Abstract: A transport and power system having a plurality of tubes or tunnels, a magnetic levitation and linear motor train, and a superconducting power cable. One of the tubes can be an escape, power distribution, and maintenance tunnel. These tubes can be above ground, below ground, at ground, or under water.

Abstract: A method of making a mold includes forming spaced mold cavities in a mold body. The mold cavities include geometrically similar portions, but have respective depths below an initial reference surface that vary as a function of position along a particular direction. The mold cavities can be formed using anisotropic etching of preferred crystal directions in single crystal materials such as silicon. A portion of the mold material adjacent the initial reference surface is removed to expose a new reference surface at a tilt angle with respect to the initial reference surface. The modified mold cavities have their respective axes at a new desired tilt angle relative to the new reference surface.

Abstract: All or some of the component parts of a firearm are made of synthetic diamond materials. Some firearms include a specially designed trigger capable of verifying a user's identity so that only an authorized user can discharge the firearm. Some firearms include a diamond barrel designed to impart a unique pattern of grooves to any bullet leaving the barrel, thereby facilitating reliable identification of the firearm that fired a particular bullet.

Abstract: A technique allows diamonds, whether synthetic or naturally occurring, and regardless of shape, to resist high temperatures in an oxidizing environment. This is accomplished by coating the diamond with silicon carbide (SiC). The resulting product may be referred to as SiC-stabilized diamond. A further benefit with respect to diamond jewelry is that by applying SiC to the diamond jewel, a unique pattern is made by small variations in the film thickness. These variations appear under UV and X-ray examination, and along with a unique and invariant weight, provide a unique signature to the jewel.

Abstract: A method of making a mold includes forming spaced mold cavities in a mold body. The mold cavities include geometrically similar portions, but have respective depths below an initial reference surface that vary as a function of position along a particular direction. The mold cavities can be formed using anisotropic etching of preferred crystal directions in single crystal materials such as silicon. A portion of the mold material adjacent the initial reference surface is removed to expose a new reference surface at a tilt angle with respect to the initial reference surface. The modified mold cavities have their respective axes at a new desired tilt angle relative to the new reference surface.

Abstract: Improvements to projectile devices (particularly air guns) include techniques for measuring and controlling the velocity of projectiles in the barrel and after leaving the barrel, allowing the use of non-toxic projectiles. Tracking of a projectile's flight by its unique sound and/or its unique electromagnetic signal or signal modulation are also provided, along with after-barrel guidance that can be used to improve accuracy. Control for discriminating between authorized and unauthorized users is also provided. A projectile device can also be used for inexpensive and harmless practice using optical and/or acoustic information gathered by targeting and imaging systems built into the device.

Abstract: A transport and power system having a plurality of tubes or tunnels, a magnetic levitation and linear motor train, and a superconducting power cable. One of the tubes can be an escape, power distribution, and maintenance tunnel. These tubes can be above ground, below ground, at ground, or under water.

Abstract: Improvements to projectile devices (particularly air guns) include techniques for measuring and controlling the velocity of projectiles in the barrel and after leaving the barrel, allowing the use of non-toxic projectiles. Tracking of a projectile's flight by its unique sound and/or its unique electromagnetic signal or signal modulation are also provided, along with after-barrel guidance that can be used to improve accuracy. Control for discriminating between authorized and unauthorized users is also provided. A projectile device can also be used for inexpensive and harmless practice using optical and/or acoustic information gathered by targeting and imaging systems built into the device.

Abstract: A patterned structure forms a portion of the mold for a diamond molded structure but is separable from the mold by the same processes that release the diamond part. The mold portion may itself be a component in a MEMS or NEMS structure or device or the precursor to such a structure or device. The mold portion may be made from sapphire or silicon carbide. The mold portion may be coated and polished to obtain an optically smooth surface over the diamond mold inside pit. The coating may be formed from one or more of silicon carbide, PTFE, silicon nitride, silicon dioxide, sapphire, a metal, a plastic, and an epoxy.

Abstract: Apparatus and techniques are provided for modifying and measuring surfaces of diamond workpieces and other workpieces with nanoscale precision. The apparatus and techniques exploit scanning probe microscopy (SPM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) at a wide range of operating temperatures. In some embodiments, the SPM/AFM apparatus also includes an interferometric microscope and/or acoustic-wave microscope for making high-precision measurements of workpiece surfaces.

