Abstract: An injection molded plastic rod suitable for use in a battery hydrometer. Stress-relieving formations are provided symmetrically arranged on opposite sides of an injection gate of the rod. The formations distribute injection stresses and shield the gate vestige.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process and apparatus for selectively depositing materials on a semiconductor device, such as depositing phosphors or other optical materials on a light emitting diode (LED), using an electrophoretic deposition process. The semiconductor device comprises a p-side and an n-side. A first biasing voltage is applied between an anode and the p-side of the semiconductor device. A second biasing voltage is applied between the p-side and the n-side of the semiconductor device. The relative biasing of the p-side and the n-side determines where coating is deposited on the semiconductor device. An optional pre-coating process is used to deposit a high resistivity dielectric material, such as silica, on the semiconductor device. The pre-coating can even the electric field on the surface of the semiconductor device, where local features such as metal connections or passivation layers disturb the electric field during phosphor deposition without pre-coating.

Abstract: The present invention provides surface coated phosphors useful in field emission displays and vacuum fluorescent displays. The surface coated phosphor comprises a thin coating of rare earth oxide, e.g., yttrium oxide, disposed on an uncoated phosphor such as a sulfide phosphor. The present invention further provides a process for preparing a surface coated phosphor comprising contacting the uncoated phosphor with a rare earth hydroxide gel solution to obtain a rare earth hydroxide gel coated phosphor, drying the gel coated phosphor to remove solvent residues, and heat treating the dried rare earth hydroxide gel coated phosphor. The surface coated phosphors of the present invention have improved cathodoluminescence efficiency, coulombic aging resistance, chemical, and/or oxidative stability.

Abstract: A method of producing two visible light photons from an oxide-based phosphor doped with praseodymium (Pr) and including atoms of at least one activator in response to excitation with a single ultraviolet light photon. The method includes exciting the Pr of the oxide-based phosphor with a photon of ultraviolet light to excite an electron to an excited state, the excited electron falling to a lower energy state in a non-radiative transition and transferring energy to excite a first activator atom in the oxide-based phosphor, the first activator atom emitting a first photon of visible light, and the excited electron falling further to a lower energy state in a non-radiative transition, transferring energy to excite a second activator atom in the oxide-based phosphor, the second activator atom emitting a second photon of visible light.

Abstract: The present invention provides surface coated phosphors useful in field emission displays and vacuum fluorescent displays. The surface coated phosphor comprises a thin coating of rare earth oxide, e.g., yttrium oxide, disposed on an uncoated phosphor such as a sulfide phosphor. The present invention further provides a process for preparing a surface coated phosphor comprising contacting the uncoated phosphor with a rare earth hydroxide gel solution to obtain a rare earth hydroxide gel coated phosphor, drying the gel coated phosphor to remove solvent residues, and heat treating the dried rare earth hydroxide gel coated phosphor. The surface coated phosphors of the present invention have improved cathodoluminescence efficiency, coulombic aging resistance, chemical, and/or oxidative stability.

Abstract: A method of producing two visible light photons from an oxide-based phosphor doped with praseodymium (Pr) and including atoms of at least one activator in response to excitation with a single ultraviolet light photon. The method includes exciting the Pr of the oxide-based phosphor with a photon of ultraviolet light to excite an electron to an excited state, the excited electron falling to a lower energy state in a non-radiative transition and transferring energy to excite a first activator atom in the oxide-based phosphor, the first activator atom emitting a first photon of visible light, and the excited electron falling further to a lower energy state in a non-radiative transition, transferring energy to excite a second activator atom in the oxide-based phosphor, the second activator atom emitting a second photon of visible light.

Abstract: Systems and methods for simulating real-world scenarios are disclosed in which value functions having multiple optima process objects submitted by a user. The methods and system, among other things, can develop decision-making skills of the user and can assist in diagnosing the cognitive approach of a student. A method in accordance with one aspect of the invention is implemented on a computer and represents changes in design opportunities for objects in a simulated environment. The design opportunities can represent, for example, new or changed features in a product made by a particular firm. The objects are defined through an attribute-characteristic representation. Participants in the simulation acquire limited information to guide their going-forward decisions, preferably at a cost. A network preferably interconnects plural simulation participants to a central computer that runs the simulation.

