Abstract: A pipe clamp 10 for repairing an underwater pipe. The pipe clamp 10 comprises a plurality of part-cylindrical portions 12,14,16 hinged together along a hinge axis or axes 27 along adjacent longitudinal edges 17,18. Two or the longitudinal edges 20,21 of the part-cylindrical portions are free. The part-cylindrical portions 12,14,16 are movable about the hinge axis or axes 27 towards and away from one another between an open position in which the free longitudinal edges 20,21 are spaced apart and the clamp 10 can be placed around a pipe and a closed position in which, in use, the free longitudinal edges 20,21 of the part-cylindrical portions 12,14,16 are brought together around the pipe. Fastening means are provided for holding the free edges 20,21 of the part-cylindrical portions 12,14,16 together, such that, in use, the clamp 10 is held to the pipe.

Abstract: A system for using computer input devices with software applications is disclosed. The system includes an input device mapper API, which uses a language of semantics as an interface between input devices and software applications. The input device mapper receives information about which semantics the devices connected to the computer are able to implement, and which semantics correspond to actions that a user can request the software to perform. The input device mapper maps controls on the available devices into user-requestable software actions by matching, as closely as possible, device controls and software actions that correspond to the same semantic. The system thus makes input devices and software applications transparent to each other, and permits a software application to be designed to operate without regard to which input device is being used to control its actions.

Abstract: A process for depositing a substantially pure, conformal metal layer on one or more substrates through the decomposition of a metal-containing precursor. During this deposition process, the substrate(s) is maintained at a temperature greater than the decomposition temperature of the precursor while the surrounding atmosphere is maintained at a temperature lower than the decomposition temperature of the precursor. The precursor is dispersed within a transport medium, e.g., a vapor phase. The concentration of the metal-containing precursor(s) in the vapor phase, which also contains liquid therein, can be at a level to provide conditions at or near saturation for the metal precursor(s). In ensuring the aforementioned temperature control between the transport media and substrate, and in maintaining saturation conditions for the transport media, the quality of the deposited metal thin film is markedly improved and the production of by-product metal dust is greatly reduced or substantially eliminated.

Abstract: A system and method to facilitate communication between an associated bus, such as employs a standard bus protocol, and a connector to which a removable SFF device can be attached. A desired operating mode is selected based on the device attached at the connector, such as either to pass the protocol between the bus and device generally unchanged or to implement suitable protocol conversion for such communication. Thus, by configuring the SFF device to appear as device currently supported by the bus, the SFF device can operate at the connector with native operating system support.

Abstract: A pH electrode having a pH-sensitive region on an electrically conductive support, said pH-sensitive region comprising a mixture of between 50% and 85% of the total mixture by weight of particles of a Group VA or Group VIII metal incorporated in, or applied to, a polymer substrate of a non-shrinking plastic selected from polyimides, the polymer substrate having a resistivity of 10 to 100 Kohms/square the metal particles including antimony particles and, when said particles are incorporated into said resistive polymer substrate, having said pH-sensitive region abraded to expose said particles.

Abstract: Plural guest operating systems run on a computer, where a security kernel enforces a policy of isolation among the guest operating systems. An exclusion vector defines a set of pages that cannot be accessed by direct memory access (DMA) devices. The security kernel enforces an isolation policy by causing certain pages to be excluded from direct access. Thus, device drivers in guest operating systems are permitted to control DMA devices directly without virtualization of those devices, while each guest is prevented from using DMA devices to access pages that the guest is not permitted to access under the policy.

Abstract: A pipe clamp 10 for repairing an underwater pipe. The pipe clamp 10 comprises a plurality of part-cylindrical portions 12, 14, 16 hinged together along a hinge axis or axes 27 along adjacent longitudinal edges 17, 18. Two or the longitudinal edges 20, 21 of the part-cylindrical portions are free. The part-cylindrical portions 12, 14, 16 are movable about the hinge axis or axes 27 towards and away from one another between an open position in which the free longitudinal edges 20, 21 are spaced apart and the clamp 10 can be placed around a pipe and a closed position in which, in use, the free longitudinal edges 20, 21 of the part-cylindrical portions 12, 14, 16 are brought together around the pipe. Fastening means are provided for holding the free edges 20, 21 of the part-cylindrical portions 12, 14, 16 together, such that, in use, the clamp 10 is held to the pipe.

Abstract: A transponder comprises a retro-reflective antenna array in which the length of the transmission lines is given by I=±A n&lgr; where: A is an arbitrary length; n is zero, or an integer, &lgr; is the wavelength of the retro-reflected signal. The array is fabricated on a board (71) of insulating material, using microstrip techniques. Rectangular patches (not shown) form the individual antennae and these are interconnected by transmission lines (75 to 82), each of which pass through a respective modulation device (43) whereby the retro-reflected signal is modulated. A positioning/tracking system incorporating one or more modulated transponders is also disclosed.

Abstract: A pipe coupling for coupling together two pipes in a fluid-tight manner includes a tubular casing, a tubular sealing gasket located within the casing, and screws for tensioning the casing around the gasket. The casing includes an inner tubular casing and an outer tubular casing, both of metal. A layer of fire-resistant thermally-insulating material is disposed between the inner and outer casings to form a fire shield.

Abstract: A method for predicting fat free mass (FFM) and total body water (TBW) of a prepubertal child infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) comprises the steps of measuring a child's height, measuring the child's total body resistance, and predicting fat free mass (FFM) and total body weight (TBW) of said child using the measured height and total body resistance.

