Abstract: The present invention is a saboted projectile with external ridges and/or an internal locking edge for muzzleloading firearms. Also, the present invention is a sabot with the ridges and/or locking edge for receiving a muzzleloading projectile. The sabot has a forward part and a rearward part. The forward part has a plurality of axial panel sections separated by narrow, axial slots. The panels have radial ridges on their outside, or external surfaces. Also, the panels have a radial ridge on their inside, or internal surfaces. The external radial ridges assist in convenient loading of the muzzleloading projectile, while still providing enough contact with the inside of rifle barrel to capture exploding gases and prevent blow-by. The internal radial ridge assists in securing the sabot to the bullet, especially when the bullet has been provided with a cooperating radial indent, cannelure or retaining ring.

Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus has a frame and a load port connected to the frame and adapted to mate a substrate transport container to the frame. The apparatus has transportable storage that is adapted to be removably connected to the frame and fit beneath the load port. The storage may be an enclosure housing electrical, mechanical, or electromechanical devices of the substrate processing apparatus.

Abstract: Method and system are disclosed for determining individual string resistance in a network of strings when the current through a parallel connected string is unknown and when the voltage across a series connected string is unknown. The method/system of the invention involves connecting one or more frequency-varying impedance components with known electrical characteristics to each string and applying a frequency-varying input signal to the network of strings. The frequency-varying impedance components may be one or more capacitors, inductors, or both, and are selected so that each string is uniquely identifiable in the output signal resulting from the frequency-varying input signal. Numerical methods, such as non-linear regression, may then be used to resolve the resistance associated with each string.

Abstract: A substrate loading device having a frame, a cassette support, and a user interface. The frame is connected to a substrate processing apparatus. The frame has a transport opening through which substrates are transported between the device and processing apparatus. The cassette support is connected to the frame for holding at least one substrate holding cassette. The user interface is arranged for inputting information, and is mounted to the frame so that the user interface is integral with the frame.

Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus having a frame, a housing, an access system and at least a substrate transport apparatus or a substrate processing device. The housing is connected to the frame. The access system is connected to the frame and forms an access through which substrates are moved in and out of the housing. The substrate transport apparatus or substrate processing device are connected to the frame and are at least partially positioned in the housing. The frame comprises a movable portion. The movable portion is movable relative to the frame so that movement of the movable portion causes separation of the access system and at least one of the substrate transport apparatus or substrate processing device from an installed position. The substrate transport apparatus is selectable from a number of different interchangeable substrate transport apparatus.

Abstract: A plate dipole antenna includes a pair of plates arranged in substantially the same plane or arranged in different planes, with a width to length ratio of one width unit to ten length units or greater. The plate dipole antenna may further include a gain plate.

Abstract: A color shifting composition and method useful as a coating on a surface. The composition comprises a layer of piezoelectric material disposed on the surface and a layer of electrically conductive disposed on the layer of piezoelectric material. A mechanism is included for changing an electromagnetic property of the layer of piezoelectric material. Thus, the surface has a first reflective or refractive property at one setting of the mechanism and another reflective or refractive property at another setting of the mechanism. In the illustrative embodiment, the layer of piezoelectric material and the layer of electrically conductive material are sufficiently thin to be transparent to electromagnetic energy in the frequencies of interest. In the illustrative embodiment, the mechanism for changing an electromagnetic property of the layer of piezoelectric material is a source of the electrical potential.

Abstract: An optical bench 10 is cast from a single piece of material and provided with a number of optical component supports 14 which extend upwardly from a base 12. The optical component supports 14 are integral with the base 12, increasing their rigidity. The bench 10 may be cast with additional material in strategic areas to allow for future optimization of the bench 10—for example, the mounting of specific optical components throughout the bench 10. Further, the bench 10 may be provided with regions 24, 26, and 28 of varying rigidity by placing support struts 68 closer together in areas where greater rigidity is required. Apertures 30 may be provided in the bench 10 to enable the routing of conduits through the bench 10.

Abstract: A plate dipole antenna includes a pair of plates arranged in substantially the same plane or arranged in different planes, with a width to length ratio of one width unit to ten length units or greater. The plate dipole antenna may further include a gain plate.

Abstract: A color shifting composition and method useful as a coating on a surface. The composition comprises a layer of piezoelectric material disposed on the surface and a layer of electrically conductive disposed on the layer of piezoelectric material. A mechanism is included for changing an electromagnetic property of the layer of piezoelectric material. Thus, the surface has a first reflective or refractive property at one setting of the mechanism and another reflective or refractive property at another setting of the mechanism. In the illustrative embodiment, the layer of piezoelectric material and the layer of electrically conductive material are sufficiently thin to be transparent to electromagnetic energy in the frequencies of interest. In the illustrative embodiment, the mechanism for changing an electromagnetic property of the layer of piezoelectric material is a source of the electrical potential.

