Abstract: An ESD diode protects a circuit against electrostatic discharge (ESD). The ESD diode has four adjacent regions. The first and third regions are formed by doping a semiconductor substrate so that it has a P-type conductivity. The second and fourth regions are formed by doping the semiconductor substrate so that it has an N-type conductivity. The first region is for connection to a signal terminal of the circuit being protected when the fourth region is connected to a positive power line of the circuit. The fourth region is for connection to the signal terminal when the first region is connected to the ground line or a negative power line of the circuit.

Abstract: In a multiple access communication network a primary station (2) is coupled to a plurality of secondary stations (4 . . . 18). The secondary stations (4 . . . 18) transmit packets to the primary station in timeslots in a frame. These timeslots are chosen according to the DECT standard. The problem is that it is not possible to transmit 53 bytes ATM cells in an efficient way in the standard DECT packets. According to the present invention, the guard space to deal with the differing transmission delays between several secondary stations and the primary station is reduced. To prevent problems due to the above mentioned delay differences, the secondary stations (4 . . . 18) comprise compensation means for adjusting the transmission instants of the packets they transmit. By reducing the guard space, it becomes possible to transmit two 53 bytes ATM cells in a double DECT slot, enabling an efficient transmission of ATM cells over a DECT like frame.

Abstract: A plasma picture screen fitted with a phosphor layer comprising a red phosphor activated by Eu3+ shows an improved red color point (x≧0.64 and y≦0.35) and shorter decay times &tgr;1/10 as compared with the standard phosphor (Y,Gd)BO3. The phosphor according to the invention has a lattice in which the activator Eu3+ occupies a location which has no inversion symmetry.

Abstract: A frequency generating circuit comprises a first, fine PLL frequency synthesiser circuit (FS2) which consumes a low current and is slow to settle, a second, coarse PLL frequency synthesiser circuit (FS1) which consumes a high current and is fast to settle, and a signal combining circuit (36) for additively combining the outputs of the first and second frequency synthesiser circuits to provide a final output frequency. The first frequency synthesiser circuit is energised sufficiently in advance of the second frequency synthesiser circuit that both achieve lock substantially simultaneously. The overall current consumed is less than would be consumed if a single PLL frequency synthesiser is used to generate the final frequency.

Abstract: An LED module that includes an LED (light-emitting diode) and a rotationally symmetrical, bowl-shaped collimator lens is provided.

Abstract: The method of the invention controls an ultrasound system to image a microbubble contrast agent in a region of fluid flow and/or a region of tissue that is perfused by blood or other fluid. A transducer transmits ultrasound acoustic signals having a fundamental frequency f and receives echoes resulting from interaction of the ultrasound signals with both tissue and the microbubble contrast agent. A transmitter controls the transducer to transmit ultrasound signals at a sufficient power level to destroy the microbubble contrast agent. A receiver processes the echoes and selectively extracts signal components that exhibit a noninteger multiple of the fundamental frequency f of the transmitted acoustic signal. The system then produces images, principally from signal components including those that exhibit the noninteger multiple of the fundamental frequency f.

Abstract: A file management system is provided which enables the peaceful coexistence of two or more file systems from different applications (12,16) on the same medium (10). Available free space can be assigned to each of the file systems. Static partitioning of the medium in fixed sized parts is not necessary, as partition sizes can be dynamically changed.

Abstract: A low-pressure mercury-vapor discharge lamp is provided with a discharge vessel and a first and a second end portion (12a). The discharge vessel encloses a discharge space provided with a filling of mercury and an inert gas in a gastight manner. Each end portion (12a) supports an electrode (20a) arranged in the discharge space. An electrode shield (22a) encompasses at least one of the electrodes (20a) and is made from a ceramic material. Preferably, the electrode shield (22a) is tubular in shape with a lateral slit directed towards the discharge space. The lamp according to the invention has a comparatively low mercury consumption.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device in which a semiconductor element, such as a diode, is attached to a support plate and provided with a plastic encapsulation. The plate is provided with a flange which is provided with an undercut region in order to improve the connection between the plate and the encapsulation. The plate is made from a ductile material. A step is formed in the surface of the plate by pressing using a first die, and by pressing using a second die, the flange provided with the undercut region is formed at, or near, the wall of the step. The flange should be formed at, or very close to, the wall of the step in the plate.

Abstract: There is disclosed an apparatus for controlling the transmission of enhancement layer video data for use in a video encoder containing a base layer encoder and an enhancement layer encoder. The base layer encoder receives input video frames and generates compressed base layer video frames suitable for transmission at a base layer bit rate to a streaming video receiver. The enhancement layer encoder compares the input video frames and a processed version of the compressed base layer video frames and generates enhancement layer video data suitable for transmission at a modifiable enhancement layer bit rate to the streaming video receiver. The apparatus comprises a base layer parameter monitor for receiving at least one base layer parameter and, in response thereto, modifying an allocation of the enhancement layer video data among corresponding ones of the compressed base layer video frames.

Abstract: A system and method for identifying persons who are authorized to activate one or more vehicle mechanisms uses both an implicit identification of a face and an explicit identification of speech or a gesture. This system and method enables identification to be performed where a single identification is otherwise unable to perform the identification for some reason and improves the reliability and accuracy of an identification so that only authorized persons can activate the vehicle mechanisms. Vehicle mechanisms that can be activated using this multimodal identification system and method include, for example, automatic locks, automatic windows, a trunk lock, a vehicle engine, outdoor or interior lights, and a vehicle alarm.

