Abstract: A method of manufacturing a PIN (positive-intrinsic-negative) diode structure includes depositing an insulation or dielectric layer over the bottom PIN diode electrodes, prior to depositing the PIN semiconductor layers. The insulation layer results in a PIN diode structure with reduced leakage current, reduced RIE (reactive ion etching) chamber contamination, the reduction or elimination of post RIE processing, improved yields, and/or expands the potential materials that may be used for the bottom electrode. A corresponding PIN diode structure is also disclosed. The resulting PIN diode structures may be used in, for example, LCD (liquid crystal display) and solid state imager applications.

Abstract: There is provided an insertion and withdrawal connector apparatus in which a plurality of connectors can move only in a range of capable of engaging and separating with and from a plurality of mating connectors within a connector receiving body. A connector receiving body (1) has a pair of parallel frames (3), a pair of frame blocks (4) positioned at both end portions, and a plurality of partition members (5). One connector (10) and one mating connector are received in each of a plurality of space portions, that is, receiving chambers partitioned by a pair of frames, a pair of frame blocks, and a plurality of partition members. Each of the partition members has a pair of lances (5f, 5g) having a spring characteristic and each of the connectors has a pair of interlocking groove portions (10g) on both side surfaces.

Abstract: A normally white liquid crystal display is provided with a positively birefringent uniaxial retardation film having a retardation value of from about 100-200 nm. The retardation film is provided on one side of the liquid crystal layer, the liquid crystal being sandwiched between a pair of orientation or buffing films which orient the liquid crystal molecules adjacent thereto in predetermined directions. The optical axis of the retardation film is rotated from about 2°-20°, most preferably from about 6°-10° relative to the buffing direction on the opposite side of the liquid crystal layer. This rotation of the retardation film optical axis allows for the high contrast ratio viewing zone of the display to be shifted vertically into either the positive or negative vertical viewing region depending upon the direction of rotation of the retardation film optical axis.

Abstract: An apparatus and process produces salts by an electrodialysis operation. The basic electrodialysis apparatus is a cell having a number of compartments separated by membranes. A DC source is connected to drive a current through a feed stream passing through the cell which splits the salt stream into an acid and a base. The incoming feed may be nanofiltered to remove divalent metal. The base loop may be in communication with an ion exchange column packed with a material that removes multivalent cations. Depending upon the material being processed and the desired end result either or both the nanofiltration and the ion exchanged column may be used in the apparatus.

Abstract: A signal enhancing and artifact reducing blood pressure cuff for use during the non-invasive measurement of blood pressure. The non-invasive blood pressure cuff has an inflatable bladder and a semi-rigid insert disposed over an outer side of the inflatable bladder for enhancing a blood pressure signal by reducing blood pressure signal attenuation. The semi-rigid insert also acts to reduce the effects of external artifact on the inflatable bladder of the blood pressure cuff. The blood pressure cuff has the insert disposed over the outer side of the inflatable bladder to substantially cover the inflatable bladder when the cuff is wrapped around the limb of the subject. An optional damping device made of an impact absorbing material may be disposed over the outer side of the insert to further reduce the effects of external artifacts. A pocket may be formed over the outer side of the cuff to hold the insert.

Abstract: A normally white liquid crystal display is provided with a positively birefringent uniaxial retardation film having a retardation value of from about 100-200 nm. The retardation film is provided on one side of the liquid crystal layer, the liquid crystal being sandwiched between a pair of orientation or buffing films which orient the liquid crystal molecules adjacent thereto in predetermined directions. The optical axis of the retardation film is rotated from about 2°-20°, most preferably from about 6°-10° relative to the buffing direction on the opposite side of the liquid crystal layer. This rotation of the retardation film optical axis allows for the high contrast ratio viewing zone of the display to be shifted vertically into either the positive or negative vertical viewing region depending upon the direction of rotation of the retardation film optical axis.

Abstract: An automatic packaging machine for forming and filling a latching flip-top box uses a two part mandrel which are joined by a hinge. One of the two hinged parts has a roller thereon for following a cam track having a quarter turn spiral therein. As the roller follows the spiral causing one hinged part to move through a quarter turn causing the flip-top to fold over and be formed. A somewhat loose tab on the top edge of the bottom of the box is a latch tab which is caught when the flip-top folds over.

