Abstract: A semiconductor device includes an interconnect having electrically conductive portions and a dielectric layer made of a first dielectric material. A trench is formed in the dielectric layer. The exposed portions of the dielectric layer which form the side walls of the trench are removed. A dielectric liner is then deposited on the side walls of the trench, the liner being made of a second dielectric material.

Abstract: A forward converter circuit includes a transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding. A first transistor is coupled in series with the primary winding and a second transistor is coupled in series with the secondary winding. A control circuit generating control signals for controlling operation of the first and second transistors. The control signals are generated responsive to the values in certain triggered counting circuits satisfying programmable thresholds.

Abstract: A memory interface module provides interfacing between a host processor with multiple flash memories and parallel interfaces of varying protocols. The interface module includes multiple register files, multiple operation information registers, an internal memory, a flash interface portion, and a finite state machine (FSM). The register files receive a command from the host processor for controlling an operation of multiple flash memories. The operation information registers execute and store the command and operation information. The internal memory receives and stores host data from the host processor. The internal memory further stores flash data extracted from multiple flash memories. The flash interface portion interacts with the memory devices connected to the controller. The FSM extracts the command and the operation information from the register files, which are programmed by the user and controls the control signals of the memory devices connected to the controller through the flash interface.

Abstract: Benchtop panels are formed with spaced apart longitudinal edge webs and intermediate webs and spaced apart transverse edge webs and intermediate webs forming a grid with parallel top and bottom surfaces. At least one pair of longitudinal and transverse intermediate webs are closely spaced to allow subdividing the panel into plural panels by severing portions of a panel at a point between the closely spaced webs. Longitudinal bottom surface flanges provide for ease of mounting panels on a frame or table at spaced apart frame members. A connector with spaced apart legs and a connecting tab may be inserted in openings formed in gussets of adjacent panels to secure panels to each other.

Abstract: An image sensor has a per-column ADC arrangement including first and second capacitors for correlated double sampling, and a comparator circuit. The capacitors are continuously connected to, respectively, the analog pixel signal and a ramp signal without use of a hold operation. The comparator circuit comprises a differential amplifier having one input connected to the junction of the two capacitors and another input connected to a reference signal. The reference signal is preferably sampled and held from a reference voltage. The use of a differential amplifier as first stage of the comparator addresses problems arising from ground voltage bounce when a large pixel array images a scene with low contrast.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing high purity fiber cement grades of cellulose fibers is described. Additional washing steps, coupled with an elevated temperature, are used in the process to extensively wash the pulps and remove substantially all COD components remaining in the pulps. The pulps are counter-currently washed by diffusion and dewatering at elevated temperatures following the brown stock washer systems. During the additional washing steps, the pulps are soaked in counter-current heated water for a pre-determined time and some chemicals may be introduced to chemically break down the COD components in the pulps and to make them more soluble in the aqueous solution. The additional washing steps can be performed using existing equipment at conventional pulp mills. A formulation and a process of making fiber reinforced cement composite materials are also described using the low COD and high purity cellulose fibers.

Abstract: A method and integrated circuit for preserving a battery's charge and protecting electrical devices is disclosed. A maximum and a minimum battery voltage value at the output port are stored in a memory. A steady state battery voltage at the output port is measured and stored in the memory. A processor compares the measured steady battery voltage value to the maximum and the minimum battery voltage values. If the measured steady state battery voltage value is greater than the maximum battery voltage value, an over voltage state is reported by the processor. If the measured steady state battery voltage value is less than the minimum battery voltage value, a low battery voltage state is reported by the processor.

Abstract: A voltage regulator includes an amplifier and a regulation loop. The regulator includes a first PMOS transistor connected to a terminal supplying an input voltage, a second PMOS transistor connected in series with the first PMOS transistor. A node between those two transistors defines an output terminal. A first source of a first polarization current of fixed value is connected to the gate of the first transistor, and a second source of a second polarization current of fixed value connects the second transistor to ground. A third NMOS transistor is connected between the two current sources. A circuit is provided to modify automatically at least one of the polarization currents in relation to the load current.

Abstract: A flyswatter (10) having an elastically deformable swatting member (16) with a plurality of protrusions (20) formed thereon. The protrusions (20) are spaced apart on the swatting member (16), and have a height somewhat less than the height of the insect. When the swatting member (16) is struck on an object upon which the insect rests, the protrusions (20) contact the object, and the swatting member (16) elastically deforms and bows outwardly and strikes the insect without flattening or squishing the insect.

Abstract: A hanging file folder having fold-up label features can be comprised of a sheet of flat, foldable material having two doubled over ends. A first hanger member can be disposed within one of the doubled over ends and configured to couple to a hanging file drawer rail. A second hanger member can be disposed within the other of the doubled over ends and configured to couple to the hanging file drawer rail. A plurality of tab members formed of the flat, foldable material can be attached to at least one of the doubled-over ends and have pairs of ears extending to the sides of the tab members. The tab members can be positioned to be extended beyond an edge of the doubled over end to which they are attached by folding the tab members and inserting the ears into pairs of slots formed in the doubled over ends.

