Abstract: An apparatus and method for integrating a submicron CMOS device and a non-volatile memory, wherein a thermal oxide layer is formed over a semiconductor substrate and a two layered polysilicon non-volatile memory device formed thereon. A portion of the thermal oxide is removed by etching, a thin gate oxide and a third layer of polysilicon having a submicron depth is deposited onto the etched region. The layer of polysilicon is used as the gate for the submicron CMOS device. In so doing a submicron CMOS device may be formed without subjecting the device to the significant re-oxidation required in formation processes for dual poly non-volatile memory devices such as EPROMs and EEPROMs, and separate device optimization is achieved.

Abstract: A disposable cartridge for a capillary electrophoresis instrument in which short capillary tube segments are used for simultaneous multiple lane separations. The cartridge contains all separation components of the instrument which come in contact with the sample and is capable of automatically loading a quantitative portion of a bulk sample into the capillary tube segments. Electrophoresis occurs without bulk flow through the capillaries, which are scanned in situ by the instrument.

Abstract: A modular brush for applying hair coloring in a user-selected pattern includes a brush body and a plurality of detachable bristle modules. The bristle modules have tightly packed bristles that retain a volume of hair treatment solution, such as dye after the bristles have been dipped into a supply of the solution. The modules may be arranged to achieve the user-selected pattern of hair coloring. The supply or number of supplies of the solution may be provided by a modular tray.

Abstract: A semiconductor laser includes a grating that is disposed at an angle to cavity reflectors to coherently diffract a beam of light along a path that is at least partially laterally directed within the cavity. The grating period and orientation are selected such that a specified wavelength of the light beam propagating along the path will resonate for light that impinges upon the end reflectors at normal incidence. By keeping the angle of incidence of the light beam upon the grating greater than about 45 degrees, reflectivity of the grating is maximized and the required grating period is larger thereby simplifying the fabrication of the grating.

Abstract: A pneumatic gun containing a variable gas flow valve, adjustable in-situ within the gun for regulating air pressure into the barrel. The valve includes a body with a passageway through which gas flows and a screw which is rotated through an aperture or inspection hole in the gun itself to adjust the size of a gas flow passageway, thereby supplying a continuously variable amount of gas pressure to power a projectile, such as a paint ball, at a range of controlled velocities.

Abstract: A toning method for electrostatic printers and copiers where paper is wound on a supply roll and moved toward a takeup roll. After a latent image of a first color is written and the image area is wound toward a takeup roll, toner of a first color is applied while rewinding the image bearing web toward the supply roll. After the image area passes the writing head, the web is stopped and reversed so that a latent image corresponding to a second color may be written. Once the image region passes toning stations, the web is stopped and again reversed. During reverse direction travel of the image region, toner of a second color is applied and the image region is again wound on the supply roll. The process continues for toning all colors during the rewind operation. Although the image area may move at variable speeds during image writing, the image area is moved at constant speed in the reverse direction for toning.

Abstract: A case for presenting a set of golf clubs includes first and second rigid doors which each include a bar mechanism that holds the doors in a play position and a lock position. In the play positions, the bar mechanisms are interconnected to fix the doors at a selected angle to each other. In lock positions, each bar mechanism applies a compressive force against a portion of a set of golf clubs that are maintained in generally parallel side-by-side relationship. Each bar mechanism includes an elastomeric member that is brought into contact with the club shafts, so that the bar mechanism deforms to provide force along the shaft from a range of angles. A support structure maintains the clubs in parallel relationship when the bar mechanisms are moved to the play positions.

Abstract: An actuator having a rotary arm having a read/write head on one side of an axis of rotation and a drive mechanism for defining the axis of rotation, with the drive mechanism being on the side of the axis opposite to the read/write head. The rotary arm has a supported portion and a cantilevered portion. Along the supported portion is an arcuate bearing surface that determines the location of the axis of rotation. The axis is beyond the extent of the supported portion and is spaced apart from any pivot-defining structure. A stepper motor is coupled to the arcuate bearing surface in a manner to frictionally drive the supported portion of the rotary arm. In addition to rotational movement, the arm is mounted for linear movement.

Abstract: An electrostatic color printer or copier having a print medium supplied from a supply roll to a takeup roll, requiring close registration for multiple printing passes over the same portion of the medium. The supply and takeup rolls are mounted in a closed housing which is airtight. The writing head and toner applicator are located in the housing. In another embodiment a limited air exchange capability through air filtration ports is provided, but the ports are shielded from the main housing for the medium so that air exchange near the print medium is limited.

Abstract: A compact semiconductor laser light source providing short wavelength (ultraviolet, blue or green) coherent light by means of frequency doubling of red or infrared light from a high power diode heterostructure. The high power diode heterostructure is a MOPA device having a single mode laser oscillator followed by a multimode, preferably flared, optical power amplifier. A tunable configuration having an external rear reflector grating could also be used. A lens could be integrated with the MOPA to laterally collimate the light before it is emitted. Straight or curved, surface emitting gratings could also be incorporated. An astigmatism-correcting lens system having at least one cylindrical lens surface is disposed in the path of the output from the MOPA to provide a beam with substantially equal lateral and transverse beam width dimensions and beam divergence angles. A nonlinear optical crystal or waveguide is placed in the path of the astigmatism-free symmetrized beam to double the frequency of the light.

