Abstract: A handheld apparatus to enhance reading enjoyment of printed subject matter includes a housing member having a predetermined shape and a predetermined size. A micro-processing unit is disposed in the housing member. There is a power source disposed within the housing member. Such power source is connected to the micro-processing unit. A program containing at least a dictionary therein is disposed in the micro-processing unit. Additionally, there is a scanner disposed in the housing member that is in electrical communication with the power source and the micro-processing unit for scanning a printed word. Finally, there is a display screen disposed on a predetermined face of the housing member and in electrical communication with the power source and the micro-processing unit for displaying a definition of a scanned word.

Abstract: An antenna structure including at least one planar antenna element. In place of a balun, the antenna structure further includes a slotline for coupling the planar antenna element with an unbalanced load.

Abstract: An antenna structure including at least one planar antenna element. In place of a balun, the antenna structure further includes a slotline for coupling the planar antenna element with an unbalanced load.

Abstract: A process for detecting arc discharges in power cables connecting power supply board and at least one equipment rack, the power supply board including circuit breakers operable at a preset current level, said arc discharge occurring at a fraction of said current level. After the arc discharge is detected, a signal representing the presence of the arc discharge is supplied to a power supply control, and a control signal is provided by the power supply control to cause said at least one circuit breaker to open interrupting supply of power to an affected power cable.

Abstract: This invention is predicated upon applicants' discovery that conventional techniques for minimizing metal loss from sintered ceramic materials are not adequate in the fabrication of small ceramic components such as multilayer monolithic magnetic devices wherein a magnetic core is substantially surrounded by an insulating housing. Applicants have determined that this metal loss problem can be solved by providing the component with a housing layer having an appropriate concentration of metal. Specifically, if the insulating housing material around the magnetic core has, during the high temperature firing, the same partial pressure of metal as the magnetic core material, there is no net loss of metal from the core. In a preferred embodiment, loss of zinc from a MnZn ferrite core is compensated by providing a housing of NiZn ferrite or zinc aluminate with appropriate Zn concentrations. Similar considerations apply to other ceramic components.

Abstract: Lowered cost fabrication including preparation of large bodies of void-free, high-silica glass, depends upon gellation of an aqueous sol of colloidal silica particles, followed by drying and firing of such gel. Freedom from cracks in the dried gel is the consequence of included polymeric material which wets the particles. The polymeric material is removed by thermal decomposition attended upon temperature attained in firing.

Abstract: Multilayer magnetic components can be made with reduced cracking and magnetic degradation by forming layers having patterns of magnetic and insulating regions separated by regions that are removable during sintering. Advantageously, when the layers are stacked, layers of removable material are also disposed between magnetic regions and insulating regions so as to produce upon sintering a magnetic core within an insulating body wherein the core is substantially completely surrounded by a thin layer of free space.

Abstract: Lowered cost fabrication including preparation of large bodies of void-free, high-silica glass, depends upon gellation of an aqueous sol of colloidal silica particles, followed by drying and firing of such gel. Freedom from cracks in the dried gel is the consequence of included polymeric material which wets the particles. The polymeric material is removed by thermal decomposition attended upon temperature attained in firing.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a process of producing semiconductor devices which involves deposition of protective glass layers by a particle beam technique from targets of phosphosilicate glass, as well as a process for production of such targets. The phosphosilicate glass containing 1-15 mole percent P.sub.2 O.sub.5 is produced by a sol/gel technique which involves mixing of a fumed silica, with a surface area of 50-400 m.sup.2 /g, preferably about 200 m.sup.2 /g, with phosphoric acid and water to form a sol with 20-55 wt. % silica, allowing it to gel, drying at ambient conditions, dehydrating at about 650.degree. C. in an atmosphere of an inert gas and chlorine and fluorine containing gases, heating up at a certain rate of from 100.degree. to 180.degree. C. per hour to a peak sintering temperature below 1200.degree. C. and cooling so as to produce amorphous and transparent glass suitable for use as a target. The glass layers are highly advantageous as encapsulating layers, diffusion barrier layers, etc.

Abstract: The disclosed method of producing optical fiber comprises providing a silica-based glass rod of diameter D that comprises a core region of effective diameter d surrounded by cladding material (D/d typcially>2) and a silica-based porous jacketing tube, inserting the glass core rod into the porous tube, consolidating the porous material and sintering the jacketing tube onto the core rod such that a substantially pore-free optical fiber preform results. Fiber is then drawn from the preform in the conventional manner. Consolidation and sintering is carried out at a temperature below the softening temperature of the material, typically <1600.degree. C. In a preferred embodiment, the porous tube is produced by a sol/gel process that comprises mixing colloidal silica (surface area 5-100 m.sup.