Abstract: Systems and methods for eliminating duplicate document information and document images prior to or after coding, rekeying, using optical character recognition, searching or producing the documents. Multiple documents are identified to determine whether or not they are duplicate documents. Corresponding sample areas or points of the documents are identified and the corresponding pixels of the sample areas or points are compared to determine whether or not the pixels are identical. If no match occurs, it is determined that the documents are not identical. However, if the pixels in the corresponding sample areas or points match, a more detailed sampling process and a more complex comparison technique is utilized to confirm whether or not the documents are in fact duplicate copies. Documents that are determined to be non-duplicates may undergo a coding process or other process as required by the user.

Abstract: A force measuring device and method for determining a force required to move a cart. The force measuring device includes a force generating device, a load member, a load cell, and a controller. The force generating device is connected to the load member and moves the load member toward or away from the cart so as to apply pushing or pulling forces to the cart. The load cell is disposed between the load member and the cart, and transmits sensed force data to the controller. During a test, the controller collects the force data from the load cell. By testing carts of various configurations under all expected loading conditions, the performance of each cart configuration can be experimentally determined. The performance data is assembled in a database to permit a user to identify an optimum cart for an intended application.

Abstract: Method reducing cross-talk between adjacent column conductors in a field emission display (10) that has a plurality of column conductors (17A, 17B, 17C, 18A, 18B, 18C) on which electron emission structures (24) are disposed. The field emission display (10), also includes a plurality of row conductors (27, 28, 29). Cross-talk is prevented by ensuring that adjacent conductors are not in an active state at the same time.

Abstract: A force measuring device and method for determining a force required to move a cart. The force measuring device includes a force generating device, a load member, a load cell, and a controller. The force generating device is connected to the load member and moves the load member toward or away from the cart so as to apply pushing or pulling forces to the cart. The load cell is disposed between the load member and the cart, and transmits sensed force data to the controller. During a test, the controller collects the force data from the load cell. By testing carts of various configurations under all expected loading conditions, the performance of each cart configuration can be experimentally determined. The performance data is assembled in a database to permit a user to identify an optimum cart for an intended application.

Abstract: Method and structure for reducing crosstalk between adjacent column conductors in a field emission display (50) that has a plurality of column conductors (57, 59) on which electron emission structures (64) are disposed. The field emission display (50) also includes a plurality of row conductors (67, 68). A field termination structure (58) is formed between adjacent column conductors. The field termination structure (58) attenuates a voltage glitch created by a switching column conductor, thereby preventing the voltage glitch from affecting adjacent nonswitching column conductors.

Abstract: A furcation apparatus for a multi-conductor cable of the type having reinforcing fibers for longitudinal strength. The furcation apparatus includes a furcation spacer having a plurality of passages extending through an interior of the furcation spacer from a first end to a second end. Each passage is of a size sufficient to receive a furcation tube having reinforcing fibers, and each furcation tube is of a size sufficient to receive one of the plurality of conductors of the cable. The furcation tube reinforcing fibers approach the furcation spacer from the second end and are anchored adjacent the first end, and the cable reinforcing fibers approach the furcation spacer from the first end and are anchored adjacent the second end, such that tensioning the furcation tube reinforcing fibers and cable reinforcing fibers places the furcation spacer under compressive stress.

Abstract: A method for quality and reliability assurance testing a lot of fabricated ICs comprising the steps of testing the differential Iddq of a sample of ICs at a plurality of different voltages, burning-in a sample of ICs, and then testing the functionality of the sample of ICs. The method of the present invention enables the reliability of an entire lot of ICs to be tested by determining an effective screening voltage for differential Iddq testing of the ICs, thereby eliminating the need both to burn-in and conduct post burn-in testing of all future lots of the ICs. The method of the present invention also enables fabrication facilities and workers to be engaged in other tasks rather than testing of ICs.

Abstract: A method for driving a field emission display (10) includes the steps of dividing a digital video word (14), which has n-bits, into N digital sub-words (16, 17), each of which has n′-bits, and sequentially converting each of the digital sub-words (16, 17) into a control signal (27, 29). The control signals (27, 29) are sequentially utilized to control drive signals (28, 38, 39, 41) applied to the field emission display (10).

Abstract: A method for reducing charge accumulation in a field emission display (100) includes the steps of causing a plurality of electron emitters (114) to emit electrons (132) to reduce the potential at an anode (124) of the field emission display (100). Upon the reduction of the potential at the anode (124), the electrons (132) neutralize a positively electrostatically charged surface (129) of a spacer (130). The anode potential is dropped by providing a resistor (127) in series with a voltage source (126) connected to the anode (124). The anode potential is reduced by causing the electron emitters (114) to emit simultaneously to provide a pull-down current (128) at the anode (124). The voltage at the anode (124) is reduced to a value that causes a sufficient flux of electrons (132) to be attracted to the charged surfaces (129) for neutralizing them.

Abstract: A field emission display (100) includes a cathode plate (110) having a plurality of electron emitters (114), an anode plate (122) having an anode (124) connected to a potential source (126), and an anode voltage pull-down circuit (127) having an input (106) and an output (104). Output (104) is connected to anode (124), and input (106) is connected to potential source (126). Preferably, anode voltage pull-down circuit (127) causes an anode voltage (120) at anode (124) to drop to about ground potential prior to generation of a discharge current by electron emitters (114) for neutralizing positively electrostatically charged surfaces (137, 138) within field emission display (100).

