Abstract: When the difference between the weight proportional signal and the tare value is less than a predetermined threshold value, it is assumed that the zero point is changing. Main difference signals less than the threshold signal are stored and subsequently generated ones algebraically added to the first one. The so-created cumulative difference signal is compared to a predetermined limiting value. When it exceeds the limiting value the cumulative difference signal is divided by the number of differences which together created the cumulative difference signal. The so-formed average difference signal is added to the tare value prior to generation of the next main difference signal.

Abstract: A stabilization of the zero point of a digital display in a periodically operating weighing scale is accomplished by obtaining the difference between the then-present weight signal S and a stored reference signal, for example the tare value. Resulting differences less than a predetermined threshold value are stored. If the next following difference signal is again smaller than the threshold value and has the same sign, the reference value is corrected by the stored difference. If the signs are different, the tare or reference value remains the same and the value of the stored difference signal is changed to the newly-generated value.

Abstract: The mass flow rate of helium from a container is controlled by two disks having highly polished mating surfaces and mounted for rotation relative to one another. Each of the disks has at least one axial through passage, at least one of the disks having a through passage which is eccentric to the axis of rotation of the disk. Use of a plurality of through passages in one of the disks, one or more capillary grooves emanating from one of the through passages in one disk and terminating in the circular path described by the through passage in the other disk for controlling the flow rate is illustrated. For example a step motor in combination with a wobble plate rotates one disk in very exact steps relative to the other.

Abstract: To measure the distance to a selected object, the range finder transmits infrared light in a beam having a straight limiting edge on one side. The object reflects light back from the illuminated region and a lens receives part of the light and creates an image of the illuminated region including the straight limiting edge on a plane inclined at an angle to the optical axis of the lens. A detector, including a photoelectric transducer part of which is masked by a mask having a straight edge, is moved along the plane until the edge of the mask and the edge of the image are aligned as closely as possible. The position of the detector when this alignment takes place is indicative of the distance of the object from the range finder.

Abstract: At least part of the effluent from an ion exchanger flows past a first and second electrode. The electrodes are mounted within the pipe carrying the fluid so that they are visible from the outside. A DC voltage is applied between the electrodes. If the effluent contains a metal which should have been adsorbed by the ion exchanger, its presence is indicated either by a change in the voltage-current curve of the electrodes or a change in color of the cathode. Either a single metal or a group of metals may be precipitated.

Abstract: Digital signals are applied to an ungrounded transmission line through a two channel system, one channel being operative in response to a binary "1" the other in response to a binary "0." Each channel, when active, receives high frequency oscillations through a transformer. One side of the transformer is connected to the emitter-collector circuit of a transistor constituting a main rectifier. A buffer transistor has an emitter-collector circuit connected in series with the main rectifier transistor. A rectifier diode connected to the secondary winding of the transformer furnishes a DC signal to switch the buffer transistor to the conductive state only when high frequency oscillations appear across the secondary winding, that is when the channel is active. A high frequency filter between the main rectifier transistor and the buffer transistor prevents high frequency oscillations from reaching the output.

Abstract: A cantilever beam is located under the pan of the scale and carries a strain gauge bridge circuit. The beam has a bore perpendicular to its longitudinal axis. A rigid force transmitting arm is screwed to the free end of the beam and extends back so that a conical peg in the arm projects into the bore. The conical peg engages a rod which transmits a force from the load to be weighed. The beam has two arcuate recesses symmetrical to the bore on its underside. Strain gauge resistors are positioned so that their centers coincide with the thinnest, and therefore maximum bending sections of the beam.

Abstract: Sodium nitrite in liquid form is deposited on a substrate and allowed to crystallize thereby forming a thin layer on the substrate. The substrate is either dipped into a solution containing sodium nitrite or into sodium nitrite in the molten state and then pulled out again. Subsequent drying or cooling of the wetted substrate top surface causes the crystalline film to form. Alternatively, sodium nitrite in a liquid state is applied to the top surface of the substrate and the substrate is rotated to assure an even distribution of the sodium nitrite. Again, drying or cooling causes the crystalline layer to form. The so manufactured unit is shown as part of a pyroelectric radiation detector, as image receiver in a television camera tube and as the storage element in a field effect transistor arrangement.

Abstract: In known signal regenerating apparatus a high frequency signal is continuously applied to the secondary side and inductively coupled back to a resonant circuit on the primary side. The resultant oscillations in the resonant circuit are modulated by the incoming communication signals. The so-modulated signals are coupled back to the secondary side where they are demodulated. The demodulated signals are identical to the communication signals except for a DC component. A separate rectifier circuit, similar to the demodulator circuit is therefore provided for rectifying the high frequency signal. The rectified high frequency signal constitutes a DC voltage which, when combined with the demodulated signals, will remove the undesired DC component therefrom.

