Abstract: An interactive multimedia book provides hands-on multimedia instruction to the user in response to voiced commands. The book is implemented on a computer system and includes both text and audio/video clips. The interactive multimedia book is accessed by voiced commands and natural language queries as the primary user input. The displayed text is written in a markup language and contains hyperlinks which link the current topic with other related topics. The user may command the book to read the text and, as the text is read by the voice synthesizer, a word which is also a hyperlink will change its attributes upon being spoken. The user will be able to observe or hear this and simply utter the word which is the hyperlink to navigate to the linked topic.

Abstract: A double gated silicon-on-insulator (SOI) MOSFET is fabricated by using a mandrel shallow trench isolation formation process, followed by a damascene gate. The double gated MOSFET features narrow diffusion lines defined sublithographically or lithographically and shrunk, damascene process defined by an STI-like mandrel process. The double gated SOI MOSFET increases current drive per layout width and provides low out conductance.

Abstract: A semiconductor memory device has a voltage converter for converting a voltage level of an internal clock signal to obtain a high voltage level clock signal. The high level clock signal accelerates the transmission of the clock signal to latch circuits which control the output transistors of the memory device. Another voltage converter is disposed between the data amplifier and the latch circuit instead of the output of the latch circuit, for prevention of current flowing through both the output transistors.

Abstract: A position sensor (25) includes both a position potentiometer (90) and a turns count potentiometer (92). The position potentiometer (90) includes a pair of wipers (12 and 14) positioned on a rotor (10) which each contact both a resistive track (46) and one of two different commutator tracks (48 and 50) on element (26). The sensed percentage of total voltage output, which is a function of the position the wiper (12 or 14) contacts the resistive track (46), corresponds to the angular position between 0.degree. and 360.degree. of the shaft on which the position sensor (25) is mounted. The turns count potentiometer (92) comprises a turns count rotor (66) which is incrementally advanced via a cog (18) on rotor (10) using a gear or geneva type mechanism. The turns count rotor (66) includes a wiper (64) which either contacts both a resistive track (150) and commutator track (152) or contacts one of a plurality of switch pads (154).

Abstract: An apparatus and method for cleaving GaAs laser bars from a cell utilizes a first jaw applied to one end of a laser bar to propagate a cleavage and a second jaw applied to an opposite end which provides a biasing force that assures separation of the bar from the cell along the same crystallographic plane. The apparatus may be used in an ultra-high vacuum environment and allows handling of the bars without contacting the vital areas of the top surfaces or facet faces. The apparatus precisely locates bars after cleavage so that they may be further processed.

Abstract: A method for interfacing between a product planning conceptual design tool and a CAD/CAM environment allows an indented bill of materials to be imported to the CAD/CAM environment while retaining the characteristics as a primitive text file. The conceptual design tool uses a sketch sheet approach on a computer display to enter the functional design of a new or modified product, thereby encouraging the designer to use a top down approach to the design process. The user keys in item information, and the system automatically draws a hierarchical tree structure on the computer display. The system then automatically generates an indented bill of materials which is stored in a graphics standard file that retains the character of text primitives. From this file an image of the bill of materials can be displayed in the CAD/CAM environment. The designer can use this image as an aid in the design process. Item names and numbers can be copied from the displayed bill of materials to the CAD/CAM image.

Abstract: Information from multiple CICS host applications is gathered and the information is displayed on a single display screen. The information includes graphics, reports, and monitoring information. The display screens that the user is presented with are in a format that correspond to the host display screens that are commonly employed in large data processing (DO) centers. A host based status array is used to minimize the overhead of the communications between the host and the PC. The IBM 3270-PC or other microprocessor with a host communications interface receives existing, summarized information and reduces the information to a complete, accurate picture of the multiple applications that enables the operator to have timely information and respond effectively in a complex DP environment. The alarm information is organized to effectively call the operator's attention to a key problem quickly and efficiently.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for driving a vehicle from a remote control station achieving tele-operation of the vehicle. A television sensor mounted on the vehicle provides video image information which is reduced in bandwidth by a factor of approximately 1000:1 for transmission by narrow band RF data link to a remote control station. The large bandwidth reduction is accomplished by first sampling the video output of the sensor at a reduced frame rate and then compressing the data further by standard data compression techniques. Vehicle position and attitude data which may be derived from the vehicle's on board inertial reference unit are also transmitted via narrow band data link to the control station.

