Abstract: The invention is directed to an apparatus for gripping and holding a plurality of relatively small flat chips, such as electron microscope grids, by the edges thereof. An elevated support member is provided, the support member having a top surface which defines a table and having an aperture therein. A support flange extends inwardly from the aperture a predetermined distance below the table surface. A gripping assembly is removably mountable in the aperture in the support member. The gripping assembly includes a first gripping member having a periphery corresponding to the contour of the aperture and having a thickness at its periphery which corresponds to the predetermined distance. A second gripping member opposes the first gripping member. At least a portion of the periphery of the second gripping member has a contour that corresponds to the periphery of the first gripping member.

Abstract: An arrangement for the elimination of spurious chrominance component in the main luminance output signal from a chrominance-luminance separator of the comb filter type. The full band luminance signal from the comb filter is applied as one input to a switching circuit and the luminance component is also filtered by a low pass filter having a characteristic to roll off at the chrominance subcarrier frequency and applied as a second input to the switching circuit. The switching circuit is arranged to normally transmit the full band luminance component and to be switched to couple the filtered luminance signal only upon occurrence of spurious chrominance components in the luminance signal. The switching circuit is actuated by a control signal derived by comparing the top and bottom line signals in the comb filter and producing a gating signal for the switching circuit when there is a difference in the chrominance in the top and bottom lines.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a video display apparatus which includes a cathode ray tube having at least one electron gun and means for deriving a source of excitatory voltage signal representative of picture information. In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, there is provided a system for stabilizing the display intensity of the electron gun comprising means for amplifying the voltage signal and a constant current means including resistive means coupling the amplified voltage signal to the cathode of said electron gun, the resistive means having an impedance which is substantially greater than the input impedance of the cathode. In another embodiment of the invention, amplifier means are provided for applying the excitatory voltage signal to a control grid of the electron gun and a feedback signal generating means is provided for sensing the beam current of the electron gun and generating a feedback signal as a function of the sensed current.

Abstract: An apparatus which receives spoken input training words and a subsequent spoken input command word and generates a correlation function is indicative of the resemblance of the command word to each training word. A feature extraction means processes received input words and generates digital feature output signals on particular ones of a number of feature output lines. Means are provided for storing, as a time dependent matrix, the status of the feature signals which occur during each training word. Means are also provided for storing as a time dependent matrix, the status of the feature signals which occur during the command word. Further means are provided for comparing, member by member, the command word matrix with each training word matrix and for generating a correlation figure which reflects each comparison. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, means are provided for time normalizing the matrices representative of the training words and the command word before the comparisons are made.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a video display apparatus which includes a cathode ray tube having at least one electron gun and means for deriving a source of excitatory voltage signal representative of picture information. In accordance with the invention there is provided a system for stabilizing the display intensity attributable to the electron gun comprising means coupling the source of voltage signal to the gun for generating a stabilized current in the gun, the level of current in the gun being substantially independent of variations in the operating characteristics of the gun. In the preferred embodiment of the invention a test signal is periodically applied at a predetermined level to the gun. A sampler samples the beam current of the gun during the test signal and generates a correction signal in accordance with the sample value. The correction signal is applied to the electron gun so as to stabilize its reference current level.

Abstract: An apparatus for signal-in-noise enhancement by useful-channel selection, includes automatic channel switching if words of a predetermined speech vocabulary are not detected within a predetermined interval. In accordance with the invention there are provided first and second parallel channels to which audio signals are applied. A channel selector, such as a voltage controlled switch, is responsive to a control signal for selecting the first or the second channel. A speech word recognition subsystem is provided and is responsive to the audio signals transmitted over the selected channel. The speech recognition subsystem determines the presence of speech-like sounds and generates a speech-indicative signal as a function thereof.

Abstract: A syringe shield having an inner generally cylindrical shell formed of plastic material. The shell has an elongated slot extending longitudinally therein and is open-ended at its rear end and narrows radially inward at its front end to form a tapered portion. A generally cylindrical body formed of radiation-shielding material is proportioned such that its inner surface conforms generally to the outer surface of the inner shell. The body has an elongated slot therein which is aligned with the slot in the inner shell. An outer shell, formed of plastic material, conforms to the shape of the outer surface of the body and has an elongated slot aligned with the slots in the inner shell in the body. An elongated optically transparent radiation shielding member is proportioned to fit in the elongated slot in the body. In the preferred embodiment of the invention the inner shell has a plurality of flexible plastic protrusions on the inner surface thereof.

