Abstract: An integrated circuit including a first wire of a first level of wiring tracks, a second wire of a second level of wiring tracks, a third wire of a third level of wiring tracks, and a fourth wire located at a first distance from the second wire in the second level of wiring tracks. A first via connects the first and second wires at a first location of the second wire. A second via connects the second and third wires at the first location, the second via is approximately axially aligned with the first via. A third via connecting the third and fourth wires at a second location of the fourth wire. A fourth via connecting the first and fourth wires at the second location, the fourth via is approximately axially aligned with the third via. The second, third, and fourth vias, and the third and fourth wires form a path between the first and second wires redundant to the first via.

Abstract: A development system for developing new peripheral software code for new peripheral hardware that will be used in a new integrated system. The development system includes a legacy, or preexisting, integrated system substantially the same as the new integrated system. A model of the new peripheral hardware is made. Each I/O register of the model is mapped into memory-mapped I/O space. Development code corresponding to the new peripheral software code is executed on the preexisting hardware so as to interact with the model via the memory-mapped I/O space. In one embodiment, the model is executed as an embedded model on the preexisting integrated system. In another embodiment, the model is executed as a non-embedded model on a hardware descriptive language simulator.

Abstract: A pillow that can be manipulated into a variety of bent/folded/twisted configurations and can retain each of those configurations until manipulated into a different configuration. The pillow has a segmented toroidal shape and includes an envelope and a flowable fill filling the envelope so that the fill is under positive pressure throughout. The pillow has a plurality of constrictions that, in conjunction with the pressurized fill, provides the pillow with soft hinges that facilitate bending/folding/twisting of the pillow.

Abstract: Methods for accurately tracking position and orientation of a magnetic-field sensor in a tracking volume when a large magnetic-field distorter is present in the tracking volume. In some of the methods, magnetic field data is collected from within the tracking volume both with and without the large magnetic-field distorter present in the tracking volume. This data is used to obtain correction information that is subsequently used during real-time operation of the magnetic-field sensor to correct the position and orientation solutions for the sensor for magnetic-field distortions caused by the presence of the large magnetic-field distorter in the tracking volume. Others of the methods involve modeling the large magnetic-field distorter using dipole and multipole modeling. Magnetic tracking systems for implementing the methods include hardware and software for carrying out the methods.

Abstract: An integrated circuit that includes memory containing wordlines and bitcells having SRAM storage elements and being connected to the wordlines. Wordline up-level assist circuitry is provided that is designed and configured to provide a plurality of selectable voltage values that can be selected to provide the wordline up-level voltage that is provided to the bitcells during a memory read cycle and/or write cycle. In one example, the voltage value selected is selected based on characterization of the as-fabricated bitcells so as to decrease the likelihood of the bitcells experiencing a stability failure.

Abstract: A wind turbine system is provided for geographic regions having multiple soil layers, such as permafrost. The wind turbine includes a plurality of blades mounted to a nacelle on top of a tower. The tower is supported by a foundation that extends through or into the multiple soil layers. The wind turbine monitors the condition of a top layer of soil and calculates a natural frequency for the wind turbine system based on the changes to the layer of soil. Changes in operation of the wind turbine are made in response to changes in the natural frequency of the wind turbine system.

Abstract: A power system for connecting a variable voltage power source, such as a power controller, with a plurality of energy storage devices, at least two of which have a different initial voltage than the output voltage of the variable voltage power source. The power system includes a controller that increases the output voltage of the variable voltage power source. When such output voltage is substantially equal to the initial voltage of a first one of the energy storage devices, the controller sends a signal that causes a switch to connect the variable voltage power source with the first one of the energy storage devices. The controller then causes the output voltage of the variable voltage power source to continue increasing. When the output voltage is substantially equal to the initial voltage of a second one of the energy storage devices, the controller sends a signal that causes a switch to connect the variable voltage power source with the second one of the energy storage devices.

Abstract: A therapeutic composition comprising extracts of the plant species ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) and Indian gooseberry (Phyllanthus emblica). A composition of ashwagandha and Indian gooseberry may: (1) lower cortisol and increase DHEA, (2) prevents free radical-induced photoaging, (3) inhibit collagenase activity in vitro, (4) inhibit hyaluronidase activity in vitro, (5) display superior cascading antioxidant activity, (6) reduce C-reactive protein, (7) enhance mood.

Abstract: A spinal implant which is configured to be deployed between adjacent vertebral bodies. The implant has at least one extendable support element with a retracted configuration to facilitate deployment of the implant and an extended configuration so as to expand the implant and effectively distract the disc space, stabilize the motion segments and eliminate pathologic spine motion. Angular deformities can also be corrected, and natural curvatures restored. Preferably, the implant has a minimal dimension in its unexpanded state that is smaller than the dimensions of the neuroforamen through which it typically passes to be deployed within the intervertebral space. The implant is provided with a locking system preferably having a plurality of locking elements to lock the implant in an extended configuration.

Abstract: A method of screening on-chip variation in NFET-to-PFET device performance for as-manufactured integrated circuits (ICs) made using a CMOS process. The method includes defining an acceptable frequency- or period-based NFET-to-PFET device performance envelope by simulating a pair of ring oscillators, one of which contains only NFET transistors and the other of which contains only PFET transistors. The ring oscillators are then fabricated into each as-manufactured ICs. At screening time, the ring oscillators in each fabricated IC are tested to measure their frequencies (periods). These frequencies (periods) are then compared to the performance envelope to determine whether the NFET-to-PFET device performance of the corresponding IC is acceptable or not.

