Abstract: A method for determining the characteristics of a doped semiconductor substrate is disclosed, wherein a scanning probe microscope, preferably an atomic force microscope, is used to move a probe across a sample surface gathering electrical measurements at many locations. The probe tip is conductive and is connected to a control circuit that applies a voltage to the probe and to an electrode fixed to the semiconductor substrate. Preferably, the current that flows through the sample is measured and saved, together with the position of the probe on the surface of the sample. In this manner, the characteristics of the doped sample can be determined at many different locations with many different degrees of doping. The sample is prepared by doping its top surface, then machining off the top surface to provide access to the sample at different doping depths.

Abstract: A vehicular refrigerating cycle with a by-pass line is provided, whereby even in an environment of extremely low temperature with the refrigerating cycle left at rest after being operated in cooling mode, refrigerant accumulated in a condenser can be driven out of the condenser to provide subsequent heating functions by an evaporator in a prescribed manner. A capacity control can be set such that the capacity of a compressor only is allowed to start to decrease from a maximum capacity when a compressor suction pressure ps has dropped to a value of 2 atmospheres (absolute pressure) or less in a state in which refrigerant flows through a condenser without passing through a bypass line.

Abstract: DNA sequencing is performed in real time using an atomic force microscope (AFM). The AFM's probe detects motions that occur when a polymerase incorporates nucleotides into a growing polynucleotide chain and a newly formed double-stranded polynucleotide helix translocates (or “ratchets”) through the polymerase's reaction site. These motions generate a mechanical force that is reflected, either directly or indirectly, by motion of the AFM cantilever. The resulting changes in cantilever motion are detected and can be recorded as an indication that a nucleotide has been incorporated into the DNA template. To determine which nucleotide type has been incorporated, a characteristic of the incorporation of at least one nucleotide type of interest is flagged so as to be distinguishable from the corresponding characteristics of the incorporation of nucleotides of other types.

Abstract: Thermal drift and acoustic vibrations in the AFM are reduced using a probe-based detection device that references the topography measurement of the AFM to the sample surface in the proximity of the measurement probe. A differential measurement is made between the reference probe and the measurement probe for high sensitivity roughness quantification and defect detection. Multi-probe arrays may be used for large area defect detection with immunity from thermal and acoustic noise sources.

Abstract: A magnet type stepping motor which has (1) a stator with three-phase stator windings, and 6m pieces of stator main pole arranged side by side, where m is an integer and ≧1, the stator windings of one phase are wound around every two stator main poles among the 6m pieces of the stator main pole, wherein when the stator windings of one phase are excited with a direct current, m pieces of N pole and M pieces of S pole are formed alternately on the 6m pieces of stator main pole, and (2) a rotor of a cylindrical permanent magnet magnetized in the circumferential direction to form Z/2 pieces of N pole and Z/2 pieces of S pole alternately, where Z is the number of rotor poles.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for the removal of organic and inorganic contaminants from contaminated sediment or soil. The method comprises a first step of removal and disposal of very large debris while the smaller particle flow is directed to a second step of removal of organic contaminants preferably by means of attrition cell, conditioning tank and flotation columns, the remaining particulate flow, free of organic contaminants, is directed to a third step of removal of inorganic contaminants preferably by means of hydrocycloning to separately deal with very small particles of less than 20 microns, both particulate flows are then preferably subjected to column flotation to separate out the inorganic contaminants. Thus, the method of the present invention yields decontaminated soil or sediment and two distinct contaminant concentrates (organic and inorganic, respectively). Both concentrates can be recovered and used for various applications.

Abstract: A steering device for moving and directing a miniature vehicle provided with at least one leading wheel, the steering device has a control member arranged outside the miniature vehicle to be remote-manipulated by the user, a transmission for transmitting inside the miniature vehicle any movement produced on the control member, and a support component for deflecting each leading wheel controlled by the transmission. The steering device has converting members for gearing down any primary movement actuating the transmission into a secondary movement for deflecting each leading wheel. The steering device is applicable to toys, in particular miniature vehicles remote-controlled by a control member with dimensions and positioning corresponding to the child's morphology.

