Abstract: A microstrip antenna includes a ferrite loaded substrate having a ground plane conductor disposed over a first surface thereof and having a strip conductor disposed over a second surface thereof. A DC magnetic field biasing circuit provides a directed DC magnetic field to the ferrite substrate such that the strip conductor radiates electromagnetic energy having circular polarization. In one embodiment, a ferrite material is disposed over the strip conductor to reduce the radar cross section of the antenna.

Abstract: A coated microcapillary column for high performance electrophoresis is disclosed. A preferred microcapillary includes a column; a universal sub-layer of coating material that has been highly crosslinked using a crosslinking agent and attached covalently or non-covalently to the column wall; and a variable top layer of a monomer or polymer, preferably crosslinked, attached to the sub-layer. The microcapillary preferably is prepared by covalently bonding a highly crosslinked siloxanediol sub-layer to the inner surface of the microcapillary wall and then causing a mixture of monomers or polymers to react in the bore of the microcapillary to form a top layer. The bilayer coating as used in a microcapillary prevents adsorption of solutes during electrophoresis and eliminates or controls electroosmotic flow. The disclosed coating may also be formed on other kinds of surfaces where similar surface modification is desired.

Abstract: A method is provided for fabricating a thin film of ferrite material upon a variety of substrates wherein pulsed high power laser light impinges upon a target of ferrite material causing localized vaporization of the ferrite material and subsequent deposition upon a proximate substrate. The rapidity with which the target material is vaporized promotes chemical stability during ferrite film growth. Both the target and the substrate are maintained inside a vacuum chamber, and are maintained substantially within a temperature range of 550.degree.-900.degree. C. The equipment needed to practice the method is relatively inexpensive. Furthermore, the method allows for the large-scale production of high quality ferrite films with preferential magnetic texture, wherein the magnetization of the ferrite material aligns in a preferred direction in the plane of the film.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for removing pollutants from the exhaust of combustion systems burning fuels containing substantial amounts of sulfur and nitrogen. An exemplary method of the invention involves the formation and reaction of a sorbent comprising calcium magnesium acetate (CMA). The CMA is either dry-sprayed (in the form of a fine powder) or wet-sprayed in an aqueous solution in a high temperature environment such as a combustion chamber. The latter technique is feasible since CMA is a uniquely water-soluble form of calcium and magnesium. When the dispersed particles of CMA are heated to a high temperature, fine calcium and magnesium oxide particles, which are hollow with thin and highly porous walls are formed, affording optimum external and internal accessibility for reacting with toxic gaseous emissions such as SO.sub.2. Further, the combustion of the organic acetate portion of the sorbent results in the conversion of NO.sub.x to N.sub.2.

Abstract: A refrigeration system particularly suitable for an automobile air conditioning system is disclosed. The system includes an ejector to raise the pressure of the working fluid to the condenser pressure and a boiler which utilizes waste heat from the automobile engine. The boiler produces a near sonic velocity saturated vapor for input to the primary nozzle of the ejector. The near sonic velocity input maximizes the stagnation temperature and pressure of the fluid entering the primary nozzle for a given low or limited temperature heat source such as automobile waste heat. The refrigeration system uses a working fluid having a property such that its entropy when in a saturated vapor state decreases as pressure decreases, which maximizes the input pressure for a given heat source and prevents the vapor from condensing in the ejector. A high efficiency primary nozzle is also provided, allowing the system to take advantage of the decreasing entropy property of the saturated vapor.

Abstract: An anodic vacuum arc deposition system for rapidly depositing a high quality, small grain size, coating on a workpiece. The anodic vacuum arc deposition system includes an arc initiator and an anodic electrode having a continuous feed. The anodic vacuum arc deposition system may be configured with a coaxial anode and cathode. A plurality of coaxial electrodes may be used to deposition coat a large area and/or to sequentially deposit a series of layers each of a different material.

