Abstract: Methods and systems for direct lithographic pattern definition based upon electron beam induced alteration of the surface chemistry of a substrate are described. The methods involve an initial chemical treatment for global definition of a specified surface chemistry (SC). Electron beam induced surface reactions between a gaseous precursor and the surface are then used to locally alter the SC. High resolution patterning of stable, specified surface chemistries upon a substrate can thus be achieved. The defined patterns can then be utilized for selective material deposition via methods which exploit the specificity of certain SC combinations or by differences in surface energy. It is possible to perform all steps in-situ without breaking vacuum.

Abstract: A control system for a child swing that comprises a drive mechanism that includes a motor configured to impart torque to the at least one swing arm so that a child seat moves in an arcuate path. A phase control subsystem generates a motor drive signal configured to maintain a desired lead angle between a phase of the drive mechanism and a phase of the swing arm. An amplitude control subsystem configured to steer the phase control subsystem based on a correlation of an actual height of the child seat to a selected height of the child seat.

Abstract: In respect of a balloon (10) having an illumination device (20), including a light emitting member, which is mounted onto the wall inside the balloon cavity, at least one sheet (22, 24) of flexible material is connected to the illumination device inside the balloon cavity to serve as a parachute for the illumination device (20) in the event of rupture of the wall of the balloon when in an inflated condition. In embodiments where the illumination device is provided with a projection (12) and is mounted to the wall of the balloon by an attachment element, such as elastic band (18), engaging said projection from outside the balloon, the or each sheet of flexible material (22, 24) serving as the parachute may be connected to the illumination device (20) and to the balloon wall by location over the projection (12) and engagement by the same attachment member.

Abstract: A balloon (10) extending generally axially from an opening (14) at a first end. The balloon comprises an elastomeric film (11) having a first thickness and a plurality of intersecting ribs (12) of a second, greater thickness formed on the film The ribs are adapted so as to be angled with respect to the axis (13) of the balloon and any axis perpendicular thereto. Such a balloon has increased tear resistance, and can be manufactured with conventional dipping techniques without compromising the integrity of the film. The ribs may comprise a plurality of helices. There is also a former for making such a balloon and a method of using such a former to make such a balloon.

Abstract: A control system for a child swing that comprises an amplitude control subsystem configured to use one or more electrical signals from a swing sensor to compare an actual amplitude of the child swing to a pre-set amplitude of the child swing to generate an adjustment signal representing a desired adjustment to the phase of the drive mechanism. The child swing also comprises a phase control subsystem configured to use an electrical signal representative of a phase of the drive mechanism and the adjustment signal to generate a motor drive signal configured to cause the desired adjustment to the phase of the drive mechanism.

Abstract: A control system for a child swing that comprises an amplitude control subsystem configured to use one or more electrical signals from a swing sensor to compare an actual amplitude of the child swing to a pre-set amplitude of the child swing to generate an adjustment signal representing a desired adjustment to the phase of the drive mechanism. The child swing also comprises a phase control subsystem configured to use an electrical signal representative of a phase of the drive mechanism and the adjustment signal to generate a motor drive signal configured to cause the desired adjustment to the phase of the drive mechanism.

Abstract: A panel connection system comprising a fixing plate and a locking member, the fixing plate having a surface with a raised central portion which is flanked by first and second protrusions, wherein the locking member is configured to receive the central portion of the fixing plate. A plurality of panels with shoulder portions have recesses which are cooperatively received by the protrusions such that the shoulder portions of the panels are adjacent the central portion. The locking member has a recess which cooperatively secures with the central portion to secure the panels to the fixing plate.

Abstract: In respect of a balloon (10) having an illumination device (20), including a light emitting member, which is mounted onto the wall inside the balloon cavity, at least one sheet (22, 24) of flexible material is connected to the illumination device inside the balloon cavity to serve as a parachute for the illumination device (20) in the event of rupture of the wall of the balloon when in an inflated condition. In embodiments where the illumination device is provided with a projection (12) and is mounted to the wall of the balloon by an attachment element, such as elastic band (18), engaging said projection from outside the balloon, the or each sheet of flexible material (22, 24) serving as the parachute may be connected to the illumination device (20) and to the balloon wall by location over the projection (12) and engagement by the same attachment member.

