Abstract: A method for providing convenient, secure access to numerous benefits with a single wallet sized card having a high capacity data storage area, preferably an optical stripe, and a lower capacity magnetic storage stripe. The high capacity area is indelibly written with data denoting a set of entitlements and records of the owner of the card. To obtain use of the entitlements, the owner takes the card to a data conversion terminal and selects a set of entitlements from a menu displayed at the terminal and, provided that the selected set is a subset of the entitlements indelibly recorded on the high capacity area of the card, data is written on the magnetic stripe of the card authorizing use of the selected entitlements. The data written on the magnetic stripe can be used to obtain benefits at numerous existing and foreseeable magnetic stripe readers.

Abstract: An electron beam device having a plurality of individual, electron permeable, gas impermeable windows can produce a broad beam of free electrons. A multiplicity of windows allows each of the windows to be stronger, yet thinner, for greater electron permeability and durability. Having multiple windows also allows each window to be formed as a single crystal film, which can have superior strength and electron permeability, and which is difficult to form in a large area and easy to damage when so formed. In addition, having multiple windows allows a window end of the device and the beam which exits from that end to have configurations not easily achieved with a single window. Should a pinhole develop in one of the windows, it may be possible to seal the pinhole and re-evacuate the device, thereby extending the lifetime of the device. A current monitor is used to determine whether the electron beam passes through the windows or is absorbed in a surrounding face plate.

Abstract: A conductive polymer composition exhibiting PTC behavior and the method of making the composition are disclosed. The composition includes a particulate conductive filler and a polymeric portion. The polymeric portion contains a volume-expansion-regulating high molecular weight polymer, such as ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE), that resists melting and causes an increase in the volume of the composition, upon heating, but migrates minimally within the composition. The high molecular weight polymer preferably has a linear thermal expansion coefficient of at least 200.times.10.sup.-6 /.degree. C. The polymeric portion also contains a melt-extrudable polyolefin matrix in which the conductive filler and the high molecular weight polymer are dispersed. The high molecular weight polymer is present in an amount which allows the final composition to be melt-extrudable. An electrical device containing a PTC element that utilizes the novel composition and at least two electrodes is also disclosed.

Abstract: An orientation apparatus for aligning indexing notches of disk-shaped members, such as semiconductor wafers, includes a flexible alignment rod that imparts rotation of the disk-shaped members until the indexing notches are registered with the alignment rod. The alignment rod is captured by a displaceable comb member that exposes regions of the rod between adjacent teeth. The teeth ensure that the disk-shaped members are properly aligned. The comb member has a raised operation position in which the disk-shaped members are spaced apart from rollers and has a lowered retracted position in which the weight of the disk-shaped members is transferred to the rollers. A camming mechanism may be used to raise and lower the comb member and alignment rod between the two positions.

Abstract: A semiconductor laser that includes a monolithic submount with a light emitting source aligned along one side thereby defining a radiation path over which the emitted light propagates. The submount includes two notches that flank the light emitting source. A micro-lens is mounted adjacent to the light emitting source by attaching to the submount with either epoxy or solder. Finally, the components of the semiconductor laser have matching coefficients of thermal expansion so that the optical alignment of the light emitting source and the micro-lens is maintained notwithstanding thermal cycling.

Abstract: An optical amplifier semiconductor device which is differentially pumped and a master oscillator power amplifier (MOPA) device employing such an amplifier. The amplifier allows the light propagating therein to diverge along at least part of its length, and may be a flared amplifier having a gain region that increases in width toward its output at a rate that equals or exceeds the divergence of the light. The amplifier is pumped with a current density at its input end which is smaller than the current density used to pump the output end for maintaining coherence of the beam to high power levels. Differential pumping may be both longitudinal and lateral within the amplifier. A single mode preamplifier section may be optically coupled to the input end of the amplifier. The amplifier input may have a width which is the same as or wider than that of the preamplifier output. The preamplifier may have a constant mode width or may be tapered to alter the divergence of the beams provided to the amplifier section.

Abstract: A wavelength-stabilized, semiconductor laser having a light amplifying diode heterostructure with a flared gain region in an external resonant cavity. The flared gain region has a narrow aperture end which may be coupled to a single mode waveguide and a wide output end. A light emitting surface of the heterostructure proximate to the wide end of the flared gain region is partially reflective and combines with an external reflector to form a resonant cavity that is effectively unstable. The intracavity light-emitting surface proximate to the narrow aperture end is antireflection coated. The external reflector may be a planar mirror or a grating reflector. A lens or an optical fiber may couple the aperture end of the flared gain region to the external reflector. Frequency-selective feedback is provided by orienting the grating reflector or providing a prism in the cavity in front of the external planar mirror. Other filtering elements may also be placed in the external cavity.

