Abstract: A system and method for balancing flows of renal replacement fluid is disclosed. The method uses pressure controls and pressure sensing devices to more precisely meter and balance the flow of fresh dialysate and spent dialysate. The balancing system may use one or two balancing devices, such as a balance tube, a tortuous path, or a balance chamber.

Abstract: Circuits and techniques are described for reducing the impact of environmental noise and interference on the output signal of a capacitive sensor. The output signal is sampled randomly in some situations by generating a random sampling instant within a fixed clock period. The sampling is performed by a sampling or demodulation circuit. The demodulation circuit may be part of a larger circuit with various components that operate based on a fixed period clock signal.

Abstract: A electronics control unit is in contemporaneous wireless power communication and wireless data communication with a network of sealed, sensors over a shared bidirectional power antenna. Sensors and sensor networks described below enable the development of networks that are secure and robust, and yet are lighter-weight and lower-cost than, for example, conventional automotive sensor networks.

Abstract: A electronics control unit is in contemporaneous wireless power communication and wireless data communication with a network of sealed, sensors over a shared bidirectional power antenna. Sensors and sensor networks described below enable the development of networks that are secure and robust, and yet are lighter-weight and lower-cost than, for example, conventional automotive sensor networks.

Abstract: Circuits and techniques are described for reducing the impact of environmental noise and interference on the output signal of a capacitive sensor. The output signal is sampled randomly in some situations by generating a random sampling instant within a fixed clock period. The sampling is performed by a sampling or demodulation circuit. The demodulation circuit may be part of a larger circuit with various components that operate based on a fixed period clock signal.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of testing one-time-programmable memory provides one-time-programmable memory having one or more memory locations for storing data and corresponding programming circuitry for each memory location. In addition, each programming circuitry has a circuit element configured to permanently change state to store the data in the memory. The method also reads each memory location to verify that the memory location is unprogrammed and activates the programming circuitry for each memory location, which applies a test current to the programming circuitry. The test current is less than a threshold current needed to permanently change the state of the circuit element. The method then determines whether the programming circuitry is functioning properly.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of testing one-time-programmable memory provides one-time-programmable memory having one or more memory locations for storing data and corresponding programming circuitry for each memory location. In addition, each programming circuitry has a circuit element configured to permanently change state to store the data in the memory. The method also reads each memory location to verify that the memory location is unprogrammed and activates the programming circuitry for each memory location, which applies a test current to the programming circuitry. The test current is less than a threshold current needed to permanently change the state of the circuit element. The method then determines whether the programming circuitry is functioning properly.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of testing one-time-programmable memory provides one-time-programmable memory having one or more memory locations for storing data and corresponding programming circuitry for each memory location. In addition, each programming circuitry has a circuit element configured to permanently change state to store the data in the memory. The method also reads each memory location to verify that the memory location is unprogrammed and activates the programming circuitry for each memory location, which applies a test current to the programming circuitry. The test current is less than a threshold current needed to permanently change the state of the circuit element. The method then determines whether the programming circuitry is functioning properly.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of testing one-time-programmable memory limits current through a one-time-programmable memory to less than a threshold amplitude, where the memory has a fuse configured to blow upon receipt of a signal having the threshold amplitude. The method also uses blow signal assertion circuitry to attempt to assert a blow signal to the fuse. When not defective, blow signal assertion circuitry is configured to permit the low amplitude signal to flow through the fuse when the fuse is not blown and the blow signal is asserted. The method then produces an output signal having a success value if the limited current flows through the fuse, and a failure value if the current does not flow through the fuse.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of testing one-time-programmable memory provides one-time-programmable memory having one or more memory locations for storing data and corresponding programming circuitry for each memory location. In addition, each programming circuitry has a circuit element configured to permanently change state to store the data in the memory. The method also reads each memory location to verify that the memory location is unprogrammed and activates the programming circuitry for each memory location, which applies a test current to the programming circuitry. The test current is less than a threshold current needed to permanently change the state of the circuit element. The method then determines whether the programming circuitry is functioning properly.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of testing one-time-programmable memory limits current through a one-time-programmable memory to less than a threshold amplitude, where the memory has a fuse configured to blow upon receipt of a signal having the threshold amplitude. The method also uses blow signal assertion circuitry to attempt to assert a blow signal to the fuse. When not defective, blow signal assertion circuitry is configured to permit the low amplitude signal to flow through the fuse when the fuse is not blown and the blow signal is asserted. The method then produces an output signal having a success value if the limited current flows through the fuse, and a failure value if the current does not flow through the fuse.

