Abstract: Disclosed herein is a monolithic fan controller circuit which provides the following features: a special start-up routine for the fan; a fan fault detector; a thermal fault detector; an automatic speed controller; a minimum speed controller; a routine for attempting to clear temporary fan faults; and a controllable drive signal frequency. A start-up control circuit provides an initial high duty-cycle kick to the fan in order to initiate the rotation of the fan. A temperature sensor, which may be external or internal to the monolithic fan controller, supplies a signal which is proportional to measured temperature. This signal is used to control the output pulse width of a pulse-width modulator (PWM) or control the frequency of a pulse frequency modulator (PFM). The PWM or PFM output signal regulates the speed of the brushless (or brush) DC fan motor. In a preferred embodiment, the monolithic fan controller has 8 pins.

Abstract: A phase-locked-loop-stabilized voltage controlled oscillator relies on a sampling of the analog-frequency-control voltage of a voltage-controlled oscillator in a phase-locked-loop circuit to act as a reference voltage for a second free-running voltage-controlled oscillator. A vernier-adjustment voltage is injected into the control input of the second voltage-controlled oscillator to produce a finely variable derivative frequency not otherwise producible by a conventional phase-locked-loop circuit.

Abstract: A powerline communication system comprises a master and slave configuration in which the master provides both operating power and control commands to the slave over a single pair of wires. The slave, in turn, is able to communicate its status to the master with a return communications channel on the same pair of wires. Each sender impresses its signals on the power lines with an isolation transformer coupled to the gate of a power MOSFET transistor that shunts the power lines. Each receiver samples the signals from the sender with an isolation transformer that has its primary winding placed in series with the power lines. The master initiates a synchronizing pulse and places data in various timeslots. The slave follows with an initiating sync pulse followed by data in a group of timeslots. Edge-detection, rather than level-detection is used at the receivers for added immunity to supply and load changes. A double-pulse sync is used for special time slot reporting.

Abstract: A modular connector comprises an insulative housing that accepts an RJ-45 style jack from its front, and a molded insert from the opposite side. Each molded insert includes a signal conditioning circuit that provides a proper electrical coupling between a physical interface device (PHY) or encoder/decoder and an unshielded twisted pair (UTP) cable to a high speed computer network. Such signal conditioning comprises a common mode choke for each of the transmitter and receiver circuit pairs that are constructed from twin-lead transmission line sections. Each common mode choke comprises two stiff wire conductors that are brought together at a uniform critical separation distance for a critical longitudinal run length. The wire size, surrounding dielectric, separation distance, and run length are all controlled to arrive at a common-mode choke equivalent with series inductance, transformer coupling, and capacitance values suitable for use with 100BASE-T Fast Ethernet and 1000BASE-T Gigabit Ethernet.

Abstract: A cordless system comprises a laptop computer with a modem connected to a modem data port on a cordless telephone handset. A direct sequence spread spectrum RF link is established between the cordless telephone handset and a base station. Both the telephone network and a desktop computer with a modem are connected to the base station. When the cordless telephone handset detects that the laptop computer wants to go off-hook, a selection signal is also sent by the cordless telephone handset to the base station to indicate whether the call is to be directed to the telephone network or the desktop computer. When the base station detects that the desktop computer wants to go off-hook, a selection signal is also sent by the desktop computer to the base station to indicate whether the call is to be directed to the telephone network or over the RF link to the laptop computer.

Abstract: A foundation system comprises a prefabricated set of concrete forms for a manufactured building that is already on-site and in-place. The concrete form set includes standard-length sections that bolt together immediately below the rim of the manufactured building. The inside sidewall of each concrete form is tilted back toward the outside perimeter and the outside sidewall is set vertical within both end frames and any intermediate frames. Anchor rings are provided at the ground level of each frame to accommodate four foot lengths of rebar that are driven through the rings into the ground to spike the concrete form to the ground. Jigs are used to suspend anchor bolts in the open tops of the forms between the two sidewalls. Once the concrete pour has been made and allowed to set, the concrete forms are unbolted and the ground spikes withdrawn. The tilt in the inside sidewall allows the concrete forms to be easily popped off.

