Abstract: A wafer probe station adapted for low-current measurements provides electrically active upper and lower chuck assembly elements where air gaps are provided between a major portion of either a lower or nonlower surface on the upper chuck assembly element and a corresponding conductive surface on or connected to the lower chuck assembly element thereby minimizing leakage currents therebetween. The chuck assembly elements are preferably enclosed by an environment control enclosure having a sidewall portion relative to which the upper chuck assembly element can move laterally. During such movement, the upper chuck assembly remain in constant spacing with a conductive member that laterally surrounds it so as to stabilize electromagnetic conditions. Concurrently, the sidewall portion is kept motionless relative to the probe holder which keeps contaminants away from the region immediate to the upper chuck assembly element, including any moisture droplets that have condensed during low-temperature testing.

Abstract: An adsorbent filter for removing caffeine from liquids. The filter is composed of a matrix of fibrous material; and adsorbent particulate material integrated within the matrix of fibrous material, so that passage of a liquid having a caffeine concentration ranging from about 20 to about 100 mg per 100 mL of liquid through the matrix for a contact time of less than about 2 minutes results in at least a 40 percent reduction in the caffeine concentration of the liquid. The matrix of fibrous material may be selected from woven fabrics, knit fabrics and nonwoven fabrics. The adsorbent material may be clay minerals such as, for example, smectite clay minerals. Examples of smectite clay minerals include, bentonite clays and montmorillonite clays. Generally speaking, the filter can be adapted to provide at least a 40 percent reduction in the caffeine concentration for about 1 cup to about 40 cups of a liquid.

Abstract: A reusable test socket is described for testing singulated bare die to determine, before packaging, that the bare die is a "known good die". The socket contains a circuit pad pattern in the mirror image of the bond pad pattern of the bare die to be tested. Each pad of the socket contains a conductive elastomeric probe which has been "screened" onto the bond pad. The socket also contains an alignment template for orienting the bare die onto the elastomeric probes of the pad pattern of the test socket. Additionally, the socket can be a singular piece or it can be made of two main pieces; the first being a socket, and the second being a test board designed to mate with the socket. Further, the socket can be utilized in conjunction with a clamp for holding the bare die in place and with a thermoelectric cooler. The thermoelectric cooler is used to heat or cool the die at all temperatures required for military certification and other extended temperature applications.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for managing waste from patient care, maintenance, and/or treatment includes an inflatable bladder member disposed to support at least a first portion of the body of the patient. A flexible basin member is fitted over the bladder and receives waste materials, and a filter sheet is disposed atop the basin member. The basin member is connected to a liquid/gas separator and a vacuum blower. A liquid waste pump is connected to the separator to transfer liquid waste to a holding jug. A vacuum wand provides both suction and rinsing liquid via an on-demand pumping supply configuration that enables the rinsing liquid supplied from a rinse jug to be heated. Liquid levels in the rinse liquid jug, the holding jug, and the separator's holding reservoir are sensed by capacitive level sensing devices which supply signals to a microprocessor which controls various functions of the apparatus. Special inflatable sacks are provided to assist turning the patient to facilitate cleansing of the patient.

Abstract: A probe station is equipped with an integrated guarding system which facilitates the use of the station for low-current measurements, as well as integrated Kelvin connections to eliminate voltage losses caused by line resistances. The station has a chuck assembly which consists of at least three chuck assembly elements. A first element supports the test device, while an underlying second element acts as a guard to reduce leakage currents. These elements are electrically insulated from each other and from their underlying supporting structure, which is the third element. Ready-to-use, selectively detachable electrical connector assemblies provide for signal and guard connections to the first and second chuck assembly elements, respectively, as well as providing Kelvin connections thereto. The capacitance between the respective chuck assembly elements is extremely low due to the provision of air space as the primary electrical insulator.

