Abstract: This invention relates to methods of regulating the effect of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH). In particular it relates to increasing the effective amount of TH in the central nervous systems (CNS) for the purpose of increasing TH-mediated dopamine production in the treatment of conditions such as Parkinson's disease.

Abstract: A silicon on insulator substrate is provided to include the following: a handle wafer; a layer of bonding material; a device wafer, the device wafer including at least one buried impurity region extending from the layer of bonding material upward into the device wafer; and an epitaxial silicon layer provided on a second surface of the device wafer. The silicon on insulator substrate with this configuration can be made with a minimal possible thickness.

Abstract: An electronic device detects the presence of an animal such as a pet in a protected area and outputs a deterrent signal that preferably includes the voice of the pet's owner admonishing the animal. The animal is detected by sensing at least one of sound, heat, vibration, and motion. The deterrent signal may include loud noises, and signals audible to the animal but not to humans. The deterrent signal may also include bursts of light. The device can vary the nature and quality of the deterrent signal if the animal remains near the protected area for a predetermined time.

Abstract: A resonant microcavity display (20) having microcavity with a substrate (25), a phosphor active region (50) and front and rear reflectors (30 and 60). The front and rear reflectors may be spaced to create either a standing or treaveling eledtromagnetic wave to enhance the efificenty of the light transmission.

Abstract: A robot which incorporates a body, arms with a hand grip, legs, several sensors, light elements, an audio system, and a video system. The sensors allows the robot to interact with objects in the room, and prevents the robot from traveling off an edge or bumping into obstacles. The light elements allow the robot to express moods. The audio system allows the robot to detect and transmit sounds. The video system allows a user to remotely view the area in front of the robot. Additionally, the robot may operate in a plurality of modes, including modes that allow the robot to operate autonomously. The robot may operate autonomously in an automatic mode, a security mode, a greet mode, and a monitor mode. Further, the robot is manipulated remotely.

Abstract: The present invention incorporates a hermetic glass bead 206 and a grounding lip 208 into an outer conductor insert 216 to form a microwave coax connector 201. The glass bead 206 forms both the hermetic seal and the support for the coax center conductor pin 214. The outer conductor insert 216 of the coax connector 201 includes the ground lip 208 to provide a short ground path for the connection to a microstrip substrate 10 provided on a carrier 12 in a housing 2. The coax connector 201 is soldered into a cavity 235 in the housing 2 to assure a short ground path between the coax connector 201 and the carrier 12. There is no need for soldering a separate glass bead into the housing 2, which at these high frequencies, is very difficult due to the small size of the glass bead.

Abstract: A robot which incorporates a body, arms with a hand grip, legs, several sensors, light elements, an audio system, and a video system. The sensors allows the robot to interact with objects in the room, and prevents the robot from traveling off an edge or bumping into obstacles. The light elements allow the robot to express moods. The audio system allows the robot to detect and transmit sounds. The video system allows a user to remotely view the area in front of the robot. Additionally, the robot may operate in a plurality of modes, including modes that allow the robot to operate autonomously. The robot may operate autonomously in an automatic mode, a security mode, a greet mode, and a monitor mode. Further, the robot is manipulated remotely.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for using speech recognition with map data. For example, a user could state a location. The system will recognize the words spoken and find the location on a map using an electronic map database. The map can be displayed such that the location is depicted. Alternatively, the user could state two locations. The system will recognize the words spoken, find both locations on the map using an electronic map database, determine a path between the locations and report that path to the user.

Abstract: A dot termination comprising a disk of thin film resistive material connects a transmission line on a substrate to a DC ground plane in a manner to provide broadband high frequency performance. The dot termination connects to DC ground connections spaced about the perimeter of the disk. Each DC connector includes a ground via passing through the substrate to the ground plane. A metal trace is used for each DC connection, the trace connecting a respective via with the perimeter of the disk. Each metal trace can include a resistive portion connected to the dot region and a metal trace portion connecting the trace to the via. A resistive extension tongue of the disk connects the disk to a transmission line trace.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an integrated circuit improves the reliability of thermosonic bonds formed to attach a gold bond wire to an aluminum interconnect pad by reducing corrosion of the aluminum pad regions. In the method, a gold or silver plating is applied to the aluminum bond pads to prevent corrosion of the aluminum pad surface. Prior to applying the plating, corrosive contaminants are removed from the aluminum pad regions using an argon sputter etch. Annealing is used to remove damage from the argon sputtering, and further serves to alloy the resultant aluminum to gold or aluminum to silver interface. The aluminum pad layer is made very thin, or less than approximately 8000 Å to limit Kirkendall voiding when gold wires are bonded to the pad using a thermosonic bonding process.

Abstract: A robot which incorporates a body, arms with a hand grip, legs, several sensors, light elements, an audio system, and a video system. The sensors allows the robot to interact with objects in the room, and prevents the robot from traveling off an edge or bumping into obstacles. The light elements allow the robot to express moods. The audio system allows the robot to detect and transmit sounds. The video system allows a user to remotely view the area in front of the robot. Additionally, the robot may operate in a plurality of modes, including modes that allow the robot to operate autonomously. The robot may operate autonomously in an automatic mode, a security mode, a greet mode, and a monitor mode. Further, the robot is manipulated remotely.

Abstract: A device for installing erosion control blankets is provided. The device comprises a frame, a circular drum, an erosion control blanket mounting device, and a weight support device. The circular drum comprises a plurality of spring loaded pins that are used to punch the erosion control blankets into the ground simultaneously as the device rolls out the erosion control blankets. The spring loaded pins are in the retracted position until the pass over a cam, after which the spring loaded pins extend outwardly to punch the erosion control blankets into the ground. After the spring loaded pins pass over the cam the spring loaded pins return to the retracted position. Weights may be added or removed from the weight support device to obtain the desired erosion control blanket to soil compression.

Abstract: A brush includes a self-contained ion generator that subjects material being brushed to an outflow of ionized air containing safe amounts of ozone. The ion generator includes a high voltage pulse generator whose output pulses are coupled between first and second electrode arrays. Preferably the first array comprises at least one metal pin spaced coaxially-apart from a metal ring-like structure. Alternatively, the first array may comprise one or more wire electrodes spaced staggeringly apart from a second array comprising hollow “U”-shaped electrodes. Preferably a ratio between effective area of an electrode in the second array compared to effective area of an electrode in the first array exceeds about 15:1 and preferably is about 20:1. An electric field produced by the high voltage pulses between the arrays produces an electrostatic flow of ionized air containing safe amounts of ozone. The outflow of ionized air and ozone is directed between the brush bristles onto the material being brushed.