Abstract: A computerized system for sensing the level of liquefied gas in a tank at a remote location and transmitting data between the location of the tank and the computer to maintain files for inventory control. A microprocessor collects electrical signals from a tank mounted transducer, which is actuated by a float gauge, and periodically sends data over telephone lines to a computer located remotely from the tank. The computer receives and processes data during time windows established for each of a group of tanks to provide current data regarding the supply of liquefied gas in the tanks.

Abstract: A method for determining the thermal history of an object is disclosed. The object carries at least two thermal calibration materials having different activation energies. The method comprises: first, exposing an object to a thermal treatment; second, detecting the change in each of the calibration materials caused by the thermal treatment; and third, determining the thermal history of the thermal treatment from the detected changes.Also disclosed are thermal history recording devices comprising one or more metal insulator semiconductor (MIS) capacitors. The insulating layer is non-uniformly doped with mobile charged carriers. Two or more MIS capacitors, each having different activation energies, may be mounted in a common support structure to provide a thermal memory cell. The thermal cells may be used in conjunction with an apparatus for determining the thermal history of the cells as also disclosed herein.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining of weight on a structure which utilizes an acoustic wave transmitting transducer and an acoustic wave receiving transducer. The elapsed time of transmission of the acoustic wave between the transmitting transducer and the receiving transducer varies according to the amount of weight on the load bearing member within the structure upon which the transducers are fixedly mounted. By determining of the elapsed time and comparing of such to a computer to a known weight versus elapsed time curve, the current weight can be determined for the structure.

Abstract: The apparatus for acoustic-emission inspection of articles has channels e including a series connection of a transducer of acoustic emission signals, positionable on an article under inspection, and an amplifier of electric signals, having connected to its output a unit for measuring the parameters of acoustic emission signals and a shaper of single pulses, of which the output is connected to the first input of a unit for measuring time intervals. The other input of the unit for measuring time intervals of each channel is connected to the output of a clock pulse generator. The output of the clock pulse generator is also connected to the input of a frequency divider. The apparatus further comprises an OR gate of which the inputs, in a number equalling the number of the channels, are connected to the outputs of the shapers of single pulses of each channel, and the output is connected to the third inputs of the units for measuring time intervals in each channel.

Abstract: A period of a correlation signal from a laser Doppler velocimeter is calculated from crossing points at which a correlation function crosses over a threshold level by clipping and digitizing a Doppler burst signal, thereby enabling an accurate and real time measurement to be made of a flow velocity, even in low SNR Doppler signals. Smoothing the waveform of a correlation signal further improves measurement accuracy. When the threshold level is set to be the 1/2 value of the autocorrelation function at .tau.=0, a crossing point is precisely detected even in an uneven correlation function or small amplitude of the crosscorrelation function, thus further increasing measurement accuracy.

Abstract: A process and an apparatus for the preparation of color formula for the reproduction of the color of a master are described. In the process, during a measurement, the gloss component of the reflected light is already suppressed with polarizing filters, so that the calculation of the colorant concentrations may be carried out independently of the surface conditions of the master to be reproduced (glossy, semigloss, matte) with a set of optical data of the colorants that are independent of surface conditions.

Abstract: A real-time, high uptime transaction processing system includes many user terminals communicating with service providers via a communications network. A defective logic board is replaced or a board providing system expansion is installed without powering down the system by providing external auxiliary voltages and a reset signal to the board to put it in a passive state while it is being plugged into or unplugged from its backplane connector. Also under computer control the system is made inactive for a short period of time.

Abstract: A system for processing batch mail in which the need for on-site inspection is unnecessary. The mail sender purchases postage from a central station thereby authorizing him to send mail equal to the amount of postage purchased.The mail sender processes batches of mail each of which is accompanied by a statement summarizing the type and number of mail pieces sent and amount of postage for each batch. The 10 statement contains data that allows mail payment verification.

Abstract: A piping corrosion monitoring system is disclosed which is implemented by software run on a personal computer or the equivalent. The system generates inspection dates for individual piping and other elements, such as pressure vessels, in a process plant. The process plant is divided into circuits made up of piping and associated vessels expected to be exposed to a common corrosion environment. Corrosion data for individual inspection points within each circuit is used to estimate likely corrosion rates for other elements of the particular circuit. The estimated corrosion rates are used to calculate inspection dates for elements within the circuits. Also factored into the inspection date are the risk factors such as the toxicity of the substance being carried, the proximity of the circuit to valuable property or to control rooms, laboratories, or the like, and other factors relating to the security assigned to the circuit.

Abstract: A system and method of selectively recommending, for a user selected from a group of users, items such as movies sampled by one or more of the users in the group but not sampled by the selected user. The recommendations are based on other items previously sampled by the user and preferably on the availability of the items from a source, for example the availability of movies from a video store. A scalar rating is defined for each item sampled by the selected user to represent the reaction of the selected user to that item. The selected user is successively paired with the users in a group for whom have been defined scalar ratings for at least some of the items sampled by the selected user to determine the difference in ratings for items sampled by both members of that pair. An agreement scalar is generated for each pair representing the overall rating agreement between the members of each successive pair.

