Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Anne E. Barschall
  • D2B device station address initialization starting with stored address
    Patent number: 5712852
    Abstract: A single channel communication bus system has stations which communicate with each other via the bus. Each station must have a unique address which is initialized during a system initialization. In order to facilitate initialization, a manufacturer-determined address is stored in a non-volatile memory. Search for a unique address for each station begins with the address stored in the non-volatile memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1998
    Assignee: DB2 Systems Company Limited
    Inventor: Neil A. Wilson
  • Neural network using inhomogeneities in a medium as neurons and transmitting input signals in an unchannelled wave pattern through the medium
    Patent number: 5706404
    Abstract: Neural net with spatially distributed functionalities. An information processing system comprises a neural net with fully distributed neuron and synapse functionalities in a spatially inhomogeneous medium to propagate a response field from an input to an output. The response field is a reaction of the medium to a plurality of input signals and depends non-linearly on the input signals. The response field is also determined by the inhomogeneities. The value of the field at one or more particular locations is indicative of one or more output signals of the neural net.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1998
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventor: Sel B. Colak
  • Analog autonomous test bus framework for testing integrated circuits on a printed circuit board
    Patent number: 5705925
    Abstract: To improve testability of analog or mixed analog/digital circuit modules mounted on a carrier, three-way switches are placed at input and output ports of the circuit modules. The switches can operate to establish signal connections between a test bus and core circuits inside the modules. The switches can also establish signal connections between the test bus and glue circuits disposed between the modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1998
    Assignee: North American Philips Corporation
    Inventor: Nai-Chi Lee
  • Virtual pinball/video arcade games
    Patent number: 5700193
    Abstract: For use in multimedia or other environments, a virtual pinball/video arcade game displays one or more computer-generated runner elements, runner inject elements, and runner interactivity elements. It has a programmed computer for simulating movement of the runner elements. This is interfered with by mechanical interactions between said inject and interactivity elements, the simulated movement of the one or more runner elements, and user actions on a user interface. In particular, the computer is furthermore connected to the housing as part of the user interface. A feedback actuator is controlled by the computer for imparting low-frequency primary physical interactions to the housing as a reaction on selected ones of the simulated mechanical interactions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 23, 1997
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventor: Johannes F. M. d'Achard Van Enschut
  • Computer animation of planned path in changing space
    Patent number: 5696674
    Abstract: A method is presented for path planning after changes in task space. In one embodiment, the method is applied to planning a path for a robot arm. The method identifies areas in the configuration space which are affected by the changes in task space. Cost waves can then be repropagated in these affected areas to allow for planning in N dimensions and using space variant metrics. The method is also adapted to use in the presence of phantom obstacles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1997
    Assignee: Philips Electronics North America Corp.
    Inventors: Karen Irene Trovato, Leendert Dorst
  • VLIW processing device including improved memory for avoiding collisions without an excessive number of ports
    Patent number: 5692139
    Abstract: A processing device includes an imitation multiport memory circuit (10) interconnecting inputs and outputs of a group of functional units (F1, . . . FN), all operating under control of a single series of very long program instructions. The memory circuit (10) comprises a plurality of separate memory units (15), each having a read port (12) connected to a respective functional unit input, and a crossbar switching circuit (18) connected between the functional unit outputs and write ports of the separate memory units. The memory circuit (10) provides substantially the same performance as a true multiport memory but requires a smaller circuit area, allowing a larger processing device to be integrated in one chip than previously. Collisions for access to a memory unit write port can be resolved without rescheduling by use of a delay element (21,70) and/or an additional write port (82) to a memory unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1997
    Assignee: North American Philips Corporation, Signetics Div.
