Abstract: A method and apparatus for the topographical profiling of a raw substrate is carried out during in-line processing of the substrate during which additional films and structures have been formed over the raw substrate surface. The method includes forming a dielectric film over the substrate surface and forming a metal film over the dielectric film. The structure is polished and monitored during various stages of the polishing operation. An interferometer is used to monitor the surface being polished and to distinguish between regions where metal remains and regions in which metal has been removed and the underlying dielectric material exposed. Topographical data, such as a substrate map, is generated by monitoring the time at which the metal film is removed from various spatial locations across the substrate. The substrate map may be generated during polishing, for in-line monitoring.

Abstract: A connector for use with a mobile platform, such as an aircraft, which forms a part of the aircraft installation, and which can therefore not be readily removed from the aircraft once installed. In one preferred form the connector includes a standardized connector body that mechanically and electrically couples to an existing electronics module on the mobile platform. The connector body is attached to a backshell having a recess that houses an ID module component. The connector includes a lanyard that is secured to a portion of the mobile platform to prevent removal therefrom. The ID module component includes pre-programmed ID information pertinent to a specific mobile platform on which the connector is to be deployed. The ID module can be configured after it is installed in the system. Advantageously, the electrical connections between the ID module component and the connector itself are all contained within the recess in the backshell.

Abstract: A method for digitally processing motion image signals comprises the steps of: (a) obtaining digital motion image signals that originated from a sequence of motion picture frames; (b) using a frame averaging technique to reduce noise in the digital motion image signals, thereby producing noise-processed motion image signals; and (c) producing output digital motion image signals by sharpening the noise-processed motion image signals with a sharpening filter designed in the spatial domain with a 2D kernel that increases the noise in order to provide a desired grain response.

Abstract: A seal having a first seal mechanism adapted for insertion between a first structure and a second structure, wherein the first structure is in communication with a first medium and the second structure is in communication with a second medium. The seal also includes a second seal mechanism, which is pressuringly biasable against the first seal mechanism and against the second structure by the second medium. In certain embodiments, a system has a first structure in communication with a first medium and a second structure houses a seal assembly between the first and second structures. The seal assembly includes an interface seal disposed against the first structure and a flexible seal pressuringly biased against the second structure and the interface seal by a second medium.

Abstract: An input device of a multimedia board inputs lecturer-written information that a lecturer writes on a display page. An information processor sends the lecturer-written information input by the input device to a plurality of information terminals. A reader/writer of each of the plurality of information terminals reads out textbook information from a recording medium recording the textbook information representing contents of a textbook. A display device displays the read textbook information and the lecturer-written information supplied from the information processor, which are superimposed one on top of the other. The reader/writer records the textbook information and lecturer-written information, which are displayed by the display device, as a single file on the recording medium.

Abstract: One disclosed method includes retrieving a sensor reading, incrementing a reading change counter and setting a stable reading counter in response to the sensor reading not equaling an immediately previous sensor reading, reporting a sensor reading bouncing error and resetting the reading change counter in response to the reading change counter being greater than or equal to a reading change tolerance, incrementing the stable reading counter in response to the sensor reading equaling the immediately previous sensor reading, resetting the stable reading counter and reading change counter in response to the stable reading counter being greater than or equal to a stable reading tolerance, reporting a state change event and setting the most-recent stable sensor reading equal to the sensor reading in response to the sensor reading not being equal to the most-recent stable sensor reading, and setting the previous sensor reading to the sensor reading.

Abstract: A telescoping boom has a plurality of boom sections, and the boom sections nest together. The sections include an outer base section, intermediate sections, and an inner section that forms the outer end of the boom when extended. A hydraulic actuator and mechanical flexible links control the extension and retraction of the boom sections, and a hose carrier housing that is mounted as a subassembly carries hoses of sufficient length to carry hydraulic fluid under pressure from a base end of the boom to the outer end. The hose carrier housing supports the hoses folded into lengths in a zigzag form to provide sufficient length for boom extension. All connections to the hoses are accessible at the base end or at the outer end of the inner boom section. The entire hose carrier housing and the hoses are capable of being removed from and replaced into the boom as a unit.

Abstract: Provide an electronic still camera using a color filter array (CFA) and a single CCD making it possible to simultaneously execute the processing for color signal interpolation and the processing for resizing. In the electronic still camera according to the present invention, an R signal, a G signal, and a B signal are output from each pixel of an image sensor 12 having a CFA. A processor 16 simultaneously executes processing for interpolation and processing for resizing by computing (R, G, B) values at a given pixel position according to the color signals. Low frequency components Rlow, Glow, Blow of the color signal at the given pixel position are computed from signals from adjoining pixels, and the high frequency component Shigh is computed from a brightness value Y. The image data interpolated and changed to a desired size is stored in a memory 18, or is output via an interface I/F 20 to an external device such as a computer or a printer.

