Abstract: A microprocessor, method and signal-bearing medium for storing a program for executing the method, includes a microcode unit for outputting control signals, for each of a plurality of instructions, required by the microprocessor for executing the instructions. The microcode unit includes an instruction address input for receiving an instruction address, a control variable input for receiving a control variable corresponding to a current state of the microprocessor, a control signal input for receiving all of the control signals output by the microcode unit for an immediately preceding instruction, and a plurality of embedded logic circuits each dedicated for evaluating one unique type of instruction received by the microcode unit.

Abstract: A microprocessor, method and signal-bearing medium for storing a program for executing the method, includes a microcode unit for outputting control signals, for each of a plurality of instructions, required by the microprocessor for executing the instructions. The microcode unit includes an instruction address input for receiving an instruction address, a control variable input for receiving a control variable corresponding to a current state of the microprocessor, a control signal input for receiving all of the control signals output by the microcode unit for an immediately preceding instruction, and a plurality of embedded logic circuits each dedicated for evaluating one unique type of instruction received by the microcode unit.

Abstract: A microprocessor for a portable computer, for reducing power consumption, includes a plurality of microcode units, the microcode units for outputting control signals, for each of a plurality of instructions, requires by the microprocessor for executing the instructions. A unit is provided for maintaining selected control signals to values the same as in an immediately previous instruction cycles. Further, there is a unit for passing a control variable to one of the microcode units. Power conservation is provided during the decoding of instructions by the microcode unit by maintaining control signals during the execution of an instruction at the values/levels determined during the decode of a preceding instruction if it is not necessary to change the level of the control signals to execute the instruction.

Abstract: In an HF alkylation process where an acid catalyst regeneration column separates HF acid from ASO and water to provide regenerated catalyst for a catalyst circulation stream, and where buildup of ASO in the catalyst circulation stream is encountered, an improved control scheme uses an on-line analyzer/controller to maintain desired concentrations of HF acid, or ASO or water in the catalyst circulation stream. In one embodoment, a continuously flowing catalyst slip stream is piped to the analyzer/controller for simultaneously determining concentration of HF acid, ASO and water, and in a preferred embodiment the ASO concentration is maintained at a desired low level by manipulating temperature of a stripping fluid charged to a lower section of the column. An alternate manipulated variable is temperature of the acid catalyst feed to the regenerator column. Alternate controlled variables are the HF acid, and water concentration in the catalyst circulation stream.

Abstract: An attrition and shatter resistant plant nutrient/pesticide briquette composition which slowly releases the nutrients and biologically active materials over long periods of time, comprising slow release plant nutrient particles, pesticide sorption particles, liquid systemic pesticide sorbed on the pesticide sorption particles to reduce pesticide leachability, an adhesive, coating the slow release plant nutrient and pesticide sorption particles, the composition formed into briquettes by pressing into dies at elevated pressures and temperatures to make briquettes resistant to attrition and shattering. A six step method is provided for the preparation of the slow releasing briquettes from slow release fertilizers, such as magnesium ammonium phosphate; pesticide sorption particles, such as activated carbon; liquid systemic pesticides emulsions, such as imidachloprid fosetyl-Al, and metalaxyl; and adhesives, such as a vinylidine chloride, 2-ethylhexyl acrylate, acrylic acid resin emulsion.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described for reducing power consumption in a processor. The processor includes a source of microcode instructions, a microcode instruction decode circuit, control register latches and a clock gate control circuit that is coupled to the source of microcode instructions. The clock gate control circuit searches and picks groups of clock gate control signals for the latches that are the same value (state) as control signals form a previous cycle.

Abstract: A four step method of preparing palatable anionic mineral feed concentrate granules which form storage stable blends with feed rations to prevent parturient paresis in commercial breeding animals, with the four steps comprising: metathetically reacting ammonium sulfate with a molecular excess of magnesium chloride in acidic water to form an ammonium chloride, magnesium sulfate, magnesium chloride anionic salt solution; mixing the anionic solution with comestible proteinaceous feed particles to form damp concentrate particles; mixing the damp concentrate particles with a palatability enhancing molasses binder to form damp concentrate granules; and, drying the granules to form dry palatable anionic feed mineral concentrate granules which exhibit an excess of the strong anions, chloride and sulfate, over the strong cations, sodium and potassium.

