Abstract: The present invention relates to fat free corn chips comprising corn masa and fat free filler selected from the group consisting of starch, protein and nondigestible fiber, and mixtures thereof; nondigestible fat substitute; and other essentially fat free ingredients selected from the group consisting of salt, emulsifiers and fat free seasonings and combinations thereof.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating visual information for an operator in a first aircraft and a pilot in a second aircraft regarding the second aircraft's position relative to a first aircraft. A 3-D camera system (72) generates a real time 3-D video image of the second aircraft. A selecting device (82) provides selection of a stored geometric model based on the second aircraft type. A display monitor (83) displays the generated real time 3-D video image and the selected geometric model. A matching device (84) matches the displayed geometric model to the displayed real time 3-D video image. A processor (84) determines the position of the second aircraft relative to stored zone information according to the matched geometric model and generates control signals according to the determined second aircraft position. Director lights (88) mounted on the outside of the first aircraft display position information visible to the pilot of the second aircraft according to the generated control signals.

Abstract: A household appliance includes a supervisory level controller for controlling operation of the appliance in accordance with operator-determined performance objectives. The supervisory level controller includes a disturbance parameter estimator coupled to receive appliance condition signals from sensor systems on the appliance for processing the signals to generate estimated appliance operating states; a sequential sensor integrator for generating a temporally-integrated estimated appliance operating state signal; and an optimizer coupled to the sensor systems and the sequential sensor integrator to receive signals therefrom and process those signals in accordance with a fuzzy logic architecture to generate control signals for application to actuator systems of the appliance in correspondence with operator-determined performance objectives.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for delivering liquid bleach activators to solid or granular peroxygen bleach containing compositions. The preferred delivery system is liquid activators complexed with a cyclodextrin, preferably beta-cyclodextrin. The present invention also relates to a method for preparing the liquid bleach activator/cyclodextrin complexes described herein.

Abstract: This invention provides 5-HT.sub.1F agonists of Formula: ##STR1## where A-B, X, and R are as defined in the specification. The invention also encompasses pharmaceutical formulations employing the compounds or the invention as well as methods of treating conditions associated with 5-HT.sub.1F activation employing these compounds or compositions.

Abstract: A safety razor blade unit (FIG. 1) comprises at least one elongate blade (1, 2) and a skin-engaging member (3) extending longitudinally of the blade or blades (1, 2) and defining a surface (9) exposed for contact with the skin during shaving. A plurality of pockets (10) is provided in the skin-engaging member (3) for holding respective portions of a shaving enhancement product (FIG. 2). The pockets (10) are distributed along the surface (9) and across the width thereof in an array spanning substantially the whole of the area of the skin-contacting surface (9). The pockets (10) can be in communication with reservoir chamber (4) containing the shave enhancement product.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are provided for peak identification of sample peaks in a chromatogram, wherein at least one group of standard peaks in standard peak series is matched to at least one group of sample peaks in a sample peak series so as to perform proper identification of the sample peaks in the sample peak group. In a preferred method, a succession of retention time windows are determined according to the characteristic retention times of the standard peaks and according to steps for determining shift, stretch, and distort parameters. The retention time windows are located with respect to the sample peak series and in accordance with the shift, stretch, and distort parameters so as to capture only certain ones of the sample peaks in the sample peak series. The shift, stretch, and distort parameters are used to position the retention time windows for improved matching of the standard peaks in the standard peak group to the captured sample peaks.

Abstract: A document detecting apparatus installed and used in an image forming apparatus that projects a scanning light is incident to a document placed on a document mount and a size and a position of the document are detected by detecting light reflected from the document, including a document pressing device which presses the document on the document mount, an opening or closing detecting device which detects opening or closing state of the document pressing device, and while the document pressing device is detected as in an opening state, document detecting operation is executed repeatedly and a detecting result is renewed, and, just before it is detected that the pressing board is closed or just before it to detected that an operation for reading an image of the document starts, the size and the position of the document are calculated on the basis of the of the detecting result in a calculation processing device.

Abstract: A window-mounted camera mount and bird feeder comprises a camera mount having a plurality of spaced suction cups for adhering the camera mount to an inner side of a window unit, and a bird feeder having a plurality of spaced suction cups similar in number and in individual locations on the bird feeder to the number and individual locations of the plurality of suction cups on the camera mount, for adhering the bird feeder to an outer side of the window unit with the respective suction cups on the bird feeder aligned with the corresponding suction cups on the camera mount to achieve picture-taking alignment of the camera mount and the bird feeder.

Abstract: The instant invention provides a process for reducing chloride content from by-products generated during production of methylchlorosilanes, comprising, (a) hydrolyzing the by-products by combining the by-products with an aqueous medium, the aqueous medium optionally comprising a surfactant, at a pH of at least about 7 and at a temperature above about 0.degree. C. to yield a first phase comprising essentially solids and a second phase comprising an aqueous phase; (b) separating the first and second phase; and (c) oxidizing the solids from the first phase at a temperature of at least about 300.degree. C. for up to about 24 hours to yield a residue comprising less than about 1% by weight of chloride. The solids from the first phase may alternatively be reduced under a hydrogen flow, at a temperature of at least about 500.degree. C. for up to about 24 hours.

Abstract: Imaging elements, such as photographic, electrostatographic and thermal imaging elements, comprised of a support, an image-forming layer and an electrically-conductive layer consisting essentially of electrically-conductive fine particles, such as antimony-doped tin oxide particles and, as a binder, water-insoluble polymer particles containing sulfonic acid groups. The use of water-insoluble polymer particles containing sulfonic acid groups as a binder in the electrically-conductive layer provides a layer with a high degree of conductivity at low concentrations of electrically-conductive fine particles.

