Abstract: A device for holding a stick or rod of spreadable material includes a sleeve or container open on one side, an element co-acting with the stick, and a hand-operated means for varying the distance between the edge of the open side of the sleeve and the stick element. The stick or rod of spreadable material can be an adhesive stick or a wax stick. The stick of spreadable material is packaged separately from the device in an envelope of thin material, and the container includes means for securely holding an envelope of thin material suitable for packaging the stick.

Abstract: A signal light control system for an automotive vehicle includes silicon-controlled-rectifiers of the gate-turn-off type (GTO), individual ones of which are used to selectively control the conduction of current to signal lamps mounted at the left-front, right-front, left-rear, and right-rear locations on the vehicle. A digital logic network is responsive to the conditions of the turn, hazard, and brake switches of the vehicle, and to the pulse train of a flasher circuit enabled during active conditions of the turn and hazard switches, for selectively applying appropriate control signals to the gate electrodes of the GTOs, to turn on and off the GTOs as required to operate the signal lamps during right and left turn conditions of the turn switch, braking of the vehicle, and the emergency condition of the hazard switch.

Abstract: When a gate-turn-off silicon controlled rectifier (GTO) is turned on, the potential of its gate electrode rises toward the voltage at its anode electrode. This gate voltage is employed to turn on a second GTO to insure that the loads driven by these GTO's are energized in a particular order. Switches in the circuit permit the GTO's to be turned off concurrently or in any order desired. A charge storage circuit may be included for controlling the turn-on delay between the two GTO's.

Abstract: A first field-effect transistorized constant current supply provides a first relatively constant output current. A second field-effect transistorized constant current supply is cascaded with, and driven by, the first current to provide a more highly regulated second constant output current. The system is self-starting and latch free. The second output current may be employed to drive a current mirror with a plurality of output current paths.

Abstract: A dynamic current supply is connected between the emitter electrode of an output transistor and a point of reference potential, to progressively increase the magnitude of the flow of current therebetween, as the output signal at the emitter electrode approaches the point of reference potential. The dynamic current supply includes a current mirror, the output of which is in the path of and controls the flow of current. An MOS transistor, the conductivity of which is a function of the difference in potential between the operating voltage supplied to the output transistor and the output signal, supplies the input or control current to the current mirror.

Abstract: A micropower, latch-up free, relaxation oscillator includes a switch such as a programmable unijunction transistor or a silicon-controlled-switch. The switch is coupled at its gate electrode via an emitter-follower circuit of low output impedance, to a source of reference potential provided by a relatively high resistance resistive voltage divider. The condition of the switch, whether conducting or not, is controlled by a resistor-capacitor timing circuit. When the capacitor charges to a given level, it causes the switch to conduct and to act as a discharge circuit for the capacitor. When the capacitor discharges to a second level, the switch goes off and the cycle then repeats.

Abstract: A sensing transistor has its base and emitter electrodes connected across a sensing resistor connected in series with the collector electrode of an output transistor. Whenever the collector current to the output transistor tends to exceed a predetermined value, the sensing transistor is turned on to reduce the base current being supplied from a current source to the base of the output transistor to thereby reduce this collector current to less than this value. This reduction is accomplished by diverting the excess portion of the source current through the collector-emitter current path of the sensing transistor, into the collector electrode of the output transistor.

Abstract: An input terminal of two differential amplifiers, one employing PNP transistors and the other NPN transistors having a different gain (beta) than the PNP transistors, connect in common to a terminal of a signal source. The operating currents to these amplifiers are maintained at different levels such that the base current flowing into the input terminal of one amplifier in its balanced condition is equal to that flowing from the input terminal of the other amplifier in its balanced condition.

Abstract: It is known in the art to place a low impedance path across the input circuit of an output amplifier when the power dissipation of the amplifier exceeds a given value. The present circuit includes, in addition, a gate controlled rectifier, the main conduction path of which is connected across the output terminals of the amplifier, and which is turned on in response to a flow of current through this low impedance path. This additional circuit protects the amplifier from voltage spikes produced, for example, by an inductive load, such as a speaker driven by the amplifier.

Abstract: At least two current mirrors, both responsive to the same input current, the output transistor of the first serving as a current sink for the output current supplied by the second. At least the first mirror is a two-ratio mirror, its output current demand increasing at a rate within the output current supply capacity of the second in a first input current range and increasing at a rate faster than the rate of increase of the output current of the second mirror in a second input current range. A signal detector coupled to the output circuits of both mirrors indicates when the input signal current reaches a given level by detecting when current demanded by said sink exceeds the output current of the second mirror.

Abstract: The transistors of a differential amplifier are coupled at their common emitter electrode connection to a low voltage power supply terminal and at their collector electrodes through respective current sinks to a point of reference potential. The collector electrodes are maintained at a voltage level above the reference potential to permit input signal swings at the base electrodes of the transistors a comparable amount below the reference voltage level. Current sources are provided for satisfying that portion of the current demand of these sinks not furnished by the transistors. When the amplifier is connected to operate as a voltage follower, additional transistors may be provided to prevent an undesirable change in the polarity of the output signal, when the input signal swings substantially below the reference voltage level.

Abstract: The start-up delay of an externally synchronized astable multivibrator is reduced by placing a low impedance path between ground and the base electrode of a transistor in the input circuit to the multivibrator in response to the signal which turns on the multivibrator.