Abstract: This disclosure relates to a directional sensing arrangement including a rotatable member having a plurality of permanent magnets which magnetically influence a first and second spaced stationary sensor. The rotation of the member causes the magnets to sequentially operate the first and second sensors so that neither, either or both are actuated. The first and second sensors are coupled to a logic network which deciphers the sequential actuations for determining the direction of rotation of the rotatable member.

Abstract: A single proximity probe coil driven by a high frequency source excites eddy currents at the periphery of a conducting disc having one or more stair - stepped perturbations and detects the changing radial levels or distances of the perturbations as the disc rotates. The detected signal is processed to yield output signals representing shaft speed and direction of rotation.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring the values of physical parameters, using variable capacitor type transducers arranged in a matrix with each operable to sense the value of a corresponding physical parameter as existing at a predetermined point. A demultiplexer with input connected to a reference signal source and plural outputs each connected to a corresponding transducer electrically excites the transducers in sequence to aid said transducers in establishing respective output signals representing the value sensed. A multiplexer with plural inputs each connected to a corresponding transducer receives the output signals thereof, and the output of the multiplexer is connected to signal processing means which receives through the multiplexer in sequence the output signals of the transducers and recovers from such signals the parameter value information thereof.

Abstract: A tachometer comprises a pick-up for rotational speed of a phonic wheel and magneto-electrical transducer and means for measuring the frequency of the alternating current which is delivered from the transducer. The tachometer comprises means for measuring the frequency and power supply means which are connected to the output of the transducer. Such a tachometer is useful as a control system for controlling the functioning of motors especially aeronautic motors.

Abstract: A digital instrument produces a continuous digital readout representative of the linear movement of a member positioned by a rotatable shaft. The instrument comprises equally spaced markings formed on an element carried by a bushing intended to be secured to the shaft. Sensing means cooperate with the markings and produce an output pulse in response to the passage of a marking past the sensing means. The output pulses are counted by a reversible digital counter the count of the counter being displayed by digital display means. The electronic circuitry is carried by two printed circuit boards each of which supports a bearing for the bushing. A fixed casing fixedly supports the sensing means, the counter, the display means and the printed circuit boards.

Abstract: The present invention provides method and apparatus for testing a network, such as a printed circuit board, to check whether it conforms to its design as to having a plurality of network nodes and a predetermined node-connection pattern defining a division of the network nodes into a plurality of groups. In a conforming network, each network node is connected in common to all other network nodes in its group, and is isolated from the network nodes in each other group. In accordance with the invention, one of the network nodes is selected to serve initially as a present FROM node. There is thereafter selected repeatedly, from the network nodes that have not previously served as a present FROM node, a network node to serve temporarily as a present FROM node.

Abstract: An ion counter for measuring the density of atmospheric ions has two basic sections, the electrometer, which is of a conventional type, and the collector. An improved collector is provided having two collector plates in electrical contact, mounted either side of a polarizing plate to form a double channel cell having two air passages. The polarizing plate and the collector plates are tightly secured to insulators so as accurately to maintain the spacing between the plates.

Abstract: The position or presence of a metallic object is detected by an electronic circuit which senses a shift in phase between a first cyclic signal and a second cyclic signal which shifts in phase in response to movement of the object. An oscillator produces the first cyclic signal which is used as the reference signal and as the excitation for a parallel resonant circuit which produces the second signal. The phase of the second signal is shifted in response to movement of a metal plate or a shorted coil in an electromagnetic field produced by an inductor in the resonant circuit. The degree of the phase shifts may be used to detect the position of an object in the electromagnetic field or rate of the phase shifts may be used to detect the velocity of an object. An exclusive-or gate senses the changes or differences in phase between the two cyclic signals and produces an output signal representative of the changes or differences in phase.

Abstract: In a gas detector circuit a semiconductive detector, such as a Taguchi detector, is disposed in gas communication with the gas to be detected. The detector has a sensing resistor incorporated therein with a value of resistance that changes in accordance with the concentration of the gas constituent being detected. This type of detector provides an output signal with a temperature dependence caused by the temperature coefficient of the resistance of the resistive detector with a negative sign. The temperature dependent output signal derived from the detector is fed to one input of a differential amplifier for comparison against a second input to derive an output signal which is fed to an alarm and/or meter and/or recorder. A feedback signal portion of the output of the differential amplifier is fed back to the second input of the differential amplifier, as a feedback component of the second input, via the intermediary of a gain control resistor.

Abstract: Mounted adjacent and in alignment with the workpiece supporting portion of a workpiece-shape-altering machine, such as the lower die of a stamping press, is a laser beam source, the outgoing beam from which passes through a beam splitter which divides the entering beam. One of the two emergent beams from the beam-splitter is a workpiece position-inspecting beam which passes in a grazing direction across one portion of the top of a workpiece resting upon the lower die for subsequent stamping by the upper die of the press. This beam continues onward to a mirror which reflects it in a grazing direction back across another portion of the top of the workpiece to a workpiece position detector. The other emergent beam from the beam splitter is a workpiece presence-inspecting beam which is obstructed by the workpiece, if present on the lower die, so that it does not reach the workpiece presence detector therebeyond.

Abstract: An exciter for use with a shaft speed magnetic pickup includes a strip of flexible, stretchable, sheet material having a plurality of magnetic elements attached to it that are uniformly spaced along the strip, enabling the magnetic elements to be attached to the exterior of various diameter rotatable shafts by stretching and fastening the strip about the circumference of the shaft close to the magnetic pickup which generates an electrical pulse signal whenever a magnetic element passes by it. The pulse signal is processed to produce a readout of shaft speed. Two magnetic pickups circumferentially spaced about the shaft closer than the circumferential spacing of the magnetic elements are used to provide signals that can be processed to indicate shaft direction of rotation as well as shaft speed.

