Abstract: A system for supporting integrated circuit packages to prevent mechanical failure of the packages at their connection to a printed circuit board or card involves bracing the packages to the board or card. The packages may also be braced against one another. The structure is particularly well adapted to supporting vertical surface mount packages at a point spaced from the point where they connect to a printed circuit board or card.

Abstract: A return-to-zero (RZ) receiver is constructed to receive at least two pulses which are distinguishable. The receiver includes two single stage amplifiers. Each different single state amplifier receives a different one of the two pulses and generate signals in response. A summer of the receiver generates an output signal by summing the signals that are generated by the single stage amplifiers.

Abstract: A voltage regulator includes an output stage, an amplifier and a slew rate control circuit. The output stage furnishes an output voltage, and the amplifier interacts with the output stage to regulate the output voltage. The slew rate control circuit interacts with the output stage to establish a first slew rate for the regulator when the regulator is powering up and a different slew rate for the regulator after the regulator has substantially completed powering up.

Abstract: The present invention relates to powder coatings curable by exposure to radiation, typically ultraviolet radiation. Powder coatings based upon cationically catalyzed resins (typically epoxy resins) are described including bisphenols, bisphenols modified by novolac, as well as aliphatic type epoxides including hydrogenated bisphenol-A, glycidyl methacrylic, glycidyl acrylics or related compounds, and vinyl ethers including mixtures of the foregoing compounds. Photoinitiators of sulfonium type, ferrocinium type, iodonium type, triphenolic types and related compounds are also included. Opacifiers, flow agents and plasticizers are also included. Charge additives for improved electrostatic deposition of the power coating are also described. Degassing agents are also typically included in the formulation, both for degassing the powder coating during cure, and to assist in degassing those substrates (such as wood) which tend to form bubbles during cure. Flow agents are also typically included in the formulation.

Abstract: An apparatus for securing a soil testing device and other attachments necessary for soil testing near the bottom of a borehole uses a pair of clamps with gripping teeth that interlock with similar gripping teeth in the internal wall of the auger. The lateral movements of the clamps toward the auger are controlled so that the soil testing device is maintained in a proper orientation with respect to the soil sample and to avoid uncontrolled engagements of the clamps with the auger.

Abstract: A leadframe includes a leadframe finger support for supporting elongate leadframe fingers. These elongate leadframe fingers are subject to damage prior to or during the assembly process. Through the provision of the leadframe finger support, the leadframe fingers may be supported at an intermediate position along their length as necessary to prevent bending. The support may be severed from the dam bar in the course of singulation.

Abstract: A wafer sample retainer for an electron microscope includes a clamp arranged to engage one or more wafer samples against a post. The clamp may be spring biased and may be operable by depressing a portion of a spring biased member to pivot the spring biased member away from a support post to create an opening to receive the samples. The sample holder may be removably mounted on a base which may be positioned using a conventional electron microscope positioner.

Abstract: Dual state packaging may be implemented with a tray having a peripheral flange adapted to receive a pair of membranes to enclose the tray. The lower membrane is the more permeable of the two. It may be attached to a first surface of the flange. The second membrane is attached to a second outer surface of the flange without direct connection except through the tray to the more permeable membrane. The two connection surfaces may be separated by a depression to facilitate the cutting away of the material forming the more permeable membrane in a continuous manufacturing process. With the less permeable membrane in place, a desired gaseous environment may be maintained within the package. When it is desired to change the gaseous environment, the upper less permeable membrane may be peeled away allowing gaseous communication through the lower more permeable membrane.

Abstract: A cardiac lead is provided that includes a connector for connecting to a cardiac stimulator and a flexible sleeve coupled to the connector. The sleeve has a first segment, a second segment and a jacket coupling the first segment and the second segment. The jacket is composed of a shape-memory polymeric material which deforms diametrically in situ to selectively disconnect the first segment from the second segment. An electrode is coupled to the sleeve and a conductor is disposed in the sleeve and coupled to the connector and the electrode for conveying electrical signals. The breakaway function of the jacket allows removal of all but a small portion of the lead without dissection of fibrous tissue.

