Abstract: A hand held bar code reader employs a laser diode as its laser source, for an efficient and compact construction. The diode is modulated, and an associated bar code reading detector is timed accordingly, so that (1) the effects of strong ambient light which may be present on the bar code surface can be subtracted out, by alternating reflected light readings of the detector between laser beam plus ambient and ambient alone, and subtracting the readings electronically, and (2) peak power can be increased to obtain more dependable readings while staying within permissible power levels for such devices, since average power is reduced by the modulation of the laser.

Abstract: An optical isolator is fabricated upon a lead frame having an LED section which is rotated 180.degree. to position the LED over the photodiode. Prior to rotation both the LED and the photodiode attachment portions of the leads are down set a predetermined amount to fix the size of the isolation gap between the LED and the photodiode. Dielectric sheets are attached to the outer surfaces of the LED and photodiode leads and an optically transmissive resin is injected therebetween a form a light guide and to encapsulate the LED and photodiode dice and their associated bond wires. In an alternate embodiment a sheet is attached to the outer surface of one lead and a dielectric sheet thereagainst is positioned at a tilted angle between the LED and the photodiode.

Abstract: A method and device for sensing the presence and location of an object in a reference plane by directing light along a line perpendicular to the plane, defining a ring in that plane encircling said line of light, and sensing, by a change in the condition of the light, the presence of an object on the ring. In a first, non-contacting embodiment, light is directed along a line which is the axis of the ring and directed outwardly and focused at the ring. A circular detector coaxial with the light ring is positioned to sense intrusion onto that ring of an object, and by using a circular diode array detector, one can detect both the presence and location of that object on the ring. According to another contacting embodiment, a disc is placed in the reference plane with the light shining through an opening therein, the disc being movable in any direction in said reference plane. When an object touches the disc at any point and moves it, this changes the location of the aperture through which the light passes.

Abstract: A multipixel light sensing semiconductor device contains in at least one pixel a lens presenting a convex surface and a lens supporting layer for directing light inwardly to a semiconductive light sensor. The lens supporting layer has a thickness exceeding that of the lens, and the lens is laterally confined on the lens supporting layer between at least two opposed pixel edges.

Abstract: A system for photoelectrically detecting a light reflected from an object, such as a semiconductor wafer, irradiated by a light beam supplied from a light source, wherein the amount of irradiation is controlled so as to obtain an optimum photoelectrically-converted signal. According to another aspect of the invention, the amount of irradiation is controlled automatically on the basis of a reflectance of the object which has been detected preparatively. According to another preferred form of the invention, the amount of irradiation is controlled in a time-sharing fashion so as to obtain optimum photoelectrically-converted signals from different portions of the object.

Abstract: An electromechanical constant speed drive generating system is provided with a mechanical differential having first, second and third rotatable shafts, wherein the speed of the second shaft is equal to the speed of the first shaft multiplied by the first contant plus the speed of the third shaft multiplied by a second constant. The first shaft is coupled to an external engine and is driven at a variable speed ranging between predetermined lower and upper limits. A constant speed generator is connected to the second shaft for producing a constant frequency output.

Abstract: The integral part of a power controller and of a PI speed controller is formed by a common integrator, both controllers always being engaged. With this linear interlinking of the two controllers, stability can be assured in the two limit cases of the network (rigid network and ohmic island) as well as practically in all cases in between.

Abstract: A control system for variable speed hydraulic turbine generator apparatus comprises an induction generator connected at its primary side to an AC power line system, a secondary excitation controller connected to the secondary side of the induction generator and being responsive to a generator output command signal supplied externally to supply to the induction generator an excitation current which causes the induction generator to generate AC power at the same frequency as that on the AC power line system, a hydraulic turbine for rotating the induction generator, a guide valve for regulating the amount of water supplied to the hydraulic turbine, a rotation speed detector for detecting a rotation speed of the induction generator, a rotation speed command calculator for receiving a hydraulic turbine running condition signal inclusive of the external generator output command signal and calculating an optimum rotation speed command, a rotation speed controller for comparing the optimum rotation speed command with

