Abstract: This invention discloses a TTL compatible output buffer circuit which provides that in the state where the output signal thereof is high, no substantial current is provided inward of the buffer circuit from the output signal lead over a wide range of voltages applied to the output signal lead, including applied voltages substantially greater than that supplied by the voltage supply terminals of the circuit, with the circuit being further implemented in compound semiconductor technology.

Abstract: A multi-conic shell and a process of creating multi-conic shells from flat materials which are bent and thereby forced into the configuration of continuous regions from oppositely oriented, tangential cones to create variably configured building structures and variably configured lightweight structural panels. The process of creating multi-conic shells from connecting cone segments corresponding to a theoretical array of regular (opening downward) and inverted (opening upward) cones provides an unlimited number of variations for the design of building structures and the design of structural panels. Such multi-conic structures achieve excellent strength to weight ratios by distributing loads into tension and corresponding tetrahedron structures which propogate throughout the shell.

Abstract: This invention discloses a TTL compatible input buffer which includes means for preventing appreciable current flow into the buffer circuit upon input voltage being supplied to the input signal lead which is substantially above the voltages supplied to the voltage supply terminals of the circuit.

Abstract: A system for detecting contaminant particles in a liquid, such as used for processing wafers during the manufacture of integrated circuits, distinguishes non-contaminant bubbles generally found in liquids from contaminant particles. The system provides a controlled laminar fluid flow of the liquid through a pipe, and the substantially spherical bubbles in the flow path are detected by symmetrically spaced photodiodes. The irregularly shaped contaminant particles are detected, whereas the presence of bubbles are negated by the detection system by virtue of the balanced photodiode assembly.

Abstract: An echo sound melodeon, in accordance with the principles of this invention, includes a body on which is mounted a keyboard and a holder, and a controlled flow of air into an interior of the body. A propeller is placed in the interior of the body in the path of the controlled flow of air. The spinning of the propeller causes the flow of air to vibrate and the vibrating air creates echo sound effects.

Abstract: The combustion engine forms "squish" spaces between the piston and the cylinder head and has additional guide means in the combustion chamber which create a rotational flow in the combustion chamber. The floor of the combustion chamber is formed by a trough-shaped recess in the piston head, so that it forms a "squish" space extending over the complete width of the combustion chamber. In the area between the valves, a further, central "squish" space extends which, in conjunction with the wall of the cylinder head which is situated above it, forms a further "squish" space flow which reinforces the lateral "squish" space flow. In this way the ignition timing can be further retarded and the temperature peak reduced together with an additional reduction in emissions of oxides of nitrogen. A very weak mixture with an excess of air of 30% or more can be ignited which likewise maintains a low burning temperature thus producing less nitrous oxide.

Abstract: A system for reproducing a raster scanned line of an image on a photoconductive surface of a drum comprising a monochromatic light source, a rotating holographic disk containing a plurality of diffraction gratings therein, and means for reflecting said monochromatic light beam so as to direct the monochromatic light beam to and along a selected straight line on the photoconductive surface of the drum. The means for reflecting the monochromatic light beam comprises an elliptic reflecting surface, a first mirror for reflecting the monochromatic light beam passed through the scanning disk to said elliptic reflecting surface, and a second mirror for receiving the monochromatic light beam reflected from the elliptical reflecting surface and for directing the reflected light beam onto a selected straight line on the photoconductive surface of the drum. The elliptic reflecting surface can, with little loss in accuracy, be replaced by a cylindrical surface.

Abstract: A reaction product is formed by a process which involves the transfer of the reaction product from an autoclave to a receiving vessel at a substantially constant flow rate. Just prior to this transfer, the pressure in the receiving vessel is brought up to the pressure in the autoclave by passing gas from the autoclave to the receiving vessel. The flow of gas from the autoclave to the receiving vessel is then stopped, and the pressure in the receiving vessel is allowed to drop due to transfer of heat from the gas to the walls of the receiving vessel. The resulting pressure difference between the autoclave and the receiving vessel is used to initiate the transfer of the reaction products from the autoclave to the receiving vessel. A pressure release valve on the receiving vessel is then controlled by means a signal derived from a flow meter which measures the flow rate of the reaction products flowing from the autoclave to the receiving vessel to maintain constant this flow rate.

Abstract: A wave-activated power generating apparatus includes a generally L-shaped duct including a vertically extending portion and a horizontally extending portion and a floatable main body fixedly attached to the duct. The floatable main body is provided such that it is located rearwardly of the vertically extending portion of the duct when the apparatus is set in position floating on the water surface. The horizontally extending portion is in fluidic communication with the vertically extending portion and has an open rear end which is submerged underwater in normal operating condition. Because of the particular arrangement of the main body with respect to the vertically extending portion of the duct, the apparatus is subjected to pitching motion vigorously, which allows to obtain an increased power output. In addition, the water column is ejected in the form of a jet stream in the rearward direction, which contributes to mitigate the mooring force requirements.

