Abstract: A electroluminescence device has a light emitting layer composed of a fluorescent powder and a liquid crystal between a transparent substrate formed with a transparent electrode and an insulating substrate formed with an opposed electrode.

Abstract: A charge-coupled device (CCD) delay line having a temperature compensation circuit capable of compensating for temperature variations for providing an accurate and consistent delay of an input signal. The temperature compensation circuit includes first and second registers for transferring charges, and a sample-and-hold circuit connected between outputs of each register and two inputs of a differential amplifier. The differential amplifier supplies a signal which corresponds to temperature variations to properly bias the input signal.

Abstract: A slate, such as a writing/drawing slate, includes a base supporting a laminate which has an LC-layer (liquid crystal layer) formed of polymeric material holding micro-volumes of liquid crystal material, a conductive layer on one surface of the LC-layer, and a substantially transparent protective overlayer on the other surface of the LC-layer, apparatus for transitory application of potential through the LC-layer to the conductive layer to produce an image on the image-displaying surface area, and apparatus secured to the base to facilitate erasing of the image. In preferred embodiments the other surface of the LC-layer is substantially conductor-free.

Abstract: A polarotator pulse generator circuit is disclosed in which a sine-to-square converter converts a sine wave of AC power supply to a square wave, a clock synchronizer synchronizes the square ware of the sine-to-square converter with a high frequency clock and provides a loading instance control signal, a latch provides after synchronizing the data corresponding to the pulse width for the control of the polarotator with a clock being applied, a counter counts the clock with a start value determined by the data provided from the latch in accordance with an applied clock and loaded in accordance with the loading instance control signal, and a counter disable part stops the count until the next loading signal enters when a carry over occurs.

Abstract: According to one aspect of the invention, a system for controlling light, includes (1) apparatus for responding to incident electromagnetic radiation, including a first medium through which incident electromagnetic radiation may be transmitted; liquid crystal means positioned with respect to said first medium for responding to a characteristic of the incident electromagnetic radiation to cooperate with such first medium to effect refraction of such electromagnetic radiation at an interface of said first medium and said liquid crystal means; and (2) apparatus for filtering a wavelength of light, including a variable polarization rotator means for supplying input light at a prescribed angle of polarization, variable dispersion means for rotating the plane of polarization of such input light an amount that is a function of the wavelength of such input light, and analyzer means for blocking transmission of that light which is output by said variable dispersion means and has a plane of polarization which is crosse

Abstract: A method and apparatus comprising a sampler frequency converter having a first and a second diode. A local oscillator having a frequency F.sub.LO, a step recovery diode and a balun transformer are used for providing positive and negative sampling pulses to the diodes for sampling an input signal applied to the diodes having a frequency F.sub.IN. An output signal is provided by the diodes having a frequency F.sub.OUT which is defined by the relationship F.sub.OUT .vertline.F.sub.IN .+-.N.times.F.sub.LO .vertline. where N is an integer harmonic number 1, 2, 3 . . . and the output signal has an amplitude which varies as a function of (sin x)/x where x=F.sub.IN. A bandpass filter is provided which is responsive to the output signal for filtering a predetermined band of frequencies therefrom and a bias circuit is provided for forward biasing the diodes so that the frequency F.sub.

Abstract: A compensator for thermal or other uncontrollable effects in a liquid-crystal etalon filter. The narrow pass band of the filter is controlled by adjusting the amplitude of an AC drive signal applied to the electrodes on either side of the liquid crystal in the filter. An optical detector detects the intensity of light from a narrow-bandwidth input beam passed by the detector. Electrical circuitry determines the bipolar amplitude of the component of the light intensity that is at twice the frequency of the AC drive signal (the doubled-frequency amplitude) and adjusts the amplitude of the AC drive signal in response to the doubled-frequency amplitude so as to reduce the doubled-frequency amplitude toward zero.

Abstract: An output circuit for obtaining stable rising and falling characteristics regardless of variations in threshold voltages of output transistors. The output circuit obtains such favorable characteristics by using input signals changing in a complementary manner, a first MOS transistor which outputs a high potential level signal in response to a drive signal, and an output terminal for receiving the high potential level signal. In addition, the output circuit contains a drain-current control connected to a gate-source path for maintaining a drain current at a predetermined value, a second MOS transistor connected to a gate-source path which sets the output terminal at a ground level when it is turned on, and a second drain current control connected to a gate source of the second MOS transistor for maintaining a drain current at a predetermined value.

Abstract: A variable density light control apparatus includes plural polarizers, at least two of which are at least partially crossed, and at least one of the polarizers being variable to the extent that it polarizes light as a function of a prescribed input, thereby to control the intensity of light transmitted through the apparatus proportionally to the intensity of the incident light to the apparatus. The range of intensity control can be varied according to the crossed relationship of the polarizers and/or according to the polarization effectiveness of the controllable polarizer. Color effects can be controlled. The apparatus may be utilized in various devices, including displays, windows, eye glasses, and ski goggles.

Abstract: A wafer-scale semiconductor memory device includes a wafer, and a plurality of memory chips formed on the wafer. The memory chips contain a memory chip which includes a storage circuit, and a switching transistor which selectively connects the storage circuit to a power supply line in response to a control signal. The memory chip also includes a control logic circuit which writes data into the storage circuit and reads out data from the storage circuit and which generates a logic signal used for controlling the transistor. Further, the memory chip includes a fail-safe circuit having a circuit element having a status showing whether or not the control logic circuit is malfunctioning.

