Abstract: In a solar heating panel, the panel includes a plate-like solar collector having a serpentine shaped fluid conduit soldered to the plate collector in heat exchange relation therewith. Laterally directed manifolds are provided at opposite ends of the collector and are coupled in fluid communication with the serpentine flow path for coupling a plurality of such solar heating panels in parallel across a manifold structure. The panels include frame structures having a pair of elongated side frame members closed at opposite ends by means of end members with the side and end members having slots formed therein in registration one with the other such that when the side members are mated to the end members, the slots are in registration to define the side ports in the frame for passage therethrough of said manifold conduits.

Abstract: In a probe head for an automatic semiconductive wafer prober, the probe head includes a probe body means for coupling the probe head to the probe holder surrounding a chuck which carries the wafer. The chuck is moveable in the plane of the wafer (horizontal) and orthogonal to the plane of the wafer (vertical) for sequentially moving a pattern of probe heads into testing engagement with corresponding patterns of test points on the wafer under test. The probe head includes a testing head having a probe portion (blade, needle or point) for making electrical contact with a respective test point on the wafer. The test head is coupled to the probe body by means of a way for guiding the initial vertical adjustable movement of the testing head in the vertical direction, whereas the probe body is pivotably and slideably coupled to the probe holder so as to permit a second initial adjustment of the probe body in the horizontal plane for establishing the test probe pattern.

Abstract: In a rotary vacuum sealed wafer transport system for transporting semiconductive wafers between ambient atmosphere and subatmospheric pressure within a wafer processing station, the wafers, on a conveyor web pass through a slot in the vacuum chamber of the processing station. The evacuable envelope of the processing station has an external concave face portion intersecting with a generally planar face portion with the slot being positioned generally at the intersection of the concave and planar face portions. A deformable elastic roller, preferably pneumatically inflated, is disposed for rolling sealing engagement with the conveyor web and wafer and for wiping sealing engagement with portions of the planar and concave faces to provide a gas tight seal of the slot while permitting passage of the conveyor web with the wafers thereon into the evacuated wafer processing station. In a preferred embodiment, the conveyor web passes through input and output slots with pneumatic rollers sealing the pair of slots.

Abstract: The base-to-emitter bias voltage and current of a high frequency transistor, operating class AB or class A, is derived from a semiconductive bias device consisting of a semiconductive diode junction fed with current from a constant current source to derive a V.sub.BE voltage thereacross which is the bias source voltage. This source voltage is applied across the base-to-emitter junction of the RF transistor via the intermediary of a positive temperature coefficient silicon resistor. The diode and silicon resistor are packaged together for mounting on a heat sink common to the transistor, whereby the transistor is compensated for temperature dependent changes in V.sub.BE and h.sub.FE.

Abstract: In a self stowing vehicle leveling hydraulic jack, a cylindrical ram housing is pivotably affixed to the vehicle to be leveled. A cylindrical hydraulically actuated ram is carried within the cylindrical ram housing in a telescoping manner. An electrical motor is contained within the ram. The motor drives a hydraulic pump, also contained in the ram. The output of the pump passes through a control valve for selectively valving the hydraulic fluid between a ram extension chamber and a ram retracting chamber for selectively extending or retracting the telescoping ram. A cam follower, carried from the ram, follows a cam track eccentrically mounted relative to the pivotable axis of the ram housing for pivoting the retracted telescoping jack into a self stowing position. A valve traps the hydraulic fluid in the retracting chamber for holding the retracted jack in the self stowed position.

Abstract: In a manual ski carrier for carrying skis in parallel bottom-to-bottom faced relation, a pair of clamping blocks are carried from a main body member which is laterally directed of the skis. The clamping blocks are preferably spring biased apart such that the inside faces of the clamping blocks engage the opposite side marginal edges of the skis therebetween. A lever having a cam is pivotably affixed to the main body member such that pivoting of the lever causes the cam to engage one of the clamping blocks into clamping relation. The cam is arranged relative to the lever such that when the lever is pivoted away from the skis to a direction extending orthogonally to the skis, the skis may then be carried from the shoulder of the operator by placing the lever over the shoulder. A shoulder strap is preferably employed for connecting the outer end of the lever back to the ski binding, thereby forming a shoulder strap to facilitate carrying the skis.

Abstract: In an optically pumped high power laser the optical pump includes a housing containing a pair of flash lamps and an elliptical reflector assembly for reflecting the optical pumping radiation into the laser gain medium, such as a YAG rod. Water coolant is directed through the housing in contacting relation with the YAG rod and flash lamps. An ultraviolet band reject filter, comprising a split cylindrical sleeve, is disposed surrounding the laser gain medium in between the laser gain medium and the flash lamps and in contact with the water coolant.

