Abstract: A fast LUT predistortion apparatus and method for compensating nonlinear distortion of the high power amplifier HPA is disclosed. The apparatus includes a predistortion unit for predistorting an input complex digital signal based on a look up table LUT implementation and outputting a predistorted complex signal; and a power amplifier for amplifying the predistorted signal and outputting an amplified complex signal.

Abstract: A transmission signal containing signals of a plurality of frequency bands is divided and fed to a linear signal transfer path including a delay circuit and a plurality of distortion generation paths for the plurality of frequency bands. In each distortion generation path, the signal of the corresponding frequency band is extracted by a band signal extractor from the signal fed to the path, an odd-order distortion of the extracted signal is generated by an odd-order distortion generator, and the phase and amplitude of the odd-order distortion are adjusted by a vector adjuster to provide the output signal of the distortion generation path. The output signals from such plurality of distortion generation paths are combined by a combiner with the output from the linear signal transfer path to provide the combined output as the output from a multi-band predistorter using power series representation.

Abstract: To provide a predistorter compensating for distortion generated at an amplifier by inputting a signal to be inputted to the amplifier constituting an object of compensating for the distortion and previously providing the distortion to the input signal. Amplifier replica means is provided with an input/output characteristic the same as an input/output characteristic of an amplifier or an input/output characteristic approximated thereto and inputs a signal to output. Difference detecting means detects a difference between an input signal to a predistorter and an output signal from the amplifier replica means. Amplifier replica input signal changing means changes a signal inputted to the amplifier replica means such that the difference detected by the difference detecting means is reduced. Change signal outputting means outputs a signal changed by the amplifier replica input signal changing means to the amplifier.

Abstract: A system reduces non-linear distortions in an output signal of an amplifier stage that is configured according to the feed forward principle. An amplifier stage input signal arrives at a main branch of an amplifier. The output signal of the amplifier, which is distorted in a non-linear manner, arrives at an adder. An output of the adder forms the amplifier stage output signal. The output signal which is distorted in a non-linear manner and the amplifier stage input signal are fed to a secondary branch that comprises an error signal device. The error signal device generates an error signal from the delayed amplifier stage input signal and the output signal of the amplifier, which is distorted in a non-linear manner. The error signal is fed to the adder in order to reduce distortions in the amplifier stage output signal. The error signal device comprises at least one transmission device that is provided with a negative group delay time.

Abstract: A constant-transconductance rail-to-rail CMOS input circuit with offset trim is provided. PMOS and NMOS differential trim stages are scaled versions of PMOS and NMOS input stages respectively. The differential trim stages are configured to adjust the offset of the differential output current with accuracy over temperature. A first current mirror circuit is configured to receive a fraction of a bias current (?I), where ? is related to the input common mode voltage. A second current mirror circuit is configured to receive another fraction of the bias current ((1??)I). The first current mirror circuit is configured to provide current ?I to the PMOS input stage, and a scaled-down version of current ?I to the PMOS differential trim stage. The second current mirror circuit is configured to provide current ((1??)I) to the NMOS input stage, and a scaled-down version of current ((1??)I) to the differential PMOS trim stage.

Abstract: A differential amplifier circuit includes a first differential transistor pair, a second differential transistor pair, an adder section and an amplifying unit. The first differential transistor pair receives first and second input signals and an output signal as a third input signal, and the second differential transistor pair receives the first and second input signals and the output signal as a fourth input signal. The adder section adds first output signals from the first differential transistor pair and second output signals from the second differential transistor pair, and the amplifying unit amplifies an addition resultant signal from the adder section to output to the first and second differential transistor pairs.

