Abstract: A writing implement (10) has an optical reader (20) integrated therewith. The optical reader (20) can include a bar code reader, an optical text reader, or an optical imaging reader. Preferably, a wireless data communication circuit shares an emitter and a detector of the optical reader (20).

Abstract: A bar code display apparatus includes a time-varying nonpredictable code generator (12) and a display device (14) responsive to the time-varying nonpredictable code generator (12) to display a time-varying nonpredictable bar code. The display device can provide a scrolling display by displaying a subsequent bar code portion having a bar removed from an end of the bar code. Alternatively, the display device can display a pulsed signal corresponding to the bar code. A housing, having an inset portion at which the display device is accessible, can support the time-varying nonpredictable code generator and the display device.

Abstract: An apparatus for navigating an electronic network (20) comprises a housing (240) which houses a data reader, a pointing device (236), and a transmitter. The data reader is to read at least one instruction for navigating to a resource in the electronic network (20). The pointing device (236) is to receive, upon navigating to the resource, a user-initiated action for navigating within the resource. The transmitter is to transmit a first signal associated with the at least one instruction and a second signal associated with the user-initiated action.

Abstract: A computer processor (110) automatically generates block-size operand references during execution of standard instructions. As such a standard instruction is executed, the processor (110) continually examines the number of bytes to be moved (342) and the relative alignment of the operand address (352). At any time during instruction execution, if the operand address is zero modulo the block size, and at least a block sized number of bytes remain to be moved (354), the operand transfer is marked as a block-sized reference.This provides a convenient method for generating block-sized memory references to/from the targeted address space, independent of cache modes such as copyback, write-through, or non-cacheable. This may produce burst accesses, maximizing performance of the data transfer. Additionally, cache memory writes can be optimized to avoid cache line fill reads.

Abstract: A serial arbitration system for arbitration between multiple processors (20, 21, 22) in a low power system has an arbitration line driven by each of the processors and received by each of the other processors. The arbitration lines (30, 31, 32) are coupled to arbitration ports (60, 61, 62, 63, 64) on each processor (20, 21, 22) numbered from zero for the driven arbitration port (60). Each of the processors (20, 21, 22) has a processor ID number, with a master processor (20) having ID zero. The arbitration line (30) driven by the master processor (20) is coupled to each other processor (21, 22) on the arbitration port (61', 62') numbered equal to the processor ID of that other processor (21, 22). The driven arbitration lines (31, 32) from the other processors (21, 22) are coupled to the arbitration ports (61, 62) on the master processor (20) corresponding to the processor ID of the driving processor (21, 22).

Abstract: A sigma delta modulator (10) for use in codec applications provides dynamic range adjustment and avoids asymmetrical signal clipping. The modulator (10) has a summing circuit that sums a plurality of inputs, one of which is a dither component. The dither is programmably modifiable to provide enhanced performance. The dither is provided by a pseudo random number generator (100). The pseudo random number generator (100) has an n-bit shift register (106) coupled to a last code detect (108) to detect the end of a pseudo random number sequence. At that time, a new preset code can be loaded (110) into the shift register (106) to provide different dither characteristics. This allows the pseudo random number generator (100) to programmably determine the percentage of ones and zeros to add to the output signal. The dither output can be inverted (104) to shift the dither up or down.

Abstract: A Hardware Abstraction Layer (HAL) (66) of a Portable Microkernel Operating System (OS) is tested and verified by loading a HAL test program (96) into Kernel Space (60) as a device driver. This allows direct access to the HAL layer (66) and to the computer hardware accessed by the HAL layer (66). The HAL test program (96) makes HAL layer requests, then verifies HAL (66) operation by directly examining the hardware affected by the HAL request. The HAL test program (96) is controlled by either an external HAL test system (98), or by a HAL control program (99) executing in User space (62).

Abstract: A data processing system (10) provides flexibility in interfacing with both a variety of memory devices (56, 58) and external peripheral devices (58). A control register (94) is provided for dynamically controlling a timing relationship between read and write accesses executed by the data processing system. A first set of bits (WP) stored in the control register determines an amount of time a write enable signal is asserted to indicate a length of time required to write a data value to an external device. By recognizing the difference in the timing requirements for read and write operations among different external peripheral devices and memories, as well as the difference in the timing requirements of read and write operations on the same external device, the first set of bits of the control register uses the best timing scheme available to increase the efficiency of the data processing system.

Abstract: A speech-recognition system for recognizing isolated words includes pre-processing circuitry for performing analog-to-digital conversion and cepstral analysis, and a plurality of neural networks which compute discriminant functions based on polynomial expansions. The system may be implemented using hardware, software, or any combination of hardware and software components. The speech wave-form of a spoken word is analyzed and converted into a sequence of data frames. The sequence of frames is partitioned into data blocks, and the data blocks are then broadcast to a plurality of neural networks. Using the data blocks, the neural networks compute polynomial expansions. The output of the neural networks is used to determine the identity of the spoken word. The neural networks utilize a training algorithm which does not require repetitive training and which yields a global minimum to each given set of training examples.

