Abstract: Multi-stage switching networks for connecting any one of N.sub.2 output ports to any one of N.sub.1 input ports that are strictly non-blocking or are rearrangeable to provide a wide-sense non-blocking connecting path between any one output port and any selected one of N.sub.1 input ports without restriction on the number of output ports which may selectively connect to a single input port.

Abstract: An ultrasound tissue imaging system having an acoustic transducer, B-mode imaging means to produce with said transducer an electronically scanned B-mode image of tissue under examination, Doppler imaging means that accepts and processes large amplitude, low frequency signals to produce with said transducer an electronically scanned acoustic image of moving tissue, and color display means for displaying the B-mode image as a two-dimensional image with echo intensities encoded using a first mapping function and for simultaneously displaying Doppler information from moving tissue as a two-dimensional image using a second and distinct mapping function that is spatially coordinated with and superimposed upon said B-mode image to augment the B-mode image.

Abstract: An automatic calendar comprising a first scroll intermittently movable in a vertical direction and carrying a multiple month display of consecutive calendar days arranged in weeks disposed transversely with respect to its direction of travel; a second transparent scroll intermittently movable orthogonally with respect to the first scroll and having a current day indicator with which to identify the current calendar day carried on the first scroll; and drive and timing means to move the first scroll vertically in weekly intervals coordinated with motion of the second scroll to move the day indicator intermittently in daily intervals from left to right so as to identify in sequence the current calendar day carried on the first scroll.

Abstract: An acoustic scanning method and apparatus implemented by transmitting ultrasonic pressure waves and receiving return echoes on a set of spatially non-overlapping acoustic lines scanned along a transducer array with the active acoustic lines shifted and steered so that each acoustic line originates at an arbitrary point on and at an arbitrary angle to the face of the array. In a preferred embodiment, an extension of each acoustic line may also pass through a substantially common vertex that is not on the face of the transducer array, but preferably behind it a selectable distance to provide an extended field of view. The extended field-of-view is defined by the selectively variable location of the common vertex of the acoustic lines and the physical ends of the array, may use the entire transducer array in the near-field, has high quality resolution in both near and far fields, and may simultaneously transmit and receive two or more ultrasound beams from the same transducer aperture.

Abstract: An acoustic scanning method and apparatus implemented by transmitting ultrasonic pressure waves and receiving return echoes on a set of spatially non-overlapping acoustic lines scanned along a curved linear transducer array with the active acoustic lines shifted and steered so that each acoustic line originates at an arbitrary point on and at an arbitrary angle to the face of the array. In a preferred embodiment, an extension of each acoustic line may also pass through a substantially common vertex that is a selectable distance behind the array to provide a field-of-view defined by the selectively variable location of the common vertex and the physical ends of the array, may use the entire transducer array in the near-field, has high quality resolution in both near and far fields, and may simultaneously transmit and receive two or more ultrasound beams from the same transducer aperture.

Abstract: A dual mode color Doppler imaging system using a linear array of transducer elements generates and transmits into an organism, such as the human body, an acoustic imaging beam optimized for B-mode imaging and a separate acoustic Doppler beam which is steered at preselected angles relative to the imaging beam and is optimized for Doppler data acquisition. Acoustic imaging echos are acquired and displayed as a B-mode gray-scale image. Doppler data are acquired from multiple sample volumes along the direction of each Doppler beam. The Doppler information acquired along multiple lines is displayed as a color-encoded image that is spatially coordinated with, superimposed upon and simultaneously displayed with, the B-mode gray-scale image.

Abstract: An acoustic scanning method and apparatus implemented by transmitting ultrasonic pressure waves and receiving return echoes on a set of spatially non-overlapping acoustic lines scanned along a transducer array with the active acoustic lines shifted and steered so that each acoustic line originates at an arbitrary point on and at an arbitrary angle to the face of the array. In a preferred embodiment, an extension of each acoustic line may also pass through a substantially common vertex that is not on the face of the transducer array, but preferably behind it a selectable distance to provide an extended field of view. The extended field-of-view is defined by the selectively variable location of the common vertex of the acoustic lines and the physical ends of the array, may use the entire transducer array in the near-field, has high quality resolution in both near and far fields, and may simultaneously transmit and receive two or more ultrasound beams from the same transducer aperture.

Abstract: A biopsy needle guide for assembly with an ultrasound imaging transducer including a transducer nosepiece and a needle guide having at least one set of alignment means and a spring means for securing the needle guide to the transducer nosepiece while simultaneously stretching and holding a sterile cover over the face of the transducer.

Abstract: A grape harvesting picking head is provided having a pair of C-shaped arms which are each independently pivotally suspended at their upper ends. A reaction mass which forms the drive system carries a pair of cranks which drive a pair of connecting rods which are connected to each of the C-shaped arms. The cranks have a large throw relative to the length of the connecting rods, so that relative motion occurs between the shaker rails carried at the lower ends of the C-shaped arms, the relative motion causing a "snapping" action to help harvest the grapes. The distance between shaker rails is automatically adjusted "on the fly," the adjustment being facilitated by two halves of the picking head being free to articulate about a central axis and providing a hydraulic cylinder between these two sections of the picking head which balances the weight of the two sections and allows the two sections to float relative to each other as the machine moves down the row of plants.

