Abstract: A non-resonant voltage converter includes an inductive element, a primary circuit including a first chopping switch and a first diode in parallel, a secondary circuit including a second chopping switch and a second diode in parallel, at least a smooth switching capacitor of one of said switches, which can form, with a spurious inductance of the inductive element, an oscillating circuit which generates a spurious current. The smooth switching capacitor of the converter is connected in parallel to the terminals of the inductive element, and forms with this element a loop having a reduced length in which is contained the spurious oscillating current.

Abstract: A sample receptacle for retaining a sample that is to be subjected to spectrochemical analysis. The sample receptacle includes a tubular body having at least one open end and a tapered exterior wall. A sheet of thin film material having peripheral edges is disposed across the open end of the tubular body. A generally annular collar, having an interior wall tapered at an angle supplemental to the taper of the interior wall, is disposed around the tubular body. As the annular collar is placed around the tubular body, the tapered exterior wall of the tubular body creates an interference fit with the tapered interior wall of the annular collar. The tapered surfaces of the tubular body and the annular collar engage the sheet of thin film material and pull the sheet of thin film material taut over the open end of the tubular body. The annular collar is sized to engage the entire length of the exterior wall of the tubular body.

Abstract: A low cost safety lancet device for creating a skin incision. The lancet contains a unitarily formed plastic body, thereby making the lancet device easy to manufacture at a low cost. The lancet device includes a housing having an internal hollow and a blade beam pivotally disposed within the hollow of the housing for generating an incision in a patient's skin. Upon the activation of the device, the blade beam pivots through a predetermined path which causes a blade associated with the blade beam to travel out of an aperture in the housing to incise the patient's skin. The device further includes a trigger for propelling the blade through the path and a cam projection disposed within the housing which cooperates with the trigger to accelerate the trigger through the hollow of the housing thereby causing the blade to accelerate through the aperture of the housing.

Abstract: An electrophoretic display having a plurality of individual characters which are individually addressable for writing and erasing. The anode of the display has a plurality of character blocks which correspond to the character positions of the display. The character blocks are interconnected by a series of character column and row control lines which are insulated from each other. Each character block is connected to one row line and one column line, respectively, by a resistor and a diode which are arranged in parallel. A further resistor is connected in series with the diode. An individual character block is erased by applying a negative voltage to the specific column line and row line which cross at the desired character block.

Abstract: A catheter for non-surgical entry into the cervical canal or the uterus, comprising an elongated tubular catheter body. An inflatable balloon manufactured from a polyurethane material is disposed proximal to the distal end of the catheter body. The polyurethane inflatable balloon can be progressively inflated into an elliptical shape which enables the balloon to be used within the cervical canal. Additional inflation pressure inflates the polyurethane inflatable balloon to a spherical shape which enables the balloon to be used within the uterus.

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 process is disclosed for fabricating a CMOS structure with ESD protection. The outside transistors are covered with a protective oxide layer which is so masked as to cover the areas of the respective source and drain regions adjoining the field-oxide regions and the gate regions. The protective oxide layer is then subjected to a heat treatment, after which a siliciding process is carried out.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a high pressure piezoresistive pressure transducer having a substantially linear pressure versus stress output over its full range of operation. The method involves bonding a carrier wafer having a dielectric isolating layer on one surface and a supporting member on the opposite surface, to a pattern wafer containing at least two single crystalline longitudinal piezoresistive sensing elements of a second conductivity. Both the pattern wafer and sections of the carrier wafer are etched leaving the piezoresistive sensing elements bonded directly to the dielectric isolating layer, and a diaphragm member having a deflecting portion and a non-deflecting portion. The diaphragm member is constructed to have an aspect ratio which is of the order of magnitude of one.

Abstract: A packaging assembly for both packaging and displaying a plurality of compact discs. The packaging assembly includes a support structure having tiered depressions formed into at least one row. Each depression in a row is sized to accept a compact disc and includes a retaining mechanism for selectively engaging a compact disc at each tier level. As a result, the support structure is capable of retaining multiple compact discs in each row, wherein each compact disc is retained at a different tier level. This enables the various compact discs to overlay over another without contacting one another. The tiered orientation also enables any one of the compact discs to be accessed without having to remove any other compact disc contained in the packaging assembly. The support structure itself is contained within a box, wherein the box has a forward surface that defines a large window.

Abstract: A novel Communications Management System architecture (CMS) supports asset, frequency and key management functions in a multi-unit, multi-network communications system and automates the planning required for effectively carrying out tactical communications in such an environment. CMS matches the detailed frequency and key distribution required for radio networks supporting such an operation, and consolidates all of the information required to operate such a radio system into a single database. The CMS architecture provides a flexibility to allow for specialized key and frequency assignment generation, net communications planning, distribution planning of communication equipment, deployment planning and asset planning and generation of Communications Information (CI). The architecture provides an integrated approach that enables such communication planning/management functions to be tied together into a single software program to assure verification of data and eliminate duplication of effort.

