Abstract: This invention relates to the field of sensing flames in equipment using a combustion burner such as gas furnaces by using the electrical properties of flames. In a first group of embodiments flame rectification is used to cause distortion of a signal having a selected waveform. A harmonic of the distorted waveform is detected thereby providing flame proof. In a second group of embodiments flame rectification is used as a mixer to cause two signals having selected waveforms to produce sum and difference signals. The sum and/or difference signals are detected thereby providing flame proof.

Abstract: In an HVAC system Polarity Splitting is used to provide for one or more backchannels from the furnace to the thermostat. Polarity Splitting is also used to allow a four-wire house cable to provide for three thermostat functions as well as furnace power to the thermostat while also providing for one or more backchannels. A serial datalink can be used to provide for a number of thermostat functions and a number of backchannels as well as to provide furnace power to the thermostat while using only three wires between the furnace and the thermostat. A Wi-Fi enabled furnace adapter can allow the use of a Wi-Fi thermostat while supplying only furnace power (two wires) to the thermostat. A Wi-Fi enabled furnace can use only a remote temperature sensor instead of a remote thermostat.

Abstract: The reliability and safety of Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) are improved by using the signals transmitted from an ADS-B unit as a radar transmitter with a receiver used to receive reflections.

Abstract: This invention relates to the field of sensing flames in equipment using a combustion burner such as gas furnaces by using the electrical properties of flames. In a first group of embodiments flame rectification is used to cause distortion of a signal having a selected waveform. A harmonic of the distorted waveform is detected thereby providing flame proof. In a second group of embodiments flame rectification is used as a mixer to cause two signals having selected waveforms to produce sum and difference signals. The sum and/or difference signals are detected thereby providing flame proof.

Abstract: The reliability and safety of Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) are improved by using the signals transmitted from an ADS-B unit as a radar transmitter with a receiver used to receive reflections.

Abstract: A system and method for safely flying an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV), or remotely piloted vehicle (RPV) in civilian airspace uses a remotely located pilot to control the aircraft using a synthetic vision system during at least selected phases of the flight such as during take-offs and landings.

Abstract: A system for sensing aircraft and other objects uses bistatic radar with spread-spectrum signals transmitted from remotely located sources such as aircraft flying at very high altitudes or from a satellite constellation. A bistatic spread spectrum radar system using a satellite constellation can be integrated with a communications system and/or with a system using long baseline radar interferometry to validate the digital terrain elevation database. The reliability and safety of TCAS and ADS-B are improved by using the signals transmitted from a TCAS or ADS-B unit as a radar transmitter with a receiver used to receive reflections. Aircraft and other objects using spread spectrum radar are detected by using two separate receiving systems. Cross-Correlation between the outputs of the two receiving systems reveals whether a noise signal is produced by the receiving systems themselves or is coming from the outside.

Abstract: A system for sensing aircraft and other objects uses bistatic radar with spread-spectrum signals transmitted from remotely located sources such as aircraft flying at very high altitudes or from a satellite constellation. A bistatic spread spectrum radar system using a satellite constellation can be integrated with a communications system and/or with a system using long baseline radar interferometry to validate the digital terrain elevation database. The reliability and safety of TCAS and ADS-B are improved by using the signals transmitted from a TCAS or ADS-B unit as a radar transmitter with a receiver used to receive reflections. Aircraft and other objects using spread spectrum radar are detected by using two separate receiving systems. Cross-Correlation between the outputs of the two receiving systems reveals whether a noise signal is produced by the receiving systems themselves or is coming from the outside.

Abstract: A system for sensing aircraft and other objects uses bistatic radar with spread-spectrum signals transmitted from remotely located sources such as aircraft flying at very high altitudes or from a satellite constellation. A bistatic spread spectrum radar system using a satellite constellation can be integrated with a communications system and/or with a system using long baseline radar interferometry to validate the digital terrain elevation database. The reliability and safety of TCAS and ADS-B are improved by using the signals transmitted from a TCAS or ADS-B unit as a radar transmitter with a receiver used to receive reflections. Aircraft and other objects using spread spectrum radar are detected by using two separate receiving systems. Cross-Correlation between the outputs of the two receiving systems reveals whether a noise signal is produced by the receiving systems themselves or is coming from the outside.

Abstract: A system for sensing aircraft and other objects uses bistatic radar with spread-spectrum signals transmitted from remotely located sources such as aircraft flying at very high altitudes or from a satellite constellation. A bistatic spread spectrum radar system using a satellite constellation can be integrated with a communications system and/or with a system using long baseline radar interferometry to validate the digital terrain elevation database. The reliability and safety of TCAS and ADS-B are improved by using the signals transmitted from a TCAS or ADS-B unit as a radar transmitter with a receiver used to receive reflections. Aircraft and other objects using spread spectrum radar are detected by using two separate receiving systems. Cross-Correlation between the outputs of the two receiving systems reveals whether a noise signal is produced by the receiving systems themselves or is coming from the outside.