Abstract: A temperature sensor (1800) incorporates two diodes (1802, 1804). The voltage difference across each diode is a linear function of temperature. The voltage difference between the two diodes is also a function of the ratio of their respective sizes. These relationships can be used to build a sensor that is inexpensive, reliable, and whose process variance is predictable.

Abstract: A method and system for identifying boundaries of characters in handwritten text by classifying segment strokes provides improved performance in a handwriting recognition system. A segment stroke is a portion of handwritten text which includes a boundary between two characters. The segment stroke is recognized by the same method used to recognized characters. Recognition of a segment stroke is accomplished by training a learning machine to act as a classifier which implements a discriminant function based on a polynomial expansion.

Abstract: A multi-channel digital transceiver (400) receives uplink radio frequency signals and converts these signals to digital intermediate frequency signals. Digital signal processing, including a digital converter module (426), is employed to select digital intermediate frequency signals received at a plurality of antennas (412) and to convert these signals to baseband signals. The baseband signals are processed to recover a communication channel therefrom. Downlink baseband signals are also processed and digital signal processing within the digital converter module (426) up converters and modulates the downlink baseband signals to digital intermediate frequency signals. The digital intermediate frequency signals are converted to analog radio frequency signals, amplified and radiated from transmit antennas (420).

Abstract: An LNS-based computer processor is provided for performing high-speed calculations that involve special function values. Special functions include transcendental and hyperbolic functions. The computer processor includes a decoder (11), a memory circuit (12) for storing a plurality of special function signals, a log converter (14), at least one processing element (16), and an inverse-log converter (18).

Abstract: A first system for locating a portion of an underground sewer includes a buoy which is released into the sewer. The buoy is carried to the portion of the sewer by a flow of fluid therein. An electronic tracking system tracks the buoy during its travel through the portion of the sewer to thereby locate the portion of the sewer. A second system includes a plurality of buoys distributed along a tethered line which are released into the sewer. The plurality of buoys are carried to the portion of the sewer by a flow of fluid therein. A location of each of the plurality of buoys within the portion of the sewer is sensed to thereby locate the portion of the sewer. The plurality of buoys are then removed from the sewer by retracting the tethered line.

Abstract: A receiver (100) employs an apparatus (109) and method (500) for determining transmitted modulation symbols contained in a received communication signal (127). Each of a plurality of memory locations (201-208) is loaded (503) with a binary representation (120) of a corresponding portion of the received communication signal (127). At least three of the binary representations (120) are transformed (505) in parallel into signed magnitudes (121) that correspond to the received modulation symbols. The magnitudes (121) are then used (507, 509) in the search and demodulation process (113) to recover the originally transmitted modulation symbols.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for generating a high-resolution, real-time, digital video signal from an analog composite video signal such as an NTSC, PAL, or SECAM signal. The analog video signal is digitized and consecutive fields in the signal are merged to produce a frame. Non-uniform interpolation is performed between adjacent scan lines in the frame to generate the high-resolution video signal.

Abstract: A method of operating a neural network and a neural network, which is implemented either in hardware or software, is constructed of neurons or neuron circuits each having only one significant processing element in the form of a multiplier. The neural network utilizes a training algorithm which does not require repetitive training and which yields a global minimum to each given set of input vectors.

Abstract: Information is retrieved from an information source by wirelessly receiving, at a cellular telephone switch, a request by a subscriber unit for a predetermined selection of information. The request is communicated to the information source using at least one of a satellite communication system and a wireless data network. The information source retrieves the predetermined selection of information. A transmission of the predetermined selection to the cellular telephone switch is inhibited if a utilization level of at least one of the satellite communication system and the wireless data network exceeds a threshold. When the utilization level is below the threshold, the predetermined selection is communicated to the cellular telephone switch. The predetermined selection is then forwarded to the subscriber unit when a utilization level of the cellular telephone switch is below a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A handwriting recognition system achieves a higher recognition rate by using a feature extraction method which computes features based on multiple data frames. A plurality of data frames is generated from handwritten text received by the system. Each data frame includes samples taken from the handwritten text. Individual-frame features are extracted from individual data frames, and in turn, multi-frame features are extracted from individual-frame features which correspond to different data frames.

Abstract: A system for controlling the movement of at least one limb of a person's body includes an interface unit in communication with the person's body for receiving an input signal. A polynomial processor generates a control signal as a polynomial function of the at least one input signal. A generator generates a functional electrical stimulation signal. A plurality of electrodes stimulates the movement of the at least one limb by introducing the functional electrical stimulation signal to the at least one of a plurality of inactive muscles.