Abstract: Intermetallic compounds of ruthenium and tantalum are disclosed comprising about 46 to 53 atomic percent tantalum and the balance substantially ruthenium. Another intermetallic compound is comprised of, about 45 to 54 atomic percent tantalum, up to about 35 atomic percent cobalt, and the balance substantially ruthenium, with ruthenium plus cobalt being less than 55 atomic percent. Another intermetallic compound is comprised of, about 45 to 54 atomic percent tantalum, up to about 25 atomic percent iron, and the balance substantially ruthenium. The intermetallic compounds have a high hardness up to about 950.degree. C. and have good room-temperature toughness.

Abstract: An electronic x-ray imaging array is provided by combining a two-dimensional photosensitive array with a structured scintillator array, having a common array pattern and suitable alignment marks thereon, by bonding them face-to-face in alignment for direct coupling of x-ray luminescence from the scintillator array to the photosensitive array.

Abstract: Aromatic polyester copolymers are provided consisting essentially of dihydroxy-meta-terphenyl units, and bisphenol A units chemically combined with aromatic diacid units such as isophthaloyl units, terephthaloyl units and mixtures thereof. Polyesters have been found to have a high glass transition temperature and stability up to 475.degree. C.

Abstract: Copolymer-containing compositions are prepared by the reaction of an epoxytriazine-capped polyphenylene ether with another polymer containing carboxy end groups, especially a polyester. The compositions have excellent properties and find utility as molding compositions and as compatibilizers for blends of similar polymers. Suitable epoxytriazine-capped polyphenylene ethers may be prepared by reaction of a polyphenylene ether with an epoxychlorotriazine such as diglycidyl chlorocyanurate, n-butyl glycidyl chlorocyanurate or mesityl glycidyl chlorocyanurate.

Abstract: A method for grounding or electrically biasing an integrated circuit chip without using a conductive die attach material comprises affixing the chips to a substrate using a thermoplastic polyimide adhesive. A metallization layer electrically connects the sides of the chips, which act as grounding surfaces, to a biased or grounded conductive layer on the substrate. The top surfaces of the integrated circuit chips which include the interconnection pads are protected against undesired metallization by a removable protective layer while the metallization layer is applied. Metal electroplated on the metallization layer serves the functions of a heat sink for the chip and a ground plane between chips.

Abstract: The fill of a self-extinguishing gas probe starter for an electrodeless high intensity discharge lamp includes a starter fill component which has a relatively low vapor pressure and is substantially inert in the starter fill at ambient temperatures, but which component vaporizes and becomes electronegative as the temperature of the lamp increases, so that the starter fill component attaches electrons of the starting discharge in the gas probe starter and thereby extinguishes the starting discharge after initiation of the arc discharge in the arc tube. As a result, the flow of currents between the gas probe starter and the arc tube, which would otherwise have a detrimental effect on the arc tube wall, is avoided.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for operating electronic apparatus for generating a weighted summation of digital input signals as manifested in electric signal form, each sample of which digital input signals has a plurality B in number of bits identified by respective ones of consecutive ordinal numbers first through B.sup.th assigned in order of decreasing significance. Successive samples of each of the digital input signals is supplied in a respective stream, such that the respective streams of samples are parallel in time with each other. Each B-bit sample of said digital input signals is recoded into a plurality D in number of binary-coded digits, as manifested in electric signal form and as identified by consecutive ordinal numbers frist through D.sup.th assigned in order of decreasing significance of the respective weighting assigned each of the D binary-coded digits, B and D begin respectively a relatively larger positive integer and a relatively smaller positive integer.

Abstract: A refrigerator apparatus is provided having a cabinet with a freezer compartment and a fresh food compartment. The compartments define two passageways allowing air circulation therebetween. A refrigerator system is included having a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve, an evaporator situated in the freezer compartment. The refrigerator system elements are connected in series in a closed loop, in a refrigerant flow relationship. A first fan is situated in the freezer compartment for providing air flow over the evaporator. A second fan is situated in one of the two passageways for providing air circulation between the two compartments. A first thermostatic controlller situated in the freezer compartment for maintaining a desired temperature in the freezer compartment by causing the compressor and the first fan to operate.

Abstract: A digital radio receiver for synchronization of radiowave transmissions for digital and analog FM signals in TDMA systems such as cellular telephones uses a Sine/Cosine detector that minimizes the bit error rate. The detector employs an A/D converter, a sorter circuit that produces a predetermined number of samples to be used in the decoding based upon a sample timing adjustment, and a sample and phase adjustment circuit that selects samples based on a sample timing adjustment and adds a carrier phase adjustment to the samples. A cosine detector and a sine detector each decode samples into signals that are measured by a cosine level check circuit and a sine level check circit respectively. A decision logic circuit produces a pair of bits from the levels detected by the cosine level check circuit and the sine level check circuit as the decoded transmitted information.

Abstract: It has been found that a titanium aluminide modified with chromium and tantalum in the rates of about Ti-Al.sub.46-56 Cr.sub.1-4 Ta.sub.4-8 has a remarkable and unique antioxidation capability. Because of this unique antioxidation property, this aluminide can be used as a protective coating on other aluminides as well as on the surfaces of other bodies needing atmospheric protection.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for constraint propagation control including determining whether more than one range is to be propagated through a selected component, propagating the one range if only one range is to be propagated, and propagated a composite range if more than one range is to be propagated and if the ranges are sufficiently identical.

