Abstract: The present invention discloses increased bit resolution of a charge coupled device (CCD)/charge injection device (CID) matrix vector multiplication (MVM) processor by storing each bit of each matrix element as a separate CCD charge packet. The bits of each input vector are separately multiplied by each bit of each matrix element in massive parallelism and the resulting products are combined appropriately to synthesize the correct product. In addition, such arrays are employed in a pseudo-spectral method of the invention, in which partial differential equations are solved by expressing each derivative analytically as matrices, and the state function is updated at each computation cycle by multiplying it by the matrices. The matrices are treated as synaptic arrays of a neutral network and the state function vector elements are treated as neurons. Further, moving target detection is performed by driving the soliton equation with a vector of detector outputs.

Abstract: An energy filter for charged particles includes a stack of micro-machined wafers including plural apertures passing through the stack of wafers, focusing electrodes bounding charged particle paths through the apertures, an entrance orifice to each of the plural apertures and an exit orifice from each of the plural apertures and apparatus for biasing the focusing electrodes with an electrostatic potential corresponding to an energy pass band of the filter.

Abstract: An imaging device formed as a monolithic complementary metal oxide semiconductor integrated circuit in an industry standard complementary metal oxide semiconductor process, the integrated circuit including a focal plane array of pixel cells, each one of the cells including a photogate overlying the substrate for accumulating photo-generated charge in an underlying portion of the substrate, a readout circuit including at least an output field effect transistor formed in the substrate, and a charge coupled device section formed on the substrate adjacent the photogate having a sensing node connected to the output transistor and at least one charge coupled device stage for transferring charge from the underlying portion of the substrate to the sensing node.

Abstract: An optical storage medium constitutes a substrate imprinted with optically detectable pits, each of the pits having one of a set of predetermined pit depths, each of the pits representing a number of binary bits corresponding to the number of the predetermined pit depths in the set. The pit depth is sensed unambiguously with a conoscopic holography sensor by changing the polarization of a polarized reflected beam in accordance with its angle of propagation and sensing an intensity pattern produced after the reflected beam passes through a polarized analyzer. Alternatively, using a confocal microscopy sensor, light from either the deepest or most shallow pit depth is focused on a small pin hole in an opaque surface, and a single detector measures the light intensity on the other side of the pin hole, the light intensity being a direct measure of the pit depth.

Abstract: The basic building block of the invention is an inverter gate consisting of two stages: The first stage is an input logic switching stage consisting of a depletion mode pull-up FET whose gate is the input node and whose source-to-drain channel is connected in series through a level-shifting Schottky diode with the source-to-drain channel of an depletion mode pull-down FET between drain and source voltage rails. The source of the pull-up FET is connected to the diode's anode while the drain of the pull-down FET is connected to the diode's cathode and is the output node of the input logic switching stage. The level-shifting diode isolates the output node from the input node, which allows the input voltage to switch rail-to-rail without causing problems.

Abstract: The spreading pliers of the invention include a pair of handles, self-locking linkage which rotatably couples together the pair of handles, the self-locking linkage including a shank rotatably coupled to the ends of both handles at respective pivot points thereon, a first plier end connected to the shank and a second plier end connected to one of the handles, one of the first and second plier ends permitting the other for pass therebetween to an unspread position, the self-locking linkage rotating the first and second plier ends away from one another as the handles are squeezed together to a spread position.

Abstract: The invention is a multiple interconnected network of intelligent message-repeating remote nodes which employs a remote node polling process performed by a master node by transmitting a polling message generically addressed to all remote nodes associated with the master node. Each remote node responds upon receipt of the generically addressed polling message by transmitting a poll-answering informational message and by relaying the polling message to other adjacent remote nodes.

Abstract: An all metal, microwave-pumped, waveguide CO.sub.2 laser includes a waveguide providing a vacuum envelope containing the CO.sub.2 gas having a longitudinal ridge extending at least partially across the width of the waveguide and extending along a length of the waveguide and a ceiling facing the ridge. The ridge and ceiling have horizontal surfaces facing one another which together function as an optical waveguide of the laser and define a longitudinal optically active region therebetween which, in the preferred embodiment, opens out into remaining portions of the waveguide along either side of said ridge. A pair of reflecting mirrors are located at each end of said optically active region and an antenna or ramped waveguide couples a microwave source into the waveguide.

Abstract: Two independent laser oscillators are injection-locked to different optical modes of a mode-locked laser, then combined and detected to produce the heterodyne output signal in the microwave to submillimeter wave frequency band. Since the phase fluctuations of the mode-locked laser modes are highly correlated, the phase fluctuations of the heterodyne output signal are greatly reduced, providing a low phase-noise oscillator signal. Since the modes of the mode-locked laser can span hundreds of GigaHertz, the oscillator can be employed to generate microwave, millimeter wave or submillimeter wave frequencies.

Abstract: The backside surface potential well of a backside-illuminated CCD is confined to within about half a nanometer of the surface by using molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) to grow a delta-doped silicon layer on the back surface. Delta-doping in an MBE process is achieved by temporarily interrupting the evaporated silicon source during MBE growth without interrupting the evaporated p+ dopant source (e.g., boron). This produces an extremely sharp dopant profile in which the dopant is confined to only a few atomic layers, creating an electric field high enough to confine the backside surface potential well to within half a nanometer of the surface. Because the probability of UV-generated electrons being trapped by such a narrow potential well is low, the internal quantum efficiency of the CCD is nearly 100% throughout the UV wavelength range. Furthermore, the quantum efficiency is quite stable.