    Inventors: Gerrit Ary Slavenburg, Jean-Michel Junien Labrousse
  • Method for GE-XRF X-ray analysis of materials, and apparatus for carrying out the method
    Patent number: 5684857
    Abstract: A method for GE-XRF (Grazing Exit X-Ray Fluorescence) with high spatial resolution in the direction parallel as well as perpendicular to the specimen surface. The specimen (2) to be examined is irradiated by means of an X-ray beam having a cross-section which is substantially larger than the surface region to be examined. This beam irradiates a large number of parts of the specimen surface and the respective radiation thus excited is measured each time. From all measurements the intensity of the radiation excited by individual pixels in the specimen is calculated by means of a suitable algorithm. The advantage of this method resides in the fact that an X-ray source having a very high intensity (for example, a synchrotron) can be dispensed with and suitable spatial resolution is achieved nevertheless.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 4, 1997
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventor: Pieter K. De Bokx
  • Local communication system and station for use in such a system
    Patent number: 5680146
    Abstract: A local communication system has a number of stations (10,12,13,14) connected for the communication of messages by one or more data channels (16). One of the stations (14) comprises a display device operable to display messages sent by other stations (10,12) in separate ones of a plurality of fields. A station (10,12) sending a display command and message to the user output subdevice (41) of the display device includes field separators identifying discrete parts of the message to be displayed in successive fields of the display and the message portions may be sent as separate messages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 21, 1997
    Assignee: D2B Systems Company Limited
    Inventor: Andrew J. Stirling
  • Device for testing multiple pulling resistor connections using a single test point
    Patent number: 5680407
    Abstract: A device which comprises an electronic circuit and at least two connections, each of which is connected to a separate output of the circuit and to a separate pulling resistor. The test resistor is connected between a fixed supply voltage and a test point with the pulling resistors connected to the test point and the electronic circuit arranged to test the connections by application of test data to the connections so that a given response is formed on the test point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 21, 1997
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventor: Franciscus G.M. De Jong
  • D2B divice address initialization by use of default address
    Patent number: 5675571
    Abstract: In a single channel communication bus system, e.g. D.sub.2 B, sometimes two devices of the same type must be initialized at the same time. These devices start out with the same address installed by the manufacturer. The installed address includes follower bits which can be changed to account for the presence of other devices. During initialization, all devices are set to a dummy address and the installed address is stored. Each station then looks for devices having its own installed address. If, after 3 tries, none is found then the stored address is used. If other devices having the installed address are found, the follower bits can be changed. The station iterates until all possible follower bits are exhausted. In this way the stations of the same type have an improved likelihood of being initialized with distinct addresses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 7, 1997
    Assignee: D2B Systems Company Limited
    Inventor: Neil A. Wilson
  • Data processor using FIFO memories for routing operations to parallel operational units
    Patent number: 5675776
    Abstract: The device is adapted more particularly to process programs written in FORTH. The device includes a) a program memory (1) storing instruction data, b) an operational unit (15) comprising a plurality of operational means (16, 17, 18), c) a central decoding unit (35), and d) a stack memory (8) for the return instructions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 7, 1997
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventor: Marc Duranton
  • Disc-shaped transducer for a weighing system
    Patent number: 5670753
    Abstract: The invention relates to a disc-shaped transducer (10) for a weighing system, comprising surfaces (14) which extend parallel to one another and in a direction of application of a force (F) to be measured, at least one of said surfaces being provided with a sensing element (13) for converting a force-dependent deformation into a useful signal. Transducers (10) of this kind usually exhibit a material-dependent, significant hysteresis effect which adversely affects their calibration possibilities; therefore, the transducer (10) comprises four sub-faces (21) which are formed by a centre line (17) parallel to the direction of application of the force (F) and a centre line (20) which is orthogonal thereto, at least two of said sub-faces which adjoin one another in only one point comprising a respective area of reduced cross-section or reduced thickness, so that the hysteresis can be compensated for.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 23, 1997
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventor: Matthias Krause
  • Neural network using inhomogeneities in a medium as neurons and transmitting input signals as an unchannelled wave pattern through the medium
    Patent number: 5666467
    Abstract: An information processing system comprises a neural net with fully distributed neuron and synapse functionalities in a spatially inhomogeneous medium to propagate a response field from an input to an output. The response field is a reaction of the medium to a plurality of input signals and depends non-linearly on the input signals. The response field is also determined by the inhomogeneities. The value of the field at one or more particular locations is indicative of one or more output signals of the neural net.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 9, 1997