Abstract: An underwater local area network for oceanographic observation and data acquisition includes a network node for telemetering data to a final destination and a plurality of sensors each of the sensors having an acoustic modem to transmit information to the network node.

Abstract: An underwater acoustic communications system utilizes phase coherent modulation and demodulation in which high data rates are achieved through the use of rapid Doppler removal, a specialized sample timing control technique and decision feedback equalization including feedforward and feedback equalizers. The combined use of these techniques drammatically increases data rates by one and sometimes two orders of magnitude over traditional FSK systems by sucessfully combating fading and multipath problems associated with a rapidly changing underwater acoustic channel that produce intersymbol interference and make timing optimization for the sampling of incomming data impossible.

Abstract: The invention provides metal-phosphorus-nitrogen polymer compounds and methods for their preparation at low temperatures using readily available starting materials. One group of compounds, metal-phosphazene polymers, are comprised of repeating units of [PN].sub.3 rings linked to form polymers through P--X--M--X--P bonds. The linking atoms X are either NH.sub.2 or O, and M is a metal cation. Another group of the compounds have the generic formula M.sub.a (P.sub.2 O.sub.5).sub.b (NH.sub.3).sub.c O.sub.d.eH.sub.2 O. If the metal-phosphorus-nitrogen polymers are heated to a sufficiently high temperature to reduce the nitrogen/phosphorus ratio, additional novel solid metal phosphorus compounds of the invention are formed, many of which have a foamed, porous structure. The properties of the compounds of the invention can be varied by choice of metal and reaction conditions to create materials having useful conductive, magnetic, optical, catalytic, or ion-exchange properties.

Abstract: A method of processing polycrystalline material to achieve at least uniaxial crystal alignment utilizing the anisotropy of conductivity of the crystalline material. The polycrystalline material is provided in a fluid suspension or other malleable form. A non-static magnetic field is applied to the crystalline material. Eddy currents induced in the individual crystals as a result of the non-static magnetic field generate a magnetic moment in the individual crystals which aligns itself and thus the individual crystals parallel to the applied non-static magnetic field, thus producing in-plane alignment of the crystals. Further processing including multi-axis crystal alignment is also disclosed utilizing the same procedure.

Abstract: A novel method for making metals and homogeneous metal alloys comprises the steps of (a) providing a polymetallic complex of the general formula(.mu..sub.4 -0)L.sub.4 M'M"M'"M""X.sub.nwherein L is a ligand selected from the group consisting of organic and inorganic ligands, wherein M', M", M'", and M"" are metal atoms two or more of which may be the same, wherein X is a halogen atom, and wherein n is an integer ranging from 4 to 6; and (b) electrochemically depositing at least one of the metals from said polymetallic complex.

Abstract: A process for producing spherical polymer particles which may be either monodisperse of a predetermined and controlled size, or polydisperse, using a liquid atomization technique. The process includes an aerosol generator to create a stream or multiple streams of liquid droplets sprayed into a thermal reactor. The aerosol generator sprays the feed solution which comprises liquid organic monomers or semi-polymerized monomers, a polymerization catalyst and optionally, a solvent, into the thermal reactor environment. The solvent evaporates allowing polymerization reactions to commence. Polymerization may proceed by a variety of methods. Polymerization is completed during the flight-time of the droplets and the solid polymer particles are collected at the bottom of the reactor.

Abstract: A system for helping infants or physically impaired individuals to communicate with others, such as parents or caregivers, to learn cause and effect relationships, to control a surrounding environment, and to promote normal development by facilitating the individual's exploration of a developmental sequence of sounds and a repertoire of simple spoken words. The system includes an input device with a plurality of actuator elements that are selectively responsive to gross physical movement of the individual, an audiovisual output device for providing feedback to the individual and emitting communicated messages to others, and an adaptive control unit for transforming information provided by the input device into instructions for use by the audiovisual output device.

