Abstract: An opto-electronic transducer for determining position and/or velocity of one member with respect to another member is provided with light amplitude control. The transducer is comprised of a scale with a transmission grating on a first track and an indexing bar near each end of a second track adjacent the first, and a reticle with two sections of the same grating, one section being offset spatially one quarter cycle with respect to the other section for producing quadrature signals through two photosensors opposite the first track from which relative position and/or velocity between the reticle and the scale can be determined. A slit is provided in the reticle in order to provide information for determining position relative to the indexing bars. A single photosensor opposite the second track is used both to detect the indexing bars and to provide a feedback control signal to maintain the amplitude of light illuminating the scale and reticle constant.

Abstract: A synthesizer for multiphase waveforms is disclosed which is useful, for example, in open and closed loop control of a two-phase induction motor, such as for a magnetic recording disk spindle, utilizing a plurality of bistable elements, two for each phase, to control output power drivers. A single clock pulse counter is employed to time the setting and resetting of each bistable element according to some predetermined pattern controlled by combinational logic which presets the counter to proper values at appropriate times in response to external stimuli, such as speed feedback control and start-stop control.

Abstract: A laser Raman/fluorescent electro-optical device is described for counting, sizing, weighing and assaying airborne particles, whereby the physical state of the atmosphere may be monitored.

Abstract: An implantable living tissue stimulator is described with a current conductive protective shield, to prevent the flow of currents to or from the stimulator circuitry via the electrically conductive body fluid. Also disclosed is an implantable living tissue stimulator of the rechargeable type in which the stimulator circuit components are surrounded by a pickup coil, designed to pick up an external magnetic field for recharging the power source, e.g., battery of the stimulator. One embodiment incorporates one or more ferrite slabs extending through the coil wound about the rest of the stimulator components, in order to increase the coil pick up efficiency and to divert the magnetic field from the stimulator metal components, such as a metal container in which the stimulator circuitry is hermetically sealed and thereby minimize the heating of the components and/or metal container.

Abstract: A simple and compact tool for use with aircraft spark plugs to reset the spark gap, which enables a person to hold the spark plug to the tool, hold a gauge to the spark plug, and squeeze the electrodes of the spark plug to set the gap, all under field conditions. The tool includes a pair of bars pivotally connected at one end and a nut fixed to a first of the bars to loosely hold a spark plug, the nut having a cut-away portion to permit the second bar to move over a spark plug held by the nut, and the second bar having a recessed edge which can move against an electrode of the spark plug to bend it.

Abstract: A system for classifying the various major types of blood cells is provided wherein blood cells are passed before a laser beam. The redirected light energy passing through the cell is applied to a detector array which provides a voltage spectrum representative of the spatial relationships of the object. This voltage spectrum is compared rapidly with different spectra representative of different blood cell classes. Whenever a best fit is detected by the comparing means, a count is scored in one of the cell classes. The same means is applicable to the analysis of other cell types such as cancer and exfoliated cells.

Abstract: Several embodiments of a two-position rotary valve for injecting a liquid sample into a stream of solvent, flowing through a liquid chromatographic column, are disclosed. The valve is switchable between a Load position and an Inject position. The valve includes a needle cavity axially extending along the valve's rotor axis of rotation. The needle cavity is designed to accommodate a syringe needle from which a sample is loaded into one end of a sample loop which is externally connected to the valve, while the opposite end of the loop is vented to the atmosphere, when the valve is in the Load position. This facilitates the loading of the sample into the sample loop through the needle cavity at atmospheric pressure with a conventional syringe needle. In the Inject position solvent is made to flow through the sample loop in order to eject the sample from the loop and inject it onto the column.

Abstract: A copying machine which includes a thin flexible sheet with a layer of chromium dioxide, a lamp for shining light at the sheet and a document to be copied to form a magnetic image on the chromium dioxide layer, a drum having a layer of nickel cobalt, a transfer head for pressing the sheet against the drum while applying an anhysteretic magnetic field to them to transfer the magnetic image to the nickel cobalt, an applicator for applying toner to the drum, and a mechanism for pressing sheets of paper against the drum to transfer the toner to the paper. The nickel cobalt layer has a lower coercivity but higher remanence than the chromium dioxide, so that the magnetic field on the drum can be of greater strength than the original magnetic field on the chromium dioxide layer. Also, the nickel cobalt layer on the drum is a smooth continuous metallic layer which can perform better printing than the nonmetallic chromium dioxide particles which are held in a resinous binder on the flexible sheet.

Abstract: A balance mechanism for automatically lifting known weights in a single-arm balance comprised of two plates, a first plate supporting the known weights and a pan for an unknown mass to be weighed and a second counterbalancing plate coupled to the first through a box lever having diagonal corners connected to a support member through flexible elements that will permit the box lever to pivot about a diagonal axis in response to a vertical force at one free corner connected to a corner of one balance plate or in response to a vertical force at the other free corner connected to a corner of the other balance plate. One balance plate is secured in space by two taut rectangular loop lines, one line being connected taut to diagonally opposite corners of the plate and to elements affixed to the support member in a position over the free corners of the plate, and the other line being connected taut to the free corners of the plate and to elements affixed to the support member in a position over the other two corners.

