Abstract: The invention relates to an integrated circuit structure that includes a substrate wafer having an active device layer disposed on a surface of the substrate wafer and having an electrically conductive element contained therein. The integrated circuit structure further comprises a barrier disposed between the substrate wafer and the active device layer, where the barrier blocks carriers injected into the substrate wafer and reduces low frequency oscillation effect.

Abstract: A ball joint (10) for supporting a first suspension member (12) for movement relative to a second suspension member (14) comprises a socket (30) for connection with the first suspension member, a bearing (38) in the socket, and a stud (40) having a first end portion (42) and a second end portion (50). The bearing (38) supports the first end portion (40) of the stud (40) in the socket (30) for pivotal movement relative to the socket. The second end portion (50) of the stud (40) projects from the socket (30) for connection with the second suspension member (14). The second end portion (50) of the stud (40) has a tapered outer surface (60). The second suspension member (14) has a tapered inner surface (22) defining an opening (24) in the second suspension member. The ball joint (10) further comprises a collar (70) on the stud (40).

Abstract: An optical device for use with an optical input beam comprising an optical thresholding device positioned along an optical path defined by the propagation direction of the optical input beam. If the combined intensity of the optical input beam and a control beam exceeds a threshold level, the optical beam passes through the thresholding device. Preferably, the optical thresholding device is a saturable absorber. When the device is configured as an optical comparator, the intensity of the optical input beam exceeds the threshold level and the thresholding device saturates and turns transparent so that the control beam passes through the thresholding device as an optical indicator beam. When the device is configured as an optical signal attenuator and the intensity of the optical input signal is negligible compared to that of the control beam, the combined intensity of the beams does not saturate the thresholding device.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to controlling a vehicle multistage actuatable occupant restraining system (14, 18). A crash sensor (32, 36) senses crash acceleration and provides a crash acceleration signal (110, 160) indicative thereof. Crash velocity and crash displacement are determined (118, 168) in response to the crash acceleration signal. A first stage (90, 94) of the multistage actuatable occupant restraining system is actuated when the determined crash velocity as a function of crash displacement exceeds a low threshold (130, 132, 180, 182). A transverse accelerometer (34) senses transverse crash acceleration. The transverse acceleration as a function of the crash displacement is compared (226, 278) against a transverse threshold (268). The value of the low threshold (130, 180) is switched to a different value (132, 182) when the transverse acceleration exceeds the transverse threshold.

Abstract: An apparatus that mounts a steering shaft connectable with a steering wheel and rotatable to turn steerable vehicle wheels to a vehicle includes a support member connectable with the vehicle. The support member has first and second bearing housings spaced from each other along a longitudinal axis of the steering shaft. Each of the first and second bearing housings has a surface extending parallel to the longitudinal axis with an opening through which bearings are inserted that support the steering shaft for rotation relative to the support member.

Abstract: A gas generating material (52) for use in a vehicle occupant protection apparatus (10) comprises a particulate oxidizer, a hydroxy terminated polybutadiene, a diisocyanate cross-linking agent, and a plasticizer. The diisocyanate cross-linking agent cross-links the hydroxy terminated polybutadiene to form an elastomeric binder that contains the particulate oxidizer. The ratio of hydroxyl groups of the hydroxy terminated polybutadiene to isocyanate groups of the diisocyanate cross-linking agent is at least about 0.95.

Abstract: A system (10) has a portion (e.g., 30, 42 and 44) for sensing the presence of a person in a vehicle interior compartment (e.g., 20). The system (10) also has a portion (e.g., 34 and 50) for determining if the temperature in the vehicle interior compartment (20) is potentially dangerous to the person. The system (10) further has a portion (e.g., 60, and 66, 68, 70, or 72) responsive to the determination of potentially dangerous temperature for providing aid to the person in the vehicle interior compartment (20). An associated method includes sensing the presence of a person in a vehicle interior compartment, determining if a temperature condition exists in the vehicle interior compartment that is potentially dangerous to the person, and providing aid to the person in the vehicle interior compartment in response to the determination.

