Abstract: A circuit for producing multiple pulse width modulated outputs. The circuit includes a logic device for each pulse width modulated output. Each of the logic devices includes a first input, a second input, and a clock input, and each of logic device produces a logical high output in response to a logical high at its first input in coincidence with a clock signal at its clock input. The logical high output of the logic device remains high until a logical high is applied at its second input in coincidence with a clock signal at the clock input, whereupon the logic device produces a logical low output. The logical low output of the logic device remains low until a logical high is again applied at its first input in coincidence with a clock signal at the clock input. The circuit includes programmable circuitry for selectively applying logical high and low signals to the first and second inputs of the logic devices.

Abstract: An amplifier in which a clamping circuit is an integral part of the output stage structure is used as a voice coil driver for positioning the heads of a memory disk drive. The output stage, operating in class AB, comprises two bipolar transistors, the source and the sink transistors, serially connected between a power supply and a ground terminal, the serial connection between the emitter of the first transistor and the collector of the second transistor being the output terminal of the output stage. The base terminals of the two output transistors are connected to a bias circuit and to an input transistor, used as the signal control element. The clamping circuit is directly connected with the base terminals of the output transistors to limit the voltage on said base terminals between a first and a second voltage reference.

Abstract: A method of forming vias in an interlevel dielectric structure of an integrated circuit, such that the aspect ratio of the vias is smaller than the aspect ratios of vias having a height equal to the thickness of the entire interlevel dielectric structure, and the integrated circuit formed according to such a method. Conductive elements are formed over an insulator. A first dielectric structure is formed over the conductive elements and over the insulator. The first dielectric structure contains a first dielectric, formed over the conductive elements and the insulator, and a planarizing dielectric, formed over the first dielectric to bulk fill the areas between the conductors. A thin layer of a second dielectric can be formed over the first dielectric and the planarization dielectric. Vias are patterned and etched in the first dielectric structure. The thickness of the first dielectric structure is such that the aspect ratios of the vias through it is close to, or less than, 1.

Abstract: A package for maintaining a needle-suture product in a sterile condition includes a peelable foil container in which a peripheral heat seal defines a cavity for retaining a suture packet. The packet has a plastic tray and a stiff paper lid secured to the tray by hinged paper cleats extending into sockets in the tray. The lid covers most of the area of the tray, leaving an uncovered portion for accessing a needle mounted in the tray. A suture attached to the needle is coiled in a peripheral track in the tray so that an extended length of suture material can be retained in a relatively small space. The container has top and bottom aluminum foils with differentiated polymeric coatings on their interior surfaces, which are thermally fused to form the seal. Unsealed foil flaps are provided at one end of the container to enable peeling apart the foils to open the package.

Abstract: A CMOS SRAM cell in which a patterned SIMOX layer forms a buried oxide beneath the PMOS devices, but not beneath the NMOS devices. Latchup is impossible, and well diffusions are not needed.

Abstract: Automated packaging of surgical needle-suture assemblies includes a framing operation in which adjacent sheets of polymer coated aluminum foils are conveyed through a sequence of steps in an apparatus which produces frames containing plastic packets of needle-suture assemblies. The apparatus pulls a web of foil off a large diameter feed roll and maintains web alignment as it travels down line through the apparatus by a system that optically detects transverse movement of the web as it is fed into the apparatus and adjusts the position of the feed roll relative to the centerline of travel using a hi-directional stepper motor. Discontinuities in the polymer coating on the top surface of the web of foil are automatically detected so that remedial steps can be taken to avoid processing defective sections of the web. A vision system having video cameras connected to a specially adapted computer enables monitoring the product travelling through the apparatus to detect various defects in the product formation.

Abstract: A device for magnetically attaching jewelry, name tags or the like to garments. The device includes inner and outer magnets and an anchor attached to the outer magnet. A pin-secured jewelry article or name tag is secured to the garment by passing the pin through a passageway in the anchor and then bringing the inner and outer magnets into magnetically close proximity on opposite sides of the garment.

Abstract: A method for making sterile suture packages employs a frame assembly line, a sterilization line and a blanker/cartoner line. A web of foil is advanced in a series of movements through the frame assembly line to assemble a frame containing needle-suture assemblies in a plurality of cavities in the frame, the frame having top and bottom aluminum foils with heat seal coatings on their facing surfaces. The cavities are formed in the bottom foil of each frame by a combination of pressurized air and mechanical plugs which are forced against the bottom foil and an underlying die having recesses for defining the cavities. A blanking operation following sterilization and sealing separates individual packages, each containing one needle-suture assembly, from the frame. The packages are then conveyed by belts through inspection stations and reoriented for loading into shipping cartons.

Abstract: Apparatus for drilling perforations in a well casing to reinitiate water flow into the casing to restore operation of a well. The apparatus includes a pneumatic drill mounted within a housing which is capable of being lowered into a well casing. The drill is moveable by remote control between a rest position and a working position within the housing to cause a drill bit to pass through a port in the housing to drill perforations at selected locations in the well casing.

Abstract: A bias circuit for generating a bias voltage that tracks power supply voltage variations, and that is compensated for variations in p-channel transistor and process parameters, is disclosed. The bias circuit includes a voltage divider, such as a resistor divider, that produces a ratioed voltage based on the power supply voltage to be tracked. The ratioed voltage is applied to a first input of a differential stage, the output of which is applied to an intermediate stage including a drive transistor and a load; the second input of the differential stage receives a feedback voltage from an intermediate node that is connected to the source of a p-channel modulating transistor that has its gate biased so as to be in saturation, for example at ground. The current conducted by the p-channel modulating transistor depends upon the ratioed voltage from the voltage divider, and also on its transistor characteristics.

