Abstract: Two pairs of mechanical fingers are independently remotely controlled by a single handle. The handle is coupled to activating mechanisms via cables. The apparatus is particularly suited for grasping small workpieces such as components on a circuit board.

Abstract: An electrochemical reserve cell includes a cylindrical housing a concentric arrangement of a liquid cell component container, a metal anode, a porous separator, and a porous carbon element. The metal anode is cylindrical with a spiral slot extending between its ends and is pressed into a perforated anode support cylinder having adjacent edges welded together. The anode and anode support structure are interlocked together.

Abstract: A reserve cell has a cylindrical housing with a closed end. A cylindrical battery stack is located within the housing, surrounding a cell component container and separated from the closed end by a channeled ring. A disc is located with the ring for transmitting pressure from the closed end of the container.

Abstract: A reserve cell has cylindrical electrodes surrounding a cell component container, all in a cylindrical housing. A shim has a circular groove accepting one end of an electrode and a socket holding one end of the container. The outer edge of the shim abuts the inner wall of the housing. This arrangement maintains spatial relationships of the cell.

Abstract: A method of extracting a portion of one or more insulated wires from within a shielded cable with a minimum of damage to the wire insulation. A predetermined length of outer insulation covering one end of the shielded cable is removed, exposing a portion of the braided wire shield beneath which is then pushed back against the edge of remaining outer insulation causing a portion of the braided wires to distend and loosen. The loosened wires are separated to form an aperture in the shield thereby exposing a section of the insulated wires. The shielded cable is bent back at the aperture to further expose the insulated wires. Then the rounded tip of an elongated tool is inserted between the insulated wires and the shield causing the insulated wires to separate from the shield. Preferably the elongated tool has an arcuately-shaped tapered head with a substantially elliptical tip portion to distribute the load bearing forces on the insulation.

Abstract: The output of a laser oscillator is doubly passed through a birefringement medium, a quarter-wave plate and a laser amplifier by reflection from a phase conjugate mirror, the birefringent medium being between the oscillator and the plate in the path of the initial and reflected oscillator output. The birefringent medium divides the oscillator output into a first set of orthogonal polarization components (rays) and refracts one of them at a first angle successively through the plate and amplifier for reflection from the mirror through the amplifier, plate and medium. The reflected ray is amplified and then divided by the medium into a second set of orthogonal ray components which exit the medium at different angles away from the oscillator. In another embodiment, a second quarter-wave plate is added between the amplifier and mirror, and in a third embodiment the amplifier is positioned between the oscillator and the birefringent medium.

Abstract: A foreshortened log periodic antenna includes variously configured dipole elements which are arranged in four regions along the axis of the array. The first region includes a series of solid, triangular dipoles characterized by substantially constant base/height ratios. The second region similarly includes a series of solid, triangular dipoles. However, these elements are characterized by decreasing base/height ratios so as to afford a gradual transition into the third region, which includes a single linear dipole. The fourth region includes a series of solid or hollow rectangular elements connected by respective stems to the antenna feedline. In a manner set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 3,732,572, entitled "Log Periodic Antenna with Foreshortened Dipoles", the rectangular elements effect a reduction in the width of the array without a substantial affect on electrical performance.

Abstract: A electrochemical cell has a generally cylindrical battery stack comprised of disc-shaped components including atlernating first polarity electrodes and second polarity electrodes. Pairs of first polarity electrodes are coupled by ring-shaped couling members. The coupling members include radial channels such as grooves which allow the passage of a liquid cell component from a central well into the battery stack.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell has a generally cylindrical battery stack comprised of disc-shaped components including alternating first polarity electrodes and second polarity electrodes. Adjacent first polarity electrodes are coupled by ring-shaped coupling members. The coupling members are made of porous metal which allows the passage of a liquid cell component from a central well into the battery stack.

Abstract: Drift of the standing wave pattern in an acoustic doppler intrusion detection system in a confined space is compensated by adjusting the relative radiating and receiving positions of the radiator and receiver transducers, respectively, either mechanically or electrically until the signal level of the carrier wave at the receiver transducer is optimized. In the mechanical adjustment mode, either the receiver transducer or the radiating transducer is supported for movement relative to the other and is moved by a motor energized under the control of a signal level sensor circuit connected to the output of the receiver transducer. In another mode, a plurality of receiver (or alternatively radiator) transducers are connected through a switch to the signal level sensor circuit which in response to a drop in received signal level below a predetermined threshold, selectively switches the active transducer to optimize the received signal level.

