Abstract: A microwave antenna structure couples electromagnetic microwave energy from a microwave transmission line into a sample contained in a sample container without invasion of the sample. The microwave antenna structure is formed by a bifilar helix of conducting first and second helical elements. The first and second helical elements are arranged in a parallel relationship defining a double helix with alternating spaced apart helical turns from the respective first and second helical elements. The double helix forms a holder for receiving and holding a sample container within the turns of the double helix. The first and second helical elements are formed with coupling extension for coupling to opposite polarity conductors of a microwave transmission line. Electromagnetic microwave energy propagating along the transmission line is coupled into sample material within the sample container.

Abstract: A magnetic stirrer provides controlled and uniform stirring of multiple samples in multiple sample containers containing a stirring magnet. An elongate armature of nonmagnetic material is mounted for rotation on a substantially vertical axis. A motor rotates the elongate armature. First and second drive magnets are mounted at opposite ends of the elongate arms. The drive magnets are oriented with the respective magnetic pole axes in opposite substantially vertical directions. The drive magnets describe a circumference of a circle in a plane upon rotation of the armature. Multiple samples in multiple sample containers are placed at locations spaced from the plane, either above or below, and offset from the circumference of the circle, either outside or inside, for uniform and controlled rotation of the stirring magnets contained in the sample containers. In an alternative embodiment, vertical stems are mounted at the ends of the elongate arm.

Abstract: In a method of seismic exploration using swept-frequency signals, compressional and shear waves are emitted simultaneously. Typically the waves are generated by swinging-weight vibrators acting through a single baseplate. If the frequency of the shear vibration is one-half that of the comopressional vibration, the downward vertical forces can be phased to minimize the horizontal slippage of the baseplate. The sensitive axis of the geophones is inclined to the vertical for detecting both compressional waves and shear waves. For defined ranges of sweep rate, separate compressional and shear records are obtained by cross-correlating the geophone signal separately against the vertical and horizontal emissions.

Abstract: A system for reducing roll of vessels comprises at least one and preferably a pair of hydrofoil devices suspended from lines rigged on each side of the vessel, preferably from outrigger booms. The devices are asymmetrical foils which are arranged to provide a downwardly acting hydrodynamic force as the devices move with respect to the water. The center of the hydrodynamic force, the center of gravity of the device, and the suspension line attachment being in vertical alignment to provide a balanced foil. The devices function when the vessel is under way and when the vessel is stationary. The hydrodynamic force provides tension in the suspension lines which serves to damp the tendency of the vessel to roll while under way. The hydrodynamic force assures that the devices will not suddenly lose their damping effect or loose control and jerk or breach. When not under way, rolling is damped by differential resistance of the devices to upward movement through the water.

Abstract: A rotational position indicator useful for example for indicating wind direction is provided by a stator having nine position sensors substantially equally spaced around the circumference of a circle and an armature mounted for rotation on an axis located at the center of the circle. The armature is formed with two position sensor actuators mounted at approximately 140.degree. relative to each other. Each position sensor actuator is mounted at a radial position for selectively actuating the position sensors upon rotation of the armature. An electric circuit is coupled to each position sensor for indicating actuation or not of the respective position sensor. The output provides a unique position code for successive intervals of angular positioning of the armature relative to the stator. The actuators have an actuating effect over a selected angular interval sufficient to produce 36 unique position codes for indentifying successive 10.degree.

Abstract: A new permutation bit map architecture is described for flexible cellular addressing, image creation, and frame buffer control in raster graphics machines. A new frame buffer address generator and address circuitry accesses frame buffer memory locations with different word and cell configuration addressing modes to increase performance and efficiency. A new graphics image data generator creates, modifies, and updates graphics image data in the frame buffer memory locations accessed by the multiple addressing mode word and cell configurations of the address generator and address circuitry. The graphics image data generator provides vector drawing, polygon filling, "Bit Blt's" or bit block transfers, alignment and masking of graphics image data, and refresh display of a raster view surface. Vector drawing is achieved with greatly increased performance because of the multiple cellular addressing modes of the addressing circuitry.

Abstract: An undergarment is provided for wear by men during work or recreation activities in the style of a pair of boxer type shorts. A partitioning liner is secured at the inside of the shorts and includes a cup portion adjacent to the front of the shorts. The cup portion is slotted or open in the front to form first and second partitions for positioning in the clefts on either side of the groin of the wearer to prevent chafing. A first panel of gusset secures the first partition to a first location on one side of the front of the shorts. A second panel or gusset secures the second partition to a second location on the other side of the front of the shorts spaced from the first location. A third panel secures the bottom of the liner to the crotch of the shorts. The independent suspension or coupling of the partitioning liner assures that the partitions remain securely in place without riding up and down with the shorts.

