Abstract: The process consists in depositing, by chemical vapour deposition using a mixture of silicon and germanium precursor gases, a single-crystal layer of silicon or germanium on a germanium or silicon substrate by decreasing or increasing the temperature in the range 800-450° C. and at the same time by increasing the Si/Ge or Ge/Si weight ratio from 0 to 100% in the precursor gas mixture, respectively.

Abstract: A thermally sensitive polymer-particle composite that absorbs electromagnetic radiation, and uses the absorbed energy to trigger the delivery of a chemical is disclosed. Metal nanoshells are nanoparticulate materials that are suitable for use in the present composites and can be made according to a process that includes optically tuning or tailoring their maximum optical absorption to any desired wavelength primarily by altering the ratio of the core diameter to the shell thickness. Preferred nanoshells are selected that strongly absorb light in the near-infrared and thus produce heat. These nanoshells are combined with a temperature-sensitive material to provide an implantable or injectable material for modulated drug delivery via external exposure to near-IR light. This invention provides a means to improve the quality of life for persons requiring multiple injections of a drug, such as diabetes mellitus patients.

Abstract: A test structure for characterizing ion implantation procedures used in integrated circuit fabrication processes and a method for using the test structure are described. The test structure includes a first dielectric layer, a patterned polysilicon layer, and a second dielectric layer arranged in order upon a substrate. Ion implantation of the second dielectric layer may be performed according to a procedure used in the fabrication of integrated circuits. The ion-implanted regions of the second dielectric layer may be preferentially removed relative to non-ion-implanted regions of the second dielectric layer. A metal silicide may then be selectively formed upon portions of the patterned polysilicon not covered by non-removed regions of the second dielectric layer. Electrical testing and/or optical inspection may be used to identify defects introduced into the test structure during ion implantation.

Abstract: A radiotherapy device comprises a radioactive wire adapted to deliver an intended dosage of radiation to a lesion or other selected body tissues. The radioactive wire comprises an inner core about which is disposed an outer buffer layer of platinum or other suitable metal of high atomic number. The buffer layer preferably comprises a thin, continuous wire wrapped about the inner core. The radiotherapy device may be made into a variety of shapes, such as a straight wire, a helical coil, or other more complex shape, and it may be provided with an elastic memory. The device may be adapted for attachment to a delivery wire for controlled placement, as through a delivery catheter or microcatheter, at the treatment site. When accurate positioning of the device is not necessary, it can simply be injected through the delivery catheter or microcatheter, and in that event a delivery wire is not needed.

Abstract: A new technique is provided using only one coating material (pure silicon) to deposit thin films in a high vacuum, and using an ion source with a working gas (or gases) to control the refractive index of the thin film. This new technique can deposit different kinds of optical thin films with different refractive indices or gradient-indices and make different kinds of multilayer interference filters without opening the vacuum chamber during the process. The way of evaporation or sputtering of the coating material or target uses “electron beam evaporation”, “DC or RF magnetron sputtering”, or “ion beam sputtering”, etc. The way of controlling the refractive index of the film involves mixing Ar with O2 and N2 or just the mixture of N2 or O2, and feeding the gases into the ion source, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. The amount of gas and the way of feeding are controlled by computer software.

Abstract: A portable notebook computer having a thickness of only one inch is obtained by provision of a computer housing containing a keyboard assembly and a motherboard positioned directly below the keyboard assembly, the keyboard assembly and the motherboard thereby defining a region in the enclosure. The other components comprising the computer; i.e. a hard disk drive, a PCMCIA option slot, a trackball assembly, and a DC to DC convertor, are positioned in an adjacent and generally co-planar relationship with this region. A battery housing is mounted externally on the computer housing for supplying electrical power to the computer.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and fluid for drilling or servicing a well in a subterranean formation, particularly containing lost circulation zones or depleted, low pressure reservoirs. A method of decreasing the density of the fluid circulated in a borehole, decreasing the invasion of fluid into formations contacted by the fluid, or decreasing the lost circulation potential of the fluid is provided by using as the fluid an aqueous liquid having dispersed therein a polymer which increases the low shear rate viscosity of the fluid to the extent that the shear thinning index of the fluid is at least about 10, a surfactant, and aphrons, wherein the aphrons are preferably generated by the turbulence and pressure drop as the fluid exits the drill bit in the vicinity of the formation, the fluid having a low shear rate viscosity of at least 40,000 centipoise.

Abstract: A network consisting essentially of poly(propylene fumarate) cross linked with diacrylate and a method for making same.

Abstract: A drill bit for cutting a formation that tends to form ridges comprises: a bit body having a bit axis, a plurality of rolling cone cutters rotatably mounted on the bit body, with each rolling cone cutter having a generally conical surface, a plurality of primary cutter elements extending from one of the cone cutters in a first row, each primary cutter element having an outer side and an inner side, and a plurality of ridge-cutting cutter elements extending from the same cone cutter, the first plurality of ridge-cutting cutter elements being positioned adjacent to the outer side of the first row of primary cutter elements. Each ridge-cutting cutter can be, but is not necessarily, on the same cone cutter as the primary cutter element adjacent to which it cuts, and is preferably positioned on a land or flat adjacent to that primary cutter element.

Abstract: A second transistor is formed a spaced distance above a first transistor. An interlevel dielectric is first deposited upon the upper surface of the first semiconductor substrate and the first transistor. A second semiconductor substrate, preferably comprising polysilicon, is then formed into the interlevel dielectric. A second transistor is then formed on the upper surface of the second semiconductor substrate. The second transistor is a spaced distance above the first transistor. The two transistors are a lateral distance apart which is smaller than the distance that can be achieved by conventional fabrication of transistors on the upper surface of the wafer. Transistors are more closely packed which results in an increase in the number of devices produced per wafer.

