Abstract: The invention provides techniques for issuing electronic seals of certification to online entities, such as online merchants, in a manner that prevents non-certified parties from easily stealing or otherwise misusing the seals. A central seal issuer verifies the credentials, policies or business practices of each merchant and issues a corresponding seal of certification. For each merchant, the seal issuer generates a unique media object representing an electronic seal. The media object includes an encrypted watermark containing an expiration date. The media objects are stored on a seal server such that the merchants can dynamically retrieve and display the electronic seals when accessed by a user. The seal issuer can easily revoke or update the centrally stored seals.

Abstract: The invention provides techniques for issuing electronic seals of certification to online entities, such as online merchants, in a manner that prevents non-certified parties from easily stealing or otherwise misusing the seals. A central seal issuer verifies the credentials, policies or business practices of each merchant and issues a corresponding seal of certification. For each merchant, the seal issuer generates a unique media object representing an electronic seal. The media object includes an encrypted watermark containing an expiration date. The media objects are stored on a seal server such that the merchants can dynamically retrieve and display the electronic seals when accessed by a user. The seal issuer can easily revoke or update the centrally stored seals.

Abstract: A CD master production system (1) has a pre-recording station (2) with a central robotic arm (6) for loading and unloading discs onto a succession of processing devices (19-24) including washing and resist application devices. An LBR station (3) performs laser recording on up to four substrate discs (D) at a time, mounted on spindles (41). There is real time recording head (51) height adjustment for focusing the recording beam to compensate for disc surface level variations. A sensing beam reflected from the disc is compared with a reference beam so that the phase difference indicates level variations. A post-recording station (4) performs post-recording operations, again with disc load/unload performed by a central rotating robotic arm (9). The recording station (4) is mechanically isolated from the pre and post-recording stations (2, 4).

Abstract: The invention provides techniques for issuing electronic seals of certification to online entities, such as online merchants, in a manner that prevents non-certified parties from easily stealing or otherwise misusing the seals. A central seal issuer verifies the credentials, policies or business practices of each merchant and issues a corresponding seal of certification. For each merchant, the seal issuer generates a unique media object representing an electronic seal. The media object includes an encrypted watermark containing an expiration date. The media objects are stored on a seal server such that the merchants can dynamically retrieve and display the electronic seals when accessed by a user. The seal issuer can easily revoke or update the centrally stored seals.

Abstract: A system for coupling data between a host computer and a bank of disk drives. The system includes a plurality of directors for controlling the flow of the data between host computer and the bank of disk drives. Each one of the directors has a primary port and a secondary port. The system includes a first I/O section coupled to a first one of a pair of disk drive sections in the bank of disk drives and a second I/O section coupled to a second one of the pair of disk drive sections in the bank of disk drives.

Abstract: A valve assembly for hydrocarbon wells comprises a first valve (e.g., a conventional gate valve) and a second valve (e.g., a hydraulically operated, fail safe check valve). The second valve provides an alternative to the pressure barrier conventionally formed by a downhole annulus safety valve. It is installable/retrievable through the first valve using a tool of the type used for installation of surface wellhead VR (valve replacement) plugs.

Abstract: A foldable road marker is formed of a pair of panels each having a central stem portion integrally connected with side panel portions. The panels each having an elongated slot with the stem portion and slots being coaxial. Each stem portion is fitted within the slot of the opposite panel for interconnecting the panels. The panels are pivotable relative to each other into a position in which they are transverse to each other or, alternatively, into a folded position in which they are generally parallel and closely overlap to each other for storage. Guide members are formed in the slots of each of the panels for slideably fitting within vertically arranged guide channels formed in the stem portions of their opposite panel for guiding the assembly of, and the positions of, the panels relative to each other. Detents are provided for holding the panels in their transverse position for marker use or, alternatively, in their folded, parallel storage position.

Abstract: A method and composition for forming investment casting patterns wherein thermally-collapsible microspheres are incorporated into the pattern composition. The patterns can be made either by conventional pattern forming techniques or by solid imaging techniques. After investing the microsphere containing pattern in the ceramic shell, the pattern and shell are heated, causing a collapse of the microspheres and thereby preventing cracking of the shell. The shell is then heated to burn-out the remaining pattern material and fire the shell, thereby creating a mold.