Abstract: T-coil structures are used in one embodiment to inject programmably-variable amounts of transistor biasing currents into the respective drains of current sinking transistor means of a broadband differential amplifier such that, when the differential amplifier is in common mode, total transistor drain current will exceed total voltage-dropping current passing through corresponding voltage-dropping resistances of the amplifier's transistor means. The T-coil structures keep the parasitic capacitances of the programmable current sources that provide the bias currents de-lumped from capacitances of the amplifier's output nodes and/or capacitances of the amplifier's voltage-dropping resistances (variable resistances) to thereby maintain a wide bandwidth.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and circuit arrangement for adjusting a gain, wherein said circuit arrangement comprises at least a first output branch connected to a first load and a second output branch connected to a second load. The gain control function is realized based on a current splitting, wherein a non-operated output branch is used as a kind of dummy branch for receiving a part of the output current. Thus, only as many output branches as there are outputs are required to implement a gain control based on splitting. Thereby, a complexity of the layout design is reduced and control and biasing of dummy branches is not required.

Abstract: A drive circuit includes a plurality of differential AB class amplifier circuits and a common bias circuit. Each amplifier circuit is configured as a voltage follower to input an analog signal and drive a data line based on the input analog signal. The common bias circuit generates a first bias signal set and a second bias signal set. Each amplifier circuit includes an N-channel differential amplifier circuit, a P-channel differential amplifier circuit that operates independently from the N-channel differential amplifier circuit, and an output stage circuit. The N-channel and P-channel differential amplifier circuits input a differential signal and output first and second output signals onto first and second output lines, respectively, based on the first bias signal set. The output stage circuit generates drive signal from the first and second output signals based on the second bias signal set and outputs the drive signal onto an output terminal.

Abstract: A circuit for driving a capacitive load is provided. The circuit includes a differential signal sensor and a differential amplifier. The differential amplifier is arranged to drive the capacitive load. Further, the differential amplifier is arranged to receive an output voltage at one input, and to receive a reference voltage at another input. The output voltage is provided at the output of the differential amplifier. Also, the differential amplifier is arranged to receive a bias current. The differential signal sensor is arranged to determine whether the difference between the output voltage and the reference voltage is within a voltage window. If the difference between the output voltage and the reference voltage is inside of the voltage window, the bias current is provided at its normal value. However, if the difference between the output voltage and the reference voltage is outside of the voltage window, the bias current is increased so that the bias current linearly increases with respect to time.

Abstract: Between an output terminal (drain terminal) of a semiconductor device in a first unit amplifier and an output port, a ?90 degrees phase-shift circuit is connected, while between an output terminal (drain terminal) of a semiconductor device in a second unit amplifier and the output port, a +90 degrees phase-shift circuit is connected. Between the first and second ports, there is inserted a series circuit made up of first and second inductance components with an almost identical size. Then, to a middle point between the first and second inductance components, a bias feed terminal is connected, and between the middle point and a ground, a series circuit made up of a resistance component and a capacitance component is connected. The small-size balanced amplifier circuit can perform accurate balance operation in wide bands.

Abstract: An oscillator circuit for generating signals with a predetermined oscillator frequency is provided. The oscillator circuit has at least one resonator and at least one load impedance connected to the resonator. The oscillator circuit may be fully automatically trimmed and economically produced and, moreover, is of an improved quality wherein the load impedance comprises at least one structure which may be machined by means of high-energy radiation to trim the resonant characteristics of the oscillator circuit.

Abstract: Provided is a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) using a current feedback network for use in a wireless communication terminal. The voltage-controlled oscillator has high input impedance and low output impedance, so that a degree of isolation from the external load is excellent, thereby preventing degradation of the Q-factor by the load in overall oscillation circuit. In the voltage-controlled oscillator of the present invention, an LC resonator is provided to generate positive feedback, and negative resistance may be obtained at a wider frequency range by tuning a varactor of the LC resonator. And a boosting inductor is inserted into the positive feedback loop to have a greater negative resistance, therefore it is possible to prevent a problem in which the oscillation does not occur due to the parasitic resistance components generated during circuit fabrication.

Abstract: A circuit with variable capacitance includes a capacitance, wherein the capacitance includes a first partial capacitance and a second partial capacitance connected in parallel to the first partial capacitance, wherein a capacitance value of the first partial capacitance depends on a first bias of the partial capacitance, and a capacitance value of the second partial capacitance depends on a second bias of the second partial capacitance. The circuit with variable capacitance further includes a unit for providing the first bias and the second bias. With such a circuit with variable capacitance, it is possible to achieve a more linear and flatter characteristic tuning curve of the circuit with variable capacitance as compared to a conventional circuit with variable capacitance in a simple way.

