Jesse D. Wolfe, Steven D. Theiss, Paul G. Carey, Patrick M. Smith, Paul Wickboldt
Thin Film Transistors on Plastic Substrates with Reflective Coatings for Radiation Protection
U.S. Patent 6,642,085 B1
November 4, 2003
Fabrication of silicon thin-film transistors (TFTs) on low-temperature plastic substrates using a reflective coating so that inexpensive plastic substrates may be used in place of standard glass, quartz, and silicon-wafer-based substrates. These TFTs can be used in large-area, low-cost electronics, such as flat-panel displays, and in portable electronics, such as video cameras, personal digital assistants, and cell phones.

Ramakrishna S. Madabhushi, Stuart A. Gammon
Polyacrylamide Medium for the Electrophoretic Separation of Biomolecules
U.S. Patent 6,646,084 B2
November 11, 2003
A polyacrylamide medium for the electrophoretic separation of biomolecules. The polyacrylamide medium comprises high-molecular-weight polyacrylamides (PAAm) with a viscosity average molecular weight of 675 to 725 kilodaltons, which were synthesized by the conventional redox polymerization technique. Capillary electrophoresis of BigDye DNA sequencing standard was then performed using this separation medium. A single base resolution of about 725 bases was achieved in about 60 minutes in a noncovalently coated capillary with an internal diameter of 50 micrometers, an effective length of 40 centimeters, and a field of 160 volts per centimeter at 40°C. The resolution achieved when this formation is used to separate DNA is much superior (725 bases versus 625 bases) and faster (60 versus 75 minutes) than when the commercially available PAAm is used under identical conditions. The formulation method for synthesizing PAAm is straightforward and simple, and it does not require cumbersome methods such as emulsion polymerization to achieve very high molecular weights. Also, with this formulation, PAAm does not have to be separated from the reaction mixture before the polymer is reconstituted to a final concentration. Furthermore, the formulation is prepared from a single average-molecular-weight PAAm rather than from a mixture of two different ones.

Barry L. Freitas, Jay A. Skidmore
Ruggedized Microchannel-Cooled Laser Diode Array with Self-Aligned Microlens
U.S. Patent 6,647,035 B1
November 11, 2003
A microchannel-cooled, optically corrected, laser diode array is fabricated by mounting laser diode bars onto silicon surfaces. This approach allows for the highest thermal impedance in a ruggedized, low-cost assembly that includes passive microlens attachment without the need for lens frames. The microlensed laser diode array can be used in all solid-state laser systems that require efficient, directional pump sources with a narrow bandwidth and high-optical-power density.

Luiz B. Da Silva, Charles L. Chase
Optical Probe with Light Fluctuation Protection
U.S. Patent 6,647,285 B2
November 11, 2003
An optical probe for tissue identification includes an elongated body. Optical fibers are located within the elongated body for transmitting light to and from the tissue. Light fluctuation protection is associated with the optical fibers. In one embodiment, a reflective coating on the optical fibers reduces stray light. In another embodiment, a filler with very high absorption is located within the elongated body between the optical fibers.

Conrad M. Yu
Thin Film Capillary Process and Apparatus
U.S. Patent 6,649,078 B2
November 18, 2003
Method and system of forming microfluidic capillaries in various substrate materials. A first layer of a material such as silicon dioxide is applied to a channel etched in a substrate. A second, sacrificial layer of a material such as a polymer is deposited on the first layer. A third layer, which may be of the same material as the first layer, is placed on the second layer. The sacrificial layer is then removed to form a smooth-walled capillary in the substrate.

Anthony M. McCarthy
Silicon on Insulator Self-Aligned Transistors
U.S. Patent 6,649,977 B1
November 18, 2003
A method for fabricating thin-film, single-crystal silicon-on-insulator (SOI) self-aligned transistors. Standard processing of silicon substrates is used to fabricate the transistors. Physical spaces between the source and gate and between the drain and gate are introduced by etching the polysilicon gate material. These spaces provide connecting implants, or bridges, that allow the transistor to perform normally. After the silicon substrate processing is completed, the silicon wafer is bonded to an insulator (glass) substrate, and the silicon substrate is removed, leaving the transistors on the insulator (glass) substrate. Transistors fabricated by this method may be used, for example, in flat-panel displays.

