Abstract: A method of making a nanoporous structure comprising a matrix and at least one nanosized pore within the matrix, wherein the method comprises contacting at least a portion of a templated matrix with an acid solution, wherein the templated matrix comprises a matrix that selected from the group consisting of an organic polymer, a sol-based ceramic, an inorganic salt, an organoaluminate, and combinations thereof, and one or more nanosized templates within the matrix, wherein each nanosized template comprises a core that comprises an inorganic oxide, to dissolve at least a portion of the inorganic oxide of at least one of the cores and form the at least one nanosized pore within the matrix thereby forming the nanoporous structure.

Abstract: A functionalized nanoporous structure comprising: (a) a matrix that comprises a first sol-based ceramic; and (b) one or more functionalized nanosized pores within the matrix, wherein each functionalized nanosized pore is defined by (i) a coating that comprises a second sol-based ceramic and, optionally, a first functional material; and (ii) a second functional material bound to the coating, wherein the second functional material is optional if the coating comprises the first functional material; and (c) optionally, a hybrid component that comprises one or more particles of a composition different from that of the matrix.

Abstract: A method of making a nanoporous structure comprising a matrix and at least one nanosized pore within the matrix, wherein the method comprises contacting at least a portion of a templated matrix with an acid t solution, wherein the templated matrix comprises a matrix that selected from the group consisting of an organic polymer, a sol-based ceramic, an inorganic salt, an organoaluminate, and combinations thereof, and one or more nanosized templates within the matrix, wherein each nanosized template comprises a core that comprises an inorganic oxide, to dissolve at least a portion of the inorganic oxide of at least one of the cores and form the at least one nanosized pore within the matrix thereby forming the nanoporous structure.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of chemically-mechanically polishing a substrate. A substrate is contacted with a polishing pad and a polishing composition comprising an abrasive consisting of (A) particles consisting of titanium dioxide having a rutile structure and (B) particles consisting of titanium dioxide having an anatase structure, wherein an x-ray diffraction pattern of the particles has a ratio of X/Y of about 0.5 or more, wherein X is an intensity of a peak in an x-ray diffraction curve representing a d-spacing of about 3.24 ?, and Y is an intensity of a peak in an x-ray diffraction curve representing a d-spacing of about 3.51 ?, and water. The polishing component is moved relative to the substrate, and at least a portion of the substrate is abraded to polish the substrate.

Abstract: A system for aligning a hub/mast with a soffit penetration point uses an insert that is similar in shape to a terminal adapter that is threadably received within a hub of a meter base. An opening within the insert receives a laser such that when the insert is received within the terminal adapter, the laser beam emitted by the laser, corresponding to the longitudinal axis of the terminal adapter, illuminates the proper penetration point on the soffit of a building from which an electrical conduit holding an electrical conductor should extend.

Abstract: In a high speed injection molding machine the injection "shot" size is controlled by driving the injection piston by an injection cylinder activated by a precisely known predetermined volume of hydraulic fluid thereby precisely limiting the travel distance of the injection piston during the injection process.

Abstract: A method of preparing a high temperature superconductor. A method of preparing a superconductor includes providing a powdered high temperature superconductor and a nanophase material. These components are combined to form a solid compacted mass with the material disposed in the polycrystalline high temperature superconductor. This combined mixture is rapidly heated, forming a dispersion of nanophase size particles without a eutectic reaction. These nanophase particles can have a flat plate or columnar type morphology.

Abstract: A method and system for synthesizing nanocrystalline material. A system includes a chamber, a nonconsumable cathode shielded against chemical reaction by a working gas not including an oxidizing gas, but including an inert gas, a consumable anode vaporizable by an arc formed between the cathode and the anode, and a nozzle for injecting at least one of a quench and reaction gas in the boundaries of the arc.

Abstract: A method and system for synthesizing nanocrystalline material. A system includes a chamber, a nonconsumable cathode shielded against chemical reaction by a working gas not including an oxidizing gas, but including an inert gas, a consumable anode vaporizable by an arc formed between the cathode and the anode, and a nozzle for injecting at least one of a quench and reaction gas in the boundaries of the arc.

