Abstract: An add/shed load controller which will add/shed or increase/decrease the electrical usage of a load. A maximum decrease limit may be set for analog loads to insure that comfort is not overly affected due to load usage reductions.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing calibrated and linearized flow sensors for VAV systems with the sensor corrected for device/electronic/drift/and field air turbulence characteristics using factory calibrated flow or pressure sensors with output modified by a transfer function incorporated into a lookup table for each sensor. This allows low power processors to handle the adjustment onsite. Further adjustment is made onsite with reference to actual flow and turbulence effects.

Abstract: A programmable fuse for a projectile is supplied with voltage during the programming phase by rectifying the inductively transmitted program information. The program information is laid down via a microprocessor (U3) within a non-volatile memory (U4). With the created supply voltage a capacitor C1 is charged. This capacitor is discharged by means of a resistor (R3) and a gate (U2A) into an input (PAO) of the microprocessor (U3). The program information of the non-volatile memory (U4) only can be read only in the event where at launching of the fuse and at activating of a battery (U.sub.B), the predetermined input (PAO) of the microprocessor (U3) shows a predetermined potential ("0").

Abstract: A method for the automatic optimization of the heating curve of a heating controller in a heating plant is devised, whereat the heating curve is approximated by the potential function y=k.multidot.x.sup..alpha., in which function the coefficient k as well as the exponent .alpha. is evaluated in a simple manner. Furthermore, the influence of external energy may be taken into account.

Abstract: A system and method for modifying security levels within a security system. External modifications are allowed only if the security of a point is increased.

Abstract: A ring laser gyro bias drift improvement method and apparatus for compensating for periodic bias drift including a microprocessor which controls a path length control circuit that continuously adjusts the position of path length control mirrors. The mirrors are stepped through a range of positions that represent two laser modes. The microprocessor adjusts the position of the two path length control mirrors such that total path length remains constant. The invention improves bias drift by forcing the laser gyro system to operate at varying path length control positions. Each position has a varying bias that was shown to be periodic over two laser modes. By operating the laser system over a range of two laser modes the periodic bias error of the laser gyro is cancelled out over time.

Abstract: An alarm system monitoring method for remote monitoring. A local alarm monitoring station receives alarm indications from alarms being monitored. A load processor at the local alarm monitoring station, which may be a part of a first computer, determines whether the local alarm monitoring station should handle the call by comparing its current load of calls to a predetermined limit. If the limit is not crossed by local handling of the call, the local alarm monitoring station will handle the call, and the load number is modified accordingly. If the local alarm monitoring station cannot handle the new call, the call is transferred to a hub station for processing.

Abstract: An alarm system monitoring method for remote monitoring. A local alarm monitoring station receives alarm indications from alarms being monitored, and transfers the alarm indication to a first hub station. A load processor at the hub station, determines whether the first hub station should handle the call by comparing its current load of calls to a predetermined limit. If the limit is not crossed by local handling of the call, the first hub station will handle the call, and the load number is modified accordingly. If the first hub station cannot handle the new call, the call is transferred to a second hub station for processing.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for reducing the effects of lock-in in a ring laser gyroscope. A sinusoidal noise signal is generated having a peak amplitude which shifts as a function of a dither drive monitor signal to new, random, peak amplitude levels. In the preferred embodiment, the peak amplitude level changes at each zero crossing of the dither drive monitor signal. Each new peak amplitude level is determined as a function of a value provided by a passband filtered random or pseudo random noise source. A step noise signal representative of that passband filtered value is multiplied by the dither drive monitor signal and the resulting sinusoidal noise signal is summed into the dither drive monitor signal. The resulting signal is then used to introduce a frequency bias, electrically or mechanically in at least one of the RLG light beams.

Abstract: A computerized method for the automatic selection of component kits from an inventory of component parts. A first list of component parts is created by a rule-based expert system and a second list of component parts is created by a previously trained node-based neural network. The first and second lists are then reconciled into a final list.

