Abstract: A piezoelectric motor actuated amplifier mechanism that utilizes a pair of saggital linkages having one relatively fixed saggital midpoint and joined at their end points to obtain a doubled amplification factor output from one relatively movable saggital midpoint. Thermal compensators are employed between the piezoelectric actuator and the saggital linkages to stabilize the amplifier throughout a wide range of temperatures.

Abstract: An anti-theft system for sensing the removal of an ignition lock assembly from its housing utilizing a grounding switch within the housing that is biased to disconnect an electrical path when the ignition switch is forcibly removed. An associated circuit provides continuous monitoring of the conduction path within the housing when the ignition switch it turned off.

Abstract: A system for measuring distance traveled by a vehicle periodically updates the accumulated measurements, displays the updated measurements and electronically stores corresponding accumulations of updated distance data in a non-volatile memory device. The system employs a method of reading through the sequentially ordered storage locations of the non-volatile memory to determine the most recently stored correct data value as a value to be both displayed and used as a base value for subsequent measured distance accumulation.

Abstract: A rectifier circuit and control regulator are assembled onto a single plate for integral installation within the housing of an alternator. The method includes fabricating the plate with insulating, masking and conducting layers so as to provide mounting areas for commonly oriented rectifier diodes and efficient cooling for the entire unit.

Abstract: An electrical connector which provides a positive interconnection between the exposed conductor runs of a flexible printed circuit film and corresponding conductors on a printed circuit board by utilizing an insulated block mounted on the printed circuit board for holding a plurality of spring contacts and providing a holding mechanism adjacent the flexible printed circuit film so that compression between the electrical contacts and the exposed runs is maintained.

Abstract: For a composite headlamp bulb body that has a seal and a flange with spaced tabs extending therefrom, the mechanism allows for the bulb body to be oriented in a predetermined configuration and inserted into the aperture of a retaining ring. The retaining ring is snap fitted for permanent installation onto the socket structure of a reflector housing and contains cantilevered finger elements with ramped surfaces to interfere with the flange tabs during rotation of the inserted bulb while in the socket.

Abstract: A flexible innerlayer tape having a corrugated portion in which the corrugation runs along the length on the tape. The innerlayer tape is wound onto a storage reel with radially leaded electrical components so as to provide separation between the wound layers of components, support for the leads and protection against a change in the lead wire orientation while on the storage reel.

Abstract: A method of assembling an electrical pin connector utilizing a molded carrier element to support and hermetically seal a number of preoriented and spacially disposed electrical pin connectors prior to inserting the carrier into a correspondingly shaped aperture of a shell housing and bonding the carrier to the shell housing to provide a hermetic seal thereto.

Abstract: An optical tracker for automatically following a designated end-point of an elongated target, such as the nose of a missile, by orienting the received image to align with a predetermined reference and nutating the image over orthogonal detectors to detect an alignment error between the end-point of the target and the optical axis of the optical system. Orientation alignment errors are corrected by appropriately rotating an image rotating optical element about the optical axis, while the optical axis alignment errors are corrected by responsively redirecting the optical system until detected errors are minimal.

Abstract: An amplifier mechanism which utilizes the electroexpansion characteristics of a pair of piezoelectric stack motors pivotally mounted in a rigid frame to directly contact and move with the output actuator element of the mechanism. The stack motors are mounted in opposition in a saggital arrangement so as to provide counterbalanced lateral forces that are manifested in longitudinal amplified movement of the output actuator element.

Abstract: A low cost concealed radio antenna makes use of a weather seal gasket material used to surround an automotive body opening. The weather seal gasket contains a metal carrier strip functions as the antenna conductor when connected to a radio antenna terminal.

Abstract: A technique for measuring the ion implant dosage involves method and apparatus for directing pulses of coherent radiation from a laser to the surface of a semiconductor that has been subjected to ion implant. The intensity of the third harmonic reflected from the semiconductor is determined and correlated to determine the ion dosage within the semiconductor.

Abstract: A piezoelectric element energized to exhibit thickness-shear mode vibration is utilized to measure the viscosity of liquids. Electrodes, of an inert material are bonded to the major faces of the disc shaped crystal and are of a lesser diameter than the crystal surfaces so as to provide a concentric ring area of the crystal that is unenergized.

Abstract: A lamp socket assembly for retaining a wedge base bulb and being configured to be insert mounted into the aperture of a rigid support panel so as to capture and make contact with exposed conductors on an intermediate flexible printed circuit layer. The socket assembly is further configured to be removable from the opposite side of the support panel from its original insertion.

Abstract: A method of providing improved electrical and physical connections between the electrically conducting terminals of an electronic component and the conductors of a printed circuit board by utilizing a high temperature solder material formed in mounds on defined areas of the conductors, coating the mounds with low temperature solder paste and mating the terminals of the component to the mounds by forcing them through the low temperature solder coatings prior to reflowing and cooling the low temperature solder.

Abstract: An on-board sensor system which compares the dielectric properties of lubricating oil in an internal combustion engine with the dielectric properties of unused oil in a contained volume and providing an output signal indicative of the changes in viscosity correlated to the dielectric constant changes of the lubricating oil.

Abstract: A field emitter device utilizing a gate electrode adjacent a carbon fiber electron emitter cathode for controlling the initial flow of electrons between the cathode and a collector element. Subsequent disconnect of the gate electrode from its power source does not affect the electron flow and thereby provides a bistable memory type device. Luminescent material on the collector provides a light emission display at points corresponding to electron flow between the emitter and the collector.

Abstract: A technique for detecting the occurrence of stall currents in a D.C. motor control circuit and inhibiting the application of drive currents to the motor by monitoring the current flow through the motor and responding to stall currents that are continuous for a predetermined period of time.

Abstract: A data transfer communication system capable of handling both node-to-node data transfer messages originating at any transmitter and transmitted to a specific receiver on the network and functional command messages originating at any transmitter and broadcast transmitted to an unspecified number of receivers on the network. Receivers are programmed to receive and acknowledge receipt of correspondingly addressed node-to-node type messages and certain correspondingly addressed functional command type messages with their unique addresses in a predetermined field location of the transmitted message. By utilizing pulse width modulation techniques, binary logic signals and a unique start signal are defined and have a dominant hierarchy that allows for bit-wise contention of the common data bus. In that manner, when contention of the data bus is resolved a higher priority message continues to be transmitted while losing contender delays its transmission until after the higher priority message is completed.

Abstract: A method of forming a 360.degree. ceramic permanent magnet by utilizing a hot isostatic pressing technique on a ceramic preform paterial cylindrically formed and placed inside a deformable metal housing having an inner diameter that is approximately the same but only slightly larger than the outer diameter of the preform. A solid steel mandrel is provided in the center diameter of the hollow cylindrical preform. Crystal alignment and densification of the ceramic material is achieved by using the hot isostatic pressing technique applied to the outside of the housing, preform and mandrel assembly.