longitudinal axis (14) and a central channel (29). A conductive layer (24,25) is affixed to the inner surface (21 ) and/or the outer surface (23) of the housing (22) to confine electromagnetic radiation (17) within the waveguide (20). Ribs (50,64) protruding into the channel (29) may be used to further confine the radiation (17). Sections of waveguide (20) may be combined using connectors (30). A local area network (90) can be formed using a plurality of sections of waveguide (20), computers (94), and bi-directional couplers (92). Air gaps (98) may break up the waveguide (20) at various places.

Abstract: An amplifier stage suitable for current conveyors and current mode feedback operational amplifiers has low input resistance and operates at low power. The amplifier stage comprises a buffer having inverting and non-inverting inputs and a pair of current outputs, and a pair of multiple output current mirrors which operate in conjunction with the buffer to generate an output current at a high gain node in response to an input signal applied to the buffer inputs. Each multiple output current mirror has a low impedance current input for receiving current signals generated by the buffer and multiple high impedance current outputs for providing current feedback to the inverting input of the buffer and output current to the high gain node of the amplifier stage. The magnitudes of the feedback and output currents are determined by the resistances of current scaling resistors associated with the low impedance current input and each of the high impedance current outputs.

Abstract: A current feedback operational amplifier input stage is provided that uses a pair of dual output current mirrors to couple current from the inverting input of the amplifier to the high gain node of the amplifier, and to reduce the input impedance of the inverting input by means of local current feedback. Each of the dual output current mirrors employs an emitter degenerated Wilson-type current mirror in conjunction with an emitter degenerated transistor current source to detect signal current at the inverting input and use this current to control the bias current at both the inverting input and the high impedance node of the amplifier. The ratio of bias currents in the dual output current mirrors are controlled by scaling the resistances of the emitter degeneration resistors corresponding to each current node.

Abstract: An improved voltage level shifting circuit is provided that employs a reference voltage translation circuit having its input at a fixed reference voltage, to bias the operating point of a substantially similar signal voltage circuit. The reference circuit generates a bias current in response to the reference voltage which is coupled back to buffers in the reference and signal translation circuits. The bias current maintains the operating point of the signal translation circuit close to the switching point determined by the reference voltage.

Abstract: A graphical cursor in text mode is generated by replacing the characters on the display at positions under the cursor with new fonts comprising an image of the cursor superimposed on the image of the characters. The method of the present invention comprises the steps of: determining the new cursor position; restoring the characters at the old cursor position; saving a plurality of the characters near the new cursor position; building new fonts with the plurality of characters near the new cursor position and the cursor symbol; and replacing the plurality of characters at the new cursor position with the new fonts. The preferred method may further comprise the step of detecting the position and movement of the input device when mouse-type input devices are used.

Abstract: Thin impermeable, corrosion-resistant, durable, dry lubricant coatings are provided as well as coated products and methods for the production thereof. The coatings comprise solutions of sulfur-containing metallic compounds and fluorocarbon polymers dissolved in mineral oil solvents and are applied to surfaces of substrates such as metallic surfaces.