Abstract: A group of serial-in, parallel-out shift registers has a separate output positionally corresponding to each of the pins of a multipin recording head which is maintained in marking relationship with a moving electrosensitive record sheet. Each of the shift register outputs is connected to the corresponding one of the pins by way of a pin-driving transistor which energizes its pin when a logic zero appears in the corresponding shift register output. A binary number to pin position decoder receives a binary number representing an analog input signal and repeatedly serially shifts corresponding binary bit trains into the shift registers. Due to the time required for an energized pin to mark the sheet, logic zero bits shifted into the registers cause pins to mark the sheet only after those bits are in their final loaded positions in the shift registers at the completion of each shifting operation.

Abstract: The pressure transducer includes a semiconductor cantilever beam, a diaphragm, a spacer, and a back plate. The diaphragm, spacer, and back plate are bonded together at their peripheries to form a cup. The ends of the beam are bonded, respectively, to the supported periphery of the diaphragm and to an intermediate deflecting portion thereof, whereby pressure forces within the cup are transmitted by the diaphragm to the beam. Piezoresistive elements are diffused into the surface of the beam to produce an electric signal in accordance with the strain produced in the beam as the result of the pressure forces. In one embodiment, the beam is a flat plate. In another embodiment, the beam includes a portion at the mounting end that is massive relative to the stress sensitive portion of the beam. The juncture of the massive mounting portion and the stress sensitive portion is an abrupt step, whereby a precise fulcrum for the stress sensitive beam portion is provided.

Abstract: A process control system having a backup controller which is substituted for one of a plurality of primary process controllers upon the detection of a failure of one of the primary process controllers. The substitution of the backup controller is controlled by a backup director which is arranged to sense the operation of a primary process controller and to transfer the operating data from the failed controller into the backup controller to enable the backup controller to take over the operations being performed by the failed controller.

Abstract: An improved recorder for recording substantially simultaneously across the width of a relatively wide sheet of electrosensitive material has a fixed head made up of a laminar stack of recording styli or, as referred to herein, recording pins. Adjacent pins are offset from one another a distance sufficient to allow the passage of a purging fluid therethrough. The purging fluid conveniently may be supplied from a source of low pressure air.

Abstract: An electromagnetic flow meter using pairs of concentric electrodes mounted through a pipe line in an opposed facing relationship. The output flow signals from the electrodes are first differentially amplified with respect to a common reference signal and then the output signals from the first differential amplification are differentially amplified in two successive operations to produce a final flow signal having a value "n" times the output signal from a single pair of "n" facing electrodes.

Abstract: A holographic recording is made on a tone wheel which is arranged to be driven by a capstan motor and capstan assembly. The holographic recording is a series of radial holograms on the tone wheel which recording is matched to the mechanical system driving the tone wheel by incorporating mechanical drive errors in the holographic recordings.

Abstract: In a twin tube recording CRT system, apparatus is provided for accurately aligning the line scan trace of the two tubes with respect to each other. The positioning voltage applied to the vertical deflection plates of the two tubes is compared in a comparator network. When a substantial identity of the compared signals is detected by the comparator network, suitable indicating device, such as LED's, are actuated to indicate the proper alignment, without the need for visual reference to the face of the tubes. There is also provided an interrelated skew correction circuit for the two tubes wherein a sample-and-hold circuit samples the skew correction signal for the first tube at a selected point in the sweep thereof. That sampled signal is superimposed on the skew correction signal for the second tube, to effect an offset of that skew correction signal by the amount of the sampled signal of the first tube skew correction signal.

Abstract: A process control system having a plurality of process controllers each connected to a data highway to receive and send process control data is controlled by a backup director receiving input signals from each of the plurality of process controllers to sense the operability thereof. A backup controller is also connected to the data highway and has its highway address controlled by the backup director in response to a failure of one of the regular process controllers whereby the backup controller is directed by the backup director to assume the address of the failed controller. The data highway interface circuits of the failed controller are concurrently disabled whereby the backup controller provides a substitute for the full operation of the failed controller.

Abstract: A memory protection arrangement includes a primary power supply unit and a back-up battery. The back-up battery supplies maintenance energy to the memory itself, the battery being automatically effective whenever the primary power supply voltage decays to a value less than that of the battery. There is also provided apparatus which is responsive to a failure of the main power source to effect the application of a control signal to an input of the memory to disable the memory input from responding to spurious signals during a power-down condition.

Abstract: An elongatable endless belt passes around four rollers and, in so doing, passes adjacent to the heated surface of a U-shaped platen which has its edges adjacent to two of the rollers. The surface of the belt which faces the platen is in driving engagement with a film coming from a recording means. One of the noted two rollers is driven faster than the other so that the belt moves the film along the platen surface and leaves one edge of the latter at a higher speed than that at which the belt arrives at the other edge of the platen surface. Therefore, the belt progressively elongates and moves along the film as it is moving the latter along the platen surface.

Abstract: A capacitive integrator passes a current through a non-linearity compensating transistor, a thermistor, and an analog output amplifier and resistor so that the value of the current and the value of the voltage across the resistor are proportional to the thermistor temperature. A comparator detects each passage of the integrator output voltage above zero, and causes the output of a flip-flop to go high upon such passage for a fixed time period during which an opposing current is passed through the integrator capacitor to drive the integrator output voltage below zero. The resulting pulses in the flip-flop output are counted by a presettable counter for a predetermined counting period to give a count which is proportional to the thermistor current and temperature. This count is decimally displayed and is made numerically equal to the thermistor temperature according to any desired temperature scale by suitably selecting the length of the counting period and the preset count of the counter.

