Abstract: A method and apparatus for translating a voltage control signal to switch a drive output, having a circuit with a pair of branches, each branch having a pull down device, respective branches receiving complementary components of the voltage control signal; a pull up device, in series with a respective pull down device, and each being driven by a positive feedback signal reflecting a state of conduction of the pull up device; and a current blocking device, in series with the pull up device, having a control input for impeding a current flowing in series to a respective pull down device. One current blocking device is controlled to selectively block a current flow through one of the branches, while permitting current flow through the other branch. The state of the voltage control signal is switched, current flow through both branches is resumed. In a preferred embodiment, the complementary components of the voltage control signal are formed with an inverter.

Abstract: A cassette form factor device containing a drive wheel and a generator. The drive wheel is positioned to be in frictional contact with a pinch-roller of a cassette-playing device when the cassette form factor device is inserted into a play position on the cassette-playing device. The generator is driven by the drive wheel and generates electrical power to energize one or both of the cassette form-factor device and an external device when the cassette-playing device drives the drive wheel. The cassette form factor device may contain an MP3 player having a read/write head. The read/write head is positioned so that when the cassette form factor device is inserted into the play position on the cassette-playing device, the read/write head may provide content from the MP3 player to the cassette-playing device. The cassette form factor device may contain a rechargeable battery operatively that is connected to the generator so that the generator may recharge the rechargeable battery.

Abstract: A system for controlling a light source including a wireless interface for communication with a remote sensor. The sensor is a low-power, integrated circuit device including functionality for detecting light from multiple directions or surfaces in an area, and for wireless communication. The sensor also includes functionality for detecting the presence of an occupant within the area.

Abstract: A method for controlling a switching converter includes receiving a digitized waveform of a continuous switch parameter; analyzing the digitized waveform to detect a parameter local minimum; and opening the switch at a parameter local minimum. An apparatus implements the method preferably using a microcontroller and at least one waveform digitizer to determine instantaneous power dissipation. The microcontroller selects an optimum local minimum of the switching waveform to achieve optimum power dissipation.

Abstract: The present invention provides an LDO that is stable for all capacitive loads. Because the LDO is stable for all capacitive loads, the ESR (equivalent series resistance) inherent in any capacitive load can no longer affect the equivalent value of the combination of the ESR and the capacitive load. Thus, the invention also effectively removes the ESR restrictions on the loads. According to the present invention, a low dropout voltage regulator is provided. The regulator comprises a switching element (e.g., a transistor) having first terminal for receiving an input signal, a second terminal for providing an output signal and a control terminal; a control circuit, operably coupled to the switching element, that is configured to control the switching element; and a compensation circuit having a first segment connected between the first and control terminals of the switching element and a second segment connected between the control and second terminals of the switching element.

Abstract: The invention concerns an electronic circuit for reducing the current consumption of a transformer (1). This circuit comprises a control circuit in the secondary circuit of the transformer (1) and a switch (2), controlled by the control circuit, in the primary circuit of the transformer (1) for separating the primary circuit of the transformer (1) from the power supply (3). The control circuit comprises a detector (6) for detecting the no-load state of the transformer (1). If the transformer (1) is in the no-load state, the switch (2) on the primary side is opened at least temporarily.

Abstract: In general, the invention provides for on-demand access to web pages that are stored remote from, and independent of, a web page service provider. In a preferred embodiment, the web page service provider provides an index that contains a reference to more detailed web pages. The more detailed web pages are stored local to the party supplying the web pages, for example, on a computer located at a client's site. When a user of the web page service initiates a request for a more detailed web page, the web page service telephones the computer at the client's site, uploads the requested web page, and provides it to the user. The index can be based on geographic information, thereby providing for web page access based on the locale of the client and the user.

Abstract: A digital lamp signal processor senses lamp current and lamp voltage in real time. These two signals are sufficient to obtain information, such as real lamp power calculation, necessary to control ballast operation and fault detection. The apparatus measures the phase of lamp current and voltage, the peak current and voltage, and calculates the average lamp current and voltage. The digital lamp signal processor eliminates the effect of parasitic capacitance of power wiring and a signal condition circuit. It may detect and control hard switching and apply over current and voltage protection. The apparatus directly processes AC signals, allowing for simple and easily integrated single chip design.

Abstract: A programmable reference voltage controls a high-voltage source via a programmable voltage divider. The programmable voltage divider scales a fixed reference voltage to a scaled reference value that is used to control the generation of a high voltage source. A comparator provides a feedback signal that is based on a difference between the scaled reference voltage and a scaled output voltage. This feedback signal controls the voltage-controlled output voltage source, so as to track the scaled reference value. In a preferred embodiment, the scale factor associated with the output voltage remains constant, whereas the scale factor associated with the reference voltage is programmable. In alternative embodiments of this invention, the reference scaling factor defaults to a mid-range value, and a bias offset is provided to easily select an output voltage value for either programming or erasing the contents of a programmable memory device.

Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) switching power converter includes a main power supply for providing a main voltage output and an auxiliary power supply for providing an auxiliary voltage output lower than the main voltage output. All of the integrated components of the main power supply and the auxiliary power supply are formed in a single IC die which is mounted in a single IC package. For improved economy and/or efficiency, the main power supply and the auxiliary power supply can share external electrical connection pins, and the two power supplies may also share circuitry.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for translating a voltage control signal to switch a drive output, having a circuit with a pair of branches, each branch having a pull down device, respective branches receiving complementary components of the voltage control signal; a pull up device, in series with a respective pull down device, and each being driven by a positive feedback signal reflecting a state of conduction of the pull up device; and a current blocking device, in series with the pull up device, having a control input for impeding a current flowing in series to a respective pull down device. One current blocking device is controlled to selectively block a current flow through one of the branches, while permitting current flow through the other branch. The state of the voltage control signal is switched, current flow through both branches is resumed. In a preferred embodiment, the complementary components of the voltage control signal are formed with an inverter.

Abstract: A multicast radio data communication system comprises a master and a plurality of slave stations, and uses a retransmission protocol. Data (10) is transmitted by the master station simultaneously to all slave stations. Each slave station acknowledges in turn in a respective time period (13 to 16) which may be assigned by the master station or pre-set. If the master receives a positive acknowledgement from each slave station, the master proceeds to transmit new data. If the master receives a negative acknowledgement from any slave station, or fails to successfully receive any acknowledgement from any slave station, the master station retransmits the previously transmitted data.

Abstract: A system for implementing an interactive broadcast program which includes a transmitter for transmitting a multiplexed data stream which includes a main program and a plurality of different commercials, and a receiver (e.g., a digital television receiver) configured to receive the multiplexed data stream. The receiver includes a display device (e.g., a television monitor) and, facilities responsive to a user action for causing the display device to display a selected one of the plurality of different commercials during a commercial interruption in the main program. Also disclosed is a system for implementing an interactive broadcast program which includes a transmitter for transmitting a multiplexed data stream which includes an interactive main program comprised of a plurality of main program segments including at least a first main program segment and a plurality of different second main program segments, and a receiver. The receiver (e.g.

Abstract: The present invention provides for verification of software agents and their activities. In a distributed computing environment, an origin resource, a destination resource and a trusted resource are provided. The origin resource is associated with a software agent in that, most generally, the agent's information and/or an entrusted task are relevant to the origin resource. The destination resource is associated with the software agent in that, most generally, it is expected to advance the agent in the performance of an entrusted task. The trusted resource is associated with the software agent in that the trusted resource functions to provide verification of the software agent and its activities.

Abstract: Disclosed is a network of on-chip capacitive structures for suppressing power supply inductive noise, methods for making, and systems for designing the on-chip capacitive structures. The network includes a plurality of dummy active regions that are dispersed throughout an integrated circuit design that has a plurality of active regions. The plurality of dummy active regions are separated from the plurality of active regions by at least a bloat distance. The network further includes a network of dummy polysilicon lines that are configured to overlie selected dummy active regions. The network of dummy polysilicon lines that overlie the selected dummy active regions function as dummy gates. In this embodiment, the selected dummy active regions and the dummy polysilicon lines that overlie the selected dummy active regions form the network of on-chip capacitive structures.

Abstract: A rear projection screen which includes a front lenticular surface, a diffusion region behind the lenticular surface, a non-diffusion region behind the diffusion region, and a rear phase grating surface, when used with high magnification projection systems, exhibits reduced speckle when compared to other rear projection screen without such a grating.

Abstract: In a multinode, wireless packet-hopping network, all nodes operate on a same frequency, by waiting for each other. If the frequency is subject to excessive out-of-network jamming, the building computer transmits a “time-bomb”, i.e. an instruction for all nodes to change to a different frequency at a fixed time.

Abstract: An electronic ballast with a voltage-fed, LC or LLC resonant inverter for multiple gas discharge lamp independent operation which maintains a substantially constant voltage to a lamp or lamps connected to the ballast even during a transition period when a lamp or lamps is ignited, extinguished, added or removed. The ballast includes a feedback loop that maintains a substantially constant phase angle between the voltage and the current in an LC or LLC tank circuit, which has the effect of the ballast providing the substantially constant voltage output. The feedback loop obtains a current feedback signal and a voltage feedback signal from the tank circuit, and provides a phase shifted signal as a feedback correction signal which is the current feedback signal phase shifted by the voltage feedback signal that tracks phase angle changes with one, some or all of the lamps of a set thereof connected to the ballast, and during the transition period.

Abstract: An integrated circuit includes electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection circuits coupled to protect I/O pins and or operational circuits from damage due to ESD events. The ESD protection circuits are coupled to fuses which in turn are coupled to external program pin(s) of the IC. The fuses can be opened via the external program pin(s) to substantially completely remove the capacitive loading on the I/O pins as well as any internal circuitry within the IC. The ESD circuits may protect against ESD damage during testing, packaging, shipping and installation into a system, and then be subsequently removed via the external program pins, such as upon first application of power to the IC via the system. Because fuses are used, the added capacitive loading of the deselection circuit is substantially zero and much less than active switching elements. The ESD deselection structure is beneficial for very high frequency RF circuits, where capacitive loading problems are particularly acute.

Abstract: An LCD having the liquid crystal in at least a portion of the interpixel region displaced by a spacer material. The spacer material has a low dielectric constant relative to the liquid crystal, thus further impeding the formation of the bend deformation in the liquid crystal in the interpixel region when pixels on opposite sides of the spacer material are operating in the inversion mode. This elimination of the bend deformation in the interpixel region eliminates the reverse tilt disclination.