Abstract: A self-limiting electrosurgical electrode for use with electrosurgery and various other surgical procedures. The electrode can include a pad and a conductive element that collectively has an effective bulk impedance equal to or greater than about 4,000 &OHgr;·cm. The effective bulk impedance of the electrode arises from resistive components, capacitive components, inductive components, or combinations thereof of both the pad and the conductive element. Through the selection of the impedance characteristics for the electrode materials, and through tailoring of electrode geometries, the electrode of the present invention is self-regulating and self-limiting as to current density and temperature rise so as to prevent patient trauma. Additionally, the selection of materials and electrode geometries can prevent the creation of pressure sore or decubitus ulcers on a patient resting upon the electrode.

Abstract: An interconnect line that is enclosed within electrically conductive material is disclosed. The interconnect line, which is useful for electrically connecting devices in an integrated circuit, is defined by an aluminum layer having a bottom surface covered by a titanium layer, a top surface covered by a titanium layer, and opposing side surfaces covered by discrete titanium layers. The encapsulation of the aluminum layer within the titanium layers substantially precludes void formation within the aluminum layer. The interconnect line also may be upon a contact plug that is in electrical communication with an active area in an underlying semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: A field emission device having a gate electrode structure in which a nanocrystalline or microcrystalline silicon layer is positioned over a silicon dioxide dielectric layer. Also disclosed are methods for forming the field emission device. The nanocrystalline or microcrystalline silicon layer forms a bond with the dielectric layer that is sufficiently strong to prevent delamination during a chemical-mechanical planarization operation that is conducted during formation of the field emission device. The nanocrystalline or microcrystalline silicon layer is deposited by PECVD in an atmosphere that contains silane and hydrogen at a ratio in a range from about 1:15 to about 1:40. Multiple field emission devices may be formed and included in a flat panel display for computer monitors, telecommunications devices, and the like.

Abstract: The present invention is a retractable/extendable diversity antenna that provides the appropriate polarization in a horizontal orientation. The antenna structure is placed within a Type II PCMCIA PC card package and may be extended or retracted with one touch. The antenna structure is large enough to provide for the diversity antenna design and may optionally be housed within a PCMCIA Type II PC Card. At least one spring-loaded mechanism is used to extend the antenna structure beyond the PCMCIA PC Card package and to provide stability while the antenna structure is in the extended position. The diversity antenna configuration may consist of either two miniature, planar antenna modules or two etched printed circuit board contours that are spaced as far apart as possible with a minimum separation of a quarter wave length distance in order to provide mitigation to radio multipath fading effects.

Abstract: A lightweight, inexpensive folding chair may have a seat with an interference fit support bracket may be provided. The seat may have a lightweight seat member constructed of a lightweight material, such as a blow-molded plastic, that is generally supported by two such support brackets. The support brackets may be affixed to the lightweight seat member by sliding the lightweight seat member into interference engagement with the support brackets. Thus, the lightweight seat member is supported against bending when the chair is in use, in a way that does not concentrate stresses in the lightweight seat member to cause deformation and failure. The support brackets may have an enclosing shape so that the lightweight seat member is unable to move laterally or transversely out of engagement with the support brackets. The support brackets may thus have lips extending into the lightweight seat member to provide the enclosing shape.

Abstract: Disclosed is a vertically oriented capacitor structure, which is of particular usefulness in MOS DRAM memory modules. The structure has upper and lower polysilicon capacitor plates separated by a dielectric layer, each of the plates and dielectric layers sloping at an angle of about 80-85 degrees with respect to an underlying silicon substrate. As such, the novel capacitor is formed in a sloped contact opening. The contact area of electrical connection of the lower capacitor plate with an underlying active region has a sufficiently small horizontal cross-section that the contact area will not extend laterally beyond the active region and leakage will not occur. A method for forming the contact opening is disclosed and comprises first, the formation of an active region, preferably located between two insulating bird's beak regions, and covering the active area with a thin layer of oxide etch barrier material. A polysilicon layer is then formed above the oxide etch barrier.

Abstract: A cornice device for building structures including a crown member and a connector member. The crown member has a first end configured to attach to the roof portion of the building structure and a second end. The crown member may include an optional fascia board and an optional roof nailer member attached to the fascia board. The connector member comprises a first leg configured to cooperate with the second end of the crown member. The second leg of the connector member is configured to couple to the outer wall of the building structure. The crown member and the connector member are configured to flex during installation to accommodate for various framing variances. The cornice device also includes means for discharging water from the cornice device which is spaced apart the outer wall of the building structure so as to keep the water discharged from and off the cornice device from damaging the outer wall.

Abstract: A rack is provided for holding a set of syringes. The syringes may be conventional syringes or unique syringes that have a hollow elongated barrel engaged by a plunger with unique relative lengths. The rack is configured to rest on a flat surface and hold the syringes so that the syringes are horizontal relative to the flat surface for easy viewing. The rack has a series of cradles adapted to hold the barrels of syringes. Each cradle has a slot configuration with an open top, two opposing sides and a bottom surface so that all of the syringe barrel can be seen to enable a user to quickly identify the contents of the syringe based on indicia on the barrel. The cradles preferably have raised portions that act as locking extensions to provide a tight fit with the syringe barrel.

Abstract: Multiple channel multiplexing/demultiplexing devices include an optically transparent optical block seated atop an optically transparent beam-directing member. The optical block includes a plurality of wavelength selective elements, a plurality of reflectors, and at least one imaging optical element. The beam-directing member includes a beam folding mirror and focusing lenses. When the devices are used as demultiplexers, a multi-channel beam is directed into the optical block and relayed in a zigzag pattern onto the wavelength selective elements, which separate selected wavelengths from the beam. The separated wavelengths propagate through the beam-directing member and are focused onto optical receptors.

