Abstract: An instrument and a method for determining a coagulation characteristic of blood, a blood fraction or a control comprise a radiation-reflective surface, a first source for irradiating the surface, and a first detector for detecting radiation reflected from the surface. A cuvette holds a sample of the blood, blood fraction or control the coagulation characteristic of which is to be determined. The cuvette has two opposed walls substantially transparent to the source radiation and reflected radiation. The first source and first detector are disposed adjacent a first one of the two opposed walls and the radiation reflective surface is disposed adjacent a second of the two opposed walls.

Abstract: A microprocessor based switch such as a circuit breaker generates digital rms representations of analog load currents from n samples of the analog currents per cycle synchronized to the line frequency, where n is an odd integer equal to a selected highest order harmonic to be detected plus 2. A routine determines whether the power system is 50 or 60 Hz, and automatically sets the sampling interval to provide exactly n samples per cycle for the connected source. Terminals for rapidly resetting an analog memory for calibration and field testing of a long delay trip are hidden behind a removable rating plug.

Abstract: A method of restoring a used organic photoreceptor which includes a supporting substrate having a photoconductor layer contained on said substrate and an overlaying layer of charge transport material. The photoreceptor is heated to a temperature near or above the glass transition temperature of the charge transport layer for a time sufficient to allow for flowing and/or melting of the top surface of the charge transport layer, and then cooled to room temperature, followed by applying a new layer of charge transport material over the existing charge transport layer.

Abstract: An alkylation process which utilizes a solid alkylation catalyst is disclosed. The catalyst, which has carbonaceous material adsorbed thereto, is regenerated by reacting the adsorbed carbonaceous material. The reaction step is accomplished by heating the catalyst in the presence of ozone to form an ozonated hydrocarbon, wherein the ozonated hydrocarbon includes carbonyl carbons. The ozonated hydrocarbon is removed by desorbing the carbonyl carbons from the solid alkylation catalyst. The carbonaceous material is preferably reacted at a temperature ranging from about 20.degree. C. to 200.degree. C. The ozone is preferably in a gaseous stream at a concentration ranging from about 1 to 50 volume percent. The carbonyl components are preferably desorbed from the heated alkylation catalyst by sweeping the catalyst with a desorption fluid.

Abstract: A label printer and applicator system which determines the height and position of moving objects on a conveyor while printing labels and positioning the labels for application on the moving objects. The printer/applicator includes a controllable label buffer, applicator actuator and label ejector to receive and apply the printed label, or eject the label when it has been determined that the application to the object cannot be made. Further embodiments include multiple applicators deployed along the conveyor to permit higher conveyor velocities and avoidance of unlabeled objects due to height/proximity relationships with adjacent packages.

Abstract: Low value hydrocarbons can be upgraded by contact with the products formed during irradiation of a hydrogen donor and water using microwave energy in the presence of at least one plasma initiator.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of producing a softer asphalt product with improved low temperature properties and reduced solids buildup from an asphalt feed which comprises measuring the penetration and Penetration Index of the asphalt feed and heat soaking the asphalt feed in the presence of at least one C.sub.1 to C.sub.5 halogenated aliphatic hydrocarbon as dehydrogenation agent wherein from about 0.05 to about 10 wt. % of the dehydrogenation agent, based on weight of the asphalt, is present during heat soaking, at a temperature ranging between about 300.degree. C. and about 400.degree. C., said temperature being sufficient to increase the penetration and Penetration Index over that of the asphalt feed provided that the temperature should not exceed the temperature at which onset of coking occurs and further provided that the asphalt product has a trichloroethylene solubles content of at least about 99.5 wt. %, based on asphalt.

Abstract: Plasma initiators that have become deactivated due to the accumulation of carbonaceous deposits, sulfur deposits, or both thereon can be regenerated by contact with an oxygen-containing gas in the presence of microwave radiation.

Abstract: C.sub.1+ hydrocarbons can be effectively converted to primarily unsaturated hydrocarbon and hydrogen by subjecting the C.sub.1+ hydrocarbon to microwave radiation in the presence of water and at least one plasma initiator that is capable of initiating an electric discharge in an electromagnetic field.

