Abstract: A method of fabricating elbow conduit including constructing a conduit development having a set of sequential segments, each segment having a lateral axis parallel to corresponding lateral axes of the other segments and a longitudinal axis skewed at least in part with respect to the lateral axis and having the same orientation as the corresponding longitudinal axes of the other segments in the set. The segments are joined end-to-end and the dimensions of the joined segments are transferred to a continuous length of material to generate a continuous blank havng periodically varying opposing boundaries. At least one outer alignment mark is defined on each segments of the blank to establish an outer ridge line on the outside circumference of the elbow and at least one inner alignment mark is defined on each segment to establish an inner ridge line on the inner circumference of the elbow.

Abstract: Three-dimensional measurement of a surface of an object under inspection is performed by projecting a light pattern upon the surface, having a periodic, smoothly varying light intensity in the X direction and having a non-changeable intensity in the Y direction in the manner of a grid, and thereafter electronically producing a pair of stereo images of the surface so illuminated by a pair of CCD arrays; measuring the parallax phase offsets between correlated corresponding homologous points in the stereo images, and converting the resulting parallax data to an array of Z-depth data, indicative of the shape of the surface of the object.

Abstract: A negative resistance device local extremum seeking circuit including a negative resistance device (NRD) and a biasing device for providing a bias signal to operate the NRD. The output of the NRD is detected by a detector that provides a signal which indicates the position of the bias signal in relation to the peak of the NRD. A bias adjust circuit responsive to the detector adjusts the bias signal toward the peak of the NRD to operate it at the peak.

Abstract: A scintillation camera having scintillation material which emits light in response to absorbed radiation, an array of photodetectors for detecting the emitted light, and a segmented light pipe which conducts the emitted light to the photodetectors. The light pipe includes a plurality of segments which intersect with adjacent segments at an angle and define planar faces which are optically coupled to the photodetectors.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for producing green salt (UF.sub.4) from uranium-bearing metal pieces. The uranium-bearing metal pieces are dissolved in a first aqueous solution containing hydrochloric acid and between 0.5% and 5% fluoboric acid to provide a second aqueous solution which includes uranium (U.sup.+4), chlorine ions (Cl.sup.-) and hydrochloric and fluoboric acids. Hydrofluoric acid is added to the second aqueous solution to precipitate green salt out of that solution and provide a third aqueous solution which contains hydrochloric acid. The green salt is then separated from the third aqueous solution.

Abstract: A conversion apparatus for quantizing an initial set of weights for a weighted sum signal processing system having one or more conversion arrays. Each conversion array stores a plurality of values to be converted, quantizes the values that are to be converted to produce a set of discrete values and a set of error values, and replaces the stored values with the set of discrete values. Each conversion array combines the set of error values with a set of transformation weights to form one or more transformed error sets. The conversion apparatus further includes a transfer device for successively combining the one or more transformed error sets most recently formed with the contents of a successive conversion array. The transfer device monitors the successively produced sets of error values and halts the successive conversions and combinations when a predetermined condition is satisifed. The invention also features methods of quantizing initial sets of weight.

Abstract: A compound collimator for use in a radionuclide emission tomography camera to image a region of an object, including a collimator structure having a number of collimator elements arranged in at least two sections to define a different tomographic field of view boundary for each section. Each boundary encompasses a different portion of the region and the sections in combination establish a different imaging sensitivity for each portion. At least one of the boundaries encompasses the entire region to be imaged.

Abstract: An audio/video electronic component cabinet includes a pair of side walls, a back wall, a front wall and a top; a plurality of component shelves extend between the side walls to the front wall but short of the back wall; a chimney formed along the back wall in the space between the ends of the shelves and the back wall receives wiring and exhausts hot air from the component; and an outlet in the top over the chimney vents the hot air from the chimney.

Abstract: A beacon navigation system for a vehicle including a plurality of navigation beacons distributed about a premises through which the vehicle is to navigate, and a detector assembly for sensing a beacon and for resolving the azimuthal angle between the beacon and the vehicle. The system further includes an element for defining an optimum azimuthal angle between that beacon and the vehicle, and a device for determining the difference between the resolved angle and the optimum angle to represent the deviation of the vehicle from a designated path. A method of establishing navigational paths among navigation nodes proximate beacons is also disclosed.

Abstract: A expert system form of artificial intelligence for control of air traffic which may also be utilized for air traffic controller training. The expert system receives input data representing the altitude and heading of all aircraft in the control area. The aircraft data is compared with the data of the other aircraft. Sequencing and local flow control is optimized and if a potential conflict arises between two aircraft, clearances are transmitted to the aircraft to resolve the conflict. The aircraft data is also compared with a knowledge base of air traffic control rules for the particular airport involved. An inference engine written in LISP (or another AI language) allows real time access to the knowledge base. The position and heading of each aircraft is monitored and controlled until turned over to the tower for final approach. The expert system may also be used for air traffic controller training and be used as a intelligent tutor.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing fine metal powder. The method includes the steps of forming a centrifugally maintained annulus of a liquified gas quench medium, forming molten metal drops within the eye of the annulus, urging the drops into the quench medium to solidify the drops, and boiling away the quench medium to leave behind clean, unentrained metal powder. The apparatus includes a drum for containing a liquified gas quench medium, means for adding liquified gas to the inside of the drum, and means for rotating the drum to form an annulus of quench medium. The apparatus further includes means for forming molten metal to be made into powder, and means disposed along the longitudinal axis of the drum and within the eye of the annulus for creating molten metal drops. The molten metal drops are then urged into the quench medium to solidify them into a powder, and the quench medium is boiled away to leave behind clean, unentrained metal powder.

