Abstract: A pyramidal horn antenna that decreases ringing in radar systems that are placed against a solid volume of e.g. concrete or wood for finding an object in or behind the solid volume. The antenna includes a solid, pyramid-shaped dielectric, the pyramid shape including a rectangular base and four triangular sides that extend from the base to meet at the apex of the pyramid. Two conductive triangular plates overlay opposite ones of the four sides of the pyramid, each of the plates including an electrical connection for coupling the plate to a radar system. The pyramid-shaped dielectric has a dielectric constant that approximates the dielectric constant of the solid volume, and therefore provides an impedance match between the antenna and the solid volume.

Abstract: A hybrid transmission system is provided to transmit and receive high-speed digital information in the form of variable length packets using standard television practices and components. The basic building block of this hybrid digital transmission system is the device at the remote location that receives the analog broadcast TV-like signal processed by a standard vestigial sideband video modulator. This device decodes the digital information from the signal and then passes it along as digital information to any form of a data terminal equipment or computer.

Abstract: A baseband signal is spectrally efficiently transmitted on a broadband transmission medium by inserting gaps in packets of digital data transmitted in a modulated first radio frequency carrier. The transmitted packets of data are received by demodulating the modulated first radio frequency carrier, and the gap is monitored for the presence of digital data thus indicating a collision of simultaneously transmitted packets of digital data. A seed of arbitrary digital bits are used in scrambling each packet of digital data and is transmitted with the packet of data for use in descrambling the data. In retransmitting the packet of data the seed is included. The originally transmitting node receives the retransmitted packet and compares the retransmitted seed with the originally transmitted seed for detecting an error in retransmission.

Abstract: A communication network having a first broadband communications channel or transmitting bus and a second broadband communications channel or receiving bus, wherein the first broadband communications channel passes information upstream to a head end employing an offset quadrature phase shift keyed (OQPSK) modulator in bursts, and the second broadband communications channel passes information downstream from the head end to remote nodes in a continuous bit stream. All nodes of the system are coupled to both the first communications channel and the second communications channel. According to the invention, modulation of signals applied to the first communication channel is optimized for burst communication from a plurality of sources to central control at the head end, and modulation applied to the second communications channel is optimized for continuous communication from the central source to a target node.

Abstract: A polymer for use as a deflocculant in drilling muds comprising at least one unsaturated carboxylic acid or its anhydride or salt, at least one unsaturated sulfonic acid or its salt, at least one unsaturated cationic-containing monomer, and optionally, one or more unsaturated non-ionic monomer and/or one mono or di phosphate ester of an unsaturated alcohol.

Abstract: According to the invention, value errors in a recorded digital symbol are minimized by generating, from a high-speed sampling clock, a local clock which is synchronized to a selected sample time of a sampler which substantially over samples the received data stream, and then using the locally-generated clock to reconstruct the symbol synchronously with the locally-generated clock. The specific techniques are employed during the preamble of a synchronous system to select an optimum sample time for use in generating the local clock. Several specific techniques may be employed to mimize error. In order to find the center of a data symbol, particularly a binary digital data symbol in a digital data stream, a Read Only Memory (ROM) may be provided in which is stored all combinations of addresses of taps for the center of a symbol in response to address input representing the binary value of the signal in a shift register.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for demodulating M-ary PSK signals of the type wherein the modulation is limited to phase transitions between adjacent phase states. The method is operative in a demodulator which comprises a phase splitter dividing a source signal into three paths with a preselected phase relationship among phases, one of the phases being delayed by nominally one bit period, a pair of mixers or multipliers, each one of the mixers receiving as one input a representation of the delayed-phase component and each one of the mixers receiving as a second input a representation of one of the other of the phase components. Combined signals are provided by the mixers to a combiner which adds or subtracts the combined signals according to expected input signal type to produce from one to N intermediate output signals. An intermediate output signal is coupled to a corresponding two-level comparator, each of which receives and responds to the respective intermediate output signals to produce a digital output.

Abstract: Apparatus utilizing pressurized liquid for testing containers such as soft drink beverage bottles for the ability to withstand internal pressure and for the absence of leakage. The pressurized liquid is introduced into each bottle with a swirling motion through an annular passageway and air is expelled from the bottle through a vent tube positioned coaxially within the passageway. The outer wall of the annular passageway is formed by a resilient sleeve which is compressed radially and extended axially by the pressurized liquid to provide a tight seal with the bottle. Pressure within the bottle is monitored by a sensing member which is displaced by the pressurized liquid and actuates a pivotally mounted lever arm which provides an amplified movement and corresponding to the displacement of the sensing member.

Abstract: A flow meter for detecting and recording a plurality of data points representative of the depth and velocity of liquid flow in an open container. A weighted sensor has a dimpled surface to induce turbulence at low velocities to assure a substantially linear velocity characteristic. An electromagnetic velocity transducer and a single tube bubbler are engaged to the sensor to provide data which is periodically read into a cassette recorder. A microcomputer controls timing functions with respect to the collection and recordation of data within the system.

Abstract: Machine for transporting and stacking cartons loaded with containers comprising two transport systems one above the other with restraining means to restrain motion of each loaded carton on one or the other or both systems, and pusher means which releases the restrained carton or cartons and pushes both of them in unison and with one above the other to a delivery point where the upper carton is deposited on the lower carton.

Abstract: A low power, reliable velocity transducer is particularly adapted to measure the flow of a fluid in a metallic pipe. A pair of U-shaped cores of high magnetic permeability are arranged side-by-side and surrounded by an energizing coil to provide an electromagnet of high electromagnetic energy conversion efficiency and low susceptibility to stray and shunt fields. A triad of electrodes is mounted thereon to detect a resultant electric field from the interaction of the velocity of the flow with the imposed magnetic field. Conductors engaged to the measuring electrodes effect a generally S-shaped geometry so that the signals applied to a differential amplifier to derive the E field waveforms are unencumbered by induced currents unrelated to the cross product of B and V.

Abstract: A device powered by a DC source produces an output signal the frequency of which changes as a function of changes in external magnetic fields sensed by such device. A pair of non-linear amplifiers are interconnected so that the output of one amplifier is the input of the other amplifier. An inductive sensor is connected between the outputs of the amplifiers. The inductive sensor has an elongated magnetic core and a coil is wound on the core. The voltages at the outputs of the amplifiers, across the inductive sensor, switch between zero and the full voltage of the DC source.