Abstract: An improved rake includes a rake head coupled to a bar attached to the rake head. The rake head includes a set of spaced apart tines having an end distal from the rake head and configured to scoop debris from the ground in response to force being applied to the rake head via the bar such that the tines sift through grass and leaves and other debris ride up over the tines.

Abstract: A polarizer is provided comprising a subwavelength optical microstructure wherein the microstructure is partially covered with a light-transmissive inhibiting surface for polarizing light. The inhibiting surface can include a reflective surface, such as a metalized coating. The subwavelength optical microstructure can include moth-eye structures, linear prisms, or modified structures thereof A polarizing structure is further provided comprising a plurality of moth-eye structures stacked on one another for polarizing light.

Abstract: A polarizer is provided comprising a subwavelength optical microstructure wherein the microstructure is partially covered with a light-transmissive inhibiting surface for polarizing light. The inhibiting surface can include a reflective surface, such as a metalized coating. The subwavelength optical microstructure can include moth-eye structures, linear prisms, or modified structures thereof A polarizing structure is further provided comprising a plurality of moth-eye structures stacked on one another for polarizing light.

Abstract: A polarizer is provided comprising a subwavelength optical microstructure wherein the microstructure is partially covered with a light-transmissive inhibiting surface for polarizing light. The inhibiting surface can include a reflective surface, such as a metalized coating. The subwavelength optical microstructure can include moth-eye structures, linear prisms, or modified structures thereof. A polarizing structure is further provided comprising a plurality of moth-eye structures stacked on one another for polarizing light.

Abstract: A method is provided for dramatically improving communications data throughput on embedded systems and reducing the load on the operating system and central processing unit by moving the network protocol logic nearer to the underlying communication hardware, and utilizing the communication processor hardware abstraction layer (CPHAL) concepts. This movement of the network protocol logic allows leveraging the CPHAL data structures, which are tightly bound to the communication packets being processed. The decision making is made just above the CPHAL layer; and the CPHAL data structure is preserved. Copying data is avoided by manipulating of pointers within the CPHAL buffer.

Abstract: A communications system for enabling extension of an internal common bus architecture (CBA) segment of a first root physical device to an internal CBA bus segment of one or more remote external physical device includes the first root physical device having a first serial communications interface module in the root device coupled between said internal CBA bus segment and an input and output port of the root device for serializing bus transactions from the first device to the output port of the root device and deserializing data received from at the input port to the internal CBA bus segment of the first device. The remote external physical device includes a second serial communications interface module coupled between the internal CBA bus segment and an input and output port of the remote device for serializing bus transactions from the remote device to the output port of the remote device and deserializing data received at the input port to the internal CBA bus segment of said remote device.

Abstract: A method of providing an operating system independent interface between an operating system (OS) and a communications processor media access control MAC (CPMAC) is provided that includes providing a communications processor Hardware Abstraction Layer (CPHAL) between the OS and a driver with the driver communicating to said CPHAL layer which communicates with the communications hardware processor media access control MAC. The operating system passes information to the CPHAL and the CPHAL at a later time returning the information and wherein said CPHAL passes information to the OS in the same way. The Communications Processor Hardware Abstraction Layer (CPHAL) comprises hooks so that the OS-specific coding is embedded into said CPHAL. The start-up initialization between CPHAL and the OS includes providing a protocol that allows the CPHAL to pass details of its feature set and allows CPHAL to retrieve information from the OS.

Abstract: A communications system for enabling extension of an internal common bus architecture (CBA) segment of a first root physical device to an internal CBA bus segment of one or more remote external physical device includes the first root physical device having a first serial communications interface module in the root device coupled between said internal CBA bus segment and an input and output port of the root device for serializing bus transactions from the first device to the output port of the root device and deserializing data received from at the input port to the internal CBA bus segment of the first device. The remote external physical device includes a second serial communications interface module coupled between the internal CBA bus segment and an input and output port of the remote device for serializing bus transactions from the remote device to the output port of the remote device and deserializing data received at the input port to the internal CBA bus segment of said remote device.