Abstract: A modular semiconductor wafer processing system comprises a chamber with a wafer support and gas manifold structure that supplies reactive gases through a showerhead delivery system to one side of a wafer-being-processed and that exhausts both the reactive gases and a non-reactive gas flow. The other side of the wafer is protected from the reactive gases by evenly delivering the non-reactive gases from a platen close to the wafer. The gap between the wafer and platen, and the choice of non-reactive gas and its flow rate are adjusted to optimize the protection afforded to the wafer's one side while still allowing, for example, the stripping of a silicon nitride film from the wafer's other side.

Abstract: A docking station with a filter that sits inline in a process gas channel and that alternatively receives a loopback plate, a sensor plate and a removable purifier cartridge for particle removal as well as the removal of trace amounts of moisture, oxygen, and other chemical impurities from a gas stream. The removable purifier cartridge comprises a purifying medium with a pair of sealing poppet valves that automatically close when the cartridge is removed from the docking station. A block body is included in the docking station with gas line fittings for close gland-to-gland separations, while the purifier cartridge is off to one side, and not positioned directly in line between the glands.

Abstract: A wire bonding machine has a wire bonding head that provides five directions of movement or degrees of freedom. The radial direction of movement supports the wire bonding process and reduces the moving mass of the wire bonder during the generation of the wire bonds. The wire bonding machine further includes a selectable side view inspection system. Through a group of optical components, the assembly process can be selectively viewed from either a side view or a top view. The side view of the assembly process provides for improved analysis of the wire bond quality which can be monitored by a camera.

Abstract: A process is provided for making K.sub.2 SO.sub.4 3Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 4S0.sub.3 +xH.sub.2 O or Na.sub.2 SO.sub.4 3Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 4SO.sub.3 +xH.sub.2 O where x is a number from 4 to 12, which is used as a pigment. Sulfuric acid, one of a sulfate salt or a hydroxide of either potassium or sodium and one of a sulfate of aluminum or a hydroxide of aluminum are inputted into a crystallizer and reacted to form either Al.sub.2 (SO.sub.4).sub.3 K.sub.2 SO.sub.4 +24H.sub.2 O or Al.sub.2 (SO.sub.4).sub.3 Na.sub.2 SO.sub.4 +24H.sub.2 O. A fluid flow containing either Al.sub.2 (SO.sub.4).sub.3 K.sub.2 SO.sub.4 +24H.sub.2 O or Al.sub.2 (SO.sub.4).sub.3 Na.sub.2 SO.sub.4 +24H.sub.2 O is drawn off from the crystallizer and transferred into a pigment reactor where it is subjected to a temperature of about 200.degree. C. and a pressure ranging from 120 to 350 pounds per square inch so as to result in the production of either basic potassium aluminum sulfate K.sub.2 SO.sub.4 3Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 4SO.sub.3 +xH.sub.

Abstract: A half-dead reckoning satellite navigation receiver comprises a receiver for tracking and acquisition of two, three, four or more satellites and for computing navigation solutions from the available satellites. A navigation computer is included that provides for navigation when only three satellites are visible by constraining the altitude. The navigation computer further provides for a half-dead-reckoning mode of operation when only two satellites are visible and the altitude is constrained by providing a one dimensional satellite navigation solution. The receiver position is projected by dead reckoning with the projection corrected in one axis only that is perpendicular to the available horizontal line of position.

Abstract: A process for making ink which begins with a leach liquor of Al.sub.2 (SO.sub.4).sub.3 +K.sub.2 SO.sub.4 +Fe.sub.2 SO.sub.4 and other sulfates that are introduced to a surface-cooled crystallizer that drops the Al.sub.2 (SO.sub.4).sub.3 +18H.sub.2 O which is removed from the leach liquor. The leach liquor is then supplied with a mixture which includes K.sub.2 SO.sub.4 into a simple crystallization and evaporation unit to drop Al.sub.2 (SO.sub.4).sub.3 +K.sub.2 SO.sub.4 +24H.sub.2 O. A pressure of 250 PSI and a temperature of 200.degree. C. are then applied in a discrete continuous process that yield a basic sodium or sodium/potassium aluminum sulfate and excess sodium sulfate or sodium/potassium. The excess sodium sulfate or sodium/potassium sulfate is returned to the simple crystallization and evaporation unit. The basic potassium aluminum sulfate (BKAS) and/or basic sodium aluminum sulfate (BNaAS) Na.sub.2 SO.sub.4, 3Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, 4SO.sub.3, 9H.sub.2 O is used as a filler in the making of ink.

