Abstract: A bias network includes a transistor connected at its emitter to a first point of operating potential. A current passing means is connected between a second point of operating potential and an intermediate point. A first diode is connected between the intermediate point and the base of the transistor and a second diode is connected between the intermediate point and the collector of the transistor for producing at the collector a regulated bias voltage. Means are included to selectively turn-off the transistor for causing the equivalent impedance at its collector to become high.

Abstract: Radiation illuminating the image register of a CCD imager of field transfer type during the transfer of a charge pattern from image register to field storage register results in smear in images reproduced from the imager output signal. Smear charge samples are sensed during one line time of a field and stored, and the stored line of smear charge samples are then used to cancel the effect of smear charge components in the other lines of a field. The lines of smear charge samples are obtained by clocking a line of empty charge wells into the A register as from a "phantom" row which does not physically exist.

Abstract: A sense amplifier suitable for use with a source of binary signals, where one of the signals is "well" defined and the other is "poorly" defined includes a current source for producing a bias current which is of the same polarity as the current produced by the ill defined signal and of amplitude intermediate the amplitude of the currents produced by the ill and well defined signals. The bias current and signal source currents are summed and when applied to an inverter which is precharged to, or close to, its transition point cause the inverter output to respond with approximately equal speed to either of the two binary conditions.

Abstract: A CCD imager is operated in cascade with a low-frequency-suppression filter and a synchronous detector, which synchronous detector uses as its switching carrier a harmonic of the clocking frequency of the CCD imager output register. The low-frequency-suppression filter has its zero-average-value output response referred to a noise-free reference level. At times between picture trace intervals, when d-c restoration is to be done, this reference level is caused to appear at the synchronous detector output instead of synchronously detected filter response. D-c restoration is made to this reference level and is thus made substantially more noise-free. The need to clock empty wells from the CCD imager for d-c restoration is avoided. This allows shortening the time the CCD imager output register is clocked during each line trace, allowing reduction in the power required for operating the imager and increasing available time for transfer from the image storage register to the output register.

Abstract: Dark current generation in a field-transfer type CCD imager is measured by integrating the response to charge packets supplied from its output register during certain portions of field retrace intervals. During these portions of the field retrace intervals the output register is dynamically clocked to transfer charge packets therefrom although the output register is cleared of externally generated charge. Accordingly, these charge packets originate from the accumulation of dark current arising in the C register.

Abstract: A highly efficient series regulator for use where output voltage may closely approach input voltage uses the channel of a field effect transistor as a series voltage-dropping element. The conduction of the channel of the field effect transistor is controlled without consumption of appreciable power in the control circuitry for the transistor. Presently available power field effect transistors are of p-channel enhancement mode type. Their threshold voltages are sufficiently high as to make difficult the closing a d.c. feedback loop as will allow output voltage to approach closely input voltage. This problem of closing the d.c. feedback loop is overcome by using voltage boost circuitry, powered from the input voltage supply to the regulator, against which to refer the error signal applied to the gate electrode of the field effect transistor.

Abstract: Phase reversal of solely the chrominance component of only alternate frames of an NTSC format signal prior to pre-emphasis and again subsequent to de-emphasis permits simpler and less costly filter structure to be employed without any loss of filtering capability.

Abstract: A memory system in which the sequence in which consecutive functions are performed is controlled by sensing the completion of each function before initiating the performance of the next function in the sequence. Sequencing of the functions is made dependent on the internal delays of the memory system, thereby eliminating the need for clocking signals.

Abstract: A plurality of electrically conductive heads for bending the leads of components mounted on a printed circuit board are coupled to an apparatus for testing the component prior to bending and soldering the leads. The heads electrically contact the leads of the component prior to and during bending. A testing apparatus indicates that the component is present and can also test one or more electrical parameters of the component. The test apparatus indicates whether the component is good or bad prior to the bending of the component leads to facilitate replacing the component before it is soldered in place.

Abstract: The operating potential to an amplifying section is selectively altered to cause the stages of the amplifying section to operate in the voltage follower mode during one time period and as inverters during another, succeeding time period. A selectively enabled preamplifier adapted to receive small signals which are offset with respect to the voltage rail level and which produces at its outputs, signals which tend to be centered about the midpoint of the operating potential is coupled to the amplifying section to control its gain during certain portions of the amplifying section operation.

