Abstract: A specially adapted SMIF pod (20) receives and holds one particular type of reticle cassette (36) or reticle holder (132) selected from among dozens of different configurations thereof. The SMIF pod (20) may be interrogated to determine the particular type of reticle cassette (36) or reticle holder (132) carried therein. A reticle transfer system (50) receives a pair of such SMIF pods (20), interrogates each of the SMIF pods (20) to ascertain which type of reticle cassette (36) or reticle holder (132) the SMIF pod (20) carries, and automatically moves reticles (42) through a controlled environment from one reticle cassette (36) or reticle holder (32) to another reticle cassette (36) or reticle holder (132). A reticle reorienter (56) includable in the system (50) also permits automatically exchanging reticles (42) between a reticle carrier (144) and a reticle cassette (36) or reticle holder (132).

Abstract: Netting (15) includes mesh bars (26) made from twines (11, 13) which possess physical properties that vary, change or alternate along a series of collinear mesh bars (26). The non-homogeneous media obtained by arranging in this way mesh bars (26) having varying physical properties may be configured to dampen or attenuate vibrations in the netting (15) such as harmonic oscillations (resonance). Furthermore, twines (11, 13) that attenuate vibrations may be chosen that also reduce the amount of material required to make netting (15) which has strength similar to or greater than conventional machine-made netting (15). Due to reduced vibration, the improved netting (15) lasts longer than conventional machine-made netting (15), and reduces the possibility of injury to fish which escape through a trawl's mesh cell openings.

Abstract: A plant hanger includes several generally C-shaped arms having apertures passing therethrough at opposite ends of each arm. The plant hanger also includes a first plurality of beads each of which has an aperture passing therethrough. The arms and the beads are secured together by a ring which passes both: 1. through one of the apertures which pass through each of the arms; and 2. through the apertures which pass through each of the beads. Lastly, the plant hanger includes at least a pair of flexible belts. Each of the belts passes through more than half of the apertures which pass through each of the arms and are located at ends of the arms furthest from the apertures through which the ring passes. Moreover, both belts pass coincidently through apertures which pass through at least two (2) of the arms, which, preferably, are located on opposite sides of the plant hanger.

Abstract: Fishhooks (20), artificial lures (23, 35, 65, 67 and 91) or trailer rods (120) include both an anodic segment (25, 85 and 105) and a cathodic segment (27). The anodic and cathodic segments (25, 85, 105 and 27) are arranged so that immersion of fishhooks (20), artificial lures (23, 35, 65, 67 and 91) or trailer rods (120) in water establishes a galvanic cell that generates an electo-magnetic field which simulates the natural bioelectric field of living prey. A particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention interposes an insulated segment (29) between the anodic and cathodic segments (25, 85, 105 and 27) of fishhooks (20), artificial lures (23, 35, 65, 67 and 91). While galvanic action occurs between the anodic and cathodic segments, fishhooks (20) and artificial lures (23, 35, 65, 67 and 91) and trailer rods (120) in accordance with the present invention establish a constant, bioelectric simulating electromagnetic field.

Abstract: A deck with an integrated gutter system includes at least two separated joists and a plurality of planks. Each plank includes longitudinal grooves, is disposed above and supported by the joists, has an undersurface which is juxtaposed with the joists, and is secured to the joists. The deck also includes a plurality of unitary channels. Each channel includes a pair of flanges which mate with longitudinal grooves of immediately adjacent planks. The mating of the flanges of the channel with the grooves of the planks provides the deck with an impervious gutter that extends between and along the two planks, and is located above the joists to which the planks are secured.

Abstract: A MEMS switch includes a micro-machined monolithic layer (122) having, a seesaw (52), a pair of torsion bars (66a, 66b), and a frame (64). The frame (64) supports the seesaw (52) for rotation about an axis (68) established by the torsion bars (66a, 66b). Shorting bars (58a, 58b) at ends of the seesaw (52) connect across pairs of switch contacts (56a1, 56a2, 56b1, 56b2) carried on a substrate (174) bonded to one surface of the layer (122). A base (104) is also joined to a surface of the layer (122) opposite the substrate (174). The substrate (174) carries electrodes (54a, 54b) for applying forces to the seesaw (52) urging it to rotate about the axis (68). An electrical contact island (152) supported at a free end of a cantilever (166) ensures good electrical conduction between ground plates (162a, 162b) on the layer (122) and electrical conductors on the substrate (174).

