Abstract: The present invention provides alkali metal dispenser compositions, systems for generating free, unbound alkali metal atoms that contain the compositions of the present invention, and processes for using such systems.

Abstract: An optical system including: a substrate having a recess; and, a substantially planar, semiconductor waveguiding membrane suspended over the recess and having a thickness less than about 200 nm; wherein, the optical system supports a propagating optical mode having a majority of its energy external to the semiconductor waveguiding membrane.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a fuel cell including a metal anode as fuel and a biocompatible membrane.

Abstract: A clock including: a portable, at least partially evacuated housing; a cell being positioned within the housing and including an internal cavity having interior dimensions each less than about 1 millimeter, an intra-cavity pressure of at least about 760 Torr, and containing a metal atomic vapor; an electrical to optical energy converter being positioned within the housing to emit light through the metal atomic vapor; an optical energy intensity detector being positioned within the housing to receive the light emitted by the converter through the metal atomic vapor; at least one conductive winding around the cavity to stabilize the magnetic field experienced in the cavity dependently upon the detector; and, an output to provide a signal from the housing dependently upon the detector detecting the light emitted by the converter through the metal atomic vapor.

Abstract: Still further provided is a fuel cell with an anode compartment and a cathode compartment comprising: in the anode compartment, an anode electrode and, integrated into biocompatible membrane tethered to the anode electrode, a redox enzyme that can receive electrons from an electron carrier; in the cathode compartment, a cathode electrode which, when a conductive pathway to the first electrode is formed, is effective to convey the electrons to an electron acceptor composition in the cathode compartment; and a barrier separating the anode compartment from the cathode compartment but effective to convey protons from the anode compartment to the cathode compartment.

Abstract: An optical system including: a substrate having a recess; and, a substantially planar, semiconductor waveguiding membrane suspended over the recess and having a thickness less than about 200 nm; wherein, the optical system supports a propagating optical mode having a majority of its energy external to the semiconductor waveguiding membrane.

Abstract: A cell suitable for use with an atomic clock and a method for making the same, the cell including: a silicon wafer having a recess formed therein; at least one amorphous silicate member having an ion mobility and temperature expansion coefficient approximately that of silicon sealing the recess; and, an alkali metal containing component and buffer gas contained in the recess. The method includes: providing a silicon wafer; forming a cavity through the silicon wafer; introducing an alkali metal containing component and buffer gas into the cavity; and, anodically bonding at least one amorphous silicate member having an ion mobility and temperature expansion coefficient approximately that of silicon to the wafer to close the cavity.

Abstract: A method of providing moisture resistance of inorganic particles such as alkaline earth metal aluminate phosphors comprising firing the phosphor in the presence of ammonium fluoride or ammonium difluoride at a temperature of at least 500° C. The phosphor particles become coated with a moisture-impervious coating that does not degrade the luminescence of the phosphors and can withstand complete immersion in water for long periods of time.

Abstract: The present invention provides a liquid distribution system, which is useful in a number of contexts, including in accomplishing various synthetic, diagnostic and drug screening reactions. The distribution system can comprise an alpha reservoir and a beta reservoir, a first set of parallel and adjacent first and second feeder channels and a second set of parallel and adjacent third and fourth feeder channels which are offset from the first and second feeder channels, wherein (a) the first and third feeder channels are connected to the alpha reservoir via a first connector channel that is situated above or below the second and fourth feeder channels and are independent of the beta reservoir and (b) the second and fourth feeder channels are connected to the beta reservoir via a second connector channel that is situated above or below the first and third feeder channels and are independent of the alpha reservoir. The distribution system is preferably a microscale distribution system.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of bonding a glass substrate and a nonconductive substrate comprising the steps of: (a) contacting a surface of the nonconductive substrate which is coated with a field-assist bonding material with a conforming surface of the glass substrate; and (b) applying sufficient heat to the two substrates and sufficient voltage across the two substrates to bond the two substrates together.

Abstract: A method of producing a luminescent viewing screen using a quadrupole focus mask having apertures substantially larger than the phosphor screen elements is described. The method includes the steps of providing a film of a photosensitive polymeric substance on a faceplate and exposing the film through the focus mask. A first phosphor material is subsequently deposited on the region of the faceplate that was shadowed during the exposure. The process is repeated at different angles of exposure and with different color-emitting phosphor materials until at least two and preferably three different color emitting phosphor materials are deposited to form a cyclic array of screen elements.

Abstract: The novel method comprises (1) producing in one major surface of a metal masking plate an array of substantially-parallel ridges separated by valleys or grooves, (2) removing metal from the other of said major surfaces in generally rectangular-shaped areas opposite the valleys and extending through the plate, (3) covering the tops of the ridges with an electrically-insulating first coating and (4) covering the first coating with an electrically-conducting second coating.

Abstract: The novel method comprises (1) producing in one major surface of a metal masking plate an array of substantially-parallel grooves separated by ridges of plate metal, (2) producing in the other of said major surfaces an array of generally rectangular-shaped depressions opposite the grooves and extending only partially through the plate and less than the distances required to connect to said grooves, (3) filling the grooves with an electrically-insulating material, (4) removing the ridges of metal down to depths to connect with the depressions, thereby producing an array of substantially-rectangular apertures through the plate and electrically-insulating strips across the apertures and (5) covering selected surface portions of the electrically-insulating material with an electrically-conducting material. Before step (3), the surface of the grooves are coated with a resistive or semiconductive material, such as black iron oxide.

Abstract: Focusing color-selection structure comprises a metal plate having an array of apertures therethrough arranged in substantially parallel columns with ridges of plate metal between the columns, the ridges being integral with and upstanding from one major surface of the plate, and at least as high as the plate is thick; an electrically-insulating layer over the tops of each of the ridges; and an electrically-conducting layer over each electrically-insulating layer.

Abstract: An image display comprising a viewing screen including a layer of phosphor particles emissive of light of a particular visual color and color filter particles transmissive of light of that color .Iadd.partially .Iaddend.covering .[.between 20 and 80 percent of.]. the surfaces of the phosphor particles.