Abstract: Optical systems, using volume holographic elements (gratings) having geometries which tailor the spatio-temporal dispersion of the optical pulses for the system. The input optical pulse is characterized by a frequency variation across the temporal profile of the pulse. The various frequency components of this pulse are first dispersed by at least one grating which may be of the blazed reflection or holographic volume transmission type. The resultant dispersed light is then diffracted by a holographic volume grating which imparts the desired temporal dispersion characteristics to the pulse. The shape of the holographic element will vary according to the input pulse frequency profile as formed by varied chirping techniques. A grating stage may then be repeated, preferably with additional elements in mirror symmetry to the first or by retro-reflection, in order to recombine the spatially dispersed pulse components into an exiting pulse which may be of vastly compressed temporal profile.

Abstract: Images having specified illumination intensity distributions are used at low light levels to produce photoevents which are electronically detected to generate random numbers having probability density distributions which correspond to the specified illumination intensity distribution and at very high rates, e.g., one hundred thousand numbers per second. These random numbers are used to operate the systems which are based upon random processes such as can be expressed in Monte Carlo algorithms, for example using a Markov process, which systems include computers to carry out the random processes.

Abstract: A hologon scanner system in which a pair of laser beams which are collinear with each other are deflected by a common hologon scanner. The beams are initially linearly polarized in orthogonal directions and are combined in a polarization sensitive beam combiner so that they are collinear. The combined beams are passed through a quarter wavelength plate (the laser beams both being of the same wavelength) so as to circularly polarize them in opposite hands. The combined circularly polarized beams may be modulated to change their intensity. Such modulation may be provided by an acousto-optic diffraction grating modulator. The modulated beams are then directed to the hologon deflector and are scanned across the image surface. The modulator is also part of a closed loop feedback system with a detector which responds to positional variations of the image surface due to its transport system and deflects the beam to compensate for such position variations.

Abstract: An assembly for mounting and connecting components, either electrical or pneumatic devices, which are arranged on boards such as printed circuit boards. A channel having a base and flexible side walls receives the edges of the boards in grooves along the side wall. Flexible sidewalls spread apart to receive the boards and lock them in the grooves. Several boards may be located in a channel in end to end relationship. Conduits are defined between the insides of the side walls, the base and the side of the boards facing the base. The components on the boards are located on the outside. Wiring and tubing lines extend through the openings in the boards into the conduits and extend along the conduits. End plates at the opposite ends of the conduits may be used to close the ends of the conduits except for openings through which the wiring and tubing extends.

Abstract: An efficient solid state light emitting device wherein sulphur is used to provide isoelectronic centers in silicon which bind excitons which emit light at a wavelength of 1.32 microns (um) and are particularly adapted for use in integrated opto-electronic circuits and in launching optical signals in single mode optical fibers.

Abstract: A low cost mechanism for disengaging the brush which agitates the surface over which the vacuum cleaner nozzle moves by lifting the portion of the nozzle having the brush mounted therein above the surface. The lift mechanism is reciprocably mounted in the nozzle housing rearwardly of the brush and extends outwardly from the nozzle housing to lift the forward end of the housing which contains the brush by pivoting the housing about the rear wheels. The lift mechanism is implemented by a stanchion having posts with upper ends extending from a bar. The bar has a trough facing the surface over which the cleaner moves. A roller having a width about at least one-third the width of the nozzle housing is journaled in the trough and extends out of the base. The roller is mounted with its axis generally paralleling the axis of rotation of the brush. The stanchion is also located adjacent to the body or canister portion of the vacuum cleaner for engagement with a surface at the bottom of the body.

Abstract: For safe removal and collection of chemical sterilants such as ethylene oxide from a sterilization process, steam or other substantially condesable, inert dilutent gas is used to extract and to transport sterilant from the inside of sterilized materials and the sterilizing chamber into a collection tank. The sterilant and the condensable dilutent are separated when the mixture is discharged from the sterilizing chamber such that virtually all of the sterilant can be collected as a liquid by compression and/or refrigeration at practical pressures and temperatures.

Abstract: An improved bar code scanning and reading apparatus which is adapted to be hand-held utilizes anamorphic optics for scanning and reading the code by providing a beam having an oblong cross-section in the nominal plane of the code. The oblong cross-section may be aligned with the bars of the code. The optics does not focus the beam in the longitudinal direction of the cross-section at the nominal plane of the code so that diffraction effects which would otherwise cause rotation of the cross-section of the beam to a position transverse to the bars of the code which would preclude reading of narrow bars, is avoided. The last lens of the anamorphic system may be a cylindrical lens which provides a line focus of a visible marker beam while at the same time providing the oblong cross-section of the beam which scans the code. The light from the vicinity of the code passes through the cylindrical lens and is collected by a toric reflector which projects the incoming light onto a photodetector.

