Abstract: A laser device is disclosed having mirror heating to enhance performance of the device by minimizing induced light absorption to thereby improve mirror quality. The mirrors of a laser device are commonly made of a substrate having a coating thereon formed by alternating layers of high and low refractive index materials, normally classified as refractory oxide materials, which materials are susceptible to formation therein of color centers, such as formation of F-centers when exposed to ultraviolet light, which color centers reduce mirror quality due to induced light absorption losses. By heating the mirror, the F-centers are substantially eliminated to thereby improve mirror quality and enhance the longevity of the laser device.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for pyroelectric camera signal processing, which processing includes multi-parameter automatic signal level adjustment to compensate for the effects of pedestal level variations. The pyroelectric vidicon tube generates an electrical output signal component indicative of target signal information based upon the sensed thermal energy emitted from the target, and also generates a pedestal component around which the target signal information is centered, and this information is processed to provide field video signals which are utilized to provide a composite video output. An automatic adjustment control unit, responsive to the field video signal, provides automatic adjustment of gain, balance, and offset to thereby allow the pyroelectric camera to operate at an optimized signal-to-noise ratio.

Abstract: A static charge control device is disclosed having an electrostatic focusing arrangement. The device requires no forced air element yet enables ions, produced at separate positive and negative needle electrodes, to be separately directed outwardly to a neutralizing area for neutralization of static charges thereat. The needle electrodes are mounted on a mounting plate so that the tips of the needles extend forwardly through different apertures in the forwardly positioned electrostatic focusing plate.

Abstract: A device and method are disclosed for optically detecting particles in a fluid. A fluid passage with transparent walls defining a monitoring volume, or region, is provided, and particles in the fluid are optically detected by directing a laser beam through the fluid in the monitoring region and collecting light scattered by the particles. A capillary is utilized as the fluid passage, and reflections from the walls of the capillary are effectively precluded. The laser beam is directed through the capillary by means of a window at the entrance side and a lens at the collecting side with the air-glass interfaces being outside the depth of view of particle monitoring within the monitoring region. As a result of this arrangement, the amount of scattered light is greatly reduced and a more uniform light signal is achieved which results in better size resolution of particles than has heretofore been achieved.

Abstract: A drug handling apparatus and method are disclosed. A delivery receptacle, such as a syringe, is provided with a first substance, such as a liquid diluent, either stored in the delivery receptacle or provided from a separate storage receptacle, and the first substance in the delivery receptacle is transferred to a storage receptacle provided with a second substance, such as a drug in solid form, with the transfer being accomplished by moving an actuator, such as the piston within a syringe, in a first direction to create a positive flow of the first substance from the delivery receptacle through a vented transfer unit to the storage receptacle where the substances are mixed to thereby, for example, reconstitute the drug. By then moving the actuator in a second direction, such as by movment of the syringe piston in the opposite axial direction, the mixture is then withdrawn from the storage receptacle and transferred through the vented transfer unit to the delivery receptacle.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for forming a printed circuit board having improved adhesion of an electrically conductive layer to an underlying dielectric surface. A thin adhesive layer, or film, of conductive material (normally copper) is sputtered onto a dielectric substrate and through holes formed therein, after which the substrate, with the then amorphous sputtered layer thereon, is further processed in a manner so as not to damage adhesion of the sputtered layer to the substrate. The initial step of this further processing can be accomplished chemically or mechanically, and preferably is accomplished by electroplating a buffer, or transition, layer of conductive material onto the sputtered layer with the buffer layer being deposited by placing the substrate, having the sputtered layer thereon, in a first electroplating bath to produce an electroplated layer having no deposit stress or a slightly compressive deposit stress.

Abstract: A device for removal of matter from shoes and boots is disclosed. The device includes a scraping portion, a mounting portion, and a rotatable member for mounting the scraping portion on the mounting portion so that the scraping portion can be rotated, relative to the mounting portion, between stored and operative positions, with the rotatable member being biased to urge the scraping portion toward the operative position upon actuation of a release mechanism connected with the rotatable member. The device is mounted upon, or integrated with, a handle structure, such as, for example, a ski pole, so that, when so mounted or integrated, the scraping portion is substantially aligned with the handle structure in the stored position and is rotated to a position extending in a direction away from the handle structure in the operative position.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for pyroelectric camera signal processing, which processing includes compensating for the effects of pedestal level variations. The pyroelectric videcon tube generates an electrical output signal component indicative of target signal information based upon the sensed thermal energy emitted from the target, and also generates a pedestal component around which the target signal information is centered. A line-by-line DC restorer is provided to re-establish the DC level of the video signal, with the DC level of the restorer being automatically controlled to thereby compensate for variations in pedestal levels due to drift, tube aging, and/or generated by shutter to scene temperature differences.

Abstract: A static charge control device is disclosed having laminar flow. The device utilizes a pair of spaced electrodes mounted adjacent to a pair of spaced apertures with the electrodes being positioned so as not to extend into the apertures. As specifically shown, a pair of needle electrodes are mounted on a mounting plate with each electrode being mounted above a different aperture in the plate with the needle electrodes extending outwardly from the mounting plate in a direction substantially normal thereto so that the tips of the electrodes extend in the direction of a laminar flow of air passing through the apertures in the plate, which air is provided by a fan positioned rearwardly of the mounting plate.

