Abstract: A graphite heater and method of forming a graphite heater comprising a graphite body configured to form an electrical heating circuit for at least one heating zone through the graphite encapsulated in a continuous overcoat layer comprising at least one of a nitride, carbide, carbonitride or oxynitride of elements selected from a group consisting of B, Al, Si, Ga, refractory hard metals, transition metals, and rare earth metals, or complexes and/or combinations thereof, wherein prior to being configured to form the electrical heating circuit path, the graphite body is coated with a layer comprising at least one of a nitride, carbide, carbonitride or oxynitride of elements selected from a group consisting of B, Al, Si, Ga, refractory hard metals, transition metals, and rare earth metals, or complexes and/or combinations thereof.

Abstract: A graphite heater and method of forming a graphite heater comprising a graphite body configured to form an electrical heating circuit for at least one heating zone through the graphite encapsulated in a continuous overcoat layer comprising at least one of a nitride, carbide, carbonitride or oxynitride of elements selected from a group consisting of B, Al, Si, Ga, refractory hard metals, transition metals, and rare earth metals, or complexes and/or combinations thereof, wherein prior to being configured to form the electrical heating circuit path, the graphite body is coated with a layer comprising at least one of a nitride, carbide, carbonitride or oxynitride of elements selected from a group consisting of B, Al, Si, Ga, refractory hard metals, transition metals, and rare earth metals, or complexes and/or combinations thereof.

Abstract: A wafer processing device or apparatus, i.e., a heater or an electrostatic chuck, comprises a planar support platen, a support shaft having centrally located bore, and a pair of electrical conductors located in the shaft. In one embodiment, the electrical conductors are concentrically located within the bore of the shaft, with the first electrical lead being in the form of a pyrolytic graphite rod and separated from the outer second graphite electrical lead by means of a pyrolytic boron nitride (pBN) coating. In a second embodiment, the support platen and the support shaft are formed from a single unitary body of graphite. In yet another embodiment of the device of the invention, the connection posts comprise a carbon fiber composite and the exposed ends of the electrical connectors are coated with a protective ceramic paste for extended life in operations.

Abstract: A heat treatment apparatus for use in batch heating/wafer processing is provided, which comprises a process chamber for receiving a wafer boat, at least a heating element comprising a substrate body configured to form an electrical heating circuit for at least one heating zone and encapsulated in a continuous overcoat layer, a heat reflector comprising a heat reflective surface disposed on the heating element, and the heating element has a ramp rate of at least 1° C. per second for heating the wafers in the wafer boat.

Abstract: A heat treatment apparatus for use in batch heating/wafer processing is provided, which comprises a process chamber for receiving a wafer boat, at least a heating element comprising a substrate body configured to form an electrical heating circuit for at least one heating zone and encapsulated in a continuous overcoat layer, a heat reflector comprising a heat reflective surface disposed on the heating element, and the heating element has a ramp rate of at least 1° C. per second for heating the wafers in the wafer boat.

Abstract: The invention relates to a feedstock material for use in making heat spreaders, comprising a sheet of annealed pyrolytic graphite having a thermal conductivity of greater than 1000 watts/m-K, a size in any dimension of at least 5 cm and a thickness of at least 0.2 mm. In one embodiment, the feedstock is made by hot-pressing a stack of alternate layers of pyrolytic graphite sheets with flat graphite dies for a finished sheet of annealed pyrolytic graphite comprising a plurality of layers being parallel to each other of at least 0.075 degrees per mm of thickness. In another embodiment, the finished sheet of annealed pyrolytic graphite is made by graphitizing a stack of films comprising a high-carbon polymer.

Abstract: A wafer processing device or apparatus, i.e., a heater or an electrostatic chuck, comprises a planar support platen, a support shaft having centrally located bore, and a pair of electrical conductors located in the shaft. In one embodiment, the electrical conductors are concentrically located within the bore of the shaft, with the first electrical lead being in the form of a pyrolytic graphite rod and separated from the outer second graphite electrical lead by means of a pyrolytic boron nitride (pBN) coating. In a second embodiment, the support platen and the support shaft are formed from a single unitary body of graphite. In yet another embodiment of the device of the invention, the connection posts comprise a carbon fiber composite and the exposed ends of the electrical connectors are coated with a protective ceramic paste for extended life in operations.