Abstract: In a radiator assembly of a water cooled engine driven vehicle, heating is performed by a compartment heat exchanger. As long as the temperature of the cooling water is low, it does not suffice to sufficiently heat by compartment heat exchanger shortly after engine start and an auxiliary heating equipment is used. The auxiliary heating equipment includes a heat exchanger at the heating side, a heat exchanger at the endothermic side and a Peltier element. The Peltier element leads to high energy efficiency because it provides a quantity of heat which is more than the quantity of energy charged into the Peltier element, since it transfers Joule heat generated by the charge energy to the heat exchanger and further transfers a quantity of heat to heat exchanger as absorbed in a heat exchanger at the endothermic side from an endothermic surface of the Peltier element by a Peltier effect to the exothermic side.

Abstract: Systems and methods for time division multiplexing are described. A time division multiplexer-demultiplexer system includes I) a signal transmitting system for transmittal of a serialized signal including A) latency free continuous data and B) at least one member selected from the group consisting of bursty data and packetized data, the signal transmitting system including a multiplexer and a timing control block; and II) a signal receiving system for reception of the signal without disrupting the laminarity of the latency free continuous data, the signal receiving system including a demultiplexer and a sequence detector. The systems and methods provide advantages in that continuous data can be simultaneously transmitted with bursty data and/or packetized data on the same tie line without disrupting the laminarity of the continuous data.

Abstract: A device (1) has a processor (13) capable of controlling test equipment (2) to carry out repeatedly at least some of its steps, each time reducing the duration of at least one of the steps until satisfying a final criterion taking into account the distribution of the electric variables measured by the equipment for each reduced duration value, and to set a new duration value at most equal to its initial value, for which the measured electric variable distribution satisfies one selected dispersion condition. The device has a function generator (14) capable of providing a function applicable to at least one of the terms of a comparison executed during one of the steps, so that the function operates on a measurement executed after the new duration.

Abstract: At the suction side of a variable displacement compressor a valve structure is provided which either responds to a relative differential pressure value or a relative pressure value or a relative temperature value of the refrigerant processed by the variable displacement compressor such that in case of small load and a minimum operation state of the compressor the suction side will be cut-off or in case of large load and simultaneous minimum operation state of the compressor will not be cut-off. The valve structure automatically decides and responds to parameter changes representing in case of the minimum operation state of the compressor a large load or a small load, in order to avoid freezing of the fins of the evaporator in case of small load and to improve the fuel efficiency of the engine driving the compressor in case of large load.

Abstract: A monolithic element has a substrate body and at least one macro-optical characteristic integral in a first portion of the optical element. A plurality of surface micro-structures are integral in a portion of the optical element. The micro-structures are designed to homogenize light passing through the optical element to produce a predetermined pattern of smoothly varying, non-discontinuous light exiting the optical element. The light exiting the optical element is therefore altered according to both the macro-optical characteristic of the optical element as well as the homogenizing characteristics of the micro-structures.

Abstract: A rotary blancher having a food product receiving chamber sealed substantially everywhere except at its food product inlet and food product outlet to permit operation using solely a non-liquid heat transfer medium that is a gas or vapor that preferably is steam. To minimize loss of heat transfer medium out the inlet and outlet, some atmosphere preferably is vented. Preferably, the blancher can also use a liquid heat transfer medium or liquid and non-liquid heat transfer combined media. During operation, food product is introduced into the chamber and a rotary food transport mechanism urges the food product toward the outlet. The heat transfer medium is introduced into the chamber where it comes into contact with the food product. After heating the food product to the desired temperature, the food product is removed from the blancher. Preferably, food product is blanched in this manner in a continuous flow process.

