Abstract: First and second transistors respectively receive differential input signals each having first and second logic levels and respectively produce resultant currents dependent upon the levels of the input signals. The transistors may be CMOS transistors of the n-type with substantially identical characteristics. The input signals may be introduced to the gates of these transistors and the resultant currents may be produced at the drains of these transistors. Third and fourth transistors may receive the resultant currents. The third and fourth transistors may be CMOS transistors of the n-type with substantially identical characteristics. The resultant voltage at the first transistor may be introduced in a modified form to the third and fourth transistors to regulate the resultant voltage introduced to the third transistor and to expedite the response of the fourth transistor.

Abstract: A display memory respectively stores, in first and second portions, digital graphics data for display in a video monitor and digital video data for display in a window in the monitor. The digital video data is transferred from the display memory to a shift register at a rate different from the pixel clock and from the shift register at a clock rate that may be lower than the pixel clock rate. The video data may be stored in a luminance and chrominance format and may be converted by a color space converter to 3 bytes representing the primary colors red, green and blue. The video pixels may then be interpolated to expand the number of video pixels. The shift register operation may be synchronized with such expansion so that data is not passed from the shift register until the expansion of previous data from the shift register has been completed.

Abstract: Successive pixels representing video data in successive lines in a raster scan are buffered. Each of the lines has a sync pulse defining the line beginning. A phase adjustment is determined between the sync pulse, preferably at a particular level in the sync pulse, and an adjacent one of system adjacent clock signals at a particular frequency. The actual or expected phase adjustment between the pixels at the end of each line is also determined. The difference between the phase adjustments at the beginning and end of each line is then determined. Progressive adjustments are made in the phase of each successive pixel in the line relative to the system clock signals in accordance with the number of system clock signals in the line and the determined difference in the phase adjustment between the line beginning and end. In this way, the pixels of video data are synchronized with the system clock signals.

Abstract: In first and second modes, successive pairs of bytes, each with a suitable number (e.g. 8) of binary indications, are respectively processed in each clock cycle or clock half cycle to provide a true color. In these modes, the successive pairs of bytes may be processed in a 5,5,5, or a 5,6,5 pattern representing the primary colors for a pixel. In a third mode, the bytes may be introduced to a memory having a plurality of positions for storing individual binary combinations, which may be updated by a microprocessor, representing pseudo colors. In the third mode, a particular position in the memory is selected in accordance with the indications in each byte in each clock cycle or half cycle. In an additional mode, three successive bytes in a group may indicate the primary colors defining a true color when the fourth byte in the group provides a particular indication (e.g. 0 for all 8 binary bits).

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for maintaining the tuckboard of footwear in a particular shape. The apparatus includes a tuckboard member made from a sheet of deformable material such as a fiberboard. Retention members are attached to the opposite surfaces of the tuckboard at localized positions such as where the tuckboard has been or is to be deformed. One of the retention members is in compression and the other is in tension. Each of the retention members may be thermosetting or a thermoplastic composite material formed from fibers (preferably non-woven) impregnated and covered with a thermoplastic material. The fibers may be made from a material selected from the group consisting of carbon, glass and aramid. The thermoplastic material may be an acrylic, nylon, polycarbonate or ABS. The retention members help to maintain the tuckboard in a particular shape. The retention members may be initially attached to the tuckboard, and the retention members and the tuckwear may subsequently be deformed to the desired shape.

Abstract: A master tape movable in a closed loop including a pinch roller transfers a mirror image to a slave tape movable in a closed loop including a capstan. A thermomagnetic layer on the slave tape has a Curie temperature above which magnetic information is destroyed and below which magnetic information can be recorded on such layer. The thermomagnetic layer is heated above the Curie temperature, thereby becoming lengthened by thermal expansion just before the slave tape reaches the capstan. A downstream portion of a peripheral surface, preferably defining a cylindrical segment, on a first guide receives a pressurized fluid for sensing the tape tension in accordance with the tape width, distance from the cylinder axis and fluid pressure. An upstream portion of the guide peripheral surface receives a vacuum adjustable to regulate tape tension in response to variations in the pressurized fluid pressure.

