Abstract: A suction cup device including a housing having a recess formed in a first surface, a drive surface external to and aligned with the recess, an aperture communicating between the housing drive surface and the recess; a suction cup; a drive shaft coupled to a central portion of the suction cup and sized to pass through the aperture in the housing; a rotational drive member having a cooperating drive surface structured to cooperate with the housing drive surface, a spiral installation drive surface aligned with the cooperating drive surface and relatively inclined thereto, and an aperture communicating between the cooperating and spiral installation drive surfaces and sized to slidingly engage the drive shaft; and a drive pin fixed crosswise to the drive shaft and spaced away from the suction cup, the drive pin structured to interact with the spiral installation drive surface of the rotational drive member.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for suspending two or more force-versus-displacement sensors for measuring displacement of a pendular structure relative to a frame structure, wherein a suspension structure includes the frame and pendular structures, the pendular structure having a base structure suspended from the frame structure for rotation about a first axis, a beam structure spaced away from the first axis, and a flexure suspending the beam structure from the base structure for rotation about a second axis that is substantially perpendicular to the first axis. The flexure suspending the beam structure from the base structure is positioned substantially intermediate between suspension positions of the force-versus-displacement sensors, and constrains the beam structure to motion substantially within the plane of the pendular structure.

Abstract: Performance-enhancing, reduced-area metalization adhesion areas in force-sensing transducers are described.

Abstract: A net zero isolator having an elongated linear displacement member; and first and second counter rotation members arranged crosswise to the linear displacement member at either end thereof, each of the first and second counter rotation members including a mounting portion spaced apart from an isolated portion on respective first and second sides of the elongated linear displacement member. The elongated linear displacement member and the first and second counter rotation members are structured such that a displacement of the mounting portions along the linear displacement member is balanced by a displacement of the isolated pads. The net zero isolator acts through each of the first and second counter rotation members to generate displacements of the isolated portions that cancel a linear displacement of the mounting portions.

Abstract: A decompression algorithm for parallel decompression of compressed canonical Huffman encoded data by providing a fast peripheral to decompress the data, thereby off-loading the main processor to do other work in contrast to the prior art devices and methods. The decompression algorithm also provides for multiple dedicated decompression peripherals to further increase decompression performance in applications having multiple data requesters. The decompression algorithm is optionally implemented in hardware to provide parallel processing of decompression operations that is much faster than traditional software solutions because multiple parallel paths and functional blocks are utilized to rapidly accomplish the decompression.

Abstract: A multi-channel synchronous voltage-to-frequency converter (SVFC) realized in an integrated semiconductor circuit. The multi-channel SVFC having an operational amplifier adapted to receive an analog data signal to be converted and a reset signal, the operational amplifier integrating the sum of the analog signal and the reset signal and generating an output signal as a function of the integrated sum; a comparator coupled to receive the integrated sum and a reference level signal, the comparator outputting a logic level signal as a function of the received reference level signal; a digital logic circuit in response to an external clock signal, the digital logic circuit receiving the logic level signal and generating a reset control signal and a frequency output pulse as a function of the logic level signal; and a reset source switch receiving the reset control signal and outputting the reset signal.

Abstract: A method and device for determining ambient air temperature by measuring the temperature of an aircraft interior skin surface.

Abstract: A method for delicately adjusting an orientation of features in completed micro-machined electromechanical sensor (MEMS) devices after initial formation and installation within the device packaging to trim one or more performance parameters of interest, including modulation, bias and other dynamic behaviors of the MEMS devices.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for determining the actuation energy generated by a bimetallic actuator during transit between first and second states of stability. The apparatus and method further determining the threshold or set-point temperature of the bimetallic actuator during transit between bi-stable states. Accordingly, the apparatus and method directly measure both the snap force F and the set-point temperature of the bimetallic actuator during transit.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for suspending and strain isolating a structure is provided, the apparatus having a first elongated flexure having first and second ends structured for connection to a support structure, and a second elongated flexure having first and second ends structured for connection to a structure to be isolated from the support structure. A portion of the second flexure intermediate the first and second ends thereof is interconnected to a portion of the first flexure intermediate the first and second ends thereof.

