Abstract: Improved optical mode mixers for use in conjunction with optical fibers and devices incorporating optical fibers are disclosed and claimed. The optical mode mixers are formed from a coherent, orderly bundle of numerous small diameter optical fibers in a longitudinally aligned, parallel array. The mode mixer is optically linked to the fiber optic cable and effectively reduces undesirable high order modes of light transmission while eliminating alignment sensitivity. The coherent fiber optic bundles may be as short as ten wavelengths of light in length and will have a diameter substantially equal to that of the fiber optic cable to which they are coupled.

Abstract: A method of cell placement for an integrated circuit chip includes performing a contraction operation by which at least some of the cells are relocated to new positions that provide lower interconnect wirelength. For each cell, the centroid of the net of cells to which the cell is connected is computed. The cell is then moved toward the centroid by a distance that is equal to the distance from the current position of the cell to the centroid multiplied by a "chaos" factor. This process continues until a specific energy condition is met; then the `expansion` mode is entered. An expansion operation is then performed by which the net force exerted on each cell by other cells in the placement and a resulting altered velocity of the cell are calculated, and a new cell position is calculated based on the altered velocity over an incremental length of time. The system stays in expansion mode until another energy criterion is met.

Abstract: A method for monitoring the constituents present in conversion coating bath solutions. The method involves using specific ac and dc voltammetry and using platinum or other noble metal working electrodes. First, a selected dc potential is applied to a working electrode which has been subjected to pretreatment and which is present as an in-tank sensor in the bath being analyzed. A constant ac signal is superimposed on the dc potential. The dc potential is then swept over a chosen range at a selected sweep rate. The various constituents in the bath are then monitored by measuring dc current and the ac current at one or more reference phase angles with respect to the constant ac signal between the working electrode and a reference electrode as the dc potential is varied. The resulting dc and ac spectra provide a useful measurement of the make-up of the constituents in the bath solutions.

Abstract: An improved gear change mechanism is provided for semi-automatically selecting a change up or change down gear change. The mechanism includes a shaft (31) which is movable in its axial direction and about its axis to make one such movement or a combination of such movements according to the gear to be selected. The shaft (31) is moved by pistons (36, 37) coaxial with the shaft for the axial movement and a piston (46) at a right angle to the shaft for the rotational movement. In practice the axial movement is a translating movement and the rotary movement is a movement into and out of engagement with the gears. Throttle and clutch control functions are also provided so that a gear change is initiated and brought about by switches (19A and 19B).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for accurate and convenient feedback to a user concerning activity level performance. Features of the invention include visual and audible outputs indicating a current level of activity. Another feature includes varying the rate of an audible tone output to reflect an actual and current activity level. In one embodiment an audible outputs is provided when a user's activity level reaches a desired minimum threshold within a given period of time. These features provide immediate and reliable feedback to a user for improved maintenance of at least a desired level of activity.

Abstract: A detachable gas analyzing apparatus has a plurality of gas analyzer units insertable into and removable from a the front side of a container case. Complementary electrical and gas connectors are disposed on the rear side of the gas analyzer units and the container case. Guides and engaging rails guide the gas analyzer units as they are inserted into the container case. The gas connectors are substantially self-aligning by the provision of complementary tapered portions formed on gas sockets and plugs. The gas connectors also align the electrical connectors and provide compensation for linear misalignment. A plurality of gas connectors may also be employed, forming a number of inward and outward gas passages.

Abstract: A method for mounting an integrated circuit includes a plurality of solder balls arrayed on the bottom surface of a package of the integrated circuit on a circuit board. These solder balls provide for surface mounting of the integrated circuit to a circuit board by solder reflow. The array of solder balls can be planarized so that each of the plural solder balls participate in defining a truly planar solder ball contact array for the integrated circuit package. Methods of manufacturing the integrated circuit with a package having planarized solder balls in an array dependent from a bottom surface thereof are set forth. The truly planarized solder ball contact array of the integrated circuit package affords nearly absolute reliability in forming of surface-mount electrical connections between the integrated circuit package and the circuit board on which the package is to mount.

Abstract: A book particularly suitable and attractive to young children. Relatively stiff front and rear covers open and shut along a side spine to expose and cover a plurality of pages in a typical book fashion. The rear cover is formed of two cardboard or other relatively stiff layers or sheets. A plush toy configured to resemble an upper portion of a figure has a thin base sandwiched between the cardboard layers and adhered therein. Thereby the toy extends above the top edge of the rear cover. On the back of the rear cover is a design aligned and continuous with the toy and depicting a lower portion of the figure. The story written on the pages is about the figure and the figure is preferably illustrated on the front cover. For example, the figure can be a bear, the story can be "Goldilocks and the Three Bears," the figure upper portion can include the bear's head, chest and outstretched front legs (arms), and the rear cover design can be the bottom half of the bear.

