Abstract: A driver apparatus for driving one or more electrical loads includes an oscillator for providing an input signal. An amplifier amplifies the input signal. A power transformer has a primary winding for receiving the amplified input signal and at least one secondary winding for providing a drive signal to drive one or more electrical loads. The driver apparatus may include a center tap for the secondary windings or a precision resistive network for providing a pair of diametrically symmetrical drive signals at each secondary winding. A drive signal from one of the secondary windings is compared to a reference signal in an automatic gain control loop for application to the oscillator. An average drive signal could also be derived from one output from each secondary winding to be compared to the reference signal for forming the gain automatic control loop.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for transmitting information between dual redundant components comprises two information sources each of which is coupled to two transmitters, the outputs of which are coupled to four signal paths for transmission to two independent voters. Each of the voters compares predetermined pairs of the signals on the four signal paths and provides a preferred one of the signals to a corresponding receiver based on the results of the pair comparisons.

Abstract: The method guarantees the integrity of a process control systems display in an open system windows environment. The process control system includes an interface apparatus to at least one foreign system, and receives display information such that the display information from the foreign systems and the display information from a network of the process control system are displayed on a display unit of the process control system in a windows format in response to control information from the interface apparatus. The interface apparatus transmits the display information of the foreign systems to a display generator unit via a first input channel of the display generator unit. Control information is also transmitted to the display generator unit via the first input channel to command a display format to the display generator unit of the display unit. The display format includes a plurality of windows, one of the windows being a control view.

Abstract: A fiber optic coupler includes at least two optical fibers having a coupled region and at least one lead portion extending therefrom. The optical fibers have a protective jacket thereon. The protective jacket is removed from the coupled region and from a region of the at least one lead portion adjacent the coupled region resulting in a jacketless coupled region, at least one jacketless lead portion and at least one jacketed lead portion. The fiber optic coupler further includes a protective body having a receiving space therein for receiving the coupled region. The protective body has at least one entrance from which said jacketed lead portion emerges. A rejacket material at least partially surrounds a length of the jacketless lead portion adjacent the jacketed lead portion resulting in a rejacketed lead portion.

Abstract: The time of a second network is synchronized to a first network, each network having an independent timing subsystem, includes the following steps. The first network sends a first message to the second network, the first message being uniquely identified as a sync message. A first relative time is obtained within the first network of when the first message is transmitted. When the first network recognizes that the first message was sent, a second relative time is obtained to send a second message to the second network containing a real time of the first network that the first message was sent. The second network obtains a third relative time within the second network of when the first message is received. The real time of the first network contained in the second message is associated to the third relative time of the second network, thereby synchronizing the time of the second network to the time of the first network.

Abstract: In a local area network system having redundant communication media and a plurality of nodes, each node is connected to the redundant communication media. Each node is capable of communicating with each other node in accordance with a predetermined protocol via the redundant communication media. Further, each node is capable of disconnecting from the redundant communication media when an error in communications is detected. A method of automatically reconnecting the node to the redundant communication media after the node disconnects from the redundant communication media comprises the following steps. When a faulty condition is detected, the node disconnects itself from the redundant communication media. Internal testing of the node is then performed. If the internal testing passes, the node attempts to reconnect itself to the redundant communication media.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus processes image data representative of an image for a plurality of pixels of a display. The pixels have positions designated by locational addresses. The image data includes data elements and a first and second positional address for each data element corresponding to the locational addresses indicating to which pixel each data element corresponds. The image processing apparatus includes a device for sorting the data elements according to each of the first positional addresses. The device generates an output including the data elements and the second positional addresses of each data element in a first positional address order. An additional device sorts the output for the first positional addresses according to the second positional addresses. The additional device generates a display output of the data elements in a first positional address/second positional address order.