Abstract: 1-chloro-3,3-dimethylbutane is oxidized by dimethyl sulfoxide, in the presence of an effective amount of inorganic bromide or iodide, and in the present of an effective amount of base, to produce 3,3-dimethylbutyraldehyde.

Abstract: An electrostatographic reproduction apparatus and method for cleaning remnant toner and carrier particles. A fiber cleaning brush includes plural individual conductive brush fibers in engagement with a toner bearing member to remove residual toner and magnetic carrier particles from the member. A detoning roller includes an electrically conductive surface that contacts the brush fibers and is electrically biased to electrostatically remove toner particles from the fiber brush. The detoning roller includes one or more permanent magnets for attracting remnant carrier to the detoning roller. A skive blade of non-magnetic material engages the detoning roller. In some embodiments, the permanent magnet is stationary and provides substantially no magnetic field where the skive blade engages the detoning roller to avoid congregation of magnetic carrier particles adjacent the edge of the blade. In another embodiment, the magnet rotates to cause carrier particles to move along the blade.

Abstract: A separable, flexible connection arrangement (10) is provided for connection of two conductors (12, 14). In one arrangement, the separable, flexible connection arrangement (10) is utilized to provide an externally removable bushing (16) for connecting an electrical component located within a sealed enclosure (19). The flexible connection arrangement (10) includes two joints (20, 22) formed by two link members (50a, 50b) that are spring-biased and include protuberances (40, 42) that interfit into slots (30, 32) of the conductors (12, 14). A spacer (72) may be used to maintain spacing of the protuberances (40, 42) and also acts as a stop when contacted by the ends of the slots (30, 32). One of the slots (32) is formed with an open end (74) to enable easy insertion between the link members (50a, 50b). Alternatively, one of the conductors (100) includes a set of grooves (102, 104).

Abstract: Force transducers are integrated in an elastomeric flex bearing to provide signals for determining the tension and torque upon a tension member coupled to the bearing and for computation of the azimuth and elevation of the tension member. Preferably the force transducers are mounted to or embedded in an outer metal load ring of the flex bearing and are bonded with the outer metal load ring to the elastomer of the flex bearing. The force transducer, for example, include a diaphragm bonded to the elastomer, and the diaphragm has a diameter in excess of the spacing between the outer metal load ring and the nearest laminated metal reinforcement of the bearing. In one embodiment, metal foil strain gages are bonded to the surface of the diaphragm opposite from the elastomer. In another embodiment, the diaphragm transmits pressure to hydraulic fluid between the diaphragm and the outer metal support ring.

Abstract: A digital video signal recording/playback system and method is provided wherein, when recording/playing back on/from a recording medium, the amount of video data it is possible to record can be increased by making effective use of otherwise unused areas within the basic unit of data on which signal processing is performed.

Abstract: A washer based nut has a nut body (11), a frustum disc spring (12) of a countersunk shape and rotatably fitting on the nut body, and a washer (14) for bearing against wooden articles. The washer has a central bore (16) and a round recess (17) formed around the bore and in a top face of the washer, and the round recess (17) formed coaxial with the central bore has a diameter substantially equal to an outer diameter of the frustum disc spring (12) such that the latter is fitted in the round recess. Two or more portions of a circular periphery of the round recess (17) are deformed to retain the washer (14) on the frustum disc spring (12), so that the fastening works are rendered more efficient and manufacture cost of the nuts is reduced, under an easier management of the parts.

Abstract: A method for forming a via through a nitrogenated silicon oxide layer. There is first provided a substrate. There is then formed over the substrate a nitrogenated silicon oxide layer. There is then formed upon the nitrogenated silicon oxide layer a patterned photoresist layer. Finally, there is then etched the nitrogenated silicon oxide layer through a reactive ion etch (RIE) plasma etch method while employing the patterned photoresist layer as a patterned photoresist etch mask layer to form a via through the nitrogenated silicon oxide layer. The reactive ion etch (RIE) method employs an etchant gas composition comprising: (1) a perfluorocarbon having a carbon:fluorine atomic ratio at least about 1:3; (2) oxygen; and (3) argon.

Abstract: A glass antenna attached to a vehicle side window glass for receiving radio waves such as FM radio broadcast waves and AM radio broadcast waves is provided. The glass antenna comprises a feed point disposed adjacent one of the lateral edges of the window glass, a first vertical element extending upwardly from the feed point along one of the lateral edges to a place adjacent the upper edge of the window glass, a first horizontal element extending from the first vertical element along the upper edge to a nearly central portion of the window glass, a second vertical element extending from the first horizontal element through the nearly central portion to a place adjacent the lower edge of the window glass, a second horizontal element extending from the second vertical element along the lower edge to a place adjacent the other of the lateral edges, and a third vertical element extending upwardly from the second horizontal element along the other of the lateral edges of the window glass.

Abstract: An improvement in the properties of etch rate, mechanical stress, and chemical resistance of silicon layers obtained by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition from mixtures of reactive gases such as oxygen and tetraethoxysilane is achieved by adding nitrogen gas to the reactive gas mixture. The addition of nitrogen gas is effective in improving the cited properties of the silicon oxide layers without altering the basic properties of the deposition process or degrading the other desirable properties of the silicon oxide layers in any substantial manner.