Abstract: A method and system for in-situ cleaning of a reticle. Ionized gas is directed onto the reticle by a delivery device. The ionized gas neutralizes electro-static attraction between the reticle and particulate contaminants on the reticle and thereby dislodges them from the reticle. The ionized gas and particulate contaminants are then removed from the reticle by a vacuuming pump and transported from the system by a contaminant collector. As a result of the in-situ cleaning method and system, the overall risk of chip defects due to reticle particulate contaminants is reduced, and chip and wafer yield is improved.

Abstract: A method and system for in-situ cleaning of a reticle. Ionized gas is directed onto the reticle by a delivery device. The ionized gas neutralizes electro-static attraction between the reticle and particulate contaminants on the reticle and thereby dislodges them from the reticle. The ionized gas and particulate contaminants are then removed from the reticle by a vacuuming pump and transported from the system by a contaminant collector. As a result of the in-situ cleaning method and system, the overall risk of chip defects due to reticle particulate contaminants is reduced, and chip and wafer yield is improved.

Abstract: Polypeptides comprising a collectin neck region, or variant or derivative thereof or amino acid sequence having the same or a similar amino acid pattern and/or hydrophobicity profile, are able to trimerize. Such polypeptides may comprise additional amino acids which may include heterologous amino acids, for example, forming a protein domain or derived from an immunoglobulin or comprising an amino acid which may be derivatized for attachment of a non-peptide moiety such as oligosaccharide, and may form homotrimers or heterotrimers. Heterotrimerization may be promoted by gentle heating, e.g. to about 50° C., then cooling to room temperature. One use for the polypeptides is in seeding collagen formation. Nucleic acid encoding the polypeptides and methods of their production are provided.

Abstract: A golf tee is provided. The golf tee includes a ball support, legs extended forwardly and rearwardly from the ball support. Further, the legs extend downwardly and terminate in a foot. Forward pairs of legs are connected by a front web. Rearward pairs of legs are connected by a rear web. The height of the tee can be adjusted by moving the front and rear pairs of legs relative to one another, preferably by applying a force on the front and rear webs.

Abstract: A scanning system that accurately positions a moving carriage assembly in two directions relative to a platen. Such a scanning system includes a frame that has a registration member that extends in the Y direction, and a platen whose plane is normal to the Z direction and which is attached to the frame. The platen receives a substrate in a predetermined position relative to the registration member. The scanning system further includes a base that has a first and second tilted surfaces that extend in the Y direction, and a moving carriage assembly that is disposed between the platen and the base. The moving carriage assembly includes a housing, at least one button connected to the housing, and first and second biased pivot arms with first and second rollers that ride on the first and second tilted surfaces. The biased pivot arms push the housing against the tilted surfaces such that the button contacts the platen and the registration member.

Abstract: A process management system (10) for operating on a computer (102, 104, 106) includes a graphical user interface (14) for graphically presenting a process or a portion thereof to a user, a work element for graphically representing a task to be performed in the process, a work product for graphically representing a resultant product of performing a task, an agent for graphically representing an actor responsible for performing a task, and a link for graphically connecting the work element, work product, and agent indicative of inter-relationships therebetween. A knowledge repository (16) is further coupled to the computer for storing valuable information regarding the process.

Abstract: A process for the conversion of a liquid paraffin-containing hydrocarbon which comprises the steps of (a) partially combusting a mixture of the liquid hydrocarbon and a molecular oxygen-containing gas in a reaction chamber with a catalyst capable of supporting combustion beyond the normal fuel rich limit of flammability. The mixture has a stoichiometric ratio of hydrocarbon to oxygen of greater than the stoichiometric ratio required for complete combustion to carbon dioxide and water. The process produces a product stream and a carbon deposit in the reaction chamber. Periodically, the liquid hydrocarbon and molecular oxygen-containing gas mixture in step (a) is replaced with a fuel-rich carbon containing gas stream for a period of time sufficient to effect substantial removal of the carbon deposit from the reaction chamber.

Abstract: A process for the production of mono-olefins from a hydrocarbon feed containing one or more paraffinic hydrocarbons having at least two carbon atoms, the process comprising partial combustion of a mixture of the hydrocarbon feed and a molecular oxygen-containing gas in contact in a reaction chamber with a catalyst capable of supporting combustion beyond the normal fuel rich limit of flammability to produce heat of reaction, the reaction chamber being adapted such that at least part of the heat of reaction is transferred to the incoming feed and the velocity of the incoming feed is maintained at a value above the burning velocity of the feed mixture.

