Abstract: Microlens arrays include a substrate, an array of microlenses on a first side of the substrate and an aperture mask on a second side of the substrate. The aperture mask includes an array of apertures at optical axes of the lenses. A second array of apertures may be included in the aperture mask at randomized positions therein. The randomized apertures may be provided in the aperture mask by providing a diffusive layer between the aperture mask and the substrate, and directing coherent radiation through the lens array, the diffusive layer and aperture mask.

Abstract: A pulsed laser beam is used to create apertures in a layer on a back side of a substrate that includes a microlens array on a front side thereof. The pulsed laser beam is focused in a vacuum spatial filter. A profile of the pulsed laser beam that emerges from the vacuum spatial filter is converted to a top hat profile. The laser beam having the top hat profile is diffused. Finally, the pulsed laser beam having the top half profile that has been diffused is impinged through the microlens array on the front side of the substrate and onto the layer on the back side of the substrate. Related apparatus for creating the apertures and microlens array products are also described.

Abstract: Methods for creating apertures in a layer on a back side of a substrate that includes a microlens array on a front side thereof include curving the substrate into a cylindrical surface segment that defines an axis, so that the microlens array on the front side of the substrate faces the axis. A pulsed laser beam is scanned from the axis circumferentially along the cylindrical surface segment, to pass through the microlens array on the front side of the substrate and into the layer on the back side of the substrate to create the apertures, while simultaneously translating the substrate and/or the scanned pulsed laser beam axially relative to one another. Related apparatus and microlens array products are also disclosed.

Abstract: A pulsed laser beam is used to create apertures in a layer on a back side of a substrate that includes a microlens array on a front side thereof. The pulsed laser beam is focused in a vacuum spatial filter. A profile of the pulsed laser beam that emerges from the vacuum spatial filter is converted to a top hat profile. The laser beam having the top hat profile is diffused. Finally, the pulsed laser beam having the top half profile that has been diffused is impinged through the microlens array on the front side of the substrate and onto the layer on the back side of the substrate. Related apparatus for creating the apertures and microlens array products are also described.

Abstract: Methods for creating apertures in a layer on a back side of a substrate that includes a microlens array on a front side thereof include curving the substrate into a cylindrical surface segment that defines an axis, so that the microlens array on the front side of the substrate faces the axis. A pulsed laser beam is scanned from the axis circumferentially along the cylindrical surface segment, to pass through the microlens array on the front side of the substrate and into the layer on the back side of the substrate to create the apertures, while simultaneously translating the substrate and/or the scanned pulsed laser beam axially relative to one another. Related apparatus and microlens array products are also disclosed.

Abstract: A pulsed laser beam is used to create apertures in a layer on a back side of a substrate that includes a microlens array on a front side thereof. The pulsed laser beam is focused in a vacuum spatial filter. A profile of the pulsed laser beam that emerges from the vacuum spatial filter is converted to a top hat profile. The laser beam having the top hat profile is diffused. Finally, the pulsed laser beam having the top half profile that has been diffused is impinged through the microlens array on the front side of the substrate and onto the layer on the back side of the substrate. Related apparatus for creating the apertures and microlens array products are also described.

Abstract: Methods for creating apertures in a layer on a back side of a substrate that includes a microlens array on a front side thereof include curving the substrate into a cylindrical surface segment that defines an axis, so that the microlens array on the front side of the substrate faces the axis. A pulsed laser beam is scanned from the axis circumferentially along the cylindrical surface segment, to pass through the microlens array on the front side of the substrate and into the layer on the back side of the substrate to create the apertures, while simultaneously translating the substrate and/or the scanned pulsed laser beam axially relative to one another. Related apparatus and microlens array products are also disclosed.

Abstract: Databases are integrated by obtaining an entity-relationship model for each of the databases, and identifying related entities in the entity-relationship models of at least two of the databases. At least two of the related entities that are identified are linked, to thereby create an entity-relationship model that integrates the plurality of databases. The entity-relationship model that integrates the databases provides an ontology network that integrates the diverse ontologies that are represented by the independent databases. By navigating the entity-relationship model in response to queries, discovery may be obtained that may not be obtainable from any one of the independent databases.

Abstract: Aliases are used to integrate biological/chemical databases, each of which includes records for a plurality of biological/chemical objects. A set of records is identified in the biological/chemical databases that relates to a single biological/chemical object. An entity is established in a data structure that corresponds to the single biological/chemical object. The entity includes aliases, a respective one of which refers to a respective record in the set of records in the biological/chemical databases. The entities are linked in an entity-relationship model. The entities that are linked in an entity-relationship model are traversed in response to a query, to thereby obtain query results that are based on the records in the biological/chemical databases. Thus, disparate databases can be integrated into a single entity-relationship data structure.

Abstract: Biological/chemical databases are integrated by obtaining an entity-relationship model for each of the biological/chemical databases, and identifying related entities in the entity-relationship models of at least two of the biological/chemical databases. At least two of the related entities that are identified are linked, to thereby create an entity-relationship model that integrates the plurality of biological/chemical databases. The entity-relationship model that integrates the biological/chemical databases provides an ontology network that integrates the diverse ontologies that are represented by the independent biological/chemical databases. By navigating the entity-relationship model in response to queries, discovery may be obtained that may not be obtainable from any one of the independent biological/chemical databases.

