Abstract: A device includes a snapback clamp circuit configured to clamp a supply voltage in response to the supply voltage exceeding a trigger voltage level. In at least one embodiment, the snapback clamp circuit includes a clamp transistor and a programmable resistance portion that is responsive to a control signal to calibrate the trigger voltage level. Alternatively or in addition, the snapback clamp circuit may include a programmable bias device configured to calibrate the trigger voltage level by biasing a gate terminal of the clamp transistor. In another particular embodiment, a method of calibrating a snapback clamp circuit is disclosed. In another particular embodiment, a method of operating an integrated circuit is disclosed.

Abstract: Techniques for reducing leakage current during normal operation of an electrostatic discharge (ESD) circuit are described herein. In one embodiment, a circuit comprises an internal circuit and an electrostatic discharge (ESD) rail clamp coupled in parallel to the internal circuit and between first and second power supply rails. The ESD rail clamp is operable to shunt ESD current from the first power supply rail to the second power supply rail via a low resistance shunt path. The ESD rail clamp comprises an ESD trigger circuit configured to detect an ESD event and a plurality of discharging transistors coupled in series. The ESD trigger circuit is configured to turn off the discharging transistors during normal operation and to turn on the discharging transistors to form the low resistance shunt path in response to detection of the ESD event.

Abstract: In a particular embodiment, a circuit includes a power supply, a ground, and a clamping transistor circuit coupled to the power supply and to the ground. The circuit further includes a disable clamp circuit. The disable clamp circuit is coupled to the power supply and is responsive to a second power supply input to selectively disable the clamping transistor circuit by modifying a charging current applied to a capacitor of the clamping transistor circuit. In a particular embodiment, modifying the charging current includes enabling a second charging path. Enabling the second charging path enables charging the capacitor at a higher charging rate than a charging rate associated with charging the capacitor via a first charging path.

Abstract: A system interconnect includes a first resistor-capacitor (RC) clamp having a first RC time constant. The system interconnect also includes second RC clamps having a second RC time constant. The first and second RC clamps are arranged along the system interconnect. In addition, the first RC time constant is different from the second RC time constant.

Abstract: Systems and methods for treatment of wastewater in waste processing ponds and other enclosed bodies of water are provided. An aerator are configured to include a first set of concentric air hoses disposed at a first position between the water outflow lip and the water intake, the first set of concentric air hoses being in fluid communication with an air inlet disposed at a position on the upper float chassis above the surface level of the water; and a second set of concentric air hoses disposed at a second position between the water first set of concentric air hoses and the water intake, the second set of concentric air hoses being in fluid communication with the air inlet, wherein the first set of concentric air hoses and the second set of concentric air hoses emit jets of air bubbles into the water column between the water intake and the water outflow lip.

Abstract: An apparatus is described. The apparatus includes an input device. The apparatus also includes a positive supply voltage pad. The apparatus further includes an input signal pad. The apparatus also includes a ground pad. The apparatus further includes charged-device model protection circuitry that protects the input device from electrostatic discharge. The charged-device model protection circuitry includes at least one of de-Q circuitry and a cascode device.

Abstract: An apparatus is described. The apparatus includes an input device. The apparatus also includes a positive supply voltage pad. The apparatus further includes an input signal pad. The apparatus also includes a ground pad. The apparatus further includes charged-device model protection circuitry that protects the input device from electrostatic discharge. The charged-device model protection circuitry includes at least one of de-Q circuitry and a cascode device.

Abstract: A device includes a snapback clamp circuit configured to clamp a supply voltage in response to the supply voltage exceeding a trigger voltage level. In at least one embodiment, the snapback clamp circuit includes a clamp transistor and a programmable resistance portion that is responsive to a control signal to calibrate the trigger voltage level. Alternatively or in addition, the snapback clamp circuit may include a programmable bias device configured to calibrate the trigger voltage level by biasing a gate terminal of the clamp transistor. In another particular embodiment, a method of calibrating a snapback clamp circuit is disclosed. In another particular embodiment, a method of operating an integrated circuit is disclosed.

Abstract: In a particular embodiment, a circuit includes a power supply, a ground, and a clamping transistor circuit coupled to the power supply and to the ground. The circuit further includes a disable clamp circuit. The disable clamp circuit is coupled to the power supply and is responsive to a second power supply input to selectively disable the clamping transistor circuit by modifying a charging current applied to a capacitor of the clamping transistor circuit. In a particular embodiment, modifying the charging current includes enabling a second charging path. Enabling the second charging path enables charging the capacitor at a higher charging rate than a charging rate associated with charging the capacitor via a first charging path.

Abstract: A system and method reducing pollution in a body of water using biological processes is provided. The system includes a hydraulic dam generated by an induced downwelling of effluent water from a plurality of water circulating devices. A series of linearly arranged treatment sub-systems are disposed upstream of the hydraulic dam. The treatment sub-systems include a water sterilization sub-system for neutralizing harmful and undesirable micro-organisms using an ultrasonic energy generating unit. The ultrasonic energy generated, is of a frequency that disrupts cellular structures in targeted micro-organisms.

