Abstract: A lead-acid battery in which the plates are fabricated from a paste containing principally lead oxide and a small amount of dimensionally isotropic graphite fiber of a specific type. The specific type of graphite fiber may be either a graphite fiber synthesized from a polyacrylonitrile (PAN) precursor or a graphite fiber synthesized from a pitch precursor.

Abstract: An ion mobility spectrometer for detecting ions and for facilitating controlled chemical reactions is described incorporating an inlet for carrier and sample gas, a reaction region having an ionization source and at least two electrodes for generating an electric field and a drift region having at least two electrodes for generating an electric field therein wherein each electrode is coupled to a power supply for placing a predetermined potential on the electrode and wherein each power supply is controlled by an electric field controller for providing a sequence of potentials on each electrode in the reaction region and drift region to control the motion and position of ions in the drift region. The invention overcomes the problem of detection sensitivity, detection selectivity and resolution between ions of similar mobility. The invention further overcomes the problem of facilitating certain chemical reactions by brings ions of opposite polarity together.

Abstract: An ion mobility spectrometer is described incorporating an air mixer having a clean air inlet and a sample air inlet, an ion mobility spectrometer cell for generating reaction ions and sample ions which are subsequently measured in a drift region, a first circuit for measuring the reactant ion peak and the sample ion peak, a second circuit for generating a feedback control signal to the air mixer in response to the reactant ion peak and a third circuit for generating a signal indicative of concentration of the sample molecules in sample air at the inlet utilizing the sample ion peak and the feedback control signal to the air mixer. The invention overcomes the problem of limited dynamic range due to saturation of the ion mobility spectrometer cell.

Abstract: A method for forming a submicron width metal line on a substrate is described incorporating the steps of coating a substrate with a layer of photoresist, baking the layer, exposing the layer to a pattern, soaking the layer in a solution including chlorobenzene, developing the layer to form openings, baking the photoresist to remove any residual chlorobenzene, exposing the layer to deep ultraviolet radiation, baking the layer to cause the layer to flow at the edges of the openings, depositing metal on the layer and on the substrate, and dissolving the layer to lift off the metal disposited on the layer whereby the metal deposited on the substrate remains. The invention overcomes the problem of forming submicron width metal lines from one micron openings in a photoresist layer.

Abstract: An igniter plug having a center conductor, an insulator and a conductive outer shell. The insulator surrounds and supports the center conductor axially within the shell along a substantial portion of the length of the center conductor. The insulator is of reduced diameter toward the discharge end of the igniter and terminates short of the full length of the center conductor. The center conductor extending beyond the insulator terminates short of the discharge end of the igniter and has a discharge electrode of greater diameter than the center conductor affixed to the center conductor end. The electrode terminates at the discharge end of the igniter. A helical compression spring is fitted over the center conductor between the end of the insulator and the electrode to absorb vibrations of the center conductor and electrode.

Abstract: An first antenna for radiating a signal at a predetermined frequency employing at least one 1/4 wave-length microstrip resonator positioned below a metal 1/4 wavelength radiator. A circularly polarized antenna including a 1/2 wavelength radiator electromagnetically coupled to a 1/4 wavelength resonator is further disclosed.

Abstract: An electrochemical gas sensor is described incorporating a sensing electrode, a reference electrode, a solid matrix containing an alkali salt, a potentiostat and a heater. The invention overcomes the problem of a liquid electrolyte which may operate over limited environmental conditions.

Abstract: A puppy toy or comforter comprising two generally rectangular hollow bodies of fabric of similar dimensions which are filled with padding material and which are joined together in overlying relationship along three outer edges. The conjoined bodies define a cavity into which may be inserted an article, such as a clock or ticking watch, or bottle filled with warm water, for pacifying or comforting a puppy.In a modification, the bodies are each provided with releasable fastening means at one end to facilitate removal of the padding material for cleaning.

Abstract: The method of operating a two electrode electrochemical detector cell in which the cell is connected to an external current measurement circuit through a cyclically operated switch which alternately opens and closes the connection between the cell and the external circuit. The cell is operated without bias potential. The peak current obtained from the cell after closing the connection to the external circuit may be measured immediately without any delay for transient current to decay. Means are disclosed for automatically compensating for background current error in the cell current measurement.

Abstract: A housing and stowage mechanism for a terminal key board and data display. A rectangular housing mounted vertically on a wall has a front face hinged along the lower edge for opening to a horizontal position. A keyboard is mounted on the upper portion of the housing face interiorly of the housing. A data display panel is pivotally suspended from the lower edge of the keyboard. A mechanism activated by the front face engages the lower edge of the display panel and elevates the panel to an angle inclined for convenient viewing when the front face is lowered to a horizontal position.

