Abstract: An electro-optical sensor senses marks on a sheet which travels longitudinally with respect to a printed circuit board, carrying linear arrays of light sources (LEDs) and photodetectors and optics which define zones displaced laterally across the width of a sheet of paper, longitudinal columns of which can contain marks, the presence and absence of which marks is detected by the sensor. The sensor is especially adapted for use in detecting marks which indicate votes on paper ballots in electronic, computerized vote counting apparatus.

Abstract: A crossed roller bearing in which the rollers are oriented with their axes of rotation effectively crossed perpendicular to each other can be made from four molded plastic parts which are outer and inner split rings where the outer rings are joined side-by-side and have surfaces extending inwardly from the inner periphery which define a outer V-groove. Sets of rollers are connected at corners of one end face by frangible connections to the inside peripheries of each of the grooves and extend radially inwardly away from the inner periphery. The outer periphery of an inside pair of rings also has faces which form a V-groove opposed to the V-groove of the outer rings, when the inner rings are advanced toward each other and joined inside the outer rings. The ends of the inner rings engage the end faces of the rollers and pivot the rollers, preferably about corners in steps on the faces which form the V-grooves which define fulcrums.

Abstract: A system for texture-based automatic detection of man-made objects or targets or features of scenes (automatic target recognition, ATR or detection, ATD) in representations of sensed natural environmental scenes spatially partitions digitized picture elements (pixels) of the scene into plural spatially coordinated groups of pixels and simultaneously determines texture measures including a composite texture measure for each group of pixels. Following self-calibration of the spatially coordinated composite texture measure values along spatially delineated row and orthogonal column directions of groups of pixels, areas of interest (AOIs) are identified as the groups of pixels most likely to contain a man-made object, target or feature in a decision logic which performs a group of statistical tests.

Abstract: Pile weatherstripping having rows of pile sandwiching a fin is fabricated so as to precisely locate the height of the fin with respect to the height of the pile. A travelling endless band receives webs providing the fins on opposite sides thereof with the edge of each web, which defines the height of the fin, precisely positioned on a side of the band and the other edge overhanging the edges of the band. Alignment of the webs on the band is provided either by an aligning fixture or by coining the webs to provide lines of indentations which index the webs at the edges of the band. The yarn which forms the pile is wound around the webs and the band and serves to wrap the overhanging portions of the webs around the band, or a guide may be used to facilitate wrapping of the webs around the band, prior to winding of the yarn. Backing strips are attached, as by ultrasonic welding, along the edges of the band. Then the yarn is slit without cutting into the webs.

Abstract: A scanning system utilizing a scanner which is located in a case of size adapted to fit in the palm of the hand or to be attached to the hand along the top outside surface of the hand between the fingers and the wrist. The scanner includes a scan engine within the case mounted on a printed circuit board which scans symbols having data identifying characteristics, which are visible through a window in a side wall of the case. A switch for enabling scanning operations may be provided by a manually actuated trigger on the printed circuit board and an arm which is pivotally mounted on a post which aligns the scan engine in the case and is captured in an opening along a wall of the case. The scanner may be connected by a retractable cable to a retraction unit which can be carried by the operator. The system may be configured with the scanner on the outer side of the hand and held on the hand as by a strap or glove. A light weight arm unit is carried on the forearm.

Abstract: The tip of a stylet which is received in a needle cannula is automatically capped in a guard body when the stylet is withdrawn from the cannula. The stylet may be reassembled in the cannula and put into working position, with the point of the tip extending from the cannula shaft, by reinserting the stylet and guard into the cannula hub. The guard contains an arm which moves into blocking position with respect to the tip of the stylet when it is withdrawn from the cannula by following a cam surface on the cannula hub (either inside or outside the hub for different styles of needle cannulas). The arm may be spring biased, across a hole in the guard in which the stylet is slidably disposed into interfering relationship with the arm. The cam surface urges the arm to bring a portion thereof which protects the point of the tip of the stylet and captures it inside the guard.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for making glass by a sol-gel process. The process is initiated by forming a mixture of silicon alkoxide and an alcohol in a solution sufficiently acidic to partially hydrolyze the silicon alkoxide. An index modifying metal alkoxide selected from the group consisting of alkoxides of titanium and zirconium is then added to the mixture. Water is next added to convert the metal alkoxides to a network of corresponding metal oxides suitable for gelation. The mixture containing the network of metal oxides is then contained for sufficient time to form a gel. The gel is acid leached for enough time to remove some of the index modifying metal oxide. To prevent further removal of index modifying metal oxide from the gel, the gel is fixed. The fixed gel is then rinsed with a solvent to remove precipitates from the gel, dried, and sintered into a transparent gradient-index glass.

Abstract: A relatively low cost, low friction plastic needle bearing assembly uses a unitary plastic circular member with multiple frangibly attached substantially cylindrical needles axially inserted into a cover. A plastic needle separator housing element provides a race and is in axial registration with the frangibly attached needles. A shaft (on which a sprocket of a web feed device or tractor is mounted), upon axial insertion through the member to which the needles are attached, frees the multiple needles from the frangible attachment to the member and ejects the member from the cover leaving the needle bearings captured by the race in the cover.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for diagnosing the mechanical condition of a machine. The method of the invention includes the following steps: sensing a reference vibrational signal of the machine; creating a reference set of events from the reference vibrational signal of the machine; saving the reference set of events; sensing a test vibrational signal of the machine; creating a test set of events from the test vibrational signal of the machine; and, comparing the test set of events with the reference set of events to determine the mechanical condition of the machine. The invention further includes a method of extracting a set of events from a vibrational signal of a machine wherein a subset of the events corresponds to a physical action of the machine. The invention also includes a method of determining a set of clustered events for a machine from a plurality of sets of events, wherein each of the sets has a number of events therein.

