Abstract: An antenna assembly comprises a substrate, an impedance matching network, and a driven antenna element. The substrate includes an insulating layer and a first electrically conductive layer disposed on a top surface of the insulating layer. The impedance matching network includes a balun, a first resistor, and a second resistor. The balun converts unbalanced signals to balanced signals and vice-versa. The first and second resistors are electrically connected to the balun. The driven antenna element is formed from the first electrically conductive layer and disposed on the top surface of the insulating layer. The driven antenna element includes a body, a first arm, and a second arm with the first and second arms spaced apart from another, parallel to one another, and physically connected to opposing ends of the body. The first arm is electrically connected to the first resistor. The second arm is electrically connected to the second resistor.

Abstract: An antenna assembly comprises a substrate, an impedance matching network, and a driven antenna element. The substrate includes an insulating layer and a first electrically conductive layer disposed on a top surface of the insulating layer. The impedance matching network includes a balun, a first resistor, and a second resistor. The balun converts unbalanced signals to balanced signals and vice-versa. The first and second resistors are electrically connected to the balun. The driven antenna element is formed from the first electrically conductive layer and disposed on the top surface of the insulating layer. The driven antenna element includes a body, a first arm, and a second arm with the first and second arms spaced apart from another, parallel to one another, and physically connected to opposing ends of the body. The first arm is electrically connected to the first resistor. The second arm is electrically connected to the second resistor.

Abstract: A liquid level sensor for an appliance having a container in which liquid flows, and associated method. The sensor comprises a radio frequency oscillator and an antenna array connected to an input port of the oscillator. The antenna array comprises a longitudinal strip and a plurality of conductive fingers extending therefrom. The antenna array is mounted on the appliance in the proximity of the container such that each finger corresponds to a respective level in the container. The sensor includes an output port interconnected with the radio frequency oscillator and outputting a frequency step indicative of the container level to which liquid has reached.

Abstract: The present invention provides a control system for a heating unit in a cooktop that is capable of detecting the presence (or absence) of a cooking pan or utensil. The heating unit has a spirally wound ribbon heater element and may be mounted below a glass-ceramic cooking surface. The control system includes a pan detection unit electrically connected to the heater element. The pan detection unit generates a high frequency signal through the heater element to determine whether a pan is present on the cooktop. The pan detection unit may have an oscillation circuit to generate the high frequency signal through the heater element. In one embodiment, the control system further includes at least one switch device that is connected between the heater element and a power source. The switch device is opened to remove the heater element from the power source when the pan detection unit generates the high frequency signal through the heater element.

Abstract: A demand printer has an input structure for receiving command signals related to the operation of the printer; a control circuit coupled to the input structure, and a power supply circuit for processing command signals and generating corresponding control signals for controlling the operation of the printer. A switch circuit line is coupled to at least a first and a second point on the power supply circuit. The switch circuit line provides a first operating voltage for the operation of the printer when connected between the first and second points in the power supply circuit and provides a second operating voltage when the connection between said first and second points is opened by a severing structure. The severing structure projects into a base cavity of the case and is retained therein for maintaining an open circuit between the first and second points on the power supply circuit once said switch circuit line is severed.

Abstract: A demand printer for printing on media includes a ribbon take-up spindle for accumulating spent printing ribbon and facilitating removal of the spent ribbon from the spindle. The spindle has a surface with a protrusion bore formed therethrough. At least one protruding segment extends through the protrusion bore. The protruding segment controllably projects away from the spindle surface for maintaining a space between a portion of the spindle surface and the spent ribbon accumulated on the spindle. A biasing structure is operatively associated with the spindle and the protruding segment for controllably biasedly directing the protruding segment through the protrusion bore in the spindle. A retracting structure is provided for controllably compressing and expanding the biasing means to controllably move the protruding segment through the protrusion bore.

Abstract: A novel demand printer is used for printing on tickets, tags, pressure sensitive labels and other media. The printer has a spring wrap clutch assembly operatively associated with a media delivery structure for use with a rotating shaft to maintain a constant tension on a ribbon. The spring wrap clutch assembly includes a coiled spring having a leg extending away from one end of the coil, a collar having a bore therein for receiving the coiled spring with the leg extending away from the collar, the rotating shaft extending through the coiled spring and the collar is attachable to the rotating shaft, and a plurality of ramped teeth positioned around the rotating shaft. Each of the ramped teeth has a sloped surface and the leg of the coiled spring controllably engages the ramped teeth.

