Counting On An Object, Areas Having Alternating Physical Properties (e.g., Counting Lines On Grid, Teeth On Gear, Windings On Coil) Patents (Class 377/3)
  • Patent number: 11579784
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for refresh counters in a memory system are described. In some examples, a memory device may include two or more counters configured to increment a respective count based on refresh operations performed on a memory array. A comparison may be made between two or more of the respective counts, which may include determining a difference between the respective counts or a difference in rate of incrementing. A memory device may transmit an indication to a host device based on determining a difference between counters, and the memory device, the host device, or both, may perform various operations or enter various operational modes based on the determined difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott E. Schaefer, Aaron P. Boehm
  • Patent number: 11281960
    Abstract: A pleat counter and methods are provided to accurately count the number of pleats in a corrugated sheet of material to be used for the production of air filters. The pleat counter comprises a pleat detector mounted underneath a mounting board for counting the pleats. The mounting board is configured to position the pleat detector adjacent to the corrugated sheet of filter material. The pleat detector includes one or more sensors configured to detect the presence of individual pleats comprising the corrugated sheet. The pleat counter includes an interface configured to enable coupling the pleat counter with a data processing system. The data processing system may comprise any of a desktop, a tablet, a server, a mobile phone, a media player, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a personal communicator, a network router or hub, a wireless access point (AP) or repeater, a set-top box, or a combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: K&N Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Steve Williams
  • Patent number: 10861349
    Abstract: Systems and techniques for assaying conformance to an activity manipulating a beaded-string smart device are herein described. The beaded-string smart device may include an active bead. The active bead may include at least one processor, at least one sensor, and at least one output device. A set of parameters for a model of the activity may be received to establish a measurable metric for at least a portion of the activity. A set of motion data may be collected. A position of the active bead may be calculated in relation to the remainder of the smart device using the set of motion data. The position of the active bead may be compared to the measurable metric to establish progress of the activity. A perceptible output of the progress may be provided via the at least one output device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: Ansarullah Ridwan Mohammed
    Inventors: Ansarullah Ridwan Mohammed, Muhammad Abdurrahman
  • Patent number: 10810060
    Abstract: Methods and instruction sets are provided for performing event management in an embedded system such as a memory system including a memory device and a controller. The controller divides a group of objects, among a plurality of groups of objects, into a plurality of subgroups, each subgroup including a plurality of objects. The controller counts a number of times that each of the objects is affected by external event using an event counter, updates a count value of each of the subcounters each time an object in the corresponding subgroup is affected by the external event, updates a count value of a main counter each time one of the subcounters reaches a count value equal to a first threshold value; and performing system action on the group of objects, when the count value of the main counter is equal to a second threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: SK hynix Inc.
    Inventors: Igor Novogran, Dzmitryi Kasitsyn, Alexander Ivaniuk
  • Patent number: 10783427
    Abstract: A method for accumulating and sharing beads rotation data with the method adapted to a bead string communicatively connecting to a communication device, and with the method comprises: generating a measurement signal by the bead string; receiving the measurement signal by a communication unit of the communication device; determining whether the measurement signal conforms to an accumulation amount by a computing unit of the communication device; and generating the beads rotation data and displaying the beads rotation data by a displaying unit of the communication device, wherein the beads rotation data comprises a number of beads rotations or a time of beads rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignees: INVENTEC (PUDONG) TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION, INVENTEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chun-Chi Lin, I-Fang Chen, Szu-Yu Huang
  • Patent number: 10627259
    Abstract: A method of determining sub-divisional error of an encoder apparatus, which is configured to measure relative position of relatively moveable parts of an apparatus on which an inspection device for inspecting an artefact is mounted, includes causing the inspection device to inspect a feature so as to obtain measurements of a surface of the feature by relatively moving the relatively moveable parts of the apparatus. The method also includes using the measurements of the surface of the feature obtained by the inspection device during the inspection of the feature to determine the sub-divisional error of the encoder apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: RENISHAW PLC
