Abstract: The invention contemplates a capacitor-discharge ignition system which includes a particular low-resistance, low-inductance, wire-wound circuit element at the spark plug which is operative with the spark plug and with the rest of the ignition system to materially suppress RFI generated at the spark gap. In application to high-speed, high-power two-cycle engines, use of the invention does not adversely affect engine performance.

Abstract: The invention contemplates an improved mechanical traction drive providing a single control whereby a desired range of speed ratios between input and output shafts is selectively available, without requiring clutch connection to the power source, such as an internal-combustion engine. The transmission involves a combination of completely mechanical friction-roller and meshing-gear planetary systems which are connected at all times, whether the single control is operated to call for a forward drive, a stop or a reverse drive of the output shaft. For the particular disclosed forms, provision is made for automatic downshifting reaction to increasing load, and major axial-reaction forces are self-contained by rotating mechanism, thus (a) avoiding substantial axial force components on main-bearings of the mechanism, and (b) reducing to very small magnitudes the requisite force for selective control actuation.

Abstract: A coated electrode is provided comprising a metal core rod and a sheath coating enveloping said rod, said sheath consisting essentially of at least one hard phase-forming element in particulate form bonded to said rod, said sheath containing an amount of a solid metal halogenide ranging from over 0.01 to 3% by weight of said sheath effective to provide a weld deposit in which hard phases are uniformly distributed therethrough.

Abstract: An improved door is provided for a mail sorting bin which is made of a resilient noise damping material and includes a trip lever integrally formed with the door. The trip lever is substantially coplanar with the door and has a first portion extending outwardly from a first transverse end of the door, a second portion which extends generally outwardly and downwardly from the first portion to engage the movable lever which holds the door shut, and a third portion which extends upward to a point even with the upper edge of the door and to define an aperture between the trip lever and the door. The door is attached between the sides of a mail sorting bin such that one side of the bin extends through this aperture. A tab, may also be formed integrally with the door so that it extends outwardly from the opposite transverse end of the door. This tab is positioned to be engaged by a spring which urges the door open.

Abstract: A signal converting circuit for converting an analog signal to a digital signal, or vice versa, comprises a sampling capacitor which is charged to an input signal level during the period of a sampling pulse. A reference capacitor grounded at one end receives charges from the sampling capacitor in response to a first clock pulse. A predetermined reference potential is impressed on a terminal of the sampling capacitor at the time of the sampling pulse and a ground potential at the time the sampling pulse is not present. The reference capacitor is charged in response to the first clock pulse, and is discharged in response to a second clock pulse which alternates with the first clock pulse. The presence of a potential at the sampling capacitor less than the predetermined reference potential is detected, and the cycles of discharging of the reference capacitor that occur until the potential at the sampling capacitor is less than the reference potential are counted.

Abstract: A semiconductor memory device of a surface-charge type comprises a p-type silicon substrate having a silicon dioxide film thereon and memory cells partly in the substrate and partly thereon in rows and columns. Each cell comprises an n.sup.+ -type region beneath the oxide film, a polysilicon layer on the oxide film, and an insulator film integral on the polysilicon layer with the oxide films at positions where the polysilicon layer is not present. The polysilicon layer comprises a p-type portion serving as a storage capacitor electrode and an n-type portion forming a p-n junction with the p-type portion. The n-type portion is common to cells of each column to serve as a transfer gate electrode and a word line. A metal film formed on the insulator film is connected to the n.sup.+ -type region of cells of each row to serve as a bit line.

Abstract: The invention contemplates a lipstick or the like container of the push-up variety featuring enhanced protection of container contents and enchanced light frictional coaction between moving parts, for ease of motional action and retention of selected positioning of parts. An upstanding elongate guide member within the container is stabilized to the container at both ends and serves both the indicated features.

Abstract: A digital transmission system wherein a signal to be transmitted is represented by a plurality of parallel data bits, each of said data bits having a positional significance ranging from a most significant data bit to a least significant data bit. Each of said data bits are assigned to one of a plurality of data transmission highways based on the positional significance of the data bit. Failure of a particular highway results in a reassignment of the data bits to the highways so that transmission degradation is minimized.

Abstract: A circuit breaker includes a recessed zone in the breaker housing for accommodating the bus clip of a mating circuit breaker when the breakers are mounted adjacent one to another on a panelboard. An arcuate groove of varying depths formed in the breaker housing communicates at its lower end with the recessed zone to permit the bus clip of the mating breaker to be moved from the recessed zone and along the arcuate groove, such that the mating breaker can be readily removed from, or installed into, the panelboard.

Abstract: A circuit for removing noise from an incoming input signal and for producing a noise free output signal in synchronism with a predetermined synchronization scheme. The memory signal is shifted through a plurality of series connected memory stages in sequence with first and second clock pulse sequences. The output signals of predetermined memory stages are compared and a noise free output signal is produced in response to stage output signals being simultaneously present at the output terminal of predetermined memory stages. The circuit does not utilize capacitors and resistors and is suitable for fabrication as an integrated circuit.

