Abstract: A media spacing system for a fiber optic CRT printer. The system has a film coating over the fiber optic portion of the CRT, outside the phosphor display area, which keeps the media a fixed distance from the display area to provide for a uniform display of data on the media. The film may be applied in multiple layers, with each successive layer having a larger size, to create a rounded edge for the coating. A pressure plate is placed on the opposite side of the media from the film coating to keep the media firmly against the film coating. A compliant element, such as foam rubber, attaches the pressure plate to a fixed bracket to allow the pressure plate to adjust for bow and twist of the CRT, while maintaining pressure against the media.

Abstract: An intelligent data protection system includes a memory refreshing apparatus and a memory access apparatus connected to the volatile memory array of a computer system for maintaining the integrity of the data contained therein and allowing the main computer system to access data. Control apparatus follows a user programmable power control sequence to selectively provide power to various components and to initiate the transfer of data into a non-volatile memory. Initially, the control apparatus provides power from a reserve power supply to the volatile memory, the memory maintenance apparatus, and the memory access apparatus immediately upon detecting a power failure. If the power is not restored within a predetermined time, the control apparatus removes power from all non-essential components, including the memory access apparatus, to minimize the power consumed by the data protection system while still maintaining the data in the volatile memory.

Abstract: A system measures the three-dimensional phenotypic characteristics of an animal, such as a dairy cow. The system uses a large number of modulated laser light beams from a lidar camera to measure approximately 100 points per square inch of the animal. Each laser beam measures intensity, horizontal, vertical, and depth dimensions, and by combining the measurements, the system composes a very accurate three-dimensional image of the animal. The systems calculates the desired phenotypic measurements for conformation of the animal by combining measurements of selected points on the animal. The system then stores the measurements for each animal in a computer data base for later use. The system also stores a light intensity image of the animal's markings which is compared to other stored images.

Abstract: A modified diffraction grating having a predetermined amount of astigmatic power correction is substituted for the plane diffraction grating in an Ebert type spectrograph having a single concave collimating and focusing mirror for directing a light beam onto the surface of the modified diffraction grating. The surface of the modified diffraction grating is curved to introduce the proper amount of astigmatic power correction to converge the sagittal focus and the tangential focus of the diffracted beam to produce a stigmatic image. The modified diffraction grating may have a pure cylindrical surface or a toroidal surface. Another embodiment replaces the plane grating in a two mirror Czerny-Turner type of instrument with a modified grating according to this invention to reduce or eliminate astigmatism in that type of instrument as well.

Abstract: A photographic printer that uses a plurality of small CRTs to print wide format images. Within the printer, the CRTs are positioned horizontally adjacent one another but vertically displaced so that image segments displayed by adjacent CRTs either abut or overlap one another. The printer decomposes each line of the image into horizontal image segments, buffers the image segments to compensate for the vertical displacement, and displays the image segments on the CRTs such that they are exposed horizontally aligned with one another on the photographic media. The printer stitches the image at the seams between adjacent segments to reduce the discontinuities in the horizontal image rows.

Abstract: A shaker table (10) for testing and quality control of devices attached to the table is shown. The mounting table has pneumatic exciters (50) attached thereto. The mounting table (20) provides uniform distribution of forces applied by the pneumatic exciters (50). The forces are evenly distributed in all directions from the impact of the exciters on the mounting table. The mounting table (20) is supported on a foundation (2) by adjustable supports (4). The exciters are supplied with pressurized air from a source (12) through an airline (14).

Abstract: A timing circuit having an analog to digital converter to sample an analog signal, a controlled oscillator for controlling sample times of the analog to digital converter, a circuit to detect pulses in the analog signal, a phase error circuit to subtract one of two samples from the other to create a phase error measurement and a frequency error circuit to add two samples together to create a frequency error measurement. The two samples are taken from either side of a pulse. The phase error measurement is used by the controlled oscillator to adjust the sample timing to take samples at desired locations on the pulse. The circuit also contains constant values used to compensate for the pulse being asymmetrical and to compensate for other pulses that occur close to the detected pulse. The circuit also inserts a known frequency in place of the analog signal to establish a frequency of the controlled oscillator.

