Abstract: A transimpedance amplifier (18) receives an audio signal from a power audio amplifier (14) and provides a variable power level to a loudspeaker (16). A first variable gain amplifier (28) receives the audio signal and provides a variable gain to a power amplifier (40). The output signal of the power amplifier drives the loudspeaker. A sense amplifier (52) subtracts a voltage representative of current flowing through the loudspeaker from a voltage applied to the loudspeaker and provides a difference signal. A second variable gain amplifier (70) receives the difference signal and provides a variable gain to a load amplifier (80). The gains of the first and second variable gain amplifiers are inversely proportional. A resistive element (84) having a real impedance is coupled between an output of the load amplifier and the input of the transimpedance amplifier to maintain the complex impedance of the loudspeaker at the output of the power audio amplifier.

Abstract: In a slurry solution for chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) of a semiconductor wafer, an abrasive particle is provided having a central body and a plurality of extensions from the central body of the abrasive particle. The plurality of extension hold a center of mass of the abrasive particle a distance from the semiconductor wafer during the CMP process. The extensions extend 3-dimensionally from the central body, with the length of one extension being about 30 nm. The extensions reduce attractive forces acting on the central body allowing the abrasive particles to be removed from the semiconductor wafer during a post-CMP cleaning process.

Abstract: A system and method for generating an indeterminate random digital data string based on a sampling source, which varies in frequency and phase, sampling an entropy source that also varies in frequency and phase, and additionally based on the principles of permutation and substitution. The system includes a random number generation circuit and a data substitution circuit coupled to receive random data output from the random number generation circuit. A data permutation circuit is coupled to receive substituted random data output from the data substitution circuit. A data compression circuit is coupled to receive permuted and substituted random data output from the permutation circuit and output at least a portion of the indeterminate random data string. A plurality of variable frequency clocks, each operating at different clock frequencies, are selectively coupled to various of the circuits within the system.

Abstract: A dynamic inertial balancing system (10) uses a shaft (20) mounted to a base (16). A motor (46) or pulley system (42) imparts rotational torque on the shaft. A swing arm (18) is coupled to the shaft and moves through an arc in a horizontal plane in response to the rotational torque. A golf club is mounted to the swing arm. A timer (38) records the time for the swing arm to traverse the arc. The system balances the golf clubs within a set by measuring their moments of inertia. Each golf club is placed on swing arm 18 and the time is measured for the each golf club to complete the swing arc. If torque is constant for all clubs, then by comparing the moments of inertia, i.e. by comparing the time for each club to complete the swing arc, the club set can be balanced.

Abstract: Direct focused ion beam (FIB) mixing is given as a method for patterning of metal silicide structures on a silicon surface. This technique allows the fabrication of submicron structures without the use of resist-based lithography methods. VLSI containing metal silicide connects, interconnects and structures may be prepared by the method. Fast semiconductor devices having good circuit speed and reduced RC time delay including the technologies MEMS, MOSFET, CMOS, pMOS, nMOS and BiCMOS result.

Abstract: A musical string instrument (12) has a body (21) with a resonate cavity covered by a soundboard (22). A pick guard (34) has a flat surface for mounting to the soundboard of the instrument. Electronic control components (36) are mounted within a housing of the pick guard. The musician can control a preamplifier within the resonate cavity of the body with knobs (58) and push buttons (60) located on the pick guard. A thin, flat, multi-conductor ribbon cable (38) is connected to the electronic control components and routed along a surface of the soundboard and through a sound hole (24) in the soundboard into the resonate cavity of the body. The ribbon cable entering the resonating cavity through the sound hole does not adversely effect the natural response, performance, sound quality, and tonal property of the string instrument and does not require any additional holes be drilled in the soundboard.

Abstract: A container for transporting articles that transforms into a ballistic protection unit includes a bag and a detachable panel. The bag includes a first compartment for containment of at least one piece of ballistic shield material. The detachable panel also contains at least one piece of ballistic shield material and is coupled to the bag by at least a first strap. The detachable panel is detachably coupled to the bag. During use, the user may detach the detachable panel from the bag and the bag may be placed over a shoulder of the user, protecting the user from high speed projectiles.

Abstract: An animal training device is disclosed. The training device includes a target section and a base section coupled together. The base section includes a top portion and a rounded bottom portion. An annular flange is located between the top portion and the bottom portion and extends outward from the top portion and bottom portion. The annular flange is operable to ensure that excessive exterior forces do not knock over the training device. The training device is portable as well as self-righting.

Abstract: A switching regulator control circuit provided with a summer to add the error signal an error amplifier with a target signal. The output of the summer is provided to a comparator which receives its other input from a ramp signal. In one embodiment, the reference voltage is modifiable and the target signal is proportional to the modifiable reference voltage. In another embodiment, the switching regulator is controlled by current mode control and the target signal is proportional to the load current demanded by the switching regulator's load.

Abstract: A plurality of serially coupled circuit cells (12-20) are modeled as a distributed serial load. The distributed serial load provides an accurate load model in situations where one cell is effected by loading on subsequent circuit cells, i.e. downstream loading is conveyed back to the first cell. The capacitance (22) and resistance (24, of each cell has a loading effect on each previous cell. The effective resistance and capacitive values of each cell is identified and maintained as one element of the distributed serial load model. The distributed serial load accurately models the loading of unbuffered cells (16-20). The distributed serial load is also applicable to portions of circuit cells (38,40) that are not be buffered and where the downstream loading has an effect on previous circuit drivers (14).

