Abstract: A blade for use with a housing to comprise a motor driven pump to be used to pump fluids. In particular, the blade is particularly useful because of high efficiencies in vacuum pumps, particularly, household vacuum cleaners having motors which may be advantageously powered using batteries. The blade involves a pair of generally conical walls enclosing therebetween a plurality of fluid flow passages. The fluid flow passages are defined in part by vanes extending between the two generally conical walls. The blade has a generally axial inlet and imparts centrifugal force to fluid elements. Because of the conical shape, the fluid moves in a direction having tangential components imparted by the vanes, radial components arising from centrifugal force and axial components because of the conical wall structure.

Abstract: A method for forming a copper conductor in an electronic structure by first depositing a copper composition in a receptacle formed in the electronic structure, and then adding impurities into the copper composition such that its electromigration resistance is improved is disclosed. In the method, the copper composition can be deposited by a variety of techniques such as electroplating, physical vapor deposition and chemical vapor deposition. The impurities which can be implanted include those of C, O, Cl, S and N at a suitable concentration range between about 0.01 ppm by weight and about 1000 ppm by weight. The impurities can be added by three different methods. In the first method, a copper seed layer is first deposited into a receptacle and an ion implantation process is carried out on the seed layer, which is followed by electroplating copper into the receptacle.

Abstract: An interconnect structure and method for an integrated circuit chip for resisting electromigration is described incorporating patterned interconnect layers of Al or Al--Cu and interlayer contact regions or studs of Al.sub.2 Cu between patterned interconnect layers. The invention overcomes the problem of electromigration at high current density in the interconnect structure by providing a continuous path for Cu and/or Al atoms to move in the interconnect structure.

Abstract: An interconnect structure and method for an integrated circuit chip for resisting electromigration is described incorporating patterned interconnect layers of Al or Al--Cu and interlayer contact regions or studs of Al.sub.2 Cu between patterned interconnect layers. The invention overcomes the problem of electromigration at high current density in the interconnect structure by providing a continuous path for Cu and/or Al atoms to move in the interconnect structure.

Abstract: A stringed instrument, such as a guitar, has a vibrato that includes a bridge rotatably mounted within a body of the instrument. A flat compression spring extends from the bridge to a position away from a neck of the instrument. At the other end, the spring abuts a support that is linearly movable relatrive to the bridge to increase or decrease the compression force of the spring. A step stop is positioned near the bridge to allow a user to selectively move the bridge between a floating mode in which it can rotate in either direction from a neutral position to a classic mode in which it can move in one direction. The compression can be adjusted so that the bridge is effectively stopped from moving in a direction opposite to the particular direction. The bridge is moved with a control bar that extends into a rotatable bushing. The frictional forces between the bushing and the bridge can be adjusted with a set screw.

Abstract: A light weight guitar neck construction and associated method of manufacture involves the use of a wood core with a strengthening layer, preferably of carbon fiber, and a finish layer, preferably a fiberglass sheet, both impregnated with a high temperature resin. A tensioning wire is provided in the neck, and is non-braided with a diameter of less than 0.100 inches.

Abstract: A light weight guitar construction and associated method of manufacture involves the use of a light weight wood core material having deposited thereover a strengthening layer preferably of carbon fiber and a fiberglass sheet layer both impregnated with a high temperature resin. A piezoelectric crystal transducer system is used individually with each string for sensing string vibrations. An improved fret board construction is employed. In one feature of the present invention each of the frets have coupled thereto circuit runs for signal coupling.

Abstract: A light weight guitar construction and associated method of manufacture involves the use of a light weight wood core material having deposited thereover a strengthening layer preferably of carbon fiber and a fiberglass sheet layer both impregnated with a high temperature resin. Sandwiched between the strengthening layer and fiberglass layer is a means for displaying one or more visual images. A piezoelectric crystal transducer system is used individually with each string for sensing string vibrations. An improved fret board construction is employed. In one feature of the present invention each of the frets have coupled thereto circuit runs for signal coupling.

Abstract: A light weight guitar construction and associated method of manufacture involves the use of a light weight wood core material having deposited thereover a strengthening layer preferably of carbon fiber and a fiberglass sheet layer both impregnated with a high temperature resin. A piezoelectric crystal transducer system is used individually with each string for sensing string vibrations. An improved fret board construction is employed. In one feature of the present invention each of the frets have coupled thereto circuit runs for signal coupling.

Abstract: A light weight guitar construction and associated method of manufacture involves the use of a light weight wood core material having deposited thereover a strengthening layer preferably of carbon fiber and a fiberglass sheet layer both impregnated with a high temperature resin. A piezoelectric crystal transducer system is used individually with each string for sensing string vibrations. An improved fret board construction is employed. In one feature of the present invention each of the frets have coupled thereto circuit runs for signal coupling.

Abstract: A light weight guitar construction and associated method of manufacture involves the use of a light weight wood core material having deposited thereover a strengthening layer preferably of carbon fiber and a fiberglass sheet layer both impregnated with a high temperature resin. A piezoelectric crystal transducer system is used individually with each string for sensing string vibrations. An improved fret board construction is employed. In one feature of the present invention each of the frets have coupled thereto circuit runs for signal coupling.