Abstract: A structure and process are provided for converting DC-DC voltages, which allows both buck and boost conversion utilizing a single switched capacitor array. In one embodiment of this invention, the switched capacitor array comprises multiple gain blocks, where the gain blocks are identical and stacked upon each other. The switches and capacitors are configured so that various combinations of series and parallel capacitor connections are possible, and thus both buck and boost conversions are attainable with one switched capacitor array. Other embodiments of the present invention use multiple gain blocks, configured such that the capacitor in each gain block can be connected to ground. As a result, a single charge state for a range of desired gains can be configured for use with a shared or common rest state, i.e., a capacitor configuration which is the same regardless of the desired gain.

Abstract: An equalizer used for an optical reproducing apparatus performs an optimal equalizing operation in accordance with the spatial frequency without needing an electrical equalizer. The optical reproducing apparatus reproduces the reproducing data in the following manner. A detector is provided for receiving reflected light from a disc. The detector is divided into a plurality of light receiving areas by a line perpendicular to the light receiving direction corresponding to the disc track direction. Then, calculations are made on the outputs from the respective light receiving areas to specifically correct the spatial frequency characteristics. The calculated signal is then decoded.

Abstract: A method is shown for a central node to flow control one or more end stations operating under a medium access control protocol wherein the central node transmits a signal to the end stations that causes the end stations to defer a data transmission, and wherein the central node halts the transmission to reset a protocol timer in the end stations, and wherein the central node resumes transmission before expiration of another protocol timer that would cause the end stations to commit to attempting a data transmission onto the communications medium and the end stations can thereby be held in a flow control state without loss of transmission packets.

Abstract: Disclosed is a MOS transistor having a polysilicon gate structure in which an overlying metal interconnect completely shorts the gate area. In one embodiment, the gate is formed from multiple fingers joined in a serpentine pattern and separated by oxide-filled spaces. Overlying the fingers and oxide-filled spaces is an interconnect comprising a first metal layer and a second metal layer. The first metal layer overlies the fingers and oxide-filled spaces and the second metal layer overlies the first metal layer. Both metal layers form a stack that simultaneously shorts the fingers. Also disclosed is a method of fabricating such a polysilicon gate structure in a MOS transistor using a series of masks. Once the gate and fingers are defined, a conformal oxide is deposited over the fingers and in the spaces between the fingers. The conformal oxide is anisotropically etched to produce a planarized profile of the fingers and oxide-filled spaces.

Abstract: A strap tensioning device that uses ratchet means to wind up and secure a tension strap in a tensioned condition for securing loads for hauling or transport. The device is adapted to be moveable along the length of a tension strap prior to tensioning the strap and includes a slotted member having a guide slot through which the strap is threaded for facilitating movement of the device along the strap and to prevent the device from cocking or twisting away from the device when the device is actuated to tension the strap. A slidable hook for a tensioning strap is also provided for use with the tensioning device. The hook includes a guide clip that provides for a receiving slot through which the strap is also threaded. The receiving slot maintains the strap in alignment with the guide slot.

Abstract: The eye pillows of the present invention, used for therapeutic treatment of a user's eye and accu-pressure points around the user's eye, each include a hollow shell formed of a pliable material, and a predetermined amount of particulate material having a predetermined weight contained in the shell. The amount and weight of the particulate material and the pliability of the shell are selected so that when the pillow is placed over a user's eye, the shell conforms to, fills in, and applies evenly distributed pressure to the eye socket around the user's eye, including evenly distributed pressure to accu-pressure points around the eye. The pillows can be individually applied, connected together with a strap or head band, or even removably or integrally attached to a larger pillow or mask.

Abstract: An apparatus for and method of reducing transistor body effect when detecting and correcting a phase error between clock signals using delay-locked and phase-locked loop circuits. The clock signals are provided to an equal number of circuit elements in cross-coupled XOR circuits. The circuit includes a transconductance circuit having at least two PMOS transistors with their substrates directly connected to their sources.

Abstract: The running real time length of combined video and audio signal programs is shortened or lengthened by deleting or repeating individual fields or frames and corresponding amounts of audio segments. The video and audio portions of the programming material are separated and subjected to processing through a pair of program time changing units. The video portion is processed by deleting individual fields or frames on a manual, periodic or automatic basis. Manual deletion is done by an operator observing the program material on a monitor. Periodic deletion is performed automatically after the operator specifies the total amount of time (or number of fields or frames) to be deleted, with every ith frame or field deleted regardless of content. Automatic deletion is done in a fashion similar to periodic deletion, but the fields or frames are examined and are deleted on the basis of the amount of between frame motion.

Abstract: A device for occlusion of a body passageway and subsequent perfusion of the body passageway with arterial return blood, cardioplegia and other fluid is disclosed. The device of the present invention is an expandable cannula comprising a flexible, expandable tubular elongate body having a first diameter and a second diameter, wherein the expandable cannula is inserted having a first diameter and then expanded to a second diameter to provide perfusion flow to the body passageway through at least one arterial return aperture provided on the distal end of the expandable tubular elongate body in fluid communication with a perfusion lumen provided within the cannula. The device may be further provided with one or more additional lumens for providing additional functions to the vessel lumen and may also include an expandable occluding member fixed at the distal end of the cannula for isolating the surgical area from the rest of the arterial system.

