Abstract: A handhold control unit (HCU) shaped like a gun includes a non volatile random access memory (RAM) for storing price information (e.g. price, price per ounce, sales discounts) for the items on the market shelves. The HCU receives such information from a central processing unit (CPU) in the market. When aimed at a stock keeping unit (SKU) tag adjacent a particular item on a shelf, the HCU interrogates the SKU tag to determine the item identity. The HCU may also provide photovoltaic energy to the SKU tag to provide for the SKU tag operation. The SKU tag responds with a code (preferably infra red) identifying the particular item and sends this code to the HCU as by infra red energy. The HCU then identifies the particular item in the RAM from the transmitted code and recovers from the RAM the price information relating to the particular item. The HCU then transmits to the SKU tag the code identifying the item and also the price information for the item.

Abstract: A probe is disposed in an axial opening in an insulator. The wall defining the axial opening has an internal projection and the probe has a mating recess to define with the projection a detent relationship limiting the axial movement of the probe in a first direction. A shoulder on the probe abuts an insulator to limit the probe movement axially in a second direction opposite to the first direction. The probe has a bayonet portion positioned to engage a female member in a first connector with the probe in the second detent relationship. A ferrule on the insulator has a portion crimpable on the insulator to retain the insulator and the ferrule in a fixed relationship. A nut on the ferrule is fixedly retained between a lug on the ferrule and a sleeve on the ferrule. The probe end opposite the bayonet portion has a socket for receiving a pin in a cable. The cable has an insulator which can be disposed in the space within the ferrule.

Abstract: A robotic arm assembly in a transport module is expansible to have an effector at its end receive a substrate in a cassette module and is then contracted and rotated with the effector to have the effector face a process module. Planets on a turntable in the process module are rotatable on first parallel axes. The turntable is rotatable on a second axis parallel to the first axes to move successive planets to a position facing the effector. At this position, an alignment assembly is aligned with, but axially displaced from, one of the planets. This assembly is moved axially into coupled relationship with such planet and then rotated to a position aligning the substrate on the effector axially with such planet when the arm assembly is expanded. A lifter assembly aligned with, and initially displaced from, such planet is moved axially to lift the substrate from the effector. The arm assembly is then contracted, rotated with the effector and expanded to receive the next cassette module substrate.

Abstract: A toy trailer for towing or hauling transportable elements including a unique tow hitch assembly and suitable for use with remotely-controllable motorized toy vehicles having a highly-maneuverable skid steering systems driven by single or dual motors, having a separately motorized loading device pivotally secured to the chassis of the vehicle operative to load, push or pull transportable elements or load same on to the trailer, the motorized vehicle having in one embodiment a hopper mounted on the vehicle, and having an automatic tow hitch mechanism with both the hopper and the hitching mechanism coupled to a motorized loading device gear train which mechanism provides for the sequential actuation of, first, the scoop for loading transportable elements into the hopper or on to the trailer and, second, for actuation of both the hopper for dumping and the hitch mechanism for hitching and unhitching of trailer vehicles, and including control means responsive, without wires connected to the vehicle, to operator c

Abstract: An analog-to-digital converter (ADC) formed on an integrated circuit chip from a plurality of cells includes a differential amplifier having first and second branches. The branches in each cell respectively have first and second transistors respectively responsive to an input voltage and an individual one of progressive fractions of a reference voltage. The relative outputs from the branches for each cell are dependent upon the relative values of the two voltages introduced to the cell. To minimize cell mismatches and the effects of these mismatches on cell outputs, first and second sets of averaging impedances, preferably resistors, are respectively connected between the output terminals of the first branch transistors, and between the output terminals of the second branch transistors, in successive pairs of cells.

Abstract: A robotic arm assembly in a transport module is expansible to have an effector at its end receive a substrate in a cassette module and is then contracted and rotated with the effector to have the effector face a process module. Planets on a turntable in the process module are rotatable on first parallel axes. The turntable is rotatable on a second axis parallel to the first axes to move successive planets to a position facing the effector. At this position, an alignment assembly is aligned with, but axially displaced from, one of the planets. This assembly is moved axially into coupled relationship with such planet and then rotated to a position aligning the substrate on the effector axially with such planet when the arm assembly is expanded. A lifter assembly aligned with, and initially displaced from, such planet is moved axially to lift the substrate from the effector. The arm assembly is then contracted, rotated with the effector and expanded to receive the next cassette module substrate.

Abstract: A marble, preferably spherical, is provided for use with safety by children even when the marble becomes swallowed by a child and becomes lodged in the child's larynx. The marble includes a body having a pair of spaced end caps. First ribs may be disposed between the end caps and may extend between the end caps in a spaced and substantially parallel relationship to one another and to the end caps. Second ribs extend between the end caps in spaced and substantially parallel relationship to one another. The pair of the second ribs at the outermost extremities of the second ribs are continuous with the first ribs. There are first slots between the first ribs and between the first ribs and the end caps. There are second slots between the second ribs. The first and second slots define holes which extend entirely through the marble to provide for continued breathing by a child when the child swallows the marble and the marble becomes lodged in the larynx of the child.

Abstract: Apparatus for coupling to an aircraft a high pressure air flow from ground equipment to start engines includes a hollow housing attachable to the ground equipment. A pair of members defining a first valve form a clamshell within the housing. Such members are biased to a closed relationship and are rotatable to an open relationship. A hollow coupling member includes a ring for rotating such valve members equally to the open relationship in response to incremental linear movements of the ring member. The coupling member receives a hollow start nipple in the aircraft. A pair of members defining a second valve form a clamshell rotatable within the housing in a direction opposite to the direction of the first clamshell rotation. The second valve members are biased to close such valve and are rotatable to an open relationship. The coupling member includes prongs which act linearly on the second valve members, in a manner similar to the ring action on the first valve members, to open such valve.

