Abstract: A transparent intelligent communication network having nodes and communication links between the nodes and providing improved system input features by including the sampling of customer inputs at different rates according to their output rates of data at the exit node or at faster rates if there is a spare channel capacity available.

Abstract: Seismic exploration method in arctic regions involving the generation of a seismic disturbance in the water beneath the ice in areas where conventional marine and land exploration methods are functionally inadequate. Seismic disturbances are generated by an air gun assembly which automatically executes lowering air guns through apertures in the ice and retrieving them while carrying out preventive measures against freeze-ups. Seismic sensing and recording equipment are positioned within an appropriate range to detect seismic data in the form of reflective or diffractive signals generated in response to the seismic disturbance after actuating the air gun array, wherein the seismic data is indicative of sub-surface structural formations existing below the body of water.

Abstract: A high speed AC/DC coupler has an optical circuit for DC coupling and an AC coupler circuit, both receiving a digital input signal and both providing outputs resulting from the input signal to the same point of a clipper circuit. The response characteristic of the AC coupler circuit is faster than that of the optical coupler circuit and the output impedance of the optical coupler circuit is of such a magnitude to permit the output of the AC coupler to overdrive the output of the optical coupler. The time constant of the AC coupler circuit is set so that the signal from the AC coupler is impressed on the clipper circuit and remains impressed at least until the slower optical coupler output is also applied to the clipper circuit. The circuit provides a faithful reproduction of essentially any length input pulse, delayed a minimal time.

Abstract: Matrix multiplication is used to generate error detection and/or correction binary code bits from a binary input word. A matrix made up of columns and rows of bits set to binary "1"s and "0"s in a pattern conforming to the mathematical expression of a predetermined error detection and/or correction code algorithm is set into a read only memory. The input binary word is 512 bits (64 bytes), one matrix being provided for each of the bytes. The first byte of the 512 bit word is multiplied by its respective matrix providing a ten bit binary code word. Simple odd parity is computed on the first byte and the odd parity bit is appended to the binary code word, which are stored in an accumulator. The next byte is multiplied by its respective matrix to provide another ten bit binary code word, and a simple parity bit is also generated.

Abstract: A chart recorder has a fixed thermal printhead for recording traces and annotations thereto representative of monitored parameters. A microcomputer, including timing, memory and control circuits controls the operation of the recorder which is enabled to print one or more traces simultaneously. The microcomputer control enables the printing of limit parameters, grids and times along with the traces. Further, the microcomputer provides for linearization of nonlinear parameters to be measured such as thermocouple temperature measurements and the like.

Abstract: A nonlinear transmission line terminator terminates a transmission line having an input from any one of a plurality of logic types. Emitter coupled logic (ECL), transistor logic (TTL), Schottky transistor logic (STTL), low power Schottky transistor transistor logic (LSTTL), complementary MOS (CMOS) and the like are accommodated by impressing the voltage representing a "0" of the logic circuitry being accommodated on one reference terminal and the corresponding "1" voltage on another reference terminal. The terminator presents a very high impedance when the input signal from the transmission line is of an amplitude falling within the "0" and "1" voltage range. When the input signal falls outside the voltage range, the impedance of the terminator matches that of the transmission line to reduce line reflections by providing a path for current to flow from the transmission line to the appropriate one of the "1" or "0" reference terminals.

Abstract: A transparent intelligent communication network having both terrestrial and satellite links between nodes and providing improved accuracy and speed in transmission by distinguishing between data requiring rapid receipt at the receiving node and other data, and dispatching data accordingly, while transmitting system protocol and error-correcting information (e.g., retransmissions) over terrestrial links.

Abstract: An input process sequence controller provides a sophisticated communication processing link between a central processor and peripheral digital apparatus. Data is transmitted from the peripheral digital apparatus to the process sequence controller whose function is to process that incoming data as commanded, to relieve the central processor of that task. The process sequence controller has a processor unit, controlled by a Read-only Memory for performing certain functions on the incoming data. The incoming data is received by one portion of a first swapping buffer while a second portion transmits previously received data to the processor unit. When the second portion is emptied, it begins receiving data while the first portion transmits data. A first portion of a second swapping buffer receives processed data from the processor unit while a second portion transmits processed data to the central processor.

Abstract: A continuous paper web-moving mechanism has a supply roll on which the paper is wound and pulled from the supply roll by a drive roll that engages the paper on its surface by a pressure exerted against the paper at that point. In this preferred embodiment the pressure is exerted by a thermal printhead resiliently mounted to force the paper against the drive roll. A leaf spring is mounted at one end of the drive roll, bearing against the edge of the wound paper, providing a friction drag on the drive roll. Also, the drive roll is kept in a fixed lateral position by the force of the leaf spring, aiding in aligning the paper. The tension between the supply roll and the drive roll is such that the paper is stiffened, providing a contact with the surface of the drive roller in a tangential line.

