Abstract: A dual-frequency conformal multi-filiar helical antenna system (20) provides a low-profile, low drag antenna useable in flying equipment. This antenna system (20) securely holds within its shell (22) signal distribution circuitry (64), signal combining circuitry (68), and any other circuit components necessary for antenna system (20) to communicate with other stations or devices. Antenna system (20) has radiating conductors (24, 32) tuned to two different frequencies such that simultaneous transmission and reception of signals is possible in the same and opposite directions.

Abstract: A method and system is presented for ensuring that a latch securing a ramp to a pallet is properly aligned and seated before a product can be offloaded from the pallet and down the ramp. The system uses a latching system that has a pallet-attached base and a ramp-attached mating bracket. The pallet-attached base has two rods. The first rod has a retainer arm that is restricted by the second rod to a vertical position, thus preventing a shipment on the pallet from reaching the ramp. The second rod has a thin portion and a thick portion. The second rod must be laterally moved such that the mating bracket mates only with the thin portion of the rod. This lateral movement moves the second rod away from the first rod's retainer arm, thus allowing the retainer arm to fold down.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for locking at least two safety retainers together. Each safety retainer has a pallet-attached base and a ramp-attached mating bracket. Each safety retainer includes a base and a bracket. Each bracket is coupled to a ramp that is can be removably attached to a pallet. Each base includes a retaining arm for locking the base to the bracket when the ramp is coupled to the pallet. A locking mechanism is capable of being temporarily coupled to a first retaining arm in a first safety retainer and a second retaining arm in a second safety retainer for locking the retaining arms together. The first and second retaining arms must operate as a single unit, and cannot be moved independently, when the locking mechanism is coupled to the first and second retaining arms. The first and second retaining arms operate independently as separate units when the locking mechanism is not coupled to the first and second retaining arms.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for locking at least two safety retainers together. Each safety retainer has a pallet-attached base and a ramp-attached mating bracket. Each safety retainer includes a base and a bracket. Each bracket is coupled to a ramp that is can be removably attached to a pallet. Each base includes a retaining arm for locking the base to the bracket when the ramp is coupled to the pallet. A locking mechanism is capable of being temporarily coupled to a first retaining arm in a first safety retainer and a second retaining arm in a second safety retainer for locking the retaining arms together. The first and second retaining arms must operate as a single unit, and cannot be moved independently, when the locking mechanism is coupled to the first and second retaining arms. The first and second retaining arms operate independently as separate units when the locking mechanism is not coupled to the first and second retaining arms.

Abstract: A method and system is presented for ensuring that a latch securing a ramp to a pallet is properly aligned and seated before a product can be offloaded from the pallet and down the ramp. The system uses a latching system that has a pallet-attached base and a ramp-attached mating bracket. The pallet-attached base has two rods. The first rod has a retainer arm that is restricted by the second rod to a vertical position, thus preventing a shipment on the pallet from reaching the ramp. The second rod has a thin portion and a thick portion. The second rod must be laterally moved such that the mating bracket mates only with the thin portion of the rod. This lateral movement moves the second rod away from the first rod's retainer arm, thus allowing the retainer arm to fold down.

Abstract: There is a tonneau or covering device for covering an open storage portion of a vehicle. The tonneau includes a cover, a cord, and/or a plurality of couplers, such as but not limited to hooks. The cord is disposed circumferentially about the cover and coupled thereto through sheathes. There are double-hook couplers including a first hook removably coupleable to a cord and a second hook coupled to the first hook and removably coupleable to the vehicle. The second hook may include a U-shaped member. The first hook may include a tapering hook opening. The first hook may include a flexible hook opening.

Abstract: A data collection system for collecting data of an electronic device is provided. The data collection system includes: a processor for detecting and classifying the electronic device, a test device driven by the processor for testing the electronic device, a light coupling set, and a data collector respectively connected with the processor and the test device optically through the light coupling set for optically collecting the data of the electronic device from the processor and the test device and transforming the data into a particular information format. The feature of the data collection system is that, the protocol used for different outside devices is burned in the microprocessor in a format of firmware program so that the need for altering the hardware circuit is prevented.

Abstract: An electronic circuits module includes a cover and a base. A lever and cam assembly is rotatably attached to the cover, and the cam includes first and second lobes. The lever and cam assembly is rotatable between first, second and third positions. In the first position, the first lobe can be inserted through an eccentric opening in the base, and then rotated to the second position to lock the cover to the base. In the third position, the module can be inserted into the computer and when the lever and cam assembly is moved back to the second position, the second lobe locks the module in the computer. A mechanism in the computer inhibits the movement of the lever and cam assembly into the first position, thereby preventing the disconnection of the base from the cover when the module is installed in the computer.

