Abstract: By providing an input/output module which incorporates post means formed thereon and slider means connected thereto and movable into and out of locking engagement with the post means of an adjacent module, a unique input/output module is achieved that is rapidly mounted to an adjacent module as well as rapidly disconnected therefrom. Preferably, each input/output module incorporates mating connector means positioned on opposite surfaces thereof, whereby each input/output module electronically directly connects to an adjacent module for communication with a central processor.

Abstract: A consumable metal electrode incorporates a fibrous reinforcing network of electrically insulating material extending through at least a portion of the body of the electrode and disposed in close proximity to a surface of the electrode which will be contacted by liquid electrolyte and eroded during operation of an electrochemical cell incorporating the electrode. Local turbulence is generated by the fibrous network at the electrode surface during operation of the cell in order to maximize electrical output.

Abstract: A telemetry system for sensing remote physical events and for transmitting and boosting a digital data signal representing the sensed events on a transmission line, which comprises a master clock and a plurality of sensing stations for sensing local data. The sensing stations inject local data onto the transmission line as a digital data signal, and a controller/receiver receives the digital data. The master clock initializes the system timing and generates a sync signal. Each sensing station includes a booster subsystem for receiving the local digital data and for injecting the digital data onto the transmission line as a digital data signal. During system start up, each booster subsystem claims a slot, in accordance with an organizational process, for injecting the digital data signal onto the transmission line. The booster subsystem in each sensing station further includes a booster circuit for boosting the digital data signals which are propagating on the transmission line, as well as the sync signal.

Abstract: Selected saturated organic polymers having multiple ether linkages are useful in at least partially passivating the electrochemical reaction occurring at the reactive metal anode of an electrochemical cell using an aqueous electrolyte.Useful polymers are characterized as having a molecular weight in the range of about 100 to 1000 Daltons, as being at least partially miscible with the aqueous electrolyte, chemically inert with respect to the anode, cathode and electrolyte, and having an atomic ratio of carbon in the polymer to oxygen in the ether linkages of about 1 to 5:1.

Abstract: An assembly for adaptively controlling vibration, shock, acceleration and position of an item mounted to the assembly independent of varying operating characteristics of the item or a support base for the assembly is provided. The assembly comprises an item to be controlled, a support platform for supporting the item, a viscous spring damper mechanically intercoupled between the item and the platform, a first accelerometer for sensing vibration, shock, acceleration and position of the item, a second accelerometer for sensing vibration, shock, acceleration and position of the support platform, a gas supply source for selectively supplying gas to the viscous spring damper, a fluid supply source for selectively supplying fluid to the viscous spring damper, and a logic control circuit for adjusting inputs from the gas supply source and the fluid supply source to selectively adjust the operation of the viscous spring damper and the dynamic mechanical coupling of the item to the platform.

Abstract: A physiological pressure sensing and monitoring system including a sterile throwaway pressure transducing device. The device includes a pressure transducer mounted together with a flow control valve in a housing. The device includes a first connector for connecting the device to a source of sterile solution, a second connector for electrically connecting the pressure transducer to a monitoring device, and a third connector for selectively connecting the device to a catheter inserted into a patient's circulatory system. The device, including the connectors, is made to be low cost so as to permit the entire device to be installed and discarded as a unit so as to constitute a throwaway pressure sensing and flow regulating means.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel polymer compositions and the novel method of their synthesis. The novel polymer compositions are synthesized by forming a tetrahydrofuran solution of a polymer selected from the group consisting of polyvinylchloride, polystyrene, and silicone; adding an anhydrous manganese salt of the formula:MnX.sub.2wherein X is a species capable of forming an anion, preferably a halogen or a thiocyanate, then adding to the solution of polymer and manganese salt, a phosphine of the formula:PR.sup.1 R.sup.2 R.sup.3wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2, and R.sup.3 may be the same or different, and each is selected from the group consisting of substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, cycloalkyl or aryl groups or hydrogen, provided that no more than two of the groups R.sup.1, R.sup.2, and R.sup.3 are substituted or unsubstituted aryl groups and that at least one of the groups R.sup.1, R.sup.2, and R.sup.3 is a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, cycloalkyl or aryl group.

Abstract: A method for depositing a micron-size metallic film on a transparent substrate by thermal deposition employing a focused visible laser. The method includes the step of positioning the substrate in a gas cell containing a metal bearing gaseous compound. A nucleation layer is formed on a surface of the substrate by either shining an ultraviolet light on the substrate surface or by heating the substrate to a temperature which is less than the temperature at which the molecules of the gaseous compound decompose. Next, a laser which may be visible or near infrared is focused onto the substrate to provide localized heating of the area of the substrate to which the beam is incident. Molecules of the gaseous compound thermally decompose on the heated area to deposit a metal film thereon.

Abstract: A method is described for treating the surface of a field-effect transistor or a Schottky barrier diode. A polysilicon surface of a gate region of an FET or a single crystalline silicon surface of a Schottky barrier diode may be treated with a low-power argon-plasma for a relatively short period of time to enhance nucleation sites on the surface of the polysilicon or single crystalline silicon. A layer of tungsten or molybdenum may be selectively deposited on the surface of the polysilicon or single crystalline silicon by chemical-vapor deposition through silicon reduction of tungsten hexafluoride or molybdenum hexafluoride.

