Abstract: A gas laser includes a laser gas circuit having a by-pass line. The by-pass line includes a condenser for removing water vapor. During normal operation, the laser gas flows through the by-pass line as well as through the remaining portion of the laser gas circuit so that the water vapor portion in the laser gas flowing through the by-pass line is partly removed by the condenser. For the purpose of defrosting the condenser, the by-pass line is isolated from the rest of the laser gas circuit and, if required, is evacuated several times and rinsed with fresh laser gas. During normal operation, the gas laser can be operated with a substantially lower fresh gas supply than piror art circulating lasers.

Abstract: A roof structure and method of constructing the same wherein a large clear span is built over an existing or new athletic stadium or arena. The principal feature of the roof structure is that it is supported by Cable-Stays to towers standing outside of the stadium and places no additional weight on the existing stadium. The invention is particularly concerned with such a method and structure wherein the central section of the structure is not cantilevered from the towers and thus does not impart cantilever loads to the towers. The structure includes a beam framework and roof covering installed over the framework. The covering is fabricated of a clear skylight material to allow sufficient light transmission to permit a natural grass playing field and is openable to allow for ventilation.

Abstract: A sustained-release granule of sugar comprising a core comprising primarily one or more of a monosaccharide, a disaccharide and a trisaccharide and an outer film comprising 10-90% by weight of an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer and 90-10% by weight of a wax. This sustained-release granule of sugar may be prepared by coating a core comprising primarily one or more of a monosaccharide, a disaccharide and a trisaccharide with a coating material comprising 10-90% by weight of an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer and 90-10% by weight of a wax by spraying a solution of the coating material onto the core while tumbling or fluidizing the core. The sustained-release granule of sugar can be applied in an artificial seed comprising an active plant tissue and the sustained-release granule of sugar which are encapsulated in a gel matrix.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for severing fragments (such as fleurettes) from a one-piece core of an article, such as a cauliflower, as the article is translated between stations along a process path. In a preferred embodiment, the article is loaded on a rotary table at a first station, then deleafed (or otherwise trimmed) at a second station, then aligned by a set of alignment rollers while translating through third and fourth alignment stations, then cored at a fifth coring station, and finally unloaded at a sixth station. At the coring station, the article is held in a fixed position by an impaling knife (or pin) while a set of rotating coring knives are lowered into engagement with the articles by a pivoting arm mechanism. The pivoting arm mechanism causes each rotating knife to trace out a generally helical path as it cores the article.

Abstract: A reclining chair suspended from a pivot at the arms with the seat and back pivoted together at the lumbar area of the user's back and having two control levers for reclining consisting of the back panel of the chair and a thigh support and with the seat and arm elements connected with the control levers in a five axis geometry which permits the two control levers to operate independently. A clutch controls reclining of the seat without interfering with movement of the levers.

Abstract: An apparatus employing a set of inductive coils to transmit AC data and power signals between a downhole apparatus (which may include a sensor and a safety valve) and apparatus at the surface of the earth. In a preferred embodiment, the invention inductively couples a low frequency (less than 3 KHz) AC power signal from an outer wellhead coupler coil to an inner wellhead coupler coil wound around a tubing string. The AC signal propagates down a wireline conductor along the tubing string to a first downhole coupler coil (also wound around the tubing string) and is inductively coupled from the first downhole coupler coil to a second downhole coupler coil within the tubing. The power signal is preferably rectified, and then employed to power various items of downhole equipment. Data from a downhole sensor (whose frequency is preferably in the range from about 1.0 KHz to about 1.5 KHz) is impressed on the second downhole coil to modulate the AC power signal.

Abstract: A digital video special effect system for merging or replacing a first video image with a second video image. A first special effect means receives digital video information relating to a first picture sequence and transitions can be implemented in order to change the format of the image. Second special effect means provides the same facility for a second video image whereby the first and second images can be combined. A common memory stores commands to cause the first and second special effect means to cooperate on a common time-line whereby the durations of the picture sequences are automatically adjusted in order to provide a smooth combination of video images.

Abstract: Method for diluting blood, blood diluent, and antimicrobial agents and reagents, especially suitable for use in enumeration and sizing of blood cells. The antimicrobial agent in the blood diluent is potent, but relatively non-toxic to humans, and inexpensive. Furthermore, it does not interfere with blood analysis performed on an automated, blood-analysis instrument.

Abstract: In the present invention, a speech activated telephone is disclosed. The speech activated phone stores a plurality of spoken words, the telephone number and the alphanumeric word associated with each spoken word. The telephone automatically dials the telephone number in response to inputted spoken word, matching the stored spoken word. In addition, the telephone number and alphanumeric text for the matched spoken word is displayed.

Abstract: A multi-port, BI-CMOS memory cell is disclosed having a CMOS flip-flop, one or more write ports gated by n-channel FETs, and one or more ECL read ports. Bipolar transistors in the read port are resistively interconnected to equalize emitter voltages during write and standby operations and to resistively isolate the emitters during a read operation.