Abstract: A package for containing food products has at least two compartments having different atmospheric conditions. Each of the compartments may be sealed by a membrane having different permeability. The membranes may be sealed to a peripheral flange extending around each of the compartments. The peripheral flange is designed to facilitate severing in place on the tray of a membrane from a continuous web of material.

Abstract: A nonvolatile memory cell is formed in an embedded P-well without the necessity of including an overlaying control gate. As a result, normal logic process technology may be utilized to form the nonvolatile memory cell. Through the use of substrate hot electron injection and the formation of a lateral bipolar transistor whose emitter acts as a charge injector, programming efficiency is improved and the necessary programming voltages and currents can be reduced from the relatively high voltages and currents used in other devices.

Abstract: A quartz tank for wet semiconductor wafer processing includes one or more ports extending through the tank for the exchange of fluids with the tank. The openings may be aligned with a T-shaped quartz stem having an enlarged end retained on the interior side of said quartz tank in sealing abutment therewith. The lower end of the quartz stem may have external threads to abut with a suitable union. The union may include a nut having a reduced diameter lower end to engage an enlarged end of the tubing member connected to the bottom of the quartz stem. An o-ring seal may be sandwiched between the tubing and the lower end of the quartz stem. The nut may be formed of a carbon-fiber reinforced fluorocarbon material such as perfluoroalkoxy.

Abstract: Powder coatings are described which are curable by means of exposure to radiation, typically ultraviolet radiation, in a form suitable for deposition onto substrates, typically by means of electrostatic deposition. It is expected that such powder coatings would be particularly useful in coating heat sensitive substrates since the necessity for heating the powder coating to elevated temperatures is not necessary to effect cure. Free radical curing coatings are described using specific chemical formulations of acrylourethane resins, unsaturated polyester resins and mixtures thereof in combination with morpholino containing photoinitiators, phenol containing photoinitiators, and ketal containing photoinitiators.

Abstract: A nonvolatile memory cell is formed in an embedded P-well without the necessity of including an overlaying control gate. As a result, normal logic process technology may be utilized to form the nonvolatile memory cell. Through the use of substrate hot electron injection and the formation of a lateral bipolar transistor whose emitter acts as a charge injector, programming efficiency is improved and the necessary programming voltages and currents can be reduced from the relatively high voltages and currents used in other devices.

Abstract: A nonvolatile memory cell which is highly scalable includes a cell formed in a triple well. A select transistor can have a source which also acts as the emitter of a lateral bipolar transistor. The lateral bipolar transistor operates as a charge injector. The charge injector provides electrons for substrate hot electron injection of electrons onto the floating gate for programming. The cell depletion/inversion region may be extended by forming a capacitor as an extension of the control gate over the substrate between the source and channel of said sense transistor.

Abstract: Apparatus and method of tracking a wordline signal using a tracking circuit having a first detector biased between a first power supply voltage and a ground voltage, and a second detector biased between a second power supply voltage and the ground voltage. The first power supply voltage is greater than the second power supply voltage. The wordline signal is driven to the first power supply voltage.

Abstract: A package is capable of enclosing a food product in two different gaseous atmospheres at different times. Initially the food product may be packaged in a low oxygen atmosphere in order to prolong the shelf life of the product. When it is time to sell the product for example, it may be desirable to supply oxygen to the food product. In the case of red meats, the oxygenation process causes the meat to turn a bright red color. The package includes a tray covered by a film with a plurality of apertures formed in the tray. The apertures are covered by a resealable gas impermiable tape which can be removed to allow air ingress and then resealed to protect the integrity of the tray contents.

Abstract: A high capacity filter apparatus for removing solids from fluids includes a opposing filter elements defining an internal volume. Fluid to be filtered passes through the filter elements into the internal volume and through an outlet. The filter element is continuously cleaned by backwashing along the outer surface of the elements.

Abstract: A high performance programmable interconnect enables scaled transistors to be utilized, in conjunction with memory cells, as transfer gates with improved speed characteristics. Boosted positive and negative drive voltages are supplied to the transfer gate depending on the programmed state of the memory cell. The transfer gate may be driven by an inverter using a transistor formed in a triple well.