Abstract: A refrigeration systems diagnoses its pressure sensors by turning the system off, determining whether the pressure sensors on the high-pressure-side and on the low-pressure-side of a refrigeration circuit detect unvarying pressures, and comparing the pressure values detected by a high pressure sensor and a low pressure sensor with each other. The high pressure sensor or the low pressure sensor is regarded as defective when the difference between the two pressures detected falls outside a tolerance range. In one embodiment an analyzer compares the pressures to produce a signal indicating failure when the pressure difference falls outside the tolerance range.

Abstract: In a dust collector, reverse U-shaped or reverse V-shaped supports pass through reverse U-shape or reverse V-shaped passages located above a dust collecting chamber. One end of each support passes below the passages and suspends electrodes in the dust collecting chamber, while the other end of each support terminates in an insulator at blind ends below the peaks of the passages. A heater heats the peak of each passage to break the thermal convection between the dust collecting chamber at one end of the passages and the insulators in the other end of each passage.

Abstract: An automatic data collection system for recording transaction data from a point of sale terminal employs a magnetic stripe on the back of the bank copy of the familiar sales slip pack. In response to the receipt of a credit authorization number, the POS terminal is operative to transfer tansaction data from the credit card magnetic stripe to the sales slip pack magnetic stripe for automatic recordation by the credit card issuer or its designee. The arrangement obviates the need for manual key operation to record the tyransaction data at the bank.

Abstract: Medical catheters with splined internal walls are disclosed as having sufficient rigidity to transmit torque from the proximal end to the distal end even over the long distances required for angioplast procedures. The splined geometry obviates the need for mesh layers characteristic of prior art guiding or diagnostic catheters and thus are significantly narrower and less costly to produce.

Abstract: In an automatic focusing circuit of a video camera, automatic focusing operation is performed by a focus evaluating value formed in response to a video signal obtained by an image sensing circuit (4). A first focusing motor control circuit (15) controls the rotation of a focusing motor (3) so that a focusing lens (1) is once fixed in the position where the focus evaluating value takes the maximum value. A second focusing motor control circuit (17) changes the focusing motor (3), by a predetermined very small amount, to determine the slope of the focus evaluating value, which change is repeated until inversion of the slope, that is, the maximal point is detected. As a result, the position of the focusing lens is corrected at the maximal point of the focus evaluating value. When the correction amount exceeds a predetermined value, first automatic focusing operation by the first focusing motor control circuit (15) is resumed.

Abstract: A resolution-select arrangement is provided for a fiber optic document scanner (or scope) having its exit field coupled to an array of discrete sensors. An initialization procedure provides an address string which associates at least one address of the sensor array with each of many of the positions of a light beam incremented along the axis of the entrance field. Subsets of the longest address string are derived and stored separately in consecutive ROM addresses starting at a corresponding start address. Resolution selection, conveniently under software control, selects the starting address corresponding to the desired resolution and increments through consecutive addresses of ROM where the associated address string is stored.

Abstract: A production initializer for a plurality of document scanners each comprising a fiber optic subassembly and a discrete sensor array is provided by moving a spinning light beam along an axis and positioning the linear entrance field of each of a plurality of subassemblies along radial axis. The beam spins at a rate fast compared to the rate at which the beam is advanced along the axis. A large number of subassemblies can be initialized simultaneously in this manner.

Abstract: A stepping motor with toothed stator poles and toothed rotor poles is magnetically enhanced by locating permanently magnetized inserts in the spaces between the stator teeth and magnetizing the inserts transverse to the direction of movement of the rotor and substantially transverse to the direction in which the teeth extend. In a hybrid motor with a split and axially magnetized rotor, the inserts are magnetized to oppose the magnetization of the rotor. In a variable reluctance motor with an unmagnetized rotor, inserts are placed in both rotor and stator and magnetized to aid each other. Linear motors use either configuration.

Abstract: Articulated joint comprising a cylindrical hollow drive element (2) and a spherical drive element (5) at the end of in each case one shaft (1,2), in which the hollow drive element (2) is roughly shaped like a hollow cylinder with a wavy inner profiling and the spherical drive element (5) has a spherical shape with a wavy profiling complimentary thereto, in such a way that even on pivoting the shafts with respect to one another there is a positive connection and reliable force transfer during rotation (FIG. 1).

