Abstract: A resonant microcavity display comprises a thin-film resonant microcavity (20, 50, 60) with an active layer (21). The microcavity (20, 50, 60) comprises a front reflector (22, 52), the active region (21) deposited upon the front reflector, and a back reflector (20, 54) deposited upon the active region (21). The display preferentially emits light that propagates along the axis (27) perpendicular to the plane of the display, due to its quantum mechanical properties. The extrinsic efficiency of this device is increased by the use of thin film construction with anomalous phase dispersion.

Abstract: A nail care system which contains a portable case, drying compartments and drying compartment covers. The drying compartments are vertically oriented on opposite sides of the portable case. The drying compartment covers are pivotally mounted to the portable case and open and close like a gull-wing type door. The vertically oriented drying compartments allow the user to place their hands in a comfortable, vertical position in front of them during the drying process. The vertical orientation also reduces the footprint of the portable case. Further, the nail care device may be adapted to dry toenails.

Abstract: The use of selected buffering amines in a photoimageable composition prevents process bias which with conventional photoresists causes designed features to be distorted, especially in corners and high resolution features. It is believed that the amines react with the catalysts, e.g., photoacids, generated to create an inert salt. The presence of the amines also increases resolution. Suitable photoimageable compositions includes: (a) a multifunctional polymeric epoxy resin that is dissolved in an organic solvent wherein the epoxy resin comprises oligomers of bisphenol A that is quantitatively protected by glycidyl ether and wherein the oligomers have an average functionality that ranges from about 3 to 12; (b) a photoactive compound; and (c) an amine that is selected from the group consisting of triisobutylamine, 1,8-bis(dimethylamino)naphthalene (also known as PROTON SPONGET™), 2,2′-diazabicyclo[2.2.2] octane and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: A modified beam splitter that has a hole pattern that is symmetric in one axis and anti-symmetric in the other can be employed in a mask-to-wafer alignment device. The device is particularly suited for rough alignment using visible light. The modified beam splitter transmits and reflects light from a source of electromagnetic radiation and it includes a substrate that has a first surface facing the source of electromagnetic radiation and second surface that is reflective of said electromagnetic radiation. The substrate defines a hole pattern about a central line of the substrate. In operation, an input beam from a camera is directed toward the modified beam splitter and the light from the camera that passes through the holes illuminates the reticle on the wafer. The light beam from the camera also projects an image of a corresponding reticle pattern that is formed on the mask surface of the that is positioned downstream from the camera.

Abstract: A low-voltage reference circuit is provided wherein (i) the output voltage can be set to be a fraction of the silicon bandgap voltage of 1.206 volts, or on the order of 0.9 volts, (ii) the output voltage can have a zero thermal coefficient (TC), and (iii) the operating supply voltage Vcc can be less than 1.5 volts, or on the order of 1.1 volts. In one embodiment, the reference circuit modifies a conventional Brokaw bandgap circuit to lower both the required Vcc level and the output voltage by a constant offset. Referring to FIG. 3, the modification includes adding bipolar transistor (Q6), an opamp (A3) and resistors (R5, R6 and R7). In another embodiment, the reference circuit modifies a conventional circuit with PNP transistors connected to the substrate, referring to FIG. 4, by adding current source I6, NMOS transistor M3, opamp A4 and resistors R8-R10. A further embodiment modifies FIG. 4, referring to FIG. 5, by omitting the current source I6, and moving the location of resistor R4.

Abstract: A surplus of preferably positive ions are thermally emitted by a device such as a hair dryer that includes a heating element disposed upstream from an electrically conductive grid. A rectifier circuit is coupled between the heating element and the grid and establishes an electric field therebetween. Polarity of the field affects ion content downstream from the grid. A fan assembly blows heated air and ions toward the conductive grid, whereat ions of one polarity are substantially removed. An ion sensor and feedback circuit may be coupled to the device to sense and control net ion content adjacent the sensor. In a hair dryer device, a net surplus of positive ions promotes grooming and rapid drying of a user's hair.

