Abstract: A cannula includes a tubular body having proximal closed end and distal blunt end, at least one lumen extending the length of the body, an endoscope having a lighted, viewing end disposed in the lumen near the distal end of the body, and a transparent, tissue separating member substantially covering the distal end of the body. The tissue separating member has a blunt tip disposed from and of the end distal to the body. A method of using such a cannula separates tissue to form an elongated cavity along the course of a small blood vessel and subsequently harvesting the blood vessel.

Abstract: An optical pickup device which assures interchangeability between plural types of optical discs with different layered structures, such as CD, CD-R or DVD, which is reduced in size and which realizes reproduction of high reliability information signals.

Abstract: A clock recovery architecture for recovering clock and serial data from an incoming data stream provided by a node of a local area network. A phase picker architecture augmented by a phase interpolator is used as part of the clock recovery architecture to enhance phase resolution. The present invention uses interleaved phase detectors to recover a 125 mhz clock and 10 bit rxd vector from a 1000 mb (1.25 Ghz embedded clock) serial input data stream. The inventive architecture can be used to recover clock and data from any high frequency data stream (provided that embedded clock is such that a narrow band CRM suffices), using a low frequency CGM to provide multiple clock phases for CRM.

Abstract: A carriage assembly for transporting a sleeve assembly between multiple locations in which the drive motors are spring mounted so as to be self tensioning, the carriage is movably mounted to the worm screw by a two-way flexure which allows for planar movement of the carriage relative to the worm screw yet allows only minimal rotation of the carriage relative to the worm screw, and wherein the sleeve assembly is pivotally mounted to the carriage near the open end of the sleeve.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a disk storage apparatus which employs a rotary actuator mechanically excellent as compared with a linear-movement actuator and can employ, in a disk cartridge, a slidable shutter that easily prevents dusts from entering the disk cartridge, and a disk cartridge therefor.

Abstract: A data recording apparatus for recording digital data to a data recording medium is disclosed, that comprises an error correction code encoding means for interleaving a predetermined unit of data to be recorded and encoding the resultant data with an error correction code, and an identifying means for identifying whether the data to be recorded is reproduction-only data or rewritable data, wherein said error correction code encoding means is adapted for changing the interleave length corresponding to the output of said identifying means.

Abstract: An all-refelctive optical system for a projection photolithography camera has a source of EUV radiation, a wafer and a mask to be imaged on the wafer. The optical system includes a first concave mirror, a second mirror, a third convex mirror, a fourth concave mirror, a fifth convex mirror and a sixth concave mirror. The system is configured such that five of the six mirrors receives a chief ray at an incidence angle less than substantially 12.degree., and each of the six mirrors receives a chief ray at an incidence angle of less than substantially 15.degree.. Four of the six reflecting surfaces have an aspheric departure of less than substantially 7 .mu.m. Five of the six reflecting surfaces have an aspheric departure of less than substantially 14 .mu.m. Each of the six refelecting surfaces has an aspheric departure of less than 16.0 .mu.m.

Abstract: A via is formed in a semiconductor device using a self-aligned copper-based pillar to connect upper and lower copper interconnect layers separated by a dielectric. The lower interconnect layer is formed on an underlying layer. The copper-based via pillar is formed on the lower interconnect layer. The upper interconnect layer is formed to make electrical contact to the exposed upper surface of the via pillar. Conductive diffusion barrier material is formed on vertical sidewalls of the lower interconnect layer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for displaying a three-dimensional picture is disclosed. The picture display apparatus includes a display device for displaying a three-dimensional picture, a pointing device for pointing a position in the picture displayed in the display device, a holding device for holding the control information of a plurality of possible stop points pre-determined in a three-dimensional space, and a control device for causing the three-dimensional picture to be displayed on the display device based on the control information of the possible stop points in the three-dimensional space held by the holding device. The possible stop points correspond to positions in the picture pointed by the pointing device. The producer of a virtual reality can easily reflect the intention of a three-dimensional virtual reality, while the user can easily walk in the three-dimensional virtual reality.

Abstract: A ring topology based architecture for a local area network. The transmission medium is unshielded twisted-pair wire. A set of two such twisted-pairs are used to connect the nodes of the network together, with the transmit twisted-pair wires from one node being connected to the receive twisted-pair wires of the next node. When a node of the network is powered up, a relay is opened which disconnects the incoming receive lines from the outgoing transmit lines. This brings the node on line. The relay is controlled via software command and a timer which is used to take a preceding node off-line for a predetermined period in the event jabber from that node is detected. A 16 byte FIFO bypass built into the medium access control hardware of the system is used to reduce the ring latency which normally results from the need to store entire data packets at each node, prior to the packet being forwarded.

Abstract: A data for measuring deviation between a recording head and a playback head easily for correctly reproducing data despite such deviation. A playback signal amplitude detection circuit 23 detects the amplitude of playback signals of test data from a playback amplifier 15, while adders 51, 52 cumulatively sum the amplitude values of playback signals in a pre-set group of sectors and those in another pre-set sector of groups on a magnetic disc 21 supplied from the playback signal amplitude detection circuit 23. A subtractor 50 computes a difference between a first sum value from the adder 51 and a second sum value from the adder 52 and routes the difference to a controller 11. The controller detects deviation between the recording head and the playback head from the difference value. When recording or reproducing actual data, the controller 11 causes the position of the recording head or the playback head to be corrected on the basis of the detected deviation.

