Abstract: A scalable architecture MPEG2 compliant digital video encoder system having an I-frame only video encoder module with a Discrete Cosine Transform processor, a quantization unit, a variable length encoder, a FIFO buffer, and a compressed store interface, for generating an I-frame containing bitstream. For IPB bitstreams the system includes a second processor element with a reference memory interface, motion estimation and compensation capability, inverse quantization, and inverse discrete cosine transformation, and motion compensation means; and at least one third processor element motion estimation. The system can be in the form of a single integrated circuit chip, or a plurality of integrated circuit chips, that is one for each processor, the I-frame video encoder module, the second processor element, and the third processor element. There can be one or more of the third processor units.

Abstract: An apparatus for transferring a substantially circular article from a first unloading position to a second loading position compensates for misalignment of the article on a support arm. During movement of the support arm the periphery of the circular article is detected, and a correction of the movement of the support arm is generated.

Abstract: Distributed processing systems having a host processor and at least one object oriented processor are disclosed. An object oriented processor according to the invention has a communications interface, an intelligent message handler, and a task-specific functionality. The communications interface is coupled to a host processor via a message based communications link. A high level command language is provided which is easily implemented in a host processor program. The command language includes subsets of commands which are understood by different object oriented processors having different functionality. According to one embodiment, the object oriented processor includes support for a broad array of input and output devices. The command language includes high level commands for initializing, reading from and/or writing to the peripherals supported by the object oriented processor.

Abstract: The method of the present invention is useful in a computer system having a user interface, a CPU, a memory, at least one disk drive and an object database stored in one or more disk drives. The method is used to derive an object database independent standard API from the description of the object in the object database. The method of the present invention, which is executable by the computer system, comprises the following steps: for each database type, TYPE, declared in the database, executing the following steps: opening a file on said at least one disk drive and storing therein the results of the following steps; declaring a surrogate class sTYPE; for each property, PROP, of TYPE, declaring accessors and mutators; declaring construct and destruct member functions; for each operation, OP, of TYPE, declaring member functions; and, declaring special functions.

Abstract: An improved extrusion-based manufacturing system includes one or more extruders, with each extruder containing at least two stages of increasing pressurization. In a preferred embodiment, a first stage of pressurization is created by the motion of a solid wafer of thermoplastic through an orifice into a heater chamber. In another preferred embodiment, the wafers are stored in removable, electronically tagged, cassettes and are removed therefrom by a stapler mechanism which feeds the wafers from the cassette to a tractor feed mechanism on demand. In each embodiment, a second stage of pressurization is provided by a pump, with the first stage pressurization maintaining a flow of thermoplastic to the pump under all expected pump rates.

Abstract: A computer system and computer-implemented method for controlling inventory of vendors at one level of a part distribution chain. The system includes a computer programmed with software for generating order data in response to reference data indicative of sales, inventory, demographics, and/or market characteristics of or pertaining to at least two vendors at the same distribution level. The order data is indicative of one or more of a recommended inventory increase transaction (such as a reorder by a vendor of a sold part); an inventory reduction transaction (such as a return of one or more parts in stock at the vendor); and a recommended stocking level of one or more parts by the vendor. When the computer is operated by personnel of a first vendor, it receives reference data concerning at least one other vendor at the same distribution level (in addition to processing reference data concerning the first vendor.

Abstract: A method (100, 200), device (300) and microprocessor (400) are provided for selectively compressing video frames of a motion compensated prediction-based video codec based on a predetermined set of compression techniques. An energy estimate of the current displaced frame difference, DFD, is used to compute a ratio between the estimate and a historical mean of energy estimates. The ratio is iteratively compared to a predetermined set of thresholds which are associated with the predetermined set of compression techniques. The comparisons are used to choose a technique based on the thresholds, and a technique is selected to be used for encoding the current DFD.

Abstract: A system interface for acquiring data from a microwave conductivity sensor which produces data related to an electrical property of a fluid within a resonant cavity included in the microwave conductivity sensor, the system interface including a memory storing a program; and a computer for executing the program stored in the memory for causing the computer to prompt the microwave conductivity sensor to transmit the data to the computer and to parse the data for particle size information.

Abstract: A compiler requires normal exceptions that are throwable by a method to be either explicitly declared or else "caught" by appropriate exception handlers in the method to be compiled. This ensures that all normal exceptions thrown will be handled by a programmer specified exception handler. The compiler inspects all instructions in a specified method that throw exceptions and all instructions that invoke other methods, and determines whether each type of exception throwable by those instructions and invocable methods is (A) a serious exception (i.e., not a normal exception), (B) is caught by an enclosing exception handler, or (C) is explicitly declared in the method header of the specified method. If any throwable exception cannot be so categorized, that means the throwable exception is a normal exception that is not caught by an enclosing exception and is not explicitly declared in the method header, which means that the method to be compiled is not well formed.

Abstract: A method for monitoring various parameters for equipment at network sites. controller at each site monitors cooling fan output, ambient temperature and an electrical load. The controller includes a network interface and microcontroller for responding to requests for the values of monitored parameters. In response to such a request, the controller processes a procedure that retrieves a requested monitored parameter value and that transfers that value onto the network.

Abstract: A system for identifying and bounding the regions of a digital electronic logic design model that are affected by design revisions. The system is useful for improving the efficiency of incremental logic synthesis systems and includes procedures for recording the signals directly affected by user revision operations and for marking signals in the logic to identify those indirectly affected. A smart editor capable of parsing the formal register transfer language (RTL) in which the logic design is described is included in the system.

