Abstract: An automotive speed control system uses logic activated switches on both sides of solenoids controlling vent and vacuum valves. A vacuum solenoid is activated upon the simultaneous occurrence of an activation of a vent valve solenoid, an activation of the speed control system, and a determination that solenoid current is below a desired magnitude.

Abstract: An ignition system for an internal combustion engine has an ignition coil coupled to a first and second spark plug provided for each cylinder. A first diode is coupled in series between the first spark plug and the ignition coil. A second diode is coupled in series between the second spark plug and the ignition coil. A first capacitor is coupled in parallel with the first spark plug. A second capacitor is coupled in parallel with the second spark plug.

Abstract: Heat exchangers (2) with particular use as solar receivers are mass-produced by weaving on a textile loom a yarn of high modulus fibers (18, 20) into a repeating series of substantially flat preforms (4), forming a set of interconnected passageways (26, 30, 32) connecting one side of each preforms (4) with an opposite side thereof. The separated preform (4) are each wrapped around a mandrel to give each the shape of a cylindrical sleeve (2). The sleeve (2) is impregnated in a low modulus matrix, dried, and sintered for rigidization. In a first sealing embodiment, the outer sleeve surface (24) is sealed or weatherproofed, and the surfaces of the internal passageways (26, 30, 32) are sealed, but the radiation absorbing inner sleeve surface (22) is not sealed. In a second sealing embodiment, the outer surface (24), the radiation absorbing inner surface (22), and the exchanger ends (14, 34) are sealed, but the surfaces of inner passageways (26, 30, 32) are not sealed.

Abstract: A solenoid driver circuit has one transistor and a diode coupled to a solenoid and controlled by a logic circuit to apply a desired current to the solenoid. The transistor is turned on and off using a logic flip-flop to sense a voltage comparison with a peak current. A logic signal is generated as a function of the predetermined length of time, and an output signal is coupled to the base of the transistor to control its on/off states. The magnitude of the peak current is a function of an applied analog voltage. Thus, the magnitude of the average current in the solenoid coil is a function of the applied analog voltage. Also, a dither signal can be summed with the analog signal to minimize the effects of solenoid mechanical sticking and magnetic hysteresis.

Abstract: A planar photoelectrochemical structure includes a thin, porous layer of semiconductor powder material on a catalytic film. Using incident light absorbed by the semiconductor, the structure is suited to photosensitizing redox reactions of substrates introduced to the structure in an aqueous gas-phase environment. Conducting catalyst films allow significant external electrical interaction with the photoelectrochemical process occurring in the layer.

Abstract: A gear wheel engages a driving worm gear with teeth which have a face with a curved portion. As a result, the circumference of the gear wheel has a portion which extends around the worm gear to increase the tooth contact area between the gear wheel and the worm gear. The gear wheel provides flexible support for the teeth. When a driving load is applied between the worm gear and the gear wheel, the gear wheel is flexed and the stepped portion of the face helps to maintain tooth contact area.

Abstract: A stable electromagnetic oscillator (30) comprises an amplifying element (3) in feedback association with a dual mode resonant cavity (12) that provides a double pole bandpass filter function. Two orthogonal modes (1 and 2) of electromagnetic energy resonate within the cavity (12). An output from the amplifying element (3) excitationally couples into the first mode (1), while the second mode (2) couples into the input of the amplifying element (3). The output (8) of the oscillator (30) is obtained from the first mode (1). Optional injection lock can be used for greater stability by means of coupling a stable a.c. reference (9) into the cavity (12) in alignment with the second mode (2). Optional electronic frequency tuning comprises a phase or frequency comparator (11) and a reference a.c. source (13), producing a d.c. feedback signal fed to varactor diodes (10). Coupling ports (4, 5, 6, 7) of the cavity (12) can be, e.g., irises, capacitive probes, coaxial probes, or any combination thereof.

Abstract: A circuit for sampling the conditions of a liquid level sensor for a short period of time after the circuit is turned on and energizing a warning indicator for an initial check-out period that is followed by continuous energization in the event the sensor indicates a low liquid level condition during the sampling period.

Abstract: An apparatus for diagnosing the operation of a plurality of output transistor drivers includes a plurality of detection transistors, a reference resistor and a voltage detector. Each detection resistor is coupled from a collector of one output transistor driver to a common node. The reference resistor is coupled between the common node and a ground potential. The voltage detector measures voltage across the reference resistor to determine the existence of an improperly functioning transistor. The test method includes turning off all the transistor drivers, detecting the voltage, and comparing the voltage to a reference voltage to determine if any transistors are shorted. If there are no shorts, the transistors are sequentially turned on to determine if any transistors are open.

Abstract: Transients and steady state error induced in maneuvering a satellite due to a disturbance torque caused by thrust mismatch or differential in the alignment of thrusters with respect to the center of mass are minimized by introducing a torque balancing bias at the input of a thrust modulator of the thrusters prior to sensing position or attitude error. The bias may instantly off-modulate the thruster control signal to cancel the effects of attitude transients before errors develop. Other axes thrusters may be on-modulated instantaneously to compensate for cross-axis torque. The bias may be introduced into the satellite control scheme by manual ground control or in automatic on-board compensation based on stored parameters obtained for example from calibration measurements. Specifically, the torque balancing bias may be developed by reference to thrust mismatch detected and stored during previous maneuvers, thus anticipating expected attitude error without actual detection thereof.

