Hughes Aircraft Company

Other

Hughes Electronics Corporation

Jvc Victor Company of Japan, Ltd.

Leroy J Miller

Camille I Van Ast

Frederick G Yamagishi

J David Margerum

Willis H Smith, Jr

Anna M Lackner

Robert G Brault

Chan S Bak

Jan Grinberg

Norman Bilow

Abraham L Landis

Hugh L Garvin

Klaus Robinson

Khoon C Lim

John J Vajo

John Dalton Williams

Weldon S Williamson

Franklin A Dolezal

John E Jensen

John D Margerum

Eun-Hee Cirlin

Thomas B Stanford, Jr

Diana D Granger

A novel, inexpensive sensor and method for detecting volatile compounds in the gas phase at concentrations of less than about 500 ppm in ambient air are provided. The sensor comprises (a) a dielectric substrate having a major surface; (b) a pair of electrically conductive electrodes disposed on the major surface of the substrate; and (c) a conductive polymer covering the pair of electrically conductive electrodes, with the conductive polymer doped with appropriate dopants in measurable excess of that stoichiometrically required to change the conductive polymer from a neutral state to a charged state to provide requisite conductivity. A method for making the sensor is provided, as is a method of use of the sensor which relates to its use in a monitoring system comprising a means for measuring the conductivity of the sensor connected to a warning means for providing an indication when the conductivity reaches a predetermined level. Contemplated specific methods of use include the detection of fugitive emissions in chemical plant environments; the detection of certain pollutants in vehicle exhaust; and the detection of certain pollutants near chemical handling operations, such as painting operations.

Volatile organic compound sensors

Apparatus for positioning a golf ball on a tee and for retrieving golf balls and tees. A hand-operated apparatus for setting golf balls on tees without requiring the golfer to bend is described. The device may also be used for retrieving golf balls and tees, and may itself be retrieved if dropped by using the handle of a golf club. The apparatus comprises a hollow outer shaft having a fixed handle at one end and a base for pivotably holding two golf ball encircling jaws at the other. An inner shaft, slidably disposed within the outer shaft and connected to a movable handle at one end, and jaw-actuating wires at the other permits a user to operate the jaws with one hand. A coil spring located between the fixed and movable handles provides a force therebetween, keeping the jaws closed in their normal position. A golf ball and tee placed within the jaws may be set in the ground by pushing on the fixed handle, and released from the apparatus, such that the golf ball remains on the tee, by pulling the movable handle against the operation of the spring.

Apparatus for positioning a golf ball on a tee and for retrieving golf

A substrate (20) is treated prior to use to induce a near-perpendicular orientation of a liquid crystal director (26) relative to the substrate. A layer of silica (98) is deposited upon the substrate (20) by in-line magnetron sputtering as the substrate ( 20) is moved past the sputtering target (78), and the silica-coated substrate (20) is thereafter treated with a long-chain alcohol. The alcohol-treated substrate (20) is covered with a layer of liquid crystal (22), the director (26) of the liquid crystal (22) assuming a field-off state tilted about 1-3 degrees from the perpendicular toward an azimuthal direction (30) parallel to the direction of movement of the substrate (20) during deposition.

Inducing tilted perpendicular alignment in liquid crystals

A novel, inexpensive sensor (10) for detecting volatile hydrocarbons and other solvent vapors detects leaks in the fittings and valves of petroleum refineries and chemical manufacturing and processing plants. The sensor comprises (a) a dielectric substrate (12) having a major surface; (b) a pair of interdigitated, electrically conductive electrodes (14a, 14b) disposed on the major surface of the substrate; and (c) a composite coating (16) covering the interdigitated electrodes and comprising (1) a conductive polymer, and (2) a dielectric polymer with an affinity for the solvent vapors to be detected.

Method for detecting fugitive emissions

A method is provided for preparing the surface of a cured cyanate ester resin or composite for metal plating. The composite may comprise graphite fibers embedded in a cured cyanate ester resin matrix The surface is treated with a preheated solution containing an alkali metal salt of an alkoxide. Preferred alkoxides are methoxide, ethoxide, propoxide, isopropoxide, butoxide, tert-butoxide, sec-tutoxide, 2- methyl-2-butoxide, pentoxide and hexoxide. The method of the invention operates to improve adhesion between the treated surface and a subsequently plated metal, such that the resulting cured cyanate ester resin or composite may replace certain metallic components in such applications as aircraft, spacecraft, and automobiles given its highly conductive metallic coating.

Preparation of cured cyanate ester resins and composites for metal

Contaminant levels in a fluid such as air or water are reduced by producing a pulsed electron beam having an average primary electron energy of from about 90 to about 110 thousand electron volts (corresponding to an average injected electron energy of from about 45 to about 55 thousand electron volts in a preferred case) and directing the electron beam through the fluid. The contaminant compounds may include organic compounds and certain inorganic compounds such as NO.sub.x and SO.sub.x. The fluid is preferably contained in a contaminant reduction cell that is separated from an electron beam source by an electron-transparent window.

