Abstract: This invention relates to dynamic devices for insulating wall surfaces and especially surfaces including a window. A self-inflating solar curtain may be automatically raised and lowered in response to the direction of heat flow into or out of a confined space within which the temperature is to be controlled. This confined space could be a solar collector, a room in a house, or another enclosure requiring temperature control. The curtain comprises at least one double-walled, air-entraining envelope with vents at the bottom for enabling an inhaling or exhaling process which takes air into and expels air from the envelope as the curtain is heated or raised, respectively. The curtain may be wound upon and stowed on a roller driven by a motor or other suitable means. A comb-like structure separates the top of the air-entraining envelope to insure an internal spreading of the curtain all of the way up to its top.

Abstract: This invention relates to a self-inflating solar curtain and to the mechanism for automatically raising and lowering same between its operative and inoperative positions in response to the direction of heat flow into and out of a confined space within which the temperature is to be controlled. The curtain comprises at least one double walled air-entraining envelope folded along its lower edge to provide a cradle supporting a rigid combination spreader, weight and guide member effective to maintain a permanent air pocket at the base thereof. Vents are provided in the envelope for taking air into the pocket as well expelling air therefrom as the curtain is raised into its inoperative position through the gap left between a pair of pinch rollers mounted overhead. The sides of the envelope are left open but confined and sealed within the opposed channels of a pair of tracks mounted alongside thereof.

Abstract: A method for applying therapeutic heat by a therapeutic heating pad which is not hot to the touch provides substantial infrared radiation to a user. Accordingly it can be used for extended periods without feeling uncomfortable to the skin, while imparting deep therapeutic heat to the user. The heating pad is comprised of a radiant heat generating layer having a plane surface comprising means for radiating heat evenly from its surface, a pair of flexible electrically insulating and radiation permeable layers located adjacent and covering opposite sides of the layer, a thermal insulation layer disposed against and covering one of the electrically insulating layers, a radiation reflective layer disposed against and covering the outside surface of the thermal insulation layer, and a sealed radiation permeable envelope enclosing the entire heater.

Abstract: A semiconductor (preferably a thyristor) switch has characteristics that can be represented by an equivalent circuit including an interconnected pair of opposite conductive types of transistors. The base terminals of these transistors represent anode and cathode gate electrodes of the thyristors. An amplifier which is free from erroneous actions due to the impression of a transitional voltage is connected to an electrode of the thyristor, which corresponds to the base terminal of an equivalent transistor of a first conductive type, in order to supply a gate current. A resistor across the base-emitter junction of an equivalent transistor of a second conductive type has a sufficiently low-resistance value to satisfy a predetermined dv/dt-bearing capacity. Therefore, a sustaining gate current is provided responsive to an amplification of the input to the amplifying means.

Abstract: Signal charges are accumulated in photosensitive elements of an integrated semiconductor imaging matrix, the charges being divided into two parts. Responsive to first and second pulse signals, the first or preceding part of the charge from each of the elements is drawn out via a charge transfer device, as a non-information signal. The second or following part is drawn out, as an information signal, responsive to transfer pulse signals and shift pulse signals. Therefore, even in the presence of intense light, the information signal charges are stored in the photosensitive elements for only a short period of time between the ending time of the first pulse signal and the beginning time of the transfer pulse signal. Thus, the storage will not overflow the capacity of the photosensitive elements.

Abstract: A telephone system automatic ringing code decoder useful to provide single party ringing on a multi-party telephone line. The decoder counts the number of ring bursts and detects the length of the last ring burst in the first ring burst code sequence and compares it with a preselected code. Upon finding a match, it provides an output on an SEL lead, indicating that further ringing can be applied to a subscriber's set ringer.

Abstract: A switching network has a group of incoming lines respectively connected to the terminal equipments of a plurality of subscriber stations. A group of outgoing lines are respectively connected to a plurality of trunk circuits. A plurality of crosspoints are formed between the incoming lines and the outgoing lines. Crosstalk is eliminated between mutually adjacent incoming lines or between mutually adjacent outgoing lines, by serially connecting a series circuit between the lines where crosstalk might otherwise occur. The serial circuit includes a phase inverter circuit and an impedance element having an impedance value which is sufficiently close to that of the impedance which is likely to cause crosstalk between these lines.

