Abstract: A method of producing an integral piece of thermo-sensitive material, which is responsive to a shift in temperature from below to above a phase transformation temperature range to alter the material's condition to a shape-memory condition and move from one position to another. The method is characterized by depositing a thin film of shape-memory material, such as Nickel titanium (Ni-Ti) onto a substrate by vacuum deposition process such that the alloy exhibits an amorphous non-crystalline structure.

Abstract: An apparatus for transferring digital data between time-domain multiplexed communication links of a telephone system which forms part of a computer network. A time-domain multiplexed communication link interface unit for transferring digital data between a first channel on a first time-domain multiplexed communication link and a second channel on a second time-domain multiplexed communication link of a multipoint communication network is disclosed. The multipoint communication network includes a plurality of network units with at least two of the network units comprising said time-domain multiplexed communication link interface units. The network units are coupled to telephone system communication links. The network units transmit and receive digital data in a frame mode in which the data is organized into frames on the communication links.

Abstract: A cross-connect circuit for coupling each of a plurality of processors to a memory module selected from a plurality of such modules, provided the module in question has not been identified for connection to another of the processors is disclosed. The circuit is preferably organized as a bit-sliced chip. The connections made by the cross-connect circuit can be changed after each memory cycle.

Abstract: A method for selectively applying a voltage to selected points on a surface is disclosed. The method utilizes a layer of photo-conductive material in contact with the surface in question. The layer of photo-conductive material is illuminated in the region immediately above the selected points so as to cause the voltage on an electrode bonded to one surface of the photo-conductive region to be electrically connected to the selected points.

Abstract: An improved read/write optical disk is disclosed which is capable of being rewritten more than 10.sup.6 times. The disk utilizes a storage medium in which data is stored as different polarization states in the same phase of the material. The preferred embodiment utilizes a lead lanthanum zirconate titanate material for the storage medium. The state of polarization of the material at the location of a specified data bit is changed by applying a voltage to the bit location in question. The location is specified by illuminating the surface of the disk with light in the infra-red.

Abstract: This invention is a filter assembly for preparing gases for an exhaust gas analyzer. A single housing includes at least three filter cavities, an inlet passage and two outlet passages. A coarse filter for filtering particlate matter and for condensate condensation is disposed in the first filter cavity. Condensate from the first cavity drains into the second filter cavity which has disposed therein a fine filter for filtering condensate. An outlet passage is connected to the second filter cavity for withdrawal of the condensate. A fine filter for filtering the exhaust gas is disposable in the third filter cavity which is coupled to the first filter cavity. A second outlet passage connects the third filter cavity to a pump for removal of the gas to be analyzed. The present invention thus provides a multiple filter assembly in a single housing with large fine filter area, minimal void volume, minimal interconnections, and convenient access to the individual filters.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a new class of calcium specific fluorescent indicator dyes having visible excitation and emission wavelengths. The new fluorescent indicator dyes combine at least one tricyclic chromophore with a tetracarboxylate parent CA.sup.2+ chelating compound having the octacoordinate pattern of liganding groups characteristic of BAPTA to give a rhodamine-like or fluorescein-like fluorophore. Binding of calcium.sup.2+ increases the fluorescence of the new compounds by up to 40-fold. The calcium.sup.2+ dissociation constants are in the range 0.37-2.3 microM, so that the new indicators give better resolution of high [CA.sup.2+ ] levels than were previously obtainable with predecessor compounds such as quin-2 or fluo-2. The visible excitation wavelengths of the new compounds are more convenient for fluorescent microscopy and flow cytometry than the UV required by previous indicators.

Abstract: A nonvolatile integrated circuit memory cell (10) is provided which is smaller in size than conventional memory cells and uses only two layers of polysilicon with floating gate portion (50) of the memory cell formed partly from a first polysilicon layer (20) and partly from second polysilicon layer (26), contact between the two portions being made using residual polysilicon bridge or overlapping portion (34) between the two layers. The invention enables programming and erase tunneling oxides to be formed in a single step while maximizing the capacitive coupling between the floating gate (50) and the substrate (12) by forming a silicon dioxide layer (102) between the floating gate and substrate separately from formation of the programming (30) and erase (28) tunneling elements.

Abstract: A circuit for eliminating illegal data sequences from a data stream is disclosed. The circuit examines a portion of an input data stream. The previously received data sequence is then examined. If the previously received data matches an illegal sequence, the stored data is altered. The stored data is then outputted to form an output data sequence.

Abstract: A device for measurement of moisture in a body of particulate material, such as a grain in a pile or in a silo, is in the form of a spear with a set of conductive plates 2 carried at one end of a shaft 1 for immersion in the body of particulate material, and a read out meter 4 and carrying handle 3 at the other end of the shaft. Normally the set of conductive plates measure capacitance of the material via a phase locked loop oscillatory circuit. The plates are disposed and shaped to facilitate entry into and removal from the body of particulate material.

Abstract: A system for compressing images is disclosed. The system utilizes a transformation which is equivalent to expanding the image using a system of wavelets having finite support.

Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus and a method for determining the state of charge of a rechargeable battery. It comprises a means for charging the batter, current sensors, heat detectors for detecting the heat emanating from the battery during charging, with the heat being the complement of the charge acceptance percentage, and a processor for storing a mathematical charge acceptance model for providing the relationship between the charge acceptance percentage and the state of charge of the battery, and for calculating the state of charge of the battery from the heat detected by the heat detectors and the charge acceptance model. An accurate measure of battery charge state is produced while the battery is being charged. This provides information concerning the operability of the battery and also allows efficient charging to avoid energy waste.

