Abstract: A solar panel for use in a roof mounted array of solar panels, each panel having ridges protruding outwardly and adjacent to the side edges for receiving a standing seam cap between side-adjacent panels. Each solar panel is formed as an integral structure having a photovoltaic module an edge of which is sealed by a base substrate. The base substrate is configured to have lipped top and bottom edges which interlock to form a watertight seal between top-adjacent and bottom-adjacent solar panels. The solar panel array can be mounted on a roof, in place of shingles or the like, to provide environmental protection for the interior of a building.

Abstract: A laser is disclosed comprising: a source of optical pumping radiation; a lasant rod; an input mirror; two quarter-wave plates; polarizing means, adjacent to a quarter-wave plate, for polarizing said lasant light radiated from said rod; second harmonic generating means for producing an output at twice the frequency at which said rod lases; and an output coupler.

Abstract: Apparatus comprising: a first member having one end through which laser light is emitted; a second member, spaced apart from said first member and having a mating end, for receiving said laser light from said first member, said mating end having an edge which is generally adjacent to an edge at said one end of said first member; and solder joining means, carried by said edges of said first member and said second member, for joining said first number and said second number.

Abstract: An electrode set for electrotransformation of a host cell by electroporation, comprising: an electrically insulating substrate; and at least one pair of interdigitated electrodes which are carried by said substrate and which lie in a generally planar array, said electrodes and said substrate being adopted to carry a cell transformant and a host cell thereon, said electrodes and said host cell and said cell transformant being adapted to pass electrical current upon the application of a potential difference across said electrodes.

Abstract: A heat sink for a semiconductor component of a heat-dissipating and light-radiating semiconductor electronic device. Diamond particles are embedded in a metal matrix to form a composite having a coefficient of thermal expansion which is substantially that of the semiconductor component of the electronic device.

Abstract: A high speed, low power DC-offsetting circuit, comprising: an amplifier having an inverting input, a non-inverting input which is adapted to be connected to a high speed low DC voltage source and having an output; a current source which is connected to said inverting input and through a bypass resistor to said output; and capacitor means and resistor means, connected in series with each other at an output node, for connecting said non-inverting input to said output.

Abstract: A laser is characterized by a glass gain medium which contains trivalent samarium Sm.sup.3+ ions and which, when optically pumped on one or a number of absorption bands to achieve excitation at or above the metastable .sup.4 G.sub.5/2 level, radiates light at a wavelength substantially corresponding to transitions from the .sup.4 G.sub.5/2 level of samarium.

Abstract: A micro-laser is formed from a substantially thin etalon of a self-doubling crystal which has two opposite faces and which is positioned, relative to a close coupled and diode pumped source of optical radiation, for resonantly enhanced phase-matched harmonic generation along an axis of propagation which is substantially perpendicular to the two faces of the etalon.

Abstract: A laser system is disclosed wherein neodymium laser is used to pump a holmium laser to produce a moderately high energy output pulse at about 3 microns. The holmium host has a concentration of holmium in execess of 15 percent and a praseodymium concentration of at least 0.005 percent.

Abstract: A microlaser is disclosed comprising: a gain medium having one face which is adapted be coupled to a source of optical pumping radiation and having an opposite face; harmonic conversion means having a close face which is located adjacent to and spaced apart from the opposite face of the gain medium and which is coated for high transmission at a fundamental and high reflectivity at a harmonic and having an opposite face which is coated for high transmission at the fundamental and some transmission at said harmonic; and polarization control means, located adjacent to and spaced apart from the opposite face of the harmonic conversion means, for controlling the polarization of the fundamental.

Abstract: A laser system comprising: a holder having one end which is adapted to receive pumping light from a source and having an opposite end which transmits laser light to an optical fiber, the holder defining a predetermined axis of propagation which extends between its ends; and a lasant material which is carried by the holder between the ends of the holder and which is located by the holder at an angle which is measured between at least one optical axis and the axis of propagation and which has a magnitude from zero to ninety degrees.

Abstract: A composite comprised of diamond particles embedded in a metal matrix is a highly satisfactory heat sink material for use with a semiconductor.

