Abstract: An electromagnetically actuated valve is disclosed having an upper electromagnetic element and a lower electromagnetic element, each of the elements having a toroidal configuration or an annular configuration with a U-shaped cross-section. The elements each define a central chamber and a central channel. The upper and lower electromagnetic elements are in a mirrored relationship to each other. The valve also includes a core element having an annular horizontal cross-section and is disposed intermediate the upper and lower electromagnetic elements. A coil is disposed within the central channel of each of the electromagnetic elements. A valve stem is disposed within the central chamber of the electromagnetic elements. A spring is disposed within the central chamber of the electromagnetic elements for biasing the electromagnetic elements in a neutral position. A connecting plate connects the core elements to the valve stem.

Abstract: A linear electromagnetic actuator has it core mounted to a can body forming apparatus and its coil attached to re-draw sleeve of such apparatus. The actuator provides for the axial movement of the re-draw sleeve between its fully retracted position and its fully extended position. The re-draw sleeve and the coil are coaxially mounted to each other so that the force exerted on the re-draw sleeve is also coaxial. Once the re-draw sleeve is in its fully extended position, an electromagnet is turned on so that the re-draw sleeve exerts the requisite force on the can material perform. The electromagnet is mounted coaxially about the re-draw sleeve and exerts its force on a magnetic material ring mounted to the re-draw sleeve to hold the re-draw sleeve against the can material perform.

Abstract: A variable gain control apparatus for a servo assist system includes a position sensor, a valve, a controller and an actuator. The valve has an actuated member and a variable flow orifice to communicate hydraulic fluid between the high pressure supply line and a reservoir of hydraulic fluid. The position of the actuated member determines the cross sectional area of the variable flow orifice. The position sensor determines the present position of the actuated member. The controller determines a position error between the present position of the actuated member and a varying predetermined position of the actuated member. The actuator in response to the position error actuates the actuated member to eliminate the position error so that assist pressure to the servo assist system is varied as a function of the varying predetermined position.

Abstract: An electromagnetic actuator includes a magnetic flux conductive material case, an electrical current conductive coil, a magnetic flux conductive material core, and a pair of radially polarized magnetic flux developing elements. The coil is disposed in the case coextensively adjacent to its interior wall. The core is movably received within the chamber with motion of the core occurring between the first end and the second end of the case such that a first region of the core traverses the coil between its first end and its midpoint, and a second region of the core traverses the coil between its second end and its midpoint. A first one of the magnetic elements is carried by the first region and a second one of the magnetic elements is carried by the second region so that magnetic flux across the coil between the first region and the case is in a first direction, and magnetic flux across the coil between the second region and the case is in a second direction.

Abstract: A television display apparatus wherein a white light source emits 9a beam onto a plurality of dichroic mirrors which split the beam into three beams of the primary colors, then reflects the three primary beams onto three deformable reflective surfaces, which again reflect the beams through slits in a non-reflective surface, thereby modulating the intensity of the beams. The amount of light passing through the slits is horizontally scanned by one surface of a rotating polygonal mirror, then passes through collimating and projection lenses and onto a screen.

Abstract: An actuator for tilting the plane of an object is constructed from a stack of piezoelectric or electrostrictive members. First alternate interstices between the members are filled with a first conductive material, except that a first gap remains between the material and one side of the stack. Similarly, second alternate interstices between the members are filled with a second conductive material, except that a second gap remains between the material and an opposite side of the stack. The first gap and the second gap have unequal depth into the stack. The first material in the first interstices is coupled in common and the second material in the second interstices is coupled in common. A voltage applied between the first material and the second material will thereby cause the stack to bend, thereby tilting the plane of the op of the stack.

Abstract: A high efficiency solenoid includes a magnetic material solenoid core, an electrical current conductive coil and a moveable magnetic plunger. The solenoid core has a first end portion, a first face disposed at the first end portion, a second end portion opposite the first end portion and a continuous channel disposed in the first face. The electrical current conductive coil disposed in the channel and arranged so that magnetic flux developed in response to a current in the coil forms a first magnetic pole on the first face interiorly of the channel and a second magnetic pole of opposite plurality on the first face exteriorly of the channel. The plunger has a surface and a facing coextensive relationship to the first face. The plunger is normally biased in a first position to space the surface from the first face to form a gap therebetween. There is no magnetic material which is received through a bore within the solenoid core.

Abstract: A piezoelectric actuator includes a pair of piezoelectric members which are oriented to shear laterally toward each other in the presence of an applied voltage. A hinge having translational members (which act similarly to a rack) and a rotating member (which acts similarly to a pinion) is attached to the top of the piezoelectric members with one translational attached to a respective one of the piezoelectric members. A driven member attached radially outward from the rotating member will then move through an arc when the piezoelectric members laterally shear. An object, such as a mirror, when carried by the distal end of the driven member, will then be actuated.

Abstract: A television display apparatus wherein a white light source emits a beam onto a plurality of dichroic mirrors which split the beam into three beams of the primary colors, then reflects the three primary beams onto three deformable reflective surfaces, which again reflect the beams through slits in a non-reflective surface, thereby modulating the intensity of the beams. The amount of light passing through the slits is horizontally scanned by one surface of a rotating polygonal mirror, then passes through collimating and projection lenses and onto a screen.

Abstract: An electronic switch matrix for a video projection system has a plurality of switch elements, each of which is associated with a respective one of the display pixels in a MxN array. A first counter, in response to a pixel clock and the horizontal sync signal, provides the column timing for activating the switch elements. Similarly, a second counter, in response to a row block and the vertical sync signal, provides the row timing for activating the switch elements. A switch element activated simultaneously by each counter then couples the luminance signal to a video display circuit element for developing the appropriate pixel intensity.

