Abstract: Control device for a buffer memory which distinguishes information of the "instruction" type and information of the "data" type, and which replaces stored information with current information according to at least replacement algorithm. It comprises partitioning means (30) which make available, for at least one of the said types of information therefore called a limited type, a limited amount of memory, delocalized in the buffer memory, and, when a current information item has to be loaded while the said limited amount has been overloaded by the stored information of limited type, replacement means (40) load it by priority by replacing a stored replaceable information item of limited type. The value of the said limited amount can be updated. The partitioning means (30) and the replacement means (40) can be programmed means.

Abstract: A communication element for a hierarchical management network enhances the reliability of such a network. The communication element features at least 2 interfaces (2, 3) each having an assigned port (7, 8). A connection to communication elements of a higher hierarchical level of the management network can be established via each interface. A further variant of such a communication element features by at least two interfaces (4, 5) to which is assigned a shared port (11) and via each of which a connection to communication elements of a lower hierarchical level can be established. A further variant of a communication element includes features which can be formed from a combination of all the features of the two first variants. Structures of management networks are made possible with the communication elements presented, are explained.

Abstract: A communication system (1) operating according to the ISDN standard comprises a network terminal unit (2) to which ISDN terminals (TE1 . . . TEn) can be connected via a bus (4). The network terminal unit (2) and the terminals (TE1 . . . TEn) communicate with each other over an ISDN S-interface (S.sub.0). The network terminal unit (2) itself provides setting up a local communication between two terminals (TE1, TE2) connected to the bus (4). As a result, further elements in the communication system (1), such as the central control unit (3), are not loaded with this. If a local communication is to be set up, the calling terminal (TE1) is to insert an indicator (LC) in the first message (SET UP) to be sent, on the basis of which indicator the routing means set up transparently the local communication to a called terminal (TE2) connected to the bus (4).

Abstract: An apparatus (5) for generating an approximation function based on first pairs ((X.sub.1, Y.sub.1) to (X.sub.6, Y.sub.6)) of values associating a dependent variable (Y.sub.1 to Y.sub.6) with an independent variable (X.sub.1 to X.sub.6), and for determining second pairs (X.sub.A, Y'.sub.A) of values of said variables in accordance with said approximation function. The apparatus comprises: a) first means (10) for iteratively determining at least one current linear regression function, for selecting that one of the current linear functions which produces the approximation of all the pairs of said series with minimal errors, and for coding the selected linear regression function with the aid of specific codes (p, q), and b) second means (17) for determining said second pairs (X.sub.A, Y'.sub.A) with the aid of said specific codes.

Abstract: Method and apparatus of error back-propagation for use in a neural network system. A first group (11) of processing devices (13.sub.1, 13.sub.2, 13.sub.3) performs the resolving steps and a second group (12) of analogous processing devices (13.sub.4, 13.sub.5) performs the training steps while backpropagating errors calculated in a central processing device (10). The synaptic coefficient matrix C.sub.ij of the first group and the transposed matrix T.sub.ji of the second group are simultaneously updated. This updating of the synaptic coefficients can be performed by means of multipliers (34.sub.1 to 34.sub.N) and adders (37.sub.1 to 37.sub.N).

Abstract: A rotary-anode X-ray tube includes a sleeve bearing, notably a helical groove bearing, for journalling the rotary anode. The bearing comprises a stationary and a rotatable bearing portion, a liquid lubricant being present between the two bearing portions and at least one of the bearing, portions being provided with at least one capillary-type lubricant duct. The lubricant duct can be particularly simply formed by imparting to the duct a cross-sectional area which is greater than permissible so as to achieve a capillary effect and by arranging in the lubricant duct a member which can be wetted by the lubricant and which extends over at least a part of the length of the lubricant duct, thus reducing the cross-sectional area of the lubricant duct to such an extent that a capillary effect is achieved.

Abstract: A system for communicating digital data comprises a splitting device (38) for separating an input digital data word, which may be provided by a speech coding arrangement (34,36), into most significant bits and less significant bits. The most significant bit(s) of the digital data word are encoded (40) using a robust signalling alphabet and less significant bit(s) are encoded (42,44) using progressively less robust signalling alphabets. All of the symbols resulting from the encoding are combined (46) and transmitted (48). On reception (50) the received signal is split (52) and demodulated (54,56,58) to provide respective portions of a received data word to a combining means (60). Where the data word was originally provided by speech coding arrangement the received data word may be provided to a resynthesising arrangement (62,64). The signalling alphabets may comprise 2-level modulation, 3,4 and 8-level modulation and/or phase modulation of various degrees.

Abstract: In prior-art telecommunication systems a two-wire line carrying digital duplex traffic is tapped by inserting, at a line interruption, two mutually coupled hybrid circuits which convert the two-wire line to a four-wire connection, a traffic stream in one direction being conveyed by two of the four wires and a traffic stream in the other direction being conveyed by the further two of the four wires. A disadvantage for this is that the line has to be interrupted. In the telecommunication system according to the invention the tapping is performed by way of discriminator and echo canceller coupled thereto.

Abstract: A filter for implementing a least squares method receives samples x(n+1) and produces error signals e(n+1) based on reference signals y(n+1). Filtered samples y(n+1) are available at an output 28. The filtered samples are calculated based on: angle functions .theta..sub.i (i=1 to n) that form part of rotation matrices; a gain vector G.sub.N (n+1) that is based on the rotation matrices; and the error signals. Because the filtered samples are available the filter is suitable for use in an equalizer in which the reference signal is formed by from the filtered signals, as well as in other applications such as echo cancelers.

