Abstract: A getter pump includes a one-piece, substantially U-shaped frame having a bottom, a first sidewall, and a second sidewall opposing the first sidewall. The first and second sidewalls each have a plurality of slots formed therein. A plurality of getter elements are housed in the frame. Each of the getter elements is disposed in one of the slots in the first sidewall and a corresponding slot in the second sidewall. A heating member for heating the getter elements to their operating temperature is disposed in the frame. A preformed sheet of metal for use in forming a component of a getter pump has a top surface, a bottom surface, and discontinuous perforations formed therein to define a generally rectangular frame section. This frame section is connected to the remainder of the sheet by breakaway tabs and has a pair of folding lines formed therein to define a middle section and opposing outer sections. Each of the opposing outer sections has a plurality of slots formed therein.

Abstract: A mercury dispensing support strip capable of dispensing mercury and sorbing reactive gases. In one embodiment, the support strip of the invention includes at least one track of mercury releasing material deposited on one face of the support strip. At least one track of getter material is also deposited on the same face of the support strip. The tracks of mercury releasing and getter materials are deposited on the support strip such that the mechanical strains exerted by the materials on points of the support strip that are substantially symmetric with respect to a central axis of said first surface of said mercury dispensing support strip are substantially equivalent.

Abstract: A sense amplifier can be used with a high-speed IC memory device, which sense amplifier can help reduce the sensing latency during read operations to the memory device so as to allow fast access speed to the memory device. The sense amplifier includes a first-stage circuit, coupled to the bit lines of the memory device, for amplifying the differential data signal on the bit lines. Furthermore, a second-stage circuit has an input side coupled to receive the output signal from the first-stage circuit and an output side coupled to the bit lines, and is used for amplifying the output signal from the first-stage circuit and feeding the amplified signal back to the bit lines. The first-stage circuit and the second-stage circuit in combination constitute a positive feedback amplification loop coupled to the bit lines for amplifying the differential data signal on the bit lines to a detectable level.

Abstract: A handheld computer keyboard system for use in conjunction with small computerized apparatus such as Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) features a keyboard, a cover, and an I/O connector to allow a computerized apparatus to be connected to the keyboard. The system also features a retractable stabilizing leg for greater stability when the system is set on a flat surface. The system allows a user to input text and data into a device such as a PDA, which typically must be done with a stylus, with a more convenient keyboard. The cover for the system closes to protect the keyboard and provides a support easel for the PDA when the system is in use.

Abstract: A frittable evaporable getter device includes a metallic container having a disk-shaped bottom wall and a side wall extending upwardly from the bottom wall. A powder compact having an upper surface in which at least two radial recesses are formed is disposed in the container. The powder compact is formed of a mixture of BaAl.sub.4 powder and nickel powder. A discontinuous metallic member is embedded in the powder compact such that the member does not protrude from the upper surface of the powder compact and the member is spaced apart from the bottom wall of the container. An evaporable getter device having reduced activation time includes a powder compact formed of a mixture of BaAl.sub.4 powder, nickel powder, and between about 0.3% and about 5% by weight based on the total weight of the mixture of a third component selected from aluminum, iron, titanium, and alloys thereof.

Abstract: Disclosed is a circuit and method for compensating DC output level variations in a differential emitter-coupled logic circuit. The DC output level compensating differential emitter-coupled logic circuit includes a differential pair, an output stage, and a compensation circuit. The differential pair is configured to receive a differential signal and is operative to generate a differential signal. The output stage is coupled to the differential pair to receive the differential signal and is operative to generate a differential output signal at a DC output voltage level. The compensation circuit is coupled to the differential pair and the output stage and is operative to develop a compensating voltage drop in the differential pair so as to compensate for a change in the DC output voltage level when the temperature varies such that the output stage outputs the differential output signal at the DC output voltage level.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for providing an unencumbered capture by a computer system of an object in real-time. An object is placed in a displayer having an appropriate blue-screen surface which is positioned in the view of a camera connected to a computer. The camera captures a frame of an input image which included the object within the displayer being held by a user and possibly other background items. The system identifies a reduced-noise image of the input image and begins isolating the object. Any background items are filled out thereby recognizing the existence of the displayer. The displayer is then filled out leaving the object to be captured and entered into the computer for further manipulation and augmentation. The process is done with minimal human intervention and relies entirely on real-time visual input.

Abstract: A mercury dispensing support strip capable of dispensing mercury and sorbing reactive gases. In one embodiment, the support strip of the invention includes at least one track of mercury releasing material deposited on one face of the support strip. At least one track of getter material is also deposited on the same face of the support strip. The tracks of mercury releasing and getter materials are deposited on the support strip such that the mechanical strains exerted by the materials on points of the support strip that are substantially symmetric with respect to a central axis of said first surface of said mercury dispensing support strip are substantially equivalent.

Abstract: A modular precast construction block system (10) with a wall subsystem (12) and a foundation subsystem (14). The wall subsystem (12) has a number of wall units (16) having cavities (40) and prestressed tension cables (58) cast therein. The wall units (16) are vertically stacked with alignment channels (42) in the top surface (28) of one wall unit (16) receiving the key portion in the bottom surface (30) of the wall unit (16) above, to form walls (26) with vertically aligned cavities (40). Threaded wall bars (24) and extension bars (74) are threaded through the cavities with a wall tensioning assembly (22) applying downward force on the wall units (16) and providing structural strength to the wall. The foundation subsystem (14) includes a variety of precast foundation members including T footing members (126), pier members (128), grade beam members (130), and column members (132).

