Abstract: A handling apparatus for guiding paper money or other strip-like media into a storage area or cashbox includes a drive mechanism for driving the central longitudinal area of a strip-like element to follow a first curved path, and an opposing guide for simultaneously urging the outer longitudinal areas of the bill in directions transverse to the first path so that they follow curved paths which are different to the first path. This tends to pull or stretch the element simultaneously both along its central axis and transverse to that axis, which will tend to remove any previous deformation applied to the element prior to stacking. A guide surface guides the bill from the drive mechanism into the storage area, and is preferably movable when a bill is detected projecting out of the storage area to urge the bill into the storage area and to compress the stack of bills.

Abstract: A D.C. multi-phase brushless motor having M phase stator windings and an N pole rotor, with M and N being integers, a sensor for sensing rotor position and providing rotor position signals to a motor controller is disclosed. The sensor comprises a circular permanent magnet, mounted externally to a motor at one end of a rotor with the magnet having N poles, and M sets of paired Hall effect devices, mounted adjacent the magnet, wherein each of the M sets of paired Hall effect devices are mounted in adjustable relationship to the magnet with respect to radial and angular distance. The sensor is mounted within a housing mounted externally to an end of a motor adjacent the rotor end having the magnet mounted thereon with the M sets of paired Hall effect devices mounted within and upon the housing in adjustable relationship with the magnet.

Abstract: An exhalation system for connection in the exhalation path of a ventilator for assisting a patient's breathing includes a heated bacteria filter for heating exhaled gas passing through it to a temperature high enough to substantially avoid condensation in the filter. A connecting passageway on the downstream side of the filter for connection to a monitoring device is also heated along at least part of its length to add additional heat to the gas passing through it so that condensation in the connecting passageway and monitoring device is substantially avoided.

Abstract: An amusement apparatus or game comprises a moveable surface on which a plurality of items are distributed, and a pusher device for operation by a player in attempting to push items off the surface. The moveable surface is driven in a first predetermined path, and the pusher device is moveable in a linear path transverse to the path of travel of the surface. A reversible drive mechanism which is at least partially controlled by the player moves the pusher device in a linear path transversely across the moving surface. A delivery chute at one end of the path of the pusher device is arranged to deliver any item swept off the surface to the player.

Abstract: A fiber optic data bus that includes a multiplexer means for generating a plurality of optical signals and for intensity modulating each of the optical signals in response to a respective one of a plurality of input RF signals each at a different RF carrier frequency to provide a plurality of intensity modulated optical signals. A signal collection means combines the plurality of intensity modulated optical signals into a combined optical signal. A conducting means conducts the combined optical signal to a signal distribution means which distributes the combined optical signal to each of a plurality of output ports. A demultiplexer means extracts from a portion of one of the distributed combined optical signals an output RF signal substantially identical to a predetermined one of the plurality of RF input signals.

Abstract: Apparatus for isolating a radar receiver from a radar transmitter in a continuous wave, single antenna radar system where a circulator connects transmitter, receiver, and antenna. The apparatus includes a reactive element which reflects back through the circulator a portion of a transmission signal provided from the transmitter through the circulator to the antenna. The reflected transmission signal portion is equal in magnitude and opposite in phase to a leakage portion of the transmission signal transmitted by the circulator from the transmitter to the receiver. The reflected and leakage signal portions cancel in the circulator to enhance the isolation of the receiver.

Abstract: A multi-octave thick dielectric radome wall which includes a dielectric slab having a pair of surfaces and a plurality of pyramidal-shaped dielectric elements mounted on at least one of the surfaces of the dielectric slab. The dielectric constant of the elements is typically greater than the dielectric constant of the slab. In an alternate embodiment, a second dielectric slab is provided adjacent to one of the first dielectric slab surfaces having the elements mounted thereupon with support means for supporting the second dielectric slab in a spaced apart relationship with the first dielectric slab.

Abstract: A flaw detector, for detecting a flaw in a sheet, picks up, by means of a plurality of linear array cameras, the light of rays transmitted through a sheet. The video signals from the linear array cameras, which are appropriately processed, are used for checking whether a flaw is present or not. A sensitivity-difference correcting section corrects sensitivity differences amoung the cameras and among photosensitive elements of each camera, which sensitivity differences are contained in the video signal. Automatic gain control sections, for transparent and opaque flaws, respectively, control the sensitivities of the video signals. These signals are differentiated, and then compared with a predetermined slicing level, thereby to check whether transparent and opaque flaws are present or not.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for fabricating drip irrigation tape from a water impervious polyethelene film. A shaping assembly with a water-cooled vacuum drum preforms a groove along one edge, a folding device folds the strip lengthwise to form a first conduit, and a sealing assembly with an electrically-heated heat sealing wheel joins the edges along opposite sides of the groove to form a seam in which the groove defines a secondary conduit that is resistant to deformation. Flat spots on a pair of outwardly-extending annular ribs around the circumference of the heat sealing wheel produce breaks in the seam for inlet ports and outlet ports.

Abstract: An NTSC composite color video signal is dematrixed and its RGB components are digitized so that each image or input frame is represented by a 512.times.512 pixel array. One high resolution output field is generated for each input frame by deriving a plurality of subpixel values for each input pixel. The subpixel values for a given pixel are derived by examining the nearest neighboring pixels and by utilizing enhancement algorithms represented by data in lookup tables. Signal to noise ratio improvement is achieved by comparing each given pixel value to the values of its neighboring pixels and then deciding whether or not to keep the given pixel value or to replace it with the median of it and its nearest neighbors. The subpixel values are fed through a digital to analog converter where the appropriate synchronization is added so that the analog outputs of the three branches of the device conform to the RS 343A format.

Abstract: An amusement device in which a player controls positioning of a mechanical pick-up device such as a claw having pincers or fingers which can be closed over an object to be retrieved. The grasping claw is positioned within a housing on the floor of which various objects are placed for retrieval by players. The claw is attached to an overhead transport mechanism which is driven by various external controls to position the claw anywhere in the housing. Once a chosen position over an object is reached the claw is lowered automatically and can be stopped and closed by the player in an attempt to grasp the object. when the claw is closed it is automatically raised back to its uppermost position and returned to a home position over a chute for delivering any retrieved object to the player.

Abstract: A condition tester for a storage battery that monitors the effect of internal battery resistance without drawing large currents. A switched load periodically draws a small current across the battery terminals. An AC voltage is produced at the battery terminals resulting from the oscillating current and the internal battery resistance. That small oscillating voltage is amplified, rectified and filtered to produce a DC voltage which depends upon the AC component. This DC voltage is subtracted from the nominal battery voltage and the difference is indicated by an appropriate meter. As the battery deteriorates its internal resistance increases causing the meter reading to decrease, thereby reflecting battery condition.

Abstract: A pointing and control device for moving a cursor on a visual display and for controlling various operations, being operated by hand and finger movements, including both fine movement control and gross movement control; the assembly includes a graspable outer cover and an inner puck with a finger cup movably supported by a series of elements, a laser beam movement detector consisting of high and low frequency scanners, drivers, lower and upper photodetectors and signal amplifiers and processors. The entire assembly may be either fixed on a keyboard or operated as an independent accessory.