Abstract: A voltage regulator and method of voltage regulation utilizes an error amplifier and a transconductance amplifier together with a voltage reference, startup circuit and output load. The use of the transconductance amplifier allows the use of an arrangement of two poles and a zero such that the composite gain roll-off has a generally constant slope. One of the poles utilized in this stability scheme is the outer pole formed by the resistive-like load and its filter capacitor. Another pole and zero are generated in the error amplifier circuit. To decouple the noisy input supply voltage, sensitive parts of the circuit are powered by the regulated output voltage. A start circuit is provided to start up the output and voltage reference when no output voltage is present. The transconductance amplifier block has special characteristics which allow it to work to relatively high frequency, above the gain bandwidth product of the control loop. It is driven by a fully differential push-pull, class AB amplifier.

Abstract: A current sense circuit utilizes multiple resistive reference switches connected in electrical series to reduce the level of required reference current (Iref), while maintaining the integrity of tracking current (Iout) through a resistive power switch. Typically, all of the reference switches are MOS transistors connected in electrical series. The first embodiment includes establishing a ratio (n) of series reference transistors to series pilot transistors, n>1. In another embodiment, the series connection of reference switches is in parallel with a single reference resistor and is identical to a series connection of a number (NP) of pilot switches. In a third embodiment, the techniques of the first two embodiments are combined (i.e., n>1 and NP>1). The current sense circuit is utilized to monitor output current through a power switch from a circuit load.

Abstract: A system for precisely determining directionality of an output beam includes a beam source and a body position identifier facing opposite directions, with a grating rhomb positioned to provide an attenuated sample beam from the beam source into the oppositely directed body positioned identifier. In the preferred embodiment, the beam source is a pulsed laser source and the body position identifier is a star tracker for forming a stellar map. The grating rhomb includes first and second grating members. The first grating member extends across the optical path of the output beam and has a geometry to diffract a minor portion of the output beam intensity while passing a major portion of the output beam for continued propagation in a first direction. The second grating member is positioned to traverse the field of view of the body position identifier.

Abstract: A method of electronic requisition processing includes storing company-specific requisition rules and an electronic catalog on a central computer system located at a first site. The central computer system is linked to a number of companies by means of an external communications line, such as a telephone system-and-modem arrangement. A requester at one of the companies may identify one or more items to be ordered. In response to the requisition, the company with which the requestor is associated is determined, and the appropriate requisition rules for that company are implemented. If more than one item is identified, a requisition folder is formed in software to contain a number of requisitions. Also contained in the requisition folder are any required attachments, with each attachment being designated as being "internal" or "external" and as "confidential" or "non-confidential.

Abstract: A modular jack assembly includes a housing having a plug-receiving cavity and an LED assembly attached atop the plug receiving cavity. In a preferred embodiment, the LED assembly is integrally formed with the housing. The LEDs are encased within the LED assembly, being separated from the plug-receiving cavity by a partition. This isolation of the LED helps to minimize the coupling of EMF interference radiated by the leads of the LED while they are operating to the underlying contact pins. Contact pins disposed within the plug-receiving cavity each have a contacting portion which extends along the roof of the cavity. The contacting portions have a varying measure of separation from the roof along their extent. This provides further separation from the LED leads which are disposed above the contact pins in the LED assembly, further lessening the EMF coupling with the LED leads. In an alternate embodiment, the modular jack has a stacked form factor and can be ganged to form a bank of modular jacks.

Abstract: A modular jack includes a filter circuit for each of the transmit and receive pins in order to shape the signal waveforms, isolate the user from the line, and filter out both common and differential mode noise in high-speed communications systems, such as 10BASE-T, 100BASE-T, token ring and ATM applications. The manufacture of the modular jack of the present invention is simplified by the design of the components which make up the modular jack assembly. More specifically, the contact pins of the modular jack are divided into a contact pin array and a mounting pin array. The two pin arrays are electrically coupled through a printed circuit board which carries the two filters. A platform formed on the mounting pin array facilitates the attachment of the printed circuit board during manufacture.

Abstract: A seeker device, such as a seeker head, includes a housing for both a first optical assembly and a second optical assembly. In the preferred embodiment, the first optical assembly is an infrared telescope having a fixed, relatively narrow field of view for receiving incoming energy via a first path through an optical opening through the housing. The second optical assembly may be a pivotable mirror that is pivoted to provide a wide field of regard. The incoming energy that impinges the pivotable mirror enters through a second path through the optical opening. The energy from the pivotable mirror is redirected into the infrared telescope. In the preferred embodiment, the redirection is achieved by a dichroic mirror that has a high transmissivity with respect to long wave infrared energy and a high reflectivity with respect to mid wave infrared energy.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for aligning indexing notches of disk-shaped members, such as semiconductor wafers, include providing an alignment rod that is driven by another roller to cause rotation of the disk-shaped members. The circumferential surfaces of the alignment rod and the drive roller are in frictional contact. Initially, the disk-shaped members rest upon the alignment rod, so that rotation of the alignment rod causes rotation of the disk-shaped members until indexing notches are seated on the alignment rod. In the preferred embodiment, the seating of the indexing notches transfers at least a portion of the weight of the disk-shaped members to a reciprocating structure, such as a comb member. After all of the indexing notches have been aligned, a second weight transfer occurs, with the reciprocating structure following the contour of the drive roller and the disk-shaped members coming to rest on the drive roller. The disk-shaped members can then be uniformly rotated to locate the notches as desired.

