Abstract: A method and apparatus for printed circuit board pads with registering feature for component leads. A U-shaped metalized pad is disposed on a printed circuit board for soldering to a component lead. Solder is disposed on the pad and heated to a molten state so that surface tension and wetting effects form the molten solder into a solder mound having a U-shaped lateral cross section conforming to the U-shaped metalized pad. The solder mound has a first arm and a second arm, and a lateral aperture extending therebetween for receiving an extremity of the component lead, and registering the extremity of the component lead with respect to the pad.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for automatically analyzing and controlling intensity of a train of high speed, high power multi-level optical pulses. The invention includes an optical pulse generator for generating the train of high speed, high power, multi-level optical pulses, wherein the optical pulse generator provides a low optical intensity level and a medium optical intensity level and a high optical intensity level. A photodetector is optically coupled with the optical pulse generator for generating a train of electrical pulses having amplitude levels in response to optical intensity levels of the train of optical pulses. At least one reference is employed, wherein an analyzer electrically coupled with the reference and the photodetector for analyzing the amplitude levels of the train of electrical pulses in comparison to the reference. A controller is electrically coupled with analyzer for generating a high correction signal based upon the analysis of the amplitude levels.

Abstract: A parallel optical data link using multimode optical components. The invention includes an array of photonic optical sources and an array of multimode waveguides optically coupled adjacent to the array of sources. Similarly, the invention further includes an array of photonic optical detectors and an array of multimode waveguides optically coupled adjacent to the array of detectors. The invention further includes a multimode optical fiber ribbon having a longitudinal dimension and first and second opposing extremities for transmission of light there through. The source coupled waveguide array is in optical communication with the first extremity of the fiber ribbon, while the detector coupled waveguide array is in optical communication with the second extremity of the fiber ribbon.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for displaying line rotation on a raster computer graphics display, so that substantially rotated versions of original lines maintain a line style pattern that is identical to a line style pattern of the original lines. The invention includes controlling the line style of the substantially rotated version based upon rotation of the substantially rotated version. A line style array is stored in a computer memory for storing consecutive line style pattern features of the substantially rotated version of the first line and assigning a respective length value to each of the pattern features. A line style feature pixel counter is used for counting the pixels of each line style pattern feature. A comparator is used for comparing the incremented pixel counter to the respective length value. A pixel step value is scaled based upon a trigonometric function of the rotation of the substantially rotated version so as to generate a scaled pixel step value.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for soft error comparison testing of electronic components exposed to a flux of high energy particles, while providing for simultaneous comparison testing of different components at full rated operating speed, and providing for programmable control of level of the supply voltage applied to the components. Included a method and apparatus for simultaneously exposing electronic components to a flux of high energy particles, operating the components, and simultaneously measuring soft errors of the components induced by the flux of high energy particles.

Abstract: A method and article of manufacture for providing a balanced tradeoff between size of a single binary file and performance of that binary on various computer architectures of a wide range of computer platforms. The invention includes identifying performance critical source code and complementary source code having less performance criticality than the performance critical source code. The performance critical source code is compiled so as to generate performance critical object code for a first computer architecture, or an additional plurality of computer architectures as desired. The complementary source code is compiled so as to generate complementary object code for a particular computer architecture, selected as a generic computer architecture, which is different than at least one of the plurality of computer architectures.

Abstract: A register dump providing enhanced efficiency by using a transmission gate for generating a register word line signal so as to reduce clock loading, and by using a complementary gate for generating a precharged pull-down signal so as to reduce discharge time and register word line capacitive loading.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing efficient transmission of a beam of acoustic wave between an ultrasonic transducer and a remotely located body under examination by the beam. The apparatus includes a housing having an interior arranged so that the ultrasonic transducer is disposed therein. A prism is acoustically coupled with the transducer and with an acoustic waveguide having a longitudinal dimension extending outwardly from the interior of the housing. The acoustic prism is fixedly coupled with a proximate portion of the waveguide so as to provide efficient transmission of the beam of acoustic waves between the prism and the waveguide. Accordingly, The beam of acoustic waves is transmitted from the transducer, through the prism, and along the longitudinal dimension of the waveguide, to a distal portion of the waveguide. The distal portion of the waveguide is inserted into a remotely located patient's body under examination.