Abstract: An oscillator-based sensor interface circuit includes an oscillator and a switching means is arranged for switching between at least two signals to be applied to the oscillator via that input. At least one of the signals is an electrical signal representative of an electrical quantity. A counter is arranged to count a number of cycles produced by the oscillator. A control logic is arranged to control the switching means and to derive a control output signal from a first number of counted oscillator cycles. A feedback element is arranged for converting a representation of the control output signal into a feedback signal used directly or indirectly to maintain a given relation between the first number of counted oscillator cycles.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed to mitigating power-based impedance changes in Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags. The intrinsic impedance of components in an RFID tag front-end may change as incident RF power on the tag changes, causing the input impedance of the front-end to change and altering the RF properties of the RFID tag. A number of approaches can be used to mitigate input impedance variations due to power variations. One approach involves adjusting the operating point of one or more components in the RFID tag front-end to change their intrinsic impedances so as to counteract or mitigate the RF-power-based input impedance variation.

Abstract: A system may include two input terminals, e.g., HI and LO, and a floating circuit that is physically separate from the input terminals and includes a gain amplifier. The floating circuit can be surrounded by a conductive enclosure that is electrically connected to the second input terminal. The floating circuit can further switch between input signals received from the first and second input terminals to the gain amplifier and the floating circuit ground.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method, a server and a terminal of audio-video on demand (AVOD). The method comprises: receiving an audio-video resource request from an AVOD terminal; determining an assigned network the AVOD terminal belonging to in accordance with the audio-video resource request; determining resource nodes having the audio-video resource in the assigned network; generating a resource list according to the resource nodes having the audio-video resource in the assigned network; transmitting the resource list to the AVOD terminal so that the AVOD terminal acquires the audio-video resource according to the resource list. The present invention achieves both a smooth multiuser concurrent online AVOD and a reducing cost consumption of a network system.

Abstract: A system includes a plurality of power supply units to be tested, an electric load, a power meter, a multimeter, and a computer. Each of the plurality of power supply units has an input terminal connected to an AC power source via a switch module and an output terminal capable of outputting a plurality of power rails to an output bus via the switch module. The electric load is connected to the output bus for receiving the plurality of power rails. The power meter is configured for measuring an input power of each of the plurality of power supply units. The multimeter is configured for measuring an output power of each of the plurality of power supply units. The computer configured to calculate a conversion efficiency of each of the plurality of the power supply units.

Abstract: An apparatus for monitoring the thickness of a conductive layer on a substrate includes a support to hold a substrate having a conductive layer, an eddy current monitoring system including a first plurality of core portions, and a motor to cause relative motion between the support and the eddy current monitoring system such that the substrate moves across the first plurality of core portions in a direction that defines a first axis. At least one core portion is positioned further from a second axis than at least two other core portions. The second axis is orthogonal to the first axis.

Abstract: A system and method to evaluate characteristics of notches in sine wave type electrical signals. An example method includes measuring a voltage waveform. A reference waveform is derived from the measured voltage waveform. A series of threshold voltage values is determined based on corresponding voltages of the reference waveform. The voltages of the voltage waveform are compared with the corresponding threshold voltages. The presence of a notch is indicated when a voltage of the voltage waveform is lesser in magnitude than the corresponding threshold voltage.

Abstract: A substrate table and method for supporting and transferring a substrate are provided. The substrate table includes a segmented stage having an upper surface for supporting a substrate, and an end effector. The end effector includes two or more spaced apart fingers and an upper surface for supporting a substrate. The end effector is at least partially disposed and moveable within the segmented stage such that the fingers of the end effector and the segmented stage interdigitate to occupy the same horizontal plane. The segmented stage is adapted to raise and lower about the end effector.

