Abstract: The position of an operator's finger on a transducing surface is used for controlling the level of utilization devices including theater lights controlled by an automated theater light control system. The transducing surface, which may be either an analog or a digital device, is elongated in shape and is immediately adjacent to an elongated display having individual light-emitting devices to indicate the level of the utilization device being controlled. Circuitry connected to the transducing surface produces a first signal to indicate when an operator's finger is present on the transducing surface, and it produces a second signal to indicate the position of the operator's finger on the transducing surface. The second signal is supplied to the display, and the first and second signals are supplied to the utilization devices.

Abstract: A watch/calculator is disclosed which employs a hold circuit to hold clock incrementing pulses when data from the clock is transferred to calculator circuitry or an arithmetic operation is performed on the data. When the time data is returned from the calculator circuitry to the clock circuitry or the arithmetic operation is completed, the hold circuit releases any held incrementing signal so that an increment signal is not lost, even when the time data is momentarily out of the clock circuitry in the calculator circuitry or other operations are being performed on the time data. Thus, when the time data is returned to the clock circuitry or the operation is completed, the data is incremented or updated as it would have been normally.

Abstract: An electronic calculator assembly is disclosed having a flexible printed circuit board bonded to a layer of resilient material mounted on a rigid backing plate. An integrated circuit package containing electronic calculator circuitry is held tightly against the flexible printed circuit board by a cradle assembly. Leads from the integrated circuit package make contact areas on the flexible printed circuit board and depress the flexible printed circuit board into the resilient layer. A keyboard assembly is mounted to the opposite side of the rigid member and the flexible printed circuit board is folded around the rigid member so that contact areas on the flexible printed circuit board also form fixed switch contacts for the keyboard.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed comprising an electronic wristwatch and a multifunction electronic calculator in a single wrist mountable case having a common display and keyboard. The watch portion of the watch/calculator includes time of day, calendar, stopwatch and alarm functions. Each of these functions can be controlled from the keyboard on the watch/calculator. The electronic calculator portion of the watch/calculator performs the four standard arithmetic functions: add, subtract, multiply and divide; and has an extra storage register. The calculator portion can perform calculations with scalar quantities entered via the keyboard or stored in the calculator as well as calculations with time interval and real time data from the watch portion. During the time that calculations are not being performed the calculator goes into a sleep or inactive mode in order to minimize the amount of battery power used by the watch/calculator.

Abstract: A variable frequency oscillator is disclosed which is electronically and periodically swept from one frequency to another. Prior to the beginning of each sweep, the variable frequency oscillator is phase locked to a reference signal source and the error voltage in the phase lock loop is stored. When the sweep begins the phase lock loop is opened and the error voltage is summed with a sweep voltage to provide for correction of oscillator drift on a sweep by sweep basis.

Abstract: A wristwatch calculator is provided with a keyboard for the entry of information into and control of operations of the apparatus. The keyboard comprises an array of switches connected in an X-Y matrix that is scanned by row and column to find and identify a key that has been depressed. The scanner is operated only when calculator circuitry in the apparatus is in a sleep or inactive mode in order to save battery power.

Abstract: A hand-held, programmable, electronic calculator is capable of performing a larger number of functions than the number of keys on its keyboard and has one or more prefix keys to allow one function key to initiate more than one function. Each key generates a unique key code when it is depressed, and the calculator may be programmed by storing a series of the key codes in a memory. Memory space can be saved by generating unique merged codes to represent the combination of a prefix key and a function key, and storing this single merged code rather than the two key codes.

Abstract: A swept frequency measuring system is provided with an electronic counter for measuring the frequency of the sweeping signal from a sweeping signal generator, at a predetermined point in the sweep indicated by a marker. Upon the occurrence of a marker, the counter starts counting the frequency of the signal while the sweeping signal generator continues to sweep. After a predetermined interval, the counter stops counting for a second predetermined interval and, then, during a third predetermined interval counts down from the count made during the first interval. The resultant count remaining in the counter is an indication of the frequency of the sweeping signal at the marker, and this count is displayed in a digital display.