Abstract: An active hydraulic pressure control system includes a sensor, a valve, a controller and an actuator. In accordance with a broad aspect of the present invention, the controller determines a pressure differential between the pressure sensed by the sensor in a high pressure supply line of a hydraulic system and a predetermined pressure. In response to such pressure differential, the actuator drives the valve which has a variable flow orifice to communicate hydraulic fluid between the high pressure supply line and a reservoir of hydraulic fluid to eliminate the pressure differential.

Abstract: A television display apparatus wherein a white light source emits a beam onto a plurality of dichroic mirrors which split the beam into three beams of the primary colors, then reflects the three primary beams onto three deformable reflective surfaces, which again reflect the beams through slits in a non-reflective surface, thereby modulating the intensity of the beams. The amount of light passing through the slits is horizontally scanned by one surface of a rotating polygonal mirror, then passes through collimating and projection lenses and onto a screen.

Abstract: An improved electromagnetic actuator of the type comprising (a) a first assembly; (b) a second assembly movable relative to the first assembly along an axis of relative movement in response to a command signal, the second assembly comprising magnetic flux source means for defining radially directed flux both in an inward and outward direction relative to the axis of relative movement; (c) coil assembly means for defining at least two coil segments respectively disposed in the paths of the flux in the inward and outward directions; and (d) means for applying the command signal to the coil segments so that a current flows in one direction around the axis through the inward directed flux, and flows in the opposite direction around the axis through the outward directed flux so that the flux/current force applied between the first and second assemblies is additive. In accordance with one aspect of the invention flat magnets and flux focussing elements are used to provide the radially directed flux.

Abstract: A method for fabricating an array of mirrors for an optical projection system. This method comprises the steps of forming an array of holes between a top surface and a bottom surface on an electrically insulated substrate. These holes are then filled with an electrically conductive material. Another step in this method includes mounting a plurality of piezoelectric pedestals on the top surface of the substrate wherein each of the pedestals are disposed over a respective hole so that the first face of each of the pedestals is electrically connected to the conductive material in the respective holes. A plurality of mirrors are then mounted on the pedestals wherein each of the mirrors is disposed on at least one of the pedestals. After the mirrors are mounted the second face of each pedestal is electrically connected to a common circuit node.

Abstract: A video display system includes a source of optical energy, a beam splitter, a baffle, an MxN array of mirrors and a screen. The source develops the first light beam along a first propagation path. The beam splitter is disposed in this first propagation path. The beam splitter is positioned to split the optical energy of the first light beam to develop a second light beam along a second propagation path. The baffle has a first face, a second face and a row of parallel slits. The slits are open between the first face and the second face and may extend either vertically or horizontally across each face of the baffle. Accordingly, there are either M rows or N columns of slits. The baffle is disposed in the second propagation path so that the second light beam illuminates the first face and passes through the slits to exit from the second face as a plurality of planar light beams along the second propagation path. The mirror array is disposed in a facing relationship to the second face of the baffle.

Abstract: A scene projector is calibrated by providing a look-up table for intensity adjustment values of each pixel of the displayed frame. The look-up table is formed by calculating a ratio of measured intensity of each pixel to the intensity of the pixel of minimum intensity when power and scene modulation controls are at maximum. Power modulator control response and scene modulator control response curves are generated, and a black body calibration is performed to define the relation between black body temperature, power modulator and scene modulator settings. Power modulator control settings are determined for each of a number of selected black body temperatures, and a scene modulator setting is determined that is required to obtain a proper black body temperature. These values are stored in a second table and combined with intensity value corrections from the intensity value table to modify image data.

Abstract: A system for measuring a force applied to a mass so that the magnitude and direction of the force can be determined as well as the torque about three orthogonal axes. The system comprises an electromagnetic bearing support system for electromagnetically suspending the mass in a predetermined position and orientation relative to a three-dimensional coordinate system defining three mutually perpendicular axes. The forces applied to the mass are measured by measuring the force components of each applied force along one of the axes so that the one axis defines a reference axis. The force components in the direction of the two remaining force components are each measured at two locations along the reference axis. The roll of the mass about the reference axis is measured and the yaw and pitch of the mass about the two remaining axes is determined as a function of the two components in the direction of the of each of the two remaining axes.

Abstract: A scene projector displays an image as M by N array of pixels. The scene projector includes a plurality of optical guided wave modulators. The modulators each have an optical input, and optical output and an electrical input. The optical output of each of the modulators forms a corresponding one of the pixels. The optical input of each of the modulators is adapted to be uniformly illuminated. The scene projector further applies a selected voltage to the electrical input of each of the modulators. This voltage is selected commensurately with a predetermined intensity of output optical energy at the corresponding pixel.

Abstract: The active damping system includes an electrical current conductive coil spatially fixed with respect to one of the sprung mass and unsprung mass of a vehicle and a magnetic element spatially fixed with respect to the other of the sprung mass and the unsprung mass. Relative motion is imparted between the coil and the magnetic element in response to relative motion between the sprung mass and the unsprung mass. This relative motion is in response to random input vibrations from a road surface. The magnetic element develops a magnetic flux intersecting the coil to develop and induced current through the coil wherein the induced current develops an electromotive force on the magnetic element opposing the relative motion to act as the active damping element. The active damping system also includes means for developing a control current through the coil to oppose motion of the sprung mass relative to the road surface occurring below a selected frequency.

Abstract: An improved electromagnetic actuator assembly is described. The assembly comprises a magnetic circuit for defining radially directed flux both in an inward and outward direction, and a coil disposed in the flux paths and connect to receive a control signal so that a current can be applied in one direction through those portions of the coil disposed in the inward radially directed flux, and applied in the opposite direction through those portions of the coil disposed in the outwardly directed flux so that the flux/current products of the coil portions and associated flux are additive.