Abstract: Radiant energy sensor is protected from severe environments with a radiant energy sensor assembly that off-sets the sensor from the environment. The sensor assembly includes a radiant energy sensor, a pair of reflective walls facing one another, one of the walls having a transmissive aperture for receiving radiant energy over a wide angle of incidence, an entry, the other wall having a transmissive aperture for passing energy from behind the wall to the sensor, an exit, with the walls having the reflection characteristics such that the radiant energy entering the entry aperture at any angle is always reflected to the exit aperture. The reflective walls may be paraboloids or Fresnel surfaces in geometry.

Abstract: A method of preventing edge stain in silicon wafers from the edge polishing step with an alkaline slurry, the method consisting of formation of an oxide layer by an annealing step in the presence of oxygen prior to edge polishing.

Abstract: A mounting assembly for securely mounting a dash instrument within a corresponding aperture of a dashboard. The mounting assembly comprises one or more mounting brackets mounted to the instrument and positioned against the rear side of the instrument panel to securely mount the instrument to withstand forces typically experienced by fast moving vehicles such as boats. The mounting brackets each comprise a slot defined therein which divides the bracket into two regions, a first of which provides a tapered portion. A connector extends through the slot and into a corresponding aperture of the instrument so as to contact only one side of the slot of the mounting bracket.

Abstract: Method for the rapid diagnostic of an infection of the urinary tract (UTI), by a specific examination of urine.The method of analyzing a urine specimen, for the rapid and simultaneous counting of both viable bacteria and leucocytes (white blood cells or WBC), consists of:(1) simultaneous labeling of said bacteria and said white blood cells (WBC) present in said urine specimen, with a fluorescent viability marker of bacteria, said marker tagging and accumulating in both bacteria and white blood cells, under the same conditions and leading to different fluorescent elements;(2) automatically counting all the fluorescent elements by photoelectric detection of the fluorescent marker; and(3) simultaneously classifying said fluorescent elements in fluorescent viable bacteria and in fluorescent white blood cells, in view to obtain in one part the total number of bacteria and on the other part, the total number of white blood cells, on the basis of their size.

Abstract: The error resilient method and apparatus for encoding data includes an encoder including a code word generator for generating a plurality of code words representative of respective portions of the data. The code word generator encodes data pursuant to split field coding in which each code word includes a prefix field and an associated suffix field. The prefix field includes information representative of a predetermined characteristic of the associated suffix field, such as the predetermined number of characters which form the associated suffix field. In addition, the suffix fields include information representative of at least some of the original data. Consequently, if the prefix field of a code word is decoded correctly, i.

Abstract: A cosmetic stick lift mechanism for a case having concentric sleeves whose respective rotation is controlled by shoe portions in the form of thin, diverging tongue portions which project from the continuous subjacent external wall of the base of the internal sleeve, with their free flexible ends oriented towards the adjacent end of the base of the sleeve.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for forming a plurality of parts, such as spade-type boring bits, from a continuous stock material. Thus, the various steps of the forming method of the present invention can be performed to predetermined portions of the continuous stock material, prior to separating the continuous stock material into a number of discrete parts. The efficiency of the forming process is enhanced since individual parts need not be individually transported and oriented during the forming operations. By not requiring that the individual parts be separately transported and oriented during the forming operations, the quality of the parts formed by the forming method and apparatus of the present invention will also be enhanced since such separate transportation and orientation of individual parts generally increases the opportunities for misalignment and contributes to poor tolerance control during the manufacturing process.

Abstract: In a semiconductor manufacturing process in which wafers are analyzed using a wafer image (ADS) vision system and automated dimensioning equipment (ADE), an automated communication interface system is provided. The interface system uses a programmable logic controller in combination with relays to communicate signals between the ADS vision system and the automated dimensioning equipment in response to signal indications in both. The programmable logic controller includes a plurality of timers for generating signals of selected duration as well as time delays of selected duration. The relays permit signals to be communicated in the face of signal system incompatibility between components. When a wafer in the automated dimensioning equipment is ready for optical analysis, the interface system responds by sending a start signal to the ADS vision system, which responds by analyzing the wafer and providing accept or reject indications.

Abstract: A method of repairing a composite material product by adhering a repair patch to the composite material product with an adhesive or epoxy resin that includes magnetic particles. Thus, the adhesive or epoxy resin can be cured by electromagnetically exciting the magnetic particles, such as by microwave heating. The electromagnetically excited magnetic particles internally heat the adhesive or epoxy resin to the predetermined Curie Point temperature of the magnetic particles such that the adhesive or epoxy resin cures in a uniform and inspectable fashion. The magnetic particles can be mixed into an adhesive, such as a paste adhesive, a film adhesive or a foam adhesive, to create a magnetic particle integrated adhesive. The magnetic particle integrated adhesive can then be applied between a precured repair patch and the underlying composite material product.

