Abstract: In the most preferred form, a microwave/steam sterilizer and its method of operation are disclosed including a waveguide having a waveguide conduit including a terminal aperture located one quarter wavelength from the bottom of a water reservoir and including a series of subapertures spaced in the range of one quarter wavelength from each other. The waveguide further includes a mitered corner moveable to shift the microwave standing waves to communicate with the terminal aperture and/or the series of subapertures in response to conditions sensed in the working cavity. The waveguide and the walls of the working cavity are angled with respect to each other to avoid reflection of microwave energy back to the microwave energy generator. The sterilizer hydrates potential pathogens and subjects them to relatively uniform electromagnetic energy without arcing and without self-destruction of the microwave source by reflected microwave energy.

Abstract: This invention relates to a device for drying, by micro-waves, the selvedge of an advancing flat material, particularly textile material, wherein it comprises a preferably rectangular waveguide of which one end terminates in a short circuit and the other by a bend for connection to the generator. The outer part of the bend, the contiguous face of the guide and the short circuit are provided with a single slot made along the median plane, through which is introduced the selvedge of the material inside the guide. The face of the guide opposite the slot comprises orifices connected via a chamber to a source of suction. Two lips, parallel to each other and to the median plane extend on either side of an all along the slot; their ends form a slight flare. These lips form a quarter-wave trap and facilitate introduction of the selvedge into the guide.

Abstract: A self regulating heating device for a mirror is disclosed including a substrate having an electrical buss system deposited on one surface including a plurality of interdigitated electrodes and two buss bars. Stripes of positive temperature coefficient resistive material are printed perpendicularly over the buss system to form a plurality of heater areas and exposed substrate areas. A first adhesive layer is deposited over the resistive layer and adheres to the exposed areas of the substrate. An electrical barrier layer is secured to the first adhesive layer and a removable protective covering is secured by the second adhesive layer. The buss bars are tapered such that the power density at any point along their length is substantially equal to the average power density of the heater areas.

Abstract: An electroceramic device formed of a body of electroceramic material and a process of making the device is disclosed. The body has an outer perimeter edge and two sides, each of the sides forming an exterior face. At least one groove is disposed on one of the exterior faces of the body, the groove extending from the edge and forming an opening on the exterior face. A lead wire is disposed in the groove and extends outwardly from the body through the edge. A metallized, electrically conductive coating is disposed on each of the exterior faces, and are electrically insulated from each other. The coating fills any voids left between the lead wire and the interior of the groove, whereby to hold the lead wires in place within the groove and form an electrical connection with the coating. Another lead wire is provided for the other coating, and that lead wire may be disposed in another similar groove.

Abstract: An identification recording data method for an identification medium includes the steps of printing or laminating an information identification bar code strip and then affixing a magnetic recording strip to the identification medium. A data set is encoded into N encoded data using N algorithms. The bar code strip has the N encoded data recorded thereon. The magnetic recording strip has the data set recorded thereon. The N encoded data is decoded and compared with the data set recorded on the magnetic strip. Comparision of the data yields a determination as to the integrity of the identification medium.

Abstract: The present invention concerning the Optical Identification Card System is provided with an individual card which emits infrared light modulated by the individual code and a detector which receives this infrared modulated light and detects the individual code. When a request signal is radiated from this detector as infrared light from the above within the prescribed light-emitting area, the said infrared modulated light is radiated from the individual card within the light-emitting area and thus the individual code is detected by the detector. Then the detected individual code is identified by the identifier, and on the basis of this identification result, the terminal equipment related to the holder of the individual card is actuated, thereby automatically locking and unlocking the door.

Abstract: A window-pane (2) such as an automobile windshield or rear window to be fixed on a rigid frame is provided at its periphery with a bead (5) of thermoplastic material. The device (1) for fixing the window-pane comprises a sectional strip (9) of plastic material to which is secured a resistance-type heating element (10) of resilient metal having a substantially U-shaped cross-section. One wing of the heating element (10) is secured to the sectional strip (9) and the other wing (19b) is free with respect to the strip so as to form therewith a clip which is capable of resilient engagement on the wall (8) of the rigid frame (3).

Abstract: In a disk memory library, picker arms, operated by a solenoid, are used to remove a selected disk from a library stack of disks and to place the disk in a reading/writing environment. The solenoid plunger's position is determined by noting its effect on a series resonant circuit that is formed with the coil inductance of the solenoid coil and a series capacitor. A function generator provides a triangular signal to the solenoid coil. An amplifier and peak detector are coupled to the coil to amplify and peak detect the voltage signal across the coil. A threshold detector, coupled to the output of the peak detector, is set to provide a digital output indicating when the solenoid's plunger is in or out. The function generator also provides a square wave that is synchronized to the triangle wave and is coupled to sample the output from the threshold detector. The change in the coil's inductance causes a phase shift in the triangle wave which further accentuates the voltage difference appearing across the coil.

Abstract: A disk (110) carries containers (such as 120) each containing a stack of cards capable of being extracted one-by-one via an orifice (126) when a wheel (151) is moved to an extraction position (151A). A first conveyor (140A) then conveys the extracted card to a programming unit (1) which is capable of being moved to a position enabling a card to be inserted therein without friction, and thereafter lowers a connector (6) onto the card. After the card has been validated and inspected, it is conveyed to a user along the first conveyor (140A) and then along a second conveyor (140B) terminating at a delivery slot (105). An invalid card may be directly rejected into a reject box (180) placed beneath the programming unit (1).

