Abstract: A system for bidirectional communication of digital data between a central unit and a remote unit wherein the need for tracking loops in the central unit has been eliminated. The central unit transmitter generates a master carrier and a master clock signal which are used to transmit downstream data to the remote units. The remote units recover the master carrier and master clock and synchronize local oscillators in each remote unit to these master carrier and master clock signals to generate reference carrier and clock signals for use by the remote unit receiver. These reference carrier and clock signals are also used by the remote unit transmitters to transmit upstream data to the central unit. The central unit receiver detects the phase difference between the reference carrier and clock signals from the remote units periodically and adjusts the phase of the master carrier and master clock signals for use by the central unit receiver to receive the upstream data.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for implementing a subchannel for management and control or other supplemental data on a media shared with a high speed data link. Several FDMA approaches are disclosed including AM, FM, PM, phase, QAM, QPSK etc. modulation of a subcarrier having a frequency which is in the bandwidth provided by the shared media which is not used by the DC balanced high speed data stream. A preferred species which is compatible with existing high speed data transmitters and receivers comprises a subchannel transmitter which frequency shift keys a subchannel carrier of about 1 mHz with the subchannel data. The modulated subchannel carrier is summed by superposition with a DC balanced NRZ format gigabit data stream and coupled onto the media.

Abstract: A data processing system implements a security protocol based on processing data in packets. The data processing system comprises processing packets for storing filter code and processing data packets according to stored filter code, and a policy managing function for generating filter code and communicating generated filter code for packet processing. The packet processing function is arranged to examine, whether the stored filter code is applicable for processing a certain packet. If the stored filter code is not applicable for the processing of a packet, the packet is communicated to the policy managing function, which generates filter code applicable for the processing of the packet and communicates the generated filter code for packet processing.

Abstract: A bidirectional digital data communication system which generate phase coherent upstream clock and carrier signals from recovered downstream clock generated from a master clock in a central unit. The preferred species uses any downstream clock rate and generates a phase coherent upstream clock so long as the two clock rates can be related by the ratio M/N where M and N are integers. One embodiment uses an MCNS downstream and an SCDMA upstream and uses MNCN timestamp messages in the downstream to achieve an estimate of RU frame offset prior to establishing frame alignment using a ranging process. The use of timestamp messages to estimate the offset is aided by a low jitter method for inserting timestamp messages by avoiding straddling of MPEG packet headers with the sync message. Clock slip is detected by counting upstream clock cycles over a predetermined downstream clock interval and the RU transmitter is shut down if slip is detected to prevent ISI interference from misaligned codes.

Abstract: A learning half bridge and bridge for a Fibre Channel Arbitrated Loop and switching protocol. A half bridge can be coupled to a local loop segment and a remote loop segment. The half bridge includes transmit and receive ports implementing predetermined switching and conflict resolution rules and a memory storing a forwarding table. Typically the switching rules are implemented using state machines. The state machines implement a switching protocol that controls transitions between states which control switching connections, writing of data to memory and reading of data from memory and preemption of conflicting OPN primitives. Each half bridge includes a local return segment that can be switched by the state machines to bypass the remote loop segment if both the source node and destination node are on the local loop segment so as to make the local loop segment a complete Fibre Channel Arbitrated Loop.

Abstract: A disposable mask and suction catheter includes a mask having a front side and a back side, the back side being disposed in contact with a user's face during use. The disposable mask and suction catheter also includes a catheter tube having a first and a second end, the first end being removably attachable to a suction source for removing exhaled air and the second end being attached to the back side of the mask. The disposable mask and suction catheter helps to prevent fogging of glasses or other eyewear due to moist, exhaled air that escapes from behind the mask, and improves user comfort by constantly removing the warm, moist air behind and around the mask and drawing cool dry air into the mask.

