Abstract: An operational amplifier of the folded cascode type is disclosed and includes a differential input stage, connected with a differential to single ended output stage, a current mirror is interconnected with both stages for maintaining a precise relationship between bias current in the two stages.

Abstract: An attenuator in the composite L-R signal path used for dynamic signal control for blend purposes is limited in range by a static separation adjust signal which attenuates the maximum L-R signal to a value selected for the best right and left channel separation upon matrixing of the L+R and L-R signals. The gain of the L-R signal path is set greater than the L+R path so that a wide adjustment range is available to the separation adjustment circuit.

Abstract: A vibratory rotation sensor includes a heimspherical resonator, a ring forcer electrode and a plurality of discrete forcer and pick-off electrodes. A vibratory or flexural standing wave pattern is established in the resonator and signals from the pick-off electrodes are combined to produce first (E.sub.c) and second (E.sub.s) signals that represent two independent components of the vibration pattern. A reference phase generator generates timing signal that are used to demodulate E.sub.c and E.sub.s to obtain in-phase and quadrature components thereof. The quadrature components are transformed in a computer to generate nodal and antinodal quadrature signals. The nodal quadrature signal is used as the error signal in a quadrature control loop that keeps both components of the vibration pattern in phase. The antinodal quadrature signal is used as the error signal in a phase-locked loop that keeps the phase of the reference phase generator locked to the phase of the vibration.

Abstract: A circuit is provided which gauges the amount of significant high-frequency spectral energy in the very recent history of the program material and ignores the effects of short noise bursts and other transients associated with FM reception in the moving vehicle. The circuit provides an output voltage which can be used to adjust the attack characteristics of an audio processor.

Abstract: A switched capacitor low pass filter is used to sample an FM stereo composite signal with non-overlapping clock signal to achieve phase or magnitude detection of the 19 kHz pilot without being adversely affected by the presence of information at or about 57 kHz.

Abstract: A method of scheduling the building sequence of a plurality of objects on an assembly line in order to minimze the cost of building the objects is disclosed. Each object has a plurality of attributes, which together with the position of the object in the sequence, affects the overall cost of the build sequence. A computer is provided with a representation of the object, its attributes, and a procedure for calculating the cost associated with any arrangement of the attributes. An initial build sequence is generated using the representation which has a minimal cost associated with the arrangement of at least one of the attributes. A final build sequence is generated in accordance with a simulated annealing algorithm which utilizes a scoring function that includes the costs defined by the procedure, those costs associated with the attributes being independently weighted in accordance with a temperature varying function.

Abstract: A switched capacitor pilot cancellation circuit included in an FM stereo decoder signal path which substantially eliminates the 19 kHz pilot from the FM composite by subtracting a reconstructed pilot frequency signal from the FM composite. The reconstructed pilot signal is obtained by applying the DC output voltage of a pilot magnitude detector to a switched capacitor network which is sampled by clock signals which convert the DC to 19 kHz.

Abstract: A closed-loop attenuator for an FM stereo receiver provides attenuation to the L+R audio signal in a controlled and predictable reaction to an ultrasonic noise (USN) voltage presented to an input amplifier. This is accomplished through a closed-loop circuit configuration including a multiplier which modulates the current output of the input amplifier in accordance with the output of a master differential amplifier and supplies the modulated current to a gain stage connected to the input of the master differential amplifier. The output of the master amplifier is mirrored by a slave differential amplifier which applies the actual audio signal attenuation. The closed-loop configuration confines this linear control action to a very narrow range. Outside of this range, the circuit provides either full attenuation or no attenuation.

Abstract: A current mirror implemented preferably in MOS technology provides low total harmonic distortion and high output impedance and maintains the input signal within one Vgs of the supply voltage source. For an input signal having DC and AC components I and i, a constant curent of 2I is fed to the input terminal. A transistor couples the input terminal to the output terminal. The difference of the constant current and the input current is the output current I-i which passes through the transistor to the output terminal. An amplifier having its input connected to the input terminal and its output fed back to the gate or base of the transistor helps maintain the input terminal at a constant voltage.

Abstract: A method for automatically inspecting parts utilizing machine vision and system utilizing same are disclosed wherein a large variety of parts are inspected with a single optical setup at a vision station. Cameras and their respective illuminating lamps are located at the vision station. The inspection task requires multiple scenes or views to inspect part features such as inner and outer diameters, part height and concentricity. Initially, the system is taught which features of the parts are to be inspected by generating reference data. The reference data includes predetermined feature-detecting algorithms, model data defining typical features and limit data which is related to the allowable deviation of the features. The parts to be inspected are conveyed past the vision station. The signals from each of the active cameras are digitized and then processed by its own group of pipelined processors.