Abstract: A tunable dual-polarization liquid-crystal etalon filter, in which a Fabry-Perot cavity is set up between two end reflectors, preferably interference mirrors. A nematic liquid crystal fills a substantial portion of the Fabry-Perot cavity. The alignment layer adjacent to one end of the cavity is dividend into two portions, both of which are homogeneous but which are buffed in orthogonal directions so that they align the liquid crystal parallel to their surfaces but at orthogonal directions to each other. The other alignment layer is homeotropic so that it aligns the liquid crystal perpendicularly to its surface. Electrodes incorporated with each mirror apply a voltage across the liquid crystal so as to change the dielectric constant and thus the effective cavity length for radiation polarized along the alignment direction of the respective homogeneous portion. Because of the orthogonal buffing of the two homogeneous portions, they operate in equal amounts upon the two orthogonal polarizations.

Abstract: A ferroelectric liquid crystal device has a first state (T.sub.X1) of maximum transmission, a second state (T.sub.X2) of minimum transmission and a value of voltage pulse width (t.sub.S) and voltage pulse height (V.sub.S) sufficient for a switching pulse to switch the cell from the first state (T.sub.X1) to the second state (T.sub.X2) or vice versa. A method of controlling the transmission of electromagnetic radiation through the ferroelectric liquid crystal device comprises the step of applying, for a time period greater than said value of pulse width (t.sub.S), a plurality of consecutive controlling pulses of one polarity. Each controlling pulse is itself of insufficient pulse height and pulse width to switch the cell from the first state (T.sub.X1) to the second state (T.sub.X2) or vice versa.

Abstract: A precision phase shift system presents advantageous utility in navigation systems using signals from global positioning satellites. In particular, the system hereof provides precise control over successive phase-shifting steps of output signals which allows precise matching with corresponding object signals for subsequent decoding thereof.

Abstract: An address buffer circuit comprises a flip-flop circuit having first and second input nodes and connected between a power-supply potential and a ground potential. In addition, first, second and third transistors are connected in series in that order from the side of the ground between the first input node and the ground potential, to constitute a first input circuit, and fourth, fifth and sixth transistors are connected in series in that order from the side of the ground between the second input node and the ground potential, to constitute a second input circuit. An external address signal is applied to a control terminal of the first transistor, and a reference potential is applied to a control terminal of the fourth transistor. At the time of operating the address buffer circuit, the second and fifth transistors are first turned on, to bring the first and second input circuits into the operating state and then, to bring the flip-flop circuit into the operating state.

Abstract: A diode driver circuit has an adjustable, fixed-value current source and a variable offset current source for drawing a bias current through a laser diode. A Darlington pair buffer circuit isolates the diode from the rest of the driver circuit. The output current of the offset current source is controlled by a number of digital-to-analog converters each controlling a different contribution to the total offset current. A diode protector circuit protects the diode when the system is in an inactive state.

Abstract: A drain pulsing circuit for intermittently applying electric power to the drain of a solid state amplifier uses a N-channel MOSFET as the drain switch, but does not require an external bias voltage to drive the drain switch gate. The pulsing circuit generally comprises a control input circuit for generating a control pulse, and a charge pumping circuit having a capacitor that is connected to the output of the control input circuit, and first and second complementary MOSFET switches. The capacitor in the pumping circuit stores a charge during an off cycle when the control input circuit does not generate a control pulse. However, when a control pulse is generated, the first and second complementary MOSFET switches of the pumping circuit connect the gate of the N-channel drain switch MOSFET to the voltages associated with both the capacitor charge and the control pulse (which "pumps" the capacitor to a higher charge) in order to temporarily bias the N-channel drain switch MOSFET to an "on" state.

Abstract: Described is a circuit arrangement which controls the range of input voltages at which the output of a CMOS inverter switches. The circuit arrangement includes a plurality of FET devices disposed in parallel with one of the CMOS inverter devices. The FET devices are selectively switched to adjust the (W/L) ratio of said one of the CMOS inverter devices. Therefore, as the switching threshold of the inverter changes due to tempeature, process variations, etc., the (W/L) ratio of the said one of the CMOS inverter devices is adjusted to compensate for the changes.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes a base supporting a laminate which has an LC-layer (liquid crystal layer) formed of polymeric material holding micro-volumes of liquid crystal material, and a conductive layer on one surface of the LC-layer, the other surface of the LC-layer being substantially conductor-free, and apparatus for transitory application of potential through the LC-layer to the conductive layer to produce an image.

Abstract: A light shutter is provided wherein a first plate which includes a pixel electrode for use in applying a includes a background electrode located adjacent the pixel voltage potential across a ferroelectric material also electrode and substantially surrounding the pixel electrode, whereby an electronic mask can be created adjacent the pixel electrode in the ferroelectric material. A second plate which, along with the first plate sandwiches the ferroelectric material, includes a backplane electrode which is used in conjunction with the pixel and background electrodes on the first plate for applying voltage potentials across the ferroelectric material.

Abstract: A liquid crystal apparatus comprising a nematic curvilinearly aligned phases liquid crystal material located between two electrodes wherein a control element is incorporated into the electrodes. The electrodes may also form a circuit means integral therewith for selectively applying an electric field across the liquid crystal material.