Abstract: A molded article includes a hollow molded body formed of a base material and a heat insulating sheet member laminated to an outer surface of the hollow molded body. The base material is a blended material which contains about 50% by weight to about 90% by weight of a thermoplastic resin and about 10% by weight to about 50% by weight of an inorganic material, and has a flexural rigidity of at least about 1,350 MPa at 23.degree. C. and a flexural rigidity of at least about 550 MPa at 60.degree. C.

Abstract: A semiconductor fabrication method is provided for forming an opening in a dielectric layer, which can help downsize the critical dimension of the resulting opening through the use of a photoresist layer with silylated sidewall spacers. By this method, the first step is to coat a base photoresist layer over the dielectric layer. Next, a photolithographic process is performed to remove a selected part of the base photoresist layer. Then, a conformational coating process is performed to coat a silylatable photoresist layer over the base photoresist layer to a controlled predefined thickness. Subsequently, a silylation process is performed on the silylatable photoresist layer so as to form a silylated photoresist layer over all the exposed surfaces of the base photoresist layer. After this, a first etching process is performed on the silylated photoresist layer, with the remaining portions of the silylated photoresist layer serving as silylated sidewall spacers on the base photoresist layer.

Abstract: A method is described for manufacturing a CMOS sensor. The method comprises the steps of providing a substrate the steps having a first conductive type, and then forming an oxide layer and a reflection layer on the substrate in sequence. The reflection layer and the oxide layer are patterned to define a sensor region, and a conductive layer having a second conductive type is formed on the reflection layer and the substrate. Thereafter, a doped region having the first conductive type is formed in a portion of the conductive layer by performing an ion implantation step. An isolation structure is formed on portions of the conductive layer adjacent to the doped region, and then a gate is formed on the doped region. Next, a lightly doped drain region having the second conductive type is formed in portions of the doped region adjacent to the gate, and a well having the second conductive type is formed in the doped region above the reflection layer, and then a spacer is formed on the sidewall of the gate.

Abstract: A microwave dielectric composition, comprising a basic composition, represented by the following formula:(Pb(1-x)Ca(x))(Zr(1-y)Sn(y))O(3)wherein x and y are molar ratios in the relation of 0.15<x<0.40 and 0.15<y<0.50, and a sintering aid represented by the following formula:a ZnO+b Sb.sub.2 O.sub.3wherein a and b are percentages relative to the total weight of the basic composition, in the relation of 0<a+b<0.05 weight %. The composition can be sintered at relatively low temperature and are superior in dielectric constant and quality factor. The low-temperature sintering yields the effects of allowing the sinters to have a fine structure and be of high long-term reliability, including high-temperature resistance and humidity resistance.

Abstract: An arcade game gamepiece directing mechanism facilitates a player in guiding a gamepiece in a desired direction over a playing surface. The gamepiece directing mechanism includes a rigid portion and a flexible portion connected to each other. The rigid portion receives inputs from the player and translates them to the flexible portion. When a gamepiece is received by the rigid portion and passed through the flexible portion, the combined motion of the rigid portion and flexible portion causes the gamepiece to travel in a particular direction over the playing surface. The rigid portion can be pivotally to the arcade game, while a distal end of the flexible portion can be restricted by an end restriction that restricts one, two, or three degrees of freedom of the distal end. The end restriction can also be movable relative to the playing surface.

Abstract: A CMP machine includes several polishing tables mounted on a carousel, which rotates in one direction. Each of the polishing tables includes a polishing pad. Each polishing pad can polish one wafer on its first surface. Each polishing pad also has one distributing duct used to supply slurry onto the polishing pad. An exhaust duct is included to exhaust slurry, in which the exhaust duct has a first end and a second end. The first end of the exhaust duct is coupled to slurry. A regulating valve is included to regulate slurry exhaust. An exhaust pump is included to produce a exhausting force of slurry. The exhaust pump is coupled to the second end of the exhaust duct. A regulating valve controller is included to control the regulating valve.

Abstract: A dual damascene structure includes a semiconductor substrate, a metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) transistor formed on the substrate and a metal layer. The metal layer is electrically connected to the conducting regions of the MOS transistor through interconnect. The metal layer further includes first metal spacing regions and second metal spacing regions, wherein the width of a first metal spacing region is about 1 to 10 times of the linewidth of the device, and the width of a second spacing region is about 0.8 to 1.2 times of the linewidth of the device. The first metal spacing regions includes a high-permittivity dielectric for a better thermal transferring rate, and the second spacing regions includes a low-permittivity dielectric for a shorter resistance-capacitance delay.

Abstract: A security apparatus including a number input device (302), an address register (312) responsive to the number input device, an encryption schema memory (316) addressable by the address register to produce an output code and a relative address code, and address incrementing logic (310) responsive the relative address code and operative to increment the address register. The apparatus also preferably includes a PIN register (304) coupled to the number input device, a public code register (306) coupled to the number input device, and merging logic (308) merging outputs of the PIN register and the public code register to be input to the address register. The apparatus also preferably includes an output shift register operative to shift out the output code of the encryption schema memory. The encryption schema memory can be read only memory, writeable memory, or both.

Abstract: A plurality of amplifying power converter circuits are provided each including a pair of switches being connected between two constant voltage sources and an output node common to each of the switches. Such output node is adapted for connection to a load. Also included is a modulator that serves for opening and closing one of the switches with a first duty cycle and opening and closing another one of the switches with a second duty cycle. The first duty cycle and the second duty cycle are at least partially "overlapped". During modulation, the power converter has a voltage gain at the output node that is greater than unity and exhibits improved distortion characteristics.