Abstract: A method and composition for forming investment casting patterns wherein thermally-collapsible microspheres are incorporated into the pattern composition. The patterns can be made either by conventional pattern forming techniques or by solid imaging techniques. After investing the microsphere containing pattern in the ceramic shell, the pattern and shell are heated, causing a collapse of the microspheres and thereby preventing cracking of the shell. The shell is then heated to burn-out the remaining pattern material and fire the shell, thereby creating a mold.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a laminate for the preparation of printed circuits by electroless plating of conductive metal thereon which comprisesa. an electrically insulative substrate bearingb. an adherent layer of crosslinked polymeric adhesive, which is insoluble in photodielectric developing solutions, having partially embedded therein finely divided particles of adsorbent which protrude from the adhesive surface away from the substrate, the protrusive surfaces of which are adsorptive with respect to electroless plating catalysts or reductive precursors thereof, andc. a solid layer of photodielectric adherently overlying the layer of adhesive and adsorbent particles.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a laminate for the preparation of printed circuits by electroless plating of conductive metal thereon which comprisesa. an electrically insulative substrate bearingb. an adherent layer of crosslinked polymeric adhesive, which is insoluble in photodielectric developing solutions, having partially embedded therein finely divided particles of adsorbent which protrude from the adhesive surface away from the substrate, the protrusive surfaces of which are adsorptive with respect to electroless plating catalysts or reductive precursors thereof, andc. a solid layer of photodielectric adherently overlying the layer of adhesive and adsorbent particles.

Abstract: Catalytic chemical and biochemical conversion reactions are carried out in a novel compartmentalized catalytic reactor which enables the energy-efficient coupling of the conversion reaction with various energy-consuming post-conversion operations. The catalytic reactor is compartmentalized by means of a multilayer composite membrane comprising a catalytic membrane layer and one or more permselective membrane layers. The arrangement and properties of the membrane layers are such as to enable the free energy change of the conversion reaction to be utilized as the required energy source for effecting various post-conversion operations, including product separation, recovery and enrichment, and second-stage catalytic conversions with unfavorable reaction equilibria.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a laminate for the preparation of a multilayer printed circuit by electroless plating of conductive metal thereon which comprisesa. a substrate having formed on a surface thereofb. a conductive pattern, and,c. overlying the pattern and surrounding substrate areas, a layer of tonable photodielectric material having partially embedded therein finely divided particles of adsorbent which protrude from the layer surface away from the substrate, the protrusive surfaces of which are adsorptive with respect to electroless plating catalysts or reductive precursors thereof.

Abstract: Process of enlarging image areas covered by a stencil or relief image area formed in a photopolymer mask consisting essentially of (a) contacting said image area with a swelling agent and optionally a diluent to effect enlargement, and (b) removing excess swelling agent, i.e., evaporation, air impingement including heating. Additional image enlargement is possible by further contacting the image with a more concentrated swelling agent. The process is particularly useful in enlarging halftone image dots of photopolymer litho masks wherein the halftone image areas consist of hardened upper skins which rest on softer undervolumes having a lesser degree of polymerization or hardening.

Abstract: A high speed, positive-working photopolymer element comprising, in order: (1) a support, (2) a nonphotosensitive layer comprising a hardenable binder (e.g., gelatin) containing a releasable hardener (e.g., glutaraldehyde-bisulfite), and an optional colorant, and (3) a permeable photopolymerizable layer. Imagewise exposure of the photopolymerizable layer is followed by diffusion of an alkali through the nonimage area, releasing the hardener. A subsequent wash-off step produces a positive image of the original.

Abstract: A method and system for analyzing gas concentration by measuring the steady state pressure in a dual membrane cell. A first membrane is exposed to a test gas and a second membrane to a reference gas where the first and second membranes have differing permeabilities. The test gas and the reference gas continuously counterdiffuse through the membranes and the steady state pressure in the intermembrane space is directly proportional to the gas concentration of the test gas component.

Abstract: A positive-working imaging element is described comprising a support coated first with a negative-working, solvent-developable, photohardenable stratum, then over-coated with a second negative-working, solvent-developable, photohardenable stratum; the second stratum serves as a mask for the first stratum since it contains ingredients which strongly absorb radiation actinic to the first stratum. The second stratum is imagewise exposed, solvent developed, and the resulting actinically opaque image used as a negative in exposing the first stratum, which is solvent developed to remove the composition in unexposed, but not in exposed areas. Optionally, a separating layer can be present between the photohardenable strata and a cover layer can be present over the second stratum. Positive-working low relief images suitable for lithographic printing plates, printed circuit resists, and contact-speed lithographic films are obtained from the elements of this invention.

Abstract: This invention relates to blends of polyphosphazenes and organic polymers. The blends of this invention can be formed into coatings, sheets or films or into flexible or semi-rigid foams. The blends are extremely fire retardant and produce low smoke loads, or essentially no smoke, when heated in an open flame.