Abstract: A motor vehicle hydraulic system including a power steering pump, a reservoir, a steering assist fluid motor, and a second fluid motor for a radiator cooling fan. A flow control valve remote from the power steering pump divides the total fluid flow from the power steering pump into a high flow branch and a low flow branch. Fluid circulates in the low flow branch at a substantially constant flow rate for a proportional control valve for the steering assist fluid motor and returns to the reservoir through an unrestricted tubular boss on the reservoir. Fluid in the high flow branch issues as a jet stream from a nozzle on the reservoir into a venturi passage submerged in fluid in the reservoir. The venturi passage is connected to an inlet port of the power steering pump. The jet stream aspirates fluid from the reservoir into the venturi passage. The kinetic energy of the jet stream is converted into superatmospheric pressure at the inlet port of the power steering pump to suppress cavitation.

Abstract: An integrated capacitor structure having substantially reduced temperature and voltage coefficients including a combination of conventional N-depletion and P-depletion MOS gate capacitors connected in parallel and optimized for use at low bias voltages, where both the N-depletion and P-depletion capacitor structures have substantially zero temperature coefficients in their fully depleted region of operation.

Abstract: An integrated voltage/current reference having substantially reduced temperature and voltage coefficient with simultaneous nanowatt power consumption includes a nanopower voltage/current reference topology having a substantial temperature coefficient and minimal voltage coefficient and augmented with a floating voltage proportional to absolute temperature (PTAT) within a feedback loop to compensate for differentials in .beta. exponential temperature dependencies of N-Channel and P-Channel MOS devices used within commonly available semiconductor processes. The resulting reference supplies both voltage as well as current references which have greatly reduced temperature coefficients. In addition, the resulting circuit topology generates a voltage reference which has a parabolic temperature coefficient similar to that produced by a conventional bandgap reference.

Abstract: A sports ball bladder and method of manufacture which produces a sports ball in which a valve element (48) is fused to the bladder and is disposed away from a parting line (40) of a mold (34). The bladder is made by extruding a parison (64) and closing a mold cavity (42) in surrounding relation thereof. A blow needle (46) supports the valve element thereon and delivers fluid pressure to an interior area (68) of the parison. The expanding parison fills the mold cavity and impinges on the valve element. The expanded parison is cooled to solidify the thermoplastic material. The pressure in the interior area is then relieved through the blow needle and the mold is opened. To avoid thinning of the bladder adjacent to the parting line, thermoplastic material is pushed inwardly into the mold cavity from a pinch pocket (80) as the mold is closed. After the ball bladder is formed, a valve member (72) is inserted into the valve element to enable holding of the bladder in an inflated condition.

Abstract: A method is provided for checking the integrity of a full duplex multi-word serial transfer between first and second devices, the transfer including an actual last word. The method includes transmitting a count word from the first device to the second device, the count word indicating a number of words to be transmitted including an expected last word, transmitting the actual last word from the first device to the second device, and transmitting, substantially simultaneously to transmission of the actual last word, a check code word from the second device to the first device, the check code word having a selected value if the actual last word is the expected last word, and another value otherwise. The method also includes determining a transfer error if the value of the check code word is other than the selected value. A system is also provided for performing the method.

Abstract: A method for detecting fault conditions on a multiplexed network having first and second busses. The method includes sensing a start of frame delimiter (SOF) for the first bus, and determining the state of the second bus when the SOF is sensed. If the state of the second bus has been passive over a first selected time period, the state of a differential between the first and second busses is determined. If the state of the differential between the first and second busses is not indicative of a pre-qualified start of frame delimiter, then a passive fault is indicated. Additionally, the method includes sensing an end of frame delimiter (EOF) for the first bus, and determining the state of the second bus when the EOF is sensed. If the state of the second bus has been active over a selected time period, then an active fault for the second bus is indicated. A system for performing the method is also disclosed.