Abstract: An optical chromatic dispersion compensator (60) betters optical communication system performance. The dispersion compensator (60) includes a collimating means (61) that receives a spatially diverging beam of light from an end of an optical fiber (30). The collimating means (61) converts the spatially diverging beam into a mainly collimated beam that is emitted therefrom. An optical phaser (62) receives the mainly collimated beam from the collimating means (61) through an entrance window (63), and angularly disperses the beam in a banded pattern that is emitted from the optical phaser (61). A light-returning means (66) receives the angularly dispersed light and reflects it back through the optical phaser (62) to exit the optical phaser near the entrance window (63) thereof.

Abstract: An emitter converts a serial input data stream into a set of parallel substreams. An OQAM modulator (120) receives and supplies each substream to an input of a synthesis filter bank (130). Synchronization input(s) of the filter bank receive an OQAM signal that carries a data sequence. This sequence contains frame, superframe and hyperframe synchronization patterns, and specifies the number of bits allocated to each subchannel. A receiver (200) includes an analysis filter bank (210) that decomposes the multicarrier signal into a set of elementary signals for each subchannel. A synchronizing processing block (270) receives output(s) of the filter bank for synchronization subchannel(s). The block (270) includes a first cascade of blocks that control receiver sampling times, and a second cascade of blocks that extract synchronization patterns and subchannel bit assignment data.

Abstract: A deck with an integrated gutter system includes at least two separated joists and a plurality of planks. Each plank includes longitudinal grooves, is disposed above and supported by the joists, has an undersurface which is juxtaposed with the joists, and is secured to the joists. The deck also includes a plurality of unitary channels. Each channel includes a pair of flanges which mate with longitudinal grooves of immediately adjacent planks. The mating of the flanges of the channel with the grooves of the planks provides the deck with an impervious gutter that extends between and along the two planks, and is located above the joists to which the planks are secured.

Abstract: One aspect of the present invention establishes a session key by a receiving unit R transmitting a plurality of quantities for storage in a public repository. A sending unit S: 1. retrieves the plurality of quantities; and 2. computes and transmits to the unit R a plurality of sender's quantities. The unit R then: 1. computes and transmits to the unit S at least one receiver's quantity; and 2. computes the session key. The unit S, using the receiver's quantity, computes the session key. Another aspect provides a digital signature. Before transmitting a signed message, the unit S stores a plurality of quantities in the public repository. A unit R, that receives the message and the digital signature, verifies their authenticity by: 1. retrieving the quantities from the repository; 2. using the digital signature and the quantities, evaluates expressions in at least two (2) different relationships; and 3. verifies the digital signature upon finding equality between evaluation results.

Abstract: An optic switch for cross-connecting input light signals incoming from inlet fiber cables to outlet fiber cables is disclosed that makes use of a holographic filter (5) having a series of preformed different speckle patterns, each in the form of a hologram (H1, H2, . . . ). Associated with input light signals guided past respective inlet passages (4in) of a multimode waveguide (4), different speckle patterns are formed by applying different control voltages across respective electrode pairs (10, 10a) provided thereon. These speckle patterns past a single outlet passage (4out) of the multimode waveguide (4) into which the inlet passages (4in) converge are joined together and enter the holographic filter (5) in which an input light signal is selectively switched, addressed and cross-connected to an outlet waveguide (2) through a region thereof where a formed speckle pattern coincides with a preformed speckle pattern. The multi mode waveguides (4) is formed in, e.g., a LiNbO3 photorefractive substrate (3).

Abstract: An optic switch for cross-connecting input light signals incoming from inlet fiber cables to outlet fiber cables is disclosed that makes use of a holographic filter (5) having a series of preformed different speckle patterns, each in the form of a hologram (H1, H2, . . . ). Associated with input light signals guided past respective inlet passages (4in) of a multimode waveguide (4), different speckle patterns are formed by applying different control voltages across respective electrode pairs (10, 10a) provided thereon. These speckle patterns past a single outlet passage (4out) of the multimode waveguide (4) into which the inlet passages (4in) converge are joined together and enter the holographic filter (5) in which an input light signal is selectively switched, addressed and cross-connected to an outlet waveguide (2) through a region thereof where a formed speckle pattern coincides with a preformed speckle pattern. The multi mode waveguides (4) is formed in, e. g., a LiNbO3 photorefractive substrate (3).

Abstract: A method for facilitating access to a file in a networked multiprocessor computer system including establishing a hierarchical distributed data service (DDS) domain tree (200) that encompasses all computers in the network, grafting onto the tree the file system trees (198) that are exported from one or more Network Distributed Caches (NDC) (50). An arbitrarily chosen name assigned to each DDS domain (206) respectively identifies roots (208) of the hierarchical DDS domain tree (200) and of each of the DDS sub-domain trees (202).

