Abstract: A multilayer structure having an oxygen or dopant diffusion barrier fabricated of an electrically conductive, thermally stable material of refractory metal-silicon-nitrogen which is resistant to oxidation, prevents out-diffusion of dopants from silicon and has a wide process window wherein the refractory metal is selected from Ta, W, Nb, V, Ti, Zr, Hf, Cr and Mo.

Abstract: An oven for making laminated integrated circuit cubes includes an oven chamber with at least one access opening. A closure member for the access opening is capable of hermetically sealing the chamber. A hermetic connection is provided for supplying power to within the chamber. Structure permits the withdrawal of air and other gases from within the chamber. Hermetic structure permits the application of a press force to a workpiece within the chamber from an actuator outside the chamber. Hermetic temperature sensing devices measure the temperature of a workpiece within the chamber.

Abstract: A data processing system having a compression and decompression apparatus based on the Lempel-Ziv algorithm. The compression apparatus includes an array section having a circular history CAM unit for receiving and storing one or more data elements and a coding unit for determining whether received data elements previously have been stored in the history CAM unit and are a candidate for compression. If a received data element matches at least one of the stored data elements, a PS logic section determines whether there is the presence of a string. An encoding section identifies the address of the matching stored data element in a string and the length of the string. The compression apparatus generates a compression token comprising an identification of whether a data element is compressed, the length of the coded data within a plurality of predetermined data length categories and an address. The compression apparatus uses a particular hardware implementation of the PS logic section.

Abstract: A broad band broadcasting transmission system for sending broad band downstream data and telephone signals from a central office to a number subscriber set top terminal. Each frame of data is marked to indicate the set top terminals it is to be received by. A downstream light fiber is located between the head office and a curbside box. A transmitter transmits the frames along a light fiber to a SAC box. A converter converts the light signals from the light fiber to electrical signals. A distribution line coupled to the curbside box carries the electrical signals to a plurality of drop line twisted pair conductors connected to the distribution line. The drop lines are coupled via a residential units to the set top terminals.

Abstract: Input force applied on a pointing device (51) having outputs (x,y) is related to the velocity of a cursor on a video screen according to a transfer function (FIG. 2) substantially described by a parabolic sigmoid function, thus resulting in adapting the force/velocity relationship to accommodate human perception and motor control limitations and task specific coordination problems.

Abstract: A video decoder/format/frame rate converter with common memory is provided. This device decodes a compressed, interlaced video stream and converts the decoded output to a non-interlaced format and/or a format with a different frame rate.

Abstract: The present invention discloses methodology for qualitatively extending and exploiting the utility of presently known manufacturing control charts, so that one is enabled to take corrective actions prior to out-of-control conditions occurring. To this end, the invention retrofits extant control-charts with a predictive or forecasting capability combined with a signal capability.

Abstract: An apparatus for applying a force to laminated integrated circuit cubes in an oven chamber includes a force-applying member, an actuator for the force-applying member, and sealing structure for sealing the force-applying member to an opening permitting access by said force-applying member into the oven chamber. The sealing structure has a flexible sleeve, and the force-applying member passes through the sleeve. A first end of the sleeve is hermetically sealed to the force-applying member, and a second end of the sleeve can be hermetically sealed about the opening. The force applying member can move within the opening and the flexible sleeve will flex with this movement.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for minimizing the time required to obtain results for a content based query in a data base. More specifically, with this invention, the data base is partitioned into a plurality of groups. Then, a schedule or sequence of groups is assigned to each of the operations of the query, where the schedule represents the order in which an operation of the query will be applied to the groups in the schedule. Each schedule is arranged so that each application of the operation operates on the group which will yield intermediate results that are closest to final results.