    Inventors: Martin Simon Rees, Stephen Paul Hunter, David Sven Wallace
  • Patent number: 9999280
    Abstract: A system may include a first bracelet having physical buttons that are touched in a defined sequence and for a length of time to complete a shared activity across a group of bracelets. The first bracelet may communicate a signal that includes information identifying completion of the shared activity. A second bracelet may receive a signal that programs physical buttons such that they may be touched for the length of time to complete the shared activity by repetition of the defined sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Inventor: David Gareth Zebley
  • Patent number: 9734877
    Abstract: A method of operating a memory interface circuit involves selectively operating the memory interface in either a synchronous mode or an asynchronous mode, the synchronous mode controlled by a first clock signal; in asynchronous mode, controlling an address latch for latching an address of a memory location in a memory array, the address latch controlled by an asynchronous address control signal synchronized to a second clock signal that is faster than a third clock signal used to operate the memory array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Hamid Khodabandehlou, Syed Babar Raza
  • Patent number: 9437381
    Abstract: A smart plug for coupling an electric vehicle to a power supply includes a relay including contacts, the relay configured to operate in a closed state to enable power to be supplied to the electric vehicle and an open state to prohibit power from being supplied to the electric vehicle. The smart plug also includes a microcontroller (MCU) coupled to the relay, the microcontroller outputting a control signal to operate the relay in the closed state. The smart plug further includes a zero crossing detector (ZCD) coupled to the relay, the ZCD outputting a close signal to the relay when a voltage of the power is substantially zero and outputting an open signal to the relay when a current of the power is substantially zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: TYCO ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mudhafar Hassan-Ali, Jason Larson
  • Patent number: 7224762
    Abstract: A counting device that can be employed in calculating the number of objects, such as cigarette packs. In particular, the counting device can include a handle portion and a counting portion. The handle portion includes a display for showing the number of objects counted. The counting portion includes means for delineating the boundaries of the objects being counted and means for counting the objects that overlaps or abuts to the delineating means. Further, the counting device includes a control for turning the device on or off, and for clearing previous counting steps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Inventor: Marion M. Koger
  • Patent number: 7045765
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for counting thin products (1) that can be stacked side-by-side in a tray (2), characterized in that it comprises at least one counting station comprised of at least one CIS module (31, 32, 33), whose overall length is at least equal to the length of the tray (2) and means for performing multiple scans in a direction transverse to the tray (2), each CIS module (31, 32, 33) comprising at least means for longitudinally illuminating the products (1) and at least one CIS circuit comprised of a plurality of photosensitive elements connected to at least one printed circuit, the counting device also comprises means for detecting the positioning of the tray (2), means for moving the tray in a direction perpendicular to the light beam, means for storing the signals representative of the data of the light beam reflected by the products (1), and means for processing said data for determining the number of products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: Datacard Corporation
    Inventors: Eric Auboussier, BenoƮt Berthe, Thomas Fumey
  • Patent number: 6895069
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for counting the rotation frequency of a numeral wheel of a meter to be used for a remote metering system. A light reflection tape is coated on one of low placed numeral wheels. A light sensor unit has an opaque case formed with first and second holes in which an infrared ray emitter and an infrared ray sensor are located, respectively. The light sensor unit is fixedly mounted on the ceiling of a rectangular shaped housing which is detachably coupled with a meter to cover the front of the meter. A portion of the housing over numeral wheels and a front plate of the meter is transparent. The transparent portion of the housing has an infrared ray rejection function to prevent infrared rays from entering into the housing. In place of employing such housing, a light shield may be used to shield a space between the light sensor unit and the light reflection tape coated numeral wheel from outer light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Assignee: Chois T&M Corp.
