Abstract: Signals from multiple signal paths are received using a multi-element antenna and a beam-forming network. Signals from each of the antenna elements are sampled to form a sample vector. Several sample vectors are used to form an auto-covariance matrix. A singular value decomposition of the auto-covariance matrix is used to form three matrices. The first matrix is used to determine the number of signal paths and the second matrix is used to form several polynomials. The polynomial roots that are on or near the unit circle are used to determine points on the unit circle that are associated with each signal path. Each point on the unit circle is used to calculate weights for a beam-forming network that forms a receive beam for each signal path.

Abstract: An omnidirectional or panoramic projector comprise several image producing devices with a common virtual optical center. The images produced by devices such as LCD or film are arranged to form a composite or panoramic image such as a continuous 360 degree image when taken as a whole. The user can view the 360 degree image with little or no distortion at the boundaries of the image segments forming the composite image since the image producing devices have the same or nearly the same virtual optical center.

Abstract: The recognition rate of a speech recognition system is improved by compensating for changes in the user's speech that result from factors such as emotion, anxiety or fatigue. A speech signal derived from a user's utterance, and a bio-signal, which is indicative of the user's emotional state, are provided to a speech recognition system. The bio-signal is used to provide a reference frequency that changes when the user's emotional state changes. An utterance is identified by examining the relative magnitudes of its frequency components and the position of the frequency components relative to the reference frequency.

Abstract: The recognition rate of a speech recognition system is improved by compensating for changes in the user's speech that result from factors such as emotion, anxiety or fatigue. A speech signal derived from a user's utterance is modified by a preprocessor and provided to a speech recognition system to improve the recognition rate. The speech signal is modified based on a bio-signal which is indicative of the user's emotional state.

Abstract: A connector manipulating apparatus use a positioning mechanism to position a connector in a predefined location and orientation. A programmable positioning device or robot retrieves a connector from a first location using a locating tool, and places the connector in the positioning mechanism. After the positioning mechanism places the connector in a predefined location and orientation, the programmable positioning device moves the connector to a work location where conductors are attached to the connector.

Abstract: A laminated cylindrical backplane is constructed using disks with a conductive material mounted on a top surface, and a conductive material mounted on a second surface. Each disk and its conductive surfaces are separated from adjacent disks and their conductive surfaces by a dielectric material. The laminated structure forms a cylindrical backplane where circuit cards are radially mounted to the backplane by inserting the cards into slots in the perimeter of the cylindrical structure. The slots contain contacts where similarly positioned contacts of a particular disk are electrically connected to form a bus structure. As a result, similarly positioned conductive surfaces on circuit cards are electrically connected when the cards are inserted into the slots.

Abstract: In a system such as an AUDIX.RTM. voice mail system or answering machine, a caller's telephone number is extracted from a recorded message using voice recognition. The called party initiates automatic dialing of the calling party's number after confirming that the number was correctly recognized by the system.

Abstract: An equalizer compensates for changing transmission characteristics of a communication channel by changing the number of prior symbols, and the value of coefficients that it uses to filter a received signal. The number of prior symbols, and the value of the coefficients are determined using a set of training symbols that are received from the communication channel.

Abstract: Nodal outputs are discretized to values of S2.sup.n where n is an integer and S is equal to +1 or -1. During forward propagation, this offers the advantage of forming a product of a nodal output and a weight using a simple shift operation rather than a multiply operation. Replacing multiply operations with shift operations through out a neural network improves response times and permits building larger networks that have broader applicability. Training is also improved by increasing the efficiency of backward propagation. The multiplications involved in backward propagation are reduced To shift operations by discretizing the errors associated with each node so that they are represented as 2.sup.n where n is an integer and S is equal to +1 or -1.

Abstract: A coiled cable handling apparatus uses a platform with retractable fingers to maintain the coiled configuration of a coiled cable. The coiled cable having a coiled portion, a first end thereof terminating in a connector and a second end. The reactable fingers contact the inner circumference of the coiled cable, a centrally located nest or clamp secures one end of the cable and a clip secures the other end of the cable. A cable transport mechanism places the coiled cable on the platform or removes it from the platform. The transport mechanism comprises coil pickup clamps to grasp the coiled section of the cable, a clamp to grasp the end of the cable secured by the platform's centrally located clamp, and a clamp to grasp the other end of the cable.