Abstract: A pipe coupling 1 for connecting together two pipes in a fluid-tight manner comprising an outer tubular casing 10, an inner tubular casing 20 and a tubular sealing sleeve 30. The sealing sleeve 30 has two sets of inwardly projecting ribs 32, which in use, are pressed into sealing engagement with the respective ends of the pipes. The inner and outer casings are longitudinally split and tensioning screws 17 on the outer casing can be tightened to tighten the outer casing around the inner casing and the sealing sleeve. Frusto-conical gripping rings 40 grip the pipes by engaging radial abutment surfaces facing away from the pipe ends and positioned close to the ends of said pipes in order to secure the pipes against axial displacement.

Abstract: A display apparatus simulates a container of gaseous liquid. The display apparatus has a reservoir formed by closely spaced inner and outer walls, at least the outer wall being transparent or translucent and shaped to resemble the container. In use, a foamable liquid is held within the reservoir, and gas is introduced into the liquid at the bottom of the reservoir to thereby form bubbles which rise through the liquid and form a head of foam on the liquid. A foam regulating mechanism allows the gas from burst foam bubbles to escape from the reservoir, but returns the liquid component of burst foam bubbles to the reservoir. The display apparatus is suitable for simulating soda drinks, beer and other aerated beverages.

Abstract: Bordered and custom fabricated rugs are formed by initially bonding carpet segments together along abutting edges, using a high temperature hot melt adhesive. Preferably a latex coated material is then bonded to the backing of the adjoined carpet segments using a second lower temperature hot melt adhesive. A reinforcing mesh layer is preferably bonded to and between a rug backing and the carpet backing. The apparatus used to bond the rug backing to the carpet backing includes two opposed endless belts, moving along parallel runs at the same speed, which capture the carpet sections and the backing between them and carry the assembly first through a heating section then through a cooling section as pressure is applied to force the carpet segments against the rug backing into engagement with the adhesive. The heating section melts the low temperature adhesive, which then flows under pressure, bonding the segments together.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for depositing alloy films useful in manufacturing photovoltaic solar cells. In the preferred embodiment an alloy comprising copper, indium, and selenium is deposited on a substrate. Sputtering is utilized to provide the copper and indium, with the selenium being provided by evaporization. Other alloys may also be formed using the disclosed apparatus and techniques.

Abstract: Disclosed is a cryogenic cooling system for supplying decontaminated fluid including a first duct for receiving the fluid, a second duct for providing decontaminated fluid. A contaminant remover decontaminates fluid flowing between the first and second duct, the flow being caused by a fluid flow generator. Also, included is a valve for changing over the flow direction such that the fluid flow generator alternately can operate in a regeneration mode to provide a low pressure gaseous environment for the contaminant remover. Various embodiments of the invention permit open and/or closed loop operation.

Abstract: Apparatus for finishing a molten metallic coating on metallic strip and sheet comprising means for removing excess molten coating metal by impinging an elongated jet of gas under pressure on opposite sides of the strip and sheet substantially normal thereto. An improved nozzle of high efficiency is disclosed having an elongated plenum chamber communicating directly with a pair of elongated converging lips defining an orifice of about 0.03 to about 0.20 inch, the interior surface of the plenum chamber merging smoothly into each lip with a radius of curvature substantially equal to the orifice opening. The near-field region of the nozzle is about 8-10 times the orifice opening.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a completely closed plasma trap in an r.f. type glow discharge system to enable enhanced sputtering from a pair of electrodes so that substrates may be suitably coated. The electrode pairs may be post type, hollow or planar, in various shapes with and without end wings. All configurations utilize a cooperating magnetic field, provided by field coils external or internal to the electrodes, the magnetic field being shaped to define with the electrodes at least one plasma containing trap having axial symmetry imposed by the magnetic field and/or the electrode structure. The trap may be defined by the pair of electrodes acting in concert with each other and the magnetic field, one or more traps may be defined separately by each electrode and the magnetic field, or both types of traps may exist simultaneously in a hybrid situation. Means are also disclosed for mounting, centering, cooling, assembling and making electrical contact with various of the electrode structures.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a completely closed plasma trap in an r.f. type glow discharge system to enable enhanced sputtering from a pair of electrodes so that substrates may be suitably coated. The electrode pairs may be post type, hollow or planar, in various shapes with and without end wings. All configurations utilize a cooperating magnetic field, provided by field coils external or internal to the electrodes, the magnetic field being shaped to define with the electrodes at least one plasma containing trap having axial symmetry imposed by the magnetic field and/or the electrode structure. The trap may be defined by the pair of electrodes acting in concert with each other and the magnetic field, one or more traps may be defined separately by each electrode and the magnetic field, or both types of traps may exist simultaneously in a hybrid situation. Means are also disclosed for mounting, centering, cooling, assembling and making electrical contact with various of the electrode structures.

Abstract: Cathode sputtering apparatus and a related method for its use in sputter cleaning and bias sputtering operations, in which work-pieces to be sputter-cleaned are secured to a cathode assembly in a configuration lending itself to the utilization of plasma traps which are highly conducive to efficient sputtering. Two basic embodiments are disclosed. In one embodiment, the cathode assembly takes the form of a hollow cylinder with inwardly projecting end flanges, the work-pieces being mounted with their surfaces to be cleaned facing inwardly, and in the other embodiment it takes the form of a cylindrical post with outwardly projecting end flanges, with the surfaces to be cleaned facing outwardly.Also disclosed are related techniques for sputter coating work-pieces immediately following a sputter cleaning step.