Abstract: A compact apparatus for loading bulk ammunition, particularly rimmed cartridges, into cartridge boxes. The apparatus includes a manifold having side walls, a rear wall and a removable front spacer bar. A tray pan is indexed beneath a plurality of parallel, spaced rails in the manifold. The rails are spaced apart a distance greater than the diameter of the cartridges but less than the diameter of the cartridge rims. The manifold is vibrated by an adjustable eccentric drive. Loose ammunition is poured onto the manifold and contained on there by the walls and gate. Once the holes of the cartridge boxes are substantially filled, the operator moves the rear gate to clear off the excess ammunition. The tray pan is then released from spring detents to remove the boxes from the apparatus.

Abstract: A rolling flexure bearing. The bearing is formed of a thin sheet of elastic material that is attached to a surface of a first object. The sheet extends a short distance along the surface of the first object. The sheet then makes a 180 degree elastic bend off the surface of the first object to reverse the direction of the sheet. After making the bend, the sheet then extends a short distance along the surface of the second object substantially parallel to the surface of the first object. The sheet is attached at its end to the surface of the second object.In this configuration, the flexure bearing is stiff along an axis parallel to the bend axis to constrain movement along this axis. The flexure bearing, along the axis normal to the surfaces of the objects, has a high compliance rate to provide damping between the objects. Along the third orthogonal axis, normal to the bend axis, the bearing allows free relative movement between the two objects, until it approaches either of the two attachment areas.

Abstract: An architecture for a dynamic video random access memory on a single integrated circuit chip having internal circuitry for performing drawing or replacement rule logical operations on an addressed line of stored video information in the RAM and further having the write masking circuitry for modifying selected portions of the line of stored video information between selected START and STOP bit locations within the line.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for effecting a transfer of data between different areas of a memory. Memory reading circuitry and memory writing circuitry are both connected to loopback switching apparatus. The loopback switching apparatus is controllably operable to interconnect the read circuitry with the write circuitry. This permits the data read out of a first memory area to be extended to the write circuitry for entry into a second memory area.

Abstract: An architecture for a dynamic video random access memory on a single integrated circuit chip having internal circuitry for performing drawing or replacement rule logical operations on an addressed line of stored video information in the RAM and further having the write masking circuitry for modifying selected portions of the line of stored video information between selected START and STOP bit locations within the line.

Abstract: The data storage subsystem of the present invention uses a large plurality of small form factor disk drives to implement an inexpensive, high performance, high reliability disk drive memory that emulates the format and capability of large form factor disk drives. The data transmitted by the associated computer system is used to generate redundancy information which is written with the data across N+M disk drives in a redundancy group in the data storage subsystem. To clear the redundancy accumulator memory, an associated pointer memory is used to indicate the ones of the redundancy accumulator memory byte positions that were used in the previous redundancy calculation. As data is received from the computer system, the pointer memory is checked to determine whether this next byte position need be reset to erase the previously stored redundancy calculation residue. If not, the data is simply stored therein.

Abstract: A distributed error correction circuit for a synchronous high performance multiprocessor bus wherein the memory directly transfers data containing error fields to the multiprocessor bus without performing an error check. Each device, such as a plurality of processors or input/output busses, connected to the multiprocessor bus has error correction circuitry located between the multiprocessor bus and the device to perform error correction while the data is being transferred off the multiprocessor bus and stored in data buffers at the bandwidth of the multiprocessor bus. The error correction circuit detects and corrects data errors caused by the memory or the multiprocessor bus. The stored data is later transferred out of the buffers at the bandwidth of the device. Data from a device is delivered into the device buffers at the bandwidth of the device for later delivery of the data into memory at the bandwidth of the multiprocessor bus.

Abstract: A housing having a spindle mount for mounting a spindle supporting magnetic disks for a magnetic data storage disk system. A bearing cap having seals is mounted on the exterior of the housing. A spindle clamp having a male bayonet mount is inserted through the bearing cap and engages a mounting cup having a female bayonet mount. A belleville washer is mounted onto the clamp between the bearing cap and the head portion of the clamp. The clamp and cup are designed so that the washer is compressed as the bayonet mount engages. This exerts a constant uniform pressure on the bearing cup as well as restraining the bayonet mounting from disengaging. The bearing cap is held tightly against the exterior of the housing as well to seal the bearing and the inner housing from the exterior environment.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for monitoring bi-directional currents in a multi-phase brushless DC motor. The current in each separate phase is separately monitored to generate a feedback signal that is used to dynamically adjust the instantaneous levels of the winding currents in accordance with a specified torque required of the motor. Both negative and positive currents in the motor windings are monitored at all times to provide precision control of the feedback signals.

Abstract: An architecture for a single chip dynamic video random access memory using a single clock to operate the random port to perform refresh, memory address, and to control the internal circuitry for inputting data and addresses and for outputting data as well as modifying information in the memory circuit chip having internal circuitry for performing drawing or replacement rule logical operations on an addressed line of stored video information in the RAM and further having the write masking circuitry for modifying selected portions of the line of stored video information between selected START and STOP bit locations within the like.

Abstract: An automated system for partitioning a set of Boolean logic equations onto one or more devices selected from a plurality of commercially available devices. The system utilizes a processor having a memory containing information on the different architectural types of devices, physical device information on individual devices and user generated design constraints, weighting factors and partitioning directives. Based upon this stored information, the system of the present invention selects all acceptable architectural types of devices wherein at least one of the Boolean logic equations can be placed thereon. For all physical devices associated with the acceptable architectural types only those devices which fall within the selected user constraints are selected. The system then evaluates the weighting factors to order the devices in order of cost value and then fits the equations according to the partitioning directives to the devices.

