Abstract: A nail tip adhesive is made by the process of mixing cyanoacrylate and a vitamin fortifier in a proportion by weight in the range of 0.0001% to 0.1% vitamin-to-cyanoacrylate, wherein the shelf life of the cyanoacrylate is at least not substantially shortened by adding such vitamin. Such vitamin fortifier comprises at least one of vitamin A, vitamin D-3, vitamin E, vitamin K, vitamin B-1, vitamin B-2, vitamin B-6, vitamin B-12, vitamin C, niacinamide, folic acid, panthothenic acid, and biotin.

Abstract: A modular semiconductor wafer processing system comprises a plurality of detachable process reactors and other types of generators that can be quick-clamped to any of several ports on the lid of a circular wafer handling chamber. A multiple-spoke single-axis rigid-arm transfer carousel centrally located within the circular wafer handling chamber has access to the respective process areas beneath each port in the lid. A set of independent cylindrical rings are provided to rise up from the floor of the circular wafer handling chamber to contact and seal against the lid to isolate each of the process stations. The multiple-spoke single-axis rigid-arm transfer carousel is automatically positioned out of the way before the cylindrical rings are raised and sealed.

Abstract: A guidance system for movable machinery comprising a GPS processor unit in a "gorilla box" connected to a shock mounted and protected GPS antenna and an operator display with a lightbar that indicates to an operator of the machinery to steer up/down or left/right.

Abstract: A semiconductor wafer processing carousel comprises an elevator chamber that accepts cassettes loaded with semiconductor wafers through a removable vacuum lock door, an elevator platform on which the cassettes ride up and down, an elevator drive to automatically position the elevator platform, a lid and a circular wafer handling chamber with an anteroom chamber connection to the elevator chamber. A double-axis wafer transfer arm provides for linear transfer through the anteroom chamber of selected wafers between the cassettes and a first pre-heating and cool-down process station within the circular wafer handling chamber. A multiple-spoke single-axis rigid-arm transfer carousel is centrally located within the circular wafer handling chamber and has access to multiple process stations. A set of independent cylindrical rings are positioned to rise up from the handling chamber bottom of the circular wafer handling chamber to contact and seal against the lid to isolate each of the process stations.

Abstract: A recordable compact disc comprises a 0.6 millimeter clear plastic or glass substrate on which is grown a thin-film image layer having several distinct recording planes. Each recording plane is separated from the next by a clear plastic layer. Each recording plane includes an organic dye layer in combination with another clear layer that has a different index of refraction. Different color dyes are used for each recording plane.A method for storing and reading data to and from a multilayer recordable compact disc with different color dye layers uses high powered color lasers to write each recording plane and low powered monochromatic reading lasers that are sensitive to the constructive and destructive light interference effects caused by micron variations in the clear plastic layers in each recording plane. The micron variations used for each recording plane are unique and chosen along with the monochromatic reading laser colors to have minimal crosstalk between recording-plane data channels.

Abstract: An incoming audio analog signal is sampled at a Nyquist criterion rate. The particular analog value sampled at each period causes one of a suite of programming algorithms to be selected and applied to a particular EEPROM memory cell. For example, there can be 256 different programming algorithms in the suite that open-loop result in a zero to full range analog multi-state data being recorded in each memory cell. The programming algorithms can vary the programming pulse heights, pulse widths and number of pulses applied to the selected memory cell. For a corrected readback, each or a representative spread of programming algorithms are "test-fired" at corresponding reference memory cells to establish a calibrator scale customized for each whole EEPROM device. The readback mechanism compares the multi-state data returned from analog sensing each memory cell to the reference memory cell calibration values to find a match.

Abstract: In a computer system, a method for an area based place and route of an integrated circuit layout that provides automatic iterative area placement of module cells intelligently and effectively. In one embodiment, this is accomplished in three phases. The searching phase determines which hot spot is to be refined based on a congestion map. Next, the refining phase chooses a box with the proper aspect ratio, cut line direction, and placement options for minimizing the hot spot. The scheduling phase then decides whether to proceed with another area placement based on the current result or to restore a previous placement that exhibited superior characteristics. In the course of the area placements, several parameters are randomly varied in an intelligent manner so that successive iterative area placements produce equivalent or better results. All of this is accomplished without human intervention or expert knowledge. Instead, the computer system continuously runs its program until a design goal is attained.

