Abstract: Media input streams are retrieved by a notetaking device and referenced for playback. The media streams are from microphones, video cameras, and media players present during a notetaking session. Facilities provided by the notetaking device allow a user to capture stills from the media streams, make annotations, and reference important events that occur during a notetaking session. Thumbnails, snaps, and backgrounds may be created from the input media streams and are used to reference into the media streams which are stored for later playback. A channel changer allows a user to switch between the various media streams during either notetaking or playback. A timeline is automatically generated that references important events, including slide changes, presented during a notetaking session.

Abstract: A spine distraction implant alleviates pain associated with spinal stenosis and facet arthropathy by expanding the volume in the spine canal and/or neural foramen. The implant provides a spinal extension stop while allowing freedom of spinal flexion.

Abstract: A technique that partially encrypts tokenized documents is disclosed. An electronic document image is generated from the document. A plurality of tokens are stored as a dictionary, wherein the tokens represent shapes contained in the document. A plurality of triples comprising a token identification (ID) and a corresponding position are generated from the document image, such that the token ID identifies a token from the dictionary that corresponds to a shape in the document image at the corresponding position. The token IDs are encrypted. The output representation for the secured document comprises encrypted token IDs, positions and a dictionary of tokens. Encoding techniques that reduce the size of the secured document are also disclosed. A trusted image output terminal, for use in document reconstruction, includes a single integrated circuit that performs the decrypting function and the page rendering function to significantly reduce the ability to capture the electronic document in the clear.

Abstract: An improved amplifier includes an input stage differential amplifier (100) with an output forming a gain node (102), an output stage buffer (104) having an input connected to the gain node (102), a compensation capacitor (106) connected from the gain node (102) to ground, and a correction amplifier (200) with a first input connected to the output of the output stage buffer (104), a second input connected to the input of the output stage buffer (104), and having an output connected to the gain node (102), the correction amplifier further including a correction capacitor (304) connected between the input and output of the output stage buffer (104). The correction capacitor (304) preferably has a capacitance value (C′) set equal to the capacitance (Ccomp) of the compensation capacitor (106).

Abstract: A method of forming a T-shaped gate for a transistor, comprising: defining a base length of the gate by forming a gate stack on a substrate; defining a contact length by forming a layer of nitride on the gate stack; and defining gate height by selectively removing portions of the nitride layer. The method may include the further step of defining a contact height by depositing a conductive layer on said gate stack.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus of synthesizing speech from a piece of input text 104. In one embodiment, the method includes the steps of retrieving the input text 104 entered into a computing system, and transforming the input text 104 based on the semantics 152 of at least one word of the input text 104 to generate a formatted text 108 for speech synthesis. The transforming includes adding an audio rendering effect tot he input text based on the semantics of at least one work, the audio rendering effect comprising background music, special effect sounds, and context-sensitive sounds. In another embodiment, the transformation also depends on at least one characteristic of the person listening to the speech output 118. In yet another embodiment, the transformation further depends on at least one characteristic of the hardware employed by the user to listen to the speech output 118. The transformed text can be further modified to fit a text-to-speech engine to generate the speech output 118.

Abstract: The weight given to each object in a scene in the computation of the z-buffer granularity is determined based upon a variable normalized risk parameter which may be supplied by the application. A recursive composite parent object process is invoked upon the two children of the scene object in order to allocate graphics resources to objects A and B. Primary and secondary hit value means corresponding to objects A and B are computed. The hit value means are the average sum of hit values recorded for all the leaf objects contained by the objects over a predetermined number of frames. The statistical variances of the primary hit value and secondary hit value are also computed over the previous predetermined number of frames in order facilitates the mapping of the normalized risk parameter to a non-normalized risk parameter indicating the optimal risk for objects A and object B.

Abstract: A local oxidation of silicon (LOCOS) process directed to forming differential field oxide thickness on a single wafer with minimized process steps and optimized planarity. When patterning the masking layer, at least two window widths are formed in the masking layer, exposing the underlying substrate and pad oxide. When one of the window widths is sufficiently small, oxidation of the substrate will be inhibited causing reduced growth and thus a reduced field oxide thickness in that window as compared to other larger windows formed in the same masking layer, creating differential field oxide thicknesses in one growth step. To optimize planarity, prior to oxidation variable depth trenches are formed in alignment with the windows so that the resulting field oxide regions are substantially planar with the substantial surface.

