Abstract: A portable ledge apparatus and method which may be quickly set up by a single user wherein four support arms fold into position from a central retaining member.

Abstract: A time-based digital temperature sensing system has a first oscillator which is temperature sensitive. The first oscillator has a temperature coefficient which allows the first oscillator to generate an output signal which varies linearly as a function of temperature. A second oscillator is provided and is used to generates a reference clock signal. The outputs from the first and the second oscillator are coupled to a timer. The timer has a clock input coupled to an output of the second oscillator and an enable input coupled to an output of the first oscillator. From these input signals, the timer generates a number indicative of a length of time the timer is enabled by the first oscillator. The number is proportional to a current temperature of a material that is being monitored by the temperature sensing system.

Abstract: A precision bandgap reference circuit which uses an operational amplifier that has the positive and negative input terminals connected to a diode/resistor combination and a diode respectively. The output of the operational amplifier drives a diode connected PMOS transistor which regulates current sources which drives into the diode/resistor combination and the diode inputs to the operational amplifier. This allows the operational amplifier to have enough gain to minimize errors across the diode/resistor combination and the diode inputs to the operational amplifier. This also allows an output stage driven by the operational amplifier to be biased with a Proportional To Absolute Temperature (PTAT) current which is well controlled.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and a method for reducing access times for retrieving audio samples. The system uses a wave table cache. The wave table cache allows devices such as a Digital Signal Processor (DSP) to retrieve audio samples in a linear fashion from the wave table cache at a rate much faster than individually fetching the required portions of the audio sample from the main memory of the system. The DSP may then use the audio samples to generate signals to create sounds based on the audio samples.

Abstract: A high performance soldering sleeve having improved heat transfer characteristics. The soldering sleeve has a continuous winding of solder coils positioned within a heat shrinkable tubular member. The solder coils, having a proper flux to solder ratio which increases performance of the soldering sleeve by generating a better solder flow. The solder coils also have better heat adsorption and heat transfer characteristics than prior art solid solder inserts. The solder coils further have the advantage of forming a plurality of lines which provide a fail safe configuration as a visual cue to indicate when a proper amount of heat has been applied to the soldering sleeve.

Abstract: An elongated, tubular shaped plastic case housing (13A) with an attached opening door (13) and its mounting (16) retains an elongated impact absorbing pad (1) and its inner retracting cord mechanism (4). Pad (1) when placed on vehicle works as a barrier between a vehicle door being struck and the other striking. Magnets (3) inside pad (1) attracts pad to vehicle panels.

Abstract: A method of locating a lost item via a provided telephone service, using an identification number given on both an identification card held by the owner of the item, and on an identification tag worn or attached to the item. A telephone number is given on the identification card for the item owner to access the telephone service and open a voice mailbox under the identification number, and a telephone number is given on the identification tag for the finder of the item to access the telephone service and leave a message with the telephone service (either in the opened voice mailbox or with the service if the finder calls before the item owner opens the voice mailbox) regarding the whereabouts of the lost item.

Abstract: A system for optimizing arbitration latency of a bus. The system places a bus grant idle state insertion logic block in parallel with a bus grant decision logic block. This allows the bus grant idle state insertion logic block to immediately deassert all bus grant output signals for one clock cycle as long as the bus is idle and a device has requested use of the bus. The bus grant idle state insertion logic block then changes the output of a multiplexer so as to select the bus grant output signal (which becomes valid during this state)and drives the output bus grant signal off chip thereby granting the bus to a device which requested use of the bus. The bus granting process takes two (2) clock cycles.

Abstract: A battery terminal post connector in one embodiment includes a spring that urges a lower body towards an upper body when a battery terminal post is disposed therebetween. The urging of the spring causes an electrical connection between the connector and the post. A protective housing protects the connector and the battery terminal post. In another embodiment, a pair of springs are used to create a spring biased connection between lower and upper bodies and a battery terminal post. Thus, in both embodiments, a quick connect/quick disconnect function is achieved for each of the two connectors with respect to each associated battery terminal.