Abstract: A method for providing a gray scale in a field emission display (50) includes the step of providing a first driving pulse (214) having a pulse width equal to a pulse width separation (115) between the graphs (100, 200) of total charge response versus pulse width of a driving pulse for the non-ideal field emission display and the corresponding ideal field emission display. The pulse width separation (115) is the horizontal distance between the two graphs (100, 200) at a region wherein the two graphs (100, 200) are generally parallel. The pulse width, t.sub.n, of an nth driving pulse corresponding to an nth gray scale level is given by t.sub.n =t.sub.1 +[n-1]*[(t.sub.N -t.sub.1)/(N-1)], wherein t.sub.1 is the pulse width of the first driving pulse (214), N is the total number of gray scale levels, and t.sub.N is the pulse width of the Nth driving pulse.

Abstract: A field emission display (100) includes a cathode plate (104) having a plurality of electron emitters (112) and ballast resistors (118), an anode plate (120) having an anode (124), and a temperature compensation circuit (130) having an input (142), an output (134), and a current output (138). Input (142) is connected to unregulated voltage (132), output (134) is connected to gate (116), and current output (138) is connected to temperature sensing element (148). Preferably, temperature sensing element (148) is mounted on cathode plate (104) and matches the temperature vs. resistance characteristics of ballast resistors (118). Temperature compensation circuit (130) outputs current (220) to temperature sensing element (148) and receives ballast voltage (230) from temperature sensing element (148) as a function of temperature of cathode plate (104).

Abstract: A charge dissipation field emission device (200, 300, 400) includes a supporting substrate (210, 310, 410), a cathode (215, 315, 415) formed thereon, a dielectric layer (240, 340, 440) formed on the cathode (215, 315, 415) and having emitter wells (260, 360, 460) and a charge dissipation well (252, 352, 452, 453) exposing a charge-collecting surface (248, 348, 448, 449), for bleeding off gaseous positive charge generated during the operation of the charge dissipation field emission device (200, 300, 400), an electron emitter (270, 370, 470) formed in each of the emitter wells (260, 360, 460), and an anode (280, 380, 480) spaced from the dielectric layer (240, 340, 440) for collecting electrons emitted by the electron emitters (270, 370, 470).

Abstract: A field emission display (100, 200, 300) and a method of making the same are disclosed. The field emission display (100, 200, 300) includes an anode (110, 210, 310) having a plurality of cathodoluminescent deposits (120, 220, 320), a back plate (185, 285, 385) including a cathode (130, 230, 330) having a plurality of field emitters (140, 240, 340) and being affixed to a cathode reinforcement member (170, 270, 370), and a plurality of side members (150, 250, 350) disposed between the anode (110, 210, 310) and the cathode (130, 230,330) and hermetically affixed thereto. The thicknesses of the anode (110, 210, 310) and the back plate (185, 285, 385) are sufficient to provide the structural support necessary to maintain the mechanical integrity of the field emission display (100, 200, 300).

Abstract: A field emission device (10) utilizes a resistive layer (13) between an extraction grid (14) and a conductive layer (12) to form a resistor (23). The resistor controls the amount of current flowing through an emission tip (16) of the field emission device (10).

Abstract: A field emission device (100) having an electron emitter (101), for emitting electrons, an extraction electrode (102) proximally disposed with respect to the electron emitter (101), an anode (103) for collecting some of any emitted electrons is formed. Anode (103) is distally disposed with respect to the electron emitter (101). A transient current source (110) is operably coupled between the electron emitter (101) and a reference potential (107). Transient current source (110) provides a transient current to the electron emitter (101) to enhance response time for emission of electrons from the electron emitter (101) of the field emission device (100). A controlling input line (111) is provided for current controlling signals to the transient current source (110) with the controlling input line (111) being operably coupled to the transient current source (110).

Abstract: A method of making a porous refractory article and a dispersion of particles in a liquid carrier, the method involving forming a dispersion of particles in a liquid carrier, introducing gas into the dispersion, removing the liquid carrier to provide a solid article having pores derived from the bubbles and wherein the dispersion has a critical viscosity below the level at which the introduction of gas cannot take place and above the level which entrapped gas bubbles will tend to escape and with the dispersion having the same critical viscosity.

Abstract: An FED (10) utilizes a semiconductor junction to control the current flow (32) through an emission tip of the FED (10). The semiconductor junction is created between a conductive layer (12) and a doped semiconductor layer (14). The conductive layer (12) can be a metal or another doped semiconductor layer in order to form the semiconductor junction.

Abstract: An electron emission device including an array of microelectronic field emission devices, each with an integrally formed capacitance, a plurality of switches, a weighting level detector, and data storage and weighting structure. In one operational method, the field emission device electron current emission is characterized and a weighting factor is calculated and coupled into the data storage and weighting means so as to provide electron emission device electron emission current in accordance with a desired emission level as prescribed by a data input signal and notwithstanding variations in electron current emission which may be present due to device fabrication.

Abstract: A digital video word (14) that is utilized to specify an image to be displayed by a field emission device is divided into a plurality of digital subwords (16, 17). Each digital subword (16, 17) is utilized to create a control signal (21, 22) that is applied to an input (23, 26, 32, 33) of a drive source (24, 27, 31). The digital subwords (16, 17) divide the control signals (21, 22) into time slots wherein each time slot has a duration that is greater than the duration of time slots represented by the original digital video word (14). In response to the control signals (21, 22) the drive source (24, 27, 31) provides a drive signal (28, 34) that has an output value and duration that is controlled by the duration of the control signals, and by an active and inactive state encoded by the control signals.