Author: claimsbot

1. A pressure sensor comprising:
a sensor die;
an intermediate packaging member or sleeve having a first portion with a first perimeter extending into and coupled to a second portion with a second perimeter, the first portion distally located from the sensor die, wherein the first perimeter is larger than the second perimeter;
a glass support tube located within the intermediate sleeve or member, the glass support tube having an expanded perimeter portion with a perimeter sized to be closely received by the first portion of the intermediate sleeve or member and further having a reduced perimeter portion with a perimeter sized to be closely received by the second portion of the intermediate sleeve or member, the expanded perimeter portion is distally located from the sensor die, the glass support tube includes a bore for receiving a pressurized fluid, wherein a contour of an outer surface defined by the expanded and reduced perimeter portions of the glass support tube complements a contour of an inner surface defined by the first and second portions of the intermediate sleeve or member; and
an attachment layer to couple the glass support tube to the intermediate sleeve or member, the attachment layer located between the outer surface defined by the expanded and reduced perimeter portions of the glass support tube and the inner surface defined by the first and second portions of the intermediate sleeve or member, wherein applied pressure on the sensor die places at least a portion of the attachment layer in compression.
2. The pressure sensor of claim 1, wherein the intermediate sleeve or member is made from a KOVAR\xae\xae metallic alloy.
3. The pressure sensor of claim 1, wherein the intermediate sleeve or member is cylindrically shaped.
4. The pressure sensor of claim 1, wherein the glass support tube is made from a PYREX\xae glassware material.
5. The pressure sensor of claim 1, wherein the glass support tube is cylindrically shaped.
6. The pressure sensor of claim 1, wherein the second end of the glass support tube includes a flame polished surface.
7. The pressure sensor of claim 1, further comprising a layer of metallic material located on a section of the glass support tube.
8. The pressure sensor of claim 7, wherein the layer of metallic material extends onto the expanded and reduced perimeter portions of the glass support tube.
9. The pressure sensor of claim 1, wherein the layer of metallic material includes at least an amount of gold.
10. The pressure sensor of claim 1, wherein an outer surface portion of the glass support tube is at least partially plated with a metallic material.
11. The pressure sensor of claim 1, wherein the attachment layer includes an amount of solder material to bind the glass support tube to the intermediate sleeve.
12. A pressure sensor comprising:
an inner glass tube having an inner bore defined by an inner surface, the inner glass tube further having a first outer surface region coupled to an expanded outer surface region through a shoulder region, the first outer surface region having a first circumference and the expanded outer surface region having a second circumference that is larger than the first circumference to define a bulbous end portion extending from the shoulder region;
an outer metallic cylinder having an inner surface complementarily shaped to closely receive the first outer surface region and the expanded outer surface region of the inner glass tube; and
an amount of solder or other adhesive material positioned, in part, on the shoulder region of the inner glass tube and in contact with the outer metallic cylinder, wherein stress on the inner glass tube with respect to the outer metallic cylinder in a first direction places that amount of solder or other adhesive material between them in a compressive state.
13. The pressure sensor of claim 12, wherein the outer metallic cylinder is made from a KOVAR\xae metallic alloy.
14. The pressure sensor of claim 12, wherein the inner glass tube is made from a PYREX\xae glassware material.
15. The pressure sensor of claim 12, wherein an end of the expanded outer surface region of the inner glass tube includes a flame polished surface.
16. The pressure sensor of claim 12, wherein the amount of solder material includes solder material positioned, in part, on a shoulder of the glass tube.
17. A method of reacting to applied pressure in a pressure sensor, the method comprising:
applying pressure to a pressure sensor die mounted on a first end of an inner glass tube having a bulbous end portion;
generating a stress between the inner glass tube relative to a metallic intermediate sleeve having a necked-down portion coupled to a bulbous end portion having a contour complementary to the bulbous end portion of the inner glass tube; and
placing a bonding material in a compressive state when pressure is applied to the sensor die, such bonding material being located between the inner glass tube and the metallic intermediate sleeve.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein placing the bonding material in a compressive state includes placing an amount of solder material in a compressive state.
19. The method of claim 17, wherein applying pressure to the pressure sensor die includes applying a differential pressure across a diaphragm of the sensor die.
20. The method of claim 17, wherein applying pressure to the pressure sensor die includes applying an absolute pressure on a diaphragm of the sensor die.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A field test kit for detecting the presence of monosodium glutamate (MSG) and related materials in foodstuffs and drinks, wherein said kit comprises a reaction chamber having an internal void adapted to receive a closed reaction vessel, a closed reaction vessel containing encapsulated chemicals, and a means of providing heat to the reaction chamber.
