Abstract: An article of neckwear, the article comprising at least one separable region. The separable region separates the neckwear into at least two portions when a force that exceeds a threshold is applied across the separable region. Also, a method of making an article of neckwear comprising the step of treating at least one region such that it has a reduced fabric strength than other regions of the neckwear.

Abstract: A method and an arrangement is provided for treating substrates, such as, for example, silicon wafers (1), in which the latter are immersed for some time in a bath (2) containing a liquid (3) and are then taken therefrom so slowly that practically the whole quantity of liquid remains in the bath (2). According to the invention, the substrates (1) are brought from the liquid (3) directly into contact with a vapor not condensing via leads (17) with outlet nozzles (18). The vapor is of a substance miscible with the liquid (3), which, when mixed therewith, yields a mixture having a surface tension lower than that of the liquid. It has been found that no drying marks with organic or metallic residues or other contaminations then remain on the substrates (1).

Abstract: The invention relates to a circuit arrangement with a piezoelectric transformer having two electrodes arranged on the primary side of the transformer and such a piezoelectric transformer itself. Piezoelectric transformers of this type are used, for example, for the power supply or control of lamps or electron tubes. For controlling such a piezoelectric transformer directly on the primary side by a most frequently available DC voltage, instead of an AC voltage as is customary, according to the invention a DC voltage source is connected to the electrodes and a switching device is provided for interrupting the supply of voltage to at least one electrode, the positions of the switching device being dependent on the state of expansion of the primary side of the transformer. The switching device is thus periodically closed and opened, the applied DC voltage is thus interrupted periodically.

Abstract: The determination of a plurality of sequences of words from a speech signal with a decreasing probability of correspondence utilizes the best word sequence as a basis and as further word sequences there are determined only those which enclose a part of the best word sequence, that is to say the remainder of these word sequences. To this end, the recognition involves first the formation of a word graph and the best word sequence is separately stored as a tree which initially has one branch only. The word boundaries of this word sequence form nodes in this tree. Because only nodes of this tree have to be taken into account for the next-best word sequences, the calculation is substantially simpler than if the complete word graph were first completely expanded in the form of a tree and completely searched again for each new word sequence.

Abstract: A method of selectively metallizing a thermoplastic substrate using a hot foil embossing technique, a patterned metal layer being transferred to the substrate from a metal foil by a cutting and pressing procedure including steps (a) and (b). In step (a) the patterned metal layer is first cut from the foil using a punch-press at a selected pressure p.sub.a. In step (b) the cut patterned metal layer is then attached to the substrate using a press at a pressure p.sub.b which is .ltoreq.10 N/mm.sup.2 and also <p.sub.a, and a temperature T.sub.b .gtoreq.100.degree. C. This avoids concurrent application of high pressure and high temperature, which could cause formation of upset edges at the surface of the substrate.

Abstract: A thermistor comprising a semiconductor ceramic with an oxide spinel, which contains the elements maganese, nickel and indium. Thermistors of said composition are thermally stable and are characterized by a high resistivity and a high B-value.

Abstract: A high pressure gas discharge lamp and the method of making same utilizing integrated circuit fabrication techniques. The lamp is manufactured from heat and pressure resistant planar substrates in which cavities are etched, by integrated circuit manufacturing techniques, so as to provide a cavity forming the gas discharge tube. Electrodes are deposited in the cavity. The cavity is filled with gas discharge materials such as mercury vapor, sodium vapor or metal halide. The substrates are bonded together and channels may be etched in the substrate so as to provide a means for connection to the electrodes. Electrodeless RF activated lamps may also be fabricated by this technique. Lamps fabricated from three or more planar substrates are disclosed.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of constructing an electrolytic capacitor with a heat sink, which includes attaching a surface area of the heat sink in intimate contact with a surface area of the capacitor. The invention also provides a method of constructing an electrolytic capacitor with a heat sink which includes the steps of (i) selecting a surface area of the electrolytic capacitor and a surface area of the heat sink for intimate contact, and (ii) attaching the surface area of the heat sink in intimate contact with and the surface area of the electrolytic capacitor. Moreover, the invention provides for an electrolytic capacitor constructed in accordance with the methods described above and also for a device including an electrolytic capacitor having a surface area in intimate contact with a surface area of a heat sink.

Abstract: Known is an optical receiver (4) in which first a received broadband optical signal is converted to a broadband electric signal by means of a optoelectric converter (49) comprising a transimpedance amplifier, and thereafter a channel is selected from the converted broadband signal by means of a tuner which is coupled to the transimpedance amplifier. Such a configuration is not optimal in fulfilling noise and bandwidth requirements. An optical receiver (4) for subcarrier multiplexed optical signals is proposed which has a tunable frequency selective front-end section (30) that is directly coupled to a photodiode (49) as an optoelectric converter so as to selectively pass a tuned channel from the received subcarrier multiplexed optical signal to a succeeding amplifier (36; 61).

Abstract: An apparatus comprising an electrical device having a first connection terminal, a second connection terminal and a holder for holding a voltage source having two voltage-source terminals. The holder has a first contact, a second contact and a third contact for cooperation with the voltage-source terminals. Via these contacts the first connection terminal is connectable to one voltage-source terminal and the second connection terminal is connectable to the other voltage-source terminal. The holder is adapted to allow the first contact, the second contact and the third contact to engage simultaneously with the voltage-source terminals. When the voltage source is present the first contact and one of the two other contacts are in engagement with one of the voltage-source terminals, and the other contact, which is not in engagement with the first voltage-source terminal, is in engagement with the second voltage-source terminal.

