Abstract: The invention is intended to reduce the weight of the entire unit, make it compact and prevent the emitted light from being in dark and bright stripes in a light guide unit for a back light of a liquid crystal display device. Further, this invention allows a prism sheet having a larger apex angle to be used. To this end, the light guide unit comprises a plurality of light guide films laminated on the light guide member. The sloped surface which is opposite to the incident surface of the light guide unit is formed with grooves each having an inclination of an angle related to Brewster angle. A prism sheet is further disposed with the side having apexes oriented to the light guide unit to deflect the light emitted from the light guide unit.

Abstract: A polarized component is obtained with a high conversion efficiency in a light guide which produces one of the polarized components by having it transmitted. The light from a light source is incident to a light guide which comprises a plurality of light guide layers and reflected by the end surface to an interface between the light guide layers. The polarized component transmitting through the end surface is rotated in its polarization plane by a wave length plate and reflected by a reflecting plate for reentrance to the light guide at the end surface of the light guide toward the interface. The reentering light mostly transmits through the interface because the polarization plane is rotated. A reflected light polarized component is returned to the wave length plate and the reflecting plate, and directed back to the interface again. The polarized component transmitting through the interface is similarly transmitted and reflected in the next interface.

Abstract: An electroluminescent solid state device includes an active body member that is formed of a single crystalline metal oxide, such as aluminum oxide, that is doped with a rare earth element, such as erbium and/or terbium and an activator atom such as oxygen and/or fluorine. The metal oxide body member is electron excited by kinetic electrons that are emitted by a cold cathode. The ends of the metal oxide body member are polished to form a Fabry-Perot resonator, thus providing for coherent radiation from the device. As an alternative to the use of a Fabry-Perot cavity, an acoustic wave generator is associated with the metal oxide body member in order to launch acoustic waves into the body member. The frequency of energization of the acoustic wave generator operates to select a radiation wavelength from one or more emission wavelengths that are produced by doping the metal oxide body member with one or more rare earth elements.

Abstract: A device for measuring the pressure in an infusion tube (12), including a pressure sensor (20) and a housing (14) comprising at least one chamber (16) with one side defined by a deformable membrane (18) contacting the wall of the infusion tube, and containing said sensor. A fluid (24) is provided between the membrane (18) and the sensor (20). The fluid is non-liquid and has a Poisson ratio of at least 0.49 as well as an instantaneous modulus of elasticity of under 10 MPa so that the sensor response curve is linear. The device may be used in an infusion apparatus, particularly a portable infusion apparatus.

Abstract: A semiconductor-chip is bonded to a chip-carrier substrate by way of a gold-to-gold bonding interface. A vacuum chuck is provided to physically hold the semiconductor-chip in physical contact with, the chip-carrier substrate as static force, ultrasonic power, and an elevated temperature are applied to two mating gold surfaces that are formed by two continuous and physically mating gold layers. The bonded assembly is encased in a potting ceramic, or the bonded assembly is encased in a housing that includes a transparent cover that enables use as an optoelectronic semiconductor device.

Abstract: A unitary, pocket size, plastic assembly includes a flat, rectangular, credit-card portion that carries a machine-readable data-containing medium, such as a semiconductor chip or a magnetic stripe. An integral and resilient clasp is formed along a linear edge of the flat credit-card portion, so as to overhang and resiliently engage the body of the flat credit-card portion. Paper money, in a folded or in a flat state, is inserted under the clasp and is securely held between the credit-card portion and the clasp in the manner of a money clip.

Abstract: Data in a system having dynamic random access memories (DRAM's) is preserved despite loss of the primary source of electrical power to that system. A Flash RAM and a small auxiliary power source are employed by a controller independent of the system to transfer the DRAM contents to the Flash RAM immediately upon loss of primary system power. The data is also automatically returned to the DRAM after return of primary power with special data signals or sequences being utilized in a multiple controller environment so as to award the complete data recovery function to the first controller to demand attention.

Abstract: A sealable external access catheter including a portion implanted in the body of the patient, a fixation or anchoring sleeve extending through the skin, and a portion located outside the patient and provided as its free end with a self-sealing septum made of a material which is repeatably and sealably pierceable by an infusion instrument. The septum may include two fins forming a flat base enabling it to be easily attached to the patient's skin. The catheter is provided with a sealing plug whereby any danger of infection is avoided.

Abstract: In a buckle, the loose end of a belt is clamped by operation of a pivoted lever that is pressed down onto a base member, a lever belt gripping surface engages one surface of the belt and forces the opposite surface onto a resilient surface in the base member. Flexing of this resilient surface provides a force that secures the belt between the resilient surface and the belt gripping surface. The lever is mounted to the base member by a pair of internal, tapered pins. A pair of flexible mating tapered tabs on the lever mount the lever on the pins. Mating tapers lead or guide the pins to the location of lever holes, thus allowing the lever to be mounted on the base member. In another embodiment, one rigid tab and one flexible tapered tab are located on the lever for mounting the lever on the two pins. This one flexible tab leads or guides a mating pin to a lever hole, thus allowing the lever to be mounted on the base member. Mating snap means are provided to snap latch the lever to the base member.

Abstract: A sensor for measuring moisture changes in soil and having an electrically insulating cylindrical body along which bare electrical conductors are placed. A transmitter produces constant alternating current which is supplied to the sensor. The voltage which this current creates in the soil is detected by the electrical conductors on the sensor and is fed to a receiver. The receiver consists of electronic circuitry for determining the necessity for allowing irrigation to occur, and if so, switches on a solenoid controlling the water supply. When the sensor indicates sufficient irrigation has occurred, the electronic controls switch the irrigation off. A tube sensor comprising rigid metal tubes of equal length and secured by end members such that no two tubes touch is also provided, for example to measure moisture content changes of any granular material.

Abstract: An aircraft airbag module and an energy or impact absorbing and shock reducing control yoke are disclosed, the airbag module using non toxic compressed gas to provide either pyrotechnic or non-pyrotechnic inflation of an airbag independent of other aircraft operational systems. An airbag with one or more sections, when inflated, provides pilot protection without physically engaging the aircraft's control yoke, thus affording the possibility of continued aircraft control by the pilot. The aircraft control yoke includes a mechanically keyed and physically compressible section, as well as padding, thus providing the pilot with additional impact protection with or without airbag deployment. The airbag is retractable or releasable mounted so as to allow the airbag to be manually or automatically removed from the airbag module after an airbag inflation/deflation cycle.

Abstract: An airbag assembly is positioned relative to an aircraft control yoke in a manner to minimize the application of an undesired force to the control yoke when the airbag assembly is inflated. A disc-shaped airbag assembly is horizontally rod-supported from an aircraft's instrument panel so as to surround the aircraft's horizontally extending control yoke and so as to be independent mechanically thereof. The rods that support the airbag assembly may be spring biased to a quiescent position, and may then be of the telescoping type to accommodate full inward movement of the control yoke as the aircraft's pitch attitude is controlled.