Abstract: For testing an integrated circuit with sequential logic its register stages are arranged in series as a shift register. This may give rise to delay time problems, which can be avoided by two-phase operation of the register stages, as is the case in, for example, the known LSSD technology. However, for a high processing speed edge-clocked register stages are more favorable. The invention therefore proposes register stages which can readily be switched between two-phase operation during testing and edge control in normal operation. For this only one additional clock line is required.

Abstract: Force detector (5) fitted with a blade carrying a strain gauge (12) and with a fixed support (10) and a mobile support (11) in which are respectively accommodated a first and second end of the said blade, the relative displacements of the two supports enabling the forces applied to the mobile support to be detected. In order to accommodate at least one of the said ends in its own support, the said support comprises a U-shaped member (13), between the two branches of which is inserted the said end bearing on slightly elastic contacts. A tactile screen is formed with the help of a plurality of such force detectors accommodated in a mobile plate (22) and a fixed frame (21). By coupling the two latter elements by means of suspensions (24.sub.1, 24.sub.2) and elastic fasteners (25.sub.1, 25.sub.2), the pressure forces acting on the mobile plate are, in a vertical position, decoupled from the intrinsic weight of the latter.

Abstract: A communication protocol is proposed, to be used by a main station and a plurality of mobile sub-stations, while time slots are used in which data packets are transmitted. A sub-station that has a message to be sent to the main station first transmits a request-for-access data packet to the main station. If the sub-station knows its own position as well as that of the main station, the sub-station applies an advancement of time to the request-for-access data packet, so that this may be longer and contain more information, such as a self-selected recognition code and/or information relating to the length of the message to be sent.The main station measures the instant at which the request-for-access data packet is received relative to the time slot distribution and sends a correction of the advancement of time to the sub-station.

Abstract: A document handling system comprises physical presentation means for receiving, presenting, and removing a document with respect to the system. Furthermore, it is provided with scanning memos for the document and printing means for printing on an unprinted sheet a document that contains a form. The form contains a plurality of physically sparse format calibrating items at a perimeter of the form, directly machine-readable form identifier clam in a prescribed identifier field, and form content dam including user completable indicia boxes proper to the form so identified. The form can be used for generating a facsimile sheet inclusive of standard facsimile header, for generating a standard document for general use, or for allowing a user to input amending dam for inclusion into a later to be printed user specifiable document.

Abstract: Data processing device, more particularly adapted to a chained language, especially of the FORTH type.This data processing device, more particularly adapted to a chained computer language, especially of the FORTH type includes:a main memory (10) for containing an execution program with its instruction data formed by a plurality of instructions which are directly executable or indirectly executable, the latter being arranged in at least one sub-program,a first stack-type memory (30) for containing the address following the address calling a sub-program (return address),one or several operational units (40) for executing the instructions which can be directly executed, each of which may contain:a second stack-type memory (20) for containing parameters used by the said program,an instruction-decoding member (40) for decoding each instruction data coming from the main memory.

Abstract: A device for optical heterodyne detection is described, using only two adjustable elements influencing the state of polarisation and having a limited control range (51, 52) in order to realize an endless polarisation control. In a first embodiment a temporary loss of signal intensity of at most 3 dB is accepted. This signal loss is avoided if a circuit of non-adjustable optical components (81, 82, 83) is incorporated in the heterodyne detection device.

Abstract: A finite state machine that may receive actuator signals and has a plurality of elementary sequential logic elements fed by the actuator signals. Through various interconnections between the elements a first set of interconnected logic states is realized that are activated through combined occurrence of a particular predecessor state and an associated actuator signal. In various ones of said logic states a particular output signal is produced. Furthermore, the finite state machine has a subset of redundant logic states that are aggregated together with a particular operational by appropriate interconnections for collectively emulating the operational state in question.

Abstract: An electronic arrangement for generating a modulated carrier signal in a transmitter includes a sigma-delta (one-bit) signal converter and a mixer. The sigma-delta converter includes, in a closed signal loop, an adder, a low pass filter, and a pulse shaper driven with a specific sample rate. The mixer is driven with a carrier frequency fc and has an input coupled with an output of the pulse shaper. The carrier frequency fc is equal to or an integer multiple of the half sample rate.

Abstract: Unsupervised training method for a neural net and a neural net classifier device wherein test vectors are supplied to the neural net whose operational parameters are classified in a stochastic labeling procedure by mutually correlating the net's output activations for each test vector and on the basis thereof generating weighting factors that scale the probabilities when selecting a class at random. Once the test vectors are thus classified, the operational parameters of the net are modified in order to intensify the differences among the patterns of output activations for all test vectors.

Abstract: Portable data carriers are known for different applications, for example as so-called smart cards for bank transactions or for access control or for combined applications. For the various applications different subdivisions of the write/read memory in the data carrier are required so that given zones cannot be read and other zones can only be read and not be written. This subdivision is customarily implemented during the manufacture of the card or the chip. In order to obtain a chip which can be flexibly adapted to various applications, in accordance with the invention the memory in the data carrier is subdivided into a number of blocks which are inhibited from reading or writing by read inhibit and write inhibit information stored in different locations in one or two blocks of the memory. The writing in non-inhibited blocks can additionally be made dependent on a previous transmission of a correct password, the password also being stored in one of the blocks in the memory of the data carrier.

Abstract: A local communication bus system including a serial control bus connected to a plurality of user terminal devices and at least one switchbox device, each terminal device being plug connected to at least one of the switchbox devices so as to provide respective signal interconnection paths there-between, each device having at least one plug and containing a readable interconnection table specifying to which plugs of other devices it is connected. A signal path from a terminal device operating as a signal source to a terminal operating as a signal destination is established by control commands generated on the connection bus by a control unit in the source device and which cause the intervening switchboxes to establish the requisite internal connections between their plugs. The system thereby does not require any central control. The interconnection table of a terminal device only needs to identify its own plugs and those of other devices to which it is plug are connected.