Abstract: Apparatus for analyzing a spectral signature, including: a light source; a spatial light modulator connected to the light source, the spatial light modulator modulating light from the light source in accordance with spatial features of the spectral signature; an optic system upon which modulated light from the spatial light modulator is incident, the optic system filtering the modulated light; a hologram illuminated with filtered, modulated light from the optic system, the hologram outputting an optical identification of the spectral signature; and a detector upon which the optical identification is incident, the detector detecting the optical identification.

Abstract: A process for preparing a 1,3-propanediol-based polyester comprises contacting an aqueous stream containing acrolein byproduct with a base for a time effective to reduce the acrolein content of the aqueous stream. In a specific embodiment, a poly(propylene terephthalate) preparation process comprises the steps of:(a) contacting 1,3-propanediol and terephthalic acid at elevated temperature to produce a reaction product mixture comprising a poly(propylene terephthalate) and an aqueous solution comprising acrolein;(b) removing a major portion of the aqueous solution from said reaction product mixture;(c) adding a sufficient quantity of a base to the aqueous solution to form a basic solution having a pH greater than about 7.5 and maintaining the basic solution for a time effective to lower the acrolein content thereof;(d) optionally, diluting the basic solution with water; and(e) optionally, biotreating the dilute basic solution for a time effective to further lower the acrolein content.

Abstract: Methods for examining a structure etched in a material layer are disclosed. An inspection aperture next to the structure is formed without appreciably disturbing the etching of the structure. The inspection aperture is formed such that it merges with a portion of the structure's perimeter wall to create an inspection window through which the structure may be readily observed. The observed image of the perimeter wall and bottom of the structure is comparable to that obtained by cleaving, and is achieved without destroying the wafer or substrate on which the etched structure is formed. An etch mark designed to implement the method is also disclosed.

Abstract: Aqueous solutions of organic oxygenates, such as ethylene glycol may be dehydrated by pervaporation through a poly(vinyl pyridine) membrane which has been quaternized and cross-linked.

Abstract: A touch button controlled water stop mainly consists of an outer sleeve, a shaft rod, an upper toothed ring, a lower toothed ring, a spring guide bush, two springs, and a plunger; the shaft rod extending through a spring, a washer, a packing sheet, and a bushing ring and subsequently passing through the hollow cylindrical outer sleeve having a shaft support formed therein, the upper toothed ring, the lower toothed ring, the spring guide bush, and another spring and ending with the plunger secured thereon by a screw. The top end of the shaft rod can be linked with a touch button actuating means and the outer sleeve can be accommodated in a rear connector so that depressing the touch button will move the upper toothed ring to engage with the lower toothed ring. Further, raised blocks formed on the outer sleeve's inner wall confines the slide motion of the upper toothed ring and the lower toothed ring in such a way that the shaft rod will in turn dwell at two positions for each depressing.

Abstract: A high density through-hole interconnect with high aspect ratio vias is formed by sequentially forming layers of dielectric material on a previous dielectric layer. After each layer is formed, a plurality of through holes are etched through each layer and filled or metalized with an electrically conductive material having a coefficient of thermal expansion matching that of the dielectric layers and the integrated circuit that it will connect with. Preferably, the process of forming dielectric layers, forming through holes, and metalizing the through holes is repeated until the metalized through holes have an aspect ratio in the range of from 6 to 10. A support structure is constructed to interconnect with and support the metalized vias while the dielectric material is removed. A second dielectric material having the desired mechanical and electrical properties is poured into the support structure to fill the space between the metalized vias and allowed to solidify.

Abstract: A pair of plug-side engagement members are mounted one at each end of a plug connector attached to a mother board. A pair of receptacle-side elastic members are provided on a daughter board attached to a receptacle connector, os that the receptacle-side elastic members correspond to the plug-side engagement members. With the plug-side engagement members connected to the receptacle-side members, the former is elastically engaged to the latter so that a mechanical insertion force is exerted on the plug-side and receptacle-side connectors to force the plug and receptacle together.

Abstract: A thin-film bypass capacitor is fabricated by forming a plurality of through holes through the thickness of a nonconductive base substrate and filling the through holes with a conductive material to form ground vias and power vias. A sequence of back side metalization layers are applied to the back side surface of the base substrate. A sequence of bottom contact layers are applied to the front side surface of the base substrate. A bottom contact power terminal is formed in the bottom contact layer and is electrically isolated from remaining portions of the bottom contact layers by insulating plugs. A bottom contact metalization layer is applied to the surface of the bottom contact layers and the insulating plugs. A dielectric layer is formed on the surface of the bottom contact metalization layer. A ground metalization via and a power metalization via are formed at the surface of the dielectric layer.

Abstract: A wafer container for conveying silicon wafers, which can be readily re-used after transportation. The cover of the container has recesses to stress the wafers to prevent shaking. The container can be piled up and are easy to open.

Abstract: A mini UHF coaxial cable connector includes a die cast housing, a dielectric received inside the die cast housing, a terminal disposed inside the dielectric, a coaxial cable extending to the die cast housing via the terminal, and a ferrule tightly fitted around the coaxial cable to connect the cable to the die east housing. The dielectric has two radially and inwardly projecting and axially extending elongated ribs formed on an inner wall thereof, and the terminal has two axially extending elongated slots formed thereon which correspond to and receive the two elongated ribs of the dielectric, such that the terminal will not rotate relative to the dielectric and twisting and breakage of the coaxial cable as the antenna is screwed into the connector can be avoided.

