Abstract: A FIFO stack is implemented using a DPRAM. One of the ports of the DPRAM is used to add elements to the FIFO stack, and the other port is used to remove elements from the FIFO stack. The ports operate in separate clock domains. A synchronization circuit coordinates the read and write operations across the clock domains.

Abstract: Surgical clamps, tissue retractors and surgical stabilizers are disclosed having gripping surfaces from which extend resilient filaments. The distal ends of some of the resilient filaments abut against engaged vessels, tissues or organs to restrict movement of the vessels, tissue or organs relative to the gripping surfaces. In the preferred embodiment, the resilient filaments are arranged in rows and oriented at particular angles relative to the gripping surfaces. Methods of applying resilient filaments to pads for attachment to a surgical clamp, tissue retractor or surgical stabilizer are also disclosed.

Abstract: A super-linear feedforward amplifier, for amplifying radio-frequency input signals produced in one or more frequency channels over an input band, includes a radio-frequency power amplifier, which amplifies the signals. A signal cancellation circuit loop generates an error signal responsive to distortion products in the amplified signals. A digital correction block digitally equalizes the input signals responsive to a transfer function of the amplifier, whereby the input signals are substantially canceled out of the error signal over the entire input band. An error cancellation circuit loop subtracts the error signal from the amplified signals to generate a linearized output signal.

Abstract: An intracavity, frequency-doubled, external-cavity, optically-pumped semiconductor laser in accordance with the present invention includes a monolithic surface-emitting semiconductor layer structure including a Bragg mirror portion and a gain portion. An external mirror and the Bragg-mirror portion define a laser resonant-cavity including the gain-portion of the semiconductor layer structure. A birefringent filter is located in the resonant-cavity for selecting a frequency of the laser-radiation within a gain bandwidth characteristic of semiconductor structure. An optically-nonlinear crystal is located in the resonant-cavity between the birefringent filter and the external mirror and arranged to double the selected frequency of laser-radiation.

Abstract: A disc loading device for loading discs of different diameters on a disc rotating driving device provided within a outer casing is disclosed. The discs are the recording media on which information signals are pre-recorded or are to be recorded. The disc loading device includes a supporting base provided with the disc rotating driving device for rotationally driving the discs, and a disc transporting tray for holding and transporting the discs. The disc transporting tray is arranged above the supporting base and is movable between a position in which it is drawn into an outer casing containing the supporting base and a position in which it is drawn out of the outer casing.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for generating a sequence of random, repeatable events for testing a cloned device against the device from which it is derived. The invention includes elements used to double the speed at which the event generator produces the events. This allows the event generator to be used in the testing of devices, such as CPUs, which operate at relatively high clock rates.

Abstract: A simple, rapid, efficient and inexpensive process for on-site recycling of wastewater with minimal odor wherein the solid wastes generated by the water treatment process are dewatering on-site by solar energy to water content levels below those required for disposal. All operations, including solar dewatering, are accomplished in a compact unit which may be mobile. The solar dewatering unit includes a drying pan over which a solar collector window arrangement is disposed. In the process, wastewater, a water purifying composition and an oxidizing agent are additively mixed together in a first reactor settling tank and the resulting composition is neutralized to a pH of between 7.5-9.4. The added water purifying composition is then allowed to precipitate wherein it binds to and precipitates heavy metals as well as other impurities. The precipitated purifying composition forms a non-hazardous sludge at the bottom of the tank.

Abstract: Accurate detection of a clock synchronization mark represented by wobbles of a track is realized. A track is wobbled by a synchronization mark signal which has a waveform such that the differential value near the leading portion and the trailing portion of the waveform is a value smaller than that of a rectangular wave, thereby wobbled portions corresponding to synchronization marks are formed. For example, a synchronization mark signal is a signal of a waveform such that both end portions of the waveform are almost linear, in which level variations are moderate, and the center of the waveform has sharp level variations.

Abstract: The present invention provides a four-port, four-way stopcock having two components, a body and a core, that are assembled together and form a fluid-tight and air-tight seal. The body has a number of connectable ports attached to a central chamber. The core has an axial port and is positioned within the central chamber so that it can be rotated with respect to the body. The core also has two independent fluid passages that can carry fluid between two different sets of ports, simultaneously. For example, the core can be rotated to a position wherein fluid flows between the axial port of the core and one of the connectable ports of the body, while separate and different fluid also flows between two other connectable ports of the body.

Abstract: A translating apparatus and a translating method wherein a first language sentence is divided into syntax units consisting of predetermined units of sentence structure such as clauses and phrases in stages from large syntax units into small syntax units and at each stage stored examples most similar to these syntax units are detected using probability models taking into account grammatical attributes of the syntax units and of the examples and using generalized linguistic knowledge and with reference to a thesaurus and the syntax units are translated on the basis of these detected examples and the results of translation of the syntax units are compounded to generate a second language sentence.