Abstract: A crystal oscillator having a crystal filter with multiple crystals in a ladder configuration, resonant at a desired operating frequency. An oscillatory signal loop feedback path includes a voltage controlled phase shifter operable to shift the phase of the signal in the feedback loop in response to an applied control voltage. The feedback loop also includes a loop phase shift circuit to ensure that the feedback signal is a multiple of 360°, and a band pass mode selection circuit for eliminating unwanted frequencies.

Abstract: A voltage controlled oscillator comprises a parallel resonance circuit including an inductor circuit, a variable capacitance circuit, and a high-frequency switch circuit, a negative resistance circuit and a frequency control section, and a frequency tuning sensitivity control section. The frequency control section shifts a band of an oscillation frequency by controlling ON/OFF of a switching element included in the high-frequency switch circuit. The frequency tuning sensitivity control section adjusts a change rate of a total capacitance of the variable capacitance circuit with respect to a control voltage, depending on a band to be used. The frequency tuning sensitivity control section is connected to a virtual ground point of a differential signal.

Abstract: An amplitude-controlled oscillator circuit includes an oscillator for providing a frequency signal having a controllable signal amplitude, a divider circuit for a frequency division of the frequency signal, a minimum amplitude of the frequency signal being associated to the divider circuit and the divider circuit being formed to output a divided frequency signal having a predetermined quality when the signal amplitude is greater than or equal to the minimum amplitude. In addition, the amplitude-controlled oscillator circuit includes a controller for controlling the signal amplitude of the frequency signal, the controller being formed to control the signal amplitude such that it is greater than or equal to the minimum amplitude. It is possible by means of such an amplitude-controlled oscillator circuit to ensure in a simple and low-cost manner that the divided frequency signal has a predetermined quality for example within a wide temperature range.

Abstract: The present invention provides a device for digital pulse width modulation with: (a) a filter device (11) for filtering a filter input signal (10?); (b) a quantization device (13) for quantizing a filter output signal (11?) of the filter device (11); (c) a PWM mapper device (15) for generating a digital PWM signal (15?) from an output signal (13?) of the quantization device (13); and (d) a feedback loop (17) for feeding back the digital PWM signal (15?) to a loop input signal (10?) and for generating the filter input signal (10?) by subtraction. The present invention likewise provides a method for digital PWM.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for substantially reducing or eliminating electromagnetic and electrostatic coupling between signal traces on a substrate is disclosed. A substrate, such as a printed circuit board, is formed with an electrically insulative layer and a conductive layer. A portion of the conductive layer is removed to form circuit traces including signal traces and voltage reference traces configured such that each signal trace is separated from each other signal trace by at least one voltage reference trace. The invention is also applied to multiple layer printed circuit boards including a single voltage reference plane, an electronic system, and a semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: A ferrite circulator having integrated alignment members and a method for aligning a ferrite element within a ferrite circulator are provided. The ferrite circulator includes a ferrite circulator housing having a body for receiving at least one ferrite element therein. The ferrite circulator housing further includes a plurality of alignment members positioned and configured to maintain the alignment of the at least one ferrite element in an alignment region defined by the plurality of alignment members.

Abstract: Microstructure materials which can be tuned to a particular range of r.f. frequencies to display particular magnetic permeabilities have been proposed. A typical material is made of an array of capacitive elements e.g. spirals or rolls of conducting material on a non-conducting substrate. These materials can be used as a guide which is effective for the particular band of frequencies to which it is tuned. In one example, the rolls (2a to 2c) guide magnetic flux along ducts (1, 2, 3) while rolls (4a, 5a) guide magnetic flux along ducts (4, 5). Flux can thus be guided upwardly along duct (2), along ducts (4 and 5), and down ducts (1, 3), or vice versa.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an impedance matching circuit with automatic adjustment and a method thereof. The impedance matching circuit comprises: a resistor, for receiving a reference voltage and generating a reference current; a detection unit, for detecting resistance variation and generating a plurality of comparison voltages according to said reference current; a comparison unit, for comparing said reference voltage with said comparison voltages, and generating a control signal; and a composite resistor unit, for receiving said control signal and generating a matched impedance. Therefore, a matched impedance value can be obtained within a designed range in despite of the manufacturing process and the operation environment.

