Abstract: A removable, durable, substitute sole for removable attachment to an athletic shoe (10) is provided. The substitute sole may be provided on or as part of an all-rubber elastic and stretchable overshoe (20) formed so that the upper part of the overshoe maintains intimate and snug fit with the inner shoe, but still permits air flow, heat dissipation and perspiration evaporation. A durable sole (30) may be attached by an elastomeric bonding agent or the toe and heel portions (32, 34) made more wear-resistant as part of the manufacturing process of the overshoe.

Abstract: In order to form a (flexible) electrical interconnect structure a flexible dielectric substrate having a plurality of windows is laminated between a first, relatively thin flexible conductor layer and a second, relatively thick conductor layer. The first flexible conductor layer is patterned into a plurality of flexible conductor lines The second conductor layer is patterned into first and second pluralities of spaced apart terminals, which overlie the windows. Conductive vias are formed through the flexible dielectric substrate between the terminals and the flexible conductor lines, thereby connecting the terminals on one side of the flexible substrate to the flexible conductor lines on the other side of the substrate .

Abstract: A high altitude launch platform, used to launch a payload into earth orbit, is part of a payload launch system having a payload launching rocket carried by the high altitude launch platform. A first amount of fuel, substantially less than the capacity of the fuel tanks, is provided to the launch platform while the launch platform is on the ground. The launch platform is flown to a first altitude and the fuel tanks are provided with a second amount of fuel while the high altitude launch platform is at the first altitude. The addition of the second amount of fuel is sufficient to allow the payload to be launched into orbit.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved lateral drift region for both bipolar and MOS devices where improved breakdown voltage and low ON resistance are desired. A top gate of the same conductivity type as the device region with which it is associated is provided along the surface of the substrate and overlying the lateral drift region. In an MOS device, the extremity of the lateral drift region curves up to the substrate surface beyond the extremity of the top gate to thereby provide contact between the JFET channel and the MOS channel.

Abstract: Decimation circuitry having a forward shifting data section receiving data samples in order including a plurality of forward decimation registers coupled in-line and providing a forward register output. Each forward decimation register operates as a first-in-first-out (FIFO) register having a decimation depth. A backward shifting data section includes a plurality of backward decimation registers having a decimation depth coupled in-line and providing a backward register output. One of the backward decimation registers which receives data samples in sequence from one of the forward decimation registers can function as both a last-in-first-out (LIFO) and a FIFO register, when a LIFO register, it operates to reverse blocks of data samples wherein the size of each block corresponds to the decimation rate. Each reversed block is then shifted through the backward shifting data section. Each of the other backward decimation registers operates as FIFO register.

Abstract: A damper is provided on a convertible for the dampling of bodyside torsional vibrations in the area of the windshield frame. This damper is arranged particularly on the frame of the windshield and is held by way of elastic slide bearings. The damper is arranged in the open at a distance from the frame and can swing relatively freely in the transverse directions of the vehicle so that natural torsional frequencies of the vehicle on the frame are damped.

Abstract: A channel stop is self-aligned with a trench sidewall of a trench-isolated semiconductor architecture, so that there is no alignment tolerance between the stop and the trench wall. An initial masking layer, through which the trench pattern is to be formed in a semiconductor island layer, is used as a doping mask for introducing a channel stop dopant into a surface portion of the semiconductor layer where the trench is to be formed. The lateral diffusion of the dopant beneath the oxide and adjacent to the trench aperture defines the eventual size of the channel stop. The semiconductor layer is then anisotropically etched to form a trench to a prescribed depth, usually intersecting the underlying semiconductor substrate. Because the etch goes through only a portion of the channel stop diffusion, leaving that portion which has laterally diffused beneath the oxide mask, the channel stop is self-aligned with the sidewall of the trench.