Abstract: A seat belt system (13) includes a seat belt (19) having an inflatable portion (32). The system (13) further comprises at least one microelectromechanical device (MEMS) device (120) connected in fluid communication with the inflatable portion (32) of the seat belt (19) and energizable to supply inflation fluid to inflate the inflatable portion (32) of the seat belt.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a HEMT IC using a citric acid etchant. In order that gates of different sizes may be formed with a single etching step, a citric acid etchant is used which includes potassium citrate, citric acid and hydrogen peroxide. The wafer is first spin coated with a photoresist which is then patterned by optical lithography. The wafer is dipped in the etchant to etch the exposed semiconductor material. Metal electrodes are evaporated onto the wafer and the remaining photoresist is removed with solvent.

Abstract: A high density electronic switching matrix (ESM) includes several splitting modules (200) arranged along a first axis, each including a signal input (202) and several splitter outputs (204). The ESM (500, 600) further includes several switching modules (400) arranged along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis. Each switching module (400) includes switching inputs (402) coupled individually to an output of each of the splitting modules (200). The ESM (500, 600) is further characterized by couplings between the splitter modules and the switching modules. The couplings are formed by mating male and female connectors (300) integrated into the splitting modules and the switching modules. The couplings support extremely high frequency operation. The splitting modules (200) and the switching modules (400) may thus be coupled closely together to form a dense, high frequency, switching matrix, and may be stacked upon one another.

Abstract: The present invention provides a tracking sensor and system to maintain the alignment of an optical communication beam between two terminals. A four-quadrant InGaAs photodetector receives the optical beam. Each quadrant of the photodetector transmits the signal to channel circuitry. The channel circuitry synchronously demodulated the signal to calculate received power. The received power for each signal is supplied to an up/down adder, a left/right adder and a total power received adder which provide the relative powers received in the upper half with respect to the lower half and in the left half with respect to the right half as well as the total power received. The fine track mechanism of the receiving terminal is adjusted to equalize the received power for each half. When each half is receiving equal power, the optical beam is centered. The photodetector, channel circuitry, and adders are contained in a single, hermetically sealed package with an optical window through which the optical signal passes.

Abstract: A method is provided for discriminating and routing data packets in a satellite-based communication system (10), comprising the steps of: (a) receiving an input data stream from an application residing on a transmitting device (12); (b) selecting either a first spread spectrum code or a second spread spectrum code based on the quality of service (QOS) requirements associated with the first application; (c) applying the selected spread spectrum code to the input data stream, thereby generating a spread spectrum data stream; (d) transmitting the spread spectrum data stream from the transmitting device (12) to a network routing device (14); (e) correlating the spread spectrum data stream with the corresponding selected spread spectrum code to recover the original input data stream; and (f) routing the input data stream to either a low earth orbiting satellite (16) when the first spread spectrum code is used to recover the input data signal or to a geosynchronous orbiting satellite (18) when the second spread spe

Abstract: An apparatus (22) for controlling an actuatable side restraining device (24, 26) of a vehicle (20) includes crash sensors (28, 50, 52) sensing a vehicle crash condition and providing associated crash sensor signals (60, 62, 42) indicative thereof. An actuator controller (70) enables actuation of the actuatable side restraining device (24, 26) in response to enhanced discrimination and safing determinations.

Abstract: An inflator (22) for providing inflation fluid ( ) to inflate an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14) includes a container (30) storing the inflation fluid under pressure. The container (30) has an outlet passage (80) through which the inflation fluid flows from the container. A rupturable closure member (92) fixed to the container (30) blocks flow of inflation fluid through the passage (80). A support (100) for the rupturable closure member (92) defines a chamber (110) adjacent the rupturable closure member (92). The rupturable closure member (92) has a first portion (122) deformed into the chamber (110) by the pressure of the inflation fluid and a second ring-shaped portion (124) encircling the first portion (122). An initiator (98) ruptures the closure member (92) when actuated by shearing the first portion (122) from the second portion (124).