Abstract: An ultrafast sampling system includes an interposer and a sampler that include series of Schottky diodes configured with a non-parallel waveguide to form shocklines or nonlinear transmission line (NLTLs) that produce a differential strobe pulse. The shocklines are defined by non-parallel conductors that are configured as, for example, triangular, dentate, arcuate, or other shapes, or as conductors that have edges that are triangular, dentate, arcuate, or the like. The conductors are defined with respect to a substrate, and are airbridged so that at least some portions of the conductors are displaced from the substrate to reduce waveguide capacitance. Electrical connection to the sampler is made with airline having a inner conductor that is deformable to contact an input pad defined on the sampler.

Abstract: A first waveguide to microstrip transition, the waveguide having a top, a bottom, a first sidewall, a second sidewall and a closed end. A transition slot normal to a longitudinal axis of the waveguide intersects the top and the first sidewall. A probe having a 90 degree bend is arranged in the transition slot, a distal end of the probe projecting into the waveguide normal to the top. A proximal end of the probe is coupled to a microstrip on a dielectric substrate. An impedance matching feature may be included projecting from the bottom, proximate the distal end of the probe. A hole may be formed in the dielectric substrate proximate the proximal end of the probe. A second waveguide and transition arrangement may be aligned bottom to bottom with the first waveguide and similarly arranged with a probe coupled to a second microstrip on the dielectric substrate.

Abstract: There is provided an inductive coupler for coupling a data signal to a power line. The inductive coupler includes a split magnetic core having an aperture formed by an upper magnetic core and a lower magnetic core. The aperture permits the power line to pass therethrough as a primary winding, the upper magnetic core is for making electrical contact with an outer surface of the power line, and the lower magnetic core makes electrical contact with the upper magnetic core.

Abstract: An apparatuses and methods for phase matching power combined signals are described. A typical apparatus includes at least a waveguide portion in at least a first branch conducting a first electromagnetic signal of a combiner, the waveguide portion having an effective size and a thermal control system effecting a temperature change in the waveguide portion to alter the effective size. Altering the effective size of the waveguide portion adjusts phase matching between the first electromagnetic signal of the first branch and at least a second electromagnetic signal of a second branch of the combiner. High thermal expansion coefficient materials including silver plated polyetherimide can be used. In addition, composite materials having anisotropic thermal expansion may be used.

Abstract: A method for modifying the resonance frequency of a micro-mechanical resonator, and resonators on which the method is practiced. A packaged resonator is trimmed by directing electromagnetic energy to the resonator through a transparent portion of the package. The removal of mass (by the energy) affects the resonance frequency of the resonator in a predictable manner. In some embodiments, the energy is sourced from a femtosecond laser. In some variations of the illustrative embodiment, the amount of mass to be removed is determined as a function of its location on the resonator. A mass-trimming map is developed that identifies a plurality of potential mass-trimming sites on the resonator. A site can be classified as a fine-tuning site or a coarse-tuning site as a function of the degree to which mass removal at those sites affects the resonance frequency. The sites can also be characterized as a function of their position relative to features of the resonator (e.g., nodal lines, etc.).

Abstract: In a filter device 10 constituted by circuit elements formed on a single substrate 11, the circuit elements includes a first wing section 14 formed between an input signal electrode 12 and an output signal electrode 13, first resonators 15a, 15b, 15c located in the first wiring section 14 and having a predetermined resonance frequency, second wiring sections 17a, 17b, 17c, 17d formed between the first wiring section 14 and a ground electrode 16, second resonators 18a, 18b, 18c, 18d located in the second wiring sections 17a, 17b, 17c, 17d and having an anti-resonance frequency forming a pass-band with the predetermined resonance frequency of the first resonators 15a, 15b, 15c. An effective electric and mechanical coupling factor of the second resonator 18a is different from those of the other resonators 15a, 15b, 15c, 18b, 18c, 18d.

