Abstract: A microelectronic integrated circuit includes a semiconductor substrate, and a plurality of microelectronic devices formed on the substrate. Each device has a periphery defined by a hexagon, and includes an active area formed within the periphery, a central terminal formed in a central portion of the active area, and interconnected first to third terminals formed in the active area adjacent to edges of the hexagon that are separated by other edges. First to third gates are formed between the first to third terminals respectively and the central terminal, and have contacts formed outside the active area adjacent to the other edges of the hexagon. The power supply connections to the central terminal and the first to third terminals, the conductivity type (NMOS or PMOS), and the addition of a pull-up or a pull-down resistor is selected for each device to provide a desired OR, NOR, AND or NAND function. The devices are interconnected using three direction routing based on hexagonal geometry.

Abstract: A CMOS integrate circuit has improved protection to damage from electrostatic discharge (ESD) events because the circuit is formed with a virtual lateral bipolar transistor submerged in the morphology of the integrated circuit beneath an active circuit element of the circuit, and being formed by impurity atoms implanted into the substrate structure as ions which disperse laterally to form a dispersed charge permeation zone through which surge current from an ESD is conducted safely at a current level sufficiently low that the substrate material of the integrated circuit is not damaged. The integrated circuit may be formed with an intrinsic zener diode having a reverse bias breakdown voltage high enough to not interfere with the normal operation of the integrated circuit, and low enough to allow surge current from an ESD event to safely flow to ground potential.

Abstract: Signals (including probes) from an external system are selectively connected to a plurality of unsingulated dies on a semiconductor wafer with a minimum number of connections and an electronic selection mechanism resident on the wafer. The electronic selection mechanism is connected to the individual dies by conductive lines on the wafer. The electronic selection mechanism is capable of providing the external signals (or connecting the external probe) to a single die or groups of the dies, and electronically "walking through" the entire plurality of unsingulated dies. Redundant conductive lines may be provided. Diodes and/or fuses may be provided in conjunction with the conductive lines, to protect against various faults which may occur in the conductive lines. Redundant electronic selection mechanisms may also be provided to ensure the ability to selectively provide signals to the unsingulated dies.

Abstract: A butter-like spread containing 35-80% w/w fat is formed into an oil-in-water emulsion. The fat portion is said to contain 10% w/w saturated fatty acids and 80% w/w unsaturated fatty acids with no trans fatty acids.

Abstract: An apparatus for magnetic cell separation using paramagnetic microbeads includes a base upon which is movably carried a rocker member. The rocker member carries both a primary processing container in which a mixture of liquid with cells and paramagnetic microbeads is received; and a primary magnet movable from a first position adjacent to the primary container to magnetically capture the microbeads, and a second position spaced from the primary container to magnetically release the microbeads. The mixture of liquid with cells and microbeads is agitated by tilting motions of the rocker assembly, thereby achieving the binding of target cells to microbeads. The paramagnetic microbeads, with bound target cells, are captured and released by movements of the primary magnet between its first and second positions. A secondary magnet is placed downstream from the primary magnet to capture any paramagnetic microbeads which might escape from the primary magnet.

Abstract: A method for increasing data storage on a hard disk drive is disclosed herein, the method including determining a capacity goal for the disk drive, partitioning the usable disk surface on the disk drive into regions, and calculating a transfer rate based on the capacity goal and the usable disk space. The rate at which data may be transferred is then increased by a first selected quantity and/or decreased by a second selected quantity to establish a higher and/or lower transfer rate. For multiple data heads used in an individual disk drive unit, a first group of heads is partitioned from the remaining heads based on a particular selection criteria, and the remaining heads are arranged into a second group. The first group of data heads then operates at a higher transfer rate than the second group of data heads, and an algorithm for reading and writing data at the different rates is created.

Abstract: A method and structure for wafer level testing of integrated circuit dice. A plurality of conductive paths are formed from a sacrificial metal layer and routed through the scribing lanes of the wafer. These conductive paths extend from selected I/O pads of the integrated circuit dice to an other portion of the wafer. Multiplexing and testing circuitry may also be formed on the wafer to facilitate integrated circuit testing. The novel method of the present invention further includes the step of removing the conductive paths before the wafer is segmented or otherwise operationally used. In one embodiment the conductive paths are formed from a conductive material differing from the conductive material used to form the I/O pads of the integrated circuits. Etching or heating may then preferentially remove the conductive paths prior to segmenting or otherwise operationally using the wafer.

Abstract: An electron gun for a color cathode-ray tube, adapted for large television sets or high-definition monitors, has first and second quadrupole electrodes connected to a static voltage focus electrode and to a dynamic voltage focus electrode, respectively, to form a quadrupole lens. The first quadrupole electrode is composed of first electrode pieces connected to the static voltage focus electrode and arranged on left and right sides of three beam-passing apertures formed on the static voltage focus electrode, and each of the first electrode pieces has at least one arc having a radius identical to or larger than that of the beam-passing apertures. The second quadrupole electrode is composed of second electrode pieces connected to upper and lower portions of the dynamic voltage focus electrode, and each of the second electrode pieces has arcs having a radius identical or larger than that of the beam-passing apertures. The first electrode pieces are inserted inside of the second electrode pieces.

Abstract: A clinching apparatus (1) including a top die (3) comprising a plurality of forming elements (5), and guide means to force the forming elements (5) into close abutment in a closed configuration in response to movement in a first direction to define a void (16) and to permit the forming elements (5) to move apart into an open configuration in response to movement in second opposite direction. A centrally disposed floating bottom die (22) is disposed intermediate the forming elements to define a lower boundary of the void. A punch (20) is operable with the dies (3,22) to force overlapping portions of sheet material (2) into the void to form a clinch (21), whilst displacing the bottom die in the first direction. Clamping means (30) clamp the sheet material against the top die and thereby close the top die. First bias means (25) provide a restoring force on the bottom die upon withdrawal of the punch and an ejecting force tending to open the top die upon disengagement of the clamping means.

