Abstract: A method of manufacturing an electron gun component, in which the electrodes are positioned in a jig by means of positioning means which are located at the edge of the electrodes. The method does not use pins to position the electrodes. In an exemplary embodiment, the electrodes are stacked in the jig with clearance. The positioning means are located at the vertices of a polygon which comprise the apertures in the electrodes. If an electrode is tubular in shape, the positioning means and the apertures in the electrode are preferably located in one plane.

Abstract: A mercury vapor discharge lamp having an envelope of light-transmitting vitreous material containing an inert starting gas and a quantity of elemental mercury at least partially convertible to soluble mercury. Enclosed within the lamp is an amount of chemical agent suitable for electrochemically reducing a substantial portion of the soluble mercury to elemental mercury when the lamp is pulverized as a result of disposal. Preferably, the chemical agent is an element (i.e., copper or iron) which has an electrode potential for oxidation reactions higher than mercury. In a preferred embodiment, the chemical agent is sealed within an enclosure (e.g., glass) which is rupturable upon pulverization of the lamp. The sealed enclosure is disposed within the envelope or external to the envelope, such as within a cavity defined by a lamp base member. In another embodiment, the chemical agent is mixed with the basing cement used to secure the lamp bases to the envelope.

Abstract: An electronic lock system includes a lock which is selectively lockable and unlockable in response to an input signal; and buffer means for (1) receiving user commands and generating the input signal only in response to one or more preselected user commands, (2) identifying certain parameters incident to the locking or unlocking of said lock and (3) transmitting said parameters. A microprocessor includes a memory coupled to the buffer means for recording the parameters, and a central processor selectively interrogates the microprocessor and records the parameters. An interface is coupled between the microprocessor and the central processor and transmits the parameters from the microprocessor memory to the central processor in response to the interrogation.

Abstract: A system for monitoring, testing, auditing and controlling vending machines is disclosed.The system includes a counter attached to the vending machine, and a microprocessor controlled, portable, keyboard operated, collection unit adapted to serve a number of vending machines by accessing and interrogation of the counter. The portable collection unit also is adapted to load a program into the counter, input instructions, data and code changes to the counter and, upon interrogation of the counter, receives various types of output information from the counter.The counter performs functions which include: coin transactions, code validations, inventory control, product and price changes, service and transaction time checks, dispensing, machine diagnostics, temperature control, etc.

Abstract: A sequence switching circuit including a plurality of two state DPDT switches for controlling the coupling of an energy source to either an output terminal or an alarm terminal, said switching circuit including interconnection means between said plurality of switches for coupling said energy source to said output terminal upon the changing of the state of said switches in a predetermined sequence, and for coupling said source of energy to said alarm terminal upon the changing of the state of any switch in a sequence other than the predetermined sequence. Said switching circuit further includes means for continuing the coupling of the energy source to said alarm terminal once said coupling has begun until all said switches are returned to their original state, and further until override means are actuated. The switching circuit further includes means for altering said predetermined sequence in a simple and easy manner.