Abstract: Analog signals representing individual digital values (.+-.1, .+-.3) pass through a telephone line to a receiver. These signals may be first provided in a pseudo random sequence. A linear echo canceller and a first adder eliminate, to an extent, echo signals resulting from second analog signals transmitted on the same telephone line by the receiver. A non-linear echo canceller and a second adder further reduce the echo signals and specifically reduce non-linear components in the echo signals. Adjustable signal delays achieve optimal performance of the linear and non-linear echo cancellers. An equalizer containing four (4) different modules then compensates for signal distortions introduced by the telephone line and minimizes the effect of noise in the telephone line. The equalizer modules are a digital gain control element, a feed forward digital filter and two (2) feedback digital filters. A detector module produces in one of several different ways at the receiver an estimate of the digital data (.+-.1, .+-.

Abstract: An electrical field between a positive anode and a negative target in a cavity and a magnetic field in the cavity cause electrons from the target to ionize neutral gas (e.g. argon) atoms in the cavity. The ions cause the target to release sputtered atoms (e.g. aluminum) for deposition on a substrate. A shield between the target and the substrate inhibits charged particle movement to the substrate. The anode potential may be positive, and the shield and the magnetic members may be negative relative to the anode, to obtain electron movement to the anode, thereby inhibiting the heating of the shield and the magnetic members by electron impingement. The anode may be water cooled. The magnitude of the positive anode voltage relative to the target voltage provides selectively for (a) a uniform thickness of sputtered atoms on the walls of a groove in the substrate or (b) a filling of the groove by the sputtered atoms and a uniform thickness of deposition on the substrate surface including the filled groove.

Abstract: A robotic arm assembly in a transport module is expansible to have an effector at its end receive a substrate in a cassette module and is then contracted and rotated with the effector to have the effector face a process module. Planets on a turntable in the process module are rotatable on first parallel axes. The turntable is rotatable on a second axis parallel to the first axes to move successive planets to a position facing the effector. At this position, an alignment assembly is aligned with, but axially displaced from, one of the planets. This assembly is moved axially into coupled relationship with such planet and then rotated to a position aligning the substrate on the effector axially with such planet when the arm assembly is expanded. A lifter assembly aligned with, and initially displaced from, such planet is moved axially to lift the substrate from the effector. The arm assembly is then contracted, rotated with the effector and expanded to receive the next cassette module substrate.

Abstract: Analog signals encoded with quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) pass through a coaxial cable at a particular baud rate. These signals have a carrier frequency individual to the TV station being received. They are mixed with signals from a variable frequency oscillator to produce signals at a particular intermediate frequency (IF). An analog-digital converter (ADC) converts the IF signals to corresponding digital signals which are demodulated to produce two digital signals having a quadrature phase relationship. After being filtered and derotated, the digital signals pass to a symmetrical equalizer including a feed forward equalizer (FFE) and a decision feedback equalizer (DFE) connected to the FFE in a feedback relationship. The DFE may include a slicer providing amplitude approximations of increasing sensitivity at progressive times. Additional slicers in the equalizer combine the FFE and DFE outputs to provide the output data without any of the coaxial cable noise or distortions.

Abstract: Electrons moving in a first direction are concentrated (e.g. magnetically) in a beam within a first tube. A converter converts the electrons to x-rays for movement to a particular position (e.g. tumor) in a patient. A fluid (e.g. water) flowing past the converter through a second tube co-axial with the first tube cools the converter. Microwave energy passes in the first direction through a third tube co-axial with the first tube. The third tube is open at the end near the converter so that the microwave energy will pass to the particular position in the patient. A second fluid (e.g. air) passing through a fourth tube coaxial with the first tube cools the tissue in direct contact with the x-ray needle. The second, third and fourth tubes may respectively have diameters of approximately 2, 3 and 4 millimeters. The microwave energy may pass into the third tube from a fifth tube transverse to the third tube. The microwave energy impedance may be approximately 50 .OMEGA.

Abstract: A rotary valve at the inlets of a plurality of columns cyclically (1) selects first columns on a cyclic basis to receive compressed air, adsorb nitrogen and other components in the compressed air and pass oxygen and argon to a user (e.g. patient), second columns to desorb the adsorbed components in such columns and (3) third columns to equalize pressures where the first columns change progressively to the second columns and vice versa. A compressor having adjustable characteristics and regulated in an open or closed loop introduces the compressed air through the valve to the first columns to provide an adjustable air flow for obtaining a prescribed oxygen flow to the user. An indication may be provided when the compressor characteristics regulated for obtaining the prescribed oxygen flow rate are outside particular limits. The valve may have a variable speed related to the compressor flow variations to regulate the air pressure in the columns in accordance with the air flow rate into the columns.

Abstract: An abrasive wheel is partially defined by a support member and by a plurality of abrasive flaps on such member. A hole is disposed centrally in the support member to receive a mandrel for rotating the wheel. The support member has at its radial periphery an annular surface with a constant radius at progressive positions in the annular direction. The flaps are fixedly supported (as by epoxy) on the annular surface in a partially overlapping relationship between successive pairs of flaps. Each of the flaps has abrasive particles on one of its surfaces. Each of the flaps is disposed on the annular surface of the support member with the abrasive particles facing outwardly from such support surface. Each of the flaps defines an acute angle with the annular surface and extends at its opposite axial ends beyond the axial positions of support by such support surface.