Abstract: A compensation circuit in a high speed integrated circuit operational amplifier that includes an input stage having first and second outputs connected to emitters of first and second PNP cascode transistors. A base of an NPN cascode transistor is coupled to a collector of the first PNP cascode transistor. A resistor circuit is connected between the collectors of the second PNP cascode transistor and the NPN cascode transistor. First and second inputs of a diamond follower output buffer are connected to the collectors of the NPN cascode transistor and second PNP cascode transistor, respectively. A compensation circuit includes first and second compensation capacitors connected to the collectors of the NPN cascode transistor and the second PNP cascode transistor, respectively, to prevent instability of an output voltage of the diamond follower buffer circuit.

Abstract: Geographically related information is received from a plurality of sources, such as orbiting satellites, reconnaissance aircraft, photographs, maps, remote computer terminals, and the like, and is processed and integrated into a generic GIS to provide expanded information due to vast amount of data relating to geographic locations to increase the amount if information available and derivable. The processed data may be stored for later use, or it may be presented visually on a computer screen or printed to provide a hard copy. Interactive terminals may be used to provide data as desired in a real time setting. These data are manipulated to, (A) provide information of current value and utility to the user, and (B) to perform simulation of local/regional future scenarios to assess the sustainability of particular courses of action.

Abstract: Sound is converted into an electrical signal by a microphone and is converted into an inaudible, pulse width modulated signal that is combined with the electrical signal from the microphone, amplified, and converted into sound waves by a speaker. The pulse width modulator includes an A/D converter coupled to a shift register in a digital encoder. Any sound travelling from the speaker back to the microphone includes the inaudible component representing the original sound. The inaudible component is separated from the audible components, and the original sound is reconstructed in a pulse width demodulator including a shift register in a digital decoder coupled to a D/A converter. The reconstructed original sound is subtracted from the signal from the microphone, thereby reducing any echo and cancelling feedback. The apparatus includes amplitude correction circuitry for flattening the frequency response of the apparatus and includes phase correction circuitry for eliminating phase shifts in the apparatus.

Abstract: A polishing head for chemical-mechanical polishing apparatus includes a carrier plate having concentric, integral, cylindrical walls, an annular piston fitting within the outer of the cylindrical walls and a second piston fitting within the inner cylindrical wall and engaging the annular piston. Each piston defines a chamber with the carrier plate and the chambers are isolated from each other by a seal. Pneumatic fittings supply air or vacuum to each chamber. The second piston includes a cylindrical side wall and an integral bottom plate. The bottom plate is thicker in the center than at the side wall and the underside of the plate is covered with a wafer adhering layer. A retaining ring is attached to the lower edge of the annular piston. The retaining ring includes a peripheral groove for separating an outwardly extending flange from the main body of the ring. The underside of the ring includes one or more spiral grooves for circulating slurry about a wafer during polishing.

Abstract: An electromagnetic actuator includes a ferromagnetic plate and an electromagnet, both of which have adjacent surfaces with corresponding sloped facets that define a non-uniform gap. A nominal spacing of the gap is maintained by elastomer, preferably located within the gap. The gap spacing between corresponding sloped facets is substantially less than for other portions of the gap and favors flow of magnetic flux. In one embodiment, multiple parallel-connected electromagnets are magnetically coupled to the same faceted ferromagnetic plate such that sloped facets of the various electromagnets and corresponding or matching sloped facets of the ferromagnetic plate are oriented in different directions. A weighted average of the coil currents of the electromagnets determines the net translation of the ferromagnetic plate. The actuators are used in vibration control systems.

Abstract: A high speed integrated circuit operational amplifier chip having first, second, third and fourth successive edges includes a thermal centerline parallel to the second and fourth edges. An output driver circuit is located adjacent to an output bonding pad along the third edge and is disposed approximately symmetrically about the thermal centerline to provide approximately balanced differential heating of the operational amplifier chip relative to the thermal centerline. A low gain differential input circuit is located adjacent to the first edge and is disposed approximately symmetrically about the thermal centerline to provide approximately balanced responses of matched transistors in the low gain differential input circuit to isotherms produced by the differential heating.

Abstract: A compensation circuit in a high speed integrated circuit operational amplifier that includes an input stage having first and second outputs connected to emitters of first and second PNP cascode transistors. A base of an cascode transistor is coupled to a collector of the first PNP cascode transistor. A resistor circuit is connected between the collectors of the second PNP cascode transistor and the NPN cascode transistor. First and second inputs of a diamond follower output buffer are connected to the collectors of the NPN cascode transistor and second PNP cascode transistor, respectively. A compensation circuit includes first and second compensation capacitors connected to the collectors of the NPN cascode transistor and the second PNP cascode transistor, respectively, to prevent instability of an output voltage of the diamond follower buffer circuit.

Abstract: A high speed integrated circuit operational amplifier chip first, second, third and fourth successive edges includes a thermal centerline parallel to the second and fourth edges. An output driver circuit is located adjacent to an output bonding pad along the third edge and is disposed approximately symmetrically about the thermal centerline to provide approximately balanced differential heating of the operational amplifier chip relative to the thermal centerline. A differential input circuit is located adjacent to the first edge and is disposed approximately symmetrically about the thermal centerline to provide approximately balanced responses of matched transistors in the low gain differential input circuit to isotherms produced by the differential heating. The most thermally sensitive transistors are disposed along or symmetrically about the thermal centerline to provide approximately balanced response by such transistors to differential heating by the output driver circuit.