Abstract: Plasma initiators that have become deactivated due to the accumulation of carbonaceous deposits, sulfur deposits, or both thereon can be regenerated by contact with a gas containing molecular hydrogen in the presence of microwave radiation.

Abstract: A hybrid monolithic IC that is standardized for controlling various types of electrical equipment, such as circuit breakers, motor controllers and the like. The IC is a hybrid monolithic IC, fabricated in CMOS technology, The shortcomings of utilizing CMOS technology for linear or analog circuitry is overcome by the implementation of the IC to provide a monolithic IC that is relatively less expensive than using multiple ICs or a single IC fabricated from biCMOS technology.

Abstract: A dimensional detector useful for determining the height of a package as it moves along a conveyor, comprising a light source and corresponding light sensors oppositely disposed across the conveyor, wherein the light is interrupted by the package before being received by the light sensors. Rapid determination of the package height is provided by grouping the light sensors into groups of contiguously disposed light sensors and a group of light sensors interspersed between the contiguously disposed light sensor groups. Included within the group having interspersed light sensors is also a group of contiguously disposed light sensors which are located at the lowest end of the dimension to be measured. According to the invention, the group of light detectors comprising the interspersed light detectors and the lowest dimensional disposed contiguous detectors is first read to determine if the package height is within the lowest dimensional disposed contiguous detector.

Abstract: A mixture of methane, water and carbon dioxide can be effectively converted to carbon monoxide and hydrogen by subjecting the mixture to microwave radiation in the presence of at least one plasma initiator that is capable of initiating an electric discharge in an electromagnetic field.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for producing asphalt that has improved low temperature properties. More specifically, the penetration and Penetration Index of an asphalt can be increased if the asphalt is heat soaked in the presence of a dehydrogenation agent at a temperature above the temperature at which oxidation of the asphalt occurs and below the temperature at which coking is initiated. Polyvinyl chloride and a chlorinated wax are preferred dehydrogenation agents.

Abstract: Methane can be effectively converted to acetylene, ethylene, and hydrogen by subjecting the methane to continuous microwave radiation in the presence of at least one plasma initiator that is capable of initiating an electric discharge in an electromagnetic field.

Abstract: Methane can be effectively converted to acetylene, ethylene, and hydrogen by subjecting the methane to pulsed microwave radiation in the presence of at least one plasma initiator that is capable of initiating an electric discharge in an electromagnetic field.

Abstract: The activity maintenance of the plasma initiators used during the upgrading of a hydrocarbon feedstock in a reaction zone using microwave radiation can be improved if molecular hydrogen is added to the reaction zone such that the weight ratio of carbon (in the molecules in contact with the plasma initiators) to hydrogen is maintained at less than 6:1 during upgrading.

Abstract: Low value hydrocarbons can be upgraded by contact with the products formed during irradiation of a hydrogen donor using microwave energy in the presence of at least one plasma initiator.

Abstract: A system (and method) for providing a label for deposit on a product from a composite that includes the label, as one of a plurality of labels, on a backing. A transporter moves the composite translationally and accurately in a direction, e.g., the X-direction herein. The system ascertains the exact X-direction location of a particular label on the composite to permit the transporting to be achieved accurately translationally. A two-dimensional cutter serves to cut the label from the composite while leaving the backing intact, the cutter being operable to effect cutting of the label in two dimensions, e.g., across or orthogonal to the direction of movement of the backing and parallel to the direction of movement of the backing. There is provided a mechanism to control cutting from the composite to permit variation in the length of the label in the parallel direction, thereby controlling the length of the label in the parallel direction, despite fixed dimensions of the cutter roller.

Abstract: A system to apply a bar-code label or the like upon a product or to apply a protective laminate strip or the like upon a bar-code label or the like which is already in place upon a product. The label or the protective laminate strip first is removed from a moving carrier and applied to an applicator head which, in turn, applies the label on the product or the protective laminate strip very precisely onto the label. The relative positions of the applicator head and the label, for example, are predetermined. It remains to establish the moving forward edge of the bar-code label or the protective laminate strip to be stripped from the moving carrier so that the either can be accurately placed on the applicator head, a particularly vexing problem in view of the fact that transmissivity, usually, or reflectivity of all the films involved, typically, have closely related optical characteristics.