Abstract: A mitten is provided with pouches for receiving packages of heat transfer material. The packages of heat transfer material are inserted into the pouches and the mitten is placed in a microwave to heat the material or in a freezer to cool the material. After sufficient heating or cooling, the mitten may be removed and placed on the user's hand to provide hours of warmth or cold. The mitten may be provided with velcro.TM.-type fasteners so as to secure the mitten around the arm of the user.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical system for creating a potential field map of a bounded two dimensional region containing a goal location and an arbitrary number of obstacles. The potential field mapping system has an imaging device and a processor. Two image writing modes are used by the imaging device, electron deposition and electron depletion. Patterns written in electron deposition mode appear black and expand. Patterns written in electron depletion mode are sharp and appear white. The generated image represents a robot's workspace. The imaging device under processor control then writes a goal location in the workspace using the electron deposition mode. The black image of the goal expands in the workspace. The processor stores the generated images, and uses them to generate a feedback pattern. The feedback pattern is written in the workspace by the imaging device in the electron deposition mode to enhance the expansion of the original goal pattern.

Abstract: A smoking article wrapper comprising a base web material having a first burn rate and one or more regions having a second burn rate is provided. The regions having a second burn rate are comprised of a composite layer structure of: said base web material, a layer is particulate material, and an adhesive layer which adheres to said base web material and to said layer of particular material. The particulate material is subsequently applied to the adhesive layer. An apparatus and method for applying the particulate material onto the base web is also provided.

Abstract: Esters which are substantially non acidic esters of P or S oxyacids, especially phosphite ester antioxidants, are curing catalysts for the moisture curing of silyl polymers such as polyethylene carrying pendant trialkoxysilyl groups. The esters catalyse cross linking without causing significant precure.

Abstract: A process for the production of mono-olefins from a paraffin-containing hydrocarbon feed having at least two carbon atoms which comprises a first step of partially combusting a mixture of the hydrocarbon feed and a molecular oxygen-containing gas in contact with a catalyst capable of supporting combustion beyond the normal fuel rich limit of flammability, the first step being carried out under a total pressure of greater than 5 bar absolute and at a temperature of greater than 650.degree. C.; and a second step of cooling the mono-olefinic products to 600.degree. C. or less within less than 50 milliseconds of formation.

Abstract: A document reproduction system with a first large imaging platen on which documents are scanned by moving an imaging system thereunder, and an automatic document feeding system (ADF) for sequentially feeding documents to a directly adjacent smaller second (removable) imaging platen where the same imaging system may be stationarily positioned. A recess is provided between the opposing edges of the first and second platens extending substantially below their upper surface. The ADF has a document lead edge member extendable down into this recess to positively catch and deflect documents away from the upper surface of the second platen after the documents have been moved over this surface and imaged. The first and second platens are abutting at their lower surfaces, below the notch, to define a contiguous lower surface. The recess may be formed by an inclined beveled end of the first platen.

Abstract: A method and system for performing pattern analysis with a neural network coarse-code a pattern to be analyzed so as to form a plurality of sub-patterns collectively defined by data. Each of the sub-patterns comprises sets of sub-pattern data. The neural network includes a plurality of fields, each field being associated with one of the sub-patterns so as to receive the sub-pattern data therefrom. Training and testing by the neural network then proceeds in the usual way, with one modification: the transfer function thresholds the value obtained from summing the weighted products of each field over all sub-patterns associated with each pattern being analyzed by the system.

Abstract: An electrostatic discharge structure protection structure formed on an interconnect circuit (20) that includes elongated interconnect lines (13) and interconnect contact pads (17) formed on a dielectric substrate (11) wherein portions of the interconnect circuit are subject to physical contact by a person. The electrostatic discharge protection structure includes an interconnected conductive grounding metallization ground pattern that includes a ground ring pattern (19) adjacent selected edges of the perimeter of the substrate and conductive metallization traces (29) adjacent selected edges of openings in the substrate. The electrostatic discharge protection structure further includes spark gaps (23a, 23b) formed between the interconnect pads and the conductive grounding pattern, and grounding pads (25') exposed by openings in the substrate.

Abstract: Apparatus and a method for laminating patches to a base web accurately, and as efficiently as possible, are provided. Two webs are fed at speeds which are related as the ratio of the width of each patch to the separation distance between patches, the patch web moving more slowly. Patches are cut from the patch web and transferred to the other web while being accelerated to the higher speed.

Abstract: Apparatus and a method for laminating patches to a base web accurately, and as efficiently as possible, are provided. Two webs are fed at speeds which are related as the ratio of the width of each patch to the separation distance between patches, the patch web moving more slowly. Patches are cut from the patch web and transferred to the other web while being accelerated to the higher speed.

Abstract: A blue glass composition is disclosed. This blue glass composition is based on a standard formulation for soda/lime silica glass, except that neither the basic glass composition nor the coloring components therefor contains nickel. The blue glass color is developed by using coloring components consisting essentially of 0.3-0.6% Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3, 0.004-0.008% .[.Co.sub.3 O.sub.4 .]. .Iadd.Co, .Iaddend.and is a neutral blue having a dominant wavelength of 482 nm.+-.1 nm, color purity of 13%.+-.1% and transmission (T) equal to at least 54%.+-.1% using Illuminant C (corrected to 0.25 inch glass thickness).