Abstract: Method and apparatus for direct writing of passive structures having a tolerance of 5% or less in one or more physical, electrical, chemical, or optical properties. The present apparatus is capable of extended deposition times. The apparatus may be configured for unassisted operation and uses sensors and feedback loops to detect physical characteristics of the system to identify and maintain optimum process parameters.

Abstract: The present invention allows an item to automatically be classified using its attributes based on a classification schema and a knowledge base. The invention can include selecting an attribute of the item associated with a source classification system, comparing the value of the attribute to a set of possible attribute values, the possible attributes being associated respectively with a mapping of values from the source classification system to values in a destination classification system, selecting a destination classification for the item based on the comparison if the value of the attribute exists in the mapping, and if the value of the attribute does not exist in the mapping, modifying the value of the attribute, comparing the modified value to the set of possible values, and selecting a second destination classification for the item based on the comparing the modified value if the modified value exists in the mapping.

Abstract: The present invention allows one catalog to be managed using the content of another catalog. In one embodiment, the invention can include reading records from a plurality of different source databases, converting the records to an open format, comparing the converted records, correcting for differences in the converted records; converting the corrected records to the respective format of the corresponding source database, and writing the records back into the respective source databases. In another embodiment, the invention could include comparing the converted records to open format records from a reference database source and analyzing and correcting the converted records based on the comparison.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for improved maskless deposition of electronic and biological materials using an extended nozzle. The process is capable of direct deposition of features with linewidths varying from a few microns to a fraction of a millimeter, and can be used to deposit features on targets with damage thresholds near 100° C. or less. Deposition and subsequent processing may be performed under ambient conditions and produce linewidths as low as 1 micron, with sub-micron edge definition. The extended nozzle reduces particle overspray and has a large working distance; that is, the orifice to target distance may be several millimeters or more, enabling direct write onto non-planar surfaces. The nozzle allows for deposition of features with linewidths that are approximately as small as one-twentieth the size of the nozzle orifice diameter, and is preferably interchangeable, enabling rapid variance of deposited linewidth.

Abstract: Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to particular preferred and alternative embodiments, persons possessing ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains will appreciate that various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the Claims that follow. The various configurations that have been disclosed above are intended to educate the reader about preferred and alternative embodiments, and are not intended to constrain the limits of the invention or the scope of the Claims. The List of Reference Characters which follows is intended to provide the reader with a convenient means of identifying elements of the invention in the Specification and Drawings. This list is not intended to delineate or narrow the scope of the Claims.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for the deposition of a source material (10) are disclosed. An atomizer (12) renders a supply of source material (10) into many discrete particles. A force applicator (14) propels the particles in continuous, parallel streams of discrete particles. A collimator (16) controls the direction of flight of the particles in the stream prior to their deposition on a substrate (18). In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the viscosity of the particles may be controlled to enable complex depositions of non-conformal or three-dimensional surfaces. The invention also includes a wide variety of substrate treatments which may occur before, during or after deposition. In yet another embodiment of the invention, a virtual or cascade impactor may be employed to remove selected particles from the deposition stream.

Abstract: A method of depositing various materials onto heat-sensitive targets. Heat-sensitive targets are generally defined as targets that have thermal damage thresholds that are lower than the temperature required to process a deposited material. The invention uses precursor solutions and/or particle or colloidal suspensions, along with optional pre-deposition treatment and/or post-deposition treatment to lower the laser power required to drive the deposit to its final state. The present invention uses Maskless Mesoscale Material Deposition (M3D™) to perform direct deposition of material onto the target in a precise, highly localized fashion. Features with linewidths as small as 4 microns may be deposited, with little or no material waste. A laser is preferably used to heat the material to process it to obtain the desired state, for example by chemical decomposition, sintering, polymerization, and the like.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are described to perform cascading search methodologies on one or more data sets from one or more databases. A graphical user interface for setting up the searching is also described. In one embodiment, the invention can include designating a first strategy comprising a search string applied to operate upon data records in a first database, designating a second search strategy comprising the search string applied to operate upon data records in a second database, and forming a search hierarchy comprised of the first search strategy followed by the second search strategy. In another embodiment, the invention can include a graphical user interface comprising a first area to select a database, a second area to select a search type, and a third area to select an attribute from the selected database upon which to execute the selected search type.

Abstract: An improvement for composing and cataloging item configuration data is disclosed. One embodiment of the invention includes identifying a base item, identifying a part number for the base item, breaking the part number into sections, each section corresponding to an attribute of the base item, and determining which of the part number sections relate to configurable attributes of the base item. The embodiment further includes listing a plurality of selectable part number section values for the configurable attributes, listing descriptive information for each of the selectable part number section values, linking the descriptive information to the corresponding selectable part number section value, generating a part number formula to define the configurable sections and associate configurable sections to the corresponding list of values, and generating a description formula to define a configurable description and associate descriptive information with corresponding configurable selectable part number values.

