Abstract: An assembly for transferring heat at cryogenic temperatures across an interface space between a relatively fixed refrigerated cold finger and a relatively movable Dewar vacuum flask having an infrared detector array mounted therein. The interface assembly is formed of two opposing thermal conducting plates which are spring loaded so as to be in intimate contact with both the end face of the cold finger and a face of the opposite side of the mounting element for the detector array in the Dewar vacuum flask. A flexible thermal conductor element surrounds the spring and is securely connected to the opposing plates to complete the thermal conduction path between the flask and the cold finger. A first preferred embodiment of the assembly utilizes a bellows shaped flexible thermal conductor which allows the plates to make intimate contact with their corresponding faces even though the faces may be oriented in non-parallel configurations.

Abstract: A thermal compensator assembly employed in an optical system to adjust the relative location of lens elements and maintain a preset focus as the ambient temperature changes. The assembly includes a plurality of high linear coefficient of expansion push rods interconnected with levers having relatively low linear coefficients of expansion. The assembly changes in length in direct response to ambient temperature changes. A second lens barrel carrying the objective lens is bias mounted for floating movement with respect to the first lens barrel so as to abut the assembly. The compensator assembly is exemplified as being pin mounted on a first relatively fixed lens barrel. The assembly expands and contracts as a function of ambient temperature to effect movement of the floating lens barrel.

Abstract: An automotive electric quick heat system utilizing a resistive heating element connected in series between the DC output terminal of a driven alternator and the voltage regulated terminal of the main storage battery. A shunting relay is controllable to bypass the resistive heating element when the conventional engine generated heat reaches a predetermined temperature. A first embodiment utilizes the automatic electric quick heat system in the carburetor air intake of an automotive engine. A second embodiment utilizes the automatic electric quick heat system for supplying heat to the passenger compartment following disconnect of the air carburetor intake quick heat.

Abstract: A beam projector which is controlled to alternately transmit rectangular cross-sectional beams substantially parallel to a projection axis, wherein the beams are respectively pulse modulated over a correspondingly distinct pulse rate frequency range to supply yaw and pitch information and are respectively scanned in a direction correspondingly orthogonal to its cross-sectional length. The size format of the beam cross-sections and the angle of the scan are controlled according to a predetermined time variable function. In a first time period, the largest cross-sectional beams are alternately transmitted and the scan angle is decreased as a function of time, so that a fixed area of detectable information is available for detection with respect to an imaginary orthogonal reference plane moving along the projection axis at a rate corresponding to the predetermined time variable function.

Abstract: A distributor for use in internal combustion engines requiring sequential application of high voltage to pairs of spark plugs in each cylinder by a separate high voltage supply circuit. The distributor comprising a base portion and a cap portion formed of like insulative material. The base and cap portions of the distributor contain separate sets of switching contacts connected to associated external terminals and separate rotor conductors on a common rotor element. Half the externally mounted terminals in each portion extend in a direction diametrically opposite to the other half so as to eliminate external spark plug wire crossover at the distributor and are electrically connected to the contacts by means of wires internally molded into the insulation of the portions. An installation alignment feature includes a series of apertures in the rotor and the base, whereby a pin inserted therein aligns the rotor conductors to be in accurate registration with a predetermined pair of switching contacts.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring the level of a liquid in a storage tank having a predetermined reference level. A liquid level sensor is located in the tank so as to monitor the upper level of liquid over a predetermined height range at a plurality of locations within the tank. The sensor is interrogated at each location to determine the corresponding sensed level and the sensed levels are compared to see if their values are close enough to indicate that the measured level approximates a plane parallel to the predetermined reference level in the tank. Only when the sensed evels are close enough in value, is one of their level values read as a measure of the level in the tank.

Abstract: A thermal compensator assembly employed in an optical system to adjust the relative location of lens elements to maintain a preset focus as the ambient temperature changes. A serpentine channel, having several elongated channel portions parallel to the optic axis, contains a plurality of spherical elements throughout most of its length. The serpentine channel is formed on the surface of a first lens barrel, having a relatively high linear coefficient of expansion, and changes in length as the first lens barrel changes in response to ambient temperature change. The spherical elements are made of a material such as Kovar or Invar, having a relatively low linear coefficient of expansion, and therefore occupy a substantially fixed length with respect to the responsively changing length of the serpentine channel. A second lens barrel is bias mounted for movement with respect to the first lens barrel so as to abut the spherical elements within the serpentine channel.

