Abstract: A recognition system comprises at least two field-programmable logic array devices connected to a common vector-input port of an array of a zero-instruction-set computers. Each field-programmable logic array device is configured to preprocess data from different respective media inputs and provide feature extraction vectors to the common vector-input port. Neural networks within the zero-instruction-set computer recognize the input patterns by comparing in parallel their vectors with those stored in each neural network cell. A variety of recognition jobs are made possible by changing the programming on-the-fly of the field-programmable logic array devices to suit each new job.

Abstract: A low-cost ceramic arc lamp comprises an optical coating on a sapphire window, a window shell flange, and a body sleeve. A gas-fill tubulation attaches to the side of the body sleeve and permits a charge of xenon gas to be injected during manufacture. This contrasts with the prior art where the xenon gas is introduced through the anode base. A single-piece strut assembly is used that is compatible with mass-production techniques. The single-piece strut assembly supports and suspends a cathode inside an elliptical reflector. An anode flange replaces a more conventional shell, copper anode base, and base support ring. A tungsten anode completes the lamp. All of these parts are brazed together in an assembly process that is far less complex than the prior art.

Abstract: An arc lamp comprising a hollowed-anode electrode with an arc-face having a central hole extending to an internal chimney. An opposing cathode electrode faces the hollowed anode electrode for providing a short electric arc around the central hole in the arc-face of the hollowed anode electrode. The anode and cathode electrodes are disposed in an inert gas, such as xenon. The internal gas is subject to an “arc wind” for transporting metal deposits downstream of the short electric arc and flowing from the short electric arc down the chimney. Such operation provides for an improvement in arc lamp life because the reflector blackens far less rapidly. A magnetic z-pinch pumping mode can be used to move the arc wind away from the reflector.

Abstract: A xenon arc lamp is provided with an improved cathode support. The improvements reduce the number of assembly procedures and parts needed to produce an arc lamp. Such reduces the overall cost of manufacturing. The cathode suspension system is made by starting with a single piece of sheet Kovar material that is formed into a cup. Pieces are cut from the bottom of the cup such that three webs connect the outside ring to the center. The three webs each have a flap that is then folded back 90° to form a rigid strut arm. A tungsten cathode electrode is brazed at the center and apex of the three struts with a sleeve that helps bridge the fillet area.

Abstract: A haircutting guide-comb instrument for use in cutting head hair of a human being and including a pair of elongated legs superimposed over one another to clasp hair of the human being in between said legs with a bias spring engaged about the terminal ends of the legs to urge them in engagement with one another and an anchor at the terminal ends securing the bias springs to both of the elongated legs.

Abstract: A fast frame-rate CCD imaging device is produced by modifying the optical mask of an otherwise ordinary and inexpensive CCD integrated circuit to darken a majority of the active imaging photocells. The modified CCD integrated circuit is operated at near its maximum horizontal and vertical clock rates, but multiple image frames are newly defined within the one previous active photocell array field. The added dark areas in the optical mask act to protect all recent frames still in transit within the active array area from being double exposed and thus corrupted.

Abstract: The aluminum smelting from alumina in the Hall-Heroult cells can be dramatically improved by using one or a combination of the following features together or in alternative to the Bayer alumina as feedstock: Al+++ alumina, sawtooth shaped electrodes, and lower temperatures. Laboratory experiments have shown that higher rates of dissolution of the Al+++ alumina in molten fluoride baths combined with lower voltage drops and improved design of electrodes can allow the operation of the cells at even higher current density, thus increasing overall productivity and efficiency of the cells.

Abstract: The smelting of aluminum from alumina in the Hall-Heroult process can be dramatically improved by lowering power consumption and in the use of carbon free anodes by using a feed of positively charged alumina. Laboratory experiments have shown that the apparent solubility and reactivity of alumina in molten fluoride baths is surprisingly increased by altering the negatively charged aluminum hydroxide Al(OH)4− particles, at about pH of nine, to positively charged particles containing Al+++ with a pH of less than two, by using acid solutions. The alumina thus produced is referred to as Al+++ alumina, or positively charged alumina. In particular, sulfuric acid is used to convert aluminum hydroxide using the Bayer process to a family of basic aluminum sulfates, 3Al2O3.4SO3.9H2O, which are dehydrated and calcined to produce Al+++ alumina.

Abstract: Navigation satellite receiver measurements of the acceleration of a moving vehicle are used to derive valuable attitude information about the vehicle. Three-dimensional accelerometer measurements aboard the vehicle are used to determine the specific force vector in the bow frame. The navigation satellite receiver measurements allow determination of the specific force vector in the earth-fixed frame. The specific force vector measured in both vehicle and earth-fixed frames can be used with additional information to derive vehicle attitude.

