Abstract: An electronically activated gas cooktop control system, responsive to a touch-sensitive user interface, and capable of providing a predetermined range of cooking and simmer levels of BTU output, has two complementary heating modes of operation A first heating mode of operation is provided to produce a wide selection of simmer levels of BTU output, by electronically sequencing a solenoid-operated modulating gas valve “on” and “off”, at a predetermined level of flame. A second cooking mode of operation is provided by electronically modulating the level of flame, through use of a pulse-width-modulation (PWM) output signal to produce a wide selection of cooking levels of BTU output. An igniter system capable of insuring proper ignition of gas without generating harmful electromagnetic interference is also provided.

Abstract: A circuit and method for electronically tuning an RF power amplifier. The output filter includes at least one electronically variable reactance. The electronically tuned power amplifier may be tuned rapidly to a selected frequency, to a selected impedance, or to produce a selected output amplitude. An optional controller translates frequency, impedance, or modulation inputs into tuning signals. High-efficiency, wideband amplitude modulation is produced by varying the amplifier load impedance along preferred loci.

Abstract: Apparatus for monitoring, characterizing, and testing coolant recirculation systems has, in combination, a heat load, a flow meter measuring flow rate of the coolant, inlet and outlet thermometers, and a data recorder connected to the flow meter, inlet thermometer, and outlet thermometer for recording their data outputs. The data recorder has an output representing flow rate, coolant inlet temperature, and coolant outlet temperature, whereby the coolant-recirculating heat exchanger system is characterized. A computer connected to the data recorder output is operable for computing heat removal capacity. The apparatus is specially adapted for methods of monitoring, characterizing, and testing coolant recirculation systems, including determining their maximum heat removal capacities.

Abstract: A system (10) is provided for performing first order authentication of articles marked with indicia (30) discernible in visible, ultraviolet, or infrared light or tagged with UV- or IR-sensitive chemicals. The first-order authentication system provides reliable visual authentication by providing for juxtaposition of the article-under-test (20) with a known reference-standard sample-specimen (90, 100, or 300), while the article-under-test (20) is illuminated by a suitable source (65 or 250) of radiation in the visible, ultraviolet, or infrared portions of the electromagnetic spectrum. Thus, the system (10) facilitates comparison to differentiate a genuine article from a counterfeit article with first-order accuracy but at a substantially lower cost than that of automated authentication systems. Additionally, the system can be used in both portable and desk top embodiments.

Abstract: A hub for a pulley, gear, or wheel is formed with an integral key or other integral means for preventing relative rotation and with an integral stop for positioning the hub axially on a shaft. The hub has a generally cylindrical opening for a shaft, an integral key extending inwardly into the shaft opening along at least part of the shaft opening for engaging a keyway in the shaft, and an integral mechanical stop covering at least a portion of one end of the shaft opening. The integral key preferably extends the entire length of the shaft opening. The mechanical stop preferably has an opening which is disposed at least around one end of the integral key. The mechanical stop serves to position the pulley, gear, or wheel precisely with respect to the end of a shaft when the pulley, gear, or wheel is assembled onto the shaft. The keyed hub is manufactured by powder metallurgy. One or more body plates are welded to the formed hub to form a pulley, gear, or wheel, or the hub is pressed into a body plate.

Abstract: A system (10) is provided for performing first order authentication of articles marked with indicia (30) discernible in visible, ultraviolet, or infrared light or tagged with UV- or IR-sensitive chemicals. The first-order authentication system provides reliable visual authentication by providing for juxtaposition of the article-under-test (20) with a known reference-standard sample-specimen (90, 100, or 300), while the article-under-test (20) is illuminated by a suitable source (65 or 250) of radiation in the visible, ultraviolet, or infrared portions of the electromagnetic spectrum. Thus, the system (10) facilitates comparison to differentiate a genuine article from a counterfeit article with first-order accuracy but at a substantially lower cost than that of automated authentication systems. Additionally, the system can be used in both portable and desk top embodiments.