Abstract: A display technique allows the user to input information to a computer in the form of color with character text. The technique provides an ergonomic approach to convey information to an application program by using color to specify functions or attributes. Colors are used to reduce the number of interactions necessary to accomplish a task between the user and the application program. In many systems a command has to be typed to save a file. These commands range in size from one to many characters and require the user to key in each character and the filename. The improvement described is a technique for typing the filename in a specified color that the application interprets to mean, for example, Save the file. The technique assigns a color to data elements input to the system. The color is interpreted by the application to indicate what specific function, attribute or value should be associated with the data element.

Abstract: A method for controlling the use of a cryptographic key at a using station by a generating station in a network of generating and using stations is disclosed. A control value specifying the use of the cryptographic key is transmitted with a generated cryptographic key to at least two designated using stations one of which may be the generating station. Each of the generating and using stations have cryptographic facilities that securely store a master key. Two techniques are described for controlling the use of the cryptographic key. In the first, the key and the control value are authenticated via a special authentication code before use by the using station. In the second, the key and control value are coupled during key generation such that the key is recovered only if a correct control value is specified. In addition, two techniques are described for controlling who may use the cryptographic key.

Abstract: End of train marker light equipment (10) has been designed with a battery compartment (13) which can receive either a lead/acid battery (100), a Ni/Cd battery pack (250) or a pair of lantern batteries (350 and 352). In a first configuration, the lead/acid battery (100) mates with an electrical connector (30) positioned on the back wall (20) of the battery compartment (13). In a second configuration, an adapter (200) is fitted into the battery compartment (13) to receive a Ni/Cd battery pack (250). The adapter (200) includes an electrical connector (218) which is copmlimentary to the electrical connector (30). In a third configuration, a pair of lantern batteries (350 and 352) are fitted in the battery compartment (13) to contact a contact pattern (300) positioned on the back wall (20).

Abstract: A bill of material for a product is automatically created from a query session on the product structure. The user is first queried on functional product structure. A top down approach, rather than a focus on design details, is encouraged. As the query occurs, a hierarchical tree structure is created on the screen for the user to view. Within a relational database, the structure data is kept in a table which is accessed by item number. Once the product structure is established, the user can see the hierarchical tree and check it for correctness. From the tree structure, which has been captured in the relational database, the indented bill of material is built.

Abstract: An automated initial terminal testing system tests the air pressure and leakage of the brake pipes and the operation of brakes of railroad trains (10) in a terminal yard before trains are allowed to go on a railroad. The system includes end of train devices (16) attached to the trailing coupler of the last car of each train, head of train devices (14) connected to a source of yard air (26) and the air hose connection to the brake pipe of the first car of each train, and a central control console (18). The end of train devices, normally used to transit brake pipe pressure data to the engineer in locomotive when a train is on a railroad, monitors the air pressure in the brake pipe during the charging operation and transmits this data to the central control console. The head of train devices control the charging and venting of air pressure at the front of the train. These devices monitor air pressure and transmits this data to the central control console.

Abstract: A system for the interactive control of a display such as a CRT (cathode ray tube) or the like, produces a visual representation of at least one variable in the form of a trend or bar graph. The system includes a personal computer having a cursor control and a display. The system operator can select a variable for display, and then select a location within which the visual representation of the variable is to appear and a range of the variable which is to be displayed within the selected region. The system responds to the operator's selections for producing a visual representation in the form of a trend or bar graph of the selected variable within the selected range at the operator-selected location.

