Abstract: A binary adder circuit which, in response to a mode selection signal, is forced to operate as if two of its inputs were equal, irrespective of the actual value of those inputs. In this condition, the circuit acts effectively as a connector, coupling two of its inputs direct to the sum and carry outputs. The invention is useful in a circuit arrangement for performing adding and shifting operations.

Abstract: A narrow band level detector for use in the frequency generating equipment of an FDM-system is described. The detector includes a product modulator one input of which receives a sine wave signal, the other input receiving an incoming signal containing the periodic signal which should be detected together with disturbing periodic signals. The sine wave signal has a determined amplitude and frequency and can be generated by an oscillator or by a phase locked loop. The output of the modulator is connected to a bandpass filter whose pass band substantially coincides with the sideband defined by the frequencies of the disturbing periodic signals. A first peak rectifier is via an amplifier connected to the output of the bandpass filter and a second peak rectifier is connected directly to the input of the detector to form a signal whose level corresponds to the maximum value of the signal from the amplifier and the detector input signal, respectively.

Abstract: A method of forming a magnetic ferrite element for the core of a magnetic transducing head is disclosed in which spacers for determining the length of a non-magnetic gap are formed by providing a masking layer at locations on a surface of the element at which the spacers are required and eroding away the masking layer and the unmasked portions of the surface by an ion beam to produce a new surface having a spacer projecting at each of the locations by a distance determined by the relative rates of erosion of the ferrite and the masking material and by the predetermined thickness of the masking layer.

Abstract: A power supply system for a number of functional units distributed along a transmission in which each unit gets its supply from a constant voltage circuit connected across the transmission line. Each unit may have a low power and a high power state. The power supply which is located at one end of the transmission line is a constant voltage supply with current limiting features. The constant voltage circuits each comprises a Zener diode connected in series with an adjustable constant current circuit and a system for setting the constant current circuit on either the low or the high power state. When the high power state is set, the voltage across the constant current circuit is sensed and if this voltage is too high, the constant current is further increased until the current limiting of the power supply operates thereby decreasing the voltage across the constant current circuit to a safe value.

Abstract: Apparatus for removing residual water from a water system including a water supply pipe and a shut-off valve. The apparatus comprises a valve detachably mounted in the water supply pipe and including an air valve element controlling flow of supplied compressed air to the water supply pipe to blow out residual water from the pipe after the shut-off valve has been closed. The valve comprises a hollow body having an axis of symmetry with threads on the body for threadably engaging the pipe at a position therealong such that the body extends radially of the pipe and communication is established between the interior of the body and the interior of the pipe. A tool-engaging portion is formed on the body to allow the body to be threadably engaged and disengaged with the pipe by a tool. The air valve element is coaxially secured in the hollow body to control flow of compressed air to the pipe.

Abstract: A phase-locked loop oscillator system includes a phase comparator in the form of a flip flop which is switched between states in response to received data pulses at one input and oscillator generated clocking pulses at another input. The positive and negative outputs of the flip-flop energize positive and negative constant current generators whose outputs feed in parallel a low pass filter or integrator including a capacitor which is initially discharged at the start of data reception by a field effect transistor connected in parallel with the capacitor. The output of the filter is a voltage whose amplitude is a measure of the phase difference between the sets of pulses. This voltage controls the amplitude of charging current fed to a sawtooth waveform generator to control the frequency thereof. The output of the generator is processed to form the clocking pulses for the system.

Abstract: A packing comprising an outer cover constituted by a relatively rigid material and an inner container of relatively flexible material placed within the outer cover. A perimetral rim portion is formed on the outer cover at one end with a central opening within the rim. A disc is disposed within the rim to define a narrow gap therewith extending around the periphery of the disc. The disc is constituted of the same material as the outer cover and is affixed at its inner surface to the outer surface of the inner container by glue or other suitable expedient. The cover can be removed by cutting the inner container at the gap to expose the contents in the inner container or a tear-off tape can be provided on the inner container at the gap so that when the tear-off tape is removed the cover and the portion of the inner container affixed thereto are removable.

Abstract: A scene which is divided into a plurality of pixels is raster scanned. During each scan an analog signal derived from a binary number and representing a given light intensity is compared against other analog signals representing the light intensity of each of the pixels. At any time when the light intensity of a pixel is greater than the given light intensity, the binary number associated with that given light intensity is stored in a register of a multiregister memory whose registers are assigned to the respective pixels. After each scan the given light intensity is increased.

Abstract: A binary adder has a switching circuit connected to one of its inputs. When activated by a mode selection signal, the switching circuit forces two of the adder inputs to receive the same input signal. In this condition the adder acts effectively as a connector, coupling two of its inputs direct to the sum and carry outputs. The invention is useful in an array processor, for performing additions and shifting operations.

