Abstract: Techniques and structures have been developed for providing lead-free column grid array interconnect structures. An exemplary interconnect has a body, a first joint, and a second joint, all having compositions off the eutectic composition in a ternary alloy system, the first joint having a ternary composition distinct from the body composition, and the second joint having a ternary composition distinct from the body composition and the first joint composition. The interconnect may be formed by solidifying a solder, having a Sn-poor ternary composition in the Sn—Ag—Cu alloy system, in contact with a column, having a Ag-rich Cu-deficient composition in the same system, and a bonding pad or bare substrate. A second solder, having a Sn-rich ternary composition, may be solidified in contact with the column and a second bonding pad or bare substrate. In some embodiments joints may be severed and reformed by remelting and resolidifying the lower-liquidus solder.

Abstract: The invention includes an alloy containing equivalent amounts of nickel and titanium. The alloy has shape memory and a metallic purity of at least about 99.995%, and comprises less than about 200 ppm of gases. The invention also includes an alloy comprising titanium and nickel where the titanium and nickel amounts are non-equivalent. The alloy has shape memory and has a metallic purity of at least 99.995%, and contains less than about 200 ppm of gases. The invention further includes a method of producing a shape memory alloy. Titanium is provided having a metallic purity of at least 99.999% and nickel is provided having a metallic purity of at least 99.99%. The titanium and nickel are combined utilizing at least one melting event independently selected from e-beam melting, vacuum arc melting, vacuum induction melting, induction skull melting and plasma melting.

Abstract: A greater likelihood decoder, a method of deriving a reduced substreams maximum likelihood (RSML) decoded symbol vector and a multiple-input, multiple-output (MIMO) receiver incorporating the decoder or the method. In one embodiment, the decoder includes: (1) a suboptimal decoder that analyzes a received symbol vector to generate substream indicators and a decoded symbol vector estimate, (2) weakest substreams decision logic, coupled to the suboptimal decoder, that receives the substream indicators and selects weakest ones thereof and (3) subspace search logic, coupled to the suboptimal decoder and the weakest substreams decision logic, that further selects a reduced substreams maximum likelihood (RSML) decoded symbol vector from a subspace of decoded symbol vector candidates derived from the decoded symbol vector estimate and the weakest ones.

Abstract: The invention includes superconducting titanium-containing compositions having less than 200 ppm, by weight, of a combined total of interstitial materials selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, oxygen, carbon and hydrogen. The invention also includes methods of forming superconducting titanium-containing superconducting compositions containing less than 100 ppm, by weight, of a combined total of interstitial materials selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, oxygen, carbon and hydrogen.

Abstract: A waterpouring system and method for use with a multiple-input, multiple-output (MIMO) transmitter. In one embodiment, the waterpouring system includes an encoding decision subsystem that selects a constellation combination based on gains in channels of the MIMO transmitter, and a vector modulator subsystem, coupled to the encoding decision system, that modulates a fixed number of bits in a bitstream with the constellation combination to generate a symbol vector. The waterpouring system also includes a normalization and precoding subsystem, coupled to the vector modulator subsystem, that weights the symbol vector based on the gains to yield a weighted symbol vector and distributes the weighted symbol vector among the channels.

Abstract: Aqueous disinfecting and cleaning compositions and concentrates which are efficacious against gram positive and gram negative bacteria, have relatively low volatile organic content (“VOC”) and are surprisingly mild to the user of the compositions. The compositions include a quaternary ammonium compound as its primary germicidal active agent, have a low content of active constituents, and do not include organic solvents such as alcohols, glycols, or glycol ethers in significant amounts.

Abstract: A lighting assembly includes a printed circuit board and a cover. The printed circuit board carries a plurality of groups of LEDs. The cover is unitarily formed and receives the printed circuit board. The cover defines a corresponding plurality of windows. Each of the windows is configured to direct a high intensity light generated by a corresponding one of the groups of LEDs in a distinct direction.

Abstract: A method of accent lighting and an accent light including an LED and a light guide with polished proximal and distal ends. The LED is optically coupled to the proximal end and the distal end reflects the LED light back into the guide. Additionally, the distal end may include a reflective coating and the guide may be acrylic. Moreover, the guide may be supported by a vinyl support glued to the guide whereby the light output about doubles. Also, a longitudinal etch on the acrylic guide may make the light output about consistent along the guide.

Abstract: The present invention provides an under water lighting assembly including a housing and a plurality of LEDs mounted on a board within the housing. The LEDs are arranged in a plurality of banks such that are powered respectively. The banks are circular and concentric. A non-board programmable process or allows independent color switching and color modulation of the LED arrays.

