Abstract: A process for preparing a supported metal catalyst composition which comprises impregnating microspheroidal support particles with a solution of at least one catalytically active metal, or precursor, drying the impregnated support particles and then treating the mobile metal, or precursor in a mobile state with a liquid comprising at least one reducing agent to deposit and immobilize the metal, or its precursor, in the support particles such that the metal, or its precursor, is distributed in the support particle in a layer below the surface of the support particle, the layer being between an inner and an outer region having a lower concentration of metal or precursor. Also, a composition comprising microspheroidal support particles having at least one catalytically active metal or precursor thereof distributed in a layer below the surface of the particles, the layer being between an inner and an outer region of the support particle each having a lower concentration of metal or precursor.

Abstract: A controller for use with an image formation device. An image formation system includes an image formation device and a controller associated with the image formation device. The image formation device can be operated in either copier mode or printer mode. In printer mode, the controller receives print jobs and forwards the print jobs to the image formation device. The controller converts the print jobs to pixel data and stores the pixel data in memory to buffer the print jobs. The controller also interprets print commands and controls functions performed by the image formation device.

Abstract: An improved chemical vapor deposition method is disclosed that increases the uniformity of silicon carbide epitaxial layers and that is particularly useful for obtaining thicker epitaxial layers. The method comprises heating a reactor to a temperature at which silicon carbide source gases will form an epitaxial layer of silicon carbide on a substrate in the reactor; and then directing a flow of source and carrier gases through the heated reactor to form an epitaxial layer of silicon carbide on the substrate with the carrier gases comprising a blend of hydrogen and a second gas in which the second gas has a thermal conductivity that is less than the thermal conductivity of hydrogen so that the source gases deplete less as they pass through the reactor than they would if hydrogen is used as the sole carrier gas.

Abstract: A five-switch keypad apparatus having four diodes that multiplex the switch contacts onto three sense terminals. The three sense terminals create a binary code that defines eight possible switch states. The eight states are used to indicate each individual switch closure, a lack of a switch closure, and two simultaneous dual switch closures. In an application, a decoder, connected to the three sense terminals, converts the sequence of binary codes into three control signals. The three control signals can control a door lock, a trunk lock and an automatic lock function.

Abstract: An improved motor commutation pulse detection circuit for comparing a filtered motor current signal to a threshold value, where the circuit is responsive to the actual or expected amplitude of the commutation pulses for adjusting the motor current signal or the threshold value so that the compared threshold value is substantially equal in amplitude to minimum amplitude commutation pulses in the compared motor current signal. In one circuit, the threshold value is varied in accordance with the average current flowing through the motor at the time of the commutation event. In another circuit, the threshold is effectively switched between a high value and a low value depending on the mode of operation of the motor. A motor run detection threshold is activated during motor running periods, while a motor brake detection threshold is activated during motor braking.

Abstract: An multi-point, center-averaging airflow sensor comprises a plurality of upstream airflow sensing tubes extending radially from a central hub having a total pressure averaging chamber and a static pressure averaging chamber. The airflow sensing tubes are each provided with at least one total pressure port located inwardly of the outer end of the tubes to minimize error caused by total pressure measurements taken near the inner walls of the conduit in which the sensor is installed. The sensor has static pressure ports located in the side surface of the hub which are shielded from upstream air flow by the tubes and which are preferably at least partially shielded from damper back pressure by notched reinforcing blades provided along the length of the airflow sensing tubes.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for bioremediation of sites contaminated with chemical pollutants, wherein survival and colonization of a polluted medium by a fungal microorganism having the capacity to degrade a chemical pollutant is enhanced; and microorganisms having the capacity to degrade one or more priority pollutants.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing relocatable code storage in a multifunction controller or other integrated circuit which includes an embedded microprocessor and an internal memory. The relocatable code is initially stored in an external memory which is shared by the embedded microprocessor and other system processing elements such as a host CPU. During a system initialization, power-on reset or other predetermined event, a memory multiplexing circuit connects the address inputs of the internal memory to a read/write address bus, and connects the output of a jump data storage circuit to a code data output bus. The jump data storage circuit uses code addresses received from the embedded microprocessor to generate a jump instruction code which is supplied to the embedded microprocessor via the code data output bus.

Abstract: Transmissive attenuated embedded phase shifter photomasks comprising at least one polymeric material, preferably an amorphous fluoropolymer or an amorphous fluoropolymer doped with a fluorine functionalized organosilane, and organosilicates, or combinations thereof, the polymeric material having: (a) an index of refraction (n) in a range from 1.2 to 2.0, preferably in the range from 1.26 to 1.8, at a selected lithographic wavelength below 400 nm; and (b) an extinction coefficient (k) in a range from 0.04 to 0.8, preferably in the range from 0.06 to 0.59 at the selected lithographic wavelength below 400 nm.