Abstract: A method and system for monitoring both an industrial process and a sensor. The method and system include determining a minimum number of sensor pairs needed to test the industrial process as well as the sensor for evaluating the state of operation of both. The technique further includes generating a first and second signal characteristic of an industrial process variable. After obtaining two signals associated with one physical variable, a difference function is obtained by determining the arithmetic difference between the pair of signals over time. A frequency domain transformation is made of the difference function to obtain Fourier modes describing a composite function. A residual function is obtained by subtracting the composite function from the difference function and the residual function (free of nonwhite noise) is analyzed by a statistical probability ratio test.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for using information about colors, fonts, and viewing distances to predict the legibility of a sign. The invention takes into account the colors used in the sign, in order to allow the use of many different color combinations while still avoiding "strobing" from simultaneous contrast caused by complementary afterimages. A computer program accepts information such as the desired visual acuity, viewer velocity (for signs viewed from a car), font specification, ambient light strength, and the desired typeface color and background color. The program then predicts the legibility of a sign which uses the fonts and colors indicated under the given conditions. Thus, the program may be used to assess the effect of various changes on the sign's legibility without actually rendering or building the sign, installing it, and looking at it.

Abstract: A programmable autosynchronizer for use with a system having generator and bus voltages and having a breaker circuit for connecting the generator and bus voltages to each other. The autosynchronizer synchronizes the frequency and phase of the generator and bus AC voltages by controlling the generator voltage. A microprocessor compares the frequencies of generator and bus voltage signals, the microprocessor generating a proportional difference signal having a parameter representative of a proportional difference in frequency between the generator and bus voltage signals. The proportional correction range extends within the synchronization range. The microprocessor permits a sync signal when the frequency difference of the frequencies of the generator and bus voltage signals is within the synchronization frequency range. A first output circuit responsive to the proportional difference signal provides a correction signal to the generator for varying the frequency of the generator.

Abstract: A gas burner operation monitoring apparatus for enabling convenient diagnosis of gas burner and control problems. The invention is a temporarily attached device that collects and stores information concerning the key functions indicative of an gas burner's operation. If a fault occurs, the apparatus generates a signal to indicate to a downstream microprocessor, if such is connected, that a problem has occurred. This eliminates the need for the technician to randomly replace parts until the problem is located. The system monitors the status of the thermostat or aquastat; the presence and the level of voltage being sent to the main gas valve; the pressure of gas at the inlet and outlet of the main gas valve and either the temperature on the outside of the vent stack pipe or the presence and quality of flame at the main gas burner. The device also provides a signal in the event of a fault that can be connected to a downstream microprocessor that, in turn, can activate various warning devices.

Abstract: Heavily relied upon network devices require backup power systems. To efficiently allocate power, a highly programmable backup power system is desired. The present invention discloses a redundant power supply unit that provides backup power to network devices. The redundant power supply unit will supply power to the network devices in the case that their local internal power supplies fail. Furthermore, if there is a power outage from the utility company, the redundant power supply will supply power to the network devices from a internal battery pack. When the internal battery pack is engaged, the redundant power supply uses programmed control logic that controls how the power from internal battery pack will be allocated. Specifically, since the power from the batteries is limited, it can be used to power some network devices for a certain amount of time and other network devices for a longer amount of time.

Abstract: A speed-sensing projectile such as for example a baseball includes a generally spherical body. An inertial switch is positioned within the body and is actuable between open and closed conditions in response to accelerations of the body greater than a threshold value. A processor also within the body is responsive to the inertial switch and calculates the average speed at which the baseball is thrown over a fixed distance. A visible display on the body is in communication with the processor and displays the calculated speed.

Abstract: A beverage dispenser with an out of syrup detector is described. The detector analyzes the electrical current drawn by a solenoid valve controlling the flow of syrup. Parameters of the current are compared to known parameters indicative of proper back pressure and known parameters indicative of an out of syrup condition.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for compensating for the differences in time varying signals S(t;R;S) received and processed by two signal receivers (R.sub.2 and R.sub.3), located at the same site, from two signal sources (S.sub.2 and S.sub.3) that are spaced apart from the receivers. A receiver (R.sub.1) is chosen as a baseline, and two double difference signals DD(t;R.sub.1 ;R.sub.2 ;S.sub.2 ;S.sub.3)=S(t;R.sub.1 ;S.sub.2)-S(t;R.sub.1 ;S.sub.3)-S(t;R.sub.2 ;S.sub.2)+S(t;R.sub.2 ;S.sub.3) and DD(t;R.sub.1 ;R.sub.3 ;S.sub.2 ;S.sub.3)=S(t;R.sub.1 ;S.sub.2)-S(t;R.sub.1 ;S.sub.3)-S(t;R.sub.3 ;S.sub.2)+S(t;R.sub.3 ;S.sub.3) are formed. Time averages of these two double difference signals are formed, using a time interval of length T lying in a preferred range, and are subtracted from the corresponding double difference signals to form first and second compensated signals.

Abstract: A wet scrubber control system is configured with a pH sensor and a conductivity sensor in the return solution, and with a conductivity sensor in the feed solution. Concentration of the scrubbing agent within the feed solution is determined using the conductivity of the feed solution, corrected by subtracting a bias therefrom. The bias is established by first measuring the concentration of scrubbing agent in the return solution using the pH sensor. An expected conductivity of the return solution is then looked-up. The bias is set as the difference between the expected conductivity of the return solution and a measured conductivity of the return solution.