Abstract: A combined garage door screen and garage door and method is disclosed wherein the garage door screen can be selectively fixedly attached to the back of the garage door in either a lower (closed screen) position when the bottom portion of the garage door is spaced from the ground or an upper (screen up) position when the bottom portion of the garage door screen is raised to a level at least equal to the level of the bottom portion of the garage door.

Abstract: A system for switching between a signal having delay paths of differing magnitudes without generating any glitches and false edges uses a no delay circuit for outputting a signal having no delay and a delay output circuit for outputting a delayed form of the signal. The signals are inputted to a multiplexer. The multiplexer will output at least one of the signals. Control circuitry is coupled to the multiplexer for signalling the multiplexer to output at least one of the signals. The control circuitry will control the switching of the multiplexer so that when the output of the multiplexer switches from a signal having no delay to a delayed form of the signal, or when the output of the multiplexer switches from a delayed form of the signal to a signal having no delay, no glitches or false edges are generated.

Abstract: A keyboard controller for a computer system with integrated Real Time Clock (RTC) functionality. The keyboard controller has a microprocessor for controlling peripheral device bus traffic such as keyboard and mouse traffic. The microprocessor also acts as a boot device for the computer system. By programming the microprocessor to emulate RTC functions, adding a divider circuit, and having an I/O support block which stores RTC registers and an extended CMOS RAM memory block, the entire RTC FSB along with its power detection and switching circuit can be removed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process control monitoring system and method. The system and method uses current comparator circuits for monitoring process changes. Process sensitive current sources are compared with weighted reference current sources in a manner that each output of the current comparators demonstrates the inequality of the current sources. By setting the weighted reference current sources properly, the outputs of the current comparators may be used to locate the process corner of the fabricated integrated circuit.

Abstract: A direct sensor interface (DSI) module which allows a microcontroller to directly interface to sensors having at least one of a resistive, capacitive, and/or current source characteristic. The DSI module is coupled directly to a sensor device, which could be a reference resistor, which generates a sensor current. A current mirroring circuit outputs a charging current proportional to the sensor current. A capacitive sensor and/or a capacitive device is coupled to the current mirroring circuit and generates a voltage when charged by the charging current. Using a comparator and a threshold voltage source, the time it takes the capacitive sensor and/or a capacitive device to ramp up from zero to the threshold voltage can be measured. The charging time is proportional to the sensor reading.

Abstract: An environmentally sealed splice kit for splicing together a shielded cable which is fully immersion protected and which is installed using only hand tool without using heat generating sources. The splice kit has a pair of crimp sleeves which are coupled to a separate wire braided end of the shielded cable. A jumper wire is coupled to each crimp sleeve for providing electrical continuity between each wire braided end of the shielded cable. A crimp ferrule is coupled to each wire braided end of the shielded cable for holding and connecting each crimp sleeve to each wire braided end of the shielded cable. Conductor splices are used for splicing together each center conductor of the shielded cable to be spliced together. A dielectric spacer is used for separating and providing an isolating medium between each center conductor to be spliced together and the jumper cable.

Abstract: A system for controlling an Alternating Current (AC) signal to an AC powered device. The system uses a microcontroller to monitor the cycles of the AC signal supplied to the AC powered device. By utilizing cycle counting, the microcontroller can supply various numbers of waveforms to the AC powered device in order to adjust the speed and/or energy supply level to the AC powered device. At full power, all the cycles of the AC signal are provided to the AC powered device. If the speed and/or energy supply level of the AC powered device needs to be reduced by half, the microcontroller supplies every other cycle of the AC signal to the AC powered device.

Abstract: A substantially Y shaped split intake manifold is disclosed and also a method of connecting this manifold having fuel-air outlet conduits to a plurality of internal combustion engine cylinder inlet ports. The method comprises the steps of applying a layer of high temperature resistant rubber sealant that remains flexible upon curing to the two outlet passages or conduits of the split intake manifold for forming gas-tight seals between the two outlet passages of the manifold and the associated two inlet ports of the two cylinders of the internal combustion engine and allowing the sealant to cure in situ to adhesively bond to the two outlet passages of the manifold.