Abstract: A magneto optical thin film recording medium is disclosed having very high carrier-to-noise ratios and high rotation angles. A transmission electron microscope photomicrograph (at 200,000 X) of one such medium is shown in FIG. 1. These are multi-phase amorphous materials having magnetic anisotropy perpendicular to the plane of the thin film. They are produced in a triode vacuum sputtering process at vacuums in the range of 4.times.10.sup.-3 to 6.times.10.sup.-4 Torr. By adjusting process parameters such as substrate temperature, anode bias and deposition rate, the properties of the thin film can be altered.

Abstract: A magneto optical thin film recording medium is disclosed having very high carrier-to-noise ratios and high rotation angles. A transmission electron microscope photomicrograph (at 200,000.times.) of one such medium is shown in FIG. 1. These are multi-phase amorphous materials having magnetic anisotropy perpendicular to the plane of the thin film. They are produced in a triode vacuum sputtering process at vacuums in the range of 4.times.10.sup.-3 to 6.times.10.sup.-4 Torr. By adjusting process parameters such as substrate temperature, anode bias and deposition rate, the properties of the thin film can be altered.

Abstract: A triode vacuum sputtering process, and vacuums in the range of 4.times.10.sup.-3 to 6.times.10.sup.-4 Torr are used to obtain amorphous rate earth/transition metal alloy thin films useful as magneto optic media. By adjusting process parameters such as substrate temperature, anode bias and deposition rate, the properties of the thin film can be altered.

Abstract: A magneto optical thin film recording medium is disclosed having very high carrier-to-noise ratios and high rotation angles. A transmission electron microscope photomicrograph (at 200,000.times.) of one such medium is shown in FIG. 1. These are multi-phase amorphous materials having magnetic anisotropy perpendicular to the plane of the thin film. They are produced in a triode vacuum sputtering process at vacuums in the range of 4.times.10.sup.-3 to 6.times.10.sup.-4 Torr. By adjusting process parameters such as substrate temperature, anode bias and deposition rate, the properties of the thin film can be altered.

Abstract: A multi-layer magneto optical thin film recording medium is disclosed having very high carrier-to-noise ratios (at least 47 decibels) and high rotation angles. A transmission electron microscope photomicrograph (at 200,000 X) of one such medium is shown in FIG. 1. The magneto optic layer is a multi-phase amorphous material having magnetic anisotropy perpendicular to the plane of the thin film produced in a triode vacuum sputtering process at vacuums in the range of 4.times.10.sup.-3 to 6.times.10.sup.-4 Torr. Various transparent layers, such as dielectric intermediate and anti-reflective layers and a protective covering layer, are combined with the magneto optic layer and a reflective surface to yield media having enhanced carrier-to-noise ratio and magnetic optic angle of rotation.

Abstract: A precision molded article, such as a die cavity, is made by combining granules of a first metal or alloy and a second metal or alloy, the second metal or alloy having a homogeneous appearance at some temperature below its melting point, and a higher Rockwell Hardness than the first metal or alloy, mixing the granules with a heat fugitive organic binder, molding the granule-binder mixture into a green molded preform, thermally degrading and removing essentially all the binder to form a skeletal preform, and infiltrating the preform with a third metal or alloy which will wet the second metal or alloy and has a lower Rockwell Hardness than the second metal or alloy, thereby forming a molded article having granules of first metal or alloy the majority of which are fully enveloped within a single skeleton of the second metal or alloy, the skeleton of second metal or alloy being surrounded by layers or matrices of softer metals.

Abstract: A precision molded article, such as a die cavity, is made by combining iron powder granules and optional manganese granules with a heat fugutive organic binder, molding the granule-binder mixture into a green molded preform, thermally degrading and removing essentially all the binder to form a skeletal preform, and infiltrating the preform with an infiltrant which has a lower melting point than the iron powder granules and which optionally contains manganese, with the proviso that either the above decribed manganese granules are employed or manganese-containing infiltrant is employed, thereby forming a molded article having a skeleton of ferroalloy granules having a martensitic or perlitic core and an outer layer of austenitic manganese steel, the skeleton being surrounded by infiltrant.

Abstract: A precision molded article, such as a die cavity, is made by combining granules of a refractory and granules of a first metal or alloy which has a homogeneous crystalline appearance at a temperature below its melting point and has a lower Rockwell Hardness than the refractory, mixing the granules with a heat fugitive organic binder, molding the granule-binder mixture into a green molded preform, thermally degrading and removing essentially all the binder to form a skeletal preform, and infiltrating the preform with a second metal or alloy which will wet the first metal or alloy and has a lower Rockwell Hardness than the first metal or alloy, thereby forming a molded article having refractory granules fully enveloped within a single skeleton of the first metal or alloy, the refractory granules and skeleton of first metal being surrounded by layers or matrices of softer metals.