Abstract: A noise blanker circuit for a stereo radio receiver is disclosed herein. The noise blanker circuit detects noise impulses in a received radio signal. When the magnitudes of these detected noise impulses exceed a predetermined threshold level corresponding noise blanking pulses are produced which are coupled to a gate means. The gate means receives the received radio signal and selectively passes and blocks this signal in response to the noise blanking pulses such that the output of the gate means is essentially free of noise impulses. A manually adjusted actuator is provided for selectively altering the predetermined threshold level of the noise blanker circuit such that the most efficient mode of noise blanking can be implemented. In addition, rate shut-off circuitry is provided to prevent the production of noise blanking pulses when the detected noise impluses occur at a repetition rate exceeding a maximum repetition rate.

Abstract: A magnetically recording and reproducing apparatus selectively applicable to a tape cartridge and a tape cassette and having a first magnetic tape head for playing the tape contained in the cartridge and a second magnetic tape head for recording and reproducing the cassette tape. This apparatus comprises an entryway formed and adapted for receiving the cassette or the cartridge, a holder normally disposed in the entryway for receiving and conveying the cassette, a first means responsive to the cartridge being placed in its partially inserted position of the entryway for moving the holder downward out of the entryway thereby permitting the cartridge to be pushed deeper into the entryway so as to bring the cartridge tape into cooperative engagement with the cartridge tape head, and a second means responsive to the cassette being placed in its fully received position of the holder for moving the holder downward so as to bring the cassette tape into cooperative engagement with the cassette tape head.

Abstract: A tin plated brass lead terminal for a button diode is disclosed. The lead terminal comprises a flat plate portion which generally defines a horizontal plane, a first upward projection centrally connected to the flat plate portion and a plurality of second projections downwardly extending from the flat plate portion. The flat plate portion comprises a major surface which is substantially rectangular in its horizontal peripheral shape and which is intended to be soldered to a cylindrical raised contact electrode of a button diode. The first upward projection has a notch therein around which a wire lead can be wrapped and the second downward projections aid in locating the major surface of said flat plate portion with respect to the raised cylindrical contact of the button diode.

Abstract: A support houses a plurality of probes for guided movement relative to a printed circuit board unit under test fixedly mounted adjacent the support. Each probe is operatively associated with independent, pneumatically operated, piston and cylinder drive means for moving individual probes selected according to a predetermined program from a first retracted position to a second extended position. In the extended position only a continuous conductive path through the piston and cylinder is formed between the unit under test and an electrical interface for transmitting electronic signals therebetween. Several varieties of probes are provided for low and high frequency applications.

Abstract: A magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus is provided which is selectively applicable for tape cartridges and tape cassettes and which is formed with an entryway into which a tape cartridge or a tape cassette is to be inserted. A first magnetic tape head is located deeper in the entryway for playing the tape contained in the cartridge and a second magnetic tape head is located below the entryway for playing the tape contained in the cassette. A holder for receiving and conveying the tape cassette is positioned in the entryway when neither the tape cartridge nor the tape cassette is inserted into the entryway. Also a holder positioning mechanism is provided for moving the holder downward out of the entryway when the tape cartridge is inserted into the entryway, thereby permitting the tape cartridge to be pushed deeper into the entryway so that the cartridge tape can come into cooperative engagement with the first magnetic tape head.

Abstract: A digital signal processing circuit for controlling the spark timing and exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) of an internal combustion engine is disclosed herein. The circuit first samples the magnitude of the vacuum manifold pressure and produces a complex function analog output signal in response thereto. The output signal is produced by first converting the vacuum pressure to a digital signal, then using a read only memory to produce a complex function digital output signal and then reconverting the digital output signal to an analog output signal. The pressure analog output signal is then stored in a first holding device. Subsequently, an analog signal proportional to the period of engine revolution is sampled by the same circuit.

