Abstract: A curved toothed hairclip comprises two elongate branches hinged together at their first ends about a transverse hinge axis and separably fastenable together at their second ends. Each branch has curved teeth extending laterally from the first lateral edge, curving towards the other branch and interdigitated with the curved teeth of the other branch. This improves the retention of the hair in the hairclip.

Abstract: A waste gas scrubber includes a hollow, cylindrical atomizer, mounted for rotation about its longitudinal axis. The atomizer is partially submerged in a pool of liquid. The atomizer has relatively large openings at its two ends, and has a plurality of closely-spaced vanes along its middle section. Waste gas is drawn into the openings at one end of the atomizer, and is combined with liquid scooped in by the vanes when the atomizer rotates. The liquid tends to absorb and/or encapsulate particulates in the gas stream. The resulting fluid is then drawn out of the atomizer through the openings at its other end. A blower provides negative pressure which draws the fluids through the desired path, and which overcomes the centrifugal force produced by rotation of the atomizer. Substantially the entire interior region of the atomizer is used for scrubbing, so that the scrubber is much more efficient than waste gas scrubbers of the prior art.

Abstract: An automatic device prepares blood films or smears on microscope slides. The device has essentially one moving part, namely a carriage which holds the slide, and which is movable back and forth along a frame. The slide is dispensed from a magazine, onto the carriage, and the carriage moves to a position where a drop of blood is conveniently placed onto the slide. The carriage then moves to a position permitting contact between the blood and a spreading blade mounted on a flexible member. The carriage is moved in a forward direction, causing the blade to move relative to the slide, creating the blood smear. The slide is then lifted from the carriage and moved onto a storage platform. Meanwhile, the blade is cleaned as it passes over a cleaning pad on the carriage. Movement of the carriage in both directions insures that both sides and the end of the blade are cleaned.

Abstract: A process is provided for making a tantalum capacitor chip which includes a tantalum chip body as well as an anode wire partially inserted into and partially projecting from the chip body. The process comprises the steps of compacting an initial divided amount of tantalum powder into an initial mass portion which is dimensionally smaller than the chip body, and compacting at least one additional divided amount of tantalum powder with the initial mass portion into the chip body. The capacitor chip thus obtained may be enclosed in a resin package to provide a surface mounting type tantalum capacitor.

Abstract: A device for removing fluid from a flexible tube includes a container having an opening and a sharp cannula located inside the container. The cannula is positioned to puncture the flexible tube when it is inserted through the opening, so that fluid in the tube flows through the cannula and collects at the bottom of the container. A diluent may be added to the container through the same opening. The cannula is affixed to the wall of the container by passing the cannula through a dimple formed in that wall. A spout formed in the container allows fluid to be dispensed from the container. When dispensing fluid from the container, the opening is preferably sealed with a finger, and the size of the spout determines the rate at which fluid flows out of the spout.

Abstract: A hair clip includes a first jaw operable by a first opening lever and hinged to a second jaw operable by a second opening lever. The hinge is provided by perforated lugs respectively projecting beyond inside surfaces of intermediate connecting areas between the levers and the jaws through which passes a connecting pin defining a transverse hinge axis. Two open annular springs disposed coaxially around the hinge axis pass through corresponding openings in the levers and bear in corresponding housings on outside surfaces of the jaws. The annular springs cover the perforated lugs. A tubular member covers the connecting pin between the two sets of perforated lugs. The resulting clip has a posterior side of considerably improved esthetic appearance.

Abstract: A broadband amplifier includes an amplifier device and input and output networks formed of microstrips. The impedance of the output microstrip is chosen by taking the geometric mean of the real parts of one of the scattering parameters of the amplifier device, at the lower and upper limits of the frequency range of interest, and by taking the geometric mean of the system impedance with the result obtained previously. The final result of these calculations is the impedance of the output network. The impedance of the input network is made to be at least twice, and preferably twice, the impedance of the output network. The amplifier is also provided with a slope compensation circuit. It has been discovered that an amplifier designed in this manner exhibits remarkable flatness over a five-octave range. The amplifier circuit is therefore suitable for use in cable television and other broadband telecommunications applications, where the frequency range of interest may be 30 MHz to 1000 MHz.

Abstract: A pulse-width modulated (PWM) circuit applies voltage to a load with high fidelity. The circuit includes switches connected in series with inductors, the inductors being magnetically coupled to other inductors connected to the gates of the switches. The arrangement of inductors and the magnetic coupling causes the turn-on of one switch to assist in the turn-off of the other switch. A pair of diodes connected across some of the inductors assures that the magnetically coupled inductors do not assist the switches to turn on. The result is a circuit which effectively eliminates the problem of "shoot through" current, without providing a "dead time" in the switching scheme, and thus without substantial power losses. The circuit can therefore be used in audio amplification, and in other applications requiring high fidelity.

Abstract: An electronic component is provided which includes at least one chip element having at least two poles; and at least two leads respectively connected electrically to the two poles. At least one of the two leads is electrically connected to a corresponding one of the two poles through a solder fuse wire which has a nail head end and a flattened discal end.

Abstract: An overhang roof of a yacht contains a compartment which stores a flexible canopy. The compartment includes upper and lower clamshell members, the lower clamshell member pivoting with respect to the upper member. When the lower clamshell member is unlatched and pivoted downward, the canopy is exposed, and it can be allowed to drop from the compartment and affixed to suitable parts of the yacht. The lower clamshell member can be closed and latched even when the canopy is hanging down from the compartment. The canopy thus forms a temporary enclosure for the rear deck portion of the yacht. The enclosure can be easily dismantled by returning the canopy to the compartment, and closing and latching the lower clamshell member.