Abstract: Orthogonal-diphase coded digital signals are transferred in bursts on a transmission line. In order to facilitate synchronization of the signal receiver to the incoming signal bursts an extra pulse is added at the beginning of each transmitted burst, the polarity of this pulse being opposite to that of the following signal element. At the receiver this extra pulse is detected by comparison of the received signals with a threshold voltage and the next zero transition is then used as a basis for the synchronization. The threshold voltage will be self-adaptive if it is allowed to decrease exponentially with time from a start value corresponding to a short transmission line to a final value corresponding to a long transmission line. Furthermore, in order to eliminate DC residuals an extra pulse may be added at the end of each transmitted burst, the polarity of this pulse being opposite to that of the preceding signal element.

Abstract: Apparatus wherein a sequence of control instructions and a number of insertion instructions are stored in memory element groups of a memory accessed by associated addresses in a stored program controlled telecommunication system. The sequence is read and decoded in response to successive address increments. In order to insert one of the insertion instructions between the control instructions, the sequence includes an insertion step or reference indicating a first address assigned to the insertion instruction and a second address assigned to one of the control instructions. Upon decoding the insertion reference, a logical buffering unit is used in order to replace the successive address incrementing by such address transfers that the control instruction accessed by the second address is decoded subsequent to the insertion instruction which itself is decoded after the insertion reference.

Abstract: A cable having an outer protective covering or sheath enclosing one or more insulated conductors and a cutting wire or rip cord intended for slitting the sheath, the cutting wire being attached to the sheath's inner surface and/or the core in order to prevent the cutting wire from slipping out of the cable.

Abstract: Apparatus for measuring power consumed by a load connected via mains to a source of alternating current having a given fundamental frequency includes means for generating a first signal proportional to the instantaneous voltage across the load and a transformer secondary toroidally wrapped around one of the mains for generating a second signal proportional to the instantaneous voltage through the load. Tuned amplifiers of narrow band pass amplify the signals before they are fed to a square law multiplier means including photooptical devices.

Abstract: A ski pole comprising a tube having a lower pointed end with a transverse member or disc on the tube adjacent the pointed end and a hand grip on the tube at the upper end. The hand grip includes a grip column and a grip guard cooperatively defining a grip opening for receiving the hand of a user. The grip has an upper end constituting an impact surface at the upper end of the pole and the grip includes a block-shape fitting engaging the upper end of the tube. The grip may include a hollow portion which can be filled with pressurized air and which will vary the size of the grip opening. A glove or other suitable skier-engagement member can be connected to the grip by a magnet and the connection is made through a yieldable member which allows the skier-engagement member to be displaced away from the ski pole while remaining connected thereto. The ski pole has magnets which allows the ski pole to be connected to a second ski pole.

Abstract: A flame-guard device for electrical installations which consists of a cable-shaped string of capsules. The capsules contain a flame-extinguishing substance, which is released in case the capsules are heated.

Abstract: A system for displaying data, especially graphics data in color or grey scale on a raster-scanned display device. The information to be displayed is supplied in a coded representation in which a run of a new display value is represented by a transition code element representing at least the display value of the first picture element of the run, followed by a run-length code indicating the length of the segment of picture elements following the element or elements represented by the transition code. The coded representation is decoded to drive a display device.

Abstract: A color display system has a color encoder which receives intensity signals via a video generator from a graphics generator as well as color signals. The color encoder processes the color and video signals for transmission to a display monitor which then displays the graphics in color. Such a system is provided with apparatus for selecting from a palette set of colors a working subset of the color signals for use in the display of colored graphics. The apparatus includes a palette memory for storing sets of groups of indicia wherein each of the groups of indicia represents a different color signal of the set. Means are provided for sequentially transferring the groups of indicia from the palettememory to the display monitor for displaying the colors associated with the groups. A working memory stores a subset of groups of indicia. Selection means transfer from the palette memory to the working memory groups of indicia in accordance with the desired colors displayed on the display monitor.

Abstract: A method of joining an inner metal pipe with a surrounding outer metal pipe comprising placing inside the inner pipe a contact body which prevents change of the inside diameter of the inner pipe and detonating an explosive around the outer pipe so that the inner surface of the outer pipe is metallurgically joined to the outer surface of the inner pipe. The contact body is a rigid body made of salt and the contact body is removed after the pipes are joined by dissolving the contact body in a fluid in which the salt is soluable.

Abstract: A platen assembly for feeding and holding single or multi-layer record media (forms) for printing thereon, particularly useful in connection with a matrix type printer of a point-of-sale terminal. This assembly comprises one of a pair of feed rollers pivotally mounted so as to yieldingly engage and hold both sides of the record media, while a platen yieldingly engages and holds the record media against guides which determine the gap between the matrix head for proper operation of the printer wires. For line-by-line printing, the platen is first disengaged from the record media while the power feed rollers move the record media the required distance before the platen again engages the media.

Abstract: A telephone set adapted to provide the calling person with a convenient grip of the hand set. The seat accommodating the handle is shaped as a channel whose sides surround the handle along its middle part so that the person making the telephone call cannot seize this part but, instead, will seize the lower (microphone) part.