Abstract: A GNSS receiver including a processing unit adapted to process radio signals transmitted from an active set of signal sources and based thereon produce position/time related data. The signals of the active set are processed in parallel with respect to a real-time signal data rate of the signals by a respective tracking channel resource allocated for each signal source. The processing unit also has a monitoring channel resource adapted to process radio signals transmitted from each of at least two signal sources in an additional set of signal sources different from the signal sources in the active set. The processing unit is adapted to process the radio signals of the additional set according to a cyclic processing sequence such that the signals from any of the signal sources in the additional set can be included into a navigation solution without delay.

Abstract: A single oscillator synchronizer system and method that automatically switches from a wireless receive mode of the oscillator to a wireless transmit mode of the oscillator upon the detection of a synchronization (synch) signal of a camera body. In one example, a method of wirelessly communicating a camera synchronization from a camera body to a remote device with a wireless camera flash synchronizer connected to a synchronization connector of the camera body, the wireless camera flash synchronizer including a transceiver having an oscillator element with a wireless receive mode and a wireless transmit mode, the oscillator element configured to be in only one of the wireless receive mode and wireless transmit mode at a time is provided. In another example, a wireless camera flash synchronizer that automatically switches from a wireless receive mode to a wireless transmit mode upon detection of a synch signal of a camera body is provided.

Abstract: A system for exposing a target material to small particles. The system includes an exposure chamber that receives the target material. A stream of charged particles is directed via an inlet into the exposure chamber toward the target material. One or more electrodes are located relative to the target material and the inlet, and are electrically charged, so as to cause at least some of the charged particles to impact upon the target material. The system can be used to expose the target material to small, for example, nanoscale, particles in a gas environment.

Abstract: Circuitry for determining timing characteristics, for example, access time, setup time, hold time, recovery time and removal time, of as-manufactured digital circuit elements, such as latches, flip-flops and memory cells. Each element under test is embodied in variable-loop-path ring oscillator circuitry that includes multiple ring-oscillator loop paths, each of which differs from the other(s) in terms of inclusion and exclusion of ones of a data input and a data output of the element under test. Each loop path is caused to oscillate at each of a plurality of frequencies, and data regarding the oscillation frequencies is used to determine one or more timing characteristics of the element under test. The variable-loop-path ring oscillator circuitry can be incorporated into a variety of test systems, including automated testing equipment, and built-in self test structures and can be used in performing model-to-hardware correlation of library cells that include testable as-manufactured digital circuit elements.

Abstract: A reservation request is received for a data transport session. The reservation request contains a requested class of communication service through the asynchronous network. The state of the network along the route is then preferably determined and at least one end-to-end route through the network is obtained. The route is based on the requested class of communication service and the state of the network. The data transport session is then controlled, such that data is forced to travel along at least one route through the asynchronous network. This is preferably done by controlling multiple data controllers dispersed along the at least one route by mapping specific data protocols to specific routes, or mapping specific data protocols to specific ports in each data controller. If a state of the asynchronous network indicates that the route cannot transport data in conformity to the class of communication service, then the route is changed to a backup route through the network.

Abstract: A circuit that selectively connects an integrated circuit to elements external to the integrated circuits. The circuit includes an input/output element that selectively connects an input/output pin as a function of a power requirement or a signal bandwidth requirement of the integrated circuit. The input/output element includes one or more switching devices that connect the input/output pin to an external element, such as a power supply or external signal path. The input/output element also includes one or more switching devices that connect the input/output pin to an internal element, such as a power network or internal signal line.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling one or more remote photographic flash devices from a camera body. Wireless functionality within a camera body provides wireless communication of a signal from within the camera body to one or more remote devices. In one example, a flash synchronization signal of the camera body may be wirelessly communicated using a wireless communication functionality within the camera body and an external antenna to one or more remote flash devices for triggering the one or more remote flash devices.

Abstract: A gas laser device is presented that produces a near diffraction limited round beam exiting the discharge vessel. Through the use of a simple focusing system, additional waveguide strip and a spatial filter in conjunction with the new asymmetric hybrid planar waveguide resonator, a round diffraction limited beam can be produced exiting the discharge vessel. Furthermore, a second and very similar design is presented that allows for spatial filtering to take place directly outside of the discharge vessel, thereby enabling filtering of the beam to be an added option.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically generating a computation mesh for use with an analytical tool, the computation mesh having a plurality of ?-grid lines and ?-grid lines intersecting at mesh points positioned with respect to an inner boundary and an outer boundary. The system and method includes receiving information corresponding to a shape to be analyzed, ?-grid line mesh parameter value corresponding to a desired number of ?-grid lines for the computation mesh, and an ?-grid line mesh parameter value corresponding to a desired number of ?-grid lines for the computation mesh, and generating the computation mesh from one or more mesh equations without the need for receiving additional information from a user. In one example, the solving of the one or more mesh equations includes an outer boundary distance parameter that is a function of an inner boundary distance parameter and one of a natural log of the ?-grid line mesh parameter value and a square root of the ?-grid line mesh parameter value.