Abstract: A system and method for performing dynamic in-line testing of semiconductor devices sequentially tests a plurality of semiconductor devices. Test data associated with a predetermined number of semiconductor devices of the sequentially tested semiconductor devices is stored in a data structure. After test data corresponding to a predetermined number of semiconductor devices is stored in the data structure, the following steps are iteratively performed. Statistics concerning the selected devices are calculated using the associated test data. A device that fails to meet a precision setting based on the statistics is marked as an outlier device. Test data stored in the data structure corresponding to an earliest tested semiconductor device in sequence is evicted from the data structure. Test data associated with the next passing tested semiconductor device in sequence is stored in the data structure.

Abstract: A method of producing an electronic device electrically and mechanically couples an integrated circuit to a leadframe to produce an intermediate assembly. At least a portion of the intermediate assembly then is encapsulated with a molten encapsulating material. After it is encapsulated, the method permits the molten encapsulating material to substantially solidify. A method of detecting the orientation of a sensor as mounted to an external object also is disclosed.

Abstract: A motion detector capable of sensing motion of an object includes a motion sensor secured to one of a plurality of surfaces of a fastener. The fastener is directly coupleable with the object.

Abstract: Systems or methods for creating a finite element model from a list of component identifiers. For example, a CAD drawing could be automatically and dynamically created from a bill of material. Manufacturing instructions can be included into the model creation process. The bill of material need not specify the assembly being generated.

Abstract: The invention is a system or method (collectively the “drawing system” or simply “system”) for automatically creating a drawing, model, or other type of representation (collectively a “drawing”) of an assembly from a list of component parts. The system can use a list of components, a hierarchy of assembly components, and a hierarchy of component groups, to automatically create a drawing of an assembly. The system can also be configured to automatically create a drawing of an assembly from a bill of materials and a database of components. The system can be implemented through various combinations of subsystems.

Abstract: A micromachined variable capacitor structure is used as a modulation mechanism for a differential parametric amplifier. The capacitance of the capacitor structure is modulated by a control signal while a differential signal is applied to the capacitor structure. Modulation of the capacitance produces a signal representative of the input differential voltage. This signal is provided to an amplifier. Once the signal is amplified, a demodulator demodulates the amplified signal to provide an amplified version of the differential signal. The variable capacitor structure also allows for internal feedback, which permits the parametric amplifier to be used as a galvanically isolated differential measurement amplifier. A number of techniques are used to remove common mode and other errors from the modulated difference signal, thereby eliminating them from the amplified output.

Abstract: A computer security system for protecting a computer from viruses and other unauthorized data transmittal is disclosed. The computer is connected to a data generation device, such as the Internet. The data generation device generates an input signal which is received by the computer when connected to the data generation device. The security system comprises a user interface which generates an output signal, a networking device which receives the input signal from the data generation device when connected with the data generation device, and a positive disconnect device which selectively prevents operative connection between the networking device and the data generation device when the output signal corresponds to a preselected period of inactivity of the user interface.

Abstract: In a circuit for use with a micromachined device having a movable mass that forms an inner electrode of a differential capacitor, oppositely phased square waves are applied to two outer electrodes of the differential capacitor. A reset voltage is applied to the inner electrode synchronously with the square waves to stabilize and control the potential on the inner electrode. The signal on the inner electrode is demodulated by sampling during a first half of the square wave and a second half of the square wave between applications of the reset pulse to obtain a voltage that does not contain noise due to the reset switch.

Abstract: Disclosed is a liquid coating composition, useful for making a chip resistant coating, comprising a binder of: a first and a second urethane resin each containing terminal, reactive ethylenically unsaturated groups. Each urethane resin is prepared by reacting components comprising (A) an isocyanate-terminated prepolymer which is the product of reacting an organic polyisocyanate with an organic polyol with (B) an isocyanate reactive group-containing unsaturated monomer selected from hydroxyalkyl acrylates, hydroxyalkyl methacrylates and hydroxyalkyl acrylamides. The organic polyol for the first urethane resin has a hydroxyl functionality of 3 or more; the organic polyol for the second urethane resin has a hydroxyl functionality of less than three; and the average functionality of the polyols utilized for the first and second urethane resins is less than three.Also disclosed is a method of making a cured chip resistant, coating.