Abstract: A filament lamp outage indicator system in which the actuation of an on/off switch to its on position is sensed to enable a logic circuit in the event a current flow increase is not inductively detected in a conductor in series with the switch and a corresponding filament lamp.

Abstract: This specification teaches a method of making an electrically heated, glass vision unit having a complex curved configuration. The method is initiated by cutting a glass substrate (10) from a flat glass bracket (12). The glass substrate (10) has first and second surfaces separated by a uniform distance. A pair of electrically conductive bus bars (16--16) are applied to one of the surfaces of the glass substrate (10). The bus bars (16--16) are so positioned on the flat glass substrate (10) that when the substrate (10) is bent to form the glass vision unit of complex curved configuration, the pair of electrically conductive bus bars (16--16) are equally distant from one another throughout their entire extent. The flat glass substrate (10) is bent to form the glass vision unit of complex curved configuration. A conductive coating (20) is applied to the one surface of the glass substrate (10) and extends between the pair of bus bars (16--16) throughout their entire extent.

Abstract: A heated fuel injection system includes a fuel injector assembly that receives the output of a diesel type fuel pump against a piston that normally biases an injector valve closed; the pump also supplying a fuel reservoir with high pressure fuel, the output of the reservoir being heated and fed to the injector valve to act upon it to move it open when the force of the piston acting against it is relieved by the pump output pressure as it increases to a predetermined level during the charging stroke; the fuel heat being derived from the engine exhaust gases during normal running operation, and by an electrical starter, during engine startup.

Abstract: A microprocessor circuit employed to control the on/off switching of a filament lamp in series with a power switching device and a single conductor is programmed to periodically cycle the filament lamp between its deenergized and energized state at a rate above that which would be humanly perceptible. A toroidal ferrite core surrounds the conductor between the lamp filament and the switch and picks up current changes which occur due to the cycling. The absence of current changes during cycling are perceived by the microprocessor as a lamp failure and appropriate signaling is made to indicate the lamp failure.

Abstract: A layer of HgCdTe (15) epitaxially grown onto a crystalline support (10), e.g., of sapphire of GaAs. A CdTe substrate (5) is epitaxially grown to a thickness of between 1 micron and 5 microns on the support (10). A HgTe source (3) is spaced from the CdTe substrate (5) a distance of between 0.1 mm and 10 mm. The substrate (5) and source (3) are heated together in a thermally insulating, reusable ampoule (17) within a growth temperature range of between 500.degree. C. and 625.degree. C. for a growth step having a duration of between 5 minutes and 4 hours. Then an interdiffusion step is performed, in which the source (3) and substrate (5) are cooled within a temperature range of between 400.degree. C. and 500.degree. C. for a time of between 1 hour and 16 hours. In a first growth step embodiment, the source (3) and substrate (5) are isothermal. In a second growth step embodiment, the source (3) and substrate (5) are non-isothermal.

Abstract: This specification teaches a method for making an electrically heatable windshield of laminated construction. In the method, a pair of glass templets are cut (10) and they include a long glass templet and a short glass templet. The templets are separated (20) from one another. An opaque ceramic paint is applied (30) to an edge portion of a coatable surface of a selected glass templet and is dried (40) thereon. Bus bars are also applied (50) to and dried (60) on the coatable surface of the long glass templet. The glass templets are united (70) and subjected to a bending operation (80) to form a shaped windshield pair. The long glass templet and short glass templet are separated (90). A transparent electrically conductive coating is applied (100) between the bus bars located on the selected glass templet.

Abstract: A bit synchronizer for a BPSK input signal having a sinusoidal carrier frequency f that is much greater than the modulating signal bit rate. The synchronizer comprises means (29, 31) for repetitively sampling the amplitude of the input signal over a preselected sampling interval portion of each modulating signal bit period (T). For each sampling interval, three numbers are recorded: N1, the total number of samples; N2, the number of samples that do not change sign with respect to a reference sample; and N3, the number of samples that do change sign with respect to the reference sample. When the number of samples not changing sign exceeds a preselected threshold value, which takes into account noise corruption of the input signal, bit synchronization is declared, a synchronized output clock (39) is generated, and digital data having a 180.degree. ambiguity is sent to subsequent ambiguity resolution means.

Abstract: A vacuum limiting arrangement uses a three-port, two-position valve in conjunction with a vacuum sustaining valve to limit the vacuum applied to a vacuum driven device. A source of vacuum, such as engine intake manifold vacuum, is connected to one of two end ports. The device is connected to a central port, and the other end port is vented. The device can thus be connected either to the vacuum source in one position of the control valve or to vent. A control port that is effective to switch the control valve is connected into a vacuum line between the control valve and the device. The sustaining valve allows free flow of air from the device to the control valve, but only a restricted flow in the opposite direction to provide a hysterises to the system for controlling the shifting of the control valve, which is accomplished automatically as a function of the vacuum level at the device and in the control port.

Abstract: An improved headlight or lamp assembly for vehicles which incorporates a lens element bonded to a first reflector element. The first reflector element contains a vertically oriented slot centrally located to receive and retain a second reflector element. The second reflector element is a one piece metal stamping that conforms to the curvature of the first reflector element at its slot and contains a socket for retaining a bulb. Removal and replacement of the bulb is therefore achievable by moving the second reflector element in directions that are transverse to the optical axis of the lamp assembly.

Abstract: A retaining mechanism, within a lamp socket, includes a single wire spring element mounted external to the lamp socket and protrudes into the lamp socket opening so as to provide insertion interference to ramped projections extending from either end of a lamp wedge base element and frictional retention against the ramped projections when the wedge base element is fully inserted.

Abstract: An electromagnetic power divider/combiner comprises N radial outputs (31) having equal powers and preferably equal phases, and a single axial output (20). A divider structure (1) and a preferably identical combiner structure (2) are broadside coupled across a dielectric substrate (30) containing on one side the network of N radial outputs (31) and on its other side a set of N equispaced stubs (42) which are capacitively coupled through the dielectric substrate (30) to the N radial outputs (31). The divider structure (1) and the combiner structure (2) each comprise a dielectric disk (12, 22, respectively) on which is mounted a set of N radial impedance transformers (14, 24, respectively). Gross axial coupling is determined by the thickness of the dielectric layer (30). Rotating the disks (12, 22) with respect to each other effectuates fine adjustment in the degree of axial coupling.

Abstract: A composite light pickup device for use in an automotive vehicle to collect light from both the ambient surroundings and from oncoming vehicles and employing separate optical fiber couplings of the collected light to a headlamp system that responsively activates the vehicle headlamps when the ambient light level is too low and switches the activated headlamps between high and low beams in response to receiving light from oncoming vehicle headlamps.

Abstract: An engine coolant system contains a thermostat in a horizontally disposed line from the engine and a horizontally disposed air vent or bypass passage located above the thermostat to bleed air from the system. The bypass system contains a buoyant valve having a duckbill-like shape that pivots to one position by buoyancy in response to coolant flow to seal an air vent opening to the radiator, or to a return non-buoyant position permitting the bleed of air; one embodiment providing a valve with a buoyant insert as well as a weight insert; a second embodiment consisting entirely of a material buoyant in the conventional engine coolant.