Abstract: A system of optics, cameras and image processor arrangement capable of capturing images of lead tips of object fields resulting in accurate 3 dimensional positions of all the leads on a Integrated Circuit such as a Quad Flat Package (QFP). The system comprises of a telecentric lens attached to a camera working with an arrangement of mirrors and lighting. The telecentric lens and mirror optical layout splits the acquired image into 2 orthogonal viewing fields of the same lead tips of the QFP. The QFP is placed flat on a pedestal, and for any given side of the QFP, the first field views the lead tips from the front. The second field views the lead tips from the bottom of the IC package. Enhanced lead tip images are acquired by a lighting arrangement that casts illumination on the lead tips only. Electronic processing techniques are used to compute the geometry of the laeds such as global coplanarity, lead standoff and inspection of other lead defects.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for medical ultrasound imaging. An ultrasound beam is scanned in a fast scan direction and is scanned in a slow scan direction concurrently with scanning in the fast scan direction. During scanning of the ultrasound beam, ultrasound data samples, representative of two-dimensional slices of a volume of interest in a patient, are acquired at different points in the slow scan direction and at different times in the patient's cardiac cycle. Scanning in the slow scan direction is controlled relative to the patient's cardiac cycle so that the acquired data samples have a desired spatial distribution over the volume of interest and a desired temporal distribution over the patient's cardiac cycle. The acquired data samples are converted to three-dimensional image data sets which represent the volume of interest at different times in the patient's cardiac cycle.

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: A defibrillator having infrared communication capability is provided. The wireless communications capability is implemented using infrared light or RF communications and standardized communications protocols such as the IrDA protocol to allow for ready communication between defibrillators such as during handoffs of patient along the Chain of Survival. The wireless communications network also allows for communications between a defibrillator and a host computer such as a palmtop for incident report generation after each handoff. Another embodiment of the present invention provides for a defibrillator having an infrared mode switch to allow for restricted access to advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) features of the defibrillator. A further embodiment of the present invention provides for a defibrillator having a remote training mode that is implemented via wireless communications.

Abstract: An ultrasonic imaging system having an electronic control and signal processing circuit section interconnected with an improved probe assembly suitable for use in varied applications of ultrasonic imaging, especially in medicine, and in other fields of use. The probe assembly indudes an operator interface and a sensor head, both of which are structurally integrated within a compact housing according to a predetermined spatial relationship, such that an operator can position the probe assembly so as to locate the display adjacent the physical structure that is subject to isonification while simultaneously viewing, on the operator interface, an ultrasonic image of the physical structure. The ultrasonic image is thereby considered to be observable through an "acoustic window" that is implemented in the view provided in the operator interface.

Abstract: The invention provides an improved donor substrate for the formation and transfer of solder bumps useful in IC packaging and related interconnect applications. The donor substrate is improved by shaping the solder paste containment region (cavity) so that during reflow, the solder bump is urged to protrude significantly above the surface of the donor substrate, enabling proximity transfer of the solder bump to a receiving substrate.

Abstract: A surface mountable high frequency electronic package consisting of substrates stacked on top of each other, with arbitrarily-shaped solder structures such as balls and walls connecting them together; forming a fully-shielded, environmentally-sealed, sandwich in which smaller electronic components and devices are placed. In addition to providing electronic and mechanical interconnection to a mother substrate, the solder structures also provide electromagnetic isolation and shielding, controlled-impedance transmission line structures, and an environmental seal. The entire package is fabricated from conventional materials and components assembled together with automated processes.

Abstract: A synchronization system synchronizes a first signal with a second signal. Data values of the first signal are stored in a first-in, first-out (FIFO) device in response to strobe signals that latch the first signal. The output of the FIFO device is clocked by clocks of the second signal. Therefore, the signal output by the FIFO device is synchronized with respect to the second signal. If the frequencies of the first signal and the second signal differ, then multiple FIFO devices are used to successively store the data of the first signal. In this regard, the signal output by the plurality FIFO devices has the same frequency as the second signal and has a bit length larger than the first signal.

Abstract: The present invention is generally directed to a method and apparatus for transferring data from an integrated circuit that is capable of bidirectional data communication. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, an apparatus is provided having a circuit for splitting the data into two portions--a high bit portion and a low bit portion. The circuit also includes two data paths. A first data path communicates the high bit portion of the data and a second data path communicates the low bit portion of the data. The apparatus further includes an output circuit that is configured to connect outputs of the first and second data paths to a common, bidirectional data bus. Finally the apparatus includes a hold circuit configured to hold a last data value on the common data bus for at least one clock cycle before allowing circuitry to receive data from the common bus. A method is also provided for transferring data from an integrated circuit capable of bidirectional data communication.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a control system for a photolithographic integrated circuit manufacturing process. The control system incorporates a visual gating device in which a series of nests are provided. A barcode reader may be provided in conjunction with some of the nests. In operation, a human operator advances wafer lot boxes through the nest positions in accordance with a series of displays which are controlled by the control system. The barcode reader associated with each nest reads a barcode label on the wafer lot box contained within the nest to determine the lot number corresponding to the lot box. This lot number is then used by the control system to obtain setup parameters for the various photolithographic manufacturing process operations.

Abstract: A polarization scrambling device randomly varies the polarization states of multiple applied optical signals. The scrambling device includes a polarization scrambler coupled to a wavelength-dependent polarization randomizer having cascaded birefringent elements in which the axes of polarization of the cascaded elements are rotationally offset. The scrambling device causes random variations in the relative and the absolute polarization states of the applied optical signals. The birefringence, lengths, and number of cascaded birefringent elements are chosen to assure that the polarization states of optical signals at the different wavelengths are sufficiently randomized, even when the applied optical signals are closely spaced in frequency.

