Abstract: A system, apparatus, and method for providing a distributed location based service system to a mobile user. Information related to a particular geographic location may be electronically transferred to a mobile electronic device, without a request from the user, and interpreted locally on the device in the form of a virtual map of location based resources. The mobile device is capable of determining its location using a GPS (Global Positioning System) or a process of measurement and prediction based on calculation. The mobile device can then use the location information and compare it to available location based resources within the device.

Abstract: Meta-information, such as a digital watermark, that is associated with a document is encoded by using characters, or sequences of characters, that are “invisible” when rendered. Characters such as spaces, tabs, carriage returns, backspaces, line feeds, and so on are used to encode the watermark. The encoded “invisible” meta-information item is preferably appended to the document. A receiving device that is compatible with this encoding is able to decode and process the meta-information, for example, to verify the contents and/or the originator of the document. A receiving device that is not compatible with this encoding will merely display or print additional “white space” corresponding to the “invisible” meta-information. By appending this invisible encoding to the document, this additional white space will occur after the display or printing of the document, in a visually unobtrusive form.

Abstract: A graphics model of an elephant is made by using bitmap silhouettes of a physical model of an elephant in different orientations to carve away voxels from a voxel block. This gives an intuitively simple tool to enable a user to create graphics representations of physical objects for use in, e.g., virtual environment and in video games.

Abstract: A spread spectrum data transmission apparatus, suitable for use in radiotelephony utilizing Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), includes a receiver for receiving data organized in symbols having a duration Ts These symbols are spread by a spreading code having a period Tc prior to transmission over a transmission channel that has a plurality of main broadcasting paths, each broadcasting path producing a delay.

Abstract: The invention provides an improved differential output structure with minimal skew and introduces less process variations. According to one embodiment of the invention, a differential output structure is provided and comprises an input line, an output driver and a sync circuit. The input line includes first and second paths. The first path has an input end for receiving input signals. The first path also has an output end and includes at least one driving element. The second path has an input end operably coupled to the input end of the first path for receiving the input signals. The second path also has an output end. The output driver is operably coupled to the output ends of the first and second paths and is configured to provide differential outputs. The sync circuit is operably coupled between the first and second paths and is configured to synchronize the speed of signals traveling on the two paths.

Abstract: To realize a stereo signal processing apparatus which effectively removes vocal signals, without degradation of stereo effect, with a simple construction.

Abstract: Analog correlation techniques are used in a digital receiver portion of a spread spectrum transceiver to determine when to turn ON given digital receiver components. According to a particular embodiment, an analog correlator receives the down-converted in-phase and quadrature-phase outputs from the radio section and determines when a received signal is coming up at or near a given noise level. A control circuit is coupled to the correlator to selectively activate flash A/D converters in the digital receiver portion of the baseband processor. The analog correlator replaces the RSSI for “sniffing” whether a received signal is present.

Abstract: In a radio communication system having a primary station and plurality of secondary stations, power of uplink and downlink channels between the primary station and a secondary station is controlled in a closed loop manner by each station transmitting power control commands to the other station. Responsive to these commands receiving station adjusts its output power in steps. By considering a plurality of received power control commands receiving station may emulate the ability to use power control step sizes other than those it directly implements, for example step sizes smaller than its minimum or intermediate between implemented step sizes. Performance can thereby be improved under certain channel conditions. In one embodiment when required power control step size is less than the minimum step size of the receiving station, that station processes a group of power control commands to determine whether to adjust its output power by its minimum step size.

Abstract: A buck converter has an input circuit for receiving an input signal, a controller connected to and controlling the input circuit, a switch controllable by the controller for switching on/off, a current storage element connected to the input circuit and the switch, and an output voltage storage element connected to the current storage element for connecting in parallel with a load. In a charging phase, the controller causes (a) the input circuit to allow the input signal to pass through for provision to the load via the current storage element and (b) the switch to switch off (becoming an open circuit). In a discharging phase, the controller causes (a) the input circuit to decouple from the input signal and (b) the switch to switch on (become a short circuit), so that (c) current flows within a loop formed by the switch and the current storage element.

Abstract: A process for sensing and analyzing electrical activity of the human heart includes the use of a set of electrodes for a first lead system and an ECG monitor design for use with a second lead system that is different from the first lead system. Output signals from the first lead system electrodes are connected to first, second and third channel inputs for the ECG monitor. The input signals to the ECG monitor are linearly transformed to output first, second and third ECG channels which are consistent with standard output for the first lead system. In linearly transforming the inputted signals to the ECG monitor, differences between the first lead system electrodes and the ECG monitor are manipulated either before the output signals from the first lead system electrodes are fed to the channel inputs for the ECG monitor, or after the ECG monitor has formed channels.

Abstract: A Web-based authentication system and method, the system comprising at least one Web client station, at least one Web server station and an authentication center. The Web client station is linked to a Web cloud, and provides selected biometric data of an individual who is using the Web client station. The Web server station is also linked to the Web cloud. The authentication center is linked to at least one of the Web client and Web server stations so as to receive the biometric data. The authentication center, having records of one or more enrolled individuals, provides for comparison of the provided data with selected records.

