Abstract: A frequency adjusting circuit having a voltage-controlled oscillator in which the lockup time is shortened. The voltage waveform appearing at the two terminals of a resistor element R.sub.1 of a low-pass filter 6 is subject to voltage/current conversion by a voltage/current converter VIC. The charge is stored in capacitor C.sub.3. The voltage generated in capacitor C.sub.3 is input to comparator CMP1 or CMP2. If the voltage generated is higher than a prescribed level, switching elements SW1 and SW2 close. In the same direction as that of the current flowing in capacitor C.sub.2 through resistor element R.sub.1, a charge proportional to the amount of the charge through R.sub.1 flows to capacitor C.sub.2 and is stored in it.

Abstract: The image sensor charge detection amplifier has a charge storage well 60, a charge sensor 32 for sensing charge levels in the charge storage well 60, a charge drain 28 adjacent to the charge storage well 60, and charge transfer structures for transferring charge from the charge storage well 60 to the charge drain 28.

Abstract: Battery pack arrangement having a control module 305 in the form of a programmed microcontroller and associated components on a printed circuit board, one or more battery cells 21 in which the respective cells are interconnected by metal conductive straps 22, wherein one of the interconnecting straps has a portion 309 of reduced width so as to serve as a current sensing element in conjunction with the control module 305. The reduced width of the interconnecting conductive strap 22 provides increased electrical resistance to the current flowing therein, with the value of the current sensing element 309 being measurable and storable in memory. The microcontroller and a regulating component of the control module are arranged to be located in intercellular space between successive cells in the cell array 21.

Abstract: A NOR decode circuit which includes a latch composed of a pair of n-channel transistors and a pair of p-channel transistors with the p-channel transistor of one latch portion coupled to a reference circuit transistor via a first pass transistor and the p-channel transistor of the other latch portion coupled to the address select line controlled transistors via a second pass transistor. The pass transistors are also controlled by an enable row (ENROW) signal. The address transistors are larger and conduct more current than the reference transistor. When ENROW is activated, the n-channel transistors of the latch are enabled and current passes through one side of the latch circuit and through a third transistor in parallel with the address transistors if any of the address transistors are turned on. Current also flows through the other side of the latch circuit and through a fourth transistor in parallel with the reference transistor. The second pass transistor conducts a current I.sub.

Abstract: In a method for transmitting a data message comprising a synchronization section and a data section stored in a transponder device (10) to an interrogating device (12) in full duplex mode. The interrogating device (12) continuously emits an interrogating command, the receipt of which in the transponder device (10) prompts output of the data message. Both the sync section and the data section of the data message each comprise a predetermined number of bits in accordance with a given transmission protocol. In the sync section, a predetermined number N of sequential bits of duration .tau. is replaced by a lesser number n of sequential bits of longer duration T, where: T=.tau. N/n. The interrogating device (12) determines the location of the sync section and thus the start of the data section in the received data message by identifying the bits having the longer duration T. For the ratio N/n a value is selected which is smaller than 1.5.

Abstract: An image pickup device providing favorable images which effectively suppress the interference stripe noise originating in the interference stripes created on an image sensor surface of the image pickup device. The image pickup device includes an image sensor 3 and an overlying lid glass 2. By providing a prescribed inclination angle with respect to the relative position of the image sensor 3 and the lid glass 2 protecting it, the same number of interference stripes are provided with respect to each constitutional image-defining element within the image sensor 3, and prevention of interference stripe noise is achieved by leveling the average light intensity each constitutional image-defining element receives so that sensitizing of interference stripe noise does not occur at the specific elements.

Abstract: An interconnection-point memory which includes an array of N1 input buses (Rj) intended to be connected to a first plurality of N1 data-sender devices, an array of N2 output buses (Ck) intended to be connected to a second plurality of N2 data-receiver devices, and interconnection means (17) for connecting the array of input buses to the array of output buses.

