Abstract: The present invention is directed to an ultrasonic repellent humidifier for dispersing insect repellant into the air as a micro fine repellent vapor. A repellent tank provides rhodinol and cedarwood oil based repellent to a repellent well. An ultrasonic transducer is positioned in the well beneath the level of the repellent. It vibrates, forming a repellant vapor that is drawn into a vapor duct by a forced air system and out of the unit, dispersing the repellent vapor into the surrounding air. The vibrating portion of the ultrasonic transducer that is exposed to the oil-based repellent is a ceramic material that inhibits residue from forming on the transducer that reduces its efficiency. The ceramic material may be formed on the metal case of the transducer or on the piezoelectric oscillation crystal, or it may be a separately replaceable disc.

Abstract: The sentimental significance of a group of historical documents related to a topic is assessed with respect to change in an extrinsic metric for the topic. A unique sentiment binding label is included to the content of actions documents that are determined to have sentimental significance and the group of documents is inserted into a historical document sentiment vector space for the topic. Action areas in the vector space are defined from the locations of action documents and singular sentiment vector may be created that describes the cumulative action area. Newly published documents are sentiment-scored by semantically comparing them to documents in the space and/or to the singular sentiment vector. The sentiment scores for the newly published documents are supplemented by human sentiment assessment of the documents and a sentiment time decay factor is applied to the supplemented sentiment score of each newly published documents.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system and method for radiometric calibration of spectroscopy equipment utilized in fault detection and process monitoring. Initially, a reference spectrograph is calibrated to a local primary standard (a calibrated light source with known spectral intensities and traceable to a reference standard). Other spectrographs are then calibrated from the reference spectrograph rather than the local primary calibration standard. This is accomplished by viewing a light source with both the reference spectrograph and the spectrograph to be calibrated. The output from the spectrograph to be calibrated is compared to the output of the reference spectrograph and then adjusted to match that output. The present calibration process can be performed in two stages, the first with the spectrographs calibrated to the reference spectrograph and then are fine tuned to a narrow band light source at the plasma chamber.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a novel intaglio printing press and a method for intaglio print making using the intaglio printing press described herein. The present invention is comprised generally of two assemblies: a press bed assembly and a print head assembly. The print head assembly serves as a first class lever within a pair of surfaces of a press bed assembly that define runway. The runway structure of the press bed assembly confines the force applied to the print head assembly and translates that force into a pressure directed to the print paper covered and inked artwork. The print paper and inked artwork are positioned proximate to the lower surface and the print head portion of the print head assembly is situated between the artwork and the upper surface. The print head assembly comprises one or more lever handles, a compression roller and one or more track roller.

Abstract: An intelligent irrigation rain sensor for use in an irrigation system comprises a rain sensor unit and a sensor control unit. The rain sensor unit has a rain catcher reservoir with an open top for receiving rainwater with an internal volume for holding water and tapers into a funnel. At least one droplet detector is positioned directly below the funnel opening that contacts the water droplets from the funnel. The droplet detector includes detection electrodes for sensing a change in an electrical property being monitored by a detection control in the sensor control unit and for discriminating phantom droplets from rain. Upon exceeding a rain threshold amount over measurement time period, the intelligent irrigation rain sensor issues a rain signal to the irrigation controller. The intelligent irrigation rain sensor issues a corresponding dry signal to the irrigation controller after a drying period has elapsed.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an intelligent water management irrigation system for monitoring the total water usage for a billing site and preventing cumulative water usage from exceeding a water budget by adjusting the amount of water used for irrigation. Irrigation zone priority values are selected for each irrigation zone that specify a percentage of the full water need that the foliage in the zone can survive and are saved in an intelligent water management irrigation (IWMI) controller. The IWMI controller receives water usage information originating from a property's water meter and compares the measured water usage with the allowable water budget. Water usage is tracked separately for the household use and landscape use (irrigation). Prior to each irrigation cycle, the IWMI controller estimates the amount of water that will be needed by the landscape and for household use during the remainder of a billing cycle; household use is given precedence over landscape use.