    Inventor: Joo Young Kim
  • Patent number: 6882697
    Abstract: A digital counter with a dial position having a hardware part which determines the n lowest-value bits of the dial position and a software part which determines the remaining higher-value bits of the dial position includes first and a second software parts as the software part with the dial position being a combination of the first software part and the hardware part when the hardware part is in a first counting range, and being a combination of the second software part and the hardware part when the hardware part is in a second counting range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Assignee: Tektronix International Sales GmbH
    Inventor: Holger Galuschka
  • Publication number: 20040141580
    Abstract: A digital counter that uses non-volatile memories as storage cells, wherein the storage cells are sub-divided into two groups, one for the implementation of a rotary counter that keeps track of the less significant part of the count and a binary counter that keeps track of the more significant part of the count. The rotary counter implements a counting method that maximizes the count that can be obtained before the endurance limit of the memory is reached by making sure that each change of state of each cell is recorded as one count and that all cells in the rotary counter experience two change of state in every cycle. The binary counter records the number of cycles the rotary counter has gone through.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2003
    Publication date: July 22, 2004
    Inventor: Kerry D. Maletsky
  • Patent number: 6735269
    Abstract: A revolution counter; includes a base body having a sensor arrangement and a power supply device which supplies energy to the sensor arrangement, and a rotary element connectable to a revolving member and rotating relative to the base body about a rotation axis. The rotary element includes a magnet arrangement, which so interacts with the power supply device that the sensor arrangement is supplied with energy during each revolution of the rotary element in at least three rotary positions of the rotary element regardless of a rotation speed of the rotary element to thereby allow the sensor arrangement to ascertain a rotary position of the rotary element. In order to prevent a transmission of mechanical forces from the rotary element to the base body, the rotary element is positioned with respect to the base body either without connection to the base body, or held by the base body at three-dimensional play.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Rainer Siess, Ulrich Wetzel
  • Patent number: 6721385
    Abstract: A revolution counter includes a single sensor which scans movement of a rotary element and generates a raw signal commensurate with a rotary position of the rotary element for ascertaining one of at least three areas of angular ranges. Two of these areas include each a single continuous angular range, whereas a third area includes at least two angular ranges, which interrelate but are separated from one another. A power generation system delivers energy pulses to the sensor, when the rotary element rotates below a minimum value, so that a raw signal can be detected and the corresponding angular range area can be determined. The power generation system and the rotary element are so interconnected as to ascertain for at least part of the thus determined areas of angular ranges, by which of the angular ranges the rotary element is rotated, and to establish the number of revolutions based on the ascertained angular ranges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Rainer Siess, Ulrich Wetzel
  • Patent number: 6683321
    Abstract: The present invention provides a portable counter and corresponding method for counting articles arranged in a stack, like compact discs and dvds. The portable nature of the counter enables the counter to be brought and placed adjacent to the stack of discs, which are often times relatively much heavier than the counter, for providing an accurate count of the discs. The counter further employs several error checking type functions, which serves to insure and enhance the accuracy of the count, as well as alert the user of potential problems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: Record Products of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Rod Livingston, Robert Roczynski
  • Publication number: 20030086521
    Abstract: An electronic hand held rosary apparatus with beads counting digital mechanism and storing such counts of various Muslim/non-Muslim prayers/recitations in separately identifiable registers (with keys or vocal means). The goal is to facilitate the worshipper in knowing the specific counts of prayers made and therefore derive gratification in doing the correct religious worship/meditation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2001
    Publication date: May 8, 2003
    Inventor: Irshad A. Rana
  • Patent number: 6418396
    Abstract: A method for operating a position measuring system and a suitable position measuring system in which after the onset of measurement incremental signals relating to the relative position of two parts movable relative to one another are generated by the position measuring system and transmitted to an evaluation unit in serial form at predetermined sampling times. Beyond a known, defined absolute position of the two parts movable relative to one another, absolute position signals are transmitted in serial form to the evaluation unit at the predetermined sampling times. It is also possible to ascertain a differential position value from the position data, which indicates the difference, occurring in the preceding sampling interval, between the most recently determined relative position value and the first absolute position value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2002
    Assignee: Johannes Heidenhain GmbH
    Inventor: Rainer Hagl
  • Patent number: 6130928
    Abstract: A method of determining the acceleration of a rotating body by counting the number of teeth on a rotating gear member for one or more revolutions. The method minimizes the measurement lag using an overlapping method and calculating acceleration on each control loop that a new revolution count is available. The method determines the new tooth count based on the tooth count estimated for the next update. The old tooth count is discarded and the new tooth count is adjusted to match the old tooth count within the system constraints to provide less interrupts and faster acceleration updates. The number of gear revolutions to be counted are increased at higher gear speeds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2000
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Fereydoon Jamzadeh, Joseph Henry Hunter
  • Patent number: 6097780
    Abstract: The track counter circuit of the present invention is for counting tracks. The circuit indicates a circuit for generating a first signal indicating a first track has been crossed and a second signal indicating a second track has been crossed after the first track, a circuit for determining when a third track should have been crossed and generating a missing signal to indicate the third track, a circuit for determining a valid track period based on the first signal and the second signal, and a circuit for maintaining the valid track period when said missing signal is generated. The track counter circuit for counting tracks may use the first signal as a MIRR signal. Additionally, the second signal may be a MIRR signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Hiok-Nam Tay
  • Patent number: 5920494
    Abstract: A method and device for varying interpolation factor of at least one position-dependent, periodic signal in a position measurement system. The method and device allows switching between one of a specified number of different interpolation factors at a switching time point at which the interpolated measurement signal has an identical signal form for every possible interpolation factor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1999
    Assignee: Renco Encoders, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Setbacken, Mark Mazgaj
  • Patent number: 5761264
    Abstract: A method of automatically determining the number of filaments making up a synthetic yarn, or other yarn such as staple natural fibers comprising removing a small cross-section of the yarn to create a plurality of small filament pieces, and automatically counting the small filament pieces to determine the number of filaments in the yarn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1998
    Assignee: Lawson-Hemphill, Inc.
