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A man being escorted across country to face custody charges in the disappearance and possible death of his two children still hasn't arrived in New Hampshire two days after leaving California, and defense lawyers were questioning why.
The New Hampshire attorney general's office has declined to say where Manuel Gehring is or what he is doing, and a message Thursday said there was no timetable for his return from a California jail.
California public defender Charlie Gillan said he feared Gehring, 44, was being coerced into cooperating while he had no access to a lawyer.
"It shocks me," Gillan told The Boston Globe. "When I left him, his intention was to not talk to anybody until he talked to the attorney that is going to handle his case in New Hampshire."
Gillan's New Hampshire counterpart, Jacalyn Colburn, expressed similar concerns.
Gehring and his police escort left the California jail Tuesday. At a news briefing that day, Assistant Atty. Gen. Jeff Strelzin would not comment on whether the chartered plane taking him east might stop somewhere to allow Gehring to help search for his children.
Gehring is charged with interfering with the custody of Sarah, 14, and Philip, 11, who were last seen with their father in Concord on July 4. Gehring was arrested July 10 in California, and two days later, authorities deemed the children's disappearances a suspected double-homicide.
Compiled from RedEye news services and edited by Lara Weber (email@example.com) and Drew Sottardi (firstname.lastname@example.org)


|Publication number||US5146159 A|
|Application number||US 07/649,081|
|Publication date||Sep 8, 1992|
|Filing date||Feb 1, 1991|
|Priority date||Feb 1, 1991|
|Publication number||07649081, 649081, US 5146159 A, US 5146159A, US-A-5146159, US5146159 A, US5146159A|
|Inventors||Jack Lau, Armagan A. Akar, Hung-Wah A. Lau|
|Original Assignee||Schlumberger Technologies, Inc.|
|Export Citation||BiBTeX, EndNote, RefMan|
|Patent Citations (8), Referenced by (22), Classifications (23), Legal Events (5)|
|External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, Espacenet|
This invention relates to in-circuit test systems and more particularly to an integrated pin driver for an in-circuit test system.
Test systems for integrated circuits are classified in the industry as either "functional" or "in-circuit" test systems. A functional test system treats an entire pc board as a single test element, while an in-circuit test system treats a single component as the test element. For a functional test system, a test pattern is applied to the pc board inputs, while the pc board outputs are monitored and analyzed. To isolate a particular component with a functional test system, an appropriate test pattern must be generated so as to exercise the component. As the component may be at a location remote from the pc board input connection and may be coupled to many other components, it is difficult to engineer such test patterns for complex designs. Accordingly, functional test systems often are ineffective at isolating a component on a pc board under test.
An in-circuit test system treats a single component as the test element (e.g., device under test). A test pattern is applied directly to the component through pin drivers, while the responses are monitored through sensors. Accordingly, the test pattern directly exercises the component under test. As a result, an in-circuit test system provides a more effective testing methodology.
As the device under test (DUT) for an in-circuit test system is an IC component electrically coupled to other IC components, the DUT receives one or more inputs signals from preceding circuits and sends one or more output signals to subsequent circuits. In order to apply a test pattern to the DUT inputs, the input signals from the preceding circuits need to be overridden. Such overriding is referred to as "backdriving" the preceding circuits. As used herein, backdriving refers to sinking or sourcing sufficient current so that the DUT input is driven to the desired logic state, regardless of whether the preceding circuit output(s) are at the same or a different logic state. To drive the DUT so as to override the input signal from the preceding circuit, the pin driver applies a common high current signal to the DUT input and the preceding circuit output. Accordingly, the test system drives the DUT, while backdriving the preceding circuit(s).
FIG. 1 depicts a prior art circuit 10 including a driver 12, a first inverter 14 (e.g., preceding circuit) and a second inverter 16 (e.g., DUT). Under normal operations, the first inverter 14 drives the second inverter. When the input to the first inverter 14 is a logic high, the output to the first inverter 14 is a logic low. Thus, the input to the second inverter 16 is a logic low. If according to a test operation, the input to the second inverter 16 is desired to be a logic high while the output to the first inverter 14 is a logic low, then the low output of the first inverter must be overridden to provide a logic high input to the second inverter 16. The driver 12 thus needs to backdrive the first inverter 14 by sourcing sufficient current to raise the second inverter 16 input to a logic high.
In another case, the input to the first inverter 14 may be a logic low, causing its output to be a logic high. Thus, under normal operation, the input to the second inverter 16 is a logic high. If according to a test operation, the input to the second inverter 16 is desired to be a logic low, then the high output of the first inverter 14 must be overridden to provide a logic low input. The driver 12 thus backdrives the first inverter 14 by sinking current from the first inverter 14 so as to drive the second inverter 16 input low. Accordingly, the driver must sink or source current to control the DUT and backdrive preceding circuits.
Large backdriving currents induce large power dissipation, and thus, increased temperature. Prolonged temperature changes may damage the device under test and preceding circuits. Extreme temperature rise may cause melting of metal or semiconductor or alloys, while moderate temperature rise may shorten circuit lifetime due to thermally induced mechanical stresses. Accordingly, backdriving currents of short duration are desireable. A high test pattern rate, and thus short duration of backdriving current, has been found to avoid damaging the device under test and preceding circuits.
Various devices to be tested may have logic gates of varying technology (i.e., ECL, CMOS, bipolar). Each technology requires prescribed voltage levels to register a given logic level. Such prescribed voltage levels typically vary from technology to technology. Accordingly, an in-circuit test system able to drive test signals of differing voltage levels is needed to achieve a versatile in-circuit test system.
To test many devices in a short time, a high data rate is desireable. One parameter which impacts the data rate is the slew rate of the test signal. A fast slew rate enables the system to run at a high data rate so as to test more devices in less time. Adversely however, a fast slew rate causes more overshoot and ringing (e.g., transmission line effect). Because a test signal may travel a few feet along a cable before arriving at a DUT, such transmission line effect may become significant. Thus, the overshoot or ringing caused by a signal having a fast slew rate may result in voltage swings large enough to alter the logic level registered by a given device. Because the load impedance is not always much larger than the source impedance, a solution in which the source impedance is matched to the transmission line impedance may not be feasible. To minimize the transmission line effects at the test head, a series termination is conventionally used which dissipates the reflections. Such termination attenuates the test signal amplitude and correspondingly reduces the slew rate. Accordingly, a trade-off of the slew rate speed is desireable so as to enable a sufficiently high data rate, while also keeping the transmission line effects insignificant.
To test devices having differing input/output pin configurations, it is desirable to provide an integrated driver/sensor having a plurality of pin drivers and a plurality of sensors, each pin driver and sensor sharing a common DUT pin. Accordingly there is a need for a tri-state pin driver which has a high impedance output when a sensor is to monitor a common DUT pin. As a result, there also is a need for a pin driver which can withstand a large breakdown voltage during the high impedance mode.
FIG. 2 shows performance characteristics of conventional drivers. The listed drivers include: Schlumberger series 700 (SLB), Analog Devices 1323 (AD), Zentel 8000, Hewlett-Packard 3070 (HP), GenRad 2282, and Teradyne L210i D4 (Tera).
Conventional pin drivers include saturating current switches at the output stage. To switch between logic states at the output requires that the switch come out of saturation, then into saturation in the opposite logic state. As a result, the switching time is unnecessarily long.
According to the invention, a tri-state pin driver is provided which generates a logic high, logic low or high impedance output. In normal mode, the pin driver generates a dynamic test signal which switches between logic states according to a desired test pattern. In high impedance mode, the pin driver output is at a high impedance level so that the device under test (DUT) may be monitored by a sensor. A pin driver and sensor are embodied on a common IC with specific pin driver components being formed off-chip. A pin driver/sensor pair are coupled to a common DUT pin and may function to perform either of the following: drive a given DUT pin only, sense a given DUT pin only, or drive a given DUT pin while simultaneously sensing the same DUT pin.
According to one aspect of the invention, the pin driver includes a waveform generator and a unity-gain emitter-follower pre-driver stage amplifier coupled to an off-chip emitter-follower output stage. In normal mode the pin driver sources or sinks large output currents so as to drive a DUT pin and backdrive preceding circuits. To achieve the large currents, the driver output stage is formed off-chip by a pair of emitter-coupled power transistors (e.g., a pull-up power transistor and a pull-down power transistor).
According to another aspect of the invention, the power transistors forming the output stage operate in the active region enabling a faster switching time and thus faster test rate than for a pin driver having saturating drive transistors. The power transistors remain in the active region avoiding the switching delays of saturating transistors. In addition, less ringing occurs in the output signal as the output storage capacitance is reduced. As a result, the pin driver is more reliable and avoids inadvertent alteration of logic states at preceding circuits. Operating in the active region with rail voltage levels related to high and low reference voltage levels automatically configures the power transistors for different logic high output voltage levels and logic low output voltage levels. Accordingly, the pin driver can be adapted to drive DUTs of varying technology (and thus different logic voltage levels) by simply altering a logic high reference voltage and a logic low reference voltage.
