Abstract: A system is provided to transfer parallel incoming data from an interface device with an external timing domain, for reading in an internal timing domain, without the use of external control signals. System constraints are reduced by permitting an infinite delay to occur in the byte clock timing through the interface device. The system tolerates a specified drift of the byte clock after initialization which may be the result of thermal changes in the interface device, for example. If the specified drift is exceeded, the system is able to reinitialize timing to reestablish the specified byte clock drift, and so continue the transfer of data from the interface device. A method of transferring data using an internal timing domain, from an interface device having an external timing domain, is also provided.

Abstract: A system and method have been provided for removing high lead content solder balls from the surface of a circuit package for the purpose of rework. The invention is applicable to ball grid array (BGA), C4 balls, chip scale balls, and flip chip bumps. Advantageously, the room temperature solder ball rework procedure minimizes damage to the circuit package. Specifically, a thin-film stainless steel mask with openings to expose the solder balls, is formed over the circuit package, and the solder balls are removed in a shearing or grinding operation, leaving a solder ball residue. Then, a conventional thick mask film is formed and a solder paste is deposited to fill the apertures. The solder ball residue forms a wettable surface for the low temperature attachment of new solder balls.

Abstract: A method for routing messages in a telecommunications network is disclosed. The method includes receiving a Signaling Connection Control Part (SCCP) message and determining the type of upper layer protocol employed in the SCCP message. The method also includes routing the SCCP message in response to the determined type of upper layer protocol.

Abstract: Automatic gain control (AGC) methods and apparatus suitable for use in orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) receivers are described. One AGC method includes the steps of repeatedly performing a first AGC process which adjusts amplifier gain based on determining that a signal level of multiple time sample values is outside a limit set by a first predefined threshold; and repeatedly performing a second AGC process which adjusts the amplifier gain based on determining that a signal level of multiple frequency sample values associated with a plurality of pilot tones is outside a limit set by a second predefined threshold. Preferably, the first AGC process is performed repeatedly at a first rate and the second AGC process is performed repeatedly at a second rate that is less than the first rate.

Abstract: A tissue treatment device suitable for use on an extremity, such as a hand or foot, includes a cover formed as a bag, sac, or pouch, and a support member disposable within the cover to support a portion of the cover off of, and out of contact with, tissue to be treated. The cover has an open end with one or more attachment portions disposed thereon for attachment to a limb whose extremity is received in the cover.

Abstract: A driver circuit which has a reduced or eliminated crowbar current includes a P-channel type transistor having a source coupled to a reference voltage; an N-channel type transistor having a source coupled to ground and a drain coupled to a drain of the P-channel type transistor; first logic gate circuitry (e.g., a NOR gate) having an input coupled to a reference clock signal and an output coupled to a gate of the P-channel type transistor; and second logic gate circuitry (e.g., a NAND gate) having an input coupled to the reference clock signal and an output coupled to a gate of the N-channel type transistor. The first logic gate circuitry is designed to have a first input voltage threshold value (e.g., ¼ VDD) that is different from a second input voltage threshold value (e.g., ¾ VDD) of the second logic gate circuitry.

Abstract: A bandage for autolytic debridement includes a fluid-impermeable enclosure having a sidewall forming a margin defining an opening, and a skin-facing surface that surrounds the opening. An attachment means is disposed on the skin-facing to attach the enclosure to the skin, with the margin extending outside of and surrounding at least the bed of a wound. When the enclosure is attached to the skin it creates a closed, fluid-impermeable chamber over a wound, substantially without contacting the wound. The bandage includes a fluid absorbent material disposed in the fluid-impermeable enclosure at or near the continuous margin, and out of the opening. The fluid absorbent material is thus positioned to receive and retain exudated fluid that originates in the wound, thereby by promoting autolytic debridement. The closed, fluid-impermeable chamber maintains a near-100% humid atmosphere about the wound, thereby promoting healing of the wound.

Abstract: A tissue treatment apparatus includes a bandage that is transparent to, or transmissive of, energy in a predetermined range of the infrared (IR) portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. The bandage includes a layer that acts as a bandpass filter, permitting IR radiation in the range of wavelengths between 3 and 30 &mgr;m to pass through the bandage to tissue against which the bandage is disposed. A heater is used to generate heat, including IR radiation, and an attachment device retains the heater over or on the bandpass bandage layer. The bandage and heater together have a low profile so as to be convenient for a patient, and are flexible so as to conform to the shape of a wound and to contours of the skin near the wound. The bandage is provided with an adhesive pattern for maintaining moisture at the wound site. The heater may maintain a normothermic condition at subdermal regions of the wound treatment area.

Abstract: A high speed phase detector utilizes an integrated XOR/MUX circuit having a higher bandwidth and lower power than conventional designs. The XOR/MUX circuit combines the functionality of an XOR device in series with a multiplexer in a manner that increases the bandwidth of the function. In a practical implementation, the XOR/MUX circuit includes an XOR arrangement having a plurality of transistors implemented at a first transistor level and a plurality of transistors implemented at a second transistor level. The XOR/MUX circuit also includes transistors implemented at a third transistor level; these transistors are utilized by the multiplexer feature of the circuit.

Abstract: A double conversion tuner (DCT) free of spurious signals generated by the local oscillator frequencies and the crystal reference frequency is described herein. These spurious signals are generated by the first and/or second oscillator signals as well as by their harmonic frequencies. Spurious signals are also generated when the crystal reference frequency is not properly selected. In the past, complex-mechanical designs had to be used to isolate circuit blocks to reduce these spurious signals. By using a dynamic first intermediate frequency and/or selecting the value of the crystal reference frequency, these spurious signals can be reduced or eliminated.

