Abstract: An information processing unit of the present invention stores at least information from an optical disc by directing a laser beam, under the application of a magnetic field, onto the optical disc with the information recorded thereon. The device includes a housing having an access hole through which the optical disc is inserted and a record/playback/erase head for providing an illumination using the laser beam and electromagnet for generating the magnetic field. A movable first guide member is provided for guiding a first holding member for holding a cartridge with the optical disc held therein and second holding member for holding an electromagnet and a fixed second guide member is provided for guiding the first guide member and first holding member.

Abstract: A composite material (20) has electrically conducting, elongated particles (22) dispersed in a liquid crystal (24). The index of refraction to microwaves is controllable by the application of a transverse electric field that aligns the liquid crystal material (24) and the particles (22). A phase modulating cell (31) is formed by placing the composite material (20) inside a microwave wave guide (32), with transverse electrodes (36) built into the sides of the wave guide (32). Another set of transverse electrodes or magnet pole pieces (30) can be provided to align the liquid crystal material (24) and the particles (22) in another direction, thereby switching the index of refraction of the cell (31). The particles (22) may be made of a ferromagnetic material, to permit magentic as well as electrical switching.

Abstract: A logic circuit has a logic circuit portion which includes a first MOS transistor circuit, a second MOS transistor circuit and a third MOS transistor circuit for conducting a logical operation. The logic circuit also has a first and a second bipolar transistor for driving a next stage logic circuit and an N-channel MOS transistor for discharging the charge in the base of the second bipolar transistor. There is provided an inverter circuit whose input terminal is connected either to the output terminal or the base of the first bipolar transistor. An input to the gate of the N-channel MOS transistor is supplied from the output terminal of the inverter circuit so that, when the output changes from its high level to its low level, there is no possiblity for the first and second bipolar transistors to turn to their ON-state at the same time.

Abstract: Logic unit cells are disclosed, consisting of an array of high speed logic gates, the outputs of which are wired together and coupled to a low power driver. High speed and switching rates are achieved by using very fast logic gates which have no gain and make use of a wired logic function in order to effect two levels of logic without adding the propagation delay through another logic gate. These arrays of logic gates are coupled to drivers which restore logic levels and provide the necessary power for driving interconnect capacitances while consuming and dissipating a minimum of power in the process. Another logic circuit discloses an array of logic gates as inputs to another logic gate, the individual gates consisting of gallium arsenide components and having drivers built into the output stage of each gate.

Abstract: A specimen holder including a housing having a specimen chamber in it. A window defining a wall of the chamber allows transmission of at least a portion of the x-radiation from X-ray diffraction spectometry apparatus on which the holder is mounted, into the chamber. The housing has a passageway in it opening at one end into the specimen chamber and at the opposite end to outside the housing. A cylindrical specimen mount supports the specimen in the housing is constructed for sealing sliding reception in the passageway such that the specimen mount is rotatable about its longitudinal axis and movable lengthwise of the passageway while maintaining a seal with the passageway for positioning the specimen in the specimen chamber.

Abstract: The present invention provides a scintillation counter that includes a measuring chamber accommodated to take the sample and viewed by two photodetectors, preferably photomultipliers, that can be operated in coincidence. Associated with the chamber is an additional scintillator, preferably an inorganic crystal scintillator, optically isolated from the chamber by a light-permeable wall and mounted so that the scintillation light generated in the additional scintillator is guided predominantly only to one of the two photodetectors. A comparator is used for registering pulse amplitude disparity between the photodetectors to distinguish low-disparity, sample generated pulses and high-disparity, additional scintillator generated pulses.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for storing and displaying radiographs, particularly intra-oral radiographs, is presented. Radiographs are captured, digitized, and displayed along with an icon of a portion of the anatomy from which the radiograph was taken. The anatomical sites represented by the icon are arranged according to their normal anatomical relationship. The icon is used by the system user to select a portion of the anatomy corresponding to the displayed radiograph, and the radiograph is stored along with indicia of the selected anatomical site. Then, when the stored radiograph is desired to be viewed, the icon is again displayed, and the appropriate anatomical site is selected, which causes the corresponding radiograph to be retrieved from storage and displayed.

Abstract: An X-ray analyzer capable of reducing the effects of a shift of peak positions in an energy spectrum resulting from a change in temperature and a lapse of time in an X-ray detector to enable a highly accurate analysis.A shift of peak positions of X-rays from known positions are detected and a voltage applied to a proportional counter is controlled on the basis of the detected results. In addition, a gain in an amplifier amplifying an output from the X-ray detector may be controlled on the basis of the detected results.