Abstract: An apparatus (10) and method for detecting an intrusion into a predetermined area. The apparatus (10) includes a transmitter (28) and a receiver (30). The receiver (30) generates an output signal indicative of reflected return signals received. The apparatus (10) also includes a controller (38). The controller (38) receives the output signal from the receiver (30) and determines a peak value of the output signal during a first time window. The first time window continues no longer than a first maximum duration when the peak value of the output signal during the first maximum duration is at least a predetermined value. The first time window continues no longer than a second maximum duration when the peak value of the output signal during the first maximum duration is less than the predetermined value.

Abstract: A tire condition sensor module (14) for a vehicle (10) comprises at least one actuatable tire condition sensor (78, 84, 88) for sensing a tire condition of an associated vehicle tire (20) and a motion detector (32) for detecting movement of the associated vehicle tire (20). The module (14) further includes a transmitter (44) for transmitting a tire condition indicating signal having a characteristic based on the sensed tire condition signal. A controller (74) controls actuation of the tire condition sensor (78, 84, 88) and the transmitter (44). The controller (74) is continuously energized and has first and second operating modes. The controller (74) operates in the first operating mode when movement of the associated tire (20) is greater than a predetermined value and operates in the second operating mode when movement of the associated tire (20) is less than the predetermined value.

Abstract: A time division multiplex (TDM) communication system (10) for broadcasting to users. The TDM communication system (10) includes a first transmitter (14) which broadcasts a first signal into a first coverage area (30) and a second transmitter (16) which broadcasts a second signal into a second coverage area (30) which at least partially overlaps said first coverage area (30). The first transmitter (14) is allocated a first TDM time block (88) having a first guard time (48) and the second transmitter (16) is allocated a second TDM time block (88) having a second guard time (48). The first (88) and second time blocks (88) form at least a portion of a TDM repeat interval such that the first transmitter (14) broadcasts the first signal during the first TDM time block (88) and the second transmitter (16) broadcasts the second signal during the second TDM time block (88).

Abstract: A method for aligning the optical surfaces of a high extraction annular ring resonator which includes a scraper mirror with a decentered aperture. A probe beam is directed into the resonator cavity through the decentered aperture in the scraper mirror, and a visual and quantitative assessment of the amount of compact leg tilt and rear cone decentration is made. The optical surfaces are then repositioned into alignment based upon the results of the assessment.

Abstract: An optical modulator (20) that operates as a phase modulator at high frequency and as a frequency modulator at low frequencies to provide a suitable signal-to-noise ratio over a wide frequency band. The modulator (20) includes an optical waveguide 120 and opposing RF electrodes (122, 124) formed in the waveguide (120). An RF input signal is applied to the electrodes (122, 124) to create an electric field that changes the index of refraction of the waveguide (120) to affect the propagation speed of an optical carrier signal (126), and thus provide the modulation. The electrodes (122, 124) are long velocity-matched electrodes that provide the RF loss versus RF frequency needed to produce the desired V&pgr; versus RF frequency over the entire bandwidth. The lower V&pgr; at lower RF frequencies will emphasize the lower frequencies and improve the low-frequency fidelity of the optical link by boosting the low-frequency signals above the excess link noise generated in the demodulator (12).

Abstract: The self inductance associated with a capacitance A52 in a superconductor integrated circuit (FIG. 1) is reduced by adding a layer of superconductor metal (A54) overlying the capacitor, effectively producing a negative inductance to counteract the self-inductance of the capacitor leads, thereby reducing inductance of the circuit. As a result it possible to transfer a single flux quantum (“SFQ”) pulse through the capacitor. Capacitors (19 and 25 FIG. 5) of the foregoing type are incorporated in superconductor integrated circuit SFQ transmission lines (FIG. 5) to permit SQUID-to-SQUID transfer of SFQ pulses, while maintaining the circuit grounds of the respective SQUIDs in DC isolation. Bias current (10) may be supplied to multiple SQUIDs (1 & 3, 7 & 9 FIG. 5) serially, reducing the supply current required previously for operation of multiple SQUIDs.