Abstract: A multiple input, low voltage, OR/NOR gate architecture based on a single-ended OR/NOR gate circuit, wherein a plurality of input transistors are connected in parallel. A reference transistor connects to the input transistors. A feedback means connects the NOR output signal to the base or gate of the reference transistor. The feedback means provides an effectively differential input for the multiple input circuit, without increasing circuit complexity, thereby providing enhanced noise margin characteristics.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for baking and cooling silicon substrates are disclosed. Both baking and cooling of silicon substrates are done in a single integrated thermal process module. Each thermal process module includes two hot plate assemblies, a cool plate assembly, two local linear transfer arms and a micro-processor based module controller. Both transfer arms are capable of transferring substrates among the cool and hot plate assemblies. The module controller ensures that there are no conflicts in use of the transfer arms or in use of the hot and cool plate assemblies and so that a transfer arm is always available when a substrate is finished baking. A central substrate handling robot transports substrates only from and to the cool plate assembly of the thermal process module. Also, the vacuum tubing is routed via a unique pulley arrangement to achieve compact mounting and eliminate loose tubing.

Abstract: A digital video conversion system housing multiple converter chains of units in a single main box chassis. A preferred embodiment uses only a single conditional access unit to authorize decryption of premium channels in response to a smartcard. The conversion system allows a single converter box sharing consolidated decryption (access control) circuitry and a single remote control receiver to provide video output for multiple television sets on the subscriber's premises. In addition to reducing the subscriber's hardware costs per television set, a common access control allows the video service provider to grant a multiple-set discount on a single smartcard.

Abstract: A physical vapor deposition chamber assembly is provided for use in depositing metal particles onto a wafer placed inside the chamber assembly. The physical vapor deposition assembly includes a chamber having an opening, and a target containing a desired metal to be deposited on a wafer placed inside the chamber, with the target adapted to be secured at the opening of the chamber. The assembly further includes an insulator positioned along the boundary of the opening, and having opposing first and second surfaces, with the second surface having a ridge extending therealong and defining a narrow horizontal ridge surface. A first O-ring is positioned between the first surface of the insulator and the chamber along the boundary of the opening, and a second O-ring is positioned between the ridge surface of the insulator and the target.

Abstract: A programmable digital modulator and methods of modulating digital data for transmission by a communication system according to operating parameters selected for various applications are provided. A two-chip system is utilized by a preferred embodiment of the invention. One chip comprises a PROM for storing impulse response data which would result from filtering the data to be transmitted. The second chip comprises a data interface for accepting input data, an address generator for generating an address of the PROM where the impulse response data is stored which corresponds to the data input to the chip and for causing the PROM to output the impulse response data stored at the address generated, and a data modulator for modulating a carrier signal with the impulse response data provided by the PROM.

Abstract: A tone fault detection system is coupled to a telephonic system, such as an automatic call distributor (ACD) via an ISDN communication link. The ACD includes a multiport switch with a plurality of ports on which tones and messages are provided, and a basic rate line interface device coupled to the multiport switch for communicating with the tone fault detection apparatus. The tone fault detection system includes a telephonic adapter configured to communicate with the ACD and a central processor coupled to the telephonic adapter where the central processor is configured to send and receive data signals and control signals. Also included is an audio detection circuit coupled to the telephonic adapter to receive signals representative of the tones and messages provided by a selected port of the ACD, where the audio detection circuit is configured to measure a power level of the received signal and to provide an indication to the central processor whether the measured power level is within a predetermined range.

Abstract: A pulse code modulation (PCM) modem system employs a relatively white training signal to optimize the adaptive filter coefficients in the receiver equalizers. During the training mode, any line coding or equivalent spectral shaping is disabled to provide a training signal sequence having a substantially even spectral content. The presence of DC within the training signal reduces the likelihood that the error function of the equalizers will settle at a local minimum. Following the training interval, the encoder enables the line coder to condition the digital input sequences, introduce DC nulls, and reduce the detrimental effects of baseline wander.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for identifying a call record by a source automatic call distributor to a host computer of a telephone call received from a PSTN and overflowed from the source automatic call distributor to a destination automatic call distributor in a call distribution system using telescripted call control. The call record is stored under a call identifier of the source automatic call distributor in a memory of a host computer serving both the source automatic call distributor and the destination automatic call distributor. The method comprises the steps of executing a telescript sequence by the source automatic call distributor which sends a call identifer assigned by the source automatic call distributor and an identifier of the source automatic call distributor to a call overflow identification table of the host and transferring the call to the destination automatic call distributor along with the call identifier of the source automatic call distributor.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for identifying a call record of a telephone call to be overflowed from a source automatic call distributor to a destination automatic call distributor. The call record is of a type having been previously stored under a call identifier of the source automatic call distributor in a memory of the host computer serving both the source automatic call distributor and destination automatic call distributor in an area of the memory reserved for the source automatic call distributor. The method includes the step of storing a call action provided message in a call overflow table of the host computer including the call identifier of the telephone call and an identifier of the source automatic call distributor.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for efficiently and effectively coating a substantially flat surface, i.e., a substrate, with a high-viscosity chemical such as photoresist. The chemical is dispensed through a piezo electrically controlled droplet jet cartridge on to the surface. The thickness of the chemical coating is controlled by controlling the rate at which chemical is dispensed through the droplet jet cartridge. A number of droplet jet cartridges are aligned such that gaps in chemical dispensed by one droplet jet cartridge are filled by chemical dispensed by other droplet jet cartridges. An array of droplet jet cartridges which spans the width of the surface moves across the surface to coat the surface with chemical in a single pass. To coat a circular surface, the surface is spun while a droplet jet cartridge is moved from the center of the surface to the outer edge of the surface. Chemical is dispensed on to the surface in a helical pattern.

