Abstract: A unique CVSD CODEC is provided utilizing switched capacitor technology. This CVSD CODEC includes a syllabic filter which provides one of a large number of possible step sizes, thereby allowing the CVSD CODEC to accurately track and convert a wide range of input voltages. The CVSD CODEC includes coincidence logic, which determines how accurately the input voltage is being tracked, and a syllabic filter which provides an appropriate step size based upon the output signals of the coincidence logic. Large step sizes are provided for converting input voltages having large magnitudes, and small step sizes are used to convert input voltages having small magnitudes, thereby providing the very accurate resolution of input voltages over the wide range of magnitudes, while minimizing the bit rate required.

Abstract: A centrifuge tube for use in an ultracentrifuge has a closed bottom end shaped to mate with the bottom of a rotor cavity, a body portion and an upper end that terminates in a filler stem. The filler stem may be externally threaded. A removable support crown screws on the threaded filler stem or otherwise fits over the filler stem to center and support the stem within the rotor cavity of the ultracentrifuge. A swage plug fits within the support crown to seal off the inner volume of the centrifuge tube during centrifugation. The tube is filled and access is obtained to the liquid sample by removing the swage plug; sealing is accomplished by reversing the process. In one embodiment a universal crown, of a diameter smaller than the expected diameter of the rotor, is used in conjunction with a support bushing of suitable annular thickness to firmly support the filler stem in the rotor cavity.

Abstract: A rotary type capping apparatus for screwing caps onto the mouths of containers includes a turn table provided with a plurality of container holders fixedly mounted along the periphery thereof, a main motor for rotating the turn table in a predetermined direction and a capping head assembly including a plurality of cap holders, each of which is disposed above the corresponding one of the plurality of container holders, so as to be movable closer to or away from the turn table. In one aspect of the present invention, the capping apparatus includes at least one motor exclusively used for rotating the cap holders for causing the caps held by the cap holders to be screwed onto the mouths of containers. In another aspect of the present invention, the capping apparatus is so structured to increase the torque applied to a cap until it has reached a predetermined level during the cap screwing operation thereby insuring that all caps may be screwed on as tightly as desired.

Abstract: A novel zero insertion (and removal) force multi-pin coaxial connector for providing connections via controlled impedance paths is formed using a conductive elastomer as a frame (8) which forms the shield of a plurality of coaxial connectors and a plurality of circular openings formed in the conductive elastomer frame, each said opening corresponding to a single coaxial connection. An annular insulating ring (5), which forms the dielectric of an associated one of the coaxial connectors, is located in each annular opening of the conductive elastomer frame and an elastomer through-conductive member (6) which forms the center conductor of its associated coaxial connector is located within the circular opening of each insulating ring. In this manner, the conductive elastomer frame forms the shield of a plurality of coaxial connectors.

Abstract: A cochlear implant system includes an electrode array (1) comprising multiple platinum ring electrodes in a silastic carrier to be implanted in the cochlea of the ear. A receiver-stimulator (3) containing a semiconductor integrated circuit and other components is implanted in the patient adjacent the ear to receive data information and power through tuned coil (5) using an inductive link (6) from a patient-wearable external speech processor (7) including an integrated circuit and various components which is configured or mapped to emit data signals from an EPROM programmed to suit each patient electrical stimulation perceptions through testing of the patient and his implanted stimulator/electrode using a diagnostic and programming unit (12) connected to the processor by an interface unit (10).

Abstract: An integrated circuit package magazine and receptacle is provided in which one or both ends of a longitudinally elongated magazine tube (10) are cut-out to form inwardly facing spring gates (16) which have ends (18) abutting ends (22) of a series of integrated semiconductor packages (20) slidably contained on a rail surface (13) in the interior of the magazine. In its neutral inward position spring gate 16 functions to prevent egress of the semiconductor packages while allowing easy ingress of the packages by spring movement of the spring gate upwardly into a position in the same plane as the top wall (15) of the tube. The tube may take various exterior and interior configurations. Automatic release of semiconductor packages from the tube is provided by utilizing the tube in conjunction with a receptacle (30) having a longitudinal rail (34) onto which the magazine is insertable.

Abstract: A differential operational amplifier is provided with a feedback loop which continuously adjusts the common mode voltage level of the amplifier so that it lies in the center of the dynamic range of the amplifier. The feedback loop measures the instantaneous common mode voltage level and compares it with a reference voltage which is set to reflect the desired common mode voltage. An error signal is generated and fed back into the amplifier to adjust the instantaneous common mode voltage level towards the reference level. Frequency compensation is also provided to overcome the phase shift introduced by the use of RC networks.

Abstract: A head parts assembly for use in a two-wheeled vehicle such as a bicycle and a motorbike includes a head pipe, a front fork pipe which extends through the head pipe and a pair of ball bearings to support the head pipe and the front fork pipe to be relatively rotatable from each other. The present head parts assembly also includes a self-adjusting mechanism which allows to maintain the head pipe and the front fork pipe in alignment at all times.

Abstract: A text comparator which includes a decoded data memory (13) which contains a plurality of shift registers (SR2.0.-SR7F), one shift register for each one of the plurality of different symbols forming the data base stored within the mass storage device (11). The decoded signal is applied to the input lead of the shift register associated with that character, and a clock signal applied to each shift register of the decoded data memory. In this manner, the decoded data memory will provide signals on the output leads of each shift register indicative of the most recently received character, as well as each of the preceding K characters received from the mass storage device and decoded, where K is the number of bits contained in each shift register of the decoded data memory.