Abstract: A device having a switch comprises a chromium layer and an adjacent semiconductor layer. The fraction of voids in the chromium layer is less than 10%, preferably less than 2%. The chromium layer in the device comprises traces of neon with a concentration of less than 0.1 at. %.Chromium layers are deposited on a substrate by means of a sputter deposition process. By using neon as the working gas at pressures of less than 1 Pa, preferably in the range from 0.2 Pa to 0.5 Pa, the sputter-deposited chromium layers are substantially free of internal stress and have a density which is approximately equal to that of bulk chromium.

Abstract: A device for determining the spatial position of a sensor element (3) which is spatially displaceable relative to a reference element (1), includes three coils (4, 5, 6) which are arranged in the sensor element (3), consist of at least one wire turn, and are wound about a common center (7), at least three coils (2) which are arranged in the reference element (1) in spatially remote positions and consist of at least one wire turn, a current generator (11) for exciting the sensor element coils (4, 5 6) or the reference element coils (2) by means of a presettable excitation alternating current, and a processing circuit (15) for the voltages induced in the reference element coils (2) or in the sensor element coils (4, 5, 6). The processing circuit includes an arithmetic circuit which calculates, on the basis of the induced voltages, the distance coordinates x.sub.m, y.sub.m and z.sub.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device with a buried channel field effect transistor, comprising the formation of a stack of layers on a substrate with an active semiconductor layer having a non-zero aluminium (Al) content, a semiconductor cap layer without aluminium (Al), a masking layer provided with a gate opening; a first selective etching step with a first etching compound containing fluorine (F) in the cap layer down to the upper surface of the active layer, whereon a stopper layer of aluminium fluoride (AlF.sub.3) is formed automatically; then elimination of the stopper layer; a second, non-selective etching step in the active layer with a second etchant until a first, central gate recess is completed; a third, selective etching process with the first etchant in the cap layer, which takes place laterally for forming the flanks of a second recess whose bottom is the upper surface.

Abstract: Digital processing of current signals allows close matching of arbitrary time delay curves for a circuit breaker. An analog signal proportional to the current is sampled and digitized. Digital samples, with or without further processing, are used to select increment values from a look-up table for accumulation in a counter. The counter is decremented periodically to simulate cooling of the circuit being protected. The values in the look-up table are determined according to the desired time delay curve. Processing of the digital samples may include squaring samples, accumulating the squared values to form a subtotal which is compared with an instantaneous trip threshold, accumulating the subtotals for a time period equal to half a cycle of AC line voltage, taking the square root of the accumulated subtotals, and using that square root as the address for looking up the increment value.

Abstract: A high pressure gas discharge lamp and the method of making same utilizing integrated circuit fabrication techniques. The lamp is manufactured from heat and pressure resistant planar substrates in which cavities are etched, by integrated circuit manufacturing techniques, so as to provide a cavity forming the gas discharge tube. Electrodes are deposited in the cavity. The cavity is filled with gas discharge materials such as mercury vapor, sodium vapor or metal halide. The substrates are bonded together and channels may be etched in the substrate so as to provide a means for connection to the electrodes. Electrodeless RF activated lamps may also be fabricated by this technique. Micro-lasers may also be fabricated by this technique as well.

Abstract: A method of providing an ultra-thin (<1 nm) silicon-oxide layer on a substrate surface, for example, of a metal. A film of a solution of a polyorganosiloxane is applied to the substrate surface. After drying, the polyorganosiloxane is completely converted to said silicon-oxide layer by means of an UV-ozone treatment. Such an ultra-thin silicon-oxide layer sufficiently protects a metal surface against corrosion. In addition, the silicon-oxide layer can be silanized with the customary silane coupling agents to improve the bond with polymers. The method can very suitably be used, for example, to treat metal leadframes for ICs and to provide a bonding layer for indium tin oxide on polyacrylate for a passive plate of LC displays.

Abstract: The invention relates to a transmission system comprising a phase-locked loop (12) which includes a phase comparator (15) for comparing an oscillator signal with a reference signal and for generating a comparison signal, and an oscillator which is provided for receiving a control signal derived from the comparison signal. The oscillator arranged as a ring oscillator (14) comprises at least one delay element (27 to 31) included in a closed circuit. At least one delay element (27 to 30) has at least two different adjustable delay times. A controller (19) is provided for setting the delay times of at least one delay element (27 to 30) in dependence on the comparison signal.

Abstract: In order to avoid signal reflections, a transmission line connected to an electronic circuit is terminated by a terminating impedance. The value of the terminating impedance is to match in the best possible way in the frequency zone of the circuit with the value of a characteristic impedance of the transmission line to be terminated. The invention provides an electronic circuit in which the terminating impedance is a series combination of an active impedance and a passive impedance. The passive impedance is of the same order of magnitude as the characteristic impedance. The terminating impedance matches well with the characteristic impedance of the transmission line even at high frequencies. By modifying the settings of the active impedance, both the value of the terminating impedance and the DC voltage on a transmission line termination can be set.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a programmable semiconductor element in the form of an anti-fuse, comprising a thin layer of silicon oxide between two electrode regions, such that a connection can be formed between these electrode regions through electric breakdown in the oxide. In the method, a nitrogen implantation is first carried out at the area of the oxide to be formed, so that a thin layer comprising nitrogen is formed at the surface, which has an oxidation-decelerating effect. Then the oxide is provided through thermal oxidation. Owing to the oxidation-decelerating effect of the layer with nitrogen, an extremely thin oxide layer, for example 5 nm thick, may be obtained in a reproducible manner in a sufficiently long oxidation time.