Abstract: The amount of hardware required to implement a Burt Pyramid or an FSD (filter-subtract-decimate) pyramid analyzer (or synthesizer) stage of a sampled temporal signal representing an n-dimensional information component or (such as a video signal) is substantially reduced by employing a time-synchronized multiplexed analyzer stage to derive (or a time-synchronized multiplexed synthesizer stage that is responsive to) a single serial stream of samples of a predetermined plural number of sub-spectra that are arranged in a predetermined temporal order format with respect to one another in accordance with each of a given set of time synchronized, repetitively generated, serially applied control signals.

Abstract: An optical imager includes a sensor and a diffraction lenticular array. The sensor includes a substrate of a semiconductor material having a pair of opposed major surfaces and a plurality of photodetectors arranged in a plurality of columns along one of the major surfaces. The diffraction lenticular array includes a plurality of stripes of a material which will diffract the radiation being sensed. The stripes are arranged in a plurality of repetitive patterns with each pattern being formed of a plurality of spaced, parallel stripes extending longitudinally along a column of the detectors. The pattern of the stripes has a large spacing between the stripes at the center of the pattern and smaller spacing at the edges of the pattern. The stripes may be on a separate substrate of a material which is transparent to the radiation being detected or directly on the major surface of the semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: A pallet is releasably attached to a car which is stopped automatically at a work station in a coarse alignment with a robotic system at the work station. A movable plate, which tends to be distorted from a given shape, is releasably secured to the car and lifted from the car at the work station, aligned in the desired fine alignment during the lifting and then clamped in place relative to a reference plane in the fine alignment relative to the robotic system to remove the distortion. The plate is later dropped by gravity onto the car in a given alignment therewith for transfer to the next work station which repeats the fine alignment and distortion removal action.

Abstract: In a differential pulse code modulator for image-representative signals, a coder codes difference signals to produce coded signals which have a highly variable rate, which depends upon motion in the image being represented. A rate buffer receives the coded signals and generates a control signal representative, at least in part, of the rate of fill of the rate buffer. Various filters, decimators and/or coarse quantizers associated with the modulator have characteristics controlled by the control signal in order to tend to control the rate of fill of the rate buffer. This aids in preventing loss of information at the receiver.

Abstract: A plurality of first cavities is formed in the planar surface of a silicon substrate. A first oxide region of predetermined thickness is formed in each of the first cavities such that each of the first oxide regions has a surface which is coplanar with the substrate surface. A layer of monocrystalline silicon is then epitaxially deposited over the planar first oxide region/substrate surface. Second cavities are then formed through the monocrystalline silicon layer and into the substrate adjacent the first oxide regions, extending to a depth equal to approximately one-half that of the first oxide regions. The second cavities are then thermally oxidized so as to form second oxide regions therein, these second oxide regions being coplanar with the first oxide regions. Silicon is next epitaxially deposited on those portions of the monocrystalline silicon layer remaining on the first oxide regions so as to yield a continuous monocrystalline silicon sheet over the first and second oxide regions.

Abstract: A robotically operated wire insertion apparatus for insulation displacement terminals (IDTs) automatically feeds wire to a wire insertion hand, automatically straightens the wire during the feeding so that the wire is aligned with the hand, inserts the wire progressively into a plurality of IDTs and severs the wire from the last inserted IDT, and initializes the apparatus to begin a new wiring cycle. The IDTs may have any orientation in any plane on one or more different substrates.

Abstract: Multiresolution processing apparatus (which may be programmed as pyramid processing apparatus) comprised of a filter logic unit comprised of one or a plurality of identical interconnected programmable modules; a set of programmable multiplexers (MUX), a plurality of programmable random access-memories (RAM), and a timing and control means including an instruction memory for programming the flow of information data through and the operation of the filter logic unit, the set of MUX and the plurality of RAM. This permits a single stage to sequentially operate as each separate stage of an FSD or Burt Pyramid analyzer or of a pyramid synthesizer.

Abstract: An improved electron beam resist structure comprises an organic planarizing layer which has been treated with an ion beam for a time sufficient to render it conductive and an electron beam resist layer thereover. The electron beam resist layer is preferably oxygen plasma resistant. When the resist layer is not resistant to oxygen plasma and it is desired to develop the planarizing layer by oxygen plasma, the structure additionally includes a thin hard mask layer, suitably of silicon dioxide, interposed between the conductive planarizing layer and the resist layer.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for use with a computerized graphics system to create the illusion of motion from a sequence of still images. A memory and circuitry are provided to generate video signals representing successive still images in the motion sequence. The transition from still image to still image in the sequence is provided by dissolving from the presently displayed image to the next image. This dissolve eliminates the jerkiness that is usually present in creating motion from two images having rather large pixel size by smoothing over the transition from one still image to the next.

Abstract: Large areas of metallization on a semiconductor surface are replaced with an interconnected pattern of metallization. When an area of metallization is covered with a layer of dielectric glass having a thermal coefficient of expansion substantially different from that of the metallization, use of the subject interconnected pattern of metallization significantly enhances the stability of the structure to thermal stress.

Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device is disclosed wherein the doping concentration of the side wall of a trench isolation region is increased. An opening is formed in a first masking layer so as to expose a portion of the semiconductor substrate. Then, dopants are introduced through the opening in the masking layer so as to form a heavily doped region within the semiconductor substrate. An isolation trench is then formed in the exposed portion of the semiconductor substrate. At least a portion of the side wall of the trench is located in the heavily doped region. The heavily doped region increases the threshold voltage of the side wall transistor and thereby reduces the leakage current along the side wall of the trench isolation region.

Abstract: The number of bits per digital sample that is required to be stored in each of one or more delay means of an input-weighted multitap digital filter is reduced with respect to that required by the prior art. The savings in storage hardware becomes more and more significant as the number of samples stored in each delay means becomes larger and larger. A plurality of filter delay means, each storing as many as 800 samples, are used in vertical filters of image processors operating in real time on horizontally scanned two-dimensional images, such as television images.

Abstract: Fractals are generated based on their self-similarity properties. This is done by convolving a basic shape, or "generator pattern", with a "seed pattern" of dots, in each of different spatial scalings. The convolution results are then combined to define a multi-dimensional object, identifiable as a fractal. Two-dimensional sections of this object are used in generating graphic images for video display.

Abstract: A number of control signals for accessing a random access memory may be generated using a cascade connection of data latches. A control signal generator produces two non-overlapping timing signals and their complements from a single input clock signal. The non-overlapping signals of each type are connected to alternate ones of the data latches in the cascade chain. The input to the data latch chain receives the memory access pulse which is then used to derive the various control signals for the random access memory. A plurality of flip-flops have their set and reset terminals connected to the output terminals of various ones of the data latches to produce output control signals from each flip-flop. These control signals have the desired timing relationship to the access pulse.

Abstract: A foveated electronic camera employing a spatial-frequency spectrum analyzer and data-reduction means utilizing movable spatial windows for converting a high-resolution, wide field-of-view image into a group of subspectrum band images ranging in resolution and field of view from a lowest-resolution image of the entire field of view to a highest-resolution image of a selectably positionable smallest spatial subregion of the entire field of view. Such a camera is useful in a surveillance camera system and in a robotic system, by way of examples.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices such as lasers which include a substrate with a channel therein with a clad layer overlying the substrate and filling the channel exhibit irregularities such as terraces in the surface of the clad layer which are detrimental to device performance. These irregularities are substantially eliminated by forming the channel in a surface of a buffer layer greater than about 4 micrometers thick on the substrate and forming the clad layer over the buffer layer and the channel. CW lasers incorporating the principles of the invention exhibit the highest output power in a single spatial mode and maximum output power which have been observed to date.

Abstract: A CCD imager has a line-transfer register the contents of which are transferred at pixel scan rate, one or two lines at a time, through a side-loaded CCD shift register forward clocked at a multiple of pixel scan rate, to an electrometer. Forward clocking the CCD shift register at higher rate than pixel scan rate reduces the differential delay between the various points of side-loading the CCD shift register, so line selection artifacts are confined to the line retrace interval. Line selection artifacts are then suppressed by normal line-retrace-interval blanking.

Abstract: A system capable of synthesizing multi-channel sound for a computer includes a sound generator for each audio channel. A circuit provides a programmable delay so that one generator produces sound in one channel that is delayed with respect to the sound in the other channel. Multiple generators may be provided in each channel with each such generator having an independently programmable delay circuit associated therewith.

Abstract: First and second output signals are taken from a floating element in a CCD charge transfer channel and from the terminal drain diffusion of that CCD charge transfer channel. The floating element is part of an electrometer, and the electrometer response is wide-band sampled at the CCD charge transfer channel clocking rate. Current flow through the terminal drain diffusion is sensed by the input circuit of a low l/f noise transresistance amplifier. Continuous-frequency-spectrum low-noise output signal is generated from the low-frequency components of the transresistance amplifier response and from the high-frequency components of the processed second output signal. Subsequent filtering removes unwanted clock and aliased frequency components.

Abstract: A CCD delay line may be tapped using a floating-diffusion electrometer at the tap. Charge sensing is made non-destructive by not resetting the floating diffusion to a reset drain after charge sensing. The resulting charge integration on the floating diffusion causes a smearing of the samples described by successive charge packets. The smearing is in the baseband frequencies of the sample frequency spectrum, but does not appreciably affect the subspectra surrounding harmonics of the delay line clock rate. Consequently, smear-free response to the floating-gate electrometer output signals can be obtained by synchronously detecting them at a harmonic of the delay line clock rate. Using floating-diffusion electrometers, rather than floating-gate electrometers, to sense charge packet amplitudes at taps along a CCD delay line lowers the noise in the output response of output-weighted, charge-coupled-devive transversal fiters.