Abstract: A method of making activated alumina including the steps of dissolving a double salt of aluminum in a solution of pure water at 85.degree. C., recrystalizing the double salt at a pressure about 250 psi and temperature ranging from 200.degree. C. to 250.degree. C., precipitating out the purified basic double salt, drying the precipitated double salt to drive off water and roasting it at 850.degree. C. to 950.degree. C. to drive off the sulfate, washing to remove the potassium sulfate and then drying the remaining alumina to yield activated alumina for use as a high-grade catalyst.

Abstract: A centimeter level survey system includes reference base station and rover GPS units connected by a radio data link. Each includes recorders for the storage of raw measurement information including range, phase, cycle counts and time information. The rover unit is typically moved to points of interest during a survey while the base remains over a fixed, and known location. Generally, the base antenna is located to optimize a clear view of the sky. The rover is subject to interruption of the radio data link from the primary reference station. During periods that the rover is initialized and in contact with the primary reference station base station over the radio data link, the rover provides real time centimeter level position solutions to a survey user, otherwise, the rover records its raw measurements in a file that begins with the last valid initialization information and that ends with any newly reestablished initialization information.

Abstract: A method for optimal track assignment in a grid-based channel router. Initially, interconnection information is extracted from a global routing result. Multiple pin nets derived from the interconnection information are decomposed into simpler mapped segments. A channel grid map is then built and marked with existing objects. Next, a vertical constraint graph specifying the relative positions of the mapped segments is constructed. A first track is computed. A track assignment loop is repeated until all requisite connections are realized. The track assignment loop includes the steps of breaking cycles and long paths and collecting a set of feasible links. One or more weighting functions are assigned to each such feasible link. A dynamic programming approach is used to select an optimal set of feasible links according to the weighting functions. In addition, an optimal set of feasible links corresponding to unpreferred layers is collected by applying dynamic programming.

Abstract: A GPS antenna comprises an antenna body that can rotate between horizontal and vertical positions between the handle horns on the top of an optical total station. A GPS receiver embodiment comprises an integrated body and antenna that can similarly be rotated between horizontal and vertical positions between the handle horns on the top of an optical total station to avoid interference with the total station optics.

Abstract: A direct sequence spread spectrum (DSSS) radio communication system of the present invention comprises a transmitter and a matching receiver. The transmitter includes a pseudorandom number (PRN) code generator, a chip clock generator and a 16.times. clock generator that runs at sixteen times the chip clock rate. The output of the PRN code generator and chip clock generator are exclusive-OR'ed to derive a Manchester encoding of the DSSS spreading code. A tri-state buffer is used to deliver such Manchester encoded DSSS spreading code to a mixer to spread a biphase shift keyed (BPSK) radio carrier before being transmitted. The tri-state buffer can be a part of the exclusive-OR logic and is connected to place its output in a high impedance state one sixteenth of every chip clock period. This provides for a suppression of the spurious sidebands that otherwise limit adjacent channel packing.

Abstract: A short-coupled-path extender comprises a two-inch thick housing that inserts as a spacer between a plasma source and a vacuum chamber in various kinds of semiconductor processing equipment. The spacer housing is generally constructed of aluminum and is thermally well-connected to the vacuum chamber and its liquid cooling system to dispose of the heat it collects from the plasma source flow. The plasma source bolts up to a central inlet port on the spacer housing that leads to a first quartz-lined antechamber within. The plasma source flow encounters a traverse metal wall at the back of the first antechamber and is forced to flow radially outward to a system of small outer ports that connect to a second quartz-lined antechamber. The plasma source flow then collects back together and exits the second antechamber through a central outlet port that bolts up to the plasma source seat on the vacuum chamber.

Abstract: In a GPS navigation satellite receiver, a pseudorange step detection method integrates the pseudorange rates to predict expected changes in the pseudoranges from one measurement to the next. The pseudorange rate is directly measured as the carrier Doppler shift. The pseudorange and pseudorange rate from a last measurement from each satellite and a pseudorange rate from a new measurement are used to estimate the expected pseudorange. Such estimate accounts for vehicle velocity and accelerations. The expected pseudorange is compared to a newly measured pseudorange. An impermissible pseudorange step is declared when the difference exceeds a variable threshold. Tests can be done on measurements taken up to ten seconds apart, e.g., using a threshold of five hundred meters. The maximum position dilution of precision is typically set at a value of twelve. Satellites that manifest a pseudorange step are thereafter excluded from participating in subsequent position solution activity.

