Abstract: The data cell invention disclosed herein is a CMOS latch having a first CMOS inverter and a second CMOS inverter which have their respective storage nodes interconnected by cross-coupling connections which each include a gated polysilicon resistor. The respective storage nodes of the cell are connected through word line transfer gates to bit lines which serve to both write in and read out the state of the cell. The control gate of the word line transistors is also connected to the control gates of the respective gated polysilicon resistors in the cross-coupled connections for the cell. In normal operation, when the word line transfer gates are not conductive, the gated polysilicon resistors are also not conductive.

Abstract: A text processing system is disclosed including an improved method for entering and displaying commands from a keyboard. Normal text being typed in is displayed at a sequentially advancing text cursor position. The user can press a command function-key on the keyboard, signifying that he desires to type in a command word. In response to this, the present position of the text cursor is saved and a command line window is displayed at a position proximate to the saved text cursor position on the display. Then, when a command word is typed in at the keyboard, it is displayed within this floating command line window. This enables the operator to continue to focus his attention in the central portion of the display where he was preparing his text, while entering and observing the display of his typed-in command. In this manner, the operator's attention is not interrupted by having to redirect his attention to either the upper extremity or the lower extremity of the display device.

Abstract: The process is based upon applying a layer of release agent which is a solution of a polysulfone constituent and a dye, applied to the surface of a polysilicon layer. Thereafter, the photoresist layer can be applied on top of the release agent layer. Then, the photoresist can be optically exposed and developed and its alignment measured. If the alignment of the resultant photoresist structures is found to be incorrect, rework can be easily accomplished by dissolving the release agent in a suitable solvent. This allows the existing photoresist structures to be removed. Then the rework cycle can continue by applying a new layer of the release agent and dye solution and followed by a new photoresist layer. If the original photoresist layer or the reworked photoresist layer is found to have been properly aligned, then the normal processing steps can continue. The process also provides for an improved control over back reflected and diffracted light during the optical exposure step.

Abstract: This invention describes a method for automatically verifying spelling of compound words in many natural languages such as German, Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, Dutch, Icelandic, Afrikaans, Swiss German, etc. The basic technology of looking up words in a dictionary is supplemented by the association of component flags with each word and by the application of powerful tree-scanning techniques that isolate the components of compound words and determine their correctness in isolation and in association with each other. The technique can be used in word processing systems to support spelling verification, to hyphenate text, and to unhyphenate text.

Abstract: The reconstructed clock generator instantly generates a data clock from existing serial data in any coding format which provides data transitions at a reasonable rate. The reconstructed clock waveform provides transitions at the original transmission clock frequency, occurring at the optimum sampling time for decoding the incoming serial data. An edge detector is used to produce pulses coincident with each transition of the data to be decoded. The output of the edge detector is connected to the input of an emitter follower whose output is connected to a transmission line whose propagation delay is equal to one-half of the period of the data transmission clock waveform. The pulse from the edge detector travels along the transmission line and arrives at the far end at exactly one-half clock period later, where it is reflected. The pulse is reflected from end to end of the transmission line in this manner, producing a stream of pulses with the period of the data transmission clock waveform, as desired.

Abstract: An information processing system is disclosed which provides a writer with acceptable replacement phrases to substitute for trite phrases in a manuscript text. The replacement phrases are grammatically equivalent to the trite phrases and can be immediately inserted into the text without further alteration.

Abstract: A distributed control apparatus and method is disclosed to maintain the network stability in a packet switching local area network under changing traffic load conditions, by controlling the size of the packets transmitted by each node. The invention monitors the present information flow rate in the network and computes an average packet length which it then uses to adjust the size of the variable length data field in each message frame. In this manner, network flow control can be achieved without forcing data terminals connected to the nodes of the network to adjust their speed. The invention is applicable to a wide variety of local area network protocols for both ring and bus architectures.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for managing a plurality of interrupt handlers in a linked-list data structure, for servicing a plurality of input/output devices sharing a common interrupt line in a microcomputer. The system provides for an orderly method to link a newly loaded interrupt handler routine into a linked-list data structure consisting of previously loaded interrupt handler routines. The system further provides for an orderly method to share a common interrupt line among a plurality of input/output devices being serviced by the interrupt handlers. The system further provides for an orderly means to unlink a particular interrupt handler routine from the linked-list data structure when a corresponding input/output device is to be deactivated. The system finds special utility in a multitasking operating system environment where input/output devices can be deactivated in a different sequence from that in which they were originally activated.

Abstract: A CMOS flip-flop circuit is disclosed which enables a single side pull-down operation for inputting test signals during a test mode and alternately a dual side push-pull operation for inputting data signals during the normal use of the circuit. A pair of inverter circuits selectively feed complementary data signals to opposite sides of a bistable circuit so that the circuit operates in the push-pull manner thereby decreasing the switching time of the flip-flop. A pair of transmission gates, which are coupled to outputs of the inverter circuits, electrically isolate any noise appearing at a data input from the bistable circuit. During a test mode of the flip-flop, a test signal is fed into one side of the bistable circuit and facilitates a single side pull-down operation of the flip-flop. Two such flip-flop circuits are concatenated in a push-pull cascaded connection to provide a shift register latch.

Abstract: A minimum parallax stylus detection subsystem is disclosed for use with a graphic input grid overlay which is positioned on the viewing surface of a display device. The invention has a three phase operation wherein, during the first phase, the stylus is at a remote distance from the viewing surface of the display and therefore no representation of the stylus position is displayed. During a second phase, the stylus is brought within a first threshold distance from the viewing surface of the display, during which a cursor image is generated which is precisely positioned on the display corresponding to the detected position of the stylus. During a third phase of operation of the invention, the stylus is brought within a close proximity of the viewing surface of the display, during which the cursor image is removed from the display and an actual trace of the path of the stylus with respect to the graphic input grid overlay is shown.

