Abstract: A protecting and alarming device for a vehicle which can prevent an accident caused by contact of the vehicle with another physical object as well as another car. The device absorbs the shock of contacting the object and then generates a warning sound to a driver. The device comprises an air tube, a pair of contact plates, and a fixing slot. The device is formed on or secured to a surface plate of the car body.

Abstract: An add on signalling apparatus (10) for wheel ramps (50) to warn the operator of a vehicle (100) when one of the wheels (101) of the vehicle (100) has reached a selected location on the horizontal support surface (52) of the wheel ramp (50) by the movement of a pressure plate member (23) against a push button (17) to energize a power source (16) to provide electrical current to an elevated source of illumination (31).

Abstract: The invention relates to monitoring circuitry for the real time detection of vibrations of a predetermined frequency and which are greater than a predetermined magnitude. The circuitry produces an instability signal in response to such detection. The circuitry is particularly adapted for detecting instabilities in rocket thrusters, but may find application with other machines such as expensive rotating machinery, turbines, etc. The monitoring circuitry identifies when vibration signals are present having a predetermined frequency of a multi-frequency vibration signal which has an RMS energy level greater than a predetermined magnitude. It generates an instability signal only if such a vibration signal is identified. The circuitry includes a delay circuit which responds with an alarm signal only if the instability signal continues for a predetermined time period. When used with a rocket thruster, the alarm signal may be used to cut off the thruster if such thruster is being used in flight.

Abstract: It is often desirable to meter multiphase fluid flow in pipes (e.g. bore holes). In order to obtain reliable/accurate flow rate measurements it is known to incorporate obstructions in the flow path to cause homogenization. A non-obstructive method of homogenizing the flow of a multiphase mixture of fluids in a bore hole comprises providing in the bore hole a pipe section which has an internal surface with a step discontinuity, whereby when fluid flows through the pipe section, turbulent stresses are caused by the discontinuity, leading to homogenization by turbulent mixing. There is disclosed a flow meter which comprises a pipe length with a first section having a step change in cross-section for homogenizing fluid flow therethrough, in series with a venturi flow meter in which a differential pressure can be measured in a second pipe section having a smooth change in cross-section.

Abstract: A flight-worthy electronics package that connects into the airborne electronics of a passenger aircraft and to that aircraft's passenger visual display system provides passengers with a variety of information real-time displays. Information that may be displayed, as desired, is flight information such as ground speed, outside air temperature or altitude. Other information that may be displayed is a map of the area that the aircraft is flying over at any particular moment. Perhaps most useful to the passengers is destination information. Besides being able to display a chart of the terminals with all its aircraft gates, and identifying the gate at which the aircraft will be arriving, connecting flight information listing flight numbers, times, gates and destination may be displayed in conjunction with the terminal chart. A flight-worthy electronics package causes these displays to appear automatically on a real-time basis as determined by the programming of the system.

Abstract: An optical communications network comprises a number of remote stations connected to a node by optical fiber transmission paths interconnected by power dividers, each remote station including an optical transmitter operating at a peak power and a low duty cycle for a short period. Typically the optical transmitter is enabled to transmit information for only 10% or less of the total time and for a maximum of 500 ns.

Abstract: An optical fire detection system that uses cosmic radiation or a radioactive source to test whether the ultraviolet light detector tube operates properly and includes self test logic to independently verify that the detector electronics are functioning properly. A high voltage is applied across the ultraviolet light detector tube to produce pulses of current when radiation is present. A pulse rate discriminator circuit measures the current pulses and outputs a fire signal if the pulse rate is equal to or greater than the pulse rate produced by ultraviolet radiation from a fire. A background count circuit also measures the current pulses from the ultraviolet light detector tube to test whether the ultraviolet light detector tube is operational. At least one current pulse should be detected within a specified time because the detector tube senses cosmic radiation or radiation from the radioactive source.

Abstract: A control arrangement both interrelates the frequency of transmitted signals to an interfering frequency and effects received signal processing also with relation to the interfering frequency in reaching enhanced insensitivity to undesired content of received signals. In particular respect of interference arising in an EAS system in relation to the local power frequency, the invention looks to a control arrangement which both interrelates the frequency of the transmitted signals to the local power frequency and effects received signal processing with relation to the local power frequency in reaching enhanced insensitivity to undesired content of received signals.

Abstract: A method for graving printing forms using rastered masters by means of a scanning system which can be adjusted in focus. The signal supplied by the scanner after processing in an electronic computer controls a graving system so as to scan rastered originals. The scanning system is placed out of focus and the loss of image information caused by placing it out-of-focus is compensated by means of an electronic out-of-focus mask.

Abstract: The detection of brief pulses generating high frequencies is carried out by a system including: sensor for detecting an electrostatic field and for detecting an electromagnetic field, such that the variation of the electrostatic field ocurring in a period of time of less than 1 millisecond may be identified. A signal activator for warning about the presence, in an interval of time of less than 1 millisecond, of the variation of the electrostatic field detected and of the electromagnetic field, allowing identification of a pulse due to an electrostatic discharge from furniture or human beings. The invention is applicable to the detection of pulses due to electrostatic discharges.

