Abstract: An expansion card with an integrated fingerprint acquisition system is provided hat is able to be connected to a portable computer. In one aspect of the invention, CMCIA standards are used for the expansion card. The expansion card is built such the fingerprint acquisition system is on a slidable carriage which may extend out from the expansion card housing, or may be retracted into the housing when the fingerprint acquisition system is not in use. A locking mechanism keeps the carriage in the retracted position, and a spring provides the force necessary to slide the carriage into the extended position when pressure is placed on the slidable carriage. An advantage of the invention is that the fingerprint recognition device is small enough to fit within a PCMCIA standard expansion card.

Abstract: This invention relates to micro-electromechanical systems using silicon-germanium films.

Abstract: A plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition process for depositing conformal silicon oxide thin films useful to make thin film transistors which have stable electrical properties and low charge centers onto a substrate comprising flowing a precursor gas mixture of silane and nitrous oxide, the latter at a high rate, at a pressure of at least about 0.8 torr and a temperature of from about 250.degree. to 350.degree. C. The effective volume of the reaction region between the gas manifold inlet and the substrate during processing is kept small.

Abstract: A cathode body for a rotating cylindrical magnetron wherein the magnetron provides a sputtering zone extending along the length of the cathode body and circumferentially along a relatively narrow region thereof. The cathode body includes an elongated tubular member having a target material at the outer surface thereof. A collar of electrically-conductive material is located at at least one end of the tubular member, and extends along the tubular member from that one end into the erosion zone. A sleeve of electrically-conductive material may extend circumferentially around the collar.

Abstract: The system of the present invention contemplates a non-intrusive method for measuring the temperature rise of optical elements under high laser power optical loading to determine the absorption coefficient. The method comprises irradiating the optical element with a high average power laser beam, viewing the optical element with an infrared camera to determine the temperature across the optical element and calculating the absorption of the optical element from the temperature.

Abstract: An offshore structure for use in arctic waters containing large moving ice masses such as icebergs wherein the structure has a wear surface arranged around the periphery of its support portion at least in the region of the support portion of potential contact with moving ice masses. A layer of resilient material is disposed between the wear surface and the support portion in order to reduce the forces imposed on the structure by the impinging ice masses.

Abstract: A valve means for a fuel dispensing nozzle located in the nozzle discharge spout at the outlet end thereof for sealing the outlet end to prevent the flow of fuel and fuel vapors out of the discharge spout when the nozzle flow control valve is closed. The valve means is responsive to the operation of the flow control valve so that when the flow control valve is closed, the valve means is closed and so that when the flow control valve is operated to flow fuel through the discharge spout, the valve means is open. To this purpose, actuating means responsive to the operation of the flow control valve are provided to establish fluid communication between the valve means and the flow passage upstream of the flow control valve and, alternately, between the valve means and the flow passage in the discharge spout. In one embodiment, the valve means located in the discharge spout at the outlet end thereof is a pinch valve, and in another embodiment, the valve means is a wafer valve.

Abstract: A valve means for a fuel dispensing nozzle located in the nozzle discharge spout at the outlet end thereof for sealing the outlet end to prevent the flow of fuel and fuel vapors out of the discharge spout when the nozzle vapor-seal valve is closed. The valve means is responsive to the operation of the vapor-seal valve so that when the vapor-seal valve is closed when the nozzle is not in use, the valve means is closed and so that when the vapor-seal valve is open when the discharge spout is operatively inserted into a fill pipe of a fuel tank, the valve means is open. To this purpose, means are provided to establish communication between the valve means and the flow passage upstream of the nozzle flow control valve and between the valve means and the flow passage in the discharge spout. In one embodiment, the valve means located in the discharge spout at the outlet end thereof is a pinch valve, and in another embodiment, the valve means is a wafer valve.

