Abstract: A method in which incoming RF signals to a given node of a wireless network are detected in real-time by using a comparison circuit for comparing a signal which is indicative of the strength of an incoming RF signal with a prescribed threshold level. The output of the comparison circuit is coupled to an input of the digital signal processor (e.g., microprocessor) of the node. The microprocessor is preferably programmed to check this input prior to attempting to transmit data, thus minimizing the chances of a collision occuring due to overlapping data transmitting and receiving operations. Preferably, the prescribed threshold level utilized in the comparison circuit of a given node can be selectively varied in order to thereby selectively vary the size of the cell in which the given node resides. In this connection, the neighborhood or cell sizes in which the individual nodes in the network reside are preferably adaptively varied in such a manner as to maximize the data throughput of the entire network.

Abstract: In an apparatus for handling objects such as documents and tools a menu of options (30) is displayed, which options (31a . . . 31h) are placed in a curved band (31) around the position of the cursor at the moment of activating the menu. The shape of the curved band is optimized for the movement of a hand-held pointer device, such as a stylus, and allows easy movement of the pointer device along the options. The band (31) may follow part of the circumference of a circle of which circle inner portions (32, 33) may be used for the display of several sets of sub-options.

Abstract: In a VLIW processor that has an instruction issue register, functional units, and a multiport register file, a portion or all of the read crossbar is eliminated.

Abstract: A device for the non-destructive testing of hollow tubular objects using ultrasound. The device has a stage for transmission of ultrasonic waves and a stage for reception of ultrasonic signals. The transducer structure includes an assembly of annular individual transducers which are juxtaposed in a coaxial fashion or, in an alternative embodiment, two annular arrays, each of which consists of an assembly of juxtaposed individual transducers. Moreover, the stages for the transmission and reception can simultaneously select, from the assembly or from each of the assemblies, at least one transmitter transducer (2(I)) and at least one receiver transducer (2(j)). This selection forms a transducer sub-assembly which can be displaced at will by electronic scanning along the axis of the succession of transducers in order to enable optimum execution of the so-called TOFD testing method.

Abstract: A system that includes a multihop broadcast network of nodes that have a minimum of hardware resources, such as memory and processing power. The network is configured by gathering information concerning which nodes can communicate with each other using flooding with hop counts and parent routing protocols. A partitioned spanning tree is created and node addresses are assigned so that the address of a child node includes as its most significant bits the address of its parent. This allows the address of the node to be used to determine if the node is to process or resend the packet so that the node can make complete packet routing decisions using only its own address.

Abstract: A microcontroller, which is configured in a certain mode, may generate signals that can cause malfunctions of the microcontroller or of other devices. For example, a prefetch cycle at an internal memory boundary may attempt to access external memory via a port when the port is connected to an I/O device. The system of the invention gates such signals and thus prevents possible damage to the microcontroller or peripheral device. In a preferred embodiment, a software programmable register is provided with one location dedicated to storing a bit. When that register bit is set, it prevents certain signals and address/data from appearing at the port and thus possibly causing harm to the microcontroller or a peripheral device connected to the port.

Abstract: A device with a human-machine interface for use as a user control interface, particularly in an automotive environment, which temporarily makes an indication of the function of a control organ perceptible, when the user begins to actuate it, but has not yet definitively actuated it. The device with a human-machine interface helps the user to find the right control organ, or warns about dangerous control organs. Moreover, ways of finding groups of control organs and verifying the setting of groups of control organs are made possible.

Abstract: An imaging optical system having a Rowland geometry can be used in a spectrometer for X-ray fluorescence. For the focusing of the X-ray beam emanating from the specimen to be analyzed use is made of a curved analyzer crystal 28 whose radius of curvature may be variable, as in the case of a crystal surface 29 in the form of a logarithmic spiral 40. If such an analyzer crystal is to be made sufficiently large so as to achieve adequate intensity in the X-ray detector, a part of the crystal would have to be given a radius of curvature which is smaller than permissible so as to avoid fracturing of the crystal. In accordance with the invention, a first part 40 of the reflective surface 29 has a radius of curvature which is dependent on the location on the crystal whereas another part 42 of the reflective surface has a constant radius of curvature 44.

Abstract: Index keys from JPEG encoded still images are extracted based on the gray-scale, luminance, and/or chrominance values. The index keys are stored in a database, along with corresponding location, and size information. The index key of a query image, also encoded in the JPEG format, is extracted. The index key of the image query is compared with the index keys stored in the meta database, with still images having index keys similar to the index key of the query image identified. The still images are then retrieved and displayed by selection of a user.

Abstract: The positioning device comprises a chassis (1) provided with a drive wheel (2), mounted on the shaft of a motor (6), and a reversing wheel (3). The positioning device further comprises a loop-shaped traction member (4) tensioned around the wheels (2, 3). The traction member (4) is connected to a load (5), which is movable relative to the chassis (1) and together with the traction member (4) forms a closed loop. The drive wheel (2) and the motor (6) form a drive means for driving the load (5) via a first section (41) of the traction member (4), which first section is disposed between the load (5) and the drive wheel (2), and via a second section (42) of the traction member (4), which second section is disposed between the load (5) and the drive wheel (2). The load (5) carries tensioning means (7) for tensioning the traction member (4).