According to a preferred embodiment, the waveform generator includes a pair of current sources controlled by a slew control signal. The current sources are switched alternatively by a test state signal. A high test state signal causes the waveform generator output to go to one diode drop above a high reference voltage level. A low test state signal causes the waveform generator output to go one diode drop below the low reference voltage level. The output switches at a slew rate controlled by the magnitude of the respective current sources and a nodal capacitance. The slew rate control signal varies the current sources to control the slew rate of the waveform generator.
The output of the waveform generator is buffered by a unity gain amplifier including two cascading emitter follower circuits. For class AB operation, the emitter followers are forward biased to maintain a low quiescent current through the off-chip output stage and to reduce cross-over harmonic distortions.
According to another aspect of the invention, the pin driver includes breakdown voltage paths capable of withstanding the typically large voltage swings between the high impedance pin driver output and internal voltage levels. A breakdown voltage path between a predriver stage input and the high impedance output is enhanced by a pair of protection transistors in each of two pre-driver signal paths. During normal mode, each respective pair of protection transistors functions as a transmission gate passing a respective predriver signal. During the high impedance mode, each respective pair of protection transistors provides an open circuit across the respective collector-emitter junctions of each protection transistor. The collector-emitter junction of each transistor can accommodate a large breakdown voltage in one direction, and only a small breakdown voltage in the other. Accordingly a pair of protection transistors are used in each of the two predriver signal paths. One is oriented for forward breakdown voltage protection, the other is oriented for reverse breakdown voltage protection.
FIG. 1 is a schematic of a prior art pin driver and a pair of conventional inverters;
FIG. 2 is a table of performance characteristics for several prior art drivers;
FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a test configuration according to an embodiment of this invention;
FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the driver of FIG. 3 according to an embodiment of this invention;
FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of the predriver stage and driver stage of FIG. 4 according to an embodiment of this invention;
FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of the waveform generator of FIG. 4 according to an embodiment of this invention.
FIG. 3 depicts a test configuration 17, including driver/sensors 18, 18' a device under test (DUT) 20 and a preceding circuit 22. The DUT 20 is an integrated circuit component having a plurality of pins or leads. For in-circuit testing the DUT 20 typically is coupled to one or more preceding circuits 22. The driver/sensor 18 includes a pin driver 23 and a sensors 24 for driving a test signal (i.e., 28) or monitoring a response signal. Similarly, the driver/sensor 18' includes a pin driver 25 and a sensor 26 for driving a test signal or monitoring a response signal (i.e., 29).
The pin driver/sensor circuits 18, 18' function to drive a pin, sense a pin or both drive and sense a pin. When sensing a pin without driving a pin, the driver circuit 23 is in a high impedance mode. To test the DUT 20, a pin driver 23 generates a test pattern which is applied to the input pins of the DUT 20, while a sensor 26 monitors the output pins of the DUT 20 to detect the response to the test pattern. The driver/sensor 18, 18' is partly embodied as an IC with a pin driver and sensor electrically coupled to a common pin of the DUT 20. For a DUT pin which is an input pin, the pin driver 23, 25 generates a test signal. For a DUT pin which is an output pin, the driver 23, 25 is put into a high impedance state, enabling the sensor 24, 26 to monitor the DUT pin's output signal. As depicted in FIG. 1, pin driver 23 drives test signal 28 to an input pin of DUT 20, while pin driver 25 is in a high impedance state enabling sensor 26 to monitor response signal 29 generated at an output pin of DUT 20.
Pin driver 23 backdrives the preceding circuit 22 so that the desired logic state is applied to the input pin of DUT 20, regardless of the logic state of the output pin of preceding circuit 22.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a pin driver 23 (25). The pin driver 23 includes a driver stage 30, a predriver stage 32, a waveform generator 34, biasing circuits 36, 38 and current sources 40, 42. The predriver stage 32, waveform generator 34, biasing circuits 36, 38 and current sources 40, 42 are formed on an integrated circuit 44 with corresponding circuits for other pin drivers 25, and with sensors 24, 26. Accordingly, the driver/sensor 18 is formed by an integrated circuit with several off-chip components including multiple driver stages 30 for the respective pin drivers 23, 25.
The pin driver 23 (25) receives a tri-state enable signal 46, a test state signal 50 and an analog slew rate control signal 52, along with high and low reference voltages 54, 56 and high and low rail voltages 58, 60. The tri-state enable signal 46 defines whether the pin driver is in normal mode or high impedance mode. The test state signal 50 determines the logic state of the test signal 28 at a given time. The slew rate control signal 52 determines the slew rate of the test signal 28 for switching between logic states. The high and low reference voltages 54, 56 define voltage levels for the respective test signal 28 logic states. The rail voltages 58, 60 determine the supply voltages to the driver stage 30 for driving the test signal 28. Preferably, the rail voltages 58, 60 are related to the reference voltages 54, 56. Rail voltage 58 is controlled to be one diode drop above reference voltage 54, while rail voltage 60 is controlled to be one diode drop below reference voltage 56. Such relationship reduces the power dissipation of the driver stage 30.
When the tri-state enable signal 46 is inactive, as for pin driver 23, the pin driver 23 is in normal mode generating a test signal 28 for driving DUT 20 and backdriving preceding circuit 22. Sensor 24 remains active during such time to sense the signal at the DUT 20. When the tri-state enable signal 46 is active, as for pin driver 25, the pin driver 25 is in high impedance mode and the pin driver output is at high impedance enabling response signal 29 to be sensed by sensor 26.
The waveform generator 34 receives the test state signal 50 and slew rate control signal 52 and generates in response a control signal 62 which is input to the predriver stage 32. During normal mode, the predriver stage 32 generates first and second predriver signals 64 and 66. Such predriver signals 64, 66 pull-up or pull-down the test signal 28 through driver stage 30. The predriver stage 32 receives first and second biasing signals 68, 70 from respective biasing circuits 36, 38. The predriver stage 32 also receives first and second current signals 72, 74 for providing the first and second predriver signals 64, 66 with sufficient current to control the power transistors of driver stage 30.
During high impedance mode, the waveform generator 34 still generates control signal 62, although the predriver stage 32 is biased to generate first and second predriver signals 64, 66 which turn off the power transistors of driver stage 30 so as to put the pin driver output at high impedance.
FIG. 5 shows a partial schematic of the pin driver 23 (25), including an embodiment of the driver stage 30 and predriver stage 32. Because the driver stage 30 is located off the IC chip 44 the first and second predriver signals 64, 66 are impacted by the electrical characteristics of the IC package, the pc board, and the electrical connections, including parasitic capacitances and pin inductances. To account for such electrical characteristics, an LC model 76 of the IC 44 is depicted in FIG. 5.
According to one embodiment, the pin driver 23 includes a driver stage 30 which can sink or source approximately 500 milli-Amps (mA) so as to drive DUT 20 and backdrive preceding circuit(s) 22. To accommodate such a large backdriving current the driver stage 30 is formed off the IC 44 with large power transistors 100, 102. FIG. 5 shows the driver stage 30, including power transistors 100, 102 and resistors 104, 106.
The power transistors are cascaded to the predriver output transistors 108, 110. Preferably, the transistors 100, 102 are lightly forward biases for class AB operation. Power transistor 100 is an npn bipolar transistor having a base coupled to the first predriver signal 64, having a collector tied to a high rail voltage VRH and having an emitter coupled to the driver output terminal 101. Resistor 104 is connected across the base and the emitter of transistor 100 for limiting the voltage drop across the base-emitter junction of power transistor 100 during the high impedance mode.
Power transistor 102 is a pnp transistor, having a base coupled to the second predriver signal 66, having a collector tied to a low rail voltage VRL and having an emitter coupled to the driver output terminal 101. Resistor 106 is connected across the base and the emitter of power transistor 102 for limiting the voltage drop across the base-emitter junction of transistor 102 during the high impedance mode. As depicted, the emitters of power transistors 100, 102 are coupled with power transistor 100 for pulling-up the test signal 28 voltage level and the power transistor 102 for pulling-down the test signal 28 voltage level.
The power transistors 100, 102 operate in the active region according to one aspect of the invention rather than switching in and out of saturation according to the conventional practice. By operating in the active region, the storage capacitance of the transistors 100, 102 is reduced enabling faster switching time between logic high and logic low voltage levels. As a result, fast test rates may be applied without the same degree of signal distortion (and less significant transmission line effects). Alternatively, a faster data rate may be applied for the same degree of ringing. According to the preferred embodiment, a fast test rate is applies while the output experiences less signal distortion than for prior art drivers. Thus, the pin driver is more reliable and avoids inadvertent alteration of logic states at preceding circuits.
