Abstract: In order to determine the position and orientation of an object on a conveyor, two planes of light intersect at a single transverse line on the conveyor surface, the planes of light each being at an acute angle to the conveyor. A linear diode array aligned with the single line of light on the conveyor detects light from that line. An object on the conveyor moving through the line of light intercepts the light above the conveyor at positions spaced laterally from the line of light. The linear array senses only the line segments on the conveyor beyond the object boundaries. By electronic sampling of the illumination of the linear array, the object boundaries are determined and the object shape and orientation are thus detected.

Abstract: The orientation of an industrial part such as a microcircuit chip having a pattern of dominant parallel lines is determined by an optical method. An image of the parallel line pattern is smeared or defocused in a known direction such that the resultant smeared image of the part reveals the lines in sharp detail when they are parallel to the known direction of smearing and are blurred if the lines are angularly displaced from the known direction. By rotating the image of the pattern relative to the smear direction and determining the angle at which maximum sharpness occurs, the angular orientation is determined. By correlating the pattern of sharp lines of the smeared image with a similar reference pattern of known position, the positional orientation of the part is also determined. When two angularly displaced families of parallel lines are present on the object, positional coordinates relative to two axes are determined.

Abstract: To protect a motor from overheating, its temperature is simulated at a point remote from the motor and the motor voltage is controlled to prevent overheating. The simulator comprises a cube of copper carrying a pair of heating elements: one being heated by a current proportional to motor current and the other heated by a current proportional to motor power. A temperature detector on the cube detects temperature corresponding to critical motor temperatures and is used to control motor energization.

Abstract: A liquid reservoir such as that for a brake master cylinder has a float in the liquid, a magnet and a reed switch secured to the float at a fixed spacing so that normally at high liquid level the reed switch is in a given state. When the liquid level falls, the float approaches a body of magnetic material suspended at a desired level in the reservoir or the bottom of the reservoir which comprises magnetic material. When low liquid level is reached, the body of magnetic material alters the flux field from the magnet to either increase or decrease the influence the magnet on the reed switch to cause a change of state of the reed switch thereby indicating low liquid level.

Abstract: An electronic control for a hydrostatic or hydromechanical transmission governs the transmission ratio as a primary function of a manual ratio request and as a secondary function of throttle setting, engine speed, pressure in the hydrostatic transmission and manual range selection. A ratio control signal is developed by comparing ratio request with the existing ratio control signal and integrating the difference to provide a smoothly changing ratio, and the rate of change is limited to a maximum value. Ratio change of the hydrostatic unit is carried out by varying the displacements of the hydrostatic pump and motor. The displacements are changed by servo motors electrically controlled by the electrical ratio signal. Synchronous range shifting in a gear set is accomplished by applying one torque transmitting device (e.g. brake or clutch) and releasing another torque transmitting device, each of which is fluid pressure operated.

Abstract: A compression molding operation is controlled by applying a press force to a mold having a cavity charged with molding compound. The separation of the mold halves is measured at each corner thereof by linear variable differential transformers. Hydraulic cylinders operating on the press ram generally in the area of each corner of the molds are individually controlled to locally vary the press force on the molds to maintain mold parallelism as determined by the LVDT's to control the velocity of press closing also as measured by the LVDT's according to a preprogrammed velocity profile, and further to control the amount of press force applied to the molds according to a preprogrammed value during curing of the molding compound.

Abstract: An electrical switch comprises three flat terminals secured to an insulating base. The two outer terminals are arranged in the same plane and a third terminal is arranged midway between the outer terminals and has a contact portion which is spaced slightly from the plane of the outer terminals. An expansion strip is stretched between the outer terminals and when cold extends across the contact portion of the third terminal making contact with it. Load current from a circuit to be monitored is applied through the outer terminals and flows through the expansion strip thereby heating the strip so that it bows away from the third terminal. When the load current ceases, the expansion strip cools and contracts into contact with the third terminal thereby applying a voltage to that terminal from either of the outside terminals. A lamp or other current indicator in circuit with the third terminal indicates the stoppage of the load current.

Abstract: A system displays messages one at a time to inform a vehicle operator of malfunctions or other events occurring in a vehicle with priority being given to the event of most importance whenever more than one event is sensed concurrently. A display device then selects messages for display and code switches are actuated to provide a unique electrical code signal for each message to indicate to the system which message is selected at a given moment. A number of sensors in the vehicle each respond to an event and an electrical sensor signal of unique value is provided for actuation of each sensor switch. A circuit compares the code signal with the sensor signal to drive the display device to select another message when the two signals are not in harmony and to display the selected message when the two signals are in harmony. A provision is made to render a sensor switch ineffective to affect the sensor signal when a sensor switch of higher priority is concurrently actuated.

Abstract: A coil suitable for use as a radio component, for example, an FM trimmer coil, is formed of a self-supporting wire coil enclosed in a housing comprising two halves molded of insulated material and ultrasonically welded together to captivate the coil, ribs on the housing interior extend between turns of the coil in contact therewith to securely contain the coil turns and prevent axial movement thereof. Optionally, a threaded tuning slug is adjustably located within the coil supported by the inner ends of the ribs at a fixed spacing from the coil. Integral coil terminals extend through the housing and a window in the side of the housing allows an additional terminal to be welded to a coil turn intermediate the ends of the coil.

