Abstract: Structured surfaces are described. In one embodiment, the structured surface comprises a plurality of structures having a complement cumulative slope magnitude distribution (Fcc) such that at least 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80 or 90% of structures have a slope greater than 10 degrees; and less than 80% of the structures have a slope greater than 35 degrees. In other embodiments, the structures comprise peaks and valleys defined by a Cartesian coordinate system such that the peaks and valleys have a width and length in the x-y plane and a height in the z-direction and at least a portion of the peaks and/or valleys vary in height in the y direction and/or the x-direction by at least 10% of the average height. Articles and methods are also described.

Abstract: Provided is an improved electronic component package. The electronic component package comprises a multiplicity of electronic components wherein each electronic component comprises a first external termination and a second external termination. The electronic component package also includes a structural lead frame comprising multiple leads wherein each lead is mounted to at least one first external termination and the structural lead frame comprises at least one break away feature between adjacent leads.

Abstract: A fastener having a pin member and a sleeve. The pin includes a head, a pin tail portion, and a locking portion with a plurality of crests and roots. Each of the crests includes a first diameter, the first diameters sequentially increase along the locking portion towards the head, while the roots include a second diameter, the second diameters sequentially decrease towards the head. The sleeve has a head and a tubular portion which is deformed into a bulb that engages a workpiece. The tubular portion of the sleeve locks onto the crests and the pintail portion of the pin member breaks off at one of the grooves located substantially flush with the head of the sleeve.

Abstract: A fastener having a pin member and a sleeve. The pin includes a head, a pin tail portion, and a locking portion with a plurality of crests and roots. Each of the crests includes a first diameter, the first diameters sequentially increase along the locking portion towards the head, while the roots include a second diameter, the second diameters sequentially decrease towards the head. The sleeve has a head and a tubular portion which is deformed into a bulb that engages a workpiece. The tubular portion of the sleeve locks onto the crests and the pintail portion of the pin member breaks off at one of the grooves located substantially flush with the head of the sleeve.

Abstract: In a mobile satellite system, a system for providing satellite communication between multiple users in a closed user group arrangement includes first and second mobile earth terminals (METs) responsively connecter to and registering with the mobile satellite system. The first MET selects a closed user group network identifier (NET. ID) representing a NET group including the first and second METs to establish voice communication therewith and transmits the NET ID to a central controller. The central controller receives the NET ID from the first MET, validates the first MET for communication, validates the NET ID, allocates a frequency for the NET group, and broadcasts the message to the NET group including the second MET informing the NET group of the allocated frequency and the voice communication associated therewith. The second MET tunes to the frequency in response to the message broadcast by the central controller, and the central controller assigns the first MET as current speaker for the NET group.

Abstract: A gas-phase warhead for use against a hardened and deeply buried target containing a payload that is ignitable when combined with air. After the warhead is delivered near an air intake of a target, the payload is expelled from the casing of the warhead in a slow, controlled manner so as to allow the formed payload-and-air mixture to infiltrate the areas of the target. After a predetermined amount of time, the payload-and-air mixture is ignited and a detonation or a deflagration within the target occurs.

Abstract: A gas-phase warhead for use against a hardened and deeply buried target containing a payload that is ignitable when combined with air. After the warhead is delivered near an air intake of a target, the payload is expelled from the casing of the warhead in a slow, controlled manner so as to allow the formed payload-and-air mixture to infiltrate the areas of the target. After a predetermined amount of time, the payload-and-air mixture is ignited and a detonation or a deflagration within the target occurs.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to EDE (Energy Dense Explosives), wherein particles of a reducing metal and a metal oxide are dispersed throughout a conventional high explosive. When the resulting EDE is detonated, the reducing metal and the metal oxide combine in an exothermic redox reaction at a speed on the order of a detonation speed of the conventional explosive. The resulting formulation has higher mass per unit volume and energy per unit volume densities than the conventional high explosive alone. Sizes of the reducing metal particles and metal oxide particles and proximities of the particles to each other within the conventional explosive can be adjusted to tailor blast characteristics of a munition, for example to result in a time-pressure curve having a desired shape and duration.

