Abstract: The present invention includes a universal combustion chamber preferably shipped from a factory as a separate unit for field installation into a plurality of different fireplace units and includes a top panel and a floor panel connected to sidewall panel to form a complete ready to use gas tight structure. The combustion chamber is fabricated from flat and/or curved panels which are preferably molded from a thick paste slurry of mixed vitreous alumina silicate fibers combined with an aqueous solution of silica binder and fired to form non-porous gas tight panels which are interconnected to form a gas tight combustion chamber. The connecting joints are preferably reinforced by the addition of a high temperature adhesive added to the mating joints. The joints may be further reinforced and/or sealed by mechanical reinforcing at or in the joints. The joints may be eliminated by forming a one piece combustion chamber on forming molds that are designed to be separated from a formed but uncured combustion chamber.

Abstract: An air to gas mixing valve is provided for fireplaces especially those having sealed combustion chambers as employed in direct vent fireplaces. The novel mixing valve comprises a channel shaped shutter which mounts on and is linearly slidable over a window or windows made a part of the gas mixing pipe which connects to the fireplace burner. An adjustment rod is rotatably coupled to an actuating arm on the channel shaped shutter and extends through at least one sealed panel and has a rotatable nut or screw for linearly moving the shutters over the windows from a remote position.

Abstract: The present invention relates to post manufacturing operations for improving the working life of known bonding tools such as capillaries, wedges and single point TAB tools of the type used in the semiconductor industry to make fine wire or TAB finger interconnections. After the desired bonding tool is manufactured to predetermined specifications, dimensions and tolerances, it is placed in a sputtering chamber with hard target material with an ionizing gas. A controlled volume of sputtered hard material is generated at high temperature by plasma ion bombardment and deposited onto the working face of the bonding tool while the tool is held at a temperature that prevents distortion. A very thin amorphous hard layer is bonded onto the working face of the bonding tool which increases the working life of most tools by an order of magnitude and there is no requirement for additional processing.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for assigning job numbers to fetch requests that are sent to a memory system in order and completed by the memory system out-of-order. A unique set of job numbers represent addresses in a memory fetch list. A valid register maintains status bits associated with the set of job numbers that identify whether a job number is assigned or available. Bits in the valid register are set when an associated job number is assigned and reset when an associated job number is completed. On assignment, a priority encoder selects any lowest available job number based upon the status of the bits in the valid register. In the preferred embodiment, the lowest available job number is selected.

Abstract: A memory controller is described that comprises individual control segments for controlling memory that is divided into individual pairs of memory segments. The programmable memory controller provides improved average access times for memory devices by reducing the number of wait cycles between memory operations. A common data bus is shared between the memory segments. Each control segment provides individual sets of address and control lines to each memory segment so that control sequences can occur simultaneously between multiple control and memory segments. Accordingly, when a control sequence is in process within one segment, another control sequence can occur simultaneously in another segment. By overlapping control sequences in this fashion, the bandwidth of the data bus is increased by remaining idle less frequently. Each control segment provides a plurality of allow mode signals to the other control segment.

Abstract: In a pick and place machine of the type having an X-Y movable bond head there is provided a vertically movable pick up tool in the bond head having a tip for picking up and placing a device. The tip of the bonding tool is mounted opposite a radiant heating element which is juxtaposed and separated from the tip of the bonding tool. The tip of the bonding tool is heated to a predetermined control temperature with the radiant energy heating element and during a bonding operation it incurs some cooling. The amount of cooling is calculated by the time and the length of the extension of the bonding tool from its heating element and a computer controller calculates a compensation factor over a predetermined fixed time which includes retracting the bonding tool tip a predetermined vertical distance into the heater to reheat the tool and compensate for the amount of cooling that occurred during the pick and place operation.

Abstract: A memory controller is described that comprises individual control segments for controlling memory that is divided into individual pairs of memory segments. The programmable memory controller provides improved average access times for memory devices by reducing the number of wait cycles between memory operations. A common data bus is shared between the memory segments. However, each control segment provides individual sets of address and control lines to each memory segment so that control sequences can occur simultaneously between multiple control and memory segments. Accordingly, when a control sequence is in process within one segment, another control sequence can occur simultaneously in another segment. By overlapping control sequences in this fashion, the bandwidth of the data bus is increased by remaining idle less frequently. Each control segment comprises a plurality of synchronous countdown register timers.

Abstract: A memory utilization value indicative of memory utilization associated with a data channel is received. A queue depth value indicative of the queue depth of messages located within a message queue maintained by the data channel is also received. A fuzzy logic design is executed with the memory utilization value in the queue depth value used as input parameters. A crisp value is then generated which corresponds to a window size of the data channel.

Abstract: An ultra low mass wire clamp for operating at a very high speed where acceleration and deceleration forces exceeding thirty times the forces of gravity includes a wire clamp body portion having a machined recess therein for mounting a first fixed jaw in an exact reference position. A cantilever arm connected to and extending from the body portion has a second machine recess therein for receiving and mounting a second movable jaw in an exact position juxtaposed the fixed jaw so that the faces of the jaws are in exact parallel when mounted in their respective recesses. There is further provided an adjustment screw which engages the movable jaw or the movable actuator so as to adjust the fail safe zero voltage clamping force between jaws which is designed to maintain a clamping force on a wire under power failure conditions.

