Abstract: Improved contact devices and methods for producing contact devices and using such contact devices to produce electronic devices are disclosed. A contact device having a plurality of nominally coplanar first contact elements makes electrical contact with corresponding nominally coplanar second contact elements of an electronic device such an integrated circuit or liquid crystal or other display when the contact device and the electronic device are positioned so that the plane of the first contact elements is substantially parallel to the plane of the second contact elements and relative displacement of the devices is effected in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of the first contact elements and the plane of the second contact elements.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for controlling a system that operates responsive to a plurality of input control signals are disclosed. During operation the system generates a plurality of output status/control signals. A master controller has at least first and second controllers. The first controller outputs and inputs signals over a first communication path, and the second controller outputs and inputs signals over a second communication path. The first and second controllers output signals based on input signals received over the first and second communication paths, respectively, and also based on stored control data. A plurality of input/output modules are provided. Each of the input/output modules has first and second slave controllers. The first slave controller of each of the input/output modules inputs and outputs signals over the first communication path to the first controller, and the second slave controller outputs and inputs signals over the second communication path.

Abstract: An Automatic Soundtrack Generator permits merger of a sound track that is independent of the external sound source, while either recording or playing a video sequence. The Automatic Soundtrack Generator integrates in a video recorder or player a module that generates music or other sounds which either can be mixed with the originally recorded sound (sound mixing), or can replace the originally recorded sound (sound dubbing). This sound mixing or dubbing can be performed either at video/audio record time or at play back time.

Abstract: Methods of maintaining cache coherency of a virtual cache memory system in a data processing system are disclosed. The entries of the virtual cache memory include physical address information and logical address information. A memory access operation may be initiated on one or more predetermined memory locations based on physical address information. A determination may be made if the memory access operation may involve cache coherent memory. If the memory access operation may involve cache coherent memory, then a cache coherency command may be issued that contains physical address information of the memory access operation. Based on the cache coherency command and the physical address information, a determination may be made if there is a match between the physical address information of the memory access operation and the physical address information stored in the virtual cache.

Abstract: A microprocessor comprising a bus state controller and for use in a personal computer or the like. The bus state controller includes control registers such as wait controllers, and parallelly controls the interfaces of various semiconductor memories (ROM, burst ROM, SRAM, PSRAM, DRAM and synchronous RAM) and PC cards (memory and I/O cards). Also included in the bus state controller is a control register for controlling the time to set up PC card start signals where a synchronous DRAM(s) is configured. The address space of an external bus of the microprocessor is divided into a predetermined number of areas to which the semiconductor memories and PC cards are fixedly assigned. The microprocessor further comprises a memory management unit for converting an internally prepared logical address to a physical address.

Abstract: Methods of widening the permission for a memory access in a data processing system having a virtual cache memory and a translation lookaside buffer are disclosed. A memory access operation is initiated on a predetermined memory location based on logical address information and permission information associated with the memory access operation. The virtual cache memory is accessed and a determination may be made if there is a match between logical address information of the memory access operation and logical address information stored in the entries of the virtual cache. In the event of a match, then a determination may be made based on the permission information of the memory access operation and the permission information of the particular entry of the virtual cache memory as to whether the memory access operation is permitted.

Abstract: A single-chip microcomputer comprising: a first bus having a central processing unit and a cache memory connected therewith; a second bus having a dynamic memory access control circuit and an external bus interface connected therewith; a break controller for connecting the first bus and the second bus selectively; a third bus having a peripheral module connected therewith and having a lower-speed bus cycle than the bus cycles of the first and second buses; and a bus state controller for effecting a data transfer and a synchronization between the second bus and the third bus. The single-chip microcomputer has the three divided internal buses to reduce the load capacity upon the signal transmission paths so that the signal transmission can be accomplished at a high speed. Moreover, the peripheral module required to have no operation speed is isolated so that the power dissipation can be reduced.