Abstract: An intrusion detection system for sensing mechanical and acoustical vibrations, comprises a light source, a fiber optic acoustic transducer, a light intensity to current converter circuit, a display and an audio monitor. The light source is positioned at a point remote from an area to be protected and is coupled to the fiber optic acoustic transducer by a low loss fiber optic transmission line. Similarly, the light intensity to current converter circuit, the display and the audio monitor are located at a point remote from the area to be protected, and are coupled to the fiber optic acoustic transducer by a low loss fiber optic transmission line. When mechanical or acoustical vibrations impinge on the fiber optic acoustic transducer it modulates the intensity of the light beam generated by the light source, thereby causing the system to generate both a visual and audio indication that an intrusion is taking place. Since the system emits no radiation, (e.g. thermal, electrical, acoustical, electro-magnetic etc.

Abstract: A low voltage series pass regulator configuration has an input terminal for receiving a predetermined input voltage and an output terminal operatively connected to a load. The regulator comprises at least one field effect transistor in a source follower configuration. The drain of the field effect transistor is operatively connected to the input terminal and the source is operatively connected to the output terminal which provides an output voltage across the load. In one embodiment of the present invention a current limiter is operatively connected between the source and a gate of the field effect transistor. In another embodiment of the present invention a comparator for comparing the output voltage to a first reference voltage is provided. The comparator supplies a control voltage, indicative of the value of the output voltage compared to the first reference voltage, to the gate of the field effect transistor.

Abstract: A star coupler is described in which a plurality of optical fibers are embedded in a first rigid substrate. The fibers may be etched or polished to a core area to expose a first evanescent coupling zone. A second substrate has one or more optical fibers embedded in the second substrate. The optical fibers in the second substrate are similarly etched or polished to expose a second evanescent zone area. The two substrates are then placed in juxtaposition with each other so that the first and second evanescent zones are in close proximity to one another so that evanescent coupling may occur between the plurality of fibers in the first evanescent zone and one or more optical fibers in the second evanescent zone.

Abstract: The subject invention is a method of sputtering a material on a substrate in which the substrate is first locally heated so that the mobility on the surface of the substrate is increased to a value E.sub.s. A material is then sputtered on the substrate with a sputtering energy E.sub.k whereby the sum of E.sub.k and E.sub.s is greater than the activation energy required for a chemical reaction to occur between the sputtered surface of the substrate and the sputtered material. In the preferred embodiment, the substrate is silicon and the material to be sputtered is a refractory metal such as titanium.

Abstract: This disclosure depicts an electrostatic grey tone printing device having a writing head for use with dielectric paper. The printing device comprises recording electrodes on the writing head having a substantially elongated cross-sectional geometry such that a width dimension is significantly less than a length dimension. Complementary electrodes are operatively associated with the recording electrodes and have a predetermined cross-sectional geometry. A means is provided for applying a first voltage of one polarity to one or more of the recording electrodes, and a means is provided for applying a second voltage of opposite polarity to one or more of the associated complementary electrodes. The printing device also comprises a means for advancing the dielectric paper past the complementary and recording electrodes in increments substantially equal to the width of the recording electrodes. The recording electrodes are oriented such that their width dimension is parallel to the direction of advancing paper.

Abstract: An optical interferometer matrix is described which includes a reference waveguide for optically transmitting a reference signal. The optical interferometer matrix further includes a signal source waveguide for optically transmitting a source signal which has been modulated with respect to the reference signal in response to an applied physical effect. The physical effect may be, for example, thermal, acoustic, hydrodynamic, electrical, electromechanical or magnetic. The reference and signal waveguides are then optically coupled to one another at two different points so that interference between the light in the waveguides occurs under two different phase conditions, with a phase difference between these conditions which approaches .pi./2 radians. In the preferred embodiment, the two points of optical coupling are confined in a small space so that thermal- or pressure-induced differential phase changes of light between the first and second coupling points are negligible.

Abstract: An improved high electrical current conductive marine sweep cable. The cable includes an elongated flotation core having electrical conductors juxtaposed to the outer surface thereof with thin insulation about each of the conductors, providing high thermal conductivity therethrough. An outer jacket surrounds the associated insulated conductors and core. Structure is arranged to conduct seawater radially through the jacket for effecting heat transfer between the conductors and the ambient seawater suitable to prevent the temperature increase in the conductors resulting from the desired current flow therethrough from rising above a preselected maximum value preventing degradation of the cable.

Abstract: An improved analog-to-digital encoder comprising an enhanced delta modulation encoder. The enhanced delta modulation encoder includes a spectrum tilter, a 1 bit analog-to-digital converter, a sampling circuit and an internal decoder. An analog input signal and an internal analog signal from the internal decoder are summed to provide an analog dither which is essentially an internal error signal. The analog dither signal is tilted by the spectrum tilter and is provided to the 1 bit analog-to-digital converter which generates a digital signal. The sampling circuit receives the digital signal from the analog-to-digital converter and generates a digital output which is fed back to the internal decoder. The spectrum tilter comprises at least three integrator circuits and a clipping circuit connected in parallel to two of the three integrator circuits.