Abstract: A moisture activated wiper sensor has all necessary electronic and optical components for detecting moisture and performing signal processing in a single module which mounts to a vehicle windshield. The packaging of the optical components and associated electronic circuitry in an acceptably small housing is achieved by use of insert-molded lenses and infrared emitters and detectors mounted on separate printed circuit boards called wing boards. Wing board supports molded into the housing assure proper orientation of the wing boards relative to the lenses. Flexible cables connect the wing boards to a main circuit board.

Abstract: An insert molding machine has first and second mold sections, one of which is movable between open and closed positions, A slide carrying inserts is movable from an open position to a closed position wherein the slide and first and second mold sections define a mold cavity in which a part is molded. A single direction cam mechanism in the slide engages a pin in the movable mold section to releasably connect the slide and movable mold section during closure. The connection causes the slide to open upon subsequent opening of the movable mold section but allows the slide to be closed independently of the movable mold section.

Abstract: An actuator system has a motor and an output shaft connected to a potentiometer that provides shaft position information. The motor and potentiometer are electrically connected to a common power supply. A microcomputer controls the application of power to the motor and potentiometer so that feedback signals from the potentiometer, indicative of shaft position, can be read when desired without moving the shaft. The motor is prevented from moving either by setting both motor terminals high during a read, or by applying power pulses during a read which are too short in duration to allow the motor to start moving.

Abstract: A passive aspirator based on the Venturi effect has a pivotable flap in the inlet portion of a first air passage. The flap reduces the air flow through the passage when high pressure is present. A spring biases the flap toward an open position. Increasing air flow overcomes the spring force and tends to close the flap. This variable-volume flow allows use of a large enough passage to aspirate sufficient air at low flow rates but does not produce excess waste air at high flow rates.

Abstract: A snap action switch has a base and cover enclosing upper and lower electrical terminals. A spring blade disposed between the terminals is movable by a cover-mounted actuator between engagement with one terminal or the other. The spring blade has only one stable position to which it returns upon release of the actuator force. The spring blade includes an anchor mounting the blade in the base and defining a generally planar junction portion. A pair of wings extend out of the plane of the junction portion. An elongated center beam connects at a fixed end to the junction. Outer beams on either side of the center beam connect to the wings. The free ends of all three beams are joined at a contact portion. Crimps in the outer beams place them in tension and the center beam in compression.

Abstract: A lost motion drive assembly has a base mounting upper and lower levers which connect to the louvers of an air plenum, such as in an automobile's ventilation system. A user turns a knob between a plurality of selections, causing a gear-operated actuator to rotate. A clutch mechanism operable between the actuator and levers engages the lower lever to drive it one way in response to rotation of the knob. Upon continued rotation of the knob, a drive lug on the actuator engages the upper lever to drive it the same way while the clutch disengages from the actuator and holds the lower lever fixed. Reverse motion is obtained when the clutch engages the actuator and upper lever, after which it releases the actuator and a second drive lug engages the lower lever to return it to its starting position.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for the tying of knots in elongated flexible members such as string or rope. The method includes the steps of first providing an elongated member of a desired length and then clamping the elongated member at a location spaced a predetermined distance from the free end thereof while rotating the clamped location to form a loop, with the free end crossing over the loop. The free end of the elongated member is then removed through the loop and the end is then clamped. The initial clamping pressure is released and the elongated member is then pulled to complete the tying of a knot.

Abstract: This invention is in the nature of a clamp to be used to clamp, for example, parts on a work piece for machining and the like. The clamp has a clamp bar and a handle bar and a roller and cam arrangement so that the clamp bar can be releasably held in an up-lock position by the cam but may be released and then the cam applied to clamp the clamp bar to the work piece.

Abstract: A vacuum switch for interchangeably connecting a plurality of vacuum lines includes a vacuum housing having a plurality of ports to which the vacuum lines are connectable. The vacuum housing has a plurality of channels molded in one surface of a plate and communicating with the ports. Each channel has at least one passage through the plate to the opposite surface. The channels are arranged to provide the desired fluidic logic. A one-piece seal member seals the channels to maintain a vacuum therein. A plurality of valves are slidable upon the surface of the plate opposite the channels. Each valve has a cavity providing fluid communication between passages when the cavity spans a pair of passages. Electrical contacts, movable with the valves, activate a circuit to provide an electrical signal corresponding to the desired mode selected for the vaccuum lines.