    Inventors: Avishai Nevel, Kendall W. Gordon, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5757875
    Abstract: A method for identifying a principal tooth in a series of teeth extending along at least a portion of a periphery of a rotatable object includes the steps of rotating the rotatable object, setting a counter to a predetermined value, measuring a first tooth in the series of teeth to obtain a first measurement, adding a qualifying value to the measurement to obtain a qualification measurement, measuring a second tooth in the series of teeth to obtain a second measurement, comparing the second measurement to the qualification measurement, and identifying the second tooth as the principal tooth when the second measurement exceeds the qualification measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignees: Ford Motor Company, Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark S. Ramseyer, Rollie M. Fisher, Rudolf Bettelheim, Vernon B. Goler
  • Patent number: 5479466
    Abstract: A zigzag scanning address generator includes a row address generator for generating a row address signal which stops, increases or decreases a present state in response to an enabling signal, and a column address generator for generating a column address signal which stops, increases or decreases a present state in response to the enabling signal. Therefore, the zigzag scanning address generator can generate zigzag scanning addresses according to a zigzag scanning method, simplifying the circuit configuration needed for generating the address signals corresponding to the zigzag scanning pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1995
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Bong-nam Kim
  • Patent number: 5469482
    Abstract: A spline counting mechanism for determining the number of splines on a shaft. The spline counting mechanism includes a plunger urged into engagement with the shaft and adapted to be rotated with respect to the shaft. The plunger is adapted to engage each spline on the shaft as the plunger is rotated through one revolution and is operable to establish and cut off electrical continuity in an electrical circuit as the plunger rotates into engagement with and then beyond each spline. The mechanism further includes a digital counter for counting and displaying the number of times that electrical continuity is established in the electrical circuit, this number being equal to the number of splines on the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1995
    Assignees: Aircraft Gear Corporation, The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois
    Inventors: Douglas Vandenberg, Michael L. Philpott, Phillip A. Green, Scott A. Eastman, Sean M. Carlini
  • Patent number: 5349620
    Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed that provides control of access to a module. In particular, the module should not be accessed while in a busy or unstable state. The module disclosed herein, by way of example, is a timer module. Access to the timer is controlled by the disclosed apparatus while the timer is changing state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 20, 1994
    Assignee: Unisys Corporation
    Inventors: Theodore C. White, Jayesh V. Sheth, Kha Nguyen
  • Patent number: 5170416
    Abstract: The present invention (50) corrects duty-cycle errors generated by imperfections in encoder scales and encoder detectors. A preferred embodiment of the invention operates by detecting successive transparent-to-opaque transitions of the encoder scale (20), calculating the distance between the transitions, dividing that distance by two, and generating a synthetic encoder pluse that is timed to represent a position 50 percent of the distance between the transparent-to-opaque transitions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1992
    Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Howard V. Goetz, Bruce D. Radke
  • Patent number: 5131017
    Abstract: An evaluation device with an absolute value counter is provided in an incremental position measuring system, which determines the absolute position even in case of loss of the main power supply. The evaluation device is operated by means of an emergency power supply while the main power supply is out. Following the restoration of the main power supply, counting pulses are supplied to a follow-up counter (11) by a pulse emitter, until the follow-up counter has reached the counter reading of the absolute value counter. Two rectangular signals, which are phase-shifted by 90.degree. in relation to each other, are formed as a function of the counting signals, which are present at the evaluation device in the form of output signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1992
    Assignee: Dr. Johannes Heidenhain GmbH
    Inventors: Norbert Huber, Simon Graf
  • Patent number: 5040196
    Abstract: An instrument for counting the number of elements in a stack is moved over the side of the stack and an image of a portion (S) of the stack is formed on a linear photocell array(16). The photocell array is continually scanned and its electrical scan output signal is fed to a correlator which carries out an auto-correlation function while the instrument is initially stationary, and then a cross-correlation function as the instrument is moved, to furnish a time varying signal having a characteristic periodicity representing successive elements in the stack. The repeating cycles in this signal are counted to provide a count of the number of elements in the stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 13, 1991
    Inventor: William H. Woodward
  • Patent number: 5001732
