Abstract: A sensing assembly for use in determining if magnetic tape within a single reel tape cartridge properly connects to a takeup reel within a tape drive during loading of the tape cartridge, so that the magnetic tape can be wound between the tape cartridge and the tape drive as data is transferred to or from the magnetic tape. The sensing assembly comprises at least one sensing apparatus for providing feedback on connection status to prevent connection failures from rendering the tape drive inoperable.

Abstract: The precise solder paste application process makes use of mask registration apertures that are formed in the printed circuit board and that are adapted to receive a component solder paste mask that conforms to the conductor pattern of the component to be replaced. The component solder paste mask comprises a mask that has formed therein apertures that correspond to the pattern of solder paste that is to be applied to the printed circuit board surface mount pads to correspond to the conductors of the component. The component solder paste mask includes registration features that mate with the registration apertures formed in the printed circuit board to thereby ensure precise placement of the component solder paste mask over the area of the printed circuit board that receives the replacement component.

Abstract: In the manufacture of an integrated circuit memory capacitor, an underlying hydrogen barrier layer, either electrically nonconductive or conductive, is formed on a substrate. Then, the lower electrode layer and the ferroelectric/dielectric layer are formed and selectively etched. A nonconductive hydrogen barrier layer is formed on the dielectric layer and selectively etched. After a heat treatment in oxygen, the upper electrode layer and a conductive hydrogen barrier layer are successively deposited and selectively etched. The nonconductive hydrogen barrier layer covers the capacitor except for a part of the upper electrode, and the conductive hydrogen barrier layer covers a portion where there is no nonconductive hydrogen barrier layer. Thus, the underlying barrier layer, the nonconductive barrier layer and the conductive barrier layer together completely cover the memory capacitor. The dielectric layer comprises a ferroelectric or high-dielectric constant metal oxide.

Abstract: A capacitive filling level sensor has a first capacitive sensor element arranged close to a fluid whose filling level is to be detected, a second capacitive sensor element arranged close to a fluid whose filling level is to be detected, and a switched-capacitor measuring circuit, which is connected to the first and second capacitive sensor elements and which detects the capacitance values thereof. The switched-capacitor measuring circuit produces in response to the detected capacitance values a signal indicative of the filling level. The first capacitive sensor element and the second capacitive sensor element are each defined by two wires of a ribbon cable having at least five wires, the fifth wire extending between the wires which define the capacitive sensor elements, and being connected to ground.

Abstract: A system for providing passive dust control for a transfer of bulk material from a first station to a second station. A dust containment housing encloses a first station and station. A bulk material is transferred from the first station to the second station inside the dust containment housing. A region of low pressure is provided inside the dust containment housing. Air carrying suspended particles of bulk material flow from a region of high air pressure generated by the transfer of bulk material to the region of low air pressure inside the housing. The suspended particles of bulk material either remain suspended in the air inside the housing or settle out of the air into the bulk material inside the housing.

Abstract: A timing circuit produces a clock signal. An address buffer circuit receives and stores a first address in a first latch and a second address in a second latch asynchronously with respect to the clock signal. A memory control circuit associated with an array of memory cells accesses a first memory cell in the array corresponding to the first address in a first clocked access cycle, and accesses a second memory cell in the array corresponding to the second address in a second clocked access cycle. If a further address is asynchronously received before said second access cycle, the further address replaces the second address in the second latch.

Abstract: The invention is a system and method for calibrating a robotics system. The invention measures the actual performance of the robotics system when positioning objects at several calibration positions within an operational area. The invention then determines corrective factors based on the performance measurements. The robotics system uses the corrective factors to overcome positioning errors and operate in the field with extreme precision. The calibration system comprises a control system, a laser projection device, a plate, and a laser detection device. The robotics system positions the laser projection device to project a laser beam through a hole in the plate and onto a laser detection area on the laser detection device. The control system then directs the robotics system to move the laser projection device to a plurality of calibration positions.

Abstract: A liquid precursor solution for use according to a method of manufacturing metal oxide electronic components includes a polyoxyalkylated metal complex dispersed in an alkane solvent. The alkane solvent is preferably n-octane.

Abstract: Metal organic precursor compounds are dissolved in an organic solvent to form a nonaqueous liquid precursor. The liquid precursor is applied to the inner envelope surface of a fluorescent lamp and heated to form a metal oxide thin film layer. The metal oxide thin film layer may be a conductor, a protective layer or provide other functions. The films have a thickness of from 20 nm to 500 nm. A conductive layer comprising tin-antimony oxide with niobium dopant may be fabricated to have a differential resistivity profile by selecting a combination of precursor composition and annealing temperatures.

Abstract: A personal computer is typically equipped with a modem that enables the user to dial through the Public Telephone Switched Network (PTSN) to access an Interactive Voice Response system. Once connected to the Interactive Voice Response System, the present system for providing personal computer access to an interactive voice response system uses the touch-tone generation capability of the personal computer to implement a predefined script to navigate through the Interactive Voice Response System. The navigation path is defined by the selections provided by the Interactive Voice Response System to enable a user to reach a computer interaction site that represents one of the back-end selections served by the Interactive Voice Response System. Thus, once the Interactive Voice Response System is traversed, the user can interact with the computer to perform the desired tasks.