Abstract: Efficient transverse energy confinement, and provision of a surface acoustic wave filter having preferable characteristics of both insertion loss and shape factor are obtained. In the surface acoustic wave filter, electrode fingers of one comb electrode are laid in a state of being inserted to the electrode fingers of the other comb electrode, and a thick film thicker than each plurality of electrode fingers is produced in a partial area of the bus bar, and a tip gap is provided between the top of each plurality of electrode fingers and the end face of the opposed bus bar, with a distance therebetween set not greater than 0.2? (where, ? is one period of the comb electrode).

Abstract: An electro-acoustic transducer for a component operating with surface waves, in particular for a surface wave filter, in which, to suppress interfering excitation ensuing in the gap region adjacent an end of a finger, a variation of the gaps is implemented with regard to at least one feature selected from transversal arrangement, size and shape. Due to the slight dimension change of the position of the gap in comparison to the finger length, the desired primary excitation in the transducer remains approximately unchanged, however the interfering excitation is displaced or divided, and made ineffectual.

Abstract: A conductive layer is formed on each of the upper and lower surfaces of a dielectric substrate, and the two conductive layers are connected by rows of via-holes that are formed which a spacing that is less than or equal to ½ of the wavelength in the dielectric substrate in the resonance frequency, whereby n stages of dielectric resonators and input/output waveguide structures are formed. If the number n of stages is assumed to be 3, the first-stage resonator and the second-stage resonator are coupled by an electromagnetic field by means of via-holes of a first spacing; the second-stage resonator and the third-stage resonator are coupled by an electromagnetic by means of via-holes of a second spacing, whereby a filter is formed. The input/output waveguide structure and the filter are coupled by an electromagnetic by means of via-holes of a fourth spacing. The first-stage resonator and the third-stage resonator are coupled by an electromagnetic field by means of via-holes of a third spacing.

Abstract: Provided is a self-sustaining center-anchor microelectromechanical switch driven by an electrostatic force used for controlling a signal transmission in an electronic system, which can suppress deformation of a movement plane generated during manufacturing and operation process by inserting the self-sustaining center-anchor, and improve a ground line contact phenomenon of an upper electrode, thereby enhancing reliability and signal isolation feature while maintaining an existing insertion loss feature compared to the microelectromechanical switch of the prior art.

Abstract: A permanent-magnet ground fault circuit interrupter plug with self-diagnosing function having an enclosure and a permanent-magnet mechanism encased in the enclosure.

Abstract: A circuit breaker includes a molded housing, separable contacts, an operating mechanism adapted to open and close the separable contacts, and a trip circuit cooperating with the operating mechanism to trip open the separable contacts. The molded housing includes two molded halves. The trip circuit includes a pair of arc fault printed circuit boards which cooperate with the corresponding molded halves to form an external composite structure. That external composite structure includes the printed circuit boards and an over-molding material, such as, for example, a thermally conductive epoxy coating disposed thereon.

Abstract: A zero boiloff cryogen cooled recondensing superconducting magnet assembly including superconducting magnet coils suitable for magnetic resonance imaging including a cryogen pressure vessel to contain a liquid cryogen reservoir to provide cryogenic temperatures to the magnet coils for superconducting operation; a vacuum vessel surrounding the pressure vessel and spaced therefrom; a first thermal shield surrounding and spaced from the pressure vessel; a second thermal shield surrounding and spaced from the first thermal shield and intermediate the vacuum vessel and the first shield; a cryocooler thermally connected by a first and a second thermal interface to the first and second thermal shields, respectively; a recondenser positioned in the space between the pressure vessel and the first thermal shield and thermally connected by a thermal interface to the cryocooler to recondense, back to liquid, cryogen gas provided from the pressure vessel; and means for returning the recondensed liquid cryogen the pressure