Abstract: A surface acoustic wave (SAW) filter device configured as a tapped time delay is mounted on a plastic card. The SAW filter acts as a nondestructive storage medium for an identification code in an access control system. The identification code is imbedded in the SAW device by selectively connecting certain taps to the filter output terminals. The identification code is read out of the SAW filter device and decoded for verification of the code. To read the code a sweep frequency oscillator excites the filter to launch an acoustic wave. The filter ouput mixes with the input sweep signal and the lower sideband (f.sub.b -f.sub.a) is extracted to obtain a discrete line spectra each line representing the connected tap of the filter. The line spectra signal is mixed with another version of the input sweep signal to obtain a time-based amplitude response of the discrete line spectra. This analog signal is converted to a digital signal which corresponds to the binary code of the connections to the SAW filter.

Abstract: A multilayer antenna aperture polarizer comprises a single continuous electrically conductive trace on a flexible thin dielectric strip, the trace being formed into a plurality of arrays of grid lines with adjacent arrays interconnected by shorting leads and with a ground lead connected to the last or end array. The strip and shorting leads are folded at the locations of the shorting leads to form a stack of plane parallel polarizer panels, each comprising an array on the strip, adjacent panels in the stack being spaced apart in a direction transversely of the planes of the panels by insulator spacers, respectively. The polarizer is inserted in front of the aperture of the antenna and the ground lead is electrically connected to the antenna frame for grounding the several arrays. The shorting and ground leads are located at the corners of the stack in the neutral or minimum field zone of the antenna.

Abstract: A noise threshold estimating method for use in a high signal density environment defines a noise threshold level for a plurality of frequency divided channels such that X number of said channels will be defined as being active channels and the remaining channels as being inactive. Using a novel closed loop feedback technique to define a noise threshold level, the noise threshold estimator first compares the signal level of each incoming channel with an analog threshold voltage. A logic device counts the number of active channels and then scales that number according to a predetermined scaling function. The scaled binary number is added with the noise threshold level from the previous clocked interval to define a new noise threshold level. This binary noise threshold level is converted into an analog voltage and feedback to the feedback input of the noise comparison devices to be compared with the signal level of each incoming channel.

Abstract: A noise threshold estimator for use in a high signal density environment defines a noise threshold level for a plurality of frequency divided channels such that X number of said channels will be defined as being active channels and the remaining channels as being inactive. Using a novel closed loop feedback technique to define a noise threshold level, the noise threshold estimator first compares the signal level of each incoming channel with an analog threshold voltage. A logic device counts the number of active channels and then scales that number according to a predetermined scaling function. The scaled binary number is added with the noise threshold level from the previous clocked interval to define a new noise threshold level. This binary noise threshold level is converted into an analog voltage and fedback to the feedback input of the noise comparison devices to be compared with the signal level of each incoming channel.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell of the type having a lithium anode and a cathode current collector wetted by an electrolyte solution of thionyl chloride and lithium tetrachloroaluminate is treated before storage by applying a reverse current sufficient to deposit lithium on the surface of the anode.

Abstract: A multimode perimeter intrusion detection system comprises at least one elongated electret tape mounted on a barrier, such as a fence or wall, along the perimeter of an area to be protected and operated simultaneously in both active and passive modes to detect intruders in proximity to, as well as in contact with, the barrier. The tape is directly mechanically coupled to the barrier above and parallel to the ground or floor and is electrically connected to a sound wave generator and to signal processing apparatus which detects signals produced on the tape by intruders and activates an alarm. In the active mode, the tape radiates sound waves, preferably in the ultrasonic range, outwardly from the barrier and receives doppler-shifted reflections from a person moving in the sound field for transmission to the signal processing apparatus.

Abstract: A material is provided which has a positive thermal coefficient of resistance. The material is made of nickel particles sintered in a plastic matrix. The material is suitable in internal elements of electrochemical cells.

Abstract: The exterior surfaces of a laser rod and pump lamp are covered with a highly reflective metal foil to prevent light leakage from the rod and lamp. The laser rod and pump lamp operate within a cavity inside a heat sink. Between the metal foil and the housing is a thermally conductive fluidic material selected to provide a tailored thermal impedance between the heat sink and the rod and pump to optimize the steady state temperatures of these components. The conductive fluid is not circulated but is contained to act as a simple heat conductor. The optically reflective and the heat transfer functions of the laser pumping operation are essentially separate from each other, enabling selection of materials for these respective functions to enhance performance of the laser and substantially simplify its construction.

Abstract: A reserve type electrochemical cell has its liquid cell component left separate in a rupturable envelope separate from the battery stack. The envelope is located within a sleeve in a well at the center of the battery stack. Piercing means are arranged in recesses along the side of the sleeve. If the cell is spun about its axis, the liquid cell component forces the part of the envelope into the recesses where it is ruptured, thereby discharging the liquid cell component into the battery stack.