Abstract: A metal-containing semiconductor layer having a high dielectric constant is formed with a method that avoids inclusion of contaminant elements that reduce dielectric constant of metals. The metal-containing semiconductor layer is formed overlying a substrate in a chamber. A precursor is introduced to deposit at least a portion of the metal-containing semiconductor layer. The precursor contains one or more elements that, if allowed to deposit in the metal-containing layer, would become impurity elements. A reactant gas is used to purify the metal-containing layer by removing impurity elements from the metal-containing layer which were introduced into the chamber by the precursor.

Abstract: An anti-mine unit or assembly is adapted for being mounted to a prime mover or transport vehicle to reduce the dangers when clearing minefields. The anti-mine unit includes a frame, a plurality of digging cables, a plurality of drag cables, at least one side curtain of curtain cables, a rear curtain of curtain cables, and a top plate. The anti-mine unit may include a wire cutting device and a plurality of deflector cables. Heavy tubes of thick sidewalls are welded together to form the frame from which heavy cables are supported. The digging cables, drag cables, curtain cables and deflector cables are secured to the frame such that the cables, frame, and thick top plate form a unit that digs up, exposes and/or explodes mines, keeps the explosions and shrapnel controlled, and clears a pathway for the vehicle's drive wheels or tracks.

Abstract: A beach cleaner for traveling on sandy soil while being towed by a traction vehicle for recovering waste such as empty cans scattered on the sandy soil. The beach cleaner is provided with a travel body. The travel body includes a plurality of longitudinal members arranged in a hurdle shape spacedly and extending in a travel direction and also having in a front portion thereof a portion to be pulled by the traction vehicle. A flat plate-like scraper for scraping up waste together with sand during travel of the beach cleaner is provided in the front portion of the travel body. A net for separating waste from a mixture of sand and waste scraped up by the scraper and for storing the thus-separated waste thereon is stretched on an upper surface of the travel body.

Abstract: Waste scattered on a sandy beach is recovered in a clean and efficient manner by using a beach cleaner of a simple structure. In a first waste recovery step, a first beach cleaner A is allowed to travel on a sandy beach while being towed by a self-traveling vehicle R, whereby waste G1 such as string-like waste and other elongated waste is caught on rakes and conveyed to a waste recovery area. In a waste recovery station the first beach cleaner A is lifted to recover the waste. In a second waste recovery step, while a second beach cleaner is allowed to travel by the self-traveling vehicle, waste such as cans which have not been recovered in the first waste recovery step are scooped up in a waste conveying section, and are then collected in a waste collecting section by means of scraping blades and are recovered in a waste recovering area.

Abstract: An apparatus is described herein for gathering vegetables such as potatoes and other root vegetables from a plurality of rows into a central region for subsequent harvesting. The apparatus includes a support frame structure adapted to be secured to a tractor. A pair of wings are secured to the frame and they are adapted to extend, when in use, laterally outwardly relative to the forward direction of travel of the tractor. Each of these wings includes an endless flexible tine carrier mounted thereon for travel in an endless path, such path of travel including an upper run and a lower run. A plurality of tines are secured to and project outwardly in spaced relationship to each other from the flexible tine carrier for movement along the above-noted path of travel. Thus, during use, the tines located along the lower run of the path of travel are capable of engaging the vegetables lying on or in the earth.

Abstract: Mine clearing apparatus for attachment to a vehicle and comprising a frame mountable onto a vehicle for selectable positioning in a raised or lowered orientation; apparatus mounted onto the frame for raising and shunting aside mines including a plow section, the plow section defining a plurality of plow teeth which, in operation, extend below the ground surface, and conveyer apparatus extending along the length of the plow section and adapted to convey the contents of the earth raised by the plow section to one side of the vehicle.