Abstract: A method for removing actinide contaminants (uranium and thorium) from the spent salt of a molten salt oxidation (MSO) reactor is described. Spent salt is removed from the reactor and analyzed to determine the contaminants present and the carbonate concentration. The salt is dissolved in water, and one or more reagents are added to precipitate the thorium as thorium oxide and/or the uranium as either uranium oxide or as a diuranate salt. The precipitated materials are filtered, dried and packaged for disposal as radioactive waste. About 90% of the thorium and/or uranium present is removed by filtration. After filtration, salt solutions having a carbonate concentration >20% can be dried and returned to the reactor for re-use. Salt solutions containing a carbonate concentration <20% require further clean-up using an ion exchange column, which yields salt solutions that contain less than 0.1 ppm of thorium or uranium.

Abstract: The present invention provides surface coated phosphors useful in field emission displays and vacuum fluorescent displays. The surface coated phosphor comprises a thin coating of rare earth oxide, e.g., yttrium oxide, disposed on an uncoated phosphor such as a sulfide phosphor. The present invention further provides a process for preparing a surface coated phosphor comprising contacting the uncoated phosphor with a rare earth hydroxide gel solution to obtain a rare earth hydroxide gel coated phosphor, drying the gel coated phosphor to remove solvent residues, and heat treating the dried rare earth hydroxide gel coated phosphor. The surface coated phosphors of the present invention have improved cathodoluminescence efficiency, coulombic aging resistance, chemical, and/or oxidative stability.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing metal contaminants from the spent salt of a molten salt oxidation (MSO) reactor is described. Spent salt is removed from the reactor and analyzed to determine the contaminants present and the carbonate concentration. The salt is dissolved in water, and one or more reagents may be added to precipitate the metal oxide and/or the metal as either metal oxide, metal hydroxide, or as a salt. The precipitated materials are filtered, dried and packaged for disposal as waste or can be immobilized as ceramic pellets. More than about 90% of the metals and mineral residues (ashes) present are removed by filtration. After filtration, salt solutions having a carbonate concentration >20% can be spray-dried and returned to the reactor for re-use. Salt solutions containing a carbonate concentration <20% require further clean-up using an ion exchange column, which yields salt solutions that contain less than 1.0 ppm of contaminants.

Abstract: A management training simulation system and method are disclosed. A method in accordance with one aspect of the invention is implemented on a computer and represents changes in design opportunities for objects in a simulated environment. The design opportunities can represent, for example, new or changed features in a product made by a particular firm. The objects are defined through an attribute-characteristic representation. A multipeaked value function is used to process designs throughout the simulation instead of a distance-value function as in conventional simulations. At some time during the simulation, the domain of one or more attributes, the number of attributes, or both are changed to thereby alter the set of valid designs for the objects in the simulation. Such changes can simulate technological advances including incremental and radical innovations, government regulation, shortages in raw materials, union strikes, and the like.

Abstract: A management training simulation system and method are disclosed. A method in accordance with one aspect of the invention is implemented on a computer and develops the decision-making skills of a user in a defined, simulated situation which includes one or more firms controlled by participants in the simulation which cause particular object designs to be injected into the simulation. Each object design is defined through an attribute-characteristic representation. A multipeaked value function is used to process the designs throughout the simulation instead of a distance-value function as in conventional simulations. The participant is selectively provided with information about at least some of the objects in the simulation, preferably at a cost, as well as a valuation of those objects and is also apprized of the current state of his or her firm. The participant digests this information and creates revised object designs which are sent to the simulation and processed using the multipeaked value function.

Abstract: A carrier structure for transducers. The semiconductor carrier structure mounts as a single unit to a force-impacted substrate and includes multiple piezoelectric elements integrally formed with the carrier structure, such that the elements are located in a space defining a window of the structure while maintaining their electrical contact and their precise position relative to the structure by use of thin-film, electrically conductive, metallic flexures attached to both the structure and the elements.

Abstract: A low voltage tunnel thin film electroluminescent device (10) that comprises a conductive layer (13) that acts as a source of electrons, a first thin barrier layer (14) deposited on the conductive layer, a luminescent layer (16) deposited on the barrier layer a second thin barrier layer (14) deposited on said luminescent layer, and an electrode (18) deposited on the second barrier layer. Electrons from the source layer tunnel through the thin tunnel barrier layer into the luminescent layer which is doped with luminescent centers. The electrons that tunnel through the thin tunnel barrier layer into the luminescent layer have kinetic energy that is within a narrow energy distribution.

