Abstract: The problem of thresholding is considered from a clustering point of view and a novel weight-based clustering method (WCThresh) is implemented in a neural network image processor 50. The neural network image processor 50 uses weights 51-53, representing clusters of gray scale pixels of an image of document 43, to provide a threshold for the image of document 43. The processor 50 modifies weights 51-53 with the input pixels and comparator 60 using a nearest value criterion to provide the threshold.

Abstract: A precision voltage reference temperature compensated circuit 10 uses forward biased Zener diodes D2, D4 to provide a negative temperature coefficient compensation circuit and reverse biased Zener diodes D5-D6 to provide a positive temperature coefficient compensation circuit. Use of only Zener diodes results in a circuit 10 with fast recovery to the expected output voltage from transient events such as power supply perturbations, output load switching and/or gamma radiation events. The reference output voltage V.sub.out temperature characteristic is finally established by trimming resistors R3, R4 that are coupled between the current source including transistor Q1 and a positive temperature coefficient compensation circuit of diodes D5-D7. The precision reference output voltage level is finally established by trimming the resistors R5 and R6 that are coupled between the output of the temperature coefficient trim network and ground.

Abstract: A surface mountable integrated circuit and a method of manufacture are disclosed. A wafer 110 has a die with an integrated circuit 119 in one surface of the wafer. A via 130 extends to the opposite surface. The via has a sidewall oxide 131 and is filled with a conductive material such as metal or doped polysilicon. The metal may comprise a barrier layer and an adhesion layer. The second end of the via can be fashioned as a prong 233 or a receptacle 430. Dies with vias can be stacked on top of each other or surface mounted to printed circuit boards or other substrate.

Abstract: Alkali-zinc-silicate glass ceramics and glasses are described which have a linear thermal expansion coefficient in the range from 8.0 to 18.7.times.10.sup.-6 K.sup.-1, an excellent chemical resistance and other advantageous optical properties and can be used in particular as dental material.

Abstract: A computer system which assigns a unique identifier to each component in the system. The system includes a microprocessor, a memory, and one or more components. The microprocessor and the memory are coupled by first data lines. Each component has a storage device for storing data to uniquely identify each component and second data lines, the second data lines coupled to the first data lines. The storage device includes an identification input which is coupled to a selected one of the second data lines. The storage device in each component stores data from the selected one of the second data lines during the transmission of a sequence of data from the memory on the second data lines. With the system, a unique and consistent identifier can be assigned to each component in a computer system, each time the computer system is started. A separate memory device to store an identifier for each component is unnecessary.

Abstract: A biological process includes the step of producing a substantially continuous foam of gas bubbles in a liquid capable of undergoing a biological process utilizing prokaryotic or eukaryotic cells. The cells are introduced into the foam after the foam is produced and maintained in the foam under conditions effective to carry out the process. A reaction product of a biological process utilizing a foam culture medium is recovered by subjecting the foam to a pressure change after maintaining the cells in the foam culture medium under conditions effective to sustain the process. An apparatus for carrying out a biological process includes a foam production chamber having one or more inlets for introducing a gas and components of a culture medium. The chamber is adapted for producing a foam of bubbles of the gas in the culture medium. A plug-flow reactor is positioned to receive foam from the foam production chamber as a continuously flowing plug.

Abstract: A word recognizer system 10 has a probabilistic relaxation process that improves the performance of an image text recognition technique by propagating the influence of word collocation statistics. Word collocation refers to the likelihood that two words co-occur within a fixed distance of one another. The word recognizer 10 receives groups of visually similar decisions (called neighborhoods) for words in a running text. The position of decisions within the neighborhoods are modified based on how often they co-occur with decisions in the neighborhoods of other nearby words. This process is iterated a number of times effectively propagating the influence of the collocation statistics across an input text.

Abstract: A sigma delta convertor 20 has a number of time slots that are programmable connectable to the input channels 200 via a multiplexer 205. Conversion throughput of any one input channel is increased by connecting two or more time slots to the input channel. For an eight input channel embodiment 800 the throughput of conversion of one input can be increased 2.times., 4.times. or 8.times. by connecting, respectively, 2, 4 or all 8 time slots to the selected input channel.

Abstract: Composite materials useful for removing metal ions from solutions such as aqueous waste streams comprise an inorganic ceramic support such as silica gel that has active hydroxyl groups. The support is reacted with a silane linking compound or with a titanizing agent. A chelating compound, which can be a thiol or an amine, is attached to the silane or to titanium atoms of the titanized surface of the support.

Abstract: Novel composite materials useful for removing heavy metal ions from solutions, such as aqueous waste streams, comprise an inorganic ceramic support, such as silica gel, having terminal hydroxy groups, to the oxygen of which a ligand is covalently bonded through a silane coupling agent, the ligand being a phosphorous or thiophosphorous based acid moiety.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an in vitro system for physiological and metabolic evaluation of substances for use in living beings. The system includes one or more cell culture chambers, each containing cells in a culture medium and a gas-liquid exchange device for contacting the culture medium with oxygen-containing gas so that the culture medium absorbs that gas and desorbs carbon dioxide-containing gas. The conduit system conducts culture medium between the gas-liquid exchange device and the cell culture chambers. A circulation mechanism is used to circulate culture medium through the conduit system, the cell culture chambers, and the gas-liquid exchange device. In use, the substance to be evaluated is added to the culture medium of the system and circulated through the system. The cells in each of the cell culture chambers are then evaluated for effects resulting from the presence of the substance.

