Abstract: An improved water purification apparatus and method includes the freeze plate of a refrigeration system disposed in contact with the surface of water to be purified for transferring heat from the water substantially only through the surface and for forming a layer of ice only near the surface that is nearly as thick as the volume of water is deep. Electrostatic field is produced to improve the rejection of impurities at the ice-water interface. System and operating parameters are described for the optimum production of purified water through recurring cycles of freezing, draining, melting, and recovering melt water in batch processing of impure water using a refrigeration system of selected heat-removing capacity.

Abstract: A golf duplicator course and game method includes large putting greens on which putting is performed and target areas associated with tees on a teeing loop, from which loop all other shots are performed. The teeing loop has surfaces of tall grass, short grass, sand and hardpan at various elevations and degrees of level, up-, down-, and side-sloping terrain.

Abstract: The improved method and apparatus for dispensing carbonated water from a supply of cooled water includes thermal coaction of carbonator apparatus with a reservoir of cooled water, and includes a control system to inhibit water-pumping operation into the carbonator apparatus after the reservoir of cooled water is depleted.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting a fire-alarm acoustic signal includes an energy discriminator to segregate the desired acoustic tone from background noise. Digital circuitry responds to the active output of the energy discriminaton to dial into a telephone network and execute verification operations before repeating the cycle while the acoustic tone of the fire alarm continues to be detected.

Abstract: An improved direct-coupled transistor amplifier circuit includes a pair of complementary conductivity type output transistors that are quiescently biased to slightly conductive state to provide low distortion amplification and temperature stabilized operating conditions. A pair of complementary conductivity type input transistors receive bias current having a value that is substantially matched to the change with temperature of base-emitter voltage of an input transistor divided by the value of a resistor connecting the emitter of the input transistor to receive the bias current.

Abstract: A graded-learning processing network which grades its performance as it maps the input-output relationship during a training period. At the end of an operation of the Processing Newtork, its performance is graded and network variables are adjusted or amended, and the processing network is operated again and its performance is graded. The order or direction of performance grades (e.g. better or worse) are noted and the adjustments or amendments of the processing network may proceed in the same direction (or opposite direction) depending upon the grading of subsequent performances. This obviates the need for information about a desired response on output performance of the processing network at any given time, and is conducive to efficient learning for improved performance in a processing environment in which the operational parameters are not known.

Abstract: The invention comprises a method for encrypting data for communication between a host computer and each of a plurality of remote terminals in a network. A method is provided for periodically generating a unique dynamic encryption key for each of said plurality of terminals using a system seed key residing only in the host computer. The dynamic encryption key generated for use by said terminal in encrypting data transmitted to said host computer and for decrypting data received from said host computer. The method includes storing at said terminal the dynamic key previously generated by said host for said terminal.

Abstract: The time verification scheme of the present invention operates without input stimulus to calculate delays along circuit paths including logic elements or cells from initial input to final output, or over sub-circuit paths, of a proposed logic design. The delay calculations include cell-dependent, and layout-dependent, and environmental-dependent factors to account for response delays on rising and falling signal; capacitance loading, temperature-dependency and voltage-dependency of a proposed logic design to provide output histograms and reports of information about overall performance, and timing violations of the proposed logic design with respect to operating parameters that can be selectively adjusted for manufacturing variations.

Abstract: An improved apparatus and method for illuminating optical fibers includes a bezel block for positioning the ends of optical fibers near an area of illumination that is isolated from the heat of the source of illumination and that is cooled by air flowing through the block. Heat is transferred from the source of illumination by flowing air which is controlled within an enclosure for maintaining low exhaust temperatures.

Abstract: Radiation detectors and method measure the emissivity of a remote, heated semiconductor wafer in the presence of ambient radiation. Incident radiation within a selected waveband from a controlled source intermittently radiates the remote wafer, and reflected radiation therefrom is detected in synchronism with the intermittent incident radiation to yield output indications of emissivity of the wafer under varying processing conditions. The temperature of the wafer is monitored by another radiation detector (or detectors) operating substantially within the same selected waveband, and the temperature indications thus derived are corrected in response to the output indications of emissivity to provide indications of the true temperature of the wafer.