Abstract: A capacitive force transducer, particularly suited for use as a microphone or as a phonograph needle pick-up cartridge, comprises a diaphragm electrode insulatively held to a lip portion of a recess in a second electrode, thereby forming a capacitive detector. The lip structure of the second electrode structure has a capacitive face region diverging from a virtual pivot region at the lip where the diaphragm is pivotably affixed to the recessed electrode. In this manner, the quiescent capacitance is defined predominantly by the capacitance near the lip, which is relatively small and defined and the change in capacitance for a given deflection of the diaphragm is relatively large, thereby improving the sensitivity of the transducer. In the case of a phonographic pick-up cartridge, the pick-up needle is coupled to the diaphragm so that vibrations induced in the needle produce corresponding vibrations of the diaphragm.

Abstract: Semiconductive wafers are processed, i.e., etched or layers deposited thereon, by means of a plasma enhanced chemical vapor processing system. The processing system includes an evacuable horizontal tubular envelope disposed within a surrounding heater or furnace for maintaining, the case of deposition, a region of uniform temperature within the central region of the elongated tubular envelope. Two sets of interleaved generally planar electrodes are disposed within the evacuable envelope for establishing an electrical plasma discharge in the process gaps defined between the interleaved electrodes. Wafers are loaded into the processing gaps vertically with the major face of each wafer facing into the process gap. The mutually opposed surfaces of the interleaved electrodes are preferably lined with a material of the same conductivity as that of the bulk material of the wafer to enhance the uniformity of the processing.

Abstract: A relatively thin superconductive magnetic shield, as of lead, is supported from a hollow support structure, as of aluminum or fiberglass by means of a multiplicity of spots of adhesive, as of epoxy, serving to bond the superconducting shield to the support structure. The shield and support structure is then positioned within a reentrant cryostat and cooled to liquid helium temperature to render the shield superconductive. Adjacent edges of the shield material are outwardly flanged and sealed together at the flanged portions, as by welding. The spot pattern of adhesive permits the shield to flex during thermal cycling to relieve strain and prevent fracture thereof while at the same time supporting the shield in a substantially nonmicrophonic manner.

Abstract: In a magnetron sputter gun for sputtering cathode material at subatmospheric pressure from a target onto a workpiece, the sputter cathode target comprises a pair of rings disposed in the inner magnetic gap between a pair of axially spaced annular pole pieces of a magnetic circuit. The pair of cathode target rings include a main target ring, which is to receive a preponderance of the cathode erosion, and an auxiliary ring disposed within a counter bore at the inner lip of one of the pole pieces. The main and auxiliary target rings are disposed relative to the counter bored pole piece so as to shape the magnetic field in the region of the sputter target rings such that a nearly constant sputtering rate is attained from the target with constant applied anode to cathode potential and constant current during the time to produce erosion of a preponderance of the volume of the main target ring, whereby a controlled sputtering rate is obtained concurrently with a relatively high utilization of target material.

Abstract: In a method for chasing game, a set of portable sound generators are set out in the field in accordance with a predetermined pattern for chasing the game in a predetermined direction when the sound generators are actuated. Each of the sound generators has a clock associated therewith and means for setting the turn-on time to an accuracy of plus or minus at least a few seconds, such that precise timing of the turn-on time of respective ones of the sound generators is settable, as desired. The turn-on times are then set in accordance with the positions of the respective sound generators in the predetermined pattern so that the sound generators turn on in a predetermined sequence for chasing the game in the predetermined direction.

Abstract: A tunable source of infrared radiation is obtained by irradiating an assemblage of Raman active gaseous atoms or molecules with a high intensity pumping beam of coherent radiation at a pump frequency .omega..sub.p to stimulate the generation of Stokes wave energy at a Stokes frequency .omega..sub.s and to stimulate the Raman resonant mode at the Raman mode frequency .omega..sub.R within the irradiated assemblage where the pump frequency .omega..sub.p minus the Stokes frequency .omega..sub.s is equal to the Raman mode frequency .omega..sub.R. The stimulated assemblage is irradiated with a tunable source of coherent radiation at a frequency .omega..sub.i to generate the output infrared radiation of the frequency .omega..sub.0 which is related to the Raman mode frequency .omega..sub.R and the input wave .omega..sub.i by the relation .omega..sub.0 =.omega..sub.i .+-..omega..sub.R. In one embodiment the interaction between the pump wave energy .omega..sub.p and the tunable input wave energy .omega..sub.

Abstract: A hand operated dry wall taping tool includes a tubular main body portion, to be held by the operator, with a tape applicator head portion at one end thereof. The tool is supplied with dry wall tape cement from a supply thereof under pressure. A supply roll of dry wall tape is carried from the main body of the applicator, the tape is fed through the applicator head onto the wall joint to be taped. In the applicator head, a pair of tape drive wheel portions engage the tape and press it against the wall for taping a seam between two adjacent sections of dry wall. As the drive wheels pull the tape through the applicator head, dry wall cement is applied by the applicator head to the side of the tape which is to engage the wall. In one embodiment, a spring biased swivel roller presses the cement laden tape into engagement with the wall as the tape is applied to the seam.

