Abstract: A passive, infrared, guided missile fuze, capable of detecting the presence of a target, having an axis which coincides substantially with the direon of forward motion of the missile, comprising three infrared detectors for detecting three separate beams of infrared electromagnetic radiation from the target, the beams forming angles with the axis. More specifically, the missile fuze detects the presence of a target when two of the infrared detectors simultaneously detect two beams of infrared radiation from the target. In a sophisticated embodiment, the fuze is able to determine in which quadrant of space the target is located.

Abstract: A low-cost control system for irrigation valves and the like, including a station advance control unit and a plurality of valve control units connected in a series string by a pair of power supply lines from the station advance control unit, each of the valve control units being associated with a single valve or a single group of valves. When power is first applied to a valve control unit, it actuates the valve or valves with which it is associated, and blocks the flow of power to succeeding control units in the series string. When a station advance signal is transmitted along a third line connected to all of the valve control units, the most remote control unit to which power is connected responds by deactuating its valve or valves, and switching power through to the next unit in turn.

Abstract: An irrigation control system and a related method for controlling a large number of valves in accordance with a plurality of schedules of instructions provided by the user of the system. Schedules of instructions may be created or modified during normal operation of the system by utilizing a variety of command sequences on a keyboard and display device, and schedules may also be reviewed or monitored during operation. The control system includes apparatus for processing a plurality of digital inputs by means of which the conditions of sensing devices located in the field are monitored and can be used to condition execution of the schedules of instructions. The control system is disclosed for use with a two-wire irrigation system in which on/off control signals are encoded into a power signal for transmission along a pair of wires to which decoding units are connected.

Abstract: An improved irrigation control system of the type having a number of irrigation stations to be actuated sequentially, in which selected stations can be actuated for a relatively long time and the others for a relatively short time. In one embodiment, an additional capacitor is automatically connected in parallel with an existing timing capacitor at a time when shrub-watering stations requiring long-term irrigation have been scheduled for operation, when the system is positioned at a shrub-watering station, and when a switch is positioned to select long-term irrigation. In another embodiment, an additional capacitor is automatically connected in parallel with the existing timing capacitor when any one of a selected group of stations is actuated.

Abstract: Apparatus, and a related method, for proportionately varying from a master unit the durations of irrigation at a plurality of valve stations controlled by a number of satellite units, and for transmitting over a single pair of wires control signals for starting a programmed sequence of valve operations at all of the satellites in a selected one of two groups of satellites, or for resetting all of the satellites to a "home" position. One disclosed embodiment includes adjustable timing circuitry in the master unit to generate a timing signal which is transmitted to the satellite units over a separate wire, and is utilized to vary the duty cycle of a station timing motor which measures the durations of irrigation. In an alternate embodiment, station timing at each satellite is measured by means of a digital pulse counter, and the irrigation times at all of the stations can be varied to the same degree by adjustment of a variable-frequency pulse generator at the master unit.