Abstract: In a system for the regulation of information trains for packet switches, there is provided one queue per path in each input module liable to be driven by an arbitrator placed in each of the output modules bearing these channels.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for the detection of the relative depth of two neighboring regions in relative motion with respect to each other in two images obtained from different shots of a scene, in order to know the composition of the scene. The method consists in carrying out a spatial segmentation of one of the images, called a reference image; a local estimation of the motion between the two images, the resultant vector field of which is called local motion; a determining of the motion estimation errors along the motion boundaries; and an analysis of the localization of the motion estimation errors along the motion boundaries to conclude that a region A is in front of a region B when the motion estimation error along the boundary is chiefly localized on the side B of this boundary.

Abstract: Compositions for producing replicated optical components are disclosed. A composition for making a large scale submaster optical component includes a mixture having an acrylated aliphatic urethane oligomer/monomer blend and a tripropylene glycol diacrylate. The mixture is combined with a number of other components including an isobornyl acrylate, an ultraviolet polymerizing varnish, a surfactant, and a photoinitiator. A composition for making a large scale replica optical component includes a mixture having an acrylated aliphatic urethane oligomer/monomer blend and a tripropylene glycol diacrylate. The mixture is combined with an isobornyl acrylate, a &bgr;-Carboxyethyl acrylate, a photoinitiator, and an N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone. A composition for making a small scale submaster optical component includes an ultraviolet polymarizing varnish and a surfactant.

Abstract: A device has a carrier and an optical element supported by the carrier. The optical element has a macro-optical characteristic and at least one surface. A light shaping surface microstructure is integral on the surface of the optical element. The microstructure homogenizes, shapes and controls directionality of light emanating from the surface of the optical element to produce a smooth, consistent and continuous pattern of light in a predetermined distribution shape and direction. The optical element can either transmit or reflect light incident on a portion of the device and the optical element.

Abstract: A backlight apparatus has a collimating waveguide with a light input end, a top surface, a bottom surface, opposing sides, a far end opposite the light input end, and a total internal reflection critical angle for the material of the waveguide. A plurality of first facets are formed in the bottom surface distributed along the waveguide between the light input end and the far end. Each of the first facets has a first facet bottom surface which converges toward the top surface in a direction away from the far end relative to the top surface. A light scattering and reflective surface is disposed adjacent the far end of the collimating waveguide. The first facet bottom surfaces cause light rays entering the light input end to be totally internally reflected to the far end of the collimating waveguide wherein the scattering and reflective surface at the far end reflects and scatters light rays incident thereon back toward the light input end.

Abstract: A driving circuit of a stepping motor comprises an excitation control circuit connected to windings of a stepping motor, a driver circuit consisting of power switching transistors at a positive terminal side of a power source and of power switching transistors at a negative terminal side of the power source for controlling the excitation control circuit, a Zener diode inserted between the power source and a power input terminal of the driver circuit, and Zener diodes inserted between output terminals of the driver circuit and control signal input terminals of the power switching transistors at the positive terminal side of the power source, respectively. The Zener voltage of the Zener diode for the power switching transistor is determined to a value not less than a voltage difference between the voltage of the power source and the maximum rated voltage of the driver circuit.

Abstract: A heater control apparatus wherein a voltage level of the power supply is discriminated by an input voltage discrimination circuit, and in case that an input voltage applied by an AC power supply is the lowest level, the heater is excited by a current corresponding to a full-wave of the input voltage. In case that the input voltage applied by an AC power supply is a level other than the lowest level, the heater is excited by a current substantially equal to that in the case of the input voltage of the lowest level. The exciting current control circuit is composed of a bridge diode, a current limiting resistor for limiting a current flow from the AC power supply, a Zener diode for setting an input voltage discrimination standard value for discriminating a level of the input voltage, a photo coupler for generating an input voltage discrimination signal, and an exciting current signal generating circuit for generating an exciting current signal.