Abstract: The invention described herein defines a system and a method for selectively controlling the sensitivity of a region of a magnetoresistive element to an incident magnetic field, by applying an external magnetic field to the magnetoresistive element. A number of applications to non-volatile data storage are described, as is a magnetic sweep element based on a FET structure. Finally, the storage media and recording modes (in-plane vs. perpendicular) best suited to the proposed applications are analyzed, and the desired or optimal characteristics of the proposed devices are discussed.

Abstract: A method of dual use of memory for the correction of errors, if any, in memory data comprises the steps of assigning data bytes to a first portion of each memory page and error correction bytes to a second portion of each memory page. In a non-error correction mode, both the first and second portions of each memory page may be allocated for the storage of data bytes.

Abstract: A self-contained night light is disposed in a housing containing spaced-apart male AC prongs the mate with an AC socket. The housing contains an array of differently colored, preferably light emitting diode. Light sources that can dynamically output different patterns of differently colored light in response to drive signals. A microcontroller executes a sequence of instructions causing the controller to output different sequences of signals that are coupled to a driver unit that drives the light sources. The result is that the array dynamically produces different patterns of differently colored light. A user operable control allows a viewer to “freeze” any desired pattern of light, such that until reset, the night light will continue to output a static pattern of colors. The night light may include a manual or light-sensing ON/OFF switch.

Abstract: A stylized writing instrument shaped like a proprietary or familiar object. Embodiments include a housing shaped like the proprietary or familiar object, a writing implement, and internal mechanisms provided within the housing for extending the writing implement from, and retracting the writing implement into, the housing. The internal mechanisms may comprise a wide variety of actuation systems for extending and retracting the writing implement, including a cam actuation assembly, an edge slide actuation assembly, a gravity actuation assembly, a pressure actuation assembly and a push button actuation assembly.

Abstract: A generally rectangular outer housing is sized to fit within the full height five and one quarter inch form factor. A drawer is mounted for sliding motion within the housing along a longitudinal axis thereof from a retracted position in which the drawer is substantially fully contained within the housing to an extended position in which a forward portion of the drawer extends beyond a forward transverse end of the housing. A DAT tape drive is mounted within a rear portion of the drawer and has a forwardly opening cassette insertion slot. A cassette magazine is provided that has a plurality of vertically spaced receptacles for holding a plurality of DAT cassettes in a vertically stacked configuration. A magazine loader is mounted in the forward portion of the drawer for receiving and vertically reciprocating the cassette magazine and for selectively transferring cassettes between the magazine and the cassette insertion slot of the DAT tape drive.

Abstract: A program element for a memory cell formed in a substrate. The element includes a well region of an opposite conductivity type as said substrate formed in the substrate; a first active region formed in the well and having the same conductivity type as said well; and a second active region formed in the well and having a conductivity type opposite to that of the well, and having a junction with said first active region. In a further aspect, the element is used in a memory cell. The memory cell may be implemented in an array of cells to perform a method of creating a reverse breakdown condition in an array of memory cells arranged in columns and rows in the array.

Abstract: A spine distraction implant alleviates pain associated with spinal stenosis and facet arthropathy by expanding the volume in the spine canal and/or neural foramen. The implant provides a spinal extension stop while allowing freedom of spinal flexion.

Abstract: A battery operated gyroscopic entertainment device is powered from a mating cradle, or from a battery supply within the device. The device includes an egg-shaped housing in which is disposed a high speed DC motor whose motor shaft preferably extends from each end of the motor. A hub member is attached to each shaft end, and a weighted belt is attached to each hub member. A central portion of the motor housing is fixedly attached to the device housing such that upon application of operating potential to the motor, the motor shaft, and the weighted hub members rotate at high speed, which imparts a gyroscopic action to the device. A cradle may be provided containing a power source, with power connections that mate to the device housing when the housing is placed within the cradle.

Abstract: A spine distraction implant alleviates pain associated with spinal stenosis and facet arthropathy by expanding the volume in the spine canal and/or neural foramen. The implant provides a spinal extension stop while allowing freedom of spinal flexion.

Abstract: A frequency synthesizer including a divide by R frequency divider providing a first input of a phase detector, a divide by N frequency divider providing a second input of the phase detector, and a voltage control oscillator (VCO) receiving the output of the phase detector and providing an input to the divide by N frequency divider, the VCO output signal being transitioned by varying the frequency division number R. The frequency division number N may also be varied to transition the VCO output signal frequency. A reference oscillator provides an input to the variable R frequency divider and may have its frequency varied to limit resolution error. For greater resolution, multiple frequency synthesizers with divide by R and N frequency dividers having variable frequency division numbers may be connected using mixers to provide a “ratio sum” synthesizer having an output frequency proportional to a sum of N/R ratios.