Abstract: A low cost, high performance near direct conversion FM receiver having a single local oscillator is configured to equalize in-phase and quadrature-phase IF signals. The receiver includes a downconverter and a processor. The downconverter receives an RF signal and downconverts the RF signal to an in-phase IF signal (IF.sub.I) and a quadrature-phase IF signal (IF.sub.Q). The processor digitizes IF.sub.I and IF.sub.Q, corrects these signals so that they are substantially equal in magnitude and substantially 90.degree. out of phase, and then downconverts the IF signals to baseband signals (I, Q).

Abstract: A DRAM controller refreshers a DRAM having a maximum refresh interval. The DRAM controller measures a time interval after a refresh cycle, monitors a memory request input of the DRAM for an idle period after a measured time interval of substantially less than the maximum refresh interval, and refreshes the DRAM with a refresh cycle upon detecting one of an idle period and a measured time interval of the maximum refresh interval.

Abstract: A synthesizer system includes a CPU and host memory operating a software routine. The software routine stores a first part of each waveform signal in a sample pool of host memory and provides remaining portions of selected musical sounds from the hard drive to a stream cell array without an audio perceivable delay. The synthesizer system utilizes a caching system which allows low cost, high storage devices to be utilized in an audio synthesizer system. MIDI control signals are provided to an audio processor for selecting appropriate digital waveform signals.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for efficiently and effectively coating a substantially flat surface, i.e., a substrate, with a high-viscosity liquid chemical, such as photoresist. The flat surface is oscillated by rotating the surface in one direction and then repeatedly reversing the direction of rotation of the surface. The chemical is spread by both the centrifugal force of the rotation of the surface and the tangential force of the angular acceleration of the surface. The tangential force helps spread the chemical without prematurely overcoming the surface tension of the chemical resulting in a particularly effective coating using substantially less chemical. Chemical is alternatively spread by vibrating the flat surface. Vibrating applies to the chemical, in addition to radial, centrifugal force, if any, non-radial forces which are not directly opposed by surface tension. The chemical is therefore spread more evenly and efficiently without overcoming the surface tension of the chemical.

Abstract: A multi-purpose current source which provides both a PTAT and a constant current source and which requires only one precision external or laser trimmed resistance. The PTAT constant current circuit includes a differential amplifier having one input coupled to a V.sub.PTAT reference voltage and the other input coupled to a V.sub.bg scaling circuit. The tail current for the differential amplifier is held constant at the current level of an associated constant current source based upon V.sub.bg. Therefore, the amount of current output from the PTAT current source will be dependent upon the current of the constant current source, rather than upon a resistance value. By setting the scaling circuit appropriately, the current that flows through the output leg of the differential amplifier in the PTAT current source when the ambient temperature is equal to 25.degree. C. will be equal to one half the tail current through the differential amplifier, and thus one half the current output from the constant current source.

Abstract: A substrate photolithography system includes a substrate handling robot that pivots about a fixed point and transfers substrates between photoresist coater, a developer, and a heating/cooling unit, all of which are clustered about the robot. The end effector of the robot is capable of both vertical and lateral movement so that individual modules of the heating/cooling unit may be stacked. For heating/cooling, the substrate is placed in the heating/cooling unit in close proximity to a hotplate/chillplate and a thermally conductive, non-reactive gas, such as helium, is introduced into the airspace between the substrate and the hotplate/chillplate. The thermally conductive, non-reactive gas, is preheated/precooled before introduction into the airspace between the substrate and the hotplate/chillplate when the gas passes through a bore in the hotplate/chillplate. Additionally, the substrate is automatically aligned in a milled recession in the hotplate surface for future handling.

Abstract: The present invention relates to circuitry for a receiver having a low cost filter using automatic alignment of the center frequency of signals input to the filter to suppress noise and out-of-band signals from the filter output over a narrow bandwidth. An RF input signal to the receiver is downconverted to an IF frequency using a VCO, and the IF signal is provided to the low cost filter. The output of the filter is input to a frequency correction circuit and a distortion detection circuit. The distortion detection circuit provides an error signal including positive frequency shift errors determined from digital ones identified from the filter output signal, and negative frequency shift error signals determined from digital zeros in the filter output signal.

Abstract: An improved frame structure for use in mobile communications systems utilizing slotted protocols is provided. According to the present invention, consecutive slots in a frame are assigned to each mobile unit so that the mobile unit transmits to a base station during the first slot and receives a transmission from the base station during the second slot. This frame structure, permits the mobile unit to monitor various frequencies for a longer and more continuous period of time. It is important for the mobile unit to have enough time to monitor frequencies while it is not transmitting or receiving so that base station handoff and interference avoidance handoff techniques can be performed by the mobile communications system. Furthermore, according to the frame structure provided by the present invention, the mobile units can be designed with a standard frequency synthesizer.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for combining antenna diversity and gain control in a communications system using a single chain of receiver electronics. A number of input parameters related to various characteristics of a received signal are used to determine the quality of the received signal. The antenna diversity and gain control procedures are enabled or disabled based on the signal quality. The antenna diversity procedure estimates the signal level of the non-operational antenna using an infinite impulse response digital filter. The gain control procedure selects one of three gain paths based on the received signal strength.