Abstract: An improved method is disclosed for forming a printed circuit board. The desired printed circuit is established on the surface of a plastic core sheet by placing recesses therein conforming to the desired circuit, and a conductive coating is then applied so that the coating is retained at the recesses. Circuit patterns are preferably pressed into one or both sides of the plastic core sheet, and holes can be placed through the sheet to allow circuit connections between the patterns on the opposite sides of the sheet and to receive electrical leads of circuit components. A thin conductive coating is applied by vacuum deposition, and can be thickness enhanced by electroplating.

Abstract: A solid lubricating composition and method for forming such a composition are disclosed. The composition is formed by intercalating a transition metal that has been chemically reacted with chalcogen to form a layered structure. The transition metal is selected from niobium, tantalum, tungsten and/or an alloy including one or more, and the transition metal is chemically combined with chalcogen selected from sulfur, selenium and/or a combination which can also include tellurium to form a layered transition metal dischalcogenide prior to intercalation with a metal, preferably a coinage metal. The effect of intercalation is to expand the crystal lattice to create a composition having excellent lubricating characteristics the performance of which is not adversely effected by operation in a high temperature environment.

Abstract: A camming, or wedging, device is disclosed that is particularly useful in climbing a severely sloping surface, such as, for example, the side of a rock or mountain formation having natural or man-made openings therein and into which the camming device may be releasably anchored to facilitate climbing. The camming device includes a support arm having a plurality of interrelated cam members pivotally mounted thereon at one end, and a centrally mounted cam actuator connected with the cam members to control movement of the cam members from an extended (open) position to a withdrawn (closed) position.

Abstract: Optimization of nerve fiber stimulation to substantially increase the activity of the then selected nerve fibers is disclosed, with optimization being achieved through utilization of electrical pulses that are caused to occur in a predetermined pattern with respect to polarity, spacing, frequency and duration so as to interact with the electro-neurophysiological characteristics of the particular nerve fibers then to be electrically stimulated.

Abstract: Particle measurement is disclosed utilizing orthogonally polarized components of a laser beam. A laser beam is split into orthogonally polarized components and at least one of the components is thereafter beam shaped to have a modified dimension. The components are then recombined and focused to provide a beam combination that is directed through a particle containing volume where scattering of the components occurs by the particles. With the components superimposed upon one another, a localized volume is created with one beam being contracted to a smaller volume than the other beam with the illumination intensity ratios thereat being either greater or less than unity depending upon the optics selected.

Abstract: A flexible disk drive is disclosed that is optimized for automated manufacture. The critical elements of the disk drive are divided into two functional groups, one of which includes the elements for loading and unloading the disk cartridge and the other of which includes the elements for reading and writing on the flexible disk within the cartridge, with the elements of each group being precisely registered with respect to one another on separate frame members. The frame members are coarsely registered with respect to one another and snapped together, after separate assembly of at least most of the elements on the separate frame members has been completed, and fine position registration of the flexible disk to the spindle is thereafter achieved during each loading operation of a flexible disk into the assembly disk drive by collet centering and clamping the disk to the spindle.

Abstract: An adaptable seating assembly is disclosed which is adjustable to varying body sizes and types. The seating device includes a backrest framework and a reference surface engaging seat framework, with the frameworks being joined to one another at one edge of each. The backrest framework extends outwardly from the seat framework a greater distance than does the seat framework from the backrest framework, a neck and shoulder support and an adjustable lumbar support are mounted within the backrest framework, and cushions are positioned at the backrest and seat frameworks so that the cushions are between each framework and a user when the user is seated in the seating assembly, when so seated, the natural curvature of the spine of a user is accomodated, and the lumbar region of the spine has a substantial number of the vertibrae thereof supported by the adjustable lumbar support.

Abstract: A simplified transcutaneous nerve stimulating device is disclosed that combines simplicity of structure with dependability of operation. The device utilizes a 45 volt battery source for circuitry simplification by eliminating the need for circuitry such as voltage multipliers, with the battery source powering an oscillator and a pair of constant current regulated drive circuits from which pulses are alternately coupled to isolated output pairs connectable with electrodes positionable on the skin of a user for imparting stimulation pulses to the body of the user for pain suppression.

Abstract: Two stage colleting is disclosed for a flexible disk drive. Precise registration of a floppy disk within a disk cartridge with respect to the spindle and recording head of a disk drive is achieved by first positioning the cartridge with respect to the collet, and then aligning the collet with respect to the spindle axis as the collet is moved toward the spindle. This two stage colleting is made possible by use of a collet shaft having two different diameters with the larger diameter being adjacent to the collet during positioning of the cartridge with respect to the collet and with the smaller diameter being adjacent to the collet to allow movement of the collet in a direction normal to the spindle axis during alignment of the collet with respect to the spindle axis.

