Abstract: A method for providing a mechanical/electrical interconnection between two circuit boards, and the interconnection components required therefore, include a pin and socket each having a tail portion, a shoulder portion and a head portion. The tail portion of the pin is sized so as to fit into a plated through hole of the first board, the head portion is sized so as to allow an automated device to capture the head portion and to rest on top of the plated through hole when inserted therein, and the shoulder portion is sized in relation to the plated through hole so as to rest inside the plated through hole and to allow a predetermined amount of solder to flow under the head portion and down into the plated through hole, but not as far down as the tail portion, thereby assisting in centering the pin in the through hole.

Abstract: The use of an intravascular cooling element to induce hypothermia in connection with a medical procedure. According to a first aspect of the present, invention, a coronary bypass procedure is conducted in which a patient's blood is oxygenated with the patient's lungs and in which blood is circulated using the patient's heart or using an intracorporeal pump. The procedure preferably comprises: (a) positioning a heat transfer element in a blood vessel of a patient; (b) cooling the body of the patient to less than 35° C., more preferably 32±2° C., using the heat transfer element; and (c) forming a fluid communicating graft between an arterial blood supply and the coronary artery. The body of the patient is preferably heated to about 37° C. using the heat transfer element subsequent to the step of forming the fluid communicating graft.

Abstract: A reverse link modulator modulates the incoming data sequence for the I and Q channels of a wireless device such that the resulting spreading sequence never undergoes a transition through the origin. Consequently, the modulator has a reduced peak-to-average ratio and provides an improved battery life.

Abstract: A method and system for reordering a plurality of DSS data packets stored in a memory is provided that utilizes a memory buffer capable of storing at least one DSS data packet. The last data packet (Pn) is located and moved to the memory buffer. The data packet (Px) that should be located at the location of the last packet (Pn) is moved to fill the space vacated. If the last data packet should be located at the location of Px, then the last but one (Pn−1) packet is located and moved to the memory buffer. The packet (Px′) that should be located at the location of Pn−1 is then moved to the location of Pn−1. The process is repeated until all the data packets are reordered.

Abstract: Novel nitric-oxide releasing lipid molecules are provided which comprise a lipid molecule selected from (a) phosphoglycerides, (b) lipids having a sphingosine base as a backbone, (c) monoacylglyerols, (d) diacylglycerols, (e) glycosylacylglycerols, wherein the lipid molecole is provided with a nitric-oxide contianing group which comprises a (a) a —S—N═O moiety, (b) a —O—N═O moiety, or (c) a moiety. Also provided are methods of forming such nitric oxide releasing lipid molecules. Various pharmaceutical compositions, topical liquids and drug delivery systems comprising the ntric-oxide releasing lipid molecules are also described. Further provided are methods for therapeutically administering nitric oxide to patients, methods for treating or preventing various conditions, methods for promoting wound healing and methods for reducing the cells present in an atherosclerotic lesion which methods utilize the nitric-oxide releasing lipid molecules.

Abstract: The abstract is amended to read, “An inventive method and apparatus is provided by a bidirectional optical 1×2 device formed by a cascade of three optical 2×2 devices. Each 2×2 device is bidirectional where optical signals propagate through the 2×2 device in the forward and backward directions simultaneously. The demultiplexing and multiplexing occur simultaneously to thereby perform bidirectional 1×2 optical demultiplexing and 2×1 optical multiplexing in the 1×2 device.

Abstract: A trench DMOS transistor cell is provided that includes a substrate of a first conductivity type and a body region located on the substrate, which has a second conductivity type. At least one trench extends through the body region and the substrate. An insulating layer lines the trench and a conductive electrode is placed in the trench overlying the insulating layer. A source region of the first conductivity type is located in the body region adjacent to the trench. The trench has sidewalls that define a polygon in the plane of the substrate so that adjacent sidewalls contact one another at an angle greater than 90 degrees.

Abstract: A trench MOSFET transistor device and method of making the same are provided. The trench MOSFET transistor device comprises: (a) a drain region of first conductivity type; (b) a body region of a second conductivity type provided over the drain region, such that the drain region and the body region form a first junction; (c) a source region of the first conductivity type provided over the body region, such that the source region and the body region form a second junction; (d) source metal disposed on an upper surface of the source region; (e) a trench extending through the source region, through the body region and into the drain region; and (f) a gate region comprising (i) an insulating layer, which lines at least a portion of the trench and (ii) a conductive region, which is disposed within the trench adjacent the insulating layer. The body region in this device is separated from the source metal.

Abstract: An endoscope apparatus and method of operating the same. The endoscope apparatus comprises an endoscope portion and a control and display unit. The endoscope portion preferably comprises: (i) a sensor disposed at a distal end of the endoscope portion and providing endoscope data; (ii) one or more electronically controlled actuators (e.g., electroactive polymer actuators) controlling the operation of the endoscope portion based on received control signals; (iii) a first wireless transceiver coupled to the sensor and the one or more electronically controlled actuators, transmitting received endoscope data from the sensor and forwarding received control signals to the one or more electronically controlled actuators; and (iv) a portable power source (e.g., a battery) coupled to the sensor, the first wireless transceiver, and the one or more electronically controller actuators.

Abstract: A Schottky rectifier is provided. The Schottky rectifier comprises: (a) a semiconductor region having first and second opposing faces, with the semiconductor region comprising a cathode region of first conductivity type adjacent the first face and a drift region of the first conductivity type adjacent the second face, and with the drift region having a lower net doping concentration than that of the cathode region; (b) one or more trenches extending from the second face into the semiconductor region and defining one or more mesas within the semiconductor region; (c) an insulating region adjacent the semiconductor region in lower portions of the trench; (d) and an anode electrode that is (i) adjacent to and forms a Schottky rectifying contact with the semiconductor at the second face, (ii) adjacent to and forms a Schottky rectifying contact with the semiconductor region within upper portions of the trench and (iii) adjacent to the insulating region within the lower portions of the trench.

