Abstract: The disclosure describes a current feedback amplifier that contains an additional pair of emitter follower transistors connected between inputs of current mirrors, with a capacitor connected to the common emitters of the emitter follower transistors to reduce discontinuities in the output current provided from the current mirrors. The capacitor is used to turn on the non-dominant current mirror prior to the time it is required to dominate the output. In this manner, glitches introduced due to delays in a current mirror switching from an off state to an on state are significantly reduced.

Abstract: Fluorinated chemical precursors, methods of manufacture, polymer thin films with low dielectric constants, and integrated circuits comprising primarily of sp2C—F and some hyperconjugated sp3C—F bonds are disclosed in this invention. Precursors are disclosed for creating fluorinated silanes and siloxanes, and fluorinated hydrocarbon polymers. Thermal transport polymerization (TP), chemical vapor deposition (CVD), plasma enhanced CVD (PECVD), high density PECVD (HDPCVD), photon assisted CVD (PACVD), and plasma-photon assisted (PPE) CVD and PPETP of these chemicals provides thin films with low dielectric constants and high thermal stabilities for use in the manufacture of integrated circuits.

Abstract: A measure of importance is calculated for segmented parts of a video. The segmented parts are determined by segmenting the video into component shots and then merging by iteration the component shots based on similarity or other factors. Segmentation may also be determined by clustering frames of the video, and creating segments from the same cluster ID. The measure of importance is calculated based on a normalized weight of each segment and on length and rarity of each shot/segmented part. The importance measure may be utilized to generate a video summary by selecting the most important segments and generating representative frames for the selected segments. A thresholding process is applied to the importance score to provide a predetermined number or an appropriate number generated on the fly of shots or segments to be represented by frames. The representative frames are then packed into the video summary.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for identifying matching arcs in sets of geometric objects, such as a pair of electronic maps, without relying on attributes being assigned to the arcs. An arc in a first set of geometric objects is identified as matching an arc in a second set of geometric objects, when the arc in the first set is co-bounded on both sides by polygons which match the corresponding co-bounding polygons of the arc in the second set. A determination is made of which polygons in the first set of geometric objects match polygons in the second set of geometric objects, by computing and comparing a set of similarity metrics. Examples of characteristics for which similarity metrics are determined include, proximity, area, shape and rotation. Each similarity metric is determined in an isolated fashion, so that no other metric is reflected in the metric being measured.

Abstract: This invention describes improved apparatus and methods for spin-on deposition of semiconductor thin films. The improved apparatus provides for controlled temperature, pressure and gas compositions within the deposition chamber. The improved methods comprise dispensing of solutions containing thin film precursor via a moveable dispensing device and the careful regulation of the pattern of deposition of the precursor solution onto the wafer. The invention also comprises the careful regulation of deposition variables including dispensation time, wafer rpm, stop time and rates of wafer rotation. In one embodiment, the precursor solution is dispensed from the outer edge of the wafer toward the center. In alternative embodiments, processors regulate the movement of the dispensing arm and the precursor pump to provide an evenly dispensed layer of precursor solution. The invention also describes improved methods for evaporating solvents and curing thin films.

Abstract: A viewing surface capable of high contrast and high resolution comprising one or more materials that preferentially reflect or transmit or scatter monochromatic light at the primary wavelengths necessary to generate the color gamut appropriate for a given display application. A viewing surface capable of high contrast and high resolution comprising one or more materials which can include rare earth ions, etc. and may be combined with absorbing substrates and/or interference filters.

Abstract: A vector network analyzer (VNA) is provided with three test ports and an integration of hardware and software to make an integrated set of measurements for two and three port devices. The integrated capability allows for fast, versatile measurements that benefits, in accuracy and convenience, from sharing of data and resources with other measurements. The VNA includes a first signal source which is selectively connectable through reflectometers to two of the three VNA test ports. A second signal source provides connection through a third reflectometer to a third test port to enable full vector error corrected 3-port S-parameters measurements to be made. The two signal sources, along with software configuration of the VNA to operate in a non-ratioed mode provides for measuring second and third order intercept measurements. The two signal sources and software also enable the VNA to be used to make frequency translation measurements of a mixer including accurate frequency translation group delay measurements.