Abstract: A turbine generator includes a plurality of spaced and parallel, transverse webs interconnected by plates to define an integral generator housing-base. Each transverse web in the generator section thereof includes a central, circular opening through which the generator rotor extends, and a plurality of apertures extending about the opening. Each transverse web further includes a walkway flange which, in association with the plates, forms a walkway, and also includes a superstructure lattice at the top thereof for supporting air cooling structure. A turbine is bolted to the integral generator housing-base, and is coupled to the generator rotor. Due to the integral generator housing-base, resonant vibrations of the base portion thereof at the generator operating frequency and at twice the generator operating frequency are eliminated, the weight and size of the turbine generator are reduced, and the turbine generator has greater structural integrity and rigidity.

Abstract: A system for controlling the power supply to an automotive vehicle lamp in which two switch means are connected in series with each other, an interior room lamp in the vehicle compartment, and the power supply, i.e., a vehicle battery, one switch means being closed when a detachable back door is open and open when the back door is closed and the other switch means being open when the back door is detached from the vehicle body. Therefore, the interior room lamp is turned off when the back door is detached even though the first switch means is closed. Consequently, wasteful power drain on the vehicle battery can be avoided when the back door is detached.

Abstract: A demand limit control system for maintaining power consumption of loads within a building below an upper demand limit, the upper demand limit being separated from a lower demand limit by a deadband, the system having a power demand controller responsive to power consumption for providing a controller output signal ramping up when the power consumption is above the upper demand limit, remaining substantially constant when power consumption is between the upper and lower demand limits, and ramping down when the power consumption is below the lower demand limit, and a plurality of demand controlled loads each connected to the power demand controller and each responding to a different threshold value of the controller output signal such that each load is conditioned to turn off when the controller output signal is above the threshold and is conditioned to turn on when the controller output signal is below the threshold.

Abstract: The invention relates to a fault recognition circuit for at least two power supplies feeding in parallel a user at an output side. The power supplies each have an electronic switch, a power transformer and a rectifier portion with a following filter element. In order to achieve short repair times, the respective down power supply is immediately identified after the outage of one of the parallel power supplies. For this purpose, a current transformer is provided which lies between the electronic switch and the power transformer. The load voltage of the current transformer is supplied to first a rectifier unit and the ac voltage component of the unfiltered dc voltage at the rectifier portion of the power pack units is supplied via a high pass filter to a second rectifier unit. The outputs of the rectifier units are connected to inputs of first and second comparators, and the other inputs of the comparators are connected with comparison voltages.

Abstract: A pulsed power supply having a filter output and a battery backup includes electronic apparatus to sense when the AC source is failing. When the pulsed supply output has the same pulses as that which would be produced by the battery, the supply switches to battery backup mode. As the AC source returns, the supply switches to AC supply mode when the AC is at a level where the pulses produced by the supply would be the same as are actually being produced by the battery backup.

Abstract: A ratio analyzer employing two time-base generators which are used to convert time intervals to analog voltages. The outputs of the two time-base generators are sampled and the amplitude of one pulse is divided into the amplitude of the second pulse which gives an output voltage representation of the ratio of the two original pulse widths. The output voltage representation is indicative of the type of input signal present and thus may be used to analyze the input signal.

Abstract: A clock recovery circuit for recovering the clock from an incoming data stream. The circuit comprises a transition detector and a module 3 counter operating at three times the expected rate of the incoming clock. A clock pulse is generated by the counter one count interval after a transition is detected.

Abstract: A number of control signals for accessing a random access memory may be generated using a cascade connection of data latches. A control signal generator produces two non-overlapping timing signals and their complements from a single input clock signal. The non-overlapping signals of each type are connected to alternate ones of the data latches in the cascade chain. The input to the data latch chain receives the memory access pulse which is then used to derive the various control signals for the random access memory. A plurality of flip-flops have their set and reset terminals connected to the output terminals of various ones of the data latches to produce output control signals from each flip-flop. These control signals have the desired timing relationship to the access pulse.

