Abstract: A fluid thermosiphon system including a heat collection channel in communication above and below an insulating member to a heat storage region in a closed loop, the storage region includes spaced apart panels of an entirely encapsulated phase change material between which the heated fluid flows. The panels are adjacent the rear wall of the unit through which they disperse retained heat to the space. A wall or tilted roof unit suitable for built-in construction is disclosed, as is an exterior ground supported add-on unit. A liquid thermosiphon system is disclosed as the preferred embodiment. A gaseous system, using air, is also disclosed.

Abstract: A solar shutter or blind for windows using plastic vanes having horizontal channels for encasing a phase change material possessing a high value of heat of fusion at a fusion transition temperature somewhat above the desired ambient temperature of the room to be heated. In one form, the vanes are interconnected together with a reversing mechanism for turning the solar heat collection surfaces of the vanes inwardly or outwardly in relation to the window while in another form the vanes are swung as a unit to face outwardly as a shutter, alongside of a window or inwardly to reradiate energy through the window. In another form the vanes are pivotally mounted as a blind forming array and are provided with solar radiation reflective surfaces on one side and black surfaces on the lower side. In this way reversing the blind array causes reflection of unwanted or excess solar radiation and also provide diffuse illumination.

Abstract: A lumber inspection and optimization system is disclosed combining the speed of electro-optic scanning for flaw detection with electronic data manipulation and computation for optimizing the utilization of the lumber in accordance with an order entry list specifying the dimensions, grade and priority of boards desired to cut from each piece of lumber inspected by the system. The system receives input data from an order entry device and an electro-optical scanner. The digital scan data from the electro-optical scanner is electronically processed to form a flaw data buffer containing the edge location of all the detected flaws enlarged to compensate for defective material usually surrounding each flaw. Optimization of the material is accomplished by electronically comparing the order entry data with the location of the flaws in the flaw buffer to generate cut line data indicative of where the board is to be cut.

Abstract: An electro-optical scanner system for generating digital flaw data for a lumber inspection and optimization system is disclosed. The electro-optical scanner system includes an optical scanner generating analog scan data having frequency components indicative of the surface characteristics of the material being scanned. A dual quantizer separates the high frequency components of the scan data indicative of cracks, checks or splits from the low frequency components and converts both the high and low frequency components to a digital format. A digital filter removes extraneous noise from the digital high frequency scan data and a scanner interface encodes the digital high frequency and digital low frequency data in a predetermined multi-bit data byte format which simplifies data manipulation for subsequent flaw analysis by a computer.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for processing input binary encoded analog signals to precisely determine the time occurrence of positive-going and negative-going transitions. Such digital signals result, for example, when bar codes (e.g. Universal Product Codes) are optically scanned. Transitions are determined by detecting the zero crossings, at selected gating times, of the second derivative of the input signals. The selected gating times occur whenever the first derivatives of the input signals exceed a threshold level. The threshold level is determined in one embodiment by peak-to-peak detecting the input signals and adding this value to a rectified noise measurement signal.