Abstract: A monolithic diffraction spectrometer having a diffraction grating formed over a light sensing array is provided. The diffraction grating serves to diffract wavelengths of interest to an underlying photosensitive device while diffracting other wavelengths away from the photosensing element. By forming a diffraction grating with a variable pitch, or multiple diffraction gratings having various pitches, any number of specific light wavelengths can be detected with a high degree of precision. When a diffraction grating having a pitch which is in the order of the incident wavelength of light is used, improved sensitivity is achieved.

Abstract: A lamp intensity control system combines the functions of the tail light, the brake light, and the turn indicator light signals into one signal for controlling a plurality of lamps in an automobile. The tail light, brake light and turn indicator light signals are combined into one signal and modulated wherein the percent of modulation determines the intensity of the brightness of the plurality of lamps. Temperature protection is provided wherein a temperature limit circuit monitors the temperature of a SENSFET and disables the SENSFET if its temperature exceeds a predetermined magnitude. Over-current and open lamp conditions are monitored by comparator circuits. An over-current condition causes the SENSFET to be disabled. An over-temperature, over-current or open-lamp condition is signaled by a fault output signal.

Abstract: An integrated circuit having both logic transistors and at least one power switching transistor formed on the same substrate is described, wherein both sets of transistors are powered by current received from the substrate, the power transistor being powered by current flowing directly from the substrate, and the logic transistors being powered by current flowing through a metal layer making electrical contact to the substrate.

Abstract: A voltage level conversion circuit manufacturable in a standard semiconductor process is provided wherein an output voltage having a magnitude greater than the supply voltage and greater than the gate oxide breakdown voltage of the MOS devices is produced. A voltage level shifter circuit alternately charges a pair of capacitors which in turn alternately charges a second pair of capacitors. The second pair of capacitors is coupled to the output to produce the shifted output voltage having a frequency that is double the frequency of the input to the voltage level shifter circuit.

Abstract: A reverse battery and loss of positive supply voltage detector circuit includes a power field effect transistor for switching a stored inductive energy to the ground supply voltage terminal if there is a disruption in the power supply. A detector circuit senses a reversal of the supply voltage connections as would happen if the battery were connected backwards and enables the power field effect transistor for discharging a negative voltage that may have developed across an inductive load. The detector circuit further senses a loss of the positive supply voltage and enables the power field effect transistor for discharging a negative voltage that may have developed across an inductive load due to the disruption of applied power.

Abstract: A power field effect transistor driver circuit manufacturable in a MOS process is provided wherein a power field effect transistor provides high current drive capability for driving fractional horsepower DC motors or other inductive loads. The power field effect transistor driver circuit provides reliable operation under environmentally harsh conditions such as overvoltage transients at the supply voltage terminals, loss of ground supply terminal connection, and short circuits at the load terminal.

Abstract: A water drip device used for providing intermittent or continuous watering of row crops, such as vegetables, fruits and other plants and enhancing crop growth. The water drip device is made of plastic tape adapted for burial along the length of a crop row. One end of the device is connected to a main water supply source, and the device is constructed to provide water at a reduced water pressure so that water drips or weeps into the ground adjacent a plant or plant seed to avoid soil erosion and plant damage.

Abstract: A TTL compatible CMOS input circuit comprising a series of current mirror circuits arranged so that the input transistor is used to discharge the capacitive load and one of a pair of transistors in one of the current mirror circuits provides charging current for the load. Only one of the charging and discharging transistor switches in "on" at any one time, thus reducing circuit power consumption and reducing required device sizes. The input switching level is also independent of the supply voltage.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to an adjustable tool holder for a lathes or the like. A base block is secured to the lathe slide by a through bolt engaging a clamping bar in a Tee slot therein. A tool holding block is slideably mounted on the base block and also has a through-bolt extending through it and the base block and engaging the clamping bar. By loosening the second through-bolt and manipulating a micrometer adjustment screw, the cutting tool may be adjusted with great precision. The second through-bolt is then retightened to clamp the movable tool-holding block securely to the cross slide of the machine tool.

Abstract: A convective heat flow probe device is provided which measures heat flow and fluid flow magnitude in the formation surrounding a borehole. The probe comprises an elongate housing adapted to be lowered down into the borehole; a plurality of heaters extending along the probe for heating the formation surrounding the borehole; a plurality of temperature sensors arranged around the periphery of the probe for measuring the temperature of the surrounding formation after heating thereof by the heater elements. The temperature sensors and heater elements are mounted in a plurality of separate heater pads which are supported by the housing and which are adapted to be radially expanded into firm engagement with the walls of the borehole. The heat supplied by the heater elements and the temperatures measured by the temperature sensors are monitored and used in providing the desired measurements.

