Abstract: A rescue kit (10) for marking the position of a person or persons. The rescue kit (10) includes a balloon (12) having a body and a neck, and a canister (34) defining a cavity for containing a lighter-than-air gas (18) for inflating the balloon (12). The canister (34) is provided with a hole (58) for accessing the cavity and is provided with a membrane (26) covering the hole (58). The rescue kit (10) also includes a spool (32) which receives a securing line (20). The securing line (20) defines first and second ends, the first end of the securing line (20) being attached to the balloon (12), and the second end of the securing line being attached to the spool (32). Further, an inflating mechanism (50) is provided for selectively rupturing the membrane (26) of the canister (34) and communicating the lighter-than-air gas (18) from the canister (34) to the balloon (12).

Abstract: A circuit which includes an operational amplifier (101) and includes switches (104, 106) for cancelling offset buildup in the amplifier in response to a circuit (110) which detects zero crossings of the input signal. Where the frequency of the input is higher than the frequency at which cancellation is necessary, circuit (110) may respond only to the zero crossing next following each of a regularly occurring series of timing pulses.

Abstract: An array of binary weighted capacitors, an additional capacitor having a capacitance value equivalent to that of the least of the binary weighted capacitors, a voltage comparator, switches for interconnecting the capacitors with certain predetermined voltage levels and the comparator, and a sequencing circuit are included. One side of all of the capacitors is connected to one input terminal on the comparator and the other side has applied thereto the signal to be quantized. Switch sequencing combines divided portions of a reference voltage with the signal to be quantized for presentation to the input of the comparator which thereby provides a serial digit output connected to the sequencing circuit. In this fashion, a linear conversion between an analog and a digital signal is made by the sequencing circuit. A nonlinear converter between digital and analog signal presentation is also disclosed.

Abstract: An array of binary weighed capacitors, an additional capacitor having a capacitance value equivalent to that of the least of the binary weighted capacitors, a voltage comparator, switches for interconnecting the capacitors with certain predetermined voltage levels and the comparator, and a sequencing circuit are included. One side of all of the capacitors is connected to one input terminal on the comparator and the other side has applied thereto the signal to be quantized. Switch sequencing combines divided portions of a reference voltage with the signal to be quantized for presentation to the input of the comparator which thereby provides a serial digit output connected to the sequencing circuit. In this fashion, a linear conversion between an analog and a digital signal is made by the sequencing circuit. A nonlinear converter between digital and analog signal presentation is also disclosed.