Abstract: A multidirectional drill bit cutter comprising a cylindrical stud having a layer of polycrystalline diamond formed thereabout. In one embodiment the stud is fortified with diamond grit and diamond rods to reduce stud wear and to reduce the depth of cut taken by the polycrystalline diamond cutting element formed about the stud. In another aspect of the invention, an earth-boring drilling system having a pair of flat profile bits utilizes multidirectional cutters in a manner which causes them to cut from a plurality of different directions.

Abstract: The cylindrically-shaped multi-section mountable printing sleeve of this invention is readily axially mountable on and dismountable from a complementary plate cylinder. This sleeve comprises a multi-section cylindrically-shaped sleeve having substantially cylindrically-shaped wall surfaces of substantially constant cross-sectional inner and outer diameter. The multi-section cylindrically-shaped sleeve can include a plurality of complementary tapered sleeve sections, preferably a pair of interconnected inner and outer tapered sleeve sections. The multi-section printing sleeve can also include at least one tapered annular section, preferably at least one tapered annular section connected to a cylindrical outer printing sleeve section.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a tongue and groove product which comprises a first and second major surface and a first and second longitudinal edge. The first longitudinally edge including means defines a longitudinally-extending groove. The second longitudinal edge includes a longitudinally-extending protruding tongue for interlockingly engaging a complimentary grooved longitudinal edge of an adjacent tongue and groove board. The protruding tongue has an upper and a lower longitudinally-extending surface. The major design feature of this invention is that the protruding tongue has at least one substantially vertically-extending opening formed therein. Each of the openings extends through the protruding tongue from said longitudinally-extending upper surface to said longitudinally-extending lower surface for providing at least one drain path for water to drain by gravity from said first major surface downwardly through each said vertically-extending opening.

Abstract: This invention relates to operable partition systems for internally partitioning clean room areas into various work area configurations without the need for substantial manual operations. The operable, internally-partitionable clean room includes internal partitions which can be moved to a plurality of predetermined sites for physically, environmentally or visually separating the working area. This permits the user to easily provide the requisite level of work area separation. The internal partition system may be automatically operated. The partition system may be stored at one or more locations within the clean room when not in use. The operable partition system may include a track and carrier assembly for moving the internal partitions into place, typically an overhead track and carrier assembly.

Abstract: An overhead lifting apparatus adapted to a wheelchair lifts a disabled person from the wheelchair to a forward elevated position. The disabled person is rotated and lowered to a second desired location approximate to the front of the wheelchair. The overhead lifting apparatus includes a cable and frame assembly connected to the wheelchair, a harness coupled to the cable and fitted to the disabled person, and a cable driving means such as a winch and battery. The cable driving means is controlled from the wheelchair to lower and raise the disabled person. The winch and battery are located at a rearward portion of the wheelchair behind the hubs of the rear wheels. The location and substantial mass of the winch and battery preventing tipping of the wheelchair.

Abstract: A multiplexer circuit is formed of two-to-one transmission gate multiplexer (TGM) circuits (80) connected in series. A first stage TGM (80) selects among two of the input variable signals (I0,I1). Each subsequent stage TGM (70) selects among the next preceding stage output signal (81) and another one of the input variable signals (I2). Each TGM is controlled by a unique control signal (S1,S2) so that loading on the control lines is limited to one TGM circuit to improve propagation delay. The series arrangement of TGM circuits can be extended as needed (M3,M4,M5).

Abstract: Stress-induced deformation, and the damage resulting therefrom, increases with film thickness. The overcoming of excessive stress by the use of the Si-Al-N film material of the present invention, permits the formation of thick films that are necessary for certain of the above described applications. The most likely use for the subject film materials, other than their specialized views as an optical film, is for microelectronic packaging of components on silicon substrates.In general, the subject films have excellent adherence to the underlying substrate, a high degree of hardness and durability, and are excellent insulators. Prior art elevated temperature deposition processes cannot meet the microelectronic packaging temperature formation constraints. The process of the present invention is conducted under non-elevated temperature conditions, typically 500.degree. C. or less.

Abstract: A multi-functional garment system includes an outer shell garment (20), detachable inflatable insulation module (30), detachable heating module (40), detachable physiological parameter sensors (208,210), detachable communication module (150) and detachable control and display module (130), the control module including environmental parameter sensors. Modularity of these various functional units allows a user to easily configure the garment system as needed for various activities. The control module provides for storing parameter limits and responses to fault conditions which occur when a parameter exceeds the corresponding limit. Stored responses to fault conditions include controlling any of the functional modules thereby providing improved convenience, comfort and safety.

Abstract: In an integrated circuit, gold interconnect metal lines are electroplated onto plating (Pd) and barrier (TiW) layers, using patterned photoresist. The photoresist is stripped and the plating layer portions thus exposed are etched to expose field areas of the barrier layer. Next, sidewall spacers are formed along each side of the interconnect lines. The field areas of the barrier layer are then etched to isolate the gold interconnect lines. The spacers offset the amount of undercut due to isotropic etching of the TiW barrier metal layer. After etching, the sidewall spacers serve to preserve the as-deposited profile of the gold interconnect lines against breadloafing in a subsequent annealing step.

