Abstract: An optical displacement sensor is used to measure the rotary displacement between two shafts which rotate together. By connecting the shafts together by means of a torsion bar, the sensor may be used to measure transmitted torque. The sensor comprises first and second coaxial discs mounted on the shafts and having slots formed therein. A light source directs light through the slots onto an array of photodetectors and a data processor determines the displacement or torque from the positions on the array of images of the slot edges.

Abstract: A memory cell including a substrate, at least one deep trench capacitor in the substrate, at least one FET in the substrate disposed over at least a portion of the at least one deep trench capacitor, and at least one isolation region in the substrate surrounding the at least one FET and having a greater depth than the at least one FET. The at least one FET includes a gate disposed over at least a portion of the at least one deep trench capacitor and doped regions arranged on adjacent sides of the gate and separated from the gate by an insulating layer.

Abstract: A pop-up thermometer having an elongate housing formed with a longitudinally extending bore, first and second internal neck regions, a first internal cavity and a second internal cavity. An indicator rod slidably disposed in the cavity includes a front end portion, a first stem stretch extending from the front end portion and terminating in a raised portion, a second stem stretch extending from the raised portion and a rear end portion spaced from the front end portion. The front end portion and the first stem stretch are positioned in the first internal cavity while the second stem stretch is positioned in the second internal cavity. The first stem stretch has a lesser cross sectional diameter than the front end portion of the rod. A fusible material substantially fills the first internal cavity, engaging the front end portion and at least a portion of the first stem stretch to retain the indicator rod in the housing.

Abstract: Compounds of formula (I), where R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 have defined meanings ##STR1## are useful as surfactants especially in agrochemical formulations, pigment dispersions and domestic detergent formulations. Compounds where one of R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 is hydrogen and the other is C.sub.8 to C.sub.18 straight chain alkenyl group, the group --NR.sup.3 R.sup.4 is the residue of a glycamine, especially a glucamine, and R.sup.5 is --NR.sup.3 R.sup.4 as defined (especially a glycamine residue) or a group O.(AO).sub.n.R.sup.6 where AO is an alkylene oxide, especially an ethylene oxide, residue, n is especially from 3 to 50 and R.sup.6 is a C.sub.1 to C.sub.6 alkyl group, are particularly desirable.

Abstract: A handle construction for operation of a faucet which minimizes assembly parts while enhancing performance of the handle. The handle assembly includes a base which is secured to the operating valve of the faucet for operational control of fluid flow through the faucet. An upper end of the base has a horizontally disposed tubular seat adapted to receive a lever body and an axial spindle extending through the body. The spindle is threadably received within the seat to retain the lever body within the seat. The lever body is interchangeable to alter the aesthetic appearance of the faucet handle.

Abstract: An electrodeless fluorescent reflector lamp has a discharge vessel containing a fill, a solenoid in a reentrant and indium on the inner wall of the vessel acting as a primary amalgam. A secondary amalgam of indium may be provided on the reentrant.The primary amalgam is preferably under an insulative skirt. The vessel has a light reflective coating on the inner wall under the skirt.The exhaust tube is tipped off at the proximal end of the reentrant or is omitted, the vessel being tipped off at the distal end of the reentrant.

Abstract: An air conditioner compressor clutch control that senses operator demands for acceleration from low vehicle speeds and several other variables, to release the engagement of the clutch for a period of time that is dependent on vehicle speed, throttle position or a maximum time period.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed that enhance the contrast between alignment targets and adjacent materials on a semiconductor wafer. According to a first embodiment, the TiN layer that is deposited during an earlier processing step is stripped away to enhance the reflectivity of the metal layer. According to a second embodiment, a reflective coating is added over the metal layer to enhance the reflectivity of the metal layer. According to a third embodiment, a reflective coating is added over the entire wafer to enhance the reflectivity of the metal layer. According to a fourth embodiment, an anti-reflective coating in a sandwich structure is added to reduce the reflectivity of the material adjacent the alignment targets. According to a fifth embodiment, an organic anti-reflective coating is added to reduce the reflectivity of the material adjacent the alignment targets.

Abstract: A mirror assembly comprising a glass substrate, a low transmissivity reflecting coating on the substrate and an opacifying member which is assembled adjacent to the glass substrate for a front surface mirror or the reflecting coating for a back surface mirror. The present invention also provides a method of producing a mirror assembly comprising depositing onto a hot ribbon of glass during the production process a low transmissivity reflecting coating and assembling an opacifying member adjacent to the glass substrate or the reflecting coating of the mirror so formed.

Abstract: A segmented ring transducer comprising a plurality of arcuate ring sections (21) coupled together, each section (21) comprising a plurality of rectangular piezoelectric ceramic blocks (22) arranged into a stack (27, 28) with one or more tapered wedges (23) spaced in the stack, the piezoelectric stack (27, 28) being assembled between opposed end couplings (24, 25), pre-stress bolts (26) connecting together the opposed end couplings (24, 25) in each ring section (21) to hold together each ring section assembly (21). The arcuate ring sections (21) can be identical. Adjacent ring sections (21) can be connected together by further bolts. Alternatively, the ring transducer can be formed as a split ring with an arcuate portion (20) of the ring missing, the arcuate portion being formed by omitting either one or more arcuate ring sections (21) or an arcuate portion (20) of the ring which is not equivalent to an integral number of arcuate ring sections (21).

