Abstract: A device and method for controlling generation of a final pixel utilizes a conditional statement, referred to as an IF_NEIGHBOR statement, which when compiled, causes a programmable pixel shader to perform mip map texture lookups even if a pixel of interest does not meet the condition of the conditional statement. As such, any neighboring pixels needed for mip map selection have their associated shader code guaranteed to execute even though the pixel of interest may fail the conditional portion of the conditional statement. The device and method executes texture address calculations for pixels within a region and for pixels outside of a region but only those necessary to determine the mip map level corresponding to a pixel within the region. Execution of shader code for a current pixel is executed if any of the surrounding neighboring pixels meet the desired condition even if the current pixel does not meet the condition.

Abstract: A seal assembly having a seal bumper wall with a series of pyramid shaped formations lying on the bumper wall. The formations cause their apex portion to wear down rapidly in use, while the remainder of the pyramids remain and act as slingers and/or produce a convection effect to reduce temperature along the sealed area. In another embodiment, there are two each pyramid shaped formations located on each of several thrust bumpers, which are held in position by a retainer.

Abstract: A lock loop circuit (230) includes a floating ground loop filter circuit (302) and a precharge circuit (304). The floating ground loop filter circuit includes at least one capacitive element (326, 328). The floating ground loop filter circuit provides a steering signal (334) for a controllable oscillator circuit (306) in response to a precharge signal (347). The precharge circuit provides the precharge signal in response to lock loop enable information (226). The precharge circuit controls the floating ground loop filter to bypass the at least one capacitive element for a period of time (606) in response to the lock loop enable information.

Abstract: A machining apparatus includes a support frame, first and second workbenches, and a tool-mounting unit. The support frame includes a first horizontal frame part, and a second horizontal frame part disposed above the first horizontal frame part. The first and second workbenches are mounted slidably on the first horizontal frame part of the support frame, and is slidable relative to the support frame in a first horizontal direction. The tool-mounting unit is mounted slidably on the second horizontal frame part of the support frame, and is slidable relative to the support frame in a second horizontal direction transverse to the first horizontal direction.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for single instruction multiple data caching includes a memory access request generator operative to receive a primary access request. The method and apparatus further includes a cache controller coupled to the memory access request generator, wherein the cache controller is operative to execute a memory request. The method and apparatus further includes a memory interface coupled to the cache controller, the memory interface operative to retrieve a plurality of requested data. The method and apparatus further includes a request processor coupled to the cache controller, the memory interface and the memory access request generator. The request processor is operative to receive a plurality of requested data and thereupon generate a plurality of parallel data outputs therefrom.

Abstract: A WLAN communication system (10) and method employs mobile WLAN base stations (16) that include WLAN transceivers (26) and memory (30) for storing received messages from one or more mobile WLAN devices (12a-12n). The mobile WLAN base stations (16) serve as moving message carriers or message repeaters of messages for the mobile WLAN devices. In one embodiment, a mobile WLAN base station (16) receives messages transmitted by several mobile WLAN devices (12a-12n), temporarily stores the received messages, and delivers the stored messages to a fixed WLAN base station or another mobile WLAN base station when the mobile WLAN base station (16) moves to within communication range of the applicable fixed or other mobile WLAN base station.

Abstract: A test solution for one or more circuits implementing a communication standard is based on a design specification received from a development organization and a communication standard. The test solution is evaluated with one or more prototype circuits and is selectively modified based on the evaluation with the prototype circuits. The test solution is then evaluated with one or more manufactured circuits and is selectively modified based on the evaluation with the manufactured circuits.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for delivering an electric field to a body by delivering a first magnetic field from a first coil in a first orientation to a body and directed at a desired target within the body, and delivering a second magnetic field from a second coil in a second orientation directed at the desired target within the body to induce an electric field across the desired target, wherein only one magnetic field is delivered to the body at any one time.

Abstract: A method and circuit for generating an M-bit digital dither signal with a substantially uniform probability density function and high-pass spectrum are disclosed. The circuit includes a linear feedback shift register (LFSR) with N storage elements where N>M, and a high-pass filter. The method involves sampling at least M storage elements of the LFSR with each clock cycle to form an M-bit LFSR output and high-pass filtering and the M-bit LFSR output to provide the M-bit dither signal.

Abstract: A top toy including a track component for supporting a wheel-type top. Each track member has a peripheral rim to cooperatively form a two-rail track. Each of the rims is configured non-circular such that the magnetic spindles of the wheel-type top move toward and away from an axis of a shaft of the track component as the top travels on the rims about the axis of the shaft.

Abstract: An apparatus with circuit redundancy includes a set of parallel arithmetic logic units (ALUs), a redundant parallel ALU, input data shifting logic that is coupled to the set of parallel ALUs and that is operatively coupled to the redundant parallel ALU. The input data shifting logic shifts input data for a defective ALU, in a first direction, to a neighboring ALU in the set. When the neighboring ALU is the last or end ALU in the set, the shifting logic continues to shift the input data for the end ALU that is not defective, to the redundant parallel ALU. The redundant parallel ALU then operates for the defective ALU. Output data shifting logic is coupled to an output of the parallel redundant ALU and all other ALU outputs to shift the output data in a second and opposite direction than the input shifting logic, to realign output of data for continued processing, including for storage or for further processing by other circuitry.

Abstract: A method that decodes serially received MPEG variable length codes by executing instructions in parallel. The method includes an execution unit which includes multiple pipelined functional units. The functional units execute at least two of the instructions in parallel. The instructions utilize and share general purpose registers. The general purpose registers store information used by at least two of the instructions.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for testing a modified specimen such as a dried blood spot, plasma or serum specimen, for an analyte of interest, such as cholesterol. In accordance with the disclosed subject matter, the level of the analyte of interest in the medium from which the modified specimen was obtained (e.g., from a patient's blood) is determined based on the level of an analyte in a solution formed from the modified specimen and on the level of at least one normalizing analyte. The analyte and normalizing analyte each may be an ion, compound, biochemical entity, or property of the specimen. Also disclosed are a fluid collector and a fluid collection device.

Abstract: A device to thermally couple a thermal management apparatus to at least one heat generating component of a circuit substrate includes at least a first portion that is adapted to couple to the thermal management apparatus, and at least a second portion that is adapted to couple to the thermal management apparatus. The first portion and the second portion may be symmetrically arranged relative to each other. The first portion and the second portion are adapted to thermally couple the thermal management apparatus to the heat generating component with a first spring bias. The first portion and the second portion are further adapted to maintain the thermal management apparatus thermally coupled to the heat generating component with a second spring bias.

Abstract: A buffer is associated with each of a plurality of data lanes of a multi-lane serial data bus. Data words are timed through the buffers of active ones of the data lanes. Words timed through buffers of active data lanes are merged onto a parallel bus such that data words from each of the active data lanes are merged onto the parallel bus in a pre-defined repeating sequence of data lanes. This approach allows other, non-active, data lanes to remain in a power conservation state.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for superword register value numbering includes hashing an operation code and the value numbers of a plurality of sources to generate a flint hash value. The method and apparatus further includes retrieving an operation value number from the first hash table based on the first hash value. The method and apparatus further includes generating a result value number based on a previous bit hash value and the operation value number. The result value number is a combination of the operation value numbers for each component having a live indicator (e.g., a false write mask value) and a previous value numbers for the components without the live indicator (e.g., a true write mask value). Thereupon, the method and apparatus includes searching a second hash table using the result value number. As such, the method and apparatus provides using two separate hash tables for value numbering with superword instructions.