Abstract: A replenishment crucible is mounted adjacent the usual drawing crucible, from which a monocrystalline boule is drawn according to the Czochralski method. A siphon tube for molten semiconductor transfer extends from the replenishment crucible to the drawing crucible. Each crucible is enclosed within its own hermetic shell and is provided with its own heater. The siphon tube is initially filled with molten semiconductor by raising the inert atmospheric pressure in the shell surrounding the replenishment crucible above that surrounding the drawing crucible. Thereafter, adjustment of the level of molten semiconductor in the drawing crucible may be achieved by adjusting the level in either crucible, since the siphon tube will establish the same level in both crucibles. For continuous processing, solid semiconductor may be added to and melted in the replenishment crucible during the process of drawing crystals from the drawing crucible.

Abstract: An apparatus is described which provides optical scanning with both high resolution and high speed. A low resolution acousto-optic deflector is scan-center coupled with a rotating scanner to allow high scanning speed without degrading the resolution characteristics associated with a rotating scanner. A mirror having a parabolic reflective surface exhibiting spherical aberration cooperates with a rotating multi-faceted cylindrical mirror to maintain the imaging focal point of the beam provided by the apparatus in a flat image field as the beam is caused to scan the field.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are described for providing petri dishes of a culture medium in an oxygen-free manner. Empty petri dishes are supplied to a dispensing glove box chamber providing isolation from the ambient atmosphere, by communicably connecting to such dispensing chamber, another glove box chamber providing isolation from the ambient atmosphere containing the empty dishes. The dishes are sequentially transferred to the dispensing chamber where they are filled with autoclaved culture medium. The filled dishes are transferred to a third chamber (also communicably connected to the dispensing chamber) within which the culture medium can solidify. Once the third chamber is filled with dishes having culture medium it is disconnected from the dispensing chamber and replaced with a fourth chamber having a new batch of unfilled petri dishes.

Abstract: The heating element consists of a substrate or core of a non-magnetic material having high thermal and electrical conductivity, clad with a surface layer of a ferromagnetic material of relatively low electrical conductivity. When the heating element is energized by a source of high frequency alternating current, the skin effect initially confines current flow principally to the surface layer of ferromagnetic material. As temperature rises into the region of the Curie temperature of the ferromagnetic material, however, the decline in magnetic permeability of the ferromagnetic material causes a significant lessening of the skin effect, permitting migration of current into the high conductivity non-magnetic core, thereby simultaneously enlarging the cross-sectional area of the current flow path and expanding it into the highly conductive material; the resistance of the heating element becomes less due to both causes.

Abstract: A solar energy collection panel is described for collecting solar energy to heat water. The panel is a simple, two component arrangement. That is, a cast, one piece construction provides a combined base and frame for the panel and defines the bottom and side walls of a plurality of separate channels for the flow of water to be heated directly by solar radiation. A double paned transparent sheet overlies the combined base and frame, forming the top wall of the channels to enclose the same for water flow while permitting direct impingement on the water of solar radiation passing therethrough. The transparent sheet is rigid to impart structural rigidity to the panel.

Abstract: A vibrator motor is coupled to the frame of a body support structure to vibrate the latter. The motor is energized by a train of triangular pulses modulated by a triangular pulse signal having a lower frequency than that of the triangular pulse train.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are described for generating, under the control of a microprocessor, signals for operating a scanning system of a standard television receiver. A plurality of display segments, each containing information at least partially defining one or more object images that may be desired be included in a specified display on the receiver, are stored in a cartridge memory which can also include specific operating instructions for carrying out a particular video game or other function with such display segments. Indicia uniquely associated with each of the display segments are placed in a predetermined order correlated with the order of appearance in the display of those display seqments which are to be included therein.

Abstract: The adapter includes a spacer which fits in place of the ball joint at the outer end of the lower control arm. The ball joint is mounted within one end of a sleeve, the other end of which is threaded to fit over the spacer. As a result, the ball joint is secured in a position which is elevated above the lower control arm, causing a lowering of that member and of the vehicle with respect to the wheel and the road surface.

Abstract: A pair of cuffs are positioned on the thigh and calf respectively adjacent the knee joint. Each of these cuffs encloses and is backed by a fluid-filled chamber made of a flexible resilient material. The inner surface of this chamber is bonded to an elasticized fabric band which encircles the leg and positions each of the cuffs immediately adjacent the knee joint.An accordion-folded section of tubing extends from the upper to the lower fluid filled chamber along each side of the knee forming a unitary fluid-filled system. A pair of flexible but inextensible straps overlays each of the accordion-folded tubes and is securely fastened to the cuffs. Upon lateral impact, fluid migrates from the side of the knee which has been struck to the opposite side causing the cuffs to firmly grip the thigh and calf, and the accordion-folded tube on the opposite side to fill with fluid, creating compressive force between the knee joint and the tensioned straps and preventing dislocation of the knee joint.

