Abstract: An aqueous initiator solution and process for rejuvenating such initiator solutions and for prolonging the useful operating life thereof by which copper and copper alloy substrates are treated therein to render them receptive to a subsequent electroless nickel plating step. The detrimental effects of progressive contamination of such aqueous initiator solutions with metal ion complexing agents during commercial use and/or precipitation of the noble metal ions which pregressively impairs the oprativeness of such activator solutions is overcome in accordance with the present invention by the addition of controlled amounts of ferric ions effective to maintain at least a sufficient portion of the noble metal ions in solution in a noncomplexed condition whereby the initiator solution is effective to pretreat the copper substrate prior to electroless nickel plating.

Abstract: A fire detector of the ionization type is characterized by sensitivity compensating circuitry. The detector includes an ionization chamber in series circuit with a reference impedance to form a voltage divider, and circuitry for sensing the voltage at the juncture between the ionization chamber and reference impedance and for generating a current flow which changes in value with changes in the voltage. The sensitivity compensating circuitry monitors the current flow, and for slowly occurring changes corresponding to slow changes in the juncture voltage adjusts the current flow to and maintains the flow at a quiescent value. The compensating circuitry responds relatively slowly to changes in current flow, and therefore does not significantly affect the current flow in response to a rapid change in juncture voltage.

Abstract: A batching system for operating each cycle of a batching process includes a communications bus to which are connected a basic processor, a control console, an analog/digital converter module, and an interface unit. The basic processor includes RAM memory means, PROM memory means and a central processing unit containing a microprocessor. The control console includes display means, a group of set-up pushbutton switch means, a group of operate pushbutton switch means, keyboard means having a number of pushbutton switch means each providing a different BCD signal, and switch means to activate alternatively the group of set-up pushbutton switch means or the group of operate pushbutton switch means. When the set-up pushbutton switch means are activated, the pressing of each button activates a different mode of the PROM memory means. By operating these switch means followed by operation of one or more buttons of the keyboard changes can be made in the digital information stored in the RAM memory means.