Abstract: When data is simply input without being aware of describing a program language (e.g., COBOL or FORTRAN), the data input meaning is detected, and software for this data processing is automatically applied and prepared. Various types of worksheets corresponding to the business logic terms and data input positions are stored in a business data file. When an operation unit is operated and data is input to the data input position, the input data is stored as rule setting data. When application data corresponding to the rule setting data is input through the operation unit, a business logic applying section determines the use software in accordance with the corresponding business logic term.

Abstract: A series of police doppler single mode radars and a multimode police doppler radar, all with direction sensing capability are disclosed. A quadrature front end which mixes received RF with a local oscillator to generate two channels of doppler signals, one channel being shifted by an integer multiple of 90 degrees in phase relative to the other by shifting either the RF or the local oscillator signal being fed to one mixer but not the other. The two doppler signals are digitized and the samples are processed by a digital signal processor programmed to find one or more selected target speeds. Single modes disclosed are: stationary strongest target; stationary, fastest target; stationary, strongest and fastest targets; moving, strongest, opposite lane; moving, strongest, same lane; moving, fastest, opposite lane; moving, fastest and strongest, opposite lane; moving, fastest, same lane; moving fastest and strongest, same lane.

Abstract: An apparatus for accelerated Fiber Channel protocol handshaking and data exchange involves dividing a Fiber Channel arbitrated loop architecture up into a plurality of arbitrated subloops, each of which arbitrates locally using the same fundamentals as the Fiber Channel arbitration protocol but with some slight modifications which do not affect the compatibility of standard Fiber Channel nodes. Each subloop is coupled to a hub port which contains a state machine which implements distributed intelligence to do switching function and fill word generation to implement the accelerated protocol by using a plurality of switching, fill word generation and token passing rules. The state machine in each hub port is coupled to its local subloop and to its neighboring hub ports through a single TDMA bus which has timeslots dedicated to carrying broadcast loop and return loop traffic and control token traffic.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for carrying out synchronous co-division multiple access (SCDMA) communication of multiple channels of digital data over a shared transmission media such as a cable television system coaxial cable, a fiber optic or copper conductor telephone link, terrestial microwave, satellite link, local or wide area network, wireless including cellur network or some combination of these media using suitable interface circuitry. The system includes modems at remote units and a central unit to receive time division multiplexed digital data arranged into timeslots or channels and uses orthogonal codes to encode each channel of multiple data and spread the energy of each channel data over a frame of data transmitted in the code domain. Spreading the data this way makes the system less susceptible to impulse noise.

Abstract: The spreader comprises an elongated hopper which is mountable across the rear end of a truck box in an underslung fashion. When the end-gate of the box is opened, aggregate can spill into the hopper. The hopper forms a discharge slot along its lower end. A pair of coaxial, end-to-end drums are rotatably mounted in the hopper and extend into the lower portion of the slot. Each drum is separately driven. A ramp extends between the box floor and the front upper quadrants of the drums for feeding aggregate thereto. A pair of separately actuated, pivoting flaps bear against the upper rear quadrants of the drums and function to open or close the upper portion of the slot. The ramp/drum assembly provides even, well distributed discharge of aggregate. The flap/drum assemblies can provide an effective shut-off or lay down narrow or wide strips of aggregate.

Abstract: A telephone with a selectable level of sidetone for use in noisy environments. The selectable level of sidetone is achieved by forming a switch-controlled feedback path including a gain setting resistor from the output of a transmit amplifier in a hybrid circuit to a summing node virtual ground at one input of a differential amplifier driving the handset speaker. The summing node is also coupled to the audio output port of the three port hybrid so as to also receive incoming audio signals from the tip and ring lines. A microcontroller having configuration data controls whether the switch is closed and the feedback path exists or the switch is open and no feedback occurs. Lower sidetone or no sidetone is useful in phones used in noisy environments such as factory floors or restaurants.

