Abstract: An electronic switch with very low dynamic "on" resistance includes an operational transconductance amplifier including a non-inverting input adapted for connection to a reference potential and an inverting input interconnected with the amplifier output; and control means for enabling the amplifier output to provide a low-impedance virtual potential at the inverting input approximately the same as that of the reference potential and for disabling the amplifier output to promote a high impedance at the inverting input.

Abstract: A call identification display system includes a reception unit; at least one remote user unit; and a communication link such as conventional interface electronics located in the reception unit and the remote units interconnected by cables or rf or laser transmitter and receiver systems; the reception unit has a data entry device such as a keyboard for entering a message including at least identifying indicia for an incoming caller and a display device; each remote user unit includes a display displaying the message from the reception unit identifying the incoming caller and an instruction selector for selecting one of a number of predetermined instructions for display in the display device in the reception unit for directly disposition of the incoming call.

Abstract: A composite heat transfer device is disclosed, for mounting with an object having a predetermined coefficient of thermal expansion, including a composite heat conductive member having a quantity of first and second materials; the first material having a positive coefficient of thermal expansion and the second material having a negative coefficient of thermal expansion. The first and second materials are combined in a quantity ratio to produce a composite heat transfer device with a coefficient of thermal expansion which can be closely tailored to match the predetermined coefficient of thermal expansion of the object with which heat is to be transferred. Also included is a heat transfer assembly including a circuit board on which are located a plurality of heat generating devices. The circuit board is mounted proximate a composite heat conductive member. The composite heat conductive member is mounted proximate a hollow core structure which forms passageways through which may flow a fluid medium.

Abstract: A decoupled dual-beam control system for a compact micromanipulator unit for a surgical laser system includes a focusing mechanism for focusing a first laser beam of a first wavelength at a predetermined focal point; and a control mechanism for directing a second laser beam of a second wavelength onto the focusing mechanism; the control mechanism includes a device for varying the diameter and wavefront of the second laser beam at the focusing mechanism for enabling the focusing mechanism to focus the second beam in the same focal plane as the first beam. The control mechanism further includes a device for translating the second beam relative to the focusing mechanism for enabling the focusing mechanism to coincidentally position the foci of the surgical and aiming beams in the focal plane.

Abstract: A variable pulse width precision pulse generator includes a constant current source for producing a number of different constant currents; a charge storage device whose voltage output is proportional to the charge stored; and gating means responsive to an input signal for controlling the time during which the constant current source charges the charge storage device to produce a ramp voltage; a first comparator responsive to the voltage ramp for detecting a first level of the ramp; a second comparator responsive to the voltage ramp for detecting a second level of the ramp; and logic means responsive to the comparators for providing a precision pulse during the presence of the input signal between the occurrence of the detection of the first and second levels of the ramp by the comparators.

Abstract: Variable turbocharger apparatus (2) comprising a housing (4), a compressor (6) mounted for rotation in the housing (4), a turbine (12) mounted for rotation in the housing (4), a first inlet (16) for enabling air to be conducted to the compressor (6), an outlet (18) for air from the compressor (6), a second inlet (20) for enabling exhaust gases from an engine to be conducted to the turbine (12), a chamber (22) which surrounds the turbine (12) and which receives the exhaust gases from the second inlet (20) before the exhaust gases are conducted to the turbine (12), and a piston (24) which is positioned between the turbine (12) and the housing (4) and which is slidable backwards and forwards to form a movable wall separating the turbine (12) from the chamber (22) which surrounds the turbine (12), the piston (24) having a plurality of vanes (102), the piston (24 ) being such that in its closed position it terminates short of an adjacent part of the housing (4) so that there is always a gap between the end (30) of

Abstract: A pulse shaping system for a pulse width modulation system includes: a ramp generator for generating a ramp signal having a ramp portion and a rest portion; a latch signal generator providing a latch signal coincident with the ramp portion; an indicator circuit for indicating desired pulse width; a pulse edge modulator responsive to the ramp portion and to the indicator circuit for providing a pulse width modulated pulse having at least one of its edges modulated; and including one or both of a fill circuit and a blanking circuit. In response to an indication from the indicator circuit of a desired maximum pulse width, the fill circuit causes the latch signal and the pulse generated by the pulse edge modulator to be combined for producing a maximum width pulse at the full width of the latch signal and the ramp portion.

Abstract: A goods-handling door of the type comprising a raisable curtain constituted by a flexible curtain having horizontal reinforcing bars disposed at regular intervals, e.g. a roll-up door or a raisable door that folds concertina-like, wherein the lowermost bar is flexible and lighter than the other bars.

Abstract: A microwave activated gas generator in which microwave energy is supplied to an activated gas formation region through which a gas to be activated flows in a high-velocity stream. The stream is disturbed within or proximate the activation region to form a downstream stagnation region within the activated gas formation region to encourage microwave gas activation for efficiently coupling power to the gas to form a high-volume, high-velocity activated gas stream.