Abstract: An engine misfire detection system and method for successfully detecting and identifying misfiring engine cylinders over varying engine cycle rates and under varying engine load conditions in real time are embodied in a manifold absolute pressure sensor, an engine position (CID) sensor, a misfire sensor and misfire detection system electronics. The system utilizes empirical misfire signal signatures of misfire sensor signal range values over different engine cycle rates and under varying engine load conditions to detect a misfire condition. The system further utilizes an index ratio, which is determined from a number of samples of the misfire sensor signal taken during an engine cycle and from the engine's rate of operation, to identify which cylinder of the engine has misfired.

Abstract: Methods of etching optical elements in association with photosensitive elements are described. In some of the arrangements, the optical elements are formed integrally with a substrate containing the photosensitive elements. In other arrangements, an optical element is mounted to a package, or the like, containing the substrate and photosensitive elements. In other arrangements, two or more optical elements are employed, including conventional refractive elements, refractive focusing elements, and refractive beam splitting elements. Utility as solid state image sensors is discussed. Utility for monochromatic and color imaging is discussed.

Abstract: A retractable handle assembly for a suitcase includes a hollow bracket mounted on a top plate of one of the half bodies thereof, a pair of lug portions each formed on one of the distal end portions of the bracket and each having a first bore laterally defined therein, a pair of outer tubes each securely mounted between the lug portion and a bottom plate of the half body and each having a second bore laterally defined therein for aligning with the first bore, a pair of inner tubes each slidably mounted in one of the outer tubes and each having a third bore laterally defined therein for aligning with the second bore, a substantially U-shaped handle portion mounted on the bracket and having two free end portions each fixedly engaged with the upper end of a corresponding one of the inner tubes, a pressing member movably mounted in the hollow bracket and including a knob extending through an opening of the hollow bracket, a biasing member mounted on an underside of the pressing member and including a pair of stubs

Abstract: A method for selectively opening abnormal brain tissue capillaries of a mammal in order to allow selective passage of both low and high molecular weight neuropharmaceutical agents into abnormal brain tissue. The method utilizes direct infusion of bradykinin or bradykinin analog into the carotid artery. The dose of bradykinin or bradykinin analog is maintained at levels which provide opening of abnormal brain tissue capillaries without opening normal brain capillaries. The method is useful for introducing a wide variety of neuropharmaceutical agents selectively to brain tumors and other abnormal brain tissue.

Abstract: A non-metallic honeycomb structure wherein the thermal conductivity of the structure is increased by incorporating high thermal conductivity pitch-based carbon fibers into the non-metallic resin matrix. In addition to increasing thermal conductivity, the pitch-based carbon fibers are utilized to provide controlled directional heat conductance through the honeycomb structure.

Abstract: A low cost and easily implemented apparatus and method for synchronizing serially connected clock circuits is ideally suited to audio applications. The circuit takes data from a bitstream clock source and from the local source and counts the number of pulses received from each. A desired clock count is calculated based as a multiple of the ratio of the bitstream clock source frequency to the local clock signal frequency. Based on the samples received from the bitstream clock relative to the local clock at a late point in time, samples are either repeated or dropped to correct any error in the bitstream signal.

Abstract: A system for decontaminating waste water produced during dry cleaning operations which contains dry cleaning solvent and particulate contaminants. The system may preferably include a storage tank having an inlet through which waste water is introduced into the storage tank and a settling chamber having a bottom sediment zone; a particulate filter for removing substantially all of the particulate contaminants remaining in partially decontaminated waste water removed from the tank to provide particulate free waste water; a solvent filter for removing substantially all of the dry cleaning solvent remaining in the particulate free waste water to provide decontaminated waste water; a pump, located between the particulate filter and the solvent filter; an evaporator for evaporating the decontaminated waste water; and a recovery device for recovering the evaporated decontaminated water.

Abstract: An infrared line-scanning detector includes a scanner having an optical system, infrared linear photo-conductive detector providing an analog image signal, cooler, and conversion electronics for converting the image signal from the detector to digital electrical and digitally-encoded optical formats, all on a moving scanning platform of the scanner. The digitally-encoded optical format of the image signal takes the form of an encoded light beam which is beamed off of the moving scanning platform to a receiver on the stationary portion of the scanner. From the scanner, the image signal is transmitted in the optical format over a fiber optic cable to a reformatting, processing, analysis, and display portion of the imager. This latter portion of the imager allows the image signal to be converted once again to digital electronic format for processing, pattern recognition, image enhancement, storage, delayed display and comparison, and display in near-real time if desired.

Abstract: A methodology for generating structural descriptions of complex digital devices from high-level descriptions and specifications is disclosed. The methodology uses a systematic technique to map and enforce consistency of the semantics imbedded in the intent of the original, high-level descriptions. The design activity is essentially a series of transformations operating upon various levels of design representations. At each level, the intended meaning (semantics) and formal software manipulations are captured to derive a more detailed level describing hardware meeting the design goals. Important features of the methodology are: capturing the users concepts, intent, specification, descriptions, constraints and trade-offs; architectural partitioning; what-if analysis at a high level; sizing estimation; timing estimation; architectural trade-off; conceptual design with implementation estimation; and timing closure.

Abstract: A water heater including a first electrode and a second electrode in spaced relation to the first electrode. The first an second electrodes define a fluid path and a capacitance therebetween. The heater may also include a first winding associated with the fluid path and a second winding in spaced relation to the first winding and associated with the fluid path. The first and second windings generate a magnetic field therebetween and across the fluid path.