Abstract: A method and a system for generating a behavioral model for a device having a plurality of driver pins and receiver pins. The method and system includes connecting the plurality of driver and receiver pins to a test apparatus including an input stimulation means, a voltage measurement means, and a current measurement means, stimulating a first set of the plurality of receiver pins using the input stimulation means, performing voltage measurements at selected ones of the plurality of driver pins using the voltage measurement means, stimulating a second set of the plurality of receiver pins using the input stimulation means, performing current measurements at selected ones of the plurality of driver pins using the current measurement means, and creating the behavioral model using the voltage measurements and the current measurements.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for equalizing the frequency response of a transmission line is provided. The method includes the steps of modelling the frequency response of the transmission media for a predetermined frequency range to a predetermined accuracy; determining a desired equalizer response by taking an inverse of the modelled frequency response of the first step; implementing an equalizer that exhibits the desired response; and utilizing the equalizer to equalize the frequency response of the transmission line. The apparatus includes an adaptive equalizer circuit which includes a plurality of signal processor circuits which each take an input signal from the transmission line and process it to mimic a term in a transfer function which represents an inverse of the transfer function of the transmission line. The signals from these processors are then summed and multiplied by a programmable gain term. Then the input is added to the output of the multiplier to form an output equalizer signal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for simultaneously displaying numerical data on contribution of various parts to a whole by breaking up the data into the different parts that contributed to the whole and assigning a different color to each. Then the amount of each of these parts is determined and the measurements are plotted by combining the colors into a hue, where the color of the hue represents the relative contribution of the each part for each piece of numerical data.

Abstract: A method for searching a document directory hierarchy which partitions a user-initiated search. The document directory hierarchy comprises a plurality of document directories stored in a tree data structure. Each of the plurality of document directories corresponds to a category within a class hierarchy and stores at least one document. A user query comprising one or more search terms is accepted from an input device. If the user query includes a user-selected category, a directed search is performed. However, if the user query does not include a user-selected category, an undirected search is performed. The directed search confines the search to one of the plurality of document directories corresponding to the user-selected category, and returns relevant documents within the user-selected category.

Abstract: A DC--DC power converter circuit for converting relatively high input voltages to relatively low output voltages employs a buck-type circuit topology with a multiple winding inductor. An optional winding is provided to the inductor to clamp a voltage spike appearing on the drain of one of the switching devices. Optionally, two inductor windings may be capacitively coupled for better efficiency.

Abstract: A pencil beam of X-rays is scanned over the surfaces of the body of a person being examined as the person walks through the scanning apparatus. Specifically, a tracking assembly is employed to rotate the scanning plane through a tracking angle and in a direction progressing from the entrance to the exit of the portal, through which the person passes, in order to substantially track the person or body as it moves with respect to the system from the entrance to the exit X-rays that are scattered or reflected from the subject's body are detected by a detector assembly. The signal produced by this scattered X-ray detector in then used to modulate an image display device to produce an image of the subject and any concealed objects carried by the subject. The detector assembly is constructed in a configuration to automatically and uniformly enhance the image edges of low atomic number (low Z) concealed objects to facilitate their detection.

Abstract: Network communication between a management station and an expression management information base (MIB) on a simple network management protocol (SNMP) agent entails complex analysis and configuration during creation of the variables. In order to alleviate this concern, an interface is provided which accepts an expression from a user, parses the expression to determine if it is in proper form, creates SNMP set packets to set the expression on the expression MIB and sends the SNMP set packets to the expression MIB of the SNMP agent. Alternatively, a similar interface may be located within the SNMP agent or node, and requires no communication over the network in order to evaluate expressions.

Abstract: An Inductive Output Tube where, in order to permit the use of coaxial output cavities, the electron beam propagates in first approximation in a radial direction from the cathode. The electron beam is generated by an in first approximation cylindrical cathode, and gated by a consequently in first approximation cylindrical grid. The required drive power is provided by a coaxial input circuit. Depending on the level of a bias voltage, V.sub.g, applied between grid and cathode, the radial electron beam can optionally be operated in modulation classes A, AB, B or C. The modulated electron beam, accelerated by the beam voltage applied between cathode and anode, passes through an in first approximation cylindrical output gap where the modulation interacts with the electromagnetic field of a coaxial output circuit which is optionally connected to one or both ends of the gap between anode and collector. The spent beam is then collected by a radial collector.

Abstract: A protection device for an electronic instrument having a power supply, a power cord for attachment to the power supply, and an interlock member being movable between a first position preventing attachment of the power cord to the power supply, and a second position permitting attachment of the power cord to the power supply.

Abstract: The present invention provides for safe and simple replacement or removal of individual feeders from a placement machine without any loss in performance by using a signal means to emit a signal to the CPU of the placement machine when a feeder is removed. Upon receipt of this signal, the CPU controls the pick-up head in such a way so that it does not collide with the feeder being removed. If the pick-up head is located directly above the pick-up position of the feeder to be removed, it can be moved momentarily upwards or sideways thanks to its fast drive before a collision occurs. If the pick-up head is located just on the way to the pick-up position of the feeder, the procedure is momentarily aborted so that a collision can be avoided.