Abstract: A quick release grinding assembly is incorporated in a condiment grinder mill. A base receives and stores condiment pieces such as peppercorns. A head is mounted on the base for rotation relative to the base. An elongate shaft extends through the head and base and the shaft is secured to the head for rotation relative to the base. The grinding mechanism includes a grinder cone attached to the end of the shaft and a grinder ring mounted in the end of the base. A support ring is formed with an outer perimeter or ring secured to the base and a flexing inner perimeter or ring of flexible deformable material receives and centers the shaft. The inner rim deformable material has an initial configuration and memory for return to the original configuration after flexing deformation. The shaft is formed with projecting ears arranged to be forcibly passable through the inner rim of the support ring by flexing deformation of the inner rim for quick release disassembly and assembly of the grinding mechanism.

Abstract: A tile spacing gauge for gauging the space for a last row of tiles is also a tile holder that is coupled to a tile cutter so that the tile spacing gauge forms an integral component of the tile cutter. Tiles for the last row are held in position at a butting edge of the tile spacing gauge for scoring by the tile cutter along a line set by the tile spacing gauge without requiring an intermediate step of actually measuring and marking the tiles. In the described example, an elongate frame cross arm of the tile spacing gauge is formed with brackets spaced apart at either end. The brackets slideably receive elongate gauge arms in parallel with each other and at right angles to the frame cross arm. Positioning of the gauge arms affords parallel and independent measurement of distances from reference edges on the brackets placed against the second to last row of installed tiles to a boundary. The independent measurements take account of "out of square" wall frames and structures.

Abstract: A coil form bobbin (20) for winding coil winding wire is a flat disk (22) formed with a plurality of peripheral radial slots (24,25,26) comprising at least one set of n slots spaced around the periphery of the flat disk dividing the bobbin into a respective set of n segments. The slots extend from the outside perimeter part way the flat disk. A method for winding flat coil windings on the coil form bobbin is described. The coil winding is in flat configuration for rotor and stator applications. Each winding phase (44,45,46) of multiple turns of coil winding wire is wound in the configuration of a flat substantially regular polygon. The multiple turns of coil winding wire turn in the same direction for conducting electrical current in the same rotational direction around the phase.

Abstract: A temperature compensated ECL gate (20) with each gate circuit resistance formed by a pair of opposite polarity temperature coefficient resistors. A first gate transistor element (Q1) and a second gate transistor element (Q2) coupled at a common emitter coupling (12) provide alternative collector current paths from high potential (V.sub.cc) through a first gate transistor collector path with collector resistance (R11,R12) and a gate transistor collector path with collector resistance (R21,R22). A current source transistor element (Q3) is coupled between the common emitter coupling (12) of the gate transistor elements and low potential (V.sub.EE) through current source resistance (R31,R32). The resistances of the ECL gate each include a positive temperature coefficient silicon first resistor (R11,R21,R31) and a negative temperature coefficient low capacitance polysilicon second resistor coupled (R12,R22,R32) in series.

Abstract: A waste fuel incineration process and system operates at very high temperatures with excess under fire air for high efficiency combustion of waste as a fuel and for decomposition of any toxic waste. The system is applicable for clean burning volume reduction of waste and for power generation and co-generation of heat. The control elements are constructed and arranged and the control circuit programmed for maintaining the primary combustion temperature at a target temperature selected in the range of approximately 1600.degree.-1800.degree. F. (871.degree.-982.degree. C.

Abstract: An improved process for fabricating modified isoplanar integrated circuits with enhanced density incorporates a number of interactive and co-acting process steps. First, oxide isolation of epitaxial islands is effected in a two step process, forming a thin thermally grown oxide layer (32), over the surfaces of shallow trenches and then filling the shallow trenches with deposited low temperature oxide (34). Second, an enhanced single polycrystalline or polysilicon layer process uses a blanket implant, eliminates certain masking and etching steps, and defines the polycrystalline layer. Third, a new method and structure is provided for dielectrically isolating and separating contact locations on different surface levels of the integrated circuit structure adjacent to step locations between the surface levels. Finally, a new method constitutes all of the electrical contact locations for the elements of the integrated circuit structure at the same substantially isoplanar level.