Abstract: An apparatus for housing radiation measuring material. First and second members having generally flat and opposing surfaces are provided, the members being joined with their surfaces in spaced relationship. The first surface has a plurality of circular recessed areas. The second surface has a plurality of recessed areas positionally aligned with the plurality of recessed areas in the first surface. A generally flat insert member is provided, the insert member proportioned to removably fit between the surfaces. The insert member has a plurality of circular apertures positionally aligned with the recessed areas, the apertures being adapted to removably receive and retain dosimetry discs. The recessed areas in the first and second surfaces are adapted to removably receive filter elements. The apparatus can be used for housing many of the various types of commercially available radiation measuring material.

Abstract: A shielded syringe suitable for partial disposability. In accordance with the invention there is provided a syringe having a plastic barrel, a tip on the front of the barrel, and a plunger which extends from the rear of the barrel and is manually actuable. The syringe has volumetric indicia disposed in a longitudinal pattern along its barrel. A generally cylindrical body of radiation-shielding material covers the barrel of the syringe. The body has a slot therein which is in registration with at least some of the indicia. A plastic shell of generally cylindrical shape covers the radiation-shielding body and the shell has a slot which is in registration with the slot in the radiation-shielding body. A transparent radiation-shielding member, such as a rectangular leaded-glass member, is proportioned to generally conform in size to the slot in the body and is removably insertible therein. Finally, manually actuable means are provided for retaining the radiation-shielding member in the body.

Abstract: An apparatus for generating stimulated x-ray emission. In accordance with the invention there is provided a means for producing a gas jet target capable of population inversion. Also provided is a means for generating an ion beam and a means for scanning the ion beam longitudinally along the gas jet so as to cause emission therefrom. The scanning speed is established as being substantially equal to the wavefront velocity of the emission; i.e., the speed of light. A hydrogen gas jet overcomes problems encountered using a thin hydrogen-rich foil. The hydrogen jet is not destroyed by the ion beam and the problem of making a suitable thin foil is eliminated. Also, by employing an appropriate beam density, the Doppler width is reduced as compared to the foil so that gain improvement can be achieved.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a system which constitutes a see-through portion of an enclosure, such as a wall or window portion of a building, and is operative to collect heat from solar radiation and transfer it to a utilization location. In accordance with the invention there is provided a light-transmissive exterior wall member and a light-transmissive interior wall member spaced from the exterior wall member and substantially parallel thereto. At least one heat-absorbing member is mounted in the space between the exterior and interior wall members. Fluid means, preferably air, occupies the remaining space between the inner and outer wall members, the fluid means being operative to receive heat energy from the heat absorbing member. Means are provided for recirculating the fluid between the utilization location and the space between the inner and outer wall members.

Abstract: A pipetting device which is readily adaptable to serve as a pipetting/diluting device. In accordance with the invention there is provided a tubular body having front and rear ends, the body having a central bore which narrows at the front end thereof to form a tip. A hollow enclosure is provided and defines a back chamber. A plunger is slideable in the bore and extends from the rear thereof for manual activation. The plunger has a front portion which conforms circumferentially to the inner surface of the body, the bore space in the body forward of the plunger defining a front chamber. The plunger has a communicating passage between the back and front chambers. A first one way valve means restricts flow in the communicating passage to occur only from the back chamber toward the front chamber. Finally, a second one way valve means restricts flow as between the front chamber and the tip to occur only from the front chamber toward the tip.

Abstract: For use in ultrasonic pulse-echo apparatus including an ultrasonic wave transducer for transmitting an ultrasonic wave toward an object to be examined and for producing an electric signal corresponding to echo pulses reflected by the object, an improved signal processing circuit for compensating for attenuation effects caused by ultrasound absorption, diffraction, reflection and scattering. Compensation for these image-degrading effects assures simple, reliable and repeatable equipment performance, and contributes to reliable detection of very weak echoes.

