Abstract: A hard drive disk substrate is formed of a multi-phase ceramic-based material having at least two phases with amorphous phases being present in an amount less than about 1 volume percent based on the volume of the ceramic-based material or at least one phase being free metal. A process for producing the ceramic-based disk substrate is produced by forming a flat disk of a porous ceramic and then infiltrating the porous ceramic with a metal whereby a multi-phase ceramic-based computer hard drive disk is produced. Additionally, a step of passivating the porous ceramic by elevating it to a temperature of about 1300.degree. to about 1800.degree. C. before the infiltrating step may be performed, such that the surfaces are passivated and the reaction kinetics can be controlled during the infiltrating step. A preferred composite material is made of a multi-phase boron carbide composite material including grains having peaks with an average roughness value, Ra, of between about 1 to about 200 .ANG.

Abstract: A set of legal form blanks intended for conveying information obtained during a single legal transaction to a plurality of legal entities. A horizontal first line of separation is provided across the entire width of the legal form blanks for separation of the legal form blanks after completion into documents having separate uses or purposes. A vertical second line of separation is provided perpendicular to the first line of separation such that left and right sets of legal form blanks are formed. Common information and different but related information can be provided on immediately adjacent legal form blanks of the left and right sets of legal form blanks.

Abstract: A laser ablation system comprising a laser head providing a laser output; a flexible fiber optic cable optically coupled to the laser output and transmitting laser light; an output optics assembly including a nozzle through which laser light passes; an exhaust tube in communication with the nozzle; and a blower generating a vacuum on the exhaust tube. A method of decontaminating a surface comprising the following steps: providing an acousto-optic, Q-switched Nd:YAG laser light ablation system having a fiber optically coupled output optics assembly; and operating the laser light ablation system to produce an irradiance greater than 1.times.10.sup.7 W/cm.sup.2, and a pulse width between 80 and 170 ns.

Abstract: A process for providing a metal oxide-containing coating on a compatible substrate, the coating being transparent to a photocuring source output and upon cure being resistant to electrical stress. The process of the invention comprises a) preparing a precursor composition comprising a mixture of a stabilizer and a metal oxide sol precursor material; b) combining the stabilizer/metal oxide sol precursor material mixture with a photocurable base resin without high shear mixing to achieve a homogeneous, transparent composition; c) coating the substrate material with the transparent composition; and d) photocuring the coated substrate bearing the transparent composition, wherein the cured coating is homogenous and transparent and remains transparent in the use state, thereby rendering the coating corona resistant. This invention further relates to the coated substrate.

Abstract: An electronic controller arrangement for an elevator car includes an auxiliary controller including instructions for disconnecting a main operational controller from a door operator when either a Phase I (emergency car recall operation); or a Phase II (in-car operation during emergency); special emergency service signal is detected by the auxiliary controller and for performing all door control operations during the Phase I or Phase II emergency condition.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a silica-filled rubber composition reinforced with a combination of silica and a mixture of two defined carbon blacks and to pneumatic tires having treads comprised of such rubber composition.

Abstract: A protection system for a computer is provided. This system is essentially based on the provision of an EEPROM (20) of unstandard access and containing configuration data of the computer as well as a password. At power-on, the contents of the EEPROM except eventually the password, are copied into a CMOS memory (16) which must conventionally be present in the computer. The invention eventually provides additional circuitry for irreversibly cutting the access to the EEPROM and specified peripheric devices.

Abstract: A computer input device includes a non-conductive substrate with a first conductive pattern formed by a plurality of first conductive elements positioned on the substrate surface circumferentially around a circle. A second conductive pattern formed by a plurality of second conductive elements, each positioned on the surface between two first conductive elements. A contact member has a conductive surface which when manually operated by a user selectively connects one or more of the first conductive elements to one or more of the second conductive elements. The ones of the second conductive elements so connected can be detected to produce a signal indicating an angular direction in which a cursor on a computer screen.

Abstract: A means for damping a low-friction azimuth resolver by use of an array of small magnets acting on a metallic pendulum attached to the resolver shaft. The magnetic field acts on the pendulum motion to induce a motional electromotive force and associated currents, which produce forces opposed to the motion, thereby acting as a non-contact damper on the resolver shaft. When the resolver shaft is at rest, no "eddy currents" are produced in the static magnetic field and no damping force exists. If the shaft moves, the attached pendulum cuts the magnetic flux lines and produces a drag force proportional to the shaft angular speed. The pendulum is typically made of diamagnetic material, such as lead or copper, thereby assuring that the induced forces arise solely from the motion. The magnetic field is produced by an array of small, but intense, samarium-cobalt magnets contained in a compact package providing for uniform damping throughout 360.degree. of resolver motion.

Abstract: An RF EAS tag includes a substrate with a conductive element positioned on a face surface thereof and having electrically inductive properties. A capacitive element is positioned on the face surface and has electrically capacitive properties wherein the inductive and capacitive elements are operably coupled together to form a resonant circuit which resonates when an electrical signal of a predetermined resonant frequency is applied to the tag. The capacitive element comprises a dielectric ink substance having a high dielectric constant for producing the desired resonant circuit on a single face surface of the substrate. An alternative tag comprises a substrate with a conductive layer positioned thereon and a gap formed in the conductive layer exposing a portion of the substrate. This forms a slotline waveguide shorted at both ends. A high dielectric constant ink substance is then deposited in the slot.