Abstract: A security handbag system comprising a purse with a detachable portion removably coupled to the side of the purse and attached to the waist of a user. The detachable portion has pockets to hold the users valuables including cash, credit cards, defensive chemical spray and cellular phone. Upon extraordinary pulling away of the purse, the detachable portion remains attached to the user and uncouples from the purse.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for the deposition of a source material (10) are disclosed. An atomizer (12) renders a supply of source material (10) into many discrete particles. A force applicator (14) propels the particles in continuous, parallel streams of discrete particles. A collimator (16) controls the direction of flight of the particles in the stream prior to their deposition on a substrate (18). In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the viscosity of the particles may be controlled to enable complex depositions of non-conformal or three-dimensional surfaces. The invention also includes a wide variety of substrate treatments which may occur before, during or after deposition. In yet another embodiment of the invention, a virtual or cascade impactor may be employed to remove selected particles from the deposition stream.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are described to perform cascading search methodologies records in a database. In one embodiment, the method comprises receiving a free-form search string, comprising one or more search terms, from a user, searching a database to identify records in the database containing the search string, if no data records are identified, searching the database by applying an ordered sequence of search algorithms to identify data records containing strings similar to the search string, and to display the identified records.

Abstract: The present invention allows an item to automatically be classified using its attributes based on a classification schema and a knowledge base. The invention can include selecting a first attribute of the item, designating a first search strategy comprising the value of the first attribute applied to operate upon data records in a first database, selecting a second attribute of the item; designating a second search strategy comprising the value of the second attribute applied to operate upon a second subset of data records in a second database, forming a search hierarchy comprised of the first search strategy followed by the second search strategy, executing the search hierarchy, and selecting at least one classification for the item based on the search.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for converting a searchable electronic catalog of the type used in e-commerce and industrial materiel systems. Such catalogs are typically configured as databases but can be created from a variety of different source materials. The method includes identifying a set of items to be converted, identifying the characteristics for each item, accessing the characteristic values for each identified item, accessing mapping rules for each characteristic and each item, mapping the characteristic values for each item in the first catalog into the characteristic identified by the rule for the item in the second catalog, and compiling the mapped characteristic values for each item to form the second catalog.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for scoring a searchable electronic catalog such as are in use in e-commerce and industrial materiel systems. Such catalogs are typically configured as databases which the present invention analyzes for a quality, for example, completeness, consistency or comprehensibility. The method includes selecting fields of the database that are to be analyzed, ranking the fields in order of pertinence to the quality that is to be measured, fetching values for each record of the database from the fields that are to be analyzed and comparing the fetched values to a standard. After the comparison, a score is assigning for each field based on the comparison. The scores are weighted for each field based on the rank of each field and the weighted scores are combined to obtain a score for the database. A variety of different qualities can be evaluated and the resulting scores can be used to compare databases or to localize deficiencies in databases for improvement.

Abstract: An improvement for composing and cataloging item configuration data is disclosed. One embodiment of the invention includes identifying a base item, identifying a part number for the base item, breaking the part number into sections, each section corresponding to an attribute of the base item, and determining which of the part number sections relate to configurable attributes of the base item. The embodiment further includes listing a plurality of selectable part number section values for the configurable attributes, listing descriptive information for each of the selectable part number section values, linking the descriptive information to the corresponding selectable part number section value, generating a part number formula to define the configurable sections and associate configurable sections to the corresponding list of values, and generating a description formula to define a configurable description and associate descriptive information with corresponding configurable selectable part number values.

Abstract: The present invention can allow an electronic catalog or other set of items to be searched and compared interactively. In one embodiment, the invention includes displaying a list of items in an electronic catalog, each item corresponding to a row of the display, each row having values corresponding to attributes of the corresponding items arranged into attribute columns, grouping some of the displayed items based on a selected attribute upon receiving a grouping command so that the grouped items are displayed in a single row, and expanding the grouped items upon receiving an expand command so that the grouped items are each displayed in a separate row. The embodiment further includes removing a row corresponding to an item or to grouped items from the display upon receiving a row remove command and removing a column corresponding to an attribute of the items from the display upon receiving a column remove command.

Abstract: An electronic catalog search engine is configurable to optimize the search process by identifying the desired item from the most advantageous supplier, while efficiently utilizing computing resources. The search engine comprises a configurable search and data subset creation mechanism. The system accepts search terms from a user, and then executes a sequence of search strategies on subsets of the database which may include a proximity search, a word count search, and a fuzzy logic search. Subsets can be searched in any order and different search strategies can be applied to different subsets. The sequences are terminated when search steps have uncovered at least one match. Each database entry has a corresponding product category. A list of categories from each of the matching products is dynamically compiled and displayed to the user. The user can page through the list of displayed matches, or alternatively can create a subset of the list by selecting only the items within one of the categories.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for converting a searchable electronic catalog of the type used in e-commerce and industrial materiel systems. Such catalogs are typically configured as databases but can be created from a variety of different source materials. The method includes identifying a set of items to be converted, identifying the characteristics for each item, accessing the characteristic values for each identified item, accessing mapping rules for each characteristic and each item, mapping the characteristic values for each item in the first catalog into the characteristic identified by the rule for the item in the second catalog, and compiling the mapped characteristic values for each item to form the second catalog.

Abstract: An electronic catalog requisition system includes software for efficiently selecting items from a database. The software accepts search terms from a user, and then executes a sequence of search strategies on the database which may include a proximity search, a word count search, and a fuzzy logic search. The sequence is terminated when a search algorithm has uncovered at least one match. Each database entry has a corresponding product category. A list of categories from each of the matching products is dynamically compiled and displayed to the user. The user can page through the list of displayed matches, or alternatively can create a subset of the list by selecting only the items within one of the categories. In addition, the user can further refine the list of items by selecting those items having a particular attribute. The software can also maintain a list of synonyms for attributes as an aid for finding appropriate matches within the database.