Abstract: A carrying and storage case, typically made of leather and of nominal size 4½″ W×7″ H×1½″ D, is adequately voluminous so as to contain within its interior a number of differently-sized and -shaped portable electronic device, normally personal digital assistants (PDAS) of various manufacturer. The contained PDAs are held by a low-profile, side-grasping, self-adjusting spring-loaded clip mechanism. The spring clip has a central member affixed to the interior of the enclosure, and substantially symmetrical left and right members sliding under spring forces relative to, and in distension from, both the central member and each other so as to, while momentarily forcibly separated, receive the portable electronic device and then, being permitted to slidingly retract and to squeeze and to grasp the portable electronic device between them, holding fast the portable electronic device within the carrying case.

Abstract: Selected domains, normally 2×103×2×103 such domains arrayed in a plane, within a three-dimensional (3-D) volume of radiation-sensitive medium, typically 1 cm3 of spirobenzopyran containing 2×103 such planes, are temporally and spatially simultaneously illuminated by two radiation pulses, normally laser light pulses in various combinations of wavelengths 532 nm and 1024 nm, in order, dependent upon the particular combination of illuminating light, to either write binary data to, or read binary data from, the selected domains by process of two-photon (2-P) interaction/absorption. One laser light pulse is preferably directed to illuminate all domains during its propagation along one directional axis of the volume. The other laser light pulse is first spatially encoded with binary information by 2-D spatial light modulator, and is then (i) directed and (ii) time sequenced to intersection with the other light pulse in a locus of intersection domains.

Abstract: Any of inorganic and bio-organic substances and molecules, and beads, pucks and like small things, that are both (i) electrically charged to a first polarity, and (ii) immersed in a fluid transport medium within (iii) an electrochemical cell, are assembled and patterned by action of moving these inorganic and bio-organic substances and molecules, etc. to a patterned electrode having an opposite, second, polarity under force of an applied electric field. The electrode patterned with conductive areas may be further, separately, patterned with chemicals, for example agarose gel, that chemically accept or reject the substances and molecules, etc., especially as are biological in origin. Living cells of plant, bacterial and animal types may be assembled. A semiconductor electrode may be patterned by masked laser light passed through the other electrode, which is transparent.

Abstract: A volume radiation memory, nominally a 2.5 cm (1″) diameter 6 mm thick optical disk, is preferably written in parallel by two-photon absorption within, and read with massive parallelism by a single-beam-induced fluorescence of, spherical voxels of nominal diameter 2 microns spaced 2 microns center-to-center and arrayed 32×128 in planar segments that are tilted typically 40° to the planar surfaces of the disk, and that are typically located within a 5 mm thick central volume of the disk. Imaging of the voxels within the tilted planar segment for reading is through a two-lens doubly-telecentric afocal lens imaging system to a detector, normally an array of active pixel sensors or charge-coupled devices, located in the conjugate plane. Voxel illumination for reading may be orthogonal from the side of the disk, confocal-theta from a side of the disk, or co-linear through the doubly-telecentric afocal lens. Volumetric storage capacity is typically 5.89 gigabits (5.

Abstract: A reciprocating laboratory shaker with multiple force cancellations to reduce vibration and noise while permitting, typically, oscillations ranging to ¾″ peak-to-peak at speeds ranging to 6000 cpm with sample loads ranging to one pound (1 lb.) for shaking durations ranging to at least five minutes (5 min.), so as to liquify and break down cells in mixtures of biological samples and ceramic beads. The shaker has a frame; a motor with a double-ended shaft; a statically- and dynamically-balanced crankshaft at each shaft end, the two crankshafts having 180° phase difference; and two pistons, each of which is constrained for linearly reciprocating movement and connected by an associated linkage to an associated crankshaft. Engagement features on each piston engage and retain diverse jig fixtures holding samples for shaking.

Abstract: A tool and material holder fitting to the top of a step ladder has an extremely large number of pockets, cavities, loops, clips, hangers, hooks and the like which securely hold a great variety of power and hand tools, caulking guns, paint brushes and paint pads. A major loop maintained open by an insert with a shape memory holds a large paint pail, bucket or can, and is optionally re-sizable to hold one or two smaller cans. A shallow reservoir on a top panel overlying the top step of the step ladder holds small items but still permits standing on the top step.