2. The field test kit of claim 1 wherein the reaction chamber is a tube.
3. The field test kit of claim 2 wherein the tube is electrically insulated metal.
4. The field test kit of claim 2 wherein the tube is ceramic.
5. A closed reaction vessel comprising a glass vial with plastic cap containing encapsulated chemicals.
6. The closed reaction vessel of claim 5 wherein the encapsulated chemicals comprise encapsulated base with pyridine-2-aldehyde and separately encapsulated aqueous cobalt nitrate.
7. The closed reaction vessel of claim 5 wherein the encapsulated chemicals comprise encapsulated base with pyridine-2-aldehyde and separately encapsulated cobalt nitrate powder.
8. The field test kit of claim 1 wherein an encapsulating material is used to encapsulate the chemicals individually in the reaction vessel.
9. The field test kit of claim 8 wherein the encapsulating material is low melting, water insoluble material.
10. The field test kit of claim 8 wherein the encapsulating material is wax.
11. The field test kit of claim 1 wherein the means of providing heat to the reaction chamber is nichrome wire wrapped around the reaction chamber which is connected to a battery pack through electrical wires, a switch, and a light emitting diode.
12. The closed reaction vessel of claim 5 wherein the means of providing heat is a nichrome wire wrapping.
13. The closed reaction vessel of claim 5 wherein the means of providing heat is placing the reaction vessel directly into a container of boiling water.
14. The field test kit of claim 10 wherein the wax is a low melting paraffin wax.

1. An automatic audio signal level adjustment circuit capable of automatically adjusting a level of an input audio signal within a specific range, comprising:
an amplitude adjustment determining circuit unit configured to generate an amplitude reduction instruction when the level of the input audio signal is greater than a first reference value corresponding to a maximum value of the specific range, said amplitude adjustment determining circuit unit being configured to generate an amplitude augmentation instruction when the level of the input audio signal is smaller than a second reference value that is smaller than the first reference value by a specific value; and
an amplitude adjusting circuit unit configured to output an output audio signal having a level reduced from the level of the input audio signal when the amplitude adjustment determining circuit unit generates the amplitude reduction instruction, said amplitude adjusting circuit unit being configured to output an output audio signal having a level augmented from the level of the input audio signal when the amplitude adjustment determining circuit unit generates the amplitude augmentation instruction, said amplitude adjusting circuit unit being configured to output an output audio signal equal to the input audio signal when the amplitude adjustment determining circuit unit does not generate the amplitude reduction instruction and the amplitude augmentation instruction,
wherein said amplitude adjustment determining circuit unit includes a reference value alternate transmission circuit unit configured to alternately transmit the first reference value and the second reference value, and an amplitude adjustment instruction generating circuit unit configured to compare the level of the input audio signal with a comparison reference value to generate one of the amplitude reduction instruction and the amplitude augmentation instruction, and
said amplitude adjustment instruction generating circuit unit includes:
a comparing circuit unit configured to generate a first comparison result signal having a first logic value when the level of the input audio signal is greater than the first reference value, and to generate a second comparison result signal having a second logic value equal to an inverted value of the first logic value when the level of the input audio signal is smaller than the second reference value;
a first flip-flop circuit unit configured to capture the first comparison result signal at a timing when the first reference value is transmitted, and to output the first comparison result signal as an amplitude reduction instruction signal; and
a second flip-flop circuit unit configured to capture the second comparison result signal at a timing when the second reference value is transmitted, and to output the second comparison result signal as an amplitude augmentation instruction signal.
2. The automatic audio signal level adjustment circuit according to claim 1, wherein said reference value alternate transmission circuit unit includes a reference value generating unit configured to generate the first reference value and the second reference value, and a selector circuit unit configured to repeatedly and alternately select one of the first reference value and the second reference value according to a cycle of a clock signal to transmit the one of the first reference value and the second reference value as the comparison reference value.
3. The automatic audio signal level adjustment circuit according to claim 1, wherein said amplitude adjusting circuit unit is configured to reduce the level of the input audio signal when the amplitude reduction instruction signal has the first logic value, said amplitude adjusting circuit unit being configured to augment the level of the input audio signal when the amplitude augmentation instruction signal has the first logic value, said amplitude adjusting circuit unit being configured to output the output audio signal equal to the input audio signal when both the amplitude reduction instruction signal and the amplitude augmentation instruction signal have the second logic value.
4. The automatic audio signal level adjustment circuit according to claim 1, further comprising an inverter circuit unit configured to invert the logic value of the first comparison result signal to generate the second comparison result signal.
5. The automatic audio signal level adjustment circuit according to claim 2, wherein said reference value alternate transmission circuit unit further includes a clock generating circuit unit configured to generate the clock signal having one of the first logic value and the second logic value alternately in a specific frequency and an inverted clock signal having an inverted logic value of the clock signal, said selector circuit unit being configured to transmit the first reference value when the clock signal has the first logic value, said selector circuit unit being configured to transmit the second reference value when the clock signal has the second logic value.
