Abstract: There is provided a rotary encoder having the physical characteristics of a vinyl phonograph disc on a properly prepared turntable. A disc jockey (DJ) may intuitively use this encoder in a virtually identical manner to a conventional record to create scratch effects in a digital signal being supplied from a digitized audio signal source such as a CD, mini-disc, digital audio tape (DAT), data file or any other source of a digital signal. Speed and direction information from the encoder are used as inputs to a digital signal processor so that scratch effects typically produced by the manipulation of a vinyl record on a turntable may be simulated in the digital signal.

Abstract: The present invention provides a broadband RF absorptive structure based on a classic Salisbury screen. Closely-spaced frequency selective surface reflective layers interact with a ground plane to reflect coherent signals at 377&OHgr; into a spacecloth front layer. The frequency response of the absorptive structure is relatively flat across an octave (i.e. a 2:1 frequency ratio) bandwidth. The overall thickness of the inventive structure is less than &lgr;/4 thickness of the interactions of the FSS layers and the ground plane.

Abstract: A wood-splitting impact tool with an enhanced wood-splitting function by virtue of its improved penetration and its reduced recoil. Improving the penetration of the wedge is achieved by fabricating the wedge of aluminum, titanium, graphite composite or alloys thereof, or any lightweight material that has rare energy transfer capability. Penetration into wood is further enhanced by using a frictionless or smooth surface coating on the penetrating surfaces of the wedge, such coating being PTFE, Teflon®, or anodized aluminum. The wedge and its cutting edge surfaces can be anodized to toughen as well as smooth all surfaces subject to deformation. The surface of the wedge is structurally decreased in recoil by interrupting the metal surface with small, periodic, directional or stepped abutments.

Abstract: An archery apparatus for viewing and recording the continuous trajectory of the flight of an arrow released from a complex archery bow that has a vibration damping rod extending therefrom. A movie or video camera is mounted on the distal end of the vibration damping rod. The camera is aligned with the line of sight of the target. The camera records the arrow trajectory after release of the arrow from the bow. The archery bow is operative in either one of two modes: (a) a target shooting mode, or (b) a hunting mode.

Abstract: A caisson for use as a support structure in building construction. The caisson has an inner, metallic core and an outer portion surrounding the inner core. Both the inner core and the outer portion are cylindrical. Metallic straps or bands can be disposed peripherally, in spaced apart relation, around the inner core for anchoring it to the outer portion of the caisson. The inner, metallic core is usually steel and the outer portion is concrete or grout. A 22″ diameter caisson manufactured in accordance with this invention is capable of supporting more than 2,400 tons. A hollow, cylindrical, steel shell optionally surrounds the outer periphery of the outer portion of the caisson.

Abstract: The present invention is a persulfate etchant composition especially useful for dissolving copper during fabrication of microelectronic packages. The etchant is characterized by its ability to selectively etch copper in the presence of nickel, nickel-phosphorous and noble metal alloys therefrom. Furthermore, no deleterious galvanic etching occurs in this etchant-substrate system so that substantially no undercutting of the copper occurs. The combination of high selectivity and no undercutting allows for a simplification of the microelectronic fabrication process and significant improvements in the design features of the microelectronic package, in particular higher density circuits. The persulfate etchant composition is stabilized with acid and phosphate salts to provide a process that is stable, fast acting, environmentally acceptable, has high capacity, and can be performed at room temperature. A preferred etchant composition is 230 gm/liter sodium persulfate, 3 volume % phosphoric acid and 0.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of producing a flexible circuit board having gold selectively plated on only desired elements of the conductive circuits. These desired elements typically are attachment sites, such as wire bond pads or ball grid array pads, for semiconductor chips. This method eliminates the requirement to buss all circuits to a common plating contact by using a background seed metal for plating continuity. This method also provides a means to alleviate the requirement for precise registration or alignment when multiple photoresist layers are employed in order to selectively plate only a portion of the metallic elements present on the flexible circuit board. The defect of resist lifting followed by nickel/gold underplating is eliminated by conditioning the intermediate photoresist to survive the nickel/gold plating bath.

Abstract: There is provided an RF-powered, RFID transponder operable in either a high frequency or low frequency band. The transponder utilizes an EEPROM which may be programmed. The high voltage required for writing (i.e., programming) the EEPROM is provided by a unique circuit which eliminates the need for voltage multiplying circuits which typically use large, high value capacitors which usually occupy large amounts of chip real estate. It is estimated that the write voltage circuit reduces chip real estate requirements by approximately 13%.

Abstract: An extended flow track system has a pair of inner and outer splice members for linking the side rails of tandem flow tracks. The splice members eliminate horizontal shifting between the front and rear flow track members. Thus, extending flow track members are perfectly aligned along their length. The splice ends of each side rail have a cutout in them so that a low profile configuration is maintained.