Abstract: A system for testing 2B1Q private line data telephony circuits having 2B1Q modulation between the network channel termination equipment and the channel unit. 2B1Q modulation is provided over a single pair of wires connected to the E and M leads of the channel unit. The system can deliver testing signals from two different sources. The first source is from a remote testing system connected to a remote access system which in turn is connected to the T, T1, R, and R1 output leads of the channel unit. The remote testing system generates conventional testing signals which are converted into digital signals for directly communicating with the 2B1Q pair of wires. The remote testing system delivers conventional tests for testing the loopback of the channel connected to the single pair of wires and to the network channel termination equipment. Under a second source of tests, the interface of the present invention directly connects to the T1 carrier.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for non-destructively measuring the thickness of an internal coating in a container and when the internal coating is defective the area of exposed metal. The apparatus uses a frequency source which is capable of generating two sinusoidal signals of predetermined frequency and of constant amplitude wherein the two sinusoidal signals are ninety degrees apart in phase. One of the two signals is applied across a predetermined area at a selected interior configuration in the container. The applied signal has its phase and amplitude varied as a function of the thickness of the internal coating and as a function of exposed surface metal from defects in the coating. Applied signal as varied is converted to a voltage in a current-to-voltage amplifier and delivered into an electronic circuit which combines it with the second signal from the frequency source in order to produce a capacitive output indicative of the thickness of the internal coating being measured in the predetermined area.

Abstract: A snow plow assembly has a frame with a rear portion adapted for attachment to a motor vehicle and a blade assembly adapted for rotation about a vertical axis with respect to the front portion of the frame. Two ends of a chain are attached to the blade assembly on either side of the vertical axis. The middle section of the chain can slide in a track (e.g. an arcuate tube) attached to the frame. The yaw angle of the blade is adjustably controlled by sliding the chain with respect to the track. Means are also provided for adjustably securing the chain to the track after the desired angle for the blade has been obtained. In addition, the blade assembly can include means for permitting rotation of said blade about a horizontal axis. In this embodiment, two lever arms extend upward from the blade assembly on opposite sides of the vertical axis. The upper end of each lever arm is attached to one end of the chain.

Abstract: An optical inspection system inspects individual sheets having scrolled and unscrolled edges for defects in a production line with high transfer velocities. Each of the individual sheets are delivered in a production line with some spacing between them and potentially with some degree of skewness and offset from the production center line. The inspection system of the present invention utilizes a formed viewing window over which individual sheets from the production line are delivered. As each sheet is delivered over the formed viewing window, the undersurface of each individual sheet is uniformly and continuously illuminated along the length of the formed viewing window with high intensity diffused light. The reflected light from the surface of each moving individual sheet is captured by at least one video camera. As the sheet moves across the formed viewing window, a line-by-line video image is captured and stored according to a rectangularization technique which eliminates the need for customized masks.

Abstract: A sealing current generator for a telephone circuit provides a conventional nominal DC bias current in a telephone loop, and also temporarily provides a higher "zap" current whenever the DC current path is broken and then reapplied to the telephone loop. During the "zap" period, the voltage placed across the telephone loop is progressively increased in a number of predetermined steps if the current actually measured in the telephone loop fails to exceed a minimum value. The voltage is then maintained at its last level for the remainder of the "zap" period, after which the device returns to its base mode of providing a nominal DC bias current to the telephone loop.

Abstract: The subject apparatus includes a number of data bases which are used by the expert system software to manage the computer system data storage devices. One element provided in this apparatus is a set of data storage device configuration data that provides a description of the various data storage devices and their interconnection in the computer system. A second element is a knowledge data base that includes a set of functional rules that describe the data storage device management function. These rules indicate the operational characteristics of the various data storage devices and the steps that need to be taken to provide the various improvement functions required of the computer system memory.

Abstract: This system makes use of a tape cassette helical scan tape transport and 3480-type magnetic tape cartridge as the data storage media. The merging of these two incompatible elements is accomplished by the use of a novel interface that implements a "virtual tape cassette" using a tape cartridge in a manner that makes this media compatible with the tape transport. The virtual tape cassette is implemented by providing a takeup reel positioned with the magnetic tape cartridge in a relationship that substantially matches the format of a magnetic tape cassette. A short tape threading arm is used to retrieve the leader block from the tape cartridge and thread the magnetic tape over a short tape threading path to the takeup reel. Once the tape is affixed to the takeup reel, the helical scan tape guide arms transport the length of tape that is now exposed between the tape cartridge and the takeup reel to the rotary heads.

Abstract: A robotic wrist employs a plurality of elastomeric containers holding an electro-rheological fluid. An electromagnetic field can be selectively applied across the electro-rheological fluid within these elastomeric containers to selectively control the viscosity of the electro-rheological fluid and thereby control the stiffness of the elastomeric containers. Two sets of elastomeric containers can be used to control both the axial and radial stiffnesses of the wrist. In the preferred embodiment, the elastomeric containers have a hollow spherical shape. An electromagnetic field is created within the containers by applying a voltage between a conductive film on the interior surface of the sphere and second electrode extending through the sphere into the electro-rheological fluid.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring rate of turn employing a vibrating tuning fork type sensor in which the tynes vibrate in a coaxial manner. This arrangement eliminates reaction torques and forces at the base of the tuning fork which allows the tynes to freely deflect into an elliptical pattern during an input turn rate. Sensors are employed which monitor the shape of this elliptical pattern, this shape being proportional to angular turn rate.