Abstract: Programmable test pattern driver and capture mechanisms for boundary scan cluster or functional block testing. A boundary scan test system includes at least one device under test. The device may include a Test Access Port (TAP) controller, a plurality of output AC boundary scan cells (BSCs), and a plurality of input AC BSCs. The device may further include a programmable AC_Pattern_Source signal generator configured to produce AC signal patterns that selectively remain unchanged for at least one cycle before and after an original capture cycle location, a programmable AC_Sync signal generator configured to independently control the AC_Sync signal to lead or lag an original cycle location at full cycle increments, a programmable phase controller configured to independently control either the rising or falling edge aligned AC_Pattern_Clock signal or AC_Counter_Clock signal, and an AC_Test_Clock signal switcher configured to selectively utilize one of a plurality of clock signals including a TCK signal.

Abstract: The robot arm is composed of two parallel branches (2, 3) formed from a reduced number of segments (5, 6, 7) and connected to each other by a wrist (5) through a wrist holder (8), the directions of which are kept approximately constant by transmissions (12 to 16). The working space of this control arm is large and it is free of any kinetic singularities except at the end positions, and good decoupling of translation and rotation movements is achieved.

Abstract: An interface device providing haptic feedback to a user is in communication with a host computer. The device includes a housing, at least one sensor for detecting user input, and an actuator assembly. The actuator assembly includes a grounded flexure suspension coupled to an inertial mass which moves when the actuator assembly is energized to cause inertial sensations. The inertial mass includes a pole piece surrounding a magnet, and a grounded coil between magnet and pole piece causes the motion of the inertial mass when current is flowed therethrough. Another embodiment provides directional haptic feedback to a user and includes at least two actuator assemblies oriented such that the inertial masses oscillate substantially orthogonally, and can be controlled to output the inertial sensations approximately along a single axis having a desired orientation.

Abstract: A channel access system is described in which a number of slots within a contention window are available for assignment to streaming data transmitters. The other slots are selected by the other transmitters according to a CSMA/CA transmit protocol.

Abstract: A method of controlling the display of an articulated graphical image in a graphical environment comprises sensing manipulation of a user object, controlling the displayed position or shape of the articulated graphical image in relation to the sensed manipulation, and when the articulated graphical image interacts with a graphical object, changing the relationship between the displayed position or shape of the articulated graphical image and the sensed manipulation. In one version, the display of the graphical image is calculated by an algorithm utilizing numerical methods.

Abstract: Multiple levels of interrupts to be utilized in a computer system, which allows, for example, an interrupt with an interrupt level associated with an application to be distinct from an interrupt with an interrupt level associated with a kernel. The kernel level interrupt may be handled quickly via its own handler, while the application level interrupt may be handled more slowly. This may be accomplished by first determining if a first-level handler is installed for the interrupt source. If so, then it may be called. Otherwise, the interrupt source may be masked and a second-level handler may be called. Once this second-level handler has completed its tasks, the interrupt source may then be unmasked. Implementations with three or more levels of interrupt are also possible.

Abstract: Method for analysing the frequency in real-time of a non-stationary signal and corresponding analysis circuit. According to the invention, the signal is sampled, it is digitised, it is broken up into sub-bands. In each sub-band, the signal is modelled by an auto-regressive filter the transfer function of which is of the form 1/A(z). By an adaptive method that is recursive in time and in order, all the polynomials A(z) that have a degree between 1 and a maximum value are calculated. The order of the model is estimated and the polynomial that has this order is retained. The roots of this polynomial are calculated and the components are monitored. The frequency and the amplitude of the sinusoidal components of the signal are thus obtained. Application in aeronautics, electromagnetic, mechanics, seismic prospecting, zoology, etc.

Abstract: A cable or another longilinear transmission component is set into the center of an axial cavity of a screw belonging to a screw and nut movement conversion unit. By means of this arrangement, bending moments exerted on the screw between the point of attachment of the component and the nut have only a small value, which guarantees the screw against bending and sticking and the whole mechanism against excessive friction.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for acquisition of measurements using a digital communication bus (10) and a computer system. The device includes a bus arbitrator, several items of slave equipment, and two line termination devices. The bus arbitrator (11) is connected to the bus (10), with the function of acting as the bus master. The bus arbitrator synchronizes measurements made using sensors (14). The several items of slave equipment (13) are connected on the bus (10), to which these sensors (14) are connected. The first of the two line termination devices is integrated in the bus arbitrator (11) and the second is integrated into slave equipment (13) at the other end of the bus (10) opposite the bus arbitrator (11).