Abstract: A xenon ceramic lamp comprising a short-arc lamp with two integral reflectors disposed around the cathode arc ball to collect a wide range of elevation angles of light relative to the center longitudinal axis. The two integral reflectors and the cathode arc ball are within the same sealed volume of the lamp. A first reflector, generally below a common first focus, is a concave elliptical type for projecting light out through a sapphire window to a second focus. A second reflector, generally above the first focus, is a concave spherical type having its focus just offset from the first focus. Therefore, light rays may be emitted at nearly all angles from the cathode arc ball that will be reflected or back reflected by the elliptical and spherical reflectors.

Abstract: A GPS navigation receiver channel tracks satellites' Doppler frequencies sequentially during the twenty milliseconds that the signal is coherent in each bit time of the navigation data modulation. It measures frequency by differencing the angles of signal-vector sums weighted by parabolic humps, exploiting the commutativity of linear processing operations to raise the signal-to-noise ratio before the nonlinear operation phase of detection.

Abstract: An arc lamp lightsource module comprises a removable lamp unit including an arc lamp attached to two radial electrode heatsinks that are in turn disposed in an insulating sleeve housing. A chassis has a catch and a clip to lock down the removable lamp unit. An igniter is included to power the arc lamp. A single fan and an air plenum are disposed in the chassis and provide for a cooling airflow that is split between the igniter and the two radial electrode heatsinks. A pair of machine screws provide electrical contact to each of the two radial electrode heatsinks and that have crowned heads for a smooth contact surface. A printed circuit board (PCB) has springboard cutouts and electrical pads providing for a spring-pressure electrical contact between the igniter and the arc lamp through the pair of machine screws.

Abstract: An improved arc lamp with a ceramic body, an anode supported by a base, and a cathode suspended by a strut system opposite to the anode, and having an inside volume filled with xenon gas. The improvements include a groove in the ceramic body such that an angled area is presented to a head area of the anode that reduces heat coupling by radiation. A neck in the anode provides for a thermal choking such that a head portion of the anode will elevate in temperature during operation. A cavity is relieved in the base and all around the anode to provide a fixed means for managing the temperature of a head portion of the anode during operation. A stem portion of the cathode has a reduced diameter for attachment to the strut system and this provides reduced optical blockage. A base for the anode has a longer length than its diameter for improved heat transfer to an anode heatsink.

Abstract: A blue-light polymerizing system comprises a xenon arc lamp in which its sapphire window includes a blue-bandpass filter coating. This eliminates any external color filters that would otherwise be necessary for the polymerization of dental composite materials in a patient's mouth. The blue-bandpass filter coating causes the xenon arc lamp to heat an extra 10° C. higher than would otherwise be the case. So a special anode heatsink is fitted in which the front and back halves of each radial fin have been separated, and one of these groups of separated fins has been tilted off normal. Such changes the otherwise laminar airflow through the anode heatsink fins to a turbulent flow that is better able to collect heat and carry it off.

Abstract: In an optical positioning system, a holographic optical element having a plurality of rectangular apertures has predetermined ones of its aperture edges castellated or notched in order to null out undesired light energy in target areas. The apertures may be fitted with diffraction grating patterns that may also be castellated for the same purpose. A method of using the aperture and grating pattern castellated holographic optical element is also provided.

Abstract: A real-time kinematic system includes base and rover GPS units connected by a data link. The rover unit is typically moved to points of interest during a survey while the base remains over a fixed, and known location. An initialization testing program of the present invention is mounted on a personal computer platform that forces in the rover a loss of signal tracking, thus simulating losses in signal reception caused by obstructions of the satellite signals. A complete initialization is forced to occur. The test program uninitializes the RTK solution by causing a loss of integer ambiguities resolution by forcing a loss of lock on one or more satellites. The test program then monitors the subsequent initialization process, e.g.

Abstract: A network comprises a plurality of GPS navigation receivers with two-way radio data communication for communicating the current computed positions of individual mobile units to other mobile units in the network and to stationary dispatch controllers connected in by the public switched telephone network. Ordinary telephone personal pager service is carried out transparently in the network for non-GPS equipped mobile units.

Abstract: A memory system comprises a plurality of semiconductor memories with some bad bits, a substitution memory and a mapping logic to redirect external memory accesses to bad-bit locations in the semiconductor memories to good storage cells within the substitution memory.

Abstract: A cartridge disk for the magentic storage of computer data includes a rotatable hard disk platter with a hub of liquid crystal plastic injection-molded to tolerances of twenty-five micrometers. Such material used in molds avoids expensive machining. An electrically-conductive shell enclosure encases the hard disk platter between a cover piece and a base piece. A door assembly with upper and lower doors which pivot open on parallel axes is mounted to an open end of the shell enclosure. A single lever connected to the door assembly is positioned to engage a pin mounted in a mating disk drive automatically opens the doors when the disk is inserted into the drive. Outside the drive the doors close to seal out contamination particles that could foul the hard disk platter. An electrostatic filter in the shell enclosure is strategically placed to clean the air circulated within the cartridge disk during operation.