Abstract: Optical characteristic measuring systems and methods such as for determining the color or other optical characteristics of teeth are disclosed. Perimeter receiver fiber optics preferably are spaced apart from a source fiber optic and receive light from the surface of the object/tooth being measured. Light from the perimeter fiber optics pass to a variety of filters. The system utilizes the perimeter receiver fiber optics to determine information regarding the height and angle of the probe with respect to the object/tooth being measured. Under processor control, the optical characteristics measurement may be made at a predetermined height and angle. Various color spectral photometer arrangements are disclosed. Translucency, fluorescence, gloss and/or surface texture data also may be obtained. Audio feedback may be provided to guide operator use of the system. The probe may have a removable or shielded tip for contamination prevention.

Abstract: Optical characteristic measuring systems and methods such as for determining the color or other optical characteristics of teeth are disclosed. Perimeter receiver fiber optics preferably are spaced apart from a source fiber optic and receive light from the surface of the object/tooth being measured. Light from the perimeter fiber optics pass to a variety of filters. The system utilizes the perimeter receiver fiber optics to determine information regarding the height and angle of the probe with respect to the object/tooth being measured. Under processor control, the optical characteristics measurement may be made at a predetermined height and angle. Various color spectral photometer arrangements are disclosed. Translucency, fluorescence, gloss and/or surface texture data also may be obtained. Audio feedback may be provided to guide operator use of the system. The probe may have a removable or shielded tip for contamination prevention.

Abstract: Optical characteristic measuring systems and methods such as for determining the color or other optical characteristics of teeth are disclosed. Perimeter receiver fiber optics are spaced apart from a source fiber optic and receive light from the surface of the object/tooth being measured. Light from the perimeter fiber optics pass to a variety of filters. The system utilizes the perimeter receiver fiber optics to determine information regarding the height and angle of the probe with respect to the object/tooth being measured. Under processor control, the optical characteristics measurement may be made at a predetermined height and angle. Various color spectral photometer arrangements are disclosed. Translucency, fluorescence, gloss and/or surface texture data also may be obtained. Audio feedback may be provided to guide operator use of the system. The probe may have a removable or shielded tip for contamination prevention. A method of producing dental prostheses based on measured data also is disclosed.

Abstract: Color/optical characteristics measuring systems and methods are disclosed. Perimeter receiver fiber optics/elements are spaced apart from a central source fiber optic/element and received light reflected from the surface of the object is measured. Light from the perimeter fiber optics pass to a variety of filters. The system utilizes the perimeter receiver fiber optics to determine information regarding the height and angle of the probe with respect to the object being measured. Under processor control, the color measurement may be made at a predetermined height and angle. Various color spectral photometer arrangements are disclosed. Translucency, fluorescence and/or surface texture data also may be obtained. Audio feedback may be provided to guide operator use of the system. The probe may have a removable or shielded tip for contamination prevention.

Abstract: Systems and methods by which voice/data communications may occur in multiple modes/protocols are disclosed. In particular, systems and methods are provided for multiple native mode/protocol voice and data transmissions and receptions with a computing system having a multi-bus structure, including, for example, a TDM bus and a packet bus, and multi-protocol framing engines. Such systems preferably include subsystem functions such as PBX, voice mail and other telephony functions, LAN hub and data router. In preferred embodiments, a TDM bus and a packet bus are intelligently bridged and managed, thereby enabling such multiple mode/protocol voice and data transmissions to be intelligently managed and controlled with a single, integrated system. A computer or other processor includes a local area network controller, which provides routing and hub(s) for one or more packet networks. The computer also is coupled to a buffer/framer, which serves to frame/deframe data to/from the computer from TDM bus.

Abstract: An electromotive machine having a stator element and a rotor element, the stator element including at least one set of four toroidally shaped electromagnetic members, the electromagnetic members arranged along an arc a predetermined distance apart defining a stator arc length. Each of the members has a slot, and the rotor element includes a disc adapted to pass through the slots. The disc contains a plurality of permanent magnet members spaced side by side about a periphery thereof and arranged so as to have alternating north-south polarities. These permanent magnet members are sized and spaced such that within the stator arc length the ratio of stator members to permanent magnet members is about four to six. Thc electromagnetic members are energized in a four phase push-pull fashion to create high torque and smooth operation.

