Abstract: Energy from a naturally recurring source of variable mechanical energy is captured and transmitted to an electrical generator causing it to rotate at speeds proportional to the amount of energy captured. The output voltage produced by the generator is a function of the rotational speed imparted to the generator and a load impedance which is coupled via controllable switching circuitry to the generator output. The effective load impedance is varied and controlled by means of a control mechanism responsive to the rotational speed of the generator and the output voltage of the generator which selectively turns the controllable switching circuitry on and off.

Abstract: The invention relates to a novel antenna which is useful in the manufacture of a bolometer integrated on a silicon chip. An opening in the silicon chip is spanned by two separate thermally, isolated structures. A thin-film antenna, comprising two parts, is located on the structures, with one antenna part on each structure. Radiation received in the larger of the two antenna parts is coupled electromagnetically into the smaller part, where it causes a current to flow. The current is dissipated as heat. A thin-film thermometer measures the temperature rise of the smaller antenna part, due to the dissipated heat. The bolometer achieves improved performance in comparison to previous bolometer designs because the radiation is dissipated in a part of the antenna only, and the bolometer is free from impedance-matching constraints of other designs.

Abstract: A clamping assembly for clamping together first and second sections of bone having, when so clamped, a common external surface generally perpendicular to contacting surfaces of the first and second bone sections, and each bone section having a side surface generally parallel to the common external surface and transversely joined to the common external surface. The clamping assembly includes first and second plates, each plate having a horizontal section and a vertical section. The first and second plates are aligned and disposed opposite each other with the horizontal section of the first plate being disposed along the common surface of the first bone section and its vertical section disposed along the side surface of the first bone section and the horizontal section of the second plate being disposed along the common surface of the second bone section and its vertical section disposed along the side surface of the second bone section.

Abstract: Microphone sub-assemblies for direct mounting on a telephone handset inner substrate comprise a tubular housing containing a microphone having terminal pins electrically connected within the tubular housing to leads extending through the housing tubular wall. The leads provide contact springs for spring biased contact with conductive lands on the substrate. In one embodiment, the contact springs comprise coiled springs and, in another embodiment, the contact springs comprise leaf springs terminating in arcuate cam surfaces.

Abstract: A multi-functional mounting bracket for use in different orientations for mounting respectively different structural members within cabinets comprises a right-angled member including two joined together elongated metal strips. One strip has a straight edge and the other strip has a “peaked” edge including laterally extending projections with gaps therebetween.

Abstract: An EMI shield for use on a printed wiring board (PWB) of a circuit pack includes an open-ended box-like structure having a laterally extending flange completely encircling the opening into the box-like structure. The box is of an EMI impervious material, preferably stainless steel. An electrically conductive O-ring gasket is disposed in a groove in the flange. Both the groove and the flange completely encircle the box opening. The shield is secured to a PWB by pegs secured to the flange at positions radially outwardly of the gasket and extending entirely through openings through the PWB. Preferred pegs comprises pairs of side-by-side prongs integral with the shield flange but extending downwardly therefrom. Each prong terminates in an oppositely directed, return-bent detent with the detent pairs functioning as a spring-biased latch for removably mounting the shield to the PWB.

Abstract: An optical reading apparatus includes means for moving a mirror in a back and forth motion such that the mirror scans the light reflected from an optical pattern and sequentially projects narrow segments of the reflected image onto a linear image sensor. The means for moving the mirror include a cantilever-like arm or plate having one end held stationary and the other end free to move. The mirror is connected to the end of the arm which is free to move. Selectively enabled driving means coupled to the arm causes it to vibrate and the mirror to sweep or scan across the reflected image of an optical pattern. As the mirror sweeps across the reflected image of the optical pattern it sequentially projects different segments of the optical pattern onto the linear image sensor until the entire optical pattern is projected onto the linear image sensor. The linear image sensor is operable at a high rate of speed and is sufficiently sensitive that it can sense numerous (e.g.

Abstract: For capturing energy contained in surface waves on a body of water while protecting the system from damage against conditions on the water surface, a transducer for converting wave energy to useful, e.g., electrical, energy is anchored to the water bed. A float is connected to the transducer by a rigid connector for transmitting variable forces against the float caused by wave induced circulatory water movements against the float. The connector is of such length that the float is always fully submerged (but within the energy zone of the waves) thus displacing a fixed volume of water and providing an essentially constant upward force on the transducer. The constant upward force is modified by the moving water induced variable forces against the float. The float can be a sphere, but the float is preferably of a shape including laterally extending panels providing a ratio of area to volume larger than that provided by a sphere.

Abstract: A substation for distributing electric power includes protective relays whose trip points are made to be a function of temperature, the protective relays being used to control the opening and closing of circuit breakers for protecting against fault conditions in at least one of the power input and power output portions of the power distribution system. In one embodiment, a temperature probe which is used to sense the temperature at a selected point of the substation supplies the temperature information to a microcontroller which is programmed to set the trip point of selected protective relays as a function of the sensed temperature.

Abstract: This invention deals with a method of assembling first and second connectors at the ends of a cable including twisted pairs of color encoded wires, first ends of two wires of one of the twisted wire pairs are connected, preferably at random, to a dedicated pair of tip and ring contacts of the first connector. The second ends of the two wires of the one wire pair are connected, at random, to two intermediate contacts of the second connector. Each intermediate contact is connected by a pair of conductive paths to both of the tip and ring contacts of the second connector dedicated to the one wire pair.