Abstract: A modular jack assembly includes a housing having a front portion which includes a plurality of openings into a plurality of plug receiving chambers. The housing further has a rear bay which includes openings into the plug receiving chambers. A backplate sub-assembly includes a plurality of contact pin arrays mounted thereto and a grounding shield. Each of the pin arrays is formed of a unitary insulative member in the shape of an L and includes a plurality of embedded contact pins. The backplate sub-assembly further includes an L-shaped elongate backplate member having perforations formed through one of the legs of the L. The perforations receive pins protruding from mounting ends of the pin arrays. Additional perforations are provided to receive ground pins formed in the grounding shield. The backplate sub-assembly is received in the rear bay so that plug contacting portions of the pin arrays extend into the plug receiving chambers.

Abstract: A stacked multistage Joule-Thomson (J-T) cryostat is described in which each stage comprises a thermally conducting material plate member with fluid passages formed therein and in which the stages are stacked one above the other but separated from each other by thermally insulating standoff supports. Each successive stage in the stack is cooled to successively lower temperature zones by J-T expansion and liquefaction of different coolant gases. Each stage has a restricting passageway connected to a different high pressure gas coolant supply and forming a throttle valve opening into two-phase (liquid-vapor) coolant reservoir passages. The reservoir passages in all but the coldest stage are in heat exchange relation with the high pressure supply passages of the lower boiling temperature coolant gases. The coldest stage is in heat exchange relation with a cold surface on which a device to be cooled can be mounted.

Abstract: A device for supporting a set of golf clubs includes a door having a vertical interior surface and an inclined surface that slopes downwardly and outwardly from the interior surface at the lower end of the door. Golf clubs are inserted into the device in an inverted condition, so that grip ends of the clubs contact the inclined surface. A second point of contact with the clubs is provided by a support structure that extends from the interior surface to contact shafts of the clubs near the club heads. A third point of contact is at a side of the golf clubs both opposite to and intermediate of the first two points of contact, thereby providing a triangular configuration of contact support. In the preferred embodiment, the third point of contact is provided by a member that projects inwardly beyond a panel which provides a support seat for the grip ends of the clubs.

Abstract: A golf putter includes a head having a heel portion on which alignment markings are formed in order to allow a golfer to use a club shaft in a manner to properly align the putter head relative to an intended path of ball travel and to align the golfer's head relative to the ball. The alignment markings include first and second longitudinal markings that are parallel to a striking face of the putter head. At least the outer edges of the first and second markings are spaced apart by a distance greater than the diameter of the club shaft, so that when the putter is perpendicular to the intended path and the golfer's head is directly over the ball, both outer edges are visible and extend parallel to the shaft. Preferably, the shaft is at an acute angle to the heel portion and extends in a direction away from a toe portion of the putter head. The alignment markings preferably include a center marking that is screened from the view of a properly positioned golfer.

Abstract: A golf ball and method include providing a number of indicators for properly aligning a golf ball, a golfer and a golf club relative to an intended path of travel. The indicators include a ball-travel indicator for alignment with the intended path, a ball-to-ground indicator for positioning the golf ball in relation to the surface on which the ball is positioned, a foot-to-ball indicator for aligning the golfer, and a putter-alignment indicator for properly positioning a striking face of the golf club. In the preferred embodiment, the indicators are stenciled onto the golf ball.

Abstract: A centrifuge includes a drive shaft-to-hub coupling assembly for providing vibration damping that is selective to torsional damping over lateral damping. An impeller is fixed to a drive shaft and a receiver is fixed to a rotor-bearing hub. Relative rotation between the impeller and the receiver is restricted to compression and decompression of elastomers trapped between teeth extending from the impeller and from the receiver. The elastomers function to damp torsional vibrations and torsionally induced lateral vibrations. The receiver is prevented from becoming axially misaligned with the impeller by including one or more rigid annular bushings that maintain the distance between the hub and the drive shaft, thereby preventing the elastomers from being deformed in a manner which would damp lateral vibrations. The annular bushing is mounted to allow relative rotation between the impeller and the receiver.

Abstract: An assembly for transferring rotation from a centrifuge drive system to a centrifuge rotor includes a hub that is connected to the drive system for rotation about an axis. A sleeve member is attached to the hub in a position to support the centrifuge rotor. The sleeve member is formed of a material having a low coefficient of friction and is positioned to reduce the likelihood of rotor-to-hub lock. The resistance of the sleeve member to wear and to the absorption of foreign matter are also important in the selection of a material for forming the sleeve member. An acetal-based compound is preferred. By connecting the sleeve member to the hub such that the exterior surface of the sleeve member is raised relative to the surface of the hub, rotor-to-hub contact is reduced, thereby further reducing the risk that the rotor and the hub will become locked to one another.

Abstract: A chair capable of rocking and reclining is provided with a contoured seat and an external frame assembly for maintaining the contoured seat above the ground. The external frame assembly has a pair of spaced-apart tubular side members with a continuous outer periphery forming a loop. Each of the tubular side members has a large, ground-contacting arcuate region that extends for approximately 90 degrees and an arm support region that forms an arm rest. The tubular side members are coupled together by cross members that extend between the two. The contoured seat fits between the side members and rests upon the cross members. A user is comfortably positioned in the chair by head, back and seat support areas of the contoured seat.