Abstract: A method is described for determining the return stroke polarity of distant lightning for distances beyond 600 km by detecting the electric field associated with a return stroke of distant lightning, and processing the electric field signal to determine the polarity of the slow tail of the VLF waveform signal associated with the detected electric field. The polarity of the return stroke of distant lightning is determined based upon the polarity of the slow tail portion of the waveform.

Abstract: A conduit has a core and an axial length susceptible to being pinched and chafed by other structure adjacent the conduit. An inner semiconductive layer extends the length of the conduit susceptible to being pinched and has a reference point adapted to be electrically connected with a detecting circuit for detecting a pinch and/or a computing unit for determining the location of a pinch. A resiliently compressible electrical switching layer, which is nonconducting when not pinched and conducting when pinched, is superposed against the inner semiconductive layer.

Abstract: In a frequency response analyzer capable of testing a system under test at a higher frequency F derived from a signal generator providing a relatively higher frequency F/K. A reference signal of frequency F-C is supplied to a mixer where it is multiplied with the return signal of frequency F to provide a fixed frequency output C. An analyzing portion of the frequency response analyzer is therefore required to operate only at this fixed frequency C and may provide an output in any suitable form, for example displays of magnitude and phase against frequency as F/K is varied. The present invention overcomes the problem of providing a VCO based signal generator capable of operation at very low frequencies.

Abstract: The present invention relates to apparatus for measuring the AC electrical parameters of a circuit element (Device-Under-Test, DUT), such as a resistor, a capacitor or an inductor, at the desired frequency of a signal while applying a DC bias to the DUT. The present invention provides an apparatus capable of measurement with less error even in the lower-frequency range.

Abstract: A probe for sensing the moisture content in a porous medium such as soil. The probe includes an array of a multiplicity of conductors and resistors formed on a substrate, with contact pins or electrodes connected to one end of each resistor, typically extending outwardly from the substrate. The resistor array is preferably divided into at least two groups, providing a separate output for each group. An appropriate voltage source and indicator means are connected to the resistor array in a circuit to provide indication of soil moisture. The transfer characteristic of the apparatus is such that the probe has improved sensitivity in the area of primary interest, that is at, between 80 and 100% of saturation.