Abstract: A latching electrical connector with a body connectable to a receptacle and having a latch mechanism that mechanically engages the receptacle to resist disconnection. A flexible electrical cable extends from the body, and a grip element is connected to the latch mechanism to unlatch the mechanism upon pulling. The grip element is flexibly connected to the latch mechanism so that it may be folded aside to provide a compact arrangement.

Abstract: An injector/ejector mechanism with a lever pivotally connected to a module faceplate to pivot about a pivot axis. The lever has a handle extending away from the faceplate, and a latch portion extending away from the faceplate in a direction opposite the handle portion. The latch portion includes a first tooth and a second tooth, the first tooth being positioned farther from the faceplate than is the second tooth, The lever is movable between a first position in which the first tooth extends laterally from the pivot axis by a limited first amount, and a second position in which the first tooth extends laterally from the pivot axis by a greater second amount, and the lever is spring biased toward the first position.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a plastic shell by providing a printed applique having a central portion with a peripheral skirt portion having an edge, then inserting the applique into the recess on a first side of a mold. The skirt of the applique has a length greater than the depth of the recess, so that the edge of the skirt extends beyond the parting line. The second side of the mold is closed to enclose the recess, and has a second recess that receives the edge of the skirt on the second side of the parting line. Plastic material is injected into the closed mold pressing the applique against the first side, and providing a bezel with an applique that covers the exterior of the front portion, and which extends to cover the skirts beyond the parting line.

Abstract: A film measurement apparatus having a stage with a support surface on which a substrate coated with a film may rest. An extended light source faces the stage, and an imager is aimed at the stage to capture the reflection of the light source. The imager includes a receiver upon which an image of at least an extended portion of the substrate may be generated, and a processor in communication with the imager is operable to calculate the thickness of the film at plurality of locations. The stage may be tilted to empirically measure an average illumination and the contrast between interference fringes, avoiding theoretical estimates provided by Fresnel'equation.

Abstract: A computer printer having a frame contained within a housing, a media transport and printing mechanism attached to the frame within the housing is provided with at least one debris shield positioned above the printing mechanism to protect it from falling debris. The at least one debris shield may be positioned below an air flow path generated by printer ventilation, and the printer may employ a transfer surface on which an image is generated prior to transfer to a media sheet, and above which the debris shield is positioned. Stripper fingers strip the media sheet from the transfer surface and webs between the stripper fingers form an air flow barrier to prevent debris transmission through gaps between the fingers.

Abstract: A method of detecting particles on a wafer support surface comprising positioning a wafer in a first position on the surface with the wafer in the first position, generating a first pattern on the wafer, and moving the wafer. Then, after moving the wafer, generating a second pattern on the wafer to generate a moire pattern by the interaction of the second pattern with the first pattern. The moire pattern is inspected to identify any visual distortion in the moire pattern due to physical distortion of the wafer caused by a particle on the support surface during the generation of the first pattern. The patterns may be ruled parallel lines, and the second pattern may be moved during inspection to shift the moire pattern to reveal distortions over a wide area.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for optical detection and imaging of regional circulatory flow in biological tissues for research purposes. An animal or plant organ is perfused with a saline suspension of colored and/or fluorescent microspheres. The organ is excised and fixed in the form of a specimen block for mounting in a microtome or other suitable apparatus. Under automatic control of a microcomputer equipped with a frame grabber, a surface layer of the block is removed, the resulting new exposed surface of the block receives a flash of illumination from a light source, and light reflected by colored microspheres or, alternatively, light emitted by fluorescent microspheres, is detected by a CCD video camera aimed at the block. Also under microcomputer control, light filters having suitable light bandpasses are interposed between the light sources and the block, and between the block and the camera.

Abstract: A method of providing a beam having precisely orthogonally polarized components includes generating a beam with substantially orthogonally polarized components, splitting the beam to separate the components to separate paths, projecting each component into a respective polarization preserving optical fiber (PPF) or polarizing fiber, recombining the components output from the fibers into a single beam, and transmitting the single beam to an interferometer. The PPFs are rotationally adjustable at their output ends to provide precise orthogonality in the resulting beam.

Abstract: A truck frame with elongated frame rails, a plurality of cross members each spanning between and connected to each of the rails, a first and second of the cross members being spaced apart to define a gap. An elongated bridge having a first and second end is connected at its first end to an intermediate point on the first cross member, and at its second end to an intermediate point on the second cross member. A drive shaft support bearing is connected to the bridge at an intermediate location between the first and second ends. The bridge may include multiple mounting locations so that the bearing may be remounted within a selected range of positions along the bridge.

Abstract: A modular instrumentation system with a chassis having a number of module slots and having a plenum providing airflow to the slots. A ventilator connected to the chassis blows air into the plenum. A number of dampers are connected to the chassis, each adjacent a respective module slot and movable between a closed position blocking airflow between the plenum and the module slot, and an open position permitting airflow between the plenum and the module slot. Each damper is biased to the closed position and automatically moves to the open position in response to installation of a module in the module slot.

Abstract: An elongated tapered nail or rod having an elongated body with a curved tapered shank that may be secured within a proximal portion of the humeral shaft, with a contiguous butt portion of the nail extending proximally from the shank to provide a solid foundation to which the humeral head fragments may be secured. The butt portion has transverse holes oriented at selected angles to receive fasteners attached to the fragments. The nail has a varying taper angle that creates a ridge positioned away from the distal tip, reducing stress concentrations on the bone that may occur at the tip of any reinforcing implant.

Abstract: A light source having a solid state laser emitting a beam that is separated into a number of segments. Each segment is frequency shifted by a different amount so that the segments do not substantially overlap in the frequency domain. Each segment passes through a short focal length lens element of a fly's eye array to be dispersed onto a mask plane for evenly illuminating a mask. The lens elements of the fly's eye array are contained within a small region in comparison to the width of the dispersed beam segments, such that each beam segment contributes illumination to the entirety of a common portion of the mask.