Abstract: A burglar alarm system of the non-wired perimeter protective type for detecting and indicating break-ins at an entrance or opening, such as a window or door, of a building, employs as a sonic signal generator a transducer that is both triggered and powered by the break-in. The sonic signal is of a specific selected supersonic frequency and is received by a remotely located local receiver within the building which in turn may actuate an alarm. Protection against false activation by sonic noise is provided by altering the gain of the receiver in response to received sonic noise adjacent to but different from the selected frequency, so that noise containing even a strong signal at the selected frequency, as well as at adjacent frequencies, does not result in an alarm being raised, but a weaker signal at the selected frequency, without signals at adjacent frequencies, such as is produced by the transducer, does result in an alarm being activated.

Abstract: A sound level alarm device sequentially listens to the sound level of an enclosure or area for a first predetermined interval of time, and thereafter does not listen to the sound level of the area for another predetermined interval of time. The circuit sounds an alarm upon detection of a sound level of a predetermined magnitude measured during the first time interval. The circuitry is designed for omitting quick, sharp noises such as a cough, hand clap, book dropping, or the like. The apparatus is advantageously used in class rooms, laboratories, libraries, and play rooms as a teaching aid wherein people with loud noisy habits are electronically assisted in overcoming these undesirable aspects of their life style.

Abstract: A microcomputer based monitor and display system for a refrigerator in which visual indicia are provided to indicate to the user the degree of door usage on a rolling average time basis. Threshold time limits are established to correspond to heavy, normal and light usage. The actual door-open time is sensed and accumulated in successive time segments. The rolling average door open time over a predetermined number of time segments is calculated at the end of each time segment and the appropriate lamp is lit depending on how the calculated average door-open time compares to the established threshold values.

Abstract: Process for detecting the under-inflation of a tire of the landing gear of an aircraft in the course of taxiing, said landing gear being formed by at least one bogie comprising a beam provided with a pair of twin wheels at each of its ends provision is made of two bridge assemblies of four strain gauges disposed on each of the parts of the beam located between the median spindle for articulation of said beam to the leg and the corresponding pair of wheels, each bridge being supplied by its diagonal transverse to said beam, while the torsion signal is taken from the diagonal longitudinal with respect to the beam.

Abstract: A flow sensing apparatus for providing an indication of the presence of an exiting flow stream from a coal processing plant cyclone includes a probe member disposed in the edge of the flow stream, an electronic sensing circuit cooperatively arranged with the probe member in order to provide either a high or a low level signal, depending upon whether the probe member is being contacted by the exiting flow stream or whether such contact is not being made. A display light is cooperatively arranged with the sensing circuit so as to flicker on and off as the exiting flow stream intermittently and irregularly contacts the probe member. The flickering of the display light indicating proper outlet flow from the coal processing plant cyclone while a constantly on condition of the light indicates that flow is not occurring.

Abstract: An intrusion detection system is specifically designed to avoid actual confrontation within a protected premises between a returning occupant and an intruder. The system forewarns a returning owner or occupant, before entering the premises, that an intrusion has occurred by providing a signal visible from the outside of the premises. In this manner, the owner is alerted to the possibility that an intruder may still be present within the premises, and confrontation is avoided. The system includes a test mode operable from outside the protected premises to determine if the system has been tampered with by an intruder. If no intrusion signal is observed by the returning owner, he must still test the system to ascertain if the absence of the intrusion signal is a result of no intrusion, or if it is the result of an intruder having tampered with the system, by for example, removing its power supply.

Abstract: An atmospheric sampling pump arrangement employing a mass flow sensor which electronically monitors mass flow and compares it to a set-point value. The pump is then controlled in a manner that will minimize the difference between the measured flow and the set-point value. When the flow output drops below a predetermined value, a signal is energized to indicate the inability to maintain the desired flow. The system also incorporates a timer circuit which counts up the total amount of time that loss of flow regulation exists. After a predetermined period of cumulative loss of flow regulation, typically 30 minutes, a signal is energized to indicate this condition.

