Abstract: The parallel guide of an elastic force reducing dynamometer comprises a frame secured to a base plate, two essentially parallel plates, a load carrier, and four elastic tie joints. The load carrier supports a balance pan for receiving weights. A load-carrying element is clamped between the upper end of the load carrier and the lower end of the frame. Compressive force exerted on the load carrier is converted into an electric signal. The parallel guide is manufactured from a single piece, for example by profile extrusion or wire erosion. In an alternate embodiment of the invention, the load-carrying element is clamped between the lower end of the load carrier and the upper end of the frame. Tensile force exerted on the load carrier is converted into an electric signal.

Abstract: A clip for removably securing a semi-conductor wafer to the treatment surface of a semi-conductor wafer processing pedestal. The clip is constructed with a pair of spaced apart, forwardly extending tines adapted to engage outer edges of a semi-conductor wafer supported upon the treatment surface. A clip tail is oppositely disposed from the tines and affords resilient movement of the tines toward and away from the edges of the pedestal treatment surface to enable the installation and removal of the wafer therefrom.

Abstract: A method of making a molded heat sink for plastic packages constructed for housing semi-conductor devices. Heat is removed from the semiconductor device by direct heat transfer from the device through upstanding members integrally molded in the top of the plastic housing. The integrally molded heat dissipation members facilitate cooling of the semi-conductor die which is not available by normal dissipation by convection and radiation through a generally planar external surface of the package. The molded members permit effective heat dissipation without the thermal coefficient of expansion mismatch which may occur between conventional molded packages and heat sinks secured thereto.

Abstract: A mobile communications system includes at least one subscriber; a home exchange for the at least one subscriber; at least two exchanges, which may include the home exchange, that may be accessed by the at least one subscriber; and means for ensuring that the at least one subscriber has registered as being located within only one of the at least two exchanges. A method according to the teachings of the present invention includes the steps of cancelling all but the last registration when more than one registration is effected and correctly reestablishing mobile station registration and location data by sending an audit message from the exchanges in which a registration was cancelled to a mobile when the registration was cancelled within a predetermined period of time after being established.

Abstract: A leak catcher for use on a pumping well around a polished rod operating a downhole pump in the well including an annular drip bowl connected with a base securable to the upper end of a well casing around a polished rod, a drain line fitting opening into a side of the drip bowl, a leak collection well formed in the bottom of the drip bowl, a horizontal liquid level switch mounted to a side of the liquid collection well, a drain valve mounted horizontally through a side of the liquid collection well, a removable hood securable to the drip bowl, and a polished rod lubricator assembly secured in the top of the hood around a polished rod. The hood may be either a solid cylindrical member formed of opaque metal or transparent plastic or may include hinged doors for access into the leak catcher without removal of the hood.

Abstract: A microprocessor includes an internal memory and various subcomponents that allow the microprocessor to operate out of its internal memory during periods of time in which it does not have use of an external bus via which it may operate out of an external memory.

Abstract: A frequency reuse plan for a cellular radio communications system includes a plurality of antenna sites which implement twelve groups of frequencies among four antenna sites. The same frequencies are reused by other groups of four antenna sites. Each antenna site serves three hexagon shaped cells arranged in a clover-leaf shaped pattern by three groups of antennas, each of which group is separated by a pointing angle of 120 degrees.

Abstract: The frequency stability of the signals transmitted by a plurality of mobile stations to an associated base station within a radio network is supervised by first generating a reference signal at the base station. The signals received from the mobile stations are compared to the reference signal and a difference signal is generated. The difference signal is compared to first and second error values and if the difference exceeds the first error value, the mobile is summoned for a service adjustment. If the difference exceeds the second error value, the mobile is disabled from further transmissions.

Abstract: A spiral filtering device disposed within a frame consisting of two draw bars and two end pieces. The spiral filter consists of at least one spiral plate and at least two support plates with attached filter plates inserted between two end plates. On each of their plane machined surfaces, the spiral plates have a spiral groove of approximately semicircular cross-section. In addition, each surface of the spiral plate has a round depression with a boss in the shape of the bottom of a bottle. The groove is surrounded by a circular channel which is also recessed. The helicity of both grooves on the surfaces of the spiral plates is the same. The outer ends of the grooves are interconnected by a drilled channel at a shallow angle to the surface of the spiral plate. The inner ends of the grooves are connected to their respective recesses by a drilled channel running substantially parallel to the surface of the spiral plate.

