Abstract: A blade assembly for a mechanical wafer handling system. The assembly includes an elongated planar member having a central region, wherein the central region has a first array of openings and a second array of openings, the openings of the first array being arranged substantially symmetrically to the openings of the second array on opposing sides of a central longitudinal axis extending along the length of the planar member and passing through a center point of the central region. The openings in the first array are arranged substantially symmetrically with respect to a perpendicular axis extending along the width of the elongated planar member and passing through a center point of the central region. The openings in the second array are also arranged substantially symmetrically with respect to the perpendicular axis. The assembly also includes a wrist with a wrist upper cap and a wrist lower cap.

Abstract: An apparatus for protecting an article. The apparatus is a single sheet of material that is folded to define a saddle portion recessed between two extending portions. The protected article is extendible into the saddle area. The two extending portions of the apparatus are defined by planar portions that form a triangular area when viewed from the side. The saddle area is defined by two triangular elements when viewed from the side, and which are defined by planar portions.

Abstract: An integrated circuit package includes at least one integrated circuit element coupled to a polymer film; a window frame coupled to the polymer film and surrounding the at least one integrated circuit element; and encapsulant material positioned between the at least one integrated circuit element and the window frame.

Abstract: A bleed valve (30) for introducing bled fluid to a mainstream fluid through apparatus (16) across which a pressure differential occurs, characterized in that the bleed valve (30) is adapted to open so as to bleed fluid into the mainstream fluid when the pressure differential across the apparatus (16) falls below a predetermined value. This arrangement is particularly appropriate to vacuum cleaners incorporating cyclonic dust-separating apparatus in that the bleed valve is more reliably operated in response to a reduction in airflow. This ensures efficient functioning of the cyclonic dust-separating apparatus and reduces the risk of overheating of the motor.

Abstract: A drain sanitizing article (9) for reducing microbiological activity in drain runoff areas having a housing (10), the housing having an inner wall (16) defining an inner opening (18) in the housing, an outer wall (12), and a bottom wall (14) defining a central cavity (15) in the housing (10), a tear strip (20) for destructibly removing the housing outer wall and a portion of the bottom wall (14), a handle (30) spanning the inner opening (18) of the housing (10) and joined to the inner wall (16) of said housing (10); and a chemical sanitizing agent (40).

Abstract: The invention provides a domestic vacuum cleaner comprising separating means and particle collecting means, the particle collecting means comprising a side wall (22) and a base (20), wherein the base (20) is releasably connected to the side wall (22) to facilitate disposal of particles separated from the airflow by the separating means and collected in the particle collecting means and further comprises sealing means (44) for sealing the said separated particles within the base (20).

Abstract: CTE differentials between chips and organic dielectric carriers, boards or other substrates to which the chips are attached are accommodated with a layer of a thermoplastic material, preferably a thermotropic polymer whose physical properties can be altered by extrusion or other physical processes, such as liquid crystalline polyesters, that modifies the thermal expansion of at least one component of the package and thereby reduces CTE differentials. The material may be applied to the entire surface of a chip carrier, printed circuit or other substrate, or form an interior layer of a multi-layered structure. It may also be applied to selected regions or areas on the surface of a carrier or other substrate where adjustment is required.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a substantially transparent polymer substrate for an anti-scatter x-ray grid for medical diagnostic radiography includes positioning a phase mask between the substrate and a high power laser; providing a laser beam from the laser; conditioning the laser beam; ablating a first portion the substrate through the phase mask with the conditioned laser beam; and moving the substrate; and ablating a second portion of the substrate through the phase mask with the conditioned laser beam.

Abstract: A hard layer of amorphous hydrogenated carbon (DLC) overlies a polymer film structure and a plurality of soft layers of DLC alternate with a plurality of hard layers of DLC over the barrier base to form a corrosion resistant structure. The polymer film structure and a circuit chip can be elements of a circuit module. The DLC and the polymer film structure can have vias extending to contact pads, and a pattern of electrical conductors can extend through the vias to the contact pads. In one embodiment the DLC forms a hermetic (and therefore corrosion resistant) seal over the polymer film structure.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for carrying out a downhole shut-in, pressure build-up test of a formation by lowering a string of coiled tubing having a pressure sensor and a packer thereon through the production tubing of the well. The packer is set to isolated the formation and the pressure is then measured by the pressure sensor. If the well is not flowing due to fluid standing in the wellbore, the well is first unloaded by flowing fluid down the coiled tubing to lift the fluid and reestablish flow into the well prior to setting the packer.