Abstract: Apparatus for assaying the purity of a gas, e.g., helium, includes an acoustic signal generating transducer in a chamber containing the gas under test. In one embodiment, a microphone spaced a given distance from the transducer senses the propagated acoustic signal. A regenerative circuit creates a pulse train of acoustic signals in the chamber having a pulse repetition rate which is a function of the gas purity. In a second embodiment a continuous acoustic signal is propagated in the chamber containing two spaced microphones. The frequency of the acoustic signal is adjusted until the signals received by the microphones are either in phase or 180.degree. out of phase. A peak or null detector detects when the desired phase relationship occurs as the signal frequency is adjusted. The gas purity is then computed from the observed pulse repetition rate or the observed frequency of the in-phase or 180.degree. out-of-phase condition. Temperature compensation is provided for both embodiments.

Abstract: An array of an even number of amorphous silicon solar cells are serially connected between first and second terminals of opposite polarity. The terminals are connected to one input terminal of a DC motor whose other input terminal is connected to the mid-cell of the serial array. Vane elements are adjacent the end cells to selectively shadow one or the other of the end cells when the array is oriented from a desired attitude relative to the sun. The shadowing of one cell of a group of cells on one side of the mid-cell reduces the power of that group substantially so that full power from the group of cells on the other side of the mid-cell drives the motor to reorient the array to the desired attitude. The cell groups each have a full power output at the power rating of the motor. When the array is at the desired attitude the power output of the two groups of cells balances due to their opposite polarity so that the motor remains unpowered.

Abstract: The noise in the output signal from the floating diffusion output stage of a charge transfer device is reduced. Reset noise can be reduced by resetting the floating diffusion to an in-channel potential, rather than to the reset drain potential. Flicker noise or "1/f" noise in the electrometer stage following the floating diffusion is suppressed by high-pass or band-pass filtering the output signal samples, after which the filtered signal is synchronously detected against a harmonic of the clocking frequency of the charge transfer device to obtain full bandwidth output response. The filtering not only suppresses flicker noise or "1/f" noise, but also suppresses smear that afflicts output signal samples originating from a floating diffusion reset to an in-channel potential.

Abstract: A coaxial connector for alleviating stresses between a coaxial cable and a strip line conductor includes a center conductor and a stranded wire bundle secured to the center conductor. The bundle projects from the connector body and includes a conductor element for connection to a plane conductor on the strip line circuit. The stranded bundle is sufficiently flexible in the radial direction to permit radial deflection of the end secured to the strip line with respect to the end secured to the connector center conductor position without significant bending stresses. Rotational and axial movement can be provided between the stranded bundle and the center conductor of the connector body to further improve stress alleviation between the extended portion and the body.

Abstract: The use of a Galilean telescope, situated in between the two lasing mediums that are located within the resonant cavity of a single longitudinal mode hybrid laser, increases the effective mode volume and, hence, the amount of lasing energy that can be derived from such a hybrid laser.

Abstract: Aliasing in detected image samples is substantially reduced by a spatial low-pass prefilter employing a diffusing surface variably spaced from an imager and situated in the path of projected image light to cause greater blurring in lower resolution regions of the imager than in higher resolution regions thereof, such that the cutoff spatial frequency varies continually in accordance with the variable resolution of the system.

Abstract: A transmitted signal includes a pilot signal at a given frequency and an information signal occupying a different band of frequencies. A noise reduction system for a signal receiver detects modulation on the pilot signal and generates a signal having a frequency that varies in response to the detected modulation. The system includes an apparatus for combining the received signal with the generated signal to produce a signal at another frequency with reduced frequency noise.

Abstract: A four layer insulated gate controlled semiconductor device has a range of anode-cathode currents over which gate control potentials will extinguish such anode-cathode current. Coupling circuitry for limiting the rate of change of turn-off gate control potential to the gate of the device enhances the range of anode-cathode current over which control is maintained.

Abstract: Output signal samples provided from a solid-state imager, responsive to dark current accumulated in its CCD registers, are supplied to circuitry for measuring dark current noise level. The measured level is compared to a reference value for generating an error signal controlling the application of power to a thermoelectric cooler cooling the solid-state imager. The imager is cooled sufficiently to reduce dark current generation. A servomechanism for keeping dark current level acceptably low with minimal power consumption by the thermoelectric cooler is thus provided.

Abstract: A method of improving segmentation of target information in video signal developed by target tracking apparatus, when the average video levels of the target and of its background surround tend to be alike.