The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display (LCD) device. More particularly, the present invention relates to an LCD device including a thin film transistor (TFT) compensation circuit in an LCD device which implements a driving circuit by using an oxide TFT, the LCD device capable of compensating for degraded characteristics of a TFT due to threshold voltage shift. As the compensation circuit including a dummy TFT is formed on a non-active area of the LC panel, the degree of threshold voltage shift of the DT due to a DC voltage can be sensed. Based on the sensed result, a threshold voltage of a second TFT can be compensated. This can reduce lowering of a device characteristic.

A method for quickly calibrating a memory interface circuit from time to time in conjunction with operation of a functional circuit is described. The method uses controlling the memory interface circuit with respect to read data capture for byte lanes, including controlling CAS latency compensation for the byte lanes. In the method control settings for controlling CAS latency compensation are determined and set according to a dynamic calibration procedure performed from time to time in conjunction with functional operation of a circuit system containing one or more memory devices connected to the memory interface circuit. In the method, determining and setting the control settings for controlling CAS latency compensation is performed independently and parallely in each of the byte lanes.

An impedance tuning circuit includes a calibration unit and a post-processing unit. The calibration unit generates an initial pull-up code and an initial pull-down code by performing a calibration operation using an external resistor during an initial impedance tuning operation. The post-processing unit outputs the initial pull-up code and the initial pull-down code as a final pull-up code and a final pull-down code during the initial impedance tuning operation, and generates the final pull-up code and the final pull-down code by using the initial pull-up code and the initial pull-down code during a subsequent impedance tuning operation.

Systems and methods for switching impedance are provided. In some aspects, a system includes first and second impedance elements and an impedance switch module, which includes a third impedance element coupled between the first and second impedance elements and a switch parallel to the third impedance element. The switch is coupled between the first and second impedance elements, and is configured to switch between an open configuration and a closed configuration. An electrical path is completed between the first impedance element and the second impedance element via the first switch in the closed configuration. The electrical path is not completed in the open configuration. A total impedance of the first impedance element, the second impedance element, and the impedance switch module is varied based on the switching between the open configuration and the closed configuration.

Embodiments of the present invention provide a temperature compensation method and a crystal oscillator, where the crystal oscillator includes a crystal oscillation circuit unit, a temperature sensor unit, an oscillation controlling unit, a relative temperature calculating unit, and a temperature compensating unit. The temperature sensor unit measures a measured temperature of the crystal oscillation circuit unit; the relative temperature calculating unit obtains a temperature difference between the measured temperature and a reference temperature; the temperature compensating unit obtains a temperature compensation value corresponding to the temperature difference from a temperature-frequency curve; and the oscillation controlling unit generates a frequency control signal, according to a frequency tracked by a communications AFC device and the temperature compensation value, thereby controlling a frequency of the crystal oscillation circuit unit to work on the tracked frequency.

Pressure relief/drainage valve for a concrete pumper having a valve body with an axially extending passageway through which concrete flowing in a pumping line passes, an outlet port in a side wall of the passageway, and a valve member which prevents concrete from passing through the port when the valve is a closed position and permits concrete to discharge through the outlet port when the valve is in an open position.

The present invention provides an optical compensated bending (OCB) mode liquid crystal display (LCD) panel and a method for manufacturing the same. The method comprises the following steps: forming alignment layers on substrate, respectively; forming a liquid crystal layer between the alignment layers to form a liquid crystal cell; applying an electrical signal across the liquid crystal cell; and irradiating light rays to or heating the liquid crystal cell, so as to form a first polymer alignment layer and a second polymer alignment layer, respectively. The present invention can reduce a phase transition time of liquid crystal molecules from a splay state to a bent state.

Constant-temperature equipment wherein mechanical and electrical structures are eliminated from the inside of a temperature-controlled chamber (15) by using a non-contact magnetic arrangement as a drive transmission for a sample table (5) and a sample table drive mechanism (6), thus reducing failure and enhancing maintainability. In addition, a conveyance mechanism (11) is provided with a pass box adjacent which sliding shielding plates (9) are stacked vertically, and the shielding plates (9) are linked with the conveyance mechanism (11) by an engaging mechanism provided in the conveyance mechanism (11) to allow the plates to be opened and closed by a travel mechanism (12), thus simplifying the structure and minimizing change in atmosphere during conveying. The sample table drive mechanism (6) and the conveyance mechanism (11) can be attached removably to the temperature-controlled chamber (15) to permit sterilization at high temperature.

