Abstract: Econometric information is produced based upon real data that has been electronically acquired in real time. The acquired data is analyzed to select data records having attributes unique to a particular activity of interest. The selected data records are aggregated, adjusted, and used to create a statistical index or metric related to an economic activity. The statistical index or metric, together with information illustrating or interpreting information, is electronically distributed. As an example, a Pulse of Commerce Index related to shipment of goods is produced by electronically processing and storing data relating to financial transactions involved in purchase of goods and services. Data records are selected that involve fuel purchases, which act as a proxy for freight activity. Using the selected data records, both national and regional indices based upon fuel purchases are produced and distributed.

Abstract: A method and system provide information by which an audience made of one or more prospects or customers of payroll and benefits processing may compare its human capital metrics with human capital metrics of other customers. A customer database is maintained for each customer that includes demographic data, employee data and financial data for that customer. Each customer database is updated based on periodically processing payroll and benefits transactions for that customer. A benchmark database is created by aggregating selected fields of data from databases of customers of interest so that the benchmark database represents a sample of customers of interest. An audience database is created for the one or more prospects or customers forming the audience by retrieving the selected fields of data from the customer databases for the one or more customers forming the audience. The audience database is compared to the benchmark database, and results of the comparison are reported to the audience.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatically identifying a program broadcast by a radio station or by a television channel, or recorded on a medium, by adding an inaudible encoded message to the sound signal of the program, the message identifying the broadcasting channel or station, the program, and/or the exact date. In one embodiment the sound signal is transmitted via an analog-to-digital converter to a data processor enabling frequency components to be split up, enabling the energy in some of the frequency components to be altered in a predetermined manner to form an encoded identification message, and with the output from the data processor being connected via a digital-to-analog converter to an audio output for broadcasting or recording the sound signal. In another embodiment, an analog bandpass filter is employed to separate a band of frequencies from the sound signal so that energy in the separated band may be thus altered to encode the sound signal.

Abstract: A process of measuring coplanarity of an array of conductive elements on a circuit device is disclosed. Light is impinged from a reference plane onto an element of the array at a predetermined angle of incidence. Light is also impinged from the reference plane onto a reflective feature on a measurement plane determined by three points of the circuit device having highest elevations from a base of the circuit device, at the same predetermined angle of incidence. A response of the light impinged onto the element of the array and the reflective feature on the measurement plane is measured to determine coplanarity of the array.

Abstract: More particularly, an electronic digital clock distribution system provides a plurality of working rank clock signals to respective ones of a plurality of logic circuits. Each clock signal has a predetermined frequency and each logic circuit requires a working rank clock signal having a predetermined level of electrical power. An oscillator produces a master clock signal at the predetermined frequency and at an electrical power level at least equal to the sum of the power requirements for all working rank clock signals of the plurality of logic circuits. An electronic splitter network is connected to the oscillator to splitting the master clock signal into the plurality of working rank clock signals.

Abstract: A direct memory access (DMA) controller having a first mode and a second mode controls communication between a module bus, communicating with a processor and a memory, and an input/output (I/O) bus communicating with an external device. A data controller subsystem stores I/O bus input data to provide module bus output data, and stores module bus input data to provide I/O bus output data. A device address controller subsystem stores a device address from the module bus to provide an I/O device output address to the I/O bus for addressing the external device. A memory addressing subsystem receives module bus input data to form an initial memory address provided to the module bus representing a storage location in the memory. An incrementer increments the initial memory address.

Abstract: A method of combining a metal component and a base metal of an article to form a pattern of the article. The method comprises applying the metal component to a carrier, the metal component shaped like the pattern; placing the metal component against the base metal; and supplying heat such that the base metal and the metal component alloy.

Abstract: An alignment mark system and method of using the same wherein each mask of a sequence of masks includes a mask sequence indicium, a first alignment feature and a second alignment feature spaced from the first alignment feature. Each of the mask sequence indicium, the first alignment feature and the second alignment feature produce a corresponding structure as a result of the photolithographic process. The structure resulting from the second alignment feature is aligned with the first alignment feature of the immediately succeeding mask for proper alignment of the mask sequence.

Abstract: The present invention is an integrated heat sink module and a method of fabricating conductive structures on a substrate. The method of the present invention includes cleaning a substrate material to remove any impurities present on the substrate surface. The method further includes placing a protective layer resilient to chemicals used in conductive structure formation, on a first surface. The first surface is opposite a second surface on which conductive structures are formed. The method includes forming conductive structures on the second surface of the substrate. The protective layer is then removed from the first surface of the substrate.

Abstract: A priority selector prioritizes interrupts associated with each ASIC of a plural ASIC system in accordance with a programmed sequence. A table in each ASIC contains a programmable offset table and a programmable priority code table. The table selects an offset value and a priority code associated with the highest priority interrupt for the ASIC. An interrupt collector includes a priority compare to identify the priority code of the highest-priority interrupt of all of the ASICs. A multiplexer selects the offset value associated with it. The offset value forms a jump or offset address to the interrupt for the CPU. The priority sequencing, offset tables, priority code tables and priority compare values are programmable, so the prioritizing is adjustable. Each priority selector generates an interrupt active signal for the CPU. A mask disables interrupts until serviced by the CPU so that any interrupt active signal resulting from a disabled interrupt is terminated.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for a cleaning process control is disclosed. The apparatus includes two parallel plates of glass that have a plurality of shims positioned therebetween and a means for clamping these plates of glass firmly against the shims. A contaminant is positioned between the plates of glass and the apparatus is cleaned using a selected cleaning process. The apparatus can then be inspected to determine the effectiveness of a particular cleaning process by peering through the transparent glass plates to inspect for any remaining contaminant. The apparatus can then be cleaned more extensively and used again to check a different cleaning process.

