Abstract: Reactive fire suppression transport agents may be used to release catalytic fire suppression agents, in reaction zones, which may then be transported by naturally occurring flows paths downstream to the vicinity of flame holding regions for fire suppression for example, in aircraft. The reactive fire suppression agents may be delivered in projectiles.

Abstract: Non-reactive test agents may be used to test fire suppression systems in which reactive fire suppression agents may be used to release catalytic fire suppression agents for transport by naturally occurring flows paths downstream to the vicinity of flame holding regions for fire suppression for example, in aircraft.

Abstract: A method of fire suppression may include injecting a reactive agent into a reaction zone to produce a catalytically active species for fire suppression and conveying the catalytically active species to a fire to catalytically interfere with flame chemistry of the fire. Fire in a fuel tank may be suppressed by injecting the reactive agent into a convective flow of a mixture of fuel and oxidizer in a fuel tank, the reactive agent reacting in the fuel tank to release a species which catalytically interferes with flame chemistry to suppress fire in the fuel tank. Fire at an airplane crash may be suppressed by releasing the reactive agent from the container at the crash site to produce an active species to catalytically interfere with a fire at the crash site.

Abstract: A joint support device is disclosed that protects a joint from hyperextension. The device allows substantially unrestricted joint movement within a first range of joint movements, which is within a normal range of joint movement. However, when there is joint flexure beyond the first range, the device resists such flexure. In particular, the device can progressively increase its resistance with increased joint flexure in a second range of joint movement until a predetermined upper limit on the flexure is reached wherein substantially no further joint flexure is possible. Such an upper limit may be near but not at a flexure of the joint that could cause hyperextension. The device includes rigid elements that attach on opposite sides of the joint, and includes extensible assemblies extending between the rigid elements for providing the functionality recited above.

Abstract: A delocalized apparatus for monitoring a biological property in an individual or group of individuals is provided, and includes one or more user terminals having an input port and a user interface, a transducer associated with each user terminal and coupled to the user terminal input port, a controller, and a bidirectional link from the transducer to the controller. A single controller can be used to process data received from multiple transducers, allowing a biological property in a group of individuals to be monitored.

Abstract: Coated optical substrates and a method of coating optical substrates with anti-reflective (AR) coatings are described. The composition of the coating is determined by material constraints such as adhesion, durability, ease of manufacture, and cost. The thickness of one or more layers of AR material is determined by minimizing the product of the Fresnel reflection coefficients for the coated article with the angle- and wavelength-dependent sensitivity of the human visual system. Preferred designs have a value of perceived reflectance, F, less than or equal to 1.25 Fmin where Fmin is the minimized perceived reflectance for the coated article. Coatings which have minimal perceived reflection while maintaining reflections with desired visually perceived colors are also described.

Abstract: A solar blind optical filter which absorbs solar UV radiation and transmits non-solar UV radiation includes a carrier material and a salt of a dithioic acid of the formula RCS.sub.2.sup.- X.sup.+ wherein R is an a organic substituent that does not absorb ultraviolet light at wavelengths between 260 nanometers and 300 nanometers and X is a counterion. The solar blind optical filters of the present invention are useful for observing non-solar ultraviolet radiation in the presence of solar radiation.

Abstract: A method of coating optical substrates with anti-reflection (AR) coatings is described. The thickness and composition of the coating is determined by minimizing the product of the Fresnel reflection coefficients for a coating with the angular- and wavelength-dependent sensitivity of the human visual system to minimize the perceived reflectance for the coated article. A compact chamber is evacuated and flushed with chemically inert gas such as argon or nitrogen. One or more molecular precursors are deposited using plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) to form AR films. Single-layer AR coatings based on fluoropolymer films of controlled thickness, as well as organic, organosilicon, and/or inorganic multilayers are described. Also provided is a method for monitoring film growth optically, using a polarized, light-emitting diode, a polarizing optical filter, and a photodiode.

Abstract: Anti-reflection (AR) coatings and coated articles are described. The thickness and composition of the coatings are determined by minimizing the product of the Fresnel reflection coefficients for a coating with the angular- and wavelength-dependent sensitivity of the human visual system to minimize the perceived reflectance for the coated article. A compact chamber is evacuated and flushed with chemically inert gas such as argon or nitrogen. One or more molecular precursors are deposited using plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) to form AR films. Single-layer AR coatings based on fluoropolymer films of controlled thickness, as well as organic, organosilicon, and/or inorganic multilayers are described.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a gradient index optical filter comprising a thin film having a low refractive index contrast and a specific reflectance function structured using the phase of the refractive index profile as a variable to permit closed form, constrained optimization of rugate filters.

Abstract: A method for coating a substrate with a relatively thin, uniform film of a fluid with a minimum of waste. A volume of fluid is produced and the size and velocity of the volume of fluid are selected such that the volumes of fluid break up upon impact with the substrate without splashing or rippling. The apparatus and method are ideal for coating semiconductor wafers with a photoresist solution. The kinetic energy of the volume of fluid is adjusted to overcome the free energy associated with surface tension on impact. The collision of the fluid thus results in a uniform, thin coating of photoresist or other coating solution which may then be further processed by conventional techniques.

Abstract: A class of fire suppressant compounds which have labile bromine atoms bound to atoms other than carbon have been discovered to be more effective at suppressing fires than Halon 1211 and Halon 1301. Moreover, this class of fire suppressant compounds hydrolyze or oxidize rapidly in the troposphere and as a consequence thereof, they have minimal ozone depletion potential.

Abstract: An apparatus for coating a substrate with a relatively thin, uniform film of a liquid on a substrate with a minimum of waste. The apparatus includes a droplet generator capable of generating droplets of the liquid at a predetermined rate and of a predetermined size, a pulsed gas jet and a computer control which sequentially triggers the droplet generator and gas jet such that droplets are generated, then contacted by the gas jet, which accelerates the droplets and propels the droplets to impact and coat the substrate. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the droplet size and velocity are selected such that the droplets break up upon impact with the substrate without splashing or rippling. The apparatus and method are ideal for coating semiconductor wafers with a photoresist solution.

Abstract: A class of fire suppressant compounds which have labile bromine atoms bound to atoms other than carbon have been discovered to be more effective at suppressing fires than Halon 1211 and Halon 1301. Moreover, this class of fire suppressant compounds hydrolyze or oxidize rapidly in the troposphere and as a consequence thereof, they have minimal ozone depletion potential.

Abstract: A class of fire suppressant compounds which have labile bromine atoms bound to atoms other than carbon have been discovered to be more effective at suppressing fires than Halon 1211 and Halon 1301. Moreover, this class of fire suppressant compounds hydrolyze or oxidize rapidly in the troposphere and as a consequence thereof, they have minimal ozone depletion potential.

Abstract: A class of fire suppressant compounds which have labile bromine atoms bound to atoms other than carbon have been discovered to be more effective at suppressing fires than Halon 1211 and Halon 1301. Moreover, this class of fire suppressant compounds hydrolyze or oxidize rapidly in the troposphere and as a consequence thereof, they have minimal ozone depletion potential.