Abstract: The invention, in one embodiment, is directed to a lid securing device. The device includes a first end adapted to interfit over a first handle of a container, a second end adapted to interfit over a second handle of the container, and an intermediate portion extending between the first end and the second end and adapted to engage a lid to exert a securing force between the lid and a container. Optionally, a portion of the device is elastic to further enhance the securing force between the container and the lid.

Abstract: The invention relates to a portable distance tracking system for use by a player on a playing field. The system includes a mobile interface unit that has a memory element, position interface electronics, a data processor, and a player interface. The memory element stores digitized map representations of playing fields. The position interface electronics receivers position indicative signals that are representative of a geographical location of the mobile unit from an external source. The data processor couples to the memory element and to the position interface electronics and correlates the geographical location to a field location of the mobile interface unit on the playing field. The processor also determines the distance from the mobile interface unit to a first landmark. The player interface is coupled to the data processor and communicates the distance between the mobile interface unit and the first landmark to the player.

Abstract: A multidimensional optical storage medium is provided for storing a plurality of holographic images representative of data. An interrogation network generates a search argument including a target data field to be simultaneously searched for over at least a segment of the optical storage medium. The interrogation network couples the search argument into the optical storage medium and extracts a set of address fields at which data fields in the storage medium that match the target data field of the search argument are stored.

Abstract: Dry, laser-based, lithographic techniques and systems for patterning a surface of a wafer or other substrate are disclosed. The techniques and systems are particularly adapted for automated micro-fabrication of integrated circuits on semiconductor wafers. The invention entails dry depositing a resist material on a surface of a substrate, then generating a pattern in the resist material by selectively exposing the resist material to pulsed UV laser radiation, controlling the ambient exposure of the resist material between the resist-depositing and pattern-generating steps, and, finally, transferring the pattern from the resist to the substrate or otherwise employing the pattern to transform the substrate by deposition or implantation of materials.

Abstract: Apparatus for storage and retrieval of digital data includes a multidimensional holographic storage medium for storing phase holographic images representative of the digital data. Selected regions of the medium are independently addressable by a beam of light. The storage medium is a spectral hole burning material having absorption regions independently addressable by selected frequencies of light, and includes selectively bleached absorption structures forming frequency channels. An external electric field of selected voltage can be applied to the storage medium to induce Stark effect broadening of the spectral holes, so that at a given frequency of light, a different phase hologram can be stored for each of a plurality of voltages, whereby multiple phase holograms can be stored for each frequency of light. Alternatively, physical stress can be applied to the storage medium to induce a stress field and associated broadening.