Abstract: An auxiliary driving device being attached to a primary driving device of a rolling door and including a gear engaged with a gear wheel of the primary driving device, a motor having an axle, a lower disc with a pinion slidably engaged on the axle, a spring biasing the pinion and the lower disc upward, an upper disc disposed above the lower disc, three balls engaged in the recesses formed in the discs, the pinion moves downward to engage with the gear when the first motor is energized so that the spindle can be driven to rotate by the motor.

Abstract: Disclosed is a backpack type operating unit, which includes a backpack frame having a front portion and a left lateral side portion, an operating device and a motive power source for driving the operating device. The motive power source and the operating device is mounted on the backpack frame, and the front portion of the backpack frame faces toward a forward direction and the left lateral side portion facing toward a leftward direction, in which the forward direction and the leftward direction are perpendicular to each other and lying in a common horizontal plane.

Abstract: A cleaning machine includes a frame having wheels, a suction blower having an air inlet and an air outlet and mounted on the frame, an intake opening communicating with the air inlet of the suction blower for sucking dirt containing relatively large dirt such as fallen leaves and relatively small dirt such as dust together with air by the sucking force generated by the suction blower, a dirt separator communicating with the air outlet of the suction blower by means of a duct for separating the dirt from the air blown out from the suction blower, and a dirt receptable for collecting the relatively large dirt separated by the dirt separator, and the dirt receptacle detachably attached under the main separator.

Abstract: A cleaning machine includes a frame having wheels, a suction blower having an inlet and an outlet mounted on the frame, an intake opening communicated with the inlet of the suction blower for sucking dirt containing relatively large dirt such as fallen leaves and relatively small dirt such as dust together with air, a main separator for separating the relatively large dirt, a subseparator for separating the relatively small dirt from the air having passed through the main separator, and a dirt receptacle made of an air-impermable material detachably attached under the main separator through a pivoting rod which is pivotably mounted to the frame so as to support the receptacle to the main separator and a clamp member for securing the dirt receptacle to the main separator.

Abstract: The subject invention comprises forming a plurality of positively charged ions of an ionizable coating material in an ion formation area. A deposition area is provided at a predetermined distance from the ion formation area. This deposition area is capable of being negatively charged for attracting the positively charged ions of the ionizable coating material. Next, the deposition area is negatively charged so that a uniform, substantially parallel flow path is formed for the ionizable coating material between the ion formation area and the negatively charged deposition area. A substrate is then positioned between the ion formation and deposition areas within the uniform, substantially parallel flow path, and preferably perpendicular to the flow path. The positively charged ions of the coating material are released from the ion formation area into the flow path, and are moved within the flow path by the attraction of the positively charged ions toward the negatively charged deposition area.

Abstract: A remote plotting system and method is implemented in a network of computer workstations whereby a designated computer functions as a plot server. Client workstations are programmed to create plot requests from data created in a computer aided integrated circuit design and layout application. The plot server computer is programmed to A) receive plot requests in a common spooling area sent from other workstations in the network, B) perform necessary rasterization of the requested data, and C) schedule resulting plot files for the first available plotter based on a round robin scheduling mechanism. Plot requests are design file plot templates which are sets of instructions describing the specific characteristics of the desired output, and a reference to the actual design data to be rasterized by the plot server. The system incorporates a single stage queue and supports an unlimited number of plotters and client workstations.

Abstract: To realize a small-sized differential gear provided with both differential limiting and locking functions simultaneously without markedly modifying the conventional differential case, the differential gear comprises a differential mechanism having a differential case, pinion shafts, pinion gears, two side gears, etc.; two frictional multiplate clutches disposed between the two side gears and two inner side wall surfaces of the differential case, respectively for limiting differential function; a lock clutch disposed within the differential case for generating two opposite direction thrust forces to engage said limit multiplate clutches into engagement and further locking the differential function; and actuator for actuating the lock clutch from outside of the differential case.

Abstract: A computer system employs an integrated keyboard and pointing device to allow user input of alpha-numeric (typing) information, pointing direction information and pointing event information without moving the users's hands from the usual typing position on the keyboard. The new system has typing and pointing modes of operation. In the pointing mode, preassigned keyswitches are used to input pointing events, cursor speed changes, and other modifications to the system's operation. All such modifications are transparent to the operating system and application software because they are processed at keyboard interrupt level.

Abstract: A method for implanting an artificial sphincter to control urinary incontinence in a patient includes two implantation procedures and an intervening interval of testing and healing. The first procedure employs a trocar or laparoscope to insert and position an inflatable compression balloon 66 in the patient's space of Retzuis between the patients's posterior pubic symphysis and bladder neck/urethra 12,14 with a fluid conduit 26 extending transcutaneously through the abdominal wall. Using a trocar and Foley catheter, the patient's anterior bladder is elevated and connected to the patient's abdominal wall by a felt matrix or mesh patch 32 to effectively lengthen and stabilize the urethra. The conduit is used externally to determine respective first and second fluid pressures needed to occlude the urethra and to permit voiding.

Abstract: An adjustable mug holder mountable on a vehicle door having different thicknesses of interior sidewall structures includes an inverted generally U-shaped mounting member connected to a side of a cup or mug receptacle which has a two-part base portion which is slidably adjustable over a predetermined range of widths. The mounting member has a free end sized for insertion between a window glass and an interior wall structure of the vehicle door to mount the holder on the wall structure. The base portion is formed by interdigitated channels and fingers in the first and second horizontal members connected to the receptacle and to the free end at approximately a right angle. The A series of holes in one of the channels and a mating post on the associated finger lock the first and second horizontal members in a selected position.