Abstract: A natural gas reformer comprising a stack of thermally conducting plates interspersed with catalyst plates and provided with internal or external manifolds for reactants. The catalyst plate is in intimate thermal contact with the conducting plates so that its temperature closely tracks the temperature of the thermally conducting plate, which can be designed to attain a near isothermal state in-plane to the plate. One or more catalysts may be used, distributed along the flow direction, in-plane to the thermally conducting plate, in a variety of optional embodiments. The reformer may be operated as a steam reformer or as a partial oxidation reformer. When operated as a steam reformer, thermal energy for the (endothermic) steam reforming reaction is provided externally by radiation and/or conduction to the thermally conducting plates. This produces carbon monoxide, hydrogen, steam and carbon dioxide.

Abstract: A power supply system for enhancing the economic viability of different modes of transportation that incorporate fuel cells to generate electricity. For example, the power supply system of the present invention provides for the off-board use of the electric power generated by an on-board power plant, such as a fuel cell, of a mobile vehicle power system, such as an electric car. Off-board use, or use remote from the vehicle, of the electrical power includes the delivery of power to a remote site. Off-board stations are provided for delivery of fuel to the vehicle and/or for receiving the electrical power generated by the fuel cell. The off-board station and the vehicle are appropriately equipped for quick and easy interconnection such that electrical power is drawn from the fuel cell for off-board use.

Abstract: An electrochemical converter assembly having one or more converter elements having a peripheral edge. The converter element includes a series of electrolyte plates having an oxidizer electrode material on one side and a fuel electrode material on the opposing side, and a series of interconnector plates, alternately stacked with the electrolyte plates, that provide electrical contact with the electrolyte plates. The interconnector plate has a textured pattern that forms reactant-flow passageways. The converter assembly has a low pressure drop configuration that includes at least one passageway which is disposed generally in the central region of the converter element, for introducing one input reactant thereto, and at least one second passageway, for introducing the other reactant. A third passageway, outwardly spaced from the second passageway removes spent fuel from the reactant-flow passageways, and thus from the converter element.

Abstract: A system and method for conductively and/or convectively transferring heat away from a workpiece that has been processed by a processing system, such as an ion implantation system. The conductive transfer of heat from the workpiece is effectuated by disposing the workpiece in relatively close proximity with a floor of a loadlock, which is maintained at a relatively cool temperature. The chamber pressure is disposed at a selected pressure by a pressure regulator and a vacuum pressure is applied to the backside of the workpiece closest to draw the workpiece into contact with the chamber floor, thereby effecting heat transfer from the workpiece to the cooling surface.

Abstract: A high throughput ion implantation system that rapidly and efficiently processes large quantities of flat panel displays. The ion implantation system has an ion chamber generating a stream of ions, a plasma electrode having an elongated slot with a high aspect ratio for shaping the stream of ions into a ribbon beam, and an electrode assembly for directing the stream of ions towards a workpiece. The plasma electrode can include a split extraction system having a plurality of elongated slots oriented substantially parallel to each other. The ion implantation system can also have a diffusing system for homogenizing the ion stream. Various exemplary diffusing systems include an apertured plate having an array of openings, diffusing magnets, diffusing electrodes, and dithering magnets.

Abstract: A vertical semiconductor wafer processing furnace that includes a single housing having first and second vertical furnaces each having a heating chamber for heat treating a semiconductor wafer. The first and second vertical furnaces are asymmetrically disposed relative to each other to reduce the overall footprint of the processing furnace. Each vertical furnace includes a wafer support assembly that includes support structure, such as a wafer boat, boat elevator, motor and guide rod, for axially mounting a selected number of semiconductor wafers. A translation element selectively moves one of the support elements along the vertical axis into and out of the process tube, and a wafer transfer element selectively transfers semiconductor wafers to or from one of the support elements. The furnace further includes a heating sleeve or envelope that is adapted to control the ambient fluid environment surrounding the support structure and which is independently movable relative to support structure.

Abstract: A high throughput ion implantation system that rapidly and efficiently processes large quantities of flat panel displays. The ion implantation system has an ion source, an electrode assembly, a platform mounting a workpiece, and a ion beam measuring structure. The ion source in conjunction with the electrode assembly forms an ion beam in the shape of a ribbon beam. The ion beam is formed and directed such that a first portion of the ion beam treats the workpiece while a second portion of the ion beam is contemporaneously measured by the beam measuring structure. A controller obtains data from the beam measuring structure on the ion beam's parameters, and then generates control signals to the ion implantation system in response to the data.

Abstract: An object monitoring system includes a camera node (2) for monitoring movement of an object (18) to determine an acquisition time when an image of the object (18) is to be acquired and acquiring the image at the predetermined time. The system includes a camera (6) which is able to monitor moving objects (18), and image processing circuitry (10), responsive to the camera (6), which is able to detect a predetermined moving object (18) from other moving and static objects. From the image acquired, information identifying the object (18) can be automatically extracted. The system is particularly suited to monitoring and discriminating large vehicles (18) from other vehicles over a multi-lane roadway, and acquiring high resolution images of the large vehicles (18) at a predetermined acquisition point (22).

