Abstract: A thin film magnetic head is provided in which a magnetic yoke assembly is built up, layer by layer, atop a substrate using semiconductor thin film techniques. A lower yoke assembly is first fabricated including a lower magnetic layer situated on the substrate and first and second side poles built up vertically from the ends of the lower magnetic layer. A coil structure is situated about one of the side poles and is separated therefrom by planar insulative layers in which the coil structure is disposed. An insulative pedestal surrounded by a frame is formed at the top of the lower yoke assembly and extends above the uppermost lateral plane of the yoke assembly. A diamond-like carbon (DLC) wear layer is deposited atop the pedestal. A pole well is excavated in the DLC layer so as to expose the first and second side poles therebelow. A first magnetic pole including a gap end is plated in the pole well at the top of the first side pole and extending toward the second side pole.

Abstract: A masking process for forming first and second ion-doped regions on a substrate of a semiconductor device. An oxide layer and a first nitride layer are formed on the substrate in order. The first nitride layer is etched using a photolithography process to form a first predetermined pattern which exposes portions of the oxide layer. The exposed portions of the oxide layer are then etched using the first predetermined pattern as an etching mask, until portions of the substrate corresponding to the first ion-doped regions are exposed. Next, first ions are doped into the exposed portions of the substrate using the first predetermined pattern as a doping mask. The first predetermined pattern is removed. A second nitride layer is then formed over the substrate and the patterned oxide layer. Portions of the second nitride layer are removed to reveal the top of the patterned oxide layer, forming a second predetermined pattern on the substrate.

Abstract: A software system facilitates the translation of text strings into multiple languages. The software system includes a macro which substitutes for a text string and a message collection and source update utility which scans the source code, locates the macro in the source code, derives a key relating to the text string and updates a database with the text string and key. The macro is included into a source code.

Abstract: Early reflection and reverberation processing using a decimating filter simulates the high frequency attenuation of an actual physical and acoustical environment and advantageously reduces the memory storage and computational burden of the early reflection and reverberation processing method. A method of generating a reverberation effect in a sound signal includes decimating the sound signal in the sound signal path and forming an early reflection sound signal from the decimated sound signal. The early reflection sound signal has a reduced sample rate an attenuated high frequency components in comparison to the sound signal.

Abstract: A bump chip scale semiconductor package. In the bump chip scale semiconductor package, the chip bumps are directly formed on the chip pads of a semiconductor chip. The above chip bumps are used as the signal input and output terminals of the package and are used as surface mounting joints when the chip is mounted to a mother board.

Abstract: A magnetic recording system utilizing a plurality of surfaces on a magnetic recording disk with recording zone boundaries established on the respective surfaces of the disk based on performance characteristics of the read/write transducer associated with the surface. The performance of the read/write transducer from the aspects of the width of the track written by the transducers as well as the recording performance at the expected recording frequency, are both utilized in building disk drives. Since the zone boundaries are established uniquely for the performance of each transducer, rather than by defining the boundaries of all zones for all surface in advance based on assumed performance characteristics of the heads, the zone boundaries on one surface of the disk will not necessarily align with the zone boundaries on another surface of the disk. Similarly, when a plurality of disks are utilized, the zone boundaries will not necessarily be aligned.

Abstract: A novel UV-oxidation and UV-disinfection system uses a highly-efficient, electrodeless microwave-excited lamp combined with a coaxial flow-through reactor design in which a liquid to bc treated is pumped from the bottom of the reactor and flows vertically upward through a reactor vessel against gravity. A hydrogen peroxide solution is injected into the liquid to be treated and thoroughly mixed by an inline mixer just before the liquid enters the reactor vessel. The solution is irradiated during its entire passage through the reactor vessel by the lamp which is configured to evenly irradiate the entire cross section of the reactor vessel and which has a substantial part of its spectral output in the wavelength most effectively absorbed by hydrogen peroxide molecules. A method of using the coaxial flow-through reactor to destroy toxic chemicals in water is also provided. The reactor is also used for UV disinfection of water supplies. The system is scaleable to enable high-volume application.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided to buffer commands sent from a computer to a peripheral device such as an optical disk data reproduction system, e.g., a CD-ROM drive, so that, even when execution of a command by a microcontroller of the peripheral device is not completed, additional commands from the computer can be queued.

Abstract: An encryption system and method utilizes a bit stream, called a "master signature", which is divided into bytes with each byte being assigned a byte address. A portion of the master signature, called an "access signature" is randomly selected to encode the message to be transmitted. Both a sender and a receiver have the same access signature. The particular portion of the access signature to be used to encrypt and decrypt a message is identified at the sender by identifying the address of the first byte in this portion of the access signature and the number of bytes sequentially related to this first byte which together with the first byte will be used to encode the message to be transmitted. This information is sent to the receiver. Thus, using this information, the sender can encrypt and the receiver can decrypt the message using the same portion of the access signature.

Abstract: A vapor generation system includes a supply of liquid; an inert gas stream; an aspirator for aspirating the liquid into the gas stream; a heater for heating the gas stream upstream from the aspirator to a temperature such that aspirated liquid is vaporized in the aspirator to form an inert gas and liquid vaporous mixture; and a mixture outlet for flowing the vaporous mixture against a surface of a workpiece. In a particular application a nitrogen gas stream is heated in a heat exchanger and flows through an aspirator/evaporator to vaporize pumped pulses of hydrofluoric acid in the heated flow stream. The resultant vaporous mixture forms a suitable vaporous etchant for removing silicon dioxide contaminates from a conveyor belt which is employed to convey semiconductor wafers through a chemical vapor deposition processing chamber.