Abstract: Laboratory animal shipping containers having a generally cylindrical configuration container housing may be stacked and the stacks placed in a close packing density arrangement while still affording adequate air ventilation substantially entirely around the containers. The generally cylindrical configuration container housing is formed by two substantially symmetrical and interchangeable mating halves each having a substantially circular base and a ventilated side wall depending or extending from the base. A plurality of mating tabs or flanges extend from the perimeter of the side wall of each mating half. A slotted strap or locking band is formed with elongate spaced slots around the locking band for sliding over flush pairs of mating tabs around the middle of the container for securing the mating halves together at the roots of the tabs. Radial partitions define a plurality of compartments within the container housing.

Abstract: An improved integrated circuit die with multiple circuits on the same substrate of semiconductor material is formed with circuit elements of the multiple circuits grouped respectively into at least first and second circuit areas or sections of the die. The first and second circuit sections of the die are separated and spaced from each other by a moat or separating boundary line. The separating boundary line is formed using appropriate mask lines on the fabrication masks. The separating boundary line is composed of the substrate semiconductor material between the circuit sections. The separating boundary line is formed without implanting buried collector layers or channel stop regions in the substrate semiconductor material of the boundary line width and depth. Relatively high resistive substrate isolation of the circuit sections of the die reduces feed through coupling of AC signal between circuit elements of the respective circuit sections.

Abstract: A new composite material of an open foam substrate and bonded micropackaged active ingredient particles is generated by foam polymerization of a prepolymer phase and an aqueous phase. The foam substrate is an open cell foam for dispensing active ingredient liquids or solids released from the particles. The particles of micropackaged active ingredient liquids or solids are formed with frangible containment walls for breaking and releasing the active ingredient in response to defined stress. The micropackaged active ingredient particles are approximately 400 to 5,000 microns in diameter. The aqueous phase is a pourable and flowable slurry mixture of an aqueous liquid carrier such as water, micropackaged active ingredient particles in the range of 1%-60% by weight of the aqueous phase, and surfactant wetting agent for adjusting the surface tension of the aqueous phase to produce an open cell foam upon polymerization with the prepolymer phase.

Abstract: A drip stop spacer spaces a roof or wall covering such as sheet plastic from purlins or other frame members of a greenhouse. An elongate elastic cylindrical helix is formed of a length of helical chord of flexible material with chord depth dimension in the radial direction of the helix selected to achieve a desired spacing between a covering and frame members. The helix diameter is sufficient to place the helix in turns around the frame members with lead or pitch between turns of the helix selected to prevent sagging contact of the covering against frame members. The spacer elements can be installed by twisting or winding around the purlins without requiring removal of frame members. Condensation flowing down the covering bypasses the purlins and purlin dripping is avoided.

Abstract: A new air cushion support system for air cushion vehicles is composed of a plurality of annular peripheral jet units or modules distributed in an array in a common plane. Each peripheral jet module develops a separate air cushion or air bubble under the module to provide a plurality of independent air cushions under a vehicle. Each peripheral jet module or unit is a spring-loaded pressurized air valve with a control piston at the center of the valve spring biased to respond to back pressure variation of the air bubble or air cushion developed beneath the module caused by variations in terrain over which a vehicle is traveling. Each module or valve is formed by a pod defined by an inwardly sloping peripheral outer wall or pod skirt for directing pressurized air inwardly and downwardly toward the pod. Each module further includes a valve head, piston or pit seating within the pod skirt.

Abstract: Secondary winding configurations and methods particularly applicable for toroid transformers are described for winding secondary windings over the indexed primary winding and toroidal core. The secondary winding is formed in the configuration of a multifilar winding of a plurality of coplanar parallel filaments with a first elongate strip of electrically insulating material bonded to the filaments on one side and a second elongate strip of electrically insulating material bonded to the filaments on the other side and to the first elongate strip. The resulting electrically insulated multifilar strap winding contains the filaments in substantially parallel coplanar relationship. The multifilar strap winding is wound around the toroidal core in substantially equally spaced turns. The strap winding maintains the filaments substantially in equally spaced relationship relative to each other over irregular surfaces and compound curvature of the toroidal core without crossover.

Abstract: A load monitoring, indicating, and alarm system monitors electrical continuity through an AC electrical load coupled in a first electrical line with an electrical indicator such as an indicating lamp in a second electrical line coupled in parallel with the first electrical line. A first AC electronic switch such as a triac is coupled in series with the indicator in the second electrical line. The actuating gate of the first AC electronic switch is coupled to the first electrical line. The first AC electronic switch is therefore conducting and the indicator lamp on when there is electrical continuity through the load and power is being supplied to the load. A reactance control component is coupled in series with the load for adjusting the phase angle of gate current to voltage delivered to the gate terminal of the first AC electronic switch. The reactive component may be a second AC electronic switch coupled in series with the electrical load in the first electrical line.