Abstract: An eccentrically rotatable control valve has a seat ring containing two seating surfaces and a stationary sealing ring mounted on an inner wall of a valve chamber to form a port therein. Rolling movement of an eccentrically mounted plug of the valve from a partial to full line fluid tight sealing contact with one of the seating surfaces of the seat ring causes the seat ring to be simultaneously moved in a rocking manner and the other seating surface of the seat ring to be moved into fluid tight sealing engagement with the stationary sealing ring. The rockable seat ring construction provides a means by which the plug and its associated seat ring can center itself in a properly seated fluid tight position on the sealing ring in the event that the sealing ring is out of properly aligned seating surface engagement with the plug.

Abstract: There has been provided, in a computer system, a control unit having authority over a plurality of subordinate units with differing response times. The control unit addresses and issues command instructions to selected ones of the subordinate units then waits for an acknowledgement of completion from the addressed units before going to the next step in its routine. To prevent the control unit from being hung-up in the event of a failure of response from the subordinate unit, time-out means are provided for releasing the control unit for further operation. Since the response times of the individual subordinate units are unknown to the control unit, a unique time-out circuit is provided for each of the subordinate units, each time-out circuit being commensurate with the response time of the associated subordinate unit.

Abstract: A dual reel hub assembly for coaxially mounting two independently rotatable confronting reels on an axially inward hub structure and an axially outward hub structure, respectively. The inward and outward hub structures are mounted on a common central spindle with the inward hub structure being freely rotatable while the outward hub structure is fixedly attached to the spindle and spaced from the inward hub structure. Each hub structure includes a reel support shell for supporting an inner surface of an axial opening in a reel. A plurality of radially outwardly extending key pins are aligned parallel to the spindle axis on each reel support shell to mate with one of a plurality of keyways on the inner surface of the axial reel opening. A rotatable locking ring on each hub structure is dimensioned to pass through the axial reel opening and has radially outwardly projecting locking fingers dimensioned to pass through the keyways and equal in number thereto.

Abstract: A resistance measuring circuit for providing an output signal which is linearly proportional to the difference in resistance between two unknown resistances. The measuring circuit includes a constant current source for driving both unknown resistances in a series circuit by connecting the series circuit in a feedback loop of an operational amplifier. The voltage drops across the unknown resistances are applied to the inverting and non-inverting inputs of a second operation amplifier used as a differential amplifier, respectively. The effect of leadwire resistance to the unknown resistances is cancelled by the subtractive operation of the second amplifier. Further, the first amplifier is supplied with a variable input signal to provide a zero suppression capability for the linear output signal.

Abstract: A combination fuse injector and ejector for cartridge type fuses includes a molded plastic open top receptacle, or shroud, having protective peripheral walls, a bottom wall and a hinged cover. The bottom wall includes an opening adjacent each end of the receptacle through which conventional fuse holding contact clips rigidly attached to a mounting surface can enter the receptacle. The bottom wall includes an integral external pedestal which provides a loosely coupled captive mounting for the receptacle on the mounting surface. The bottom wall of the shroud also includes a fuse-ejecting internal surface extending between the pair of contact clips whereby the fuse may be ejected from the clips by a lifting of the shroud on its loosely captive pedestal. The cover includes an integral class for lightly gripping the fuse to retain it during the ejection operation and to accept a replacement fuse for injection into the clips.

Abstract: A densitometer for measuring a concentration of matter in a fluid system comprised of liquids and suspended and/or floating matter such as, for example, a densitometer for measuring the concentration of oil in bilge water that includes suspended and/or floating solid material. Two emulsifying conditions of the system are produced by first emulsification with a relatively high power emulsifying action and then a relatively low power emulsification. The amount of light which penetrates the system is a function of the turbidity which varies with the intensity of the emulsification. The concentration of oil in water, for example, in bilge water, is a function of the ratio of the amount of light which passes through the system in the two turbid states.

Abstract: A holographic recording is made on a tone wheel which is arranged to be driven by a capstan motor and capstan assembly. The holographic recording is a series of radial holograms on the tone wheel which recording is matched to the mechanical system driving the tone wheel by incorporating mechanical drive errors in the holographic recordings. The holographic recording on the tone wheel is read during subsequent operation of the motor/capstan/tone wheel assembly by a laser playback system to provide control signals for a motor energizing means to correct intrinsic drive system errors in a "sync-off-tach" type tape drive system.

Abstract: A high performance magnetic tape transport and tape cartridge. The cartridge includes coplanar hubs carrying tape rolls on fixed axes, a brake system which urges each hub in a direction to tension the tape when the cartridge is removed from the transport, and a pair of doors which completely enclose the front face of the cartridge when the cartridge is out of the transport and automatically open to expose the entire front face of the cartridge when it is inserted in the transport. The transport includes a pair of capstans, each mounted on its own carriage assembly with its own drive motor. The capstans have a high friction surface. The carriage assemblies are spring biased with equal force toward the front of the cartridge. When the cartridge is inserted in the transport, the capstans drivingly engage the peripheries of the tape rolls, and magnetic transducer heads in the transport engage the front face of a span of tape between the rolls.

Abstract: Overlapping, and consequent illegibility, of recorded line scan or transverse records are precluded by delaying or inhibiting the recording process until the record sheet is being driven at or near full speed with respect to a normally blanked cathode ray tube record marking means. A voltage is established by a record speed select switch which must be substantially equaled by a voltage produced by a record sheet speed transducer before a comparator will turn on. The comparator output signal then allows the cathode ray tube to be unblanked and recording to start.