Abstract: A connector for testing shunted electrical terminal assemblies includes a selectively actuatable shunt displacement member for moving a terminal shunt between a shunted and unshunted position in response to a control signal. The connector allows for the testing of shunted circuits and connectors in a shunted and unshunted position. The connector is readily adaptable to systems for automated testing of airbag actuators and the like.

Abstract: An apparatus for scanning the visual characteristics of a surface includes an illumination system which scans a beam of light across the surface for reflection therefrom. The reflected beam is split into two parts. A first part goes to a control sensor which generates a control signal in response to the spatial distribution of the intensity of the reflected light. A second portion of the reflected light goes to a measuring sensor. A field mask is disposed in the beam of reflected light and operates to restrict the cross-sectional area of the beam which impinges upon the measuring sensor. Positioning of the field mask is controlled by a driver responsive to the control signal produced by the control sensor. In this manner, the field mask may be positioned so as to select only specularly reflected light for measurement.

Abstract: A system for measuring optical characteristics of a surface such as orange peel includes a light source and detector retained upon a support block and translatable as a single unit. The light source emits a beam which is scanned across the workpiece surface by a moving mirror so as to produce a scan line. Translation of the light source causes the scan line to move across the workpiece. The associated detector reads the light reflected from the workpiece and produces a signal which may be processed to determine orange peel or other optical characteristics of the surface.

Abstract: In a surface reflectance meter for directing light to a surface, receiving light reflected from the surface and measuring the rate of change of light flux upon withdrawal of a light chopper from the optical path, a fault detection means which detects and indicates a fault in the flux rate of change measurement is disclosed. In the preferred embodiment the rate of change of flux is detected by measuring the time for the light intensity to increase from a first to a second predetermined intensity and the fault detector means detects and indicates a fault when the light intensity does not reach the second predetermined intensity within a predetermined period of time. The surface reflectance meter is reset for repetition of the measurement upon indication of a fault. This invention is useful in portable surface reflectance meters which must be hand held to the surface to be measured, because instability in holding the meter to the surface can cause the fault.