Abstract: An electronically-controlled hammering module is used to apply a repetitive hammering force under electronic control to the top end of a dynamic cone penetrometer rod. In a preferred embodiment, the hammering module has a battery-powered percussive hammer that applies an electrically-generated impulse hammering force to the top of the rod. The depth of penetration is measured with a range-finder and used to compute the rate of penetration of the rod into the ground and correlated to the strength of the soil. The rate of hammering is controlled to cause the rod to penetrate into the soil at a controlled rate correlated with the strength of the soil.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for operating a computer system that call for executing a plurality of modular processes, providing a data file for use by the plurality of the processes, and incorporating a view identification within each of the plurality of processes to define data accessible by each process within the data file. The processes can include, for example, two identical processes that are executed simultaneously to access the same data within the data file in accordance with the same incorporated view identification.

Abstract: An alkoxylate adduct of a polyol. The polyol is an amorphous diol having a melting point above about 100° C. The alkoxylate is propylene oxide, butylene oxide, a mixture of propylene oxide and butylene oxide or a mixture of one or both of propylene oxide and butylene oxide with up to 50 mole % of ethylene oxide. The first polyol has an average of from about 1 to about 5 units of alkoxylate per mole of said amorphous diol. The adduct is useful in preparing urethane (meth)acrylate capped resins and compositions thereof. Resins prepared from such adducts have better manufacturing and solubility properties while retaining similar physical properties to resins prepared from the unadducted diol. The adduct may be for instance a propoxylate of hydrogenated bisphenol A having an average of from 1.5 to 3.5 moles of PO per mole of hydrogenated bisphenol A.

Abstract: An alkoxylate adduct of a polyol. The polyol is an amorphous diol having a melting point above about 100° C. The alkoxylate is propylene oxide, butylene oxide, a mixture of propylene oxide and butylene oxide or a mixture of one or both of propylene oxide and butylene oxide with up to 50 mole % of ethylene oxide. The first polyol has an average of from about 1 to about 5 units of alkoxylate per mole of said amorphous diol. The adduct is useful in preparing urethane (meth)acrylate capped resins and compositions thereof. Resins prepared from such adducts have better manufacturing and solubility properties while retaining similar physical properties to resins prepared from the unadducted diol. The adduct may be for instance a propoxylate of hydrogenated bisphenol A having an average of from 1.5 to 3.5 moles of PO per mole of hydrogenated bisphenol A.

Abstract: A device for performing sample acquisition and introduction of a selectable quantity of the acquired sample to associated device such as an analytical instrument.

Abstract: An electroluminescent D.C. display panel has a transparent substrate, transparent anodes, a metal oxide interlayer, an electroluminescent powder phosphor, and cathodes formed in stacked relation on the substrate. The metal oxide interlayer allows the panel to be formed relatively quickly at substantially reduced forming currents.

Abstract: Electroluminescent display panels comprising copper sulfide coated Zns:Mn phosphor powder, bonded in an organic dielectric binder, can be provided with increased useful lives by incorporating (1) silver in the copper sulfide coating on the ZnS:Mn phosphor powder, in an amount of 2 to 12%, by weight of the copper in the copper sulfide coating; and (2) elemental sulfur in the dielectric binder, in an amount of 0.1 to 3%, by weight of the phosphor particles. The additives can be used independently or together, preferably together. Methods of incorporating the additives are also disclosed.

Abstract: A flat panel display of the type in which an electrode structure is disposed in a vacuum chamber between a front glass panel and a foil backing sheet is provided with a gas-impervious electrical connector sealably mounted over an opening in the foil sheet so as to be physically held in place within the panel by the ambient pressure on the exterior side of the connector.

Abstract: A flat-panel display is constructed by sealing a metal flange to a frame on a glass pane, then mounting an electrode structure against the pane within the frame, then placing an impervious malleable sheet over the electrode structure, then sealing the sheet to the flange, and then pumping air from the space between the sheet and the glass pane, and backfilling as required.

Abstract: A flat-panel display employs an electronic focusing system which utilizes a repeller anode to repel low energy electrons emitted from a gas-discharge plasma which is controllably moved across a generally planar array of hollow-cathode elements.

