Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed for evaluating the superconducting quality of superconducting materials. The materials are wound on a bifilar spool and tested in a cryogenic atmosphere to determine when the material quenches. During the testing procedure, the electro-magnetic field, current and temperature imposed on the material are varied and the test results are compared with known results to determine if the material is superconductive. In this way, large samples can be tested in a non-destructive manner.

Abstract: Plural-bit digital input signals to be subjected to weighted summation in a neural net layer are bit-sliced; and a number N of respective first through N.sup.th weighted summations of the bits of the digital input signals in each bit slice are performed, resulting in a respective set of first through N.sup.th partial weighted summation results. Weighted summations of the partial weighted summation results of similar ordinal number are then performed to generate first through N.sup.th final weighted summation results. Each weighted summation of a bit slice of the digital input signals is performed using a capacitive network that generates partial weighted summation results in the analog regime. In this capacitive network each weight is determined by the difference in the capacitances of a respective pair of capacitive elements.

Abstract: A lock detector for a switched reluctance motor (SRM) position estimator monitors the rotor angle estimates from a SRM rotor position estimator to make sure that the estimator is accurately tracking rotor position. Phase flux and current measurements corresponding to the rotor angle estimate of the sampled phase are supplied to dividing circuitry which generates a phase inductance estimate. The phase inductance estimate is compared by logic circuitry to lower and upper inductance limits to determine whether the rotor angle estimate falls within a specified tolerance of a theoretical inductance value. Alternatively, a flux-current map is used to generate a phase flux reference for comparison to the phase flux estimate. A lock detector flip-flop is reset whenever the phase inductance estimate (or phase flux estimate) is outside the specified tolerance, and a signal is sent thereby to disable the SRM.

Abstract: A thermoplastic sheet is placed between a pair of mold members each having a thermal insulator and a mating metal mold insert. RF energy is applied to the inserts to dielectrically heat and melt the thermoplastic sheet. The heated sheet is then deformed in a low pressure press with the insulators. The insulators are then replaced with cool thermally conductive structures to shorten the cooling cycle time. The thermally conductive structures cool the sheet by pressing the sheet in a high pressure press.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for processing a composite object, the method comprising the steps of providing a composite object, aligning a laser source with a portion of the composite object to be processed, operating the laser source to generate laser beam pulses, and forming composite object elements by applying the pluses of beams from the source to the composite object portion to be processed.

Abstract: Polyphenylene ethers are capped by reaction in the melt, with application of vacuum, with at least one trimellitamide, preferably phenyl 4-aminosalicylate trimellitamide. The preferred melt processing method is extrusion with vacuum venting. By this method, the polyphenylene ether is capped with reactive anhydride groups improving it therm-oxidative stability. The capped polyphenylene ether is capable of forming copolymers with polyamides and said copolymers are useful as compatibilizers for polyphenylene ether-polyamide blends.

Abstract: Batch assembly methods for high density packaging of power semiconductor chips in hermetic thin packagings includes providing silicon chip arrays with thermocompressively bonded foil contacts, preparing ceramic lid arrays which contain upper surface and lower margin direct-bonded copper coverings and through-the-lid high current spherical conductors, coining Cu/Mo/Cu or copper cup arrays, die mounting within each respective cup a respective semiconductor chip, superpositionally registering a lid array with a strip form of cup array, and solder reflowing to hermetically seal all hermetic thin packagings within a registered set of cup and lid arrays.

Abstract: An apparatus and method employing an interface heater segment for control of a shape of a peripheral edge region of a solidification interface in a Czochralski crystal pulling process are provided wherein an interface heater segment, independently controllable from a primary heater, is provided at the level of the solidification interface around the periphery of the crucible, the interface heater segment being selectively controlled to influence the shape of the solidification interface at the peripheral edge region thereof, in order to eliminate problems experienced with edge downturn at the peripheral edge region of the interface.

Abstract: A linear predictive codeword excited speech synthesizer performs a voiced/unvoiced decision to determine the type of excitation to be supplied to a synthesis filter. The synthesizer selects the excitation for voiced speech from a codebook, using an analysis-by-synthesis technique in which the transfer function of a linear predictive coefficient synthesis filter closely resembles the gross spectral shape of the input speech signal. By pitch-periodic repetition of the selected codebook vector, a high quality synthetic speech output is generated.

Abstract: Macrocyclic polyarylate oligomers containing a mixture of isophthalate and terephthalate moieties are prepared by reaction of a mixture of isophthaloyl and terephthaloyl chloride with one or more bisphenols under specific reaction conditions. They are characterized by a reduced degree of crystallinity and therefore lower processing temperatures than the corresponding isophthalate oligomers.