Abstract: A top state controller controls a bus adapter to a selected master or slave top state in response to a command on a local or system bus during a dispatch state of the bus adapter. The bus adapter remains in the selected top state until the command is completed or suspended, whereupon it returns to the dispatch state. The top state controller sets a first flag upon a change from a master top state to the dispatch state in response to suspension of a command by a data handling device, and sets a second flag upon a change from a slave top state to the dispatch state upon completion of a command. The top state controller is responsive to the first or second flag to operate the bus adapter to that master top state from which the bus adapter changed to set the first flag and is responsive to the completion of the suspended command to clear the first and said second flags.

Abstract: A curved lead provides a mechanical and electrical connection between a board contact on a circuit board and a chip contact associated with a circuit chip. The chip can be mounted to the circuit board, to a chip carrier or to a multiple-chip module. The curved lead is substantially entirely plated with solder and is formed of a single piece of conductive material. The curved lead has a first surf ace for connection to the chip contact and a second surface, generally parallel to the first surface, for connection to the board contact. The first and second surfaces are connected by at least one curved portion and are arranged to mount the circuit chip to the circuit board with the solder in a compliant, generally parallel arrangement substantially free of stress.

Abstract: A radar system mounted on a satellite is scanned to provide surveillance of large areas such as the oceans. The transmitter oscillator generates bursts in the frequency range from about 20-250 megacycles. A receiver detects signals reflected from objects in the target area. The receiver enhances the value of recurrent components of selected time interval portions of the received signals. In one embodiment the transmitter bursts are modulated in accordance with a predetermined modulation pattern. The system determines to what extent it corresponds to the predetermined modulation pattern and then enhances the value of the recurrent components of the received signals. The enhancement is of those recurrent components having relative phases which change by substantially uniform increments.

Abstract: A radar system is capable of detecting and classifying rotating targets such as rotating antennas. Particularly, unfriendly radar installations can be detected and classified by a synthetic aperture radar system, which may be carried by an aircraft.The radar reflection signal (echo) received by a synthetic aperture radar system and reflected from a rotating object will appear as a series of image points, or pulses, at the same range, but spaced apart by some apparent distance or frequency. By knowing the apparent distance (d) between adjacent image points, the range (R) to the target, the time of integration (T.sub.o) of the radar system, the velocity (V.sub.o) of the detecting aircraft, the angle (B.sub.o) to the target, and the wavelength of the aircraft's radar signal (.lambda.

Abstract: A circuit module includes a multilayer circuit board having a plurality of alternate layers defining circuit paths and insulation with conductive vias between selected circuit paths of different layers. A hermetic seal is sealed to the top layer of the multilayer circuit board, and the circuit paths and/or vias are selectively connected to external pads by vias extending through the multilayer circuit board, one via terminating at a pad internal to the sealed region and another via terminating at the external pad. In one form, the vias providing the external connection extend into a substrate supporting the board, and circuit paths in the substrate electrically connect the vias together. In a second form, the vias providing the external connection are electrically connected together by selected circuit paths in the circuit board. A conductive anchor extends through the circuit board to the substrate to provide an anchor for the seal.

Abstract: A sonar transducer includes an electro-mechanical transducer coupled to a front mass and a back mass. Annular rings space a compliant diaphragm from the front mass, the diaphragm being in communication with the liquid to which the sonar transducer is exposed. The compliance of the diaphragm is selected to tune the sonar transducer to eliminate reactive components of the impedance of the combined sonar transducer and liquid medium load, and to maximize the radiation resistance of the system.

Abstract: A dual cache memory system employs a search cache addressed by virtual addresses, the search cache containing a plurality of recently used, pre-translated physical addresses. A map cache contains virtual address bound data and relocation data to map the virtual address space to physical address space. Upon receipt of a virtual address, a search of the search cache is first conducted to retrieve the associated physical address if it has been already translated. If not, a binary search of the memory map using the map cache is conducted to find that map entry whose virtual address bound identifies the region of virtual addresses containing the virtual address being mapped. The physical address is constructed from the retrieved relocation data and virtual address, and is written into the search cache for future use.

Abstract: A plurality of computer application programs have respective display generation routines for generating respective program video displays onto a computer display screen. Backplane software operates all of the respective display generation routines to generate a overlayed, composite video display of the respective program video displays. The software system fuses the display outputs of each of a plurality of independent application programs into a single overlayed screen display. More particularly, the software backplane architecture interrupts the draw subroutine calling sequences of each independent application program, and redirects those sequences to the backplane software. The backplane software initiates a redraw command to the application program to in turn operate the display generation routines to cause a display. Since all of the independent application programs have draw sequences under control of the backplane software, the application programs remain independent of each other.

Abstract: A programmable spike detector is designed to detect spikes in a test signal in a device under test. The spike detector includes a differential amplifier which provides a difference signal representing the difference in voltage between the test signal and an offset signal, which is the drive voltage for the device under test. A first comparator determines if the difference signal exceeds a first reference signal, and if so, provides an indication of a spike condition. A second comparator provides a second spike indication if the difference signal is less than a second reference signal. In one form of the invention, the reference signals are established under control of a programmable processor.