Abstract: Signal transformations of inputted data brought about by 58 new subroutines in combination with other subroutines to display world maps or other display items with the unique capability of performing the following functions in complete generality. (1) Arbitrary selection of map center and coverage, including global displays, (2) filling of all land and lake areas defined by polygons composed of an arbitrary number of vertices, (3) clipping of map features and overlays at map boundaries and poles, (4) selection from any of nineteen currently implemented map projections with provision to install any other projection topologically similar to an oblique conic, (5) calculation of latitude/longitude for any point on a map without the need for inverse mapping equations, and (6) an efficient method of plotting polyline segments along great circles. These are a number of feature functions provided by this inventive concept.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for determining the granular nature of superconductive materials and devices which includes the steps of: conducting a substantially rectangular current pulse through the superconductive material, maintaining the temperature of the superconductive material at a substantially constant temperature which does not exceed the critical temperature of the superconductive material; determining the amplitude of the current pulse; determining the electrical resistance, R, of the superconductive material resulting from conducting current pulse through the superconductive material; increasing the current until the electrical resistance of the superconductive material becomes saturated; determining the electrical resistance difference, .delta., between the electrical resistance, R, of the saturated superconductive material and a total normal state electrical resistance of the superconductive material; generating a first output signal if .vertline..delta..vertline..ltoreq..epsilon.

Abstract: A high isolation electronic switch is provided for selectively switching an utput line between first and second input lines. Each input line is connected to a respective circuit that has a first current carrying path to connect the respective input line to the output line, and a second current carrying path to connect a portion of the first current carrying path of the respective circuit to a ground potential. Each respective circuit is further selectively operated to conduct along only one of its first or second current carrying paths. A unity gain buffer is connected serially in the first current carrying path of each respective circuit. The switch is selectively operated such that one circuit conducts along its first current carrying path when the other circuit is conducting along its second current carrying path.

Abstract: A transparent polyelectrolyte fiber or gel, such as cross-linked polyacrylic acid, which contracts and expands upon the addition of an acid or base to an aqueous medium solution, is placed in the same solution with a pH dependent dye, a colored photochromatic indicator dye. The dye preferably has a pA.sub.a value that is the same as the pH at a null contraction point of the fiber. By irradiating the solution with light of a wavelength of the absorption band of either the acid or base form of the dye, the solution pH is made to change, and the fiber is made to expand or contract, depending upon the wavelength. Thus, light energy is readily converted to work energy and may be used to power a pump, for example, or an artificial muscle can be powered via an optical fiber.

Abstract: A means for intracavity sum frequency generation is described in which a laser operates simultaneously at two wavelengths. The laser resonator further contains a sum frequency generating nonlinear crystal which is oriented for efficient sum frequency generation of the two fundamental wavelengths. The optical alignment of the resonator provides a region where both fundamental wavelengths are overlapped and are focused. The nonlinear sum frequency generating crystal is placed near this focus in the region where both wavelengths are spatially superimposed, producing the sum frequency of the two wavelengths. Line narrowing of the individual two fundamental wavelengths produces a line narrowed sum frequency generated output. Mirror coatings on all reflective elements are highly reflective for both fundamental wavelengths to produce a high intracavity fluence at both of these frequencies.

Abstract: Silicon-on-sapphire substrates are provided for the fabrication of micromechanical devices, such as micromotors. The high voltage stand-off characteristics of silicon-on-sapphire thereby provides for the construction of superior electrostatically driven devices and sensors capable of being driven at significantly higher applied potentials since silicon-on-sapphire has demonstrated a capability for building in the range of hundreds of Angstroms, or thick, in the range of microns very high speed, low power, very densely packed integrated circuits using standard silicon processing techniques. As a consequence, the electrostatically driven devices, micromotors, can be incorporated in the integrated circuits and yet be powered at elevated voltages to increase their work potential.