Abstract: A non-volatile memory cell (FIG. 3) is provided which includes three transistors, a floating gate non-volatile storage transistor (303) and two cascode connected select transistors (301-302). The two cascoded select transistors (301-302) act together to block the programming voltage when the memory cell is included in an array, and the memory cell is not selected for programming. A value of an unselect voltage applied to the gate of the first cascode connected transistor (301) is set to prevent breakdown of the oxide in the first cascode transistor (301) as well as the second cascode transistor (302). A value of an unselect voltage applied to the gate of the second cascode connected transistor (302) can be selected so that the voltage passed to the floating gate storage transistor (303) will not result in a program drain disturb, or source disturb condition.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the synthesis of electronic circuits is described herein. More particularly, the system supports the synthesis of both analog-only, and mixed digital/analog circuitry. The circuit designers knowledge is reused to effect the simulation of mixed analog and digital circuitry, determining data points and curve-fitting the data points to determine a model that closely approximates the simulated circuit performance. The model describes the parameterization of circuit features with respect to circuit performance. The parameterization is used to develop a behavioral model of the circuit that does not retain any of the physical description of the circuit.

Abstract: A bank selector encoder comprises a partition indicator circuit having a plurality of partition boundary indicator terminals, a plurality of inverters arranged in a plurality of columns, with each column of the inverters coupled to a respective one of a plurality of columns of ROM cells in a ROM array and a plurality of bank selector code outputs coupled to respective columns of the inverters. The partition boundary indicator terminals are capable of designating a memory partition boundary to identify an upper memory bank and a lower memory bank. The bank selector encoder is capable of generating an identifying bank selector code for each of a plurality of the predetermined memory partition boundaries. The bank selector encoder outputs code bits of a bank selector code based upon the partition boundary indicator terminals.

Abstract: A personal electro-kinetic electrostatic air conditioner includes a self-contained ion generator that provides electro-kinetically moved air with ions and safe amounts of ozone, and includes a water retaining element to increase humidity of the output air flow. The ion generator includes a high voltage pulse generator whose output pulses are coupled between first and second electrode arrays. Preferably the first electrode array includes first and second pointed electrodes, and the second electrode array includes annular-like electrodes having a central opening coaxial with the associated pointed electrode. The surface of the annular-like electrodes is smooth and continuous through the opening and into a collar region through which the air flows. A water retaining member is disposed surrounding the output airflow to increase humidity of the output air, which is substantially cleansed of particulate matter, and contains safe amounts of ozone.

Abstract: The present invention is directed toward creating backup copies of previously saved data before it is modified by a crashed computer program executing in a preemptive multitasking operating system environment. The invention is advantageous in that it protects against data loss and corruption caused by operating system calls issued by malfunctioning, crashed computer programs. A method in accordance with the invention comprises the steps of: (a) monitoring operating system calls made by a crashed program; (b) intercepting a selected group of operating system calls made by a crashed program before they are executed by an operating system; (c) logging a subset of the selected group of intercepted operating system calls in a memory; (d) creating backup copies of data potentially modified by a further subset of the selected group of intercepted operating system calls; and (e) passing intercepted operating system calls to an operating system.

Abstract: A machine-automated system tries to save vital-data of a crashed or otherwise frozen application program by: (a) attempting to revive a program that has apparently become frozen; (b) identifying the apparently-frozen program; (c) identifying one or more windows within the identified program that are most likely to immediately contain data which the user is likely to consider as vital and in need of saving; (d) sending one or both of a SAVE and a CLOSE command message to each of the identified one or more windows so as to thereby cause that window to itself save its vital data contents and to thereafter gracefully close itself. A profiling database may be constructed for helping to identify the vital data-containing windows of both popular (well known) and obscure application programs. One such profiling database has ID records which define parent/child hierarchy relationships between vital data-containing windows and other windows of various application programs.