Abstract: System for enabling the use of semiconductor dynamic memories having faulty locations therein where the memory is organized in banks for forming an elementary information word. The system identifies all homologous address locations which are not faulty, and the non-faulty locations are then stored as a map in a non-volatile read-only-memory related to the memory bank so as to form a transcoding table. Access to the memory blocks involves the use of a central processing unit requesting access to a block identified by a sequential address. The system then provides for associating the material address of a block of the memory array to the logical address, this association or transcoding operation being carried out by the non-volatile read-only-memory.

Abstract: A Schottky diode circuit 20 is formed on a semiconductor layer 24. A conductive contact 36 on the surface of the semiconductor layer 24 forms a Schottky barrier 40 at the junction of the conductive contact 36 and the semiconductor layer 24. A guard ring 26 in the semiconductor layer 24 is adjacent to the Schottky barrier 40 and is separated from the conductive contact 36 by a portion of the semiconductor layer 24. No direct electrical path exists between the guard ring 26 and the conductive contact 36.

Abstract: A pad conditioning method and apparatus for chemical-mechanical polishing. A polishing pad (114) is attached to a platen (112) and used to polish a wafer (116). Rotating arm (118) positions the wafer (116) over the pad (114) and applies pressure. During wafer polishing particles build up on the polishing pad (114) reducing its effectiveness. Either during or in between wafer polishing (or both), conditioning head (122) is applied to pad (114) to remove the particles from pad (114) into the slurry (120). Conditioning head (122) comprises a semiconductor substrate (126) that is patterned and etched to form a plurality of geometries (128) having a feature size on the order of polishing pad (114) cell size.

Abstract: A digital computer or calculator (10) is equipped with a numerical data table generation capability (36). It provides a user with the ability to specify one or more mathematical functions (32), and the ability to specify how the numerical data in support of the functions are to be displayed (34, 50-56).

Abstract: Described is a new high performance CCD image sensor technology which can be used to build a versatile image sensor family with the sensors that have high resolution and high pixel density. The described sensor architectures are based on a new charge super sweep concept which was developed to overcome such common problems as blooming and the image smear. The charge super sweep takes place in very narrow vertical channels located between the photosites similar to the Interline Transfer CCD devices. The difference here is that the charge is never stored in these regions for any significant length of time and is swept out using a new resistive gate traveling wave sweeping technique. The charge super sweep approach also allows the fast charge transfer of several lines of data from the photosites located anywhere in the array into the buffer storage during a single horizontal blanking interval.

Abstract: An appointment reminder (10) includes a display (12) for displaying one or more appointment identifiers (14), the time of day, and the day of week. A keyboard (17) has an appointment key for initiating an appointment setting program and set keys (16) for setting an appointment time. A processor (18) is included for executing the appointment setting program which associates the appointment time with an appointment identifier (14). The processor (18) also executes an appointment notice program that notifies a user when the appointment time has arrived. A memory (21) is included for storing the appointment time, the appointment identifier (14), the appointment setting program and the appointment notice program. A clock (20) provides timing for the operation of the processor (18).

Abstract: A circuit includes a first transistor M.sub.1 ; a second transistor M.sub.2 having a gate coupled to a gate of the first transistor M.sub.1 and a source coupled to a source of the first transistor M.sub.1 ; a third transistor M.sub.3 having a source coupled to a drain of the first transistor M.sub.1 and a drain coupled to a current input I.sub.b, the drain of the third transistor M.sub.3 is coupled to the gate of the first transistor M.sub.1 ; a fourth transistor M.sub.4 having a source coupled to a drain of the second transistor M.sub.2, a gate coupled to a gate of the third transistor M.sub.3, and a drain coupled to a supply node V.sub.DD ; and a variable voltage input V.sub.x coupled to the gate of the third transistor M.sub.3.

