Abstract: A system for providing early warning of the approach and egress of emergency vehicles in which the warning system provides a display to indicate the direction from which the emergency vehicle is approaching and in addition provides preemption control of the traffic signals at an intersection. A transmitter mounted on an emergency vehicle transmits a signal whenever it is on an emergency call which is received by infrared (I.R.) receivers positioned at an intersection to respond to the transmitted signals. The received signal is then processed by a master controller which in turn pre-empts operation of traffic signals to control traffic flow at the intersection to which the emergency vehicle is approaching. The master controller also provides an output to display signs facing approaching traffic on each road approaching the intersection which displays messages and symbols indicating the direction of the approaching emergency vehicle.

Abstract: An alarm system for a swimming pool or the like whereby small inexperienced children or animals are detected prior to entering the pool or after an unauthorized entry into the water of the pool. The invention comprises the use of a height sensing apparatus employing fibre optics and a logic circuit whereby an interruption of a pair of different elevations of light paths is accepted and the alarm remains silent and the interruption of the lowest light path only is reflected sounding an alarm. The invention further comprises the use of fibre optics and a movement sensor connected to the optics. Any impact on the water surface of the pool causes the sensor to change the state of the light transmission therethrough by transmitting or interrupting light transmission. This change of normal state activates the alarm. The invention still further comprises a wireless means for detecting a person in the pool water or a man overboard from a ship or the like and sounding an alarm.

Abstract: A Well Indicating Device which is useful in laboratory procedures for identifying, in a predetermined but variable sequence, wells of a plurality fo independent but interrelated substance-receiving wells, such as of a microtiter tray, which are subject of manipulation.

Abstract: A console having annunciator lights and a cigar lighter receptacle compatible telescoping plug is mounted in the cigar lighter receptacle of an automobile. The plug is inserted in the receptacle using the console as a handle and telescopes within the console until the console abuts the dash board. Temperature sensing switch elements contained in an encapsulating capsule are connected by conductors to the lights and the receptacle power connections. The capsule is inserted in the transmission dip stick tube and the conductors pass through an existing opening in the fire wall.

Abstract: An electroacoustic calling device comprising a piezoelectric transducer contained in a housing with an aperture therein through which sound is emitted. A closure member for controlling the size of the aperture, and hence the volume of emitted sound, is located in a recess in an arm pivotally mounted on the housing and is urged against the exterior surface of the housing by a projection at the bottom of the recess. The resulting essentially point contact between the closure member and the recess allows the surface of the closure member to align accurately with the surface of the housing, thereby minimizing leakage of sound between such surfaces.

Abstract: An alarm buzzer includes a bobbin mounted within a housing and having a base portion and a hollow cylindrical portion. The mounting plate is interposed between the bottom wall and the base portion. A coil is wound around the cylindrical portion, and opposite ends of the coil are connected respectively to a pair of terminals mounted on the base portion. An iron core extends through the cylindrical portion of the bobbin and is held in engagement with the bobbin and the bottom wall, thereby holding the bobbin and the mounting plate against movement with respect to the housing. An armature is resiliently supported on the mounting plate for being attracted into the core upon energization of the electromagnet. Upon de-energization of the electromagnet, the armature is returned into striking contact with a vibratory plate to produce a sound under the restoring force of the resilient means.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting, for example, the disconnection of signal lights such as flashers for vehicles and for warning of this disconnection has a detecting resistor element for converting an ON current of the signal lights into a voltage signal. The voltage signal detected by this resistor element is compared with a reference voltage which is set at a discrimination/oscillation control circuit so as to detect if the detecting voltage signal is lower than the reference voltage. When such a state is detected, the oscillation frequency of an oscillator for changing the flashing frequency of the signal light is doubled. The disconnection of the lights can be detected by observing the frequency of the flashing signal. The detecting resistor element consists of a resistive wiring formed of a resistive material which is processed so as to have a smaller resistance than desired.

Abstract: A sound generating apparatus using piezoelectric elements includes first and second sounding plates arrayed in parallel with each other. The first and second sounding plates respectively include first and second diaphragms, and first and second thin plate-like piezoelectric elements laminated onto the first and second diaphragms. The first and second sounding plates are coupled together at the outer peripheral portions by a ring, thereby forming a hermetically sealed internal air chamber. The first and second sounding plates coupled together by the ring, and containing the internal air chamber cooperate to form a sounding member. The sounding member is supported by means of four resilient supporting members made of, for example, rubber, in a housing. In the housing, a front air layer and a rear air layer are formed on both sides of the sounding member, respectively. The front and rear air layers communicate with each other through a ringlike sound path.

Abstract: A monitoring system for a bed patient comprising a binary signal generating means to provide a first signal when the patient is in the bed and a second signal when the patient is out of the bed. An alternating electrical power supply passes to a frequency divider so that electrical pulses of selected time spacing are derived by means of which time can be measured. These pulses go to a signal delay means with adjustments possible for any selected delay and then to a latch means. Alarm control means are provided responsive to the operation of the latch for controlling the nature of the alarm signal. The alarm control means alternately provides electrical alarm signals of various sorts, such as a single short pulse or an indefinitely long pulse or an alternating signal. Each of these could separately control a visual or audible alarm means. This invention is compatible with normal call equipment and alarms in hospitals.

Abstract: An alarm system used in conjunction with a circuit breaker panel box indicating the presence of an overload condition. At least one sensor is provided in proximity with the circuit breaker box but is not physically connected thereto. This sensor senses various parameters which are inherent in an overload condition or which are produced by various circuitry connected to the circuit breaker which are enabled during an overload condition. This alarm system is set by closing the door of the circuit breaker panel box.

