Abstract: Ultrasound energy has been observed to rapidly destroy a large quantity of microbubbles. The duration and intensity of the contrast effect is greatly diminished by conventional imaging frame rates and power levels. Altering the imaging sequence by strategically shooting ultrasound image frames at various transmit powers and reducing the number of transmit lines per frame allows for enhancement of the contrast effect (increasing maximum intensity and duration).

Abstract: A clock reference frequency is digitally derived from a base signal, then digitally modulated by ramping the clock reference frequency up and down about a desired frequency. The modulation occurs in periodic fashion at a prescribed modulation frequency. Such modulation spreads the electromagnetic energy of the system signals over a band that is a portion of the desired clock frequency. As a result, energy in harmonics of the respective system signals also are spread. When the energy spreading of any system signal or harmonic of such signal occurs over a bandwidth greater than the 120 kHz bandwidth of conventional communication receivers, adverse EMI emissions are reduced.

Abstract: A field programmable gate array (FPGA) memory system which allows the same array of memory to contain both configurable memory and user memory. The FPGA user logic can modify the information contained within the configurable memory and the user memory. The information stored within the configuration memory defines the logic within the user logic. Therefore, the user logic can modify sections of the logic within the user logic. The configuration memory and the user memory share resources such as address decoders, bitlines and sense amplifiers.

Abstract: A cache memory which is partitioned during write operations into several regions in a programmable or adaptive manner is disclosed. Each region is used to store a different type of data. The partitioning of the cache memory has no effect during read operations. The partitioning can be achieved dynamically for improved optimization. The partitioned cache is particularly suited for an instruction cache wherein one of the regions stores sequential instructions and another region stores branch target instructions. However, the partitioned cache is also useful for a data cache.

Abstract: The invention relates to an ionization chamber. More particularly, the invention relates to a mass spectrometry system having an ionization chamber containing an easily removable and replaceable capillary.

Abstract: This disclosure describes an improved ink seal between a print cartridge body and an inkjet printhead. In a preferred embodiment, a nozzle member containing an array of orifices has a substrate, having heater elements formed thereon, affixed to a back surface of the nozzle member. Each orifice in the nozzle member is associated with a single heating element formed on the substrate. The back surface of the nozzle member extends beyond the outer edges of the substrate. Ink is supplied from an ink reservoir to the orifices by a fluid channel within a barrier layer between the nozzle member and the substrate. The fluid channel in the barrier layer may receive ink fl owing around two or more outer edges of the substrate or may receive ink which flows through a hole in the center of the substrate.

Abstract: Apparatus for fixing the position of an optical sensor within a range of motion in relation to an optical apparatus. The fixing apparatus provides permits a range of motion through five degrees of freedom (DOF) during the securing process. The apparatus includes a housing for the optical assembly, a middle bracket, with the middle bracket secured to the optical apparatus. The range of motion is provided by a gimbal design in the housing and middle bracket which creates the five DOF. There are no screws involved in the fixing process to impart torques or forces to the parts being aligned and secured in position. An ultraviolet (UV) activated adhesive is used to secure the sensor housing to the middle bracket and the middle bracket to the optical scanner housing. The middle bracket is formed of a material transparent to UV light, and a high percentage of the UV light can pass through it to cure the adhesive applied between the parts. A vertical hole runs through tabs of both the housing and the middle bracket.

Abstract: In order to reduce particle clogging of ink firing chambers in an inkjet printer printhead, the barrier layer is configured to have a plurality of inner barrier islands, each associated with a respective one of the heater resistors, disposed between an ink firing chamber and the ink plenum, to form two ink feed channels. The two ink feed channels are designed to have a right angle turn to prevent particles from entering the ink firing chamber. A plurality of outer barrier islands, having a number equal to twice the number of inner barrier islands, are disposed between the inner barrier islands and the ink plenum, and are configured in lines parallel to the lines of heater resistors to prevent particles from reaching the ink feed channels.

Abstract: An ink supply container for an ink-jet printer is provided with a main reservoir, which is typically maintained at ambient pressure. The main reservoir is coupled to a variable volume chamber via a one-way valve which allows the flow of ink from the reservoir to the chamber and prevents the flow of ink from the chamber to the reservoir. The chamber is coupled to a fluid outlet which is normally closed to prevent the flow of ink. A fill port is provided for directing ink into the reservoir to fill the reservoir. The apparatus and method for filling the ink container includes a nozzle that seals around the fill port and that has valved fluid lines connected thereto for evacuating the container prior to filling and for directing ink into the evacuated reservoir. The nozzle surrounds a plug that is moved to seal the port while the nozzle is still sealed around the port immediately after the container is filled.

Abstract: A battery pack, adapter and integrated charging system for charging a battery pack of the type used in a portable electronic device such as a notebook computer, a cellular telephone, etc. The battery pack includes a battery coupled through a power converter to a secondary transformer winding. A communication link is provided to the adapter which includes control logic and a power selector. The adapter may be configured to provide DC or AC power to charge a portable electronic device and the processor of a portable electronic device may be used to control charging of an external battery pack.

