Abstract: An apparatus for detecting a hazardous condition includes an optical module for measuring scattered light caused by the hazardous condition, a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, and a processing unit coupled to receive signals from the optical module, the temperature sensor and the humidity sensor. The processing unit processes the signals to determine criteria to distinguish deceptive phenomena from a hazardous condition in order to limit false alarm. The processing unit is uses the criteria for adjusting an alarm threshold value that is a function of a reference function, a function based on temperature criteria, a function based on at least one of the temperature criteria and a ratio criterion, and a function based on humidity criteria.

Abstract: A method for minimizing the access delay in wireless communication systems, e.g. GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) networks, which includes at least a base station system and at least a mobile terminal having a communication context with the GPRS network. The above mentioned mobile terminal is also adapted to open a communication with the radio access network of said base station system to initiate a Temporary Block Flow or TBF establishment each time has to transmit data packets to the network and the TBF is released when the transmission of the packet has been completed. The TBF establishment is requested by means of a Radio Link Control message or RLC called Packet Channel Request or PCR sent on one of the Control Channel of the GPRS radio access and in particular on the Packet Random Access Channel or PRACH. The GPRS data packets and messages are organized in frame with a predetermined number of TDMA slots and in multiframe.

Abstract: A fire extinguishing apparatus and method are proposed, comprising: a container configured to receive and retain a fire extinguishing agent; a pressure generator coupled to the container to have a generated pressure act upon the fire extinguishing agent to expel the fire extinguishing agent over an expel-exit of the container. Due to a separator which is placed within the container so that the fire extinguishing agent and the pressure generator are separated, it is advantageously possible to provide a pressure effect on the extinguishing agent without any risks of mixing a pressurized gas from the pressure generator and the extinguishing agent, especially by the ignition phase of the pressure generator, wherein only the extinguishing agent has to be expelled out of the container. Furthermore some means related to the separator will be proposed for improving the expelling of the extinguishing agent out of container.

Abstract: In order to form metallic conductor patterns having connection regions that can be soldered and/or bonded on electrically insulating substrates, firstly a metalization is applied to the substrate and is then removed again, at least in those regions adjoining the desired conductor pattern. There then follows the electrolytic deposition of a final surface which can be soldered and/or bonded to the connection regions. Clean-room conditions are not necessary.

Abstract: The printed circuit boards (LP) are conducted through treatment baths (BB1 through BB3) in vertical attitude on at least two horizontal conveying paths (TW1 through TW4) proceeding next to one another, these treatment baths being accommodated in treatment cells (BZ10 through BZ13, BZ20 through BZ23, BZ30 through BZ33) that are arranged successively and next to one another. The end walls of the treatment cells are provided with vertical slots (S) and allocated seals (D) for the passage of the printed circuit boards. The bath liquid emerging from treatment cells arranged next to one another is collected in common collecting tanks (AW1 through AW3) and is returned into the treatment cells with the assistance of pumps (P). A common treatment cell for treatment zones lying next to one another can also be provided in a common collecting tank. The conveying of the printed circuit boards on the conveying paths lying next to one another preferably ensues with a common conveyor device.

Abstract: The plate-shaped workpieces (W) are conducted through a treatment cell (BZ) containing a treatment bath in vertical attitude on a horizontal conveying path with the assistance of contacting and conveying means, the end walls of said treatment cell having vertical slots for the passage of the workpieces (W). The bath liquid emerging from the treatment (BZ) is collected in a collecting tank and is returned such into the treatment cell (BZ) with the assistance of a pump that an at least largely vertical flow direction (SR) derives at both sides of the conveying path. The bath liquid is diverted toward the surface of the workpieces (W) with guide devices (LV) arranged at both sides of the convoying path in the treatment cell (BZ). An improved ion exchange in the region of the workpieces (W) is effected by the guide devices (LV). In, for example, the electrolytic treatment of printed circuit boards, the metal deposition can thus be undertaken with high current densities.