Abstract: A thermoformable thermoplastic composite material has a core sufficiently thick to provide for a shaping of the composite material at an elevated temperature to any desired configuration. Layers of a fabric material disposed on opposite sides of the core may be formed of glass, carbon or aramid and from woven fibers, unidirectional or chopped fibers or random strand mats. The fabric layers are sufficiently thick to impart strength and rigidity to the composite material. Layers of a thermoplastic thermoformable resin material may be disposed on the fabric layers. The thermoplastic layers impregnate the fabric layers, bond the fabric layers to the core and provide a smooth external surface to the composite material. The core is preferably thinner than the combined thicknesses of the fabric layers and the thermoplastic layers. For example, the thickness of each fabric layer may be 0.008"-0.009", of each thermoplastic layer may be 0.0005"-0.002" and of the thermoplastic composite material may be 0.035"-0.060".

Abstract: A detector structure adjacent an opening in a cavity structure for detecting explosives in objects within such opening including a plurality of thin nonchlorinated hydrogenous wall members forming a passageway to define such opening. A source of high energy neutrons located adjacent the passageway to direct neutrons into the passageway. A premoderator formed by nonchlorinated hydrocarbon material surrounding the source of high energy neutrons to reduce the energy in at least a portion of the neutrons. A first moderator formed by heavy water surrounding the source of neutrons and the premoderator to reduce the energy in at least a further portion of the neutrons. A second moderator formed by carbonaceous material at least partially surrounding the plurality of thin hydrogenous wall members and the first moderator to reduce the energy in at least an additional portion of the neutrons and reflect back the additional portion of neutrons into the opening.

Abstract: Symbols, each having a particular number (e.g. 9) of binary bits in first channels have individual periodicities. A symbol in each channel indicates the start and the periodicity of the symbols in that channel. Another symbol indicates the end of the symbols in that channel. The symbols from each channel are merged into sequential time slots, in a priority dependent upon the symbol periodicities in the different channels. Aperiodic symbols in second channels are merged sequentially into the time slots not occupied by the periodic symbols. Second portions (e.g. 5 bits) of the symbols in groups are provided in character frames without change. The binary bits (e.g. 4) in the first portion of each symbol in each group represent a decimal integer. The resultant decimal value is represented in the character frame by a reduced number (e.g. 10) of binary bits.

Abstract: A member has two (2) spring arms each movable between first and second positions. Each spring arm is normally biased to a first position and is movable to a second position. Each spring arm has at its free end an insulator and a conductor disposed on the insulator. The insulator isolates the conductor electrically from the associated spring arm. An electrical lead is connected between the conductors. In the first position of the spring arms, the electrical conductors engage individual ones of a pair of probes and establish common probe potentials. Each probe is disposed coaxially in an insulator in an individual one of a pair of electrical connectors and the insulator is disposed coaxially in a casing in the connector. The probe extends axially beyond the insulator and the casing in each connector so that the associated electrical conductor is able to engage the probe in that connector in the first position of the spring arm.

Abstract: A housing in a laser system encloses a cathode and a displaced anode and gases ionizable and reactive chemically when a voltage pulse produces a cathode-anode electrical discharge. Moving air cools the components (capacitors, thyratron and triggering circuitry) for producing the voltage pulses. The laser gas temperature is continuously regulated at a particular value whether or not there is an electrical discharge. The concentration of one of the gases in the chamber is regulated to values alternately on opposite sides of an optimal value to provide an optimal energy in each chemical reaction of the gases. The gases are recirculated as by a fan driven on a shaft by a pair of motors and are filtered during such recirculation. The shaft speed is regulated at a particular value and the motor currents are regulated to be equal. Any ozone formed in a compartment holding the high voltage terminals is purged by passing a neutral gas (nitrogen) through the compartment to the atmosphere.

