Abstract: An end plug is characterized by a pair of rounded surfaces complementary to the interior of a splice case housing and a pair of flat surfaces to which torque bars are fastened. The end plugs exhibit two pairs of apertures extending in an axial direction the length of the end plugs. The larger diameter apertures accommodate the coated glass fibers which may be surrounded by woven protective layers. In practice the protective layers are dressed back and away from the fibers, positioned in lateral cutout portions, and secured by a pair of tie-off screws. In addition, the fiber optic cable will be customarily provided with a reinforcing "wand" running the length of the cable. The wand may be comprised of a strand of steel, fiberglass, copper or other material of suitable tensile strength. The wands are to be dressed through smaller diameter apertures and severed at the other side of the end plugs. A pair of fasteners is provided each of the end plugs in order to secure the wands thereto.

Abstract: The work tray assembly includes a rectangular PVC board from which a first pair of slots, for the insertion of a splice platform, has been perforated. A second pair of slots, orthogonal to the first, is adapted to accommodate an elongated splice housing. A plurality of arcuately-shaped, flexible plastic clips are mounted in the board for the retention of cladded glass fibers. The board also supports at least one pipelike ring for grasping a vial containing chemicals required to strip and clean the cladded glass fibers. A pair of cable clamps positioned on opposite sides of the board at the extremities of a virtual center line drawn through the first pair of slots positions and supports fiber optic cables brought onto the work tray assembly and across the platform in anticipation of a stripping, cleaning and splicing procedure.

Abstract: An apparatus for monitoring the operation of a press provides outputs indicating the total number of hits and the operating speed of the press as well as the total amount of product produced by the press.Specifically, an N-Pulser is driven by a proximity switch coupled to the press so as to fill an accumulator that maintains a running total of the amount of product produced. The N-Pulser includes a gate that has an enabling input coupled to the proximity switch and a signal input coupled to a clock. When the gate is enabled the output of the clock is permitted to pass through the gate to the input of a counter, the counter having been preset to a state determined by the amount of product produced during each cycle of the press. The gate is disabled when the counter has counted to a predetermined, ZERO, state. The output of the gate is in a parallel fashion coupled to the accumulator, so that a specified number of pulses are dumped into the accumulator as a result of each cycle of the press.

Abstract: A video processing system especially for use with microprocessors or microcomputers characterized by limited memory storage capacity and processing capability. The video processing system includes a TRANSITION DETECTOR for detecting BLACK-TO-WHITE and WHITE-TO-BLACK transitions in a video signal, from whatever source. The output of the TRANSITION DETECTOR may be coupled to a FEATURE COUNTER so that the FEATURE COUNTER provides at a computer buss an output indicative of the number of such transitions occurring during a particular horizontal scanning period. The output of the TRANSITION DETECTOR also drives a SHIFT REGISTER that selectively disables a plurality of FEATURE TIMERS, each of which has an input coupled to a CLOCK so that the FEATURE TIMERS provide an output indicative of the time duration between the beginning of a horizontal line and successive transitions in the video signal.

Abstract: A data rate converter for use in telecommunications inserts supervisory bits into a data stream to increase the data rate, in one application, from 56 kbps to a standard 64 kbps. A standard 64 kbps PCM telephone channel uses 8-bit words for transmission, whereas 56 kbps occupies only 7 bits of an 8 bit word in such a telephone channel. Supervisory bits are inserted at the exact time when the data channel clock signal and the transmission line clock signal are in phase alignment.

Abstract: A video processing system especially for use with microprocessors or microcomputers characterized by limited memory storage capacity and processing capability. The video processing system includes a TRANSITION DETECTOR for detecting BLACK-TO-WHITE and WHITE-TO-BLACK transitions in a video signal, from whatever source. The output of the TRANSITION DETECTOR is coupled to a FEATURE COUNTER so that the FEATURE COUNTER provides at a computer buss an output indicative of the number of such transitions occurring during a particular horizontal scanning period. An output of the FEATURE COUNTER drives a DECODER that selectively enables a plurality of FEATURE TIMERS, each of which has an input coupled to a CLOCK so that the FEATURE TIMERS provide an output indicative of the time duration between successive transitions in the video signal. The video processing system thereby makes available to the microcomputer the number and respective durations of transitions during a horizontal scanning period.