Abstract: A process control system which includes at least one manipulated variable and at least one controlled variable, provides a method for robust control of a process. Predetermined constraints of the manipulated variables and the controlled variables, and the present values of the manipulated variables are obtained. New values are calculated for the controlled variables for a predetermined number of points in the future, such that the values of the controlled variables are within the predetermined range thereby obtaining an optimal robustness of the resultant controller. The manipulated variables are also calculated to be within predetermined constraints, and the controlled variables to fall within a predetermined range when controllable. From a plurality of solutions, a most robust solution is selected. Then the manipulated variables are adjusted to cause the process control system to drive the values of the controlled variables to the calculated values.

Abstract: Low cost components of a circuit board are calibrated in a test fixture to the same accuracy as a single high precision resistor, thereby eliminating the need for high precision, high cost components. The current through the resistor on the circuit board under test is ascertained by determining the current through the resistor by measuring the voltage of the high precision resistor. The voltage across the resistor under test is measured by a controller on the circuit board, thereby being able to calculate a high accuracy value for the resistor. The digital to analog converter (DAC) on the circuit board is calibrated by placing digital load values, or inputs, to the DAC and measuring the voltage across the corresponding calibrated resistors. Two values of inputs are used which define a line thereby calibrating the DAC.

Abstract: In a computer system having fault recoverable capability, there is included a first and second data processing unit (DPU), wherein each of the first and second DPU is executing the same task essentially in parallel. Each DPU comprises a processor, a memory and a protected memory. The protected memory stores system data, such that the system data stored in the protected memory is immune from transient conditions. Also included is a monitor, which is operatively connected to the monitor of the other DPU. The monitor detects the occurrence of an upset to reinitialize the DPU, the DPU being reinitialized to a condition just prior to the occurrence of the upset thus avoiding utilization of any potentially erroneous data, and thereby permitting the DPU to return to its normal processing with valid data.

Abstract: A servo controlled system is provided for electrically coupling the motions and applied forces of pilot and co-pilot control sticks. Servo-coupling between the two control sticks is accomplished by detecting the position of the control sticks of respective controllers and/or detecting torque exerted on the control sticks. The position and torques signals are processed and employed in a feedback loop for each control stick to generate a feedback signal to motors to which the control sticks are mechanically coupled. The motors act on the control stick to simulate the feel of traditional mechanical controllers, and to cause the controllers to track each other's movements.

Abstract: A display apparatus including a light source, a liquid crystal panel, and one or more directional diffuser lens arrays disposed therebetween provides a tailored variation of luminance with viewing angle, a uniform variation of luminance with viewing angle within a first predetermined range of viewing angles and a concentration of light energy within a second predetermined range of viewing angles.

Abstract: An electrical connector receptacle for allowing connection of electronic apparatus contained within a shielded enclosure to a multi-conductor wiring harness using a plug having a plurality of male pins arranged in a grid pattern is shown in which the connector receptacle includes a conductive connector receptacle shell defining a housing cavity having open front and rear faces dimensioned to receive the plug when inserted through the open front face. A multi-coplanar capacitor (MCC) layered structure having a front and a rear surface is connected with its front surface facing the rear surface of the connector receptacle and having a plurality of socket contacts arranged to receive the connector pins of the male plug. Separate individual pin planes define the MCC system each associated with a pair of ground planes connected to a common chassis ground.

Abstract: In an aircraft which has a tracking system, the aircraft interrogates all target aircraft in the vicinity of the aircraft in order to determine potentially dangerous situations. The interrogation has a predetermined interrogation sequence which includes interrogation pulses and suppression pulses. The target aircraft respond to the interrogation with predetermined parameter information, the target aircraft sometimes responding to the suppression pulses of the interrogation resulting in an indication of false tracks to the monitoring aircraft. A method is implemented which reduces the false tracks resulting from replies to the suppression pulses. The method comprises the steps of forming tracks on responses to the interrogations wherein the responses meet a first set of predetermined criteria. The formed tracks are then identified as suppression pulse tracks or non-suppression pulse tracks in accordance with a second set of predetermined criteria.

