Abstract: A system is disclosed for determining which of a plurality of molds produced a particular container. A specific concentric ring code is molded into the bottom of each container as it is produced. This code is defined by absence or presence of rings at possible ring positions. No rings are formed in adjacent positions. The containers are then passed by a reading station, where light whose intensity is proportional to the angle of incidence is projected onto the bottom of the container. The variation of intensity of light reflected to a particular point is used to determine the position of the rings on the container and suitable electronics may then decode the ring position to determine the container code, thus permitting identification of the mold which produced each container.

Abstract: Marks on test answer sheets and the like are detected by scanning with fiber optic line-to-circle converter using a single photocell. Four to five rows of optical fibers each about 2 to about 3 mils thick make up the fiber optic line, and the fiber optic "circle" is an arc no greater than about 95% of a circle. Scanning can be compensated for flaws in the optics and for poor response when photocell begins scanning the arc. Sheets are fed in spaced sequence. Electrically operated clutch-brake with spring-carried clutch synchronizes feed with scanning, particularly when clutch is opened for not over 0.1 second and is closed by a current pulse at a voltage substantially greater than used for holding it closed. Electronic logic can disable the equipment if markings on sheets show that improper control sheets are used. Scoring can be checked by verifying count of control sheet markings each time a test sheet is scored.

Abstract: A dual belt drive for use in a document transport using two belts having teeth thereon which mesh to lock a document in place. The belt is spring loaded to compensate for documents of various thickness.

Abstract: A magnetizable anisotropic material layer having a pattern of regions of differently aligned material has an initial pattern of remanent magnetization, when manufactured by applying directional magnetic fields. This pattern is not easily restored, and is generally impossible to restore, after demagnetization or remagnetization. By preserving the residual pattern and selectively removing it in use by the application of a magnetic field, a security feature is provided. A secure document system using such a feature is provided.

Abstract: An electromagnetic type acoustic transducer comprises a vibratable diaphragm including a conductor and disposed within a magnetic field defined by a permanent magnet. Support members which are expandable and contractible in the direction at right angles with the diaphragm are fixed to both surfaces of the diaphragm. A frame is provided for fixing the support members such that the expansion and contraction thereof is not prevented. The support members may be folded and formed to a bellows-like state. Use is also made of a conductor forming spiral convolutions. The permanent magnet is disposed and retained at a vibration gap with respect to the diaphragm.

Abstract: A loud speaker and enclosure system that has improved acoustical properties, comprises a cubical frame composed of two sidewalls, a top and a bottom, having an open front and back. The frame is made of substantially rigid material. The backwall is closed by means of a panel of styro-foam. An acoustical horn in the form of a truncated square pyramid is molded from foamed plastic and is of such size as to be fitted into the inner space of the frame with the wide end of the pyramid at the front end of the frame. Means are provided at the corners of the pyramid, for attachment to the frame. Along the walls of the horn there is a space between the walls of the horn and the walls of the frame, of selected dimension. At the small end of the horn is a transverse wall, which has a circular opening. A low frequency, large diameter, cone type speaker is fastened to this wall, mounted inside of the horn, with the cone facing toward the back of the frame.

Abstract: A digital vertical synchronization system for use in a television receiver is disclosed. A vertical synchronization separator circuit receives a composite synchronizing signal and separates a vertical synchronizing signal from the composite signal. A clock counter receives a clock input signal having a frequency equal to a positive integer N times as high as the frequency of a horizontal synchronizing signal separated from the composite signal. The clock counter produces a first output signal having a repetition frequency substantially equal to the vertical synchronizing signal and having a pulse width required for generating a vertical deflection signal and a second output signal having a pulse width equal to or smaller than the pulse width of the vertical synchronizing signal. A phase comparator compares the phases of the second output signal of the clock counter and the vertical synchronizing signal and produces a reset signal when the phases of the two signals are not coincident.

Abstract: The invention relates to magnetic recording. A method of superposing a modifiable magnetic code on a fixed bar code magnetizes the bars in two different directions by means of a write head. There is the provision for synchronising the application of write signals to the write head with the passage of the bars of the bar code and the system may include a bar code reading head which reads a code moved by a conveyor belt and which causes an image of the bar code to be stored in a shift register with each bar and each space of the bar code being represented by several successive 1's or 0's. The write head then includes a read winding which triggers (via) reading of the image, and the image is gated into a code generator that writes when an image bar is present thereby writing magnetically onto the real bars of the bar code.

Abstract: An electronic identification and recognition system including a portable radio frequency signal generator having a circuit for repeatedly generating and transmitting an identifying signal having predetermined characteristics of frequency and pulse length.A single crystal determines the radio frequency signal and the two modulating square wave rates, and the bit data rate, so that synchronism with a remote receiver is readily obtained. A low level of transmitting power is chosen to allow non-interfering transmission on a variety of radio frequencies, and also to allow significant circuit simplifications and economics.Transmission may be initiated by push button or by interrogation from the central receiver station.A receiver receives and synchronously decodes the transmitted signal.

Abstract: An automatic tracking servo control system which is adapted to control the tracking of at least one rotary signal reproducing transducer which scans successive parallel record tracks on a movable record medium. Position pulses are generated when the transducer rotates into predetermined position with respect to the record medium, and these position pulses are used in conjunction with control signals which are reproduced from the record medium and which had been recorded at spaced locations therealong in predetermined relation to the record tracks for controlling the position of the transducer with respect to the tracks scanned thereby. A detector detects the relative strength of the signal reproduced by the transducer during periodic intervals.

