Abstract: A system for applying a thin coat of a material on one side only of a substrate is disclosed together with a process for applying the thin coat. Coatings of less than one thousand angstroms are attainable on a single surface of the substrate by controlling the speed at which a meniscus of a mix containing a predetermined concentration of the coating material travels across the single surface being coated. Various pressure, temperature and humidity controls are implemented in the process and by the apparatus as needed to obtain the desired coating characteristics.

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 for determining the color or other optical characteristics of teeth comprising a probe body (2) wherein the probe provides light to the surface of the object (20). Perimeter receiver fiber optics (102) are spaced apart from a source fiber optic and receive light from the surface of the object (20) being measured. Light from the perimeter fiber optics passes 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 wherein the numerical apertures of the receiver fiber optics are different.

Abstract: A golf putting green and associated ball return system are disclosed. The ball return system returns a ball generally to the original point of the putt. As a ball is hit and rolls into a target hole or gutter, it falls by gravity through an air gate and enters an air duct channel. The gate closes after the ball falls through it. A gutter is provided for missed putts. The gutter slopes to a hole that also includes an air gate, which momentarily opens to allow missed putt balls to enter the air duct channel. Using the force of air generated by an air producing unit, the ball is gently propelled through the channel, which extends uprange along the putting surface, and returns the ball at the end of the channel onto the putting area. As the ball exits the channel with momentum generated by the airflow, it follows along a curved frame structure, positioned around the periphery of one side edge of the putting area, which acts to deliver the ball to the point of the original putt.

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: 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 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. The contact device comprises a stiff substrate having a major portion with fingers projecting therefrom in cantilever fashion, each finger having a proximal end at which it is connected to the major portion of the substrate and an opposite distal end and there being one or two contact elements on the distal end of each finger. It is necessary to effect relative displacement of the devices by a distance d from first touchdown to achieve last touchdown.

Abstract: Color measuring systems and methods are disclosed. Perimeter receiver fiber optics are spaced apart from a central source fiber optic and receive light reflected from the surface of the object 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 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, fluorescene 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: An improved branch instruction and associated branch control instruction are provided for optimizing handling of branch operations within a pipelined processor. The branch control instruction is adapted so that it can precede the branch instruction in a program sequence and provides branch target address computation information so that branch target addresses can be computed in advance of execution of one or more associated branch instructions. The branch control instruction also includes its own branch instruction prediction bit for specifying to a prefetcher within the processor whether a common branch instruction is likely to be needed by the processor, as well as a ranking field for specifying a preloading priority for the particular common branch instruction.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for removing pollutants from gas streams using a reactor assembly. The reactor assembly includes an inlet, an outlet, at least two electrodes, a catalyst bed, and plasma generated from the electrodes. Electrical energy is applied, and catalytic surfaces enhanced by the plasma results in the reduction of NOx to N2 and oxidation of particulates and hydrocarbons to CO2. Furthermore, the present invention removes NOx, particulate, and hydrocarbons from O2 rich pollutant streams without the need for supplemental additives.

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: 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: A processor and accompanying program are disclosed which utilize branch control instructions in cooperation with branch instructions to reduce branch latency. The branch control instruction and branch instruction have a format/structure that is designed to execute flexibly and efficiently by making use of separate dedicated target address and target branch instruction register sets used by a pipeline within the processor.

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 built-in memory is divided into the following two types: first memories 5 and 7 and second memories 4 and 6, and made accessible in parallel by third buses XAB and XDB and second buses YAB and YDB respectively. Thereby, a CPU core 2 can simultaneously transfer two data values from the built-in memory to a DSP engine 3.

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: A vector point of an exception handler related to TLB miss exception events is obtained by reading a vector base address of a register VBR one time, and by adding a vector offset (H′400) thereto. A vector point of an exception handler related to exception events other than the TLB miss exception events is obtained by adding a vector offset to a value (vector base address) of the register VBR, and an exception code which is an address offset obtained by reading a value of the register EXPEVT or INTEVT one time is added to the vector point that is obtained. Thus, the processing is branched to a required exception handler to execute the exception event processing related to exception events other than the TLB miss exception events.

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: 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: 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 built-in memory is divided into the following two types: first memories 5 and 7 and second memories 4 and 6, and made accessible in parallel by third buses XAB and XDB and second buses YAB and YDB respectively. Thereby, a CPU core 2 can simultaneously transfer two data values from the built-in memory to a DSP engine 3. Moreover, the third buses XAB and XDB and the second buses YAB and YDB are also separate from first buses IAB and IDB to be externally interfaced and the CPU core 2 can access an external memory in parallel with the access to the second memories 4 and 6 and the first memories 5 and 7.