Abstract: A multipurpose chuck apparatus (100) has a chamber (112) for holding a medium (114). The medium (114) is heated into a high temperature molten state by a radio frequency induction heating coil (130). The medium (114) heats up a semiconductor material (118) through a chuck member (116) that separates the medium (114) from the semiconductor material (118). The heating performed by the radio frequency induction heating coil (130) generates a fluid flow within the medium (114), providing a uniform temperature distribution throughout the medium (114). A magnetic rotation device (121) controls movement of rotating member (128) having a mixing member (122) and rotating fins (184) to ensure complete uniform temperature distribution throughout the medium (114), especially in the vicinity of the chuck member (116). An inlet cooling tube (122) and an outlet cooling tube (124), isolated from the medium (114) provide cooling fluid to the chuck member (116) for temperature control of the semiconductor material (118).

Abstract: A digital filter, in which the operation time can be kept short even when the order of the filter is high. The digital filter comprises a first transversal filter TF.sub.1 which has an input terminal connected to a signal input terminal 10, first delay means DR.sub.1 which has an input terminal connected to the output terminal of first transversal filter TF.sub.1, a second transversal filter TF.sub.2 connected to the output terminal of the first delay means DR.sub.1, second delay means DR.sub.2 which has an input terminal connected to the output terminal of the second transversal filter TF.sub.2, adder AD which has one of the input terminals connected to the output terminal of the second delay means DR.sub.2, third delay means DR.sub.3 which has an input terminal connected to the output terminal of the adder AD and an output terminal connected to the signal output terminal, and a third transversal filter TF.sub.

Abstract: An image signal processing method in which inspection of a specimen is performed based on the image data collected for the wafer or other specimen by scanning a pilot specimen in a scanning electron microscope, prior to the scanning of the specimen to be inspected. The number of scans of the specimen to be inspected can be reduced, the dose of the primary electrons irradiated can be reduced, and high-quality image data can be obtained in a short time. For a pilot specimen, the image data are collected by making multiple scans in a scanning electron microscope 1. From the obtained image data, the evaluated relative feature function ERFF of an electro-optical cylinder of a scanning electron microscope 1 is calculated (step S01). For the specimen as the inspection object, the image data are collected in a number of scans less than that for the aforementioned pilot specimen in a scanning electron microscope 1.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for particle removal in supercritical fluids using a single frequency acoustic wave. A wafer (114) is placed in a process chamber (110) and cleaning gas is introduced through inlet port (116). The cleaning fluid is heated to at least the critical temperature of the cleaning fluid and may also be pressurized. A sonic wave is generated in process chamber (110) by sonic transducer (122) to create alternating bands of gas phase (G) and supercritical phase (SC) of the cleaning fluid. The sonic wave is preferably a traveling wave such that the gas (G) and supercritical (SC) phases move across the surface of wafer (114) removing contaminants from the wafer (114) and trapping them in the acoustic wave. The contaminants are then removed from the system with spent cleaning fluid through outlet port (118).

Abstract: A shift register which is stably operable even under low power voltage and including a first transfer gate NTM1 connected to a data input terminal DIN1, second and third transfer gates NTM2 and NTM3 connected in series to a ground line, a pair of inverters IVM1 and IVM2 connected in the opposite orientation between the output terminals of the first and third gates, and fourth and fifth transfer gates NTS1 and NTS2 connected in parallel with respect to the outputs of the pair of inverters IVM1 and IVM2. The shift register further includes a pair of inverters IVS1 and IVS2 connected in the opposite orientation between the output terminals of the fourth and fifth gates. The gate terminal of the second gate is connected to the data input terminal, a first clock signal MCLK is input into the gate terminals of the first and third gates, and a second clock signal SCLK, in which the phase differs from the first clock signal, is input into the gate terminals of the fourth and fifth gates.

Abstract: A plunger (22), used in a standard mold, has a movable piston (23) and spring (24) that reduce the cull space when piston (23) is pressed downward into the cull mold compound.