Abstract: In a tire management system and method for surveying and servicing a vehicle tire, a portable hand held computer unit receives and stores data for servicing the vehicle tire and data acquired from the vehicle tire. A desired tire air pressure is input into the portable hand held computer unit and is transmitted from the hand held computer unit to a tire inflation device adapted for automatically inflating or deflating the vehicle tire to the desired tire air pressure. The tire inflation receives the desired tire air pressure and is operated in response to receiving the desired tire air pressure to measure the actual tire pressure of the tire, to transmit the actual tire pressure back to the hand held computer unit for storage therein, to inflate or deflate the tire to the desired tire air pressure and to transmit a final measured tire air pressure back to the hand held computer unit.

Abstract: A multifocal lens to be used for digital still cameras comprises a fixed first lens or a first group of lenses; a movable second lens or a second group of lenses; and a fixed third lens or a third group of lenses, wherein the second lens or second group of lenses moves back and forth (up and down) between the first and third lenses or lens groups, and changes its own focal length of the whole lens from wide angle to telephoto and vice versa.

Abstract: A process for the formation of compounds of Formula VI: comprising hydrolyzing a compound corresponding to Formula VII: wherein —A—A—, —B—B—, R3, R8 and R9 are as defined in the specification.

Abstract: A method and system of this invention that provides for profiling a user of the Internet according to predefined categories of interest is described herein. This invention includes scanning content information of an Internet user to generate unknown data and processing unknown data to determine its relevance to predefined categories of interest. This relevance is indicated in a matching rating system, analyzing attributes such as length of time reviewing content information, frequency of encounter, recency, strength and closeness. With comparisons such as these, this invention generates a match of the unknown data with the predefined categories to form a profile of the user that may ultimately be used to target offers to users based upon the profile.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of an oxyacid of phosphorus comprising contacting elemental phosphorus with water in the presence of a catalyst effective to promote oxidation of phosphorus by reaction with water. The use of a noble metal catalyst such as Pd under moderate agitation and low severity conditions is effective for the preparation of P(III) oxyacid in high selectivity. Other suitable catalysts may comprise, for example, other Group VIII metals (particularly other platinum metals); oxides, salts, phosphides, and/or coordination compounds of Group VIII metals; Group IB metals; and/or oxides, salts, phosphides, and/or coordination is compounds of Group IB metals. Various apparatus and process schemes for the preparation of phosphoric and phosphorous acid are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for repairing a wafer carrier after plural processing operations during which the carrier holds a plurality of semiconductor wafers in a processing apparatus which removes wafer material by at least one of abrading and chemical reaction. The wafer carrier has holes for receiving respective ones of the wafers and removable annular inserts for each hole. Each insert is receivable in a respective one of the holes for engaging a peripheral edge of one of the wafers. The thickness of the insert is reduced during the successive processing operations. The method includes removing at least one of the inserts from the wafer carrier and installing at least one new insert in the wafer carrier having a thickness substantially greater than a minimum thickness to extend the useful life of the wafer carrier and to improve the flatness and parallelism of surfaces of wafers processed using the wafer carrier.

Abstract: A system for use in mapping items such as financial transactions. Each transactions has line entries with each line entry relating to a particular object, such as an account. Each line entry has an entry in a first field or in a second field such as money entries in debit and credit fields. The system provides a graphical, visual representation linking objects (accounts) and illustrating (cash) flow between the objects (accounts). An item (transaction) memory stores entries relating to the items (transactions). A first object (account) memory stores entries relating to a first object (account). A second object (account) memory stores entries relating to a second object (account). An interface, keyboard or scanner inputs the line entries of the items (transactions) into the appropriate object (account) memory. A search engine searches the memories and locates the line entries which relate to each of the objects, such as entries which contribute money to or distribute money from an account.

Abstract: A kinetic toy in which a ball rolls down a trackway from an upper location to a lower location and is automatically returned to the upper location for recycling, the toy being constructed of individual parts which are readily assembled in various configurations, including frame parts, trackway parts, including ball-operated switch parts, and bracket parts for supporting the trackway on the frame.

Abstract: Substantially nonaqueous concentrates for use in preparing stable, aqueous cleaner/degreaser compositions in the form of totally water soluble solutions comprise (a) at least one sparingly water soluble organic solvent having certain defined characteristics; (b) a solubilizing additive consisting of from approximately 0.1 to approximately 100 weight percent of a surfactant and from 0 to approximately 99.9 weight percent of a coupler, the solubilizing additive being present in an amount of approximately 3% to approximately 15% by weight excess over that minimally required to form a clear solution when the concentrate is combined with water; and (c) not more than 10.0 weight percent of water; (d) the concentrate forming a barely clear, totally water soluble solution when diluted with water to produce a solution having the desired cleaning/degreasing strength.

