Abstract: An electronically controlled roadrace system with a sound generator for penetrating a variety of audible signals is disclosed. The system includes facilities for starting the race, counting and displaying laps completed for each car, computing and displaying fastest lap times and last lap times for each car, calculating and displaying the remaining fuel for each car, introducing random failures for each car, and randomly determining one of several failure modes. Apparatus for selectively powering and depowering each track, upon signal from a controller, is shown. Also shown is a novel apparatus for sensing completion of another lap by each car, and a track section of each car track which is selectively decoupled from the track power for performance of pit functions.Other features and functions are disclosed.

Abstract: An improved plastic camera housing having an exterior decorative metallic coating and method of producing the same is disclosed. The camera housing assembly can comprise a polycarbonate glass fiber filled molded part that has been plasma etched in an inert argon gas filled pressure vessel. The camera part is plasma etched for a brief period of time to deteriorate the cross linkage of plastic bonding of the surface polymers without causing any outgassing of the elements of the plastic. A layer of copper is deposited to an approximate thickness of 1 to 3 microns in the inert subatmospheric environment. A second exterior layer of chromium approximately 0.2 to 0.5 microns is subsequently deposited to provide a hard abrasion resistant surface. Alternatively, a lacquer subsurface layer can be sprayed onto the camera part before the initial plasma etching.

Abstract: At least the polarity of a potential difference between two spaced apart portions of the body of a woman is repeatedly measured on each day throughout at least a substantial portion of the days of a menstrual cycle of the woman. The days in which the measurements indicate at least two readings of oppposite polarity are identified as days immediately preceding the time of ovulation of the woman.

Abstract: An apparatus for monitoring or controlling the temperature profile of a kiln or furnace is provided by utilizing a thermocouple array that generates an emf that is indicative of the temperature differential between a monitoring point or points and a chosen reference point in the furnace. The thermocouple array is structured so that an absolute temperature indication is provided at the chosen reference point and the other monitoring points are shown to be either higher or lower than the reference. The thermocouple array may be made in a wire and bead arrangement, or by thick film printing techniques. The EMF output of the array is multiplexed and applied to a CRT-type display wherein the degree of difference (either positive or negative) between each monitoring point and a reference is readily observed and can be easily compensated.

Abstract: An all plastic lens assembly having a lens cell or housing and at least four separate airspaced lens elements mounted in the cell or housing, the lens elements are formed of plastic and at least one of the lens elements has an aspheric surface.

Abstract: A conversion lens system to be attached to an objective lens system at the image side thereof for converting the focal length of the objective lens system into a greater value is provided. The conversion lens system has a negative focal length and comprises seven single lens elements consisting of a first negative meniscus lens element convex to the object side, a second biconvex lens element, a third biconcave lens element, a fourth biconvex lens element, a fifth negative lens element having a concave front surface, a sixth positive lens element having a convex rear surface and a seventh biconcave lens element. All of the seven lens elements may be separated from the others, or alternatively, at least two of the second to fourth lens elements may be cemented to each other.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a mobile toy assembly capable of ejecting toy subcomponents by air pressure. Preferably the mobile toy assembly has a simulated configuration of a rocket ship with an upper portion being simulated as a fuselage while also being the external surface of a plunger that forms part of a bellows assembly for generating air pressure. The nose section of the rocket ship can be bigurcated to permit the propulsion of a small vehicle member while rocket pods on each of the side wings can support toy rocket projectiles. A control knob on the surface of the fuselage can selectively direct the air pressure to a particular toy subcomponent to be propelled.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring an optical property of an object such as its optical density, is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a light flash source, a photodiode coupled to a current-voltage transducer, a reference voltage source, a voltage comparator for comparing the reference voltage and voltage of the transducer, and a clock pulse generator and pulse counter triggered by the light flash source. The comparator compares the voltage from the transducer and the reference source, and disables the counter when the transducer voltage level drops below the reference voltage level. The apparatus relies upon the fact that the intensity of light emitted by the light source decays as a function of time, including a region where the intensity decays in an exponential function of time. By appropriate selection of the apparatus component parameters, the apparatus will produce a data response equal to the optical density without the need for additional logarithmic conversion circuitry.

Abstract: An electrical connector structure is disclosed having combined in each of its male and female mating shells both interengaging electric terminals which make co-axial, or pin-and-socket, contact by telescoping movement and interengaging low insertion force electric terminals which make side contact by relative transverse movement. The connector shells are designed to be supported on a readily removable modular unit and on a backplate of a supporting shelf on which the modular unit is mounted, the shells being located near the interface of the modular unit and shelf. Movement of the unit on the shelf toward the backplate causes guiding interengagement of the male and female shells.

Abstract: A method of producing a composite optical element such as lenses and optical filters is provided. The resulting product has a high quality precision surface with a relatively low production cost. A glass substrate is treated with a silanating agent to activate its surface. An organic polymer material can then be applied to the activated surface with a mold platen forming a desired exterior configuration. The organic polymer is then polymerized to form a relatively thin layer of cured organic material having the exterior desired surface configuration of the glass substrate. The composite optical product is then released from the mold in its final configuration in a relatively short time period.

Abstract: A projection television system having a light emitting target and a screen for realizing a projected video image is provided with an improved reflecting optical system which provides enhanced resolution and uniform correction of aberrations across a projected image. The optical system includes a concave mirror, positioned adjacent the light emitting target, for reflecting the video image towards the display screen. An optical compensating plate having at least one aspherical surface is located on the optical path. A meniscus lens is also located in the optical path. Both the optical compensating member and the meniscus lens can be positioned outside the vacuum envelope of the target and the electron gun to simplify alignment and construction.

