Abstract: A baby bottle employs a curved shape along its length and a beveled top to facilitate drinking therefrom.

Abstract: A fly trap comprises a funnel housed in a container which guides flies from a portal in the container to the container interior wherein they are unable to wend their way back out.

Abstract: A carrier for conveniently storing, transporting and viewing documents, such as blueprints, is provided through two durable, pliable flaps affixed to one another at one end, between which the documents are placed. The bottom flap is longer than the top flap so that when in an unrolled state for viewing the documents, the free end of the bottom flap may be turned over to rest on the documents to retain them in a flat, unrolled, easily viewable position even in the presence of wind gusts. The flaps and documents therebetween are rolled up and bound by a strap for convenient transportation thereof.

Abstract: The specification discloses a meteor burst communication system including at least two spaced apart master stations, in association with a plurality of groups of remote stations spaced at locations remote from the master stations, with each group being associated with one of the master stations. Each of the master stations incudes a radio transmitter for transmitting probing digital radio signals having address portions which are directed from the master station for reflection from meteor trails to the remote stations associated with the master station. Circuitry is provided to vary the length of the address portions transmitted by the master station in dependence upon desired signal-to-noise and timing considerations. Each of the remote stations includes a radio receiver for receiving the reflected probing digital radio signals from the master stations. Each of the remote stations also includes at least one sensor of physical characteristics such as snow depth, rain fall or the like.

Abstract: An automatic digital light source adjustment procedure is disclosed wherein a computer calculates a correction factor for each of a plurality of light sources and adjusts the light sources such that each of the light sources meets an optimum performance criteria. In one embodiment, a multicolor cathode ray tube is converged automatically utilizing the present invention by sensing the profiles of the amplitudes of the individual color light intensities versus the same light source position relative to the sensor mechanism for each of the three primary colors, calculating the correction factor and inputting the correction factor to a digital memory, and then providing for the correction factor to be applied to the analog output of the beam control thereafter. Alternative embodiments enhance focus, purity, light line width, color composition, and other performance factors.

Abstract: A multichannel DME ranging circuit is described which is capable of simultaneous multistation operation. A microprocessor is coupled to control associated peripheral devices and the receiver/transmitter of a DME to produce a multiplexing for receiving frequency data input from up to three DME ground stations. The data received from each of the three DME stations is used to generate timing and interface signals to control the DME receiver/transmitter and associated video processing circuitry. The video processing circuitry is in turn used to provide signals to the ranging circuit to independently determine range, velocity, time-to-station, and the identity of each of the stations providing input to the DME. Each of the three channels is constructed so that it may operate independently of the others to produce rapid acquisition, search, track and identification of each of the particular ground stations to be monitored.

Abstract: A multichannel DME ranging circuit is described which is capable of simultaneous multistation operation. A microprocessor is coupled to control associated peripheral devices and the receiver/transmitter of a DME to produce a multiplexing for receiving frequency data input from up to three DME ground stations. The data received from each of the three DME stations is used to generate timing and interface signals to control the DME receiver/transmitter and associated video processing circuitry. The video processing circuitry is in turn used to provide signals to the ranging circuit to independently determine range, velocity, time-to-station, and the identity of each of the stations providing input to the DME. Each of the three channels is operated indpendently to produce a decoded identification of its respective ground station.

Abstract: An equalizer circuit wherein the equalized signal is at the output of a summing network; one input to the summing network is the signal to be equalized, and the other input is from a feedback network. The output of the summing network serves as an input to a variable gain unclocked decision device which provides a digital input to the feedback network, depending on whether the equalized signal is determined to be a one or a zero. Sucessful equalization is provided, with the unclocked device. Moreover, the variable gain of the decision device permits the equalizer circuit to respond to a control level from an adaptive control network for automatically equalizing individual transmission links.

Abstract: A delay circuit including an even number of memory devices, for example two, reading from one memory device, while writing to the other. Sequences of bit addresses are generated for writing and reading, with an offset between the sequences. For the case of two memory devices, each address sequence is applied alternately to the one and then the other memory device. Importantly, if each memory device has an even number n of storage locations, then, preferably, only (n-1) of these are used in the generated sequences of addresses. This has the result that the circuit can write to and read from all of the memory locations in the memory devices. Thus, the maximum delay possible in the circuit of the invention is nearly the total number of bits in the multiple memory devices, and the circuit is capable of handling data at the maximum operating rate of the memory devices.