Abstract: Non invasive measurement of infant lung function during unsedated sleep is achieved by a plethysmograph which comprises of a rigid acrylic box (10) with integral water sealed spirometer (11) and a vacuum-actuated neck seal (20) allowing "head out" monitoring. The neck seal comprises particulate material entrapped in the space between two layers of rubber, which become rigid when a vacuum is applied to the space. Tidal volume, respiratory rate and changes in functional residual capacity (FRC) are able to be recorded during unsedated REM and NREM sleep whilst monitoring with conventional polysomnographic methods. The head out configuration allows additional instrumentation to be used, avoids facial stimulation and allows unimpeded access to the upper airway.

Abstract: Actuator system is used to dispense a defined volume of a formulation from a pressurized vial. The system houses the vial in a receptacle of a base section that also includes a dispensing section (e.g., a funnel) through which the formulation is sprayed. The system includes a sleeve that fits over at least the vial and that can be pumped by the user to controllably spray the formulation from the vial onto the host animal. For instance, in a preferred mode of operation, the user places the system onto the host at the desired treatment site and then pushes or pulls down on the sleeve. This actuates a valve mechanism on the vial to spray an amount of the formulation through the dispensing section onto the host.

Abstract: In a process for producing a profile by profile extrusion of a thermoplastic resin, a melt of the thermoplastic resin is extruded through a die to form the profile. The process is improved by utilizing a thermoplastic resin having a composition of from about 99.95 to about 98.0 weight percent amorphous or semicrystalline polyester and from about 0.05 to about 2.0 weight percent of a zinc salt of an organic acid. The improvement of the process is either by increasing speed or decreasing temperature of a profile extrusion process already operating at a maximum speed and/or temperature with experiencing melt fracture. When melt fracture is present in the profile extrusion process, a method for reducing melt fracture in a profile is accomplished by combining from about 99.95 to about 98.0 weight percent amorphous or semicrystalline polyester and from about 0.05 to about 2.

Abstract: A computer processor includes a dynamic latency module. The dynamic latency module includes a read-only memory ("ROM") in which is stored a plurality of sets of latency values. The dynamic latency module further includes a register coupled to the ROM and adapted to store at least one set of the plurality of sets of latency values. The dynamic latency module dynamically sets a plurality of memory access latency values by determining an operating speed of the processor and implementing one of the plurality of sets of latency values based on the operating speed.

Abstract: A scheme for accessing a control register bus and control registers of a microprocessor through a test access port which is configured to an established testing standard. A test access port (TAP) of a microprocessor is configured to communicate serially based on a technique specified in the IEEE 1149.1 standard. External serial instructions are converted for parallel transfer to provide control signals for accessing the internal structures. Serial address and data signals are also converted for parallel transfer to access internal structures on a control register bus and parallel outputs are converted to serial format for external output. By permitting external access to low level internal bus architecture, system testing and debug can be performed by utilizing external programming.

Abstract: A sigma-delta analog-to-digital converter includes an integrator having an input and an output and an integrator capacitor connected between the input and output. A switched-capacitor input circuit includes at least one input capacitor, an input sampling switching circuit and an input delivery switching circuit. The input sampling switching circuit includes at least one input sampling switch operable to connect the input capacitor to be charged by an input voltage at a sampling rate. The input delivery switching circuit includes at least one input delivery switch operable to connect the input capacitor to transfer charge to the integrator capacitor at a first transfer rate. A switched-capacitor feedback circuit is connected in a feedback path between the input and output of the integrator. The feedback circuit includes at least one feedback capacitor, a feedback sampling switching circuit and a feedback delivery switching circuit.

Abstract: A method is provided for the manufacture of precision electronic components such as resistors, inductors, and capacitors on a polymer or ceramic surface. The electronic components can be deposited and trimmed to precise or matched values without having precise depositions of all of the pre-patterned materials. Thin film electronic components are deposited on a surface, parameter values are measured or estimated, a correction offset file is generated, and the components are trimmed using adaptive lithography to a very close tolerance. A computer program can be used to enable the adjustment of electronic components by techniques such as changing the physical length of an inductor coil or resistor lead, or by changing a capacitor plate area.

Abstract: An apparatus for protecting an article. The apparatus is a single sheet of material that is folded to define a saddle portion recessed between two extending portions. The protected article is extendible into the saddle area. The two extending portions of the apparatus are defined by planar portions that form a triangular area when viewed from the side. The saddle area is defined by two triangular elements when viewed from the side, and which are defined by planar portions.