Abstract: A system for monitoring a site includes a portable data collection module used in the field to collect site specific data, and a processor module located at a central location. The data collection module displays choices of categories of findings, and then specific findings within each category. A selected specific finding is then displayed in report form with a citation to the specific code or statutory requirement, as well as a recommended course of action and an abatement date.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for monitoring and responding to conditions of an industrial process. Industrial process signals, such as repetitive manufacturing, testing and operational machine signals, are generated by a system. Sensor signals characteristic of the process are generated over a time length and compared to reference signals over the time length. The industrial signals are adjusted over the time length relative to the reference signals, the phase shift of the industrial signals is optimized to the reference signals and the resulting signals output for analysis by systems such as SPRT.

Abstract: When at least one of a distribution of gas composition and distribution of temperature inside a furnace is estimated by dividing the region inside the furnace into two-dimensional or three-dimensional cells, and calculating a gas flow rate, a gas reaction amount, a coal combustion rate, a radiant heat transfer rate in each of the cells, based on design data including furnace dimentions and operational data including a coal supply rate and an air supply rate, an air ratio of gas phase--gas composion table is referred to, thereby to simplify the gas reaction amount calculation and reduce drastically time required for the calculation.

Abstract: By using the wavelet method and the inverse Mallat transform of the wavelet theory, frequency analysis of large scale time series data is carried out at high speed while effectively utilizing the hardware of a parallel computer of distributed memory type. To be concrete, on the parallel computer of distributed memory type, data to be analyzed, a scaling function, and a Daubechies's progression are inputted to individual memories. Highest order frequency component parallel numerical integral operation is conducted to derive a frequency component of the highest order to be analyzed. Series low frequency component analyzing using the inverse Mallat transform is conducted to effect frequency analysis other than the highest frequency by using the inverse Mallat transform of the wavelet theory. Frequency data combining is conducted to put together frequencies derived by respective processors in an external memory.

Abstract: An apparatus for and method of managing and distributing power from a supply of limited of power is described. A plurality of outlets are connect to a plurality of power units. As additional outlets are used, the invention measures the amount of power drawn by the outlets. Outlets are enabled if the amount of measured power is less than a maximum amount of power available. Additional outlets not currently in use are disabled if the amount of measured power is greater than the maximum amount of power available.

Abstract: A computerized method for analyzing results of an electrophoresis gel test having a plurality of lanes is disclosed. The results include a reference lane and at least one sample lane. Each lane has one or more bands located throughout the lane. The method comprises four steps. The first step digitizes the results of the electrophoresis gel test into a corresponding compute-readable format. The second step detects the location of each band within each lane based on the computer-readable format of the results. The third step determines a characteristic based on the location of each band and the length of a segment corresponding to the band. The fourth step compares the location of each band within each sample line with the characteristic as applied to a predetermined profile to determine if any sample lane matches the profile.

Abstract: A water softening apparatus is provided including a water tank, a brine tank, chlorination electrodes for providing chlorination to water flowing in the water tank and a circuit for providing electrical energy to the chlorination electrodes. A microprocessor controls the circuit, with the microprocessor being software controlled to determine when regeneration should commence, when backwash should terminate, when brine/slow rinse should commence, when the chlorination electrodes should be energized, when the chlorination electrode energization should terminate, when brine/slow rinse should terminate, when fast rinse should commence, and when fast rinse should terminate.

Abstract: A new computer implemented method for discovering structure-activity relationships has been discovered which utilizes weighted 2D fingerprints in conjunction with the PLS statistical methodology. This method produces a robust QSAR technique that can be automated. In addition, the MOLECULAR HOLOGRAM QSAR technique generates high quality QSAR models that are in many cases as good as or better than models arising from use of more complex and time consuming techniques such as CoMFA or Apex-3D.

Abstract: The heating value of a sample gas is calculated by a microcontroller (12) from the heating value of a reference gas, and from flow ratios determined as the gas is consumed by catalytic combustion. In a preferred embodiment, chambers (5, 14) of fixed volume are charged to a predetermined pressure with a reference gas and a sample gas, respectively, and flowed to the catalyst at variable, changing flow rates as pressure decays. During the discharge cycle, a pressure transducer (13) senses the decaying pressure and this information is input to the microcontroller (12), which computes molar flow rates and which also senses the power level of combustion through a bridge circuit (24) in the catalytic apparatus (8, 10). Based on a ratio of molar flow rates and a ratio of corresponding power levels, a heating value of the sample gas is calculated by the microcontroller (12) and output to a visual display or other output device.

Abstract: An improved signal processing method in a signal processor for performing the deconvolution of a signal resulting from an analytical separation process is disclosed. In a first aspect, a signal representing a plurality of partially separated sample zones is measured, a point-spread-function of the signal is determined, and the Fourier transform of the signal and the point-spread-function is taken. Next, a noise component n of the signal is determined and the value of a result signal A(f) is calculated using the following filter ##EQU1## where D(f) is the Fourier transform of the signal, P(f) is the Fourier transform of the point-spread-function, and P*(f) is the complex conjugate of P(i). Finally, the inverse Fourier transform of the result A(f) is taken and reported as A(t). Preferably, the point-spread function is a Gaussian function having a standard deviation .sigma., where .sigma. is determined using either an .alpha..beta. tracker or the function .sigma.=(a+bt.sup.2).sup.