Abstract: An improved electrocautery method and instrument is configured to accept attachable extension units for effectively extending the utility of the instrument into deep surgical sites. Interlock features enable the instrument to be safely configured to any desired length for use as a vacuum probe and as a self-cleanable electrocautery or electro-surgical instrument under convenient manual controls including a slide element and control buttons and interlock switch positioned on the instrument.

Abstract: Improved method and apparatus for supporting photographic sheet materials in intimate surface contact during contact exposure includes a flexible membrane which forms a common boundary wall between two gas-tight chambers. Air at ambient pressure is admitted to one chamber at a controlled rate slower than air is evacuated from the other chamber containing the photographic sheet materials. Progressive expansion of the surface area of contacting force assures that residual volumes of air between photographic sheets are sneezed out in an orderly pattern and not trapped in isolated pockets that distort resulting photographic images.

Abstract: A bridge-type linear amplifier includes separate local feedback networks on each half-side channel of the amplifier and an additional feedback network between channels of the amplifier in order to correct for differences in current gains of output transistors and requisite drive currents.

Abstract: The improved method and means for detecting the edges of a sample part operates on the Gaussian distribution of light intensity across a laser beam and uses analog signal and simple logical circuits to produce highly accurate, highly repeatable and rapid edge position indications. A multi-segment detector is configured with reference to the dimensions of the laser beam to provide independent outputs representative of relative position of the reflected or transmitted portion of the laser beam upon the detector as the edge of the sample part moves across the beam. An improved detector for operation with a beam having non-uniform intensity distribution thereacross includes a central segment and four perimeter segments oriented about othogonal axes that are substantially aligned with the axes of movement of the sample part across the beam.

Abstract: An improved ball screw and follower and method of making the same includes one or more helical grooves along the leadscrew with mating grooves and pitch within the follower to form a course therebetween for the rotational positioning therein of a plurality of balls in rolling engagement with the leadscrew and follower. Backlash is substantially eliminated by cutting a central section of the follower along the land between adjacent grooves in the follower for at least one turn to form thereby a torsionally-resilient section that torsionally couples the resulting leading and trailing sections of the follower together in a manner that resiliently flexes along the course in which the balls rotate.

Abstract: A control body includes a circuit board, a housing having three engaging sets and a base having electric wire guiding grooves each of which includes three spaced radially arcuate platelets, a cover plate having three pairs of barbed legs respectively engaging with the three engaging sets, an end cover, a switch disk, a coupling piece, and a rotating disk so that the control body can be closed though a mechanically engaging style to have a water-proof effect.

Abstract: An overload protection circuit for a disableable amplifier includes a sensing resistor connected to provide indication of the current supplied to the amplifier and includes logic circuitry for producing a disabling control signal for a selected time interval following detection of the overload condition of the amplifier.

Abstract: An improved First-In, First-Out data buffer and method of operation incorporates a plurality of arrays of random-access memory cells in column and row orientation per array in which all the cells in a row of one array are precharged simultaneously as memory cells are accessed for read or write operations in another array. Also, all the cells in a row of the other array may be precharged as the memory cells in the one array are accessed independently for read or write operations. Accesses to memory cells in addressed rows alternate from one array to another so that the signal conditioning of the memory cells in one array can take place before access in needed and while memory cells are being accessed in another array. Improved status logic unambigously designates the conditions of empty, half full and full, independent of the sequence of data read and write operations.

Abstract: An improved carbonator and method is disclosed which delivers water under pressure to a carbonator from a pump driven by the carbonating gas under pressure, the exhaust from which is mixed with the water being carbonated. Alternative embodiments are disclosed which are configured in unitary, low-cost, compact configuration conducive to cooling within confined compartments. Low operating pressures permit convenient use of inexpensive plastic components for efficient operation.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for detecting the edges of a sample part operates on the Gaussian distribution of light intensity across a laser beam and uses analog signal and simple logical circuits to produce highly accurate, highly repeatable and rapid edge position indications. A multi-segment detector is configured with reference to the dimensions of the laser beam to provide independent outputs representative of relative position of the reflected or transmitted portion of the laser beam upon the detector as the edge of the sample part moves across the beam.