Abstract: A monolithic microwave voltage-controlled oscillator including one or more FETS integrated with a wide-ratio varactor. The varactor includes interdigitated anode and cathode patterns laid out on a single thin epitaxial layer. The punch through voltage of the epitaxial layer, and hence the resistivity-thickness product of the epitaxial layer, must be low. Since the substrate is semi-insulating, punch through to the substrate does not become uncontrollable, but simply permits modulation of the capacitance over a very wide range. The FETS are formed in the same epitaxial layer with the varactor, and complicated doping profiles are not required.

Abstract: A synthesized voice paging system for use in high call rate systems. The system includes a linear predictive coding voice synthesizer, implementable on a single integrated circuit device; a non-volatile read-only-memory capable of storing the data utilized by the synthesizer to model the human vocal tract; a radio receiver for receiving coded transmissions; and a decoding circuit/controller for decoding the transmissions received and for controlling the synthesizer. A transmitter can be provided to allow the operator to acknowledge receipt of the synthesized message.

Abstract: A quadruply time-multiplexed bus for digital processor systems. The quadruply time-multiplexed information bus is interfaced to a processor and an external memory to transfer addresses, data and program instructions between the processor and the external memory. The interface at the external memory includes the capability to store the addresses of extended bus or instructions being accessed. These stored addresses may be modified from the processor by the processor transmitting new addresses over the information bus or by having the processor activate selected control signals in the information bus interface which causes the stored address to be modified in response to the control signals. This feature is useful to read a new instruction from external memory without the requirement of a new transmission of program instruction address every time a new instruction is fetched by the processor.

Abstract: A sampling switch circuit is provided for an analog to digital converter that provides for the scaling of two switches connected to the converter comparator. The comparator receives two input voltages which are switched to reference voltages. To correct any offset voltage resulting from a mismatch between the switch circuitry, this invention provides for one switch to be attached to a capacitor while the second switch is attached to the capacitive array that digitizes the analog input. These two switches are proportionally fabricated according to the size of their respective capacitive load in order to reduce any voltage difference resulting from the capacitive coupling internal to the switches. The switching circuitry also implements a sequence of switching to correct the offset error from capacitive coupling.

Abstract: A reflective afocal beam expander optical system is disclosed for transmitting electromagnetic (EM) energy. The beam expander, in the preferred embodiment, is comprised of a reflective afocal system including a section of a primary parabolic mirror, a section of a secondary parabolic mirror, and a beam splitter. The two mirrors have a common axis of rotational symmetry and a common focus point and the centerline of the incoming EM energy is displaced from the axis of rotational symmetry. The beam splitter is positioned with respect to the primary mirror to receive the edge rays of the EM energy and cause the EM energy to be folded and exit through a window while clearing all optical elements. A viewing system having a viewing axis through the beamsplitter allows a viewer to see through the same window as the exiting EM energy. A second refractive afocal optical system is made integral to the specific laser system being used in order to control beam expansion ratios.

Abstract: In the manufacture of a CMOS device, oxide is etched away from polysilicon gate-level interconnects, and from source or drain regions of either conductivity type to which the polysilicon gate-level interconnect is desired to be connected. A metal is then deposited, and silicide is formed to connect the gate-level interconnect to the respective source and drain regions. To ensure continuity of the silicide connection, the gate oxide beneath the gate level interconnect is slightly undercut by a wet etching process, additional polysilicon is deposited conformally overall, and the additional polysilicon is anisotropically etched so that it is removed from all areas except those within the undercut region beneath the gate-level interconnect thus a continuous surface of silicon, from which a continuous layer of silicide is then grown, exists between the polysilicon gate-level interconnect and the respective source and drain regions. Thus, self-aligned contacts are created, and no unwanted pn junctions are created.

