Abstract: A bipolar transistor with a relatively deep emitter region is formed in a BICMOS device using the source/drain mask used to form the source and drain regions of MOSFETs of the device and the base region mask which would otherwise be required in any event to diffuse an emitter region of the bipolar transistor. The emitter is diffused or implanted to a depth greater than the depth to which a source and a drain region of the MOSFET are diffused. By using only the base region and source/drain region masks, and developing in sequence, each of two coatings of photoresist applied on top of one another, an access opening to the emitter region is define solely by the co-location of openings in each of the two coatings, thereby allowing the emitter region to be separately and additionally implanted. The access to the base region for the additional implication is achieved using only a few additional photo-ops and not as a result of using an additional emitter mask.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for deodorizing the pungent airflow exhausted by a vacuum pump system while evacuating foul smelling liquids or liquid-solid mixtures from a holding tank such as a septic tank or a grease trap. A manifold is connected to the vacuum pump to receive the airflow exhausted by the vacuum pump. At least one nozzle is attached to the manifold so that a distal end of the nozzle extends into the airflow passing through the manifold. A reservoir supplies a concentrated liquid deodorizer to the nozzle during operation of the vacuum pump. The liquid deodorizer is dispersed by the distal end of the nozzle and mixes with the airflow within the manifold to deodorize the airflow before the airflow is exhausted to the ambient atmosphere. The distal end of the nozzle which extends into the airflow is tapered to substantially atomize the liquid deodorizer and enhance the mixture of the liquid deodorizer with the airflow.

Abstract: The illumination intensity of a fluorescent lamp is controlled in response to control signals generated at a remote location on the power supply conductors of a lamp circuit and decoding those control signals at the fluorescent lamp to control the illumination intensity. A dimming controller is connected in the lamp circuit remote from the lamp and generates first and second control signals indicative of a request to increase or decrease, respectively, the lamp illumination intensity. The control module is connected in the lamp circuit to fluorescent lamp and the control module receives the control signals. The control module continually increases and decreases the illumination intensity of the lamp in response to the first and second control signals, respectively. The illumination intensity is controlled by adjusting a time point within each half-cycle of applied power where the lamp is extinguished.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a control module that provides improved control over the ignition of a fluorescent lamp. In one aspect, the control module determines whether the lamp is lit and, when the lamp is not lit, determines whether the power supply line voltage is insufficient to sustain the lamp in a lit state after ignition. When the power supply line voltage is determined to be insufficient, the control module waits until the power supply line voltage rises to a sufficient level before igniting the lamp.

Abstract: The cathodes of a fluorescent lamp are preheating and the medium between the cathodes is ignited into a plasma by heating the cathodes for a predetermined warm-up time period by conducting current from a supply power source through the cathodes for a conductive time interval, and applying a relatively high voltage starting pulse to the cathodes at the end of the conductive time interval or alternatively suppressing the high voltage starting pulse during the predetermined warm-up time period. Suppressing the high voltage starting pulse during the warm-up time period, thereby preventing erosion the thermionic coating of the cathodes due to positive ion bombardment. A controllable semiconductor switch is connected to the cathodes to control the current flow through them. The high voltage starting pulse is derived from commutating the semiconductor switch into a nonconductive state when the applied current level drops to the characteristic holding current value of the switch.

Abstract: A backlighting system is placed in an elongated interior space within a personal digital assistant (PDA) which normally houses a stylus used to touch a liquid crystal display (LCD) touch and display screen. A backlight driver circuit is constructed on a printed circuit board (PCB) which fits within the elongated space, and an on-off switch extends from the PCB to an exterior hole formed in the PDA housing. An on-time control turns off power to the backlight driver circuit after a predetermined time has elapsed following activation of the on-off switch, and a dimming control controls the amount of energy delivered to the electroluminescent film. A torroidal switching transformer of a high voltage power supply minimizes noise, and a switching controller switches adjustable width current pulses through the transformer to regulate the high voltage level. A flyback circuit captures and uses a portion of the back EMF energy created when the current pulses are switched through the switching transformer.

