Abstract: A stroboscope which generates high intensity light flashes may be manually adjusted to the speed of a rotating object and provides an indication of the speed of the rotating object in revolutions per minute. Connection of an external synchronizing unit into the stroboscope automatically disables the manually-controlled oscillator and substitutes synchronizing control pulses derived from a rotating object which is to be synchronized, these control pulses occurring at a frequency which is sixty times the frequency of the rotating object.

Abstract: An audiovisual signaling device including an auditory signaling means, an inductor for energizing the signaling device, and a circuit interruptor in series circuit with the inductor. A flashtube is electrically connected to the inductor and interruptor, and the inductor acts as an electromagnet when a voltage is impressed across the inductor and interruptor. The series circuit is intermittently interrupted by the interruptor, and the flashtube is actuated in response to the decaying magnetic field of the inductor when the circuit is thus interrupted.

Abstract: A high intensity strobe light having reduced electromagnetic radiation. A ash tube is mounted on a housing designed to both reduce electromagnetic interference and protect the flash tube from the environment, and light from the flash tube is piped to a reflector. The light pipe is surrounded by a waveguide proportioned to operate below cutoff frequency thereby providing attenuation to undesirable RF radiated from the flash tube.

Abstract: A system for controlling navigation lights and flashing anti-collision lights in the wing tips of an airplane, including a switch and circuitry constituting means for turning the anti-collision lights on and off from the cockpit of the plane without interfering with the normal operation of the navigation lights. The system functions using only a single wire to each wing tip, thereby obviating the need to install additional wiring inside the aircraft wings and fuselage.

Abstract: In a strobe lamp system, a circuit for monitoring the amount of energy supplied to a capacitor storage bank from a power supply senses the magnitude of the current flowing to the capacitor storage bank and produces an integral function indicating the charge stored on the capacitor bank. This integral function and the voltage across the capacitor bank are monitored by a comparator. When a selected amount of energy has been stored, a switching circuit is activated by the comparator to disconnect the capacitor storage bank from the power supply.

Abstract: A control circuit for triggering a stroboscope repetitively at successively longer intervals following successive input signals. It enables visual observation of a selected portion of the travel of a repetitively moving object with a cinematic slow motion effect. The circuit is relatively simple and includes a variable delay device, and means for varying the delay produced by it in accordance with a ramp voltage that has a period spanning several of the input signals, that is, several repetitions of the complete motion of the object to be observed.

Abstract: A vibration pick-up unit for balancing rotating bodies such as vehicle wheels comprises a housing having a tubular guide communicating with the interior of the housing, a plunger rod disposed telescopically in the tubular guide for axial and rotary movement, a permanent magnet attached pivotally on an end of the rod for engagement with a vibrating member of a wheel suspension system arising on rotation of the wheel, a first mounting member disposed within the housing and cooperating operatively with the tubular guide, the first mounting member being movable in response to the vibrations of the suspension system, a second mounting member disposed within the housing adjacent the first mounting member, light means disposed in the second mounting member for generating a source of light, photo-sensitive means disposed in the first mounting member and being responsive to the light means for converting the vibrations of the suspension system into an electric sinusoidal signal and circuit means connected operatively

Abstract: A system for measuring the accuracy of an internal timing source of a device having a light emitting display which is energized at a rate derived from the timing cycle of that timing source includes an optical pickup disposed for receiving light emission from one element of the display and generating a signal having the same frequency as the frequency of such light emission. In one embodiment, the pulses of that signal which occur within a given time period are counted and the number of such counted pulses is supplied to a display for human recognition. In a second embodiment, the time elapsed during one or more complete light emitting cycles is measured and displayed for human recognition. The pulses of a timing signal having a period of one microsecond which occur during one or more complete light emitting cycles are counted and the resultant count is displayed.

Abstract: A circuit for the repetitively pulsed operation of a xenon arc discharge lamp. A first SCR is responsive to a first control circuit when fired to allow the charging of a capacitor through a first inductor from a DC energy source. A second SCR is responsive to a second control circuit, and when fired connects the capacitor through a second inductor to a lamp to provide an operating current pulse for the lamp. Also, upon firing of the second SCR, the capacitor supplies a voltage pulse to a pulse transformer which in turn generates a high voltage pulse for ionizing the lamp. The first SCR is responsive to its control circuit to be conductive only when the capacitor is discharged and the second SCR is responsive to its respective control circuit to be conductive only when the capacitor is fully charged. In actual operation, one SCR must have been non-conducting for a predetermined time before the other SCR is allowed to become conductive thereby to prevent shoot-through.

Abstract: A strobe lamp power supply control circuit for use with a high intensity strobe lamp operating at a high flashing rate in parallel with a capacitor storage arrangement is disclosed. Strobe lamp after-glow is quickly eliminated after each flash. This is accomplished by providing an SCR which disconnects the power source from the capacitor storage arrangement and the strobe lamp for a sufficient time to allow the after-glow to dissipate. A zero crossing detector is provided to protect the SCR from surge currents by permitting the SCR to be gated on only when there is a zero potential across the terminals of the SCR. Additionally, the capacitor storage arrangement may be used to supply either of two strobe lamps when a voltage limiting circuit is activated to regulate the amount of energy stored.