Abstract: A filter for attenuating a resonance mode without substantial phase margin loss. The filter comprises a transfer function having an additional pole, such that the phase of the input signal is advanced. The phase-advanced filter substantially attenuates all frequencies above a selected center frequency while avoiding substantial phase margin loss.

Abstract: An optical switch is disclosed. A lock magnetic field is provided on the sides of a rotator with a magnetic surface. The magnetic field has a potential with two minima as reflective and non-reflective positions. At the reflective position, the reflective mirror on the rotator reflects light beams. The beam goes through when the rotator is at the non-reflective position. At the same time, the magnetic field firmly locks the rotator at its position. When a driving force is imposed on the rotator, it rotates from its current position to the other position and gets locked at the new position.

Abstract: Ion-exchange materials comprising a polymeric backbone and a plurality of pendent styrenic or fluorinated styrenic macromonomers covalently bonded thereto, wherein the plurality of pendent styrenic or fluorinated styrenic macromonomers comprise a uniform number of styrenic or fluorinated styrenic monomer repeat units, and wherein predominantly all of the styrenic or fluorinated styrenic monomer repeat units have at least one charged group. Processes for making such materials, as well as products related thereto, are also disclosed. In a representative embodiment, the ion-exchange material is utilized as a proton-exchange membrane (PEM) for use in a PEM fuel cell.

Abstract: A method of fabricating laminate assemblies determines the ideal weight (W) of underfill to be dispensed, based on the size of the semiconductor die and the gap between the die and the laminate substrate. Underfill is dispensed in a single step in an amount between 1.1W and 1.3W to form fillets that cover at least 15% of the height of the semiconductor die on all four sides of the die. The amount of underfill ensures that the fillet coverage imbalance is 30% or less for each of the pairs of opposing sides of the die, thereby improving solder joint reliability.

Abstract: A substrate strip includes a plurality of substrate units wherein each of the substrate units is accepted for packaging a semiconductor package. The substrate strip comprises: a frame having at least one opening; at least one first substrate unit integrally formed with the strip frame; and at least one second substrate unit disposed in the opening and securely attached to the strip frame by an adhesive. The present invention further provides a method for making the substrate strip. The method is conducted by separating defected substrate units from a substrate strip and securely attaching accepted substrate units back to the substrate strip.

Abstract: An image-capturing system includes an image-capturing module and a remote control. The image-capturing module has a digital camera for capturing images and a driving device for adjusting an image capturing angle of the digital camera. The remote control has a display panel for displaying images captured by the digital camera and a control panel for controlling the driving device. A user can utilize the control panel to control the driving device so as to change the image capturing angle of the digital camera, and can preview an image captured by the digital camera using the display panel of the remote control.

Abstract: A digital computer system automatically creates an Instruction Set Architecture (ISA) that potentially exploits VLIW instructions, vector operations, fused operations, and specialized operations with the goal of increasing the performance of a set of applications while keeping hardware cost below a designer specified limit, or with the goal of minimizing hardware cost given a required level of performance.

Abstract: A collapsible medical device for use, e.g., as a vascular sealer. The device includes a sheath adapted to be positioned such that a distal end thereof is adjacent the opening. A mandrel is disposed within a lumen of the sheath and is adapted to be positioned such that a distal length thereof is adjacent the distal end of the sheath. A collapsible sealing member comprises a fluid-impervious film carried by a plurality of wires. The wires are attached to the mandrel and expand radially outward therefrom. In one method of using such a device, the sealing member is held in a collapsed position within the sheath. The sealing member is advanced through the sheath and beyond the distal end thereof, whereby the sealing member resiliently expands. The sealing member is positioned against the inner wall of the blood vessel adjacent the opening, thereby affecting a temporary seal of the opening. The sealant is introduced into the tissue tract. After hardening, the sealing member is collapsed within the sheath.

Abstract: A system for improving the speed of the video encoding process by decreasing the number of cycles to perform the quantization. The disclosed system achieves the improvement through use of a parallel processor, such as one having a Single Instruction, Multiple Data (SIMD) architecture. Concurrent processing during one instruction cycle is accomplished, thereby leading overall to the use of fewer instruction cycles. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, an MMX instruction is used for executing four quantizations in parallel. The disclosed system also achieves a higher precision of the quantization during the encoding of video signals (60) with the SIMD architecture by using a larger multiplier and larger shift factor (50).

Abstract: A method and system for operating a cardiac pacemaker which employs pacing therapy to regularize the ventricular rhythm together with biventricular sensing. Biventricular sensing allows the ventricular rate regularization to be accomplished with greater hemodynamic stability.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for an ATM having a display, a logic server coupled to the display, and a memory coupled to the logic server. The logic server dynamically controls the content of screens to be displayed on the display. The memory, which is accessible to the logic server, contains a profile of at least one user.

