Abstract: Methods for surface micro-machining silicon wafers, including coating cavity sidewalls with oxidation-resistant material to prevent lateral oxidation. This in turn prevents "bird's beak" during formation of a diaphragm. The methods are useful for, among other things, the manufacture of absolute-type pressure sensors. Along with bulk micro-machining techniques, the methods can be used to produce gauge- and differential-type pressure sensors, as well.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes a substrate, a light shielding layer having a substantial portion in the substrate, and an insulating layer over the light shielding layer and the substrate. A transistor includes gate, source, and drain electrodes over the insulating layer, the light shielding layer substantially covering the transistor. A data bus line is connected to one of the drain and source electrodes and a first light leakage region is adjacent the data bus line, the light shielding layer shielding the first light leakage region. A gate bus line connected to the gate electrode and a second light leakage region is adjacent the gate electrode, the light shielding layer shielding the second light leakage region. A pixel electrode contacts one of the source and drain electrodes of the transistor. A third light leakage region is between the data bus line and the pixel electrode, the light shielding region shielding the third light leakage region.

Abstract: A two-way paging system (10) includes a plurality of personal paging units (16). The personal paging units (16) receive pages (18), and generate radio signals (28) in response to the pages. The system includes a transmitter (12) for generating the pages, and a receiver (14). The receiver includes first and second receiving circuitry (30) and (34). The first receiving circuitry receives radio signals from the personal paging units. The second receiving circuitry receives radio signals from a source other than the personal paging units. The receiver further includes a data processor (32) electronically linked with the first and second receiving circuitry in the receiver. The data processor determines the time period during which radio signals are received from the personal paging units by the first receiving circuitry, based on radio signals received from the other source by the second receiving circuitry. In a preferred embodiment, the second receiving circuitry receives radio signals from the transmitter.

Abstract: A phase separator of a time shared dual evaporator cycle refrigerator includes an attachment unit formed at the end of a suction pipe and a cap formed at the attachment unit which prevents a flow of liquid refrigerant into a compressor. The liquid refrigerant which is flowing into a refrigerator compartment evaporator is expanded in a second capillary tube to be evaporated in a freezer compartment evaporator, and is then returned into the compressor. A refrigerant controlling unit determines the path of the refrigerant.

Abstract: A method of adaptively varying and locking a wavelength of high power infrared laser diode for use in a blue laser using second harmonic generation. The method including the steps of: forming a pattern for forming a periodic domain inverted area on a substrate of a non-linear medium; performing proton-exchange and quick heat-treatment for the substrate on which the pattern is formed to thereby form the periodic domain inverted area having predetermined period and width; forming a straight optical waveguide and a segmented optical waveguide, in the direction perpendicular to the periodic domain inverted area; and vacuum-evaporating an insulating buffer layer on the substrate where the periodic domain inverted area and the straight and segmented optical waveguides are formed and forming a metal electrode on the insulating buffer layer on the upper portion of the segmented optical waveguide to thereby execute polishing end facet and AR coating.

Abstract: A power supply comprises: a rectifier; a power preconverter coupled to the rectifier; a switched-mode power supply circuit coupled to the power preconverter; and, a phase control circuit for synchronizing operation of the power preconverter with operation of the switched-mode power supply circuit. An energy storage device may be coupled to the power preconverter and to the switched-mode power supply circuit. A preconverter switch conducts during each time interval that a power switch in the switched-mode power supply circuit conducts in order, for example, to charge the energy storage device. The preconverter switch begins conducting only after each time interval begins and always stops conducting before each time interval ends. In a portion of the time interval after the preconverter switch has stopped conducting, a current can flow directly from the power preconverter to the switched-mode power supply circuit without, for example, charging the energy storage device.

Abstract: A circuit reduces the total number of resistors needed to provide the reference voltages to the plurality of comparators in a flash analog-to-digital converter. In such a circuit, a first string of unit resistances having a first plurality of taps is coupled to a second string of unit resistances having first and second ends and a second plurality of taps between the ends. A first active device has an input coupled to a first tap of the first string of unit resistances and an output coupled to the first end of the second string of unit resistances. A second active device has an input coupled to a second tap of the first string of unit resistances and an output coupled to the second end of the second string of unit resistances.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a tranformer core structure, which includes a rectangular frame core having two long sides and two short sides, with one short side having a recessed part and the other short side being closed to form a junction surface of magnetic path; and a strip core disposed in the rectangular frame core through the recessed part, and having a length similar to that of said long side of said rectangular frame core, but having a width slightly less than that of said recessed part, wherein adjustment of the inductance of the structure is accomplished by moving said strip core along said recessed part to adjust a gap between one end of said strip core and said junction surface of magnetic path.

Abstract: A copy prevention method and apparatus for a digital video system is disclosed including the steps of: (a) adding a header area of a header start code and key field to a reproduced bit stream; (b) decrypting and transmitting the bit stream to which the header area is added; (c) detecting a key field of the decrypted and transmitted bit stream and detecting copy prevention information; and (d) encrypting the bit stream according to information detected form step (c) and recording it on tape.

