Abstract: A thin strip or flat web of metal material is transported longitudinally in a stable manner and without contact to the working surface by providing a generally constant transverse tension to the web. Equally spaced holes are punched along the outer edges of the web and two oppositely arranged sprockets engage the holes and drive the metal strip without any contact across the width of the strip. The two sprockets are slidably engaged for concurrent rotation with each other and biased outwardly by a spring to provide the constant transverse tension as the web is driven longitudinally.

Abstract: A telephone answering apparatus permits a called party to select between an automatic mode wherein a message is automatically played back to a caller without any action of the called party and a prenouncer mode wherein a message is played back to the caller when activated by the called party. The telephone answering apparatus includes a ring detector circuit connectable to an outside line and responsive to an incoming call on the outside line for producing a ring detected signal, a timer and driver circuit responsive to the ring detected signal for producing a playback signal and a manually actuatable answer switch. A mode switch capable of selecting one of the prenouncer mode and the automatic mode is connected to the timer and driver circuit, to the ring detector circuit and to the answer switch.

Abstract: An image compression system has an image memory accessible from the image bus. Compressed data are stored in a dual-ported memory accessible from both the image bus and the host bus. The compressor/expander accesses the image memory while the host accesses the dual-ported memory. Dual-ported memory allocation schemes and a computer program controlling the image compression system are also provided.

Abstract: A programmable digital circuit is provided for bus control of a fast microprocessor such as a V33 microprocessor. The digital circuit includes a bus controller, a wait state controller and a clock generator generating a processor clock and a system clock with but a small skew between them.

Abstract: The joint construction comprises a coupling ring slidably received in a motor tube connected to the front end of the military rocket motor. The coupling ring is formed with longitudinal slots alternating with flexible fingers having locking projections engageable with a locking channel and an adjacent locking flange within the tube. An adapter ring is connected to the warhead by first screw threads and is adapted to be connected to the coupling ring by second screw threads including external threads on the adapter ring and internal threads in the coupling ring. The adapter ring has a reduced tapered end portion for receiving a wedging tapered expansion ring made of a eutectic metal alloy having a low melting point. As the second screw threads are engaged, the expansion ring flexes the fingers outwardly by a wedging action and causes the projections to interlock with the channel and the flange.

Abstract: A water-activated, primary reserve battery for use in an environment, such as the ocean, that provides an environmentally safe battery, especially useful in sonobuoys. The battery includes the use of cuprous iodide as a cathode and magnesium as the anode in an array to provide voltage, amperage, and operational time equivalent to conventional lead chloride batteries. Once the sonobuoy is no longer useful as it deteriorates in the environment, no lead will be presented into the ocean. The structural frame members protect the cuprous iodide which is brittle in a rigid array and provides for proper venting of gas and sludge formation to insure efficient operation of the battery.

Abstract: An electric power dissipation system operates as an active load for power supply testing. The system has a closed loop voltage to current converter with a first and second load terminal. A capacitance is connected across the first and second load terminals. A power supply having a first and second output terminal is coupled to the first and second load terminals via test conductors which have a first and second inductance respectively. A correction signal generator is provided to be responsive to the power supply. The correction signal generator provides an output signal as a function of the voltage generated across one of the inductances. A summing circuit responds to the output signal of the correction signal generator and also responds to a command signal. The output of the summing circuit controls the current flow of the current converter.

Abstract: A light valve for attenuating a collimated light beam contains a focusing lens, a light vane and motor control. The focusing lens contains a focal length and lens diameter. The focusing lens focuses a collimated light beam to generate a light cone such that the dimensions of the light cone are based on the diameter and focal length of the focusing lens. The light vane deflects light within the light cone. The motor is controlled to position the light vane to attenuate the light within the light cone by placing the light vane in at least one position ranging from a zero stop attenuation position to a full stop attenuation position. For a single degree of light vane rotation into the light cone, the light beams is attenuated by three percent. In the zero stop position, the light vane is parallel to an edge of the light cone so that no light is attenuation. In the full stop position, the light vane is located thirty degrees, relative to the zero stop position, into the light cone.

Abstract: An audio mixer system using a serial editor interface is disclosed. Use of a microprocessor control circuit is disclosed to control various functions a plurality of multiple channel VTRs under the control of a mixer. Serial control signals are supplied from a video editor to a serial interface which includes a microprocessor. These control signals are decoded, and the appropriate controls of the VTRs are implemented. These controls include crossfading as well as PREVIEW/REVIEW monitoring.

