Abstract: An integrated circuit that preferentially shields a signal to increase decoupling capacitance is provided. The signal is preferentially shielded based on a probability of the signal being at a specific value. Further, a method for increasing an amount of decoupling capacitance on a circuit through preferential shielding is provided. Further, a method to increase system performance by increasing implicit decoupling capacitance is provided.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for optimizing the insertion of decoupling capacitance onto an integrated circuit is provided. Further, a sliding grid based technique for arraying decoupling capacitors into a white-space of an integrated includes sliding a bounded grid across the white-space in order to determine an optimal decap insertion for the white-space. The bounded grid is slid across the white-space in discrete steps. At each discrete step, a potential decap layout is calculated for the region of the white-space that intersects the bounded grid. After a set of potential decap layouts have been calculated for the white-space, the potential decap layout that yields optimal decap insertion is selected, and decap cells are arrayed into the area(s) of the white-space that are demarcated by the selected decap layout.

Abstract: The developer producing equipment of the present invention is connected via piping to working equipment in which electronic circuits, on which fine working is performed, are formed, and produces an alkali type developer used in the abovementioned working equipment. This developer producing equipment comprises a preparation tank to which a developer stock solution and pure water are supplied, and in which these are agitated, first liquid amount measuring means for measuring the amount of the alkali type developer inside the preparation tank, first alkali concentration measuring means for measuring the alkali concentration of the abovementioned alkali type developer, first liquid amount control means for adjusting the amount of the alkali type developer inside the preparation tank on the basis of the measured value obtained by the abovementioned first liquid amount measuring means the abovementioned first alkali concentration measuring means, and liquid supply control means.

Abstract: A tool for radially plastically expanding a pipe having a threaded connection therein, that includes a first section. The first section has an increasing diameter and increasing cone angle along a direction of travel through the pipe. The first section includes a first outer surface adapted to contact an inner surface of the pipe at a plurality of selected contact patches on the first outer surface. The tool also includes a second section axially disposed behind the first section along the direction of travel. The second section has an increasing diameter and decreasing cone angle along the direction of travel. The second section includes a second outer surface adapted to contact an inner surface of the pipe at at least one selected contact patch on the second outer surface.

Abstract: A fiber reinforced plastic article is disclosed which include a liner, at least one single material fiber layer wound on the liner, and at least one composite fiber layer wound on the single material fiber layer. The at least one single material fiber layer and the at least one hybrid fiber layer are impregnated with resin.

Abstract: The bosses 5 of a front cabinet are strengthened by the boss reinforcing rib 51, and the central part of the ceiling board 12 for the front cabinet 10 in the direction of the width is strengthened by the ceiling board reinforcing rib 61. The boss reinforcing rib 51 is formed with a high strength portion 52 of greater thickness, and a link portion 53 of the boss reinforcing rib 51 with the ceiling board 12 is molded in smaller thickness over the entire length than the high strength portion 52, thereby preventing the “sink” in molding from occurring. The strength of the boss reinforcing rib 51 itself is increased by making the boss reinforcing rib 51 gradually lower in height as being closer to the front end.

Abstract: A semiconductor device malfunction preventive circuit S is disposed in a macrocell logic cell 1 of a semiconductor device 50 used in an electronic device 100. A signal in an output pin 3 or in a signal line 6 is returned to the semiconductor device malfunction preventive circuit S as a pin feedback and monitored. When a predetermined state is detected, an abnormality detecting signal SIGAB for resetting the operation of the electronic device 100 is outputted.

Abstract: The invention is a drill bit that has a bit body, at least one roller cone attached to the bit body and able to rotate with respect to the bit body, and a plurality of cutting elements disposed on the at least one roller cone. At least one bit design parameter is selected so that the cutting elements wear in a selected manner when drilling an earth formation. The invention is also a method for designing a drill bit that has at least one roller cone and a plurality of cutting elements. The method includes several steps, beginning with selecting initial bit design parameters. The drill bit is then simulated drilling at least one selected earth formation. The wear induced change in the cutting element geometry is determined and the simulated bit is adjusted to reflect the wear. The selecting, simulating, determining, and adjusting are repeated and at least one bit design parameter of the drill bit is adjusted until at least one performance parameter of the drill bit is optimized.

Abstract: An optical disk device has an aperture of an objective lens in an incoming path of a beam from a semiconductor laser to an optical disk formed larger than an aperture in a return path from the optical disk or an aperture is varied in recording and in reproduction. This configuration improves recording/reproducing ability since light is focused on an optical disk with high numerical aperture. In addition, since reflected light from the optical disk is detected with low numerical aperture, margins for tilt and defocus are not reduced. Furthermore, since unnecessary signal components contained in the reflected light can be eliminated, a S/N (signal-to-noise ratio) of an information signal also increases. Thus, a high-performance optical disk device can be obtained. Alternatively, by varying the aperture of an objective lens in recording and in reproduction, an optical disk device in which recording density and recording quality are increased without deteriorating reproduction quality can be obtained.