Abstract: A method of making a display panel comprising a transparent rigid substrate and an electrode structure held against the rigid substrate by means of a flexible backing comprises the steps of sandwiching the electrode structure between the transparent rigid substrate and flexible backing, sealing the backing to the substrate and evacuating the atmosphere from the sealed sandwich structure. The atmospheric air pressure causes the flexible backing to uniformly press the electrode structure against the transparent rigid substrate. A suitable gas atmosphere and getter device is also disclosed.

Abstract: A flat-panel gas discharge cathodoluminescent display includes a plurality of mutually parallel, electron-transmissive accelerator electrodes respectively connected to sources of high positive voltage levels to increase the acceleration voltage of the display without causing ionization of the gas.

Abstract: A flat-panel display is constructed by sealing a metal flange to a frame on a glass pane, then mounting an electrode structure against the pane within the frame, then placing an impervious malleable sheet over the electrode structure, then sealing the sheet to the flange, and then pumping air from the space between the sheet and the glass pane, and backfilling as required.

Abstract: A gas-discharge device is provided in which a dielectric member is disposed between a pair of metal members and has one or more openings to provide one or more gas-discharge cells. A surface portion of the dielectric member extends alongside a discharge path in each cell to be placed in a certain charge condition during a gas-discharge and to control field conditions and a timing delay to a subsequent discharge. With the proper applied operating voltage, which may be of alternating polarity, a repeated breakdown operation is obtained at a low frequency. For display applications, a panel is provided having a multiplicity of cells which are operable from a common operating voltage and which develop glow discharges at random times, thereby producing a random flashing or sparkling effect over at least a portion of the panel.

Abstract: The present invention relates in general to luminescent flat-panel displays, and it relates in particular to a new and improved method of manufacturing flat-panel displays as well as to a novel flat-panel display device.

Abstract: The system includes two conductive sensors to be placed in contact with a body which exhibits voltage changes, such as the leaves of a plant. The sensors are connected to an amplifier having high input impedance and connected with positive feedback and providing good common mode rejection. The amplifier output, in response to voltage changes sensed by the sensors, drives a coil having an iron core, and current flow through the coil is sensed by a utilization device, which, in one arrangement, comprises a magnet secured to the clapper of wind bells.

Abstract: There is disclosed a voltage supply system for a gas discharge display panel where the operating signal voltages for such panels is derived from a low amplitude signal voltage source which source must be protected from high voltage transients. In accordance with the invention, a voltage stabilization circuit in the voltage system incorporates means for integrating the leading edge of the applied D.C. power supply voltage to prevent damage to the operating components of the low amplitude signal voltage source system.

Abstract: A novel structural combination for use in gas discharge panels for generating alpha-numeric and video images which exhibit a high level of brightness, even in panels scanned in a point-at-a-time mode and at television scan rates. The combination includes row-wise extending hollow cathodes comprising upper and lower metal cathode plates between which a hollow cathode discharge is generated. The spacing between cathode plates is selected to insure that an efficient hollow cathode discharge is created. Situated forward of the hollow cathodes are a first electrontransmissive grid means for extracting electrons from the hollow cathode dischage, a second electron-transmissive grid means for controlling the flow of electrons through the first and second grid means, and a faceplate having a phosphor coating thereon and adapted to receive an energizing potential for accelerating toward the phosphor coating those electrons which pass through the second grid means.

Abstract: A highly efficient, high current density gas discharge display panel having rows of columns of gas discharge cells. Each row and discharge cells communicates with a row of hollow cathodes formed of row-wise extending front and rear cathode means positioned adjacent and essentially parallel to each other. When a forward and rear cathode means are both energized, they operate together to form a row of hollow cathodes. With only the forward cathode means energized, a low current gas discharge exists in a row of cells, which discharge is transferred to the next adjacent row of cells by the application of scanning signals to the forward cathode means. A simplified unitary center sheet houses the cell enclosures and grooves for anode and cathode conductors to eliminate the need for multiple layers which require registration with one another. The novel structure permits a fast scan rate and efficient priming of the cells to avoid the necessity for high voltage video drivers.