Abstract: A Schmitt trigger circuit comprising input and output terminals, first and second voltage supply lines, a first transistor having its base connected to the input terminal and its the collector connected to the first voltage supply line though a load resistor, a second transistor having its collector connected to the first voltage supply line, a first constant-current source through which the first and second transistors have their respective emitters commonly connected to the second supply voltage line, and a third transistor having its collector connected to the first voltage supply line, its base connected to the first voltage supply line through the load resistor and to the collector of the first transistor and its emitter connected to the base of the second transistor. There is further provided a second constant-current source through which the third transistor has its base further connected to the second voltage supply line.

Abstract: Circuit arrangement for producing a fluctuation-free d-c voltage level of a d-c supply voltage having a voltage divider of MOS transistors at the supply voltage, the voltage divider including a first series connection of a plurality of MOS transistors located in a branch between a tap for a reference voltage and a reference-potential input, and a second series connection of MOS transistors located between a d-c supply-voltage input and the reference-potential input and being driven jointly by the reference voltage at the tap of the voltage divider, the first series connection including at least four transistors, and including an MOS transistor drivingly connected to the d-c supply-voltage input and further connected in the second series connection of MOS transistors located between the d-c supply-voltage input and the reference-potential input.

Abstract: A device for detecting, among noise, each of the pulses of a pulse train, comprising essentially: a detector detecting the peak of a pulse; a first delay line; a first comparator comparing the level of the first delayed pulse with the half peak value; a second delay line for delaying the pulse train with a second delay different from the first one; a second comparator comparing the signal delivered by a second delay line with the signal delivered by the first delay line and with the half peak value, and an AND gate delivering an output signal when there is coincidence of the output signals from said two comparators.

Abstract: A current-saving CMOS signal input buffer is provided, having at least two CMOS output transistors (each having an input) connected in complementary fashion with a common output taken therebetween, complementary current mirrors coupled to the output transistor inputs, an input signal capacitively coupled to at least one of the output transistor inputs, a reference impedance coupled between the complementary current mirrors, and isolation impedances coupled between the complementary current mirrors and the output transistor inputs.

Abstract: An improved buffer circuit is provided having an output stage for driving a load and a driver stage for driving said output stage. The output stage is constituted by a first MOS transistor to avoid problems found in bipolar output transistors which result from the amplitude of the output stage being influenced by the voltage V.sub.be of such output bipolar transistors. The driver stage, on the other hand, is formed of a bipolar transistor-MOS transistor composite logic cirucit. This driver stage includes an output circuit having a bipolar transistor for driving said first MOS transistor, and an input circuit including a second MOS transistor responsive to a predetermined input for rendering said bipolar transistor in the on or off state. The channel size of said first MOS transistor is larger than that of said second MOS transistor to give a device having an improved high operating speed.

Abstract: A bipolar/CMOS mixed type switching circuit comprising two npn-type bipolar transistors Q.sub.1, Q.sub.2 that are connected in the form of a totem pole in the output stage, a CMOS inverter and an NMOSFET M.sub.3 for driving these transistors in a complementary manner, and resistance means R for discharging the electric charge stored in the base of the transistor Q.sub.2. The threshold voltage of an NMOSFET M.sub.2 constituting the CMOS inverter in the absence of substrate effect is set to be substantially equal to the threshold voltage of the NMOSFET M.sub.3 in the absence of the substrate effect, and the channel conductance W.sub.N /L.sub.N of the NMOSFET M.sub.3 is so set that the threshold voltage V.sub.LT1 of the CMOS inverter and the practical threshold voltage V.sub.LT2 of the NMOSFET M.sub.3 will be nearly the same. Owing to the above structure, there is obtained a switching circuit which permits little through current to flow and which operates at high speeds.

Abstract: A transistor circuit for a signal multiplier used in, for example, a demodulator by means of the Costas loop method is disclosed. The transistor circuit comprises first to third circuit stages each including first and second transistors coupled in a differential form. The first to third circuit stages are connected in tandem with one another such that the output signal current of each circuit stage is supplied to the succeeding circuit stage without a substantial change. Further, each of the first to third circuit stages is supplied with one of or both of two input signals P and Q. As a result, the transistor circuit produces an output signal representing a signal multiplication: P.times.Q.times.(P+Q).times.(P-Q).