Abstract: A mapping system and method which establish a number of navigation nodes and paths among them for a vehicle in an environment to be navigated by directing the vehicle to a selected location in the environment, designating that location as a first node, identifying the initial direction of a path to a second node such as by locating a navigation beacon proximate the second node, and moving the vehicle in the initial direction from the first node while measuring distance travelled along the path to the second node. This system and method further include defining the second node by at least the distance travelled along the path and by the initial path direction.

Abstract: A vacuum chamber is provided for sputter deposition of a semiconductor homojunction. A target made of a semiconductor compound containing at least one non-metallic element is provided. A substrate for receiving the sputtered species from the target to form sequential layers of deposited semiconductor material is also provided. An electric field is provided between the target and the substrate. An inert gas is introduced sequentially at a plurality of discrete partial pressures to adjust the incident energy of the sputtered species by thermalization, for altering the mean free path of the sputtered and incident species to control the ratio of non-metallic to metallic elements in the deposited semiconductor material and create a plurality of different semiconductor material layers.

Abstract: A liquid crystal analog display device that displays along a predetermined path defined by a path outline. It includes a backplane defining the path outline; a plurality of display segments disposed along the path; a display segment backplane; a plurality of outline segments associated with the display segments for further defining the path outline; means for applying an electric potential to the display and outline segments; means for applying an electric potential to the path outline backplane so that there is an a.c. field across the path outline segment and the path outline backplane sufficient to maintain the path outline image; and means for selectively applying an electric field across the display segments and the display segment backplane for establishing an analog image display. There is also disclosed means for applying an electric potential to the backplane defining picket outlines so that there is an a.c.

Abstract: A position locating system for a vehicle such as a mobile robot which includes a multisector sensor for sensing the coded signal emitted by a beacon. There are means responsive to the sensor for generating a code data signal representative of the coded signal and means responsive to the sensor sectors for generating an angle data signal representative of the angle from sensor to the beacon and at least one of the azimuthal and altitude dimensions.

Abstract: This invention features a mobile robot having a body which has an azimuthal angle that is optimally fixed in space and provides the basic reference for the robot to the outside world. The robot further includes a drive system having wheels for enabling movement of the robot, a synchronous steering mechanism which turns the wheels independently of the body, and a head which turns with the wheels. The robot further includes memory for storing the azimuthal angle of the body, a detector assembly disposed in the head for sensing a navigation beacon and resolving an angular deviation between the head and the beacon, and an element for incrementing the stored azimuthal angle by that angular deviation. A system for enabling orientation adjustment is also disclosed.

Abstract: Pieces of metal are joined with silver material in a two-stage heating process. In one application, a brazed porous coating of metal particles on a metal substrate of a device is formed by interposing a silver material between the substrate and the particles, and placing the particles onto the substrate. The device is heated to a first temperature slightly below the melting point of the silver material, then briefly heated to a second temperature above 1100.degree. C. to rapidly melt the silver material to wet the particles and substrate and to generate alloying among the silver material, the particles, and the substrate. The device is allowed to cool to solidify the alloy and unite the particles and substrate to form a porous coating on the device. Also disclosed are a prosthetic device having a metal shaft for insertion into a bone canal, and a porous coating of metal particles brazed to the metal shaft by a silver material.

Abstract: A microscope system which includes an eyepiece section and a base having an integral stage section for holding a specimen to be viewed. The eyepiece section holds a lens and further includes integral bearing elements for movably engaging a complementary guide in the base. A stage hole in the stage section is aligned with the lens and a specimen is held in registration with the stage hole. An adjustment mechanism is provided to finely adjust the position of the eyepiece relative to the base to adjust the focus of the lens. Light is gathered and directed to the specimen by an angularly adjustable mirror or an optical wave guide.

Abstract: A two-axis quartz fiber passive tilt meter which includes housing and a quartz fiber suspended from the housing for conducting radiation and emitting the radiation from a distal end thereof. A pendulous mass is suspended from the quartz fiber and a damping fluid in the housing surrounds the quartz fiber and the mass. A detector senses the position of the spot of radiation emitted from the quartz fiber.

Abstract: A heat sink mounting member including a tubular member having a longitudinal axis extending through the two open ends thereof. There are means for mounting the back of the tubular member to a mounting device and recesses in the front of the modular member for permitting access to the means for mounting the back of the tubular member. The front of the tubular member includes means for mounting a device to have its heat dissipated to the tubular member to dissipate heat by conduction through the tubular member and convention of air passing through the open ends of the tubular member.