Abstract: A tandem tool point apparatus for simultaneously machining surfaces on opposite sides of a thin wall may be used on an annulus having flat machining surfaces or on a circular wall having curved machining surfaces. The tool has spaced apart first and second tool points mounted in first and second tool holders respectively and a coupling element for coupling the first and second tool holders together to maintain the first and second tool points in tandem during a machining operation on the opposite sides of the wall. The apparatus preferably includes a tandem adjusting element for simultaneously adjusting the space between the tool points. A spacer may be used between the holders extending longitudinally over a portion of a length of the holders and the adjusting element longitudinally disposed between the tool points.

Abstract: A high strength, lightweight camshaft for an internal combustion engine, comprising a shaft body having an axially oriented hollow interior extending a predetermined length from between a pair of spaced points, respectively, adjacent the ends of the shaft body. Plural camshaft journal bearings are spaced apart on the shaft body and include a pair of end camshaft journal bearings positioned adjacent the ends of the shaft body, respectively, with at least one inner camshaft journal bearing positioned intermediate the pair of end camshaft journal bearings. Each end camshaft journal bearing has a lubricant transfer means formed therein for receiving lubricant from an external supply and for transferring lubricant into the hollow interior of the camshaft.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for hydroformylating olefins with carbon monoxide and a hydrogen atom source in the presence of a catalyst system obtainable by combining (a) a source of a Group VIII metal cation, (b) a compound acting as bidentate ligand of the formula R.sup.1 R.sup.2 M.sup.1 --R--M.sup.2 R.sup.3 R.sup.4, wherein M.sup.1 and M.sup.2 independently are P, As or Sb, R represents a bivalent substituted or non-substituted bridging group containing from 1 to 5 atoms in the bridge, R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 together are a substituted or non-substituted bivalent group whereby the two free valencies are linked to M.sup.1, and R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 together are a substituted or non-substituted bivalent group whereby the two free valencies are linked to M.sup.2 or R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 independently are substituted or non-substituted hydrocarbyl groups, and (c) a source of anions; wherein the hydrogen atom source comprises water or a primary or secondary alcohol.

Abstract: The gaming system of the present invention includes one or more slot machines (10, 110) associated with a racing display (20, 120) wherein the racing elements (22, 122) are not racing against each other. Rather, a clock (24, 124) is included and each racing element is racing against the clock, independently of the other racing elements. The racing display (20) may be built directly into the slot machine so that the slot player can easily see the progress of his horse (22) or other racing element. Alternatively, a large racing display (120) may be utilized that displays a plurality of horses or other racing elements (122) but wherein each horse is racing against a different clock (124) rather than against each other. Even further, Win, Place and Show positions are located adjacent the finish line, and the slot player whose horse (22, 122) reaches either of these positions is awarded a prize depending on the position reached before the clock (24, 124) has timed out.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a silica reinforced rubber composition and to pneumatic tires having treads comprised of the silica reinforced rubber compositions.The silica reinforced rubber composition comprises at least one elastomer, silica, a silica coupler, a hydrophobating agent and, optionally, carbon black.

Abstract: An electrical appliance includes an appliance base, a cover, power lines carrying electrical power to the appliance base, an interlock switch, and a fastener. The interlock switch has a switch case and a switch within the switch case. The switch case is affixed to the appliance base, the switch is in one of the power lines, and the switch has an open position and a closed position. The fastener is arranged to fasten the cover to the appliance base so that the fastener holds the switch in its closed position when the cover is fastened by the fastener to the appliance base and allows the switch to move to its open position when the cover is not fastened by the fastener to the appliance base.

Abstract: A body fluid collection assembly includes a tube having an outside surface, an open end and a closed end forming a chamber having an inside wall for holding a body fluid, the tube has a raised annulus at the open end. The assembly includes a closure with a shield having a top, an opening therethrough and a cavity for receiving the open end of the tube. The cavity has an inside surface having at least one protuberance projecting inwardly from the inside surface so that when the open end of the tube is in the cavity, the protuberance engages said annulus retaining said shield on the tube. The assembly includes a sealing element having a top surface and a lower flange and a gas barrier member bonded to the lower flange to form a primary seal with the inside wall of the tube and a secondary seal at the open end of the tube. The assembly further includes a plug housing having a passage and a resilient plug mounted in the passage, and elements for releasably mounting the plug housing on the shield.

Abstract: A method of editing a real-time control program as it controls equipment is provided in which the editing occurs in a second area of memory and integrated into the pre-existing program by means of conditional jump instructions concatenated to that edited material. The pre-existing program is uninterrupted by the editing process except for a change of single instructions which do not affect the results of the execution but redirect the execution thread of that control program to be conditionally connected to the edited material. This single writing of single instructions, which do not affect execution results, precludes the possibility of the controller executing partially edited programs. The jump instructions are conditional on a test edit pointer to allow instantaneous implementation of the edits and a simple return to unedited instructions simply by changing the state of the flag.

Abstract: The invention is a solid catalyst having acid strength H.sub.o less than -18. Such catalysts are characterized by the ability to react with very weak bases, such as butane, at relatively low temperatures, for example temperatures in the range from 20.degree. to 200.degree. C. The catalysts have exceptionally high activity for various hydrocarbon conversion processes, for example, because of their exceptionally high acid strength.