The rail voltages may be controlled to be one diode drop above or below the corresponding references voltage as previously described. Accordingly, the pin driver can be adapted to drive DUTs of varying logic voltage levels by simply altering the logic high reference voltage, Vh, and the logic low reference voltage Vl.
For circuits 20, 22 in which 5.0 volts is a logic high and 0.0 volts is a logic low, reference voltages Vh and Vl of 5.0 volts and 0.0 volts may be used. The input reference voltage signals 54, 56, have a relatively small current. The driver stage 30 serves to output a select logic level at a larger current. As previously mentioned, approximately a 500 mA output current is sourced or sunk by the driver stage 30 according to the preferred embodiment.
To achieve a logic high output of 5 volts and a 500 mA current from driver stage 30, the power transistor 100 base is biased with a first predriver signal 64 of 5.7 volts at approximately 20 mA. The power transistor 102 base is biased with a second predriver signal 66 of -0.7 volts turning power transistor 102 off. Given a beta of 0.7 volts between the base and emitter of each power transistor 100, 102, the resulting output level is 5.0 volts.
To achieve a logic low as the driver output, the power transistor 100 base is biased with a first predriver signal 64 of 0.7 volts, while the drive transistor 102 base is biased with a second predriver signal 66 of -5.7 volts at approximately 20 mA. The power transistors 100, 102 are selected to be large enough to source or sink the desired 500 mA of current.
The ability of the pin driver 23, 25 to put the driver stage output in a high impedance state causes a need for signal paths which can accommodate a large breakdown voltage. During high impedance mode, both power transistors 100, 102 are off as the first and second predriver signals 64, 66 are at 0.0 mA. As a result, each power transistor 100, 102 forms an open circuit from collector to emitter. Thus, the output terminal 101 is at high impedance.
Referring to FIGS. 3-5, pin driver 25 is shown coupled to a DUT output pin. Accordingly, the pin driver 25 is set to high impedance mode. The collector-emitter junction of power transistors 100, 102 are to withstand a voltage difference of twice the maximum voltage swing. Accordingly, the power transistors 100, 102 are selected to have a sufficiently large collector-emitter breakdown voltage rating.
The base-emitter junctions typically have a lower breakdown voltage rating than the collector-emitter junction. The base-emitter junctions are part of respective signal paths from the output terminal 101 to points within the predriver stage 32. The breakdown protection for such signal paths are discussed within the predriver stage breakdown voltage protection description.
The predriver stage 32 is configured as a unity-gain cascaded complementary emitter follower. First and second predriver signals 64, 66 are generated in response to control signal 62, biasing signals 68, 70 and current signals 72, 74. FIG. 5 shows the predriver stage 32, including a first signal path 120 between the waveform generator 34 and the first predriver signal 64 and a second signal path 122 between the waveform generator 34 and the second predriver signal 66. The first signal path 120 is formed from the predriver stage input from the waveform generator 34, across the base-emitter junction of transistor 124, the collector-emitter junction of transistor 126, the emitter-collector junction of transistor 128 and the base-emitter junction of transistor 108. The second signal path 122 is formed from the predriver stage 32 input from the waveform generator 34, across the base-emitter junction of transistor 130, the collector-emitter junction of transistor 132, the emitter-collector junction of transistor 134 and the base-emitter junction of transistor 110.
For a control signal 62 which generates a logic high in the test signal 28, the signal current through transistor 124 is reduced, diverting current from source 40 to drive through transistor 128 and transistor 108 into power transistor 100. In addition, the current through transistor 130 increases, sourcing much of the current into source 42 so as to reduce the current to transistor 110 and power transistor 102.
For a control signal 62 which generates a logic low in the test signal 28, the signal current through transistor 130 is reduced, diverting current from source 42 to drive through transistor 134 and transistor 110 into power transistor 102. In addition the current through transistor 124 increases, sinking much of the current from source 40 so as to reduce the current to transistor 108 and power transistor 100.
The predriver stage 32 also includes a biasing network of transistor 136 and resistors 138, 140 connected across the first and second signal paths 120, 122. The network forward biases the predriver stage to approximately 3 VBE for class AB operation. Such biasing maintains a low quiescent current for test signal 28 and reduces cross-over harmonic distortions.
The base currents into the respective transistors 108, 110 determine the conductivity of such transistors 108, 110, and thus, determine the current of the respective first predriver signal 64 and second predriver signal 66. Accordingly, the quiescent current through the power transistors 100, 102 are reduced. The amount of base current into transistor 108 is determined by the current of current signal 72 input from the current source 40. The current signal 72 is defined so as to generate a first predriver signal 64 sufficient to bias power transistor 100 to generate an appropriate logic high output. According to the preferred embodiment, current signal 72 is 21 mA, which results in approximately 11 mA into the base of transistor 108 when the test state signal 50 selects logic high as the voltage level for the test signal 28. The 11 mA base current biases the transistor 108 so as to generate approximately a 20 mA current into the base of power transistor 100 causing a logic high output from driver stage 30.
Similarly, the amount of base current into transistor 110 is determined by the current of current signal 74 input from the current source 42. The current signal 74 is defined so as to generate a second predriver signal 66 sufficient to bias power transistor 102 to generate an appropriate logic low output. According to the preferred embodiment, current signal 74 is -21 mA causing approximately -11 mA into the base of transistor 110 when test state signal 50 selects logic low as the voltage level for the test signal 28. The -11 mA base current biases the transistor 110 so as to generate approximately a -20 mA current into the base of power transistor 102.
As previously mentioned, the transistors 126, 128 in the first signal path 120 and transistors 132, 134 in the second signal path 122 function as transmission gates during normal mode. During normal mode, the tri-state enable signal 46 is inactive allowing biasing circuits 36, 38 to apply respective -15 volts and +15 volts to the predriver stage 32. Biasing circuit 36 generates a -15 volt signal 68 received across resistors 142, 144 turning on transistors 126, 128. Similarly, biasing circuit 38 generates a +15 volt signal 70 received across resistors 146, 148 turning on transistors 132, 134. The transistors 126, 128 and 132, 134 are biased during normal mode with the base resistors 142, 144, 146, 148, respectively, determining the degree of conductance. For an output rail voltage swing of +15 volts to -15 volts, and base resistors 142, 144, 146, 148 of 5 kilohms each, the base current for driving the respective transistors 126, 128, is 5.4 mA (and for transistors 132, 134 is -5.4 mA). As a result, a worst case of 11 mA flows to transistor 108 (110). To maintain adequate switching speed and adequate base drive, the current source 40 provides a constant current signal 72 during normal mode of 21 mA, while the current source 42 supplies a constant current signal 74 of -21 mA.
As previously mentioned, the ability of the pin driver 23, 25 to put the driver stage 30 output in a high impedance state causes a need for signal paths which can accommodate a large breakdown voltage. When the pin driver 23, 25 is in high impedance mode, the tri-state enable line is active. The waveform generator 34, however, still can output a control signal 62. In addition, the DUT 20 or a preceding circuit 22 may generate a voltage potential at the output terminal 101. For a waveform generator control signal 62 of -12 volts and a voltage potential at terminal 101 of approximately +12 volts, the voltage difference of 24 volts occurs across predriver stage 32 and driver stage 30. The voltage levels at the currents sources 40, 42 may be as high as +/-14 volts. Accordingly, the voltage differential may be 26 volts.
The first predriver signal path 120 includes the base-emitter junctions of transistor 124 and 108. Extending the path 120 to the driver output 101 further includes the base-emitter junction of the power transistor 100. Because the breakdown voltage of a base-emitter junction is approximately 7.7 volts, protection transistors 126 and 128 are included in signal path 120. The collector-emitter junctions of such transistors form part of the signal path 120. The breakdown voltage for a collector-emitter junction is approximately 33 volts. Unlike, the base-emitter junction, however, the collector-emitter junction has a high breakdown voltage only in the one direction. Thus, two transistors 126, 128 are used in the predriver signal path 120, each providing a high breakdown voltage in a distinct direction. The two transistors 126, 128 are oriented so that the collector-emitter junction of one transistor 126 provides forward breakdown voltage protection, while the collector-emitter junction of the other transistor 128 provides reverse breakdown voltage protection.
Similarly, the second predriver signal path 122 includes the base-emitter junctions of transistor 130 and 110. Extending the path 122 to the driver output 101 adds the base-emitter junction of the power transistor 102. Because the breakdown voltage of a base-emitter junction is approximately 7.7 volts, protection transistors 132 and 134 are included in signal path 122. The collector-emitter junctions of such transistors form part of the signal path 122. The two transistors 132, 134 are oriented so that the collector-emitter junction of one transmitter 132 provides forward breakdown voltage protection, while the collector-emitter junction of the other transistor 134 provides reverse breakdown voltage protection.
