Abstract: Apparatus for conveying rods of the cigarette industry, comprising a fluted drum for carrying rods in the flutes thereof, and means for feeding rods into the flutes of the drum, comprising movable conveyor means disposed in proximity to said drum for conveying a stack-like stream of the rods directly onto the drum whereby motion of the conveyor means towards the drum urges the stream of rods towards the drum and into contact therewith, thus ensuring that the flutes of the drum are filled with rods after passing the stack-like stream. Control means are preferably included for controlling movement of the conveyor means towards the drum whereby the said motion is sufficient to convey said stream of rods towards the drum at a rate just sufficient to fill the flutes of the drum.

Abstract: A splined radial panel solar collector structure approximates compound curvature surfaces by a three-dimensional arrangement of compactly stowable flat reflective panel segments mounted on a collapsible, space-deployable support structure of linear components. The support framework is formed of an umbrella-like framework of radially-extending ribs, struts and cords which deploy away from a central hub to form a system of radial trusses. A semirigid reflective surface structure is divided into sections of radial panels which are supported and shaped by an arrangement of radially tensioned flexible tape members aligned with the ribs. Connecting ties between the tapes and the ribs cause the tapes to assume a catenary curve. The ribs and flexible tape members are bridged circumferentially by sets of cords and ties to which the panels are joined. These cord and tie pairs place the panels in bending to effect a "splined" approximation of a parabola in the radial direction.

Abstract: The switching of the positive (or pullup power) and negative (or pulldown power) semiconductor elements, are controlled by driving circuits which are in turn controlled by level shift circuits which have a first current control circuit and a second current control circuit coupled in parallel and this parallel connection is coupled in series with the control N-channel MOSFET of a current mirror circuit in a circuit loop arrangement with a control power supply. The first and second current control circuits are responsive to first and second control pulses of pulse widths t.sub.1 and t.sub.1 +t.sub.2, in accordance with a driving signal such that the first current control circuit supplies a first current level to the control N-channel MOSFET during the first time period t.sub.1 and the second current control circuit supplies a second current level, smaller than that of the first current level, thereto for a predetermined time period t.sub.1 +t.sub.

Abstract: In surface packaging of thin resin packages such as resin molded memory ICs or the like, cracks of the package occur frequently at a solder reflow step where thermal impact is applied to the package because the resin has absorbed moisture before packaging. To solve this problem, the devices are packaged moisture-tight at an assembly step of the resin molded devices where the resin is still dry, and are taken out from the bags immediately before the execution of surface packaging.

Abstract: A doll made of rush stalks assembled of prefabricated body sections comprising rusk stalk fabrics woven into a ball shape form or other body forms and a head section fitted into the body such that the doll makes best use of the original nature of rush stalks while providing the refinement of a fancy doll.

Abstract: A motion regulator for a hinge such as, for example, a tripartite eyeglass hinge, with at least two hinge tabs and a hinge screw, a sleeve surrounding the hinge screw disposed in a hinge eye of the hinge tab. The sleeve projects beyond the hinge tab and rests against a neighboring hinge tab or tabs. In order to obtain an objective that a braking torque, determining the motion characteristics of the hinge, is substantially constant and independent of the tightening torque of the hinge screw, a spring-elastic element is arranged at least between the hinge tab wherein the sleeve is located and the hinge tab movable with respect to this hinge tab. The spring-elastic element, resilient in the axial direction with respect to the hinge screw axis, is in contact under a pretensioning with a contact surface of at least one hinge tab, which surface is rotationally symmetrical with respect to the hinge screw axis.

Abstract: A self starting turbine (10) is disclosed. An auxiliary pulse combustor (23) is provided having a separate output nozzle (36) from the discharge orifice (20) of a constant pressure combustor (18) for providing pressure pulses which impinge on the blades (22) of the rotor (14) of the turbine to provide starting torque. The utilization of a separate pulse combustion chamber (24) and discharge orifice 36 having a cross-sectional area different from the discharge orifice (20) of the constant pressure combustor (18) permits efficient pulse operation without adversely affecting the operation of the constant pressure combustor during normal sustained operation of the turbine.

Abstract: An adaptive brake control system monitors a plurality of brake pipe/air line parameters, such as fluid path volume and air flow rate, and controllably modifies action taken by the engineman or performs emergency control of the brakes, in order to continuously enable the brake system to adapt itself to dynamic operating conditions and anomalies in the integrity of the fluid path. In accordance with a pressure reduction modification mechanism, the application of a pressure reduction to the equalizing reservoir is precisely controlled by taking into account the actual state of the brake pipe, so as to ensure that the requested brake application is effected as intended. The control mechanism also monitors the integrity of the fluid flow path of the brake pipe/train air line, so that the engineman may be alerted and a prescribed train safety measure may be effected in the event of a potentially hazardous anomaly in the link.

Abstract: A video signal and a horizontal synchronizing signal provided from a work station are delayed by a plurality of delay circuits having different delay amounts, and phase differences between a sampling clock signal and the delayed signals are detected. A clock generator generates two kinds of clock pulses having opposite phases and the same frequency. A clock selector selects one of the clock pulses as a sampling pulse signal in response to the phase differences. Further, a phase difference between the horizontal synchronizing signal and the video signal is detected so that the phase difference between the horizontal synchronizing signal and the video signal is maintained constant.

