Abstract: An automated system for facilitating creation of a compatible rack-mountable component personal computer.

Abstract: This invention provides a very low cost effective method to alter the association of precious metal catalysts with specific support oxides in mixed oxide systems. The invention includes two discoveries: 1) that the isoelectric points for the three normally-used gasoline catalyst components are significantly different and the surface charges present have significant magnitude to promote attraction and repulsion of ions or charged radicals; and 2) ammine-chloride or ammine-nitrate salts both dissociate into positively charged precious metal radicals and are stable over a very wide pH range. The pH of the impregnation solution is controlled such that the surface charge of the oxide is opposite to the charge on the precious metal radical if the metal is to be supported on that oxide, and to control the pH such that all charges on the oxide to be avoided are the same as the precious metal radical.

Abstract: A product information display system has electronic display tags for displaying pricing and product information for products in stores or warehouses. The electronic display tags are electromagnetically coupled to a conductor. A control circuit is used to generate an information signal which contains a tag address and related data. A modulator circuit modulates an a-c. power signal with the information signal and applies it to the conductor for transmission to the display tags. Each of the display tags is equipped with a coil that is electromagnetically coupled to the conductor for picking up the signals carried by the conductor. A demodulator is used to demodulate the signal picked up by the coil to obtain the original information signal. Each of the display tags is provided with a manually operated switch for initializing the tags with initial addresses transmitted by the conductor.

Abstract: A ceramic catalytic converter is made by first creating an electrode by cutting space apart holes through an electrode block, threading an electrode wire through each hole in the block and performing wire cutting electrical discharge machining to form a cutting surface with a plurality of cell walls converging at rounded corners. The electrode is used to cut an extrusion die, a feedhole is provided in the die (preferably connected to a corner of the cell), and ceramic material is extruded through the extrusion die to form an extruded substrate having a plurality of open cells defined by adjacent walls converging in a rounded corner to form the ceramic catalytic converter. The rounded corner cell walls allows a more uniform deposit of washcoat and precious metals and reduces the amount of precious metals necessary in the ceramic catalytic converter.

Abstract: A cost zone about an origin on an digital map includes the area on the map that can be traveled to, from the origin, which has a cost of travel less than a predetermined cost. The cost can be measured in distance, time of travel, ease of turning, tolls; etc. The steps of creating a cost zone include identifying a set of decision points on the map that are within a predetermined factor of the desired cost, triangulating the decision points to create a set of triangles and interpolating along a subset of the sides of the triangles to estimate the locations along the sides that can be traveled to at the desired cost.

Abstract: The invention includes a ceramic catalytic converter substrate having cell walls with rounded corners. The cell walls have a honeycomb or hexagonal shape with rounded corners. The cell walls may be manufactured with very thin walls from 0.003-0.005 inches. There is provided increased structural strength of the substrate due to rounded corners of cell walls into honeycomb or hexagonal shaped walls. The rounded corners of the cell walls also substantially increases the strength of the substrate. The honeycomb shape of the substrate uniformly dissipates any force applied to the substrate. The rounded corner cell walls allows a more uniform deposit of washcoat and precious metals and reduces the amount of precious metals necessary which coat the substrate along with reducing additional backpressure of the exhaust system caused by the washcoat which normally forms fillets in corners of squared-celled substrates.

Abstract: A multi-bit electronic article surveillance marker includes an antenna circuit and is powered by an interrogation field generated by EAS detection equipment and received by the marker's antenna circuit. The marker generates a multi-bit signal by selectively disturbing the interrogation field. The disturbances may be created by selectively short circuiting the marker's antenna circuit. All of the marker circuitry, including a coil that is part of the antenna circuit, may be provided as circuit elements formed on a semiconductor integrated circuit substrate.

Abstract: A product information display system has electronic display tags for displaying pricing and product information for products in stores or warehouses. The electronic display tags are electromagnetically coupled to a conductor. A control circuit is used to generate an information signal which contains a tag address and related data. A modulator circuit modulates an a-c. power signal with the information signal and applies it to the conductor for transmission to the display tags. Each of the display tags is equipped with a coil that is electromagnetically coupled to the conductor for picking up the signals carried by the conductor. A demodulator is used to demodulate the signal picked up by the coil to obtain the original information signal. Each of the display tags is provided with a manually operated switch for initializing the tags with initial addresses transmitted by the conductor.

Abstract: A method of assembling an electromagnetic interference filter comprises the step of disposing electrical components on a base. The components are connected to form an electromagnetic interference filter. The filter is enclosed in a metal case, which is formed by folding a metal sheet around said filter and joining the ends of the sheet together. The metal sheet has an insulating coating disposed on one side to prevent contact between the filter components and the case. The outer surface of the case is sealed with seal tape.

Abstract: A method of fabricating an electrical capacitor from a wound laminate of conductive and non-conductive materials comprises the steps of enclosing the wound laminate in a sealed chamber; drawing a vacuum on the chamber to evacuate any voids in the wound laminate, and then filling the chamber with a pressurized impregnating gas to fill the evacuated voids in the wound laminate; heating the laminate to a curing temperature; applying schoopage metal to opposite ends of the cured laminate; attaching a pair of electrical leads to the schoopage metal on opposite ends of the cured laminate, and encapsulating the cured laminate in a molded polymer.