Abstract: A Variable Grain Architecture (VGA) device includes a shared output component (SOC) that may be used for programmably-routing process result signals onto either or plural ones of differently directed longlines within an FPGA. Plural VGB's make shared use of each SOC to output respective function signals to the longlines. The SOC may be also used for programmably-routing signals (e.g., feedthrough signals) that are selectively acquired from either one of equivalent but differently positioned interconnect channels. Such freedom in routing VGB result signals or feedthrough signals can allow FPGA configuring software to explore a wider range of partitioning, placement and/or routing options for finding optimized implementations in the VGA FPGA device of various, supplied design specifications.

Abstract: A screw-threaded impeller 50 having a mixing device 55 thereon is provided in a container 10 of a food processor. A drive unit adjacent the bottom of the container is adapted to move the impeller in both a clockwise and a counterclockwise direction. During rotation, food placed within the container is lifted away from the mixing device when the impeller is rotated in one direction and is directed toward the mixing device when the impeller is rotated in the other direction. The mixing device includes a horizontal cutting blade 52 extending perpendicular to the impeller and a scooping blade 51 extending downwardly at an angle from the impeller. In order to lift over obstacles, the mixing device is spring mounted or can move along the helical protrusion toward the upper end of the impeller.

Abstract: A system for transferring information to and from a magnetic disk is disclosed wherein the information may be encoded on a data track in a large number of polarization orientations in comparison to conventional bidirectional recording schemes. In one embodiment of the present invention, it is contemplated that a single segment may be polarized in eight different orientations, each of which being distinguishable from each other by a read/write head. Polarization of a segment in one of eight different orientations significantly increases the amount of information which can be stored in any given segment relative to conventional systems which are polarized in only one of two orientations. Thus, the amount of information which may be stored on a disk may be increased without having to alter the linear or radial density of the disk.

Abstract: A microstrip termination is provided with a thin film resistor connecting a transmission line to a tapered edge ground, enabling high frequency performance, such as for optical modulators. The tapered edge ground is formed with metal deposited on a substrate edge between a top surface of a substrate containing the transmission line with thin film resistor, and a bottom surface with a metal coating forming a ground plane. The tapered edge is cut at an angle in the range of 30 degrees with respect to the top surface. The microstrip termination provides a wider bandwidth of impedance matching than a standard microstrip termination.

Abstract: A motorized rack for holding the jewel cases or containers of CDs (or the CDs themselves) in a very compact manner includes a continuous loop formed of holders for the CD cases or other retainers which is driven by a pair of sprockets on which the holders are mounted for rotation. High density storage is provided by spacing the holders and their associated CD containers contiguously to one another and then removal is facilitated by allowing the holders and containers to fan out at the top the vertical tower for manual removal.

Abstract: Improved targets for use in DC magnetron sputtering of nickel or like ferromagnetic face-centered cubic (FCC) metals are disclosed for forming metallization films having effective edge-to-edge deposition uniformity of 5%(3&sgr;) or better. Such targets may be characterized as having: (a) a homogeneous texture mix that is at least 20% of a <200> texture content and less than 50% of a <111> texture content, (b) an initial pass-through flux factor (% PTF) of about 30% or greater; and(c) a homogeneous grain size of about 200 &mgr;m or less.

Abstract: A rotary transformer includes a resonant circuit and a coil drive circuit. The resonant circuit includes a resonating capacitor connected to a power MOS transistor, coupled across the primary coil of the transformer. The coil drive circuit includes a diode connected to a power MOS transistor coupled across the primary coil of the transformer. A microprocessor detects changes in the voltage across the primary coil. The resonant circuit is connected and disconnected from the transformer during a power transfer mode and a data transfer mode, respectively. During the power transfer mode, stored energy in the leakage inductance of the primary coil is used for power coupling, via the resonant circuit, instead of being dissipated as heat. The resonant circuit is disconnected from the rotary transformer during the data transfer mode to maximize bandwidth for two-way data transfer between the primary and secondary sides of the transformer.

Abstract: A programming operation using hot carrier injection is performed on a non volatile memory cell having an oxide-nitride-oxide structure by applying a first train of voltage pulses to he drain and a second train of voltage pulses to the gate. The programming method of the present invention prevents over-programming, minimizes programming time, and increases memory cell endurance and reliability.

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.