Abstract: An EL panel has the material around each lamp removed to form a first rail and a second rail and a plurality of lamps mechanically isolated from each other and located on predetermined centers between the rails. Each lamp is connected to each rail by an arm and each arm includes a hole for locating the panel in a fixture. The arms are collinear and intersect the rails at an angle of 45.degree.. The panel is located in a fixture by pins through the holes in the arms and laminated to a backing plate or other device, also located in the fixture.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for establishing a collapsible infusion conduit in a blood vessel includes a catheter formed as a normally-flattened tube of flexible, collapsible plastic. When placed in a blood vessel, the catheter collapses to a flattened configuration for lying along the wall of the blood vessel to avoid obstruction to blood flow. During infusion, infusion fluid expands the catheter to a generally oval flow path. The catheter may be initially placed in the blood vessel by pre-loading the catheter over a guide wire and inserting the catheter and guide wire through an introducer sheath into the blood vessel. Infusion fluid is thereafter applied to the trailing end of the catheter to expand the catheter to facilitate withdrawal of the guide wire. Alternatively, the leading end of the catheter may initially be sealed, and placement into the blood vessel is achieved through an introducer sheath by inflating the catheter with pressurized fluid to temporarily render the catheter rigid and generally oval.

Abstract: A stable solution, cream, salve, or spray composition containing activated stabilized chlorine dioxide and phosphates, such as disodium hydrogen phosphate, sodium dihydrogen phosphate, trisodium phosphate, and sodium monofluorophosphate, is disclosed for the prevention and treatment of abnormal conditions of the epithelium of bodily orifices. Examples of such abnormal conditions of the epithelium of the rectal, vaginal, urethral, oral, nasal, ocular, and auditory canal orifices include bacterial infections, such as Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans and Porphyromonas gingivalis, and fungal infections, such as Candida, and leukoplakia. The preferred concentration ranges are between about 0.005%-2.0% chlorine dioxide, and between about 0.02%-3.0% phosphate. The phosphate compound retards escape of chlorine dioxide in the pH range of 6.0 to 7.

Abstract: An electronic key identifier includes first and second opposing surface segment sensors which can be clamped into engagement with the opposite sides of the blade of an unknown key blank. Each side of the key blade includes collinear surface segments separated by one or more recessed segments. Electrical conductors within the surface segment sensors contact the raised surface segments and discharge electrical energy through the grounded key blade. Appropriate electronic circuitry interfaces the conductor of the surface segment sensor with a computer to generate an electronic image of the two key blade sides. By comparing the electrical image of the unknown key blade with a database of electrical images of known key blades, the unknown key can be identified to allow the operator of a key cutting machine to quickly complete the key identification process.

Abstract: A high resolution optical coupling device includes optical coupling material bonded to a CCD wafer surface and a fiber optic bundle. The CCD wafer is bonded to a substrate, and a thermal compensation plate is bonded to an opposite face thereof to compensate effects of differential thermal contraction and expansion of the CCD wafer and substrate. Substrate-adjusting elements engage the substrate to shape the CCD wafer surface to match a mating surface of a fiber optic bundle before the thermal compensation plate is attached to the substrate. A null fringe pattern of an interferometer indicates when a perfect match is achieved. A thin layer of optical coupling material then is used to bond the CCD surface to the matching surface of the optic fiber bundle. Thermal compensation material can be included in a rigid hermetic seal structure between the substrate and the fiber optic bundle to reduce bonding interface shear stress in the optical coupling material due to volume changes thereof during thermal cycling.

Abstract: A keratotomy incision is formed in a cornea by manipulating an RK knife so that its blade extends a preselected depth into a point on the cornea. Sufficient force is applied by a surgeon's fingers to the knife to advance its blade in a preselected direction. Advancement of the blade is halted when resistance of the cornea against the blade exceeds a certain level. In one embodiment, a plurality of such incisions are formed in a predetermined pattern until a final incision is made wherein resistance of the cornea against the leading edge of the blade exceeds the particular level at the starting point for that final incision. The blade then is withdrawn from the cornea, whereby the plurality of incisions reduce strain in collagen fibrils of the cornea so as to correct a refractive error associated with such strain.

Abstract: A method for co-registering a semiconductor wafer (14) undergoing work in one or more blind process modules (10), (12) requires a means (16), (18) for consistently and repeatably registering the semiconductor wafer (14) to each process module (10), (12). Given this consistent and repeatable singular wafer registration means (16), (18), the location of the coordinate axes of each process module (10), (12) is determined with respect to the position of the semiconductor wafer (14) that is registered therein.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the simultaneous duplication of both the bit notch pattern and shoulder position of a master key onto a key blank. The key blank is longitudinally and laterally aligned relative to a key cutter. A master key is longitudinally and laterally aligned relative to a key follower. The key follower is then longitudinally and laterally displaced relative to the master key to trace the contour of the key master. The key cutter is simultaneously displaced relative to the key blank in an identical manner to reproduce the traced contour of the master key on the key blank and to longitudinally reposition the key blank shoulder to coincide with the relative longitudinal location of the master key shoulder by cutting away a portion of the shank to reduce the length of the shank.