Abstract: A residual charge traffic sensor for monitoring the number and speed of vehicles traveling in multiple lanes of a roadway includes a housing containing a cavity, a conductive mounting bar adapted to fit within the cavity, at least two sensing elements mounted on the mounting bar which generate a signal when impacted by a vehicle tire, a transmission cable connected with the sensing elements for transmitting the electric signals generated by the sensing elements, and analyzing equipment for evaluating, displaying, and recording the data generated by the sensing elements. Signals are transmitted through every other wire of the transmission cable to minimize cross-talk between the signal carrying wires.

Abstract: The naturally occurring residual charge of a dielectric is utilized to establish a static electric field adapted to be disturbed by a conductive member upon occurrence of an event, such as, for example, the passage of a vehicle tire over the conductive member. Disturbance of the electric field results in the generation of a pulse that can be monitored. A traffic sensor for monitoring the number and speed of vehicles traveling in multiple lanes of a roadway employing dielectrics with naturally occurring residual charge includes a housing containing a cavity, a conductive mounting bar adapted to fit within the cavity, at least two sensing elements including the dielectrics mounted on the mounting bar so as to generate a signal when impacted by a vehicle tire. A transmission cable connects with the sensing elements for transmitting the electric signals generated by the sensing elements to analyzing equipment for evaluating, displaying, and recording the data generated by the sensing elements.

Abstract: A capacitive liquid level sensor having phase detecting circuitry incorporates a capacitive sensor array, an oscillator generating an input signal, a switching circuit sequentially coupling the input signal to the input plates of the capacitive sensor, one at a time, a pair of phase lock loop circuits (PLLs) each having voltage controlled oscillators (VCOs), a second switching circuit selectively coupling the output plates of the capacitive sensor array, in sequential fashion, to the PLLs, and an exclusive OR-gate (XOR) receiving the outputs of the VCOs from each of the PLLs. The XOR generates a first logic level signal when a difference in the phase of two signals from any two adjacent output plates indicates that a phase difference is present. A second logic signal is generated if no phase difference is detected. The signals are perfectly in phase when any two adjacent output plates are either submerged in fluid or both disposed in air.

Abstract: An interrogator-responder communication system in which responders are carried by vehicles (such as railroad vehicles) travelling along a route and in which an interrogating station situated along the route operates each passing responder to recall data from a memory in the passing responder. In one embodiment, the responder is equipped to receive data transmitted from a transmit station and to store the received data, for later recall, in a non-volatile, electrically erasable read/write memory.

Abstract: A traveling wave video detector utilizing microwave integrated circuit techniques provides increased dynamic range, increased rf bandwidth up to 100 Ghz and improved impedance matching at high input power levels. The video detector comprises an artificial transmission line wherein the shunt elements are spaced semiconductor detector diodes which lie in a substantially common plane. In the microwave integrated circuit (MIC) embodiment, the diodes are interconnected by arc shaped wire inductance elements which also lie in a substantially common plane. The particular planar arrangement and location of elements in the present invention provides the desired dynamic range, impedance matching and rf bandwidth.

Abstract: A semiconductor mounting and matching assembly capable of performing over a frequency range to 20 GHz and higher comprising a coaxial transmission line having a first portion with a first end for receiving radio-frequency signals and providing an input impedance and a second portion with a second signal output end providing a termination characteristic impedance. A semiconductor diode which is hermetically sealed within and removable with the second portion is mounted at the second end and has a load resistance terminating the transmission line. The transmission line has a plurality of sections for providing elements of a network which transforms the input impedance and matches the termination characteristic impedance of the second end of the transmission line to the load resistance of the semiconductor device.