Abstract: The dependancies of a computer service are modeled. The modeling hierarchically defines the relationships between the computer service and the hardware and software services which the computer service depends. These relationships may be contained in data structures defining a directed acyclic graph. The model also defines which measurements need to be taken to determine health and performance of the computer service and the health and performance of all the computer services upon which the computer service depends. Software agents that take these measurements may be deployed using the model to determine the measurement locations and functions. Data from measurement agents may be propagated up the model hierarchy. The model may also be visualized by a graphical interface to communicate the dependancies and the health and status of the services upon which the modeled service depends.

Abstract: A ferroelectric random access memory ("FeRAM") device includes shared bit lines and fragmented plate lines. Each bit line is shared by a group of two or more ferroelectric capacitors. Each group also includes at least one access transistor, which may be shared by more than one ferroelectric capacitor. During read and write operations, capacitors in a group are selected by the plate lines and a plate line decoder.

Abstract: An optical fiber faceplate transmits light signals between an optical fiber communications device and optical fibers secured by a fiber optic connector. The optical fiber faceplate includes a plurality of closely spaced optical fiber segments which prevent light signals from diverging as they pass through the faceplate. The diameters of the cores of the optical fiber segments within the faceplate are smaller than the diameters of the optical fibers secured by the fiber optic connector. Therefore, light from optical signals communicated by the optical fibers is received and transmitted through the faceplate via a plurality of optical fiber segments within the faceplate. Consequently, the faceplate does not need to be precisely aligned with either the optical fibers or the optical communications device.

Abstract: An organic polymer based display and method for making the same. The display is constructed on a flexible sheet having first and second surfaces, the first and second surfaces being parallel to one another. The flexible sheet is transparent to light of a first wavelength. A first electrode, which includes a first electrode layer in contact with the first surface, is deposited on the flexible sheet. The first electrode layer is also transparent to light of the first wavelength. A light-emitting layer that includes an organic polymer is deposited on the electrode layer. A second electrode that includes a second electrode layer in contact with the light emitting layer is deposited on the light-emitting layer. The light emitting layer generates light of the first wavelength when a potential difference is applied across the first and second electrodes. A light conversion layer is deposited in contact with the second surface of the flexible sheet.

Abstract: A device for sampling blood from the skin of a patient by puncture. The device includes one or more lancets for lancing the skin and a fluid-conducting plate unit for transporting blood from the lancing wound. The plate unit has one or more channels for conducting fluid to one or more target locations. Preferably there is a first channel for conducting away a first portion of fluid that contains more of a fluid that is emitted initially (initial fluid) from the puncture wound and a second channel for conducting a second portion of fluid that contains less of the initial fluid from the puncture wound. Blood is drawn into the channels by capillary force. The device can be used to lance the skin and obtain a representative sample of blood with relatively simple procedures.

Abstract: An NLTS (non-linear transition shift) correction circuit for hard disk drives improves flexibility in modifying algorithm of the data pattern analysis utilized therein and NLTS correction precision thereof. The NLTS correction circuit of the present invention uses a data pattern analyzer including a CPU and a data pattern analysis program. Selector control signals produced by this analyzer are stored in a selector control signal buffer memory and are output to a selector in synchronization with the output from a data buffer memory. The pattern of data to be recorded can be analyzed while flexibly responding to the fluctuations in the characteristic of the recording medium by modifying the analyzing program. Moreover, the difference in the amount of delay between the delay lines can be calibrated by adding a circuit for calibrating the NLTS correction value, which includes a circuit that converts the duty cycle of the record data signal to voltage value.

Abstract: Methods for linearly amplifying mRNA to produce antisense RNA are provided. In the subject methods, mRNA is converted to double-stranded cDNA using a promoter-primer having a poly-dT primer site linked to a promoter sequence so that the resulting double-stranded cDNA is recognized by an RNA polymerase. The resultant double-stranded cDNA is then transcribed into antisense RNA in the presence of a reverse transcriptase that is rendered incapable of RNA-dependent DNA polymerase activity during this transcription step. The subject methods find use a variety of different applications in which the preparation of linearly amplified amounts of antisense RNA is desired. Also provided are kits for practicing the subject methods.

Abstract: An energy reduction unit is removably connectable to an external defibrillator to reduce the defibrillation energy delivered by the defibrillator to a patient. Use of the energy reduction unit is particularly suited to defibrillating pediatric patients (infants and children under 8) with an automatic or semi-automatic external defibrillator (AED). In one embodiment, the energy reduction unit includes an attenuator which partially dissipates energy produced by the AED. The attenuator is advantageously designed to present an impedance to the AED which, when connected to the patient, is approximately equal to the patient's impedance. The energy reduction unit may include a presence-detect function which enables the defibrillator to modify analysis of ECG signals to account for differences heart rhythms of pediatric and adult patients. In a second embodiment, the energy reduction unit includes an energy control modifier circuit which affects the charging operations performed internal to the AED.

Abstract: A technique of detecting repeating patterns of anomalous intramyocardial Wenckebach electrical activity in a patient is provided. The method of the technique deals with determining the presence or absence of such intramyocardial anomaly by processing signals that are electrical potential signals which include a cardiac component and a respiratory component. The method includes estimating the respiratory component (preferably by a regression curve-fitting technique based on data of the electrical potential signals and data of respiratory signals), finding the difference between the electrical potential and the estimated respiratory component and based on this difference inferring the presence of absence of the intramyocardial anomaly.