Abstract: A filter device for use in the return line of a power steering system for filtering the fine metal particles in the power steering fluid, thereby minimizing contamination, reducing friction and maintaining normal fluid temperatures. A perforated support plate is mounted between an upper body wall and a lower body wall for separating the housing interior into an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber. A felt filter disc is located in intimate contact with the support plate on the inlet chamber side of such plate for filtering the particles from the inlet fluid prior to the passage of the fluid through the filter and the holes in the support plate into the outlet chamber. A relief valve is provided by the combination of the aligned central opening in both the support plate and the adjacent filter disc together with a boss in the upper body wall which extends into such central opening in sealing engagement against the filter material for closing off the relief valve opening under normal filtering conditions.

Abstract: A microprocessor based, power systems stabilizer operating through excitation control wherein all required stabilizing information is derived from sampled values of voltage and current taken from potential and current transformers. The instantaneous values of terminal voltage and current are processed using algorithms in the accelerating power signal digital processor portion of the microprocessor to thereby develop a value of instantaneous internal voltage, the value of slip frequency of such voltages in relation to rated frequency and a digitally filtered value of electrical power. The accelerating power is calculated from the rate of change of slip and electrical power. The values of accelerating power are processed with digital algorithms in a stabilizing signal compute section of the microprocessor to yield a stabilizing signal which provides the desired modulating action for damping the machine oscillations of the synchronous generator.

Abstract: A sandal is provided with an inside arch and ankle stabilizing flange which forms an integral part of a one-piece molded bottom without a separate inner sole. The flange is smoothly curved and extends upward along the arch side for a longitudinal length from a point adjacent the side of the ankle stabilizes the ankle joint by preventing it from rolling inward toward the walking surface thereby providing an unusually high degree of security for an open shoe. The footbed of the molded bottom conforms to the plantar surface of the normal foot while walking or at rest. Both the bottom footbed and the upper pattern including the inner longitudinal arch flange are designed to allow for the anatomical and functional differences between the inside and outside longitudinal arch areas of the normal foot, and act to discourage the tipping of the ankle toward the inside of the foot, resulting in pronation.

Abstract: Springs are arranged in elastic fluid turbine seal ring systems to accomplish a condition of relatively large clearance while starting and during low load conditions but in cooperation with pressure forces occurring at higher loads permitting said seal ring to relocate to a position of relatively small clearance to improve sustained efficiency.

Abstract: A method and system for deflecting a broad ion plasma beam which includes an ion source for forming an ion plasma, an extraction means for extracting a broad ion plasma beam from the ion plasma, and deflection means including a non-grounded surface located in the path of the ion plasam beam and at an angle to the path for deflecting the ion plasma beam to a target material. A grounded, screen grid is located in front of the deflecting means in the path of the ion plasma. The screen grid has openings which permit passage of the ions in the ion plasma, but block passage of the electrons. The plasma beam is deflected by the deflection means and the grounded, screen grid onto the target material for sputter cleaning, deposition and ion milling applications.

Abstract: A Chinese/Kanji on-line recognition system consisting of four main sections, these being tablet electronics, a signal filter and segment integration unit, a base stroke classification unit and a symbol element recognition unit, and a symbol recognition output table. The tablet electronics provides pen coordinate signals and pen up/down signals which are applied to the signal filter and segment integration unit to define segments of strokes which correspond to continuous motion of a pen on a tablet in a fixed direction. The base stroke classification unit classifies the motion of the pen between pen down and pen up occurrences into one of 42 categories and also indicates if the stroke has crossed a prior stroke. This is then analyzed by the symbol element recognition unit which interprets the base strokes that have been recorded for the word and generates a sequence of symbol elements, referred to as "alphabet" components, that occur in this symbol.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for calibrating a robot and using the results of this calibration to compensate for inaccuracies of the robot and also to diagnose robot deterioration. The method includes moving the robot to a set of nominal positions, commanded by the robot controller or measured by position encoders built into the robot, and determining the associated actual positions by measuring the robot position with an independent accurate measuring means or by aligning the robot end effector with an accurate calibration mask. The calibration results are stored and subsequently used to compensate for robot inaccuracy so that the robot moves to the actual desired positions.