Abstract: A description is given of an optical inspection device for inspecting two oppositely located surfaces (3, 4) of a transparent object (1), for example a lithographic mask. The device is constructed in such a manner that for each inspection beam (a, c) the radiation path to the surface to be inspected (3, 4) is substantially equal to the radiation path from the surface to be inspected to a detector (29, 40), so that these paths comprise the same scanning element (10), preferably a mirror polygon. By virtue thereof, the radiation spots formed on the detectors are stationary and an inspection signal having a good signal-to-noise ratio is obtained.

Abstract: A device is described for aligning a first object provided with a first alignment mark (P) with respect to a second object provided with a second alignment mark (M), which marks have a periodical structure and are imaged onto each other. By selecting beam portions from the radiation from the first alignment mark (P) with the aid of an order diaphragm (55'), which beam portions are deflected through larger angles, the sensitivity of the device to errors can be decreased. Such a device may be used to great advantage in a lithographic apparatus.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a pattern on a substrate (w), either or not via a mask pattern (c), are described. The radiation dose can be measured accurately and reliably by measuring a latent image of a new, asymmetrical test mark (TM) by means of an optical alignment device present in the apparatus or associated therewith, this latent image being formed by means of production radiation (PB) in the radiation-sensitive layer on the substrate.

Abstract: A large-area electronic device comprises an array (1) of device elements (2,3) coupled to row and column conductors (A and B). The column conductors (B) are arranged in groups, (e.g M, M+1, M+2), and a column multiplexer circuit (C) couples the column conductors (B) of a respective group to a respective common terminal (5). The present invention provides a compatible multiplexer circuit (C) for the array (1), the operation of the circuit (C) using electrical switching rather than optical switching. This multiplexer circuit (C) for each column conductor comprises a diode bridge (SD3 to SD6) and may include a clamping switch (SD1, SD2). A signal is transmitted between the column conductor (B) and a common output terminal (5) in a first state of the diode bridge (SD3 to SD6). The potential of the column conductor (B) is clamped by the clamping switch (SD1, SD2) in a second state of the diode bridge.

Abstract: The method and system are used to process a set of data elements, such as components of vectors used in pattern recognition, in parallel on a conventional sequential processor 30. A group of data elements is loaded into a data register of the processor 30 as a compound data element. The data register is operated on using a conventional processor instruction, such as an addition, subtraction or multiplication. The compound data element comprises an arrangement of at least two blocks, with each block comprising at the low order bit positions a data element and at the high order bit position(s) at least one separation bit. The separation bits are assigned predetermined bit values ensuring that during a processor operation the desired parallel result is formed.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a dynamic groove bearing having parts rotatable relative to one another. The bearing parts include cooperating bearing surfaces and a pattern of grooves by means of a metal-removing tool. A first bearing part is fastened to a rotatable support of a machine tool, which is rotated in a constant direction. The tool is periodically displaced relative to the first bearing part parallel to a direction transverse to the bearing surface of the first bearing part by a positioning device with a frequency which is determined by a product of a rotation frequency of the support and a number of grooves on the bearing surface of the first bearing part. The tool is periodically displaced in a sinusoidal movement and the positioning device may include a piezoelectric actuator (95). A data storage unit including dynamic groove bearings is also provided.

Abstract: A method of providing an electrical component with surface-mountable metallic terminals, the component comprising two substantially parallel faces (S.sub.1, S.sub.2) with which electrical contact can be made, the perpendicular separation of these faces (S.sub.1, S.sub.2) having a value t, which method comprises the following steps:(a) Providing a substantially planar lead-frame in which an open area is framed by metallic strips, the open area containing a first peninsular protrusion and a second peninsular protrusion which emerge from oppositely located strips, the first protrusion emerging as a stub and then bifurcating into two arms, the second protrusion emerging as a stub and then continuing as a single arm which extends between the two arms of the first protrusion;(b) Bending a step into the second protrusion, so that part of its stub remains within the plane P.sub.0 of the strips but that part of its single arm is displaced into a plane P.sub.2 substantially parallel to P.sub.

Abstract: The invention relates to a composite piezoelectric multilayer element of which, in operation, only a part is piezoelectrically active, and to a method of manufacturing such an element. In accordance with the invention, the piezoelectrically inactive part has larger dimensions in one or more directions than the part which, in operation, is piezoelectrically active when a voltage is applied across the electric connections of the element. Moreover, the inactive part is built up of ceramic foils and electrode layers whose thickness and composition correspond to the thickness and composition of the part of the element which, in operation, is piezoelectrically active. The element in accordance with the invention can be manufactured in a simple and inexpensive manner.

Abstract: A piezoelectric transducer has groups of a first part and second part therebetween. Thin piezoelectric ceramic layers in groups and thick piezoelectric ceramic layers in the second part are polarized in the direction of thickness A or B. All of electrodes are layers, and each electrode is provided between the piezoelectric ceramic layers. A step-up output voltage is generated between the piezoelectric ceramic layers of the second part by longitudinal vibration of the piezoelectric ceramic layers of the groups.

Abstract: A radiation-emitting semiconductor diode, especially a laser having a first and a second cladding layer, an active layer and a mesa which comprises at least the second cladding layer and which lies recessed in a third cladding layer. The second cladding layer comprises a first sub-layer which adjoins the active layer and is comparatively thin, and a second sub-layer which adjoins the first sub-layer and is comparatively thick, while the refractive index of the first sub-layer is lower than that of the second sub-layer. Confinement in the thickness direction of charge carriers and radiation is good in such a diode, while the third cladding layer has a relatively high refractive index (giving a relatively low bandgap). Thus, the third cladding layer has a relatively low aluminium content, while providing good lateral confinement.