Abstract: Direct Moat Isolation for VLSI integrated circuit structures is formed by growing oxide over the entire substrate area, and then cutting windows in the oxide, using an anisotropic polymer-free oxide etch, where moat regions are to be formed. To prevent polysilicon filamentation, gate patterning is performed with an extremely selective polysilicon etch. The combination of these processing steps permits a direct moat isolation device fabrication process which is insensitive to the oxide sidewall angle, increasing yield and permitting extremely compact isolation structures to be formed.

Abstract: Integrated circuit resistor elements which may be used as load devices in static MOS RAM cells are created vertically in polycrystalline silicon ion implanted to provide the desired resistivity. The method of making these devices is compatible with a standard self-aligned N-channel silicon-gate process. The cell size is reduced as the resistors can overly other elements, and an efficient layout provides a very small cell area.

Abstract: An improved system and method for aligning a display device with a substrate member such as a printed circuit board (PCB) having a plurality of electrical conductors thereon to provide reliable electrical contact between the display device and an electrical circuit mounted on the PCB are described. The display, which is preferably a liquid crystal display (LCD) having a plurality of electrically conductive terminals, is mounted in a base member and biased toward one end of the base member by a spring member mounted on the opposite end of the base member. Spacer material having a pattern of conductors formed on a surface thereof is positioned adjacent to the LCD so that the conductors are in electrical contact with the LCD conductors. The base member further includes a plurality of alignment posts extending outwardly therefrom for mating with respective openings in the PCB to position the PCB with respect to the LCD.

Abstract: A character recognition circuit is provided with the image of unknown characters, in an accessible memory. A microprocessor directs a microcontroller to access the memory and to perform pixel counting, transition recognition and pattern finding. The microprocessor directs such operations and effectively locates lines of unknown characters, deskews those lines if necessary, roughly identifies each unknown character by forming a window around the character and counting pixels inwardly from the top and bottom and from each side until a transition is reached from white (0) to black (1), and from that information as weighted and combined, categorizing the unknown character to be of a particular set of known characters. By comparing the unknown character with the possible known characters, the unknown character is positively identified and stored in a random access memory until the entire message is assembled. Then the message is sent to a buffer unit for ultimate transmission.

Abstract: A composite thermostat metal having layers of metal of relatively high and relatively low coefficients of thermal expansion metallurgically bonded together has a relatively thin, corrosion-resistant layer of an austenitic stainless steel metallurgically bonded to the low expansion side of the thermostat metal, the stainless steel material being selected from the group consisting of austenitic stainless steels which undergo austenite to martensite transformation and concomitant lowering of coefficient of thermal expansion during work hardening. The stainless steel material is work hardened to a selected extent for lowering its coefficient of thermal expansion so that it cooperates with the other components of the thermostat metal in providing the thermostat metal with suitably high flexivity while also providing improved corrosion-resistance properties on the low expansion side of the thermostat metal.

Abstract: A thermally responsive switch is particularly adapted to perform a plurality of electrical control functions on an automotive engine in response to changes in engine temperature. The switch is characterized by a structure permitting the switch operating temperatures to be easily matched to the requirements of specific automotive applications. The switch mounts first electrical contacts on an insulating support and incorporates spring means mounted on a carrier, second contacts mounted on the spring means, and thermally responsive, snap-acting bimetallic discs or the like which are easily disposed between the respective spring means and the carrier to move the second contacts relative to the carrier in response to temperature change.

Abstract: A miniature, solid state motor protector has a metallic housing with two hingedly connected recessed portions with a wafer of positive temperature coefficient (PTC) of resistivity material disposed in each recess in electrical connection with the housing and a center spring contact located intermediate the two PTC wafers and in electrical connection therewith so that the wafers are electrically connected in parallel relation.

Abstract: Laser patterning of metallization is done by transmitting laser energy through a liquid film directly in contact with the metallization to be patterned. When the metal is evaporated by the laser energy, the vapor is condensed immediately by the liquid film. This prevents redeposition of metal on the patterned surface and suspends the removed metal in the liquid so that it may be reclaimed by filtration.

Abstract: A control for modulating the duty cycle of diesel engine glow plugs has two heat sensitive, normally closed switches each thermally coupled to a respective positive temperature coefficient (PTC) of resistivity heater in turn thermally coupled to a common heat sink. The heat sensitive switches are serially connected to each other, to an ignition switch and to a glow plug relay. The PTC heaters are connected to a point between the heat sensitive switches and the relay and to ground. A third PTC heater is disposed on the heat sink intermediate the first and second heaters and thermally coupled to the heat sink. The third heater is connected to an alternator and serves to cut off power to the glow plugs after a selected after glow stage. The two heat sensitive switches can be selected to open at approximately the same temperature for a random operating mode or at slightly different temperatures for a sequential operating mode.

Abstract: An inverter which includes a resonant electrical circuit and a charging transistor arranged to charge an energy storage component of the resonant circuit periodically in synchronism with oscillations in the circuit so as to maintain the oscillations. A part of the oscillatory energy of the resonant circuit is transferred to an output circuit so that the inverter supplies output power.The charging transistor forms part of a current-limiting switch and is controlled by a control circuit which is arranged to monitor the voltage across the transistor and to switch it on when the voltage lies between first and second limits, one of which preferably is at or near zero, and changing in a predetermined sense, such as to charge the resonant circuit in synchronism with oscillation thereof. The charging transistor then adds energy to the resonant circuit until the current-limit is reached. Charging is then stopped by the switching off of the transistor.

