Abstract: The present invention is a method and apparatus for conditioning an AC input signal to a control system having a plurality of AC input signals. An AC system signal is substantially phase-synchronous with the AC input signal. The AC input signal is sampled a plurality of times to determine whether it is present or absent during a periodic half cycle of the AC system signal. A result value is determined which represents a state of the AC input signal determined a majority of the times that it was sampled. It is then determined whether the state of the result value has changed.

Abstract: A layout device for locating a wall mounted item a specified distance from a reference point such as a floor includes a bracket which is removably mounted to a measuring tape. A level attached to the bracket indicates vertical alignment of both the extended tape and the item which is to be installed. The bracket includes protrusions which form indentations marking the measured location when the bracket is forced against the surface of the wall.

Abstract: In a laser block (10) spokes (26,28,30) and a hub (34) are mechanically worked out resulting in a monolithic integration of a dither device into the laser block.

Abstract: A burner control system for an intermittent pilot burner system uses a single pole double throw relay to control first and second electromagnetic valves respectively supplying fuel for both burners and for the main burner only. The normally open contact pair supplies the current for the first and the normally closed contact pair supplies the current for the second valve. By selecting the valve supplying fuel for both burners to be of the type which has an appreciably higher pull-in current than drop-out current, and by shunting the relay's normally open contacts with a properly selected resistor, only a single relay is necessary. This resistor is selected to supply current sufficient to hold the valve open (current greater than the drop-out value) after the valve has received pull-in current through the closing of these normally open contacts, but insufficient to open the valve. Use of a single relay reduces cost, size, and power, and increases safety of the control system.

Abstract: This flow meter uses two known flow responsive techniques and combines them in a unique structure and system to form an improved flow meter whose range extends from low to high flow rates. The meter comprises a flow tube with a region of reduced diameter between its inlet and outlet. A microbridge flow sensor of a suitable type known in the art, which responds to thermal changes caused by changes in the flow rate, is located in the region of reduced diameter. A post downstream of the microbridge sensor creates Karman vortices whose frequencies are a function of flow rate and which are detected through ports in the tube by a suitable detector. The output of the microbridge is linear from low flow rates to a mid range and the Karman flow meter output is linear from the mid range to high flow rates. A correction factor is applied to the thermal flow meter output.

Abstract: Flat panel displays are provided including protection from electrostatic discharge (ESD) during manufacture and thereafter. At least one ESD guard ring is provided to protect the active elements of the display from the potential discharge between the row and column lines. An internal ESD guard ring is coupled to the row and column lines via shunt transistors. An external ESD guard ring is coupled to the row and column lines via a resistance. Both of the guard rings can be provided; however, the external guard ring is removed prior to completion of the display.

Abstract: A phase difference controller for a rotation sensor based on a coiled optical fiber operating a dual output generator and signal combiner to provide a composite signal to operate a frequency translating device in the optical path with the coil. The combined signal of appropriate frequency and polarity operates the translating device to provide a phase difference shift in the optical path.

Abstract: A phase difference controller for a rotation sensor based on a coiled optical fiber operating a dual output generator in a feedback loop to provide a pair of signals to operate a pair of frequency translating devices in the optical path with the coil. A pair of sawtooth-like signals of appropriate frequency and polarity operate the frequency translating device to provide a phase difference shift in the optical path.

Abstract: A passive ring resonator gyro is constructed of an electromagnetic waveguide ring path which causes a specified rotation of the polarization of the waves, once for each round trip through the ring path. For an optical fiber ring path, a splice at some point is introduced in the ring path in which the fiber ends are rotated relative to each other in order to effect polarization rotation.

Abstract: A generic interpolation pipeline processor for use in a real-time video display system to find the coordinates of any point P(x,y) on a line between P.sub.1 (x.sub.1,y.sub.1) and P.sub.2 (x.sub.2,y.sub.2) according to the equation ##EQU1## The processor includes an apparatus for performing integer interpolation calculations using a single independent variable to calculate two dependent variables in parallel and further includes apparatus for merging division and multiplication operations so as to increase throughput as compared to a division pipeline followed by a multiply pipeline.