Abstract: A drill bit includes a plurality of continuous segments impregnated with diamond that are each mounted to form a corresponding blade. The regions between the blades define a plurality of fluid passages on the bit face. The blades extend radially outwardly to the gage. The continuous segments may be either straight or spiral in design. Furthermore, the design of the segments supports varying one or more of: diamond content, width, back rake angle and/or relief angle along a length of the segment.

Abstract: In one aspect, a rolling information display apparatus for use with a roller grill includes an elongated envelope. A cap is removably positioned over at least one opening of the envelope. An information bearing medium is removably positioned inside the envelope. In one embodiment, a sealing member is disposed to create a substantially watertight seal over at least one opening of the envelope. In another aspect, a rolling information display apparatus for use with a roller grill is a cylindrical rolling member having one or more rolling surfaces rolling in contact with heated rolling surfaces of the grill. The cylindrical rolling member also has one or more recessed surfaces bearing information about food items offered for sale on the grill. The recessed surfaces are provided in regions of the rolling member that are of diameter less than regions of the rolling member in which the rolling surfaces are provided.

Abstract: A motorized operator for moving a barrier, such as a garage door, between open and closed positions, includes a magnetic sensor for determining position and/or velocity of the barrier. The operator motor is drivingly connected to a speed change transmission which is connected to the barrier. The magnetic sensor includes a housing supporting a speed change mechanism including an output shaft supporting a magnet. The magnet is mounted adjacent a Hall effect sensor circuit which measures the change in the magnetic field generated by the magnet to determine position of the barrier, as well as speed. Control circuitry enables accurate determination of the position of the barrier for setting open and closed limit positions, for example.

Abstract: A programmable smartcard device (10) carries a file system (22, 24) and operating software enabling the on-device file system to interface with at least one off-device file and/or application. It also has a script engine (32) capable of running one or more Application Protocol Data Units (1APDUs') associated with a particular form of transaction so as to modify the structure and/or content of the file system, or the commands to be used for accessing the file system or any security conditions associated therewith. The smartcard device (10) is provided with comparator means (34) configurable by a security APDU run by the script engine (32) so that it operates in use to compare the commands carried out in implementing the transaction with one or more reference commands and to restrict or prevent further access or modifications to the on-device data, file system, commands or security conditions in dependence on the outcome of the comparison carried out by the comparator means (34).

Abstract: Systematic transmit IQ phase and amplitude imbalances in the transmit chain of a wireless local area network (WLAN) cause a corresponding systematic shift in the roots of a constellation diagram. Additional random phase noise in the transmit chain will cause a further Gaussian distribution of points in the constellation diagram about the systematically shifted roots. This random distribution represents a true error vector magnitude (EVM). By transmitting a known training sequence through the transmit chain, which it is known will be shifted to all of the systematically shifted roots in the constellation diagram, the Gaussian spread around those shifted roots can be analysed to determine the true EVM.

Abstract: A reconfigurable power amplifier includes at least one amplification circuit (E1, E2), and a circuit (6) for controlling the amplification circuit so as to adapt its operation according to an applied input signal (RFin). The circuit for controlling includes a circuit (4, 5) for modifying the compression point of the amplification circuit and for adapting the gain of the amplification circuit in such a manner as to increase the power added efficiency of the circuit for the modified compression point.

Abstract: A drill bit has cutting elements with multiple cutting surface geometries that are positioned so that their cutting profiles overlap, but do not completely contain or engulf one another. The different cutting surface geometries and the specific overlap create a zone of high density in the middle regions of the cutting profiles and low density in the periphery, resulting in a cutting profile that becomes sharper with increasing wear. Such an arrangement is more effective and stable as the drill bit encounters hard and abrasive formation materials. Moreover, cutting elements with larger axial volumes may be combined with cutting elements having smaller axial volumes.

Abstract: A database stores updated information concerning protected communications services. A base station for a coexisting, and potentially co-channel, non-protected communications service makes an inquiry of the database requesting an identification of geographically relevant protected services along with the database stored information pertinent to each of those identified protected services. The returned information is processed by the base station to determine what channels are available for use by the non-protected service. An available channel is identified by the base station as the working channel for the non-protected service and the base station initiates a process to establish a communications network using the non-protected service and the selected working channel.

Abstract: An integrated Land Mobile Radio (LMR) system enables communication between a trunking land mobile radio (trunking LMR) system and a conventional land mobile radio (conventional LMR) system. The trunking LMR system includes a trunking site controller including a first network gateway router. The trunking LMR system includes at least one trunking control channel and a plurality of trunking traffic channel. The trunking traffic channels each are assigned to a specific trunking LMR subscriber by the trunking site controller to enable the trunking LMR subscribers to communicate with one another. The conventional LMR system includes a conventional site controller including a second network gateway router connected to the first network gateway router by a data network. The conventional LMR system includes a plurality of conventional traffic channels.