Abstract: A digitizer having a pointer or cursor driven by an alternating carrier signal and a grid of sequentially enabled parallel spaced conductors inductively coupled to the cursor includes an AM demodulator for detecting the instantaneous time of change of phase of the signal induced in the grid. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a multiplier is used as the demodulator.

Abstract: A digitizer having a pointer or cursor driven by an alternating carrier signal and a grid of sequentially enabled parallel spaced conductors inductively coupled to the cursor in which enabling of the conductors is initiated at an origin conductor and continues with a serial scan of the conductors until a phase change is detected when the cursor is between the origin conductor and an enabled conductor. The grid is sub-divided into overlapping sections which are scanned in sequence until the pointer is located. After the pointer is located, the conductor enabling scans begin at a conductor enabling device a predetermined distance from the enabling device actuated when pointer position was detected. Means are provided for re-initiating conductor enabling scans at the origin conductor in the absence of detection of the pointer.

Abstract: A high operational speed print head for mosaic printing is provided which has a plurality of print needles positioned on a straight line, each being selectively driven toward a piece of paper through an ink ribbon. The printer head comprises a cylindrical permanent magnet ring magnetized in the axial direction; a circular bottom plate covering the bottom of the permanent magnet; and a plurality of electromagnets each having a center core and a coil wound around the core positioned on a circle on said bottom plate so as to be surrounded by the permanent ring magnet. A yoke provides a closed magnetic path with the permanent ring magnet, the bottom plate and each of the electromagnets. A plurality of moving bodies equal in number to the number of electromagnets are provided, each having at least an elongated armature overlying the core of the related electromagnet and composing a part of said closed magnetic path.

Abstract: A wall telephone stand is disclosed that includes facilities for both displaying messages and for storing a telephone directory. The stand comprises a support member adapted to be mounted to a wall, a housing secured to the support member, and a display member secured to the housing. The housing includes a handset cradle on one side and a storage compartment open to the other side, while the display member includes a display panel surrounded by a frame. The manner of assembly is such that the user can select on which side of the stand the handset cradle is situated and the type of display panel and style of frame to be used.

Abstract: An audible test termination device for providing a characteristic signature to the telephone central office and an audible signal to the customer when a continuity test is made on a subscriber line having a pair of electrically conductive paths includes a miniature audio indicator and a minimum of associated electrical components to indicate to the central office test operator and the customer that the telephone subscriber line is in operating order. One embodiment of the instant invention may be utilized as an additional high impedance ringer for the customer. The present device may be permanently installed across the subscriber line.

Abstract: An improved two-axis electromechanical controller for controlling a dynamic process is described herein and comprises a hand grip coupled to two gimbal elements having mutually perpendicular axes of rotation, adjustable spring centering means mounted eccentric to the said axes of rotation and an adjustable counterweight for resisting displacement forces on the grip and restoring the grip to a reference position when a displacement force is removed, and electrical transducers for sensing the angular positions of each gimbal element. The force versus displacement relationship of the controller of the described invention is smooth and monotone, and may be adjusted to be substantially linear.

Abstract: An apparatus for displaying the driving direction and distance coverage of a motor vehicle, wherein a unit distance coverage signal is generated each time the motor vehicle covers a unit distance, a direction signal indicating the present driving direction of the motor vehicle is generated, and the distance and the direction from a starting point to a destination point can be set and the resulting setting signals are generated. The distance coverage for each driving direction of the motor vehicle is accumulated on the basis of the unit distance coverage signals and the direction signals, and from the accumulated values the vector from the starting point to the present position is calculated. The calculated vector and the vector from the starting point to the destination point which is obtained from the setting signals are used to calculate the vector from the present position to the destination.

Abstract: A time-division multiplexing method and device are disclosed for combining a data signal and several secondary binary signals into a train of pulses, whereby data signals can be transmitted at various bit rates in synchronous or asynchronous mode. The data signal and N secondary signals are multiplexed together using two different frames respectively termed "synchronous frame" and "asynchronous frame," depending on whether data transmission is to be performed in synchronous or asynchronous mode. The asynchronous frame comprises a frame-alignment bit having a predetermined value, a data bit, and N bits pertaining respectively to the N secondary signals. The synchronous frame is divided up into n subframes, l.sub.1 bits in length each, where n is equal to the integer that is immediately larger than the quantity N/(l.sub.1 -2). Length l.sub.1 is defined by the relation l.sub.

Abstract: A telephony system with automatic test calling. Test access circuitry connected to port circuits enables the test call circuit to select actual ports for a test call and monitor the test call signals. Test calls are initiated either on a periodic basis on in resonse to a fault condition. Any portion of the telephony system therefore can be used in a test call.

Abstract: A register is coupled to a rotor which is driven in stepped rotation by magnetic fluxes directed through electromagnetic pole pieces of a stator. The pole pieces carry coil windings which produce the magnetic fluxes by being sequentially and discretely energized by a circuit responsive to pulse signals, each pulse signal representing a quantum of a quantity to be measured.