Abstract: A metering device, such as a postage meter, can be updated by a code bearing means which is provided with a first discernible code and a second obscured code, for instance, magnetic code. A computer stores a third code in association with the first code, however, the third code is correlated with the second code. Upon inserting the code bearing means in the metering device and obtaining the third code from the computer, the metering device is conditioned for updating responsive to said second code from the code bearing means and the third code from the computer being in predetermined correlation.

Abstract: A perforation detector including a housing having a first portion and an oppositely disposed second portion for receiving the perforated area of a traveling web therebetween. One portion supports an optical signal emitter and the other portion supports a receiver for detecting the optical signal. The first portion is connected to a source of pressurized fluid such as filtered air. Such portion has a passage for directing the fluid flow, in the form of a fluid curtain, about the optical element in that portion and toward the optical element in the second portion. The fluid flow thus prevents accumulation of signal interferring particulate matter on and between the optical elements.

Abstract: A flat major surface of a disc-shaped substrate (e.g., glass or plastic) is coated with a light-reflective layer (e.g., aluminum) which is coated with a dielectric material (e.g., silicon dioxide) highly transparent for light of a frequency supplied by a recording laser. The dielectric material is coated with a thin layer of a smooth continuous, low melting point, low thermal diffusion length metal (e.g., tellurium) absorptive for light of the frequencies supplied by the recording laser. The coating parameters are chosen to establish an anti-reflective condition for the coated record blank at the recording light frequency. The light output of the laser, which is intensity modulated in accordance with a signal to be recorded, is focused upon the coated surface of the disc as the disc is rotated.

Abstract: A method of controlling the operation of a recording apparatus for recording video and/or audio signals received in a television and/or radio receiver wherein a data carrier having one or more command tracks associated with a time track and preferably one or more information tracks, is marked by the user in the command tracks to identify programmes to be recorded, and the data carrier is scanned along the or each command track in conformity with elapse of time during the day to generate signals for switching on the receiver and selecting the appropriate receiver channel. The invention also includes provision of a data carrier having said tracks. The invention also includes an apparatus comprising scanning means having sensors for sensor user markings in respective command tracks, and switch circuit means responsive to sensor output to switch on the receiver and select appropriate channels.

Abstract: The handset consists of two parts, i.e. of a smooth upper part and of a lower part including the two cap members accommodating the acoustic transducers (receiver and microphone capsules). The top part is connected to the lower part by means of bayonet joints. The parting-line surface of the upper part is curved more strongly than that of the lower part, thus causing the two parts to be held together under tension.

Abstract: A loudspeaker with an overlay or bifilar wound split voice coil, a coil for driving a higher frequency speaker such as a tweeter, and a push-pull audio amplifier circuit directly coupled with the coils. The configuration of the split coil provides two coaxial voice coils that produce a transformer coupling at high frequencies. This coupling compensates for the normally experienced increased input impedance at high frequencies and results in a fairly constant input impedance over a large frequency range, facilitating uniform power transfer to the speaker. The high frequency voice coil is coupled across the split coaxial coils and is energized at high frequencies by a combined signal which includes the signal directly applied to one of the coaxial coils and the induced signal in the other coaxial coil.

Abstract: A dictation system having means for providing a signal for indicating when dictation which the system has been made operative to record on a recording medium is not being recorded on the recording medium because of a malfunction of the system or the improper operation of the system. The system includes means for providing a signal when the audio input to the dictation system and the audio input of dictation recorded on the recording medium are not in a predetermined relationship and means for providing said signal when dictation which the system has been made operative to record on the recording medium is absent from the recording medium for a predetermined length of time.

Abstract: A dual threshold comparator circuit includes a comparator amplifier for comparing an analog input signal to a threshold waveform. The threshold waveform is generated in a circuit which includes positive and negative peak detector circuits and a slope detector circuit, all of which are connected to the analog signal source. A voltage divider is connected across the output of the positive and negative peak detector circuits. The threshold input to the comparator amplifier is connected to the common junction of first and second serially-connected impedances in the voltage divider. At the beginning of a particular half cycle of the analog input signal, the voltage across the voltage divider is equal to the difference of the most recent positive and negative peak voltages. The slope detector alters the effective impedances in the voltage divider to cause the threshold voltage to be equal to 25 or 75% of the total difference voltage, depending upon the slope of the analog signal.

Abstract: A verification system for determining whether a person is authorized to use a connected system is disclosed as comprising reading means for reading first data from a card proffered by the person who intends to use the connected system, input means manually operable by the person to enter second data into the verification system, the second data being different from the first data, function storage means for storing a plurality of different functions, each having at least one variable, and, in response to an address code formed from a portion of at least one of the read first data and the entered second data, for looking up and generating a specific stored function, calculating means for substituting a remaining portion of at least one of the first and second data into the variable of the generated specific function and for calculating a value from said function, and checking means for checking whether a predetermined relationship exists between a further remaining portion of at least one of the first and seco

Abstract: A postage meter is used in conjunction with a coupon which serves for updating, i.e. increasing the credit register, by a predetermined sum of money. Means are provided to invalidate the coupon after use and to provide the coupon with data indicative of the status of the register.