Abstract: A randomization unit for use in a vibrational control system for generating a series of randomized drive terms where the magnitude of each randomized drive term is the convolution of a psuedo-random sequence of bistable signals and a drive data sequence characterized by a drive power spectral density (PSD). The randomization unit does not required multipliers to perform the convolution operation.

Abstract: A randomization unit for use in a vibrational control system for generating a series of randomized drive terms where the magnitude of each randomized drive term is the convolution of a psuedo-random sequence of bistable signals and a drive data sequence characterized by a drive power spectral density (PSD). The randomization unit does not require multipliers to perform the convolution operation.

Abstract: A system for monitoring the clearance between a plurality of turbine blade shroud segments connected to form a turbine blade shroud and the stationary portion of the turbine comprises a sensor responsive to eddy currents generated in each of the shroud segments for producing input signals representative of the clearance between each shroud segment and the stationary portion of the turbine. Indicia are carried by the turbine blade shroud for causing the sensor to produce a known displacement signal. A processor is responsive to the input signals and the displacement signal for producing output signals indicative of the clearance between each shroud segment and the stationary portion of the turbine. The output signals have a predetermined relationship to the known displacement signal.

Abstract: A system for characterizing objects to be sorted in real time and making sorting decisions using lasers to excite fluorescing dyes used to tag objects such as cells which flow through the laser beam in a stream of conductive fluid. The scattered light and fluorescent light at various frequencies define a multidimensional space. These light characteristics are sensed and digitized. The data so gathered is buffered and then compared to a binary classification tree. The individual parameters cause a certain path through the binary decision tree to be taken while the cell is passing from the point in the stream where the light characteristics are gathered to a point where electrostatically charged electrodes deflect individual statically charged drops containing cells to be sorted into various sorting bins. When the decision tree has been traversed, the sorting decision for the drop containing the cell which had those parameters is done.

Abstract: A method for producing a statistical profile of a repetitive electrical signal entails selecting a window pulse width that is preferably a large multiple of the period of the signal, setting a comparison threshold, and counting the time that the signal is above (or below) the comparison threshold during the window pulse. The comparison threshold is then repeatedly incremented (or decremented) over the amplitude range of the signal, while this procedure is repeated at each level. The difference is then taken between the times measured at adjacent amplitude increments and the absolute value of these differences is displayed as the waveform profile. An apparatus for implementing this method includes a counter/timer, a gate, a comparator, a pulse generation circuit, a comparison threshold generation circuit, and a microprocessor for controlling the other circuit elements and performing calculations.

Abstract: An environmental detection system particularly useful for fire detection and suppression is provided which ensures high reliability in operation and high reliability in preventing false operation. The preferred system includes a microprocessor-based, software-governed, control panel connected to one or more detector loops. Each loop includes a plurality of parallel-coupled, addressable detectors which send analog signals to the control panel representative of an environmental parameter such as smoke obscuration along with reference and identification signals. The preferred system provides automatic calibration and test of the detectors, automatic testing under load of the backup batteries, flexibility in defining the protective scheme, and storage of history information concerning system alarms and troubles. The preferred system also verifies alarm conditions before actuating an alarm or discharging a fire suppressant.

Abstract: A three-color offset printing machine produces, during the printing of sheets, color measuring strips with several color measuring fields. A gray half-tone field produced by the overprinting of three colors serves as the reference field. The color location of the reference field is compared in a color deviation computer with the color location of a correlated desired reference field. From the color deviation, a layer thickness variation computer calculates a layer thickness variation control vector by means of a sensitivity matrix calculated on the basis of a linear model by a matrix computer. The matrix computer evaluates a series of secondary fields comprising three single color half-tone fields, three single color full-tone fields, three two-color full-tone fields, and a three-color full-tone field.

Abstract: A system for monitoring the temperature of a plurality of turbine blade shroud segments includes indicia carried by each shroud segment. A sensor produces input signals in response to the indicia. A temperature sensor measures the temperature of the sensor producing the input signals. A first circuit, responsive to the temperature sensor, corrects the input signals to compensate for the effects of temperature on the sensor. A second circuit determines the temperature of each shroud segment based on the corrected input signals.

Abstract: The invention provides for the elimination of error due to bias shift in near infrared instrumentation having a plurality of near infrared sources. It accomplishes this by comparing subsequent Optical Density readings of a calibration standard for each near infrared source with stored calibration standard readings for each near infrared source that were taken when the instrument was initially calibrated, and compensating for any bias shift accordingly.

Abstract: A recorder for recording and playing back information. The recorder is particularly useful in vehicles such as aircraft and space vehicles. The recorder has no moving parts and has a plurality of power levels. The recorder has the capability of detecting errors in its memory and to avoid using portions of the memory that have errors. The recorder has multiple channels that can be programmed for input or output use. On demand memory assignment capability permits maximum use of the memory array.