Abstract: A method for lowering the corrosion potential on components formed from carbon steel, alloy steel, stainless steel, nickel based alloys, or cobalt based alloys, and exposed to high-temperature water comprised of oxidizing species, comprising: providing a reducing species in the high temperature water that can combine with the oxidizing species, and forming the component to have a catalytic layer of a platinum group metal.

Abstract: An excess liquid refrigerant accumulator for multievaporator refrigeration systems is provided. Under some operating conditions, the lowest temperature evaporator of a multievaporator system may discharge some liquid refrigerant rather than only vapor refrigerant. This liquid discharge creates a loss of cooling capacity. A receptacle connected to the exit of the lowest temperature evaporator accumulates the liquid. By locating the receptacle within the cooled compartment, the cooling capacity which would otherwise be lost, is regained.

Abstract: A high-frequency transformer is constructed from a flexible circuit comprising a primary conductive film winding and one or more secondary conductive film windings disposed on a single dielectric membrane. The flexible circuit is folded to form a stack of primary winding layers interleaved with secondary winding layers and then inserted into a mangetic cup core. The flexible circuit is preferably patterned photolithographically.

Abstract: A process for forming a thermoplastic resin coating on glass fibers comprises heating a thermoplastic resin powder until molten and applying it to the glass fibers. The coated fibers can then be heated and drawn into a desired shape which also removes resin. Then the coated fibers are cooled to make a preform. The coated fiber preform can then be molded. Several resin layers with glass fibers of varying lengths can be deposited to make a graded preform. Apparatus for forming a thermoplastic resin on glass fibers sprays hot thermoplastic powder on the glass fibers. The coated fibers can then be heated such as by IR lamps and then drawn through a die which has a spigot to remove excess plastic. Alternately, a plurality of plastic and glass fiber layers can be deposited on a veil.

Abstract: A silicon flake comprising silicon in a sufficient quantity is inserted into the arc tube of a high-intensity, metal halide discharge lamp in order to avoid a substantial buildup of free halogen, thereby extending the useful life of the lamp.

Abstract: A hermetically sealed package for a semiconductor device includes a lid through which the leads of the device extend vertically away from the chip through an aperture in the lid which is hermetically sealed by the external terminal or electrode. The package is compact, lightweight and free of magnetic materials.

Abstract: A feedback system for a high intensity discharge lamp detects arc instabilities and stabilizes the discharge, thereby increasing the useful life of the lamp. The feedback system includes a phase detector circuit for detecting relatively low fequency, recurrent variations in the characteristic of the arc discharge, indicating the onset of an arc instability. As a result, a signal is generated to decrease the power supplied to the lamp by an amount sufficient to stabilize the discharge without a significant decrease in visible light output.

Abstract: A container for electrochemical reactants for an electrode is provided, as well as electrodes employing the same. The electrodes can withstand the rigorous environment of a nuclear reactor core. The design of the container reduces stresses in the electrode and significantly improves its reliability. The container has a generally cylindrical member of an insulator. The member has a base region with a cut-out extending therethrough. Sidewall means extend from the base to define a cavity for containing electrochemical reactants, e.g., silver chloride. An insert of an insulator at one end mates with the cut-out and at another end mates with and is brazed to a cap for the container. The insert has a second sidewall means for holding the electrochemical reactants, and is shaped to fit within the first sidewall means. The base of the insert and the the cut-out are metallized for acceptance of a silver base.

Abstract: A method of imaging and quantitatively measuring blood velocity distribution within a selected vessel employs Nuclear Magnetic Resonance cylindrical excitation of the sample to be imaged, followed by Fourier velocity encoding excitation along a second axis for selectively encoding molecules based upon their flow velocities, then sensing the re-radiated signal data acquired in the presence of a readout gradient to provide resolution along the cylindrical axis, and reconstructing a velocity profile. Spatial localization is accomplished with an excitation pulse having a cylindrical rather than slab geometry. This method can be combined with cardiac synchronization to measure flow dynamics or it can be applied without synchronization to measure steady flow. The geometry of the measurement is flexible in that the directions of flow sensitivity and geometric resolution are independent.

Abstract: A bit-serial processor for selectively carrying out the sequential steps of performing by successive approximations Coordinate Rotation Digital Computation (CORDIC), non-restoring division or non-restoring square rooting calculations is suitable for inclusion in a monolithic integrated circuit with a plurality of sensors for generating respective sensor output signals, circuitry for converting each sensor output signal to bit-serial digital format, and a bit-serial muliptly-add processor. Together with an electrically-erasable programmable read-only memory and a plurality of current transformers, the monolithic integrated circuit implements a system for metering a-c power main conductors.