Abstract: A system and method for converting an analog voltage signal to a digital representation at high speeds, known as an analog to digital converter (A/D converter), is provided in the form of an N-bit A/D converter, made by N superconducting, preferably HTC, transmission lines. The N lines are arranged adjacently and in parallel with each other. On each line 2N?1 Josephson Junctions (JJs) are embedded in series. The JJs form a matrix over the configuration of the N superconducting transmission lines. A scanning electron beam is made to impinge on this arrangement across the lines at a high frequency, while it is deflected by the applied voltage signal along the direction of the lines. A voltage step is generated upon hitting any one of the JJs. In this manner upon each cross-scanning of the beam, an N-bit step voltage pattern is generated on the lines.

Abstract: An ink jet printer has a line head having heating elements (121d) for ejecting ink droplets from nozzles, in which the plurality of heating elements (121d) are arrayed in a direction substantially perpendicular to the paper feed direction. In the line head, the plurality of heating elements (121d) are divided into a plurality of blocks, with each block consisting of a predetermined number of spatially arrayed heating elements of the plurality of heating elements (121d) corresponding to the plurality of nozzles, and a phase signal PH is sequentially supplied to a set of heating elements (121d) simultaneously driven over the respective blocks, thus sequentially driving the respective heating elements (121d) by each set as a unit in a time-divisional manner. Thus, the ink jet printer can reduce the positional shift of dots on the paper and can reduce the instantaneous maximum dissipation power in time-division drive.

Abstract: A system and method for converting an analog voltage signal to a digital representation at high speeds, known as an analog to digital converter (A/D converter), is provided in the form of an N-bit A/D converter, made by N superconducting, preferably HTC, transmission lines. The N lines are arranged adjacently and in parallel with each other. On each line 2N−1 Josephson Junctions (JJs) are embedded in series. The JJs form a matrix over the configuration of the N superconducting transmission lines. A scanning electron beam is made to impinge on this arrangement across the lines at a high frequency, while it is deflected by the applied voltage signal along the direction of the lines. A voltage step is generated upon hitting any one of the JJs. In this manner upon each cross-scanning of the beam, an N-bit step voltage pattern is generated on the lines.

Abstract: A multi-turn rotary encoder that includes a first code carrier connected with an input shaft, a scanning device that scans the first code carrier and generates an absolute position of the input shaft within one revolution, and a digital code word is present at an output of the scanning device and a second code carrier for measuring the number of revolutions of the input shaft. A reduction gear is arranged between and coupled to the first and second code carriers. The second code carrier includes a magnetic body with at least one north and south pole and a substrate with a spatial arrangement of sensor elements integrated therein, which are sensitive to magnetic fields, is associated with the magnetic body.

Abstract: A method and system for interactive test taking is provided, having a computer with memory, an image display screen, and a pointing device such as a mouse for examinee manipulation of symbols or objects on the screen. Starting figural material is presented on the screen along with a problem statement requiring responses relative to the starting figural material. The examinee inputs response data through the mouse, manipulating and/or generating symbols on the screen in relation to the starting figural material. Scoring of the examinee's responses is done on-line or after completion of all tasks, and may include an evaluation of the sequence of examinee responses to respective items, as well as an evaluation of the duration of the examinee's response or any component of such response to an item.

Abstract: In a measuring arrangement for the spacing between a marking (32) on a displaceable marking carrier (30) and a reference line, to produce a high degree of resolution and a low scanning frequency, at least two electrodes (17, 18) defining a measuring gap (20) are provided on the inside of the end (9) of a cathode ray tube (1). The deflection unit (6) of the cathode ray tube is actuated in such a way that the impact spot (7) of the electron beam (4), which covers the measuring gap in the transverse direction, moves along the measuring gap on the end (9) of the tube, without external influence, in such a way that the difference between the currents which flow away from the two electrodes is of a predeterminable value. The marking carrier exerts on the electron beam an influence which varies when the marking carrier is displaced and by means of which the impact spot is displaced transversely with respect to the longitudinal direction of the measuring gap.

Abstract: A clamping circuit clamps a threshold of an analog to digital converter (ADC) to a signal level just below the black level of a television signal.During the blanking period, a negative-going peak is superimposed on the input signal to produce the waveform. Each time this crosses the 0000,0001 threshold of the ADC, the polarity of the output of a comparator changes. The comparator compares the ADC output and a reference value.The input signal is biased according to the integral of the comparator output. When signal levels are stable, the comparator output is symmetrical, its integral is zero and no change occurs in the biasing.If signal levels drift, the negative going peak crosses the threshold for a second time relatively sooner or later. The comparator output becomes assymmetric and has a non-zero integral. Consequently, the biasing level changes to compensate for the drift.