Abstract: An elbow barbed fitting for use with flexible pipe and the like is provided with a barbed fitting drive cap for cooperating with a compatible drive tool, such as a socket or nut driver. The barbed fitting drive cap is configured as a hexagonal cap, square cap, star cap or other common driver shapes. The barbed fitting drive cap is positioned on the fitting body opposite the opening to the barbed end, but coaxially aligned with the barb. The cross-sectional body width of the barbed fitting drive cap is narrower than a corresponding width of the fitting body for exerting a drive force on the fitting body. Alternatively, the elbow barbed fitting is provided with a drive recess configured as a hexagonal recess, slotted recess, cross point recess, square recess, star recess or other common driver shapes for cooperating with a compatible driver. Common elbow fitting types include 90° or 45° ells.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an ultrasonic repellent humidifier for dispersing insect repellant into the air as a micro fine repellent vapor. A repellent tank provides rhodinol and cedarwood oil based repellent to a repellent well. An ultrasonic transducer is positioned in the well beneath the level of the repellent. It vibrates, forming a repellant vapor that is drawn into a vapor duct by a forced air system and out of the unit, dispersing the repellent vapor into the surrounding air. The vibrating portion of the ultrasonic transducer that is exposed to the oil-based repellent is a ceramic material that inhibits residue from forming on the transducer that reduces its efficiency. The ceramic material may be formed on the metal case of the transducer or on the piezoelectric oscillation crystal, or it may be a separately replaceable disc.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for reducing the effects of window clouding on a viewport window in a reactive environment. One or more clouded viewport windows are obtained for testing, in which the clouding results from exposure to the reactive environment. The clouding typically appears as a coating film on the test windows. The clouded viewport windows are analyzed for one or more spectral regions having good transmission. The threshold level of light transmission is determined by the particular application in which the window is used. The spectral regions of good transmission are evaluated for their usefulness with a particular algorithm that will use the spectral data in a production environment. Spectral regions that cannot be evaluated using the subject algorithm are eliminated from consideration. Spectral regions that can be evaluated using the subject algorithm and exhibit low absorption are selected for monitoring in the production environment.

Abstract: A self referencing heterodyne reflectometer is disclosed which rapidly alternates between a heterodyne reflectometry (HR) mode, in which an HR beam comprised of s- and p-polarized beam components at split angular frequencies of ? and ?+?? is employed, and a self referencing (SR) mode, in which an SR beam comprised of p-polarized beam components at split angular frequencies of ? and ?+?? is employed. Alternatively, in SR operating mode the SR beam is replaced by a p-polarized amplitude modulated (AM) beam, operating at two modulated amplitudes of ? and ?+?? at a single frequency, ??. When the two measurements are made in rapid succession, using an optical chopper switcher, temperature induced noise in the detector is be assumed to be equivalent. Film phase shift information is derived from the measured phase shift ?Ref/film, generated from the HR beam, and the reference phase shift ?Ref/Sub, generated from the SR/AM beam, which are used for calculating film thickness.

Abstract: An improved sidewall fitting is disclosed with a fitting body and one or more flanges disposed about the fitting body. Plaster catches disposed along a face of one flange and positioned approximately coextensively with the fitting body. The bodies of the plaster catches may be curvilinear-shaped, straight or concentric rings and the body portions may be of heights for aligned or off-setting configurations. The fitting is installed the plaster catches oriented directly below the body of the fitting, along a generally horizontal plane. Plaster is layered over the flange and plaster catches, and up to the opening in the fitting body. The plaster catches may be disposed along a posterior face of a flange, or simultaneously along the anterior and posterior faces. A second fitting type includes an extension surface for increased bonding with the plaster with additional surface area available for sealing with the plaster.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a self referencing heterodyne reflectometer system and method for obtaining highly accurate phase shift information from heterodyned optical signals, without the availability of a reference wafer for calibrations. The self referencing heterodyne reflectometer rapidly alternates between a heterodyne reflectometry (HR) mode, in which an HR beam comprised of s- and p-polarized beam components at split angular frequencies of ? and ?+?? is employed, and a self referencing (SR) mode, in which an SR beam comprised of p-polarized beam components at split angular frequencies of ? and ?+?? is employed. When the two measurements are made in rapid succession, temperature induced noise in the detector is be assumed to be the same as for both measurements. A measured phase shift ?Ref/film is generated from the HR beam and a reference phase shift ?Ref/Sub is generated from the SR beam.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a non-intrusive data transmission network for use in a healthcare facility and method for implementing such network. Each individual patient's room is equipped with a set-top control device, a separate camera, microphone, control module camera control device. The SCD allows for a non-intrusive installation within a minimum amount of time. By utilizing the existing cable television infrastructure, the device creates a high-speed data network throughout the facility. The interface between the SCD and the CCD is accomplished through a standard interface for universally connecting auxiliary devices, such as USB, for enabling expandable, hot-pluggable Plug and Play serial device interfaces. These ports allow external devices such as the camera, microphone, infrared keyboard and privacy control unit to communicate with the SCD. Additional USB ports on the SCD allow for other devices to be connected to the network at a future time.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an irrigation controller, method and software program product for generating valve control signals for energizing a valve. The irrigation controller includes a valve actuation control module selectively coupled each of plurality of control nodes and generating a valve actuation control signal thereon. The valve actuation control signal is a continuous control voltage over a plurality of control signal periods for selectively energizing the selected irrigation valve. Also integrated in the irrigation is a valve chatter module for selectively coupled each of plurality of control nodes and generating a valve chatter control signal thereon. The valve chatter module selectively and, intermittently, energizes the selected irrigation valve. The irrigation controller may further include a remote controller of remotely controlling the irrigation controller.