Abstract: Methods of managing a cache memory system in a data processing system are disclosed. The data processing system executes instructions and stores and receives data from a memory having locations in a memory space. The entries of the cache memory are in locations in a register space separate from the memory space. A first instruction that operates only on locations in a register space but not on locations in memory space may be executed to obtain address information from at least one entry of the cache memory. The obtained address information be compared with target address information. If the comparison between the obtained address information and the target address information results in a correspondence, then a first operation may be performed on the entry of the cache memory. If the comparison between the obtained address information and the target address information does not result in a correspondence, then the fit first operations not performed on the entry of the cache memory.

Abstract: A cryogenic cleaner for and a method of performing cleaning of a surface that must be substantially free of contaminants has a resiliently mounted nozzle for spraying a cryogenic cleaning medium on the surface. The nozzle is driven in an oscillatory manner at a predetermined amplitude and frequency so the nozzle spray is delivered in a manner to provide pulsing of the spray and to provide as “snow plow” effect on contaminants as the spray delivers the cleaning medium against the surface. The surface is transported past the nozzle, and the cleaning occurs in an enclosed controlled environment.

Abstract: Circuits and methods for determining the caller identification for an incoming call and for displaying such caller identification information on a video display device such as a television. A caller identification line modem determines the caller identification information, a control processor translates and/or inputs such caller identification information to a video circuit for displaying the caller identification information. Various methods for so displaying caller identification information are provided, including overlaying such information on an input video signal such as for a predetermined interval of time, generating a separate caller identification video signal, which may be placed, for example, on an unused television channel. The caller identification circuits and methods may be integrated or combined with various advanced television, video and/or telephony functions.

Abstract: Optical characteristic measuring systems and methods such as for determining the color or other optical characteristics of teeth are disclosed. Perimeter receiver fiber optics are spaced apart from a source fiber optic and receive light from the surface of the object/tooth being measured. Light from the perimeter fiber optics pass to a variety of filters. The system utilizes the perimeter receiver fiber optics to determine information regarding the height and angle of the probe with respect to the object/tooth being measured. Under processor control, the optical characteristics measurement may be made at a predetermined height and angle. Various color spectral photometer arrangements are disclosed. Translucency, fluorescence, gloss and/or surface texture data also may be obtained. Audio feedback may be provided to guide operator use of the system. The probe may have a removable or shielded tip for contamination prevention. A method of producing dental prostheses based on measured data also is disclosed.

Abstract: Electrodeposition (ED) systems and methods are disclosed where acid control is possible without adding acid from outside when acid tends to be depleted. A mixture of high neutralizer removal type membrane electrodes and low neutralizer removal type membrane electrodes are placed in an ED tank. To each of these two types of electrodes separate and independent electrolyte circulation systems are connected. To each of these circulation system are connected each correspondingly first and second electrolyte conductivity control means, each of which works to add D.I. water, as a dilution media, to corresponding electrolyte circulation system, when the conductivity exceeds pre-set reference conductivity values. The reference conductivity set point at which value the second electrolyte control means will add D.I. water to the second electrolyte circulation system preferably is set higher than the reference conductivity set point at which value the first electrolyte control means will add D.I.

Abstract: A cryogenic cleaner for and a method of performing cleaning of a surface that must be substantially free of contaminants has a resiliently mounted nozzle for spraying a cryogenic cleaning medium on the surface. The nozzle is driven in an oscillatory manner at a predetermined amplitude and frequency so the nozzle spray is delivered in a manner to provide pulsing of the spray and to provide as “snow plow” effect on contaminants as the spray delivers the cleaning medium against the surface. The surface is transported past the nozzle, and the cleaning occurs in an enclosed controlled environment.

Abstract: Systems and methods by which voice/data communications may occur in multiple modes/protocols are disclosed. In particular, systems and methods are provided for multiple native mode/protocol voice and data transmissions and receptions with a computing system having a multi-bus structure, including, for example, a TDM bus and a packet bus, and multi-protocol framing engines. Such systems preferably include subsystem functions such as PBX, voice mail and other telephony functions, LAN hub and data router. In preferred embodiments, a TDM bus and a packet bus are intelligently bridged and managed, thereby enabling such multiple mode/protocol voice and data transmissions to be intelligently managed and controlled with a single, integrated system. A computer or other processor includes a local area network controller, which provides routing and hub(s) for one or more packet networks. The computer also is coupled to a buffer/framer, which serves to frame/deframe data to/from the computer from TDM bus.