Abstract: A rack for simultaneously storing prisms having varying sizes and shapes, comprising a plurality of clamps for holding the prisms. Each clamp includes a fixed clamping block and an oppositely disposed movable clamping block for enabling the clamp to self-adjust to the size and shape of a prism to be held therein. The clamps are mounted in a frame which includes a clamp supporting cross-member for mounting the clamps to the frame.

Abstract: A device for sputtering a metallic material on a plate comprises a vacuum chamber provided with a linear conveyor carrying at least one plate, the plate surface to be processed being turned downward. At least two sputtering sources are disposed under the conveyor, perpendicularly to its moving direction. Each source is associated with a collimator. The sputtering sources and their associated collimators are disposed to coat the whole width of the plate.

Abstract: A night vision device that uses low cost optics in a balanced arrangement that corrects for distortions created by the low cost optics. The night vision device is a monocular assembly that uses a Gen II or a Gen III image intensifier tube. An objective lens assembly, containing a plurality of low cost lenses, is positioned in front of the image intensifier tube so that the objective lens assembly directs low intensity light onto the input surface of the image intensifier tube. A collimator assembly is positioned proximate the output surface of the image intensifier tube, wherein the collimator assembly collimates the visible image produced by the image intensifier tube. The collimator assembly is comprised of lenses that are identical in shape, size and material to the lenses found within the objective lens assembly. However, the lenses in the collimator assembly are arranged in reverse, as a mirror image of the lenses in the objective lens assembly.

Abstract: The invention relates to a magnetic-field sensor with a Hall effect device, a power supply, and an evaluating facility, which can be supplied with a Hall signal from the Hall-effect device and comprises an input amplifier, a storage element, and a signal superposition unit. To improve the accuracy of the magnetic-field sensor, in a first phase, a balancing signal for balancing the measurement-signal path with respect to an interface can be produced with the evaluating facility, the balancing signal being storable in the storage element, and in a second phase, the balancing signal stored in the storage element can be applied through the signal superposition unit to the interface, where it is superimposed on a Hall signal.

Abstract: A method for fabricating semiconductor device comprises the steps of providing a substrate formed from a semiconductor material of a first conductivity type and converting a selected portion of the substrate to a porous semiconductor material. This partially forms a membrane-like structure of non-porous semiconductor material on the substrate. The porous semiconductor material is then oxidized to form a rigid layer of oxide material under the partially formed membrane-like structure. After forming the porous oxide material one or more integrated circuit elements can be fabricated on the partially formed membrane-like structure without fracturing it because rigid layer of oxide material operates to support it during the fabrication of the integrated circuit elements. Once the integrated circuit elements are fabricated, all or part of the rigid layer of oxide material is removed to complete the membrane-like structure and allow it to deflect in response to a force applied thereto.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a single crystal silicon on insulator material by forming oxidized layers underneath epi islands without damaging the surface quality of the silicon. In an illustrative embodiment, an epitaxial layer of p-type silicon is grown on a substrate of n-type silicon. A plurality of islands are defined from the epitaxial layer. A semiconductor device is fabricated from one of the p-islands by electrochemically anodizing a region of the substrate beneath that p-island, which p-island can be used to fabricate a selected semiconductor device. If n-type material is required for device fabrication, a device layer of n-type silicon can be grown on the surface of a p-islands and that p-island can be anodized and oxidized to form the insulating layer between the device layer and substrate. In this manner, MOS transistors and other devices may be fabricated for operation at temperatures of up to 500.degree. C.

Abstract: An illuminator device for a night vision apparatus, the illuminator device providing supplemental illumination of remotely located objects to be viewed through the night vision apparatus under a low light condition. The illuminator device comprises a housing, light source coupled to one end of the housing for generating a light to illuminate the remotely located objects. The illuminator device further comprises focusing lens for condensing the light generated by the light source into a concentrated light beam having a pattern of consistent brightness which enables substantially long range illumination. The focusing lens is located a given distance away from the light source in a location which is remote from the end of the housing.

Abstract: An present invention is an illuminator device designed to be coupled to the tripod mount of a night vision device which allows a user to adjust the direction of a beam of light projected by an illuminator relative to the line of sight of the night vision device. The illuminator device includes an light source and a mounting assembly. The mounting assembly is biased against the night vision device thereby maintaining the direction of a projected beam from the light source substantially parallel to the line of sight of the night vision device. The mounting assembly includes a rigid member whose longitudinal axis is maintained substantially perpendicular to the bottom surface the night vision device and a free-floating member attached to the illuminator whose position can be changed relative to the line of sight of the night vision device.

Abstract: A hip prosthesis for implanting into the medullary canal of a femur, which comprises a stem for implanting into the canal of the femur, the stem having a proximal end and a distal end, the stem also including a proximal locking zone substantially adjacent the proximal end, the proximal locking zone including a proximal locking surface which circumferentially press-fits within the canal of the femur and a neck extending at an angle from the proximal end of the stem for receiving the femoral head of the prosthesis.

Abstract: A briquette press apparatus for compacting powdered materials having a programmable control monitoring the forces of the press. During compression, the programmable control measures the compression force being asserted against the powdered material and regulates the press so that the compression force equals a programmed reference value. During decompression, the programmable control monitors the pressure release rate of the press and regulates the press so that the measured pressure release rate matches a programmed reference rate.