Abstract: A CMOS, midpoint sense amplification system for controlling the dynamics of the sense amplification phase of the sense cycle of a CMOS DRAM. The system includes a tracking circuit for initiating the first stage of the sense amplification phase when the differential voltage signal attains a first predetermined value. Circuitry for controlling the sense amplification rate and equalizing current supplied to the source nodes during the first stage is disclosed. In one embodiment, circuitry for detecting when the amplitude of the signal has increased to a second predetermined value and for increasing the sense amplification rate during the second and third stages of the sense amplification phase is disclosed.

Abstract: Two switching circuits are connected between the gate and the source electrode of a field effect transistor, each of said circuits comprising a controlled switch and a secondary winding of a pulse transformer. A first pulse generator produces at a predetermined rate a pulse having a first logic state for driving the controlled switch of a first of said switching circuits, said pulse being applied to a transformer primary winding, and a second pulse generator produces at a predetermined rate a pulse having a second logic state which is complementary to the logic state of the pulse produced by the first pulse generator, for driving the controlled switch of the second switching circuit, each primary winding being magnetically coupled with a secondary winding.

Abstract: Method of switching electrical loads having one side thereof at reference potential and being connected in d-c networks with n-channel MOS switching transistors includes applying a control voltage which is at least equal to a sum of voltages of a respective d-c network plus a voltage of the gate-source path of a respective switching transistor to a gate of the respective switching transistor; and device for performing the method.

Abstract: Circuit arrangement intended for evaluating currents of 7 or 8 orders of magnitude, particularly in thermoluminescent dosemeter (TLD) evaluation equipment, which comprises a digital gate (12) with a feedback tag (13) and a charging capacitor (11) connected to the input of the digital gate (12). The other terminal of the charging capacitor (11) is connected to a stable voltage line, practically to ground. For varying the time constant the circuit arrangement has at least one control capacitor (14a to 14n) connected serially with corresponding electronic switches (15a to 15n). The other terminal of the control capacitors (14a to 14n) are connected to the input of the digital gate, through the input line (b) of the circuit arrangement. The switching inputs of the electronic switches are connected to control lines (v1 to vn), while other terminals of them are connected to stabilized voltage lines (e1 to en).

Abstract: A moving element body apparatus of a linear motor is produced by punching and processing a magnetic soft iron sheet into a large number of pole pieces formed therein with a plurality of magnetic poles having a predetermined distance therebetween, building up in layers said pole pieces into at least two pole bodies, providing said pole bodies with wheel axles, and fitting said magnetic poles of said pole bodies into openings formed in a holder plate of a nonmagnetic material for receiving said magnetic poles, thereby interconnecting securely said pole bodies and fixing said wheel axles to the pole bodies.

Abstract: A resilient coupling between the rotor and output shaft of a brushless DC motor cooperates with a sensorless drive arrangement that obtains rotor position information from the voltage induced in the stator windings of the motor to reduce the effective inertia of the load and aid in starting of the motor.

Abstract: An system for the supply of fuel which acts as an electrolyte, including a metallic component part as a sacrificial anode for protection of metallic current leads against electrolytic corrosion. The component part is connected to the positive side of the operating circuit of the electric motor. In order to improve the protection of the current leads, the sacrificial anode is connected to a higher electric potential than the current lead for the positive side of the circuit.

Abstract: Radial free play is reduced in rotor bearings of a limited rotation electromechanical actuator of the kind having a stator assembly with a plurality of stator pole faces, a rotor with a plurality of rotor pole faces, two bearings supporting opposite ends of the rotor and means for establishing magnetic flux across the gaps. In various aspects, the stator and rotor pole faces are cylindrical and the central axis of the rotor pole faces is tilted relative to the central axis of the stator pole faces; a region of a gap between the stator and rotor pole faces produces both the radial free-play-reducing forces and at least part of the driving torque; the gap rotor varies in size along its length but nowhere is so great as to have an effectively infinite reluctance; the gap varies continuously along its length; and each bearing has radial free play equal to at least 10% of twice the difference in the diameters of the stator and rotor pole faces.

