Abstract: Metastable beta titanium alloys and methods of processing metastable ?-titanium alloys are disclosed. For example, certain non-limiting embodiments relate to metastable ?-titanium alloys, such as binary ?-titanium alloys comprising greater than 10 weight percent molybdenum, having tensile strengths of at least 150 ksi and elongations of at least 12 percent. Other non-limiting embodiments relate to methods of processing metastable ?-titanium alloys, and more specifically, methods of processing binary ?-titanium alloys comprising greater than 10 weight percent molybdenum, wherein the method comprises hot working and direct aging the metastable ?-titanium alloy at a temperature below the ?-transus temperature of the metastable ?-titanium alloy for a time sufficient to form ?-phase precipitates in the metastable ?-titanium alloy. Articles of manufacture comprising binary ?-titanium alloys according to various non-limiting embodiments disclosed herein are also disclosed.

Abstract: An integrated circuit package employs a solder pad that includes a predetermined three dimensional surface that is adapted to receive solder. In one example, the predetermined three dimensional surface includes at least one predetermined hill or protruding portion and a valley portion, such as a lower portion, having a predetermined relative height between the hill portion and a valley portion. The predetermined three dimensional surface can be configured in any suitable configuration and may include contoured patterns, non-patterns, or any other suitable configuration as desired. A related method is also described.

Abstract: An in-rush or out-rush current limiting circuit employs a low number of components to effect in-rush current limiting and may be employed in dongles or on-chip (in the case of serving as an out-rush current limiting circuit). The in-rush current limiting circuit may be employed, for example, in USB dongles, Display Port (DP) dongles, or any other suitable connector as desired. Alternatively, the circuit may be integrated onto a circuit board or within an integrated circuit as desired. Among other advantages, a lower cost, low complexity solution may be provided. In addition, bulk capacitance can be increased such as by employing a trickle resistor or other suitable limiting structure.

Abstract: An article of furniture includes a carbon-negative bio-plastic and a non-hazardous blowing agent for expanding the bio-plastic in a mold to produce the article of furniture having a negative carbon footprint.

Abstract: When a physical change (e.g. a change in screen orientation) is detected at a display device that is attached to a graphics subsystem of a host device and on which images are currently being displayed, a hot plug detect signal may be provided to the graphics subsystem. In response, the graphics subsystem may adjust its processing of images to account for the physical change (e.g. the image may be rotated). The display device may communicate data representative of the physical change to the graphics subsystem. The graphics subsystem may use this data to determine how its processing of images should be adjusted. The data may be communicated over an I2C bus regardless of whether a hot plug detect signal is provided.

Abstract: A video decoding method and apparatus receives a motion compensation shader command, such as a packet, for a programmable shader of a 3D pipeline, such as programmable vertex shaders and pixel shaders, to provide motion compensation for encoded video, and decode the encoded video using the programmable shader of the 3D pipeline. As such, the programmable shader of a 3D pipeline is used to provide motion compensated video decoding as opposed to, for example, dedicated hardware, thereby, among other advantages, eliminating the need for the dedicated hardware.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a substrate for use in electronic packaging having a core, m buildup layers on a first surface of the core and n buildup layers on a second surface of the core, where m?n is disclosed. The method includes forming (m?n) of the m buildup layers on the first surface, and then forming n pairs of buildup layers, with each one of the pairs including one of the n buildup layers formed on the second surface and one of the remaining n of the m buildup layers formed on the first surface. Each buildup layer includes a dielectric layer and a conductive layer formed thereon. The disclosed method protects the dielectric layer in each of buildup layers from becoming overdesmeared during substrate manufacturing by avoiding repeated desmearing of dielectric materials.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring a rate of liquid flow through a spray nozzle includes a container with an opening in a top thereof adapted to receive a liquid discharge from a spray nozzle. A level sensor comprises an electrical capacitor oriented substantially vertically in the container and configured such that as liquid rises in the container, a capacitance of the capacitor changes. A processor circuit is connected to the capacitor and is operative to measure the change in capacitance of the capacitor and convert the change in capacitance into a rate of liquid flow into the container, and a display is operative to display the rate of liquid flow. The apparatus is applicable to an agriculture or industrial application whereby an operator can periodically check the flow to determine wear or plugging of a spray nozzle.

Abstract: A dynamic bus inversion (DBI) method and system are described. In various embodiments, a transmitter transmits data over a multi-bit high-speed bus to a receiver. In an embodiment, the transmitter determines whether to invert the bus based on the number of data bits that will be transitioning to a new value. If it is determined that the bus is to be inverted, the transmitter encodes a DBI signal on a shared line of the bus. In an embodiment, the shared line is used for different purposes at different times, obviating the need for a dedicated line or pin for the encoded DBI signal. The receiver receives and decodes the DBI signal and, in response, appropriately decodes the received data.

Abstract: A method for displaying images on multiple monitors with different refresh rates is disclosed. To prevent screen tearing, the surface containing image data is not released when the access by the master monitor is completed until the slave monitor or monitors finish access. To synchronize images with a predefined playback speed, the surface containing a new image received from the application is not flipped onto the screens until receiving a predefined synchronization indicator.

Abstract: A mechanism is presented for editing a video stream as the stream is received, allowing real-time displaying and storing of the edited video stream without requiring the received video stream to first be recorded. The mechanism allows the selection of editing options prior to starting or during the record process. The mechanism can monitor the input video stream for specific characteristics and edit the video stream according to predefined editing options based on those characteristics and/or user inputs. Special effects can be intelligently selected based upon internal and external information about the video stream, for example, user actions, input source, and content information.