Abstract: A data display and management system includes a microprocessor whose functions are implemented by instructions in data from a directly connected main memory. A mass data storage memory is connected to the main memory and has permanently stored instructions therein for the microprocessor. A display control system which operates asynchronously with the microprocessor includes a display controller, display memory, character memory means, and a visual character attribute generator. By linking one or more row attribute bytes, or pointers, to each row of characters stored in the display memory the display controller performs character and row manipulation on a display device without transferring whole blocks of data in the display memory. Multi-region display segmentation into horizontal and vertical split regions, smooth or discrete scrolling of individual regions, and various editing functions are achieved by modifying the associated display memory pointers.

Abstract: A handheld electronic learning aid is disclosed. The learning aid is utilized for teaching and testing associations between pictorial representations and the correct responses to the pictorial representations. A selected one of an associated group of numbered printed pictorial representations is randomly selected by the learning aid, and the operator attempts to correctly respond to the pictured object. Scoring functions and displayed reward phrases provide positive reinforcement of learned skills. One embodiment of the learning aid is utilized to teach and strengthen spelling skills in young children. Additionally, anagram or other alphabetic type modes of operation can provide training and experience in literary skills.

Abstract: A connector or socket for detachably mounting an integrated circuit unit on a printed circuit board has single beam contact members precisely located and secured in respective recesses in an electrically insulating body by guiding wing portions of the contacts against shaped body portions which are then deformed over the wing contact portions to secure the contacts in the recesses. The contact members are formed of a strip material and each have a base with lateral wing portions, a spring beam part extending up from one end of the base to loop over the base, and a post part extending down from the opposite end of the base, the beam and post parts each preferably having a stiffening rib formed therein and extending into the base part to assure that the contact parts have a desired angular relationship to each other.

Abstract: Method of fabricating a display with silicon integrated circuits included on the same monolithic structure and the flat panel display produced thereby. The display which may be of the liquid crystal or electrochromic type, for example, is formed as an x-y matrix display having individual address transistors respectively asociated with each of the display units or pixels. The substrate is preferably of transparent material, such as quartz or a glass plate, on which a polysilicon layer is disposed. The polysilicon layer is patterned to provide a plurality of islands which are subjected to a laser annealing treatment at an intensity sufficient to cause recrystallization thereof. The polysilicon material in the islands is converted by the laser annealing to crystalline silicon having an enhanced electron mobility characteristic such that a matrix array of address transistors in the form of MOSFETS can be fabricated in the individual islands.

Abstract: An economical mirror unit adapted for exterior mounting on an automobile has a single self-regulating electrical resistance heater disc of a material of positive temperature coefficient of resistivity mounted in a recess on a heat-distributing metal plate and enclosed in the recess by a glass reflecting member mounted over the recess so that the heater serves to defog the reflecting surface of the member. Various portions of the plate have selected different spacings from the glass reflecting member for heating various overlying portions of the reflecting member to a substantially uniform temperature so that the heater is operable at a high temperature to rapidly and uniformly defog the mirror without risk of damage to the glass reflecting member.

Abstract: A circuit and a method of operation thereof are disclosed which provides an enhanced test feature for programmable logic arrays. Programmable logic arrays (PLA's) are becoming more complex and many utilize feedback into the array as part of their normal logic function. Those devices utilizing feedback require an abnormally large number of logic cycles to be run in order to provide a known feedback input into the output circuitry so that the combination of all input signals into the array is known. The preload circuit disclosed herein provides a method of applying a known signal to the feedback circuitry, thereby reducing the number of cycles required to complete a test function as well as reducing the number of pins required for the test feature. The circuit is readily fabricated in an integrated circuit form in conjunction with the PLA circuitry. The test circuitry is readily adapted to high speed automated test equipment.

Abstract: A calculator having constant memory utilizing a classical CMOS metal gate process, a low power microcomputer with on-chip and external constant memory capability, and multiple partition power control of circuit groups. Incorporation of a first and second switched negative voltage and a non-switched negative voltage to the appropriate P (-) wells enables the power hungry clocked logic and the display interface and keystroke detect circuitry, to be turned off while power is maintained on the internal static RAM, and on the RAM write logic, digit latches, and R-lines which connect to both the internal and external RAM, or to selectively connect in combination the first and second switched voltages. In an alternate embodiment, a multiple oscillator, multiple partition system is controlled to provide an off-mode, display only mode (low frequency oscillator), a process only mode, and a display and process mode, thereby optimizing power dissipation to system requirements.

Abstract: Resistor elements for MOS integrated circuits are made by an ion implant step compatible with a self-aligned N-channel silicon-gate process. The resistor elements are in a part of a polycrystalline silicon layer which is also used as a gate for an MOS transistor and as an interconnection overlying field oxide. Resistors of this type are ideally suited for load devices in static RAM cells.

Abstract: A high-frequency channel selector for a television receiver including at least one fixed filter having a predetermined passband, and a high-frequency mixer. The antenna for the television receiver receives radiated electromagnetic signals including, for example, a plurality of television channels. The fixed filter has an input coupled to the antenna and filters one fixed frequency spectrum of television channels from the received signals. The mixer has inputs coupled to simultaneously receive the fixed frequency spectrum of channels and mixing signals of a high selectable frequency. The high selectable frequency shifts selectable channels of the spectrum to high intermediate frequency substantially greater than 45 MHz.

Abstract: Protection from corrosive effects of water in hot water tanks is provided by an electrochemically active noble metal type anode disposed in the hot water tank and supplied by a selected level of current passing from the anode through the water to the tank. The anode is configured in such manner as to cause the current to be distributed throughout the entire tank and thus for a conventional tank takes the form of a long thin anode. The noble metal is shown to be clad or plated onto an electrically conductive and, under anodic conditions, chemically inert strip of metal supported on a suitable electrically insulative member. The power supply provides a minimum protective current for water having low corrosivity characteristics, a maximum protective current for water having high corrosivity characteristics and intermediate these two extremites a level which varies with the degree of corrosivity of the water.