Abstract: A discharge spout tip for a fuel-dispensing nozzle wherein the outlet end of the tip has a cross-sectional area approximately equal to that of the discharge spout inwardly of the tip and wherein the tip has a downwardly sloping, upper surface for deflecting fuel flowing through the outlet end of the tip in a generally downward direction at an effective angle of deflection from the center line of the discharge spout so that the fuel flow is directed away from the upper surface of the fill pipe in order to prevent the formation of a liquid barrier in the fill pipe. By reducing or eliminating the liquid barrier in the fill pipe, the likelihood of occurrence of a spitback or spill is reduced. The fuel-deflecting surface of the tip may be formed by positioning a wedge-shaped projection on the upper surface of the tip, and alternately, the upper surface of the tip itself may slope downwardly from a point on said discharge spout to form a fuel-deflecting surface.

Abstract: A blowout prevention system for an offshore structure positioned on the underwater bottom in a body of water which contains moving ice masses that could force the structure off location wherein a surface blowout preventer stack for conventional well control is connected to the upper end of a riser with the lower end of the riser being disconnectably connected to a subsurface blowout preventer stack which provides the necessary well control should the structure be forced off location. The subsurface stack is positioned on a wellhead located in a chamber in the subsea bottom and is disconnectably connected to the riser so that the riser may be quickly removed from the subsea bottom should the structure be forced off location.

Abstract: An improvement in a heat-generating pipe made up of a ferromagnetic pipe having an insulated conductor extending through it to a given point so that both the pipe and conductor may be connected in series with a power source of alternating current. The invention is directed to both a method and nonferromagnetic means for reducing the heat output over a desired segment of the pipe by reducing the magnetic field created by the alternating current flowing in the insulated conductor and that segment of the pipe.The nonferromagnetic means comprises a portion of the insulated conductor that is exterior to the ferromagnetic pipe along the segment of reduced heat output so that it is magnetically decoupled from the pipe.

Abstract: An improvement in a heat-generating pipe made up of a ferromagnetic pipe having an insulated conductor extending through it to a given point so that both the pipe and conductor may be connected in series with a power source of alternating current. The invention is directed to both a method and nonferromagnetic means for reducing the heat output over a desired segment of the pipe by reducing the magnetic field created by the alternating current flowing in the insulated conductor and that segment of the pipe.The nonferromagnetic means comprises an electrically nonconductive, nonferromagnetic section of pipe connected in place of the segment of the ferromagnetic pipe and shunted by a second conductor connected at each end of the nonferromagnetic pipe to the ferromagnetic pipe.

Abstract: The heat output over a segment of a heat generating pipe of the type comprising an elongated ferromagnetic pipe having an insulated conductor extending therethrough up to a given point with both the pipe and the conductor connected in series with a source of alternating current is reduced by making the pipe segment of a non-ferromagnetic material, e.g., aluminum. Dielectric unions can be used to couple the non-ferromagnetic pipe segment into the ferromagnetic pipe, in which case means are provided to electrically bypass the dielectric unions in order to maintain the series circuit through the conductor, ferromagnetic pipe and the non-ferromagnetic segment. Alternatively, the non-ferromagnetic segment can be connected directly is series with the ferromagnetic pipe.

Abstract: A portable apparatus for inserting into a bottom unloading valve of a railroad tank car which has been locked in an opened or partially opened position due to liquids solidifying therein. The apparatus is a portable electrical heating unit removably insertable into the valve so as to be in a heat-transmitting relationship within the fluid passage of the valve. The apparatus has a removable flange adaptor which is connected to the heating unit and securable directly to the bottom unloading valve or a fitting connected to the valve. A control means for regulating the heat output of the heating unit is electrically connected to the heating unit. A drain may be provided to allow the liquefied fluid to escape from the valve's fluid passage.

Abstract: A negative energy power supply which operates submerged equipment like a hydraulic actuator. A main component of the system is a submerged chamber held at substantially atmospheric pressure. It is connected to submerged equipment having intake and discharge ports controllable by remotely operated valves. When the intake port is opened to water at the submerged depth of the equipment and the discharge port is vented to the chamber, the resulting pressure difference operates the submerged equipment. The system can also have appropriately connected to it, a pressure amplifier to increase the water pressure at a submerged location and a pump to purge the chamber.