Abstract: A network application for automatically formatting and printing documents to be used as planning manuals to be used by company personnel for improving quality control. The outputted documents can also be educational manuals for dispersing among organizational personnel common information for integrated strategic planning for quality control improvement. Facilitated collaborative work sessions among work groups inputting and sharing comments and ideas provide starting data to the network application.

Abstract: A method of estimating signal quality in a radio demodulator receiving an input stream of symbols includes the steps of sampling a phase-only portion of each of the symbols in the input stream, determining a phase error for each of the samples of the phase-only portions, and calculating a signal quality estimate from a plurality of the sample phase errors. The signal quality estimate may be an average magnitude of a predetermined number of sample phase errors. The input stream may be symbols in the preamble, or symbols in the data signal that follows.

Abstract: A method and circuit for controlling a reference voltage for an analog-to-digital converter having plural outputs includes a sensor for indicating when outputs from the A/D converter are at least a desired voltage, and a processor responsive to the sensor and connected to a digital-to-analog converter which provides a reference voltage for the A/D converter. The processor provides signals to the D/A converter which change the reference voltage. A logic unit in the processor increments an accumulator when either an I or a Q component in the A/D converter output is at least the desired voltage and decrements the accumulator when neither the I nor the Q component is at least the desired voltage. A counter may buffer the accumulator changes by using only several of the most significant bits of the counter to change the A/D converter reference voltage.

Abstract: A vehicular engine safety switch having two or more functional positions, which includes a removable restraining device such as a clip or a pin which is flexibly attachable to the body or apparel of the vehicle operator. In the primary functional mode, the clip is in place on the switch and the engine may be started. Movement of the operator from the switch by a distance determined by the length of a flexible lanyard removes the clip, and the switch returns under spring pressure to an OFF position. The engine may be restarted with or without the clip in place, the latter condition occurring, for example, if the operator has been ejected from the vehicle. The safety action of the switch is achieved by the interaction of a specially formed detent sleeve and spring-loaded detent ball, and a lock cylinder rotationally and axially spring biased relative to the detent sleeve.

Abstract: Door-barring lock apparatus has a bar member rotatably mounted to the wall near the doorway. When in a transverse or generally horizontal position, this bar member projects into the doorway for engaging the inside of the door near the opposite margin from the hinges for advantageously, positively barring the door against opening inwardly. By manipulation of a handle located inside of the building near the bar member, a person inside of the building can de-couple the bar from a locking rod extending through the wall to the outside of the building. Such de-coupling enables the person inside of the building to rotate the bar into an upright position for freeing the door to allow the door to be opened, regardless of whether this rod is locked against rotation. A lock assembly accessible from the outside of the building normally serves to lock the rod against rotation for normally locking the bar member in its transverse door-barring position.

Abstract: A method of forming a nozzle outlet in the stretchable, flexible wall for a container by providing rigid inner and outer sleeves adapted to mate together in taper-interlocked relationship by stretching a portion of the wall around the inner sleeve and becoming sandwiched between the mated sleeves. The inner sleeve has an outlet passage extending therethrough and has an exterior surface which tapers at a small angle, the outer sleeve having an interior surface tapering at a corresponding angle so the sleeves will engage together in a wedging-locking relationship with the stretched wall portion sandwiched and protected between them.

Abstract: A nozzle outlet in the stretchable, flexible wall for a container is provided by inner and outer sleeves mated together in wedging-locking relationship with a stretched portion of the wall material sandwiched between them. The inner sleeve has an outlet passage extending therethrough and has an exterior tapered surface which converges at a small angle toward one end, while the outer sleeve has an interior tapered surface which diverges at a small angle toward one end. The small angle of taper of this exterior and interior surface is the same, so that they will engage together in a wedging-locking relationship with a stretched portion of the wall material sandwiched, supported and protected between the wedgingly interlocked tapered surfaces, thereby firmly securing the nozzle outlet in place.