Abstract: A metal detector circuit includes a transmit coil (12) and a receive coil (56) arranged in a balanced induction configuration in an electromagnetic field. The receive signal from the receive coil (56) is input to electronic switches (146, 148) which receive quadrature reference inputs from a phase shift circuit (112). The phase demodulated outputs of the switches (146, 148) are passed through amplifiers and input to an analog-to-digital converter (324) to produce digital signal samples which are transmitted through a bus (326). The bus (326) is connected to random access memory (414, 416) and a read only memory (418) which includes a stored signal processing program. A microprocessor (374) is connected to the bus (376) for receiving the digital signal samples and the stored program from memory (418). The microprocessor (374) executes the stored signal processing program to produce a digital output signal which is transmitted through the bus (326) to a digital-to-analog converter (360).

Abstract: A collapsible portable protective wall system for use in protecting the interior surfaces of elevators. The system comprises an articulated backwall and articulated sidewalls hingedly connected to the ends of the backwall. The backwall comprises a central base panel and at least two hingedly connected wing panels. Each sidewall has at least two wall panels hingedly connected to each other. The outer surfaces of the protective system is provided with a padding material such as carpeting or the like to avoid abrasion of the interior elevator surfaces. The system may be inserted into an elevator interior in the folded compact position in which the padded surfaces are exposed. It can then be unfolded to conform generally with the elevator walls so that the padded outer surfaces of the wall panels are exposed to the interior elevator surfaces, thus minimizing the possibility of damage during installation.

Abstract: A lens carrier (10) is disclosed for use in a stage lamp. The lens carrier (10) supports a lens (26) in alignment with the lamp axis (12) while permitting limited movement of the lens along the lamp axis to focus the lamp toward the light. First and second members, (14, 22) define facing cylindrical surfaces (20, 24). A bearing assembly (28) having resilient deformable ball bearings (34) is positioned between the cylindrical surfaces to maintain alignment of the lens on the lamp axis and permit the second member and lens to move along the lamp axis relative to the first member while maintaining the alignment.

Abstract: A report cover (10) is disclosed for securing and protecting a report (12). The report cover (10) includes a front panel (14) and a rear panel (16). Three parallel hinges (22,24,26) are formed in the front panel (14). A single hinge (36) is formed in the rear panel (16). The report is secured between the front and rear panels near the first edges (20,34) of the panels as by staples. The front panel (14) is then folded about the hinges to lie parallel to and adjacent the rear panel. The front and rear panels are secured along a line distant from the first hinge (36) by an adhesive strip (38). The first hinges (22,36) of each panel permits certain portions (58,60,62) of the panels and report to pivot about the hinges to eliminate any force tending to open or close the report. A cover (18) can be provided. In the alternative, a front cover (70) can be employed with the front panel (14) forming a rear cover.

Abstract: An oil or gas well flapper-type safety valve is joined in the tubing string and has a cylindrical valve body with a valve seat therein. A flapper valve is hingedly supported from the valve body for movement between a closed position wherein the valve is seated against the seat and an open position wherein the valve is pivoted from the seated position. A control link is attached to the flapper valve at a point removed from the hinge. Control structure is provided for applying a force to the valve through the control link to selectively pivot the valve between its closed and open position. The control structure includes an hydraulically operated piston moveable in a valve control cylinder. The piston is attached to one end of the control link and is biased by a compression spring toward the valve to seat the valve.

Abstract: An electronic step-by-step switching system utilizes much of the equipment now present in conventional electromechanical step-by-step telephone exchange switches. Conventional line finders, selectors and connectors are modified by removing the relay logic and replacing it with microprocessor based controllers. The modified line finders communicate through a bus with an originating controller and the modified connectors communicate through a bus to a terminating controller. The controllers are interconnected for data exchange through high speed buses that are supervised by a bus controller. A programmer station is installed for bi-directional communication through the bus controller. The originating and terminating controllers include memory storage for maintaining status information concerning the subscriber lines within the groups of corresponding line finders and connectors. The modified line finder works in conjunction with the originating controller to identify the line for an off-hook subscriber.

