Abstract: The pressure of lubricating oil in an internal-combustion engine of an automotive vehicle is monitored with the aid of an oil-pressure sensor and an engine-speed sensor jointly controlling an alarm-signal generator which is activated when the oil pressure falls short of a minimum value assigned to a given engine speed. Also disclosed are test circuits for determining the correct functioning of the two sensors.

Abstract: An alarm adapted to be mounted on an object to be protected is provided with sensing means for sensing any one of (a) a movement of the protected object, (b) a disruption of an applied voltage source, and (c) a disruption of an alarm ground path. The alarm is further provided with signal generating and timing means to produce a two-frequency alarm signal for a selectable length of time.

Abstract: Monitoring apparatus which comprises a plurality of monitoring circuits arranged to indicate the malfunctioning of various components and systems for a motor vehicle. These warning circuits include a generator warning circuit and an oil-pressure warning circuit. To prevent activation of the generator and oil-pressure warning circuits when the vehicle ignition is turned on but the vehicle engine is not running, a respective switching device is inserted in each circuit. The switching device controlling activation of the generator warning circuit is arranged to activate the latter only when the engine oil pressure reaches a level indicating that the engine is running. The switching device controlling activation of the oil-pressure warning circuit is arranged to activate the latter only during operation of the generator. With this arrangement when the vehicle ignition is initially turned on the warning lights of the generator and oil pressure warning circuits will not be illuminated as generally happens.

Abstract: The invention provides an improved image memory device including an image processing memory unit incorporated into a universal image processing device and an address switching control circuit connected thereto, wherein an address data for raster display and an address data fed from an external input-output device are periodically selected by an address switching control circuit for supply to the image processing memory unit so that the memory unit may be accessed by an external input-output device without intercepting the raster display with remarkably reduced data transfer time.

Abstract: A system and method whereby school children waiting for the arrival of a school bus are notified of impending arrival of the bus by means of a radio transmitted signal which activates a visual or audio alarm located in their respective residences. A radio frequency transmitter is placed in each school bus, with the transmission frequency selected to correspond to a particular bus route. A radio frequency receiver is placed within a plurality of selected residences along a bus route and tuned to receive the frequency corresponding to that transmitted by the bus following the route followed by the bus which is to stop and pick up children at that residence. When the receiver receives the transmitted signal, an audible or visual alarm is activated thereby notifying the occupants of the residence of the impending arrival of the bus.

Abstract: A turn direction detector for use in an automobile includes two sets of switch arrangements provided in association with a steering wheel shaft. One switch arrangement closes when a steering wheel is rotated clockwise and the other switch arrangement closes when the steering wheel is rotated counterclockwise. Signals obtained from these switch arrangements are used for effecting the cancellation of right and left turn indicators.

Abstract: A security device for motor vehicles and other d.c. electrical systems responsive to use of the system wherein an alarm or other security element is connected across the source, a relay has its switch connected to the alarm element and its coil connected to a switch maintained open in the stand-by condition responsive to maintained voltage of the d.c. source or battery, the switch closing responsive to lowered d.c. voltage to energize the relay coil and close the relay switch to actuate the alarm element, and delay means controlling the time required by the relay coil switch to assume its open stand-by condition.

Abstract: An electronic dipstick or similar probe has an electrically insulated conductor which is diminished or otherwise adjusted with respect to a given point of reference and a predetermined low liquid level. Level monitoring functions on liquids having high volume resistivities in the megohm-centimeter range are attainable.

Abstract: An anti-theft alarm system for movable objects, particularly motorcycles, and actuated by mechanical disturbance, e.g., by using tools on a vehicle, moving it off its stand, or operating it. The primary disturbance sensors are steel balls or the like in small compartments inside which they are free to roll. Impacts of one or more balls against compartment walls generate pulses of high-frequency sound and vibration, which are in turn sensed by an adjacent high-frequency microphone or vibration pickup. The output of this transducer is then amplified and suitably processed to energize a horn or other alarm device.

Abstract: Portable, self-powered multiple warning device, including an alarm clock, a smoke or gas detector, a common power source for powering the alarm clock and smoke or gas detector, first warning means for issuing an activation signal for the alarm clock and second warning means for issuing an activation signal for the smoke or gas detector.

Abstract: In a numerical value input display, by an operating unit input device for entering the unit of a first entered numerical value, the numerical value being displayed on a display unit is taken up in a column corresponding to the unit and, at the same time, the columns less significant than that unit are rendered into a particular condition so that a second numerical value can be displayed at the position of that particular condition. The portion of the display unit rendered into the particular condition produces a display different from the display of the first numerical value or is made blank. The display is provided with a memory for storing the first entered numerical value and the unit of the first numerical value correspondingly to the columns or place in the display unit where it is to be displayed, and a particular code is displayed in the portion representing the unit stored in the memory so that a newly entered numerical value can be stored at the places of the particular code.

