Abstract: Disclosed is a magnetic storage system which utilizes a dual planar magnetic disk storage device in combination with a magnetic head assembly having a local tracking device for producing small correctional movements to precisely align the magnetic transducer head to provide high density recording on a magnetic disk and thereby increase the total amount of information stored on the disk. The dual planar magnetic storage disk has magnetic wall regions which are permanently magnetized with either a horizontal or vertical polarity to produce a magnetic wall on each side of the data track. The local tracking device has sensor coils for sensing the location of the magnetic transducer head and reactor coils for producing a reaction coil magnetic field which interacts with either the magnetic wall field or the magnetic head assembly to produce the correctional movements of the local tracking device.

Abstract: A microcomputer system for converting an analog input signal, such as an audio signal representative of sound into a digital form for storing in digital form in a highly condensed code and for reconstructing the analog signal from the coded digital form is disclosed. The system includes reductive analytic means where the original digital data stream is converted to a sequential series of frequency spectrograms, signal amplitude histograms and waveform code tables. Approximately 100 times less storage space than previously required for the storage of digitized audio signals of high fidelity quality is thereby obtained. Additive synthesis logic interprets the stored codes and recreates an output digital data stream for digital to analog conversion that is nearly identical to the original source material.

Abstract: A solar fermentation process and distillation system for the manufacture of ethanol product suitable for blending with motor gasoline or as a substitute fuel for gasoline. Fermentation of starches or sugars is carried out in situ in solar collector tubes. The raw beer product emanating from the solar tubes is purified into a high quality ethanol fuel product by passing the beer product through a series of distillation columns whose internal reboil vapor is generated in whole or in substantial part through direct application of solar heat energy. The use of solar energy as heating source in the fermentation and distillation steps markedly reduces the need for external utilities such as steam and fuel to run the plant thereby greatly reducing the operating costs of the plant.

Abstract: A solar heat exchanger for vaporizing virtually all the liquid entering the exchanger. The solar heat exchanger of the invention is comprised of a metal tube, a feedwater inlet tube of much smaller diameter located within the metal tube and a transparent glass envelope enclosing the metal tube. The annular space between the inner surface of the glass envelope and the outer surface of the metal tube is evacuated to pressure of 10.sup.-6 torr. A vapor outlet pipe is provided at one end of the exchanger. A feedwater inlet pipe extends from the opposite end of the exchanger within and for approximately the length of the interior of the metal tube. In use incoming feedwater is pumped through the feedwater pipe and sprays outwardly through small spray orifices onto the hot inside surface of the metal tube, which converts it to steam.

Abstract: A solar energy collector comprises a metal tube through which solar-heated fluids may pass. The metal tube is maintained in a high vacuum environment, in the order of 10.sup.-6 torr, by a coaxial transparent glass tube and a pair of metal bellows sealing the ends of the glass tube to the metal tube in flexible seals designed to accommodate relative radial and linear expansion of the glass. The metal tube may be coated with a suitable absorption layer and the assembly of the metal and glass tubes may form a part of a solar system, such, for example, as a nonimaging concentrator in which the tubes are positioned longitudinally of and within an elongated parabolic reflector.