Abstract: Network Distributed Caches (“NDCs”) (50) permit accessing a named dataset stored at an NDC server terminator site (22) in response to a request submitted to an NDC client terminator site (24) by a client workstation (42). In accessing the dataset, the NDCs (50) form an NDC data conduit (62) that provides an active virtual circuit (“AVC”) from the NDC client terminator site (24) through intermediate NDC sites (26B, 26A) to the NDC server terminator site (22). Through the AVC provided by the conduit (62), the NDC sites (22, 26A and 26B) project an image of the requested portion of the named dataset into the NDC client terminator site (24). The client workstation (42) overwrites at least a portion of an image of a dataset that is projected into the NDC client terminator site (24) from the NDC server terminator site (22). Only overwritten portions of the projected image are rewritten into to the dataset stored at the NDC server terminator site (22).

Abstract: Mesh bars (35, 283) of a trawl (13, 263) include at least a portion having a corkscrew-shaped pitch which exhibits a hydrofoil-like effect. Such mesh bars (35, 283) are preferably formed from a material having a substantially incompressible cross-sectional shape. By appropriately selecting the lay and leading edge of mesh bars (35, 283), movement of the trawl (13, 263) through the water entrained environment creates a pressure differential and lift across that portion of mesh bars (25, 283) which exhibit the hydrofoil-like effect. The lift thus created increases performance characteristics of the trawl (13, 263) including increased trawl volume, improved trawl shape, and reduced vibration, noise, and drag. Obtaining the greatest improvement of trawls (13, 263) requires controlling a pitch range for twisted product strands (e.g. twisted ropes) (36, 37), and for straps (284) forming mesh bars (35, 283).

Abstract: A method and system for switching signals over conductors is disclosed. The method and system comprises a plurality of encoders for receiving signals from a plurality of sources. The system further comprises a crosspoint switching matrix means for receiving encoded signals from the plurality of encoders and for providing encoded signals to a plurality of receivers. The crosspoint switching matrix means in a preferred embodiment includes a control system which is controlled by multiple remote receivers.

Abstract: An actinic radiation source (20) includes an anode (36) upon which an electron beam from a cathode ray gun (24) impinges. The anode (36) includes a window area (52) formed by a silicon membrane. The electron beam upon striking the anode (36) permeates the window area (52) to penetrate into medium surrounding actinic radiation source (20). A method for making an anode (36) uses a substrate having both a thin first layer (44) and a thicker second layer (46) of single crystal silicon material between which is interposed a layer of etch stop material (48). The second layer (46) is anisotropically etched to the etch stop material (48) to define the electron beam window area (52) on the first layer (44). That portion of the etch stop layer (48) exposed by etching through, the second layer (46) is then removed. The anode (36) thus fabricated has a thin, monolithic, low-stress and defect-free silicon membrane electron beam window area (52) provided by the first layer of the substrate.

Abstract: There is provided a method of manufacturing a color display including a color filter and a black matrix, characterized in that it comprises the steps of: forming a film of zinc oxide on a transparent substrate; forming the the color filter on the said film of zinc oxide; and thereafter, applying a deposit of electroless copper plating on an area of the said film of zinc oxide on which the said color filter is not formed, the said deposit having a thickness which is substantially equal to a thickness of the said color filter and constituting an element of said black matrix. Thus, a color display may be provided with a black matrix that is of high optical density and a low reflectivity. The black matrix can also be commensurate with film thickness with the color matrix. No photo lithographic process is required in preparing the color filter and black matrix. Various modified forms of embodiments of the method of manufacturing a color display are also disclosed.

Abstract: A data storage device disposed in a transmission path between a destination node and a data source stores images of files in a memory. The destination node sends data requests to the source via the data transmission path. The storage device includes a data transfer detector that detects transfers of data from the source to the destination node along the data transmission path. A memory manager of the storage device stores only selected ones of the transferred data files in the memory. A data request detector to the storage device detects requests for data passing along the data transmission path. An interceptor of the storage device intercepts and services detected data requests when the requested data has been previously stored in the memory, and the stored requested data file meets predetermined criteria. In this way, the storage device may transfer requested data from the memory to the destination node.

Abstract: Thermal management within an electrically powered systems requires monitoring, from time-to-time, both electrical power consumption and temperature within the system. The power consumption and temperature data thus obtained permits developing over time a thermal model for the system. After a thermal model for the system has been thus developed, the model together with the presently sensed electrical power consumption, and the system temperature are used to predict a thermal trend for the system. The predicted thermal trend thus obtained for the system is then used in effecting a temperature control strategy within the electrically powered system.