Abstract: A system and method for collision resolution in a communication system having multiple transmission stations communicating on a shared slotted communication channel. The system and method includes a procedure for organizing the stations in a structure wherein each station has a fixed address corresponding to a static location in the structure.

Abstract: A multiplier is modified to perform a population count. A first value is input to the multiplier in place of a first multiplicand. The first value is an operand upon which the population count is to be performed. A second value is input into the multiplier in place of a second multiplicand. Each bit of the second value is at logic one. In partial product rows, certain partial products are forced to logic zero. This is done so that only a single column of partial products is used to calculate the population count. The partial products are then summed to produce a result. The present invention also may be adapted for use with Booth-encoded multipliers.

Abstract: A method for partial pixel encoding and decoding of an extended resolution halftone image. The image is represented by a plurality of pixels and each pixel contains a number of sub-pixels. First, a group of pixels from the plurality of pixels is defined. The group of pixels is consolidated so that at most one pixel (i.e., a partial pixel) in the group has a sub-set of the plurality of sub-pixels set. Those fully-on or fully-off pixels in the group are stored in a bitmap. The corresponding bit in the bitmap is set if the partial pixel has more than half of its sub-pixels set otherwise it is reset. Next, the position of the partial pixel is stored in memory. Finally, an indicator is stored in memory, where the indicator in combination with the corresponding bit describe how many of the sub-pixels in the partial pixel are set. Decoding is performed in the reverse order.

Abstract: A MR compatible monitoring system has a fiber optic data link between the patient monitor and the control room display/keyboard in a magnetic resonance imaging suite to allow for continuous monitoring of a patient's vital signs and provides critical care patients with the same diagnostic options as stable patients. The patient monitor is mounted on the far end of a magnetic resonance compatible patient transporter. The patient transporter sends video data and receives control data from the control room. During the imaging, the patient monitor is located within the magnet room. Magnetic resonance imaging systems are very sensitive to radio frequency interference (RFI) from other equipment and may produce image artifacts because of this interference. Using a fiber optic data link between the patient monitor near the magnet and the control room will minimize the potential RFI.

Abstract: Selective trapping of ions from an external source into a quadrupole trap is accomplished by applying a parametric pump voltage to the quadrupole trap electrodes in such a phase as to extract energy from the ions, causing the ions to accumulate in the center of the trap. Pump voltage phase is controlled by the timing of the injection of ions into the trap relative to the absolute phase of the pump voltage. Optimum phasing results when the ion packet allowed into the trap through gating of the ion beam optics is sufficiently opposed by the field produced by the parametric pump voltage. The ions are also subjected to a normal RF trapping field.

Abstract: An ink supply for an ink-jet printer is provided with a main reservoir, which is typically maintained at ambient pressure. The main reservoir is coupled to a variable volume chamber via a one-way valve which allows the flow of ink from the reservoir to the chamber and prevents the flow of ink from the chamber to the reservoir. The chamber is coupled to a fluid outlet which is normally closed to prevent the flow of ink. However, when the ink supply is installed in a printer, the fluid outlet establishes a fluid connection between the chamber and the printer. The chamber is part of a pump provided with the ink supply that can be actuated to supply ink from the reservoir to the printer.

Abstract: A planar palladium structure makes use of the unique properties of palladium to provide a hydrogen permeable membrane suitable for use in providing, for example, selective control of a nominal gas pressure within a cavity. The contemplated planar palladium structure includes a planar substrate having upper and lower major surfaces and an array of microfine channels therebetween, wherein the channels allow gaseous communication between the upper and lower major surfaces, and an array of palladium deposits being distributed on the substrate and located with respect to the microfine channels so as to restrict the gaseous communication to diffusion of hydrogen gas.

Abstract: The optical component comprises a first I/O port, a second I/O port and a polarization-changing optical element located between the first I/O port and the second I/O port. The second I/O port is optically aligned with the first I/O port. The first I/O port includes a first opposed walk-off crystal pair and a second opposed walk-off crystal pair. The second opposed walk-off crystal pair is a mirror image of the first opposed walk-off crystal pair. Each opposed walk-off crystal pair comprises two walk-off crystals. Each walk-off crystal has a walk-off direction. Each walk-off crystal includes an attachment face substantially parallel to the walk-off direction, a first face orthogonal to the attachment faces, and a second face opposite the first face. The walk-off crystals are attached to one another with their attachment faces in contact, and their walk-off directions opposed.

Abstract: A method adapted for implementation in a computer system for correcting and half toning color data in a list of colors is provided. Starting with the first color in the list, color corrections are performed. Using traditional half toning methods, descriptions of the resulting printable dots for each position in the halftone matrix for that color are determined. Color corrections and half toning are repeated for each of the colors in the list. A lookup table is compiled. As each pixel of the image from which the list of colors was compiled is encountered, the printable dots are determined by reference to the lookup table.