Abstract: Handgun safety devices may prevent the loading of ammunition into a handgun. The safety devices may be inserted into a barrel of a handgun. The safety devices may extend into a firing chamber of the handgun to prevent a bullet from entering the chamber, or to prevent cylinder from rotating in a revolver. An end of the safety device may be configured to resemble the end of the barrel of the handgun. The safety devices may prevent a child, or someone unfamiliar with a handgun, from accidentally loading and discharging a gun. The safety devices may also allow a user of the gun who is familiar with the safety devices the ability to quickly remove the safety device and use the gun.

Abstract: A method is provided to remove contaminants from near-surface contaminated soil, the method including the steps of: placing a plurality of metal sheets on the surface above the contaminated soil to form a contiguous cover over at least a portion of the contaminated soil; seal welding adjacent metal sheets together; cutting a plurality of holes in the metal sheet; providing a plurality of heater wells and a plurality of vapor extraction wells into the contaminated soil through the holes cut in the metal sheets; providing vapor extraction wellheads over the vapor extraction wells, the vapor extraction wellheads sealed to the metal sheets; and removing contaminants from the near-surface soil by heating from the heater wells and extracting vapor through the vapor extraction wells. The wells are preferably both heater wells and vapor extraction wells, and the wellheads are preferably bolted to a flange which is welded to the metal sheets to ensure a positive seal at the surface.

Abstract: A method is provided for programming and reading manufacturing information upon non-volatile storage elements of the integrated circuit. The manufacturing information includes the particular processing recipe and layout of the integrated circuit, each recipe or layout indicative of a specific hardware revision. The storage elements may be programmed prior to assembling the integrated circuit within a semiconductor package, and the programmed elements are read prior to shipping the packaged integrated circuit to a customer. If the read hardware revision is not qualified for release, the product will be placed in a staging area and prevented from shipping to a customer or end user. Thus, the programmed hardware revision serves to gate product at test before shipping that product to a customer. The manufacturing information is programmed by the manufacturer and is inaccessible by a customer since the address space which contains product engineering bits is known only to the manufacturer.

Abstract: A ball and socket misalignment coupling includes a socket flange, ball member, retaining flange, threaded studs, and threaded retaining rings of limited shear strength. The threaded retaining rings function to permit the coupling to be pre-assembled. When the pre-assembled coupling is installed into service by using the threaded studs and associated nuts to bolt the coupling to a standard flange, the threaded rings are stripped out and remain in the assembly without obstructing the function of the coupling. The threaded retaining rings fit into recesses in the flanges through which the studs insert. The threaded retaining rings may made as a single-piece construction made from a material that has a yield and shear strength lower than that of the threaded studs about which they are mounted, or may be made as a two-piece threaded ring having inner threaded portion and a separate outer portion, each with differing material construction.

Abstract: An apparatus for preparing a plastic eyeglass lens includes a coating unit and a lens curing unit. The apparatus is preferably configured to allow the operation of both the coating unit and the lens curing unit. The apparatus may also include a post-cure unit and a controller. The controller is configured to control the operation of the coating unit, the lens curing unit and the post-cure unit. A lens forming composition may include an aromatic containing polyether polyethylenic functional monomer, a photoinitiator, and a coinitiator. The lens forming composition may be cured by the application of activating light or activating light and heat.

Abstract: A lithography system including a reticle carrier and reticle library cassette designed for electro-static discharge (ESD) protection. A reticle carrier, such as a SMIF (Standard Mechanical Interface) pod, and reticle library cassette are fabricated largely of electrically conductive materials. Such materials may include polycarbonate plastic impregnated with carbon fibers or an electrically conductive stainless steel. The electrically conductive materials used to fabricate the reticle carrier and reticle library cassette may allow static electrical charges to be drained to ground, thereby preventing ESD damage to the reticles. Furthermore, the reticle carrier may incorporate rounded edges and corners, which may aid in the prevention of static charge buildup near the pod.

Abstract: An apparatus for preparing a plastic eyeglass lens includes a coating unit and a lens curing unit. The apparatus is preferably configured to allow the operation of both the coating unit and the lens curing unit. The apparatus may also include a post-cure unit and a controller. The controller is configured to control the operation of the coating unit, the lens curing unit and the post-cure unit. The lens forming unit may include an LCD filter disposed between activating light sources and a mold assembly. The mold assembly preferably includes two mold members held together by a gasket. The gasket preferably includes four protrusions spaced at 90 degree intervals about the gasket. A lens forming composition may include a first photochromic compound, a second photochromic compound and a light effector. The light effector may alter the color of a lens when exposed to photochromic activating light, when compared to a lens formed from a lens forming composition which does not include a light effector.

Abstract: A spinal fixation implant system for correction and fixation of the human spine to facilitate an anatomically correct fusion. The spinal fixation system may include a connector, a spinal rod, a spinal fixation component, and a fastener. The spinal fixation component preferably includes a fixation device such as a hook or screw for securing the spinal rod to vertebrae of the thoracic or lumbar spine. The connector preferably includes a threaded end adapted to receive the fastener and a receiving end adapted to receive the spinal rod. The fixation component may include a body having a tapered cavity for engaging the receiving end of the connector. Tightening of the fastener preferably draws the connector through the tapered cavity which compresses the receiving end about the spinal rod to fixably connect the spinal rod and the spinal fixation component.

Abstract: A computer security system whereby access is controlled by remote enablement or disablement. The system can be coupled with third-party products to accommodate satellite transmissions for long-distance access control.