Abstract: A fastener for mounting objects to a wall or to a floor. The fastener includes an anchor member having an elongate body with a shank portion having a spacer formed integrally with one end, a central longitudinal hole extending through the elongate body, and an internally thread section in the longitudinal hole near a second end of the shank. The shank further includes a deformable expansion region between the first end and the second end of the shank. The fastener further includes a mandrel configured to be received within the longitudinal hole of the elongate body.

Abstract: A test system and method determining performance of a merged magnetoresistive read-write head based upon operating the write inductive head of the merged read-write head, measuring the resistance of the read head under certain read current bias conditions and finding which read heads have been damaged by ESD.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device and method for operating a refrigeration cycle without icing of the evaporative surface of the device.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for supporting the back of a seated person by providing primary support to the back of the seated person at the junction between the lower thoracic vertebrae and the upper lumbar vertebrae and surrounding tissues. More specifically, the primary support is preferably provided to the spine in a target region between the 11th thoracic vertebrae and the 2nd lumbar vertebrae of a user of the chair, and more preferably between the 1st lumbar vertebrae and the 12th thoracic vertebrae.

Abstract: A prosthetic eye and a coordinating pair of glasses simulate dilation of the pupil of a normal eye. The prosthetic eye has a white scleral portion with a simulated iris is painted on the front. A polarized disc is located at the center of the iris. The polarized disc is placed on the horizontal transmitting axis. The center of the polarized disc is darkened with paint to simulate a pupil having a fairly small diameter. The back of the polarized disc is painted to blend with the iris or simulate the collarette of the eye. Over the top of the polarized disc and iris is a dome of material simulating the cornea of the eye. The prosthetic eye is used in conjunction with the special pair of eyeglasses having a lens formed of linearly polarizing material with the transmitting axis in the vertical plane. When the eyeglasses are used, it makes the pupil appear to dilate because it causes the entire disc to blacken when viewed through the polarized lens.

Abstract: A method for removing organic and inorganic residues or polymers from the surface of semiconductor devices, with a combination of etchant gasses including water vapor generated using a catalytic moisture generator or CMG. The water vapor is generated by introducing O2 and an H2 containing forming gas including hydrogen and at least one dilutant gas into the CMG. The water vapor from the CMG is introduced into a reaction chamber with other etchant gasses to treat the surface of a semiconductor device placed within. The flow rate of water vapor out of the CMG and into the reaction chamber may be controlled by controlling the flow rate of the H2 containing forming gas and the flow rate of the O2 gas into the CMG.

Abstract: The present invention is shipping and storage container for storing and transporting a plurality of disc shaped objects, such as wafers and the like, while protecting the items from vibration, abrasion, impact, particulation, static electricity, and outgassing. Although the carrier of the present invention may be configured to carry many kinds of thin disc shaped objects, the invention is particularly suited for safely storing and transporting wafers. In its broadest sense, the shipping container of the invention comprises a separable base and cover. The base is configured to hold a plurality of wafers stacked one on top of the other within a cylindrical storage area. The upper wafers are supported by wafers below, and ultimately by the flat bottom of the container. The cover is configured to fit over portions of the base to enclose the stored wafers.

Abstract: A process challenge device tailored to mimic the resistance of a particular product-package combination to a particular biological inactivation, disinfection, or sterilization process. The device is used to challenge the process, thus providing a means to validate the efficacy of the process. In one embodiment, the process indicator includes a biological indicator organism stored on a carrier enclosed within a chamber formed by a barrier film material. The specific indicator organism and carrier substrate are chosen for their appropriateness for a given process. The materials comprising the barrier film material of the process challenge device are chosen for the materials' specific resistance to the given process. The process challenge device may also comprise a separate second chamber filled with an appropriate culture medium or enzyme substrate that is separated from the chamber containing the process indicator by a separation means, such as a valve, a clip, or a frangible separation.

Abstract: Pacifier Toy with a pacifier having a rigid plastic plate and an integral resilient, centrally located nipple, and a holding ring, a child's toy having an animal shape where the face portion of the animal is framed so that it can receive the pacifier, the pacifier having eyes and mouth features painted on or otherwise affixed, the pacifier having the nipple that acts as the nose portion of the animal's face, and the face frame of the animal toy capable of removably retaining said rigid plastic pacifier plate so that a child can use said pacifier by itself or in conjunction with said toy animal.

