Abstract: A unique system and method for ordering commands to reduce disc access latency while giving preference to pending commands. The method and system involves giving preference to pending commands in a set of priority queues. The method and system involve identifying a pending command and processing other non-pending commands in route to the pending command if performance will not be penalized in doing so. The method and system include a list of command node references referring to a list of sorted command nodes that are to be scheduled for processing.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for improving a screen printing process by applying vibrational energy to assist in the print release, cleaning, and drying processes. The vibrational energy or acoustic pressure waves may be created by a transducer where the waves are transferred to the stencil or printable material through air or a vibrational interface medium. The vibrational energy in turn assists with separating the printable material from the side walls of the apertures of the stencil. The vibrational energy can further assist in the process of cleaning the stencil. The acoustic pressure can also be used in the drying process by having the waves impinge on the water droplets to atomize the droplets on the surface of the stencil. The technology can be used for the assembly of Printed Circuit Assemblies, Ball Grid Array IC Packages, Flip Chip, etc.

Abstract: A method of performing a FFT of a sequence of N=Bn numbers, where B is a power of 2 and n is a positive integer. A pattern of storage locations for the Bn numbers in M in-place memories is selected recursively, where M is a power of 2 that is less than B, wherein, if n=1, each in-place memory has storage locations for a different B/M of the B numbers, and wherein, if n is greater than 1, the pattern for storing Bn numbers is a concatenation of B patterns for storing Bn−1 numbers, there being B/M successive sets of the patterns for storing Bn−1 numbers in the pattern for storing Bn numbers when n is greater than 1, the patterns, for storing Bn−1 numbers, within each of the B/M successive sets, is mutually identical and is different from the patterns, for storing B numbers, of any other the set. The numbers are stored in the storage locations. An in-place radix-B DFT is performed on each of N/B groups of values stored in the storage locations.

Abstract: An apparatus and accessories are disclosed for a flexible support apparatus 100, 900 using elongated support members 110 to support a face of a workpiece 10 and respective protrusions 335. The elongated support members 110 are arranged through at least one plane of perforated material 120, where the elongated support members 110 are profiled against the workpiece 10 and respective protrusions 335. The profile of the elongated support members 110 is created by contacting forces 132 generated by bringing the workpiece 330 and the plurality of elongated support members 110 together. A holding force is then applied to the elongated support members 110 to support the workpiece 10 against forces applied by a workstation. Fluid 902 is used to raise expansion members to raise the plurality of elongate support members 110. A perforated plate 920 is used to control the flow of fluid 902 between a fluid cavity 910 and the plurality of expansion members 904.

Abstract: An apparatus and accessories are disclosed for a flexible support apparatus 100, 900 using elongated support members 110 to support a face of a workpiece 10 and respective protrusions 335. The elongated support members 110 are arranged through at least one plane of perforated material 120, where the elongated support members 110 are profiled against the workpiece 10 and respective protrusions 335. The profile of the elongated support members 110 is created by contacting forces 132 generated by bringing the workpiece 330 and the plurality of elongated support members 110 together. A holding force is then applied to the elongated support members 110 to support the workpiece 10 against forces applied by a workstation. Fluid 902 is used to raise expansion members to raise the plurality of elongate support members 110. A perforated plate 920 is used to control the flow of fluid 902 between a fluid cavity 910 and the plurality of expansion members 904.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for improving drying of a module, tooling, and solder stencils via the introduction of acoustic pressure waves and/or vibrational energy to the module, tooling, or solder stencils. The acoustic pressure waves may be created by a transducer where the waves are transferred to the module through air or a vibrational interface medium. The acoustic pressure waves impinge on the water droplets to atomize the droplets on the surface of the module and in the cracks, crevices and hard to reach areas of connectors and other components, without undesirable heat. The acoustic energy may further be used to assist in cleaning solder stencils within an automated screen printer.

Abstract: A receiver for a resonance signal of a magnetic resonance imaging system generates a baseband signal for image processing by dividing a raw resonance signal among multiple parallel channels, each amplified at a respective gain. A digital channel selector determines, at any given moment, a lowest-distortion channel to be further processed. Amplitude and phase error compensation are handled digitally using complex multipliers, which are derived by a calibration, based on a simple Larmor oscillator, which can be done without the need for a sample and without repeating when measurement conditions are changed. One of the important benefits of the invention is that it provides for gain selection without repeated calibration steps. This is particularly important in systems that employ fast imaging techniques such as fast spin echo, where the invention can speed imaging substantially.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for applying solder mask to an area respective of a plurality of receiving pads on a Printed Circuit Board. The solder mask can be at least partially removed during the component removal process exposing the conductor, via and annular ring. The exposed conductor, via and annular ring can cause defects and unreliable solder joints should the solder flow along the conductor and into the via. A small stencil can be used to apply solder mask in a desirable pattern to a selective area of a PCB. Alternatively, an elastomeric transferring apparatus can be used. Various methods can be included to assist in aligning the applicator to the desired area such as an overlaid, dual imaging system.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging (“MRI”) simulator for evaluating an MRI device comprises sections for being selectively coupled to the corresponding portions of the MRI device. Data representative of a previously imaged object is provided to the portions of the MRI device, for processing. The results of the processing are evaluated to determine whether portions of the MRI device are operating properly. Methods of evaluating an MRI device and an MRI device incorporating such a simulator are also disclosed.