Abstract: A real-time telecine system for converting motion picture film to high definition video contains a control unit comprising a database which provides complete control over all parameters associated with the film to high definition video conversion. The telecine system comprises a lamphouse which generates three monochromatic light sources wherein the light intensity for each light source is controlled independently by the control unit. Each light source contains a lamp, a variable power supply, a lens configuration and a light valve. Each lamp comprises a non-incandescent lamp such as xenon, and generates a collimated light beam. Each lens configuration contains a heat mirror, dichroic filters and a focusing lens. The dichroic filters for each light source generate a monochromatic light source by filtering the light beam. The focusing lens focuses the monochromatic light beam from each light source for input to an integrating sphere.

Abstract: The ignition safety device is mounted on a rocket motor nozzle having a body with a longitudinal nozzle opening having an igniter therein for igniting the propulsion charge of the rocket motor. An electrically operable detonator is mounted in a detonator opening in a housing mounted in the body. An actuator and a locking member are movable in the body between safe and armed positions. The locking member has means operative in its safe position for locking the actuator. Movement of the locking member to its armed position unlocks the actuator. A spring biases the locking member to its safe position. The actuator is adapted to operate a switch which initially short circuits the electrically operable detonator but is operable by the actuator to an armed position in which the detonator is no longer short circuited and is connected to an electrical input circuit including a contact band on the nozzle body.

Abstract: A flexible sensor assembly for detecting optical pulses in which said sensor assembly comprises a flexible printed circuit having mounted thereon at least one light emitting diode and at least one photoelectric detector connected to different circuit patterns with an insulative tape secured over the circuit and components and wherein the flexible sensor is adapted to be folded so that the photoelectric detector can be spaced from and disposed over the light emitting diode.

Abstract: It is desirable that a cordless telephone system include a single base unit and at least two remote handunits. With such a system, two users may maintain participation in a three-way conversation while being free to move about within reasonable transmitting distance to and from the base unit. Circuitry is provided in which the signal received from one handunit is transmitted to the other handunit, and sidetone from one handunit is transmitted back to that handunit. The base unit comprises first and second double conversion intermediate frequency arrangements with respective first IF frequency portions being tuned away from a nominal frequency value by a substantially equal amount in opposite directions.

Abstract: In a switch mode power supply a voltage developed in an isolating transformer is rectified via a first diode and coupled via a feedback path to a control terminal of a regulator. The voltage is also rectified via a second diode and coupled to a supply terminal of the regulator. A pair of diodes are coupled in series between the supply and control terminals. During normal operation, the pair of diodes are non-conductive. When, under a fault condition, the first diode is disconnected, the pair of diodes provide a redundant or alternative feedback path in a manner to prevent excessive output level of the power supply.

Abstract: A DC-DC power converter having a power transformer primary winding and a secondary winding producing a regulated output using a control technique and circuit to control the magnetic flux reset time of the core of the power transformer. The control circuit for the power converter provides control of the on and off time of the power transformer by controlling the magnetic flux reset voltage produced on the secondary winding, thereby controlling the duty cycle of the power transformer, and thereby regulating the output of the power transformer. Because control of the power transformer is accomplished by controlling the secondary winding reset voltage, input-to-output isolation and improved converter stability is provided. Minor variations to the input section of the DC-DC converter allows for a wide range of input voltages. Minor variations to the control circuit configuration provide the capability for short-circuit protection and inrush current limitation.

Abstract: An optical connector for assembly with a fiber optic cable includes a spring biased holder for an optical fiber having a rear body to prevent leaking of adhesive from the holder. A collar is provided having a multi-faceted periphery to allow insertion into a cavity of a connector body. The collar has a complementary faceted geometry in a multiplicity of orientations with respect to a mating axis to provide for high resolution tuning of the holder.

Abstract: A visual signaling device which has a horizontally extending lamp which is connected to an electrical housing and which is surrounded by a reflector body. The reflector body has a pair of oppositely extending horizontal parabolic troughs and a downwardly extending horizontal trough. Each trough has an input opening adjacent the lamp, an output end opening, and a front opening. Each trough is defined by a generally planar back wall and a pair of opposed side walls. Each side wall is horizontal from the back wall to the front opening and parabolic relative to the central longitudinal axis of the lamp from the input opening to the output end opening. In a second embodiment of the invention, the reflector has an upwardly extending parabolic trough.