Abstract: An optical fiber array having wick stop grooves in a front face of the array. The wick stop grooves control the movement of liquid adhesive (e.g. UV curable adhesive, solder, sol-gel). Particularly, the wick stop grooves prevent liquid adhesive from flowing between the optical fibers in the array and waveguides of an integrated optic chip. Adhesives disposed in the fiber-waveguide optical path can degrade the performance of optical devices. The wick stop grooves can be cut with a dicing saw, or chemically etched (wet or dry), and can have a wide variety of patterns (e.g., straight lines, circles). In any case, the wick stop grooves must prevent the flow of liquid adhesive between the fibers and waveguides. Alternatively, the wick stop grooves are disposed in an edge of the integrated optic chip. Also, the wick stop grooves can be disposed on the front face of other microoptical devices such as filters and lenslet arrays.

Abstract: A fault detection and isolation system for detecting leaks and blockages in a fluid handling system having at least one component through which fluid flows includes sensors for measuring fluid conditions upstream and downstream of the component. The sensors generate signals that are representative of the upstream and downstream fluid conditions and are fed to a control algorithm. The control algorithm uses the measured fluid conditions to generate estimates of an inlet state for the component and an outlet state for the component. The control algorithm also calculates innovation sequences for the estimated inlet and outlet states, and then compares the innovation sequences to predetermined thresholds to detect leaks and blockages.

Abstract: There is disclosed a thermoplastic resin composition comprising; (A) 5 to 95% by weight of a thermoplastic resin having a melt flow rate of from 0.001 to 100 g/10 min. and a die swell ratio of not less than 1.7, and (B) 95 to 5% by weight of an olefin polymer satisfying the following formula (1), Ua≦1.5×Sa×(Ta/100)3.3  (1) wherein (i) Ua is a flexural modulus of a resin opposition for evaluation composed of 50 parts by weight of said olefin polymer and 50 parts by weight of a specific homopolypropylene resin, (ii) Sa is a flexural modulus of said homopolypropylene resin, and (iii) Ta is a containing ratio of said homopolypropylene resin in the resin composition for evaluation, provided that the sum of the component (A) and the component (B) is 100% by weight.

Abstract: A developing device for an image forming apparatus of the type feeding a one-ingredient or two-ingredient type developer, forming a thin toner layer on a developing roller or toner support member and developing a latent image with the toner layer is disclosed. The toner support member has a surface that is chargeable to the same polarity as toner. The toner support member therefore serves to simply support the toner without electrostatically effecting the toner, so that the development of a latent image is free from the influence of the static electricity of the toner support member. This successfully enhances image quality. A photoconductive element has a coefficient of friction &mgr; confined in the range of 0.1<&mgr;<0.4, preventing the toner from depositing on and contaminating the background area of the element. In addition, the surface of the photoconductive element is protected and has its service life extended.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating an optimally registered working set of two-dimensional CT images in a gated CT system, the method including, where an acquisition period is divided into sequential acquisition phases, obtaining CT image data for separate phase ranges during each acquisition phase, generating phase image sets including 2D images for each phase range and selecting one phase range image set corresponding to each acquisition phase to generate a working image set where the selected phase range image sets are optimally aligned.

Abstract: The present invention provides certain N-substituted sulfonamide derivatives useful for potentiating glutamate receptor function in a mammal and therefore, useful for treating a wide variety of conditions, such as psychiatric and neurological disorders.

Abstract: A method for controllably simultaneously polishing polysilicon and oxide using an oxide slurry and a polish stop layer over the oxide is described. Semiconductor device structures are provided in and on a semiconductor substrate. An oxide layer is deposited overlying the semiconductor device structures. A silicon nitride layer is deposited overlying the oxide layer as a polish stop layer. A contact opening is etched through the silicon nitride layer and the oxide layer to one of the semiconductor device structures. A polysilicon layer is deposited overlying the silicon nitride layer and within the contact opening. The polysilicon layer is polished until the silicon nitride layer is contacted and then the polysilicon layer, silicon nitride layer, and oxide layer are overpolished in a timed polish to remove the silicon nitride layer and planarize the oxide layer to complete simultaneous planarization of the oxide and polysilicon layers in the fabrication of an integrated circuit device.

Abstract: An inspection apparatus for inspecting welds in a nuclear reactor jet pump includes a probe subassembly rotatably and linearly movably coupled to a frame structure configured to attach to a top flange of the reactor pressure vessel. The probe subassembly includes a plurality of probe arms pivotably coupled to a housing, with each probe arm including a sensor. The probe arms are pivotably movable between a first position where the probe arms are parallel to a longitudinal axis of the probe subassembly, and a second position where the probe arms are at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the probe subassembly. An insertion subassembly couples to the jet pump suction inlet. The insertion subassembly is sized to receive the probe subassembly and guide the probe subassembly into the jet pump through the jet pump suction inlet.

Abstract: A mixture is made of a plurality of different titanyltetraazaporphyrin compounds, each of which is represented by formula (1): wherein A, B, C and D are each independently an unsubstituted or substituted benzene ring or pyridine ring, a substituent thereof being selected from the group consisting of nitro group, cyano group, a halogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, an alkoxyl group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, and an aryl group. The above-mentioned mixture is contained in a photoconductive layer of an electrophotographic photoconductor as a photoconductive material.

