Abstract: A field emission device (10) is made with a lateral emitter (100) substantially parallel to a substrate (20) and with a simplified anode stucture (70). The lateral-emitter field-emission device has a thin-film emitter cathode (100) which has a thickness not exceeding several hundred angstroms and has an emitting blade edge or tip (110) having a small radius of curvature. The anode's top surface is precisely spaced apart from and below the plane of the lateral emitter and receives electrons emitted by field emission from the blade edge or tip of the lateral-emitter cathode, when a suitable bias voltage is applied. A fabrication process is disclosed using process steps (S1-S18) similar to those of semiconductor integrated circuit fabrication to produce the novel devices and their arrays. Various embodiments of the fabrication process allow the use of conductive or insulating substrates (20) and allow fabrication of devices having various functions and complexity.

Abstract: A lateral-emitter electron field-emission display device structure incorporates a thin-film emitter having an emitting edge and extending into in direct contact with a non-conducting or very high resistivity phosphor, thereby eliminating the gap between the emitter and the phosphor. Such a gap has been a part of all field-emission display devices in the prior art. The ultra-thin-film lateral emitter of the new structure is deposited in a plane parallel to the device's substrate and has an inherently small radius of curvature at its emitting edge. A fabrication process specially adapted to make the new structure includes a directional trench etch, which both defines the emitting edge and provides an opening to receive a non-conducting phosphor. This phosphor covers an anode and is automatically aligned in contact with the emitter edge.

Abstract: The hair care appliance of this invention has a housing, which holds a set of hair curlers and encloses electrical heating means for heating the curlers, and has a transparent cover which covers the set of curlers and the top of the housing. Each curler has a reversibly thermochromic thermoplastic elastomeric surface layer (around which hair is to be curled) which preferably covers a mandrel portion of a thermoplastic body. The thermoplastic body has ends of larger diameter than the mandrel portion of the body, and the mandrel may be hollow. A hollow mandrel may contain a double-walled metal core, which may contain a heat-retaining material. The elastomeric surface layer is preferably molded from an thermoplastic elastomer composition containing particulate thermochromic material, which preferably comprises reversibly thermochromic dye encapsulated in micro-capsules. The thermochromic dye components are chosen to be non-toxic and environmentally benign.

Abstract: A solar-powered ventilation module is designed to be inserted between an existing standard beehive and its existing standard cover. The module houses electrical components of the invention and acts as a plenum. A thermostat exposed to the beehive interior air controls a fan when the air temperature inside the beehive exceeds a predetermined limit (preferably about 75.degree..+-.5.degree. F.). The fan, preferably with a capacity of 30 to 40 cfm, is controlled by the thermostat and powered by a photovoltaic solar panel either directly or by a battery recharged by a solar panel. The fan-induced ventilation helps control temperature, humidity and carbon dioxide level within the hive. A screen prevents bees from passing through the fan. Warm air is exhausted from the hive and vented to the ambient air through a plurality of vents in the side wall of the module, while cooler ambient air is drawn into the beehive through existing hive openings.

Abstract: A multiple-reader system for authentication of articles uses a first reader (400) which employs predetermined modulated illuminating light (20) and a multiplicity of discriminating variables, such as wavelengths (110), amplitudes (120), and time delays (140) relative to the modulated illuminating light (20) to characterize fluorescent light (70) detected from fluorescent indicia on the articles. The fluorescent indicia may also incorporate spatial distributions such as bar codes as discriminating features. Additional readers (410 and 420), which may be readers of fluorescent marks and/or readers of other indicia, are synchronized with the fluorescence reader by timing signals. The discriminating features may be re-programmed by the user of the authentication system. Thus the discriminating features define a user-determined and programmable encryption of the articles' authentic identity.

