Abstract: A low cost, high speed multimedia data network is disclosed. The network preferably includes a fiber optic data bus arranged in a star topology configuration. Various types of devices or nodes may be placed in communication with the bus via a specially designed interface. The interface allows a device to communicate with the high speed network without requiring that the device have the processing power to receive and transmit data according to the protocols and demands of the network. The interface may be configured to match the complexity of its associated device. For intelligent devices, the interface may allow some of the network-related functions to be performed by the device itself. For non-intelligent (or "dumb") devices, the interface performs substantially all of the network-related functions.

Abstract: A process for integrating a vertical power device, such as an IGBT device, with suitable control circuitry, such as circuitry that provides self-protection from over-temperature (OT), over-voltage (OV) and over-current (OC) conditions. The process yields a vertical power device that is monolithically integrated with, and dielectrically isolated from, its control circuitry with the use of wafer-bonded silicon-on-insulator (SOI) material that yields a buried oxide layer. The process includes simultaneous fabrication of the power device below the buried oxide layer and its control circuitry above the buried oxide layer, in the SOI layer.

Abstract: A backlighted button or knob made by multi-shot molding has a translucent part and an opaque part. At the front of the button the translucent part contains a ridge shaped in the form of a symbol which is illuminated. The opaque part surrounds the ridge to mask light to surrounding areas. Where the symbol is a closed figure defining an island, a passage behind the ridge coupled the island to the surrounding areas to allow opaque material to flow to the island during molding, and results in an opaque bridge in the passage. To minimize a shadow of the bridge on the illuminated symbol the bridge is spaced far behind the ridge to allow light to be conducted through the translucent material to the ridge portion just in front of the bridge.

Abstract: A method of bonding two electrically conductive substrates together includes the steps of forming a dielectric layer between the substrates, with the layer being formed from a sol-gel solution. Through the application of a constant voltage an ionic depletion region is created in the dielectric layer. After the step of creating the ionic depletion region, the dielectric layer and substrates are heated such that an oxygen depletion region is created in one of the substrates. The sol-gel solution includes sodium aluminoborosilicate having about 75-90 mol % SiO.sub.2, about 5-20 mol % B.sub.2 O.sub.3, about 1-10 mol % Na.sub.2 O and about 0-5 mol % Al.sub.2 O.sub.3.

Abstract: A technique for the automatic alignment and tuning of the front end of a vehicle radio. A tuning voltage is applied to a multiplying digital-to-analog converter before being applied to a front end tuning circuitry of the radio. A tuning voltage antenna number is applied to the tuning voltage at the converter to scale the tuning voltage, and adjust the center frequency tuning of the front end. During alignment, the tuning voltage antenna number is used to modulate the tuning voltage around a mean by reprogramming the tuning voltage antenna number a few values higher and lower in sequence. This modulation of the antenna tuning voltage creates an AC modulation component on the signal strength indicator signal passing through the front end. The signal strength indicator signal is measured and compared to its value before the tuning voltage antenna number was changed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for inspecting a substrate having a surface on which a photoresist material has been deposited. The apparatus preferably includes a device for transporting substrates through an illumination beam such that the edges of the substrates are sequentially irradiated by the beam without requiring that each substrate be individually manipulated. The illumination beam is generated and projected onto the substrates by equipment configured to produce a beam having a size, wavelength, and intensity sufficient to cause the photoresist material to fluoresce with an intensity that can be detected without magnification. Inspection can be performed manually or automated through optical equipment that can detect flaws in the photoresist based on knowledge of the patterned image desired for the photoresist.

Abstract: A pointer assembly illuminated by a rear circular light source surrounding a pointer axis includes a pointer having an inner portion surrounding the axis and a tip extending radially from the inner portion, a stem for supporting the pointer on a gauge spindle and including a plate for attenuating light transmission to the inner portion, and a cap surrounding the inner portion to prevent unwanted light escape from the assembly and having an elongated opening aligned with the tip. The tip and elongated opening define the illuminated pointer surface. A light collector portion of the tip located near the axis has a curved reflector for uniformly disseminating received light along the length of the tip.

Abstract: A method is provided for altering a play list of a Random Access Player without interrupting the generation of output by the Player. The method includes initiating a reproduction mode that activates the Random Access Player, commencing the generating of output by the Random Access Player and receiving play list requests while the Random Access Player is generating the output, and processing the received play list requests while the Random Access Player is generating the output such that the play list is altered without interrupting the generation of output by the player.

Abstract: A radio with a tuner and other program sources uses a digital signal processor (DSP) to enhance the audio signal and to generate a stream of digital data including audio data and control data corresponding to loudness functions. A fiber optic data link couples the data stream to a plurality of remote DSP modules each of which drive one or more speakers. Each module contains a user programmed DSP, a digital to analog converter and an amplifier for each associated speaker. The DSP modules are identical except for software parameters which establish a transfer function and a loudness characteristic for each speaker. The same DSP modules and the same speakers can be used in several vehicle types and the system audio performance can be optimized by customizing software for each type of vehicle.

Abstract: A method of making an EPROM transistor in a high density CMOS integrated circuit having a substrate to gate electrode material capacitor. The EPROM transistor is made using only the steps used to make the other components of the high density CMOS integrated circuit. The EPROM transistor is programmable at low voltages which high density CMOS transistors can handle.

Abstract: A radio keyboard supports a potentiometer on its rear surface and a popout control in the front surface. The control includes a housing between the keyboard and the radio trim plate, inner and outer stationary cams, and a rotatable cam follower on a shaft which controls the potentiometer. The cams index the cam follower each time a knob on the shaft outer end is depressed. The cams alternately hold the follower and the shaft in retracted and extended position.

