Abstract: A passenger air bag inflator using pressurized inert gas upon initial deployment to provide cool gas to the folded air bag. After the bag has started to unfold, the remaining gas is provided by pyrotechnic gas generant. Pyrotechnic gas expands against a piston. The piston compresses the inert gas and forces it to exhaust from the inflator. Upon expulsion of the inert gas, the piston then becomes a filter for the pyrotechnic. The system provides a reduction in air bag stresses from fast hot gas deployments.

Abstract: A generant cartridge for incorporation into an airbag inflation module, is produced by shrink wrapping a plastic envelope around gas generant pellets or wafers thereby completely encapsulating the gas generant in a hermetically sealed envelope. The gas generant cartridge may be prepared at one location and brought to an assembly line located at another location. As a result, the assembly of the generant into the module inflator is simplified. The gas generant may be shrink wrapped with an entire filter assembly or with only a portion of the filter assembly and then inserted into an inflator. A booster charge for rapid ignition of the gas generant may also be inserted in the cartridge.

Abstract: Communication with a computer through a gameport is provided in a fashion which provides an increased information bandwidth, e.g. for coupling three or more joysticks or other peripheral devices and/or a total of five or more buttons. In one embodiment, information from joysticks or other peripheral devices is provided to the synchronous serial digitized form over the 4 button lines. X-A and Y-A lines of the gameport are used for providing, to the external devices, timing information from which load and clock signals are generated to control output of information from the peripheral devices to complete.

Abstract: An electrically energized coil or solenoid activates a magnetic piston/plunger assembly which forces pressurized gas out of a container through a diffuser and into an air bag without using pyrotechnic material, and thereby eliminating all of the undesirable effects associated with current state of the art inflators (i.e., particulate, smell, smoke, manufacturing dangers, etc.).

Abstract: A dual-walled air bag inflator having a filter and gas generant within a common chamber, with the gas exiting radially from the inflator. Various arrangements are provided to force the generated gas to change its direction of travel at least 90.degree. prior to exiting in order to slow the gas and improve filtration. Gas barriers are placed within the chamber to force the desired flow. The gas flow may be directed radially inward in opposed streams to cancel velocity, and then directed radially outward toward the filter and exits. In one embodiment a mixing chamber is provided for the gas prior to encountering the filter.

Abstract: Information bearing signals are recorded in one of a plurality of record formats on one record medium, such as a magnetic tape, magnetic disk, optical disk, and the like. The format selected may be commanded or based upon record lengths, in bytes. When the record length equals or exceeds a predetermined number of bytes, then one record is recorded in each signal block of the record format. When the record length is less than the predetermined number, then a second format is used which inserts several of the records in one of the signal blocks. The signal block and its packets respectively contain indications of formats such that any one of several formats may be used on one record medium and in one signal block having a plurality of variable length packets. Logical indicators, such as format marks, tape marks, and the like, may separate formats used on the storage medium.

Abstract: Information bearing signals are recorded in one of a plurality of record formats on one record medium, such as a magnetic tape, magnetic disk, optical disk, and the like. The format selected may be commanded or based upon record lengths, in bytes. When the record length equals or exceeds a predetermined number of bytes, then one record is recorded in each signal block of the record format. When the record length is less than the predetermined number, then a second format is used which inserts several of the records in one of the signal blocks. The signal block and its packets respectively contain indications of formats such that any one of several formats may be used on one record medium and in one signal block having a plurality of variable length packets. Logical indicators, such as format marks, tape marks, and the like, may separate formats used on the storage medium.

Abstract: Information bearing signals are recorded in one of a plurality of record formats on one record medium, such as a magnetic tape, magnetic disk, optical disk, and the like. The format selected may be commanded or based upon record lengths, in bytes. When the record length equals or exceeds a predetermined number of bytes, then one record is recorded in each signal block of the record format. When the record length is less than the predetermined number, then a second format is used which inserts several of the records in one of the signal blocks. The signal block and its packets respectively contain indications of formats such that any one of several formats may be used on one record medium and in one signal block having a plurality of variable length packets. Logical indicators, such as format marks, tape marks, and the like, may separate formats used on the storage medium.

