Abstract: A tinted color value is produced for a surface of an object in a computer generated scene. The surface is illuminated by a light source having a lighting color value associated with the light source. A first reflected color value is calculated for the surface. The first reflected color value is calculated based on an assumption that the surface is illuminated by white light rather than the lighting color value associated with the light source. A desaturated color value is computed using the first reflected color value. A tinted color value is computed by combining the desaturated color value with the lighting color value associated with the light source. The tinted color value is stored.

Abstract: A tinted color value is produced for a surface of an object in a computer generated scene. The surface is illuminated by a light source having a lighting color value associated with the light source. A first reflected color value is calculated for the surface. The first reflected color value is calculated based on an assumption that the surface is illuminated by white light rather than the lighting color value associated with the light source. A desaturated color value is computed using the first reflected color value. A tinted color value is computed by combining the desaturated color value with the lighting color value associated with the light source. The tinted color value is stored.

Abstract: A cleaning kit for use in cleaning surfaces in clean rooms, semiconductor fabrication plants, pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities, etc. A stack of extremely clean wipers is packaged together with a container of cleaning fluid in a liquid-tight outer container. The kit is stored until just before it is to be used. Fluid is released from the inner container into the wipers. In one embodiment, the inner container is frangible and is broken by application of hand pressure to the outside of the outer container. The cleaning liquid is allowed to soak into the wipers, and the wipers are removed from the outer container for use. The container can be resealed to protect the wipers after the package has been opened. This device and method minimize deterioration of the wiper material due to prolonged contact with the cleaning fluid, and minimize the loss of effectiveness of substances such as biocides which might deteriorate due to prolonged contact with the wiper material.

Abstract: A cleaning kit for use in cleaning surfaces in clean rooms, semiconductor fabrication plants, pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities, etc. A stack of extremely clean wipers is packaged together with a container of cleaning fluid in a liquid-tight outer container. The kit is stored until just before it is to be used. Fluid is released from the inner container into the wipers. In one embodiment, the inner container is frangible and is broken by application of hand pressure to the outside of the outer container. The cleaning liquid is allowed to soak into the wipers, and the wipers are removed from the outer container for use. The container can be resealed to protect the wipers after the package has been opened. This device and method minimize deterioration of the wiper material due to prolonged contact with the cleaning fluid, and minimize the loss of effectiveness of substances such as biocides which might deteriorate due to prolonged contact with the wiper material.

Abstract: A cleaning kit for use in cleaning surfaces in clean rooms, semiconductor fabrication plants, pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities, etc. A stack of extremely clean wipers is packaged together with a container of cleaning fluid in a liquid-tight outer container. The outer container is vacuum-sealed. The kit is stored until just before it is to be used. Fluid is released from the inner container into the wipers, preferably by the use of a puncturing device operable to puncture one of the walls of the inner container by the application of pressure in a limited area on the outside of the outer container. The cleaning liquid is allowed to soak into the wipers, and the wipers are removed from the outer container for use.

Abstract: A clasp having a wafer-like body releasably holds together thin flexible handles of a bag for carrying articles. The body includes a pair of opposing lobes that define a channel extending from a peripheral edge to an interior aperture. A wall of the aperture defines two generally V-shaped niches, each on opposite sides of the channel adjacent the lobes. The handles of the bag, inserted through the channel to the interior aperture, engage the niches for holding the bag substantially closed when being operated for enveloping articles. A method of releasably maintaining an entrance of a bag substantially partially closed is also disclosed.

Abstract: A cleaning kit for use in cleaning surfaces in clean rooms, semiconductor fabrication plants, pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities, etc. A stack of extremely clean wipers is packaged together with a container of cleaning fluid in a liquid-tight outer container. The outer container is vacuum-sealed. The kit is stored until just before it is to be used. Fluid is released from the inner container into the wipers, preferably by means of a puncturing device operable to puncture one of the walls of the inner container by the application of pressure in a limited area on the outside of the outer container. The cleaning liquid is allowed to soak into the wipers, and the wipers are removed from the outer container for use. The container can be resealed to protect the wipers after the package has been opened. The puncturing device is located away from the edges of the package to minimize the chances of accidental puncture.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for cleaning microelectronic surfaces using an aerosol of at least substantially solid argon or nitrogen particles which impinge upon the surface to be cleaned and then evaporate and the resulting gas is removed by venting along with the contaminants dislodged by the cleaning method.

Abstract: Apparatus and a method for performing high resolution optical imaging in the near infrared of internal features of semiconductor wafers uses an optical device made from a material having a high index of refraction and held in very close proximity to the wafer. The optical device may either be a prism or a plano-convex lens. The plano-convex lens may be held in contact with the wafer or separated from the wafer via an air bearing or an optical coupling fluid to allow the sample to be navigated beneath the lens. The lens may be used in a number of optical instruments such as a bright field microscope, a Schlieren microscope, a dark field microscope, a Linnik interferometer, a Raman spectroscope and an absorption spectroscope.

Abstract: A thermophoretic filter cell for the filtering of particles from a liquid is constructed in a particular manner so that the liquid introduced into the filter acts as the heat sink. The cell is designed so that the thermophoretic velocity of the particles in the liquid equals or exceeds the velocity (flow rate per unit area) at which the liquid is passing through the filter.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for cleaning microelectronics surfaces using an aerosol of at least substantially solid argon particles which impinge upon the surface to be cleaned and then evaporate and the resulting gas is removed by venting along with the contaminants dislodged by the cleaning method.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for electrostatic removal of micron and sub-micron sized contaminant particles is disclosed herein. The apparatus and method comprise creating a potential difference with a megavolt/cm electrostatic field between two conducting bases in a predetermined geometrical relation to each other. An insulator (e.g. a dielectric film) is maintained at or near contact between one of the bases and the surface to be cleaned to electrostatically remove particles from said surface. The bases can be made to move relative to each other and the surface to be cleaned.

Abstract: A forwardly opening cylindrical housing is mounted on the forward end of a wheeled frame coupled to the front of self-propelled prime mover and the rear of the housing includes a forwardly facing axial inlet and radial discharge rotor assembly mounted therein. The housing includes a tangential outlet for the rear end thereof aligned with the rotor assembly and the outlet has the inlet end of conduit means connected thereto for conveying large volumes of air having forage entrained therein to a remote bin into which the discharge end of the conduit opens. The forward end of the housing includes generally diametric stationary bar structure and a forward extension of the rotor shaft includes radial cutting blades spaced slightly axially from the stationary bar.