Abstract: Method of manufacture of a composite wiring structure for use with at least one semiconductor device, the structure having a first conductive member upon which the semiconductor device can be mounted for electrical connection thereto. A dielectric member, made of ceramic or organo-ceramic composite material, is bonded to the first conductive member and contains embedded therein a conductive network and a thermal distribution network. A second conductive member may be incorporated with the composite wiring structure, with a capacitor electrically connected between the conductive network and the second conductive member. Bonding between the dielectric member and the conductive members may be in the form of a direct covalent bond formed at a temperature insufficient to adversely effect the structural integrity of the conductive network and the thermal distribution network.

Abstract: Many tasks in computer vision involve assigning a label, such as disparity for depth of field data to every pixel. Energy minimization may be used to accomplish this labeling. The present invention provides an efficient way of minimizing energy functions in assigning labels to pixels. Two methods of using graph cuts to compute a local minimum are described. The first move is an &agr;&bgr; swap. For a pair of labels, &agr;, &bgr;, this move swaps the labels between an arbitrary set of pixels labeled a and another arbitrary set of pixels labeled &bgr;. The first method generates a labeling such that there is no swap move that decreases the energy. The second move is the &agr;-expansion. For a label &agr;, this move assigns an arbitrary set of pixels with the label &agr;.

Abstract: A sequential mail sorting system for generating sort sequence codes, interpreting them for the sequential sorting of mail into a mail carrier walk sequence and providing for holdout mail types, which includes reading a sort plan text file for a selected postal delivery zone and determining the number of bins required in the sorting machine, selecting the carriers whose routes are located in such zone, generating sort sequence codes for sorting the mail in a sequential order, and generating sequence codes for holdouts and regular mail types and placing them into a sort plan binary file. The generating of sort sequence codes includes generating and interpreting sort sequence codes for holdout mail types to allow for sorting and removal of holdout mail from the mail sorting stream in the initial sorting pass of a multiple pass sequential mail sort. It also includes such a step which is performed in the final sorting pass.

Abstract: A detector apparatus and its use for cluster ion beam diagnostics are described. The detector has a Faraday cup with a conductance path to a gas pressure detector and a conductance to the detector exit. The detector acquires ion current, which is a measure of the ion beam flux, and also acquires mass flux, through a pressure measurement. The pressure measurement responds to the mass of dissociated gas clusters and is combined with information about instantaneous ion current to estimate mean gas cluster ion size ({overscore (N)}i).

Abstract: A new type of polymer is described that represents a new composition of matter. This polymer contains alternating electronegative group III-VI elements connected with hydrocarbon or fluorocarbon linkages to form a polyalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl heteroatomic polymer. These polymers can be combined with lithium salts to form a solid polymer electrolyte for use in electrochemical systems such as batteries. These new solid polymer electrolytes exhibit lithium cation diffusion and lithium cation transport numbers that are superior to similar solid polymer electrolytes composed of polyethylene oxide.

Abstract: A laser system for use in medical, industrial, commercial or research applications in which the location and energy and power density of a nonvisible (e.g., infrared or ultraviolet) laser beam is defined by a plurality of visible beams. Collimating optics are used to direct both the nonvisible and visible beams on the target, such that when the visible beam is in focus on the target, the nonvisible beam has the optimum energy and power density. One implementation of the invention is a self-contained hand-held surgical laser that provides surgeons with the optimal laser beam parameters for laser tissue soldering.

Abstract: An anti-microbial and/or anti-fungal synthetic fiber and various products made partially or wholly therefrom. The fiber comprises various thermoplastic polymers and additives in a mono-component form or a bi-component form in either a core-sheath or side-by-side configurations. The anti-microbial synthetic fibers comprise inorganic anti-microbial additives, distributed in certain areas to reduce the amount of the anti-microbial agents being used, and therefore the cost of such fibers. The fibers can incorporate anti-microbial additives so that they are not removed by repeated washing in boiling water and in dry clean cycles and become ineffective and conversely enhance access to the additives by washing or the like. The fibers comprise high tenacity polymers (e.g. PET) in one portion and hydrolysis resistance polymers (e.g. PCT) in another portion with the additives. The fibers can further be blended with non-anti-microbial fibers such as cotton, wool, polyester, acrylic, nylon etc.

Abstract: The present invention is a currency translation system that provides for the dynamic translation of a first currency value into a target currency value for the purpose of aiding localization and globalization of financial transactions. The system may be used as a standalone translation system or it may be embedded in a larger application such as a financial analysis program, a spreadsheet, a compound or object-loaded document, dynamic Web pages and other dynamically-generated content, databases or stored procedures, or a Web commerce program. The system takes as input the starting currency, a target currency, and transaction rules. The system maintains a database of currency rates, currency histories, conversion rules and currency representation data. Optimization and backtracking techniques are used to deal with partial rate information and in order to find optimal valuations involving a chain of currency translations.

Abstract: A process and system for flexibly switching connections of data packet flows between nodes of data processing system networks by dividing data packets into cells and logically linking these cells on multiple queues of linked pointer lists.

