Abstract: An active matrix device comprises an array of picture elements. Each picture element has an image element, such as an LCD cell (11) connected to a first storage capacitor 12 and arranged to be connected to a data line 4 by an thin film transistor 10 when activated by a scan signal on a scan line 6. A second storage capacitor 21 can be connected across the first capacitor 12 by means of another thin film transistor 20 when desired so as to increase the storage capacitance at the pixel.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel thienopyridines, novel compositions, methods of their use, and methods of their manufacture, where such compounds of Formula 1 are pharmacologically useful inhibitors of Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases (PTPase's) including PTP1B, T cell PTP, 1

Abstract: A method is provided for refurbishing a service operated metallic coating on a substrate alloy, the coating including at least within a coating outer surface at least one oxide chemically grown from at least one coating element, for example Al, and chemically bonded with the coating outer surface as a result of thermal exposure during service operation. Growth of the oxide has depleted at least a portion of the coating element from the coating. The method comprises removing the oxide from the coating outer surface while substantially retaining the metallic coating, thereby exposing in the coating outer surface at least one surface void that had been occupied by the oxide. The retained metallic coating is mechanically worked, substantially without removal of the retained coating, to close the void, providing a treated metallic coating surface over which a refurbishing coating is applied.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for mechanical and/or chemical-mechanical planarization of semiconductor wafers, field emission displays and other microelectronic substrate assemblies. One method of planarizing a microelectronic substrate assembly in accordance with the invention includes pressing a substrate assembly against a planarizing surface of a polishing pad at a pad/substrate interface defined by a surface area of the substrate assembly contacting the planarizing surface. The method continues by moving the substrate assembly and/or the polishing pad with respect to the other to rub at least one of the substrate assembly and the planarizing surface against the other at a relative velocity. As the substrate assembly and polishing pad rub against each other, a parameter indicative of drag force between the substrate assembly and the polishing pad is measured or sensed at periodic intervals. The measured drag force can be used to generate a plot of work versus time.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for fault-tolerant computing using an asynchronous switching fabric where at least one of a plurality of redundant data processing elements executing substantially identical instructions communicates transactions to at least one target device, such as input/output device, or another data processing element. The transactions are communicated through the asynchronous switching fabric wherein each of the data processing elements and the target device are connected to the asynchronous switching fabric through a respective channel adapter.

Abstract: A rear wheel steering apparatus for steering the rear wheels of a vehicle supported on a multi-link suspension includes a live axle and a track bar pivotally connecting the axle to a vehicle frame. Steering knuckles at opposite ends of the axle support road wheels for rotation and for steering. Steering arms extend from the steering knuckles and a drag link extends between and interconnects the steering arms. An actuator is connected between the frame and the drag link and steers the rear road wheels by alternately pushing and pulling on the drag link.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel aromatic cyanate ester compounds containing at least two rings linked by a group containing an unsaturated group. The present invention further relates to compositions and prepolymers of said novel aromatic cyanate ester compounds. The present invention further relates to a process for preparing said compounds and cured articles resulting from curable mixtures thereof.

Abstract: In a process for the production of acetic acid by carbonylation of methanol and/or a reactive derivative in the presence of a Group VIII noble metal carbonylation catalyst, methyl iodide co-catalyst at a concentration of at least 2 wt %, optionally at least one promoter at least a finite concentration of water, methyl acetate at a concentration of at least 8% w/w and acetic acid product, the separability of an upper (aqueous) layer and a lower (organic) layer in the decanter of the light ends column is achieved by maintaining the concentration of acetic acid in the condensed overhead vapor fraction passed to the decanter at or below 8 wt %.

Abstract: A method is provided for refurbishing a service operated metallic coating on a substrate alloy, the coating including at least within a coating outer surface at least one oxide chemically grown from at least one coating element, for example Al, and chemically bonded with the coating outer surface as a result of thermal exposure during service operation. Growth of the oxide has depleted at least a portion of the coating element from the coating. The method comprises removing the oxide from the coating outer surface while substantially retaining the metallic coating, thereby exposing in the coating outer surface at least one surface void that had been occupied by the oxide. The retained metallic coating is mechanically worked, substantially without removal of the retained coating, to close the void, providing a treated metallic coating surface over which a refurbishing coating is applied.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for a computer-implemented technique for query optimization using a multi-layered object cache. An object-oriented query is executed to retrieve data from a database. The database is stored on a data storage device connected to a computer and queries are run against lower cache layers which have better performance characteristics than the external or upper layers. The multi-layered cache has an application objects (AOs) cache and a data access objects (DAOs) cache, and the application objects include methods deriving data from DAOs. The method includes a step of rewriting the query into a query directed against the DAOs cache, applying a pushdown transformation algorithm to the rewritten query directed against the DAOs cache, and executing the transformed query against the DAOs cache. The method also allows optimizing queries with path expressions by transforming path expression into joins.