Provided is constant-temperature equipment wherein maintenance is facilitated with the least failure, and highly reliable culturing and testing can be carried out. Mechanical and electrical structures are eliminated from the inside of a temperature-controlled chamber (15) by using a non-contact magnetic arrangement as a drive transmission for a sample table (5) and a sample table drive (6), thus reducing failure and enhancing maintainability. In addition, a conveyor (11) is provided with a pass box to minimize change in atmosphere during conveying. The sample table drive (6) and the conveyor (11) can be attached removably to the temperature-controlled chamber (15) to permit sterilization at high temperature.

Provided is an oscillator including: a MEMS resonator for mechanically vibrating; an output oscillator circuit for oscillating at a resonance frequency of the MEMS resonator to output an oscillation signal; and a MEMS capacitor for changing a capacitance thereof caused by a change in a distance between an anode electrode and a cathode beam according to an environmental temperature.

The invention discloses a varactor device (100) for improved temperature stability, comprising a first varactor (160) connected to a decoupling network (150). The device further comprises a voltage stabilizer (110), said stabilizer comprising a capacitor (140) and a temperature dependent capacitor (130), and in that the stabilizer comprises means for connection to a DC-feed (120). Suitably, the decoupling network (150) is connected in parallel to the first varactor (160), and the capacitor (140) of the voltage stabilizer (110) is connected in parallel to the decoupling network (150), the temperature dependent capacitor (130) of the voltage stabilizer (110) being connected in series to the diode of the voltage stabilizer (110).

Methods and apparatus for computing the carrier frequency of a transmitter using frequency modulated digital data to compensate for frequency shifting of the transmitter and the receiver local oscillators and for bandwidth adjustment of the receiver's filter. In particular, methods and apparatus are disclosed for binary systems transmitting “1” and “0” data using decoded or undecoded received signals.

An improved grounding technique for mechanically adjustable rotary capacitors uses a directly grounded bronze sliding contact to effectively and continuously ground the rotating comb-like blades of the capacitor. RF measurements of the continuity and repeatability of the capacitance settings prove the suitability of the modified capacitors for using in pre-calibrated multi-capacitor MHz range impedance tuners.

A method enables changes in the operation of a web printing system in response to web dimensional changes being detected. The method includes identifying a cross-process dimensional change in a web moving through a printing system, comparing the identified cross-process dimensional change to a predetermined threshold, and changing operation of a component in the web printing system in response to the cross-process dimensional change exceeding the predetermined threshold.

The inside of a housing of a printer device is cooled by the air from a ventilation port and, consequently, the temperature of solder SP on a mask surface supported by a mask holding frame inside the housing can be kept low. Moreover, provided is a mask cover for blocking the air flow from the ventilation port toward the mask, and the drying of the solder SP caused by the wind from the ventilation port is thereby inhibited as a result of the wind from the ventilation port not coming into contact with the solder SP on the mask surface. In this way, the solder SP is cooled while inhibiting the drying of the solder SP and, consequently, it is possible to appropriately inhibit the change in viscosity of the solder SP, and favorable printing can be realized.

Provided is a welding metal in which the chemical component composition thereof is appropriately controlled; an A value that is specified by a predetermined relational expression satisfies the requirement of being 3.8% to 9.0%; an X value that is specified by a predetermined relational expression satisfies the requirement of being 0.5% or greater; the area percentage of carbide particles having a circle-equivalent diameter of 0.20 μm or greater in the welding metal is 4.0% or less; and the number of carbide particles having a circle-equivalent diameter of 1.0 μm or greater is 1000 particles/mm2 or less. This welding metal, which can exhibit not only high strength but also good low-temperature toughness and good drop-weight characteristics, is useful as a material for a pressure vessel in a nuclear power plant.

Conditioning device (24) and method for drying and/or controlling the temperature of a ballast bed (12) of a railway track system (10), wherein the railway track system (10) has sleepers (14) resting on the ballast bed (12) and rails (16) resting on the sleepers, wherein the conditioning device has a bogie (30) for moving the conditioning device (24). An outlet nozzle (36) for blowing temperature-controlled air into the ballast bed (12) via at least one blowing-in region (26) positioned between two adjacent sleepers (14) is connected to the bogie (30), as is at least one cover plate (42) for essentially air-tight coverage of an upper side, pointing essentially in the direction counter to the direction of gravity, of a side strip (20), provided next to the sleepers (14) in the direction of travel, of the ballast bed (12). In a method for drying and controlling the temperature of a ballast bed (12) of a railway track system (10), an upper side of the ballast bed (12) and/or at least one sleeper (14) and at least one rail (16) are sealed in an essentially air-tight fashion outside a blowing-in region (26) before temperature-controlled air is blown into the ballast bed (12) via the blowing-in region (26).