Abstract: The invention provides a signal transmission device that transmits a signal applied to a pair of input terminals to a pair of output terminals insulated electrically from the pair of input terminals while reducing the influence of an external noise magnetic field. The signal transmission device has a pair of coils, a pair of magnetic sensors and a signal output section. Each of the coils is connected between the pair of input terminals. Each of the coils generates a magnetic field respectively in response to the input signal applied between the pair of input terminals. A direction of the magnetic field generated by one of the coils is opposite to a direction of the magnetic field generated by the other of the coils. Each of the magnetic sensors corresponds to one of the coils exclusively. Each of the magnetic sensors detects the magnetic field generated by the corresponding coil, and outputs a detection signal in response to the detected magnetic field.

Abstract: A test circuit for testing semiconductors includes a plurality of at least first conductors and second conductors. The first and second conductors are operatively connected together by a plurality of conductive vias to form an open chain of alternating first and second conductors. A plurality of conductive taps are included, each of the taps being connected at a first end to a corresponding first conductor. The test circuit further includes a plurality of switching circuits, each of the switching circuits being operatively connected to a second end of a corresponding one of the conductive taps. Each of the switching circuits is configurable for selectively connecting the corresponding conductive tap to one of at least a first bus and a second bus in response to at least one control signal presented to the switching circuit, the first and second buses being connected to first and second bond pads, respectively.

Abstract: It becomes possible to simultaneously atomize and ionize atoms constituting a polymer with the use of a single laser, thereby highly simplifying the constitution of a system. A method of analyzing a polymer which comprises abrading the polymer to be analyzed by irradiating with laser beams to thereby atomize the polymer into the constituting elements thereof, then ionizing the elements and analyzing the constituting elements thus ionized. The laser beams with which the polymer to be analyzed is irradiated for the abrasion are ultrashort pulse laser beams. By irradiating the polymer with the ultrashort pulse laser beams to thereby abrade, the polymer can be atomized and ionized at the same time. Then the thus ionized constituting elements are analyzed.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for adjusting the frequency of an oscillator to compensate for oscillator frequency variations resulting from changes in oscillator parameters. Measurement systems monitor one or more oscillator parameters. The capacitance of the oscillator is selectively adjusted based on the measurement of the one or more oscillator parameters. The change in capacitance compensates for changes in environmental and operating conditions that affect the oscillator parameters, such as temperature and applied voltage, and produces a relatively stable output frequency over a specified operating range.

Abstract: A clock oscillator circuit that includes an inverting amplifier and a resonator configured to generate an oscillating signal. The clock oscillator includes a bias circuit having a relatively constant current source configured to create a bias voltage to bias the amplifier in an operating state that can sustain the oscillating signal. The inverting amplifier and the bias circuit are configured to operate in a low power state.

Abstract: A curing lamp apparatus is used for providing electronic voice information to report a number of operating conditions associated with the curing lamp. The apparatus includes a light sensor for sensing output power, voltage and current sensors for sensing input power, a microcontroller for providing a digital number in response to receiving signals from one or more sensors, a programmed voice circuit for retrieving a voice message signal from a memory, address associated with the digital number, and a transducer for receiving and audibly reproducing the voice message signal.

Abstract: A method for sensing the state of an electrophoretic display includes the steps of applying an electrical signal to a display element, measuring an electrical response for the display element, and deducing the state of the display element from the measured electrical response.

Abstract: An acceleration detection device for detecting an acceleration applied in a certain direction based on detection signals corresponding to the acceleration, is provided with a waveform detection part detecting waveforms of the detection signals and an acceleration determination part determining whether to make valid or invalid the acceleration based on the waveforms detected in the waveform detection part.

Abstract: A compact ribbon-indicator and chart-recorder instrument for use in process control systems adapted to indicate and simultaneously record the values of up to three independent process variables. The motive power for each pen/indicator drive system is supplied from a corresponding relatively high-speed stepping motor. Each such motor is servo-controlled by a feedback circuit including a potentiometer coupled to the pen drive cable for developing a d-c feedback signal to be compared with the d-c measurement signal. The system is arranged to actuate the motor immediately upon development of a deviation signal outside of a fixed dead-band, but the extent of initial motor movement is limited to a pre-set small amount (preferably one step). If the deviation signal still is outside of the dead-band after a predetermined period of time, a clock pulse oscillator is turned on to actuate the motor at a relatively rapid rate until the deviation signal returns to the dead-band.