Abstract: An electronic device package includes a modified ball grid array (“BGA”) interconnect substrate upon which a flip-chip device is mounted. The flip-chip device includes one or more high speed input/output solder bumps corresponding to input/output signals having data rates of up to 40 Gbps. A high speed solder bump is directly connected to an interconnect via formed within the BGA substrate, and the via is directly connected to a respective BGA solder ball positioned at an interior point of the BGA solder ball matrix. The BGA substrate is void of BGA solder balls between the designated high speed BGA solder ball and at least one edge of the substrate, thus providing a clear path to the designated high speed BGA solder ball for a high speed conductive trace formed on a printed circuit board.

Abstract: A tag is attached to an unlicensed object indicating that a user does not have an appropriate license for using the object. The tag partially obscures the object while allowing the object to function as a licensed object. The tag may be indicia that indicates the unlicensed status of the object. Drawings created with unlicensed objects may also be partially obscured with a tag.

Abstract: A process for image analysis which includes selecting a number M of images, forming a model graph from each of the number of images, such that each model has a number N of nodes, assembling the model graphs into a gallery, and mapping the gallery of model graphs into an associated bunch graph by using average distance vectors &Dgr;ij for the model graphs as edge vectors in the associated bunch graph. A number M of jets is associated with each node of the associated bunch graph, and at least one jet is labeled with an attribute characteristic of one of the number of images. An elastic graph matching procedure is performed wherein the graph similarity function is replaced by a bunch-similarity function.

Abstract: A roaming restriction system permits a wireless carrier or a subscriber to set a profile that identifies a chosen time window within which the subscriber's wireless calls that are originated from one or more selected roaming areas, are not allowed to be completed, while calls that are initiated either from authorized roaming areas or outside the chosen time window are allowed to be completed. The roaming restriction system allows a wireless carrier to either suspend or grant roaming privileges for a given subscriber within one or more location areas, and for a particular time window.

Abstract: The present invention silicon germanium bipolar device is fabricated by growing a silicon germanium layer on a semiconductor substrate followed by depositing a first oxide layer, a first polysilicon layer, and a first nitride layer on the silicon germanium layer. A well is etched through the first nitride layer and first polysilicon layer, exposing the first oxide layer on the bottom of the well, and the first nitride layer and first polysilicon layer on the side walls of the well. To cover the exposed edges of the first nitride layer and first polysilicon layer along the walls of the well, a second nitride layer is deposited and etched, forming nitride spacers along the sides of the well. The first oxide layer at the bottom of the well area is etched, creating gaps between the silicon germanium and first polysilicon layer. A second polysilicon layer is deposited in the gaps, creating a contact region electrically connecting the first polysilicon layer to the silicon germanium layer.

Abstract: An inflatable cover is constructed with a base sheet to which is attached an overlaying material sheet in order to form an inflatable structure. There is an opening to admit warmed air into the inflatable structure. A plurality of apertures open through the base sheet, into the inflatable structure for the purpose of exhausting warmed air therefrom, through the base sheet. The plurality of apertures vary in density toward an edge of the base sheet for the purpose of establishing various temperature profiles with respect to the inflatable cover. In a particular embodiment, the density of the apertures increases toward the edges of the base sheet, from the center of the inflatable cover.

Abstract: A source follower circuit for low voltage differential signaling (LVDS) has a low power consumption, low noise, and the ability to drive a highly capacitive load at an output port of an integrated circuit (IC). The source follower circuit includes a first p-channel transistor having a drain coupled to a supply voltage and a gate coupled to a first input; a second p-channel transistor having a drain coupled to the supply voltage and a gate coupled to a second input which is complementary to the first input; a third p-channel transistor having a gate coupled to the second input, a source coupled to ground, and a drain coupled to a source of the first p-channel transistor which forms a first output; and a fourth p-channel transistor having a source coupled to the ground and a drain coupled to a source of the second p-channel transistor which forms a second output which is complementary to the first output.

Abstract: An integrated high speed driver/modulator assembly includes a driver amplifier assembly having a specified input impedance, such as 50 ohms. The driver/modulator assembly also includes an optical modulator having a modulator transmission line. The impedance of the modulator transmission line is less than the specified input impedance, which results in a reduced V&pgr; for the optical modulator. The reduction in V&pgr; enables the driver/modulator assembly to more effectively support OC-768 and higher data rates of at least 40 Gb/s.

Abstract: A printed circuit board is produced by patterning a resist layer according to a circuit mask that defines desired circuit paths. The resist pattern layer is formed by removing the resist from the board in the desired circuit paths and a conductive material is plated onto the board in the resist voids defined by the circuit mask so that the height of the conductive material relative to the substrate equals or exceeds the height of the resist layer relative to the substrate. A low-reactive solution is applied over the conductive material and removes a surface portion of the conductive material. As the solution removes the conductive layer, it forms a film barrier and the solution composition changes, both of which substantially inhibits any further removal of the conductive material. Next, the film barrier is removed from the board allowing another film barrier to form stimulating the removal of further conductive material.

Abstract: A configurable multiplexing circuit and arrangement suited for phase locked loop applications. The multiplexing circuit includes an EX-OR element, a multiplexer element and a summer element. Each element is configured for receiving a particular type of detection signal output, as an input for one of multiple selectable multiplexing operations. The multiplexing circuit further includes a selection signal input, coupled to the EX-OR element, the multiplexer element and the summer element, for receiving a selection signal that enables one or more of the EX-OR element, the multiplexer element, and the summer element. Non-enabled elements are powered down to eliminate jitter and performance penalties.