Abstract: A positional information storage and retrieval system includes a positional detection unit transmitting positional information of at least one subject moving within an operational environment of the system, a plurality of receiver/transmitter units and a processor unit. Coordinate information of the receiver/transmitter units is received by the positional information unit and used to determine the positional information according to triangulation or other techniques embodied within the positional detection unit. The positional information is transmitted to the receiver/transmitter units which, in turn, transmit the positional information to the processor unit. A method for designing such a system includes selecting operational frequencies of the receiver/transmitter units and positioning the receiver/transmitter units throughout the operational environment such that distortion and attenuation of the positional information are minimized.

Abstract: A linkage device for an umbrella includes a pivot and a joint. A frame having an opening defined therein is integrally formed on a periphery of the pivot. A deformable leaf is provided to the joint and has a configuration to mate with a recess defined in the joint. Furthermore, a pivot rod is provided to the joint and functions as a pivot when the stretchers and the ribs are expand or folded. Therefore, when a portion of the frame is received within the joint, the deformable leaf is able to securely enclose the portion of the frame within the joint.

Abstract: In a physical design automation system for producing an optimized cell placement for an integrated circuit chip, a placement optimization methodology is decomposed into a plurality of cell placement optimization processes that are performed simultaneously by parallel processors on input data representing the chip. The results of the optimization processes are recomposed to produce an optimized cell placement. The fitness of the optimized cell placement is analyzed, and the parallel processors are controlled to selectively repeat performing the optimization processes for further optimizing the optimized cell placement if the fitness does not satisfy a predetermined criterion. The system can be applied to initial placement, routing, placement improvement and other problems. The processors can perform the same optimization process on different placements, or on areas of a single placement.

Abstract: The tabbed edge of a divider sheet has at least one strip releasably attached thereto. The strip helps the printer (or copier) sense the sheet when being fed strip end first or last (landscape direction) into the printer or copier. When fed in the portrait direction, the strip guides the sheet along the feed tray guides thereby preventing skewing of the sheet. After the printer or copier has printed the desired indicia on the tabs and/or body of the sheet, the strip is removed from the sheet and discarded. The strip can be attached to the sheet with adhesive or by a microperforation line.

Abstract: A fastener for attaching a first object to the outside of a second object having a hole and a normally inaccessible inner surface. The fastener generally comprises a head portion, a resilient washer disposed in a stepped or double recess in the head portion, and a fastening section connected to the head portion. The resilient washer has a maximum diameter that is substantially larger than the hole, and a contoured or tapered outer surface adapted to engage, be compressed in, and slide through the hole in only one direction. When the fastener is pressed through the hole and the head portion emerges on the other side, the resilient washer springs back to its decompressed size and securely retains the fastener in the second object. Additionally, the washer has a flange that helps retain the washer in the head portion and acts to evenly distribute on the washer any forces exerted to remove a fully inserted fastener.

Abstract: In a physical design automation system for producing an optimized cell placement for an integrated circuit chip, a placement optimization methodology is decomposed into a plurality of cell placement optimization processes that are performed simultaneously by parallel processors on input data representing the chip. The results of the optimization processes are recomposed to produce an optimized cell placement. The fitness of the optimized cell placement is analyzed, and the parallel processors are controlled to selectively repeat performing the optimization processes for further optimizing the optimized cell placement if the fitness does not satisfy a predetermined criterion. The system can be applied to initial placement, routing, placement improvement and other problems. The processors can perform the same optimization process on different placements, or on areas of a single placement.

Abstract: A caries detection system and method for quantifying a probability of lesions existing in tissues are presented. Digital X-ray images are segmented and further processed to generate feature statistics inputs for a neural network. The feature statistics include colinearity measurements of candidate lesions in different tissue segments. The neural network is trained by back propagation with an extensive data set of radiographs and histologic examinations and processes the statistics to determine the probability of lesions existing in the tissues.

Abstract: A method for isolating and identifying modified para-nitrobenzyl esterases which exhibit improved stability and/or esterase hydrolysis activity toward selected substrates and under selected reaction conditions relative to the unmodified para-nitrobenzyl esterase. The method involves preparing a library of modified para-nitrobenzyl esterase nucleic acid segments (genes) which have nucleotide sequences that differ from the nucleic acid segment which encodes for unmodified para-nitrobenzyl esterase. The library of modified para-nitrobenzyl nucleic acid segments is expressed to provide a plurality of modified enzymes. The clones expressing modified enzymes are then screened to identify which enzymes have improved esterase activity by measuring the ability of the enzymes to hydrolyze the selected substrate under the selected reaction conditions.

Abstract: A quick release locking strap for securing items in place. The strap includes an elongated flexible strap portion having a pair of adjustable quick release clamps at spaced locations on the strap portion. In one embodiment, each clamp is fixedly secured to the strap portion. In another embodiment, one clamp is fixedly secured to the strap portion and the other clamp is adapted to be secured to a surface.