Abstract: A method of implementing electrostatic discharge (ESD) testing of an integrated circuit includes applying an ESD event to an exposed backside of a substrate of the integrated circuit, wherein the backside of the substrate is electrically isolated from circuit structures formed at a front-end-of-line (FEOL) region of the integrated circuit. The operation of the circuit structures is tested to determine whether the ESD event has caused damage to one or more of the circuit structures as a result of a breakdown in the electrical isolation between the circuit structures and the backside of the substrate.

Abstract: Capacitive data electrostatically recorded on a medium such as cards, papers, and labels is read by shifting the medium and the data reading device opposite to each other. The capacitive data is formed in multiple kinds of different widths and contains a plurality of electrode planes 23 formed being spaced apart from each other in one direction or in a direction opposite to the one direction, and non-electrode planes 24 or ground electrode planes 24a formed between electrode planes 23, and forms a capacitor between the electrode planes 23 and the electrode for reading data, and a string of data (01, 11, and 11) is read according to temporal changes (T2, T4 and T4) in an electrostatic induction voltage value in accordance with the width of the electrode planes 23 and the non-electrode planes 24 or the ground electrode planes 24a, when the electrode for reading data charged on the electrode planes 23 and the non-electrode planes 24 or the ground electrode planes 24a are scanned in one direction.

Abstract: A method of implementing electrostatic discharge (ESD) testing of an integrated circuit includes applying an ESD event to an exposed backside of a substrate of the integrated circuit, wherein the backside of the substrate is electrically isolated from circuit structures formed at a front-end-of-line (FEOL) region of the integrated circuit. The operation of the circuit structures is tested to determine whether the ESD event has caused damage to one or more of the circuit structures as a result of a breakdown in the electrical isolation between the circuit structures and the backside of the substrate.

Abstract: In a system for optimizing crop growth, vegetation is cultivated in a contained environment, such as a greenhouse, an underground cavern or other enclosed space. Imaging equipment is positioned within or about the contained environment, to acquire spatially distributed crop growth information, and environmental sensors are provided to acquire data regarding multiple environmental conditions that can affect crop development. Illumination within the contained environment, and the addition of essential nutrients and chemicals are in turn controlled in response to data acquired by the imaging apparatus and environmental sensors, by an “expert system” which is trained to analyze and evaluate crop conditions. The expert system controls the spatial and temporal lighting pattern within the contained area, and the timing and allocation of nutrients and chemicals to achieve optimized crop development.

Abstract: Capacitive data electrostatically recorded on a medium such as cards, papers, and labels is read by shifting the medium and the data reading device opposite to each other. The capacitive data is formed in multiple kinds of different widths and contains a plurality of electrode planes 23 formed being spaced apart from each other in one direction or in a direction opposite to the one direction, and non-electrode planes 24 or ground electrode planes 24a formed between electrode planes 23, and forms a capacitor between the electrode planes 23 and the electrode for reading data, and a string of data (01, 11, and 11) is read according to temporal changes (T2, T4 and T4) in an electrostatic induction voltage value in accordance with the width of the electrode planes 23 and the non-electrode planes 24 or the ground electrode planes 24a, when the electrode for reading data charged on the electrode planes 23 and the non-electrode planes 24 or the ground electrode planes 24a are scanned in one direction.

Abstract: In a system for optimizing crop growth, vegetation is cultivated in a contained environment, such as a greenhouse, an underground cavern or other enclosed space. Imaging equipment is positioned within or about the contained environment, to acquire spatially distributed crop growth information, and environmental sensors are provided to acquire data regarding multiple environmental conditions that can affect crop development. Illumination within the contained environment, and the addition of essential nutrients and chemicals are in turn controlled in response to data acquired by the imaging apparatus and environmental sensors, by an “expert system” which is trained to analyze and evaluate crop conditions. The expert system controls the spatial and temporal lighting pattern within the contained area, and the timing and allocation of nutrients and chemicals to achieve optimized crop development.

Abstract: A photocatalytic fog disseminating system is used to disperse and activate photocatalytic particles. The photocatalytic particles preferably are nanoscale particles of titanium oxide. An aqueous suspension of the photocatalytic particles is dispersed by the system as an aerosol, and a photon source is used to excite the dispersed particles in order to initiate photocatalytic redox reactions that degrade airborne or sedentary organic impurities that come into contact with the aerosol.

Abstract: In a system for optimizing crop growth, vegetation is cultivated in a contained environment, such as a greenhouse, an underground cavern or other enclosed space. Imaging equipment is positioned within or about the contained environment, to acquire spatially distributed crop growth information, and environmental sensors are provided to acquire data regarding multiple environmental conditions that can affect crop development. Illumination within the contained environment, and the addition of essential nutrients and chemicals are in turn controlled in response to data acquired by the imaging apparatus and environmental sensors, by an “expert system” which is trained to analyze and evaluate crop conditions. The expert system controls the spatial and temporal lighting pattern within the contained area, and the timing and allocation of nutrients and chemicals to achieve optimized crop development.

