Abstract: A device for degaussing magnetic transducers used with magnetic stripe cards includes a degaussing unit that drives a magnetic transducer with an electrical pulse, or a gradually increasing drive frequency, to eliminate the residual magnetism of the transducer. Logic circuitry controls the device to degauss with little or no additional equipment and avoids damage to the recordings, as on low-coercivity magnetic stripe cards.

Abstract: A joint for joining a silicon disc (21) to a molybdenum disc (22) comprises a layer of titanium silicide (20) and a layer of aluminium-silicon solder (23). The titanium silicide is formed by depositing a layer of titanium on the silicon disc and heating the silicon disc and the titanium to around 550.degree. C. to encourage the formation of titanium silicide. A solder disc is then compressed between the silicon and molybdenum discs at about 690.degree. C. to fuse the solder to the titanium silicide layer and the molybdenum disc. The layer of titanium silicide protects the silicon disc from dissolution during soldering, so that diffused-in features in the silicon are not damaged.

Abstract: Primitive data in the form of defined lines for a computer graphics display is processed as by interpolating triangles, as during scan conversion, and by treating lines as triangle edges. An offset point is selected, e.g. offset perpendicularly from the line midpoint a distance of one-half the line length to define a triangle vertex along with the line endpoints. The resulting triangle is interpolated for example as with barycentric coordinates. Accordingly, the line may be interpolated, e.g. shaded, as though it were an edge of the defined triangle. For lines, sample points are coerced to lie on the triangle edge.

Abstract: A self-contained cellular emergency roadside call box is disclosed without the use of external telephone lines. The call box is solar powered with battery storage and comprises a controller coupled to a cellular transceiver. The controller is also coupled to a solar array and battery which is recharged through the controller. The call box communicates through a radio-telephone link established by cellular transceiver to a cellular telecommunication system. The cellular telecommunication system includes a call site controller and mobile telephone switching terminal. Each call box comprises a plurality of status subcircuits for monitoring conditions such as battery condition and transmitter status. The call box communication and the status are processed by a micro processor which generates appropriate commands required by the cellular transceiver. Information can be transmitted bidirectionally between each of the call boxes and the communication applications processor.

Abstract: Dispersion in a multi-oscillator cavity is equalized by processing information extracted from the laser beams within the cavity to generate an error signal representative of dispersion bias, and applying a bias control signal to the cavity in such a way as to null the error signal. The bias control signal is preferably a magnetic field applied to the gain medium of the cavity by passing a corresponding current through a coil surrounding the medium. In exemplary embodiments, the laser beams are modulated by modulating the applied magnetic field and/or the path length of the cavity.

Abstract: A non-woven abrasive material including a lofty, open, three dimensional web of non-woven fibers randomly intertwined and carrying abrasive particles and a binder material bonding the fibers together and bonding the abrasive particles to the fibers, with hydrogenated vegetable oil in solid form coating the fibers, particles and binder material at the surface of the web and within voids in the interior of the web, and preferably also with a coating of resinous plastic binder encapsulating the hydrogenated vegetable oil at the surface of the web and within its interior.

Abstract: A system and a method for controlling emissions caused by spraying liquids from a moving vehicle onto a pavement surface use a vacuum hood mountable to the vehicle and a fan for creating a partial vacuum within the hood to draw air containing emissions into the hood for collection. A filter or other suitable apparatus is used to extract the emissions before the air is discharged to the atmosphere. The vacuum hood is located above the sprayed surface and is preferably located behind the nozzle. It has a primary opening at its forward end for collection of air adjacent the nozzle and a smaller, auxiliary opening behind the primary opening.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus are provided for complete fluid exchange and internal system flushing of an automatic transmission system without disassembly. The apparatus is connectable to the transmission system and, in a preferred embodiment, is operable at an adjustable output fluid flow rate and pressure setting to act as an independent fluid supply and storage system for the automatic transmission system in the course of a fluid exchange and flushing operation. In addition to its application to an automatic transmission system, the apparatus of the present invention can be used to flush the fuel system of any internal combustion engine.

Abstract: A dual bottle container has two bottles which are releasably interlocked together in side-by-side relation by a plateau on one of the bottles which engages a depression on the other bottle for transverse sliding movement. The plateau is bordered at opposite sides by rounded lip portions and the depression is bordered at opposite sides by rounded groove portions, the lip portions and the groove portions engaging each other to prevent undesired relative movement between the two bottles.

