Abstract: The Speech Therapy Translator converts minimal manipulations to aural conversation using basic words and statements necessary for rehabilitating patients who are speech handicapped. The system is also used for language and minor utterance translation. Applications in the fields of animal sound and language translation, Linguistic Anthropology, and aids to the permanently speech-handicapped are evident. The main feature of the system is that the sight sense is not needed for fluent conversation. There are three primary modes of operation.The first mode is DC switch excitation. The switches are attached to the fingers, eyelids or convenient movable positions on the body. The second mode of operation utilizes audio microphone inputs. The microphones, with sufficient amplification, are sensitive to touch excitation. The microphones are also activated by various pulse-type sounds. These sounds are in the nature of clicks, whistles, or cricket sounds.

Abstract: The battery charger includes a slope detector which responds to the battery voltage of the battery being charged, to generate a peak indicating signal, when the voltage decreases following the peak charging voltage of the battery. A peak hold device responds to the peak indicating signal to cause the charger to switch abruptly from a high charge mode to a low trickle charge mode.

Abstract: The transformer comprises a three-limbed magnetic core having two outer limbs each defining a central air gap. Two windings, an alternating current one and a direct current one, are wound around each outer limb. Primary and secondary windings are disposed on the center limb, the primary one being supplied with alternating current from a source, and the secondary one supplying with alternating current an external load. The two alternating current windings are connected in series and supplied with alternating current by the source, possibly through an additional winding wound around the center limb, while the two direct current windings are connected in series and supplied by the current in the alternating current windings rectified through a diode bridge. The current in the two direct current windings induces a magnetic flux in a closed circuit defined by the outer limbs.

Abstract: A scanning system (10) for reading bar code symbols including a portable hand-held scanning device (12) is provided. The portable hand-held scanning device (12) generates electrical signals descriptive of the bar code symbols and includes a manually actuatable trigger switch (26) for initiating reading of the bar code symbols each time the manually actuatable trigger switch (26) is actuated by the user when the portable hand-held scanning device (12) is supported by the user. The scanning system (10) further includes a fixture (14) for receiving and supporting the portable hand-held scanning device (12). The fixture includes a head portion (42) and a base portion (40). The hand-held scanning device (12) is supported by the head portion (42) a predetermined distance above the base portion (40) to allow objects bearing the bar code symbols to pass between the head portion (42) and the base portion (40).

Abstract: The system comprises a plurality of passive target patterns (30, 31, 32, 33) situated on a surface (24) of an object to be located, and an approach sensor (19) including: a source (20) for emitting light towards said patterns; a receiver (22) for receiving light reflected from said object (21); and a processor member (23) connected to said source (20) and said receiver (22). Each passive pattern comprises a series of optically-readable elongate symbols disposed relative to one another in such a manner as to constitute a code, with the approach sensor serving to scan said object optically. The invention is applicable to docking and stowage maneuvers between two space vehicles.

Abstract: A circuit is described for timing the intermittent use of an appliance, wherein the appliance includes a usage signal for indicating that the appliance is in use. The circuit includes a battery, and a resistive network, coupled to the battery, for draining power from the battery such that the power level thereof decreases to a threshold level over a selected timing interval. The circuit further includes a switch, responsive to the usage signal, for selectively enabling the resistive network, and a battery level threshold detector, responsive to the battery reaching the threshold level, for indicating that the timing interval has lapsed, thereby alerting the operator that the appliance should be serviced, which service includes replacement of the low cost battery.

Abstract: There is disclosed a polyphase power line adapter for providing polyphase electric power to operate a motor at a speed less than rated speed particularly useful for pump motors and the like where it is undesirable to stop the motor. A bridge of from nine to eighteen thyristors, which is also conventially used in cycloconverters, connects the input terminals to the output terminals. A delta-to-Y transformer arrangement and a wave shaping circuit produces cyclic pulse control signals synchronized with the wave-forms of the respective phases of the polyphase power line input; one such signal is transmitted to a divider circuit with a maximum division factor (always an integer) corresponding to the factor, N, by which the frequency, and hence, motor speed is to be reduced. A plurality of logical "and" circuits each has its inputs connected to receive one output from the divider circuit and cyclic pulse control signals are supplied to another of the inputs.

Abstract: A voltage regulator for a generator wherein a switching device connected in series to the field coil of the generator is adapted to be controlled in accordance with an output voltage of the generator and the ambient temperature at the voltage regulator so as not to exceed the junction temperature limit value of the switching means.

Abstract: A three-conductor booster cable assembly is disclosed for connection of a source of DC power to the terminals of a battery requiring recharging. The uniqueness of this assembly is based upon a combination of features including (a) modification of the terminal clamps on the cable ends to insure that the opposing jaws of each clamp are and remain open when not in contact with the positive terminals of either the battery or power source, (b) the provision of two separate conductors for connection of the positive terminal clamps to the positive terminal of the power source to the positive terminal of the battery to be recharged and (c) control circuitry specific for a three-conductor booster cable assembly. Because of these and other features, the control circuit logic is now capable of preventing arcing of the positive terminal clamps should they become inadvertently disconnected from the terminals once the transfer of power from the power source to the battery has been initiated.

Abstract: A cycling device for conditioning battery cells of different types. A selor allows an operator to select the type of the cells to be conditioned. The amplitudes of trickle, discharge and charging currents are automatically selected in response to an output signal from the cell type selector. A control circuit determines the sequence of occurence of the trickle, discharge and charging currents and produces discharge and charge logic conditions, which control circuit includes a timer which delivers a clock signal and which interrupts the charging current after the same has been supplied to the battery cells during a predetermined period of time. Proper discharge operation of the cycling device is indicated only when both the discharge logic conditions are present and the discharge current is detected, while proper charge operation is indicated only when, simultaneously, the charge logic conditions are present, the charging current is detected, and the clock signal is produced by the timer.

