Abstract: A display apparatus is provided whereby a constant intensity of record is obtained notwithstanding substantial changes in the linear speed of the record member. The cathode ray sweep frequency is maintained at a constant rate commensurate with the highest speed of the record member. As the speed of the record member is reduced by a given factor, the number of scans of the cathode ray beam which are unblanked are reduced by the same factor.

Abstract: An ice anchoring device, and particularly an ice hammer, having a relatively thin walled, partially open or fully closed channel, with opposed interior walls at at least a portion of the channel, and, preferably, parallel outer walls, which, when impacted upon ice, fractures the ice internally of the channel while producing a basically undisturbed void in the ice sufficient to accommodate the anchoring device. Preferably the channel is in the form of an initially closed tube having an inwardly sloping bevel from a cutting edge defined at the end of the tube, and an opening in the tube spaced back from the end of the tube to facilitate removal of fractured ice. The method is practiced by inserting the tube into ice with force and localizing the destructive forces inwardly to the volume within the channel thereby avoiding weakening and fracturing of the remaining exterior portion of the ice in which the device is anchored.

Abstract: A vector CRT display apparatus for faithfully reproducing an analog signal having high frequency components include an A-D converter, a digital minimum/maximum circuit and a recirculating shift register to derive from the signal, in successive sampling periods, two digital words representing, respectively, a minimum amplitude value date point and a maximum amplitude value data point of the signal. In each sampling period, the minimum/maximum circuit stores in the memory the most relevant of the minimum and maximum amplitude values and determine whether the remaining values should be held over to the next sampling period before it is stored, or can be discarded. As a result, if new minimum and new maximum amplitude values occur in the same sample period, one will be loaded into the memory and the other will be held over and loaded into the memory in the next sample period.

Abstract: An improved X-Y or vector type cathode ray tube circuit includes means to sense the imminence of and to inhibit excessive concentrations of electron beam current during the plotting of X-Y loops, which concentrations produce spots or points on the cathode ray tube screen that are essentially repetitive and convey no useful information to the observer, and if allowed to persist, tend to burn the phosphor coating of said screen.

Abstract: The minimum and maximum values attained by an analog data signal in each of successive sampling periods are determined by alternately operative amplitude detectors which produce and store a corresponding minimum and maximum signal for each of these periods. A generator produces a ramp signal which repeats in each period in synchronism with the sweep of the beam of a fiber optics strip cathode ray tube along the strip thereof. A record sheet is advanced at right angles to this strip. Comparators are operative in each period to compare the stored detector signals of the immediately preceding period with the ramp signal, and to produce an output when the ramp signal exceeds either of the detector signals. An EXCLUSIVE OR gate receives these outputs and unblanks the normally blanked tube beam for a time in each period to produce a line on the sheet extending along the strip between points representing the minimum and maximum signal values for the preceding period.

Abstract: An ear-type livestock identification tag comprises a planar member having a body and a neck, the neck extending outwardly from the body and adapted for insertion through an animal ear, and a tab member adapted for locking onto the terminal end of the neck. The curvature and length of the neck is such that the body of a tag having the neck mounted, close to the head, in an animal ear lies below the ear and roughly parallel to the animal's cheek. Identifying indicia on the tag body is easily read since the body lies parallel to the cheek, and there is little accidental tag loss since the neck is anchored in a thick part of the ear.