Abstract: A magnetron sputtering apparatus for forming a thin metal film on one of the major surfaces of a light-transmitting disc-shaped substrate as a disc substrate for an optical disc as mutually intersecting magnetic fields are applied by a magnetic field application unit provided at back of a target. The apparatus includes a center mask tightly contacted with the outer peripheral portion of one major surface of the disc substrate on which the thin film is formed for masking the center portion of the substrate and an outer peripheral mask tightly contacted with the outer peripheral portion of the one major surface of the disc substrate on which the thin film is formed for masking the outer peripheral portion. The outer peripheral mask is separated from and independent of the center mask.

Abstract: A compressed picture signal having a number of pixels smaller than the number of pixels of an original picture signal is generated, and plural patterns of prediction pixels are formed by using neighboring pixels of as notable pixel which is one of pixels constituting the compressed picture signal. The original picture signal is predicted from each of the plural patterns of prediction pixels and a predetermined prediction coefficient, and each of prediction values with respect to the plural patterns of prediction pixels is outputted. A prediction error of each of the prediction values of the plural patterns of prediction pixels with respect to the original picture signal is calculated, and a pattern code corresponding to a prediction pixel with which a minimum prediction error is obtained, among the plural patterns of prediction pixels, is appended to the pixel value of the notable pixel.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a programming interface to a Universal Serial Bus Device. The programming interface is partitioned so that an external controller does not handle intermediate transfers such as packet retry, handshake packets or intermediate response to error conditions. The programming model consists of a number of endpoint pipes, each of which can be configured to provide one of several functions.

Abstract: An integrated circuit for monitoring the voltage of a rechargeable battery and controlling, in accordance with such monitored voltage, the charging and discharging of such rechargeable battery. While disconnecting or, alternatively, powering down all other power consuming circuitry, the unloaded battery voltage is sampled. The sampled voltage is then stored in isolation while the remaining circuitry is connected or powered up for normal operation. The stored voltage sample, free from errors induced by the otherwise normal operation of the battery monitoring circuit, is then compared to a reference voltage.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a combination device comprising two catheters, or a dual catheter assembly, for use in vascular procedures wherein the shaft of the first catheter functions as a guidewire for the second catheter. The dual catheter assembly comprises a first balloon catheter and a second balloon catheter wherein the second balloon catheter is slidably disposed on the shaft of the first balloon. In preferred embodiments, the first catheter is a low profile balloon on a wire catheter and the second catheter is a full size balloon catheter having a plurality of balloons mounted thereon. Optionally, a stent is carried by at least one of the balloons on the second catheter. In more preferred embodiments, the second catheter includes a manifold that may be used to inflate and deflate any combination of the plurality of balloons via a single port.

Abstract: A satellite communications system provides an information channel between remotely located transmitters and receivers. A virtual satellite system provides the same service, but divides the signal either in power or in data content into subchannels such that any particular signal is conducted to the intended receiver via a plurality of traditional satellite channels. The receiving terminal accepts the plurality of signals simultaneously from a possible plurality of satellites, combining the subchannels comprising the virtual channel into the original signal content as if conducted via a single channel. The receiving antenna system receives satellite subchannel signals from a plurality of directions using multiple antennas or a single antenna with multi-direction capability. Prior to signal combining, the receiver necessarily time-synchronizes the plurality of subchannels by introducing time delay in some channels before combining the subsignals into the original composite.

Abstract: A cassette for supporting substantially planar objects such as photomasks, glass plates or semiconductor wafers during processing. The cassette is composed of bars connected at each end to an endpiece. Arms which form part of the endpiece are hinged to permit the side bars of the cassette to move inwardly and outwardly from one another when objects are inserted in the cassette. A bridge can connect an upper portion of the arms. The bridge can be used to lift the cassette and cause flexing of the cassette to ensure better retention while the cassette is being lifted.

Abstract: A circuit for reducing the ground and power supply bounce of the output drivers in a group of I/O cells. A replica I/O cell is part of a delay locked loop which uses closed-loop feedback control to determine the magnitude of a bias current needed to cause the delay through the replica cell to be equal to a reference value. By forcing the delay through the replica cell to be equal to a desired reference value, the magnitude of bias current required to control the delay through each of the I/O cells in an I/O ring so that the delay approaches the reference value can be determined. As a result, by properly selecting the reference delay value, the magnitude of the bias current required to compensate for delay variations arising from multiple sources (e.g., PVT) can be determined. Since this reduces the rate of change of the current in the output drivers of the actual I/O cells, the induced voltage responsible for the ground and/or power supply bounce in those cells is reduced.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing map information includes a route calculating module for extracting crossing information on a map, a navigation guidance generating module for generating images near the crossing extracted and a rally map generating module for disposing the generated images near the crossing in fixed sequence, and is constructed to output the images of the crossing disposed in the fixed sequence. Therefore, even if a personal computers are not provided with the same software and a navigation apparatus made by the same manufacturer and a portable computer are not carried, it is able to provide the apparatus for providing map information that is possible to provide or use easily to understand searched route information.