Abstract: Computer apparatus 10 provides the working condition of fan 12 therein to user display device 10D. Fan 12 has rotating blade 12B for moving a flow of convective cooling air. The fan also has motor winding 12W which receives working current for causing the blade to rotate. Current monitoring circuit 14 is responsive to the working current for determining the present fan working condition. Display message generator 16 is responsive to the present fan working condition from the current monitoring circuit for generating a user message containing the present fan working condition. A central processing unit (CPU chip) 10C controls the operation of the computer apparatus. The CPU employs a multi-task operating system such as 3.1 windows which permits non-disruptive interruption of system functions in order to the present user message containing the present fan working condition to the user display monitor.

Abstract: Remote telephone coder 10R and local telephone coder 10L provide coding and decoding for voice communication between remote telephone set 11R and local telephone set 11L through telephone line 12. An eavesdropper listening in on a listening device such as remote extension telephone 14R or local extension telephone 14L hears normal "in-the-clear" conversation (uncoded transmissions) when both of the telephone coders are in the normal mode. However, when both of telephone coders 10R and 10L are in the code mode, the extension eavesdropper using an extension telephone or other unauthorized listening device 14 (shown in phantom) hears only coded transmissions. Further, a remote eavesdropper on remote extension telephone set (main portion 17M with hand portion 17H) employing remote extension coder 16R is also excluded from the coded transmissions between remote telephone coder 10R and local telephone coder 10L.

Abstract: General apparatus 10 for carrying out non-linear aggregation compression and storage of pixel data is presented. Scanner device 10S receives record documents 10R containing record images 10D for providing analog data 10A. Analog-to-digital converter 12A digitizes the amplitudes of the analog data to provide digital data stream 12D. Mapping device 14 defines a non-linear series of aggregation segments (A, B, C . . . X, Y, and Z) along the scale of intensity which are aggregated to an aggregation level (a, b, c, . . . x, y, or z) within each segment. The basic steps of the general method are: Retrieving pixel image data from a data source to form data stream 12D; Defining a non-linear series of aggregation segments; Determining an aggregation level within each aggregation segment; Aggregating the intensity scale levels within each aggregation segment; Compressing the aggregated pixel data; and Storing the non-linearly aggregated pixel data in a memory device.

Abstract: Motherboard 10M receives a voltage at post 14P from an off-board power source. Buried conductive layer 10B selectively distributes this electrical power to component sites 10S. Post bore 14 penetrates through local electrodes 12U and 12L into the motherboard for exposing post contact regions 14U and 14L and post contact region 14B in the buried layer. Connector post 14P is positioned within the post bore. Post bore conductor 14C within the post bore establishes electrical continuity from the connector post to the buried layer. The post bore conductor also establishes electrical continuity from the connector post to post contact regions 14U and 14L in the local electrodes. Auxiliary bore 16 proximate the post bore penetrates into the motherboard for exposing auxiliary contact regions 16U and 16L in the local electrodes, and auxiliary contact region 16B in the buried layer. Auxiliary bore conductor 16C within the auxiliary bore establishes electrical continuity along the auxiliary bore.

Abstract: Document entry system 10 receives user documents 10D containing document data for distribution and storage throughout a user network 10N. Controller 10C controls the operation of the document entry system. Document scanner 10S has a document port 10p for receiving the user documents to be entered by the user. The document scanner is responsive to the controller for scanning the document data on the documents, and providing electronic document data for distribution and storage throughout the user network. Controller display 12 is responsive to the controller for displaying operational information about the document entry system to the user. Portable key module 14 contains user module data which defines distribution parameters and storage parameters for the electronic document data. Key module reader 15 has a module port for reading the module data on the key module and transferring the module data to the controller to effect the distribution and storage of the electronic document data.

Abstract: Task order system 10 dispatches task orders throughout user network 10N concerning user record documents. Task order 10T is carried on an input medium suitable for scanning such as ordinary paper, and specifies both the dispatch task and the record document. The task order contains an input task identification (ID) 22 and record document index symbols 24. Scanner 10S receives the input medium and scans the task order thereon to obtain pixel images of the input ID and the index symbols. Classifier 10C receives the pixel images from the scanner for classification into an input ID code, and index codes. Template library 10L has a task ID template which defines the corresponding each task ID. Selector 11S selects the template code which matches the input ID code. Display device 10D notifies the user if the selection was unsuccessful. The user may correct the input ID code or manually select a template code from user keys 10K.

