Abstract: In a NAND cell type of EEPROM memory which has an STI (Shallow Trench Isolation) structure and uses memory cells into which two- or more-value data can be rewritten through the use of floating channel writing techniques, a plurality of floating gate electrodes are formed above the surface of an Si substrate with a tunnel oxide interposed therebetween. Trenches are formed in portions of the surface of the Si substrate each of which is located between floating gate electrodes arranged in one direction. In each trench, a conductive material is buried to form a buried electrode which is externally impressed with a low voltage. This boots the channel potential of nonselected cells, preventing erroneous writing without increasing the cost per bit.

Abstract: An ink-jet printer is provided capable of performing a printing operation across the entire width of a recording medium such as a tape without producing a non-printed area at edges of the recording medium. In the ink-jet printer, the printing position is defined by an guide element disposed so that the guide element faces an ink-jet print head. The guide element is provided with excess ink capturing apparatus having a mesh screen with a size greater than the width of the tape being carried, and also provided with an ink absorbing surface disposed at the back of the above-described screen. To perform a solid printing operation onto the tape, the printing range is set greater than the tape width without producing a non-printed area at the edges.

Abstract: A transport bit stream recording apparatus for a digital recorder having an integrated receiver decoder includes a device for converting a first variable rate bit stream input through the integrated receiver decoder to a constant rate bit stream, and a device for recording the constant rate bit stream.

Abstract: An infrared pointing type wireless controller includes a system main body which is an objective of pointing, the system main body having transmitting circuit for generating a carrier frequency signal for emitting an infrared ray, and receiving and controlling circuit for receiving a reflected carrier signal and a reflected code signal, and calculating coordinates of a pointed position according to a difference of intensities of received infrared signals, for matching the pointed position to a display screen; and position indicating circuit with which pointing is performed having re-transmitting circuit for passing or blocking reflection of the carrier frequency signal transmitted from the transmitting circuit for generating a required code, and overlapping the code with the carrier frequency signal and reflecting the overlapped signal.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal panel having a display area, a light source joined with the liquid crystal panel, a first frame coupled to a surface of the light unit and sides of the liquid crystal panel, a second frame coupled to edges of the liquid crystal panel and sides of the first support frame, an outer casing, and a fastening part joining together the first support frame, the second support frame, and the outer casing through the sides of the first support frame, the second support frame, and the outer casing.

Abstract: An apparatus for printing directly on plain paper, utilizing an arrayed control grid having a plurality of toner slots disposed in a space between a toner carrier and a backing electrode on which a paper travels. The backing electrode formed in a flat plate facing paralleledly to the control grid assures a uniform electrostatic field in an interspace therebetween. A unit body associated with the toner carrier and the control grid makes the interspace open when the unit body is removed from the apparatus body which offers an easy access to the interspace and the members as well. A resiliently suspended backing electrode with a spacer, a restriction member etc., assures the interspace constant. Other unit bodies including the control grid associated with the backing electrode and others are also disclosed.

Abstract: A disposable case for deposing surgical blades includes a surgical blade removal device for removing a blade from a surgical knife handle. The case has an upper half and a bottom half connected by hinge means for allowing the upper half and the bottom half to be opened or closed, and also includes latches for securing the upper half and the bottom half together. Magnetic means are provided on the bottom half for retaining the blades thereon, with counting indicia provided thereon for designating and counting the blades that are to be disposed. A pad is provided on the outer surface of the upper half for receiving an adhesive tape, wherein the adhesive tape may be peeled from the pad and secured onto portions of the upper half and the bottom half to secure the case in a closed position.

Abstract: The present invention is a CMOS epitaxial semiconductor wafer (50) on which CMOS integrated circuits (16) can be manufactured, including such circuits that include bipolar components (referred to as "BiCMOS" circuits). The CMOS wafer includes a lightly doped monocrystalline silicon substrate (56) having a major surface (54) that supports a lightly doped monocrystalline epitaxial silicon layer (52). The substrate includes a heavily doped diffused layer (58) extending a short distance (64) into the substrate from the major surface toward a lightly doped bulk portion (66) of the substrate. CMOS integrated circuits manufactured on the epitaxial layer of the CMOS wafer of this invention have a low susceptibility to latch-up. The low susceptibility is provided by the relatively low resistivity of the diffused layer. Since the diffused layer is relatively thin and the bulk portion is lightly doped, the oxygen content of the bulk can be readily measured and controlled.

Abstract: System for fixing a rotary spraying element to a drive rotor. According to the invention, the rotary spraying element (12) for projecting the coating product is attached to drive means (14) by means of an elastic coupling element (25). Centrifugal force increases assembly retaining force.

Abstract: A floating roof for use in a storage tank for oil or other petrochemical products has a frame that includes a circular outer rim. The floating roof includes a plurality of pontoons which are coupled to the outer rim by opposing strap and saddle assemblies attached to opposite ends of each pontoon. The strap and saddle assemblies are coupled to the outer rim by rim mounting brackets.

Abstract: An electrical socket contact which is connectable to a pin contact by insertion movement of the pin contact into the socket contact in an insertion direction. The socket contact includes: a body portion having elements for securing the socket contact in an opening in a receptacle housing so that the body portion is fixed in position in the receptacle; a first beam cantilevered to the body portion; a second beam having a proximal end cantilevered to the first beam and having a distal end spaced a distance from the first beam in a direction away from the first beam and parallel to the insertion direction; a first contact element located at the distal end of the second beam; a support arm secured to the proximal end of the second beam and having a distal end spaced a distance from the proximal end of the second beam in a direction away from the first beam and parallel to the insertion direction; and a second contact element located at the distal end of the support arm.