Abstract: A solid state source of radiant energy having a characteristic frequency spectra with a high frequency cutoff .nu..sub.co, which is a function of the applied voltage value. The source is a metal-insulator-metal tunnel junction wherein the insulator layer is relatively thin with respect to the metal layers and inelastic tunneling occurs. To facilitate output coupling to surface plasmon modes in the junction, the counter-electrode metal layer, from which the radiant energy is emitted, is roughened. One of the uses for the solid state source is as a light source of a spectrophotometer where the transmittance or reflectance band characteristics of a sample are determined by converting the photodetector current to its second derivative and correlating the second derivative with the applied voltage which is modulated over a predetermined range of amplitude values.

Abstract: A circuit board having a die stamped conductive pattern is produced having terminals which are integral with the conductive pattern on the board. A first embodiment is produced by folding the conductive material over a designated terminal edge of the board to obtain commonly connected terminals on opposite sides of the board. The second embodiment is produced by extending the conductive material past the terminal edge of the board and folding the material 180.degree. to obtain an integral blade terminal extending from the board.

Abstract: A solid state source of radiant energy having a characteristic frequency spectra with a high frequency cutoff .nu..sub.co, which is a function of the applied voltage value. The source is a metal-insulator-metal tunnel junction wherein the insulator layer is relatively thin with respect to the metal layers and inelastic tunneling occurs. To facilitate output coupling to surface plasmon modes in the junction, the counter-electrode metal layer, from which the radiant energy is emitted, is roughened.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the astigmatic focusing of a spherical mirror by adjusting the radius of curvature configuration thereof. Adjustment is made by applying a couple to the outer edge of the spherical mirror. A floating support mechanism prevents distortion of the variable curvature mirror as it is oriented at different tracking angles by applying a positive fluid pressure to the convex back surface of the mirror.

Abstract: A linearly expanding and contracting linkage assembly, responsive to changes in temperature, is constructed from a plurality of elongated link elements having alternately dissimilar linear coefficients of expansion. The link elements are adjacently arranged in link pairs and the links in each pair are joined at a first end so as to appear folded. Each pair includes a first link element with a relativey large coefficient of expansion and a second element with a relatively small linear coefficient of expansion, so that the amount of linear movement of the second end of the second element with respect to the second end of the first element in each pair is due to the difference between the dissimilar linear coefficients of expansion.

Abstract: A distributor for use in the electrical system of an internal combustion engine, providing an increased angle of registration between a rotor element and each spark plug contact within the distributor. The rotor element is provided with a plurality of conductive rotor arms which, upon rotation, alternately register with spark plug contacts circumferentially disposed about the rotor element, wherein each spark plug contact is associated with one of the plurality of rotor arms. In one embodiment, each rotor arm includes a plurality of blades which are disposed to rotate into simultaneous registration with a single high voltage supply contact and a spark plug contact. In a second embodiment, each rotor arm includes a plurality of blades disposed to rotate into simultaneous registration with sequentially disposed ones of a plurality of high voltage supply contacts and a spark plug contact.

Abstract: In a die casting machine a shot of molten material is transferred through an injection tube at a relatively slow speed so that all the gas present in the tube is forced out through the associated die. When a first portion of the molten material reaches the die cavity, the event is automatically sensed by circuitry which commands the machine to transfer the remainder of the molten material through the injection tube at a relatively fast speed and cause injection thereof into the die.

Abstract: In a system employing a collimated beam projector radiating energy of a single wavelength and an image detector sensitive to a band of wavelengths, a boresight technique includes the steps of extracting a portion of the projected beam, focusing the extracted portion onto a predetermined point of a boresight target material until said material responsively emits radiation in said band of wavelengths, and collimating the emitted radiation into said image detector at a field of view location corresponding to the projected beam location.