Abstract: A water purification system and method suitable for use in swimming pools, spas, hot tubs, water storage tanks, wells and water cooling towers adds (i) an oxidizing agent, preferably granulated or caked chlorine, (ii) metal ions, preferably silver from a galvanic cell having a silver anode electrically connected to a cathode made from a metal of still higher electrochemical potential, normally platinum, and, optionally (iii) an algaecide, preferably chelated copper and/or phosphate-removing compound, and/or (iv) a phosphate-reducing compound, all in synergistic combination. The galvanic cell is preferably some tens of square centimeters in size and some tens of grams in weight, thereby liberating sufficient silver or copper ions so as to aid in treating a multi-thousand liter body of water, such as a swimming pool, for, typically under normal contamination, some weeks to months until the anode is consumed.

Abstract: A system for forming concrete slabs has been developed for commercial buildings having a steel moment-frame structure. This system utilizes the cold-formed-steel framing members, such as the wall girts shipped with a particular building package, to be first utilized as slab foundation forming elements before being framed into the building. The system defines foundation geometry upon simple assembly of the forming elements, and efficiently provides for placement of anchoring hardware which corresponds exactly to the connections of the structural frames.

Abstract: Upon loading of oil cargo the ullage space of a tank of an oil tanker is sealed substantially gas tight with the gaseous contents of the ullage space both (i) initially inerted so as to be incapable of supporting combustion of any oil within the tank, and (ii) at an initial pressure less than atmosphere. The tank is preferably continued closed, preferably optionally with closed loop recirculation for purposes of gas mixing, for the entire voyage of the tanker save that (1) ullage space gas pressure uncommonly exceeds limits because of any of (i) leakage of atmospheric gases into the tank, and/or (ii) outgassing of gases within the oil contents of the tank, (iii) evaporation of the oil or portions thereof, and/or (iv) expansion of the ullage space gases upon thermal heating, and/or (2) free oxygen within the ullage space gases exceeds limits because of any leakage of atmospheric gases into the tank, at which time the tank is re-inerted, preferably with flue gases, or again de-pressurized, as and when required.

Abstract: Scalable Computer Interconnect (CSI) compliant multi-stage switching networks compactly electrically communicatively interconnect a large number N of electrically communicating devices, typically computers or memories, in three-dimensional space. The logic networks, including a preferred “layered network” of U.S. Pat. No. 4,833,468, are (i) rotated, (ii) folded and (iii) squared per companion U.S. Pat. No. 6,301,247 so as to assume optimal topology. The topologically-optimized switching network logic is physically realized as (i) planar panels each mounting multi-chip modules, or tiles, each having logic switchpoints each realized by switch dice, plus vias through the tiles, plus pads upon both sides of the tiles, plus connective wiring layers upon the tile, connected by (ii) multi-conductor flexible flat printed circuit cables located between the adjacent panels. System peak performance is 24 teraflops/second.

Abstract: A master hologram is generated in a first optical medium by use of a plurality m of different reference beams, each beam bearing information suitably recorded in one or more of a plurality n layers of the second optical medium that are distinct from layers in which information in all other beams is suitably recorded. The generated master hologram is then used to optically holographically stamp, or record, multi-layer bit-oriented optical media by writing all n layers of the volume of the blank optical medium with m recording beams produced by simultaneously illuminating the master hologram with all m different reference beams, each illuminating reference beam being at a different reference angle and from a coherent light source which is incoherent with respect to every other illuminating reference beam.

Abstract: Three-, and four-dimensional (“3-D” and “4-D”) volume radiation memories store multiple binary bits of information—typically about five to ten and more typically eight such bits—in the same physical volumes on several different photochromic chemicals co-located in the volume. Each of the multiple photochromic chemicals is individually selectively written with an individually associated pair of radiation beams of an appropriate combined frequency—i.e., a “color”—and energy by a process of two-photon (“2-P”) absorption. All the multiple information bits that are stored within all the photochromic chemicals in each addressable domain are read in common, and induced to simultaneously fluoresce, again by process of 2-P absorption.

Abstract: Dye precursor molecules—normally rhodamine base—held in a transparent matrix are reactive with acids, bases, ions or radicals—and in the case of rhodamine are reactive with acids—to produce dye molecules—i.e., rhodamine—having markedly different spectroscopic properties. Light-sensitive molecules-normally a compound of ortho-nitro-aldehyde, in particular o-nitro-benzaldehyde or, preferably, 1-nitro-2-naphthaldehyde—in the same matrix undergo photochemical reaction when selectively exposed to light so as to form at least one of the acids, bases, ions or radicals with which the dye precursor molecules are reactive—preferably nitroso acid.

Abstract: The operational range of the evaporative cooler means, particularly one chilling air and/or water to 79° F. or less when the outside ambient air temperature rises to 120° F. at a relative humidity as high as 50%, is extended by pre-cooling the intake water with a thermoelectric heating/cooling element, typically of about 5 kw. capacity. The extension of the operational range of the evaporative cooler so realized obviates, or reduces, use of an expensive parallel air conditioning system in the cooling of buildings, particularly houses, in hot but generally dry climates, such as in the inland regions of the Southwestern United States.