Abstract: A variable function calculator utilizes a fixed program memory array such as a programmed read only memory in which a number of programs are stored depending upon the desired functions of the calculator. The calculator also includes a program counter, an instruction register, control decoders, jump-condition circuits, a clock generator, a timing generator, decoders, key input logic, a data storage array, an arithmetic logic unit, an output decoder, and a digit scanner which scans both the keyboard and display outputs. Aside from providing basic desk top calculator functions, the read only memory may be programmed so that the system provides metering functions, arithmetic teaching functions, control functions, etc. A preferred embodiment of the invention is capable of being fabricated as a monolithic integrated semiconductor system utilizing contemporary metal-insulator-semiconductor techniques.

Abstract: A miniature motor protector particularly suitable for low current applications has a generally rectangular parallelepiped configured metallic housing open at the top and has a bottom wall and side walls extending upwardly therefrom, the side walls having a flange forming a ledge portion at their free ends extending around all four sides. An electrically insulative gasket is disposed on the ledge with a lid having two discrete portions spaced from one another placed on top of the gasket. Extensions of the flange portions are bent over the gasket and lid to clampingly engage them. A heater element having two ends extends between the two portions of the lid with one end electrically and mechanically attached to one portion and the other end electrically and mechanically attached to the other portion.

Abstract: A data processing apparatus includes a novel method of entering the data for a function which requires two integral operands. First and second preselected sets of the digits of the current output numerical value are interpreted as the first and second integral operands. In the preferred embodiment a predetermined number of the least significant whole number digits is interpreted as the first operand and the predetermined number of the most significant fractional digits is the second operand. This data entry method reduces the amount of memory required to store the operands and to execute the function. This data entry method also enables entry and execution of these two variable functions in the same mathematical hierarchy as single operand functions. In the case of the preferred embodiment, in which this data entry method is used for calculating permutations and combinations, this is the preferred and mathematically correct method of executing these functions.

Abstract: A remotely controlled circuit control device has first and second load contact assemblies movable into circuit engagement and circuit disengagement positions relative to one another in which one load contact assembly is operatively connected to a solenoid so that alternate forward strokes of the solenoid moves the one load contact assembly between reset and tripped positions through a push-push mechanism having an indexing portion and a latching portion. An overload mechanism cooperates with the latch portion to cause the load contact assemblies to move to the circuit disengaged position upon occurrence of a fault condition. The second load contact assembly includes pivotably mounted contact members which are linked to the first load contact assembly in such a way that circuit engagement during solenoid energization is precluded.

Abstract: A manipulator having at least two segments, rotatable with respect to each other, measures the angle formed therebetween and is self calibrating to insure the accuracy of the measurement. An electrical resolver is employed, with its rotor attached to one of the segments and stator attached to the other, with the rotor and stator slotted, in registration, at a relative position indicating electrical zero. Each segment has a pin formed on it positioned to engage the slots in the rotor and stator at a mechanical zero degrees output, insuring a zero degrees mechanical output for zero volts electrical output.

Abstract: For HgCdTe liquid phase epitaxy (LPE), in situ differential thermal analysis apparatus is used to precisely monitor the liquidus temperature of each HgCdTe melt. The neutral body, e.g. a slug of copper enclosed in a silica ampoule, is placed near the LPE reactor in a furnace. During heating or cooling, differential sensing of a pair of thermocouples (in the melt and in the neutral body) will show an accelerated change at transformation points, since at these points the temperature of the melt will be changed by the energy of the physical change, while that of the neutral body remains subject only to passive heat transfer. Thus, the actual liquidus temperature of each melt can be measured with extreme precision, and isothermal or programmed cooling methods of LPE can be precisely and reliably controlled under production conditions.

Abstract: A sealed pressure-responsive switch is manually resettable and trip-free. The switch has a separate snap-acting, bistable, dished metal disc or disc element disposed between a sealed snap-acting pressure-responsive diaphragm and a spring-biased switch arm. The disc moves to an inverted dished configuration with snap action to move the switch arm to a trip position against the arm bias when the diaphragm moves in response to application of a selected fluid pressure. The disc remains in its inverted shape to releasably hold the arm in tripped position until the switch is manually reset even when the diaphragm returns to its original position after removal of the selected fluid pressure from the diaphragm.

