Abstract: Apparatus and method for positioning an article utilizes a video signal of the article from a television camera to accurately position the article. Vertical and horizontal sync signals from the camera are used to generate first and second boundary markers to provide .+-.X and .+-.Y positioning, respectively. Sensitivity markers are also generated to monitor system sensitivity in non-object areas. The magnitude of the coincidence between the article and the boundary markers is utilized to control the motion of the positioning adjustment.

Abstract: A surge protector is tested by injecting a current spike with an exponentially decaying waveshape (12) through the surge protector. The current is generated by connecting a voltage source (16) to the surge protector and controlling the current through the surge protector by a Darlington array amplifier (20) connected between the surge protector and ground. The Darlington array amplifier (20) is in turn controlled by first generating a reference pulse having a voltage waveform corresponding to the desired current waveform and comparing this reference voltage with a voltage feedback from the Darlington array amplifier (20) to in turn generate an error voltage which is coupled into the amplifier (20). Additionally, differential amplifier circuits (44 and 46) monitor the voltage impressed on the amplifier (20) and reduce the input voltage to the amplifier (20) significantly if the voltage impressed on the amplifier (20) is greater than a predetermined fraction of the voltage source (16).