Abstract: A system for converting analog bar code signals from the photo detector of a bar code reader or scanner into pulses occurring in time in correspondence with the spacing of the edges of the bars of the code which has a differentiator circuit and a circuit for integrating in time the differentiated signal to produce a second signal lower in amplitude and delayed with respect to the differentiated signal. A comparator compares the differentiated signal and the integrated signal. The output of the comparator is a train of pulses having edges occurring when the differentiated signal and integrated signal are in a certain amplitude relationship (i.e., approximately equal to each other). The peaks of the differentiated bar code signal occur in coincidence with the scanning of the edges of the bar code. The integrated signal is delayed by a fixed time delay.

Abstract: A headset to be worn around the head of an operator having a head-band, a microphone, a bar code reader, a display, electronics including a microprocessor and speech recognition for translating alphanumeric names and words into data which are to be stored in the memory of the microprocessor and a transceiver for exchanging data with a remotely located modem. Upon a voice activation, messages issued by the microprocessor are visually projected on a display and the reader is initiated.

Abstract: Inputs are programmably interfaced and interlocked with output so that the state of the outputs and the operation of equipment connected thereto depends on the hierarchy or priority (control strategy) which is programmed into the controller. The inputs may be contacts (switch closures) of switches which are thrown to operate HVAC units and high or low limit sensors such as thermostats and pressure sensors of an HVAC system. The outputs operate the motor controls of motors which drive the blowers, fans, pumps, dampers and the like of the HVAC system for environmental control and the safety both of the occupants of a facility and the HVAC equipment therein. The programmable controller has an on-matrix and an off-matrix of switch points which are arranged in columns and rows. Each row of switch points is connected to an input circuit. The columns of switch points in the on-matrix are connected to the outputs via control logic to which each column of switch points is connected.

Abstract: A dual, simultaneous beam scanning system for simultaneously scanning two individually modulated adjacent scan lines on an internal drum imaging surface uses a deflector which varies the angular orientation between combined orthogonally polarized beams so that one of the beams rotates about the other in synchronism with the angular position (the distance between start of scan) along the scan lines around the drum imaging surface. Signals from both a beam position sensing photodetector array and from a shaft encoder on the deflector unit, such as a Hologon deflector, controls the deflection of one of the orthogonally polarized beams so as to maintain the spacing and prevent crossovers of the adjacent scan lines and also reduce differential bow. Differential bow may be corrected both in the internal drum configuration and in a flat field imaging system using plural beam scanning. The scan lines can overlap so as to provide high resolution imaging at a rate of the order of hundreds of scan lines per second.

Abstract: A corn harvesting system integrates automatic separation and removal of ears of corn from a plurality of rows of corn plants (the stalks thereof), the husking of the ears, the cutting or the kernels and the deposit thereof into a container from which the kernels can be removed for canning or other processing. A tracked vehicle has a structure on which mechanisms for corn ear from stalk separation (picking), husking, kernel cutting and conveying ears between the picking, husking, cutting and a cut kernel container are arranged on two levels or stories and is of height, length and width so as to be capable of being self-propelled through the fields and carried on a flat bed truck or trailer between fields on roads without special permits or routing to make bridge and tunnel clearances. The system has mechanisms for the ejection of stalks, husks and cobs directly on the field.

Abstract: A system for radiation imaging of an object in response to echo signals from a target area of the object, such as a region of the anatomy of a body. Data is obtained by time domain measurements at monostatic transducers which can be disposed in different locations. The data is processed by two-dimensional Fourier transformations reconstructed using a mapping function and which compensates for variation in the radiation pattern at the various detector locations by using a phase correction function which avoids the need for Fresnel or plane wave approximations.

Abstract: An electromagnetically actuated friction welder produces orbital motion at interfaces between parts (usually of thermoplastic material) to bond the parts by fusion generated by friction. This welder can also be operated alternatively to produce reciprocating vibratory forces thereby providing flexibility as to the selection of an orbital or reciprocating mode, depending upon the joint to be welded. The velocity of motion is controllable preferably around the resonant frequency of the driven structure by adjusting the frequency of the AC power which operates the electromagnetic drive motor of the welder. A plate which carries one of the parts to be welded and which is driven is flexurally mounted for movement in an orbital plane or planes containing the interfaces without substantial tilting by an array of stiff members, such as rods, located around the drive motor, attached to the plate at one end and to a tubular structure at the opposite ends thereof.

Abstract: An objective for an optical data storage read/write head focuses a laser beam at a spot on an optical recording surface protected by a transparent cover of an optical disc. The imaging is provided by a gradient index singlet lens having bending and an index gradient which is selected depending on the thickness of the lens and the thickness of the cover over the recording surface so as to provide aberration correction over a paraxial image height of the spot which tolerates tracking errors (displacements with respect to the track) on the recording surface. The objective desirably obtains its power exclusively from the curvature of its surfaces, with the index gradient providing for aberration correction. The gradient is preferably axial, decreasing from the vertex at the front surface (the surface on which the laser beam is incident) over a sag distance along the optical axis towards the back surface, which is opposite to the cover of the optical data storage device.

Abstract: Impellers and impeller systems are described which enable liquids and liquid suspensions to be mixed and blended where the size of the impeller and the viscosity of the liquid may require operation in the turbulent and laminar flow regimes, as well as in the transitional flow regime therebetween. The impellers have a plurality of fluidfoil blades and have camber and twist. The angle at the tip of two diametrically disposed blades of a four blade impeller may have a different blade angle at the tip than the other pair of blades. A pair of impellers may be used. These impellers may be of different diameter and disposed in close proximity so that they are in dependent relationship (preferably spaced apart by less than the diameter of the larger impeller).