Abstract: A passive method for selecting the best focal position from a plurality of focal positions for a lens focussing on an image in a field of view is disclosed. The lens forms an image at a first position. The image is segmented to form a plurality of pixels. A histogram of the intensity of light at each of the pixels in the image is determined. A cumulative histogram is developed therefrom. A sharpness value is determined from the cumulative histogram. The sharpness value is the intensity of light that corresponds to the smallest cumulative pixel number having a non-zero intensity of light value. The lens is then moved to a new position and another sharpness for the new position is determined. From the plurality of positions moved by the lens, the smallest or lowest sharpness value is chosen and the position that corresponds to that smallest or lowest sharpness value is the position that represents the best focal position.

Abstract: The subject invention relates to a laser system where the length stability of the resonant cavity is important. Three unique mounting assemblies are disclosed to improve the stability of the cavity. The first assembly relates to a kinematic support for mounting an Invar bar. The second assembly defines a once-piece gimbal pivot ring designed to mount laser mirrors. The final aspect of the invention includes a mounting assembly designed to automatically compensate for changes in length of an Invar support bar due to temperature variations which could alter the cavity length of the laser.

Abstract: A fully differential sigma-delta signal processor for use in high-speed voiceband or higher-frequency applications. The processor receives the two polarities of a differential input signal and passes them to a differential-amplifier integrator through a switched sampling capacitor arrangement. The capacitors are each alternately and concurrently switched back and forth between the two signal paths for the two polarities of the input signal responsive to a clock signal in such a manner as to sample and integrate the input signal at an effective signal transfer rate of at least twice the clock frequency. An analog-to-digital converter defines a digital feedback-control signal characteristic of the integrator output signal. A second switched-capacitor arrangement selectively applies a feedback signal to the integrator inputs, responsive to the digital control signal, at a switching rate comparable to the effective signal transfer rate through the integrator.

Abstract: An angioscopy imaging system which operates under the control of a computer system includes an optical scanning system which is inserted into a vessel, such as an artery, for generation of an image. An irrigation system provides pulsatile introduction of flush solution to the vessel to create clear a viewing field within the vessel for the optical scanning system. The computer system controls both the optical scanning system and the irrigation system such that the generation of the image is synchronized with the pulsatile introduction of the flush solution.

Abstract: An apparatus (20) for measuring the thickness of a thin film layer (32) on substrate (28) includes a probe beam of radiation (24) focused substantially normal to the surface of the sample using a high numerical aperture lens (30). The high numerical aperture lens (30) provides a large spread of angles of incidence of the rays within the incident focused beam. A detector (50) measures the intensity across the reflected probe beam as a function of the angle of incidence with respect to the surface of the substrate (28) of various rays within the focused incident probe beam. A processor (52) functions to derive the thickness of the thin film layer based on these angular dependent intensity measurements. This result is achieved by using the angular dependent intensity measurements to solve the layer thickness using variations of the Fresnel equations. The invention is particularly suitable for measuring thin films, such as oxide layers, on silicon semiconductor samples.

Abstract: A length stabilized, dispersion compensated synchronously pumped mode locked dye laser is disclosed. The output of the dye laser is actively stabilized by monitoring the output power thereof and generating an error signal for actively adjusting the cavity length. The operation is enhanced by actively controlling the power of the pump pulses exciting the dye laser so that the power fluctuations in the dye laser are due primarily to fluctuations in cavity length. Stability is also enhanced by operating the cavity with a negative group velocity dispersion. The resultant lengthening of the output pulses is compensated by a pulse compressor, located outside of the cavity, which adds a positive group velocity dispersion to upchirp and shorten the pulses.

Abstract: An asynchronous arbiter circuit processes multiple different address signals that request access to the same memory location during the same memroy cycle. The circuit employs two sets of latches. The circuit recognizes access request signals and refresh request signals. For each type of request signal recognized, an associated first latch stores the value of the request signal received, and outputs a first latch output signal. An associated second latch receives the first output latch signal and translates that into a logic state that is long enough to ascertain whether additional request signals have been inputted into the circuit during the memory cycle. A delay element delays one of the request signals received prior to the signals being inputted into the cycle request logic element. The time period of the delay is determined based upon priority accorded to the particular signals.

Abstract: An inexpensive, lightweight apparatus and method is provided for removing coagulum and other debris from the tip of cautery blades and needles during use. The cleaner comprises a pad having a lower compressible portion and an upper fibrous abrasive portion which is mounted to a non-compressible base. The apparatus can be attached to a surgical drape or other accessible surface to permit cleaning using only one hand to manipulate the cauterizing instrument. The upper abrasive portion contains one or more elongated slits each of which has opposing abrasive walls and an abrasive floor. Cautery blades are cleaned by pressing the edge of a blade down between two opposing walls and drawing the blade toward the opposite end of the elongated slit. Cautery needles are cleaned by pushing them into, and then withdrawing them from, the upper abrasive portion.

Abstract: An improved pipe pier inserting tool comprising at least two separate driving means, attached to two separate gripping means, whereby a pipe pier held within the gripping means can be forced, either in tandem or sequentially, by the two driving means into unstable soil beneath a building foundation so as to add new support.