Abstract: A method of processing left and right audio signals is disclosed which reproduces the illusion of a center channel while achieving a perception by the listener of a wider speaker separation. This method is partly obtained by altering the spectral response of the left and right speaker signals to obtain left and right sets of odd and even Fourier Transforms having certain characteristics. These processed signals are re-combined with the unaltered left and right signals to produce an expanded separation image that appears to extend beyond the physical location of the actual left and right loudspeakers, and to simultaneously centralize center channel signals to a point located between the loudspeakers.

Abstract: A fastener (13) and fastener delivery device (73) for guiding, delivering and deploying the fastener (13) into tissue to provide sustained gripping forces and methods of use. The fastener (13) is curved with a spring-like or shape memory material (15) and gripping elements (14). The fastener (13) is resiliently straightened and loaded into a cartridge (7) within a needle (1). The needle (1) and cartridge (7) both contain a slit (2, 8), and the slits (2, 8) extend to the distal openings (16, 17) of the needle (1) and cartridge (7). When the slits (2, 8) are not aligned, out-of-phase with each other, the fastener (13) remains resiliently straightened in the needle (1). When the slits (2, 8) overlap, in-phase with each other, the fastener (13) resiliently curves and deploys from the slits (2, 8), elastically gripping adjacent tissue. The device (73) is free to be withdrawn, allowing the fastener (13) to slide out from the distal openings (16, 17) of both cartridge (7) and needle (1).

Abstract: A shower curtain having one or more pockets formed near the lower edge and on the side facing the shower nozzle is disclosed. The pockets are designed to collect water while the shower is in use. The pockets have drain holes that allow the water to slowly drain, such that while the shower is in use, the pockets will fill, but when the shower is shut off, the pockets will slowly drain until they are empty. The pockets are in fluid communication with one another by way of openings extending between the pockets. The bottom edge of the pocket is sloped with the highest point of the bottom wall at or near the center of the shower curtain encouraging water to flow toward the edges. Below the pockets, the shower curtain is formed of an air permeable material such as nylon mesh.

Abstract: The invention includes a method and apparatus repairing read heads of a merged magnetoresistive read-write head without the use of external magnets nor the exclusive use of read bias current to heat the read head.

Abstract: A contamination resistant lead screw or ball screw-driven linear actuator has the lead screw and drive nut enclosed within a specially constructed guide chassis. A carriage is slidably mounted on parallel rails attached to the guide chassis. The carriage is attached to the drive nut through a slot in the guide chassis. An enclosure surrounds the guide chassis. The enclosure and the guide chassis create a labyrinth seal that effectively contains internally generated debris and contamination and excludes environmental dirt, debris and contamination.

Abstract: The present invention is an illumination system for use near a wall or surface for creating one or more images of light thereon. An important characteristic of the invention is the ability to produce coordinated images by passing radiant light through an at least one convergent refracting lens. The lens may have a decorative shape, and the surface of convergent refracting lens may be embellished with etched, drawn, painted or otherwise applied designs for projecting said images, or a prism for producing decorative rainbow spectra effects. The invention is capable of being used in common household lighting fixtures.

Abstract: A head suspension assembly comprising a visco-elastic coupling between a load beam dimple or protrusion and a suspension flexure to which a slider is rigidly coupled. The damping material is selected for a low static modulus, which reduces mechanical vibration by absorbing kinetic energy and releasing the energy as heat. The gimbaling function of the suspension is not significantly effected by the damping material because the damping effect occurs primarily when there is an undesirable relative velocity (movement with respect to time) between the dimple and the flexure.

Abstract: The present invention is a mechanism for making minute adjustments in the position of a read/write head for magnetically or optically reading from or writing to a data storage media. The head positioning mechanism (microactuator) will preferably be used in association with known disk storage actuation systems such as those typically used in current magnetic data storage devices such as hard disk drives, and optical data storage devices such as CDs. The microactuator comprises a slider support arm with a slider formed thereon, that is separated from an anchor structure by a gap. A pizoelectric element is positioned across the gap and is coupled at one end to the slider support arm, and at the other to the anchor structure. The anchor structure has greater resistance to bending than the slider support arm. Thus, when the piezoelectric element changes length, the slider support arm will tend to bend relative to the anchor structure, moving the slider on the slider support arm a controlled minute distance.

Abstract: Snowboard Light with a centrally located hollow housing containing a light source, a reflector, a clear lens, a battery supply, an attachment means, an on off switch, and a battery door. A pair of semi rigid mirror image side members are hingably connected to either side of the central chamber. The side members have a recessed groove capable of accepting the edge of a snowboard. Said side members have inwardly facing straps and corresponding attachment means to secure said snowboard light to said snowboard. A preferred embodiment includes wherein said lens is a fresnel lens capable of collumnating a light beam. Said light beam being vertically adjustable by means an adjustment knob.