Abstract: A cascaded interleaver includes at least three two-stage Fourier filters. A first of the Fourier filters includes first and second waveguides such that the first waveguide has a longer optical path length than the second waveguide. A second of the Fourier filters includes third and fourth waveguides such that the third waveguide has a longer optical path length than the fourth waveguide. A third of the Fourier filters has fifth and sixth waveguides such that the fifth waveguide has a longer optical path length than the sixth waveguide. The third waveguide has an input coupled to an output of the first waveguide and the fifth waveguide has an input coupled to an output of the second waveguide. At least one of the Fourier filters include at least three couplers alternating with a delay path between adjacent ones of the couplers. A second of the couplers is of an order different from a first and third of the couplers.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an organic optoelectronic device, such as an OLED device, provided with a vacuum deposited conformal composite coating for protecting the device from environmental elements such as moisture and oxygen. The present invention is also directed to a method for vacuum depositing a conformal composite coating directly onto an organic optoelectronic device, such as an OLED device, on a substrate. According to one embodiment, the invention provides a protected OLED device comprising a substrate; an active region positioned on said substrate; a first protective layer disposed over the active region; and a second protective layer disposed over the first protective layer, wherein said second protective layer comprises multiple sub-layers that further comprise an alternating series of two or more first polymeric sub-layers and two or more first high density sub-layers.

Abstract: A method for producing a S-nitrosylated species is provided. The method comprises: (a) providing a deoxygenated, alkaline aqueous solution comprising a thiol and a nitrite-bearing species; (b) acidifying the solution by adding acid to the solution while concurrently mixing the solution (e.g., by vigorously stirring the solution) to produce the S-nitrosylated species; and (c) isolating the S-nitrosylated species. The nitrite-bearing species can be, for example, an inorganic nitrite, such as an alkali metal nitrite, or an organic nitrite, such as an alkyl nitrite (e.g., ethyl nitrite, amyl nitrite, isobutyl nitrite or t-butyl nitrite). The thiol is preferably a thiol-containing polysaccharide, a thiol-containing lipoprotein, a thiol-containing amino acid or a thiol-containing protein, and more preferably a thiol-containing polysaccharide such as thiolated cyclodextrin. In many preferred embodiments, the S-nitrosylated species is insoluble in the acidified solution, precipitating upon formation.

Abstract: An integrated circuit having a plurality of trench Schottky barrier rectifiers within one or more rectifier regions and a plurality of trench DMOS transistors within one or more transistor regions.

Abstract: A chip card is provided which is equipped with a thin film battery, such as those that utilize a LiPON electrolyte. Since the battery does not require venting, it can be sealed within the card, thereby making the card more tamper resistant. Moreover, the terminals of the battery and memory are encased in an epoxy resin, and a volatile memory type is employed. This improves the resistance of the card toward common tampering schemes involving the use of sulfuric acid or other mineral acids. In particular, if such acids are used in an attempt to access the memory module in order to tamper with the card, they will dissolve the epoxy resin around the battery terminals, resulting in a short circuit and erasing the memory contents of the card.

Abstract: Provided are artificial muscle patches, which are adapted to be implanted adjacent a patient's heart, and artificial sphincter cuffs, which are adapted to be implanted around a body lumen, such as the urethra, the anal canal, or the lower esophagus. The devices of the present invention comprise: (a) one or more electroactive polymer actuators; and (b) a control unit for electrically controlling the one or more electroactive polymer actuators to expand or contract the devices.

Abstract: A method and system for decoding a transport stream are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving a system information table in the transport stream, reading an activation time from the system information table, storing the table in a memory without activating values contained in the system information table, determining when the activation time is reached, and activating the values contained in the system information table when the activation time is reached. An advantage of the present invention is that the program and system information tables can be transmitted less frequently and still allow the receiver to execute the acquired “next” tables in a timely manner, once the tables have been received for the first time and their activation times have arrived. Another advantage of the present invention is its backward compatibility with the existing protocol formats, because the present invention requires no syntactic modification to the existing table formats.

Abstract: A method is provided for forming a power semiconductor device. The method begins by providing a substrate of a first conductivity type and then forming a voltage sustaining region on the substrate. The voltage sustaining region is formed by depositing an epitaxial layer of a first conductivity type on the substrate and forming at least one trench in the epitaxial layer. At least one doped column having a dopant of a second conductivity type is located in the epitaxial layer, adjacent a sidewall of the trench. The trench is etched using an etchant gas that also serves as a dopant source for the formation of the doped column. For example, if a p-type dopant such as boron is desired, BCl3 may be used as the etchant gas. Alternatively, if an n-type dopant such as phosphorus is required, PH3 may be used as the etchant gas. The dopant present in the gas is incorporated into the silicon defining the surfaces of the trench. This dopant is subsequently diffused to form the doped column surrounding the trench.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for interleaving and de-interleaving frame symbols using a single memory buffer. Input frame symbols are read out in an interleaved sequence (or de-interleaved sequence) on a symbol by symbol basis. Frame symbols following the input frame symbols are written into memory locations from where the input frame symbols were read.

Abstract: An electrochemical gas sensor comprises: a working electrode for exposure to a gas to be sensed; a counter electrode having an outer periphery; a reservoir for electrolyte; wick means providing a path for electrolyte to pass from the reservoir, around a first part or parts of the outer periphery of the counter electrode to provide electrolytic continuity between the counter electrode and the working electrode; and a gas diffusion means providing a path for gas to diffuse to or from a second part or parts of the outer periphery of the counter electrode.