Abstract: A binding assembly for attaching a boot to a snowboard, designed in a manner to avoid cavities that can accumulate ice and snow and defeat its operation. The system includes first and second boot mounted bales in the form of rigid loops that extend from each side of the boot soles, and a pair of bindings attached to the snowboard. Each binding has a base including elongated, slotted holes located on the circumference of a circle through which bolts are placed to secure the base to the snowboard with a friction washer therebetween. The elongated holes allow for rotational adjustment of the binding. A hook-shaped structure extends from one side of the base with the hook facing outward. On the opposite side of the base is a camming structure with a downward and outwardly sloping surface ending in a bale-receiving notch.

Abstract: A baby bottle and accessory holder having two cups, preferably constructed from fabric. The rims of the cups are supported adjacent to each other by a single length of rod stock bent in two circles, over which the cloth of each cup is positioned. An extension of the rod stock forms a support to assist in positioning the holder against a mounting surface. The extension works in cooperation with a strap, joined to the rod stock near the union of the two cups and the support, having a loop and hook material for securing the baby bottle and accessory holder to an object such as an arm of a chair, a car seat, a backpack, or a person's belt.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring liquid level in a container, the apparatus having a flexible measurement scale attached at one end to a weight for retainment at the bottom of the container and at the opposite end to a receiver at the top of the container. A float moves along the flexible scale, and has a configuration and density designed to place a portion of the float below the level of the liquid to be measured and a portion above the liquid level. The portion above the liquid level contains transmitter apparatus for applying energy to one side of the scale, and detection apparatus on the other side for detecting energy transmitted through the scale and converting it to a liquid level in the container.

Abstract: A method and improved apparatus for detecting leaks in pressurized pipeline systems, which compensate for the thermally induced volume changes of the liquid in the line during a test that are produced by both the nonlinear changes in the mean temperature of the liquid and the pressure-induced perturbations of the temperature of the liquid.

Abstract: An adjustable, head mountable stereoscopic viewer having a head band to mount the viewer to the user. A tilt bracket is pivotally joined on one end to the head band and at a pivot point on an opposite end to an optical assembly for adjustment of the assembly position to obtain maximum field of view. The optical assembly includes first (left) and second (right) mirror assemblies that receive and direct left and right stereo images from an image source, such as a poster, a TV image, etc., to the corresponding left and right eyes of the user. The left and right stereo images are displayed horizontally at the source, the right image preferably displayed above the left image. Each mirror assembly has two mirrors and an aperture, and functions in a similar manner to a periscope. Adjustment for a range of image sizes and distances is accomplished with a mirror adjustment, provided to vary the tilt of the mirror of one of the assemblies to adjust the overlap of the images.

Abstract: A mixture of a dibasic ester (DBE), an alcohol, and water to remove photoresist from a silicon wafer substrate. Photoresist is effectively removed at ambient temperature with this non-phenolic, non-halogenated stripper solution. Dissolved photoresist is easily separated from the water mixture for disposal.

Abstract: A two-stage process method for removal of impurities such carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, oxygen, water, hydrogen, and methane from inert gases at ambient temperature (0.degree.-60.degree. C.). In the first stage the inert gas is contacted with a nickel catalyst, and in the second stage the inert gas is passed over a getter alloy. Purified gas exiting the second stage of the purifier contains less than one part per billion (ppb) levels of the impurities. The nickel catalyst and getter alloy are initially activated at elevated temperature. The catalyst and getter may be reactivated by heating and purging, and hydrogen previously removed from impure gas can be used in the reactivation process.

Abstract: A binding assembly for attaching a boot to a snow board, designed in a manner to avoid cavities that can accumulate ice and snow and defeat its operation. The system includes first and second boot mounted bales in the form of rigid loops that extend from each side of the boot soles, an adjustable boot insert and a pair of bindings attached to the snow board. Each binding has a base including elongated, slotted holes located on the circumference of a circle through which bolts secure the base to the snow board with a friction washer therebetween, allowing for rotational adjustment of the binding. A hook-shaped structure extends from one side of the base with the hook facing outward. On the opposite side of the base is a camming structure with a downward and outwardly sloping surface ending in a bale-receiving notch.

Abstract: A method of hardening photoresist (24) by bombardment with ionized particles (42), such as argon. Ionic bombardment causes formation of a hardened skin (22) on the exposed top (30) and side walls (32) of the photoresist (24). The hardened skin erodes at a reduced rate during etching and is less likely to react with products created during etching, thereby allowing etching of more accurate line widths and gaps.

Abstract: An endoscopic surgical instrument treatment device assembly for inserting an endoscope and hollow core electrode assembly through a single access conduit, including a curved electrode guiding sheath or bendable bellows mechanism to deflect the electrode at an angle to the primary axis of the instrument. The device assembly further includes an electrode/needle supply connector assembly through which treatment fluids, laser fiberoptics or microsurgical instruments can be inserted into and through the hollow core electrode. A connector assembly is included for connecting the electrode with an RF energy source for operation in monopolar mode, or for connection of the RF power supply active side to the electrode and RF supply passive side to an electrode guiding sheath additionally functioning as an electrical return path.

Abstract: A camera with a built in microprocessor system programmed to receive an input password and indicium from a host computer. The camera is configured to use the indicium in combination with a conversion formula to mark an original acquired image in a non-destructive manner to form modified image data and add the indicium to an image header. The camera also creates image authentication data for comparison with corresponding data of a questionable second image to determine if the second image is the same as or different from the original image. This process of marking and creating authentication data all occur during acquisition and prior to any image data storage in a medium from which a person could subsequently access data. The camera takes the authentication data and stores it along with the marked image data in memory for subsequent transmission to the host computer.