Abstract: Information bearing signals are recorded in one of a plurality of record formats on one record medium, such as a magnetic tape, magnetic disk, optical disk, and the like. The format selected may be commanded or based upon record lengths, in bytes. When the record length equals or exceeds a predetermined number of bytes, then one record is recorded in each signal block of the record format. When the record length is less than the predetermined number, then a second format is used which inserts several of the records in one of the signal blocks. The signal block and its packets respectively contain indications of formats such that any one of several formats may be used on one record medium and in one signal block having a plurality of variable length packets. Logical indicators, such as format marks, tape marks, and the like, may separate formats used on the storage medium.

Abstract: Information bearing signals are recorded in one of a plurality of record formats on one record medium, such as a magnetic tape, magnetic disk, optical disk, and the like. The format selected may be commanded or based upon record lengths, in bytes. When the record length equals or exceeds a predetermined number of bytes, then one record is recorded in each signal block of the record format. When the record length is less than the predetermined number, then a second format is used which inserts several of the records in one of the signal blocks. The signal block and its packets respectively contain indications of formats such that any one of several formats may be used on one record medium and in one signal block having a plurality of variable length packets. Logical indicators, such as format marks, tape marks, and the like, may separate formats used on the storage medium.

Abstract: A switch joystick including a lever, a switch coupled to the lever and operative in response to deflection of the lever by a selectable amount from a neutral position along a predetermined coordinate axis, and means for adjusting the amount of deflection necessary to operate the switch.

Abstract: An optical encoder having a concentric cylindrically disposed reticle and moving unit with each having alternating transparent and opaque regions. A light emitter is located in each of two windows on one side of the recticle and moving unit while a light sensor is located on the other. The spacing of transparent and opaque regions in the reticle relative to that in the moving unit is such that when the transparent regions in one window are aligned those in the other unit are sufficiently non-aligned to produce quadrature and enable detection of both motion and direction of motion.

Abstract: A chain saw bar having an elongated shape, a saw chain guideway around substantially the length of the perimeter thereof, with a matching saw chain sprocket in the nose thereof, and calculated points of variation in strength in the interior of the bar at points removed from the sprocket, the points of variation in strength acting so that if the bar is subjected to an excessive bending force, the bar will tend to become bent initially at one point of variation in strength and with increased bending force at a subsequent point of variation in strength. In this way, extreme bending of the bar at one location and pinching of the sprocket are minimized.

Abstract: A joystick having a casing, a pair of gimbal plates mounted in the casing each slidable orthogonally with respect to the other and a pair of transducers, a control member of each coupled to a corresponding gimbal plate. A handle is coupled to the casing having a gimbal actuating sphere engaging each of the gimbal plates with the handle being universally pivotal throughout a portion of a spherical arc whose center lies intermediate the actuating sphere and an opposite end of the handle. Movement of the handle results in corresponding movement of the gimbal plates by an amount proportional to the component of displacement of the handle along the direction of movement of each of the gimbal plates. Each gimbal plate is biased so that it is urged towards a neutral position in the event of displacement on either side of the neutral position. External contacts are coupled to the transducers to allow the joystick to the electrically coupled to an external electrical line.

Abstract: An improved drive assembly for a powered chain saw or the like, which drive assembly includes a drive sprocket having a hub portion centrally and presenting a hub extension at one end for coaxially registering within the centered opening of the end wall of a clutch drum, and an axially extending apertured reinforcing washer disposed between the teeth of the sprocket wheel and surrounding the tips thereof in the region of abutment of the drive sprocket and clutch drum so as to register within the recesses of the sprocket teeth and present an extended joining area therebetween for securing same against separation.

Abstract: In a segmented bar having a longitudinal axis, a first bar section slidably interengageable with a second bar section under longitudinal axially displacement to move into and out of end to end abutting interlocking mating relation, each of said bar sections presenting corresponding longitudinally extending mating surface formations on opposite sides and corresponding longitudinally extending mating edge formations along opposite edges, each bar section terminating in an abutting end edge formation to be presented to the abutting end edge formation of the other of said bar sections when disposed in interlocking mating relation, the opposed surface formations of one of said sections each including a locating recess therein and offset in relation to each other and each bounded by a portion of the extent of its adjacent abutting end edge formation, the opposed surface formations of the other of said sections each including a mating projection for each of said locating recesses and likewise offset in relation to e