Abstract: A surface reaction process for controlled oxide growth is disclosed using a directed, low energy ion beam for compound or oxide formation. The technique is evaluated by fabricating Ni-oxide-Ni and Cr-oxide-Ni tunneling junctions, using directed oxygen ion beams with energies ranging from about 30 to 180 eV. In one embodiment, high ion current densities are achieved at these low energies by replacing the conventional dual grid extraction system of the ion source with a single fine mesh grid. Junction resistance decreases with increasing ion energy, and oxidation time dependence shows a characteristic saturation, both consistent with a process of simultaneous oxidation and sputter etching, as in the conventional r.f. oxidation process. In contrast with r.f. oxidized junctions, however, ion beam oxidized junctions contain less contamination by backsputtering, and the quantitative nature of ion beam techniques allows greater control over the growth process.

Abstract: A hybrid scheme for controlling transmission errors in digital data communication systems. Normally, data blocks with a small number of parity digits for error detection are transmitted. When the presence of errors is detected, the retransmissions are not the original data blocks but some properly selected blocks for correcting errors in those erroneously received data blocks which are stored in a buffer at the receiver. The retransmitted blocks are formed based on the original data blocks and error-correcting codes with an invertible property. When such blocks are received, they are used to recover the original data blocks either by an inversion operation or by a decoding process.

Abstract: A sequential decoder for error correction on burst and random noise channels using convolutionally encoded data. The decoder interacts with a deinterleaver which time demultiplexes data from a data channel from its time multiplexed form into a predetermined transformed order. The decoder includes a memory for storing a table of likelihood values which are derived from known error statistics about the data channel such as the probabilities of random errors and burst errors, burst error severity and burst duration. The decoder removes an encoded subblock of data from the deinterleaver and enters it into a replica of the convolutional encoder which calculates a syndrome bit from a combination of the presently received subblock together with a given number of previous subblocks. The syndrome bit indicates if the current assumption of the path through the convolutional tree is correct.

Abstract: Reactive ion etching of materials is carried out using a low energy ion beam of controlled energy and current density. The ion beam is generated with an ion source using a single extraction grid having multiple apertures to obtain high current densities at low ion energies. A reactive gas such as CF.sub.4 is introduced into the ion source and ionized to form a plasma which acts as the source of ions for the beam. The plasma forms a sheath located adjacent to the single extraction grid such that the ions are extracted from the plasma through the grid apertures and form a low energy ion beam for bombarding the wafers for etching the same. The size of each of the grid apertures is about the same or smaller than the thickness of the plasma sheath adjacent the grid. The ion source is designed to produce an ion current density of about 1 mA/cm.sup.2 at a low ion energy of about 10-100 electron volts.

Abstract: An air pressure counterbalance system is provided for an X Y Z orthogonal manipulator wherein the effect of gravity on a manipulator arm joint is counterbalanced both while hydraulic pressure is supplied to the hydraulic motors and also when the motive power is suspended. The air pressure counterbalance force is produced by a piston operating in an air cylinder in the direction of the gravity axis as the manipulator hand is raised or lowered. A selected constant air pressure is supplied to the counterbalance cylinder through an air pressure regulating system. In a preferred embodiment, a program-controlled counterbalance system is provided wherein the weights of various tools to be grasped by the manipulator fingers during a program are stored in CPU memory. The manipulator program selects the appropriate counterbalancing force to compensate for the predetermined tool weight and adjusts an air pressure regulator accordingly.

