Abstract: A diffraction element can be used in a system employing very short wavelengths of light, for example light in the nanometer range (e.g., about 100 nm to about 300 nm). The diffraction element is formed using a substrate (or any optical element) having high transmission characteristics in this wavelength range. For example, calcium fluoride or barium fluoride can be used. A layer of amorphous isotropic material, such as silicon dioxide or silica, is deposited on the substrate and patterned to allow for diffraction.

Abstract: A system and method are used to recycle gases in a lithography tool. A first chamber includes an element that emits light based on a first gas. A second chamber uses the emitted light to perform a process and includes the second gas. The first and second gases converge between the two chambers, and at least one of the gases is pumped to a storage device. From the storage device, at least one of the two gases is recycled either within the system or remote from the system and possibly reused within the system. A gaslock can couple the first chamber to the second chamber. A gas source supplies a third gas between the first and the second gas in the gaslock, such that the first gas is isolated from the second gas in the gaslock. The first, second, and/or third gas can be pumped to the storage device and routed to the recycling device. The first, second, and/or third gas can be recycled for reuse to form the emitting light.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a data processing method, which data are included in an incoming digital image. This method comprises a calculation step (ACT) of a spatial activity value of a current pixel based on values (Y) of said current pixel and pixels adjacent thereto, a determination step (NND) of a non-natural uniform area (NN) if the spatial activity value of various consecutive pixels is lower than a first predetermined threshold value. The invention also includes a gradient filter step (GF) of values (Y) of the pixels adapted to detect (THR1) strong edges (SE) inside the image and a detection step (RD) of a ringing artifact. The invention finally comprises a filter step (FIL) of values (Y) of the pixels comprised in a filtering area which is located between a non-natural uniform area (NN) and a strong edge (SE) which are close together and where at least a ringing artifact has been detected.

Abstract: An improved process of treating sludge to provide a stable product for use as a beneficial soil or fertilizer for agricultural lands which includes the steps of: (a) mixing sludge with at least one alkaline material in an amount sufficient to raise pH of the mixture to a level of at least 12 and to increase percent solids in the mixture to at least 40% by weight, and such that odorant sludge organics and inorganics are bound to adsorbent particles of the alkaline material, (b) aerating and drying the mixture by agitation and heating to stabilize the mixture and increase the percent solids to at least 50% by weight, and (c) pasteurizing the dried mixture at a temperature at or above 52.degree. C.

Abstract: For a network coupler for network users in a network comprising at least two lines, a simultaneous data and energy transfer is ensured in that the network coupler is formed in such a way that it is suitable for data transfer via the two lines (1, 2) of the network and for coupling out energy from the two lines (1, 2) of the network to which a terminal of a voltage source is coupled, in that the network coupler symmetrically couples energy into and/or out of the two lines (1,2), in that the network coupler couples the data symmetrically, differentially and inductively or capacitively into and/or out of the two lines (1, 2), and in that the network coupler symmetrically terminates the two lines (1, 2).

Abstract: A device is provided for use in a data bus system like a USB bus system. The device can be coupled to a host via a bus cable that comprises a data transfer conductor and power supply conductors. The device detects whether a power supply is connected to the power supply conductors. Dependent on whether or not connection of the power supply has been detected, the device starts operating in a slave mode or in a stand-alone mode respectively. In a slave mode the device waits for commands received via the data transfer conductor. In the stand-alone mode the device operates independently from communication via the cable. Preferably, the device signals back to the host whether it is in the slave mode by enabling pull-up of a potential of the data transfer conductor. In an embodiment, detection and signaling is controlled via single control node.

Abstract: In a multi-chip module semiconductor device (1), at least one first semiconductor die (20) is mounted on the base portion (11) of a lead-frame (10). A flip chip IC die (30) is mounted by first bump electrodes (31) to electrode contacts (G, S?) on the at least one first die (20) and by second bump electrodes (32) to terminal pins (14) of the lead frame. The integrated circuit of the flip chip (30) does not require any lead-frame base-portion area for mounting, and low impedance circuit connections are provided by the bump electrodes (31, 32). The first die (20) may be a MOSFET power switching transistor, with a gate driver circuit in the flip chip (30). The circuit impedance for the switching transistor may be further reduced by having distributed parallel gate connections (G), which may alternate with distributed parallel source connections (S?), and furthermore by having distributed and alternating power supply connections (VCC, GND).

Abstract: The transmission system according to the invention comprises a transmitter (10) and a receiver (1 2). The transmitter (10) can transmit datawords via a multicarrier signal (11) to the receiver (12). In order to reduce the crest factor of this multicarrier signal (11) the transmitter (10) comprises a generator (20) and a selector (22). The generator (20) generates for each dataword (19) a number of alternative sequences (21) by combining mutually different digital words with the dataword (19). For this purpose, the generator (20) include an augmentor (40) and a scrambler (42). The augmentor (40) generates for each dataword (19) a number of intermediate sequences (41) by combining the digital words with the dataword (19). These intermediate sequences (41) are scrambled by the scrambler (42) in order to form the alternative sequences (21). From these alternative sequences (21) the alternative sequence with the lowest peak power value (23) is selected for transmission to the receiver (12).

Abstract: A system and corresponding method for determining the frequency and/or amplitude of an oscillating apparatus, which includes a driving assembly having a stator portion and an armature portion, and a driving signal circuit which supplies a driving signal to the stator portion. A control circuit interrupts the drive signal momentarily, for at least a quarter of a cycle, at periodic intervals, resulting in a signal being induced into the stator coil from continuing movement of the armature. A measurement/read circuit is connected to the stator coil for determining one or both of the frequency of the induced signal and the amplitude of the induced signal. The frequency or amplitude information is then compared against pre-established values and any differences are used to change the driving signal so as to provide maximum performance of the appliance.

