Abstract: A d.c. gas discharge display panel consists of a rectangular array of discharge cells suitable for displaying alphanumeric characters surrounded by a circular array. The two arrays share one common set of conductors and are addressed sequentially by reducing the potential on the common conductors in turn by a glow transfer device extending around the circular array. The other conductors of the circular array may be commoned to result in a radial pointer whose position around the rectangular array can be changed.

Abstract: Data processing apparatus includes a storage circuit or memory, and an addressing circuit for identifying word locations within the storage circuit or memory into and from which a plurality of information items are to be written and read, respectively. A translating circuit is provided for successively shifting, in a write mode of operation, at least a portion of each information item so that it is stored in the storage circuit in a manner that the stored information item in each word location has a bit order different from that order of any other information item as stored in the storage circuit. In a read mode of operation, the translating or de-skewing circuit shifts the information items as read out from the storage circuit in a direction opposite to that imparted during the writing mode.

Abstract: A gas discharge display panel has a glow transfer device extending along one or both edges of the panel and consisting of a row, or rows, of cavities extra to the display. One electrode of the, or each, transfer device is common to the conductor associated with the display cavities at that coordinate and the other electrode is grouped with others in threes to a transfer conductor so that three-phase addressing of the transfer conductors causes a transfer glow to move along from cavity to cavity. The transfer glow changes the potential of said common conductor to enable discharges to form in the associated display cavities suitably addressed by potentials applied to selected ones of their other conductors. One transfer device can be used for writing and the other, a short time later, for erasing, thereby providing a variable brightness display.

Abstract: Temperature regulation of an avalanche photodiode is obtained by internal heating, by passing a reverse current through the breakdown region of the photodiode. In operation, an empirically-derived, reverse bias potential, equal to the breakdown potential at the desired operating temperature, is applied; and when incident radiation is to be detected the reverse bias potential is temporarily lowered to an empirically-derived operating value.

Abstract: To distinguish between different types of fault detected by laser scanning of a moving web two or more detectors are arranged to collect light reflected in different ranges of angles in direction of web motion. By combining outputs of these in a logical way representing increases or decreases in the sums and differences of the signals they produce, the faults can be classified as absorbing, scattering, or their opposites, or deflecting.

Abstract: In an integrated circuit semiconductor device different matched resistors are provided by at least one resistor comprising at least two matched resistor parts connected together, these resistor parts also being matched to each constituent resistor part of at least one different matched resistor of the device.

Abstract: A heater for heating fluid within a body cavity of an animal say for heating tumours by irrigation, comprises a container having inlet and outlet ports through which fluid in the cavity is passed by an external pump, and a heating element in the container to heat at least some of the fluid that passes through the container. Pumping can be achieved by a fluid filled pipe coupled to the container, either directly by or by way of a diaphragm, and to a bellows or like arrangement for cyclicly varying the pressure of the fluid in the pipe and container.

Abstract: A circuit arrangement at least partially embodied in a collector-diffusion-isolation (CDI) type device, in a semiconductor body comprising a thin layer initially wholly of one conductivity type on a substrate of the same conductivity type, has at least one component comprising a modification of previously known CDI type constructions i.e.

Abstract: A gas discharge laser has a cathode electrode comprising a block of platinum black compressed into a solid mass.

Abstract: A discrimination circuit operable to discriminate between an input signal in the form of a pedestal and disturbance signals superimposed thereon has an A-D converter to digitize a disturbance-free reference pedestal signal, circulating shift register to store the digitized reference signal, a D-A converter to produce a pedestal signal from the reference signal, a controlling clock to shift the reference signal in the store in synchronism with the incoming signal such that the two pedestal signals are available together, and a comparator to compare the reference signal with the input signal to produce an output caused by differences due to disturbances. The circuit forms part of an optical surface inspection apparatus.

Abstract: An inertial platform having four gimbals, an intermediate one of which is capable of only limited movement, has pickoffs and torque motors on each gimbal axis. Part of the intermediate gimbal and an adjacent gimbal are removable, these parts being joined by a gimbal bearing.