Abstract: A capillary electrophoresis separation matrix for single-stranded nucleic acids, along with methods for using and preparing the matrix, are disclosed. The separation matrix provides denaturing conditions and contains hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) in combination with urea, and preferably also includes formamide. The separation matrix may be used for DNA sizing and sequencing applications and provides a single-base resolution to approximately 500 base pairs. The separation matrix is inexpensive, easy to prepare, requires no polymerization steps, and is of low enough viscosity to be pumped easily into and out of capillary tubes for electrophoresis. The low viscosity allows for high throughput of samples and reuse of the capillary tubes for numerous separations.

Abstract: A computer mouse having a roller which implements a scrolling function for computer programs, particularly those running a windows format. In one embodiment, scrolling is implemented by sending messages to a queue associated with a windows kernel. The kernel interprets scrolling messages from the roller in the same manner as messages generated in the usual way from a graphical user interface. Rapid turning of the roller generates pulses which are stored in a buffer and interpreted as energy which is drawn from the buffer even after the roller stops turning so that scrolling continues until stopped or until the buffer is depleted.

Abstract: An upconversion fiber laser with a double-clad fiber is pumped with a laser-diode-based laser pump source, the inner cladding of the fiber forming a low transmission loss waveguide for the pump light. The central core of the fiber is doped with an active lasing ionic species capable of undergoing upconversion excitation, such as certain rare earth ionic species. The use of a double-clad fiber permits the use of high power, high brightness laser diodes, including those with broad emitting apertures, as well as high power diode laser pumped fiber lasers, as the pump source, thereby achieving higher pump intensities within the upconversion laser fiber and improved upconversion efficiency. Pump brightness can be further increased with multiple pump schemes which use multiple pump wavelengths in different absorption bands, multiple pump wavelengths within the same absorption band, pump light from pairs of cross-polarized sources, and pumping from both ends of the fiber.

Abstract: A compact, movable scan head having multiple scanning modalities and capable of high speed, high resolution scanning of a variety of samples is disclosed. Stimulation and detection of storage phosphor screens and fluorescent samples are preferably achieved with a first and second channel in the optical path of the first side of the scan head. This first side preferably has a laser diode light source. Reading of reflective and transmissive signals is also possible. A third channel is available in the optical path of the second side of the scan head. This third channel preferably provides LED point scanning and reading of fluorescence, reflective, and transmissive signals received from the sample. The various modalities of the scan head of the present invention may or may not have coincident optical paths. Any two of the above channels, or additional channels similar to the above channels, may be incorporated into the scan head.

Abstract: A system for converting a high-resolution bitonal bit map representation of a document to a lower-resolution pixel representation for display. A special subset of the high resolution output is assigned special meanings by codes which are used to produce a real time video signal with higher bandwidth to enhance the resolution and readability of the displayed image on a lower resolution display. This is accomplished by splitting each coded pixel into two or more "twixels". The twixels produced from pixels which are not part of the special subset have the same codes as the corresponding original pixels. The twixels produced from pixels which are part of the special subset have special codes which, when displayed, duplicate certain predetermined high resolution features of the original bitonal pixel-code information on a display.

Abstract: A multi-block frequency-domain adaptive filter in an acoustic echo canceller as applied to a full-duplex speakerphone includes convolving a received reference signal with a linear room model to generate an echo free signal for transmission which, in turn, is used to adapt the coefficients of the room model. The frequency-domain estimated echo response is transformed into the time-domain to generate an approximated time-domain echo signal which is subtracted from a microphone signal containing a desired intelligence signal and the actual echo to produce an outgoing signal. The outgoing signal serves as an error signal used to adapt the filter. In the preferred embodiment, a weighting means adjusts the frequency-domain room coefficients during the convolution operation. In another embodiment, a weighting means adjusts the frequency-domain room coefficients by adjusting the correlation terms during adaptation of the frequency-domain room coefficients.

Abstract: An apparatus for switching a write-protect tab of a computer disk includes a supply hopper for storing a plurality of disks and includes a mechanism for delivering the disks in a one-by-one manner to a switching area. At the switching area, a tungsten carbide tip is caused to move vertically into contact with a major surface of the tab, and then horizontally to slide the tab into the desired position. The tungsten carbide tip includes teeth that are arranged in mirror-imaged first and second sets, so that the apparatus operates equally well in either switching direction. After the tab has been moved to the desired position, the disk is delivered to the disk-receiving hopper and elevated to accommodate delivery of the next disk.