Abstract: A connector assembly (20) includes a plug connector (22) having a housing (24) and an array of first contacts (40), the housing including latch projections (36) extending laterally from at least both of the opposed sides (30) or both the opposed ends (32) thereof; and a complementary receptacle connector (50) having a housing with a plug receiving cavity (68) and corresponding array of second contacts (70), the housing (52) including latch receiving recesses (66) adjacent the cavity floor (68) alongside at least both of the sidewalls (62) or both of the endwalls (64) corresponding to the sides (30) and ends (32) of the plug portion.

Abstract: A low profile connector 20 including a receptacle 22 and a plug 70, each having a housing 24,72 with respective arrays of contacts 44,92 secured therein, the contacts 44,92 being of thin metal set on edge in the housings 24,72 and including edge contact surfaces 50,98 projecting from the housings 24,72 in a common plane for soldering to the circuits. Each receptacle contact 44 has a C-shaped configuration including a base 48, an intermediate portion 60 and an arm 62, the arm 62 defining a contact surface 68 adapted to mate with a corresponding plug contact surface 110, the arm 62 extending transversely of the axis in a first direction. Each plug contact 92 has an L-shaped configuration including a base 94 and a post 104 extending from the base 94 parallel to the axis, a side surface 110 of the post 104 defining a mating surface for a corresponding one of the receptacle contacts 44.

Abstract: The monomer 5-methyl-1,4-hexadiene (5-MHD), uncontaminated with 4-methyl-1,4-hexadiene (4-MHD), or other hydrocarbons, is obtained by reacting 1-chloro-2-methylpropene with allylmagnesium bromide in equimolar amounts under gentle reflux at atmospheric pressure in an organic solvent medium (diethyl ether) and in the presence of a catalytic amount of a dichloro-[1,2-bis(dimethylphosphino)ethane]nickel (II) in an inert atmosphere. The allyl magnesium bromide is added dropwise with stirring with a mixture of 1-chloro-2-methylpropene and catalyst in the solvent at room temperature. The solvent is separated from the product by distillation, giving substantially pure product. Absence of other hydrocarbons in either the crude product or the pure product may be shown by .sup.1 H NMR, .sup.13 C NMR and GC analysis. Other nonconjugated diolefins can be prepared in an analogous manner using an alkenyl halide and an alkenyl Grignard reagent which upon cross coupling will give the desired nonconjugated diene.

Abstract: A surface mounted connector (25) for interconnecting closely centered circuits such as those carried by circuit boards (12, 18) includes plug and receptacle housings (24, 90) which internest to interconnect edge mounted, thin stamped contacts (50, 116) on centers complementary those of said circuits which include a contact configuration producing a series of point contacts (70, 128) and solder wells (70, 130) to provide an improved solder joint between respective contacts and boards. The contacts extend outside the side walls of the housings (64, 164) to facilitate heat application for solder reflow and inspection of solder joints. The contacts further have barbs (66, 126) engaging the said housings to hold the contacts against displacement upon separation of the plug from the receptacle.

Abstract: An Acoustic Charge Transport Imager, suitable for use as a High Definition Television (HDTV) camera element, is disclosed in which an array of amorphous hydrogenated silicon based avalanche photodiodes are combined with acoustic charge transport channels in a GaAs substrate, to achieve very high speed read out of photogenerated charge. High speed read out allows the fabrication of detector arrays large enough to meet the resolution requirements of HDTV while ensuring operation within the timing constraints of the HDTV frame rate.

Abstract: A board edge connector 10 rotatable between a first and electrically disengaged angular position to a second angular position wherein electrical terminal members 70 of the connector 10 are electrically engaged to conductive areas 102 on a circuit board 92 includes housing means 12 and a plurality of electrical terminal members 70 disposed in terminal receiving cavities 50 therein. Housing means 12 includes a board receiving slot 34 extending along a front wall thereof and in communication with the terminal receiving cavities 50. Slot 34 has opposed upper and lower bearing surfaces 26,21 defining opposed parallel planes and further defining means for guiding connector 10 onto the board 92 at a preselected angle until the leading edge 98 of the board 92 engages a first stop surface 60 defining a first angular position.