Abstract: A traffic characterization system and method of use for executing a traffic characterization protocol over an ad hoc communications network. Conventional in-vehicle computers and conventional wireless local area network (LAN) transceivers host the traffic characterization system and the messages generated by the system. As a traffic jam occurs, the mobile units send out traffic characterization data in a sequence activated by the content of the messages and traffic characterization protocol of the present invention. All vehicles participating in the traffic characterization system and approaching the traffic jammed area receive the characterization data and have the opportunity to route around the jam.

Abstract: A method of inducing a fault within the boundary of an on-card reprogrammable logic device (RLD) by interactive injection of subtle candidate faults and comparison of expected error message from software diagnostics until all faults are tested. Upon completion of fault injection, the RLD is reprogrammed to its proper functional faultless state.

Abstract: This device aims at correcting distortions in spatial geometry and function of the heart muscle, thereby restoring valvular integrity and optimizing myocardial performance. The device is applied externally to the heart, fixed in the chest cavity or wall, while maintaining flexibility and selectively targeting specific points of varying size, tension, and force requirements. This minimally invasive device and method of application will contribute toward a reduced rate of mortality and morbidity from heart disease.

Abstract: A printed circuit board has two layers of printed circuit board dielectric material; a core made of ferromagnetic material between the two layers; and conductive leads on the opposite side of each dielectric layer from the core connected by via holes through both dielectric layers to form a conducting coil around the core. The conductive leads can form two separate coils around the core to form a transformer. A planar conducing sheet can be placed on or between one or more of the printed circuit board's dielectric layers to shield other circuitry on the printed circuit board from magnetic fields generated around the core. The core can be formed at least in part by electroless plating. Electroplating can be used to add a thicker layer of less conductive ferromagnetic material.

Abstract: Educational software using a computer and having a data storage system including a software module database management system and a user database management system. There is a quiz module database, maintained by the software module database management system, containing at least one quiz module, and a structured learning material editor module database, maintained by the software module database management system and containing at least one structured learning material editor modules. The software also has a structured learning material database, maintained by the user database management system, for storing at least one structured learning material data set created by a user. A user interface is provided for selecting system control functions, editing structured learning materials, presenting quizzes, receiving user answers to quizzes, and displaying quiz analysis results. A control system retrieves software modules from the software module database management system and activates them.

Abstract: A material disposal system ideally suited for use in container filling operations and includes a cover member and a hopper having a lower door operable relative to the hopper by pneumatic or other actuating means for opening and closing the passage disposed above a drum or other container to be filled. The cover member and hopper are fixedly attached to each other. The cover member forms a seal around the inside of the container opening such that air and other gases escaping from the container by the filling or other material handling operation are directed through filter means which separate airborne particulates therefrom. The material disposal system is adaptable for covering and sealing a wide variety of containers. The filter means is adaptable for filtering a wide variety of materials and particulate sizes for removal of noxious gases, vapors and other airborne effluents.

Abstract: Numerous studies suggest that the current popular designs of coronary stents are functionally equivalent and suffer a 16 to 22 percent rate of restenosis. Although the use of coronary stents is growing, the benefits of their use remain controversial in certain clinical situations or indications due to their potential complications. The application of gas cluster ion beam (GCIB) surface modification such as smoothing or cleaning appears to reduce these complications and lead to genuine cost savings and an improvement in patient quality of life. The present invention is directed to the use of GCIB surface modification to overcome prior problems of thrombosis and restenosis. The atomic level surface smoothing of stents utilizing GCIB substantially reduces undesirable surface micro-roughness in medical coronary stents.

Abstract: The present invention provides a miniature lighting system which is durable, inexpensive and yet versatile. The lighting system has a light source and electrical component assembly located within a housing. The electrical component assembly is surrounded by a sealant in order to prevent any water or moisture from reaching the electrical connections and to permanently seal and unitize the circuitry with the housing. The housing is shaped so as to surround and protect the light source without allowing the sealant to reach or coat the light source.

Abstract: Scissors having two shear bodies joined to each other for opening and closing movements, each shear body composed of a blade with a pivot portion, a shank, and a finger grip, wherein the shank of each blade has a desired portion distal from the pivot portion thereof arranged wider in a plan view and a first opening provided in the wider portion thereof, allowing the shank of each shear body to be reduced in weight and also improved in strength against deflection. The finger grip having a circumferential portion thereof arranged wider in a plan view than the shank's proximal portion and a second opening provided in the wider circumferential portion thereof to allow accessories such as a finger brace and a hit point to be mounted to the circumferential portion of the finger grip at the outside of the second opening.

Abstract: A system and method reorients flat articles in a serial stream, by receiving a horizontally moving, serial input stream of substantially vertically oriented flat articles each having a downwardly oriented primary edge, laterally diverting the flat articles in the serial input stream alternately between a pair of separate paths, impeding horizontal movement of each flat article in each separate path, accelerating each flat article with impeded horizontal movement in the direction of its primary edge, and delivering substantially horizontally oriented flat articles from each separate path.