Abstract: A voltage controlled current source with variable compliance produces a load current through a load impedance where the load current value is substantially independent of the value chosen for the load impedance. The value of the current is substantially proportional to the difference between a first and second input voltage, and is substantially inversely proportional to a value of resistance chosen as a sense resistance. The current source comprises two variable gain instrumentation amplifiers and a resistance means connected in series with the load impedance.

Abstract: A circuit for interfacing switches to a component which allows the positions of the switches to be determined by the component. The component includes an input port and an output port. A switch network which is a parallel combination of two or more series combinations of a resistor and a switch is connected between the input and output port. A capacitor is connected between the input port and ground. The component determines switch positions by outputting a voltage on the output port and determining the time for the capacitor to charge to a predetermined value. Since each series combination has a unique resistance, the position of the switches therein can be determined in accordance with the capacitor charging time.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display system utilizes an optical arrangement which is aligned so that ambient light from the direction of an obersver's view is channeled behind the liquid crystal display to provide back illumination therefor. An illuminator is arranged to provide supplementary illumination for the liquid crystal display as may be required. A photodetector determines when ambient light is inadequate for required display brightness and operates through appropriate control circuitry to turn the illuminator on or off as the case may be and to control the contrast of the liquid crystal display.

Abstract: A turning machine (10) having a tool changer (70) capable of automatically changing O.D. and I.D. tools. A tool block system which supports the various tools is utilized. The tool changer (70) has a pair of fingers (74) disposed at the end of a cross arm (72). Fingers (74) are independently movable for engaging O.D. tooling blocks (32) and I.D. tooling blocks (33). Cross arm (72) is indexable to positions for installing the gripped tooling blocks (32,33) onto tool turret (16) or a tool storage magazine (60). A gauge mechanism (80) which pivots a touch probe (82) into the machine tool cutting plane is provided for accurately locating the position of various cutting tools. Offset of the tool cutting point from denominal position is compensated for software of the machine tool controller (22). Probe (82) can also be used in conjunction with another probe supported from turrets (16) for inprocess part gauging.

Abstract: An improved machine tool (10) utilizing force transmitting joints for securing a way block (32) to a one-piece cast bed (12). The way block (32) and one-piece bed (12) have interlocking projections (70) and recesses (72) for transmitting the load between the two joined surfaces. A hardenable, castable filler (84, 86, 88) is provided between the interlocking projections (70) and recesses (72) and between other selected portions (100, 104) of the way block (32) and cast bed (12) to provide for accurate positioning of the way block (32) with respect to the driven spindle assembly (18). Securing means such as bolts (76) or an adhesive is provided for holding the way block (32) in place. During operation, the shearing loads generated by the metal cutting process are directly transmitted from the way block (32) through filler (86) to the cast bed (12). This reduces the size and sophistication required of the securing means which holds down the way block (32).

Abstract: A rate measuring instrument uses acoustic energy transmitted through a crystalline media (41) to sense rate. Acoustic energy travels along a path (1-31) within the crystalline media and impinges upon an output transducer (45) at an established point after being reflected a number of times from facets (47) of the crystalline media (41). Rate information is detected as a shift in the point of impingement of the greatest amount of acoustic energy upon the output transducer (45).