Abstract: There is provided a plastic container having a bottom portion, side wall portions, and a top wall portion. The side wall portions include four face panels, and four somewhat narrower in width connector panels connected at their vertical sides to one side of each one of the face panels, respectively. The connection of the four face panels and the four connector panels forms an octagon. There is an area in each side wall portion between the bottom portion and the top wall portion which is indented inwardly a slight amount. Within the area of the indented portion there is a plurality of concave horizontal ribs circumscribing at least part way around the side wall portion. The top wall portion extends from the side wall portions and merges to a neck which defines an outlet for the container. The container includes a round handle which combats weakness during light weighting. On the shoulder of the top wall portion approaching the neck there are raised supports which improve top loading.

Abstract: There is provided a self-sealing valve structure. The structure has a first sheet of thermoplastic material and a second sheet of thermoplastic material in face-to-face relationship with each other and are secured together along a portion of the longitudinal edges of the sheets and define a passageway therebetween. In one embodiment, the passageway has an air inlet end and an air outlet end. The air outlet end has at least a pair of air outlets located at each of the longitudinal edges of the valve and directing the incoming air through each of the longitudinal edges near the outlet end of said valve. The air outlets are formed by an air deflector blocking the end of the outlet which is preferably of a U-shape or a V-shape. In another embodiment, the passageway directs air through only one longitudinal edge of the valve.

Abstract: A method and medicament for the inhibition of oxidants comprising administering a treatment effective amount of alkylaryl polyether alcohol polymers to a chemical or biologic system in need thereof. Also, a method and medicament for mucociliary clearance, inhibition of cytokine production, and inhibition of interleukin-8 production in cystic fibrosis patients. The method involves administering a treatment effective amount of alkylaryl polyether alcohol polymers to a chemical or biologic system in need thereof. The medicament is preferably administered by aerosolization into the mammalian respiratory system. The medicament may also be applied to the mammalian skin. Preferably, the medicament includes a physiologically acceptable carrier which may be selected from the group consisting of physiologically buffered saline, isotonic saline, normal saline, petrolatum based ointments and U.S.P. cold cream.

Abstract: The fire and explosion suppression system is mounted external to a tank and injects a suppressant medium into the tank via a preformed opening in the tank wall. The fire and explosion suppressant system includes a container for housing a suppressant medium which includes an opening removably connected to the predefined opening in a tank wall. The fire and explosion suppressant system also includes an actuator, such as a detonator, for activating the suppressant medium upon detection of a fire or explosion within the tank. The fire and explosion suppressant system further includes a reclosable valve for sealing the predefined opening in the tank wall. The valve includes a valve housing having at least one port and mounted over the opening in the tank wall. The valve further includes a piston disposed within the valve housing for sealing the tank wall opening.

Abstract: A storage system for storing clean room products includes an enclosed compartment located within or adjacent to a clean room. The compartment includes storage sheles and a horizontal air flow system that includes an air filter, an air exhaust, a blower, and a plenum.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for growing large diameter silicon crystals using the Czochralski (Cz) method, wherein the neck section of the crystal is significantly strengthened to eliminate the risk of breakage in the neck section, by providing a heat shield assembly which is located adjacent to the neck section and ascends in conjunction therewith to force the cooling gas directly onto the neck section of the silicon ingot.

Abstract: Apparatus for the bidirectional transfer of information comprises in each case: at least one rotating component (1); a further component (2); receivers (4, 5) on the respective components (1, 2), said receivers facing one another in groups on the axis of rotation (6) of the rotating component (1); and transmitters (7, 8) fitted on the components (1, 2) eccentrically with regard to the axis of rotation and directed towards the corresponding receivers (4, 5).

Abstract: A cargo loading alignment device is integrally mounted to a movable cargo transport. The transport has a cargo door opening and loading ramp with a longitudinal centerline, and the alignment device is installed near the cargo door opening. The device includes at least one light source for projecting at least one beam of light onto the loading surface, for visually indicating a desired alignment of a delivery vehicle for transferring cargo to and from the transport. A preferred embodiment of the device includes a light source for projecting a first and a second planer beam of light perpendicularly to the centerline of the loading ramp; and a third planer beam of light extending parallel or coinciding with the centerline of the loading ramp.

Abstract: Event debriefing systems and methods are provided for recording a plurality of datastreams related to an event. Each datastream includes chronological information related to at least one aspect of the event. An observer of the event may create time indication marks that facilitate recalling, during debriefing, what transpired at any particular point in time during the event. The recorded datastreams may be retrieved and presented beginning at marked time indications and continued chronologically thereafter in time synchronism.

Abstract: A process of designing and weaving fabrics with pattern repeats over the full length of the fabric such as draperies or bedspreads. The pattern can incorporate one or more actual patterns within the repeat to reduce waste and inventory requirements for fabricators. The pattern repeat is typically incorporated into fabrics having a length greater than 50 inches. The design process is computer-aided to create an engineered repeat in the fabric panels which are then woven using an electronic weaving machine. Individual patterns are repeated across the width and length of the woven fabric.