Abstract: A novel infrared detector (20, 20', 20"), is provided, which is characterized by photon-assisted resonant tunneling between adjacent quantum wells (22a, 22b) separated by barrier layers (28) in an intrinsic semiconductor layer (24) formed on an n.sup.+ substrate (26), wherein the resonance is electrically tunable over a wide band of wavelengths in the near to long infrared region. An n.sup.+ contacting layer (34) is formed over the intrinsic layer and the substrate is n.sup.+ doped to provide contact to the quantum wells. The detector permits fabrication of arrays (30) (one-dimensional and two-dimensional) for use in imaging and spectroscopy applications.

Abstract: A method for lining a porous tube (5) with a film (11) of SiO.sub.2 is described. The treated tube may be used to separate hydrogen from reaction mixtures such as those resulting from the water-gas shift reaction or the catalytic decomposition of hydrogen sulfide.

Abstract: A golf club grip cleaner (10) is provided, which comprises (a) a cleaning housing (12) provided with a rotatably mounted cleaning tubular chamber (22) sealed at its bottom end with a cap (30), the tubular means provided with a plurality of cleaning brushes (26) mounted on the inside surrface thereof; (b) a power transducer housing (14) provided with a water inlet (32) and a water outlet (34) and a waterwheel (48) mounted on a shaft (52), the waterwheel activated by the flow of water introduced at the water inlet means; (c) a support platform (16) for supporting the cleaning housing above the power transducer housing; and a universal coupling joint (56) for translating the flow of water past the waterwheel to the cleaning tubular chamber. The cleaner permits the efficient and rapid cleaning of golf club grips.

Abstract: A three-layer metal contact including aluminum is provided for silicon-based semiconductor devices to minimize the effects of formation of silicon precipitates in the aluminum layer and low contact junction leakage. The metal contact comprises a first layer of a refractory metal silicide formed on a silicon surface, an intermediate layer of aluminum formed on the refractory metal silicide and a top layer of a refractory metal silicide formed on the layer of aluminum. Where contact is made to polysilicon layers forming high resistance load resistors, the metal contact of the invention prevents reduction in resistance resulting from the interdiffusion of silicon and aluminum.

Abstract: A stable, low resistance contact is formed in a contact hole (16) through an insulating layer (14), e.g., silicon dioxide, formed on a surface of a semiconductor substrate (12), e.g., silicon, to a portion of a doped region (10) in said semiconductor surface. The contact comprises (a) an adhesion and contacting layer (18) of titanium formed along the walls of the insulating layer and in contact with the portion of the doped region; (b) a barrier layer (20) formed over the adhesion and contacting layer; and (c) a conductive material (22) formed over the barrier layer and at least substantially filling said contact hole. A patterned metal layer (26) forms an ohmic contact interconnect to other devices and external circuitry. The adhesion and contacting layer and barrier layer are either physically or chemically vapor deposited onto the oxide surface. The conductive layer comprises one of CVD or bias sputtered tungsten, molybdenum or in situ doped CVD polysilicon.

Abstract: Gradient optical density transmissive light directing devices (24, 26, 28, 30) and fabrication thereof are disclosed herein. Examples 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 process is provided for the polymerization of 7-oxanorbornene and its derivatives. The process involves the ring opening metathesis of 7-oxanorbornene and its derivatives, preferably using water as the solvent. Such materials may be homopolymerized or, alternatively, copolymerized with other cyclic olefins such as norbornene. The resulting polymers are also novel.

Abstract: A weight plate for use with a barbell type exercise device wherein the plate is coupled to the apparatus' lifting bar for rotation during the exercise movement, which rotation is ultimately blocked by a leverage bar coupled to the plate for rotation therewith and positioned to contact the user's outer forearm during the exercise movement.The plate includes protrusions and recesses on its front and rear faces for interengaging adjacently mounted plates on the apparatus so that the plates rotate together without the need for the leverage bar to penetrate all plates.

Abstract: This chair folds flat for storage and shipment, or unfolds and sets up for use, in only a few (e.g., three to five) seconds. Even though it is strong and stable, the chair can be made from one simple blank of five rectangular panels, two smaller panels and a glue tab, using only two glue joints. Its lower part, a rectangular glued tube, has a vertical seat-support panel across the inside, parallel to two of the outer walls--so the support panel, though preglued in place, folds and unfolds with the tube. The upper part of the chair is an extension of the tube, but the front panel folds inward, backward, and downward to form a seat that spans the tube, supported by the front and seat-support panels. Refinements in support-panel detail facilitate assembly and disassembly while enhancing both support of the seat and controlled deformation of the seat and support for best comfort.

Abstract: A hand and arm restraint (10) is provided for use with victims for Alzheimer's disease and other non-violent patients (13). The restraint has a pouch member (12) which is large enough to receive the hands, lower arms and at least a portion of the upper arms of the patient. The pouch member includes arm-receiving openings (26, 28), the size of which may be adjusted by adjusting ties (26', 28') in conjunction with a ring member 30 at the top corners (18, 20) of the pouch. Adjusting straps (34, 36) at each corner permit securing the pouch member to a bed frame and to adjust the location of the pouch member to enable the patient to comfortably fold his/her arms.

Abstract: A can holder that can be molded from plastic, preferably in two sections. One section comprises a collar for fitting around a container such as an aluminum can, said collar has two lugs on its outer surface and a locking tab in the collar between the lugs. The other section is a handle which can be mounted rotatably between the lugs so that when the handle is in a raised position the collar may be slipped over or removed from the container and when the handle is depressed, a camming face on the end nearest the container is pressed against the locking tab and holds the container securely.