Abstract: The invention shows how diodes in a modern semiconductor process can be used as a very compact switch element in a Programmable Read Only Memory (PROM) using common integrated circuit fuse elements such as polysilicon and metal. This compact switch element allows very dense PROM arrays to be realized since diodes have the highest conduction density of any semiconductor device. The high conduction density is used to provide the relatively high current needed to blow the fuse element open. Since MOSFETs are typically used as fuse array switch elements, a relatively large area is required for the MOSFET to reach the current needed to blow the fuse element. Since diodes are two terminal switch elements unlike MOSFETs which are three terminal devices, methods are outlined on how to both read and write the arrays using this two terminal switch.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for passively generating a current flow in a body of water is disclosed. The passive water circulating apparatus has an aeration plate having a central opening; a plurality of flotation members joined to the aeration plate, the plurality of flotation members being adapted and disposed for maintaining buoyancy of the aeration plate above a water surface; an uplift tube member having a central orifice in fluid communication with the central opening of the aeration plate; a concentrator member disposed at an end of the uplift tube opposite the aeration plate, the concentrator member having a bottom opening in fluid communication with an upper opening, the bottom opening being wider than the upper opening and the upper opening being connected to the uplift tube member; and a plurality of bio-substrates suspended from the concentrator member below the bottom opening, the plurality of bio-substrates providing a substrate for growth of microbes.

Abstract: This invention details how a low cost opto coupler can be made on Silicon On Insulator (SOI) using conventional integrated circuit processing methods. Specifically, metal and deposited insulating materials are use to realize a top reflector for directing light generated by a silicon PN junction diode to a silicon PN junction photo diode detector. The light generator or LED can be operated either in the avalanche mode or in the forward mode. Also, side reflectors are described as a means to contain the light to the LED-photo detector pair. Furthermore, a serpentine junction PN silicon LED is described for the avalanche mode of the silicon LED. For the forward mode, two LED structures are described in which hole and electrons combine in lightly doped regions away from heavily doped regions thereby increasing the LED conversion efficiency.

Abstract: The present invention provides a stable mount for a small video camera to be donned by a (but not limited to) a human subject in order to view and record the subjects eyes and adnexa (the area around the eyes including the lids and surrounding tissues which the orbicularis muscles reside beneath), without disturbing the subject's side vision. The preferred embodiment uses a reduced spectacle like frame or may use a headset, which does not obscure the side vision of the subject, and contains a boom or arm which extends forward, and again without interfering with the subjects side vision. The invention additionally does not interfere with the examiner's view of the subject's eyes and adnexa. Additionally, the subject is free to move the body in space, and is free to move the head in various positions.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for passively generating a current flow in a body of water is disclosed. The passive water circulating apparatus has an aeration plate having a central opening; a plurality of flotation members joined to the aeration plate, the plurality of flotation members being adapted and disposed for maintaining buoyancy of the aeration plate above a water surface; an uplift tube member having a central orifice in fluid communication with the central opening of the aeration plate; a concentrator member disposed at an end of the uplift tube opposite the aeration plate, the concentrator member having a bottom opening in fluid communication with an upper opening, the bottom opening being wider than the upper opening and the upper opening being connected to the uplift tube member; and a plurality of bio-substrates suspended from the concentrator member below the bottom opening, the plurality of bio-substrates providing a substrate for growth of microbes.

Abstract: The invention shows how diodes in a modern semiconductor process can be used as a very compact switch element in a Programmable Read Only Memory (PROM) using common integrated circuit fuse elements such as polysilicon and metal. This compact switch element allows very dense PROM arrays to be realized since diodes have the highest conduction density of any semiconductor device. The high conduction density is used to provide the relatively high current needed to blow the fuse element open. Since MOSFETs are typically used as fuse array switch elements, a relatively large area is required for the MOSFET to reach the current needed to blow the fuse element. Since diodes are two terminal switch elements unlike MOSFETs which are three terminal devices, methods are outlined on how to both read and write the arrays using this two terminal switch.

Abstract: A system and method reducing pollution in a body of water using biological processes is provided. The system includes a hydraulic dam generated by an induced downwelling of effluent water from a plurality of water circulating devices. A series of linearly arranged treatment sub-systems are disposed upstream of the hydraulic dam. The treatment sub-systems include a water sterilization sub-system for neutralizing harmful and undesirable micro-organisms using an ultrasonic energy generating unit. The ultrasonic energy generated, is of a frequency that disrupts cellular structures in targeted micro-organisms.

Abstract: This invention details how a low cost opto coupler can be made on Silicon On Insulator (SOI) using conventional integrated circuit processing methods. Specifically, metal and deposited insulating materials are use to realize a top reflector for directing light generated by a silicon PN junction diode to a silicon PN junction photo diode detector. The light generator or LED can be operated either in the avalanche mode or in the forward mode. Also, side reflectors are described as a means to contain the light to the LED-photo detector pair. Furthermore, a serpentine junction PN silicon LED is described for the avalanche mode of the silicon LED. For the forward mode, two LED structures are described in which hole and electrons combine in lightly doped regions away from heavily doped regions thereby increasing the LED conversion efficiency.

Abstract: A video node for use in rendering one or more video frames of a video stream. The video node is represented by a compositing tree (2100). The compositing tree (2100) comprises at least one image primitive node (2140) representing one or more video frames (2300) of the video stream. At least one of the video frames (2300) represented by the image primitive node (2140) is composited with at least one further graphical primitive represented by at least one further primitive node (2130) of the compositing tree (2100). The video frame (2300) is composited with the further graphical primitive according to a compositing operation represented by an operation node of the compositing tree (2100) in order to generate a composite image (2303) represented by at least one composite node (2150) of the compositing tree (2100).

Abstract: A process and apparatus for increasing biological activity in waste treatment ponds and lagoons. In this process a floating fluid circulator having an annular space between nested frusto-conical surfaces is operated in a pond or lagoon. An aerator within the scope of the floating fluid circulator is provided. That aerator includes an upper float chassis having a frusto-conical configuration, a sectional diverter arranged in a lower portion of the upper float chassis, the sectional aerator having a lower diverter portion and motor driven means mounted on the upper float chassis connected to a rotatable impeller.