Abstract: A synchronous quad clock domain system synchronizes an external primary and secondary clock (130, 132) with an internal primary and secondary clock (134, 136). The rising edge of the internal primary and secondary clock signals are matched and a synchronous multiple ratio is applied to the internal primary clock signal to produce the internal secondary clock signal. The phase of the internal and external secondary clock signals are matched. The external secondary clock signal is sampled to produce a external sample signature and the external sample signature is matched to a pattern corresponding to the synchronous multiple ratio to produce an external clock cycle signal. The internal secondary clock signal is also sampled to produce an internal clock cycle signal. The internal and external clock cycle signals are compared and a phase adjust signal is provided to match the phase of the internal and external secondary clock signals.

Abstract: A field emission display (100) includes a cathode assembly (102), an anode plate (104), and a spacer (108), which extends between the cathode assembly (102) and the anode plate (104). The spacer (108) is comprised of a spacer material having a dielectric constant less than 100. A discharging period neutralizes positive electrical charge (244) and renders the spacer (108) invisible to a viewer of the field emission display (100). Operating a field emission display (100) to render a spacer (108) invisible by providing a cathode, assembly (102), an anode plate (104), and a spacer (108) comprised of a spacer material with a dielectric constant less than 100 and neutralizing positive electrical charge (244) on spacer (108).

Abstract: A first data communication method comprises a step (201) of automatically directing a mobile telephone (24) to switch operation from a first telephone number to a second telephone number to receive a data call placed to the second telephone number. A second data communication method comprises a step (301) of automatically directing the mobile telephone (24) to switch from the first telephone number to the second telephone number to place a security call using the second telephone number. A data communication apparatus comprises a controller (40) to direct the mobile telephone (24) to perform the aforementioned methods.

Abstract: A power-coupling pad (FIG. 1, 160 or 170) is located on a lateral edge portion of an electronics module (100). Each power-coupling pad (160, 170) is mated with a power supply clip (FIG. 2, 240, 250) which is included within a side of a card guide that supports and retains the electronics module (100). The power supply clip (240, 250) can incorporate a spring which provides constant and affirmative contact with the power-coupling pad (160, 170) through a low resistance path. The power-coupling pad (160, 170) and power supply clip (240, 250) can be constructed using any suitable conductive material such as gold, nickel, lead, chromium and palladium.

Abstract: A field emission device (100) includes a cathode (110) and a ballast resistor (112) connected to cathode (110). Ballast resistor (112) includes a thin metallic layer (113) and a protective layer (114) disposed on metallic layer (113). Metallic layer (113) is made from chromium and has a thickness of about 40 angstroms. Protective layer (114) is made from sputtered silicon and has a thickness of about 500 angstroms. A portion of metallic layer (113) makes physical contact with cathode (110) and is sandwiched between cathode (110) and protective layer (114). Protective layer (114) is positioned to shield metallic layer (113) from high transient voltages.

Abstract: A method of navigation guidance includes providing a communications node (104, 106), and a remote communications node (108). The remote communications node (108) requests a navigation route (201, 301) from communications node (102, 104, 106). The navigation route (201, 301) is from a location (202) to a destination location (204). The navigation route (201, 301) is transmitted to remote communications node (108), where the navigation route (201, 301) includes a plurality of route segments (207, 210, 211, 212, 213, 254) based on location (202). The plurality of route segments include a set of multiple route threads from location (202) to destination location (204).

Abstract: A distributed navigation system and method for providing driving instructions to a user. The system includes a service center having a navigation server and associated workstations. The service center stores driving instructions in a continuously updated map database. In response to a user request the instructions are transmitted by way of a wireless network to a client device residing in the user vehicle. The instructions are assembled into sequential stepwise driving directions and stored in a storage device in the client device. Commands from the user trigger playback of the driving instructions in a stepwise fashion.

Abstract: A method for scrubbing and passivating an anode plate (100) of a field emission display (120) includes the steps of providing a scrubbing passivation material (127); imparting to scrubbing passivation material (127) an energy selected to cause removal of a contamination layer (123, 117) from anode plate (100); causing scrubbing passivation material (127) to be received by contamination layer (123, 117), thereby removing contamination layer (123, 117); and depositing at least a portion of scrubbing passivation material (127) on anode plate (100), thereby forming a passivation layer (129).

Abstract: A power system includes a cable connector (120), a cable (110) comprised of a plurality of wires (211, 212, and 213), and a circuit (230, 421, 422, or 500) for sensing a connection for the cable connector. The circuit is located adjacent to the cable connector and is capable of sensing a predetermined connection condition of the connection of the cable connector. Each wire has an end located within the cable connector.

Abstract: A method for controlling an emission current (134) in a field emission display (100) includes measuring an emission current (134), measuring a portion of the plurality of pixels receiving emission current (134) as a percentage of the plurality of pixels on the anode (138) to define a set point, comparing measured value to set point value and adjusting gate voltage to cause emission current to approach set point value. A field emission display (100) includes a control circuit (111), which has an analog-to-digital converter (150), a current controller (154), as display timing controller (151) and a gate voltage source (158). Analog-to-digital converter (150) is designed to be connected to power supply (146). Gate voltage source (158) is connected to gate extraction electrode (126) and applies thereto the offset voltage, which is manipulated by current controller (154) in response to an output signal (152) of analog-to-digital converter (150) and an output signal of display timing controller (151).