Abstract: This invention relates to a rapid process for the preparation of a silica gel or a silicate polymer comprising contacting at least one fluoroalkoxysilane with a solution comprising water, optionally in the presence of a solvent and/or a catalyst. Low density gels can be prepared using this process and can possess large pore size, greater than 50 nm.

Abstract: Transmissive attenuated embedded phase shifter photomasks comprising at least one polymeric material, preferably an amorphous fluoropolymer or an amorphous fluoropolymer doped with a fluorine functionalized organosilane, and organosilicates, or combinations thereof, the polymeric material having: (a) an index of refraction (n) in a range from 1.2 to 2.0, preferably in the range from 1.26 to 1.8, at a selected lithographic wavelength below 400 nm; and (b) an extinction coefficient (k) in a range from 0.04 to 0.8, preferably in the range from 0.06 to 0.59 at the selected lithographic wavelength below 400 nm.

Abstract: A railway rail support assembly (3), for resiliently suspending a railway rail (1) above a track foundation (2) at discrete locations along the rail (1), has rail supporting means through which a predetermined clamping load is exerted on the said rail (1) such that the assembly (3) has a desired resistance to longitudinal creep therethrough of the rail (1). The rail supporting means are preferably attached, when the assembly (3) is in use, to an approximately horizontal upper surface of the said track foundation (2). Such an assembly (3) may be provided by first and second brackets (31, 32) and first and second elastic members (33, 34). Each of the said first and second brackets (31, 32) has a bearing part (312, 322) and a base part (311, 321) (311, 321), the bearing part (312, 322) being located adjacent to either sides of the rail (1) when the assembly (3) is in use and the base part (311, 321) being located on an upper surface of the said track foundation (2).

Abstract: The use of a Gray code ganged wiper switch and an electronic circuit controlling the washer-pump motor and wiper motor allow the use of a minimal number of wires in the overall interval wiper system than found in conventional systems. Circuit redundancy and Gray coding method provides several added reliability features at a low manufacturing cost. The system further provides a resistorless control of the several power output functions of the system.

Abstract: An improved chemical vapor deposition method is disclosed that increases the uniformity of silicon carbide epitaxial layers and that is particularly useful for obtaining thicker epitaxial layers. The method comprises heating a reactor to a temperature at which silicon carbide source gases will form an epitaxial layer of silicon carbide on a substrate in the reactor; and then directing a flow of source and carrier gases through the heated reactor to form an epitaxial layer of silicon carbide on the substrate with the carrier gases comprising a blend of hydrogen and a second gas in which the second gas has a thermal conductivity that is less than the thermal conductivity of hydrogen so that the source gases deplete less as they pass through the reactor than they would if hydrogen is used as the sole carrier gas.

Abstract: A cooling system for a host device affords enhanced reliability using multiple blower units mounted in parallel between a low pressure plenum and a high pressure plenum and a control system that senses when a blower unit is failing or has failed and responds by shutting down the failed unit and increasing the speed of the remaining blowers to maintain the air flow volume delivered to the cooling path. To maintain the integrity of the cooling air path while affording continuous operation of the host device, a spring biased closure door seals the access opening through which the blower is mounted when a blower unit is removed and displaced by the blower unit to an inoperative position against the biasing force of the spring when the blower unit is installed or replaced. To prevent recirculation through a vacated blower unit mounting space, a one way air flow device, in the form of a shutter assembly including plural pivoting louvers or vanes is mounted at the exhaust location of each blower.

Abstract: A switch for switching large currents and large charges includes an anode separated from a cathode with a cylindrical trigger electrode located around the anode and the gap. The cathode is of a metal such as zinc, cadmium, tin or magnesium. During operation, a suitable potential applied to the trigger electrode causes a main discharge to occur between the anode and the cathode.

Abstract: Input data is partitioned and organized by building a sequence of predefined data structures corresponding to respective data models, each having a different organization and including pointers for propagating input data or data from a preceding data structure therethrough. Each data structure also includes fields for data values which may be input by a user or computed from other data stored therein and pointers referencing instances in a previous data structure in the sequence of data structures. As applied to the production of schematic drawings of cables connecting portions of a large and complex system with a high uniformity of style, such as to ANSI standards, the data is organized by unit, connector and pin priority and in prioritized groups of nets or subnets and partitioned into sheets for rendering in a standardized format.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of preventing fog formation in a silver halide photographic element, said method comprising bringing a silver halide developer solution, or a solution preceding a silver halide developer solution, into contact with a cyanide scavenger by a method other than the seasoning out of the cyanide scavenger from a sensitized silver halide photographic element.