Abstract: A support stand formed by a plurality of identical panels each having multiple slots which allow the panels to be assembled into a variety of different configurations or shapes. The panel is generally rectangular in shape, having at least two slots extending generally half way through the panels, with the slots being located on opposite corners. Optionally, a third slot is formed in the center of the panel parallel to one of the other two slots. The panels can have a recess that creates extensions at each corner that support a workpiece or form legs. A bracket can be mounted in grooves of each panel to hold a cutting guard.

Abstract: Disclosed is a pulse detector that uses four samples of an analog signal to detect a pulse as soon as one sample beyond the time of the peak of the signal level at the pulse. The pulse detector can detect pulses by sampling at the center of a peak of the pulse or by sampling at either side of the peak of the pulse. The pulse detector detects pulses while tracking data, and it uses an alternate detection system for detecting pulses while acquiring timing and gain lock on a signal having a known data pattern. The detector uses either the sampled signal levels directly, or a moving average of two samples to perform the detection.

Abstract: A constant flow rate controller apparatus for an aerosol sampler using a filter includes an enclosed channel for channeling a stream of air, a filter positioned in the channel to capture and retain particles while allowing the stream of air to flow therethrough, an air or vacuum pump to pull the air through the filter, and a flow controller that maintains a constant volumetric flow rate of air through the sampler and filter, regardless of how much particulate matter is deposited on the filter or how much pressure drop across the filter changes due to particulate loading. The filter can be a substantially non-fibrous, porous, this film membrane medium, for which the flow controller of this invention is particularly beneficial, or it can be a more conventional fibrous medium.

Abstract: A prosthetic device for use as a temporary substitute for a leg that is injured below the knee includes a shelf for supporting the lower leg in a nonweight-bearing position and for supporting the knee in a weight-bearing position. A foldable strut extends below the shelf for supporting a person's weight while standing or walking, and it can be folded to a position adjacent the shelf and lower leg when the person is sitting. A pivotal hinge for connecting the strut to the shelf is skewed in relation to the shelf to position the strut inside the person's lower leg and foot when folded, so it can be used to bear weight as the person rises from a sitting position to a standing position. A stabilizing frame extends upwardly form the shelf for anchoring the prosthetic device to the person's thigh and hip region. Another pivotal hinge connects the stabilizing frame to the shelf.

Abstract: Disclosed is a package formed from a one-piece wrapper, typically made of carrier board, that is folded around twenty-four cans or bottles including a top and bottom of the package having cuts or perforations that partially separate the package into two twelve-packs; each side of the package having at least one tear-strip aligned with the cuts or perforations that will complete the separation into two twelve-packs; and the top of the package having a second pair of tear-strips which will allow the two twelve-packs to be separated into four six-packs. The wrapper can be folded in such a manner that the two six-packs of each of the two twelve-packs is separated by a center divider in the wrapper. This divider has a perforated top end which is aligned with the tear-strips. The two sides of the divider are held together by an adhesive which allows the six-packs to be separated.

Abstract: An emission enhanced sputtering magnetron apparatus includes an elongated rod or bar like cathode jacketed by a target material. An electron emission enhancement device positioned around the end of the elongated cathode creates a thin, highly uniform plasma sheath along the remainder of the cathode, thereby enhancing the sputtering rate along the entire length of the cathode target material. A low voltage, high current AC or DC magnet supply connected across the elongated cathode generates a plasma-confining magnetic field circumferentially around the entire length of the cathode. In an alternate embodiment, a single elongated tube or bar of the target material can be conformed into the cathode, the electron emission enhancing device, and a working end portion that can be formed into nearly any shape to conform to the shape of the surface being coated with the target material.

