Abstract: The backup/restore method as described in this invention has a “backup copy generating process” to generate backup copy(ies) and a “restore process” to restore the original file(s) from the backup copy(ies) generated by the “backup copy generating process,” and includes a process to instruct the execution of the “restore process” by designating the file (name) and the time period backing from the current time (S801-S803), and when the execution of “restore process” is instructed, a process to control the execution of the “restore process” (S804) by selecting the corresponding backup copy file(s), according to the designated file (name) and designated time period.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining the presence or absence of wafers in a cassette, i.e. a wafer mapper, is integrated with a door assembly in a load port interface that separates a process environment from an operator environment. In one orientation, a port cover plate seals an opening that pierces a bulkhead, while a door panel rests horizontally on the operator environment side of the bulkhead. In this position, a cassette of wafers may be placed on an inside surface of the door panel, with the top of the stack being open. As the door rotates to a vertical position, the wafer stack moves through the bulkhead opening thereby entering the process environment. A moveable trolley, connected to or within the door, moves parallel to the wafer stack detecting the presence of wafers by sensing light scattered from wafer edges through a window in a cover plate of the door panel. In this way the apparatus determines each wafer's location and may provide that information to subsequent wafer manufacturing operations.

Abstract: Methods for filling transducers of a fully implantable hearing aid system with liquids having either a high or a low vapor pressure are described. Methods are also described for avoiding damage to transducers during their testing and shipment.

Abstract: A digital computer network includes a network-infrastructure cache that provides proxy services to a plurality of client workstations concurrently requesting access to data stored on a server. A network interconnecting the workstations and the server carries requests for data to the server, and responses thereto back to requesting client workstations. The network-infrastructure cache receives and responds to requests from the client workstations for access to data for which the network-infrastructure cache provides proxy services. A cache in the network-infrastructure cache stores data for inclusion in responses. If the cache lacks data needed for a response, then the network-infrastructure cache forwards a request for the missing data onto the server, and receives data responsive thereto. In one embodiment the network-infrastructure cache converts requests received from clients in a first protocol into requests in a second protocol for transmission to the server, and conversely.

Abstract: A DC-DC converter for converting DC power received from a high-voltage DC power supply to a well-regulated output voltage that is significantly lower than the received voltage. The converter includes a regulated voltage-reduction stage which receives high-voltage DC electrical power and supplies DC electrical power at a voltage which is lower than that received. The converter also includes a separately regulated electrically isolated stage, energized by electrical power received from the voltage-reduction stage, that supplies DC electrical power to a load at the significantly lower output voltage. A feedback circuit couples an output signal from the output of the isolation-stage for regulating operation of the voltage-reduction stage and of the isolation stage.

Abstract: A rotary polishing disc for dental grinding and polishing includes a disc-shaped piece of sheet of abrasive material fixed to a hub. In one embodiment, the hub is a hollow cylinder which is received onto a rotatable arbor. In another embodiment, the hub has a first end fixed to the sheet material, and has a second end that is received by a socketed end of the arbor. To fix the disc-shaped piece of sheet material more securely to the hub, a retainer plug may pass through a central aperture in the sheet material and enter into the hub. The retainer plug has a flat cap which becomes juxtaposed with the sheet material furthest from the hub. In another aspect, an improved arbor for the first type of hub includes protruding barbs which spear the hub when its hollow interior is disposed on the arbor.

Abstract: A three DOF SCARA arm, adapted for transporting semiconductor wafers, includes an end-effector assembly at a distal joint of the arm. In one configuration, the end-effector turns a workpiece over. The arm includes a support column having an open column assembly that projects above a base. Within the assembly, a Z-axis drive energizes extension and retraction of a hollow tube carried by the support column. A shaft, rotatable about the Z-axis and having a distal end furthest from the support column's base, receives an arm assembly. An arm-assembly rotary-drive energizes the shaft's rotation. An arm base-plate, secured to the shaft's distal end, supports the arm assembly therefrom. The arm base-plate carries a wrist joint that is displaced from the Z-axis, and receives the end-effector whose rotation about a wrist-joint axis is energized by an end-effector rotary-drive.