Abstract: A steering device for a jet boat including a housing securable over the water exit at the rear of the jet boat, a steering nozzle movably secured to the housing so that water leaving the housing passes through the nozzle to leave the boat through the nozzle outlet, and means for moving the steering nozzle relative to the housing so as to direct the water leaving the nozzle outlet in a predetermined direction, the steering nozzle being movably secured to the housing by a pivotal connection which permits pivotal movement of the nozzle relative to the housing about a plane which lies at an acute angle to a longitudinal line through the center of the housing.

Abstract: A probe station is equipped with an integrated guarding system which facilitates the use of the station for low-current measurements, as well as integrated Kelvin connections to eliminate voltage losses caused by line resistances. The station has a chuck assembly which consists of at least three chuck assembly elements. A first element supports the test device, while an underlying second element acts as a guard to reduce leakage currents. These elements are electrically insulated from each other and from their underlying supporting structure, which is the third element. Ready-to-use, selectively detachable electrical connector assemblies provide for signal and guard connections to the first and second chuck assembly elements, respectively, as well as providing Kelvin connections thereto. The capacitance between the respective chuck assembly elements is extremely low due to the provision of air space as the primary electrical insulator.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for managing waste from patient care, maintenance, and/or treatment includes an inflatable bladder member disposed to support at least a first portion of the body of the patient. A flexible basin member is fitted over the bladder and receives waste materials, and a filter sheet is disposed atop the basin member. The basin member is connected to a holding reservoir and a vacuum blower. A liquid waste pump is connected to the holding reservoir to transfer liquid waste to a waste jug. A vacuum wand provides rinsing liquid from a rinse liquid jug via a rinse liquid pump and provides suction via the vacuum blower. Liquid levels in each of the rinse liquid jug, the waste jug, and the holding reservoir, are monitored by liquid level sensing devices which supply signals to a microprocessor which controls various functions of the apparatus. Special inflatable sacks are provided to assist turning the patient to facilitate cleansing of the patient.

Abstract: A return line for a probe station includes a sheet-like conductive strap having a first end connected electrically to a first probe and a self-coiling second end connected automatically detachably to a second probe, as by insertion of the second probe centrally within the coils of the second end. If the spacing between the probes exceeds a maximum distance, the strap harmlessly disconnects. The flat central portion of the strap automatically tracks any reductions in the spacing between the probes, which enables fast probe travel and minimizes noise pickup. Preferably a spindle rotatably engages the coiled probe and has a post member that carries the second end of the strap to a far side of the probe to improve tip visibility and electrical connection during close-in probing.

Abstract: Germicidal compositions for direct application to human skin are provided. The compositions include an organic acid, e.g., malic acid, and an anionic surfactant, e.g., a sodium alpha-olefin sulfonate, as active ingredients, and can optionally include an alcohol, e.g., specially denatured ethyl alcohol, as an additional active ingredient. When formulated as soaps and lotions, the compositions have been found to produce more than a 2.0 log reduction in bacteria applied to skin.

Abstract: Highly effective and useful method, composition and product for annihilating harmful respiratory viruses and inhibiting the spread of diseases, including the common cold. The product includes one or more carboxylic acids such as citric, malic, succinic, benzoic and the like in an effective amount and may also include a surfactant. Embodiments include impregnated or coated substrates such as facial tissue, nonwoven materials, and the like. In one application, treated tissue, when substituted for ordinary facial tissue and used in wiping the nasal area of a person suffering from a virus-borne infection is effective in annihilating the virus on contact with the treated tissue. This, in turn, prevents the spread of the virus-related illness.

Abstract: A probe assembly for use in testing an integrated circuit embodied in an integrated circuit chip in wafer form, comprises a stiff support member formed with an aperture, and a membrane. Both the support member and the membrane comprise dielectric material and portions of conductive material supported by the dielectric material in electrically-insulated relationship. The portions of conductive material of the membrane constitute inner contact elements distributed over a main face of the membrane in a pattern that corresponds to the pattern in which contact areas are distributed over the contact face of the chip under test, outer contact elements distributed about a peripheral region of the membrane in a second pattern, and transmission lines extending from the inner contact elements to the outer contact elements respectively.

