Abstract: The present invention relates to a thermal recorder employing a linear array of heat-producing elements which moves in a direction on heat-sensitive recording paper advanced in a direction perpendicular to the array scan direction. The recorder can be used for recording groups of facsimile picture signals successively received at a time interval with different degrees of darkness in direct proportion to the amplitude of the facsimile signal.

Abstract: A multi-channel ultrasonic inspection system includes an ultrasonic inspection unit which generates ultrasonic inspection pulses, supplies the pulses to a part being inspected, produces an output signal proportional to the level of echo pulses received within a predetermined gate time window following generation of the inspection pulses, and generates an alarm signal whenever the output signal exceeds a predetermined gate level. The system also includes data recording apparatus having a microcomputer, a mathematics processor chip, a control panel, and a printer. A gate reference level for each channel is stored by the microcomputer by pressing a channel button on the control panel, supplying inspection pulses to a workpiece having a standard defect, and adjusting the gain or gate level of the ultrasonic inspection unit until an alarm signal is generated. The operator then presses a START button which causes the reference levels to be printed.

Abstract: A signal quantizer is disclosed which compares an input signal with a plurality of predetermined adjustable thresholds, associates with each threshold a potential output signal of predetermined adjustable magnitude, identifies the largest threshold exceeded by the input signal, and produces as an output signal a signal representative of the potential output signal associated with the threshold identified.

Abstract: Apparatus is described for recording certain operating conditions of a motor vehicle, those conditions occurring upon the braking of the vehicle, and the apparatus is particularly applicable to vehicles equipped with antilock braking systems. A shift register is controlled by an oscillator in continuously shifting operation. When a predetermined driving condition occurs, the state of the first register location is changed. In the event the device is used for recording a braking condition, there is provided a time delay switch which locks the shift register at the point it has reached when a predetermined delay time is exceeded. The aforementioned shift register can be constructed in the form of an electromechanical shift register which responds to a signal generated through the operation of a stop lamp switch.

Abstract: 1. In a sonic echo system for classifying objects proud on the ocean floor in which a submarine vehicle moves through the ocean at a constant height above the ocean floor, scanning means for simultaneously deriving separate electric signals corresponding to the sonic reflecting values of parallel strips of the ocean floor extending athwartships of said vehicle, means for simultaneously storing said separate signals on a record medium, and means for serially reproducing the stored signals.

Abstract: In a device for graphically representing characters encoded in a digital nal, a writing element adapted to sweep across a recording medium at selected intervals is enabled by a timing means to selectively mark the recording medium during a selected series of sweeps, and a decoding means receives the digital signal and provides segment select signals, which specify a combination of segments from a group of segments which may graphically represent each of the characters in the digital signal. The outputs of the timing means and the decoding means are coupled to a network of logic elements to generate a signal which is coupled to the writing element, whereby the writing element selectively marks the recording medium during the series of sweeps to form the segments representing each of the characters.

Abstract: In an echo-sounding recorder wherein received echoes are recorded on a common recording surface, starting from a common zero mark, by means of a recording member moving with uniform velocity, the echo-sounding recorder being switchable to different depth-measuring ranges, respective switching members operable independently of one another for setting the recorder to different main measuring ranges and to different offset measuring ranges, and a scale associated with each of the measuring ranges, the improvement therein includes a scale carrier carrying all of the scales in a common plane, the scale carrier being formed of at least two parts respectively displaceable vertically and horizontally relative to one another, a cover plate disposed in front of the scale carrier parallel to the recorder and formed with a row of windows spaced from one another a distance corresponding to the distance between divisions of the respective scales, the scale carrier being mounted for movement relative to the cover plate in t

Abstract: A graphic recording system for use with a multiple channel underwater sonar system. The recording system includes a plurality of memories, each for storing information received over a different channel of the sonar system. One or more channels may carry side scan sonar information, while another may carry sub-bottom sonar information, etc. The information from the channels is received and stored in the memories simultaneously. The recording system further includes a graphic line recorder which is responsive to the receipt of a sequence of signals for producing on chart paper a line trace representation of the signals. A control unit controls the storage of information in and retrieval of information from the memories and application of the information to the graphic line recorder in such a manner that the information may be applied to the recorder in various sequences and at various rates.

Abstract: A side scan sonar system which records return echoes in a manner which realistically displays the spatial relationship between the sonar transducer and the echo producing topographical feature on the sea floor. The system includes a dual channel strip chart recorder having a continuous transverse belt carrying a pair of equally spaced writing styli. The belt circulates at a constant speed with each stylus moving across the paper, first in one direction and then in the opposite direction. One of the styli records starboard channel data when that stylus is moving across the paper toward the right, while the other stylus records port channel data when that stylus is moving across the paper toward the left.

Abstract: A scanning circuit consisting of a plurality of time delay circuits and a plurality of holding circuits at least equal in number to the delay circuits is provided for a fish detecting sonar. In response to the input pulse applied to the input terminal of the first stage delay circuit in synchronism with the sound pulse propagated, the delay circuits are triggered to reproduce the input pulses which are sequentially delayed by a time interval equal to the pulse width of the input pulse, and the output pulses from the delay circuits are held only by the holding circuits to which are applied the recording or echo signals. The output pulses held by the holding circuits are picked up by a brush, which slides over the contacts connected to the output terminals, respectively, of the holding circuits, and applied to a recording pen or stylus for recording. The above arrangement permits the recording or display even when the speed of the brush is relatively slow.

Abstract: A data sample recording system having a memory for storing a predetermined number of data samples accumulated over various intervals of time. Each interval of time is divided into a predetermined number of subintervals, there being an electrical circuit for detecting the peak value of data occurring in each of the subintervals. The occurrences of the subintervals are synchronized with a periodic passing of a stylus across a recording medium in a recorder. The predetermined number of data samples is equal to the number of resolution elements of a line of data on the recording medium, stored data being fed out to the recorder in synchronism with the stylus movement to provide a display of data having a predetermined number of resolution elements of display independent of the length of the interval of time.

Abstract: A recording/reproducing system for radar and similar type data is provided wherein all data necessary to record and later reproduce an accurate data (radar) display is formatted on a single recording track; e.g., on magnetic tape, in the form of a single composite signal. In one embodiment, the composite signal contains radar video and trigger markers and is chopped by a multi-bit, bi-phase data signal containing word synchronization sequence, trigger identification, radar coordinate information, and any other pertinent data, as desired. In a second embodiment, the radar video and trigger markers frequency modulate one carrier signal, which is then combined with a second carrier which has been frequency modulated with data (i.e., word synchronization, trigger identification, coordinate information, etc.) to form the composite signal.

Abstract: A method and means for recording auxiliary information, e.g. temperature readings, on echo sounder recorders or similar display devices, in addition to the normal recording, said information being presented as the distance of a recorded mark from a point of reference. In order to always secure a clear representation of such information, according to the invention the normal record on the display is blanked out or reduced in intensity adjacent said mark.

Abstract: This invention provides two dramatic improvements in the state of the art of side scan sonar systems and the like, bringing out the fine details of the sonar signals to enhance the texture of the sonar charts and to improve the quality and interpretability of the sonar records, while additionally bringing the sonar signals into the dynamic range of the recording medium in such a way that the tuning of the sonar instrument is greatly simplified and, in many situations, may be run continuously with no operator's adjustment of the instrument controls. These ends are attained through a novel compressed-signal absolute value smoothing and derivative processing, with dynamic range matching to the recording medium.