Abstract: The above and other objects, advantages and capabilities are achieved in one aspect of the invention by an output circuit for an electronic ballast system. The circuit includes N sets of output connections for accepting N lamps. The lamps are driven by an output autotransformer coupled to the lamps through a feedback winding that is used to apply a feedback signal to an inverter drive circuit. Capacitive impedances are coupled across the lamps so that the capacitances, the lamp filaments, the feedback winding, and the output transformer form a circuit loop. The capacitances are chosen to have an impedance, at the inverter operating frequency, less than the pre-ignition impedance of the lamps and greater than the post-ignition impedance.

Abstract: The above and other objects, advantages and capabilities are achieved in one aspect of this invention by a drive scheme for a plurality, that is, for N, where N-2, flourescent lamps. The drive circuit comprises (N+1) pairs of output terminals, each comprising associated first and second individual terminals. An output transformer is coupled at one end to the (0,1).sup.1 terminal and at another end to the (0,1).sup.N+1 terminal. N impedance elements, typically capacitors, are coupled across associated pairs of lamp filaments in a fashion whereby each impedance element is coupled at one end to the second terminal of one pair and at another end to the second terminal of the succeeding pair. To wit: The first impedance element is coupled between the second terminal of the first pair, and the N.sup.th element is coupled between the second terminal of the N.sup.th pair and the second terminal of the (N+1).sup.th pair.

Abstract: An ultrasonic delay line fabricated from a solid transmission medium is configured to provide (2n+3) reflections of the desired signal at five reflective facets of an irregular polygon. The reflective pattern tends to allow maximum surface area available for the deposition of absorbent material so as to thereby and otherwise minimize spurious transmissions. In an alternative embodiment, a bifurcated delay line includes two branches physically coupled at one end and electrically coupled through a pair of transducers so that approximately half the height and width of transmission medium is required in order to effectuate a predetermined time delay.

Abstract: A fiber optic drawer connector assembly comprises an insert having an inner cavity for the insertion of an optical lens assembly and an associated ferrule fiber holder. The insert is at least partially surrounded by a shroud and the shroud in turn positioned in the interior of a housing so that a flange at the end of the shroud comes into abutment with a stopping member at one end of the housing. The housing, as well as subassemblies enclosed thereby, is designed to be inserted into and through an aperture in a wall until an intermediate flange extending from the exterior surface of the housing comes into contact with a surface on one side of the wall. A cap is threaded over an open end of the housing and into abutment with an insert flange. Springs are provided so that the insert is maintained in secure relationship to the housing and shroud and so that the lens and ferrule are secure within the insert.

Abstract: A splice casing assembly for an elongated splice housing assembly and associated fiber optic cables includes a mounting insert disposed within a substantially tubular casing. A particularized mounting insert is characterized by a rectangular platform portion for supporting the splice housing assembly and by disklike end portions for positioning the insert within the tubular casing. Each of a pair of casing plugs comprises a threaded portion for fastening the plug at an end of the tubular casing and a tapered portion into which a fiber optic connector is threaded. Each of the connectors, a pair are included, comprises a threaded portion, a hexagonal gripping portion, a major cylindrical portion, and a minor cylindrical portion disposed between the hexagonal gripping portion and the major cylindrical portion. The casing assembly is configured so that fiber optic cables, supported by the connectors, may be routed through the connector, through the plug casings and into the splice housing assembly.

Abstract: A bifurcated electroacoustic delay line exhibits at least a pair of substantially identical branches, each assuming a generally pentagonal profile. Each branch is configured to provide (2n+3) reflections of a desired wave at five reflective facets. The reflective pattern so defined tends to maximize the surface area available for the deposition of absorbent material so as to thereby and otherwise minimize spurious transmissions.The branches are physically joined along at least one side and include transducers for the conversion of electrical energy to acoustical energy. An inductance connected between two such transducers couples energy from one branch to the other.

