A laminar sensor (1) for detecting changes on a laminar substrate (35). The sensor includes a laminar sheet (3) which has a first surface (5) and a second opposite surface (7), and is made from a conductive polymer composition which exhibits temperature dependent resistance behavior, preferably PTC behavior. A plurality of sensing elements (12) are electrically connected, preferably in series, on the sensor. Each sensing element is formed as an electrode pair containing a first electrode and a s...

In a computer network with a plurality of client computers and a group of host computers, each host computer in the group is capable of both servicing requests from the client computers and rerouting requests to other host computers in the group. Distribution of servicing and routing functions in accordance with predetermined criteria promotes fault tolerance, transparency and load sharing within the group. The predetermined criteria can be either stateless or utilize states. In the case of an I...

A multi-layer distributed capacitor structure comprises a bottom electrode layer overlying a monolithic substrate, intermediate pairs of layers of film electrode and dielectric material overlying the bottom electrode, and a top pair of layers of a film electrode and dielectric material overlying the intermediate pairs. The structure contains multiple openings, each opening extending from the top pair of layers through the intermediate layers and optionally through said bottom electrode. Each ele...

A modular bus system for reporting the status of a plurality of geographically distributed data points. The data points may be independently located or grouped with the status of each being monitored by a processor which is coupled to the data points via a bus multiplexer, a plurality of buses and a plurality of single point and multiplexed transmitters. Each bus may be coupled to a plurality of the transmitters and may be configured open or closed loop. The system operates to simultaneously int...

A parametric amplifier including a semiconductor body portion (10) comprising a plurality of zones (11,13,15, . . . ) of a first conductivity type, each of the zones having a thickness less than or equal to the Debye length in the semiconductor body portion (11,13,15, . . . ), each of the zones being separated from one another by corresponding insulating layers (12,14, . . . ). The body portion has a first edge portion abutting a first edge of the plurality of zones, and a second edge portion ab...

A computer-controlled distributed communication system in which there is a system controller and a plurality of group controllers all interchanging information over a system bus. Each group controller has its individual group bus for the exchange of information between stations of the group and the group controller. Each group controller shares a portion of its random access memory (RAM) with the system controller. When information is directed at approximately the same time to the RAM from a gro...

A multiport memory architecture is disclosed for each of a plurality of task centers (11, 20, 30, 40) connected to a command and data bus (10). Each task center, (such as the center 11) includes a memory (13) and a plurality of devices (12, 14, 15, 17) which request direct memory access as needed. The memory (13) includes an internal data bus (53) and an internal address bus (50) to which the devices are connected, and direct timing and control logic (54) comprised of a 10-state ring counter (62...

Distributed phosphor scintillator structures providing superior optical coupling to photoelectrically responsive devices together with methods for fabricating said scintillator structures are disclosed. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention relating to scintillator structures, the phosphor is distributed in a layered fashion with certain layers being optically transparent so that the visible wavelength output of the scintillator is better directed to detecting devices. In accordance...

To provide for uniformity of illumination across a film window, for example or super-8 mm film, the reflector has at least two contours whose generatrices follow conical sections which have a common optical axis in the direction of radiation emission, and which are so arranged that the sections are formed as sectors, with adjacent sectors having different contours. At least four sectors are used, and preferably the focal point of the generatrices are displaced relative to each other either in th...

A distributed data processing system having several local systems (LS) between which communication is provided via clearly defined functional layers. A functional coordination layer managed by systems intercommunication processors (SIP) is responsible for the functions of coordination, communication, control, initialization and simulation relative to the LSs. A functional communication layer managed by communication modules (CM) is responsible for the communication protocols between the LSs. A f...