Destruction of contaminants using a low-energy electron beam

A substrate is treated prior to use to induce a near-parallel orientation of a liquid crystal director relative to the substrate. A layer of silica is deposited on the substrate by in-line magnetron sputtering as the substrate is moved past the sputtering target, and the silica-coated substrate is thereafter treated with an alcohol that is selected from one of two classes of alcohols: (1) alcohols having an aromatic ring structure on one end of an aliphatic chain and a hydroxy group on the other end, with or without at least one ether group in the chain, and (2) an aliphatic chain having a hydroxy group at one end and at least one ether linkage in the chain. An example is 2-phenylethanol. The alcohol-treated substrate is covered with a layer of the liquid crystal. The process of the invention induces a tilt to the director of the liquid crystal. The tilt is about 0.5.degree. to 4.degree., as measured parallel to the surface of the substrate.

Inducing tilted parallel alignment in liquid crystals

Reversible sensor for detecting solvent vapors

A photopolymerizable composition includes a water-insoluble olefinic compound that is polymerizable with free-radical initiators, an oil-soluble phenothiazine dye that is soluble in water-immiscible organic solvents, and a reducing agent operable to react with the dye to form reactive free radicals only when the dye is in an excited state induced by exposure to light. The reducing agent and the dye are reacted together under the influence of light, and particularly red light. The resulting reactive free radicals cause the olefinic compound to polymerize to a polymer that is substantially unaffected by the presence of moisture.

Process for forming a polymerized material and presenting holographic

A grating (22) of narrow parallel ridges (24) is formed in the surface (26) of a substrate (20) made of a hard material such as silicon dioxide. Metal (40) is deposited onto the grating (22) perpendicular to the ridges (24) at an angle of approximately 45.degree. to the surface (26) of the grating such that the metal (40) is deposited onto the top (24a) and one of the sides (24b) of the each of the ridges (24) to form generally L-shaped metal strips (12') thereon. The metal strips (12') are cut at periodic intervals along the ridges (24) to produce anisometric metal needles (12). The substrate (20) is immersed in a dielectric fluid (14), and ultrasonic energy is applied to cause the needles (12) to release from the substrate (20) into suspension in the fluid (14). The L-shape of the needles (12) makes them resistant to bending. The suspension (10) has birefringent properties similar to liquid crystals, but may be electrically switched at much higher speed. The index of refraction of the suspension (10) varies in accordance with the alignment of the needles (12), thereby enabling the direction and phase of an electromagnetic wave propagating through the suspension (10) to be controlled by varying the magnitude of the applied electric field.

Anisometric metal needles with L-shaped cross-section

A substrate (20) is treated prior to use to induce a near-perpendicular orientation of a liquid crystal director (26) relative to the substrate. A layer of silica (38) is deposited upon the substrate (20) by in-line magnetron sputtering as the substrate (20) is moved past the sputtering target (78), and the silica-coated substrate (20) is thereafter treated with a long-chain alcohol. The alcohol-treated substrate (20) is covered with a layer of liquid crystal (22), the director (26) of the liquid crystal (22) assuming a field-off state tilted about 1-3 degrees from the perpendicular toward an azimuthal direction (30) parallel to the direction of movement of the substrate (20) during deposition.

A sensor for monitoring the water content and the acid content in the presence of water in nonaqueous media can be incorporated into a monitoring system for monitoring the quality of nonaqueous fluids in equipment or vehicles. The sensor comprises an insulating substrate; electrodes formed on the substrate in an interdigitated pattern; and a conductive polymer deposited over the interdigitated electrodes which bridges between adjacent digits of the electrodes. The monitoring system incorporating the sensor comprises a control module for measuring the conductivity of the sensor. The control module is preprogrammed to compare the measured conductivity to a predetermined level indicative of an unacceptable level of degradation. The sensor is made by depositing electrodes on an insulating substrate; depositing a conductive polymer over the electrodes in an amount sufficient to bridge between the electrodes; and neutralizing the conductive polymer to an insulating form. A method of sensing water and acid in the presence of water in nonaqueous media exposes an insulating form of a conductive polymer to a nonaqueous medium and monitors the conductivity of said conductive polymer, as the nonaqueous medium is used. The conductive polymer reversibly increases conductivity in measurable amounts with increasing acid and/or water content due to protonation by the acid or hydration by the water.

Device and method for sensing water and/or acid in the presence of water

A grating (22) of narrow parallel ridges (24) is formed in the surface (26) of a substrate (20) made of a hard material such as silicon dioxide. Metal (40) is deposited onto the grating (22) perpendicular to the ridges (24) at an angle of approximately 45.degree. to the surface (26) of the grating such that the metal (40) is deposited onto the top (24a) and one of the sides (24b) of the each of the ridges (24) to form generally L-shaped metal strips (12') thereon. The metal strips (12') are cut at periodic intervals along the ridges (24) to produce anisometric metal needles (12). The substrate (20) is immersed in a dielectric fluid (14), and ultrasonic energy is applied to cause the needles (12) to release from the substrate (20) into suspension in the fluid (14). The L-shape of the needles (12) makes them resistant to bending. The suspension ( 10) has birefringent properties similar to liquid crystals, but may be electrically switched at much higher speed. The index of refraction of the suspension (10) varies in accordance with the alignment of the needles (12), thereby enabling the direction and phase of an electromagnetic wave propagating through the suspension (1) to be controlled by varying the magnitude of the applied electric field.

Growing community of inventors

Canoga Park, CA, United States of America

Leroy J Miller