Abstract: This invention is a transfer system for controlling and initiating the flow of metered amounts of materials. The aforementioned materials may be radioactive ash, radioactive calcined salts, cement, flour, or pharmaceuticals. The apparatus of this invention comprises: a vertical non-converging conduit which acts as a storage hopper; a stationary platform located at the downward end of the conduit to allow the radial outward flow of the material; a translatable hollow piston that acts externally but coaxially to the conduit and platform to interrupt the radial flow of material; a hopper located below the platform for accepting the material; and a housing that encloses and supports the hopper and platform and provides a dust tight seal around the apparatus of this invention.

Abstract: A serum free cell culture medium containing less than 10 ug/ml protein is disclosed. The medium comprises a basal media supplemented with levels of 2-aminoethanol substantially higher than previously disclosed and supplemented with 2-mercaptoethanol, transferrin, insulin and free essential amino acids. Unlike other serum free media, the media disclosed herein will support the growth and long term culture of a large variety of cell types including hybridomas and tumor cell lines while maintaining both growth potential and the differentiated characteristics of the particular cell line.

Abstract: A light source or lamphouse wherein light from lamps 16 of different colors, as obtained by filters 18, is projected into a full diffusing chamber 20 with diffusing reflective internal surfaces where the light is premixed. The diffusing chamber is disposed adjacent to a specular dispersing chamber 22 of greater volume than the diffusing chamber where the light is further mixed and dispersed to provide uniform illumination at an outlet; the use of both types of chambers providing efficient mixing in a limited volume so that the source can be movably mounted on the column of an enlarger or printer.

Abstract: Chemical sterilants such as ethylene oxide are recovered from sterilization processes and converted into safer chemical compounds by non-catalytic hydrolysis.

Abstract: A calorimetry systems for the continuous measurement of the heating value of coal, which provides heating value data used to control coal-fired furnaces. The system has apparatus for pulverizing the coal, a gravimetric feeder for providing pulverized coal at a measured mass feed rate, an initiating self-sustained combustion of the coal therein without the need for further supporting fuel gases. Instrumentation measures the flow rates of the cooling air, primary and secondary combustion air as well as the mass flow rates of the coal into the combustor. A computer is provided which is responsive to the measuring instruments (thermocouples and pressure gauges) for controlling the feeding of the coal and fuel gases during initiation of combustion and for computing the heating value of the coal. The computer has a memory with storage for specific heat values of the constituents of the products of combustion of various ranks of coal (bituminous, subbituminous, lignite, etc.

Abstract: A TDM switching system for providing selected connections between large numbers of lines and trunks and which may combine, in an integrated system, several TDM switching systems which are adapted to handle smaller numbers of lines and trunks so as to expand the capacity of such smaller TDM systems. The system has a distributed, modular architecture in which the lines and trunks are arranged in a plurality of domains. The domains each have a link controller which links the domains to interdomain PCM highways. The domains each include, as the members thereof, a plurality of devices.

Abstract: Apparatus for mixing or circulating a liquid or a liquid suspension (slurry) to provide efficiently, high head so as to enable slurries which are viscous or contain large or heavy particles or tend to agglomerate to be mixed or circulated, uses an impeller which provides a head coefficient, k.sub.v from about 3 to 10 at high hydraulic efficiency. The impeller has a plurality of blades with a tip configuration which develops the high head where the blades are wider at the tip than at the base and have fins disposed above and below the blades and at the way of a draft tube wherein axial flow is produced.

Abstract: A method is described for increasing the yield of a product from a microorganism containing a regulatory gene, by altering the microorganism. The method involves introducing into the microorganism at least one structural gene for the product by lysogenizing the microorganism with a recombinant bacteriophage containing the structural gene.

Abstract: In seismic profiling systems utilizing sweeps of signals which change in repetition frequency during the transmission interval, interference results from a spurious correlation against an interfering sweep, usually produced by the first break reflection of a simultaneously transmitted sweep which is in the opposite sense for 3-D surveying or from another source. The first break interfering sweep repeats while correlating with time slipped replicas in surveying for deeper and deeper reflecting interfaces and appears as correlation sidelobe interference which has a significant contribution to the correlator output only when the interfering sweep and the replica are in a condition where their frequencies are identical or nearly so. This condition is known as stationary phase.

Abstract: A sol-gel method for making gradient-index glass and a novel composition therefor, comprising at least a ternary system of metal alkoxides.

Abstract: A batch scale weighs the particulate material and delivers it periodically to a volumetric feeder through a hooper. A computer controller responsive to a feeding rate demand signal, the length of the period during which each batch is delivered from the scale, and the speed of the volumetric feeder, provides outputs indicating the feed rate produced by the volumetric feeder and can control the speed of the feeder to obtain the demanded feed rate. The result is that the material is fed at a feed rate in terms of units of weight per units of time, and the volumetric feeder is converted, by the addition of the batch scale and the computer controller, into a gravimetric feeder.