Abstract: A waterproof electrical connector assembly releasably connects an electrical cable to a second cable, or to one or more electrodes or sensors in a housing that has a bore therethrough that accommodates the electrical cable on one end and a fitting on the other end. The fitting holds one or more electrodes/sensors in a bore through the fitting. The fitting is a commercially-available male-threaded polymeric fitting of the type used in High-performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) applications. This type of polymeric fitting has a conical, or tapered, ferrule portion at one end that is configured to fit securely into a female-threaded and chamfered bore in the housing so that when the fitting is tightened against the chamfered housing bore it forms a watertight seal which is waterproof to at least 10,000 psi. As the seal is formed, the components contact each other to form an electrical connection, illustratively, a connection from electrode or sensor probes to the cable leading to measuring equipment.

Abstract: A system for monitoring and controlling electrical devices has a local central processor with memory for storing an operating and control systems for controlling analog or digital sensors, instruments, and devices. A web browser interfaces with a communications system to exchange data with the local central processor. External hardware couples to the local central processor via an inter integrated circuit interconnection system. Plural sensors and instruments couple to the local central processor, and are controlled over the internet. Electrical devices include any combination of temperature sensors, potentiometric sensors, oceanographic sensors and instruments, industrial sensors and instruments, voltammetric sensors, light sensors, atmospheric sensors and instruments, water sensors, pH sensors, and amperometric sensors and instruments. Sensor data is stored in a removable data storage arrangement.

Abstract: A system for acquiring environmental data from a plurality of sensors is provided with a microprocessor having a sensor input for receiving data from a sensor, a memory access port for communicating with a memory system, and an output port for issuing data. Plural sensors each produce associated sensor signals responsive to respective characteristics of an environment. The sensor signals are propagated to the sensor input of the microprocessor, and a memory system is coupled to the memory access port of the microprocessor for storing calibration data associated with the plurality of sensors. A communications arrangement is coupled to the output port of the microprocessor.

Abstract: A system for monitoring and controlling electrical devices has a local central processor with memory for storing an operating and control systems for controlling analog or digital sensors, instruments, and devices. A web browser interfaces with a communications system to exchange data with the local central processor. External hardware couples to the local central processor via an inter integrated circuit interconnection system. Plural sensors and instruments couple to the local central processor, and are controlled over the internet. Electrical devices include any combination of temperature sensors, potentiometric sensors, oceanographic sensors and instruments, industrial sensors and instruments, voltammetric sensors, light sensors, atmospheric sensors and instruments, water sensors, pH sensors, and amperometric sensors and instruments. Sensor data is stored in a removable data storage arrangement.

Abstract: A data display system including a plurality of data sources; a data transmitter coupled to the data sources and to a transmission network comprising a power line; wherein the data transmitter comprises means for modulating the data as a frequency modulated carrier and means for transmitting the carrier over the power line; and a plurality of gauges each having a display and coupled to the power line, and a data receiver comprising means for demodulating the carrier and means for translating the data to the display. The gauges are coupled to the data transmitter only by the power line, disregarding any ground connections, and the power line provides power to the gauges and the data transmitter.

Abstract: A light source arrangement for conducting spectroscopic analysis of a material to be analyzed has a first source of electromagnetic energy for issuing a first source electromagnetic energy having a first predetermined spectroscopic characteristic and a second source of electromagnetic energy for issuing a second source electromagnetic energy having a second predetermined spectroscopic characteristic. The light source arrangement is provided with a first port for emitting an output electromagnetic energy having an output spectral characteristic responsive to a selectable combination of the first and second predetermined spectroscopic characteristics. A holder secures the material to be analyzed in a first path of propagation of the output electromagnetic energy. A third port emits a first test electromagnetic energy having a first test spectral characteristic responsive to an interaction between the output electromagnetic energy and the material to be analyzed.

