Abstract: In an LCD internal reflections are reduced by giving the inner side of a metal pattern functioning, for example as a light shield (black matrix) a porous structure. The porous structure is obtained by means of a sputtering process in which the sputtering pressure is increased for providing the porous sub-layer, while the layer is etched and/or oxidized to obtain a satisfactory density.

Abstract: An optical modulation device is described, which comprises two substrates, which are provided with at least one electrode, and an optically active layer situated between said two substrates, the optically active layer comprising a liquid crystalline material having ferroelectric, antiferroelectric or electroclinic properties. In accordance with the invention, the device is characterized in that the optically active layer comprises a permanently oriented anisotropic network of polymerized material containing free molecules of a chiral liquid crystalline material. Said network is preferably composed of a polymer formed from reactive monomers comprising at least two reactive groups on the basis of acrylates, methacrylates, epoxy compounds and/or thiolene systems. By means of such an optical modulation device grey levels which can be passively maintained for a relatively long period of time can be obtained in a relatively simple manner.

Abstract: Adaptive discrete-time filters, as used, for example, in echo cancellers responsive to input signals, more specifically speech signals, which can be modelled with an autoregressive process of the order of p, a control circuit for controlling the coefficients for adjusting a discrete-time transversal filter in accordance with an algorithm which requires the same amount of computation as the Least Mean Square (LMS) algorithm but leads to the same or better convergence results for this type of signals than the Orthogonal Projection (OP) algorithm.

Abstract: A display device (1) has a display panel (2) which comprises a first substrate (6) on which a first picture electrode (11-27) is provided as well as a substantially parallel second substrate (7) on which a second picture electrode (20) is provided, both substrates (6, 7) sandwiching an electro-optical medium (8). Said electro-optical medium (8) is capable of switching between an at least substantially transparent state and a scattering state under the influence of an electric field. A transparent insulating layer (10) is provided between the first picture electrode (11-17) and the electro-optical medium (8), said insulating layer reflecting the light (30) which, at least during operation, is emitted by a light source (3) and sidelong captured by the panel (2), so that it does not reach the first picture electrode (11-17).

Abstract: During recording of an MPEG information signal on a record carrier (40), transport packets (P.sub.k) are stored in signal blocks in a track (1) on the record carrier (40). x transport packets of the MPEG information signal are stored in the second block sections (SB) of y signal blocks, where x and y are integers, x.gtoreq.1 and y>1, more specifically, y>x. Further, third block sections (TB) are present in one or more of the second block sections in the y signal blocks of a group for storing additional information, which additional information relates to the specific application of recording and reproducing the MPEG information signal on/from the record carrier.

Abstract: A compact and efficient image projection system is described. The projection beam supplied by a projector is incident on a beam splitter in the form of a cholesteric filter. The cholesteric filter reflects circularly polarized radiation having a wavelength which corresponds to the pitch of the molecular helix and having a direction of rotation which corresponds to the direction of the molecular helix to a reflector. The circular direction of polarization reflected by the cholesteric filter is inverted on the reflector so that the beam is subsequently passed to the screen by the cholesteric filter.

Abstract: A support element of an automatic load platform of a silicon wafer exposure unit, having a circular cross-section, with a first outer diameter adapted to the guide of a load station, which diameter is smaller than that of a silicon wafer, wherein the circular disc of the support element has at its circumference in a direction parallel to the insertion direction of the load station at least partly enlarged portions and therewith a second outer diameter which corresponds approximately to that of the silicon wafer, and wherein the greatest width of the support element at right angles to the insertion direction corresponds to that of the circular disc.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a device for recording information in a servo-track (2) of a record carrier (1) of a rewritable type. Pieces of information, for example, in the form of pieces of music (tracks) are recorded in the servo-track (2) in accordance with first recording instructions. According to these first recording instructions information patterns representing a piece of information are allowed to be rewritten with information patterns for a new piece of information. At a later instant the information in the servo-track is rearranged. During that operation information recorded in accordance with the first recording instructions is read out and rewritten in accordance with second recording instructions. These second recording instructions prescribe that the pieces of information intended to be read out be recorded in the servo-track as a continuous series of information patterns and that the information patterns representing a piece of information be uninterrupted.

