Abstract: A compact impedance transformer is disclosed having a first dielectric substrate, a first planar conductor disposed on a top surface of the first dielectric substrate in a loop, a second planar conductor disposed on a bottom surface of the first dielectric substrate in a second loop, wherein the first planar conductor and the second planar conductor are substantially identical and in stacked alignment. A second dielectric substrate has a third planar conductor disposed on a top surface of the second dielectric substrate in a third loop, and a fourth planar conductor disposed on a bottom surface of the second dielectric substrate in a fourth loop, wherein the third planar conductor and the fourth planar conductor are substantially identical and in stacked alignment. An interconnect structure between terminals of the first planar conductor, the second planar conductor, the third planar conductor, and the fourth planar conductor provide impedance transformations.

Abstract: The lighting assembly (20) includes a light guide (22) formed of a resin material propagating light through internal reflection. A housing (28) surrounds the light guide (22) and maintains the light guide (22) in a predetermined position. A light transmissive coating (24), such as a vacuum metalized coating, is disposed on the light guide (22) and faces outwardly of the housing (28). The light transmissive coating (24) disguises the resin light guide (22) so that the light guide (22) appears to be a metallic trim. A non-light transmissive coating (26), such as a paint, appearing to be the same material as the light transmissive coating (24), may be disposed on the light guide (22) adjacent the light transmissive coating (24).

Abstract: A compact impedance transformer is disclosed having a first dielectric substrate, a first planar conductor disposed on a top surface of the first dielectric substrate in a loop, a second planar conductor disposed on a bottom surface of the first dielectric substrate in a second loop, wherein the first planar conductor and the second planar conductor are substantially identical and in stacked alignment. A second dielectric substrate has a third planar conductor disposed on a top surface of the second dielectric substrate in a third loop, and a fourth planar conductor disposed on a bottom surface of the second dielectric substrate in a fourth loop, wherein the third planar conductor and the fourth planar conductor are substantially identical and in stacked alignment. An interconnect structure between terminals of the first planar conductor, the second planar conductor, the third planar conductor, and the fourth planar conductor provide impedance transformations.

Abstract: The lighting assembly (20) includes a light guide (22) formed of a resin material propagating light through internal reflection. A housing (28) surrounds the light guide (22) and maintains the light guide (22) in a predetermined position. A light transmissive coating (24), such as a vacuum metalized coating, is disposed on the light guide (22) and faces outwardly of the housing (28). The light transmissive coating (24) disguises the resin light guide (22) so that the light guide (22) appears to be a metallic trim. A non-light transmissive coating (26), such as a paint, appearing to be the same material as the light transmissive coating (24), may be disposed on the light guide (22) adjacent the light transmissive coating (24).

Abstract: The lighting assembly (20) includes a light guide (22) formed of a resin material propagating light through internal reflection. A housing (28) surrounds the light guide (22) and maintains the light guide (22) in a predetermined position. A light transmissive coating (24), such as a vacuum metalized coating, is disposed on the light guide (22) and faces outwardly of the housing (28). The light transmissive coating (24) disguises the resin light guide (22) so that the light guide (22) appears to be a metallic trim. A non-light transmissive coating (26), such as a paint, appearing to be the same material as the light transmissive coating (24), may be disposed on the light guide (22) adjacent the light transmissive coating (24).

Abstract: The lighting assembly (20) includes a light guide (22) formed of a resin material propagating light through internal reflection. A housing (28) surrounds the light guide (22) and maintains the light guide (22) in a predetermined position. A light transmissive coating (24), such as a vacuum metalized coating, is disposed on the light guide (22) and faces outwardly of the housing (28). The light transmissive coating (24) disguises the resin light guide (22) so that the light guide (22) appears to be a metallic trim. A non-light transmissive coating (26), such as a paint, appearing to be the same material as the light transmissive coating (24), may be disposed on the light guide (22) adjacent the light transmissive coating (24).

Abstract: A method for the design and layout for a patterned deep N-well. A Tile is specified as a fundamental building block for the deep N-well pattern. The tile comprises a first element on a first layer and may comprise a second element on a second layer. A two dimensional region is covered with an array of contiguous tiles, with the elements on each layer connecting with elements of adjacent tiles to form extended shapes. The array may be converted to a collection of sub-arrays through the removal of tiles. The array or collection of sub-arrays may be merged to produce a first layer pattern and second layer pattern. Design rule checks may be applied to verify the pattern. The first layer shapes and second layer shapes may be edited. The first layer shapes and the second layer shapes may then be combined to produce a deep N-well pattern.