Abstract: A novel low mass transducer for bonding machines comprises a transducer generator which mounts on or is coupled to a bonding tool of the type used for ball bonding, wedge bonding and TAB bonding. The preferred embodiment transducer comprises a magnetostrictive or piezoelectric element which mount on the outside surface of the bonding tools used in a bonding operation, thus eliminating convention transducers which also serve as a bonding tool holder. The present invention bonding tool serves as the base or mount for a transducer made in the form of a sleeve or tube which mounts on or couples to the bonding tool. The novel transducer/bonding tool or transducers also serve as a sensor which can monitor the quality of a bond while it is being made.

Abstract: A novel control system for altering a fixed pattern of gas flames in a fireplace having artificial logs comprises a log set having a burner system and the burner system having a gas valve control which is coupled to source of gas or air to be regulated. The control system has a valve which controls the air or gas being supplied to the burner and a control sensor is coupled to the control system for activating the time sequence of the cycle of the control system so as to raise or lower the gas flames being regulated and to disturb the pattern of gas flames to produce the effect of dancing flames.

Abstract: The present invention includes a multi-frequency ultrasonic generator coupled to a multi-resonance frequency transducer capable of operating at a plurality of usable resonance frequencies. A controller is coupled to a power amplifier that drives the ultrasonic transducer and is capable of applying power, voltage or current profiles for each of the resonance frequencies to be used during a bonding operation independent of the others.

Abstract: Apparatus and method are provided that can be advantageously included in a timing phase-locked loop for finally adjusting the period of a timing signal being controlled by that loop. The loop filter receives the timing signal and generates a loop error signal indicative of whether the period of the timing signal should be held the same, increased or decreased. A strobe signal is also generated each time that the timing signal is to be so corrected. The error signal and strobe signal are provided to a function generator such as a state machine. Each time that the function generator is strobed by the strobe signal, it produces a count signal whose value is representative of N, N+C or N-C, where N and C are integers and C represents a preset desired increment of change for the timing signal per strobe, i.e. the fineness of the adjustment of the timing signal. When not strobed by the strobe signal, the state machine produces a count signal of value N.

Abstract: A fine pitch capillary bonding tool for making ball bonds having a consistent bonded ball size even though the air balls may vary in diameter is provided. The convential shaped bonding tool is provided with a novel ball constraining recess in the working tip. When an air ball is bonded it is forced into the constraining recess which has a shoulder portion for exerting a downward bonding force. The ball being bonded extrudes vertically into the constraining recess without laterial extrusion which would create mashed balls of varying diameter.

Abstract: Disclosed are a method and system for transferring data objects from a server to a client in a distributed computing system. The disclosed method comprises the steps of: receiving, at the server, a request from the client for the data object; determining whether a cached copy of the requested object retained by the client is the same as a current version of the requested object retained by the server, wherein the cached copy and the current version are stored in a compressed form; and transmitting the current version of the requested object from the server to the client in the compressed form if the cached copy of the requested object is not the same as the current version of the requested object.

Abstract: Apparatus and method are provided which determine the geometric and logical structure of a document page from its image. The document image is partitioned into regions (both text and non-text) which are then organized into related "article" groups in the correct reading order. The invention uses image-based features, text-based features, and assumptions based on knowledge of expected layout, to find the correct reading order of the text blocks on a document page. It can handle complex layouts which have multiple configurations of columns on a page and inset material (such as figures and inset text blocks). The apparatus comprises two main components, a geometric page segmentor and a logical page organizer. The geometric page segmentor partitions a binary image of a document page into fundamental units of text or non-text, and produces a list of rectangular blocks, their locations on the page in points (1/72 inch), and the locations of horizontal rule lines on the page.

Abstract: A database and warehousing system including a media controller which provides instantaneous access of a snapshot of data for offline analysis by a data analysis host. A transaction host sends the data for storage to the media controller. The media controller stores the data in an original copy with a plurality of mirror images. Upon receiving a request for a snapshot of the data, the data analysis generates a snapshot copy by releasing a mirror image or the original copy. The snapshot copy is provided as a snapshot of data to the data analysis host. After completing processing of the snapshot of data, data analysis host sends a return ready signal to the media controller. In response, the media controller updates the mirror image in the snapshot of data and reconnects the updated mirror image to the transaction host.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for limiting the processing power of a CPU or CPUs in a multi-processing system comprising at least one constrained or hobbled CPU and a main memory. The novel method includes executing a high priority process on the CPU which effectively interrupts the processing of a task at a predetermined time T.sub.1 during a full time cycle T.sub.0 -T.sub.2 rendering the CPU unavailable for a predetermined period of time (T.sub.1 to T.sub.2) which represents a predetermined percentage of the CPUs full computing power. The task that is interrupted is continued at the start of the next time cycle of the CPU so that all tasks are completed. The power of any CPU so hobbled may be decreased by a predetermined percentage of full power by decreasing the processing time cycle between T.sub.0 and T.sub.1, without the need for hardware or operating system modification.

Abstract: A low cost highly efficient cooling system for a closely coupled linear motor includes a moving coil mounted for movement on a stator core. The moving coil comprises a plurality of conductive turns wound on a frame wherein the outer surface of the turns are exposed. A nozzle comprising a base member and a cover plate is mounted on one end of the moving coil for producing a pair of high velocity sheets of air which are directed horizontally over the surface of the exposed turns so as to rapidly cool and stabilize the temperature of the coils wound on the moving coil frame within a very short period of time.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a self locking system for holding a wire bonding tool in a wire bonding transducer and comprises an unitary cam key rotatably mounted in a cam key aperture extending through an anti-node end of an ultrasonic transducer. A cam surface on the cam key is operable to lock a bonding tool mounted in a substantially vertical bonding tool aperture when rotated less than 360.degree. in said cam key aperture.