Abstract: A display as for images and/or information comprises a plurality of light-emitting fibers disposed in side-by-side arrangement to define a viewing surface. Each light-emitting fiber includes a plurality of light-emitting elements disposed along its length, each having two electrodes between which are applied electrical signals to cause the light-emitting element to emit light to display a pixel or sub-pixel of the image and/or information. The light-emitting fiber includes an electrical conductor disposed along its length to serve as a first electrode, a layer of light-emissive material disposed thereon, and a plurality of electrical contacts disposed on the light-emissive material to serve as the second electrodes of the light-emitting elements.

Abstract: A display as for images and/or information comprises a plurality of light-emitting fibers disposed in side-by-side arrangement to define a viewing surface. Each light-emitting fiber includes a plurality of light-emitting elements disposed along its length, each having two electrodes between which are applied electrical signals to cause the light-emitting element to emit light to display a pixel or sub-pixel of the image and/or information. The light-emitting fiber includes an electrical conductor disposed along its length to serve as a first electrode, a layer of light-emissive material disposed thereon, and a plurality of electrical contacts disposed on the light-emissive material to serve as the second electrodes of the light-emitting elements, and are formed in a continuous process wherein a transparent fiber passes through a plurality of processing chambers for receiving the electrical conductor, the light-emissive layer and the plurality of electrical contacts thereon.

Abstract: AC waveforms biasing of bead transporter chucks and their accumulated charge sensing circuits tailored for low resistivity substrates and beads where if traditional DC quasi-static biasing potentials were used, the bead attraction potentials of the chuck would undergo rapid RC decay and cause the bead transporter chuck to stop working. Methods for selecting AC waveforms are given, including those that maximize the time average of the bead attraction potential at the bead collection zone of the bead contact surface.

Abstract: AC waveforms biasing of bead transporter chucks and their accumulated charge sensing circuits tailored for low resistivity substrates and beads where if traditional DC quasi-static biasing potentials were used, the bead attraction potentials of the chuck would undergo rapid RC decay and cause the bead transporter chuck to stop working. Methods for selecting AC waveforms are given, including those that maximize the time average of the bead attraction potential at the bead collection zone of the bead contact surface.

Abstract: A dry powder, for example, a medicament for an inhaler, comprises elongated particles with an aspect ratio sufficient to cause the particles to be bound to a preferably metal or non-metallic sheet material substrate at the particle tips by electrostatic deposition and for aligning a plurality of particles with their major axes aligned normal to the substrate and oriented tip-to-tip. Particles deposited form a low density, high relative void deposition to minimize attractive forces between the particles. This minimizes agglomeration and bonding forces to the substrate facilitating the release of a powdered medicament in an inhaler. Medicament dosages in a substrate pocket are covered by a sealing layer. An embodiment of a drug dosage inhaler substrate and inhaler is disclosed.

Abstract: Provided is, among other things, a dry deposition apparatus for depositing grains on a substrate comprising:an electrostatic chuck having one or more collection zones, wherein the substrate is layered on the chuck for processing;a charged grain delivery apparatus for directing charged grains for electrostatic deposition on the substrate at the locations of the collection zones; andan optical detection device for quantifying the amount of grains deposited.

Abstract: Provided is a solid support having dry deposited thereon a first solid layer comprising at least a first compound, the compound for use in a chemical process conducted in a first solution. The invention allows stable forms where the first compound is not stable either (i) for storage in the first solution or (ii) in solution with one or more other compounds of the first layer. Also provided is a tray or kit of wells adapted for conducting a chemical process, each well having a deposited thereon a first solid layer comprising one or more compounds for supporting a chemical process conducted in a first solution, wherein addition of the first liquid to each of the wells dissolves said one or more compounds. Fabrication methods, time-release compositions, and methods of conducting chemical processes are further provided.

Abstract: Provided is a solid support having a composition of at least one compound deposited thereon by electrostatic or controlled field deposition, wherein the compound is attached to the support. Also provided is a method of preparing the solid support by creating an electromagnetic force for attracting particles having a first charge to a surface of the solid support and contacting the surface with the charged particles, which comprise the composition, and thereby coating the surface with the composition. Further provided is a probe array comprising spatially resolved probes deposited and attached on a solid support by electrostatic or controlled field deposition. These methods, supports and arrays provide the building blocks for methods of nucleic acid amplification and for constructing apparatuses for conducting chemical processes.

Abstract: The present invention is directed, in part, to an inhaler apparatus with a substrate having medicament deposited thereon, the substrate being configured for electronic release of the medicament. In preferred embodiments, the inhaler comprises a conductive layer and a dielectric layer thereon. In preferred embodiments, the inhaler further comprises a second conductive layer positioned above the substrate without having contact with the substrate. In certain preferred embodiments, the voltage source is connected to the conductive layer in the substrate and the second conductive layer above the substrate.