Abstract: A computerized system is provided for automated aircraft traffic control. The system includes a master control unit having stored information identifying and characterizing all aircraft flying in the controlled airspace. A plurality of regional control units are linked for communication with the master control unit. Airport terminal and enroute control stations in each region are linked to the regional control unit for that region. Each aircraft flying in the region is equipped with a data-link console for communication with the regional control unit. The aircraft data-link provides identification and flight condition data to the regional control unit, and the regional control unit provides weather data and guidance signals to the aircraft. The guidance signals guide each aircraft along flight paths formed by a plurality of airway grids disposed at fixed angles with respect to each other and at each of a plurality of flight levels.

Abstract: An auxiliary connector circuit is used within an electronic system (10) which comprises a plurality of removable circuit cards (14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26) which are mounted within a cabinet (12). Before the circuit card (16) is removed from the cabinet (12), a power cable (44) is connected by means of engaging a plug (46) to a socket (34). When this occurs a DATA OUT ENABLE signal at a line (65) drives three-state devices (86, 88, 90, 92, 94, 96, 98 and 100) to a high impedance state to isolate a memory array (78) from a data bus (102). This high impedance prevents any transients from being transmitted through the data bus (102) when the card (16) is removed from the cabinet (12). After the card (16) is removed from the cabinet (12), the power cable (44) can be disconnected from the card (16) or the card (16) can be tested to evaluate the components mounted on the card (16).

Abstract: A carbonaceous material, such as coal, is gasified through the catalytic action of an alkali metal salt. The alkali metal is provided as a sulfate which is converted to a sulfide during gasification. In one embodiment, sodium sulfate is converted to sodium sulfide at a temperature effective to form a transitory melt condition at an interface which obtains coal gasification at relatively low temperatures and material residence times for the reaction. An alkaline earth sulfate, such as a gypsum, may be concurrently converted to a sulfide during gasification. The alkali metal sulfide may then be regenerated to a sulfate for process reuse while converting the alkaline earth to a carbonate for environmentally safe disposal with concurrent recovery of valuable sulfur. The evolved carbon gases may be used for fuel, for process feed chemicals, or the like.

Abstract: An electromagnetic applicator (10) is provided for heating internal biological tissue, such as cancerous tumors, where applicators generate an electromagnetic field propagating across a gap (20) for forming a relative maximum power density adjacent the internal tumor volume. Conductive elements (12, 14) are spaced a predetermined distance to form a gap (20) and power is applied at radio frequencies through a balancing and matching circuit to generate the electromagnetic field which propagates across the gap (20). A plurality of applicators (10) may be placed about a body location to enable the maximum relative power density to be placed at a selected location within the body portion. A radiating dipole antenna (46) may be used to radiate a signal from which transmitted signal parameters are derived for forming a local power density maximum at a location approximated by the radiating dipole antenna (46).

Abstract: A diagnostic circuit is used to test the operation of a complex digital system by transferring operands to and from a plurality of registers (12, 14, 16). In a typical application the registers (12, 14, 16) in operation utilize parallel data transfers. For diagnostic purposes the registers (12, 14, 16) are connected serially and, in response to selected shift commands, data can be shifted either right or left through the registers (12, 14, 16). First and second buses (18, 20) provide serial, bidirectional paths for data transfer between the group of registers (12, 14, 16) and a service processing unit (26). In response to commands generated by the service processing unit (26) the registers (12, 14, 16) can be loaded right or left and read right or left. Whenever data is being read from the registers (12, 14, 16) the output data is recirculated back into the registers such that a complete cycle results in the original state being restored in the registers (12, 14, 16).

Abstract: A stage light instrument for providing efficient cooling of electrical components (40, 42) and a high wattage lamp (101). The facility includes a base enclosure (10) and a lamp enclosure (22) joined for pan and tilt movements by a forked hollow connecting member (14). The cylinder part (36) of the connecting member (14) is apertured and encased within the base enclosure (10) in bearings (65, 66) and in a plenum (34). A pair of tubes (68, 70) each with an air passage (72, 74) corporate with bearings (69, 71) to join the arms (18, 20) of the forked connecting member (14) to the lamp enclosure to provide air passage from the base enclosure (10) to the lamp enclosure (22). A fan (12) mounted in the base enclosure (10) draws air over electrical components (40, 42) and forces the air into the forked connecting member (14).

