Abstract: An apparatus and method for reducing fixed pattern noise in a planar array that includes an array of image responsive detectors, a dithering mechanism for dithering an observed image relative to the array, a high pass filter, and an image restorer. The fixed pattern noise in an observed image is reduced by dithering the observed image across a plurality of detectors forming a planar array, filtering the detector responses with the high pass filter, and passing the filtered signals through the image restorer. A correcting element can be used to iteratively update the fixed pattern noise estimate. In addition, a voter or a frame averager can be included to reduce errors that might adversely effect the fixed pattern noise estimate.

Abstract: An electrical system is provided which includes multiple electrical loads which are powered by an AC voltage source. A synchronization circuit generates a synchronization signal which is representative of the half-cycle of the AC voltage source. A load circuit includes multiple AC line-voltage switching devices and the multiple electrical loads. Each AC line-voltage switching device controls the application of power from the AC voltage source to a respective one of the electrical loads. An input circuit senses the multiple AC line-voltage switching devices and generates a single output signal which is representative of the states of the multiple AC line-voltage switching devices. A processing circuit determines the states of the multiple AC line-voltage switching devices based upon the synchronization signal and the single output signal.

Abstract: Methods of calculating gain correction values and offset correction values for detector elements of an infrared detector array. The methods can be adapted for one-dimensional scanning arrays or for two-dimensional staring arrays. (FIGS. 3 and 6). The array is mechanically dithered so that two or more neighboring detector elements of the array look at the same location of a scene. (FIG. 3, Step 302; FIG. 6, Step 601). Then, the fields of pixel data are processed to calculate a gain correction value and an offset correction value for each detector element. (FIG. 3, Steps 305, 309, and 311; FIG. 6, Steps 603, 607, and 611). For each detector element, its gain error and its offset error are calculated from local averages, with the local average for a particular detector element including a term for that detector element as well as terms for its neighboring detector elements.

Abstract: A sample card transport station moves a test sample card from an incubation station for the card to a transmittance and fluorescence optical station in a sample testing machine. The sample card transport station has a drive belt and an associated stepper motor. The belt supports the card from one side of the card. A ledge having a card slot is disposed above the belt. The card is snugly received within the card slot, and supported from below by the drive belt and rollers for the belt. When the motor turns the belt, the belt grips the card and slide the card along the slot to the optical stations, without any slippage between the belt and the card. This construction provides for precise control over the movement of the card.The fluorescence station has a linear flash lamp that illuminates a column of the wells of the cards simultaneously. A reference detector and dichromatic beam splitter design is used to insure that the fluorescence measurements are independent of lamp output changes over time.

Abstract: There is provided a circuit and method for generating a focus voltage having a predetermined waveform and magnitude for application to an electron beam focus means of a cathode ray tube having a display surface. A horizontal deflection current having a predetermined waveform and a frequency which is selectable over a predetermined range of frequencies is used to generate substantially horizontal scan lines on the display surface of the cathode ray tube by causing at least one electron beam to sweep across the display surface. The circuit has an input for receiving a signal having a current waveform representative of the waveform and frequency of the horizontal deflection current. In response to the received signal, the circuit produces a focus voltage output, the waveform and magnitude of which remain substantially constant over the range of selected frequencies of the horizontal deflection current.

Abstract: An integrated SPM sensor including a cantilever having a probe on its free end, a supporting base for supporting the cantilever on its fixed end, and signal lines for conducting a signal picked up by the probe. The probe is a photodetector element constructed of any of a junction gate-type photo FET, a Schottky gate-type photo FET, an MOS-type photodiode and a Schottky-type photodiode. The integrated SPM sensor substantially lowers noise due to thermally excited dark current and easily detects weak incident light.

Abstract: A wafer sample retainer for an electron microscope includes a clamp arranged to engage one or more wafer samples against a post. The clamp may be spring biased and may be operable by depressing a portion of a spring biased member to pivot the spring biased member away from a support post to create an opening to receive the samples. The sample holder may be removably mounted on a base which may be positioned using a conventional electron microscope positioner.

Abstract: A nuclear camera system includes oppositely disposed radiation detectors (10a, 10b) which view an examination region 14 wherein a subject 16 is received therein. During a diagnostic scan, a motor and drive assembly (18) concurrently moves the detectors (10a, 10b) in a straight path along a longitudinal axis (20) for a selected time interval. The radiation detectors (10a, 10b) are positioned at a first angle at which the subject is viewed and the angle is maintained through the scan. A data processor (23) collects the data from the detected radiation and a coincidence circuitry (26) determines coincidence radiation events occurring on the detectors 10a, 10b. A first set of image data is generated for the first angular view and stored in a view memory (28). A second scan is performed where the detectors (10a, 10b) are shifted to a second angular view and the detectors are moved along the longitudinal axis for a second selected time interval.

Abstract: In a device for determining the ozone concentration by utilizing the surface chemiluminescence effect having a fan (13), a chemiluminescence element (8), a photomultiplier (6), a temperature sensor (16), and control electronics (12), an airflow generated by a fan (13) passes via a suction pipe (7) and an adjoining light trap system (17) through a venturi-shaped channel structure (2) along a metal block (9) in which a temperature sensor (16) is housed. The device is calibrated with respect to the temperature dependence of the reaction of a chemiluminescence disc (8) attached to the bottom of the metal block by determining the output voltage of a photomultiplier (6) in dependence on the temperature at a predetermined ozone concentration in the measured air.