Abstract: A method for forming a trench isolator in a semiconductor substrate comprises: forming a mask layer on the substrate having a opening defining a trench formation region on the substrate; etching the semiconductor substrate through the opening in the mask to form a trench in the substrate; depositing a trench isolation material on the substrate to fill the trench with the isolation material and form a trench isolator in the substrate; planarization-etching the trench isolation material until a top surface of the mask layer is exposed; and, forming a thin protective layer on the surface of the semiconductor substrate. The thin protective layer prevents an edge dipping effect of the trench isolator during subsequent cleaning processes, and enables the planarization-etching to reduce the thickness of the mask layer to the minimum thickness possible, thereby reducing the stresses applied to the semiconductor substrate by the mask layer during subsequent high temperature annealing processes.

Abstract: A video multiplexer is disclosed which incorporates a dynamic rate control feature. MPEG encoded video signals for each channel are stored in a first-in first-out (FIFO) buffer. A packetizer for each channel detects the level in the FIFO buffer and issues a request signal to the video multiplexer that the channel desires to transmit the video signals on the network. The bandwidth allocation for a channel is either preselected by the video provider or automatically selected, and tokens are issued by a counter associated with each channel to give greater network access to those channels which require a higher bandwidth. A token multiplier detects the bandwidth needs of the various channels by detecting the rate that the FIFO buffer is being filled and automatically multiplies the number of consecutive packets which the packetizer may transmit over the multiplexer during a single grant.

Abstract: The present invention provides a semiconductor device marking apparatus comprising a package loader, on which a plurality of semiconductor device packages are loaded, a package provider, which provides the semiconductor device packages one by one from the package loader, a transfer rail, which transfers the semiconductor device packages provided by the package provider, a marker, which marks an alphanumeric code on the front surfaces of the semiconductor device packages transferred by the transfer rail, a rotating stopper comprising a stop plate and a package control shaft, and a package unloader, on which the semiconductor device packages passing through the rotating stopper are loaded. Further, the present invention provides a rotating stopper for temporarily stopping semiconductor device packages to be transferred along a transfer rail, the rotating stopper comprising a stop plate and a package control shaft.

Abstract: A method for making the alignment means of an optical apparatus. The apparatus comprising a substrate defining one or more aligned cavities, a primary optical path for accommodating the passage of a light beam, and an upper cavity in the substrate which is aligned to a predetermined degree of precision and in direct communication with the primary optical path. The beam steering means directs the beam. The hybrid inter-optical alignment precision occurring when a beam steering mechanism is micromachined with respect to a crystallographic orientation of the substrate is used for precise beam steering.

Abstract: A dynamic volume control system in an audio processor uses gain and delay signals from a digital signal processor to dynamically control the user-selected volume of the audio processor. The digital signal processor executes audio signal processing operations that affect the gain applied to the audio signal so that the signal gain inherent in the signal processing path is known. The digital signal processor transfers the known gain and a predicted group delay signal to the dynamic volume control system to dynamically adjust the user-selected volume of the system. The digital signal processor is integrated with a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) in a dynamic volume control system that exploits the known gain and group delay to perform DAC volume control.

Abstract: A computer system includes a backplane printed circuit board and a peripheral device. The peripheral device is coupled to the backplane printed circuit board. The peripheral device is cradled within a chassis carrier. A grounding conductor is associated with the chassis carrier and peripheral device. A frame structure supports the chassis carrier. The frame structure includes peripheral device bays and split lances. The peripheral device bays are for receiving peripheral devices. One of the peripheral device bays includes the peripheral device and chassis carrier. The split lances are located on opposite internal sides of the frame structure for each peripheral device bay. Mounting rails may be coupled to the opposite internal sides of the frame over the split lances such that the split lances project through the mounting rails. The split lances electrically couple installed peripheral devices to ground, and locate and support the mounting rails and/or peripheral devices.

Abstract: An N-channel power MOSFET includes a storage capacitor and a pair of diodes connected between the gate and drain terminals, respectively, and the capacitor. Since at any given time the voltage at either the drain or the gate of the MOSFET is high, a charge is maintained on the storage capacitor as the MOSFET is switched on and off. The charge stored on the capacitor yields an output voltage which may be used to power a gate drive circuit or other components within or outside the MOSFET.

Abstract: A noise suppressor is provided which includes a signal to noise ration (SNR) determiner, a channel gain determiner, a gain smoother and a multiplier. The SNR determiner determines the SNR per channel of the input signal. The channel gain determiner determines a channel gain .gamma..sub.ch (i) per the ith channel. The gain smoother produces a smoothed gain .gamma..sub.ch (i,m) per the ith channel and the multiplier multiplies each channel of the input signal by its associated smoothed gain .gamma..sub.ch (i,m).

Abstract: A lead forming apparatus and a method for removing tin dust from the surface of the outer leads of semiconductor package are disclosed. The apparatus, in which a brushing operation removes tin dust from the outer leads, includes a supplier part; a lead forming part; a collection part; an intermediate post; a package transportation part; a brush block; and a brush transportation part. The method includes steps of providing a leadframe, forming the package leads, removing tin dust from the leads, and collecting the packages in a container.

Abstract: The invention is an adjustable force deflection device which can be used to guide, deflect, and apply force used in the restoration of deformed vehicle bodies on work benches or straighteners. The device consists of at least two fixable, pivoted joints, each comprising a pair of coupling discs that can be independently rotated about a common central axis to a desired angle relative to each other and then fixed in place. One of the coupling discs in each of the at least two pivotable joints is connected to either a separate force application device or to a tool attached to the portion of the vehicle body to be restored. The second of the coupling discs in each pair is connected to at least one rigid, elongated element of various possible sizes and shapes, or to a plurality of such rigid, elongated elements and interconnecting pivotable joints connected in alternating series.