Abstract: A circuit is provided for a tractor/trailer combination to provide a warning in the tractor of an event such as low tire pressure occurring at the trailer utilizing only conventional wiring connections between the tractor and trailer. When low tire pressure occurs, a flasher circuit on the trailer flashes the trailer marker lamps which are normally energized so that the flashing lamps are visible to the operator. The electrical pulses in the marker lamp circuits are sensed by a detector in the tractor to illuminate an indicator lamp in the tractor.

Abstract: A compact tape cassette player includes a base member defining a channel for slidably receiving a cassette, and a tape transport assembly mounted on a support plate which moves vertically relative to the base plate for engagement and disengagement with a cassette. A lever assembly normally holds the support plate in a raised inoperative position but when the lever assembly is moved against a spring force to an operative position upon insertion of the cassette it allows the support plate to drop into driving engagement with the cassette and latch the lever assembly in the operative position. An eject slide is manually operable to cam the support plate to an inoperative position whereupon the lever assembly is released to eject the cassette.

Abstract: A circuit is provided for a tractor/trailer combination to provide a warning in the tractor of an event such as low tire pressure occurring at the trailer utilizing only conventional wiring connections between the tractor and trailer. When low tire pressure occurs, a flasher circuit on the trailer flashes the trailer marker lamps which are normally energized so that the flashing lamps are visible to the operator. The electrical pulses in the marker lamp circuits are sensed by a detector in the tractor to illuminate an indicator lamp in the tractor. A time delay circuit controlling the flasher circuit for providing a self-check function, and for allowing manual flashing of the lamps without triggering the self-check operation.

Abstract: A pair of mandrels crossing at a right angle are moved into the center of an O-ring and then spread apart to stretch the O-ring around the mandrels to secure it and to form it into a twisted path. The mandrels are rotated to drive the O-ring through the twisted path so that the angular orientation of any given cross section of the O-ring changes as it advances around the path. An optical measurement apparatus senses cross section diameter of the O-ring at several locations and frequently repeats the measurement during the O-ring movement. The diameters are electrically compared to determine dimensional anomalies in the O-ring.

Abstract: A mass of alloy material is deposited on a valve seat and is heated to alloying temperature by a laser beam which sweeps around the valve seat thereby alloying the valve seat. While the alloyed material is still at a high temperature, the forming tool is pressed against the valve seat to shape the valve seat to a configuration which requires little or no grinding.

Abstract: A circuit connected to an AC source has first and second AC outlets for supplying power to first and second load devices. A control circuit response to power drawn from the first outlet controls power supplied to the second outlet such that the second outlet is energized only when current is flowing from the first outlet. Thus a record player or tape deck connected to the first outlet controls the supply of power to an amplifier connected to the second outlet.

Abstract: An automotive alternator end frame includes a slotted portion to which a threaded terminal is to be attached. A square shanked bolt is inserted into an insulating grommet comprising spaced washer members supported by a central sleeve of square cross section. The bolt and grommet are assembled to the frame from the outside thereof by sliding the grommet into the slot with the washers overlying the opposed surfaces of the housing. One of the washers is connected to the sleeve through a thin web member so that when a nut is tightened onto the bolt, the web deforms or fractures so that the washer spacing can conform to the frame thickness.

Abstract: Switching functions such as for windshield wiper control in a vehicle are remotely controlled by a manually positioned optical selector connected through a fiber optic conductor to an electro-optic transceiver. The transceiver provides a light source for illuminating the light conductor and the selector controls the positions of color coated mirrors which are selectively positioned to reflect color coded light via the light conductor to the transceiver which analyzes the modified light spectrum. A logic circuit responsive to the transceiver output controls actuators according to the selected switch function.

Abstract: An electronic circuit is used to control a gas turbine engine primarily as a function of turbine inlet temperature and compressor speed and in particular includes a speed governing loop to control compressor speed according to throttle position and modified by a temperature limiting compensation loop which accurately sets the turbine inlet temperature limit according to a schedule which avoids engine surge and destructive temperatures. The compensation loop is particularly designed to provide quick response to acceleration demands and a smooth transition to temperature limiting. A start fuel schedule circuit is also used to moderate the speed loop during engine starting.

Abstract: Fuse boxes for motor vehicles, in which fuse elements are carried on a support plate mounted on a box containing a light source. Each fuse element has a region of small cross-section overlying a respective one of a plurality of apertures in the support plate. When the small cross-section region of a fuse element melts the underlying aperture is exposed. Light from the light source passes out through said aperture to illuminate a circuit symbol adjacent the support plate thereby giving a visible indication of fuse element failure.

Abstract: The brightness of an LED display on an automobile instrument panel is independent of the battery voltage but does depend on the position of the instrument panel illumination dimmer potentiometer. The voltage applied to the LED is limited to a maximum by a zener diode control circuit and that voltage is reduced by a voltage detector circuit which senses the difference between the battery voltage and the dimmer potentiometer output voltage to reduce the LED voltage in proportion to that difference. The voltage detector circuit is disabled when vehicle parking lamps are turned off to insure maximum LED brightness in daytime driving.