Abstract: An integrated electromagnetic interference filter includes an inductor assembly for attenuating both common mode and differential mode electromagnetic interference conducted emissions from electronic equipment. The inductor assembly includes an outer core of permeable material defining an outer window, and an inner core of permeable material disposed in the outer window and defining an inner window. A first power lead for connecting the equipment to a source of electrical power includes a portion wound in one direction about only the outer core. The inductor assembly includes a second power lead for connecting the equipment to the source of electrical power with a portion of the second lead wound about both the inner and outer cores in the opposite direction to the winding of the portion of the first power lead. The outer core provides a magnetic path for the attenuation of common mode emissions and the inner core provides a magnetic path for the attenuation of differential mode noise.

Abstract: A multiple capacitive function wound capacitor. The capacitor includes a winding having a pair of ends and includes first, second and third insulative layers with each of the layers extending substantially from one end of the winding to the other end of the winding. The capacitor also includes a first electrode disposed between the first and second insulative layers and a second electrode located between the second and third layers. A third electrode is positioned on the side of the third layer away from the second electrode. One of the electrodes extends to one end of the winding and short of the other end while another of the electrodes terminates short of the one end but extends to the other end. The remaining electrode terminates short of both ends of the winding. A conductive tab electrically connects this last-mentioned electrode with a tab extending beyond a winding end and being insulated at the location where it passes that winding end.

Abstract: Optical apparatus for monitoring the relative positioning of first and second members which are movable relative to each other includes radiation means for generating an optical wavefield which provides, over a given area which has a predetermined location relative to the first member at least when the first member is in a given position relative to the second member, a distinctive light intensity distribution. The distinctive light intensity distribution results from at least two wavefronts that differ from each other in curvature in each of two mutually orthogonal planes. The radiation means preferably includes a source of radiation, a diffracting element and a focussing element. The diffracting element coacts with the source of radiation to provide said at least two wavefronts and the focussing element produces an image of the diffracting element at said predetermined location at least when the first member is in said given position relative to the second member.

Abstract: An ultraviolet light emitting diode array of aluminum nitride grown on a sapphire substrate is fabricated by sputtering a preliminary layer of aluminum nitride onto a sapphire substrate, then placing said coated substrate in contact with a source of aluminum nitride and heating said composite in a particular atmosphere, resulting in the deposition of layers of aluminum nitride onto said coated substrate.

Abstract: In an illustrative embodiment of the invention, a nuclear reactor pressure vessel, having an internal hoop from which the heated coolant emerges from the reactor core and passes through to the reactor outlet nozzles, is provided with sealing members operatively disposed between the outlet nozzle and the hoop. The sealing members are biased against the pressure vessel and the hoop and are connected by a leak restraining member establishing a leak-proof condition between the inlet and outlet coolants in the region about the outlet nozzle. Furthermore, the flexible responsiveness of the seal assures that the seal will not structurally couple the hoop to the pressure vessel.

Abstract: A catalytic converter includes a shell defining first and second shell portions. A first substrate supports a reducing catalyst in the first shell portion. A second substrate supports an oxidizing catalyst in the second shell portion. The shell further includes inlet and outlet passageways. The inlet passageway is disposed in the shell adjacent the first shell portion and allows combustion products to enter the shell. The outlet passageway is disposed adjacent the second shell portion and allows combustion products to exit from the shell. A third passageway located longitudinally between the first and second shell portion allows combustion product to flow readily from the first shell portion into the second shell portion. A manifold introduces air into the combustion product flowing through the third passageway and an air fitting provides access to the manifold through an exterior wall of the shell.

Abstract: A honing template comprising longitudinally extending fingers adapted to surround a hone and the ends of which carry template segments having inner abutment surfaces that are spaced to abut non abrasive surfaces that are in line with the stones when the stones are expanded to the finished diameter of the cylinder being honed. The inner abutment surfaces of the segments have a radius at least as great as the maximum radius of the cylindrical surface to be honed. The fingers have a tapered surface that is abutted by an annular ring which is wedged over said tapered surfaces to adjust the radial position of the template segments.

Abstract: 3,3-Bis (chloromethyl) oxetane is prepared by a method which comprises reacting N,N-dimethyl formamide with thionyl chloride to produce Vilsmeier reagent, followed by the reaction of the Vilsmeier reagent with pentaerythritol to produce pentaerythritol monochlorohydrin. The pentaerythritol monochlorohydrin is then reacted with thionyl chloride to produce pentaerythritol trichlorohydrin, followed by the reaction of pentaerythritol trichlorohydrin with an alkali metal hydroxide or an alkaline earth metal hydroxide to 3,3-bis (chloromethyl) oxetane.

Abstract: N-chloro nitrogen-containing carboxylic acids have been found to be useful as microbiocides in topical treatment of the skin and mucous membranes.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for forming holes and depressions in aluminum oxide, including its sapphire form and spinels by etching using AlN as a maskant. This method is featured by the epitaxial deposition of an AlN film on a sapphire body, for instance. The AlN film is etched in a predetermined pattern and heat treated. The etchants used may be either H.sub.2 or molten Al which will selectively attack the sapphire substrate in the regions exposed by the AlN mask.