Abstract: Unpredictable response variations of the output value signals from radiometer or receiver channels due to noise are minimized when composing a millimeter wave image. The image is composed from composition signals which are each related to the corresponding output value signals from the channels. Some composition signals are weighted by a weighting factor which is different from a weighting factor used for weighting other composition signals. Preferably, the reciprocal of the standard deviation of variations of the output value signals from each channel is used as the weighting factor for deriving the composition signals from the output value signals from that channel. The intensity of each pixel of the image is composed by adding the weighted composition signals associated with that pixel.

Abstract: A thermotherapy catheter for heat treating the prostate gland includes an O-ring positioned within a chamber between an outer tube and an interior heat generation device guide tube. The O-ring supports a distal end portion of a probe guide tube at a desired acute angle so that a temperature probe can be advanced from the end of the probe guide tube into the prostate gland at a predetermined desired acute angle for calculating tissue heating and tissue necrosis information from temperature sensors located on a distal end of the temperature probe. The O-ring also separates a still liquid chamber from a circulatory flow path so that heated liquid surrounding the generation device is applied effectively to heat the prostate gland, while the circulating cooling fluid effectively removes heat from a feed cable which supplies energy to the heat generation device.

Abstract: A device for the drainage of the bladder through the body's own urethra opening outside of the human body, comprising a tube-shaped body (10). The tube-shaped body is comprised: to assume a first contracted position and for taken up within the bladder as well as a to assume a second partially extended position. At least one thread (14) extends between the bladder and an opening of the urethra and is attached at a first end of the tube-shaped body so that the tube-shaped body can be extended from the first position to the second position during the application of a pulling force upon the thread. The tube-shaped body in the second partially extended position extends in such a manner so as to exceed the distance between the bladder and the point of the urethra's closing. The tube-shaped body is comprised in such a manner that it will return to the first position upon the release of the pulling force on the thread.

Abstract: A carbon-doped hard mask includes a dielectric material containing carbon which is released from the hard mask during a metal etching process. The released carbon is deposited on and bonds to sidewalls of the metal structure during the metal etching process to passivate the sidewalls of the metal structure and prevent lateral etching of the sidewalls during the metal etching process. The released carbon also prevents accumulation of metal residue in open fields.

Abstract: Each of a banana pin connector plug, a rolled sheet metal connector plug and a Bovie connector plug are electrically and mechanically connected an electrosurgical generator with a single adapter-less multi-plug connector device. These three connector plugs are prevalently used to connect foot-switched monopolar electrosurgical handpieces to the generator. A socket is moved into a position to connect to the banana pin connector plug, and the socket is moved out of position to permit a contact arm to move into contact with the rolled sheet metal connector plug and the Bovie connector plug.

Abstract: Output power delivery from an electrosurgical generator is evaluated to avoid malfunctions and risk conditions. Output power is delivered in a selected delivery path and the flow of output power is sensed in the selected delivery path and other delivery paths which have not been selected. The output power delivery is terminated upon determining that output power is not flowing in the selected delivery path or that output power is flowing in a delivery path that was not selected.

Abstract: A varactor is formed with a semiconductor junction having a retrograde dopant concentration profile in a depletion region. The retrograde dopant concentration profile results in an approximately linear capacitance/voltage characteristic response of the varactor. The retrograde dopant concentration profile also enables a peak of the dopant concentration to function as a low resistance conductive path connecting to the varactor.

Abstract: A graded index of refraction optical waveguide is formed in interlayer dielectric material located above a substrate an integrated circuit-like structure. The waveguide includes a refractive layer of optically transmissive material surrounding a core of optically transmissive material within a trench in the dielectric material. The material of the core has a higher index of refraction than the refractive layer and the material of the refractive layer has a higher index of refraction than the dielectric material. More than one refractive layer may also be formed in the trench, with the inner refractive layer having an index of refraction higher than the outer refractive layer and less than the core.

Abstract: A severable horizontal portion of a fuse link is formed relative to a vertically configured structure in an IC to promote separation of the severable portion upon applying energy from a laser beam. The vertically configured structure may be a reduced vertical thickness of the severable portion, an elevated lower surface of the severable portion above adjoining portions of the fuse link, a protrusion which supports the severable portion at a height greater than a height of the adjoining portions of the fuse link, flowing the melted severable portion down sloped surfaces away from a break point, and a propellent material beneath the severable portion which explodes to ablate the severable portion.

Abstract: A bus interface and a receiver in the bus interface receive signals from a computer bus, such as a SCSI (Small Computer System Interface) bus, and deskew and synchronize the signals into valid data and control signals. The signals are aligned and then a portion of the signals is offset to ensure that the other signals have sufficient time to stabilize before being latched. The alignment is performed by adding and subtracting delay units to and from the signals. The offset is determined by a self-calibration logic that uses the same type of delay units.

