Abstract: A plasma-arc cutting torch housing defines a chamber which has an outlet at the end of the housing. The torch also includes an electrode in the chamber near the outlet and a provision in the chamber for separating the gas flowing towards the outlet of the housing into a primary gas flow adjacent to the electrode for generating a plasma and a secondary gas flow away from the electrode for cooling the torch and the workpiece. The electrode has a centrally disposed bore therethrough for conveying gas. An insert in the workpiece end of the electrode burns away so as to expose the essentially disposed bore therethrough, thereby automatically quenching operation of the plasma arc so as to minimize damage to the torch. In the preferred embodiment, the electrode has a stepped centrally disposed bore which stops short of the insert. In an alternate embodiment, the stepped bore extends through to the insert and accommodating insert bore.

Abstract: A plasma-arc torch includes an interlock in the form of a sliding gas valve which permits interruption of torch operation by closing off fluid flow through the torch when necessary parts such as the electrode, tip, fluid distributor, and/or cup are not in place.

Abstract: A plasma-art torch interlock with flow sensing is provided. A flow rate sensor is included within the conduit supplying working fluid to a plasma-arc torch. By sensing an increase in flow rate of the working fluid which is caused by a necessary part being not in place, a control circuit shuts off power to the torch. Pressure in the conduit may also be sensed and the power to the torch shut down if a minimum pressure needed for torch operation is not achieved. In a second embodiment, two conduits are provided to supply fluid to the torch. One conduit supplies the primary working fluid to create the plasma-arc while the other supplies secondary flow for purposes of cooling.

Abstract: A plasma-arc torch interlock with pressure sensing is provided. A pressure sensor is included within the conduit supplying working fluid to a plasma-arc torch. By sensing a decrease in pressure of the working fluid which is caused by a necessary part being not in place, a control circuit shuts off power to the torch. In a second embodiment, two conduits are provided to supply fluid to the torch. One conduit supplies the primary working fluid to create the plasma-arc while the other supplies secondary flow for purposes of cooling.

Abstract: An image sensing element in a solid state imaging device is provided with a plurality of superposed channels disposed at respective distances from a light receiving surface of the device, each of such channels having a different characteristic spectral response due to the differential absorption of light by a semiconductor. By so disposing the channels, the device becomes a color imaging sensor having optimized resolution. The top channel, i.e. the channel nearest the surface of the device, may be either a "surface" channel or a "buried" channel, the lower channel(s) being buried channels. Depending upon the design of the element, either electrons or holes may be accumulated as photocharges in respective superposed channels.

Abstract: In the plasma arc torch of this invention the same gas may be used for generating a plasma and for secondary gas flow for cooling the torch and the workpiece. A torch housing defines a chamber which has an outlet at the end of the housing. The torch also includes an electrode in the chamber near the outlet and means in the chamber for separating the gas flowing towards the outlet of the housing into a primary gas flow adjacent to the electrode for generating a plasma and a secondary gas flow away from the electrode for cooling the torch and the workpiece. In the preferred embodiment, air may be used for both the plasma forming gas and the secondary gas and the electrode has a halfnium insert. The torch has a torch tip adjacent to the electrode and the torch may be started without a pilot arc by touching the workpiece with the torch tip.

Abstract: A frame-rate converting film scanner includes means for continuously advancing film at a selected frame rate and for projecting an image of the moving film onto a solid state image sensor for producing a television signal at a standard television field rate. The solid state image sensor includes: (1) a two-dimensional array of image sensing elements having a width equal to the width of the projected image of a film frame and a height equal ot the projected image of 2+X/Y film frames, where X is the projection rate of the film in frames per second and Y is the field rate of the standard video signal in fields per second, (2) a two-dimensional frame storage array, (3) an output register, and (4) a "drain gate" disposed between the image sensing array and the frame storage array and operable in a first mode to transfer signals from the image sensing array to the storage array and in a second mode to drain signals from the image sensing array.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for laser-beam modulation and deflection wherein stored information is recorded on a photosensitive or other recording medium with a laser or other light beam. A plurality of separate frequencies is induced by a transducer on an acoustooptic light-modulating cell which carries and develops every frequency separately. The light beam is passed through the acoustooptic cell which modulates the light by Bragg reflection in accordance with the frequencies impressed thereon. The modulated light beams transmitted from the cell are used to record by a plurality of simultaneous scans, characters, graphical data or other form of information which is representative of the stored information on the photosensitive medium.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for acoustooptically modulating and diffracting a plurality of optical wavelengths contained in laser light impinging on an acoustooptic cell to form a composite output beam comprising intensity modulated component beams of selected wavelengths present in the impinging laser light. To accomplish this, a plurality of amplitude modulated electrical signals of different fixed frequencies are applied to an electrical-to-acoustical transducer operatively attached to the cell. Every frequency applied to the transducer produces an acoustic wave within the cell to form a diffraction spectrum of the wavelengths present in the laser light impinging or incident on the cell. The acoustic wave producing electrical frequencies are chosen such that diffracted component beams of selected wavelengths are collinear. Thus, the collinear component beams form a composite output beam comprising the selected diffracted wavelengths.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for laser-beam modulation and deflection wherein stored information is recorded on a photosensitive or other recording medium with a laser or other light beam. A plurality of separate frequencies is induced by a transducer on an acoustooptic light-modulating cell which carries and develops every frequency separately. The light beam is passed through the acoustooptic cell which modulates the light by Bragg reflection in accordance with the frequencies impressed thereon. The modulated light beams transmitted from the cell are used to record by a plurality of simultaneous scans, characters, graphical data or other form of information which is representative of the stored information on the photosensitive medium.