Abstract: A stereoselective process for preparing an alpha-anomer enriched 1-.alpha.-halo-2-deoxy-2,2-difluoro-D-ribofuranosyl derivatives involving contacting a 3,5-hydroxy protected-2-deoxy-2,2-difluoro-D-ribofuranosyl-1-.beta.-sulfonate with a halide source in an inert solvent.

Abstract: Disclosed is a computer-based electronic checklist system (10) that is interfaced with a crew alert system (12). The system provides both normal checklists (i.e., checklists for use during routine operation of the airplane) and non-normal checklists for use with crew alert messages that are supplied by the crew alert system. Non-normal checklists that are not associated crew alert messages are also provided. Status indicators are provided to indicate the completion state of non-normal checklists; the completion state of normal checklists, and, when applicable, the existence of a normal checklist that has not yet been used during that particular flight program. Checklist line items of each checklist are displayed in a manner that distinguishes between closed-loop items (i.e., checklist items for which the system operator need not respond); and open-loop line items (i.e., items requiring an operator response).

Abstract: A reusable connector adapter for coupling a fiber optic laser delivery device with a laser source having a laser energy output port. The adapter allows the use of a variety of different laser sources with a variety of different fiber optic laser delivery devices. The adapter maintains the fiber optic laser delivery device adjacent to the laser energy output port such that the laser energy to be transmitted is communicated efficiently to the fiber optic laser delivery device. The adapter further comprises a laser interlock deactivation means such that if a laser source has a mechanical, electrical or optical interlock system, the adapter will function to deactivate the interlock system. Furthermore, the adapter also comprises an optical barrier to prevent the unintended transmission of laser energy when, for example, the fiber optic laser delivery device has not been installed or has not been installed properly.

Abstract: A vortex wall (14) and impeller (30) assembly for a transverse or cross flow fan (10). The wall is intended to reduce blade rate tonal noise and is formed in a number of segments (15). The segments have noses with J shaped cross sections and are arranged so that the J tail (16) of one segment points in the opposite direction from the J tail of an adjacent segment. The spanwise widths (W), segment-to-impeller clearances (c) and setting angles (.theta.) vary randomly, within specified limits, among the segments.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an adjustable towing handle for a trunk to provide a towing structure that is convenient and practical to use and to increase the convenience for the use of the trunk. The adjustable handle has a support seat, two fixed rods, two adjustable ends, a fixed rod seat, and a control tube, with two pins. The control tube with springs and two pins are attached in the support seat and sealed with a coverplate. The fixed rod extends between the fixing rod seat and the support seat on the back of a trunk or case body. A handle is mounted on the adjustable ends and they are inserted into the two fixed rods. The pins are rotated by the motion of a body on the control tube to retain or release the adjustable rods to effect the adjusting and positioning of the adjustable handle.

Abstract: A flower pot including a pot body having an annular water reservoir disposed at the top, a water supply regulator consisting of a base block disposed in the annular water reservoir, a water guiding strap having a leading end dipped in water in the annular water reservoir and an opposite end extended into the pot body to guide water from the annular water reservoir into the pot body by capillary action, and an adjusting block moved in a vertical sliding slot on the base block to adjust the elevation of the leading end of the water guiding strap in water; and a locating device fastened to the pot body to hold down the water guiding strap.

Abstract: A method and system for enhancing processing efficiency in a data processing system which includes multiple scalar instruction processors and a vector instruction processor. An ordered sequence of intermixed scalar and vector instructions is processed in a nonsequential order by coupling those instructions to selected processors. As each instruction is finished an indication of that state is stored within a finish instruction array. The first vector instruction within the ordered sequence is initiated within the vector instruction processor only after an indication that each scalar instruction preceding the first vector instruction is finished. A vector advance signal is generated by the vector instruction processor each time processing of a vector instruction is initiated.

Abstract: A massaging machine includes a motor-driven hollow shaft including two ends each defining a slot. A shaft which includes a right-hand thread and a left-hand thread is insertable through the hollow shaft. A first distance-adjusting member includes a T-flange on an external surface and includes a right-hand thread on an internal surface for engaging with the right-hand thread on the shaft. A second distance-adjusting member includes a T-flange on an external surface and includes a left-hand thread on an internal surface for engaging with the left-hand thread on the shaft. Two cylinders each include an inclined face at an end and defines a T-slot in an internal surface for engaging with one of the T-flanges. Two sleeves are each insertable in one of the cylinders and are each mountable on one of the ends of the hollow shaft so that the T-flange of each sleeve is slidably received in one of the slots of the hollow shaft. Two wheels are each mounted by means of bearing on one of the sleeves.

Abstract: A method for electrochemical refining of an impurity-containing low carbon steel melt using a solid electrolyte ionic conductor to remove the impurity from the melt is provided. Also provided are an apparatus for performing the method, and a continuous method for electrochemical refining of a low carbon steel melt.