Lloyd A. Hackel, John M. Halpin, Fritz B. Harris, Jr.
Laser Peening of Components of Thin Cross-Section
U.S. Patent 6,657,160 B2
December 2, 2003
The properties of a metal piece are altered by laser peening. The first side of the piece is laser peened using an acoustic coupling material that is operatively connected to the second side. Then the second side is laser peened using an acoustic coupling material that is operatively connected to the first side.

Richard F. Post
Passive Magnetic Bearing for a Horizontal Shaft
U.S. Patent 6,657,344 B2
December 2, 2003
A passive magnetic bearing is composed of a levitation element and a restorative element. The levitation element has a pair of stationary arcuate ferromagnetic segments located within an annular radial-field magnet array. The magnet array is attached to the inner circumference of a hollow shaft end. An attractive force between the arcuate segments and the magnet array acts vertically to levitate the shaft and in a horizontal transverse direction to center the shaft. The restorative element has an annular Halbach array of magnets, and a stationary annular circuit array is located within the Halbach array. The Halbach array is attached to the inner circumference of the hollow shaft end. A repulsive force between the Halbach array and the circuit array increases inversely to the radial space between them and thus acts to restore the shaft to its equilibrium axis of rotation when it is displaced therefrom.

Kirk Patrick Seward
Bistable Microvalve and Microcatheter System
U.S. Patent 6,663,821 B2
December 16, 2003
A bistable microvalve of shape memory material is operatively connected to a microcatheter. The bistable microvalve includes a tip that can be closed off until it is in the desired position. Once it is in position, it can be opened and closed. The system uses heat and pressure to open and close the microvalve. The shape memory material will change stiffness and shape when heated above a transition temperature. The shape memory material is adapted to move from a first shape to a second shape, either open or closed, where it can perform a desired function.

Richard F. Post
Inductrack Magnet Configuration
U.S. Patent 6,664,880 B2
December 16, 2003
A magnet configuration comprising a pair of Halbach arrays magnetically and structurally connected together are positioned with respect to each other so that a first component of their fields substantially cancels at a first plane between them, and a second component of their fields substantially adds at this first plane. A track of windings is located between the pair of Halbach arrays, and a propulsion mechanism is provided for moving the pair of Halbach arrays along the track. When the pair of Halbach arrays moves along the track and the track is not located at the first plane, a current is induced in the windings and a restoring force is exerted on the pair of Halbach arrays.

Randall L. Simpson, Ronald S. Lee, Thomas M. Tillotson, Lawrence W. Hrubesh, Rosalind W.
Swansiger, Glenn A. Fox
Sol-Gel Manufactured Energetic Materials
U.S. Patent 6,666,935 B1
December 23, 2003
Sol-gel chemistry is used to prepare energetic materials (explosives, propellants, and pyrotechnics) with improved homogeneity, materials that can be cast to near-net shape, and/or those that can be made into precision molding powders. The sol-gel method is a synthetic chemical process wherein reactive monomers are mixed into a solution and polymerization occurs, leading to a highly cross-linked, three-dimensional solid network resulting in a gel. The energetic materials can be incorporated during the formation of the solution or during the gel stage. The composition, pore and primary particle sizes, gel time, surface areas, and density may be tailored and controlled by the solution chemistry. The gel is then dried using supercritical extraction to produce a highly porous, low-density aerogel or by controlled slow evaporation to produce a xerogel. Applying stress during the extraction phase can result in high-density materials. Thus, the sol-gel method can be used to manufacture precision detonator explosives and to produce precision explosives, propellants, and pyrotechnics as well as high-power composite energetic materials.

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