Abstract: Disclosed is a recreational vehicle having an attached refrigeration unit including heat-dissipating coils and heat-collecting coils. An evaporative cooler disposed adjacent the condenser is capable of pre-cooling air to the heat-dissipating coils, and a thermostat control assembly is capable of sensing ambient temperature and activating the evaporative cooler when the ambient temperature reaches a threshold ambient temperature providing pre-cooled air to the heat-dissipating coils.

Abstract: Exercise apparatus comprising a lanyard having opposing ends, and a handle secured to one of the opposing ends and a device secured to the other one of the opposing ends, the device having a capacity to resist movement, the device capable of being set in motion in response to a force acting upon the handle.

Abstract: An electrically pumped, long-wavelength VCSEL includes a long wavelength active region having electrical contacts on opposed sides thereof. A layer of semiconductor material is included in the active region having an electrically conductive portion defining a lasing aperture and current confinement volume with the conductive portion being limited by an electrically insulating portion. Windows are formed in the electrical contacts in alignment with the lasing aperture and mirror stacks are positioned on the long wavelength active region in each of the windows. At least one of the mirror stacks includes a metamorphic distributed Bragg reflector for heat conduction.

Abstract: Mesh drywall tape dispensing apparatus includes a chassis with a pistol grip for one-hand operation, a tape reel, a tape guide roller mounted within the chassis, and a tape pressure roller mounted adjacent a front end of the chassis. A tape cutter trigger assembly is mounted within the chassis by the pivot pin of the guide roller and movable into a cutting position. The cutter includes a serrated knife edge directed away from the pressure roller at an acute angle to the tape extending from the guide roller to the pressure roller. A corner roller is pivotally mounted on the chassis for movement into a tape engaging position. The pistol grip and the tape reel are mounted on opposite sides of the chassis and adjacent a rear end with the pressure roller mounted adjacent the front end so that the apparatus is generally bounded by a first plane tangent to the pressure roller and bounding a tape roll on the reel and the corner roller therein and a second plane tangent to the pressure roller and the handle.

Abstract: A monolithically integrated heterojunction bipolar transistor optoelectronic transimpedance amplifier using the first transistor as an optical detector. An edge illuminated epilayer waveguide phototransistor is used as the light-detecting element. The phototransistor is used as an optical detector in which the incident light pulses are converted to electrical pulses and then amplified for further signal processing. The phototransistor is monolithically integrated on the same material substrate as the emitter follower amplifier so that the parasitics normally associated with receiver circuitry are minimized. By eliminating the parasitic impedances, the circuit can be used as a receiver in high bit rate optical communication systems.

Abstract: A recliner mechanism includes a cylindrical element attached to a back portion and a conically shaped element attached to a seat portion. The cylindrical element has an axially extending central opening formed therein defined by a conically tapered inner surface, and the conically shaped element has an outer surface receivable within the central opening. The conically shaped element is movable in an axially inward direction to a locked orientation with the inner surface of the cylindrical element engaging the outer surface of the conically shaped element to inhibiting relative pivotal movement of the back portion and the seat portion. The conically shaped element is also movable in an axially outward direction to an unlocked orientation with the inner surface of the cylindrical element disengaged from the outer surface of the conically shaped element to permitting relative pivotal movement of the back portion and the seat portion.

Abstract: A topical composition applicable to skin for clearing the complexion, including magnesium hydroxide, witch hazel, an analgesic, and alcohol.

Abstract: An adjustable measuring device includes a base having a front end, a rear setting end, opposing sides and a slidably attached slide member having a front marking end, a rear end and opposing sides. A pair of opposing locking elements is attached at the front end of the base for releasably securing the sides of the slide member against the base. One of the locking elements is attached to one of the sides of the base at the front end thereof and the other of the locking elements is attached to the other of the sides of the base at the front end thereof.

Abstract: An edge illuminated epilayer waveguide phototransistor including a subcollector layer formed from an epitaxially grown quaternary semiconductor material, such as heavily doped InGaAsP. A collector region of undoped InGaAs is epitaxially grown on the subcollector layer. A base region of moderately doped InGaAs is epitaxially grown on the collector layer. An emitter region, including a doped InGaAsP layer, a doped InP layer, and a heavily doped InGaAs emitter contact layer, is epitaxially grown on the base layer. The various layers and regions are formed so as to define an edge-illuminated facet for receiving incident light. Also, the base does not have an ohmic contact so that the base thickness can be minimized. Finally, the base doping concentration is minimized so that the gain-bandwidth product can be maximized.

Abstract: An apparatus for performing a wafer cleaning method includes providing a plurality of sponge portions mounted on a common body for movement relative to a surface of a wafer to be cleaned, each sponge portion defining a sponge surface positioned to contact the surface of the wafer. A cleaning fluid flow is directed through each of the sponge portions perpendicular to the sponge surface and onto the surface of the wafer to generate a streaming potential across each of the sponge portions. The fluid pressure and pH of the cleaning fluid are adjusted until electrical charges on the sponge portions, the wafer, and contaminant particles on the surface of the wafer are all the same electrical sign.

