Abstract: Apparatus and method for converting a series of discrete units of incoming digital data into a set of integer values and representing said values holographically, by dimensionalizing multiple aspects of reference laser signal, and multiplexing said aspects at the same storage location. The integer set is represented logarithmically by manipulating the dimensionalized aspects in a hierarchical order, resulting in a 16-fold increase in data density at the same physical storage location, as compared with a conventional binary storage system.

Abstract: An abrasivejet drilling system is disclosed for drilling small diameter holes in fragile materials of the type which tend to crack when impacted by such jets. The system employs a drilling jet formed from a high pressure liquid whose pressurization varies with time during the drilling process. To avoid damage to fragile materials, angular holes are drilled by initially penetrating the surface of the fragile workpiece perpendicular to the workpiece's surface and thereafter pivoting the jet to the correct angle. The jet dwell in the drilled hole for a predetermined time to modify the hole geometry is monitored by detecting the change in sound level when the jet drills completely through the workpiece.

Abstract: An acupuncture needle delivery system is disclosed comprising a needle with an upper head portion that is wider in the middle than at its ends. The needle is packaged within a plastic dispensing tube which is greater in diameter than the needle, except at the end of the tube which surrounds the needle's head. The portion of the tube surrounding the head of the needle is narrower than the widest part of the head to snugly grasp the head and secure the needle within the tube. Upon the imposition of axially directed, manually exerted, downward pressure on the head region, the end of the plastic tube stretches, permitting the needle to be ejected from the other end of the tube.

Abstract: A drum is rotatably mounted next to a tool. Resin-preimpregnated filament tows are independently fed to the drum, through several collimating guides positioned along the drum. The drum operates reciprocally: when it rotates in one direction, segments of the tows are gathered or wound up onto the drum and preheated; upon counterrotation in the other direction the gathered segments are unwound and forcibly compacted against the tool, or against previously laid filaments. In the gathering part of the operating cycle the drum does not translate with respect to the tool, but rather spins in place at a dwell point. In the depositing part of the cycle, however, the drum effectively rolls along the tool (or filament-pack) surface. Heat from the drum penetrates deeply into the pack of already laid filaments, when present, to facilitate generalized consolidation of the workpiece--enough in many cases to make autoclave postconsolidation unnecessary.

Abstract: The illustrated action toy apparatus comprises an incrementally advancing catcher unit that may be in the form of an animated character such as a shark. The unit moves along a succession of areas of a path. Objects which may represent fish or the like are disposed on the areas. A fish on one area is caught or "eaten" by the shark when the shark reaches that area. As the shark advances to an area, its forward end rises to an elevated position to permit that end to pass over and then come back down upon a fish on that area. The forward and up and down movement of the illustrated shark unit is provided by a motor-driven cam. To maximize continuous playtime, the shark unit is tethered to the center of a gameboard so that it travels around a circular path on the board.

Abstract: To decrease the time required to charge parasitic capacitances, and to thereby increase the maximum permissible switching frequency to which a logic circuit can respond, a GaAs device is disclosed having a current-injecting circuit that generates an initial pulse of capacitor-charging current during a "0"-to-"1" transition in the output state of a GaAs device. The pulse is sufficiently large to quickly charge the parasitic capacitances, and of sufficiently brief duration so that a minimum line width is permissible which is substantially equivalent to that which would be applicable in the absence of the current-injecting circuit.

Abstract: An abrasivejet system for cutting brittle materials is disclosed. One feature of the disclosed system is a jet-producing nozzle assembly which includes means for inducing turbulence in the jet-forming liquid during the period in which the jet initially impacts on the brittle material so that impact stress on the material is reduced. A second disclosed feature is a supplementary suction device, preferable in the form of a second nozzle dimensioned for maximum suction, which maintains a generally constant feed rate of abrasive into the cutting nozzle assembly during the turbulence-inducing phase of operation.

Abstract: MnO.sub.2-x thin films (12) exhibit irreversible memory switching (28) with an "OFF/ON" resistance ratio of at least about 10.sup.3 and the tailorability of "ON" state (20) resistance. Such films are potentially extremely useful as a "connection" element in a variety of microelectronic circuits and arrays (24). Such films provide a pre-tailored, finite, non-volatile resistive element at a desired place in an electric circuit, which can be electrically turned OFF (22) or "disconnected" as desired, by application of an electrical pulse. Microswitch structures (10) constitute the thin film element, contacted by a pair of separate electrodes (16a, 16b) and have a finite, pre-selected ON resistance which is ideally suited, for example, as a programmable binary synaptic connection for electronic implementation of neural network architectures. The MnO.sub.

Abstract: The ability of phosphoglyceride-containing membranes to withstand the disruptive effects of freezing, thawing, or freeze-drying is enhanced when treated with (a) a compound of the formula R-X-R.sub.1, wherein R is a lipid or lipophilic anchor, X is a hydrophilic linker group, and R.sub.1 is a polyalcohol or carbohydrate group, and (b) ascorbic acid.