Abstract: A method of making multilevel equidensity contour mappings and pseudo-colored versions of a photograph. First a half-tone transparency of the photograph is made by the method described in copending patent application entitled "Method of Making Half-Tone Screens", Ser. No. 708,539 filed 26 July, 1976 by Liu, now abandoned. The half-tone photograph transparency is placed at the object plane of a first lens. A spatially filtered collimated light beam is directed through the transparency and the lens such that a multitude of diffraction orders appear in the focal plane of the lens. A particular non-zero order of diffraction is singled out by placing a thin slit spatial filter at the Fourier plane of the lens. Reimaging of the diffraction order by another lens produces a filtered image which contains multilevel equidensity contours of the original photographic image. In one embodiment the light beam is generated by lasers of different wavelengths.

Abstract: A pedal for a pedal driven apparatus, such as a bicycle, moped, or the like, includes a flexible, pliable, strap as of nylon webbing which passes twice over the pedal forming a double loop configuration for strapping the foot of the operator to the pedal. A leaf spring, preferably disposed within the nylon webbing arches over the pedal, generally parallel to its axis of revolution, for holding the loops of the strap in an arched configuration over the pedal to facilitate entry of the operator' s foot. A slideable locking fastener permits the operator to tighten the straps over the foot while pedalling. A holder holds the two straps in side-by-side relation while permitting the strap to slide therethrough for adjustment of the loop size. A gripping member is carried on the loose end of the strap to facilitate pulling thereon. Velcro fasteners are associated with the loose end of the strap and the holder for fastening the loose end of the strap to the holder after the adjustment has been made.

Abstract: Output coherent infrared radiation is obtained in a continuously tunable band from 1.4 microns to 25 microns and longer wavelengths. The 1.06 micron output of a Nd:YAG laser, or a harmonic thereof, is difference mixed in a nonlinear crystal, as of LiIO.sub.3 or LiNbO.sub.3 with a synchronously pumped output of a tunable dye laser oscillator to produce a first tunable output over the range of 0.7 micron to 5.0 microns. The output of the crystal mixer is amplified or difference mixed in a second nonlinear crystal mixer with the 1.06 pump output to produce an output tunable over the range of 1.4 microns to 25 microns and longer wavelengths. Suitable second crystal mixers comprise LiNbO.sub.3 for the range of 1.4 to 4.4 microns and operable as an amplifier in the range of 1.4 microns to 2.1 microns, and as a difference mixer in the range of 2.1 to 4.4 microns, AgGaS.sub.

Abstract: In a corner roller tool for rolling mud laden applied tape into a corner dry wall seam, a pair of tandem rollers are provided for rolling the creased tape into the corner seam and for squeezing out excess mud from beneath the tape. The rollers each comprise a wheel having a tread portion of generally V-shaped radial cross section. The included angle .theta. between the opposed faces of the V-shaped tread portion is approximately 90.degree. for pressing the tape into firm engagement with the side walls of the corner seam. The corner roller wheels are carried from a frame which is pivotably coupled to a elongated handle. The handle is pivotable in at least two orthogonal directions to facilitate rolling of the tape into the corner seam when the operator can not face directly into the seam. The corner roller wheel are free to move laterally on their respective axles to facilitate tracking of imperfect seams. The included angle between the tread face portions of the two wheels are preferably larger than 90.

Abstract: In the thermal gas pressure gauge, a foil heater has a heater surface disposed in gas communication with the gas to be measured and the heater surface is thermally cycled at first and second reference frequencies to produce cyclical heating of the gaseous material adjacent the heating element. A directional microphone is disposed facing the heating element to derive signals of an amplitude determined by the amplitude of the cyclical heating effect of the gaseous material at the first and second reference frequencies. The detected signals are synchronously detected to produce a pair of dc outputs indicative of pressure in two respective pressure regimes. In an overlap pressure regime the two dc outputs are converted to digital signals which are correlated with pairs of values tabled in a read only memory for reading out a digital signal indicative of the pressure. In a low pressure regime from approximately 10.sup.

Abstract: A high power single mode laser is disclosed which includes a Q-switch for switching the laser on in two stages: firstly, to a relatively high loss level just above threshold where it is held to permit a train of relaxation oscillator spikes to be established and then it is switched to a second stage in which the Q-switch is in a lossless state to allow the resonant mode within the laser to build up to maximum power. An optical detector monitors the resonant optical radiation level within the optical resonator and produces an output signal for each of the relaxation spikes. A trigger circuit, responsive to the detected oscillator spikes, triggers the Q-switch so as to switch it to the second or lossless state upon receipt of the second or any other subsequent relaxation oscillator spike, whereby single longitudinal mode operation of the laser is enhanced.