Abstract: Two complementary clocks that are well matched are produced from a single input clock. A clock buffer includes an alternating series of edge-rate-controlled inverters and level restoring inverters. The output of this series of inverters is compared to the input clock by a race timer. If the output of the series of inverters switches in the opposite direction before the input clock, the edge rates of the series of inverters are slowed down. If the output of the series of inverters switches in the opposite direction after the input clock, the edge rates of the series of inverters are speeded up. The output of the series of inverters eventually approaches the timing of the input clock but complemented. These signals form a pair of complementary clocks with well matched timing.

Abstract: A precision bipolar digital-to-analog converter (DAC) allows a first DAC channel to provide significantly reduced bipolar zero offset voltage. By supplying an additional DAC output as input to the first DAC channel, bipolar zero offset voltage in the first channel may be significantly reduced.

Abstract: A display mounting system for electronic instruments includes an elastomeric mount having a continuous frame that secures an electrically conductive, optically transmissive plate in alignment with a viewing surface of the display. A compressible ridge protruding from an internal surface of the frame is interposed between the plate and the viewing surface and disposed about the perimeter of the plate, forming an environmental seal between a rear surface of the plate and the viewing surface of the display. A first series of tabs distributed along a front edge of the frame adjacent to the internal surface engage the front surface of the plate while a second series of tabs distributed along a rear edge of the frame adjacent to the internal surface and opposite from the front edge engage a back surface of the display.

Abstract: An internally triggered equivalent-time sampling system characterizes high-speed data signals having a predetermined nominal data rate by using an internal oscillator that runs independent of a synchronous trigger signal. The sampling system acquires samples of the data signal at a strobe rate, set by the oscillator, which is lower than the nominal data rate of the data signal. The samples, the strobe rate, and the nominal data rate are communicated to a quality optimizer which compensates for static rate deviations between the nominal data rate and the actual data rate of the data signal to establish timing correspondence between the acquired samples. The timing correspondence establishes the time placement of the acquired samples when characterizing the data signal on a display or other output device. When the oscillator has high timing stability relative to the data signal, jitter and other attributes of the data signal are accurately characterized.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a cooling device primarily for cooling integrated circuits or other electronic devices during operation. The cooling device may include a heat sink portion and a fan, or other air movement device. The outer periphery of the heat sink portion may be formed with outwardly extending lobes, leaving recessed areas between the lobes. The lobes may be sized and located so as to correspond to heat concentration areas on an electronic device package. In this manner, heat sink material may be concentrated adjacent heat concentration areas where more heat removal is required. The overall mass and size of the heat sink portion may, thus, be reduced without significantly impairing the ability of the cooling device to remove heat from an electronic device.

Abstract: An adaptive equalizer for a demodulator includes a filter that generates a filter output signal in response to an information signal according to a transfer function for the filter. The adaptive equalizer includes means for adjusting the transfer function in response to an indication of error in the filter output signal, and means for switching among a set of differing determinations of the indication of error. Switching among the differing determinations may be based upon a variety of indications of the progress of adaptation in the equalizer.

Abstract: A multi-shaft apparatus for incising a substrate of soft resilient material such as a body tissue. The incising apparatus includes two or more incision shafts each having a distal edge. The shafts are not affixed to each other and are allowed to slide against each other to drive the distal edges alternately against the substrate to incise the substrate. In the case of incising a body tissue, such alternate motion would result in less pain to the patient than a puncture resulting from a sharp jab by a sharp shaft of similar size to the shafts.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a medical electrode system having a flexible substrate with two electrodes in electrical communication disposed at either end along its length. The electrode system also has one or more sensors for detecting the rate and pressure at which CPR is administered. The electrode is adjustable in length and protects the user from the potential of incidental shock when using the electrode in conjunction with a defibrillator.

Abstract: A method for detaching an epitaxial layer from one substrate and transferring it to another substrate allows an epitaxially grown material layer to be easily detached from a first substrate that has good epitaxial growth properties and transferred to another substrate having better cleaving, electrical or other properties than the first substrate. A mask is applied to a portion of a surface of the first epitaxial layer and a second epitaxial layer is grown over the first epitaxial layer and the mask. A trench is formed in the second epitaxial layer to expose the mask and a second substrate is bonded to the second epitaxial layer. An etchant is introduced through the trench and etches away the mask, thus releasing the second epitaxial layer from the first substrate and the first epitaxial layer. Thus, the second epitaxial layer has been released from the first substrate and transferred to the second substrate without performing operations that would impair the optical properties of the epitaxial material.

Abstract: A control device for regulating the flow of gas through a liquid utilizes capillary forces to manage gas retention and utilizes thermal energy to execute a gas release operation. A capillary path within the control device has an opening to a reservoir of liquid and has a geometry by which gas flow is inhibited by capillary forces on a liquid volume within the path. An equilibrium condition is established at the interface of the liquid and gas. However, a heater is in thermal communication with the capillary path for selectively heating the contained volume of liquid sufficiently to free the flow of air through the path. In a preferred application, the control device is employed in an ink cartridge to release accumulated air at selected times. By heating ink within the capillary path to a temperature above the boiling point of ink, the equilibrium condition at the air-to-ink interface is overcome.