Abstract: A water generating device for obtaining portable water from ambient air inside or outside a structure or dwelling. There is an air filter for filtering the air prior to processing of the air. The air filter may include a one-time sensing element which renders it unusable when removed from the generator. A condenser is provided for extracting water vapor in the air. Between the condenser and the collection point, there is an immediate temporary holding reservoir, or plumbing to this reservoir, which contains an ultraviolet light to kill existing microorganisms, as well as a pump to transport the water through a subsequent water filter, a second exposure to ultraviolet light, and ultimately, at the final discharge point to the internal or external water storage unit there may be another ultraviolet light that creates a sterile outlet from the primary system. The water filter may also include a one-time sensing element which renders it unusable when removed.

Abstract: A method of recovering nucleic acid-containing particles from a liquid medium by contacting the liquid medium containing the particles with a mixture of hydroxylated silica beads and a salt solution to bind the nucleic acid-containing particles, centrifuging the mixture to pellet the bound particles, and separating the pellet from the liquid.

Abstract: A proximity detector for the probe of a beam delivery apparatus of a laser system includes a probe having a face for confronting a target surface to be struck by the laser beam; means for directing a gauging light to the target surface; means for sensing the gauging light returning from the target surface to the probe; and means responsive to the means for sensing for generating a control signal representative of the position of the probe relative to the surface to enable the laser system to fire.

Abstract: A dual edge pulse width modulation system includes a ramp generator for generating a voltage ramp; an n bit digital to analog converter having a normal and an inverted output for establishing a leading edge and a trailing edge reference; a comparator responsive to the ramp and the leading edge and trailing edge references, respectively, for defining the leading edge and the trailing edge of a pulse; and a pulse generator for producing a pulse having the width determined by the defined leading and trailing edges.

Abstract: A method of forming an optical channel waveguide by gettering includes forming on a substrate a porous waveguide layer containing an index of refraction raising dopant in a compound; sealing a portion of the waveguide layer along a path; and reacting the component, including the index of refraction raising dopant, with a reactant in the unsealed portion of the waveguide layer to form a volatile product from the reactant and dopant to deplete the dopant in the unsealed portion of the waveguide layer and reduce its index of refraction relative to that in the path to produce a channel waveguide along the path.

Abstract: An edge detecting system for detecting an edge on a wavy surface includes a stylus for tracking across the surface; a transducer, responsive to the stylus, for producing a signal representative of surface transitions sensed by the stylus; a support for suspending the stylus over the surface with the stylus contacting the surface in which the support has a natural frequency which isolates the stylus from the low-frequency wavy surface contours and compels the stylus to respond only to the higher frequency surface transitions. Further included is a detector, responsive to the transducer, for detecting a signal representative of an edge amidst other high-frequency surface transitions. Also disclosed is a system in which the signal of the transducer is averaged and then compared to a reference level to determine the orientations of the fibers in the material of the surface.

Abstract: A novel means of attaching a plow frame to a vehicle frame is described. The attachment means includes ears on both the plow frame and the vehicle frame. The ears are joined together by pins that are inserted through holes in the ears. The ears are shaped in such a way that they can be forced into alignment using the plow's lifting device. when the ears are held in alignment this way the coupling pins can be easily inserted. This greatly eases the coupling of the plow to the vehicle.

Abstract: A photoelectric load control system for applying a.c. power to a street light as a function of ambient light level includes switching means for selectively applying a.c. power to a street light for turning the street light on and off; a trigger circuit having two states, a first state which actuates the switching means to turn on the street light and a second state which actuates the switching means to turn off the street light; means for biasing the trigger circuit into one of the states; and photoelectric sensing means for varying the bias on the trigger circuit to drive it into the other state in response to the ambient light level sensed by the photoelectric sensing means.

Abstract: A scanning circuit for successively scanning a plural number of capacitive loads comprising: a delay circuit 101 for delaying a supplied pulse signal from a previous stage in accordance with a first clock signal; a switching transistor 102 which is controlled by the first clock signal; an EXNOR circuit 103 which judges whether or not the signal generated by the delay circuit 101 is correct; a non-inverting buffer circuit 104 for reserve of the delay circuit 101; switching transistors 105 and 106 which are controlled in accordance with the signal generated by the EXNOR circuit 103; and an output buffer circuit 107 which is controlled in accordance with the first clock signal or a second clock signal. Accordingly, the scanning circuit can operate correctly even if one of the delay circuit 101 or the non-inverting buffer circuit 104 fails.

Abstract: A method of forming an optical channel waveguide includes forming on a substrate a waveguide layer of silica doped with an index of refraction raising dopant whose concentration profile in a first dimension includes a higher concentration region and an adjacent lower concentration region; and heating the waveguide layer along two spaced areas defined in the second and third dimension which define a path between them for diffusing the dopant along the first dimension from the higher concentration region to the lower concentration region to reduce the index of refraction of the higher concentration region in portions of the higher concentration region proximate the spaced areas and create a waveguide along the path.

Abstract: An anti-false triggering system for a pulse width modulation system includes a ramp generator for generating a ramp signal having a ramp portion and a rest portion; a latch enable signal generator for providing a latch enable signal only during the ramp portion of the ramp signal; and a pulse edge modulator responsive to the ramp portion of the ramp signal for providing a pulse with at least one of its edges modulated, the pulse edge modulator being enabled by the latch enable signal only during the ramp portion of the ramp signal for suppressing false triggering of the pulse edge modulator during the rest portion of the ramp signal.