Abstract: The terrain data within an aircraft flight simulation system includes two and three dimensional object items formed by polygon faces having shapes orientations and dimensions selected from a series of fundamental shapes orientations and dimensions. The image data is coordinated in a buffer memory according to a particular format, and forwarded to an image processor. Instruction words appear throughout the format for identifying the type of data in the data words following each instruction word, and for controlling the flow of data through the image processor. The image data formatted and processed includes:Initial position data (Vo), defining the position of initial points or landmark points (i.e., the first vertex of each polygon face) within the terrain coordinate system.Shape data (delta data) defining the relative position of other points, (i.e., the remaining vertices of the fundamental shape incorporated in each polygon face) with respect to the landmark points of each Vo.

Abstract: The visual system within an aircraft flight simulation system receives flight data from a flight simulation computer, and terrain data from a gaming area data base. A computer within the visual system organizes this image data in a buffer memory according to a particular format, and forwards the image data to an image processor. The following types of data are formatted and processed:Position vectors, defining the changing position of the aircraft with respect to the origin of the terrain coordinate system.Rotational data, defining the changing attitude of the aircraft with respect to the terrain coordinate system.Initialization vectors, defining the position of the landmark points within the terrain coordinate system. The landmark points are translated into the aircraft coordinate system to form translated vectors.Delta data, defining the position of other points, lines, and faces with respect to the landmark points.CIF data, defining color, intensity, defocus, etc.

Abstract: A normally open switch is mounted on the gear shift knob and manually operated to activate the rear brake lights during downshifting. The switch is optimally positioned to minimize inadvertent activation of the brake lights. In some embodiments the switch may be repositioned to suit each drive. A flasher unit may be included in the circuitry to cause the brake light to flash during activation.

Abstract: A normally open switch is mounted on the gear shift knob and manually operated to activate the rear brake lights during downshifting. The switch is optimally positioned to minimize inadvertent activation of the brake lights. In some embodiments the switch may be repositioned to suit each driver. A flasher unit may be included in the circuitry to cause the brake light to flash during activation.

Abstract: A P-channel MOS stratified charge memory is formed on an N tub and controlled by peripheral N-channel MOS switches formed in the surrounding P substrate. A positive bias (+5 volts) applied to the N tub and a negative bias (-5 volts) applied to the P substrate create an isolation reverse bias therebetween. During the write mode, the row electrode of the addressed memory cell receives a positive control signal (+5 volts, zero with respect to the N tub) to establish accumulation for supporting electron conduction in the active channel under the row electrode. During the storage mode each row receives a less positive control signal (0 volts, minus five volts with respect to the N tub) to establish a depletion in the active channel thereunder which is nonconductive to both holes and electrons.

Abstract: The visual system within an aircraft flight simulator receives flight data from a flight simulation computer, and polygon face terrain data from a gaming area data base. The visual system computer organizes this image data into the prescribed format, and forwards the image data to an image processor. The following types of data are included in the format:Position vectors (Vp), defining the changing position of the aircraft with respect to the origin of the terrain coordinate system.Rotational data (H matrix), defining the changing attitude of the aircraft with respect to the terrain coordinate system.Cif data, defining color, intensity, defocus, etc. of individual faces.Variable resolution data (Var Res) defining the scan line density (vertical display resolution) for each polygon face is included in the CIF data.The vertices of each face pass through the image processor as a unit.

Abstract: A hand-held data-gathering unit is formed by removably connected control and power modules: The control module contains a keyboard, a display device, a data input probe, and a microprocessor. The power module contains a rechargeable battery with a converter and associated power logic, and a memory system with associated memory control logic. The hand-held unit has a normal low-power standby mode which is maintained during the absence of input data from either the keyboard or the data probe, and an operation mode which is initiated by the arrival of input data. During the operation mode, input data enters the control module and is forwarded to the memory in the power module. As data is gathered during portable operation, the memory may reach capacity or the battery voltage may drop, or both. The power module may be removed from the control module and replaced by a fresh power module with a fully charged battery and an empty memory.

