Abstract: An intensity compensated scanning system includes laser means for providing a laser beam; scanner means for sweeping the laser beam in an arcuate path across a surface to be scanned; means for sensing the return laser beam reflected from the surface to be scanned; means for quantifying the decrease in the intensity of the return laser beam at the scan extremity portion relative to the intermediate scan portion; and means responsive to the means for quantifying for varying the power to the laser means at the scan extremity portion relative to that at the intermediate scan portion for balancing the intensity of the return laser beam reflected from the surface to the means for sensing.

Abstract: A follower response control circuit for a reference level establishing system having positive and negative follower circuits, each having means for defining a pre-established time constant producing, respectively, a positive peak signal and a negative peak signal in response to an input signal, and means responsive to the peak signals for establishing a reference level, including means for defining a second time constant for one of the follower circuits; switching means for selectively switching the means for defining a second time constant in and out of that one of the follower circuits; a direction detector circuit for determining whether the input signal level is moving toward the polarity of the peaks followed by that one of the follower circuits; a level detector circuit for determining whether the input signal is of the same polarity of the peaks followed by that one of the follower circuits; and a switch control responsive to the detector circuit for operating the switching means to introduce the means

Abstract: Apparatus for determining whether the ratio of the widths of a pair of signals is within acceptable limits including integrator means, including a first integrator responsive to a first signal to integrate in a first direction at a first rate and to a second signal to integrate in the opposite direction at a second rate and a second integrator responsive to the first signal to integrate in the first direction at the second rate and to a second signal to integrate in the opposite direction at the first rate; indicator means responsive to the integrator means for providing a data signal representative of the first and second signals have the proper ratio beginning in response to the second integrator reaching a first predetermined level and ending in response to the first integrator reaching a second predetermined level and control means, responsive to the end of the second signal occurring during the presence of the data signal to provide a clock signal validating the data signal and to the end of the second s

Abstract: A variable permeability magnetic object detection device including an electromagnetic sensing coil; a core disposed in the electromagnetic sensing coil having a first permeability when the core is magnetically saturated and a second different permeability when the core is magnetically unsaturated; a magnetic member proximate the electromagnetic sensing coil for providing a magnetic field in the core for operating the core in a magnetically saturated state without a magnetic object to be detected present in the area proximate the electromagnetic sensing coil, interacting with the magnetic field, and for operating the core in a magnetically unsaturated state with the magnetic object to be detected present in the area proximate the magnetic sensing coil, interacting with the field; and a detector responsive to said electromagnetic sensing coil to detect the presence of a magnetic object.

Abstract: A variable permeability magnetic object detection device including an electromagnetic sensing coil; a core disposed in the electromagnetic sensing coil having a first permeability when the core is magnetically saturated and a second different permeability when the core is magnetically unsaturated; a magnetic member proximate the electromagnetic sensing coil for providing a magnetic field in the core for operating the core in a magnetically saturated state without a magnetic object to be detected present in the area proximate the electromagnetic sensing coil, interacting with the magnetic field, and for operating the core in a magnetically unsaturated state with the magnetic object to be detected present in the area proximate the magnetic sensing coil, interacting with the field; and a detector responsive to said electromagnetic sensing coil to detect the presence of a magnetic object.