Abstract: An authentication system combines a source of ultraviolet light (and optionally a scanning mechanism) with apparatus for capturing and recognizing either graphic images or characters or both, where the graphic images and/or characters have been previously made with fluorescent substances that may be invisible under ordinary visible light, but are rendered detectable by the ultraviolet light. As in conventional optical character recognition (OCR), the characters may be conventional alphanumeric characters readable by human readers once they are made visible. The authentication system has a housing enclosing its optical path, a source of UV light, a detector for detecting graphic images or characters, conversion of the detector signal to digital form, a memory storing predetermined indicia, recognition logic, and indicating means. The system may also include a scanning mechanism and optical filters to select predetermined wavelengths of fluorescent light.

Abstract: A phosphor comprises, in atomic percentages, 90% to 100% of a mixed metal oxide MxTyOz, wherein M is a metal selected from Zn, Sn, In, Cu, and combinations thereof, T is a refractory metal selected from Ti, Zr, Hf, V, Nb, Ta, Cr, Mo, W, and combinations thereof, and O is Oxygen, x, y, and z being chosen such that z is at most stoichiometric for MxTyOz; and 0% to 10% of a dopant comprising a substance selected from a rare earth element of the lanthanide series, Mn, Cr, and combinations thereof, or stoichiometrically excess zinc, copper, tin, or indium. Cathodoluminescent phosphor compositions stimulable by electrons of very low energy are prepared from metal oxides treated with refractory metals in various processes disclosed.

Abstract: A system for adaptively controlling a wide variety of complex processes, despite changes in process parameters and despite both sudden and systematic drifts in the process, uses response surfaces described by quadratic equations or polynomials of any order. The system estimates the dynamic component of a drifting process or system and thereby identifies the trend of output response variables of the controlled process. Using this information, the system predicts future outputs based on a history of past and present inputs and outputs, thereby recommending the necessary control action or recipe (set of input parameters) to cancel out the drifting trend. A specific embodiment is a system for the adaptive control of photoresist thickness, uniformity, and dispense volume in the spin coating of wafers in integrated circuit manufacturing. Methods used in the adaptive control system are adaptable to control many processes not readily modeled by physical equations.

Abstract: A phosphor comprises, in atomic percentages, 90% to 100% of a mixed metal oxide MxTyOz, wherein M is a metal selected from Zn, Sn, In, Cu, and combinations thereof, T is a refractory metal selected from Ti, Zr, Hf, V, Nb, Ta, Cr, Mo, W, and combinations thereof, and O is Oxygen, x, y, and z being chosen such that z is at most stoichiometric for MxTyOz; and 0% to 10% of a dopant comprising a substance selected from a rare earth element of the lanthanide series, Mn, Cr, and combinations thereof, or stoichiometrically excess zinc, copper, tin, or indium. Cathodoluminescent phosphor compositions stimulable by electrons of very low energy are prepared from metal oxides treated with refractory metals in various processes disclosed.

Abstract: A flexible bra-cup support for brassieres of the underwire type is formed by a length of generally helical coil spring for flexible support and improved control of flexibility in comparison with rigid or semi-rigid supports. The helix is preferably formed from a plastic material such as nylon or polyethylene. The support is held in a conventional sleeve disposed along the undercup portions of the bra. The support may have a circular cross-section or may be made in an elliptical or other shape to control its flexibility as a function of bending direction. The helical support may have a core extending along its axis. The core may be a resilient rubber or plastic material, or an axial core wire surrounded by a resilient sheath. The pitch of the helix may be uniform, but optionally varies along the length of the support to vary the spring's rigidity with position along the undercup line.

Abstract: Apparatus for laying underground cable or conduit (such as innerduct) includes a vertical cable plow connected to the boom of an excavator, the excavator being mounted on a first flat-bed rail car, and a second flat-bed rail car following the first for carrying supply reels of cable or conduit fed from the second car to the first. Cable guides guide the cable or conduit from the supply reels to the plowshare and through the plow assembly to the desired subterranean level in a ditch made by the plow. The first and second flat-bed cars are preferably pulled by a pair of conventional diesel-electric locomotives. A rigid element mountable to the first flat-bed rail car and extending outward from either side of the first flat-bed rail car transfers torque on the plowing assembly to the rail car. The rigid element (“boot”) is preferably removable to temporarily narrow the apparatus for travel mode. The apparatus may be installed on a flat-bed truck or a canal barge instead of a rail car.