Abstract: A pulsed latch circuit with conditional shutoff prevents an input node, such as a node receiving data, of the pulsed latch circuit, from latching data based on a delayed input control signal, such as an internal clocking signal, and based on a feedback latch state transition detection signal indicating that a current state of input data is stored in the latch. As such, two control conditions are used to shut down the latch. In one example, a condition generator detects when the latch has captured data correctly and outputs a signal to disable the input node. In addition, a variable delay circuit is used to adjust the width of the allowable input signal to set a worst case shutoff time. If data is latched early, a feedback latch state transition detection signal causes the input node to be disabled. If data is not latched early, the maximum allowable latch time is set by the variable delay circuit.

Abstract: A robotic crash protector device is configured for heavy payload applications. The device includes a housing, a piston and an actuator movably mounted within the housing, a cam member secured within the housing in fixed relation to the housing's base, and a switch. The cam member includes a cam surface with some portions being closer to the housing's base than other portions. The actuator includes bearing members that are configured to, responsive to a rotational force imparted to the actuator, move along the cam surface and thereby collectively displace the piston. The switch detects this displacement and indicates a crash. When moving along the cam surface, the bearing members are each configured to engage the surface along a line of contact, rather than at a single point. With forces imparted to each bearing member and the cam surface distributed across a line, the components better endure heavy payload applications.

Abstract: A method includes reducing power of a first graphics processor by disabling or not using its rendering engine and leaving a display engine of the same first graphics processor capable of outputting display frames from a corresponding first frame buffer to a display. A display frame is rendered by a second graphics processor while the rendering engine of the first graphics processor is in a reduced power state, such as a non-rendering state. The rendered frame is stored in a corresponding second frame buffer of the second graphics processor, such as a local frame buffer and copied from the second frame buffer to the first frame buffer. The copied frame in the first frame buffer is then displayed on a display while the rendering engine of the first graphics processor is in the reduced power state.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a method and apparatus for multimedia display in a mobile device including a multimedia processor capable of generating a multimedia display output. The method and apparatus further includes a multimedia display buffer and a camera interface coupled to the multimedia processor, wherein the multimedia processor is capable of receiving a captured image from a camera. The method and apparatus further includes a multimedia device interface that is capable of receiving an encoded multimedia display command encoded in a multimedia device interface command protocol. Thereupon, the encoded multimedia display command is generated, such that the multi-media processor can generate the multimedia display output and provide the multimedia display output to the display device.

Abstract: A video decoder (10) with reduced power consumption includes a power management controller (45) that is operative to select one of a plurality of different power consumption states for a video decoder (10), and, in response to the determination, vary power consumption of at least one operational portion of the video decoder (10). In addition, in one example, a method (200) for reducing power consumption for a video decoder (10) includes determining input stream encoding description data (34) to select one of a plurality of different power consumption states for a video decoder (10) and, in response to the determination, varying power consumption of at least one operational portion of the video decoder (10).

Abstract: A nucleated casting apparatus including an atomizing nozzle configured to produce a droplet spray of a metallic material, a mold configured to receive the droplet spray and form a preform therein, and a gas injector which can limit, and possibly prevent, overspray from accumulating on the mold. The gas injector can be configured to produce a gas flow which can impinge on the droplet spray to redirect at least a portion of the droplet spray away from a side wall of the mold. In various embodiments, the droplet spray may be directed by the atomizing nozzle in a generally downward direction and the gas flow may be directed in a generally upward direction such that the gas flow circumscribes the perimeter of the mold.

Abstract: An electrical connector, such as a circuit board connector, includes a housing having therein a divided multi-connector element. The electrical connector is adapted to electrically connect with a substrate, such as a circuit board. The divided multi-connector element includes a divided electrical contact configuration that includes a first group or subassembly of electrical contacts physically separate from an adjacent and second group or subassembly of contacts. The first group of electrical contacts and second group of electrical contacts each include a row of lower contacts and upper contacts. The second group of electrical contacts has an identical but mirrored configuration as the first group of electrical contacts.

Abstract: Metastable beta titanium alloys and methods of processing metastable ?-titanium alloys are disclosed. For example, certain non-limiting embodiments relate to metastable ?-titanium alloys, such as binary ?-titanium alloys comprising greater than 10 weight percent molybdenum, having tensile strengths of at least 150 ksi and elongations of at least 12 percent. Other non-limiting embodiments relate to methods of processing metastable ?-titanium alloys, and more specifically, methods of processing binary ?-titanium alloys comprising greater than 10 weight percent molybdenum, wherein the method comprises hot working and direct aging the metastable ?-titanium alloy at a temperature below the ?-transus temperature of the metastable ?-titanium alloy for a time sufficient to form ?-phase precipitates in the metastable ?-titanium alloy. Articles of manufacture comprising binary ?-titanium alloys according to various non-limiting embodiments disclosed herein are also disclosed.

Abstract: A forging die heating or preheating apparatus comprises a burner head comprising a plurality of flame ports. The burner head is oriented to compliment an orientation of at least a region of a forging surface of a forging die and is configured to receive and combust a supply of an oxidizing gas and a supply of a fuel and produce flames at the flame ports. The plurality of flame ports are configured to impinge the flames onto the forging surface of the forging die to substantially uniformly heat at least the region of the forging surface of the forging die.