Abstract: A method for communication, comprising the steps of: receiving an electronic mail message having content and having at least one destination with a top level domain name, routing the electronic mail message to a facsimile server if the top level domain name matches a predetermined domain name associated with the facsimile server, and forming and transmitting a facsimile signal representing the content of the electronic mail message from the facsimile server to a facsimile receiver.

Abstract: A test vehicle has a plurality of the zig-zag structures which include: a first layer having a plurality of first elongated patterns oriented in a first direction; a second layer having a plurality of second elongated patterns oriented in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction; and a plurality of vias or contacts conductively coupling ones of the first patterns to respective ones of the second patterns.

Abstract: An animal feeder has a hopper for storing pieces of food. The bottom of the hopper has an opening accessible by an animal. The opening is smaller than a piece of food, but large enough for the animal to gnaw the food through the opening. The hopper has a surface adjacent the opening, to receive fallen gnawed food and hold the fallen gnawed food in a position accessible by the animal for eating. The hopper engages a mounting bracket. The bracket has a lip which partially covers the receiving surface of the hopper to physically limit the animal from leaning on the hopper and to prevent the hopper from tipping back so far that it falls off the conical mount. A conical mount transmits a downward force from the conical bottom surface to a sensor, but does not transmit an upward force or moment to the sensor.

Abstract: A method of connecting a heatspreader to an integrated circuit device that is connected to a substrate in a flip-chip configuration includes forming a heatspreader from a single flat sheet of metal. The heatspreader has a heatspreader plate and a plurality of legs. The legs are flat plate portions substantially parallel to the heatspreader plate. A first thermal interface material is used to connect the heatspreader plate to a non-active side of the integrated circuit device. A second thermal interface material is used to connect each of the plurality of legs to the substrate.

Abstract: A frame for a ventilation screen-frame assembly includes a body having a mounting surface for receiving ventilation screen material. In one example, the body has at least three V-shaped cuts partially through it. Each V-shaped cut leaves an edge of the body uncut. The body is folded about each uncut edge so that the ends of the body meet at a corner. Each V-shaped cut subtends an angle &thgr; that is slightly less than 90 degrees, so that the folded corners are in compression. The assembly further includes a single corner key for joining the ends of the body into a closed frame. A reinforcement clip can be used in each folded corner.

Abstract: Interactive medication data systems and methods are provided which include automated means for providing information pursuant to telephonic and electronic requests from callers. The system includes a database containing information for patients and a variety of medications, a host system database containing prescription data for these medications, and means for receiving an incoming audio communication relating to a request for information concerning a specific medication. The audio communication contains a unique personal identifier which can be mapped to one patient in the host system database. The system then prompts the caller with a menu of selections relating to the patient's active prescriptions, such as, refill or dosage requirements. The caller then selects an option which produces a selection signal. The selection signal guides the system to look for specific data in the database and the system produces an audio or visual response to the caller.

Abstract: A circuit for tuning a transconductance amplifier includes a first transconductance amplifier outputting a first current from its output, a second transconductance amplifier outputting a second current from an output that is coupled to the output of the first transconductance amplifier, and a feedback loop. The feedback loop provides a control signal that varies with a difference between the first current and the second current and is used to adjust the transconductance of the second transconductance amplifier.

Abstract: A circuit includes a first capacitor having a first terminal coupled to a first node having a first potential during a first time interval, and is coupled to a second node at a reference voltage during a second time interval. The first capacitor has a second terminal coupled to a third node having a common potential during the first time interval, and to an integrator during the second time interval. The first capacitor receives a first charge component from the second node that is dependent on the first potential during the second time interval. A second capacitor has a first terminal that is coupled to a fourth node having a second potential during the first time interval. The common potential is substantially midway between the first and second potentials. The second capacitor provides a second charge component that cancels the first charge component during the second interval.

Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) package includes an IC having at least one ESD protection circuit that provides protection against electrostatic discharge. The IC has a plurality of bond pads that are not coupled to the ESD protection circuit. The IC is connected to a substrate. The substrate has a first plurality of conductive traces, which are connected to respective bond pads of the IC, and a second plurality of conductive traces, which are not connected to any of the plurality of bond pads of the IC. Either the substrate or the IC has a common conductive trace that is connected to the ESD protection circuit. Each of the second plurality of conductive traces is connected to the common conductive trace.

Abstract: A filter assembly includes a printed circuit board having a filtering circuit and a ground plane. A body receives the printed circuit board. The printed circuit board has at least one tab, and the body has a respective slot for receiving each tab, aligning the printed circuit board with the body. The body is shaped so as to provide a first cable connector at one end. The ground plane of the printed circuit board is connected to an inner wall of the body by solder. A nut fits on an end of the body opposite the cable connector of the body. The nut provides a second cable connector at an end opposite the first cable connector. The nut is connected to the body by solder along a periphery of the nut to form a water tight seal. The solder joining the nut to the body is continuous with the solder connecting the ground plane to the body. A pair of terminals are electrically connected at opposite ends of the printed circuit board.

Abstract: An integrated circuit has a plurality of buried metal fuses and an apparatus for selectively controlling the plurality of buried metal fuses. Each buried metal fuse has an output state. A plurality of latches each correspond to a respective one of the plurality of buried metal fuses. An encoding fuse has a first state and a second state. A plurality of gates, consists of either a plurality of XOR gates or a plurality of XNOR gates. Each gate has a first input coupled to the output of a respective one of the plurality of buried metal fuses and a second input coupled to the encoding fuse. Each gate has an output coupled to a respective one of the plurality of latches. Each of the plurality of latches has an output state that is the same as the state of the respective one of the plurality of buried metal fuses to which that latch is coupled, when the encoding fuse is in the first state.

Abstract: An apparatus controls a light source, which may be a laser. A first detector provides a first electrical signal representing an amplitude of a first light that is output by the light source. A filter receives the first light and provides a filtered light having an amplitude that depends on the amplitude and wavelength of the first light. A second detector provides a second electrical signal representing the amplitude of the filtered light. A switching device, such as a multiplexer, is capable of providing either the first electrical signal or the second electrical signal as its output signal. A common amplifier is coupled to the switching device. The common amplifier amplifies the output signal of the switching device, to alternately provide a first amplified signal and a second amplified signal, representing the first and second electrical signals, respectively.

Abstract: A power level determination device provides an output voltage usable as a specific reference power level corresponding to each RF input power level. The device includes a peak detector, which detects a pulse-type signal at its input and provides a non-pulse-type signal at its output. N comparators are provided, where N is an integer. Each of the N comparators has an output, a first input coupled to the output of the peak detector, and a second input coupled to a respectively different threshold voltage. The first one of the N comparators has a maximum threshold voltage. The threshold voltages decrease monotonically from No. 1 to No. N. N exclusive-OR components are provided. A first one of the N exclusive-OR components is coupled to ground and to the output of a first one of the N comparators.

Abstract: An integrated circuit has a circuit that is capable of being trimmed. A plurality of fuse links are connectable to the circuit for trimming the circuit. Each fuse link has a fuse and provides an output signal. A register has a first bit that is set to enable a test function, and a plurality of additional test data bits that provide the test output signal. A plurality of switches, which may be multiplexers, select either the output signals of the fuse links or the test output signal, and output the select signals. Each multiplexer has a first data input connected to a respective one of the plurality of fuse links. Each multiplexer has a second data input connected to a respective test data bit of the register. Each multiplexer has a select input connected to the first bit of the register.

Abstract: A remote control system uses a state signal that indicates whether a door or lock is opening, open, closing or closed. The state signal that indicates whether a door or lock is opening, open, closing or closed is transmitted. The remote control device receives the state signal, while the remote control device is proximate to the door or lock. The received state signal is stored in the remote control device. An alarm signal is generated, if the state signal is not received by the remote control device, and the stored state signal indicates that the door or lock is opening or open. The system may be used to monitor and control an automatic garage door opener, a power door locking system in an automobile, a trunk locking system in an automobile, or door or window locking systems in a building.