Abstract: Mother board 10M provides a flexible circuit component layout for computer system 10 within housing 10H. The mother board accommodates system component options such as an add-on card 12C or a disk drive bay 10D. Memory module footprint sites 14A-F within memory region 14 are defined on the mother board. Footprints designated in the layout receive components which provide the option flexibility of mother board 10M. Memory module connectors are to be emplaced within the memory region depending on the space requirements of component options. The M memory connectors may be arranged in any configuration selected from a set of multiple possible configurations permitted by M module connectors of T types emplaced in F footprint sites (where F>M). F minus M footprint sites remain vacant without a module connector emplaced therein. These vacant sites provide empty spaces which may be "shuffled around" to accommodate the various system component options.

Abstract: Computer apparatus 10 has a convective air flow therethrough for removing heat generated by the IC chips on circuit boards 12H, 12M, and 12L and by other computer components within housing 10H. The housing confines the convective air flow, and has elongated I/O openings 10E therethrough for accommodating I/O connections to the circuit boards. The circuit boards are mounted within the housing in an adjacent parallel relationship forming air flow channels therebetween. Each circuit board has a housing end 12P proximate the I/O openings in the housing and an interior end 12D distant from the housing. A mounting bracket 14 is fastened to each circuit board at the housing end and is secured to the housing to cover the I/O openings. Air vent apertures 16 in the mounting brackets provide air flow communication through the mounting brackets and the I/O openings for directing a portion of the convective air flow through the channel over the adjacent circuit boards.

Abstract: Computer apparatus 10 has enhanced convective flow 10F of circulating cooling air provided by improved fan 12. Fan support 12S is secured to the computer apparatus proximate fan port 10P formed in the housing. Fan blade 22B is rotatably mounted within fan support 22S. The propelling action of the fan blade defines a transition path for the cooling air through the fan. Stationary screen 24S is positioned adjacent to the blade traversing the transition path. Transition chamber 26 formed between the screen and the blade also traverses the transition path. The width of the transition chamber defines a transition gap dimension from the screen and to the blade that is optimally selected to enhance the cooling air flow. The transition chamber has a screen region 26S adjacent the screen and a blade region 26B adjacent the blade, and a middle region 26M between the screen region and the blade region. Cooling air flow through the screen and the screen region is generally linear.

Abstract: A general method of accelerating the classification of an unclassified input symbol S into a library of pre-classified templates employs a comparison inequality function. The correlation calculation is initiated between the input symbol S and templates retrieved from the library of templates. Templates with a low degree of correlation are excluded prior to completion of the correlation calculation to accelerate the correlation. Sorting by temple intensity permits the temple foreground pixels to be correlated first, which also accelerates the correlation calculation. A second sort by discrimination power permits critical conflict pixels to be correlated first for further accelerating the correlation calculation.

Abstract: A library of L unenhanced images (pixel bit maps) is enhanced for optical character recognition (OCR) with respect to a pre-existing group of G input symbol classes for creating a library of G recognition enhanced templates (pixel bit maps) of the G input symbol classes. The enhancement is accomplished by comparing each image of the library with each pixel version of each symbol class (forming V sets of L comparisons), and weighting the images with the highest potential for confusion. Divergent pixel version are further divided into sub-classes, each with a sub-image which evolves into a sub-template. A primary comparison C* and a secondary comparison C** are identified from the L comparisons within each of the V sets of comparisons. A recognition margin is determined between each pair of identified comparisons C* and C**. The single pair of identified comparisons C* and C** is selected forming the smallest recognition margin M*. The single pair of images I.sub.j * and I.sub.

Abstract: The method of compressing image data having a background tint is carried out by general apparatus 10. Greyscale image data containing stroke based symbols is retrieved to form a pixel data stream 10S of digital image data. The stream has stroke foreground pixels and non-stroke background pixels. The greyscale image data has levels of greyscale extending along an intensity scale from a minimum low intensity level 34L to a maximum high intensity level 34H. The stroke foreground pixels of the digital image data are predominantly pixels at the maximum greyscale level, and the non-stroke background pixels are predominantly pixels at the minimum greyscale level. A clamping range 34R of low intensity greyscale levels is determined extending continuously from the minimum greyscale level up to a greyscale level at least as great as the predominant level forming the non-stroke background pixels. A low intensity greyscale clamping level greater than the minimum greyscale level is determined.

Abstract: Stroke-based symbols such as conventional alpha-numerics are formed by individual strokes. Each stroke has intersections or node regions common to two or more strokes and main inter-node body regions unique to a single stroke. Strokes are a primary recognition cue to the human eye and for OCR techniques. The length and orientation of each stroke is determined and entered into a library of extracted strokes for analysis and matching. After selection each stroke is physically cut from the stroke based symbol to assist in selecting the next stroke. The body regions are cut first. The common node regions are temporarily protected to preserve the end nodes of the remaining strokes. Each node is cut during the extraction sequence of the last stroke common to that node. This sequential removal of strokes results in a progressively diminishing symbol residue and a progressively increasing library of extracted strokes.

