Abstract: The present invention provides porous composite materials and methods of making and using the same. In one embodiment, a porous composite material comprises a porous substrate comprising a first polymeric material and at least one particle or fiber of a second polymeric material and a third polymeric material disposed on at least one surface of the porous substrate and having at least one point of attachment the to the at least one particle or fiber of the second polymeric material.

Abstract: A filter has a longitudinal axis with an inner diameter defined by a hollow longitudinally extending center. The filter has fingers extend radially outwardly arcuately from the longitudinal axis. The fingers have base ends near the longitudinal axis and outer edges at extremities spaced from the longitudinal axis. The outer diameter of the filter is defined by the outer edges of the fingers. The filter is formed from a sintered porous molded thermoplastic or another material resulting in a filter more rigid than standard filters. The fingers are spaced apart from one another a predetermined, substantially fixed distance to form slots therebetween sized to capture contaminants therein.

Abstract: The invention provides composite porous materials in which a second material is fused to and/or is in the pores and/or is fused directly to some of the pore walls of a porous first material. The invention also provides methods of filtering a fluid using these composite porous materials and methods of manufacturing the composite porous materials.

Abstract: The detection method and apparatus detects abnormalities having a first signal propagation property within a host medium having a second signal propagation property based upon signals which have been reflected, scattered and/or absorbed by the host medium and any abnormalities therein. The detection apparatus includes a signal source for introducing a signal into the host medium which varies with respect to a predetermined signal parameter, such as time, frequency or source location. The detection apparatus also includes a plurality of detectors disposed along some or all of the boundary of the host medium for detecting the signal following propagation through the host medium and any abnormalities within the host medium. The detection apparatus further includes a signal processor for constructing at least one partial differential equation to describe the propagation of a regularized signal through a medium having the same shape as the host medium.

Abstract: A multiplexer comprises a number of directional filters 17.sub.n connected to a transmission line feeding an antenna 2, 3. Signals to be multiplexed fed to the filters 17.sub.n may be sent via respective switches 16.sub.n. Unlike prior multiplexers where each directional filter defines a respective channel of the multiplex, the channels of the multiplexer of the invention, apart from one at the end, are defined by the band pass response of one directional filter and the band stop response of another directional filter, since the band pass responses of the directional filters from the input connected to the switch to the output connected to the transmission line, and the corresponding band stop responses between the two output ports connected to the transmission line, overlap each other. The same arrangement may be used for demultiplexing.

Abstract: A spin-on oil filter comprising a generally tubular body housing a filtering element and a retractable, external handle that can be manually gripped and twisted for filter installation and removal. The handle comprises a pair of spaced apart, elongated legs and an integral grip extending between the legs for grasping by a user. A pair of elongated, spaced apart sleeves diametrically extending from the body frictionally slidably captivate the legs. A stop is disposed on the distal end of each leg to limit displacement of the handle. The arched legs yieldably maintain said handle in either a semipermanent retracted state or a semipermanent deployed state, as they snappingly frictionally react with the surrounding sleeves. The distal and top portions of the legs are arched more that the intermediate portion, so that the handle may relatively easily slide between the semipermanent retracted or deployed states. The preferred embodiment employs round bar stock to form the handle.

Abstract: A substrate for mounting a flip-chip on a metallized circuit on the upper surface of the substrate. The substrate is silicon carbide condensed on a graphite or silicon core. The upper surface of the silicon carbide has a layer of insulating material comprised of silicon oxide, silicon nitride, aluminum nitride, boron nitride, an organic insulator such as polyimide, and diamond. The insulator prevents inadvertent shorting of the integrated circuit. The insulating layer can be deposited on the silicon carbide by such processes as chemical vapor deposition, sputtering, spinning or roller coating.