Abstract: Closely spaced windings of wire are laid down on a revolving drum and retained in place by an adhesive substrate previously mounted on the drum. The cylinder of wire with an adhesive substrate which is formed is cut and removed from the drum and spread into a flat sheet. The wire side of the sheet is placed in contact with the epoxied surface of an elongated plate. The plate traverses the wire sheet in a strip proximate one terminal edge thereof dividing the sheet into a major portion which will ultimately form the lead wires to the head and a minor portion which is trimmed off in later step. After the epoxy has dried, the adhesive substrate is removed and the newly exposed side of the wire is placed in contact with the epoxied surface of a second elongated plate. The two plates form an elongated sandwich containing the wire embedded in epoxy. The ends of the wire forming the minor portion are trimmed and the end surface of the sandwich is polished to form the finished recording head.

Abstract: A display interface connected between a computer and a CRT device processes predetermined blocks of display data from predetermined locations in a memory of the computer to form pixels having predetermined characteristics in the display fields of the CRT device. A CRT display format of parameters such as color, pixel shape and size, and field shape and size, is controlled by input FORMAT DATA. The display resolution can be varied to accommodate the amount of data to be displayed within the desired field dimensions. The display data is retrieved from memory in data blocks, each of which is identified by a BLOCK ADDRESS. A single data block may occupy the entire display field; or may be displayed in a subfield simultaneously with other data blocks, or portions of data blocks, in the remaining subfields. The FORMAT DATA determines the subfield number and arrangement.

Abstract: A character recognition apparatus for recognizing an unknown character having a value at a matrix of discrete locations, comprising a ROM having at least a first plurality of storage locations each containing an address storing location and a reference storing location and storing information relative to a reference character, the ROM responding to a count signal and providing a first address signal and a reference signal, a RAM including a second greater plurality of storage locations each storing a value of the unknown character at a discrete matrix location, the RAM being responsive to the first address signal and providing a data signal corresponding to the value of the unknown character at the address location, a counter and a comparator circuit responding to the data signal and the reference signal and producing an output signal that serves as an indication that the unknown character is not the reference character.

Abstract: Input and output switching transistors are alternatively activated to form a charging path and a discharging path for an inductor. The inductor periodically charges through the input transistor from an unregulated rechargeable battery, and discharges through the output transistor into an output capacitor. The output voltage taken across the output capacitor is regulated by negative feedback which varies the inductor charging period through the input transistor. The converter regulation is bidirectional. The voltage from the battery is initially greater than the regulated output voltage, but decreases to a value less than the output voltage as the battery discharges. When the battery is fully charged the converter regulates the battery voltage down to the output voltage. As the battery voltage drops through discharge, the converter regulates the lower battery voltage up to the output voltage.

Abstract: A light pen is scanned across a bar coded label to produce a reflected light signal having a modulated intensity. The average peak-to-peak value of the plus and minus peaks of the return signal is continuously generated to provide a reference for detecting each subsequent positive and negative transistion. The instantaneous average peak-to-peak reference permits the positive transistions to be distinguished from the negative transistions in spite of large deviations in the amplitude modulation and large shifts in the signal to ambient light level ratio of the return signal. Initially the light pen is operated in a low power pulsed mode. The initial transistions in the return signal cause the pen to temporarily illuminate the bar coded label with a continuous light, and activate plus and minus peak detectors.

Abstract: An initial input list in a series of sequential dependent input lists is clocked through a first sort stack and written into a first buffer as Q groups of P numbers each. The P numbers are in numerical order within each group with the smallest number in the first location of each group. The first number in each group is loaded into a second sort stack which arranges them in numerical order, causing the smallest number in the input list to form the first number in the initial output list. A replacement number is numerically sorted into the second stack from the Q groups each time the smallest remaining number is clocked out. Each replacement number is from the next location of the same Q group as the most recently clocked out number. Thus, the smallest remaining number in any of the Q groups of the first buffer is always available to the second stack and appears as the smallest remaining number in the second stack is always in the first location of the second stack.

Abstract: A training cockpit on a hydraulic motion system is responsive to the cockpit controls to simulate an aircraft in flight. A simulated radar display of the aircraft vicinity is provided from a data base memory of the topographic and cultural data of the gaming area.As the antenna scans, particular blocks of data are transferred from the district memory to smaller sector core memories at high speed access and transfer rates. The sector memory provides a line of data for each sweep of the simulated radar. Reflectance and elevational data is retrieved from the sector memories and processed, one sweep at a time, through digital radar equation computation equipment which calculates the brightness of each spot in the simulated radar display. This digital brightness data is processed through an earth curvature subsystem which modifies the brightness in accordance with the horizon effect. The modified brightness is applied to a digital to analog converter and then to the radar display.