Abstract: A parallel processor system comprises a main storage, a processor array control apparatus, a control processor which requests the processor array control apparatus to execute the processing in accordance with a procedure start instruction, and a plurality of processor elements each containing a local memory. In response to a designation from the control processor, the processor array control apparatus transfers the program from the main storage to the local memories in all of the processor elements before they are driven. The processor array control apparatus then controls the conditions of the processor elements and drives those processor elements which are capable of processing the procedure in accordance with the procedure start instruction from the control processor.

Abstract: An air mixing type automotive air-conditioner is disclosed in which an air fed by a blower is heated to a hot air by a hot water type heater, and a mixture ratio between a cold air flowing through a bypass passage around the heater and the hot air is adjusted by an air mixing door used as an adjustment damper. The air-conditioner comprises an outside temperature sensor for generating a first signal, a room temperature setter for generating a second signal, a room temperature sensor for generating a third signal, a first arithmetic unit for calculating a desired blown air temperature on the basis of the first and second signals, and a second arithmetic unit for calculating and controlling a desired blown air flow on the basis of the second and third signals. The air-conditioner is so controlled as to obtain the blown air temperature most suitable for a thermal load of the air-conditioner.

Abstract: Compensation for rain fades in a VSAT communications network is obtained by a uplink power control mechanism incorporated in a master station, which maintains the power output level of the satellite transponder constant without incorporating excessive static margins into the link power budget. A variable attenuator, which controls the output power of the master station's high power amplifier is initially set at a prescribed level which will produce the intended satellite amplifier EIRP for a `clear sky` condition. The master station monitors the output of the satellite amplifier and derives a measure of the signal-to-noise ratio of downlinked signals. Knowing the variable attenuator setting and the signal-to-noise ratio of the downlinked signals, the magnitude of attenuation of outlink carrier frequency signals transmitted from the master station to the satellite is determined.

Abstract: A drift correction mechanism for a vehicle (e.g. aircraft) navigation system makes use of a digital map data base, in order to correct for errors in position estimates, so that the estimated flight path of the aircraft will more closely track its actual flight path, and thereby effectively compensate for the long term error to which the navigation system is subjected. During the flight, altimeter readings are periodically carried out in order to generate elevation values that are representative of the actual elevation of the terrain over which the aircraft is flying. These elevation values are then used as inputs to a digital map database, from which elevation profile contour lines of respective elevation values may be derived. At the time that a respective altimeter reading is effected, the position estimate output of the aircraft's navigation system is also sampled.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of and apparatus for detecting an end point of plasma treatment of a specimen.

Abstract: In an ion-beam machining method and apparatus of effecting sputtering by deflecting a focused ion beam and scanning it on a material surface, the relationship between the diameter d of the beam on the material surface and the height h of a stepped portion formed by each beam scan is changed from h.gtoreq.d to h<<d in accordance with an increase in the depth of a hole which is being formed, to thereby control the number of sputtered particles redeposited on side walls of the hole. The apparatus includes a deflection controller for controlling an ion beam deflector and blanking electrode so as to change the above-mentioned relationship between d and h.

Abstract: An improved visual and tactile indicator (30) for indicating the status of a connection between a shaft (14) and a constant speed drive transmission (22) by a coupling mechanism (20) is disclosed. The invention utilizes a first movable member (32) which is movable along a longitudinal axis between first and second positions, the first position indicating that the shaft is connected to the rotary source of power and the second position indicating that the shaft is not connected to the rotary source of power and a second movable member (34) which is movable along a longitudinal axis between first and second positions, the second member being adjacent to the first member with the longitudinal axes being parallel. A locking mechanism (36) locks the first and second movable members longitudinally with respect to each other when the input shaft is coupled to the constant speed drive transmission by the coupling mechanism.

Abstract: A production system for an expert system comprising: a production rule memory unit storing circuit conversion rules, each having a condition part describing circuit connection and an execution part describing a conversion of the condition part to an equivalent logic circuit dependent upon a predetermined semiconductor technology and further having a provisionally predetermined priority; a task data memory unit storing circuit connection data, each being subjected to an application of the circuit conversion rules; a production rule interpretation and execution unit for selecting a circuit conversion rule in accordance with the provisionally predetermined priority, collating the condition part of the selected circuit conversion rule with the circuit connection data to determine whether the condition part matches with a part of the circuit connection data and, when the both match each other, converting the part of the circuit connection data by the corresponding execution part of the circuit conversion rule to a

Abstract: A ceramic substrate for densely integrated semiconductor arrays which is superior in a coefficient of thermal expansion, dielectric constant, strength of metallized bond, and mechanical strength, comprising a sintered body composed essentially of mullite crystals and a non-crystralline binder composed of SiO.sub.2, Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, and MgO, is provided.

Abstract: Rigid polyurethane foams produced by reacting a polyol component having a special composition with an isocyanate component in the presence of a blowing agent, a reaction catalyst and a foam stabilizer with a mold release time of as short as 5.5 minutes or less, have remarkably low thermal conductivity of 12.5.times.10.sup.-3 Kcal/m.hr..degree.C. or less and a low density and are suitable as heat insulating materials for refrigerators and the like.