Abstract: A system and method featuring a collection of model objects which hold data to be shared, and supporting interfaces to read and write the data, to create and destroy collaboration relationships and to attach “view objects” containing application code which will be automatically notified of value changes. Each user environment is provided with a model object control entity, referred to herein as a Collaboration Manager, which creates model objects, executes transactions, and creates association objects related to the collaboration. A concurrency control mechanism records the reads and updates of the data and of collaboration relationships within a single transaction site and guarantees that they are applied atomically and consistently to both the local and to all remote replica objects of the collaboration.

Abstract: An electric beverage maker includes a lower, water boiling vessel, a funnel extending into the lower vessel and having an upper compartment for receiving a beverage, and an upper vessel mounted over said funnel to receive water which has passed up said funnel through said compartment, and from which the beverage is dispensed. The lower vessel is formed with an opening in its lower region, which is closed by a thick film electric heater. The heater is controlled by a control which operates to disable the heater until such time as the control is reset manually by a user.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for mechanical and/or chemical-mechanical planarization of semiconductor wafers, field emission displays and other microelectronic substrate assemblies. One method of planarizing a microelectronic substrate assembly in accordance with the invention includes pressing a substrate assembly against a planarizing surface of a polishing pad at a pad/substrate interface defined by a surface area of the substrate assembly contacting the planarizing surface. The method continues by moving the substrate assembly and/or the polishing pad with respect to the other to rub at least one of the substrate assembly and the planarizing surface against the other at a relative velocity. As the substrate assembly and polishing pad rub against each other, a parameter indicative of drag force between the substrate assembly and the polishing pad is measured or sensed at periodic intervals. The measured drag force can be used to generate a plot of work versus time.

Abstract: A frame rate controller 20 is provided for controlling the frame refresh rate of an active matrix display. The controller 20 comprises a first circuit such as a preloadable synchronous counter 21 which counts vertical synchronization signals VSYNC and supplies an enable signal FE for every Nth frame of data, where N is an integer greater than zero and is selectable. A gating arrangement 26 is controlled by the enable signal FE so that an active matrix display is refreshed for every Nth frame of data, thus allowing a reduction in power consumption of the display.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for implementing high-bandwidth memory subsystems in a multiprocessor computing environment. Each component in the memory subsystem has a recalibration procedure. The computer provides a low-frequency clock signal with a period substantially equal to the duration between recalibration cycles of the components of the memory subsystem. Transitions in the low-frequency clock signal initiate a deterministically-determined delay. Lapse of the delay in turn triggers the recalibration of the components of the memory subsystem, ensuring synchronous recalibration. Synchronizing the recalibration procedures minimizes the unavailability of the memory subsystems, consequently reducing voting errors between CPUs.

Abstract: Multi-format sampling registers, digital to analogue converters, data drivers and active matrix displays are provided which provide power saving in lower resolution formats by disabling circuitry which is not required in those formats.

Abstract: After decoding of an MPLFG bitstream to the form of a video signal, an information stream signal in the form of all or part of the MPEG bitstream, is transmitted alongside the video signal, embedded in the least significant bit. Recording may simply involve extraction of the embedded MPEG bitstream or, if only part of the bitstream has been embedded, an essentially “dumb” coding operation guided by the information stream signal.

Abstract: A system and method for reducing the shop lime of a vehicle, e.g., a locomotive, at a maintenance facility by obtaining onboard systems parameter data during a period when the vehicle is inbound to the maintenance facility for required periodic scheduled maintenance, and by determining, at the maintenance facility and prior to arrival of the vehicle at the maintenance facility, from the data received from the inbound vehicle, whether any of the data is out of a predetermined range or is trending to be out of range.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for thermal management of an integrated circuit. A semiconductor device includes an integrated circuit and an integrated thermoelectric cooler formed on a common substrate. A semiconductor device is fabricated by forming an integrated circuit on a front side of the substrate and forming an integrated thermoelectric cooler on a back side of the substrate. A first thermal sink of semiconductor material capable of absorbing heat from the integrated circuit is formed on the back side of the substrate. N-type thermoelectric elements are formed on contacts formed on the first thermal sink. P-type thermoelectric elements are formed on contacts formed on a second thermal sink of semiconductor material capable of dissipating heat. The p-type and n-type thermoelectric elements are bonded to the contacts on the first and second thermal sinks, respectively, by a flip-chip soldering process.