Abstract: A method for operating a disk storage system, comprising a disk and forming part of a communications network, simultaneously maintains the continuity of a plurality of data streams. Typically, each stream transfers video data to or from the disk storage system. Illustratively, each of the data streams is produced in the network at a rate of W.sub.base bits/sec and consumed by the disk storage system or produced by said disk storage system and consumed in the network at a rate of W.sub.base bits/sec. One I/O transaction is performed for each stream in each of a plurality of I/O cycles of duration S/W.sub.base, wherein in each I/O transaction a segment of S bits is retrieved from or stored in the disk. The number of streams whose continuity can be maintained in this manner is limited by the number of I/O's which can be performed in a cycle of duration S/W.sub.base. More generally, when a stream has a bit rate (A/B)W.sub.

Abstract: A unique DRAM structure has increased capacitance by using a four parallel fin capacitor structure. A preferred method for fabricating the DRAM is disclosed. DRAM cell is formed on a silicon substrate having a first conductivity type. Field oxide (FOX) regions are defined in the substrate to separate DRAM cells. Drain and source regions are formed in the substrate by forming in the substrate regions. On the substrate surface and between the drain and source, a gate region is formed. The gate region comprises a gate oxide, a Poly-1 layer, a tungsten silicide (WSi) layer, an oxide layer, and a SiO.sub.2 or SiN layer. SiO.sub.2 or SiN spacers cover the sides of the gate regions. Above the gate region is an insulating layer of TEOS (tetraethylorthosilicate) or BPSG (borophosphosilicate). A Poly-2 layer having a second conductivity type opposite the first conductivity type contacts the source and drain regions. The Poly-2 layer forms a bitline where it contacts the source region.

Abstract: Successive frames in a video sequence are encoded by a video encoder. The bits are apportioned among successive frames to maximize overall perceived video quality when the encoded video sequence is decoded and displayed. The ongoing allocation process is constrained by the need to avoid decoder buffer exception, i.e., buffer underflow and overflow conditions, at the decoder.

Abstract: The invention relates to an austenitic steel alloy which is corrosion-resistant, tough, non-magnetic and compatible with the skin. The invention also relates to a process for the production of said steel alloy and to uses thereof. The characterizing feature of the invention is a steel containing up to 0.3% C, 2 to 26% Mn, 11 to 24% Cr, more than 2.5 to 10% Mo, 0 to 8% W, more than 0.55 to 1.2% N, up to max 0.5% Ni and max 2 % Si, balance iron.

Abstract: A display device with improved color and grey scale capability employs an improved time dependent dithering technique. In the display device, each pixel is controlled so as to be illuminated for only a certain number of times during a display time period, the number of illuminations during the display period being dependent on the color or grey scale value of a corresponding pixel in an original image and a dither matrix element. After each frame in the fixed time period, the dither matrix elements are circulated to a new position, thereby introducing a time factor into the dithering technique.

Abstract: A camouflaged injection needle is disclosed including a shaft, a flexible ellipsoid tip at one end of the shaft and a sharp needle tip positioned within the flexible tip and axially aligned with the shaft. The sharp needle tip is capable of piercing through the flexible tip and into an outer human tissue when the flexible tip is positioned on the outer human tissue and the shaft is urged in the direction of the outer human tissue. The injection needle is camouflaged to resemble a cotton swab. This reduces pre-injection anxiety of the patient.

Abstract: A security element for the authentication of a substrate has a pattern comprising optical diffraction elements which are embossed in a carrier material of plastic material and unembossed neutral areas. On the embossing side of the carrier material a reflecting layer covers only surfaces with relief structures of the diffraction elements while the neutral areas which lie between are free of the reflecting layer and are therefore non-reflecting. If the security element is stuck in the form of a stamp onto the substrate and the carrier material is transparent, image portions, which are covered by the stamp, of a feature on the substrate can be discerned through the neutral areas.

Abstract: A process for the production of grain oriented magnetic steel sheets comprises through-heating slabs containing more than 0.005% C, 2.5 to 6.5% Si, 0.03 to 0.15% Mn, 0.010 to 0.050% S, 0.010 to 0.035% Al, 0.0045 to 0.0120% N, and 0.020 to 0.300% Cu, the balance being iron and residual impurities, to a temperature which is lower than the solubility temperature T.sub.1 of magnesium sulfide and higher than the solubility temperature T.sub.2 of copper sulfide, T.sub.1 and T.sub.2 being dependent on the silicon content. The through-heated slabs are then hot roughed, followed by hot finish rolling at an initial temperature of at least 960.degree. C. and a final rolling temperature of 880.degree. C. to 1,000.degree. C., to produce a hot rolled strip having a thickness in the range of 1.5 to 7 mm. During this last step, at least 60% of the total nitrogen content precipitates in the form of coarse AlN particles. Thereafter, the hot rolled strips are annealed at temperature of 880.degree. C. to 1,150.degree. C.

Abstract: An electronics module, such as those used in vehicles, comprises a cuboid housing box which is open on one side, a cover with connection plugs to cover the open side of the housing box, and at least one printed circuit board within the housing box and attached to the printed circuit board. Power components producing relatively significant heat are installed on the printed circuit board and in contact with cooling flanges integral with the cover. To facilitate soldering, the cover does not extend along the soldering side of the printed circuit board.