Abstract: The encoding of television signals, to be either processed or transmitted in numerical form, uses a modulation of differential code impulses (PDCM). There is a quantizing characteristic which makes it possible to reduce the numerical flow of signals to be either processed or transmitted. At least partially, the quantizing characteristic is non-symmetrical relative to zero, as far as the number and the values of the thresholds and of the reconstruction difference levels are concerned. Numerical examples are given in the specification. According to a variation of the invention, the quantizing characteristic varies as a function of a prediction value P.sub.n. The prediction zones are not symmetrical relative to the half-dynamic of the prediction P.sub.n. The quantizing characteristics are segments of a wide characteristic which preferably is non-symmetrical.

Abstract: A CTD recursive filter includes a single channel with two side-by-side CTD delay lines wherein charges are transferred in opposite directions. Each electrode of the first delay line forms a pair with a corresponding electrode of the second delay line. Each even pair of electrodes are separated from the next odd pair of electrodes by an even bridge electrode occupying the entire width of the channel. Each odd pair of electrodes are separated from the next even pair of electrodes by an odd bridge electrode also occupying the entire width of the channel. An electrode of the first line in an even pair and the electrode of the second line in the next odd pair have lengths the sum of which is a constant. An electrode of the first line in an odd pair and the electrode of the second line in the next even pair have lengths, the sum of which is equal to the constant. At each odd clock pulse, the odd bridge electrode charges are distributed to the closer even bridge electrodes.

Abstract: A self-contained, presterilized trocar assembly, with an outer cannula and cutting stylet, is just long enough to penetrate the skin of the throat and the cricothyroid membrane and reach the posterior third of the lumen of an average adult trachea. Its short length and self-limiting penetration preclude damage to surrounding tissues. The cannula retains its intratracheal position by a flaring of its distal end after insertion and during a final stage in the deployment. This device enables an unassisted person operating in extreme emergency conditions to establish, quickly and safely, an emergency percutaneous transtracheal airway for a choking person. The tissue damage resulting from the application of the device is minimal, and the incision can be closed with surgical tape.

Abstract: An integrally constructed light stage is formed with a chamber having three translucent and interior reflective panels and a light reflective unit forming the back and floor. Hoods with light reflective interior surfaces cover the panels. Light sources are positioned between the hoods and panels and, if desired, beneath the floor. The object to be illuminated is placed within the chamber, usually on the floor. The light sources can then be activated as desired illuminating the object in a carefully controlled manner.

Abstract: A processor is used to control a price display unit for a fluid-dispensing system. The amount of fluid dispensed by the system in measured and information responsive thereto is fed to the processor. The processor calculates the cost of the dispensed fluid and those costs are then displayed. The processor automatically cross-checks the validity of the displayed cost with the amount of fluid dispensed. A plurality of self-checking features insure proper system operation and also preserve signals stored in a memory if there is a power failure.

Abstract: A "varistor" or voltage-dependent nonlinear resistor employs a ceramic base body having a voltage-dependent nonlinearity. First and second lead-out electrode layers are formed on first and second external surfaces, respectively, of the ceramic base body. Within and enclosed by the ceramic base body, a plurality of internal electrodes extend in parallel with each other and connect to the external lead-out electrodes. Also, the invention provides a method of manufacturing the voltage-dependent nonlinear resistor comprising the steps of forming a plurality of raw sheets of material, each having the desired voltage-dependent nonlinearity characteristics, after sintering. Internal electrodes of conducting material are printed on each of these sheets. The sheets are then laminated, cut and formed with external electrodes connecting the internal electrode to each other.

