Abstract: A modular automated test station permits a plurality of tests to be performed under program control on complex electronic assemblies such as avionics equipment and provides for calibration. Interactive prompts are displayed enabling test personnel with minimal training to operate the test station and perform the tests. Particular kinds of test instrumentation together with the associated software program may be removed or replaced by other instrumentation and software to adapt the test station to test of another kind of equipment. A group of test stations forms a part of an assembly line in which information may be shared among test stations and with remote databases. The test stations are arranged in groups with one test station in the group containing a processor that is shared with other stations in the group and with each test station containing an assigned processor with the assigned processors being permitted to communicate with the shared processor.

Abstract: A technique for use in a public key exchange cryptographic system, in which two user devices establish a common session key by exchanging information over an insecure communication channel, and in which each user can authenticate the identity of the other, without the need for a key distribution center. Each device has a previously stored unique random number Xi, and a previously stored composite quantity that is formed by transforming Xi to Yi using a transformation of which the inverse in computationally infeasible; then concatenating Yi with a publicly known device identifier, and digitally signing the quantity. Before a communication session is established, two user devices exchange their signed composite quantities, transform them to unsigned form, and authenticate the identity of the other user. Then each device generates the same session key by transforming the received Y value with its own X value.

Abstract: An artificial neural system employs digital elements that may be fabricated using state of the art technology. The system includes a plurality of digital neural processors, each of the processors containing at least one register for storing a number; a signal is applied to the register to selectively increment or decrement the number stored in the register; circuitry is provided for resetting the register and for processing the number stored in the register. The neural system is trained by incrementing and/or decrementing numbers stored in the registers.

Abstract: There is provided a slagging combustion system for generating high purity working fluid suitable for driving gas turbines. The system consists of a precombustor for preheating oxidant tangentially fed to a primary slagging combustor where a solid carbonaceous material is combusted under substoichiometric slagging conditions. Slag is collected in the primary slagging combustor and products of combustion passed to a transition section where tertiary oxidant and sulfur-gettering agents are added, and then to a cyclonic secondary combustion chamber.

Abstract: The generation of acid rain precursors, i.e., SO.sub.x and NO.sub.x, and slag during the combustion of a carbonaceous fuel, e.g., coal, is counteracted in a slagging combustor apparatus and process. The fuel is combusted in a primary combustor under substoichiometric combustion conditions and at a temperature greater than the fuel's ash fusion temperature. The substoichiometric combustion conditions suppress the formation of NO.sub.x. Most of the noncombustibles are separated from the gaseous products of combustion, in the form of liquid slag, to form treated gaseous combustion products having a noncombustible content that is substantially reduced with respect to the noncombustible content of the fuel. The temperature of the treated gaseous combustion as it leaves the primary combustion is above the ash fusion tmeprature of the fuel. A sorbent is introduced into the treated gaseous combustion products and calcined. The calcined sorbent removes SO.sub.x from the treated gaseous combustion products.

Abstract: A fast Fourier transform circuit, including an illustrative radix-eight discrete Fourier transform (DFT) kernel that operates on an n-bit-serial data format, for an efficient serial-like, pipelined operation within the DFT. The circuit performs a four-point DFT on half of the input data words at a time, stores intermediate results from the four-point DFT in a commutation stage, then combines the intermediate results in two two-point DFTs. Internal multiplication in the eight-point DFT is effected in delay registers that also serve to store the intermediate results, thereby providing an economy of timing and circuit routing. Interleaving and deinterleaving operations convert the data format between three-bit-serial and conventional bit-parallel used outside the eight-point DFT kernel, which may therefore be easily cascaded for more complex FFT operations. The DFT kernel also includes means for selectively bypassing butterfly computation modules to perform shorter-length DFTs.

Abstract: A high-energy laser construction for minimizing the effects of thermal blooming on laser beams passing through the atmosphere. The construction includes multiple subapertures of equivalent area to a single aperture, but spatially separated to maintain a relatively low energy density, and therefore low probability of thermal blooming, until sub-beams emanating from the subaperture converge and overlap near a target plane.

Abstract: An interconnect circuit for use in a computer system employing horizontal architecture and having multiple resources of which the use must be scheduled in an optimum manner. The interconnect circuit reduces scheduling to a mechanical task by providing multi-word storage capability at each of a plurality of cross-points connected in data flow paths between the computer resources. At each cross-point of the interconnect circuit, data may be written into a selected location and retrieved from a selected location. Writing may be accomplished by an insertion operation in which already stored data is shifted to vacate the location selected for writing. Likewise, reading can be accompanied by a purge operation in which already stored data are shifted into the location from which a data word is purged. In this manner each cross-point can function as a time delay in a data path, to facilitate scheduling of resource usage.

Abstract: In a procedure for control of obesity, a clamp is placed across the stomach in a manner to partition the stomach into proximal and distal chambers with a restricted flow passage therebetween. An adjustable volume member is carried by the clamp and is coupled to distally positioned means for adjusting the dimensions of said member thereby controlling the effective cross-sectional area of said flow passage.

Abstract: In the operation of a slagging combustor, including an apertured baffle defining part of a cylindrical combustion chamber having a head end which includes a nozzle for injection of sulfur-containing particulate carbonaceous material to be combusted in a whirling oxidant flow field, there is injected a particulate sulfur sorbent at the aperture of the baffle towards the nozzle to react with released sulfur. The sulfur sorbent is injected into the combustion zone from a location near the exit end thereof. Fuel is injected near the center of the head end. A relatively fuel-rich recirculation zone is established and maintained along the longitudinal axis of the combustion chamber surrounded by a relatively oxygen-rich annular region.

