Abstract: An interface block (300) carries a removable electrical connection (310, 312) that can be quickly connected and removed from a high speed machine for picking and placing electronic components. The interface block is attached to a vacuum ported tool changer (200) which further couples to a heated end effector (100) to create a removable heated nozzle assembly (50). The entire assembly can be easily plugged into and removed from a high speed placement machine.

Abstract: A replaceable heated end effector (100) can be quickly connected and disconnected to a vacuum ported tool changer (199) on a high speed machine for picking and placing electronic components. The modular end effector is made up of an adapter flange (110), a heater plate (120) and a heated tip (130). The heater plate contains one or more heating elements (410) to heat up the tip. The upper side (112) of the adapter flange mates with the vacuum ported tool changer so as to be easily removable. The adapted flange also has electrical contacts (142) to supply power to the heating elements on the heater plate. The heated tip has a vacuum pickup portion (132) that is designed to pick up the electronic components (198) and heat them while they are being transported to the placement location. There are holes or apertures (115, 125, 135) in the adapter flange, the heater plate and the heated tip that port the vacuum from the tool changer to the vacuum pickup tip.

Abstract: An earpiece for a headset, especially a headset incorporating active unwanted noise suppression, wherein the earshell incorporates a baffle plate carrying a sound drive and an ear cushion, whereby the baffle plate also carries an upstanding projection, more especially in the form of a sound transparent dome, which limits the extent to which the cushion can be compressed when the earpiece is pressed inwardly against the ear from its normally fitted condition.

Abstract: Methods and structures for ensuring the highly linear discharge of a capacitor used for slew rate control of a power driving stage from a maximum voltage to a minimum supply voltage, such as ground. A voltage ramp generator uses a single cascoded current source to achieve the linear ramp-down.

Abstract: A lead frame of a plastic integrated circuit package is fabricated in two steps. First, from a rectangular sheet of metal, lead fingers of the lead frame are formed. Second, the die pad of the lead frame is clamped and is simultaneously separated and downset from the lead fingers of the lead frame by shearing the lead frame with a mated punch die pair. Performing the separation and downset of the die pad from the lead fingers results in essentially no horizontal gap between the lead fingers and the die pad. The downset of the die pad with respect to the lead fingers results in a vertical separation between the die pad and the lead fingers.

Abstract: An integrated circuit structure provides a burn-in stress test mode that facilitates stress testing of an integrated circuit device in a burn-in oven. The integrated circuit structure is capable of disabling a time-out feature of an IC memory device during a stress test mode of the device in order to facilitate stress testing of the device in a burn-in oven. The test mode structure of the IC memory device has a number of bipolar transistors, a number of ETD transistors coupled to the bipolar transistors, and a logic element coupled to the bipolar and ETD transistors at a node. The ETD transistors operate to ensure that the emitter of corresponding bipolar transistors have a voltage of Vb−Vbe.

Abstract: A network of centrally controlled, customizable digital broadcast stations capable of broadcasting music, videos, audible advertisements, and visual advertisements is disclosed. The invention includes a program database, a station demographic database, a central controller, and a plurality of digital broadcast stations. The central controller includes one or more servers, multiple computer workstations, and multiple call directors. Each digital broadcast station includes a computer, a loudspeaker(s), and a microphone. Optionally, a digital broadcast station may include a projector(s) or flat screen television(s). The central controller completely controls the broadcast content and broadcast schedule of the plurality of digital broadcast stations. The present invention allows advertisers to conduct targeted advertising campaigns within the network of digital broadcast stations.

Abstract: An earphone having a drive unit (22) carried by an earphone shell (20) and covered by an ear cushion (24) of auxetic foam.

Abstract: A hardware-implemented screen-saver prevents burn-in of an image displayed on a screen of a display product by automatically reducing the video gain, and therefore the contrast, of the image when the portion of the image within a two-dimensional detection window has changed by less than a predetermined amount for a predetermined period of time. A lack of change of the incoming video signal of the image is detected and used to invoke a reduction in contrast of the image displayed on the display product. This allows the image to remain visible, yet reduces the possibility of burn-in of the image in the screen of the display product.

Abstract: An integrated circuit structure and method provides a burn-in stress test mode that facilitates stress testing of an integrated circuit device in a burn-in oven. The integrated circuit structure and method is capable of disabling a time-out feature of an IC memory device during a stress test mode of the device in order to facilitate stress testing of the device in a burn-in oven. The integrated circuit structure provides for entry into the burn-in stress test mode when a supply voltage supplied to the integrated circuit device exceeds a predetermined voltage level and/or the temperature of the integrated circuit device exceeds a predetermined temperature level.

Abstract: An electro-acoustic transducer comprises first and second panels (18A,18B) each of which can be vibrated to generate sound, a frame (10) for mounting the panels, and first and second seals (20A,B) arranged between the frame and the edges of the panels for holding the panels in the frame, substantially isolating the frame acoustically from the edges of the panel, and substantially sealing the frame to the edges of the panel. One or more actuators (22), such as piezoelectric elements, are provided for receiving a driving signal and vibrating in response thereto, and the actuators are mechanically and acoustically coupled to the first panel at one or more locations remote from the edges of the first panel so that the first panel vibrates in response to vibration of the actuators.

