Abstract: A circuit and method for sensing and compensating for longitudinal (common mode) signals in a subscriber loop of a telephone system. The circuit and method may include a longitudinal amplifier for sensing a difference between a reference voltage, V.sub.BAT /2, and a longitudinal voltage in the subscriber loop, and for providing four currents, two to each of two current amplifiers in the telephone system subscriber line interface circuit (SLIC). The longitudinal amplifier includes two current mirrors, each for providing two currents of the same polarity and of the same magnitude. The magnitude of the difference between the two currents being provided to each of the current amplifiers is proportional to the voltage difference. When compensation of the longitudinal signals has been achieved, the two voltages are the same and the magnitudes of the four currents are the same.

Abstract: A system and method of remotely recording a telephone message at a selected recording device connected to a telephone receiver by an RF link may include a base station having an RF transmitter connected to a telephone receiver, and plural paging/recording devices, each with an RF receiver and a message recorder. The paging/recording devices may be contained within suitable children's toys, or within pager-like packages. A caller calls the telephone receiver and when the telephone connection has been made provides a first code signal to the telephone receiver to gain access to the RF transmitter, and then provides a second code signal to identify a particular paging/recording device that is to receive and record the message.

Abstract: A sheet feeder may include a feed roller for compelling a sheet from a stack of sheets into a sheet path and a pair of separation rollers rotating in the same direction for urging sheets along the sheet path. The separation rollers may be selectively and separately disengaged from their motive source in coordination with operation of a motor for the feed roller to provide multiple checks for sheet multifeeds. At each check, extra sheets are returned to the stack of sheets. The separation rollers may each include plural annular spaced-apart sheet contact surfaces that are interleaved with the contact surfaces of the other roller.

Abstract: In an AC to DC power converter (off line switcher) and a method of converting AC power to DC power in high voltage systems the flyback converter's low side semiconductor switch has a lower breakdown voltage than its high side semiconductor switch. The lower breakdown voltage is achievable by means of a shunt regulator that controls a clamp voltage across the low side switch. The efficiency of the converter's post regulator is improved by processing only a fraction of the system's total power output.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for testing electrical devices which generate digital signals from analog signals applied to the devices. The testing determines whether or not the electrical devices are capable of properly generating all the different digital codes that correspond to the different analog signals in a particular bandwidth. The method and apparatus provide an external signal indicating whether an electrical device being tested functions properly.

Abstract: An electro-optical signal translator, signal translator design features, methods of fabrication, alignment techniques and alignment apparatus that utilize, with the exception of output optical fiber to transmitter module coupling, passive assembly techniques that are compatible with assembly line operations to produce high performance electro-optical signal translators.

Abstract: A scale has marks of a point-symmetrical shape which are arranged in matrix. The scale and an article to be measured in dimension are positioned without any relative movement. An image sensor unit detects a predetermined portion of the article and the marks of the scale corresponding to the predetermined portion of the article selectively and successively, and the image sensor unit generates output signals in accordance with the detected results of the article and the scale. The output signals are processed to calculate the dimension of the article. An apparatus for measuring the dimension of an article is provided which can eliminate the occurrence of parallax, resulting in satisfactorily improved precision of the measurement. In the apparatus, an article and a marker are disposed so that the optical distance between the article and a reading unit is equal to the optical distance between the marker and the reading unit.

Abstract: A circuit and method for interrupting an AC load current includes a first MOS Controlled Thyristor (MCT) for selectively interrupting the load current. The current through the first MCT is reduced when the load current is to be interrupted by providing a pulse resonant commutation (PRC) current through the first MCT which flows in a direction opposed to the AC load current direction and which has a magnitude reducing the current through the first MCT to an MCT "off" condition (e.g., when a voltage across the MCT is reversed, when there is near zero current through the MCT, or when a current is within the MCT's SOA.) The first MCT turns itself off when MCT gate voltage is an "on" voltage and when reverse voltage is across the MCT. An MCT "off" voltage may then be provided by sensing MCT current and providing an "off" voltage to the MCT gate when the sensed current indicates that the MCT is an "off" condition.

Abstract: A circuit and method for reducing power consumption during operation of a solid state switch that controls connection of a source of alternating current to a load includes a circuit for determining a voltage across the switch. The switch is operated upon receipt of both a command signal and an indication that the voltage across the switch is less than a predetermined value. When used in a telephone system subscriber line interface circuit (SLIC), the circuit controls two switches that connect an ac ring signal from an ring generator to a telephone. The voltage sensed across the switch may be converted to a low current level and the circuit embodied in an integrated circuit.

Abstract: A clip-on tape dispenser for reeled tape comprises, in integral configuration, a middle section, at least portions of which are designed to ride on the outermost turn of the reeled tape, and two flank sections located on either side of the middle section in planes substantially perpendicular to the general plane containing the middle section, and a cutting section being part of and folded up from the middle section and having a tape-cutting edge. The dispenser has at least one tooth-like member provided in at least one of the flanks and configured in such a way as to permit the dispenser to be easily clipped onto the reeled tape in a substantially radial direction thereto and to be slid thereon in a circumferential direction, but to oppose dislodgement of the dispenser in the substantially radial direction.

