Abstract: A scalable digital loop carrier system uses a stackplane architecture which allows the transport capacity of the scalable digital loop carrier system to be flexibly expanded while providing time division multiplex (TDM) and asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) data link channels. The primary channel bank is provided in the scalable digital loop carrier system, and one or more secondary channel banks are connected to the primary channel bank through the stackplane ATM and TDM data links. The scalable digital loop carrier system is expandable by adding secondary channel banks to the system through the stackplane TDM and ATM data links.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a microstrip termination is provided, the microstrip termination containing a transmission line, a tapered edge ground and a thin film resistor connecting a transmission line to the tapered edge ground. Circuits are manufactured by first cutting holes in a substrate forming alignment holes for dicing the substrate into separate circuits. A saw is then used to cut tapered grooves along the alignment holes for forming tapered edges. The substrate is then plated and etched to form the transmission lines, thin film resistors, and ground planes. Finally, the substrate is diced into the separate termination circuits.

Abstract: A robot which incorporates a body, arms with a hand grip, legs, several sensors, light elements, an audio system, and a video system. The sensors allows the robot to interact with objects in the room, and prevents the robot from traveling off an edge or bumping into obstacles. The light elements allow the robot to express moods. The audio system allows the robot to detect and transmit sounds. The video system allows a user to remotely view the area in front of the robot. Additionally, the robot may operate in a plurality of modes, including modes that allow the robot to operate autonomously. The robot may operate autonomously in an automatic mode, a security mode, a greet mode, and a monitor mode. Further, the robot is manipulated remotely.

Abstract: A non-volatile memory cell at least partially formed in a semiconductor substrate, comprising a first avalanche injection element having a first active region of a first conductivity type and a second active region of a second conductivity type, separated by a channel region of said second conductivity type; a second avalanche injection element having a third active region of said second conductivity type and sharing said second active region with said first avalanche injection element, the second avalanche injection element having a channel region of said first conductivity type; and a common floating gate at least partially overlying said first and second avalanche injection elements. In a further embodiment, the first avalanche element has an N+/P junction, the second avalanche element has a P+/N junction, and the floating gate capacitively coupled to the first and second avalanche elements.

Abstract: A SLDRAM System is provided with a plurality of in-circuit, calibratable memory modules and a memory controller for issuing unicast and multicast command packets to the memory modules. Command packets are transmitted over a unidirectional command link that includes a complementary pair of command clock lines, a command FLAG line and a plurality of noncomplemented command bit lines. Each of the command clock lines, command bit lines and the FLAG line is a SLIO transmission line. Data transfer operations are carried out in response to the command packets over one or more bidirectional data links that each includes two complementary pairs of data clock lines, and a plurality of noncomplemented data bit lines. Each of the data clock lines and the data bit lines is a SLIO transmission line. Each SLIO transmission line is single-end terminated and preferably tapped into by way of stub resistors.

Abstract: User and network computer client device (NC) registration with an internet service provider (ISP) occurs in two phases: the first phase with the relationship server and the second phase with the ISP. In the first phase, the NC sends the relationship server a unique identifier of the NC manufacturer, such as the manufacturer identification number. In the preferred embodiment, the NC also transmits an enterprise identification number from a smart card uniquely specifying the ISP to which the user wishes to connect. The relationship server queries a relationship database using the manufacturer and enterprise identification numbers. In the preferred embodiment, the relationship server determines whether the specified manufacturer has authorized connection to the specified ISP; if no authorization exists in the relationship server database, then the relationship server disconnects from the NC.

Abstract: A voltage switch is provided made up of 2.5 volt process transistors which tolerate a maximum gate to source, gate to drain, or drain to source voltage of 2.7 volts. The voltage switch transistors are arranged to switch between a voltage, such as 2.5 volts, and a much higher voltage, such as 4.5 volts. In one embodiment (350), the voltage switch includes an input provided to the source of an NMOS cascode connected transistor (360). An inverter (354) connects the source of the NMOS cascode (360) to the source of another NMOS cascode (361). A cascode transistor is defined as being connected so that it is turned on and off by varying source voltage with the gate voltage fixed, rather than varying gate voltage. Gates of the cascodes (360, 361) are connected to Vcc (2.5 volts). PMOS cascode transistors (362) and (363) connect the drains of respective cascode transistors (360) and (361) to PMOS transistors (364) and (365). The PMOS transistors (364) and (365) have sources connected to 4.5 volts.

Abstract: An apparatus in accordance with the present invention provides a single or multi-layer coating to the surface of a plurality of substrates. The apparatus may include a plurality of buffer and sputtering chambers, and an input end and an output end, wherein said substrates are transported through said chambers of said apparatus at varying rates of speed such that the rate of speed of a pallet from said input end to said output end is a constant for each of said plurality of pallets.

Abstract: The present invention relates to improved methods for making and using-bioadhesive, bioresorbable, anti-adhesion compositions made of intermacromolecular complexes of carboxyl-containing polysaccharides and polyethers, and to the resulting compositions. The polymers are associated with each other, and are then either dried or are used as fluids. Bioresorbable, bioadhesive, anti-adhesion compositions are useful in surgery to prevent the formation of post-surgical adhesions. The compositions are designed to breakdown in-vivo, and thus be removed from the body. Membranes are inserted during surgery either dry or optionally after conditioning in aqueous solutions. The anti-adhesion, bioadhesive, bioresorptive, antithrombogenic and physical properties of such membranes can be varied as needed by carefully adjusting the pH of the polymer casting solutions, polysaccharide composition, the polyether composition, or by conditioning the membranes prior to surgical use.