Abstract: A proposed digital device for measuring instantaneous parameter values of slowly varying processes comprises a time-to-voltage converter. The first output of said converter is connected to the control input of a hyperbolic function generator and the second output of said converter is connected to the command input of the hyperbolic function generator. The hyperbolic function generator comprises a controlled pulse generator, with a linear modulation characteristic, and a start-stop circuit. The first input of the start-stop circuit is connected to the output of the controlled pulse generator and its second input is connected to the command input of the hyperbolic function generator. The output of the start-stop circuit, which is the output of the hyperbolic function generator, is connected to a counter-indicator unit. The device of the present invention sharply reduces the measurement and analysis time and makes it possible to connect measuring instruments to a computer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for measuring light incident on an image forming optical system, making use of a plural number of the diffraction element. The plural number of the diffraction elements are respectively provided in the optical path of the image forming optical system. Further the plural number of the diffraction elements respectively present a certain predetermined area. The plural number of the diffraction elements, seen along the direction of the optical axis of the image forming optical system, are substantially only partially overlapped with respect to each other. The light beam incident on a diffraction element is divided into a non diffracted light beam and a diffracted light beam. Thus diffracted light beam is directed toward the light detecting means so as to be measured while the non diffracted light beam advances along the above mentioned optical axis.

Abstract: A camera lens forms an image of an object on an image plane. First and second mirrors produce respective first and second detection images of the object on respective first and second arrays of light sensors. These arrays form portions of an integrated circuit chip. One of the mirrors is moved throughout a scanning period to move its image on the corresponding array. A signal processing circuit receives the outputs of the light sensors and produces an output signal which experiences peaks for certain positions of the moved mirror. A circuit which receives the output signal produces a pulse for each peak which is larger than all previous peaks in the scanning period. One of the mirror positions causes the light distributions of the images to be in best correspondence on the arrays. This mirror position represents the existing object distance and produces a maximum one of the peaks, whereby this position produces the last pulse to be produced in the scanning period.

Abstract: Apparatus for continuous-flow resistive-particle counting includes an injection jet directed at a counting or sensing orifice, particle-containing electrolyte being pumped through the jet in an amount which is in excess of the volume flow rate normally passing through the sensing orifice. The orifice therefore only detects and analyzes the particles contained in the injected solution and not in the bulk electrolyte disposed within the external vessel. Internal and external electrodes are respectively disposed upon opposite sides of the orifice, that is, within the sensing orifice tube and within the external vessel and the electrical connection between the electrodes is maintained at all times. Performance in measuring erythrocyte and platelet numbers and size is very comparable to that of static, resistive-particle counting.

Abstract: An incremental measuring instrument having a series of fixed reference marks along one edge of the grid scale is disclosed in which a series of movable magnets are located along the opposite edge of the grid scale so that a magnet may be associated with each reference mark which is needed for control purposes in the particular application in which the system is being used. The magnets are movably mounted so that reference marks not needed for control purposes in any specific application do not have magnets associated with them. An electric switch, preferably a magnetically actuated Reed switch, is also provided in the system's sensor head. Electrical impulses generated by the magnets and the switch are transmitted to an electronic comparator along with electric impulses generated when the sensor head passes over the reference marks.

Abstract: An electric field sensor for measuring the electric field outside a body having an electrically conductive surface, particularly a hovering aircraft, consists of a sensor element including a plate of electrically conductive material, a slab of dielectric material having a pair of opposite surfaces, a first of the pair of surfaces being fixed to the plate, and an electrometer means positioned within the body adjacent to a second of the pair of surfaces and arranged for measuring the electric field within the slab of dielectric material, the electrometer being calibrated to indicate the electric field outside the body on the basis of the measured electric field within the slab of dielectric material.

Abstract: Electronic circuitry senses motion of a load bearing movable element which has a speed relationship as a function of load by establishing a sequence of timing pulses varying in inter-pulse duration time as a function of the movement speed and processes those pulses to produce electronic indicia signals used for control or display purposes. Sampled timing pulses are taken from the sequence to generate a control pulse of predetermined time duration. The control pulse duration is compared with the speed or loading signal comprising a pulse of time duration between sequential timing pulses thereby to produce an indicia analog signal variable over a range of load conditions. The indicia signals is used for display or control functions responsive to the load borne by the movable element within a predetermined analog range.

Abstract: Apparatus and method to enable potentials applied to various operating components of an electrostatic type reproduction machine to be measured by an electrostatic voltmeter. The apparatus comprises structures designed to place the sensing element of the voltmeter in predetermined spaced relationship with the reproduction machine photoreceptor. A shutter is provided to close off the probe window when the apparatus is not in use and automatic switches are provided to couple the probe to ground to calibrate the probe and protect the probe sensing circuit in response to closure of the shutter. Remote means are provided to enable the probe to be moved into and out of operating position and to operate the shutter.

Abstract: Probe apparatus is disclosed for in place testing of circuit boards of the type which carry electrical components interconnected at nodes accessible from at least a first side of the board. The probe apparatus may comprise a card which is attached to the circuit board under test adjacent its first side. A probe module, including signal conditioning means and a short interfacing element, is mounted on the card in close proximity to the node of interest. The signal conditioning means and interfacing element may comprise electrical decoupling and signal pick off means capable of sensing signals at the node while minimizing introduction of spurious signals thereto.