Abstract: A lightweight peeling head is provided in which a plastic guard body cooperates with a rotary peeling cutter for determining the depth of cut made by the cutter wherein a ceramic wear resistant tracing shoe insert is formed in the plastic guard body. The ceramic tracing shoe rides against the surface of the fruit, for example apples, as the fruit is being peeled. A chip breaker is provided having a pair of teeth wherein each tooth has a positive rake relative to the direction of travel of the peel string and wherein each tooth has a positive attack angle whereby the peel string is driven towards the base of the teeth as the peel string is being cut by said tooth.

Abstract: A dual mode color Doppler imaging system using a linear array of transducer elements generates and transmits into an organism, such as the human body, an acoustic imaging beam optimized for B-mode imaging and a separate acoustic Doppler beam which is steered at preselected angles relative to the imaging beam and is optimized for Doppler data acquisition. Acoustic imaging echoes are acquired and displayed as a B-mode gray-scale image. Doppler data are acquired from multiple sample volumes along the direction of each Doppler beam. The Doppler information acquired along multiple lines is displayed as a color-encoded image that is spatially coordinated with, superimposed upon and simultaneously displayed with, the B-mode gray-scale image.

Abstract: A pear orienting apparatus for receiving, orienting and subsequently feeding oriented pears with the stem-end lowermost to peeling and coring devices in a machine of the type described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,058,502 and 3,797,639 including a canted reciprocable shaker pan feeding singulated pears to at least one channeled lifter that tumbles the singulated pears over spaced divergent guide plates onto an inclined and intermittently gated delivery chute.

Abstract: This invention relates to an apple orienting device suited to orient apples, particularly those apples which are relatively long as compared to their diameter. The orientor includes a set of rollers which are rotated intermittently and are mounted on a shaft adjacent to one end of an apple carrying receptacle to roll the end of a long apple upwardly so as to orient the apple vertically in the receptacle. The orientor also includes a larger wheel for rotation adjacent to one side of the apple receptacle that has a number of protuberances spaced along its circumference to align the core of apples in the receptacle with the rollers.

Abstract: A control system is provided for providing a constant flow of air through a chamber, such as a fume hood, by measuring the pressure of the air outside of the hood and comparing it with the pressure of the air within the hood and adjusting the flow of air to achieve a constant pressure difference. The system is particularly applicable to fume hoods which have a sash which can be opened or closed or left in intermediate position; the present system will provide a constant air flow through the hood regardless of the sash position.

Abstract: This invention monitors the presence of or a flow of discrete small particles having a high dielectric constant, particularly seeds being planted by a seed planting machine. The invention uses the high dielectric constant of the particles, such as seeds, passing at least a pair of spaced electrodes to vary the capacitance between them and thereby indicate presence of the seed. The capacitance variation is detected and then processed by console located display, alarm and/or counting circuitry.

Abstract: An acoustic imaging system having an array of N transducers arranged for transducing transmit electrical signals into acoustic pulses and for transducing acoustic pulse echos into electrical receive signals has a transducer multiplexer that connects in substantially cyclic order any one of a selected group of M adjacent transducer elements to one of a plurality of substantially identical transmit or receive channels. Each channel includes phase changing means for dynamic focusing, such as a mixer driven by one of a plurality of individually phased clocks. A control demultiplier orders connection of an appropriate one of the differently phased clocks to the mixer of each channel in an order precisely corresponding to the cyclic ordering of the transducer connections by the transducer multiplexer as groups of M adjacent transducer elements are selected to form acoustic scan lines stepped across the entire array.

Abstract: A stable, low noise voltage-to-current converter is provided to control the tuning current in YIG tuned devices such as YIG tuned transistor oscillators. The circuit provides stable tuning current which is substantially noise free.

Abstract: A hand-held manually operated pipette having an adjustable plunger stroke and calibrated electronic digital volumetric display draws-up and dispenses viscous, dense or high vapor pressure liquids by means of an easily replaced, disposable, integral, positive displacement type plunger tip and capillary assembly. The pipette in another form utilizes a disposable air displacement capillary. The plunger adjustably strokes to a first stop in a first mode for calibration or sample draw-up and dispensing with the volume of pipette liquid contents continuously displayed. In a second mode an over-travel arrangement enables the plunger shaft to stroke beyond the first stop to permit collet type attachment and ejection of the integral plunger tip and capillary for positive displacement service or to eject an air displacement capillary.

Abstract: A novel shank is provided for an anchor which greatly improves the retention capacity of the anchor. The shank has a tip joined by an intermediate portion to a body portion. These three elements when at rest are in alignment along the longitudinal axis of the shank. The shank is inflexible in a first plane and is flexible in a second plane which is oriented at 90.degree. to the first plane to an extent such that the tip can be moved in the second plane into a position wherein it is substantially normal to the longitudinal axis without permanent deformation of the shank.