Abstract: A toy assembly capable of maintaining a toy figure in a floating position within a transparent container, is disclosed. A base member attached to the container includes a first permanent magnet. A floating base member dimensioned to be slideably contained within the container includes a second permanent magnet. The toy figure is removably mounted on the floating base member. The first and second magnets are disposed to repel each other thereby causing the toy figure to float within the container. A plurality of toy appendages are provided. These include a carriage member upon which the floating base member may be mounted together with the toy figure. The first permanent magnet may be used to propel the assembly of the carriage member, the floating base member and the toy figure on a support surface.

Abstract: A package designed for containing and exhibiting toy articles and the like is disclosed. The package includes a packing member having an enclosure wherein the toy articles are contained. A portion of the packing member is transparent so that the toy articles may be viewed. A display member having a plurality of illustrations or pictures depicting the toy articles is operatively attached to the packing member in such a manner that a substantial portion of the display member is concealed from view. The display member is selectively positionable relative to an aperture or transparent member which is provided in the package. One of the illustrations may be viewed through the aperture or transparent member by a player. By manually positioning the display member relative to the aperture or transparent member the player may select any one of the illustrations or pictures for viewing.

Abstract: An optical lens system is provided having the capability of selectively varying the peripheral field curvature to improve focusing for nonplanar objects and for special photographic effects. The lens system can include in sequence, a first lens group of positive refractive power, a second lens group of negative refractive power and a third lens group of positive refractive power. The specific refractive power of the first and second lens group are designed so that the optical ray traces from an object on the optical axis at infinity will run approximately parallel with the optical axis in the space between the second and third lens groups. The first and second lens groups being movable as a unit relative to the third lens group to change the field curvature without varying the back focal distance of the lens system.

Abstract: A keyboard structure permitting the interconnection of several hundred flexible key structures in a compact area. The structure includes a matrix of key cells disposed on an insulating surface, the row elements being commonly connected by conductive paths on the surface while the column elements are electrically separate. A contact point for each row and each column element extends to the opposite side of the insulating surface. These contact points are so disposed that parallel conductive paths which run only in the vertical direction may be used to provide row-select and column-select indications.

Abstract: A recreational vehicle safety system includes two independently operable automatic shutoff valve assemblies. One valve assembly is attached directly to the recreational vehicle's appliance high-pressure fuel tank in such a manner as to be operable in all conceivable crash situations, and the other is connected downstream from the appliance fuel line's high-pressure regulator and is designed to close off the fuel flow when a fuel line breaks or small gas leaks are present, such as when an appliance pilot light goes out. Provided also with these valve assemblies are a gas sensor and warning light and audible alarms located about the recreational vehicle to alert campers to potentially dangerous malfunctions. Electrical and manual resets are provided for the safety system, so that the recreational vehicle's appliances can be made operable again if a malfunction occurs in the wilderness, remote from needed tools and expert mechanical assistance.

Abstract: A starter-motor, and alternator-generator apparatus for an internal combustion or gas turbine engine wherein the major electro-magnetic circuit of the apparatus is utilized for both the starting and generating functions is disclosed. The rotor may have two windings on it, a main rotor winding that acts as both a starter armature winding and an alternator field winding, and a small exciter armature winding. For slip ring machines the exciter is eliminated. The main rotor winding is wound in progressive simplex lap. The exiter armature or slip rings are connected to this winding at the equalizer connections through a rectifier and automatically activated switch circuit. During starter-motor operation, the main rotor winding is connected in series with its starter field winding through a commutator in a conventional series connected DC machine, and the exciter-armature winding or slip rings are disconnected from the main rotor winding.

Abstract: An improved eyepiece for a viewfinder of a single lens reflex camera is provided. This improved eyepiece is capable of adjusting both the diopter and astigmatism correction to the demands of the individual user. The eyepiece includes a negative meniscus lens element convex to the object side and a stationary positive lens element. As the negative lens element is movable along the optical axis it adjusts the diopter of the viewfinder. A pair of relatively rotatable prisms is capable of providing variable astigmatism correction.

Abstract: An improved vehicle exhaust handling system capable of accomodating vehicles of varying sizes while maintaining optimal exhaust capabilities is disclosed. A motor vehicle with its engine operating is positioned in a test center in a predetermined location. A chamber is located in the floor of the test center below the rearward portion of the vehicle. A plurality of hinged shutters and a grate behind the shutters are disposed over the chamber. An exhaust fan creates an airflow from the test center into the chamber and to an outside location. The shutters are individually controllable, and a mechanism is provided to close off a flow of air through the grate whenever any of the shutters is opened. Depending on the size of the vehicle and the position of its tailpipe, an individually selected shutter is opened or all the shutters are closed and the exhaust gases are directed into the grate. Portable deflectors are provided for positioning adjacent to the tailpipe of the vehicle.

Abstract: A pattern display system is disclosed which includes a keyboard for the manual entry of data representative of the patterns to be displayed, a microcomputer for accepting the entry data and for controlling the display system, a random access memory for storage of the entered data, audio circuitry controlled by the microcomputer for accepting data to provide audio signals representative of stored data, coding/decoding circuitry for the transfer of stored digital data to or from a tape recorder, and video circuitry utilized under the control of the microcomputer for the visual display on a cathode ray tube (CRT) of the patterns represented by the stored data. Specifically, the video circuitry includes read-only memories which are controlled to provide video pattern information in response to the stored data which represented desired patterns and timing information for the CRT.