Abstract: A ferrofluid seal for a bearing application with a stationary shaft about which a hub rotates. The seal consists of a permanent magnet and one or more annular pole pieces which form a magnetic circuit with the bearing shaft. The magnetic circuit includes an annular gap between the shaft and the pole pieces in which the magnetic flux traps a magnetic fluid which bridges the gap to form a seal. The shaft is tapered in the gap area to form a wedge-shaped gap which accommodates changes in the magnetic fluid volume due to temperature variations while holding the fluid within the magnetic field to maintain the seal. The pole piece which forms the gap has a straight annular face located at a constant radial distance from the shaft axis. At high operating temperatures expansion of the magnetic fluid causes the fluid to fill the taper of the shaft, but, since the shaft is stationary, fluid spash is eliminated. The straight surface of the pole piece controls fluid splash caused by centrifugal force.

Abstract: A dynamoelectric machine including a brush holder for positioning the brushes in a mounting position is disclosed. The brush holder includes a displaceable section located to secure the brushes in a mounting position and said displaceable section being separated during assembly to allow the brushes to be displaced inwardly to engage the commutator in the final assembled position. Several embodiments of displaceable sections are disclosed.

Abstract: To improve the stability of operation of a compact, single-ended fluoresc lamp under "base down" operation, and provide for a predetermined temperature "cold spot" defining the vapor pressure within the fluorescent lamp, and particularly for a lamp having four parallel tubular portions which are interconnected to form a continuous discharge vessel, one of the tubular portions which does not carry an electrode has a small tube or stub element (16) connected into a pinch seal terminating the particular tubular element, the stub element extending below the pinch seal and into the base of the lamp. The lamp is formed with two vertically arranged openings to provide for passage of cooling air, by thermal convection, from a lower opening (17), past the cooling tube or stub (16) and to an upper outlet vent opening (19).

Abstract: A cathode-ray tube has a faceplate panel joined to a funnel thereof along a sidewall of the panel, and has an internal magnetic shield disposed therein proximate an inner surface of the funnel and connected along one end thereof to a back portion of a shadow-mask frame oriented orthogonally to a central axis of the tube and supported adjacent the sidewall. An apertured shadow mask is connected along an edge thereof to a front portion of the shadow-mask frame opposite the back portion. Along the direction of the central axis, the one end of the magnetic shield overlaps the corresponding edge of the shadow mask around substantially all of the shadow-mask frame.

Abstract: Disclosed is a cathode ray tube including a white emitting phosphor screen comprising, in mixing, a blue emitting phosphor having the composition expressed by a composition formula (M.sub.1-x Tb.sub.x).sub.2 O.sub.2 S (wherein M is Y and/or Gd, and the range of x is 0<x.ltoreq.0.01) and at least one other phosphor which does not contain Cd. This cathode ray tube has less luminance deterioration and burning of the phosphor screen, and it causes no pollution.

Abstract: A coating for reducing specular reflection on optical glass screens comprises a partially hydrolized metal alkoxide polymer. These alkoxides have the general formula M(OR).sub.4 where M is selected from the group consisting of silicon, titanium and zirconium where R is alkyl with 1 to 6 carbon. The equivalent titanium and/or zirconium oxides is about 15% of total solids by weight. A presently preferred coating mixture is prepared by dissolving tetraethyl orthosilicate in alcohol, at an elevated temperature; gradually adding a mixture of nitric acid and water; gradually adding titanium butoxide and/or zirconium n-propoxide; and, adding and mixing additional water and alcohol. The coating is applied by a method comprising the steps of cleaning the surface of the optical glass screen; preheating the glass screen; coating the solution onto the glass screen; and, baking the glass screen and solution, at a temperature high enough to drive off the solvent and bond the coating mixture to the glass surface.