Abstract: The flat workpieces (W) are conveyed in the vertical position on a horizontal transport path through at least one processing cell (BZ) that contains a processing bath, vertical slots (S) for the passage of the workpieces (W) being provided in the end walls of the processing cell (BZ). Bars or rods which are arranged in pairs in the processing bath, such that they are loose in the vertical direction, are assigned in pairs to the slots (S) as seals (D) and are pressed by the liquid pressure against one another or against the workpiece (W) respectively passing through, and against the assigned end wall of the processing cell (BZ). Seals (D) having a circuilar cylindrical cross section rotate while the workpieces (W) are passing through. The seals (D) are preferably arranged in end chambers (SK) which are fitted at the ends to the processing cells.

Abstract: The anode cavity of a power magnetron is connected through a coupling slot to a reactively terminated waveguide structure containing one or more selectively magnetizable ferrite elements acting as adjustable differential phase shifters for two microwave components circulating in opposite directions through the structure or traversing a guide portion in the same direction but with opposite circular polarization. In the first instance the structure comprises two parallel rectangular-section waveguides with a common lateral wall having a proximal and a remote opening serving as directional couplers therebetween; in the second instance the structure is a circular-section waveguide with a main portion occupied by the ferrite element and transition portions separating that main portion from the coupling aperture and from the reactive termination.

Abstract: A carrier oscillation in the microwave range is stabilized by a sequence of timing pulses produced by a crystal-controlled reference oscillator whose cadence is an aliquot fraction of the nominal carrier frequency. The pulses are used to obtain two phase-representing amplitude samples of the carrier wave from a pair of mutually phase-shifted pilot oscillations of the same frequency in each of a succession of nonconsecutive cycles thereof; a control voltage derived from these amplitude samples is fed back to the microwave oscillator via a frequency-correcting or phase-locking loop.

Abstract: To test the performance of an analog/digital converter, used for translating bipolar message signals into 8-bit words, the analog input of the converter is connected across a voltmeter while its digital output works into a buffer register distributing the seven amplitude bits of an emitted code word to one set of stage inputs of a comparator having another set of stage inputs connected to a manually operable word simulator; the sign bit of the code word is entered in a separate store. A logic network with inputs connected to the sign-bit store, the comparator and the word simulator controls two reversible counters which, upon manual operation of the word simulator, emit selected numerical values translated by associated digital/analog converters into output signals fed to the analog/digital converter to be tested.

Abstract: Two variable-frequency microwave generators, i.e. a coaxial magnetron producing outgoing waves and a voltage-controlled oscillator emitting a heterodyning signal for incoming waves of a radar transceiver, are continuously tuned by a pilot signal modifying their operating frequencies with a predetermined constant separation. To maintain this correlation, the tuning circuit of at least one microwave generator responds to the pilot signal through the intermediary of a read-only memory which, on being directly or indirectly addressed by that signal, emits stored setting instructions for the respective generator.

Abstract: An interface unit inserted between a subscriber line of a telecommunication system and a generator of dial pulses, including a signal converter associated with a pushbutton selector and a memory for the temporary storage of selected digits, comprises a rectifier bridge in series with an impedance network which includes a shunt branch with two complementary transistors interconnected in a positive-feedback circuit and a low-threshold Zener diode in series with one of these transistors across which a reduced supply voltage for the pulse generator remains available when the shunt branch becomes conductive with saturation of the transistors upon a closure of the subscriber's hook switch. An enabling signal for the pulse generator is emitted from the shunt branch upon such conduction. An ancillary transistor, with an input connection across a small series resistor of the network, and a further Zener diode in parallel with the shunt path protect the components thereof against overcurrents and overvoltages.

Abstract: A prismatic frame designed to hold a multiplicity of flat articles such as printed-circuit boards has two generally rectangular end walls interconnected by two coplanar pairs of cross-members each having a narrow face with a row of perforations receiving locator pins of guide elements spanning each pair of cross-members, the guide elements being provided with longitudinal channels accommodating respective boards. The guide elements are held in position by retaining bars confronting the perforated faces of one cross-member of each pair, at least one of these bars forming a guidetrack for a locking rod which has teeth alignable with the boards in a blocking position and is shiftable into an unblocking position facilitating their withdrawal.