Abstract: N-(.beta.-aminoethyl)-3-hydroxy-1,1,6,6-tetramethyl-piperidine and certain of its N- and O-substituted derivatives are useful as light stabilizers for polymeric materials, particularly for thermoplastic polymers and automotive finishes. Preferred compounds include the N-, O-diacyl derivatives.

Abstract: In a multi-channel recording instrument, the reference signal of each channel is floating from the ground level. Therefore, one each isolated power supply means must be provided for each channel. However, when the error signal for each channel is transmitted through a photo-coupler, the circuit after the photo-coupler can be isolated from the biasing voltage of the reference signal, and a common power supply can be used for all the stages after the photo-couplers, including servo-motor drivers, of all the channels. This reduces the size and cost of the power supplies as a whole. The non-linear character of the photo-coupler does not cause a positioning error, since the photo-coupler is in the servo-loop having a sufficiently large gain.

Abstract: The analog display device comprises at least one needle driven through a gear wheel by a stepping motor, a control circuit for the motor, bidirectional counter locked with the position of the needle on a dial, the logic states of the outputs of the counter being representative of the position of the needle on the dial and a comparator for the informations delivered by the counter and the informations corresponding to the value of the function to display, the comparator acting at least indirectly on the control circuit and on the counter so that the position of the needle is representative of the value of the function to display. The device does not require any digital-analog converter nor galvanometer and it allows for, example, to display simultaneously with at least two needles the value of at least two different functions, to make changes of scale, and so on. The device may also be combined with another type of analog or digital display.

Abstract: A slide-wire assembly has a first and a second separately movable contact arranged to engage a semicircular wire-wound resistance element or slide-wire. Clam shell halves of a molded case enclosing the slide-wire assembly are arranged to support the resistance element and a motor drive for one of the slide-wire contacts. The first slide-wire contact is supported on a separately movable element coaxial with a motor drive output shaft but restrained from movement therewith while providing a respective contact adjustment capability. A flexible coupling between the motor output shaft and the driven slide-wire contact enables the molded case to align the contact to apply a contact pressure in a first direction to the second slide-wire contact.

Abstract: A device for testing the accuracy of an attenuator, over a range of frequencies from 1 to 18 GHz, for example, and having a first variable frequency signal generator which passes its output through the attenuator. The resulting output signal, and a local oscillator/mixer combination produce an IF signal (Hereinafter, "first signal"). A second signal source, at the IF frequency, passes its output through a variable attenuator and a step attenuator to produce a "second signal". The "first" and "second" signals are fed to a closed loop which includes an integrator that controls the variable attenuator to tend to keep the first and second signals at the same amplitude. A branch circuit, controls a second step attenuator; and includes means to produce an output level the value of which represents the value of signal level of the "first signal". The bandwidth of the closed loop is automatically narrowed when the amplitude of said first signal is low to give an optimum signal to noise ratio, under all conditions.

Abstract: An unknown voltage to be measured is applied to the input of an automatic servo-actuated potentiometer which when unbalanced by an unknown voltage is servo-actuated to restore a balanced condition with the extent of the displacement necessary for such restoration being indicated on a scale as an analog measure of the input voltage. The absolute value of the voltage across the potentiometer is measured and is supplied to a balance detecting circuit which upon a change in said absolute value actuates a control gate to transmit pulses from a pulse generator to a set of binary counters which have their output signals applied through a binary-decimal converter to a digital display. The counter output signals are also converted to an analog voltage which is fed to the balance detecting circuit and when the converted analog voltage equals the absolute detected voltage, the pulse count is terminated.