Abstract: A device for storing power and providing for the controllable slow rate release of the stored power is provided. The device comprises a wheelwork fulcrumed to and carried by a pivotal lever, wherein the wheelwork is alternately operated by a motor driven pinion and by an energy storage member.

Abstract: An electronic ignition circuit is disclosed which produces a spark timing signal for controlling the firing of the cylinders of an internal combustion engine. A sensor produced input signal having a frequency proportional to engine speed is coupled to an ignition timing means which produces a spark timing signal by controlling the charging and discharging of a capacitor. The produced spark timing signal differs in phase from the input signal as a predetermined function of engine speed and the phase difference preferably varies as function of speed according to a plurality of different slope line segments over a range of engine speeds. An advance means also receives the sensor input signal and produces a digital output signal for the timing means comprising a series of pulses synchronized with the input signal and having predetermined pulse widths related to the magnitude of the vacuum pressure produced by the engine.

Abstract: A housing contains a circuit board having a Hall effect sensor attached thereupon and a magnetic circuit positioned to provide magnetic flux through the Hall effect sensor. The magnetic flux through the Hall effect sensor is interruptable by a high permeability vane moving through an air gap in the magnetic circuit, activating the Hall effect sensor to provide timing signals for an automotive ignition distributor system. The housing contains a flux concentrator and a magnetic and pole piece assembly on opposite sides of the circuit board. Adhesive means fix the magnetic circuit elements and the circuit board in position.A method for assembling the magnetic circuit elements and the circuit board within the housing described above includes resiliently holding the circuit board in the reference position in the housing.

Abstract: A pushbutton tuner is disclosed in which each pushbutton key can exert an equal force against a slidable tuning element in response to actuation of the key. A link means engages each key during actuation of the key and fixedly positions the key with respect to the tuner frame while a locked adjustable element on the fixed key contacts the slidable tuning element through an elbow lever to position the tuning element.

Abstract: A selective frequency scale display mechanism for a pushbutton AM and FM radio receiver is disclosed. Presetable cam projections are located on each of a plurality of tuning pushbuttons and predesignate each pushbutton for tuning the radio to either the AM or FM frequency waveband. Manual actuation of a tuning pushbutton causes a band selecting cam projection to selectively engage and pivot a pivotal plate which results in actuating an overcenter spring assembly that in turn pivots a multisurface display body having different longitudinally extending scales on each of a plurality of its surfaces. In this manner, manual actuation of a tuning pushbutton results in selecting the band to which the radio will be tuned to, selecting the individual frequency within this band that the radio will be tuned to, and providing a visual display of the longitudinally extending scale which corresponds to the selected band.

Abstract: A three position switch which selectively interconnects isolated conductors on a printed circuit board is disclosed. In one embodiment, pressure sensitive conductive elastomer pads, disposed in the switch, are brought into contact with isolated conductors on a substrate. A sliding switch actuator, having a cam surface with indentations, is then used to selectively apply pressure to the conductive elastomer pads and thereby selectively connect the isolated printed circuit board conductors. In another embodiment, a three position switch is shown including a plurality of conductive pads, flexibly attached to a switch casing, which are positioned above printed circuit board isolated conductors and then selectively flexed downward into contact with the printed circuit board conductors by moving a sliding actuator arm having a cam surface.

Abstract: Alternator bearing retaining assembly with a bearing locked in an alternator housing by means of a bent, resilient plate. One end of the plate is held by a groove in the housing and the other end is fastened to the housing so that the bearing is rigidly held during severe vibration. Assembly and replacement are also simplified.

Abstract: A noise blanker circuit usable in a radio receiver is disclosed. Noise pulses in demodulated received signals are detected by a noise detector amplifier. These detected noise pulses are then processed by a control means which develops control signals that selectively control a blanking gate which is followed by a holding capacitor. The gate and holding capacitor combine to blank out noise in the demodulated signals in response to the production of the control signals. The control means includes an amplifier with an AC negative feedback loop that includes a varactor diode. A rectifier diode is used to develop a DC voltage proportional to the occurrence rate of noise pulses and this DC voltage biases the varactor diode such that noise blanking only occurs when the noise present on the received signal is below a predetermined rate of occurrence.