Abstract: A video cassette recorder includes a tape transport and servo that records digital data at one tape speed and plays back the digital data at one twentieth of the recording speed, both with a fixed speed of rotation of a drum head. On playback, each recorded segment of data on the tape is read from ten slightly different longitudinal positions on the magnetic tape, with the highest amplitude read-back signal being selected. The drum head comprises two playback heads that each have playback widths that are approximately twice as wide as each of four recording heads in the drum head.

Abstract: Hierarchical look-ahead congestion-driven placement is a look-ahead method for avoiding interconnect congestion. It balances the available routing resources. When incorporated into conventional quadratic programming approaches, only minor increases in run-time are needed to produce dramatic decreases in congestion. The macrocell densities are traded between adjacent regions to anticipate congestion, and are estimated based on the current iteration for the distribution of cells and net connections involved. The congestion estimation also takes routing detour due to the presence of large hard macros into account for accuracy. The macrocell density adjustments are propagated to all the neighboring regions at each hierarchical level to revise the prior congestion estimate from the previous hierarchical iteration.

Abstract: A system and method for immediately separating oil sands into three layers uses a logwasher with paddles that mixes the oil sands with hot water and steam. The three layers of bitumen, clay/sand/water slurry and rock separate effectively and immediately and are not re-mixed in further processing as was conventional, further producing a clay fraction from the fines for mineral processing.

Abstract: In a grid-based channel router, a method for handling variable width wires. The user initially specifies the widths of the wires. In this manner, wider wires may be selected for special nets, such as those used for routing clock signals, whereas narrower wires are used for normal nets in order to minimize the die size. A refined grid map is generated. This refined grid map consists of extra rows and columns for marking the variable width wires. These extra rows and columns are spaced as a function of the wire width and are marked the same as with normal rows and columns. Before a wire is placed, the affected rows or columns are checked for any violations. If there are no violations, the wire is placed and the appropriate rows or columns are marked. Due to the extra rows and columns, the problems associated with overmarking and undermarking variable width wires are avoided.

Abstract: A non-contact pneumatic-electric dimensional measurement system comprises a stable base on which a semiconductor wafer or workpiece to be measured is placed. A measurement head is held aloft over the wafer or workpiece and base by a rigid support bracket attached to the base. The tip of an air nozzle in the measurement head is directed at the wafer or workpiece and automatically extended to near contact. The nozzle is servo-positioned by an air sensor and motor combination that maintains an air gap between the tip and wafer of about 150 microns with an overall precision of about 3-4 microns. A Heidenhaim linear displacement gauge is attached to the air nozzle and is used to determine the nozzle position to within 0.5 micron. The dimension of the wafer or workpiece is determined to within 0.5 micron by combining the linear displacement gauge reading with an estimate of the air gap derived from a reading of the air nozzle backpressure that has an accuracy of about 0.1 micron.

Abstract: A process in which a leach liquor of Al.sub.2 (SO.sub.4).sub.3 +K.sub.2 SO.sub.4 +Fe.sub.2 SO.sub.4 and other sulphates is introduced to a surface-cooled crystallizer that drops the Al.sub.2 (SO.sub.4).sub.3 +18H.sub.2 O. The leach liquor is pumped through a heat exchanger that keeps a temperature of 160.degree. F. and the surface temperature of the surface-cooled crystallizer is maintained at 60.degree. F. The temperature gradient within the leach liquor promotes crystal formation. These crystals are then supplied to mixture which includes K.sub.2 SO.sub.4 in a simple crystallization and evaporation step that uses a vacuum of twenty inches of mercury and heat to drop Al.sub.2 (SO.sub.4).sub.3 +K.sub.2 SO.sub.4 +24H.sub.2 O. A pressure of 250 PSI and a temperature of 200.degree. C. are then applied in a discrete continuous process that yield a basic sodium or potassium aluminum sulphate and excess sodium sulphate or potassium.