Abstract: A cooling device formed in a thermally conductive substrate having a microstructure, such as a plurality of thermally conductive posts spaced apart by dimensions that induce capillary action in a liquid coolant. The posts extend away from the heated region and a space between the posts is supplied with liquid coolant which is contained by a meniscus near the tips of the posts. The coolant vaporizes at the meniscus and absorbs heat but, due to increased pressure in the coolant contained by the meniscus, does not boil within the space between the posts, allowing more liquid coolant contact with the thermally conductive substrate and posts. The vaporized coolant may be discharged into the air or into a chamber adjoining the tips having a lower pressure for removal of additional heat by gaseous expansion. The discharge of gaseous coolant allows the capillary flow of the liquid coolant in the space to be unimpeded, and the flow of liquid coolant may be augmented by a fluid pump.

Abstract: A centrifuge system and method includes generating a radio frequency excitation field within a housing containing a rotor of interest. The excitation field may be generated by an exciter coil fixed to the cover of the housing. The rotor includes a locking knob that encloses a receiver coil inductively coupled to the exciter coil. The excitation field causes current flow through the receiver coil. The current is rectified and used to power encoding circuitry. The encoding circuitry produces a modulated signal unique to the rotor or to a model in which the rotor is classified. The encoded signal is transmitted from within the locking knob to a reader coil connected to the housing of the centrifuge. The reader coil receives the encoded signal, whereafter the signal is decoded and used to identify the rotor or rotor model.

Abstract: A dual separator purification system and method for removing particulate as well as ionic contaminants from liquids is disclosed. The present invention is particularly useful in the electrostatic printing industry. The system comprises two disparate separators connected in series. The first separator has a repelling electrode and a rotating drum which collects charged particulate contaminants and debris. A liquid such as spent liquid toner is passed through a gap between the repelling electrode and the rotating drum. The contaminants, including colored toner particles and paper debris, move electrophoretically through the gap and adhere to the rotating drum. Upward motion of the drum surface brings the accumulated deposit out of the gap region and to a scraper blade which removes the deposit from the drum for subsequent disposal. The partially purified liquid is collected and then passed through a second separator which has a spirally-wound laminate of porous and electrically conductive layers.

Abstract: A laser diode package incorporating a first laser diode (or diode laser array) for providing a modulated light output and a second laser diode (or diode laser array) with substantially similar thermal operating characteristics which is modulated with a complementary current signal relative to the modulated current signal driving the first laser diode. The two laser diodes are mounted in close proximity to one another on a temperature controlled heat sink. For diode laser arrays, slots are provided in the heat sink between adjacent array elements. The complementary modulation of corresponding elements in each laser diode ensures that the combined heat generation by each such corresponding pair of elements is constant in time. In the case of digital modulation, the driver logic and current drivers providing the complementary modulation signals may be a modulation controlled switch routing a constant current to one or the other of each corresponding pair of laser elements.

Abstract: A vacuum-actuated article handling tool includes an electrically conductive wand body that is selectively coupled to a pickup tip by a static dissipative connecting assembly. The connecting assembly preferably includes a rigid, electrically insulative cap. The cap is rigid in order to securely hold the tip and is electrically insulative in order to prevent direct contact of the conductive tip to the conductive wand body. The connecting assembly includes a resistive member that is preferably flexible. The flexibility allows the resistive member to conform to the shape and position of the tip, so that a repeatable tip-to-wand electrical connection is made. The resistive member is formed of a material that achieves a desired current-limiting resistive path, thereby providing protection for handled articles that are susceptible to damage by electrostatic discharge.

Abstract: A compact semiconductor laser light source providing short wavelength (ultraviolet, blue or green) coherent light by means of frequency doubling of red or infrared light from a high power diode heterostructure. The high power diode heterostructure is a MOPA device having a single mode laser oscillator followed by a multimode, preferably flared, optical power amplifier. A tunable configuration having an external rear reflector grating could also be used. A lens could be integrated with the MOPA to laterally collimate the light before it is emitted. Straight or curved, surface emitting gratings could also be incorporated. An astigmatism-correcting lens system having at least one cylindrical lens surface is disposed in the path of the output from the MOPA to provide a beam with substantially equal lateral and transverse beam width dimensions and beam divergence angles. A nonlinear optical crystal or waveguide is placed in the path of the astigmatism-free symmetrized beam to double the frequency of the light.