Abstract: A digital data base 10 having record data codes representing an initial digital record is printed at predetermined code sites 12 within two dimensional code storage area 14 on the surface of on base medium 10B. The digital data base includes redundant check codes and one or more redundant check-check codes for permitting data error and data loss correction. The two dimensional code storage area has a coordinate system for defining code positions therein. The code sites are physically positioned within the code storage area at predetermined coordinates. A plurality of error checking sets are formed by the code sites, each containing one or more data codes and one or more check codes. The bits in the check codes in each error checking set are determined by the bits in the data codes of the same error checking set, and are in error correcting relationship therewith. Each data code and each check code are included in "L" error checking sets to provide "L" levels of inter-locking error checking and correcting.

Abstract: A row and column based storage device stores data at multiple density levels. The bulk of the stored data is record data, and is stored at higher density levels to minimize the storage area required. The control information and system parameters are stored at lower density levels for maximum reliability. Lost or damaged record data may be recovered through error correction parity data. However, lost control information or system parameters results in catastrophic failure of the storage device.

Abstract: A hand tool formed by a body member 10B and a torque sleeve member 12S is employed to tighten a connector nut 14N at the end of an electrical cable 14C onto a cable terminal post 14P. The body is elongated having a long axis with a socket wrench 10W at one end and a handle 10H at the other end. A cable channel 10C extends along the long axis from the wrench end to the handle end for receiving the cable during installation. The inside surface of the wrench has side walls 10SW for capturing the connector nut. The outside surface of the wrench has a slight taper toward the wrench end of the body, and the inside surface of the sleeve has a generally matching taper. The sleeve is slide mounted over the wrench and the connector nut for establishing a pre-load hoop tension in the sleeve against the wrench which establishes a pre-load compression in the wrench against the connector nut. The engagement of the matching tapered surfaces causes the pre-load hoop tension to increase as the sleeve is slid over the wrench.

Abstract: A library of L unenhanced images (pixel bit maps) is enhanced for optical character recognition (OCR) with respect to a pre-existing group of G input symbols (pixel bit maps) for creating a library of G recognition enhanced templates (pixel bit maps) of the G input symbols. The enhancement is accomplished by comparing each image of the library with each symbol of the group, and weighting the images with the highest potential for confusion. A primary comparison C* and a secondary comparison C** are identified from the L comparisons within each of the G sets of comparisons. A recognition margin is determined between each pair of identified comparisons C* and C**. The single pair of identified comparisons C* and C** is selected forming the smallest recognition margin M*. The single pair of images I.sub.j * and I.sub.j ** underlying the pair of identified comparisons C* and C** is identified. Certain pixels of the closest pixel image I.sub.j * and the next closest pixel image I.sub.

Abstract: Record document may be authenticated against reference grain data obtained from the document at a prior time. The body of the document is formed by base medium bearing the record entries such as text within record site. Grain seal site is located at a predetermined location within the base medium. The unique grain structure within the seal site are microscopic and function as a seal for authenticating the document. The seal site is initially scanned to provide a stream of reference data generated by the surface reflection of the grain structure. This reference grain data is stored in memory for future authentication use. The seal site is then currently scanned to generate a stream of current grain data for comparison to the reference grain data.

Abstract: A two dimensional row and column based system for storing digital data is formatted on a suitable base medium such as paper sheet 10. The data format is formed by a plurality of data units 10U having L data entry locations 14. The data is contained in the selective presence or absence of recording ink within the locations. Each data unit extends R locations along the row axis and C locations along the column axis.Any E entry locations of the L locations within the data unit are designated recording material present locations. The L-E remainder locations are designated recording material absent locations.The number of codes C that may be represented by these E in L type data units is determined by the relationship:C=(L!) / (L-E)!(E!).The number of entries E is the same for each data unit throughout the data storage area, and cannot be less than E. Codes having the greatest number of presence absence interfaces are discarded to reduce the effect of recording ink intrusions into adjacent units.

Abstract: A selection agent within a symbol determination system receives input character codes (ICCs) each with an associated confidence factor (CF) from a plurality of OCR processors. The selection agent selects the mathematically most probable character (MPC) from among the ICCs based on the relative values of the joint confidence factor (JCF) in accordance with the relationship:JCF.sub.n =1-(1-CF.sub.1)(1-CF.sub.2) . . . (1-CF.sub.n).for n like ICCs from N OCR processors.