Abstract: The techniques of the present invention provide mechanisms for enabling a new type of interactive online discussion where any number of people can participate in a discussion of a topic and having the impression of following a coherent discussion. By following a novel process described in the present invention, eventually they would collectively generate a set of statements that the majority of the participants have agreed to. Moreover, a participation performance of the participants is being kept so as to potentially regroup those best performers in a future meeting with a similar topic.

Abstract: An eletronic package comprising a printed circuit board on which are mounted a plurality of decoupling capacitors is disclosed. A carrier component electrically connects an integrated circuit to the printed circuit board through a plurality of solder balls. The plurality of solder balls comprises at least one solder ball for the integrated circuit ground voltage connection and at least one solder ball for the integrated circuit power voltage connection. The plurality of decoupling capacitors is organized as a set of ‘n’ capacitors ranged from a lower capacitor value Clow to a higher capacitor value Chigh such that the range Clow to Chigh of the ‘n’ capacitor values is a function of the frequency range Flow to Fhigh on which the integrated circuit operates.

Abstract: An improved wideband frequency multiplier characterized as follows: a saw-tooth signal generator supplying a saw-tooth wave having a frequency equal to the frequency to be multiplied, the level of the voltage wave varying between a reference level and a maximum which is related to the frequency to be multiplied; storage means for storing a voltage equal to, or closely approaching the maximum voltage value of the saw-tooth wave; a voltage divider having several outputs, each of which provides an output which is a given fraction of the stored voltage; a number of comparators each of which corresponds to and is coupled to an output of the voltage divider, each comparator comparing the instantaneous value of the saw-tooth voltage with the voltage supplied by the corresponding output of the voltage divider, and supplying a first level signal when said instantaneous value is lower than the voltage supplied by said corresponding output, and a second level signal when it is higher; and logical circuits combining the