Abstract: Apparatus for eliminating spurious spectral components from a spectral analyzer output signal. An input signal is mixed with two separate local oscillator frequencies separated by a frequency offset value to produce two intermediate-frequency signals, which are processed in spectral analyzers. The outputs of the analyzers are then compared to identify and eliminate any components that do not differ in frequency by the offset value.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for introducing slurry fuels into the combustion zone of high power density combustors, boilers, industrial furnaces or steam generators. Having the general form of an elongate cylinder, the apparatus comprises a central conduit for a flow of particulate carbonaceous fuel suspended in a carrier liquid, and separate annular passageways for an atomizing fluid and a coolant. The slurry flows longitudinally to about the position where it is to be dispersed into the combustion zone, is there divided into a plurality of streams that are deflected to flow individually through a corresponding plurality of radially extending passages and slurry portholes spaced apart around the periphery of the cylindrical structure. Just before these streams leave the injector they are each impinged by a higher-velocity longitudinal flow of atomizing fluid which breaks the filaments of viscous slurry into minute droplets.

Abstract: A fluidized bed disproportionation of carbon monoxide is effected using ferrous metal component-containing catalysts in particulate form. The bed also contains an abradant to continuously remove from the surface of those particles a substantial quantity of the carbonaceous fibers formed on those surfaces. The method produces a carbonaceous material of desired carbon and ferrous metal content. The process allows the use of two beds in series for producing high carbon content products.

Abstract: A radix-N.sup.2 or radix-N.sup.4 discrete Fourier transform (DFT) processor having cascaded stages alternately comprising N.sup.2 -sample memories and radix-N DFT's. Data is written into and read from the memories in a sequence permitting data to be written into a memory address immediately after the previously stored data is read from the same memory address, thereby avoiding the need for double-buffered memory. In one embodiment of the invention, two radix-N.sup.2 processors are cascaded to produce a radix-N.sup.4 DFT processor with even greater memory savings.

Abstract: A special-purpose search processor, and a related method, for performing a variety of logically complex searches of a serial data stream in a highly concurrent fashion. The processor comprises a sequence of serially connected cells of identical construction, and the data stream is passed through the sequence of cells, each cell performing a logical operation based only on the data provided to it from the previous cell in the sequence. Each cell has a character register for data storage and a pattern register for storage of part of a search pattern. The contents of the two registers are compared in each cell, at each cycle of a clock used to propagate the data through the processor. Match indicators or match tolerance values are propagated through the processor on a match line, and match results emerge in synchronism with the data stream.

Abstract: A process for recovering petroleum from relatively impermeable formations. A permeable structure is formed to extend radially outward from the well bore and vapor, including solvent vapor, is introduced in a manner to condense primarily adjacent petroleum-containing portions of the formation, thereby forming a mixture of solvent and petroleum sufficiently mobile to flow downwardly and inwardly to a lower portion of the well bore leaving in place a leached volume of solids from which most of the petroleum has been removed.

Abstract: Tendrillar carbonaceous material is used as a fluidization aid for fluidized beds. The tendrillar carbonaceous material can be used to fluidize cohesive solids. Further, it can be used to improve fluidization of particulate solids by reducing entrainment, eliminating bubbling, and/or eliminating channelling. The tendrillar carbonaceous material can be a fibrous, particulate carbonaceous material comprising carbon fibers and a ferrous group metal component dispersed thoughout the carbon fibers as nodules. The tendrillar carbonaceous material has a bulk density of from about 0.01 to about 0.7 g/cm.sup.3 and comprises an agglomeration of tendrils having a diameter of from about 0.01 to about 1 micron and a length to diameter ratio of from about 5:1 to about 1000:1.

Abstract: Tendrillar carbonaceous material is used as a fluidization aid for fluidized beds. The tendrillar carbonaceous material can be used to fluidized cohesive solids. Further, it can be used to improve fluidization of particulate solids by reducing entrainment, eliminating bubbling, and/or eliminating channelling. The tendrillar carbonaceous material can be a fibrous, particulate carbonaceous material comprising carbon fibers and a ferrous group metal component dispersed throughout the carbon fibers as nodules. The tendrillar carbonaceous material has a bulk density of from about 0.01 to about 0.7 g/cm.sup.3 and comprises an agglomeration of tendrils having a diameter of from about 0.01 to about 1 micron and a length to diameter ratio of from about 5:1 to about 1000:1.

Abstract: A composition of matter suitable for increasing the viscosity of liquids comprises tendrillar carbonaceous material (TCM) having a ultra low bulk density of less than about 0.1 g/cm.sup.3 and comprises intertwined tendrils having a diameter (number average) of from about 0.05 to about 0.2 micron and a length (number average) to diameter (number average) ratio greater than about 10, the tendrils comprising carbon fibers and an iron metal component dispersed throughout the carbon fibers as nodules that are intimately associated with and at least partially bonded to the carbon fibers, the tendrillar carbonaceous material comprising from about 0.1 to about 5% by weight iron. The TCM can be used as a viscosifier and for suspending solids in such applications as drilling muds, lubricating oils and greases. The TCM can be prepared by disproportionating carbon monoxide in the presence of iron contained in a blend of (1) previously formed TCM and (2) iron containing particles.

Abstract: Disclosed is a carbonaceous material which reacts rapidly with hydrogen to produce a methane-rich gas containing at least 20% by volume methane. The carbonaceous material is formed by contacting a carbon monoxide containing gas with an initiator including a ferrous group metal such as iron, cobalt, or nickel. The carbonaceous material grows from the surface of the initiator as fibers which include a ferrous metal component derived from the initiator. This ferrous metal component, which may be a metal, an alloy, a carbide, or other metallic substance, is dispersed throughout the carbon network as small nodules which are at least partially bonded to the carbon.