Abstract: Ring-detect interface circuit is disclosed for digital DAA circuitry to provide a plurality of selectable signals, including a ring monitor signal, on a ring-detect output pin. The interface circuitry allows the digital DAA circuitry to interface with advanced controllers, such as advanced DSPs, while still being compatible with older controllers that expect only a ring monitor signal on the ring-detect pin. The interface circuitry may include a multiplexer that receives multiple status bits or signals, including the ring monitor signal, and that has its output controlled by a multiple-bit control register. In addition, the ring monitor signal may be communicated as a digital signal across an isolation barrier from phone line side circuitry to powered side circuitry and ultimately made available on the ring-detect output pin. Corresponding methods for improving compatibility of digital DAA circuitry through the ring-detect interface circuit are also disclosed.

Abstract: This invention concerns a composition useful as a paint remover, comprising: an organic carbonate, an alcohol, an activator, hydrogen peroxide, and water. The alcohol may be benzyl alcohol. The organic carbonate may be propylene carbonate, ethylene carbonate, or combination thereof. The activator may be an alkyl-substituted cycloalkane (naphthene), a soy oil, an alkyl soyate, or combination thereof.

Abstract: Polymerizable compositions from novel monomers that correspond to the formula: in which: Z represents H or CH3 and X represents O or S, and Y is a 5- to 8-membered heterocycle consisting of hydrogen, carbon and sulphur atoms and at least two endocyclic sulphur atoms.

Abstract: A polyether monoamine containing from about 36 to about 44 ethylene oxide units and from about 1 to about 6 propylene oxide units is useful as a reactant with functionalized polypropylene such as maleated polypropylene to form a reaction product blended with polypropylene.

Abstract: This invention concerns a process to provide high purity alkylene carbonate though use of multiple distillations wherein the unused fractions are recycled to the reactor. The high purity alkylene carbonate may be further purified by use of carbon to produce electrochromic or photochromic grade alkylene carbonate by reducing its UV absorbance.

Abstract: A communication system of the present invention utilizes ring detection circuitry on both sides of an isolation barrier. More particularly, the ring detection circuitry may include ring burst circuitry on the phone line side of the isolation barrier and ringer timing circuits on the powered side of the isolation barrier. The digital burst peak signal may be transmitted through the isolation barrier to the ringer timing circuits. By splitting the ring detection circuitry so that the ringer timing circuits are placed on the powered side of the isolation barriers, a significant reduction in the power usage on the phone line side of the barrier related to the ring detection function may occur. The outputs of the ringing timing circuits may be provided to circuits on either side of the isolation barrier. Thus, the ring detection function may be accomplished in a system utilizing an efficient bidirectional capacitive barrier while still minimizing power usage on the line side of the barrier.

Abstract: A high-speed comparator and an associated method are disclosed. The comparator utilizes input circuitry to receive the input signal and utilizes resonant tunneling diode (RTD) circuitry to provide a high or low level determination. The RTD circuitry may be made weak compared to the input circuitry to eliminate hysteresis, and the comparators may be cascaded together to provide a positive-gain. In addition, clocked switches may be added to the cascaded comparator circuitry to create a clocked quantizer for analog to digital conversion. If desired, the RTD circuitry may include two RTDs connected to the output signal, and the input circuitry may include a transistor connected as a source-follower and transistor connected as a current sink.

Abstract: A successive approximation ADC is provided. Contacts to a resistor string may be placed outside of the current path of the resistor string to provide a highly stable resistor string having a very low temperature drift. The resistor string may be utilized to calibrate a successive approximation ADC. The resistor string may also be a portion of a resistor array of a resistor and capacitor array ADC. The resistor string may be calibrated with a calibration ADC having a resolution greater than the resistor string. The calibration ADC may be a delta sigma ADC.

Abstract: An extensive network of N-channel transistor formed capacitor, with one node tie directly to VCC power bus and the other node directly VSS power bus, is implemented throughout all open space available on the whole silicon chip (memory as well as logic chip), particularly those directly underneath the metal power bus to achieve an on-chip power bus decoupling capacitor with capacitance in excess of 0.001 &mgr;F.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for maintaining communication across an isolation barrier even if the external circuitry to which it is connected enters a low-power mode. In normal operation the isolation barrier local clock is synchronized with a clock signal provided by the external circuitry. If the external circuitry enters a low-power mode, its clock signal often slows or stops. In that case, the local clock in the isolation barrier switches to a free-running mode, wherein a VCO voltage input is provided by a bias voltage generator instead of by a PLL circuit. The VCO thus continues to provide a local clock signal in order to allow communication of information across the isolation barrier even if the external circuitry is not active. This enables the isolation barrier to receive and process an external signal, such as a ring signal, in low-power mode.