Abstract: A novel coupler for coupling electrical signals from a multiplicity of electrical connector interfaces to another group of electrical connector interfaces. The coupler advantageously utilizes a flexible printed circuit board of a mylar construction to pass the electrical signals and consequently is inexpensive to manufacture while exhibiting increased reliability. The coupler includes a common ground plane to provide a uniform reference to ground for electrical devices connected to the coupler.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for location of objects to facilitate retrieval, filing, security, inventory stock-keeping and the like. The methods and apparatus employ a tag element associated with each object-to-be-located, and interrogation system for searching one or more spatial regions for such tagged items, as well as mechanisms for identifying objects within the interrogated region.

Abstract: An ion implantation system that rapidly and efficiently processes large quantities of workpieces, such as flat panel displays. The ion implantation system includes a high vacuum process chamber that mounts an ion source, a single workpiece translating stage, and a loadlock. The single workpiece handling assembly mounted within the process chamber both removes the workpiece from the loadlock and supports the workpiece during implantation by the ion beam generated by the ion source. The process chamber is in selective fluid communication with a loadlock assembly, which in turn is mechanically integrated with a workpiece loading or end station. Additionally, the workpiece handling assembly includes a translation stage or element for translating the workpiece in a linear scanning direction during implantation. This linear scanning direction extends along a path transverse or orthogonal to the horizontal longitudinal axis of the implantation system.

Abstract: A telecommunication system having a cellular mobile telephone system in which calls from cellular telephones are routed through a mobile service switching center exchange. Users of the system, having control of respective groups of mobile telephone are able via user terminals to access respective databases in a signalling processor and to place in the data base information about call parameters, such as call restrictions, for ones of the telephone of that user controlled group. When a call is made from any mobile telephone, the call signal is decoded at the relevant exchange and a determination is made as to whether the call originates from a mobile telephone which is a member of a controlled group. If so, the related database in the controller is accessed and the call is controlled in accordance with the appropriate call parameter, on the basis of the information in the related database.

Abstract: The present invention provides a loadlock assembly for a high throughput ion implantation system that rapidly and efficiently processes large quantities of workpieces, such as flat panel displays. The loadlock assembly increases the throughput of the implantation system by continuously cycling workpieces through the process chamber, thus increasing the system's throughput. The loadlock assembly includes a plurality of loadlock stacking elements that are axially positioned relative to each other to form a stacked array of loadlocks. Additionally, the loadlocks of the array are configured to nest with an adjacent loadlock to form a stackable and nestable loadlock assembly.

Abstract: A sulfur-tolerant electrochemical converter having low internal resistance that is capable of directly processing hydrocarbon fuel having a sulfur component of up to about 50 ppm, and in excess of this amount, without suffering permanent structural damage or suffering a significant and/or permanent decrease in overall operating performance. The electrochemical converter is a high temperature fuel cell that has an operating temperature between about 600.degree. C. and about 1200.degree. C. and is capable of internally vaporizing and/or reforming the hydrocarbon fuel. One or more of the converter constituents, such as the interconnector, the contact surfaces of the interconnector, the fuel electrode, and the oxidizer electrode, is composed of a selected mixture containing chromium oxide and an alkaline metal oxide.

Abstract: A cable that allows a host device to selectively access and communicate with an associated peripheral device by establishing a data communication pathway therebetween. The host device is typically of the type arranged for generating an identifier signal designating a selected peripheral device. The cable includes one or more controllers responsive to the identifier signal designating the associated peripheral device, and establishes a communication pathway between the host device and the selected peripheral device in response to the appropriate identifier signal. The cable further includes a transceiver and a voltage regulator. The transceiver transforms the data signals into a transformed signal having a selected protocol compatible with at least the host device, e.g., RS-232 compatible signals. The voltage regulator supplies operating power to the cable.

Abstract: A system for encrypting or decrypting a digital message comprising a linear driving subsystem (4) for generating a pseudo random data sequence, a non-linear feedback subsystem (6) for producing a cipher stream from said pseudo, random data sequence, and an encryption processor (26) for encrypting or decrypting a message by combining it with said cipher stream, the non-linear feedback subsystem comprising a non-linear feedback processing means (10) for generating a feedback sequence (12) by applying a non-linear function to at least one value from said pseudo-random data sequence and at least one previous value of the feedback sequence, and a cipher stream generating means (10) for generating said cipher stream by summing products of pairs of values of said pseudo random data sequence together with a value from said feedback sequence, the pairs of values being chosen such that the difference in sequence position as between each member of a pair is different as between each pair.

Abstract: A container (100) having a recess (107) arranged to receive an object such as a compact disc (50). The recess (107) has a mouth (112) opening through a side wall (108) of the container (100) and an ejector (118) for ejecting the object from the recess (107).