Abstract: A self-regulating, automatic watering planter comprised of an inner shell and outer shell with a snap-fit engagement to form a reservoir for water between the walls of the inner and outer shells. The inner shell has small holes in the bottom thereof to allow water to enter soil contained in the inner shell. An airtight seal between the inner and outer shells creates a vacuum at the top of the reservoir as the water seeps through the holes and the water level drops. The water in the walls provides hydrostatic pressure that drives the water through the inlet holes. The water stops when the vacuum reaches a sufficient level to counteract the hydrostatic pressure. An air tube coupled to the air space on top of the reservoir and having a hydrophilic polyethylene sensor blocking one end is buried in the soil.

Abstract: This disclosure is directed to novel systems and methods for producing motion in response to a drive signal where the motion has a smooth translational reversal. The system accepts a command position signal and compares the command position signal to the actual position of a linear actuator to develop a position error that is then conditioned to produce a pair of valve drive signals that command series connected proportional valves that supply the linear actuator from a common connection of the valves with fluid flow and pressure to adjust the position of the linear actuator so as to reduce the position error by imparting motion to the linear actuator, thus imparting motion to a load. The conditioning of the valve drive signals includes the processing of the position error and the application of a quiescent drive signal to develop or nearly develop a quiescent fluid flow through the series connected valves. The quiescent drive signal can be automatically or manually developed.

Abstract: An interface circuit for use in the layout of padframe interface circuits for field programmable gate arrays having a plurality of I/O cells each of which may be programmed as an input or an output (or both) and a programmable connection matrix which provide programmable pathways between the data output signals generated by the core array of logic blocks and I/O cells programmed as outputs and provide programmable pathways between I/O cells programmed as inputs and data input conductors going into the core array. The interface circuits are all substantially identical in structure, and each includes a sufficient number of power and ground connections to supply adequate current to the number of I/O cells the interface has. Each interface circuit also includes at least one and preferably two open spaces into which conductive paths may be laid out to carry power to the core array or carry dedicated signals to circuits other than the core which also reside on the integrated circuit.

Abstract: A source for a linear homodyne transceiver that generates repeated linear chirps. A YIG oscillator with a main coil and an FM coil receives a basic linear current ramp at the main coil to generate a chirp. The FM coil is coupled to receive a PLL error signal. The PLL receives a sample of the output signal from the YIG oscillator at one input and a linear chirp reference signal at the other input generated by a DDS chirp generator. Any variation between the linear chirp frequency at any instant and the actual frequency output by the YIG is corrected by an error signal to the FM coil to correct for nonlinearities of the YIG caused by variations in the chirp rate, the rate of change of frequency per second per chirp, temperature variations and microphonics.

Abstract: A method and device are disclosed for transferring information from cinema film at a first speed to broadcast quality video signals at a second and different, predetermined speed which may be greater or less than the first speed in a telecine containing a capstan and an internal frame store. The device comprises (1) a mechanism for determining rotational phase and velocity of the capstan, and (2) a servo motor driven at a rate outside the frame store given range, including means to adjust the linear film rate to an integer multiple/submultiple of the framestore pulse rate.

Abstract: A method for repairing a locally damaged, dented surface of a wall, whereby the surface is provided with a relief, as well as a wall comprising a locally repaired surface, which has been repaired by using the method below. A mould comprising an impression of the relief of an undamaged part of the surface is made, the dented surface is filled with a filler, after which the impression on the mould is pressed into the filling material, as a result of which a relief corresponding with the original relief is formed in the filling material.

Abstract: A variety of PC card interfaces to interface from many different types of input devices to Personal Digital Assistants or palmtop computers through PCMCIA slots. The disclosed interfaces can receive data in undecoded format from laser based, wand based or CCD based barcode scanning engines, decode the data to alphanumeric characters and pass the decoded data to the PDA via the PCMCIA 68 pin bus. Other PC card based interfaces are also disclosed which can accept input data in the form of ASCII or EBCDIC characters from virtually any type of input device which a standard serial or parallel output or custom output bus and input that data to the PDA through the PCMCIA bus. Some embodiments use programmed general purpose microprocessors to decode undecoded barcode scan data on the PC card. Other embodiments use custom-programmed, commercially available barcode decoding chips to decode incoming undecoded barcode scan data.