Abstract: The invention provides a method which includes the step of locating a burner of a low NOx boiler that produces a disproportionately high quantity of unburned carbon. The air-to-fuel ratio at the burner is then increased to decrease the percentage of unburned carbon attributable to the burner. The air-to-fuel ratio at a second burner of the low NOx boiler is reduced to maintain a substantially constant total air-to-fuel ratio in the low NOx boiler.

Abstract: A negative edge triggered flip-flop generates an output pulse in response to a negative edge of a clock signal. A first set of nodes receives data input signals, and a second set of nodes receives select input signals for selecting one data input signal as a selected data input signal. The clock node receives the clock signal which has a positive edge and a negative edge. A header circuit connects to the second set of nodes and to the clock node, and integrates the clock signal with the select input signals to generate at least one control signal. A pulse generator circuit connects to the first set of nodes, the header circuit and the output node. The pulse generator circuit generates an output pulse on the output node in response to a control signal and the selected data input signal.

Abstract: A programmable logic device has buffers that may be selectively programmed for Schmitt-triggered and threshold-triggered operation. The programmable Schmitt-triggered buffers are connected to circuit nodes that are sensitive to noisy environments. The programmable threshold-triggered buffers are connected to circuit nodes that have critical timing requirements.

Abstract: A micromachined fluid control apparatus includes a micromachined boiler with a thermally conductive housing that has a housing exterior surface and a housing interior surface. The housing interior surface defines an interior void that has a fluid positioned within it. A heat source is incorporated with the housing exterior surface. The heat source selectively generates heat that is conducted through the thermally conductive housing so as to selectively expand the fluid in a predetermined manner. A load resistor may be positioned within the thermally conductive housing. Current may be driven through the load resistor in a predetermined manner to further control the selective expansion of the fluid.

Abstract: A heat spreading apparatus includes a body with an interior surface defining a void. The interior surface includes randomly configured high aspect ratio micro surface capillaries. Preferably, the micro surface capillaries are intergranular and intragranular capillaries that are less than 200 microns and have an aspect ratio of at least 1:1. All horizontal and vertical surfaces of the interior surface include the high aspect ratio micro surface capillaries. The high aspect ratio micro surface capillaries promote fluid transport and heat transfer.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for interfacing integrated circuits having incompatible input-output signal offset voltages that is relatively inexpensive and yet is also insensitive to noise.

Abstract: An output buffer has internal circuitry connected between an input node and an output node. The internal circuitry includes a quiet voltage supply connected to a first set of transistors of the internal circuitry and a noisy voltage supply connected to a second set of transistors of the internal circuitry. The noisy voltage supply is at a voltage level higher than the quiet voltage supply. The first set of transistors and the second set of transistors provide isolation between the noisy voltage supply and the quiet voltage supply. The first set of transistors and the second set of transistors also provide complete digital high and low internal signal levels by using at least one transistor operative to supplement the complete shut-off and turn-on of transistors of the first set of transistors and the second set of transistors.

Abstract: A method for repairing a shrink-fitted turbine disc without removing the disc from the shaft. The method is composed of two basic steps: (1) depositing one or more weld layers in a vicinity of a defective region of the disc using a temperbead welding process and (2) heat treating the disc using an induction heating process. In a first embodiment of the method, the heat treating step includes heating a heat-affected zone of the disc in a vicinity of the one or more weld layers to a temperature T.sub.h, heating a rim region of the disc to a temperature T.sub.r and heating a bore region of the disc to a temperature T.sub.b, where T.sub.h, T.sub.r >T.sub.b. In a second embodiment of the method, the heat treating step includes heating a region of the disc in a vicinity of the one or more weld layers using the induction heating process and concurrently cooling a bore region of the disc.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for improving the properties of carbon-containing fly ash through ozonation is described. The apparatus includes a chamber for containing the fly ash and an ozonator that generates an ozone-containing gas. The ozonator supplies the ozone-containing gas such that it enters the chamber with the fly ash and deactivates carbon within the fly ash. Afterwards, the fly ash will have decreased surfactant adsorptivity so that it can be effectively mixed with cement or whatever other materials may require fly ash with passivated carbon.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are described for removing vapor phase contaminants from a gas stream by placing a porous element having a sorbent material into ductwork through which the gas stream passes. In a first mode of operation, vapor phase contaminants are adsorbed by the sorbent. In a second mode of operation, the porous element is cleaned of any accumulated deposits, for example fly ash, while in place without having to stop the gas flow. In a third mode of operation, the sorbent can be regenerated in place and without having to stop the gas flow by heating and collecting the desorbed contaminants. This invention is particularly suited for the removal of vapor phase mercury from flue gas generated by a combustion process.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for in-system programming of programmable devices includes a device configuration program with adaptive programming source code instructions that characterize device configuration instructions and data. The adaptive source code instructions may include conditional branches, subroutines, variables, configurable arrays, integer operators, and Boolean operators. These features allow for more compact and efficient device configuration instructions and data. An interpreter converts the device configuration program into formatted device configuration instructions and data. The formatted device configuration instructions and data are preferably compatible with IEEE 1149.1 JTAG-BST specifications. The formatted device configuration instructions and data are used to program a programmable device in the manner specified by the adaptive programming source code instructions.