Abstract: The surface of an aluminide is treated to make it less chemically reactive. In particular, this treatment inhibits oxidation of the aluminide at high temperatures. According to the invention, one coats the aluminide with a solution that containing phosphoric or phosphorous acid, and then one heats the aluminide, so as to calcine the coating. The phosphoric or phosphorous acid reacts with the aluminide to form a surface that resists oxidation. One can use this process to coat the blades of a gas turbine, or to coat other aluminide structures intended for use in high-temperature environments.

Abstract: A hybridization vessel rotator can be used, without modification, in either a liquid bath or a conventional oven. The rotator includes a frame which supports a spindle to which hybridization vessels are attached. A motor turns the spindle to rotate the vessels. The motor is affixed to the frame at a position opposite to the bottom surface of the frame. The rotator can thus be inserted into a liquid bath, while the motor remains outside of the bath. If an oven is used, the entire rotator can be placed inside the oven. The vessel rotator is independent of the external source of heating or cooling. The vessel rotator also does not require that the bath or oven be specifically designed for use with the rotator.

Abstract: A chip-type variable resistor is provided which includes an insulating substrate formed with a resistor strip which is arcuate at least partially and has both ends electrically connected to respective extremity electrode terminals, an intermediate terminal member mounted to the substrate, and a contact member electrically connected to the intermediate terminal member and rotatably mounted to the substrate in slidable contact with the resistor strip. The resistor strip includes at least one portion having a lower area resistivity (defined as a resistance per unit surface area) and at least another portion having a higher area resistivity.

Abstract: A circuit accurately measures the current flowing in a load which is powered by a pulse-width modulated (PWM) arrangement. The current measurement circuit is transformer-coupled to the load. A first flux cancellation device produces a voltage which tends to reduce the flux in the transformer core to zero. A pair of peak detection circuits determine maximum and minimum voltages at the output of the first flux cancellation device, and another circuit measures the difference between the maximum and minimum voltages. This difference is a voltage which is proportional to the current flowing in the load. A second flux cancellation device includes an integrator which integrates the outputs of the peak detection circuits, and the output of the integrator is fed back to the first flux cancellation device.

Abstract: In an otherwise conventional, mechanically controlled lathe the workpiece support spindle can be disconnected from the main mechanical drive transmission and coupled to the main drive motor via a second mechanical transmission which can introduce an angular offset between the workpiece support spindle and a milling tool that is proportional to the travel along the feed axis of a toolholder carriage carrying the milling tool. The angular offset is introduced by a coupling sleeve coupling two transmission half-shafts via helical teeth to transmit movement to the workpiece support spindle. The coupling sleeve is moved axially by the toolholder carriage. In this way straight threads and helical threads with a large pitch can be cut on an otherwise conventional lathe.

Abstract: A method of making and erecting a framed structure, preferably single level, by milling standard pieces of lumber that are joined into a sturdy, rectangular frame is disclosed. Opposed Side Beams having dado cuts at their opposite ends are joined to opposed Face Beams having complementary dado cuts at their opposite ends. Floor joists connect opposed sidebeams and support subflooring or decking, and, to accommodate certain larger dimensional floorplans, Center Beams are built into the frame. The frame can rest on a periphery foundation or be erected over posts.

Abstract: The use of luminescent probe substances is detailed in methods and an apparatus for the determination of the concentration and distribution in space and time of numerous analytes of biologic and physical import in vivo and in vitro by the steady-state determination of luminescence lifetime. In the instance of analytes that quench excited states, a fluorophore whose excited state is quenched by the analyte in question is free to undergo Brownian rotation alone or when conjugated to a carrier molecule within a medium of suitable viscosity. The analysis medium is irradiated with continuous linearly polarized light at a wavelength strongly absorbed by the fluorophore. The emitted luminescence is resolved into its vector components parallel and perpendicular to the plane of polarization of the excitation light, thereby permitting the calculation of the luminescence anisotropy of the irradiated specimen.

Abstract: The present invention is a high-density circuit, wherein the circuit conductors, and the spaces between conductors, are preferably less than about 0.005 inches wide, and wherein the lines are disposed over a relatively large area. The circuit is defined by a pattern of grooves in a dielectric substrate, and a conductive material is deposited in the grooves, and heated so as to form a tight bond with the substrate. The resulting circuit is stable, rugged, and capable of withstanding a wide range of adverse environmental conditions. The invention includes the circuit itself, as well as processes used in its manufacture. The invention also includes a high-density print head, for a thermal or electrostatic printer, made from the circuit described. The rugged, high-density circuit of the present invention can generate a set of very closely-spaced conductors which are then used to produce a high-density image.

Abstract: A surface mounting type diode is provided which comprises: a diode chip; a pair of leads held in electrical conduction with the diode chip, each of the leads including an inner end, an outer end, a first bend closer to the inner end, a second bend closer to the outer end, and an intermediate portion between the first and second bends; and a resin package enclosing the diode chip together with part of the respective leads, the resin package having a flat bottom surface. The inner end, first bend, second bend and intermediate portion of the lead are contained in the resin package. Further, the outer end of the lead has an exposed flat mounting surface flush with the bottom surface of the resin package.

Abstract: A sheet-supporting stand or easel includes two or more legs, at least one of which is adjustable in length, so as to vary the angle of the stand relative to the ground. A U-shaped mast provides a carriage area for holding one or more sheets, and a pair of clamping devices, mounted to the mast, clamp the sheets from opposite sides. The legs can be collapsed and pivoted around their mounting to the mast, such that the entire assembly can be transported in a generally flat and compact configuration. A wheel may be attached to one or more of the legs, to facilitate movement of the stand along the ground. The wheel may be pivoted and held at any desired angle relative to the leg, such that the wheel may be kept away from the ground while the stand is in use.