Abstract: A communications system (1) includes a plurality of nodes (2). Each node (2) has receiving means for receiving a signal transmitted by wireless transmitting means; transmitting means for wireless transmission of a signal; and, means for determining if a signal received by said node (2) includes information for another node (2) and causing a signal including said information to be transmitted by said transmitting means to another node (2) if said received signal includes information for another node (2). Each node (2) has one or more substantially unidirectional point-to-point wireless transmission links (3). At least some of the nodes (2) have plural substantially unidirectional point-to-point wireless transmission links (3). Each of said links (3) is to one other node only (2). Each node (2) is arranged such that transmission or reception of a signal at any particular frequency by a node (2) takes place on only one link (3) at a time.

Abstract: A communications system (1) includes a plurality of nodes (2). Each node (2) has receiving means for receiving via an antenna (13) a signal transmitted by wireless transmitting means; transmitting means for wireless transmission of a signal via an antenna (13); and, means for determining if a signal received by said node (2) includes information for another node (2) and causing a signal including said information to be transmitted by said transmitting means to another node (2) if said received signal includes information for another node (2). Each node (2) has one or more substantially unidirectional point-to-point wireless transmission links (3). At least some of the nodes (2) have plural substantially unidirectional point-to-point wireless transmission links (3) which share at least one of a receiver (10) of the receiving means and a transmitter (11) of the transmitting means. Each of the links (3) is to one other node (2) only.

Abstract: A support structure (10) for supporting a plurality of antennas (11) has a plurality of antenna supports (13) each for supporting at least one antenna (11). Each antenna support (13) is supported for rotation about an axis of rotation. At least one antenna support (13) is selectively rotatable with respect to the or each other antenna support (13) such that an antenna (11) supported by said at least one antenna support (13) rotates therewith.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present technique relate to forming die stacks. Specifically, embodiments of the present technique include a method of forming and testing semiconductor die comprising forming a die stack of at least two semiconductor die without attaching either of the at least two semiconductor die to a substrate. Further, present embodiments include testing the semiconductor die in the die stack after the die stack is formed and prior to attaching either of the at least two semiconductor die to the substrate.

Abstract: Methods for thinning a bumped semiconductor wafer, as well as methods for producing flip-chips of very thin profiles, are disclosed. According to the methods of the present invention, a mold compound is interspersed between conductive bumps on the active face of a wafer to provide support and protection for the wafer structure both during and after a process of removing the wafer's inactive back side silicon surface. The mold compound also serves to preserve the integrity of the conductively bumped aspects of the wafer during subsequent processing and may, after the wafer is diced, act as all or part of an underfill material for flip-chip applications.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of rerouting redistribution lines from an active surface of a semiconductor substrate to a back surface thereof and assembling and packaging individual and multiple semiconductor dice with such rerouted redistribution lines formed thereon. The semiconductor substrate includes one or more vias having conductive material formed therein and which extend from an active surface to a back surface of the semiconductor substrate. The redistribution lines are patterned on the back surface of the semiconductor substrate, extending from the conductive material in the vias to predetermined locations on the back surface of the semiconductor substrate that correspond with an interconnect pattern of another substrate for interconnection thereto.

Abstract: A detection circuit includes a first power line, a first signal conditioning module operationally coupled to the first power line, a neutral line (N) operationally coupled to the first signal conditioning module, a second signal conditioning module operationally coupled to the first power line, a second power line operationally coupled to the second signal conditioning module, and an analog to digital (A/D) converter operationally coupled to the first and the second signal conditioning modules.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for dynamically adjusting a metrology routing of a batch of workpieces. The method comprises performing a process step upon a batch of workpieces using a processing tool, performing a tool state analysis upon the processing tool, and performing a dynamic metrology routing adjustment process based upon the tool state analysis. The dynamic metrology routing adjustment process further comprises correlating the tool state analysis to the batch of workpieces and adjusting a metrology routing based upon the correlation.

Abstract: A support structure (10) for supporting a plurality of antennas (11) has a plurality of antenna supports (13) each for supporting at least one antenna (11). Each antenna support (13) is supported for rotation about an axis of rotation. At least one antenna support (13) is selectively rotatable with respect to the or each other antenna support (13) such that an antenna (11) supported by said at least one antenna support (13) rotates therewith.

Abstract: Communications apparatus has a plurality of nodes each of which is capable of communicating with plural other nodes via point-to-point wireless transmission links between the nodes. At least one of the nodes has at least one antenna that is steerable in azimuth. The antenna is arranged to transmit an electromagnetic beam that has a beam width that is narrower in azimuth than in elevation. The beam width in azimuth is less than 9° and the beam width in elevation is less than about 15°.

Abstract: A communications system (1) has a plurality of nodes (2). Each node (2) has a receiver (10) for receiving a signal transmitted by wireless transmitting means and a transmitter (11) for wireless transmission of a signal. Each code (2) further has means for determining if a signal received by said node (2) includes information for another node and causing a signal including said information to be transmitted by said transmitting means to another node if said signal includes information for anode node. Each node (2) has a substantially unidirectional point-to-point wireless transmission link (3) to at least one other node. The communications system (1) has high spectral efficiency compared to a broadcast cellular system and allows high data transfer rates to be achieved.