Abstract: A thin film, solid state device includes a conductive thin film formed on a substrate, with a resistive layer overlying the conductive thin film and with electrical contacts formed on the upper surface of the resistive layer. Electrical current flows between the electrical contacts through the resistive overlayer and the conductive thin film. The resistivity and dimensions of the resistive layer are such that, preferably, only a small fraction of any current flowing between the electrical contacts will flow solely within the resistive layer, yet the magnitude of the current will not be reduced below a desired signal level due to the presence of the resistive layer. The resistive layer is comprised of material which will not diffuse into the thin film conductive layer during device processing. Nitrogen doped tantalum is the preferred material for the resistive layer.

Abstract: A microstrip antenna array for use at millimeter wave frequencies for radiating and receiving a broadside beam of energy in which a first symmetric edge-fed array has its radiating elements physically interleaved with the radiating elements of a center-fed array. Using this configuration, the antenna performance remains relatively stable over both temperature and frequency.

Abstract: An isolation structure as well as a method for using and fabricating an isolation structure in an active layer deposited on a substrate the method of fabrication including the steps of forming a buried oxide layer in the active layer adjacent the substrate, forming an isolation trench in the active layer by etching at least up to and optionally into the substrate, forming a dielectric isolation layer on the exposed surfaces of the trench, removing the dielectric isolation layer from the bottom of the trench, and forming an isolation structure by epitaxially growing monocrystalline silicon in the trench.

Abstract: Apparatus in a thermal radiation detection device including optics having a focal plane comprising a cold mounting surface, a detector array, a standoff and apparatus for protecting the detectors from intense thermal radiation. The detector array includes a plurality of radiation sensitive detectors mounted on a carrier in thermal contact with the cold mounting surface. The standoff defines a cold platform proximate to the detector array and mounted to the cold mounting surface. A substrate includes a film of vanadium trioxide on a first surface, wherein the substrate is mounted to the standoff at the first surface and wherein the substrate is structured and arranged to interpose the vanadium trioxide film between the detector array and a radiation source and is located proximate the focal plane.

Abstract: A knowledge and model based adaptive signal processor for ensuring optimum performance in automated object recognition (AOR) systems. The invention does not require ground-truth information but uses predictive performance models for parameter adaption and updates for the AOR. The performance models are representations of continuous surfaces that interpolate and extrapolate for data and scenarios not previously tested. The present invention increases probability of detection and decreases false detection alarm rates of AOR systems.

Abstract: The apparatus controls the positioning of a device in response to a commanded input signal, and comprises an element for moving the device in response to an error signal. A sensor component determines the actual position of the device, the sensor component outputting a primary signal and a derivative signal corresponding to the actual position and velocity of the device, respectively. A complementary filter system filters the primary signal and the derivative signal to generate a derived position signal, the derived position signal being combined with the commanded input signal thereby generating the error signal. The filtering results in effectively increasing the resolution of the sensor component thereby reducing the limit cycle caused by quantization of the sensor component.

Abstract: A method by which redundant network interface modules (NIMs) interconnecting the communication buses of two local area networks communicate with one another at predetermined time intervals over the communication buses of both networks. A first NIM of a redundant pair of NIMs is designated as the primary and a second NIM of the redundant pair is designated as the secondary. Contents of the information communicated between the NIMs over the communication bus of the first network includes the status of the transmitting NIMs ability to communicate with the second network and the information communicated between the NIMs over the communication bus of the second network includes the status of the transmitting NIM's ability to communicate with the first network. Based on the information exchanged, the failure of the NIMs to communicate as scheduled, and the internal status of each NIM as understood by that NIM, the NIMs decide when failover from the primary NIM to the secondary NIM occurs.