Abstract: A system for measuring the distance of a hydraulic movement including an engine supplying power, a hydraulic cylinder for supplying hydraulic movement, and a pump coupled to the hydraulic cylinder for providing hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic cylinder. A power take off is coupled to the engine and supplies power from the engine to the pump. A measuring device measures the amount of fluid provide to the hydraulic cylinder by counting engine revolutions enabling a determination of the distance of the movement.

Abstract: The optoelectric alignment apparatus and lens system includes a glass ball positioned to receive light from a light source along an optical axis. A second lens is positioned to receive light from the glass ball and to supply the received light to a light receiving structure. The glass ball provides most of the optical power of the lens system so that the second lens provides only minor optical correction. The lens system is mounted by means of a molded plastic body that extends axially along the optical axis with the second lens molded into the body. The body includes a light inlet end and a light outlet in a surface lateral to the optical axis and defines a glass ball receiving cavity adjacent the light inlet end fixedly gripping the glass ball.

Abstract: Force measuring apparatus that includes a platform and a base for supporting the platform above a supporting surface at only three spaced-apart points. The platform consists of first and second working portions. The first working portion has a first area and the second working portion has a second area. The first area is larger than the second area. The first area is limited to accommodate only an on-line stance. The first and second areas together are limited to accommodate only an in-line stance. The force measuring apparatus incorporates sensor apparatus for sensing loads exerted against the first and second areas.

Abstract: A method for forming a low dielectric constant insulator in a monolithic substrate and the dielectric formed by the method. The method includes formation and patterning of a mask on a silicon substrate followed by anisotropic etching of the silicon to provide a dense array of deep holes. Isotropic etching may be used to form a cavity beneath the dense array of holes and coupling to bottoms of the holes. Sides of the holes are then thermally oxidized. A conventional dielectric is then formed, sealing tops of the holes. The conventional dielectric is optionally densified. Conventional chemical-mechanical polishing then planarizes the dielectric and further conventional processing may be carried out on the wafer to form active circuitry together with passive components such as high Q inductors.

Abstract: An athletic training shoe insert includes particles of heavy material mixed with a flexible porous material and molded into an insole form to fit within a shoe. The particles and the insole form are designed to allow a human foot to be placed comfortably in the shoe and cooperate to substantially increase the weight of the shoe for training purposes. The amount of particles is changeable to change the weight of the athletic shoe. That is, a larger amount of particles can be added to increase the weight of the shoe. Also, additional insoles of particles and flexible porous material can be added to a shoe to substantially increase the weight if desired.

Abstract: A swimming pool installation including a skimmer device, a vacuum system, a pump and a valve module is disclosed. A seat divides the valve module into an upstream chamber coupled to the skimmer device and a downstream chamber coupled to the vacuum system and the pump. A piston having a seal is mounted in the upstream chamber for reciprocal movement in opposition to the seat and is biased away from the seat. A pawl is mounted to the piston for rotation and stops are mounted adjacent the pawl. The piston moves reciprocally in response to a cyclical application and removal of water movement there across caused by a cyclical operation of the pump, which causes the pawl to interact with the stops and cycle between a locked condition securing the seal away from the seat and an unlocked condition permitting the seal to move against the seat.

Abstract: An external auxiliary fuel tank for aircraft including a crashworthy bladder carried within an elongated shell. A center structure is carried by the shell intermediate opposing ends thereof, through which the bladder passes. A mounting assembly is carried by the center structure for attaching the fuel tank to an aircraft.

Abstract: A loading device including a guide frame, a drive mechanism and a lift mechanism. The guide frame includes a pair of spaced apart upright members each having a slot formed therethrough. The drive mechanism is coupled to the guide frame and has a shaft received concurrently through the slots of the guide frame, a sprocket mounted on the shaft, a belt member wrapped about the sprocket and having opposing ends anchored to the guide frame, and a motor coupled to the shaft for reciprocating the shaft vertically within the slots between an upper position and a lower position. Movement of the shaft toward the upper position produces rotation of the shaft in a first direction and a movement of the shaft toward the lower position rotates the shaft in an opposing direction. The lift mechanism is coupled to the drive mechanism and includes a pair of arms each having an end coupled to the shaft and another end coupled to a carriage.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a vertical cavity surface emitting laser comprising the steps of epitaxially growing a first DBR positioned on a substrate wherein the first DBR is epitaxially grown using MOCVD. The substrate is orientated in an off-axis crystallographic direction which increases the radiative efficiency. A first cladding layer is positioned on the first DBR and an active region is epitaxially grown on the first cladding layer wherein the active region is epitaxially grown using plasma assisted MBE. A second DBR is epitaxially grown on the second cladding layer wherein the second DBR is epitaxially grown using MOCVD. The active region is epitaxially grown using plasma assisted MBE to increase the mole fraction of nitrogen (N) incorporation. The DBR's are grown using MOCVD to improve the electrical performance.

Abstract: A differential physical chemical cleaning system including a plurality of charged cleaning devices for engaging a surface to be cleaned and a fluid delivery system for delivering precipitating agents to the surface to be cleaned and the plurality of cleaning devices.