Abstract: A microwave circuit connection method allows many coaxial cable connections between the outside world and microwave circuit components mounted on a carrier in a housing. A coaxial cable 32 extends through a sleeve 30, which is contained within the housing 1. A bore is provided through the carrier 2 for the coaxial cable 32 and is counterbored to form first and second bores 37 and 40 with different diameters. The dielectric 34 provided within the coaxial cable 32 extends through the first bore 37. The dielectric 34 is removed so that a center conductor 36 of the coaxial cable 32 extends through the second bore 40 to a point adjacent the MMIC 10 mounted to the carrier. An air dielectric section is thus formed in the second bore 40. The center conductor 36 of the coaxial cable 32 is attached, using a ribbon bonding cable 42, to an MMIC 10 mounted on the carrier 2.

Abstract: A non-volatile memory cell at least partially formed in a semiconductor substrate. The cell comprises a first transistor comprising a high voltage NMOS transistor having a first active region and a second active region; a second transistor sharing said second active region and having a third active region in said substrate; an active control gate region formed in said substrate; a polysilicon layer having a first portion forming a gate for said first transistor, and a second portion forming gate for said second transistor and a floating gate overlying said active control gate region. In one embodiment, an oxynitride separates said second portion and said active control gate region.

Abstract: A thermostat circuit (FIG. 4) is provided which (i) works properly with very low supply voltages, (ii) does not need a separate constant value as a reference, and (iii) has improved temperature sensitivity over prior art thermostat circuits. The thermostat circuit compares two reference currents—IPTAT and IVBE. When IVBE>IPTAT, the output of the thermostat circuit is one logic state (either high or low). When IPTAT>IVBE, the output of the thermostat circuit is a different logic state (either low or high). Current IPTAT comes from a PTAT current generator (FIGS. 5-7), and current IVBE comes from a VBE current generator (FIGS. 8-10). The PTAT current generator and the VBE current generator may be implemented with cascode amplifiers. In an embodiment, the currents IPTAT and IVBE can be compared at a current comparator circuit (FIG. 11) with a summing node and an output node.

Abstract: A plasma etch reactor 20 includes a upper electrode 24, a lower electrode 24, a peripheral ring electrode 26 disposed therebetween. The upper electrode 24 is grounded, the peripheral electrode 26 is powered by a high frequency AC power supply, while the lower electrode 28 is powered by a low frequency AC power supply, as well as a DC power supply. The reactor chamber 22 is configured with a solid source 50 of gaseous species and a protruding baffle 40. A nozzle 36 provides a jet stream of process gases in order to ensure uniformity of the process gases at the surface of a semiconductor wafer 48. The configuration of the plasma etch reactor 20 enhances the range of densities for the plasma in the reactor 20, which range can be selected by adjusting more of the power supplies 30, 32.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods of regulating the effect of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH). In particular it relates to increasing the effective amount of TH in the central nervous systems (CNS) for the purpose of increasing TH-mediated dopamine production in the treatment of conditions such as Parkinson's disease.

Abstract: An electronic device detects the presence of an animal such as a pet in a protected area and outputs a deterrent signal that preferably includes the voice of the pet's owner admonishing the animal. The animal is detected by sensing at least one of sound, heat, vibration, and motion. The deterrent signal may include loud noises, and signals audible to the animal but not to humans. The deterrent signal may also include bursts of light. The device can vary the nature and quality of the deterrent signal if the animal remains near the protected area for a predetermined time.

Abstract: A silicon on insulator substrate is provided to include the following: a handle wafer; a layer of bonding material; a device wafer, the device wafer including at least one buried impurity region extending from the layer of bonding material upward into the device wafer; and an epitaxial silicon layer provided on a second surface of the device wafer. The silicon on insulator substrate with this configuration can be made with a minimal possible thickness.