Abstract: A mixed analog and digital gain control circuit for controlling the amplitude of an analog input signal. The circuit has a variable gain amplifier that receives the signal from a read/write recording head preamplifier. The output of the variable gain amplifier is connected through a multiplexer and equalizer to an analog to digital converter for converting the analog signal to digital sample values at controlled sampling times. A gain control circuit receives the digital values and the output of a pulse detector indicating when a pulse has occurred. A gain error detector within the gain control circuit determines the amount of error in the amplitude of each detected pulse, and this error amount is filtered and sent through a digital to analog converter and then through an exponentiating circuit. The output of the exponentiating circuit is connected to a gain control input of the variable gain amplifier.

Abstract: Disclosed is a dynamic range control circuit for determining when to allow an error correction circuit to correct data read from a sector of a disk data storage device. The circuit has two sets of registers used to count bytes of information within a sector. A first set of registers counts bytes as the sector is being read from the disk, and accumulates a count of a pre-data field and a count of a data field. These counts are then loaded into a second set of registers, along with a count indicating the length of the redundancy field within the sector. As correction is being performed, the second set of registers is decremented and the values in the registers used to set an in-range signal which allows a correction to the data field and prevents correction to the pre-data or redundancy fields.

Abstract: A supply plenum connected to a source of compressed natural gas (CNG) and a control valve assembly for selectively turning on the flow of CNG through a sonic nozzle and out through a dispensing hose assembly. Pressure and temperature transducers connected to the supply plenum measure the stagnation pressure and temperature of the CNG and the ambient temperature, and a pressure transducer fluidically connected to the vehicle tank via the dispensing hose assembly monitors the pressure of the CNG in the vehicle tank.

Abstract: Disclosed is a color printer which uses a CRT to print on photographic medium. The printer contains a uniformity EEPROM that corrects for brightness of each position on the CRT. If a position cannot be corrected, a blank code is placed in the EEPROM at the position, to blank the CRT at the position. Adjacent positions are intensified, or positions in the same column on other CRT rows are intensified to correct for the defective position. The printer also allows the uniformity information to be field updated by printing an entire page of each primary color, sending these pages back to the factory, scanning them into a computer system using a document scanner, analyzing each page, creating new uniformity data from the analysis, and sending this data back to the printer where it is loaded into the uniformity EEPROM.

Abstract: Disclosed is a package formed from a one-piece wrapper, typically made of carrier board, that is folded around twenty-four cans or bottles including a top and bottom of the package having cuts or perforations that partially separate the package into two twelve-packs; each side of the package having at least one tear-strip aligned with the cuts or perforations that will complete the separation into two twelve-packs; and the top of the package having a second pair of tear-strips which will allow the two twelve-packs to be separated into four six-packs. The wrapper can be folded in such a manner that the two six-packs of each of the two twelve-packs is separated by a center divider in the wrapper. This divider has a perforated top end which is aligned with the tear-strips. The two sides of the divider are held together by an adhesive which allows the six-packs to be separated.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system having a memory mapped deflection to control the position of an electron beam within a CRT used to project a color image onto a photographic medium for printing. A horizontal position counter is incremented at a linear rate, and the counter value is translated, using a translation table stored in memory, into a current used to drive the yoke of the CRT. The translation introduces non-linearities into the output voltage which results in a linear forward sweep across the CRT. A sweep direction signal is used as an address bit of the translation table, to allow an optimized retrace motion profile which results in an improved linear beam motion across the face of the CRT during the forward sweep immediately following retrace.

Abstract: A supply plenum connected to a source of compressed natural gas (CNG) and a control valve assembly for selectively turning on the flow of CNG through a sonic nozzle and out through a dispensing hose assembly. Pressure and temperature transducers connected to the supply plenum measure the stagnation pressure and temperature of the CNG and the ambient temperature, and a pressure transducer fluidically connected to the vehicle tank via the dispensing hose assembly monitors the discharge pressure of the CNG.