Abstract: A hand held tape applicator operable with one hand for holding and applying pressure sensitive adhesive tape to a receiving surface from a roll of tape and for severing the roll of tape from the tape applied. In operation, the tape is pressed against the receiving surface by a tape-applying roller until a desired length of tape is unrolled and applied to the surface. After the desired length of tape has been applied to the receiving surface, a thumb actuated slide button actuates a serrated cutting edge so as to cut the tape. If desired, the tape applicator can be operated in the conventional manner of stripping off a length of tape to be applied to a receiving surface by the use of both hands holding both ends of the tape strip as obtained from the roll.

Abstract: A constant false alarm rate (CFAR) moving target indication (MTI) radar system, operable in various electronic countermeasures (ECM) environments is disclosed. A modified Dicke-Fix circuit is used to drive the MTI. Operation of the invention results in automatic restoration of signal level out of a filter. Thus the invention provides a CFAR-MTI that is not degraded significantly by swept jammers and is not captured by off-frequency jammers.

Abstract: A gas mixing valve including a hollow piston slidably lodged within a sleeve. Openings are formed in the piston wall in adjustable alignment with inlet ports in the sleeve, the longitudinal spacing between the openings being substantially equal to the longitudinal spacing between their respective inlet ports. Longitudinal piston movement causes the inlet ports to be progressively blocked, the ratio between the effective unblocked portions of the ports remaining substantially constant. A pressure responsive means such as a diaphragm controls the longitudinal piston position so as to vary the effective portions of the inlet ports inversely to the pressure within the sleeve and piston. The variance in pressure drops across the inlet ports due to changes in the flow rate of the inflowing gases is thereby limited without altering the mixing ratio.

Abstract: A compensator valve for use with a respirator/ventilator system having means for permitting patient assisted breathing and also permitting selection of a positive and expiratory pressure (PEEP). The system incorporating the advantages of the present invention generally incorporates an inhalation phase and an exhalation phase in its operative cycle. An exhalation valve assembly coupled into the system is operable between open and closed positions. This exhalation valve is maintained in a closed position during the time that breathing gas is being supplied to a patient. Operation of the compensator valve of the invention limits the exhalation/exhaustory pressure to a reference positive and expiratory pressure, thus affecting the patient's breathing effort. In practice, the difference between a reference positive and expiratory pressure and patient instantaneous exhaustory pressure causes the operation of the compensator valve of the invention so as to regulate the pressure applied to the exhaustion valve.

Abstract: A potentiometer contained within a housing is operated from the outside by means of an operating member which extends inward through an orifice in a housing wall. The operating member engages the potentiometer drive stem with the aid of an O-ring slip clutch, and includes a flange which is spring-urged against the interior housing wall to inhibit internal explosions from propagating to the outside.

Abstract: A potentiometer and switch combination including a rotatable control cap positioned over a potentiometer body to form a housing. The cap is provided with an annular flange which abuts an annular shoulder on the body, either the flange or the shoulder being formed from stiffly flexible, resilient material. The body holds the cap in place by means of a post having a chevron at its upper end which mates with a recess in the cap. The cap is positioned to deform the stiffly flexible, resilient material into frictional sealing relation with its abutting member and thereby seal the interior of the housing. The sealing arrangement also introduces a torque which opposes rotation of the cap. The switch includes a conductive strip held by the body, one portion of the strip forming a first contact and another portion forming a spring detent.

Abstract: A valve assembly for mixing air and oxygen in a medical respirator over a wide range of volumetric flow rates, without sacrificing relative mixing accuracy at the lower flow rates. The assembly is divided into a plurality of mixing valve modules characterized respectively by progressively increasing volumetric flow capacities and progressively decreasing absolute mixing accuracies. The higher flow capacity modules are sequentially brought into operation as the overall valve flow increases and then interrupted when the flow decreases below a threshold level associated with each module. The valve assembly accordingly has a large range of flow capacities without degrading absolute mixing accuracy during low flow rate conditions by the effect of the higher capacity modules.

Abstract: The subject device prevents a moving document from lifting off a support deck. A plurality of stiffly resilient flaps extend from a frame close to the deck and are canted in the direction of card travel. Removable mounting blocks clamp the flaps to the frame, with opposed surfaces of adjacent blocks guiding the flaps in the proper orientation. An end flap may be extended in length for further document guidance.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for creating a dynamic image on a television receiver display screen reflecting mood and character of music. Methods of pattern generation and color modulation are described. The pattern as seen by a viewer is a derived X-Y coordinate plot. The invention contemplates a format translator which is defined as a memory that samples an audio waveform periodically, determines the screen position corresponding to each sample, and stores video pulses in memory locations corresponding to those screen positions. The memory is then read in a line-by-line format for television display. The memory is thus written into in an X-Y format and read out in a raster scan format. Symmetry and variable image change rate can be employed in order to produce a pattern with pleasing effects. Image color is varied by shifting the phase of the chrominance sub-carrier as a function of the music envelope.