Abstract: An improved dual-mode optical fiber provides for an improved combination of spectral attenuation, bending losses and modal noise and modal dispersion for long-haul transmission at 1550 nm. The dual-mode optical fiber has a pure-silica core and a silica cladding depressed with fluorine so that the core and cladding have a relative refractive index difference, .DELTA., of about 0.72% and a second-mode cutoff wavelength, .lambda..sub.c, at 1630 nm. Optionally, a non-silica core and cladding can be used for long-haul transmission at 1550 nm. when the core and cladding have a relative refractive index difference, .DELTA., of about 0.72% and a second-mode cutoff wavelength, .lambda..sub.c, at 1630 nm.

Abstract: The invention provides a high power, low distortion, high efficiency ampler design incorporating a high efficiency switching amplifier used in conjunction with a linear difference amplifier. The high efficiency switching amplifier, typically of full or half bridge design, is designed to generate a high efficiency, arbitrarily formed, wave portion such as a square wave. The high efficiency waveform is scaled down and is compared to a desired reference, such as a sinusoid. The output of the comparison is the analog difference (mathematical subtraction) between the reference waveform and the scaled-down switch amplifier output wave. This "difference" signal is then used to drive the linear difference amplifier which simply scales the signal linearly. The two power signals, one from the switching amplifier and the other from the linear difference amplifier, are then summed magnetically.

Abstract: A microelectronic photomultiplier device is fabricated by discrete proceds to provide a photocathode-anode and dynode chain arrangement which is analogous in operation to conventional photomultiplier tubes. This microelectronic photomultiplier device provides for low level photon detection and realizes the advantages of high reliability, small size and fast response, plus lower cost, weight and power consumption compared to conventional photomultiplier tubes. In addition, the fabrication on an SOI substrate permits integration of logic and control circuitry with detectors. The insulating substrate also permits the integration of an on-chip high voltage supply and may easily be extended to a plurality of detectors offering improved performance and design flexibility.

Abstract: A compact heater is designed for the deposition of thin films at high temperatures in an oxidizing atmosphere or in vacuum. The heater is designed to accommodate a small-diameter load-lock system in an ultra-high-vacuum deposition chamber, and can operate in 0 to 1 atmosphere of oxygen up to at least 800.degree. C. The compact design allows the heater, including a substantially isothermal substrate holder having the substrate affixed thereto, included temperature sensor and attached main body portion, to be loaded through a load-lock port with about a 2.5 inch inside diameter. Heat is generated resistively, and the substrates are heated directly by thermal conduction. The heater was designed specifically to heat substrates to precisely monitored temperatures during the growth of high-temperature superconducting thin films.

Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus and method for identifying individuals based upon patterns of physiological activity generated in the brain and for distinguishing between normal and impaired brain states in any particular individual. These patterns may be obtained by directly or indirectly recording the electrical and/or magnetic activity associated with sensory, cognitive, and motor processing in the brain. This activity may be recorded using sensors placed in, on, or near the scalp. In this system, samples of individual brain activity are stored in an "intelligent" data base of a data acquisition/transformation stage which has the capability to learn to distinguish the individual characteristics of normal patterns of brain activity.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for determining in real time, the radio refractive index structure of the atmosphere. The method may be characterized as comprising the steps of: transmitting a radio frequency signal over a predetermined path; receiving the radio frequency signal; detecting the strength of the radio frequency signal; determining a radio propagation factor from the strength of the radio frequency signal; determining a base height function of the atmosphere; and employing the radio propagation factor in the base height function to determine a trapping layer base height of the atmosphere which represents the radio refractive index structure of the atmosphere.

Abstract: A transceiver has a transmitter portion using active comparators coupled to single low level positive bias source to enable low powered drain transmit and receive conversion of TTL input signals to LLS (low level serial) data output signals for a coaxial data transmission cable. The transceiver also provides a constant impedance for a coaxial or triaxial transmission cable during active transmission periods, standby periods and power-off periods to provide a cost effective method to transmit and receive data.

Abstract: A non-contact method to impart a texture to a surface using laser irradian uses an excimer laser to illuminate a sample immersed in a halocarbon ambient thereby initiating a photo/thermal chemical reaction which etches the sample only in the area illuminated with sufficient laser fluence. The resulting etched area can be repetively illuminated and etched to provide a textured surface to reduce extraneous reflections, or for micromachining, decorative texturing and marking. This technique is particularly well suited to improve the performance of backside illuminated CCDs by reducing the background (dark) signal, increase resolution and responsivity uniformity. The technique is compatible with other laser processing procedures and can be implemented with a variety of CCD enhancements such as improved dark current and blue response from laser doping or activation of backside implants.