Abstract: An autozero method and system that cancels offset for use in an AMI or like system and that operates while data is being transmitted and does not require a retraining sequence. The system applies the offset correction feedback in a unique way inside the traditional feedback loop. The system also provides a unique method of introducing offset correction into an analog feedback loop prior to the last gain stage such that the offset cancellation point is inside the feedback loop. This allows a straight forward implementation which does not have to compensate for the offset change due to the gain of the last stage. A digital control system allows the AGC and the autozero to be active in the same feedback loop and to interact with no adverse affects during the transmission of data.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a transmission device and a transmission method which can efficiently perform transmission of audio signals with infrared ray and suppress the complication of data processing in modulation and demodulation processes to the minimum level. Audio signals reproduced by a digital audio instrument are transmitted to and recorded into a digital audio recorder through an audio signal transmission device by infrared ray. In the digital audio recorder, the recorded audio signals are immediately reproduced, transmitted and output to a digital audio instrument through an audio transmission device with infrared ray. In the transmitters, a transmission channel clock having the frequency of 5/4-times the data clock thereof from the audio signals, and modulated signals obtained by modulating the audio signals are output at the timing of the transmission channel clock.

Abstract: An analog signal sampler with improved correlated double sampling (CDS) performance for imaging systems includes a dual mode input amplifier, a switched capacitor network and a differential amplifier. The dual mode input amplifier has a high input impedance and allows for receiving either positive-going contact image sensor (CIS) or negative-going charge couple device (CCD) image signals as desired. The switched capacitor network and differential amplifier together perform an improved CDS of the image signal and convert the unipolar input image signal to a bipolar differential output signal with an improved dynamic signal range. The CDS technique used relies upon simultaneous charging of the coupling and sample and hold capacitances with charge transfer from the coupling capacitance to the sample and hold capacitance. The gain of the sampler can be programmed by appropriate selection of the ratio of the coupling capacitance to the sample and hold capacitance.

Abstract: In addition to the known MT (magnetization transfer) effect, an RMT (reverse MT) is newly found, which increases a detected MR signal strength. Both the MT and RMT effects can be explained with mutual interaction, such as phenomena of chemical exchange and/or cross relaxation, acted between a pool of water proton spins and another pool of macromolecule proton spins, for example, within an object. In order to enhance the MT or RMT effect, the frequency bandwidths of RF pulses, such as a 90.degree. RF exciting pulse in a SE or FSE method, an inversion pulse in a FLAIR or fast FLAIR method, and others, are controlled. To enhance the MT effect, the bandwidth is controlled into a wider value (approx. more than 1250 Hz) than the normally (conventionally) used bandwidth, while to obtain the RMT effect, the bandwidth is controlled into a narrower value (approx. less than 1000 Hz) than the normally used bandwidth. Actively controlling the MT or RMT effect permits changed image contrast in MR imaging.

Abstract: The dynamic control of object identification codes involved in the customization of virtual reality space objects, such as object addition and deletion, by users is facilitated. Each of client terminals 13-1 through 13-3 sets given local IDs obj101 through obj103 for a cylindrical object, a quadrangular prism object, and a conical object independently of the other client terminals. Tables T131 through T133 are registered in a server terminal 11-1 beforehand for the client terminals 13-1 and 13-3 respectively. The tables T131 through T133 each list the relationship between local IDs obj101 through obj103 of the objects controlled by the corresponding client terminal and the global IDs objA through objC controlled by the server terminal 11-1. Use of these tables T131 through T133 allows the client terminals 13-1 through 13-3 to separately set, add or delete the local IDs obj101 through obj103.

Abstract: A method of signal processing including receiving an input vector for processing, decomposing an input vector of N length including multiplying input vector with a first and a second decimating matrices to generate a shape vector and a detail vector shape vector and detail vector having a length of N/2, where N is an integer, reconstructing input vector including multiplying shape vector and detail vector by a first and second restoring matrices respectively, to generate a reconstructed shape vector and a reconstructed detail vector, and adding reconstructed shape vector to reconstructed detail vector to generate an integer processed input vector is presented. Accordingly, signal processing involves fewer integer operations compared to floating point operations representing more precision for less operations, and further, requires neither the approximation or the computation overhead of the conventional approach.

Abstract: A cellular wireless communication system for further improving the quality of communications. The base station (BS11) notifies the communication channel which the mobile station (MS10) is using, to the base stations (BS12, BS13) having the lower pathloss than the own station, the base stations receive said communication channel and transmit the reception signals (S2, S3) to the connection switching station (11), and the connection switching station combines respective reception signals (S1-S3) to be transmitted so as to restore the data transmitted from the mobile station, and thereby the reception signal received at the base station having the satisfactory receiving condition can be combined and the diversity reception using the whole system can be conducted, so that the quality of communications from the mobile station to the base station can be easily improved.

Abstract: An isolation means used in conjunction with supplying energy to a laser, which isolates a power supply from the pulser circuit, and commutates a switch which activates the discharge of energy to the laser.

Abstract: A recording/reproducing apparatus for a disc employing an optical disc for recording information signals as a recording medium. The apparatus includes a disc tray mounted for movement between a position protruded from a casing via an aperture formed in the casing and a position housed within the casing. The disc tray has a recess in which to set the disc. The apparatus includes a movement mechanism for moving the disc tray between the protruded position and the housed position. The movement mechanism has a control gear for moving the disc tray across the inner and the outer sides of the casing. The apparatus also includes an optical pickup for illuminating a light beam on a disc transported by the disc tray and an adjustment mechanism for adjusting the tilt relative to the disc of the optical axis of the light beam illuminated by the optical pickup on the disc. The adjustment mechanism is driven by the control gear.