Abstract: The present invention provides a method for regulating a supply of reformate to a fuel cell in which the method includes receiving exhaust oxidant from the fuel cell, combining the exhaust oxidant and fuel to form reformate, and providing the reformate to the fuel cell.

Abstract: A flexibly interfaceable portable computing device includes a display coupled to a processor, which is coupled or selectively coupled to either or both of a keyboard and a recording unit. The display and the keyboard provide a first user interface to the processor. The recording unit is superimposable with a removable markable surface. A stylus allows user marking on the markable surface. The stylus provides a stroke signal and a stroke mark. The recording unit, the markable surface, and the stylus provide a second user interface to the processor. Optionally, the display also contributes to providing the second user interface to the processor. Switching among viewing modes for the display, and synchronization of information between the processor and a processor of the recording unit are also provided. A casing can enfold the display, the keyboard, and the recording unit to form a relatively slim profile.

Abstract: This electric fence comprises at least one electrically conducting metal wire (1) with good mechanical properties, associated with a support, and further incorporates at least one other electrically conducting wire (4) with good electrical conductivity, sheathed with an insulating material (5) over its entire length except for zones distributed at more or less regular intervals where the said conducting wire (4) is in direct or indirect contact with the said conducting metal wire or wires (1) with good mechanical properties.

Abstract: A liner system for a container is provided which includes a body, a neck, and a valve. The body is adapted to substantially conform to an inner surface of the container. The neck has a first end attached to the body and a second end adapted to conform to a shape of an opening of the container. The valve is adapted for fluid communication between an interior surface and an exterior surface of at least one of the body and neck.

Abstract: A solder paste brick inspection and physical quality scoring system 10 employs a neural network 70 trained with a fuzzified output vector. An image of solder paste bricks 64 on a printed circuit board 12 is acquired by a CCD camera 30. Values of a predetermined set of brick metrics are extracted from the image by a computer 28 and used as a crisp input vector to trained neural network 70. A defuzzifier 76 converts a fuzzy output vector from neural network 70 into a crisp quality score output which can be used for monitoring and process control.

Abstract: A camera is provided that includes a door which is selectively movable between an open position and a closed position and a release which is movable between a home position and an away position for selectively retaining said door in said closed position. Door position, release position and film sensors each have at least two states for determining the position of the door and release and for determining presence of film in the camera. The sensors are disposed within an electric circuit for allowing operation of the camera as a function of the states of the sensors.

Abstract: A workload manager creates an in storage representation of a set of performance goals, each goal associated with a class of clients (e.g., client transactions) in a client/server data processing system. A set of servers, providing service to the clients, are managed to bring the clients into conformity with the class performance goals by: calculating performance indexes for each class to determine the target class(es) which are farthest behind their class performance goals; analyzing the relationship among servers and client classes to determine which servers serve which classes; determining which resource(s) are impacting the service provided to the key servers (that is, those on which the target class(es) are most heavily reliant), and projecting the effect of making more of these resources available to those servers; and, finally, making the changes to those resources which are projected to most favorably indirectly affect the performance of the target class(es).

Abstract: In one aspect, a software development technique is capable of efficiently organizing for execution a conditional code segment having multiple associated conditional paths. The development technique employs in association with each path of the code segment, a probability compiler directive which dictates to the compiler a probability for satisfying a conditional test of the associated path. In another aspect, a system/process is capable of optimizing organization of assembled program code for a code's particular execution environment. This optimization approach tunes assembled code organization for each specific execution environment, employing run-time based statistical data collected during performance execution of the assembled code. The execution environment, consisting of hardware, software, and other factors such as workload, input data, etc., can also be collected and employed by an optimizer unit to best reorganize the assembled program code for a current execution environment.

Abstract: Automated, closed loop method and system for monitor and control of semiconductor fabrication processing are described. Optical emissions spectrometer (OES) data readings from a fabrication plasma chamber are statistically analyzed and a novel pattern model (based on Markov random fields) is used in combination with a selective stochastic relaxation technique to identify gaseous species within the chamber from the OES readings. Wavelength and intensity information is also employed to accurately estimate relative concentration levels of identified gases within the chamber. The unique statistical analysis approach described allows real-time monitor and control of physical processing within the fabrication chamber. Several practical algorithms are set forth, including techniques for OES peak identification, peak sharpening, gas identification, and physical processing control.

Abstract: In an optical sight display for a fighter aircraft pilot training simulator, a performance monitor system is described as having a visual display for providing a pictorial representation (10) to a trainee's eye view (11) of real-time information. Electronic apparatus (31) such as a TV camera generates electrical signals responsive to visual images developed on a combining glass (13), and by means of a particularly described optical arrangement (lens 24, 27 & 30) when used with a fiber-optic bundle (29), the camera (31) is positioned remotely, out of the trainee's normal field-of-view. Due to the limited space in a fighter aircraft, this disclosed arrangement of component parts permit the generation of a substantially duplicate pictorial representation at an instructor's station for monitoring the performance of a trainee.

