Abstract: An inductive coupling unit which can be easily attached to any hearing instrument with an internal receiving coil to connect the instrument to peripheral electronic devices. The coupling unit includes a head including a head cover, a bobbin disposed inside the head cover, a transmitting coil which is wrapped around the bobbin, and a cylindrical magnet placed in the center of the bobbin. An end of a conductive cable is connected to the transmitting coil and the other end is connected to a plug which makes electrical connection with a peripheral device. The coupling unit is placed on the outer surface of the hearing instrument, and the signals from the peripheral device are induced in the receiving coil of the hearing instrument by the transmitting coil to provide clear, high fidelity transmission.

Abstract: Applications are created having remote data sources linked to data objects on storage media such as CD-ROMs. These data objects are linked transparently to remote sources and updated automatically. An agent--based LiveServer accepts connections from at least one LivePlayer which may be linked to the invention remotely by a direct network link or a modem dial out to the terminal server to which the LiveServer is connected. When the LivePlayer fetches a resource from the network it shall first post its universal resource locator (URL) to the LiveServer. The LiveServer scans a translation table of alternative addresses for the URL. The LiveServer returns either an original or translated URL to the LivePlayer which then uses this URL to check its local hard disk cache to determine if the resource has been fetched earlier. If no such resource exists on the local cache the LivePlayer fetches the media from the remote site via the appropriate network protocol.

Abstract: A computationally time and space efficient data structure and method and system for using the same for surface rendering. The basis for the new data structure lies in organizing a volume data set for surface rendering into a new format where the cells needed for the surface rendering can be searched and displayed more efficiently. Given a threshold t specified by the user, the present data structure is able to efficiently identify all surface cells saving valuable processing time by providing three unique beneficial characteristics. First, given a threshold t, it can directly provide all S-cells without having to check most of the 1-cells and 0-cells such that no time is wasted on visiting the intermediate nodes. Second, it facilitates significant savings in memory space where the data structure only requires N.sup.3 pointers for data storage saving memory space for all intermediate nodes, i.e. O(N.sup.3) pairs of (Min, Max).

Abstract: A method and system for expanding the features and functions of a CD-ROM drive by facilitating communication between the drive and a host computer. The communication allows a user to control the basic functions, such as volume control, fast forwarding, and playing, from the hard buttons and knobs from the front panel of the drive without incurring conflict with the host computer. It can also allow an IRDA module to be attached to the drive to transfer IRDA data via the IDE/ATAPI port. A parameter and control pages are stored in the firmware of the CD-ROM drive. The parameter page provides parameters to define the input devices, and the control pages update the changes in the status of the input devices. The host computer reads the control pages at a predetermined interval and issues appropriate command based on the changes in the status.

Abstract: A paint roller with an internal reservoir for receiving and dispensing paint. The interior of the cylindrical roller communicates with the external surface via a plurality of slits running substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of the shell. An applicator is laid over the external surface of the shell. Paint of the internal reservoir is dispensed evenly and automatically over the slits.

Abstract: The present invention has at least one rack chock which is supported pivotally and tiltably at one end by a pin and cross head assembly located at a position between at least one leg rack and the hull of the platform. The other end of the rack chock is connected to the jack foundation with an actuator assembly. The pin and cross head assembly is disposed slidably within a guide for permitting the teeth of the rack chock to engage the leg rack teeth without visual monitoring and manual control. The actuator assembly connected to the other end of the rack chock controls the swinging movement of the rack chock and its engagement and disengagement with the leg rack. A pair of jacks urges upper and lower wedges with tiltable surfaces converging onto the rack chord's upper and lower surfaces, thus obtaining a optimal surface to arrest the relative movement between the rack chock and the leg rack.

Abstract: A wedge device for a press for controllably exerting high amounts of force in a clamping operation during a semiconductor packaging process and for facilitating a linear force output in relation to its input. The wedge device is powered by a servo motor which is coupled to a planetary screw by a set of pulleys and a timing belt. The screw is mated with a nut which is prevented from rotating so that the rotation of the screw causes the nut to move in a linear direction. Metal extensions join the nut to a bottom wedge such that the wedge moves together with the nut. Slidably disposed on top of the bottom wedge is a block bearing firmly attached to a complementary wedge. The complementary wedge is free to move in a vertical direction but not in a horizontal direction. As the bottom wedge moves in a horizontal direction, the complementary wedge moves in a vertical direction. The complementary wedge is placed underneath a press to provide the clamping force necessary for a semiconductor packaging operation.

