Abstract: A method for producing a lithiated vanadium oxide-coated substrate that includes: (a) preparing a solution that includes (i) a solvent, (ii) a soluble lithium source, and (iii) a soluble vanadium source; (b) applying the solution to a substrate to form a coated substrate; and (c) heating the coated substrate to form an optical quality coating that includes lithiated vanadium oxide.

Abstract: This invention concerns a process useful for increasing the accuracy of the shape of a laser ablated feature formed on a substrate, especially where the substrate is a polymeric article. The process includes irradiating the polymeric article with laser light that has passed through a retardation plate selected from stationary adjustable plates, rotating plates or spinning plates, preferable in multiples of quarter-waves or half-waves. This invention also concerns a laser apparatus useful for making ablated features in a substrate having a radiation source; a mask positioned between the radiation source and a substrate to be irradiated, and a retardation plate which is stationary and adjustable, rotating or spinning plates.

Abstract: A medical perfusion system for use in connection with the medical treatment of a patient is provided with a first type of perfusion device in the form of a blood pump adapted to pump blood through a fluid conduit connected to the patient and a second type of perfusion device in the form of a sensing device adapted to sense a condition and generate a sensing signal relating to the condition. The perfusion system also includes an electrical power network having an electrical power line, means for selectively connecting the perfusion devices to the electrical power network, and a controller with an input device for accepting control commands from an operator. The perfusion system could also include a control device, such as a pump, a plurality of sensing devices, and means for specifying the sensing device that the control device should be accept feedback from.

Abstract: Combinations of medical adhesive composites, e.g., dressings, and a package in which the medical adhesive composites are attached to a release surface on the bottom sheet of the package are disclosed. The dressings may include a flexible backing and carrier. Methods of manufacturing and using the combination are also disclosed.

Abstract: An optical fiber connector having strain relief insert means to engage the buffered coating of the optical fiber cable upon the crimping of a crimp ring to cause the insert to flow in a direction toward the connector and the fiber to move toward the connector.

Abstract: A gap drying system moves a substrate having a coated side and a non-coated side between a heated platen disposed on the non-coated side of the substrate and a condensing platen disposed on the coated side of the substrate. An insulation layer is disposed between the heated platen and the non-coated side of the substrate.

Abstract: An interconnection providing multiple electrical interconnections at a fine pitch can be formed in a pluggable and unpluggable form using multiple connector channels and rows of contact elements in each of a plug and socket. The contacts may be a mixture of active and passive contacts. Furthermore, a contact support structure may provide improve spring characteristics in the contacts. The contacts may be formed in a number of configurations including vertical staggering, alternating or offset patterns, mulit-level tail exit designs, rotated contacts, staggered or nonalign retention features and dedicated power contacts. Anchors or permanent latches, separable latches, and polarization keys may also be utilized. Alternative embodiments may include straddlemount and attachment clip embodiments.

Abstract: The present invention provides an article comprising a curable resin and a filler associated with the resin. The incorporation of fillers into the casting materials of the present invention adds substantially to the strength of the cured casting material as well as to the handling properties of the uncured casting tape or bandage. The incorporation of fillers into the casting materials of the present invention also imparts air and vapor porosity to the cured casting materials. If desired articles of the present invention may also incorporate fibers (either individually, bundled, or in the form of a light-weight scrim) to provide increased cohesiveness to the uncured article. Extremely moldable casting tapes are also provided which comprise a highly-filled composite material coated on a light-weight scrim. The casting tapes of this embodiment handle like traditional plaster of Paris casts yet cure to a weight-bearing cast in less than one hour.

Abstract: Articles having a complex geometric configuration have hydrophilicity imparted to at least a portion of surfaces of the articles while substantially retaining the complex geometric configuration. The hydrophilicity is imparted by an extremely thin, self-interlocking shell of tactic, hydrophilic poly(vinyl alcohol) enveloping the surfaces. A tactic poly(vinyl alcohol) precursor applied to surfaces of the supporting structure is reacted in situ on the surfaces with a hydrolysis reagent to prepare the tactic, hydrophilic poly(vinyl alcohol) shell. The article having the hydrophilic shell is highly resistant to solvent washout. Hydrophilicity and hydrophobicity can be reversibly provided on regio-specific surfaces of the article. Membranes to form permanent and undistorted images, and methods of preparing such images from image-forming substances in receptive media are also provided.

Abstract: A mechanism for steering a photoconductor belt in an electrophotographic imaging system is disclosed. The photoconductor belt is moved about a support roller system of the imaging system to form a continuous transport path. The photoconductor belt tends to deviate from this continuous transport path in a direction substantially perpendicular to the path. The belt steering mechanism includes a support carriage, a steering carriage, a support roller and a belt steering drive assembly. The steering roller is mounted to the steering carriage, and the steering carriage is connected to the support carriage so as to be pivotable about a steering axis. The belt steering drive assembly is operably coupled to the steering carriage to pivotally move the steering carriage about the steering axis.