Abstract: An attrition resistant fertilizer spike composition, exhibiting a mechanical strength which allows the spike to be hammered unsupported into the soil without suffering damage, to provide an effective source of slow releasing plant nutrients to the soil. The composition comprises between 93 and 98 percent of particulate plant nutrient compounds containing one phosphate ion chemically combined with one divalent cation and one monovalent cation, including the compounds magnesium ammonium phosphate and magnesium potassium phosphate. The composition includes a coating of between 2 and 7 percent of thermoplastic adhesive with a softening temperature between 65 and 160.degree. C. on the particles. The coated particles are formed into an attrition and shatter resistant spike shape, suitable for hammering into the soil, by pressing into a die at a temperature higher than the softening temperature of the thermoplastic adhesive and then cooling to a temperature lower than the softening temperature.

Abstract: A method of coating fertilizer particles exhibiting porous surfaces under vacuum to form attrition resistant controlled release particulate fertilizers, by drawing a vacuum on the fertilizer particles and applying thereto a water insoluble fluid resin at about atmospheric pressure, so that the fluid resin is forced into the porous surfaces of the fertilizer particles by differences in pressure, and then hardening the fluid resin to form a solid resin, tenaciously bonded onto, and into, the porous surfaces of the fertilizer particles. Porous surfaced water soluble, slow releasing and sulfur coated, fertilizers may be effectively coated. Granular, briquetted, compacted and other special shaped fertilizers may also be effectively vacuum coated to provide controlled release products. Pesticides may also be effectively included in these attrition resistant products. Fertilizers are provided which exhibit substantially improved resistance to attrition.

Abstract: A method preparing controlled release nitrogen in particulate fertilizers which exhibit single growing season availabilities to plants of about 80 percent or higher. The method utilizes relatively low urea and ammonia to formaldehyde mol ratios of about 1.7 urea to 0.1 ammonia to 1 formaldehyde to assure high conversions to controlled release nitrogen with low free ureas, and carefully controlled elevated temperatures, acid dehydration condensation catalyst concentrations and short dehydration reaction times of about 2-4 minutes to provide effective conversion of hydroxymethyl nitrogen compounds by dehydration condensation reaction to controlled release methylene nitrogen compounds. Quick neutralization of the dehydration catalyst in a turbulent mixing reactor minimizes the formation of undesirable methylene nitrogen polymers which are hot water insoluble and unavailable to plants in a single growing season.

Abstract: A reinforced-resin coated, attrition resistant controlled release plant food containing water soluble central spheroids of plant nutrients amounting to between 75 and 98 percent and water insoluble resin coatings amounting to between 2 and 25 percent covering the central spheroids with the insoluble resin coatings reinforced with finely divided water insoluble plant nutrients formed in-situ by the chemical coreaction of a plurality of water soluble plant nutrients. The reinforcing nutrients amount to between 5 and 25 percent of the resin coating. A method is provided for preparing the new reinforced-resin coated plant foods with the reinforcing solids distributed throughout the insoluble resins or between thin layers of resins.

Abstract: A storage stable particulate composition for effectivly melting ice at cold temperatures without causing corrosion damage to metals it contacts in its use area, comprising primarily a water soluble chloride salt of a metal exhibiting a positive valence of from 1 to 2, such as potassium or magnesium chloride; a minor portion of a water soluble phosphate salt such as monosodium phosphate; and a substantial amount of water soluble alkaline earth metal carboxylate, such as magnesium acetate, coatingly covering the chloride and phosphate salts. Other corrosion inhibitors and modifiers of physical properties may be combined with the chloride and phosphate salts. A method of preparing the coated deicer granules is provided.

Abstract: A method of using phosphate chemicals of the formula LDPO.sub.4 to provide controlled release nutrients to the food chain in aquatic environments to supply improved feeding and growth of fish, wherein L represents a monovalent Lewis Acid moiety, D represents a divalent metal moiety, and PO.sub.4 represents an orthophosphate moiety. The method includes the use of slow release phosphate chemicals which provide water soluble nutrients disseminating in flowing water streams for a period of about one year. The chemicals include: magnesium ammonium phosphate, manganous ammonium phosphate, zinc ammonium phosphate, ferrous ammonium phosphate, magnesium potassium phosphate, manganous potassium phosphate, and manganous potassium phosphate.

Abstract: A method of preparing a near-neutral homogeneous mineral composition containing an excess of strong anions over strong cations for supplementing ruminant animal feeds, wherein magnesium and calcium chlorides are admixed with a molecular excess of ammonium sulfate and water and heated until a liquid phase is formed in which a metathetical chemical reaction occurs to substantially form homogeneous particles of magnesium and calcium sulfates, ammonium chloride and excess ammonium sulfate. Addition of granule binders and conditioning clays allows preparation of minigranules from damp agglomerates formed during the reaction. The minigranules exhibit a high degree of strength, palatability and storage stability. The minigranular anionic salt composition prepared by the new method was found to be an effective mineral feed supplement for ruminant animals, particularly for preparturition cows.