Abstract: Automatic threat detection in association with imaging which relies on a backscatter detector and illumination by a flying spot source of penetrating radiation. The digital backscatter image is processed to produce a histogram. The histogram is compared to a predetermined threat characteristic and an alarm is sounded if the histogram exceeds the threat characteristic. The threat characteristic is derived in an empirical fashion and automatically modified based on sensing selected parameters associated with the scanning. Operator control over the threat characteristic is also implemented. The flying spot source is also associated with a transmit detector to produce a transmit image. The transmit image is also processed against predetermined parameters for threat assessment. The predetermined parameters are also operator variable.

Abstract: The invention provides a displacement sensor comprising a light-emitting element for projecting a detection light towards an object in a substantially perpendicular direction, a condensing element for condensing a reflected light from the object, and a position sensitive device with its light-receiving surface disposed in parallel with the axis of the detection light. A positioning apparatus employing the above displacement sensor is also disclosed.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display panel construction includes a matrix of liquid crystal elements and a layer of optical fluid extending substantially in a plane parallel to the matrix of liquid crystal elements, for improving the optical characteristics of the panel.

Abstract: A one dimensional X-ray image sensor consists of a plurality of unit detecting devices aligned in a row and a filter which covers a portion thereof and is made of a material having an X-ray absorption coefficient equal to or nearly equal to that of a target material to be inspected. An X-ray inspection apparatus includes the one dimensional X-ray image sensor and further includes a data processor for correcting measured values using data measured in regard to the filter.

Abstract: An X-ray radiographing apparatus is provided with an interlock mechanism to avoid mutual interference of movable elements such as an X-ray unit, a compression cone, a table, a tabletop and a spot-film device. When a judging element judges, in response to information outputted from a position detecting element of the movable elements and switches operated by an operator, that interlock should be done, an interlocking element is worked, and then a teaching unit is worked. Thus, the interlocked state itself and how to unlock from the interlocked state can be taught to the operator with graphic images by the teaching unit.

Abstract: A logarithmic amplifier includes amplifier stages having an input transmission line and first and second output transmission lines. The input and output transmission line are coupled by multiple amplifier elements distributed along the transmission lines. One output transmission line forms a high gain low compression path and the other a low gain high compression path. The output transmission lines of each stage are coupled to a combiner from whence the logarithmically amplified output signal is obtained. The logarithmic amplifier stages are readily constructed in MMIC form and multiple stages may be easily cascaded to provide a very large dynamic range.

Abstract: A power amplifier having a power MOS transistor output device. The gate drive for the power device is a bidirectional current source. In one form of the gate driver circuit, the bidirectional current source includes the capability of controlling the liimts of the gate current, which in turn controls the slew rate of the power amplifier.

Abstract: A periodic sequence of signals is intiated and provided to a counter. During this time, a pulse (PULSE) is generated. Upon reaching a terminal count the pulse is terminated. The pulse is provided to a delay element which receives at its input a signal (s) entering, processed within or exiting a semiconductor device. The pulse and periodic sequence of signals are initiated by an edge detector detecting a trigger signal (TRIGGER), which may be the signal (s) being delayed. The sequence of signals is generated by a circuit element, such as a ring oscillator, and the periodicity of the sequence of signals is related to the inherent switching speed of the semiconductor device technology. A plurality of delay circuits are provided in a semiconductor device for individually delaying a plurality of signals entering, processed within and exiting the device. A library of delay circuits may pre-designed, and stored for implementation, as needed, in semiconductor devices.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for generating x-rays for use in, for instance, x-ray photolithography. The method of generating x-rays includes the steps of providing a target and irradiating the target with a laser system which produces a train of sub-pulses to generate an x-ray producing plasma. The sub-pulses are of both high intensity and short duration. The apparatus for generating x-rays from a plasma includes a vacuum chamber, a target supported within the chamber and a laser system, including a short storage time laser.

Abstract: An X-ray lithography device which utilizes a Kumakhov lens is disclosed. This device is capable of using both small area sources and synchrotron sources. This device provides improved X-ray control, precision and accuracy. Also provided is a method of X-ray lithograph which incorporates a Kumakhov lens.

Abstract: A tomograph makes use of phase information obtainable from a radiation beam having transmitted a to-be-inspected object. In one embodiment, the tomograph has an interferometer for producing interference infringes between a signal beam having transmitted through the object and a reference beam and eventually producing Moire fringes a detector for detecting the Moire fringes, and a signal processing unit for processing outputs of the detector.

Abstract: Latch circuit and method which permit two-phase latches and flip-flops to be intermixed in a system having level sensitive scanning without critical clock requirements. The circuit includes a master latch having a normal data input and a scan data input, and a slave latch connected to the master latch. A differential pair of clock signals is applied to the latches in a complementary manner during a normal mode of operation to load data from the normal data input to the master latch and to transfer the normal data from the master latch to the slave latch, and two separate low frequency non-overlapping scan clock phases are applied to the latches during a level sensitive scanning mode to load data from the scan data input to the master latch and to transfer the scan data from the master latch to the slave latch.