Abstract: In a high-frequency heating device for driving a magnetron at a high frequency between 20 and 50 KHz, the magnetron is provided with a plurality of choke coils, each of which consists of a magnetic core having a sectional area between 40 to 70 mm.sup.2 and an electric wire around the magnetic core and having a diameter between 1.2 and 1.6 mm. In such a construction, the magnetron can be driven, using the high frequency with reduced thermal loss of the choke coil and restrained heat generation.

Abstract: An information processing device for an IC card for reading out the information stored in an IC, or for reading out and writing in the information comprises a connecting part. In particular, in an IC card incorporating an IC possessing a memory function and having a connecting part on the outside of the IC, a part to be connected with said connecting part of the IC and an openable lid are disposed on the top of the main body of the device, and a card holder for holding said IC card is provided on this lid, and the connecting part of the IC card and the connecting part of the main body are joined together by the opening and closing of the lid.

Abstract: A scanning device for reading bar codes symbols comprising at least two moveable, preferably rotatably driven, reflective surfaces, such as mirrors, which direct a light source, preferably from a laser, in a scanning pattern towards the object to be scanned. At least one of said reflective surfaces having an associated lens means to modify the light beam associated with its reflective surface, and means adapted to move each of said reflective surfaces and the associated lens into a path adapted to intersect with said beam of light. Means are provided to direct the beam of light outside the scanning device as a sweep beam onto the bar code symbol to be read and optical means and sensing means are provided to collect the light reflected from the bar code symbol and generate data therefrom.

Abstract: An apparatus for checking out purchases which includes a commodity counter with a commodity bearing surface which is flat and elongated leftward and rightward and a commodity reader portion provided on the aforesaid commodity counter in its center leaving a passage for a basket in front of the same, the commodity reader portion being provided with a reading window made in its front face and with a control portion and a display portion disposed above the same.

Abstract: A security arrangement includes a token in the form of a thin lamina which co-operates with a receptor. The token includes an optically readable pattern in the form of a bar code, and a thin film holographic reflector which deflects the light which is modified by the bar code onto an optical sensor. The optical sensor is positioned such that the light will not reach it in the absence of a holographic reflector.

Abstract: A voltage measuring sheet which is capable of qualitatively measuring the existing strength of condition of batteries has an electrically conductive layer and a temperature-sensitive decoloring type coloring layer which are provided on a transparent substrate. The sheet further has contacts defined by the conductive layer which are brought into contact with two electrodes, respectively, of a battery which is to be measured. In addition, a scale pattern is disposed underneath the coloring layer. Thus, it is possible to simplify the arrangement and hence production of the sheet and facilitate the reading of indication on the sheet.

Abstract: The invention concerns a security-marking procedure, an apparatus to sense a security marking, fiduciary documents provided with security markings, by resorting to rare-earth chelates consisting of at least two rare-earths and of which the fluorescence wavelengths vary as functions of temperature, and fiduciary document containing such chelate(s).

Abstract: A commercial microwave oven having a plurality of operator actuable switches each of which is dedicated to activating the microwave oven for a corresponding programmed time period. These operator actuable switches are located on a switchboard, and a front faceplate has graphic keypads indicating where to push to activate the respective switches. Also located on the switchboard are operator actuable switches used to reprogram the time periods, but these reprogramming switches are hidden because they do not have corresponding keypads on the faceplate. Accordingly, access to the reprogramming feature is limited to those who have been appropriately instructed.

Abstract: Disclosed are improved ceramic compositions which are useful in the formulation and fabrication of microwave susceptors for disposable packages for the microwave heating of food items and to such articles themselves. The compositions include certain metal salts as time/temperature profile moderators in addition to novel microwave absorbing materials and a binder. Certain metal salts can be used to dampen or lower the final temperatures reached upon microwave heating the ceramic compositions. Other metal salts can be used to increase or accelerate the final temperatures reached upon microwave heating. The microwave absorbing materials comprise ceramics with neutral lattice charges such as clays, talc, kaolin, silicates, aluminosilicates, sodium metasilicate, alumina and mixtures thereof. The compositions provide good heat generation and a predeterminable upper temperature limit. The materials are common and inexpensive.

Abstract: A card having contact pads disposed in rows and spaced in accordance with electronic card standards is provided with a recess for snap-action engagement of a pluggable micromodule having side contacts and containing the core component of the card. The micromodule is connected to the rows of contact pads by means of transfer contacts formed by metallic strips and side contacts within the card recess.

Abstract: A condition sensing capacitor (10) is placed in an appropriate position such that its capacitance Cx varies in accordance with a condition to be sensed. A reference capacitor (12) and a feedback capacitor (14) are positioned in locations in which their capacitances Co and Cf are unaffected by the sensed condition. During a first time period, the sensing capacitor is connected with a source (22) of a first calibration voltage source Vg, the reference capacitor is connected with a source (26) of a second calibration voltage Vo and the feedback capacitor is connected with the output (34). During a second time period, the charge stored on the sensing capacitor is reduced by a current mirror (60) in proportion to the charge stored on the reference capacitor. The charge on the feedback capacitor is reduced by a current mirror (62) in accordance with charge stored in stray capacitance.