Abstract: A coated film product comprises a support base, a stencil-forming layer and an intermediate release layer. The stencil-forming layer is a blend of two grades of polyvinyl alcohol having different degrees of hydrolysis. The stencil-forming layer is imaged by dropwise application (for example using an ink-jet printer or plotter) of a cross-linking agent which hardens the stencil-forming layer to resist washing out with water. The hardened areas remaining after washing out are however sufficiently tacky for the washed-out film to adhere to the screen mesh by application of pressure and, after removal of the support base, form the stencil layer of a screen-printing screen.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to EDE (Energy Dense Explosives), wherein particles of a reducing metal and a metal oxide are dispersed throughout a conventional high explosive. When the resulting EDE is detonated, the reducing metal and the metal oxide combine in an exothermic redox reaction at a speed on the order of a detonation speed of the conventional explosive. The resulting formulation has higher mass per unit volume and energy per unit volume densities than the conventional high explosive alone. Sizes of the reducing metal particles and metal oxide particles and proximities of the particles to each other within the conventional explosive can be adjusted to tailor blast characteristics of a munition, for example to result in a time-pressure curve having a desired shape and duration.

Abstract: A high mass flow pyrotechnic gas generator in the aft end of a hard target penetrating warhead generates hot gases during penetration into a chemical or biological manufacturing or storage facility. This device will act to place neutralizing gases in and near the entry hole made in the target where viable infectious agents are most likely to be dispersed early in the warhead event before the operation of the main warhead charge. The gas generating material, which may be similar to a composite solid propellant, will produce very hot gases preferably containing hydrogen chloride and vapor phase moisture or other chemical sanitizing material. The combination acts as a neutralizer to render chemical and/or biological agents inert. The neutralizer will mix with the chemical and/or biological agents during the initial surge of aerosolized chemical and/or biological agents released in the target and render them harmless.

Abstract: A coated film product comprises a support base, a stencil-forming layer and an intermediate release layer. The stencil-forming layer is a blend of two grades of polyvinyl alcohol having different degrees of hydrolysis. The stencil-forming layer is imaged by dropwise application (for example using an ink-jet printer or plotter) of a cross-linking agent which hardens the stencil-forming layer to resist washing out with water. The hardened areas remaining after washing out are however sufficiently tacky for the washed-out film to adhere to the screen mesh by application of pressure and, after removal of the support base, form the stencil layer of a screen-printing screen.

Abstract: A capacitive fluid level sensing pipette probe adapted to be used in an automated random access immunoassay analyzer is provided. The pipette probe comprises an elongated shaft having a conductive tip. An integrated circuit chip containing capacitive sensing circuitry is positioned on the pipette probe itself, or in very close proximity. With this arrangement, the sensing circuitry moves with the pipette probe as it is raised and lowered into and out of a vessel containing a liquid. Thus, errors associated with capacitance caused by flexing connector cables is eliminated. Flex tape wiring may be used to carry data from the capacitive sensing circuitry on the pipette probe to the processing board of the automated immunoassay analyzer.

Abstract: An interface for connecting co-planar printed circuit ("PC") boards (10,20) using a compressible circuit (50) for bridging the PC boards (10,20), a base (80) underlying the second PC board and integrally attached thereto, and a support housing (30) which sandwiches the compressible circuit (50) against the two PC boards (10,20). The compressible circuit (50) is insertable into the underside of the support housing (30) and may be electro-optically aligned therewith. The compressible circuit (50) is then staked to the support housing (30), and the support housing is mounted on the two PC boards (10,20). In order to mount the support housing (30) on the PC boards (10,20) with the requisite precision, the support housing (30) is provided with alignment means including resilient finger (39) on the underside, and the second PC board (20) is provided with cooperating guide tabs (25).

