Abstract: A method and system for filtering a noisy input comprised of an information signal and a noise signal. No prior time domain value information or frequency domain parameter information on the information signal or noise signal is available. A whitening filter renders the noise part of a noise signal into a substantially white noise signal. A fourier transform system provides an amplitude spectrum output and a phase output. A multiplier squares the amplitude spectrum output thus providing a power spectrum output. A zero mean sub-system generates a zero mean power spectrum output from the power spectrum output. A square root sub-system squares the zero mean power spectrum output thus providing a resultant output. An inverse Fourier transform sub-system inversely transforms the resultant output to provide a time domain resultant output. An inverse whitening filter provides a substantially noise free output from the time domain resultant output.

Abstract: A cutting die system having an improved waste or scrap removal system is provided. Curved edge patterns are cut into the cutting die plate within the parameters of the cutting edge. These partial cutouts having curved edges are provided so that when the cutting die is mounted to the die cylinder, the bending of the cutting die to fit the curvature of the die cylinder causes the cut out shape to pop up. The direction of the pop-up cut out shape is complementary to the relative direction of rotation of the cutting die and the height of the projections remains below the cutting edge height. When the pop-up cut out shape comes in contact with the waste or scrap material, the waste or scrap material is pushed outward and away from the direction of the die cylinder.

Abstract: A multi-use die system is provided having a die holder with reference marks disposed circumferentially and radially along the longitudinal axis of the holder, and a multi-use die plate for magnetic affixation to the die holder which impresses a pattern onto a material blank. The die plate has straight and angular reference marks disposed thereon which are adapted to align with the radial and longitudinal reference marks on the die holder so as to properly align the die on the die holder at a predetermined position. In a straight rotary die system, the die is aligned such that the straight reference mark on the die is aligned with the respective corresponding radial and circumferential references on the die holder. In the angular rotary die system, the die is aligned such that the angular mark is aligned with the corresponding radial and circumferential references on the die holder.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system and methodology where virtually no DC power dissipation is used during keyboard scanning or key closure. This is done by replacing the passive pull-up (or pull down) resistors of previous schemes by input/output (I/O) circuits with repeaters and utilizing a scanning protocol and methodology which take advantage of the bidirectional I/O devices with repeaters. In a preferred embodiment, a plurality of CMOS bidirectional I/O circuits with repeaters are used, one for each row and column line in a switch matrix. A low power, switch activation scanner circuit determines activation of a switch. The circuit is coupled to or may include a plurality of switches, arranged in rows and columns, each row output line intersecting each column output line at a different node, for coupling a first row to a first column at a first node when a first switch of the plurality of switches is activated.

Abstract: A rotary cutting assembly is provided for cutting a panel from an envelope blank or the like. The die holder has an outer surface and a plurality of surface orifices radially communicating with corresponding feed tubes for supplying vacuum or air to the surface and into the vicinity of the envelope blank. A novel air delivery assembly is provided for delivering vacuum and/or air to the die holder comprising a stationary plate disposed at least at one end of the die holder and defining a groove member for selectively supplying vacuum and/or air so that when rotation of die holder aligns the longitudinal feed tubes with the groove member a supply of vacuum or air is selectively supplied at the surface orifices of the die holder. Another embodiment of the die holder may have an outer surface having a extending along the longitudinal axis for detachably receiving the leading end of the cutting die and a plurality of magnetic members disposed in the die holder surface for attracting the cutting die.

Abstract: A cutting die and chisel for cutting a stack of material such as paper and the like. The cutting die has a cutting edge for cutting a central portion in the material and the chisel has a cutting edge for cutting the excess peripheral portion of the stack so that the peripheral portion does not interfere with the cutting of the central portion. The chisel has a body portion for receiving at least one magnet so that the chisel may be magnetically attached to the periphery of the chisel.

Abstract: A video display system is provided which compensates for video processing delays in multiple, inter-coupled video processing subsystems. The video display system is comprised of multiple video processing subsystems, each having a video bus for coupling video data between individual ones of the multiple subsystems. Each subsystem is adapted to receive one or more video data inputs and to selectively and programmably process the one or more video data inputs to provide a video data output. Each subsystem is comprised of a video delay subsystem coupled to an external video source and to the video bus. The video delay subsystem adds a programmable time delay to its respective external video source input data prior to coupling it to its respective processor for processing of video data contained within that respective video processing subsystem.

Abstract: Programmable apparatus for digital processing of video signals from multiple sources converted to digital format to provide real-time multiple simultaneous special video effects and suitable for direct interface to a conventional microcomputer bus such as an Apple Macintosh II NuBus. The apparatus includes a matrix of multipliers to do real-time video processing permitting special effects such as fading between at least two video image sources, as well as a priority resolver to control display on a pixel by pixel basis of more than ten sources based upon dynamically programmable priority. In addition, a programmable multiple range thresholder, a hardware window generator capable of generating multiple simultaneous windows, a color look up table and optional image capture capabilities are provided. The apparatus also provides for a light pen input, genlocking and a range of special video effects including zooming, mosaicing, panning and blending.