Abstract: An active power line conditioner that removes or cancels harmonic currents in power lines. The active power line conditioner is used with a power distribution system. The power distribution system includes an A/C source which supplies alternating half cycles (A/C) of voltage and current through a power line to an electrical load. An electrical load draws harmonic frequency current from the power line. The active power line conditioner comprises a current sensor, a first template circuit, a comparison circuit, and a current absorption and supply circuit. The current sensor is coupled to the power line and has an output comprising a sensed current signal representative of the current in the power line. The first template circuit has an output comprising a preferred current template that represents a desired sinusoidal current at the fundamental frequency of the power line and which is free of harmonic components.

Abstract: Playing cards from two unshuffled card stacks are interleaved or shuffled in random by propelling the cards in two intersecting trajectories and interleaving the cards into a single shuffled card collection at the intersection point of the trajectories. Two card holding bins receive the unshuffled card stacks of playing cards and preferably a random number of cards are removed at a time. The interleaved cards settle downward onto an elevator assembly to form the shuffled card collection.

Abstract: A voltage-boosting and current-regulating circuit delivers energy from a high voltage resonant circuit source to a fluorescent lamp. A controllable switch is connected in series with the lamp cathodes and is triggered into conduction during a predetermined conductive time interval within each half-cycle of current conducted through the plasma from the resonant circuit. A charging current which flows during the conductive time interval stores energy in the resonant circuit which is subsequently released as a boosted voltage and as increased current flow through the plasma. The boosted voltage allows higher efficiency illumination lamps to the used, and regulation of the conductive time interval achieves the optimal current conduction through the lamp.

Abstract: A floor is supported above an area of expansive soil by foam blocks defining an elongated channel along a top surface of the foam block. A plurality of supports attached to a bottom surface of each foam block positions the bottom surface of the foam block a predetermined distance above the soil and on a level substantially equal to the level of a flat surface defined by opposing foundation walls. The foam blocks are aligned between the opposing foundation walls and the elongated channels are filled with concrete to form concrete joists extending between the flat surfaces of the opposing foundation walls. The floor is installed on top of the concrete joists and the foam blocks while a void is effectively maintained between the concrete joists and the expansive soil. The supports may be made from a crushable foam material to increase the effective size of the void.

Abstract: An electrically programmable floating gate memory cell is gate programmed with tunneling electrons and is not drain erasable. The memory cell comprises a semiconductor substrate, source and drain regions disposed in the semiconductor substrate, a floating gate conductor adjacent to the source and drain regions, a tunnel oxide layer disposed between the floating gate conductor and the source and drain regions, and a control gate conductor adjacent to the floating gate conductor. The source and drain regions each include a high impurity concentration portion and a low impurity concentration portion. The impurity concentration of the low impurity concentration portion is sufficiently low to prevent a substantial threshold voltage variation when a predetermined range of voltages are supplied in a first polarity between the control gate conductor and the drain region.

Abstract: A control module and method controls the operation of a fluorescent lamp in a circuit in which the lamp is connected to a ballast and energized by alternating half-cycles of power supplied from an AC power source. The fluorescent lamp has cathodes and a medium which emits light energy when energized into a plasma. A controllable switch conducts half-cycles of AC current through the cathodes and commutates into a non-conductive condition. A sensor supplies sensing signals related to an electrical condition at the cathodes. A state transition controller controls the switch. The state transition controller establishes a power-up, warm-up, ignition and fire operational states and transitions between the states in response to the electrical condition sensed and the time duration of those conditions. The lamp lights more reliably, premature failure of the ballast and cathodes is prevented due to overheating, and the lamp is controlled effectively by input signals in the form of short power interruptions.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for storing a momentarily applied binary signal in a non-volatile memory cell and for automatically returning to a state which is indicative of the applied binary signal upon power-up of the non-volatile memory. In one aspect, the non-volatile memory is connected to first and second power busses between which a power source supplies an operating voltage and a programming voltage of a substantially greater magnitude than the operating voltage. The non-volatile memory comprises a memory circuit which is connected between the first and second power busses. The memory circuit includes an input node, an output node, and a non-volatile element which is connected to the input and output nodes. The memory circuit responds to an input binary signal from the input node by latching in a first binary state which is indicative of the input binary signal.

