Other

Atari Corporation

Imaginon

David M Schwartz

Leonard W Kain

A photovoltaic cell is made by coating a metal foil substrate with cadmium telluride powder, moving the powder coated foil across a cold plate or series of cooled rollers to prevent the substrate from melting, while melting the cadmium telluride powder by passing the powder coated foil under a microwave energy source. This forms a thin film of cadmium telluride on the foil. The cadmium telluride coated foil is then coated with cadmium sulfide powder, which is melted by passing the powder coated foil under a microwave energy source, thereby creating a P-N junction, and the cadmium sulfide layer is coated with indium, which is fused to the cadmium sulfide layer by microwave heating.

Method of making photovoltaic cell

A suspended rider bicycle has a suspension boom which extends from the frame above the rider's torso, and a suspension device such as a belt or sling for suspending the rider's torso from the suspension boom.

Suspended rider bicycle

Gas containing particles or droplets flowing continuously through a microphone is perturbed by sound waves. Sound-induced localized pressure changes in the gas are measured by detecting variations in gas opacity with an optical transducer disposed transverse to the flow direction.

Particulate flow detection microphone

A method and apparatus for distributing clock signals in an integrated circuit is disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, the power grid of the integrated circuit is used to distribute a periodic timing signal, in addition to the power supply voltage, to local areas of the integrated circuit, the local areas having circuitry for extracting a local clock signal from the periodic timing signal. Instead of simply carrying a DC power supply signal, the power grid is provided with a waveform constituting the sum of the DC power supply signal and the periodic signal, and the power grid then supplies all areas of the integrated circuit with this waveform. Local circuits then tap the power grid as needed to extract the periodic signal, from which local clock signals are then generated. In another preferred embodiment, a periodic timing signal is provided in the form of electromagnetic radiation to local areas of the integrated circuit by means of an optical or radio frequency transmitter. Associated with each local area of the integrated circuit is an optical or radio frequency receiver for receiving the periodic timing signal, along with conversion circuitry for extracting a local clock signal from the periodic signal.

Method and apparatus for using a power grid for clock distribution in

A method and apparatus are described for transforming information obtained from a database into a presentation network topology for seamless serial presentation of selected data items to a user. The presentation network topology is a multidimensional network synthesized according to a predetermined set of rules, using information from the database and using selection parameters provided by the user. The presentation network topology is constructed so as to allow for adaptive playback, wherein a next data item is selected according to the position of the current data item with respect to the presentation network topology and according to at least one playback command provided by the user. The presentation network topology is also constructed so as to allow for automated playback, wherein data items are automatically, serially, and seamlessly presented to the user when no playback command is received, according to the historical choices of the user.

Method and apparatus for database transformation and adaptive playback

An interactive game film includes, on a video disk, data arranged in clips representing video film segments, each clip having a lead-in segment, a body segment, a loop segment, and a lead-out segment. Each clip matches at least one other, so that when the clips are played in series, the splice is seamless. The clips are displayed by a driver in response to instructions from a game control program unique to a particular game. The game control program provides an interface, in the form of visible or audible subtitles containing keywords, between a player and the driver, whereby the player can, at decision points in the game, control which film clip is displayed next.

Interactive game film

A sound reproduction system for automatically adjusting the output characteristics of a speaker or speakers in response to the acoustical characteristics of the external environment for the speakers by the use of sensors operatively connected to a microprocessor which in turn is connected to further processing in a digital preamplifier which processing includes comparison of data received from the sensor about the environment and the audio signal treatment by the environment and alters the output of the digital preamplifier to compensate for the environment and changes in the environment.

Sound reproduction system

A solar heat exchanger for vaporizing virtually all the liquid entering the exchanger. The solar heat exchanger of the invention is comprised of a metal tube, a feedwater inlet tube of much smaller diameter located within the metal tube and a transparent glass envelope enclosing the metal tube. The annular space between the inner surface of the glass envelope and the outer surface of the metal tube is evacuated to pressure of 10.sup.-6 torr. A vapor outlet pipe is provided at one end of the exchanger. A feedwater inlet pipe extends from the opposite end of the exchanger within and for approximately the length of the interior of the metal tube. In use incoming feedwater is pumped through the feedwater pipe and sprays outwardly through small spray orifices onto the hot inside surface of the metal tube, which converts it to steam.

Solar heat exchanger

A solar energy collector comprises a metal tube through which solar-heated fluids may pass. The metal tube is maintained in a high vacuum environment, in the order of 10.sup.-6 torr, by a coaxial transparent glass tube and a pair of metal bellows sealing the ends of the glass tube to the metal tube in flexible seals designed to accommodate relative radial and linear expansion of the glass. The metal tube may be coated with a suitable absorption layer and the assembly of the metal and glass tubes may form a part of a solar system, such, for example, as a nonimaging concentrator in which the tubes are positioned longitudinally of and within an elongated parabolic reflector.

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San Carlos, CA, United States of America

David M Schwartz