Abstract: In the manufacture of a large-area electronic device such as a large-area liquid-crystal display device with thin-film address and drive circuitry, a plasma treatment is carried out on a device substrate (4) which is mounted on a supporting electrode (11) facing a perforated gas-feeding electrode (12). A reactive plasma (5) is generated in a space between the electrodes (11, 12) from a mixture of reaction gases which is fed into the space through at least the perforated electrode (12). The mixture of gases comprises a first reaction gas (e.g. SiH.sub.4) which is depleted at a faster rate in the plasma treatment than a second reaction gas (e.g N.sub.2). Through an area (12b) of the perforated electrode, one or more second supply lines (22) feeds a secondary mixture which is richer in the first reaction gas than a primary mixture supplied by a first supply line (21).

Abstract: Transmission system comprising at least two subscriber devices exchanging information signals in the simplex mode. This transmission system comprises at least a remote and a near subscriber device (A1, B1) exchanging information signals in the simplex mode by means of a multiplex of the time-division type in which a control time interval is provided. For a communication between a remote subscriber and a near subscriber, a control time interval (XCCH) is allocated for the transmission of a request to speak made by one of the subscribers. The request to speak received by the other subscriber is used for preventing him from transmitting.

Abstract: At least two receiving branches receive incoming signals corresponding to a transmitted data sequence. Each branch includes an equalizer for producing an estimate of the transmitted data sequence, and providing for each data element a reliability information signal representing a computed probability that the data symbol or value for that element is correct. The receiver selects as a most probable estimate the symbol or value having the highest sum of the reliability information signals from the receive branches. Preferably, for a binary system, each branch provides a single numerical value whose sign identifies the symbol (e.g., 1 or 0), and whose absolute value is its probability. The single numerical values from the branches are simply added to determine the best estimate for that element.

Abstract: By using an electroless metallization bath to which a stabilizer is added which suppresses the cathodic partial reaction, pyramid-shaped bumps (53) can be grown on the bond pads of semiconductor devices without lateral overgrowth of the coating layer 3. The angle of inclination a is a function of the concentration of the stabilizer.

Abstract: Doped encapsulated semiconductor nanoparticles of a size (<100 .ANG.) which exhibit quantum effects. The nanoparticles are precipitated and coated with a surfactant by precipitation in an organometallic reaction. The luminescence of the particles may be increased by a further UV curing step.

Abstract: Cellular mobile radio systems provide full-duplex communication between base stations and mobile stations and with the fixed public service network. Also known are trunked mobile radio systems wherein a group of mobile users can exchange information with each other in the half-duplex mode over a common channel, only one user transmitting to the others at any time. It has been proposed to provide mobile radio sets which are especially adapted to be switched for use in either of such systems. The present invention avoids the need for specific adaptation of a mobile radio set for that purpose. Instead, it enables a cellular mobile radio system to be selectively converted into a trunked mobile radio system by providing for the base station to couple an up-link radio channel of any mobile user to down-link radio channels of a selected group of mobile users. One or more such user groups can be formed, only one radio channel being used for each group.

Abstract: A method and circuit for conditioning a received analog signal for input to an analog-to-digital converter circuit ("ADC"). For each clock period in which a conversion is triggered, a first analog value is provided during a first predetermined period and a second analog value is provided during a second predetermined period. The first analog value is representative of the received analog signal's instantaneous value at the moment selected for conversion. The second analog value is predetermined, typically being a null value. The signal conditioning circuit includes a hold circuit to hold the received analog signal's instantaneous value; a generating circuit that generates the second analog value; and an output circuit that selectively outputs the instantaneous value or the predetermined value to the ADC.