Abstract: A load port interface (20) receives, opens and closes a wafer carrier (22). A bulkhead (24) carries a changeable mating plate (92) that is pierced by a window (94). Changing the mating plate (92) adapts the load port interface (20) for use with different sizes of carriers(22). A table (32) of the load port interface (20) receives the carrier (22), advances the carrier (22) until it abuts and seals to the bulkhead (24). An end-effector (42), located on an opposite side of the bulkhead (24) from the carrier (22), actuates latch keys (54) to unlatch a door (48) from the carrier (22). The load port interface (20) then moves the unlatched door (48) rectilinearly, first horizontally away from the bulkhead (24) and then vertically downward, to expose semiconductor wafers (48) present within the carrier (22). The end-effector (42) includes sensors (86, 104) for collecting data about wafers (82) within the carrier (22) by detecting edges (118) thereof.

Abstract: A modular, front loading coin operated vending machine with a rotary coin mechanism operating a reciprocating dispensing mechanism dispenses different sizes and quantities of flat merchandise. A back lever arm on the rotary coin mechanism turns with the front coin turning knob and pulls a flexible cable through a grommetted hole in a vertical wall to draw a push plate forward in a chassis slide opening to force a measured size or quantity of the flat merchandise out through a dispensing slot. Shims between the push plate and the sliding plate raise it to vary the size and quantity of merchandise contacted by the push plate. Full width open front merchandise chutes are interchangeably installed A merchandise weight with a bottom protrusion holds down the merchandise. When the merchandise chute is empty the bottom protrusion of the merchandise weight falls into the slide opening to block the push plate from moving forward and preventing the turning of the coin knob.

Abstract: The pod loader interface is a machine that is able to automatically open a SMIF pod and unload the contents thereof. An elevator raises the SMIF cover away from its base to reveal the wafer boat contained in the SMIF pod. An articulated arm thereafter reaches through an opening in a bulkhead of the machine, securing the wafer cassette and withdrawing it through the hole in the bulkhead. The wafer cassette is then placed in position to be operated upon by the next step in the manufacturing process. The machine includes an integrated clean air system to provide a clean environment for the wafers.

Abstract: Auditory system components and system adapted for implantation into a human subject for reducing conductive and/or sensorineural hearing deficiency in the subject. An electrically excitable microactuator is implantable either into a fenestration formed through a promontory or a stapes footplate which respectively separate a middle ear from an inner ear of the human subject. The auditory system also includes an implantable processor for supplying an electrical signal to the microactuator, and an implantable microsensor for transmitting an electrical signal responsive to impingement of sound on the microsensor.

Abstract: A first of two cryptographic units establish a cryptographic key "K" by initially selecting a first quantity "A", and computes second and third quantities "B"=.PHI..sub.1 (A) and "C"=.PHI..sub.2 (A). It must be mathematically impossible to compute A from B and the function .PHI..sub.1. The first unit then transmits B to the other cryptographic unit, and retains C. The second unit selects a fourth quantity "D" and computes fifth and sixth quantities "E"=.PHI..sub.3 (D) and "F"=.PHI..sub.4 (D). It must be mathematically impossible to compute D from E and the function .PHI..sub.3. Upon receiving B, the second unit uses a fifth mathematical function ".PSI..sub.2 " to compute the key "K"=.PSI..sub.2 (F, B)=.PSI..sub.2 (.PHI..sub.4 {D}, .PHI..sub.1 {A}). Analogously, upon receiving E the first unit uses a sixth mathematical function .PSI..sub.1 to compute the key "K"=.PSI..sub.1 (C, E)=.PSI..sub.1 (.PHI..sub.2 {A},.PHI..sub.3 {D})=.PSI..sub.2 (.PHI..sub.4 {D},.PHI..sub.1 {A}).

Abstract: A biocompatible, implantable microactuator (82) for a fully implantable hearing aid system includes a hollow body (84) that has an open first end (88) and, open first and second faces (94a and 94b). Flexible diaphragms (92, 96a and 96b), respectively covering the end (88) and faces (94a and 94b), hermetically seal the body (84). An incompressible liquid (98) fills the body (84). Transducers (102), provided by laminated, stress-biased unimorphs (32 or 62) that are mechanically coupled to the flexible diaphragms (96a and 96b), deflect the diaphragms (96a and 96b) in response to an electrical driving signal. Deflections of the diaphragms (96a and 96b) are coupled by the liquid (98) to the first flexible diaphragm (92). The unimorphs (32 or 62) include a layer of biocompatible metal (36 or 66-68) deposited on one side of a biocompatible piezoelectric ceramic plate (34 or 64) to stress-bias the plate (34 or 64). A thin, biocompatible electrode (44 or 72) coats the other side of the plate (34 or 64).