Abstract: A high-chromium stainless steel alloy having improved resistance to stress corrosion cracking in high temperature water is comprised of, in weight percent; about 22 to 32 percent chromium, about 16 to 40 percent nickel, up to about 10 percent manganese, up to about 0.06 percent carbon, and the balance substantially iron. A preferred high-chromium alloy is further comprised of about 2 to 9 weight percent of a metal from the group consisting of titanium, niobium, tantalum, and mixtures thereof. Another preferred high-chromium alloy is further comprised of a platinum group metal in an effective amount to reduce the corrosion potential of the alloy in high-temperature water provided with hydrogen.

Abstract: An improved modulator network for an interpolative oversampled (sigma-delta) analog-to-digital converter comprises a second-order modulator, which performs double integration of error between its digital output signal and its analog input signal, and a first-order modulator, which performs single integration of error between its digital output signal and an analog signal supplied thereto from the second-order modulator. The modulators supply their output signals to a digital error cancellation circuit which suppresses in the signal supplied to a decimation filter the quantization noise arising in the second-order modulator. The network exhibits significantly reduced sensitivity to the practical nonidealities that normally limit the resolution of analog-to-digital converters of this type, i.e., component matching, amplifier nonlinearity, finite gain, settling time, and signal dynamic range.

Abstract: An improved high performance x-ray tube rotating having a graphite anode therein and method of preparation thereof. A graphite anode body is provided with a microcracked contiguously disposed diffusion barrier layer of rhenium on the surface of the anode body. An anode target layer is then deposited on top of the barrier layer.

Abstract: In an oversampling interpolative analog-to-digital converter having a sigma-delta modulator followed in cascade by a decimation filter, the decimation filter supplies digital output signals for the oversampling analog-to-digital converter at an output rate that is a submultiple 1/R of an oversampling rate at which digital samples of an input signal for said decimation filter are supplied. The chopping rate of the chopper-stabilized amplifier is a multiple of the output sample rate of the decimation filter to place the fundamental and the harmonics of the chopping at the frequencies corresponding to the zeroes in the decimation filter response, better to keep remnants of the chopper stabilization from appearing in the output samples from the decimation filter.

Abstract: A dual dielectric structure is employed in the fabrication of thin film field effect transistors in a matrix addressed liquid display to provide improved transistor device characteristics and also to provide both electricial and chemical isolation for material employed in the gate metallization layer. In particular, the use of a layer of silicon oxide over the gate metallization layer is not only consistent with providing the desired electrical and chemical isolation, but also with providing redundant gate metallization material to be employed beneath source or data lines for electrical circuit redundancy. Gate line redundancy is also possible. The electrical and chemical isolation provided by the dual dielectric layer reduces the possibilities of short circuits occurring in the display. The absence of short circuits together with the improved redundancy characteristics significantly increase manufacturing yield.

Abstract: Neural nets using capacitive structures are adapted for construction in complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor integrated-circuit technology. Fully differential input amplifiers in each neural net layer apply their push-pull responses to synapse input signals via a pair of input lines. Each push-pull response is applied via a pair of capacitors of complementary capacitance values and an output line to the input of each of a plurality of non-linear output amplifiers in that neural net layer, which generate respective axon responses for that neural net layer. In certain of these neural nets, arrangements are made such that the capacitive structures are bilaterally responsive so that back-propagation calculations can be performed during training periods, to alter the relative values of capacitors in each pair thereof.

Abstract: In a focal plane array sensor hybrid, a focal plane array fabricated in a chip of one semiconductor material and a read out circuit fabricated in one or more chips of a different semiconductor material are connected by a high density interconnect structure in which a layer of dielectric material is bonded to the chips and has interconnecting conductors disposed thereon and extending through via holes therein into ohmic contact with appropriate contact pads of the chips. Inclusion of a flexible portion in the high density interconnect structure enables the readout and the focal plane array chips to be disposed in different planes to provide a compact structure. Focal plane array sensor hybrid testing and repair are both facilitated by this structure.

Abstract: A process for forming an expanded fiber composite structure. The process includes impregnating a fiber mat with a plastic material, compressing the mat to impregnate the mat with the plastic, fully wetting each fiber and creating a substantially void-free fiber/plastic matrix, and reducing the compressive forces on the mat, allowing the fibers to rebound and expand the mat to a predetermined desired thickness, in the process creating interstitial voids. The structure is then cooled such that the plastic material stiffens and itself retains the structure at the desired thickness. The process optionally employs the addition of a molten polymeric material to the expanded or lofted mat, the material filling the interstitial voids in the structure. A composite structure may optionally be produced from a fully compressed plastic-impregnated fiber mat by heating to a temperature sufficient to loft the material and controlling the amount of lofting after the heat is applied.

Abstract: Dihydroxy-meta-terphenyl polycarbonates are provided having improved solvent resistance. Alternating and random polycarbonate copolymers resulting from interfacial and single phase organic solvent polymerization techniques with coreactants such as bisphenol A also are provided.