Abstract: A ballast (e.g. a fluorescent light ballast) includes a primary ballast for powering the lamp from a power supply (e.g., utility line power) and an battery powered ballast for powering the lamp from a battery when the primary power supply is not energized by the power supply. When power supply power is restored to the ballast, the ballast shuts down the battery powered ballast and a switch circuit operably connects the lamp to the primary ballast. The ballast toggles the switch circuit such that the primary ballast detects replacement of a lamp and resets any fault detection or protection circuits (e.g., an end of lamp life circuit) that may have been triggered during the transition from battery power to power from the power supply.

Abstract: A ballast having a rapid inverter frequency control circuit that is used for programmed operation during lamps starting, during normal operation of all lamps and during no lamp(s) operation. A method and circuit controls frequency shift via a combination of different feedback circuits. A control signal for the inverter controller is synthesized as a sum of phase shifted inverter output voltage feedback signal and lamp current sense signal indicating status of each lamp connected to the ballast output.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for generating successive video images of a moving bone of a subject. A fluoroscope generates a fluoroscopic image of the moving bone. A video camera detects the fluoroscopic image and converts the detected image into successive video images. A recorder records the successive video images. A monitor displays the recorded successive video images as the images are being generated. The monitor is located adjacent the fluoroscope for viewing by an operator thereby permitting the operator to observe and/or position the bone in response to images displayed on the monitor. A crisscrossed grid is located adjacent the image intensifier of the fluoroscope between the bone and the image intensifier. A CPU compares the successive video images to a reference representation corresponding to a desired or previous movement or pattern of movement of the bone with respect to a second, immobilized bone and any resulting flexure of a joint between the bone and the second, immobilized bone.

Abstract: First and second interlocking portions defining an aperture in which a support may be located. Each portion has a base and a first wall connecting to the base and having an engaging support such as a bayonnet lock. The portions are interlocked to form a container which may include radially extending, compartmental walls. A bearing assembly may be located under each base to permit rotation of the container about the support.

Abstract: Certain, but not all AM stereo radio broadcasting and reception systems suffer from a severe form of reception anomaly wherein the perceived stereo image moves from side to side, back and forth, which effect has come to be known as "Stereo Platform Motion" or simply "Platform Motion". A prior art patent proposed a method for sensing reception conditions conductive to Platform Motion and then switching the receiver from stereo to monophonic reception to avoid Platform Motion. The present invention enables the AM stereo receiver to maintain stereo operation under such reception conditions, and instead of switching the receiver to monophonic operation, it switches the receiver to a different method of stereo reception that does not suffer from Platform Motion.

Abstract: The invention comprises an article for engaging the ring of a pacifier and for holding the pacifier about the neck of an infant. A first flat panel or collar has a substantially rectangular shape and has a notch for engaging the infant's neck. The notch forms an arcuate portion in the first panel. The arcuate portion conforms to the infant's neck and forms right and left tabs for engaging the infant's neck. Interlocking means are attached to at least one of the tabs for engaging the other tab thereby permitting the notch to be closed about the infant's neck. A second flat panel is provided having upper and lower ends. The upper end has an arcuate edge and engages the arcuate portion of the first flat panel. The lower end of the second flat panel has a means for engaging the pacifier ring. The engagement between the arcuate edge and the arcuate portion causes the underside of the second flat panel to be positioned adjacent to the overside of the first flat panel.

Abstract: A bird feeding device is disclosed which can be accessed by birds and not by squirrels. The device comprises a container for holding feed and a wire mesh enclosing the container. An o-ring supports the container within the wire mesh and spaces the mesh away from the container such that the mesh is not directly in contact with the container whereby squirrels are prevented from accessing the container.

Abstract: A stereo receiver is described which is capable of receiving any two or more of the five currently proposed AM stereo system broadcast signals. The multisystem receiver includes circuitry which is used in various configurations to demodulate the stereo signal components from broadcast signals of any one of two or more of the proposed systems. Selection of appropriate elements of the receiver's circuitry for demodulating any one of the received signals is performed automatically in response to the detection of the presence of a corresponding pilot signal which is unique for each of the five different AM stereo systems that have been proposed. The receiver includes apparatus which detects the presence of such pilot signals and controls the automatic switching of such receiver circuitry. Also described is the application of such apparatus for reliably detecting the presence of the desired pilot signal in a single system stereo receiver.

Abstract: An apparatus for generating a composite AM stereo broadcast signal wherein a carrier is angle modulated with stereo difference information contained in a first supplied signal and the angle-modulated carrier is then amplitude modulated with stereo sum information contained in a second supplied signal, an improvement wherein distortion is predicted by the use of a simulated transmitter and receiver to generate a correction signal having distortion representative components. Correction signals developed in this manner are used to modify the angle-modulated signal utilizing a feedback technique, a subtractive technique, or both, thereby reducing distortion in the output of the stereo difference signal channel of actual AM stereo receivers which receive said composite AM stereo signal.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling a process machine, in accordance with control settings determined using a process simulating apparatus, makes use of a recorder associated with the simulating apparatus to record signals representative of the position of control elements on the simulating apparatus. The recorded signals are read and used to automatically set the controls of the process machine. The device is advantageously used in connection with a color scanner and a color previewer having a set of control elements corresponding to the control elements on the scanner.

