Abstract: A method for depositing diamond film on a substrate utilizing a tuneable microwave cavity with an adjustable height and antenna and an electrically insulated chamber comprises the steps of decreasing the pressure within the chamber, creating a plasma including hydrogen gas within the chamber, tuning the cavity by varying its height and the depth of insertion of the antenna to minimize reflected power and properly position the plasma on the substrate, injecting a hydrocarbon gas into the chamber, and maintaining the plasma for a sufficient time for diamond film of the desired thickness to be deposited.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for verifying the proper airing of television program having a digital identification code recorded on a preselected scan line which is not normally visible to the television viewer. A plurality of television channels are automatically simultaneously monitored by a primary monitoring system at a site 30 within the reception area and broadcast encoded programs are identified and timed and appraised as to their audio and video signal quality. The information generated is stored locally for later comparision with centrally stored 62 information specifying the program that should have been aired. Each of the channels is sequentially monitored for a preselected fixed time interval, which depends on the number of channels being monitored, under the control of a programmable sequential controller 54. A secondary monitoring system is provided for use as a backup or for monitoring cable channels.

Abstract: A modified Stirling cycle cryogenic refrigerator having an improved unloader valve mechanism for bypassing the compressor cylinder for a short time during start-up in order to reduce the starting torque on the motor driving the pistons and when the drive motor is turned off in order to prevent the refrigerator from spontaneously running in reverse.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for determining operating parameters, such as rain margin, of an antenna by attenuating the received signal by, for example, the use of calibrated attenuation pads, the method comprising placing such pads in front of the horn of the antenna feed until impulses appear on the screen of a T.V. or monitor connected to the antenna. The antenna alignment is peaked by determining the orientation of the antenna that yields the minimum impulses. The rain or impulse noise margin is determined by summing the attenuation factors of the pads with the increase in delta G/T due to the attenuation. The tuning of the receiver can be checked by observing the number of black and white impulses. The positioning of the antenna with respect to the polarization of the signal can be checked by determining the rotational position of the feedhorn which yields the minimum number of impulses. The descrambler dropout margin and clear sky carrier-to-noise ratio are determined by the addition of proper constants.

Abstract: A laser has a slab in which the beam F is propagated in zig-zag manner between two opposing faces which have the property of ensuring total reflection. For this purpose each of these faces is covered with a solid layer of a good heat conducting material and having a refractive index below that of the slab. Its thickness is preferably greater than three times the operating wavelength of the laser. Thus, a cooling fluid can be in contact with the solid layer to effectively cool the slab. Pumped energy sources are preferably provided opposite the layers.

Abstract: A modified Stirling cycle cryogenic refrigerator having a cold head, compressor and expander cylinders connected by a channel, and a compressor piston and an expander piston reciprocally mounted in the respective cylinders. A thin-walled hollow, evacuated, cylinderical metal extender is mounted on the side of the expander piston close to the cold head for shielding the expander from the low temperatures of the working gas in the vicinity of the cold head.

Abstract: A vehicle air conditioning system in which air or a working liquid is circulated through a heat exchanger mounted in intimate thermal contact with the cold head of a modified Stirling cycle refrigerator. The working liquid is circulated through a heat conductive tube to the location of the vehicle to be cooled. Second heat exchangers are connected to the tube at each of the locations and the air to be cooled is blown through the second heat exchangers. If air is circulated through the cold head mounted heat exchanger, the cooled air is ducted to the locations in the vehicle to be cooled.

Abstract: A connector has a plug and a socket. The plug is provided with at least one male contact member composed of two resilient foils in the shape of spoons. Each of these foils is mounted in a floating manner in the insulating block of the plug. The socket has a female contact member which is rigidly mounted in the insulating block. Thus, when the connector is plugged in, the contact element of the plug can align with the contact element of the socket by which it is then positioned. The connector can be executed with a distance between the contact sets of only 1.27 mm (0.05 inches). The connector is useful with surface mounting technology.

Abstract: Measuring apparatus is disclosed, in which a probe pin forms part of the measuring apparatus to allow the measurement of parts placed on a platform. The probe pin of the measuring apparatus may be retracted by a lever pivoting in a bracket fitted detachably to the housing of the apparatus. The retracting means fitted with this lever is easy to control and allows parts to be measured quickly.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for verifying the proper airing of television programs having a digital identification code recorded on a preselected scan line which is not normally visible to the television viewer. A plurality of television channels are automatically simultaneously monitored by a primary monitoring system at a site 30 within the reception area and broadcast encoded programs are identified and timed and appraised as to their audio and video signal quality. The information generated is stored locally for later comparison with centrally stored 62 information specifying the programs that should have been aired. Each of the channels is sequentially monitored for a preselected fixed time interval, which depends on the number of channels being monitored, under the control of a programmable sequential controller 54. A secondary monitoring system is provided for use as a backup or for monitoring cable channels.