Abstract: An input buffer, for an asynchronous integrated memory circuit incorporating a memory circuit, including a latch circuit controlled by a write enable signal is disclosed. The input stage of the input buffer is connected to a pass gate, which is controlled by the write enable signal so that the pass gate is nonconductive when the write enable signal is active. The output of the pass gate is connected to an input of the latch circuit. The latch circuit is controlled by the write enable signal so that the signal present on the input of the latch is latched when the write enable signal is active. From an output of the latch circuit are obtained true and complementary signals, which are applied to outputs of the buffer circuit. As a result, when the write enable signal is active, the signal present on the input of the buffer is latched and presented to the outputs of the buffer, and the latch circuit is isolated from the input of the buffer until the write cycle is terminated.

Abstract: A method for making sterile suture packages employs a frame assembly line, a sterilization line and a blanker/cartoner line. A web of foil is advanced in a series of movements through the frame assembly line to assemble a frame containing needle-suture assemblies in a plurality of cavities in the frame, the frame having top and bottom aluminum foils with heat seal coatings on their facing surfaces. The cavities are formed in the bottom foil of each frame by a combination of pressurized air and mechanical plugs which are forced against the bottom foil and an underlying die having recesses for defining the cavities. A blanking operation following sterilization and sealing separates individual packages, each containing one needle-suture assembly, from the frame. The packages are then conveyed by belts through inspection stations and reoriented for loading into shipping cartons.

Abstract: A method for altering the curvature of the cornea of an eye includes the steps of making pairs of closely spaced, parallel incisions at predetermined sites on the surface of the cornea; removing the corneal tissue disposed between the incisions in each pair of incisions; and closing the incision at each site to exert a force on the cornea which increases its curvature. An instrument for altering the curvature of the cornea includes a shaft, a cutting tool mounted at one end of the shaft, the cutting tool having two parallel blades separated by a predetermined distance for making pairs of closely spaced, parallel incisions in a patient's cornea. The method and instrument enable correction for hyperopia and other types of refractive errors of the eye.

Abstract: An orthopedic pillow having separately adjustable neckroll and head-support sections. The neckroll section has a foam rubber pad rolled into a spiral roll and housed within a cylindrical case. The case can be opened to allow the pad to be removed and trimmed. The diameter of the neckroll can thus be adjusted to correspond to the contour of the user's neck. The head-support section has an outer section and an inner section. The thickness of the outer portion may be adjusted by adding or removing filler material. The thickness of the inner portion may be adjusted by adding or removing inlays in a stacked arrangement.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a photovoltaic solar array which is provided with a matrix having spherical photovoltaic diode particles embedded therein in an ordered array, the P-type region of each particle extending to one matrix surface and the N-type region of each particle extending to an opposed matrix surface. Backside metallization is disposed on the matrix backside surface to interconnect the particles extending thereto and frontside conductors are provided on the opposing matrix surface to interconnect the particles extending thereto. The matrix includes two portions, the first portion being a layer extending to the frontside formed of a clear glass. The second portion of the matrix is, in effect, two layers, one disposed at the P-N junctions of the particles being a lead base glass for junction passivation, this layer being overcoated with a reflective layer to provide additional reflectivity of light entering the matrix onto the particles. This increases the amount of light impinging on the particles.

Abstract: A hermetic seal is formed without expensive precious metals by fusing two members of a semiconductor package together by scanning a laser beam along adjacent edges of the members. The compositions of the members which are fused together include ceramic, glass and metal. The method enables the formation of a hermetic seal at a relatively low temperature thereby greatly reducing the thermal stress on the semiconductor chip with resulting improvement in yields.

Abstract: A plurality of character forming segments are affixed to one surface of a front and back plate of a liquid crystal device. Three conductors affixed to one of the plates are each coupled to approximately one-third of the segment electrodes affixed to that plate. A plurality of conductors are affixed to the other plate and are each coupled to three of the segment electrodes affixed to that plate. Liquid crystal material is disposed between the two plates. By making use of the display device and a disclosed keyboard scanning circuit, an eight character position liquid crystal display device and a keyboard may be coupled to an electronic calculator chip disposed in a standard twenty-eight pin package.

Abstract: An improved device for connecting the ends of a separable zipper having opposed strings or rows of interlocking teeth or elements including specially adapted terminals which facilitate the engagement of the ends of the zipper and initial movement of a slider to fasten the zipper teeth. The terminals are engagable by being brought together in a direction substantially perpendicular to the zipper rows. Compared to the conventional pin-and-socket terminal arrangement wherein the pin must be threaded through one relatively small port of the slider and then into the socket, the terminals are relatively large and essentially self-aligning during engagement. Once engaged, the terminals are free to rotate relative to each other, thus permitting the opposed rows of zipper elements to self-align as the slider is urged forward to engage the rearmost ends of the zipper elements.

Abstract: A hoist device is pivotally attached to a specially adapted rear bumper of a conventional pickup truck. The hoist comprises a generally yoke-shaped frame adapted to wrap around the rearmost ends of the truck's cargo bed such that the hoist, when not in use, will not substantially interfere with the use of and access to the cargo bed.