Abstract: A filter assembly includes a printed circuit board having a filtering circuit and a ground plane. A body receives the printed circuit board. The printed circuit board has at least one tab, and the body has a respective slot for receiving each tab, aligning the printed circuit board with the body. The body is shaped so as to provide a first cable connector at one end. The ground plane of the printed circuit board is connected to an inner wall of the body by solder. A nut fits on an end of the body opposite the cable connector of the body. The nut provides a second cable connector at an end opposite the first cable connector. The nut is connected to the body by solder along a periphery of the nut to form a water tight seal. The solder joining the nut to the body is continuous with the solder connecting the ground plane to the body. A pair of terminals are electrically connected at opposite ends of the printed circuit board.

Abstract: An animal feeder has a hopper for storing pieces of food. The bottom of the hopper has an opening accessible by an animal. The opening is smaller than a piece of food, but large enough for the animal to gnaw the food through the opening. The hopper has a surface adjacent the opening, to receive fallen gnawed food and hold the fallen gnawed food in a position accessible by the animal for eating. The hopper engages a mounting bracket. The bracket is directly attachable to the animal's cage. The bracket has a lip which partially covers the receiving surface of the hopper to physically limit the animal from leaning on the hopper and to prevent the hopper from tipping back so far that it falls off the conical mount. A conical bottom surface is attached to the hopper. The conical bottom surface seats on a conical mount. The conical mount transmits a downward force from the conical bottom surface to a sensor, but does not transmit an upward force or moment to the sensor.

Abstract: An integrated circuit has a plurality of buried metal fuses and an apparatus for selectively controlling the plurality of buried metal fuses. Each buried metal fuse has an output state. A plurality of latches each correspond to a respective one of the plurality of buried metal fuses. An encoding fuse has a first state and a second state. A plurality of gates, consists of either a plurality of XOR gates or a plurality of XNOR gates. Each gate has a first input coupled to the output of a respective one of the plurality of buried metal fuses and a second input coupled to the encoding fuse. Each gate has an output coupled to a respective one of the plurality of latches. Each of the plurality of latches has an output state that is the same as the state of the respective one of the plurality of buried metal fuses to which that latch is coupled, when the encoding fuse is in the first state.

Abstract: A computer analyzes a process for fabricating a plurality of semiconductor wafers. The process has a plurality of processing steps, performed on various fabrication machines. The program is knowledge based, and is trained using training data, which may be generated by a simulator. A decision tree is generated, based on the training data. A plurality of input data representing characteristics of the semiconductor wafers are extracted. A first order pattern in any of the processing steps is identified using a decision tree, based on the input data. A plurality of probability distribution functions are formed for each characteristic. Each distribution function identifies a probability that a particular type of order pattern is present. A threshold is based on the plurality of probability distribution functions. A second order pattern in any of the processing steps is identified by comparing the data representing characteristics to the threshold.

Abstract: A frame includes a plurality of screen bar segments. To form the screen bar, a flat malleable strip is provided. The strip is roll-formed to form a tube having a tensioning step on its face. The tensioning step extends along a length of the tube. The tensioning step has a mounting surface, which may be the bottom of the tensioning step. A hot-melt adhesive is applied to the mounting surface. The screen is spread across the frame, so that the screen extends over the mounting surface of each screen bar segment. The screen is secured to the face of the frame with an adhesive at a plurality of positions across a length of the mounting surface of at least one screen bar segment. The adhesive may be a hot melt adhesive. The screen is inserted with a plurality of pins to intermittently suspend the screen in the adhesive across the length of the screen bar segment. An apparatus for securing the screen to the screen bar segment includes a support surface that holds a screen bar segment.