Abstract: The converter described comprises a generator (2) having a rotor (3) driven by a spring (1) via a gear-train (4), and means (11) for electrically braking the rotor (3). In one form of embodiment of the converter, the mean rotational speed of the rotor (3) is adjusted to a predetermined set speed by a control circuit (12) which periodically cuts out the braking means (11) in response to a reference signal having a period equal to the ratio between a predetermined rotational angle of the rotor (3) and the set speed. The control circuit (12) cuts the braking means (11) in again after a length of time which varies in response to a signal generated by a circuit (26, 27) for comparing the real angular position of the rotor (3) at the beginning of each period of the refernce signal with the angular position it should be in when running at the set speed.The converter may for instance be used in a timepiece having hands (9) that are also driven by the spring (1).

Abstract: Modified Stirling cycle refrigerators having a cam drive unit which is illustrated as being implemented either as a rotatable cylinder having a pair of circumferential camming grooves or as wobble plates having camming tracks on the periphery thereof. The cam drive unit drives the compressor and expander piston of the refrigerator through cam followers. Refrigerator embodiments having a plurality of compressor-expander piston pairs driven from a single cam drive are also disclosed.

Abstract: A small electronic unit for use especially in the manufacture of microcircuit cards, e.g. credit cards, carpark cards, telephone call payment cards, etc. which includes an integrated circuit positioned in an aperature in a flexible sheet of insulating material which sheet carries a plurality of electrical conductive strips that extends into the aperature and are fastened, soldered or adhesively bonded to the terminals of the chip. The flexible sheet is carried either directly or through the intermediary of the conductive strips by a support member which is deformable under bending and twisting stresses. At least a major sector of the area of the flexible sheet surrrounding the aperature is free to move with respect to the support for substantially isolating the chip and the conductive strips from stresses resulting from the deformations of the support member.

Abstract: The invention relates to microcircuit cards, used for electronic transactions or other purposes, and concerns a process for mass producing electronic modules to be used in these cards and the modules obtained according to this process. According to the invention, there are fabricated, on the one hand, a metal grid with a plurality of openings into which there penetrate tongues attached to the frame of this grid and intended to form the modules' contact areas, and, on the other hand, pellets of plastics material which have a generally flat front face, a rear face in which there is a hollow and, between this hollow and the front face, windows so arranged that they can be positioned opposite the grid tongues.

Abstract: In the present invention, a length of elongated single crystal ingot is mounted adjacent its ends and is ground while being rotated to provide a cylindrical shape. While still mounted, the crystal is rotated into a position to be x-rayed for the grinding of a flat thereon with the crystal in a non-rotated state.

Abstract: Control circuitry for sensing excessive substrate bias voltage in a circuit, such as an LSI N-channel MOS transistor circuit incorporating a substrate bias generator, and for maintaining an optimum bias voltage level by bypassing the excess to ground.

Abstract: The present apparatus includes a base and a table movably mounted thereto, further including a body secured to the table and a rod movably mounted to the body. The rod is brought into contact with a member such as a saw blade, and the table and body are moved toward the blade a chosen distance, the rod being moved relative to the body a certain distance corresponding to a certain increase in force being applied to the blade by the rod. For a given increase in force applied to the blade, the movement of the rod relative to the body can be compared to the movement of the table relative to the base to determine deflection of the blade for application of that increase in force thereto.

Abstract: An electronic multiplying circuit, primarily intended for use in an electronic watthour meter, comprises a variable-transconductance multiplier of the type comprising two emitter-coupled pairs of transistors, the collectors of one pair being cross-coupled with the collectors of the other pair. In order to permit the effective polarity of one of the input signals to the multiplier to be reversed from time to time for drift correction purposes, this input signal is applied to a semiconductor switching circuit, which applies it alternately to the respective bases of a further emitter-coupled pair of transistors. The collectors of the transistors of this further pair are connected in series with the coupled emitters of respective ones of the emitter-coupled pairs in the variable-transconductance multiplier.

Abstract: An electric meter particularly characterized by a small number of moving parts and simplified assembly by virtue of fixed cooperating locating surfaces on the elements and sub-assemblies of the meter. A magnetic circuit including a yoke and magnet are constructed to snap into an insulating base in a predetermined position on the base. A coil assembly initially including integral elements for connection of pivot bearings or taut bands is accurately positioned for rotation on the supporting base by inserting the assembly into the base. Cooperating locating surfaces provide for accurate predetermined positioning of the axis of rotation of the coil relative to the magnetic circuit.

Abstract: A transducer for sensing density, pressure or pressure difference in fluids comprises a resonantly vibratable cylinder as its sensing element. The cylinder has a mounting ring at one end, the mounting ring being clamped against a base member by means of a spring arranged to exert a substantially constant clamping force on the mounting ring. An outer cover fits over the cylinder, the cover having a flange which is directly bolted to an upstanding annular rim of the base member and a depending skirt portion in which the spring is integrally formed by machining.