Abstract: An acoustic emission burglary detection system for detecting physical attacks made on a protected structure such as a vault, safe or the like. Sensors (13, 14) mounted on the protected structure detect acoustic emission stress wave signals produced by an attack and provide an event signal of a corresponding frequency and with an amplitude and duration dependent upon those of the stress wave signals. Event signals exhibiting a frequency less than 50,000 Hz are much less likely to have been originated by a physical attack upon the protected structure and are filtered out. The remaining event signals which exceed a predetermined level are integrated over a predetermined time period. If the resulting value exceeds a predetermined level an alarm is activated. Means are provided for testing the detection circuit by providing electrical pulses through one of the sensors to cause it to generate mechanical stress wave signals in the protected structure which can be detected and processed by the detection circuitry.

Abstract: The smoke detector is powered by standard AC current and a stand-by power source consisting of rechargeable batteries. A detector is provided for detecting the loss or failure of AC power, and the shift to the stand-by power source. The power loss detector initiates a time delay after which the smoke detector signal alarm is energized to alert the user about the loss of AC power. If AC power is restored before the time delay interval, the signal is not energized since the user need not be alerted. If the alarm is energized to alert the user of a loss of AC power, a manual reset switch may be used to terminate the alarm. If the manual reset switch is not used, the alarm is terminated automatically upon the restoration of AC power.

Abstract: An improved dual-sensor infrared intrusion alarm system includes a motion discriminator that renders the system responsive to only radiation-emanating objects that are moving through the system's scope of surveillance. A positive or negative sensor signal is developed depending on the relative amounts of radiation impinging on the sensors. A switching amplifier selectively discharges one of two capacitors depending on the polarity of the sensor signal. The voltages across the capacitors are coupled to the inputs of a voltage comparator and the capacitor recharge time constants are selected so that an alarm is indicated only when the length of the time interval between the occurrence of a sensor signal of a given polarity and the subsequent occurrence of a sensor signal of the opposite polarity is within prescribed limits, for example, two seconds.

Abstract: A device for monitoring the physical activity of persons comprises a movement detector 8 electrically coupled to drive time-delay circuits [C2, R2, TR6, R6,][C4, R4, TR4, R5][C5, R7, TR8, R8,] the outputs of which are connected to drive an alarm device 10 such that in the presence of the movements detected by detector 8 the alarm device 10 is held in its OFF condition and is switched to its ON condition in the absence of such movements after a pertaining time-delay. The time-delay circuits are respectively arranged to provide time-delays of 30 seconds, 6 seconds, 40 seconds, with the first and second time-delay circuits being connected in series and the third time-delay circuit connected in parallel with the first two so that if the first timer circuit activates the alarm the second timer circuit provides a delay prior to latching of the alarm during which the alarm can be manually cancelled while the third timer circuit provides for fail-safe operation.

Abstract: A combustion detection apparatus and method is provided for generating an alarm output when either a first alarm condition or a second alarm condition is present. A first alarm output is generated when a first predetermined concentration of combustion products is continuously present in a region being monitored for a preestablished period of time. A second alarm output is immediately generated when a second predetermined concentration of combustion products is present in the region being monitored. The second predetermined concentration of combustion products represents a relatively greater concentration of combustion products than the first predetermined concentration.

Abstract: A diagnostic and warning system for a motor vehicle monitors the condition of a number of preselected parameters. When the condition of the parameters is representative of a fault condition, the system energizes a malfunction light in the vehicle compartment during the period of the detected fault. The particular fault detected is stored in a nonvolatile memory where it is stored independent of the subsequent condition of the respective parameter. The stored fault conditions may thereafter be read from memory to provide an indication of the malfunctions that have occurred in response to a diagnostic interrogation signal. The fault conditions stored in the nonvolatile memory are erased when a predetermined time period has lapsed since the occurrence of a detected fault condition so that old nonrecurring self-correcting faults are not retained in memory and accordingly not indicated in response to a diagnostic interrogation signal.

Abstract: An electronic postal meter includes a unitary structure having a settable printing device, an electronic accounting unit and a control unit preferably having a keyboard. The meter includes a mechanical input for drive by a conventional mechanical meter base, as well as a shutter controlled by the shutter lever of the meter base, for blocking the drive input. An interposer for also blocking movement of the shutter is operated by a solenoid, and a sensor is provided to indicate lack of operation of the interposer for a given period of time, to provide an indication that the interposer is jammed against the shutter, necessitating a resetting of the meter base.