Abstract: A system and a method for controlling emissions caused by spraying liquids from a moving vehicle onto a pavement surface use a vacuum hood mountable to the vehicle and a fan for creating a partial vacuum within the hood to draw air containing emissions into the hood for collection. A filter or other suitable apparatus is used to extract the emissions before the air is discharged to the atmosphere. The vacuum hood is located above the sprayed surface and is preferably located behind the nozzle. It has a primary opening at its forward end for collection of air adjacent the nozzle and a smaller, auxiliary opening behind the primary opening.

Abstract: Two embodiments of a molten metal gauging and control system using a fixed position capacitance sensor and methods therefor are disclosed. The first embodiment discloses a molten metal gauging system, the output of which can be used by various different external control systems to adjust the flow of molten metal appropriately. The second embodiment discloses a molten metal gauging and control system that comprises the molten metal gauging system of the first embodiment in conjunction with a tapered pin positioner system as the element to control the flow of molten metal.

Abstract: The invention discloses a controller for controlling an electric motor having a stator and an armature, the stator includes stator magnetic poles, the armature includes multiple two-node, open circuit armature windings. The armature windings are inductively linked the armature and insulated from the armature and from each other. The motor has at least one repeatable section, each repeatable section includes a group of poles and windings. The stator has two stator magnetic poles per repeatable section.

Abstract: A bituminous sandstone material, which can be applied to damaged pavement areas at ambient temperatures, is prepared by comminuting naturally occurring bituminous sandstone in the presence of water to form an intimate mixture of bituminous sandstone having particles which pass through a one-quarter inch minus screen, preferably through a one-eighth inch minus screen, with sufficient water to form a material having a water content of from about 3% to about 20%, based on the weight of the mixture. In a preferred embodiment, the naturally occurring material is solidified into discrete bodies for transportation and/or storage. The discrete bodies can later be comminuted in the presence of water to form the prescribed mixture.

Abstract: A photovoltaic module having a plurality of photovoltaic cells disposed behind a front cover portion to receive radiation has at least one specular reflector disposed alongside the cells to direct incident radiation back into the front cover portion and onto the photovoltaic cells for conversion to electrical energy. In a preferred embodiment, the specular reflectors have reflective surfaces of concave curvature configured to reflect incident radiation back into the front cover portion for internal reflection onto the photovoltaic cells.

Abstract: An improved butterfly mop comprises a sponge member adapted to be either urged into a normal position for cleaning, or folded inwardly upon itself in a compressed position to facilitate squeezing of the sponge member, or folded outwardly upon itself into a retracted position with the underside of the sponge member exposed to facilitate maneuvering the sponge into narrow recesses or around tight corners. In one embodiment the butterfly mop comprises retraction members secured to the sponge member whereby the sponge member is easily forced into its retracted position.

Abstract: A system D interfaces with a multiplicity of individual terminals T1-Tn of a telephone network facility C, at the terminals callers are prompted by voice-generated instructions to provide digital data that is identified for positive association with a caller and is stored for processing. The caller's identification data is confirmed using various techniques and callers may be ranked and accounted for on the basis of entitlement, sequence or demographics. Callers are assigned random designations that are stored along with statistical and identification data. A break-off control circuit may terminate the computer interface aborting to a terminal for direct communication with an operator. Real-time operation processing is an alternative to stored data. The accumulation of stored data (statistical, calling order sequence, etc.) is variously processed and correlated as with developed or established data to isolate a select group or subset of callers who can be readily identified and reliably confirmed.

Abstract: A self-contained cellular emergency roadside call box is disclosed without the use of external telephone lines. The call box is solar powered with battery storage and comprises a controller coupled to a cellular transceiver. The controller is also coupled to a solar array and battery which is recharged through the controller. The call box communicates through a radio-telephone link established by the cellular transceiver to a cellular telecommunication system. The cellular telecommunication system includes a call site controller and mobile telephone switching terminal. Each call box comprises a plurality of status subcircuits for monitoring conditions such as battery condition and transmitter status. The call box communication and the status are processed by a micro processor which generates appropriate commands required by the cellular transceiver. Information can be transmitted bidirectionally between each of the call boxes and the communication applications processor.