Abstract: Design tools typically require representation of tree-like structures. These structures may be represented at various levels of refinement (or conversely, of abstraction). Existing methods of displaying different levels of a design involve either outlining methods which lack perceptual unity and/or obscure essential process considerations or the use of different windows (e.g., overlapping rectangular areas) which obscure essential relationships among the levels. FLOWforms.TM. (Scandura, 1987) have some of the requisite properties but it is not obvious how they map into various programming languages or how they might be constructed automatically in real time. Disclosed herein is a process for displaying arbitrary numbers of different levels of a design which apply equally to data and process and which automatically represent such relationship in proper visual context.

Abstract: An apparatus for converting aircraft altitude encoder measurements into higher resolution values, including a microprocessor connected to monitor the aircraft altitude encoder output signals, a pressure transducer and converter network for providing incremental pressure change readings, also connected to the microprocessor; the microprocessor being programmed to utilize the incremental pressure readings to calculate corresponding incremental altitude signals between transition points of the aircraft altitude encoder readings. The method of the invention includes the steps of monitoring aircraft altitude encoder transition points, reading incremental pressure variations between transition points, and calculating incremental altitude variations between altitude encoder transition points.

Abstract: An electronic display includes a matrix of LEDs mounted to a circuit board and selectively operated to produce a message or image. A reflector matrix mounts to the circuit board and provides light pipes which extend forward from each LED to direct its light and provide protection. Potting compound is disposed in each light pipe and extends beyond the reflector matrix to provide a convex lens. In one embodiment the potting compound extends into a convex lens cover.

Abstract: A device for multi-precision and block arithmetic support in a digital processor including a multiplier for multiplying two signed, unsigned or signed and unsigned binary numbers and having a dynamic range greater than -1 to +1, an arithmetic and logic unit for performing arithmetic and logic operations, a barrel shifter for barrel shifting at least one binary number, shifters for selectively shifting the output of the multiplier and multiplexers for selecting and interconnecting the outputs and inputs of the multiplier, the arithmetic and logic unit, the barrel shifter and the shifters.

Abstract: A digital peak and valley detector including a peak value address register, a valley value address register, a peak value data register, a valley value data register, a peak comparator for comparing the value stored in the peak value data register with value data contained in the digital signal applied to the digital peak and valley detector and for causing the greater of the two to be stored in the peak value data register while simultaneously storing the address in the peak value address register and a valley comparator for comparing the valley value contained in the valley value data register with the value data contained in the digital signal applied to the digital peak and valley detector for determining which is less and for causing the value and the address of the smaller of the two to be stored respectively in the valley value data and the valley value address registers.

Abstract: A controlled gas environment is provided against a surface area of a semiconductor wafer for performing processes on the area in the fabrication of integrated circuits thereon, including processes of deposition, impurity implantation, etching, ablation, and other radiation induced chemical processes involving the gas atmosphere by maintaining a continuous gas flow over the area and a portion of the surrounding area of the wafer surface covered by an enclosure that is suspended on the surface on a film of the flowing gas, the pressure, temperature and composition of the gas atmosphere against the surface area being controlled to meet the requirements of each processing step and/or to carry away particles while the gas seal is maintained.

Abstract: Intense far-ultraviolet laser radiation is applied to a workpiece in performance of processes in the fabrication of integrated circuits, including processes of ablation, deposition, impurity implantation and radiation induced chemical processes. Other processes where intense far-ultraviolet laser radiation is applied include hardening and annealing a workpiece by exposure to the radiation. Particular embodiments of the invention herein enables selective removal of a polymer film on a semiconductor substrate by ablative photodecomposition (APD) using intense far-ultraviolet, or shorter wave length, radiation from a pulsed laser requires focusing the laser radiation to provide sufficiently high fluence of laser light energy to ablate a selected area of the polymer to a useful depth in a reasonable time, sometimes referred to as the threshold of fluence of the laser pulses required to produce effective APD of the polymer.

Abstract: Disclosed is a computer system which includes multiple levels of bootstrap code. The first level of bootstrap code is stored in a non-volatile storage means associated with a host processor. A second non-volatile storage means is provided which stores a second level of bootstrap code. A processor means, separate from the host processor, controls access by the host system to both the first and second non-volatile storage means. The second non-volatile storage means in the preferred embodiment is electrically writable and erasable by the host computer system, by the processor means associated with the second non-volatile storage means, or by an input device provided for that purpose.

Abstract: An electronic display includes a matrix of LEDs mounted to a circuit board and selectively operated to produce a message or image. A reflector matrix mounts to the circuit board and provides light pipes which extend forward from each LED to direct its light and provide protection. A lens matrix is mounted to the reflector matrix and it provides convex lenses which are aligned to be received in the light pipes.

Abstract: A compact chassis-integrated slide assembly for use with electronic or other equipment. A movable chassis is translated relative to a stationary rack. Two or more slide guides are fastened to each of the two side walls of the chassis. The slide guides are adapted to slidably engage a channel in a floating slide member. The floating slide member supports the chassis while at the same time permitting relative translation of the chassis and the floating slide by means of the slide guide sliding in the channel of the floating slide. The floating slide in turn slidably engages a rack sheath where the rack sheath is adapted to be rigidly attached to the stationary rack.

