Abstract: A tool for cutting a tie wrap bound about a wire bundle. The tool includes a body portion having a generally disc-shaped cutter and cutting edge. A shield covers one side of the cutter and defines first and second shield slots in communication with the cutting edge. A housing pivotally connected to the body portion covers the other side of the cutter and defines first and second housing slots that communicate with the cutting edge. The housing pivots between first, second, and third positions. In the first position, the first housing slot communicates with the first shield slot to expose the cutting edge for cutting purposes. In the second position, the first housing slot is out of communication with the first shield slot, thereby covering the cutting edge. And, in the third position, the second housing slot communicates with the second shield slot to expose the cutting edge.

Abstract: A tool for cutting a tie wrap bound about a wire bundle. The tool includes a body portion having a generally disc-shaped cutter and cutting edge. A shield covers one side of the cutter and defines first and second shield slots in communication with the cutting edge. A housing pivotally connected to the body portion covers the other side of the cutter and defines first and second housing slots that communicate with the cutting edge. The housing pivots between first, second, and third positions. In the first position, the first housing slot communicates with the first shield slot to expose the cutting edge for cutting purposes. In the second position, the first housing slot is out of communication with the first shield slot, thereby covering the cutting edge. And, in the third position, the second housing slot communicates with the second shield slot to expose the cutting edge.

Abstract: A tool for cutting a tie wrap bound about a wire bundle. The tool includes a body portion having a generally disc-shaped cutter and cutting edge. A shield covers one side of the cutter and defines first and second shield slots in communication with the cutting edge. A housing pivotally connected to the body portion covers the other side of the cutter and defines first and second housing slots that communicate with the cutting edge. The housing pivots between first, second, and third positions. In the first position, the first housing slot communicates with the first shield slot to expose the cutting edge for cutting purposes. In the second position, the first housing slot is out of communication with the first shield slot, thereby covering the cutting edge. And, in the third position, the second housing slot communicates with the second shield slot to expose the cutting edge.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for monitoring a vehicle. An apparatus comprises a sensor system and a computer system. The sensor system is associated with a number of human operators of a vehicle and a number of components in the vehicle. The sensor system is configured to generate physiological data for the number of human operators. The computer system is configured to receive the physiological data; determine whether the physiological data is within a level for a desired level of performance for operating the vehicle based on a policy; and perform a number of actions to maintain the desired level of performance for operating the vehicle in response to the physiological data not being within the level for the desired level of performance.

Abstract: A tool for cutting a tie wrap bound about a wire bundle. The tool includes a body portion having a generally disc-shaped cutter and cutting edge. A shield covers one side of the cutter and defines first and second shield slots in communication with the cutting edge. A housing pivotally connected to the body portion covers the other side of the cutter and defines first and second housing slots that communicate with the cutting edge. The housing pivots between first, second, and third positions. In the first position, the first housing slot communicates with the first shield slot to expose the cutting edge for cutting purposes. In the second position, the first housing slot is out of communication with the first shield slot, thereby covering the cutting edge. And, in the third position, the second housing slot communicates with the second shield slot to expose the cutting edge.

Abstract: A tie-down strap system designed to be integrated with the plurality of tie-down straps that are currently on the market. A system for the protection of the tightening mechanism, the storage of excess strapping during use, a storage device when not used as a tie-down strap, a hanging system when not in used as a tie-down strap, and a termination feature that prevents the free end of the strap from sliding through the tightening mechanism.

Abstract: The invention provides reinforced aerogel monoliths as well as reinforced composites thereof for a variety of uses. Compositions and methods of preparing the monoliths and composites are also provided. Application of these materials in transparent assemblies is also discuss.

Abstract: Overclad fiber optic couplers typically include an elongated glass body having a solid midregion through which at least two glass optical fibers extend in optical signal coupling relationship. At each end of the midregion is an end region containing a bore from which optical fiber pigtails extend. In accordance with the invention, each end region includes a first projecting portion, one surface of which forms a ledge. That end of each bore opposite the midregion terminates at a recessed face that intersects the respective ledge. One end of at least the first fiber extends from the first bore. That portion of the first fiber outside the first bore has a coating that extends along the ledge, the coating terminating outside the first bore. A mass of glue extends between the ledge and the recessed face and encompasses the bare portion of the first fiber that extends along the first ledge and at least a portion of the first coating that extends along the first ledge.

Abstract: A fiber optic coupler comprising a plurality of single-mode optical fibers, each of which is tapered to form a small diameter section that extends in contiguous relationship with the small diameter sections of the other fibers to form a coupling region. Each of the fibers has a core surrounded by a cladding of refractive index lower than that of the core. At least one of the fibers has a refractive index pedestal of refractive index n.sub.i between said core and cladding, wherein n.sub.1 >n.sub.i >n.sub.2, n.sub.1 and n.sub.2 being the refractive indices of the core and cladding, respectively.

Abstract: An overclad fiber optic coupler of the type wherein a plurality of optical optical fibers, each having a core and a cladding, are fused together along a portion of the lengths thereof to form a coupling region. Surrounding the coupling region is a matrix glass body of refractive index n3 which is lower than the fiber cladding refractive index n.sub.2. The body has an inner region adjacent the optical fibers, an outer region having a radius greater than that of the inner region, and a transition region between the inner and outer regions. The softening point temperature of the inner region is greater than that of the outer region. The coupler exhibits both low polarization dependent loss and low excess loss.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of forming a glass tube doped with boron and fluorine. A B.sub.2 O.sub.3 -doped tubular porous preform is heated, and a fluorine-containing gas is flowed into its aperture. The temperature is sufficiently high to cause the fluorine-containing gas to decompose and form fluorine which dopes the preform. Also flowed into the aperture is a sufficient amount of BF.sub.3 to prevent fluorine from reacting with the B.sub.2 O.sub.3 in the porous preform and forming a B.sub.2 O.sub.3 -depleted region near the aperture surface. The particles are then fused to form a fluorine-containing dense glass tube.