Abstract: A dual mode high voltage coupler is described for enabling a low current capacity high voltage generator to supply high voltage to an output load, such as a row or word line in an EEPROM memory device during a nonvolatile write or erase operation. The coupler limits the amount of current to defective cells or rows in the memory without limiting current to the cells and rows that are operating normally. In a first mode, a single stage charge pump, including a storage capacitor driven by a periodic voltage signal, develops a metered current through a diode to the output load whose amplitude is equal to the product of the capacitance of the storage capacitor, the change in voltage across the capacitor in each cycle of said periodic signal and the frequency of said signal. In a second mode, said high voltage is coupled directly to said output load without limiting the current whenever the voltage across said load exceeds a predetermined value.

Abstract: An improved radio frequency (RF) coupler for providing two or more secondary signals from a primary RF signal. The RF coupler has a primary coupling element and two or more secondary coupling elements for providing the two or more secondary signals. The secondary RF coupling elements are offset and nonoverlapping with respect to one another along the axis of the primary coupling element so as to reduce the cross coupling and interference between the secondary elements. The offset relationship between secondary coupling elements allows for optimal design control over the coupling between each secondary coupling element and the primary coupling element. In one embodiment, the spatial area required for the coupling elements is reduced by introducing U-shaped portions in the primary coupling element and at least one of the secondary coupling elements. In another embodiment, the secondary coupling elements are provided on separate substrates to further reduce cross interference.

Abstract: The present invention comprises an apparatus and method for inserting into, orienting within, and withdrawing from an ear a hearing aid, earphone, transducer, microprocessor, radio, sensor, or other mechanical or electronic device. The apparatus includes a housing attached to and containing the device. The housing has slots in which a handle, which is secured inside the housing, can slide. A magnet placed proximate the handle causes the handle to slide out, away from the housing, making it easy to grasp. The device can thus be inserted in, oriented within, or withdrawn from the ear by use of the handle. In its rest position, the handle lies flush against the housing making it almost visually imperceptible.

Abstract: An apparatus for generating and regulating a substrate bias voltage for use in semiconductor devices. The invention comprises a sensor which is responsive to the substrate bias voltage, and generates a continuously variable regulating voltage and a continuously variable oscillator bias voltage. A variable impedance device whose resistance is adjustable over a range of values as a function of said regulating voltage is coupled to a charge pump to control the amount of charge pumped by said charge pump per unit time from the substrate of the semiconductor device. An oscillator whose frequency is continuously controlled by the oscillator bias voltage from the sensor is coupled to said charge pump so as to further control the amount of charge pumped by said charge pump per unit time.

Abstract: A boost convertor power supply comprising an electronic switch controlling current through a boost inductance, a rectifier for charging a capacitor which accumulates the resulting boost charge from the boost inductance, and circuitry for repeatedly switching the electronic switch. A pulse width modulation circuit varies the relative on/off period of each cycle of switching to cause the peck switch current to follow a variable amplitude wave of shape corresponding to the input voltage applied to the boost converter and amplitude controlled by an error amplifier and multiplier thereby regulating the output voltage. A ramp signal generator provides for pulse width stability. An error correction circuit corrects for the difference between average current in the boost inductor and peak switch current to modify the pulse width modulation circuit to reduce distortion of the line current waveform.

Abstract: A novel retinoic acid receptor is disclosed. The novel receptor is encoded for by cDNA carried on plasmid phRAR1, which has been deposited with the American Type Culture Collection for patent purposes. Chimeric receptor proteins are also disclosed. The chimera are constructed by exchanging functional domains between the glucocorticoid, the mineralocorticoid, the estrogen-related, the thyroid and the retinoic acid receptors. In addition, a novel method for identifying functional ligands for receptor proteins is disclosed. The method, which takes advantage of the modular structure of the hormone receptors and the idea that the functional domains may be interchangeable, replaces the DNA-binding domain of a putative novel receptor with the DNA-binding domain of a known receptor such as the glucocorticoid receptor. The resulting chimeric construction, when expressed in cells, produces a hybrid receptor whose activation of a ligand-(e.g.

Abstract: A nonvolatile, semiconductor randon access memory cell comprising a static RAM element and a nonvolatile memory element having differential charge storage capabilities is presented. The static RAM and nonvolatile memory elements are interconnected to allow information to be exchanged between two elements, thus allowing the faster static RAM element to serve as the primary memory to the system and allowing the nonvolatile memory element to serve as permanent storage during power-down conditions. In one embodiment, the nonvolatile memory element comprises two electrically erasable PROM devices (EEPROMs). The two EEPROM devices store differential charges corresponding to the complementary outputs of the static RAM element. The nature of the differential charge storage allows lower programming voltages to be used on the EEPROM devices, resulting in increased storage intergrity and increased endurance of the EEPROM devices.

Abstract: A rectifier circuit having a rectifier (D4) allowing current to flow in a forward direction to an output (V.sub.OUT). A saturable inductor (L3) in series with the rectifier (D4) blocks reverse recovery rectifier current and directs it to an inductor (L4), the energy stored in that inductor re-setting the saturable inductor (L3) to allow subsequent flow of current in the forward direction to the rectifier (D4). A capacitor (C2) absorbs surplus energy from the inductor (L4) and a rectifier (D5) guides that surplus energy to the output (V.sub.OUT). This rectifier circuit is particularly useful as part of a convertor where an electronic switch repeatedly switches current through an inductor (L1) and the energy from the inductor (L1) is delivered to the output (V.sub.OUT) via the rectifier circuit.