Transistors 126, 128 are configured "back-to-back" as transmission gates, coupling the current source 40 to emitter followers 124 and 108. Transistors 132, 134 also are configured "back-to-back" as transmission gates, coupling the current source 42 to emitter followers 130 and 110. By connecting two current switch transistors "back-to-back" as shown in FIG. 5, one of the pair is able to sustain high reverse voltage breakdown, while the other is able to sustain high forward voltage breakdown.
To achieve breakdown voltage protection during high impedance mode, the transistors 126, 128 are turned off by biasing signal 68 in response to the tri-state enable signal 46 received at biasing circuit 36. Similarly, transistors 132, 134 are turned off by biasing signal 70 in response to the tri-state enable signal 46 received at biasing circuit 38. Biasing signal 68 normally is -15 volts. To turn off transistors 126, 128 the biasing signal 68 is switched to +15 volts in response to the tri-state enable signal 46. Biasing signal 70 normally is +15 volts. To turn off transistors 132, 134 the biasing signal 70 is switched to -15 volts in response to the tri-state enable signal 46. The large voltage swing for switching the transmission gates ensures a low "on" resistance, and maintains unity gain for the predriver stage output signals 64, 66. Because pin drivers normally switch between normal mode and high impedance mode at a relatively slower speed, the resulting slower switching time when switching to high impedance mode is tolerable.
FIG. 6 shows a schematic of a preferred embodiment of the waveform generator 34 formed on IC 44, along with off-chip circuitry 160 and an LC model 162. The function of the waveform generator 34 is to generate a control signal 62 for the predriver stage 32. The waveform generator 34 receives a test state signal 50 which determines whether the high reference voltage Vh or the low reference voltage Vl defines the control signal 62 voltage signal. The slew control signal 52 determines the slew rate of the pin driver 23, 25 for switching between logic states.
The signal paths 54, 56 carry the high and low voltage references input to clamping diodes 164, 166. The diodes 164, 166 are formed off the IC chip 44 so that diodes with large reverse breakdown voltage levels may be used. According to the preferred embodiment, the diodes 164, 166 are high conductance, fast switching diodes having a breakdown voltage of more than 75 volts at 5 micro-Amps.
To correctly define the voltage levels and reduce ringing in the output signal 62 of the waveform generator, an LC model 162 is shown for depicting the parasitic capacitances and inductances of the IC package. The off chip circuitry 160 also includes a resistor 168 for damping any ringing caused by the LC model 162. A parasitic capacitance 170 also is represented.
Referring to the waveform generator 34, the test state signal 50 controls two level translators formed by two pairs of emitter coupled transistors 180, 182 and 184, 186. When the test state signal 50 switches to a logic high, the first level translator formed by transistor 184, 186 switches the base of transistor 200 above the switching threshold of current switch 190 defined by resistor 204 and 206. Transistor 202 switches off the slew current source 52' from discharging the output signal 62. The second translator formed by transistors 180, 182 switches the base of transistor 192 above the switching threshold of the current switch 188 defined by the resistors 196 and 198. Transistor 194 of the current switch 188 switches on the slew current source signal 52" to charge the output signal 62 of the waveform generator. The current source signal 52" is determined by the slew rate control signal 52. The output of the waveform generator 34 rises until it is clamped to one diode drop above Vh. The larger the slew control signal, the faster the predriver stage 32 charges and thus the faster the turn-on slew rate. According to the preferred embodiment, the slew rate control signal is an analog signal which varies between 0 and 5 volts. By using an analog signal, the control over the slew rate is continuous instead of incremental.
When the test state signal 50 switches to a logic low, the second level translator formed by transistors 180, 182 switches the base of transistor 192 below the switching threshold of the current switch 188. Transistor 194 turns off, preventing the slew current source signal 52" from charging the output of the waveform generator 34. The first level translator formed by transistors 184, 186 switches the base of transistor 200 below the switching threshold of the current switch 190. Transistor 202 of the current switch 190 switches the slew current source signal 52' to discharge the output signal 62 of the waveform generator. The current source signal 52' is determined by the slew rate control signal 22. The output of the waveform generator 34 discharges until it is clamped at one diode drop below Vl. The larger the slew control signal, the faster the predriver stage 32 discharges and thus the faster the turn off slew rate.
Biasing circuits 36, 38 are conventional circuits which respond to the tri-state enable signal 46 to generate either a +15 volt or -15 volt biasing signal 68, 70. As previously described, biasing circuit 36 generates a +15 volt signal 68 when tri-state signal 46 is active and a -15 volt signal 68 when tri-state signal 46 is inactive. Analogously, biasing circuit 38 generates a -15 volt signal 70 when tri-state enable signal 46 is active, and a +15 volt signal 70 when tri-state enable signal 46 is inactive.
Current sources 40, 42 are also conventional circuits. According to the preferred embodiment the current sources, 40, 42 are "Wilson" current sources having a current mirror ratio of 9:1 and providing a constant current of 21 mA (-21 mA).
Although a preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, various alternatives, modifications and equivalents may be used. Therefore, the foregoing description should not be taken as limiting the scope of the inventions which are defined by the appended claims.
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|US3976940 *||Feb 25, 1975||Aug 24, 1976||Fairchild Camera And Instrument Corporation||Testing circuit|
|US4176323 *||Jun 21, 1978||Nov 27, 1979||Harman International Industries, Inc.||Transistorized power amplifier|
|US4490673 *||May 26, 1982||Dec 25, 1984||International Business Machines Corporation||Testing an integrated circuit containing a tristate driver and a control signal generating network therefor|
|US4572971 *||Mar 2, 1984||Feb 25, 1986||Fairchild Camera And Instrument Corporation||Tri-state driver circuit for automatic test equipment|
|US4743841 *||May 16, 1986||May 10, 1988||Fujitsu Limited||Semiconductor integrated circuit including circuit elements evaluating the same and having means for testing the circuit elements|
|US4818893 *||Apr 6, 1988||Apr 4, 1989||Prime Computer, Inc.||High speed switching circuit|
|US4864249 *||Dec 29, 1988||Sep 5, 1989||Reiffin Martin G||Nonslewing amplifier|
|US4866398 *||Apr 12, 1988||Sep 12, 1989||Zdzislaw Gulczynski||Analog power amplifier|
|Citing Patent||Filing date||Publication date||Applicant||Title|
|US5459738 *||Jan 26, 1994||Oct 17, 1995||Watari; Hiromichi||Apparatus and method for digital circuit testing|
|US5696773 *||Apr 25, 1996||Dec 9, 1997||Credence Systems Corporation||Apparatus for performing logic and leakage current tests on a digital logic circuit|
|US5757217 *||Jun 28, 1996||May 26, 1998||Intel Corporation||Slow speed driver with controlled slew rate|
|US6137310 *||Feb 19, 1999||Oct 24, 2000||Teradyne, Inc.||Serial switch driver architecture for automatic test equipment|
|US6157224 *||Dec 23, 1998||Dec 5, 2000||Raytheon Company||High speed pin driver integrated circuit architecture for commercial automatic test equipment applications|
|US6175230||Jan 14, 1999||Jan 16, 2001||Genrad, Inc.||Circuit-board tester with backdrive-based burst timing|
|US6292010||Feb 2, 2000||Sep 18, 2001||Teradyne, Inc.||Dynamic pin driver combining high voltage mode and high speed mode|
|US6430720 *||Jun 23, 1998||Aug 6, 2002||Sgs-Thomson Microelectronics S.A.||Functional testing method and circuit including means for implementing said method|
|US6509764 *||Dec 4, 2001||Jan 21, 2003||Texas Instruments Incorporated||Low component circuit for reducing power dissipation capacitance|
|US6677775||Jan 10, 2001||Jan 13, 2004||Analog Devices, Inc.||Circuit testing device using a driver to perform electronics testing|
|US6737857||Jan 10, 2002||May 18, 2004||Analog Devices, Inc.||Apparatus and method for driving circuit pins in a circuit testing system|
|US7176693 *||Jun 2, 2005||Feb 13, 2007||Denso Corporation||Short circuit detecting circuit and abnormality monitoring signal generating circuit|
|US7199604 *||Mar 26, 2004||Apr 3, 2007||Analog Devices, Inc.||Driver circuit with low power termination mode|
|US20040239380 *||Mar 26, 2004||Dec 2, 2004||Hecht Bruce A.||Driver circuit with low power termination mode|
|US20050270034 *||Jun 2, 2005||Dec 8, 2005||Denso Corporation||Short circuit detecting circuit and abnormality monitoring signal generating circuit|
|US20130279047 *||May 28, 2013||Oct 24, 2013||Rohm Co., Ltd.||Load drive device|
|EP1020730A2 *||Dec 15, 1999||Jul 19, 2000||Genrad, Inc.||Circuit-board tester with backdrive-based burst timing|
|EP1020731A2 *||Dec 15, 1999||Jul 19, 2000||Genrad, Inc.||Direct-measurement provision to keep backdriving within safe levels|
|EP2894534A1 *||Jan 7, 2015||Jul 15, 2015||Invensys Systems, Inc.||Slew rate detection circuit|
|WO1997040394A1 *||Jan 17, 1997||Oct 30, 1997||Credence Systems Corp||Apparatus for performing logic and leakage current tests on a digital logic circuit|
|WO2000039928A1 *||Dec 16, 1999||Jul 6, 2000||Raytheon Co||High speed pin driver integrated circuit architecture for commercial automatic test equipment applications|
|WO2002065146A2 *||Jan 10, 2002||Aug 22, 2002||Analog Devices Inc||APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DRIVING CIRCUIT PINS IN A CIRCUIT testing system|
|U.S. Classification||324/537, 324/73.1, 330/263|
|International Classification||H03K19/003, G01R31/319, H03K19/018, G01R31/3183, G01R31/316, H03K19/082|
|Cooperative Classification||H03K19/0826, H03K19/01806, G01R31/316, H03K19/00353, H03K19/01837, H03K19/00307, G01R31/31924|
|European Classification||G01R31/316, H03K19/003B, H03K19/018P, H03K19/003J2, H03K19/082M2, G01R31/319S3, H03K19/018B|
|Feb 1, 1991||AS||Assignment|
Owner name: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGIES, INC., 1601 TECHNOLOGY D
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNORS:LAU, JACK;AKAR, ARMAGAN A.;LAU, HUNG-WAH A.;REEL/FRAME:005590/0537
Effective date: 19910124
|Sep 28, 1995||FPAY||Fee payment|
Year of fee payment: 4
|Apr 4, 2000||REMI||Maintenance fee reminder mailed|
|Sep 10, 2000||LAPS||Lapse for failure to pay maintenance fees|
|Nov 14, 2000||FP||Expired due to failure to pay maintenance fee|
Effective date: 20000908


