Abstract: An intelligent telescope system independently acquires and tracks designated celestial objects with little to no knowledge of the night sky being required by a user. The telescope system hosts and runs an application routine in order to have the telescope system conduct a tour of interesting celestial objects that are visible from an observer's location. Tour programs are created by a user and stored in memory in the system's microprocessor controlled command module or, alternatively, pre-defined tour programs are downloaded from a repository, such as in Internet web site, for storage in the system's memory and subsequent use.

Abstract: A fully automated telescope system is able to be fully operable in both Alt-Az and polar configurations. In either configuration, the telescope aligns itself to be celestial coordinate system following a simplified initialization procedure during which the telescope tube is first pointed north and then pointed towards a user's horizon. A command processor, under application software program control orients the telescope system with respect to the celestial coordinate system given the initial directional inputs. The initial telescope orientation may be further refined by initially inputting a geographical location indicia, or by shooting one or two additional celestial objects. Once the telescope's orientation with respect to the celestial coordinate system is established, the telescope system will automatically move to and track any desired celestial object without further alignment invention by a user.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for disc position centering is disclosed. The invention is adapted to precisely position the center of a disc at a predetermined position, in relation to the disc's outer diameter, when the allowable variation of the absolute value of the outer diameter is larger than the degree of centering precision required. The apparatus is adapted to determine the outer diameter of the disc using a displacement measuring device, and data provided to the system computer. The apparatus then positions the disc to the desired center position using devices which grip the disc by its outer periphery and whose relationship to the desired center position is known.

Abstract: A common control circuit card developed to serve the commonly used functions of a variety of data link processors in an I/O subsystem. The common control circuit card when combined with a peripheral dependent circuit board forms a peripheral-controller designated as a data link processor. The common control circuit card provides PROM storage means to store micro-code operators for execution by the peripheral dependent board which is tailored to service the needs of the individual type of peripheral terminal unit connected to it. Address means are provided to access selected sequences of micro-code word operators stored in said PROM storage means. Address multiplexors are used for selecting address sources from a host system address, a peripheral address, or from a selected area of a RAM buffer which can provide an address. The common control circuit uses the RAM buffer for temporarily storing data being transferred between a main host computer system and a peripheral terminal unit.

Abstract: An input-output subsystem for relieving the housekeeping functions of a main host computer and for controlling and transferring data between selected peripheral terminal units and the main host computer. The host computer system connects to a base module through a message level interface bus. The base module houses a plurality of data link processors, each of which controls data transfers to and from a specific peripheral terminal unit. The base module connects all data link processors with a common backplane and provides a distribution control card for connecting and disconnecting selected data link processors to the host system. The base module includes a maintenance card which provides maintenance and diagnostic functions for the data link processors in the base module.

Abstract: A peripheral dependent circuit board is used for providing the specific functions required for data transfers between a peripheral terminal unit and a data link processor. The data link processor is a peripheral controller made up of a common control circuit card which provides standardized functions for all types of data link processors and said peripheral dependent board which provides a specifically required function for a particular type of peripheral terminal unit. The peripheral dependent circuit board provides logic means for executing micro-code word operators received from said common control circuit card and provides multiplexor means for selecting a source of data that is to be transmitted for temporary storage in a RAM buffer memory on said common control circuit card.

Abstract: A peripheral controller, designated as a data link processor, is used for linking a main host computer system with a plurality of magnetic tape transport units. Upon receipt of instructions from the main host system, the data link processor will initiate operations for the sending and receiving of data from a plurality of magnetic tape units and relieve the main host system of all housekeeping functions required for data transfers. The data link processor is made up of two units which may be mounted on separate slide-in printed circuit cards. The first unit is a standardized common unit for all types of data link processors and is known as the Common Front End. It provides micro-code storage which is used to effectuate various read, write, control and transfer operations. The second unit is designated as a Peripheral Dependent Board providing the transmission-reception interface to the peripheral magnetic tape units.