Abstract: A switching apparatus for switching between channels within a read/write pre-amplifier circuit in a multi-channel magnetic media storage system switches between the channels and couples an active magnetoresistive sensor to receive biasing current and to a pre-amplifier circuit. When a read operation is requested from a specific channel within the magnetic media storage system, a control signal line corresponding to an appropriate magnetoresistive sensor is activated. Each channel includes a first corresponding transistor which is enabled by an appropriate control signal line, allowing current to flow through the first transistor to enable a second corresponding transistor that is coupled to the magnetoresistive sensor. Once enabled the second transistor couples the magnetoresistive sensor to a pre-amplifier stage and to receive biasing current.

Abstract: A low profile, low cost, high performance inductor/transformer component having a wire coil within a core set which is disposed at least partially within a recess in a header. The header includes projections extending from it which form terminals when wire leads from the coil are wrapped around them.

Abstract: A computer controlled video re-editing system with a "Domino" re-edit function. An edited video comprises a set of ordered video segments. In a video re-editing system a user can re-edit an edited video by adjusting the duration of each video segment. When a user adjusts the length of a video segment, the Domino re-edit function examines how the re-edit to the edited video work affects nearby video segments in the edited video work. The Domino re-edit function then propagates the effects of a re-edit by moving the nearby video segments forward or backward along a time line to accommodate the re-edit made. The Domino re-edit function utilizes any empty spaces that exist in an edited video work such that the empty spaces are filled before the effects of a re-edit are propagated to another video segment. If there is sufficient empty space between video segments, the effects of the re-edit cease propagating.

Abstract: A universal testing device for testing a plurality of electronic modules having different configurations and operating parameters. In one embodiment of the invention, a universal mounting board for testing a plurality of different modules with different pin configurations and operating parameters is a printed circuit board with a plurality of connectors and a plurality of conductive contact sites. The connectors of the universal mounting board are arranged to be operatively coupled with a plurality of contacts of a separate control fixture. In general, the contacts of the control fixture are operatively coupled to a supply voltage, a ground plane, and a signal controller. The control fixture also has a sufficient number of contacts to provide the necessary number of inputs/outputs of supply voltage, ground connections, and signals for virtually any type of electronic module.

Abstract: An image compensation system and methods for video appliances to reproduce an optimum image, by judging exterior environment and by compensating for an original image by the judged exterior environment. According to the system and methods, a color sensor senses color of exterior lighting of an appliance, and provides electrical signals corresponding to color components of the sensed color. The signals are converted into a digital value by an analog-to-digital converter. A microprocessor judges the type of exterior lighting, by the digitized values, and searches for image compensation data according to the judged exterior lighting. It thereby makes a video processor compensate for an original image signal.

Abstract: A sensor for sensing and identifying characteristics of a printer ink ribbon when a ribbon supply roll is inserted into a printer and operated. Ink ribbon cartridges used in printers are provided in a number of types, colors, and other identifiable characteristics that are important for insuring that the correct ribbon is inserted in the printer for the then current print job. In the present invention, the ribbon cartridges include ribbon supply rolls which are provided with identifying indicia on one end of the roll, and a sensor to read the presence of indicia when the printer is operated. The positions of the indicia relative to selected reference positions indicates the ink ribbon type. Suitable circuitry is used to disable the printer if the print ribbon is not properly correlated to the requirements of the printer.

Abstract: An improved actuator stem and actuator design are provided that greatly increase the accuracy of actuator type precision operations, such as surface mounted electrical component placement, die and attach tooling movements, and tape and reel part storage tooling. The actuator includes a housing having an inner surface and containing a first opening, a stem having a first end, an axis passing through said first end, and a cross section perpendicular to the axis having at least one edge. The stem is slidably disposed in the housing with the first end extending through the first opening substantially parallel to the axis. The stem is actuated along the axis by conventional methods, such as a spring. A portion of the inner surface conforms to a portion the cross section of the stem so as to prevent the stem from rotating about the axis. In a preferred embodiment, the stem has a D-shaped cross section perpendicular to the stem axis over the entire length of the stem in the direction of the axis.

Abstract: Illegal view and copy protection method in a digital video system for preventing an illegal user from viewing the digital video system and copying therefrom, by setting a descrambling method which decrypts split keystreams adopting a smart card, including a determination step for determining received data of having been scrambled; a reproduction step, a recording step, and a transporting step, wherein the reproduction step, the recording step and the transporting step can be performed simultaneously or selectively.

Abstract: In the data encoding/decoding method according to the MPEG (Moving picture Expert Group) system, the audio/video bit stream interleaving method includes a first step of determining as to whether a PTS (Presentation Time Stamp) is present in audio/video packets so as to estimate the PTS from a preceding packet in the absence of the PTS, a second step of comparing the audio packet with the video paket in the PTS to output one of the packets which has smaller PTS value, and a third step of multiplexing the audio or video packet to form an audio/video bit stream, so that the decoder is prevented from the overflow or underflow pheonomena in consideration of the decoding time within the audio/video packet data decoding time.