Abstract: Liquid dispensing apparatus for dispensing a blend of first and second liquids has flowmeters operable to measure the quantity of each liquid delivered. The flowmeter outputs are multiplied by a factor equal to the proportion of one liquid in the blend and used to control a stepping motor which operates a blending valve. An error correction circuit is provided to correct for any accumulated error, and the apparatus also includes a cost determining circuit.

Abstract: A distance measuring arrangement has an accelerometer transducer of the force balance type in which a switch closed by the action of an acceleration force causes a constant current to flow in a coil to oppose the force and open the switch. The switch opens and closes in a repetitive cycle at the resonant frequency of the system, the closed switch gating clock pulses to integration means. The transducer may take two forms. In the first the proportion of time that the switch is closed in each cycle is proportional to the acceleration value. Distance measurement comprises counting the clock pulses to effect a first stage of integration and summating the counter totals every 1000 clock pulses to give a distance travelled signal. In the second, the proportion of time that the switch is closed in each cycle is proportional to the square root of the acceleration value and distance measuring comprises counting the clock pulses to give a signal proportional to the square root of distance travelled.

Abstract: A transistor logic circuit includes a constant current source in the form of a current mirroring arrangement connected to a logical gating combination of switching transistors, the arrangement being such that the switching transistors do not saturate.

Abstract: A surface inspection system has a light beam repetitively scanning a surface and a receiver located to receive light specularly (directly) reflected. The receiver has an enclosure with a wall containing a plurality of slits by which reflected light can reach a detector in the enclosure. The slits are arranged to cause the detector to produce a series of pulses throughout the scan, each pulse providing an instantaneous picture of the surface gloss in terms of an intensity distribution, the half width of each pulse is measured to give an indication of any variation from the half width of the distribution for a known surface gloss.

Abstract: A circuit arrangement is at least partially embodied in a collector-diffusion-isolation (CDI) type device, in a semiconductor body comprising a thin layer initially wholly of one conductivity type on a substrate of the same conductivity type, and the device has a plurality of CDI-type components, each CDI-type component with a combination of regions of the opposite conductivity type, comprising a buried layer at the interface between the thin layer and the substrate, and an isolation barrier for the component extending through the thin layer to contact the buried layer, the circuit arrangement being such that no constituent component of the device breaks down when a potential difference of up to substantially twice the breakdown potential of the outer P-N junction of each CDI-type component, and at least of 10 volts, is applied across the device. Usually the substrate of the body is at the most negative potential level associated with the device.

Abstract: An information retrieval system is described comprising a store having a plurality of word locations, each of M bits for receiving and storing an item of digital data, e.g. an operand of N bits greater than M, a store address circuit for addressing simultaneously selective consecutive bits of an operand in two or more adjacent word locations, and a shift circuit for rearranging the bits read from the store into a desired sequence. A ROM is provided for storing a plurality of multiple-bit words, each defining a different end around shift, and the store addressing circuit includes a multiplexing circuit responsive to the aforementioned multiple-bit words to determine the addresses of each bit of two consecutive word locations within the store.

Abstract: For use with apparatus for transferring a load between two stations movable relative to each other in a vertical plane by means of a crane carried by one of the two stations having a hook assembly for attachment to the load on the other station for lifting the load, a lift-off indicator measures either the relative velocity or relative vertical accelerations of the two stations and from signals representing relative velocity of approach showing values between a maximum positive and a negative, and relative acceleration acting away from the direction of approach indicates conditions suitable for initiating lifting.

Abstract: Control of vertical motion of a suspended crane hook assembly to accommodate vertical motion between a station carrying the crane and a station carrying a load is achieved by a transducer on the hook assembly and a control cord depending onto the load station. Tension above a set value in the cord produced by a crew member on the station causes the hook assembly to descend and below the set value causes it to rise. Movement of the stations causes a continuous adjustment of tension and the hook assembly follows the motion, extra tension being applied to guide the hook assembly down to the load and vice versa.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices are mounted on corresponding lead frames by being inserted into apertures of a masking member in a desired registration with the lead frame strip.