Abstract: A data processing apparatus having a plurality of preprogrammed functional operations and at least one user accessible memory includes a generalized input sequence for combining functional operations with data storage in one of the user accessible memories. In the case where a number of user accessible memories is provided, memory entry is enabled by a store input followed by an input designating the memory while a memory recall operation is enabled by a recall input followed by a memory designation input. The algebraic memory operation and entry sequence requires entry of the store input, the desired operation input and the memory designation input. If a unary operation is selected, the selected operation is performed on the data stored in the output indicator memory or alternately on the data stored in the designated memory and the result is stored in the designated memory.

Abstract: A heater system for a diesel fuel filter comprises a housing, a self-regulating electrical resistance heater element of positive temperature coefficient of resistivity arranged in heat-transfer relation to thermally conducting components to form a heater means, the heater means being mounted within the housing so that diesel fuel passes directly over and around the various thermally conducting components of the heater means to elevate the temperature of the fuel as it passes to the filter to deter clogging of the filter by paraffin or other fuel components which may solidify in the fuel at lower temperatures, and electrically conducting means which extend from the housing in sealed relation to the housing for electrically connecting the heater means to a source of electrical power.

Abstract: An electronic circuit interconnection system provides high density mounting on ceramic chip-carrier integrated circuit devices or other beam-lead, dual-in-line (DIP), tape-automated-bonded (TAB), flip-chip, or direct-mounted i.c. devices with wire-bonded interconnects or the like on an economical, dimensionally-stable, interconnection substrate which has high heat dissipating properties. The substrate has glass components which are fused onto etched metal patterns and which are proportioned relative to the metal patterns so that the heat-expansion properties of the substrate correspond to those of the i.c. devices to maintain bond integrity between the i.c. leads and circuit paths on the substrate and so that the substrate has sufficient heat-dissipating properties to permit the high density i.c. mounting.

Abstract: A CMOS nonvolatile memory cell, where a multiple-dielectric P-channel device is used to provide nonvolatile information storage. An N-channel device is used to limit current (and thus power dissipation) during write operations, and two other transistors are both controlled by a single word line, to selectively connect the cell to a bit line and to a column line. Thus, a total of three connections to each cell are required. The bit and column lines of adjacent columns of cells are combined, and good density is achieved in the memory array. The operating voltages are unipolar, and the read operation enhances the written information.

Abstract: A method for selectively heating an insulating layer on a semiconductor structure by a high energy transient radiation source to a temperature sufficient to cause reflow without any significant heating of the regions adjacent to or underlying the insulating layer. In one embodiment a laser tuned to the absorption wavelength of the insulating material is scanned over the surface of the semiconductor structure. In another embodiment an insulating layer and an underlying or adjacent semiconductor layer are concurrently heated by a laser tuned to an absorption wavelength common to both in order to maintain the integrity of the interface therebetween. In a further embodiment the depth of heating in an insulating layer is controlled by selecting an appropriate dwell time for a continuous wave laser and a pulse duration for a pulsed laser.

Abstract: An improved MOS current mirror wherein the mirror transistors are biased to operate in the saturated region near the boundary between the linear and the saturated regions to maximize the voltage gain and the power supply rejection ratio while maintaining a high output impedance.

Abstract: A microcomputer device contains a CPU with an arithmetic/logic unit and data/address registers on a single semiconductor integrated circuit having on-chip macrocode and microcode storage. A macrocode word is fetched from an on-chip ROM and stored in an instruction register in the CPU, then a sequence of microcode words is fetched from microcode store based on this macrocode word. In some machines, microcode for two states is fetched at one time, and then applied to the ALU register and bus controls in the next two successive cycles. In this manner, the microcode store can be the same as macrocode store.