Abstract: A voltage limiting device having gate and drain electrodes that include a serpentine configuration to form a pattern of breakdown corners at the traversals of the gate electrode over the drain electrode. The serpentine configuration may define a plurality of fingers. The number of breakdown corners determines the current-voltage (I-V) characteristics of the voltage limiting device. Either one of the gate electrode or the drain electrode may be configured in a manner to provide repeated traversals of one electrode over the other.

Abstract: A stylus profilometer having a counterbalanced stylus with a motion transducer using a vane moving between parallel, spaced-apart, conductive plates which damp the motion of the vane by means of trapped air. The vane forms an electrode with the plates so that the combination is a pair of capacitors in a balanced bridge arrangement. Motion of the stylus causes an unbalance of the bridge indicative of the extent of stylus motion. A lever arm associated with the stylus has a tip influenced by a magnetic field which biases the stylus or controls force on a surface to be measured. The entire assembly has a very low moment of inertia to reduce the effects of vibration on the stylus and thereby increase resolution of the device and reduce damage to the substrate.

Abstract: An apparatus and system for sequentially releasing floppy disks includes a hopper for holding the stack of the disks and a mechanism for sliding the lowermost disk in the stack from beneath the remainder of the stack. A plunger device enters the area between the lowermost disk and a next lowest disk to provide some separation at an area of concern, while leaving sufficient contact between the two disks to ensure that the stack and a load member atop the stack provide the gravitational force necessary to properly position the lowermost disk for release. In a preferred embodiment, the stacks of disks are floppy disks and the plunger device is aligned to provide separation at write-protect notches of the disk. The plunger device may be a fluid-actuated device.

Abstract: A compact tag axle assembly which may be retrofitted to an existing vehicle such as a tilting bed carrier to allow the vehicle to comply with axle load regulations when operated over public roadways. The assembly mounts behind the vehicle's rear axle such that the auxiliary wheels are in close proximity to the rear vehicle wheels, with the support framework of the auxiliary wheels entirely behind the mounting location of these wheels. The assembly consists of two interconnected independently suspended auxiliary wheels which are connected to the vehicle through a centrally located pair of common mounting brackets. The assembly has a minimal longitudinal displacement relative to the main vehicle rear wheels and is easily mounted beneath an existing vehicle.

Abstract: A device for applying a hair treatment solution, such as dye, includes a body having a head and a handle extending from the head. Three arrays of bristles extend from a major surface of the head in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the handle. A center array of bristles has a high bristle density and functions as an absorbent structure for retaining and applying a treatment solution. The end arrays sandwich the center array and have a low bristle density. The bristles of the end arrays have a greater rigidity than those of the center array. The device is used to simultaneously comb hair on one side of a hair partition, apply treatment solution to the partition, spread the treatment solution, and repartition the hair for a subsequent application of treatment solution.

Abstract: A telescoping pool cue or similar ball-striking device wherein a continuously variable amount of energy is stored. A main spring within an elongated handle is held in compression by a ratchet and pawl which provides an audible or visible signal of the amount of stored energy. A telescoping member may be marked with vernier indicia to visibly indicate the amount of stored energy or an electronic display provided. The main spring urges an outer plunger forwardly, but an actuator spring urges an inner plunger rearwardly. Upon release, the inner plunger moves rearward to release the pawl and ratchet after which both plungers move forwardly. This reciprocal action allows the cue to begin and end a stroke near the desired point of impact.

Abstract: A clock distribution circuit with multiple clock drivers distributing a clock signal on multiple signal paths has active de-skewing logic circuitry for equalizing the total clock delay to the different clock recipient circuits in a system. The de-skewing logic uses a return path parallel to the outward signal path to sense the propagation delay and includes a phase comparator with inputs receiving the return signal and a reference signal for comparison of their phase. Voltage-controlled delay elements, responsive to a control voltage provided by a charge pump controlled by the phase comparator, adds or removes equal amounts of delay to the outward and return signal paths until the return signal phase matches that of the reference signal. Each clock driver may have its own de-skewing circuitry or may share a common reference signal.

Abstract: A write assist circuit for CMOS inverter-type memory cells and latches having means for choking current flow from a voltage level source to power supply terminals of a group of such memory cells or latches during a data loading or write cycle. The write assist circuit has a pair of pass transistors that respectively connect to one or two voltage level sources. In one embodiment, both pass transistors connect in parallel to a single voltage level source, one transistor always active being of low conductance, the other transistor of normal conductance being turned off by a write enable signal. In another embodiment, both pass transistors are of normal conductance but are respectively enabled and disabled by a write enable signal and are connected to different voltage level sources so as to supply a lower power supply voltage to the CMOS inverter-type memory cells or latches during a write cycle.

Abstract: A method for digital imaging employing a green light laser. The method comprises obtaining a digitized picture image, modulating a green light laser beam in accord with the digitized picture image, and directing the modulated laser beam onto film that is sensitive to green-blue light. The film is then developed to create a gray-scale image useful in radiography and other imaging fields.

Abstract: An apparatus for retaining a recording medium in close proximity to a toner applicator using a segmented backing support, wherein the backing support is comprised of several closely spaced backing segments. Each of the segments is elastically mounted above the recording medium such that the segments are pushed against the recording medium. The downward force exerted on the recording medium by the backing segments is sufficient to overcome the upward force generated on the recording medium by air and toner expelled from the surface of the toner applicator. As a result, the recording medium is kept close enough to the toner applicator such that air does not leak excessively from between the toner applicator and the recording medium. A plurality of the backing segments are arranged closely together such that the recording medium is pressed against the toner applicator along the entire surface of the toner applicator.