Abstract: An improved micromachined structure used for beam scanners, gyroscopes, etc. includes a reference member from which project a first pair of axially aligned torsion bars. A first dynamic member, coupled to and supported from the reference member by the torsion bars, oscillates in one-dimension about the torsion bar's axis. A second dynamic member may be supported from the first dynamic member by a second pair of axially aligned torsion bars for two-dimensional oscillation. The dynamic members respectively exhibit a plurality of vibrational modes each having a frequency and a Q. The improvement includes means for altering a characteristic of the dynamic member's frequency and Q. Coupling between dynamic members permits altering the second dynamic member's frequency and Q by techniques applied to the first dynamic member. Some techniques disclosed also increase oscillation amplitude or reduce driving voltage, and also increase mechanical ruggedness of the structure.

Abstract: A processor based method for recognizing, capturing and storing tabular data receives digital-computer data representing a document either as a pixel-format document-image, or as formatted text. Within the digital computer, either form of the digital-computer data is processed to locate tabular data present therein. After a table has been located, tabular data is extracted from cells present in either form of the digital-computer data. The extracted tabular data is stored into a database present on the digital computer.

Abstract: A microactuator (32) of an implantable hearing aid system (10) is secured within a casing (50) implanted into a fenestration (52) that pierces the promontory (18) of the otic capsule bone (31). The casing (50) includes a hollow sleeve (62) that has an outer surface (64) and a first end (66) that is received into the fenestration (52). The sleeve (62) also includes an inner surface (68) adapted to receive a barrel (74) of the microactuator (32). The casing (62) also includes a flange (76) that is integral with the sleeve (62) and projects outward from the outer surface (64) of the sleeve (62) about a second end (78) of the sleeve (62). Various means secure the sleeve (62) within the fenestration (52) such as screwing into the promontory (18) or clamping to the promontory (18). The casing may fasten the microactuator (32) to the casing (50) by a threaded attachment, with screws, with button-and-socket snap fasteners, or with a slotted tongue-and-groove lock.

Abstract: A rotational shock fixture, energized by an impulsive driver, applies a rotary shock to a device undergoing test. A rotatable device-mounting-plate, enclosed within a rigid box, receives the device. A pair of diametrically opposed bearings support the box within a frame for movement about a rotation axis. A brake, coupled to the rotatable device-mounting-plate abruptly stops the rotatable device-mounting-plate from whirling about the rotation axis thereby applying the rotary shock to the device. Optional coil springs, stretching between the box and the frame, establish a rest orientation for the box with respect to the frame, and dampens oscillations of the box.

Abstract: A client (24) in a digital computer network that employs server-driven consistency accesses a file (26) that a caching site (22) supplies from an image of the file (26) projected from a server (28). When the file (26) becomes inactive, the site (22) saves the file onto local permanent storage together with file metadata. A subsequent request to the site (22) to access the file (26) retrieves from local storage the metatadata, including a file-last-write-time attribute. The caching site (22) compares the locally retrieved file-last-write-time attribute with a server supplied file-last-write-time attribute. If the two attributes are identical, then the caching site: 1. reconnects to the projected file image present in storage at the site (22); 2. re-establishes server-driven consistency over the projected file image at the caching site (22); and 3. uses data from the file image retrieved from local storage to respond to a subsequent read request from the client (24).

Abstract: A fan is attached directly adjacent to a clean air filter sealing an air inlet under a horizontal portion of a plenum chamber below a vertically movable loading platform which all move as a unit. A vertical portion of the plenum chamber, trapezoidal in cross-section, communicates with a wafer pod on the loading platform through an angled perforated grill sealing an air outlet from the vertical portion of the plenum chamber. Clean air flows evenly throughout the entire height of an angled perforated grill over the surfaces of the wafers. Mechanisms lift the pod cover and load and unload the wafer carrier.

Abstract: The invention is an expandable dental implant for receiving and supporting a dental prosthesis immediately after implantation. The expandable dental implant, securable within a bore formed into bone of a patient's jaw, includes an elongated, hollow, tubular barrel having both an attachment end and an insertion end. The barrel includes projecting fins that press into and engage cancellous bone section surrounding the barrel, and has only a threaded interior surface for receiving a threaded expander screw. The barrel is pierced about its insertion end by a plurality of radial slits spaced circumferentially around the barrel. The interior surface of the barrel at the insertion end is formed with a smaller diameter than the diameter of the interior surface of the barrel at the attachment end.