The present invention relates to a compensation system for compensating for the drop of the ram in a machine tool, comprising a vertical translation carriage (1) incorporating the application ram, at least one and preferably two perforated plates (2) being arranged on said carriage (1), on each of which there is incorporated a fixed sliding block (3) and movable sliding blocks (4), which blocks are linked with a guide for the transverse movement of the ram, such that the drop of the ram is compensated for by means of the controlled bending of the plates (2).

An impeller of a centrifugal includes, a plurality of full blades provided from the fluid inlet part to the fluid outlet part of the impeller; a plurality of splitter blades provided on the hub surface, wherein the geometry of a flow entering part of the splitter blade is compatible with the complicated flow inside the compressor so that the evenly distributed flow rate distribution, the increased pressure ratio and the enhanced efficiency are achieved. The leading edge blade angle θ in the tip end part of the flow entering front-end-part of the splitter blade 7 in the area of the higher height level from the hub surface is further inclined smoothly toward the blade suction surface side Sb of the full blade 5 in comparison with the inclination standard curve, the increased inclination angle becoming smoothly greater in response to the increase of the height level.

A combined fan-compressor impeller comprises a single hub and a plurality of spaced main blades extending outwardly from the hub such that an air passage channel is defined between two of the main blades. Each of the main blades is a mixed flow blade which continuously extends from a fan section at an inlet end of a channel to a compressor section at an outlet end of the channel without any axial clearance between the fan section and the compressor section, providing aerodynamic matching of pressurized air flowing through the channel from the fan section to the compressor section.

The invention relates to an assemblage of two pieces of bodywork (1, 2) each having a flange (5, 6) for pressing against the flange of the other piece. Each flange carries at least one tongue (11, 12) extending towards the other piece. A fastener member (20) is suitable for engaging around the tongues so to prevent them from moving relative to one another once said two pieces of bodywork are in a predetermined position in which they are united flange against flange. The invention also provides the pieces of bodywork constituting said assemblage.

An apparatus and a method of compensating for an I/Q imbalance in a direct up-conversion system prevents the performance of the system from being deteriorated by efficiently compensating for an I/Q timing skew, an I/Q phase imbalance, and an I/Q gain imbalance by using a characteristic of an OFDM scheme in an Orthogonal Frequency Domain Multiple (Access) (OFDM(A)) system using a direct up-conversion scheme. According to the apparatus and the method of compensating for an I/Q imbalance in the direct up-conversion system of the present invention, an OFDM(A) system using a direct up-conversion scheme may efficiently compensate for I/Q timing skew, I/Q phase imbalance, and I/Q gain imbalance by using a characteristic of an OFDMA scheme, so that a performance of the system is prevented from being deteriorated.

A phase offset compensator for compensating a phase offset is provided. The phase offset includes a first phase sub-offset and a second phase sub-offset. The phase offset compensator includes a feedback loop comprising a first loop filter, the feedback loop being configured to compensate the first phase sub-offset of the phase offset, and a feed forward loop comprising a second loop filter, the feed forward loop being configured to compensate the second phase sub-offset of the phase offset.

A carrier frequency offset compensation method for a communication system is provided. The method includes: mixing, filtering and interpolating an input signal according to a mixing parameter, a first filtering parameter and a first interpolation parameter, respectively, to generate a processed result; calculating a carrier frequency offset estimation value of the input signal according to the processed result; adjusting the mixing parameter according to the carrier frequency offset estimation value; and mixing, filtering and interpolating the input signal according to the adjusted mixing parameter, a second filtering parameter and a second interpolation parameter, respectively. The first interpolation parameter is associated with a cut-off frequency corresponding to the first filtering parameter.

A transceiver includes an antenna, an impedance adjustment device, an RF (Radio Frequency) front-end circuit, a storage device, and a processor. The antenna receives an RF signal. The impedance adjustment device is coupled to the antenna, and includes a plurality of branch circuit with different impedance values and a switch module. The processor is coupled to the RF front-end circuit and controls the switch modules. In a comparison mode, the switch module selects to connect to the branch circuits individually, and the processor detects each RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indications) value corresponding to the branch circuit and records all of the RSSI values to the storage device respectively. In the comparison mode, the processor further compares the RSSI values to for highest one. Finally, the switch module selects the branch circuit corresponding to the highest RSSI value as a transmission branch.