Abstract: A high-frequency core is a molded body obtained by molding a mixture of a soft magnetic metallic glass powder and a binder in an amount of 10% or less in mass ratio. The powder has an alloy composition represented by a general formula (Fe1-a-bNiaCob)100-x-y-z(M1-pM?p)xTyBz (where 0?a?0.30, 0?b?0.50, 0?a+b?0.50, 0?p?0.5, 1 atomic %?x?5 atomic %, 1 atomic %?y?12 atomic %, 12 atomic %?z?25 atomic %, 22?(x+y+z)?32, M being at least one selected from Zr, Nb, Ta, Hf, Mo, Ti, V, Cr, and W, M? being at least one selected from Zn, Sn, R (R being at least one element selected from rare earth metals including Y), T being at least one selected from Al, Si, C, and P). An inductance component includes the high-frequency core and at least one turn of winding wound around the core.

Abstract: A device includes: a pillar-shaped core consisting of a first magnetic insulating material that has two quadric prism segments at both ends thereof symmetrically and has a cylindrical segment, which has an external shape smaller than that of the quadric prism segments, coaxially between the two quadric prism segments; a conductor film that is formed in a substantially uniform thickness so as to cover an outer circumferential face of the pillar-shaped core; a spiral line segment having a predetermined number of circumferences that is formed in a portion present on the cylindrical segment of the conductor film by subjecting a spiral sulcus to laser trimming; an oxide film that is formed to cover at least a surface of a shoulder portion extending from a side to an upper surface of lines constituting the spiral line segment; an armor consisting of a second magnetic insulating material that is formed to cover a surface of the portion present on the cylindrical segment of the conductor film and such that an externa

Abstract: An ignition coil for an internal combustion engine, including a magnetically active core, a first coil shell which is used as a support for a first coil winding made of an electrically conductive wire, and a second coil shell which is positioned so as to be concentric to the first coil shell and is used as a support for a second coil winding made of an electrically conductive wire. Situated between the first coil winding and the second coil winding is a shielding layer, which is made of an electrically conductive material and provided with a grounding contact.

Abstract: A reduced cost energy transfer element for power converter circuits. In one embodiment, an energy transfer element according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a magnetic element having an external surface with at least a first winding and a second winding wound around the external surface of the magnetic element without a bobbin. As such, energy to be received from a power converter circuit input is to be transferred from the first winding to the second winding through a magnetic coupling provided by the magnetic element to a power converter circuit output.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an inductor fabricated above a substrate surface comprising a first set of inductors in a lower dielectric layer, a second set of inductors in an upper dielectric layer, and interconnects extending between the first and second sets of conductors to form a single continuous helical current path that turns around a central region. Since each turn of the inductor includes only one leg close to the substrate, the parasitic capacitance between the inductor and the substrate can be reduced and there is more free space in the upper and lower layers for increasing the width of the conductors and thereby reducing the series resistance of the inductor. Meanwhile, since the magnetic field generated by the inductor is substantially confined in a closed tube defined by its turns, there is less interference between the inductor and its neighboring components on the same and/or surrounding substrates.

Abstract: A reduced cost energy transfer element for power converter circuits. In one embodiment, an energy transfer element according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a magnetic element having an external surface with at least a first winding and a second winding wound around the external surface of the magnetic element without a bobbin. As such, energy to be received from a power converter circuit input is to be transferred from the first winding to the second winding through a magnetic coupling provided by the magnetic element to a power converter circuit output.

Abstract: A printed circuit board (PCB) having a three-dimensional spiral inductor, which includes a plurality of insulating layers and conductor layers. The PCB comprises a plurality of coil conductor patterns made of conductive material and shaped into strips, which is provided on the plurality of conductor layers, respectively, such that the plurality of coil conductor patterns are parallel to each other and positioned on the same plane perpendicular to the conductor layers, and in which each of the plurality of coil conductor patterns is longer than an adjacent inner coil conductor pattern.