Abstract: A stake suitable for use in construction is formed from an elongate threaded metal member, typically of length between 0.45 meter and 1.8 meter, having two ends. A first end region, tapered to a sharp point over typically 3 centimeters, is suitable to be plunged into earth. A middle region has threads that are both deeply cut, typically at a ratio of root diameter to outside diameter less than 0.80, and steeply inclined, typically at least 1 in 20. A second end region has a feature in the shape of a regular prism suitable to be engaged by a torquing tool for rotation of the entire stake. The second end region feature may be a prism of regular cross section, normally a hexagonal prism, of a diameter everywhere less than the minor diameter of the middle region's threads.

Abstract: A slender cylindrical torque-limiting handle for a machinist's vise is built along an internal shaft. A drive clutch with a distal end coupling engaging the vise shaft of a vise, and a proximal end presenting a multiple tooth inclined plane, is affixed to the shaft. A pressure clutch, fitted about the shaft, has a distal end multiple tooth inclined plane complimentary to, and mating with, the multiple tooth inclined plane of the drive clutch. A given rotational torque in a one rotational direction applied to the pressure clutch about the shaft will, in accordance with the extent to which the distal end of the pressure clutch is held pressured to the proximal end of the drive clutch, produce a correspondingly associated angular rotation of the drive clutch, tightening the vise until, at a preset torque, the pressure clutch will thereafter slip relative to the drive clutch.

Abstract: Typically 20-40 films of a tough first metal, normally 0.1-1.0 mm thick films of titanium, nickel, vanadium, and/or steel (iron) and alloys thereof, interleaved with a like number of films of a second metal, normally 0.1-1.0 mm thick films of aluminum or alloys thereof, are pressed together in a stack at less than 6 MPa and normally at various pressures 2-4 MPa while being gradually heated in the presence of atmospheric gases to 600-800° C. over a period of, typically, 10+ hours until the second metal is completely compounded; forming thus a metallic-intermetallic laminate composite material having (i) tough first-metal layers separated by (ii) hard, Vickers microhardness of 400 kg/mm2+, intermetallic regions consisting of an intermetallic compound of the first and the second metals. The resulting composite material is inexpensive, lightweight with a density of typically 3 to 4.5 grams/cubic centimeter, and very hard and very tough to serve as, among other applications, lightweight armor.

Abstract: A sliding plunger, normally about 1 cm. OD with a 0.5 cm tip distal end, controllably extends under spring force from a housing mounted to a wheelchair's frame transversely into a juxtaposed complimentary hole, preferably one of a circumferential array of approximately 24 such holes of racetrack shape, within an annular disk, typically 10 cm. OD with a 3.5 cm. ID center opening, that is mounted to the hub of the wheelchair's wheel at a position centered about the wheelchair's axle between the wheelchair's wheel and the wheelchair's frame. A cable extends from the sliding plunger's proximal end to a lever selectively activated by and occupant of the wheelchair to selectively permit that the sliding plunger should either (i) extend under spring force into a juxtaposed hole of the annular disk, locking the wheelchairs wheel against further rotation, or else (ii) withdraw easily from a hole, permitting wheel rotation.

Abstract: Microspheres are permanently marked with non-radioactive stable isotopes of elements suitably detected by neutron activation analysis. The marked microspheres are suitable to permanently label diverse things. For example, families of stable-multiple-isotope-marked microspheres injected into an animal become lodged by the circulating blood within selected tissues of an animal during blood flow analysis experimentation. Absolute and relative abundances of these stable-isotope-marked microspheres residing within harvested tissues are readily accurately automatically measured in situ within the harvested tissue samples by neutron activation analysis. The quantitatively measured abundance of the isotopes, and associated microspheres, are accurately indicative of the former flow of blood containing the microspheres to the tissue.

Abstract: Diverse communication terminals attach via broadband radio to a communications network at any of typically three hierarchical cell sizes increasing from, typically, a single building to a city to a region. Almost all telecommunications traffic transpires, however, within lowest-level “picocells 1” to and from low cost “base stations 11” that have typically one radio transceiver 111, four optical transceivers 112, an ATM switch 113 and an ATM controller 114. Each local “base station 11” is interconnected to a regional “end office switch 12”, where is realized connection to a worldwide wire/fiber line communications backbone 4, upon a multi-hop mesh network 100 via short highly-focused free-space broadband directional optical links 10. By this free-space wireless broadband access the need for new broadband access cabling the “last mile” to subscriber/users is totally surmounted.