Abstract: A description is given of a circuit arrangement with a resistor voltage divider chain which comprises a number N of two-terminal resistors which are connected in series between a number N+1 of connection points, with N being greater than or equal to 2.

Abstract: Each data carrier of multiple data carriers is assigned a time slot within which to communicate with a base station. The base station allocates the time slots by acknowledging receipt of a data carrier's unique identifier during the assigned time slot. Each data carrier stores its assigned time slot, and communicates only when a time-slot counter indicates the occurrence of the assigned time slot.

Abstract: A measure of security is provided by determining authenticity of an object (e.g., credit card, cell phone, car keys, etc.) by letting the object predict at which nodes multiple specific data packets are going to be in a distributed network in the next time slot.

Abstract: A hair-removing device (1) includes a laser source (3), an adjustable laser beam manipulator (5) for positioning a laser beam (7) of the laser source (3) in a target position (9) on a skin (11) to be treated, and an image sensor (47) for detecting an image (49) of the skin. The hair-removing device further comprises a control unit (17) which determines a position and orientation on the skin of a hair (13) to be removed, and which determines the target position of the laser beam as a function of said position and orientation of the hair. The control unit brings the laser beam manipulator in a state corresponding to the target position of the laser beam, and activates the laser source when the laser beam manipulator has reached said state. Thus, the hair-removing device is suitable for use by inexperienced users, and is particularly suitable for the consumer market.

Abstract: The subject matter hereof relates to a calibratable phase-locked loop. The calibratable phase-looked loop in an example embodiment comprises a charge pump and calibration means for the loop, wherein calibration means comprises: first means for rendering unstable a stable phase-locked loop so that a sinusoidal signal is provided; second means for generating a squared signal from the so-provided sinusoidal signal; and a logic circuit for determining the frequency of the squared signal and for controlling the charge pump in correcting the frequency of the squared signal as a function of a desired frequency.

Abstract: A VLIW processor comprising: a plurality of functional units (1, 3); a distributed register file (4) comprising a plurality of segments (5, 7, 9), the distributed register file (4) being accessible by the functional units (1, 3); a communication unit (11) for communication with a memory; a communication network (13) for coupling the functional units (1, 3) and the distributed register file (4); characterized in that the VLIW processor further comprises a spilling device (15) for transferring data between the distributed register file (4) and the communication unit (11).

Abstract: A comparator is provided that compares one or more input signals in a regenerative circuit. One or more switched isolate the signal inputs after regeneration has started but before regeneration has reached such an extent that large voltage swings in the regeneration circuit are transmitted back to the signal source and corrupt the signal source or neighboring circuits. Furthermore, as controlled by a control circuit, the instant of isolating the signal source can be dependent on the degree of regeneration such as being dependent on a predetermined degree of regeneration. The comparator may be incorporated in an electronic device such as an analog-to-digital converter or a wireless receiver or transceiver.

Abstract: Radio frequency receivers are implemented in a variety of embodiments. In one such embodiment, a radio frequency receiver is implemented for detecting synchronization patterns in a receiver, particularly in a UHF receiver or a VHF receiver, by which the average current consumption in a system with a receiver, particularly a UHF receiver or a VHF receiver, and with a subsequently arranged controller unit can be reduced. Using a slope detector and by taking the signal state in a shift register, the radio frequency receiver may be implemented by synchronizing a clock recovery unit with an incoming signal. The shift register pattern can be compared against a predetermined pattern, and when the patterns correspond to the pattern of each other or to the completely inverted pattern of the other, the signal is enabled for further processing in a controller unit.

Abstract: The invention relates to a network comprising a plurality of network nodes. At least part of the network nodes are directly intercoupled via at least one star node. The star node contains a plurality of star interfaces which are assigned to at least one network node. A star interface is provided for transferring a message from the assigned network node to the other star interfaces or from another star interface to at least one of the assigned network nodes always in dependence on a pilot signal.

Abstract: A voltage-controlled oscillator comprising a LC tank circuit coupled to a pair of transistors and crossed-coupled to a pair of emitter follower transistors each transistor having a collector, an emitter and a base, the voltage controlled oscillator being characterized in that a supply voltage applied to the collectors of the emitter follower transistors is substantially different from a supply voltage applied to the bases of the emitter follower transistors.

Abstract: An iron comprising a housing (1), a heatable soleplate (4) and means for generating very fine liquid droplets to be expelled from at least one discharge opening (9) of the iron, said means comprising at least one air passage (8) for pressurized air supply and at least one liquid passage (13) for pressurized liquid supply, said air passage (8) and said liquid passage (13) communicating with each other for mixing air and liquid, said mixture of air and liquid being supplied to the discharge opening (9). To improve the generation of fine liquid droplets (mist) an outlet of the liquid passage (8) ends into the air passage (13) upstream of the discharge opening (9) to introduce liquid into the air passage and an outlet of the air passage is provided with a nozzle (10) having said discharge opening (9). Preferably the pressurized air and liquid supply is obtained by means of electric pumps (6,7). The liquid may be water or a (diluted) additive liquid.