Abstract: First and second pressure sensitive diaphragm assemblies are mutually spaced at a substantially constant distance by a rigid member, whereby the diaphragm assemblies flex in unison in response to imposed pressure differentials. A longitudinally rigid but transversely flexible and resilient means such as a strut wire couples the diaphragm assemblies with a deflectable motion sensing means such as a cantilever beam bearing at least one strain gage. The coupling means flexingly accommodates to normal transverse deflection movements made by the motion sensing means, thereby significantly reducing both the strain on the motion sensing means and distortions in the readout obtained therefrom. In a preferred embodiment a hollow tube is employed to space the diaphragm assemblies. A motion sensing beam projects inwardly through an opening in the tube and is joined therein to a strut wire which extends inside the tube from one of the diaphragm assemblies.

Abstract: A coupling between a linear motion drive shaft and a driven member, suitable for use in a linear motion potentiometer in which the driven member comprises a contact spring mounting block. An O-ring formed from a stiffly deformable, spring material is mounted on the drive shaft and held against a transverse wall on the driven member so as to absorb transverse and angular misalignments of the drive shaft and transmit to the driven member longitudinal drive shaft movements. The coupling exhibits low backlash when the motion of the drive shaft is reversed, and accommodates to both angular and transverse deviations of the shaft away from a linear drive orientation.

Abstract: A document reader having a pair of improved sensing heads for reading marks on both sides of a document. Each head comprises a body portion equipped to transmit radiation onto a document and sense radiation reflected back from marks on the document. A substantially transparent, ultra high molecular weight polyethylene film secured to the body portion over the transmitting and receiving apparatus shields the body portion from wear by passing documents. With the film in place it is possible to avoid wrapping the documents about the sensing heads, a procedure that is otherwise desirable for accurate mark reading, and thereby further reduce wear.

Abstract: A highly accurate resistance element formed by depositing a plurality of conductive pads at spaced intervals along a substrate, depositing the resistance element in intimate electrical contact with the pads, sensing the electrical resistance between successive pairs of pads, and trimming away resistance material from the element between selected pairs of pads until predetermined resistance values between each pair are achieved. In a preferred embodiment a portion of each pad is offset from the resistance element and adapted to receive a probe from a laser trimmer. The element can be advantageously employed in potentiometers.

Abstract: A reversible snap-action switch including a drive member and a switch-actuating driven member connected by a lost motion coupling. The relative position between the drive and driven members is shifted by substantially the lost motion distance as the drive member moves the driven member through a switching zone and then reverses its direction to return to its original position. In each direction of movement a bidirectional accelerating means imparts a snap-action motion to the drive member. This motion is coordinated with the position of the driven member so that switching occurs during the snap-action motion in each direction of movement, thereby inhibiting any hesitation in making or breaking the switch contacts. The invention also includes a cement-free mounting for the switch contacts.

Abstract: A solid state dot sequential color display device is disclosed. A color image is formed in a liquid crystal display panel by breaking each picture element up into its three primary color components and presenting them in an adjacent manner. The space occupied by a trio of primary color elements is smaller than the resolving power of the human eye. Techniques of large scale integration (LSI) are employed to effect the required addressing circuitry as applied to a matrix array of triads of reflective electrodes in the dynamic scattering liquid crystal display panel. Arrangements used to form the basic color cells involved are: (a) deposition of band-pass filters in front of the display and (b) deposition of band reflection mirror in back of the liquid crystal material.

Abstract: A vapor chamber cooking device is disclosed wherein a capillary wick is disposed along the bottom surface of a sealed vapor chamber, the top wall of which provides a cooking surface. A plurality of internal structural support members having vapor pressure equilization holes are disposed between the wick and the upper surface of the chamber and secured to the upper chamber surface. A quantity of volatile working fluid is disposed in the chamber sufficient to saturate the wick when in a liquid state. An arrangement is provided for heating the chamber to vaporize working fluid contained therein, and a feedback control arrangement responsive to the vapor pressure within the chamber controls the heating arrangement to maintain the chamber vapor pressure within a predetermined range. Additional arrangements may be provided to respond to predetermined conditions of overpressure within the chamber to relieve the overpressure conditions.

Abstract: A simplified and reliable system for electronically controlling the angular position relative to an antenna axis of the ground areas from which radar signals are received and processed so that air-to-ground range may be measured accurately regardless of the roll angle of the aircraft in which the radar is mounted. In a radar silent lobing system in which lobing is done on reception of the transmitted signals, the roll compensation system provides direct current signals which are proportional to the sine and cosine of one-half the roll angle and which are selectively applied to the pole pairs of the azimuth and elevation poles of the ferrite modulator that is utilized in the lobing system. During range determining operations, first and second pole pairs each of an azimuth and elevation pole, or group of azimuth and elevation poles, are energized or selected during alternate lobing or pulse repetition frequency intervals. The system functions at any roll angle .alpha.

Abstract: The elimination of interfering radiation from received radar signals is generally accomplished by side-lobe suppression systems. Large clutter signals, however, can cause a side-lobe suppression system to become almost inoperable. In a high clutter environment the operation of a conventional side-lobe suppression system may also result in a high incidence of false alarms. In the present invention, pulse interference that arrives by way of the main antenna side-lobes that is smaller on the side-lobe suppression channel than the clutter signal appearing on the main radar channel is blanked prior to the implementation of a moving target indication (MTI) channel. A sharply rising interference pulse such as a spike occurring in the auxiliary channel may be detected by a fast time constant (FTC) circuit to provide a sidelobe blanking signal.