Abstract: An arc discharge lamp is provided using sealing compositions comprising mainly Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 --SiO.sub.2 --MgO. Preferred compositions include between 25 to 28% by weight of MgO and 13 to 21% by weight of Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 since these have lower melting points than others in the group. The sealing compositions are used to seal end closure members of alumina or cermet to ceramic arc tubes for use in discharge lamps. The compositions are selected to have linear expansion co-efficients compatible with the materials of the end closures and arc tubes. The methods described give sealing times of between 3 and 4 minutes.

Abstract: Electronic high-speed frame pick-up cameras for instantaneously or successively picking up an image of an object being observed while the structure and birghtness thereof are being changed at high speed. Each camera of this type consists of a first electron lens to reforming the photoelectronic image formed on the photoelectric layer, deflection means arranged so that the re-formed image of the photoelectronic image is located at the deflection center thereof, a singularity or plurality of second electron lenses arranged so that the electron beam deflected by the deflection means can be received thereby, a singularity or plurality of phosphor layers arranged to receive the electron beam sent from the second electron lens(es), a lens drive circuit to supply power to the first and second electron lenses, and a deflection means drive circuit to supply power to the deflection means.

Abstract: A device for the restitution and/or analyzing (digitalizing) of color images on an image carrier, comprising a cathode ray tube with a line screen, an assembly of optical fibers fixed on the front face of the tube screen, a color mask in film form, fixed in front of the optical fibers assembly and carrying at least three lines of different colors, means of scanning the screen by the electron beam of the tube along different lines corresponding to the lines of the color mask; and means of relative displacement between the color mask and an image carrier situated in front of the mask, so that each line of the image is scanned by each of the beams produced by the scannings of the screen along the different lines of colors of the mask.

Abstract: An ion plasma electron gun for the generation of large area electron beams with uniform electron distribution. Positive ions generated by a wire in a plasma discharge chamber are accelerated through an extraction grid into a second chamber containing a high voltage cold cathode. These positive ions bombard a surface of the cathode causing the cathode to emit secondary electrons which form an electron beam. After passing through the extraction grid and the plasma discharge chamber, the electron beam exits from the gun by way of a second grid and a foil window supported on the second grid. The gun is constructed so that the electron beam passing through the foil window has a relatively large area and a uniform electron distribution which is substantially the same as the ion distribution of the ion beam impinging upon the cathode.

Abstract: A heat flow detector for protecting against overheating of a lamp fixture energized from a voltage source, even when a dimmer is used for operating the lamp fixture. The detector includes a temperature sensitive switch electrically coupled to the lamp fixture. The switch disconnects the lamp fixture from the voltage source in response to a predetermined temperature. A biasing heater is thermally coupled to the temperature sensitive switch for raising the temperature of the switch sufficiently to operate the switch upon overheating of the lamp. A regulating circuit maintains the required voltage across the heater even upon reduction of the voltage from the source through use of the dimmer. The heat flow detector is placed in the vicinity of the lamp fixture so as to be subject to the same heat flow environmental conditions as the lamp fixture whereby as the lamp fixture gets overheated, the resistor heated up will be sufficient to operate the switch.

Abstract: A lighting apparatus for an electric discharge lamp includes a lighting ballast capacitor connected in series to an electric dicharge lamp for stabilizing a lighting current to the lamp; a preheating ballast capacitor connected in parallel to the lamp for supplying a preheating electric power to the lamp; electric power supply including an output transformer for supplying an electric power to the lighting ballast capacitor; a control electric power supply circuit for obtaining a control electric power through the lighting ballast capacitor and discharge lamp or the preheating ballast capacitor without adding a stepdown transformer or a resistive element for voltage drop; and an oscillator which receives the control electric power from the control power supply circuit and controls the electric power supply. With this lighting apparatus, the electric power loss is made small and the miniaturization of the apparatus can be realized.