Abstract: This invention relates to novel dihydropyridine soft drugs of the formula &PHgr;OOR1, where &PHgr; is a dihydropyridine moiety. These compounds are useful as calcium channel antagonists with cardiovascular, antiasthmatic and antibroncho-constriction activity. Use of such soft drug analogs permits the administration of greater doses of the claimed dihydropyridine compounds without intolerable systemic effects. Thus, this invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions, as well as methods, for preventing and treating disorders such as hypersensitivity, allergy, asthma, bronchospasm, dysmenorrhea, esophageal spasm, glaucoma, premature labor, urinary tract disorders, gastrointestinal motility disorders and cardiovascular disorders, while avoiding unwanted systemic effects.

Abstract: This invention relates to novel dihydropyridine soft drugs of the formula &PHgr;OOR1, where &PHgr; is a dihydropyridine moiety. These compounds are useful as calcium channel antagonists with cardiovascular, antiasthmatic and antibroncho-constriction activity. Use of such soft drug analogs permits the administration of greater doses of the claimed dihydropyridine compounds without intolerable systemic effects. Thus, this invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions, as well as methods, for preventing and treating disorders such as hypersensitivity, allergy, asthma, bronchospasim, dysmenorrhea, esophageal spasm, glaucoma, premature labor, urinary tract disorders, gastrointestinal motility disorders and cardiovascular disorders, while avoiding unwanted systemic effects.

Abstract: This invention provides novel oxathiepino[6,5-b]dihydropyridines. These compounds are useful as calcium channel antagonists with cardiovascular, antiasthmatic and antibronchoconstriction activity. Thus, this invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions, as well as methods, for preventing and treating disorders such as hypersensitivity, allergy, asthma, bronchospasm, dysmenorrhea, esophageal spasm, glaucoma, premature labor, urinary tract disorders, gastrointestinal motility disorders and cardiovascular disorders.

Abstract: This invention provides novel dithiepino[6,5-b]pyridines of the following formulae: These compounds are useful as calcium channel antagonists with cardiovascular, antiasthmatic and antibronchoconstriction activity. Thus, this invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions, as well as methods, for preventing and treating disorders such as hypersensitivity, allergy, asthma, bronchospasm, dysmenorrhea, esophageal spasm, glaucoma, premature labor, urinary tract disorders, gastrointestinal motility disorders and cardiovascular disorders.

Abstract: This invention relates to novel dihydropyridine soft drugs of the formula &PHgr;OOR1, where &PHgr; is a dihydropyridine moiety. These compounds are useful as calcium channel antagonists with cardiovascular, antiasthmatic and antibroncho-constriction activity. Use of such soft drug analogs permits the administration of greater doses of the claimed dihydropyridine compounds without intolerable systemic effects. Thus, this invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions, as well as methods, for preventing and treating disorders such as hypersensitivity, allergy, asthma, bronchospasim, dysmenorrhea, esophageal spasm, glaucoma, premature labor, urinary tract disorders, gastrointestinal motility disorders and cardiovascular disorders, while avoiding unwanted systemic effects.

Abstract: This invention provides novel dithiepino[6,5-b]pyridines of the following formulae.

Abstract: This invention provides novel benzoethers of the following formulae: These compounds are useful as calcium channel antagonists with cardiovascular, antiasthmatic and antibronchoconstriction activity. Thus, this invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions, as well as methods, for preventing and treating disorders such as hypersensitivity, allergy, asthma, bronchospasm, dysmenorrhea, esophageal spasm, glaucoma, premature labor, urinary tract disorders, gastrointestinal motility disorders and cardiovascular disorders.

Abstract: This invention provides novel benzosulfones of the following formulae: These compounds are useful as calcium channel antagonists with cardiovascular, antiasthmatic and antibronchoconstriction activity. Thus, this invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions, as well as methods, for preventing and treating disorders such as hypersensitivity, allergy, asthma, bronchospasm, dysmenorrhea, esophageal spasm, glaucoma, premature labor, urinary tract disorders, gastrointestinal motility disorders and cardiovascular disorders.

Abstract: The subject invention pertains to a method and apparatus for recalibrating and/or estimating a battery's state of charge (SOC). The subject invention is advantageous in situations where the battery infrequently, if ever, reaches a full charge and/or a full discharge. In a specific embodiment, the subject method and apparatus can utilize a battery's voltage and/or current, and/or changes in a battery's voltage and/or current with time, to recalibrate and/or estimate the battery's SOC. The method and apparatus of the subject invention can monitor various parameters relating to the condition of the battery in order to determine where on the open circuit voltage (OCV) versus SOC curve, the dOCV/dSOC versus SOC curve, and/or d2OCV/dSOC2 versus SOC curve the curve the battery is and, in a specific embodiment, when the battery reaches inflection point of the OCV versus SOC curve.

Abstract: This invention provides novel benzoethers of the following formulae: 1