Abstract: An analog signal is added to a data signal that specifies a symbol in a symbol constellation to produce a combined signal that is transmitted to a receiver. The symbol constellation is picked from a plurality of symbol constellations having differing symbol densities based on the amplitude of the analog signal.

Abstract: A cable handling apparatus uses a reeling mechanism to reel a cable into a coiled configuration by securing one end of the cable to the reeling mechanism. A capture mechanism is used to locate the other end of the cable by using a channel to guide the cable as it is reeled, and a detector to detect the end of the cable as it enters the channel.

Abstract: A circuit module with a pivot means engages a pivot support on an equipment chassis so that the module rotates into a locked position. A cantilevered latch located on the chassis locks the module in place by engaging a catch which is located proximate to a back surface of the module. The module is released by displacing the cantilevered latch using a cam and slide assembly which are mounted on the module. The slide assembly has a handle which is accessible at the front of the module. The module is released by pulling on the handle.

Abstract: The relative amounts of additive white noise and proportional noise in a communication channel are compensated for by providing adaptive precoding and preemphasis to signal point signals. The amounts of precoding and preemphasis are controlled using scalars to modify the magnitudes of the precoding and preemphasis signals that are combined with the signal point signals. The values of the scalars are transferred between the transmitter and receiver, and the values can be changed without losing synchronization between the transmitter and receiver.

Abstract: A modem's data reception rate is increased by decreasing the amplitude of the signals transmitted by the modem. Decreasing the amplitude of the transmitted signals reduces the amplitude of the resulting echoes, and thereby reduces the residual echoes that remain after echo cancellation. Reducing the residual echoes permits increasing the data reception rate. Decreasing the amplitude of the transmitted signals also involves decreasing the data transmission rate; however, asymmetrical data transfer rates are acceptable for many modem applications.

Abstract: A PCMCIA wireless credit card modem is fabricated using two credit card sized sections interconnected by a hinge. The first section contains modem circuitry, and the second section contains an antenna and radio circuitry. The two sections form a 90 degree angle in the open position. The section with the modem circuitry fits into a type I or II PCMCIA slot in a portable computer, and the section with the antenna remains on the outside of the computer. The folding electronic card assembly can interface to several different PCMCIA card slots. In one embodiment, the first section fits within a Type I or Type II PCMCIA slot, and when in the closed position, the assembly fits within a Type III or Type IV PCMCIA slot.

Abstract: A conductor handling apparatus uses a rotating disk to move a single conductor to a first position on a path where a conductor identifier is located. The conductor identifier identifies the conductor by completing a circuit used to detect a signal on the conductor. A controller rotates the disk in a direction based on the identity of the conductor, and a conductor unloader moves the conductor from the rotating disk. A conductor transfer mechanism moves the conductor from the unloader to a predetermined position where the conductor is inserted into a contact of a connector.

Abstract: Data samples describing a plurality of micro-segments that compose a symbol to be recognized are received from a device such as an electronic pad. Preprocessors map the micro-segments into cells of a plurality of feature arrays with different resolutions. Preprocessors assign values to the cells based on the length of a micro-segment associated with the cell, and how well the features of the associated micro-segment correspond to the feature label of the cell. The cell values are used as inputs to comparators that compare the feature arrays with reference arrays. The results of comparisons involving lower resolution feature arrays and reference arrays, are used to limit the number of comparisons involving higher resolution feature arrays and reference arrays. The highest resolution comparison selects the reference array that identifies the symbol to be recognized.

Abstract: Effective control of impedance values in integrated circuit applications is achieved with an integrated circuit transistor whose size is digitally controlled. The digitally controlled size is achieved, for example, with a parallel interconnection of MOS transistors. In one application, the digitally controlled transistor serves as a controlled impedance connected to an output terminal of an integrated circuit. In that application, a number of transistors are enabled with control signals, and the collection of enabled transistors is responsive to the input signal that normally is applied to a conventional transistor. In another application, where the digitally controlled transistor serves as a controlled impedance at the input of a circuit, only the control signals that enable transistors and thereby determine the effective developed impedance are employed.

Abstract: A method for improved thinning or skeletonizing handwritten characters or other variable-line-width images. The method scans a template set over the image to be thinned. Each template has a specific arrangement of dark and light pixels. At least one of those templates includes either more than three pixels per row or more than three rows of pixels. An odd number is good choice. Moreover, the templates are chosen so that each template can unconditionally delete image pixels without consideration of the effect of such deletions on the behavior of the other templates. Thus the templates are independent of each other.