Abstract: An amplitude-shift-keyed (ASK) receiver is described for use in receiving infrared ASK modulated carrier signals wherein a delayed version of a demodulated pulse os compared with a stretched version and a dynamic threshold signal to reproduce binary data pulses. The dynamic threshold signal is further compared with the stretched version to derive an indication of the amplitude of the incident optical carrier. An embodiment illustrating use of the ASK receiver in an infrared communication system is described.

Abstract: A cleaning apparatus having a container for holding a quantity of cleaning agent, which is vaporized and condensed to form an upper vapor layer. Essentially, the container is divided into a lower chamber, for holding the cleaning agent, and an upper chamber for containing the vapors. One or more heat pumps are adapted to establish a relatively low temperature in the upper region to condense the vapors released by the lower heating process. Multiple high thermally conductive shunting devices are coupled between the high temperature end of the heat pumps and the bottom portion of the container to transfer extracted heat from the upper portion to the lower portion, to augment the vaporization process.