Abstract: A multi-step process for the deposition of a material into high aspect ratio features on a substrate surface is provided. The process involves depositing a material on the substrate at a first pressure for a first period of time and then depositing the material on the substrate at a second pressure for a second period of time. Modulation of the pressure influences the ionization and trajectory of the particles, which are ionized in a plasma environment. The method of the invention in one aspect allows for optimum deposition at the bottom of a high aspect ratio feature during a high pressure step and increased deposition on the sidewalls of the feature during at least a low pressure step.

Abstract: A distributed address database management technique involves maintaining an address database by each of a number of interconnected modules. Each module maintains a number of locally owned address entries and a number of remotely owned address entries in the address database. Each module monitors the status of its locally owned address entries, maintains the locally owned address entries based upon the status, and provides the status to the other interconnected modules. Each module maintains the remotely owned address entries based upon the status received from the other interconnected modules. When a module adds a locally owned address entry to its address database, the module notifies the other interconnected modules, which in turn add a corresponding remotely owned address entry to their respective address databases.

Abstract: A communication network is provided which includes a primary label switched path having a plurality of switching routers. The communication network includes a secondary label switched path which extends from a selected primary path switching router, bypasses a section of the primary path and rejoins the primary path at a position downstream of the selected switching router. The selected switching router is conditioned to re-route data intended for transmission on the primary path, onto the secondary communication path in response to a fault on the section of the primary path which is bypassed by the secondary path to restore data transmission.

Abstract: This invention is a system and method for managing replication of data distributed over one or more computer systems. A data storage system can perform computer-executed steps of establishing one or more mirrored copies of data that are copies of one or more volumes of standard data (e.g. a database) on a first computer system. In one embodiment, the mirrored data is restored using logical volume swapping.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for identifying inhibitors of the bitter taste response, and by methods of using such inhibitors to either block the perception of bitterness and/or promote the perception of a sweet taste. The inhibitors of the invention may be used as flavor enhancers in foods and pharmaceuticals. The methods of the invention may further be used to characterize the gustatory perception of novel tastants.

Abstract: Thermoplastic polymer blends and formed articles made thereof which exhibit superior physical properties such as a combination of excellent scratch resistance, rigidity and impact toughness. The thermoplastic polyolefin blend includes from about 40 percent to about 80 percent of a base component of propylene-containing polymer; from about 5 percent to about 30 percent of a toughening component; and from about 3 percent to about 40 percent of a thermoplastic elastomer, preferably of a high styrene containing block or random copolymer. A preferred thermoplastic polyolefin blend includes between about 50 percent to about 70 percent of the base component; between about 10 percent to about 20 percent of the toughening component; and between about 5 percent to about 20 percent of the styrene block copolymer. Advantageously, the thermoplastic elastomer has greater than 50 percent by weight styrene monomer.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to analogs of aminoglycoside compounds of the class having a glycosylated 2-deoxystreptamine (2-DOS) ring as well as their preparation and use as prophylactic or therapeutics against microbial infection. Compounds of the invention comprises at least one aryl, heteroaryl, substituted aryl or substituted heteroaryl group in place of a glycosyl group attached to the 2-deoxystreptamine ring.

Abstract: Methods and compositions are taught that may be used to administer specific bioactive polypeptides, known as T20 and T1249 to a patient, e.g., as a method of treating a disease or disease state. In particular, the invention teaches carrier hydrogel composition that contain (a) a polymer material and (b) an effective dose of T20, T1249 or a derivative thereof. The polymer materials used in the carrier hydrogel composition preferably have reverse gelation properties and exist as a liquid, aqueous solution at temperatures below physiological temperatures (e.g., below the body temperature of a patient) but form hydrogels under physiological conditions (e.g., at temperatures at or near the body temperature of a patient). The carrier hydrogel compositions may thus be administered to a patient by injection while they are in a liquid state. Upon administration the carrier hydrogel compositions then form hydrogels with the T20 and/or T1249 polypeptides embedded therein.

Abstract: A pacing system for providing optimal hemodynamic cardiac function for parameters such as contractility (peak left ventricle pressure change during systole or LV+dp/dt), or stroke volume (aortic pulse pressure) using system for calculating atrio-ventricular delays for optimal timing of a ventricular pacing pulse. The system providing an option for near optimal pacing of multiple hemodynamic parameters. The system deriving the proper timing using electrical or mechanical events having a predictable relationship with an optimal ventricular pacing timing signal.