Abstract: An elongate fastener having an engaging surface engageable with an engaging surface of a fastener's mate includes a hole extending through a portion of the fastener and having a top opening and a bottom floor, a locking pellet disposed near the bottom floor, a discharge channel communicating between the pellet and through the engaging surface of the fastener and opening out toward the engaging surface of the fastener's mate, and an impact pin in the hole having a top portion protruding through the top opening and a bottom portion near the locking pellet, whereby the pin drives the locking pellet through the discharge channel against the engaging surfaces of the fastener and the fastener's mate whereby to lock the fastener against the fastener's mate.

Abstract: The invention is a multiple interconnected network of intelligent message-repeating remote nodes which employs an antibody recognition message termination process performed by all remote nodes and a remote node polling process performed by other nodes which are master units controlling remote nodes in respective zones of the network assigned to respective master nodes. Each remote node repeats only those messages originated in the local zone, to provide isolation among the master nodes.

Abstract: A fiber optic attenuator of the invention is a mandrel structure through which a bundle of optical fibers is wrapped around in a complete circle. The mandrel structure includes a flexible cylindrical sheath through which the bundle passes. A set screw on the mandrel structure impacts one side of the sheath against two posts on the opposite side of the sheath. By rotating the screw, the sheath is deformed to extend partially between the two posts, bending the fiber optic bundle to a small radius controlled by rotating the set screw. Bending the fiber optic bundle to a small radius causes light in each optical fiber to be lost in the cladding, the amount depending upon the radius about which the bundle is bent.

Abstract: The sample holder of the invention is formed of the same semiconductor crystal as the integrated circuit on which the molecular beam expitaxial process is to be performed. In the preferred embodiment, the sample holder comprises three stacked micro-machined silicon wafers: a silicon base wafer having a square micro-machined center opening corresponding in size and shape to the active area of a CCD imager chip, a silicon center wafer micro-machined as an annulus having radially inwardly pointing fingers whose ends abut the edges of and center the CCD imager chip within the annulus, and a silicon top wafer micro-machined as an annulus having cantilevered membranes which extend over the top of the CCD imager chip. The micro-machined silicon wafers are stacked in the order given above with the CCD imager chip centered in the center wafer and sandwiched between the base and top wafers. The thickness of the center wafer is about 20% less than the thickness of the CCD imager chip.

Abstract: Imaging biological molecules such as DNA at rates several times faster than conventional imaging techniques is carried out using a patterned silicon wafer having nano-machined grooves which hold individual molecular strands and periodically spaced unique bar codes permitting repeatably locating all images. The strands are coaxed into the grooves preferably using gravity and pulsed electric fields which induce electric charge attraction to the molecular strands in the bottom surfaces of the grooves. Differential imaging removes substrate artifacts.

Abstract: An electro-optic modulator in which the input electromagnetic signal is launched as a substrate mode in the electro-optic material. Broadband endfire antennas on the top surface of the substrate couple the signal to electrodes positioned above the optical waveguide in the substrate to concentrate the input signal and achieve high electric field strength in the vicinity of the optical waveguide. The endfire antennas are oriented with respect to the optical waveguides so as to compensate for the phase velocity mismatch between the electromagnetic signal and the light beam in the optical waveguide.

Abstract: The lift-off technique for transferring a preprocessed GaAs circuit to a quartz carrier is used to integrate GaAs active devices with distributed quartz microwave circuit elements (e.g., microstrip circuitry) in a single integrated circuit package. The present invention is therefore useful in making a variety of extremely rugged, low loss millimeter and submillimeter wave integrated circuits. By restricting the GaAs layer to a thin membrane and by impurity-doping the GaAs layer only in the regions of the active devices, the advantages of the quartz substrate in the presence of millimeter wave or submillimeter wave radiation are essentially retained.

Abstract: A method of operating an electrographic printing apparatus which employs a reversal development system with a two components developer wherein the bias voltage and the surface voltage are varied in synchronism with each other.

Abstract: A composite decorative laminated panel for use in the construction industry which provides both superior design aesthetics and functional characteristics. The composite panel is a sandwich construction with an outer shell of thermoplastic material coated with a weatherable polymer, a rigid foam interior and a fire retardant backerboard.

Abstract: A system and method removes soluble iron from potable water by oxidation. It includes a pressure tank, an oxygen induction device and a filtration tank. Untreated water flows under pressure into the pressure tank, where the water is held for delivery to service. Upon demand, the untreated water leaves the pressure tank and flows into the oxygen induction device. The oxygen induction device mixes air with the untreated water using a venturi apparatus. This aeration causes an oxidation reaction to occur so that the soluble iron in the untreated water transforms into insoluble iron and precipitates. The aerated water then flows into a filtration tank where the oxidized iron precipitates are filtered out by a filtration media mix. Purified water is provided to service by the filtration tank. Backwashing of the filtration media is also provided to rejuvenate the media for prolonged use.