Abstract: A keyboard for use with a terminal in a telephone operator assistance system is disclosed. The keyboard has a numeric array of keys that is surrounded on three sides by separate arrays of specialized function keys. The keyboard is arranged so that the most common keying sequence consists of the operation of a function key in the array to the left of the numeric array, the operation of keys in the numeric array, and the operation of a function key in the array to the right of the numeric array. This keyboard arrangement has been found experimentally to reduce operator work time. In addition, the keyboard contains a main array including alphabetic keys and miscellaneous function keys, and arrays of function keys to the left of and in back of the main array. The function keys are grouped in different arrays according to the type of function being performed, and the relationship of that function to the operation of keys in the numeric array.

Abstract: Apparatus for monitoring structures and structural members for overloads has an elongated frangible closed ended tube containing a dense, visible liquid. The tube includes a central reduced cross-sectional area for forming a weak portion thereof. The tube is enclosed in a transparent shield and the tube and shield resiliently attached to the structure to be monitored. The frangible tube is designed to cause the weakened area to fracture when the tube and structure are exposed to a preselected level of an acceleration force, causing the liquid to be deposited in the shield as an indication of an overload.

Abstract: A device for indicating that a sensed temperature has reached a certain selected level and method of making the same are provided, the device comprising a housing carrying an electrical switch unit for operating an indicator to one condition thereof when the switch unit is closed and to another condition thereof when the switch unit is open. The switch unit comprises a first movable contact unit and a second movable contact unit which when in contact with each other close the switch unit and when out of contact with each other open the switch unit. The first contact unit is moved relative to the second contact unit in relation to the sensed temperature. A selector unit is rotatably carried by the housing for selecting the certain level and has a setting portion operatively interconnected to the second contact unit to position the same relative to the first contact unit in relation to the selected level.

Abstract: A keyboard entry system is disclosed which comprises a keyboard which includes a plurality of letter keys, one for each letter of a selected language. The entry system responds to conventional sequential activation of individual keys by providing output signals indicative of the respective individual letters associated with the activated keys to an application program such as a word processor or printer control program. The keyboard entry system also responds to chords of simultaneously activated multiple keys by using these chords to retrieve stored words from a dictionary. It is the stored words rather than the entered chords which are applied as inputs to the application program. This system allows an operator to use both conventional sequential key entry techniques and chorded entry techniques for rapid data entry. Chords are detected by comparing a stored constant with the elapsed time between a key release and the immediately preceding key depression of an overlapping key.

Abstract: The device is applied to the wheel of a motor vehicle and includes a component that is sensitive to the pressure inside the tire and has a conductive, sliding element. When this element reaches the extreme limits of its travel it closes an electrical contact and activates a radio transmitter whose signals, picked up by a receiver located in the passenger compartment, activate a visual and/or acoustic alarm.

Abstract: A motor actuated buzzer includes a motor mounted on a body, at least one cam member fixedly mounted on an output shaft of the motor, a sound generating plate mounted on the body, and a hammer for striking the sound generating plate, the cam having a plurality of radial protrusions. At least one leaf spring is fixed to the body at one end thereof and urged toward the cam member. The leaf spring carries the hammer intermediate opposite ends thereof and having at a free end thereof a projection. The radial protrusions are engageable with the projection upon rotation of the cam member to oscillate the leaf spring to intermittently bring the hammer into striking contact with the sound generating plate to produce a buzzing sound.

Abstract: The invention relates to an indicator controlled by the ignition system of an i.c. engine, so that the indicator, e.g. an LED, makes an indication when the engine is adjusted to an appropriate idle r.p.m. or race r.p.m. As the carburetor is calibrated against such selected and adjusted r.p.m. the said adjustment will bring about a minimum of exhaust gases.

Abstract: A control system for diverting/equalizing electrical potentials between two objects, for example the shell (1) of a storage tank installation and the body (10) of a tank truck/vessel, when loading flammable/explosive fluids, wherein an electrical equalizer connection (5,6,14) connects the body (10) of the tank truck via a terminal (10a) to the storage tank (1) via a terminal (1a). The terminals (1a and 10a) are part of respective control circuits comprising a low voltage source (U.sub.1 ; U.sub.2), a resistor (4; 13) and an indicator (8,9) for registering current flow and thereby controlling/blocking the connection/disconnection of a fluid pump. To check that electrical connection has in fact been established at the terminals (1a,10a), each of these is connected to a respective control circuit via separate terminals, namely a terminal (1b; 10b) on the respective bodies (1; 10) and a terminal (6a; 6b) on a busbar (6) in the equalizer connection ( 5,6,14).

Abstract: Apparatus for sensing the existence of a fire and providing a warning, if desired, with improved discrimination against the possibility of false alarms. Dual channel detectors are used, one detector being set to respond to incident radiation having a wavelength in the range of 0.8 to 1.1 microns while the other wavelength range is significantly displaced therefrom, being selected for wavelengths in the range from 14 to 25 microns. Reliability of true signal detection is further improved by the provision of separate flame flicker bandpass filters in the respective channels, these bandpass filters being set for different passbands. Circuits providing ratio discrimination, threshold detectors and delay circuitry are combined with the dual spectrum detectors and disparate flicker frequency filters to achieve improved performance.

Abstract: A solid state switching circuit for energizing a lamp (L) is connected around a fuse (12) across an AC supply for detecting a voltage differential at the opposite sides of a blown fuse and applying that differential across the control (g) and switching (c) electrodes of the solid state switch (SCR) to render the same conductive. Current limiting resistors (RL1 and RL2) are placed in the ends of wire conductors which are to be connected at opposite sides of the fuse, thereby to limit current flowing in the conductors over the entire length of the conductor, minimizing electrical shock hazard upon damage to the conductor.