    Abstract: The track counter for optical disk in accordance with the present invention, that counts the number of tracks a light beam passes upon when an optical head moves over an optical disk in the radial direction, comprises a passage signal generating circuit for detecting based on a reflected light of the light beam from the optical disk, that the light beam passed upon a track and for releasing a passage signal on that occasion, a counter that counts the passage signals released by the passage signal generating circuit, a count suspending circuit for forecasting that the light beam will pass upon a specific position of a track and for suspending the count by the aforementioned counter of the passage signals during this forecasted period, and a count value compensating circuit for assuming, when the count of the passage signals is suspended by the count suspending circuit, the number of tracks the light beam passed upon during that period, and for adding this assumed number to the count value of the counter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 19, 1991
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masaru Nomura, Hirotsugu Matoba, Toshihisa Deguchi, Shigeo Terashima
  • Patent number: 4924483
    Abstract: A track counting circuit for an optical disk driver is disclosed. The pickup passing a track is detected through a differential amplifier receiving signals from photo diodes, an amplifier, a tracking processor, a positive zero crossing detector, and a negative zero crossing detector. The signals sensed by photo diodes are applied to one of the input terminals of each of a pair of NAND gates through a differential amplifier, level comparators and a flip-flop, and the other input terminals of the NAND gates receive the signals which are obtained by the signals sensed by the photo diodes being processed through an adder and a level comparator to distinguish whether the pickup is placed on the track or land of the disk, the output signals of the NAND gates controlling the output signals of a flip-flop which control an up/down counter to make an up/down count depending on the moving direction of the pickup on the track so that the intended track is found precisely and easily.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 8, 1990
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
    Inventor: Hun C. Cho
  • Patent number: 4905261
    Abstract: A window defrosting grid testing apparatus which is automated to test the resistance grid for quality control relative to set automotive standards including the continuity of each line of the grid. In one preferred embodiment, the testing device includes means for automatically clamping the window in position on a support table and engaging a set of three conducting probes in conducting contact with the grid at predetermined locations associated with opposing ends of the grid lines and an intermediate position between the opposing ends. The probe in the intermediate position is mounted for lateral and transverse travel across the grid lines and is operatively connected to a voltage sensitive relay which operates to provide a signal only when the energized grid line engaged by the intermediate probe is non-defective relative to continuity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 27, 1990
    Assignee: Zane Machine Co.
    Inventor: Keith L. Knight
  • Patent number: 4847878
    Abstract: The position of the moving mirror (20) in a Fourier-transform infrared spectrometer is monitored with a circuit which has an incremental counter formed of a plurality of cascaded up/down counters (82, 84, and 86) that count the pulses received by a laser detector (42) to yield a relative position count. A microprocessor (100) maintains an absolute position count by reading the counters (82, 84, and 86) and updating its absolute position count at regular intervals. A portion of the circuit is dedicated to discriminating the direction of the moving mirror (20) by gating circuitry connected to the digitized output of the laser detectors (42, 44).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 11, 1989
    Assignee: Nicolet Instrument Corporation
    Inventor: Robert R. Badeau
  • Patent number: 4797819
    Abstract: The replenishment quantity for each article on a sales display is determined from the measurement of the length left on the peg, this measurement being performed by means of either: (a) a gun which comprises an ultrasonic emitting device and an ultrasonic receiving device, these being housed in slidably adjustable mounting bezels, an aiming arrangement consisting of a lamp, a reflecting chamber, a lens, a color imparting filter and reflective ducts, as well as a rear-mounted display and a front-mounted nose, the latter being provided with ducts, a reflective tube and a recessed hooking-on component; or (b) a portable marking indicia reader which reads marking indicia placed on the sales display itself. These devices are connected, via suitable interface to a microcomputer which computes the replenishment quantity based upon the product parameters associated with the particular product and the vacant space on the peg.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1989
    Assignee: Societe Vynex SA
    Inventor: Jean-Pierre Dechirot
  • Patent number: 4709379
    Abstract: A taped parts counter which includes a photosensor system for counting the number of small parts encapsulated and carried by a storage tape. The small parts are contained in the storage tape at pre-determined and equal intervals. The intervals have a space relationship to drive holes in the edge of a storage tape. Movement of the storage tape past a sprocket drives a radiation interrupter wheel on which fins interrupt a radiation source in direct relationship to the parts moving past the sprocket. An electrical signal is generated by a photosensitive device as radiation from the radiation source strikes the photosensitive device. The electrical signals are counted by an electrical counting circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1986
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1987
    Inventor: Dennis K. Siemer
  • Patent number: 4698828