Abstract: The subject matter described herein involves an improved etch process for use in fabricating integrated circuits on semiconductor wafers. The selectivity of the etch process for silicon carbide versus silicon oxide, organo silica-glass or other low dielectric constant type material is enhanced by adding hydrogen (H2) or ammonia (NH3) or other hydrogen-containing gas to the etch chemistry.

Abstract: Bulges in a wire having helically coiled strands are formed by untwisting the strands in an anti-helical direction at a predetermined position, to form an electrical connector from a length of the stranded wire. The wire is gripped by moving two spaced apart clamp members to a closed position and thereafter rotating the clamp members relative to one another in at least one complete relative revolution in a direction which is anti-helical relative to the coiled strands to form the bulge. The wire is gripped and rotated in the anti-helical direction for a relative rotational interval of greater than one-half, and preferably three-fourths, of a complete relative revolution. Thereafter, during the remaining rotational interval of each relative revolution, the clamp members are opened to permit the wire to be advanced to the next position where a bulge is to be formed.

Abstract: A DVD player or computer with a DVD drive simultaneously presents multiple angles of video on a display. DVD standards provide for formatting and storing video that was filmed from more than one angle. Desired angles are selected, and the DVD player multiplexes between each angle of the playback to decode video frames for each selected angle. The frames for each angle being played back are filtered down to a size that fits into a fragment of the display. Each of the filtered frames are assembled into a single frame that can be presented on the display to simultaneously playback each angle.

Abstract: In a computer (e.g. an 80×86-compatible personal computer) in which peripheral devices (e.g. hard drives, floppy drives, CD-ROMs, etc.) are accessed through more than one chain of handlers for the peripheral devices (e.g. via interrupts 13h and 40h), an improved device handler for a peripheral device (e.g. a device that complies with the “El Torito” standard) is inserted in both chains (e.g. by “hooking” both interrupts 13h and 40h), so the device handler cannot be bypassed when an access request directed to the device handler is passed through either chain and so the device handler can direct the access request to the next device handler in the correct chain, when appropriate.

Abstract: A three-dimensional circuit module includes z-axis connection pins, such as twist pins to electrically connect multiple, spaced-apart substrates, such as circuit boards. An expanding portion of a bulge of the pin mechanically and electrically contacts a corner edge of a via in a substrate without full insertion of the bulge in the via. Compression of the expanding portion of the non-inserted bulge establishes the electrical connection, which is also assisted by the longitudinal restraint on the pin relative to the substrate. Assembly and disassembly is facilitated without requiring the bulge to be fully inserted into the via.

Abstract: A grinding wheel (28) that rotates around an axis and that has a working area consisting of an annular surface with a circular arc profile in axial cross section is used to first generate a surface on a cutting blade (22) by grinding with the annular surface during a first orientation in space between the grinding wheel (28) and the cutting blade (22) by means of at least one first relative translational movement between the same, and subsequently at least one part of the generated surface is reground with the annular surface during a second orientation in space between the grinding wheel (28) and the cutting blade (22) by means of at least one second relative translational movement between the same. The grinding wheel (28) is a diamond cup-type grinding wheel. One part (34′) of the working area (34) is located in a face area and another part (34″) is located in a cylinder area of the grinding wheel (28).

Abstract: Block-level storage is managed in a computerized storage system by recording into a write-ahead log a description of block-level updates made to data in a volume in a main memory and in a storage device of the computerized storage system. The write-ahead logging enables directory updates for each block-level write request to be logged, so the write request can be allowed to complete independently of other write requests.

Abstract: Natural gas produced from a well by executing a multiple-phase gas recovery cycle which includes a phase during which a relatively lower evacuation pressure is applied within the entire well bore to assist in accumulating liquids at a well bottom. The relatively lower evacuation pressure augments the national earth formation pressure to produce natural gas and liquid more rapidly. The phases of the gas recovery cycle are also coordinated with the phase in which the relatively lower evacuation pressure is applied throughout the well to facilitate a greater natural gas production rate.

Abstract: A drum washer has a base, a barrel support structure, and a water delivery system. A hollow drum is turned over and placed on the drum washer by inserting a spray head of the water delivery system through a hole in a top cover of the drum and into the interior of the drum. The barrel support structure holds the drum at a fixed angle while water is sprayed from the spray head onto interior surfaces of the drum. The water rinses the interior surfaces of the drum and drains out the hole in the top cover of the drum.

Abstract: Relevant logic cells and waveforms of a circuit are automatically identified, traced and displayed by using conventional simulation, schematic viewing and waveform viewing tools. The input and output waveforms to and from each logic cell and a transition and a transition time point of each waveform are derived. The output waveform and a selected transition time point identify a predictive input waveform and its transition time which cause the output signal transition at the selected transition time point. The predictive input signal is the output signal of a preceding, predictive logic cell, thereby identifying the preceding predictive logic cell. Repetitions of this procedure are performed with each new identified predictive logic cell to automatically derive a series or logic cone of cells. A different logic cone is derived for each of the multiple failing output signals at output pads.