Abstract: A gas turbine rotor steam gland includes a steam inlet supply scroll for supplying steam through radial slots to an axially extending passage in the rotor for steam cooling of hot gas path component parts. The scroll decreases in diameter in the circumferential direction of cooling medium flow to match its velocity with the surface speed of the rotor. An aft labyrinth seal is provided about the rotor. Forwardly of the scroll, a plurality of labyrinth-type seals are interspersed with extraction ports. The extraction ports, except for the final forwardmost extraction port, are maintained at a pressure below the pressure of the inlet supply steam whereby steam leakage past the seals flows into the extraction ports for removal. The final forward extraction port is maintained at sub-ambient pressure such that final steam leakage past the forward seals and ambient air leakage past the forwardmost seal combine and are extracted from the steam gland.

Abstract: A portable RF docking station is detachably coupled to a palm-sized computer to provide extended wireless communication through a radio modem and wireline communication through a wireline modem. Both modems are contained inside the docking station and are powered by rechargeable batteries. The docking station includes a housing having a flat platform, a side section that extends vertically upward along a side edge of the platform and a rear section that extends vertically upward along a rear edge of the platform. The housing in combination with a data connector holds the computer and docking station together as one cohesive unit. A four-stage charging circuit maintains the rechargeable battery in a fully charged condition.

Abstract: A portable radio includes a main housing having a first electrical circuit and a flip portion having a second electrical circuit. The flip portion is rotatively mounted with a hinge to the main housing for positioning the flip portion between a close position and an open position. The hinge includes a slot connected to the main housing and a rod connected to the flip portion. The slot includes a rod securing position where the rod is secured within the slot and a rod non-securing position where the rod is attachable and detachable from the slot to allow the flip portion to be detached from and reattached to the main housing. The radio further includes an electrical coupler mechanism that couples the first electrical circuit in the main housing with the second electrical circuit in the flip portion. The electrical coupler mechanism includes contacts that are freely separated from one another such that the electrical coupling mechanism is not damaged during the detachment and reattachment of the flip portion.

Abstract: The pyrotechnic ignition device of this invention comprises a hollow tubular coiled charge of pyrotechnic sheet material defining an ignition initiation position, the internal diameter of the charge decreasing and the wall thickness increasing over at least a portion of the charge extending from the initiation position in the direction of burning. This configuration enhances the reliability of ignition and the rate of flame development.Preferably the adjacent plies of the coiled charge are spaced apart. The preferred coiled charge also has a portion downstream from the initiation position in the direction of burning which decreases in external diameter and wall thickness in a direction extending away from the initiation position, the configuration of this portion being effective to enhance the speed and violence of burning of a main gas-generating propellant charge ignited by the coiled charge.

Abstract: The capability of base power units which have phase switching capabilities which can be controlled upon sensing the power condition and status of other base power units is taken advantage of to provide a modular scalable power assembly. The base power units, which are preferably identical, are inserted into a plurality of slots so as to be pluggable into a circuit backplane which automatically provides the requisite interconnections between the base power units. The power assembly of the present invention is particularly useful in supplying power to scalable parallel processing computer systems.

Abstract: A linear phase detector used with half-speed quadrature clock architecture is provided. The linear phase detector includes a first circuit receiving a data signal, a first half-speed quadrature clock signal and a second half-speed quadrature clock signal. The first circuit generates an adjusted data signal and a polarity representing signal of the first half-speed quadrature clock signal. A high speed phase detector is coupled to the first circuit for generating a linear phase correction signal.

Abstract: This invention relates to coil assemblies and in particular, but not exclusively, to such assemblies for acoustic transducers. Thus a transducer 10 includes a case 11 in which is located a coil 16 mounted on a flexi-circuit, which locates the coil 16 for its assembly handling and which allows various configurations within the case 11. A method of winding the coil 16 and mounting it on the carrier 17 is also described.

Abstract: A transfer metal configuration and fabrication process possessing increased probability of intersecting a transverse metallization level are presented, without employing an increase in actual metal thickness. The transfer metal is configured with a non-rectangular transverse cross-section such that the thickness of the electrical connect remains the same, but the transverse contact area of the exposed metal is increased. The entire transfer metal may have the same transverse cross-sectional configuration or have portions with different transverse configurations. If different configurations are employed, each portion of the transfer metal to be transversely intersected has the enhanced cross-sectional configuration. A tiered transverse configuration is presented which facilitates electrical connection of the transfer metal to a metal level on a face of a semiconductor cube structure.

Abstract: A shroud and cartridge based shut-off for sprayers combine to provide for intermittent and continuous spraying. The shroud affords many different aesthetic possibilities including different colors and colors related to the color of the sprayer tank. The shroud includes an actuator lever for digitally actuating the shut-off valve intermittently. A thumb actuated latch locks the actuator lever in a depressed position for continuous spraying.