Abstract: A system for testing a circuit which includes a receive section, a transmit section and a lock-out circuit for preventing the receive and transmit sections to be operative at the same time. The receive section has an input for receiving digital signals and an output for producing thereat analog signals corresponding to the digital signals at its input. The transmit section has an input for receiving analog signals and an output for producing thereat digital signals corresponding to the analog signals at its input. The lock-out circuit is coupled between the receive and transmit sections for disabling the transmit section while signals are being propagated in the receive section and for disabling the receive section while signals are being propagated in the transmit section.

Abstract: A phase locked loop (PLL) includes a programmable frequency multiplier section and a programmable divide-by-N network connected in a feedback loop between an output and an input of the frequency multiplier. The frequency multiplier section includes programmable circuitry which is programmed to vary as a function of N to render the bandwidth of the PLL independent of the divider ratio "N". The frequency multiplier includes a charge pump circuit, a filter circuit and a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) circuit with the programmable circuitry being formed in one of these circuits to render the bandwidth of the PLL independent of the divider ratio, whereby the bandwidth is increased and the jitter at the PLL output is decreased.

Abstract: In systems embodying the invention X clock signals having the same frequency, with each clock signal having a different phase, are supplied to the inputs of a multiplexer whose output is connected to the input of an "integer" frequency divider circuit; where X is an integer greater than 1. The mulitplexer is controlled to selectively supply different ones of the X clock signals to the frequency divider circuit for producing at the output of the frequency divider circuit a signal whose frequency is a function of the divider ratio of the frequency divider circuit and the sequencing of the clock signals supplied to the frequency divider circuit.

Abstract: Acoustic component sub-assemblies for direct mounting on a telephone handset inner substrate comprise a tubular housing containing a component having terminal pins electrically connected within the tubular housing to coil springs extending outwardly through an open end of the tubular housing. The coil springs serve as component terminals for spring biased contact with conductive lands on the substrate. The tubular housing is press fitted within a seat on the substrate and contacted by the handset outer housing for being tightly clamped within the substrate seat.

Abstract: Circuits embodying the invention include a baseband amplifier to whose input is applied a baseband input signal (I or Q). The gain of the amplifier is controlled by sampling the output of the amplifier and supplying the sampled signals to a dynamic histogram control (DHC) circuit which includes a memory circuit for storing a histogram which contains a statistically expected response of the sampled baseband signal. The DHC circuit includes circuitry for comparing the sampled signals to the stored histogram for producing a gain control signal which is then used to control the gain of the amplifier. In some embodiments, the DHC circuit may also include circuitry for producing an offset adjustment signal to control the direct current (dc) level of the signal being sampled and hence its symmetry.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for testing the components and interconnections of a circuit board while the circuit board is, normally, operatively connected in a system. The circuit board contains a plurality of integrated circuits with at least one of the integrated circuits including interface circuitry for interfacing the circuitry on the circuit board to the rest of the system. The circuit board includes testing circuitry for: (a) selectively testing the circuits contained on the circuit board, other than its interface circuits; and (b) selectively testing the interface circuits and their interconnections. The method of the invention includes placing the interface circuitry in a first state for isolating the circuitry on the circuit board from the rest of the system and testing the circuitry on the circuit board, other than the interface circuitry; and placing the interface circuitry in a second state and testing the interface circuitry and its interconnections.

Abstract: A composite gasket for the door of an outdoor, electronic component containing cabinet includes a known type of gasket including an elongated hollow tubing for mounting on a door jamb of the cabinet, and a supplemental gasket of an electrically conductive material fixedly secured to one side of the hollow tubing and coextensive therewith entirely around the periphery of the door jamb. The known gasket provides a weather seal for the door. The supplemental gasket spans the gap between the door and the jamb established by the weather gasket for electrically interconnecting the door to the jamb and for sealing the door joint against electromagnetic radiations. The supplemental gasket is disposed entirely within the weather sealed space of the cabinet when the door is closed, and is so arranged as to provide no interference with the weather seal formed upon closing of the door.

Abstract: Outdoor, electronic component containing cabinets are cooled by forced circulation of outside air through the cabinet for direct, cooling contact with the components. The incoming air is filtered, heated as necessary to evaporate water droplets in the air prior to entry of the air into the component containing portions of the cabinet, and the air flow is regulated for slowing the flow rate of the air within the cabinet as is necessary for maintaining the relative humidity within the cabinet below a maximum percentage; typically 40%.

Abstract: An assembly for transferring a wound coil disposed around a first mandrel onto a second mandrel. The first mandrel is radially expandable between first and second outer diameters and the coil is wound onto the first mandrel when in its larger, first outer diameter which is larger than the diameter of the second mandrel. The two mandrels are disposed in side-by-side coaxial relationship and the diameter of the first mandrel is reduced for reducing the radial stress of the wound coil against the first mandrel for facilitating movement of the coil off the first mandrel and onto the second mandrel.

Abstract: In systems embodying the invention, circuitry responsive to first and second, complementary, input signals controls the application of the input signals to a positive signal integrator and to a negative signal integrator. When the amplitude of the input signals is greater than a predetermined value, the one of the two input signals which is positive relative to the other is applied to the positive signal integrator and the other one of the two input signals is applied to the negative signal integrator. When the amplitude of the input signals is smaller than a predetermined level, the circuitry causes the periodic application of the first input signal to the positive signal integrator and the second input signal to the negative signal integrator during one time interval, and the periodic application of the first input signal to the negative signal integrator and the second input signal to the positive signal integrator during a second, subsequent, time interval of similar duration as the one time interval.