Abstract: A system is provided to reduce noise from a signal of speech that is contaminated by noise. The present system employs an artificial intelligence that is capable of deciding upon the adjustment of a filter subsystem by distinguishing between noise and speech in the spectrum of the incoming signal of speech plus noise. The system does this by testing the pattern of a power or envelope function of the frequency spectrum of the incoming signal. The system determines that the fast changing portions of that envelope denote speech whereas the residual is determined to be the frequency distribution of the noise power. This determination is done while examining either the whole spectrum, or frequency bands thereof, regardless of where the maximum of the spectrum lies. In another embodiment of the invention, a feedback loop is incorporated which provides incremental adjustments to the filter by employing a gradient search procedure to attempt to increase certain speech-like features in the system's output.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, a functional electrical stimulation system enables upper-motor-neuron paraplegic patients and certain other paralyzed or partially paralyzed patients to stand and to take steps with the support of a walker in an independent fashion so that they are in control of the stimulation and, noting that they have very little or no sensation, that they still can obtain some feedback on the state of the system. In one embodiment, a compact and safe battery-operated stimulation system is provided that is of pocket size and that allows for non-invasive safe and controlled stimulation using skin surface electrodes.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, a functional electrical stimulation system enables upper-motor-neuron paraplegic patients and certain other paralyzed or partially paralyzed patients to stand and to take steps with the support of a walker in an independent fashion so that they are in control of the stimulation and, noting that they have very little or no sensation, that they still can obtain some feedback on the state of the system. In one embodiment, a compact and safe battery-operated stimulation system is provided that is of pocket size and that allows for non-invasive save and controlled stimulation using skin surface electrodes.

Abstract: Paraplegic patients and cetain other paralyzed patients who suffer from an upper motor unit spinal cord injury and undergo FNS (Functional Neuromuscular Stimulation) experience muscle fatigue within a time span that is usually shorter than is normal, but have no sensation of this fatigue due to paralysis. When FNS is used functionally, as is its implied purpose, to stand and walk, the patients need the support of a walker or canes or elbow crutches, and are unable to manually adjust FNS levels or pulse widths to compensate for that fatigue, since the time for this adjustment is exactly when the patients cannot divert attention and hands to anything else. Under FNS, the stimulated muscles produce an EMG (electromyographic) signal at the stimulated site, in response to that stimulation. This response-EMG undergoes pattern changes with the progression of fatigue.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, a functional electrical stimulation system enables upper-motor-neuron paraplegic patients and certain other paralyzed or partially paralyzed patients to stand and to take steps with the support of a walker in an independent fashion so that they are in control of the stimulation and, noting that they have very little or not sensation, that they still can obtain some feedback on the state of the system. In one embodiment, a compact and safe battery-operated stimulation system is provided that is of pocket size and that allows for non-invasive safe and controlled stimulation using skin surface electrodes.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, a printer is embedded in any one, or more, signature feeder, for directly printing on a signature form coming out of that feeder. The printer is not on the collating conveyor, nor between signature feeders as in prior systems.This provides for precisely controlled printing, on the form, a label or on the spine.This provides a signature collating system having selectively controllable printing on the signature form coming out of the signature feeder.

Abstract: A system and method of tool path processing is taught which offsets a tool path from a given geometric sequence, avoiding tool interference and accounting for coincident tool paths. It guides a numerically-controlled machine tool in the manufacturing process. In accordance with the present invention, a computer-aided-manufacturing system defines or allows definition of a pattern to be machined by a tool having an offset, analyzes the pattern for points of intersection, breaks down the pattern into contiguous segments between points of intersection, structures a list of the segments, ordered between intersection points, defines tool path chains, responsive to the list; validates the tool path chains to define valid tool paths, and, guides the movement of the tool along a valid tool path.

Abstract: A system for serial communications is disclosed comprising an encoder for serially outputting conservative encoded codewords responsive to a parallel data input, and a decoder for outputting, in parallel, decoded data words responsive to the serially transmitted conservative encoded codewords.The codewords are characterized in that the ratio is known between the total number of bits per codeword transmitted and the total number of transitions per codeword.The encoder transforms each m-bit parallel data work into one n-bit codeword, where n is greater than m, such that every codeword has a known number of transitions and such that one of the transitions in the codeword has a predefined position.Thereafter, the encoder converts each n-bit codeword from parallel to serial form for output onto a serial communications channel.A method is taught for conservative encoding as follows.First, identify and define the total set of q different datawords of m-bits each which can be transmitted.