Abstract: This transducer multiplexer enables a multiplicity of individual bridge type transducers to be calibrated simultaneously under computer control. The various transducers are connected to a common loading means capable of providing a variety of known loads to the transducers also under computer control. The transducer multiplexer communicates with an external control computer over a standard interface bus.

Abstract: A parcel mailing system includes a postage value determining scale and peripheral mailing system devices such as a postage meter/mailing machine. The scale includes a main processor, a memory which stores postage rate data, a weighing device which generates weight indicative signals, a display, and a keyboard. A voice recognition subsystem is coupled to the system processor for hands free operator entry of information relating to postage value determinations. The voice recognition subsystem is trained to recognize various operator words and generate appropriate signals for postage value determination, e.g. zone information, zip code information, and rate classifications, as well as command signals. The system processor receives such signals from either the voice recognition subsystem or the keyboard.

Abstract: In a sampling digital oscilloscope means operable to measure the time period from the occurrence of a trigger signal to the onset of signal sampling period so that commulatively stored samples of a repetitively sampled signal visually coincide, producing a clear, jitter-free signal image. Moreover, the trigger signal is also produced according to a hold-off mode to allow the user to evaluate the results of processing the sampled signals by the digital oscilloscope before adding new data samples. In addition, a triggered update of stored data by new signals is provided, which is further controllable via an arm/disarm control to interrupt realtime updating of signals, allowing the user to observe signal changes as they occur.

Abstract: An audio dosimeter for use by an individual for measuring exposure to sound which contains the following components:(a) an electronic microphonic sound sensor means,(b) an amplifier and weighting circuit,(c) an x-squared detector circuit,(d) a temperature compensation circuit;(e) analog to digital time converter,(f) a microcomputer which controls functions of the temperature compensator circuit and analog to digital time converter and has unique logarithmic mathematics for converting the signal from the converter into sound measurement values such as percent of dose, average and maximum decibel levels and instantaneous sound level.

Abstract: A vending machine system for hotels or the like is disclosed in which a plurality of remote vending machines communicate with a central processing unit to transmit thereto information on article sales. Each of the vending machines includes sensors for sensing the presence of articles in an article store and a memory for storing data indicating the number of articles which can be accommodated in the article store, the number of articles sold and the number of articles remaining to be sold for each kind of article. Counting means are provided for counting articles sold and articles added to the vending machines and for modifying the stored data. The sales number data for each type of article is transmitted from the vending machines to the central processing unit for processing.

Abstract: The density, volume and mass of fuel held in an aircraft tank are measured by a system of four pressure sensors interfaced with an associated microcomputer. The sensors are disposed in a predetermined array at unequal depths below the surface plane of the contained fuel. Electrical transducers associated with the pressure sensors develop electrical signals representing the associated pressures P1, P2, P3, and P4 and these signals are processed by the microcomputer which is programmed to correlate the individual pressure signals and known coordinate locations of the sensors with certain unknown parameters including the fuel density .rho., and the orientation and distance of the fuel surface plane relative to each pressure sensor. These relationships establish four simultaneous equations that are processed by the programmed microcomputer to yield simultaneous solutions for the density .rho., and for the position of the fuel surface plane.

Abstract: An energy controller maintains the total power delivered to an establishment close to a power limit so as to ensure shared operation of all curtailed loads by computing a cumulative priority value (CPV) for each load. The CPV of a particular load is the positive product of a "user-set priority" for that load and the amount of time that load has been shed, or is the negative product of the user-set priority and the amount of time that load has been restored. A processor makes decisions whether to shed or restore a certain load on the basis of the relation of the CPV of that load to the CPV's of the other loads. Loads with the highest CPV's are restored first and loads with the lowest CPV's are shed first. The power limit is adjusted between upper and lower bounds to reflect recent power usage patterns. A minor average and a major average, each of which is most "weighted" by recent power readings, are computed.

Abstract: Remotely controllable and manipulable unmanned apparatus for safely inspecting, testing, viewing and for non-invasive examination and evaluation of the general condition, the state of repair, and of the quality of fabrication of mechanical structures such as large buildings, chimneys and bridges. The apparatus includes a movable carrier or platform for supporting selectable scanning, testing and sensor equipment. A drive mechanism controls the movement of the platform along a predetermined inspection path to be traversed. Auxiliary electrical components and transducers are provided for transmitting intelligence and data generated by the inspection apparatus to a remote station where the intelligence is received for review, evaluation and recordation.

Abstract: A machine-implemented method of operating a thermal power generating plant having at least one power generating unit comprises (A) determining, in accordance with a given time point t.sub.1 at which the power generating unit is to become capable of load control and assumed time length T.sub.1 for time length of initial load holding TINT, a predicted value t'.sub.PI of a time point t.sub.PI of parallel-in, a predicted value t'.sub.GT of a time point t.sub.GT of a gas turbine start; and a predicted value t'.sub.INC of a time point t.sub.INC of initial load hold completion; and (B) correcting the predicted values t'.sub.PI, t'.sub.GT and t'.sub.INC by adding k(t.sub.1 -t'.sub.INC) to t'.sub.PI, t'.sub.GT and t'.sub.INC, respectively, k being a given value satisfying 0<k.ltoreq.1.

Abstract: The present invention includes a plurality of input/output processors communicating with a master processor. Each of the input/output processors has a filtering mechanism to filter the inputs before transmission to the master over the communication channel precluding the necessity of filtering at the master. More importantly, the shared communications system is not loaded down with every change of an input. Because of this feature, only meaningful changes are put on the communication line, thus substantially reducing its load which makes its effective response time stay high. The inputs when received at the master can be immediately handled to improve the central processor response time. Two types of filtering are provided, in particular, transition and debounce filtering to respond to switch and sensor inputs. Also, there is provided a means to programmably select the type of filter and the time period of filtering.