Abstract: A simple, low cost and reliable total particulate (soot, polynuclear aromatic and aliphatic hydrocarbons and ash) control system is disclosed that separates the particulate burning process from the body of a particulate filter and that needs very little compressed air to regenerate. The system can retrofit any existing diesel-powered equipment. The particulate control system includes a stationary ceramic monolith trap that is regenerated by one or more pulses of high-pressure and low-velocity air that move in the opposite direction of the engine exhaust flow through the trap. The particulate control system in a single trap embodiment conducts the engine exhaust to the atmosphere during regeneration periods, and in a dual trap embodiment, conducts the engine exhaust through two traps that are operated alternatively such that while one is filtering the exhaust the other is being regenerated, and vice versa.

Abstract: A process for the manufacture of alkaline earth salts of acetic acid. Biomass is fermented under appropriate conditions to produce acetic acid, which is extracted from the fermentation broth with the aid of a basic liquid ion exchanger dissolved in an organic phase. The organic phase containing the product acetic acid is then reacted directly with a basic material such as limestone, and the resulting alkaline earth acetate product is recovered from the aqueous phase.

Abstract: An interconnection device for providing electrical connection between two separable conducting elements that requires less applied force than a standard ohmic connection device of the same connection area includes a surface of at least a first conducting element that includes a plurality of atomically sharp projections for creating a strong electric field near the tip of each projection, each projection being disposed within a locally depressed portion of an insulating layer that serves to maintain a space between each tip and a second conducting element that contacts the insulating layer. The strong electric field at each tip induces a variety of conduction modes each contributing to an aggregate current flow from the first conducting element to the second. In an alternate embodiment, a plurality of projections are disposed on the peaks and valleys of a rough surface without an insulating layer, the projections providing a variety of conduction modes.

Abstract: A refrigeration system particularly suitable for an automobile air conditioning system is disclosed. The system includes an ejector to raise the pressure of the working fluid to the condenser pressure and a boiler which utilizes waste heat from the automobile engine. The boiler produces a near sonic velocity saturated vapor for input to the primary nozzle of the ejector. The near sonic velocity input maximizes the stagnation temperature and pressure of the fluid entering the primary nozzle for a given low or limited temperature heat source such as automobile waste heat. The refrigeration system uses a working fluid having a property such that its entropy when in a saturated vapor state decreases as pressure decreases, which maximizes the input pressure for a given heat source and prevents the vapor from condensing in the ejector. A high efficiency primary nozzle is also provided, allowing the system to take advantage of the decreasing entropy property of the saturated vapor.

Abstract: A method is provided for fabricating a thin film of ferrite material upon a variety of substrates wherein pulsed high power laser light impinges upon a target of ferrite material causing localized vaporization of the ferrite material and subsequent deposition upon a proximate substrate. The rapidity with which the target material is vaporized promotes chemical stability during ferrite film growth. Both the target and the substrate are maintained inside a vacuum chamber, and are maintained substantially within a temperature range of 550.degree.-600.degree. C. The equipment needed to practice the method is relatively inexpensive. Furthermore, the method allows for the large-scale production of high quality ferrite films with preferential magnetic texture, wherein the magnetization of the ferrite material aligns in a preferred direction in the plane of the film.

Abstract: A gravitational window shutter in a water gate for a system for harnessing power from current flow or tidal movement in a of water is disclosed. The gate is formed with a door for closing the port through which the water may flow. The door has a window in an upper portion thereof which is closed by a rotatable shutter. The shutter opens before the door, allowing a flow of water through the window, which reduces the drag on the door. The door is then able to open more rapidly. A gravitational closure causes the shutter and door to close. The gravitational closure is formed by a counter weight on the shutter. An improved configuration of the chambers is also disclosed. The chambers have an upper portion of a rectangular configuration with a larger volume to increase the volume of air flowing through the system and a lower portion of a cylindrical configuration to reduce the hydraulic losses due to vortices during water inflow and outflow.