Abstract: A bifurcated electroacoustic delay line exhibits at least a pair of substantially identical branches, each assuming a generally pentagonal profile. Each branch is configured to provide (2n+3) reflections of a desired wave at five reflective facets. The reflective pattern so defined tends to maximize the surface area available for the deposition of absorbent material so as to thereby and otherwise minimize spurious transmissions.The branches are physically joined along one side so as to define an area of bifurcation. A plurality of piezoelectric transducers are bonded at the area of bifurcation in a pairwise laterally adjacent manner. An inductance couples electrical energy from the output transducer of the first branch to the input transducer of the second branch.

Abstract: A bifurcated electroacoustic delay line includes first and second branches of a transmission medium, the branches being joined along respective common sides. Bonded to the common sides of the branches are respective first and second input and first and second output transducers, the transducers arranged so that the input transducers are positioned laterally adjacent each other and the output transducers are analogously positioned. An inductance diagonally couples the first output transducer to the second input transducer permits frequency tuning of the delay line.Diagonal coupling via an inductance operates to mitigate the effects of spurious responses derived from the divergence of electroacoustic waves between laterally adjacent tranducers and, collaterally, permits tuning of the delay line composite frequency response.

Abstract: A hand held tool for cleaving optical fibers including an elongated body having a longitudinal axis extending lengthwise thereof. A fiber support surface is attached to the body and extends in a plane which is transverse to such longitudinal axis. Fiber cutting means are attached to the body and are selectively moveable in the general direction of the longitudinal axis away from the fiber support surface, and towards the fiber support surface for severing an optical fiber extending across the fiber support surface such that the end face of the fiber is smooth and lies in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the fiber. Tension means for subjecting the optical fiber to tension during the cleaving operation are provided including a first tension arm and a second tension arm each arm being pivotally attached to the body for pivotal movement about an axis transverse to the longitudinal axis, the tension arms being spring biased away from each other.

Abstract: A surface acoustic wave (SAW) filter partially coated with an acoustical wax, such as one soluble in trichlorethylene, or with an epoxy paint dramatically improves the performance of the filter, especially with regard to the attenuation of out-of-band signals.The coating pattern may be initially empirically determined depending on the substrate and transducer configuration but once determined is readily amenable to known printing and stamping techniques.

Abstract: A surface acoustic wave filter comprises aluminum input and output transducers, an aluminum 3db coupler, an aluminum reflector, and a triangularly configured substrate constructed from lithium niobate. In a specific configuration the lengths of the sides of the substrate are equal to approximately 6.06, 9.25 and 11.05 millimeters respectively. The triangular configuration not only reduces the amount of substrate material required but also attenuates the degree of signal reflection encountered.

Abstract: A stabilized dimming circuit for an electronic ballast system. The dimming circuit includes a transformer having a variable inductance primary included as a part of a feedback loop comprising a push-pull inverter and an output transformer for supplying a drive signal to a lamp filament. As the inductance of the primary is varied (decreased), the amount of feedback applied to the inverter is varied (increased) and the lamp brightness dimmed accordingly. The secondary of the dimming transformer is included in a loop that is completed by a secondary winding of the output transformer and a lamp filament. Because the voltage induced in the secondary of the dimming transformer is held relatively constant, the voltage applied to the filament is stabilized in spite of varations in the amount of power supplied to the lamp.

Abstract: In order to effect stabilized dimming of a fluorescent lamp, that is, in order to vary the power level supplied the lamp while maintaining a substantially constant filament voltage, a first, variable, inductance is included as an element of oscillator (inverter) feedback loop. The voltage across the variable inductance is clamped and coupled to a second inductance so that a voltage appears across the second inductance in proportion to the voltage appearing across the variable inductance. The voltage appearing across the second inductance is applied to the lamp filament so as to constitute a dominant component of the lamp filament voltage.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting the retention of non-ejected parts in the cavity of a plastic molding machine and inhibiting the operation of the molding machine in response thereto. The apparatus employs a set of photocells coupled via associated fiber optic cables to a comparator. The retention of a molded part subsequent to the completion of a molding cycle is indicated by the interruption of a light beam generated by at least one of the photocells. The optical signal is processed by the comparator and associated circuitry so as to activate a mold inhibiting relay.