Abstract: A sensing system is provided for measuring various joints of a human body for applications for performance animation, biomechanical studies and general motion capture. One sensing device of the system is a linkage-based sensing structure comprising rigid links interconnected by revolute joints, where each joint angle is measured by a resistive bend sensor or other convenient goniometer. Such a linkage-based sensing structure is typically used for measuring joints of the body, such as the shoulders, hips, neck, back and forearm, which have more than a single rotary degree of freedom of movement. In one embodiment of the linkage-based sensing structure, a single long resistive bend sensor measures the angle of more than one revolute joint. A second sensing device of the sensing system comprises a flat, flexible resistive bend sensor guided by a channel on an elastic garment.

Abstract: A tape drive apparatus with an arrangement for capturing, retaining and releasing a leader pin from the tape cartridge provides a leader pin holding assembly having a body and a swing pivotally coupled to the body. Upon movement into the tape cartridge, the swing is controllably pivoted against the force of a spring into an open position to capture the leader pin within the tape cartridge. Closing the swing retains the leader pin between the swing and the body of the leader pin holding assembly. A minimum number of external actuators is achieved by employing a hub leader that controls the opening and closing of the swing with relation to the body.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an ultrasound imaging system and method based on simultaneous multiple transmit-focusing using the weighted orthogonal chirp signals so that resolution of an ultrasound image is enhanced without sacrifice in the frame rate.

Abstract: In order to eliminate the inclination of a semiconductor chip picked by a gripper, the height of at least three points on the underneath of the semiconductor chip is determined in relation to a reference surface and from this the inclination is calculated. Determining the heights takes place in that the semiconductor chip is lowered until the semiconductor chip comes into contact with a needle.

Abstract: A passive alert system is provided for vehicles traveling along a predetermined travel route. The vehicles are equipped with vehicle processing systems which are in communication with a remote server. The remote server acquires information pertaining to conditions along the travel route, such as weather and traffic conditions, and determines if these conditions are of a nature which warrants reporting them to the vehicle processing systems.

Abstract: More effective load balancing by a Server Load Balancer may be achieved by implementing extended Server Load Balancing information in a server. The extended Server Load Balancing information includes a special listing of “hot” objects, or objects that have been designated for special handling by the Server Load Balancer. In order to determine which objects on a server are “hot” at any particular point in time, the available throughput for the server is determined. This is then multiplied by a “hotness” percentage, resulting in an Object Threshold Value (OTV). Each of N objects is then assigned an Object Request Value (ORV), the N objects determined by taking the N objects utilizing the most bandwidth. The ORVs are then compared with the OTV, and any of the objects whose ORV exceeds the OTV are labeled as “hot”. Finally, information on the “hot” objects is communicated to the Server Load Balancer (SLB) for special handling.

Abstract: Analog-valued floating-gate transistors are used as trimmable circuit components for modifying and/or controlling the gain, phase, offset, frequency response, current consumption, and/or transfer function of signal pathways in parallel and/or serial processing circuits in radio frequency, analog, or mixed-signal integrated circuits.

Abstract: Unified exception handling may be provided by processing a data packet through at least two pipelined processing stages in a data packet processor such as a switch, router, bridge, or similar network device, each of the data packets having associated with it (while it is being processed) an exception map disposed in a memory of the network device. The bits in the exception map are set, modified, or reset in response to exception conditions detected at the various processing stages. After the packet has been fully processed, an exception handler takes as an input the exception map and further processes the packet in response to the state of the exception map.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling and providing force feedback using an interface device manipulated by a user. A microprocessor is provided local to the interface device and reads sensor data from sensors that describes the position and/or other information about an object grasped and moved by the user, such as a joystick. The microprocessor provides the sensor data to a host computer that is coupled to the interface device by a communication bus that preferably includes a serial interface. In a “host-controlled” embodiment, the host computer calculates force values using the sensor data and other parameters of a host application program and sends the force values to the local microprocessor, which directly provides the force values to actuators to apply forces to the user object.

Abstract: An image sensor with matrix readout includes a matrix of elementary photodetectors (P) connected through at least a bus (Bpel) to a remote integrator (I) which converts the signal of each elementary photodetector into a voltage. Provided between the end of the bus and the input of the integrator is an impedance matching device (D) with low output capacitance, delivering at its output, during the time for converting photodetector signal, a variation of charge which corresponds to an affine function of the charge present at the input of said matching device, wherein this charge variation is determined by: ? t = 0 t = Tconv ? Iinj ? ( t ) · ? t = ? t = 0 t = Tconv ? I ? ? int ? ( t ) · ? t where Iinj is the instantaneous current of the bus, injected at the input of the impedance matching device, Iint is the instantaneous current at the input of the integrator and Tconv is the conversion time.