Abstract: A step-and-repeat exposure system incorporates a method for achieving die-by-die alignment at high speed in order to increase the throughput of the system. In order to align circuit patterns which are to be exposed onto a semiconductor wafer in an overlapping fashion, the wafer is initially moved to a target position in order to view an alignment target previously formed on the wafer, and is subsequently moved to an exposure position. The movement to the exposure position is controlled as a function of the calculated position of the alignment target. The method involves initiating the video scan to view the alignment target prior to the stage coming to a complete rest at the target position. The characteristics of the stage motion are determined and the acquisition of the video data is initiated as soon as the oscillation of the stage has subsided by an acceptable amount. By initiating the video scan at an early point, a significant decrease in the alignment time at each die site is achieved.

Abstract: A multiple sensor inclination measuring system includes a plurality of single and dual axis inclination sensors, each sensor including a bridge circuit for generating a signal or pair of signals, each signal having a voltage which is proportional to the degree of inclination of the sensor, and an analog-to-digital converter to convert the signal to a digital word having a binary value representative of the tilt of the sensor. Each sensor is connected to a support unit which includes a microprocessor, memory, and data communication capabilities. Each support unit may include a look-up table which calibrates the unit specifically to the sensor used.

Abstract: A distributed load processing system for shedding and/or adding loads controlled by a plurality of processors for maintaining power demand by the loads below a predetermined amount including a common communication channel, a plurality of processors connected to the common communication channel, a demand meter for sensing the power consumption per sample period so that the power consumption per sample period can be transmitted to all of the processors, wherein each processor compares the demand limit established for the system to the projected power per interval being consumed, and for shedding and/or adding its associated loads based upon this comparison to maintain power consumption per interval below the demand limit.

Abstract: A data compression interface is characterized by a memory system having an architecture configured from a first and a second serial memory connected in parallel. One memory serves during alternate frames as a data collection memory while the other serves during that same frame as an output memory.

Abstract: A microcomputer-based programmable control system for desiccant air dryers monitors the level of moisture saturation of the desiccant beds and adjusts the regeneration cycle accordingly to optimize energy efficiency. The moisture sensors have capacitance probes and adjustable resistors as frequency determining components for precision oscillators. A multiple counter integrated circuit is controlled by the microcomputer to establish a predetermined time interval and to count cycles of the precision oscillators during the predetermined time interval to obtain final counts for each probe indicative of the level of moisture saturation in the respective desiccant beds. The microcomputer compares the final counts to predetermined threshold number in order to determine whether a regeneration cycle is required, and also compares the final counts to maximum and minimum threshold numbers to detect and indicate probe failure.

Abstract: A group supervisory control system for an elevator which statistically operates to obtain traffic data on the elevator for time zones divided in the previous operation and controls the driving operation of cars based on thus obtained statistical data and which comprises a traffic data recording circuit for recording the traffic data of the elevator for the previously divided time zones and a time zone setting device for setting time zones when a predetermined condition concerning the data recorded in the traffic data recording circuit is established.

Abstract: A Programmable Demand Register (PDR.TM.) which has a multi-function externally programmable time based measuring system is disclosed. An optical communication port is provided for bidirectional communication of data, said meter being capable of recordation of energy consumption in several different modes, according to the decision of the meter programmer. Meter programming is accomplished by means of any one of three separate devices, namely a Programmer/Reader (P/R) which is a sophisticated computerized device fully adapted to reprogram the PDR.TM.

Abstract: An external force is periodically applied to an object to be measured, a two-dimensional surface of the object is resolved and scanned by suitable infrared radiation detection means, and the infrared radiation at the times of maximum and minimum loading by the external force are detected for the respective resolved zones. The difference between the infrared radiation at the maximum and the minimum loading times is then calculated for every resolved zone. Further, the calculated values are multiplied by correction values corresponding to the shape, material, infrared radiation rate and so forth of the object. The thus obtained values are suitably visibly indicated in the positions of the respective zones. This indication is ordered by suitably slicing the levels of the thus obtained values to identify and display them in accordance with an ordering scheme.

Abstract: A protective relay system for protecting a power system includes a selection circuit, a comparing circuit, and a data processing unit. The selection circuit time-sequentially switches a plurality of input signals having electrical quantities from the power system under control of the data processing unit and applies the input signals to the comparing circuit. The comparing circuit applies to the data processing unit a discriminated output signal representing the result of the comparing of a level of a signal having an electrical quantity and obtained from the input signals to the comparing circuit with a reference level. At a time point upon lapse of a time corresponding to an electrical angle of 90.degree.

Abstract: Method for determining the average density or volume percentage of at least one coarse grained component of a multicomponent mixture by gamma transmission analysis, including the steps of irradiating the mixture with gamma radiation from at least one source, detecting the transmitted radiation by means of at least one detector, and evaluating the relation between the transmitted and detected radiation to determine the average density or volume percentage by using a transmission equation applicable to homogeneous mixtures, the evaluation including transforming the values resulting from solving such equation, or a selected term of such equation, with the aid of a correction function which is derived by comparison of corresponding values in the transmission equation applicable to the homogeneous mixtures and in a further transmission equation which is dependent on the particle sizes of the coarse grained component in order to provide a corrected determination relative to that component.