Abstract: A multi-positionable mounting device that provides a substantially stable, load-bearing but relatively adjustable ball and socket mounting device. An interior surface of the socket is formed of first and second opposing part hemispherical socket portions that are relatively orientable with one another for forming therebetween a part spherical cavity. The interior surface of one socket portion is formed with multiple facets at a predetermined radial distance from a spherical center point of the cavity. The first and second opposing part hemispherical socket portions are securable in a relationship which forms the part spherical cavity therebetween. A part-spherical coupler substantially fills the spherical cavity. The mechanical securing means applies clamping force that acts between the first and second opposing socket portions and secures the coupler therebetween in fixed orientation with one of the faceted socket portion.

Abstract: A method for post-fabrication modification of the snap actuation properties of a thermally responsive bimetallic actuator by exposing a pre-formed bimetallic actuator to laser energy, thereby permanently altering the thermal response properties of the bimetallic actuator, and a thermally responsive bimetallic actuator having snap actuation properties developed according to the method.

Abstract: A positively-positionable mounting apparatus having a ball mount, a multisided positionable mount, and a coupler. The coupler includes two relatively rigid arm members and a clamp structured to secure the arm members together in an operatively juxtaposed configuration. Each of the arm members is formed with a part hemispherical socket adjacent to a first end, the socket structured to cooperate with the ball mount to form a securely positionable ball-and-socket assembly. Each of the arm members is also formed with a multisided partial collar adjacent to a second end, the partial collar structured to cooperate with the multisided positionable mount to form a positively-positionable wheel-and-axle assembly.

Abstract: A resonator beam structure that, during vibration of the tines, minimizes coupling of a longitudinal motion of the tines into a support structure to which the resonator beam is attached. The resonator beam includes a pair of tines; a first base region mechanically coupling a first ends of the tines together; a second base region mechanically coupling the second ends of the tines together; a first cutout of a first predetermined geometry at a first predetermined position in a closed interior portion of the first base region; and a second cutout of a second predetermined geometry at a second predetermined position in a closed interior portion of the second base region. The invention includes a method for using finite element analysis to determine an optimum geometry and position of the cutouts.

Abstract: A multiply configurable hat having a visor assembly joined to a double thickness knit stocking cap. The visor assembly is formed of a visor or bill portion joined to an adjustable headband and is separable from the stocking cap and is independently wearable as a visor. The visor assembly is installed into the annular space between the inner and outer knit fabric tubes of the double thickness knit stocking cap and is movable therein relative to the inner and outer knit fabric tubes. Furthermore, the inner and outer knit fabric tubes are configurable relative to the visor assembly, such that the visor portion is arranged in proximity to the brim and the headband is movable along a length of the annular space. The inner and outer knit fabric tubes of the stocking cap are thus configurable relative to the visor assembly into a variety of different arrangements.

Abstract: A manufacturing process is carried out starting from an SOI type wafer including a top silicon layer and a bottom silicon layer separated from each other by a buried silicon dioxide layer. In the top layer, a LOCOS type sacrificial region is formed and then removed, so as to form a cavity that extends in depth as far as the buried oxide layer. Subsequently, the cavity is filled with epitaxial or polycrystalline silicon, so as to form a power region extending between the top surface and the bottom surface of the wafer; then lateral insulation regions are formed that insulate the power region from the circuitry region.

Abstract: A transistor including an epitaxial layer with a first conductivity type, a base buried region with a second conductivity type, and a sinker base region with the second conductivity type which extends from a main surface of the transistor to the base buried region, and delimits, together with the base buried region, emitter fingers in the epitaxial layer. The transistor further includes an emitter buried region with the first conductivity type and a doping level which is higher than that of the epitaxial layer. The emitter buried region is embedded in the epitaxial layer in a position adjacent to the base buried region. A sinker emitter region having the first conductivity type and a doping level which is higher than that of the epitaxial layer and extends from the main surface to the emitter buried region inside the emitter fingers.

Abstract: A method of protecting data in a semiconductor electronic memory, which includes using a protected memory portion within the matrix and respective dedicated decoding portions for storing, into the protected portion, a protection code without the address area of the matrix. The protection code can only be written and/or read through a command interpreter.

Abstract: A semiconductor power device comprising an insulated gate bipolar transistor, of the type which comprises a semiconductor substrate with a first type of conductivity and an overlying epitaxial layer with a second type of conductivity, opposite from the first, and whose junction to the substrate forms the base/emitter junction of the bipolar transistor, has the junction formed by a layer of semiconductor material with conductivity of the second type but a higher concentration of dopant than that of the epitaxial layer. Furthermore, the device has the epitaxial layer with conductivity of the second type provided with at least two zones at different dopant concentrations, namely a first lower zone being part of the junction and having a higher dopant concentration, and a second upper zone having a lower concentration.