Abstract: A polarizer is provided comprising a subwavelength optical microstructure wherein the microstructure is partially covered with a light-transmissive inhibiting surface for polarizing light. The inhibiting surface can include a reflective surface, such as a metalized coating. The subwavelength optical microstructure can include moth-eye structures, linear prisms, or modified structures thereof. A polarizing structure is further provided comprising a plurality of moth-eye structures stacked on one another for polarizing light.

Abstract: A stain resistant film construction that includes a polyvinyl film laminated to a polyolefin film by an adhesive. The stain resistant film construction can be formed into a retroreflective product that includes a polyolefin layer, an adhesive layer and a polyvinyl layer attached to the polyolefin layer by the adhesive on the first side of polyvinyl layer. Retroreflective prisms can be attached to the second side of polyvinyl layer, and a backing layer can be attached to the second side of polyvinyl film through the prism layer.

Abstract: A stain resistant film construction that includes a polyvinyl film laminated to a polyolefin film by an adhesive. The stain resistant film construction can be formed into a retroreflective product that includes a polyolefin layer, an adhesive layer and a polyvinyl layer attached to the polyolefin layer by the adhesive on the first side of polyvinyl layer. Retroreflective prisms can be attached to the second side of polyvinyl layer, and a backing layer can be attached to the second side of polyvinyl film through the prism layer.

Abstract: A continuous process for producing printed patterns on retroreflective material is disclosed, wherein a partially cured pattern is printed on a roll of film and partially cured cube-corner prisms are bonded to the film over the printed matter thereby encapsulating the printed matter to protect the printed matter from the environment.

Abstract: A continuous process for producing printed patterns on retroreflective material is disclosed, wherein a partially cured pattern is printed on a roll of film and partially cured cube-corner prisms are bonded to the film over the printed matter thereby encapsulating the printed matter to protect the printed matter from the environment.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming "seamless" retroreflective sheeting is described. At least two mold surfaces are used, each having alternate areas of arrays of prism recesses and spaces. In a first step, prisms are formed in one of the mold surfaces and applied to a base film or web. Next, prisms are formed on the second mold surface and applied to the spaced areas left in the first step.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming "seamless" retroreflective sheeting is described. At least two mold surfaces are used, each having alternate areas of arrays of prism recesses and spaces. In a first step, prisms are formed in one of the mold surfaces and applied to a base film or web. Next, prisms are formed on the second mold surface and applied to the spaced areas left in the first step.

Abstract: A method of patterning a multilayer, dielectric color filter is described. The method includes depositing a multilayer, dielectric color filter on a substrate having top, bottom and multiple intermediate layers; and applying a patternable mask onto the top layer to provide selected openings through the mask. The method further includes removing the top layer through the selected openings in the patterned mask using a first dry etch, the patterned mask and the multiple intermediate layers of the filter being resistant to this first dry etch, to provide openings to the multiple intermediate layers of the filter.

Abstract: A lithographic patterning process which produces a lift-off structure uses two separate layers, the bottom being deep ultraviolet patternable and the top being patternable at an appropriate wavelength other than deep ultraviolet and having low optical transmission properties at the wavelength used in a deep ultraviolet exposure step and characterized by decreased solubility and/or increased crosslink density after such deep ultraviolet exposure.

Abstract: Forming a color filter by vacuum depositing alternating layers of SiO.sub.2 and TiO.sub.2 at a temperature of less than 150.degree. C.

Abstract: A lithographic lift-off process includes coating a layer of positive resist material using a dynamic dispense on top of a preexisting layer of a different positive resist material. Thereafter, patternwise exposing both layers simultaneously and developing the exposed portions of both layers for a sufficient time to provide openings in the resists wherein the dynamic dispense layer overhangs the preexisting layer.

Abstract: A method of forming a color filter array which includes forming only a single image mordant layer on a device and then exposing the mordant to a pattern representing an array of filter elements and developing areas of the mordant to provide separated filter elements. These filter elements are then selectively dyed different colors.