Abstract: A RAKE receiver includes an arithmetic circuit for weighting coefficients. The arithmetic circuit obtains the signal power for each path from the reception amplitude on the path which is detected by a transmission path characteristics detector, and also obtains the interference powers from the reception amplitudes on two other paths which are respectively detected by transmission path characteristics detectors. The arithmetic circuit then calculates the weighting coefficients on the basis of the these signal powers and interference powers. The weighting coefficients are respectively supplied to weighting multipliers, thereby weighting the reception signals from the respective paths. A symbol synthesizer performs symbol synthesis of the resultant signals.

Abstract: A metal surface having optimized reflectance is created utilizing the following process steps alone or in combination: 1) performing alloy/sintering of the metal-silicon interface prior to a chemical mechanical polish of the intermetal dielectric before the reflective metal electrode is formed; 2) chemical-mechanical polishing the intermetal dielectric layer again after vias are formed; 3) forming a metal adhesion layer composed of collimated titanium over the underlying dielectric; 4) depositing metal upon the adhesion layer at as low a temperature as feasible to maintain small grain size; 5) depositing at least the first layer of the reflectance enhancing coating on top of the freshly deposited metal prior to etching the metal; and 6) depositing the initial layer of the reflective enhancing coating at a temperature as close as possible to the temperature of formation of the metal electrode layer in order to suppress hillock formation in the metal. Deposition of the REC serves two distinct purposes.

Abstract: In a Viterbi decoder, an SMU is used instead of a PMU. The SMU has four status memories that process a status data value composed of a plurality of bits that represent a status at a time. The status memories generate a sequence of four status data values. A merge block generates decoded data corresponding to the four status data values, detects mismatches of four status data values, and generates a mismatch detection signal NM. The number of mismatches is counted corresponding to the mismatch detecting signal NM. The quality of decoded data and reproduced signal are evaluated corresponding to the count value.

Abstract: This invention relates to a recording medium, data transmission apparatus, data receiver, and optical disk unit, and particularly applies to a system which transmits video data and other data or records them on an optical disk in a predetermined block unit, and permits each frame to be easily and correctly located by low volumes of identification data. At least contiguous synchronization patterns or/and contiguous synchronization patterns with one synchronization pattern interleaved therebetween are assigned with unique combinations.

Abstract: A charge pump circuit is provided which includes a plurality of successively coupled charge pump stages. Each of these successively coupled charge pump stages receives at least one input signals and at least one clock input signals, and in accordance therewith, conveys at least one output signal. Significantly, at least one output signal of a prior charge pump stage is substantially equal to at least one input signal of a next adjacent charge pump stage, so that the prior adjacent charge pump stage will be effectively shut off, so that reverse current flow can be prevented through the charge pump circuit.

Abstract: An aquatic autosampler device for frequent collection of discrete samples of microorganisms at various locations and depths. The aquatic autosampler device moves a filter disk within a filter housing from a filter carousel into a filter housing holder. The filter housing holder, slidably mounted on a linear shuttle, moves the filter housing into a process position, where a syringe draws fluid in through a valve manifold and through the filter disk to collect samples on the filter disk. Reagents may then be passed over the filter disk to enable image-based identification and quantification of the cells on the filter disk. An imaging system on the autosampler may capture a fluorescent image of the microorganisms on the filter disk and store the image in a control computer. The filter housing may then be returned to the filter carousel for storage and further lab processing.

Abstract: An information input apparatus, an information input method, and an information input sheet which a user can easily operate without directly having to become aware of hardware are provided. An information input sheet includes a display area having an input information area and an identification area in which an identification code of the input information is provided. The identification code of the input information is provided in the display area as a target pattern having a rotation mode in which a code is defined by a directional orientation of the target pattern. An image pickup unit generates imaging information from imaging the information input sheet. The imaging information includes imaging information of the identification area of the information input sheet. Based on this imaging information of the identification area, the rotation mode of the target pattern, as recognized by an image recognition unit, is determined. The rotation mode specifies the identification code of the information input sheet.

Abstract: Hydrothermal synthesis of the natural, alkaline earth zeolites via the alteration of Y-zeolite is presented. Synthetic versions of the zeolites harmotome, heulandite, brewsterite and gmelinite are synthesized from Y-zeolite using alkaline earth cations containing solutions. The effect of the composition of the starting zeolite, the composition of the solution phase, the presence or absence of seeds and the experimental conditions are discussed.

Abstract: A picture display apparatus for enlarging a portion of a picture displayed on a screen for display on the same screen. The picture display apparatus includes a display unit having a display screen on which a picture is displayed, a specifying unit for specifying an optional area of an overall picture displayed on a display screen of the display unit, a magnified picture generating unit for generating a magnified picture of the area specified by the specifying unit, and a display control unit for superimposing the magnified picture on the overall picture in such a manner that the magnified picture is superimposed on the overall picture and the portion of the overall picture overlapped below the magnified picture is rendered visible and displayed on the display screen of the display unit.

Abstract: A descriptor controlled transmit and receive scatter/gather Direct Memory Access Controller efficiently moves data frames comprised of scattered blocks of data from within memory to a destination interface via a multibyte-wide buffer. The transfer of frames into a transmit buffer and out of a receive buffer is optimized regardless of the total length of the component data blocks and regardless of whether the data blocks include an odd or even number of bytes, whether the data blocks begin at an odd or even address, or whether the data blocks are misaligned with regard to memory width boundaries. A DMAC in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention stores information provided by a descriptor before frame processing takes place. This information in conjunction with steering logic and accumulator registers is used to control the steering and storing of the frame data as it passes through the DMAC to the transmit buffer or from the receive buffer.