Abstract: A unique system and method for ordering commands to reduce disc access latency while giving preference to pending commands. The method and system involves giving preference to pending commands in a set of priority queues. The method and system involve identifying a pending command and processing other non-pending commands in route to the pending command if performance will not be penalized in doing so. The method and system include a list of command node references referring to a list of sorted command nodes that are to be scheduled for processing.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed using the internet (or similar) to provide, publish and maintain a database for stolen items. The method and apparatus further disclose the utilization of this database as a backbone for an internet portal, providing for automated contact of interested parties, automated e-commerce for replacement of assets, and immediate distribution of published information. The preferred embodiment would provide a means for extracting the information from entered police reports to create an all encompassing database. The present invention provides a new mechanism for deterring the selling of stolen items, increasing the potential of recovering stolen or missing items, and simplifying the claim processing process.

Abstract: A method and apparatus using the worldwide web portal site to provide, publish and maintain a database for missing/stolen items and missing persons/fugitives. The method and apparatus further utilize this database as a backbone for an internet portal, providing for automated contact of interested parties, automated e-commerce for replacement of assets, and immediate distribution of published information. The invention allows for extracting information from entered police reports to create an all encompassing database, and provides a method for deterring the selling of stolen items, increasing the potential of recovering stolen or missing items, and simplifying the claim processing process and finding missing persons and fugitives.

Abstract: A method of stabilizing the static magnetic field in a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system applies a radio frequency pulse to a test sample within the static magnetic field and an NMR signal is acquired from the test sample. A characteristic of a signal indicative of the NMR signal, such as the area, phase or the sum of the differences of sampled values is ascertained. In addition, the number of recurring features, such as zero-crossings, of the signal indicative of the NMR signal can be determined and a correction signal is generated to adjust the static magnetic field via a set of correction coils driven by a signal derived from the number of recurring features and the value of the characteristic. Apparatus for stabilizing the static magnetic field is also disclosed.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging ("MRI") simulator for evaluating an MRI device comprises sections for being selectively coupled to the corresponding portions of the MRI device. Data representative of a previously imaged object is provided to the portions of the MRI device, for processing. The results of the processing are evaluated to determine whether portions of the MRI device are operating properly. Methods of evaluating an MRI device and an MRI device incorporating such a simulator are also disclosed.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for optimally decoding messages from CDMA signal sent by a plurality of users and received asynchronously at one receiver, using a minimal number of computations and minimal memory and processing resources. It is based on a novel approach to signal correlation, as well as to subsequent decoding by decorrelation, that requires a correlation period of only one symbol length, by providing for each user a pair of partial signatures sequences, with which the signal is correlated, deccorelating the results with the inverse of the cross-correlation matrix of all partial sequences, and combining the resultant partial symbol estimates--to obtain final estimated symbol values. The partial sequences are formed by separating each original sequence at a point corresponding to the estimated symbol boundary time, relative to an arbitrary correlation window, of one symbol length.

Abstract: An apparatus for obtaining, in the course of a single scan, NMR image data for a plurality of selected planes in an object, oriented at different angles, utilizes a slice pointer for outputting a signal indicating a particular plane to a multiplier and offset parameter RAM which provides multiplier and offset terms corresponding to the angle of the plane. A generator provides a generic gradient waveform to an arithmetic unit which combines this waveform with the multiplier and offset parameters from the RAM to create waveforms, which when applied to the gradient coils of an NMR apparatus, rotate the slice selector and the readout gradients, thereby permitting image data to be obtained in planes having different angles. A method in accordance with the apparatus of the present invention is also disclosed.

Abstract: A system (1000) for estimating the frequency of a tone input utilizes sample rate reduction in successive stages and processing by digital cyclotomic filters at each stage. The tone input (2001) is first transformed in network (1100) to yield two quadrature tones. Digitizer (1200) converts the two tones into data words.Buffer (1300) comprises two essentially identical storage arrangements wherein data words are stored and then supplied to succeeding stages. Frequency-shifting unit (1400) effects modulus-one multiplication by processing appropriately selected data words. Word pairs and frequency-shifted versions thereof are processed by cyclotomic filters (1500). Sequential decimation in this system effects a successively refined estimate to the tonal frequency. During each stage of decimation, the filters are configured to provide symmetric coverage of the subband containing the estimate.

Abstract: A system (1000) for estimating the frequency of a tone input utilizes sample rate reduction in successive stages and processing by digital cyclotomic filters at each stage. The tone input (2001) is first transformed in network (1100) to yield two quadrature tones. Digitizer (1200) converts the two tones into data words. Buffer (1300) comprises two essentially identical storage arrangments wherein data words are stored and then supplied to succeeding stages. Frequency-shifting unit (1400) effects modulus-one multiplication by processing appropriately selected data words. Word pairs and frequency-shifted versions thereof are processed by cyclotomic filters (1500). Sequential decimation in the system effects a successively refined estimate to the tonal frequency. During each stage of decimation, the filters are configured to provide symmetric coverage of the subband containing the estimate.