Abstract: A navigation system is provided for offering navigational assistance to a mobile user. The navigation system receives GPS position information signals which are processed to determine current position latitude and longitude coordinates and direction of travel. A destination database includes a plurality of categorized destinations and corresponding destination position coordinates pertaining to the destinations. The destination database is stored on an interfacable memory card and contains menu categories and subcategories for classifying the destinations and additional text information pertaining to the destinations. User selectable menu controls enable the user to sequence through the menu of categories and destinations and select a desired destination. This is easily accomplished by rotating a rotary pushbutton to view category and destination selections and depressing the rotary pushbutton to select the selection shown.

Abstract: A warning indicator that comprises a lamp hidden adjacent to the roof of a vehicle, such as a school bus, and a transmission hologram decal containing a hologram that is mounted on a front or rear window of the vehicle. The lamp projects a beam of light downward onto the transmission hologram decal where it is diffracted by the hologram into a predetermined angular field of view at the front of rear of the vehicle. The hologram projects an image, such as the word "STOP", for example, to warn drivers of other vehicles that the vehicle, such as the school bus, for example, has come to a stop. The hologram is preferentially designed to have an asymmetrically-shaped field of view.

Abstract: A semiconductor power device (100) that includes a number of bipolar or FET power devices (116), an over-voltage clamp (118), and an edge termination structure (110) that separates the power devices (116) and the over-voltage clamp (118). The power devices (116) are formed in an interior region (100a) of a semiconductor substrate (128), while the over-voltage clamp (118) is formed in a peripheral region (100b) of the substrate. The over-voltage clamp (118) and the gate/base terminals of the power devices (116) are formed in a polysilicon layer (126) overlying the substrate (128), such that the over-voltage clamp (118) is connected between the anode and gate/base terminals of each power device (116) to provide over-voltage protection.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for verifying the correct performance of software on an electrical system by use of a cycle-based simulator. More specifically, it relates to an apparatus and method for simulating an electrical interconnection between two electronic subsystems, or modules, within a cycle based simulator. Two separate devices, a hardware output's driver and a hardware input's receiver, are characterized as one type of simulated object, a node, and the interconnection between the two devices as a second type of simulated object, a wire. The activity of output nodes is limited to placing signal values on the wire. Input nodes have a characteristic behavior in response to the information from output nodes. The wire is enhanced by storage and comparison functions that allow the comparison between new and current values of output signals as well as identification of the cycle associated with a particular change.

Abstract: A neural network IC 31 includes n dedicated processing elements (PEs) 62, an output register 66 for storing the PEs' outputs so that they are immediately accessible to all of the PEs, a number of output circuits 78 that are connected to selected PEs to provide binary outputs, and a timing circuit 74. Each of the PEs includes a weight memory 90 for storing input, output and bias weight arrays, a first in first out (FIFO) memory 88 for storing input data, a dot product circuit 92 and an activation circuit 94. The dot product circuit computes a dot product of the input weight array and the contents of the FIFO memory, a dot product of the output weight array and the contents of the output register, a dot product of the bias value and a constant, and sums the three results. The activation circuit maps the output of the dot product circuit through an activation function to produce the PE's output.

Abstract: A backlit button assembly suitable for use in an illuminated graphic display in an instrument panel of an automobile. The backlit assembly is composed of a support member and any number of molded plastic or silicone rubber buttons or keys that, together with the support member, form a keypad or switchpad. Each button of the assembly is injection molded to include a translucent portion that enables light to be transmitted from a backside of the button to a front surface of the button accessible to a person operating the button assembly. Each button is disposed at least partially within an opening formed in the support member, and has at least one integrally-formed hinge member that is directly adhered to the support member. The hinge member flexibly interconnects the button with the support member such that the button is flexibly supported within the opening in the support member.

Abstract: A time-dependent piecewise linear signal generating circuit includes a first circuit responsive to a trigger signal to provide a number of time region signals each corresponding to a separate predefined time window of the piecewise linear signal, and a second circuit responsive to some of the time region signals to produce slope signals corresponding thereto, wherein each of the slope signals define a slope of the piecewise linear signal during a respective one of the time windows. A third circuit is responsive to the slope signals and the time region signals to produce the piecewise linear signal.

Abstract: A memory efficient channel decoder circuit is provided for channel decoding differentially modulated data samples comprising multiple adjacent carriers each including two data samples associated therewith. The decoder circuit includes a pair of working read/write memory circuits partitioned into even and odd memory blocks, a separate read/write memory circuit connected thereto, and a complexmultiplier circuit having a first input connected to the working memory circuits, and a second input coupled to the separate read/write memory and a read only memory containing predefined calculation values. An in-place decimation-in-time FFT algorithm is used to differentially demodulate and frequency descramble (de-interleave) the data samples of each data symbol, as well as providing for automatic frequency control correction of the data samples.

Abstract: A circuit board has an arcuate array of conductor segments each subject to a digital waveform differing in phase for the various segments, and a concentric pickup conductor. A rotary encoder disk has a conductive pattern which sums and couples the waveforms from selected segments, depending on rotary position, to the pickup conductor. A synchronous phase detector generates a phase signal from the summed waveforms and the zero crossing of the phase signal is detected. A counter develops count signals used to generate the digital waveforms. The count signals are input to a latch which is clocked at the zero crossing point to latch the count value which is a digital measure of the encoder angle.