Abstract: A process in which a leach liquor of Al.sub.2 (SO.sub.4).sub.3 +K.sub.2 SO.sub.4 +Fe.sub.2 SO.sub.4 and other sulphates is introduced to a surface-cooled crystallizer that drops the Al.sub.2 (SO.sub.4).sub.3 +18H.sub.2 O. The leach liquor is pumped through a heat exchanger that keeps a temperature of 160.degree. F. and the surface temperature of the surface-cooled crystallizer is maintained at 60.degree. F. The temperature gradient within the leach liquor promotes crystal formation. These crystals are then supplied to mixture which includes K.sub.2 SO.sub.4 in a simple crystallization and evaporation step that uses a vacuum of twenty inches of mercury and heat to drop Al.sub.2 (SO.sub.4).sub.3 +K.sub.2 SO.sub.4 +24H.sub.2 O. A pressure of 250 PSI and a temperature of 200.degree. C. are then applied in a discrete continuous process that yield a basic sodium or potassium aluminum sulphate and excess sodium sulphate or potassium.

Abstract: A nail tip adhesive is made by the process of mixing cyanoacrylate and a vitamin fortifier in a proportion by weight in the range of 0.0001% to 0.1% vitamin-to-cyanoacrylate, wherein the shelf life of the cyanoacrylate is at least not substantially shortened by adding such vitamin. Such vitamin fortifier comprises at least one of vitamin A, vitamin D-3, vitamin E, vitamin K, vitamin B-1, vitamin B-2, vitamin B-6, vitamin B-12, vitamin C, niacinamide, folic acid, panthothenic acid, and biotin.

Abstract: A modular semiconductor wafer processing system comprises a plurality of detachable process reactors and other types of generators that can be quick-clamped to any of several ports on the lid of a circular wafer handling chamber. A multiple-spoke single-axis rigid-arm transfer carousel centrally located within the circular wafer handling chamber has access to the respective process areas beneath each port in the lid. A set of independent cylindrical rings are provided to rise up from the floor of the circular wafer handling chamber to contact and seal against the lid to isolate each of the process stations. The multiple-spoke single-axis rigid-arm transfer carousel is automatically positioned out of the way before the cylindrical rings are raised and sealed.

Abstract: A guidance system for movable machinery comprising a GPS processor unit in a "gorilla box" connected to a shock mounted and protected GPS antenna and an operator display with a lightbar that indicates to an operator of the machinery to steer up/down or left/right.

Abstract: A semiconductor wafer processing carousel comprises an elevator chamber that accepts cassettes loaded with semiconductor wafers through a removable vacuum lock door, an elevator platform on which the cassettes ride up and down, an elevator drive to automatically position the elevator platform, a lid and a circular wafer handling chamber with an anteroom chamber connection to the elevator chamber. A double-axis wafer transfer arm provides for linear transfer through the anteroom chamber of selected wafers between the cassettes and a first pre-heating and cool-down process station within the circular wafer handling chamber. A multiple-spoke single-axis rigid-arm transfer carousel is centrally located within the circular wafer handling chamber and has access to multiple process stations. A set of independent cylindrical rings are positioned to rise up from the handling chamber bottom of the circular wafer handling chamber to contact and seal against the lid to isolate each of the process stations.

Abstract: A recordable compact disc comprises a 0.6 millimeter clear plastic or glass substrate on which is grown a thin-film image layer having several distinct recording planes. Each recording plane is separated from the next by a clear plastic layer. Each recording plane includes an organic dye layer in combination with another clear layer that has a different index of refraction. Different color dyes are used for each recording plane.A method for storing and reading data to and from a multilayer recordable compact disc with different color dye layers uses high powered color lasers to write each recording plane and low powered monochromatic reading lasers that are sensitive to the constructive and destructive light interference effects caused by micron variations in the clear plastic layers in each recording plane. The micron variations used for each recording plane are unique and chosen along with the monochromatic reading laser colors to have minimal crosstalk between recording-plane data channels.

Abstract: A method of making activated alumina including the steps of dissolving a double salt of aluminum in a solution of pure water at 85.degree. C., recrystalizing the double salt at a pressure about 250 psi and temperature ranging from 200.degree. C. to 250.degree. C., precipitating out the purified basic double salt, drying the precipitated double salt to drive off water and roasting it at 850.degree. C. to 950.degree. C. to drive off the sulfate, washing to remove the potassium sulfate and then drying the remaining alumina to yield activated alumina for use as a high-grade catalyst.