Abstract: The field current of a vehicle mounted generator is controlled by a first detecting device 301, 302 for detecting a voltage of a battery to be charged by the generator with a first reference level, when a connection of the first detecting device to the battery is complete, and by a second detecting device 303, 304 for detecting the output voltage of the generator with a second reference level which is substantially the same as the first reference level, when the connection is broken.

Abstract: A protection circuit for use in a vehicle mounted generator 1 equipped with a voltage regulator 3 having an output transistor circuit 306 connected to a field winding 102 of the generator and an overvoltage alarm device 4 having an overvoltage detector, comprises diodes 410, 411 for selectively connecting an output of the overvoltage detector to the output transistor circuit so that the transistor circuit is turned off only when an overvoltage caused by the generator which becomes out of control of the voltage regulator due to disconnection of a generator output to a battery to be charged thereby and/or of the battery to the voltage regulator is detected to terminate a power supply to the field winding until the output voltage of the generator reduces to a preset level.

Abstract: A variable dual phase shifter for simultaneously varying the phase shifts in two signal paths by equal and opposite amounts comprises two 90.degree. hybrids in the respective signal paths, and a pair of substantially identical transmission lines connecting output ports of one hybrid to output ports of the other. A number of variable-impedance radio-frequency devices, which are preferably p-i-n diodes, are connected to the transmission lines at positions spaced apart along the length of the lines, the positions on one line corresponding to those on the other line. The impedances of the devices are controlled to create a reflective termination at a selected position on one line and a reflective termination at the corresponding position on the other line, so that the phase shift applied to each signal is determined by the distance of the reflective termination from the respective hybrid. The devices may be arranged in pairs, each device of a pair being coupled to a respective one of the transmission lines.

Abstract: A transfection high-voltage controller for directing high-voltage currents to a suspension of cells and DNA comprising a control section, a power store, and a high-joule switch. Under control of the control section, the high-joule switch directs a high-voltage current from the power store to a load such as a cuvette. The high-joule switch comprises a semiconductor controlled rectifier (SCR) having a gate coupled to the control unit for triggering the device, an anode for receiving the high-voltage current from the power store, and a cathode for delivering the high-voltage current to the cuvette. A current sink may be connected to the anode of the SCR to render it non-conductive a predetermined time after the high-voltage current appears at the cathode. Multiple SCRs may be connected in series to support voltages over 3,000 and currents in excess of 125 amperes, and a trigger control unit may be attached to the gate of each SCR in the series to effect simultaneous or serial triggering of the group.

Abstract: An alternator or generator core attachment is provided for connecting to a ferromagnetic coil of a magneto used in the ignition system of small combustion engines. The attachment includes a radially extending leg portion, on which a generator coil is wound, a cross bar portion and a flange adapted to be attached to one of the poles of the magneto core. By this construction, the pole of the magneto to which the flange is attached is integrated into a magnetic flux path with the radially extending leg and cross bar portion of the attachment.

Abstract: A battery charger system is provided in which a microprocessor is used to discontinue application of a high charge current when the battery voltage drops below a peak value by a value greater than a threshold value corresponding to stored digital data. The microprocessor is also used to obtain a discharge mode of operation and an autocycle mode of operation in which a charge operation is performed after a discharge operation, the microprocessor being responsive to actuation of keys of a keyboard. In performing various operations, the microprocessor is used in performing analog-to-digital conversions and it is additionally used in computing energy capacity and efficiency.

Abstract: A microprocessor controlled battery charger to charge a battery when the charging current is reduced to zero even though the charger is still connected to the battery. The microprocessor includes a means to read the voltage of the battery and also includes a timer. The voltage of the battery is periodically read and when it decreases below a predetermined value the microprocessor again establishes recharging of the battery first at an intermediate rate until either a maximum voltage is reached or a minimum dv/dt is reached and then the current is reduced to a lower current rate for a finishing charge of the battery for a given period of time.

Abstract: A battery charger and associated method for charging a DC battery utilizes a step-down transformer with high leakage reactance, and means for rectifying and regulating the step-down transformer output to continuously supply a constant charging current to the battery. Feedback from a current sensing means in series with the battery is provided for determining proper regulation. A discharge current controller in parallel with the battery contains a load resistor and switching means electrically responsive to a pulse train generator. The discharge current is applied to the battery in a rapid succession of brief pulses throughout the entire charging cycle, with the discharge current pulses being superimposed over the charging current. The discharge current pulse duration is selected utilizing the pulse train generator, between 50 and 100 microseconds with a time period on the order of twenty times the pulse duration.

Abstract: A controllable switch matrix module is disclosed for bidirectional transmission of signals between multiple ports in a single module, where the attenuation characteristics are dynamically alterable. The invention uses pin diodes both for isolation and for switching, and achieves its high isolation in part by completely enclosing each of the attenuation functions within separate compartments, enclosing the connections between compartments for isolation between functions, and supplying control signals to the pin diodes using feedthrough connections designed in such a way as to prevent the emission of RF signals via the feedthrough devices. Only two bits are required to define any one of four attenuation levels between any two ports.

Abstract: A power supply (20) incorporates a switching regulator circuit and a flyback transformer (26) having diodes (42) for unidirectional current flow from an output circuit of the transformer to a load (24). Substantially noise-free sensing of currents in both input (32) and output (34) windings of the transformer is provided by a sensing circuit composed of a sense winding (46) on the transformer and an integrator (50) coupled to the sense winding. The integrator provides an output signal proportional to volt seconds or flux which, in turn, is proportional to either the input current or the output current. The input current and the output current flow alternately due to a switching action of the regulator circuitry.