    Abstract: A system for sensing the position of an object such as a rotating member has a plurality of photocouplers coupled with the interposition of a rotary disc having slits and rotating with the object. The system further has a position signal generating circuit for receiving signals produced by the photocouplers and producing a series of component position signals differing in phase successively by a predetermined phase difference, a counting circuit having an up/down count for determining the position of the object by counting occurrences of a predetermined change recurring periodically in the component position signals, and a direction determining circuit for producing an up/down signal for controlling the counting mode of the up/down counter. Each time the predetermined change occurs in any one of the component position signal, the direction determining circuit determines the order in which the change occurs in two successive component position signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1986
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1987
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yukio Hiramoto
  • Patent number: 4698767
    Abstract: An infrared dryer is provided for a printing press which uses a series of carriers, each comprising one or more gripper bars, on a conveyor to respectively carry printed sheets past the dryer. The sensor produces different binary signals in response to the presence or absence of material, viz, a gripper bar structure or carried sheets in the path, each carrier producing a predetermined number of transitions between the presence and absence signals, the only change between an empty carrier and one carrying a sheet being the duration of the presence and absence signals. A microprocessor is programmed to cyclically count from zero to the predetermined number of transitions, with each count cycle representing the passage of a carrier. The microprocessor also measures and compares the total durations of the presence and absence signals during each count cycle. If the presence signal duration exceeds the absence signal duration, then the heater is actuated to a preselected operating intensity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1985
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1987
    Assignee: Electro Sprayer Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Neil D. Wensel, Gary E. Norris, Craig G. Beierwaltes
  • Patent number: 4688019
    Abstract: In a measuring instrument for measuring the relative position of two objects, the graduation of a scale as well as a number of identical reference marks absolutely positioned with respect to this graduation and associated code marks are scanned by a scanning unit. The periodic scanning signals obtained in the scanning of this graduation are transferred via first signal lines, and the reference signals obtained in the scanning of the reference marks are transferred over a second signal line to an evaluating arrangement. Code signals obtained in the scanning of the associated code marks by the scanning unit are also transmitted over the second signal line to the evaluating arrangement. The reference signals and the code signals on the second signal line are distinguished from one another by means of AND gates which ensure that the reference signals and the code signals are present on the second signal line only during respective predetermined signal states of the periodic scanning signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1984
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1987
    Assignee: Johannes Heidenhain GmbH
    Inventor: Walter Schmitt
  • Patent number: 4501006
    Abstract: Hot-box signalling devices are disclosed for indicating the presence of overheated bearings in vehicles such as rail cars. The device includes means defining a closed compartment containing a fluid and pressure-sensitive means communicating with the compartment. The compartment is arranged in thermal communication with a bearing of the vehicle so that increases in the temperature of the bearing cause increases in the pressure exerted by the fluid. The pressure-sensitive means is adapted to produce a signal when the pressure exerted by the fluid exceeds a predetermined threshold representing an over-temperature condition in the bearing. Preferably, the pressure-sensitive means takes the form of a plug normally closing an opening in the compartment, and a marker material, the plug and marker material being expelled when the pressure in the compartment reaches said predetermined threshold. In one aspect of the invention, provision is made to compensate for ambient temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1982
    Date of Patent: February 19, 1985
    Inventor: Michael Korenberg
  • Patent number: 4497066
    Abstract: A video data acquisition system has a video camera for taking pictures of articles and from the picture image digitizes and selects signals within a predetermined amplitude range as representations of pixels of the picture image. A combination of horizontal, vertical and diagonal pixel collection circuitry acquires, in real time, the pixel counts necessary to establish the identity and orientation of the article represented by the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1982
    Date of Patent: January 29, 1985
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Alfred Gasparri, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4442532
    Abstract: A pulse detection circuit, is used for detecting pulses contained in output signals derived from an encoder. An encoder, such as rotary encoder, converts a physical quantity like spatial position, displacement or length into an electric signal. This detection circuit achieves high definition in terms of the rotational angle of the encoder shaft. It does so by positively utilizing four different combinations of modes, obtained for one period of the encoder output signals, which had hitherto been treated in one count. It thereby avoids erroneous counting of the pulses contained in the encoder output signals, even if chatterings are incidentally included in the encoder output signals and if the phase relation between the two signals is temporarily inverted. The circuit thus performs pulse detection with a very high accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1981
    Date of Patent: April 10, 1984
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takehide Takemura