text:
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Deterioration of concrete may be the result of many different factors, including carbonation, sulphation, re-bar attack, impact, erosion and cracking.
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domain: chemistry


A teenager who is believed to be mentally challenged was found at a Linden petrol station, and the Linden Police Station is asking for anyone who knows him to come forward, they told Randburg Sun.
Akhani Mashaba, who is said to be around 16 years old, was found and brought to the police station about five days ago by a concerned community member.
The station’s constable Takalani Matumba said they knew nothing about the boy as he also could not give enough information about himself.
ALSO READ: Teen girl missing in the east of Pretoria
“We don’t know where he lives or the whereabouts of his parents, we are now going to try and find a home for him and whoever recognises him, must contact the station,” he said.
The boy does not seem to recognise his surroundings nor does he know his parent’s names, “All he knows is his name and when asked where he lives all he has said is number 11,” said Matumba.
Should you know or recognise Akhani Mashaba please contact constable Takalani Matumba on 079 880 4955.


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As you decide, insist that the contractor select models in a range of efficiencies and calculate the annual estimated operating cost of each model you're considering, rather than simply estimating it. The contractor can complete those calculations by plugging information on each unit's AFUE and electrical consumption, local utility rates, and characteristics of your home into one of several computer programs designed to easily calculate estimates. Make sure that the quotes also include the cost of any changes to venting required by any appliances in the home.
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text:
Heavy rain didn’t stop major protests that have been ongoing in Athens over the last 2 days. The protests come ahead of an omnibus bill to be voted on in Parliament Thursday that will bring on additional austerity measures to the Greek people.
The demonstration comes one day after the general strike that halted services across the country including public transport and ferry services. Crowds of pensioners marched their way to Parliament chanting “no more tax theft,” as reported by AP.
Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras is seeking parliament’s approval for tax hikes and pension cuts as part of the three-year agreement with creditors in order to continue necessary loan payouts.

domain: economics


text:
Like a peaceful oasis, this impeccably renovated, two bedroom villa is a pristine haven of single-level style that is set to the very rear of the development and enhanced by an alluring alfresco flow to its large paved and entertainer-friendly courtyard. Just a short walk from Whitehorse Road's popular cafe strip and from the sought-after Chatham Primary School, the home is absolutely effortless to maintain and suited to everyone from young families to downsizers who are keen to avoid compromising on either quality or position.
A relaxed and contemporary style of living, the kitchen has been subway-tiled with vast stone-topped benches and a huge amount of soft close cabinetry, while the lounge / dining is naturally lit and the paved wrap-around courtyard highlights a wonderful deck that has been crafted for home entertaining. Set within immaculate gardens, the home is warmed by ducted heating, cooled by split system air conditioning and features a lock-up garage plus an additional visitor car space, as well as built-in robes in each bedroom, a fully-tiled designer bathroom with separate wc and a laundry with direct courtyard access.
Aside from Whitehorse Road, excellent local cafes and shopping can be found at Union Road and at Hamilton Street, plus you have Grovedale Park and playground just around the corner, trains from the new Union Railway Station and city-bound trams along Whitehorse Road. Due Diligence Checklist

domain: design


text:
Life’s a painting I’m always remaking, I will be content in the evening, but restless by morning.
I blend of the dry grass, And dark bark. A brownish yellow work of art. With grace and oval eyes. The foundation of a forest.
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domain: artistic


Mother who said her children, 8 and 4, hanged themselves is charged with their murders
Dec 3, 2019 7:02:42 AM - providencejournal.com
The 911 call sent first responders racing to a modest brick house in rural Pennsylvania on the afternoon of Sept. 23. A mother said she had just found her 8-year-old son and 4-year-old daughter unresponsive in their basement - both hanging from the ends of a dog lead wrapped around a support beam. The boy, she reportedly told a dispatcher, was being "bullied and has made threats of doing this...
USA, Rhode Island: (Latest Stories)


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- worth upgrading to carbon roady?
No idea on how the models might differ but going from alu to carbon will certainly be a massive improvement. The most noticeable things for me were how much stiffer the frame felt, but in a good way. Power transfer was immensely improved and the difference in acceleration was tangible.
Next was how smooth the ride was, road chatter was significantly reduced, especially with carbon stem/bars/post.
I remember riding up a very gentle hill (long incline really) on my first ride (7 or so years ago) and feeling like the bike was sucking me up the hill.
If you’ve got the cash and ride enough to justify it then do it I would say.Posted 4 years ago
Trek make decent carbon so you will feel a difference, I presume the groupset will shave some weight also. I don’t think you can compare tonyd’s very subjective experience – he hasn’t even said which bikes he used.
I don’t know that you can do trade ins or go over £1000 on BTW so am a little confused.Posted 4 years agojonjonjon3Member
I recently “upgraded” an aluminium frame (px sl team) to a carbon one (pro-lite). The carbon one was marginally stiffer around the bottom bracket and slightly more compliant over rough roads. It depends what aluminium to what carbon frame you are doing.
For me it wasn’t a night and day change just a slight improvement in comfort and power transfer. I wouldn’t rule out going back to a aluminium frame in the future.Posted 4 years ago
got the option of trading in my aly road bike (Trek 1.5 with carbon fork) for a full carbon jobby (2013 Trek Madone 4.7) for about £1300, and on the bike to work scheme. trying to work out if it’s really worth it. sensible me says “no, don’t be an eejit, save the money”. Normal me says “oooooooo shiny…. buy buy buy”.
So what’s the difference likely to be you reckon?Posted 4 years agoianpvMember
seeing Jonjonjons post, I went from carbon (speccy tarmac) back to alloy once (cervelo S1) and there was a difference – the alloy bike was quicker, stiffer and a lot more fun. I then went back to Carbon (cervelo S2) and that was even quicker, stiffer again and strangely bit more comfy. There’s more too it than material.
If you like your current bike I suspect ‘sensible you’ is probably right in terms of any measurable performance gain, although I’d guess the madone is a nicer bike than a midrange alloy frame like the 1.5.
If you’ve got £X to spend on bikes and you want to get the most out of it, you could buy some new wheels for half that money and your bike will feel new, spend the rest on two weeks in Mallorca next spring (family etc. allowing), and you’ll have some shiny shiny satisfaction AND go quicker next summer, with a lovely holiday thrown in…Posted 4 years agocpSubscriber
The only way to tell is to have an extended test ride/period on the carbon and see if you prefer it. Carbon is NOT ‘better’ per se, there is far far far more to it than a simple ‘carbon is like this’ and ‘alu is like that’ statement. Carbon is not necessarily more compliant/lighter/stiffer/better etc… there is far more to it – design, how much material is used, composition of the materia. indeed simple stuff like geometry etc… may well have more of an impact on how two bikes ride than material.
try one!Posted 4 years ago
thanks folks, good range of opinions, and as always the ‘try and see!’ argument comes up! unfortunately riding around the car park doesn’t really reveal too much!Posted 4 years ago
aware that the C2W has a 1K limit, but bike shop happy to max out on that then I pay the balance, not sure how kosher that is…
I’ve been riding aluminium bikes for years and currently a Cannondale CAAD4. Am thinking about upgrading to a newer model, but whether to choose an CAAD10 or a carbon Supersix (or a carbon Bianchi) doesn’t seem like an easy choice. Tempted to go with what I know (aluminium) unless you (and more test rides) can convince me that carbon is really betterPosted 4 years agoceepersSubscriber
cant comment about frames but just got an ebay bargain pair of these for my alu caad8
carbon laminated rims apparently. They are noticeably smoother and seem to absorb a lot more of the country lane surface chatter than the stock cannondale wheels that came with the bike.Posted 4 years agofishaMember
carbon laminated rims apparently. They are noticeably smoother and seem to absorb a lot more of the country lane surface chatter than the stock cannondale wheels that came with the bike.
Not what I found. I found they were much stiffer and harsher and transmitted road noise quite a lot on 25mm tyres. That being said, the upside was they felt very nippy and made the bike feel like it was really on its toes compared to a handbuilt 32h mavic rim setup. Good wheels definitely, but for longer rides, I prefer the handbuilt option now.Posted 4 years agoceepersSubscriber
maybe it’s because the stock caad8 wheels were truly rubbish? longest ride on them so far with 23mm tires at 100 psi was 40 odd miles on exmoor and the only thing complaining was my thighs which i dont think was wheel related! I am only ten stone though, ive heard they aren’t well suited to bigger riders.
they are pretty light i think, the net said similar to mavic kysriumPosted 4 years agonedrapierSubscriber
Don’t know if it’s still the case, but the £1K limit is down to the employer. If they don’t have a consumer credit licence, the most they can lend you is £1K. If they do have one, they can go up to whatever you fancy.
No doubt someone will be along to correct me if this is wrong.
Edit: “Category B”
What is the maximum value bicycle and safety equipment package employees can select through the scheme?
The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has issued a group consumer credit licence to cover Employers implementing Cycle to Work Schemes that are limited at £1000 inc. VAT per Certificate. To view and download a copy of the licence please click here.
Employers who have their own Consumer Credit Licence Category B (consumer hire) can allow employees to request Certificates of a higher value. Alternatively, employers wishing to increase the Cycle to Work Certificate value can apply for their own individual Consumer Credit Licence from the Office of Fair Trading. For further details please contact our Helpdesk on email@example.com.Posted 4 years agoTiRedMember
So much faster/quicker, 6 lbs lighter
Hmmm. I think any bike that is 6lbs lighter is going to feel a lot better, steel, titanium, alloy or carbon?
Nice alloy is lighter and rides better than cheap carbon. Most of the benefits of moving to carbon can be achieved with a carbon seatpost, stem and bars. Wheels will make a bigger difference. Nice carbon however can be stiffer, will be lighter and may absorb more shock. I’m afraid nice carbon frames start at the £1K Bike to Work limit.
I ride top end carbon, alloy and steel. THey are all different and anyone would feel the difference. Geometry and fit are matched. But Son1’s CAAD8 with some decent wheels and a carbon seatpost is a truly fantastic alloy bike!
EDIT: asterix, the owner of 700C in Windsor has a CAAD10 and a supersix (same geometry). He says apart from a pound in weight, he can barely tell the difference when he’s on the bike. The CAAD10 is the best alloy frame available and trumps most carbon frames. The BB30 bottom bracket, however…Posted 4 years agocrashtestmonkeyMember
RS80 C24s aren’t much lighter than ultegra wheels and are significantly more expensive, whether the CF laminate offers other advantages for the price I wouldn’t know. Shimano wheel weights include skewers which not all manufacturers do.
My CF Lapierre is an improvement over my ally (carbon forked) Orbea, but the noticeable difference is on handling. It seems to turn in more quickly but then feel more stable mid turn, whether that’s down to tapered steerer, material, frame stiffness, weight balance, geometry, set up (my position has become more head-down as I’ve got used to road riding) or any combination I couldn’t say.
Seeing it makes me want ride it, which is the key to any bike regardless of material.Posted 4 years ago
The topic ‘worth upgrading to carbon roady?’ is closed to new replies.