Abstract: A retractable platform allows communication to be established with an electronic device, such as a computer expansion card. The retractable platform is preferably slidably attached to the electronic device and retractable platform includes a wireless interface that allows the communication between the platform and the electronic device to be established. The wireless interface may use an optical coupling, inductive coupling, capacitive coupling or other suitable wireless or non-mechanical interface to allow communication between the retractable platform and the electronic device. Advantageously, the retractable platform can be removed and replaced, which virtually eliminates breakage, and it allows the platform to be easily repaired, replaced, upgraded, and the like. The retractable platform can also include electronic circuitry and other suitable components that process or condition the incoming and outgoing signal.

Abstract: Methods and systems are described for minimizing increases in memory usage when updating an inheritance tree that follows “first one wins” inheritance semantics for property or “metadata” information. The inheritance tree is updated by writing new files to the inheritance tree, each new file potentially having property information or “metadata” associated therewith. The method examines the ancestral line of each new file that is written to the inheritance tree (and any property value in a global location if necessary) to determine whether existing property values that would be applied to the new file match the property value of the new file. If the existing property value does not match the property value of the new file, the property information is set in the ancestral line of the new file at the level of the new file itself.

Abstract: A height adjustable table assembly (10) has a table top (12) with an upper surface (20) and an outer periphery (14). The table assembly (10) also has a supporting base (38). A height adjustment mechanism (25, 54, 50) is provided to selectively raise or lower the table top (12) relative to the supporting base (38). The height adjustment mechanism (25, 54, 50) includes a height adjustment actuator (25) in the form of a rotatable member. The rotatable member (25) is selectively rotatable relative to the supporting base (38) to actuate the height adjustment mechanism (25, 54, 50) to selectively raise or lower the table top (12). The rotatable member (25) is disposed underneath the upper surface (20) of the table top (12) and has an outer edge (29) which terminates at or near the outer periphery (14) of the table top (12) for at least a portion of the outer periphery (14) of the table top (12). A resiliently deformable tether (40) may interconnect the table top and at least a portion of the support assembly (27).

Abstract: An improved catheterization system includes: (i) a catheter system which receives a wire therein; and (ii) a puncture guard that flexibly, resiliently covers a portion of a wire extending from a proximal end of the catheter. Two-part and one-part embodiments of the puncture guard are available. The puncture guard is selectively mounted on a wire and/or onto a catheter through which the wire extends.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for reducing flicker of an image defined in HTML format for display on a television monitor. When an image is retrieved from a server by a user browser system that uses a television monitor and a dedicated computer system to display HTML documents, analysis is performed on the image to determine whether the image exhibits a tendency to interlace flicker if such an image were to be displayed unmodified on the television monitor. If the analysis indicates that the image would exhibit a tendency to interlace flicker, the dedicated computer system identifies a flicker reduction filter that reduces the interlace flicker. The dedicated computer system applies the filter to the images before it is displayed on the television monitor. Otherwise, the dedicated computer system displays the image as retrieved from the server without flicker reduction filtering.

Abstract: Methods and systems for controlling and monitoring pressurization data. The methods and systems advance beyond the prior art in their ability to convey pressurization data unambiguously. The methods and systems include a novel combination of visual cues and control features to insure that pressurization data may be analyzed accurately. For example, the visual cues and control features include changing the background color of the display area and providing a pressurization arrow to indicate pressurization or depressurization; a time showing the elapsed time of pressurization or depressurization; a pressurization number indicating the number of pressurization cycles that have occurred; software keys for making configuration choices; and text and graphic display modes. A touch interface may be provide for user interaction. To insure accurate pressure measurements, at least one pressure reference standard may also be utilized.

Abstract: A dental office procedure for whitening patient teeth involves the basic steps of: (1) coating a specially-prepared patient dentition impression with a tooth whitening agent; (2) placing the coated patient dentition impression into the patient's mouth; (3) heating a specially-prepared patient dentition impression to a temperature in the range of approximately from 120° F. to 140° F. and (4) retaining the so-placed patient dentition impression in position at least for a total period of time in the range of approximately from 5 to 60 minutes. The procedure can be adapted to microwave heating, electrical resistance heating, or hot fluid heating of the patient dentition impression.

Abstract: An integrated latching mechanism for use with a user pluggable electronic module, such as an opto-electronic transceiver module, is disclosed. The latching mechanism allows the user to selectively latch the module within a corresponding host port by manipulation of a lever formed on a bail. Movement of the bail causes a locking pin to extend and latch the module within the port. Conversely, movement of the bail can be used to disengage the locking pin and thereby allow the user to extract the module from within the port. Operative movement of the lock pin is accomplished by forming a cam on the bail lever. Movement of the bail lever thus causes movement of the cam, which corresponds to movement of a locking pin from a latched to a delatched position. The bail may be substantially disposed either within or outside of the electronic module.

Abstract: The invention involves storing data on a storage medium without fragmentation. A data conveyance system configures data for delivery to a data storage system and associates a storage instruction with the data. The storage instruction instructs the data storage system to store the data without fragmentation. The data conveyance system then conveys the data and the storage instruction to the data storage system. The data storage system receives the conveyance and a controller reads the storage instruction. The controller stores the data in contiguous storage locations on the storage medium in accordance with the storage instruction. If the storage medium is a disk, the data conveyance system may configure the data for delivery to the data storage system by generating a filesystem and combining the data and the filesystem to form a partition file.