Abstract: A data processing apparatus comprises a first memory (212) storing a set of rules, each in the form of at least one specific behavior defining a condition and at least one further behavior defining an associated response with the condition portion of each rule having a characteristic time delay, and a processor (220) operating to respond to any of the said conditions being satisfied by generating one or more further behaviors defining the associated response. A second memory (206) coupled via the processor (220) to a clock (226) maintains a record of behavior state changes ("events") and the time at which they occurred.

Abstract: Packets of data are transmitted over a distributed communications network formed by a number of transceivers. To minimize interference by other signals, the carrier frequency of each transmission is varied compared with the last transmission by that transceiver, for example by using a linearly sliding carrier frequency which varies continuously during periods of inactivity and while transmitting. The receivers scan the band at a rate sufficient to detect a preamble carrier burst preceding each data packet. The transceivers operate asynchronously with low data rate FSK signals, using carrier frequencies between 900 and 950 MHz.

Abstract: A Soller slit 16 in an X-ray spectrometer can parallelize fluorescent radiation which emanates from a specimen 4 and is to be analyzed according to wavelength by an analyzer crystal 18. Because the aim is to irradiate an as large as possible surface of the specimen 4 by means of primary X-rays 10, inevitably disturbing fluorescent radiation is also generated by the environment of the specimen, for example the specimen holder 6. In order to intercept this disturbing radiation so that it cannot reach the X-ray detector, a collimator mask 12 is arranged in a fixed location in the beam path. In the case of varying specimen dimensions it is not always possible to choose such dimensions for this mask that the disturbing radiation is intercepted. Therefore, a second collimator mask 28 is provided (behind the Soller slit 16) in order to intercept the disturbing radiation in cooperation with the first mask 12.

Abstract: For error-protected storing data, the data is encoded by an error protecting code to encoded data and stored in a medium. Next, the data is read out again and compared with the encoded data. If a particular discrepancy between stored data and encoded data is found, a discrepancy identifier is formed and stored with the stored data for raising the error protection by the error protecting code.

Abstract: A data bus system has a number of stations which are interconnected via a bus. The bus has a limited data transmission capacity available. From a transmitter station a resource control station reads which part of the available transmission capacity is required for the relevant transmitter. The resource control station allocates the required transmission capacity to the relevant transmitter station if adequate transmission capacity is available. Only if adequate transmission capacity is available is transmission by the relevant transmitter station enabled.

Abstract: The invention relates to a component placement machine with a frame (21), a robot (26), a transport system (22) for transporting carriers (23), a placement head (28) for placing components which is fastened to an arm (27) of the robot, a component imaging device (30) also fastened to the arm of the robot, and an imaging device (32) for a carrier. According to the invention, the imaging device (32) for the carrier is fastened to the same arm (27) on which also the imaging device (30) for the component and the placement head (28) are present, in order to increase the placement accuracy.

Abstract: Software creates a compressed instruction format for a VLIW processor which allows greater efficiency in use of cache and memory. Instructions are byte aligned and variable length. Branch targets are uncompressed. Format bits specify how many issue slots are used in a following instruction. NOPS are not stored in memory. Individual operations are compressed according to features such as whether they are resultless, guarded, short, zeroary, unary, or binary. Instructions are stored in compressed form in memory and in cache. Instructions are decompressed on the fly after being read out from cache.

Abstract: A data processing device, including a plurality (VP) of elementary processors (EP) which operate in parallel in a so-called common instruction mode acting on multiple data, and means (VSU) for collectively processing data (OB1-OBn) supplied by said elementary processors. The device includes a concatenated data path (DP) enabling an arbitrary elementary processor to communicate with at least one adjoining elementary processor. Input and output controllers (13,19) enable communication with a common input bus (ID). The processing utilizes vector-scalar transformation units (VSU), scalar-vector units (SVCU) and scalar-scalar units (SSU). Each device comprises an interface for connection to either other, identical devices or to external members (memory, controller, data look-up table . . . ).

Abstract: Maneuvers of a vehicle, in the presence of obstacles, are planned using a three-dimensional configuration space. Axes of the configuration space correspond to x and y coordinate locations of the rear differential of the vehicle and angle of the vehicle. The configuration space is filled with cost to goal and direction arrows values using an exhaustive search strategy. The direction arrows values point to a least cost path to a goal for the vehicle. The exhaustive search strategy involves searching a bow-tie shaped neighborhood of a goal state, and then a bow-tie shaped neighborhood of each state in the first neighborhood, iterating until all reachable states are searched. A precedence order is established so that states which are blocked are not searched.

Abstract: The software which produces a shuffled bit stream which bit stream allows for a simplified cache layout. This object is met using computer software which includes code for receiving a compiled and linked object module produced by a compiler and/or linker and code for swizzling the compiled and linked software to produce a second object module. The second object module is suitable for being deswizzled upon reading from a cache memory using a cache structure whose output bus wires are not crossed.

Abstract: A disposable container for forming the end wall of the open end of a barrel of a syringe and for being retained thereon by the resilient interaction of a surface of the barrel and the resilient periphery of a circumferential flange at the intersection of a substantially rigid first wall portion and a flexible second wall portion of the container. Preferably the resilient periphery flexes when pressed into the barrel and then springs out to engage an annular channel-like area in the barrel.