Abstract: A large-area electron source which can operate continuously, stably, and indefinitely in a poor vacuum environment. The source includes a glow discharge cathode, appropriately positioned with respect to a target anode, and a fine-mesh grid spaced from the cathode by a distance less than the mean free path length of electrons leaving the cathode, the grid being electrically biased to control the electron beam current over a wide range with only small grid voltage changes. An accelerating voltage applied to the cathode can be varied continuously from as low as a few hundred volts to 30 KeV or greater and the source will continue to operate satisfactorily. Further, the grid is made of a fine mesh wire of sufficiently small dimensions as to not be resolvable in the target plane. A further refinement of the device utilizes scanning coils to achieve additional uniformity of the incident beam at the target plane.

Abstract: An optical instrument for use in conducting optometric examinations which generates an alphanumeric type display simulating the optical features of displays provided by video display terminals. The instrument comprises a light source and a multi-layered screen through which light from the source may be transmitted. The screen employs light from the source in forming characters which are comprised of pixel-like light elements similar to those making up VDT generated characters. Further, the screen is operative for degrading the image quality of the characters by transforming the light elements into Gaussian type spatial profiles typical of the pixels generated by VDTs.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for evaluating the defects in an object wherein data related to the object is processed to develop an indication for each defect in a first group of defects and to further develop a composite indication for the defects in the remaining composite group of defects and wherein, depending upon the level of the composite indication, the data is further processed with respect to the composite group of defects.

Abstract: An appliance for containing and venting fluid, typically for disinfecting contact lenses, includes a container body which has an access opening and a removable closure for the opening. A gasket is seated to form a normally liquid-tight seal between the container body and the closure, and the gasket means has a composition which is sufficiently resilient to at least partially deflect and unseat from the container body upon exertion against the gasket of elevated gas pressure developed within the container, for example, during a disinfection process. The pressurized gas can then be vented past the unseated gasket which forms a vent passageway between the closure and the container body, after which venting the gasket redeflects to reseat and seal against the container body to prevent any subsequent leakage of fluid from the container body.

Abstract: An arrangement for controlling the location of sprayed viscous material, in which a spray head forms a stream of the viscous material, and has at least three orifices for forming air streams. The orifices are disposed at substantially equal angles around the material stream. Air pressure is applied to the orifices, and this air pressure is controlled by a valve. The valve is adjusted proportional to the position of a plate that is positioned by a control. The spray head has at least three additional orifices that form second air streams placed symmetrically about the viscous material streams. These second air streams are directed to impinge upon the viscous material after the latter is deposited on a surface. An additional valve controls air pressure applied to the additional orifices, and this additional valve is adjusted proportional to the position of the plate.

Abstract: A system for object surface determination in which the projector/detector sensor of the system is controlled by a control detector which is responsive to a plurality of different parts of a portion of the reflected radiation being sensed by the projector/detector sensor.

Abstract: A light emitting diode network includes a plurality of light emitting diodes arranged in a row. Each of the plurality of light emitting diodes includes a semiconductor crystal having first and second regions of opposed conductivity types respectively facing opposite sides of the row. First and second electric conductors are provided for respectively connecting the first regions of the diodes together and the second regions of the diodes together. Each of the first and second electrical inductors having alternating first and second flat portions in which the first flat portions are perpendicular relative the second flat portions. The first flat portions are soldered to the semiconductor crystals, and the second flat portions function as cooling fins for the light emitting diode network.

Abstract: A method for prescribing bifocal spectacles for a person having reduced visual acuity includes placing a trial frame on the face of said person in front of his eyes and measuring a far interpupillary distance when said person is viewing a distant object, placing corrective lenses in said frame until said person views said distant object with acuity, placing high plus lenses in said frame for each eye and moving said right and left trial frame sections towards each other while said person is viewing text at a nearer distance and until said person can read said text with binocular vision and then obtaining a near interpupillary distance from said frame and recording said far and near distances with said far prescription and said high plus diopter to employ said recorded data to fabricate bifocal spectacles for said person from said data. The resulting spectacles are also described.

Abstract: A motor vehicle headlight of the type comprising a single light source, a reflector including two zones suitable for generating two different respective light beams, a closure glass, and masking means situated in the vicinity of the source and capable of being displaced for selectively masking the light rays delivered by the source and propagating towards at least one of the two zones. According to the invention the two zones of the reflector are disposed side by side, each of them extending over the entire height of the reflector, each zone of the reflector is constituted by a portion of a reflecting surface sufficing on its own to generate the associated beam, and the masking means comprise at least one screen which, in its masking position, is situated to one side of the source.

Abstract: A securing device of the expandable boss or grommet type, for securing a member to a support plate, has an expandable boss of a resiliently deformable material extending through the support plate. A fixing bolt extends through the expandable boss and is screwed into an expander nut, the fixing bolt having a head which bears through a head ring on the member to be secured, and the expandable boss including a shouldered head.

