Abstract: A system includes an imaging device for capturing a video sequence and a display for displaying the video in a window of the display and effectively positioning a probe relative to probe pads of a device under test for testing a semiconductor wafer supported by a support of a probing environment.

Abstract: A computer-based simulation process executes a checkpoint operation while simulating behavior of an electronic circuit by forking an active checkpoint process having the same state as the original simulation process. While simulation time for the simulation process continues to increase after executing the checkpoint operation, simulation time for the checkpoint process remains unchanged so that the checkpoint process remains in the state of the simulation at the simulation time it executed the checkpoint operation (the “checkpoint time”). When the checkpoint process subsequently receives a request to resume simulating the circuit, it forks a new simulation process that mimics the original simulation process as of checkpoint time, and the new simulation process then begins to advance its simulation time, thereby enabling it to re-simulate behavior of the electronic circuit previously simulated by the original simulation process starting from the checkpoint time.

Abstract: A voltage indicator for mounting on a power cord (FIG. 3) for indicating the presence or absence of a single-phase AC voltage potential on a monitored power cord for a grounded AC power distribution system. The indicator comprises; a housing (16,18), an electronic display (10), a static suppression resistor (12), a first conductive element (14) in physical proximity to the monitored power cord, and a second conductive element (22) meant to be touched by a human being to provide a visual indication of the presence or absence of a voltage potential on the monitored power cord. A capacitive coupling (FIG. 1) takes place between the “hot” conductor of the power cord and the first conductive element (14) of the indicator. This causes a voltage drop across the display (10) and the resistor (12) in parallel with the display (10). The current flow from the display (10) and the resistor (12) merge together to return to ground through a human being touching a second conductive element (22).

Abstract: A membrane probing assembly includes a support element having an incompressible forward support tiltably coupled to a rearward base and a membrane assembly, formed of polyimide layers, with its central region interconnected to the support by an elastomeric layer. Flexible traces form data/signal lines to contacts on the central region. Each contact comprises a rigid beam and a bump located in off-centered location on the beam, which bump includes a contacting portion. After initial touchdown of these contacting portions, further over-travel of the pads causes each beam to independently tilt locally so that different portions of each beam move different distances relative to the support thus driving each contact into lateral scrubbing movement across the pad thereby clearing away oxide buildup. The elastomeric member backed by the incompressible support ensures sufficient scrub pressure and reliable tilt recovery of each contact without mechanical straining of the beam.

Abstract: A sports glasses construction includes an eyeglass frame for semi-rimless lenses having a pair of receivers for receiving a first pair of selectively removable lenses or lens adapter frames. A pair of lens adapter frames has respective upper connection members sized and shaped to couple to the respective pair of receivers in the eyeglass frame. The pair of lens adapters each has a lower portion sized and shaped to couple to a second respective pair of lenses while leaving the lower edges of the lenses exposed to provide a semi-rimless construction, and to permit the frame to adapt to lenses of differing geometry.

Abstract: A system which operates a digitally controlled model railroad transmitting a first command from a first client program to a resident external controlling interface through a first communications transport. A second command is transmitted from a second client program to the resident external controlling interface through a second communications transport. The first command and the second command are received by the resident external controlling interface which queues the first and second commands. The resident external controlling interface sends third and fourth commands representative of the first and second commands, respectively, to a digital command station for execution on the digitally controlled model railroad.

Abstract: A protection device for monitoring current in a power cable to an electrical device and for controlling a remotely located starter for the electrical device in response to a system controller. The device includes a transformer magnetically linked with the power cable to produce a voltage signal in response to the presence of a changing current within the power cable. An input circuit located in a single housing together with the transformer is electrically connected to the transformer so as to receive the voltage signal. The input circuit produces, in response to the voltage signal, either a first signal or a first circuit condition at the output terminal of the input circuit, representative of the changing current in the power cable. A switch circuit also in the same container with the transformer has a terminal for sensing either a second signal or a second circuit condition of the remotely located system controller.

Abstract: A solubility-improved drug form is combined with a concentration-enhancing polymer in a sufficient amount so that the combination provides substantially enhanced drug concentration in a use environment relative to a control comprising the same amount of the same drug form without the concentration-enhancing polymer.

Abstract: In a membrane probing apparatus, the impedance of the interface between coaxial cables connected to the test instrumentation and the membrane supported co-planar waveguide that conductively connects to the probe's contacts is optimized by eliminating a ground plane in the interface board.

