Abstract: A vase including a wall mountable frame and a removable, semi-translucent vase face which together form an enclosure having a top opening. A light source and color changing mechanism enclosed within the enclosure provide light of varying color which is transmitted by the vase face and by a removable, light transmitting, stem holding container located within the top opening of the enclosure formed by the frame and the removable vase face.

Abstract: A user-programmable sensor system for generating an alarm signal upon detection of an alarm event is disclosed. The system is particularly suited for use in vehicle security systems. The system employs a three axes accelerometer as a shock/motion detector, and the transducer outputs are summed and the composite signal filtered to provide several channels, each covering a specific frequency or frequency band. The outputs of the channels are digitized and processed by a microprocessor. An event is characterized by seveal signal parameters with an alarm event triggered by the simultaneous occurrence of several predetermined conditions, and not just one condition. The limit values for the signal parameters which are required to qualify a shock/motion event as an alarm event may be readily programmed by the user at any time or place.

Abstract: A programmable logic device is disclosed which is adapted to isolate the Miller capacitances of erased memory cells from the product terms and to limit the cell current drawn through the product term sense amplifiers. The invention substantially reduces the row switching noise coupled onto the product terms, allows high speed sense amplifier operation, and significantly reduces the power dissipated by the device. In accordance with the invention, the electrically erasable sense transistor for each memory cell is disposed between the cell select transistor and the product term sense amplifier, thereby isolating the Miller capacitance associated with the select transistor from the sense amplifier when the cell is in the erased (nonconductive) state. Separate product term ground lines are provided for each product term.

Abstract: A component lead cutting and forming apparatus for axial lead electronic components respectively having first and second leads secured to tape, including bending dies for supporting the first and second leads of an axial lead component in process. The bending dies are supported by slide blocks, and strain relief clamps selectively clamp the first and second leads against the bending dies. First and second parallel carriage blocks, which are adjustable in separation, support the slide blocks. Driving apparatus including an air cylinder translates the slide blocks between a first position and a second position in a linear direction generally orthogonal to the orientation of the axial leads of the component in process, and further controls cutting blades for cutting the leads of the component in process. The cutting blades are secured in parallel cutting blade support blocks which are adjustable as to separation.

Abstract: A drilling spindle having a pressure foot is disclosed for handling drilling tools having relatively large diameter shank regions and relatively small diameter drilling bit portions regions. The pressure foot assembly includes a shutter plate which contacts and clamps the workpiece during drilling operations. The shutter plate translates along an axis transverse to the rotor axis to align either a small aperture or a large aperture with the rotor axis. The small aperture is sized to receive the drilling tool region of the drill, and permits the drilling region to be extended therethrough while providing good clamping of the workpiece during drilling. The large aperture is sized to receive the shank region of the tool, and permits the tool to be inserted or withdrawn from the spindle during tool changing operations.

Abstract: A hand-held peripheral device for a computer system or terminal having a video display is disclosed. The device is adapted to operate one of two user-selectable functional modes. In a first mode, the device functions as an optical scanner for image acquisition. In a second mode, the device functions as a computer mouse for controlling the position of a cursor on the video display.

Abstract: A differential correlator for a receiver including a voltage controlled current source which is controlled by an input data signal which is based on a received signal. A switching circuit selectively couples the controlled current to one of two storage capacitors as a function of a reference signal. A comparison circuit compares the integrated voltages on the storage capacitors at the end of each integration period T to provide user data as a function of the comparison. A discharge circuit discharges the storage capacitors to a common initial voltage after the integrated voltages are compared.

Abstract: Apparatus for butt-end joining two pieces of plastic pipe including an inflatable mandrel and heated clamping means for enclosing the abutted pipe ends over a first and second connection ends over the thermally controlled region which extends bilaterally beyond the melt region. This end-surrounding apparatus then cooperates both with a companion apparatus employed for the described internal support and with the unmelted longitudinally adjacent portions of the subject first and second connection ends both to prevent undesired deformational flow of melted component material and to bonding-conducively pressurize the softened component-to-component interface area.

Abstract: A component insertion end effector for robotic equipment is disclosed. The end effector is particularly adapted for printed circuit insertion of electrical component whose relationship between component body and leads varies from the nominal dimensions. The end effector compensates for variations in body-to-lead configurations to permit components to be precisely placed without damaging the component body or its leads. The effector comprises a pneumatic gripping mechanism which is coupled to the robot arm by a compliance mechanism. The compliance mechanism is operable in two states, the first state in which the gripping mechanism is freely movable throughout a predetermined range of movement with respect to the robot arm, and a second state in which the gripping mechanism is fixedly secured in relation to the robot arm.

Abstract: A component lead cutting and forming apparatus which includes a movable carriage and a bending die secured thereto for supporting the first and second leads of an axial lead component in process. A translatable cutting and forming assembly is provided for (a) providing strain relief clamping of the leads of the component in process against the component supporting bending die, (b) cutting the leads of the component in process, and (c) cooperating with the component supporting bending die to bend the leads of the component in process, when the movable carriage and the component supporting bending die is in a first position beneath the translatable cutting and forming assembly. Driving apparatus translates the movable carriage between such first position and a second position, wherein at the second position the axial lead component having cut and formed leads is presented for robotic pick-up.