Abstract: Linear domain numbers are converted into standard characteristic-mantissa format by left shifting the leading zeros out of the mantissa portion and into the characteristic portion. The resulting normalized mantissa M is separated into a MSB portion m and a LSB portion n: whereM= m + n,andm >> nto accomodate the approximate relationshipLog (M) .perspectiveto. log term + correction term .perspectiveto. Log (m) + 2n/2m' + nwhere m' = the MSB portion of m.Look up tables are provided for supplying the two terms for each mantissa received. The digital radar landmass systems then performs computations using the approximate logs. The answers are returned to the linear domain by an antilog circuit.

Abstract: A night visual aircraft system receives flight data from an aircraft simulator, and terrain data (such as light points) from the gaming area data base. A computer within the night visual system organizes this image data by frame in a buffer memory according to a particular format of addresses, sequences, and bit places.An image processor receives the formatted image data to account for the position and orientation of the aircraft relative to the light points, and then projects the data into two dimensions for display. An image generator processes the projected data to provide analog inputs to a CRT window display in the simulated aircraft. The deflection input has X and Y voltages which calligraphically position the beam for simulating light points. A blank time increment computer blanks the CRT screen as the beam moves from each displayed light point to the next light point to be displayed. The blank time is sufficient to permit post-deflection settling.

Abstract: A vertical array of closely spaced hairpin type contactors are mounted in horizontal channels in a vertical array to contact the closely spaced edge terminals of a vertically mounted circuit board. The hairpin contactors are moved within the channel toward and away from the circuit board by a pivoting toggle which is manually operated by moving a toggle lever back and forth horizontally. Camming surfaces along the hairpin contactors cooperate with camming surfaces along the channel walls (or camming surfaces on the circuit board) to spread and close the hairpin contactor, causing the hairpin contactor to break and make contact with the edge terminals. These camming surfaces plus detents on the toggle mechanism retain the hairpin contactor in defined ON or OFF positions relative to the circuit board.

Abstract: A P-channel MOS double gated transistor is provided with an electrical shield element located between the drain and the second gate. The shield is electrically connected to the first gate and is dc biased by the first gate control voltage at FIRST GATE SELECT. The presence of the first gate control voltage causes all the shield capacitances to charge and causes a depletion region between the shield and the drain. Prior to SECOND GATE SELECT, the electrical transient effects of activating the shield with a dc bias have expired. SECOND GATE SELECT introduces new transients (noise current), noteable charging of the capacitance between the drain and the second gate and formation of the final section of depletion region proximate the second gate completing the P channel. This capacitance is drastically reduced by the intervening shield, and the depletion transient is minimized by the priming depletion region established by the shield voltage.

Abstract: A mirror driven by a resonant mechanical oscillator is used to scan a modulated laser beam across a rotating dielectric drum. The incident laser beam line scans the drum to form a charge image thereon which is toned as the drum rotates through a toner bath. The toned image is then transferred to paper by rolling contact. The laser beam scan velocity across the drum varies sinusoidally because of the resonant nature of the drive system. The data flow which modulates the laser beam is rate-controlled by a variable clock to accommodate the periodic variations in scanning velocity. The modulation rate -- the data flow rate -- is varied periodically to match the periodically varying scan rate to produce a uniform image element density or spacing across the scan lines of the dielectric surface. The variable clock is also applied to the laser beam modulator to compensate for the periodic variations in the charge density of the image caused by the nonlinear scan velocity.

Abstract: A mirror driven by a resonant mechanical oscillator is used to scan a laser beam across a document. The incident laser beam line scans the record and is absorbed or reflected depending upon the presence or absence of an image on the record. The reflected intensity modulated light is detected by photomultiplier tubes which provide a video analog signal. An A/D device digitizes the analog signal forming a DATA OUT signal. The laser beam scan velocity across the document varies sinusoidally because of the resonant nature of the drive system. The data flow, or bit density of DATA OUT, has a corresponding sinusoidal variation. A write rate controller provides a variable clock which accompanies the DATA OUT. The variable clock has a periodic variation which matches the scan velocity. The rate of the variable clock matches the bit density of DATA OUT causing DATA OUT to be entered into a data bank properly notwithstanding its nonuniform bit density.