A transmission line is provided in which a first portion of the transmission line is configured to be connected to a source, and a second portion of the transmission line is configured to be connected to a load. A capacitive element is coupled to the transmission line and is configured to compensate for an impedance difference between the load and at least one of the source or the transmission line, at a frequency within a frequency bandwidth of the load. A difference between an internal capacitance of the first portion of the transmission line and the second portion of the transmission line substantially matches the capacitance of the capacitive element.

The present invention is directed to an impedance transformation device for use in a system having a characteristic system impedance, the device being characterized by a predetermined bandwidth having a center frequency. The device housing size is one-eighth wavelength of the center frequency. A first coupler is characterized by an even mode impedance and an odd mode impedance. The bandwidth is a function of the even mode impedance and the odd mode impedance substantially corresponds to the component port impedance. At least one second coupler is disposed in parallel with the first coupler and is characterized by the even mode impedance and the odd mode impedance.

Temperature characteristics of battery cells are detected. In accordance with one or more embodiments, an intercept frequency is detected for each battery cell, at which frequency an imaginary part of a plot of impedance values of the battery cell exhibits a zero crossing. The impedance values correspond to current injected into the cell. A temperature of the cell is determined based upon the detected intercept frequency for the cell and stored data that models operation of the cell. Various approaches are implemented with different types of circuits coupled to detect the impedance values of the respective cells.

A direct feeding apparatus for impedance matching of a wireless power transmission device includes a helical type resonator, and a feeding unit configured to directly feed power to a region having a relatively small current value as compared to a center of a conductive line of the resonator.

This invention is directed to a system that generates a sufficient level of electricity through access to a municipal water supply line to run a furnace during below freezing temperatures. The system includes an inlet that draws water from a water supply line. A first conduit, in communication with the inlet, transports the water into a DC generator that includes an impeller to generate electricity. Water is then routed through a second conduit which then returns the water to the water supply line through an outlet. A solenoid valve may be positioned between the inlet and first conduit which remains closed when the electric grid runs normally but will open during a power outage to supply water to the DC generator. A lithium battery stores power created by the DC generator, which may include a voltage regulator and inverter to convert to DC.

A dip in the output voltage of a motor-vehicle alternator, owing to a connecting of a load or a change in speed, is compensated with the aid of an alternator regulator which provides a control signal that has a duty factor and increases the excitation current of the motor-vehicle alternator. After the occurrence of the voltage dip, in a first step, the duty factor of the control signal is increased by a differential amount, and in a subsequent second step, the rate of correction is limited. After the occurrence of the voltage dip, parameters describing the instantaneous working point of the motor-vehicle alternator are determined, and in the first step, the differential amount is set as a function of the working point.

A temperature detection device that detects a temperature of a rotor of a motor. The temperature detection device has a current detection unit configured to detect a current value of a current flowing through a winding with which any one of a stator and the rotor of the motor is provided, an iron loss estimation unit configured to estimate an iron loss of the rotor using the current value, and a rotor temperature estimation unit configured to estimate the temperature of the rotor using the iron loss.

Systems and methods for controlling exhaust steam temperatures from a finishing superheater are provided. In certain embodiments, the system includes a controller which includes control logic for predicting an exhaust temperature of steam from the finishing superheater using model-based predictive techniques (e.g., based on empirical data or thermodynamic calculations). Based on the predicted exhaust temperature of steam, the control logic may use feed-forward control techniques to control the operation of an inter-stage attemperation system upstream of the finishing superheater. The control logic may determine if attemperation is required based on whether the predicted exhaust temperature of steam from the finishing superheater exceeds a set point temperature as well as whether the inlet temperature of steam into the finishing superheater drops below a set point temperature of steam. The attemperation system may include a characterizing function to linearize the valve operation controlled by the control logic to inject cooled, high-pressure feedwater into the steam upstream of the finishing superheater, which may, in turn, control the exhaust temperature of steam from the finishing superheater. The disclosed embodiments may also be applied to any systems where an outlet temperature of a fluid from a heat transfer device may be controlled.