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventor: Sel B. Colak
  • Method and apparatus for smooth control of a vehicle with automatic recovery for interference
    Patent number: 5663879
    Abstract: In order to provide smooth control a vehicle control method includes concatenating like-kind direction arrows in a configuration space. In addition, a stopping criterion is used to change a control signal in time to achieve stopping at a desired setpoint. To improve error recovery, control signals are changed in response to an error exceeding a predetermined limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 2, 1997
    Assignee: North American Philips Corporation
    Inventors: Karen Irene Trovato, Leendert Dorst
  • Testing integrated circuits provided on a carrier
    Patent number: 5657329
    Abstract: A method as described for testing integrated circuits provided on a carrier. They comprise a series input (22) and a series output (24) for test and result patterns. A mode control register (30) is further present to receive a mode control signal train via the serial input. Under the control of said mode control signal train the serial input and output can be shortcircuited to each other, or further registers (32, 34, 36) can be selectively filled and emptied. In this manner, both the interior of the integrated circuit and respective interconnection functions can easily be tested by means of a universal protocol. Integrated circuits and the carrier only require minor extension/adaptations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 12, 1997
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventors: Wilhelm A. Sauerwald, Franciscus G. M. De Jong
  • Method for simulating distributed effects within a device such as a power semiconductor device
    Patent number: 5652716
    Abstract: A method for simulating distributed effects within a device such as a power semiconductor device, more particularly a method for generating a simulation program for automatically simulating time dependent characteristics of a device to enable the operation of the device within a larger circuit to be simulated by a circuit simulator program which contains a computer model of the device to facilitate the designing of circuits incorporating such a device is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 29, 1997
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventor: Stephen J. Battersby
  • Multinode distributed data processing system for use in a surface vehicle
    Patent number: 5652911
    Abstract: A distributed data processing system in a surface vehicle comprises sensors, user I/O, data processing and mass storage of geographical data. Using a restricted library of system calls or primitives that can only be processed as unitary entities after deterministic transport control while keeping the transfer stateless, the distributed real-time operating system allows coexistent running of a plurality of processes that share localized processing power and/or a device, a sensor, I/O and/or file data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 29, 1997
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventors: Roland T. H. Van Venrooy, Petrus M. A. Van Tooren
  • Neural net having a neural processor with distributed synaptic cells
    Patent number: 5649069
    Abstract: The neural net has a physical topology independent of its functional topology. Cells, being functional equivalents of synapses, are concatenated to form a unidirectional data path. The cells are connected in parallel to a bus for individual or parallel control The respective synapses contributions to a neuron potential are individually calculated in each respective cell involved. Each cell in the concatenation either is rendered transparent or adds its contribution to the data received from the preceding cell and supplies this sum to the next cell. Preferably, the allocation of the synapses to the cells is programmable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 15, 1997
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventor: Jean Gobert
  • X-ray collinator having plates with periodic rectangular openings
    Patent number: 5644615
    Abstract: An X-ray collimator in an X-ray analysis apparatus, consisting of plates of X-ray absorbing material, for example tungsten, which are arranged transversely of the X-ray beam. The plates are identical and provided with a pattern of rows and columns of rectangular openings 40, 42 which have a vertical period p.sub.1 and a horizontal period p.sub.2. The openings take up an opening fraction t.sub.1 and t.sub.2 of the periods p.sub.1 and p.sub.2, respectively. The plates are arranged in the collimator in a series in which the ratio between two successive distances (d.sub.i, d.sub.i+1) between the plates of the series is equal to the given opening fractions t.sub.1 and t.sub.2 of the periods p.sub.1 and p.sub.2, respectively. It has been found that all directions in the X-ray beam are then intercepted except for the direction to be collimated. Moreover, this configuration also enables transverse collimation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 1, 1997
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventors: Johannes Van Der Borst, Johannes F. M. D'Achard Van Enschut, Theodorus J. J. M. Jenneskens, Jacob Dobben, Christiaan J. Ter Borch, Hendricus G. M. Van Der Wal
  • Signal processing system involving a least squares method
    Patent number: 5633979
    Abstract: A signal processing system involving a least squares method where the system is structured around a microprocessor and includes memory zones 130, 140 and 250 which include Tables for facilitating the signal processing. Input signals are normalized before being applied to the Tables. Use of one of the Tables (130) is made easier by the normalization. The other Tables are involved in rotation processes in the selected least squares algorithm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 27, 1997
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventor: Maurice Bellanger