Abstract: In a scale wherein the signal signifying the weight is generated by counting of clock pulses over a weight-dependent part of a predetermined time interval, a second counter counts clock pulses in the remaining part of the predetermined time interval. These are added to the clock pulses counted during the weight-dependent part of the predetermined time interval and compared to a reference number which represents the total number of clock pulses in the predetermined time interval. An error signal is furnished if the two numbers do not correspond.

Abstract: One electrode each of at least selected ones of the segments of a seven segment liquid crystal indicator is connected to a test lead as well as an energizing lead. The voltage level of the energizing lead is compared to that of the test lead and an error signal is furnished if there is no correspondence therebetween. Where the seven segment indicator has a plurality of digits energized by a multiplexer, the electrodes of corresponding ones of the segments in each digit can be connected together and only one test lead is then provided for the so-formed set of segments.

Abstract: In electrophoretic apparatus measuring the velocity of particles in a fluid, a reference beam and a scattered beam scattered by the particles in the fluid at various scattering angles must be heterodyned in order that the Doppler frequency shift resulting from the scattering by the moving particles can be determined. The previous need for adjusting the optical path of the reference beam so that is always impinges with the scattered beam, independent of the scattering angle, upon the mixer or heterodyner is avoided by an automatic control of the direction of the reference and scattered beams relative to the mixer so that they both always impinge upon a predetermined location in the mixer independent of the scattering angle. The construction of the measuring cell and ways of mounting same in a housing to allow easy refilling and replacement are also disclosed.

Abstract: A monitoring unit also using a multiplicity of segments having a common electrode and each having an individual electrode is connected to the display units and the multiplexer constituting the display so that its common electrode is energized in sequence with the common electrodes of the display units and each of its individual electrodes forms the last of a series connected set of corresponding electrodes in all display units. All electrode sets are energized when the common electrode of the monitoring unit is energized, so that failure of a monitoring segment to light indicates failure of at least one electrode in the electrode set.

Abstract: Conventional electrical scales having independent weighing channels for a reference weight and the actual load with subsequent division of the resulting load signal by the reference signal to furnish the final output cannot furnish a final output signal independent of accelerating disturbances in a large critical frequency region, since changes in load change the dynamic behavior of the load channel. To substantially decrease variations in the final output signal due to such accelerating disturbances, the load signal is additionally coupled to the reference channel by means of at least one frequency-dependent network.

Abstract: Each of the video signals to be combined to create the special effect is applied to the first input of the corresponding one of a plurality of mixing units. The outputs of the mixing units are connected in common. Each mixing unit has a second input. The synchronization and burst signals of one of the video signals is applied to the second input of one of the mixing units. The gain of each mixing unit relative to the applied signal at the first input varies as a function of a corresponding control signal. Each control signal has an amplitude varying directly with the amplitude of an externally applied input signal and inversely with the amplitude of the next following input signal.

Abstract: The multi-segment indicator can be selectively switched to operate as a range display. For this purpose, the vertical segments are deactivated. Each digit in the multi-segment indicator has a top, bottom and middle horizontal segment. If the measured value is, respectively, less than equal to or greater than a desired value, all bottom, middle, and top segments, respectively are activated. Alternatively, all middle segments are activated if the measured value is within a desired range, the top and bottom segments being activated if the measured value is, respectively, greater than the upper limit of the range or less than the lower limit of the range. The sign of the measured, desired, and limiting values is considered before activation of the corresponding horizontal segments.

Abstract: A transmitter transmits a sequence of synchronization signals at a predetermined repetition rate and at least one synchronization signal at a spacing in time different from said synchronization signals to signify the start of the message. At the receiver, a window is generated and the locally generated synchronization signal is retimed every time a received synchronization signal falls outside of the window. The window is generated by a counter which controls a flip-flop. To compensate for jitter in the received synchronization signal and yet maintain the window as narrow as possible, the size of the window is decreased from a maximum at the beginning of the message and the position in time of the window relative to a center position at which a jitter-free synchronization pulse would be received is varied as a function of the number of received synchronization signals.

Abstract: For phase matching a first and second television signal, both signals are applied to the inputs of an electronic switching circuit, whose output is connected to a standard television monitor. The switching circuit applies the video portion of the first television signal to the monitor. For matching the phase of the synchronizing signals, the synchronizing signals from the first television signal are applied to the monitor for the first half of each field, those from the second television signal during the second half of each field. A visually detectable shift occurs between the top and bottom half of the picture displayed on the monitor if the synchronizing signals of the second television signal are not in phase with those of the first television signal.

Abstract: Each decoder has a random access memory storing program code numbers, a security number, a customer identification number, and program identification numbers utilized for billing purposes. Communication between each decoder and a central computer is subscriber-initiated. The program code numbers must be updated periodically by means of a computer-decoder transmission which takes place only after the program identification numbers have been transmitted from the decoder to the computer. During predetermined cycles in the system sequence, the read-out of the random access memory takes place in reverse order and starting at an arbitrary start point hard-wired into each decoder. Confusion signals are transmitted while program identification numbers already transmitted to the computer are erased in the decoder memory. The communication through the telephone network takes place by frequency shift keying.