Abstract: High performance on-chip voltage regulator designs are disclosed which have settling times which are fast enough to meet today's microprocessor/microcontroller requirements when they are entering an active mode from a passive mode. A first preferred embodiment provides a circuit in which a single pulse control signal is required to instantly raise Vy when the microprocessor is in the wake-up period. The circuit includes a charge pump, a differential amplifier, and a microprocessor connected to the power supply through a voltage regulating device. A second embodiment provides a circuit to stimulate Vint prior to CPU wake-up. The principle of operation of this embodiment is to stimulate the voltage regulating device prior to CPU wake-up. By stimulating (pulling down) the Vint node, the voltage regulating device will raise Vy and ready the microprocessor to draw a large current.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for allocating bits to pictures in accordance with the bit allocation constraints for operation at both constant and variable bit rates. The encoding complexity of each picture is modeled based on its spatial and temporal properties. Based on the modeling, a number of bits is allocated in advance to each picture. Each picture is then compressed according to the bits allocated. Based on the difference between the achieved and desired bit rates and on the availability of computational resources, a second pass or multiple passes may be performed to improve the coding.

Abstract: A lateral THETA device formed of a sandwich of first and second layers of semiconductor material forming a heterojunction therebetween and a two dimensional carrier gas in the second layer. First and second spaced electrodes are disposed on the surface of the first layer for inducing first and second potential barriers to the flow of charge carriers in the carrier gas. Ohmic contacts are deposited in the base region defined between the electrodes and in the emitter and collector regions defined on opposing sides of the electrodes. The width of the first electrode is formed narrow enough so that the first potential barrier beneath the electrode permits tunnelling of charge carriers into the base region. The width of the second electrode is wide enough so that the second potential barrier prevents tunnelling. Electrons tunnelling through the first barrier are hot and ballistically move through the base region to the collector.

Abstract: An assembly for measuring a trench depth parameter of a workpiece is disclosed. The assembly has an ultra-violet radiation source; a split fiber bundle having a first branch for propagating the ultra-violet radiation from the radiation source to a lens, and a second branch; a lens for focusing the UV radiation to the workpiece and refocusing an ultra-violet interference signal to the second branch; and a detector responsive to the ultra-violet interference signal received through the second branch. The detector transforms the ultra-violet interference signal to an electrical signal which is a measure of a trench depth of the workpiece. The ultra-violet interference signal is developed when ultra-violet radiation propagates through the workpiece and reflects from its base region to thereby interfere with ultra-violet radiation that is directly reflected by a workpiece surface which is different from the base region.

Abstract: The disclosed data processor (10) dispatches load/store multiple and load/store string instructions to a load/store unit (28) as a sequence of simple load or store instructions. The sequencer unit (18) assigns an entry of a rename buffer (34) to which the load/store unit writes back the data of each simple load instruction. This strategy facilitates early data forwarding for subsequent instructions. Conversely, the sequencer unit supplies a rename buffer tag to the load/store unit if it is not able to supply the operands of a simple store instruction.

Abstract: A multilevel electronic package comprising at least two levels, each level including a poly(aryl ether benzimidazole), a polymide and copper. A process of preparing this package is disclosed. Several novel poly(aryl ether benzimidazoles) useful in preparing this package are also set forth.

Abstract: A plurality of customization files, each including customizing information of a kana-kanji conversion system and display information corresponding to the customizing information, is prepared. A customization file selected from the plurality of customization files is opened (step 100), a window showing the selected customization file is displayed on a CRT, and customization is performed in an interactive way in accordance with user's instructions (step 104). The customized customization file is saved as a new file. When a kana-kanji conversion program is used, the display information of the selected customization file is displayed at an arbitrary predetermined position (preferably, in the lowest line) within the window displayed on the CRT.

Abstract: Two or more storage allocation requests in a computer system can be made concurrently. Available storage blocks are chained together. A length of the respective block and a pointer to the next block in the chain are stored in each block. The chain is searched to identify one of the available blocks to satisfy one storage allocation request while permitting allocation of another block on the chain pursuant to another storage allocation request. While permitting allocation of another block on the chain pursuant to another storage allocation request, access to the one block is prevented pursuant to this other request and the length of the one block is reduced by an amount equal or greater than that of the one request such that after the preventing step another storage allocation request cannot be satisfied from the length by which the one block was reduced. Storage block return and allocation requests can also be made concurrently.

Abstract: A programmable workstation for collaborative working in a network comprises a conventional operating system and network control layer for controlling physical routing of data between nodes. A collaborative application subsystem which interfaces with conventional telephones is responsive to a predetermined call from a collaboration call manager to establish the call manager at the node to handle incoming events which are not specific to any application program instances at the node.