Abstract: A primarily polycrystalline but partially amorphous electrical insulator can hermetically seal first and second spaced electrical terminals, one made from an anodized aluminum and the second made from a beryllium copper, Kovar, an alloy of iron and cobalt or an alloy of beryllium, copper, nickel and gold. Nickel may be diffused into the beryllium copper and a noble metal may be deposited on the nickel. The insulator provides a flat meniscus to abut a corresponding electrical insulator in a cable. The insulator may provide an electrical impedance of approximately 50 ohms, an electrical resistivity greater than approximately 10.sup.18 ohms and a dielectric constant of approximately 6.3. The insulator operates satisfactorily in a frequency range to approximately 40 gigahertz.

Abstract: A grommet disposed in a panel hole to prevent a fire from spreading from one panel side to the other has a pair of flaps defining a socket for nesting in the panel hole in a closely fit relationship. Preferably one flap is longer than the other and is disposed against the panel surface. The grommet has an inner peripheral surface, preferably annular, defining a hollow central opening with a radius less than that of the cable so as to receive and retain the cable even with changes in cable positioning. The grommet has a fire resistant chemical composition which becomes resiliently flattened upon the cable disposition in the grommet opening. One flap is bent toward the other with the panel withdrawn from the socket and is resiliently pressed against the panel with the panel in the socket. The grommet includes, in the section with the larger flap, a fire resistant fabric (e.g. ceramic) impregnated and coated with the fire resistant chemical composition (e.g. silicone with an approximately 55 Rockwell hardness).

Abstract: This invention relates to apparatus for, and methods of, providing controlled depositions on substrates. The substrates are particularly adapted to provide die for use as the spacers in magnetic heads to dispose the magnetic heads in almost abutting relationship to a memory medium such as a disc and to protect the heads against damage by the disc if the disc should contact the heads while the disc is rotating at a high speed.This invention is particularly concerned with an end effector apparatus disposed in a transport module between a cassette module on one side of the transport module and a process module on the other side of the transport module. The end effector apparatus provides a controlled transfer of substrates between a cassette holder in the cassette module and apparatus disposed in the process module for producing a controlled deposition on the substrate.

Abstract: Each of a plurality of solar cells is disposed on a base member made from an electrically insulating material. Each of the solar cells has first and second cell portions separated by an insulating gap, the first cell portion being positive and the second portion being negative. A third cell portion may be provided in each solar cell with the first portion being disposed between, and in insulated relationship to, the second and third portions and with the third portion being negative. Each of the solar cells may include a positive termination extending from the first cell portion and a negative termination extending from the second (and third) cell portion(s) and separated from the first cell portion by an insulating gap. Each of a plurality of diodes is disposed on an individual one of the base members across the insulating gap between the positive and negative terminations of an individual one of the solar cells on the base member.

Abstract: When manually closed, switches in pads select toy vehicles and the operation of motors for moving the vehicles in different directions and moving upwardly and downwardly (and rightwardly and leftwardly) a receptacle for holding transportable elements (e.g. marbles). When interrogated by a central station, each pad sends through wires to the station signals indicating the switch closures in such pad. Such station produces first binary signals addressing the vehicle selected by such pad and second binary signals identifying the motor control operations in such vehicle. Thereafter the switches identifying in such pad the motor control operations in such selected vehicle can be closed without closing the switches identifying such vehicle. The first and second signals for each vehicle are transmitted by wireless to all of the vehicles at a common carrier frequency modulated by the first and second binary signals.

Abstract: When manually closed, switches in pads select toy vehicles and the operation of motors for moving the vehicles in different directions and moving in different directions a receptacle for holding transportable elements (e.g. marbles). When interrogated by a central station, each pad sends through wires to the station signals indicating the switch closures in such pad. Such station produces first binary signals addressing the vehicle selected by such pad and second binary signals identifying the motor control operations in such vehicle. Thereafter the switches identifying in such pad the motor control operations in such selected vehicle can be closed without closing the switches identifying such vehicle. The first and second signals for each vehicle are transmitted by wireless to all of the vehicles at a common carrier frequency modulated by the first and second binary signals.