Abstract: A method for measuring the position and orientation changes of a 3-D sensor relative to a robot mount and for measuring the positioning and orienting changes of the robot mount. All measurements reveal changes relative to a baseline measurement. A novel reference provides a low-cost measurement aid. A reference object is placed within the work volume of the robot carrying the sensor which is capable of making three-dimensional measurements. The reference object has a shape that enables unambiguous determination of its location and orientation. The reference object is measured from predetermined orientations, and the measurements are recorded in a memory. These measurements form a baseline measurement set. The measurement step is repeated at a later time, and another measurement set is produced. The baseline measurement set and the other measurement set are processed to determine robot positioning errors and sensor location errors.

Abstract: A conferencing system facilitating interactive video and audio communication between an individual (such as a criminal, defendant, or a witness in a court proceeding) at a remote station, and a group of individuals at a local station (such as a judge, defense counsel, and a prosecutor or plaintiff's counsel in a courtroom). The system preferably includes a recording unit for producing a permanent, combined video and audio conference record. Preferably, the system includes a local module, a remote module, and a control module. The local module includes a loudspeaker, and a video camera, a video monitor unit, and a microphone for each conferee. It is contemplated that the local module equipment may be disposed in a courtroom, for use by a judge, two attorneys, and a witness. The remote module includes a video camera, a video monitor unit, a microphone, and a loudspeaker. Where the remote module is intended for use by a criminal defendant in police custody (i.e.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for electronically taking photographs of an object to be used for stereoscopic (three dimensional) reproductions of the object in which an electronic camera takes a plurality of electronic photographs of an object from each of a plurality of predetermined spaced positions relative to the object. The photographic image is converted into a video signal which is digitized and the digitized video signals of the images from the plurality of positions are utilized to produce a viewable representation of the object. In a preferred embodiment, the camera has a generally planar element for converting the image into the video signal and the planar converting element of the camera at each position is held in a common plane and the lens system for the camera at each position is kept in a plane generally parallel to the converting element plane and shifted relative to the image converting element of the camera to compensate for the different positions to have the same field of view at each position.

Abstract: An arrangement for improved dispensed material bead profile control, in which a viscous material is dispensed in a stream upon a surface. The stream is transported along that surface and forms a bead of the viscous material. The bead is then confined with air streams which also reshape the profile of the bead. The material is dispensed by a nozzle which has at least two orifices in its proximity. One orifice is located at a distance from the nozzle which is greater than for the other orifice. The orifices form air streams under pressure and direct the air streams toward the material stream, as well as toward the bead formed on the surface when the material stream is transported along that surface.

Abstract: The disclosure concerns a device for adjusting the aiming direction of a motor vehicle headlight reflector, said device comprising three essentially localized bearing points to support said reflector against a relatively fixed structure, the three bearing points being placed at the three apexes of a triangle having one horizontal side, one of said points being fixed and the other two points being adjustable through shifting in a direction that is essentially perpendicular to the plane of said triangle, to cause heightwise and lateral variation in the aiming direction of the reflector, and further comprising driving means capable of moving at least one of the two adjustable points, wherein the two adjustable bearing points are located on one and the same lateral side of the headlight, opposite the fixed support, the driving means include a single driving member, and means are provided for selectively connecting the driving member to a first adjustable bearing point, which is horizontally aligned with the fixed

Abstract: A serial data image processing system is described whereby interconnect artwork for electronic component manufacturing is scanned by a 1.times.n CCD image pickup element and converted into serial digital data. The serial digital data representing the original image is processed by a programmable serial image processor to detect flaws in the original image artwork. The serial data digital image processor is comprised of a plurality of pipe elements, the configuration of which can be arranged for parallel or serial processing. Each pipe element contains a plurality of 4.times.5 pixel neighborhood array processing blocks, each of which can be programmed to perform one of a number of neighborhood image enhancement techniques. The 4.times.5 pixel neighborhood provides single-pass thinning and trimming algorithms which in turn allows for more efficient processing to be performed in the serial pipeline combination of a plurality of transformation neighborhoods.

Abstract: A telescope housing has a removable finger accommodating ring secured thereto. The ring is coupled to the housing by a V-shaped spring member which is inserted into a channel member located on the telescope housing. In this manner, various telescope assemblies of different magnification can be accommodated by the use of the removable ring which also enables convenient storage.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for automatically visually inspecting an article such as an electronic circuit wherein both reference and non-reference algorithms are utilized to detect circuit defects. The system includes a pipelined cellular image processor which is utilized to implement the non-reference algorithm and an arithmetic logic unit (ALU) is coupled to the output of the cellular image processor to perform the reference method. The non-reference method includes a spaces and traces algorithm and the reference method includes a topology matching algorithm. The system also includes an algorithm for locating and gauging critical areas of the circuit with sub-pixel accuracy.