Abstract: A protective arrangement for a source of electromagnetic energy, such as an output light, is provided with a light port for issuing the output light and a displaceable shutter having a first position that overlies the light port and thereby limits access to the output light. In a second position, the displaceable shutter permits ready access to the light port. The displaceable shutter is arranged to default to the first position, whereby protection of personnel from the output light is effected. This can be achieved by configuring the displaceable shutter to be affected by gravity, or in environments where the equipment is portable or its orientation in use can be varied, by a resilient biasing element, such as a spring. An indicator arrangement is provided to provide indication that light is being emitted from the light port.

Abstract: A switching arrangement for optical fibers is provided with a plurality of first optical fibers and a plurality of second optical fibers. A photoemitter element is arranged to communicate optically with a selectable one of the plurality of first optical fibers, and a photodetector element communicates optically with a selectable one of the plurality of second optical fibers. A communications arrangement enables optical communication between the photoemitter and photodetector elements, and respectively selected ones of the first and second optical fibers simultaneously. The communications arrangement has a displaceable portion and a stationary portion. A drive arrangement is coupled to the displaceable portion of the communications arrangement. A controller is coupled to the drive arrangement for controlling a displacement of the displaceable portion of the communications arrangement. Displacement is effected along a linear path, or in other embodiments, along a circular path.

Abstract: A source for Molecular Beam Epitaxy (MBE) including an open-ended crucible and a removable orificed covered plate for covering the open end of the crucible, the cover plate having an encapsulated heater, preferably of Pyrolytic Graphite, which reduces orifice blockage.

Abstract: A circuit for providing a periodic output having a regulated magnitude is derived from a periodic input source. A switch is serially connected to the input for periodically sampling the input at a sampling frequency which is much higher than the frequency of the periodic input, while the duty ratio of the sampling is modulated as an inverse function of the output magnitude. The pulse train of samples is filtered to remove the sampling frequency and its harmonics and the result is a regulated output which replicates the input waveform.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for the analysis of the surface of a specimen by the techniques of electron energy spectroscopy and secondary ion time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The apparatus provides a substantially conventional electron energy analyzer, typically having hemispherical electrodes. The energy analyzer is used as an ion deflector and in conjunction with a linear drift region and a pulsed primary ion beam gun provides a time-of-flight mass spectrometer having at least first-order time focusing properties. By using the energy analyzer in both techniques a combined instrument is provided at much lower cost than prior combined instruments which comprise different analyzers for the two techniques.

Abstract: A mercury drop arrangement tests electrochemically a sample solution, in a horizontal or vertical orientation, employing mercury which is delivered from a mercury reservoir to the test solution via a valve and mercury capillary tube. The mercury is valved to deliver one drop of mercury to the end of the capillary tube which is immersed in the sample solution. An electrochemical test of the sample solution can be performed when the mercury drop is in place, and if the mercury drop is not in place, the mercury in the capillary tube forms a microelectrode. The mercury capillary tube can easily be removed for replacement or cleaning when the valve is closed. Closing of the valve produces electrical isolation of the reservoir contents from the mercury in the mercury capillary tube, including the mercury drop itself. Such electrical isolation from the mercury reservoir precludes electrical noise generated in the reservoir from contaminating the voltammetric data.

Abstract: A paper attribute detector for use in combination with a strip chart recorder includes a paper web having a plurality of connected pages. Each of the pages has electronically scannable indicia preferably on an unrecorded side of the paper. In the preferred embodiment, the indicia are realized in bar code form and are used to encode various attributes such as page number, paper quality, paper sensitivity, and so on. Indicia scanning means are provided for detecting the page indicia as the paper web travels through the recorder. In the preferred embodiment, the scanning means includes one or more electro-optical sensors. The indicia may be aligned parallel to or transverse the travel direction of the web.

Abstract: A display resolution enhancement technique which provides a means for prioritizing and displaying overlapping images on a display based on the intensity levels of each respective image for each display element.