Abstract: A character in a set of characters comprising a font for use in reproducing an image comprises a composite of two colors wherein at least one of said two colors occupies one area of said character and the other of said two colors occupies at least two areas of said character, said at least two areas of said other color being separated from each other by said one area of said one color.

Abstract: A programmable wall switch for controlling the time for turning on and for turning off an incandescent light includes a rectifying circuit for producing from the AC power line a selected DC voltage. The switch includes a microprocessor powered by this DC voltage for turning on a light at any one of several selected times and for turning off the light at one of an additional corresponding several selected times. A time display is provided for displaying the time as well as for allowing a user to review the programmed status of the switch at any one of several selected times. A signal is generated at each zero crossing of the AC power line which is supplied to the microprocessor. The microprocessor produces output signals which turn on, turn off or dim the light at selected times. The ability of the microprocessor to dim the light further enhances the appearance of human occupancy when the switch is used to simulate occupancy of a vacant building.

Abstract: In one embodiment of this invention, a uniquely designed switched capacitor multiplier/adder (129) is provided which also functions as a digital-to-analog converter in a single subcircuit. The multiplier/adder, in a single operation, multiplies an analog voltage by a binary coefficient, and sums this product with a second analog voltage. The use of this unique subcircuit significantly reduces the space requirements for the construction of, for example, a speech synthesis circuit utilizing linear predictive coding over prior art circuits. This invention provides a novel structure and method which minimizes error components in the synthesized speech signal due to voltage errors inherent in the use of analog sample and hold circuits which are used to store the forward and backward prediction errors utilized in the linear predictive coding technique. Using the method of this invention, the inherent error components are alternatively inverted and not inverted upon each clock cycle of the multiplier/adder.

Abstract: A method for fabricating an integrated circuit semiconductor device comprised of an array of MOSFET elements having self-aligned or self-registered connections with conductive interconnect lines. The method involves the formation on a substrate of a thick oxide insulation layer surrounding active area openings. A gate electrode within each opening is utilized to provide self-registered source and drain regions. In two embodiments, the gate is covered on all sides and on its top surface with a protective layer of nitride or thick oxide. In one of the embodiments, after the formation of the source-drain regions a relatively thin protective layer of etch stopper is applied to the entire chip prior to the application of an upper insulative layer.

Abstract: A method of galvanically applying a metal coating to metal objects with the aid of an electrolyte which is brought into contact with at least the parts of the metal objects to be covered with metal, the metal objects being guided along the outer circumference of a curved surface whereby the electrolyte is guided in the form of a thin curtain at least substantially tangentially to the parts to be covered with metal of the objects adhering in an elongate tape so that after having passed along the parts to be covered the electrolyte can freely flow away without coming into contact with other parts of the objects.

Abstract: A late mask programming process is provided for factory programmed ROMs or logic circuitry. MOS transistors functioning as ROM cells or in logic circuitry are fabricated by a standard MOS Process. Then, a thin stop layer of silicon nitride is provided over the transistors followed by a layer of silicon dioxide. Programming is accomplished by applying a program mask and etching through the layers overlying the gate regions of selected transistors down to the silicon nitride stop layer. The silicon nitride stop layer prevents overetching and shorting of the gates. Then, ions are implanted underneath the gates of the selected MOS transistors to alter their threshold so, for example, as ROM cells they signify a different state than those cells whose transistor gates are not implanted with ions. The silicon nitride layer serves to stop the etch solution but permits the ions to pass through, penetrate the substrate and raise the thresholds of the selected transistors.

Abstract: My invention is carefully designed for the specific task of cleansing the lingual aspects of upper and lower anterior teeth and the distal aspects of the most distal teeth. Because my invention is not designed for the purpose of cleansing all surfaces of the teeth, but is designed to provide superior cleansing in those areas where a standard toothbrush is deficient, my toothbrush is designed to augment rather than to replace a standard toothbrush.

Abstract: An exercise apparatus is provided which includes a partially threaded receptacle and a handle attached to a selectively rotatable partially threaded rod. The partially threaded rod enables a user to selectively slide the rod into or out of the receptacle or lock the rod in the receptacle in order to perform stretching and pulling exercises in a controlled manner.

Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment of this invention, the second pulse P2 of pulse pair P1, P2 on a disk memory servo track is used as the optional pulse which conveys information relating to the status of the track. In this manner, the possibility of erroneous data being read due to variations in the speed of rotation of the disk is substantially minimized as compared with prior art systems. Furthermore, in accordance with one embodiment of this invention, the determination of whether the servo track pulses comprise the pulse pair P1, P2 or other pulses, as well as analysis of the data from a plurality of pulse pairs P1, P2, is performed by a simple and inexpensive hardware circuit which is capable of utilizing a simple, inexpensive yet highly reliable fixed frequency clock in place of the rather expensive phase lock loop circuit typically used in the prior art.

Abstract: A fixed disc drive type of rotating disc memory storage device includes an annular elastomeric pad that is engaged between the actuator base plate and a bowl-shaped casing. The base plate has a circular platform portion with the boss for the spindle shaft for the discs being formed at its center. The annular pad forms an air-tight seal at the edge of a circular opening in the lower casing to prevent dust from entering the housing. The annular pad is engaged against the entire side marginal area of the base plate so that it dampens resonant vibrations in the base plate thus providing stable servo response within the range of said resonant vibration range.