Abstract: A glass block (10) comprises a plurality of intermediate glass plates (12i) stacked between a top plate (12t) and a bottom plate (12b). The top and bottom plate each have a selected composition, with a particular index of refraction and a softening temperature. The intermediate plates have compositions intermediate those of the top and bottom plates and are stacked so as to provide a gradient in composition from top to bottom. Heating the assembly at a fusion temperature fuses the plates together to form the glass block. After cooling down to room temperature, the glass block can be shaped to make lenses and other light directing devices. Such lenses have a gradient in the refractive index of at least about 0.085, and gradients approaching 0.5 are achievable. The thickness of the glass block along the optic axis is fairly unlimited, and thicknesses on the order of 10 mm and more are routinely achievable by the process of the invention.

Abstract: Certain substances are provided which have the ability to relax smooth vascular muscle, having an endothelial lining, when administered in vitro or by intravenous injection. Examples of useful substances which are pharmaceutically-acceptable include phospholipase A.sub.2 (PLA.sub.2) and certain lysolecithins. The concentration required is at least about 3 units of PLA.sub.2 and at least about 10.sup.-5 Molar lysolecithin. The lysolecithins are dissolved in a suitable solvent, such as dimethyl sulfoxide, for injection. Alternatively, phospholipase A.sub.2 is administered directly. The resulting solutions should have a pharmacologically-effective amount of the substance dissolved therein. Importantly, the body does not develop a tolerance to the lysolecithin.

Abstract: The bottom of a solid metal charge melts to fill a form below the charge. During melting, usually, the metal that enters the form remains continuous with an unused solid part of the charge. After cooling, the formed metal is removed together with the unused part of the charge--and usually with the form too. They are separated later or in a different operation, and another charge is positioned immediately for melting into another form, so the useful duty cycle is very high. A preferred form of the invention uses an upper melting chamber and a lower forming chamber, separated by a horizontal wall but communicating by an aperture through the wall. The charge and form are placed against the wall from below to block the aperture. The charge preferably extends up through the aperture into or toward the melting chamber, where an arc electrode or other heater melts the top of the charge, particularly near its center.

Abstract: A synthetic polymer (24) is provided for endocapsular lens (18) replacement in an eye (10). The polymer, whch is injected into the lens capsule (16) after removal of the lens, comprises an oxygen-stabilized photosensitive prepolymer. An example of such a prepolymer comprises polyether with urethane linkages with one or both ends capped with a functional group containing at least one double bond, such as an acrylate, a methacrylate, or a styrene.The polymerization reaction is initiated with a photoinitiator such as dimethoxyphenylacetophenone and is quenched in the presence of oxygen. Contrary to the prior art polymers, the time of curing is on the order of only a minute or so. The viscosity and thickness of the polymer formed may be tailored to achieve a desired index of refraction of between about 1.3 and 1.6.

Abstract: Compositions for cryopreservation of phosphoglyceride-containing biological and synthetic membranes are provided in which a lipophilic anchor molecule is modified by the attachment of a preferably carbohydrate moiety placed at a predetermined, variable distance from the hydrophobic portion of the molecule by means of a hydrophilic linker unit. A method for the use of the compositions is also provided.

Abstract: The use of stacked Schottky barriers (16) with epitaxially grown thin silicides (10) combined with selective doping (22) of the barriers provides high quantum efficiency infrared detectors (30) at longer wavelengths that is compatible with existing silicon VLSI technology.

Abstract: Gradient optical density transmissive light directing devices (24, 26, 28, 30) and fabrication thereof are disclosed herein. Example of such devices include concentrators, lenses and compound lenses. The present invention teaches a process for the fabrication of glass light transmitting devices having a chosen gradient in index of refraction either bidirectionally (radially and longitudinally relative to an optical axis) or in three dimensions. The present invention further describes the design of several interesting optical devices by particular choices of the gradient in the index of refraction thereof. Such articles have numerous uses in the optics, optical fiber and solar technology industries for the purposes of designing compound lens systems using a single, integral lens, coupling light into fibers and for concentrating and directing light from a source having a significant angular variation to an energy collecting and/or conversion devices such as a photovoltaic cell, to name but a few applications.

Abstract: A molded chip carrier includes an integral carrier body made from a first molded section having a predetermined shape and a second molded section having a second predetermined shape. One of the first and second molded sections is made from a non-conductive material and the other section is made from a non-conductive material that is capable of receiving a deposit of conductive material. A conductive material is deposited on the outer exposed surface of the molded section capable of receiving the deposit. This particular molded section has an outer surface that defines a plurality of non-intersecting, continuous paths that form the input/output leads on the carrier body. The chip carrier includes a protective cap that can be placed over an electronic chip mounted within the carrier body.

Abstract: A new double-epitaxial structure for isolating deep (>5 .mu.m) trench capacitors (10, 10') with 1 .mu.m or less spacing (S) is disclosed. The structure comprises a thin, lightly doped upper epitaxial layer (16) on top of a thicker and more heavily doped bottom epitaxial layer (14). The low resistivity bottom epitaxial layer is intended to isolate trench capacitors of any depth. The high resistivity upper epitaxial layer is used for the CMOS periphery (22, 24) and can be selectively doped to achieve a near uniform concentration to isolate trench capacitors in the core region (20) surrounding the capacitors. Isolation between deep trenches at 1 .mu.m spacing has been demonstrated to be applicable for 4 Megabit and greater DRAM integration levels.