An Aberdeen man who forgot to put his headlights on has been jailed after police discovered a large haul of drugs in his car.
Ryan Michael Ogg, who also goes by the surnames McKeown and Steele, was stopped by officers as they attended another incident.
When searched they found a plastic bag containing thousands of pounds worth of heroin and cocaine and a large quantity of cash.
Aberdeen Sheriff Court heard the 27-year old, who was out on bail, and a woman were stopped by police at Balnagask Circle in the city on January 5, 2020.
Fiscal depute Alison Reid said: “Police who were near to the location in relation to another matter were made aware of a vehicle being driven without any lights on and entering a carpark nearby.
“They approached the vehicle and the accused was found to be the driver. Police officers saw a plastic bag containing several small wraps, which they suspected to contain controlled drugs.
“As a result the accused was cautioned and underwent a drug search.”
Ogg’s wallet was found to have £820 cash and a forensic examination of 32 wraps were found to contain heroin with a street value of £1,280 and 27 cocaine wraps worth £1,790, the court heard.
He was arrested and taken to Kittybrewster Police Station where he was charged. He admitted the offence when he appeared in court this week.
Ogg’s solicitor Michael Burnett said his client, of Pentland Place, Aberdeen, had been living a “chaotic” life that had been “escalating for a while”.
Sheriff Graeme Napier said Ogg had breached a number of previous custodial and bail orders and sentenced him to two years in prison for being concerned in the supply of class A drugs. His sentence was backdated to November 2020.


text:
Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department arrested 28-year-old Michael Bennett on Monday.
Trump did not elaborate on his meaning.
A new high-tech way to help Fishers neighbors fight crime lead officers to an arrest.
Just call them the Final Five.
The officer was sent to the hospital. His condition wasn’t immediately available.
His daughter died less than two hours later.
Travel woes aren’t over for Delta customers flying out of Indianapolis International Airport.
A new study shows that the self-checkout lines aren’t so great.
Starting Aug. 9, Texas Medicaid will cover the cost of mosquito repellent for eligible women.
The Washington County Sheriff’s Office in Arkansas is trying to find the person who anonymously bought their deputies lunch.
Detectives said they think the pair are staying in shelters or may have found a new home.
Jeffrey Carl Giddings has spent most of the past 20 years in and out of prison.
As Walmart shoppers ran their errands, two first responders in full hazmat suits were lowered beneath the parking lot through a manhole.
A 26-year-old man faces multiple charges.
The former Police Chief called Bright to set up a meeting and discuss her son’s case.
FBI agents and local police raided at least four properties Tuesday morning.
Coach Chuck Pagano made the announcement when the team returned to Anderson University on Tuesday.

domain: law


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NYU Teacher Nouriel Roubini, also known as Dr. Ruin, has actually alerted that “99.99% of crypto is a fraud, a criminal task, a complete real-bubble Ponzi system that is folding.” He recommended capitalists to “definitely keep away” from crypto, asserting that lots of people in the crypto area are “all criminals.”
Dr. Ruin Advises Almost 100% of Crypto Is a Rip-off
Financial teacher Nouriel Roubini, also known as Dr. Ruin, alerted regarding cryptocurrency in a meeting with Yahoo Financing Live Wednesday at the Globe Economic Online Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
Roubini is a teacher of business economics as well as global service at New york city College (NYU) Stern Institution of Service. He additionally acts as chairman of Roubini Global Business Economics, an international macroeconomic as well as market technique research study company that he co-founded. He informed the information electrical outlet:
Actually, 99.99% of crypto is a fraud, a criminal task, a complete real-bubble Ponzi system that is folding.
Dr. Ruin additionally shared his viewpoint on the flattened crypto exchange FTX as well as its disgraced owner Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF). FTX declared insolvency last November as well as SBF is presently dealing with a number of fraudulence costs, every one of which he has actually begged blameless to. “FTX as well as SBF are not an exemption– they’re a guideline,” Roubini exclaimed.
The NYU teacher continued to discourage buying cryptocurrencies. He specified that 99% of bitcoin capitalists did deny BTC at $1,000 or $10,000. “A lot of them obtained FOMO [fear of missing out] in 2021 when it was escalating from $20,000 to … $69,000,” he worried, stressing that 99% of bitcoin capitalists acquired the cryptocurrency “well over the existing market price.”
Roubini believed, “So they shed their t shirts. It’s a headache.” Dr. Ruin kept in mind that bitcoin capitalists are not the only one in shedding cash as various other cryptocurrencies “have actually dropped by 90%, 95%.” He included: “Out of 20,000 ICOs [initial coin offerings], formally 80% were a fraud as well as an additional 17% have actually mosted likely to absolutely no. To make sure that suggests 97% of them … were either a fraud or shed every little thing.”
Concerning crypto investing, Roubini recommended:
You need to keep away. You need to definitely keep away. And also a lot of these individuals belong essentially behind bars– essentially, they’re all criminals.
The NYU teacher of business economics has actually long been a singing movie critic of cryptocurrencies, asserting that the majority of crypto advocates are conmen. He called Binance chief executive officer Changpeng Zhao (CZ) “a strolling time bomb.”
Just recently, the chairman of the united state Stocks as well as Exchange Compensation (SEC), Gary Gensler, alerted that the majority of crypto symbols will certainly stop working, prompting capitalists not to FOMO right into this property course. At the same time, a previous SEC enforcement authorities, John Reed Stark, warned that an SEC regulative attack is simply starting.
What do you think of NYU Teacher Nouriel Roubini’s crypto cautions? Allow us understand in the remarks area listed below.
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Please Note: This post is for informative functions just. It is not a straight deal or solicitation of a deal to purchase or market, or a referral or recommendation of any type of items, solutions, or firms. Bitcoin.com does not offer financial investment, tax obligation, lawful, or accountancy guidance. Neither the business neither the writer is accountable, straight or indirectly, for any type of damages or loss created or affirmed to be brought on by or about using or dependence on any type of web content, products or solutions pointed out in this post.