Abstract: An apparatus for wet processing of substrates in a controlled environment. It is a single-substrate processing apparatus which is capable of carrying out etching, rinsing, and drying processes all in a single apparatus and in a controlled environment. A closed processing chamber is provided for processing a substrate in a closed environment. Processing liquids and gases are introduced into the chamber and the chamber is rotated with the substrate. Temperature inside the chamber is controlled by heating the gases. Humidity is controlled by varying the proportion of water vapor. The rotation of the chamber with the substrate creates a stable environment where processing parameters are more easily controlled.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for reducing warpage in semiconductor packages, and in particular, thin quad flat packages (TQFPs). The apparatus includes a clamping jig having a bottom plate and an upper plate. The bottom plate is connected to a heater which heats the plate to approximately 50 to 70 degrees Celsius. An air supply controller delivers air supply to the upper plate. The TQFPs are placed in between the bottom plate and the upper plate immediately after they have been encapsulated with resin and the resin has cured. The clamping jig clamps the TQFPs in between the bottom and upper plate with a slight force. The TQFPs remain in the clamping jig until they have sufficiently cooled.

Abstract: A disc loading mechanism for a optical disc drive,. The loading mechanism includes a chassis, loader tray, a linear gear bar, lifter, motor, gear train, and a sub-chassis. The pivoting sub-chassis, which supports an optical reader, rotates around a fixed axis and has 1-degree of freedom. The loader tray is slidably attached to the chassis such that it can move from a fully out-position, the position where a disc would be loaded, to a fully in-position, the position where the optical reader would engage the disc. The linear gear bar has a long rigid body with gear teeth along the length of its body. It is slidably attached to the loader tray and performs multiple functions including facilitating the movement of the loader tray, the lifting of the sub-chassis, and the timing of the loading mechanism.

Abstract: An improved cylinder head-suction muffler assembly includes a suction muffler (2), a cylinder head (1), a capillary tube (7) and a self-latching clip (5). The suction muffler (2), has a suction tube (3) with a mounting block (14) and a capillary tube holder (13), and the cylinder head (1) has a suction plenum (4) and an extended portion (6) with a pair of channels (10). The self-latching clip (5) is mounted on the mounting block (14) and in the channels (10) to secure the suction muffler (2) assembly to the cylinder head (1). The self-latching clip (5) has a narrow portion (9), a wide portion (11), and a pair of bent ends (12). To couple the suction muffler (2) to the cylinder head (1) the suction tube (3) is inserted into the suction plenum (4). The capillary tube (7) is positioned in the capillary tube holder (13) and the narrow portion (9) of the self-latching clip (5) is mounted on the mounting block (14) and over the capillary tube (7) and a wide portion (11) is placed in the channels (10).

Abstract: A BGA mould assembly which can facilitate high degree of control over the clamping force on BGA substrates of varying thickness. An Independent drive is provided for each of the dual in-line cavity bars which clamp the BGA substrates. The drive mechanism is a wedge press which includes a servo motor, and a linear-conversion mechanism coupled to the servo motor to convert the rotation motion of the motor to a linear movement. An input wedge is coupled to the linear-conversion mechanism such that the input wedge moves correspondingly with the linear movement of the linear conversion mechanism. An output wedge is coupled to the cavity bar and positioned such that a horizontal movement by the input wedge causes the output wedge to move downwards. A roller cage is provided at the top and bottom of the input wedge to reduce friction.

Abstract: An apparatus for stirring which allows automatic coupling of the motor assembly with the stirring shaft. The apparatus comprises a housing, a detachable stirring shaft with an engagement head, and a motor assembly. The motor assembly is fixed onto the housing, and includes a cam assembly having a coupling shaft coupled to a cam device. The cam assembly is adapted to provide an engagement position and a disengagement position of the coupling shaft. The engagement position allows the coupling shaft to engage the stirring shaft when the stirring shaft is placed in a receiving position. A set of gears allows the translation of rotary movement of a motor into the rotating action of the coupling shaft.