Abstract: An artificial lighting environment is provided. The environment includes an enclosure having an internal growth chamber for containing plants. The enclosure includes an outer surface exposed to an external environment and an inner surface that is exposed to the internal growth chamber and that provides diffuse reflection. A light source illuminates the internal growth chamber, and the inner surface affects light from the light source incident on the inner surface so as to provide substantially uniform and diffuse illumination to plants in the internal growth chamber. This environment provides minimal contamination to the plants contained in the enclosure.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of authenticating objects, comprising embedding a unique plurality of randomly-located, irregularly shaped, non-interconnected, electrically conductive regions within the surface of said object to thereby provide a unique electrically readable signature correlated to the genuine document; providing a unique identifier on the object; providing means for electrically reading said unique signature and digitally storing the signature in connection with the unique identifier for that object, and when an object is to be authenticated, obtaining a digitized record of the signature and comparing it to the stored signature.

Abstract: Signal phase delay may be accurately measured by transmitting a pseudo-random noise coded reference signal, deriving in-phase and quadrature components of the received coded signal and then separately decoding the in-phase and quadrature components. This technique effectively compresses the transmitted signal pulse to a very narrow width (thereby simplifying discrimination of separate pulses with similar arrival times) while magnifying the pulse amplitude (thereby enhancing the signal to noise ratio).

Abstract: A high resolution light pen comprises a collimation tube slidably mounted within a housing. The collimation tube includes an axially extending channel having a non-reflective surface. A photodetector is fixably mounted within the housing aligned with the channel. A lens is mounted adjacent to the front end of the channel and has a focal length equal to the spacing between the lens and an aligned pixel of the video screen. By this arrangement, all light rays emanting from an aligned pixel and passing through the lens are refracted axially along the channel and directed to the photodetector thereby maximizing the input thereto. The light pen further includes a discrimination circuit which generates computer interrupt signals for reading an address counter. The discrimination circuit generates an interrupt signal when the signal from the photodetector is valid. The interrupt signal is generated at a time which is substantialy independent of the slope of the signals thereby reducing the effects of jitter.

Abstract: A video computing system is disclosed having an automatically refreshed memory. The computing system includes a dynamic memory connected to a cathode ray tube. A cathode ray tube controller is also connected to the memory and is capable of sequentially generating addresses, corresponding to locations in the memory. A central processor is connected to the dynamic memory and operates on an alternating, two phase fetch and execute cycle. During the fetch phase, the central processor has access to the dynamic memory, while during each execute phase, when computing operations are carried out, access to the dynamic memory is prevented. In contrast, during the execute phase, the cathode ray tube controller is permitted direct access to the memory enabling the video information stored therein to be supplied to the cathode ray tube. The sequential and continuous reading of the memory during each execute phase functions to continually refresh the dynamic memory.

Abstract: A high resolution light pen comprises a collimation tube slidably mounted within a housing. The collimation tube includes an axially extending channel having a non-reflective surface. A photodetector is fixably mounted within the housing aligned with the channel. A lens is mounted adjacent to the front end of the channel and has a focal length equal to the spacing between the lens and an aligned pixel of the video screen. By this arrangement, all light rays emanating from an aligned pixel and passing through the lens are refracted axially along the channel and directed to the photodetector thereby maximizing the input thereto. The light pen further includes a discrimination circuit which generates computer interrupt signals for reading an address counter. The discrimination circuit generates an interrupt signal when the signal from the photodetector is valid. The interrupt signal is generated at a time which is substantially independent of the slope of the signals thereby reducing the effects of jitter.

Abstract: A computer input/output device is disclosed for performing the functions of a telephone. More particularly, an input/output device is disclosed particularly adapted for use with computer communication equipment. The subject device includes a video display connected to a central processor. The central processor is capable of generating and supplying video output to the display. The video output includes the representation of telephone keys. The central processor is also capable of generating output tones respectively corresponding to the telephone keys. An interactive light pen is provided for receiving optical input from the video display and supplying an electrical output to the cental processor. In use, the light pen is placed over the image of particular telephone keys whereby the central procesor will generate an output tone corresponding to that key. In the preferred embodiment of the subject invention, an automatic dial directory is provided to permit the rapid dialing of frequently called numbers.

Abstract: A computing system is disclosed including a new optical parametric logic gate. The parametric logic gate includes an optical resonant cavity having nonlinear optical characteristics, such that the cavity will generate a subharmonic output signal having a frequency f when supplied with a pump frequency of 2f. The subharmonic output signal may have one of two possible phases which differ by .pi. radians to one another, and correspond to binary 1 and 0 respectively. A bias signal having a frequency f is supplied to the resonant cavity. Optical input signals are summed with the bias signal to produce a resultant seed input signal having one of the two phases. The phase of the seed input signal is imparted to the phase of the output subharmonic. The type of logical operation which the parametron performs can be controlled by adjusting the power of the bias signal. The subject disclosure also includes a description of computing systems having various pump arrangements.

Abstract: Electronic key systems using no moving parts are disclosed. In one embodiment capacitive sensing is provided and in a further embodiment ultrasonic sensing is used. Both embodiments can employ binary coding for use with local or remote logic circuits to control locking mechanisms.

Abstract: Time-multiplex programmable switching apparatus for establishing on demand time shared connections between pairs of ports. Signals within the system are digital. The invention is described in the context of an electronic private automatic branch exchange (EPABX) telephone system. A central processor unit (CPU) including a recirculating memory carries port address pairs and digital information to be exchanged along with a status word used for identifying program loops. Program steps are sequenced or initiated by timing signals and signaling data from the port units. Common buses interconnect the port units with the central processor unit. Port units are grouped with a common buffer memory for converting parallel data from the CPU to serial form. The CPU memory includes slots for housekeeping functions to detect, inter alia, an off-hook telephone. The principles of the invention are applicable to telephone central offices and digital switching systems as for computers, for example.