Abstract: The invention provides composite elastic nonwoven fabrics and processes of making the same. The composite elastic fabrics of the invention include a plurality of longitudinally extending elastomeric filaments and at least one fibrous web including staple fibers and anchoring fibers entangled with the elastomeric filaments. The anchoring fibers strengthen the attachment of the staple fibers to the elastomeric filaments, so that the entire fibrous mass extends as a unit when the fabric is extended. The resultant product is a coherent, substantially unitary structure encompassing the elastomeric filaments.

Abstract: This invention relates to a treated pillared clay made by the process comprising the steps of:(A) contacting at least one clay with an effective amount of at least one ammonium ion source to exchange sodium and/or calcium ions in said clay for ammonium ions to provide an ammonium-containing clay, said clay comprising metal oxides and hydroxides and having a lamellar structure with lamellar layers and interlamellar spaces disposed between the lamellar layers and exchangeable sodium and/or calcium ions occupying said interlamellar spaces;(B) contacting said ammonium-containing clay with an effective amount of at least one source of fluorine to replace at least part of the hydroxyl groups in said clay with fluorine to provide a fluorine- and ammonium-containing clay;(C) contacting said fluorine- and ammonium-containing clay with an effective amount of at least one pillaring agent to form a fluorine-containing pillared clay; and(D) contacting said fluorine-containing pillared clay with an effective amount of at l

Abstract: The present invention is directed to providing a passively mode-locked laser which can achieve higher-harmonic mode-locking to produce a pulse repetition rate comparable to that of known actively mode-locked lasers, without requiring the complex modulation schemes typically associated with active techniques. Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are directed to a passively mode-locked laser wherein mode-locking is achieved by harmonic partitioning of the laser cavity. In accordance with the present invention, relatively high repetition rates can be achieved to provide ultra-short pulses without requiring the complex modulation schemes of active techniques, and without becoming susceptible to instabilities typically associated with passive techniques wherein high repetition rates are achieved using subcavities.

Abstract: A method of managing a telecommunication subnetwork system composed of a number of network elements coupled together through an optical medium to form a Synchronous Optical NETwork (SONET) ring. Each of the network elements receives upon initiation or reconfiguration and then stores an identical ring table or knowledge database that is composed of data in a predetermined format and structure. The ring table defines the ring type and ring identification, number of nodes, ring status, node identification, sequence, and status, and provides ring provisioning tables and embedded SONET ring path identification/status information. The ring table is utilized in each of the network elements for provisioning and other management type functions common within a SONET ring environment.

Abstract: A method is provided for controlling a multiplayer competition video game for use with the system which includes a video display screen, a graphics controller, digital memory and user input devices, the method comprising the steps of: providing a first region of the video display screen in which a scrollable playfield can be displayed; providing a second region of the video display screen in which the scrollable playfield can be displayed; displaying a first character in the first region; displaying a second character in the second region; scrolling the playfield in the first region to show progress of the first character in traversing the playfield; scrolling the playfield in the second region to show progress of the second character in traversing the playfield; displaying an exchange object in a portion of the scrollable playfield displayed in at least one of the first and second regions; activating the exchange object; interchanging respective playfield displays in the first display screen and the second d

Abstract: A method and apparatus for decoding a pixel image representative of a bar code symbol. The bar code symbol is comprised of a plurality of encoded character values each of which corresponds to one of a plurality of prototype bar patterns, wherein each of the prototype bar patterns has a set of predetermined bar width feature values associated therewith. A set of bar width information estimates is determined from the pixel image. The set of bar width information estimates being representative of a character value stored in the bar code symbol. The set of bar width estimates is compared to a selected set of predetermined bar width feature values. Based on this comparison, it is determined whether the character value stored in the bar code symbol corresponds to the selected set of predetermined bar width information values.

Abstract: A method is provided for controlling the appearance of a video game game character, as the character traverses a path displayed on a display screen; wherein the method is used in a video game system which includes a graphics controller, digital memory and a display screen, the method comprises the steps of: displaying a banked path segment in which the game character is displayed upright at at least one location on the banked path and is displayed upside down at at least one other location on this banked path; storing multiple sprite patterns representative of the appearance of the character at different locations on the banked path as the character traverses the banked path; tracking the character location on the banked path as the character traverses the banked path; retrieving the stored sprite patterns that portray the character at different locations on the banked path; and displaying a character using the retrieved patterns such that the character has different appearances at different locations on the

Abstract: The present invention relates to improved injectors for use in CVD reactor systems, and more specifically for use in epitaxial deposition systems for processing a single wafer-at-a-time. The improved injectors of the present invention are used to provide a predetermined desired shaped velocity profile for the injected reactant gases for insuring a more uniform deposition on a single wafer to be processed within the reactor system. In the first embodiment, the reactant gas is fed into a horizontal gas distribution manifold cavity and distributed horizontally in both directions. The gas then passes through a manifold wall having a pattern of predetermined sized and spaced apertures therein. The size of the apertures and the distribution of these sizes, shapes the resultant velocity profile to a desired pattern.