Abstract: The present invention relates a futures exchange for services contracts. The SerFEx is an electronic market system that enables the exchange of cash (spot and forward) contracts and futures contracts for the delivery of services. Services are traded on the exchange similar to commodities on a prior art commodities exchange. The exchange allows the futures market to determine the right price for services for the producers and consumers of those services. Participants may buy, sell, or leverage services contracts through a variety of order types. The exchange is composed of an electronic infrastructure that has four major components: a front-end facility comprised of licensed authorized intermediaries, an automated bid/ask matching system, a clearinghouse system, and a title management system. The exchange operates twenty-four hours per day and seven days per week with all accounts settled at least once in every twenty-four hours.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a heterodyne reflectometer system and method for obtaining highly accurate phase shift information from heterodyned optical signals, from which extremely accurate film depths can be calculated. A linearly polarized light comprised of two linearly polarized components that are orthogonal to each other, with split optical frequencies, is directed toward a film causing one of the optical polarization components to lag behind the other due to an increase in the optical path in the film for that component. A pair of detectors receives the beam reflected from the film layer and produces a measurement signal, and the beam prior to incidence on the film layer and generates a reference signal, respectively. The measurement signal and reference signal are analyzed by a phase detector for phase shift. The detected phase shift is then fed into a thickness calculator for film thickness results.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a wafer device method for processing same. A wafer for epitaxial deposition is backside sealed with a dopant seal layer (protection layer comprised of silicon dioxide or silicon nitride. Then, a layer of polysilicon is formed coextensively over the dopant seal layer. The polysilicon layer acts as a seed layer for potentially nodule forming gasses present during epitaxial deposition. During CVD epitaxy, the epitaxial layer is deposited on the primary surface with optimal resistivity uniformity. The fugitive gasses from the epitaxial process which diffuse to the wafer periphery and backside deposit as a film on the seed layer instead of in nodules. The polysilicon layer acts as a continuous seed layer which eliminates the preferential deposition at seal layer pinholes or island seed sites.

Abstract: An optical profilometer apparatus 10 having a stage with a support surface 42 on which a wafer substrate may rest. The wafer stage is capable of moving the wafer in (x, y) or (r, ?) mode to achieve complete wafer scan. Polarized light from a monochromatic source 12 is directed towards the wafer surface 22. Surface profiling is achieved by sensing beam shift on a segmented sensor caused by level/height change at the wafer surface. In preferred embodiment of the profilometer, a single light beam is engineered to propagate in two orthogonal planes of incidence so that it becomes sensitive to height/level change on the wafer while being insensitive to local slope or wafer tilt. In another embodiment, slope of surface feature is measured. By integrating slope over the measurement spot, local feature height is obtained. This is particularly useful when the beam shift due to feature height change is below detection sensitivity.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system, method and software program product for calculating metrological data (e.g. layer thicknesses and depths of recesses and trenches) on a surface or structure, such as a semiconductor wafer. The present method does not require knowledge of the reflectivity or transmissivity of the surface or structure, but only a quantity related to the reflectivity or transmissivity linear transformation needs to be known. Initially, a simplified optical model for the process is constructed using as many parameters as necessary for calculating the surface reflectivity of the discrete regions on the wafer. Reflectivity data are collected from the surface of a wafer using, for instance, in-situ monitoring, and nominal reflectivity is determined from the ratio of the current spectrum to a reference spectrum. The reference spectrum is taken from a reference wafer consisting entirely of a material in which the reflection properties are well characterized.

Abstract: A sideshield eye protector is presented which includes a comfort and safety wing that is formed as a surface appendage thereon, and extends in a generally perpendicular direction from the surface of the sideshield along the contoured edge of the sideshield positioned closest to the wearer's face. The comfort and safety wing may be integral to the sideshield forming an integral structure therewith or removably attached thereto. The comfort and safety wing is oriented generally parallel with the facial surfaces and generally follows the proximate facial contours. A separate wing portion may be fabricated on both the upper and lower parts of each sideshield, the upper wing portion extending from the upper contoured edge of the sideshield which provides additional coverage over the upper portion of the eye orbits, temple and lower forehead area. The lower face about the lower eye orbit and upper cheek area has a generally parallel orientation with those facial surfaces.