Abstract: A control system for modifying a conventional full width page printer to permit generation of different printed characters, symbols, or other graphic elements of different sizes in a single line. Use of this control system permits the sequential generation of such graphic elements, even though they have different relative widths and mixed sizes, during a single pass of the paper through the printer. In a block of printing which includes mixed sizes, the height of the highest character determines the printing unit, i.e., the block size, employed by this control system, and a variety of character sizes can be printed within that block. Vertical spacing between such blocks can be rapidly traversed by the printer to begin the next printing in any chosen format.

Abstract: A second order filter signal is derived in response to a phase comparison of two signals by selecting an input voltage from a reference voltage, a first voltage potential higher than the reference voltage, and a second voltage potential lower than the reference voltage depending on the phase error of the two signals. The input signal is applied to a loop filter including a non-inverting integrator and to a feed forward circuit. The outputs of the amplifier and feed forward circuit are summed and applied to an output terminal as the second order filter signal. An improved phase locked oscillator circuit is provided in which a digital phase comparator drives an active loop filter including a feed forward circuit and a non-inverting integrator.

Abstract: Semiconductor structure having a plurality of isolated islands in which semiconductor devices are formed and which are interconnected to form an integrated circuit. The islands are isolated from each other by a combination of dielectric isolation in the form of moats and regions of higher conductivity extending downwardly into the semiconductor body from the moats. The semiconductor body from which the semiconductor structure is formed has a surface with a <100> orientation. An etch resistant mask is formed on the surface. An anisotropic etch is utilized to provide a plurality of isolation moats extending downwardly from the surface and having inclined side walls oriented along a crystal plane different from the <100> plane and having bottom walls oriented along the <100> crystal plane of the semiconductor body. The side walls and the bottom walls of the moats are oxidized. The oxide on the bottom walls is then removed.

Abstract: A data processing system in which a programmed supervisor data processing machine and a programmed object data processing machine are interconnected. The object machine is typically a controller which receives input signals from and delivers output signals to interface vector buffer stores under control of an object machine program. The buffer stores connect to and from user devices. The supervisor machine operates to execute a supervisor machine program. The supervisor machine halts and starts the object machine, causes supervisor instructions to be executed in the object machine, extracts information from the object machine and restores the object machine to its prehalt status allowing the object machine to continue processing the object machine program.

Abstract: A visual tuning-aid system for aligning an electronic timepiece to a correct reference frequency is disclosed. A reference oscillator in the system provides a reference signal at a precisely fixed predetermined frequency which is, or is converted to, the correct alignment frequency for the timepiece. A sensor electrostatically detects a time base signal in the timepiece and a bandpass amplifier removes any extraneous signals. The reference signal and the time base signal are provided to a phase shift indicating device in the system which provides a visual display, the movement of which is proportional to the rate of phase change between the reference signal and the time base signal. Alignment of the timepiece to the correct frequency stops the phase change and thereupon the visual display stops moving.

Abstract: A nematic liquid crystal composition comprises a fluorinated Schiff base of the general formula, X--Ph--HC=N--Ph--F, where X is an alkyl, acyl, acyloxy or alkoxy group having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, and a p-alkoxy benzylidene-p-alkyl aniline, if desired with a small amount of a p-alkoxy benzylidene-p-cyanoaniline. An electro-optical device comprises a container for a layer of the liquid crystal composition described, a layer of such composition therein, and means to supply a current across all or a selected or predetermined area of such layer to cause alignment of the liquid crystals. Methods of making the fluorinated Schiff base, the liquid crystal composition and the device are provided.

Abstract: A semiconductor read/write memory comprised of an array of cells, each having a single active element that is a IGFET device formed in a recess with one source or drain region located directly above and its other source or drain region located within a buried storage capacitor. The gate of each device is connected to an address line in the array, and transverse diffused bit lines interconnect the drains of the devices in aligned and spaced apart cells. Voltage applied via an address line activates a gate to charge its buried capacitor and store a signal when its connected bit line is also activated. Readout of stored charges is controlled by the address line through the connected bit line in the conventional manner.

Abstract: Apparatus for ascertaining that the resonant frequency of a crystal frequency determining element lies within a predetermined frequency range is disclosed. A crystal whose frequency is to be measured is connected to an oscillator which provides vertical and horizontal deflection signals to a cathode ray tube device. Two crystal controlled signal generators provide series of short duration output impulses which are applied to the control grid of the cathode ray tube. One oscillator operates at the upper frequency limit of the frequency range, and the other oscillator operates at the lower frequency limit. If the crystal undergoing tests lies between the two frequencies of the two reference generators, two spots appearing on the screen of the cathode ray tube will rotate countercurrent with one another.

Abstract: An MOS transistor is provided having a surface diffused drain and a common substrate source. A heavily doped base layer and a lightly doped space charge region are provided between the drain and source regions. The gate is formed on the inclined surface of a V groove which penetrates into the transistor to the substrate exposing the base layer to the gate structure. The gate is formed in the V groove by a silicon oxide insulative layer and conductive layer. Appropriate leads contact the gate conductor and the drain.

Abstract: A push button switch for setting the time display of electronic timepieces utilizes a conductive elastomeric material such as silver filled silicone rubber as a conductive spring in its moving contact. The elastomer biased contact may be seated in a port in the watch frame and bonded thereto to make the frame waterproof. Momentary electrical contact is secured by pressing the moving contact against a metal contact portion of the printed circuit time keeping substrate within the watch frame. The watch frame is electrically connected to ground in the electronic watch circuit.