Abstract: A method for transporting common control data on a backplane bus under the SONET standard uses the section and line overhead bytes. A unit is assigned a predefined number of time slots during in the STS-1 synchronous payload envelope to assert a data transmission request on a request/acknowledge bus. Each unit keeps queue and count-down counters for monitoring, respectively, the total number of pending packets in the system and the number of packets ahead of the unit's own queued transmission. This method is implemented on a PCM bus using a transmission circuit and a receiving circuit.

Abstract: A bar code reader decodes a bar code symbol in a pixel image by transforming the data corresponding to the symbol along a first scan line, where the transformation comprises rotation and stretching. The reader generates a whitening gradient vector, a blackening gradient vector, and a count vector from the transformed data. The reader then transforms (by rotating and stretching) another set of data corresponding to the symbol along a second scan line. The reader updates the whitening and blackening gradient vectors and the count vector using the second set of transformed data. The reader then generates whitening and blackening gradient signals from the whitening and blackening gradient vectors and the count vector. The reader segments the whitening and blackening gradient signals and generates a single one-dimensional reconstructed signal based on the weighted centroids of the two segmented gradient signals. The reader then decodes the symbol by decoding the reconstructed signal.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for extruding fibers from ionomer resins that are not blended with polyolefins, monomers, solvents, or other conventional compounds typically used in connection with processing fibers that contain ionomers. The preferred ionomers are 90% neutralized metal salts of copolymers of from at least about 60 to 90% ethylene and from at least about 10 to 40% acrylic acid. Multivalent metal cations can be used to introduce cross linking for control of the solubility and swellability of the fibers. The fibers and webs produced therefrom can be produced by meltblowing and can be used to provide a less expensive alternative to superabsorbent powders.

Abstract: An anti-theft system for an automatic teller machine (ATM) causes a currency alarm pack to deface the currency supply in the event that an attempt is made to transport the entire ATM. When the machine is moved, a localized field is momentarily activated and thereafter deactivated and disabled for a first predetermined interval. A triggerable currency alarm in the money supply of the machine, includes a field detector and a motion detector. The currency alarm is triggered when the following three conditions concur. First, the field detector detects the localized field and thereafter ceases to detect the localized field. Second, the motion detector detects motion of the currency alarm during a predetermined delay interval less than the first predetermined interval during which the field is disabled. Third, the field detector does not reacquire the localized field during the predetermined delay interval.

Abstract: A method of forming bales in a round baler having a crop pickup and a bale forming chamber which is either fixed or expandable during bale formation. In one baler in which the method is readily carried out, the chamber is defined by a flexible apron comprising a plurality of side by side elongated belts trained about a plurality of rolls, a series of transverse crop engaging rolls and a floor roll. The method includes the steps of positioning the round baler to pick up crop material with the pickup, feeding the picked up crop material into the expandable bale forming chamber, sensing the compaction of the crop material in one or more regions during its formation in the bale forming chamber, generating a signal indicative of the level of compaction of the crop material in the region or regions, and repositioning the round baler in response to variations in the signal during expansion of the chamber to maintain the compaction at a predetermined level.

Abstract: A round baler having a frame with opposing side walls, a series of inwardly facing moving surfaces defining a baling chamber for forming cylindrical packages of crop material, a pick up for feeding crop material into the chamber, a plurality of rotatable transverse rollers mounted between the opposing side walls of the frame, and a support assembly for mounting at least one of the rollers. The support includes a bearing assembly having a generally cylindrical stationary first race and a concentrically disposed generally cylindrical rotatable second race between which races a bearing cavity is formed for seating a series of bearings housed between the first and second races. The second race is rotatable with the one roller relative to the first race.

Abstract: An apparatus for illuminating and imaging a surface includes a two-dimensional array of LEDs for providing uniform illumination to the surface, the LEDs being mounted on a planar surface with a centrally defined aperture, and a CCD-based camera with appropriate lensing for obtaining an image of the illuminated surface and providing a signal representative of that obtained image to a processing unit, the CCD-based camera lensing being disposed through the centrally defined aperture in the planar surface of the LED array, and the LED array and CCD-camera lensing being disposed inside an opaque shroud.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for weighing an object in which the object is moved to, and tipped over, a tip point. A signal representative of the weight of the object is generated as the object is tipped over the tip point. The apparatus may include a conveyor for moving the object toward the tip point, which may be supported by a load sensor that generates the signals representative of the object weight.

Abstract: Hindered amine light stabilizers are provided in which the hindered amine is contained in a unit of formula ##STR1## where X is ##STR2## and R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, and A are as defined as in the Summary of the Invention. Unique polymeric and non-polymeric compounds containing this unit are useful as additives for the stabilization of polymeric compositions which are normally subject to thermal, oxidative or actinic light degradation.

Abstract: The use of VDF/TFE/HFP terpolymers in PVDF based powder coating resins to enhance the aesthetics of coatings made therefrom.

Abstract: A process for producing a novel catalyst wherein an amorphous alumina gel is formed at least on the surface of an aluminum-containing material, the gel is heated to form crystalline .alpha.- or .beta.-alumina trihydrate and the trihydrate is sulfided, the product of said process, and the method of producing mercaptans from alcohols or ethers and hydrogen sulfide at elevated temperature in the presence of said novel catalyst, are disclosed herein.