Abstract: Disclosed herein is an improved means for detecting a half-cycle voltage crest of an alternating voltage waveform which includes means for protecting the detecting means from current surges associated with the initial random application of the alternating voltage waveform to the detecting means.

Abstract: A circuit for providing a plurality of distinguishable audible signals from an audible tone generator includes at least two gates wherein the output of one of the gates determines the type of audible signal produced by the audible tone generator in response thereto. The circuit further includes a single control terminal for controlling the logical state the output of the one gate and for controlling the type of audible signal produced by the audible tone generator. The absence of an electrical potential at the control terminal when power is applied to the circuit results in a latching of the output of the one gate and the production of a continuous audible signal by the audible tone generator. The presence of an electrical potential at the control terminal when power is applied to the circuit results in a periodic changing of the output of the one gate and the production of an interrupted audible signal by the audible tone generator.

Abstract: A first rotor is fixedly carried by a shaft and a second rotor is loosely carried by the shaft. A coupling means couples the second rotor to the shaft through flanges extending from the rotor and pinching the shaft. The two rotors are then adjusted with respect to one another by rotating the shaft while holding the second rotor in place.

Abstract: A rotatable shaft for a combination switch and variable resistor is prevented from rotating by a shaft locking mechanism. The locking mechanism includes cooperating grooves and a tab engaging the grooves. The shaft is axially moved to be put in a rotatable position.

Abstract: An audible signalling system utilizes a piezoelectric transducer to produce a chime tone audible signal. The system includes audible signalling circuitry, circuitry for driving the audible signalling circuitry to provide a pulsed audible signal, and circuitry for exponentially decaying the pulsed audible signal to produce a chime tone audible signal.

Abstract: Disclosed is a control system for controlling the operation of an appliance and the like which is particularly adaptable for controlling at least one operation variable of an apparatus for drying articles such as a clothes dryer, washer-dryer or similar type of appliance. The drying apparatus is capable of accurately drying any number of articles to a desired degree of dryness irrespective of time by sensing a plurality of temperatures and deriving a final temperature difference for each load of articles indicative of the degree of dryness desired. Furthermore, the control system provides the ability to optionally control the drying apparatus by timing its operation, to control the temperature of the air used for drying, to reduce the temperature of the air used for drying before the completion of an operation cycle so as to avoid setting wrinkles, and to determine and indicate when excessive lint has accumulated on the lint filter.

Abstract: A pair of electrical terminals are held in close spaced relation to each other to provide a gap therebetween. A third electrical terminal extends into the gap. A spring contact arm engages the third electrical terminal and pivots between it and the other two electrical terminals.

Abstract: A wire-wound resistor has an adhesive applied to the wire and the insulative substrate upon which the wire is wound at a predetermined location. The wire is then cut or otherwise broken at that location to open-circuit the resistor. The adhesive holds the cut end of the wires in place on the substrate.

Abstract: In a touch control system including one or more touch sensitive devices which capacitively transmit a relatively large electrical signal when not touched and transmit a relatively small electrical signal when touched an improved means for detecting the touch and no-touch conditions of the touch sensitive devices includes a comparator having positive feedback associated therewith. By increasing or decreasing the positive feedback the touch control system is operable either asynchronously or synchronously with an external control system. Furthermore, a plurality of touch sensitive devices may be multiplexed utilizing a single detection means constructed in accordance with the invention disclosed herein while requiring a relatively low voltage drive signal.

Abstract: An inductance element, such as a coil, cooperates with a detector/amplifier circuit to detect the level of a liquid in a container by quenching oscillations in an electrical circuit when the liquid is brought into close proximity to the inductance element.

Abstract: A metal strap is connected to a motor housing and to a metal mounting plate for a timer which carries the motor to electrically ground the motor to the timer.

Abstract: A method of forming capacitor anodes is described wherein leads of film forming metal, preferably headed are subjected to plasma spray deposition of film forming metal, preferably at a flame temperature of about 10,000.degree. to 20,000.degree. C. to form capacitor anodes.

Abstract: A vacuum fluorescent display system for displaying a plurality of illuminable characters includes a plurality of segmented anodes, at least one cathode filament, a plurality of control grids interposed between the anodes and the cathode filament and circuitry for controllably powering the cathode filament and for sequentially driving the control grids whereby selected segments of the anodes are sequentially illuminated and the luminous intensity of the segments of each of the anodes is substantially the same. The cathode filament is controllably powered by removing and applying heating power in response to driven and undriven states respectively of the control grids. By controlling when heating power is applied to the cathode filament the voltage along the cathode filament is the same for each anode when the selected anode segments are sequentially illuminated thereby substantially eliminating variation in luminous intensity.

Abstract: The resonant frequency of a conventional piezoelectric transducer having predetermined dimensions and a fundamental nodal diameter is reduced while maintaining the overall predetermined diameter and fundamental nodal diameter of the transducer. A method of reducing the resonant frequency of a conventional piezoelectric transducer includes the step of radially slotting the substrate of the transducer.

Abstract: A coupling means coupling a motor to a series of teeth coupled to a cam means includes a no-back pawl mounted in and carried by a plate, a drive pawl slideably carried by the no-back pawl, aligned apertures in each of the pawls, and a gear means coupled to the motor and having a hub portion extending through the apertures with a drive portion eccentric to the rotational axis of the hub and engaging the drive pawl.

Abstract: Power is applied to an AC load at the crest of a voltage waveform by employing a light emitting diode. The crest firing circuit further includes a detector responsive to the diode's light emitting properties which fires a semiconductor switching device thereby activating the AC load.

Abstract: A thermistor temperature sensing system includes a conventional comparator having a constant reference threshold voltage and a linearized thermistor sensor which in combination detect a limited range of desirable temperatures. A means is also disclosed for extending the linearization of the thermistor in a piecewise manner at at least one temperature extreme where linearity typically severely deteriorates. In a thermistor temperature sensing system, linearization of thermistor characteristics with respect to at least one temperature within the temperature extreme is achieved by utilizing circuitry which makes the threshold voltage of the conventional comparator a function of the setting of a potentiometer for a desired temperature within the temperature extreme to be sensed by a thermistor sensor.

Abstract: An epoxy glass fabric strip is used to carry a carbon based resistive path.

Abstract: An electrical device body including an electrode and a radiation semi-cured or cured polymer containing material. The electrode is formed into a configuration such as a convolutely wound electrical device body. The radiation semi-cured or cured polymer containing material is disposed over the body to help maintain the configuration of the body.A method of making the electrical device body including the steps of applying radiation curable polymer containing material to an electrode formed into a configuration such as a convolutely wound body configuration, irradiating applied material to semi-cure or completely cure the applied material and help maintain the configuration of the body.High energy irradiation from an energy source such as ultra-violet light or an electron beam is used to cross-link or cure applied polymeric material.

Abstract: A layer of material is disposed over at least a portion of a resistive film of a resistor. The material having a melting point lower than the melting point of the resistive film and when melted, chemically reacts with the resistive film to render at least a portion of the film non-conductive.