Abstract: A concrete worker's below-the-knee boot is provided with a pocket and a flap to prevent concrete-covered tools from contacting the worker's leg skin and to keep the tools handy. The pocket is open at the top and bottom to permit easy insertion of a tool and to allow concrete on the tool to drain off. The flap can be folded out above the boot where the tool is longer than the boot.

Abstract: A complementary insulated gate field effect transistor comprises a semiconductor body having an effectively planar surface, the semiconductor body containing complementary conductivity type wells in which complementary transistors are formed. A field insulator layer is selectively formed on the surface of the body, the field insulator layer being hardened against radiation. That portion of the planar surface of the body on which the field insulator layer is formed is not lower than respective surface portions on which first and second gate insulator layers of the complementary conductivity type transistors are formed. In addition to respective gates, and source and drain region pairs, the complementary transistors have insulative spacers which abut sidewalls of the first and second gates and the field insulator layer and extend over portions of the source and drain regions.

Abstract: A floating cradle assembly for an arm support system is provided with a yoke having cam surfaces and crank-controlled followers arranged to ride along the cam surfaces as the cradle moves vertically with respect to the yoke. As a result, the user of the arm support system experiences as uniform upward biasing force, and the yoke will not bind within the cradle housing. Different cam surface configurations will also result in different magnitudes of the uniform upward biasing force to accommodate the user's comfort.

Abstract: A buried Zener diode has an auxiliary Zener junction access path in parallel with the force anode/cathode path. Unlike the force anode/cathode path, the auxiliary path is effectively by-passed by the current flowing between the force anode and cathode during circuit operation, so that there is no accumulation of significant resistance-current products that would otherwise mask the Zener voltage. The Zener diode has an anode region disposed in a first surface portion of a substrate. A `force` anode is formed on a first surface portion of the anode region. A `sense` anode is disposed on a second surface portion of the anode region spaced apart from the force anode. A first cathode region is disposed in a second surface portion of the substrate spaced apart from the anode region, while a sense cathode region is disposed in a third surface portion of the substrate spaced apart from each of the anode region and the first cathode region.

Abstract: A workstation for inspecting and documenting an inspection piece includes a frame for holding the inspection piece. The frame has a hollow construction and includes several hollow legs coupled to an underside of the frame for forming an air conduit from the frame through the hollow legs. This allows the frame to slide upon an air cushion formed beneath the legs. A coordinate generator is mounted below the inspection piece and provides coordinate information relative to the inspection piece. A processor is coupled to the coordinate generator for receiving the coordinate information. The processor includes a memory for storing inspection and documentation information for the inspection piece. An operator interface is coupled to the processor for carrying out the inspection and documentation of the inspection piece in accordance with the inspection and documentation information stored in the memory.

Abstract: A stacked packaging assembly for a plurality of integrated circuit devices employs a web of flexible interconnect material folded into a `layered` arrangement of parallel web fingers onto which a plurality of integrated circuit devices are surface-mounted. The leads of the integrated circuit devices are attached to interconnect links of the flexible interconnect web. A plurality of heat sink plates are interleaved with the folded web fingers of the stack, so as to engage the integrated circuit devices mounted on the web fingers. The heat sink plates are retained by thermally conductive spacer blocks along their edges. The spacer blocks are clamped together in a compact laminate structure, so as to form a rigid support which relieves mechanical stresses at the folds of the web fingers.

Abstract: A current mode (NOR) logic circuit includes a first, fixed reference current source transistor stage coupled in circuit between a first voltage supply terminal and an input current node. A second, variable current source transistor stage is coupled in circuit between the first voltage supply terminal and the input current node. The second, variable current source supplies a variable quantity of auxiliary current to the input current node in dependence upon whether the input node sees a high logical level current or a low logic level current. The magnitude of the auxiliary current is such that the total of the auxiliary current and the prescribed reference current balances the input current being supplied to the input current node. A current switch transistor has its collector-emitter current flow path coupled in circuit between the first current source and one or more output current transistors.