Abstract: This is a mercury cadmium telluride flame detector which can be operated at room temperature, and a method for making such a detector. It utilizes at least two different compositions of mercury cadmium telluride on a common substrate; and has at least two contact areas on at least one of said mercury cadmium telluride compositions. In one embodiment, the substrate 104 is transparent and an upper mercury cadmium telluride layer 88 is over an insulating layer 89, which insulating layer is over a lower mercury cadmium telluride layer 90 and the lower mercury cadmium telluride is on said substrate, and contact areas 86 are provided on said upper mercury cadmium telluride layer 88, whereby the lower layer 90 filters radiation prior to the radiation reaching the upper layer 88. Preferably the insulating layer is cadmium telluride, the contact areas 86 are mercury telluride, and said upper layer, said insulating layer and said lower layer are epitaxial layers.

Abstract: A linear sensor includes first, second, and third linear sensor sections each composed of a linear array of sensor elements, wherein the linear arrays of sensor elements are spaced seven lines apart from each other. In operation, an image is sensed while moving the linear sensor three lines at a time. The output signals of the respective linear sensor sections are adjusted in terms of the timing relative to each other by a timing adjustment circuit. This allows the linear sensor to sense an image at a higher scanning speed and thus for a shorter time period.

Abstract: A picture stabilizing circuit for a semiwide-screen television receiver capable of preventing vertical lines of the picture from being bent by detecting and compensating for a high-voltage variation caused by a picture brightness variation.

Abstract: A profile measuring apparatus provided with an improved probe for measuring profiles throughout a wide area of the surface of an object with a high level of response and high accuracy. The probe 10 comprises an arm 3 having a stylus 1 fixedly mounted to the distal end thereof, which is coupled to a stationary part 11 of the apparatus by an arm holding member 5 made of a V-shaped leaf spring in such a way that the arm 3 is tilted in one axial direction by a contact pressure exerted thereto during measurement. Displacement of the arm 3 is thereby detected through measuring an elastic deformation of the leaf spring caused by the contact pressure exerted to the stylus 1 being pressed against the surface to be measured.

Abstract: Opto-electronic oscillators having at least one Brillouin feedback loop based on the Brillouin selective sideband amplification to provide a sufficient gain for the oscillator to start and sustain an electro-optic oscillation. Such an oscillator can generate high frequency, high spectral purity, and tunable microwave signals in both optical and electrical domains.

Abstract: In an apparatus for detecting information on the rotation of an object using a grating interference system, the present invention provides a rotation detecting apparatus, which can be sufficiently miniaturized even when using another rotation information detecting section at the same time, and an apparatus for controlling the rotation using the same. The apparatus has a first detecting device for detecting by making the diffracted light from the diffraction grating interfere to detect rotation information of the object, a second detecting device for detecting the light from the predetermined data recording section to detect rotation information of the object, and a light beam illuminating device common to the first and second detecting means for illuminating the diffraction grating and the predetermined data recording section together.

Abstract: An approach to processing quantum information uses a bulk ensemble of a very large number of identical entities as its source of quantum degrees of freedom. The information is represented as the deviation from uniform population probability for at least one of the quantum states of the ensemble. Coherences between quantum states, created when the ensemble is modified in a way that removes it from thermal equilibrium can serve as effective degrees of freedom. A bulk thermal ensemble of nuclear spins in a static magnetic field is treated using nuclear magnetic resonance pulses for preparation of an initial pure state, and effecting arbitrary single-spin and coupled multi-spin rotations. Readout of the result is accomplished by observation of the magnetization of the ensemble.

Abstract: A color image reader has a three-primary-color light source for emitting blue-light rays, red-light rays and green-light rays. The light-source is controlled such that the emissions of the blue, red and green light rays are cyclically performed in the order of the blue-light rays, the red-light rays, the green-light rays and the red-light rays. An object to be read is continuously moved, such that the object is illuminated with the cyclical emissions of the blue-light rays, red-light rays and green-light rays. A one-dimensional line image sensor optically and electronically senses a monochromatic image of the object illuminated with each of the cyclical emissions of the blue-light rays, red-light rays and green-light rays.

Abstract: The object of the invention is a photon or particle detector which comprises a transmission dynode situated in a vacuum. The detector comprises a monolithically fabricated semiconductor structure in which electrons are arranged so as to travel from the semiconductor into a vacuum. At least a part of the multiplication region is formed into a layered structure incorporating at least one doped semiconductor transmission dynode and at least one vacuum space.

Abstract: The most popular method for reducing stray emission effects in a cathode ray tube is to install a bleeder resistor at the flyback transformer of the tube. Such a bleeder resistor is, however, quite expensive. Therefore, the stray emission reduction circuit according to the invention differentiates the H pulse when the TV set is switched from "on" to "standby" which results in a higher duty cycle of the control transistor, implying a lower duty cycle of the horizontal output transistor HOT. This results in a lower voltage at the tuning capacitor and hence lowers the flyback peak voltage at the anode. This results in a drop of the EHT voltage.

Abstract: According to the present invention, a photoelectric converter comprises a plurality of substrates, which are located adjacent to each other and on which a plurality of photoelectric conversion devices are two-dimensionally arranged, either scan circuits or detection circuits, at least, that are arranged on two opposing sides of the photoelectric converter, whereby scanning directions either from the scan circuits or from the detection circuits, which are arranged on the two opposing sides, are capable of being set so as to be performed in like directions.