Abstract: An electret filter media includes an additive or mixtures thereof that enhance the charge stability of the media. The filter media achieves acceptable alpha values for a range of filtration challenges without significant decay in alpha values over time. Preferred charge additives include fatty acid amides and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: A coating method and apparatus are taught for coating a liquid composition onto a surface of a moving web. A coating hopper for delivering the liquid composition to the surface of the moving web is provided with a rotatable backing roller. The moving web is wrapped around a portion of the rotatable backing roller with the rotatable backing roller supporting the moving web through a dynamic wetting line. The rotatable backing roller includes a plurality of circumferential grooves therein at a groove pitch of at least two per millimeter. An electrostatic field generated across the gap between the moving web and the liquid composition immediately prior to the dynamic wetting line. The method and apparatus permit either coating at a higher speed or higher viscosity than may be achieved in the prior art, or greatly reduced groove line nonuniformity at a given coating speed and viscosity.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for rotating loose laminations in a loose lamination die, a strip is fed through the die to a rotatable blanking chamber of a blanking station. There, a punch engages with a die ring to punch a lamination free from the strip. The rotatable blanking chamber is biased in an upwardly direction. When the punch is not engaging with the die ring, the rotatable chamber is in an upward position wherein a gap develops between laminations retained at a bottom of the rotatable chamber, and those laminations lying directly below the rotatable chamber. The rotatable chamber can then be rotated without damage to the laminations at the gap because of the presence of the gap. A finger joint having an upper and lower portion is provided below the rotatable chamber which permits the gap to develop when the rotatable chamber is biased in the upward direction.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes an address generation circuit for generating an address signal. A memory operates for storing an information signal containing a video signal in response to the address signal. The address signal is periodically updated. A compression processing circuit operates for reading out the information signal from the memory, and subjecting the readout information signal to a compressively encoding process. A head of every frame represented by the information signal is detected. A state of the address signal is stored which corresponds to the detected frame head. Detection is made as to whether or not the information signal becomes discontinuous. The updating of the address signal and also the operation of the compression processing circuit are suspended when it is detected that the information signal becomes discontinuous. Detection is made as to whether or not the information signal returns to a normally continuous state after the information signal becomes discontinuous.

Abstract: An ink-jet cartridge adapted to be used for a thermal ink-jet printer is disclosed. The ink-jet cartridge includes a housing for storing the ink in an interior thereof, a printhead having a plurality of orifices thereon for allowing the ink to be Jetted therethrough when the thermal ink-jet printer is printing, and a pressure-adjusting device disposed in the housing for regulating a back pressure of the interior of the housing, wherein the pressure-adjusting device includes a first opening fixed on an upper portion of the housing and exposed to an ambient atmosphere, and a second opening disposed at a bottom of the interior of the housing and having at least one regulating hole thereon. Each regulating hole has a cross-sectional area being smaller than that of the first opening for maintaining the back pressure when the ink-jet cartridge is inverted.

Abstract: The invention includes a compositon of matter comprising a heavy oil having dispersed therein surface modified solid wherein said surface modified solids comprise solids having adsorbed thereon air oxidized polar hydrocarbons from said heavy oil and wherein said surface modified solids have a diameter of about 10 microns or less and a method for preparing the same.

Abstract: An integrated subject monitoring system facilitates measurement, collection and analysis of data pertaining to the health status of a subject. The system includes a network-coupled computer and subsystems monitoring subject location within a defined space and the curtilage thereof and obtaining measurements of a subject's physiological or behavioral/cognitive parameters within the defined space. Parameter data is obtained primarily passively, without the cooperation or active participation of the subject. A method of monitoring the physiological and behavioral/cognitive health status of an ambulatory subject involves monitoring in a primarily passive fashion, irrespective of the active collaboration of the subject. Subject health indicia parameters are continuously monitored, sampled and recorded. Captured values are compared to initial baseline values established for each of the measured parameters as well as to the trend for the parameter of that subject.

Abstract: A system of sensing elevator car position is presented that dynamically compensates for problems due to frictional slippage of its mechanical connection and/or building settlement. The system comprises an elevator car within an elevator hoistway. An encoder is mounted within the elevator hoistway and mechanically connected to the elevator car. The mechanical connection drives the encoder which generates data indicative of the position of the elevator car. Either one of a position sensor and a position sensor actuator is mounted to a landing of the hoistway. The other one of the position sensor and position sensor actuator is mounted to the elevator car. The position sensor generates data indicative of the elevator car floor reaching a predetermined distance from the elevator landing when actuated by the position sensor actuator. An elevator position controller receives the data generated by both the position sensor and the encoder.

Abstract: A method for coating includes applying an adhesive to a surface, wherein the surface comprises an arrangement of structures thereon, wherein the structures extend upward from a plane of the surface and have at least one sidewall that makes an angle with respect to the plane of the surface of greater than 0° and less than 90° selected to reduce air bubble formation for a coating solution of a selected rheology.