Abstract: A circuit (40) constructed in accordance with this invention includes a ring oscillator (25) to provide a signal which is dependent on the propagation delays of the inverters (33, 34, 35) comprising the ring oscillator, therefore the frequency of the ring oscillator is inversely dependent upon the propagation delays of the inverter comprising the ring oscillator. Means (37) are provided to determine the propagation delay introduced by the components in the ring oscillator by measuring the frequency of the output signal produced by the ring oscillator which provides a signal to a multiplexer (36) which selects among a number of preset delay components (26) those components which are necessary to ensure that the propagation delay caused by the circuitry (not shown) connected to the input lead (21) of the circuit constructed in accordance with this invention plus the propagation delay introduced by the selectable delay elements is nearly a constant propagation delay.

Abstract: A vehicle body panel protector bumper 10 comprising semi-flexible tubular members 20 having base sides 22 with magnets 28 for mounting in a selected position on a body panel 5, with a lengthwise adjustable security tab 60 for attachment to a door edge 7, and connected by a flexible hinge-connector strap 90 for convenient mounting, dismounting, and storage.

Abstract: An integrated circuit structure comprises a plurality of islands of semiconductor material (16-1 through 16-5) each island being separated from adjacent islands by a groove formed in annular shape around said island to laterally define the dimensions of each such island, an oxide (12, 14) formed over the surface of said grooves (13-1 through 13-6) and said islands and a selected glass (15) deposited on said oxide (14) in the grooves and over the top surface of said device, said glass having the property that it flows at a temperature beneath the temperature at which dopants in the islands of semiconductor material substantially redistribute, said selected glass (15) having a substantially flat top surface thereby to give said structure a substantially flat top surface.

Abstract: A unique driver circuit for providing constant average current through a driven element or elements having varying impedance first samples the impedance at the drive terminal in order to determine impedance of the driven elements. For increasing impedance of the driven elements, the duty cycle of the driving signal is increased, thereby resulting in a near-constant average current through the driven elements when the number of driven elements in series is changed.

Abstract: The addresses of firmward (ROM) being interrogated to ascertain data are continuously monitored. Selected key addresses are recognized by address detection means. Timing means is then actuated to count a preset number of address accesses, system clock cycles, or other suitable timing means. A substitute address is provided to the firmware when the timer counts down. If the incoming address is in the correct sequence then the substituted address will be the same as the incoming address and correct data will be provided by the ROM. Otherwise, incorrect data will be provided. Alternately, after countdown the incoming address can be compared with the expected incoming address. If the comparison indicates identity then the incoming address can be supplied to the firmware. Otherwise, an incorrect substitute address can be provided to the input of the firmware or incorrect substitute data can be provided on the output of the firmware.

Abstract: A configurable logic circuit achieves versatility by including a configurable combinational logic element, a configurable storage circuit, and a configurable output select logic. The input signals to the configurable combinational logic element are input signals to the configurable logic circuit and feedback signals from the storage circuit. The storage circuit may be configured to operate as a D flip flop with or without set and reset inputs, an RS latch, a transparent latch with or without set and reset inputs, or as an edge detector. In conjunction with the combinational logic element, the storage circuit may also operate as a stage of a shift register or counter. The output select logic selects output signals from among the output signals of the combinational logic element and the storage circuit.

Abstract: The electrical connection device is constituted by a sliding system comprising at least one conductive pin (5) fixed on one rigid bar (2) and at least one associated pluggable connector (6) fixed on another rigid bar (2'), said sliding system simultaneously providing electrical continuity between said bars on either side of said expansion joint regardless of their relative longitudinal position, and mechanical guidance of said bars to keep them in alignment. Such a connection is particularly applicable to supplying power to handling devices such as cranes, travelling cranes, container transporters, etc.

Abstract: A TTL inverting output circuit (50) which uses the collector (65) of a parallel phase splitter transistor (Q11) where the voltage changes in phase with the circuit output signal Io to control an active circuit (70) which diverts charge from the base (23) of the output pull-down transistor (Q3).

Abstract: A fluid bearing assembly includes a first element and a second element which moves relative to the first element along a predetermined path. The first element has a first surface which is opposite to a second surface of the second element. A recess is defined at least in either one of the first or second surfaces for maintaining therein a quantity of fluid, such as air and liquid. Also provided is a heater inside of the recess so that the fluid inside of the recess is heated to expand in volume, thereby pressurizing the fluid to establish alignment between the first and second elements. Such a fluid bearing assembly may be applied not only for the rotary type bearing assembly, but also for the linear motion type bearing assembly.

Abstract: A particle detector includes a laser, a beam shaping lens, and a pair of mirrors which reflect the shaped laser beam back and forth between the mirrors a selected number of times in order to create a sheet of light or light net between the mirrors. The path of the beam is terminated by a beam stop which contains a photodiode to monitor beam intensity and thereby system alignment. Light scattered by a particle falling through the sheet of light is gathered and transmitted to a photodiode. A peak detector provides a measure of the peak intensity of light scattered by such a particle to a microprocessor, which counts the number of particles falling through the light net in a selected time interval. The microprocessor also uses the peak intensity to estimate the size of the particle.