Abstract: Vehicle and vehicle tire monitoring system, apparatus and method determine the load-induced deflection or deformation of a vehicle tire and based thereon, deflection-related information, such as tire load, molar air content, total vehicle mass and distribution of vehicle mass, may be provided. The tire deflection region or contact region of the loaded tire is detected by sensing the acceleration of the rotating tire by means of an accelerometer mounted on the tire, preferably on an inner surface such as the tread lining thereof. As the tire rotates and the accelerometer is off of the contact region, a high centrifugal acceleration is sensed. Conversely, when the accelerometer is on the contact region and not rotating, a low acceleration is sensed. The deflection points delimiting the contact region are determined at the points where the sensed acceleration transitions between the high and low values.

Abstract: A novel method and apparatus utilizing conventional photo-reactive and reflective layers of a recording medium for optically recording and reading both digital and variable length, analog pulses of data, in an exacting manner to eliminate excess energy absorption by the medium and for reducing latent recording errors due to defects in the recording medium as well as due to the recording process itself. With this precise recording and reading technique, analog variable-length pulse recording, with its inherent wide bandwidth, as well as coded digital pulse recording, with its inherent narrow bandwidth, can be accommodated. The system monitors the optical transmissivity and reflectivity of the recording medium during the recording process in real time to accurately determine initial and terminal inflection points denoting inception and end of a recorded pulse in an exacting manner and to pinpoint and make allowances for recording defects which may yet yield errors on playback.

Abstract: A cell feeder/harvester assembly including a primary platform with at least one recessed culture vessel holding area whereon two pipet tip racks, one for holding sterile pipet tips and the other rack for collecting used pipet tips, and an array of culture vessels are supported. An X assembly extends transversely across the primary platform and is driven longitudinally thereover, the X assembly having a Y assembly, including a secondary platform, disposed thereon which is adapted to be driven transversely over the X assembly, wherein both the X assembly and the Y assembly move so as to position a Z assembly, which is attached to a top of the secondary platform, over a select pair of culture vessels on opposite sides of the secondary platform. The Z assembly is adapted to service all culture vessels on the primary platform, without the need for manual or individualized directing, by removing waste products and adding necessary chemicals to the individual culture vessels.

Abstract: An automated multi-purpose utility water meter readout system. The disclosed system obtains water usage information from an existing water meter without any modifications or attachments to the meter. The device needs only to be located in proximity to the water meter and obtains water flow information by sensing the magnetic flux lines generated by the internal rotating coupling magnets of the water meter. The varying magnetic flux is converted to a periodic electrical signal whose frequency is proportional to the flow rate. The instantaneous flow is continually totalized and stored in a solid-state counter, from which the totalized flow information is periodically transmitted to a remote receiver by a standard, well-proven radio frequency telemetry link. The remote receiver stores data from multiple meters (up to 10,000) and periodically sends the data to the data processing office by means of telephone lines, CATV cable, or RF link.

Abstract: A system for optically recording information on a recording medium, such as a video disk, by pulse-code modulation (PCM). The medium includes a reflective and radiation-sensitive recordable stratum which changes optically in accordance with the signal being recorded. The signal is recorded on the medium by a slaved coherent light light beam whose intensity is controlled by the recording medium itself. The recording medium controls the recording beam power in a manner to reduce dropouts to a minimum and to assure fidelity in the recorded signal throughout a predetermined range of surface speeds of the medium despite irregularities in the recording stratum.