A control method for boiler outlet temperatures includes predictive control of SH and RH desuperheater systems. The control method also includes control and optimization of steam generation conditions, for a boiler system, such as burner tilt and intensity, flue-gas recirculation, boiler fouling, and other conditions for the boiler. The control method assures a proportional-valve control action in the desuperheater system, that affects the boiler system.

Disclosed is a low-temperature heat-generating solid wood laminate floor, which comprises: an exterior finished layer, an upper base material layer, a heat-generating layer, and a lower base material layer, which are stacked in sequence and hot-pressed. The upper base material layer, heat-generating layer and lower base material layer comprise 9 layers in total after hot-pressing, the heat-generating layer being positioned at the 5th to the 7th layer, the upper base material layer being above the heat-generating layer, the lower base material layer being below the heat-generating layer, the upper base material layer consisting of 3 to 5 layers, the lower base material layer consisting of 4 to 6 layers, and the exterior finished layer being provided on the upper base material layer by hot-pressing.

A sensor system, device, and methods for determining the concentration of an analyte in a sample is described. Input signals including multiple duty cycles of sequential excitation pulses and relaxations are input to the sample. One or more signals output from the sample within 300 ms of the input of an excitation pulse may be correlated with the analyte concentration of the sample to improve the accuracy and/or precision of the analysis. Determining the analyte concentration of the sample from these rapidly measured output values may reduce analysis errors arising from the hematocrit effect, mediator background, and other error sources.

A hitch on a vehicle is raised and lowered by a hydraulic actuator controlled by an electrically operated valve. A control system receives a command that indicates a designated velocity and uses the command to operate the valve. Based on a reference external force exerted on the hitch, the control system is configured with relationships for converting a plurality of command values to corresponding electric current levels for operating the valve. The control system compensates for effects due to differences between the actual force acting on the hitch and the reference external force. Velocity feedback adjusts the electric current level applied to the valve. The passive load force control provides a predictor of the hitch load force to eliminate overshoot/undershoot of hitch motion. During hitch motion, the velocity feedback also compensates for effects due to load and hitch geometry changes that occur.

An arrangement having a piston configured to move along an axial pathway a rotating seal configured to seal an inside environment from an outside environment, the rotating seal configured to be acted upon by a pressure exerted from the piston, a differential pressure sensor measuring a pressure difference between a first fluid from the outside environment and a second fluid on the inside environment, a motor connected to the piston, the motor configured to actuate the piston to a position along an axial pathway and an electronic feedback control system connected to the motor, the electronic feedback system configured to interface with the differential pressure sensor and maintain a pressure generated by the piston onto the rotating seal to a desired pressure.

A method for fabricating a photovoltaic device includes depositing a p-type layer at a first temperature and depositing an intrinsic layer while gradually increasing a deposition temperature to a final temperature. The intrinsic layer deposition is completed at the final temperature. An n-type layer is formed on the intrinsic layer.

A wire-processing machine or apparatus includes a wire-feeding apparatus for guiding a wire, wherein the wire-processing machine or apparatus contains a wire drive for forward movement of the wire and a guide pipe with an entry opening and an exit opening. The wire-processing machine or apparatus contains a swivel unit with drive and a wire-gripping apparatus which is arranged on a swivel arm, wherein an exit side end of the guide pipe is fastened to the swivel arm. The wire drive and the guide pipe are arranged in such manner that the wire can be shot-in through the guide pipe. The wire-feed apparatus further contains a length-compensating unit which is arranged in the area of the guide pipe and which, in a first state, shortens an effective length of the guide pipe and, in a second state, lengthens the effective length of the guide pipe.

A method for tuning a digital compensation filter within a transmitter includes: obtaining at least one resistance-capacitance (RC) detection result, wherein the digital compensation filter includes an RC compensation module; and tuning the digital compensation filter by inputting the RC detection result into the RC compensation module. For example, the RC detection result may correspond to a detected value representing a product of a resistance value and a capacitance value. In another example, the at least one RC detection result may be obtained by performing RC detection on at least a portion of the transmitter without individually measuring resistance values of resistors therein and capacitance values of capacitors therein. An associated digital compensation filter and an associated calibration circuit are also provided.

A frequency modulating path for generating a frequency modulated clock includes a direct feed input arranged for directly modulating frequency of an oscillator, and a compensating feed input arranged for compensating effects of frequency modulating on a phase error; wherein the compensating feed input is resampled by a down-divided clock that is an integer edge division of the oscillator. A reference phase generator for generating a reference phase output includes a resampling circuit, an accumulator and a sampler. The resampling circuit is for resampling a modulating frequency command word (FCW) input to produce a plurality of samples. The accumulator is for accumulating the samples to generate an accumulated result. The sampler is for sampling the accumulated result according to a frequency reference clock, and accordingly generating a sampled result, wherein the reference phase output is updated according to at least the sampled result.