6. The automatic audio signal level adjustment circuit according to claim 1, wherein said amplitude adjustment determining circuit unit includes:
a positive polarity side determining circuit unit configured to output the amplitude reduction instruction when the level of the input audio signal is greater than the first reference value corresponding to the maximum value of the specific range having a positive polarity, and to output the amplitude augmentation instruction when the level of the input audio signal is smaller than the second reference value that is smaller than the first reference value by the specific value and having the positive polarity; and
a negative polarity side determining circuit unit configured to output the amplitude reduction instruction when the level of the input audio signal is smaller than a third reference value corresponding to a minimum value of the specific range having a negative polarity, and to output the amplitude augmentation instruction when the level of the input audio signal is greater than a fourth reference value greater than the third reference value by a specific value and having the negative polarity.
7. An automatic audio signal level adjustment circuit capable of automatically adjusting a level an amplitude of an input audio signal within a specific range, comprising:
an amplitude adjustment determining circuit unit configured to generate an amplitude reduction instruction when the amplitude of the input audio signal is greater than a first reference value, said amplitude adjustment determining circuit unit being configured to generate an amplitude augmentation instruction when the amplitude of the input audio signal is smaller than a second reference value that has an absolute value smaller than that of the first reference value by a specific value; and
an amplitude adjusting circuit unit configured to output an output audio signal having an amplitude reduced from the amplitude of the input audio signal when the amplitude adjustment determining circuit unit generates the amplitude reduction instruction, said amplitude adjusting circuit unit being configured to output an output audio signal having an amplitude augmented from the amplitude of the input audio signal when the amplitude adjustment determining circuit unit generates the amplitude augmentation instruction, said amplitude adjusting circuit unit being configured to output an output audio signal equal to the input audio signal when the amplitude adjustment determining circuit unit does not generate the amplitude reduction instruction and the amplitude augmentation instruction,
wherein said amplitude adjustment determining circuit unit is configured to generate the amplitude reduction instruction when the amplitude of the input audio signal other than a peak level thereof is greater than the first reference value, and
said amplitude adjustment determining circuit unit is configured to generate the amplitude augmentation instruction when the amplitude of the input audio signal other than the peak level thereof is smaller than the second reference value.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A method of making glass, the method comprising
adding iron to a glass batch at least partially in the form of melite, and melting the glass batch to form a glass having a visible transmission (Lta) no greater than 28% and an IR transmission no greater than 7%; and
wherein the glass includes a colorant portion comprising:
total iron:
0.7 to 1.8%
cobalt oxide:
0.001 to 1.0%
titanium oxide:
0.25 to 3.0%
chromium oxide:
0 to 0.010%.
2. A method of making glass, the method comprising
adding iron to a glass batch at least partially in the form of melite, and melting the glass batch to form a glass having a visible transmission (Lta) no greater than 28%; and
wherein the glass includes a colorant portion comprising:
total iron:
\u20030.7 to 1.8%
cobalt oxide:
0.001 to 1.0%
titanium oxide:
\u20020.25 to 3.0%
chromium oxide:
\u2009\u2003\u20020 to 0.010%.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein the glass has a dominant wavelength of from 450 to 530 nm, and an excitation purity (Pe) of from 10 to 25%.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein said dominant wavelength and excitation purity are measured at a nominal thickness of the glass of anywhere from 3 mm to 4 mm.
5. The method of claim 2, wherein the glass is substantially free of cerium.
6. The method of claim 2, wherein the glass is substantially free of nickel.
7. The method of claim 2, wherein the glass has a visible transmission (Lta) no greater than 25% and an JR transmission no greater than 5%.
8. The method of claim 2, wherein the glass has a visible transmission (Lta) no greater than 20% and an JR transmission no greater than 7%.
9. A method of making glass, the method comprising
adding iron to a glass batch at least partially in the form of melite, and melting the glass batch to form a glass having a visible transmission (Lta) no greater than 28%; and
wherein the glass includes a colorant portion comprising from 0 to 0.010% chromium oxide.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein the colorant portion comprises at least two of the following three elements:
total iron:
\u20030.7 to 1.8%
cobalt oxide:
0.001 to 1.0%
titanium oxide:
\u20020.25 to 3.0%.
11. The method of claim 9, wherein the glass has a dominant wavelength of from 450 to 530 nm, and an excitation purity (Pe) of from 10 to 25%.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein said dominant wavelength and excitation purity are measured at a nominal thickness of the glass of anywhere from 3 mm to 4 mm.
13. The method of claim 9, wherein the glass is substantially free of cerium.
14. The method of claim 9, wherein the glass is substantially free of nickel.
15. The method of claim 9, wherein the glass has a visible transmission (Lta) no greater than 25% and an IR transmission no greater than 5%.
16. The method of claim 9, wherein the glass has a visible transmission (Lta) no greater than 20% and an IR transmission no greater than 7%.