Abstract: In a total hip replacement, a stem of a femoral component is disposed in a patient's thigh bone with a ball extending in such femoral component above the stem. The ball is disposed in a hemispherical cup positioned in the patient's pelvis and enveloping the ball for frontal movement of the ball relative to the cup. A low-friction liner (e.g., plastic or ceramic) is disposed at the bottom of the cup. To determine whether the ball is properly positioned in the cup, a first member (e.g., a coil) is disposed on the bottom of the liner. A second member (e.g., a patch defining a loop) is disposed on the patient's thigh in operatively coupled (e.g. magnetic) relationship to the first member. The operative coupling between the members is variable in accordance with variations in the disposition of the ball in the cup. When the first and second members are respectively a coil and a patch, the coil and a capacitance may be fixed in the patient's body in a circuit resonant at a particular frequency.

Abstract: An electrical field between a positive anode and a negative target in a cavity and a magnetic field in the cavity produce electron flow from the target in a convoluted path for ionizing a gas such as oxygen flowing through the cavity. The ionized oxygen forms positive and negative oxygen ions which flow from the cavity to an aluminum oxide surface on a substrate. The aluminum oxide surface may contain hydrocarbon molecules which prevent a thin magnetizable layer from adhering uniformly on the aluminum oxide surface. The ionized oxygen molecules and atoms flow through the cavity at a reduced rate and react chemically with the hydrocarbon molecules to form water vapor and carbon monoxide and/or carbon dioxide gases. By removing the hydrocarbons from the aluminum oxide surface, the layer of the magnetizable material is deposited adheringly on the aluminum oxide surface. A neutral gas (e.g.

Abstract: Each tamp in a sequence has a collar at a progressively increased distance from the bottom of a cavity in a femur relative to other tamps in the sequence. The collar on each tamp has progressively increased dimensions relative to collars on other tamps to provide a snug fit of such collar against inner walls defining the femur cavity. Bone particles are also disposed in such cavity. After the insertion of each tamp into the cavity, such tamp is driven into the cavity to pack the bone fragments in the cavity against one another, the collar and the femur inner walls. Such tamp is then removed from the cavity and the next tamp in the sequence is inserted, and driven, into the cavity. The distance for driving each tamp into the cavity may be defined by a coincidence between a marking on such tamp and the top of the femur.

Abstract: Pads remotely control the operation of vehicles. In each pad, (a) at least a first control provides for the addressing of one of the vehicles, (b) second controls provide for the movement of the addressed vehicle and (c) third controls provide for the operation of members (e.g. pivotable bins) in the selected vehicle. Each pad provides a carrier signal, preferably common with the carrier signals from the other pads. Each pad modulates the carrier signal in accordance with the operation of the pad controls. The first control in each pad provides an address distinctive to the addressed vehicle and modulates the carrier signal in accordance with such address. Each pad sends the modulated carrier signals to the vehicles in a pseudo random pattern, different for each pad, with respect to time. Each vehicle demodulates the carrier signals to recover the address such vehicle.

Abstract: A robotic arm assembly in a transport module is expansible to have an effector at its end receive a substrate in a cassette module and is then contracted and rotated with the effector to have the effector face a process module. Planets on a turntable in the process module are rotatable on first parallel axes. The turntable is rotatable on a second axis parallel to the first axes to move successive planets to a position facing the effector. At this position, an alignment assembly is aligned with, but axially displaced from, one of the planets. This assembly is moved axially into coupled relationship with such planet and then rotated to a position aligning the substrate on the effector axially with such planet when the arm assembly is expanded. A lifter assembly aligned with, and initially displaced from, such planet is moved axially to lift the substrate from the effector. The arm assembly is then contracted, rotated with the effector and expanded to receive the next cassette module substrate.