Abstract: An electric lamp is provided having a luminescent layer on the lamp envelope that produces visible light when impinged by ultraviolet radiation generated within the lamp. An undercoat for the electric lamp increases the luminous efficacy of the lamp. The undercoat comprises a particulate non-fluorescent material derived from a sintered mixture of an aluminum oxide material and a getter material which reacts with contaminants present in the lamp.

Abstract: There is disclosed a video memory manager for use in a video recording device that stores of video programs on a disk drive. The video memory manager comprises a video memory controller for detecting that the disk drive does not contain sufficient storage space to store a next-to-be-recorded program. The video memory controller, in response to the detection, determines a first retention score associated with a first video program and a second retention score associated with a second video program. The first and second retention scores indicate a desirability of retaining the first and second video programs respectively. The video memory controller deletes a least desirable one of the first and second video programs.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an Electronic ballast for operating a high-pressure discharge lamp, comprising a switched-mode power supply circuit (SMPS) for supplying a rail voltage Vrail to the high pressure discharge lamp, the power supply circuit comprising a half bridge commutating forward circuit including an inductance (Lhbcf), a capacitor circuit of a first capacitor (Cs1) and a second capacitor (Cs2) in series, the lamp (LA) being connectable between the inductance (Lhbcf) and a midpoint (M) between the first and second capacitor (Cs1,Cs2); a duty cycle control circuit, connected to the switched-mode power supply circuit, for controlling the duty cycle of the half bridge commutating forward circuit; and overvoltage protection means for protecting said capacitors against overvoltage, comprising—a midpoint voltage detection circuit for detecting the voltage at the midpoint between the first and second capacitor, the midpoint voltage detection circuit providing a first signal representative of the det

Abstract: A display device includes a first substrate provided with first picture electrodes having reflecting parts a second transparent substrate provided with transparent second picture electrodes, with pixels at areas of overlapping parts of the first and second picture electrodes, an electro-optic material between the first and second substrates and a color filter present on the first substrate, wherein viewed transversely to the first substrate, within a pixel, the color filter partly covers the reflecting part of the first picture electrode. By such a configuration, light from an uncovered part of a picture electrode is mixed with light from the part of the electrode that is covered by the color filter to increase the intensity of the display.

Abstract: A high-speed parallel-data communication approach overcomes skewing problems by transferring digital data with automatic realignment. In one example embodiment, a parallel bus has parallel bus lines adapted to transfer digital data from a data file, along with a synchronizing clock signal. To calibrate the synchronization, the sending module transfers synchronization codes which are sampled and validated according to an edge of the clock signal by a receiving module and then used to time-adjust the edge of the clock signal relative to the synchronization codes. The synchronization codes are implemented to toggle the bus lines with each of the synchronization codes transferred.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for operating a high-pressure discharge lamp, comprising a switched mode power supply circuit (SMPS) for supplying power to the high pressure discharge lamp from a supply voltage, the power supply circuit comprising a half bridge commutating forward (HBCF) circuit including an inductance(Lhbcf?), a capacitor circuit of a first capacitor (Cs1) and a second capacitor (Cs2) in series, the lamp (LA) being connectable between the inductance (Lhbcf) and a point (M) between the first and second capacitor (Cs1,Cs2); wherein overvoltage protection means are connected parallel to the lamp, which switch from an off-state with a high resistance operation to an on-state with a low resistance operation when the voltage difference across the protection means exceeds a breakover voltage (Vbo), the breakover voltage (Vbo) being selected to correspond to a predetermined maximum voltage across the first or the second capacitor (Cs1,Cs2).

Abstract: A network communications system comprises a number of user stations, coupled via a data network to a number of service provider host systems. The user stations are registered as client stations at the host system of a service provider, with the host system maintaining a database of registered client station identification data. The host system additionally maintains a directory of the client stations that are on-line at a given time, determined from periodic messages sent to the host by each client station. Callers wishing to contact a client station (10) user first contact the service provider which, from the directory, determines whether the user is currently on-line. If so, a paging message is generated by the service provider from data supplied by the caller and sent via the network to the client station, the address of which is held in the service provider database.

Abstract: The thermoforming press has a frame, a forming die assembly affixed to the frame, a mold-supporting table suspended to the frame under the forming die assembly, and a pair of molds mounted side by side on the mold-supporting table. A drive system is provided for imparting a pendulum movement to the mold-supporting table for alternately registering one of the molds with the forming die assembly while the other mold is positioned at a part retrieving station. The part retrieving and stacking mechanism has horizontal and angular displacements only as the vertical component of the retrieving motion is provided by the pendulum system. Spring discs are mounted between the forming die assembly and the press platen to control the forces generated between the forming die assembly and each mold.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the production of paper from an aqueous suspension containing cellulosic fibers, and optional fillers, which comprises separately adding to the suspension a cationic organic polymer having one or more aromatic groups and an anionic polymer having one or more aromatic groups, the anionic polymer being selected from step-growth polymers, polysaccharides and naturally occurring aromatic polymers and modifications thereof, forming and draining the suspension on a wire, with the proviso that if the anionic polymer is a step-growth polymer it is not an anionic melamine-sulphonic acid condensation polymer.

Abstract: The invention relates to an X-ray device in which a set of exposure parameters is fetched from among a number of such sets stored in a first storage arrangement for APR X-ray exposures. The exposure parameters which result therefrom during the subsequent X-ray exposure and have possibly been modified by the user are stored in a second storage arrangement. The X-ray device includes means for evaluating the second sets of exposure parameters which are associated with the same first set of exposure parameters and for deriving therefrom a new set of exposure parameters which is stored in the first storage arrangement instead of the first set of exposure parameters and forms the basis for APR X-ray exposures from then on.