Abstract: A multiplexer for compressing two television programs into the bandwidth normally required for a single television signal is disclosed wherein vertically adjacent lines in the odd and even field of each frame are summed and differenced in pairs having the same color subcarrier phase. "Line pair signals" respectively comprising the sum and difference of each line pair are then formed after the difference signal is time compressed without an overall increase in bandwdth. The line pair signals for each frame of one program are alternately transmitted with the line pair signals of a frame from the second program. The line pair signals of a video frame are fewer in number and longer in duration than NTSC field lines. Timing is such that one frame of both programs is transmitted during the time allotted to the transmission of one frame under the NTSC standard. The lines from odd fields of each program are reconstructed after transmission by adding the appropriate difference signals and sum signals.

Abstract: A jet-dissipating container for use with a fluid jet cutting system is disclosed of the type which holds a plurality of jet-dissipating suspensoids. The container includes a suspensoid-enfolding mesh of material. At least most of the suspensoids have exterior dimensions greater than the dimension of the openings of the mesh. Collection means are positioned about said container to collect and evacuate substances exiting the container through the openings of the mesh.

Abstract: Cubic boron nitride (C--BN) powders admixed with silicon carbide whisker (SCW) or silicon nitride whisker (SKW) may be shock-compacted to pressures of about 17 to 24 GPa. Good consolidation is achieved with 4 to 8 .mu.m particle size C--BN powder admixed with about 15 wt % SNW or about 20 to 25 wt % SCW. The mixture (26) is placed in a ring (24) mounted on a capsule (22) and is shock-compacted with a flyer (10) accelerated by a propellant gun. A sapphire plate (28) prevents penetration of metal particles into the sample during shock processing. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis demonstrate that SCW and SNW in the mixtures is highly deformed and indicates melt textures. Micro Vickers hardness values as high as 50 GPa have been obtained for consolidated C--BN and SNW mixtures. This compares to 21 GPa for single crystal Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 and 120 GPa for diamond.

Abstract: A high pressure hose fitting, and method for sealing the hose to a fitting, is disclosed for use with hoses of the type including a linear disposed about an axially extending passageway, and a reinforcement layer circumventing the liner. The liner is preferably pulled slightly beyond the edge of the reinforcement layer to form a protruding edge region. An end fitting, having a flange with a liner-receiving groove, is inserted into the passageway until the protruding edge of the liner contacts the end wall of the groove, and the flange abuts the reinforcement layer. A swagable collar circumventing the foregoing components is swaged radially inwardly to clamp the liner on its outside diameter.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices, such as silicon-base MOS devices (10) and solar cells (50), degrade as a result of a variety of reasons, such as hot carriers, photons, and ionizing radiations. Degradation in such devices is cured by the presence of atomic hydrogen. Presently, such devices are exposed to atomic hydrogen during processing. However, a source of atomic hydrogen is not available to heal damage over the lifetime of the device. In accordance with the invention, a source (34, 60) of atomic hydrogen is provided in cooperative relationship with the devices. In a preferred embodiment, the source comprises a layer of palladium, disposed at an appropriate location. The palladium is charged with atomic hydrogen during packaging or encapsulating by exposure to a hydrogen-containing species. The palladium cracks the species to generate atomic hydrogen, which it stores and provides to the device on a real-time basis.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for stablizing flow to sharp edged orifices by placing a convergent section upstream of the orifice.

Abstract: In wastewater treatment plants it is conventional to use gas "scrubbers" to remove hydrogen-sulfide gas from digester gas. The reactive scrubbing medium in such digester-gas scrubber vessels is generally iron-oxide "sponge," which is exhausted in use and which is both difficult and dangerous to regenerate. In accordance with the present invention, the spent iron-oxide sponge is immersed in liquid--by filling the scrubber vessel with the liquid--and a regenerating gas is then bubbled through the liquid and the iron-oxide sponge together. The liquid may be water, and the regenerating gas may be air or pure oxygen. The liquid absorbs heat from the regeneration reaction and conducts it out of the iron-oxide medium, eliminating the danger of combustion or explosion without impeding the progress of the reaction. The regenerating gas is applied through a diffuser structure from below.

Abstract: An interconnect (16', 18', 18"), whose interlevel contacts comprise refractory (10) to refractory or refractory to semiconductor substrate (13) interfaces, comprises patterned refractory core portions (10), consisting of tungsten or molybdenum, having top portions (10a) and opposed side portions (10b), provided with sidewall spacers (32a) of aluminum, gold or copper or alloys thereof and formed on surface (12a) of insulating layers (12). The sidewall spacers afford lateral low resistivity cladding of the refractory portions as well as suppression of the electromigration failure modes of voiding and whiskering, while leaving the top portion of the core portions available for refractory to refractory contacts and the bottom portion of the core portions available for refractory to refractory or refractory to silicon contacts.

Abstract: A foldable viewer includes a front wall having a pair of lens-receiving openings and a pair of optical lenses affixed thereto. A rear wall is included and has a pair of openings over which transparencies depicting stereoscopic images are affixed. The front and rear walls are attached to top, bottom and side walls to create a box-like structure when assembled. The walls cooperate to form a bellows-like structure that permits the viewer to be flattened for storage, mailing or placement in a magazine-like publication.