Abstract: Electronic compensation apparatus for modifying an input control signal, to produce a drive signal for a torque motor of an electrohydraulic servovalve. The torque motor has a frequency variable response characteristic. The apparatus includes means to determine a first voltage magnitude across the armature of the torque motor when it is not moving; means to determine a second voltage magnitude across the armature of the torque motor when it is moving; and means to determine a difference voltage of the first and second voltages. The difference voltage measures the dynamic motion of the armature and provides a feedback control signal. The apparatus further includes compensation means responsive to the feedback control signal for compensating the electrohydraulic servovalve so as to avoid resonance, and feedback means connected to the compensation means for providing a modified control signal.

Abstract: Electronic compensation apparatus for a drive system associated with a torque motor of an electrohydraulic servovalve. The apparatus includes means to define an open loop transfer function characteristic of the drive system, wherein the transfer function corresponds to a notch filter. Further included are means to provide the open loop characteristic with a closure rate of approximately no more than 6 db/octave with respect to a function 1/.beta.=1-G.sub.cl (s), where G.sub.cl (s) corresponds to a closed loop transfer function of the drive system. In particular, the notch filter may be realized in a drive system that includes a series resistive-capacitive circuit connected in parallel with the torque motor. The 6 db/octave closure rate is provided by a variation of the impedance of the series resistive-capacitive circuit.

Abstract: Alignment and adjustable support structure for video projector is disclosed. The support structure includes the base plate 16 and at least three apertures for receiving three jack screws 22, 24 and 26. The jack screws have a length greater than the selected thickness of the base plate such that the base plate can be adjusted with respect to a post plate 28. Each of the jack screws includes an aperture 72 therethrough along its longitudinal axis. Post plate 28 includes at least three apertures such as aperture 68 for receiving a fastening means 70 which extends through aperture 68 and through aperture 72 of jack screw 26. Fastening means 70 is suitable for securing the post plate 28 in a selected position with respect to base plate 16 as is determined by the allowable motion of jack screw 26. A rolling plate 30 includes a top surface for receiving the bottom surface of post plate 38.

Abstract: The disclosure describes a digital servo control circuit to actuate an analog servo motor smoothly from an actual present position to a new desired servo position in response to digital information from a computer. The control circuit described receives from a computer digital information representative of a new position desired at a predetermined velocity rate. Such information normally is pre-timed to correspond with a preselected timing rate in the digital computer. A position signal generator is responsive to such pre-timed digital information to generate a predetermined number of position signals intermediate of the pre-timed digital information to achieve the desired smooth operation of the servo motor.

Abstract: The disclosure describes a system for ordering and pairing feature boundary intersections on a sweepline of a simulated digital radar visual display screen in order to arrange a variable length list of data in accordance with a desired order. This ordering and pairing system resolves the correct range order of the intersection pairs for any closed feature shape regardless of boundary convexity, range inaccuracy or possible shape anomalies. The system includes an input data control means (11) having one input connection and a plurality of output connections (14, 16, 18) to store the input data temporarily. There is described two sorting pipelines (12, 13) connected to two of the output connections to receive certain described "key" data in order to sort the data in each respective pipeline in accordance with a desired correct relationship of ranges. A temporary storage means (19) is connected to receive the "non-key" data.

Abstract: Optical probe (21) for simultaneously providing two images along independent lines-of-sight that correspond to front and side views in a single camera model visual system. An optical probe comprises a first pitch prism (24) and a second pitch prism (28). The pitch prisms have respective first and second apparent entrance pupils that are external to each prism and common to both prisms at a particular location (32). All motion of the optical probe is constrained to rotations about the location (32) of the first and second apparent entrance pupils.

Abstract: The disclosure is of a system for steering a landing light pattern by storing data to increase the illumination intensity for each picture element by a selected amount along a scanline in a memory circuit (11) and, then, addressing the memory circuit to begin its readout at predetermined starting points. A skewing or warping of the light pattern is obtained by applying a displacement factor to the beginning point for each successive scanline, so that each scanline is read out beginning at a progressively different point to cause the shape of the landing light pattern to be varied in a predetermined manner.

Abstract: This disclosure describes digital control circuit to actuate an analog servo motor in response to digital information from a computer. The control circuit is responsive to the timing signal (13) from the computer, and includes a circuit (12) to receive information from the computer indicative of a new servo position. A feedback circuit (15) receives information from the servo indicative of the actual present servo position. Information processed individually by each of these circuits then is connected into a computational network (14) in order to generate a properly timed digital output signal which, when converted in a suitable digital-to-analog converter (17), is able to drive a servo motor accurately.

Abstract: The disclosures gives a system for indicating visually to a pilot within his normal field of view, so that the pilot need not turn his head, both the identity of a knob or switch which the pilot's hand is touching and also the setting of that switch. The arrangement prevents spatial disorientation, or pilot's "vertigo", by informing the pilot the identity as well as the present setting of a switch located remotely in his cockpit, outside of his normal field of view, without the pilot having to turn his head to look at the switch.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for determining dynamically a blending ratio for blending features in a computer image generated scene are disclosed. The invention is for use with a computer image generation system which provides a dynamic scene as viewed by the pilot of an aircraft simulator. Such a computer image generator system includes a main data base (62) which contains information representing features of the scene to be presented, a display means (76) and a main computational unit (74) for generating the dynamic visual scene. Apparatus of the present invention includes a control data base (78) which contains selected information related to selected features contained within main data base (62). The selected information contained in control data base (78) includes the spatial coordinates of a control point of the selected feature, and the range at which the feature should be included.