Abstract: Methods and apparati are disclosed for providing disciplined clock signals at a plurality of nodes located throughout a network. In the preferred embodiments, a plurality of clocks are ensembled to provide ensemble time base information. A universal clock signal such as from a global positioning satellite (GPS) or Loran receiver is also provided and the ensembled time information is disciplined to the frequency or the phase of the universal clock signal to provide syntonization or synchronization throughout the network.

Abstract: An instrument and method for the biopsy of tumors, such as breast lesions, are disclosed. A stylus comprises a tube having radioactive material in the tip capable of being imaged, the stylus contained within a needle. An image of the tip of the needle can be traced as it penetrates a human body, is guided toward an imaged tissue mass, and is placed within the tumor.

Abstract: An improved utility tray and bathtub caddie has a support member for supporting a tray and book stand in the vicinity of a conventional bathtub. The tray or caddie comprises a book rest, a pivotal arm for supporting the book rest, a support member for pivotally supporting the pivotal arm and a securing apparatus for securing the support member to a fixture, such as a bathtub, a tile wall adjacent a bathtub or other suitable fixtures. The pivotal arm is supported for pivotal motion over a bathtub, such that the book rest may be conveniently positioned over a bather in a location in which the bather can easily access the book rest and/or view reading material held on the book rest. The pivotal arm may be pivoted to move the book rest toward one side of the bathtub so as to allow the bather to easily enter and exit the bathtub without disturbing items held on the book rest. Several embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A corrugated panel structure, for use in the construction of a building wall or other structural application, includes a corrugated panel of broad, planar configuration and a pair of elongated caps mounted on opposite edges of the corrugated panel. Each of the elongated caps has a protruding central channel which is slotted to receive the individual corrugations of the corrugated panel. Each elongated cap is secured in place over an end of the corrugated panel by a rod disposed within the central channel and extending through apertures in the corrugations and end portions of the corrugated panel. Between the end portions, the corrugations form a zig-zag pattern of diagonally oriented planes which alternate in direction. Such corrugations extend in spaced-apart, parallel fashion between the opposite edges of the panel. The slots in the central channels for receiving the individual corrugations are diagonally oriented and alternate in direction relative to the directions of elongation of the elongated cap.

Abstract: A system and method for an adaptive time-division multiplexing communications protocol for collecting data from remote sensors equipped with RF transceivers using an RF transceiver equipped mobile data collection unit. RF transceivers interfaced to remote sensors actively monitor a predetermined RF transmission frequency to ascertain the presence of a signal transmitted by the mobile unit. All remote units detecting the RF signal listen for a message from the mobile unit requesting transmission of their unique identifier, i.e., their ID. This message contains the Time Division Base (TDB) specifying the number of time slots allocated for transmission of remote sensor IDs to the mobile unit. Using the TDB, each remote sensor randomly selects a time slot and transmits its ID to the mobile unit. Unique IDs of remote sensors received by the mobile unit are used to individually poll each sensor for data packet transmission.

Abstract: A power converter circuit provides low conversion losses, low generated noise and output power controllability. The circuit includes a controller, at least two transistors and an output network that provides impedance matching and operating point stabilization functions. The output network also enables zero voltage switching of the transistors, thus reducing radiated noise and minimizing (and possibly eliminating almost completely) switching losses. The controller circuitry includes an oscillator which is capable of self synchronizing to the resonant frequency of the components of the output network. Power modulation (e.g., for dimming of a lamp) is accomplished simply by desynchronizing and increasing the oscillator frequency. Thus, the control architecture allows the use of external parts of lower precision and cost while providing dimming capability in a single stage.

Abstract: A semiconductor silicon wafer (10) useful as a calibration standard for measurement of a thickness (18) of a microdefect-free layer (16) is formed by depositing an epitaxial layer onto a substrate (12) having an interstitial oxygen concentration suitable for precipitating oxide. Large, uniform oxide microdefects (14) are formed in the substrate by maintaining the semiconductor silicon wafer at between 600.degree. C. and 900.degree. C. to nucleate oxide precipitates that are then grown at between 800.degree. C. and 1,200.degree. C. Because the epitaxial layer contains no oxide precipitate nuclei to form microdefects, the epitaxial layer remains a microdefect-free layer and has a relatively sharp, easily detectable boundary with the substrate. The epitaxial layer can be polished to a reduced thickness, if desired.

Abstract: A floating current mirror circuit is disclosed which achieves high open loop gain without additional voltage gain stages leading to frequency compensation and increased power dissipation. The output of the circuit has only a first pole and is designed to be coupled to a second current source, a base coupled to the first terminal of the diode, and an emitter coupled to the floating node. A second bipolar transistor has a base coupled to the collector of the first transistor, and emitter coupled to the floating node.

Abstract: A light influencing element and the process of fabricating the same is disclosed, wherein the light influencing element is fabricated by disposing a layer of a substantially opaque material upon a transparent substrate. One or more openings or wells may then be cut or formed in the surface of the layer of opaque material. Into such openings a light influencing material is then disposed, preferable said materials are injected thereinto as by ink-jet type injection heads. Liquid crystal displays and subassemblies formed upon the light influencing elements of the instant invention are also provided.