Abstract: A remote control banking system comprises an automatic teller machine (ATM) and a remote control operating device. The ATM includes a processor, a signal receiver that is linked to the processor and an electro-magnetic coil. The device is in the form of a portable, hand-held unit and includes a keypad for entering a confidential code associated with a person wishing to perform a transaction via the ATM. The device includes a microprocessor incorporating a data base for storing a preset code containing predetermined information on the banking account of the person. The device includes a signal generator for generating radio frequency signals from the confidential and preset codes, and transmitters and for transmitting the signals to the signal receiver. The device includes an electro-magnetic coil which is energised to provide power for the device when in proximity with the electro-magnetic coil of the ATM.

Abstract: A support system for data transmission lines and the like, comprising a rail section supported generally horizontally, a splice for connecting the rail section and another structure, and a fastener for securing the splice to the rail section. Each rail section has a hollow box beam portion having a top wall, opposite side walls and a bottom wall. Each splice has a central part and first and second end parts, the first end part being receivable in an open end of the box beam portion of the rail section and the second end part being connectable to the structure. The central part of the splice has an outside width immediately adjacent the first end part of the splice essentially the same as the outside width of the rail section immediately adjacent its open end thereby to provide smooth junctures between the central part of the splice and the rail section at opposite sides of the rail section when the first end part of the splice is received in the rail section.

Abstract: An improved iron phosphate waste form for the vitrification, containment and long-term disposition of hazardous metal waste such as radioactive nuclear waste is provided. The waste form comprises a rigid iron phosphate matrix resulting from the cooling of a melt formed by heating a batch mixture comprising the metal waste and a matrix-forming component. The waste form comprises from about 30 to about 70 weight percent P.sub.2 O.sub.5 and from about 25 to about 50 weight percent iron oxide and has metals present in the metal waste chemically dissolved therein. The concentration of iron oxide in the waste form along with a high proportion of the iron in the waste form being present as Fe.sup.3+ provide a waste form exhibiting improved chemical resistance to corrosive attack. A method for preparing the improved iron phosphate waste forms is also provided.

Abstract: A reactor for depositing a material on a semiconductor wafer by a chemical vapor deposition process using a reactant gas. The reactor includes a shell defining a reaction chamber sized to receive at least one semiconductor wafer. The shell has a jet port cavity opening into the reaction chamber and extending away from the reaction chamber. The reactor also includes a reactant gas delivery system for delivering the reactant gas to the reaction chamber. The reactant gas delivery system includes a nozzle positioned within the jet port cavity for directing the reactant gas into the reaction chamber, a reactant gas source, and a reactant gas line extending between the reactant gas source and the nozzle. The reactor also includes a purge gas delivery system for delivering a purge gas to the reaction chamber.

Abstract: A process for preparing a composite including mixing a hydrophilic material containing an amine with a hydrophobic material containing an acid releasing agent, the hydrophilic and hydrophobic materials being substantially free of water, to form a mixture. The mixture is exposed to chlorine dioxide which reacts with the amine to form iminium chlorite within the hydrophilic material. The hydrophilic material is capable of releasing chlorine dioxide upon hydrolysis of the acid releasing agent.

Abstract: Apparatus for polishing semiconductor wafers comprises a housing, a mounting apparatus within the housing for wax mounting a first face of a semiconductor wafer to a first face of a polishing block, and a first semiconductor wafer polisher within the housing for polishing a second face of the semiconductor wafer. The second face of the semiconductor wafer is opposite the first face of the semiconductor wafer. A first transfer mechanism is within the housing for delivering the polishing block and semiconductor wafer from the mounting apparatus to adjacent the first semiconductor wafer polisher. A controller controls operation of the mounting apparatus, the first semiconductor wafer polisher, and the first transfer mechanism.

Abstract: A hold-down device for holding a cable tray on a support includes a rigid member having opposite side edges, opposite side margins adjacent respective side edges, and opposite end portions. The member may be placed on the support in a position in which the opposite side margins of the member bear on edges of the support with the member overlying the slot adjacent a flange of the cable tray. The member is constructed and arranged such that it is selectively securable to the support by a threaded fastener either in a clamping position in which one end portion of the member overlies the flange of the cable tray and may clamp the flange of the cable tray thereby to hold the rail in fixed position with respect to the support, or in a non-clamping position in which the opposite end portion of the member overlies the flange of the cable tray but cannot clamp the flange thereby to permit lengthwise thermal expansion and contraction of the rail while still holding the rail on the support.

Abstract: A mobile surface scrubber for scrubbing a surface wetted with cleaning solution. The scrubber comprises a frame, a plurality of wheels rotatably mounted on the frame, scrub brush means attached to the frame and positioned to scrub the wetted surface as the scrubber is transported over the surface, and a recovery system for recovering cleaning solution from the surface. The recovery system includes a return tank for retaining recovered cleaning solution, a rear squeegee pivotally connected to the frame, and left and right side squeegees mounted on the frame. The rear squeegee is positionable to contact the surface behind the scrub brush means when the scrubber is transported in the forward direction. The side squeegees are unvaryingly oriented with respect to the frame and positionable to contact the surface on opposite sides of the scrub brush means.