Tamper-evident package comprises a container, a primary cap, and a secondary cap. The container comprises a sidewall defining a chamber and a rim defining a mouth to the chamber. The primary cap is removably-attachable to the rim of the container to selectively close the mouth of the container. The secondary cap is positioned over the primary cap to prevent removal of the primary cap when positioned thereover. The secondary cap includes a single-use lock, such as a cable tie, to secure the secondary cap in position over the primary cap. The package thus provides evidence that someone has tampered with or attempted to tamper with the container if the single-use lock is removed or damaged. Method of using the tamper-evident package is also disclosed.

A differential circuit with a function to compensate unevenness observed in the differential gain thereof is disclosed. The differential circuit provides a low-pass filter in one of the paired transistors not receiving the input signal in addition to another low-pass filter that provides an average of output signals as a reference level of the differential circuit. The cut-off frequency of the filter is preferably set to be equal to the transition frequency at which the self-heating effect explicitly influences the trans-conductance of the transistor.

A TIA circuit and method are provided that merge the automatic gain control function with the bandwidth adjustment function to allow the TIA circuit to operate over a wide dynamic range at multiple data rates. The TIA circuit has an effective resistance that is adjustable for adjusting the gain and the bandwidth of the TIA circuit. The mechanism of the TIA circuit that is used to adjust the effective resistance, and hence the gain and bandwidth of the TIA circuit, is temperature independent, and as such, the performance of the TIA circuit is not affected by temperature variations.

High impedance, high frequency nanoscale device electronics configured to interface with low impedance loads include an impedance transforming stage constructed of multiple nanoscale devices, such as carbon nanotube field-effect transistors. In an embodiment of the present invention, an impedance transforming output stage of a multistage amplifier is configured to drive a 50 ohm transmission line with unity voltage gain using multiple carbon nanotube field-effect transistors in parallel. In a further embodiment, a receiver provided for an electronically steered receive array is a monolithic, lumped-element system formed from nanoscale devices and configured to interface with the external electrical systems via a single transmission line.

An amplifier circuit amplifies a signal for wireless transmission. A feedback circuit, including a capacitor, is coupled to the amplifier circuit. Components of the feedback circuit are selected based on a feedback factor such that an input impedance to the amplifier circuit has a same impedance characteristic as a feedback circuit impedance of the feedback circuit.

An automatic antenna impedance matching method for a radiofrequency transmission circuit. An impedance matching network is inserted between an amplifier and an antenna. The output current and voltage of the amplifier and their phase difference are measured by a variable measurement impedance, and the complex load impedance of the amplifier is deduced from this; the impedance of the antenna is calculated as a function of this complex impedance and as a function of the known current values of the impedances of the matching network. Starting from the value found for the impedance of the antenna, new values of the matching network are calculated that allow the load to be matched to the nominal impedance of the amplifier. The measurement impedance has a value controllable by the calculation processor according to the application and notably as a function of the operating frequency and of the nominal impedance of the amplifier.

Apparatus and methods disclosed herein perform gain, clipping, and phase compensation in the presence of I/Q mismatch in quadrature RF receivers. Gain and phase mismatch are exacerbated by differences in clipping between I & Q signals in low resolution ADCs. Signals in the stronger channel arm are clipped differentially more than weaker signals in the other channel arm. Embodiments herein perform clipping operations during iterations of gain mismatch calculations in order to balance clipping between the I and Q channel arms. Gain compensation coefficients are iteratively converged, clipping levels are established, and data flowing through the network is gain and clipping compensated. A compensation phase angle and phase compensation coefficients are then determined from gain and clipping compensated sample data. The resulting phase compensation coefficients are applied to the gain and clipping corrected receiver data to yield a gain, clipping, and phase compensated data stream.

A continuous process for heat treating and cleaning and tempering martensitic stainless steel surgical needles is disclosed. The method comprises exposing the surgical needles to a partial vacuum at a temperature less than the heat treating temperature to remove volatile surface contaminant. Then the needles are heat treated in an argon gas environment at a pressure equal to or greater than 1.0 Torr. Next the temperature of the oven is lowered to temper the needles.