Abstract: A thernopneumatic valve comprises a fluid channel plate defining a fluid port. A diaphragm plate is attached to the fluid channel plate. The diaphragm plate includes a displaceable diaphragm to selectively obstruct the fluid port of the fluid channel plate. A thermal isolating heater is connected to the diaphragm plate. The thermal isolating heater includes a thermal isolating heater body with a heating surface, a perimeter wall defining an extended axial cavity to confine a thermopneumatic working fluid that is used to control the position of the displaceable diaphragm, and a diaphragm obstruction structure to limit the motion of the displaceable diaphragm into the extended axial cavity.

Abstract: An apparatus for mounting micromechanical fluid control components includes a manifold interface plate adaptable for connection to a manifold substrate oriented in a horizontal plane. The manifold interface plate receives mounting stress forces from the manifold substrate along the horizontal plane. An orthogonal component plate is connected to the manifold interface plate in a vertical plane with respect to the horizontal plane of the manifold substrate. The orthogonal component plate includes an orthogonal mounting surface with a micromechanical fluid control component mounted on it. The position of the micromechanical fluid control component on the orthogonal mounting surface substantially isolates the micromechanical fluid control component from the mounting stress forces.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for generating configuration and test files for programmable logic devices includes a dynamic configuration and test generation program to specify, in source code, a logic function to be implemented by a programmable logic device. A device test development kernel program has information characterizing physical elements of the programmable logic device and bit patterns for implementing connections between the physical elements of the programmable logic device. The device test development kernel program converts the logic function into a configuration file for use in programming the logic function into the programmable logic device. The dynamic configuration and test generation program also specifies, in source code, a test operation to be executed by the programmable logic device. It operates with the device test development kernel program to produce a vector file for use in testing the programmable logic device.

Abstract: A closed-loop communication system includes a closed-loop communication link with a shared communication channel. A set of communication devices are connected to the closed-loop communication link. Each communication device has un-arbitrated access to the shared communication channel. A responding modem connected to the closed-loop communication link includes a modem signal detection circuit to identify a modem signal on the closed-loop communication link and respond to it by facilitating a squelch disable signal. A transmission squelch circuit squelchs all transmission signals from the responding modem except when the transmission squelch circuit is disabled in response to the squelch disable signal.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a needle via conformal deposition in a two-piece mold includes the step of attaching a top mold member to a bottom mold member such that the top mold member and the bottom mold member define an enclosed, elongated needle trench with a deposition aperture. A conformal substance, such as polysilicon, is then passed through the deposition aperture such that the conformal substance is deposited within the enclosed, elongated needle trench to form a needle. The method is used to form needles with prongs, multiple channels, multiple ports, barbs, strength enhancement features, and circuitry.

Abstract: A central processing unit (CPU) of a computer has a data caching unit which includes a novel dual-ported prefetch cache configured in parallel with a conventional single-ported data cache. In response to a data cache miss, the requested data is fetched from external memory and loaded into the data cache and into the prefetch cache. Thereafter, if a prefetch cache hit occurs, the physical address of the corresponding data request is provided to a prefetch engine which, in turn, adds a stride to the physical address to derive a prefetch address. This prefetch address identifies data which is predicted to be soon requested in subsequent instructions of the computer program. Data corresponding to the prefetch address is then retrieved from external memory and loaded into the prefetch cache. This prefetching operation frequently results in the prefetch cache storing data that is requested by subsequently executed instructions in a computer program.

Abstract: An apparatus to automatically adjust, in accordance with a set of user preferences, a computer display parameter, such as brightness or contrast, in response to ambient light conditions is described. The apparatus includes an ambient light sensor to obtain an ambient light signal. A mapping mechanism, connected to the ambient light sensor, maps the ambient light signal to a user preference value in a user preference table. Computer display control circuitry, connected to the mapping mechanism, then adjusts the selected computer display parameter of the computer display in response to the user preference value. A preferable embodiment of the invention includes colored light sensors that produce colored ambient light signals. The colored ambient light signals are mapped into colored preference tables. By adjusting the values in the colored preference tables, the image appearing on the computer display can be matched to a replica of the image printed on paper.

Abstract: A low NOx gas combustor includes an air injection mechanism to create a combustion air path. A set of arc-shaped gas injector arrays are formed in an annular configuration. Each arc-shaped gas injector array injects an arc-shaped stream of gas that intersects with the combustion air path to produce a fuel rich flame segment that is separated from an adjacent fuel rich flame segment from an adjacent arc-shaped gas injector array by an air rich zone. The interaction between the fuel rich flame segment and the air rich zone results in low NOx combustion of the gas.

Abstract: The invention is a system that provides programmable clock delays for logic circuits. The system makes use of the boundary-scan register chain incorporated into logic devices for testing purposes. In the invention, delay code values are loaded through the boundary-scan register chain into delay code registers. The delay codes are then used to program the value of delay elements in the logic circuit. An evaluation logic circuit can be included to compare the output data with an expected test pattern and thereby verify the acceptability of the delay values. The invention thereby allows delays to be adjusted to correct functionality and/or optimize circuit performance without requiring modifications to the circuit design.