Abstract: A vehicle alarm control system built into a single integrated circuit, which includes a number of inputs including M/D-, INO-, INO+, H/T-,C.S+, and INC- which monitor a plurality of sensors strategically placed around an automobile; a fail safe/override/memory circuit which prevents the alarming of the alarm should any of the inputs become defective but allows the user to temporarily disable the defective input; and instant trigger override control which allows the user to cause the sensors to instead trigger the alarm after a delay upon the opening of the door; a main power cut warning control which triggers to provide an audible warning signal should the alarm be removed; a per-entry alert control which triggers an audible warning immediately should the automobile's door handle be touched while the alarm is armed; and a headlight on warning control which causes the alarm to give an audible warning if the automobile's headlights are on after the automobile's engine is turned off.

Abstract: A reversed or missing lead frame apparatus that detects the presence or absence of a unique aperture by completing or opening an electrical circuit thereby providing indication or an alarm when the circuit resistance is not within an expected range of resistance values that is dependent on the total number of lead frames being tested.

Abstract: An enviromentally sound, non-contaminating underground liquid large storage tank leak containment, detection and alarm system containing: an impervious, steel reinforced, parallelpiped, non-fibrous concrete tank-containment vault. The vault has a fill pipe, a dispenser pipe, a vent pipe, and a vertical leak detection and pumpout pipe. Readily removable leak detection means are located near the vault floor within the leak detection and pumpout pipe. An electrical alarm is triggered by the leak detection means. The term "parallelpiped" describes the three dimensional vault configuration where the rectangular end walls and side walls, and the lid and floor portions are substantially parallel and each of the interior angles is approximately ninety degrees.

Abstract: An electronic sound generating device icludes a two-piece housing having a lower casing and a lid. A contact switch, in the form of a conductive rubber cup, is received in the lower casing adjacent a circuit board. Activating contacts on the circuit board face the contact switch. A sound generating element and a touch plate are also received in the lower casing. The touch plate includes a centrally located dome portion that extends through an actuator opening in the lid. The touch plate also includes at least one sound radiating hole. To activate the device, the touch plate is pushed inwardly into the housing. This causes the circuit board, which is capable of limited movement within the housing, to move toward the contact switch. As the activating contacts on the circuit board engage the contact switch, the circuit is completed and the sound generating device is activated.

Abstract: A theft sensing system which provides an output signal and actuation of an alarm upon cut off of its electrical power source. The system includes an oscillator which provides an output signal. The amplitude of the oscillator signal is modulated responsive to disconnection of an appliance from its power source. A signal level detector provides an output signal when the modulation amplitude varies beyond a predetermined level. The output signal from the level detector indicates disconnection of the appliance from a AC power source and is used to provide an alarm and permanently disable the appliance.

Abstract: A self-contained, portable flood alarm is installed at a prospective flood site by merely placing the flood alarm on a flood-prone surface at the site and activates an alarm signal in response to the occurrence of a flood condition on the flood-prone surface as a result of the flotation of a buoyant element of the flood alarm, the buoyant element being capable of floating the entire flood alarm so that the alarm signal will commence immediately upon the onset of the flood condition and will continue independent of the height of the crest of the flood condition.

Abstract: A sewer blockage alarm for a sewer line having a pressure sensor mounted at the top of a clean out branch section of the sewer line which is connected to a large diameter pressure multiplying pressure bell via a length of flexible to be dangled at the entrance of the branch section. An audible and a visual indicator are activated by slight pressure rises caused by water level rising to the tip of sewer line to provide an early warning of an incipient blockage condition.

Abstract: Full duplex operation is achieved in a lightwave communication system by employing terminals having a distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) laser having separate electrically controllable Bragg reflector and gain sections. While operating as the basic heterodyne reception element, the DBR laser simultaneously generates lightwave signals for transmission to other terminals. External circuits process the electrical (intermediate frequency) signals from the simultaneously modulated and signal mixing laser to extract received information. In one embodiment, full duplex operation is described for an FSK lightwave communication system.

Abstract: Optic device (10) to be mounted on the inner side (13) of doors (12) of motor vehicles comprising at least two light diffusers, one for a warning light (15) directed towards the back of the vehicle (11) and upwards and the other for illumination (16) directed downwards and towards the back of the vehicle (11) so that the door (12) being open, and its position are clearly seen by vehicles arriving from behind while at the same time the area (40) of ground comprised between the door (12) and the vehicle (11) is lit up assisting passengers to alight from inside (38) the vehicle.

Abstract: A fiber optic telephone system is described in which a plurality of subscribers with different bandwidth subscriptions are each connected to the system by an optical fiber subscriber connection. Use of the subscriber connection beyond the subscription bandwidth is prevented by the installation of a bandwidth limiting device having a maximum transmitted bandwidth capacity above that of the subscription bandwidth but below that of the total bandwidth capacity of the subscriber connection.