Abstract: An electronic circuits module includes a cover and a base. A lever and cam assembly is rotatably attached to the cover, and the cam includes first and second lobes. The lever and cam assembly is rotatable between first, second and third positions. In the first position, the first lobe can be inserted through an eccentric opening in the base, and then rotated to the second position to lock the cover to the base. In the third position, the module can be inserted into the computer and when the lever and cam assembly is moved back to the second position, the second lobe locks the module in the computer. A mechanism in the computer inhibits the movement of the lever and cam assembly into the first position, thereby preventing the disconnection of the base from the cover when the module is installed in the computer.

Abstract: A color cathode-ray tube (CRT) having an evacuated envelope with an electron gun therein for generating at least one electron beam is disclosed. The envelope further includes a faceplate panel having a luminescent screen with phosphor lines on an interior surface thereof. A tension focus mask, having a plurality of spaced-apart first electrodes, is located adjacent to an effective picture area of the screen. The plurality of spaced-apart first electrodes has a screen-facing side having a predetermined width and a relatively wider electron-gun-facing side. Each side forming sharp corner edges extending along the length of each first electrodes. A substantially continuous insulating material is deposited on the screen-facing side and on the corners of the first electrodes to shield the sharp corner edges of the first electrodes. A plurality of second electrodes are oriented substantially perpendicular to the plurality of first electrodes and are bonded thereto by the insulating material layer.

Abstract: An electronic circuits module includes a cover and a base. A lever and cam assembly is rotatably attached to the cover, and the cam includes first and second lobes. The lever and cam assembly is rotatable between first, second and third positions. In the first position, the first lobe can be inserted through an eccentric opening in the base, and then rotated to the second position to lock the cover to the base. In the third position, the module can be inserted into the computer and when the lever and cam assembly is moved back to the second position, the second lobe locks the module in the computer. A mechanism in the computer inhibits the movement of the lever and cam assembly into the first position, thereby preventing the disconnection of the base from the cover when the module is installed in the computer.

Abstract: A data collection system for collecting data of an electronic device is provided. The data collection system includes: a processor for detecting and classifying the electronic device, a test device driven by the processor for testing the electronic device, a light coupling set, and a data collector respectively connected with the processor and the test device optically through the light coupling set for optically collecting the data of the electronic device from the processor and the test device and transforming the data into a particular information format. The feature of the data collection system is that, the protocol used for different outside devices is burned in the microprocessor in a format of firmware program so that the need for altering the hardware circuit is prevented.

Abstract: A moveable antenna system with a position sensor circuit and a circuit which transmits the position sensing data and the radio frequency (RF) on the same wire. The position sensor comprises a sensing pin and a sense track concentric with the coaxial cable for the RF signal. When the antenna is in the preferred position for transmission, the sensing pin is in contact with the sense track, thus closing a switch, allowing the unit to transmit RF signals. Otherwise, the sensing pin is not in contact with the sense track, preventing any transmission of data. The signal that results from the opening and closing of the switch is carried on the same transmission line as the RF signal. This is accomplished by using capacitors to block direct current (DC) from the transmission line and using resistors and shunt capacitors to prevent any leakage of RF signals onto the sensing circuit.

Abstract: A color cathode-ray tube (CRT) having an evacuated envelope with an electron gun therein for generating at least one electron beam is disclosed. The envelope further includes a faceplate panel having a luminescent screen with phosphor lines on an interior surface thereof. A tension focus mask, having a plurality of spaced-apart first electrodes, is located adjacent to an effective picture area of the screen. The plurality of spaced-apart first electrodes has a screen-facing side having a predetermined width and a relatively wider electron-gun-facing side. Each side forming sharp corner edges extending along the length of each first electrodes. A substantially continuous insulating material is deposited on the screen-facing side and on the corners of the first electrodes to shield the sharp corner edges of the first electrodes. A plurality of second electrodes are oriented substantially perpendicular to the plurality of first electrodes and are bonded thereto by the insulating material layer.

Abstract: An antenna latching mechanism includes a housing with an attached antenna and a mating utility part. A collar is formed on one of the housing and the utility part and a mating stem, rotatably fitting within the collar, is formed on the other. The collar and stem define an opening and a ridge is formed in the opening. Flexible fingers, each having a cam surface, are positioned on one of the housing and the utility part to extend through the opening, with the stem coaxially positioned in the collar, so the cam surfaces engage the ridge in a releasable assembled orientation. Detent notches are defined in one of the collar and stem and a mating flexible detent finger is formed in the other to engage a selected one of the notches and provide a plurality of stable axial positions of the housing relative to the mating utility part.