Abstract: A Schottky barrier CCD infra-red (IR) detector array having Schottky junction IR sensitive gates as the transfer gates of the CCD array. These Schottky gates perform both IR detection and CCD shift register function within the array, thereby improving the fill factor and/or pixel size of the device.

Abstract: Robot vision and optical location systems capable of recovery of "depth" information normally lost from the two-dimensional image collected by a conventional image system comprises a radiation source for projecting a beam of light or other suitable radiation from a known location onto a field of vision in a manner that provides information indicating the direction of projection of the beam, a detection device situated at a second known location for receiving light or other radiation of the projected beam, scattered or reflected by objects within the field of vision and providing information indicating the direction of the source of scattered or reflected radiation and an analyzer for comparing the projection location, direction of projection, detection location and direction of the source of detected, scattered or reflected radiation to determine the location of objects in the field of vision.

Abstract: Charged and uncharged all-vanadium redox batteries are disclosed. Also described are a process for charging the uncharged battery and a process for producing electricity from the charged battery. A process for recharging an all-vanadium redox battery which has been at least partially discharged is also disclosed.

Abstract: Apparatus to measure the size of an optic zone of a lens, particularly a contact lens or intraocular lenses, and the refractive power of that optic zone includes an illumination system with a light source and a first lens train producing a collimated beam of light from the light source, and a second lens train including an observation system coaxial with the illumination system and focusing the collimated beam so that the observation system allows an observer to observe a magnified image of the lens to be measured. The lens to be measured is disposed on a mounting plate positioned in the collimated light beam between the first and second lens trains. A planar knife edge is positioned within the focused light beam of the second lens train so that it occludes a part of that beam. A micrometer or similar device is attached to the mounting plate so as to measure the observed size of the optic zone or zones of the lens.

Abstract: A method for the simultaneous production of sorbitol and either gluconolactone or gluconate from glucose and fructose. To this end to produce sorbitol and gluconolactone, glucose and fructose are reacted in the presence of a cell or cell-free extract of a bacteria, which contains the enzyme complex glucose/fructose transhydrogenase including the tightly bound co-factor(s), under condition whereby the further metabolism of gluconolactone is substantially prevented. In order to produce sorbitol and gluconate glucose and fructose are reacted in the presence of a cell or cell-free extract of a bacteria which contains an enzyme system comprising the enzyme complex glucose/fructose transhydrogenase including the tightly bound co-factor(s) and the enzyme gluconolactonase. This reaction is carried out under conditions whereby the metabolism of gluconate is substantially prevented. Preferably the bacteria used in this process is of the genus Zymomonas and most preferably of the species Zymomonas mobilis.

Abstract: An electrical contact formed in a groove in the surface of a semiconductor material facilitates an advantageous contact with the material for a given cross-sectional area of contact when compared with a contact of the same cross-sectional area formed on the surface of the material. The grooved contact significantly reduces shading of the surface of the semiconductor material compared with an equivalent surface contact.

Abstract: An electrical contact formed in a groove in the surface of a semiconductor material facilitates an advantageous contact with the material for a given cross-sectional area of contact when compared with a contact of the same cross-sectional area formed on the surface of the material. The grooved contact significantly reduces shading of the surface of the semiconductor material compared with an equivalent surface contact.

Abstract: A leg holding and positioning device for use in surgical operative procedures comprising a housing (10) which is adapted for attachment to the rail (12) of an operating table (not shown) by means of a member (11) and a clamp (13) the housing having projecting from it a shaft (14) which is connected to a viscous damper or other device within the casing (10) to control rotation of the shaft (14), such device being associated with the control knob (18) whereby the shaft may be fixed in any one of a number of rotated positions. A member (25) is attached to one end of the shaft (14) and in use lies alongside the operative leg of a person on the operating table, the leg being secured to the member (25) by means of the bracket (32) and straps (35) and (36).

Abstract: A new logic circuit construction in which gates are formed by appropriate interconnections of complementary current-mirror cells. With a signal applied, the resulting logic circuit draws a current drain which rises with power supply voltage, as does the speed of the circuit. With no signal the current drain of the circuit is small. Clocked circuits using this logic can use one clock line. With three states available in the clock line, a non-overlapping two-phase clock is automatically obtained with a simple oscillating signal. This logic circuit is also capable of providing a weighted input or output, enabling threshold logic ("multiple-valued logic") to be performed.

Abstract: The generation of X-radiation occurs when a powder (14,24,38,47,58) is sucted to electro-dispersion in an evacuated chamber. The powder is of a conducting or semiconducting material, and is supported on the lower of two electrodes (10,11; 22,25; 36,39; 44,48; 52,56) in the chamber. When the chamber pressure is about 10.sup.-5 Torr or lower, and a high voltage is applied across the electrodes, part of the powder forms a dispersed particulate cloud in the space between the electrodes. The dispersion of the powder results in the generation of X-radiation which is transmitted through the wall (13) of the chamber or through a window (28,35,45) in the apparatus. Visible light is produced if a phosphor (29) is included in the chamber, and is irradiated by X-rays generated upon dispersion of the powder, or if the powder includes particles of a phosphor.