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, a motor vehicle driver-indicator guide-device for signifying when it is safe to advance, including support structure mounting a light signaling structure and mechanism therefor, that displays a signal light viewable by a driver of a motor vehicle, with an actuating lever actuatable by an advancing motor vehicles's bumper, with a green light of the light signaling structure having an electrical circuitry and an electrical switch that is normally closed providing a go signal evidencing that further advancement of the motor vehicle may be continued, actuation of the actuating lever serving to open the normally closed electrical switch when the actuation switch is pressed beyond a predetermined position indicative of maximum allowable forward advancement permissible for the advancing motor vehicle, the support structure having a tape mounted thereon carrying an adhesive backing for mounting the mounting structure on an upright surface of a wall or the like, the green light carrying a sy

Abstract: A creeper assembly having a first body portion 11 for supporting the hip and lower spine area of a mechanic and a second body portion 25 pivotally connected thereto, via a swivel joint, for supporting the upper spine, shoulder area and head, is disclosed. The swivel joint includes a clevis 36, tongue 19, ball bearing assembly 60 and connecting pin 38. The openings in clevis 36 and ball bearing journal 61 are provided with an inwardly directed key extension 47, 48 received by key slot 39 in connecting pin 38. Fork detent 40 engages stop pin 42 to limit the horizontal, pivotal movement between body portions 11 and 25. Outrigger mounted wheels 17 and 31 permit the use of larger, more durable support wheels. The swivel connection permits quick evasive movement of the head and shoulders by a mechanic, while working, to prevent or minimize injury and discomfort from being struck with dropped tools, dripping oil or dislodged dirt particles.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for forming an antenna reflector panel to a desired shape. The apparatus includes a plate having a plurality of threaded holes, wherein a threaded stud is located in each one of the plurality of threaded holes. The tops of the threaded studs define the desired antenna panel contour. Two metal sheets with a honeycomb structure between them are urged against the stud tops by enclosing the fixture and drawing a vacuum therein. After the metal sheets and honeycomb structure have been held in the desired contour for a predetermined time the vacuum is released. The sheet and honeycomb structure are now permanently deformed into the desired shape.

Abstract: A cathode-ray tube controller uses a content addressable associative storage array (10) to generate repetitively a sequence of video control signals for a CRT to which it is attached. A binary coded counter (4) incremented by the system clock (CL) of the CRT provides a sequence of binary count values representing the running count of the CRT clock. This running count is continuously available and applied as an input search argument to the associative array. A plurality of predetermined count values, derived with reference to the running count, are stored as binary coded words in selected rows of the associative array. The match signals generated on the sense lines of the array as the running count value becomes equal to the predetermined count values in the array provide the video control signals to control the various display functions of the CRT. One of the signals is used to re-set the running count value so that the sequence of signals is repeated at regular intervals.

Abstract: Light-sensitive compositions and materials incorporating such compositions, such as coated films for the production of polymeric resists, comprise a diazo-resin as a sensitizer for the composition and a water-soluble or water-dispersible colloid. In order to stabilize the diazo-resin sensitizer and increase the time between manufacture and use of such light-sensitive compositions and material, a poly-(vinylpyridine) is incorporated in the composition, preferably in the form of a water-soluble salt such as the hydrochloride or sulphate.

Abstract: A heating and cooling system comprises a first reservoir containing liquid at an elevated temperature, solar collecting means exposed to solar radiation for collecting solar energy and means disposed in thermal exchange relationship with said first reservoir for transmitting heat energy from said solar collecting means to said first reservoir, a second reservoir containing a liquid disposed in thermal exchange relationship with a portion of the earth, means for blending liquids derived respectively from thermal exchange relationship with said first and second reservoirs, a heat engine having first and second refrigerant coils, one of said refrigerant coils disposed in thermal exchange relationship with an atmosphere to be heated or cooled, and valve means responsive to the refrigerant pressure in said other coil for delivering blended liquor from said blending valve to thermal exchange relationship with said other refrigerant coil, whereby heat energy to be extracted from or delivered to said other refrigeran