Abstract: A system for locating forward observation posts with respect to a base ston. A continuous electromagnetic wave with frequency f.sub.o is transmitted from an artillery projectile or missile in flight. In addition, a relative time code is transmitted on the same or a separate carrier frequency either from the projectile or from a ground station. The frequency f.sub.o of the electromagnetic wave from the projectile or missile is doppler shifted above or below its basic frequency due to the velocity of the projectile. This doppler signal f.sub.d always goes through its basic frequency f.sub.o or zero doppler at a point which is representative of and identifies an observer's position in the horizontal or subtrack direction of the projectile. This occurs regardless of the observer's distance away from the subtrack. Thus, all observers on a given perpendicular to the subtrack observe f.sub.o or zero doppler at the same time. To locate a specific observer, two projectiles or missiles must be fired.

Abstract: An apparatus for sealing a pressurized vessel comprising a hemispherical ped door with an outer rigid surface, an insulating material, an inner rigid material with a flange affixed thereto, and a supporting member for use in combination with lock and hinge mechanisms, the flange on the door cooperating with an inflatable seal that is seated within a groove positioned on the inside surface of the mouth of the vessel.

Abstract: Apparatus for use with graphic material supported on a planar surface. Two identical clamps, upon which a reeling means is mounted, are connected by a tape and mounted on the edge of the planar surface. The clamps are U-shaped and have a longitudinal slit in one leg. On the other leg a spool means supported by a housing is attached by a bracket. Each end of the tape is threaded through the slit, around the clamp and connected to the spool means.

Abstract: A vehicle which can easily be dismantled into transportable units and reassembled readily at the tunnel site is provided. A major advantage of this vehicle is the requirement of low thrust during operation and adaptability to use in short tunnels and tunnels with variable rock formations. With only minor adjustments to the drill head assembly and crawler carriage, it is capable of conforming to variable diameters of tunnel sizes. Pneumatic drills in the drill head assembly are guided along the vehicle's path to cut kerfs into the rock. Fluid activated breaker elements enter the kerfs and break out the ridges of rock through smashing blows. The drill head assembly rotates as the kerf cutting process is repeated. The excavated rock is conveyed to the rear of the vehicle for easy disposal. The drills are capable of boring any type of rock, therefore, it is envisioned that this vehicle can excavate soft through very hard formations.

Abstract: A periodically adjustable frequency generator having as the source of the equency signal a voltage controlled crystal oscillator. A power supply provides a continuous voltage to the oscillator which corresponds to the initial operating frequency. As a periodic error correction signal is received, it is fed through a delay circuit and then to a holding circuit which has an output equal to the last received input. The output of the holding circuit is summed with the power supply signal to provide a corrected voltage signal to the voltage controlled crystal oscillator.

Abstract: The invention concerns an analog TV-type process and apparatus for rapid cessing of pictorial information. A transparency is rapidly scanned by a line of light source, scanning of which is controlled by conventional electronic means. The light output is applied to an image converter tube and the output thereof applied in line by line sequence to a transmissive plate. The plate has parallel strips with transmittivities determined by the operation to be performed, such as biased sines or cosines for a Fourier transform. A line of the picture on the transparency is projected successively on all the transmissive strips. The total amount of light output of each strip of the plate is applied to a photomultiplier tube. The coefficients of the Fourier transform are obtained from the difference between the photomultiplier output after illumination of a line of the transmissive plate and a stored signal which specifies the bias level.

Abstract: A two-phase material of foamed cement or concrete and polymer providing tmal insulating, structural elements composed of an unimpregnated foam cement or concrete core and impregnated surface regions of the two-phase material and method employing a hydraulic head or vacuum means to provide high polymer loading through a large volume of foam voids in the cement or concrete for easy impregnation of high viscosity monomers and uncured resins to a considerable depth below the surface of the cement or concrete before in situ polymerization.

Abstract: A device for measuring the statistical distribution within a discrete range f a measured continuous variable. A conventional type meter which employs a scaling amplifier in series with weighted filters, a true RMS detector and time averager is used to detect the variable level and convert it to a analogue voltage of magnitude proportional to the magnitude of the variable at any given instant. The voltage signal is then passed through a scaling amplifier to an analogue to digital converter. The converter is controlled by a timer with an adjustable rate in such a way that the converter output is pulsed. Each level of the digital output is connected to a counter. Since each level corresponds to a discrete range of magnitudes of the variable, the percent time within a given discrete range can be calculated from the ratio of the pulses counted at a given level to the total number of samples taken.

Abstract: In a digital communications system having widely dispersed nodes transmitg between each other, a method and apparatus for synchronizing the processing of data at a node. Data transmitted between nodes is stored in speed buffers. The output of each buffer at a node is connected to the nodal processor and is controlled by the nodal clock. Synchronization is accomplished by performing a periodic adjustment of the frequency of the nodal clock. This adjustment is arrived at by sampling the buffer content of each node and extracting an error signal which represents the buffer position relative to the half full buffer position. The error signal is suitably weighted by a control and summed with all other weighted buffer error signals to produce a total error signal, which is added linearly to the original initial condition of the nodal clock and converted to an equivalent frequency.

Abstract: Apparatus for use with graphic material supported on a planar surface. Two identical clamps, upon which a reeling means is mounted, are connected by a tape and mounted on the edge of the planar surface. The clamps are U-shaped and have a longitudinal slit in one leg. On the other leg a spool means supported by a housing is attached by a bracket. Each end of the tape is threaded through the slit, around the clamp and connected to the spool means.