Abstract: A calculator has one or more keys which initiate the performance of user-defined subroutines. When the calculator is turned on, the calculator memory is programmed with a predetermined subroutine which may subsequently be changed or replaced by the user.

Abstract: A circuit is provided for use with a swept frequency test system to produce a marker on the system display when the swept frequency signal reaches one or more predetermined reference frequencies. The marker circuit mixes the swept frequency signal with a reference frequency signal to produce a beat frequency signal or birdie, and a frequency detecting circuit detects when the frequency of the birdie is below a predetermined frequency. When this occurs a marker pulse is generated for use in the system display.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for transmitting binary-coded information over a fiber-optic link which provides a link monitor to indicate whether the fiber-optic link is intact and operating. The binary-coded information is translated into a pulse-coded signal which provides a positive pulse for a positive-going transition in the binary signal and a negative pulse for a negative-going transition in the binary signal. In addition, a refresh pulse of the same polarity as the preceding pulse is provided whenever there has been no pulse for a predetermined amount of time.

Abstract: A network analyzer is provided with an electronically variable phase shifter in the IF portion of the reference channel, and the phase shifter is connected to sweeping signal generator (sweeper) driving the device under test. As the output frequency of the sweeper changes, the control signal to the phase shifter changes the phase shift in the IF portion of the reference channel, compensating for phase differences between the test and reference signals due to different line lengths in the two signal paths. The electronically variable phase shifter may comprise a linear phase shifter such as a phase lock loop along with a frequency multiplier and down converter to multiply the phase shift produced by the phase shifter.

Abstract: A metering circuit for a condenser ionization chamber is disclosed for simultaneously recharging the ionization chamber and reading out the amount of charge required to recharge the chamber. During the recharging process, the amount of charge necessary to recharge the ionization chamber capacitor is placed on an integrating capacitor in the metering apparatus. The resultant voltage across the integrating capacitor is a measure of the radiation to which the ionization chamber was exposed.

Abstract: A push-button switch mechanism suitable for use with printed circuit boards is disclosed comprising a body that has a slidable plunger for actuating a cantilevered contact attached to the body. A button is attached to the plunger and when the button is depressed, the plunger deflects the cantilevered contact toward conductors on a printed circuit board to which the body is attached. A leaf spring in the body holds the plunger in an up or extended position and returns the plunger to this position after the button has been depressed. When the button is depressed the leaf spring is compressed along its longest axis and buckles, thereby providing tactile feedback. The switch may be provided with a light which is connected to the printed circuit board and is located in a cavity in the plunger. Illumination from the light may be seen through a translucent portion in the button.

Abstract: A power measuring apparatus for measuring the incident power of light transmitted through a fiber optic light conductor comprises a first thermistor optically coupled to a fiber optic light conductor. The first thermistor forms one arm of a self-balancing resistance bridge. A second thermistor, physically close to the first thermistor but isolated from the light incident on the first thermistor, is connected to a second self-balancing bridge. The outputs of the self-balancing bridges are connected to metering circuitry which provides a measure of the incident power.

Abstract: A digital circuit for use in a power meter provides relative power measurements by storing a value representing a first power measurement and using that value as a reference for processing subsequent power measurements.

Abstract: A keyboard is disclosed comprising a printed circuit board having conductors on only one side. Resilient switching elements are supported by selected ones of the conductors and may be deflected into contact with other selected ones of the conductors by keys supported above the switching elements.

Abstract: A network analyzer is provided with an electronically variable phase shifter in the IF portion of the reference channel, and the phase shifter is connected to sweeping signal generator (sweeper) driving the device under test. As the output frequency of the sweeper changes, the control signal to the phase shifter changes the phase shift in the IF portion of the reference channel, compensating for phase differences between the test and reference signals due to different line lengths in the two signal paths. The electronically variable phase shifter may comprise a linear phase shifter such as a phase lock loop along with a frequency mulitplier and down converter to multiply the phase shift produced by the phase shifter.