Abstract: A self compensating operational amplifier (10) including a differential amplifier input stage (18) and a current mirror (24) having an input and an output coupled to the respective outputs (20, 22) of the differential amplifier input stage is provided that uses a feedback amplifier (28) which senses any voltages differences between the input and outputs of the current mirror as current is sourced or sank at the output (32) of the operational amplifier. The feedback amplifier produces a feedback current to the input side (20) of the current mirror wherein the voltage at the input side of the current mirror tracks the voltage swing at the output side of the current mirror so that the voltages track and are substantially matched.

Abstract: A semiconductor component includes a semiconductor chip (341, 502, 601, 701, 1101, 1410, 1501) having first and second surfaces opposite each other, a semiconductor device (301) in the semiconductor chip (341, 502, 601, 701, 1101, 1410, 1501), and a flexible substrate (120, 401, 510, 610, 710, 1000, 1050, 1300, 1401, 1510, 1520) packaging the semiconductor chip (341, 502, 601, 701, 1101, 1410, 1501).

Abstract: A switching power supply (96) receives an AC voltage and converts it to a regulated DC voltage. The switching power supply (96) includes a Vcc limiter (16) to limit the operating voltage at the power supply terminal (10) of a integrated regulator circuit (118). The Vcc limiter (16) limits the operating voltage at the power supply terminal (10). When operating voltage at power supply terminal (10) increases, a differential pair of transistors (22, 24) supply a differential current to a current mirror configuration of transistors (26, 30) to supply voltage to a drive transistor (36) to increase current in the drive transistor (36) to a value based on n times the current in a reference transistor (26). An increase in current through the drive transistor (36) counteracts increased operating voltage at the power supply terminal (10), thereby reducing the operating voltage level back to a desired level.

Abstract: A semiconductor leadframe assembly (20A) and a method for manufacturing a semiconductor component (50) using the semiconductor leadframe assembly (20A). The semiconductor leadframe assembly (20A) includes a leadframe (10A) having flag portions (18A), lead portions (19A), and vias (14A). The vias (14A) serve as dielectric receiving areas. The assembly (20A) further includes semiconductor chips (21A) mounted on the flag portions (18A) and a dielectric material (33A) that covers the semiconductor chips (21A) and fills the vias (14A). The surface mount semiconductor component (50) is singulated from the semiconductor leadframe assembly (20A) to form electrical interconnects (18, 19) of the surface mount semiconductor component (50).

Abstract: A circuit (10) for providing TTL logic signals at an output (24) employs dual pull up devices (20, 30) at the output. The first device (20) is a bipolar transistor that acts as an emitter-follower to quickly pull up the output in response to applied logic signals to drive the output to a logic one state. Thereafter, the second device (30) which is a MOS transistor is turned on to drive the magnitude of the high logic output signal to substantially VCC, the positive power supply voltage supplied to the circuit (10).

Abstract: A non-overlap circuit is provided for a controller of a switching power supply. The controller includes a clock input coupled to a clocking signal, an enable input, a first drive output, and a second drive output. A current source senses the drive outputs, and in response, provides a current source output that switches on and off. A timing capacitor, coupled to the current source, charges when the current source is on. A switch discharges the timing capacitor when the current source is off. A voltage comparator compares the charge level on the timing capacitor to a reference voltage, and outputs a trigger signal to the enable input of the controller when the charge level on the timing capacitor exceeds the reference voltage. When one drive output switches logic state in response to the clocking signal, the current source charges the timing capacitor until the trigger signal causes the other drive output to switch logic state.

Abstract: A synchronous rectifier circuit (10) includes a polarity comparator (14) that generates a signal to a driver circuit (16) for controlling the voltage at the gate of a power MOSFET (60). The power MOSFET (60) is switched to operate in the conduction mode and short out a parasitic diode (62) when the diode is forward biased. The power MOSFET (60) is switched to operate in the nonconduction mode when the parasitic diode (62) is reverse biased. A bias supply circuit (12) uses a capacitor (70) to generate a regulated internal bias that provides power to the polarity comparator (14) and to the driver circuit (16). The internal bias allows the power MOSFET (60) to provide a current conduction that is substantially isolated from the changes in voltage levels at the terminals (64, 66) of the synchronous rectifier circuit (10).

Abstract: A controller oscillator provides a periodic output signal having first and second output level states. The oscillator is responsive to an applied saw tooth signal that varies between first and second voltages (Vlow,Vhigh). The oscillator is comprised of a comparator (82) the non-inverting input of which receives the saw tooth signal applied thereto to produce the periodic output signal at its output (86). A first voltage reference circuit (88, 90, and 92) generates the second voltage (Vhigh) that is applied to the inverting input of the comparator while the periodic output signal is at the first output level state and the input signal charges from the first voltage (Vlow) towards the second voltage. As the input signal becomes equal to the second voltage the output of the comparator switches to the second output level state and a second voltage reference (92,94, 96) provides the first voltage at the inverting input of the comparator.

Abstract: A golf club is comprised of a head including a hollow body having a top wall, a bottom wall, and a front wall arranged for impacting a golf ball. A bore is disposed in the head adjacent a heel end thereof behind the body front wall extending downwardly from the body top wall toward the body bottom wall. A hosel having a generally lengthwise passage is inserted into the bore. The hosel passage is oriented at a predetermined angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the bore, and a tip end of a shaft is received in the hosel passage so that the shaft is disposed at a desired orientation with respect to the head. The hosel is selected from a plurality of hosels with passages disposed at different predetermined angles relative to the bore longitudinal axis. This allows adjustment of the desired orientation of the shaft so that the golf club may be custom fit to a particular golfer.