Abstract: A frequency discriminator designed to respond to a selected incoming tone frequency comprises a pulse generator connected via an adjustable frequency divider to a binary 8-stage counter which generates eight relatively staggered pulse trains whose cadence varies with the setting of the divider. This setting can be varied, e.g. in a programmed manner according to a pattern of tone frequencies to be recognized, while incoming signals are applied to an eight-path filter driven by the staggered pulse trains. When the cadence of the pulse trains matches an incoming tone frequency, the filter emits an output exceeding a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A receiving station of a data-transmission system decodes an incoming pulse train in the shape of a differentially biphase-coded carrier wave whose cycles represent rspective message bits; the wave undergoes a phase reversal at the beginning of every cycle in which the transmitted binary signal has the logical value "1" but does not change in phase when that value is "0". The received pulse train is differentiated to yield either one or two spikes during each cycle, one such spike invariably occurring in the middle of a cycle. Since only these periodically recurring spikes determine the instants at which the carrier wave must be sampled during decoding, a gate in the differentiator output is blocked during part of each cycle by a locally generated square wave which also controls the sampling.

Abstract: A telephone exchange communicates with a number of scattered local stations via radio links extending from a central terminal to respective peripheral installations each comprising a radio transceiver coupled via a repeater to the line loop of an associated local station. The repeater includes a constant-current generator, combined with a polarity inverter, which is controlled via a logic network in response to signals from the exchange and from the local station (detected by a sensor in the line loop) to reverse the flow of direct current for the transmission of binary pulses to the local station. In the case of a private subscriber, these pulses may be an intermittent square wave generating a ringing signal; in the case of a public pay station they may constitute commands for the collection of tokens or coins.

Abstract: A load, such as a logic network of the TTL type, is connected in parallel across a plurality of direct-current sources designed to maintain a substantially constant operating voltage. Each source includes a control unit which compares the load voltage with a reference level in order to stabilize the output voltage of an associated current generator at that level. If the generator current drops below a certain minimum value, however, a threshold sensor in the control unit raises the reference level up to an amount equaling about twice the maximum divergence possible between the reference levels of different control units, thereby ensuring that all sources contribute simultaneously to the load current.

Abstract: Data pertaining to the operation of a signal-processing system are written in zones of a central read/write memory which are either permanently or temporarily allocated to respective peripheral units to be monitored and which are each divided into a plurality of phases accommodating multibit words. An interface unit, designed to read out the contents of one or more phases of a memory zone allocated to a chosen peripheral unit and to transfer them to a kinescope or a printer for visualization, includes a buffer store connected to the memory and controlled by a command circuit which responds to several selectors receiving the output signals of an address counter identifying the several memory zones and phases. In the case of temporary allocation, each peripheral unit has a three-word code entered in predetermined phases of the allocated zone which can thus be identified by one of the selectors of the interface unit.

Abstract: A resonant cavity of a microwave generator, such as a magnetron oscillator, is provided with a tuning piston which is rectilinearly displaceable between two terminal positions, corresponding to respective limiting frequencies, by means of a rotating crankshaft whose eccentric portion constitutes the inner race of a ball or roller bearing. The outer race of that bearing rolls, directly or through the intermediary of a captive spherical or cylindrical coupling member, on a transverse face of the tuning piston held in contact therewith by spring pressure.

Abstract: A synchronous demultiplexer at a receiving station of a TDM/PCM telecommunication system, operating on an incoming bit stream organized in frames of 32 time slots of eight bits each, comprises a random-access memory having 32 cells loaded with consecutive octets in successive time slots under the control of a writing-address generator, stepped by clock pulses extracted from the bit stream, and unloaded at a similar but not exactly identical rate under the control of a reading-address generator, stepped by locally generated clock pulses. Two series of loading pulses a and b, each lasting for a bit period t, are derived from the extracted clock pulses near the beginning and near the end, respectively, of a time slot of duration T'=8t and are fed to a control unit together with a series of unloading pulses c of length 2t occurring once per cycle T".apprxeq.T' measured by the local clock.