Abstract: An electronically adjustable spark timing signal is provided for an internal combustion engine to be used in conjunction with a breakerless constant percent dwell output electronic ignition system. A monostable multivibrator circuit uses two constant current sources, one of which is adjustable, to produce an electrical signal the pulse width of which, under static conditions, is representative of the predetermined amount of desired advance or retardation required for efficient engine operation at all speeds, the pulse width of the output signal also varies as a function of engine speed and provides automatic dynamic advance with increasing speeds. This electronic timing adjustment signal is then combined, in a delay circuit, with the digital output of a constant percent dwell circuit to provide an adjusted spark timing signal which controls the operation of the ignition coil.

Abstract: A multiple slope ignition spark timing circuit for an internal combustion engine is disclosed which electronically provides a spark timing signal having a piecewise linear advance angle versus engine speed characteristic. A magnetic pick-up sensor produces an AC signal having a frequency proportional to the rotational engine speed. This AC signal is coupled to a programmable voltage slope generator which generates a variable slope voltage that is used to produce the phase difference (advance angle) between a spark timing signal and the AC input signal. An independent timer apparatus produces various timing pulses which result in changing the advance angle versus engine speed characteristic at various predetermined engine speeds. An engine vacuum sensor adjusts the slope produced by the voltage generator and thereby results in a fixed amount of vacuum advance angle being added to the spark timing advance angle versus speed characteristic.

Abstract: A tape drive system for tape play-back and/or recording devices is disclosed herein. The drive system comprises a first belt driven flywheel whose sole purpose is to control the rotary motion of a tape capstan. A second flywheel, which is also driven by the same belt that drives the first flywheel, is selectively coupled to a toothed pinion which is in constant meshing engagement with a toothed wheel rigidly connected to the collecting reel shaft of the play-back and/or recording device. For fast forward operation an idler pulley, which is directly driven by the same belt that drives the first and second flywheels, has a toothed surface coupled to the pinion while the pinion is decoupled from being driven by the second flywheel. For fast rewind operation, the toothed surface of the idler wheel is directly coupled to a mating toothed surface of a wheel rigidly connected to the supply reel shaft of the play-back and/or recording device while the second flywheel is again decoupled from the toothed pinion.

Abstract: An interleaved antenna array is disclosed in conjunction with an improved multiple transmitter antenna system for simultaneously generating two independent groups of composite radiation patterns for two separate pluralities of independent radio devices. A first plurality of isolated independent radio transmitters is coupled, without any signal cancellation, to each and every one of a first plurality of independent antenna elements which form a first group of composite radiation patterns for these transmitters. A second plurality of transmitters is likewise coupled to a second plurality of antenna elements which create a second group of composite patterns for these transmitters. The antenna elements of the first and second pluralities are alternately circumferentially disposed about a central axis and each produces a 90.degree. half power beam width radiation pattern which is directed radially away from the central axis. First and second combining networks produce 90.degree.

Abstract: A single control key rotatable with respect to the frame of a tape player is disclosed. The control key comprises a shaft and a rectangular in cross section cam attached to the shaft. Projecting tabs are provided on the cam and spaced 90.degree. apart with respect to the rotation of the shaft. The cam acts against a fulcrumed lever to control the operative position of a pinch roller and a magnetic head. The projections act in conjunction with another lever and its projection to control tape speed.

Abstract: A device for gripping and translating a cassette inserted into a tape player is disclosed. The device comprises expandable plier like jaws which grip an inserted cassette. The jaws are mounted at one end of a movable link that is slideable, by way of a pin, in a frame slot having horizontal and vertical portions. Another end of the link has a rocker pivoted thereto and the rocker also has a pin slideable in another slot. An end of the rocker has teeth which engage a spring biased rack. A servomechanism moves the rocker pin in its slot and thereby translates an inserted cassette into desired positions in the tape player.