Abstract: A two wire/three wire utility data communications system for remotely reading utility meter registers. In the two wire version, a hand-held reading unit is inductively coupled over two wires via a port located remotely from a meter register. Alternatively, a meter interface unit (MIU) may be connected directly to the register via three wires. Each register includes one or more wheel position encoders. An AC interrogation signal is applied by the reading unit to encoder circuitry at the meter which powers the circuitry and causes the position of each encoder wheel to be read. In the two wire mode, register display information (e.g. the current meter reading) is transmitted back to the reading unit by varying the load (impedance) presented by the register side of the circuit. This causes a corresponding variation of the amount of current drawn from the reading unit. The current-modulated signal is decoded by the reading unit and converted into a register reading.

Abstract: In a battery powered selective call receiver receiving a synchronous signal, a battery saving method extends battery life by optimizing the amount of time the receiver circuit is activated when searching for the signal after previously acquiring synchronization. The battery saving method allows for turning the selective call receiver on without activating the receiver circuit. The receiver circuit is activated at a time later than the energization of the selective call receiver, where the time of activation of the receiver circuit is determined in response to the time passed since synchronization was last acquired and the system signal stability.

Abstract: An electronic interlock for locking a file cabinet (10, 100) and for limiting the number of drawers (14, 114) to be accessed at any given time. An input keyboard (20, 120) receives an input code to be compared with a prestored access code. If the codes do not match, an unlock signal is not produced. If the input code matches the access code, a processor (28, 148) renders the storage assembly (10, 110) accessible. The processor (28, 128) will receive a drawer selection number from the input keyboard (20, 120) user and will unlock a lock (16, 116) associated with the selected drawer (14, 114). Sensors (34, 134) sense the position of the drawers (14, 114) and disable the processor (28, 128) when one of the drawers (14, 114) is in the open position.

Abstract: An intraoral controller senses electromyographic signals within the oral cavity which are produced as a result of movement and contraction of the tongue muscle. Active and reference electrodes pairs act as sensors for electromyographic signals which are processed into control signals. The electrodes are mounted on a substrate within the oral cavity. Signals from the electrodes are transmitted by telemetry or by wires to an electromyographic signal processor which is connected to a device to be controlled.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for dynamically assigning addresses and determining the configuration of a plurality of programmable function modules connected to an electrical conductor, such as a serial bus. The programmable function modules are electrically interconnected by a control line in a point-to-point connection between one another. A programmable controller will first transmit an enabling signal on the control line and then will transmit predetermined addressing information on the serial bus. The first function module will then access the serial bus and retrieve the addressing information, assign itself a unique address as determined by the addressing information, modify the addressing information in a predetermined manner, return the modified addressing information to the serial bus, and enable the adjacent function module on the control line. Each function module connected to the serial bus will be assigned an address in a similar fashion.

Abstract: A spark plug for use in an internal combustion engine comprises a central electrode made of a base metal and an earth electrode. A tip portion is provided on the central electrode. The tip portion includes a noble metal tip layer for defining a spark discharge gap between the noble metal tip layer and the earth electrode, and an alloy layer provided between the noble metal tip layer and the central electrode. The tip portion is provided with grooves to be divided into a plurality of sections. The tip portion has an outer peripheral wall flared towards the earth electrode, and a width of the grooves gradually increases from a bottom thereof to a surface of the noble metal tip layer for defining the spark discharge gap.

Abstract: A four-wire system is disclosed for communicating between the host station and several remote stations. A first pair of wires is employed across which the remote stations are coupled in shunt, and over which the host station addresses the particular remote station with which it wishes to communicate, and supplies power to the several remote stations. The remote stations are coupled in shunt to a second pair of wires and transmit real time analog information to the host station over the second pair of wires. Each remote station includes a receiving section, which determines whether an address appearing on the first pair of wires corresponds to the particular remote station, and if so, activates power to a transmitting section therein. The transmitting section responds to control information extracted by the receiving section from the address and transmits selected real time information back to the host station over the second pair of wires by way of a differential voltage format.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system that monitors the signal strength of each transmission by a node on a LAN cable of a local area network and determines the location of the node sending the signal. This system has a monitor at each end of the LAN cable, with one of the monitors typically being located in a computer node attached to the cable. When an information frame is sent on the cable, each of the monitors records the signal strength of the frame preamble and the source address contained within the frame. The distance to the node from a first end of the cable, expressed as a percentage of the length of the cable, is the ratio of the signal strength at the second end of the cable to the sum of the signal strengths.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for detecting the reference rotational angle for each cylinder in a multiple-cylinder internal combustion engine, in which a reference pulse signal is output at a position of a predetermined rotational angle of the engine at a specific stroke of each cylinder synchronously with the revolution of the engine, a cylinder-discriminating pulse signal is put out just after termination of specific one of the reference pulse signal, the precedent and present values of elements, concerning the time, of the pulse signal are detected, and when the present value is smaller than the precedent value by at least a predetermined value, discrimination of cylinders is performed.

Abstract: A spark plug for an internal combustion engine includes a central electrode, and an earth electrode disposed in opposed relation to the central electrode on an axis of the central electrode to thereby form a spark gap between the central electrode and the earth electrode. The central electrode has a pillar-like portion provided at a distal end thereof disposed close to the spark gap, the pillar-like portion having a predetermined thickness corresponding to an intended lifetime of the spark plug. The central electrode also has a smaller-diameter portion disposed adjacent to a proximal end of the pillar-like portion, the smaller-diameter portion being smaller in diameter than the pillar-like portion. The pillar-like portion and the smaller-diameter portion are interconnected in a step-like manner. A step portion may be provided between the pillar-like portion and the smaller-diameter portion so as to limit the position of a spark discharge.