Abstract: A remote control unit in an audio/visual system has a two-way communications link with one or more audio/visual devices. The bi-directional flow of information between the remote control unit and the audio/visual device(s) provides for the creation of remote control commands that are customized based upon the characteristics of the particular A/V device being controlled by the remote control unit. The remote control unit may additionally have another two-way communications link with one or more information-providing devices, such as a personal computer capable of accessing the Internet, that can provide the remote control unit with information available outside the audio/visual environment. The bi-directional flow of information of the two-way communications links is accomplished with a two-way infra-red link or a two-way serial link.

Abstract: According to the present invention, by setting the logic state of one or more delay signals to appropriate values, the resistive value of a plurality of power supply delay elements throughout an integrated circuit having distributed circuit blocks may be modified to produce desired delay times or pulse width adjustments throughout the integrated circuit. Setting delay signals to desired logic states may be accomplished by a variety of means including forcing test pads to a logic level, blowing fuses, or entering into a test mode.

Abstract: Parallel processing in the form of two PR4 Viterbi Detectors connected in parallel operates to increase the maximum channel speed of a given data channel of a magnetic media. According to a target equation defined as Read(D)=(1−D2)2Written(D), in which D is the delay of a data of the channel, a first Viterbi Detector processes even data samples of the channel that have been equalized according to the target equation and a second Viterbi Detector connected in parallel processes odd data samples of the channel that have likewise been equalized according to the target equation. The use of two parallel-connected Viterbi Detectors in this fashion allows data to be processed at half-rate rather than full-rate, thereby increasing the overall channel speed.

Abstract: A body-wearable keyboard features an optimized key layout that can be used in a conventional configuration or a body-wear configuration. By rotating one or more key clusters, the keyboard can be used in a vertical lengthwise position resting flat on the body on the user in the body-wear configuration. Multiple placement of frequently used keys in the key clusters provides for ease of use, whether the keyboard is in the conventional configuration or the body-wear configuration.

Abstract: A power MOSFET suitable for use in RF applications and a method for making the same is disclosed. The power MOSFET reduces the gate coverage of the drain region of the device in order to decrease the device gate to drain capacitance Cgd. A significant portion of the gate overlaying the drain region is eliminated by the removal of a portion of a polysilicon layer that is disposed over a substantial portion of the drain region that resides between the channel portions of the body regions of the device. The resulting open area, that is subsequently covered by an oxide layer, separates the polysilicon gate electrodes of the device. Finally, a metal layer is deposited over the entire structure to form the gate and source electrodes of the device.

Abstract: This invention outlines several applications of piezoelectric vibrators to produce quality flat panel speakers in passenger cabin applications. A system consisting of an audio amplifier and transformer is used to drive the piezo speaker. The electronics are packaged so that they fit in small modules that can be attached to a cabin structure to produce a speaker. The invention includes a variety of flat panel speaker designs, including one in which the existing structure is converted into a speaker, and thin membrane and or panels that are fitted with piezoelectric elements. A system consisting of cabin quieting and flat panel speakers is also discussed where the mid and high frequency audio is produced by panel speakers and the low frequency audio is produced from dynamic loudspeakers. The cabin systems discussed in this patent are applicable to automobiles, aircraft, trucks and buses.

Abstract: A high-gain comparator has a built-in hysteresis offset voltage generation feature. The comparator is characterized as having several elements, including a differential amplifier pair that is provided with first and second input voltages, an offset voltage element that creates an offset voltage between the first and second elements of the differential amplifier pair, an output generation element operably coupled to the differential amplifier pair that generates an output voltage of the comparator which is indicative of a voltage difference between the first and second input voltages, and a control element operably coupled to the output signal that controllably adjusts the offset voltage from a first state to a second state in accordance with the output signal to create a hysteresis condition of the comparator.

Abstract: The invention consists of an integral transducer for a sound radiating diaphragm which may consist of a piezoelectric material, a substrate or a spacer and electrical connector means for a wire harness or other electrical connection. The substrate is used to enhance the motion of the piezoelectric element by spacing the piezoelectric element from the diaphragm. The substrate is larger in area than the piezoelectric element. The transducer system acts to impart motion to a diaphragm. The transducer comprises a piezoelectric element subject to displacement by applied electric potential that has a top side, an under side and an outer perimeter; a substrate that is joined to the underside of the piezoelectric element, and means to apply electric potential to the piezoelectric element.

Abstract: This invention outlines several applications of piezoelectric vibrators to produce quality flat panel speakers in passenger cabin applications. A system consisting of an audio amplifier and transformer is used to drive the piezo speaker. The electronics are packaged so that they fit in small modules that can be attached to a cabin structure to produce a speaker. The invention includes a variety of flat panel speaker designs, including one in which the existing structure is converted into a speaker, and thin membrane and or panels that are fitted with piezoelectric elements. A system consisting of cabin quieting and flat panel speakers is also discussed where the mid and high frequency audio is produced by panel speakers and the low frequency audio is produced from dynamic loudspeakers. The cabin systems discussed in this patent are applicable to automobiles, aircraft, trucks and buses.