Abstract: Low profile object detection can be performed on mowers or other vehicles that may be autonomous. An autonomy controller can be employed on a mower to receive and process sensor data for a detection area to determine whether an object may be present in a region of interest within the detection area. When the autonomy controller determines that an object may be present, it can cause the ground speed of the mower to be slowed and can commence buffering region of interest sensor data over a period of time. The autonomy controller can process the buffered region of interest sensor data to determine whether an object is present in the region of interest, and if so, can alter the path of the mower appropriately.

Abstract: A prefabricated concrete wall form system which can be taken to a construction site, joined to other wall forms to form a wall, and filled with concrete. The wall form has an outer wall and an inner wall, each of which can be made from gypsum wall board, plywood sheathing, OSB sheathing, medium density overlay plywood, cement board, rigid foam board, exterior gypsum sheathing, steel siding, steel or aluminum sheet, or fiberglass panels. The outer and inner panels are braced by a series of horizontal, zigzag wires. Vertical wood strips having horizontal grooves corresponding to the wires are used to hold these wires in place. Electrical boxes, plumbing conduits, electrical conduits, doors, windows, and floor joist pockets are made by including a wood mold inside the wall mold, forming the desired hollow structure within the concrete.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved disc drive. In one embodiment of the present invention a disc drive capable of spinning a disc, which contains more than one type of data is disclosed. A first type of data is associated with a first speed, and a second type of data is associated with a second speed that is faster than the first speed. The disc drive includes a drive mechanism, which may spin the compact disc at the first and second speeds and retrieve data from the compact disc at either speed. The disc drive also includes an elastic buffer, which is in communication with the drive mechanism. The buffer receives data from the drive mechanism at a variable input data rate and outputs data at a variable output data rate. Whereby when the drive mechanism spins the compact disc at the second speed the buffer may receive the first type of data without causing the drive mechanism to slow down to the first speed, and the buffer may output the first type of data at the variable output data rate.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for expandable biometric searching are provided. A method preferably includes forming a plurality of biometric records. Each of the plurality of biometric records preferably includes at least one biometric index and biometric data associated with the at least one biometric index. The method also includes forming a multi-dimensional virtual space having a data structure with the plurality of biometric records stored therein and generally defined by a configuration of a tree. Each of the nodal regions at each level of the tree preferably has a generally spherical shape. The apparatus preferably includes a database having a plurality of biometric data groups. Each of the plurality of biometric data groups includes a plurality of records stored therein. The apparatus also includes a plurality of biometric searching engines.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for expandable biometric searching are provided. The method preferably includes forming a plurality of biometric records. Each of the biometric records includes at least one biometric index and biometric data associated with the at least one biometric index. The method also includes assigning each of the plurality of biometric records to a plurality of biometric data groups so that each of the plurality of biometric data groups includes a full range of biometric indexes and about the same number of biometric records. Each of the plurality of biometric data groups is preferably uncorrelated to the biometric indexes. The method further preferably includes assigning each of the plurality of biometric data groups to a plurality of biometric searching engines so that each of the plurality of biometric data groups is assigned to only one of the plurality of biometric searching engines.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for expandable biometric searching are provided. The apparatus preferably includes a database having a plurality of biometric data groups. Each of the plurality of biometric data groups includes a plurality of biometric records stored therein, and each of the biometric records includes at least one biometric index and biometric data associated with the at least one biometric index. The apparatus also includes a plurality of biometric searching engines. Each of the plurality of biometric searching engines preferably include a data group manager connected to the plurality of biometric data groups for managing the plurality of data groups. The data group manager includes multi-dimensional search space constructing means for constructing a multi-dimensional search space and internal map constructing means for constructing internal maps for each data group being managed.

Abstract: A fingerprint sensor package includes a tamper-resistant housing, a fingerprint sensor mounted in the housing, and an encryption output circuit mounted within the housing and operatively connected to the fingerprint sensor for generating an encrypted output signal related to a sensed fingerprint. The fingerprint sensor package may include a processor operatively connected between the fingerprint sensor and the encryption circuit. In addition, the package may also include a reference fingerprint memory for storing reference fingerprint information. Accordingly, the processor may have the capability to determine if a sensed fingerprint matches a stored reference fingerprint. To further enhance security of the stored reference fingerprint information, the sensor package also preferably includes a removing circuit or device for removing reference fingerprint information from the reference fingerprint storage means responsive to tampering.

Abstract: A fingerprint sensing device includes a fingerprint sensor, a processor for determining an actual fingerprint position on the fingerprint sensor relative to a desired fingerprint position, and a finger position indicator for generating a finger position indication to assist the user in positioning the finger to the desired fingerprint position based upon the actual fingerprint position on the fingerprint sensor. The processor preferably calculates a fingerprint center point defining the actual fingerprint position. The fingerprint sensor may be provided by an electric field sensor in integrated circuit form. The finger position indicator may be provided by a visual indicator, such as a desired position image indicia generator for generating image indicia on a display screen relating to the desired fingerprint position on the fingerprint sensor, and wherein an actual fingerprint position image is also generated relative to the desired position image indicia on the display screen.

