Abstract: A method for making layered structures of artificial high T.sub.c superconductor compounds by which on top of a seed crystal having a lattice structure matching the lattice structure of the superconductor compound to be made, oxide layers of all constituent components are epitaxially grown in a predetermined sequence so as to create a sandwich structure not found in natural crystals. The epitaxial deposition of the constituent components is performed in a reaction chamber having evaporation facilities, inlets for metal-organic gases, and inlets for background gases including oxygen.

Abstract: A gate-controlled quantum wire device is disclosed, which may use a channel of electrically resistive material involving tunneling between localized states.

Abstract: A circuit for interfacing between a digital-television circuit for producing pixel data for television images and a computer graphics display permits rapid scaling and positioning of live television images on the graphics display. In a preferred embodiment, the digital-television/computer-graphics interface circuit of the invention includes memory for storing a horizontal-scaling bit pattern and a vertical-scaling bit pattern. Such a preferred interface circuit is adapted to receive digital-television pixel data from the digital television circuit and, on a pixel-by-pixel basis depending on the state of corresponding bits in the horizontal-scaling bit pattern, to skip the pixel in the case of image contraction and to replicate the pixel in the case of image expansion.

Abstract: This invention is a method for calibrating a two beam rotationally scanned light beam interruption coordinate data input device. In particular, four reference objects which can be sensed by the effectively rotating directional sensor are disposed at measured equal interval distances along an essentially straight line. The four reference objects are positioned relative to the effectively rotating directional sensor so that each of the objects can be essentially individually sensed in turn in the course of effective rotation of the sensor. The effective angular velocity and effective center of rotation of the sensor is then determined from the known distance between adjacent reference objects and the measured time intervals between detection of adjacent pairs of reference objects by the effectively rotating directional sensor.

Abstract: Tunneling microscopy can be used to observe simultaneously the topography of a sample surface that is conductive and data related to the magnetic field near the surface. A tunneling microscope apparatus has a cantilever supporting a tip which has a magnetic moment. To use the apparatus according to a first preferred method, a magnetic field alternating at a predetermined frequency is produced by the sample near the sample surface to vibrate the tip by a magnetic interaction with the magnetic moment. To use the apparatus according to a second preferred method, the direction of the magnetic moment of the tip is switched at a predetermined frequency to vibrate the tip by creating an interaction between the magnetic moment and a magnetic field of the sample. For both preferred methods, the tip is maintained at a distance from the sample surface so as to permit a tunneling current to flow.

Abstract: To encode data representative of correlated images, a sequence of arrays of source image data is provided in which each array is representative of an image. Each array of source image data is partitioned into a plurality of source image-data blocks. For each sequence of source image-data blocks, at least one prototypical image-data block is derived from at least a portion of the source image data of the sequence. For each source image-data block, a translation coefficient and a number of scaling coefficients equal to the number of prototypical image-data blocks associated with the sequence are determined. A difference image-data block is formed for each source image-data block from elements of the source image-data block minus the associated translation coefficient minus the sum in turn of each associated scaling coefficient multiplied by elements of the corresponding prototypical image-data block.

Abstract: High T.sub.c superconducting devices are described in which controlled grain boundaries in a layer of the superconductors forms a weak link or barrier between superconducting grains of the layer. A method is described for reproducibly fabricating these devices, including first preparing a substrate to include at least one grain boundary therein. A high T.sub.c superconductor layer is then epitaxially deposited on the substrate in order to produce a corresponding grain boundary in the superconducting layer. This superconducting layer is then patterned to leave at least two regions on either side of the grain boundary, the two regions functioning as contact areas for a barrier device including the grain boundary as a current flow barrier. Electrical contacts can be made to the superconducting regions so that bias currents can be produced across the grain boundary which acts as a tunnel barrier or weak link connection.

Abstract: A method for producing a patterned layer of high T.sub.c oxide superconductor is provided in which patterning is accomplished prior to the attainment of a superconducting state in the layer. A solution containing precursor components of the desired oxide superconductor is sprayed onto a substrate and dried to provide a layer thereon. This layer is then irradiated in selected areas to convert the irradiated layers to an intermediate oxide state, the nonirradiated areas being unchanged. The nonirradiated areas are then dissolved away, leaving a pattern of oxide material. This oxide material is then converted to a high T.sub.c superconducting state, as by annealing in an oxygen atmosphere. This provides the patterned layer of high T.sub.c oxide superconductor. An example of a such a superconductor is a mixed copper oxide, such as Y.sub.1 Ba.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.7-x.

Abstract: An electrical contact between two film members that is stable over all conditions encountered in processing and over the device lifetime. The contact has a central multi-element diffusion barrier alloy layer having at least one elemental ingredient that does not react with either film member and at least one other elemental ingredient that reacts with the adjacent film member to form an intermediate layer between the diffusion barrier layer and each film member. A contact between aluminum wiring and silicon devices on an integrated circuit chip is provided with a diffusion barrier layer of for example, WPd with an intermediate layer on both sides, one side being PdSi next to the silicon and the other being AlPd.sub.3 next to the aluminum.

Abstract: In an interactive terminal-host data processing system display panel processing is performed in a sequence of steps. A horst data base stores a display panel library and data. The terminal displays a list of panel layouts for panels stored in the library. One layout is selected from the llist and displayed on the selected panel layout. The selected panel layout is modified at the terminal when the panel is displayed. The modified panel layout is stored in the panel library. The stored panels, including the modified panel, are utilized in the interactive data communication between the terminal and the host data base.

Abstract: In a display system of the type where one or more symbol tables 20 are stored in general purpose storage and include blocks of data forming symbol definitions for each of a set of symbols, and an all points addressable (APA) display buffer 30 is provided which includes on-screen APA storage 32 for data indicative of pels to be displayed on a screen and off-screen APA storage 34 for symbol definitions with buffer control logic 36 for associating symbol definitions in off-screen APA storage with locations in on-screen APA storage such that symbols are displayed at desired locations on the display screen, cache control logic 42 is provided for copying the definition of a symbol for display from the symbol table in general purpose storage to off-screen APA storage if the definition for the selected symbol is not already held in off-screen APA storage, whereby the off-screen APA storage is configured as a cache for holding definitions for selected symbols.

Abstract: A method for selecting a limited number of presentation colors from a larger palette for a selected image. A three dimensional color histogram of said image is generated and a first color is selected based upon the color occurring most frequently in the image. Subsequent presentation colors are selected by choosing one at a time those colors having the highest weighted frequency of occurrence wherein the weighting is such that colors closest to the previously selected color are weighted very little while colors furthest away from the previously selected color are weighted the most.