Abstract: The present invention provides an acoustic dispenser for propelling objects toward a substrate, together with methods of use of the dispenser. The acoustic dispenser uses a source of acoustic vibration and a membrane for the application of acoustic vibration wherein the objects are propelled from the membrane to a substrate. The acoustic dispenser and the methods of the invention can be used with numerous types of objects. In some embodiments, the objects are particles in a dry powder, which can include, for example, a pharmaceutically active ingredient. In other embodiments, the objects are beads, which preferably have an average diameter of about 100 to about 300 microns. Additionally, the acoustic dispenser can be used with more than one type of object, for example, two types of objects such as beads and dry powder.

Abstract: Fiber-reinforced titanium alloy and intermetallic matrix composites having improved stability and tensile strength properties at elevated temperatures. The base reinforced fibers are pre-coated with a tailorable tri-layer coating, such as Ti--TiN--Ti. Preferably the TiN layer is graded so as to have metal-rich outer surfaces, such as titanium-rich TiN, providing excellent bonding affinity for the base titanium layer, bonded to the surface of the fibers, such as silicon carbide, and for the outer titanium layer, bonded to the titanium aluminum matrix, and a compound core, such as stoichiometric TiN, providing a stable interfacial barrier against chemical reactions, whereby the tensile strength and resistance to cracking of the composite is preserved even at elevated temperatures of 900.degree. C. or higher.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an induction coil which includes a flat spirally wound portion and a tubular spirally wound portion extending from the outer edge of the flat portion. The axis of the tubular portion is substantially perpendicular to the flat portion. The coil is useful in a plasma production apparatus which includes a chamber having walls and adapted to be evacuated. A window extends into the chamber from one of the walls. The coil is in the window with the flat portion being at the bottom of the window.

Abstract: An apparatus and method including a current sensor having a radiation emitter, such as an electrical resistor, and a radiation detector, such as an infrared detector, for sensing current flowing to a plasma generating electrode from a radio frequency (RF) power source. The resistor may include a high emissivity infrared coating to enhance efficiency of the current sensor. The infrared detector provides a highly accurate indication of the average or root-mean-square current delivered to the plasma generating electrode without introducing parasitic capacitance into the measurement, or sensing, circuit. A voltage sensor and a second current sensor, such as a torroidal current sensor, provide the voltage and phase angle of the current delivered to the plasma generating electrode to thereby permit calculation of the power delivered to the plasma generating electrode. A processor controls the RF source responsive to the sensed average current, sensed voltage, and sensed phase angle of the current.

Abstract: A triode plasma reactor having first, second and third electrodes for forming a plasma in a reaction chamber from a reactant gas includes a phase modulated potential generator for generating time varying potentials on the second and third electrodes which are phase modulated versions of one another. The phase modulated versions may also include a fixed phase shift between them. By time varying the phase angle relative to a set phase shift, a new dimension of time varying control for the reactor may be obtained. Phase modulation at frequencies from audio frequencies to radio frequencies may be provided. Phase modulation may be accomplished digitally or in the analogue domain.

Abstract: The present invention includes an apparatus and method for depositing diamond on a substrate. A hydrocarbon/hydrogen gas mixture is passed through a refractory metal hollow cathode which is self heated to a high temperature. The gas mixture is dissociated by a combination of thermal and plasma effects. The plasma plume emanating from the hollow cathode heats the substrate which is positioned on a surface of the anode. Growth of the diamond film is enhanced by bombardment of electrons.

Abstract: The present device comprises, in a preferred embodiment, a permanent magnet assembly which is formed to closely resemble a doughnut with the inside surface defining an aperture having first and second ends. Said inside surface is formed concave to substantially resemble the letter "C", or a mirror image letter "C". The permanent magnet provides magnetic flux from one end of the "C" to the other and hence the magnetic flux lines, or the magnetic flux field, form, in conjunction with the concave letter "C" configuration of the permanent magnet, an enclosure. Within the enclosure there is located an anode, and the anode is shielded from electrons by the magnetic flux field. In one embodiment, in close proximity to the second end of said aperture of the permanent magnet piece there is located a cathode, while at said first end of the aperture there is located a screen. In another embodiment, which is used for sputtering, there is no screen employed.

Abstract: The present invention provides, in a preferred embodiment, a cylindrical stainless steel cathode with end pieces thereon to form a cathode chamber within. In addition, in a preferred embodiment, there is a stainless steel rod which passes axially through the cathode chamber and which is electrically insulated therefrom at the end pieces. The stainless steel cathode has first and second apertures formed therein with the first to be connected to a source of ionizable gas and the second to act as the opening through which there passes a stream of ions to an ion beam target. A magnetic flux source is coupled to the cathode chamber to pass magnetic flux therethrough and a voltage source is connected between the anode and the cathode to provide an electrostatic field therebetween whereby when ionizable gas is fed into the cathode chamber, it is ionized and a stream of ions emanates from the second aperture.

Abstract: The present invention provides, in a sputtering apparatus, an anode means interposed between the cathode and the substrate (upon which material is to be deposited) which acts to intercept electrons so that they do not impinge on the substrate and which is formed to permit the material dislodged from the cathode (by impinging ions) to pass beyond the anode and be deposited on the substrate. While the present invention can be usefully employed without the aid of a magnetic field, in a preferred embodiment, the present invention is made part of a planar magnetron.