Abstract: A light-altering filter for use by military and law-enforcement personnel in lowlight environments is disclosed. The filter can be placed between a lit computer monitor screen and the face of the computer user. Light coming from the monitor screen is modified by the filter so that the night vision capabilities of the computer user are not adversely affected, and splash-back reflective illumination of the user is minimized.

Abstract: A soil moisture probe includes a capacitance-type probe and a detection circuit. The probe includes two spaced electrodes on the same side of a printed circuit board (PCB). The electrodes are placed on an inner layer of a multi-layer PCB and the detection circuit may be placed on an outer layer. The PCB also includes a ground plane. The detection circuit generates a sawtooth or triangular wave which is converted to a DC voltage representative of the moisture content of a soil sample into which the probe is inserted. The unique circuit uses the capacitance of the probe as part of a low-pass filter that distorts an oscillator-generated square wave into a saw-tooth or triangular wave. A resistance component of the low-pass filter is adjustable, allowing tuning of the probe and the circuit as needed.

Abstract: A device for measuring one or more different properties of soil or a soil-related substance is provided. The device includes a probe that is inserted into the soil or soil-related substance. The probe includes a tip. The tip is electrically insulative and defines apertures. Electrodes are fitted into the apertures. The tip and electrodes are machined together to have a desired shape that is suitable for insertion into a sample. A printed circuit board (“PCB”) is located inside the probe. The electrodes are soldered directly to the PCB in one embodiment. A temperature sensing element is also located in the tip, near the electrodes, and is connected electrically to the PCB.

Abstract: An assembly for use in a laser wire stripping apparatus that has a single piece channel assembly which has a pathway for allowing a light source to travel through the channel assembly to a cylindrical cavity in the channel assembly. A collet is provided and has a passageway for insertion of a wire. The collet has an opening, which when the collet is properly inserted into the cylindrical cavity, is in alignment with the pathway thereby allowing the light source to travel to the wire in order to remove insulation from the wire. A housing assembly is used for holding the channel assembly and for allowing the channel assembly to rotate within the housing assembly. The housing assembly has an air insertion opening and an exhaust opening for clearing smoke and debris from the channel assembly.

Abstract: A system for making a biochemical assay of each of plurality of provided specimens, comprising: a plurality of receptacles, a sensor for providing a resistance, a mechanism and a controller.

Abstract: An electrode assembly for acquiring physiological signals, comprising a flexible substrate having a bottom surface and a top surface, means forming a plurality of electrodes at the bottom surface of the substrate and each electrode having a bottom surface facing away from the substrate, an electrical connector fixed to the substrate and having a plurality of connector elements, a plurality of flexible conductors fixed on the substrate and connecting the electrodes to the connector elements, a layer of conductive adhesive on the bottom surface of each electrode; and an adhesive layer on at least a portion of the bottom surface of the substrate.

Abstract: The data telemetry system disclosed is a complete data communications systems suitable for use by utilities such as electric companies, gas companies and water companies which can be used for meter reading and load management at individual subscribers premises. Elements of the system can also be used as a power load carrier in a premise specific local area network (LAN). With the system is disclosed, all 10,000 subscribers per exchange can be serviced. It will be understood that data can be multiplexed between a central office location and remote subscribers for any suitable purpose with the data system as disclosed. A packet switching structure is disclosed having eight to thirty-two bytes in the data message. This packet is routed between the utility and remote subscriber with routing headers being added and deleted as required by the network modules. Each successive layer of the multiplexing and switching hierarchy submultiplies the aggregate 10,000 channel capacity into fewer channels.

Abstract: A communications system which enables enhanced services to be provided over cable TV systems. The design of the system is such that amplification is not required. Therefore, two-way transmission is possible on the low band of "two-way capable" cable systems and intermediate power failures do not affect transmission.Transmission of data takes place in the low band frequency range of five to thirty megahertz. The system design is such that it can withstand over a hundred dB loss between the remote terminal and the head-end. Carrier frequencies, when received, are interleaved for purposes of decoding and microprocessor based controls are used for automatic gain control and error correction.In a preferred embodiment of the invention, two thousand five hundred carriers, each transmitting eight digital data channels of information can be simultaneously transmitted from remote terminals without any effect whatsoever on the TV signals being transmitted at the high band frequencies.

Abstract: A high speed and relatively error free communications system is disclosed which enables the high speed transmission of data at a 19.2 kilobit per second rate. The data is transmitted over the same communications medium as voice transmissions, the data transmission being virtually imperceptible to the user of the analog telephone system. Connection to and from the data terminals is made through an RS232C interface. A spread spectrum technique is utilized which "whitens" the signals of the data terminal regardless of whether the terminal is idle, transmitting or receiving data. Virtual error free transmission is achieved by interleaving bits, so that noise does not destroy the data, and by error detection and correction techniques which assure that the data, as received, is identical to that transmitted. By using a variable pseudo random code, privacy of data communications are enhanced and cross-talk is substantially eliminated.

Abstract: A circuit for coupling digital or analog data signals to a telephone line. A direct coupled transistorized circuit is disclosed having three different impedance conditions: on-hook, off-hook, and loop-test. Consequently, data can be transmitted regardless of the on-hook or off-hook status of the associated telephone sets and regardless of whether or not the telephone sets are in use. In addition, data transmission can range over a frequency spectrum of approximately d-c to frequencies in the data-over-voice range. Because of the variable bridging impedance, the drive impedance is not too low during on-hook ringing and the circuit need not be disconnected during ringing or testing.

Abstract: A communications system capable of simultaneously transmitting voice and data information. The spectral energy of the data signal is smeared by spreading it in a spectrum with energy packed in the lower frequency range under the conventional voice signal frequency in a manner which complements the standard C-message weighting curve. The use of the spread spectrum technique also eliminates thumping at the data rate since the harmonics that produce thumping are also spread throughout the bandwidth.

Abstract: A co-channel communications system is disclosed which permits a digital data signal to be simultaneously transmitted with a communications medium signal such as telephone voice or television video. The data signal or signals are converted into very low multifrequency signals consisting of fundamental frequencies and harmonics which span the communications bandwidth. Because a number of frequencies are used for each data signal, the signal level of the data signals can be greatly suppressed relative to the communications medium signal to a level such that there is no perceptible degradation of the telephone voice or television video. Synchronous detectors for each frequency transmitted, including harmonic frequencies, are utilized to recapture and regenerate the data signals transmitted.