Abstract: A coupling system for light conduits in a light distribution system and a light distribution system utilizing the coupling system. The coupling system includes first and second collars. The first collar has a first opening, a first side adapted to couple to an end of the first light conduit, and a second side adapted to operatively engage with a second collar. The second collar has a second opening, a first side adapted to couple to an end of the second light conduit, and a second side adapted to operatively engage with the second side of the first collar. Registration members maintain rotationally and axially alignment of the first and second openings of the first and second collars at a conduit interface. A retaining mechanism maintains axial engagement of the first collar with the second collar.

Abstract: An improved electrochemical generator is disclosed. The electrochemical generator includes a thin-film electrochemical cell which is maintained in a state of compression through use of an internal or an external pressure apparatus. A thermal conductor, which is connected to at least one of the positive or negative contacts of the cell, conducts current into and out of the cell and also conducts thermal energy between the cell and thermally conductive, electrically resistive material disposed on a vessel wall adjacent the conductor. The thermally conductive, electrically resistive material may include an anodized coating or a thin sheet of a plastic, mineral-based material or conductive polymer material. The thermal conductor is fabricated to include a resilient portion which expands and contracts to maintain mechanical contact between the cell and the thermally conductive material in the presence of relative movement between the cell and the wall structure.

Abstract: A thermal conductor for use with an electrochemical energy storage device is disclosed. The thermal conductor is attached to one or both of the anode and cathode contacts of an electrochemical cell. A resilient portion of the conductor varies in height or position to maintain contact between the conductor and an adjacent wall structure of a containment vessel in response to relative movement between the conductor and the wall structure. The thermal conductor conducts current into and out of the electrochemical cell and conducts thermal energy between the electrochemical cell and thermally conductive and electrically resistive material disposed between the conductor and the wall structure. The thermal conductor may be fabricated to include a resilient portion having one of a substantially C-shaped, double C-shaped, Z-shaped, V-shaped, O-shaped, S-shaped, or finger-shaped cross-section.

Abstract: An in-situ thermal management system for an energy storage device. The energy storage device includes a plurality of energy storage cells each being coupled in parallel to common positive and negative connections. Each of the energy storage cells, in accordance with the cell's technology, dimensions, and thermal/electrical properties, is configured to have a ratio of energy content-to-contact surface area such that thermal energy produced by a short-circuit in a particular cell is conducted to a cell adjacent the particular cell so as to prevent the temperature of the particular cell from exceeding a breakdown temperature. In one embodiment, a fuse is coupled in series with each of a number of energy storage cells. The fuses are activated by a current spike capacitively produced by a cell upon occurrence of a short-circuit in the cell, thereby electrically isolating the short-circuited cell from the common positive and negative connections.

Abstract: An improved electrochemical energy storing device includes a number of thin-film electrochemical cells which are maintained in a state of compression through use of an internal or an external pressure apparatus. A thermal conductor, which is connected to at least one of the positive or negative contacts of each electrochemical cell, conducts current into and out of the electrochemical cells and also conducts thermal energy between the electrochemical cells and thermally conductive material disposed on a wall structure adjacent the conductors. The wall structure includes electrically resistive material, such as an anodized coating or a thin film of plastic. The thermal conductors are fabricated to include a spring mechanism which expands and contacts to maintain mechanical contact between the electrochemical cells and the thermally conductive material in the presence of relative movement between the electrochemical cells and the wall structure.

Abstract: A cassette for use in an electronic radiographic imaging system having electronic components. The cassette includes a positioned photoreceptive medium, a light-tight frame, at least one power storage device, and an electronic interface structure for connection to electronic components within the radiographic imaging system. The cassette can also include an electrical interface structure for connection to a power source within the radiographic imaging system.

Abstract: A single event upset hardened bi-stable CMOS circuit has a pair of cross coupled invertors with an isolation resistor in the path coupling the drains of the transistors in each invertor. Each invertor includes a PFET and a NFET pair coupled source to drain. An isolation resistor couples together the drains of each PFET-NFET pair and two low impedance conductive paths provide a direct coupling between the drains of each transistor of one invertor to common gate node of the other invertor.

Abstract: A radiographic image reader acquires electronic signals corresponding to a latent image of an object produced by radiation exposure of a photoreceptive medium within a cassette. The radiographic image reader comprises a light-tight enclosure with at least one access port for inserting and removing the cassette. A scanner subsystem is mounted within the light-tight enclosure for scanning the photoreceptive medium within the cassette to initiate the acquisition of the electronic signals representative of the latent image. A cassette registration and interface subsystem within the light-tight enclosure comprises an electronic interface structure for electronically connecting the photoreceptive medium within the cassette to an electronic component external of the cassette to obtain the electronic signals corresponding to the latent image.

Abstract: A full swing CMOS logic circuit provides fault tolerant, cold sparing of VLSI logic devices attached to a high speed bus. P-channel FET transistors are formed in an N-well which has a biasing transistor which effectively decouples the circuit when the circuit is not powered. The input/output interface of the cold spares have a high impedance and do not corrupt an interconnected electronic bus. The final drive transistors are reverse biased or clamped to zero to prevent any leakage paths.

Abstract: Oligomers of the formula: ##STR1## wherein at least one of the substituents contains a piperidyl group are disclosed as light stabilizers for polymers. Also disclosed is a method for stabilizing a polymer which is normally subject to degradation by ultraviolet radiation, by incorporating therein an ultraviolet stabilizingly effective amount of such oligomer.

Abstract: Oligomers of the formula ##STR1## which contain at least one piperidyl radical per repeating unit are useful as light stabilizers for polymers.

Abstract: Phosphonate compounds of the formula ##STR1## wherein R is hydrogen or methyl, R.sub.1 is hydrogen, methyl or ethyl, and y is an integer from 0 to 2, are useful as flame retardants for thermoplastic polymers, especially linear thermoplastic polyesters.

Abstract: Compositions of nickel salts of 4-hydroxybenzoic acids and esters of aliphatic or aromatic carboxylic acids, which esters have boiling points of at least about 250.degree. C. are useful for stabilizing polyolefins against degradation by heat and ultraviolet radiation and for rendering polyolefins dyeable.

Abstract: Flame retardant polyolefin compositions containing polymeric pentaerythrityl phosphonates and ammonium polyphosphate.

Abstract: Self-extinguishing, non-dripping polyolefin polymer compositions are prepared from a mixture of certain pentaerythrityl diphosphonates and ammonium phosphate. Dicyanopentaerythrityl diphosphonate, a new compound, is useful herein without the polyphosphate.

Abstract: Products of the reaction of about 30 to 90 parts by weight of a compound of formula (I) ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are each alkyl radicals having up to 8 carbon atoms at least one of which is branched on the alpha carbon, and R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 are each hydrogen or an alkyl radical having up to 18 carbon atoms, and about 70 to 10 parts by weight, respectively, of a secondary or tertiary phosphite are useful for stabilizing polyolefins against degradation by heat and ultraviolet radiation and for rendering polyolefins dyeable by chelatable dyes such as aromatic ortho hydroxy azo dyes.

Abstract: Flame retardant polyolefin compositions containing polymeric pentaerythrityl phosphonates and ammonium polyphosphate.