Abstract: A system for detecting the presence of explosives contained in an object under observation, including a cavity structure for receiving the object and a radiation source for producing thermal neutrons directed to the object under observation. Gamma rays are produced to represent the presence of explosives and as an example the concentration of nitrogen contained in the object. Inorganic scintillators are located within the cavity structure to detect the gamma rays and produce an output signal representative of the presence and concentration of the nitrogen and/or other elements contained in the object. The inorganic scintillators are formed as a ring around the cavity structure to detect the nitrogen and/or other elements within at least one particular plane passing through the object. The object under observation is moved through the cavity structure to detect the nitrogen in successive planes to build up a three dimensional profile of explosives concentration.

Abstract: The apparatus of this invention transfers refuse from a container into an opening at the rear end of a hopper in refuse equipment. The apparatus includes first arms pivotable to swing the lower end of the container upwardly. A member cooperates with the first arms to fixedly retain a pin on the container when the first arms have pivoted through a first particular angle. Second arms are then pivoted through a second particular angle to raise the bottom of the container above the lid of the container, while the pin on the container is held at a fixed vertical position, for providing for the transfer of the refuse from the container into the hopper. During such movement, members are moved to effectively raise the lip of the hopper upwardly and to dispose a surface for guiding the transfer of the refuse from the container into the hopper. Members are also provided for gripping the bottom of the container during the pivotal movement of the container upwardly by the second arms.

Abstract: A scanning probe microscope head, which includes means for scanning a probe over a limited portion of a sample surface, includes a casing having feet resting on the sample surface and is moved by positioning means to different portions of the sample surface while the head slides across the sample surface. In one embodiment, a positioning arm is mounted on a carriage driven by a first feed screw, while a sample support is mounted for adjustment by a second feed screw perpendicular to the first. In a second embodiment, the arm is mounted on an X-Y stage adjusted by perpendicular feed screws. In another embodiment, the head rests on the support surface for the sample and slides along this surface as its position is adjusted. The positioning arm supports one or two magnets which magnetically couple the arm to the head casing. The casing is made of ferromagnetic material or nonmagnetic material with a ferromagnetic insert.

Abstract: A first film disposed in a first direction on an integrated circuit chip and having uniformly spaced taps provides progressively increasing resistance values. A second film disposed on the chip in a direction opposite to the first direction at a position displaced in any direction from the first film may have a construction corresponding to that of the first film. First and second reference voltages may be respectively applied to the first and second ends of the first and second films. Particular taps on the first film may be connected to taps in corresponding positions on the second film with corresponding voltages. A plurality of differential comparators are provided, each with a signal input and a reference input. Each comparator reference input is connected to an individual one of the taps on the first film, but not necessarily to successive taps. The reference input connections to the taps may have a non-linear (e.g. a luminance) spacing in the first direction to provide a non-linear voltage (e.g.

Abstract: A beam of energy in a first form, such as electrons, is provided in a first direction. The beam may be pulsed or continuous. The beam is intercepted by a member, such as a converter target, to produce energy in a second form such as x-rays. The converter target may be formed from a heavy material such as tungsten or tantalum. The interaction of the electron beam with the converter target will produce energetic bremsstrahlung x-rays in an energy range including 10.6 Mev to approximately 13.0 Mev. This range is sufficient to excite the abundant nitrogen atoms in common explosives to induce the production of annihilation photons but is not sufficient to substantially excite atom of the most abundant elements of the earth's crust (e.g. oxygen, silicon, iron, aluminum, carbon, hydrogen, etc.), which comprise most common fabricated articles and soils. The converter target is disposed relative to an object (e.g.

Abstract: A printed circuit board has a base made from fibers (e.g., ceramic) and an inorganic coating (e.g., silicon carbide) covering the fibers to provide the base with inorganic properties. The base may have a particular coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) as by providing the fibers with particular characteristics in the plane of, and perpendicular to, the base. The base may be isotropic thermally as by disposing the fibers in two adjacent transverse layers. An inorganic material (e.g. copper) on the base provides a radio frequency barrier. An inorganic material (e.g., silicon dioxide) on the RF barrier constitutes a dielectric insulator. An electrically conductive layer (eg. copper) partially covers the dielectric layer in a pattern defining an electrical circuit. A dielectric material (eg., silicon dioxide) fills the remaining space in this layer in a flush relationship with the conductive layer.

Abstract: A breathing mask is provided which comprises an exhaling valve disposed in an opening of the breathing mask wall. The exhaling valve includes a thin diaphragm which is adapted to be moved by the breathing pressure during inhaling and exhaling either towards or away from a sealing seat. To provide a less expensive breathing mask whose exhaling valve safely closes in particular in dust-particle-containing air and which nevertheless involves low opening and closing pressures, the diaphragm is provided with an arch. Air is allowed to escape over only a part of the circumference of the diaphragm, while the remaining part of the diaphragm circumference is so connected to a base member that the arching direction of the arch is at least partly reversible by the breathing pressure.

Abstract: Abrasive particles are adhered to a first surface of a backing member to define an abrasive-coated flap. The abrasive particles are removed from support portions of the flaps in a pack but only substantially at the positions on the flaps where the flaps in the pack are tightly compressed and supported by retaining members. In addition to being compressed at the support positions, the flaps are compressed at positions interior to the support positions but to a lesser degree than at the support portions because the abrasive material remains on the interior portions of the flaps. An adhesive may be applied to the flaps at the support positions and the interior positions to retain the flaps in fixed position relative to one another. Abrasive strips having compressible properties (e.g. "Scotch Brite" material manufactured by 3M) may be disposed between adjacent abrasive-coated flaps.

Abstract: Probes are formed on a support in a pattern to engage pads on an integrated circuit chip and leads on a printed circuit board. As a preliminary step, a thin layer of a conductive material may be formed on the support. The probes may then be formed by (a) providing facsimiles of the probes on a disposable member, (b) providing a photoresist on the support, (c) adhering the facsimiles to the support in a relationship providing for an easier removal of the disposable member from the facsimiles than the support, (d) developing the photoresist in the areas not occupied on the support by the facsimiles, (e) removing the disposable member, and then the facsimiles, from the support, (f) forming the probes on the support in the spaces previously occupied by the facsimiles and (g) removing the photoresist from the support.

Abstract: A hollow housing with openings at opposite ends has progressive indications of weight at progressive positions along an opening in the housing. A threaded shank of a bolt extends longitudinally into the housing through the opening at the first end. A spring disposed in the housing is attached at one end to the bolt shank and at the other end to a rod which extends through the second end of the housing. A coupling member is attached to the rod to hold an article to be weighed. A retaining nut is disposed within the housing at the first longitudinal end of the housing to receive the bolt shank. A packing member retained by the nut is partially tapped to receive the bolt shank. By only partially tapping the packing member, the bolt is retained in fixed position relative to the nut. The bolt is changed from this fixed position only by applying a rotary force to the bolt to compensate for tare. A nut is disposed on the shank of the bolt externally of the housing.