Abstract: An internal processing capability is added to a computer memory by adding a small processor, a small amount of processor RAM memory, a small amount of non-volatile memory, and some logic. During wafer testing the internal processor system allows the memory to be tested at full speed and substantially simultaneously with the testing of other memories on the wafer. At any stage after packaging, the part can be tested by having the host processor read the non-volatile memory, determine what test program to use, load it into the RAM memory, and run the Self-Test program. The internal processor system also allows additional functions such as data searching, data moving, and graphics primitives to be performed entirely within the memory.

Abstract: A system and method for safely flying an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV), or remotely piloted vehicle (RPV) in civilian airspace uses a remotely located pilot to control the aircraft using a synthetic vision system during at least selected phases of the flight such as during take-offs and landings.

Abstract: An internal processing capability is added to a computer memory by adding a small processor, a small amount of processor RAM memory, a small amount of non-volatile memory, and some logic. During wafer testing the internal processor system allows the memory to be tested at full speed and substantially simultaneously with the testing of other memories on the wafer. At any stage after packaging, the part can be tested by having the host processor read the non-volatile memory, determine what test program to use, load it into the RAM memory, and run the Self-Test program. The internal processor system also allows additional functions such as data searching, data moving, and graphics primitives to be performed entirely within the memory.

Abstract: A distributed computing system uses the computing resources of Home Network Servers connected through the Internet, where the owners of the Home Network Servers receive something of value in return for access to their Home Network Server's otherwise unused computing resources. The contracting company may use these distributed computing resources itself or it may resell the resources to others.

Abstract: A directed energy beam system uses an ultra-fast laser system, such as one using a titanium-sapphire infrared laser to produce a thin ionizing beam through the atmosphere. The beam is moved in either a circular or rectangular fashion to produce a conductive shell to act as a waveguide for microwave energy. Because the waveguide is produced by a plasma it is called a plasma beam waveguide. The directed energy beam system can be used as a weapon, to provide power to an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) such as for providing communications in a cellular telephone system, or as an ultra-precise radar system.

Abstract: A digital elevation database is compressed to create a compressed digital map database which is used by a digital computer system for displaying three-dimensional terrain data in the form of polygons. The compressed digital map database is produced from a database of elevation points by selecting every mth row and every nth column, thereby resulting in a reduction of database storage requirements. During program run-time the intersection of rows and columns forms cells with four corners. The elevation value of a center elevation point for each cell is formed by various methods, thereby creating a cell made up of four three-dimensional triangles. One method for creating the elevation of the center elevation point uses the elevations of the four corners of the cell. Another method uses extrapolated elevation values from the cell's extended diagonals.

Abstract: A digital map system for displaying three dimensional terrain data uses terrain data in the form of polygons. The polygon database is produced from a database of elevation points which are divided into, for example, n.times.n (where n is a positive integer) squares which have an elevation point in the center of the square. The center point forms four polygons with the corners of the square. The elevation of the center point may be chosen to be the highest elevation point in the n.times.n square, the average elevation of the elevation points in the n.times.n square, the elevation of the actual center point, or other methods. The method chosen depends on how the data base is to be used. The size of the n.times.n square chosen also depends on how the data base is to be used since there is a tradeoff between the resolution of the displayed scene and the amount of data reduction from the original database of elevation points.

Abstract: A realistic illusion of listening to an actual AM radio is produced by providing a number of audio program signals and by simulating the process of tuning across the radio dial where each station is playing a different program. In a superheterodyne receiver using envelope detection, tuning a station off-channel results in a changing mixture of distortion and noise. The distortion function is caused by a variety of processes, among them being the filtering action as parts of the signal spectrum are cut off by the bandpass filter in the IF amplifier. Another is caused by the reduction in the carrier which causes the foldover of negative peaks in the envelope detector.

Abstract: A Digital Elevation Database is converted to a Polygon Database by creating square cells of varying sizes, starting with a minimum size cell. A center elevation point in the cell is used to form four three-dimensional triangles. The points within the cell are then tested against the flatness criteria. If the cell meets the flatness criteria it is expanded and tested again. This goes on until the cell fails the flatness criteria or a maximum specified cell size is reached. The cell parameters for the last trial cell meeting the flatness criteria or the maximum specified cell size are then entered into the polygon database. The points in the cell are then removed from the elevation database and the process starts over until all the points have been processed. In a second embodiment the procedure starts with a maximum size cell and the cell size is reduced until the cell meets the flatness criteria.

Abstract: A Z-Buffer is added to a Row Addressable Graphics Memory With Flash Fill so that a Z (or Depth) value is supplied with each Start and End address. The Z value is calculated for each pixel between the Start and End address. This value is compared to the existing Z value for that pixel stored in the Z-Buffer. Values less than the existing value replace the Z value for that pixel in the Z-Buffer and allow the new pixel to be written into the display memory. The Z data are read, modified, and written back to the Z-Buffer in parallel thereby requiring a maximum of three memory cycles to operate on a line segment independent of the length of the line.