Abstract: A system for transmission and display of texts on a television screen enables a display of a magazine made up of several pages. The packets of data relative to one page are transmitted without being multiplexed with the packets from another page of the same magazine. The data of one page begins with a page flag which is followed by data indicating the number of the page and ends with the flag of the following page. The data from each page is grouped in rows, preceded by a row flag.Each page contains an order row of the data which is operation data and is not used for display. Certain pages contain only the data which is relative to the shape of characters of the alphabet and the pages are not for display. They include in their order rows a specific operation octet which is recognized in the receiver. Responsive to this page, the system switches the subsequent data from the alphabet page towards the writing circuit of one of many shape memories, in order to record there the character shape data.

Abstract: The invention improves the signal-to-noise ratio of a telewriter transmitter without requiring a change in preexisting telewriter transmission equipment. The individual crosspoints of an orthogonal matrix of wires are identified by high-frequency X and Y signals having phase-shifted characteristics which identify individual crosspoints by phase angles. The use of high frequencies reduces coupling impedance, especially when moisture is present or humidity is high. The high frequency signals are picked up by an electrostatic coupling between the point of a pen and any selected crosspoint which the pen happens to be near. The picked-up signal is amplitude modulated to increase its strength and then fed back to the identified crosspoint, thereby enhancing the strength of the picked-up signal. The enhanced signal is again picked-up and demodulated to recover the original phase-shifted characteristics of the signal which individually identified a crosspoint selected by the pick up means.

Abstract: A flat electromagnetic relay which includes a base member having at least two projections extending from a flat surface thereof. At least one hole (or indent), fitting a pertinent one of the projections, is formed in each supporting block that holds a contact, yoke, a hinging spring, or the like. These and similar members are successively stacked on the surface of the base member, with the projections fitted through the holes in the supporting blocks. The free ends of the respective projections are then deformed to secure and hold the components in position. A contact actuating card is put in place after the stack of contact holding blocks is assembled and locked in position. The block through which a contact carrying leaf spring is molded preferably has an end surface formed at an angle such that a portion of the leaf spring may be subsequently bent to extend substantially perpendicular to the remainder of the leaf spring, thereby forming a solder terminal.

Abstract: A wave translating circuit includes a capacitor supplied with an input signal, a first resistor connected between a first potential point and the output of the capacitor, a second resistor connected between a second potential point and the output of the capacitor, and a limiter connected to the output of the capacitor.

Abstract: For a medium- or low-speed facsimile, a solid-state image sensor is now usable and scans each line on the sheet a plurality of times for a one-scan-line picture signal output to the circuit line. The sensor output, of high bit rate, is distributed alternately to a pair of analog memory devices and the contents of the memory devices are read out alternately therefrom at low rate in a manner such that the picture signal blocks in each of the multiple one-line segment from the image sensor are joined with each other to form an expanded one-scan-line picture signal for line transmission. A reference signal for signal level restoration is inserted during the read-out period of the memory devices. Because of this, the length of time that the picture signal stays in the memory devices is reduced to decrease the influence of the noise component arising therein and also the number of memory elements of the memory devices can be reduced to further decrease the noise influence.

Abstract: An FM muting circuit has a common input terminal and uses an operational amplifier which has a pair of input terminals. The two amplifier input terminals are coupled to the common muting circuit input terminal. An electronic switch is connected between ground and one of the operational amplifier input terminals. When the muting circuit receives an input signal which is free of noise, a "high-level" control signal is developed to switch the electronic switch into a saturated condition, thereby grounding one of the operational amplifier input terminals. Thereafter, the operational amplifier amplifies only the signal applied from the common input terminal of the muting circuit to the other amplifier input terminal, with a resulting amplified output signal. However, when noise appears in the input signal received by the muting circuit, a "low-level" control signal is applied to the electronic switch and it turns off.

Abstract: A system for processing data received in the form of sample pulses has a memory with first and second major memory areas. A buffer register stores data temporarily to enable an interface between the timing of the system and of a sampled analog signal. A central processor processes data stored in one major memory area while data stored in the other major memory area is being transferred between the memory and the buffer register. The data transfer occurs during time periods while the central processor does not have access to the memory. One data item is outputted for each sample pulse received. This way, the cycle time of the sample pulses may be much greater than the cycle time of the central processor.