Abstract: A discharge-controlled method for a compressed air-controlled wet settling machine for the preparation of mineral mixtures, particularly for the washing of raw coal, is carried out such that the preparation takes place by means of pulsation of a separating liquid in a work chamber, whereby the pulsation is controlled by means of inlet and outlet valves and results in a stratification of the minerals on the settling machine carrier such that the heavier materials are stratified below the lighter materials. The layer level of the heavier material is measured by a scanner, in particular a float, and an actual-reference regulation controls a discharge apparatus for the heavier minerals. Measurement of the actual value of the heavier material layer level takes place by way of the scanner during a period of time which lies asymmetrically between the opening time of the outlet valve and the opening time of the inlet valve, and in particular shortly before the opening time of the inlet valve.

Abstract: There is disclosed a monitoring system for monitoring a plurality of functions or stations in a machine and capable of providing an alarm signal in the event of a failure or significant deviation in any one of the functions, which monitoring system also incorporates electronic circuitry for automatically temporarily disabling the alarm device in the event of a near simultaneous discontinuance or deviation in all of the functions being monitored.

Abstract: A television system and method are disclosed for monitoring and indicating changes in a scene from which electromagnetic radiation, such as visible light, emanates. A television system including a television camera scans the scene in known raster fashion in a series of image frames, producing an amplitude modulated video signal describing the energy intensity distribution of the scene. Clocking and gating circuitry triggered in synchronism with television camera synchronization signals defines a set of predetermined discrete spaced locations of the raster during each image frame and samples video signal amplitude at each of the defined locations. The same discrete locations are sampled during each frame. Video selection circuitry, during a succession of sampling periods, inputs in real time a representation of each video amplitude sample to one of several storage channels of a multi-channel memory system including a multi-channel counter.

Abstract: A triggered before disarmed alarm system uses CMOS circuitry having a hex-inverter integrated circuit with the output logical inverter coupled to the output transistor by a timing circuit that may be selected through control of the presence and absence of a D.C. operating potential to selectively provide pulsating or continuous potential, respectively, to the output transistor that renders the output transistor intermittently and continuously conductive, respectively, in the presence of an alarm signal. Intercoupling circuitry includes resistance capacitance networks with the capacitance shunted by Zener diodes having a voltage rating corresponding substantially to the voltage rating of the capacitance shunted.

Abstract: A triggered before disarmed alarm system especially useful in connection with an automobile alarm uses CMOS circuitry and appropriate supply filtering having one hex-inverter integrated circuit as the only active component beside the output transistor. Diodes couple a negative immediate trigger, positive and negative delayed triggers and a disarm potential to various ones of the six inverters to render the output transistor conductive and signify an alarm condition only when an alarm condition is signified by a sequence of inputs consistent with unauthorized entry.

Abstract: An annunciator to indicate the presence of a truck on a weighing platform to a weigh station operator is disclosed. The apparatus includes a presence sensor operable in response to the weight of the truck on the scales. The sensor provides a signal to a discriminator circuit which, depending upon the length of the signal from the presence sensor, determines whether the truck is merely passing over the scales or has stopped on the scales to be weighed. The discriminator produces an output causing a signaling device to operate and indicate to the operator of the weigh station that a truck is on the scales and is ready to be weighed.

Abstract: In a storage type smoke detector which requires a predetermined time after an ionization smoke sensor detects a fire before a fire warning is issued, a charging circuit including a capacitor connected to a power supplying line is coupled with a discharging circuit for periodically discharging a voltage charged in the capacitor, and the discharging circuit is periodically closed by a P-channel type field effect transistor which is connected to an output end the ionization smoke sensor and which is supplied with a series of oscillating pulse.

Abstract: For use with apparatus for transferring a load between two stations movable relative to each other in a vertical plane by means of a crane carried by one of the two stations having a hook assembly for attachment to the load on the other station for lifting the load, a lift-off indicator measures either the relative velocity or relative vertical accelerations of the two stations and from signals representing relative velocity of approach showing values between a maximum positive and a negative, and relative acceleration acting away from the direction of approach indicates conditions suitable for initiating lifting.

Abstract: An alarm system for a vehicle or trailer, the system comprising an alarm circuit which is energizable after a predetermined time period responsively to actuation of a control circuit of the system, and switch means for controlling the operating state of the control circuit.