Abstract: A field emission device (100) includes an electron emitter (115) and an emitter-enhancing electrode (117) having an enhanced-emission structure (131), which is disposed proximate to electron emitter (115). Enhanced-emission structure (131) is embodied by, for example, each of the following structures: a tapered portion (118) of emitter-enhancing electrode (117), an electron-emissive edge (135) that is generally parallel to an axis (136) of electron emitter (115), a combination of a conductive layer (137) and an electron-emissive layer (138) that is disposed proximate to an edge (133) of conductive layer (137), and an electron-emissive layer (146) having a thickness of less than about 500 angstroms.

Abstract: A viewing screen (100) for a display device (115) includes a glass substrate (110) having a thermal coefficient of expansion within a range of 3.5×10−6−4.5×10−6 °C.−1. Viewing screen (100) further includes a black matrix (111), which is affixed to glass substrate (110), and which includes a black surround, a ductile metal, and lead titanate. A method for fabricating viewing screen (100) includes the steps of: adding to a black surround paste a ductile metal paste, adding to the black surround paste lead titanate particles, depositing the black surround paste on glass substrate (110), and heating the black surround paste and glass substrate (110) to affix the black surround paste to glass substrate (110), thereby forming black matrix (111). The ductile metal paste and lead titanate particles are added in amounts sufficient to realize an extent of cracking in black matrix (111) upon repeated heating to a temperature within a range of 450-600° C.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention includes a plurality of navigational position sources (208) disposed to provide position data, a position service module (202) to aggregate position data and to form a composite of position data (240) and a position session module (204) to transmit composite of position data (240) to applications (210, 212, 214, 216). An embodiment of a method includes providing a plurality of navigational position sources (208) disposed to provide position data, providing a position service module (202) disposed to receive position data, and aggregating position data to form composite of position data (240). Composite of position data (240) is then transmitted to applications (210, 212, 214, 216) via a position session module (204).

Abstract: A method for improving life of a field emission display (100), which has a plurality of electron emitters (118) and an anode (124), includes the steps of causing plurality of electron emitters (118) to emit electrons, applying a first anode voltage to anode (124), thereafter applying a second anode voltage to anode (124), and thereafter applying a third anode voltage to anode (124). The first anode voltage and the second anode voltage are selected to cause electrons emitted by plurality of electron emitters (118) to be attracted toward anode (124). The third anode voltage is selected to cause electrons emitted by plurality of electron emitters (118) to not be attracted toward anode (124). Furthermore, the second anode voltage is selected to be less than the first anode voltage.

Abstract: A method of marking glass includes providing a glass material with a surface (201) and using a wire (210) to mark the surface. The wire is softer than the glass material and does not damage the surface of the glass material.

Abstract: A method of managing memory includes providing a memory (190) partitioned into a memory tree having N memory levels and different numbers of memory nodes (100, 110, 111, 120, 121, 122, 123, 130, 131, 132, 133, 134, 135, 136, 137) at each of the memory levels, providing a memory request, determining a memory request size, recursively searching partially-full subtrees within the memory tree to identify an empty one of the memory nodes minimizing fragmentation within the memory tree, and allocating the memory request to the empty one of the memory nodes.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention includes a plurality of navigational position sources (208) disposed to provide position data, a position service module (202) to form a composite of position data (240) and a position session module (204) to transmit composite of position data (240) to applications (210, 212, 214, 216). An embodiment of a method includes providing a plurality of navigational position sources (208) disposed to provide position data, providing a position service module (202) disposed to receive position data, and form composite of position data (240). Composite of position data (240) is then transmitted to one or more applications (210, 212, 214, 216) via a position session module (204).

Abstract: An internet radio for portable applications and uses such as in an automobile enables providing navigational services to be provided to a wireless communication device, and comprises the steps of providing a user interface in said wireless communication device for providing navigational services to a user; downloading updated navigational data from a remote network; and providing navigational services based upon said updated navigational data. Customized information is also communicated to the radio such as stock quotes, travel information, advertising, and e-mail. Onboard global positioning allows for channel updating by location, traffic information, geographic advertising and available similar content.

Abstract: A field emission device (100, 200, 300, 400, 500) includes a substrate (110, 210, 310, 410, 510), a cathode (115, 215, 315, 415, 515) formed thereon, a plurality of electron emitters (170, 270, 370, 470, 570) and a plurality of gate electrodes (150, 250, 350, 450, 550) proximately disposed to the plurality of electron emitters (170, 270, 370, 470, 570) for effecting electron emission therefrom, a dielectric layer (140, 240, 340, 440, 540) having a major surface (143, 243, 343, 443, 543), a surface passivation layer (190, 290, 390, 490, 590) formed on the major surface (143, 243, 343, 443, 543), and an anode (180, 280, 380, 480, 580) spaced from the gate electrodes (250, 350, 450, 550).

Abstract: A global position system (GPS) receiver for a host product is controlled by a microcontroller that also controls other functions in the host product. The GPS receiver includes an RF downconverter and a digital signal processor. The digital signal processor includes a correlator and an interface for asynchronously interfacing the correlator with the product's microcontroller. A monolithic integrated circuit includes RF downconverter circuitry, the correlator, and the interface for the GPS receiver.