Abstract: In the disclosed apparatus, a belt feeds empty containers, into a filling station. At a waiting position in the station of the belt lifts a container with a support having centering rollers that permit horizontal displacement of the empty container while alignment pulleys engage the vertical sides of the container to the rotate the container about its vertical axis so that its fill opening is at the leading edge of the container. A horizontally rotatable plate above the container but ahead of the waiting position sequentially applies an unplugging device and a level sensor to the container. When the belt moves the container to the filling position and when filling device has filled the container, the plate swings the unplugging device around to the filling position and plugs the container's fill opening. Upon further rotation, it positions a second device to apply a safety cap to the container.

Abstract: A noncoherent fiber optic bundle is made coherent by relating the positions of fiber ends in the exit field to the consecutive positions of an initialization beam of light moving in the entrance field. The initialization beam is small compared to the fiber size and is moved along a path in the entrance field in a manner to intersect the entrance ends of the fibers. A sensor array to which the exit field is coupled is interrogated each time the beam is moved to determine which sensors in the array are activated for each incremental position of the beam. The computer stores the address at which the first activation of a sensor occurred, and the address at which a once-activated sensor is no longer activated (turned off). The computer also associates that sensor with the mean beam position between those two addresses. No determination is made as to the positions of the entrance ends of the fiber in the entrance field. The method and apparatus are useful for coherent bundles as well.

Abstract: In the fill apparatus, a container feed belt with a lifting frame at the entry end includes container supporting and centering pulleys for displacing the empty container in the horizontal direction by means of alignment pulleys engaging the container rim in order to rotate the container about its longitudinal axis. A first work station arranged above the container includes a rotary disk rotatable about a vertical axis with circumferentially arranged devices participating in the rotary movement of the rotary disk for unscrewing the screw plugs closing the container fill opening, measuring the moisture content and seeking the container's bunghole. A second work station following the first work station includes a filling device. A third work station having a filling device and a following third work station includes devices for screwing the screw plugs on to the container openings and for mounting safety caps.

Abstract: A five-phase stepping motor system includes phase windings connected in series with each other to form a ring and pairs of switching devices connected in series with each other, with each pair having an intermediate connection connected to a corresponding junction between the phase windings. One switching device of each pair is connected to a positive pole of a d.c. power source and the other switching device is connected to a negative pole of the power source. The switching devices are turned on and off to connect two junctions to the positive pole of the power source and to connect two junctions to the negative poles of the power source. The switching devices in the remaining pair isolate the remaining junction from the power source. Exciting signals are applied to the switching devices so that the junction in the opened state is shifted to other junctions every pulse.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a solid state device having chemically bound arsenic and phosphorous includes carrying out liquid phase epitaxial growth in the presence of partial pressures of arsenic and phosphorus.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a write-after-read magnetic head assembly employs rectangular wafers sliced from a block of abrasion-resistive material. The block is prepared, prior to slicing, with pairs of opposed slots extending inwardly from anterior and posterior surfaces. The slots are adapted to include inserts of magnetically soft material. The inserts at the anterior surface also are of high cost abrasion-resistive materials necessary for digital recording systems but represent a relatively tiny amount of such materials. Pairs of wafers are juxtaposed in a manner to form a core equivalent structure and two such wafer pairs are mounted in an assembly which defines write after read heads for two tracks in a manner to preserve aximuth and avoid feed.

Abstract: Apparatus and accompanying methods for use therein for measuring and controlling weld indentation during resistance welding operations are disclosed. During a welding operation, the apparatus measures changes in a distance separating a reference point located on an electrode assembly and a region situated on the surface of the workpiece being welded wherein the region is not substantially indented by the electrode. Specifically, a distance measuring system first establishes the location of the surface relative to the electrode before any welding current is passed through the weld area. The indentation is repeatedly measured by detection of ultrasonic echoes from the surface of the material being welded. Such measurements are taken at frequent intervals during the current flow period during which the weld is being formed in order to determine on a continuous basis the indentation of the electrode into the surface. The welding power may be terminated when the measured indentation reaches the desired value.

Abstract: An apparatus for inclusion into a gate which provides that gate with an increased input noise margin while advantageously eliminating the need to operate that gate at an increased power supply potential.

Abstract: Apparatus and related methods for continuous long-term non-invasive measurement of the pressure of a pulsatile fluid flowing through a flexible tube, particularly human arterial blood flow, is disclosed.

Abstract: Apparatus and related methods for continuous long-term non-invasive measurement of the pressure of a pulsatile fluid flowing through a flexible tube, particularly human arterial blood flow, is disclosed.

Abstract: Apparatus and related methods for continuous long-term non-invasive measurement of the pressure of a pulsatile fluid flowing through a flexible tube, particularly human arterial blood flow, is disclosed.