Abstract: In a network a star node (SN1) interconnects a plurality of stations (ST1–ST3). The star node (SN1) has interfaces (I1–I3), each having a connection terminal (BP) for connecting a selected one of the stations to the star node (SN1) and each interface receives at a connection terminal (BP) a signal from the station associated with that interface and forwards the received signal to the connection terminal (BP) of the other interfaces.

Abstract: An improved fragrance dispenser, domestic appliance, such as a vacuum cleaner, including such a fragrance dispenser, and cartridge for such a fragrance dispenser is provided in which the dispenser includes a housing portion through which an air discharge passage interconnecting an upstream side of the housing portion and a downstream side of the housing portion extends, and a cartridge carrying a fragrant substance and having vents for allowing air to pass for entraining fragrance from said cartridge, wherein the cartridge is removably mounted and rotatably adjustable about an axis of rotation between at least a first position and a second position, at least a portion of at least one of the vents being obstructed by a housing portion if the cartridge is in the first position and being open if the cartridge is in the second position.

Abstract: A method of determining the relative position of a secondary station (SS) in a radio system including at least one master station (MS) and a plurality of secondary stations (SS), comprises the master station establishing a master log of the time stamp of signals transmitted by active stations and their identities and active secondary stations (SS) establishing a log of the time stamp of signals transmitted by other stations and their respective measured received quality. One of the active secondary stations forwards its log to the master station and the master station correlates the time stamps in the received log with the time stamps in the master log in order to determine the identities of the transmitters and utilizes the measured signal quality indications in the received log to determine the relative position of the secondary station with respect to the locations of the transmitters identified.

Abstract: Method for realizing a binary counter that changes a partly permuted data word stored in a non-volatile memory and including a counter and a working memory and storing a data word in the form of memory words in the non-volatile memory. The method further comprises reading the memory words of the data word and storing the memory words in the working memory while performing an inverse reordering of k permutation bits of the data word, applying an inverse bijective mapping function to the k permutation bits of the data word, altering the data word, applying a bijective mapping function to the k permutation bits of the data word, performing a reordering of the k permutation bits, and checking each memory word for deviations from the memory word stored in the non-volatile memory and storing only those memory words in the non-volatile memory again for which this is the case.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electric steaming device, such as a steam iron or a facial sauna, having a steam generator (5) with a heatable base (12). According to the invention, water is sprayed onto the heatable base (12) via a nozzle (10) to generate steam (22). Some of the sprayed water (23) is mixed with the steam and taken along with the steam towards the steam outlet opening (16). The advantage is a high wet steam or vapor (24) production rate.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a method of providing copper metallization on a semiconductor body, including the step of depositing copper in a nitrogen-containing atmosphere so as to form a nitrogen-containing copper seed layer and forming the copper metallization on the seed layer, and also including the step of heating the seed layer so as to release the nitrogen to form part of a barrier layer separating the seed layer from the semiconductor body.

Abstract: The apparatus for converting side-to-side to rotational motion for a workpiece includes a spring assembly with a movable base mounting element which is driven in a slightly arcuate reciprocal side-to-side motion and a fixed mounting element spaced apart from the base element and mounted in the appliance so that it does not rotate or move in operation of the apparatus. A spring member, such as two planar leaf springs positioned at an angle to each other, is mounted between the movable base element and the fixed mounting element. A drive shaft member extends from the movable base element through the fixed mounting element and beyond. A workpiece such as a brushhead is mounted on the distal end of the drive shaft. The spring member is configured so that it is substantially less resistant to twisting action than bending action, such that the side-to-side motion of the base element results in rotation of the workpiece.

Abstract: The device comprises a memory (10) with a first section (11) and a second section (12). The second section (12) can be read only after erasure of the first section (11). The memory is suitable for authentication purposes, in that the first section (11) contains a first code part and the second section contains a second code part of an identification code. The device is preferably an semiconductor device and can be integrated in articles and in record carriers.

Abstract: A transceiver for a serial data bus is provided which transceiver includes error management. In a first example embodiment of a transceiver, error management is provided which supplies an error signal when the data bus lines are active and the receiving line simultaneously is inactive. In a second example embodiment of a transceiver, error management is provided which triggers an error signal when the transmission line is active for a longer period than a predetermined time interval, which error signal is cancelled when both the transmission line is inactive and the receiving line is active.