Abstract: A switch assembly including a base member and at least one pair of conductors provided on the base member which are to be electrically connected. An outer baffle extends over the base member and the conductors and is comprised of a conical wall having a key formed at the apex thereof and an outward flaring pad at the bottom thereof for engagement with the base member, the outer baffle including a recess beneath the key opening toward the base member. An inner baffle is dimensioned to be positioned within the outer baffle and includes a conical wall having a plug at the apex thereof and a pad formed at the bottom thereof. The plug is dimensioned to be received within the recess of the outer baffle such that the conical walls of the outer baffle and the inner baffle are symmetrical about a common axis. The pad on the inner baffle is spaced a predetermined distance above the base. A conductive element is provided on the inner baffle to electrically connect the conductors when the outer baffle collapses.

Abstract: A refractive index detector for use in fluid phase separation techniques such as liquid chromatography and capillary electrophoresis uses a laser beam incident on a capillary tube held in a fixture. The laser beam is refracted and reflected (backscattered) from the capillary tube surface and its contents back to a photodetector located adjacent to the laser source. Tilting of the capillary tube relative to the laser beam axis produces a diffraction pattern on the photodetector, allowing detection of refractive index. Other embodiments use a split incident laser beam part of which is incident on a reference photodetector, or use a split beam which is incident on two capillary tubes juxtaposed to one another. In this case a photodetector is provided for the portion of the beam reflected from each capillary tube. The system may also be used for detecting temperature and pressure of the fluid inside the capillary tubes.

Abstract: A two-stage band-pass amplifier filter circuit which uses a bi-quad amplifier in each stage, the bi-quad amplifier being connected between an AC feedback amplifier in the signal transmission path and ground. The bi-quad amplifiers each provide a variable impedance and effectively operate as series-resonant circuits such that, during closed loop operation, the overall amplifier-filter circuit has a high gain at or near resonance and a very low gain off-resonance and has a phase shift of 0.degree. at resonance and .+-.90.degree. substantially off-resonance. The bi-quad amplifiers are connected to the feedback resistance of the signal path amplifier via a coupling resistance, the signal path amplifier feedback resistance being greater than the coupling resistance, normally by a factor as high as 20 to 1, so that the bi-quad amplifier is thereby prevented from overloading during operation.

Abstract: An analog-to-digital converter for performing extremely accurate measurements of AC voltages. In the conversion process, the most significant bits are determined using a precision ratio transformer having multiple, binary-weighted windings which are selectively connected in series during a first interval to provide an approximation to the input voltage to be measured via a successive approximation conversion technique. The digital value so determined is clocked into a bi-directional counter. The transformer output signal at the end of the first interval is subtracted from the input signal to give an AC residue signal which represents the round-off error from the successive approximation conversion performed during the first interval. The residue signal is synchronously detected and applied to a dual slope type of converter during a second interval, the digital output thereof being accumulated in the counter.

Abstract: An apparatus and method which may be used with a logic analyzer are provided for acquiring groups of data words from the circuitry of a synchronous logic system where each group contains a qualified data word together with a predetermined number of data words which have preceded it. The apparatus includes a circuit for detecting the qualified word and a data storage device having a plurality of separately-addressable storage locations. Both the qualified data detector and the storage device are logically connected to the synchronous logic circuitry. The apparatus further includes an addressing circuit which responds to the detection of a qualified word and to the presence of data words on the synchronous logic circuitry by producing storage addresses which are provided to the storage device for storing the data word groups in successive storage locations.

Abstract: An electronic wattmeter monitors the current and voltage of power lines and generates unitized voltage pulses at a frequency that is proportional to the average power carried by the lines. The wattmeter includes a current transducer that is inductively coupled to the monitored power lines. The transducer generates an induced current that is representative of the current that flows in the lines. The current transducer includes a magnetically permeable frame which has two magnetically permeable, spaced parallel leg members and a magnetically permeable cross-member that is detachably affixed between the leg members. The monitored power lines pass through an aperture defined by the leg members and cross-member of the frame and the frame additively applies the magnetic fields of the conductors to a coil that is inductively coupled to the frame. The coil generates an induced current corresponding to the current of the conductors.