Abstract: A method of rapid sample handling in a production environment for laser processing of individual microelectronic die is particularly suited for handling partially fabricated die and die which are susceptible to mechanical and electrostatic damage, such as backside illuminated CCDs requiring backside dopant activation and laser texturing of sidewalls. Securing a die within a modified sample holder provides for electrostatic and mechanical protection during laser processing. Placing the modified die holder onto a feeder base portion that engages a "tractor-feed" translation subsystem protects the die during a translation and positioning of the die below and aligned with a laser processing structure. A window holder is engaged with the die holder to seal the die in a processing chamber and to assure an appropriate pressurizing with a gaseous ambient for a desired processing.

Abstract: A method assures the quantitative or semiquantitative assessment of analytes in soils by in situ optical methods. A determination is made of the optical chemical response factors for chemicals of interest which are added in known amounts to discrete soil matrices (types) and conditions (moisture content) under controlled laboratory conditions to provide predetermined reference signals. A combination probe is provided with an optical chemical sensing device that produces chemical concentration signals representative of the concentration of a chemical of interest in a soil sample and further is provided with a strain gauge sensing device that produces strain gauge signals representative of soil type and optionally, condition of the soil sample. The combination probe is inserted into the soil sample and the optical chemical sensing device produces the chemical concentration signals and the optical strain gauge sensing device, simultaneously and in parallel, produces the optical strain gauge signals.

Abstract: Processing methods transform ferroelectric precursor films into a desired crystalline structure without adversely heating nearby materials and circuitry such as those found associated with lead zirconate titanate films. The thin film sample is placed within an appropriate chamber, where a suitable ambient is in contact with the thin film sample. The ambient may be air, oxygen or any other ambient which is known in the art to be appropriate for annealing ferroelectric materials. In this regard annealing in air can done without the processing chamber. The process for annealing relies upon continuous wave (CW) laser annealing, pulse UV annealing with or without a laser and various combinations of thermal pretreatment and processing to allow solid state diffusion in accordance with parameters appropriate for a particular application. Methods of laser patterning thin film ferroelectrics without adversely damaging adjacent or underlying layers, e.g. electrodes, are also disclosed.

Abstract: An etching process allows a selective single-step patterning of III-V or VI semiconductor compound devices such as GaAs and InP or CdS and ZnSe in a noncorrosive environment. The etching relies on a maskless laser-assisted technique in a gaseous chlorofluorocarbon ambient, such as gaseous dichlorodifluoromethane and chloropentafluoroethane. Laser-assisted photothermal chemical etching reactions on the III-V or II-VI semiconductor compounds occur in these ambients when the incident fluence from an excimer laser at 248 nm exceeds the melt threshold. This provides a means for thin membrane formation in III-V or II-VI semiconductor compounds, rapid etches and processing of packaged devices or partially fabricated dies. The reduction in processing steps as compared to conventional wet chemical etches provides improvements in yield, reliability and cost.

Abstract: The present invention is a system for providing an output corresponding to he speed of a remote vehicle, comprising: a speed transducer mounted on the vehicle for providing a first output corresponding to the speed of the vehicle; a first data processor operably coupled to receive the first output from the speed transducer means for providing an ASCII coded output; a second data processor operably coupled to receive the ASCII coded output from the first data processor for providing an output transducer control output; and an output transducer operably coupled to receive the control output from the second data processor for providing an output having an amplitude proportional to the speed of the vehicle.

Abstract: A method for the simultaneous bidirectional transfer of digital data at a ry high rate between a host digital data processor and an external device includes the steps of: loading the output data into a data register of the processor; loading an address reference of an external device into an address register of the processor; forming a composite address consisting of the sum of the data register and an address register; and exporting the output data through the address lines from the processor to the external device while simultaneously reading data into the processor from the external device. The method accomplishes rapid data transfer by advantageously transferring data over what would normally be address lines between the processor and the external device. This method is suitable for applications where data is to be transferred from a processor operably coupled to only one external device.