Abstract: A laser gyro configuration and control using a microprocessor. The microprocessor has a high speed peripheral transaction system which communicates through a high speed Universal Asynchronous Receiver Transmitter (UART) to a serial to parallel converter through a five Byte first in first out (FIFO) to an external system processor. The external system processor sends information in a serial fashion through a single byte parallel to serial converter to the high speed UART. Various information including gyro parameter load commands, gyro control commands, gyro status commands, and gyro calibration and diagnostic commands are sent over channels. The system provides a high speed method of controlling the laser gyro and configuring it with a processor with serial transmit and receive lines.

Abstract: A light based distance, velocity and acceleration sensor which uses phase difference to determine the desired measurement. A laser signal is modulated by an oscillator signal and reflected off an object to a signal receiver. The reflected laser signal and the oscillator signal then pass through a dual path conditioning circuit, where the path lengths and circuit elements of the two paths are identical to cancel the effects of propagation delays in an output signal. The conditioned signals are passed through a phase comparator, to produce a signal indicative of the phase difference between the oscillator signal and the reflected laser signal. The phase difference is directly proportional to the distance between the sensor and the object.

Abstract: A ring laser gyro comprising a ring laser gyro block having a gain bore filled with a gain medium and apparatus for transmitting RF energy embedded within the ring laser gyro block proximate to the gain bore. The RF energy apparatus may be located so as to encompass the gain bore. Apparatus for providing RF energy is connected to the RF energy transmitting apparatus.

Abstract: The invention provides a laser gyro with a single transformer power supply. The power supply receives a single 15 volt DC supply that is converted to a 320 volt DC supply, a 280 volt DC supply and a 500 volt DC supply. The invention implements a Royer Oscillator by providing a transformer with four windings each center-tapped. Two control transistors control the output of the transformer. The invention also provides a high speed output controlled start-up to prevent meta-stability in the Royer Oscillator.

Abstract: A laser gyro start up apparatus and method that safely and quickly starts a laser gyro. A microprocessor sequences the mechanical and electrical systems of the laser gyro such that the gyro is started up quickly in the proper sequence. The microprocessor also executes tests on the gyro and provides a health signal in the timing sequence. The start up apparatus starts the laser block dither, laser discharge and acquires the path length controllers. Optical start up operations may be performed including the calibration of volts per mode.

Abstract: A safety circuit for monitoring computer hardware that can create an unsafe condition if a failure occurs. The circuit includes a microprocessor, a keyword decoder, and a dynamic safety relay drive circuit. The microprocessor runs a set of internal tests which create a keyword made up of a series of bits. A particular series of bits indicates the desired operation of the microprocessor. On alternate generations of the keyword one bit in the series is inverted. The keyword decoder receives the keywords and output a "true" signal if the keyword indicates the desired operation of the microprocessor, and "false" signal if the keyword indicates otherwise. The output of the keyword decoder is transmitted to the dynamic safety relay drive circuit, and this signal will keep the circuit energized as long as its alternating. The position of the bit which is inverted is rotated through the keyword so that different bit paths through the keyword decoder may be tested.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling the operation of a Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system for use primarily in a building having more than two controllable temperature zones. Rooms having a priority for heating or cooling are identified as such in a controller. The controller sums Temperature Differences from all controlled spaces and causes the HVAC system to operate in a first mode (e.g. heating) if the sum has a first relationship to a preselected value (e.g. sum>=0) and causes the HVAC system to operate in a second mode (e.g. cooling) otherwise.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for providing a microprocessor having an inaccurate oscillator with a desired time base. The cycles of the output signal of the oscillator are counted by a first counter until the counted number equals a predetermined correction count. The first counter then produces a timing signal. A second counter is set up to create an actual count indicative of the number of output signals occurring during a predetermined number of periods of an AC signal generator connected to the microprocessor. A predetermined desired count is then subtracted from the actual count to produce a difference count. The difference count is then added to the old correction count to create a new correction count. By iterating this process until the difference count is equal to zero, the timing signal is modified until it is equal to the desired time base.

Abstract: A thermostat having a simple battery level detection circuit. The output of an oscillator, having a frequency dependent upon the battery level, is compared to the output of a battery level independent time base. If the two outputs are not in a predetermined relationship, all connected HVAC equipment is shut off.