Abstract: A compact adapter for interconnecting a digital computer peripheral device that uses a Single Connector Attachment (“SCA”) to a conventional Small Computer System Interface (“SCSI”) bus. A SCA connector of the adapter mates with and engages a complementary SCA connector included in a peripheral device. The SCA connector is juxtaposed perpendicularly with a first face of a planar printed circuit board. A narrow width for the printed circuit board permits a disk drive mated with the adapter to fit within a space in a digital computer system adapted to receive a peripheral device. The compact adapter also includes an electrical power connector together with a first, conventional SCSI bus connector. Preferably, the adapter also includes a second, conventional SCSI bus connector having a different style from that of the first SCSI bus connector.

Abstract: A method for operating a monolithic, integrated, micromachined structure that includes a reference member and one or more dynamic members. Each dynamic member is supported from the reference member, either directly or indirectly, by torsion hinges. Supported in this way, each dynamic member exhibits a plurality of vibrational modes. Preferably, the structure is micromachined to establishes specified relationships between various pairs of vibrational modes. The method also includes applying force to each dynamic member that urges the member to rotate out of a rest position to a fixed particular angle.

Abstract: A fiber optic switch includes a fiber optic switching module that receives and fixes ends of optical fibers. The module includes numerous reflective light beam deflectors which may be selected as pairs for coupling a beam of light between a pair of optical fibers. The module also produces orientation signals from each deflector which indicate its orientation. A portcard included in the switch supplies drive signals to the module for orienting at least one deflector. The portcard also receives the orientation signals produced by that deflector together with coordinates that specify an orientation for the deflector. The portcard compares the received coordinates with the orientation signals received from the deflector and adjusts the drive signals supplied to the module to reduce any difference between the received coordinates and the orientation signals. The switch also employs optical alignment to precisely orient pairs of deflectors coupling a beam of light between optical fibers.

Abstract: Mesh cells (30) for machine-made netting (51) use pairs of mesh bars (35) made from a continuous length of material and meet at a common coupler (34). Such mesh bars (35) have a lay with a common direction throughout the length of material. In a zig-zag pattern used in knitting machine-made netting (31), the longitudinal axis of symmetry (38) of mesh bars (35) turns at each coupler (34). Towing such mesh bars (35) causes water to flow past pairs thereof in two different directions with respect to their common lay. The directions of water flow are neither parallel nor perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of symmetry (38) of the mesh bars (35). As water flows past the mesh bars (35), the cross-sectional shapes of the mesh bars (35) produce a net component of force that is oriented in a direction perpendicular to a combined drag component of force for the mesh bars (35).

Abstract: A method for fabricating an integrated, micromachined structure, such as a torsional scanner, that includes a reference member, such as a frame, a pair of torsion hinges, and a dynamic member that is coupled to the reference member by the torsion hinges. The method includes providing a wafer that has been formed from silicon material, and that has both a frontside and a backside. A membrane is formed in the wafer by etching a cavity in the silicon material from the backside of the wafer. The method also includes establishing a pattern that defines the mirror surface and the torsion hinges on the frontside of the wafer at the membrane formed therein. The frontside of the wafer is processed to form therein the dynamic member and the torsion hinges that support the dynamic member for rotation about the axis.

Abstract: A load port interface for determining the presence or absence of wafers in a cassette, i.e. a wafer mapper, is integrated with a port closure assembly in a load port interface separating a process environment from an operator environment. A cover plate and a door are arranged in an L-shape, with both members being able to seal the port in a bulkhead of the load port interface. In one configuration, the cover plate seals the port, while door panel members rest horizontally on the operator side of the bulkhead. In this position, a wafer stack, W, inside of a cassette may be placed on the inside door panel, with the top of the wafer stack, W, being open. As the door is raised from the horizontal position to a vertical position, the wafer stack, W, is rotated through an opening in the bulkhead so that the wafer stack, W, is now on the process side. The wafer mapper features a moveable trolley connected to, or within, the door.

Abstract: A device for retaining, in a rolled-up configuration, a portion of a collapsible container that holds a quantity of a product. The method includes forming a roll of a collapsible container holding a quantity of a product. The opening of a U-shaped clip is then urged into engagement with the roll of the collapsible container until the opening passes about the roll, and the roll becomes disposed between arms of the U-shaped clip. Thus arranged, an layer of a resilient, open-cell foam material lining the inside of the U-shaped clip is juxtaposed with and compressed by the roll of the collapsible container.