Abstract: Each car on a freight train is equipped with what is called a brake control valve. This valve is in the automatic air brake system and causes the air brake on the individual car to be applied when the pressure in the main brake pipe which runs throughout the train is reduced by the engineer or by any other cause. Sometimes, the brake control valve will malfunction, thereby causing it to go into the emergency brake position, either during normal service braking or at other times. When it goes into the emergency position, the brake pipe opens to the atmosphere and the resulting sudden reduction in pressure at that point causes all of the brake control valves on the train to go into emergency position causing a full emergency brake application throughout the train. With long trains, quickly finding the malfunctioning brake control valve is quite a chore.

Abstract: In an ink jet printing system, there is provided an arrangement whereby the ink, which is not used in printing, may be returned to the reservoir from which it was withdrawn, together with fresh ink, in a manner so that ink pressure fluctuations, together with shutdowns for filling the reservoir are avoided.

Abstract: In a waveguide resonator, either coaxial or noncoaxial, there are inserted spaced slots which establish inductances in series with the waveguide structure at the location of each slot. These slots tune the resonance of the waveguide cavity, which would generally be used in a bandpass filter. Switch means are provided for each slot for discretely altering the value of the inductance established, whereby the resonator or filter may be tuned to a large number of different frequencies.

Abstract: A relatively inexpensive and compact ride for an amusement park and the like, which creates the illusion that the passengers are seated in a rapidly maneuvering vehicle, by applying forces to the passenger in synchronism with the display of a motion picture image. The apparatus includes a passenger-holding frame which has three locations resting on hydraulic rams that can tilt the frame or move it up and down, and a film projector and viewing screen connected to the frame to move with it. When the motion picture simulates the view from a vehicle that is turning to the right, the rams are operated to tilt the vehicle to the left, to simulate the centrifugal forces that would result from a vehicle turning to the right. When the motion picture indicates forward acceleration, the vehicle is tipped backwardly. When the motion picture indicates vertical acceleration, the rams are rapidly moved up or down.

Abstract: A regulated DC to AC power converter of the switching type for providing AC power at a selected output frequency, e.g., 50 Hz, is disclosed. The converter, which eliminates the need for an inverter transformer, is switched at a switching frequency which is considerably higher than the output frequency, e.g., 10 KHz. Due to the high switching rate the converter filter can be designed with small and lightweight components to provide a desired pass band, which includes the output frequency and harmonics thereof, and provides sufficient attenuation for the switching frequency and its higher harmonics, so as to produce an output with very low ripple or waveform distortion. Due to the high switching frequency the output waveform can be regulated with a response time of a fraction of a cycle. The converter includes a modulator section with a unique arrangement to control the switching of the switches between their On and Off states.

Abstract: A monolithic PNPN injection laser diode operating as an optical repeater is comprised of a direct band-gap semiconductor material, such as essentially GaAs, epitaxially grown in five layers with the first, third and fifth layers of GaAsAl and the second and fourth layers of GaAs, and all layers suitably doped to effectively form two complementary transistors interconnected for regenerative feedback between them with the second layer forming the base of one transistor and the collector of the other transistor, and the third layer forming the base of the other transistor and the collector of the one transistor. The PNPN laser diode thus produced has a V-I negative resistance characteristic. The second and fourth layers produce coherent laser beams in response to a light pulse received while the laser diode is biased off with its load line below its breakover voltage, thus switching the laser diode on.

Abstract: A miniature inductor comprising a sheet metal frame having a slot that divides the frame into two separated halves, each half having a pair of upstanding tabs and a pair of inclined tapered flanges. A plate of insulating material extends across the slot and is held in position by the tabs, while a bobbin lies on the insulator and has its ends attached to the flanges. A mass of plastic encapsulates all of the components except for the bottom surfaces of the frame halves which serve as terminals.

Abstract: A golf-club and golf-ball testing apparatus, having a crank arm driven by a main drive shaft, drives a club swinging arm through a secondary drive shaft supported by bearings on the end of the crank arm and turned by a planetary gear which meshes with teeth in a fixed gear concentric with the main drive shaft. The club swinging arm is connected to the secondary drive shaft by a short block, and the club is connected to the end of the swinging arm by a gripping member that is caused to rotate from an adjustable initial position so that the shaft is rolled through about 180.degree. during a full swing. The short block is coupled to the secondary drive shaft by resilient material to absorb shocks between the swinging arm and the crank arm.

Abstract: An improved bow thruster including a diverter valve with an inlet connected to a water pump, a pair of outlets extending to either side of the boat, a valve mechanism for accurately controlling the amount of thrust obtained from both outlets, and a deflector positioned at each outlet. Each deflector is movable between a first position wherein it allows sideward water discharge to thrust the bow to the side, and a second position wherein it directs water rearwardly to move the boat in a forward direction, or if required, to a third position to move the boat rearwardly.

Abstract: A phase-locked loop is provided with a phase detector capable of providing phase error magnitude and direction information for synchronizing a voltage controlled oscillator with a train of data pulses spaced apart in integral multiples of a fundamental clock period using an edge-triggered flip-flop and simple digital logic gates.

Abstract: Apparatus for generating graphic symbols on a cathode-ray tube employs a beam control system which starts each of a plurality of parallel strokes required for each symbol at the bottom, using a programmed offset for symbols which extend below a baseline, and to otherwise move a symbol in the X and Y axes from a position routinely specified as spaced symbols are displayed in a line. The slope of the strokes for a symbol is controlled for italicizing the symbols by programming the relative magnitudes and signs of inputs to X and Y integrators which generate ramp signals added to symbol positioning signals. The beam is turned on and off during each stroke in response to a programmed and clocked bit stream of coded digital signals. The size of a symbol is controlled by programming the clock rate for the beam on-off control and the magnitudes of the inputs to the X and Y integrators.