Abstract: The invention contemplates a method of making a solar-cell construction wherein plural spaced elongate unit cells of an array are formed from a parallel-grooved single wafer of substrate material of a first conductivity type, with adjacent sidewalls of adjacent units at each inter-unit groove formation. In the transverse succession of such groove formations, the sidewalls of every other groove are formed with regions of a second conductivity type, so that at or near the radiation-exposure surface of each unit there is but one junction between first and second conductivity types. In one general form, all grooves go all the way between upper and lower wafer surfaces, thus defining discrete single-cell units; in another general form, every other groove ends close to but short of the upper surface, thus defining discrete twin-cell units. The units are series-connected by making ohmic connection between the second conductivity-type region of one unit and a first conductivity-type region of an adjacent unit.

Abstract: The invention contemplates a circular spectacle-lens blank which is optically finished on both its front and back surfaces and which is characterized by locally hardened registering central areas of both surfaces. The hardened areas are sized to be universally included within the spectacle-frame profile of all frames within a given variety of frames, and the outer annular areas are unhardened and of such effective radial extent as to embrace all of such profiles within said variety, so that each finished and hardened blank is adapted for later edging to the profile of a later selected one of the frames within the given variety. Various methods are described for creating the indicated locally hardened regions on the otherwise-finished lens blanks.

Abstract: The invention contemplates improved means of control for a copy holder, for example, a roll-operated positioning device for a data draft or the like sheet to be copied by a typist, so that the eye can be guided correctly on a line-by-line basis. The improved control provides precise electric-motor drive for each of a plurality of selected different paper-displacing increments, at least one of the increments being selectively adjustable to exactly match the line spacing unique to the particular paper from which the copy is to be made.

Abstract: The invention contemplates an improved grapple or grab-bucket construction of the double-acting hydraulically activated variety, wherein the normal bucket-open position is determined by a stiffly yieldable abutment which yields to permit a short further energy-absorbing bucket-opening displacement in the presence of the mechanical shock encountered upon dropping the open grab bucket onto a relatively hard base to be excavated. The short further shock-induced displacement elevates hydraulic pressure in the actuation system, which elevated pressure is vented by a relief valve in common with the hydraulic actuators of all buckets in the grapple.

Abstract: An optical isolator maintains the intensity of light traveling therethrough in a forward direction, irrespective of the condition of polarization of the light, while substantially, preventing light having any condition of polarization from traveling therethrough in a reverse direction. The optical isolator generally includes first polarization apparatus to divide an incident light beam into two linearly polarized light beams having their directions of polarization perpendicular to each other, a non-reversible polarizing rotation element to rotate each of said linearly polarized light beams to form two rotated linearly polarized light beams and polarization converting apparatus which, in conjunction with a second polarization apparatus, synthesizes the two rotated linearly polarized light beams.

Abstract: The invention contemplates an improved work-contacting probe for use in a measuring machine wherein the relationship between contacted locations on a workpiece are reduced to coordinate digital data. The various described probe embodiments feature means whereby positional errors due to probe flexure upon work contact are substantially reduced, as compared to pre-existing structures.

Abstract: A television special effects system which stores a video signal, divides the stored video signal into portions and displays the portions of the video signal, shifted apart from each other, on the television screen.

Abstract: Apparatus for treating a sheet material with radiation comprises a lamp assembly and gripper means for moving the sheet material along a path past the lamp assembly. The gripper means has a portion which overlies a part of the surface to be treated and the lamp assembly is adapted to produce a beam of radiation having a main focus substantially on the path. The beam is angled relative to the path so that a substantial portion of the overlain surface part is exposed to focused radiation as the sheet material is moved along the path.

Abstract: An arrangement for correcting an electronic timepiece comprises a normally reset flip-flop that holds, when set, a "second" counter in a reset state. When a first switch is closed after being released, the timepiece cyclically gives a normal, a "minute," and an "hour" indication. While a "minute" indication is given, a second switch is closed to set the flip-flop and advance a "minute" counter. When the second switch is released after the "minute" indication is advanced to a correct time, the "second" and "minute" counter are kept still. When the first switch is closed at the correct time after being preliminarily released, the flip-flop is reset to restart the watch with correct "minute" and "second" indications. The arrangement enables the correction to be carried out once again. While given, an "hour" indication is corrected by the second switch.

Abstract: An automatic positioning system for a commodity carriage in an automatic storage system includes shelves arranged to have commodity storage positions extending in the vertical and horizontal direction and a commodity carriage adapted to access each of the storage positions. Code marks identify each of the storage positions and a first group code scanning device, responsive to the code marks, detects groups of N adjacent storage positions and slows the movement of the commodity carriage in response thereto. N individual code scanning devices, responsive to the code marks, detect individual storage positions and the commodity carriage is stopped in response to the outputs of the group and individual scanning devices.