Abstract: A wireless DCC model railroad throttle comprises a throttle program operable on a portable data processing device to display a graphical user interface and communicate a user's control inputs to a layout controlling interface managing communication with a digitally controlled model railroad layout.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention comprise systems and methods for managing and combining layers in a multi-layer bitstream comprising encoded image coefficients and encoded block pattern (Cbp) information wherein the Cbp information identifies regions in said bitstream that comprise transform coefficients.

Abstract: A synthetic board is made from a plastic film ply 4, 6 adhered or welded to a parallel array of thin-walled plastic tubes 2. In some versions, the tubes are spaced from each other. In others the tubes are contiguous. This allows the board to curl up more or less depending on the tube packing about the tubes axes but to resist bowing between the ends of the tubes. The board is useful for packaging, display, cladding and insulation. In some versions, a second parallel array 7 lies at 90° to the first and the board is free to fold about the boundary between the two arrays. In this way, runs of cruciform carton blanks can be manufactured. The tubes can contain particulate or gel filling.

Abstract: The present invention provides designs for a self-ligating orthodontic bracket. The self-ligating orthodontic bracket includes a mounting base for attachment to a tooth surface, an archwire slot, a rotary ligating cover permitting access to the archwire slot, and one or more locking features for holding the rotary ligating cover in a closed position. In one embodiment, the bracket includes one or more locking tabs on the rotary ligating cover aligned in coplanar relation to and cooperatively mating with cutout portions in the base. In one embodiment, the bracket includes at least one resilient retention mechanism which may include one or more relief channels permitting flexing of at least portions of the rotary ligating cover adjacent to the one or more locking tabs.

Abstract: A method of selectively combining particulate material, for example plastics material by sintering, comprises providing a layer of particulate material, providing radiation, for example using a radiation source over the layer, and varying the absorption of the provided radiation across a selected surface portion of the layer to combine a portion of the material of the layer. The method may comprise varying radiation absorption by varying the intensity of the radiation incident on the surface portion of the layer, or alternatively may comprise varying the radiation absorptive properties of the particulate material over the selected surface portion of the layer, for example by printing a radiation absorbent material onto the surface portion.

Abstract: A chuck includes a conductive element that contacts a device under test in a location on the chuck. The chuck includes an upper surface for supporting a device under test and a conductive element that extends through the chuck to the upper surface of the chuck. The conductive element is electrically isolated from the upper surface of the chuck, and makes electrical contact with any device under test supported by the chuck.

Abstract: A wafer probe comprises a contact conductively interconnected with the wall of a waveguide channel and supported by a substrate that projects from an end of a waveguide channel.

Abstract: A wheelchair exercise apparatus has a platform which will support a wheelchair. The platform has an elongate slot which the driving wheels of the wheelchair can drop slightly into. An elongate roller, having a central axis which is vertically below the center line of the slot, is movable between a lowered position where it is substantially below the upper surface of the platform and a raised position where it projects through the slot and extends partially above the upper surface of the platform. A locking system holds the wheelchair while the roller is being moved to its raised position and during the exercise period.

Abstract: A placement tool searches for an optimal placement for a plurality of device modules within an integrated circuit (IC) including symmetry groups formed by device modules that are to be symmetrically placed. The tool employs a hierarchical B*-tree (HB*-tree) representation of a trial placement wherein each symmetry group and each module not included in a symmetry group is represented by a separate node of the HB*-tree. Each symmetry group node maps to a symmetry island placement for the symmetry group satisfying all symmetry and other placement constraints on the symmetry group. The placement tool employs a simulated annealing technique to iteratively perturb the HB*-tree representation to produce a sequence of trial placements, and uses a cost function to evaluate the quality of each trial placement.

Abstract: Imaging apparatus including image creation means for creating a moving image, means for enlarging the image, and a screen on which the image is displayed in use to a viewer. The image creation means includes a substantially planar image creation screen on which the image is created.

Abstract: A placement tool generates an optimal placement for a plurality of device modules within an analog integrated circuit (IC) subject to device matching, symmetry, and proximity constraints by first defining a multiple-level hierarchy of constraint groups, wherein each constraint group consists of elements that are subject to one of the placement constraints. Each element of each constraint group consists of either of one of the device modules or another one of the constraint groups residing at a lower level of the hierarchy. The tool then generates a hierarchical B*-tree representation of a trial placement for the IC including a separate node representing each constraint group of the hierarchy and a separate node for each of device module not included in any of the constraint groups.