Abstract: The following invention is primarily concerned with new and improved systems for viewing a sporting event. In particular, systems which combine images of a real scene with computer generated imagery where the computer generated imagery is particular to the position and pointing attitude of the device. Being useful to spectators of the game baseball, the device can produce images showing where a strike zone is relative to the position of the players; can produce images of ball tracks; of replays and many other forms of information having characteristics dependent on a viewer's position and attitude.

Abstract: A golf round data system includes a portable data collection unit adapted to be carried by the user for displaying information to the user and for recording data concerning the golf round. Data concerning the layout of the golf course and the location of key golf course features is stored in the data collection unit internal memory. The data collection unit includes a receiver for receiving at least one external locating signal from which the user's current location on a course can be determined. A microcomputer in the data collection unit uses the external locating signal to determine a player's current location on the course and for calculating distances between the player's current location and a designated golf course feature, as the pin location. The distance calculated is displayed to the user. The data collection unit also includes input means to register each stroke taken by the user.

Abstract: A method for filling a compartment cavity, such as a refrigerative unit cavity, with a foam produced by an expansion and solidification of a foaming mixture of predetermined chemicals. A known amount of the foaming mixture is created in a test chamber cavity and preselected parameters (such as free surface height and pressure) are measured to obtain the average density and apparent viscosity of the foam as a function of time. A computer program uses the average density and apparent viscosity data to simulate the foaming process for various starting quantifies and starting locations of the foaming mixture. A preferred quantity and location are chosen from a particular computer run which satisfies predetermined fill criteria. The preferred quantity of the foaming mixture is then created at the preferred location in the compartment cavity.

Abstract: A distance measurement device includes a distance measurement device for measuring a distance to an object, a processor for determining which respective measurement zone a measurement result of the distance measurement device is in, from a plurality of measurement zones within a range of distance measurement of the distance measurement device; and a plurality of output terminals for outputting, based on the determination by the processor, a predetermined output signal corresponding to the respective measurement zones. The output terminals output a signal which is not representative of any respective measurement zone for a predetermined period of time at the time of the end of a distance measurement operation.

Abstract: An improved metering unit is described which samples a power-related waveform and simultaneously captures its analog signal parameters for temperature and all phases of voltage and current, providing a more accurate and clearer waveform sample that effectively detects harmonics problems and does not require signal interpolation methods. The improved metering unit comprises signal conditioning circuitry interfacing with the power line for sensing temperature and all desired phases of voltage and current parameters of the waveform. The metering unit further comprises a processor having a timer output. The timer output controls track and hold circuitry and an A/D converter. The timer output places the track and hold circuitry in the hold mode to simultaneously capture temperature and all the desired phases of voltage and current of the waveform, and, at the same time, the timer output triggers the A/D converter to convert the captured analog signal parameters into digital sample values.

Abstract: A method for measuring strain in a sample of material. A reference image is obtained of a surface of the sample. A test machine is used to apply a load to the sample, as determined by a control signal from a system processor. A measurement image is then obtained, and test points on the reference image are located on the measurement image, using an image processor programmed to perform machine vision. The displacements between the location of the test points on the two images are determined. These displacements are used to calculate strain. Each new strain value may be used by the system processor to determine a next load value, so that the load is adjusted in terms of strain parameters.

Abstract: A method for determining the portion of an electrochemically detectable substance in a gas sample includes the steps of introducing the gas sample into an electrochemical measuring cell 1 and generating a measurement curve i(t) by the electrochemical conversion of the substance in the measuring cell 1. The measuring curve i(t) increases from a reference line to a maximum value i.sub.max and drops back again to the reference line. Then, the maximum value i.sub.max and an area A below the measuring curve i(t) are determined. The area A is proportional to the portion of the substance in the gas sample. The method is improved in that a new measurement value is made available after a short time. This is achieved in that the maximum value i.sub.n max and the area A.sub.n of a previous measurement are compared to each other and a proportionality factor K.sub.n is determined. The proportionality factor K.sub.n is given by the ratio of the area A.sub.n to the maximum value i.sub.

Abstract: A power plant water chemistry analysis apparatus and method relies upon water chemistry sensors to obtain power plant water chemistry data characterizing the chemical activity of a power plant water system. An analytical model processor is used to generate model predictions for the power plant water system. A statistical data fitting processor selects screened data from the power plant water chemistry data that corresponds to the model predictions. The screened data is processed by an artificial intelligence processor to derive power plant water chemistry diagnostic information. The artificial intelligence processor includes an expert system, rule base, plant water chemistry system simulator, and pattern recognition module.

Abstract: An automated electrophoresis apparatus defining an enclosure that receive a sample gel containing sample material. A voltage is applied to the sample gel and the material migrates through the sample gel. A CCD camera is used to periodically obtain digital images of the sample gel wherein bands of migrated sample material appear in the images. The apparatus includes a computer that determines the location of starting wells in the sample gel that contain sample material and the computer uses this information to define regions of the sample gel where electrophoretic migration will occur. The computer then obtains an integrated intensity value of each of the rows within the region which provides an indication of the location and intensity of the bands of migrated sample material.

Abstract: A particle image in a sample is formed at an imaging position by an objective lens of a microscope, projected on the image picking up plane of a TV camera via a projection lens and is subjected to photo-electric conversion. Image signals from the TV camera are supplied to an image memory via an A/D converter as well as to an image processing control unit. Image signals outputted from the image memory are supplied to a characteristic picking out unit and there a plurality of characteristics of the particle concerned are picked out. The picked-out characteristics are supplied to the classification unit and there classification of the sediment components is perfumed via a neural network with a learning capability. Accordingly, the classification unit performs provisionally an automatic classification of the objective sediment components by making use of the inputted characteristic parameters.