Abstract: A dynamically reconfigurable time-space-time (DRTST) switching system for use in conjunction with a high speed transmission media which conveys a plurality of time division multiplex (TDM) channels within a repeated frame of data is provided. The system includes a bypass for selectively opening the transmission media. A control store is connected to the bypass for receiving selected channels, one of said selected channels comprising a control channel. A TST switch having a plurality of inlet ports and a plurality of outlet ports is provided wherein the inlet ports are connected to receive selected channels from the bypass, and the outlet ports are connected to the bypass for transferring data from the TST switch to the transmission media.

Abstract: A metal detector circuit of the balanced induction type is utilized to detect hidden metal objects. A receive signal is provided with two fixed concurrent phase shifts relative to the transmit signals. Each of the phase shifted receive signals is synchronously demodulated to produce first and second vector signals. The vector signals are combined in a summation circuit to produce a third vector signal. The first and third vector signals are then selectively combined by an operator to produce a fourth vector signal having a desired vector range between minimum and maximum vector angles. The metal detector circuit of the present invention provides a response for objects having a phase response signal outside the selected phase range. The first and fourth vector signals are each differentiated twice then level detected. The outputs from the level detection process are logic signals which are input to an AND gate.

Abstract: An amusement shooting game for play by a plurality of players (30, 40) wherein players (30, 40) shoot at each other while avoiding being shot at is provided. The players' (30, 40) equipment includes a vest module (46) and helmet (44) for generating and transmitting a coded signal uniquely identifying each player (30, 40). Each player further utilizes a gun (50) for receiving the transmitted coded signals transmitted by players (30, 40). A processing unit (74) is responsive to the gun (50) for detecting a transmitted coded signal. Data processing devices (126, 110, 114) are utilized for counting and displaying the number of detected coded signals to provide a score for each player representing the number of players (30, 40) he has shot during the play of the game.

Abstract: An auto-ranging sight includes an optical viewer that includes a reticle within the viewer. The reticle is a liquid crystal display having a plurality of horizontal lines which can individually be selected to be visible. A distance measuring device is provided for measuring distance from the sight to a target. Parameter information is input to a microprocessor to describe the flight of a projectile. The microprocessor also receives the distance information. The microprocessor then determines the required elevation for the optical viewer and attached weapon. It then selects one of the horizontal lines as the visible horizontal cross-hair. The operator then aligns the horizontal and vertical cross-hairs seen through the viewer such that the projectile can be accurately directed to the target. Optionally, a group of liquid crystal display vertical lines can be provided to accommodate windage adjustment for aiming the target.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for providing an electric motor such as used on an oil well pumping unit with stall protection. The system comprises means for generating a signal representative of motor speed and for establishing at least two stall speed set points corresponding to upper and lower stall speeds of the motor. Upon the motor speed signal reaching the upper speed set point for one time duration or the lower stall speed set point for a second short time duration, a motor control function is generated. The system may be used for motors having a plurality of operating modes. In this case, at least two stall condition suites, comprising at least two upper and lower stall speed set points as described above, are established corresponding to at least two motor modes, e.g., high torque and low torque modes. The motor winding leads are monitored to identify whether the motor is in the high torque or low torque mode and the appropriate stall condition suite selected.

Abstract: A plant tag (10) is disclosed which includes a tag card (12) and a tie (14). A hole (16) is formed in the tag card (12) near one edge thereof. The tie (14) is then passed through the hole and bent double. The tie portions are ultrasonically welded together near the edge of the tag card (12) to maintain the tie on the tag card.

Abstract: A power converter for converting 60 Hertz line power to 20 kilohertz power for driving a low voltage incandescent lamp (42). A field effect transistor power switch section (12) is connected through bridge rectifiers (10, 32) for charging a capacitor filter (34) with the AC input power. A 20 kHz oscillator (38) drives a half-bridge inverter (36) for coupling the capactitor voltage to the lamp (42) as high frequency power. The conduction of the FET power switch (12) is controlled by a phase locked loop (16) for synchronizing the conduction with the zero crossing points of the AC cycle. A ramp generator (18) and a summing network (20) are responsive to a lamp intensity control (22) for changing the conduction duty cycle of the FET power switch (12) such that a desired lamp intensity is maintained.