Abstract: The inventive apparatus is comprised of a means for producing cavitation in a complex reaction mixture to enhance the yield of the selected reaction product, a means for controlling the temperature of the complex reaction mixture, especially during cavitation, and a means for affecting magnetic separation of paramagnetic beads to which the selected reaction product is attached from the complex reaction mixture. In one embodiment, the compound(s) or molecule(s) is synthesized in situ, and isolated using the inventive apparatus. The apparatus finds use in the fields of solid phase organic synthesis, and for isolation and purification of a selected compound(s) or molecule (s), especially where automation is desired.

Abstract: In a light distribution system for producing a series of light beams remote from a quasi point source, a light collection means, a conveyance means having an axis, and a series of illumination directors are provided. The light collection means projects light from the quasi point source through the conveyance means to the series of illumination directors. The illumination directors are axially displaced from one another, and each illumination director directs a beam away from the system to provide illumination. At least one of the illumination directors comprises a beam splitting reflector having a predetermined ratio of reflection to transmission. Consequently, each illumination director in the series provides a measured amount of brightness in a predetermined ratio to the other illumination directors in the series. The light collection means and said illumination directors define brightness and size of the beams projected from the system.

Abstract: Production of low oxygen forms of tantalum and other refractory metals providing hydrided powder of the metal, forming a tube (10), pouring the metal into the tube, dehydriding the powder in the tube and sealing the tube and extruding to form a rod encased in the tube and further fabricating the rod.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for translating angular velocity and rotary motive force of an input drive to angular velocity and rotary motive force of an output drive, by providing a pair of devices rotatable at, relative to or about a common axis, and translating means for transmitting angular velocity and rotary motive force of a first of the devices to angular velocity and rotary motive force of a second of the devices.

Abstract: An improved ignition-combustion system for internal combustion engines comprising a compact combustion chamber zone (4) in the engine cylinder head (6) mainly under the exhaust valve (8) and with large air-squish zones (124a, 124b) formed at the edge of the combustion zone which produce colliding squish flows (2, 2a, 3a, 3b) with high turbulence (3c) at the center of the combustion zone, with one or two spark plugs (12a/118, 12b/18a) located at the edge of the combustion zone within the high squish zones, resulting in a combined ignition and combustion system of colliding-flow-coupled-spark discharge (CFCSD), with the ignition employing high energy flow-resistant ignition sparks which move under the influence of the squish flow towards the central turbulence region as the piston nears engine top center, to produce rapid and complete burning of lean and high EGR mixtures for best engine efficiency and lowest emissions.

Abstract: One step process for producing formed Ta/Nb powder metallurgy products using Ta and/or Nb hydride powders with an oxygen content greater than a target level, e.g., 300 ppm, heating the metal hydride in the presence of another metal having a higher affinity for oxygen, removing the other metal and any reaction byproducts, to form a metal powder with an oxygen content less than the target level and forming a metallurgical product from said oxygen reduced Ta/Nb powder with an oxygen content less than the target level.

Abstract: The disclosed &bgr; titanium alloys contain alloying elements of molybdenum between 10.0 and 12.0 weight percent, aluminum between 2.8 and 4.0 weight percent, chromium and vanadium between 0.0 and 2.0 weight percent, and niobium between 0.0 and 4.0 weight percent. Orthodontic arch wires and appliances of nickel-free &bgr; titanium alloys having pseudo-elastic properties associated with stress-induced martensitic transformation. These arch wires and appliances were found to possess a high strain recovery up to 3.5% strain of deformation, a lower stiffness yielding relatively constant force for tooth movement and improved formability over that of pseudo-elastic nitinol. Eyeglasses having parts made of such materials can be welded. Stents made of this material avoid problems which a certain percentage of the population have when nickel is included within alloys used in the human body. Other medical devices which are used in the body also have this benefit.

Abstract: Planarizing High Temperature Superconductor (HTS) surfaces, especially HTS thin film surfaces is crucial for HTS thin film device processing. Disclosed is a method of surface planarization for HTS film. The method includes first smoothing the HTS surface by Gas Cluster Ion Beam bombardment, followed by annealing in partial pressure of oxygen to regrow the damaged surface layer. A rough HTS surface can be planarized down to a smoothness with a standard deviation of one nanometer or better.