Abstract: A method of preparing liquid nonpolymeric controlled release nitrogen plant food composition by the condensation reaction of about one molecule ammonia, about two molecules of urea, and about three molecules of formaldehyde in base buffered aqueous solution at a minimum pH of 7 and a temperature of about 100.degree. C. and concentrating by evaporation until nitrogen concentration is between 20 and 30 percent before formation of polymers containing more than 3 urea moieties occurs. The new nonpolymeric aqueous liquid controlled release nitrogen plant food composition prepared exhibits high storage stability, low phytotoxicity, high nitrogen availability to plants, and contains less than 6 percent unreacted urea nitrogen, less than 1 percent unreacted ammonia nitrogen, and contains large amounts of 5-methyleneuriedo-2-oxohexahydro-s-triazine.

Abstract: A new method of preparing granular slow release nitrogen fertilizer, exhibiting substantially complete nitrogen availability as a plant nutrient, from nitrogenous organic wastes, such as animal excretia, by coreacting particulate dry conditioned nitrogenous organic waste and reactive ureaformaldehyde oligomer; and the slow release fertilizer exhibiting improved nitrogen availability prepared by the new method. The preconditioning of the waste and the preparation of the reactive oligomer are arranged so that the method for forming the new composition is effectively carried out in a damp dry, free flowing particulate system. Parameters are provided for: dry conditioning the wastes, oligomer forming, coreacting, and granulating.

Abstract: A controlled slow release potassium divalent metal phosphate composition for agriculture and an effective method of preparing the composition. The cold water insolubilities of each of the contained nutrients are between 35 and 98 percent. The potassium exhibits an Activity Index between 20 and 85. The release of all contained nutrients is substantially complete in one growing season without damage to plant foliage or roots. Divalent metals effectively forming the new composition include magnesium, manganese, zinc, iron, cobalt, and copper. The effective method of preparing the new composition requires the exothermic coreaction of concentrated potassium hydroxide, divalent metal oxide powder, and concentrated phosphoric acid, with a molecular ratio of 1 potassium/1 divalent metal/1 phosphate with the total water content of the initial reaction mixture between 20 and 50 percent, at a maximum temperature between 85.degree. and 150.degree. C.

Abstract: A new slow releasing particulate iron humate agricultural nutrient composition exhibiting substantially complete solubility of its iron content in soil solutions as indicated by neutral citrate solubilities, and almost no solubility in water, and a new method for preparing the composition. The method comprises admixing and coreacting iron humate with about equimolar amounts of a divalent metal oxide, an aqueous hydroxide of a monovalent Lewis acid, and a water soluble inorganic phosphate. The iron humate amounts to between 20 and 70 percent of the nutrient particles, and the reaction is carried out at temperatures between 60.degree. and 150.degree. C. for between 4 and 25 minutes.

Abstract: A method of preparing a new granular homogeneous metal ammonium phosphate-alkylene urea buffered fertilizer, containing slow releasing water insoluble nitrogen of two types which provide sustained nitrogen release. The method is based on the discovery that a strong metal ammonium phosphate matrix may be formed to homogeneously contain fine particles of alkylene urea compounds. The new buffered fertilizer provides concentrated slow release nitrogens, and phosphate, and buffering amounts of metal nutrients. The alkylene urea may be formed in-situ from liquids concommittantly with the formation of the metal ammonium phosphates, or it may be admixed as finely divided alkylene urea solids. The preferred alkylene ureas are methylene ureas and polymers, isobutylene diurea, and crotonylidene diurea. The metal nutrients are divalent and are preferably magnesium, manganese, zinc, and iron reacted as oxides, hydroxides, or carbonates.

Abstract: A new method of preparing a new aminoureaformaldehyde fertilizer composition which exhibits high cold water insoluble nitrogen (CWIN) levels and high Availability Indices (AI). The method utilizes the discoveries that ammonia compounds, usually ammonium salts, inhibit the urea-formaldehyde polymerization reaction and decrease the formation of hot water insoluble nitrogen (HWIN), and that the ammonium compounds take part in the reaction to form controlled release compounds which are both cold water soluble and insoluble. The process is carried out at elevated temperatures between 60 and 125.degree. F., so that it may be completed in an order of magnitude less time than either the dilute or concentrated conventional commercial ureaform processes, requiring between 2 and 20 minutes for completion. In the process, between 3 and 25 percent of the total nitrogen is supplied as ammonia nitrogen with the remainder from urea, respective formaldehyde to urea to ammonia mol ratio is 1.0, between 1.0 and 2.