Abstract: A moving target detector for spinning bodies such as projectiles or missiles uses a linear detector array so mounted on the body as to periodically scan an arcuate target area during the spin of the body. Compensation for the resulting optical growth of the target area image as the body approaches the target is accomplished by serially reading the image information from the detector elements (in a direction radial of the target area) into a delay element chain at a variable rate, and dumping the delay chain contents in parallel into the image memory at a fixed rate. The readout rate variation is pre-programmed prior to launch, and feed-back loop may be provided to adjust the rate if the image evaluation circuits detect apparent radial movement of evidently stationary objects near the target.

Abstract: The invention describes a control system in which open loops control the mixture strength and spark timing by means of look-up tables (14, 12) stored in a computer and a closed loop (16, 18, 20, 24) with much greater response time corrects the air fuel ratio to compensate for long term drift in the open loops under the control of an ionization sensor sensitive to the duration of the burn period. The ionization sensor output is used only in operating ranges where its output accurately reflects the burn period duration.Consequently, the high speed response of an open loop is achieved at the same time as the long term stability of a feedback loop sensitive to the burn period duration.

Abstract: A structure (47) is rotatable 360.degree. about a vertical azimuth axis and 90.degree. or more about an orthogonal elevation axis. The structure (47) is mounted upon a rotating turret (6) in the general shape of an inverted pyramid, with a vertical generally cylindrical torque tube (11) protruding from the bottom of the turret (6). A drive wheel (12) is attached to the bottom of the tube (11) and provides a mechanical advantage for azimuthal rotation because it is larger than the wheel (25, 26, 30) connecting the top of the tube (11) with the bottom of the turret (6). The turret (6) rotatably turns about tripod base (46) by means of wheels (29) mounted beneath the rim (30) of said upper wheel (25, 26, 30). Elevational motion is provided by means of a lead screw (16) connecting rotating turret (6) with structure (47) which can be a modular mass-producible solar radiation reflector consisting of many identical reflective panels (1), each having the shape of a portion of the surface of a sphere.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of engine control, which comprises firing a weak spark through the spark gap, measuring the current through or voltage across the electrodes following the weak spark, analyzing the voltage or current to derive a prediction of the flame propagation speed and subsequently firing a stronger spark through the spark gap to ignite the charge, the timing of the stronger spark being varied in dependence upon the prediction of the flame propagation speed.

Abstract: A solenoid driver circuit has reduced power consumption by switching the solenoid coil current during a decay period from an initial peak current to a lower magnitude sustaining peak current. Current decays from the sustaining peak current magnitude for a predetermined length of time to a lower current level. Two transistors and a Zener diode are operatively connected to the solenoid and controlled by a logic circuit to apply the desired current to the solenoid. A sense resistor is coupled in series with the solenoid to sense current in the solenoid. The Zener diode is coupled in parallel with the sense resistor to provide a current decay path from the solenoid parallel to the sense resistor. The two transistors are turned on and off using logic flip-flops to sense voltage comparisons with the initial peak current voltage, the sustaining peak current, and the sustaining low current.

Abstract: An engine control system for controlling a fuel injector in response to a desired fuel flow magnitude provides selective switching between firing a fuel injector once and more than once during each engine cycle. At low fuel flow rates, fuel injector operation can be maintained in a linear portion of the fuel injector characteristics by using only one fuel injector firing during an engine cycle.

Abstract: A contact blade coupling has a pair of outside members, each member having an integral associated inside member bent along a common edge. The bending of an inside member toward an associated outside member is limited by a spacing protrusion so that inside and outside members are parallel to each other. The inside members are spring contacts and are positioned so as to be prestressed along a line of contact to provide a contact force for holding an intermediate electrical blade connector.

Abstract: A single-coil wound on a ferrite core surrounding a current path is driven from a voltage controlled constant current source. The coil drive current is modulated with a fixed frequency squarewave. The average voltage present across the coil is sensed and integrated to provide an output signal which is proportional to the current flow and also provides a negative feedback to the voltage controlled current source to bias the modulated drive current in a direction which compensates for the biasing effects of the current flowing in the conductive path.

Abstract: A laser radar transmitter (2) has, associated with a single active lasing region (11) and preferably in the same laser cavity (1) therewith, an amplitude modulator (21) and a frequency modulator (25), which may simultaneously place continuous AM and continuous FM on a single output beam (7). Amplitude modulator (21) is preferably an EO crystal having a high EO coefficient, low loss, and field-induced birefringence. Frequency modulator (25) is preferably an EO crystal having a high EO coefficient, low loss, and a field-induced index change. Applying a d.c. driving voltage to the AM crystal (21) and an a.c. driving voltage to the FM crystal (25) produces an output beam (7) having FM. Applying an a.c. driving voltage to the AM crystal (21) produces an output beam (7) having AM, independently of whether FM is added by means of applying an a.c. driving voltage to the FM crystal (25).

Abstract: A self-locking clip for mounting control lines such as wires, cables and the like on a flange, is formed of a single piece spring metal or of a resilient plastic material. The clip has an open-ended support channel that slightly overlaps the flange with a support and a holding section with upper and lower arms. The upper support arms hold the channel on the flange with a tab which extends over the corner defined between the plate and the flange. A biasing arm extends from the closed end of the support channel to contact the plate and cant the flange within the channel. A void area between the biasing arm and the plate beneath the flange is used to retain the control lines against the plate.