Abstract: A sense amplifier driver activates a plurality of sense amplifiers coupled to respective digit lines in each of a plurality of memory-cell arrays. The sense amplifiers each have first and second activation nodes. The sense amplifier driver includes a plurality of drive circuits each coupled to the first and second activation nodes of the sense amplifiers in at least one of the memory-cell arrays. The first activation nodes of the sense amplifiers in at least one of the memory-cell arrays are coupled to a plurality of drive circuits so that the plurality of drive circuits drive the first activation nodes of the sense amplifiers in at least one of the memory-cell arrays in parallel.

Abstract: An improved device for adjusting the running clearance of a pump impeller is shown and described. In a preferred embodiment, an annular adjustment member is positioned adjacent to a pump impeller and the pump housing, the impeller being spaced from the adjustment member and housing by a predetermined distance. The adjustment member is selectively moved towards and away from the impeller, and lockable in any desired position. The adjustment member is moved in an axial direction by loosening a plurality of clamp nuts, and turning adjustment nuts until the annular adjustment member bottoms out on the impeller. The annular adjustment member is then backed off until an end surface of the adjustment member is spaced from the end surface of the impeller by the predetermined distance. The adjustment member is locked in the new location, thereby resetting the running clearance of the pump.

Abstract: An integrated circuit package having external pins includes a function circuit, such as an address buffer, receiving an input voltage through one of the pins. If the input voltage exceeds a maximum rated voltage, the function circuit can be damaged by voltage over-stress. To provide a definitive indication that the function circuit may have been over-stressed, a diode and a fuse are connected in series between the function circuit's pin and ground. When the input voltage nears the maximum rated voltage, the diode biases and applies a voltage to the fuise. The fuse is selected so that when the input voltage exceeds the maximum rated voltage, the applied voltage blows the fuse. At a later time, the function circuit can be tested for over-stress by applying a voltage to the function circuit's pin which is sufficient to forward bias the diode. If no current flows after a sufficient biasing voltage is applied to the pin, it is a definitive indication that the function circuit may have been over-stressed.

Abstract: A method of analysing nucleic acid sequences comprises measuring by surface sensitive detection technique the binding interaction between a first nucleic acid sequence and a second nucleic acid sequence, one of the first and second nucleic acid sequences being immobilized to a solid phase surface, to determine the affinity or an affinity related parameter for the binding reaction as indicative of the extent of complementary between the first and second nucleic acid sequences. The method is characterized in that the measurement of the binding interaction is performed at annealing conditions adjusted such that the dissociation rate constant for the binding interaction corresponding to full complementarity between the first and second nucleic acid sequences is greater than about 10.sup.- per second, thereby permitting equilibrium for the interaction to be rapidly attained.

Abstract: A computer system includes a memory controller that interfaces a memory requester with a memory device that may include defective memory cells. For each of plural memory blocks, defective bit sets having one or more defective memory cells are identified. A bit set error map is created and stored which identifies the defective bit sets of each of the memory blocks. In response to receiving from the memory requester a request for access to a requested storage location of the memory device, a determination is made from the error map whether the storage location is in a memory block that includes one or more defective bit sets. If the error map indicates that the requested storage location is in a memory block with one or more defective bit sets, then a determination is made from the error map which of the bit sets are defective. To execute the memory access request, the memory controller accesses the non-defective bit sets to which the defective bit sets have been mapped.

Abstract: A snap-on antenna and connector mounting assembly for a hand-held electronic device, such as a hand-held computer. The hand-held electronic device has a housing with a sidewall and a jack-receiving aperture therein, an antenna jack extending through the jack-receiving aperture, and a flexible bushing positioned in the jack-receiving aperture between the antenna jack and the sidewall. The bushing isolates the antenna jack from the sidewall, so the antenna jack is deflectable relative to the sidewall without being damaged. The snap-on antenna has a substantially rigid base having an interior area therein and having a housing-attachment portion with an aperture communicating with the interior area. A plug connector contained within the interior area has a jack-connecting portion positioned to removably receive the antenna jack such that the antenna can be snapped into and off of the hand-held electronic device between installed and removed positions, respectively.

Abstract: A reading circuit comprises a current mirror circuit connected, at a first and a second output node, to the drain terminals of an array cell and of a reference cell; a comparator whose inputs are connected to the output nodes of the current mirror circuit; a ramp generator having an enabling input connected to the output of the comparator and an output connected to the control terminal of the reference cell. Biasing the gate terminal of the array cell to a constant voltage, when the currents flowing in the array cell and in the reference cell are equal, the value assumed by the ramp voltage is proportional to the threshold value of the array cell; at that time the comparator is triggered and discontinues the ramp increase, supplying as output the desired threshold value.

Abstract: A video image viewing device includes first and second glass plates having a layer of liquid crystal therebetween. A plurality of laser diodes extending along a line near one edge of the first plate are selectively illuminated at an intensity corresponding to the amplitude of a video signal during each of a plurality of video lines. The light propagates through the first plate via total internal reflection not entering the liquid crystal layer until it reaches an area where the refractive index of the liquid crystal is selectively modified. The refractive index may be modified by selectively energizing each of a plurality of horizontal strip electrodes vertically spaced from each other. The electrodes are sequentially energized to frustrate the total internal refraction and thereby cause the light to be transmitted through the liquid crystal layer into the second plate at a location corresponding to the location of video line in a video frame of the video signal.

