Abstract: A method for passivating diamond films to substantially prevent them from oxidizing at temperatures up to 800.degree. C. in an oxygen atmosphere. The method involves depositing one or more passivating layers over the diamond film wherein one of the layers is nitride and the other layer is quartz. The passivation technique is directly applicable to diamond sensor pressure transducers and enable them to operate at temperatures above 800.degree. C. in oxygen environments. The passivation technique also provides an economical and simple method for patterning diamond films.

Abstract: A handheld tool used for conditioning and sharpening the blade of a scraping tool or like tool. The present invention tool includes a tool body that supports a file, a sharpening stone, a conditioning pin and a burnishing element. A plurality of slots are disposed within the tool, wherein each of the slots intersect the burnishing element at a different angle between 90.degree. and 75.degree.. The tool provides guiding surfaces that enable a blade to be properly worked against the file, the sharpening stone, and the conditioning pin. The step of burnishing the blade is accomplished by passing the blade through one of the slots formed in the tool. As a result, the labor and time needed to sharpen a blade is greatly reduced and the quality of the blade point is made more consistent.

Abstract: A MOS driver circuit has a first output transistor and a second output transistor which are driven in push-pull into a conducting state by a first driver stage having first high impedance and first low impedance elements and a second driver stage having second high impedance and second low impedance elements, respectively. The high impedance driver elements drive the output transistors into a conducting or nonconducting state and the low impedance driver elements hold the output transistors in the nonconducting state. The junction of the output transistors can be connected to a load. A holding stage for each driver stage is cross coupled to a high impedance driver element of one output transistor and the low impedance driver element of the other output transistor, so as to drive one output transistor in the conducting state while holding the other output transistor in a nonconducting state. As a result, shunt currents between the output transistors are avoided even in the presence of output noise.

Abstract: A self-activated blood drop generator device comprising a casing having an internal hollow and blade assembly disposed within the hollow of the casing for generating an incision in a patient's skin. The device includes a fork-shaped triggering mechanism coupled to the blade assembly for propelling the blade assembly through a predetermined path. A cam arrangement associated with the casing causes the cutting portion of the blade assembly to travel through an arcuate scapel-like path as the cutting portion passes through an aperture in the casing. A retractor arrangement associated with the casing, the blade assembly and the triggering mechanism, are provided for retracting the blade assembly into the hollow of the casing. Also provided is accelerator arrangement associated with the casing and the triggering mechanism for accelerating the triggering mechanism through the hollow of the casing thereby causing the blade assembly to accelerate through the predetermined path.

Abstract: A microchannel plate for an image intensifier tube, the microchannel plate comprising a substrate having an input surface and an output surface and a plurality of channels extending therebetween, each of the channels defining a channel wall, wherein the microchannel plate operates as an electron multiplier, whereby each of the channel walls emits a cascade of electrons in response to an electron entering a respective one of the channels, and a focusing element formed on an output of at least one of the channels for preventing spatial dispersion of the cascade of electrons exiting the output thereof.

Abstract: The present invention pseudo-random number generator produces a high precision number suitable for use as a data encryption communications security (COMSEC) key from a highly mobile computer platform. The random number generator is especially suitable for use with military radios and other like applications requiring a random number bit string of high precision. The present invention random number generator produces four pseudo-random numbers of 32-bits and uses only the last 28 bits of each number. A multiplicative linear congruential generator with multiplier 16807 and prime modulus 2.sup.31 -1 is used to produce the 32-bit pseudo-random numbers. This generator produces a sequence of remainders of large modulus. The last 28 bits of the 32-bit numbers are combined to produce one high precision number of 112 bits.