Abstract: A method and system for synthesizing nanocrystalline material. A system includes a chamber, a nonconsumable cathode shielded against chemical reaction by a working gas not including an oxidizing gas, but including an inert gas, a consumable anode vaporizable by an arc formed between the cathode and the anode, and a nozzle for injecting at least one of a quench and reaction gas in the boundaries of the arc.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing a pin grid array package providing a plurality of electrical input and/or output connections using a plurality of stacked, but spaced apart, separate leadframes which are preformed and include a plurality of electrical leads having first and second ends for providing a plurality of different connections. An insulating layer is positioned between adjacent leadframes and the package is bonded together.

Abstract: Detector apparatus includes a dispersive prism (10) and a diffraction grating (11) of the type which produces only zero and first order diffraction patterns. Located behind the diffraction grating (11) so as to interact with the first harmonic content of the diffraction patterns is a Moire grating (12) having half the pitch of the diffraction grating (11). Detector means including at least two pairs of detectors (13-16) is located behind the Moire grating (12) to detect the presence of Moire fringes.

Abstract: A fast cycle plasticator/injector unit for plastic molding machines having a screw type plasticating extruder for feeding thermoplastic material through a sealed fluid flow path to an accumulator which periodically feeds the thermoplastic material through a sealed fluid flow path to an injector that comprises a cylinder with an inlet and an outlet port and a powered piston valve element disposed for reciprocating axial and rotary motion within said cylinder and having a fluid flow channel along a portion of its length in cooperative structural relationship with said inlet port to provide an open fluid flow channel between the inlet port and the charge chamber of said cylinder when the piston is in a first rotational orientation and to block fluid flow from the inlet port to the cylinder when the piston is in a second rotational orientation.

Abstract: A radiation detector, including, a photodiode, has improved uniformity of sensitivity over the field of view because the receiving surface is provided by an optical diffusing layer, and the field of view is defined by a baffle arrangement, each internal surface of whichy is reflective. The baffle arrangement also defines a volume and the diffusing layer conforms to a part of the volume adjacent to the apex thereof. The diffusing layer may be provided by material, initially in liquid form, solidified in situ within the baffle arrangement. The receiving surface may be provided within a receiving head of the detector, spaced from the photodiode. Radiation may be transmitted from the receiving surface, whether part of a separate receiving head or not, to the photodiode by an optical fibre. An assembly of four consituent detectors, each having three orthogonally arranged mirrors, may together define a hemispherically shaped volume.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for laser bonding two highly reflective electrical members. The first electrical member is coated with a coating alloy containing the metal of the second electrical member and a coupling material that is well absorbent of laser energy at the laser beam wavelength, has a lower melting point than either of the electrical members, and has a low solubility in a solid bond alloy of the electrical members. The laser characteristics are selected so that as bonding occurs a bond alloy of the electrical members solidifies and a solidification front drives the molten coupling material away from the bond interface toward the exterior periphery of the bond, so that substantially all of the solidified bond interface and bond interface strength results from the bond alloy. Coating a copper lead with a coating alloy containing gold and a coupling material, and then contacting the coated copper lead with a gold bonding pad provides for gold-to-gold TAB tape laser bonding.

Abstract: The apparatus includes a two-coordinate array of radiation sensitive devices each operable to cause the storage of a charge proportional to the intensity and duration of radiation received. A storage element is associated with each sensitive circuit and a transfer mechanism is operable to transfer the charge from each sensitive circuit to its storage element to define a radiation image frame. A register is arranged in the same two coordinate array, and a shift mechanism operates to transfer charge from the storage elements to the register in parallel bit streams defined by one of the two coordinates. Differential detectors compare corresponding bits shifted into and out of the register and the presence of a detector output exceeding a threshold level causes the detector outputs to be sampled into an output register. The contents of the output register are shifted out serially to determine the position in the radiation image frame of each output register bit position producing a detector output.

Abstract: Apparatus for measuring the velocity of, for example, an aircraft includes two optical units spaced a predetermined distance apart along an axis, there being a plurality of pairs of associated radiation detectors, with each pair of detectors having one detector in each unit, the planes of lines of sight of each pair of detectors extending parallel to each other, with these planes of different pairs of detectors being inclined relative to each other, in a measurement period, comparing means of the apparatus determining the delay between the forward and aft detectors of at least one pair of detectors receiving radiation from the same part of the same portion of the plane of a radiation source, such as the terrain, and from this determination the velocity being represented, the comparing means possibly comprising a known form of correlator, possibly provided by a digital computer, the computer possibly also providing axis transformation means within the apparatus.