Abstract: A CHMSL (16) or other lighting system feature of an automobile (10) includes a feature for presenting personal expressions in the form of words or symbols but is automatically deactivated when the regular vehicle lighting system is in use. The personal expression is fixed in a tangible medium by way of phosphor-coated indicia (34) placed within a UV impervious housing (18). A secondary UV light source (36) selectively energizes the phosphor-coated indicia (34) so that the irradiated material glows and is visible through a light transmissive screen (20). The light transmissive screen (20) is provided with a UV blocking agent so that harmful UV rays do not escape the housing (18). The phosphor-coated indicia (34) can be mounted on a removable transparent plate (30), on light dispersion optics (24, 26), or on the inner face of the light transmissive screen (20).

Abstract: The present invention is a quadrature RF amplifier including an in-phase amplifier leg and a quadrature-phase amplifier leg. The nominal gain of the in-phase amplifier leg is substantially different from the nominal gain of the quadrature-phase amplifier leg to compensate for gain imbalances introduced by the ground currents of both amplifier legs sharing a common ground lead. The gain imbalances are as a result of voltages developed across the inductance of the common ground lead. Since it is possible to completely compensate for the gain imbalances, reducing the inductance of the common ground lead may be unnecessary.

Abstract: An ambiance lighting system for a vehicular passenger compartment has a variable color light output which is automatically responsive to temperature changes. First and second light sources of different colors (e.g., blue and red) are positioned immediately behind the air discharge vents and are selectively energized by a control circuit so that the first light source radiates light through the vent when the temperature falls below a predetermined value and the second light sources energizes the second color of light when the air temperature rises above a predetermined value. Sensors are used to detect the temperature of air, preferably in the ducting plenum. Various control strategies can be deployed to achieve aesthetically interesting light presentations which enhance ambiance within the passenger compartment.

Abstract: A system and method for accelerated processing of streams of dependent instructions, such as those encountered in the G.726 codec, in a microprocessor or microprocessor-based system/chip. In a preferred implementation, a small RISC-like special purpose processor is implemented within a larger general purpose processor for handling the streams of dependent instructions.

Abstract: The present invention provides an efficient way to detect the transmit power provided by an amplifier. A power sense signal indicative of the transmit power of the amplifier is generated and fed back to a control system, which will react accordingly to control input signal levels, bias, gain, or a combination thereof for the amplifier in traditional fashion to control transmit power. Detection circuitry representing a scaled version of the amplifier receives the radio frequency (RF) drive in parallel with the amplifier to provide a scaled output signal. The scaled output signal is rectified and filtered to generate the power sense signal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to integrated circuit storage element topologies with reduced sensitivity to process mismatch. Such storage elements have lower minimum retention voltage that enables lower standby voltage and therefore lower standby leakage and standby power.

Abstract: An oral hygiene composition for use in cleansing a subject's teeth and gingiva can include an effective amount of erythritol admixed with an acceptable carrier. The oral hygiene composition can be configured into a gel or paste that is capable of being applied to one of a subject's tooth and gingiva in a sufficient amount so as to be retained thereto for a duration adequate for cleansing the subject's teeth and gingiva. Additionally, a method of oral cleansing in a subject incapable of adequately self-performing dental hygiene techniques can include administering the oral hygiene composition to one of the subject's tooth and gingiva. The method can also include retaining the oral hygiene composition to the one of the tooth and gingiva for a sufficient duration to effect the oral cleansing.

Abstract: A method of measuring the transistor leakage current. In one embodiment, the method involves driving a ring oscillator with a dynamic node driver having a leakage test device biased to an off state to produce a test signal. The test signal is extracted and the frequency is measured. The leakage current is estimated from the measured frequency.

Abstract: A vehicle interior component and lighting assembly that includes a vehicle interior component having a fabric disposed over a substrate or foam layer, or both. An electroluminescent panel is located between the fabric and substrate/foam layer and directs light from the panel through the fabric. In this way, the light source can be effectively hidden when not in use and can be incorporated into the interior component in a manner that requires little space. The vehicle interior component can be any of a number of different interior articles, including, for example, a headliner, door panel, vehicle seat, rear deck, sun visor, and trunk panel. Also disclosed are vehicle interior illumination systems using touch switches and electroluminescent panels to provide back lighting of the switch and/or vehicle interior illumination through the switch.