Abstract: A non-pressurized pharmaceutical inhalation composition includes a therapeutically effective amount of a particulate inhalation medicament. The medicament has a mass median diameter in the range 0.01 to 15 .mu.m. A particulate polysaccharide entrapped flavoring agent is included in the composition and has a mass median diameter in the range of 10 to 200 .mu.m. The composition can be used to practice a method for treatment of reversible obstructive airway disease which includes administering the pharmaceutical composition to a patient.

Abstract: A surface mountable integrated circuit and a method of manufacture are disclosed. A wafer 110 has a die with an integrated circuit 119 in one surface of the wafer. A via 130 extends to the opposite surface. the via has a sidewall oxide 131 and is filled with a conductive material such as metal or doped polysilicon. The metal may comprise a barrier layer and an adhesion layer. The second end of the via can be fashioned as a prong 233 or a receptacle 430. Dies with vias can be stacked on top of each other or surface mounted to printed circuit boards or other substrate.

Abstract: A partitioned constant delay logic network 208 has a number of constant delay logic elements. The delay of each logic element is held constant by applying a controlled bias voltage, V.sub.bias. The source of the controlled bias voltage is a phase locked loop 201 which has a voltage controlled oscillator 203 constructed out of an odd plurality of constant delay logic elements.

Abstract: An analog to digital converter 10 has a switched capacitor analog modulator 12 with three point calibration. Offset calibration applies on offset correction value in OCR 22 to an uncalibrated digital output. Register 28 holds a desired full scale value, register 24 holds a positive full scale value, and register 26 holds a negative full scale value. Depending upon the polarity of the converted analog signal, the offset corrected digital signal is multiplied by a positive or a negative gain correction factor.

Abstract: A system for disabling a stolen motor vehicle including a control device and a trigger device. The stolen motor vehicle has a master cylinder housing brake fluid and coupled to brakes by brake lines. The control device controls the flow of brake fluid between the master cylinder and the brakes, initially allowing bidirectional flow of brake fluid. The trigger device triggers the control device to restrict the flow of brake fluid to one direction in response to initiation of the system, tilting of the stolen motor vehicle forward at an angle with respect to ground equal to or greater than a preset angle, and application of the brakes. The trigger device includes a first switch, an operator switch, a motion activated switch, and a brake switch. The first switch is coupled in series between the control device and ground and is initially open. The first switch is operable to activate the control device to restrict the flow of brake fluid to one direction when closed.

Abstract: The invention described herein discloses a virus-induced resistance that may be transferred from one plant generation to another in which transgenic plants containing a coding sequence, taken from the read-through portion of the replicase portion of the viral genome, are resistant to subsequent disease by the virus. The use of the 54 kDa coding sequence from TMV is described as a specific example of the broader technology. Thus, the invention defines a means for bringing about viral resistance in plants which have been transformed with nucleic acid copies of fragments or segments taken from the replicase portion of the pathogenic virus genome. In addition, the present invention defines transformed plants and their seeds which carry a portion of the viral genome which codes for a portion of the read-through portion of the replicase genome of the pathogenic virus.

Abstract: A dual air knife assembly for removing excess solder and leveling any remaining solder on a passing circuit board with a gas from a gas source in accordance with the present invention includes a first and second air knife. The first air knife has a first passage with a first inlet adapted to connect to the gas source and a first outlet adapted to be positioned adjacent the passing circuit board. The second air knife has a second passage with a second inlet connected to the gas source and a second outlet adapted to be positioned adjacent the passing circuit board. The first air knife is adapted to be positioned substantially perpendicular to the circuit board and the second air knife is adapted to be positioned at an angle less than 90 degrees and preferably between 20 and 60 degrees to the circuit board. The dual air knife assembly may include a spacer which separates the a first and second air knife and is recessed from the outlets of the a first and second air knife to create an expansion chamber.

Abstract: The subject invention provides purified polypeptides encoded by naturally-occurring wild-type platelet glycoprotein Ib alpha having a mutation which renders the polypeptide more reactive with von Willebrand factor. Preferably, the mutation is in the hinge region of GP Ib.alpha., such as the substitution of valine for glycine at residue 233. These mutations alter the three-dimensional structure of the mutant polypeptide from a beta bend conformation to an alpha helix formation, and also create an amphipathic region within the mutant polypeptide. DNA encoding the mutant polypeptides, as well as expression systems for the production of the mutant polypeptides, are also provided. Methods and compositions using the mutant polypeptides and DNA oligomers complementary to the mutant polypeptides are further provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides for the isolation of genomic fragments from Drosophila melanogaster encoding tipE protein, which protein is required for expression of functional voltage dependent cation channels. A positional cloning coupled with transformation strategy was used to identify and isolate the tipE gene. A cDNA corresponding to the gene encoding tipE is also provided and characterized. In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a functional voltage dependent cation channel. Methods for making and using the cation channel are also provided.