Abstract: An ion mobility spectrometer is described for detecting gas constituents in an ambient air incorporating a cylindrical tube containing a reaction region, a shutter assembly and a drift region therein, the cylindrical tube fits within a housing having a chamber or space between the cylindrical tube and the housing for heating drift gas prior to entry into the drift region. Further, the cylindrical tube may have interior annular ledges to facilitate positioning of the shutter assembly and an aperture grid. The invention overcomes the problem of controlling the temperature of the drift gas prior to entry into the drift region to enhance the uniformity of ion drift mobility times and the problem of a mechanical assembly which is difficult to dissemble.

Abstract: A mono-lobe tracker is described for tracking a target emitting radio signals incorporating an antenna, a circuit for sequential lobing, a radio frequency amplifier, a mixer, an intermediate frequency amplifier, an amplitude modulator detector, and integrators for storing the amplitude signals corresponding to predetermined off boresight positions, means for taking the difference of two integrators indicating the boresight error, a motor coupled to the error signal for driving the antenna in response to the error signal and a random number generator for generating at random a plurality of frequencies which are coupled as randomly selected to the sequential lobing circuit. A random number generator is also described incorporating a noise diode, an amplifier, a voltage comparator and a counter.

Abstract: A d.c. to d.c. converter power supply having two substantially independent regulated outputs. A pulse width modulator (PWM) converts input d.c. to a.c. having a variable frequency and a variable duty cycle. The a.c. is applied to a transformer having two secondary windings for separate d.c. outputs. One of the secondary windings feeds a rectifier having a capacitor input type filter and means for regulating the output voltage by controlling the duty cycle of the PWM. The other secondary winding feeds a rectifier having a choke input type filter and means for regulating the output voltage by controlling the frequency of the PWM.

Abstract: A monolithic programmable signal processor with piezoelectric insulator FETs and an InP substrate. The piezoelectric insulator FETs are capable of being constructed on the same substrate with circuits associated with the signal processor and optical components.

Abstract: A photoprocessing apparatus for processing substrates includes a chamber for holding the substrates and a light source for providing an electromagnetic beam along an axis. A substantially conical reflector is positioned along the axis of the electromagnetic beam to reflect the electromagnetic beam as a plane of light into the chamber. The substrates are arranged in the chamber with respect to the plane of light reflected by the substantially conical reflector, by being either substantially parallel to or substantially normal to the plane of light. If the substrates are substantially parallel to the plane of light and the chamber is filled with a reaction gas, photo-deposition will occur when the plane of light irradiates the reaction gas adjacent to a substrate, so that a film is deposited on the substrate. Other photoprocessing techniques such as photo-etching can be performed when the substrates are arranged normal to the plane of light.

Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device having a non-alloyed contact layer. An active region is formed in a substrate and the non-alloyed contact layer is formed in the active region, the barrier height of source and drain electrodes for the non-alloyed contact layer being lower than the barrier height of the source and drain electrodes for the active region or the substrate. The preferred method of forming the non-alloyed contact layer is high dose implantation of an element selected in accordance with the substrate material. For example, if the substrate is GaAs the non-alloyed contact layer is formed by implanting In, and if the substrate is InP the non-alloyed contact layer is formed by implanting As or Sb.

Abstract: A real time controller is described for obtaining real time data from a sensor incorporating a memory, comparator, instruction decoder and real time counter. The real time controller solves the problem of gathering real time data as a function of time from a plurality of sensors receiving a plurality of signals.

Abstract: A low-pass filter for digital bearing data from an aircraft navigation receiver in which the filter time constant is set to a high value when the receiver bearing data exhibits characteristics of a noisy signal received from a distant station where the bearing from the aircraft to the station can change only at a slow rate and in which the filter time constant is set to lower values for less filter delay when the receiver bearing data exhibits characteristics of a less noisy signal received from a nearer station where the bearing from the aircraft to the station can change at a higher rate. Receiver bearing data for a current sampling interval is compared to filtered bearing data for a previous sampling interval to determine change in magnitude of the difference. Such difference for a current sampling interval is compared with a similar difference for a previous sampling interval for change in algebraic sign.

Abstract: A circuit for modifying the luminescence of one color of a multicolor display device is described incorporating a logic circuit, a plurality of amplifiers, a plurality of multipliers, and a display device for displaying a plurality of colors. The invention overcomes the problem of insufficient luminescence of certain colors on the screen of a display device.

Abstract: An antenna feed network is described incorporating a plurality of power dividers and a plurality of power combiners to distribute at least two microwave signals over predetermined electrical path lengths to two overlapping subarrays of antenna elements forming an antenna aperture. The invention further provides a module incorporating a plurality of power dividers and power combiners utilizing Wilkenson strip-line power dividers and utilizing zero db branch arm hybrid couplers to provide wiring crossovers on the upper surface of a printed circuit board having a ground plane on its lower surface.