Abstract: Accessory apparatus for authenticating articles is used in conjunction with existing readers or scanners of articles bearing stored data, such as credit cards or identification cards. The accessory apparatus is disposed before, after, on, under, inside, or adjacent to existing reader apparatus, to have a view of the article whose data is to be read. Information in addition to the stored data is coded on the article in non-visible indicia and is detected by the accessory authenticating apparatus. This coded additional information may be related to identification data stored in the article by the article's normal storage mechanism, such as a magnetic stripe or an embedded memory IC chip. The additional information may be coded in various combinations of predetermined characteristics of light emitted by the article to be authenticated when the article is irradiated with non-visible light from the accessory apparatus.

Abstract: Methods and specially adapted reusable test carriers provide for burn-in test of semiconductor integrated circuit devices and economical production of known good dice (KGD). Methods for temporary flip-chip mounting of IC wafers or dice use a hierarchy of solder melting points in combination with improved reusable carrier substrates. IC chip wafers having high-melting-temperature flip-chip terminals are coated with a predetermined volume of a sacrificial solder having a significantly lower melting temperature. A reusable temporary carrier is provided, in a range of sizes adapted for a wafer, small numbers of IC dice, or an individual die, For full-wafer burn-in, the reusable carrier has edge connector terminals. For testing individual dice or a small number of dice, the reusable carrier has conductive elements in a pattern matching each IC dies terminal pattern. The same or opposite side of the reusable carrier has pins or ball-grid array matching a conventional burn-in socket.

Abstract: An electrically addressable wavefront-modulation device has a thin film of transparent conductive material finely patterned as a hologram in which individual fringe elements need not have electrical continuity with each other or with external electrodes. The holographic pattern is covered with a transparent dielectric whose refractive index preferably matches that of the patterned material. An electro-optic layer varies in refractive index depending on application of a voltage to transparent conductive electrodes, one on each side of the device area to be addressed. The hologram's diffraction efficiency may be varied at high frequency. Thus the electrohologram is addressed by area or field rather than by element or matrix addressing. The electro-optic layer may be liquid crystal material. Preferred embodiments have T-shaped structures formed by subetching under each fringe element.

Abstract: The invention is a kit of parts to be retrofitted to a type of garage-door spring that functions in extension and may break near its retention hook, which may be an integral hook formed by bending of the spring material itself. The kit of this invention improves safety by reducing the chance of the spring-retention hooks' breaking. The kit has two major parts which are easily assembled together and attached to an existing spring without the use of tools. A disk-shaped centering clement contacts the spring coils at least at three positions on its rim, thereby distributing stress over a significantly larger area than the conventional integral retention hooks. The disk has an aperture, a notch, and a flat. A hook element fits through the notch and aperture, and a dogleg portion of the hook element extends beyond the disk's rim contacting the spring's end to help prevent the spring from turning.

Abstract: A system for authentication of articles uses a multiplicity of discriminating variables to characterize light detected from the articles after predetermined illumination. Articles are tested which have been marked with substances such as dye or ink that fluoresce in a region of the optical spectrum when illuminated with light in another region of the spectrum, such as the ultraviolet region. The authentication system illuminates the articles with light modulated at a frequency of more than about 50 kHz, and secondary fluorescent light returned from the articles is synchronously detected. A programmable microcomputer digitizes the synchronously detected signal and analyzes it to compare the signal with predetermined standard digital signals. The standard signals incorporate a number of discriminating features, for example the fluorescent light's wavelengths, amplitudes, and time delays relative to the modulated illuminating light.

Abstract: A magnetic utility lamp has a housing that is polyhedral or prismatic in shape (having a member of flat faces), a handle, and a hook, all of which are magnetized. The magnetization of the combined housing, handle and hook is preferably done in such a way as to make one common magnetic polarity extending along the major axis of the lamp. In another embodiment, an even number of magnetic polarities may be made, alternating in the senses of their magnetic poles. The combination of polyhedral shape and magnetization provides versatile positioning of the lamp. Within the magnetic housing is a unique polyhedral reflector, which is easily re-oriented by the user to direct light from the lamp bulb in a desired direction. The interior surface of the utility lamp housing is adapted to hold the polyhedral reflector adjustably in a number of discrete aiming directions.