Wi-Fi, a trademarked name, is a method of wireless connectivity that travels over radio waves.
The nonprofit Wi-Fi Alliance certifies products as Wi-Fi after determining they will work with all the other certified products. Wi-Fi has been given permission to use the 2.4GHz or 5GHz bands.
There have been four generations of Wi-Fi products as of March 2010. Each generation is defined by features that relate to performance, frequency and bandwidth, according to the alliance. And each generation advances security.
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Does any character from DBZ have more epic quotes than Vegeta? The answer is no, as this list of the best Vegeta quotes will show you. This includes sad Vegeta quotes, like when he told Trunks that he made him proud as a father, and angry Vegeta quotes, such as Majin Vegeta's speech to Goku during their fight.
Remember the speech commonly known as "Vegeta's Pride", where Vegeta powered out of the Majin mind control? The greatest quotes from Vegeta are often longer monologues, like when he explains how he turned into a Super Saiyan for the first time. Perhaps the most meanigful quote from the Saiyan prince was when he actually acknowledged that Goku was better than him - "You're better than me Kakarot. You are the best.|"
We've included the best and most popular Vegeta quotes on this list, but that doesn't mean that your favorite is definitely here. If you notice a good Vegeta quote that's missing, feel free to add it to the list yourself. It can be an epic Vegeta speech or just a funny one-liner - either way, share it with the world by adding it!
There's One Thing A Saiyan Always Keeps
"N-No...Get out of my head! I already told you...I..will not be distracted from this anymore, I won't! It will take more than head games to stop me. You may have invaded my mind, and my body, but there's one thing a Saiyan always keeps...HIS PRIDE!!"
"Trunks...Bulma...I do this for you. And yes...even for you, Kakarot..."
You've Made Me Proud
"Trunks...you are my only son, and yet I haven't held you once since you were a baby, have I? ...Come here son. Trunks, there's something you must know...You've made me proud, my son."
So Be It
Vegeta: There is one thing I'd like to know...tell me. Will I meet that clown Kakarot in the other world?
Piccolo: I'm not going to lie to you Vegeta, although the answer may be difficult for you to hear. This is the truth...Goku devoted his life to protecting the lives of others. Because of his selflessness, when he died, he was allowed to keep his body, and travel to King Kai's planet. You, on the other hand, have spent your life in pursuit of your own selfish desires, you've caused too much pain. When you die, you will not recieve the same reward."
Vegeta: Oh well...so be it.

domain: literature


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Shawbrook cuts buy-to-let rates
Shawbrook has cut its buy-to-let rates by up to 0.49% whilst also introducing a pair of new products to its range.
The two new products are for buy-to-let and house in multiple occupation (HMO) borrowing under £100k. Additional criteria improvements include three to 30-year terms, an existing customer discount on the arrangement fee of 0.25% across all buy-to-let products including large loans and a simplified commission rate across its offering.
Shawbrook has also published its full buy-to-let criteria guide to improve the transparency of its offering.
Emma Cox, sales director – property division at Shawbrook Bank, said: “With the many changes to the BTL market over the past few years, Shawbrook saw a great opportunity to continue to improve on our offering to better support customers seeking specialist buy to let solutions.
“We wanted to make our product range as transparent as possible to our brokers and we believe that this is a huge step in the right direction.”

domain: news


NHL: Minnesota Wild hit king Cal Clutterbuck turns ... scorer?
ST. PAUL Possibly for the first time in his NHL career, Cal Clutterbuck has gone two consecutive games without a hit. No doubt for the first time in his NHL career, Clutterbuck leads the Wild in goals. The Wild's hit king -- Clutterbuck led the l...
Possibly for the first time in his NHL career, Cal Clutterbuck has gone two consecutive games without a hit.
No doubt for the first time in his NHL career, Clutterbuck leads the Wild in goals.
The Wild's hit king -- Clutterbuck led the league in hits the past two seasons and established an NHL record in 2008-09 -- is laying the foundation for either the strangest or the strongest of seasons.
He has six goals, zero assists, 71 hits and a mustache with its own Twitter account. The heavy, fast-growing facial hair gives the 5-foot-11 winger from Welland, Ontario, the appearance of a 33-year-old. Yet on Thursday, Clutterbuck turned 23.
After practicing with the Wild on Thursday morning at the Xcel Energy Center for tonight's game against the Red Wings in Detroit, Clutterbuck uncharacteristically vacated the team's dressing room quickly on his birthday.
He won't address the subject, but he's hurt.
Clutterbuck played only 6 1/2 minutes of his team's 4-1 win over the Lightning in Tampa on Sunday night, then was ordered to rest and skip practice Tuesday before he played 16 1/2 minutes in a 2-1 home victory over the Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday night.
He was not his usual hit machine, although coach Todd Richards often questions the official numbers handed down by the NHL statisticians. Richards said he counted Clutterbuck getting four hits on his first shift in one game last season, then looked at the postgame chart to see him listed with a total
of three for the game.
The upper-body injury -- Clutterbuck took a vicious cross-check to the back of his ribs from Florida's Bryan Allen at the end of Minnesota's 2-1 road loss to the Florida Panthers last weekend --likely won't sideline this guy. Despite the lack of official hits, he threw his share of body checks Wednesday night, rang a shot off the post and played better hurt than some guys do healthy.
"Obviously, he was affected," Richards said. "He's not at 100 percent, but he's still at a number that he can play and contribute."
Clutterbuck, who established a career high with 13 goals last season, said he's working through the injury, and not because the puck has been going in for him this season.
But it might have been an omen when Clutterbuck bagged a hat trick in Minnesota's final exhibition game before the start of the season in Finland, and the 213-pounder has found himself all over the map since then on Richards' lineup card. He began the season on the No. 2 line with Matt Cullen and Martin Havlat, dropped to the third line, jumped to the first line centered by Mikko Koivu and lately has been skating with Cullen and rookie Casey Wellman.
"It doesn't bother me," Clutterbuck said. "It's more about doing what I do; I try to not let things outside of what I do distract me."
His game is still based on bringing energy, speed and physicality to the ice, he said, and Richards likes that he can plug Clutterbuck into any spot and get the same result.
"One thing that Cal has been able to deliver every night is consistent play," Richards said. "I don't know how much he weighs; he's a tough guy to move around on the ice. He plays with energy, so he'll create turnovers because there's that threat there that he'll come in and knock you on your butt.
"The other thing he possesses is a great shot. He shoots the puck hard enough where he can put it through goalies, where it just finds that little crease, and because there's so much behind it, it'll make its way into the net."
Clutterbuck downplays his goal scoring, but it's a valuable commodity on a team with no one among the top 20 in the league in goals.
"I feel good this year," he said. "I've been playing with some pretty good players and it's just a confidence thing."
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.


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Julie Watai is a heck of a gal. A noted photographer, Furby hacker, model, and all-around-anime-powered scenester supreme (I once called her “the coolest, most well-connected female otaku in all of Japan.”), Julie’s other major pastime is MUSIC.
In addition to DJ-ing and creating anisong remixes, her current ongoing project is mishmash＊Julie Watai, a musical collaboration with T. Mishima, former sound programmer for indie J-rock legend Cornelius.
Their latest track is “Electromotive Romances” a flat-out chipper pop song that could have been an escapee from a New Wave era nuthouse. The PV went up earlier today.
The awesome character art in the video is by Hiroyuki Takahashi, one of the best visual artists of his generation who is helping to take otaku-inspired art to the next level. Follow him on facebook for more fabulous illustrations.