Abstract: Highly effective and useful method, composition and product for annihilating harmful respiratory viruses and inhibiting the spread of diseases, including the common cold. The product includes one or more carboxylic acids such as citric, malic, succinic, benzoic and the like in an effective amount and may also include a surfactant. Embodiments include impregnated or coated substrates such as facial tissue, nonwoven materials, and the like. In one application, treated tissue, when substituted for ordinary facial tissue and used in wiping the nasal area of a person suffering from a virus-borne infection is effective in annihilating the virus on contact with the treated tissue. This, in turn, prevents the spread of the virus-related illness.

Abstract: The invention disclosed here is a sensor comprised of a laser designator, a and block filter and a two-dimensional sensor that can "see" the target in one band and the designator in another band, thereby giving a single sensor dual band system--something not offered by any sensor/designator operating in the wavelength band intrinsically inherent to this sensor technology. The sensor is a two-dimensional starring array constructed from Schottky Barrier Diodes utilizing a platinum silicide sensing layer. This construct normally exhibits a spectral response from around 1 micron to around 6 microns. The sensor has been proposed as a passive thermal imager in the 3-5 micron band because of its responsivity (Quantum Efficiency) is maximum in the 3-5 micron band. Typically, transmission windows for these sensors are designed to block off the solar radiation from the visible out to the 3 micron region to prevent saturation of the sensor in the daytime.

Abstract: An integrated circuit package comprises an integrated circuit chip and a flexible sheet-form interconnect member that comprises dielectric material and conductor runs supported by the dielectric material in mutually-insulated relationship and having termination points arranged at the main face of the interconnect member in a pattern that corresponds with the pattern of contact pads on the interconnect face of the chip. The chip and the interconnect member are adhesively bonded together by means of a material that is interposed between the main face of the interconnect member and the interconnect face of the chip, but is not interposed between the contact pads and the termination points, and adheres to both the interconnect member and the chip.

Abstract: In a system for providing maximum display deflection within a preselected scale size for a time-varying imput whose envelope may be monotonically decreasing, or otherwise varying, automatic gain control means produces a multiplication factor by which an input signal is multiplied to provide an output signal for provision to utilization means such as a display. The multiplier signal is produced as a function of an error signal. The output signal is compared to a value indicative of a desired trace size to produce a signal representative of percentage error rather than a difference. The percentage error is subtracted from 100% to provide a gain error signal, a function of which is the multiplier signal. The function may be further generated by sampling the gain error signal over a window length and summing the samples. The integral thus obtained may be utilized as an exponent in the value of the multiplication factor.

Abstract: A device for aiding in the injection and removal of printed circuit boards from card cages. The device comprises in combination, anchor means for affixing the device both to the printed circuit board and to the cage and lever means adapted to develop linear inward and outward directed forces with a single degree of freedom so that no rotational bending forces are developed on the pins of a plug on the board when they are injected into or ejected from the holes of a mating socket in the cage.

Abstract: An integrated circuit package comprises at least two integrated circuit chips each having a plurality of contact pads arranged in a first pattern on the interconnect face of the chip, and an elastic sheet-form interconnect member. The interconnect member has at least two main face areas, associated with the chips respectively, and comprises dielectric material and conductor runs supported by the dielectric material in mutually electrically insulated relationship and having termination points arranged in at least two second patterns at the main face areas respectively and corresponding with the first patterns respectively. The interconnect face of each is in confronting relationship with the associated main face area of the interconnect member, and the contact pads of the chip and the termination points of the associated main face area are in mutually registering relationship. A metallurgical bond is formed between each contact pad and the corresponding termination point.

Abstract: In a floating point digitizer, an analog signal is delivered to two signal paths. One includes a delay line. In the first path, the analog signal is measured in terms of order of magnitude to provide a signal indicative of an exponent. This same value is utilized to set the gain of a variable gain amplifier to which the delayed signal is applied and from which a mantissa is resolved.