Abstract: An integrated circuit is formed containing a metal-oxide ferroelectric thin film. An voltage-cycling recovery process is conducted to reverse the degradation of ferroelectric properties caused by hydrogen. The voltage-cycling recovery process is conducted by applying from 104 to 1011 voltage cycles with a voltage amplitude of from 1 to 15 volts. Conducting voltage-cycling at a higher temperature in the range 30-200° C. enhances recovery. Preferably the metal oxide thin film comprises layered superlattice material. Preferably the layered superlattice material comprises strontium bismuth tantalate or strontium bismuth tantalum niobate. If the integrated circuit manufacture includes a forming-gas anneal, then the voltage-cycling recovery process is performed after the forming-gas anneal.

Abstract: A batch delivery system that maximizes the amount of material to be transferred from a material source to a material destination by determining whether a primary total and/or a secondary total from a flowmeter have reached a primary target and a secondary target. In one embodiment of the invention, the primary target and the secondary target are mass, volume, and/or net solid.

Abstract: In a method an an apparatus for automatic inspection of moving surfaces using at least three different illumination/observation channels, the surface to be inspected under a bright field condition is illuminated by a first beam of light from a first light source. The light of the first beam of light reemitted from the surface is received by a light sensitive sensor device to obtain a first signal. Then, the surface is illuminated under a dark field condition by a second beam of light and by a third beam of light from a second and a third light source, respectively, the first, second and third beams of light having different characteristics. The light of the second beam of light and the light of the third beam of light, respectively, reemitted from the surface are received by the light sensitive sensor device to obtain a second signal and a third signal. Finally, a physical property of the surface is derived from the first, second and third signals.

Abstract: The invention includes a particle sensor with a particle counter. A regenerative blower pulls ambient air into a flow within the particle counter, and a laser illuminates the flow to generate laser radiation indicative of particles within the flow. A detector detects the laser radiation; and particle sensing electronics counts particles within the flow at a preselected volumetric flow rate, e.g., 1 CFM. Preferably, the particle counter includes a plurality of pressure sensors; and a blower speed voltage controller adjusts the speed of the blower according to signals from the pressure sensors to achieve the preselected volumetric flow rate. The regenerative blower permits use of a high efficiency exhaust filter to filter air exhausted from the blower. An airflow path between the particle counter and the regenerative blower preferably has at least one bend between the particle counter and the blower to increase compactness of the system.

Abstract: An invention for intelligently adjusting the timing of generation of a series of detection windows to maintain synchronization with the occurrence of data pulses within a stream of phase-encoded binary data is disclosed. In an embodiment of the present invention, thresholding logic is added to a limited response self-clocking decode phased locked loop to achieve a more robust data detection method and system, which is less susceptible and sensitive to noise error. In one embodiment of the system, an up/down counter is used to count to occurrence of late and early data pulses within their respective detection window, with the timing of the generated series of detection windows being adjusted when the value of this counter exceeds an upper or lower predetermined threshold value.

Abstract: The present data storage subsystem includes a data stream optimization system that optimizes its data throughput performance for a particular type of data that is stored therein, such as video on demand data. The data stream optimization system manages the retrieval of the stored video data to more efficiently use the cache memory. This is accomplished by creating a data stream entry into a table for each viewer that requests access to a stored video file. The data stream optimization system also records the storage extent of each video file so that the identity of the next successive segment of the video file that is being accessed is known. The data stream optimization system monitors the amount of data stored in the cache memory for each of the data streams and identifies the next of these data streams that requires replenishment.

Abstract: An integrated circuit is formed that contains a ferroelectric element comprising metal oxide material containing at least two metals. An oxygen-recovery anneal is conducted in ambient oxygen at a temperature range from 300.degree. to 1000.degree. C. for a time period from 20 minutes to 2 hours. The oxygen-recovery anneal reverses the effects of hydrogen degradation and restores ferroelectric properties. The oxygen-recovery anneal is more effective as the annealing temperature and annealing time increase. Preferably the metal oxide element comprises a layered superlattice compound. Hydrogen degradation of the ferroelectric properties is minimized when the layered superlattice compound comprises strontium bismuth tantalum niobate and the niobium/tantalum mole ratio in the precursor is about 0.4.

Abstract: A telephone system having a voice mail system and supporting virtual telephone numbers for called parties. A switching system in the telephone system has a plurality of telephone lines connected to the switching system with each telephone line having a telephone number. Each called party in the system has a virtual telephone number that is not associated with a particular telephone line. When a called party desires to receive incoming telephone calls over a telephone line, the called party performs a log-in from the telephone line. The log-in causes the switching system to extend all calls specifying the virtual telephone number of the called party to the telephone line. If the incoming call is not answered, the call is extended to a voice mail system which records a message and stores the message in a voice mail box associated with the virtual telephone number of the called party.

Abstract: The foam based product solution delivery apparatus is simple in structure and operation and makes use of pressurized gas to power a pressure operated pump to draw the water/foam-concentrate/product(s) from supply tank(s) and propel the resultant solution (foam fluid), with pressurized gas injected therein, through an agitation apparatus that mechanically agitates the water/foam/product(s) solution to create the foam based product solution for transmission to the foam delivery apparatus. Interposed in the delivery apparatus between the pump and the outlet end of the hose, the agitation apparatus functions to significantly increase the foam expansion prior to delivery of the foam through the delivery apparatus. The agitation apparatus comprises an exterior housing inside of which is mounted a set of motionless mixing blades that function to mix and expand the foam.