Abstract: A bone marrow infuser has an intraosseous cannula, a hand driver, and a pointed stylet attached to the hand driver. The hand driver can mechanically couple with the intraosseous cannula so that the stylet point protrudes from an opening at the end of the intraosseous cannula. A method of bone marrow infusion has a first step of puncturing the skin with the point of the stylet, a second step of embedding the cannula into the bone, a third step of removing the stylet from the cannula and attaching the catheter to the cannula, a fourth step of applying pressure to compress the skin, flesh, and bone, and a final step of infusing fluids into the bone marrow.

Abstract: A system provides a uniform delay in crossovers in opposite directions of a variable input voltage relative to a reference voltage. A comparator is included for producing first and second comparison voltages in accordance with the relative magnitudes of the input and reference voltages. A clamping circuit provides first and second clamping voltages. A control circuit produces first and second control voltages dependent upon the individual occurrences of the first and second comparison voltages. The first control voltage is greater by a particular magnitude than the first clamping voltage. The second control voltage is less than the second clamping voltage by the particular magnitude.

Abstract: Improved apparatus for fractionating fluid mixtures by pressure swing molecular adsorption employing a rotary distributor valve and an array of adsorber columns. The columns are, in one embodiment, contained within a product holding tank or, in another embodiment, attached to a product tank. The valve sequences to provide a quasi steady-state flow, allowing optimization of adsorption/desorption cycles, and eliminating most of the valves, switches and plumbing usually required.

Abstract: A first gas in a laser cavity is ionized by an electrical discharge in the cavity as a step in producing an energy radiation. Debris (particulates) is produced during the formation of the energy radiation. The radiation and the debris move toward an optical element in the cavity. The optical element may be a window or a mirror. The debris tends to deposit everywhere in the cavity, including on the optical element, thereby dirtying the optical element. This inhibits the efficiency in the laser operation. A clean gas is directed into the cavity through a passage at a position displaced from the optical element. The clean gas then passes in the cavity through an orifice further from the optical element than the passage. The flow of the first gas through the orifice creates a venturi effect on the clean gas to insure that the clean gas will move away from the optical element. In this way, the clean gas inhibits the first gas and the debris from moving to the optical element.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method are provided for measuring component attentuation such as the attenuation in a splice of two (2) optical fibers. Four (4) fixed positions are provided. The second position is closer to the splice than the first position on one side of the splice and the third position is closer to the splice than the fourth position on the other side of the splice. Light emitters such as edge light emitting diodes are disposed at the first and fourth positions and light detectors such as ingass detectors are disposed at the second and third positions. The fibers may be looped at the four (4) positions to facilitate the passage of light into and out of the fibers. Clamps may be provided at each of the four (4) positions to provide for selective activation of individual ones of the detectors. In this way, light from each of the light emitters may be selectively passed at individual times to each of the detectors to provide indications at the detectors.

Abstract: A fluorometer for measuring a particular fluorescence emanating from a specimen and operating in accordance with the following method. Producing a burst of concentrated light energy and directing the concentrated light energy toward the specimen to produce a fluorescence from the specimen including the particular fluorescence. Preferably producing an image of the fluorescence. Detecting the fluorescence and producing a signal in accordance with the fluorescence. Controlling the passage of the image of the fluorescence for detecting within a particular time period so as to optimize the detection of the particular fluorescence. Timing the operation to sequence the detection of the fluorescence within the particular time period after the production of the burst of concentrated light energy. Scanning the fluorescence from the specimen for forming signals representative of the fluorescence from the specimen.

Abstract: A method of making a composite article and a composite article specifically adapted for use in high temperature, corrosive and errosive environments comprising a carbon fibrous substrate, including a pyrolytic carbon sheath formed about each fiber of the substrate; a metallic carbide, oxide, or nitride compliant coating over the coated fibers of the substrate; and an impermeable metallic carbide, oxide or nitride outer protective layer formed about the entire periphery of the coated substrate. In accordance with the method of the invention, the compliant metallic coating is applied to the fibers in a manner such that any mechanical stresses built-up in the substrate due to a mismatch between the coefficient of thermal expansion of the fibrous substrate and the coating are effectively accomodated.