Abstract: A system for obtaining a tomographic image of an object having a plurality of candidate object image locations is provided. The system includes a processor containing object density information as well as a source of radiation energy for irradiating the object wherein the source of radiation is under the control of the processor. A radiograph of the object is provided and applied to a digitizer for indicating a selected object image location on the radiograph and transmitting the selected location to the processor. The processor then controls the source of radiation to adjust the level of radiation in accordance with the transmitted location and the stored object density information. The processor also controls a translator to adjust the relative object to equipment position in accordance with the transmitted location signal. The source of radiation energy can be moved through pluridimensional patterns.

Abstract: A universal adjustable cover 20 for a lighting fixture 10. Universal cover 20 has openings for mounting on a conduit 50 parallel to the ceiling, and additional openings 22 for angle mounting and 24 for mounting on a vertical conduit. Universal adjustable cover eliminates need for stocking a large number of lighting fixtures for only one mounting configuration.

Abstract: A video signal processor includes circuitry which may be conditioned by a mode control signal to operate as a single 16-bit adder or as two eight-bit adders. The circuitry includes two eight-bit adders, each of which has a carry-in input terminal and a carry-out output terminal. The carry-out output terminal of one of the adders is selectively coupled, via an AND gate, to the carry-in input terminal of the other adder. The AND gate is controlled by the mode control signal. In the mode where the circuitry operates as two eight-bit adders, additional circuitry is included to detect output values which may exceed the zero to 255 range of valid values and to saturate these invalid values either at zero or 255.

Abstract: Apparatus for lacing a flexible line through sheet material, such as shade cloth, of an indefinite length in a continuous operation. The apparatus has a set of pleating rollers, each with a series of teeth spaced apart about the periphery. The pleating rollers are mounted for rotation so that the teeth intermesh in a mesh zone, sheet material feeding through the mesh zone during apparatus use being caused to fold by the teeth into successive pleats. A lacing needle projects toward the pleating rollers and has a leading end positioned in the mesh zone. Sheet material pleats successively formed in the mesh zone are pierced by the leading end and received onto the lacing needle. The lacing needle is collectable to a flexible line for lacing through the material. A set of feed rollers are positioned downstream of the pleating rollers, each with a circumferential groove and being mounted for rotation so that the circumferential grooves are in register one with another.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for identifying handwritten characters is provided, each of the characters being a member of a set and being formed from a number of predetermined primitives. The apparatus includes an input device receiving successively each primitive forming a character. The input device generates input signals for each primitive forming the handwritten character. The input signals are conveyed to a processor. The processor examines the input signals and attempts to identify each of the primitives used to form the handwritten character. A primitive code is generated for each identified primitive and an unidentified primitive code is generated for each unidentified primitive. The primitive and unidentified primitive codes are combined to form an input character code. A memory is provided and stores a character code and an international output code for each of the characters in the set of characters.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the moisture in materials is provided. The apparatus allows the accurate determination of moisture in a sample as small as 1 mg with a sensitivity of less than 1 microgram of moisture. The apparatus includes a vacuum chamber which can be cooled to below -150.degree. C. or heated to about 100.degree. C. The vacuum chamber is connected in series with a moisture trap which can be cooled to below -150.degree. C. The moisture trap is connected in series with a combination of mechanical and diffusion vacuum pumps capable of reducing the pressure in the apparatus to below 1.times.10.sup.-5 Torr. A sample is placed in the vacuum chamber, cooled to below -150.degree. C., the apparatus is evacuated to a pressure of below 1.times.10.sup.-5 Torr by the vacuum pumps. Thereafter, the moisture trap is cooled to below -150.degree. C. while the sample is heated to about 100.degree. C. to transfer moisture from the sample to the trap.

Abstract: A method for planning the design of a region and the positioning of objects in the region. A first layout having a first layout area is disposed in the region to represent placement of an object such as an article of furniture within the region in a pre-determined relationship with the region. A second layout having a second layout area is disposed in combination with the first layout to form a layout combination having a combined layout area. The combined layout are is adjusted in accordance with the dimensions of the object being represented. In order to adjust the combined layout area one layout may be disposed over a portion of the other layout. The combined area of the two layers can be adjusted by adjusting the amount of area of one layout disposed over the other. Additionally, the combined area can be adjusted by folding or cutting at least one of the two layouts.

Abstract: A fixed frequency resonant mode DC to DC converter maintains a constant DC output voltage using a saturable inductor or saturable transformer in series with an inductor and capacitor. The output voltage of the converter is derived from the voltage drop across the saturable inductor or saturable transformer. The series inductor and capacitor force current through a switch to have a value of zero. The switch is then operated when the current through it is zero.

Abstract: A garden edging device separates one area of a lawn from another. The edging device includes two upwardly facing generally flat elongated horizontal segements. Two elongated vertical segments, each integral with the first horizontal segment, depend downwardly from the first horizontal segment along the longitudinal edges of the horizontal segment. One of the elongated vertical segments is integral along its lower edge to one longitudinal edge of the second horizontal segment. An additional longitudinal vertical segment is integral with the second horizontal segment and depends downwardly from it. The upwardly facing segments are provided with recessed holes for receiving and countersinking the heads of stakes which secure the device to the ground. The device can be straight or curved and can be formed with folds permitting it to be bent.

Abstract: Digital image data is encoded using a variable-length code which is described by a group of parameter values. Each parameter value describes a set of code values; each code value corresponds to a possible value of the data which is to be encoded. When the data is encoded, the parameter values are appended to the encoded data. A decoder stores the parameter values into a memory and then combines data values derived from the encoded data with parameter values from the memory to generate decoded data values. Each code word includes a prefix which indicates a number of successive parameter values which are to be summed, and a population index which is to be added to the summed parameter values to produce a decoded data value.

Abstract: A video signal processor includes a stored-program controller which concurrently reads two instruction values from a program memory during each instruction cycle. The next instruction used by the video signal processor is selected from between these two values. If the current instruction indicates a conditional branch operation, the value of one of a plurality of conditions internal to the video signal processor determines which of these two instructions is selected. Otherwise, a value provided by the current instruction itself determines which of the two instructions is selected. This configuration of the stored program controller implements a conditional branch facility in which there is no delay in fetching an instruction for either value of the selected condition.