Abstract: An energy cogeneration system of the type employed in industrial plants, such as paper mills, is described. The system utilizes the energy of steam to generate electricity, as well as to operate various industrial processes in the plant. The requirements of the processes for steam are continuously monitored, and if the requirements at any given time are significantly less than the steam being delivered thereto, the delivered steam pressure and/or temperature is reduced to make more steam energy available for other purposes.

Abstract: Electromagnetic structure is described useful as either a position indicator or a differential transformer. The structure includes a pair of magnetic bodies, one of which is rotatable on its axis with respect to the other. The stationary body has three magnetic flux conductive poles projecting from the same to be in alignment with corresponding lobes circumscribing the rotatable body. Aligned poles and lobes define a portion of a pair of closed-loop magnetic flux paths through the two bodies. The middle one of the lobes extends generally transverse to the rotatable axis of the rotatable body, whereas the two outer lobes are spirally related thereto. Rotation of the rotatable body with respect to the stationary body will vary the transverse area of the magnetic material of each of its lobes facing corresponding poles of the other body and, hence, vary the amount of flux which can travel along the flux paths.

Abstract: A parallel/pipeline processor is described designed to quite rapidly solve optimization problems with dynamic programming. The state variables and optimum costs associated with a transition are presented simultaneously to a plurality of parallel comparators at the base of a tree of comparators. Such values are presented in a serpentine memory arrangement which sequentially advances the values between the base comparators to enable the comparator tree to compute optimum transitions for successive state space cells in a pipeline fashion.

Abstract: An infant's crib construction is described which is collapsible to a compact bundle. The crib includes a baby enclosure of a pliant material and a frame of elongate substantially parallel side rods held in a spaced apart, erected position by beyond-center locking toggle spiders at the frame ends.

Abstract: An electronic memory is described which has only two transistors in each memory cell, but does not require that data processing be periodically interrupted to enable refreshing. It adds to a typical, single transistor cell dynamic memory one additional transistor per cell, and a duplication of the driving and sensing circuitry typically included in such a memory. The additional transistor in each cell provides access to the same for refreshing, which refreshing is accomplished by the additional driving and sensing circuitry at the very same time the memory is otherwise being accessed for data processing.

Abstract: A gas ion laser is described having two separate plasma tube assemblies serially aligned with one another between a single set of optical reflectors, i.e., in a single resonator. Unbalanced stresses on the resonator due to the forces of gravity on the separate plasma tube assemblies are obviated by appropriately locating the mounting structure connecting the resonator to the laser base. Each of the plasma tube assemblies is so connected to the resonator structure that its axial alignment within the same can be adjusted. Moreover, a vernier drive arrangement for adjusting the angular orientation of the optical reflectors relative to one another is provided.

Abstract: A computer processor is described capable of simultaneously executing a plurality of programs. It accomplishes this by utilizing the next instruction select elements of a processor to select the next instruction for one program, while the data processing elements of the processor are executing an instruction of another program. The processor includes in addition to the next instruction select and data processing elements normally found in a microprocessor, additional program dependent elements for each of the plurality of programs to be processed. That is, it includes for each of the programs to be processed, a program memory allocation, a program address register, and the non-shared data storage registers, such as accumulators.

Abstract: A carrier for semiconductor wafers to be polished is described, as well as mounting structure for securing the carrier within a polishing machine. The carrier is a relatively thick metal plate having on one of its faces, a sheet of material to which wafers can be adhered. An annular flange is on its opposite face to receive pressure loading from the polishing machine during the wafer polishing operation. Radially extending webs connect the annular flange with that area of the plate to distribute the pressure loading over substantially the full area of the plate opposed to the area on the opposite face on which wafers are to be adhered. An arrangement is included in the holder of the polishing machine for the carrier which applies a vacuum to the carrier to maintain the carrier selectively on the polishing machine, which arrangement releases the vacuum during the polishing operation and also enables simple intentional removal of the carrier.

Abstract: An electrically responsive level of the type used for determining inclination with respect to a gravity field is described. The instrument relies for its operation on a bubble-within-a-vial type of inclination sensor. The vial is generally rectangular in cross-section, and its dimensions and the size of the bubble therewithin are selected to assure that the instrument can be used reliably in the field without false readings and the like. The specific leveling instrument described is of the so-called carpenter's type and is usable not only to provide a visual and/or audio indication of a level condition, but also to measure or establish any inclination between the horizontal and vertical.