Abstract: A computer-based uniform data interface (UDI) system for accessing in a uniform manner data from a data source with an arbitrary organization. The UDI system provides a UDI application programming interface (API) with functions for creating and accessing data organized into containers that contain one or more folders. Each folder optionally contains sub-folders and scalars. The UDI system also provides a UDI registry for registering types of containers and folders supported by a data source, for enumerating the types of containers and folders supported by the data source, and for instantiating container and folder objects corresponding to the data of the data source.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a dielectric layer having first and second opposing sides. A conductive layer is adjacent to the first side of the dielectric layer and is coupled to a first terminal, and a conductive barrier layer is adjacent to the second side of the dielectric layer and is coupled to a second terminal. The conductive barrier layer may be formed from tungsten nitride, tungsten silicon nitride, titanium silicon nitride or other barrier materials.

Abstract: This invention is directed to novel tricyclic ICE/ced-3 family inhibitor compounds. The invention is also directed to pharmaceutical compositions of such tricyclic compounds, plus the use of such compositions in the treatment of patients suffering inflammatory, autoimmune and neurodegenerative diseases, and for the prevention of ischemic injury.

Abstract: Radiolabeled annexin and modified annexin conjugates useful for imaging vascular thrombi are described. Methods for making and using such radiolabeled annexin conjugates are also provided.

Abstract: A method and apparatus employs a weighted order stored in a weight table for automatically discriminating optical symbols which may be encoded in any one of at least two symbologies. The weighted order may be dynamically updated to reflect the distribution of symbologies as the symbols are acquired and decoded.

Abstract: A method and system for facilitating communications between technical support specialists in a call center environment. Under control of a first computer, the system displays on a display device a form for tracking time of a technical support specialist. The system then receives a request to communicate with a second technical support specialist and sends to an internet protocol address of the second computer request to communicate with the first technical support specialist. At the second computer system, the system displays on a second display device a form for tracking time of the second technical support specialist. In response to receiving a request sent by the first computer system, the second system displays on the second display device a window informing the second technical support specialist that the first technical support specialist has requested to communicate.

Abstract: A computer system is described in which a table created in memory includes drive description data for one or more IDE devices included in the system. A command intercept circuit is described which intercepts device-identification commands and reroutes the device-identification operation to memory. The command intercept circuit includes an address decode circuit which asserts a first control signal upon decoding an address corresponding with the one or more IDE devices. A command decode circuit responds to the asserted first control signal to decode data and asserts a second control signal when the decoded data corresponds with a device-identification command. An address generator responds to the asserted second control signal to generate a memory address where the drive description data table is stored.

Abstract: The present invention provides a bird catching apparatus for deploying a catching net rapidly and surely, thereby catching birds surely. Each end of one side edge of the catching net is respectively connected to a pair of deploying arms of each deploying device via a pole member. Each deploying arm is pulled by a pair of extension springs of a deploying unit, and are locked by a locking unit. At the same time, the deploying arms are pulled upward by an auxiliary arm of an auxiliary urging unit. When the deploying arms locked by the locking unit are released, the deploying arms are surely rotated upward, thereby rotating along a vertical surface for over 180.degree.. The catching net is thus deployed.

Abstract: A system and method for the detection of fraudulent use of a wireless telephone system includes a fingerprint analyzer that identifies an unauthenticated wireless telephone as authorized or fraudulent based on a fingerprint of the unauthenticated wireless telephone. The system maintains a valid destination list specific for each authorized wireless telephone. Each valid destination list contains destinations considered to be valid for that particular authorized wireless telephone. When an unauthenticated wireless telephone transmits a call request containing a destination, the system classifies the call as valid when the destination is in the valid destination list for the authorized wireless telephone regardless of whether the fingerprint analyzer identifies the unauthenticated wireless telephone as fraudulent. The system may bypass or terminate the fingerprint analysis, or simply ignore the result of the fingerprint analysis by the fingerprint analyzer.

Abstract: An electronic memory device organized into sections which are in turn divided into blocks formed of cells and their associated decoding and addressing circuits, the cells being connected in a predetermined circuit configuration and each block being included between two opposite contact regions which are interconnected by parallel continuous conduction lines referred to as the bit lines. In the present invention, at least one interruption is provided in each bit line near a contact region by inserting a controlled switch which functions as a block selector. Advantageously, the proposed solution allows each block to be isolated individually by enabling or disabling as appropriate the switches of the cascade connected blocks.

Abstract: An electronic module for enhancing an operation of a conventional parking meter. The electronic module comprises a shell defining a hollow conformation and being attachable to a conventional parking meter, in substitution to an upper housing portion of that conventional parking meter. The electronic module has a meter condition sensor for detecting from a distant point one of the time expiry indicator and the violative condition indicator of that parking meter, when the indicator is in an indicating mode, and a vehicle sensor affixed to the shell for detecting from a distant point, a parked vehicle. The electronic module further has: an electronic circuitry mounted inside the shell and having a power source for operating the module; means for receiving a first signal from the meter condition sensor and a second signal from the vehicle sensor; means for processing the first and second signals and means for transmitting a coded message to a remote receiver.