Abstract: A picture display device using direct heating type linear cathodes as electron beam sources. Inorganic material vibration prevention elements having a hole thereon are provided. The linear cathodes penetrate the vibration prevention elements at one end part or both end parts of respective linear cathodes. This damps vibrations occurring at the time when an external force is applied and cuase them to cease rapidly.

Abstract: A trailer hitching aid includes a dual transmitter mounted on the forward end of a trailer or other vehicle to be towed and arranged to transmit pulses of infrared light and pulses of ultrasonic sound. A towing vehicle mounts on its rear end an infrared light detector and a pair of laterally spaced ultrasonic sound detectors. The detectors are incorporated in an electrical circuit which includes a computer the program of which operates to measure the time difference between the detection of a light burst and the detection of sound bursts. The time differences then are utilizes to calculate the distance from each detector to the transmitter, and the distances and angles between the detectors and transmitter are displayed on the computer screen as visual indications to direct the operator of the towing vehicle to maneuver the vehicle to back it up and bring the hitch components on the vehicles into coupling registry.

Abstract: A mechanical-to-electrical transducer arrangement wherein a combination of signal preamplifier and programmable analog signal processing circuitry is disposed immediately adjacent the transducer's sensor cell where low losses a low noise coupling into the signal path can be achieved. The programmable analog processing includes differentiation, filtering, integration, amplification and elective disconnection of the sensor cell to enable rapid transient signal recovery. Provisions for generation of transducer identification code and test signals in the processing circuitry and communications by way of a two wire time shared communication path is included.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a fluorescent display apparatus of high brightness illumination which is applied to a display apparatus of large picture screen or the like. The display apparatus of the present invention is comprised of a plurality of segments (13) to which a high voltage is applied, a cathode (K), a plurality of control electrodes (G2) disposed in correspondence with each of the respective segments (13) and a common electron beam deriving means (G1) disposed between the cathode (K) and the control electrodes (G2) in correspondence with the plurality of segments (13R), (13G) and (13B), whereby the segements (13) are selectively illuminated by controlling the voltages of each of the control electrodes (G2). Thus, these electrodes can all be shaped as flat plates without causing a cross-talk and the structure of the display apparatus can be simplified.

Abstract: A remote control system, in particular for locking and unlocking the doors of a motor vehicle, the system being of the type comprising a portable transmitter including means constituting a light source suitable for generating an encoded light flux, and a fixed receiver including photosensitive means designed to receive the light flux and associated with treatment means designed to decode it, wherein the photosensitive means of the receiver comprise a lens having a toroidal aspherical outside surface, which lens is associated with a plurality of photocells.

Abstract: A cathode-ray tube having a face plate which includes a phosphor layer provided at the inner surface side of a glass plate and an optical interference filter provided between the phosphor layer and the inner surface of the plate. The optical interference filter is constituted by high- and low-refractive index layers. The outermost layer of the optical interference filter in contact with the phosphor layer is an Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 layer or a ZrO.sub.2 layer having a physical thickness of 10 nm or more. The high-refractive index layer of the optical interference filter preferably consists of TiO.sub.2, and its low-refractive index layer preferably consists of Al.sub.2 O.sub.3.

Abstract: An electric discharge lamp assembly including a lamp bulb having two lead wires, and a lamp base supporting two lead support members with respective tip ends thereof being connected respectively to the lead wires of the lamp bulb. One of the lead support members is formed to have an elongated length and is covered by an insulating tubular member substantially. The rear end portion of the insulating tubular member is fitted on and secured to a tubular portion of the lamp base which portion is integrally formed with the lamp base. Whereby the electric discharge between the two support members is prevented effectively, and the insulating tubular member is secured to the lamp base reliably.

Abstract: A cadmium free bug lamp which emits a yellow color when energized and which has very low emission in the range of from 310-380 nm employs a coating wherein the yellow emitting pigment is a rutile TiO.sub.2 containing minor amounts of antimony and chromium in the rutile crystal lattice.

Abstract: In order to register items of equipment brought into service in an apartment equipped with an HF transmission channel home-automation network, it is first verified that no other item of equipment from a foreign network is requesting registration (18), then a registration request standby signal (20) is transmitted and, following reception of the identity request signal (26) before the completion of a specified temporization (27), the requested identity is communicated to the item of equipment, else the procedure is aborted and subsequently recommenced.

Abstract: A noble-gas flashlamp having a self-replenishing mercury-pool cathode. The lamp includes a lamp envelope which is transparent to UV radiation and which forms a linearly extending discharge chamber for holding a noble gas discharge material. At the cathode end of the discharge chamber the envelope forms a cavity or bubble communicating with the discharge chamber. The cathode of the lamp is formed by a cathode electrode and a pool of liquid mercury in the cavity. The electrode is both electrically and thermally conducting, and the pool of liquid mercury covers the electrode and is in heat exchange relation with the electrode in the cavity. For enhanced heat transfer the cathode electrode extends beyond the lamp envelope so that it may be brought into direct contact with the lamp coolant material. The anode comprises an electrically and thermally conducting anode electrode at said anode end of the discharge chamber.