Abstract: A low dropout (LDO) voltage regulator with unconditional frequency compensation is presented. The low dropout voltage regulator is implemented using a two-stage operational amplifier. The first stage amplifier has two input transistors, each of which is connected to a diode-connected transistor. A transistor is connected in parallel to the diode-connected transistors to increase the gain of the first stage amplifier. The LDO voltage regulator has a compensation capacitance input between the first stage amplifier and the second stage amplifier and a voltage on the compensation capacitance input adjusts the current through the diode-connected transistors, as well as the gain of the first stage amplifier. The second stage amplifier receives output from the first stage amplifier, and a compensation capacitor is connected between the compensation capacitance input of the operational amplifier and the output node of the LDO voltage regulator.

Abstract: Integrated circuits (ICs) with configurable test pins and a method of testing an IC are disclosed. An IC has input/output (I/O) pins that can be configured either as a test input pin, a test output pin or a user I/O pin. Selector circuits are used to selectively route and couple the I/O pins to various logic blocks and test circuitry on the IC. Selector circuits are also used to selectively couple either a user output or a test output to different I/O pins on the IC. Switches are used to configure the selector circuits and route test signals within the IC. Different configurations of the switches determine how the signals are routed. Test input signals from an I/O pin may be routed to any test circuitry within the IC and test output signals from a test circuit may be routed to any I/O pin on the IC.

Abstract: A method to configure a programmable device is disclosed. The method includes receiving a scrambled configuration data at the programmable device. A bit sequence of a device tag that is stored in the programmable device is verified by determining whether the bit sequence of the device tag stored in the programmable device matches a bit sequence of a device tag within the scrambled configuration data. If the bit sequences match, the scrambled configuration data is transferred to a data re-formatter for descrambling. The descrambled configuration data is then transferred to a configuration memory of the programmable device. Circuitry that enables the method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A mounting assembly for mounting a toy bar arrangement to a frame of an infant seat assembly is provided. The assembly includes a mounting member adapted to fixedly engage the frame. The assembly further includes a receptacle member operably engaged with the mounting member and defining a cavity. The receptacle member is rotatable about a substantially horizontal axis with respect to the mounting member, and between a locked position and an unlocked position in relation to a locking member associated with the mounting member. The assembly further includes a mating member adapted to operably engage a toy bar arrangement and configured to be removably received within the cavity of the receptacle member so as to be rotatable in conjunction with the receptacle member between the locked and unlocked positions. The mating member has a locking flange configured to engage the locking member in the locked position.

Abstract: A ridge ventilation system includes a plurality of ridge vent sections configured to be arranged end-to-end along the ridge of a roof covering a vent slot formed therealong. Each ridge vent section has an elongated longitudinally flexible top panel with a central portion, edge portions terminating at extreme edges of the top panel, and ventilation grids extending beneath and along the edge portions spaced from extreme edges thereof. The space between the extreme edges of the top panel and the ventilation grids forms or defines an overhang configured to receive edges of shingles in a course of shingles installed next to the vent section and to inhibit the edges of the shingles from rising up. The ridge vent sections also have depending deflectors for deflecting blowing rain and snow that might enter through the ventilation grids and filter fabric may be affixed to the bottom of the ridge vent sections to provide additional deflection of rain and snow.

Abstract: A circuit and methods for placing a circuit block on an integrated circuit (IC) are disclosed. An embodiment of the disclosed method includes dividing the IC into multiple regions based on pre-determined value. This pre-determined value may be a voltage drop value measured on specific regions on the IC. The performance requirement for the circuit block is determined and placed in one of the regions on the IC. In one embodiment, the placement of the circuit block is based on the performance requirement and the measured value at specific regions on the IC. The measured value may be a voltage drop value and a circuit block with a higher performance may be placed in a region with a lower voltage drop value.

Abstract: The present invention provides polymeric substrates comprising a biocompatible coating and methods of preparation thereof. In particular, the coating may be a ceramic material, especially a calcium phosphate material, which may be functionally graded. The invention provides the ability to apply high quality coatings to polymeric substrates without damaging the substrate (e.g., melting the polymeric material). The functionally graded coating can provide crystalline calcium phosphate near the coating interface with the substrate and provide amorphous calcium phosphate at the outer surface of the coating.

Abstract: Circuits and methods to generate a True Random Number Generator (TRNG) with tamper-detection are presented. In one embodiment, the circuit includes two identical TRNG circuits and logic circuitry that combines and correlates the outputs of the two TRNG circuits. The two identical TRNG circuits are located in close proximity to each other inside an Integrated Circuit (IC). The logic circuitry analyzes the outputs of the two TRNG circuits and the historical values of the relation between the outputs of the two TRNG circuits to determine if the outputs are correlated. If the outputs are not correlated, the logic circuitry outputs a true random number sequence based on the combination of the two TRNG circuits. As a result, circuit tampering, such as changes in temperature or voltage supplies, is detected in the IC.

