Abstract: In a touch control system including one or more touch sensitive devices which capacitively transmit a relatively large electrical signal when not touched and transmit a relatively small electrical signal when touched an improved means for detecting the touch and no-touch conditions of the touch sensitive devices includes a comparator having positive feedback associated therewith. By increasing or decreasing the positive feedback the touch control system is operable either asynchronously or synchronously with an external control system. Furthermore, a plurality of touch sensitive devices may be multiplexed utilizing a single detection means constructed in accordance with the invention disclosed herein while requiring a relatively low voltage drive signal.

Abstract: Deterioration of a glass-to-metal seal in a lithium cell is prevented by protecting the exposed interior of the glass with a metal oxide or a non-conductive non-reactive polymeric material such as a fluorocarbon or a polyolefin stable in the presence of lithium and other cell components.

Abstract: An inductance element, such as a coil, cooperates with a detector/amplifier circuit to detect the level of a liquid in a container by quenching oscillations in an electrical circuit when the liquid is brought into close proximity to the inductance element.

Abstract: A metal strap is connected to a motor housing and to a metal mounting plate for a timer which carries the motor to electrically ground the motor to the timer.

Abstract: A method of forming capacitor anodes is described wherein leads of film forming metal, preferably headed are subjected to plasma spray deposition of film forming metal, preferably at a flame temperature of about 10,000.degree. to 20,000.degree. C. to form capacitor anodes.

Abstract: An alkali metal anode is compressed on a metal current collector and is adhered thereto by means of a metal which spontaneously alloys with the alkali metal at room temperature.

Abstract: An electrical device stabilized for long life operation comprising a cathode electrode including a porous layer of electrically conductive metal containing material, an electrolyte including an inorganic acid contacting the cathode electrode, and a cathode depolarizer including copper salt. A method of depolarizing an electrical device comprising the steps of forming a cathode electrode of layers of materials including a porous layer of electrically conductive metal containing material, contacting the cathode electrode with an electrolyte including an inorganic acid and a depolarizer including copper salt, reducing the copper salt to copper, and depositing copper on the cathode electrode as copper metal.

Abstract: A vacuum fluorescent display system for displaying a plurality of illuminable characters includes a plurality of segmented anodes, at least one cathode filament, a plurality of control grids interposed between the anodes and the cathode filament and circuitry for controllably powering the cathode filament and for sequentially driving the control grids whereby selected segments of the anodes are sequentially illuminated and the luminous intensity of the segments of each of the anodes is substantially the same. The cathode filament is controllably powered by removing and applying heating power in response to driven and undriven states respectively of the control grids. By controlling when heating power is applied to the cathode filament the voltage along the cathode filament is the same for each anode when the selected anode segments are sequentially illuminated thereby substantially eliminating variation in luminous intensity.

Abstract: The resonant frequency of a conventional piezoelectric transducer having predetermined dimensions and a fundamental nodal diameter is reduced while maintaining the overall predetermined diameter and fundamental nodal diameter of the transducer. A method of reducing the resonant frequency of a conventional piezoelectric transducer includes the step of radially slotting the substrate of the transducer.

Abstract: A coupling means coupling a motor to a series of teeth coupled to a cam means includes a no-back pawl mounted in and carried by a plate, a drive pawl slideably carried by the no-back pawl, aligned apertures in each of the pawls, and a gear means coupled to the motor and having a hub portion extending through the apertures with a drive portion eccentric to the rotational axis of the hub and engaging the drive pawl.

Abstract: Power is applied to an AC load at the crest of a voltage waveform by employing a light emitting diode. The crest firing circuit further includes a detector responsive to the diode's light emitting properties which fires a semiconductor switching device thereby activating the AC load.

Abstract: A solid electrolyte additive for high energy density solid state cells, comprising aluminum oxide treated with a polar covalently bonded alkali metal.

Abstract: A thermistor temperature sensing system includes a conventional comparator having a constant reference threshold voltage and a linearized thermistor sensor which in combination detect a limited range of desirable temperatures. A means is also disclosed for extending the linearization of the thermistor in a piecewise manner at at least one temperature extreme where linearity typically severely deteriorates. In a thermistor temperature sensing system, linearization of thermistor characteristics with respect to at least one temperature within the temperature extreme is achieved by utilizing circuitry which makes the threshold voltage of the conventional comparator a function of the setting of a potentiometer for a desired temperature within the temperature extreme to be sensed by a thermistor sensor.

Abstract: An epoxy glass fabric strip is used to carry a carbon based resistive path.

Abstract: A cup shaped hub has an actuator rim at its open end and is rotatably carried on a shaft through an aperture in its closed end. The hub is axially fixed to the shaft such that when the shaft is axially displaced the actuator rim opens and closes a line switch. A ratchet is carried by the shaft and is axially spring biased by a coil spring disposed between the cup shaped hub and the ratchet. A pin carried by the shaft engages the ratchet such that the ratchet may be rotated and axially displaced with the shaft. A coupling means couples the shaft to a cam means rotatably carried by the shaft and the cup shaped hub and includes teeth engaging the ratchet means such that a manual rotation of the shaft provides manual rotation of the cam means.

Abstract: An electrical device body including an electrode and a radiation semi-cured or cured polymer containing material. The electrode is formed into a configuration such as a convolutely wound electrical device body. The radiation semi-cured or cured polymer containing material is disposed over the body to help maintain the configuration of the body.A method of making the electrical device body including the steps of applying radiation curable polymer containing material to an electrode formed into a configuration such as a convolutely wound body configuration, irradiating applied material to semi-cure or completely cure the applied material and help maintain the configuration of the body.High energy irradiation from an energy source such as ultra-violet light or an electron beam is used to cross-link or cure applied polymeric material.

Abstract: A buzzer alarm has an electrically insulative housing fabricated of two molded pieces of electrically insulative material with a recessed vibratable diaphragm section constructed as a portion thereof. The buzzer alarm includes cooperating vibrating means and timer means with the vibrating means being carried by a frame that is carried along a wall which is complimentary to another wall which carries a terminal block.

Abstract: The electroacoustical properties of an electromechanical vibrating device for producing an audible signal are improved by attenuating undesirable frequencies of the audible signal to produce a predominant frequency and by accentuating the predominant frequency. The improvement includes a planar vibration diaphram comprised of a plastic polymer material, a vibrating striking member positioned to strike the vibration diaphram at its center; a bumper comprised of resilient material interposed between the vibrating striking member and the vibration diaphram, and a resonant chamber in spaced relation to the vibration diaphram having a resonant frequency substantially equal to the predominant frequency.

Abstract: A layer of material is disposed over at least a portion of a resistive film of a resistor. The material having a melting point lower than the melting point of the resistive film and when melted, chemically reacts with the resistive film to render at least a portion of the film non-conductive.