Abstract: A field sequential liquid crystal display has a backlight that provides different color fields and a liquid crystal display panel that has a matrix of cells. Data lines are coupled to the cells and provide gray level data to the cells. Select lines are coupled to the cells and enable the cells. The cells include integrated memories coupled to the data lines, these integrated memories storing gray level data received via the data lines. The integration of the memories on the display panel allows all of the cells on the panel to be charged approximately simultaneously so that the time any one color is backlighting the entire display approaches an optimum fraction of a frame.

Abstract: A simulated motion board game in which a player is able to effectively simulate a continuum of sequential motion of one or more subjects contained within scenes of motion individually pictorially depicted on the faces of respective game elements. The representation of a sequence of continuous motion of the subject is independent of the order in which the tiles are placed next to one another. An edge portion of a scene immediately adjacent to the left/right hand edge of one motion tile will always provide a complementary extension of the motion within that portion of the scene immediately adjacent to the right/left hand edge of any other motion tile. As a consequence, even though the particular sequence of continuous motion will depend upon the events depicted in individual ones of the tiles, plural motion tiles placed in side-by-side adjacency with one another will always produce a continuum of motion of the subject traversing the depicted scene.

Abstract: Materials having diverse coefficients of thermal expansion are joined together by means of an adhesive film, electrically insulative mesh structure that cures at room temperature. An adhesive film bonding technique is employed to mount a printed wiring board, having a relatively low coefficient of thermal expansion, to a thermally and electrically conductive aluminum stiffener having a relatively high coefficient of thermal expansion, while maintaining the printed wiring board electrically insulated from the aluminum stiffener. A non-adhesive plastic `release` film is initially attached to a flat support substrate. A layer of electrically insulative mesh (glass cloth) is taped onto the plastic release film. The glass cloth is then impregnated with an electrically insulative adhesive that cures at room temperature. The aluminum stiffener is then placed on the adhesive-impregnated cloth layer, which is then cut to fit, using the aluminum stiffener as a template.

Abstract: A cleaning apparatus and method for cleaning a print band utilizes a self-contained housing with pulleys arranged vertically or horizontally. One of the pulleys is motor driven at relatively low speed. A print band to be cleaned is installed around the pulleys in the housing and is urged toward a high-speed rotating brush by a spring-biased pressure plate. Air jets can be used downstream of the brush station to dry cleaning solution that remains on the print band.

Abstract: A motor vehicle heating/air-conditioning system of a motor vehicle has a water-removal device arranged in the fresh-air inlet duct, rising from the duct base and comprising a coarse-mesh lattice and a fine-mesh lattice resting against the latter. The water removed is carried away downwardly on the webs of the coarse-mesh lattice to the duct base which forms a water collection point with water drainage. In order to combine a favorable water-removal function with a good air-guidance function, the coarse-mesh lattice facing the incident air represents an air guide with predetermined throughflow and is pleated in a corrugated shape. A channel spanned by the fine-mesh lattice arranged in at least some areas is in each case formed between two upwardly-directed corrugation troughs. The water-removal device is placed in the region of a duct widening provided by a set-back wall portion, such that the water-removal device ends at a distance from the set-back wall portion.

Abstract: A decoding and display mechanism that may be integrated with avionics, navigation and communications equipment whose encoded audio output is normally monitored directly through the pilot's headset. The encoded audio signal is coupled through a programmable bandpass filter to remove potentially contaminating noise signals, particularly human voice signals, that might otherwise prevent successful decoding of the superimposed (e.g. Morse) code. The filtered encoded audio signal is then coupled to a (microprocessor-based) decoder which decodes the symbols of the encoded tone and generates a set of output signals representative of the alpha-numeric abbreviation of the source of the channel being monitored. This set of output signals is then used to drive a digital display (or other humanly perceptible indicator, such as a synthesized voice enunciator), so that the pilot may be provided with the identification of the source of the monitored channel.