Abstract: A fingerprint sensing device includes a fingerprint sensor, a processor for determining an actual fingerprint position on the fingerprint sensor relative to a desired fingerprint position, and a finger position indicator for generating a finger position indication to assist the user in positioning the finger to the desired fingerprint position based upon the actual fingerprint position on the fingerprint sensor. The processor preferably calculates a fingerprint center point defining the actual fingerprint position. The fingerprint sensor may be provided by an electric field sensor in integrated circuit form. The finger position indicator may be provided by a visual indicator, such as a desired position image indicia generator for generating image indicia on a display screen relating to the desired fingerprint position on the fingerprint sensor, and wherein an actual fingerprint position image is also generated relative to the desired position image indicia on the display screen.

Abstract: A presentation player is described for use in an interactive digital communications system which may selectively communicate particular multimedia presentations to each of a plurality of subscribers along a CATV cable network, or other communications network. The player is part of a digital interactive system that distributes information representing requested presentations in the form of digital data on distribution channels to a plurality of presentation players located along the communications network. Each of the subscribers has a television set connected to one of these presentation players. The digital data is uniquely addressed to a particular subscriber and is processed by his corresponding presentation player to produce analog TV signals comprising the multimedia presentation.

Abstract: A multiplexing and distribution system is provided for use in a digital data distribution system for multiplexing block data which represent predetermined quantities of information with stream data representative of a continuous flow of information onto a single distribution channel. The multiplexing system utilizes a framing technique in which fixed time intervals, or frames, are provided along the distribution channel. The start of each frame is defined by one or more digital bytes which represent frame synchronization characters. A stream control character is inserted in each frame after the frame synchronization characters. Consecutive stream control characters may be concatenated to provide a control channel which contains information used to select which particular stream data channels are to be multiplexed, and where the data is to be placed within the frame.

Abstract: A system is provided for interactively and selectively communicating particular multimedia presentations to each of a plurality of subscribers along a CATV cable network. The subscriber communicates his selections, both for viewing particular presentations from a menu and for transactions with respect to the information and products being viewed, by entering codes on his Touch-Tone telephone pad. Subscriber input signals are communicated as digital signals through the intercommunications network and response signals are generated, ultimately as analog TV signals for viewing by the subscriber.

Abstract: An invention is described in which a method and apparatus are disclosed for guiding, trapping, concentrating and separating particles. The method comprises containing particles in a gas, liquid, or other fluid medium, projecting a beam of light into the particles, inducing the beam of light to impart a spinning motion to the particles, generating a field density gradient in the fluid medium thereby trapping the particles in the beam of light, guiding the particles on the beam of light, concentrating the particles at a focal plane of the beam, and if desired, separating the particles into groups by size and density. Particles are caused to spin and interact with the energy gradient of the beam of light, causing them to orbit in a controlled manner. A preferred apparatus utilizes a chamber, a switching mechanism under a vacuum or partial vacuum, a light source such as a laser or a plurality of lasers, and a lens or a plurality of lenses may be used.

Abstract: An audio-video presentation display system based on manipulation of digitized information is disclosed for use in an interactive communications system wherein a subscriber may select for viewing on a television screen a plurality of audio-video presentations consisting of particular sequences of selected video frames and accompanying audio information. The audio-video presentation display system is responsive to commands from a host computer which designates and prepares the presentation for playback to the television of the subscriber who has requested it.

Abstract: An interactive system for the transmission of media presentations has an interchassis communications system capable of quickly transmitting large amounts of data between its components. High efficiency of transmission is achieved by providing an industry standard interface for various types of chassis and processors forming the system. The processors and their interfaces used to transmit data within the system are interconnected so as to allow completion of the transmission of data between any two points within the system by no more than three hops between chassis.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a presentation player which is utilized in a digital, interactive communication system accessible to a plurality of subscribers who can select any of a plurality of pre-recorded video/audio presentations for viewing on their television sets. The presentation player includes a converter which is tuned to a channel for monitoring a digital stream of information including digital packets representative of the video/audio presentations selected by subscribers. These digital packets of information include an address assigned to the particular requesting subscriber. In accordance with this addressing information, a controller distributes the digital packet of information to one of a plurality of subscriber servers housed within the presentation player. The subscriber server receiving the uniquely addressed digital packets converts the packet into an NTSC-compatible analog formatted video/audio presentation for transmission to the requesting subscriber.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a digital interactive communication system accessible to a plurality of subscribers who can select by means of their touch-tone telephones any of a plurality of pre-recorded video presentations representative of products and services for sale. In this system, the subscriber requests are received by a voice network interface which is coupled to a local area network. A plurality of data processors, typically single-board computers, capable of various tasks are operatively connected to the local area network. A number of these data processors are each dedicated to serving one subscriber during a requesting session. Other data processors coupled to the local area network provide either navigational, subscriber, or purchase information during a subscriber session. Also coupled to the local area network is a large-scale data base which stores digital information representing the video presentations which are requested by subscribers for viewing on their televisions sets.