Abstract: An ion or electron beam is steered or focussed by a circular magnetic field produced by passing a large electrical current through a straight conducting wire, the magnetic field being co-axial with the wire. Annular beams of charged particles coaxial with the straight wire can be focussed onto a circular spot or, depending upon the entry radius of the annular beam and the magnetic field strength, can be induced to follow a looping trajectory. The effect of the steering or focussing system can be enhanced by the provision of a cylindrical conductor which is co-axial with the straight conducting wire and maintained at a voltage sufficient to produce the desired particle trajectory such that the particle beam passes between the wire and the cylindrical conductor. The beam steering or focussing systems is applicable to the fields of beam current density intensification, ion implantation, ion separation and free electron lasers.

Abstract: The present invention is directed toward a building material comprising from 20 to 70% of a reactive amorphorous silicate material which has been reacted with an aqueous solution of an iron salt, from 20 to 60% by weight of a filler containing reactives polyvalent cations, from 10 to 50% by weight of lime and from 0 to 10% by weight of reinforcing fillers, and to a method of producing same.

Abstract: An ion or electron beam is steered or focussed by a circular magnetic field produced by passing a large electrical current through a straight conducting wire, the magnetic field being co-axial with the wire. Annular beams of charged particles coaxial with the straight wire can be focussed onto a circular spot or, depending upon the entry radius of the annular beam and the magnetic field strength, can be induced to follow a looping trajectory. The effect of the steering or focussing system can be enhanced by the provision of a cylindrical conductor which is co-axial with the straight conducting wire such that the particle beam passes between the wire and the cylindrical conductor. The beam steering or focussing systems is applicable to the fields of beam current density intensification, ion implantation, ion separation and free electron lasers.

Abstract: A communications system suitable for use as a local area network (LAN) is provided wherein the network has a ring topology comprising a plurality of nodes 10 each of which is connected to adjacent nodes by links 14 and 15. Each node comprises a Link Interface Unit (LIU) 11, a Network Interforce Unit (NIU) 12 and a Terminal Interface Unit (TIU) 13. By providing forward and reverse links 14, 15 between nodes the system is capable of reconfiguring itself after link or node failure such that the failed equipment can be bypassed to minimize system disruption. Link Interface Units (LIU) 11 are also capable of bypassing their own node if a node failure is detected. System control is decentralized with each active node contributing to system control such that prime-failure sites are avoided.

Abstract: A yarn twist measurement device having a freely rotatable disc with its axis parallel to the axis of a travelling yarn. The disc being rotated by the surface twist of the yarn in contact with the circumference of the disc as the yarn travels past the disc. By measuring the circumferential displacement of the disc and the corresponding linear translation of the yarn, the amount of twist on the surface of the yarn can be calculated.

Abstract: A method and device for determining the clotting time for a sample of whole blood. A sample of whole blood is placed in a cuvette (12) which is centrifuged in a centrifuge (11) to mix the blood sample with a coagulant in the cuvette (12) and simultaneously spin out the cells in the blood. The optical density of a part of the sample which is cleared of cells by the centrifugation is monitored using a light source (14) and a light detector (15) and the time measured for optical density indicative of clotting to be reached by a timer (25).

Abstract: Grooved solar cells are manufactured by scribing the surface of the substrate with a laser scribing tool, and optionally etching the surface to more accurately determine the surface profile, before performing the remainder of the processing steps involved in the production of the solar cell. Top contact shading is avoided by providing holes through the substrate which allow connection to the top layer of the cell to be made from the back of the cell. Resistance to radiation is improved by providing a cell which is grooved on the top and bottom surfaces, the grooves of the bottom surface being spaced between the grooves on the top surface to allow the formation of a relatively thin cell structure. Top layer sheet resistivity is also varied to allow improved efficiency while maintaining the series resistance of the cell substantially unaltered.

Abstract: A new detection configuration devised for the Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), which allows the imaging of the surfaces of a specimen at atmospheric pressure. Such a detection configuration gives rise to a new microscope: the Atmospheric Scanning Electron Microscope (ASEM). In this configuration the detector means, such as a backscattered electron detector, is placed between the pressure limiting aperture and the electron column. The electron beam passes through the final aperture, reaches the sample under atmospheric conditions and the backscattered electrons (or other signals) are allowed to reach the detector. The new configuration makes it possible for specimens or materials to be viewed in an open room. Examination of materials, not only in their natural state but also in their natural position, is possible. This feature of the ASEM will be extremely useful in areas where sampling is impossible, expensive or critical for the test subject, e.g.

Abstract: A method of directly detecting amino acids, other organic and inorganic copper-complexing agents, and indirectly detecting non copper-complexing species comprising use of a potentiometric flow-through electrode detector suitable for use in high performance liquid chromatography and autoanalyzers. Said detector comprises a copper metal indicator electrode and a suitable reference electrode within a miniature flow through cell and which detector has the property that it provides a voltage response to the particular molecule to be detected thereby.

Abstract: A Passivated Emitter Solar Cell (PESC) with reduced surface recombination due to reduced contact area between the top metal contact and the top surface of the cell, and having an open circuit voltage approaching 700 mV and an energy conversion efficiency in excess of 19% is disclosed. The reduced contact area is obtained by a technique which simultaneously defines the lateral geometry of the top metal contact while allowing the top metal contact to be of much larger area than the area of contact to the top surface of the cell. Also disclosed are methods of manufacture of solar cells having an increased open cell voltage obtained by improved passivation of the cell surface obtained by this technique.