Abstract: An achromatic fiber optic coupler of the type wherein first and second single-mode optical fibers, each having a core and a cladding, are fused together along a portion of the lengths thereof to form a coupling region. A matrix glass of lower index than the fiber claddings surrounds the coupling region. The fiber diameters are smaller in the coupling region than in the remainder of the fibers. The refractive index n.sub.2 of the cladding of the first fiber is different from the refractive index n.sub.2 ' of the cladding of the second fiber, the difference between the refractive indices n.sub.2 and n.sub.2 ' being such that the coupler exhibits very little change in coupling ratio with wavelength over a band of wavelengths.

Abstract: A machine that vends a predetermined number of golf balls when activated by a coin or token-operated slide mechanism. A large plurality of golf balls are placed in a hopper and the balls are fed from the hopper, one at a time, into an elongate pipe that discharges into a bucket positioned in a chamber near the bottom of the machine. A motor rotates a turntable having golf ball receiving apertures formed in its outer periphery so that the balls fill each aperture as the turntable rotates. The upper end of the pipe is in the path of travel of and is in open communication with apertures formed in the turntable so that rotation of the turntable continuously fills the pipe as the apertures pass over its open end. Numerous structural features, including vibrating members, insure that the balls will not jam in the hopper and additional design features insure a jostling of the balls in the vicinity of the pipe's upper end to insure against jamming at that critical location.

Abstract: A combination pet grooming brush and medication dispenser. A hand-holdable base member has a hollow upper chamber for the retention of liquid medication and air and has a solid lower portion having a passageway with plural branches formed therein. The passageway has a first end, confluent with the hollow chamber, that serves as a drain; the passageway splits into plural branches, each of which is confluent with a hypodermic tube. The tubes extend in parallelism with bristle members from a mounting plate releasably secured to the bottom of the base member. A rotationally mounted and axially displaceable spring-loaded valve member opens the passagway to fluid flow when properly rotated and depressed and closes the passageway when released. Air pressure provides the motive force for fluid flow and is supplied by a squeeze bulb confluent with the hollow chamber and separated therefrom by a check valve. A pressure relief valve formed in the hollow chamber ensures against over-pressurization.

Abstract: The insulating and stabiity characteristics of silicon dioxide gate oxide insulator for field effect transistors are enhanced by subjecting the silicon dioxide to an annealing in an ambient that contains a gaseous oxygen-containing species in an amount sufficient to provide a partial pressure from the oxygen-containing material of about 10.sup.-6 torr to about 10 torr during annealing temperatures of about 500.degree. C. to about 1200.degree. C. Such is carried out for a time sufficient to enhance the insulating and stability characteristics of the silicon dioxide insulator.

Abstract: A four layer charge storage structure comprising alternate layers of silicon-rich silicon dioxide and silicon dioxide with electrode layers on top and bottom. The upper and middle silicon-rich layers act as enhanced Fowler-Nordheim injectors and the middle silicon-rich layer also stores charges since the silicon particles act as deep traps. The charge storage structure is applicable to nonvolatile memories.

Abstract: A split recoating mold for use in recoating optical waveguide fibers with a UV-curable resin is provided wherein: (1) the mold, when closed, forms a cavity for receiving the portion of the fiber which is to be recoated, the cross-sectional size and shape of the cavity being essentially equal to the cross-sectional size and shape of the original fiber; (2) the mold includes an injection port for introducing a UV-curable resin into the cavity; and (3) the mold includes means for introducing ultraviolet light into the cavity so that resin located in regions of the cavity remote from the injection port will cure prior to resin located in regions of the cavity near the injection port.

Abstract: Silicon dioxide insulating films for integrated circuits are provided with enhanced electronic properties, including enhanced dielectric breakdown of MOS insulating layers and reduced trapping of holes by exposing a metal oxide semiconductor wafer including an exposed silicon dioxide layer, in an ambient of flowing oxygen gas, to heating radiation from a halogen lamp for a duration on the order of 100 seconds to achieve annealing temperature on the order of 1000.degree. C.For reduced hole trapping, the ambient gas is oxygen and the annealing temperature is on the order of 1000.degree. C. for a duration on the order of 100 seconds, depending on the oxide thickness.Nitrogen, occurring at the silicon-silicon dioxide interface as a result of previous processing including a long anneal in nitrogen, increases the improvement of the silicon dioxide by the subsequent rapid thermal annealing in oxygen.

Abstract: A graded oxide MIM or MIS structure employs band gap grading of the insulator oxide so that holes or electrons (depending on voltage bias) can be injected into the insulator oxide under moderate electric field conditions from the contact at one interface. Electron or hole injection from the opposite interface is blocked due to the larger insulator band gap near this interface. A graded oxide metal-silicon dioxide-silicon (MGOS) semiconductor structure may be fabricated by forming several pyrolytic or CVD SiO.sub.2 layers over a relatively thick thermal SiO.sub.2 layer, with the pyrolytic SiO.sub.2 layers having sequentially increasing excess Si content. This structure may also be fabricated by controlled Si ion implantation in the thermal SiO.sub.2 layer.

Abstract: A fiber optic coupler comprising a plurality of single-mode optical fibers, each of which is tapered to form a small diameter section that extends in contiguous relationship with the small diameter sections of the other fibers to form a coupling region. Each of the fibers has a core surrounded by a cladding of refractive index lower than that of the core. At least one of the fibers has a refractive index pedestal of refractive index ni between said core and cladding, wherein n1>ni>n2, n1 and n2 being the refractive indices of the core and cladding, respectively.