Abstract: Integrated circuit assemblies, as well as methods for creating the same, are provided. The integrated circuit assembly includes a first chip and a second chip, including respective face surfaces, wherein the first chip and the second chip are bonded in a face-against-face contact configuration. The integrated circuit assembly includes a via disposed to pass through the first chip and the second chip. The via is surrounded by at least one material of the respective first chip and the second chip. A cushion layer encapsulating at least a portion of the via is formed between the via and the at least one material surrounding the via.

Abstract: A graded base silicon-germanium (SiGe) heterojunction bipolar transistor (HBT)-based electro-optical (EO) modulator includes a graded base HBT and a light beam directed under the graded base HBT and passing through the free carrier plasma within for the purpose of inducing a phase modulation of the light beam.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, a ring oscillator is provided that includes a number of stages, each of the stages being coupled to an output of at least two previous stages. This architecture is referred to hereinafter as a “feed forward” architecture, as signals are fed forward to further stages beyond a consecutive stage. Any number of stages may be used. This architecture represents a new topology for ring oscillator design, as ring oscillators generally include consecutive stages that each have an input from the previous stage only. In general, such an architecture achieves higher frequencies than oscillators without feed forward paths.

Abstract: A multiplexer is provided that is symmetric in that substantially the same delay is experienced from any input of the multiplexer to the multiplexer output. It is realized that in conventional serial transmission systems, standard Current Mode Logic (CML) multiplexers are used which are asymmetric and exhibit different delays between select and data inputs. Because of these delays, conventional transmission systems experience jitter at high frequencies. To extend the operable range of communication systems, a symmetric multiplexer may be used which has substantially the same delay from any input to the multiplexed output, thus reducing jitter. For example, the multiplexer may be part of a communication system having a serial data transmission circuit.

Abstract: A method of depositing a polymer film onto a semiconductor wafer is provided which includes the steps of connecting the wafer to one terminal of a voltage source, connecting an electrode to an other pole of the voltage source and placing the electrode and substrate in superposed orientation to form a parallel plate capacitor, wherein an electric field is produced between the electrode and substrate. The parallel plate capacitor is placed in a chamber where pressure andc temperature are maintained at predetermined levels and gaseous monomers of the desired film to be polymerized are introduced into the chamber. The gaseous monomers are then permitted to flow between the electrode and wafer while the voltage of the electric field is maintained at a level sufficient to polarize the monomers without breaking their chemical bonds wherein the polarized monomers react to form a polymer film on the wafer at an enhanced rate.

Abstract: A method is provided for writing directly to a frame buffer which provides signals to an output display of a computer system. The computer system has a first processor running a window management program controlling the furnishing of data in a first format to the frame buffer, and a second processor running application programs in a second format for display. A signal is provided from the second processor to the window management program indicating that an application program running on the second processor has information to be displayed. Then a window is set up for the display of the application program running on the second processor under control of the window management program. The second processor is signaled that the window exists and provided information regarding the position and clipping of the window.

Abstract: In the system of the present invention, a specialized form of read-ahead, write-behind buffering is provided which enables the host processing system to provide timely responses to device requests that are emulated by the host processor. Each input/output device request is identified by an address to which the device is purportedly mapped to. This address is translated to an address containing a status word for that particular device being emulated. Each status word contains a byte of information either to be sent to the microprocessor as a response during an I/O read operation request by the microprocessor, or to receive data written by the microprocessor in response to an I/O write operation request, and a plurality of status bits which identify the state of the data contained in the I/O status word.

Abstract: A graphics adapter of the type whose operation is controlled by control data stored therein. The graphics adapter has two sets of loadable control data, one of which is used by a graphics processor in the graphics adaptor and the other of which is used by the processor for the system in which the graphics adapter is used. Because each processor has its own set of control data, control of the graphics adapter is rapidly and easily switched between the processors. Included in the graphics adapter is graphics control apparatus which contains storage for two sets of control data and operates under control of one or the other of them as determined by signals from the graphics adapter. The graphics control apparatus further includes state storage for retaining state necessary for resumption of operation for one processor after the other has used the graphics adapter. The graphics control apparatus can perform both byte and word operations and can emulate byte operations while operating in word mode.