Abstract: A cartridge handling device and method for loading and unloading a rigid, diskette-containing cartridge into and from a diskette drive mechanism of a recording/reproducing apparatus. The cartridge is moved rearwardly in the cartridge area to cause the shutter of the cartridge to be opened and a latch mechanism actuated to cause movement of a lifter mechanism in the direction opposite to that of the inserting direction of the cartridge, which movement of the lifter mechanism permits the carrier unit to slide toward the base unit to the cartridge loaded position. Ejection of the cartridge is effected by depressing an eject button to slide the lifter mechanism rearwardly to force the carrier assembly upwardly to the cartridge unloaded position, and this releases the shutter actuator to cause movement of the cartridge from the cartridge area in the ejecting direction a distance sufficient to enable removal of the cartridge.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for initiating target crossover recovery in a pyroelectric camera by electronically detecting crossover and automatically initiating recovery in response thereto. The video signal appearing at the output of the video amplifier during readout of the vidicon tube is coupled to a level detector to detect crossover by sensing a positive signal having an amplitude greater than any such signal producible during readout arising from an optical input to the video amplifier, with reliability of detection being enhanced by use of an automatic balancing circuit providing a stable reference.

Abstract: A cathode ray tube display system and method having bidirectional line scanning are disclosed. Bidirectional line scanning is achieved by scanning each odd numbered scan line from left to right and each even numbered scan line from right to left, thereby avoiding the necessity for retrace, or flyback. In order to avoid loss of intelligibility in displaying the video information received from a conventional source providing video information written only from left to right, as is conventional, the received video information is stored in memory by scan lines with each odd numbered line being read out in the same order as stored in memory and each even numbered line being read out in reverse order as stored in memory. Timed control is provided for processing of the video information and display thereof with bidirectional scanning, and geometric error correction is provided for both the horizontal and vertical scan generators.

Abstract: Device and method are disclosed for effecting application of a therapeutic agent. A removable programmable element is used to control operation of a delivery unit, which unit delivers the therapeutic agent to the patient. The programmable element is programmed, while removed from the delivery unit, by a computer that is operationally independent of the delivery unit to insure the integrity of subsequent delivery of the therapeutic agent to the patient by the delivery unit. The delivery unit requires no microprocessor and can include a plurality of channels for effecting independent delivery of therapeutic agents in each channel under the control of the programmable element. The programmable element is programmed with respect to available protocol information, including patient history, needs and tolerances, as well as therapeutic agent parameters, to thereby establish a flow profile that is customized for a particular patient during each moment of each day.

Abstract: A frame pack is disclosed that is useful as a body mountable structure for retaining and/or transporting various articles which facilitates both a less restricted range of motion in the hips and shoulders of a user due to the load distribution thereon while maintaining and/or enhancing stability of the pack during use. The pack includes a storage portion mounted on a framework, and a shoulder harness that is attachable to various locations along a vertical member of the framework. The pack includes a load distributing waist harness assembly that has a padded waist belt mounted on a substantially rigid member and a plurality of appendages meeting at a central portion pivotably mounted to a lower, central portion of the frame, with the appendages and the frame having portions for receiving motion restraining members to variably limit pivotal motion.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for positioning magnetic heads relative to the recording tracks of a recording medium such as a floppy disk having circular, concentric recording tracks formed thereon. The magnetic heads are mounted on a head carriage, and the head carriage is moved, in response to received command pulses, so that the heads are moved linearly, by step increments, along a radius of the floppy disk. The heads are thereby moved across the spaced tracks on the disk, with each incremental movement of the heads being a distance less than the distance between the tracks, and being, for example, one-half or one-fourth of the total distance between tracks. Acoustic noise due to head movement is minimized by moving the heads by increments less than the distance between the tracks, with such movement avoiding exciting the resonances of the head moving apparatus.

Abstract: Structure and method are disclosed for providing timed valving in which a nutating plate having an opening defined therethrough moves relative to at least one other nominally static plate having a complementary opening defined therethrough, the nutating plate at one portion of the nutating travel bringing the opening defined therethrough in alignment with the complementary static opening and in another portion of the nutating movement positioning such opening therethrough in a spaced, sealing relationship relative to the complementary static opening. Either the nutating or nominally static plate may be utilized in pairs such that a sandwiched relationship between one type of plate and the other exists.

Abstract: An infusion device is disclosed having an improved valving apparatus with the valving apparatus being configured to substantially preclude formation of volumetric dead spaces. The valving apparatus is typically utilized to allow introduction of one or more secondary fluids, such as drugs, into a patient during normal infusion of the primary fluid into the patient, with such insertion being effected through a secondary conduit connected to the primary infusion conduit through the valving apparatus. The valving apparatus includes a movable element that is positioned adjacent to the inner wall of the primary conduit so that the movable element forms a one-way valve thereat.

Abstract: An electronic sensing system is disclosed for sensing fingering on a stringed and fretted musical instrument, such as a guitar, to produce therefrom electronic signals truly representative of the music created by the musical instrument. Sensing includes detection of the musical pitch created by each selected string and fret combination, as well as detection of the vibration state of the selected string and any pitch variations induced by the performer through string bending.