Abstract: A method of regulating an operating current conducted from a source through a fluorescent lamp involves conducting a charging current from the source through an energy storage element of a resonator circuit to store a predetermined different degree of energy in the element than is stored by conduction of the operating current, and then releasing the stored energy to regulate the operating current delivered to the plasma within the lamp. The conductive time interval during which charging current flows is adjusted to regulate the lamp current to an optimal level for the best illumination efficiency from the lamp and the longest useful lifetime of the lamp. The conductive time interval is adjusted based on the voltage across the plasma. The known negative impedance characteristics of the plasma correlate the sensed voltage to the lamp current conducted by the plasma, thereby allowing regulation of the lamp current to the desired optimal level.

Abstract: The wear on components in a dialysis machine is analyzed for the purpose of making repair and maintenance decisions. The actual performance of components is used to establish a test value. The test value is compared to a threshold value which represents the limits of normal performance of the component. Each instance where the test value exceeds the threshold value is counted and a maintenance count value is developed. The maintenance count value represents the number of abnormal performance events, and the maintenance count value is used to make maintenance and repair decisions. The test value developed for each component varies according to the type of component. The maintenance count values may be displayed for use by service personnel.

Abstract: The amount of electrical power delivered to a dialysate heater in the dialysis machine is maximized without substantially exceeding a predetermined maximum allowed power consumption for the dialysis machine. The instantaneous power consumed by the machine is measured and compared to the maximum allowed power consumption. The excess of power beyond the instantaneous power consumed up to the maximum allowed power consumption is then made available to the heater. The worst case power consumption limitations of the dialysis machine components do not adversely affect the heat available from the heater. The rate at which dialysis treatments may progress may increase or the time required for dialysis treatments may decrease.

Abstract: Information is entered and validated by the operator of a dialysis machine by converting the entered information into a first form using a first conversion relationship such as ASCII. The information in the first form is next converted into a second form using a second conversion relationship, such as floating point numeric. Thereafter the information in the second form is converted back to the first form using the first conversion relationship. The information in the first form which resulted from the third conversion is displayed for acceptance for rejection by the operator. The multiple sequential conversions indicate the proper functionality of a safety system of the dialysis machine. Displaying the information resulting from sequential multiple conversions assures an opportunity for the operator to evaluate the entries for accuracy. Re-display of the previously entered information repeatedly presents the operator with an opportunity to recognize human-induced errors.

Abstract: A dialysis machine uses a single microcontroller to perform both safety system functions and control system functions. A single segmented memory records the safety system code and data separately and in isolation from the control system code and data. Access to the safety system software is limited to the operating system and safety system contexts. A protected mode of operation of an embedded processor allows recovery of a state vector upon failures of the operating system, the safety system and the control system. The operating system allows recovery of a state vector upon failure of the safety system and the operating system. A watchdog timer circuit places the dialysis machine in a safe patient state if a total failure of the microcontroller occurs.

Abstract: A graphical operator machine interface for a dialysis machine and a method of graphically programming the dialysis machine involves graphically accessing substantially all typical machine operating and dialysis treatment parameters employed in a typical dialysis treatment, and graphically entering selections with respect to each of the selected parameters. The selections of the individual parameters establish display screens which individually present the selected parameters. The selections of the individual parameters also allow the operator to establish values for those selected parameters. The parameters include those involved for setup of the machine for dialysis treatment, those monitored during treatment, the alarm limits established during the treatment, and parameters which allow the automatic initiation of machine functionality prior to the use of the machine for treatments.

Abstract: For the oxygen enrichment of air two containers (11,11') working according to a pressure change process are provided. Each container (11, 11') is partly filled with a packed zeolite bed (13, 13'). Compressed air is fed to one container via a common closure device (41). At a certain pressure value a chamber (27) disposed in the container. (11) opens, with oxygen-enriched air flowing into the chamber. The oxygen-enriched air leaves the container (11) via an ascending pipe (37) and can be used as combustion air in internal combustion engines or the like. The one container (11) adsorbs the nitrogen from the compressed air through its packed zeolite bed (13), while the other container (11'), the chamber of which is closed, is desorbed. An oscillation generator (25) can be used to cause the packed zeolite beds (13, 13') to oscillate at high frequency and in this way to increase the adsorbing capacity and to accelerate the desorption process.