Abstract: A drive wheel, having a cylindrical surface positioned at a radius from the center of the drive wheel, and a plurality of suction cup members disposed in a spaced apart relationship on the cylindrical surface, useful in a pressurized pool cleaning apparatus.

Abstract: An apparatus and related method permit viewer navigation and object manipulation within a three-dimensional graphical experience or "virtual world" displayed by a programmable digital computer. The apparatus and method include the display of a series of six buttons. Twenty-four operations are divided among the six buttons, with each button having two pairs of cooperating or complementary operations. Three of the buttons are used to accomplish movement of the viewer in relation to the three-dimensional virtual world, and the other three buttons are used to manipulate selected objects within the virtual world. A mouse cursor is used to select one of the buttons and to activate one of four quadrants associated with the selected button to accomplish the operation associated with the activated quadrant. When a button is selected, it expands from its inactivated or "at rest" state to a larger, activated state. Two adjacent quadrants may be activated to perform two operations concurrently.

Abstract: A seismic actuator for initiating various actions and/or changes to a system in response to seismic activity above a predetermined threshold level. In an embodiment of the invention, the actuator comprises a seismic valve for shutting off gas flow through a pipe upon seismic activity above a predetermined threshold level, and for resetting the valve to reestablish gas flow through the pipe. The seismic valve according to embodiments of the present invention may be seated within a pipe in any orientation. The valve includes a stopper capable of alternatively allowing and blocking gas flow, a locking ball capable of restraining the stopper in a position allowing gas flow, and a plunger for securing the locking ball in a location where the ball restrains the stopper in the position allowing gas flow. The valve further includes a pendulum adjacent to the plunger.

Abstract: A knowledge base search and retrieval system, which includes factual knowledge base queries and concept knowledge base queries, is disclosed. A knowledge base stores associations among terminology/categories that have a lexical, semantical or usage association. Document theme vectors identify the content of documents through themes as well as through classification of the documents in categories that reflects what the documents are primarily about. The factual knowledge base queries identify, in response to an input query, documents relevant to the input query through expansion of the query terms as well as through expansion of themes. The concept knowledge base query does not identify specific documents in response to a query, but specifies terminology that identifies the potential existence of documents in a particular area.

Abstract: An echogenic cannula 7 includes a hole provided at the distal tip end 17. Preferably the hole 5 is positioned through a centerline 8 which is spaced from the centerline 6 of the stylet 7 in order to form a concave surface 11 from which sound waves 10 are reflected in order to locate the distal tip end 17.

Abstract: A polishing tool having a polishing wheel that forms a set of pockets wherein the pockets receive a stream of water and are formed such that a high hydrostatic pressure builds in the pockets as the polishing tool rotates in a high precision grinding machine and addresses a surface of a substrate. The high hydrostatic pressure removes material from the surface of the substrate while preserving the precise thickness variation control of the high precision grinding machine.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for transferring articles from a transportable container, for example, a SMIF pod, to a second container, for example, a processing station having a port which provides access to the interior region of the processing station. A non-contact seal or an isolation cover or skirt seals the port so that the interior region of the container can be purged of contaminants prior to exposing the interior environment of the processing station to the environment within the container. The purging of the container may be a multi-step process in which the container door is moved between several intermediate positions so that the container door itself is purged prior to the purging of the environment within the container.

Abstract: Apparatus for spacing a plurality of substantially plate-like ferromagnetic workpieces such as can lids, in face-to-face relationship along a row, comprises a plurality of magnetic elements, each extending longitudinally along the row and different ones of the elements being disposed at different angular positions around the row, each of the magnetic elements being disposed and oriented to prevent the workpieces from pivoting about a distal edge of the workpiece due to the combined magnetic attraction of the workpiece by all others of the magnetic elements.

Abstract: A method for and an apparatus for correcting errors of compressed digital data, using a dual decoding system for correcting errors generated at the data by adding parity bits having an error correction capability for K symbols to the data fields of the data. Errors of up to K are corrected by the C.sub.1 field- and C.sub.2 field-decodings. After the error correction, a determination is made about the presence of errors in the corrected data so that an erroneous detection and an erroneous correction of errors are prevented, thereby minimizing an influence by an error propagation generated upon the extension of compressed data. The present invention achieves an improvement in error correcting capability for compressed digital image data.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for controlling automatically a fine-slow in a VCR comprises a servo control device for controlling an operation of a capstan motor, a control head for detecting a control pulse from a video tape and applying the detected control pulse to the servo control device, a Schmidt trigger circuit for Schmidt-wave shaping the detected control pulse from the control head, an envelope detector for receiving a playback radio frequency signal and detecting an envelope signal of DC component from the received signal, and a microcomputer for sampling the detected envelope signal from the envelope detector in intervals of a head switching signal of the front and rear of the control pulse in a slow playback interval, A/D-converting the sampled values, comparing the digital sampled values with each other and applying slow control data based on the comparison of the digital sampled values to the servo control device to control shift of the control pulse, the slow control data being data for controllin