Abstract: An archable flashing is disclosed for flashing around rectangular windows and doors and arch top windows and doors. The flashing has an elongated cap with an outside drip edge formed of a rigid plastic material. A flexible flange made of a flexible and stretchable plastic material is bonded to the inside edge of the cap and a rigid plastic nailing strip is bonded along the distal edge of the flexible flange. Spaced slits in the nailing strip subdivide it into segments and each segment is provided with one or more nail holes. The slits terminate at circular notches formed in the flexible flange adjacent to its junction with the nailing strip. The flashing is installed by placing its cap atop the straight or arched brick mold of a window or door while flexing the flange upwardly to rest against the adjacent wall. For arched brick mold, the flexible flange stretches differentially to accommodate the curve and the slits allow the nailing strip segments to separate.

Abstract: Error checking and correction techniques for web based applications use an error checking routine on a server or a client station to find errors in electronic text of an E-mail message. The disclosed error checking routine detects errors such as spelling errors in the electronic text and creates a correction file of the electronic text containing tags, markers and other information allowing errors to be displayed and corrected using the user's graphical interface. The graphical interface allows the user to review all the errors concurrently in the correction file and to correct the errors in any order. In a preferred embodiment, correction is facilitated in response to the user moving a mouse pointer over an error of interest, which provides correction options to be displayed in-line with the original text. The user can then select a suitable correction to correct the error.

Abstract: A method of making reinforced paperboard cartons comprises the steps of advancing a web of paperboard along a path and progressively laminating at least one ribbon of reinforcing material to the advancing web of paperboard. The ribbon of reinforcing material, which also may be paperboard, has a width less than the width of the web of paperboard and is applied with adhesive at a selected location across the width of the web. The web and its laminated ribbon are cut into sheets of a predetermined size and the sheets are die-cut and scored with fold lines to form carton blanks. The carton blanks are subsequently formed into cartons for receiving articles, the laminated reinforcing material providing reinforcement in selected portions of the cartons. Multiple ribbons and multiple layers of ribbons may be laminated to the web in respective selected locations to provide reinforcement in more than one portion of the cartons. Reinforced cartons and carton blanks made by the method also are provided.

Abstract: A high-precision A/D conversion is realized while the number of external terminals used for an A/D converter is reduced. At the time of sampling, first to fifth switches are turned on and a sixth switch is turned off. Since a first resistor is set to a resistance value optimum for sampling, an impedance in the direction from a node A to the left side and an impedance in the direction from a node B to the left side almost match, and a large noise-cancelling effect is obtained. At the time of successive approximation, the first, second, third, and fifth switches are turned off and the fourth and sixth switches are turned on. Since a second resistor is set to a resistance value optimum for the successive approximation, the impedance in the direction from the node A to the left side and the impedance in the direction from the node B to the left side almost match, and a large noise-cancelling effect is obtained also at the time of successive approximation.

Abstract: A cutting tool of the sort used for deep hole drilling has a cutting head mounted on a shank. The cutting head is formed asymmetrically with respect to a longitudinal axis and has at least one cutting edge. The cutting head has guiding segments that extend from a forward end to a rear end of the cutting head. Each of the guiding segments has a guiding pad in the periphery thereof. A forward end of the guiding pad lies on a cylindrical envelope defined by the cutting diameter of the cutting tool. A rear engagement portion of the cutting head is engaged with a forward engagement portion of the shank. The cutting head is made from sintered carbide powders and the guiding pads are integrally formed with the cutting head.

Abstract: A carton with locking sections comprises a male panel section and a female panel section. The male panel section has an edge with protruding wings, and edge tabs are formed along the edge portion inboard of the wings. The female section has a pair of females configured to receive and interlock with the males. For locking the sections together, the edge tabs are hooked beneath the edge of the female section and the males extend over the top of the female section and are pressed and locked into the females. With this arrangement, the two sections are securely locked together with the edge tabs preventing the sections from moving toward one another and the males and females preventing them moving away from each other. The sections thus do not tend to disengage during transport or as containers of product within the carton are sequentially removed.

Abstract: Electronic systems, methods and apparatus for teaching and examining music are presented. The method includes presenting a user with one or more musical tasks and providing a menu with one or more selectable icons. Selection of one of the icons activates functionality to enable the user to form an element of musical notation. The method includes comparing one or more characteristics of the element of musical notation with one or more predetermined thresholds in response to a user request and generating a mark, score or grade based on the result of the comparison.