Abstract: In a crushable plastic bottle, a plurality of foldable creases are formed on a wall surface of a body of the plastic bottle so as to in a longitudinal direction thereof in parallel. The foldable creases are formed so that wide and narrow creases are arranged alternately so as to form inequilateral lambda's (&Lgr;'s). When the foldable creases are folded, the narrow creased are roughly turned over in such a way that each inner surface of the narrow crease is brought into contact with the inner surface of each outward adjacent wide crease. Thus, with each narrow crease sandwiched between the two adjacent wide creases, the wide crease are overlapped with each other and fixed in shape as they are.

Abstract: An apparatus and process produces salts by an electrodialysis operation. The basic electrodialysis apparatus is a cell having a number of compartments separated by ion exchange membranes. A DC source is connected to drive a current through a feed stream passing through the cell which splits the salt stream into an acid and a base. The incoming feed may be nanofiltered to remove divalent metal. The base loop may be in communication with an ion exchange column packed with a material that removes multivalent cations. Monovalent selctive cation membranes may be used to effect preferential treatment of the monovalent cations to the base loop. Depending upon the material being processed and the desired end result either or both the nanofiltration and the ion exchanged column may be used in the apparatus.

Abstract: An inanimate figure having soft, resiliently deformable skin defining a body and limbs, at least one of the limbs housing an articulating limb structure comprising at least two substantially rigid limb frame members joined by at least one articulating joint disposed therebetween.

Abstract: An improved cast motor housing for medium to large motors is integrally formed with at least one conduit embedded in the housing for carrying a circulating heat removal fluid. The housing has a substantially cylindrical housing wall formed from a thermally conductive material. The fluid conduit is disposed within the housing wall intimate thermally-conductive contact with the wall material. The conduit may be formed of a sturdy, thermally conductive material. The conduit is arranged within the housing wall to extend along substantially the entire longitudinal and circumferential dimensions of the housing, and may be formed as a multi-turn helix. For larger motors, multiple conduits may be provided. The motor housing is formed by casting. A cylindrical casting core has a set of longitudinally-extending channels located at regular angular intervals along its circumference for supporting the conduit during the casting process.

Abstract: In a cable connector (1) in which a core wire (81a,81c) of a cable (81) is pressed against a base contact (3) in a predetermined direction (a) intersecting the core wire, a support contact (5) is cooperated with the base contact to clamp the core wire therebetween in the predetermined direction. The base contact is coupled to a base insulator (2). The support contact is coupled to a cover insulator (4) movable against the base insulator in the predetermined direction. A partition wall (42) is formed integral with the cover insulator and positions the core wire to make the core wire face the base contact. When the cover insulator is moved towards the base insulator, the core wire becomes in press contact with the base contact.

Abstract: A process for forming a contact structure of a semiconductor device includes the steps of (a) providing a substrate having a plurality of gates thereon and a first oxide layer formed between the gates, (b) forming a first dielectric layer on the oxide layer and the gates, (c) forming a second oxide layer on the first dielectric layer, and (d) removing a portion of the second oxide layer for forming first spacers alongside each of the gates.

Abstract: An anticorrosive film which can be formed without causing any substantial environmental pollution, can effectively prevent any corrosion from occurring through pinholes in a corrosive environment, allows the formation of a contact of high reliability maintaining a low contact resistance, and remains stable for a long time on the surface of a substrate having a gold or gold alloy layer without causing any variation in contact resistance, or undergoing any change in outward appearance. The film is formed by bringing the substrate surface into contact with an aqueous solution containing at least one of mercaptobenzothiazole and its derivatives as represented by the following formula at a concentration of 6 to 30 mmol/l.

Abstract: A plastic bottle for spraying liquid has a liquid chamber defined by a sidewall. The sidewall terminates in a neck having a neck opening. A tube integrally formed alongside the sidewall leads from the bottom of the liquid chamber up to a nozzle. A top end of the tube is inclined away from the neck, and a squeeze bulb is in liquid communication with the tube. By squeezing the squeeze bulb, liquid is drawn from the liquid chamber, through the tube, and out through a nozzle attached to the top end of the tube.

Abstract: A dual-band glass-mounted antenna system includes a dual-band through-the-glass coupler, a matching section, and a dual-band collinear antenna element. The coupler has a portion which is secured to an interior surface of the glass, and a portion which is secured to the exterior surface of the glass at a position opposite the interior portion. Co-planer transmission line circuitry in the interior and exterior portions of the coupler cooperatively form a four-conductor transmission line operating in the “coupled microstrip line odd mode,” thereby achieving coupling of RF energy through the glass window material in two disparate frequency bands. The transmission line characteristics are selected to achieve efficient coupling and desired impedance characteristics in the cellular and PCS frequency bands. The dual-band antenna element includes upper and lower radiator sections separated by a phasing coil.