Abstract: The system relieves a transmission working line included in a bidirectional digital link having N working lines and P spare lines between two end stations. In response to the detection of a transmission fault on the working line, the switching units of the stations perform a first exchange of order signals via a selected free spare line, and then a first switch-over of the data related to the faulty working line to the spare line. After the faulty working line has been repaired, to prevent continued data transmission along the spare line, a second exchange of order signals triggers a second switch-over so the system reverts to normal operation. The second exchange of order signals takes place along the repaired line while data related to the repaired line continues to be transmitted via the spare line. During the repair of the preceding faulty working line, a relief procedure of a high priority working line may take place via the selected spare line.

Abstract: A garage door operation control apparatus includes a door operating system for opening and closing the main door of a garage, a main detection circuit for detecting the open or closed condition of the main door, an auxiliary detection circuit for detecting an open condition of a window or an auxiliary door of the garage, a fire in the garage or generation of a special gas therein, an alarm and a signal processing circuit. Electrical signals from the detection circuit are logically analyzed thereby to control the door operating system and the alarm.

Abstract: An emergency lighting unit having a electroluminescent lamp is provided for se in locating an aircraft exit. The emergency lighting unit contains a battery and an inverter for converting DC battery current to high frequency alternating current required for illumination of the electroluminescent lamp. Various means are provided for automatically lighting the lamp during a distress situation. The lighting unit is configured to serve as a handle for use in leaving a disabled aircraft.

Abstract: The system triggers the relief of a working line amongst N working lines in a bidirectional digital transmission link having at least one spare line. The link is interconnected between two end stations (A, B) which allow a switch-over between a faulty working line and a spare line. The relief of a working line is triggered in response to the detection of an alarm indication signal (AIS) delivered by any end or intermediary terminal included in the working line. An AIS coming from outside the link and related to the working line is detected in an end station and replaced by a switching inhibiting signal that is transmitted via the working line, or perhaps via a spare line, should the working line be faulty and previously relieved, and that is detected in the other station and then replaced by an AIS transmitted outside the link in relation to the other station.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and apparatus for automatically decoding and monitoring Morse code identifying call letters of radio navigation aids commonly in use for both aircraft and marine transportation, e.g. VOR--very high frequency omni range, ILS--instrument landing system, NDB--non directional beacons, and DME--distance measurement equipment.

Abstract: A rotation angle detecting device with a pair of variable capacitors which are formed with a rotating object, i.e. a movable electrode, and two stationary electrodes disposed around the rotating object, so that the capacitors operate in a differential mode. Alternatively, the central electrode can be stationary while the two outer electrodes move with the rotating object. The capacitors are combined with oscillators, so that a signal varying with the rotation of the rotating object is provided by obtaining the difference between the output frequencies of the oscillators.

Abstract: A displacement measuring transducer performs a direct conversion of changes in physical position, particularly angular position, into a digital form suitable for input to a digital microprocessor. The transducer is of the inductive type. Two inductance legs are connected at a common input to form a three-terminal bridge device. To sense positional changes, a step voltage is applied to the input and the transient response at the output of each leg is sampled periodically. Digital circuitry compares the responses of each leg to a fixed reference voltage and produces a binary digital count proportional to the motion sensed by the transducer. This transducer provides high resolution and low noise over a wide dynamic range. It also allows temperature compensation and scale factor calibration.

Abstract: A DSI transmission system is described in which noise signal contrast is mitigated by transmitting not only active channels but also channels which carry background noise, the resolution of the background noise channels being varied in dependence upon the number of channels transmitted. In the described system, the DSI transmission is effected in superframes each of which consists of an overhead information frame and a plurality of digital message frames. The overhead information frame contains a word indicating the transmission status of each channel during the superframe, a code indicating the number of bits of each digital message, and maximum segment value information bits for each of the active channels which are transmitted using nearly instantaneous companding. Each of the remaining frames contains a digital message in respect of each active channel.

Abstract: A thermal message printer for printing a wide block of text which is produced with low cost printheads. The printer includes a thermal printer having a first number of fixed printheads equal in number to the lines to be printed on thermographic paper. Each of the fixed printheads has a second number of dot elements which are energized in a column fashion according to a pattern of dots to be energized from a matrix of dots for each of the characters. Control means are included for sequentially energizing selected ones of the dot heads in order to form the series of characters such that a wide block of text is printed.

Abstract: A self-contained, portable, safety alarm device adapted to be worn on a user's hand for providing an alert signal when, through drowsiness or otherwise, the user's hand relaxes. The device includes at least a partial glove including a fingertip portion adapted to be worn on at least one fingertip of the user, a wristband portion adapted to be worn about the user's wrist, and connecting means connecting the fingertip portion to the wrist portion.The wristband supports a housing which includes a battery, an alarm device energized by the battery, and an on-off switch. The fingertip portion supports a switch electrically connected to the battery and alarm device which provides an open circuit when the user holds the switch against a contact surface, for example, a steering wheel of a vehicle, and provides a closed circuit to permit the battery to energize the alarm device when the user's hand relaxes away from the contact surface.