Abstract: A non-contact switch movs from an off position to an on position when a lossy material enters a sensitive area of the switch. The non-contact switch comprises a transmitting element and a sensing element. The transmitting element is capable of radiating a signal. A portion of the signal passes through the sensitive area of the switch. The sensing element is capable of receiving the signal. When the received signal is less than a predetermined level, the received signal represents the lossy material entering the sensitive area of the switch.

Abstract: A thermal demand printer for printing on media is a novel system which includes a case structure including a hinged cover panel, easily removable guide structures and media hanger, and a single central support wall to which the various components are attached. The printer includes a power supply circuit for receiving power from an external source and conditioning it for operation of the printer. An input device is provided for receiving command signals related to the operation of the printer. A control circuit for processing the command signals and generating corresponding control signals for controlling the operation of the printer and a printhead assembly for processing the control signals and generating corresponding control signals for controlling the operation of the printer are mounted in the case structure and coupled to the input device and the power supply circuit. The printhead assembly includes a printhead support structure which controls the printhead.

Abstract: A thermal demand printer for printing on media is a novel system which includes a case structure including a hinged cover panel, easily removable guide structures and media hanger, and a single central support wall to which the various components are attached. The printer includes a power supply circuit for receiving power from an external source and conditioning it for operation of the printer. An input device is provided for receiving command signals related to the operation of the printer. A control circuit for processing the command signals and generating corresponding control signals for controlling the operation of the printer and a printhead assembly for processing the control signals and generating corresponding control signals for controlling the operation of the printer are mounted in the case structure and coupled to the input device and the power supply circuit. The printhead assembly includes a printhead support structure which controls the printhead.

Abstract: A baseband color video signal processor includes a selective transistor clipper for holding luminance components to a maximum level. The base of the transistor is operated at a first voltage below the desired maximum level. A tuned circuit, tuned to the frequency of the chrominance subcarrier, is connected in its emitter-collector path of the transistor for isolating it from chrominance components in the color video signal.

Abstract: A subscription television system includes means broadcasting a scrambled television signal encoded with p-bit program and subscriber authorization codes and m-bit memory write and read codes. Each subscriber is provided with a decoder having (2.sup.m) p-bit memory locations, the decoder being operable for storing a broadcast p-bit subscriber authorization code in a memory location defined by the broadcast m-bit memory write code for updating the decode authorization status of the subscriber and being operable for comparing a broadcast program code with a subscriber authorization code stored in a memory location defined by the broadcast m-bit memory read code for developing a decode authorization signal to effect unscrambling of the broadcast television signal.

Abstract: A decoder is responsive to a decode authorization signal for unscrambling a broadcast RF television signal having randomly suppressed horizontal blanking and synchronization pulses. The decoder comprises a tuner having a gated automatic gain control circuit and a video detector responsive thereto for developing a baseband video signal corresponding to the broadcast television signal. The decoder further comprises a sync restoration circuit developing a standard horizontal synchronization pulse in response to each suppressed horizontal blanking pulse of the baseband video signal, the standard horizontal synchronization pulses being continuously combined with the baseband video signal for operating the automatic gain control circuit and being coupled for unscrambling the baseband video signal only in response to the decode authorization signal.

Abstract: A head-end facility is provided for encoding selected data into the vertical intervals of one or more received television signals in a manner so as to avoid conflicts with the simultaneous re-broadcasting of the encoded signals. The selected data is generated at the head-end facility in the form of a plurality of pairs of duplicate data packets whose corresponding portions are separated in time by one-half field of a standard television signal. A plurality of channel registers are successively updated by being loaded with one of the duplicate data packets of each pair, the loaded duplicate data packets being non-coincident in time with the vertical intervals of the received television signal intended to be re-broadcast over the respective channel. The contents of the channel registers are successively read and inserted into the vertical intervals of the television signals of the respective channels.