Abstract: A monolithically fabricated micromachined structure (52) couples a reference frame (56) to a dynamic plate (58) or second frame for rotation of the plate (58) or second frame with respect to the reference frame (56). Performance of torsional oscillators or scanners (52) benefits greatly by coupling the frame (56) to the plate (58) or second frame with torsional flexure hinges (56) rather than torsion bars (54). Appendages (122), tethers (142) or an improved drive circuit enhance electrostatic drive stability of torsional oscillators (52). Wide and thin torsional flexure hinges (96) and isotopically pure silicon enhance thermal conductivity between the plate (58) and the frame (56). Dampening material bridging slots (232) adjacent to torsional flexure hinges (96) drastically reduce the dynamic member's Q. A widened section (252) of narrow torsional flexure hinges (96) permit inclusion of a torsion sensor (108). A dynamic member (58) that includes an actuator portion (302) performs light beam switching.

Abstract: A implantable sealed microphone (50) includes a diaphragm (52) having a thin central region (54) surrounded by a thicker rim (56). One side of sheet electret material (72) is bonded to the diaphragm (52) while the other side contacts a roughened plate (82). The rim (56) is bonded to a housing (112) thereby hermetically enclosing the electret (72) and the plate (82). The microphone (50) also includes an electrical connector (94) that couples both the plate (82) and the electret (72) to an input of an amplifier (30) included in an implantable hearing aid system (10). Preferably, the microphone (50) is incorporated into a sealed electronics module (100) together with the amplifier (30) and an energy storage device such as a battery that energizes operation of the implantable hearing aid system (10). In such a configuration, the microphone's diaphragm (52) forms a surface of the electronics module's housing (112).

Abstract: A mesh cell construction which is systemized wherein opposite mesh bars of the rectangularly shaped mesh cell have a common lay direction when viewed in an axially receding direction (either right-handed or left-handed lay) that is opposite to that associated with the remaining opposite mesh bars of such mesh cell. In another aspect, when incorporated in a trawl (13), such cell construction of the invention provides for improved shaping and performance of the trawl (13) wherein the mesh cells of different geometrical locations positioned relative to and about the longitudinal axis of the trawl can be controlled such that resulting trawl panels wings (25) act analogous to a series of mini-wings capable of acting in concert in operation. Such concerted action provides, when the trawl is in motion, outwardly directed force vectors which significantly increase the trawl volume and hence mouth (26) volume while simultaneously decreasing drag.

Abstract: A for method watermarking a compressed video bitstream selects for modification numerous sites within an MPEG compressed video bitstream, each of which sites includes a DCT coefficient which is apt for modification. Watermarking sites are preferably located in MPEG B frames, and the DCT coefficient to be modified preferably has a run-length of zero (0). The method then embeds the watermark by modifying the DCT coefficient for at least some of the selected sites. A list specifying the watermarking sites may be transmitted together with the compressed video bitstream to permit further watermarking by subsequent bitstream receivers. A system for detecting an unauthorized copy of a watermarked video forms a synchronized, frame-by-frame difference between a possibly unauthorized copy of the watermarked compressed video and an un-watermarked copy of the video. Data in the watermarking site list permits readily locating watermarks within the possibly unauthorized copy.

Abstract: A network of digital computers includes Network Distributed Cache (“NDC”) sites. Each NDC site includes an NDC that has an NDC buffer. One of the NDC sites receives a request to access data in a stored dataset. The receiving NDC checks its NDC buffer for a projected image of requested data. If the NDC buffer lacks the requested data, and if the NDC site is not the NDC server terminator site for the requested data, the NDC site transmits the request to an NDC site that is closer to the NDC server terminator site. When a requesting NDC site and the request receiving NDC site having a projected image of the requested data both have this NDC buffers located in a shared memory, the NDC site having the data transmits to the requesting NDC a pointer to a location in its NDC buffer for the data.

Abstract: An active transient-control circuit included in a power supply responds swiftly to changes occurring in the output-power voltage produced by a power converter to reduce transient changes in the output-power voltage caused by sudden, substantial changes in the electrical current drawn by the load. To respond in this way, when the output-power voltage has a magnitude less than a lower pre-established-voltage threshold, the active transient-control circuit supplies electrical energy directly to the load from the input electrical power thereby augmenting output electrical power supplied to the load by the power converter. Correspondingly, when the output-power voltage has a magnitude that exceeds an upper pre-established-voltage threshold, the active transient-control circuit draws electrical energy directly from the output of the power converter.