Abstract: A servo-control valve for a linear hydraulic motor wherein the control valve piston is isolated from the side loading of a cam and roller by employing a cam follower plunger, as a separate detached element coaxial with the piston. The valve piston and the cam follower plunger are maintained in intimate contact due to the constant back pressure applied by the hydraulic system. The plunger is encased in a cylindrical array of balls which are preloaded between the plunger and the piston chamber walls such that the plunger experiences essentially only rolling friction, but no sliding friction, as the plunger moves. This form of preloading of the balls eliminates the backlash associated with clearance around the plunger.

Abstract: Variable length data words are processed segment-by-segment together with corresponding segments of an enciphering key. As a function of the contents of a data segment, one of several modification modes is chosen. In accordance with the chosen modification mode, the enciphering key is changed following each enciphering operation of a segment. The described steps are preferably carried out three times for the full data word. The result of the third cycle represents the enciphered data word. Deciphering is effected in the same manner.

Abstract: A comparator circuit for comparing two voltage levels in a C-2C A/D and D/A converter, comprising four cross-coupled active devices (FETs) in a latch arrangement whereby an offset voltage is used to compensate for imbalances in the comparator. The comparator includes a first FET having its gate electrode connected to the output of the D/A converter, and a second FET having its gate electrode connected to an analog input voltage. The first and second FETs each have one of their electrodes connected to a common voltage source. A third and a fourth FET have one of their electrodes connected respectively to the other electrode of the first and second FETs at first and second common nodes, respectively. The output of the comparator is provided at one of such first and second common nodes. The first and second nodes are also respectively connected to the gate electrodes of the fourth and third FETs in a cross-coupled arrangement.

Abstract: A visual display panel wherein a beam of light is internally reflected within an elastomer film and guided across the panel, and an electric field is applied at selected areas of the elastomer film by applying a voltage between at least one pair of upper and lower conducting lines deposited in parallel rows on opposite sides of the elastomer film causing deformation of the elastomer film at the cross-over regions of the upper and lower lines and diversion of the light. More particularly, a source of light is provided at the edge of the elastomer film and directs the light into the elastomer film at an angle which permits complete internal reflection across the elastomer film, except at the locations where the film is deformed. The upper set of parallel conducting lines extend in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the lower set of parallel conducting lines on the other side of the elastomer film. The elastomer film is elastic, transparent and electrically insulating and may be several mils thick.

Abstract: A resist spinning head for preventing photoresist, or electron and X-ray resist from flowing to the edge of the wafer when spin coating in a photoresist spinner, which includes the use of a tapered top plate having a knife-edge contact to the surface of the wafer so as to seal the top of the wafer at an outer ring and prevent resist from flowing under the top plate; whereby the resist is guided, during spinning, by the tapered top surface to the edge of the plate and off the head. The tapered top plate is pressed against the wafer and secured by a spring biasing means to a spinner motor shaft.

Abstract: An associative system for providing virtual paged stores with on-chip associative address translation and control functions. Each of a plurality of integrated circuit chips contains the storage cells for a unit of data and at least one associative circuit including a virtual page address register for storing the virtual address bits assigned to each page. The CPU includes a virtual page address register and a real address register, with the CPU virtual page address register being connected to the virtual address register on each chip for interrogating the chips when a page request is made. The real address register holds the real address bits for selecting a byte of data from the chips. An interrogate virtual page address is applied to each of the chips for comparison with the address stored in the virtual page address registers, whereby a match will directly enable the selected chip to be read and/or written into.

Abstract: A process for the fabrication of a deformographic storage display tube (DSDT) target in which a wafer of silicon or other etchable material is used (1) as a temporary support during the generation of the active region of the target and (2) as a supporting structure for the completed target. The DSDT target structure comprises a reflection layer on a dielectric layer supported in turn on a silicon or other etchable material wafer, the wafer being etched off at its back side to expose the dielectric layer while providing an outer frame support structure made of the wafer around the edge, with the dielectric layer being etched to form pillars of the dielectric on the backside of the reflection layer, whereby the dielectric pillars enable a deformation action to occur in the region between the pillars.