Abstract: Silyl-modified polyamides, and subterranean formation treatments employing silyl-modified polyamides to minimize migration or movement of naturally occurring or introducable solid particulates within a subterranean formation and/or within a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation.

Abstract: An improved digital capacitive isolation barrier system is provided that is suitable for use in a telephone or modem where the locally powered circuits must be effectively isolated from the public telephone system, while permitting data transfer across the barrier. In particular, an automatic ADC offset calibration system is provided for determining the magnitude of the ADC offset signal required in the system during a calibration operation, and for providing the calibrated ADC offset signal during normal operation of the isolation barrier system. A modified hybrid circuit is provided for isolating the system input from the telephone line during calibration, and for completing the calibration loop. Fixed bias signals are also provided for the ADC and for a DAC in the system. In a preferred embodiment, the ADC is located on the isolated side of the isolation barrier, while the integrator and register that determine and hold the offset signal are located on the powered side of the isolation barrier.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an alcohol-free, homogeneous liquid fragrancing composition consisting of a fragrancing base dissolved in a volatile liquid support comprising at least one volatile silicone and at least one first co-solvent chosen from esters of C4-15 alcohols and of C4-10 carboxylic acids and, optionally, at least one second co-solvent chosen from certain diesters of oligomeric polyethylene glycol.

Abstract: An isolation system is provided that is suitable for use in telephony, medical instrumentation, industrial process control and other applications. Preferred embodiments of the invention comprise a capacitive isolation barrier across which a digital signal is communicated. The system provides a means of communication across the isolation barrier that is highly immune to amplitude and phase noise interference. Clock recovery circuitry may be employed on one side of the isolation barrier to extract timing information from the digital signal communicated across the barrier, and to filter the effects of phase noise introduced at the barrier. Delta-sigma converters may be disposed on both sides of the isolation barrier to convert signals between analog and digital domains. An isolated power supply may also be provided on the isolated side of the barrier, whereby direct current is generated in response to the digital data received across the isolation barrier.

Abstract: This invention concerns a composition comprising a blend of polyolefin with the reaction of a functionalized polyolefin and polyetheramine in which the polyetheramine is grafted into the functionalized polyolefin in a customary mixing apparatus. A process for producing the reaction product of functionalized polypropylene and polyetheramine by melting with polypropylene in a customary mixing apparatus is also disclosed. Blends of the present invention are advantageously useful to prepare paintable automotive body parts. This invention further includes dyeable polyolefin compositions containing the reaction product of functionalized polyolefin and polyetheramine. Dyeable polyolefin fibers, including polypropylene fibers, are disclosed, which may be made by melt spinning, and which may be employed to make woven. and non-woven fabric.

Abstract: An autoranging analog to digital conversion system is provided. The system may include a digitally programmable preamplifier for amplifying a difference between an analog input and an estimate of the analog input. The preamplifier may be coupled to an analog to digital converter for converting the preamplifier output to a digital signal. The system may also include digital domain predictor or estimation logic for determining an optimum gain and analog input estimate for a given analog input. Multiple signal input channels may be coupled to the analog to digital conversion system. The autoranging estimations may be performed on a sample by sample basis or a channel by channel basis.

Abstract: A communication system having a framing pattern to frame data to be transmitted to a phone line is provided. The data may be framed on one side of an isolation barrier and a clock signal may be extracted from the framed data stream on the other side of the barrier. The data to be framed is provided from an output of a delta-sigma modulator and the framing pattern utilized is a pattern that is unlikely to match the data stream output of the modulator. Thus, an erroneous detection of the framing pattern is unlikely to occur. The framing pattern is chosen to correspond to the expected modulator output for a full scale input signal that is at a frequency higher than the maximum actual frequency of the input data provided to the modulator.

Abstract: A composition useful as a paint remover which may include a carbonate, a dibasic ester and a mono-ester. The paint stripping composition may also contain an organic sulfur-containing compound such as dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), a glycol ether, a ketone, or combination thereof. The composition may be used in a process for removing paint by applying it to a painted surface. A degreasing composition is also disclosed which may comprise a carbonate and a alkyl-substituted cyclo-alkane such as naphthene. The compositions have several important attributes, including low toxicity and high efficacy in removing paint and coatings.