Abstract: A torsional actuator is disclosed for loading and unloading a flexible disk drive. The actuator includes a torsion beam having a biasing arm and a plurality of actuating arms extending therefrom with the free ends of the actuating arms being separately engageable with different ones of the collet, pressure pad and recording head arm of the flexible disk drive. The arms of the actuator are configured to enable selective and sequential movement of the collet, pressure pad and/or recording head arm in one direction toward a disk within the drive to establish a loaded, or operational, position and in the opposite direction away from a disk within the drive to establish an unloaded, or disk accessing, position with such positioning being determined by a force applying cam engageable with the actuator.

Abstract: Thermoset microporous polymer lubricating compositions and methods for forming the same are disclosed. Each thermoset composition disclosed includes a thermosetting polymer that is formed into a microporous matrix capable of receiving a lubricating oil in the interconnected microscopic pores of the matrix during formation thereof, with the lubricating oil being thereafter retained in the pores until released through capillary draw, externally applied forces or elevated temperatures.

Abstract: A receptacle for organizing, protecting and identifying accessories, for example, camera accessories, such as video tape, batteries and the like, or photographic accessories, such as film canisters, filters, lens caps and the like, is disclosed. The receptacle, or pouch, may be releasably attached to a bag or other such structure for receiving and retaining equipment such as a camera and/or a video recorder, and may include a carrying handle and/or shoulder strap so that the pouch may be carried separately from the bag or be carried in conjunction with the bag either by being permanently or removably attached thereto. The pouch is configured to receive a cushioning insert at an accessories receiving portion of the pouch, which portion may include the entire pouch, with the cushioning insert having a plurality of cavities defined therein, and with the cushioning insert entirely filling the area of the accessories receiving portion except for the cavities.

Abstract: A table positioner is disclosed for use with radiographic equipment to cause smooth translating and continuous angular movement of the table in reciprocal directions from a lengthwise horizontal position to lengthwise vertical positions. When in a lengthwise horizontal position, the positioner causes the top of the table to have a sufficiently low vertical height above floor level to enhance utilization of the radiographic equipment for imaging of a patient on the table, and yet still allows lengthwise angular movement of the table from this low horizontal positioning to full vertical positioning with the then lower end of the table being maintained in a position close to floor level but precluding floor contact during any portion of table movement.

Abstract: A proximity sensor oscillator is disclosed having controlled charge. The proximity sensor oscillator includes a resonant circuit which oscillates at a frequency determined by the components of the resonant circuit and with a power loss that is inversely related to the distance that a sensor element of the resonant circuit is to a conductive object. The peak amplitude of the resonant circuit varies with power loss and therefore measurement of this parameter provides an indication of the proximity of the conductive object to the sensor element. Power is provided to the resonant circuit by metering a fixed charge to the resonant circuit just before the peak of the resonant circuit voltage by means of a transistor switching circuit.

Abstract: A twin-etalon scanning spectrometer is disclosed that provides high luminosity and high resolution. The etalons are positioned in spaced relationship with respect to one another in series in the path of an emission light source. With identical etalons so positioned, a line emission transmitted by the rearwardly positioned etalon is at the same angles as that of the forwardly positioned etalon and the light transmission through the etalons is therefore at a maximum. When the relative spacing of the light transmission elements of one etalon is changed, however, the angles of transmission of the etalons are mismatched and the transmission of the light through the etalons is decreased until a minimum is reached when a .lambda./4 change in light transmission element spacing of one etalon relative to the other etalon has been effected.

Abstract: Devices and methods are disclosed for remote measurment of temperature (and velocity) profiles in a fluid medium (i.e., the atmosphere and/or oceans). Each device, herein called an echometer, and method are capable of providing remote measurements of temperature through the use of propagated waves (i.e., acoustic or electromagnetic waves) and interferometric principles. By use of Doppler processing, simultaneous measurement can be made of three-dimensional velocities at the same points in space to enable remote measurement of heat fluxes in the atmosphere or ocean.

Abstract: A monitoring apparatus and method are disclosed for monitoring and/or indicating energy that a battery power source has then remaining and/or can deliver for utilization purposes as, for example, to an electric vehicle. A battery mathematical model forms the basis for monitoring with a capacity prediction determined from measurement of the discharge current rate and stored battery parameters. The predicted capacity is used to provide a state-of-charge indication. Self-calibration over the life of the battery power supply is enacted through use of a feedback voltage based upon the difference between predicted and measured voltages to correct the battery mathematical model. Through use of a microprocessor with central information storage of temperature, current and voltage, system behavior is monitored, and system flexibility is enhanced.