Abstract: A MOS comparator which exhibits a low offset transfer characteristic in spite of parameter variations during production, includes a biasing circuit which causes the transfer characteristics of the comparator stages to track the transfer characteristics of the output amplifier to which it is connected. Offset voltage caused by stage mismatch is thereby eliminated even though the amplifier and comparator are configured differently.

Abstract: A bidirectional counting circuit for use with a transducer producing two pulses per engineering unit includes an UP/DOWN counter which receives separate UP and DOWN input pulses from the transducer through respective AND gates. A synchronizing flip-flop, which switches states in response to either an UP or DOWN pulse, alternately enables the AND gates and effectively divides the input pulses by two. The state of the flip-flop is used to control a display digit to add the suffix "5" or "0" to the displayed counter content in order to display one-half engineering unit resolution. The circuit includes automatic and manual zeroing capability and a direction indicator.

Abstract: An automobile radio receiver system includes a control unit located in the passenger compartment and a remote unit, for example, in the trunk compartment of the automobile. The control unit includes a master microcomputer which controls a display and responds to keyboard inputs. The remote unit includes the radio receiver which is controlled by a slave microcomputer. The master and slave microcomputers are interconnected by a single wire data bus. Data regarding keyboard inputs are transmitted to the slave and data regarding receiver status is transmitted to the master. The data is interleaved on a bit by bit basis with master controlling the timing of data transmission thereby permitting a relatively imprecise timing base in the slave.

Abstract: A stereo pilot signal detector for an AM stereo receiver connects an input signal to a train of pulses corresponding to zero crossings of the input signal. These pulse lock a shift register having a data input connected with a timer which is reset from the pulses after the shift register is clocked. The timer produces a logic "1" input to the register during a time interval extending on either side of the zero crossings of the stereo pilot signal. If four consecutive zero crossings occur within the window, the stereo decoder and an indicator are enabled. Thereafter, if three out of four zero crossings occur outside said interval, the stereo decoder and indicator are disabled.

Abstract: A gyro assembly including a rotor, stator, hysteresis motor and conical hydrodynamic bearings for supporting the rotor relative to the stator.

Abstract: A multiplex system is disclosed in which a plurality of auxiliary switches are mounted on a vehicle steering wheel and are selectively actuable to transmit predefined current levels through the horn relay circuit. The respective current levels are decoded and utilized to generate respective control signals.

Abstract: A spark timing control system for an uneven firing engine utilizes a microprogrammed engine controller which produces a spark timing control system based on internal calculations using spark advance and dwell variables supplied by a microcomputer. A crankshaft position transducer produces a reference signal having alternate long and short pulses from which the firing cycle may be determined. The microcomputer is interrupted at each falling edge of the reference signal and based on a determination of the existing firing cycle, calculates and supplies appropriate spark advance and dwell numbers to the controller.

Abstract: A multiplex wiring system including a plurality of data line (n) from which (n.sup.2 -n) load devices may be either independently or simultaneously energized. The system includes a synchronizing unit for applying an enabling voltage to each data line in sequence which applies a deactivating voltage to the remaining lines. A transmitter and a receiver gate of substantially the same electronic circuit configuration are provided for each load and are connected to two of the data lines to be simultaneously enabled. The transmitter gate is activated by closure of an associated switch and overrides the deactivating input to its associated receiver which is thereby activated to energize the associated load. Each load device has associated therewith means for maintaining the load in an energized state during the time interval when its associated transmitter and receiver gates are disabled by the synchronizing unit.

Abstract: A bridge audio amplifier is disclosed which includes an input stage for receiving an audio input signal and having a bias amplifier and a signal amplifier which provide a combined output current containing a substantially constant dc component and an ac component which is dependent on the input signal and the relative transconductance of the bias and signal amplifiers. The transconductance of the bias and signal amplifiers is reciprocably varied by a dc control voltage to vary the ac component of the current. The output current is converted to a voltage signal and applied to an output stage for driving a speaker. Two such audio amplifiers driving front and rear speakers may be employed to achieve a low level fade function.

Abstract: A computer vision system for inspecting engine heads during assembly for missing valve spring assembly keys comprises a solid-state camera for taking pictures of the valve spring assemblies and providing picture data upon command to a computer. The computer responds to a position encoder which relates the position of the engine head to the camera. Once the data is stored in the computer, it is analyzed to determine the center of the digitized image of the valve spring assembly and an intensity profile at the expected location of the keys relative to the center of the assembly is utilized to determine whether a key is missing.