Abstract: An animal control system is provided in which an AM transmission signal includes qualification criteria which upon proper decoding provides intended stimuli to an animal. The transmit signal comprises modulated pulses having a first amplitude and a second amplitude which upon decoding represent logic zero and logic one states. The receiver employs microprocessor based digital circuitry for decoding and processing of the AM transmit signal. The transmit signal is transmitted in alternating odd and even frames, each of which has particular characteristics and which upon proper decoding by the receiver causes successive weak and strong stimuli to be provided to the animal.

Abstract: An improved animal control system for controlling the movement of an animal includes a transmitter/control unit for generating a frequency modulated transmit signal, an antenna defining an area and for radiating the transmit signal, and a battery-powered receiver/stimulus unit for receiving and discriminating the transmit signal and for applying a stimulus to the animal upon qualification of the received transmit signal. The system may be used to contain an animal within, or restrict an animal from, the defined area.

Abstract: A flash evaporator vaporization vessel for flash evaporating metal under conditions of repeated thermal cycling having a graphite body and an outer layer of pyrolytic boron nitride having a density above 2.15 gm/cc and preferably between 2.19 gm/cc and 2.2 gm/cc.

Abstract: An improved animal control system for controlling the movement of an animal includes a transmitter/control unit for generating a Frequency Shift Keying (FSK) transmit signal, an antenna defining an area and for radiating the FSK transmit signal, and a battery-powered receiver/stimulus unit for receiving and discriminating the FSK transmit signal and for applying a stimulus to the animal upon qualification of the received FSK transmit signal. The system may be used to contain an animal within, or restrict an animal from, the defined area.

Abstract: An improved animal control system for controlling the movement of an animal includes a transmitter/control unit for generating a frequency modulated transmit signal, an antenna defining an area and for radiating the transmit signal, and a battery-powered receiver/stimulus unit for receiving and discriminating the transmit signal and for applying a stimulus to the animal upon qualification of the received transmit signal. The system may be used to contain an animal within, or restrict an animal from, the defined area.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a composite composition of particles of highly oriented graphite in the form of flakes having a hexagonal crystal orientation and an aspect ratio of at least 5 to 1 and a polymeric binder which when polymerized under compression forms a solid having a high thermal conductivity and low density and to a method of forming a machinable composite of high thermal conductivity comprising the steps of combining particles of highly oriented graphite flakes having an hexagonal crystal orientation and an aspect ratio of at least 5 to 1 with a polymeric binder to form a composition having at least a 40% graphite particle volume fraction, compressing the composition under a pressure sufficient to substantially align the particles parallel to one another and to the surface of the composition normal to the direction of the applied pressure until said binder polymerizes into a solid thereby forming an electrically conductive solid having a high thermal conductivity.

Abstract: A vehicle security system including a remote control communicating with the system via an RF link for remotely arming and/or disarming the system. Modes of system operation include an armed mode in which sensor outputs are monitored for intrusion indicating conditions and an RF receiver is monitored for remote commands, an alarm mode in which a siren is sounded in response to a detection of an intrusion indicating condition during the armed mode, a disarmed mode in which sensor monitoring for intrusion conditions is disabled, a programming mode in which features of the system are programmable, a valet mode in which only selected sensor outputs are monitored, and a pre-arming mode following system disarming and prior to passive arming, in which the door switch is monitored. A display facilitates programming by providing an indication of the present position within the programming sequence.

Abstract: A vehicle sensing system includes a data bus, a first microprocessor coupled to the bus and a plurality of sensor modules about a vehicle periphery for detecting the presence of objects within a predetermined range of distances of each of such sensor modules. Each sensor module of the vehicle sensing system includes a transducer, a second microprocessor, coupled between the transducer and the bus, for processing information received from the transducer, and a light emitting diode disposed on an outer surface of a housing for the transducer, coupled to the second microprocessor, for indicating when an object is within the predetermined distance of the sensor module or when the sensor module is faulty. Each sensor module further includes a temperature sensing circuit coupled to the second microprocessor and a bus transceiver for receiving information from the bus and for transmitting information to the bus.