Abstract: An apparatus for feeding substantially uniform amounts of a chemical into a liquid stream having an irregular flow pattern. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention there is provided a holding tank having an inlet port for receiving a liquid stream, such as the effluent of a septic system. The tank has an aperture located at a relatively high position in a side wall thereof. A siphon means is provided and comprises an inverted U-shaped section of pipe passing through the aperture and having an inner leg which extends to a position near the bottom of the tank. The siphon means also has an outer leg which extends to a position substantially below the bottom of the tank. Chemical feeding means, preferably in the form of an erosion feeder, are coupled to the outer pipe leg of the siphon means. The feeding means contains a supply of the chemical additive and is operative to feed the chemical into the liquid discharged from the outer leg.

Abstract: A ferroelectric wave transducer device comprising an unpoled ferroelectric substrate having a substantially sinusoidal poled region at a surface thereof. A metal plate electrode is disposed on the opposing surface of the substrate. In operation an A.C. voltage applied across the two electrodes gives rise to a surface elastic wave in the substrate. Also disclosed is a method of producing a surface wave transducer of the type described. A pair of interdigitated metal electrodes are applied to a surface of an unpoled ferroelectric substrate. A poling potential is applied between the electrodes, preferably while the substrate is heated. The interdigitated electrodes are then removed and a metal plate electrode is applied over the region where the interdigitated electrodes had been. Finally, another metal electrode is applied to the opposite surface of the substrate. Further disclosed is a surface wave variable delay device which includes a metal plate slidably disposed over a sinusoidally poled region.

Abstract: A transducer for a surface acoustic wave device. In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, there is provided an acoustic wave propagating substrate and first and second spaced elongated conductive fingers disposed on the substrate. A layer of dielectric material is formed over the first and second fingers. A first electrode is formed on the dielectric layer above the first finger, the first electrode being proportioned to oppose a predetermined portion of the first finger. A second electrode is formed on the dielectric layer above the first finger, the second electrode being spaced from the first electrode and proportioned to oppose another predetermined portion of the first finger. A third electrode is formed on the dielectric layer above the second finger, the third electrode being proportioned to oppose a predetermined portion of the second finger.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to an apparatus which receives acoustic input, the input including words spoken in isolation, finds the word boundary instants at which a word begins and ends, and performs recognition functions on the words. A feature of the invention is the compensation for breath noise after the true end of a word, using a variable backup of the estimated word end. The apparatus includes means for generating feature signals indicative of feature characteristics in the received input and further includes means for comparing the feature signals which occurred during determined time boundaries with stored features corresponding to words in a vocabulary. The invention is directed to an improved system for detecting word boundaries which includes a means responsive to the input for generating a first feature signal indicative of the substantially continuing presence of speech-like sounds which meet a first selection criterion.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a variable speed drive for a bicycle. In accordance with the invention there is provided a variable diameter driving mechanism rotatably mounted on the bicycle, the mechanism including a mounting plate having a plurality of radial tracks therein. A plurality of movable sheave elements are each mounted in one of the tracks, each sheave element having a releasable retaining means which normally retains it at a substantially fixed radial position in its track. A flexible driving means, preferably a V-belt, is partially wrapped around the driving mechanism and engages different adjacent ones of the sheave elements depending on the rotational orientation of the driving mechanism. A gate or interposing means is positioned to sequentially coact with the non-engaged sheave elements and is operative, under manual control, to release the retaining means of a sheave element to allow radial motion of the sheave element.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a waveguide for microwave electromagnetic energy. A conductive ground plane has a first layer of dielectric material disposed on its surface. A second dielectric layer overlays the first dielectric layer. The second dielectric layer has a higher dielectric constant than the first dielectric layer. An elongated dielectric strip is formed on the second dielectric layer, the strip having a width which is substantially less than that of the second dielectric layer. The strip is formed of a material having a dielectric constant which is less than the dielectric constant of the material comprising the second dielectric layer. In operation, the wave energy propagates in the second dielectric layer which has the highest dielectric constant. The dielectric strip provides a lens effect in the transverse direction so most of the wave energy is carried below the strip.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining crystallization properties, such as the particle kinetics, of urine. A first feed solution is formulated as including synthetic urine plus an aliquot of natural urine. A second feed solution which includes synthetic urine is also formulated. The two feed solutions are combined in a continuous crystallizer and the particle densities or crystal populations of the contents of the crystallizer are measured. Finally, the particle kinetics, such as the nucleation and growth rate of the crystals, are calculated as a function of the measured particle densities. In the preferred embodiment, the first and second feed solutions each comprise synthetic urine plus an aliquot of natural urine, with the natural urine preferably having a concentration in the range of about three percent to thirty percent of the total.