Abstract: An abrasive article is provided having a sheet-like structure having a major surface having deployed in fixed position thereon a plurality of abrasive three-dimensional abrasive composites, each of the composites comprising abrasive particles dispersed in a binder and having a precise shape defined by a distinct and discernible boundary which includes specific dimensions, wherein the precise shapes are not all identical.

Abstract: An article configured for emitting diffuse light in a predetermined set of directions when coupled with a light source includes a light fiber and a diffuse reflective sheet material disposed around at least a portion of the light fiber to direct at least a portion of the light emitted by the light fiber toward the predetermined set of directions. The light fiber has a light receiving end for coupling to the light source and the light fiber emitting light when coupled to the light source. A variety of diffuse reflective sheet materials can be used including, for example, microvoided sheet materials, such as those made by the TIPS ("thermally induced phase separation") method, and microporous sheet materials.

Abstract: A respirator 15 has a harness 10 that allows the respirator body 20 to be conveniently disposed beneath a wearer's chin when not in use. The harness 10 includes a substantially flat, flexible strap 14 and an element 12 that contains a curved elongated slot 16. The substantially flat, flexible strap 14 is threaded through the curved elongated slot 16. The curved configuration of the slot 16 causes the flat flexible strap 14 to be deformed to assume the curved configuration of the slot. This deformation of the strap 14 allows the strap 14 to frictionally engage element 12, and the frictional engagement allows the respirator body 20 to be incrementally withdrawn from the wearer's face so that it can be temporarily stored beneath the wearer's chin, and allows the respirator body 20 to be conveniently repositioned over the nose and mouth of the wearer by simply pulling on free ends 34 of each strap 14 and joining a buckle 32 behind the wearer's neck.

Abstract: An electret filter media, and mask, that is made of a nonwoven web of thermoplastic microfibers. The thermoplastic microfibers are of substantially the same composition, are nonconductive, and have an effective fiber diameter less than about 15 micrometers. The nonwoven web also has sufficient unpolarized trapped charge to exhibit an initial filtration quality factor of at least 0.31 when measured under the DOP Penetration and Pressure Drop Test.

Abstract: A light trap for a projector, such as an integrated LCD projector, is provided for placement in ventilation channels to prevent escape of light through the channels while allowing free flow of cooling fluid through the channels. The light trap is constructed of material having a honeycomb-like structure, with conduits in the light trap being preferably disposed obliquely between the light source and the duct opening. The light trap may be coated or treated to increase absorption of visible and infrared radiation. A light trap according to this invention not only prevents escape of extraneous light from the projector's ventilation openings, but it assists in controlling the heat load generated by the light source, and it provides less resistance to air flow than does a louvered panel that is typically used to cover a ventilation opening in a projector thus reducing the amount of noise associated with the ventilation system.

Abstract: A medical assembly, such as an artificial heart assembly, adapted to be implanted within a living subject is composed of an implantable data communications interface adapted to receive an encoded data signal from a data communications interface located outside the subject at a position remote from the medical assembly. The encoded data signal is transmitted in a plurality of periodic signal bursts, which are transmitted at a first frequency to represent a first data value and a second frequency to represent a second data value. Each of the bursts comprises a plurality of signal transitions having a third frequency greater than both the first and second frequencies.

Abstract: Characterizing a color imaging system involves generating color values representing colors of output samples of the color imaging system. The color values are converted into a device-independent color coordinate system using an adjustable white reference vector and a black reference vector. The white reference vector is calculated using the black reference vector. Color values can be transformed between color imaging systems using the device-independent color coordinate system.

Abstract: A resin composition containing components (A), (B), (C) and (D) wherein component (A) is a resin composition containing a thermoplastic polyimide resin, component (B) is carbon fiber, component (C) is mica, component (D) is an internal mold-releasing agent, and relative to 100 parts by weight of component (A), component (B) is from 1 to 80 parts by weight, component (C) 1 to 100 parts by weight, and component (D) is 0.1 to 50 parts by weight.

Abstract: A retroreflective graphic article bearing a fluorescent legend comprising a retroreflective base sheet, an image layer containing one or more pigments and one or more fluorescent dyes and a dye-receiving layer containing fluorescent dye which migrated from the image layer. Also, a method for making such articles is provided.

Abstract: A method for isolating an environmentally hazardous organic contaminant from a fluid utilizes a solid phase extraction medium comprises a PTFE fibril matrix, and sorptive particles enmeshed in said matrix comprising more than 30 and up to 100 weight percent of porous organic particles, and less than 70 to 0 weight percent of porous (organic-coated or uncoated) inorganic particles, the ratio of sorptive particles to PTFE being in the range of 40:1 to 1:4 by weight. The extraction medium is useful in pesticide, phenolics, and residue of explosives separations. The separations can be efficiently performed in a stacked disk format.