Abstract: An alcoholic, aqueous gel-like phospholipid composition is disclosed which contains, as alcohols, ethanol, 1-propanol or 2-propanol, which is characterized in that this composition is a liposomal gel composed of 15.00 to 30.00 parts by weight of a phospholipid concentrate, 14.00 to 20.00 parts by weight of alcohol and 50 to 71.00 parts by weight of an aqueous solution as the remainder. The use of this phospholipid composition for the preparation of liposomal solutions by dilution with a solution and topical preparations which contain these solutions are additionally disclosed.

Abstract: A display control apparatus is provided to generate a scaled video output overlaid onto a computer graphics output. The display control apparatus includes a timing generator, adapted to receive a horizontal synchronization signal of the computer graphics output and the pixel number of horizontal scan line of the scaled video output, for generating a pixel clock of scaled video output and a horizontal lock signal; a scaling buffer, storing a video digital pixel data and having an output port generating the scaled video output, responsive to the pixel clock of scaled video output; an overlay controller, coupled to a controller bus and receiving an analog pixel data of the computer graphics output and, responsive to the pixel clock of scaled video output, the horizontal lock signal and a vertical synchronization signal of the computer graphics output, for overlaying the scaled video output onto the computer graphics output.

Abstract: An endoscopic intracorporeal suture tying aid allows a suture to be looped around itself multiple times and cinched, enabling a throw of a surgeon's knot to be easily made. The tying aid includes a needle holder connected to a proximal end of a shaft for releasably holding a needle; a hook that slides longitudinally with respect to the beaks; and the shaft being axially rotatable with respect to the hook.

Abstract: An acupressure device is disclosed for stimulating an LI-4 acupressure point located on the back side of a hand within the fleshy crotch between the thumb and index finger. The acupressure device is simple to use and enables accurate positioning over the LI-4 acupressure point and simultaneous stimulation of both hands.

Abstract: A digital speech encoder and decoder have particular application to the field of 16 kbps digital communications. In the encoder, a speech signal is processed by a perceptual weighting filter, using a reconstructed speech signal, a reconstructed residual signal, and a set of filter tuning coefficients. A predictive signal, which is generated by a Short Term Predictive (STP) circuit, is subtracted from the signal outputted from the perceptual weighting filter. The difference signal is processed by a coder/decoder circuit to produce a reconstructed error signal, which is added to the predictive signal to form the reconstructed residual signal. A Linear Predictive Coding (LPC) circuit receives the reconstructed residual signal and develops the set of filter tuning coefficients. The set of filter tuning coefficients are outputted to the STP circuit, which also receives the reconstructed residual signal, and thereby generates the predictive signal.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for use in a semiconductor memory device to detect dataline undershoot. The detection of dataline undershoot is used to reduce dataline recovery time and output buffer recovery time, thereby reducing read access time in the memory device. A dataline coupled between a memory array and a sensing amplifier is applied to one input of a voltage comparator and compared to a reference voltage. The presence of undershoot on the dataline causes the dataline voltage to drop below the reference voltage, resulting in a transition in the comparator output. This transition triggers a pulse generator which supplies a pulse to the gate of a field effect transistor coupled between the dataline and an equalization voltage centered in a sensing window of the sensing amplifier.

Abstract: An output buffer is provided with a terminal, a first driver, a second driver and enable circuitry. The first driver is for driving the terminal to a voltage corresponding to a logic value of the output signal. The second driver is for driving the terminal to the same voltage as the first driver, when the output signal transitions in logic value. The enable circuitry responds to a transition in logic value of the output signal by, after a predetermined delay, enabling the second driver to drive the terminal. However, the enable circuitry only enables the second driver to drive the terminal for a predetermined time period.

Abstract: A circuit for generating a screen voltage is provided. The circuit employs an operational amplifier and two NPN transistors and receives an analog control signal from a microprocessor. The analog control signal is input to the negative input terminal of the operational amplifier. The output screen voltage is taken at emitter of one NPN transistor. In one preferred embodiment, Vcc is taken at a primary side of a high voltage transformer within the display device and input to the collector of the one NPN transistor.

Abstract: A drive circuit for displaying the partition symbol intermittently comprising at least a pair of buffers, a plurality of display units of seven-segment, a partition symbol display buffer, a control circuit, a display unit of partition symbol, is provided. The pair of buffers store a set of signals. Each of the plurality of display units of seven-segment includes a first display portion and a second display portion, and, responsive to the set of signals, the first display portion and the second display portion are enabled to display. The partition symbol display buffer has an output value. The control circuit resets and sets the partition symbol display buffer in accordance with a predetermined manner. The display unit of partition symbol, in response to the output value, displays the partition symbol intermittently.

Abstract: A vertical split gate memory device has a semiconductor substrate with a trench and a floating gate formed on a sidewall of the trench, thus reducing the surface area of each memory cell. The fabrication process for this device allows precise control over the consistency during fabrication because the length of the floating gate is controlled by the depth of a trench etch and the location of the drains and sources are self-aligned by oxide spacers which act as masks during the doping process.