Abstract: A fiber optics level sensor (FOLS) or flow sensor (FOFS) system for use in hazardous environments, process control, and industrial and environmental control applications. The system includes a pair of fiber optic bundles arranged between a remote sensor and a control module. The remote sensor detects the position of a movable vane--which is mechanically coupled to a float in the sensed environment--by means of a transmission gap between confronting ends of the pair of fiber optic bundles. The control module includes a light output device driven by an oscillator which thereby generates pulses of light which are optically coupled to the end of one of the bundles. The end of the other bundle is coupled to a photodetector which generates electrical pulses in response to the returning light pulses. The electrical pulses are amplified and then gated through a sampling circuit which is internally synchronized by means of and in resonse to the oscillator.

Abstract: A system for detecting a fire emergency condition employs three separate and diverse sensors; a heat detector, a smoke detector, and an infrared radiation detector. Either or all of these detectors can activate the alarm. Additionally, the infrared radiation detector can be used to control the energization of the room's artificial illumination means. All sensors are mounted in a common housing and a mirror or lens arrangement is provided to focus the infrared radiation upon the appropriate detector.

Abstract: Electrically conductive leads of a radio alarm system electrically connect a relay, a source of electrical energy and a radio transmitter in a back up circuit. The relay is energized by electrical conductors of an electric circuit of the radio alarm system having switches, and maintains the relay normally open as long as the radio alarm system is in operative condition. When an electrical conductor of the radio alarm system is open-circuited, the relay is deenergized and closes the back up circuit to actuate the transmitter to transmit radio signals indicating that an electrical conductor of a closed circuit of the radio alarm system has been open-circuited.

Abstract: Alarm system for monitoring pressurized vehicular tires for their gas mass, basically comprising a wheel unit for at least some of the tires of the vehicle, and a common receiver. Each wheel unit has an antenna made of a flexible material in the form of an open annulus, suitable to be snapped into and held by its resilience against the inner periphery of the respective tire, a continuous wire loop being embedded in the annulus for transmitting signals but optionally also for receiving power. At symmetrical location about the inside of the antenna, an electro-magnentic power generator module, a gas-mass monitoring sensor module, and a signal transmitter are mounted, electrically interconnected, for giving a preferably two-bit signal indication to the common receiver. The latter may have signal decoding and alarm circuitry to display at least two different conditions, namely a warning and an alarm condition.

Abstract: The brake fluid reservoir warning arrangement responds when the fluid level drops below a predetermined minimum level and includes two contact pins and a contact disc arranged on a float to electrically connect the contact pins when the fluid level is below the minimum level. Checking arrangements to check the warning arrangement are disclosed which include manual swivelling or axially displacing the contact pins to make an electrical connection with the contact disc, or the contact carrier includes an opening accessible to both contact pins receiving a metal part to electrically connect the two contact pins together.

Abstract: A device for electrical connection in an internal combustion engine, including a heat sensitive time delay switch connected in the ignition circuit to open, and/or connected in an alarm circuit to close after a predetermined period of engine operation, and a hidden disabling switch to disable the time delay switch for legitimate engine operation.

Abstract: A capacitive probe for sensing the presence of water in a fuel tank increases in capacitance when water is present. A threshold detector circuit includes the capacitive probe and a reference capacitor and an oscillator for periodically charging them to the same voltage and a comparator for comparing the capacitor voltages during discharge to determine when the probe capacitance exceeds the reference capacitance. The comparator controls a lamp driver which is connected to ground and which is also connected by a single conductor to a remote indicating lamp in series with a power supply. The single conductor carries the lamp energizing current as controlled by the lamp driver and also supplies the operating voltage to the detection circuit.

Abstract: The apparatus is for controlling the generation of dot matrix characters of a plurality of fonts for display on the screen of a cathode ray tube. The apparatus uses character generators responsive to signals representing a code specifying a particular character. The character generator for each font is driven by a clock derived from a single clock source. The outputs of the character generators can be selectively used to control the duty cycle of the cathode ray tube electron beam so as to display characters all of one font or mixed from all fonts.

Abstract: A system for operating a memory display panel comprising a gas-filled envelope having an array of D.C. gas discharge cells and an array of quasi A.C. gas discharge cells, there being one A.C. cell for each D.C. cell. The A.C. cells are the display cells of the panel and include electrode means which receive sustainer signals for sustaining glow therein, and the D.C. cells are operated in a scanning fashion to address selected A.C. cells in which glow is to be displayed.The system includes electronic circuitry for performing the above-mentioned operations of driving the D.C. cells, generating sustaining signals for the A.C. cells, and energizing the A.C. cells in accordance with input data information. Appropriate timing control circuits are also provided.