Abstract: A marking attachment for attachment to a linear or angle-measuring system has a support, means for attaching the support to the measuring device, a marking element attached to the support for marking on a surface (the marking element having a predetermined height), and a resilient element whereby the marking element is maintained in a spaced-apart relationship to the surface until the support is moved in a direction substantially perpendicular to the surface to contact the surface with the marking material for marking the surface. The marking element preferably comprises a marking material including an oleate-based pigment ink for marking the surface. The resilient element for maintaining the marking element in a spaced-apart relationship to the surface preferably comprises a quantity of elastomeric material disposed adjacent to marking element, the quantity of elastomeric material having an uncompressed thickness greater than the height of marking element.

Abstract: An electron field-emission display comprises one or more display cell structures, each having a field-emission cathode and an anode comprising at least one of several cathodoluminescent phosphors disclosed. The display cell structures may also have one or more gate elements for controlling electron current flowing from cathode to anode when suitable electrical bias voltages are applied. A cell may have more than one phosphor, and in particular may have red, green, and blue phosphors selectively arranged. Each pixel site may have one anode of each color phosphor. The phosphors are preferably prepared in situ in an electrically-conductive thin-film or surface-layer form during fabrication of the display. A preferred fabrication process integrates an etch stop with the in situ phosphor process, the etch stop precisely defining the depth of an opening in the display cell structure.

Abstract: A flexible bra-cup support for brassieres of the underwire type is formed by a length of generally helical coil spring for flexible support and improved control of flexibility in comparison with rigid or semi-rigid supports. The helix is preferably formed from a plastic material such as nylon or polyethylene. The support is held in a conventional sleeve disposed along the undercup portions of the bra. The support may have a circular cross-section or may be made in an elliptical or other shape to control its flexibility as a function of bending direction. The helical support may have a core extending along its axis. The core may be a resilient rubber or plastic material, or an axial core wire surrounded by a resilient sheath. The pitch of the helix may be uniform, but optionally varies along the length of the support to vary the spring's rigidity with position along the undercup line.

Abstract: A phosphor comprises, in atomic percentages, 90% to 100% of a mixed metal oxide MxTyOz, wherein M is a metal selected from Zn, Sn, In, Cu, and combinations thereof, T is a refractory metal selected from Ti, Zr, Hf, V, Nb, Ta, Cr, Mo, W, and combinations thereof, and O is Oxygen, x, y, and z being chosen such that z is at most stoichiometric for MxTyOz; and 0% to 10% of a dopant comprising a substance selected from a rare earth element of the lanthanide series, Mn, Cr, and combinations thereof, or stoichiometrically excess zinc, copper, tin, or indium. Cathodoluminescent phosphor compositions stimulable by electrons of very low energy are prepared from metal oxides treated with refractory metals in various processes disclosed.

Abstract: A platform carries an integrated circuit (IC) (20) for handling and alignment through wire bonding operations, provides interconnections, and supports the shielded IC with uniform, controlled adhesive thickness. The platform base (10) has a flat portion which may have a slot (30) extending the length of a chip with wire-bond pads (140). The IC is mounted to the platform base with cast or contained adhesive, epoxy, or tape (50), which provides at least one adhesive surface. For several rows of wire-bond pads, there may be several slots. If the platform carries more than one chip, the platform base may have one or more slots (30, 40) per chip. A platform may carry other components (110, 120). Circuitry (90) may be printed on one or both sides of the platform base, with moderate resistivity to damp ringing of noise signals. Wire bonds are made through the slot (30), connecting IC pads with circuitry.

Abstract: A lateral-emitter field emission device has a thin-film emitter cathode 50 which has thickness of not more than several hundred angstroms and has an edge or tip 110 having a small radius of curvature. To form a novel display cell structure, a cathodoluminescent phosphor anode 60 is positioned below the plane of the thin-film lateral-emitter cathode 50, allowing a large portion of the phosphor anode's top surface to emit light in the desired direction. An anode contact layer contacts the phosphor anode 60 from below to form a buried anode contact 90 which does not interfere with light emission. The anode phosphor is precisely spaced apart from the cathode edge or tip and receives electrons emitted by field emission from the edge or tip of the lateral-emitter cathode, when a small bias voltage is applied. The device may be configured as a diode, triode, or tetrode, etc.