Abstract: An apparatus for providing a map-like display of weather phenomena such as lightning discharges, in which the distance from an observation location to the source of the discharge is determined from the ratio of the integrated intensity of two different components of lightning produced signals, the intensity of the first component varying as the inverse of the distance and the intensity of the second component varying as the inverse of the square of the distance.

Abstract: A device for dynamically indicating relative wear in a magnetic tape cartridge in which a specially identifiable signal is recorded on a separate track from that used for normal recording. Upon playback, the specially identifiable signal is recovered and compared with a "clean" reference signal to provide an error signal indicative of the amount of flutter present. The error signal sequentially activates an array of LED's to provide a relative, easily interpreted indication of the amount of flutter and hence of the extent of wear in the tape and cartridge.

Abstract: An error correcting method for use with a continuous serialized stream of digital information, such as present with digitized stereo audio signals, in which data is formatted in frames containing a preselected number of data words, parity words which in combination with data words of other frames enable correction of data in yet other, spatially remote frames, error check words from which errors in any frame may be detected, and frame sync words, and wherein the parity words are encoded from three orthogonal data sets having in common a single data word so that that word can be reconstructed by operating on any of the three sets, thus enabling correction of that word even if one or two of the three sets also contains an error.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for magnetically detecting the edge of a magnetic recording tape to enable accurate positioning of a tranversely movable recording/playback unit at any of a plurality of track locations across the width of the tape. The gain of a playback amplifier is first dynamically adjusted in response to a played back periodic test signal based on the number of flux transitions detected during playback of a given length of tape, and an edge of tape reference position thereafter establishing by comparing the number of flux transitions detected during the playback of a periodic test signal recorded along the edge of a given length of tape when the recording/playback unit is successively stepped toward the edge of the tape.

Abstract: A resonant marker for use with an RF electronic article surveillance system, said marker having a resonant circuit combining a flat coil with a condenser, adapted to be mounted on an article so as to be located by a goods monitoring apparatus by radio waves, characterized by setting a portion of said coil almost perpendicularly to the plane including the remainder of the coil.

Abstract: An exponential multiplication power supply is described which is comprised of a plurality of stages each having the ability to store energy and each having a plurality of states, including at least a store state and a stack state. The plurality of stages are arranged in a network such that an input stage in the network is connected to receive a voltage from an external power source and all subsequent stages are connected to at least one other stage for receiving voltage from and through the other stages. A control mechanism is attached to the network stages and operates to place these stages in a repeating sequence of states such that at least one of the stages receives a voltage which is the sum of the voltages stored in at least two other stages. When a stage is receiving voltage or holding voltage it is said to be in the store state, and when a stage is combined with other stages to present an increased voltage, it is said to be placed in the stack state.

Abstract: A demagnetization apparatus for use with magnetically based electronic article surveillance systems having a dual status anti-theft marker containing at least one demagnetizable control element which when demagnetized allows the marker to be detected by the system when the marker is present in an interrogation zone. The apparatus includes an elongated magnetic section contained within a housing which exhibits a succession of fields of alternate polarity and a portion of which exhibits generally decreasing intensities at the working surface of the housing along that portion of the section. The peak intensity of the outermost field is controlled to have a peak intensity less than that of adjacent regions. The section and a cover plate are oriented such that the external fields near the working surface are sufficient in intensities to demagnetize the demagnetizable element of the marker positioned proximate thereto while being rapidly attenuated a short distance from the section.

Abstract: A collapsible rack for use with skis or other elongated articles, comprising a pair of units adapted to be mounted spaced apart, such as on the roof of a car, each unit having a hinged assembly which when vertically upright, allows the skis to be positioned therein, and which when pivoted toward a horizontal position wedges against the skis to secure them therein.

Abstract: A dual status magnetic marker for use in electronic article surveillance systems, in which a piece of low coercive force, high permeability material is positioned adjacent to a piece of remanently magnetizable material. The first piece is configured such that no characteristic response is produced when the magnetization of the entire piece is reversed by an alternating magnetic field in an interrogation zone, and when the second piece is magnetized with a predetermined pattern a localized field is provided which biases portions of the first piece, keeping those portions from reversing when the marker is in the interrogation field. The predetermined pattern is such that the remaining, unbiased portion of the first piece has a configuration capable of producing a characteristic response when the magnetization in that portion is reversed.