Abstract: A locking clamp mechanism is designed for securing a ladder to a mounting rack that can be disposed on a roof or a side of a vehicle. The locking clamp mechanism is operative between an open and locked position in response to the position of an operating handle, which pivots from an open position over its pivot connection to a locked position. In pivoting, the handle draws a curved link over the top dead-center position of its pivot and secures a hook member that engages a rung of the ladder.

Abstract: A series of processes have been discovered whereby uniform oxygen doping of lead chalcogenides have been achieved by using vapor deposition combined with in situ or ex situ ion implantation allowing the high yield manufacture of high S/N infrared detectors.

Abstract: The present invention features a memory module for use in conjunction with high speed, impedance-controlled buses. Each memory card may be a conventional printed circuit card with memory chips attached directly thereto. Alternately, high density memory modules assembled from pluggable sub-modules may be used. These sub-modules may be temporarily assembled for testing and/or burn-in. Bus terminations mounted directly on the memory card or the memory module eliminate the need for bus exit connections, allowing the freed-up connection capacity to be used to address additional memory capacity on the module. An innovative pin-in-hole contact system is used both to connect sub-modules to the memory module and, optionally, to connect the memory module to a motherboard or similar structure. A thermal control structure may be placed in the memory module, cooling the increased number of memory chips to prevent excess heat build-up and ensure reliable memory operation.

Abstract: The present invention features are series of techniques for designing and assembling of large, robust monolithic and monolithic-like flat panel displays. Many techniques originally developed for creating tiled, flat-panel displays having visually imperceptible seams may be advantageously applied to monolithic structures. These techniques include single-sided wiring, two-sided wiring from opposite sides, segmented row and column lines, and reordering row and column lines in fan-out region. Single-sided wiring facilitates the construction of displays with small outlines. By using these techniques, display sharpness and contrast may be improved. In addition, color and luminance balance and uniformity across the display may also be improved.

Abstract: A process and apparatus are described for wire bonding circuit pads of large scale integrated design. The bonding process employs a capillary tool that applies heat and pressure to the wires in order to bond them to the circuit pad. The circuit pad is supported upon a closed woven, fiberglass mesh, which supports the circuit pad during the bonding process.

Abstract: An adjustable unitary roof bracket device having left and right secondary housings that can be extended or retracted with respect to the main housing or base. The secondary housings are adjustable in order to vary the overall length of the device which serves as extended planking while in its secured state.

Abstract: There is provided a multi-ring animal training collar that can be used to restrain the animal or to choke the animal. The unit features a plurality of rings spaced around the periphery of the collar thus facilitating attachment of a leash or other restrain at or near the top of the animal's head. This eliminates the need to access the lower area of the animal's neck thereby improving both convenience and safety when attaching the leash to the training collar. The collar may be formed from steel chain or the like or from straps of material such as leather or nylon. Multiple rings allow for two modes of operation: restraint or restraint and choking. These modes are selected by selecting different attachment rings according to the function desired.

Abstract: The present invention features an ultra high density, three-dimensional electronic circuit package suitable for constructing high capacity, high speed computer memory cards and the like. A demountable contact system allows easy test and/or burn-in. A memory card has a number of electrical receptacles adapted to receive a daughter card. The daughter card has memory devices attached to it and a corresponding number of electrical connectors placed along at least one edge, adapted to detachably mate with the electrical receptacles of the memory card. The demountable connectors allow easy rework of the module before optional, permanent solder attach. Bare dies or thin packages are mounted onto daughter cards, which in turn are mounted onto either a motherboard or memory card using pin/hole technology.

Abstract: A fast CORDIC algorithm and the resulting VLSI architecture for the evaluation of trigonometric functions are disclosed. The new method employs signed digits to represent intermediate operands and requires a constant scaling or normalization factor which can be pre-computed and made available in read-only hardware for any desired target precision (i.e., word length). The speedup is achieved by performing CORDIC iterations in parallel in two separate modules. Each module executes a “double step” or two basic CORDIC rotations at every iteration cycle. Two angles arctan 2−2i and arctan 2−(2i+1) are used in each step i of the method. As a result, approximately {fraction (n/2)} steps (exactly ⌈ n + 3 2 ⌉ steps) are required to evaluate sine/cosine of n bit input argument up to n bits of accuracy.

Abstract: This invention describes fabrication techniques for producing microdisplays suitable for combining into tiled, flat-panel displays having visually imperceptible seams. Assembly techniques to overcome flatness requirements imposed by tiled, flat-panel display assemblies are also described. Edge treatment techniques for individual microdisplays while still part of the silicon die or wafer are also described. The use of these inventive techniques allows the assembly microdisplays into tiled, flat-panel that are appear visually seamless and optically uniform.

Abstract: An adapter for attaching a gooseneck or fifth wheel trailer hitch to a standard, V-shaped, trailer hitch. The hitch converting device contains a fifth wheel frame that attaches about the standard hitch and ball of a trailer device. The adapter provides a simple mechanism, whereby two different styles of hitches can be alternately operated by the same vehicle, with minimum securement.