Abstract: A remotely-controllable motorized toy bulldozer vehicle has a highly-maneuverable skid steering system and a motorized blade lift mechanism pivotally secured to the chassis of the vehicle operative to permit the blade to free float at its lower positions but operative in the elevated position of such blade to positively hold it up at a set level. A hitch is provided for hitching to a trailer and hitch driver is responsive to such blade being lifted to higher elevations to automatically unhitch the hitch.

Abstract: A robotic arm assembly in a transport module is expansible to have an effector at its end receive a substrate in a cassette module and is then contracted and rotated with the effector to have the effector face a process module. Planets on a turntable in the process module are rotatable on first parallel axes. The turntable is rotatable on a second axis parallel to the first axes to move successive planets to a position facing the effector. At this position, an alignment assembly is aligned with, but axially displaced from, one of the planets. This assembly is moved axially into coupled relationship with such planet and then rotated to a position aligning the substrate on the effector axially with such planet when the arm assembly is expanded. A lifter assembly aligned with, and initially displaced from, such planet is moved axially to lift the substrate from the effector. The arm assembly is then contracted, rotated with the effector and expanded to receive the next cassette module substrate.

Abstract: Light, pulsed or continuous at a wavelength (e.g. 780 nm), fluoresceces a specimen. The specimens may be combinations of a dye (preferably labelled), an antigen (e.g. rubella) and an antibody reactive with the antigen, with properties of polarizing the light when fluoresced. The light polarized in a first direction (e.g. z-axis) parallel to the incident light and in a second direction (e.g. x-axis) perpendicular to the incident light are measured. A second specimen is then provided with the antigen and the antibody but without the dye. The same light as discussed above fluoresces the second specimen and polarizes the light when fluoresced. The light polarized in the first (z-axis) and second (x-axis) directions in the second specimen is measured. These measurements are processed in a microprocessor with the measurements in the z and x directions in the first specimen to identify the antigen or, when the antigen is known, to identify the concentration of the antigen in the first specimen.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a support member on an abrasive wheel has (a) an annular surface which fixedly supports (as by epoxy) a plurality of flaps in a partially overlapping relationship between successive flaps and (b) a central hole for receiving a mandrel which rotates the wheel. Each flap has on one of its surfaces abrasive particles facing outwardly from the annular surface. Each flap defines an acute angle with the annular surface and preferably extends at its opposite axial ends beyond the axial positions of support by such support surface to obtain a fixed positioning of the flaps relative to the support surface even at the axial positions beyond the axial ends of such annular surface. In a second embodiment, the flaps are disposed on the annular support surface in a tighter relationship than in the first embodiment so that each flap contacts adjacent flaps along a portion of its length.

Abstract: First and second pairs of arms are respectively disposed at opposite ends of a support structure. A constrainable member (e.g., a spring) is supported at its opposite ends by corresponding ones of the arms in the pairs. This is the only constrainable member in the page clamping device. When the spring is unconstrained, the arms in each pair are normally closed. The arms in each pair are pivotable independently of the arms in the other pair. The arms in each pair have at first positions camming peripheries which cause one of such arms to pivot when the other of such arms is pivoted. The arms in each pair have at second positions camming peripheries which provide a stable relationship between the arms when the arms are in an open position. The arms in each pair are disposed on the opposite sides of a book from the arms in the other pair. With the arms in the open relationship, the pages can be easily turned.

Abstract: A target, preferably frusto-conical, defines a cavity with an anode. Molecules of a neutral gas (e.g. argon) pass through the cavity at a particular rate. An alternating voltage is applied between the anode and the cathode. When the anode voltage is positive relative to the cathode, electrons are emitted from the cathode and are directed to the anode. A magnetic field is produced on the electrons in a direction transverse, preferably substantially perpendicular, to the electrical field. The magnetic field causes the electrons to travel in a spiral path between the anode and the target, thereby enhancing the ionization rate of the argon molecules passing through the cavity. The positive argon ions impinge on the target and cause atoms to be sputtered from the target surface. These atoms become deposited on a surface of a substrate displaced from the target.