Abstract: An asynchronous multiphase switching method and apparatus are disclosed which transfers a system load between two asynchronous AC power sources in an improved manner. It operates as a make-before-break switch to provide uninterrupted power to the system load during the transfer while minimizing voltage and current fluctuations. The control circuitry allows energy to be supplied to the load during the transition without allowing current to flow between the power sources. A matrix of SCRs is used to transfer the load between the two power sources. The switches to be gated are determined by the relative timing relationships of the existing and takeover voltage waveforms. By altering the pattern of the switches which are gated and by controlling the direction of energy flow, the transition can be made between the power sources without interruption of power.

Abstract: A cryptographic method for discouraging the copying and sharing of purchased software programs allows an encrypted program to be run on only a designated computer or, alternatively, to be run on any computer but only by the user possessing a designated smart card. Each program offering sold by the software vendor is encrypted with a unique file key and then written on a diskette. A user who purchases a diskette having written thereon an encrypted program must first obtain a secret password from the software vendor. This password will allow the encrypted program to be recovered at a prescribed, designated computer having a properly implemented and initialized encryption feature. The encryption feature decrypts the file key of the program from the password, and when the encrypted program is loaded at the proper computer, the program or a portion of it is automatically decrypted and written into a protected memory from which it can only be executed and not accessed for non-execution purposes.

Abstract: A data signal appearing at an input node of a bus transceiver is transmitted to an output node thereof during a clock cycle. During a second phase of the clock cycle, the data signal is captured in a latch of the transceiver and continues to be transmitted to the output node. Additionally, a receiver is enabled to the detect the transmitted data signal at the output node and to transmit the detected data signal to the input node. Thereafter, the detected data signal can be sensed by an external circuit.

Abstract: An electronic funds transfer system (EFT) is described in which retail terminals located in stores are connected through a public switched telecommunication system to card issuing agencies data processing centers. Users of the system are issued with intelligent secure bank cards, which include a microprocessor, ROS and RAM stores. The POS includes a personal key (KP) and an account number (PAN) stored on the card when the issuer issues it to the user. Users also have a personal identity number (PIN) which is stored or remembered separately.A transaction is initiated at a retail terminal when a card is inserted in an EFT module connected to the terminal. A request message including the PAN and a session key (KS) is transmitted to the issuers data processing center. The issuer generates an authentication parameter (TAP) based upon its stored version of KP and PIN and a time variant parameter received from the terminal.

Abstract: An electronic funds transfer system (EFT) is described in which retail terminals located in stores are connected through a public switched telecommunication system to card issuing agencies data processing centers. Users of the system are issued with intelligent secure bank cards, which include a microprocessor, ROS and RAM stores. The ROS includes a personal key (KP) and an account number (PAN) stored on the card when the issuer issues it to the user. Users also have a personal identity numbe (PIN) which is stored or remembered separately.A transaction is initiated at a retail terminal when a card is inserted in an EPT module connected to the terminal. A request message including the PAN and a session key (KS) is transmitted to the issuers data processing center. The issuer generates an authentication parameter (TAP) based upon its stored version of KP and PIN and a time variant parameter received from the terminal.

Abstract: A bus communication system is disclosed which provides low bus acquisition latency while supporting large block data transfers. A first device, which has control of a communication bus, detects a request for control of the bus during a transfer of the data to a second device. The first device then determines whether the transfer of data can be completed within a predetermined time period. A suspend signal is generated and transmitted to the second device in the event that the transfer of data cannot be completed within the predetermined period of time. The second device, in response to the suspend signal, sends to the first device, a plurality of control words which sets forth the information that the servant unit will require from the bus master to identify and resume the message at a later time. The first device stores the control words and relinquishes control of the bus.

Abstract: A composition and method for anistropically etching polysilicon or silicides with excellent selectivity to an underlying layer of an oxide or nitride of silicon is disclosed. A mixture of CClF.sub.3 or CCl.sub.2 F.sub.2 and ammonia is employed at moderate pressures in a reactive ion etching chamber.

Abstract: A multilingual processor is disclosed herein, for building screen images on the display screen and for decoding multilingual commands, in an information processing system. The information processing system includes an execution unit having a memory, a bulk storage and a workstation connected thereto, the workstation including a keyboard connected to a display screen for inputting command and working text information to the display screen. The multilingual processor includes a document library stored in the bulk storage device including a plurality of language documents and at least one user document. The language documents each characterize a selected language and include a displayable components portion and an executable components portion. A language document selector accesses a selected one of the plurality of language documents in response to a user language selection input from the keyboard specifying that commands and messages are to be in one of the selected languages.

Abstract: An FET read only memory cell circuit is disclosed wherein word lines serve to augment the precharging of the bit lines. If an FET read only memory site is preprogrammed as a binary one, for example, then when its word line is pulsed, the bit line will be insured to have an affirmatively high potential, representing a binary one state. This improves the reliability of the operation of the circuit by minimizing the effects of charge leakage from the bit line.

Abstract: The invention includes a first switch and a second switch serially connected between a telephone network line and a local telephone line which can be selectively connected to alternately either an auto answer modem or a human answer telephone set. A control register is associated with the local telephone line, having data contents representing whether the local telephone line is connected to the auto answer modem or alternately to the human answer telephone set. A billing delay element has an output connected to a control input of the first switch, for delaying the closure of the first switch for a predetermined interval after an answer tone is received over the telephone network line when the control register, which is connected to the control input of the first switch, indicates that the auto answer modem is connected to the local telephone line.