Abstract: A quick connector for connecting fluid lines includes a first connector having a housing for receiving a tube carrying spool. The spool sealingly engages an endform on the tube to form a metal-to-metal seal. A retainer in the form of ring having a plurality of angularly and radially extending, resilient legs extending therefrom and terminating in end pads is mountable in the housing in engagement with the spool with the end pads disposed in an annular, inward facing channel in the housing. A pop top is slidable along the tube to bias the retainer legs radially inward to allow insertion of the retainer into the bore in the housing and then is removed to allow the legs to snap radially outward bringing the end pads into engagement with housing channel. An assurance clip is mountable interiorly between the legs of the retainer and the spool to maintain the retainer legs in a radially outward position in engagement with the channel in the housing.

Abstract: A communications system (1) includes a plurality of nodes (2). Each node (2) has receiving means for receiving a signal transmitted by wireless transmitting means; transmitting means for wireless transmission of a signal; and, means for determining if a signal received by said node (2) includes information for another node (2) and causing a signal including said information to be transmitted by said transmitting means to another node (2) if said received signal includes information for another node (2). Each node (2) has one or more substantially unidirectional point-to-point wireless transmission links (3). At least some of the nodes (2) have plural substantially unidirectional point-to-point wireless transmission links (3). Each of said links (3) is to one other node only (2). Each node (2) is arranged such that transmission or reception of a signal at any particular frequency by a node (2) takes place on only one link (3) at a time.

Abstract: A communications system (1) includes a plurality of nodes (2). Each node (2) has receiving means for receiving a signal transmitted by wireless transmitting means; transmitting means for wireless transmission of a signal; and, means for determining if a signal received by said node (2) includes information for another node (2) and causing a signal including said information to be transmitted by said transmitting means to another node (2) if said received signal includes information for another node (2). Each node (2) has one or more substantially unidirectional point-to-point wireless transmission links (3). At least some of the nodes (2) have plural substantially unidirectional point-to-point wireless transmission links (3). Each of said links (3) is to one other node (2) only. The links (3) are arranged such that at least some of the nodes (2) are not linked only to the nearest neighbor node(s) (2).

Abstract: A communications system (1) includes a plurality of nodes (2). Each node (2) has receiving means for receiving a signal transmitted by wireless transmitting means; transmitting means for wireless transmission of a signal; and, means for determining if a signal received by said node (2) includes information for another node (2) and causing a signal including said information to be transmitted by said transmitting means to another node (2) if said received signal includes information for another node (2). Each node (2) has a substantially unidirectional point-to-point wireless transmission link (3) with at least one other node (2) such that each node (2) can transmit a signal to at least one other node (2). At least some of the nodes (2) have plural substantially unidirectional point-to-point wireless transmission links (3). Each link (3) between respective pairs of nodes (2) is associated with a distinct time slot.

Abstract: A communications system (1) includes a plurality of nodes (2). Each node (2) has receiving means for receiving via an antenna (13) a signal transmitted by wireless transmitting means; transmitting means for wireless transmission of a signal via an antenna (13); and, means for determining if a signal received by said node (2) includes information for another node (2) and causing a signal including said information to be transmitted by said transmitting means to another node (2) if said received signal includes information for another node (2). Each node (2) has one or more substantially unidirectional point-to-point wireless transmission links (3). At least some of the nodes (2) have plural substantially unidirectional point-to-point wireless transmission links (3) which share at least one of a receiver (10) of the receiving means and a transmitter (11) of the transmitting means. Each of the links (3) is to one other node (2) only.

Abstract: Minibulk quantities, e.g., 500-6000 pounds, of dry, free-flowing feed for large animals, e.g., horses, are delivered to small farms and ranches, e.g., less than fifteen horses, located remote from a distribution center for the feed by a method comprising the steps of: A. Filling a container sealable to the environment with a minibulk quantity of dry, free-flowing, manufactured animal feed at a distribution center for the feed, the container equipped with at least one sealable opening through which the feed can be loaded into and unloaded from the container; B. Transporting the filled container to the site remote from the center; C. Positioning the filled container onto a support rack at a location remote from the manufacturing center, the filled container positioned upon the support rack in a manner such that the feed flows under the force of gravity to the at least one sealable opening of the container; D. Recovering a container depleted of feed from the remote site; and E.

Abstract: An I/O controller for transferring data between a host processor and one or more I/O devices. This I/O controller includes a microprocessor, a direct memory access controller and a dual port storage unit, one port of which is coupled to the host processor I/O channel bus and the other port of which is coupled to the microprocessor bus. All data transfers are by way of the dual port storage unit. The I/O controller includes an interleaving mechanism for enabling concurrent performance of two different modes of data transfer between the host processor and the I/O controller. In particular, this interleaving mechanism enables host processor direct program control (DPC) data transfers to be performed at the same time that the I/O controller is busy doing cycle steal data transfers for a block of data. These DPC data transfers are accomplished without interrupting the cycle stealing operations.

Abstract: There is disclosed herein printer control logic for controlling a matrix printer. The control logic includes an interruptable microprocessor, together with associated memory. Additionally the control logic includes a programmable timer which provides a signal a determined time after being programmed. The control logic responds to print emitter signals manifesting an incremental movement of the print head by interrupting the microprocessor. The microprocessor then programs the timer to provide signals after a programmed delay time to again interrupt the microprocessor. The microprocessor then provides signals causing the operation of the print elements on print head.