Abstract: All or some of the component parts of a firearm are made of synthetic diamond materials. Some firearms include a specially designed trigger capable of verifying a user's identity so that only an authorized user can discharge the firearm. Some firearms include a diamond barrel designed to impart a unique pattern of grooves to any bullet leaving the barrel, thereby facilitating reliable identification of the firearm that fired a particular bullet.

Abstract: Firearms include a specially designed trigger capable of verifying a user's identity so that only an authorized user can discharge the firearm. In some embodiments, a user is identified by matching a signal representing force applied to the trigger as a function of time with a preprogrammed activation sequence.

Abstract: A method of making a mold includes forming spaced mold cavities in a mold body. The mold cavities include geometrically similar portions, but have respective depths below an initial reference surface that vary as a function of position along a particular direction. The mold cavities can be formed using anisotropic etching of preferred crystal directions in single crystal materials such as silicon. A portion of the mold material adjacent the initial reference surface is removed to expose a new reference surface at a tilt angle with respect to the initial reference surface. The modified mold cavities have their respective axes at a new desired tilt angle relative to the new reference surface.

Abstract: A method of making a mold includes forming spaced mold cavities in a mold body. The mold cavities include geometrically similar portions, but have respective depths below an initial reference surface that vary as a function of position along a particular direction. The mold cavities can be formed using anisotropic etching of preferred crystal directions in single crystal materials such as silicon. A portion of the mold material adjacent the initial reference surface is removed to expose a new reference surface at a tilt angle with respect to the initial reference surface. The modified mold cavities have their respective axes at a new desired tilt angle relative to the new reference surface.

Abstract: Capsules and similar objects are made from materials having diamond (sp3) lattice structures, including diamond materials in synthetic crystalline, polycrystalline (ordered or disordered), nanocrystalline and amorphous forms. The capsules generally include a hollow shell made of a diamond material that defines an interior region that may be empty or that may contain a fluid or solid material. Some of the capsules include access ports that can be used to fill the capsule with a fluid. Capsules and similar structures can be manufactured by growing diamond on suitably shaped substrates. In some of these methods, diamond shell sections are grown on substrates, then joined together. In other methods, a nearly complete diamond shell is grown around a form substrate, and the substrate can be removed through a relatively small opening in the shell.

Abstract: A system is described for obtaining goods or services over a networked communication system. Goods and services are provided by a sales related entity or administrator at or through a server system. A client system is configured to obtain goods or services from the provider in a manner that reduces or eliminates the processing burden on the retailer's server system. The invention allows for readily scalable sale related and/or administrator server system(s).

Abstract: Apparatus and techniques are provided for modifying and measuring surfaces of diamond workpieces and other workpieces with nanoscale precision. The apparatus and techniques exploit scanning probe microscopy (SPM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) at a wide range of operating temperatures. In some embodiments, the SPM/AFM apparatus also includes an interferometric microscope and/or acoustic-wave microscope for making high-precision measurements of workpiece surfaces.

Abstract: A distributed group activity network system and corresponding method over a computer network. It synchronizes and provides access by system users to shared data files of a group activity. The distributed group activity network system comprises one or more server computers and client computers that are connected to the server computer(s) by network connections. Each of the server computers comprises a network server and a memory system. The network server runs on the server computer and provides basic network services that are available at the server computer. The memory systems of the server computers store synchronization files and shared data files of the group activity. Each of the client computers comprises a memory system and a system module running on the client computer.

Abstract: Techniques for performing services in a secure and scalable manner in a network environment. Code modules and data used for performing a service and that contain proprietary, confidential, or trade secret information, are stored and executed by service provider systems that are not exposed to user systems used to configure the service requests. The techniques are scalable as the number of service provider systems performing the services can be scaled, either up or down, in proportion to the demand for the services.

Abstract: A distributed group activity network system and corresponding method over a computer network. It synchronizes and provides access by system users to shared data files of a group activity. The distributed group activity network system comprises one or more server computers and client computers that are connected to the server computer(s) by network connections. Each of the server computers comprises a network server and a memory system. The network server runs on the server computer and provides basic network services that are available at the server computer. The memory systems of the server computers store synchronization files and shared data files of the group activity. Each of the client computers comprises a memory system and a system module running on the client computer.