Abstract: A programmable logic array is disclosed employing arrays of electrically erasable and programmable cells. The device includes a dual purpose programming circuit which is employed to provide programming data to the AND array to program the AND array cells, and to provide OR array row selection data during OR array programming, thereby eliminating the need for a separate OR array row decoder. A method and apparatus is also disclosed for efficiently testing the AND array cells and input circuitry by bulk stripe programming the array cells.

Abstract: A high speed drilling system is disclosed for high speed drilling of very small holes in workpieces such as printed circuit boards. The X-Y positioning system includes air bearings to provide lift between the stationary guide beams, the crossbeam and the top table, and further includes a vacuum preloading apparatus for providing a preloading force between the table and the guide beam. The preload force dampens Z axis oscillations which can result in drill bit breakage. The top table is a lightweight honeycomb structure, whose effective rigidity is virtually that of the guide beam due to the vacuum preloading. The system includes pairs of spindles, one a conventional spindle for drilling holes larger than about 0.125 inches, and the other a high speed spindle for drilling holes in the range of about 0.003 to 0.125 inches. The high speed spindle includes a stationary spindle body carrying the stator of the rotary drive motor.

Abstract: An improved programmable logic device (PLD) is disclosed which employs electrically erasable memory cells which can be programmed and erased at high speed. The PLD memory cells comprise floating gate transistors as the storage elements, which are programmed and erased by Fowler-Nordheim tunneling. The PLD includes a serial register latch (SRL) which is coupled to the product terms of the PLD array. Input programming data for a selected row of the array is serially entered into the SRL, and during a programming cycle the SRL data is employed to simultaneously program the storage elements of the selected row to either the enhancement mode or the depletion mode. The data programmed into the array may be verified at high speed. The status of each of the cells in the selected row can be sensed using the normal sense amplifiers and loaded into the SRL in parallel, and thereafter serially shifted out of the PLD for external verification.

Abstract: A component lead cutting and forming apparatus for radial lead electrical components secured to tape, including first and second stations for processing each of the electrical components. The first station includes clamping apparatus for strain relief clamping the component lead, and also for supporting and aligning the body of the component. Blades and bending dies located at the first station cut and form a selected lead. The second station includes clamping apparatus for strain relief clamping the remaining uncut leads, and also includes blades for cutting the remaining uncut leads.

Abstract: A modem receiver having a timing recovery circuit is disclosed. The timing recovery circuit includes circuitry for extracting timing information, multiplication circuitry responsive to the timing information for providing a clock envelope signal and processing circuitry for controlling the gain of the clock envelope signal as a function of the average power of the clock envelope signal.

Abstract: A novel saucer-shaped throwing implement is disclosed. The implement includes a saucer-shaped hull having a convex/concave curvature, and further including a flared disc which is bearing mounted on the concave side of the hull in alignment with the axis of the hull. The flared disc is freely rotatable with respect to the hull, and is arranged so as to minimize any effect on the aerodynamic characteristics of the throwing implement. The disc provides a surface for the player to contact to retrieve the thrown instrument and yet maintain its spinning motion. The disc accommodates off-center placements of the player's finger.

Abstract: An electrolytic process employing a non-toxic electrolytic solution for anodically producing a high surface luster on copper, silver, gold, and alloys of the same is disclosed. The electrolytic solution employs thiourea as the principal carrier electrolyte, which is then stabilized using large quantities (50 to 400 gram per liter) of a reducing sugar. In addition, the preferred formulation of the solution uses an activating acid to activate the thiourea solution and urea to promote the uniform dissolution of alloying elements and to provide solution conductivity. The electropolishing processes employing the electrolytic solutions are environmentally safe, operate over broad current density ranges, are rapid in operation, and are functional on irregular shapes and complex designs. Certain other acids can be substituted for the methane sulfonic acid obtaining similar results with selected alloys of gold and silver.

Abstract: A diet management device which includes a housing; respective manually actuated detented slide members respectively associated with each of predetermined food groups; and a respective numerical display for each detented slide member for providing numerical indicia as a function of the position of the respective detented slide member. The diet management device further includes for predetermined daily calorie limits respective removable encoded card inserts for cooperating with the slide members to set the initial positions of the slide members. The initial positions provide for the predetermined food groups indications of the respective maximum amounts of food which can be consumed for a predetermined daily calorie intake. The respective slide members are moved to decrement the respective displayed numerical indicia pursuant to the intake of food.

Abstract: A vehicle body-and-frame-alignment apparatus for use in realigning the front inner structures of damaged unitized or unibody constructed vehicles employing sliding strut-shock units as front-end suspension systems, wherein the apparatus is formed by a substantially rectangular adjustable frame gauge defined by upper and lower horizontal gauge bars adjustably interconnected to oppositely positioned vertical side gauge bars by coupling brackets, each gauge bar including a measuring tape disposed along the longitudinal length thereof. The frame gauge is adapted to be supported on the sliding strut-shock units by an adjustable pair of gauge-positioning members slidably mounted to the upper horizontal bar, the lower horizontal bar being provided with a fixed central indicator and a second pair of gauge-positioning members, each gauge-positioning member including a vertically adjustable reference pointer to indicate structural alignment or misalignment of the vehicle structure.