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Pakistan had to repay a Saudi loan of $1 billion after Pakistan persisted that it should lead OIC on the Kashmir issue. The loan was part of a $6.2 billion package announced by Saudi Arabia in November 2018, which included a total of $3 billion in loans and an oil credit facility amounting to $3.2 billion. Those deals were then signed when Crown Prince Muhammed Bin Salman made a visit to Pakistan in February last year.
But Saudi Arabia focussing on further expanding partnership with India has not shown any willingness to convene a stand-alone meet on Kashmir.
Last week Pakistan’s foreign minister, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, asked the OIC to stop dilly-dallying on convening a meeting of the group’s Council of Foreign Ministers on Kashmir.
Qureshi had told local media: “I am once again respectfully telling OIC that a meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers is our expectation. If you cannot convene it, then I’ll be compelled to ask Prime Minister Imran Khan to call a meeting of the Islamic countries that are ready to stand with us on the issue of Kashmir and support the oppressed Kashmiris.”
In response to a reporter’s query, Qureshi also said that Pakistan could not wait any further and threatened that if the OIC fails to summon the CFM meeting, Pakistan would be ready to go for a session outside OIC.
The minister recalled that Pakistan skipped the Kuala Lumpur summit in December on Saudi Arabia’s request and “now Pakistani Muslims are demanding Riyadh to show leadership on the issue”.
Pakistan’s stance is backed by Turkey which wants to challenge Saudi Arabia’s leadership in the Islamic world. Riyadh backs New Delhi’s stand that Kashmir is its domestic matter. The UAE, Oman, and some North African and West Asian nations are among the other Muslim-majority nations backing India on this. India also has tacit support from Indonesia, the world’s biggest Muslim nation. Besides Central Asian states have also backed India.
In May, Maldives had initiated a move to oppose Pakistan's rant against India at the OIC meet. Saudi Arabia and the UAE (once traditional allies of Pakistan) had backed the stand taken by Maldives, a sign of their expanding ties with New Delhi. Oman, India's oldest strategic partner in the Gulf region, is believed to have stated at the meet that the discourse is part of India’s internal affairs, according to sources.
A number of other countries from the OIC had not responded to Pakistan’s initiative led by its permanent representative (PR) at the UN. Interestingly, UAE’s decision to back India had drawn a backlash from Pakistan-based social media. The UAE had chaired the virtual meeting of the PRs on May 19.
Thursday, 30 Nov, 2023
- Nifty Reclaims Mt 20k
India’s stock benchmarks rose more than 1% on Wednesday with the Nifty closing above 20,000 for the first time since September 13 as receding concerns over further rate hikes in the US revived risk-on sentiment.ED Flags Failure to Submit Papers, Delays by Byju’s
The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has alleged a slew of violations under the foreign exchange law, including failure to submit crucial documents in time as well as realize export proceeds, by Byju’s parent Think & Learn, apart from holding founder Byju Raveendran responsible.HCL Inching Close to Chip Unit in K’taka
The HCL Group is moving closer to setting up an Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test (OSAT) facility — also termed as a chip packaging unit — in Karnataka, multiple people aware of the developments told ET.
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text: On 2019’s Oh My God, prolific songwriter Kevin Morby was in an existential place—just a year later, he’s come back down to earth for his sixth solo set, Sundowner, a collection of songs that feels much more inward. Written a couple years ago and recorded in early 2019 before Oh My God had been released, Sundowner is perhaps Morby’s most mellow album to date. The hard-driving electric guitar is largely absent, replaced by the acoustic and Morby’s musings about being a “sundowner”—someone who looks at the sunset with a bit of melancholy, nostalgic for a day that’s just ending. When Morby was first writing the songs on Sundowner, he had just moved from Los Angeles back to Kansas, where he grew up. And you can hear the ripples of that major relocation throughout. Morby’s new narratives feel timeless, often pining for a lost era. And there is an element of family simplicity. The light strumming of “A Night in Little Los Angeles” interjects a bit of humanity into the prostitution scene in LA while opener “Valley” is a charged up ode to feeling a bit slighted, as Morby sings, “They all pretend not to know me,” while longing for a place where the stars in the sky are visible—perhaps a fitting notion written by someone who just left Los Angeles. Morby also wrestles with death throughout Sundowner, with “Jamie” recalling the loss of one of his best friends 10 years ago, and “Campfire” paying homage to Jessi Zazu of rockabilly band Those Darlins, who passed away from cancer in 2017. Morby has got range— and Sundowner continues his desire to explore new ways of filtering his life through song.

domain: entertainment


It’s only been a couple of days since HTC announced their new devices and T-Mobile wasted no time putting together a “more information” sign-up page for the HTC 8X. We already know the 8X comes with some great specs, so the only information we’re waiting on is a date and price.
- 4.3-inch Super LCD 2 display (with Gorilla Glass)
- 1.5 GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor
- 1 GB of RAM
- 16 GB of internal storage
- Beats Audio
- 8 megapixel rear camera with a f/2.0 lens and ImageClip technology
- 1080p video recording
- 2.1 megapixel front-facing camera w/ 88 degree ultra-wide-angle lens
- 1,800 mAh battery
Follow this link to T-Mobile and sign-up now!


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Posted on May 09 2018
It is a truth universally acknowledged that design aficionados across the globe consider Milan Design Week to be one of the most important and exciting events on the luxury design and luxury lighting calendar. Exhibiting and celebrating the best, the brightest, and the most refreshing of what the luxury design and luxury lighting industries have to offer, situated in the heart of the design capital that is Milan, this is an event like no other. Not only that, but Milan Design Week is free to attend, meaning the opportunity to witness the best, the brightest, and the most refreshing of what these industries have to offer, and to see for yourself where these industries are evolving is open to everyone. Milan Design Week is headed up by the celebrates Salone Del Mobile, an event that exhibits some of the brightest luxury design brands and creations around. One such brand to shine out this year was none other than Circu. Circu is a brand that present a world of magic and fantasy, where dreams can be turned into a reality, in every product they create. Their designs are truly iconic, playful almost to an extreme, and capable of igniting the imagination and filling anyone with a sense of wonder. In characteristic form, the furniture that Circu exhibited at Salone Del Mobile proved to be nothing short of show stealing. Their magical designs flourished under the spotlight, showcasing their ever apparent sense of innovation and wonder at one of the most important events in the design world. Taking inspiration from the ever nearing wedding between Prince William and Kate, Circu showcased a royal exhibition featuring their The Kings and Queens bed: a design that offers the function of sleep with all the majesty befitting of a daydream. Another design spotlighted was the equally as dreamlike BooBoo swing chair. With its steel structure and its synthetic leather and velvet upholstery, this is a design that both serves purpose and offers comfort, providing a luxury way to while away the day. Circu's Animal Stools were another product range that shone in the limelight. Like everything Circu create, these stools are designed to bring the imagination to life. With faux fur upholstery, they invite you to really feel the touch of the animals they're inspired by. The highlight of Circu's Salone Del Mobile exhibition, as it often does, arrived in the form of their iconic Celestial Beds, namely the Sky One bed and the Fantasy Air Balloon. It's impossible to not feel your imagination transported when you see these, their sense of playfulness sitting at the forefront of their very creation. Ever inspired by the sense of fantasy that they themselves wish to convey, Circu's Magical Mirror design was also a sure hit with the audiences at Salone Del Mobile. Inspired by the mirror held by the wicked witch in the fairytale of Snow White, this is one of Circu's most iconic designs, proving a hit with children and adults alike. You can explore Circu's luxury design products for yourself here at iLite, and our friendly staff are always on hand to help you find the design solution that you are seeking.


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A recall of sliced white mushrooms sold in Ontario and Quebec has been issued due to possible Listeria contamination.
According to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, a recall has been issued by Carleton Mushroom for its mushrooms which are prepared for Metro Brands.
The affected product has the following UPC code and best before date:
The food agency asks customers to throw the mushrooms out or return them to the store they were bought.
“Food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes may not look or smell spoiled but can still make you sick. Symptoms can include vomiting, nausea, persistent fever, muscle aches, severe headache and neck stiffness,” said the CFIA.
Though there is confirmed distribution in Ontario and Quebec, there is also a chance of it having been distributed nationally.

domain: food


GOP Lawmaker: McConnell Snubs 'Judeo-Christianity Land,' Moses by Not Repealing Obamacare
WASHINGTON – Rep. Dave Brat (R-Va.) told PJM that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has violated the law of Moses by not following through on the Republican Party’s promise to totally repeal Obamacare.
Reflecting on President Trump’s time in office, the conservative lawmaker was asked if the president had “excessive expectations” as a candidate, as McConnell has suggested.
"Our new president, of course, has not been in this line of work before," McConnell told a Rotary meeting in his home state in August. "I think he had excessive expectations about how quickly things happen in the democratic process."
Brat replied that Trump “had the exact expectations that Mitch McConnell and everyone in the Senate promised, that they are going to repeal Obamacare – that’s the expectation we all had.”
“Don’t lie, right? The reason we had those expectations is because you all voted on it 50 times on total repeal, not a skinny bill, so that’s a bunch of bull, having the ‘wrong expectations,’ that’s a bunch of bull. The American people had the exact correct expectations if you live in Judeo-Christianity land and you expect people to basically tell the truth, right? It’s in the big 10. Go check Moses,” Brat said during an interview on Capitol Hill.
“It’s a bunch of bull that Trump had the wrong expectations,” he added. “McConnell has the wrong expectations and he is out of touch with the American people right now, who know doggone well that they promised to repeal, they should have repealed it and he’s in charge – so go get it done.”
The GOP-led Senate voted to fully repeal Obamacare without a subsequent replacement plan while President Obama was in office. Thus far in Trump’s term, the GOP-led Senate has voted on several Obamacare replacement plans but they did not pass.
“Something is overruling the will of the American people,” Brat said. “And so the American people go, ‘We just gave you the House and the Senate and the White House, you’ve got it all and you’ve got all the secretaries under the president, you’ve got the tax-writing ability, you’ve got the legislative capacity, you’ve got everything and you’re telling me you can’t make a deal with the Democrats, to offer them something to get what you want through?’ I mean, it’s beyond comprehension, right? So it’s a failure of leadership at the job to demand what is due to the American people, right?”
The Virginia Republican argued that “the swamp up here has a disproportionate voice like on healthcare, etc.”
“On healthcare, the definition of the swamp is you’ve got the biggies in play. It shouldn’t be that way; it should be a bunch of small firms but you’ve got a few biggies, and if you add any competition in, any competitive feature at all, it’s against the biggies,” Brat continued. “Well, then you ruffle their feathers and then you’re going to ruffle the voters’ feathers and that ruffles leadership’s feathers – but you’ve got to do it, that’s what you were elected to do is fix it.”