Abstract: A circuit for adaptively equalizing a digital signal to compensate for distortion introduced by a transmission medium. The circuit includes a first feedback path for modifying the input signal which is to be equalized to an extent controlled by a control input signal. A second feedback path modifies the input signal to an extent which tends to overcompensate the signal for the transmission distortion. Further, means are provided to modify the signal so as to undercompensate it for the transmission distortion. Error detectors detect pseudo bit errors in the overcompensated and the undercompensated signal, and a control input signal is generated for the first feedback path, dependent on the difference between the errors detected in the overcompensated and undercompensated signal.

Abstract: Circuitry for use in an IF combiner, where main and diversity receiver path signals are combined. The circuitry generates an error signal for the purpose of controlling the phase of one of these signals by deriving a broad-band phase-modulated feedback path version of the signal. No modulation is introduced into the message channel. The feedback path version of the signal is quadrature modulated and combined with signals from the main and diversity receiver paths to generate an error signal providing maximum control loop sensitivity.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for separating radio frequency signals incident upon an array of antenna elements which has available from each of the elements an input signal capable of being processed by the method and apparatus. The processing includes combining the input signals according to a first set of complex weights, thereby providing a first output signal. The first set of weights is derived from the input signals and from the first output signal and converges to the eigenvector corresponding to the largest eigenvalue of the cross-correlation matrix of the complex envelopes of the input signals. The input signals are also combined according to a second set of complex weights to provide a second output signal. The second set of weights is derived from the input signals, from the second output signal and from the first set of weights. The second set of weights converges to the eigenvector corresponding to the second largest eigenvalue of said cross-correlation matrix.

Abstract: A transmitter for fiber optics communication having a solid state light source device biased to emit light and a solid state optical amplifier device positioned adjacent the source device to receive the emitted light and amplify it. A modulation current is provided to one of the devices so as to cause a corresponding modulation of the output light from the optical amplifier, for transmission of the information contained in the modulation. The invention is advantageous for multiple state digital encoding. In addition, it can generate a multiplexed output, which facilitates demultiplexing of the information transmitted.

Abstract: A system for maintaining an accurate frequency source in a single sideband repeater employs an ultra stable station control reference (SCR) frequency generator. A first frequency synthesizer for a local oscillator of the repeater phase locks to the output of the SCR normally, but is free running upon failure of the SCR. A second frequency synthesizer for another local oscillator phase locks to the output of the first synthesizer. Upon failure of the SCR, the system of synthesizers can provide a satisfactory frequency reference for the repeater. Disclosed are phase lock loop filter time constant design considerations for achieving proper operation.

Abstract: A communication signal is coupled simultaneously to all three phases of a three-power line through a three-phase open delta transformer with the communication signal being applied across the low voltage pair of windings.

Abstract: An inflatable antenna for use with a buoy at sea is disclosed. Webs in the inflatable compartment of the antenna have parts metallized to form the feed portions of the radiating elements. Areas of the top inner surface of the inflatable compartment are metallized to form capacitive loading portions of the radiating elements. Conductive inner and outer surfaces of the bottom of the inflatable compartment form a ground plane coupled to the sea water. When the elements of the antenna are fed in phase quadrature, the antenna provides hemispherical coverage including sufficient gain at the horizon.

Abstract: A circuit for bi-directionally bypassing a delta-wye transformer with a balanced phase-to-neutral power line communications signal, using passive components. The circuit includes a set of three capacitors connected in a wye configuration, each having one side connected to one of the three phase power lines on the delta side of the transformer. The circuit further includes a network connected from the node of the wye configuration of capacitors to the neutral conductor or conductors associated with the power lines on the two sides of the delta-wye transformer. The network includes a single phase transformer, as well as a capacitance connected from the secondary of this transformer to the node of the wye of the delta-wye transformer. The network further includes an inductive reactor connected from the neutral on the wye side of the delta-wye transformer to the node of the wye transformer.

Abstract: A circuit is described for bi-directionally coupling a communication signal around a distribution transformer. The circuit includes a single-phase coupling transformer with a primary to secondary voltage ratio approximately equal to that of the distribution transformer. A capacitor is connected to one of the secondary terminals of the coupling transformer. The capacitor is chosen so that the series circuit including the capacitor, the self inductance of the coupling transformer and, possibly, the series inductance of interconnecting lines is resonant at the carrier frequency of the communications signal. The series combination of the capacitor and the secondary of the coupling transformer can be connected between two of the conductors on the secondary side of the distribution transformer which are selected for communication signal propagation.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for transferring words from an input source to a computer bus which can issue an acknowledge or a negative acknowledge signal. The system includes registers for storing the words to be transferred. It further includes control circuitry for initiating the transfer of a first word on the output bus, and, if negatively acknowledged, retrying the transfer. The control circuitry is further capable of initiating, before the retry, the transfer on the bus of another word or words received from the input source after the first word.