Abstract: A lighting assembly includes a printed circuit board and a cover. The printed circuit board carries a plurality of groups of LEDs. The cover is unitarily formed and receives the printed circuit board. The cover defines a corresponding plurality of windows. Each of the windows is configured to direct a high intensity light generated by a corresponding one of the groups of LEDs in a distinct direction.

Abstract: Aqueous disinfecting and cleaning compositions and concentrates which are efficacious against gram positive and gram negative bacteria, have relatively low volatile organic content (“VOC”) and are surprisingly mild to the user of the compositions. The compositions include a quaternary ammonium compound as its primary germicidal active agent, have a low content of active constituents, and do not include organic solvents such as alcohols, glycols, or glycol ethers in significant amounts.

Abstract: Acidic, thickened cleaning and disinfecting compositions which exhibit good long term shelf stability, are particularly effective in the removal of limescale from hard surfaces, and which are effective against gram positive and gram negative bacteria. The compositions comprise one or more nonionic surfactants; one or more quaternary ammonium surfactant compounds having germicidal properties; an acid mixture comprising formic acid and one or more water soluble organic acids, particularly water soluble organic acids selected from the group consisting of: lactic acid, citric acid, glycolic acid and where the formic acid and one or more water soluble organic acids are present in a weight ratio of formic acid: formic acid:water soluble organic acid(s) of 1:0.1-10; a cellulose based thickening composition; optionally but desirably a one or more conventional additives such as a coloring agent, fragrance or pH adjusting agent; and, water.

Abstract: Aqueous disinfecting and cleaning compositions and concentrates which are efficacious against gram positive and gram negative bacteria, have relatively low volatile organic content ("VOC") and are surprisingly mild to the user of the compositions. The compositions include a quaternary ammonium compound as its primary germicidal active agent, have a low content of active constituents, and do not include organic solvents such as alcohols, glycols, or glycol ethers in significant amounts.

Abstract: Aqueous disinfecting and cleaning compositions and concentrates which are efficacious against gram positive and gram negative bacteria, have relatively low volatile organic content ("VOC") and are surprisingly mild to the user of the compositions. The compositions include a quaternary ammonium compound as its primary germicidal active agent, have a low content of active constituents, and do not include organic solvents such as alcohols, glycols, or glycol ethers in significant amounts.

Abstract: Aqueous disinfecting and cleaning compositions and concentrates which are efficacious against gram positive and gram negative bacteria, have relatively low volatile organic content ("VOC") and are surprisingly mild to the user of the compositions. The compositions include a quaternary ammonium compound as its primary germicidal active agent, and have a low content of active constituents.

Abstract: A continuously varying electrical signal representing an original musical sound is divided at a selected mid-frequency of about 800 Hertz to provide upper and lower frequency signal bands which are then frequency-modulated with separate modulation signals that differ in frequency or amplitude or both, in order to produce a vibrato or tremulant effect and thereby enrich the harmonic content of the musical sound.In order to inject the vibrato or tremulant into each signal band, the modulation process utilizes a pulse sampling and delay circuit which minimizes clock pulse noise by selecting only the central part of each delayed pulse, and which also senses the original amplitude envelope of the unmodulated wave in order to augment the envelope that is recreated from the delayed pulses after they are recovered.

Abstract: An electronic key telephone system is disclosed that provides a plurality of telephone features and functions, while only requiring a four-wire line between the central equipment and each key-set telephone (KST) and a two-wire line between the central equipment and each single-line telephone (SLT). Linear delta coding and time division multiplex (TDM) techniques are used to eliminate the multiple pairs required in traditional private business exchange (PBX) systems between the remote key telephones and the control unit. In the present system, a microprocessor controlled TDM controller transmits and receives control signals serially to and from interfaces in the system for control purposes and also for establishing exchange of digitized audio information data between selected interfaces. The system thus exchanges digitized audio information directly between interfaces and provides control signalling between the TDM controller and the interfaces, with all of the exchanges being done in real time.

Abstract: A method and means for modulating the frequency of an analog signal to achieve a vibrato effect wherein the analog signal is transmitted through an analog shift register or delay line under the control of a digital clock signal and wherein the frequency of the digital clock signal is varied at a rate equal to the desired rate of modulation of the analog signal. In this manner, the output of the shift register is a delayed version of the input thereto, with the frequency modulated at the same rate that the clock signal frequency is modulated. According to the preferred embodiment of the invention, first and second shift registers are utilized and the analog signal is divided into upper and lower frequency bands which are separately applied to the two shift registers. Furthermore the shift register which receives the lower frequency band is clocked at one-half the rate of the shift register which receives the higher frequency band.