Abstract: A digital camera method and apparatus providing encryption of an image during the acquisition process, and therefore avoiding any stage wherein unencrypted image data exists. An encrypted password is generated. This is done either by a user and downloaded to the camera, or it is generated in the camera and displayed to the user. Inside the camera, an encryption generator is initialized upon reception and successful decryption of the password, whereupon light is admitted from an object to be photographed and converted to digital image data. The camera then performs a first encrypting operation on the digital image data to create temporarily encrypted image data. This encrypted data is saved temporarily, whereupon it is decrypted in increments and each increment processed to form processed image data. Each increment then undergoes a second and final encryption operation to create final encrypted image data which is stored in the camera for transmission to a computer.

Abstract: A back support for preventing injury to the spinal column that allows a user a limited amount of freedom of rotary motion. The apparatus includes an upper support, which in use extends from a top end approximately at the neck of a user to a bottom end at the thoracic lumbar transition region. At this point, the bottom end of the upper support is connected by way of a limited motion rotary flex joint to a top end of a lower support, which in use extends from the thoracic lumbar transition region to the tail bone or sacrum region. Both the upper and lower supports are contoured to conform with the shape of the spine and surrounding bodily structure to distribute any impact forces, and except for the length and contour, the upper and lower supports are of similar construction. A preferred embodiment of the supports includes a rigid core member extending the length of each support.

Abstract: A tool for use as an aid in emptying waste fluid from a reservoir to a waste container. This tool is a funnel shaped device having a large circular opening for entrance of waste fluid. A funnel wall extends from the larger opening to a smaller opening, preferably offset from the larger circular opening. Access to the funnel interior is provided through the funnel wall, serving as a guide and seal for passage of a wrench extension. The end of the extension is preferably a standard 3/8" square drive plug for mounting an appropriately sized 3/8" drive socket or plug for removal of the reservoir drain plug. The choice of socket or plug to be mounted to the extension depends on the configuration of the drain plug. The opposite end of the wrench extension has a socket for adapting to a preferred 3/8" driver. In operation, the wrench extension is passed through the access to the funnel interior, and the appropriate sized socket or plug is placed on the 3/8" drive end of the wrench extension.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed showing a system for continuous purification of bulk source specialty gases to less than 10 part per billion levels. Corrosive and non-corrosive specialty gases are purified using this system. Depending on whether corrosive or non-corrosive gases are being purified and the contaminants of concern, the purification beds contain an absorber and/or getter. A dual bed system allows one bed to purify at ambient temperatures while a second bed undergoes regeneration, providing continuous purification for a bulk source specialty gas.

Abstract: A forced air cooler system designed to maximize heat transfer from a heat generating source to an airflow and minimize the overall size of the cooler system wherein the system contains a fan, heat sink, and inlet plenum. The fan is placed adjacent to the heat sink. The plenum contacts the fan at an angle and then intersects with the heat sink to direct the airflow to an exhaust area.

Abstract: A razor consisting of a flexible cloth-like base material upon which are mounted a plurality of cutting heads. Each head is attached to the base material so as to be flexible in orientation. A preferred head embodiment includes a flat metal structure having an attachment hole for connection to the cloth and an aperture large enough for passage of one or more hairs, the perimeter of the aperture having a sharp edge for cutting the hair. The density, i.e. quantity of heads per unit area is preferably very large, resulting in some overlap of heads. In this dense configuration, the probability of a head engaging a hair is greatly increased, in spite of the somewhat random orientation of each head. This principle is more commonly known as the law of mass action. The dense, small cutting heads in combination with the flexible cloth-like base material provides a structure that easily conforms to body contours.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for simplifying the manufacture of an interlayer dielectric where local interconnects are utilized. The invention utilizes a separate LI stack and first contact stack deposition and etch. In the first step, a layer of oxide etch stop and a layer of TEOS oxide are deposited to form a first LI stack. This stack is then contact etched, filled, and polished. A first contact stack is then formed by deposition of a doped silane oxide layer that is contact etched, filled, and polished. The method produces an ILD with a first layer of oxide etch stop, a second layer of undoped TEOS oxide, and a final layer of doped silane oxide.

Abstract: A universal remote control transmitter for use with garage door openers including a number of switches whereby a user can program a transmitted modulation format and carrier frequency, and a controller for scanning the switches to determine the user programmed selections. The controller, in response to the programmed selections, outputs the required modulation to a selected transmitter, as well as direction to fine tune the transmitter to the particular carrier frequency. Also included is a power sensor circuit that responds to a change in power supply voltage by adjusting the modulation to maintain a constant peak transmitter output power.

Abstract: Scrubber sterilization method which initially sterilize a gas scrubber with an initial cleaning with hydrogen peroxide, provide an iodine level of approximately 5 to 10 mg/liter in water which is sprayed into the scrubber to contact the effluent gas stream and kill biological growth, provide injection of more concentrated iodine in water in the event the iodine level in the system falls below a predetermined level, and load the filtrate material in the gas scrubber with iodine to provide an unfavorable surface for adherence of biological growth as well as a secondary sterilization means in the event that the liquid stream with iodine is stopped due to equipment or power failure.