Abstract: A geographically distributed multiprocessor system is implemented by locating groups of processors at nodes which are interconnected by way of a transport network and which are connected by way of local lines to customer terminals and hosts. Each processor supports a plurality of processes including certain process executing programs "customized" for the customers and other processes executing programs having "universal capabilities" which serve common needs of a plurality of customers. Processes communicate with other processes in the same processor by way of internal links and with other processes in other processors by way of combinations of internal links and external communication links. Interface processes exchange data between the internal and external links.

Abstract: A periodic structure such as a diffraction grating is disposed on the surface of an object from which acoustic emissions are to be detected. A plane monochromatic light beam is incident on the periodic structure and forms a number of Bragg diffraction orders at predetermined angles. A detector positioned to intercept one of the diffraction orders receives light whose frequency has been Doppler shifted by surface motion on the object. A reference beam, also incident on the detector heterodynes with the Doppler-shifted beam so that the Doppler component can be recovered. In one embodiment, the reference beam is also incident on the surface and itself produces Bragg diffraction orders. The geometry produces up Doppler in the Bragg diffraction orders from one beam and down Doppler from the Bragg diffraction orders from the other beam and selected Bragg diffraction orders from both beams are heterodyned in the detector.

Abstract: The velocity and change in velocity of a rotating or otherwise moving surface is measured by a laser Doppler technique. In particular, a diffraction grating is formed on the moving surface either by machining processes or by affixing a ready-made grating thereto. The grating surface exhibits periodicity in one or more directions, either separately or simultaneously. The presence of the grating produces Bragg order diffraction reflections at specific angles relative to the surface. These Bragg order reflections contain information, in the form of Doppler shifts, concerning the motion of the surface and the body to which it is attached. This Bragg order Doppler shift information is readily analyzable using conventional signal processing apparatus and processes to produce the desired velocity and torsional vibration information.

Abstract: A geographically distributed multiprocessor system is implemented by locating groups of processors at nodes which are interconnected by way of a transport network and which are connected by way of local lines to customer terminals and hosts. Each processor supports a plurality of processes which communicate with other processes in the same processor by way of internal links and with other processes in other processors by way of combinations of internal links and external communication links. Interface processes exchange data between the internal and external links. A process can initiate a call to any other process and define the communication parameters for exchanging data information by selecting the appropriate internal link and supplying the code defining the communication parameters to the selected internal link.

Abstract: Sudden changes in arc current are slowed to mitigate the resulting noise. A sensor detects large decreases in current during initial stages of arc quench and actuate circuits to maintain ionization and current flow to avoid sharp final drop that causes loud noise impulse. Ionization can be maintained by supplying RF energy at appropriate frequency to the arc electrodes and/or by increasing the arc voltage. The sophisticated control algorithm is implemented utilizing an inexpensive microprocessor to exert proper control of arc sustaining parameters to mitigate arc quenching impulse noise.

Abstract: A reduced operating noise nozzle for a cutting device using at least one electrode and an electric arc to cut material of a workpiece, comprises, a nose end piece disposed around the electrode which has an outer surface tapered from an outer relatively wide diameter end inwardly toward a smaller diameter end which faces the workpiece to be cut. Compressed air is directed in a substantially annular flow path along the tapered surface of the nose piece from the wide diameter end toward the smaller diameter end thereof. Noise which would have emanated from the nozzle, especially when the material of the workpiece which is melted by the arc is blown away to effect the cutting operation, will be greatly reduced.

Abstract: A transducer array comprising a large number of separated sets of electrodes plated on a single piezoelectric plate of uniform thickness is described. Each set of electrodes is made to act essentially independently by placing them sufficiently far apart and employing an essentially trapped energy mode.