Abstract: A holder for a removable plug-in circuit element is disclosed. The holder comprises an insulated base, an electrical bus member, and a plurality of terminal members which are formed from the same blank of metal as the metal bus member. The bus member comprises a plurality of branches joined to a common trunk with each branch having at its free end an integral terminal. Each terminal member has at one end an electrical terminal and, at an opposite end, an integral terminal which is aligned to the free end of one lateral branch. In one embodiment of the invention, the holder includes an insulated cover which is carried by the base and which has a plurality of apertures which aligned to the terminals of each branch so as to receive the ends of a removable plug-in circuit element therein.

Abstract: An apparatus for switching runners in an injection molding system of the type having cavities which are joined by runners, the apparatus having a bushing member which has a top end, a bottom end and a central aperture, the bottom end having at least two outwardly disposed runner extensions which are in flow communication with the central aperture and the cavity runners, a bushing insert which is sealingly and rotatably fitted within the central aperture of the bushing member and which has a bottom end having therein a runner extension device which is in flow communication with one of the runner extensions in the bushing member when the bushing insert is in one position and which is in flow communication with another runner extension in the bushing member when the bushing insert is in a second position; and an indexing member carried by the bushing insert and the bushing member for establishing a plurality of predeterined relative positions of the bushing insert relative to the bushing member.

Abstract: A cutting tool for a planer or similar machine is described. The tool comprises a flat blade having a straight cutting edge, a blade holder for holding said blade for rotation about an axis and means for locating said blade on said holder to have said blade present one cutting angle at one axial end and a different cutting angle at an opposite axial end, and to have the two opposite axial ends of the cutting edge of the blade located substantially at the same distance from the axis of rotation of the blade holder.

Abstract: An archer's rest comprising a base member having an axial bore, a compressive spring located within the bore, a plunger slidingly captured in the bore to have one end positioned against the spring and a free end, a screw for adjusting the force exerted by the spring on the plunger, a wire rest made from one length of spring wire to have a straight section which is joined to a first spring section which is joined to a spacer section which is generally at right angles to the straight section and which is joined to a second spring section which has a free end which is adapted to support the shaft of an arrow, and a fastener for removably attaching the wire rest to the plunger and for adjusting the free end of the spring section relative to the free end of the plunger.

Abstract: In a single-frequency precision guidance landing system, the use of a DME interrogator in the aircraft and a DME receiver at the ground installation, each tuned to the same DME channel frequency, to uniquely interrogate a selected ground station and hence identify it by virtue of its replies being synchronous in the aircraft with the interrogations, the interrogations and the replies also being used to obtain range to the ground installation. This technique uses airborne already-installed DME interrogators for selective interrogation of a desired landing installation, thereby to eliminate any need to add additional special purpose equipment to the aircraft to accomplish the desired uniqueness of interrogation and ground installation identification achieved by this invention.

Abstract: An independent test sight is described for a pilot's head-up display (HUD). In one embodiment, the independent test site comprises a collimator assembly and an aligned periscope assembly. The collimator assembly comprises a source of light, a reticle, and a lens for projecting the image of the reticle. The periscope assembly comprises a rhomboid prism housed within the chassis of the HUD in such a manner that it can be pivoted from a stowed position to an erect position where it projects a reticle pattern in the field of view of the HUD combiner.

Abstract: The invention provides independent guidance and monitoring to be integrated into an MLS landing system and also provides a scaled-down MLS landing guidance system useable at small airports. In both cases an added fixed beam precision guidance system is integrated into the MLS time sequence format. The fixed beam guidance system is based upon the concept of using paired fixed overlapping beams, sequentially radiated by different fixed antennas. One pair is oriented to left and right of the centerline of the runway, and the other pair is oriented above and below the desired glideslope. The first set of paired beams overlap at the centerline of the runway in such a manner that an aircraft approaching exactly on centerline will intercept equal signal intensities to indicate an on-course approach.

Abstract: In order to facilitate the installation of transducers such as accelerometers in a larger system, each transducer is provided with a memory circuit which is physically attached to the transducer and contains data reflecting the operating characteristics of that particular transducer. The data stored in the memory can be in the form of coefficients for polynomial equations that describe the operation of the transducer as the function of a variable such as temperature. Provision is made for transmitting this data along with the signal output from the transducer to the larger system.