Abstract: A temporary protective device for a sprinkler head connected to an in-ground irrigation system comprising a cover with a generally flat bottom, the cover comprising one or more receiver holes, the receiver holes accepting a removable key, the key anchoring the cover over the sprinkler head and extending into the ground below the receiver hole. Alternatively, the keys may be attached to the bottom of the cover. The keys and or the cover may be made of a biodegradable material.

Abstract: An electronic learning/teaching device operates with and without a printed sheet element having an arrangement of selectable content by means of a user responsive sensor array beneath a surface configured to receive the element. The sensor array is formed by cross-points of two sets of crossing conductive lines, one set being driven sequentially with a radio frequency square wave and the other set being sampled sequentially though a high impedance amplifier connection with an asynchronous detection circuit. Where more than one cross-point location is user activated, algorithms are used to identify one cross-point sensor location as the user activated selection.

Abstract: An electronic learning/teaching device operates with and without a printed sheet element having an arrangement of selectable content by means of a user responsive sensor array beneath a surface configured to receive the element. The sensor array is formed by cross-points of two sets of crossing conductive lines, one set being driven sequentially with a radio frequency square wave and the other set being sampled sequentially though a high impedance amplifier connection with an asynchronous detection circuit. Where more than one cross-point location is user activated, algorithms are used to identify one cross-point sensor location as the user activated selection.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for determining whether a responder is who he or she claims to be, by evaluating responses to a series of questions drawn from various data providers, e.g. real estate data about the responder's house; family members from other publicly available sources; etc. The invention also comprises a novel empirically-derived scoring component that is used to evaluate the likelihood that correct/incorrect responses to the multiple choice questions is fraud, i.e. an impersonator.

Abstract: A method for pseudo-randomly, without bias, selecting instructions for marking in a microprocessor. Responsive to reading an instruction from an instruction cache, an instruction tag associated with the instruction is compared against a pseudo-randomly generated value in a linear feedback shift register (LFSR). If the instruction tag matches the value in the LFSR, a mark bit, indicating the instruction is a marked instruction, is sent with the instruction to an execution unit. Responsive to an indication from the performance monitor, the value in the LFSR is incremented prior to selecting a next instruction to mark. If the value equals a predetermined prime number of increments, the value is reset to all ones to avoid any harmonics with the code stream being executed. Upon receiving the marked instruction, the execution unit combines the marked bit with a selected event and reports the marked event to the performance monitor.

Abstract: Dynamic reformatting of a dispatch group by selective activation of inactive Start bits of instructions within the dispatch group at the time the instructions are read from the IBUF. The number of instructions in the reformatted dispatch groups can vary from as few as one instruction per group to a maximum number of instructions read from the IBUF per cycle. The reformatted dispatch groupings can be terminated after a single cycle, or they can remain reformatted for as many cycles as desired, depending upon need.

Abstract: In a processor, a localized workaround is activated upon the sensing of a problematic condition occurring on said processor, and then control of the deactivation of the localized workaround is superseded by a centralized controller. In a preferred embodiment, the centralized controller monitors forward progress of the processor and maintains the workaround in an active condition until a threshold level of forward progress has occurred. Optionally, the localized workaround may be re-activated while under centralized control, resetting the notion of forward progress. Using the present invention, localized workarounds perform effectively while having a minimal impact on processor performance.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer program product are disclosed in a data processing system for ensuring processing fairness in simultaneous multi-threading (SMT) microprocessors that concurrently execute multiple threads during each clock cycle. A clock cycle priority is assigned to a first thread and to a second thread during a standard selection state that lasts for an expected number of clock cycles. The clock cycle priority is assigned according to a standard selection definition during the standard selection state by selecting the first thread to be a primary thread and the second thread to be a secondary thread during the standard selection state. If a condition exists that requires overriding the standard selection definition, an override state is executed during which the standard selection definition is overridden by selecting the second thread to be the primary thread and the first thread to be the secondary thread.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for dispatch group checkpointing in a microprocessor, including provisions for handling partially completed dispatch groups and instructions which modify system coherent state prior to completion. An instruction checkpoint retry mechanism is implemented to recover from soft errors in logic. The processor is able to dispatch fixed point unit (FXU), load/store unit (LSU), and floating point unit (FPU) or vector multimedia extension (VMX) instructions on the same cycle. Store data is written to a store queue when a store instruction finishes executing. The data is held in the store queue until the store instruction is checkpointed, at which point it can be released to the coherently shared level 2 (L2) cache.