Abstract: A controller for a smart battery selector included in a portable device has a plurality of switch-drivers at least equal to a plurality of smart batteries. The batteries provide battery-state data via a bus to a host computer included in the portable device. Each switch-driver effects selection of an associated battery. A control electronic-circuit in the controller directs operation of the switch-drivers for selecting the battery so that at any instant only one battery powers the portable device. A bus-snooper circuit permits the controller to independently monitor the bus for battery-condition alarm-messages. The controller may respond to such messages by selecting a different battery. The controller may also select a single battery for recharging, and may terminate charging upon receiving a battery overcharge message.

Abstract: A micromachined, monolithic silicon flow meter includes a vane 28 from which projects a hinge. The hinge is provided by torsion bars 24. The hinge supports the vane 28 for rotation about the torsion bars 24. A deflection sensor, consisting of a torsion sensor 42, incorporated into at least one of the torsion bars 24, senses deflection of the vane 28 responsive to fluid impinging thereupon. The frame 22, the torsion bars 24, the vane 28 and the torsion sensor 42 are all monolithically fabricated in a semi-conductor single-crystal silicon layer of a substrate.

Abstract: Network Distributed Caches ("NDCs") (50) permit accessing a named dataset stored at an NDC server terminator site (22) in response to a request submitted to an NDC client terminator site (24) by a client workstation (42). In accessing the dataset, the NDCs (50) form a NDC data conduit (62) that provides an active virtual circuit ("AVC") from the NDC client site (24) through intermediate NDC sites (26B, 26A) to the NDC server site (22). Through the AVC provided by the conduit (62), the NDC sites (22, 26A and 26B) project an image of the requested portion of the named dataset into the NDC client site (24) where it may be either read or written by the workstation 42. The NDCs (50) maintain absolute consistency between the source dataset and its projections at all NDC client terminator sites (24, 204B and 206) at which client workstations access the dataset. Channels (116) in each NDC (50) accumulate profiling data from the requests to access the dataset for which they have been claimed.

Abstract: An electrical circuit for simultaneously energizing at least a pair of CCFLs that are connected in series. The circuit also includes a transformer having a primary winding adapted to receive an alternating current. A secondary winding is coupled in series with the CCFLs to energize their operation. A shunt capacitor, connected in parallel across one CCFL, significantly reduces the peak voltage that must be applied across the CCFLs. Usually, the circuit also includes an isolation capacitor connected in series between the CCFLs and the secondary winding of the transformer. The isolation capacitor provides both DC blocking and electrical isolation between the secondary winding and the CCFLs.

Abstract: A system includes an interface for receiving a pod having a carrier that receives wafers, and that is initially enclosed within a base and a pod cover. The system also includes a mechanism that transfers an exposed carrier between the interface and a platform of a mass-transfer machine included in the system. The machine includes a gantry arm for transferring the carrier between the platform and a transfer station. A retainer assembly is positionable over the carrier at the transfer station, and over a process carrier that is used in a processing tool. Moveable retainers of the assembly receive and hold wafers. The machine includes an elevator that moves between the transfer station and the process carrier. The elevator extends and retracts for transferring wafers between the retainers and either the carrier or the process carrier. A turntable, that receives the process carrier, permits automatically reorienting wafers.

Abstract: The present invention includes a open-Brayton-cycle automotive power-generation unit adapted to be energized by stored thermal energy. Thermal energy, absorbed from hot thermal-energy-storage material present in a working fluid heating vessel, heats a working fluid that passes through the unit's turbine. The unit also includes a rotary impeller that draws the flow of working-fluid into the unit from the surrounding atmosphere and discharges it into a working-fluid heat regenerator. Within the regenerator, working fluid from the compressor is warmed by thermal energy from hot working-fluid exhausted from the turbine. After passing through the regenerator, working-fluid from the turbine is discharged into the atmosphere. Working-fluid from the compressor flows from the regenerator through the heating vessel into the turbine. An alternator converts energy from the turbine into electricity. The electric energy thus obtained powers a vehicle's electric drive motors.

Abstract: This invention concerns real-time assembly of a compressed audio-visual system data stream (22) so the audio and video data may be subsequently presented in synchronism. Assembly of a system data stream (22) in accordance with present invention interleaves packets of data selected from a compressed audio bitstream (16) with packets of data selected from a compressed video bitstream (18). If frames of video data being assembled into the system data stream (22) advance too far ahead of the audio data being assembled into the system data stream (22), then all the data for a single frame of the video signal is omitted from the system data stream (22). Conversely, if frames of video data being assembled into the system data stream (22) lag too far behind the audio data being assembled into the system data stream (22), then a second copy of all the data for a single frame of the video signal is assembled into the system data stream (22).