Abstract: A method and system for tracking attitude of a device includes fixing a two-dimensional array of photosensors to the device and using the array to form a reference frame and a sample frame of images. The fields of view of the sample and reference frames largely overlap, so that there are common imaged features from frame to frame. Sample frames are correlated with the reference frame to detect differences in location of the common features. Based upon detection of correlations of features, an attitudinal signal indicative of pitch, yaw, and/or roll is generated. In the preferred embodiment, the attitudinal signal is used to manipulate a screen cursor of a display system, such as a remote interactive video system (RIVS). However, attitudinal tracking using the invention may be employed in other applications.

Abstract: A method for retrieving selected, predetermined data values using a logic analyzer and data visibility macros. The predetermined data values result from data operations that occur internally to the target processor. The data visibility macros send the data values via the external bus so that the logic analyzer may retrieve them for display. The data visibility macro is essentially a code marker, the difference being that a data visibility macro is used by the logic analyzer to retrieve data value information. The present method comprises the steps of inserting a data visibility macro into software code that is resident in the processor, compiling the code, writing the selected data values to an external bus, and using the logic analyzer to retrieve and display the data values.

Abstract: A method for fabricating an electroluminescent display and the substrate and apparatus used therein. The display is preferably constructed on a pre-constructed substrate that includes a flexible base layer having a conducting surface on one side thereof. The base layer is impermeable to oxygen and water. The substrate includes a plurality of wells defined by a barrier layer, each well having an electrode layer connected electrically with the conducting surface. A removable protective layer covering the wells protects the electrode layer from attack by oxygen and water prior to being utilized to make the display. In one embodiment, each of the wells also contains an electron transfer layer in contact with the electrode layer. The electron transfer layer includes a material that improves the efficiency of the injection of electrons from the electrode layer into the electroluminescent layer of the display.

Abstract: An improved probe for probing high speed, low impedance bus structures. The probe comprises an AC termination portion and an RCR filter. In a first embodiment, the AC termination portion comprises a resistor and capacitor in series. The time constant formed by the AC termination portion is sufficiently larger than the time it takes a signal to travel through the cable of the probe. The RCR filter comprises two resistors in series disposed between the AC termination resistor and ground. A capacitor is connected in parallel to the first resistor in order to achieve a flat pulse response from DC through to high frequencies.

Abstract: An ultrasound imaging system incorporating the invention enables a user to select a pre-set anatomical view that is not available from standard ultrasound transducer imaging positions. The system includes a transducer which produces an ultrasound beam that acquires a 3-D set of echo signals. A processor enables the system user to be presented with a listing of pre-set anatomical views and is responsive to user selection of one of the pre-set views to control a converter within the system to derive from the 3-D set of echo signals, an image data set which, when displayed, presents the pre-set anatomical view selected by the user. In the preferred embodiment, at least some of the pre-set anatomical views are those that are not otherwise available from the standard transducer imaging positions.

Abstract: An improvement in the enclosure assembly for automated testing devices. The enclosure includes various modular components, such that one components contains common elements and another component contains unique elements. The common elements may be elements found in a design family and the unique elements may be the unique feature of a device in a design family. The customized and common components are mounted in a chassis and enclosed with a cover.

Abstract: An optical device mounting apparatus and method for altering and fixing the angular position of an optical device without substantial linear displacement. The apparatus comprises a kinematic mount which permits precision adjustment and clamping. The apparatus includes a sphere, which either contains an optical device mounted therein or is, at least partially, an optical device itself. A support is placed in physical contact with the outer surface of the sphere such that angular displacement of the sphere is possible with substantially no linear displacement thereof. A clamp in physical contact with the outer surface of the sphere provides force through the sphere to the support with substantially no transmitted torque. In this manner, precise positioning of the optical device is possible, for example, with an external and removable tool.

Abstract: Methods are provided for making arrays of distinct polymers covalently bonded to the surface of the a solid support. In the subject methods, at least two distinct polymers, e.g. nucleic acids, are contacted with the surface of a solid support under conditions sufficient for the nucleic acids to become covalently bonded to the surface of the solid support through a cycloaddition reaction, e.g. through the reaction of a diene with a dienophile. Also provided are arrays produced by the subject methods, kits comprising the same and methods for using the arrays in analyte detection, e.g. hybridization, assays.

Abstract: A method for patterning a layer that includes a material sensitive to water or active hydrogen. The method utilizes a photoresist that includes a photoacid generator and a polymer constructed from fragments that are heat labile when heated to a predetermined temperature, the polymer being stable at the predetermined temperature and soluble in a solvent that does not contain water or active hydrogen. The fragments are joined by acid labile links to form the polymer. The photoacid generator includes a compound that releases acid when exposed to light. In a patterning method according to the present invention, the layer to be patterned is covered with a layer of the photoresist. The regions of the photoresist layer that overlay regions of the patterned layer that are to be removed are exposed to light. The layer of photoresist is then subjected to heating at or above the predetermined temperature to expose the regions of the patterned layer that are to be removed.

Abstract: A control system that provides accurate timing information for sensor data samples and accurate timing for the application of control values to actuators in the face of non-deterministic communication. The control system employs circuitry for accurately associating sensor data samples and sensor time-stamps and circuitry for triggering the application of the control values to an actuator.