Abstract: An inductive proximity sensor comprises: a housing including an opening on one side; an inductive core including two legs, each core leg including a foot portion; an inductive coil wound bobbin disposed about each leg of the core, each bobbin including an integral ledge cantilevered from an inside surface of the bobbin for forming a pocket under the integral ledge at a bottom of the bobbin for containing the foot portion of the corresponding core leg; a thruster element including a top surface and two legs, each thruster leg disposed into a respective bobbin resting on the integral ledge thereof, the core, wound bobbins and thruster element disposed in the housing; a spring element disposed on the top surface of the thruster element at the housing opening; and a housing cover disposed over the housing opening for compressing the spring element against the thruster element which renders the core and wound bobbins in a fixed relationship to each other in the housing.

Abstract: An inductor core 10 is proposed for a heatable godet roll comprising a plurality of inductor core laminations 11 arranged radially in a star shape with radial sections 12 and respectively one outer axial section 13 and an inner axial section. The inductor core 10 has end plates 19, 20 with respectively one surface 21 complementary to the radial sections 12 and fixing means, wherein the inductor core laminations 11 are arranged between the end plates 19, 20 and wherein the fixing means 22 are set up to fix the inductor core laminations 11 at their radiation sections 12 on the end plates 19, 20 or alternatively and/or on the outer surface of an inner tube.

Abstract: A fuse structure is described. The fuse structure includes a first region adapted to be coupled to a voltage source, a second region adapted to be coupled to a ground, and a current flow region disposed between the first and second regions. The current flow region has a configuration that causes a void to be opened at a point of localized heating due to current crowding within the current flow region and that causes the void to propagate across the current flow region.

Abstract: A thermostat has a switch, a temperature sensor, a lever, a spring, and a control plate. The sensor generates a force to operate switch in response to the ambient temperature. The lever having an arm turns with the force from the sensor to open/close contacts of the switch. The first end of the spring is hooked to the lever to bias a force to the lever in the direction opposite to the force from the sensor. The control plate is hooked to the second end of the spring and is disposed on the lever, allowing a force for turning the lever to increase or to decrease due to turning of the control plate. The control plate turns the arm to perform the forced switch-off operation.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method of manufacturing a thin resistor with a moisture barrier by depositing a metal film layer on a substrate and depositing a layer of tantalum pentoxide film overlaying the metal film layer. The present invention also includes a thin film resistor having a substrate; a metal film layer attached to the substrate; and a tantalum pentoxide layer overlaying the metal film layer, the tantalum pentoxide layer providing a barrier to moisture, the tantalum pentoxide layer not overlaid by and oxidation process.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for conditioning the access of a user of a remotely-accessible device, which tracks and monitors objects, by using a preprogrammed expiration time and date and comparing that to a reliable time and date source, such as a time and date received from a global positioning system receiver, and disabling the processing of signals of the remotely-accessible device if the time and date comparison reveals that the license, service, lease, rental or commodity agreement has expired.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for authenticating entities to use an intelligent interactive Electronic Document Code stored in an RFID tag attached to a document as a means for third parties to ascertain a document is not counterfeit and has not been revoked or changed. In addition, such intelligent RFID tags can uniquely identify a particular document and data related to the document. The authenticating agency can utilize a public or private Electronic Document Code database as a means for the authenticating agency and third parties to authenticate documents and data in documents. The intelligent interactive Electronic Document Code can be used as an anti counterfeit mechanism enabling third parties requested to provide services, benefits or monetary payments to authenticate documents and or the data associated with the document is not counterfeit.

Abstract: A radio pager of the present invention displays a number of stored information in an as ascending order or a descending order selected by the user on a rotary switch included in the pager. In addition, the pager allows the user to see and desired information first by rearranging the information in a storage area on the basis of an information number, a confirmation flag, and a content. The user can therefore select personal and shared information stored in the pager by turning the rotary switch in a jog dial fashion in the ascending order or the descending order or even in any desired order. This enhance easy and efficient search and rapid information selection. The user can also input various data management commands into the radio pager via an interface means 20.