Abstract: In a transmitter digital information signal is lossy encoded to form a lossy encoded signal. The lossy encoded signal is decoded to form a lossy replica signal. The lossy replica signal and the digital information signal are combined to form a first residue signal. The first residue signal is predicted, yielding a first predicted signal. The first predicted signal is losslessly entropy encoded (e.g. adaptive Huffman encoded) to provide a lossless residue signal. Both the lossy signal and the lossless residue signal are transmitted via the transmission medium. In a receiver, the lossy signal and lossless residue are separated. The lossy signal is decoded to form a lossy replica of the digital information signal. The lossless residue signal is entropy decoded (e.g. adaptive Huffman decoder) to form a second residue signal. The second residue signal is predicted, yielding a second predicted signal. The second predicted signal is combined with the lossy representation to reproduce the digital information signal.

Abstract: In the manufacture of a trench-gate semiconductor device, for example a MOSFET or an IGBT, a starting semiconductor body (10) has two top layers (13, 15) provided for forming the source and body regions. Gate material (11′) is provided in a trench (20) with a trench etchant mask (51, FIG. 2) still present so that the gate material (11′) forms a protruding step (30) from the adjacent surface (10a) of the semiconductor body, and a side wall spacer (32) is then formed in the step (30) to replace the mask (51). The source region (13) is formed self-aligned with the protruding trench-gate structure with a lateral extent determined by the spacer (32, FIG. 5), and the gate (11) is then provided with an insulating overlayer (18, FIG. 6).

Abstract: A method and device for controlling a cooling fan within an electronic device based on the temperature within the electronic device and the audio output level of the electronic device and/or the ambient noise level.

Abstract: The invention relates to an energy converter for supplying electric energy from an energy source to a load. The converter comprises a transformer having a primary side and a secondary side, the secondary side being adapted to be connected to the load. At least a first and a second controllable switch are arranged in series with each other. The energy converter further comprises a control device for generating control signals with which the first and the second switch are opened and closed for generating an alternating current in the primary side of the transformer, the control device comprising with means for comparing a threshold value with the value of a quantity which relates or is equal to the value of a change of the voltage per unit of time at a node of the first switch and the second switch for determining switching instants of the first and the second switch.

Abstract: A display device has an array of pixels comprising light emitting display elements, for example EL elements, carried on a substrate and associated light sensing elements responsive to light emitted by the display elements. The light sensing elements each comprise a gated photosensitive thin film device such as a TFT structure or a lateral gated pin device having a semiconductor layer with contact regions laterally spaced on the substrate and separated by a gate controlled region. A part of the associated display element extends over the gate controlled region with an electrode of the display element serving as the gate of the photosensitive device thereby ensuring good optical coupling between the display element and the photosensitive device and enabling the gate to be appropriately biased. Such an arrangement enables, for example, the provision of electro-optic feedback control in the pixel in comparatively simple manner.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing uniform high efficiency illumination in a projection display system comprising two lamp sources each having a different geometric aligning means. By combining a first light source having an annular cross-sectioned beam and a second light source having a circular cross-sectioned beam sized to be identical to said annulus, a light beam is created that provides more light and greater beam uniformity than has heretofore been available using low cost components. The annular beam is produced by a first lamp apparatus having a rear spherical reflector and a front parabolic reflector oriented along an optical axis. The circular beam is produced by a second lamp apparatus having a front spherical reflector and a rear parabolic reflector and having an orientation orthogonal to said optical axis.

Abstract: A clamp for a tube having particular application to a nose trumpet for use with a transnasal TEE probe. The clamp includes a generally circular band for encircling the tube and a tongue disposed on one end of the band and a pair of jaws disposed on the other end. The tongue is adapted to penetrate the space between the pair of jaws. Teeth disposed on the upper surface of the tongue are adapted to mesh with teeth disposed on the lower surface of the upper jaw to prevent withdrawal of the tongue. A pair of handles extend outwardly away from the interior of the band and are adapted to be pushed toward one another to cause penetration of the tongue and into the jaws. An arm hinged to the band is affixed to the upper jaw and upon pivoting of the arm, the upper jaw is lifted away from the tongue to disengage the teeth.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for the two-dimensional direct intermediate frequency sampling of a received signal. A receiver is equipped with a circuit for converting a received radio frequency signal to an intermediate frequency signal. The converted intermediate frequency signal is sampled by a pair of lowpass analog-to-digital converters. The sampling scheme involves quadrature envelope sampling of the intermediate frequency signal. The sampling scheme further involves sampling the Q-channel signal at a quarter of the intermediate frequency carrier period after the I-channel signal is sampled.

Abstract: A distributed speech recognition system includes at least one client station and a server station connected via a network, such as Internet. The client station includes means for receiving the speech input signal from a user. A speech controller directs at least part of the speech input signal to a local speech recognizer. The, preferably limited, speech recognizer is capable of recognizing at least part of the speech input, for instance a spoken command for starting full recognition. In dependence on the outcome of the recognition, the speech controller selectively directs a part of the speech input signal via the network to the server station. The server station includes means for receiving the speech equivalent signal from the network and a large/huge vocabulary speech recognizer for recognizing the received speech equivalent signal.