Abstract: A clamp for closing blood vessels and the like is a tapered flat envelope of impermeable plastics film with an inlet tube at its wider end for inflating the envelope and a transverse seal limiting the inflatable region. The other end is tapered and is non-inflatable. It can be tucked under a transverse strip to secure the clamp on a blood vessel. The envelope is widened under the transverse strip and also at the transverse seal to hold the narrow end in place under the strip.

Abstract: A vascular clamp for use in surgery has a body in the form of a tapering flexible envelope, with an inlet tube at the broader end. An external strip at the broader end provides a slot through which the tail of the envelope can be threaded after passing it around the vessel. The envelope is then inflated, e.g. by a syringe, to compress the vessel. A tap closes the inlet tube after inflation, and can be operated to partially deflate the envelope and so check for leaks of blood. The disclosure also includes a method of using the vascular clamp for occluding a blood vessel.

Abstract: A continuous coater of the type having a conveyor extending through a coating booth where paint or other material is sprayed onto the products as they are conveyed through the booth. The booth has an air flow control vestibule located adjacent the entrance and exit ports. Each vestibule is connected to an air flow exhaust system and is so configured that it is operative to draw air almost exclusively from outside the booth into the exhaust system so that there is a minimum of input air to the exhaust system from within the booth. The incoming air from outside the booth effectively forms a flow barrier to the egress of sprayed material and/or solvent to the atmosphere through the vestibule entrance and exit ports. Preferably, there is located in each vestibule means for creating an air curtain which functions to minimize the egress of paint or solvent from the coater cabinet and to provide a more nearly saturated atmosphere inside the cabinet.

Abstract: A solar heating unit having a thin metal sheet with multiple parallel ribs pressed into the sheet to form fluid conducting channels. The channeled sheet is sealed to a rigid backing panel, to which are secured inlet and outlet pipes extending across the opposite ends of the channels, with slots through the pipes and backing panel to communicate with all of the channels at each end. The assembly is mounted in an insulated housing with the channeled metal sheet exposed, and is enclosed by a transparent glazing panel or window.

Abstract: An axial flow combine having a crop harvesting header including a feeder for cutting a crop and feeding it rearwardly into a threshing and separating mechanism. The mechanism includes a casing for receiving the crop material and a rotor within the casing for threshing and separating grain from the crop material. The rotor has a central drive shaft driven through a gear case behind the rotor. The gear case is partially enclosed within a cover having a smooth exterior surface. The end of the rotor is configured in a smooth exterior surface which is complementary to the surface of the cover to inhibit collection of chaff about the drive shaft. Impeller blades are secured on the rotor for creating an air flow directing crop material away from the drive shaft to prevent crop material wrapping about the shaft or accumulating in the drive system.

Abstract: An axial flow combine having a crop harvesting header including a feeder for cutting a crop and feeding it rearwardly into a threshing and separating mechanism. The mechanism includes a casing for receiving the crop material and a rotor within the casing for threshing and separating grain from the crop material. A plurality of crop material directing vanes is disposed within the casing and cooperate with the rotor in directing the material generally helically along the casing. Means are included for selectively and simultaneously adjusting the position of the vanes to change the rate of movement of the crop material through the casing.

Abstract: A feeder system for serially feeding collapsed bag tubes including a first conveyor means for conveying a stack of tubes to a predetermined pickup location, second conveyor means spaced from the first conveyor means and feeder means disposed adjacent to the pickup location and between the first and second conveyor means for sequentially engaging the topmost tube in the stack and feeding it to the second conveyor means. The feeder means comprises a plurality of reciprocal picker arms and a pair of nip defining rotatable feeder elements disposed adjacent to the picker arms. The picker arms are adapted to serially transport the tubes from the top of the stack toward the nip defined by the rotatable feeder elements. The rotation of the rotatable feeder elements propels the tubes through the nip toward the second conveyor.

Abstract: A vehicle frame having longitudinally spaced apart parallel tapered channel frame members extending forwardly from a unitized backhoe mounting rear frame section to a front yoke. The tapered channel frame members are narrow at the front yoke and become wider toward the midsection of the frame. These frame members are at their widest just forward of a rear axle location on the frame.A unitized backhoe mounting rear frame section and a loader tower locate the tapered channels relative to the longitudinal center line of the frame.

Abstract: A tool for quickly and easily laying out all of the components of a baseball diamond, the tool consisting of an elongated tape, or equivalent flexible object, which has a row of openings along its length that are properly spaced apart and from its end, each opening being identified, and the tape being adaptable to be wound up upon a reel, for convenient carrying by a person; the tool being associated with an instruction booklet for proper use of the tool.

Abstract: A disc brake which may be used for vehicles comprising a circular hub having a conical-shaped hub cavity on the back thereof providing a conical face about a central axis and a complementary, corresponding brake disc block mounted on the vehicle wheel axle for longitudinal axial movement thereon into friction engagement with the hub cavity in response to small fluid operated pistons which may be actuated from a vehicle brake control.