Abstract: A method of producing uniformity of emission a characteristics of a plurality of electron beam sources in a cathode ray tube, by deriving and storing data values for producing respective correction voltages to be applied to modify the emission characteristics. Each data value is obtained by sensing a current which flows through one of the control electrodes when a high voltage electrode is set to a relatively low potential, comparing this current with a reference value and storing the difference for use in subsequently producing a correction voltage. Data values are derived during successive time intervals, with corresponding correction voltages being successively applied to achieve feedback operation, for greater correction accuracy.

Abstract: In a video display apparatus having a service mode of operation, a vertical deflection circuit includes a vertical deflection winding coupled to a DC blocking capacitor. An output stage includes first and second output amplifiers coupled to the vertical deflection winding in a push-pull arrangement at an output terminal. A vertical sawtooth voltage generator is coupled to a driver stage via an error amplifier that provides both AC and DC negative feedback for driving the output stage at a vertical rate in a sawtooth manner to generate a sawtooth deflection current in the deflection winding and for establishing a DC operating voltage level at the output terminal that charges the DC blocking capacitor. A service mode switching circuit is coupled to the driver stage for asserting the service mode of operation by maintaining the first output amplifier in cutoff and the second output amplifier in conduction to discharge the DC blocking capacitor and disable the generation of the sawtooth deflection current.

Abstract: A controller for a wheelchair motor or the like including two power transistors each having a base and a collector-emitter path, the collector-emitter paths being connected in parallel. At least one oscillator and a flip-flop are provided to supply pulses alternately to the transistor bases so that the transistors are never turned on simultaneously. In another system, two or more transistors are connected in parallel and are gated on in digital succession responsive to the outputs of a ring counter.

Abstract: A closed-loop, temperature-controlled cooling system includes a Stirling cycle refrigerator driven by a dc motor, wherein the motor excitation derives from pulse width modulation. Temperature control of the cooling system is provided by a temperature-sensitive bridge circuit which responds to variations in temperature by generating an error voltage which effects a change in the modulator duty cycle. The amount of cooling is directly related to the average voltage applied to the motor, which is a function of the modulator duty cycle and the amplitude of the supply voltage. A compensation circuit is disclosed which responds to variations in the voltage amplitude of an unregulated supply by coupling an error signal to the bridge circuit to thereby affect the modulator duty cycle.

Abstract: A feedback servo positioning system for motor 13 is configured under the control of microprocessor 27 either as a position feedback servo for small displacement demands or an acceleration feedback servo for large displacements. In the latter role, the processor determines an intermediate position (e.g. mid point), accelerating the motor at maximum acceleration rate until the intermediate position is reached, and then calculates the deceleration rate required to stop the motor at the demand position. During deceleration the instantaneous position and velocity are monitored to update the optimum deceleration rate to compensate for variations from the initially computed value due to friction and other measurement errors.

Abstract: A micromanipulator system for precisely positioning an object in an xz plane and then grossly moving the object in the y direction into a hole z is disclosed. The micromanipulator system includes a base and a platform mounted to the base having five different degrees of movement (in the x direction, y direction, z direction, about the x axis, and about the z axis). Suitable moving mechanisms are provided for reversibly moving the platform in the five degrees of movement. Four of the degrees of movement being for fine or precise positioning of the platform and the fifth degree of movement in the y direction being a coarse positioning movement. A device for holding the obejct to the platform is then provided such that after precisely positioning the platform in the xz plane, the object is coarsely moved in the y direction toward the hole. Preferably, a device is provided for detecting an opposition force to the coarse movement of the object in the y direction.

Abstract: A multi-layered tactile sensing skin is provided for a robotic arm or the like. The skin includes adjacent layers of electrically insulative film having opposed contiguous surfaces. An electrically conductive carbon based compound is applied uniformly to one of the surfaces, while the other surface is selectively coated with silver oxide to form a series of pairs of first and second electrically conductive regions separated from one another by a dielectric gap. The carbon based conductor bridges the gap betwen the conductive regions in each pair, permitting flow of electrical current between the regions. The current flow increases with an increase in pressure over the interface between the layers of film, and the amperage increase can be utilized to trigger a signal to the robot power supply, to decelerate, stop or reverse arm movement.