Abstract: To increase the measuring sensitivity of a simple-to-manufacture, multi-faced solid optical current sensor, at least one of the light-reflecting lateral faces is displaced radially inward with respect to the remaining light-reflecting lateral faces and has a lesser minimum distance from a center of the solid optical current sensor than the other lateral faces. Because of this displacement, the incident light beam does not move through a closed polygonal progression in the course of a single circuit around a recess for a current conductor, whose current intensity is to be measured by means of the Faraday effect. Helically overlapping displacements of the light circuit paths are created, which cause an increase in light sensitivity. The lateral face or another lateral face can also be displaced outwardly instead of inwardly.

Abstract: In order to be independent of temperature when evaluating polarization-modulated light signals, DC and AC components from light power signals (S.sub.1, S.sub.2) are evaluated separately. The algorithm necessary for this purpose is specified.

Abstract: The sheets which are to be butt welded are positioned with their edges in contact with one another. To reduce the gap to a width acceptable for laser welding, at least one sheet is plastically deformed along the line of the joint so that material flows towards the gap, reducing the width of the gap. In this way, sheets cut to size with much less precision can be welded together.

Abstract: The sensor head (1) is intended for a fiberoptic current measuring device. It exhibits a twisted low-birefringence LB fiber (14) which is guided around a current conductor (2) and serves to conduct polarized light. Using the LB fiber (14), the Faraday rotation of the polarized light, which rotation is generated by the magnetic field (H) of the current (J) to be measured, is detected. The LB fiber (14) is spliced at its two ends in each instance with one of two polarization-conserving, light-conducting HB fibers (6, 7), one (6) of which supplies the polarized light. The two HB fibers (6, 7) are secured in each instance in the vicinity of the two splice locations (19, 20) with the absorption of the torsional force generated by the twisting of the LB fiber (14).In spite of having a simple and sturdy structure, the sensor head (1) is distinguished by a high degree of measurement accuracy.

Abstract: Fiber-optic sensors are used in reflection or transmission operation in almost all fields of measuring technology, inter alia for monitoring industrial installations, in medical diagnostics and in aerospace. In this context, the effects of mechanical, electrical, magnetic, acoustic, thermal and chemical signals are evaluated. In order to make possible a simpler signal evaluation, laser light from a light source is coupled into a feed line optical fiber parallel to one of its two principal axes. At a 1st splice point, the light is introduced into a 1st reference optical fiber, whose principal axes are rotated with respect to those of the feed line optical fiber by 45.degree.. At a 2nd splice point, the light reaches a 2nd reference optical fiber of the same length as the 1st reference optical fiber and with its principal axes rotated with reference to the 1st reference optical fiber by 90.degree.. At a 3rd splice point, the light is coupled into a low-birefringent optical fiber, which firstly forms a .lambda.

Abstract: A removable hard disc memory cartridge for use with a drive mechanism including a spindle located within a drive housing.The drive housing interior is provided with stationary position registration members which cooperate with mating side edge portions of the cartridge to provide positive positioning when the cartridge is inserted into the drive housing. A disc lock carried by the cartridge maintains the internally mounted cartridge disc in a secured locked position when the cartridge is not in use, the lock mechanism cooperating with release posts carried by the drive housing to free the disc for rotation just prior to engagement by the drive spindle.

Abstract: In an apparatus of the type including a magnetic transducer head adapted for flying on a fluid bearing in close proximity to a transducing surface and a gimbal apparatus to which the head is mounted for flying so as to provide flexural freedom of rotation of the head around roll and pitch axes parallel to the transducing surface and flexural freedom of translation in the direction of an axis perpendicular to the surface while restraining rotation of the head about the axis perpendicular to the surface and translation of the head in directions parallel to the surface, the gimbal apparatus comprising a thin, resilient, gimbal sheet having an external shape and interior openings defining an outer ring attachable to a gimbal sheet support at substantially opposite points on the outer ring and an inner ring spaced apart from the outer ring and attached to it by a pair of webs intersecting the outer ring at opposite interior edges between the points at which the outer ring is attached to the gimbal sheet support, t

Abstract: Apparatus for supporting a magnetic head assembly adjacent a recording surface and for loading and retracting the head assembly.