Abstract: A reading apparatus (10) comprising means for detecting pen point coordinate changes over time, for handwriting made by pen on writing media, and means for generating handwriting data indicating those coordinate changes for each writing medium, a character recognition apparatus (2) for performing character recognition on handwriting data, and a business processing apparatus (4) for executing business processing in response to recognized character strings are provided. Handwritten particulars entered on vouchers are immediately subjected to character recognition, and used in business management, and handwritten vouchers can also be preserved. Accordingly, the redundant work involved in entering handwritten particulars again to a computer can be reduced, input errors can be prevented, and processing can be done speedily.

Abstract: An IC card system for a game machine using an IC card includes a game token input device for inputting a game token onto the IC card based on the amount of money deposited. The IC card system also includes a game device that decreases the number of game tokens stored on the IC card when the IC card is used with the game device. The IC system also includes a totaling device that determines the number of tokens inputted by the game token input device and the number of tokens used by the game devices, at a particular location.

Abstract: A method for verifying on-chip decoupling capacitance by formulating and solving a linear problem. Further, a software tool for determining decoupling capacitance on a computer chip using a linear problem. Further, a method for designing an integrated circuit such that there is enough decoupling capacitance on the integrated circuit.

Abstract: The recording sheet has an ink-receiving layer and an ink permeable layer. The ink permeable layer is arranged on a surface of the ink-receiving layer and includes a filler and a binder. The binder contains as a primary component a water-insoluble polyester resin having a high hydroxyl value in the range of 25 to 65. The ink permeable layer 13 has a significant ink phobicity. The ink permeable layer does not contain a surfactant and is low lipophilic. Thus, when it receives ink containing an organic solvent, the ink does not disperse within the ink permeable layer to provide printed images without bleeding.

Abstract: An apparatus for reducing power supply noise in the power supply system of a clock driver has been developed. The apparatus includes a clock driver with a power supply system connected to the clock driver and a shunting resistor connected across the power supply system in parallel with the clock driver.

Abstract: A method for applying hardfacing to teeth on a drill bit is disclosed. The method includes applying the hardfacing to at least one of the teeth so as to have a thickness selected to correspond to a position about exterior surface of the tooth. In one embodiment, the hardfacing thickness is increased near the crest of the tooth, and is decreased near the root of the tooth on at least one flank of the tooth. In one embodiment, the thickness is selected by controlling the powder flow rate in a plasma transferred arc welding system. In another embodiment an angle subtended by flanks of the tooth is selected to provide increased strength to the tooth, and the hardfacing is applied to the tooth to cause exterior surfaces of the hardfacing corresponding to the flanks to subtend an angle selected to provide increased penetration of the tooth through earth formations while drilling.

Abstract: A drill bit is disclosed which includes a bit body having a plurality of blades thereon. The blades have a plurality of cutting elements affixed thereon at selected positions. The cutting elements are disposed into at least two groups. A first one of the groups has at least 60 percent of the cutting elements therein disposed at a first mean backrake angle. A second group has at least 60 percent of the cutting elements therein disposed at a second mean backrake angle. The second backrake angle is at least about fifteen degrees more than the first backrake angle. A bottom hole coverage of the cutting elements in the second group is at least about eighty percent.

Abstract: A 120 degree bump placement layout for an integrated circuit power grid is provided. This layout improves integrated circuit performance and reliability and gives an integrated circuit designer added flexibility and uniformity in designing the integrated circuit. Further, a patterned bump array for a top metal layer of an integrated circuit having a plurality of 120 degree bump placement structures is provided.

Abstract: A method of handling an exception in a processor includes setting a state upon detection of an exception, signaling a trap for the exception if the state is set, and based on a class of the exception, processing the exception differently before signaling the trap. The method may include replaying an instruction causing the exception before signaling the trap for the exception based on the class of the exception. The method may include replaying the instruction causing the exception after the instruction causing the exception becomes an oldest, unretired instruction. The method may include signaling the trap for the exception after an instruction causing the exception becomes an oldest, unretired instruction. The method may include marking an instruction causing the exception as complete without issuing the instruction causing the exception.

Abstract: New cutting structures for roller cone drill bits. In one aspect, a drill bit includes a bit body, roller cones attached to the bit body and able to rotate with respect to the bit body, and a plurality of cutting elements disposed on each of the roller cones, such that axial force on the bit during drilling is substantially balanced between the cones. In another aspect, a drill bit includes a plurality of cutting elements disposed on each roller cone such that the amount of work performed by each cone during drilling is substantially the same as the amount of work performed by each of the other cones. In yet another aspect, a drill bit includes a plurality of cutting elements disposed on each roller cone such that distribution of axial force on the bit is optimized.