Abstract: A color correlogram is a three-dimensional table indexed by color and distance between pixels which expresses how the spatial correlation of color changes with distance in a stored image. The color correlogram may be used to distinguish an image from other images in a database. To create a color correlogram, the colors in the image are quantized into m color values, ci . . . cm. Also, the distance values k&egr;[d] to be used in the correlogram are determined where [d] is the set of distances between pixels in the image, and where dmax is the maximum distance measurement between pixels in the image. Each entry (i, j, k) in the table is the probability of finding a pixel of color ci at a selected distance k from a pixel of color ci. A color autocorrelogram, which is a restricted version of the color correlogram that considers color pairs of the form (i,i) only, may also be used to identify an image.

Abstract: A non-rigid object holder assembly for use in examination of an object having a base (6), a first member (5) and a second member (2) movably mounted with respect to each other and said base (6), a mechanism (8) for controllably moving the members with respect to each other and the base. A first resilient membrane (4) attached to the first member (5) and a second resilient membrane (1) attached to the second member (2), the first and the second resilient membranes forming first and second inflatable components (4′,1′) for holding the object to be examined therebetween. A pressure system ((11, 19) operably connected to the first and the second inflatable components for controllably inflating each of the inflatable components.

Abstract: Wireless communication system for location of a person and identification of a distress condition of the person comprising portable transceivers (20) carried by persons, each having an associated alarm switch (40), the transceiver activatable locally and/or via a remote network and the alarm switch operable locally to activate the transceiver.

Abstract: A flow restrictor is applied to a respiration-channeling device such as a tracheostomy tube, a mouthpiece, or a face mask. The flow restrictor creates a pressure differential which varies with volume flow rate. A pressure reading is taken on either side of the flow restrictor in the respiration-channeling device and from this, a volume flow rate is determined. A data acquisition device is used to derive further pulmonary function parameters from the volume flow rate.

Abstract: A process and system for switching connections of data packet flows between nodes of data processing system networks operating on diverse protocols according to the application layer information on the data packets.

Abstract: The present invention provides an electronic package assembly in which a ball grid array (BGA) is surface mounted to a printed wiring board using solder balls. Tubing is placed along the perimeter of the BGA housing to prevent subsequently applied sealant from contacting the solder balls or filling the gap between the BGA housing and the printed iring board. The method of this invention including the steps necessary to effect such sealer incorporate within the electronic package assembly. This results in a seal that prevents electrical disconnection in the solder joint during operation of the electronic package assembly.

Abstract: A dynamic optimal sensor employment system and method is used for searching an area. Each time the sensor in the search vehicle is activated, the dynamic optimal sensor employment system (“the system”) determines which areas were searched at that moment. It does this by using a terrain database, information about the sensor state when it scanned (azimuth, elevation, mode, etc.), and a line-of-sight algorithm. The system determines this instantaneous coverage not only for the primary search vehicle, designated “ownership”, but also for other teammates who report scan information to ownship via digital messages. The system maintains a dynamic history of all areas (e.g. 30 meter by 30 meter square “cells” of ground) that have been searched. Each cell has a counter that indicates how many time it has been scanned, and each time cells are scanned with ownship or team sensors the counter is incremented.

Abstract: A photolithographic system uses a mask that carries a plurality of photolithographic images. In one embodiment, the mask carries images for all the layers necessary to manufacture a variety of different device cells, which can include devices of different types. A single mask may carry the images required to make a complete system consisting of multiple devices. Some devices may comprise multiple layers. The system includes an adjustable aperture system which defines the area of the mask which will be illuminated. The mask is employed in a mask aligner which includes a source of electromagnetic radiation, apparatus to carry and position a substrate, apparatus to position the mask, and apparatus to position and adjust the aperture.

Abstract: Tantalum scrap of high oxygen content is recovered and processed to metallurgical grade tantalum by fine participation. Blending with carbon or other appropriate solid reducing agent, melting in a plasma furnace (20) at about tantalum melt temperature while suppressing partial pressure of tantalum oxide gas to minimize tantalum loss of the process.