Abstract: A marker for use in radio frequency electronic article surveillance systems where the marker contains an inductive-capacitive resonant circuit and is made reversibly deactivatable and reactivatable by the addition of a piece of magnetic material and means, such as a piece of permanently magnetizable material, for biasing the first material to prevent alternating fields induced therein from changing the magnetic state of that material, thereby preventing hysteresis losses from causing a lowering of the Q of the resonant circuit below the point of detection.

Abstract: A magnetic marker for use with electronic article surveillance systems in which a very high order harmonic response is obtained with postage-stamp sized pieces of high permeability material shaped to have a narrow switching section within which flux is concentrated by larger sections on each end of the switching section, the concentrated flux being sufficient to result in a high harmonic response.

Abstract: An anti-theft device for restricting unauthorized removal of an article such as a CD audio disc from a cartridge having a mounting stud resiliently engaging a central opening in the article when it is positioned in the cartridge. The device includes a locking plate, a lock spring and a lock gear for locking the article between the plate and cartridge. The locking plate has a plurality of holes therethrough arranged in a pre-selected pattern, and a release tool having a similarly disposed plurality of pins which when inserted through the holes actuates the lock spring allowing the plate to be removed and the article taken from the cartridge.

Abstract: A thread-like continuous retroreflective fiber and method of making same, comprising the steps of laminating a thin film of retroreflective material to a supporting polyester film, and then slitting the laminate to form narrow strips of retroreflective material having sufficient strength to be combined with other fibers to form a composite yarn having retroreflective characteristics, which composite yarn may then be woven, knitted, or spun to provide a fabric having retroreflective characteristics.

Abstract: A method for minimizing false alarms and background electronic noise in an electronic article surveillance system operated in the vicinity of substantially closed electrical loops such as formed by metal door and window frames. If the conductance of such loops is variable, electric currents induced in such loops by electromagnetic fields produced by the system have been found to be discontinuous, and can both produce a false alarm and raise the background noise level. The method comprises connecting metal straps across all joints in such loops to ensure permanent, reliable electrical connections at all such joints, thus providing greatly reduced variations in conductance around the loop.

Abstract: A deactivatable marker for use in an RF electronic article surveillance system is disclosed, which marker includes a resonant circuit having at least one inductive component and one capacitive component. The circuit further comprises a component having two conductive layers separated only by an insulative thin-film which breaks down when at least a predetermined potential is applied across it to form a conductive path which changes the resonant frequency of the circuit. The two conductive layers are preferably configured to form a spiral multi-turn inductor and capacitor pads on opposing surfaces of a dielectric sheet, and to be embossed at a localized area, thereby contacting the layers except for the presence of the insulating thin-film.

Abstract: A demagnetization apparatus for use with magnetically based electronic article surveillance systems having a dual status anti-theft marker containing at least one demagnetizable control element which when demagnetized allows the marker to be detected by the system when the marker is present in an interrogation zone. The apparatus includes an elongated magnetic section contained within a housing which exhibits a succession of fields of alternate polarity and a portion of which exhibits generally decreasing intensities at the working surface of the housing along that portion of the section. The section and a cover plate are orientated such that the external fields near the working surface are sufficient in intensities to demagnetize the demagnetizable element of the marker positioned proximate thereto while being rapidly attenuated a short distance from the section.

Abstract: A multi-sectional raceway is used in combination with a pair of interconnected panels of a detection system. The panels are attached to the ends of a pair of support beams, and electrical wiring runs between the panels. The raceway runs between the panels, and is comprised of two ramp sections and a platform section interlocked to provide ease of assembly and flexibility. The sections are flexibly interconnected by pressure engageable male members depending from the lower surface of the platform section at opposite ends with generally U-shaped female members located on the leg portions extending from the raised abutting end of each ramp section. The raceway also includes at least one generally E-shaped girder structure running underneath the entire width of the platform section to define at least one passageway for the protection of electrical wiring running therealong.

Abstract: Operation of similar electronic article surveillance (EAS) systems in proximity to each other may result in false alarms or system "shut-downs" as a result of signals transmitted from one system being detected in the receiver circuits of the other systems. This may especially occur with EAS systems in which the receivers are only activated during quiescent intervals between transmitted bursts, such that if the systems are unsychronized, the transmitted bursts of the one system may occur during the quiescent intervals of the other system. In the present invention, synchronization is effected by responding to RF detected during the quiescent intervals and preventing the transmitted bursts from occurring during the quiescent intervals of the other system.