Abstract: A digital down converter with a programmable mixing down frequency and a programmable extraction bandwidth uses a Read Only Memory, ROM, based sin/cos generator plus a programmable high decimation filter followed by a gain compensating scaling multiplier and a Finite Impulse Response, FIR, filter. Output format options are also programmable, and programming commands are serially loaded into registers. Various components may be isolated for efficient testing and also subsystem operation.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a vertical conductive region in a semiconductor device in which plural epitaxial layers are successively grown on a substrate and a dopant is implanted into each epitaxial layer before growing the next layer. A fast vertical transistor operable in the GHz range and at high voltage (e.g., more than about 10 volts) is fabricated by growing plural epitaxial layers, each with a thickness less than about 2.5 microns until the desired height of the vertical conductive region is reached. Sections of the transistor's collector and an adjacent sinker are implanted through each epitaxial layer before the next layer is grown. Annealing after ion implant joins the sinker and collector sections in each layer with the corresponding sinker and collector sections in adjacent layers to form unitary structures in the transistor. Each layer is thin enough for the dopant to penetrate to the bottom of the layer using conventional implant energy.

Abstract: A blank of a bracket, a bracket, a system using a bracket and a method for mutually securing two or more of a header, a joist and a base, for accurately positioning a header with respect to a base, and for stiffening the webs of a header and a joist to thereby prevent crippling or bending of the webs and to thereby prevent the joist from rolling from side to side. A metal blank can be formed into a bracket which can be used in a system having a header, plural joists and a base whereby the bracket is secured to the header, joist and base for stiffening the webs of C-shaped and/or Z-shaped headers and joists and for aligning and mutually securing the header, joist and base.

Abstract: An active isolation device and method reduces the transmission of vibrations from interconnected elements. The device maintains a high stiffness between interconnected elements while actively reducing the transmission of relative movements, such as vibration. In one embodiment, the device uses accelerometers to measure the vibrations experienced by each of the interconnected elements and selectively operates an actuator between the two elements to maintain the position of one of the elements. In another embodiment, plural of the devices are used cooperatively to reduce the vibrations that would otherwise be transmitted from one element to a platform, permitting simultaneous control of multiple degrees of freedom of movement.

Abstract: A method and system for determining whether a transmitting unit is proximate a receiving unit wherein the transmitting unit includes a magnetic field generator for a providing a plurality of time-sequential magnetic fields, each of the sequences being a differential phase shift key (DPSK) modulated code. The magnetic field is transmitted at a relatively interference free frequency of 72 KHz and the DPSK modulation frequency is about 1200 bits per second. Each pair of transmitting and receiving unit uses with a distinguishing code selected from a predetermined group of generally orthogonal codes.

Abstract: A level shifter for shifting a digital signal input voltage to a digital signal output voltage and for rejecting voltage variations in the level shifter that would cause the level shifter to shift in error. The level shifter includes a trigger for triggering a pulse at each transition of the digital signal between an input supply voltage and an input reference voltage, a latch for switching the digital signal to one of an output supply voltage and an output reference voltage in response to each pulse from the driver and holding the digital signal at that voltage, and two half-shifters connected between the trigger and the latch for providing the pulse to said latch when the digital signal transitions. Each of the half-shifters include a selector circuit with series-connected current mirrors connected to a current source for providing a current to the current mirrors responsive to receipt of the pulse.

Abstract: A combat vehicle, in particular a combat tank, with a weapon mounted outside its longitudinal middle axis, that is mounted on a vertical axis rotatable ring mount linked by rotational rings to the hull of the vehicle. Within the rotational rings is a controllable coupling with plural coupling elements distributed on the circumference of the rotational ring. The coupling elements are, in a disengaged position, freely rotable in the ring mount and in an engaged position are unrotatable in the ring mount linked to the hull. During firing of the weapon, the coupling elements are controlled such that after the exit of the projectile from the weapon barrel but before the ending of the free weapon barrel recoil, the couplings are moved to an engaged position.

Abstract: A sheet feeder may include a feed roller for compelling a sheet from a stack of sheets into a sheet path and a pair of separation rollers rotating in the same direction for urging sheets along the sheet path. The separation rollers may be selectively and separately disengaged from their motive source in coordination with operation of a motor for the feed roller to provide multiple checks for sheet multifeeds. At each check, extra sheets are returned to the stack of sheets.

Abstract: The disadvantages of conventional carton for packaging cut sheets of paper such as the facts that fingers or finger nails are injured upon opening the carton, tearing requires a large force, the removal of the cut sheets is difficult, the beauty of surroundings is spoiled, movement of the carton is required, and industrial wastes are produced are solved by the present invention. A pair of opening face cut lines such as threaded lines, zipper and the like are formed on two selected faces of the rectangular parellelepiped carton, and a trigger cut line such as a threaded line, zipper and the like is formed on this one face or another face. The trigger cut line is connected to the opening face cut lines. The trigger cut line and the opening face cut lines are torn off after cutting and raising a part of the trigger cut line. The face having the opening face cut lines is used as an opened face.

Abstract: A scheduling system and method for moving plural objects through a multipath system described as a freight railway scheduling system. The achievable movement plan can be used to assist in the control of, or to automatically control, the movement of trains through the system.