Abstract: A scale is provided, the scale including a cavity having a resonant frequency which is alterable with variations in mass of a load applied to the cavity. The scale also typically includes a comparator operatively coupled with the cavity to detect actual resonant frequency under the load, to compare such actual resonant frequency with a reference resonant frequency, and to produce a difference signal indicative of mass of the load.

Abstract: A CT detector capable of energy discrimination and direct conversion is disclosed. The detector includes multiple layers of semiconductor material with the layers having varying thicknesses. The detector is constructed to be segmented in the x-ray penetration direction so as to optimize count rate performance as well as avoid saturation.

Abstract: A modular vehicle system comprises an engine unit and an engine management controller associated with the engine unit. A throttle actuator is associated with the engine management controller to control a throttle setting of an engine unit. A mower unit is associated with mower electronics. A blade clutch actuator activates or deactivates a cutting blade of the mower unit. A transmission line supports communications between the engine management controller and the mower electronics to support remote control mowing or unmanned mowing activities.

Abstract: An improved system for the transmission of data over a cellular telephone channel is provided. The system is especially adapted to reduce the cost associated with cellular telephone calls by allowing data transmission only when the channel signal level is greater than a pre-defined value, so as maximize the probability that a transmission will be successful. In addition, the system provides for user transparent reconnection and reestablishment of a dropped link, allowing transmission to continue where dropped without the need to retransmit data already successfully received. As an additional benefit, the system provides a mechanism for call timing and billing so that an estimated bill may be generated based on connection time.

Abstract: A bus arbitration apparatus includes a storage, a priority order determiner, and an arbitrator. The storage stores a plurality of selection signals for specifying a priority order against a number N of requests. The priority order determiner causes the storage to output one of the plurality of selection signals in a predetermined sequence in response to a demand for arbitration. The arbitrator performs an arbitration operation based on the priority order against the number N of requests specified by one of the plurality of selection signals which is output from the storage.

Abstract: Disclosed are copolymers based on aspartic acid or its precursor molecules and methods of their production. The copolymers are water-soluble over a wide range of composition and molecular weight. Their preparation involves conversion of a polysuccinimide to copolymers of defined composition, containing aspartate and succinimide residues and/or residues of asparagine. In particular, the copolymers include water-soluble terpolymers of aspartate, asparagine, and succinimide.

Abstract: A substrate coating is provided for application in association with ink jet ink imaging on the substrate. The coating enhances permanence of black and specialty non-black color ink jet prints. The coating material of the present invention can be applied to any non-porous or semi-porous substrate as a pre-print coating. The coating comprises a combination of two polymers, and DMEA to discourage adverse interaction between the two polymers.

Abstract: A process for producing an electrode for an electric double layer capacitor in which an alcohol based solvent which is a forming aid agent added during preparation of an electrode forming sheet is contained in the electrode forming sheet, and the electrode forming sheet and the collector sheet are joined without removing the solvent. Furthermore, a process for producing an electrode for an electric double layer capacitor in which an alcohol based solvent is added to the electrode forming sheet just before the joining process of the electrode forming sheet and the collector sheet.

Abstract: A key, which may be used in a user interface, including indicia formed at least in part from UV reactive material.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for delegating root access to non-root users of a computer system while maintaining computer system security are disclosed. Such a method may include authorizing a role for a user, wherein the authorized role includes one or more tools and the tools enable root access for certain tasks that the tools perform when run, whereby the one or more tools are delegated to the user and authorizing a machine of the computer system for the authorized role, wherein the computer system comprises a plurality of machines and the user is enabled to utilize the authorized role only on authorized machines, whereby utilizing the authorized role comprises running the one or more tools of the authorized role. Embodiments of the invention may comprise authorization objects that comprise attributes identifying a user and the roles and machine for which the user is authorized.

Abstract: A portion of the one valve rod which extends outward is pivotally supported, the valve shaft cylindrical portion which is connected to the valve rod shaft supporting portion is made of material different from that of the valve body, a slanting surface is formed between the inner peripheral surface and the outer peripheral surface of the sheet ring, an angle and a width formed by the slanting surface and the outer peripheral side surface are the greatest at a position intersecting with the valve shaft at right angles and are the smallest at a position of the valve shaft, a central portion of an inner peripheral surface of the valve body is allowed to project inward to form an engaging projection, the sheet ring is brought into contact with the inner peripheral surface of the valve body under pressure in the opposite sides of the recess groove, the cylindrical bush whose one end is closed is mounted to the other valve rod which pivotally supports the valve element, and the other valve rod is sealed.

Abstract: Novel cyclic compounds and salts thereof, pharmaceutical compositions containing such compounds, and methods of using such compounds in the treatment of protein tyrosine kinase-associated disorders such as immunologic and oncologic disorders.