Abstract: A system for the adaptive reordering of sequential decisions in the search of a data base is provided with a device that simplifies and speeds up a heuristic search method by implementing in hardware the computation required for the adaptive reordering. The system includes an arithmetic unit for computing for each decision the ratio p/c where p is the probability of a successful outcome of the decision and c is the cost of computation to make that decision. The arithmetic unit includes a device for estimating the logarithms of the prabability p and the cost c for each decision. Logarithms of ratios p/c are calculated for each decision by subtracting the log c from the log p, and then the logarithms of the ratios for the decisions are compared to produce a priority value for each decision. The decisions are reordered based on the priority value assigned to each decision to obtain the optimal ordering of the decisions.

Abstract: A fuel measuring system of the bubble type is adaptable for use with a plurality of tanks of predetermined differing geometries. The system employs at least two bubbling tubes located at predetermined locations in a tank. A predetermined volume flow of air is made to pass through each tube. Pressure transducers are used to periodically measure the air pressures supplied to the bubbling tubes. Temperature is also periodically sampled, and the pressure and temperature data is used by a microprocessor to make the necessary computations to first determine the averaged normalized air pressure and then the height of the fuel in the tank. In order to correlate the computed value of fuel height with the actual quantity of fuel in the tank, the microprocessor accesses data in a table lookup memory for the particular tank and performs calculations in order to derive the instantaneous volume of fuel in the tank.

Abstract: A technique is described for animating graphics objects (sprites) on a display. The display manager allows a user to select a sprite from the display or from a sprite table. Then the user selects the operation to perform on the sprite. Enabled operations include hiding the sprite, showing the sprite, redefining the sprite, placing the sprite or moving the sprite. The move operation allows the user to make the sprite the current cursor character and move it around the display under the control of the mouse. Any of the operations may be performed on the selected sprite. The operations are recorded for the user to later playback. Additionally, the user can select other sprites and perform additional operations on them. In this way, the user can interactively create an animated display consisting of multiple sprites. As the user creates the various sprite operations, he or she can play them back at any time to see how they appear and edit the operations to tailor them to the user's needs.

Abstract: An ultraviolet source (14) directs selected ultraviolet radiation onto a thin film (10) to excite it. The thin film fluoresces, either naturally or as a result of adding fluorescing material. The amount of light fluoresced is proportional to the film thickness. An optical filter (16) selectively transmits fluoresced wavelengths, excluding exciting wavelengths. A photodetector (18) converts the light to an electrical signal which is processed by signal processing circuits (20) and displayed on a readout (26). The output is compensated for variations in the intensity of the exciting ultraviolet radiation by generating a second electrical signal (13', 18') proportional to the intensity of the exciting radiation and dividing the first electrical signal by a function of said second electrical signal. The compensated output is then calibrated to assure precision and accurate measurements.

Abstract: A method of forming a gas seal without molds is provided by the use of a chemically modified silicon rubber that is rapidly polymerized upon exposure to ultraviolet radiation. The aft end of the sabot is coated with the rubber compound using spraying or flow coating technologies. The coating layer is deposited to a desired thickness. Then the coating layer is exposed to ultraviolet radiation which causes the polymerization of the silicone rubber compound. A hard, cured gas seal is produced by the polymerization reaction.

Abstract: A coaxial cable testing device has a modular construction wherein the several pieces may be configured in different arrangements to fulfill the separate functions of a flashlight, a continuity checker, a cable identifier, and a bandit splitter detector. The pieces are provided with connector elements which allow each of the pieces to fit together and the pieces are small enough to conveniently fit in the shirt pocket of a cable television technician. In the flashlight configuration, a battery pack (10) and a flexible flashlight assembly (18) are interconnected. In the continuity checker or cable identifier configuration, the battery pack (10) is connected to one end of a cable (28) and the detector section (24) and shorting plug (26) are connected to the other end of the cable (28). In the bandit splitter detector configuration, the battery pack (10) is connected to the detector section (24) which is connected to the cable (28).