Abstract: A design of logic circuitry to be tested is divided into one or more discrete logic modules usable in other designs of circuitry. An automated test pattern generator (ATPG) program and its tools are applied to the discrete module while not also being applied to the remainder of the logic circuitry, with the result that an ATPG pattern is provided for the module. When the module is reused in another design of logic circuitry, the ATPG pattern is also reusable in such other design.

Abstract: A hearing compensation system for the hearing impaired comprises an input transducer for converting acoustical information at an input to electrical signals at an output, an output transducer for converting electrical signals at an input to acoustical information at an output, a plurality of bandpass filters, each bandpass filter having an input connected to the output of said input transducer, a plurality of AGC circuits, each individual AGC circuit associated with a different one of the bandpass filters and having an input connected to the output of its associated bandpass filter and an output connected to the input of the output transducer. The bandpass filters and AGC circuits may be divided into two processing channels, one for low frequencies and one for high frequencies and may drive separate audio transducers, one configured for maximum efficiency at low frequencies and one configured for maximum efficiency at high frequencies.

Abstract: In the present invention, a method for directing parallel processing computing device to perform the operation of setting a signed value of N bits to an absolute value comprises the steps of: performing an arithmetic shift right of N-1 bit to form a bit mask; performing an exclusive-OR logical operation with the signed value of N bits and the bit mask to form a result; and subtracting the bit mask from the result of the exclusive-OR logical operation to form the absolute value of the signed value of N bits. Further, an apparatus for parallel processing a signed value to form an absolute value comprises: means for performing an arithmetic shift right of N-1 bit to form a bit mask; means for performing an exclusive-OR logical operation with the signed value of N bits and the bit mask to form a result; and means for subtracting the bit mask from the result of the exclusive-OR logical operation to form the absolute value of the signed value of N bits.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for optimizing a non-inclusive hierarchical cache memory system that includes a first and second cache for storing information. The first and second cache are arranged in an hierarchical manner such as a level two and level three cache in a cache system having three levels of cache. The level two and level three cache hold information non-inclusively, while a dual directory holds tags and states that are duplicates of the tags and states held for the level two cache. All snoop requests (snoops) are passed to the dual directory by a snoop queue. The dual directory is used to determine whether a snoop request sent by snoop queue is relevant to the contents of level two cache, avoiding the need to send the snoop request to level two cache if there is a "miss" in the dual directory.

Abstract: A holographic display system provides a holographic image suitable for use as a nightlight in a dimly lit environment wherein the only light in the field of view of the user is essentially the light diffracted into the holographic image being replayed. The holographic display system includes a low watt light source, a hologram recorded with a reference beam matching the beam of the light source employed to replay the hologram, and an enclosing structure for holding the lightsource and hologram in registration wherein the enclosure is configured so that the only light emitted from the display system is emitted from the hologram.

Abstract: Grounding a PCB to an enclosure sub-assembly is accomplished using a specially designed spring. The spring contains a base portion, an inclined portion and a head portion. Holes are provided in the base portion of the spring to allow for soldering to make a much stronger bond, reducing the chance of separation. A tab is provided on the top portion to reduce snagging nearby objects during installation. Notches are placed between the head portion and flaps connected to he head portion in order to reduce tearing that may occur during manufacture. The spring may then be used with a specially designed enclosure sub-assembly having a drawn feature, the drawn feature engaging the spring and compressing it, allowing grounding to occur. The drawn feature allows for the single spring design to be used in a wide variety of products.

Abstract: A method of generating a graphical image, such as a font, is described in which expansion data for an image portion that is not to be written is never added to source data for such portion.

Abstract: A step-down switched-mode power supply circuit includes a transformer having at least one primary winding and at least one secondary winding, a current sensing device for sensing a current through a primary winding of the transformer, a first switch and a second switch, a first comparator for determining if the current through the current sensing device exceeds a threshold, a voltage regulator coupled to the secondary winding to produce a regulated voltage, a second comparator for determining if the regulated voltage has drooped below an acceptable level, a counter coupled to the second comparator for generating a signal having a fixed number of switch cycles, and control circuitry for generating signals controlling the first switch and the second switch and responsive to the first comparator to enter a power saving mode disabling the signals, and to the second comparator to temporarily exit the power saving mode for a fixed number of cycles when the regulated voltage has drooped below an acceptable level.

Abstract: A method for creating a class hierarchy containing categories for classification of documents. The class hierarchy is initialized to contain a root category node within a tree data structure. The root category node is defined by a user-defined category name. The class hierarchy is displayed to assist a user in entering a command for manipulating the class hierarchy. A user may select a category command, resulting in the class hierarchy containing a plurality of category nodes. In addition, a user may select a terms command to manipulate terms defining one of the plurality of category nodes.

Abstract: A circuit suitable for use in electronic systems which utilize Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory (SDRAM), and method according to the present invention comprises an application-specific integrated circuit. When a burst command is initiated by the memory controller, causing the SDRAM to perform a data transfer into or out of memory which require many consecutive clock cycles to complete, the circuit recognizes the SDRAM commands as those commands appear on the instruction bus. The circuit then analyzes other operations which are pending and which might be performed during otherwise unusable time periods while the burst operation is being performed by the SDRAM. The circuit issues instructions to initiate and complete these operations prior to the SDRAM command being completed.