Abstract: A substantially improved table soccer/fussball game playing ball is fabricated by molding an oversized spherical blank entirely from a single thermoplastic material, preferably a urethane material having a hardness within the approximate range of from about 50 Shore D to about 60 Shore D. The oversized molded blank is then subjected to a precision surface machining process, preferably using a centerless grinding machine, to reduce its diameter to a desired finished magnitude and to provide the resulting finished playing ball with a very precisely spherical shape having a sphericity which does not vary by more than about 0.001 inch on any external surface portion thereof.

Abstract: A system for the resynchronization of a rolling key used as an input among a plurality of inputs to an authentication algorithm executed in a mobile station and in a radio network providing service to the mobile station. In one aspect of the system, the network rolling key input is set to a selected value and the mobile station is commanded to set the mobile station rolling key input to the same selected value. The mobile station will then set the mobile station rolling key input to the selected value in response to the command from the network.

Abstract: A control switch for controlling the operation of an overhead irrigation system based upon the moisture level of the ground in an area to be irrigated. The control switch includes first and second moisture detection probes positioned at first and second underground locations in the area to be irrigated, which, upon detection that the soil is dry, place a positive conductive charge on the switch, thereby turning on the irrigation equipment. Upon detection that the soil is wet, the probes remove the conductive charge, thereby turning off the irrigation equipment. The control switch provides varying degrees of sensitivity to soil moisture, and varying time delays in turning the switch on when the soil is dry, and in turning the switch off when the soil is wet. A pulsing current protection circuit permits a positive DC signal taken from an AC triac to turn on the triac when both the AC and DC portions of the control switch share a common ground.

Abstract: A computer paper printer collection basket constructed with an adjustable bar facilitating the automatic folding of continuous feed printer paper thereacross during the discharge thereof for purposes of stacking. The printer basket may formed with or separately from a discharge area of a conventional printer and disposed immediately therebeneath. The adjustable bar's position to intercept the paper intermediate the fold lines thereof. In this manner, the printer paper will automatically fold thereacross during the collection thereof.

Abstract: A system for the validation and verification of base stations and mobile stations within a cellular radio communications network. The system includes a fixed key and a changeable key which are applied as inputs to an authentication algorithm. The algorithm generates key-dependent responses, at least one of which is independent of the changeable key. The responses generated by a particular mobile station are compared to the responses generated by the network and the presence of fraudulent users may be detected.

Abstract: A system for simultaneously probing an electrical test circuit while remotely controlling the test equipment used to measure the probing. The probing is performed by the use of an electrical test probe of the type utilized with oscilloscopes or the like. Incorporated within the probe are switches adapted to detecting both lateral and longitudinal pressures exerted by the probe user. The lateral pressure is applied to the lower portion of the probe and depending upon the direction of the pressure causes a cursor displayed on the test equipment to move. The user moves the displayed cursor to the desired position, which position corresponds to a function or option of the test instrument. Upon selection, the user exerts a longitudinal force upon the probe, which force is detected by the probe and activates the selected function or option on the test instrument.

Abstract: A superconducting wire which includes a base wire and at least a superconduction layer formed on the base wire. The superconduction layer may be formed by using a sputtering system for depositing a film of high temperature superconductor material on the base wire. The superconducting wire may further include an adhesion layer, a diffusion barrier layer and/or a protection layer. Several superconducting wires may be grouped together in a metal matrix to form a composite superconducting wire.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the calorific value of a first combustible gas involves mixing the first combustible gas with a second combustible gas having a known calorific value and with a combustion supporting gas and burning the resulting mixture, detecting a property of the burning mixture indicative of whether the burning occurred at the stoichiometric point, adjusting the relative flow rates of the first and second combustible gases and the combustion supporting gas so that said burning occurs substantially at the stoichiometric point or at a selected offset from that point, and ascertaining the volume ratios of the gases at the adjusted flow rate to produce a value proportional to the overall calorific value of the mixture of the first and second combustible gases. Based on the foregoing, the contribution to the overall calorific value made by the second combustible gas having a known calorific value can be deleted to yield the calorific value of the first combustible gas.

Abstract: A telecommunications billing record software system which permits the telephone administration which is operating the exchange to interface with and define the criteria for constructing and/or modifying the decision tables used to decide whether or not to generate a billing record for each particular call. In addition, the administration can also define the criteria for specifying the billing record data to be included within the billing records which are generated and the location to which the record is output.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling the optical output intensity of a laser diode includes mean and peak power regulating structure. A method for controlling the optical output intensity of a laser diode includes the steps of sensing both peak and mean power and regulating based upon what is sensed.