Abstract: Data bases of a first and second input output processor (IOP), which are primary and secondary slave IOPs, respectively, are synchronized, and communications by a master controller is made only to the first IOP. Each IOP is executing the same tasks utilizing their own clocking systems. A method for periodically verifying that the first and second data base remain synchronized comprises the steps of sending a sync-verify type message to the first IOP. The second IOP eavesdrops on the communications, and when the second IOP recognizes that the message is addressed to the corresponding primary slave IOP, accepts the message. Upon detecting the message is of the sync-verify type by each IOP, operations by each IOP are suspended. A number is generated by each IOP of its own data base, the number being indicative of the contents of the information stored in the data base.

Abstract: Data bases of a first and second input output processor (IOP), which are primary and secondary slave IOPs, respectively, are synchronized, and communications by a master controller is made only to the first IOP. Each IOP is executing the same tasks utilizing their own clocking systems. A method for guaranteeing that the first and second data base remain synchronized comprises the steps of communicating a message to the first IOP to update the first data base. The second IOP eavesdrops on the communications, and when the second IOP recognizes that the message is to the corresponding primary slave IOP and that the first IOP has successfully received the message, accepts the message. The first IOP and the second IOP execute the received message. The master controller issues a status request type message to the first IOP, and then issues a status request type message to the second IOP.

Abstract: An input data stream (a manchester encoded data stream which includes a clock signal component and has some jitter) is inputted to a clock extractor for extracting the clock signal component, the clock signal component having missing clock pulses. A delay line oscillator provides the missing clock pulses and outputs a recovered clock signal. The recovered clock signal has a first delay time as a result of inherent delays in the delay line oscillator and the clock extractor. A latch element receives the recovered clock signal and the input data stream, the input data stream being delayed a second delay time, the first delay time and the second delay time being essentially the same. The latch element reclocks the input data stream thereby removing a maximum amount of jitter and removes any distortion of the input data stream.

Abstract: In a Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System on an aircraft having a plurality of antennas, an optimal bearing value is obtained for each target aircraft by generating a target data block for each response to an interrogation, each target data block including a measured bearing value and an associated priority code. A priority code is assigned based on the antenna receiving the information, and the number of valid bearing measurements used to determine a measured bearing value for the reply. If more than one target data block is obtained in a surveillance period, one target data block is retained based on predetermined criteria. The measured bearing value of all the target data blocks having the same, highest priority code are selected or combined, the result being saved in the target data block. The priority codes are then used to select the proper reply bearing measurement, the bearing track update filtering parameters, and to aid in the reply qualification for bearing track initialization.

Abstract: A controller of a control system, which operates as a master, has a slave input/output processor (IOP) connected thereto which communicates with at least one device of a predetermined type, and a backup slave IOP connected thereto of the same type as the slave IOP, the slave IOP operating as a primary IOP to the device. A method for providing backup to the slave IOP by the backup slave IOP comprises the steps of loading the backup slave IOP with the same data base as the slave IOP. The backup slave IOP eavesdrops on all communications from the controller to the slave IOP. When a write command is communicated to the slave IOP, the backup slave IOP taps the data from the bus and updates its data base. If the command is not a write command, ignores the communication. When a fault is detected by either the slave IOP or the backup slave IOP, the detection of the fault is communicated to the other IOP.

Abstract: A process control system which is controlling a continuous process produces an output product having a first grade. The process control system performs quality checks at predetermined times on the output product for verifying predetermined parameters of the output product of the first grade are within predetermined limits. A method for dynamically monitoring the continuous process (without shutting down the process) when the grade of the output product is changed to a second grade having second predetermined limits, comprises the steps of initiating new setpoints for the continuous process to produce an output product having the second grade. The predetermined parameters of the output product is verified by the process control system to be within second predetermined limits of the second grade. When the predetermined parameters of the output product fall outside the second predetermined limits, an alarm is indicated, and the output product divert to a bypass path.