Abstract: An ice thickness controller is used to monitor the ice thickness in a refrigeration system. The system has a compressor connected to evaporator tubes which are submerged in a container of water. A DC motor has a shaft extending below the water line in the container. The motor is periodically turned on and a sensing circuit monitors the motor current. If the ice bank in the container is at the correct thickness, the motor shaft will be frozen into the ice. The current draw of the stalled motor will be high with the result that the sensing circuit will turn the compressor off. If the ice bank thickness is low, the motor shaft is free to rotate, so the motor current will be low and the sensing circuit will turn the compressor on.

Abstract: This is concerned with a solid-state electronic brush speed sensing control for sensing the rotational speed of the brush in a vacuum cleaner, either of the canister or upright type, so that as the brush slows down or stops due to being jammed or partially jammed by a foreign object, such as a sock or the like, the drive motor will be disconnected from its source of power thereby protecting the brush, the motor, the belts, etc.

Abstract: This is concerned with an electronic variable speed blower control system primarily used for automotive installations which provides light gauge wiring between a potentiometer on or in the dashboard and infinitely variable speeds are acquired in the blower unit.

Abstract: This is concerned with a sensing control for a vacuum cleaner to sense the speed of the beater brush so that when it becomes clogged or jammed and tends to slow down, the control will automatically disconnect all power from the drive motor to thereby protect both the motor and any drive belts that are used. Some aspects are usable with either a canister or an upright vacuum cleaner and some are specifically concerned with an upright unit.

Abstract: An actuator for use in the nature of a servomotor, having means for providing a signal indicative of the position of a mechanical linkage member. A feedback signal source voltage is alternately connected to a feedback signal lead by switch means which are carried by the mechanical linkage member of the actuator. Variable resistance means can be inserted between the voltage source and the feedback signal lead to provide a plurality of feedback signal voltages, each of which indicates a different position of the actuator linkage member.

Abstract: An actuator for use with vehicle door locks or the like includes a housing and an electric motor positioned in the housing. A shaft is journaled in the housing and extends outwardly therefrom with an actuator member being attached to the shaft outside of the housing. A drive connection between the motor and the shaft includes a second shaft journaled in the housing and a dual gear rotatable with the second shaft. The dual gear is in driving relationship with the first shaft and with the electric motor through a bevel gear freely mounted on the first shaft.

Abstract: An electrically driven linear actuator has a housing with a plurality of bus bars mounted within the housing. An electric motor is positioned in the housing and is in driving relationship with a linearly movable actuator member. The actuator member carries a contact which moves along and in contact with the bus bars. There is an electrical connection between the bus bars and the motor with the flow of current through this connection being controlled by the movable contact.

Abstract: An automatic coffee maker for rapid, convenient, drip-free brewing of single cups of coffee has a "flow fuse" acting in the space above a brew basket into which the output of a hot water generator passes: the fuse allows passage of small quantities of steam, but is closed by larger steam flow to force the steam to pass downward through the ground coffee, terminating the brewing process and drying the spent grounds thereafter to permit their removal and discard without drippage.

Abstract: This is concerned with a switch device which is quite thin and can be used on either a flat or a contoured surface that includes a backing member which may be dimensionally stable, either as a flexible or a stiff membrane, with a flexible membrane spaced therefrom by a flexible filled adhesive material providing one or more openings so that a circuit pattern on the backing member is spaced from a conductive shorting bar on the flexible membrane such that manual or mechanical deformation of the membrane will cause electrical conduction across or between the contacted surface in the circuit pattern with deformation being provided by the flexibility of the membrane, as well as deflection or flexing of the intermediate adhesive material.

Abstract: A seed monitor for a multiple station planter includes a light source adjacent each seed path and a pair of phototransistors positioned in alignment with each light source. The phototransistors for each seed path are connected to pulse generating means, each of which provide a constant width pulse in response to an interruption in light received by a phototransistor from its light source. An OR gate is connected to the pulse generating means so as to provide an output signal whenever there is a pulse at one of its inputs. The light sources for the multiple seed paths may be operated to periodically monitor each planting station.

Abstract: The combination of a calculator and a telephone set and telephone tone generating means is arranged so that the calculator drives the telephone tone generators. When the telephone is activated, for example by lifting the handset, the calculator is connected to the tone generators with operation of the calculator switches driving the tone generators. A switch is provided whereby the calculator may subsequently be operated, as a calculator, while the telephone set is being used, without operating the tone generators.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to the combination of a calculator and a telephone set which is so connected that the calculator drives the telephone tone generators.One purpose of the invention is a combination of the type described in which the start of the telephone operation, for example lifting the handset, connects the calculator to the telephone tone generators such that the operation of the calculator switches is effective to "dial" a telephone number.