Abstract: A geophysical data acquisition system is disclosed having a dynamic range larger than that achievable with typical existing systems. The range of input signals that can be accommodated by a system are limited on the lower end by the noise level of the system and at the upper end by saturation levels of the system. High amplitude input signals can be accommodated by the system if certain unneeded frequency components are filtered off at a sufficiently early point in the signal flow path. In the present invention this desirable filtering is accomplished while maintaining a high gain level in the signal flow path ahead of those components which introduce high noise levels. As a result, the system has an expanded dynamic range and the needed capability to faithfully acquire low amplitude signals.

Abstract: A transparent intelligent communication network having both terrestrial and satellite links between nodes and providing improved channel utilization by including a system of reservations through successive links for the incoming data.

Abstract: A transparent intelligent communication network characterized by the rythmic storage and forwarding of multi-user packets comprised of mini-packets of customer data, wherein interconnection bandwidth is dynamically expanded when normal currently received information is insufficient to occupy all available bandwidth, thereby reducing backlogs of stored information and increasing efficiency of use of channel capacity.

Abstract: A transparent intelligent communication network with improved capability for handling data independent of customer protocol. In a situation where connection is made to an X-25 computer and to a polled line, the network strips off the user protocol and only transmits that part of the information which represents usable data to the polled line. When the transmission is received back from the output port, appropriate protocol is reinserted, and it therefore appears to the external connections as if they are directly connected to each other.

Abstract: A universal acoustic coupler system includes a pair of flexible muffs for acoustically coupling a telephone handset to transducers (speaker/microphone) of an electronic input/output device. The muffs are formed of an external housing inside which an internal housing is positioned, defining a fluid insulator therebetween. The internal housing has a speaker/microphone cavity for receiving the input/output device speaker or microphone which opens into an earpiece/mouthpiece cavity for receiving the earpiece or mouthpiece of a telephone handset. The fluid insulator is formed to completely insulate the speaker or microphone to eliminate all external noise.

Abstract: A transparent intelligent communication network having a plurality of nodes and communications paths linking the nodes, wherein reduction in delays for customers wishing to enter the network is achieved by providing a selective first in-first out service for customer's initial signals according to available channel capacity, and providing first in-first out service for customer's backlog.

Abstract: A micro-vector processor has an input and output section, a supervisor section, a vector unit section, and a memory common to all of the sections and accessible by each. The signals to be processed are supplied by the input section in digital form to the data memory unit. The supervisor section is programmable and acts as the overall micro vector processor control processor. The supervisor unit sets up, starts, and monitors the actual signal processor, the vector unit. The supervisor orders the vector unit to go to a reserve location in the data memory unit where it finds the beginning address of a command-parameter list (CPL) previously loaded into data memory by the supervisor unit, containing the name of, and the parameters for, the utility algorithm which the vector unit is to execute. The algorithms that the vector unit performs are contained in the form of micro instructions in a read-only memory (ROM) which controls the operation of the vector unit.

Abstract: There is disclosed apparatus for controlling the precise time of firing of each air gun in an array of air guns employed in marine seismic exploration. For each air gun in the array, the apparatus maintains a record of past measured gun delays, that is the time period expiring between the triggering of an air gun and the time that the gun actually fires. Upon the receipt of a fire command, the apparatus inserts appropriate delays before triggering the individual air guns. In this way the air guns are controlled to fire in a precise predetermined sequence. The air guns may be caused to fire either simultaneously or sequentially so as to exercise effective control over the spectral content and the directionality of the energy generated by the array.

Abstract: The ferromagnetic core of a transformer in a switching regulator power supply is configured to improve the efficiency of the supply. Since the switching times and their resultant losses occupy a greater percentage of the energy-storage energy-transfer cycle as the operating frequency increases, efficiency is increased by narrowing the operating frequency range. There is provided a transformer core which allows the inductances in the transformer windings to vary during each energy-storage and energy-transfer half cycle. The initial inductance can be chosen such that a predetermined time interval is added to each half cycle regardless of output load to thereby decrease the operating frequency range.

Abstract: A solid state keyboard comprised of a base module, a plurality of key members each having a plunger member comprised of a uniform mixture of a magnetic material such as barium ferrite and a binder such as nylon, and a respective plurality of improved Hall Effect Generators, provides a significant improvement in performance and cost effectiveness. Actuation of a key member moves its plunger member, which has a preselected magnetic field, relative to an improved Hall Effect Generator, in which offset voltage has been substantially eliminated. This movement exposes the generator to a change in the direction of the magnetic field, thus causing a corresponding change in the output voltage of the generator from a first predetermined voltage to a second predetermined voltage. A unique tripolar magnetic arrangement on the plunger member provides positive switching and better control of switching points.

Abstract: A coupler pair provides the communication link between two multiprocessors wherein each multiprocessor comprises a plurality of master and slave devices interconnected by a communication bus. The coupler pair provides a communication path between any master device on one of the communication buses and any slave device on the opposite communication bus. More generally a plurality of coupler pairs provides inter-communication within a polysystem comprised of a plurality of multiprocessors.